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Modern society is living in an age of paradigm changes. In part, these changes have been driven by new technologies, which provide high performance computing capabilities that enable the creation of complex Artificial Intelligence systems. Those developments are allowing the emergence of new Cyber Systems where the continuously generated data is utilized to build Artificial Intelligence models used to perform specialized tasks within the system. While, on one hand, the isolated application of the cyber systems is becoming widespread, on the other hand, their synchronical integration with other cyber systems to build a concise and cognitive structure that can interact deeply and autonomously with a physical system is still a completely open question, only addressed in some works from a philosophical point of view. From this standpoint, the AI can play an enabling role to allow the existence of these cognitive CPSs. This review provides a look at some of the aspects that will be crucial in the development of cyber-physical systems, focusing on the application of artificial intelligence to confer cognition to the system. Topics such as control and optimization architectures and digital twins are presented as components of the CPS. It also provides a conceptual overview of the impacts that the application of these technologies might have in the chemical industry, more specifically in the purification of methane. more...

Edible insects are a unique food source, requiring extensive allergenic risk assessment before its safe introduction in the food market. In a recent systematic review, crustacean allergic subjects were identified as a risk group due to cross-reactivity mainly mediated by tropomyosin and arginine kinase. Immunologic co-sensitisation to house dust mites (HDM) was also demonstrated, but its clinical significance and molecular mechanisms were unclear. Furthermore, case reports of food allergy to insects were also analysed but lack of contextual information hindered the analysis. The main goal of this review is to provide an update of new information regarding food allergy caused by insects, covering relevant topics considering the guidelines for allergic risk assessment in novel foods. Newly published studies have further confirmed the role of tropomyosin as a cross-reactive allergen between edible insects and crustaceans, although there are some questions regarding the immunoglobulin E (IgE)-reactivity of this allergen in mealworm species. Furthermore, only specific treatments (enzymatic hydrolysis combined with thermal treatments) were able to eliminate IgE-reactivity of edible insects. Primary sensitisation (e.g. to Tenebrio molitor) has also been shown to be an important pathway for the development of food allergies, with responsible allergens being dependent on the route of sensitisation. However, more studies are necessary to better understand the potential of primary sensitisation causing cross-reactivity with other insect species, crustaceans or HDM. The clinical significance and molecular mechanisms involved in cross-reactivity between edible insects and HDM are still unclear, and a major focus should be given to better understand which allergens cause co-sensitisations between HDM and edible insects and what is the risk of HDM-only allergic subjects consuming edible insects. Contextual information about the reported cases of allergic reactions to insects have further demonstrated that insect-rearing workers and subjects with allergic diseases (in particular, food allergy to crustaceans) are the major risk groups. more...

A set of silver-doped indium sulphide (In2S3:Ag) thin films were deposited by spray pyrolysis technique, at 350 degrees C, to analyze the effects of the Ag doping on the physical properties of the films. Within the limits of the analyzed dopant concentration, X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the polycrystalline nature of the films, crystalizing in the beta-In2S3 cubic phase, regardless the level of doping. Both XRD and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the absence of secondary phases. Optical absorption spectra evidenced that the films are opaque to ultraviolet radiation, but transparent in visible and near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. According to absorption and extinction coefficients variations, the films are smooth and homogeneous. The forbidden bandgap (E-g) increases with increasing Ag concentration. Photoluminescence measurements reveal that the films exhibit seven emissions related to In2S3 defects. The films are semiconductor and the transport phenomena are assisted via small polaron hopping. The photovoltaic effect in Ag/In2S3(n)/Si(p)/Ag is confirmed by I-V characterization in dark and under illumination., This research was partly supported by the projects HP-NANOBIO Project PID2019-111163RB-100, granted by Spanich Ministry of Science, and Project CIVP18A3940, granted by Fundación Ramón Areces, Spain. CVV thanks Xunta de Galicia (Spain) for the AEMAT (ED431E-2018/08) Strategic Partnership and the use of RIAIDT-USC analytical facilities. CVV belongs to the Galician Competitive Research Group ED431C-2017/22, co-funded by FEDER. Part of this work was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the frame work of the Strategic Funding UIDB/04650/2020. more...

