Polytechnic Institute of Viseu

Humans have been consuming milk obtained from domesticated animals since ancient times. Milk is a very complete food with important nutrients that can support life. However, the patterns of consumption of milk have been shifting. On one hand, due to the increase in the number of people with intolerances (to lactose, for example), and on the other hand, due to some trend to avoid foods from animal origin owing to specific conviction (like animal welfare, for example). In this context, this study focused on the milk consumption patterns in two different European Countries and the evaluation of possible differences. The object of study was milk obtained from animal sources, namely, cows, and no other derived fermented dairy products were included. For the development of the study, a questionnaire survey was applied to a sample of 542 participants from both countries using the Internet. The results showed that a high percentage of participants in both countries consume milk regularly, and the usual amount varies between 125 and 250 mL per day. For those who do not consume milk, the most relevant reason pointed out in both countries was because they do not feel the need to consume it. While in France, a high percentage also do not consume because they do not like milk, and in Portugal, a high percentage do not consume milk due to lactose intolerance. The most consumed is semi-skimmed milk, and preferences are towards consuming plain milk or consuming it with chocolate. Significant differences were found in the consumption of white brands, which are preferred in France, while in Portugal, consumers prefer commercial brands, as well as the preferred package, tetra packs for the Portuguese, while the French prefer plastic bottles. In conclusion, although the results showed some similar trends among the participants from both countries, some differences were also identified that can be used to better plan public policies in both countries.

A sustainable food system can be described as a system that ensures economic, social, and environmental sustainability to secure food and nutrition for current and future generations. The present research aimed to identify and characterize sustainable food initiatives to understand the governance framework, the motivations, the reasons for success, the typology of actors involved, and future prospects. Semi-structured interviews were conducted for seven initiatives between June and August 2024. The interviews were performed online, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. The results showed that the main drivers of the initiatives relate to food, sustainability, and economic and social dimensions. Moreover, one of the reasons for the success of the initiatives is the availability and commitment of the people involved. These initiatives were created to meet local needs and promote sustainability as well as to encourage economic circularity, knowledge sharing, rural and local valorization, and waste management.

Citric acid (CA), a naturally occurring compound in fruits, mainly citrus, has gained attention for its eco-friendly potential in wood modification. Through esterification, citric acid reacts with wood polymers to form bonds that improve adhesion, dimensional stability, and durability while reducing moisture absorption and susceptibility to decay. This study evaluated the efficacy of CA as an eco-friendly wood treatment. Wood samples were treated with solutions at varying concentrations (5%, 10%, and 15%) and assessed for dimensional stability, mechanical properties, biological resistance, and ecotoxicity. CA treatments significantly improved dimensional stability, with higher concentrations yielding greater weight percent gain (WPG) and anti-swelling efficiency (ASE). Biological tests demonstrated exceptional termite resistance, with no survival and minimal mass loss in treated samples at higher concentrations. Similarly, fungal resistance improved, as citric acid inhibited fungal growth. Ecotoxicity tests showed relatively low phytotoxicity, with some decrease in germination indices (GI) at higher CA concentrations. These findings highlight CA as a sustainable wood treatment for enhanced durability and biodegradation resistance in construction and outdoor applications.

Background/Objectives: Depression is influenced by a multitude of interconnected factors, including cancer and handgrip strength. The purpose of our study is to examine how handgrip strength and cancer diagnosis are individually and jointly associated with depression. Methods: An observational study was employed using secondary data from the Survey of Health, Aging, and Retirement in Europe waves 7 and 8. The sample comprised 7 641 participants (71.1 ± 7.7 years), from 12 European countries. Results: Having a cancer diagnosis was associated with greater odds of depression (depression 2017 model: OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.03, 1.75; depression 2019 model: OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.12, 1.95). Being in a higher handgrip tertile was associated with lower odds of depression (depression 2017 model: tertile 2, OR = 0.65, 95% CI = 0.56, 0.74 and tertile 3, OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.49, 0.65; depression 2019 model: tertile 2, OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.64, 0.86 and tertile 3, OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.65, 0.88). The greatest reduction in odds for depression was found for participants without cancer and in the third handgrip strength tertile (depression 2017: OR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.29, 0.61; depression 2019: OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.28, 0.58). Conclusions: Both cancer and handgrip strength were associated with depression, with the first increasing its risk and the latter reducing it. Individuals without cancer and in the highest tertile of handgrip strength have lower odds of depression in both analyses.

This paper aims to provide small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) owned by families with a simple, achievable technical methodology for the assessment of sustainable mobility alternatives, in particular, the purchase of electric vehicles (EVs) and photovoltaic (PV) systems. By adopting a comprehensive comparative analysis approach, this research aims to empower SMEs to make highly informed decisions concerning the choice of vehicles and energy systems that provide strategic and sustainable value. Based on a quantitative analysis linked to the total costs over ten years, and considering the different types of vehicles (electric, hybrid, and combustion) and the integration of PV systems, practical formulas are used to calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO), energy consumption, and CO2 emissions. The results show that adopting electric vehicles, especially those complemented by photovoltaic systems with storage for night-time charging, can significantly reduce operating costs and carbon emissions, generating economic and environmental value. This study provides an accessible and applicable approach to the context of family SMEs, facilitating the analysis and choice of mobility options based on simple and commercially available data. By focusing on value creation through informed and strategic decisions, this work offers a relevant contribution to the competitiveness and sustainability of SMEs, promoting the adoption of sustainable mobility technologies in an integrated and effective manner.

This study examines how consumer, investor, and manager sentiment explain US stock excess returns over 23 years. Its novelty resides in integrating the sentiments of three different types of economic and financial agents. It also performs a segmented temporal analysis using rolling window techniques, to assess sentiment’s impact across different time horizons. The empirical analysis utilizes the Paris-Winsten and Newey-West estimators, along with the ARMAX model to address autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity in linear regression, providing robust standard errors and reliable statistical inferences. The autoregressive moving average models estimate excess return based on the past values, shocks, and external variables. Combining the Fama-French five-factor model with the sentiment factor enriches the analysis. The study’s findings indicate that higher consumer optimism negatively impacts excess returns, as investors may anticipate a future decline in the stock market due to an existing overheated economy. Investor sentiment exhibits mixed behavior, where higher uncertainty may increase stock returns due to previous oversold markets creating opportunities for investors or due to the closing of short positions, which will also increase stock demand. It is also related to decreased stock returns depending on the proxy used. As for managers’ sentiment, this work did not demonstrate a relevant relationship between this sentiment and stock returns. The study also reveals that the importance of sentiment determinants of those three agents changes over time. The findings support behavioral models of asset pricing, which incorporate both market fundamentals and the psychological characteristics (sentiment) of different market participants. AcknowledgmentsThis work is funded by National Funds through the FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the project Ref. UIDB/05583/2020. Furthermore, we would like to thank the Research Centre in Digital Services (CISeD) and the Instituto Politécnico de Viseu for their support.

The study analyzed whether maturation affects young basketball players’ strength training and detraining adaptations. Thirty-five youth male basketballers (U-13 to U-15) performed eight weeks of strength training twice weekly, followed by eight weeks without strength training, maintaining their basketball practices. Changes in performance were assessed in three maturity groups based on years from/to age of peak height velocity (PHV): pre-PHV (-1.51 ± 0.62, n = 9), mid-PHV (0.11 ± 0.45, n = 17), and post-PHV (1.31 ± 0.42, n = 9). They were tested on bilateral-vertical countermovement jump, unilateral vertical and horizontal jumping, unilateral triple horizontal jumping (3HJ), sprinting (25-m), and change of direction (COD) ability over single and multiple angles. All groups significantly (p < 0.05; ES = 0.42–1.10) improved unilateral horizontal jumping ability between pre-and post-test. Unilateral vertical jumping significantly improved in mid-PHV and post-PHV between pre- and post- (p < 0.05; ES = 0.46–0.61) and pre- to detraining (p < 0.05; ES = 0.51–1.01). Pre-PHV and mid-PHV significantly enhanced 3HJ between pre- and post- (p < 0.05; ES = 0.72–1.15) and de-training (p < 0.05; ES = 0.61–1.11). COD ability significantly improved in mid-PHV between pre- and post- and detraining (p < 0.05; ES = 0.47–0.80). Left horizontal jumping at post-test and detraining was significantly (p < 0.05; ES = 1.56 – 1.73) greater in post-PHV and mid-PHV than pre-PHV. The combined training had favorable outcomes for most unilateral jumps, particularly those with a horizontally oriented force vector, independent of maturity status. Moreover, the subsequent detraining period positively affected specific high-intensity actions, albeit variations were noted across different maturation stages. These findings can help practitioners to design effective strength training programmes during competitive basketball season for youth male basketballers.

Positive mental health in individuals’ lives and happiness at work have been growing concerns for organizations. This web-based cross-sectional study aimed to understand these two factors and their interrelationship in a population of workers. Data were collected with an e-questionnaire from 1768 individuals currently employed in various public and private organizations. The variables studied included: social and occupational data, happiness at work, and positive mental health. Study participants showed good levels of positive mental health and happiness at work. Positive mental health was positively associated with both organizational happiness domains and function and with perceived productivity (p < 0.001). Using a multiple linear regression model, we found four predictors of overall happiness at work: age, perception of productivity, seniority, and positive mental health factors (personal satisfaction, autonomy and problem-solving and self-actualization) (R² = 0.249). Organizations wishing to make employees happier and more productive should promote mental health in the workplace. Interventions that focus on the adoption of positive coping techniques in the workplace, such as training focused on increasing intrapreneurial self-capital, should also be explored.

Immersive technologies, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are effective technologies being implemented across diverse fields. We propose an AR/VR-based Web app to be applied in the cultural tourism field with the objective of enhancing the visitors’ experience of the Monserrate Palace, part of a UNESCO cultural landscape located in Sintra, Portugal, managed by Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua SA. This chapter overviews the state of the art on immersive technologies in cultural heritage sites and the visitor experience at these sites. Then, it exposes the palace’s historical and cultural significance and some of the challenges it faces in engaging its visitors. The potential applications of immersive technologies in the palace are explored, including interactive storytelling and immersive experiences that allow for a higher level of visitor engagement. Next, it addresses potential challenges and limitations of deploying the proposed solution in the palace, such as technical constraints and preservation concerns. It then concludes with a reflection on the significant potential of AR and VR in enriching the immersive experience of Monserrate Palace, offering new possibilities for engaging with cultural heritages and creating a memorable and enjoyable visit for modern audiences.

This study aimed to examine and compare the anthropometric profiles, motor skills, game-related abilities, and functional capacities of under-15 (U-15) and under-16 (U-16) male basketball players, evaluate the impact of maturity offset, and predict performance across physical and sport-specific domains. A total of 234 athletes participated in a comprehensive test battery, assessing morphological (height, mass, standing reach), physical (sprinting, agility, jump height, endurance), technical (jump shot, free throws, dribbling), and functional movement screen variables. The U-16 group outperformed U-15 players in physical characteristics and jump height. Within the U-15 group, players with advanced maturity exhibited greater body mass, height, reach, and vertical jump performance. Maturity offset was a significant predictor of linear speed and standing jump, while factors like age, height, and functional abilities contributed to broader physical performance outcomes. Only height and FMS scores were associated with sport-specific skill levels. These findings highlight that a multidimensional approach—including maturity status, anthropometric data, physical and technical skills, and functional assessments—provides essential insights for supporting athletic development in young basketball players and can inform tailored training strategies to enhance both physical and technical performance.

This study aims to adapt “The Eating Motivations Scale (EATMOT)” scale into Turkish and conduct a validity and reliability study of the scale for the Turkish population. Approval was received from the developer of the EATMOT scale to conduct this study. The scale was first translated into Turkish from English by five experts in their fields and one professional translator fluent in both languages. The scale was then administered to 940 participants whose native language was Turkish and whose ages ranged from 18 to 65. Translation, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were applied to evaluate the scale’s validity. In evaluating its reliability, inter-item correlations, the first 27%-last 27% discrimination, and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were assessed in total-item correlations. Factor analysis showed that item scores were higher than 0.70. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of the scale was calculated as 0.82, indicating that the scale is reliable. Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficients of the subgroups in the scale were found to be varying in the range of 0.6–0.9. It was concluded that the Turkish version of the EATMOT questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool that can be used in field studies to examine the motivations that affect people’s food choices and eating behaviors.

The pursuit of sustainable food production and efficient water management has fostered collaborations among academia, industry, and producers to explore innovative business models. One such initiative involves cultivating microalgae using effluents from the wine production industry, transforming waste into valuable products, and creating circular economic benefits. Wineries can repurpose their effluents to grow microalgae, generating new revenue streams while promoting sustainability. Although microalgae biomass grown in winery effluents is unsuitable for direct human consumption due to potential contamination risks from the pollutants and microorganisms present in such effluents, it is rich in essential nutrients like phosphorus, nitrogen, and carbon, making it ideal for use as agro-industrial additives. The REDWine project investigates this potential by focusing on producing Chlorella vulgaris biomass as an agricultural product. The study focused on incorporating red wine production effluents in culture media to promote microalgae mixotrophic growth, conducted in 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks and a 1700 mL photobioreactor. The findings are promising, despite challenges such as growth inhibition and microbial contamination at higher effluent concentrations. Chlorella vulgaris demonstrated significant growth even at effluent concentrations of 30% (v/v), provided that the concentration of polyphenols in effluents is low, with optimal biomass productivity observed at 10% (v/v). This highlights the feasibility of using winery effluents to cultivate microalgae for sustainable agriculture. This study highlights the potential of using winery effluents to produce C. vulgaris strain A4F_Ma016 biomass, opening new avenues for innovative approaches to sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.

Flavonoids are a key class of polyphenols, i.e., phytochemical compounds present in foods and beverages, which have been described as having health benefits in preventing several chronic diseases. Estimating flavonoid intake has already been conducted in several countries but has yet to be performed in Portugal. This study included 5,005 participants aged 3-84 years and aimed to estimate dietary flavonoid intake in the Portuguese population, using data from the National Food and Physical Activity Survey 2015-2016, providing information on intake, main food contributors, and the socio-demographic factors associated with the intake. Food intake data from the Survey was converted to flavonoid intake using a database built to include the most updated USDA databases on flavonoids, isoflavones and proanthocyanidins, and the Phenol-Explorer database. The rationale for combining food consumption data and different flavonoid databases using the FoodEx2 classification system was established. Linear regressions assessed the associations between socio-demographic factors and dietary flavonoid intake. The total flavonoid intake of the Portuguese population was estimated to be 107.3 mg/day. Flavanols were the most representative subclass, followed by flavonols, anthocyanidins, flavanones, flavones and isoflavones. Fruits and vegetables were the primary food contributors, providing 31.5% and 12.4% of the total flavonoid intake. Adolescents had the lowest total flavonoid intake, and older adults had the highest. This study provides information on the Portuguese population’s dietary flavonoids, allowing for international comparisons. It can also streamline forthcoming investigations into the link between flavonoid consumption and its impact on health, contributing to the future establishment of dietary reference values.

The search for Dark Matter (DM) at colliders is primarily pursued via the detection of missing energy in particular final states. These searches are based on the production and decay processes where final states include DM particles and at least one Standard Model (SM) particle. DM will then reveal itself as missing energy. An alternative form to get a hint of a dark sector is via loop contribution to SM processes. In this case, it is not even relevant if the new particles have their origin in the dark sector of the model. In this work we discuss the impact of an arbitrary number of coloured scalars with $Z_2$ Z 2 -odd parity in single Higgs and double Higgs production at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), and we show their complementarity. We determine the range of variation of the corrections relative to the SM for an arbitrary number of coloured scalars n . We discuss the cases n=1 n = 1 and n=2 n = 2 for a specific model in more detail, which includes direct searches at the LHC. We also find that the electroweak observable T parameter imposes significant restrictions on the difference of the heavy coloured scalar masses.

Objective To identify the best evidence on the efficacy of treatment interventions for inclusion body myositis (IBM) and to describe their safety. Methods Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of pharmacological treatments of adults with IBM, conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook, updating a previous Cochrane review. The search strategy was run on Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Assessment of risk of bias, data extraction and synthesis were performed independently by two reviewers. Data pooled in statistical meta-analyses, if possible. Results From a total of 487 records, 48 were selected for full-text review, 14 fulfilled the inclusion criteria, but only 2 RCTs were included in meta-analyses due to clinical heterogeneity (different drug interventions or dosages). Treatments included various immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents, alongside interventions modulating muscle growth and protein homoeostasis. Efficacy was assessed across multiple outcomes, namely muscle strength, physical function, mobility and muscle trophicity. Trials of methotrexate (MTX), intravenous immunoglobulin, interferon beta-1a and MTX, MTX and anti-T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin, oxandrolone, MTX and azathioprine, bimagrumab, arimoclomol, and sirolimus provided low-quality to high-quality evidence of having no effect on the progression of IBM. Conclusions Drug interventions for IBM were not effective for most of the outcomes of interest. We observed inconsistency of outcome measures across trials. More RCTs are needed, of adequate size and duration, and using a standardised set of outcome measures.

This work aimed to study the production, for the first time, of three fermented products of chestnut puree (CP) with milk kefir grains, a higher nisin‐producing (Lactococcus (L.) lactis CECT 539) and a higher lactic acid‐producing (Lactobacillus (Lb.) casei CECT 4043) lactic acid bacteria (LAB). After studying the CP rheology, the ability of the two LAB to assimilate the carbon sources (starch, sucrose, glucose, and fructose) present in the CP was assayed. The two LAB grew well on glucose, fructose, and sucrose, but they did not use starch. Fermentation of CP with the two LAB and kefir grains allowed us to obtain three fermented products that contained no alcohol and low levels of sugars, lactic, and acetic acids, as well as viable cell counts. After 24 h of fermentation, bacterial counts increased by 2.12 log10 cycles for Lb. casei and 2.44 log10 cycles for L. lactis. Although the final counts for both LAB were very similar (p > 0.05), L. lactis grew faster than Lb. casei and produced a higher concentration of lactic acid. The total microbial counts for kefir increased by 1.16 log10 cycles, after 28 h of incubation, indicating that the microorganisms of the kefir grains adapted well to the composition of the CP. As no ethanol was detected, these results suggest the possibility of producing healthy, nonalcoholic, and low‐calorie CPs.

AIM: To quantify and compare longitudinal thickness changes of the ganglion cell complex (GCC) and the choroid in patients with different patterns of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) progression. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of anonymized data from participants aged 50y or more and diagnosed with early/intermediate AMD in at least one eye (with no evidence of advanced AMD). A total of 64 participants were included from the Instituto de Retina de Lisboa (IRL) study (IPL/2022/MetAllAMD_ESTeSL) and divided into 4 groups according to the Rotterdam classification for AMD. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to assess and quantify GCC and choroid thickness at two time points (first visit vs last visit) with a minimum interval of 3y. RESULTS: In the GCC inner ring, a thinner thickness (P=0.001) was observed in the atrophic AMD group (51.3±21.4 µm) compared to the early AMD (84.3±11.5 µm), intermediate AMD (77.6±16.1 µm) and neovascular AMD (88.9±16.3 µm) groups. Choroidal thickness quantification showed a generalized reduction in the central circle (P=0.002) and inner ring (P=0.001). Slight reductions in retinal thickness were more accentuated in the inner ring in the atrophic AMD (-13%; P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The variation of the analyzed structures could be an indicator of risk of progression with neurodegenerative (GCC) or vascular (choroid) pattern in the intermediate and atrophic AMD. The quantification of both structures can provide important information about the risk of disease progression in the early and intermediate stages but also for the evolution pattern into late stages (atrophic or neovascular).

Background/Objectives: Helicobacter pylori is the leading cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and mucosal-associated lymphoma. Due to the emerging problems with antibiotic treatment against H. pylori in clinical practice, H. pylori vaccination has gained more interest. Oral immunization is considered a promising approach for preventing initial colonization of this bacterium in the gastrointestinal tract, establishing a first line of defense at gastric mucosal surfaces. Chitosan nanoparticles can be exploited effectively for oral vaccine delivery due to their stability, simplicity of target accessibility, and beneficial mucoadhesive and immunogenic properties. Methods: In this study, new multi-epitope pDNA- and recombinant protein-based vaccines incorporating multiple H. pylori antigens were produced and encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles for oral and intramuscular administration. The induced immune response was assessed through the levels of antigen-specific IgGs, secreted mucosal SIgA, and cytokines (IL-2, IL-10, and IFN-γ) in immunized BALB/C mice. Results: Intramuscular administration of both pDNA and recombinant protein-based vaccines efficiently stimulated the production of specific IgG2a and IgG1, which was supported by cytokines levels. Oral immunizations with either pDNA or recombinant protein vaccines revealed high SIgA levels, suggesting effective gastric mucosal immunization, contrasting with intramuscular immunizations, which did not induce SIgA. Conclusions: These findings indicate that both pDNA and recombinant protein vaccines encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles are promising candidates for eradicating H. pylori and mitigating associated gastric diseases in humans.

The Asteraceae family has been of significant concern for ethnobotanical studies, thanks to its health‐promoting properties linked to a plethora of bioactive compounds, among which phenolic compounds play a critical role. In this work, a workflow based on computational chemometrics was employed to assess the authenticity and biomarker search of five key Asteraceae species commonly employed in traditional medicine. The UHPLC‐DAD‐ESI/MS–MS phenolic profile of Asteraceae extracts was combined with the evaluation of several in vitro biological properties. Caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs), chicoric acids, and flavonoid glycosides were reported as authenticity markers of Achillea millefolium, Taraxacum officinale, and Arnica montana, respectively. The integration of phenolic profile and in vitro bioactivities provide insights for the identification of trans 3,5‐O‐dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5‐O‐diCQA) and isorhamnetin glycosides as the major antioxidant agents in Asteraceae extracts, whereas several CQAs and caffeoyl‐deoxy‐octulopyranosonic acids have been reported as responsible for their cytotoxic and anti‐inflammatory activities. These results shed light on the authentication and quality evaluation of Asteraceae extracts, along with the characterization of their functional properties, leading to their application in the design of novel plant‐based functional foods.