Cosmeceutical potential of apple pomace phenolic compounds: development of a natural-based dermal hydrogel as proof of concept

Currently, there is an evident trend towards incorporating natural-based ingredients in dermal formulations. In addition to the growing consumers’ acceptance, these natural ingredients are not associated with such a high number of side effects as in the case of most artificial components. Likewise, and following a circular economy approach, there is an overall attempt to find added-value applications among materials that would be otherwise discarded or considered as waste. Apple pomace might be considered as a striking example of these industrial by-products. In fact, apple pomace remaining from cider and juice pressing industries represents a competitive source of a large number of phenolic compounds. Interestingly, the major part of these bioactive compounds is found in apple peel and remain in apple pomace after the pressing procedure. Phenolic compounds present in apple pomace (e.g., hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids and di-hydrochalcones) display health promoting activities, mainly based on their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Therefore, they seem to be a promising cosmeceutical aimed to promote the health and beauty of skin. In addition, apple pomace has a high concentration of pectin, which can be used for its jellifying properties. This research study focused in the evaluation of bioactive and chemical characterization of different apple pomace extracts. Special attention was dedicated to their phenolic profile, as well as their antioxidant and antimicrobial (specifically against different bacteria present on the skin, e.g., Propionibacterium acnes, which is linked to acne). The best extract was the mixture of ethanol:water (80:20), which proved to have the highest antimicrobial potential against P. acnes. Accordingly, this extract was later incorporated in a novel dermal hydrogel, where pectin, extracted from apple pomace by hot acid extraction, was used as jellifying agent. This hydrogel was further evaluated for its bioactivity, revealing the maintenance of antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the incorporated extract.Hoy en día existe una tendencia evidente hacia la incorporación de ingredientes de origen natural en formulaciones cosméticas. Además de la aceptación creciente de este tipo de productos por parte de los consumidores, estos ingredientes naturales no están asociados con tantos efectos secundarios como en el caso de la mayoría de componentes artificiales. Al mismo tiempo, teniendo en cuenta el enfoque de la economía circular, existe un interés general por encontrar aplicaciones de valor añadido a materiales que de otra manera serían desechados o considerados como desperdicios. La magaya de manzana podría considerarse como un ejemplo notable de estos subproductos industriales. De hecho, la magaya procedente de las industrias de sidra y zumo representa una fuente competitiva de compuestos fenólicos. Curiosamente, la mayor parte de estos compuestos bioactivos se encuentran en la piel de la manzana y permanecen en la magaya tras el prensado. Los compuestos fenólicos presentes en la magaya (p. ej., ácidos hidroxicinámicos, flavonoides y dihidrochalconas) presentan actividades beneficiosas para la salud, principalmente debido a sus propiedades antioxidantes, antiinflamatorias y antimicrobianas. Por lo tanto, parecen tener un gran potencial como cosmecéuticos destinados a promover la salud y belleza de la piel. Además, la magaya presenta una alta concentración de pectina, susceptible de ser usada por sus propiedades gelificantes. Este trabajo se centró en la evaluación bioactiva y química de diferentes extractos de magaya. Una atención especial se ha dedicado a su perfil fenólico, así como a su actividad antioxidante y antimicrobiana (en específico contra bacterias presentes en la piel como es el caso de Propionibacterium acnes, que está relacionada con la aparición del acné). El mejor extracto fue la mezcla de etanol:agua (80:20), que resultó tener el mayor potencial antimicrobiano frente a P. acnes. En consecuencia, este extracto se incorporó posteriormente a un nuevo hidrogel dérmico, donde se utilizó pectina, extraída de la magaya mediante hidrólisis ácida, como agente gelificante. Este hidrogel fue después evaluado por su bioactividad, demostrando la manutención de la actividad antioxidante y antibacteriana del extracto incorporado.Atualmente, há uma tendência evidente para a incorporação de ingredientes de origen natural em formulações dérmicas. Além da crescente aceitação por parte dos consumidores, esses ingredientes naturais não estão associados a um número tão grande de efeitos colaterais como no caso da maioria dos componentes artificiais. Da mesma forma, e seguindo uma abordagem de economia circular, tem havido uma tentativa geral de encontrar aplicações de valor agregado entre materiais que seriam de outra forma seriam rejeitados. O bagaço de maçã pode ser considerado como um exemplo notável desses subprodutos industriais. De fato, o bagaço de maçã proveniente das indústrias produtoras de cidra e sumo representa uma fonte competitiva de compostos fenólicos. Curiosamente, a maior parte desses compostos bioativos é encontrada na casca da maçã e permanece no bagaço de maçã após o procedimento de prensagem. Os compostos fenólicos presentes no bagaço de maçã (p. ex., ácidos hidroxicinâmicos, flavonóides e di-hidrochalconas) exibem atividades benéficas para a saúde, principalmente debido ás suas propriedades antioxidantes, antiinflamatórias e antimicrobianas. Com isto, tal produto parece ser um promissor cosmecêutico destinado a promover a saúde e a beleza da pele. Além disso, o bagaço de maçã contém uma elevada concentração de pectina, a qual se recorre frequentemente devido às suas propriedades gelificantes. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a caracterização bioativa e química de diferentes extratos de bagaço de maçã com ênfase ao seu perfil fenólico, bem como a sua actividade antioxidante e antimicrobiana (especificamente contra diferentes bactérias presentes na pele, por exemplo, Propionibacterium acnes, que está ligado à acne). O melhor extrato foi a mistura de etanol: água (80:20), que provou ter o maior potencial antimicrobiano contra P. acnes. Assim, este extrato foi posteriormente incorporado em um novo hidrogel dérmico, onde a pectina, extraída do bagaço de maçã por hidrolisis ácida, foi utilizada como agente gelificante. Este hidrogel foi ainda avaliado quanto à sua bioatividade, revelando a manutenção da atividade antioxidante e antibacteriana do extrato incorporado.This work was funded by programme FEDER-INterreg Spain-Portugal through Project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E

The social stock exchange: a quantitative exploration

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsWe introduce the Social Stock Exchange (SSE), by presenting its work, structure and brief history. The main goal of the SSE is to promote accountability and transparency in the relationship between the donors (Social Investors) and NGOs, which allows for a privileged access to data and information about the projects listed. Hence, this study exploits all the information made available by the SSE and constructs two original models in order to measure the effectiveness of the projects listed in the SSE in a transparent, verified and mensurable manner. Furthermore, these two measures are a first attempt to overcome two main challenges concerning the study and the practice of NGO/NPO effectiveness: the ambiguity of the term “effectiveness” and the lack of empirical evidence

Implementing Competition Law and Policy in Latin America: The Role of Technical Assistance

Despite all the bottlenecks faced in implementing competition law and policies (CLP) in Latin America, several countries have been able to organize competition regimes and establish effective competition agencies. Experience has shown that the adage no one size fits all holds true; each country adheres to its own agenda. Therefore, technical assistance (TA) entails a bottom-up progressive approach and reflects national priorities. At the outset of implementing a CLP in developing countries, it is worth keeping in mind certain questions: Will the new regulation represent an additional burden to the already-charged institutional setting, or will it be an additional rule capable of merging with the existing regulatory agenda? Can countries sign agreements that include competition provisions if they do not have a national law, and if the adoption of a competition law is conditioned upon accepting a package of economic reforms? Does CLP represent a requirement under a cooperation agreement? Is it possible to promote the non-efficiency goals of CLP, which include benefits for consumers and better living conditions for the poor? Based on UNCTAD research and TA, this article draws on (1) an UNCTAD program, Competencia América Latina (COMPAL), on strengthening competition and consumer protection in Latin America; and (2) research on implementing competition provisions in regional trade agreements. This article addresses some policy conclusions in the context of successful implementation of a CLP. It is imperative to continue advocacy programs to raise awareness among policymakers, public officials, local businessmen, pro-consumers, NGOs, and citizens. A TA program to strengthen CLP should be based primarily on local priorities. Once the factors addressing local needs are cemented in place, regional initiatives must be tackled. This depends heavily upon similarities between member countries and on the political will to cooperate

Electoral opportunism and fiscal policy before and after the EMU

A Masters Thesis, presented as part of the requirements for the award of a Research Masters Degree in Economics from NOVA – School of Business and EconomicsThe adoption of a common currency in Europe, under the supervision of an independent European Central Bank, is likely to have had consequences on both the conduct of fiscal policy and the incentives to exploit political business cycles in each country. This work proposes a framework to analyze the in.uence of Central Bank Independence (CBI) on opportunistic political budget cycles before and after Economic and Monetary Union. We first focus on the situation before the EMU and present a model of opportunistic budget cycles in the presence of a central bank with a given level of independence. Secondly, we extend the model to the situation of the EMU to understand whether small countries take advantage of the fact that the one central bank setting monetary policy may under react to their own actions, ofering policy-makers leeway to conduct opportunistic expansionary fiscal policies before elections. In a monetary union with a common central bank and opportunistic policy-makers the trade-of is between the degree of independence of the central bank and its inattentiveness to the smaller economies that are members of the monetary union. We present some empirical evidence that gives some supports to the main findings of the model by analyzing evidence from twelve countries of EMU over the period 1980-2012

Reforming local governance: fiscal federalism and political accountability

This thesis explores three reforms implemented in Portugal to obtain causal inference about the manifold impacts of the rules that shape local government behavior. The first chapter focuses on the electoral response to a property tax reform, aiming to promote a higher degree of decentralization and autonomy of municipalities. The second chapter tests the hypothesis of tax capitalization by exploring an unexpected reduction in the upper bound of the property tax rate. The last chapter - using an original dataset on mayors' characteristics - exploits a recent reform introducing mayoral term limits to identify its causal impact on political selection