Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2016-12"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 47
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Lactic acid increases the susceptibility of Candida albicans to fluconazolePublication . Alves, Rosana; Mota, Sandra; Silva, Sónia; Rodrigues, Célia; Brown, Alistair J.; Henriques, Mariana; Casal, Margarida; Paiva, SandraCandida spp. often inhabit niches that are glucose-limited but rich in alternative carbon sources, such as lactate or acetate, an ability that contributes to cells’ virulence. In glucose-poor niches, Candida albicans cells express JEN1 and JEN2 genes encoding the carboxylic acids transporters Jen1 and Jen2, respectively, which have been reported to be important in the early stages of infection. In this work, we aimed at analysing biofilm formation and antifungal drug resistance of C. albicans cells grown either in the presence of glucose or lactic acid. Additionally, we tested the involvement of Jen1 and Jen2 on these processes. Our results show that biofilm formation and susceptibility to fluconazole depend on the carbon source used. Wild-type and jen1jen2 lactic acid-grown cells formed more biofilm biomass, with predominance of yeast cells, than the ones grown in glucose. In the presence of this sugar a hyphae network is observed only for wild-type cells. In the presence of lactic acid, a jen1jen2 mutant strain exhibited a more compact biofilm with higher resistance to fluconazole when compared to the wild type. In the case of planktonic cells, the phenotype was exactly the opposite; the double mutant strain was more susceptible to fluconazole in lactic acid containing media. These findings show that carboxylic acids transporters have an important role in biofilm formation and in the acquisition of resistance to antifungal drugs, supporting the view that adaptation of Candida cells to the carbon source present in host niches affects their pathogenicity.
- Can transcranial direct current stimulation improve the resistance strength and decrease the rating perceived scale in recreational weight-training experience?Publication . Lattari, Eduardo; Andrade, Maria L; Filho, Alberto S; Moura, Antônio M; Neto, Geraldo M; Silva, Júlio G; Rocha, Nuno; Yuan, Ti-Fei; Arias-Carrión, Oscar; Machado, SérgioLattari, E, Andrade, ML, Filho, AS, Moura, AM, Neto, GM, Silva, JG, Rocha, NB, Yuan, T-F, Arias-Carrión, O, and Machado, S. Can transcranial direct current stimulation improve the resistance strength and decrease the rating perceived scale in recreational weight-training experience? J Strength Cond Res 30(12): 3381-3387, 2016-The goal of this study was to evaluate the acute efficacy of anodic transcranial direct current stimulation on the total volume of repetitions and perceived exertion in recreationally trained individuals in strength. The sample consisted of 10 participants trained in exercise against resistance for at least 3 months. Participants underwent elbow flexion exercise at barbell with a specific load of 10 repetition maximum (10RM), responded immediately after the OMNI-RES scale, and were stimulated for 20 minutes with a tDSC protocol (2 mA), depending on randomization. After applying the tDSC, subjects were again subjected to perform elbow flexion with 10RM load and, soon after, again responded to OMNI-RES scale. All subjects underwent the 3 experimental conditions of the study, c-tDSC, a-tDSC, and sham-tDSC, which were randomized. A range of 48-72 hours was allowed between each assessment visit. An interaction to condition and time (F = 52.395; p ≤ 0.001) has shown that repetitions completed after anodic condition were higher compared with the other conditions in the postsession. In relation to perceived exertion, verified by OMNI-RES scale, 2-way analysis of variance for repeated measures showed an interaction between condition and time (F = 28.445; p ≤ 0.001), where the perceived exertion was decreased after the a-tDSC condition and increased after the c-tDSC condition. In strict terms of performance, it seems to be beneficial to attend a session of 20 minutes a-tDSC, when strength training practitioners can no longer support high-volume training and have increased responses in the perceived exertion.
- Differential imune response to vitamin A in B16-F10 malignant melanocytesPublication . Oliveira, S.; Coelho, Pedro; Costa, J.; Prudêncio, Cristina; Soares, R.; Guerreiro, S. G.; Fernandes, RúbenMelanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer with a poor prognosis, due to its refractory behavior to radiation and chemotherapy. Although the diagnosis is straightforward, there are many disagreements regarding its treatment and surveillance. In order to surpass some of the limitations addressed to the treatment, preventive methods like antioxidant vitamins are nowadays a relevant field of research, as well as immunostimulation by external agents. Despite the knowledge about melanoma biology, pathogenesis and developed therapies, is important to understand the effect of vitamin A in order to suggest alternatives to conventional therapies, which are known to be ineffective against melanoma.
- A utilização do VISIR como um recurso educativo: uma revisão da literaturaPublication . Lima, Natercia; Viegas, Clara; Alves, Gustavo R.; García-Peñalvo, Francisco J.A prática laboratorial é fundamental no ensino da Engenharia. No entanto, como consequência doProcesso de Bolonha e das restrições orçamentaiscom que a maioria das Instituições do Ensino Superior se deparam, o número de horas dedicadas à atividade laboratorial diminuiu significativamente. Os investigadores procuram formas complementares de desenvolver estas competências experimentais e os laboratórios remotos são uma opção. Este trabalho de revisão de literatura é uma primeira tentativa de compilar todos os estudos empíricos emque se utiliza o laboratório remoto VISIR (Virtual Instrument Systems in Reality), em cursos de Engenharia. Nestes, o VISIR foi usado como recurso único ou como um complemento ao laboratório tradicional.
- Metabolic syndrome and inflammation: is there a microvascular and an incretin system impairment in the gastrointestinal tract?Publication . Costa, J.; Almeida, J.; Coelho, Pedro; Oliveira, S.; Prudêncio, Cristina; Soares, R.; Gomes-Guerreiro, S.; Fernandes, RúbenMetabolic syndrome is a multifactorial disorder characterized by increased plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides, but also overweight and obesity promoted by increase of body fat mass, alterations in oxidative stress, chronic low grade inflammation and resistance to insulin leading to risk of cardiovascular diseases. The stomach and the intestine have an essential role in metabolism with functions of digesting food and absorption of nutrients. Also, the intestine produces incretin hormones, such as GLP-1 which regulates glucose metabolism and processes of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Is the MTHFR C677T polymorphism associated with obesity risk? – a meta-analysis.Publication . Costa, J.; Oliveira, R.; Prudêncio, Cristina; Fernandes, RúbenOverweight and obesity are a major worldwide health problem and its incidence is increasing every year. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) plays an important role in folate metabolism and as a regulator of DNA methylation, synthesis, and repair. MTHFR gene is polymorphic at nucleotides 677 (C→T) and 1298 (A→C). MTHFR C677T polymorphism results in alloenzymes with decreased activity and several studies have pointed to association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and overweight/obesity risk.
- Consumption of sweetened beverage in children and its relation with metabolic syndrome: needs assessment and health educationPublication . Teixeira, D.; Cunha, S.; Vieira, Mónica; Dores, Artemisa Rocha; Prudêncio, CristinaThe intake of sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) has been associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and dental caries. Thus, an increased consumption of SSB may potentiate metabolic syndrome (MS). The consumption of SSB has increased amongst children. The promotion of health education at parents/ tutors level may lead to a decrease in SSB intake by children, with an improvement in their quality of life in medium-long term and, consequently, diminished costs for public health.
- Integrated Versus Non-Integrated Perspectives of Auditors Concerning the New ISO 9001 RevisionPublication . Fonseca, Luís; Domingues, José Pedro; Arezes, Pedro; Sampaio, PauloThe process of integration of management systems is being unfolded by a great deal of companies nowadays. A crucial feature of it relates with the audit function and the integrated perceptions of the auditors. This issue is of utmost importance if one takes into account the remarkable effort developed by ISO in the last revisions (2015) of the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards aiming at the standards integration by adopting a common high level structure, identical core context, and common terms and common definitions. The available drafts of the new ISO 45001 standard suggest the same effort. This paper aims, within a global research study on ISO 9001:2015, to report the integrated versus non-integrated perspectives of auditors concerning the new ISO 9001 revision based on the results from a survey conducted among IRCA auditors. It is intended specifically to assess if the perceptions from the auditors holding several certifications are different of those from the auditors that hold solely the QMS certification. Results suggest that the auditors holding several certifications foreseen more benefits from this new revision, i.e., auditors with a wider integrated perspective rate systematically higher the different dimensions assessed in this survey.
- Bond graph and memristor approach to DNA analysisPublication . Machado, J. A. TenreiroThis paper proposes a mechanism for describing DNA information in a global perspective based on the bond graph and the memristor concepts. Present-day schemes rely upon local techniques for comparing distinct portions of DNA and, consequently, they are limited in the scope of their applicability. Systematic modeling procedures may shed an additional light toward efficient encoding algorithms, for the analysis and design of natural and artificial DNA structures.
- Including cognitive aspects in multiple criteria decision analysisPublication . Carneiro, João; Conceição, Luís; Martinho, Diogo; Marreiros, Goreti; Novais, PauloMany multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods have been proposed over the last decades. Some of the most known methods share some similarities in the way they are used and configured. However, we live in a time of change and nowadays the decision-making process (especially when done in group) is even more demanding and dynamic. In thiswork,we propose aMCDAmethod that includes cognitive aspects (cognitive analytic process, CAP). By taking advantage of aspects such as expertise level, credibility and behaviour style of the decision-makers, we propose a method that relates these aspects with problem configurations (alternatives and criteria preferences) done by each decisionmaker. In this work, we evaluated the CAP in terms of configuration costs and the capability to enhance the quality of the decision. We have used the satisfaction level as a metric to compare our method with other known MCDA methods in literature (utility function, AHP and TOPSIS).Our method proved to be capable to achieve higher satisfaction levels compared to other MCDA methods, especially when the decision suggested by CAP is different from the one proposed by those methods.