Response surface methodology in the optimization of extraction conditions for Gracilaria gracilis extracts for use in thermoplastic food coatings

Incorporation of antioxidant agents in edible films and packages often relies in the usage of essential oils and other concentrated hydrophobic liquids, with reliable increases in antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the overall composite, and consequent improvements in product shelf life. These oils are often obtained from plant sources and the usage of organic solvents in their extraction has been criticized as to whether it constitutes a health hazard for consumers [1, 2, 3]. The use of water-soluble antioxidant agents is less common, due to lower activities and extraction yields. As such, using commonly available seaweeds as the source for both the main polymers and the supplementing antioxidant/antimicrobial agents in bioactive films can potentially reduce production costs and create a safer, more sustainable product [1]. Hydroethanolic extracts of commercially available red macroalgae Gracilaria gracilis were evaluated for their antioxidant potential and phenolic content, as part of the preliminary assays for the selection of algal biomass for the enrichment of thermoplastic films. The extracts were obtained through use of solid-liquid extractions, over which yield, DPPH radical reduction capacity, total phenolic content, and FRAP activity assays were measured [4, 5]. Solid to liquid ratio (SLR), extraction time, and ethanol to water ratio were selected as independent variables with experimental ranges and configurations obtained using a Box-Behnken design with three factors, resulting in 15 experimental conditions. Extraction duplicates were used [4]. Response surface methodology was then used to estimate the effect of each extraction condition on the tested bioactivities. Bioactivities were significantly (p<0.05) and positively affected by the presence of ethanol in the extraction solvent, while extraction yield was reduced. Lower solid to liquid ratios (higher solvent proportions) resulted in higher yields, but had no significant (p<0.05) impact on bioactivities. Time was not a relevant factor in any of the measured variables, and as such will be minimized in any further work. 100% ethanol with minimum extraction time (10 minutes) and 1g to 5mL SLR maximize antioxidant activities per gram of dry extract. Maximum ethanolic yields were obtained with a theoretical extraction of 100 minutes and a 1g to 25mL SLR. Aqueous extractions displayed similar results in terms of optimum conditions, but with overall lower bioactivities and higher yields, very likely due to high amounts of soluble polysaccharides. While the high antioxidant activities from the ethanolic extracts encourage the selection of this solvent for extraction of bioactives, low yields may make them later unfeasible. Future studies over the compatibility of these extracts in the polymeric matrix of the films, as well as further optimization of the extraction process will be necessary before the definitive choice for bioactive origin and processing is made.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enhancement of the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of porphyran through chemical modification with tyrosine derivatives

The chemical modification of porphyran hydrocolloid is attempted, with the objective of enhancing its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Sulfated galactan porphyran is obtained from commercial samples of the red algae Porphyra dioica using Soxhlet extraction with water at 100ºC and precipitation with isopropyl alcohol. The extracted porphyran is then treated with modified L-tyrosines in aqueous medium in the presence of NaOH, at ca. 70ºC. The modified tyrosines L1 and L2 are prepared through a Mannich reaction with either thymol or 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, respectively. While the reaction with 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol yields the expected tyrosine derivative, a mixture of products is obtained with thymol. The resulting polysaccharides are structurally characterized and the respective antioxidant and antimicrobial activities are determined. Porphyran treated with the N-(2-hydroxy-3,5-di-tert-butyl-benzyl)-L-tyrosine derivative, POR-L2, presents a noticeable superior radical scavenging and antioxidant activity compared to native porphyran, POR. Furthermore, it exhibited some antimicrobial activity against S. aureus. The surface morphology of films prepared by casting with native and modified porphyrans is studied by SEM/EDS. Both POR and POR-L2 present potential applicability in the production of films and washable coatings for food packaging with improved protecting characteristics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Poultry shelf-life enhancing potential of nanofibers and nanoparticles containing Porphyra dioica extracts

Aqueous extracts of commercially available red macroalgae Porphyra dioica were integrated as inner coatings of food-grade polypropylene (PP) films through use of electrospinning and electrospraying technologies. Two coating formulations (A = 5 wt% P. dioica extract and 7.5 wt% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA); B = 1 wt% P. dioica extract, 1 wt% PVA, and 17% gelatine) were evaluated as to their capacity to delay spoilage of minced chicken breasts, through monitoring of microbial growth (total mesophile aerobic colony counts), colour stability, lipid oxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)), and sensory analysis over a 4-day refrigerated storage. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed an increased nanofiber and nanoparticle density on extract-enriched fibers, without compromise to their morphology or the homogeneity of the coatings. Total microbial counts on coating B samples was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced compared to uncoated plastic wraps. The coated samples also exhibited fewer colour degradation, though the coatings did not di er substantially from uncoated plastic wrap. Sensory analysis test subjects successfully distinguished the raw samples based on their treatment and gave a positive approval rating (66.7%) to the extract-enriched coatings when asked about edibility post storage.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

L-Theanine promotes cultured human Sertoli cells proliferation and modulates glucose metabolism

L-Theanine is the major free amino acid present in tea (Camellia sinensis L.). The effects of several tea constituents on male reproduction have been investigated, but L-theanine has been overlooked. Sertoli cells (SCs) are essential for the physical and nutritional support of germ cells. In this study, we aimed to investigate the ability of L-theanine to modulate important mechanisms of human SCs (hSCs) metabolism, mitochondrial function and oxidative profile, which are essential to prevent or counteract spermatogenesis disruption in several health conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Homegreens - Aquaponics System as an Educational Tool towards a Sustainable Future

Aquaponics is an integrated production practice that emerges from the combi-nation of two farming techniques: hydroponics and aquaculture. It consists in a simulation of a natural ecosystem that grows plants without soil substrate in the nutrient enriched waters recirculated from aquaculture systems. This type of production offers several advantages, namely economic and ecological ones. Homegreens is a project that aims to create small saltwater and freshwater aquaponic sys-tems, which can be installed in schools and serve as a didactic tool for introducing contents such as biology and sustainability to a juvenile audience. Implemented by a designers, biol-ogists and agronomists’ multidisciplinary team, the methodology was based on the develop-ment and quantitative validation of prototypes, and the installation and qualitative analyses of user’s interaction. These small scale aquaponic systems consists on a grow bed, an aquarium with a capacity for 45L, a protection barrier for the plant’s roots, aeration, biofilters and a thermostat. Sever-al simplified models were developed, presented and installed in two primary schools. Labor-atory tests were conducted to validate the use of a cork grow bed and a 3D printed polya-cid lactic (PLA) aeration and biofilter system. Children’s engagement and interaction with these simplified models, indicates that these systems will provide a biology and sustainability related group learning opportunity.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

PARTE II. AS RELAÇÕES DE TRABALHO E O EMPREENDEDORISMO COOPERATIVO — ESTUDO EMPÍRICO

• Projeto de Investigação Internacional intitulado "Estatuto jurídico de los trabajadores - socios de cooperativas y otras organizaciones de la economía social y solidaria”, promovido pela Asociación Iberoamericana de Derecho Cooperativo, Mutual y de la Economía Social y Solidaria (AIDCMESS). No âmbito deste projeto, o CECEJ (Centro de Estudos de Ciências Empresariais e Jurídicas do Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto), coordenou entre 2014 e 2015, um estudo interdisciplinar, subordinado ao tema «As relações de trabalho nas cooperativas portuguesas», sob a orientação conjunta dos investigadores Deolinda Meira e José. Freitas Santos. A equipa de investigadores integrou, por ordem alfabética do primeiro nome: Ana Maria Bandeira; Ana Siamens, André Martins; Deolinda Meira; Helena Salazar; José Freitas Santos; Margarida Almeida; Nina Aguiar; Paulo Vasconcelos; Raúl Guichard; Rita Pires; Susana Bernardino; e Tiago Fernandes. O projeto culminou com a elaboração de um relatório composto por duas partes: Parte I. Enquadramento teórico; Parte II. As relações de trabalho e o empreendedorismo cooperativo — estudo empírico.Este estudo, subordinado ao tema «As relações de trabalho nas cooperativas portuguesas», insere-se no projeto de investigação internacional intitulado «Estatuto jurídico de los trabajadores-socios de cooperativas y otras organizaciones de la economía social y solidaria», promovido pela «ASOCIACION IBEROAMERICANA DE DERECHO COOPERATIVO, MUTUAL Y DE LA ECONOMIA SOCIAL Y SOLIDARIA». Este projeto abrange os seguintes países: Argentina, Venezuela, Brasil, Chile, Equador, Espanha, Portugal, México, Costa Rica, Paraguai e Porto Rico, assumindo como seu objetivo principal a delimitação do regime jurídico das relações de trabalho nas cooperativas e em outras entidades da economia social e pode ser consultado em: http://www.aidcmess.com.ar/index.php/component/jdownloads/viewcategory/8 0-programaiberoamericano-de-investigacion?Itemid=401 O estudo português assume-se como um estudo interdisciplinar, ainda que o enfoque principal seja jurídico, e tem como principais objetivos: 1. delimitar o regime jurídico das relações de trabalho nas cooperativas; 2. caraterizar o regime fiscal e da segurança social das contribuições em trabalho; 3. distinguir entre o estatuto do cooperador trabalhador e do trabalhador não membro da cooperativa 4. avaliar os contributos das relações de trabalho para o empreendedorismo cooperativo; 5. formular linhas de reforma da legislação cooperativa no âmbito das relações de trabalho cooperativas. Para alcançar estes objetivos, o projeto português sistematiza-se em duas partes. Na parte I, faremos o devido enquadramento teórico do objeto do nosso estudo. Na parte II, abordaremos as relações entre as contribuições em trabalho e o empreendedorismo cooperativo, e apresentaremos os resultados do estudo empírico.A Parte I divide-se em 7 capítulos. No primeiro capítulo faremos o enquadramento jurídico do cooperativismo em Portugal, com particular destaque para o enquadramento constitucional e para a relevância da Lei de Bases da Economia Social, terminando com uma breve referência à legislação ordinária que servirá de suporte ao nosso estudo. No segundo capítulo, tomando como referente a identidade cooperativa, procuraremos identificar os reflexos jurídicos desta no regime jurídico das relações de trabalho cooperativas. No terceiro capítulo, faremos uma análise do regime jurídico das relações de trabalho nas cooperativas. Daremos particular destaque à questão do procedimento de requisitos de admissão do cooperador trabalhador, à problemática da natureza jurídica do vínculo que une o cooperador trabalhador à cooperativa, à questão da contrapartida do trabalho prestado pelo cooperador trabalhador, à relevância da reserva de educação e formação cooperativas na formação profissional dos trabalhadores membros e não membros, aos reflexos do princípio da não discriminação nas relações laborais cooperativas, às formas de cessação da qualidade de cooperador trabalhador, e às especificidades do regime disciplinar. O quarto capítulo incidirá sobre o regime fiscal e de proteção social das relações de trabalho nas cooperativas. No quinto capítulo debruçar-nos-emos sobre outras prestações de atividade na cooperativa, com particular destaque para as prestadas pelo cooperador-administrador e pelos gerentes e mandatários. No sexto capítulo, enunciaremos as posições jurisprudenciais produzidas neste âmbito. No último capítulo, enunciaremos algumas linhas de reforma que entendemos deverem ser tidas em conta pelo legislador no momento de repensar o regime jurídico das relações de trabalho nas cooperativas portuguesas. Do ponto de vista metodológico, para além dos enquadramentos teóricos, procedeu-se à elaboração de um questionário com vista à obtenção de informação que nos permita conhecer a realidade das relações de trabalho nas cooperativas portuguesas, recorrendo-se, igualmente, a um estudo de caso de uma cooperativa centenária, a referida Cooperativa dos Pedreiros. Quer no enquadramento teórico quer no estudo empírico tivemos em conta, não apenas as relações de trabalho em sentido estrito, mas outras prestações de atividade com relevância para o funcionamento das cooperativas, designadamente as realizadas pelos titulares dos órgãos de administração e de fiscalização da cooperativa. Assinale-se, desde já, que, no ordenamento português, não tem expressão jurídica o ramo «cooperativas de trabalho». Efetivamente, no estado atual da legislação cooperativa, os ramos cooperativos em que as relações cooperativas têm por objeto principal a prestação de trabalho por parte dos cooperadores são os ramos de produção operária, de serviços (na modalidade de produtores de serviços), de artesanato, de pescas, de ensino e de cultura. Contudo, tal como será destacado ao longo do relatório, em todos os ramos cooperativos poderão existir prestações de trabalho por parte do cooperador, pois o legislador permite que o capital subscrito das cooperativas possa ser realizado em trabalho ou em serviços. Claro que, nesta segunda hipótese, o exercício da atividade corresponderá à «entrada» do cooperador, geradora de vínculos associativos, no sentido de que este entra para a cooperativa «com trabalho ou serviços» ao lado de cooperadores que realizam entradas em espécie ou em dinheiro. Assim, ainda que o enfoque deste estudo se centre nos ramos cooperativos nos quais as relações cooperativas têm por objeto principal a prestação de trabalho por parte dos cooperadores, abordaremos, igualmente, as prestações de trabalho por parte do cooperador em todos os ramos cooperativos. Sendo esta uma obra que resulta da colaboração autónoma de uma multiplicidade de autores, os contributos de cada um deles aparecem devidamente identificados. Destaque-se que, não obstante a maioria dos autores partilhar das teses monistas ou societárias quanto à qualificação do vínculo que une o cooperador trabalhador à cooperativa, comungando da construção jurídica latino-americana do ato cooperativo, outros defendem uma teoria dualista ou contratualista. Neste contexto, optou-se por, nesta fase do projeto, não se avançar com a formulação de conclusões, mas antes pela apresentação de linhas de reforma da legislação cooperativa portuguesa quanto ao estatuto do cooperador trabalhador. Esta opção parece-nos a mais adequada, pois atualmente está em curso em Portugal a reforma da legislação cooperativa que visa cumprir o imperativo de «desenvolvimento legislativo «constante do art. 13.º da Lei n.º 30/2013, de 8 de março [Lei de Bases de Economia Social (LBES)].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Impact of late presentation of HIV infection on short-, mid- and long-term mortality and causes of death in a multicenter national cohort: 2004–2013

