Influence of production and conservation conditions on some physical and chemical properties of blueberries

This work studied the effect of production mode (organic versus conventional) and storage conditions on some physical and chemical properties of blueberry from different cultivars, namely Duke, Bluecrop, and Ozarkblue. The physical properties evaluated were caliber, color and texture and the chemical characteristics analyzed were moisture content, total soluble solids and acidity. Furthermore, the effect of storage on these properties was also evaluated. The results showed that blueberries cultivar Duke was bigger, with a more intense coloration, and presented a harder and more elastic texture, when compared with the other cultivars at study. With respect to production mode, it was found that the blueberries produced in organic farming were not so acid or sweet, but had a more intense blue color. The storage conditions did not show an important influence on the chemical properties of blueberry, but influenced the both color and texture.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Factors affecting blueberry physical-chemical properties

The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of different production and conservation factors on the properties of blueberries. The production factors considered were cultivar (Duke, Bluecrop, Ozarkblue) and production mode (organic or conventional). The conservation factors were temperature (ambient, refrigeration) and time (0, 7, 14 days). The properties under study were: physical properties (color and texture); some chemical components (moisture content, sugars and acidity) and phenolic and antioxidant properties (total phenols, anthocyanins, tannins, ABTS antioxidant activity, DPPH antioxidant activity). This work showed that moisture content was only influenced by cultivar and that both acidity and sugar contents varied according to the production mode used. The results evidenced that the antioxidant activity was not statistically different according to cultivar, production mode or conservation. As to the phenolics, only tannins showed significant differences according to production mode, being higher for organic farming. Color parameters showed some significant differences, so that the most intense blue corresponded to blueberries from cv. Duke, form organic farming and stored under refrigeration. Texture was also very significantly influenced by the three factors at study, cultivar, production mode and conservation, being the berries with higher firmness those from cultivar Duke and stored under refrigeration

Physical-chemical properties of blueberry as influenced by production and conservation processes

In this study was evaluated the effect of production mode (organic versus conventional) on some physical-chemical properties of three blueberry cultivars (Duke, Bluecrop, Ozarkblue). The properties evaluated were caliber, moisture content, total soluble solids, acidity, color and texture. The effect of storage on these properties was also evaluated. For this, samples were analyzed at harvest and after 7 and 14 days of storage. This work showed that Duke blueberries had a higher diameter and a more intense coloration. It was also found that the Duke blueberries presented a harder and more elastic texture, when compared with the other cultivars at study.Cultivar Ozarkblue from conventional production mode showed at harvest the higher sugar content and for cv. Ozarkblue a trend for decreasing acidity along storage time, was further noticed. In respect to the production mode it was detected that the blueberries produced in organic farming were less acid and less sweet, but had a more intense blue color and were less elastic when compared with blueberries produced in conventional mode. The blueberry storage temperature (cold or at room temperature) did not meaningfully influence the chemical properties of blueberry, but influenced the physical properties, namely colour and texture

Some factors that may affect the physical-chemical properties of blueberries

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of different production and conservation factors on some properties of blueberries. Among the production factors considered were cultivar (Duke, Bluecrop and Ozarkblue) and production mode (organic or conventional). Regarding the conservation factors were evaluated temperature (ambient or refrigeration) and storage time (0, 7 and 14 days). The properties under study belong to three categories: physical properties (color and texture); chemical properties (moisture content, sugars and acidity) and phenolic and antioxidant properties (total phenols, anthocyanins, tannins, ABTS antioxidant activity, DPPH antioxidant activity).The results revealed that moisture content was only influenced by cultivar and that both acidity and sugar contents varied according to the production mode used. Also it was evidenced that the antioxidant activity was not statistically different between cultivars, production modes or conservation conditions. Regarding the phenolic compounds, the tannins were significantly higher for the blueberries produced in organic agriculture. Regarding color significant differences were also encountered and the most intense blue was found in blueberries from cv. Duke, produced in organic farming and stored under refrigeration. Textural attributes were also very significantly influenced by all factors at study: cultivar, production mode and conservation, and the berries from cv. Duke stored under refrigeration showed the highest firmness

A Polynomial-time Algorithm for Outerplanar Diameter Improvement

The Outerplanar Diameter Improvement problem asks, given a graph $G$ and an integer $D$, whether it is possible to add edges to $G$ in a way that the resulting graph is outerplanar and has diameter at most $D$. We provide a dynamic programming algorithm that solves this problem in polynomial time. Outerplanar Diameter Improvement demonstrates several structural analogues to the celebrated and challenging Planar Diameter Improvement problem, where the resulting graph should, instead, be planar. The complexity status of this latter problem is open.Comment: 24 page

Avaliação de parâmetros de qualidade em três variedades de mirtilo em modo de produção biológico e convencional

Nos últimos anos tem havido um aumento significativo da procura de frutos vermelhos. Os mirtilos são considerados frutos de boa qualidade, dado o seu elevado teor em compostos fitoquímicos biologicamente ativos, associados a efeitos benéficos para a saúde e bem-estar do Homem. A produção em modo biológico é reconhecida pelo consumidor como um processo que melhora a qualidade do produto. No presente trabalho pretendeu-se avaliar o efeito do modo de produção (biológico versus convencional) de três cultivares de mirtilo (Duke, Bluecrop, Ozarkblue) nas suas propriedades físico-químicas, e em particular na sua composição fenólica e atividade antioxidante. Foi ainda estudado o efeito da temperatura de armazenamento (± 5ºC e ± 15-25ºC) sobre essas propriedades. Para tal, as amostras foram analisadas à colheita e após 7 e 14 dias de armazenamento. A atividade antioxidante medida pelos métodos ABTS e DPPH mostrou que não há diferenças significativas entre as cultivares estudadas, sendo elevada em todos os casos. Os resultados obtidos confirmam, por isso, que o mirtilo é uma importante fonte de compostos fenólicos com elevada atividade antioxidante. Foi ainda verificado existirem algumas diferenças significativas em algumas propriedades em função da variedade (nomeadamente teor em matéria seca, cor ou textura). Também se verificara diferenças significativas em função do modo de produção, o qual influencia em particular a acidez e a doçura, o teor em taninos, a cor e a elasticidade dos frutos. Por fim, a temperatura de armazenamento mostrou ter uma influência significativa apenas no que respeita às propriedades físicas, nomeadamente cor e textura.ABSTRACT: In recent years there has been a significant increase in the demand for red fruits. Blueberries are considered good quality fruits, given their high content in phytochemical biologically active compounds, associated with beneficial effects on health and well-being of man. The biological production mode is recognized by the consumer as a process that enhances the quality of the product. In this study we sought to evaluate the effect of mode of production (organic vs. conventional) three blueberry cultivars (Duke, Bluecrop, Ozarkblue) on their physico-chemical properties, and in particular in their phenolic composition and antioxidant activity. It was also studied the effect of storage temperature (± 5ºC e ± 15-25ºC) on these properties. For this purpose, samples were analyzed for the collection and after 7 and 14 days of storage. The antioxidant activity measured by ABTS and DPPH methods showed no significant differences between the cultivars, being high in all cases. The results confirm therefore the blueberry is an important source of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity. It was further found that there are some significant differences in some properties of the function selection (namely dry matter content, color or texture). Also there had been significant differences depending on the mode of production, which influences in particular the acidity and sweetness, the content of tannins, color and elasticity of fruit. Finally, the storage temperature was shown to have a significant influence only with respect to physical properties, including color and texture

Rape-Victim Empathy Scale (REMV): An Exploratory Study in a Portuguese Sample

This study examined the psychometric properties of the Rape-Victim Empathy Scale (REMV) in a sample of 250 Portuguese participants. This instrument was originally developed by Smith and Frieze (2003) to assess how individuals feel about the victim during and after rape. An exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation was conducted on a 13-item scale, confirming the two-factor solution obtained in the original scale. Both subscales (during and post rape) were positively related and no correlations were found between rape victim and perpetrator empathy. No significant gender differences were shown regarding empathy towards the victim, but men were more empathetic towards the perpetrator than women. The implications of the results are discussed

Neuromuscular taping does not change fibularis longus latency time and postural sway

Ankle sprains are a common injury and fibularis longus plays an important role improving functional stability. Neuromuscular tape seems to improve muscle force, although little is known regarding its effect on latency time.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Produção de Solea senegalensis em policultura com Dicentrarchus labrax e Sparus aurata em regime semi-intensivo

Mestrado em Biologia MarinhaO linguado do Senegal (Solea senegalensis) apresenta um elevado valor comercial, sendo bastante procurado, não só nos mercados da Península Ibérica, mas também amplamente na Europa. Nos últimos 30 anos, atraiu importantes pesquisas e desenvolvimentos na metodologia de produção, bem como consideráveis investimentos, sendo uma das espécies que tem sido identificada com maior potencial e interesse comercial na aquacultura marinha. O presente estudo teve como objectivo geral a optimização de um protocolo de produção de S. senegalensis em regime semi-intensivo e em policultura com Sparus aurata (dourada) e/ou Dicentrarchus labrax (robalo), mantendo padrões de bem-estar animal elevados e avaliando a sua viabilidade. Foi ainda associado a este objectivo a utilização e rentabilização de lotes de alevins “cauda” (que em regime intensivo seriam eliminados) e a avaliação da possibilidade de obter um produto de elevada qualidade e valor comercial acrescido. Como objectivos específicos, o estudo pretendeu: identificar a melhor estratégia de policultura em termos de combinação de espécies; definir as densidades óptimas de linguado e da espécie de cultivo (robalo e/ou dourada); definir as épocas do ano ideais para a introdução do linguado; elucidar sobre o tipo de sedimento ideal para o crescimento de linguado e perceber a eventual influência da latitude da unidade de produção. Foram seleccionadas 4 pisciculturas - Riáqua (Aveiro), Nasharyba (Figueira da Foz), Aqualvor (Lavos) e Tideland 2000 (Aiamonte – sul de Espanha) - de acordo com uma distribuição geográfica (abarcando uma grande amplitude de condições ambientais) e representando contextos de produção diversos. O estudo abrangeu um período médio de 12 meses. De um modo geral, todos os tanques de todas as pisciculturas apresentaram crescimentos positivos (à excepção do tanque 9.1 da Tideland 2000), traduzindo uma boa adaptabilidade do linguado às condições impostas. Destacaram-se as pisciculturas Nasharyba e Aqualvor, que apresentaram os maiores valores médios de peso ganho (103 e 128g), taxa de crescimento específica (0,25 %/dia e 0,32 %/dia), factor de condição (1,54 e 1,56), e produtividade (0,127 g/m2/dia e 0,178 g/m2/dia), respectivamente. As análises comparativas intra- e inter-piscicultura permitiram apontar como vantajosa a presença de sedimento do tipo vasoso e a adopção de baixas densidades de linguado, embora todas as densidades testadas (0,01 - 0,04 kg/m3) se tenham mostrado viáveis. Foi possível perceber a ampla elasticidade do linguado relativamente às diferentes densidades utilizadas para a espécie em co-cultura (0,06 - 1,83 kg/m3), assim como a sua adaptabilidade a diferentes latitudes com as inerentes diferenças de parâmetros ambientais (ex. temperatura). Não foi encontrada uma estratégia explícita de policultura em termos de combinação de espécies. Contudo, foi possível verificar que quando uma piscicultura apresenta uma produção apenas ou maioritariamente de robalo, é de extrema importância optar por combinar uma percentagem adequada de dourada, pois impede o crescimento excessivo de macroalgas. Os resultados sugerem ainda como prática ideal a introdução de linguado em Novembro, usando alevins com peso médio inicial de 80 a 90 g. Independentemente dos condicionalismos encontrados, globalmente, os resultados obtidos contribuíram para construir as linhas gerais de um protocolo de produção de linguado do Senegal em regime semi-intensivo e em policultura com dourada e/ou robalo, demonstrando a sua viabilidade.The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) has a high commercial value and is very popular, not only in the Iberian Peninsula markets, but also widely in Europe. Over the past 30 years, it has attracted important research and developments in production methods and considerable investments, being one of the species that has been identified with the greatest potential and commercial interest in marine aquaculture. This study had as general objective optimizing a production protocol for S. senegalensis production in semi-intensive system and in polyculture with Sparus aurata (gilthead seabream) and/or Dicentrarchus labrax (European seabass), maintaining high animal welfare standards and assessing its viability. It was also associated with this objective the use and profitability of lots of fingerlings "tail" or slow growers (which are usually discarded) and the assessment of the possibility of obtaining a high quality product and commercial added value. As specific objectives, the study aimed to: identify the best polyculture strategy in terms of combination of species; define the optimal densities of sole and the main cultivation species (European seabass and/or gilthead seabream); set ideal season for the introduction of the sole; elucidate the type of sediment ideal for the growth of sole and assess the potential influence of the fish farming latitude. Four fish farms were selected - Riáqua (Aveiro), Nasharyba (Figueira da Foz), Aqualvor (Lavos) and Tideland 2000 (Ayamonte – Southern of Spain) - according to a geographical distribution (covering a wide range of environmental conditions) and representing several production contexts. The study covered an average duration of 12 months. In general, all tanks and all fish farms displayed a positive growth (except the tank 9.1 of Tideland 2000), reflecting a good adaptability of the sole to the tested conditions. The highlights were the Nasharyba and Aqualvor fish farms, which showed the highest average values of weight gain (103 and 128 g), specific growth rate (0.25%/day and 0.32%/day), condition factor (1.54 and 1.56) and productivity (0.127 g/m2/day and 0.178 g/m2/day), respectively. Comparisons within and between fish farms allowed to point out the beneficial effect of muddy sediments and the adoption of low sole densities, although the entire range tested (0.01 to 0.04 kg/m3) proved its viability. It was possible to identify the large elasticity of the sole in relation to different densities of the species used in co-culture (0.06 to 1.83 kg/m3) and its adaptability to different latitudes with the inherent differences on environmental parameters (e.g. temperature). There were no clear indications towards definition of the best species combination. However, it found that when a fish farm produces only (or mainly) European seabass, it is extremely important to include an appropriate percentage of gilthead seabream because it prevents excessive growth of macroalgae. The results suggest as ideal practice the introduction of sole in November, using fingerlings with average weight 80-90 g. Overall, regardless of the limitations identified, the results contributed to build the outline of a protocol for Senegalese sole production in semi-intensive system and in polyculture with gilthead seabream and/or European seabass, demonstrating its viability

Are we getting less sexist? a ten-year gap comparison analysis of sexism in a Portuguese sample

Widely and slowly, discrimination against women based upon gender has become socially unacceptable. However, less is known about how sexist beliefs have progressed in the last years and if we are responding to this social antagonizing of a sexist discourse. Our goal was to verify the existence of differences in ambivalent sexism and neosexism over a ten-year gap in a Portuguese adult sample and to assess possible modifications in the relationship between the variables. A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted using two independent groups, with measures taken in 2009 and then in 2019. Both groups were invariant in terms of average age and proportion of sexes. Our results show a decrease in hostile and benevolent forms of sexism, while neosexism remains constant. The relationships between variables suggest that sexist beliefs are changing to accommodate subtler and modernized forms of sexism, like neosexism, that deny the existence of discrimination against women, resent discrimination complaints, and maintain a paternalistic view of women. Neosexism also seems to have a stronger correlation with hostile sexism than with benevolent forms of sexism in the male subsample. This relationship is stronger for the 2019 sample. These relationships suggest that sexism is more deeply rooted than we would like to admit and adapts to social discourse. Despite our best efforts, it is yet to be overcome.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio