Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-07"
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- Construct validity of markerless three-dimensional gait biomechanics in healthy older adultsPublication . Carvalho, Andreia; Vanrenterghem, Jos; Cabral, Sílvia; d'Assunção, Ana M.; Carnide, Filomena; Veloso, António P.; Moniz-Pereira, VeraBackground and aim: Gait changes due to aging can result in functional limitations and a higher risk of falls, with older adults showing alterations in joint angles and moments. Marker-based gait analysis is not widely used in clinical settings due to its complexity and discomfort, especially in older adults. Recent advances in markerless motion capture, such as Theia3D, offer a promising alternative. This study aims to assess the construct validity of a markerless motion capture system for gait analysis in healthy older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 30 healthy community-dwelling older adults. Gait data were collected using marker-based and markerless motion capture systems in randomized order, with participants wearing tight-fitting minimal clothes plus 46 reflective markers attached, or their usual clothes, respectively. Joint kinematics (including range of motion) and kinetics were analyzed, and correlations between methods (Rxy) were assessed. Bland-Altman analysis was used to measure agreement. Root-mean-square differences (RMSD) were computed. Acceptable thresholds were set at ≤ 5º for kinematics and at ≤ 10 % of signal amplitude for kinetics. Results: Strong correlations (Rxy≥0.7) were found between the systems for sagittal plane kinematics (except for the pelvis), particularly for knee and ankle joints. A low agreement was detected in sagittal plane hip and pelvis kinematics, along with RMSD exceeding 5º. Weaker correlations and poor agreement were observed for transverse and frontal plane motions. Overall, strong correlations were found for kinetics, except for the joint ankle inversion-eversion moment, and poor agreement for the frontal and transverse planes. Conclusion: Overall, markerless motion capture demonstrated good construct validity for measuring sagittal plane gait lower-limb gait kinematics (excluding pelvis) and kinetics in healthy older adults. However, considering the agreement between methods and the results for the other movement planes, further validation is required before markerless and marker-based systems can be used interchangeably in gait assessments.
- A wearable IoT-based system for gait cycle duration and symmetry assessment in lower-limb amputeesPublication . Alves, Bruna; Fantoni, Alessandro; Matos, José Pedro; Costa, JoãoThis study presents the development of a wearable sensor designed to assess gait asymmetry. The device uses the TF mini-S LiDAR sensor to detect mid-stance and calculates the gait cycle duration to assess symmetry. The Arduino Nano RP2040 Connect microcontroller was chosen for its compact size, real-time data processing capabilities, and seamless integration with the Arduino Cloud, facilitating remote monitoring and data storage. The TF mini-S LiDAR was found to be the most suitable sensor due to its field of view and high frame rate, allowing accurate mid-stance detection. The final device combines portability, high data update rates, and precise detection, making it an effective tool for monitoring gait rehabilitation, including LLA. This wearable sensor contributes to improving prosthetic adaptation and offers healthcare systems a reliable means of monitoring patient progress.
- Functional asymmetries after 6 months of ACL reconstruction: a cross‐sectional studyPublication . Nuno, Sérgio Loureiro; Romero‐Morales, Carlos; López‐López, Daniel; Losa‐Iglesias, Marta Elena; Becerro‐de‐Bengoa‐Vallejo, Ricardo; Gómez‐Salgado, Juan; Guerra, João; Saavedra‐García, Miguel ÁngelFunctional tests commonly assess athletes' readiness to return to sports after knee surgery. Despite this, there are still more studies on clinical and patient-reported outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine differences and combinations of various functional performances within and between athletes 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) for the first time (ACLR-I group), versus second ACL injury on the same knee (ACLR-II group), versus ACLR procedures on both legs (ACLR-III group). A total of 88 patients with ACLR performed single-leg hop (maximum forward distance hop, SLH; side hop > 40 cm in 30 s, SH), Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and dynamic postural balance (Y Balance Test - YBT). Data were recorded during return-to-sport testing (6 months post-surgery). For each variable, a mixed-model analysis of variance, with a between-subjects factor of group (primary ACL injury, recurrent ACL injury, and bilateral ACL injury) and a within-subjects factor of limb (involved, uninvolved), was conducted. Differences between the groups were found in different degrees of inter-limb asymmetry in the single-leg hop (p < 0.001) and side hop test (p < 0.02). There was a main effect of limb for the anterior and posteromedial YBT distances, and the single-leg hop and side hop test distances (p ≤ 0.04). For each variable, performance was worse for the involved limb compared to the uninvolved limb. Individuals after recurrent ACLR showed greater functional asymmetries at 6 months of treatment. Jumping tests detected greater performance deficits compared to YBT and FMS.
- Tubulin acetylation: a critical regulator of microtubule functionPublication . Delgado, Inês L.; Carmona, Bruno; Nolasco, Sofia; Marques, Rita; Gonçalves, João; Soares, Helena; Halasa, M.; Wawruszak, A.The cytoskeleton is conserved throughout the eukaryotic lineage and consists of a complex dynamic network mainly composed of three distinct polymers: microtubules (MTs), actin filaments, and intermediate filaments. MTs are polymers of α/β-tubulin heterodimers, playing a myriad of distinct cellular functions, and are the main components of complex structures like the mitotic spindle, cilia, and centrioles. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate the function and increase the complexity of the α/β-tubulin heterodimer pools. One of the PTMs that has been extensively studied is the acetylation of lysine 40 (K40) on α-tubulin, which specifically occurs inside the MT lumen. Acetylation plays a crucial role in controlling the stability and function of MTs in response to signals from within and outside the cell. It impacts the cytoplasm's 3D arrangement and important cellular activities like intracellular transport, cell division, polarity, and migration. Recent research has also emphasized the significance of this PTM in regulating the mechanical properties of MTs and cellular sensing. The levels and activity of MT acetyltransferases and deacetylases are tightly regulated through various transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms, including miRNAs, phosphorylation, protein-protein interactions, and regulated localization between the nucleus and cytoplasm. These regulatory processes involve components of diverse signaling pathways, and their deregulation has been implicated in numerous diseases, including neurological disorders, cancer, and cardiac conditions.
- The International Collaboration of Pharmacy Journal Editors (ICPJE) formally constituted to foster quality around clinical and social pharmacy practice research publicationsPublication . Alves da Costa, Filipa; Fernandez-Llimos, Fernando; Desselle, Shane; Arnet, Isabelle; Babar, Zaheer; Bond, Christine; Cordina, Maria; Garcia Cardenas, Victoria; El Hajj, Maguy S.; Jacobsen, Ramune; Law, Anandi V.; Nørgaard, Lotte S.; Polidori, Carlo; Shcherbakova, Natalia; Stewart, Derek; Tonin, Fernanda; Weidmann, Anita E.The Granada statements were a result of the need to strengthen clinical, social, and administrative pharmacy practice as an area of knowledge that translates into practice, research and policy. As a response, a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors launched an initiative in Granada in 2022 to discuss ways to improve the quality of publications in this area, which culminated in the Granada statements. Eighteen statements were developed, clustered into six main domains: (1) the appropriate use of terminology; (2) developing impactful abstracts; (3) having the required peer reviews; (4) preventing journal scattering; (5) more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics; and (6) authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work. The full Granada statements have been published in 14 journals. These pioneering statements are rooted in similar endeavors undertaken by scholars in other health professions groups, fostering the concept of interdisciplinary consensus and advancing the scientific paradigm.
- Tubulin acetylation and the cellular mechanosensing and stress responsePublication . Carmona, Bruno; Delgado, Inês L. S.; Nolasco, Sofia; Marques, Rita; Gonçalves, João; Soares, Helena; Halasa, M.; Wawruszak, A.Microtubule (MT) acetylation has emerged as a critical regulator of cellular stress responses, integrating mechanical and oxidative stimuli to support cellular adaptability and survival. This post-translational modification (PTM) enhances MT flexibility and resilience, enabling cells to withstand mechanical challenges such as changes in extracellular matrix stiffness and applied forces. Through its impact on MT physical properties, acetylation minimizes cytoskeletal breakage, reducing the need for constant remodeling and supporting cellular integrity under mechanical stress. Furthermore, tubulin acetylation regulates intracellular trafficking by modulating interactions with molecular motors, allowing for efficient cargo transport and precise spatial organization without disrupting the MT network. In the context of oxidative stress, tubulin acetylation responds to redox imbalances by stabilizing MTs and influencing cellular pathways that regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS). This modification is linked to enhanced antioxidant responses, autophagy regulation, and mitochondrial dynamics, highlighting its role in maintaining cellular homeostasis under oxidative conditions. The dual function of tubulin acetylation, responding to and integrating signals from mechanical and oxidative stress, acts as a bridging mechanism between physical and chemical signaling pathways. Consequently, it has the potential to be a therapeutic target in diseases characterized by dysregulated stress responses, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions. Despite significant progress having been made, unanswered questions persist, particularly regarding the molecular mechanisms by which acetylated MTs encode spatial and functional information and their interplay with other tubulin PTMs.
- Tributação automóvel em PortugalPublication . Dimas, Joana; Silva, AmândioEsta dissertação de mestrado aborda a tributação dos automóveis em Portugal, analisando os diferentes impostos e taxas que incidem sobre determinados veículos. Primeiramente, iremos abordar o imposto que incide sobre a compra dos automóveis, o Imposto Sobre Veículos (ISV), os impostos anuais que são decorrentes da circulação destes na via pública, i.e., o Imposto Único de Circulação (IUC), e o imposto único que se aplica às Pessoas Coletivas sobre os encargos dos mesmos, a Tributação Autónoma (TA). O legislador ao longo das normas referidas anteriormente, demonstra que existem vantagens fiscais para determinadas viaturas, nomeadamente as Híbridas Plug-In e as Viaturas Elétricas, de forma a influenciar o consumidor a adquirir as mesmas e abdicar da compra dos veículos que circulam apenas com combustíveis fósseis. Estes três impostos apresentam uma parte significativa de arrecadação de imposto para os cofres do Estado, no entanto, existem casos que não estão em conformidade com os direitos fundamentais da União Europeia, neste caso o ISV. No caso do IUC, não estamos em conformidade com o princípio do poluidor-pagador, e por fim no caso das TA, o mercado dos automóveis elétricos tem estado em evolução ao longo dos últimos anos e o valor destes tem reduzido. O aumento da procura destes perfaz com que haja uma maior procura das componentes para a produção das baterias elétricas sendo que estas são extraídas do solo, e em demasia irão apresentar um impacto prejudicial para o ambiente.
- Concordance between FVC and FEV6 for identifying chronic airflow obstruction and spirometric restriction in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) studyPublication . Knox-Brown, Ben; Potts, James; Franssen, Frits M. E.; Nielsen, Rune; Denguezli, Meriem; Rotevatn, Anders Ørskov; Juvekar, Sanjay K.; Cherkaski, Hamid Hacene; Studnicka, Michael; Sylvester, Karl Peter; Mortimer, Kevin; Bateman, Eric D.; Janson, Christer; Malinovschi, Andrei; Seemungal, Terence; Koul, Parvaiz; Mannino, David; Mahesh, Padukudru Anand; Jogi, Rain; Mejza, Filip; Al Ghobain, Mohammed; Paraguas, Stefanni Nonna M.; Welte, Tobias; Wouters, Eliel; Gislason, Thorarinn; Harrabi, Imed; Dias, Maria Hermínia Monteiro Brites; Obaseki, Daniel O.; Kocabas, Ali; Barbara, Cristina; Cardoso, João; Agarwal, Dhiraj; Nafees, Asaad Ahmed; Rodrigues, Fatima; Garcia-Larsen, Vanessa; Erhabor, Gregory E.; Loh, Li-Cher; Amaral, Andre F. S.Introduction: We investigated whether the forced expiratory volume in 6 s (FEV6) can be used as a surrogate for the forced vital capacity (FVC). Methods: The Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease is a multinational cohort study. At baseline, data