SummaryObjectivesTo analyze the impact of late presentation (LP) on overall mortality and causes of death and describe LP trends and risk factors (2004–2013).MethodsCox models and logistic regression were used to analyze data from a nation-wide cohort in Spain. LP is defined as being diagnosed when CD4 < 350 cells/ml or AIDS.ResultsOf 7165 new HIV diagnoses, 46.9% (CI95%:45.7–48.0) were LP, 240 patients died.First-year mortality was the highest (aHRLP.vs.nLP = 10.3[CI95%:5.5–19.3]); between 1 and 4 years post-diagnosis, aHRLP.vs.nLP = 1.9(1.2–3.0); and >4 years, aHRLP.vs.nLP = 1.5(0.7–3.1).First-year's main cause of death was HIV/AIDS (73%); and malignancies among those surviving >4 years (32%). HIV/AIDS-related deaths were more likely in LP (59.2% vs. 25.0%; p < 0.001). LP declined from 55.9% (2004–05) to 39.4% (2012–13), and reduced in 46.1% in men who have sex with men (MSM) and 37.6% in heterosexual men, but increased in 22.6% in heterosexual women.Factors associated with LP: sex (ORMEN.vs.WOMEN = 1.4[1.2–1.7]); age (OR31–40.vs.<30 = 1.6[1.4–1.8], OR41–50.vs.<30 = 2.2[1.8–2.6], OR>50.vs.<30 = 3.6[2.9–4.4]); behavior (ORInjectedDrugUse.vs.MSM = 2.8[2.0–3.8]; ORHeterosexual.vs.MSM = 2.2[1.7–3.0]); education (ORPrimaryEducation.vs.University = 1.5[1.1–2.0], ORLowerSecondary.vs.University = 1.3[1.1–1.5]); and geographical origin (ORSub-Saharan.vs.Spain = 1.6[1.3–2.0], ORLatin-American.vs.Spain = 1.4[1.2–1.8]).ConclusionsLP is associated with higher mortality, especially short-term- and HIV/AIDS-related mortality. Mid-term-, but not long-term mortality, remained also higher in LP than nLP. LP decreased in MSM and heterosexual men, not in heterosexual women. The groups most affected by LP are low educated, non-Spanish and heterosexual women

Methyl-β-Cyclodextrins Preferentially Remove Cholesterol from the Liquid Disordered Phase in Giant Unilamellar Vesicles

Methyl-β-cyclodextrins (MβCDs) are molecules that are extensively used to remove and to load cholesterol (Chol) from artificial and natural membranes; however, the mechanism of Chol extraction by MβCD from pure lipids or from complex mixtures is not fully understood. One of the outstanding questions in this field is the capability of MβCD to remove Chol from lipid domains having different packing. Here, we investigated the specificity of MβCD to remove Chol from coexisting macrodomains with different lipid packing. We used giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) made of 1,2-dioleoylphosphatidylcholine:1,2-dipalmitoylphatidylcholine:free cholesterol, 1:1:1 molar ratio at 27°C. Under these conditions, individual GUVs present Chol distributed into lo and ld phases. The two phases can be distinguished and visualized using Laurdan generalized polarization and two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy. Our data indicate that MβCD removes Chol preferentially from the more disordered phase. The process of selective Chol removal is dependent on the MβCD concentration. At high concentrations, MβCD also removes phospholipids

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications