Universidade do Porto

Time evolution of corrosion-induced cracking in reinforced concrete under chloride exposure

The time-dependent initiation and propagation of corrosion-induced cracking in reinforced concrete (RC) was investigated, considering key material and geometric parameters. Accelerated corrosion tests were conducted on RC pull-out specimens with varying concrete compressive stren...

Glycome remodeling programs pathogenic γδ T17 cell responses in autoimmunity

Glycans play fundamental roles in T cell biology; however, the glycome landscape of γδ T cells remains to be unlocked. Despite the growing importance of γδ T cells in host defense, tissue homeostasis, and diseases, the glycosylation mechanisms guiding their activation, commitment...

Sexual Identity Well-Being in Older Lesbian Women Throughout the Life Cycle: A Qualitative Study in the Portuguese Context

Objective Population aging is a demographic phenomenon that has been intensifying in recent decades. Research has focused on the importance of sexual well-being as an essential component of health in older adults, although few studies have evaluated the experience of sexual ident...

Caregiver Burden in an Online Sample of Family Caregivers: Cross-Sectional Associations with Anticipatory Grief and Family Needs

Background/Objectives: Caregiver burden is common among family caregivers providing home-based care and may be associated with anticipatory grief (i.e., the emotional response to an expected loss before death), family-needs satisfaction, and care-related factors. This study aimed...

Ohmic Heating as a Strategy for Upcycling PET Plastic Waste for New Supramolecular Structures

The massive accumulation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) plastic waste poses a significant global environmental challenge, requiring the development of more sustainable upcycling strategies. This study investigated the alkaline hydrolysis of PET flakes to recover terephthal...

The Relationship between Tool Coatings and Process Parameters on Cutting Forces and Wear in High-Speed Machining

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of cutting force dynamics in High-Speed Machining (HSM), a critical factor for ensuring structural integrity and productivity in advanced manufacturing. The study synthesizes the role of piezoelectric dynamometry and the Finite Element...

Orbital Apex Involvement in Sinonasal Intestinal-Type Adenocarcinoma: Impact on Distant Metastasis and Mortality

Abstract Sinonasal intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (ITAC) is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Prognosis is strongly influenced by tumor extension into critical anatomical regions contiguous with the orbit and skull base, where achieving negative margins is challenging. To ident...

Enhancing learning health care systems with real-world data harmonization frameworks

The use of digital tools has enabled the capture of clinical data that can be leveraged to produce real-world evidence, complementing traditional trial data and addressing evidence gaps in oncology. Electronic health records offer rich, longitudinal data, although recording pract...

A Versatile and Low-Cost Platform for Advanced Power Electronics Experiments

Commercial power electronics laboratory platforms remain either prohibitively expensive or limited to a single converter topology, restricting student exposure to modern digital control challenges. This paper presents a versatile, low-cost didactic platform built from off-the-she...

Removal of Textile Industry Pollutants from Water Using Ethyl Lactate-Based Aqueous Biphasic Systems: Reactive Red 180 and Acid Blue 9

Abstract In this work, two different aqueous biphasic systems (ABSs) were applied for the recovery of Reactive Red 180 (RED), an azo dye, and Acid Blue 9 (BLUE), an anthraquinone dye. Experimental studies were carried out using the systems {ethyl lactate (1) + trisodium citrate (...

Sub-minute fatigue monitoring for enhanced lifetime assessment of wind turbines

Abstract. Accurate fatigue damage estimation is a critical step for managing and extending the life of wind turbine fleets, and the basis on which operators decide whether an ageing asset can be kept in service beyond the end of design life. The most accurate estimation relies on...

Natural History of Rare Tumor Risk Syndromes: A Scoping Review to Inform Cost-Effectiveness Models

Background Hereditary cancer syndromes account for approximately 10% of all cancers. Many of these, classified as rare tumor risk syndromes (RTRS), lack comprehensive data on natural history, lifetime cancer risk, and the long-term impact of surveillance. These evidence gaps limi...

Widespread hybridization in sympatric populations of allis shad Alosa alosa (L.1758) and twaite shad Alosa fallax (Lacépède 1803): A transnational perspective for conservation and management

Abstract The dynamics of hybridization between co‐occurring species in environments that have been modified by anthropogenic activities are important for generating new understandings of how species respond to disturbance and to support conservation management. Accordingly, the p...

Artificial Intelligence and AI-Adjacent Digital Technologies in Nursing Practice Within Gastroenterology: A Scoping Review of Current Applications, Challenges, and Future Directions

Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly integrated into clinical gastroenterology, with emerging applications in nursing contexts. However, the extent and nature of these applications in gastroenterology nursing remain under-explored. This scoping revi...

Determination of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Tea and Herbal Infusions by LC-MS/MS

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and N-oxides (PANOs) are food-safety hazards subject to regulatory limits, and their occurrence in teas and herbal infusions (THI) represents a dietary route. This study aimed to develop and validate a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (...

Synthetic Cannabinoids: Metabolism, Biomarkers of Exposure and Advanced Analytical Strategies in Forensic and Clinical Toxicology

In the last twenty years, synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs), also frequently known as synthetic cannabinoids, have grown into one of the leading and structurally diverse types of new psychoactive substances. This has brought about major trouble for clinical and fore...

Structure-activity relationship and membrane-targeting mechanisms of shikimate-related metabolites against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria

AIMS: The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has intensified the search for novel antimicrobials. In this context, shikimic acid is a versatile scaffold widely used as a precursor to bioactive compounds and drugs. This study screened the antimicrobial activity and underlying m...

Obesity policy in Portugal: epidemiology, sociology and the limits of prevention

Abstract Obesity prevention has become a prominent public health priority in Portugal, yet policy responses continue to engage unevenly with the social conditions through which obesity is produced and distributed. This paper examines Portuguese obesity policy through an integrate...

Metabolic dysfunction in chronic critical illness: mechanisms, clinical consequences and therapeutic perspectives

Advances in intensive care have improved survival from acute critical illness, leading to a growing population of patients with chronic critical illness (CCI), many of whom require prolonged organ support. This condition is associated with persistent catabolism, inflammation, and...

Gamma-Irradiated Starch/Chitosan Composite Particles for the Adsorption of Neospora caninum Membrane Proteins as a Potential Vaccine Delivery Platform

Gamma irradiation offers a simple and reagent-free strategy for tailoring the physicochemical properties of starch for the development of functional biomaterials, although its application in protein delivery systems remains largely unexplored. In this study, starch was irradiated...