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Programa de intervenção utilizando jogos de realidade virtual aumentada em pessoas idosas
Get PDFOs jogos de Realidade Virtual (RV) foram propostos como uma nova solução tecnológica para
ajudar os idosos a melhorar sua capacidade funcional geral. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre a
intensidade da atividade física (AF) nas aulas de jogos de RV. Esta informação é de particular
importância para o planeamento de atividades de RV para idosos.
Os objetivos deste estudo foram duplos: (1) investigar a mudança nos scores de aptidão
cognitiva e funcional antes e depois de uma intervenção de 8 semanas, combinando aulas
convencionais de jogos de AF e RVA, e (2) analisar as diferenças nos níveis de intensidade de
AF entre os jogos convencionais e aulas de jogos RVA.
Uma amostra longitudinal de 11 mulheres com idade média de 67.1 (4.0) anos de idade
participaram num estudo experimental constituído por 8 aulas convencionais e 8 sessões de
jogos de RVA. A avaliação da aptidão funcional foi baseada na versão curta da Fullerton
Advance Balance Scale (Rose, 2006) e com recurso a bateria de testes Senior Fitness Test
Manual (Rikli & Jones, 2001). A função cognitiva foi avaliada pelo Mini Mental State
Examination (MMSE, Folstein et al., 1975). Referente a avaliação da composição corporal foi
utilizado o InBody. A intensidade da atividade física foi avaliada usando o Actigraph GT3X
Activity Monitor. As 8 aulas foram avaliadas integralmente nas diferentes intensidades de AF
(ou seja, sedentária, leve, moderada e vigorosa) usando o software ActiLife, versão 6
[(ActiGraph, Pensacola, FL, EUA; utilizando os pontos de corte sugeridos pela literatura
anterior (Freedson et al., 1998)]. O teste de classificação sinalizada de Wilcoxon foi conduzido
para examinar a aptidão cognitiva e funcional entre a pré e pós intervenção. Em segundo lugar,
uma análise de variância mista entre os sujeitos foi conduzida para avaliar as diferenças entre
os dois tipos de aulas em termos de intensidades de AF.
Em termos de aptidão funcional, após 8 semanas, os resultados mostraram uma melhoria
significativa somente na flexibilidade e na marcha. Melhorias nos parâmetros cognitivos, foram
unicamente observadas no MMSE. Não foram observadas mudanças nas variáveis da
composição corporal. Finalmente, as aulas convencionais apresentaram uma maior
percentagem de tempo despendido em AF sedentária. Contudo, foram também aquelas que
apresentaram percentagens maiores de AF moderada a vigorosa. As aulas de RVA apresentaram
valores superiores de AF leve.Virtual Reality (VR) games have been proposed as a new technological solution to help older
adults improve their overall functional capacity. However, little is known about the intensity of
physical activity (PA) in VR gaming classes. This information is of particular importance for
planning VR activities for seniors.
The objectives of this study were twofold: (1) to investigate the change in cognitive and
functional fitness scores before and after an 8-week intervention, combining conventional PA
and RVA game classes, and (2) to analyze the differences in levels of PA intensity between
conventional games and RVA game classes.
A longitudinal sample of eleven women with a mean age of 67.1 (4.0) years old participated in
an experimental study consisting of 8 conventional classes and 8 VRA gaming sessions. The
assessment of functional fitness was based on the short version of the Fullerton Advance
Balance Scale (Rose, 2006) and using the Senior Fitness Test Manual Test Battery (Rikli &
Jones, 2001). Cognitive function was assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE,
Folstein et al., 1975). Regarding the assessment of body composition, InBody was used.
Physical activity intensity was assessed using the Actigraph GT3X Activity Monitor. The 8
classes were fully evaluated at different intensities of PA (i.e., sedentary, light, moderate and
vigorous) using the ActiLife software, version 6 [(ActiGraph, Pensacola, FL, USA; using the
cutoff points suggested by previous literature (Freedson et al., 1998)]. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was conducted to examine cognitive and functional fitness between pre- and post intervention. Second, a between-subjects mixed analysis of variance was conducted to assess
differences between the two types of classes in terms of PA intensities.
In terms of functional fitness, after 8 weeks, the results showed a significant improvement only
in flexibility and gait. Improvements in cognitive parameters were only observed in the MMSE.
No changes were observed in body composition variables. Finally, conventional classes
showed a higher percentage of time spent on sedentary PA. However, they were also those who
showed higher percentages of moderate to vigorous PA. RVA classes showed higher values of
light PA
Task Generator 2.0: leveraging personalized paper and pencil cognitive training to a tablet approach
Get PDFAs deficiências cognitivas afetam a capacidade de uma pessoa para realizar atividades diárias.
Existem evidências que sustentam o fato de que, por meio da reabilitação, é possível mitigar os
efeitos do declínio cognitivo. Embora abordagens tradicionais sejam amplamente aceites, tais
intervenções são limitadas devido ao tempo e aos recursos humanos. Com os avanços na tec nologia, novas soluções surgiram no campo das intervenções cognitivas computadorizadas. O
NeuroRehabLab Task Generator (NTG) é uma ferramenta online gratuita que gera facilmente
tarefas em papel e lápis altamente personalizadas que abordam vários domínios cognitivos. A
tese atual aprimora as capacidades do NTG, implementando o algoritmo de geração de tarefas
aleatórias do NTG e integrando-o em uma aplicação web. O foco da nova versão é o conteúdo in terativo, que permite aos usuários executar imediatamente as tarefas geradas, ao mesmo tempo
em que permite aos clínicos avaliar o desempenho do paciente. Propomos uma metodologia itera tiva na qual cada tarefa presente no NTG será adaptada, testada e avaliada.Cognitive impairments affect a person’s ability to perform daily activities. There is evidence that
support the fact that through rehabilitation it is possible to mitigate the effects of cognitive de terioration. Although traditional approaches are highly accepted, these interventions are lim ited due to time and human resources. With the advancements in technology, new solutions have
emerged in the field of computerized cognitive interventions. The NeuroRehabLab Task Gener ator(NTG) is a free online web-tool that easily generates highly personalized paper-and-pencil
tasks that address multiple cognitive domains. The current thesis, enhances the capabilities of
the NTG, implementing the randomized task generation algorithm from NTG and integrating it
into a web application. The focal point of the new version is the interactive content, that allows
users to immediately perform the generated tasks, while also allowing clinicians to evaluate the
patient’s performance. We propose an iterative methodology in which each task present in the
NTG will be ported, tested and evaluated
Tapest[o]ry: exploring the interactive capabilities of tapestries as a storytelling tool
Get PDFOs nossos antepassados comunicavam histórias através de tapeçarias, utilizando-as para adornar
espaços públicos e privados. Tradicionalmente, estas tapeçarias eram obras de arte estáticas pen duradas em paredes sem interação com o público. No entanto, os têxteis oferecem um meio versátil,
que pode ser criado a partir de vários materiais e cores e manipulado para produzir texturas únicas
e sensíveis ao tato. A nossa visão é integrar as capacidades táteis da tecelagem com a tecnologia
de sensores capacitivos para criar uma instalação artística interativa media imersiva que explore
o impacto negativo da poluição sonora nos ecossistemas marinhos. Os animais marinhos, partic ularmente os cetáceos, dependem fortemente do som para a comunicação, navegação e caça, e a
poluição sonora pode perturbar estas funções essenciais. Ao aproveitar o potencial narrativo das
tapeçarias e o poder dos sensores capacitivos conectados a microcontroladores, desenvolvemos uma
instalação artística única e imersiva que educa o público e quem tem o poder de tomar medi das sobre estas questões preocupantes. Os resultados qualitativos e quantitativos sugerem que o
Tapest[o]ry é uma ferramenta de interface tangível e eficiente para contar histórias interativas e
sensibilizar para a poluição sonora marinha.Our ancestors communicated stories through tapestries, using them to adorn both public and
private spaces. Traditionally, these tapestries were static artworks hanging on walls without inter acting with the audience. Nevertheless, textiles offer a versatile medium, which can be crafted from
various materials and colours and manipulated to produce unique, touch-responsive textures. Our
vision is to integrate the tactile capabilities of weaving with capacitive sensor technology to create
a media-immersed interactive art installation that explores the negative impact of noise pollution
on marine life ecosystems. Marine animals, particularly cetaceans, heavily rely on sound for com munication, navigation, and hunting, and noise pollution can disrupt these essential functions. By
harnessing the storytelling potential of tapestries and the power of capacitive sensors connected to
microcontrollers, we developed a unique and immersive art installation that educates the public
and decision-makers about these pressing issues. Qualitative and quantitative results suggest that
the Tapest[o]ry is an efficient tangible interface tool for interactive storytelling and awareness of
marine noise pollution
O impacto da personalidade e da exploração de carreira na certeza da tomada de decisão de carreira e bem-estar dos estudantes do ensino superior
Get PDFEste estudo foca-se no impacto das avaliações nucleares do self e no mecanismo
mediador da exploração de carreira na certeza da tomada de decisão de carreira e bem-estar
dos estudantes do ensino superior. Os dados foram recolhidos tendo por base um design
transversal, com a aplicação de um questionário-online a 377 estudantes do ensino superior
de vários cursos e instituições, residentes em Portugal. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram
que as avaliações nucleares do self (CSE) apresentam uma correlação negativa com a
exploração de carreira. As análises de mediação subsequentes revelaram que a exploração de
carreira não medeia de forma significativa a relação entre as CSE e a certeza na tomada de
decisão de carreira, nem entre as CSE e o bem-estar. O efeito direto das CSE na certeza da
tomada de decisão de carreira foi significativo, tal como no bem-estar. O impacto das CSE na
tomada de decisão de carreira ocorre de forma totalmente direta, verificando-se o mesmo no
que respeita ao bem-estar. As implicações destes resultados para a promoção do bem-estar e
sucesso na carreira dos estudantes são apresentadas e discutidas.This study focuses on the impact of core self-evaluations and the mediating
mechanism of career exploration on the certainty of career decision-making and well-being of
higher education students. The data were collected based on a cross-sectional design with the
application of an online questionnaire to 377 higher education students from various courses
and institutions, residing in Portugal. The results showed that core self-evaluations (CSE)
have a negative correlation with career exploration. Subsequent mediation analyses revealed
that career exploration does not significantly mediate the relationship between CSE and
certainty in career decidedness, nor between CSE and well-being. The direct effect of CSE on
the certainty of career decidedness was significant, as was on well-being. The impact of CSE
on career decidedness is entirely straightforward, and the same is true for well-being. The
implications of these results for the promotion of well-being and career success of students
are presented and discussed
Sentiment Analysis in Portuguese Restaurant Reviews: Application of Transformer Models in Edge Computing
Get PDFThis study focuses on improving sentiment analysis in restaurant reviews by leveraging
transfer learning and transformer-based pre-trained models. This work evaluates the suitability of pre trained deep learning models for analyzing Natural Language Processing tasks in Portuguese. It also
explores the viability of utilizing edge devices for Natural Language Processing tasks, considering
their computational limitations and resource constraints. Specifically, we employ bidirectional
encoder representations from transformers and robustly optimized BERT approach, two state-of-the art models, to build a sentiment review classifier. The classifier’s performance is evaluated using
accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve as the primary metrics. Our
results demonstrate that the classifier developed using ensemble techniques outperforms the baseline
model (from 0.80 to 0.84) in accurately classifying restaurant review sentiments when three classes
are considered (negative, neutral, and positive), reaching an accuracy and area under the receiver
operating characteristic curve higher than 0.8 when examining a Zomato restaurant review dataset,
provided for this work. This study seeks to create a model for the precise classification of Portuguese
reviews into positive, negative, or neutral categories. The flexibility of deploying our model on
affordable hardware platforms suggests its potential to enable real-time solutions. The deployment of
the model on edge computing platforms improves accessibility in resource-constrained environments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Three leafhoppers newly recorded from the European mainland (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae), with notes on their habitats
Get PDFThe leafhopper fauna of the Iberian Peninsula is the least studied in Europe. Recent surveys in agroecosystem areas of southern Spain, specifically in Andalusia, aimed to identify potential Auchenorrhyncha vectors of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa. During these surveys, three previously unrecorded species of Cicadellidae belonging to the subfamily Deltocephalinae have been discovered. These newly recorded species are Balclutha incisa (Matsumura), Cicadulina (Cicadulina) bipunctata (Melichar), and Maiestas angustisecta (Linnavuori). Generally, these species were previously only known from American, African and eastern Palaearctic regions. This work is the first to record these species on the European mainland. Detailed descriptions of adult specimens have been provided, along with information on their current distribution and host plants. The potential role of these leafhoppers as potential vectors of plant pathogens is discussed, highlighting their importance in agroecosystems. </jats:p
New records of Oecanthus species (Orthoptera, Oecanthidae) in the Madeira archipelago
Get PDFThe Madeira and Porto Santo Islands have both witnessed substantial habitat loss since their initial colonization. Despite their small size and the degradation of their natural habitats, they harbor a rich diversity of terrestrial invertebrates, including a significant number of endemic species. While research on Orthoptera fauna has predominantly focused on the largest island of Madeira, the smaller island of Porto Santo has remained relatively understudied. Fieldwork on both islands has led to the discovery of Oecanthus dulcisonans Gorochov, 1993 in the Madeira archipelago (Porto Santo and Madeira) for the first time. This species was described based on specimens collected in Tenerife and the Arabian Peninsula. However, its distribution, which includes parts of Africa, Western Asia, and some localities in Southern Europe, remains poorly understood. Oecanthus dulcisonans is morphologically very similar to Oecanthus pellucens (Scopoli, 1763), the only species of this genus previously recorded for the island of Madeira. Due to this resemblance, doubts have arisen regarding which of these two species is present in Madeira. By examining new material of O. pellucens, we have confirmed the presence of this species on Madeira as well. These new findings highlight the fact that, for these species, the Madeira archipelago represents the western limit of their distributional ranges in the Palearctic region.</jats:p
Trends in airborne grass pollen in Évora City (Portugal)
Get PDFAbstractAerobiology could be used as complementary data or proxy for studying phenology, especially in species which usually are not long-distance transported, such as grasses. This 21-year aerobiological study took place in Évora (South Portugal), using a seven-day recording volumetric pollen trap with the aim of analysing the temporal trends of grass pollen seasons. To this end, data were statistically tested for correlation and regression to determine the features and temporal trends of pollen seasons. Main results show that Poaceae pollen has a high representation in pollen spectrum, 20% (min: 7%; max: 44%), with a long season starting in March and lasting till August/September or October. There was an overall, but not statistically significant trend, towards an increase in the annual pollen integral and peak values, and also an overall non-statistically significant trend towards an earlier start and later end of the pollen season. Main and high pollen seasons have been lasting longer, and the days with allergenic potential have been rising in line with the local temperature rising trend. It seems that grass pollen production is being aided by warmer temperatures and increased grassland areas in Alentejo region. This could promote the increase in annual pollen levels and in the number of high pollen days over the years. In clinical terms, it means that grass allergic patients are exposed to longer periods of airborne pollen and to higher counts over a longer time. The climate conditions projected for Alentejo region, including rising temperature, and the changes in local grassland areas may help to clarify the trends of grass pollen seasons in the next decades.</jats:p
Development of HA-based hydrogels for biomedical applications using different crosslinkers
No full textHyaluronic acid (HA) is a biomolecule that has been widely used in the synthesis
of hydrogels, receiving considerable attention due to its unique physiological properties
and functions. HA-based hydrogels have been applied in the biomedical field, especially
in drug delivery, wound healing, cosmetics, and tissue engineering. However, these
hydrogels often face some challenges like their susceptibility to degradation by
hyaluronidase, which limits their application to a certain extent. The objective of this
thesis was to develop HA-based hydrogels using various crosslinkers, with the goal of
creating materials that exhibit enhanced stability and cytocompatibility for potential
biomedical applications. Studies were conducted using polyethylene glycol diglycidyl
ether (PEGDE), ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE), and genipin as crosslinkers,
with glutaraldehyde included for comparison as a classical crosslinker. These hydrogels
were not only successfully prepared and characterized (e.g., FTIR, SEM), but this thesis
also represents the first study to explore hydrogels crosslinked simultaneously by
PEGDE and genipin. The prepared hydrogels displayed high swelling capacity and
stability in both water and PBS over time. The swelling behavior of the hydrogels was
influenced by factors such as the formulation composition, degree of crosslinking,
crosslinker length and swelling media. In this regard, greater swelling was observed in
water compared to PBS. The in vitro stability and resistance of HA-based hydrogels to
enzymatic degradation were influenced by the crosslinking density, with the highest
degree of crosslinking producing the most stable and resilient hydrogels. Importantly, the
hydrogel crosslinked by both PEGDE and genipin demonstrated particular high
swellability and stability. Despite their high stability, the developed hydrogels exhibited
significant cytotoxicity, particularly when cells were cultured in direct contact with them.
In this context, further studies are needed to draw more definitive conclusions about the
biocompatibility of these hydrogels and their potential applications in the biomedical
domain.O ácido hialurónico (HA) é uma biomolécula que tem sido amplamente utilizada
na síntese de hidrogéis, recebendo uma atenção considerável devido às suas
propriedades e funções fisiológicas únicas. Os hidrogéis à base de HA têm sido
aplicados na área biomédica, especialmente na administração de fármacos, cicatrização
de feridas, cosmética e engenharia de tecidos. No entanto, estes hidrogéis enfrentam
constantemente certos desafios tais como a sua suscetibilidade à degradação pela
hialuronidase, o que limita a sua aplicação até certo ponto. O objetivo desta tese foi
desenvolver hidrogéis à base de HA, usando vários agentes de reticulação, com o intuito
de criar materiais que exibissem uma melhor estabilidade e citocompatibilidade para
potenciais aplicações biomédicas. Estudos foram realizados usando éter diglicidílico de
polietilenoglicol (PEGDE), éter diglicidílico de etilenoglicol (EGDE) e genipina como
agentes de reticulação, incluindo o glutaraldeído para comparação como clássico
agente de reticulação. Estes hidrogéis não foram apenas preparados e caracterizados
com sucesso (FTIR, SEM), mas esta tese também representa o primeiro estudo em
explorar hidrogéis reticulados simultaneamente com PEGDE e genipina. Os hidrogéis
sintetizados apresentaram uma elevada capacidade de hidratação e uma grande
estabilidade tanto em água como em PBS ao longo do tempo. O comportamento de
hidratação dos hidrogéis foi influenciado por fatores como a composição da formulação
do gel, o grau de reticulação, o comprimento do agente de reticulação e o meio de
hidratação. Tendo isto em conta, foi possível observar uma maior capacidade de
hidratação em água em relação ao PBS. A estabilidade in vitro e a resistência dos
hidrogéis à base de HA à degradação enzimática foram influenciadas pela densidade
de reticulação, sendo que um maior grau de reticulação produziu os hidrogéis mais
estáveis e resilientes. É importante referir que o hidrogel duplamente reticulado por
PEGDE e genipina demonstrou particularmente uma elevada capacidade de hidratação
e estabilidade. Apesar de apresentarem uma elevada estabilidade, os hidrogéis
sintetizados mostraram uma citotoxicidade significativa, particularmente quando as
células foram cultivadas em contacto direto com estes. Neste contexto, serão
necessários mais estudos para obter conclusões mais definitivas sobre a
biocompatibilidade destes hidrogéis e as suas potenciais aplicações no domínio da
biomedicina