Browsing by Author "Santos, C."
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- Analysis of Motor Behavior based on Recurrence Analysis in Adults with Autism Spectrum and Neurotypicals in a Dynamic Balance Task: a pilot studyPublication . Altenburg, M.; Farinha, C.; Santos, C.; Mercê, Cristiana; Catela, David; Branco, Marco A. C.Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) refers to a range of neurodevelopmental disorders with deficits in postural control (PC), motor development and coordination. The PC deficit appears to be persistent across the spectrum and can limit the acquisition of new motor skills with severe consequences in life’s’ quality. Objectives: i) to verify if the nonlinear techniques can identify the local recurrence pattern in the phase space of the PC, in individuals with ASD, ii) to compare the PC between ASD and neurotypical individuals, during a task of dynamic rotation balance. Methods: six male adult individuals, three autistic and three neurotypicals, performed a dynamic balance task, where angular velocity data was collected from the trunk. Results: Despite the inexistence of significant differences, autistic adults revealed, for all planes of movement, higher mean values of recurrence, periodicity, stability (except for the maximum line in the transversal plane), complexity and intermittence; differences that were visually confirmed by observing the recurrence graphs. Autistic participants also revealing lower mean values of Lyapunov exponent, meaning less divergency and variability than the neurotypicals. Conclusions: the autistic’s postural control strategy of a greater periodicity, stability and a lower divergence and variability, may result from less plasticity in the ability to adjust to momentary states of postural imbalance. This strategy could be linked to the autistic’s stereotypical behavior of continuously cyclical movements. However, this does not result in greater variability in movement, but less variability. Given the neuro-motor difficulty of these autistic adults in producing varied ranges of motion, it is recommended to introduce dynamic balance activities, starting with reduced levels of postural stability disturbance.
- Dairy products and inflammation: a review of the clinical evidencePublication . Bordoni, A.; Danesi, F.; Dardevet, D.; Fernandez, A.; Gille, D.; Santos, C.; Pinto, Paula; Re, R.; Rémond, D.; Shahar, D.; Vergères, G.Inflammation is a major biological process regulating the interaction between organisms and the environment, including the diet. Because of the increase in chronic inflammatory diseases, and in light of the immune-regulatory properties of breastfeeding, the ability of dairy products to modulate inflammatory processes in humans is an important but unresolved issue. Here, we report a systematic review of 52 clinical trials investigating inflammatory markers in relation to the consumption of dairy products. An inflammatory score (IS) was defined to quantitatively evaluate this interaction. The IS was significantly positive for the entire data set, indicating an anti-inflammatory activity in humans. When the subjects were stratified according to their health status, the IS was strongly indicative of an anti-inflammatory activity in subjects with metabolic disorders and of a pro-inflammatory activity in subjects allergic to bovine milk. Stratifying the data by product categories associated both low-fat and high-fat products, as well as fermented products, with an anti-inflammatory activity. Remarkably, the literature is characterized by a large gap in knowledge on bioavailability of bioactive nutrients. Future research should thus better combine food and nutritional sciences to adequately follow the fate of these nutrients along the gastrointestinal and metabolic axes.
- Lycopene content and antioxidant capacity of portuguese watermelon fruitsPublication . Pinto, Paula; Santos, C.; Henriques, Carla; Basto de Lima, Maria Gabriela; Quedas, Maria de FátimaRed flesh watermelon is one of the main food sources with lycopene as the most abundant carotenoid and has been associated with a lowered risk of prostate cancer. In order to assess health benefits of Portuguese watermelon, five acessions from the Portuguese Bank of Germplasm were were chosen for antioxidant quantification and total solids content. Two of the acessions were further characterized for lycopene content. Due to its lycopene and antioxidant contents, accession 6185 may be considered a valuable germplasm for breeding programmes. The intake of one to three wedges of 6185 watermelon accession would provide between 6 to 18 mg of lycopene and 0.18 to 0.54 mmol TEAC (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity), which might protect from prostate cancer and other oxidative stress related diseases.
- Polyphenols journey through blood-brain barrier towards neuronal protectionPublication . Figueira, I.; Garcia, G.; Pimpão, R.; Terrasso, C.; Costa, I.; Almeida, A.; Tavares, L.; Pais, T.; Pinto, Paula; Ventura, M.; Filipe, A.; McDougall, G.; Stewart, D:; Kim, S.; Palmela, I.; Brites, D.; Brito, M.; Santos, C.Age-related complications such as neurodegenerative disorders are increasing and remain cureless. The possibility of altering the progression or the development of these multifactorial diseases through diet is an emerging and attractive approach with increasing experimental support. We examined the potential of known bioavailable phenolic sulfates, arising from colonic metabolism of berries, to infuence hallmarks of neurodegenerative processes. In silico predictions and in vitro transport studies across blood-brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cells, at circulating concentrations, provided evidence for diferential transport, likely related to chemical structure. Moreover, endothelial metabolism of these phenolic sulfates produced a plethora of novel chemical entities with further potential bioactivies. Pre-conditioning with phenolic sulfates improved cellular responses to oxidative, excitotoxicity and infammatory injuries and this attenuation of neuroinfammation was achieved via modulation of NF-κB pathway. Our results support the hypothesis that these small molecules, derived from dietary (poly)phenols may cross the BBB, reach brain cells, modulate microglia-mediated infammation and exert neuroprotective efects, with potential for alleviation of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Resultados de auditorias a trinta estabelecimentos alimentares no âmbito da segurança alimentarPublication . Raimundo, António; Rolo, J.; Amendoeira, A.; Santos, C.Sendo as auditorias uma ferramenta prática que se deverá utilizar em qualquer empresa do setor alimentar, neste trabalho tivemos como objetivo testar a aplicação de um modelo corrente de auditoria na verificação e monitorização das medidas implementadas em cada tipo de estabelecimento. Com o objetivo de estudar as não conformidades existentes no “terreno” realizouse uma abordagem experimental com uma amostragem de trinta estabelecimentos na área alimentar (restaurantes/snack bar; cafetarias/pastelarias; centros de apoio social) que permitissem identificar os incumprimentos por parte dos operadores, e, desse modo, agir de forma preventiva para minimizar tais ocorrências. Através da elaboração de uma lista de verificação foi então possível organizar os dados obtidos e fazer comparações entre categorias de estabelecimentos e principais problemas comuns ao conjunto de estabelecimentos. Concluiu-se que os principais incumprimentos se detetaram sobretudo ao nível da armazenagem e das instalações. Englobando na armazenagem os produtos alimentares não identificados e/ou identificados de forma incorreta, os produtos alimentares acondicionados de forma incorreta e os produtos alimentares em contato direto com o pavimento. Nas instalações verificamos haver falhas nos revestimentos, com sinais de degradação e/ou inadequados e incorreta higienização e desorganização geral. Pelo contacto direto com as empresas, é possível constatar que as causas de tais incumprimentos podem ser variadas e, apesar de se poder afirmar quais são, a verdade é que não passam de especulações fundamentadas nas probabilidades. O importante é conhecer os operadores, não esquecendo que todos são indivíduos diferentes, e como tal, é necessário adaptar e arranjar soluções que visam sobretudo a mudança de comportamentos, a aquisição de conhecimentos, “substituição” de conhecimentos erróneos, a motivação, perceber a perceção de prioridades e ajudar, ao ritmo possível do operador, a melhorar, a prevenir e a controlar possíveis perigos e riscos.
- Sistema de gestão ambiental para a ESASPublication . Santos, C.; Matos, N. F.; Santos Coelho, RosaO crescimento populacional e o desenvolvimento económico atuais, que se traduzem na necessidade de um aumento da produção e utilização de bens de consumo e na necessidade de dar destino final adequado a resíduos sólidos e efluentes líquidos, entre outros aspetos, determinam pressões elevadas sobre o meio ambiente. Uma das respostas que tem sido encontrada pela sociedade civil para estes problemas reside na definição e aplicação de Sistemas de Gestão Ambiental (SGA). A implementação de SGA a nível das empresas e instituições, permite enquadrar os problemas ambientais, contribuir para as soluções dos mesmos, reforçando uma imagem ambientalmente positiva e promovendo o aumento da competitividade das mesmas. O trabalho que se apresenta surge no âmbito da disciplina de projeto de Engenharia do Ambiente da Escola Superior Agrária de Santarém (ESAS) e pretende mostrar as vantagens que um Sistema de Gestão Ambiental (SGA) pode ter a nível de instituições ensino como a ESAS, bem como as dificuldades associadas à sua implementação. A aplicação deste modelo à ESAS atesta todas as mais-valias que um SGA pode ter na escola, quer a nível dos benefícios na redução da utilização de recursos e de custos monetários associados quer a nível da imagem melhorada que se transmite para a comunidade envolvente. Procura-se assim, que a ESAS conjugue a tradição pela qual é conhecida com a sustentabilidade a nível da gestão de recursos para as gerações futuras. ----The need for increased production and use of consumer goods due to population growth and economic development and the need to give an appropriate final destination to effluents and solid waste, determine significant pressures on the environment. One answer that has been found by civil society to minimize these problems lies in the definition and implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS). The EMS implementation at the level of companies and institutions, allows to frame environmental problems and contributes to their solutions, reinforcing a positive image and promoting the increase of their environmental competitiveness. The developed work within the discipline of Environmental Engineering Project of the Agricultural School of Santarém (ESAS) is intended to show the advantages by a Environmental Management System (EMS) implemented at the level of education institutions like ESAS, as well as the difficulties associated with its implementation. The application of this model to ESAS can show all gains that may have an EMS in school in terms of the benefits in reducing resource use and associated monetary costs and on the improved image that is transmitted to the surrounding community. This way ESAS can combine their ancestral tradition with sustainability in the management of resources for future generations.