Analysis of Portugal´s Wine Certifying Entities Social Networks as Communication Channels

Almeida, C. M., Afonso, C. M., Serra, M., & António, N. (2023). Analysis of Portugal´s Wine Certifying Entities Social Networks as Communication Channels. In C. M. Q. Ramos, C. M. R. Sousa, N. M. S. Matos, & R. I. Ashqar (Eds.), Measuring Consumer Behavior in Hospitality for Enhanced Decision Making (pp. 121-160). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-6607-0.ch007Organizations have used social media networks to build and grow virtual communities, enabling organizations to spread the word about products and services. This research analyzes the activity and effectiveness of the Facebook and Instagram pages of the Portuguese wine certifying entities between January and March 2022, using the updated PRGS (Presence, Response, Generation, Suggestion) model, updated with Engagement, Interaction, and Efficiency. Results show that Facebook stands out as the main social network for wine-certifying entities, with wider communities and more posts. However, when it comes to reactions, Instagram shows superior numbers for most wine-certifying entities’ pages. Instagram indicators show consistent and interesting results, indicating that it is a solid channel for Portuguese wine-certifying entities. These findings shed light on how to improve their online presence and have a more balanced presence on both social media platforms.authorsversionpublishe

Development and validation of an HPLC method for the quantitation of 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylxanthone in biodegradable nanoparticles

A rapid and simple high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methylxanthone (DHMXAN) in biodegradable poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanosphere and nanocapsule formulations is developed and validated. The method does not require any complex sample extraction procedure. Chromatographic separation is made with a reversed-phase C18 column, using methanol-water (90:10, v/v) containing 1% (v/v) acetic acid as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Identification is made by UV detection at 237 nm. The isocratic system operates at ambient temperature and requires 7.5 min of chromatographic time. The developed method is statistically validated according to ICH guidelines and USP 29 for its specificity, linearity, accuracy, and precision. The assay method proposed in this study is specific for DHMXAN in the presence of nanosphere and nanocapsule excipients. Diode-array analyses confirm the purity of DHMXAN peak in stress conditions (> 99.0%). The method is shown to be linear (r 0.999) over the concentration range of 0.25-3.0 g/mL. Recovery ranges from 99.0% to 102.7% (RSD: 1.49%) and from 98.3% to 101.6% (RSD: 1.07%) for nanospheres and nanocapsules, respectively. Repeatability (intraassay precision) and intermediate precision is acceptable with RSD values ranging from 0.6% to 1.9% and from 0.3% to 2.0%, respectively. The method is shown to be suitable for the evaluation of DHMXAN content entrapped in PLGA nanoparticles

Neuronal Activity Induces Synaptic Delivery of hnRNP A2/B1 by a BDNF-Dependent Mechanism in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

Dendritic protein synthesis plays a critical role in several forms of synaptic plasticity, including BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor)-mediated long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP). Dendritic transcripts are typically transported in a repressed state as components of large ribonucleoprotein complexes, and then translated upon stimulation at, or in the vicinity, of activated synapses. Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1 (hnRNP A2/B1) is a trans-acting factor involved in dendritic mRNA trafficking, but how the distribution of the protein in dendrites is regulated has not been characterized. Here we found that a fraction of hnRNP A2/B1 is present at the synapse under resting conditions in cultured hippocampal neurons. Accordingly, this ribonucleoprotein was detected in free mRNP, monosomal, and polyribosomal fractions obtained from synaptoneurosomes. Neuronal activity and BDNF treatment increased hnRNP A2/B1 protein levels in the cell body and dendritic compartments, and induced the delivery of this protein to synaptic sites. The activitydependent accumulation of hnRNP A2/B1 at the synapse required, at least in part, the activation of TrkB receptors, presumably by BDNF. This neurotrophin also upregulated the hnRNP A2/B1 mRNA in the soma but was without effect on the abundance of neuritic hnRNP A2/B1 transcripts. These results show that the distribution of hnRNP A2/B1 is regulated by BDNF and by neuronal activity, an effect that may have a role in BDNF-induced synaptic plasticity events

Development of an online holistic standardized recipe: a design science approach

Concerns around healthy and sustainable food, particularly regarding the standardization of production, cost control, and revenue maximization, are issues challenging food and beverages researchers and professionals. There are some available models to create standardized recipes for food and beverages, but they are weak in holistic terms from the point of view of management and legally required information. The purpose of this study was to develop an artifact, an online holistic standardized recipe, to allow the management of information in terms of recipes, costs, allergens, sustainability, nutrition facts, and menu pricing strategies. The research approach was conducted using a design science research methodology developed in two cycles. The artifact was produced from a literature review conducted to define the design principles, and it was evaluated across exploratory focus group and field study phases. The primary outcome of this research was the development of an online holistic standardized recipe. The artifact was considered relevant and useful by the stakeholders participating in the exploratory focus group and field study. However, studying the edible portion and the average weight of the recipe ingredients is necessary for the artifact to become more robust. The paper provides new insights and practical guidelines for academics and professionals in the food and beverage industry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Promoting sustainability through regional food and wine pairing

Sustainable development has been growingly recognized as important in the scope of tourism and hospitality industry practices. Gastronomic tourism associated with regional food-and wine pairing helps the emerging of higher quality services and contributes to the sustainability of tourist destinations. This study presents a pairing model based on three Real-Time Delphi (RTD) questionnaires to allow experts to select and pair regional wines with regional foods. In the first questionnaire, the experts were asked to choose, by category, the most representative regional dishes from the Algarve region (Portugal). In the second questionnaire, for each dish, experts voted on the best regional wines for the dish. In the third questionnaire, experts made quantitative and qualitative analyses for each of the three most voted wines for each dish. The resulting pairing model of regional food and wines will be communicated to tourism professionals and the general public. By promoting the consumption of these pairings, we promote an efficient, socially fair, and ecologically sustainable local economy. At the same time, we stimulate the circular economy in tourism.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biodegradation of chiral pharmaceuticals by an activated sludge consortium followed by a Chiral HPLC-FD

Biodegradation tends to be enantioselective in contrast to abiotic degradation and it is necessary enantioselective analytical methods to quantify the enantiomeric fraction of chiral pharmaceuticals in the environment for correct risk assessment. In this work, we developed HPLC-FD methods to follow the biodegradation of four beta-blockers: alprenolol , propranolol , metoprolol and atenolol and the antidepressant fluoxetine during 15 days in batch mode. The biodegradation assays were performed using AS from the aerated tanks of a municipal wastewater treatment plant with a singly compound supplementation and a mixture compound supplementation similar to those found in wastewater influents. Abiotic degradation in the presence of light and in the dark was evaluated. Either the low concentration or the mixture effects are situations closer to those found in the environment. The results indicate the higher degradation extents for the S-enantiomer forms, as is shown in Figure 1

Preyssler Heteropolyacids in the Self-Etherification of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 5,5′-[Oxybis(methylene)]bis-2-furfural Under Mild Reaction Conditions

The synthesis of 5,5′-[oxybis(methylene)]bis-2-furfural (OBMF) from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was studied using bulk and alumina-supported Preyssler heteropolyacids (HPAs). The formation of OBMF was related to the amount of Brønsted acid sites, and the lowest yield of OBMF was obtained with supported HPAs. However, the Lewis acidity of the HPA supported on Al2O3 favored the formation of 2,5-dimethylfurane. The effects of solvent, catalyst loading, temperature, and reaction time on the selectivity to OBMF from 5-HMF were studied to optimize OBMF production using bulk Preyssler HPAs; a yield of 84 % to OBMF was obtained at 5 h and 343 K. These results demonstrate that bulk Preyssler HPA is a good candidate for OBMF synthesis under mild reaction conditions.Fil: Páez, Alexander. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Rojas, Hugo A.. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia;Fil: Portilla Zúñiga, Omar Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Sathicq, Angel Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Afonso, Carlos A. M.. Universidade de Lisboa; PortugalFil: Romanelli, Gustavo Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas ; ArgentinaFil: Martínez, José J.. Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia; Colombi

Degradation of fluoroanilines by the wild strain Labrys portucalensis

Aromatic amine compounds, many of them with halogenated substituents, constitute a major class of environmental pollutants that have been released into soil and water due to extensive use in industries and agriculture. Biodegradation has been found to be a major route for the removal of this kind of toxic and recalcitrant pollutants from the environment. Whereas the degradation of mono- and dichlorinated anilines has been studied, very little is known about fluorinated anilines. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate, under aerobic conditions, the degradation of 2-, 3- and 4-fluoroaniline by a previously isolated pure bacterium, designated as strain F11. This microorganism, identified as Labrys portucalensis, was isolated from a contaminated site in northern Portugal and has the unique capacity to utilize fluorobenzene as a sole carbon and energy source,. The results of the biodegradation of 2-, 3- and 4-fluoroaniline by strain F11 showed that this microorganism is able to completely degrade 2- fluoroaniline and partially degrade 4-fluoroaniline, when these compounds are present as a sole carbon and energy source. Biodegradation of these two compounds also occurred, although at a lower rate, in the absence of an external nitrogen source in the culture medium. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the biodegradation of 2- and 4-fluoroaniline as a sole carbon and energy source by a pure microbial culture. C.L. Amorim and M.F. Carvalho wish to acknowledge a research grant from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (Ref. SFRH/BD/47109/2008 and SFRH/BPD/44670/2008, respectively) and Fundo Social Europeu (III Quadro Comunitário de Apoio). This work was supported by the FCT Project - PTDC/BIO/67306/200

Diarylethene-Based Ionic Liquids: Synthesis and Photo-Driven Solution Properties

Funding text The authors acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through the PhD grant SFRH/BD/81693/2011 (M. R. C. Soromenho). This work was supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV (Portugal) (UIDB/50006/2020, UIDP/50006/2020, and LA/P/0008/2020) and by the Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa) (UIDB/04138/2020, and UIDP/04138/2020) which are financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES. The NMR spectrometers are part of the National NMR Network (PTNMR) are partially supported by Infrastructure Project Nº 022161 (co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI and PORL and FCT through PIDDAC).In this work, the design and synthesis of a series of photochromic gemini diarylethene-based ionic liquids (GDILs) with different cationic motifs is reported. Several synthetic pathways were optimized for the formation of cationic GDILs with chloride as the counterion. The different cationic motifs were achieved through the N-alkylation of the photochromic organic core unit with different tertiary amines, including different aromatic amines such as imidazole derivatives and pyridinium, and other non-aromatic amines. These novel salts present surprising water solubility with unexplored photochromic features that broaden their known applications. The covalent attachment of the different side groups dictates their water solubility and differences upon photocyclization. The physicochemical properties of GDILs in aqueous and in imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) solutions were investigated. Upon irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light, we have observed changes in the physico-chemical properties of distinct solutions containing these GDILs, at very low concentrations. More specifically, in aqueous solution, the overall conductivity increased with the time of UV photoirradiation. In contrast, in IL solution, these photoinducible changes are dependent on the type of ionic liquid used. These compounds can improve non-ionic and ionic liquids’ solutions since we can change their properties, such as conductivity, viscosity or ionicity, only by UV photoirradiation. The electronic and conformational changes associated with these innovative stimuli GDILs may open new opportunities for their use as photoswitchable materials.publishersversionpublishe

Current knowledge and future perspectives of the use of seaweeds for livestock production and meat quality : a systematic review

Research Areas: Agriculture ; Veterinary SciencesABSTRACT - The effects of dietary macroalgae, or seaweeds, on growth performance and meat quality of livestock animal species are here reviewed. Macroalgae are classified into Phaeophyceae (brown algae), Rhodophyceae (red algae) and Chlorophyceae (green algae). The most common macroalga genera used as livestock feedstuffs are: Ascophyllum, Laminaria and Undaria for brown algae; Ulva, Codium and Cladophora for green algae; and Pyropia, Chondrus and Palmaria for red algae. Macroalgae are rich in many nu-trients, including bioactive compounds, such as soluble polysaccharides, with some species being good sources of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. To date, the in-corporation of macroalgae in livestock animal diets was shown to improve growth and meat quality, depending on the alga species, dietary level and animal growth stage. Generally, Ascophyllum nodosum can increase average daily gain (ADG) in ruminant and pig mostly due to its prebiotic activity in animal's gut. A. nodosum also enhances marbling score, colour uniformity and redness, and can decrease saturated fatty acids in ruminant meats. Laminaria sp., mainly Laminaria digitata, increases ADG and feed efficiency, and improves the antioxidant potential of pork. Ulva sp., and its mixture with Codium sp., was shown to improve poultry growth at up to 10% feed. Therefore, seaweeds are promising sustainable alternatives to corn and soybean as feed ingre-dients, thus attenuating the current competition among food-feed-biofuel industries. In addition, macroalgae can hinder eutrophication and participate in bioremediation. However, some challenges need to be overcome, such as the development of large- scale and cost-effective algae production methods and the improvement of algae digestibility by monogastric animals. The dietary inclusion of Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes) could allow for the degradation of recalcitrant macroalga cell walls, with an increase of nutrients bioavailability. Overall, the use of macroalgae as feedstuffs is a promising strategy for the development of a more sustainable livestock production.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio