Brinca com a comida

Uma alimentação equilibrada e dedicada tem uma elevada importância na vida quotidiana da criança, uma vez que constrói a base sobre a qual é realizado o seu potencial físico e intelectual. A alimentação e nutrição adequadas são portanto requisitos essenciais para o seu crescimento e desenvolvimento. A sociedade contemporânea debate-se com variados e emergentes problemas de saúde infantil, nomeadamente a obesidade, que tem vindo a aumentar devido essencialmente aos maus hábitos alimentares e ausência de exercício físico. Para muitos a hora da refeição com os filhos nem sempre é um momento fácil: torna-se por vezes um desafio e fonte de preocupação pelo facto dos filhos não comerem alimentos saudáveis, transformando assim a hora da refeição, que deveria ser um momento de prazer, numa tortura tanto para os pais como para as crianças. Tendo em conta este problema, o meu projeto pretende disponibilizar utensílios entusiasmantes para as crianças e seus tutores, envolven- do-os ativamente na produção, preparação e consumo dos alimentos. Desse modo talvez seja possível diversificar o sabor, a forma e a cor dos alimentos consumidos, estimulando a ingestão diária de frutas, verduras e legumes, e tornando as refeições num momento único, divertido e simples. O conceito é pois, e contrariando um conhecida reprimenda, “brinca com a comida!”

Impacto das intervenções não-farmacológicas no desempenho motor de crianças com Síndrome de Down: revisão sistemática

A Síndrome de Down (SD) está normalmente associada a défices no desenvolvimento psicomotor que podem ser melhorados através de intervenções terapêuticas não-farmacológicas. O objetivo deste estudo foi sintetizar as evidências disponíveis que avaliam a eficácia das intervenções não-farmacológicas na melhoria do desempenho motor de crianças com SD. Foi realizada uma pesquisa em quatro bases de dados eletrónicas (PubMed, Scopus, EBSCO e Web of Science) e em bases de ensaios clínicos, para além da pesquisa manual para adicionar informações relevantes para a temática. A revisão abrangeu ensaios clínicos randomizados, que incluíram crianças com SD, dos zero aos 18 anos. Os resultados da eficácia das intervenções foram narrativamente sintetizados. Das 1649 referências identificadas, 24 foram incluídas com um total de 918 crianças com SD, sendo a maioria do sexo masculino. Os estudos investigaram o efeito de cinco formas de intervenção não farmacológicas, sendo elas a atividade física, a fisioterapia, a terapia ocupacional, realidade virtual e massoterapia. O desempenho motor global foi o outcome principal em cinco estudos, sendo que nos restantes foram avaliados subcomponentes deste. Todas as intervenções obtiveram resultados satisfatórios no objetivo delineado, sendo que os melhores resultados foram obtidos aquando de intervenções mais frequentes e prolongadas, em idades mais precoces. A partir dos estudos elegíveis foi possível concluir que as intervenções não farmacológicas devem ser implementadas precocemente para melhorar as habilidades e competências motoras desta população. Foi possível concluir que a melhoria do desempenho motor em crianças com SD varia consoante as características individuais da criança, assim como dos fatores ambientais e sociais a que a mesma está exposta, sendo que qualquer das intervenções testadas obtiveram resultados positivos

'Rocha' pear mineral composition relation with quality traits

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of naphthaleneacetic acid on restoring ‘Rocha’ pear ripening under 1-MCP evergreen effect

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of naphthaleneacetic acid on restoring ‘Rocha’ pear ripening under 1-MCP evergreen effect

'Rocha’ pear (Pyrus communis L. cv. Rocha), a DOP cultivar from the west region of Portugal, is quite appreciated worldwide due to its exceptional organoleptic quality. Because of its high exportation, preservation of this cultivar during long-term cold storage is of utmost importance, but remains a challenge for suppliers, especially after diphenylamine exclusion from the agricultural sector. Since then, postharvest disorders have been prevented through the use of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Nevertheless, this compound disrupts the normal ripening of fruit, affecting its eating quality and producer’s sustainability. Consequently, there is the need for developing innovative solutions to recover ‘Rocha’ pear ripening capacity after 1-MCP application. Several strategies have been investigated to avoid the persistent blockage of ripening after 1-MCP as, for example, the application exogenous ethylene, the increase of temperature, but demand high energy consumption. This study was designed to test the restorage of ripening via immersion of 1-MCP treated fruits in an auxin- 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (1-NAA) solution. Fruit ripening as judged by ethylene evolution and respiration associated with color changes and softening, was accelerated by 1-NAA treatment compared to control (pear only treated with 1-MCP). 1-NAA treatment effect was evident through the firmness loss of the fruit (ca. 60%) and increased internal ethylene production (ca. 50%). Also, exogenous 1-NAA treatment increased 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid and ACC oxidase activity corroborating the physiological results obtained. The results provide information regarding how 1-MCP blockage may be circumvented, thus opening avenues for consistent ripening of ‘Rocha’ pear ensuring fruit quality and reducing postharvest losses.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

