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Publicações

2024

Aloysia citrodora extract as a chemopreventive agent against HPV16-induced lesions: findings from K14-HPV16 mice

Autores
Medeiros Fonseca, B; Faustino Rocha, I; Silva, J; Silva, G; Pires, MJ; Neuparth, MJ; Vala, H; Vasconcelos Nóbrega, C; Dias, I; Barros, L; Gonçalves, L; Gaivão, I; Bastos, MSM; Félix, L; Venâncio, C; Medeiros, R; Gil da Costa, M; Oliveira, A;

Publicação
Exploration of Medicine

Abstract
Aim: Aloysia citrodora has a long history of traditional use in treating various ailments. This study evaluated the in vivo chemopreventive efficacy and systemic toxicity of an extract of A. citrodora in a transgenic mouse model of HPV16 (human papillomavirus type 16)-induced cancer. Methods: The experiment involved six groups (n = 5): group 1 (G1, wild-type (WT), water), group 2 (G2, HPV, water), group 3 (G3, WT, 0.013 g/mL), group 4 (G4, HPV, 0.006 g/mL), group 5 (G5, HPV, 0.008 g/mL), and group 6 (G6, HPV, 0.013 g/mL). Throughout the assay, humane endpoints, body weight, food, and water consumption were recorded weekly. The internal organs and skin of the mice were collected for analysis after they were sacrificed. Toxicological parameters that were studied included hematological and biochemical blood markers, splenic and hepatic histology, and hepatic oxidative stress. Results: A. citrodora extract seems to reduce the incidence of dysplastic and in situ carcinoma skin lesions induced by HPV16 in this model, suggesting that dietary supplementation with concentrations of 0.008 g/mL and 0.013 g/mL may have beneficial chemopreventive effects. Conclusions: The extract did not induce any concentration-dependent toxicological effects on any of the parameters included in the study, indicating a favorable toxicological profile under these experimental conditions. © 2024 Open Exploration Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

2024

Can Urban Retrofitting Achieve a Positive Energy Balance? a Case Study of Four European Positive Energy Districts

Autores
Schneider, S; Alyokhina, S; Bruckner, H; Baptista, J;

Publicação
2024 International Conference on Sustainable Technology and Engineering, i-COSTE 2024

Abstract
Urban retrofitting has emerged as a key strategy in the transition towards sustainable cities, with Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) serving as a model for achieving energy-positive urban environments. This paper explores the potential for urban retrofitting to achieve a positive energy balance through a case study of four existing districts in European Municipalities: Settimo Torinese (Italy), Großschönau (Austria), Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Resita (Romania). The analysis leverages energy balance simulations, considering various retrofitting scenarios, including building insulation, photovoltaic (PV) installations, and the adoption of flexible grid usage. The findings indicate that while achieving a PED is challenging, it is attainable through a combination of aggressive retrofitting measures, renewable energy integration, and smart energy management. The study highlights the importance of context-specific strategies, as climatic and urban characteristics significantly influence the outcomes. It aims to add to the ongoing discourse on sustainable urban development by providing empirical insights into the pathways and challenges of achieving PEDs through urban retrofitting. © 2024 IEEE.

2024

Recent Advances in Learning from Data Streams

Autores
Gama, J;

Publicação
IC3K

Abstract

2024

Message from the VERDI Workshop Chairs; DSN-W 2024

Autores
Pereira, D; Proença, J; Sangchoolie, B;

Publicação
DSN-W

Abstract

2024

Real-time nowcasting the monthly unemployment rates with daily Google Trends data

Autores
Costa, EA; Silva, ME; Galvao, Ana Beatriz;

Publicação
SOCIO-ECONOMIC PLANNING SCIENCES

Abstract
Policymakers often have to make decisions based on incomplete economic data because of the usual delay in publishing official statistics. To circumvent this issue, researchers use data from Google Trends (GT) as an early indicator of economic performance. Such data have emerged in the literature as alternative and complementary predictors of macroeconomic outcomes, such as the unemployment rate, featuring readiness, public availability and no costs. This study deals with extensive daily GT data to develop a framework to nowcast monthly unemployment rates tailored to work with real-time data availability, resorting to Mixed Data Sampling (MIDAS) regressions. Portugal is chosen as a use case for the methodology since extracting GT data requires the selection of culturally dependent keywords. The nowcasting period spans 2019 to 2021, encompassing the time frame in which the coronavirus pandemic initiated. The findings indicate that using daily GT data with MIDAS provides timely and accurate insights into the unemployment rate, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, showing accuracy gains even when compared to nowcasts obtained from typical monthly GT data via traditional ARMAX models.

2024

Destination Meanings Shaped by Home Environment: A Schema-Based Intra-Cultural Comparison of Chinese and Macau Outbound Tourists in Europe

Autores
Mou, JJ; Brito, PQ;

Publicação
LEISURE SCIENCES

Abstract
While place attachment has been a hot research topic in tourism, place meanings generally have received less attention from researchers. By bridging environmental psychology to the context of tourism, this research employs schema theory to explore how the home environment influences place meanings perceived in foreign destinations by tourists belonging to the same cultural group, i.e., Chinese and Macau outbound tourists in Europe. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the findings show that there is much overlap in both groups' place meanings regarding Europe as they are culturally Chinese. Nonetheless, the Portuguese symbolic settings of their home environment are profoundly integrated in the Macau interviewees' autobiographical memories and self-identity, which turns them into "vicarious insiders" of Portugal prior to their actual visits, thus rendering Portugal a specifically meaningful destination. This study makes theoretical contributions to the tourism place literature and provides practical implications regarding meaning marketing for destination management organizations.

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