were collected from adults aged 40 years or older, from 41 sites across 34 countries. Participants from 18 sites were followed up after a median of 8.3 years. Participants who completed the study core questionnaire and had acceptable post-bronchodilator spirometry were included. We performed receiver operating characteristic analyses to measure the ability of FEV1/FEV6 less than the lower limit of normal (LLN) to correctly classify FEV1/FVC less than the LLN, and FEV6 less than the LLN to correctly classify FVC less than the LLN. We used multilevel regression analyses to assess the association of discordant measurements with respiratory symptoms, quality of life, and lung function decline. Results: At baseline, 28,604 participants were included. 53% were female (15,060). 10% (2876) had chronic airflow obstruction for FEV1/FVC, compared with 9% (2704) for FEV1/FEV6. 37% (10,637) had spirometric restriction for FVC, compared with 35% (9978) for FEV6. The FEV1/FEV6 had excellent accuracy in identifying FEV1/FVC less than the LLN (area under the curve (AUC): 0.90, 95% CI, 0.89 to 0.91, κ coefficient 0.82). The FEV6 also had excellent agreement in identifying FVC less than the LLN (AUC: 0.95, 95% CI, 0.94 to 0.95, κ coefficient 0.90). Discordant reductions in FEV1/FEV6 (1%, 345) and FEV6 (1%, 309) were associated with greater odds of having respiratory symptoms and a lower physical quality of life. 3870 participants were followed up with. Those with discordant reductions in FEV1/FEV6 and FEV6 were more likely to have chronic airflow obstruction and spirometric restriction at follow-up. Conclusions: There is strong agreement between the FVC and FEV6 in the identification of chronic airflow obstruction and spirometric restriction.
- Analysis of integrated calcium looping alternatives in a cement plantPublication . Amorim, Ana; Filipe, Rui; Matos, Henrique A.Calcium looping is a promising post-combustion CO2 capturing technology, highly compatible with the cement industry, one of the major industrial sources of CO2 emissions. Limestone, a raw material for clinker, forms lime, a calcium looping adsorbent. Thus, it is possible to maximize the synergies between a cement plant and a calcium looping unit by establishing an integrated configuration. Nevertheless, the integration of calcium looping in cement plants has not yet been thoroughly studied. This study examines different integration alternatives, developing models for the preheater and calciner using Aspen Plus, validated with operational data, alongside an entrained-flow carbonator model considering adsorbent deactivation. By combining these models, six integrated configurations are proposed and compared with the tail-end calcium looping configuration. The integrated configurations show a reduction in fuel consumption and net energy consumption for the same CO2 avoided emissions. The most promising configuration was identified and a comparative techno-economic analysis was conducted.
- Ler e falar, falar e ler: conceções e práticas da importância da leitura para o desenvolvimento da falaPublication . Almeida, Ana Carolina Dinis; Sousa, Carla Maria Pereira deO presente relatório surge na consequência da realização de estágio em contexto de pré-escolar, no âmbito da Prática Profissional Supervisionada II (PPSII) onde o objetivo é demonstrar de forma sistemática e fundamentada as experiências vivenciadas ao longo dos meses da prática. A realização ocorreu numa organização na zona de Lisboa, em contexto de pré-escolar, numa sala com crianças com quatro anos de idade. O relatório para além de caracterizar o grupo de crianças, a organização, o ambiente educativo, as famílias das crianças e a equipa educativa, permite ainda evidenciar a investigação realizada acerca do tema “Ler e falar, falar e ler: Conceções e práticas da importância da leitura para o desenvolvimento da fala. Neste sentido, defini alguns objetivos, para que fosse mais fácil a organização do relatório, bem como a resposta com o maior sucesso possível à questão problemática inicial. Os objetivos definem-se por: (1) Caracterizar o papel da educadora na promoção da leitura e no desenvolvimento da fala das crianças; (2) Identificar os benefícios do processo de promoção da leitura face ao desenvolvimento da fala; (3) Caracterizar o papel dos pais relativamente aos hábitos de leitura das crianças em casa. Partindo destes objetivos, optei por realizar uma investigação de natureza qualitativa, recorrendo ao método de estudo de caso, apoiando-me ainda de métodos de recolha de dados, tais como registos escritos (notas de campo), registos fotográficos, uma entrevista à educadora cooperante, duas entrevistas a terapeutas da fala, um questionário às famílias das crianças e por fim a fundamentação teórica.