'Rocha’ Pear ripening under the 1-mcp evergreen effect: the impact of the auxin 1-naphthaleneacetic acid treatment

‘Rocha’ pear (Pyrus communis L. cv. Rocha), is a DOP cultivar from the West region of Portugal that is appreciated worldwide. Combined with controlled atmosphere storage, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) application, an antagonist of ethylene action, has been one of the most applied techniques to extend the storage of ‘Rocha’ pear. However, fruit industry is facing a problem resulting from 1-MCP application: it prevents the normal ripening of the fruit and affects the final quality at the consumer level. In this study, we exposed 1-MCP treated fruits to an auxin 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (1- NAA) solution (2 mM) and analyzed the efficacy in restoring the ripening of ‘Rocha’ pear. First, during the first 24 h, we determined the primary impact of 1-NAA on the expression of genes encoding ethylene receptors (PcETRs) and ethylene biosynthesis enzymes (PcACS and PcACO), combined with lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species. We also studied the effect of 1-NAA on ethylene production, respiration, and other ripening markers (firmness and sugars) across shelf life. Herein, the expression of PcACS1 and PcACS4 increased in 1-MCP fruit treated with 1- NAA compared to pear treated only with 1-MCP. Additionally, the expression of PcETR2 and PcETR5 was enhanced, revealing the potential of the 1-NAA treatment in inducing the production of new ethylene receptors. Time course physicochemical analysis revealed that fruit ripening was accelerated by 1- NAA treatment, as judged by ethylene evolution and respiration associated with softening. The 1-NAA treatment increased firmness loss (ca. 60%) and internal ethylene production (ca. 50%). Also, exogenous 1-NAA treatment increased 1- aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ca. 28%) and ACC oxidase activity (ca. 15%) corroborating the increased in gene expression. Our findings reveal that 1-NAA treatment may circumvent 1-MCP effect providing valuable information for ripening studies in pear.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relationship between minerals and physicochemical parameters with fruit quality in ‘Rocha’ pear orchards

Aims: At the same location, variability among orchards may be high, which is reflected in fruit quality, and it may be associated mainly with growers’ practices. This study aimed to identify physicochemical variability within pears (Pyrus communis L. cv 'Rocha') from three orchards from the same location and under the same climate conditions and correlate it with mineral composition. Methods: Fruits from three orchards harvested at the optimal harvest time were characterized during ripening under shelf-life conditions of 7 d at 20 ± 2 °C. The analyses performed included ethylene production, respiration rate, fruit quality (firmness, skin colour, soluble solids, and titratable acidity), macro and micronutrients, ethylene biosynthesis enzymes, esters, sugars, and organic acids. Principal component analysis was used to show the variability among fruits from the three orchards and to correlate the differences with the fruit mineral composition. Results: Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) were significantly correlated with esters and soluble solids content (r ∼0.4 for both minerals). Fruits with higher P and K concentrations were associated with a potential over-ripeness pattern considering their higher acetate production and lower sugar concentration. Esters, soluble sugars, and sorbitol were the dominant fruit quality factors responsible for the differences among the orchards.Conclusion: With this study it is expected that a better understanding of the relationship between specific minerals and quality parameters can help growers manage their orchards more efficiently and achieve consumers’ quality demands.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

The effect of temperature and exogenous ethylene on the ripening of ‘Rocha’ pear pretreated with 1-MCP

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Restoring 'Rocha' pear ripening under 1-MCP evergreen effect: a comparison between normal ripening and after auxin treatment

‘Rocha’ pear (Pyrus communis L. cv. Rocha) is a DOP cultivar, from West region of Portugal, appreciated worldwide due to its exceptional organoleptic and nutritional quality [1-2]. It´s high exportation has raised the need to develop adequate conditions for long-term cold storage. For about forty years, the postharvest application of diphenylamine was an efficient strategy used to protect fruit from postharvest problems. However, in 2011 its use was prohibited. Nowadays, in combination with cold storage, 1-MCP has been one of the most applied techniques to extend the storage of ‘Rocha’ pear. However, fruit industry is facing a problem resulting from 1-MCP application which compromise producers’ sustainability, because 1-MCP disrupts the normal process of ripening, denominated as “evergreen” effect, affecting the quality of ‘Rocha’ pear and increasing postharvest losses [3–4]. In this study, we have tested the restoring of ripening via exposure of 1-MCP treated fruits to an auxin. Time course physiological and biochemical analysis comparison with ‘Rocha’ pear normal ripening, revealed that ripening induction by the auxin treatment, after 1-MCP, is evident from around 60 % of fruit firmness loss and around 50 % increased internal ethylene production. Exogenous auxin treatment increased of 1-aminocyclopropane carboxylic acid (ACC) and malonyl-ACC (MACC) levels, ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO) activity and enhanced the pear fruit ripening. The results provide information regarding how blockage caused by 1-MCP may be circumvented, thus opening avenues for consistent ripening of ‘Rocha’ pear.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio