Loading...
9 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
- Obesidade infantil: conhecimentos e comportamentos dos pais de crianças entre os 6-10 anosPublication . Costa, Ana; Silva, CláudiaIdentificar os conhecimentos e comportamentos que os pais de crianças entre os 6-10 anos possuíam sobre obesidade infantil. Realizou-se um estudo transversal com colheita de dados feita por questionário. A amostra (n=40) constituída por pais de crianças de uma Escola Básica do 1º. Ciclo. Resultados: 97,5% dos inquiridos reconhece esta patologia, embora apenas 12,5% tenha um conhecimento alargado acerca das suas causas. Conclusão: a aquisição de conhecimentos acontece de diversas formas e é influenciada por diversos factores; os inquiridos demonstram alguns conhecimentos sobre a doença e sua prevenção. Objectives: To identify to the knowledge and behaviors that the parents of children between the 6-10 years possess about childhood obesity. Methods: cross-sectional study; method of harvest of data auto-applied questionnaire. The sample was constituted by forty parents of children of the Primary School. Conclusion: the acquisition of knowledge happens for diverse forms and is influenced by diverse factors; the inquired one demonstrate some knowledge concerning childhood obesity and preventive behaviors.
- Environmental and biological monitoring of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) exposure in residents living near gas stationsPublication . Barros, Nelson; Carvalho, Márcia; Silva, Cláudia; Fontes, Tânia; Prata, Joana C.; Sousa, André; Manso, M. ConceiçãoThe volatile organic compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are emitted into the atmosphere at gas stations (GS) leading to chronic exposure of nearby residents, which raises public health concerns. This study aimes at determining the contribution of GS emissions to BTEX exposure in nearby residents. Three Control and Exposed areas to BTEX emissions from GS were defined in a medium-sized European city (Porto, Portugal). BTEX atmospheric levels were determined in Control and Exposed areas using passive samplers deployed outdoors (n = 48) and indoors (n = 36), and human exposure was estimated for 119 non-smoking residents using the first urine of the day. Results showed that median BTEX outdoor and indoor concentrations were significantly higher for Exposed than Control areas, with exception of ethylbenzene and xylene indoor concentrations, where no marked differences were found. Comparison of urinary concentrations between Exposed and Control residents demonstrated no significant differences for benzene and ethylbenzene, whereas levels of toluene and xylene were significantly higher in Exposed residents. No marked correlation was obtained between atmospheric BTEX concentrations and urinary concentrations. Data indicate the potential impact on air quality of BTEX emissions from GS, which confirms the importance of these findings in urban planning in order to minimize the impact on health and well-being of surrounding populations.
- Exposure to BTEX in buses: the influence of vehicle fuel typePublication . Fontes, Tânia; Manso, M. Conceição; Prata, Joana C; Carvalho, Márcia; Silva, Cláudia; Barros, NelsonDiesel-fueled buses have been replaced by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to minimize the high level of emissions in urban areas. However, differences in indoor exposure levels to Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene and Xylene (BTEX) in those vehicles have not been investigated so far. The primary aim of this study was to determine if passengers are exposed to different BTEX levels when using buses powered by CNG or by diesel, and further explore if indoor levels are influenced by external air quality. For this purpose, BTEX air concentrations were measured in bus cabins (CNG and diesel), parking stations and in a background urban area using passive air samplers. Results showed that BTEX concentrations inside vehicles were higher than outside, but no significant differences were found between buses powered by CNG or by diesel. In CNG vehicles, high and significant positive correlation was found between benzene and the number of journeys in the same route (rs ¼ 0.786, p < 0.05), vehicle operating time (rs ¼ 0.738, p < 0.05), exposure time (rs ¼ 0.714, p < 0.05) and exposure index (rs ¼ 0.738, p < 0.05), but this was not observed for diesel vehicles. Benzene in bus cabins was found to be significantly below reference value for human health protection. However, excepting p-xylene, all other aromatic pollutants have a mean concentration significantly above the lowest effect level (p 0.002 for all comparisons). Additionally, higher BTEX levels in cabin buses than in outdoor air suggest the presence of other emission sources in indoor cabins. These findings emphasize the need for further studies to fully characterize indoor emission sources in order to minimize the negative impact of BTEX exposure to human health.
- Demystifying thickener classes food additives though molecular gastronomyPublication . Gomes, Lígia Rebelo; Simões, Catarina D.; Silva, CláudiaIn order to meet the nutritional needs of the increasing world population, a higher demand for food production seems to be imperative. This challenge is peremptory because it is necessary to find sustainable forms of production that have, in one hand, to meet the requirements of safety and quality and, simultaneously, the increase in demand. One way to achieve such a goal is to reduce waste along the food supply chain, which implies ensuring that most of the food produced reaches the population in conditions to be consumed. Food additives allow manufacturers to overcome the problem of limited supply of natural ingredients, increase the shelf life of food and simplify the complex procedures involved in cooking: they contribute to the reduction of waste and, thus, to the sustainability of nutrition of the global population. Nevertheless, food additives raise a number of ethical issues, such as consumer sovereignty, that is, “the consumer's ability to act in accordance with their informed judgments". In this revision, some of the physical chemical properties of widely used additives belonging to E400 to E490 types, namely alginates, agar-agar, methyl-celluloses, and pectin are revised in a simple manner using models derived from molecular gastronomy. Recipes models are presented to explain how the physical chemical properties allow food processing in order to attain of a particular characteristic of the food formulation. Preparations coming from the discipline of molecular gastronomy have been chosen to illustrate the concepts since they are based in laboratory related procedures and they use only a few ingredients. This work aims to add a valuable contribution for demystifying the use of the referred additives in food processing, thus contributing to rise consumer sovereignty.
- Demystifying emulsifiers as additives through molecular gastronomy: a contribution to rise consumer’s sovereigntyPublication . Gomes, Lígia Rebelo; Silva, Cláudia; Simões, Catarina D.According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, one third of food produced annually for human consumption results in food losses or wastage, which is environmentally degrading, economically unviable, ethically incorrect, and does not contribute to sustainable development. The use of additives can help prevent the waste of food that is still fit for consumption in a world where about 16% of the world’s population goes hungry. Food additives may overcome the problem of limited supply of natural ingredients, increase the shelf life of foods and simplify the complex cooking procedures. To raise the consumer’s knowledge about food additives, this work presents and explain in a simple manner some physical/chemical properties of emulsifiers, namely fatty acids esters and sucrose esters of fatty acids. Moreover, this work reviews and illustrates, recurring to recipes of molecular gastronomy, how these additives are used in food preparation to achieve and maintain certain desirable characteristics, how they contribute to obtain a better result in final preparation, and how they can be used in modern cuisine. Preparations coming from the discipline of molecular gastronomy have been chosen since they are based on laboratory related procedures and only use few ingredients, including an additive.
- Generation Z: fitting project management soft skills competencies—a mixed-method approachPublication . Magano, José; Silva, Cláudia; Figueiredo, Cláudia; Vitória, Andreia; Nogueira, Teresa; Dinis, Maria Alzira PimentaGeneration Z is arriving in the workforce. Do these youngsters have the skills and traits to fit project teams? This study reviews the literature concerning project management competencies and the traits that are associated with Generation Z. To deepen the understanding of its members (Gen Zers) traits, we explore the self-awareness of their profile, strengths and weaknesses with an empirical study. We used a mixed-method approach, implementing a survey on a sample of 211 college students about to enter the labor market. Comparing our survey results with the literature, we identified differences that reveal some of the lack of awareness of Gen Zers about their traits. Further analysis also revealed a significant correlation between the most highlighted Generation Z traits and essential project management soft skills, pointing to Generation Z as a promissory asset in the project management field. However, other essential project management (PM) soft skills were not grounded in personality traits. Our findings, namely the lack of awareness and association results, suggest the need for further research on educational approaches and re-thinking and targeting education and training policies that could strengthen Generation Z soft skills. Our results also suggest reflections about whether the Gen Zers traits fit the PM competencies sought by organizations.
- Sustainable Management Systems Standards (SMSS): structures, roles, and practices in corporate sustainabilityPublication . Silva, Cláudia; Magano, José; Moskalenko, Anna; Nogueira, Teresa; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; e Sousa, Hélder Fernando PedrosaCompanies need to develop more sustainable management models to support a strategy focused on the environment and society, preventing the sole ambition to maximize economic profits. Several specific tools and frameworks have been developed for the implementation of sustainability management. However, the isolated adoption of new management practices could increase bureaucracy and constrain the development of an effective and systematic sustainability strategy. Based on the development of four case studies of relevant companies based in Portugal, this research presents a cyclical process with the structures, inputs and outputs, and roles in embodying sustainability in Integrated Management Systems (IMS). The originality of the work lies in the level of integration. Beyond identifying interconnection areas, it also specifies the Management Systems Standards (MSS) requirements in each area, assigning different roles in the integration process: drivers, efficient enablers, pathways, and evaluators. These four roles promote the claimed integration in a systematic cyclical process, plan–do–check–act (PDCA), to assist the consolidation of sustainability management. This research reinforces the added value of the IMS. It expands its scope, helping companies implement sustainability effectively and systematically, resulting in the presentation of Conceptual Sustainable Management Systems Standards (SMSS).
- Programas de prevenção da obesidade infantilPublication . Silva, Jenny; Silva, CláudiaA obesidade é a doença mais comum na infância nos países desenvolvidos e a sua prevalência continua a aumentar. A elevada prevalência em conjunto com as complicações futuras tornam a obesidade um verdadeiro problema de saúde pública. A infância é um período importante para prevenir e reverter a tendência crescente da obesidade. As intervenções preventivas que encorajam a actividade física e a alimentação saudável, restringindo as actividades sedentárias e sugerindo alterações comportamentais. Estas intervenções deverão envolver não só as crianças mas também toda a família, a escola e a comunidade. Para se alterar o panorama geral da epidemia da obesidade infantil são necessários mais estudos preventivos, de forma criar recomendações clínicas e a desenvolver abordagens de saúde pública mais eficazes. Obesity is now the most common disorder of childhood in the developed world, and its prevalence is still increasing. The combination of high prevalence with adverse consequences has created a public health crisis. Childhood is an important period for prevention to reverse the rising tide of obesity. Preventive interventions that encourage physical activity and a healthy diet restrict sedentary activities and offer behavioural support. However, these interventions should involve not only the child but the whole family, school and community. If the current global obesity epidemic is to be halted, further prevention studies are required in order to expand the currently limited evidence basis upon which clinical recommendations and public health approaches can be formulated.
- Rotulagem nutricional: sua importânciaPublication . Cordeiro, Tânia; Silva, Cláudia; Bento, AlexandraSão descritos os métodos de categorização dos produtos alimentares de acordo com a sua qualidade nutricional como estratégia de promoção da saúde pública através de escolhas alimentares mais saudáveis. São discutidas as abordagens desenvolvidas para a categorização de produtos alimentares utilizando a qualidade nutricional. A melhor abordagem deverá ser capaz de sumariar e sintetizar a composição nutricional de modo a que seja facilmente aplicável a uma grande variedade de produtos, ser compreensível para os consumidores e estar bem regulamentada. This article describes the methods for categorising foods according to their nutritional quality as a strategy for promoting public health through better dietary choices. We discuss well-developed approaches for categorising foods using nutrient profiling. The best approach should be able to summarise e synthesise key nutritional dimensions in a way that is easily applied across a variety of products, is understandable to users and can be strictly defined for regulatory purposes.