Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-12-18"
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- Mechanisms and Potential Benefits of Neuroprotective Agents in Neurological HealthPublication . Pekdemir, Burcu; Raposo, António; Saraiva, Ariana; Lima, M. J. Reis; Alsharari, Zayed D.; BinMowyna, Mona N.; Karav, SercanAbstract: The brain contains many interconnected and complex cellular and molecular mechanisms. Injury to the brain causes permanent dysfunctions in these mechanisms. So, it continues to be an area where surgical intervention cannot be performed except for the removal of tumors and the repair of some aneurysms. Some agents that can cross the blood–brain barrier and reach neurons show neuroprotective effects in the brain due to their anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In particular, some agents act by reducing or modulating the accumulation of protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and prion disease) caused by protein accumulation. Substrate accumulation causes increased oxidative stress and stimulates the brain’s immune cells, microglia, and astrocytes, to secrete proinflammatory cytokines. Long-term or chronic neuroinflammatory response triggers apoptosis. Brain damage is observed with neuronal apoptosis and brain functions are impaired. This situation negatively affects processes such as motor movements, memory, perception, and learning. Neuroprotective agents prevent apoptosis by modulating molecules that play a role in apoptosis. In addition, they can improve impaired brain functions by supporting neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Due to the important roles that these agents play in central nervous system damage or neurodegenerative diseases, it is important to elucidate many mechanisms. This review provides an overview of the mechanisms of flavonoids, which constitute a large part of the agents with neuroprotective effects, as well as vitamins, neurotransmitters, hormones, amino acids, and their derivatives. It is thought that understanding these mechanisms will enable the development of new therapeutic agents and different treatment strategies.
- General Physicochemical Parameters, Phenolic Composition, and Varietal Aromatic Potential of Three Red Vitis vinifera Varieties (“Merlot”, Syrah”, and “Saborinho”) Cultivated on Pico Island—Azores ArchipelagoPublication . Jordão, António; Correia, Ana Cristina; Martins, Bárbara; Oliveira, BrunoPico Island is one of the islands of the Azores archipelago located in the North Atlantic Ocean, where there are very specific conditions for vine cultivation. In this context, there is scarce knowledge related to grape ripening under these conditions. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate several physicochemical parameters, the phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and varietal aromatic potential, of the “Merlot”, Syrah”, and “Saborinho” grape varieties cultivated on Pico Island over three vintages. The outcomes obtained demonstrated that “Merlot” grapes showed a tendency for significantly higher values of estimated alcohol degree, total phenols, flavonoid and non-flavonoid phenols, total anthocyanins, color intensity, and antioxidant capacity over the three vintages. In addition, for individual anthocyanins, “Merlot” and “Syrah” grapes showed a predominance of acetyl-anthocyanins in relation to p-coumaroylated forms, while for “Saborinho” grapes, an oppositive tendency was observed. For varietal aromatic potential, only in the 2021 vintage was it possible to detect significantly different values between the three grape varieties studied. In this case, “Merlot” and “Syrah” grapes showed the significantly highest values. Considering all parameters analyzed, the results obtained for the “Merlot” grape variety seem to show a better adaptation of this variety to the conditions of Pico Island than the remaining two varieties studied.
- Método de Resolução de Problemas como incentivo para o desenvolvimento da autonomia do alunoPublication . Silva, Beatriz Ferreira da; Figueiredo, Ana Sofia LopesA presente proposta, insere-se nas disciplinas de Educação Visual e Educação Tecnológica do 5º e 6º ano do ensino básico, e propõe averiguar de que modo a aplicação do método de resolução de problemas, em contexto de sala de aula, contribui para o desenvolvimento da autonomia do aluno. Igualmente, pretende-se analisar a formação do discente como construtor do próprio conhecimento, resultado da aquisição de capacidades ao nível da formação de juízos (pensamento crítico), saber racionar e novas formas de pensar. A problemática surge de uma reflexão pessoal corrente de fomentos ocasionados por práticas experienciadas que revelaram a perceção de dificuldades por parte dos alunos na execução das atividades propostas pelo docente, de forma autónoma. Deste modo, tenciona-se com o desenvolvimento desta ponderação, que os discentes intensifiquem o seu nível de autonomia, participação e construção do conhecimento próprio, estimulando não só o interesse pela arte, assim como a utilização das inúmeras técnicas e materiais, através da aplicação do método de resolução de problemas.