The effect of nanocoatings enriched with essential oils on ‘Rocha’ pear long storage

The effect of coating 'Rocha' pears with alginate-based nanoemulsions enriched with lemongrass essential oil (LG) or citral (Cit) was investigated. Fruit were treated with the nanoemulsions: sodium alginate 2% (w/w) + citral 1% (w/w) (Cit1%); sodium alginate 2% (w/w) + citral 2% (w/w) (Cit2%); sodium alginate 2% (w/w) + lemongrass 1.25% (w/w) (LG1.25%); sodium alginate 2% (w/w) + lemongrass 2.5% (w/w) (LG2.5%). Then, fruit were stored at 0 °C and at 95% relative humidity, for six months. Fruit samples were taken after two, four and six months, and then placed at 22 °C. Upon removal and after 7 d shelf-life, fruit were evaluated for colour CIE (L*, h◦), firmness, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), weight loss, electrolytic leakage, microbial growth, symptoms of superficial scald and internal browning. All nanoemulsions had droplets in the nano range <500 nm, showed uniformity of particle size and stable dispersion. Cit-nanoemulsions had lower droplet size and higher stability than LG. No nanoemulsion showed cytotoxicity. Coatings reduced fruit colour evolution and preserved better firmness than control. After shelf-life, better firmness was found in LG-coated fruit. Coatings did not affect SSC and TA. Microbial growth was below the safety limits in all treatments. Fruit treated with LG-nanoemulsions did not show scald symptoms and panelists preferred LG1.25% coated fruit. Cit2% treated fruit showed the highest scald and internal browning symptoms, while LG1.25% did not show any disorders. This study suggests that LG-nanocoatings have the potential for preserving the quality of 'Rocha' pear.FCT (SFRH/BPD/108831/2015); UID/BIA/04325/2019/ UID/Multi/00631/2019/ UID/AMB/50017/2019info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Factorial analysis of the trihalomethanes formation in water disinfection using chlorine

The factors that affect trihalomethane (THM) (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane and bromoform) formation from the chlorination of aqueous solutions of hydrophobic fulvic acids (FA) were investigated in a prototype laboratorial simulation using factorial analysis. This strategy involved a fractional factorial design (16 plus 5 center experiments) of five factors (fulvic acids concentration, chlorine dose, temperature, pH and bromide concentration) and a Box Behnken design (12 plus 3 center experiments) for the detailed analysis of three factors (FA concentration, chlorine dose and temperature). The concentration ofTHMwas determined by headspace analysis by GC–ECD. The most significant factors that affect the four THM productions were the following: chloroform—FA concentration and temperature; bromodichloromethane—FA concentration and chlorine dose; chlorodibromomethane—chlorine dose; and, bromoform—chlorine dose and bromide concentration. Moreover, linear models were obtained for the four THM concentrations in the disinfection solution as function of the FA concentration, chlorine dose and temperature, and it was observed that the complexity of the models (number of significant factors and interactions) increased with increasing bromine atoms in the THM. Also, this study shows that reducing the FA concentration the relative amount of bromated THM increases

Mineral and volatile composition of agua-mel from Portugal

Agua-mel (honey-water) is a typical honey-based product produced by the Portuguese beekeepers, particularly in southern Portugal. Agua-mel was characterized by mineral content and volatiles contents. Mineral content evaluation was performed based on a random sampling of 14 samples from a total of 16 samples provided by local producers. Mineral content showed that potassium predominated in agua-mel samples (1270-4105 mg/kg). The concentration of aluminium in one sample was tenfold higher (5.8 mg/kg) than in the remaining samples (0.3-0.6 mg/kg). Agua-mel volatiles were isolated by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) from a subset of eight samples. Cluster analysis showed two poorly correlated clusters (S (corr) < 0.3). Cluster I only sample was dominated by trans-beta-ocimene (19 %), gamma-terpinene (15 %) and 2-furfural (9 %). Cluster II that included the remaining seven samples showed two moderately correlated subclusters (S (corr) < 0.5). The six samples with high correlation from subcluster IIa were dominated by 2-furfural (18-41 %) and benzene acetaldehyde (12-39 %). n-Nonadecane (14 %), n-heneicosane and 2-furfural (both 13 %) were the main components of subcluster IIb sample. Although the presence of some volatile compounds can help in the correlation between agua-mel and honey botanical source, the final product varies largely according to the preparation process even for the same producer, in different years. Agua-mel detailed characterization may assist in bringing added value to this typical Portuguese honey-based product

Wild dogs at stake: deforestation threatens the only Amazon endemic canid, the short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis)

The persistent high deforestation rate and fragmentation of the Amazon forests are the main threats to their biodiversity. To anticipate and mitigate these threats, it is important to understand and predict how species respond to the rapidly changing landscape. The short-eared dog Atelocynus microtis is the only Amazon-endemic canid and one of the most understudied wild dogs worldwide. We investigated short-eared dog habitat associations on two spatial scales. First, we used the largest record database ever compiled for short-eared dogs in combination with species distribution models to map species habitat suitability, estimate its distribution range and predict shifts in species distribution in response to predicted deforestation across the entire Amazon (regional scale). Second, we used systematic camera trap surveys and occupancy models to investigate how forest cover and forest fragmentation affect the space use of this species in the Southern Brazilian Amazon (local scale). Species distribution models suggested that the short-eared dog potentially occurs over an extensive and continuous area, through most of the Amazon region south of the Amazon River. However, approximately 30% of the short-eared dog's current distribution is expected to be lost or suffer sharp declines in habitat suitability by 2027 (within three generations) due to forest loss. This proportion might reach 40% of the species distribution in unprotected areas and exceed 60% in some interfluves (i.e. portions of land separated by large rivers) of the Amazon basin. Our local-scale analysis indicated that the presence of forest positively affected short-eared dog space use, while the density of forest edges had a negative effect. Beyond shedding light on the ecology of the short-eared dog and refining its distribution range, our results stress that forest loss poses a serious threat to the conservation of the species in a short time frame. Hence, we propose a re-assessment of the short-eared dog's current IUCN Red List status (Near Threatened) based on findings presented here. Our study exemplifies how data can be integrated across sources and modelling procedures to improve our knowledge of relatively understudied species

Global Women’s Breakfast (GWB): #UnidaspelaQuímica

Global Women’s Breakfast (GWB): #BoundbyChemistry. Global Women’s Breakfast is an initiative of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, aiming to give women scientists, from all over the world, the opportunity to know each other, communicating virtually and sharing their experiences. Many countries joined this initiative and Portugal was not an exception, with its participation already at the first Networking Breakfast in 2011, celebrating the year of the centenaries of Marie Curie Nobel Prize in Chemistry, the Portuguese Chemical Society and the Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa as well. The success of these networking breakfasts, involving students, young researchers, and scientists, encouraged its further organization in Portugal, annually since 2019. This article describes the interventions of Portuguese women scientists, coming from Institutions throughout Portugal, in the Global Women’s Breakfast as partners in their mission as scientists, creative and open to international collaborations. Global Women's Breakfast é uma iniciativa criada pela International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry para dar oportunidade às mulheres cientistas de todo o mundo de se conhecerem, comunicando virtualmente e compartilhando as suas experiências. A adesão dos países foi muito elevada e Portugal não foi exceção, participando já no primeiro Networking Breakfast em 2011, Ano Internacional da Química, no qual se celebraram os centenários do Prémio Nobel da Química a Marie Curie, da Sociedade Portuguesa de Química e da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa. O sucesso destes pequenos-almoços em rede, que envolvem estudantes, jovens investigadoras e cientistas, encorajou a continuação da participação de Portugal anualmente, desde 2019. Este artigo descreve a intervenção de mulheres cientistas portuguesas, pertencentes a instituições de Norte a Sul do país, no Global Women’s Breakfast, cúmplices na sua missão de cientistas, criativas e abertas à colaboração internacional

Constraints on the χ_(c1) versus χ_(c2) polarizations in proton-proton collisions at √s = 8 TeV

The polarizations of promptly produced χ_(c1) and χ_(c2) mesons are studied using data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC, in proton-proton collisions at √s=8  TeV. The χ_c states are reconstructed via their radiative decays χ_c → J/ψγ, with the photons being measured through conversions to e⁺e⁻, which allows the two states to be well resolved. The polarizations are measured in the helicity frame, through the analysis of the χ_(c2) to χ_(c1) yield ratio as a function of the polar or azimuthal angle of the positive muon emitted in the J/ψ → μ⁺μ⁻ decay, in three bins of J/ψ transverse momentum. While no differences are seen between the two states in terms of azimuthal decay angle distributions, they are observed to have significantly different polar anisotropies. The measurement favors a scenario where at least one of the two states is strongly polarized along the helicity quantization axis, in agreement with nonrelativistic quantum chromodynamics predictions. This is the first measurement of significantly polarized quarkonia produced at high transverse momentum

Art déco e indústria: Brasil, décadas de 1930 e 1940

Este artigo analisa as características assumidas pela arquitetura de tendência art déco em construções ligadas à indústria - moradias, igrejas, escolas, clubes, fábricas etc. - erguidas no Brasil nas décadas de 1930 e 1940, investigando o repertório formal utilizado em diferentes tipologias. Faz uma análise mais detalhada das construções criadas pela Companhia Industrial Fiação de Tecidos Goyanna, em Pernambuco, no período entre 1937 e o final da década de 1940. Trata-se de um conjunto notável pela unidade formal, vinculada à linguagem art déco, e pelo emprego de soluções inovadoras em termos de forma e de programa.The aim of this article is to analyze the characteristics of Art Deco tendencies in buildings related to the industry - as houses, churches, schools, clubs, plants etc - in Brazil during the 1930s and 1940s. It studies the formal repertory used in different types of construction and develops a more detailed analysis of a complex of constructions by the firm Companhia Industrial Fiação de Tecidos Goyanna, in the state of Pernambuco, built during the period between 1937 and the end of 1940s. The presented group of constructions is notable for the formal coherence, associated with the Art Deco language, and for the use of innovative program and form solutions

Building a Portuguese coalition for biodiversity genomics

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation, or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterisation, and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures, and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic, and/or endangered and include plants, insects, and vertebrates (fish, birds, and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio