Pullulan-Tween 40 emulsified films containing geraniol: production and characterization as potential food packaging materials

Petroleum-based plastics have been widely used as packaging materials because of their low-cost availability and good mechanical properties. However, the use of plastics has become restricted as they are highly resistant to biodegradation, causing environmental problems. This work aimed to produce and characterize emulsified pullulan films incorporating geraniol for application as food packaging materials with potential to substitute the conventional plastics. When geraniol was incorporated in the films, they showed antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 (inhibition zone diameter = 15.19 ± 0.66 mm) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (inhibition zone diameter = 10.99 ± 1.82 mm). Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy showed the inhibition of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 biofilms when they were directly formed on the emulsified pullulan films incorporating geraniol. The produced films also demonstrated high transparency (> 90%) and hydrophilic surfaces (water contact angle < 90°). This work demonstrated the viability of using geraniol to produce pullulan active films as new food packaging materials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mass masstige index: application in wine brands and the importance in restaurant communication

This work intends to obtain for the first time one mass masstige index for wine brands and analyze the importance of that index in the restaurants’ communications. The authors used quantitative research, and information was obtained through a convenience sample of 196 masstige wine brands. The mass masstige index was obtained for a set of wine brands of several countries. The results show that the masstige wine brand index can benefit gastronomic restaurants by having masstige wine brands recognized as top-of-mind brands by tourists. This research fulfills a gap in the tourism literature applying for the first time the masstige theory in wine brands and obtaining a mass masstige index for a set of wine masstige brands. The provider of masstige wine brands in gastronomic restaurants must continue to bet on communication strategies with masstige wine brands as a way to create strong consumer-brand relationships.B913-0565-0908 | Elvira Vieirainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A (IN)APLICABILIDADE DO DIREITO DE ARREPENDIMENTO NAS RELAÇÕES DE CONSUMO PELA INTERNET DE PRODUTOS MODIFICADOS

O presente artigo fornece um desfecho para o imbróglio acerca da necessidade do fornecedor arcar com os custos dos produtos customizados, sob encomenda ou personalizados criados a contento do consumidor. Utilizou-se o método bibliográfico para constatar que poderia ser aplicada cláusula penal compensatória aos produtos modificados ou coibir a aplicação do direito de arrependimento, com prévia comunicação a seu respeito. Deste modo, verificou-se que deve prevalecer a segunda tese, como sendo mais isonômica e justa a ambas as partes da relação consumerista

Influence of social adversity on perceived health status and depressive symptoms among portuguese older people

This study aims to investigate how exposure to poverty, food insecurity, and abuse at older ages relates to health outcomes. A questionnaire collecting data on sociodemographic and economic characteristics, health status, depressive symptoms, food insecurity, and abuse was administered to a sample of 677 older adults. Logistic regression was used to quantify the association of poverty, food insecurity, and abuse with perceived health status and depressive symptoms. If the older person only reported experiences of abuse, it was more likely to report the presence of depressive symptoms, even after adjustment for covariates. If it was only reported the experience of food insecurity, it was more likely to report a worse health status. Older people exposed to at least two factors of vulnerability were significantly more likely to report (very) poor perceived health status (OR: 7.11, 95% CI: 2.77-18.25) and the presence of relevant depressive symptoms (OR: 4.34; 95% CI: 2.04-9.22). Thus, the combined effect of vulnerabilities was significantly associated with worse health among older people. Public health policies to mitigate these adverse exposures should be developed to promote health and well-being in this population

Influence of H&E and Papanicolau stains on DNA integrity: systematic review

The success of the Human Genome Project along with the development of new molecular and bioinformatics methods has allowed a rapid evolution of personalized health care. In that context, molecular pathology plays a key role in providing patient-specific disease signatures allowing to develop targeted and patient-driven therapeutic strategies and to predict therapeutic response, particularly in oncology. For that, the presence or absence of mutations is assessed by molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Sanger sequencing and next-generation sequencing (NGS). This information complements the morphological analysis obtained by microscopic inspection of tissue sections, commonly from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, or of cytological specimens (CS). As cells and other tissue components are invisible, to render them visible under the microscope, it is necessary to perform a previous staining procedure. The routine stain in clinical pathology laboratories for FFPE samples is Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E), as it allows the visualization of general tissue architecture assisting the evaluation of structural and morphological changes. For cytological specimens, the routine stain is Papanicolau (Pap). In some cases, FFPE or CS samples are scarce and it is necessary to extract DNA directly from FFPE or CS stained-samples. Furthermore, samples from tumors are usually very heterogeneous containing a variable mixture of neoplastic cells and a variety of normal cells. Molecular analysis of DNA extracted from these mixtures can lead to confusing or false negative results and erroneous conclusions. In order to diminish the interference of normal cells, the tumor area is usually selected and isolated before molecular analysis is performed. This enrichment of neoplastic cells can be performed through manual or automated-assisted microdissection of FFPE, CS or frozen samples. In these cases, it is mandatory to extract nucleic acids directly from stained samples. Although this is a common practice in molecular pathology laboratories, a survey of the literature demonstrates that the reagents used in H&E and Pap stains may induce chemical modifications on DNA. This review collects the available information about the influence of H&E and Pap stains in DNA integrity and explores the mechanisms by which the dyes might interfere with molecular analysis, particularly on PCR-based methods.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Imagem corporal da mulher com cancro de mama: Impacto na qualidade do relacionamento conjugal e na satisfação sexual

Este trabalho teve como objectivo o estudo da imagem corporal, da qualidade do relacionamento conjugal e da satisfação sexual de mulheres com cancro de mama. Neste estudo participaram trinta mulheres com cancro de mama, submetidas a uma cirurgia (radical ou parcial) e posterior tratamento (quimioterapia, radioterapia e/ou hormonoterapia). Todas as participantes eram casadas ou viviam em união de facto e mantinham uma actividade sexual com o companheiro. Para a avaliação das variáveis em estudo utilizou-se: a Escala de Imagem Corporal “Como me relaciono com o meu corpo”, a Escala de Relacionamento Conjugal e o Índice de Satisfação Sexual. Os resultados obtidos apontaram para a inexistência de problemas ao nível da imagem corporal e da qualidade do relacionamento conjugal. Constatou-se, no entanto, a existência de problemática ao nível da satisfação sexual das participantes

Chironomidae (Diptera: Insecta) da ilha de Santa Maria

XIV Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - Santa Maria 2009.O presente trabalho surge no âmbito da Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia da Universidade dos Açores à ilha de Santa Maria, durante a qual foram amostrados diversos ambientes aquáticos para o estudo da sua biodiversidade. O trabalho realizado possibilitou a actualização da lista de espécies de Chironomidae para a ilha de Santa Maria, tendo sido encontrados quatro novos registos para esta ilha

Developing a digital platform for community-led initiatives: from local agents′ needs to interface design

To identify how digital media are being used by community-led initiatives of the Centro Region of Portugal, and to identify the requirements that a digital platform for mediation between agents in the territory should have, two focus groups were conducted, involving six small-sized community-led initiatives and six larger-sized community-led initiatives. This article details the results of these focus groups, according to the following main categories: use of existing communication and mediation tools; the purpose of use of digital tools; type of experiences prompted by digital tools and attributes and features desired in a digital platform to support community-led initiatives. The results show differences between the use and needs of digital tools by small- and larger-sized initiatives and offer interesting insights to prototype an innovative digital solution, to enhance the actions of community-led initiatives. A reference framework for digital mediation strategies and a mobile app prototype were developed, based on these surveys. The article contributes with an analytical view about the development of digital solutions, which aim to strengthen the relationship among agents of local communities and promote mediation mechanisms among all stakeholders in territorial-based innovation.Programa Operacional Regional do Centro (CENTRO 2020), PT2020publishe