Inquérito ao consumo de achigã (Micropterus salmoides) e valorização de insetos na alimentação animal.

A entomofagia, nos últimos anos têm captado a atenção de centros de investigação, da indústria alimentar e animal, pois são fonte de proteína e nutrientes de alta qualidade. Na alimentação animal podem tornar-se num produto de valor acrescentado, dinamizando não só nas zonas de alto consumo, como no interior do país. Apenas 18,7% dos consumidores recusa insetos na alimentação mas este número decresce para 6,4% quando aplicada à alimentação animal. Assim os insetos apresentam-se como uma resposta sustentável e nutricional aos problemas de escassez mundial de alimentos. Os grilos são uma das espécies que apresentam um grande potencial de produção, pois incluem um pequeno grupo de três espécies de insetos que são permitidos para alimentação de peixe em Portugal. Além disso, apresentam um maneio fácil, têm baixos IC e são autóctones. O achigã (Micropterus salmoides) é uma espécie com grande interesse gastronómico principalmente no interior do país. Verificou-se que 24,8% dos respondentes consideram igualmente saboroso o peixe de água doce e o peixe de água salgada e 54,9% dos respondentes afirmaram ser igual consumir peixe de água doce ou de água salgada. Embora a maioria das pessoas conheça o achigã, Constatou-se que 69,2% já consumiu e apenas 11,1% é consumidor regular deste peixe. Após os inquiridos serem informados das características nutricionais do achigã, revelaram grande interesse no seu consumo. Conclui-se que dos principais motivos para este peixe não ser consumido com maior frequência deve-se desconhecimento desta espécie, as suas características e a sua fraca presença no mercado.Abstract : Entomophagy, in recent years, has attracted the attention of research centers, the food and animal industry, as they are a source of high quality protein and nutrientes. In animal feed they can become a product of added value, dynamizing not only in the high consumption areas, as in the countryside. Only 18.7% of consumers refuse insects as food, but this number decreases to 6.4% when applied to animal feed. For this reason, the insects present themselves as a sustainable and nutritional response to problems of global food scarcity. Crickets have great production potential, as they are part of a small group of three insect species that are allowed to feed fish in Portugal. In addition, they are easy to handle, have low feed conversion ratio and are native. The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a species with great gastronomic interest mainly in the coutryside. It was found that 24.8% of the respondents considered freshwater fish and saltwater fish to be equally tasty and 54.9% of respondents said it was the same to consume freshwater or saltwater fish. Although most people know the largemouth bass, only 69.2% have consumed it and only 11.1% are regular consumers of this fish. After the respondents were informed of the nutritional characteristics of the largemouth bass, they showed great interest in its consumption. It is concluded that the main reasons this fish is no longer consumed is due to the ignorance of this species characteristics and its weak presence in the market

Nutritional assessment of fresh, salted and soaked European catfish

The European catfish (Silurus glanis Linnaeus, 1758) is an invasive fish species in Portugal and it is the largest-bodied European freshwater fish.CERNAS-IPCB [UIDB/00681/2020] funding by the Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (FCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nutritional characteristics and minerals of Lardosa cowpea landraces : a strategic legume species for the future

Cowpeas have been cultivated at least since the 8th century BC. [1; 2]. This grain legume (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), one of Africa's natural food gifts to the world, is characterized by its high nutritional value, ability to fix nitrogen and great tolerance to drought. The tolerance of this legume to low fertility soils, high temperatures and scarce water regimes makes this one of the most resistant crops to adverse edaphoclimatic conditions. It is certainly a very important culture in southern European countries like Portugal.Cultivar-Rede de competências para o desenvolvimento sustentável e inovação no setor Agroalimentar (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nutritional characteristics and minerals of Lardosa cowpea landraces: a strategic legume species for the future

Cowpeas have been cultivated at least since the 8th century BC. [1; 2]. This grain legume (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.), one of Africa's natural food gifts to the world, is characterized by its high nutritional value, ability to fix nitrogen and great tolerance to drought. The tolerance of this legume to low fertility soils, high temperatures and scarce water regimes makes this one of the most resistant crops to adverse edaphoclimatic conditions. It is certainly a very important culture in southern European countries like Portugal.Cultivar-Rede de competências para o desenvolvimento sustentável e inovação no setor Agroalimentar (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Circles and communities, sharing practices and learning: Looking at old and new extension education approaches

Abstract: We live today in a "knowledge society", but "knowledge transfer" is no more the dominant extension education paradigm. Th

Evaluation of the Cytotoxicity of Ayahuasca Beverages

Ayahuasca is a beverage consumed at shamanic ceremonies and currently has gained popularity on recreational scenarios. It contains beta-carboline alkaloids and N,N-dimethyltryptamine, which possesses hallucinogenic effects. Only a few studies have elicited the psychoactive effects and the dose of such compounds on neurological dopaminergic cells or animals. In this work, we aimed to study the cytotoxic effects of these compounds present in ayahuasca beverages and on five different teas (Banisteriopsis caapi, Psychotria viridis, Peganum harmala, Mimosa tenuiflora and Dc Ab (commercial name)) preparations on dopaminergic immortalized cell lines. Moreover, a characterization of the derivative alkaloids was also performed. All the extracts were characterized by chromatographic systems and the effect of those compounds in cell viability and total protein levels were analyzed in N27 dopaminergic neurons cell line. This is the first article where cytotoxicity of ayahuasca tea is studied on neurological dopaminergic cells. Overall, results showed that both cell viability and protein contents decreased when cells were exposed to the individual compounds, as well as to the teas and to the two mixtures based on the traditional ayahuasca beverages. View Full-Texinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of high temperature plasma immersion ion implantation on wear resistance of Ti-Si-B sintered alloys

AbstractAlthough titanium and its alloys own good mechanical properties and excellent corrosion resistance, these materials present poor tribological properties for specific applications that require wear resistance. In order to produce wear-resistant surfaces, this work is aimed at achieving improvement of wear characteristics in Ti–Si–B alloys by means of high temperature nitrogen plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII). These alloys were produced by powder metallurgy using high energy ball milling and hot pressing. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction identified the presence of α-titanium, Ti6Si2B, Ti5Si3, TiB and Ti3Si phases. Wear tests were carried out with a ball-on-disk tribometer to evaluate the friction coefficient and wear rate in treated and untreated samples. The worn profiles were measured by visible light microscopy and examined by SEM in order to determine the wear rates and wear mechanisms. Ti–7.5Si–22.5B alloy presented the highest wear resistance amongst the untreated alloys produced in this work. High temperature PIII was effective to reduce the wear rate and friction coefficient of all the Ti–Si–B sintered alloys

Orange snacks as a solution for orange surplus in Portugal

In the summer of 2022, Portugal experienced a downfall of the price of oranges, mainly due to pressure of the agricultural commodity market and the change in trade dynamics in Europe due to the war in Ukraine. One way to add value to a product is to transform it into something new.CULTIVAR (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000020) e FUSILIinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Post-harvest conservation of chestnut (cv. Martaínha), comparison of two controlled atmospheres during 60 days

According to Instituto Nacional de Estatística, during 2021, Portugal produced 38 thousand tons of chestnuts. The northern region of mainland Portugal is the largest concentration of chestnut trees is found and accounts for about 88% of the volume of national production. Portugal is the seventh-largest producer of chestnuts globally, although this value only represents approximately 2% of world production1. The quality parameters of chestnut are defined by colour, flavour and texture; however, this optimal status is only maintained for a short period of time. Chestnuts have a high moisture value that is quickly lost during conservation compared to other nuts. The significant factors in post-harvest depreciation are moulding or rotting caused by larval development of insects on the tree and later by fungi. Infections often start in the larval galleries of insec ts by the contact of the fruits with the ground before picking.Projeto CULTIVAR (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000020)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Crispy orange: a multi-purpose ready-to-eat snack

Póster premiado no evento IMTFWith the war in Ukraine reshaping world trade, there is now a surplus of orange production in Europe, affecting the price in Portugal. Algarve is no exception, where producers are offering the fruit for lack of buyers. An innovative solution is on the agenda: transforming this Mediterranean diet fruit into a crispy ready-to-eat snack. The crispy orange snack is made exclusively from dehydrated oranges (and no other ingredients) and is not yet available in the market. Not only can this product be made from surplus orange production, but it can also be used in a variety of ways, including as a crunchy, ready-to-eat snack, as an edible cake topper, or even as an ingredient in beverages such as sparkling and tonic water, or gin. Following development, the product was fully characterized regarding nutritional value, water activity (aw), microbiology and sensory analysis with 66 consumers. Interestingly, unlike other orange products such as 100% orange juice, the crispy orange snack has a high fibre content (10% of the recommended daily dose). This is a major point as fibre is essential for regulating blood sugar levels. Furthermore, 95.5% of consumers who tested the product would buy it if it were available.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio