Microbiological characterization of protected designation of origin Serra da Estrela cheese

Serra da Estrela is the oldest and most recognizable traditional protected designation of origin (PDO) cheese from Portugal. It has been extensively studied over the years, but the latest microbial characterization is 20 years old. Hence, this work aimed to perform an updated characterization of Serra da Estrela PDO cheeses and raw materials. Our analysis showed that lactic acid bacteria content on Serra da Estrela cheeses exceeded 8.8 log CFUsg−1 , in all analyzed samples, with lactococci, lactobacilli and Leuconostoc spp. predominating over enterococci strains. Moreover, lactococci and lactobacilli abundance increased across the production season, while enterococci dropped considerably in late manufactures. Lastly, Leuconostoc spp. content remained unchanged in all analyzed periods. A correspondence analysis showed that L. paracasei, L. lactis, E. durans, E. faecium and L. mesenteroides are transversal in Serra da Estrela cheese manufacturing and were closely associated with milk, curd and cheese matrices. Additionally, L. casei, L. plantarum and L. curvatus were specifically associated with cheese matrices, possibly active during ripening and contributing for the development of these cheeses’ organoleptic characteristics.9814-6B05-9C03 | Ricardo Miguel Pereira Pintoinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ergonomic assessment of postal workers´ pain symptoms and musculoskeletal risks related to parcel processing activity for delivery

The parcel delivery activity is carried out all over the world and workers in this sector have suffered from musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) due to the strong demand for work generated by the recent increase in e-commerce. This study aimed to evaluate postal workers' pain symptoms, movements and identify MSDs risks related to the parcel processing activity for delivery, proposing preventive measures. A sample of thirty-two workers was evaluated with the application of sociodemographic and Nordic questionnaires and electrical bioimpedance. The motion capture sensors were used to evaluate right/left shoulder joints, segment C7-T1 (Cervical) and segment L5- S1 (Lumbar) of three postal workers (percentiles of anthropometric data: 5, 50, and 95) during four real work activities that are part of the parcel processing. The analyzed workers presented musculoskeletal complaints in practically all body regions, with a greater prevalence in shoulders, hands, lower back, and knees. According to the Body Mass Index (BMI), they were on average overweight (27.8 ± 3.7 kg/m2 ). In the movement analysis, we identified risks related to cervical protrusion, anterior trunk flexion, and shoulder flexion, in addition to repetitive movements. In some activities, the higher stature showed an increase in lumbar and cervical anterior flexion. The set of evaluations showed that the activity of processing orders for delivery offers musculoskeletal risks. We identify that ergonomic adaptations are necessary to adapt the heights of the work environment to the statures of the postal workers. Relevance to industry: The activity of processing orders for delivery is carried out practically all over the world generating jobs and income for its employees. Nonetheless, there are still situations of ergonomic disadvantage that can generate musculoskeletal risks. The findings elucidate ergonomic risks and provide useful information for future ergonomic interventions in the postal/delivery workplace environment.ECT -Eaga Charitable Trust(undefined

Functional analysis of the relative growth rate, chemical composition, construction and maintenance costs, and the payback time of Coffea arabica L. leaves in response to light and water availability

In this study, the combined effects of light and water availability on the functional relationships of the relative growth rate (RGR), leaf chemical composition, construction and maintenance costs, and benefits in terms of payback time for Coffea arabica are presented. Coffee plants were grown for 8 months in 100% or 15% full sunlight and then a four-month water shortage was implemented. Plants grown under full sunlight were also transferred to shade and vice versa. Overall, most of the traits assessed were much more responsive to the availability of light than to the water supply. Larger construction costs (12%), primarily associated with elevated phenol and alkaloid pools, were found under full sunlight. There was a positive correlation between these compounds and the RGR, the mass-based net carbon assimilation rate and the carbon isotope composition ratio, which, in turn, correlated negatively with the specific leaf area. The payback time was remarkably lower in the sun than in shade leaves and increased greatly in water-deprived plants. The differences in maintenance costs among the treatments were narrow, with no significant impact on the RGR, and there was no apparent trade-off in resource allocation between growth and defence. The current irradiance during leaf bud formation affected both the specific leaf area and leaf physiology upon transferring the plants from low to high light and vice versa. In summary, sun-grown plants fixed more carbon for growth and secondary metabolism, with the net effect of an increased RGR

O "CC" e a patologização do natural: higiene, publicidade e modernização no Brasil do pós-Segunda Guerra Mundial

The aim of this article is to discuss the relationship between consumption and changing habits through new industrial products related to health and hygiene, which were announced as the possibility of replacing the natural odor and industrialized by artificial smell. This would represent the cultural transformation of natural physiological functions, such as sweat, something unwholesome and socially repugnant and also a synonym for backwardness. The ideal of a hygienic, modern and deodorized find life in the media and advertising - in the modernization and expansion process in the Brazil post-II World War the privileged space for the placement and supply of new and abundant products that promised to cancel the threat of "body odor" - "BO" and replace it, by the "smell good", hygienic and socially enjoyable that could be bought.O objetivo do artigo é discutir a relação entre consumo e mudança de hábitos por meio de novos produtos industrializados relacionados à saúde e à higiene, que foram anunciados como capazes de substituir o odor natural pelo cheiro artificial e industrializado. Sugerimos que foi um processo social e cultural de transformação de funções fisiológicas naturais, como o suor e o mau hálito, em algo nocivo à saúde e repugnante socialmente e também em um sinônimo de atraso. O ideal de uma vida higiênica, moderna e desodorizada encontrou na imprensa e na publicidade - em processo de modernização e expansão no Brasil após a Segunda Guerra Mundial - o espaço privilegiado para a veiculação e oferta de novos e abundantes produtos que prometiam cancelar a ameaça do "cheiro de corpo", o "CC", e substituí-lo pelo "cheiro bom", salubre e socialmente aceitável que poderia, inclusive, ser comprado

Inteligências artificiais não substituem o papel do professor: ChatGPT em entrevista = Artificial intelligences don't replace the role of the teacher: ChatGPT in interview

As Inteligências Artificiais vieram desafiar as práticas educativas desencadeando a necessidade de repensar os seus princípios, modos de ação e de avaliação. No âmbito da formação inicial de professores, pautada pelo construtivismo social foi realizada, por um estudante, uma entrevista ao ChatGPT. Partilha-se uma análise das questões e das respostas obtidas do ChatGPT, destacando-se a necessidade de um professor reflexivo e o desenvolvimento de pensamento crítico e independente.Artificial Intelligences have challenged educational practices, triggering the need to rethink their principles, modes of action and assessment. In the context of initial teacher training based on social constructivism, a student conducted a ChatGPT interview. An analysis of the questions and answers obtained from ChatGPT is shared, highlighting the need for a reflective teacher and the development of critical and independent thinking

Photocatalytic properties of BaSnO3 perovskite nanoparticles conjugated with CdTe@CdS quantum dots in water-splitting

In this work, we report the photoactivity of BaSnO3 in the photoreduction of methylviologen and the effect of quantum dot sensitization by covalently linking CdTe/CdS core/shell quantum dots in the surface of BaSnO3.FCT - CFUM Strategic Project PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2013 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-022711)

Next generation automobile haptic seat: in inclusive way

Autonomous Vehicles will change the present driving paradigm and the car will be considered a 3rd living space, contributing to the social inclusion of the visually impaired. This study aimed to develop a haptic seat to alert and inform passengers about certain situations on the road and define the perceived minimum, optimal and uncomfortable vibrational values to be considered when designing guidelines for the development of haptic devices. An instrumented car seat with 10 actuators was developed, and an experiment was designed and applied to 39 participants, to determine the Ascending Minimum Threshold (AMT); Descending Minimum Threshold (DMT); Optimal Vibration (OV) and Discomfort (D), and study the relationship of these variables with gender, anthropometric characteristics, and age. Software for data collection was also developed. This research found significant differences between men and women, regarding the MAT (female :24%, male: 26%), OV (female: 34%, male: 40%), and D (female: 47%, male: 60%), concluding that women showed greater sensitivity to haptic stimulation. Anthropometric measures and age also showed a correlation with the variables mentioned above. Therefore, this study suggests that differences between gender, anthropometric measures, and age of users, should be considered when designing haptic devices for car seats.This work is supported by: European Structural and Investment Funds in the FEDER component, through the Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme (COMPETE 2020) [Project nº 039334; Funding Reference: POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039334]. We also would like to thank ALGORITMI Research Centre (Portugal)

A cooperative human-machine interaction warning strategy for the semi-autonomous driving context

This study is a part of an ongoing work regarding the possible scenarios during autonomous driving and it takes into consideration, not only academic literature and industry updates, but also the aspects described on the standards already disclosed. As autonomous driving systems become a more tangible reality, the development of an efficient warning strategy, within the human-machine interaction (HMI), is paramount, for a range of reasons that include the trust in these emerging systems. It has been noted by several researchers that a particular moment of the semi-autonomous driving is of special interest, which is the driver’s role shift from passive monitoring of the vehicle to active control of the autonomous driving system. This study presents a cooperative approach to the vehicle-driver communication strategy, accounting for both human factors and complexity of the AD systems. A nexus diagram has been developed that in a comprehensive way, provides an alternative strategy to the conventional static warning strategy, able to be customized in some specific traits, which can later be resorted to by programmers for expeditiously implementing this much needed strategy in the real context of semi-autonomous driving.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Global city: index for industry sustainable development

Nowadays, discussion on global cities concept is been addressed at a European level. The concept is a consequence of the array of globalization processes, adding different analysis layers according to social, economic and environmental requirements, such as, cultural, user-friendly and amenity, assessable, sharing, energy, smart, green or city factory age-friendly cities and communities. Cities should also be analyzed as working systems, with the same needs and requirements in terms of safety and well-being that are considered for other systems. Taking this into consideration, the goal of being a Global City should also comprise the so-called occupational layer. Therefore, it is important, within a city context, to define indicators for Sustainability regarding the occupational Layer. This paper aims to develop a methodology helping cities, at a local level, to define an Index for Industry Sustainable development contributing for the global city model.This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio