Avaliação do Impacto da Redução de Açúcar em Gelados Artesanais

Mundialmente, o crescente número de diabéticos e obesos tem vindo a potenciar a aquisição de novos hábitos alimentares mais saudáveis. Paralelamente, de acordo com dados do Eurostat, referentes a 2017, a Alemanha foi o maior produtor de gelado, seguida pela Itália e França com 517, 511 e 466 milhões de litros, respetivamente. Assim, surge a necessidade de reduzir o açúcar em gelados artesanais, indo ao encontro das necessidades de clientes cada vez mais informados e exigentes. Neste estudo analisaram-se três gelados: gelado de base de nata e os sorbets de manga e de limão, comparativamente a três diferentes teores de redução de açúcar (10, 15 e 20%). Pretendeu-se, pois, determinar o teor de redução de açúcar máximo, em comparação com a receita tradicional, avaliando o seu impacto na estabilidade da estrutura dos gelados e as possíveis alterações físicas e químicas dos mesmos. Para além disso, pretendeu-se determinar o perfil térmico dos gelados, bem como avaliar as possíveis alterações organoléticas detetadas pelos provadores e a sua aceitabilidade. As análises foram efetuadas ao fim de 0, 30 (ou 15) e 60 dias após a produção dos gelados e compreenderam a determinação: dos sólidos solúveis totais (SST); a composição nutricional; a calorimetria diferencial de varrimento (DSC); o teste do derretimento e as análises sensoriais descritivas e hedónicas. Na análise estatística aplicou-se o software R. Verificaram-se algumas alterações nos gelados e sorbets com a redução do açúcar: diminuição dos SST, derretimento total, derretimento máximo, Onset e Máximo da Cristalização (exceto para a manga); e aumento do Onset e Máximo da Fusão (ponto de congelação). Sucintamente, a análise dos coeficientes de correlação permitiu concluir quais os gelados mais semelhantes ao gelado normal. Tomando em consideração todos os resultados, no geral, os gelados e sorbets mais próximos dos normais, provavelmente, foram o N15%, o M10% e o L10%

The allmeet project and the intercultural dialogue between european and russian partners

The ALLMEET - «Actions of lifelong learning addressing multicultural education and tolerance in Russia» - is a TEMPUS project in a partnership between six Russian Higher Education and Research Institutions (Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology of Professional Education SAR; Mari State University; Kazan - Volga region - Federal University; Siberian Federal University; Moscow City Pedagogical University; and Northern - Arctic - Federal University), three European universities (Alma Mater Studiorum Universita di Bologna, from Italy; Universidade Nova de Lisboa - FCSH/UNL -, from Portugal; and University of Glasgow, UK), and the European Center-Valuation of Prior Learning (Netherlands). The project is coordinated by the partner from University of Bologna and has financial support of the European Commission - TEMPUS project. The wider objective of the project is to support the modernization of Higher Education in Russia, enabling them to play the role of key-actors in promoting actions of Lifelong Learning on topics such as migration, intercultural education and human rights. Pedagogical materials are being produced and intercultural practices will be promoted during the project, aiming to build a common theoretical background on concepts regarding intercultural education and to map the existing knowledge, practices and policies regarding migration and conflict resolution at local, regional and national level. It is a way to respond to challenges regarding ethnic diversity, multilingualism and immigration in the Russian Federation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A inclusão de minorias no desenho de territórios educativos interculturais : reflexões a partir do Projecto ALLMEET

Num contexto de diversidade de grupos populacionais em convivência, acelerado pelos processos de globalização das mobilidades, o diálogo intercultural vem-se afirmando como processo educativo de sucesso para o respeito da diversidade e a promoção da coesão social. Considerado uma boa prática da União Europeia (UE), o diálogo intercultural está na base da proposta do projecto ALLMEET, que prevê a implementação de plataformas educativas interculturais em contextos urbanos diferenciados de cinco regiões da Federação Russa. A reflexão e a partilha de experiências no âmbito da rede de trabalho constituída neste projecto conduziu-nos a uma discussão sobre as finalidades educativas e seu enquadramento de grupos minoritários, a criação de territórios educativos prioritários e a interculturalidade em contexto de desigualdades sociais.In a context of sociability of diverse population groups, intercultural dialogue has been affirming as a successful educational idea for the respect of diversity and for the promotion of social cohesion. Considered among the best practices of the European Union, intercultural dialogue is at the basis of the proposal of ALLMEET project, which aims to implement intercultural education platforms in different urban contexts of five regions in Russian Federation. The debate and sharing experiences, within the network constituted in this project, led us to a discussion about educational aims and their framing of minority groups, the creation of priority education territories, and interculturalism in a context of social inequity

Mineral Monitorization in Different Tissues of Solanum tuberosum L. during Calcium Biofortification Process

Calcium is one of the 16 essential elements for plants, being required as Ca2+ and being involved in several fundamental processes (namely, in the stability and integrity of the cell wall, the development of plant tissue, cell division, and in stress responses). Moreover, Ca plays an important role in potato production. In this context, this study aimed to monitor the culture development (in situ and using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) and the mineral content of four essential elements (Ca, P, K, and S) in different organs of Solanum tuberosum L. (roots, stems, leaves, and tubers) during a calcium biofortification process, carried out with two types of solutions (CaCl2 and Ca- EDTA) with two concentrations (12 and 24 kg ha1). The calcium content generally increased in the S. tuberosum L. organs of both varieties and showed, after the last foliar application, an increase in Ca content that varied between 5.7–95.6% and 20.7–33%, for the Picasso and Agria varieties, respectively. The patterns of accumulation in both varieties during the biofortification process were different between the variety and mineral element. Regarding the quality analysis carried out during the development of the tubers, only the Agria variety was suitable for industrial processing after the last foliar applicationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enrichment of Grapes with Zinc-Efficiency of Foliar Fertilization with ZnSO4 and ZnO and Implications on Winemaking

Grapes and wine are widely consumed in the world, yet their mineral content can be influenced by many factors such as the mineral composition of soils, viticulture practices and environmental conditions. In this context, considering the importance of Zn in the human physiology, the enrichment of Moscatel and Castelão grapes (white and red variety, respectively) with this nutrient prompted this study; further assessment of tissue deposition and some implications for wine production. Using two foliar fertilizers (ZnO or ZnSO4, at 150, 450 and 900 g ha1), decreases in net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance occurred in both varieties, suggesting that the physiological threshold of Zn toxicity was reached without visible symptoms. Following foliar spraying with both fertilizers, the content of Zn in leaves of the Castelão and Moscatel varieties showed higher values in all treatments relative to the control. Moreover, in grapes this tendency occurred only in Castelão. Concerning Cu, Fe, Ca, K, S and P, some significant differences also happened in leaves and grapes among treatments. At harvest, the indexes of Zn enrichment in grapes increased between 2.14- and 8.38-fold and between 1.02- and 1.44-fold in Castelão and Moscatel varieties, respectively. Zinc in the dried skin of Castelão only increased with ZnO and ZnSO4 sprayed at 900 g ha1 (ca. 2.71- and 1.5-fold relative to the control, respectively), but in Moscatel a clear accumulation trend could not be found. The dry weight of grapes ranged (in %) between 16 and 23 (but did not vary significantly among treatments of each variety or in each treatment between varieties), and total soluble solids (e.g., mainly soluble sugars and proteins) and color parameters showed some significant variations. Through winemaking, the contents of Zn increased in both varieties (1.34- and 3.57-fold, in Castelão and Moscatel, respectively) and in all treatments, although non-significantly in Castelão. It is concluded that, to increase the contents of Zn in grapes without reaching the threshold of toxicity ZnO or ZnSO4 can be used for foliar spraying of Castelão and Moscatel varieties until 900 g ha1 and that winemaking augments the level of this nutrientinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Remdesivir and corticosteroids in the treatment of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

okCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic infection caused by the newly discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Remdesivir (RDV) and corticosteroids are used mainly in COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure. The main objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of remdesivir with and without corticosteroids in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. We conducted a prospective observational study, including adult patients consecutively hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 and acute respiratory failure. Patients were divided according to treatment strategy: RDV alone versus RDV with corticosteroids. The primary outcome was the time to recovery in both treatment groups. We included 374 COVID-19 adult patients, 184 were treated with RDV, and 190 were treated with RDV and corticosteroid. Patients in the RDV group had a shorter time to recovery in comparison with patients in the RDV plus corticosteroids group at 28 days after admission [11 vs. 16 days (95% confidence Interval 9.7-12.8; 14.9-17.1; p = .016)]. Patients treated with RDV alone had a shorter length of hospital stay. The use of corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy of RDV was not associated with improvement in mortality of COVID-19 patients.publishersversionpublishe

Magnesium Accumulation in Two Contrasting Varieties of Lycopersicum esculentum L. Fruits: Interaction with Calcium at Tissue Level and Implications on Quality

As the productivity and quality of tomato fruits are responsive to Mg applications, without surpassing the threshold of toxicity, the assessment of potential levels of Mg accumulation in tissues, as well as the interactions with Ca and physicochemical properties, prompt this study. An agronomic workflow for Mg enrichment, consisting of six foliar applications of MgSO4 with four concentrations (0%, 0.25%, 1% and 4%), equivalent to 0, 43.9, 175.5 and 702 g ha-1 , was applied on two tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) genotypes (Heinz1534 and Heinz9205). During fruit development, leaf gas exchange was screened, with only minor physiological deviations being found. At harvest, Mg contents among tissues and the interactions with Ca were analyzed, and it was found that in both varieties a higher Mg/Ca ratio prevailed in the most external part of the fruit sprayed with 4% MgSO4. However, Mg distribution prevailed relatively near the epidermis in H1534, while in H9205 the higher contents of this nutrient occurred in the core of the fruit, which indicated a decrease of the relative proportion of Ca. The morphologic (height and diameter), physical (dry weight and density) and colorimetric parameters, and the total soluble solids of fruits, did not reveal significant changes in both tomato varieties. It was further concluded that foliar application until 4% MgSO4 does not have physiological impacts in the fruit’s quality of both varieties, but in spite of the different patterns of Mg accumulation in tissues, if the mean value in the whole fruit is considered, this nutrient prevails in H1534. This study thus suggests that variety H1534 can be used to attain tomato fruits with added value, providing an option of further processing to achieve food products with functional properties, ultimately proving a beneficial option to producers, the food processing industry and consumers. Moreover, the study reinforces the importance of variety choice when designing enrichment workflowsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Zinc Biofortification in Vitis vinifera: Implications for Quality and Wine Production

Nowadays, there is a growing concern about micronutrient deficits in food products, with agronomic biofortification being considered a mitigation strategy. In this context, as Zn is essential for growth and maintenance of human health, a workflow for the biofortification of grapes from the Vitis vinifera variety Fernão Pires, which contains this nutrient, was carried out considering the soil properties of the vineyard. Additionally, Zn accumulation in the tissues of the grapes and the implications for some quality parameters and on winemaking were assessed. Vines were sprayed three times with ZnO and ZnSO4 at concentrations of 150, 450, and 900 g ha1 during the production cycle. Physiological data were obtained through chlorophyll a fluorescence data, to access the potential symptoms of toxicity. At harvest, treated grapes revealed significant increases of Zn concentration relative to the control, being more pronounced for ZnO and ZnSO4 in the skin and seeds, respectively. After winemaking, an increase was also found regarding the control (i.e., 1.59-fold with ZnSO4-450 g ha1). The contents of the sugars and fatty acids, as well as the colorimetric analyses, were also assessed, but significant variations were not found among treatments. In general, Zn biofortification increased with ZnO and ZnSO4, without significantly affecting the physicochemical characteristics of grapesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio