21587 research outputs found
Sort by
The moderating effect of health orientation and subjective norms on the relationship between personal values and organic food purchase intention
No full textUnderstanding how organic food consumers' (OFCs) values influence their organic food purchase intention (OFPI) is paramount. This study examines the impact of OFCs ' values on OFPI and the moderating role of health orientation and subjective norms in this relationship. This study involved 307 OFCs who filled out an online form regarding attributes, consequences, and values (A-C-V), OFPI, health orientation, and subjective norms related to organic food consumption. Using PLS-SEM and the Means-End Chain Theory, results indicate that OFCs' values positively influence OFPI. Health orientation positively moderates the relationship between values and OFPI, while subjective norms negatively moderate it.10.13039/501100003593; 10.13039/50110000187
The volunteer functions inventory (VFI): adaptation and psychometric properties among a portuguese sample of volunteers
No full textThe Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) is an instrument widely used to assess volunteers’ motivation based on the Functionalist Model of Omoto and Snyder. It assesses six factors that reflect several motivational functions. The VFI has been translated into various languages and validated in different cultural contexts, but some studies have reported different factor structures (e.g., five or four factors). In the Portuguese context, previous studies have also shown inconsistent results. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the VFI for Portuguese volunteers, testing several alternative models (nine models) using confirmatory factor analysis. The sample comprised 468 volunteers (76.3% women), aged from 13 to 81 years (M = 36.66, SD = 14.93). The results support the original interrelated six-factor model as the best-fitting one. The VFI showed good internal consistency and convergent validity. Significant correlations were found between the VFI factors, organizational commitment, and volunteers’ satisfaction. Overall, the six-factor VFI is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the motivational functions of Portuguese volunteers, with implications for practice and research in the volunteering field.N/
First release of the European marine omics biodiversity observation network (EMO BON) shotgun metagenomics data from water and sediment samples
No full textThe European Marine Omics Biodiversity Observation Network (EMO BON) is an initiative of the European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC) to establish a persistent genomic observatory amongst designated European coastal marine sites, sharing the same protocols for sampling and data curation. Environmental samples are collected from the water column and, at some sites, soft sediments and hard substrates (Autonomous Reef Monitoring Structures- ARMS), together with a set of mandatory and discretionary metadata (including Essential Ocean Variables- EOVs). Samples are collected following standardised protocols at regular and specified intervals and sequenced in large six-monthly batches at a centralised sequencing facility. The use of standard operating procedures (SOPs) during data collection, library preparation and sequencing aims to provide uniformity amongstthe data collected from the sites. Coupled with strict adherence to open and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles, this ensures maximum comparability amongst samples and enhances reusability and interoperability of the data with other data sources. The observatory networkwas launched in June 2021, when the first sampling campaign took place.NR-10-INBS-0009; TED2021-132109B-C2
The diet and feeding habits of lagocephalus sceleratus in the eastern Mediterranean: a case study carried out off the island of Crete (southern Greece)
No full textThis study focused on the diet and feeding habits of the invasive pufferfish Lagocephalus sceleratus in the coastal waters of Crete (Cretan and Libyan Sea, eastern Mediterranean). The diet was composed of a wide variety of organisms, while the number of specimens with empty gastrointestinal tracts was low (14.41%). In total we were able to identify 38 different species of fish and invertebrates within the tracts analysed. Fish were the main diet component, followed by crustaceans and mollusks (mostly gastro- pods and cephalopods). At family level, the most significant preys were Sparidae and Mullidae teleosts, along with Cavoliniidae gastropods. The trophic level of L. sceleratus was estimated to be 4.13. The trophic niche breadth was intermediate, whereas the L. sceleratus population exhibits a mixed feeding strategy. Spatiotemporal differences in diet composition were also identified. The application of generalized additive models (GAMs) revealed that depth at which the fish were captured, season, region and total length, were significant predictors of the probability of occurrence of its most frequent prey groups. Fish prey occurrence was more probable in autumn and summer and at circa 20-25 m depth. In contrast, the probability of consuming crustaceans was higher in spring and winter and in specimens measuring 450-500 mm in length, and lower at 20-25 m, whilst increasing until a maximum at 40 m. The probability of non-cephalopod mollusks consumption was higher in winter and in the Libyan Sea, as well as at greater depths. Fish size had a significant effect on the likelihood of consuming photosynthetic organisms (algae and seagrass) and cepha- lopods, which was higher in larger fish. This study presents further evidence of the negative impact of L. sceleratus on the fisheries sector, revealing both predation on commercial species and the ingestion of various fishing gear parts
Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with functional stroke mimics: a case–control study from Southern Portugal
No full textBackground: Patients with functional neurological disorder presenting as stroke mimics or functional stroke mimics (FSMs) pose significant diagnostic challenges. In the acute phase, especially when patients are present within the therapeutic window for acute reperfusion treatments, a misdiagnosis of FSM can lead to unnecessary and costly interventions. Despite its clinical importance, the literature on the risk factors for FSM is limited. This study aims to compare the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with FSM to those with confirmed acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: This case-control study involved temporal matching between consecutive series of patients with FSM and controls with AIS from a single tertiary university hospital in southern Portugal. Results: A total of 188 patients were included: 64 cases (FSM) and 188 controls (AIS). The rate of stroke code activation and use of ambulance between was comparable between the two groups. The group of patients with FSM was younger (53.2 years vs. 69.5 years, p < 0.001) and had a higher proportion of females (52.4% vs. 47.6%, p = 0.001). There was no difference in terms of clinical severity at presentation. The proportion of specific signs, such as transcortical aphasia (3.1% vs. 20.9%, p = 0.014), gait abnormalities (15.6% vs. 33.9%, p = 0.004), and cranial nerve abnormalities (31.2% vs. 43.5%, p = 0.042), was lower in the FSM group compared to the AIS group. The proportion of patients on antithrombotic therapy (90.9% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.007) and antihypertensive drugs (78.5%, vs. 21.5%, p < 0.001) prior to the event was significantly higher in the AIS group. Likewise, the prevalence of cerebrovascular risk factors such as diabetes mellitus (14.3% vs. 85.7%, p = 0.005), arterial hypertension (23.8% vs. 76.2%, p = 0.001), and smoking (43.7% vs. 56.3%, p = 0.005) was lower in the FSM group compared to the AIS group. No statistically significant differences were observed in cholesterol levels or the prevalence of dyslipidemia between the two groups. Psychiatric comorbidities, including generalized anxiety disorder (71.4% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.05) and major depressive disorder (61.9% vs. 28.1%, p = 0.01), were more prevalent in the FSM group. Conclusions: Patients with FSM display different clinical and epidemiological profiles, with a higher likelihood of being younger, female, having prior psychiatric conditions, and lacking traditional cerebrovascular risk factors.UAIF 140/202
Enhancing cryopreservation of human induced pluripotent stem cells: bottom‐up versus conventional freezing geometry
No full textInduced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold large potential in regenerative medicine due to their pluripotency and unlimited self-renewal capacity without the ethical issues of embryonic stem cells. To provide quality-controlled iPSCs for clinical therapies, it is essential to develop safe cryopreservation protocols for long-term storage, preferably amenable to scale-up and automation. We have compared the impact of two different freezing geometries (bottom-up and conventional radial freezing) on the viability and differentiation potential of human iPSCs. Our results demonstrate that bottom-up freezing under optimized conditions significantly increases iPSC viability, up to 9% for cell membrane integrity and up to 21% for cell metabolic state, compared to conventional freezing. The improvement achieved for bottom-up versus conventional freezing was maintained after scale-up from cryogenic vials to 30 mL bags, highlighting its potential for clinical applications. These findings show that bottom-up freezing can offer a more controlled and scalable cryopreservation strategy for iPSCs, promoting their application in regenerative medicine.EMBRC.PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121; LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-04716
Industrial vernacular heritage and tourism – tide mills in Faro, Portugal
No full textFaro being a seaside city, the tide mills are part of its rich heritage. Located on the shores of the Ria Formosa, between mainland and sea, these mills have a potential tourist and cultural interest that is still unexploited. Taking part in the predominantly Mediterranean climate of Faro, along with tourism being one of the major engines of the region’s economy, proposals to create pedestrian routes are generally welcome. Thus, the objective of this article is to draw attention to a type of heritage that is at high risk of disappearing, developing a pedestrian path in the city of Faro, so that by integrating this heritage into a tourism and sustainable activity, it can be protected and disclosed. This research was based on bibliographic, webgraphic and field surveys. Throughout the development of the research for this work, the locations of several tide mills were identified, most of them in ruins, some disappeared completely only knowing their approximate location, or their function was changed, making use, in this case, of the existing infrastructures. In the Algarve, the region of which Faro is the capital, and in the city itself, the vernacular heritage is systematically ignored, either by ignorance or, for being a "minor" heritage, it is simply insignificant to the eyes of experts and to the general population, who do little to protect it. However, tide mills are part of the collective memory of the region and the city of Faro in particular, so it is important to draw attention to these heritage elements and, in this case, tourism can be a driving force
