Percorrer por autor "Monteiro, Diogo"
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- A multifunctional dendrimer for BPA-free dental adhesives : polymerization behavior and cytotoxic profile of G-IEMAPublication . Monteiro, Diogo; Barbier, Margot; Delgado, António H. S.; Gonçalves, Luísa; Chaves-Ferreira, Miguel; Cruz, Joana Vasconcelos e; Polido, MárioTo determine whether substituting Bis-GMA for dendritic macromer G-IEMA in a universal adhesive alters real-time cure/post-cure performance and in-vitro cytotoxicity. Polymerization kinetics of five neat monomers (Bis-GMA, G-IEMA, UDMA, TEGDMA, HEMA) and four adhesives, two commercial controls (Scotchbond Universal, Futurabond M+) and two experimental formulations differing only in the base monomer, EXP-BIS vs. EXP-G, with 25 wt% of Bis-GMA or G-IEMA, respectively, were monitored by real-time ATR-FTIR for 20 min cure/post-cure (n = 3). Key outputs were final degree of conversion (DCmax), maximum polymerization rate (Rpmax) and half-time (t0.5). Cytocompatibility was assessed on primary human dental-pulp cells via 24 h MTT and propidium-iodide (PI) assays using extracts of polymerized and non-polymerized specimens (n = 12). Among homopolymers, DCmax did not differ (one-way ANOVA, p = 0.24) while Rp,max did (p < 0.0001), with G-IEMA and TEGDMA faster than Bis-GMA; t0.5 was similar (p = 0.15). Across adhesives, DCmax (p = 0.06), Rpmax (p = 0.89) and t0.5 (p = 0.27) were comparable; EXP-GI reached the highest DCmax (≈89 %). G-IEMA was less cytotoxic than Bis-GMA in both assays: MTT +20 % and +51 % in non-polymerized and polymerized extracts, respectively; PI −40 % and −54 % (all pairwise p < 0.01). For adhesive extracts, MTT showed a main effect of adhesive (two-way ANOVA, p < 0.001) but no treatment effect/interaction; relative to Scotchbond, EXP-GI supported +6.7 % (non-polymerized) and +18.2 % higher metabolic activity, while all adhesives remained below the control (p < 0.001). After polymerization, EXP-GI exhibited 17 % lower apoptosis than Scotchbond (p = 0.049) and 11 % lower than Futurabond (p < 0.05). G-IEMA can replace Bis-GMA without compromising cure efficiency or increasing acute cytotoxicity, supporting its use in BPA-free universal adhesives.
- Promoting physical activity in older adults with type 2 Diabetes via an anthropomorphic conversational agent : development of an evidence and theory-based multi-behavior interventionPublication . Pimenta, Nuno; Félix, Isa Brito; Monteiro, Diogo; Marques, Marta Moreira; Guerreiro, Mara PereiraIntroduction: Anthropomorphic conversational agents (ACA) are a promising digital tool to support self-management of type 2 diabetes (T2D), albeit little explored. There is a dearth of literature on the detailed content of these interventions, which may limit effectiveness and replication. Our aim is to describe the development of an evidence and theory-based intervention to improve physical activity in older adults with T2D, subsumed in a multi-behavior intervention via a mobile application with an ACA. Methods: Overall decisions on the multi-behavior intervention design, such as the use of standardized behavior change techniques (BCTTv1), guided the development of the physical activity component. Firstly, recommendations on ambulatory activity were used to select the target behavior (walking). Meta-research on effective behavior change techniques (BCTs) was then identified. One meta-analysis linked effective BCTs with the three basic psychological needs of the self-determination theory (SDT). This meta-analysis, taken together with additional evidence on SDT, led to the selection of this theory to inform the design. BCTs were extracted from meta-research; we selected the most appropriate to be operationalized via the conversational agent through multidisciplinary discussions. Rules governing the dialogue flow and BCTs tailoring, taking the form “if some conditions hold then execute some action,” were derived based on the Basic Psychological in Exercise Scale (competence, autonomy, and relatedness scores), in conjunction with published evidence and multidisciplinary discussions. Results: Thirteen BCTs were implemented in the prototype via the ACA (e.g., goal setting behavior 1.1). Six if-then rules were derived and depicted in the dialogue steps through process flow diagrams, which map how the system functions. An example of a rule is “If competence score ≤ 10 then, apply BCT 1.1 with 500 steps increments as options for the daily walking goal; If competence score > 10 then, apply BCT 1.1 with 1,000 steps increments as options for the daily walking goal.” Conclusion: Evidence and SDT were translated into a mobile application prototype using an ACA to promote physical activity in older adults with T2D. This approach, which includes 13 BCTs and six if-then rules for their tailoring, may leverage the efforts of others in developing similar interventions.