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Projeto de investigação
Translation and Innovation towards Global Health
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Towards a comprehensive study of the 14N(p,γ)15O astrophysical key reaction
Publication . Compagnucci, A.; Formicola, A.; Campostrini, M.; Cruz, J.; Aliotta, M.; Ananna, C.; Barbieri, L.; Barile, F.; Bemmerer, D.; Best, A.; Boeltzig, A.; Broggini, C.; Bruno, C. G.; Caciolli, A.; Casaburo, F.; Cavanna, F.; Ciani, G. F.; Colombetti, P.; Corvisiero, P.; Csedreki, L.; Davinson, T.; Depalo, R.; Leva, A. Di; Elekes, Z.; Ferraro, F.; Fülöp, Zs; Guglielmetti, A.; Gustavino, C.; Gyürky, Gy; Imbriani, G.; Junker, M.; Lugaro, M.; Marigo, P.; Marsh, J.; Masha, E.; Menegazzo, R.; Paticchio, V.; Piatti, D.; Prati, P.; Rapagnani, D.; Rigato, V.; Robb, D.; Schiavulli, L.; Sidhu, R. S.; Skowronski, J.; Straniero, O.; Szücs, T.; Turkat, S.; Zavatarelli, S.; LIBPhys-UNL; Laboratório Associado de Translacção e Inovação para a Saúde Global - LA Real (Pólo FCT); Springer Science Business Media
While the 14N(p,γ)15O reaction plays a key role in the hydrogen-burning processes in various stellar conditions, its reaction rate is not known with sufficient precision. Therefore, the first scientific project at the recently launched Bellotti Ion Beam Facility of the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso was the measurement of the 14N(p,γ)15O reaction cross section in the proton energy range between 250 and 1500 keV. In this paper, the experimental techniques are summarized with special emphasis on the description of solid state nitrogen target production and characterization. The first results of the reaction yield measured at 55∘ detection angle are also presented.
Visual and motor skills development in preterm and full-term infants
Publication . Ferreira, Ana Isabel; Nunes, Alice; Silva, Cláudia; Tomé, Teresa; Quaresma, Cláudia; Quintão, Carla; LIBPhys-UNL; DF – Departamento de Física; Laboratório Associado de Translacção e Inovação para a Saúde Global - LA Real (Pólo FCT); Elsevier Science Publisher B.V.
Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation, affects approximately one in ten live-born infants globally. The risks and potential complications are more pronounced in infants born before 32 weeks, particularly those born before 28 weeks, necessitating specialized monitoring of developmental outcomes. Traditional developmental assessments often rely on performance-based observations, which can be subjective, and may not detect subtle or delayed difficulties that emerge later, such as in school-age children. This study presents the development and pilot application of a comprehensive protocol designed for the objective and integrated collection of clinical, developmental, and electrophysiological data to evaluate the impact of preterm birth. The protocol involves monitoring two groups of healthy infants—preterm and full-term—at four time points during the first year (4, 6, 9, and 12 months). Assessments include clinical evaluations, the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, and electrophysiological recordings such as visual evoked potentials (VEP), electrodermal activity (EDA), and an ophthalmological screening assessment at 4 months. Two case examples (one full-term, one preterm) are provided to illustrate data collection and application. While the article does not include outcome analysis, it emphasizes protocol structure and applicability, offering a foundation for future longitudinal study.
Biomechanical Characterisation of Gait in Older Adults
Publication . Letournel, Anna; Marques, Madalena; Vigário, Ricardo; Quintão, Carla; Quaresma, Cláudia; LIBPhys-UNL; DF – Departamento de Física; Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia (FCT); MDPI AG
The ageing of the global population, especially in developed countries, is driving significant societal changes. In Portugal, demographic data reflect a marked increase in the ageing index. Understanding gait alterations associated with ageing is essential for the early detection of mobility decline and fall risk. This study aimed to analyse gait patterns in older adults to contribute to a biomechanical ageing profile. Thirty-six community-dwelling older adults (29 female, 7 male; mean age: 74 years) participated. Gait data were collected using the Xsens full-body motion capture system, which combines inertial sensors with biomechanical modelling and sensor fusion. Spatiotemporal and kinematic parameters were analysed using descriptive statistics. Compared to younger adult norms, participants showed increased stance and double support phases, reduced swing phase, and lower gait speed, stride length, and cadence, with greater step width. Kinematic data showed reduced peak plantar flexion, knee flexion, and hip extension, but increased dorsiflexion peaks—adaptations aimed at stability. Despite a limited sample size and lack of clinical subgroups, results align with age-related gait literature. Findings support the utility of wearable systems like Xsens in capturing clinically relevant gait changes, contributing to normative biomechanical profiling and future mobility interventions.
Mapping Ca, Fe, K, and Zn in Biofortified Gilthead Seabream and Common Carp Fish Through X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
Publication . Barbosa, Vera; Martins, Marta; Marques, António; Carvalho, Maria Luisa; Pessanha, Sofia; MARE - Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente; DCEA - Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente; LIBPhys-UNL; DF – Departamento de Física; John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Globally, there is a growing demand for healthy and sustainable food products, where seafood can play a relevant role, because it is widely recognized as a healthy food item and is an important source of essential nutrients. Still, one third of the world population suffers from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition. Hence, developing tailor-made fortified farmed fish is a promising solution to overcome nutritional deficiencies and increase consumer confidence in these products. The aim of this study is to evaluate differences in nutritional elements distribution in biofortified and non-biofortified fillets from gilthead seabream and common carp, using micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF). This technique is a fast and nondestructive multielement mapping method with simple operation and sample preparation procedures. Results showed that calcium was mainly accumulated in the skin layer, which includes the scales and spines (skeleton), whereas iron, potassium, and zinc were uniformly distributed in the fish muscle. Compared with the control, biofortified gilthead seabream fillets showed a higher concentration of iron in the inner area of the skin layer (dermis) and muscle tissue, whereas biofortified common carp fillets showed a higher concentration of iron in muscle tissue and zinc in the abdominal cavity tissue of the sample. This study demonstrates that micro-X-ray is a suitable technique to assess the elemental distribution with micrometer resolution in fish fillets.
Electronic Noses for Cyber-Physical Systems
Publication . Reis, Tiago; Ribeiro, Paulo A.; Ribeiro, Susana; Fino, Maria Helena; Raposo, Maria; DEE - Departamento de Engenharia Electrotécnica e de Computadores; DF – Departamento de Física; LIBPhys-UNL; CTS - Centro de Tecnologia e Sistemas; UNINOVA-Instituto de Desenvolvimento de Novas Tecnologias
Cyber-physical systems (CPS) use algorithms to interpret sensor’s responses and model the physical environment they are connected to. Among the many application domains where CPS are used, the health-related field is one of the most promising areas that can benefit from CPS. This paper considers the development of sensors to be integrated into an electronic nose, e-nose, that will be responsible for collecting the information to be fed to the cyber component of a CPS. The work presented addresses the challenge of detecting Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the air at low concentrations with the main goal of diagnosing diseases through breath samples, using an electronic nose (e-nose) concept. Since the identification process of several VOCs can be highly sensitive to the level of humidity in the breath samples, the incorporation of a humidity sensor in the e-nose is proposed as a way of providing information that can be used to guarantee the accuracy of the results to be obtained. To this effect, a TiO2-based sensor was tested as a solution, and preliminary results are presented. Results demonstrated clearly that it is necessary to maintain the e-nose at a controlled humidity to ensure that the responses from the different e-nose sensors are correct and reliable.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Número da atribuição
LA/P/0117/2020