A structural equation model of self-regulation and healthy habits as an individual protective tool in the context of epidemics evidence from COVID-19

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.Objective: The present study aims to explore the mediation role of self-regulation on health-related behaviors adoption or maintenance, mental health, and well-being during the COVID-19 confinement in a sample of adults in Portugal. Design: One-hundred fifty individuals (118 females, 32 males; Mage = 33.57 year; SD = 12.71) filled an online survey to assess self-regulation, healthy behaviors, mental health, and well-being perception, during the early months of the pandemic (June–August, 2020). Main Outcome Measures: Self-regulation capacity, adoption or maintenance of healthy habits, mental health, including stress management, and the perception of one’s well-being were evaluated using a structural equation model (SEM). Results: Self-regulation had direct effects on healthy habits and mental health and indirect effects on well-being and mental health mediated by healthy habits. In specific, a positive direct effect on healthy habits (β = 0.497, p < 0.001) and a negative direct effect on mental health (β = −0.428, p < 0.001); and a positive indirect effect on well-being perception, mediated by healthy behaviors and mental health (β = 0.253, p = 0.003), and a negative indirect effect on mental health, mediated by healthy habits (β = −0.208, p = 0.003). Additionally, healthy habits exerted direct effects on well-being perception and mental health. A positive direct effect on well-being perception (β = 0.254, p = 0.012), and a negative direct effect on mental health (β = −0.418, p < 0.001) were further observed. No direct effect of mental health was observed in well-being perception (β = −0.199, p = 0.068). Finally, a negative correlation was observed between self-regulation and weeks of confinement (r = −0.208, p = 0.021). Conclusion: Self-regulation seems to be a good indicator of adopting a healthy lifestyle and better mental health and well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future preventive actions and interventions to build long-term global preparedness for future health emergencies, such as COVID-19, should explore the importance of self-regulation as an important individual and collective protective factor.This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Center (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (UIDB/PSI/01662/2020). This study was also supported by the project 2018-1-PT01-KA201-047417, funded by the ERASMUS+ Education and Training National Agency. SS was supported by the project PTDC/PSI-ESP/28228/2017, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). AS-F was supported by FCT and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, through the national funds, within the scope of the Transitory Disposition of the Decree No. 57/2016, 29th of August, amended by Law No. 57/2017 of 19 July. MF was supported by the UMINHO/BIM-CNCG/2021/29 Research Fellowship funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). SC acknowledges the Psychology for Positive Development Research Center (PSI/04375), Lusíada University of Porto, Porto, Portugal, supported by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (UID/PSI/04375/2019)

Microstructural evolution of 3YSZ flash sintered with current ramp control

Ceramics sintered by Flash Sintering (FS), sometimes have heterogeneity in their microstructure. Among the possible causes of this problem, the formation of hotspots is probably the principal issue observed in flash sintering. The hotspots are formed due to the heterogeneity of the resistance of current passing in the green sample. In this way, in the flash phenomenon, the current finds preferential paths, carrying on non-uniform thermal runaway. In this work, we observed that one way of reversing this problem was gradually increasing the electric current density at FS. For this, 3YSZ was shaped in cylindrical form (5 mm height and 6 mm diameter) and flash sintered, at a tubular setup proposed before1, under the application of an AC electric field of 120 V/cm (RMS basis) applied from the beginning of the furnace heating. Three different electric current density ramps were studied: 0.012, 0.024 and 0.048 A.s-1, named as Z1, Z2 and Z3 respectively, until they reached the maximum value of 100 mA.mm-2 (the moment the power supply was turned off). For comparison purposes, conventional FS (Z0) was performed using the same electrical parameters. The electric source, in this case, remained on after reaching 100 mA.mm-2 for 142 s (time calculated to reach the same total energy supplied by the electrical source of samples Z1). After sintering, the apparent densities of the samples were measured according to the Archimedes principle. For analysis of the microstructure, the samples were cut radially and three regions of each sample were observed in SEM: center, right and left surfaces. The grain size distribution was made for each region using ImageJ software. The apparent density of samples sintered by FS was 94 % (Z0) and samples with electrical current ramp were 93 %, 92 % and 87 % for Z1, Z2 and Z3, respectively. The apparent density is proportional to the total energy supplied to the sample (energy provided by the power supply and thermal energy provided by the furnace). Thus, the density of Z0 was expected to be close to the density of Z1. As samples Z2 and Z3 had more abrupt ramps, the energy supplied was lower, which resulted in lower apparent density. The grain size distribution indicates that the mean grain size between the three different regions did not present statistically significant differences (ANOVA test) for the same sample. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Natural resources with sweetener power: phytochemistry and antioxidant characterisation of Stevia Rebaudiana (Bert.), sensorial and centesimal analyses of lemon cake recipes with S. Rebaudiana incorporation

Stevia rebaudiana leaf extracts are calorie-free sweeteners of natural origin, derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant known as a natural sweetener, which contains steviol glycosides and others bioactive compounds recognized by their biological properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the total phenolics (26.0 mg gallic acid/g) and total flavonoids contents (9.7 mg catechin/g) of a hydroalcoholic extract of Stevia rebaudiana dried leaves. A similar hydroalcoholic extract of commercial powder steviol sweetener was also evaluated, showing lower contents of bioactive compounds (11.9 mg/g and 5.1 mg/g, for total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively). The hydroalcoholic extract of dried Stevia rebaudiana leaves also showed high in vitro antioxidant activity, besides a positive correlation between total phenolic compounds and the DPPH and FRAP assays. Moreover, Stevia rebaudiana leaves have sensory and functional properties superior to those of many other high-potency sweeteners and is likely to become a major source of natural sweetener for the growing food market. Thus, four different lemon cakes formulations were studied (a traditional cake control recipe with sugar, two cakes with incorporation of Stevia rebaudiana fresh leaf and a cake with commercial powder steviol), using a sensory analysis covering 100 untrained consumers. Centesimal composition analyses of the four lemon cakes showed significant differences in fat, ashes, proteins and carbohydrates contents (p<0.05). Also, the raised energy value observed for the cake control was superior to the cake with Stevia rebaudiana leaves incorporation (309.8 Kcal/100 g, 268.0 Kcal/100 g,142 respectively). Sensorial analysis results showed that Stevia rebaudiana leaves were accepted and, in the future, they can be a natural option to replace some or all the saccharose in cakes formulations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Late Pleistocene echimyid rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi) from northern Brazil

Echimyidae (spiny rats, tree rats and the coypu) is the most diverse family of extant South American hystricognath rodents (caviomorphs). Today, they live in tropical forests (Amazonian, coastal and Andean forests), occasionally in more open xeric habitats in the Cerrado and Caatinga of northern South America, and open areas across the southern portion of the continent (Myocastor). The Quaternary fossil record of this family remains poorly studied. Here, we describe the fossil echimyids found in karst deposits from southern Tocantins, northern Brazil. The analyzed specimens are assigned to Thrichomys sp., Makalata cf. didelphoides and Proechimys sp. This is the first time that a fossil of Makalata is reported. The Pleistocene record of echimyids from this area is represented by fragmentary remains, which hinders their determination at specific levels. The data reported here contributes to the understanding of the ancient diversity of rodents of this region, evidenced until now in other groups, such as the artiodactyls, cingulates, carnivores, marsupials, and squamate reptiles.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Natural resources with sweetener power: phytochemistry and antioxidant characterisation of Stevia Rebaudiana (Bert.), sensorial and centesimal analyses of lemon cake recipes with S. Rebaudiana incorporation.

Stevia rebaudiana leaf extracts are calorie-free sweeteners of natural origin, derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant known as a natural sweetener, which contains steviol glycosides and others bioactive compounds recognized by their biological properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the total phenolics (26.0 mg gallic acid/g) and total flavonoids contents (9.7 mg catechin/g) of a hydroalcoholic extract of Stevia rebaudiana dried leaves. A similar hydroalcoholic extract of commercial powder steviol sweetener was also evaluated, showing lower contents of bioactive compounds (11.9 mg/g and 5.1 mg/g, for total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively). The hydroalcoholic extract of dried Stevia rebaudiana leaves also showed high in vitro antioxidant activity, besides a positive correlation between total phenolic compounds and the DPPH and FRAP assays. Moreover, Stevia rebaudiana leaves have sensory and functional properties superior to those of many other high-potency sweeteners and is likely to become a major source of natural sweetener for the growing food market. Thus, four different lemon cakes formulations were studied (a traditional cake control recipe with sugar, two cakes with incorporation of Stevia rebaudiana fresh leaf and a cake with commercial powder steviol), using a sensory analysis covering 100 untrained consumers. Centesimal composition analyses of the four lemon cakes showed significant differences in fat, ashes, proteins and carbohydrates contents (p<0.05). Also, the raised energy value observed for the cake control was superior to the cake with Stevia rebaudiana leaves incorporation (309.8 Kcal/100 g, 268.0 Kcal/100 g,142 respectively). Sensorial analysis results showed that Stevia rebaudiana leaves were accepted and, in the future, they can be a natural option to replace some or all the saccharose in cakes formulations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nicotinic acid induces antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in different experimental models

AbstractAlthough in vitro studies have shown that nicotinic acid inhibits some aspects of the inflammatory response, a reduced number of in vivo studies have investigated this activity. To the best of our knowledge, the effects induced by nicotinic acid in models of nociceptive and inflammatory pain are not known. Per os (p.o.) administration of nicotinic acid (250, 500 or 1000mg/kg, −1h) inhibited the first and the second phases of the nociceptive response induced by formalin in mice. Nicotinic acid (250 or 500mg/kg, −1 and 3h) also inhibited the mechanical allodynia induced by carrageenan in rats, a model of inflammatory pain. However, in a model of nociceptive pain, exposure of mice to a hot-plate, nicotinic acid was devoid of activity. In addition to inhibiting the nociceptive response in models of inflammatory pain, nicotinic acid (250 or 500mg/kg, p.o., −1 and 3h) inhibited paw edema induced by carrageenan in mice and rats. Picolinic acid (62.5 or 125mg/kg, p.o., −1h), a nicotinic acid isomer, inhibited both phases of the nociceptive response induced by formalin, but not paw edema induced by carrageenan in mice. The other nicotinic acid isomer, isonicotinic acid, was devoid of activity in these two models. In conclusion, our results represent the first demonstration of the activity of nicotinic acid in experimental models of nociceptive and inflammatory pain and also provide further support to its anti-inflammatory activity. It is unlikely that conversion to nicotinamide represents an important mechanism to explain the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of nicotinic acid. The demonstration of new activities of nicotinic acid, a drug that has already been approved for clinical use and presents a positive safety record, may contribute to raise the interest in conducting clinical trials to investigate its usefulness in the treatment of painful and inflammatory diseases

Increased mitochondrial activity upon CatSper channel activation is required for mouse sperm capacitation

To fertilize an oocyte, sperm must undergo several biochemical and functional changes known as capacitation. A key event in capacitation is calcium influx through the cation channel of sperm (CatSper). However, the molecular mechanisms of capacitation downstream of this calcium influx are not completely understood. Capacitation is also associated with an increase in mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and several lines of evidence indicate that regulated calcium entry into mitochondria increases the efficiency of oxidative respiration. Thus, we hypothesized that calcium influx through CatSper during capacitation increases mitochondrial calcium concentration and mitochondrial efficiency and thereby contributes to sperm hyperactivation and fertilization capacity. To test this hypothesis, we used high-resolution respirometry to measure mouse sperm mitochondrial activity. We also measured mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP/ADP exchange during capacitation, and mitochondrial calcium concentration in sperm from wild-type and CatSper knockout mice. We show that the increase in mitochondrial activity in capacitated wild-type sperm parallels the increase in mitochondrial calcium concentration. This effect is blunted in sperm from CatSper knockout mice. Importantly, these mechanisms are needed for optimal hyperactivation and fertilization in wild-type mice, as confirmed by using mitochondrial inhibitors. Thus, we describe a novel mechanism of sperm capacitation. This work contributes to our understanding of the role of mitochondria in sperm physiology and opens the possibility of new molecular targets for fertility treatments and male contraception

SAR-Mode altimetry observations of internal solitary waves in the tropical ocean part 2: a method of detection

It is demonstrated that the synthetic aperture radar altimeter (SRAL) on board of the Sentinel-3A can detect short-period internal solitary waves (ISWs) with scales of the order of a kilometer. A variety of signatures owing to the surface manifestations of the ISWs are apparent in the SRAL Level-2 products over the ocean. These signatures are identified in several geophysical parameters, such as radar backscatter ( σ0 ) and sea level anomaly (SLA). Radar backscatter is the primary parameter in which ISWs can be identified owing to the measurable sea surface roughness perturbations in the along-track direction resulting from the sharpened SRAL footprint. The SRAL footprint is sufficiently small (300 m in the along-track direction) to capture radar power fluctuations over successive wave crests and troughs, which produce rough and slick surface patterns arrayed in parallel bands with scales of a few kilometers along-track. Furthermore, it was possible to calculate the mean square slope ( s2¯¯¯ ) for the dual-band (Ku and C bands) altimeter of Sentinel-3, which made the ISW signatures unambiguously identified because of the large s2¯¯¯ variations in exact synergy with ocean and land color instrument (OLCI) images. Hence, the detection method is validated in cloud-free sun glint OLCI images. It is shown that both σ0 and SLA yield realistic estimates for routine observation of ISWs with the SRAL. The detection method that is used relies on the parameter s2¯¯¯ which is calculated from σ0 . This is a significant improvement from previous observations recently reported for conventional pulse-limited altimeters (Jason-2). An algorithm is developed to be used in any ocean region. Wavelets were applied for a first analysis of the s2¯¯¯ variations because ISWs can be readily identified in high-frequency signals. Other geophysical parameters such as SLA were used to exclude phenomena that are unlikely to be ISWs

A biorefinery approach to the biomass of the seaweed Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey Suringar, 1873): obtaining phlorotannins-enriched extracts for wound healing

Brown seaweeds are recognized sources of compounds with a wide range of properties and applications. Within these compounds, phlorotannins are known to possess several bioactivities (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial) with potential to improve wound healing. To obtain phlorotannins enriched extracts from Undaria pinnatifida, a biorefinery was set using lowcost industry-friendly methodologies, such as sequential solid–liquid extraction and liquid–liquid extraction. The obtained extracts were screened for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against five common wound pathogens and for their anti-inflammatory potential. The ethanolic wash fraction (wE100) had the highest antioxidant activity (114.61 +- 10.04 mmol mg-1 extract by Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 6.56 +-1.13mMeq. Fe II mg-1 extract by and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP)), acting efficiently against Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, and showing a nitric oxide production inhibition over 47% when used at 0.01 ug mL-1. NMR and FTIR chemical characterization suggested that phlorotannins are present. Obtained fraction wE100 proved to be a promising candidate for further inclusion as wound healing agents, while the remaining fractions analyzed are potential sources for other biotechnological applications, giving emphasis to a biorefinery and circular economy framework to add value to this seaweed and the industry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio