Antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of the essential oils from Thymbra capitata and Thymus Species grown in Portugal

The antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of the essential oils from Thymbra capitata and Thymus species grown in Portugal were evaluated. Thymbra and Thymus essential oils were grouped into two clusters: Cluster I in which carvacrol, thymol, p-cymene, alpha-terpineol, and gamma-terpinene dominated and Cluster II in which thymol and carvacrol were absent and the main constituent was linalool. The ability for scavenging ABTS(center dot+) and peroxyl free radicals as well as for preventing the growth of THP-1 leukemia cells was better in essential oils with the highest contents of thymol and carvacrol. These results show the importance of these two terpene-phenolic compounds as antioxidants and cytotoxic agents against THP-1 cells.Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) [Pest-OE/EQB/LA0023/2011

Chemical characterization and biological properties of royal jelly samples from the mediterranean area

Royal jelly (RJ) is a bee product that has high nutritional value and is beneficial for the human health, earning importance as a functional food. Thus, the characterization of its main biological properties is with high importance. In this work, 6 RJ samples obtained in Morocco, Portugal, and Spain were evaluated in terms of total phenol and flavone/flavonol contents; total protein; 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA); volatiles composition; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; and inhibition of tyrosinase, xanthine oxidase (XO), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities. Total phenolic content ranged from 3 to 9 mg gallic acid equivalent/g RJ, and flavone/flavonol content from 0.1 to 0.5 mg quercetin equivalent/g RJ. 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid content varied from 0.9% to 1.2% and total protein from 5.5% to 29.7%. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed RJ volatiles dominated by linolenic acid, 2-decenoic acid, and octanoic acid in variable amounts. The antioxidant activity was monitored through nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging capacity, where the IC50 ranged from 2.3 to 3.4 and 0.2 to 1.5 mg/mL, respectively. Anti-AChE activity IC50 ranged from 0.7 to 4.6 mg/mL, while XO inhibition IC50 ranged from 3.3 to 11.9 mg/mL. The results showed that phenols and flavonoids highly contributed to the RJ biological properties in contrast to 10-HDA and proteins.UID/AMB/50017/2019 UIDB/05183/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

OpenLab ESEV - A Narrative of Libre Software and Free Culture in a Portuguese Higher Education Institution

OpenLab ESEV is a project of the School of Education of Viseu (ESEV) that aims to promote, foster and support the use of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (F/LOSS), Free Culture, Free file formats and more flexible copyright licenses for creative and educational purposes in the ESEV’s domains of activity (education, arts, media). Although its roots can be traced to individual initiatives organized by some teachers in previous years, OpenLab came to existence in the end of 2009. It emerged in an environment characterized by the lack of knowledge of the existing Libre alternatives and by work habits exclusively built around proprietary software. In this paper, the project is presented, starting with its origins, dwelling in its conceptual framework, and finishing with some of its activities

Animação Livre: uma proposta para uma pipeline e fluxo de trabalho baseados em Software Livre

OpenLab ESEV is a project of the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu’s School of Education that aims to promote, foster and support the use of Free/Libre and Open Source Software (F/LOSS), Free file formats and more flexible copyright licenses for creative and educational purposes. This paper presents a description and an evaluation of the pipeline and workflow implemented by OpenLab ESEV to support students' animation work and projects. The presented detailed view and evaluation might be of interest to schools and studios, teachers and independent animators interested in exploring the potential of Free Software alternatives to the standard proprietary software pipeline for animation and media production. The first part of the paper presents information about the workflow and pipeline. The description includes a diagram portraying the workflow, software packages used for different tasks, adopted file formats and chosen copyright licenses. It provides a complete view of the pipeline and workflow, from pre-production to post-production, from the presentation of the initial idea to the distribution of the final work, using finished and ongoing students’ works as real case scenarios. The second part presents a first draft of an ongoing analysis and evaluation of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) of the pipeline. We'll share and discuss the results of a SWOT analysis carried out within the project coordination team and students involved with the project as users of the pipeline

Foeniculum vulgare Essential Oils: Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities

The essential oils from Foeniculum vulgare commercial aerial parts and fruits were isolated by hydrodistillation, with different distillation times (30 min, I h, 2 h and 3 h), and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The antioxidant ability was estimated using four distinct methods. Antibacterial activity was determined by the agar diffusion method. Remarkable differences, and worrying from the quality and safety point of view, were detected in the essential oils. trans-Anethole (31-36%), alpha-pinene (14-20%) and limonene (11-13%) were the main components of the essentials oil isolated from F. vulgare dried aerial parts, whereas methyl chavicol (= estragole) (79-88%) was dominant in the fruit oils. With the DPPH method the plant oils showed better antioxidant activity than the fruits oils. With the TBARS method and at higher concentrations, fennel essential oils showed a pro-oxidant activity. None of the oils showed a hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity >50%, but they showed an ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase. The essential oils showed a very low antimicrobial activity. In general, the essential oils isolated during 2 h were as effective, from the biological activity point of view, as those isolated during 3 h.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

“I'll show you how!” Children's learning about drawing and collaboration using MyPaint

Two groups of children in early childhood education explored MyPaint with a graphics tablet. Data on the appropriation of the software by the children and on important dimensions of their learning of/with the software were collected. Two aspects of the analysis are presented: the learning about drawing, with transfers from the software to traditional drawing, and the collaboration for learning, focusing on how this experience changed the group dynamics when using the computer

GRASS UTILIZATION IN GROWING FINISHING BÍSARO PIGS (85-107 KG). PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS COMPOSITION

The use of different quantities of vegetables, forages or fresh grass as fodder for growing-finishing pigs is an important factor of the northern Portugal traditional system. The increasing development of swine production in outdoor systems, extensive and organic production, turns to upcoming natural diets, in which grass performs a significant part. With regard to this, some investigation has been made concerning the use of fibre-rich feed ingredients in pig nutrition. Metabolic effects of its ingestion are analysed concerning different sights (economical, social, environmental and physiological ones). The aim of this work was to study the effects of grass utilization in the diets on performances of finishing Bísaro pigs. A total of 22 pigs (16 castrated males and 6 females) was housed outdoor and fed ad libitum (37 – 85 kg live weight) with a growing diet and then transferred to an indoor system (with free access to an outdoor area) for 49 days, according to 3 different treatments: 100% concentrate (C), 75% concentrate + ad libitum grass (CE75), 50% concentrate + ad libitum grass (CE50). The grass was supplied and its intake registered on a daily basis. Every 14 days, the pigs were weighted and their back fat (P2 in vivo) measured. After slaughter (average weight of 107 kg LW), yield and ½ left carcass characteristics were controlled. During the outdoor growing phase, the ADG was 513 g/day. During the indoor finishing phase, the increase grass intake was proportional to the reduction of concentrate in the diet. The ADG (g) and the fat deposition (P2 cm) were significantly different (P<0,05) in the 3 treatments (ADG: C=641, CE75=467, CE50=356 and: C=11,4, CE75=+9,5, CE50=+6,2). The empty body weight (kg) was also proportional to the intake of concentrate (C=116,2; CE75=107,7; CE50=102,2). Comparatively to the weight of the body parts, pigs that had higher intake of grass and lower of concentrate showed a higher % of shoulder (P<0,05; C=20,4, CE75=21,7, CE50=22,2) and the pH45min of CE carcasses was significantly higher (P<0,05). As a conclusion, concentrate substitution for grass showed a slower growing rate, thinner carcasses and a high technological quality. Neverthelles variability (CV %) of the productive parameters at the end of this study were higher in the treatments that included grass: live weight (C= 10,5%; C75=10,7%; C50=14,3%), finishing ADG (C=24%; C75=37%, C50=42%), and final fat (C=37%; C75=32%, C50=52%). These values suggest that the utilization of fibrous feeds in growing-finishing swine may be one of the possible explanations of the more heterogeneous products and carcasses found in the traditional or extensive systems, common users of fibrous feeds in the carcass finishing phase

Correcção de uma má-oclusão de Classe II divisão 1 em duas fases de tratamento

A influência dos aparelhos funcionais no crescimento craniofacial assim como a filosofia dos tratamentos ortodônticos que envolvem duas fases são assuntos controversos. O tratamento das más-oclusões de Classe II Divisão 1 executado em duas fases visa, na primeira fase diminuir a discrepância sagital. A segunda fase pretende obter uma oclusão de acordo com os padrões de oclusão funcional. O objectivo deste artigo consiste em apresentar a sequência de tratamento de um caso clínico de má-oclusão de Classe II Divisão 1, tratado em duas fases, em que foi utilizado um activador do tipo Teuscher, na primeira fase.The influence of functional appliances on craniofacial growth as well as the two-phase orthodontic treatment philosophy are still controversial subjects. The main purpose of the two-phase treatment involving activators is to promote dento-alveolar changes. The goal of the second phase is creating an occlusion according to functional occlusion patterns. The aim of this article is to present the sequence of a Class II Division 1 treatment case in two phases, in which a Teuscher activator is used in the first phase

Stability of Fried Olive and Sunflower Oils Enriched with Thymbra capitata Essential Oil

The stability of olive and sunflower oils for domestic uses after frying cow steak or only heating were evaluated in the presence or absence of the carvacrol-rich essential oil of Thymbra capitata. The treatments consisted of sunflower and olive oils either enriched with 200 mg/l of T. capitata oil or without it, heating at 180°C for 20 min, or frying 100 g cow steak at the same temperature and for the same period of time. In all assays, acid, peroxide, and p-anisidine values were followed over time. The fatty acid profile was estimated before heating or frying as well as at the end of the experiment. The results showed that the type of fat as well as the type of treatment (frying or heating) was determinant for the acid, peroxide, and p-anisidine values found. The presence of the essential oil also demonstrated to affect those values depending on the type of the oil as well as on the type of the treatment (frying or heating). In contrast, the fatty acid profile did not change greatly

Antioxidant activity of thymbra capitata essential oil in meat-treated oil

Several synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and tertiary butyl hydroquinone (TBHQ), have been used to preserve meat. Nevertheless they are considered toxic and to have carcinogenic effects. Natural products, such as those present in essential oils, have been the target of studies as alternative antioxidants, showing promising results. In addition, these natural compounds have the advantage of having consumer's acceptance. Thymbra capitata is a perennial, herbaceous shrub commonly used as a spicy herb. The essential oils isolated from this plant showed antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. The main goal of the present work was to evaluate the capacity of T. capitata oil to prevent lipid oxidation in bovine meat. Different concentrations of essential oil (0, 50, 75 and 100 mg/5 g of meat) were used in two types of bovine meat samples purchased in the local market. The protein content of both types of meat samples was 21%, and lipid content ranged from 9% to 15%. After covering with the oil, the two types of meat samples were stored at -17 degrees C, for one month. After 1 day, 15 days and 30 days, meat samples were taken and cooked at 85 degrees C for 90 min. The samples were then submitted to the TBARS modified method, for antioxidant activity evaluation. The essential oil was able to prevent meat oxidation even after one month of storage and showed a dose-dependent activity