Growing health and quality of life: benefits of urban organic community gardens

Objectives: To characterize the horticulturists of an urban garden in terms of their current state of health and health behaviors (at gardening beginning) and to evaluate the effect of horticulture practice on health behaviors and quality of life (after a six month gardening stretch). Introduction: The way in which cities have grown, with heavy air and noise pollution, reduced green spaces, a long distance and out of season food based system and limited sunshine access has led to multiple public health challenges. This in turn has prompted the emergence of various local and state policies aimed at improving the health and quality of life of urbanites. Method: Interviews using structured questionnaires were conducted twice with 115 city dwellers: when they got started in a vegetable garden and about 6 months later. Results:Participants were mainly female (57.8%), professionally active (48.0%) and with a mean age of 53 years. This research showed significant behavioral changes among its users, including positive outcomes in anthropometric parameters, physical activity, smoking habits, eating habits, health status and overall quality of life.Conclusion: Despite a short follow-up period, it could be shown that gardening did influence health and quality of life behaviors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

It comes from the sea: macroalgae-derived bioactive compounds with anti-cancer potential

Nature derived compounds represent a valuable source of bioactive molecules with enormous potential. The sea is one of the richest environments, full of skilled organisms, where algae stand out due to their unique characteristics. Marine macroalgae adapt their phenotypic characteristics, such as chemical composition, depending on the environmental conditions where they live. The compounds produced by these organisms show tremendous potential to be used in the biomedical field, due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer properties. Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, and the lack of effective treatments highlights the urgent need for the development of new therapeutic strategies. This review provides an overview of the current advances regarding the anti-cancer activity of the three major groups of marine macroalgae, i.e., red algae (Rhodophyta), brown algae (Phaeophyceae), and green algae (Chlorophyta) on pancreatic, lung, breast, cervical, colorectal, liver, and gastric cancers as well as leukemia and melanoma. In addition, future perspectives, and limitations regarding this field of work are also discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In vitro gastrointestinal digestion impact on the antioxidant activity of extracts produced from the macroalgae gracilaria gracilis and ulva rigida

The interest in edible algae has been growing over the years due to their richness in molecules with nutritional and bioactive potential, such as proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, due to their interesting protein content, they have been described as a source of bioactive peptides, with scientifically documented antioxidant, anti-hypertensive and antimicrobial properties. In this work, water-soluble extracts were produced from the macroalgae Gracilaria gracilis and Ulva rigida, with focus on their antioxidant potential. Furthermore, the impact of in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) digestion on the antioxidant activity of both extracts was studied, with the goal of evaluating their potential as functional food ingredients. Extracts were produced by enzymatic hydrolysis, with a cellulase and a subtilisin protease, using a previously optimized method. Then, both were submitted to simulated GI conditions, similar to those found in the human digestive system. The antioxidant activity was determined by ORAC and ABTS assays in four stages of GI simulation (before digestion, and after mouth, stomach and intestine digestion). The antioxidant activity did not decrease throughout the different stages of digestion. Interestingly, the antioxidant capacity increased after some phases. For instance, both extracts presented higher ORAC values after all digestion phases, when compared to the non-digested extract, being statistically significant after stomach digestion, for G. gracilis extract (p < 0.05). On this study, both extracts maintained their antioxidant activity during in vitro GI digestion, with an increase after almost all digestion phases, when compared to the non-digested extract. The observed increase may be explained by the production of smaller and more bioactive peptides, by the action of the gastrointestinal enzymes, such as pepsin and pancreatin. In conclusion, since antioxidant activity is maintained throughout the GI tract, these results showed that G. gracilis and U. rigida extracts may be considered potential ingredients for the development of functional foods with antioxidant properties.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Plano de Acção - Castelo Branco Agenda XXI

Considerando que é importante mobilizar os agentes locais para um caminho que deve ser comum, formataram-se vários momentos de reunião e discussão para, em conjunto, verter para "Castelo Branco Agenda XXI" um Plano de Acção com medidas que unam e co-responsabilizem todas as entidades neste processo de crescimento, sob o padrão inovador que o caráter prático e planeado de uma Agenda Local impõe. As reuniões sectoriais e de proximidade que foram promovidas e o período de consulta do Diagnóstico para a Sustentabilidade do concelho, possibilitaram identificar os caminhos da Sustentabilidade de Castelo Branco, que são apresentados neste relatório.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O sistema penitenciário e a ineficácia da ressocialização dos condenados do Distrito Federal

Pretende-se demonstrar que a realidade em que vivem os presos (considerando os homens maiores de idade) do Complexo Penitenciário da Papuda é muito diferente do que é previsto na Lei de Execução Penal e na Constituição Federal, bem como da finalidade desejada na aplicação da sanção penal. Por isso, busca-se trazer ao debate formas que possam trazer melhoras efetivas ou atenuar a problemática existente, com o intuito de desafogar o sistema carcerário, bem assim oferecer aos condenados uma sanção mais humana, como por exemplo, a maximização da aplicação das penas alternativas, as quais já vem há algum tempo sendo utilizadas. Também, não devemos deixar de lado institutos jurídicos utilizados em outros países que já apresentam bons resultados, como é o caso da Justiça Restaurativa, e outra medida que não foi não tão boa quanto se esperava, como na privatização. Ademais, a educação, face aos seus fundamentos e objetivos, mostra-se também como uma interessante alternativa no que diz respeito a maior possibilidade de ressocialização do apenado

O papel da terapia nutricional no tratamento da esquizofrenia

A esquizofrenia é uma doença psiquiátrica complexa que se caracteriza por perturbações do pensamento, da atividade social, dos sentimentos, do comportamento motor e por distorções da realidade, o que resulta em psicoses exacerbadas que se alteram com períodos de remissão parciais. É descrita como uma doença multifatorial, dependendo de fatores tais como: predisposição genética e fatores ambientais nomeadamente uma alimentação e estilos de vida não saudáveis. O tratamento da esquizofrenia é realizado recorrendo a terapia farmacológica, nomeadamente com anti psicóticos clássicos, como a Cloropromazina e o Haloperidol e anti psicóticos atípicos, tais como a Clozapina e Sulpiride. O padrão alimentar destes doentes caracteriza-se por um consumo excessivo de gorduras, défice em fibras, vitaminas, óleos vegetais e nozes e uma ingestão abusiva de bebidas alcoólicas e gaseificadas, revelando também uma prática de exercício físico baixa. Carências nutricionais no período pré-natal, nomeadamente em ácido fólico, Vitamina D, Ferro, Zinco, e Cobre assim como um aporte deficiente de aminoácidos, ácidos gordos polinsaturados da série n-3 e n-6, oligoelementos essenciais e Vitamina D ao longo da vida constituem potenciais fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento e progressão da esquizofrenia. Vários estudos constatam uma melhoria evidente da sintomatologia da doença com o recurso a uma alimentação rica nestes componentes ou a suplementação. A terapia nutricional desempenha um papel crucial no tratamento da esquizofrenia e pode trazer inúmeros benefícios para a sintomatologia e progressão da doença, quer como monoterapia ou em conjunto com terapia farmacológica. Esta deve ser específica para cada doente considerando fatores tais como o peso e o sexo, uma vez que estudos demonstram que o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) é superior em doentes esquizofrénicos comparativamente à generalidade da população e que o sexo feminino é mais suscetível ao aumento de peso.Schizophrenia is a complex psychiatric disorder characterized by disturbances of thought, social activities, feelings, motor behavior and distortions of reality, which results in exacerbated psychosis that change with periods of partial remission. It is described as a multifactorial disease, depending on factors such as genetic predisposition and environmental factors including diet and one of unhealthy life styles. The treatment of schizophrenia is conducted with pharmacological therapy, particularly with classic anti psychotics, such as Haloperidol and Chlorpromazine and atypical anti psychotics, such as Clozapine and Sulpiride. The feeding patterns of these patients is characterized by an excessive consumption of fats, deficit in fiber, vitamins, vegetable oils and nuts and abusive intake of alcoholic and carbonated beverages, also revealing a practical low exercise. Nutritional deficiencies in the prenatal period, in particular folic acid, Vitamin D, Iron, Zinc, and Copper as well as a deficient amino acid intake, polyunsaturated fatty acids of the n-3 and n-6, trace minerals and Vitamin D along life are potential risk factors for the development and progression of schizophrenia. Several studies have noted a clear improvement of the symptomatology of the disease with the use of a diet rich in these components or supplementation. Nutritional therapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of schizophrenia and brings several benefits to the symptoms and progression of the disease either as monotherapy or in combination with pharmacological therapy. This should be specific for each patient considering factors such as weight and sex, since studies show that the Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher in schizophrenic patients compared to the general population and that the female is more likely to weight gain.info:eu-repo/semantics/draf

Bioactive hydrolysates from chlorella vulgaris: optimal process and bioactive properties

Microalgae have been described as a source of bioactive compounds, such as peptides. Microalgae are easy to produce, making them a sustainable resource for extracting active ingredients for industrial applications. Several microalgae species have interesting protein content, such as Chlorella vulgaris with around 52.2% of protein, making it promising for peptide hydrolysate production. Therefore, this work focused on the production of water-soluble hydrolysates rich in proteins/peptides from the microalgae C. vulgaris and studied bioactive properties. For that, a design of experiments (DOE) was performed to establish the optimal conditions to produce hydrolysates with higher levels of protein, as well as antioxidant and antihypertensive properties. Four experimental factors were considered (cellulase percentage, protease percentage, hydrolysis temperature, and hydrolysis duration) for three responses (protein content, antioxidant activity, and antihypertensive activity). The optimal conditions determined by the DOE allowed producing a scaled-up hydrolysate with 45% protein, with antioxidant activity, measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay, of 1035 µmol TE/g protein, IC50 for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition activity of 286 µg protein/mL, and α-glucosidase inhibition of 31% (30 mg hydrolysate/mL). The obtained hydrolysates can be used as functional ingredients for food and nutraceuticals due to their antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic potential. Moreover, the antioxidant potential of the extracts may be relevant for the cosmetic industry, especially in antiaging formulations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FEW : file management for portable devices

Comunicação apresentada ao International Workshop on Software Support for Portable Storage (IWSSPS), San Francisco, 2005.In recent years, an increasing number of portable devices with large amounts of storage have become widely used. In this paper, we present the early design of the FEW system, a system that aims to ease file management in the new mobile environment. To this end, the system will manage file replicas stored in fixed and portable storage devices. It will provide an automatic mechanism to establish new file replicas by analyzing file system activity. The system will automatically and incrementally synchronize all file replicas exploring the available network connectivity and the availability of portable storage devices. To merge concurrent updates, operational transformation techniques will be used.FCT/MCES POSI/FEDER - Project #59064/2004

Hydrolysates of mytilus galloprovincialis as a source of bioactive compounds

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio