Screening of the Potential Bioactivities of Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium L.) Essential Oil

Increasing resistance of pathogens towards conventional antibiotics presents a major threat to public health because it reduces the effectiveness of antibiotic treatment. Mentha pulegium L., also known as pennyroyal, is an aromatic herb that belongs to the family Lamiaceae. Its essential oil has been traditionally used in medicine, aromatherapy, and cosmetics. The purpose of this work was to study the chemical composition of a pennyroyal essential oil and to evaluate their bioactivities, specifically, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-quorum sensing, and anti-inflammatory. A special focus was given to the antibacterial activity of the essential oil against Acinetobacter baumannii. The chemical composition of the essential oil was studied by GC-MS/GC-FID. The DPPH free radical scavenging assay and the β-carotene/linoleic acid system were used to evaluate the antioxidant properties. The antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing activities were evaluated by disk diffusion assays and complemented with optical microscopy observations. The results showed that pulegone was the major compound (88.64%) of the pennyroyal essential oil. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, the action against Acinetobacter baumannii stands out, which, together with the capacity of the essential oil to inhibit the quorum sensing mechanisms, may suggest the use of the pennyroyal essential oil to further develop surface disinfectants for hospitals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pullulan–Apple Fiber Biocomposite Films: Optical, Mechanical, Barrier, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties

More than 150 million tons of synthetic plastics are produced worldwide from petrochemical-based materials, many of these plastics being used to produce single-use consumer products like food packaging. The main goal of this work was to research the production and characterization of pullulan–apple fiber biocomposite films as a new food packaging material. The optical, mechanical, and barrier properties of the developed biocomposite films were evaluated. Furthermore, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the biocomposite films were additionally studied. The results show that the Tensile Index and Elastic Modulus of the pullulan–apple fiber films were significantly higher (p-value < 0.05) when compared to the pullulan films. Regarding the water vapor permeability, no significant differences (p-value < 0.05) were observed in water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) when the apple fiber was incorporated into the biocomposite films. A significant increase (p-value < 0.05) of water contact angle in both sides of the films was observed when the apple fiber was incorporated into pullulan, indicating an increase in the hydrophobicity of the developed biocomposite films. It is worth noting the hydrophobicity of the (rough) upper side of the pullulan–apple fiber films, which present a water contact angle of 109.75°. It was possible to verify the microbial growth inhibition around the pullulan–apple fiber films for all the tested bacteria.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An intelligent multi-agent memory assistant

World population is ageing and increasingly scarce resources are required to cover the needs of everyone adequately. Medical conditions, especially memory problems, restrict the daily life of a broad slice of the elderly population, affect their independence. To prevent this, providing the right care and assistance while having in mind the costs implicated is essential. One possible path is to work with resources that we already have today and create innovative solutions to achieve the required level of support. There are not many solution either technological or not to prevent memory loss. In this work we present a possible solution aimed at restoring or maintaining the independence of elderly people, through the use of so-called Memory Assistants. We thus present an Intelligent Multi-Agent Memory Assistant designed to help people with memory problems remember their events and activities. The implementation of an event manager, free time manger, medication remainder and a sensory system, to manage and monitor the user, we aim to improve their quality of life and increase their independence

Crenças, aceitação e atitudes dos utentes perante os medicamentos genéricos: um estudo comparativo entre Portugal e Estónia

Medicamento genérico (MG) é definido como uma fiel imitação de um medicamento original, terapeuticamente equivalente apresentando a mesma forma farmacêutica, composição qualitativa e quantitativa destinado a ser intercambiável com o produto original. Os MGs só podem ser comercializados depois de todas as patentes e certificados complementares de protecção (SPCs) que cobrem o produto original terem expirado. O papel dos MGs tem sido providenciar medicamentos essenciais que são de boa qualidade e de preço acessível em toda a União Europeia e o seu uso aumentou a acessibilidade dos pacientes e proporcionou uma poupança económica significativa para os sistemas de saúde. À medida que as despesas totais em cuidados de saúde têm vindo a aumentar e a maioria dessas despesas é composta de custos fixos (nomeadamente os serviços hospitalares), a indústria farmacêutica tem sido um objectivo de poupança em todos os países da Europa, que têm reformulado os seus sistemas nacionais de saúde de modo a responder ao rápido crescimento dos gastos em saúde. Os governos preocupados com o aumento do custo de produtos farmacêuticos dentro dos seus orçamentos nacionais de saúde, estão a esforçar-se para promover a utilização de genéricos em relação aos produtos originais de preço mais elevado. Portugal e Estónia são dois países pertencentes à União Europeia. Existem algumas diferenças no sector da saúde entre os dois países, especialmente no que concerne a medicamentos, seus preços e reembolso pelos sistemas de seguro obrigatório de saúde e serviços nacionais de saúde, no entanto apresentam em comum a preocupação com o custo dos medicamentos, incentivando o uso de MGs. Actualmente a Estónia apresenta uma quota de mercado de MGs superior a Portugal, que ocupa uma posição inferior à média Europeia. À medida que os sistemas governamentais vão incentivando o uso de MGs e o seu consumo vai aumentando é importante perceber as opiniões que os consumidores têm acerca destes medicamentos. Este estudo teve como objectivo avaliar a aceitação e as crenças dos utentes sobre MGs em relação aos medicamentos de marca (MM), comparando resultados entre Portugal e Estónia

Comprehensive Insight into the Elderflowers and Elderberries (Sambucus nigra L.) Mono and Sesquiterpenic Metabolites: Factors that Modulate Their Composition

Plant secondary metabolites are synthesized for their protection and regulation purposes. Quite often, due to their properties, these metabolites have relevant organoleptic and biological properties and can play important roles in human health and general well-being. A relevant case study in this context is berries and flowers from Sambucus nigra L., which have been used for generations in folk medicine. Although those effects are mainly linked to phenolic compounds, mono and sesquiterpenic secondary metabolites may also play a key role. Despite their potential, S. nigra mono and sesquiterpenic compounds are yet largely unexplored. Complex and dynamic external and internal plant-related phenomena deeply affect terpenes profile, as metabolism, abiotic and biotic stresses, and understanding these phenomena is the first step for S. nigra berries and flowers’ valuation. This chapter will cover aspects linked to elder plant uses, mono and sesquiterpenic composition, and the influence of preharvest and postharvest effects over these metabolites. This knowledge is crucial for scientists and industries to understand and improve the quality of S. nigra-based products

Estudo sobre a viabilidade de remediação de pesticidas por ectomicorrizas e avaliação da sua tolerância em exposição ao glifosato.

Os fungos ectomicorrízicos (ECM) têm sido utilizados na produção de mudas florestais de qualidade. Neste trabalho, levantou-se a hipótese de que estes microrganismos também auxiliariam na degradação de moléculas orgânicas de pesticidas (xenobiontes) registrados no setor florestal. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a tolerância de fungo ectomicorrízico em exposição ao herbicida glifosato. O xenobionte atrasou o desenvolvimento do fungo ECM-Un01, no entanto a dose testada não foi suficiente para impedir seu desenvolvimento posterior. Existem, portanto, indícios do isolado ECM-Un01 ser tolerante ao glifosato, na dose utilizada.Resumo expandido

Influências da temperatura e umidade relativa do ar em casa de vegetação e no enraizamento de miniestacas de três clones de Eucalyptus spp para o sul do Brasil.

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Composição química do óleo essencial de 40 acessos de sacaca (Croton cajucara Benth) do banco de germoplasma da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental.

A coleção de germoplasma de sacaca (Croton cajucara Benth.) da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental teve início em 1997, com acessos coletados em 15 localidades da Região Norte, objetivando realizar o estudo de variabilidade entre elas, a conservação do germoplasma da espécie e selecionar genótipos superiores para a produção de biomassa (folhas) com maior potencial para a produção de óleo essencial rico em linalol. Dois morfotipos, definidos principalmente pela diferença na coloração das folhas, foram identificados na coleção e denominados sacaca branca e sacaca vermelha. Dentro das ações previstas nesta rede, está a avaliação da composição química dos óleos essenciais

Digital clinical guidelines modelling

Oliveira T., Costa A., Neves J., Novais P., Digital Clinical Guidelines Modelling, Modelling and Simulation 2011, Novais P., Machado J., Analide C., Abelha A., (Eds.) (ESM’2011 – The 2011 European Simulation and Modelling Conference, Guimarães, Portugal) EUROSIS Publisher, ISBN: 978-9077381-66-3, pp 392-398, 2011.Healthcare environments are very demanding, because practitioners are required to consult many patients in a short period of time, increasing the levels of stress which usually harms the outcome of healthcare processes. The short time practitioners have with their patients does not facilitate informed decision making and checking all possibilities. A possible solution is the use of guideline-based applications, because they have the potential of being an effective means of both changing the process of healthcare and improving its outcomes. However, current Clinical Guidelines are available in text format as long documents, which render them difficult to consult and to integrate in clinical Decision Support Systems. With this paper we present a new model for guideline interpretation, in order to facilitate de development of guideline-based Decision Support Systems and to increase the availability of Clinical Guidelines at the moment of the clinical process. This model will also provide mechanisms to comply with cases where incomplete and uncertain information is present. The development and implementation of this model will be presented in the following pages

Optimization of Photovoltaic Self-consumption using Domestic Hot Water Systems

Electrified domestic hot water systems, being deferrable loads, are an important demand side management tool and thus have the potential to enhance photovoltaic self-consumption. This study addresses the energy and economic performance of photovoltaic self-consumption by using a typical Portuguese dwelling. Five system configurations were simulated: a gas boiler (with/without battery) and an electric boiler (without demand management and with genetic and heuristic optimization). A sensitivity analysis on photovoltaic capacity shows the optimum photovoltaic sizing to be in the range 1.0 to 2.5 kWp. The gas boiler scenario and the heuristic scenario present the best levelized cost of energy, respectively, for the lower and higher photovoltaic capacities. The use of a battery shows the highest levelized cost of energy and the heuristic scenario shows the highest solar fraction (56.9%). Results also highlight the great potential on increasing photovoltaic size when coupled with electrified domestic hot water systems, to accommodate higher solar fractions and achieve lower costs, through energy management