Production and characterization of Phenolic-rich, aqueous extracts of dry fruit and leaves from Vaccinium Corymbosum L

In plants, phenolic compounds are frequently found as secondary metabolites and, considering the myriad of functions they perform (from structural support to their involvement in the plants reproductive and defense mechanisms), they are essential to plants physiology. There has been a considerable amount of epidemiological data relating the consumption of fruit and vegetables to lower risks of developing several pathologies (e.g. cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases), considering the high amount of compounds with a phenolic nature present in these foodstuffs, assuming that they are, at least partially, responsible for the health promoting properties observed. Vaccinium corymbosum, particularly its fruits (blueberries), are known for both their vast antioxidant and phenolic content, as such their use as a base to develop new foodstuffs or even ingredients with some functionality may be of particular interest, especially when considering their pleasing organoleptic characteristics. Considering all of the above, and taking into account the global popularity of tea and other infusions, this work aimed to produce tea-like extracts (infused and boiled), using dry fruits and leaves of Vaccinium corymbosum, with the highest antioxidant, phenolic and anthocyanins (for fruits) contents and to characterize their chemical composition. To do so, several different methods were employed: (I) ABTS radical cation for the determination of the total antioxidant capacity. (II) The Folin-Ciocalteu reagent was used to assess the total phenolic content. (III) The differential pH was used to assess the total monomeric anthocyanins. (IV) High Performance Liquid Chromatography was used to identify / quantify the main compounds present in the selected extracts. Our results showed that, for fruit extracts, higher extraction times lead to a lower yield of total anthocyanins though the same was not observed for infused or boiled leaf extracts. Overall, leaf extracts proved to possess a higher phenolic and antioxidant content than fruit extracts. The identification of the compounds present in the extracts showed that chlorogenic acid was present in all extracts, frequently being the most abundant compound. Additionally, pcoumaric and caffeic acid, cyanidin-3-galactoside and quercetin-3-galactoside were found in leaf extracts while, peonidin-3-glucoside and galactosides of malvidin and delphinidin were found in fruit extracts as relevant compounds.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pequenos acontecimentos para novos rumos: um estudo de caso sobre os factores promotores de trajectórias de inclusão na intervenção com jovens com percursos de risco

This research consists of an exploratory study that intends to instigate and constitute a reflection on the promotional factors of inclusion trajectories next to youngsters with risk paths and, by this means, to understand which capitals are brought by social interventions throughout young people pathways. It aims at the constitution of an analysis base for professional practices. Thus, this work intends to bring a concrete contribution in the scope of Social Work intervention.Este artigo resulta de um estudo de carácter exploratório sobre os factores promotores de trajectórias de inclusão junto de jovens com percursos de risco, o qual visa compreender quais os capitais aportados pelas intervenções sociais ao longo do percurso dos jovens, de forma a constituir uma base de análise sobre a diversidade das práticas profissionais e institucionais junto destes sujeitos. Este trabalho pretende, assim, constituir-se como um contributo no âmbito da intervenção em Serviço Social com jovens em risco, ao nível das respostas sociais para esta população

Sugarcane straw polyphenols as potential food and nutraceutical ingredient

The sugarcane processing industry generates a large amount of straw, which has a negative environmental impact, and high costs are associated with their elimination, wasting their potential bioactive value attributed to their richness in polyphenols. In this study, an ethanolic extract produced from sugarcane straw was screened for its phenolic compounds content, and the potential use of this extract in the development of a food ingredient was further evaluated. Fifty different secondary metabolites belonging to the hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids were identified by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–ultrahigh-resolution—quadrupole time of flight–mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-UHR-QqTOF-MS). The predominant phenolic compounds found were 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, chlorogenic acid, and 5-O-feruloylquinic acid. The obtained extracts showed strong potential as food preservatives by exhibiting (a) antioxidant activity using both 2.2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt radical cation (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods; and (b) antimicrobial capacity, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 50 mg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus, 74% inhibition for Bacillus cereus, and 44% for Salmonella enterica; and (c) the capacity to inhibit a food browning enzyme, tyrosinase (28–73% for 1–8 mg/ mL). Moreover, the extracts showed antidiabetic potential by inhibiting the enzymes α-glucosidase (15–38% for 1.25–5.00 mg/mL) and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) (62–114% for 0.31–5.00 mg/mL). The extract (0.625 mg/mL) also exhibited the capacity to reduce proinflammatory mediators (i.e., interleukins 6 and 8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha) when Caco-2 cells were stimulated with interleukin 1 beta. Thus, sugarcane straw extract, which is rich in phenolic compounds, showed high potential to be used in the development of food-preservative ingredients owing to its antioxidant and antimicrobial potential, and to be explored as a food supplement in diabetes prevention and as coadjuvant to reduce intestinal inflammation by reducing proinflammatory mediators.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Global optimization stochastic algorithm for head motion stabilization during quadruped robot locomotion

Visually-guided locomotion is important for autonomous robotics. However, there are several di culties, for instance, the robot locomotion induces head shaking that constraints stable image acquisition and the possibility to rely on that information to act accordingly. In this work, we propose a combined approach based on a controller architecture that is able to generate locomotion for a quadruped robot and a genetic algorithm to generate head movement stabilization. The movement controllers are biologically inspired in the concept of Central Pattern Generators (CPGs) that are modelled based on nonlinear dynamical systems, coupled Hopf oscillators. This approach allows to explicitly specify parameters such as ampli- tude, o set and frequency of movement and to smoothly modulate the generated oscillations according to changes in these parameters. Thus, in order to achieve the desired head movement, opposed to the one induced by locomotion, it is necessary to appropriately tune the CPG parameters. Since this is a non-linear and non-convex optimization problem, the tuning of CPG parameters is achieved by using a global optimization method. The genetic algorithm searches for the best set of parameters that generates the head movement in order to reduce the head shaking caused by locomotion. Optimization is done o ine according to the head movement induced by the locomotion when no stabilization procedure was performed. In order to evaluate the resulting head movement, a tness function based on the Euclidian norm is investigated. Moreover, a constraint handling technique based on tournament selection was im- plemented. Experimental results on a simulated AIBO robot demonstrate that the proposed approach generates head movement that reduces signi cantly the one induced by locomotion

The contribution of foreign languages in the development of enterprises: a review of literature

Foreign languages have been the subject of research due to their importance as a means of communication. In fact, the competitiveness of companies is, nowadays, influenced in part by the communication resulting from their contact with companies from different countries, which requires a thorough knowledge of the language of these countries. On the other hand, for the success and progression of workers, it is crucial they acquire and develop foreign language skills. In this context, there have been multiple efforts by the European Commission to promote language learning in Europe and worldwide. In fact, over the past few years, several studies have demonstrated the need of companies to value foreign language skills among workers and collaborators. Multilingualism becomes, therefore, increasingly fundamental to the growth of the economic power of companies, and the competence in foreign languages can be the key factor to enter the labour market. Thus, the present study aims to understand the importance of foreign languages in the development of enterprises and their workers. The research question underlying the review of literature is: “What is the perception of companies regarding the importance of foreign languages for their economic progression and for their workers? To answer this research question, a review of the literature was conducted taking into consideration documents, reports and other secondary sources. For the collection of scientific evidence, research was carried out in the following databases: Science Direct from Elsevier; PubMed; B-on; Google Scholar and in the RCAAP portal. We used as descriptors of our search the following terms: industry, foreign language, multilingualism, higher education, employment, enterprise, among others.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The contribution of foreign languages in the development of enterprises: a review of literature

Foreign languages have been the subject of research due to their importance as a means of communication. In fact, the competitiveness of companies is, nowadays, influenced in part by the communication resulting from their contact with companies from different countries, which requires a thorough knowledge of the language of these countries. On the other hand, for the success and progression of workers, it is crucial they acquire and develop foreign language skills. In this context, there have been multiple efforts by the European Commission to promote language learning in Europe and worldwide. In fact, over the past few years, several studies have demonstrated the need of companies to value foreign language skills among workers and collaborators. Multilingualism becomes, therefore, increasingly fundamental to the growth of the economic power of companies, and the competence in foreign languages can be the key factor to enter the labour market. Thus, the present study aims to understand the importance of foreign languages in the development of enterprises and their workers. The research question underlying the review of literature is: “What is the perception of companies regarding the importance of foreign languages for their economic progression and for their workers? To answer this research question, a review of the literature was conducted taking into consideration documents, reports and other secondary sources. For the collection of scientific evidence, research was carried out in the following databases: Science Direct from Elsevier; PubMed; B-on; Google Scholar and in the RCAAP portal. We used as descriptors of our search the following terms: industry, foreign language, multilingualism, higher education, employment, enterprise, among others.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mediação social: tecendo sinergias

(Excerto) A mediação social é uma prática em expansão na sociedade atual. Embora tenha surgido no continente americano há algumas décadas, é hoje revisitada e expandida como uma modalidade de intervenção social importante para assegurar a integração de populações vulneráveis, contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida e a convivência cidadã intercultural e promover uma nova cultura de cidadania e de paz. A mediação social é atualmente reconhecida e implementada nos diversos países e continentes, como um procedimento de gestão positiva e pacífica de conflitos e como um modo de regulação social, com uma dupla função: ‘regular conflitos’ e ‘fazer sociedade’ (Briant & Palau, 1999). É um procedimento que promove a restituição dos laços sociais através da facilitação da comunicação, do diálogo e do reconhecimento do outro, afirmando-se pelos seus procedimentos, princípios e métodos como ‘uma justiça doce’ (Six,1990), ‘pedagogia do laço social’ (Corbo Zabatel, 2007) ou ‘ateliês silenciosos de democracia’ (Faget, 2010)

Sustentabilidade da mediação social: processos e práticas

(Excerto) A mediação social é uma prática em expansão na sociedade atual. Embora tenha surgido no continente americano há algumas décadas, é hoje revisitada e expandida como uma modalidade de intervenção social importante para assegurar a integração de populações vulneráveis, contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida e a convivência cidadã intercultural e promover uma nova cultura de cidadania e de paz. A mediação social é atualmente reconhecida e implementada nos diversos países e continentes, como um procedimento de gestão positiva e pacífica de conflitos e como um modo de regulação social, com uma dupla função: ‘regular conflitos’ e ‘fazer sociedade’ (Briant & Palau, 1999). É um procedimento que promove a restituição dos laços sociais através da facilitação da comunicação, do diálogo e do reconhecimento do outro, afirmando-se pelos seus procedimentos, princípios e métodos como ‘uma justiça doce’ (Six,1990), ‘pedagogia do laço social’ (Corbo Zabatel, 2007) ou ‘ateliês silenciosos de democracia’ (Faget, 2010)