Retarding strawberry fruit senesce with edible coatings : case study

The objectives of this work were to study the ability of starch, carrageenan and chitosan based coatings to extend the shelf life of strawberry fruit (Fragaria ananassa). To do so, the surface properties of fresh strawberry and the wettability of the coatings were studied. The superficial tension of the strawberry was 28.94 mN/m, and its polar and dispersive component was 22.99 mN/m and 5.95 mN/m, respectively. The critical superficial tension of the strawberry was 18.84 mN/m, obtained from a Zisman plot. The wettability of the coatings (starch, carrageenan and chitosan) is optimized with compositions of, respectively: 2 % of starch and 2 % of sorbitol; 0,3 % of carrageenan, 0,75 % of glicerol and 0,02 % of Tween 80; 1 % of chitosan and 0,1 % of Tween 80. The effect of the application of these coatings in fresh strawberry was assessed by controlling the content in soluble solids, the colour evolution, the firmness, the mass variation and the microbiological growth during a period of 6 days. No significant differences were found between the chromaticity coordinates. The minimum loss of firmness was obtained in strawberries coated with carrageenan and calcium chloride. The minimum loss of mass was obtained in fruits with chitosan and carrageenan coatings both with calcium chloride. Relatively to the content in soluble solids the coating of chitosan and calcium chloride presented the best result. The addition of 1 % of di-hydrated calcium chloride to coatings was also studied, and this was shown to decrease the microbial growth rate of the fruit. The minimum rate of microbial growth was obtained with strawberries coated with chitosan and calcium chloride

Risco Cardiovascular em Doentes com Infecção por Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana

O aumento do risco cardiovascular é considerada uma importante complicação da infecção Infecção por Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana (VIH) e da terapêutica anti-retroviral (TARV). À disfunção endotelial característica do processo inflamatório crónico desencadeado pela infecção retroviral, associa-se a disfunção metabólica induzida pela terapêutica, predispondo, em conjunto, para a aterogénese precoce. O reconhecimento deste aumento de risco cardiovascular permite-nos elaborar estratégias de prevenção e optimização terapêutica que passam pelo uso criterioso de hipolipemiantes e modificação da TARV, consoante a avaliação do risco cardiovascular global de cada doente

Optimization of edible coating composition to retard strawberry fruit senescence

The ability of polysaccharide-based (starch, carrageenan and chitosan) coatings to extend the shelf-life of strawberry fruit (Fragaria ananassa) were studied, mainly for industrial applications. The coatings and strawberries were characterized in terms of their physical properties (superficial properties, wettability, oxygen permeability) in order to optimize coating composition. The optimized coatings were then applied to the fruit both in the laboratory and in the field and their effects on relevant quality parameters assessed. The superficial tension of the strawberry was 28.94 mN/m, and its polar and dispersive components were 5.95 and 22.99 mN/m, respectively. The critical superficial tension of the strawberry, obtained from a Zisman plot, was 18.84 mN/m. For each polysaccharide-based coating the best wettability was obtained for compositions: 2% starch and 2% sorbitol; 0.3% carrageenan, 0.75% glycerol and 0.02% Tween 80; 1% chitosan and 0.1% Tween80. The oxygen permeability of carrageenan films was approximately 40% of that obtained with starch films. The addition of calcium to the starch film-forming solution produced an increase in the film thickness; nevertheless no significant differences in oxygen permeability were obtained between films with and without calcium. The effects of application of these coatings to fresh strawberries were assessed by determining color change, firmness, weight loss, soluble solids and microbiological growth over 6 days. No significant colour differences were found, and the minimum firmness loss was obtained in strawberries coated with carrageenan and calcium chloride. The minimum loss of mass was obtained for fruit with chitosan and carrageenan coatings both with calcium chloride. The addition of 1% di-hydrated calcium chloride to the coatings reduced the microbial growth rate on the fruit. The minimum rate of microbial growth was obtained for strawberries coated with chitosan and calcium chloride. The industrial application of calcium-enriched carrageenan coating on fresh strawberries resulted in a decrease in firmness loss when compared to non-coated fruit

Is Brazil really a catholic country? What opinions about abortion, sex between individuals who are not married to each other, and homosexuality say about the meaning of catholicism in three Brazilian cities

The idea of being a Catholic country is quite widespread throughout the nation. What does it mean to be Catholic in Brazil? Do Catholics follow the Catholic Doctrine? The objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between religion and religious involvement (measured by religious affiliation and service attendance) and opinions about abortion, sex between individuals who are not married to each other, and homosexuality in São Paulo, Porto Alegre, and Recife. Data come from the survey “Spirit and Power: A 10-Country Survey of Pentecostals,” carried out in 2006. Results suggest that Brazilian Catholics are a very heterogeneous group with respect to opinions about abortion and sex between individuals who are not married to each other. In addition, service attendance among Catholics and those opinions are strongly correlated, except for the case of homosexuality, a topic which Catholics tend to have the same opinions about, irrespective of their religious involvement. Committed Protestants are, by far and away, the most conservative group.Brazil

A versão Portuguesa do European Deprivation Index: Um Instrumento para o Estudo das Desigualdades em Saúde

Introduction: Tackling socioeconomic health inequalities is a big public health challenge and ecological deprivation indexes are essential instruments to monitor and understand them. In Portugal, no standard ecological deprivation index exists, contrasting with other countries. We aimed to describe the construction of the Portuguese version of a transnational deprivation index, European Deprivation Index. Material and Methods: The European Deprivation Index was developed under the Townsend theorization of deprivation. Using data from the European Union - Statistics on Income and Living Conditions Survey, we obtained an indicator of individual deprivation. This indicator became the gold-standard variable, based on what we selected the variables at aggregate level (census) to be included in the European Deprivation Index, a total of eight. The European Deprivation Index was produced for the smallest area unit possible (n = 16 094, mean/area = 643 inhabitants) and resulted from the weighted sum of the previous variables. It was then classified into quintiles. Results: The first quintile (least deprived) comprised 20.9% national population and the fifth quintile (most deprived) 18.0%. The European Deprivation Index showed a clear geographic pattern – most deprived areas concentrated in the South and in the inner North and Centre of the country, and the least deprived areas in the coastal areas of North and Centre and in the Algarve. Discussion: The development of the European Deprivation Index was grounded on a solid theoretical framework, individual and aggregate variables, and on a longitudinal Europe-wide survey allowing its replication over the time and in any European country. Conclusion: Hopefully, the European Deprivation Index will start being employed by those interested in better understand health inequalities not only in Portugal but across Europe.This work was supported by Portuguese funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia in the framework of project UID/BIM/04293/2013. AIR and MFP would also like to thank to FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for the grants PTDC/SAU-EPI/113424/2009 and SFRH/BD/82529/2011

Wear mechanisms in functionally graded aluminium matrix composites: Effect of the presence of an aqueous solution

Functionally graded aluminium matrix composites reinforced with SiC particles are attractive materials for a broad range of engineering applications in the automotive, aircraft, sports, military and aerospace industries, whenever a superior combination of surface and bulk mechanical properties are required. In general, these materials are developed for the production of high wear resistant components. Also, often this kind of mechanical part operates in the presence of aggressive environments, such as marine atmospheres. In this work, aluminium composites with functionally graded properties, obtained by centrifugal cast, are characterised by reciprocating pin-on-plate sliding wear tests against nodular cast iron. Three different volume fractions of SiC reinforcing particles in each functionally graded material were considered. Sliding experiments were performed with and without the presence of a lubricant (3% NaCl aqueous solution). All tests were carried out at room temperature, under a normal load of 10N and constant frequency (1 Hz) and stroke (6 mm). In the case of the lubricated tests, electrochemical parameters (corrosion potential) were monitored during sliding. The worn surfaces as well as the wear debris were characterised by SEM/EDS. Friction values were in the order of 0.42 for unlubricated conditions, but varied between 0.22 and 0.37 when the aqueous solution was present. Relatively high wear rates (over 110-6 gm-1) were obtained in both unlubricated and lubricated sliding. The volume fraction of SiC particles exerted a net effect on the tribological response of the composites, although conditioned by the presence or absence of the aqueous solution. A deleterious effect of the chloride aqueous solution on the degradation of the matrix, leading to the pull-out of SiC particles induced by the dissolution of the matrix/particle interface was evidenced. Observation of the worn surface morphology indicated that the presence of the lubricant modifies the protective action promoted by the combined effect of the presence of reinforcing particles as load bearing elements and the formation of adherent iron-rich tribolayers. The evolution of the corrosion potential during the sliding action is in accordance to the degradation mechanisms proposed for these systems.(undefined

Characterization of galactomannans extracted from seeds of Gleditsia triacanthos and Sophora japonica through shear and extensional rheology : comparison with guar gum and locust bean gum

The rheological behaviour, under steady and dynamic shear and extensional conditions, of two nonconventional galactomannans isolated from Gleditsia triacanthos and Sophora japonica is determined and compared to those of locust bean gum and guar gum. The studied galactomannans exhibit shear-thinning behaviour in the range of concentrations and shear rates evaluated. For similar concentrations and shear rates, the guar gum exhibits the highest viscosities. Experimental data in steady shear was correlated with the Cross model, which provided a good description of viscosity shear rate data. Under oscillatory shear, all gum solutions exhibited a behaviour typical of random-coil polysaccharide solutions. The extensional rheology experiments showed that by increasing the polymer concentration and decreasing the temperature, the relaxation times, elastic moduli and rupture times increase. These findings lead to the conclusion that G. triacanthos and S. japonica galactomannans can be used as efficient thickening hydrocolloids as alternative to conventional galactomannans.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT

Validation of meteorological and ground-level ozone WRF-CHIMERE simulations in a mountainous grapevine growing area for phytotoxic risk assessment

Ozone is the most damaging phytotoxic air pollutant to crop yield quantity and quality. This study presents the validation of a simulation with the WRF-CHIMERE modelling system in order to assess the risk of phytotoxicity by tropospheric ozone for an important and characteristic Mediterranean crop, i.e. the grapevine. The study region was the Douro wine region in Portugal, which is characterized by a rugged relief and a Mediterranean climate. The simulation covered a reference grapevine growing season in the Northern Hemisphere (from April to September 2017), during which a particular measuring campaign was also carried out. The validation of the meteorological simulations on a daily and hourly time resolution was performed based on data from three weather stations, namely on temperature, global solar radiation, relative humidity, wind speed and direction values. The ozone phytotoxicity was assessed with data from two measuring stations. A specific grapevine growth parameter based on monitored phenological observations was introduced for ozone stomatal uptake assessment. Concerning meteorology, validation statistics were acceptable and within the range of what has been found in other regional climate modelling simulations. Ground-level ozone-based values were calculated for a better assessment of the phytotoxic risk, in particular cumulative standards for vegetation protection. Stomatal flux estimates were within the range of those measured for the local cultivars in the field campaign when there was not severe water stress limitation. Both field and statistically adjusted model values indicate that considerable areas in the Demarcated Douro Region of Portugal can exceed the critical exposure values for vegetation according to current European legislation standards. Moreover, measured and simulated results indicate an ozone impact on grapevine yield and quality in the target region because the exposure- and flux-based indices exceed the criteria based on current open-top-chamber experimental knowledge.The authors acknowledge the national funds from FCT-Science and Technology Portuguese Foundation for the doctoral grant of D. Blanco- Ward (SFRH/BD/139193/2018). Thanks are also due for the financial support to CESAM (UIDB/50017/2020+UIDP/50017/2020), to FCT/ MEC through national funds, and the co-funding by FEDER within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020. The authors also wish to thank the DOUROZONE project (PTDC/AAG-MAA/3335/2014; POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016778) for financial support through Project 3599 – Promoting the Scientific Production and the Technological Development, and Thematic Networks (3599-PPCDT) – and through FEDER. Thanks are also given to SOGRAPE VINHOS S.A. for facilitating the collection of surface O3 data and sharing meteorological data at one of their vineyard fields.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Surgical Treatment for Recurrent Refractory Skenitis

We report a case of persistent skenitis that was initially misdiagnosed and treated as a urinary infection. Despite an adequate course of antibiotics, the symptoms failed to improve. The case was ultimately resolved with surgical intervention, which resulted in its prompt and complete resolution

Incorporation of olive pomace ingredients into yoghurts as a source of fibre and hydroxytyrosol: Antioxidant activity and stability throughout gastrointestinal digestion

Liquid-enriched powder (LOPP) and pulp-enriched powder (POPP) obtained from olive pomace were incorporated into yoghurt, not only, to increase its content in dietary fibre, hydroxytyrosol and unsaturated fatty acids, but also to understand the lipids-phenolics interaction by simultaneous incorporation of olive oil. POPP (2%) and LOPP (1%) addition to yoghurt allowed fulfilling the condition of being a source of fibre and provided 5 mg of hydroxytyrosol and derivatives in a standard yoghurt (120 g), respectively. Yoghurts unsaturated fatty acids profile was positively influenced by the addition of only POPP and olive oil + LOPP or + POPP. All OP powder-fortified yoghurts exhibited higher total phenolic content and antioxidant activity than the control (p<0.05). After in vitro digestion the bioaccessibility of total phenolics (more 25.58%) and hydroxytyrosol (more 68.71%) in LOPP-yoghurts was improved by the addition of olive oil. In conclusion, OP powders´ incorporation gave additional and essential healthy properties to yoghurt.Tânia I. B. Ribeiro thanks the FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT - Fundação, Portugal and Association BLC3 – Technology and Innovation Campus, Centre Bio R&D Unit for the PhD Grant SFRH/BDE/108271/2015. This work was supported by National Funds from Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), under Programa Operacional Temático Competitivdade e Internacionalização – COMPETE 2020, through the project 3i Bioeconomy project POCI-01-0246-FEDER-026758, and FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia through the project MULTIBIOREFINERY - SAICTPAC/0040/2015 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016403). We would also like to thank the scientific collaboration under the FCT project UID/Multi/50016/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio