Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-09-01"
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- Establishing a dengue genomic monitoring in Cuba: uncovering virus dynamics to enhance local responsePublication . Pérez, Melissa; Álvarez, Mayling; Perez, Lissette; Benitez, Ana Julia; Serrano, Silvia; Adelino, Talita Emile Ribeiro; Fonseca, Vagner; Resik, Sonia; Kouri, Vivian; Gresh, Lionel; Franco, Leticia; Rico, Jairo Mendez; Lourenço, José; Alcantara, Luiz Carlos Junior; Guzman, Maria G.; Giovanetti, MartaBackground: A major dengue outbreak was reported by the Cuban Ministry of Health in 2022, highlighting the need for strong surveillance, with high pediatric cases showing warning signs. Using phylogenetic and epidemiologic approaches, we provide evidence toward a better understanding of dengue's recent transmission history. Methods: This study details the implementation of the genomic surveillance system for Dengue virus. Pre-screened DENV-3 positive samples (reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] cycle threshold [Ct] <30) with epidemiologic metadata—including symptom onset, sample collection date, sex, age, residence, symptoms, and disease classification—underwent whole genome sequencing using Nanopore technology. Results: Genome sequences from 2022 to 2023 confirmed DENV-3 genotype III circulation in western, central, and eastern Cuba, covering 15 provinces and one special municipality. All cases were autochthonous, with 93% classified as dengue without warning signs and 7% as severe dengue. Long-term analysis identified a seasonal window of heightened suitability from May to November. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that DENV-3 genotype III has been introduced into Cuba multiple times, primarily from Asia and the Americas. These independent introduction events, likely driven by international travel and trade, underscore the importance of continued viral importation monitoring. The newly sequenced Cuban DENV-3 genotype III genomes were assigned to two distinct sub-lineages within genotype III: 3III_C, corresponding to the older American lineage I (2001-2014), and 3III_B.3, representing a novel introduction into Cuba associated with the more recent American lineage II (2022-2023). Evidence suggests that 3III_C, previously circulating in the country, may have been replaced by 3III_B.3 around 2020. Conclusions: This study outlines the development of a dengue genomic monitoring system in the country. The system will contribute to Cuba's public health response, facilitating timely interventions and potentially reducing the disease's impact on the local population.
- Dough extrusion of apple and cereal by-products flours: a path to healthier breakfast cerealsPublication . Santos, Diva; Silva, José A. Lopes da; Pintado, ManuelaDietary fibre plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health, yet global consumption remains below the recommended intake of 25 g per day, as advised by both the FAO and EFSA. While breakfast cereal products (BCPs) are a popular global food choice, they often require reductions in sugar and sodium, alongside an increase in fibre content. Fruit and vegetable by-products, however, offer a sustainable source of fibre-rich flours, providing a potential solution to this challenge. This study aimed to develop innovative, fibre-enriched BCPs using just two ingredients: apple by-product flour and wheat or rice bran. These ingredients were mixed, hydrated, and stabilized overnight before being processed in an extruder-style pasta maker. Finaly, the extrudates were dried at a mild temperature (50 °C). The effect of roasting (180 °C for 4 min) on the final product was also evaluated. The resulting BCPs were not only sensory appealing, as confirmed by a Focus Group tasting session, but also extremely high in fibre, with final formulations containing at least 26 % fibre. Furthermore, these products meet European regulations to be labelled as 'very low sodium' and 'contains naturally occurring sugars.' Beyond their nutritional profile, these BCPs exhibited antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. This research demonstrates that it is feasible to create both health-conscious and delicious breakfast cereals using minimal ingredients and common processing methods like cold extrusion and roasting, which can enhance the bioactive properties of the ingredients.
- Location and tissue effect on physicochemical, mineral and amino acid profile of Moringa oleiferaPublication . Gómez-Martínez, Martha; Garcia-Ortiz, Jesús David; Gómez-Martínez, Susana; Michel, Mariela R.; López-Badillo, Claudia M.; Pintado, Manuela; Rodríguez-Herrera, RaúlIntroduction: Moringa oleifera is a medicinal plant with multiple biological uses, whose tissues have not been studied individually. The objective of this work was to evaluate the location effect on physicochemical, techno-functional, mineral and amino acid profile of two Moringa tissues (leaflets and petioles). Methods: Two Moringa tissues grown in three different locations were characterized physicochemically (fat, fiber, moisture, protein, carbohydrates), techno-functionally (water-holding capacity, swelling capacity, oil-holding capacity and organic molecule absorption capacity), mineral (by fluorecancer x-rays) and aminoacid (by HPLC). Results: Results indicated that leaflets showed higher dry matter content (89.40 ± 0.86 %), ash (11.66 ± 0.59 %), protein (34.61 ± 3.75 %), fat (15.01 ± 1.51 %), water-holding capacity (5.03 mL/g), and swelling capacity (7.28 cm3/g) compared to petioles which presented higher fiber content (36. 21 ± 3.75 %), oil-holding capacity (2.67 g oil/g), and organic molecule absorption capacity (2.91 mL oil/g). In addition, leaflets showed a higher mineral content in comparison to petioles, in both tissues, the major elements were Ca, K, Mg and S. On the other hand, leaflets showed a higher content and diversity of essential and nonessential amino acids. Conclusion: In conclusion, quality and physicochemical, techno-functional, elemental and amino-acid profile are affected by tissue and location.
- Mineral profile, oxidative stability and color traits in dry aged meat: integrative analysisPublication . Ribeiro, Ana J.; Braga, Fernando G.; Oliveira, Irene; Silva, Filipe; Teixeira, Paula; Saraiva, Cristina M.Dry aging enhances beef's sensory quality, but the role of trace-element dynamics in driving physicochemical changes remains unclear. We dry-aged Longissimus lumborum loins (n = 12) for 60 days, sampling on days 1, 14, 35 and 60. Essential (Ca, K, Na, Mg, Fe, Se, Cr, Zn, Cu) and toxic (As, Cd, Co, Pb) elements were quantified by GF-AAS/FAAS; pH and L?, a?, b? color were measured with standard probes; lipid oxidation was assessed via TBARS; and myoglobin redox forms were determined spectrophotometrically. Inner muscle consistently retained higher K, Na, Mg, Zn, Cu and Cr compared to the crust (P < 0.01), reflecting diffusive retention during surface desiccation. Over 60 days, Ca, K, Se and Cr increased (P < 0.01) while Na and Mg decreased (P < 0.001). Iron and zinc exhibited a biphasic pattern, declining to day 35 and rebounding by day 60. Lipid oxidation intensified but remained below sensory rancidity thresholds (TBARS increased from 0.25 ± 0.07 to 0.65 ± 0.33 mg MDA/kg in inner meat and from 0.79 ± 0.15 to 1.53 ± 0.36 mg MDA/kg in crust; P < 0.001), concurrent with a pH rise from 5.61 ± 0.09 to 5.80 ± 0.19 (P < 0.001) and declines of approximately 11 % in redness (a?) and 15 % in yellowness (b?) (P < 0.01). Principal component analysis identified an oxidation-mineral-color gradient (PC1, 30.8 % variance) and a myoglobin-redox axis (PC2, 20.4 %), underscoring mechanistic links between trace element fluctuations, lipid oxidation, and color stability. These results demonstrate that dry aging concentrate minerals and that shifts in Fe, Se, and Zn trajectories modulate oxidative stability, pH drift, and pigment transformations, shaping dry-aged beef color and overall quality.
- Enhancing maize growth and reducing irrigation needs with extracellular polymeric substances and microbial inoculantsPublication . Overall, Alexandra; Moreira, Helena; Sousa, Ana S. S.; Wilfert, Philipp; Loosdrecht, Mark van; Castro, Paula M. L.; Pereira, Sofia I. A.Soil amendments and microbial inoculants can affect plant growth, water retention, and crop resilience. This study investigated the effects of two amendments, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and biochar, with and without bacterial inoculation, on maize (Zea mays) growth, irrigation needs, and physiological responses. Maize was cultivated in soil with 2.5 % and 5 % (w/w) of wet EPS (Kaumera®) or biochar and inoculated with a bacterial consortium consisting of Arthrobacter nicotinovorans EAPPA and Rhodococcus sp. EC35. EPS-treated plants exhibited significantly higher shoot biomass, larger stem thickness, while soil plant analysis development (SPAD) values suggest improved nutrient availability and photosynthetic efficiency. In non-inoculated plants, EPS supplementation increased shoot dry biomass by 78 % and stem thickness by 9 % compared to control plants grown without amendments. This enhancement strongly correlated with nutrient uptake, especially in plants supplemented with 5 % of EPS. Particularly, Mg and Ca concentrations increased by 195 % and 73 %, respectively, compared to non-amended controls. Inoculation further amplified these benefits, underscoring its key role in plant development and resilience. In contrast, biochar-treated plants exhibited reduced growth, suggesting stress effects at the tested addition doses. Electrolyte leakage, a key indicator of plant stress, was significantly lower in soils amended with EPS, suggesting that EPS provides a protective effect to the plants. EPS also demonstrated remarkable water retention benefits, reducing irrigation requirements by 30 % with 5 % of EPS application, compared to 9 % reduction with biochar. The use of EPS, combined with microbial inoculants, represents a sustainable agricultural strategy for optimizing maize production in water-limited environments.
- Boosting textiles with plant extracts: an advanced sustainable antimicrobial innovation for direct skin applicationsPublication . Oliveira, Cláudia S.; Rocha, Ashly; Antunes, Jéssica; Silva, Augusta; Silva, Carla; Tavaria, Freni K.This study investigates the incorporation of natural plant extracts, particularly eucalyptus and hop, into knitted fabrics to develop antimicrobial textiles. The antibacterial activity of the functionalized fabrics was evaluated against two pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and one common skin commensal (Staphylococcus epidermidis). Biocompatibility with human skin cells was assessed through MTT assays, TO/PI, and Calcein/PI staining. Results demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity of the functionalized textiles against S. aureus and S. epidermidis, with less evident effects on E. coli. Fabrics, functionalized with hop extracts, demonstrated biocompatibility in the applied two-dimensional models; however, confirming their safety for human use requires further evaluation using advanced models and additional endpoints, such as skin sensitization and genotoxicity. Overall, the study highlights the potential of incorporating natural plant extracts in textile functionalization to create eco-friendly and antimicrobial materials that meet growing market demands for safety and sustainability. Future research is warranted to optimize performance and applications.
- What's driving the decline in entrepreneurship?Publication . Kozeniauskas, NicholasWhy has there been a steady decline in entrepreneurship in the US in recent decades? To answer this question, I develop a general equilibrium occupation choice model and combine it with data on these choices. Skill-biased technical change can account for much of the decline in the relative entrepreneurship rate of more educated people, but cannot explain the decline in the aggregate level of entrepreneurship. The major factors in the decline in the share of people who are entrepreneurs, the firm entry rate, and the size of the entrepreneur sector are rising entry costs and outsized productivity gains by large non-entrepreneur firms.
- Advancing solar cooking: challenges, innovations, and future directionsPublication . Araújo, Ana C.; Gomes, Ana; Rodrigues, Pedro M.; Silva, Cristina L. M.
- Understanding PTSD in Portuguese youth: predictors and risk factors in a multi-clinic, treatment-engaged samplePublication . Barroca, Inês; Pinto, Inês; Carvalho, Paula SaraivaIntroduction: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in childhood and adolescence is common. Studies have focused on a small group of predictors related to the traumatic event and still focus on the adult population. Objective: To explore the prevalence of PTSD and to identify factors that potentially increase the risk for the development of PTSD in a clinical sample of children and adolescents. Eligibility criteria included: experienced at least one traumatic event; age between 7 and 18 years; follow-up period of at least 1 month. Data collection was achieved by using: clinical records to obtain the patients’ clinical data; the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale and the Checklist of Potentially Traumatic Events in Children and Adolescents. Results: A total of 101 participants were included. The prevalence of PTSD was 35.6%. For pre-traumatic factors, significant association was found for age (p = 0.033), suggesting increased likelihood of PTSD for older participants. Regarding the type of event, PTSD was significantly associated with interpersonal events (p = 0.001). Participants who were a single intervenient (involved person) had increased odds for PTSD (p = 0.036). It was found that the association with PTSD, in a decreasing manner, occurred with dissociative symptoms, followed by symptoms of Group C (avoidance), Group B (intrusive thoughts), Group E (activation and reactivity) and Group D (cognitions and mood). Dissociative symptoms were significantly associated with PTSD (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The study provides evidence that several factors can predict the development of PTSD in childhood and adolescence. Awareness about these factors, healthcare workers’ specific training, and prevention and intervention strategies are the foundation to promote child well-being throughout life.