Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-11"
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- Microalgae hydrolysates as functional ingredientsPublication . Cunha, S. A.; Nova, P.; Silva, J. L. da; Pintado, M. E.Microalgae have been used in food and cosmetic industries due to their richness in compounds with high biological value, such as proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals [1]. Several microalgae contain high protein content, similar to other common protein sources such as meat and soybean [1], making them a promising source of bioactive peptides. Bioactive peptides are inert inside proteins but can show several interesting properties when isolated [2]. Antioxidant, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging are some properties that can be found described in bioactive peptides. Bioactive peptides may be more easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract than the intact protein, which allied with their potential bioactivities make them interesting for the development of functional foods, with health benefits for the consumer. Hypertension is one of the main causes of cardiovascular diseases, which can lead to heart attack or stroke. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is involved in blood pressure regulation, thus inhibiting it can help to control high blood pressure. Thus, this research aimed to produce water soluble hydrolysates rich in proteins and bioactive peptides, with antioxidant and anti-hypertensive potential, from the five microalgae species Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis oceanica, Tetraselmis sp., Scenedesmus obliquus and Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The five microalgae species were submitted to an enzymatic hydrolysis (one of the most described methods for producing bioactive peptides) with a cellulase and a subtilisin protease, using previously optimized methods. Prior to the enzymatic hydrolysis, C. vulgaris was submitted to an acid hydrolysis, using a weak and food-grade acid. The anti-hypertensive potential was evaluated by the hydrolysate’s ability of inhibiting ACE. Previous studies [3] showed that C. vulgaris and S. obliquus hydrolysates stood out with the higher antioxidant potential. All the hydrolysates demonstrated anti-hypertensive potential by showing an IC50 lower than 500 μg protein/mL for ACE inhibition (Table 1). Thus, production of peptide hydrolysates from microalgae may represent an interesting approach for the development of sustainable, natural functional ingredients to be used to prevent hypertension on the consumers by incorporating it in food matrices.In conclusion, the enzymatic hydrolysis of microalgae allowed to produce hydrolysates with antioxidant and anti-hypertensive potential. Further studies should be done to confirm the anti-hypertensive ability after the gastrointestinal digestion of the hydrolysates. If the bioactivity is maintained, these hydrolysates may be incorporated in food matrices as functional ingredients, contributing to the development of functional foods with antioxidant and anti-hypertensive benefits for the consumers.
- Preparation and characterization of bioactive chitosan-based films incorporated with olive leaves extract for food packaging applicationsPublication . Musella, Enrica; Ouazzani, Ismael Chahed el; Mendes, Ana Rita; Rovera, Cesare; Farris, Stefano; Mena, Cristina; Poças, Fátima; Teixeira, Paula
- Microalgae-bacterial granular sludge for the treatment of low carbon and nutrient loaded effluentsPublication . Miranda, Catarina; Couto, Ana T.; Amorim, Catarina L.; Castro, P. M. L.
- Uma estratégia para todos os fenómenos da drogaPublication . Carvalho, Maria CarmoA proposta para este contributo chega-me sob a forma de um convite a escrever, em moldes livres e num texto curto, sobre a mudança nos comportamentos aditivos em Portugal nos últimos anos, incluindo a possibilidade de apresentação de recomendações. Tomo-a como uma oportunidade para refletir em moldes amplos e aos quais faltará, certamente, o sustento robusto que o pedido merece, sobre a nossa estratégia nacional – para questioná-la sobre a sua capacidade de lidar com essas mudanças. Uso a oportunidade para partilhar qual a direção que eu gostaria que o modelo Português tomasse perante o que já está a acontecer entre nós. Nesse esforço faço, naturalmente, opções. São as opções ditadas pelo filtro da minha atenção a uns lados do fenómeno e pelo desprezo de outros. Nem podia ser de outra maneira.
- Ângelo Ribeiro (1886-1939) e a escola do PortoPublication . Martins, Manuela Brito
- Transnational banking supervision and resilience: the SSM casePublication . Marques, Bernardo P.; Alves, Carlos F.; Silva, Joana C.In this letter we assess the impact of adopting a transnational supervisor on the resilience of large and complex banks, exploring the establishment of the Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) in 2014. Using a differences-in-differences approach, we compare the performance of SSM banks vis-à-vis other banks with a similar size and complexity. Our results suggest that the adoption of a transnational supervisor can improve the resilience of large and complex banks, particularly for those operating in countries with larger banking sectors, higher market concentration and higher supervisory discretion.
- Comparative genomics insights into clinical or environmental methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureusPublication . Rocha, Jaqueline; Silva, Vanessa; Poeta, Patrícia; Manaia, Célia M.
- Psychological disorder diagnosis is no cure for trait inferences biasPublication . Jacinto, Sofia; Braga, João Niza; Ferreira, Marina Silva; Collins, Elizabeth C.; Krendl, Anne C.; Lewis, Cara C.According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, maladaptive behavior stemming from a psychological disorder should not be attributed to personality. Attribution of behavioral symptoms to personality may undermine treatment-seeking and therapy outcomes and increase the stigmatization of the mentally ill. Although people adjust dispositional inferences given contextual alternative causes, we propose that beliefs in the stability and controllability of mental illness could lead to confounded representations of personality and psychological disorders. In six studies we tested whether people adjust dispositional inferences given a psychological disorder as they do give a physical impairment. Participants made trait ratings from short behavioral descriptions and corresponding contextual accounts. When the putative cause for the behavior was a psychological disorder, people did not reduce the trait inference to the extent they did when the cause was a physical impairment, except when the psychological disorder was presented as controllable/unstable. This suggests a conflation of psychological disorders with personality.
- Methods and products for the conservation of vandalized urban art muralsPublication . Macchia, Andrea; Castro, Margarida; Curbelo, Claudia; Rivaroli, Laura; Capriotti, Sara; Vieira, Eduarda; Moreira, Patrícia; Ruffolo, Silvestro Antonio; La Russa, Mauro FrancescoThe possibility of contemporary mural paintings to be “tagged” by vandals, with spray and/or markers, represents a serious problem for the conservation of urban art. The present study aims to define the applicability of a protective coating on murals’ surface to preserve them against vandalism. The research has been focused on anti-graffiti products currently used in the field of cultural heritage conservation. These products represent an optimum start point to preserve mural artwork from vandal actions. The commercially available anti-graffiti products have been compared with an innovative product, PRO-ART, specifically formulated by YOCOCU in collaboration with Pelicoat, for the conservation of murals. At the same time, it has tested the cleaning of contemporary murals by using different mixtures of solvents and surfactants. The experimentations have been carried out on external walls, followed by the conducting of in situ tests (application tests, empirical evaluations and colorimetric analysis), as well as laboratory investigations (contact angle and optical/electronic microscopy).