The effect of feed supplementation with inulin on boar taint levels and meat quality of entire male pigs

Received: March 19th, 2022 ; Accepted: May 3rd, 2022 ; Published: July 5th, 2022 ; Correspondence: [email protected] and androstenone are the two main compounds responsible for the foul odour in entire male pigs’ meat, known as boar taint. This study evaluated the effect of feed supplementation with inulin on the boar taint levels of 30 entire male pigs. Two months before slaughter, the animals were allocated into three groups (n = 10). The control group received a standard commercial diet. The other groups were fed the same commercial diet with 3% and 6% added inulin, respectively. Results showed that inulin addition to the feed significantly reduced skatole levels in the pigs’ adipose tissue compared with the control group. The levels of androstenone were not affected by the dietary approach. Although there were differences in some parameters, the supplementation with inulin did not promote extensive changes in the meat quality parameters between the tested groups. When raising entire males, supplementation with inulin in finishing diets could be considered to reduce the boar taint perception by the consumer

Aplicação da Espectroscopia Fotoacústica nos estudos de solos intactos.

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Compreensão de textos expositivos: quanto valem as imagens ou os esquemas?

The main objective of the study was to analyze the influence of text characteristics, namely the integration of images and schemas, in interest and understanding perceived by students. Three types of different expository texts (simple expository text, expository text with schema and expository text with image) were elaborated. Participants were 69 students of classes of the 2nd cycle of basic education and were asked to read the text and answer to a survey that included questions about their interest and comprehension. The results showed that the expository text with image is what obtains higher levels of interest and understanding.Tendo com referência evidências de que as caraterísticas dos textos podem influenciar a compreensão dos mesmos (Mayer, 2009; Otero, 2009), este estudo teve como principal objetivo analisar a influência de características do texto expositivo, nomeadamente a integração de imagens e de esquemas, no seu interesse e compreensão. Para o efeito, foi considerado um texto expositivo em três versões, texto expositivo simples, texto expositivo com esquema e texto expositivo com imagens.Participaram 69 alunos do 2º ciclo do ensino básico de uma escola da região centro de Portugal, com idades entre os 10 e os 16 anos, 38 do sexo masculino e 31 do sexo feminino. Foi usado um inquérito que incluía questões relacionadas com o interesse e a motivação durante a leitura do texto e perguntas de compreensão sobre o mesmo. Os resultados mostraram que o texto expositivo com imagens é o que obtém níveis mais elevados de interesse e compreensão

Pro-inflammatory triggers in childhood obesity: correlation between leptin, adiponectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in a group of obese Portuguese children

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric obesity is increasingly prevalent in the Portuguese population. Adipocyte dysfunction results in the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the low-grade inflammatory process that characterizes obesity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between markers of adiposity, inflammation and adipokines in a Portuguese obese pediatric population. METHODS: One hundred and twenty children of both sexes, aged 6-17 years, were included in this study. The control group consisted of 41 healthy normal-weight children. The variables analyzed were age, gender, body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass percentage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin and adiponectin. RESULTS: There were significant differences between controls and obese children for all parameters analyzed. In the obese group, after controlling for age and gender, hs-CRP (p=0.041), adiponectin (p=0.019) and leptin (p<0.001) still showed significant statistical differences. A direct correlation was found between hs-CRP, leptin, body mass index and waist circumference, the strongest being with leptin (r=0.568; p<0.001). This trend remained statistically significant, regardless of gender or pubertal age. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the role of leptin, adiponectin and hs-CRP in the genesis of endothelial dysfunction, they may be used in clinical practice for risk stratification, as well as in the assessment of weight control programs

Gilded wood from the organ of the Church of Santa Cruz (Coimbra)

Gilded wood is an important part of Portuguese cultural heritage. We profit an intervention in the organ of the Church of Santa Cruz (Coimbra) to make a study on its gilded wood decoration. Historical sources indicate that the organ dates from the XV-XVI centuries, although it has suffered several restoration works over the centuries. Samples were collected from different places of the central part of the organ. Scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were the techniques used in this work to analyze the samples. Stratigraphical sequence and global chemical and mineralogical analysis data allowed the identification of the gilding techniques. All the samples exhibit the typical technique brought by Portuguese artists from China, with kaolin in the bolus composition. Some samples present a typical Italian and Flemish technique developed in the XIV century, and used in the XVII century, with gypsum (gesso mate and gesso grosso) in the preparation layer

Automated design of microwave discrete tuning differential capacitance circuits in Si-integrated technologies

A genetic algorithm used to design radio-frequency binary-weighted differential switched capacitor arrays (RFDSCAs) is presented in this article. The algorithm provides a set of circuits all having the same maximum performance. This article also describes the design, implementation, and measurements results of a 0.25 lm BiCMOS 3-bit RFDSCA. The experimental results show that the circuit presents the expected performance up to 40 GHz. The similarity between the evolutionary solutions, circuit simulations, and measured results indicates that the genetic synthesis method is a very useful tool for designing optimum performance RFDSCAs

Single-Objective Front Optimization: Application to RF Circuit Design

This paper proposes a new algorithm which promotes well distributed non-dominated fronts in the parameters space when a single- objective function is optimized. This algorithm is based on ǫ-dominance concept and maxmin sorting scheme. Besides that, the paper also presents the results of the algorithm when it is used in the automated synthesis of optimum performance CMOS radiofrequency and microwave binary-weighted differential switched capacitor arrays (RFDSCAs). The genetic synthesis tool optimizes a fitness function which is based on the performance parameter of the RFDSCAs. To validate the proposed design methodology, a CMOS RFDSCA is synthesized, using a 0.25 μm BiCMOS technology.N/

Cordão umbilical: preparação para a parentalidade

Introdução / Objectivos: O Projeto “Cordão Umbilical” consiste num espaço de abertura do Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, EPE à comunidade, indo ao encontro das necessidades do casal/família, permitindo a vivência única da maternidade/paternidade, com ganhos para a Instituição e para os seus utentes. Metodologia: Este Projeto inclui três cursos com o intuito de oferecer um acompanhamento especializado numa linha de continuidade, iniciando-se na fase pré-natal e mantendo-se ao longo dos primeiros tempos de vida do filho: - Preparação para o Nascimento - Recuperação Pós-Parto - Técnicas de Massagem Infantil O projeto teve início com a implementação do curso de Preparação para o nascimento, estando em fase de expansão com perspetivas de início dos outros dois cursos no 2º semestre de 2013, e tem sido uma aposta inovadora porque envolve vários grupos profissionais, nomeadamente assistente social, anestesista, enfermeiras especialistas em saúde materna e obstetrícia, fisioterapeutas, nutricionista. Resultados / Discussão / Conclusões: O 1º curso teve início em dezembro de 2011 e até à data foram realizados 16 cursos. Com este Projeto pretende-se: - Proporcionar serviços de saúde inovadores e de qualidade, no âmbito da Saúde Materna e Obstetrícia, à mulher/casal/família da área de influência do Hospital no período pré e pós-natal; - Reunir um crescente número de utentes (mães, pais e crianças), que possam reforçar transversalmente a procura dos serviços da nossa Instituição; - Reforçar positivamente a representação social do nosso Hospital. Estamos convictos, de que esta iniciativa terá impacto positivo na visibilidade do Hospital, com o aumento da procura dos nossos serviços e, consequentemente, com maior número de nascimentos

Corncob as carbon source in the production of xanthan gum in different strains Xanthomonas sp.

Xanthan gum (XG) is a biopolymer obtained in fermentation and used as a rheology control agent in aqueous systems and in stabilizing emulsions and suspensions. XG, together with other polysaccharides, can form soft, cohesive composite gels. The carbon source in the fermentative process is responsible for one-third of the production costs, and the search for less expensive and sustainable alternatives is ongoing. The use of agricultural residues such as the corncob is highly suggestive due to their abundance. This study aims to evaluate the use of derived hemicellulose fractions from the alkaline extraction of corncob as a carbon source in the production of XG in trials using four strains of Xanthomonas sp. (629, 1078, 254, and S6). The results indicate that strain 629 provides the higher yield (8.37 ± 5.75 g L−1) while using a fermentation medium containing a carbon source of saccharose (1.25%), hemicellulose fractions (3.75%), and salts. In this same medium, the strain 629 produces gum in 3% aqueous solution, showing the higher apparent viscosity (9298 ± 31 mPa s−1) at a shear rate of 10 s−1 at 25 °C. In conclusion, corncob is proven to be a promising sustainable alternative carbon source in the obtention of XG, improving the economic viability of the process within a biorefinery context. Saccharose must, however, also be included in the fermentation medium.0F1A-358B-43B5 | Fernando Jorge Ribeiro da MataN/

New Emigration and Portuguese Society: Transnationalism and Return

This chapter addresses the theme of transnationalism and return in recent Portuguese emigration, namely the flows that occurred after the turn of the century. It starts with a brief theoretical overview on those topics, which constitute two relatively neglected characteristics of Portuguese emigration. Next, based on a survey carried out in 2014–2015 to more than 6000 recent emigrants, it reveals some of the links that they maintain with their home country, as well as their plans for the future, which include settlement in the destination country, return and re-emigration. Lastly, it examines data on returning emigrants – especially those that returned between 2001 and 2011 – extracted from the 2011 Census. The evidence reveals a significant number of returns, including individuals at both working and retirement ages and at all skill levels, thus exposing the unexpected complexity of movements. The results are based on the research project “Back to the future: new emigration and links with Portuguese society” (REMIGR), which aimed to ascertain the extent and characteristics of the new emigration wave. The project included an overview of emigration and return to and from all regions of the world, as well as case studies in UK, France, Luxembourg, Angola, Mozambique and Brazil.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio