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Enhancing classroom dynamics: exploring the synergy of social marketing, neuromarketing, and artificial intelligence
No full textAs a part of a research project, this paper refers to the assessment of the degree of knowledge integrating Social Marketing, Neuromarketing and Artificial Intelligence for sustainable economic development activities in Portugal. In addition, aiming to promote good behaviors and understand better the influence of Artificial Intelligence such as AI, VR, AR, big data, etc., on communications, social marketing can also explore neurometrics, biometrics and psychometrics factors to help individuals on their decision-making process. Furthermore, segmentation is a marketing technique that can be used to influence the decision-making process, even promoting good behavior.
Considering the assumption that good behavior is very important because it results in benefits not only the individual but also society and the environment, to promote these behaviors, social marketing must communicate through assertive messages. Using neuromarketing theoretical framework to support social marketing communications and understand better the decision-making process, this literature review presents a model which can help teachers as well as social marketeers to promote sports activities in higher education institutions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Efectos de la fisioterapia en la función pélvica y calidad de vida en mujeres con incontinencia urinaria - una revisión sistemática
Full text linkIn recent years, pelvic floor physiotherapy, namely pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) has shown a high importance in women with urinary incontinence (UI), optimizing pelvic function and quality of life (QoL).
Objective: Evaluate the effects of pelvic floor physiotherapy on pelvic function and QoL in women with UI.
Methods: Computerized search in the databases Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science, using the combination of keywords: Physiotherapy; Urinary Incontinence; QoL,in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. The methodological quality was analysed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.
Results: Nineteen articles meeting the eligibility criteria were included with a total of 2253 participants and an arithmetic mean of 8.4/10 on the PEDro scale. PFMT interventions showed positive effects on QoL, as well as in decreasing involuntary urine loss and increasing pelvic floor muscle strength. In addition, PFMT combined with biofeedback, electrotherapy or Pilates training seemed to reveal significant effects.
Conclusions: PFMT is an effective treatment for UI in women. PFMT significantly improves QoL in women with UI, a determinant factor for physical, mental, and social conditions.En los últimos años, la fisioterapia del suelo pélvico (SP), en particular, el entrenamiento de los músculos del SP (EMSP), ha demostrado tener una gran importancia en mujeres con incontinencia urinaria (IU), en la optimización de la función pélvica y calidad de vida (CdV).
Objetivos: Evalúe los efectos de la fisioterapia del SP en la función pélvica y CdV en mujeres con IU.
Métodos: Búsqueda computarizada en las bases de datos Pubmed, Scopus y Web of Science, utilizando la combinación de palabras clave: Fisioterapia; Incontinencia urinaria; CdV, de acuerdo con las directrices PRISMA. La calidad metodológica fue analizada mediante la escala de Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro).
Resultados: Se incluyeron 19 artículos que cumplieron con los criterios de elegibilidad, con un total de 2253 participantes y una media aritmética de 8,4/10 en la escala de PEDro. Las intervenciones de EMSP mostraron efectos positivos, tanto en CdV como en la reducción de la pérdida involuntaria de orina y el aumento de la fuerza de los músculos del SP. Además, el EMSP combinado con biofeedback, electroterapia o entrenamiento de Pilates parece tener efectos significativos.
Conclusiones: El EMSP es un tratamiento eficaz para la IU en mujeres. Mejora significativamente la CdV de mujeres con IU, un factor determinante para el estado físico, mental y social.Nos últimos anos, a fisioterapia do pavimento pélvico (PP), nomeadamente, o treino dos músculos do PP (TMPP) tem revelado uma elevada importância em mulheres com incontinência urinária (IU), na otimização da função pélvica e qualidade de vida (QdV).
Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da fisioterapia do PP na função pélvica e QdV em mulheres com IU.
Métodos: Pesquisa computorizada nas bases de dados Pubmed, Scopus e Web of Science, recorrendo a combinação de palavras-chave: Fisioterapia; Incontinência urinária; QdV, de acordo com as guidelines PRISMA. A qualidade metodológica foi analisada através da escala de Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro).
Resultados: Foram incluídos 19 artigos que cumpriram os critérios de elegibilidade com um total de 2253 participantes e com média aritmética de 8,4/10 na escala de PEDro. As intervenções do TMPP apresentaram efeitos positivos, ao nível de QdV, assim como na diminuição da perda involuntária de urina e aumento da força dos músculos do PP. Adicionalmente, o TMPP conciliado com o biofeedback, a eletroterapia ou o treino de Pilates, parece revelar efeitos significativos.
Conclusão: O TMPP é um tratamento eficaz para a IU em mulheres. O TMPP melhora significativamente a QdV de mulheres com IU, fator determinante para o estado físico, mental e social.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Willingness to pay for ecolabel in food products: mapping publications over the past twenty years
No full textEcolabels can be a tool to promote and support more sustainable products, providing information that allows consumers to select products with better environmental performance. Ecolabels can help create ecological awareness around sustainable consumption, promote environmentally friendly attitudes, and contribute to responsible consumption habits. This article reviews the lit-erature on willingness to pay for ecolabels on food products and identifies four main knowledge gaps: (1) the effect of variables that signal quality, safety, or health benefits on willingness to pay for ecolabels; (2) the impact of ecolabels on the environment from a regulatory point of view; (3) the lack of a measurement instrument that serves general application with various stakeholders; and (4) how ecolabels contribute to green innovation. Our re-sults contribute to the literature and define and implement more efficient and effective public policies that facilitate communication between producers and consumers. Based on 31 articles selected and analyzed in a systematic literature review, we found that the variables related to consumers' willing-ness to pay vary according to the level of education, income, age, marital sta-tus, family size, attitude, previous experience and knowledge, among others. We conclude that consumers are willing to pay more for environmentally sustainable products and that the ecolabel is particularly important in their choice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Biodiesel production from residual cooking oils and purification by adsorption processes based on adsorbents of natural origin
Full text linkMestrado de dupla diplomação com a UTFPR - Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paran
Production of ethanolic biodiesel from waste cooking oils and purification through adsorption using olive pits based materials
Full text linkMestrado de dupla diplomação com a UTFPR - Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paran
Teachers’ Perceptions of Knowledge Production in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Literature Review
No full textThis article aims to carry out a systematic review of the literature on Artificial Intelligence and knowledge production in educational contexts. Using parameters and guidelines based on the PRISMA Group, a collection of papers was selected from the Web of Science, Scopus and Scielo bibliographic databases with the aim of verifying perceptions of the use of AI solutions in the student learning process, as well as challenges and possibilities. To this end, a biblio- graphic review and corresponding analysis and reflection on the research results found between 2019 and 2024 were carried out. The results allow us to see that this is an area in rapid development, although there are challenges and consid- erations linked to ethical commitment, authorship, and originality, including the most comprehensive proposals, even within the scope of this research.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tec- nologia within the Research Center in Basic Education with reference UIDB/05777/2020 (https:// doi.org/https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/05777/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Dual-stage vacuum pressure swing adsorption for green hydrogen recovery from natural gas grids
Full text linkPurification of green hydrogen (GH) from natural gas grids (NGG) can be expensive and challenging through a single-step Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) process due to the low H2 concentration in the grid (99 % v/v). A mathematical model is developed in Aspen adsorption, where numerical simulations are performed to establish the best operating conditions of the global DS-VPSA. A parametric study is also conducted to optimize performance parameters such as recovery, purity, productivity, and specific energy. The results indicate that it is possible to achieve a final H2 product with a purity of 99.97 % (fuel cell grade), a recovery of 67 %, and productivity of 1.60x10-2 kgH2/kgads/hr, and a total specific energy consumption of 10.06 MJ/kgH2, which is a significant achievement reported so far.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Tech-
nology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support: (1) under project PTDC/EQU-EPQ/0467/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/PTDC/EQU-EPQ/0467/2020), (2) through the national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00690/2020) and UIDP/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00690/2020); and SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI:10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020), (3) by the national funds
through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): LSRE-LCM, UIDB/50020/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/50020/2020) and UIDP/50020/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/50020/2020); and ALiCE, LA/P/0045/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/
P/0045/2020). Additionally, we thank national funding from the FCT
Foundation for Science and Technology through the individual research
grant 2020.07925.BD (DOI: 10.54499/2020.07925.BD) of Lucas F. A. S.
