Publications by authors named "Rita Luz"

Background: While the existence of a complex variety of casual sexual relationships (CSRs) has been acknowledged, studies rarely describe the prevalence of condom use across these relationships or how their hybrid nature, specifically relationship characteristics, affect condom use. This study aims to describe condom use within committed relationships and various types of casual sexual relationships (CSRs), examining the influence of relationship characteristics on condom use among culturally validated relationship types (committed, friends with benefits, hookups, booty call).

Methods: Emerging adults (N = 728, 18-29 years, M = 22.

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A sensitive and selective label-free photoelectrochemical (PEC) immunosensor was designed for the detection of cardiac troponin I (cTnI). The platform was based on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass photoelectrode modified with bismuth vanadate (BiVO) and sensitized by an electrodeposited bismuth sulfide (BiS) film. The PEC response of the BiS/BiVO/FTO platform for the ascorbic acid (AA) donor molecule was approximately 1.

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Objective: Empirical research to differentiate casual sex scripts is still limited. We aimed to ascertain the sexual scripts for three main types of casual sexual relationships: , and .

Methods: Through a mixed-method approach, we performed a study consisting in two sequential tasks to (1) complete three lists of script actions, and (2) identify the most agreed-upon actions for each casual sexual relationship.

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2,3-Dihydroxyphenol (DHP) is a phenolic compound that has been used as an additive in biodiesel to avoid the auto-oxidation of biofuels and also in the production of cosmetic products. However, this substance can be released into the environment during its manufacture, transport, disposal and industrial use and can be harmful to health due to its toxicity, and hence, monitoring its presence in different samples is very important. Therefore, this work describes an electroanalytical study of DHP using different carbon-based pastes prepared to evaluate which one would be more promising to be used as an electrochemical platform for DHP quantification.

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Cardiovascular diseases are considered one of the leading causes of premature mortality of patients worldwide. Therefore, rapid diagnosis of these diseases is crucial to ensure the patient's survival. During a heart attack or severe muscle damage, myoglobin is rapidly released in the body to constitute itself as a precise biomarker of acute myocardial infarction.

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This work aims to develop a photoelectrochemical (PEC) platform for detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike glyprotein S1. The PEC platform is based on the modification of a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass slide with strontium titanate (SrTiO or ST), sulfur-doped carbon nitride (g-CN-S or CNS) and palladium nanoparticles entrapped in aluminum hydroxide matrix (PdAlO(OH) or PdNPs). The PEC platform was denoted as PdNPs/CNS/ST/FTO and it was characterized by SEM, TEM, FTIR, DRX, and EIS.

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Background: Women survivors of breast cancer treatments face significant challenges around initiation or maintenance of physical activity (PA) as they transit to recovery. Embracing their needs and preferences is important to increase adherence. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of Portuguese women survivors of breast cancer regarding regular performance of PA and individual choices and strategies that should be considered in designing effective interventions.

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Casual sexual relationships (CSRs) are frequent relationship experiences in young adulthood that provide opportunities for many to explore sexual relationships and to construct their sexual identity. Empirical research on casual sex is still lacking outside North-American countries, despite evidence pointing to the need to contextualize sexual interactions in their own sociocultural context. In order to better understand casual sexual relationships, these should be examined in with novel samples in other countries where a "hookup culture" as it is described in the North-American university campus is apparently absent.

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Unlabelled: Gender similarities have been detected in various sexual behaviors and attitudes in young adults, but persistent differences remain regarding casual sexual relationships (CSRs), with women feeling different external pressures than men. We set out to study the spontaneous references made to gender similarities and differences towards CSRs in eight focus group interviews ( = 35 college-students, aged 18-28) about the characteristics of CSRs within a social-role framework. The thematic analysis led us to the interpretation that there is an ongoing change in the acceptability of these relationships, leading to the emergence of a single sexual standard - mostly liberal, but at times also conservative.

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Unlabelled: Casual sexual relationships (CSR) are increasingly common but limited empirical research has addressed their terminology and distinctive characteristics. This study sought to identify the most clear-cut terms and to consider how culture-sensitive characteristics distinguish casual sexual relationships among Portuguese emerging adults ( = 262, 18-29 years old). We combined two qualitative studies - one by association and another by free recall - to ascertain the clarity of the terms, plus a quantitative study to further characterize and differentiate them.

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Spontaneous rupture of the uterine artery is a rare cause of hemoperitoneum during pregnancy. This is a life-threatening condition associated with maternal and fetal mortality. We describe a case of spontaneous rupture of the left uterine artery in a 32-year-old healthy pregnant woman with an uneventful pregnancy.

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The article describes a method for determination of tannic acid in extracts of medicinal plants. Tannic acid (TA) is an antioxidant and has anticancer and antimicrobial properties. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO) were co-sensitized with 5-methylphenazinium methosulfate (PMS) and carboxy-functionalized cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs), and immobilized on a fluorine-doped tin oxide electrode.

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Background: The diagnosis of a fetal anomaly in perinatal medicine forces expectant parents and healthcare providers to face the difficult process of breaking bad news.

Objectives: This exploratory literature review was aimed at providing a medical and psychological view of the psychological experience in expectant parents and physicians in the context of prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly.

Method: An exploratory search of PubMed and PsycINFO/PsycARTICLES databases performed by an interdisciplinary team composed of a physician and psychologists.

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A renewable, disposable, low cost, and sensitive sensor for the detection of organophosphorus pesticides was constructed by immobilizing the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE), via glutaraldehyde, on magnetic iron nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄) previously synthesized and functionalized with chitosan (CS). The sensor was denoted AChE/CS/Fe₃O₄. The magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

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A novel photoelectrochemical sensor was developed for determination of tert-butyl-hydroquinone (TBHQ) in edible vegetable oils, based on CdSe/ZnS core-shell quantum dots sensitized with lithium tetracyanoethylenide (LiTCNE). The CdSe/ZnS/LiTCNE photoelectrochemical sensor presented a TBHQ photocurrent about 13-fold higher and a charge transfer resistance 62-fold lower than observed for a CdSe/ZnS sensor. The photoelectrochemical sensor showed selectivity to TBHQ, with a high photocurrent for this antioxidant compared to the photocurrent responses for other phenolic antioxidants.

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Parental (parent-to-infant) attachment and parenting alliance are defined as two important components of psychoaffective adjustment to the parental role. This study aimed to build a predictive model of parental attachment and parenting alliance for mothers and fathers using partial least squares-structural equation modeling. Specifically, we were interested in assessing how adult romantic attachment, marital quality, and psychological distress influenced parental attachment (parent-to-infant) and parenting alliance.

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Introduction: Uterine carcinosarcoma is a rare and aggressive biphasic malignancy and is currently included in the high risk endometrial carcinoma group. The aims of this study were to determine the clinicopathological profile, treatment, recurrence/progression patterns, survival and prognostic factors.

Material And Methods: Retrospective study of 42 patients, surgically staged and followed-up at a cancer centre, between 2005 and 2013.

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Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome is the most frequent cause of anovulatory infertility and management involves a multistep approach. Laparoscopic ovarian diathermy is accepted as a second-line treatment of patients who failed to respond to clomiphene citrate. The aims of this study were to determine the efficacy of this technique at short and long-term and to perform an analysis of predictive factors of spontaneous pregnancy.

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Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the role of omental sampling in staging of uterine serous carcinoma (USC) and to evaluate its impact on patient outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of 106 women with USC who underwent primary surgery between 2005 and 2014 was done. Overall survival, disease-free survival, and progression and recurrence patterns were studied in 84 patients with follow-up over 1 year.

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Introduction And Hypothesis: Midurethral slings (MUS) are the mainstay of treatment for stress urinary incontinence, but the definition of success varies widely amongst studies. The King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) was designed to evaluate the impact of urinary incontinence on the quality of life. We hypothesised that the KHQ could be useful for postoperative quantitative assessment of subjective outcomes.

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Objective: To compare the quality of home video recording with inpatient telemetry (IPT) to evaluate our current Home Video Telemetry (HVT) practice.

Method: To assess our HVT practice, a retrospective comparison of the video quality against IPT was conducted with the latter as the gold standard. A pilot study had been conducted in 2008 on 5 patients.

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Background: We defined the methodological criteria for the interpretation of the results provided by a novel immunoassay based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to detect antibodies anti-Trypanosoma cruzi in human sera (SPRCruzi). Then, we evaluated its applicability as a diagnostic tool for Chagas disease.

Methods: To define the cut-off point and serum dilution factor, 57 samples were analyzed at SPRCruzi and the obtained values of SPR angle displacement (ΔθSPR) were submitted to statistical analysis.

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In this work, an SPR immunosensor was developed to elucidate the reaction kinetics between a protein of unknown function in Leishmania infantum (hypothetical C1 protein) and specific antibodies of the visceral leishmaniasis (VL). A platform, which is based on layer-by-layer assembly was formed by cysteamine in combination with a fourth-generation poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM(G4)) on gold surface for the immobilisation of the protein. This film resulted in amplification of the signal of SPR.

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