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- Preparatórios e Rudimentos sobre a disciplina de Formação Musical _uma Teoria da PráticaPublication . Costa, Jorge Alexandre; Costa, Jorge Alexandre; INET - md | CIPEMO Relatório, com o título - Formação Musical, um domínio disciplinar volúvel no campo do ensino artístico de música. Subsídios para a sua história -, tem como propósito fundamental de descrever e interpretar criticamente o percurso histórico da disciplina de Formação Musical, ou suas congéneres, no âmbito do ensino artístico especializado público (e, cumulativamente, do ensino artístico, especializado e profissional privado, a partir da década de 80 do século XX) de música em Portugal, a partir do conceito de campo, desenvolvido pelo sociólogo francês Pierre Bourdieu (1930-2002), como ferramenta teórica e metodológica capaz de gerar, organizar e sistematizar o conhecimento produzido. A construção desta perspetiva reflexiva e crítica da disciplina é realizada, por um lado, a partir de um inter-relacionamento de saberes multidisciplinares, designadamente entre a música, a educação, a sociologia e a história, e, por outro, a partir da interpretação e da análise crítica das principais reformas implementadas e de muitos outros documentos formais, designadamente, regimentos, regulamentos, programas, editais e demais ofícios, fundamentais para a estruturação deste ensino. O período em estudo inicia-se com o aparecimento do Conservatório de Música na Casa Pia de Lisboa, em 1835, com a criação da aula de Preparatórios e Rudimentos, e estende-se até aos conservatórios públicos nacionais, às escolas privadas (de direito privado e de dependência autárquica) de ensino artístico, especializado e profissional de música, de diferentes níveis de ensino, e aos demais institutos, escolas e departamentos superiores de música dos nossos dias, com a disciplina de Formação Musical ou designação congénere. As diferentes reformas, programas e regulamentos produzidos e implementados - o corpus empírico de base para este estudo – são alvo de uma análise de conteúdo que incidirá, fundamentalmente, sobre quatro eixos orientadores: i) os autores, as condições e os contextos que envolvem a construção de cada uma das reformas; ii) o lugar da disciplina de Formação Musical na estrutura curricular do ensino artístico,especializado e profissional de música – designação e duração temporal; iii) os propósitos, as orientações, os objetivos ou os programas definidos para o ensino da disciplina em cada uma das reformas; iv) e, por último, a bibliografia específica, especializada ou outra qualquer similar que foi sendo adotada ao longo dos tempos no âmbito da sua lecionação, tendo em atenção os autores, a proveniência geográfica e os conteúdos abordados. Os resultados obtidos permitem-nos mapear, simbolicamente, os trajetos históricos pedagógicos que a disciplina de Formação Musical (ou disciplinas semelhantes) foi construindo, tendo sempre como referencial os capitais (o reconhecimento e a valoração) de autonomia, de identidade e de dimensão que lhe foram consignados, ao longo dos tempos, pelos diferentes atores e reformas do ensino artístico, especializado e profissional de música.
- Surface-active ionic liquids derived from antimalarial drugs and natural lipids that display multi-stage antiplasmodial activityPublication . Ferraz, Ricardo; Silva, Ana Teresa; Oliveira, Isabel S.; Duarte, Denise; Moita, Diana; Nogueira, Fátima; Prudêncio, Miguel; Gomes, Paula; Marques, Eduardo F.The use of Ionic Liquids (ILs) in Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry has been greatly evolving since they were first used as alternative solvents for the chemical synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). ILs are now used with other purposes in this area, such as adjuvants in drug formulation and delivery, or even as bioactive compounds per se. New ionic structures with biologically relevant properties can be easily obtained through straightforward reactions, as nearly all APIs are ionizable and can be paired with counter-ions that could be either inert or offer additional beneficial biological effects. This efficient, cost-effective strategy for the rescuing and repurposing of drugs is particularly appealing for finding new options to combat "diseases of poverty" like malaria. We implemented this approach to “recycle” classical antimalarial aminoquinolines, namely, chloroquine (CQ) and primaquine (PQ), by pairing them with natural acidic lipids through acid-base reactions. Our goal was to create novel ILs capable of targeting multiple stages of the Plasmodium parasite’s life cycle. Additionally, we were interested in that such ILs could act as surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs), able to self-assemble into nanostructures displaying adequate bioavailability. For this purpose, we paired the antimalarial drugs with either fatty acids or bile acids, due to their biocompatibility and amphiphilic nature. The antiplasmodial activity and self-aggregation properties of the new SAILs were determined. PQ fatty acid salts preserved the liver-stage antiplasmodial activity of the original drug, while exhibiting significantly enhanced activity against blood-stage parasites. In the case of bile salts, those derived from PQ retained the efficacy of the parent drug, whereas the CQ-derived salts proved to be novel triple-stage antiplasmodial agents. The SAILs obtained from bile acids showed a remarkable ability to self-aggregate, with a notably lower critical micelle concentration compared to their respective sodium salts. Overall, these findings open a new strategy for drug repurposing, extending beyond antimalarials and other anti-infective therapies.
- Challenging invasive fungal infections: development of innovative electrochemical nanogenosensors to detect Candida spp.Publication . Castanheira, Michelle; Morais, Stephanie L.; Seguro, Isabel; Santos, Marlene; Lima, Luís; Pacheco, João; Barroso, M. FátimaDespite the considerable advances in the prevention and treatment of fungal infections, invasive fungus such as Candida spp., continues to be one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality. The Global Action Fund Infections reported that, annually, more than 300 million people are infected with fungal infection, from these, about 1.5 million ends up dying. Candida albicans is the most important fungal 66 opportunistic pathogen, it can cause superficial or invasive infections. Candida, often, causes superficial infections, per example in skin or mucous membranes with simple and effective treatment, however, also can break to the bloodstream and disseminate to internal organs. It has been observed among high-risk patients such as allogeneic stem-cell transplant recipients and with acute leukemia receiving highdose chemotherapy. These patients are at a heightened risk of developing infections due to the suppression of their immune system during the transplantation process. The diagnosis of systemic fungal infections persists as a problematic issue. Therefore, the development of more efficient, sensitive and specific methods for early diagnosis is need. In this study, an easy, rapid, and accurate detection methods for fungal infections in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was designed. To address this challenge, it was developed an electrochemical nanogenosensor for the detection of Candida albicans.This nanogenosensor was assembled in an innovative low-cost electrochemical paper based analytical devices (ePAD). A sandwich hybridization reaction was used to enhaced the sensitivity of the electrochemical signal. Preliminary results demonstrated that using this nanogenosensors it was possible to detect Candida spp., in synthetic fungus sample. Despite these results, the optimization of the nanogenosensor in terms of quantifying Candida albicans is being carried out, which will be validated in future studies.The applicability in hospital environment relatively to sensitivity, accuracy, quickness response, challenges and opportunities will be discuss in future developments.
- In vivo activity of peptide-ionic liquid conjugates against diabetic woundsPublication . Gomes, A.; Ferraz, Ricardo; Ferreira, M.; Maciel, J.; Plácido, A.; Leal, E.; Gameiro, P.; Gonçalves, Teresa; Carvalho, E.; Gomes, P.Due to widespread multidrug-resistant (MDR) microbes, efficient treatments for infected wounds are being exhausted, which means that there is an alarming lack of effective antibiotics to treat diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). The increasing life expectancy of the population and the growing incidence of unhealthy lifestyles is leading to a concerning rise in the number of people affected with diabetes and related complications, being DFU amongst the most troublesome. In 2014, already about 11% of the Portuguese population had diabetes and this number is continuously growing every year. [1] Like other chronic wounds, DFU are difficult to heal, but their association with other diabetes complications, such as peripheral neuropathy and ischemia, underpin an exceedingly low healing rate and high propensity for persistent infections. In connection with the above, we have recently advanced peptide-ionic liquid conjugates (PILC) as potential active pharmaceutical ingredients for topical formulations to tackle DFU. PILC combine a short cosmeceutical peptide with collagenboosting action, with an ioni q b , k “ k” -catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. This revealed one conjugate with an outstanding performance in vitro, namely, potent collagen-inducing effect, alongside microbicidal (bactericidal and fungicidal) action.[2] This conjugate was now tested for its wound healing ability in a mouse model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes. The promising results obtained thus far in this animal model, alongside biophysical investigations on the potential antimicrobial mechanism of action of PILC, will be presented in this communication.
- Unveiling the geographical influence on honey's physicochemical profile: a case study from Montesinho Natural ParkPublication . Soares, Sónia; Magalhães, Leandro; Moreira, Manuela M.; Rede, Diana; Fernandes, Virgínia Cruz; Viegas, Olga; Pinto, Edgar; Almeida, Agostinho; Azevedo, Rui; Delerue-Matos, CristinaIn recent years, global honey consumption has significantly increased due to the rising demand for natural products with health benefits. Consumers are particularly drawn to honey recognized for its superior quality, such as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) honey or honey produced in protected areas, which is associated with distinctive characteristics. Portugal stands among the top producers of PDO honey, with Montesinho Natural Park (MNP) being a notable example of high-quality Portuguese honey. Despite its reputation, environmental challenges threaten both honey production and quality in this region. This study aims to evaluate the physicochemical parameters and nutritional characteristics of honey from MNP and investigate the correlation between these properties and the geographical location of the apiaries. Honey samples (n=13) were collected from local producers and supermarkets. Standard physicochemical parameters, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), diastase activity, moisture and ash content, free acidity, electrical conductivity, and pH, were analysed following honey legislation guidelines. Additional parameters, such as colour, protein content, low-molecular-weight carbohydrates, and mineral composition, were also assessed. The findings indicate that all honey samples complied with legal standards and align with previously published data, showing a high degree of homogeneity across the physicochemical properties analysed. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that parameters such as colour, HMF, and specific minerals (Mg, Ca, K, Mn, Sr, Cu, Ba) contributed to the clustering of honey samples, suggesting that geographical variations among apiary locations might influence these properties. However, these differences do not affect the overall quality of the PDO honey produced in MNP. This study represents the first comprehensive characterization of honey from different apiaries within MNP. While the results demonstrate the consistency and quality of MNP honey, further research is necessary to explore the relationship between geographic origin and quality under varying environmental conditions. These insights could be valuable for maintaining sustainable beekeeping practices in the region and preserving the unique attributes of MNP honey.
- Ensuring food safety: electrochemical genosensors for the authentication of plant honey originPublication . Morais, Stephanie L.; Pereira, Eduarda; Castanheira, Michelle; Santos, Marlene; Domingues, Valentina; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Barroso, M. FátimaHoney is a high-quality and natural ingredient often consumed because of its unique sweet taste and multiple therapeutic and nutritional benefits. These properties are normally intrinsically connected to the regional flora from which the plant pollen is harvested. Hence, the botanical and geographical origins of honeys play a substantial role in the end product's composition. With the recent interest in natural food products many businesses, including the honey industry, have observed a significant expansion in production and market value. However, honey is susceptible to adulteration and, as more and more adulterated honeys are being found on the global market, it is difficult to monitor the safety and quality of all honey products, making honey fraud a serious problem for both consumers and the food industry. Some of the most prevalent fraudulent acts include mislabeling the botanical and geographic origin of honeys and mixing pure honey with inferior honeys, processed sugars, syrups, and other substances. Thus, there is a need to develop an analytical tool that can quickly, cheaply, and easily guarantee the quality and safety of honey. In this study, an electrochemical genosensor, based on a sandwich format DNA hybridization reaction between two complementary probes, for the detection and quantification of two pollen producing plant species: Erica arborea and Castanea sativa were designed and optimized. Analyzing public databases, two synthetic DNA-target sequences capable of unequivocally detecting the pollen from E. arborea and C. sativa were selected and designed. Their complementary oligonucleotide probes were also designed and cut into two distinct sequences: the DNA-capture and DNA-signaling probes. In order to recognize the two plant species in real honey and pollen DNA samples and optimize the hybridization procedure, a mixed selfassembled monolayer of each plant species’ DNA-capture probe and mercaptohexanol was used. Then, the electrochemical signal was enzymatically amplified using chronoamperometric measurements. A concentration range of 0.03 to 2.00 nM for E. arborea and 0.03 to 1.00 nM for C. sativa were obtained. The developed sensors were successfully applied for the detection and quantification of the two plant species in real plant samples and, thus, indicate the botanic origin of honeys. Therefore, the developed electrochemical genosensors are a viable and affordable analytical tool to authenticate the botanical origin of honeys, ensuring honey quality and safety for consumers as well as the industries.
- Electrochemical genosensors as a new approach on plant DNA detection and quantification for honey authenticationPublication . Morais, Stephanie; Castanheira, Michelle; Santos, Marlene; Domingues, Valentina; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Barroso, M. FátimaHoney is a natural sweet food product with multiple nutritional and medicinal properties making it a healthy alternative to processed sugars. With the consumers’ recent interest and pur-chase of dietary products the global honey market has greatly increased. To keep up with produc-tion, or simply for financial gain, some producers/companies are now blending pure honey with cheaper substances that possess similar physical characteristics. As there are no notable visible dif-ferences between the pure and adulterated honey, it is extremely difficult to determine the purity of the available honeys. In this study, an electrochemical genosensor based on the sandwich format DNA hybridization reaction between two complementary probes was developed for the detection and quantification of Erica arborea pollen DNA in real samples. Analyzing public database platforms, a 98 base-pair DNA-target probe capable of unequivocally detecting the pollen from E. arborea was selected and designed. The complementary probe to the DNA-target oligonucleotide sequence was then cut into a 28 base-pair thiolated DNA-capture probe and a 70 base-pair fluorescein isothiocya-nate-labelled DNA-signaling probe. To increase the hybridization reaction, a self-assembled mono-layer formed from mixing the DNA-capture probe with mercaptohexanol was employed. Using chronoamperometry, the enzymatic amplification of the electrochemical signal was achieved with a concentration range of 0.03 to 2.00 nM. The DNA from certified E. arborea leaves was extracted using liquid nitrogen and mechanical grinding and the targeted region amplified by PCR. The de-veloped genosensor was successfully applied for the detection and quantification of the DNA con-centration of the extracted E. arborea plant leaves. So, the developed genosensor is a promising cost-effective and innovative analytical method to detect and quantify the DNA concentration of plant DNA in real honey samples.
- Introducing a Postgraduate Phase of Qualification at Universities of Applied Sciences: Collaboration and Quality in Doctoral EducationPublication . Gille, Michael; Krappe, Johanna; Morgado, Celda; Pausits, Prof. Dr. Habil. Attila; Mostardinha, MafaldaSeveral EU Member States are implementing policies to develop the role of universities of applied sciences (UAS) in the training of early-stage researchers. The application-oriented research at UAS frequently draws on collaboration, not only between researchers with different disciplinary backgrounds but also with a wide range of regional, national, and international partners. Doctoral education takes place in this practice-oriented environment and often extends into multiple third mission areas. Doctoral education at UAS can be broadly divided into two policy approaches: First, UASs have a formal role in early-stage researchers’ development including co-supervision with a degree-awarding university. Second, UASs become entitled to award doctorates independently. We aim to obtain a European perspective on the quality assurance discussion associated with this newfound role of UASs. To examine how the policies in the four selected member states are put into practice, we address the following questions: What role is ascribed to UASs by the policymakers and what conceptualizations of the UASs ́ `applied´ doctorate emerge? How do the requirements of collaboration fit into this? A thematically focussed case analysis of four member states’ models (Austria, Finland, Germany, Portugal) aims to elucidate the underlying notions of the policymakers. The discussion of foundational conceptualizations outlines possible fields of investigation for a reflection on these developments against the backdrop of the European Higher Education Area.
- High efficacy of chloroquine-derived bile salts in Pluronic F127 micelles against blood-stage Plasmodium falciparumPublication . Silva, Ana Teresa; Prudêncio, Miguel; Oliveira, Isabel S.; Nogueira, Fátima; Morais, Inês; Santana, Sofia; Ferraz, Ricardo; Workneh, Eyob A.; Gomes, Paula; Marques, Eduardo F.; Ferraz, RicardoColloidal nanocarriers can play a key role in the efficacious delivery of drugs, including antimalarials. Here, we investigated the ability of polymeric micelles of the block copolymer F127 to act as nanovehicles for two organic salts derived from chloroquine and human bile acids, namely, chloroquinium cholate (iCQP1) and chloroquinium glycocholate (iCQP1g). We have previously reported the strong in vitro antiplasmodial activity of these salts, which displayed IC50 values of 13 and 15 nM against blood forms of Plasmodium falciparum, respectively. By deriving from amphiphilic lipids, iCQP1 and iCQP1g also enclose the ability to act as surface-active ionic liquids (SAILs). The micellization properties of neat F127 and of the F127/SAIL mixtures were initially investigated to gain physicochemical insight into the interaction between polymer and bioactive SAILs, resorting to differential scanning calorimetry, surface tension measurements and dynamic light scattering. Micelle formation by F127 is an endothermic process strongly temperature and concentration dependent. Interestingly, this process is significantly changed when the molar fraction of SAIL (xSAIL) in the F127/SAIL mixture is varied between 0.33 and 0.90. Both SAILs favor the formation of mixed micelles by decreasing the micellization temperature, and (observed only when for xSAIL = 0.33) by synergistically decreasing the cmc. Concomitantly, the micellar size is reduced from 18 to 13 nm as xSAIL is increased from 0.33 to 0.90. Crucially, in vitro assays show that when the SAILs are loaded into F127 polymeric micelles, their antiplasmodial efficacy is substantially enhanced, with a significant drop in IC50, especially for the iCQP1/F127 system. This opens new possibilities for the nanoformulations of antimalarial compounds.
- Form(a)ção criadora - calendulário ou uma experiência morfológica de criação musicalPublication . Ribeiro, Catarina Sá; Azevedo, Carlos Alberto Possidónio da Silva de; Freijo, Ana Isabel NistalPretende-se, com este projeto de dissertação, expor o processo de criação de uma obra musical original, Calendulário. Este processo teve como inspiração o pensamento morfológico descrito por J. von Goethe em A Metamorfose das Plantas. É neste texto que encontro uma reflexão analítica e poética, por parte do autor, daqueles que são os princípios criadores que vivem no lugar entre a fixação da forma e a acção que a desenvolve. Pretendo, então, elencar, detalhar, aplicar e experienciar os aspectos da metamorfose ao processo criativo — a que chamarei Form(a)ção Criadora. Para a elaboração deste trabalho, parto de quatro vias teóricas, que compreendem o organicismo e unidade na música, o pensamento morfológico de Goethe, o fragmento literário de Schlegel e a escuta meditativa de Miguel Ribeiro-Pereira. Estes quatro momentos configuram as sementes teóricas que orientam a revisão poiética de Calendulário.