Chemical evaluation of Carcavelos fortified wine aged in portuguese (Quercus pyrenaica) and french (Quercus robur) oak barrels at medium and high toast

Adega do Casal Manteiga is a winery, publicly owned by the Municipality of Oeiras that produces Carcavelos fortified wine. Carcavelos fortified wine is an appellation of origin and demarcated as D.O.P. (Denominação de Origem Protegida). This study examines the effects of barrels made from botanical species (Quercus pyrenaica, and Quercus robur) and toasting method (medium and high) on a single vintage wine that has been aged for 8 years. Twenty barrels were used, with five replicates for each factor. The barrels were fabricated and toasted using the same cooperage, J.M. Gonçalves in Portugal. Significant differences were seen between the species Q. robur and Q. pyrenaica, with an impact on total phenolic content, including both flavonoids and non-flavonoids. The total phenols of the wine aged in Q. pyrenaica barrels was significantly higher than in the Q. robur barrels, and Q. pyrenaica contained more flavonoids than Q. robur in medium and high toast barrels. Q. pyrenaica showed more non-flavonoid compounds than Q. robur inhigh and medium toasted barrels, but this difference in non-flavonoids was only statistically significant in the high toasted barrels. The degree of toasting had significant effects on the flavonoid content of the wine, as well as the tanning power. Flavonoid content increased for both Q. pyrenaica and Q. robur in the wines that were aged in high tasted barrels compared to those that were medium toasted. The tannin power decreased for both Q. pyrenaica and Q. robur when the toasting increasedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Von Willebrand Factor multimerization and the polarity of secretory pathways in endothelial cells

The Von Willebrand factor (VWF) synthesised and secreted by endothelial cells is central to haemostasis and thrombosis, providing a multifunctional adhesive platform that brings together components needed for these processes. VWF secretion can occur from both apical and basolateral sides of endothelial cells, and from constitutive, basal and regulated secretory pathways, the latter two via Weibel-Palade bodies (WPB). Although the amount and structure of VWF is crucial to its function, the extent of VWF release, multimerization and polarity of the three secretory pathways have only been addressed separately and with conflicting results. We set out to clarify these relationships using polarized Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) grown on Transwell membranes. We found that regulated secretion of Ultra large (UL) molecular weight VWF predominantly occurred apically, consistent with a role in localised platelet capture in the vessel lumen. We found that constitutive secretion of low molecular weight (LMW) VWF is targeted basolaterally, toward the subendothelial matrix, using the adaptor protein complex 1 (AP-1), where it may provide the bulk of collagen bound subendothelial VWF. We also found that basally-secreted VWF is composed of UL-VWF, released continuously from WPBs in the absence of stimuli, and occurs predominantly apically, suggesting this could be the main source of circulating plasma VWF. Together, we provide a unified dataset reporting the amount and multimeric state of VWF secreted from the constitutive, basal and regulated pathways in polarized HUVECs, and have established a new role for AP-1 in the basolateral constitutive secretion of VWF

Performing edge detection by difference of Gaussians using q-Gaussian kernels

In image processing, edge detection is a valuable tool to perform the extraction of features from an image. This detection reduces the amount of information to be processed, since the redundant information (considered less relevant) can be unconsidered. The technique of edge detection consists of determining the points of a digital image whose intensity changes sharply. This changes are due to the discontinuities of the orientation on a surface for example. A well known method of edge detection is the Difference of Gaussians (DoG). The method consists of subtracting two Gaussians, where a kernel has a standard deviation smaller than the previous one. The convolution between the subtraction of kernels and the input image results in the edge detection of this image. This paper introduces a method of extracting edges using DoG with kernels based on the q-Gaussian probability distribution, derived from the q-statistic proposed by Constantino Tsallis. To demonstrate the method's potential, we compare the introduced method with the traditional DoG using Gaussians kernels. The results showed that the proposed method can extract edges with more accurate details.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, IC-MSQUARE 201

Rheological study into the ageing process of high methoxyl pectin/sucrose aqueous gels

The ageing process of high methoxyl pectin (HMP)/sucrose gels was followed at different ageing temperatures by small amplitude oscillatory experiments. Dynamic mechanical measurements allowed the characterisation of the point at which the system undergoes the sol/gel transition. The HMP/sucrose system is extremely sensitive to temperature variation during ageing, especially in the lower temperature range. The viscoelastic behaviour through the gel point changes with the ageing temperature, probably due to variations in mobility of the pectin chains, and consequently, in the lifetime of junction zones. Weaker pectin networks are formed under thermal conditions unfavourable to the development of hydrophobic interactions. Gel time and elastic modulus have a complex dependence on temperature, which could be attributed to the different thermal behaviour of the intermolecular interactions that stabilise the nonpermanent cross links of these physical networks

Paulo Freire’s method in environmental education with the use of a computer application for mobile devices

[Resumo] A problemática ambiental relaciona-se ao comportamento humano, demonstrado na falta de consciência necessária à preservação da natureza. O trabalho tem como objetivo central verificar a viabilidade do Método de Paulo Freire na prática de ensino-aprendizado da educação ambiental, mediante o uso de aplicativo de informática, em dispositivos móveis, visando à conscientização sobre a questão da preservação ambiental. A pesquisa, de natureza qualitativa, utilizou o estudo de caso. A investigação fundamentou-se no Método de Paulo Freire, considerando o princípio da dialogicidade do ato educativo. A metodología, desenvolvidamediante a análise das práticas pedagógicas realizadas em escola do Ensino Fundamental, utilizou como instrumento pedagógico jogos informatizados. A investigação baseou-se no principio da dialogicidade do ato educativo de Paulo Freire. Os resultados parciais constataram as afirmações de Rabelo (2011) e Silva (2007) ao afirmarem que o uso pedagógico de software, integrado às dimensões dialógicas dos conhecimentos adquiridos, por meio dos círculos de cultura, gera a socialização dos alunos,transformando as concepções dos educandos, sobre o meio ambiente. Com base nos resultados, esta pesquisa propõe ao processo educativo o método de ensino Freiriano, integrado ao uso de aplicativos para dispositivos móveis, sinalizando para uma educação renovada e alinhada aos novos contextos sociais.[Abstract] The environmental problem is related to human behavior, demonstrated in the lack of awareness necessary for the preservation of nature. The main objective of this work is to verify the viability of the Paulo Freire Method in the teaching-learning practice of environmental education, through the use of a computer application in mobile devices, aiming to raise awareness about the issue of environmental preservation. The research, of a qualitative nature, used the case study. The investigation was based on the Paulo Freire Method, considering the principle of the dialogicity of the educational act. The methodology, developed through the analysis of pedagogical practices carried out in elementary school, used as a pedagogical tool computerized games. The investigation was based on the principle of the dialogicity of the educational act of Paulo Freire. The partial results confirm Rabelo’s (2011) and Silva (2007) statements by affirming that the pedagogical use of software, integrated with the dialogical dimensions of acquired knowledge through culture circles, generates the students’ socialization, transforming the conceptions of On the basis of the results, this research proposes to the educational process the Freiriano method of teaching, integrated with the use of applications for mobile devices, signaling to a renewed education and aligned with the new social context

Maintenance management based on organization maturity level

This article aims to discuss the management processes of the maintenance function of a company depending on the degree of maturity of the organization in connection with the maintenance, redefining training strategies, collection and analysis of failures, study and action plan to improve operational performance according to the organization's strategies. The maintenance management makes use of some tools and techniques to improve efficiency and minimize their impacts, such as the Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Analysis of the Failure Mode and Effects (FMEA). The identification of the degree of maturity on the maintenance, leads us to a better planning of actions needed to adapt management strategies proposed thus appropriate computerized tools, performance indicators, technical analysis and management methodologies most appropriate, providing a horizon of improvements necessary for the successful evolution of the process and the resulting progress in the maintenance maturity level function for the company. Understanding the aspects which define the degree of maturity of an organization may not be an easy task. We intend, therefore, support the argument that the degree of maturity management processes associated with maintaining the function of a company is closely related to the degree of preparation and knowledge of tools and control systems that an organization has. Aspects related to maturity levels have been fairly dealt with in various segments of the knowledge and practice of characterizing its findings have contributed to the achievement of better results in organizations in general.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Influence of temperature on the dynamic and steady-shear rheology of pectin dispersions

The influence of temperature on the dynamic and steady-shear rheology of ionic polysaccharides, high-methoxyl and low-methoxyl pectins, has been studied and compared with the behaviour of locust bean gum, a virtually neutral biopolymer. Using the time-temperature superposition principle, the rheological parameters were reduced to an arbitrary reference temperature. Activation energies were calculated and their dependence on temperature and shear rate analysed. Concerning the viscosity dependence on temperature, two approaches have been considered: one associated with the theory of absolute reaction rates leading to an Arrhenius type equation, and the other associated with the free volume theory, expressed by the Williams-Landel-Ferry equation. The difficulties encountered in the superposition of the dynamic properties of the pectin dispersions, the high activation energies, yield values and elastic plateau at low oscillatory frequency, are consistent with a macromolecular organization of these polymers dominated by important aggregation phenomena, which could be attributed to important intermolecular interactions like hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, especially in conditions of low degree of ionization of the carboxylic groups