ESS - TBIO - Comunicações em eventos científicos
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- Quantificação da carga viral de HPV de alto risco e associação com o desenvolvimento de lesões cervicaisPublication . Oliveira, Telma; Fernandes, Sílvia; Alves, Daniela; Frutuoso, José Amaro; Silva, Regina A.O desenvolvimento de métodos quantitativos para estimar a carga viral tem vindo a melhorar a capacidade de controlar a progressão de doenças e avaliar a eficácia dos tratamentos. Com o presente estudo pretende-se estimar a carga viral em mulheres infetadas com o Vírus do Papiloma Humano (HPV) de alto risco, e avaliar a sua associação com os dados clinicopatológicos para determinação da sua utilidade como fator de prognóstico. Foram consideradas no estudo 365 mulheres seguidas em consulta de ginecologia da Unidade Local de Saúde de Matosinhos, com resultado positivo para infeção por HPV de alto risco, determinada por PCR semi-quantitativo. A carga viral foi estimada usando retas de calibração construídas com base em amostras padrão.
- An unobtrusive multimodal stress detection model & recommender systemPublication . Ferreira, Simão; Correia, Hugo; Rodrigues, Fátima; Rodrigues, Matilde; Rocha, NunoStudies estimate that about 50% of all lost workdays are related to occupational stress. In recent years, several solutions for mental health management, including biofeedback applications, have emerged as a way to enhance employee mental health. Solutions to mitigate risk factors related to the working settings present an enormous potential and a clear contribution. However, most of the work that has been developed is limited to laboratory environments and does not suit real-life needs. Our study proposes an unobtrusive multimodal approach for detecting work-related stress combining videoplethysmography and self-reported measures for stablishing the ground truth in real-life settings. The study involved 28 volunteers over a two-month period. Various physiological signals were collected through a videopletismography solution, while users were performing daily working, for approximately eight hours a day. In parallel, selfreported measures were collected via a pop-up application (developed by the research team) that periodically retrieved the user's perceived stress (amongst other variables) in order to label the physiological data. In order to develop the stress detection model, we pre-processed the data and performed Heart Rate Variability (HRV) feature extraction. Then, we experimented with several machine learning models, utilizing both individual and combined physiological signals to explore all available alternatives. After rigorous evaluation, the best-trained model achieved an accuracy of over 80% and an F1 Score of over 85%. With the stress detection model in place, we are developing a structured intervention model to help reduce stress. This intervention model integrates two interconnected dimensions through digital coaching, which prioritizes personalized recommendations based on user preferences. Our top priority is to ensure user engagement, and we believe that adherence to and adoption of recommended interventions are more likely when users receive recommendations that align with their preferences. Thus, we prioritize personalized recommendations that are tailored to each individual's unique model. After detecting immediate stress peaks and providing real-time feedback on stress levels, our alarm system goes a step further by offering customized recommendations for brief stress relief. The digital coach (intervention model) offers various recommendations and active lifestyle changes such as exercise, task management, weight management, better sleep habits, structured pauses, and other critical interventions. These critical interventions are also based on user preferences, allowing our system to prevent future stress-related incidents and, most importantly, mitigate long-term stress. This project and its methodology demonstrate that truly unobtrusive stress detection is possible and can be performed within the scope of ethical demands. In future work, we will evaluate the responses and beneficial outcomes of implementing a recommender system.
- Safety culture in higher education institutions: Knowledge and training preferencesPublication . Filho, P. C. Anacleto; Dall-Orsoletta, Alaize; Carneiro, Paula; Colim, Ana; Leão, Celina P.; Rodrigues, Matilde; Costa, Susana; Costa, NelsonThe development of a positive culture is a key element within an organization to achieve performance against a strategic objective. In terms of safety, universities play a very important role in training new professionals who must be increasingly aware and prepared for the challenges of the labour market and daily activities. Therefore, this study aims to assess the safety culture of newcomer students to higher education through the application of a 22-item questionnaire. Participants included 109 undergraduate and master’s students from 31 different courses at a university in Northern Portugal. It was observed that the level of knowledge varied according to the type of course adopted and the gender of the student. A global performance level of below 80% shows that safety knowledge can improve further. Additionally, different preferences concerning the content, moment, and format of safety training were presented. The low level of interest in training related to chemical leakage, suspicious package, and bombing show participants may attribute a low probability level to these events. In conclusion, this work shows that it can be useful for universities to consider different training approaches according to different course types.
- Cognitive workload and fatigue in a human-robot collaborative assembly workstation: A pilot studyPublication . Santos, Joana; Ferraz, Mariana; Pinto, Ana; Rocha, Luís Freitas; Costa, Carlos M.; Simões, Ana Correia; Bombeke, Klass; Vaz, MárioIndustry 5.0 represents a novel approach that builds upon the advancements of Industry 4.0 and is aimed at fostering a more harmonious relationship between humans and machines to prioritize resource efficiency and user-centered manufacturing.Objective: This paper presents a study, integrated in the COBOSHe project, for assessing and analyzing the cognitive workload and fatigue, using heart rate (HR) and a perceived scale related to fatigue, in a car engine assembly in which a robot and ahuman operator are performing tasks in a shared workspace. For this purpose, a sample of 30 subjects were divided into two groups, with group A having read the assembly instructions before the usage of the assembly workstation and group B without having any previous knowledge about the car engine. The data analysis was carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics (Kruskal-Wallis’s test and Spearman's correlation test) in the IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 28.0. The results showed thatHRand perceived fatigue didn’t had statistical differences between groups(p=0.380). There is insufficient statistical evidence, to state that the subscales of SOFI are not identical between the two groups(p >0.05). Therefore, we conclude that the usage of the augmented reality system in the assembly workstation for providing on demand instructions was intuitive and allowed the operators to learn how to assemble the car engine without requiring any previous knowledge about the assembly process. This type of study allows to improve collaborative workstations, as it increases the efficiency and productivity of production lines.
- Acceptance of industrial collaborative robots: Preliminar results of appliction of portuguese version of the Frankenstein Syndrome Questionnaire (FSQ)Publication . Pinto, Ana; Ferraz, Mariana; Nomura, Tatsuya; Santos, JoanaCobots are highly flexible and able to operate in the same workspace and at the same time with the worker. The use of these technologies allows for increased production performance while ensuring comfort and confidence for the worker. Robot acceptance is still a controversial topic with various approaches and methods to measure acceptance of humanoid robots. This study aimed to evaluate cobots acceptance after a motor assembly task in a collaborative workstation. 30 university students were divided into two groups, with group 1 having read the assembly instructions before the usage of the assembly workstation and group 2 without having any previous knowledge about the car engine. All participants completed the Portuguese version of the Frankenstein Syndrome Questionnaire (FSQ). Data analyses were carried out using descriptive and inferential statistics using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 28.0. One correlations was found between the scales of the FSQ (p < 0.05). It was possible to conclude that the acceptance of robots by the participants in group 1 and group 2 was the same. This study can contribute to understanding which factors explain the acceptance of collaborative robots, to improve human-robot intercation.
- Self-reportefd dermal effects of hand sanitisers in industrial workersPublication . Costa, Carla; Carvalhais, Carlos; Domingos, Catarina; Oliveira, Ana; Santos, JoanaDuring COVID-19 pandemic, preventing the virus spread was extremely important to reduce the overall burden of the disease, to maintain the companies running and to remain safe. WHO recommended physical distances, appropriate use of personal protective equipment and hand hygiene practices to reduce the spread. Hand hygiene practice by using alcohol-based hand sanitisers was generalized in all sectors of activity, including those with no previous need to implement preventive measures against biological risks. The aim of this study was to obtain self-reported data on hand hygiene habits and perceived symptomatology regarding skin health effects associated with skin exposure to alcohol-based hand sanitisers of industrial workers during COVID-19 pandemic. Between November 2021 and April 2022, a questionnaire-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using 97 study participants. The reported information on hands sanitisers used show that most of the participants at work, use the hand sanitizer provided by the company a alcoholic solution of 2-propanol 70%. Nearly half of the workers disinfected their hands more than 3 times per day, but at work, there was a concern to also disinfect wrists and forearms. Self-reported dermal effects show that half of the participants noticed skin dryness with the increased use of hand sanitisers. The novelty of this work is posed by the type of sample under study (industrial rather than hospital context) which allow gathering data to build knowledge in this field and to develop guidelines of good practices on how to make adequate disinfection and to promote skin health in industrial settings.
- Measurement of resilience potential: Development and validation a toolPublication . Fernandes, Joana; Barbosa, Judite; Arezes, Pedro; Pardo-Ferreira, María del Carmen; Rubio-Romero, Juan Carlos; Rodrigues, MatildeCrises that occur without warning test the abilities and resilience of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) systems. Resilience engineering seeks ways to enhance the ability of systems to thrive under diverse conditions across various domains. However, developing metrics to measure and analyze the resilience potential of the OSH management systems remains a significant challenge. Therefore, it is of the crucial to build up a robust and resilient OSH system, capable to handling unforeseen events and emergent risks in order to ensure workers’ safety and health. Resilience engineering has proposed the following four potentials for resilient performance (Hollnagel, 2017): potential to respond (knowing what to do); potential to monitor (knowing what to look for); potential to learn (knowing what has happened); and potential to anticipate (knowing what to expect). In view of the above, it is necessary to develop a new tool to measure the resilience potential of the OSH management system in this context according to the concepts introduced by resilience engineering.
- Ecotoxicity of valproic acid in Lemna minorPublication . Machado, Beatriz; Prudêncio, Cristina; Ferraz, Ricardo; Barros, PiedadeThe water pollution represents one of the most serious ecological challenges. Over the last years the use and consumption of pharmaceuticals has increased,and this is reflected in the rise of water contamination. Many drugs cannot be efficiently removed by wastewater treatment and ended up being released into the aquatic environment. Valproic acid is an anticonvulsive and mood stabilizer medication that has been found in the aquatic environment. Although some effects of this drug on small mammals and fish are known, its ecotoxicity in plants has not yet been evaluated. Lemnaminor is widely used as a bioindicator of water quality. This aquatic macrophyte has been applied for remediation studies and has shown effective results. The aim of this study is to study the ecotoxicity of valproic acid on the growth of Lemna minor. Lemna minor was exposed to six different concentrations of valproic acid for 7 days. During this time the number of fronds was analyzed. After the test some parameters were evaluated: area of fronds, root length and chlorophylls content. The chlorophylls were analyzed by spectrophotometry. At the higher concentration (0,1 mg/L) of valproic acid, the number of fronds was significantly lower than the control. Also, chlorophyll content was lower at 0,05 mg/L and 0,1 mg/Lfor chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids and at 0,025mg/L; 0,05mg/L and0,1mg/L for total chlorophyll. The rootlength was significantly lower at the higher concentrations(0,025mg/L; 0,05mg/L and 0,1mg/L), comparatively to the control. The fronds area didn’t show any significant difference when compared to the control. Valproic acid influenced the number of fronds,length of the root and concentration of chlorophylls and at the higher concentrations it is notable a significant inhibitory effect.
- Chronic toxicity of valproic acid in daphnia magnaPublication . Machado, Beatriz; Prudêncio, Cristina; Ferraz, Ricardo; Barros, PiedadeEnvironmental exposure to pharmaceuticals, have negative effects on the health of ecosystems and humans and numerous pharmaceuticals have been identified on surface watersall around the world. After administration, medicines are absorbed, metabolized,and excreted to the sewer system, but many are refractory to the traditional wastewater treatment and become widely distributed in freshwater riversand lakes. Valproic acid is a short-chain fatty acid,clinically used as a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug, in neurological diseases, whose adverse effects in aquatic organisms are not fully studied. Daphnia magnaisa planktonic crustacean found in lakes and ponds and is one of the most used organisms in aquatic toxicology studies. The adverse effects of pharmaceuticals in Daphni ahave consequences in all the ecosystem. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of valproic acid in the reproduction of Daphnia magna. The chronic toxicity study had a duration of 21 days. It was evaluated the effect of five different concentrations of valproic acid(0,4 mg/L, 0,6 mg/L, 0,8 mg/L, 1,0 mg/L and 1,2 mg/L). The parameters evaluated were age at first, second and third posture; the number and mortality of juveniles of each posture. Valproic acid affected the age of the first posture in all the concentrations, it is notice able a delay comparatively to the control. In relation to the juveniles, all concentrations of valproic acid induced aborted eggs, and this number was higher at the highest concentrations (1,0 mg/L and 1,2 mg/L). The control didn’t have any aborted eggs. At the highest concentrations, juvenile mortality was higher,and postures were smaller than the control. Valproic acid interfere with the reproduction of Daphnia magna, causing a delay in reproduction and affecting the number and viability of the offspring.
- Exploring the antiradical potential of species from Lamiaceae family: implications for functional food development in the context of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseasesPublication . Campinho, Ana; Alves, Joana; Martins, Rosário; Vieira, Mónica; Grosso, Clara; Delerue-Matos, CristinaNeurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases have become highly significant in Western societies. Unfortunately, these diseases currently lack a cure, and existing treatments merely manage the symptoms. Thus, it is imperative to explore new alternatives for either preventing these disorders or treating them effectively. One promising avenue for prevention lies in the development of neuroprotective and antioxidant functional foods. To this end, a study focused on ten species from the Lamiaceae family, which have attracted attention due to their well-known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, and anti-cancer properties, among others. The interest in their pharmacological applications has grown significantly in recent years. In order to uncover the biological potential of these species, the study involved performing decoctions and evaluating both the total phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity. The results revealed that TPC values ranged from 59.97 ± 6.18 (Ocimum basilicum L. var minimum) to 374.0 ± 16.9 (Salvia officinalis L.) mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dry extract (dw). Additionally, the IC50 values for DPPH• and ABTS•+ scavenging activities varied between 21.55 ± 1.18 (Origanum vulgare L.) and 132.0 ± 15.3 μg/mL (O. basilicum var minimum), and from 14.79 ± 0.50 (O. vulgare) to 44.65 ± 2.34 μg/mL (O. basilicum), respectively. The observed strong antiradical activity holds great promise for the future development of functional foods aimed at combating the oxidative stress implicated in these diseases and promoting overall brain health. By harnessing the potential of these species from Lamiaceae family, we may pave the way for innovative approaches to tackle neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions.