Sodium dodecyl sulfate allows the persistence and recovery of biofilms of Pseudomonas fluorescens formed under different hydrodynamic conditions

The effect of the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on Pseudomonas fluorescens biofilms was investigated using flow cell reactors with stainless steel substrata, under turbulent (Re=5200) and laminar (Re=2000) flow. Steady-state biofilms were exposed to SDS in single doses (0.5, 1, 3 and 7 mM) and biofilm respiratory activity and mass measured at 0, 3, 7 and 12 h after the SDS application. The effect of SDS on biofilm mechanical stability was assessed using a rotating bioreactor. Whilst high concentrations (7 mM) of SDS promoted significant biofilm inactivation, it did not significantly reduce biofouling. Turbulent and laminar flow-generated biofilms had comparable susceptibility to SDS application. Following SDS exposure, biofilms rapidly recovered over the following 12 h, achieving higher respiratory activity values than before treatment. This phenomenon of posttreatment recovery was more pronounced for turbulent flow-generated biofilms, with an increase in SDS concentration. The mechanical stability of the biofilms increased with surfactant application, except for SDS concentrations near the critical micellar concentration, as measured by biofilm removal due to an increase in external shear stress forces. The data suggest that although SDS exerts antimicrobial action against P. fluorescens biofilms, even if only partial and reversible, it had only limited antifouling efficacy, increasing biofilm mechanical stability at low concentrations and allowing significant and rapid recovery of turbulent flow-generated biofilms.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

On the mental representation of (un)healthy tooth: (un)healthy tooth profiles among children

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)."Objectives: A descriptive study of exploratory character with the objective to determine the representation of a healthy tooth and an unhealthy tooth, associated with the concept of dental decay. Methods: Children of both genders (880), distributed in six age groups of low socio-economic level, some already having prior contact with the dentist and others not. Three instruments were used: a sociodemographic questionnaire, pictograms representation protocols and drawing content analysis grid. Results: Content analysis on the drawings indicates significant discrepancies, inherent to the pictorial profiles. Conclusion: The results point to the need of developing educative tools for oral health."Pierre Fabre Portuga

Current status and future trends of mechanized fruit thinning devices and sensor technology

This paper reviews the different concepts that have been investigated concerning the mechanization of fruit thinning as well as multiple working principles and solutions that have been developed for feature extraction of horticultural products, both in the field and industrial environments. The research should be committed towards selective methods, which inevitably need to incorporate some kinds of sensor technology. Computer vision often comes out as an obvious solution for unstructured detection problems, although leaves despite the chosen point of view frequently occlude fruits. Further research on non-traditional sensors that are capable of object differentiation is needed. Ultrasonic and Near Infrared (NIR) technologies have been investigated for applications related to horticultural produce and show a potential to satisfy this need while simultaneously providing spatial information as time of flight sensors. Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology also shows a huge potential but it implies much greater costs and the related equipment is usually much larger, making it less suitable for portable devices, which may serve a purpose on smaller unstructured orchards. Portable devices may serve a purpose on these types of orchards. In what concerns sensor methods, on-tree fruit detection, major challenge is to overcome the problem of fruits’ occlusion by leaves and branches. Hence, nontraditional sensors capable of providing some type of differentiation should be investigated.This work was developed as part of +Pêssego project which purpose is to promote the innovation and development of peach tree culture in the region of Beira Interior, Portugal. This project was financed by a national rural development and support program, PRODER.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Review on the controlled and modified environmental conditions towards the reduction of the chilling injury of peaches

The peach is a stone fruit with a very juicy yellow flesh, smooth skin and a taste that satisfies the most demanding palate. The quality of this fruit is usually determined by texture, appearance, scent, flavor, nutritional value and food safety. At the marketing level, there is a concern for valuing visual properties, resistance, manipulation and fruit preservability, allowing a longer lifetime and less food waste. Being the peach a very sensitive fruit, which deteriorates and ripens very quickly at environment temperature, it requires conservation in cold. This is the usual method for delaying the product deterioration, both in perception of the consumer as in nutritional value, allowing to extend its shelf life. However, this process causes the chilling injury. This damage is a physiological disturbance, induced by low temperatures, which affects the quality of the fruit, reduces its storage and shelf life and impairs the organoleptic characteristics of the peach. This paper provides a review of the studies assessing the chilling injury and evaluates its consequences on peachs, providing the ideal conservation parameters of air temperature and humidity, in order to improve or enhance organoleptic characteristics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Nutrition education strategies to promote vegetable consumption in preschool children - The Veggies4myHeart Project

Funding: We are very grateful to the principals, teachers, staff, and families of the preschools with which we partnered on this project. Financial support: This work was funded by ‘Challenges in Cardiology Accelerator Program 2018’and by Portuguese national funds provided by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (UIDB/ 05704/2020 and UIDP/05704/2020).Objective: To test the efficacy of three nutrition education strategies on the intake of different vegetables in preschool children. Design: This is an experimental study conducted in four Portuguese preschools. The intervention consisted of 20-minutes educational sessions, once a week, for five weeks, with one of the following randomized educational strategies: Portuguese Food Wheel Guide (control), digital game, storybook, storybook and reward (stickers). All groups had repeated exposure to vegetables in all sessions. A pre- and post-test were conducted to determine vegetable intake and a 6-month follow-up was realized. Setting: Preschools of Leiria district, Portugal. Participants: A sample of 162 children aged 3 to 6 years. All eligible children attending the preschools were invited to participate. Results: All interventions tested were effective in increasing vegetable consumption both in the short and medium-term, without statistically significant differences, compared to the control group. Stickers were more effective in the short-term than in the medium term. Conclusions: The nutritional education strategies associated with repeated exposure tested in this study were effective in promoting vegetable consumption in preschool children. The use of stickers may be a valid strategy to promote the consumption of vegetables less recognized by children.publishersversionpublishe

Electrochemical and analytical investigation of passive films formed on stainless steels in alkaline media

Passive films were grown in potentiodynamic mode, by cyclic voltammetry on AISI 316 and AISI 304 stainless steels. The composition of these films was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical behaviour and the chemical composition of the passive films formed by cyclic voltammetry were compared to those of films grown under natural conditions (by immersion at open circuit potential, OCP) in alkaline solutions simulating concrete. The study included the effect of pH of the electrolyte and the effect of the presence of chloride ions. The XPS results revealed important changes in the passive film composition, which becomes enriched in chromium and depleted in magnetite as the pH decreases. On the other hand, the presence of chlorides promotes a more oxidised passive layer. The XPS results also showed relevant differences on the composition of the oxide layers for the films formed under cyclic voltammetry and/or under OCP

Os BRICS e a organização de megaeventos esportivos na ordem mundial pós-guerra fria

After the end of the bipolar order, changes occur in the international system of power and in the economy. Some recognized the United States as a unipolar order, due to its super power achieved through military and economic dominance while others prefer to adopt a multipolar approach. In recent years, with the economic growth of emerging or developing countries, such as Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa, known as BRICS, there has been a shift in the international order of economy and geopolitics. It is in this context that these countries started to host sporting events, specifically in 2008, when China hosted the Olympics; in 2010, South Africa hosted the Football World Cup; in 2014, Brazil's turn to host the Olympics and in 2016 the Men's Soccer World Cup; and in 2018, when Russia hosted the World Cup. This article aims to analyze geopolitics and sports, power relations over sportive competitions, and particularly the role of the BRICS in the organization of mega-eventsDespués del fin del orden bipolar ocurren cambios en el sistema Intenacional de poder y en la economía, para algunos se diseña un orden unipolar con los EEUU, en la condición de potencia hegemónica por el poderío militar y económico, mientras que otros prefieren adoptar un enfoque multipolar. Sin embargo, en los últimos años con el crecimiento económico de los países emergentes o en desarrollo, como Brasil, China, India, Rusia y Sudáfrica, denominado BRICS, hay una reconfiguración del orden internacional de la economía y de la geopolítica. Es en este contexto que esos países comenzaron a recibir eventos deportivos, especialmente a partir de 2008, cuando China fue sede de las Olimpiadas; en 2010, Sudáfrica recibió la Copa del Mundo de Fútbol; en 2014, fue el turno de Brasil acoger las Olimpiadas y en 2016, el país recibió la Copa Mundial de Fútbol Masculino; en 2018, Rusia también recibió la Copa del Mundo. Este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar la geopolítica y el deporte, las relaciones de poder, que marcan las competiciones deportivas, en particular el papel de los BRICS en la organización de megaeventos.Após o fim da ordem bipolar, ocorrem mudanças no sistema internacional de poder e na economia, para alguns se desenha uma ordem unipolar com os Estados Unidos, na condição e potência hegemônica pelo poderio militar e econômico, enquanto para outros veem se desenhando uma ordem multipolar. Nos últimos anos, com o crescimento econômico dos países emergentes ou em desenvolvimento, como Brasil, China, Índia, Rússia e África do Sul, denominado de BRICS, há uma reconfiguração da ordem internacional da economia e da geopolítica. É neste contexto que esses países passaram a receber eventos esportivos, especialmente a partir de 2008, quando a China sediou as Olimpíadas; em 2010, a África do Sul recebeu a Copa do Mundo de Futebol; em 2014, foi a vez do Brasil sediar as Olimpíadas e em 2016, o país recebeu o Copa do Mundo de Futebol Masculino; em 2018, a Rússia também recebeu a Copa do Mundo. Este artigo objetiva analisar a geopolítica e o esporte, as relações de poder, que marcam as competições esportivas, em particular o papel dos BRICS na organização de megaeventos

ABIETANE DITERPENOIDS FROM PLECTRANTHUS GRANDIDENTATUS

The acetone extract of the whole plant of Plectranthus grandidentatus provided the already known abietanes royleanone, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, horminone, 6β-hydroxyroyleanone, 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone and the abietane dimers grandidone C, grandidone D and 7-epigrandidone D, together with a mixture of fatty acid esters of 7α-acyloxy-6β,12-dihydroxy-abieta-8,12-diene-11,14-dione. Some of these compounds showed moderate antibacterial activity