Zafanelli.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Solid dispersions as effective curcumin vehicles to obtain k-carrageenan functional films for olive oil preservation
Full text linkSynthetic packaging materials offer cost efficiency and performance but pose environmental risks. This study
explores sustainable alternatives by developing k-carrageenan (KC) films functionalized with curcumin, using
solid dispersions (SDs) to improve curcumin's compatibility, addressing the challenge of incorporating hydrophobic
functionalities into hydrophilic film matrices. Films with varying curcumin content (1–20 wt%; KC1-
KC20) were compared to a base film without curcumin (KC0) regarding water solubility, vapor permeability,
water contact angle, and tensile properties. Compared to KC0, KC10 (10 % curcumin-SDs) exhibited improved
water resistance, with solubility decreasing from 82.89 % to 77.18 %, while maintaining vapor permeability
(2.96 × 10 10 g⋅m/s⋅m2⋅Pa). KC10 demonstrated enhanced tensile properties, with a 12.51 % increase in tensile
modulus (241.47 MPa), a 3.86 % increase in stress at break (3.50 MPa), and a 4.42 % increase in strain at break
(2.36 %). Furthermore, it exhibited potent antioxidant activity without releasing curcumin into a simulated fatty
medium (non-migratory active protection mechanism), effectively preserving olive oil by limiting lipid oxidation
to a peroxide value (PV) of 14 mEq. O2/kg oil, compared to 20 mEq. O2/kg oil in unprotected samples under
accelerated conditions. It demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity with bacterial reductions of 95.4 %
(Escherichia coli) and 90.6 % (Listeria monocytogenes), surpassing KC0. In conclusion, k-carrageenan films functionalized
with curcumin SDs are promising and sustainable alternatives to synthetic packaging materials.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology
(FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds
FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO UIDB/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.544
99/UIDB/00690/2020) and UIDP/00690/2020 (DOI:10.544
99/UIDP/00690/2020); SusTEC LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI:10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020); LSRE-LCM UIDB/50020/2020 (DOI:10.54499/UIDB/5 0020/2020) and UIDP/50020/2020 (DOI:10.54499/UIDP/5 0020/2020); and ALiCE LA/P/0045/2020 (DOI:10.54499/LA/P/ 0045/2020). FCT for the PhD research grants of Stephany C. de Rezende (DOI:10.54499/SFRH/BD/147326/2019) and Heloísa Helena Scorsato de Almeida (DOI:10.54499/SFRH/BD/148124/2019). Arantzazu Santamaria-Echart thanks the FCT for the National funding for scientific employment through the institutional program contract. Red CYTED ENVABIO100 121RT0108.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Relation between covid-19 infection and vaccine and menstrual cycle changes of portuguese adolescents in higher education
Full text linkIn a period globally known as long COVID, several post-acute infection sequelae
and vaccination effects have been discussed. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the
effects of COVID-19 infection and vaccines on the menstrual cycle of adolescents attending
higher education and to verify the association between personal health factors and changes
in their menstrual cycle after contact with the virus SARS-CoV-2 via infection or via the
vaccine. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire for data
collection, applied online to Portuguese higher education adolescents aged between 18 and
24. The sample included 401 individuals. The statistical analysis of data was performed
using SPSS. Results: More than half of the sample had a COVID-19 infection only once
and took two doses of the vaccine. The mRNA Comirnaty 30 μg BioNTech vaccine was
administered to 73.1%. The most common menstrual changes were an increase in blood
clots, the blood becoming darker, shorter menstrual cycles, scarcer blood flow, and more
irregular cycles. Menstrual changes correlated significantly with vaccination but not with
infection. Conclusions: This study showed a lower percentage of women affected than
other studies carried out closer to the pandemic period, which could mean that the effects
are diminishing over time. Thus, adolescents’ menstrual health should be monitored.This work was financially supported by Portuguese national funds through the FCT
(Foundation for Science and Technology) within the framework of the CIEC (Research Centre on
Child Studies of the University of Minho) projects under the references UIDB/00317/2020 and
UIDP/00317/2020, the recipients of which include Z.C.A., R.F.A., S.C.F., P.O.C., and M.I.C.C.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Production of 3d printable hydrogels for functionality transport and release
No full textMestrado de dupla diplomação com a UTFPR - Universidade Tecnológica Federal do ParanáThe human skin, the body's largest organ, is a protective barrier with crucial functions in temperature regulation and sensory perception. However, severe injuries such as burns often challenge its regenerative capacity, needing effective wound treatment strategies. Hydrogels based on natural polymers have emerged as promising solutions for wound care, particularly when combined with advanced fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing. This study aimed to develop and characterize 3D printable hydrogels composed of alginate and gelatin due to their notable properties of biocompatibility and biomimicry. The incorporation of crosslinking agents, including calcium chloride (CaCl2) and transglutaminase (TGase), was investigated to enhance the mechanical and biochemical properties of the hydrogels. The effects of polymer concentration and crosslinking on hydrogel performance were evaluated through comprehensive analysis, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), swelling tests, and printability assessments. The influence of bioactive substances, such as green tea extract, on swelling behavior and printability was examined. The results of this work demonstrate that optimized formulations, such as ALG2.5GEL4 (Alginate2.5:Gelatin4) and ALG4GEL4 (Alginate:4Gelatin4), exhibit superior printing and swelling characteristics, indicating their potential for use in wound treatment applications. Incorporating bioactive compounds within the hydrogel matrix aimed to improve therapeutic outcomes and promote wound healing. Furthermore, extrusion-based 3D printing technology enables precise control of material deposition, facilitating the fabrication of customized dressings tailored for individual patient needs. This interdisciplinary approach, using natural polymers, bioactive substances, and advanced manufacturing techniques, holds great potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and advance healthcare practices, enhancing patient outcomes and quality of life.A pele humana, o maior órgão do corpo, desempenha a função de barreira protetora com efeitos importantes na regulação da temperatura e na perceção sensorial. No entanto, lesões graves como queimaduras muitas vezes desafiam a sua capacidade regenerativa, exigindo estratégias eficazes no tratamento de feridas. Os hidrogéis à base de polímeros naturais surgiram como soluções promissoras para cuidados com feridas, especialmente quando combinados com técnicas avançadas de fabricação, como a impressão 3D. Este estudo, teve como objetivo desenvolver e caracterizar hidrogéis imprimíveis em 3D compostos por alginato e gelatina, dado às suas propriedades notáveis de biocompatibilidade e biomiméticas . A incorporação de agentes de reticulação, incluindo cloreto de cálcio (CaCl2) e transglutaminase (TGase), foi investigada para aprimorar as propriedades mecânicas e bioquímicas dos hidrogéis. Através de uma análise extensa, incluindo espectroscopia de infravermelho por transformada de Fourier (FTIR), testes de inchamento e avaliações da impressão, foram estudados os efeitos da concentração de polímero e da reticulação no desempenho do hidrogel. Adicionalmente, foi examinada a influência de substâncias bioativas, como o extrato de chá verde, no comportamento de inchamento e impressão. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que as formulações otimizadas, como por exemplo a ALG2.5GEL4 (Alginato2.5:Gelatina4) e ALG4GEL4 (Alginato4:Gelatina4), exibem características de impressão e inchamento superiores, indicando o seu potencial para uso em aplicações de tratamento de feridas. A adição de compostos bioativos à matriz de hidrogel, foi efetuada visando melhorar os resultados terapêuticos e promover a cicatrização de feridas. Adicionalmente, a utilização da tecnologia de impressão 3D baseada em extrusão permitiu um controle preciso da deposição do material, facilitando a fabricação de curativos personalizados adaptados às necessidades individuais dos pacientes. Esta abordagem interdisciplinar, aproveitando polímeros naturais, substâncias bioativas e técnicas avançadas de fabricação, tem elevado potencial para revolucionar a medicina regenerativa resultando na evolução das práticas de saúde, melhorando assim os resultados obtidos com os pacientes e a desta forma a qualidade de vida