Multi-target optimization of solid phase microextraction to analyse key flavour compounds in wort and beer

Despite the literature comprises numerous studies dealing with the analysis of wort and beer flavour-related compounds by HS-SPME followed by GC-MS quantification, no generalized consensus exists regarding the optimal conditions for the extraction procedure. The complex chemistry nature of these matrices, the number of analytes, as well as the number and interactions among parameters affecting the extraction performance, requires the adoption of optimal experimental design protocols. This aspect is often overlooked and often not properly addressed in practice. Therefore, in the present work, the optimal conditions under which a range of wort and beer analytes can be extracted and quantified were analysed. The optimal extraction conditions were presented at two levels of aggregation: global (untargeted) and key-flavour analysis. Experimental data was generated by Definitive-Screening-Design, followed by model development and optimization. Both approaches were compared and critically analysed. For vicinal-diketones group, a complete validation study for the optimal conditions is presented.publishe

Central polynomials for matrix algebras over the Grassmann algebra

In this work, we describe a method to construct central polynomials for F-algebras where F is a field of characteristic zero. The main application deals with the T-prime algebras Mn(E), where E is the infinite- dimensional Grassmann algebra over F, which play a fundamental role in the theory of PI-algebras. The method is based on the explicit decomposition of the group algebra FSn. AMS Classification 2000: Primary 16R10, Secondary 16W50, 15A75. Keywords: Polynomial identities, central polynomials, Grassmann algebra. 

Nutritional and phytochemical composition of Vaccinium padifolium Sm wild berries and radical scavenging activity

Blueberries have a well-deserved reputation as a potential functional food, supported by studies which have identified and quantified various nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals with known benefits for human diet and health. Wild blueberries have attracted particular attention due to the levels and concentrations of those phytonutrients. This study aims to evaluate for the first time the chemical composition of Madeira Island's endemic Vaccinium padifolium Sm wild berry. Results show that this fruit contains high values of total soluble phenolic content (around 4 g GAE kg-1 FW), as well as significant values of total monomeric anthocyanin content (around 3 g eq. cyanidin kg-1 FW) and DPPH scavenging activity (around 86.72%). Additionally, results reveal that this fruit has water content of about 88% as well as low sugar content (17.98 and 29.73 g kg-1 for glucose and fructose, respectively). Results also confirm that this wild blueberry is a good source of dietary fiber, fat and minerals. The high level of terpenoid compounds stands out in the aroma profile analysis.Ana C. Pereira acknowledges Agencia Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI) for financial support through her grant, M1420-09-5369-FSE- 000001.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury: cluster analysis considering eating pathology, emotion dysregulation, and negative urgency

Research on the interplay between eating pathology, emotion dysregulation and negative urgency is needed to inform intervention approaches for patients with eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury. This study aimed to investigate the characterization of patients with eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury considering eating pathology, emotion dysregulation and negative urgency. This cross-sectional study evaluated 73 outpatients with eating disorders and non-suicidal self-injury (14-55 years; 68 women). A cluster analysis was performed using eating pathology, emotion dysregulation and negative urgency. Differences between clusters were explored on sociodemographic/ psychological variables, eating disorder diagnostics and past/current non-suicidal self-injury engagement. Three clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (n=29) (moderate severity) was characterized by high levels of eating pathology, but moderate emotion dysregulation and negative urgency. Cluster 2 (n=29) (high severity) was characterized by the highest scores in eating pathology, emotion dysregulation and negative urgency, and included more patients with current non-suicidal self-injury. Cluster 3 (n=15) (low severity) was characterized by the lowest levels of eating pathology, emotion dysregulation and negative urgency, and included more patients with past non-suicidal self-injury. These profiles highlight the importance of emotion dysregulation and negative urgency as treatment targets for eating disorders patients with current non-suicidal self-injury.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Global systematic map of research on bats in agricultural systems

Introduction: The conversion of natural habitats to agricultural systems is one of the main global threats to bats. Here, we aimed to develop a systematic mapping to identify publication trends and research gaps in studying bats and agricultural systems. Methods: We reviewed 309 studies published between 1990 and 2021 that sampled bats in agricultural systems or evaluated the effect of these systems on these animals. Results: We found that most studies were conducted in the Palearctic and Neotropical regions (55.3%) and forest biomes (66.0%). Grassland-cropland systems (50.2%) and forest plantations that do not require cutting during the extraction of their products (47.9%) were more studied than forest plantations that require cutting (19.7%). Additionally, acoustic recordings (41.1%) and mist nets (34.3%) were the primary sampling methods used, with few studies combining these methods (7.1%). Also, most studies were conducted on a local scale (77.7%). The number of landscape-scale studies was smaller (34.3%) and concentrated in the Palearctic region (39.6%). Most studies assessed how agricultural systems affect biodiversity (62.1%). However, the phylogenetic and functional dimensions and b-diversity were little explored, with 2.5% and 23.3% of the biodiversity studies, respectively. Of the proposed mitigation measures, the most cited was including natural/semi-natural/potential bat habitats in cultivated landscapes (59.5%). Discussion: In summary, our findings highlight the need for attention to the Afrotropic and Indo-Malaysia regions; predominantly non-forested biomes; plantations that require cutting during the extraction of their products; combined use of different sampling methods, as well as other methods as telemetry; use of multiple biodiversity descriptors and others biological descriptors, such as ecological services; landscape-scale studies and the role of conservation policies in promoting their conservation and raising awareness of their importance among producers and local communities. Filling these knowledge gaps is necessary to understand the factors influencing bat survival in cultivated landscapes. This is the only way to develop management and conservation strategies in these landscapes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Selecting indicators to monitor and assess environmental health in a Portuguese urban setting : a participatory approach

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).Environmental health (EH) is influenced by complex interactions between health and the built and natural environments, there being little research on its specificities in urban settings. The use of suitable indicators to monitor and assess EH is fundamental in informing evidence-based interventions at the local level. A participatory approach to selecting indicators to inform the monitoring and assessment of EH in Lisbon is herein considered. Evidence derived from a systematic review of literature and data from Lisbon and Portuguese databases were analyzed by 12 Portuguese experts in individual semi-structured interviews. The interviews aimed at identifying relevant indicators and important emerging issues in the Lisbon urban setting. The outputs from the interviews were validated by a two-round Web-Delphi process in which panelists (22 experts) from different areas of expertise expressed their views regarding the relevance of the indicators for the analysis of EH in urban settings. Seventeen indicators were validated in the Web-Delphi process. High participation achieved along this process supports the view that this participatory approach was useful for validation. Results from the adopted participatory approach point out gaps in the collection of noise and mobility indicators data and raise emerging issues on housing indicators that require further research. The results also suggest the need for local action to improve indicators and tools in order to help the monitorization of EH in urban contexts. The adopted participatory approach can be replicated for other Portuguese and European urban settings.Marta Salgado research was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and Valorsul S.A. under the scholarship number PDE/BDE/120465/2016. Ana Vieira and Mónica Oliveira work were supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the MEDI-VALUE project (Grant no. PTDC/EGE-OGE/29699/2017)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fire effects on soil after an experimental burnt

5th International Conference of Fire Effects on Soil PropertiesThe impacts of forest fires are multiple (economic, human, social, environmental and on landscape - in the trees, the shrubs and herbaceous vegetation, on soil, on soil organisms, in birds and mammals, in the air, water, etc) and complex (direct, indirect, cumulative, immediate, subsequent, etc). Depend on factors as varied as the magnitude, intensity, duration and frequency of fires, the size and composition of the stands, fuel volume, concentration, distribution and characteristics, soil nature and characteristics, among many other factors. One of the most significant impacts of these catastrophic events in Portugal, occurs at the level of the soil (physical and chemical properties, hydrological and erosive effects, hydrophobicity, etc.). Consequently, we intend to present and discuss in this work the results of experimental burns held in May 2014 in Santo Tirso (NW Portugal), in a eucalyptus stand and in shrub lands. This experimental burning was intended to reduce the fuel material, using different fire driving techniques and is the result of a cooperation between the University of Minho and the Municipality of Santo Tirso. In this sense, we sought to evaluate the effects of fire on the ground by different conditions of progression of the fire, evaluating the temperature at different depths of the soil and its physical and chemical characteristics

Boys’ and girls’ cyberbullying behaviours in Portugal: exploring sex differences in adolescence using gender lenses

In this paper, we explore the differences in the responses of adolescent boys and girls, as victims or perpetrators of cyberbullying, in a Portuguese study involving 1683 boys and 1837 girls from the 6th, 8th and 11th years in 23 schools. More girls were cybervictims and more males were cyberaggressors. In both sexes, having already been a perpetrator was positively associated with having already been a victim. The breakdown of friendships and social rejection were the reasons most frequently cited by girls for experiencing and engaging in cyberbullying and they were more able than boys to disclose the motives and emotions involved in cyberacts. The implications are discussed, taking gender socialization and the characteristics of this stage of development into consideration.O artigo explora diferenças entre as respostas de rapazes e raparigas adolescentes, quer como vítimas, quer como perpetradores/as de cyberbulling, num estudo português com 1683 alunos e 1837 alunas do 6.º, 8.º e 11.º ano de 23 escolas. Elas tenderam mais a ser vítimas e eles a serem agressores. Em ambos os sexos, ter sido já perpetrador mostrou-se positivamente associado ao já ter sido vítima. A quebra de amizades e a rejeição social foram as razões mais apontadas por elas para explicar as experiências quer de vitimização, quer de perpetração de cyberbullying, sendo que foram mais capazes do que eles de indicar as emoções e os motivos envolvidos. São discutidas implicações, levando em conta a socialização de género e as caraterísticas desta etapa do desenvolvimento.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologiainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Selective extraction and stabilization of bioactive compounds from rosemary leaves using a biphasic NADES

Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Vieira, Rebocho, Craveiro, Paiva and Duarte.Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a natural source of bioactive compounds that have high antioxidant activity. It has been in use as a medicinal herb since ancient times, and it currently is in widespread use due to its inherent pharmacological and therapeutic potential, in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Natural deep eutectic systems (NADESs) have recently been considered as suitable extraction solvents for bioactive compounds, with high solvent power, low toxicity, biodegradability, and low environmental impact. The present work concerns the extraction of compounds such as rosmarinic acid, carnosol, carnosic acid, and caffeic acid, from rosemary using NADESs. This extraction was carried out using heat and stirring (HS) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). A NADES composed of menthol and lauric acid at a molar ratio of 2:1 (Me:Lau) extracted carnosic acid and carnosol preferentially, showing that this NADES exhibits selectivity for nonpolar compounds. On the other hand, a system of lactic acid and glucose (LA:Glu (5:1)) extracted preferentially rosmaniric acid, which is a more polar compound. Taking advantage of the different polarities of these NADESs, a simultaneous extraction was carried out, where the two NADESs form a biphasic system. The system LA:Glu (5:1)/Men:Lau (2:1) presented the most promising results, reaching 1.00 ± 0.12 mg of rosmarinic acid/g rosemary and 0.26 ± 0.04 mg caffeic acid/g rosemary in the more polar phase and 2.30 ± 0.18 mg of carnosol/g of rosemary and 17.54 ± 1.88 mg carnosic acid/g rosemary in the nonpolar phase. This work reveals that is possible to use two different systems at the same time and extract different compounds in a single-step process under the same conditions. NADESs are also reported to stabilize bioactive compounds, due to their interactions established with NADES components. To determine the stability of the extracts over time, the compounds of interest were quantified by HPLC at different time points. This allows the conclusion that bioactive compounds from rosemary were stable in NADESs for long periods of time; in particular, carnosic acid presented a decrease of only 25% in its antioxidant activity after 3 months, whereas the carnosic acid extracted and kept in the methanol was no longer detected after 15 days. The stabilizing ability of NADESs to extract phenolic/bioactive compounds shows a great promise for future industrial applications.publishersversionpublishe