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- Foreword to the special section on Recent Advances in Graphics and Interaction (RAGI 2023)Publication . Sá, Vítor J.; Marto, Anabela; Silva, Paula Alexandra; Chalmers, Alan; Sá, Vítor J.This special section on Recent Advances in Graphics and Interaction features the papers submitted to Computers & Graphics and presented at the 2023 edition of the International Conference on Graphics and Interaction (ICGI’2023), which was held on November 2 and 3, 2023 at Tomar, as a joint organization between the Polytechnic University of Tomar and the Eurographics Portuguese Chapter (GPCG). The ICGI conference focuses on novel ideas in the areas of Computer Graphics, Image Processing, Computer Vision, Information Visualization, and Human-Computer Interaction, as well as related fields such as Virtual and Augmented Reality, Modelling, Rendering, Digital Arts, and Information Visualisation. The conference further aims to bring together and inspire collaboration among practitioners, users, and researchers. This special issue of Computers & Graphics received sixteen submissions, nine of which were accepted for publication after they had been fully peer-reviewed by at least three experts, according to the standards of Computers & Graphics.
- Satisfação de adultos mais velhos com prótese de joelho com um programa de exercícios em grupoPublication . Silva, Alexandre; Lopes, Sofia; Lopes, SofiaA artroplastia do joelho é a cirurgia mais realizada no membro inferior em adultos mais velhos. A funcionalidade, a qualidade de vida, a segurança, são as principais causas de satisfação relacionadas com a execução de um programa de exercício. Objetivo: Avaliar a satisfação de adultos mais velhos com prótese de joelho relativamente à execução de um programa de exercício em grupo. Metodologia: Estudo observacional descritivo, com 36 adultos mais velhos que realizaram um programa de exercício em grupo, 3 vezes por semana, com duração de 30 minutos, supervisionado por um fisioterapeuta, com um total de 15 sessões. Excluiu-se indivíduos que realizaram o programa em meio aquático. Foi aplicado um questionário de caraterização com questões relacionadas com a satisfação quanto ao programa. Resultados: Verificou-se uma distribuição homogénea entre sexos, com uma média (desvio padrão) de 70.3 (5.3) anos, sendo que 34 (94%) encontram-se reformados e 12 (33%) consideram ter uma saúde boa. A amostra considera que o programa de exercício promove funcionalidade e segurança nas atividades da vida diária, a maioria considera que melhora a qualidade de vida (97.2%), apenas 25% considera que o tempo da sessão é adequado. Todos os indivíduos encontram-se satisfeitos com o programa. Discussão e Conclusão: Os resultados permitem documentar a satisfação e alinhar os serviços com as expectativas dos utilizadores. A experiência do utente constitui, um indicador de qualidade. Conclui-se que o programa revela satisfação dos adultos mais velhos, quanto à funcionalidade, segurança e qualidade de vida, contudo, a sua duração não parece mostrar satisfação.
- Multimetallic layered double hydroxides as efficient and durable oxygen evolution catalysts for anion exchange membrane water electrolysis at high current densitiesPublication . Yaowen Xu, Kaiyang Xu, Hao Tan, Haoliang Huang, Fei Lin, Chenyue Zhang, Jingwei Wang, Run Ran, Jinfeng Zeng, Zhipeng Yu, Sitaramanjaneya Mouli Thalluri, Lijian Meng, Dehua Xiong and Lifeng Liu
- Sensação e funcionalidade na lesão nervosa periférica - a propósito de um estudo de casoPublication . Silva, Bruno; Sousa, Helena; Branco, Sandra; Portugal, Paula; Campolargo, Ana; Portugal, Paula; Sousa, Helena Maria Rocha de SousaLesões Nervosas Periféricas têm um impacto significativo na qualidade de vida e na independência, afetando tanto o movimento quanto a sensação da pessoa. A reintegração na rotina diária é particularmente desafiadora devido às mudanças na força e sensibilidade do membro afetado, que variam conforme o nervo lesionado. Embora seja reconhecido que a reeducação sensorial pode ter efeitos benéficos, há uma lacuna na literatura quanto à formulação de protocolos específicos para essa intervenção. Verificar o impacto do “Programa de Discriminação Sensorial” na reabilitação dos défices sensoriais na lesão do plexo braquial. Estudo de caso de nível micro focado num ator e do tipo multimetodológico. Caso ilustrativo da síndrome do túnel cárpico, com avaliações inicial, intermédia e final, assim como 14 sessões de intervenção. Utilizaram-se vários instrumentos de avaliação, tais como o Mini Mental State Examination, Questionário (3 secções), Índice de Barthel, Escala de Lawton & Broady, WHOQOL-Bref e Monofilamentos de Semmes-Weinstein. Os dados foram analisados através do Microsoft Excel, versão 2305. Após 14 sessões de intervenção com o “Programa de Discriminação Sensorial”, foram encontrados resultados positivos em relação à reabilitação sensorial em pessoas com STC, o que parece ter um impacto positivo na reabilitação sensorial em lesões nervosas periféricas. Apesar dos resultados positivos, é importante aumentar a amostra e continuar com a aplicação deste programa para apoiar o trabalho dos Terapeutas Ocupacionais nestes casos.
- Culinary plant-based decoctions: A promising approach for combatting neurodegenerative disordersPublication . Grosso, Clara; Martins, Rosário; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Martins, RosarioThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness of nutritional therapy in preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders. To achieve this, decoctions from 5 culinary plants - turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus Spenn.), lemon basil (Ocimum basilicum L. var. citriodorum), spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) and winter savory (Satureja montana L.) - were evaluated for their ability to combat reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and enzymes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The total phenolic content ranged from 43.2 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract in turmeric to 327.3 mg GAE/g extract in rosemary. While lemon basil, spearmint, rosemary and winter savory decoctions displayed significant superoxide anion radical scavenging activity (IC50 values between 46.8 and 62.0 µg/mL), winter savory was the least active of this group against nitric oxide radical (IC50=314.5 µg/mL). Rosemary extract was the most active inhibitor of cholinesterases, exhibiting IC50=1068.4 µg/mL for acetylcholinesterase and IC50=858.8 µg/mL for butyrylcholinesterase. Turmeric decoction, with the lowest phenolic content, showed the least promising results among the tested extracts. This study demonstrates the potential of culinary plant decoctions as nutritional therapies for neurodegenerative disorders. Rosemary exhibited the most promising results, showing high activity in scavenging free radicals and inhibiting cholinesterases, suggesting its potential to be included in a functional food or food supplement.
- Brewing spent yeast as a sustainable solution for Tannin adsorptionPublication . Vieira, Elsa F.; Amaral, Tomás; Moreira, Jorge; Brandão, Tiago; Delerue-Matos, CristinaThis study explored the potential of brewing spent yeast (BSY) as an adsorbent for tannins from a chestnut shell extract (CS-tannin extract). The extract was obtained through an alkaline treatment (5% NaOH (v/v)) to recover cellulosic material from chestnut shells, which requires further valorisation. Various BSY treatments, including lyophilization, immobilization in calcium alginate beads, and alkaline and acid treatments, were tested to determine the best tannin adsorption capacity. The BSY material underwent characterization before and after the experiments, including point of zero charge (pHPZC) determination, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Equilibrium was achieved within 10 minutes, with the highest biosorption capacity of CS-tannin extract observed in lyophilized BSY, which showed a value of 31.81 ± 3.08 mg Tannic Acid Equivalents g⁻¹ yeast. The Sips isotherm model fitted well to the data, suggesting that tannin biosorption onto residual yeast cells is a chemisorption process. FT-IR analysis revealed several functional groups in the BSY, particularly carboxyl, amino/hydroxyl, and amide groups, which play a key role in tannin biosorption. These results demonstrate that BSY, a valuable by-product of the brewing industry, is an effective biosorbent for tannins from the disposal solution resulting from chestnut shell cellulosic material extraction. Further research is needed to better understand the specific interaction mechanisms and explore the practical applications of tannin-enriched BSY.
- Design of innovative electrochemical genosensors for honey fraud and quality detection by botanical origin authenticationPublication . Morais, Stephanie L.; Castanheira, Michelle; Pereira, Eduarda; Santos, Marlene; Domingues, Valentina F.; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Barroso, M. Fátima; Santos, MarleneEnsuring food safety has become a concern for companies, consumers and the government alike, due to the increase of fraudulent and/or adulterated food products found in the global market [1,2]. Some common fraudulent strategies include mislabelling a product's geographical origin and blending it with lower-grade substances [3]. Among the frequently adulterated food products there is honey. Honey is a highly sought-after natural food with an elevated environmental, social and commercial value due to its rich nutritional profile and numerous health benefits. However, it is also vulnerable to adulteration [4]. Therefore, it is important to develop an analytical technique that can quickly, cheaply, and easily assess the quality and safety of honeys worldwide. In this work, an electrochemical genosensor for the detection of two plant species: Erica arborea and Castanea sativa in real honey samples was designed and optimized. The first step was the construction of the genosensor. For this, DNA-target probes capable of unequivocally detecting E. arborea and C. sativa DNA were selected and designed. As a sandwich-format strategy was adopted, their complementary probes were then cut into two smaller sequences to which a thiol group (DNA-capture) and a fluorescein (DNA-signalling) were attached. Using chronoamperometry, the enzymatic amplification of the electrochemical signal was achieved with a concentration range of 0.07 to 2.00 nM. These results were then compared to the DNA from certified E. arborea and C. sativa plant leaves, amplified by PCR, and 10 commercial honeys found in local Portuguese markets. The developed genosensor was successfully applied for the detection of the DNA from the extracted plant leaves and commercial honey samples. So, the developed genosensor is a promising cost-effective and innovative analytical method to detect the botanical origin of real honeys.
- Influence of dispersant and surfactant on nZVI characterization by dynamic light scatteringPublication . Fernandes, Filipe Jorge; Oliveira, Ana Isabel; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Grosso, Clara; Oliveira, Ana IsabelThe agrifood industries generate tremendous amounts of waste. The valorisation of these wastes is of the utmost importance. Here, spent coffee ground (SCG) and Cistus ladanifer L. leaf (CLL) post-distillation residues were used to prepare 50:50 (v/v) hydromethanolic extracts for green zero-valent iron nanoparticle (nZVI) production. Then, the nZVIs’ size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP) were determined through dynamic light scattering (DLS). Since nZVIs are known to be heavily reactive and display a tendency to agglomerate, dispersant influence (water or methanol) and surfactant addition (Tween® 20) were studied. SCG NPs dispersed in water displayed a size of 565.6 ± 80.84 nm, with a PDI of ± 0.084, and a ZP of −19.57 ± 0.95 mV. Adding Tween®-20 resulted in much lower sizes for these NPs (14.64 ± 0.76 nm with a PDI of 0.238 ± 0.066) and an increase in ZP (−5.99 ± 1.71 mV). CLL nZVIs dispersed in water displayed similar results, with lower size and higher ZP after surfactant addition (766.43 ± 129.49 nm, 0.684 ± 0.151 PDI vs. 13.4 ± 4.26 nm, 0.31 ± 0.042 PDI, −5.51 ± 0.86 mV). Using methanol as the dispersant for nZVIs displayed far worse results, which shows that nZVIs are better dispersed in water, and the addition of Tween® 20 highly reduced agglomeration, increasing the zeta potential. These results allow for better understanding of the importance of dispersant and surfactant usage for an accurate characterization by DLS.
- A recommendation system based on a microservice architecture to avoid workplace stressPublication . Rodrigues, Fátima; Pinelas, Francisco; Ferreira, Simão; Rodrigues, Matilde; Rocha, Nuno; Ferreira, Simão; Rodrigues, Matilde; Rocha, NunoStress in the workplace is a major problem that affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and occupations. It can contribute to various health problems, from anxiety to insomnia, among others. Workplace stress significantly impacts employee well-being and productivity. Current stress-management approaches, while valuable, primarily address stress after it has occurred. This highlights the critical need for proactive systems capable of anticipating individual stress and preventing negative health consequences. This research presents the design and initial implementation of a novel microservice-based recommendation system for proactively mitigating workplace stress among computer users. The system leverages predicted stress levels to deliver timely, personalized, and easily implemented interventions. This study focuses on evaluating the system’s architecture, core functionalities, and initial performance using a content-based filtering approach. A pilot study demonstrated the system’s feasibility, highlighting areas for future development.
- Literary tourism in Northern Portugal and its contribution to regenerative tourismPublication . Bruno Barbosa Sousa; Liberato, Pedro; Rodrigues, Cristina; Carina Pereira; Maria Alexandra Malheiro; Liberato, Dália; Elsa Tavares Esteves; Pedro M. Carvalho; Adriano CostaLiterary tourism has been the subject of new studies and new approaches in the academic context, not only from a historical and cultural perspective, but also for the benefit of the local community and the progress of the territory This chapter aims to present an embryonic reflection on the importance that literary tourism could represent for the benefit of regenerative tourism and the long-term preservation of territories and communities. This research aims to focus on the context of Northern Portugal (a Portuguese geographical context strongly characterized by its cultural wealth and heritage). Regenerative tourism frameworks point to the restoration and building of social, cultural and environmental conditions in destinations. This initial reflection aims to focus on national visitors, considering the importance that domestic tourism can promote in the interior of each country, as a preponderant element for the good practice of a more regenerative tourism (not only in terms of sustainability, but also in terms of culture, history, literary heritage and local resources).