The prevalence of two known pathogens of atlantic blue crab callinectes sapidus (Rathbun, 1896) in coastal adriatic, aegean sea, and atlantic iberian coast
No full textIn the Mediterranean Sea, the abundance of the invasive portunid crab, Callinectes sapidus, has dramatically increased in recent years. This raises concerns about damage to ecosystems, but also offers opportunities for exploitation of a new fishery. Newly invasive species may escape from pathogens in their native range, may introduce new pathogens, or can become host to endemic pathogens. Understanding these factors is important for predicting or managing natural resources in the invaded range. Using quantitative PCR methodology, this study investigated the prevalence of two pathogens common in C. sapidus in its home range of North America: the reovirus CsRV1 and the protozoan parasite Hematodinium perezi. In crabs collected from Aegean, Adriatic, and Atlantic waters, the CsRV1 virus was not detected. In contrast, the parasite H. perezi was found in crabs from all areas except the Aegean Sea. Sequence analysis of the H. perezi ITS1 gene indicated that the strains observed are most related to genotypes already described in Europe and the Mediterranean, and not to strains from the Americas or Asia. The arrival of new species and new potential pathogens is ongoing through transfer of ballast water to the Atlantic and Mediterranean. Although systems are in place to exchange or inactivate ballast water, it is advisable to continue and expand surveillance for pathogens in introduced species, to inform management of movement of these species between regions
Scanning the horizon: anticipating future changes in Portuguese aquatic ecosystems
No full textWe identified 15 emerging and poorly understood topics related to aquatic ecosystems in Portugal (from an initial pool of 43), which were scored and prioritized using a consensus-based Delphi technique. For marine ecosystems, the topics included current and future threats to low-lying sandy coasts, the impacts of the green energy transition, the risks posed by pathogens on floating ocean debris, the strategic importance of algae for a sustainable future, and Portugal’s potential contribution to the expansion of Marine Protected Areas. For freshwater ecosystems, the topics included identifying drought refuges for freshwater biodiversity, assessing the potential ecological and social costs of water highways, uncovering the hidden impacts of clean energy (floating solar panels and lithium mining), managing water quality in reservoirs, and understanding the potential impacts of the recent expansion of intensive olive orchards. For cross-cutting topics relevant to both types of ecosystems, the most scored topics included the importance of aquatic super-sites for ecological monitoring, new solutions for detecting and removing emerging pollutants, the application of rewilding, the impact of forest pathogens and emerging zoonoses, and the rise of organic compounds as a multidimensional threat. Prioritizing these topics can support a more proactive approach to conserving, managing, and sustainably exploring aquatic ecosystems in Portugal. This methodology can also be used to prioritize research funding areas identified bottom up (by the scientific community) rather than dictated from the top down (by decision-makers) and serve as a roadmap for conducting similar exercises in other regions of the world.CEEC/0482/2020; CEECIND/CP2841/CT0002; CEECINSTLA/00018/2022; CEECIND/02484/2018; UID/00350/202
Stratigraphy, evolution and morphology of a sand-rich shoreface
No full textShoreface morphology and stratigraphic evolution are poorly documented along most of the world’s coasts yet are acknowledged to be important influences on shoreline behaviour during changing sea levels. A wide, low gradient, wave-dominated shoreface characterises the area off Xai-Xai in southern Mozambique. It is developed on a Holocene wave ravinement surface cut into deltaic sands punctuated by lithified aeolianite ridges. The 2 kmwide mobile shoreface sand body extends to − 23 m depth and averages 10 m in thickness. The modern shoreface bathymetry mimics the underlying wave ravinement surface and this, in turn, is influenced by the presence of aeolianite ridges that create a pronounced break in slope that defines the base of the modern shoreface. The aeolianite influences the wave ravinement profile from which the modern bathymetry is inherited. Comparison with theoretical equilibrium shoreface profile models reveals contrasting shoreface morphodynamic state conditions, dependent upon the model chosen. Based on the model better suited for the lower shoreface. These results emphasize the widely acknowledged but still poorly understood role of geologic inheritance on shoreface morphodynamics and geomorphological evolution, even in sand-rich environments.CEECINST/00052/2021/CP2792/CT0011; LA/P/00069/2020; UID/00350/202