Ciências da Vida | Artigos em revistas internacionais / Papers in international journals
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- Coumarins in spirit beverages: sources, quantification, and their involvement in quality, quthenticity and food safetyPublication . Alves, Sheila Cristina Oliveira; Lourenço, Sílvia; Fernandes, Tiago; Canas, SaraThis comprehensive review is devoted to an under-exploited family of phenolic compounds, the coumarins, and the most relevant strands in which they are involved in some spirit beverages—wine spirit, brandy, whiskey, sugar-cane spirits (rum and cachaça) and grape marc spirit—with great importance worldwide in terms of production, trade and consumption. It gathers the key discoveries on the topic, considering the production process of each spirit beverage, and the related sources of coumarins (different kinds of wood used in the ageing stage), along with the factors that govern them and can influence the sensory properties of the aged beverages. An overview of the analytical methods available for their identification/quantification is also included, as well as the corresponding trends for the advancement of knowledge in this field. Moreover, the remarkable role of coumarins as nutraceuticals, their importance as chemical markers for authenticity purposes, and their relationship with the food safety of these spirit beverages are also addressed, highlighting the current gaps and issues, and providing clues for future research.
- Reasons for the increase in the incidence of Diabetes Mellitus in Pemba, Mozambique: case studyPublication . Carapeto, Cristina; Michal, SoaresIntroduction: Despite diabetes mellitus being a condition which treatment, causes, and consequences are well-known, its prevalence continues to increase, with an incidence comparable to that of epidemics. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMII) who visit the Pemba Hospital in Mozambique adhere to the recommended treatment and have the socioeconomic conditions to follow the diet recommended for controlling their condition. Results: This case study included 28 patients, using a food frequency questionnaire and questions related to the patients' daily lives. The results were related to the dependent variable of social class. It was found that patients adhere to the recommended treatment but there is a general difficulty in accessing food regardless of the respondents' social class. It was also found that there is a high level of awareness among the respondents regarding DMII and its treatment. Conclusion: The socioeconomic conditions of the study population determine their level of adherence to DMII, especially regarding adopting a diet favourable to controlling the condition.
- Food fraud conceptualization: an exploratory study with Portuguese consumersPublication . Costa, Maria João; Sousa, Isabel; Moura, Ana Pinto de; Teixeira, José A.; Cunha, Luís MiguelFood fraud refers to deceptive practices conducted for economic gain, and incidents of such fraud are often reported in the media and scientific literature. However, little is known about how European consumers perceive food fraud. To address this gap, a study explored Portuguese consumers' knowledge and perceptions of food fraud using qualitative methods such as free word association and semi‐structured interviews. For this research, 340 participants were recruited, providing 911 valid words, classified into categories, major categories, and dimensions. Differences between consumers' previous exposure to food fraud and sociodemographic characteristics were explored. Additionally, other thirty‐six participants were selected and interviewed, following a semi‐structured guide. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using a thematic analysis procedure. The results suggest that Portuguese consumers view food fraud as a morally reprehensible deception and are aware of its causes and impacts. However, not all consumers know the different forms of food fraud or the types of products vulnerable to fraud. Among the most repeated words were “deception”, “expiration date”, and “falsification”. Despite this food fraud awareness, most consumers believed they were not exposed to food fraud and stated that they do not conduct daily practices to reduce exposure to it. Following the chi‐square and Mann‐Whitney tests, significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were identified between participants exposed and not exposed to food fraud. The study also found that consumers with higher education and self‐reported exposure to food fraud had a better understanding of the issue. This study provides insights for quantitative research on consumer perceptions and beliefs about food fraud to explore further vulnerable food categories and types of food fraud in real‐world scenarios.
- Circular economy in the agri-food sector: Insights into Portuguese companies’ practicesPublication . Scandurra, Federica; Salomone, Roberta; Caeiro, Sandra; Moura, Ana Pinto deRelevant cultural and financial factors hamper circularity in Portuguese agri-food sector companies. To capture so, an empirical analysis of circular practices in agri-food companies was carried out. Being the agri-food sector central to the Portuguese economy and the numerous circular economy initiatives in the Country, the study aims to comprehend how circularity is achieved from an environmental, social, and financial perspective in Portuguese companies of the sector. Therefore, a survey of a selected sample of companies identified 9 examples of organisations involved in circularity to interview. Results evidence: (I) strong cultural and financial barriers in implementation and evaluation; (ii) generation of social value through community-centred initiatives and collaborations with local companies; (iii) urgency to valorise and communicate financial impact to conquer new funding opportunities. The analysis contributed with new knowledge on the social value-creating capacity of circularity and the impact on companies’ financial performance in the agri-food sector, providing interesting future insights into academia and policymaking.
- A food product development project with humanitarian character: an exploratory studyPublication . Lucca, G. L.; Fonseca, S. Caldas; Moura, Ana Pinto deVulnerable livelihood groups, such as the Fulanis in Guinea-Bissau, are affected by the consequences of inequality, as they lack access to healthy food, a healthy environment and adequate primary health care. Coordination between sectors can be key to building resilient food and health systems by integrating and scaling up preventive and emergency nutrition services, especially in the context of malnutrition. In 2021, a cashew-based food product was launched in Portugal in partnership with an NGO and a Portuguese food retailer. This study aims to explore the development and marketing of the product with humanitarian objectives, assessing its impact on the different stakeholders of the project. A mixed methodology was applied, combining the evaluation of consumer behavior, assessed through self-reported electronic questionnaires and in-depth interviews with the actors involved in the project. According to the retailer group stakeholders, a great opportunity for the future lies in developing new products with a humanitarian character. The results show that consumers are indeed interested in buying a product associated with a humanitarian cause, and that the product “100% Cashew Nut Butter” has a favorable consumer acceptance in terms of sensory attributes. The long-term nature of the project and the financial return were cited as strengths by all NGO stakeholders involved, but all stakeholders agreed that innovation was needed to sustain donations. Thus, this may be a cyclical process: businesses can create demand through product development, while management and consumers, in turn, drive demand. These findings can be used to improve the design of future projects that might use this as an example.
- Evaluation of the trade-off between variety, processing, and low-GI claim in ready-to-eat ricePublication . Cabral, Diva; Fonseca, Susana C.; Rocha, C.; Moura, Ana Pinto de; Oliveira, J. C.; Cunha, Luís Miguel; Moura, Ana Pinto deAn increasing number of consumers demand healthier, more convenient, and sustainable food products, including rice, a staple worldwide. Food manufacturers have responded to this trend by considering food’s intrinsic and extrinsic aspects. This study evaluated the importance of variety, processing, and claims on willingness to try ready-to-eat rice (RTE-rice). It also analyses the influence of consumer attitudes on the importance of attributes and willingness to try. The results showed that processing significantly influenced willingness to try RTE-rice, revealing consumers’ greater preference for whole grain than milled rice with added bran. Claims had the least relevant importance. However, low glycaemic index had a positive impact, indicating its potential to influence consumer purchasing attitudes and promote healthier rice consumption. Additionally, three groups were created based on attitudinal factors. Naturalness-oriented and convenienceoriented groups were more likely to try RTE-rice. However, the reasons that motivate them may be different; this latter could be the ease of the service offered, while for the group focused on naturalness, they may have perceived through the ingredients and claimed that the product, despite being convenient, can bring benefits, thus perceiving them as natural.
- When sex matters: differences in the central nervous system as imaged by OCT through the retinaPublication . Nunes, Ana; Serranho, Pedro; Guimarães, Pedro; Ferreira, João; Castelo-Branco, Miguel; Bernardes, RuiBackground: Retinal texture has gained momentum as a source of biomarkers of neurodegeneration, as it is sensitive to subtle differences in the central nervous system from texture analysis of the neuroretina. Sex differences in the retina structure, as detected by layer thickness measurements from optical coherence tomography (OCT) data, have been discussed in the literature. However, the effect of sex on retinal interocular differences in healthy adults has been overlooked and remains largely unreported. Methods: We computed mean value fundus images for the neuroretina layers as imaged by OCT of healthy individuals. Texture metrics were obtained from these images to assess whether women and men have the same retina texture characteristics in both eyes. Texture features were tested for group mean differences between the right and left eye. Results: Corrected texture differences exist only in the female group. Conclusions: This work illustrates that the differences between the right and left eyes manifest differently in females and males. This further supports the need for tight control and minute analysis in studies where interocular asymmetry may be used as a disease biomarker, and the potential of texture analysis applied to OCT imaging to spot differences in the retina.
- Airway approach for caesarean section under general anaesthesia: a national surveyPublication . Pombo, A.; Cardoso, T. M.; Araújo, A. M.; Frada, R.; Nunes, Catarina S.; Órfão, J.; Lemos, P.
- Relación entre la memoria autobiográfica, apego y esquemas tempranos desadaptativosPublication . Balola, Michele; Cláudio, Victor; Ramos, Maria do RosárioThe aim of this research was to study the relation among autobiographical memories, attachment and early maladaptive schemas. A battery of clinical instruments and an Autobiographical Memory Task were used. The sample consisted of 111 participants between 18 and 68 years old (M = 27.98, SD = 11.91). The results indicate significant relations between attachment and schemas, which appear to be factors that indicate a greater vulnerability for the development of psychopathologies, such as depression. The results emphasize the importance of the relation between attachment and early maladaptive schemas in information processing, particularly regarding the prevention of and intervention in depression.
- Empathy and burnout: a multicentre comparative study between residents and specialistsPublication . Ferreira, Sara; Afonso, Pedro; Ramos, Maria do RosárioRationale, Aims, and Objectives The prevalence of burnout among medical doctors and its negative effect on empathy can influence therapeutic success. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of empathy and burnout between residents and specialists as well as to study the correlation between empathy and burnout. Methods This is an exploratory study of a convenience sample of 104 doctors who work in health institutions in Greater Lisbon area in Portugal, covering central hospitals, district hospitals, and health centres. Each doctor filled in a questionnaire, which included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE). Results Participants were divided in two subgroups: 51% residents (n = 53) and 49% specialists (n = 51). A difference (p = .048) in JSE scores between residents (mean 116.4, SD 12.8) and specialists (mean 120.78, SD 12.84) has been identified. Furthermore, in all three MBI subscales (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and lack of personal accomplishment), the group of residents showed significantly higher mean scores. In general, empathy scores showed an inverse relationship between depersonalization (r = –0.390, p < .0001) and lack of personal accomplishment (r = –0.447, p < .0001). Finally, we found that an increase in MBI level is associated with a decrease in empathy levels. Conclusion Our findings suggest that there is a significant difference in burnout subscales scores between residents and specialists and that these have a negative correlation with empathy level. These exploratory results draw attention to the importance of preventing burnout in hospital and health care centres professionals, in particular in residents, through the implementation of individual and organizational structured measures.