Publications

Abstract The popularity of electric scooters (EC) has increased significantly in recent years and understanding the diverse impacts of EC use on health is crucial for ensuring its safe integration in urban mobility. To address this, a systematic review was conducted with the aim of identifying areas, objectives, and results of academic production dedicated to studying the impacts of EC use on health. Articles were sourced from four databases: Inspec, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science. 36 articles were analyzed, and relevant information was systematically retrieved, organized, and codified into a structured database. While the increase in accidents and subsequent healthcare burden is acknowledged, further research is needed to determine whether the rise in accidents results from increased recklessness or simply a surge in usage. The potential association with moral panic, fueled by negative media portrayals, underscores the importance of a balanced public discourse and accurate representation of ECs. The predominant focus of studies on accidents indicates a gap in a holistic understanding of the impacts of EC use on health. Future research and policy considerations should strive to strike a balance between fostering the benefits and challenges of EC use, ensuring the development of sustainable and safe micromobility solutions. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Abstract Soft nanomaterials can form stimuli-responsive self-assembled structures with significant potential for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Polymer/surfactant (P/S) solutions and hydrogels, in particular, have drawn great interest for the development of effective delivery systems, yet molecular insight into these systems and their mechanisms of action is still needed. Here, we examine the colloidal properties of mixtures comprising the amino acid-derived surfactant 14Lys10 and the amphiphilic triblock copolymers Pluronic F127 and P84, which have distinct hydrophobic/hydrophilic balances. We hypothesized that the two F127/14Lys10 and P84/ 14Lys10 systems would show strong, complex associative behavior and this was indeed observed. Combined data from light and electron microscopy, differential scanning microcalorimetry, rheology and surface tension provide a comprehensive picture. At room temperature, the bio-inspired surfactant forms a gel network of entangled nano and micro-tubes that transitions into vesicles at 33 degrees C. The polymers form micelles upon heating. When mixed, the polymer significantly decreases the strength of the tube network and lowers the tube-to-vesicle transition temperature, with the effect strongly dependent on polymer concentration and hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance. Upon tube disassembly, evidence indicates the formation of mixed vesicles coexisting with mixed micelles. Molecular-level insights into the interactions and self-assembly phenomena are provided. This study opens avenues for rationally designing hybrid soft materials as advanced functional biomaterials in nano-medicine and pharmaceutics.

Abstract Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell-to-cell communication induced at high cell density, commonly involved in regulating gene expression of spoilage and pathogenic virulence factors. In dairy products, Pseudomonas species grow under cold conditions and produce thermostable proteases. The QS pathway in Pseudomonas represents a potential target to limit protease synthesis during raw milk storage prior to heat processing. This study aims to characterize AHL-mediated QS system in highly proteolytic Pseudomonas isolated from raw milk and to explore the use of polyphenols as a strategy to control proteolytic activity. Six isolates with high proteolytic activity were identified as Pseudomonas gessardii by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rRNA sequencing. Biosensor strains, thin layer chromatographyoverlay assay, and ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis were used to explore QS, revealing C4-HSL as the main type of AHL produced by P. gessardii. Salicylic acid (SA), cinnamaldehyde (CIN), and tannic acid (TA) were tested as QS inhibitors (QSIs) and the mechanism verified by in silico analysis. Various degrees of proteolytic activity inhibition were observed at 4 degrees C and 25 degrees C by using QSIs (15-58 % by SA, 10-60 % by CIN), with no antibacterial effect. The mechanism behind that is the competition with the C4-HSL to bind with the receptor protein (LuxR) as corroborated by the in silico analysis. The results highlight the potential to employ polyphenols to restrict proteolytic activity by psychrotrophic Pseudomonas in dairy products.

Abstract In recent decades, there has been extraordinary progress in the discovery of biomacromolecules essential for the occurrence and progression of diseases, providing new and more effective perspectives for drug discovery. The discovery and development of new drugs are vital to healthcare, as most existing drugs target protein-based biomolecules such as enzymes and receptors. Nevertheless, only a small part of the genome encodes for proteins, while a large portion is transcribed into RNA. Moving beyond proteins, RNA is emerging as a promising target, offering a vast, largely unexplored chemical space for therapy. The knowledge gained from applying Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to protein-target-based drug discovery can play a key role in advancing the discovery of RNA-targeting drugs. NMR can significantly contribute not only to determining RNA structures but also to uncovering new small molecules with potential as drugs through innovative mechanisms of action. This review aims to explore an emerging field of research that uses RNA as a therapeutic target, focusing on how NMR can contribute to the discovery of hit-to-lead compounds and provide information on ligand-RNA interactions to drive the optimisation and eventual clinical application of these compounds.

Abstract <jats:p>Urban parks are essential to sustainable cities, providing climate regulation, supporting biodiversity, and offering vital spaces for recreation and overall well-being. At the same time, their soils can act as long-term reservoirs for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), reflecting decades of atmospheric deposition, diffuse urban emissions, and historical land-use practices. This review synthesises current knowledge on the occurrence, sources, and environmental behaviour of priority POPs, including OCPs, PCBs, PCDD/Fs, PBDEs, PFAS, and PAHs, in the soils of urban parks and gardens worldwide. Evidence from multiple regions reveals consistent patterns: urban parks accumulate complex mixtures of legacy and emerging contaminants, reflecting both historical inputs and ongoing urban activities. These contaminants primarily contribute to scenarios of chronic, low-level exposure through the ingestion of soil and dust, inhalation of resuspended particles, dermal contact, and, in some cases, dietary intake when food is cultivated in contaminated park soils. While such exposure pathways have been associated with a range of adverse health outcomes in toxicological and epidemiological studies, the presence of POPs in park soils does not imply that urban parks represent hazardous environments. Instead, it emphasises the importance of proportionate, evidence-based assessments within spaces that yield substantial net benefits to public health. Despite growing research interest, significant gaps remain, including limited understanding of mixture toxicity, insufficient data on temporal trends, a lack of harmonised monitoring strategies, and the absence of exposure scenarios specifically tailored to recreational soils. This review also examines major international and European regulatory frameworks and soil-quality guideline approaches relevant to urban and recreational soils, identifying mismatches between scientific evidence and regulatory practice. By integrating perspectives from environmental chemistry, toxicology, urban ecology, and policy, this review highlights the importance of targeted monitoring and context-specific management strategies to ensure that urban parks remain safe, healthy, and equitable components of increasingly complex urban landscapes.</jats:p>

Abstract This study investigates the volatility of widely utilized triazole derivatives-3-methyl-1H-1,2,4-triazole, 4-methyl-4H-1,2,4-triazole, and 4-amino-4H-1,2,4-triazole-through vapor pressure measurements obtained via the transpiration method in a temperature range of 288-353 K. The standard molar enthalpies of formation, in the crystalline state, at T = 298.15 K, were derived from the standard molar enthalpies of combustion, which were obtained from static bomb combustion calorimetry. From the experimental results, the standard molar enthalpies of formation in the gaseous phase at T = 298.15 K were derived. For comparison purposes, quantum chemical calculations at the G3(MP2)//B3LYP level were performed, using a set of working reactions and the gas-phase enthalpies of formation of both compounds were estimated; the results are in very good agreement with experimental data. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements further supported the investigation by providing complementary thermodynamic parameters, specifically molar heat capacities of triazoles. The vapor pressure data provide key insights into phase transitions, handling risks, detection potential, and the fundamental thermodynamic behavior of these compounds. This work contributes to the improvement on the validation of predictive models relevant to these substances.

Abstract Multidrug-resistant bacteria in biofilms are a growing public health threat, due to their resistance to conventional antibiotics. Phytochemicals are attractive candidates because of their structural diversity and ability to potentiate antimicrobial activity. This study investigated the antibiofilm and resistance-modifying effects of two monoterpenes, menthol and linalool, alone and in combination with ten antibiotics, against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Menthol exhibited MIC and MBC of 800 mu g/mL against E. coli and the same MIC against S. epidermidis, while linalool showed MICs of 800 mu g/mL and 400 mu g/mL, respectively. Combination assays revealed enhanced activity of erythromycin with both monoterpenes against E. coli and of amoxicillin with menthol against S. epidermidis, although sessile cells were largely unaffected. When applied individually, both monoterpenes caused a 3-log reduction in culturable E. coli biofilm cells. The overall findings highlight the antibiofilm activity of linalool and, particularly, menthol, supporting their role as antibiotic adjuvants against biofilm-associated infections.

Abstract The high costs of equipment and maintenance for Chemistry laboratories are a barrier to quality education in this science. However, the emergence of user-friendly and low-cost technological tools helps to mitigate this problem. This paper presents a STEM proposal for exploring distillation collaboratively in a remote laboratory with live data transmission and sharing online. The approach was analyzed by four teachers from Mozambique who, in that context, highlighted the positive potential for knowledge exchange between schools and cultures and the negative lack of technological means in schools for its implementation. They recognize great potential for implementation in higher education, as institutions have better resources. Thus, richer learning experiences can be promoted for all participants.

Abstract Student-centred learning requires a variety of approaches, such as inquiry-based learning and the tackling of authentic and problem-based learning activities, to make the teaching and learning process more meaningful and to encourage students to participate more actively in class. The inquiry approach enables students to investigate solutions to real problems, awakening their need to ask questions, design and conduct research, collect and analyse data, interpret results and present them in a structured way. This study investigates the influence of an inquiry-based science education (IBSE) module on the development of oral and written communication skills among 10th grade students. The study is set in a secondary school context and focuses on a problem-based learning approach centred around gases and dispersions. A total of 111 students participated in this one-group post-assessment qualitative study, where evaluation rubrics were applied to assess students' written and oral communication, focusing on correctness, clarity and mastery of scientific language. The results showed that the majority of students performed well in both written and oral tasks, demonstrating improved scientific communication skills. This suggests that IBSE, particularly in the context of secondary education, can be an effective approach to fostering students' abilities to communicate scientific concepts. The study has implications for enhancing pedagogical practices and encourages further research on the long-term effects of IBSE on student learning.