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Repositório Institucional da Universidade NOVA de Lisboa
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Comparative Study of Chocolate Cooling Supported by Computational Fluid Dynamics
Publication . Quandt, Maykon Soldati; Garcia, João; Silva, João Lita da; Dias, João; Semedo, Arian; Floro, Miguel; DM - Departamento de Matemática; GeoBioTec - Geobiociências, Geoengenharias e Geotecnologias; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
The sensorial perception of dark chocolate has been studied and is commonly related to cocoa varieties’ post-harvest or manufacturing process. Although physical and chemical changes during the transformation of cocoa into chocolate are known, there is still a gap concerning the impact of heat transfer on sensory evaluation. This work aimed to apply experimental measurements and numerical simulations in a comparative study of the thermal behaviour of dark chocolate during refrigeration and evaluate its impact over physical properties and sensory evaluation. Temperature presented an initial phase with high cooling rate, shorter at 10 °C due to the higher temperature difference. After, a steady phase was observed at 10 °C, followed by a temperature decrease until 8000 s. The behaviour at 25 °C did not present such plateau, increasing from 27.1 °C to 27.5 °C, a consequence of the dissipation of latent heat during phase transition and the short temperature gradient. Numerical simulations were more correlated to experimental data at 25 °C, presenting a temperature difference < 2 °C. The instrumental evaluation of appearance presented a higher luminance of chocolate surface at 25 °C cooling temperature, which may indicate a higher propensity for occurring fat bloom during storage. Sensory evaluation revealed no significant differences on appearance, texture, and flavour/aroma between cooling at 10 °C and 25 °C.
Nurses’ social representations of men’s sexual health care access : preliminary results
Publication . Tereso, Alexandra; Antunes, Lina; Brantes, Ana; Fernandes, João; Santos, Rui; Antunes, Ricardo; Curado, Alice
Abstract
Background: Men’s access to sexual healthcare is influenced by the nurses’ symbolic universes, translated into maps of signification and normative idealization that structure their practices. Aim: The aim of the study was to analyze nurses’ social representations of men’s sexual health, considering the barriers and possibilities in accessing health care. Methods: Descriptive study with qualitative approach. Data were collected through an online focus group with 9 Portuguese nurses. Data were subjected to lexicographic analysis with the support of the interface IRaMuTeQ-R. Results: 269 text segments were analyzed, retaining 84.86% of the total in 4 classes: interactions between professionals and men, therapeutic itineraries, “talking” about sexual health, and men’saccess to sexual health care. Similarity analysis led to 3 central cores: problem, saying, and patient. Conclusions: The training of professionals in men’s sexual health to demystify stereotypes about masculinity is fundamental. At the organizational level, it is necessary to analyze the possibilities of access and its visibility in electronic records and rethink the planning and provision of primary and differentiated care.
Hidrogénio: Revisão de Tecnologias de Produção, Políticas Energéticas e Mercado
Publication . Neves, Lilia Patricia Leal das; Nobre, Catarina; Gonçalves, Maria Margarida
A crise climática é um dos maiores desafios atuais, com amplas evidências de que não
podemos continuar a explorar os recursos do planeta nem emitir gases que provocam o efeito
estufa, como temos feito até nos dias de hoje. Nos últimos anos, no entanto, o mundo parece
ter tomado consciência da gravidade das mudanças climáticas, cujos efeitos estão cada vez
mais visíveis. Esse despertar global permitiu a criação de acordos visando à redução das emissões de gases de efeito estufa, responsáveis pelo aquecimento global, com o objetivo de alcançar a neutralidade carbónica.
Este trabalho examina a relevância do hidrogénio na transição energética promovida
pela União Europeia (UE). São discutidas as suas propriedades, bem como os diferentes métodos para produção, armazenamento e distribuição, culminando no uso final. Além disso, foi
avaliada a estratégia da UE para o hidrogénio, ressaltando seus principais objetivos e metas.
As políticas nacionais também foram analisadas, incluindo a estratégia portuguesa, com enfoques variados conforme os setores prioritários e as metas principais. Desta análise crítica conclui-se que apesar de partilharem metas comuns, cada país prioriza aspetos distintos. Contudo, o papel do hidrogénio na transição energética nacional e internacional é evidente, com
grande potencial para expansão e aplicação.
Molecular versatility of polyproline II helices
Publication . C. Seco, Francisco; Amador, Sandro; Conzuelo, Felipe; Baptista, Ana C.; Morgado, Leonor; Pina, Ana S.; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB); DCM - Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais; CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; DQ - Departamento de Química; RSC - Royal Society of Chemistry
The polyproline II helix is more common as a secondary structure than previously thought. Its significance extends to mediating various protein–protein interactions, both structurally and functionally, in natural systems. This structure is associated with the formation of supramolecular assemblies, which have been investigated for biomimetic applications. In this review, we highlight three examples of polyproline II helix utilization: structurally in collagen and in biomolecular condensates, and as functional motifs in hyperactive antifreeze proteins. The review examines the mechanisms underlying the properties of PPII and consolidates practical design principles for engineering PPII-based assemblies, with an emphasis on sequence composition, residue propensity, and crosslinking strategies that enhance stability and functionality. Additionally, by critically comparing spectroscopic methods (CD, VCD, ROA and NMR) and AI-based prediction tools, we summarize their respective strengths and limitations, providing a practical decision framework for selecting the most suitable characterization techniques for different sample types and research objectives.