This work is funded through the project AgriFood XXI (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000041), financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through P2020jNorte2020—P2020jNorte2020-Projetos Integrados ICDT, CCRN—Comissão de Coordenação da Região Norte. Authors also acknowledge financial support from National Funds from FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within the scope of UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

Entomophagy – intentional consumption of insects – is practiced in several regions of the world, particularly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. In the Western world, edible insects have been growing in popularity as novel food and feed. The main objective of this cross-cultural study, performed in Portugal and Norway, was to evaluate the determinants of consumers’ acceptance of insects as food and feed. An online-based survey (n = 666, LimeSurvey -Portugal- and EyeQuestion -Norway-) composed of nine different sections, assessing acceptance of insects as food and feed, sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes towards edible insects and food choice motives was applied. Results showed that Norwegian consumers had a higher acceptance of insects as food or feed than Portuguese consumers did. It was also possible to divide consumers into four segments according to their acceptance level: Disgusted, Rejecters, Feed Acceptors and Acceptors. Considering the determinants of acceptance/rejection, disgust towards insects was the variable with the largest negative impact on either forms of entomophagy for both countries. On the other hand, consumers who seek new food experiences tend to have a higher acceptance of insects as food. Sociodemographic characteristics also influenced the acceptance of insects as food and feed, although differently for Norway and Portugal, while food choice motivations (convenience, health and ecological welfare) had minimal impact. These results highlight the importance of diminishing disgust reactions towards edible insects and to successfully marketing entomophagy to more neophilic consumers. This can be potentially obtained by improving the sensory appeal and experiences associated with edible insects. Author J.C. Ribeiro acknowledges Doctoral Grant No. SFRH/BD/147409/2019 funded by FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology. This work was supported by national funds from the FCT through the research unit GreenUPorto (UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020). Author P. Varela acknowledges financial support from the Norwegian Fund for Research Fees for Agricultural Products (FFL) through the project “FoodForFuture” (project number 314318). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

Every year, agri-food industries in industrialised countries produce approximately 1.3 billion tonnes of food loss and waste. The adoption of a circular economy policy has received special attention by the agri-food industries, allowing for the creation and development of new food products made of by-products that would otherwise be wasted or used for secondary applications. The present work, of an exploratory nature, aims to assess how consumers conceptualise the circular economy in order to identify consumer recognition of the use of by-products from the food industry to upcycle food products and to evaluate attitudes towards the circular economy. To this end, a mixedmethodology was applied to 340 participants. The first part was qualitative and used free word association to evaluate consumers’ conceptualisation of the circular economy and use of by-products as foods. Data were analysed by grouping the responses into exclusive and exhaustive categories and a correspondence analysis was also performed to originate perceptual maps. Additionally, a questionnaire was designed to evaluate major concepts and attitudes correlated with the circular economy. Data were reduced by principal component analysis (PCA) and participants grouped through clustering. Results showed that consumers understand circular economy as related mainly into Sustainability, Economy, and Circularity dimensions. Participants had great difficulty identifying the by-products used as foods or as food ingredients. From the quantitative data, four groups were identified based on the associations to the six principal components originated by the PCA. However, the results highlighted a very low association with all clusters of the Food Valorisation dimension within the concept of the circular economy, and also a lack of a clear understanding of consumers’ attitudes towards food products from the circular economy. Greater promotion and dissemination by the competent entities aimed at the general public may contribute towards greater integration, participation and acceptance of the circular economy concept for the upscaling of food by-products. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

O São João de Sobrado, também conhecido por Bugiada e Mouriscada, constitui, simultaneamente, um objeto singular e um evento capaz de dialogar com outras festas similares, dessa forma suscitando diferentes níveis de análise e de debate. Apesar de também em Portugal existirem outras festas evocativas das guerras entre mouros e cristãos, a que se celebra em Sobrado revela singularidades expressivas. À ausência de um texto escrito que suporte a representação, associa-se uma estrutura complexa, onde se fundem vários momentos festivos aparentemente desconexos, que vão desde evocações de tipo carnavalesco a farsas de inspiração medieval. Por outro lado, quando considerada na sua relação com outras festas associadas às guerras entre mouros e cristãos, a Bugiada e Mouriscada estimula a discussão de várias questões, definindo diferentes eixos de análise. O debate acerca da relação entre identidade e diferença é uma dessas questões, permitindo discutir, entre outros aspetos, eventuais processos de ressignificação das leituras da festa, desde logo pela valorização da ideia de encontro de culturas. Também os processos contemporâneos de patrimonialização deste género de eventos podem ser considerados a partir desta festa concreta, pela qual se define um terceiro eixo de análise, exatamente o que resulta do confronto da Bugiada e Mouriscada de Sobrado com outras festas congéneres, quer as que se realizam no nosso país e em Espanha, quer as que migraram para lugares distantes em consequência dos processos coloniais, de evangelização e similares. Procurando explorar algumas destas dimensões, este trabalho não tem a ambição de ser conclusivo ou sequer a de propor uma abordagem sistémica ou integrada, pretendendo apenas constituir-se como um contributo mais no quadro de uma investigação em curso. more...

A lot of research has focused on assessing the decontamination efficiency of ultrasound on fresh produce while ensuring the retention of their quality characteristics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of ultrasound treatment at 26 kHz, 90 μm, 200 W for 5 min on the shelf-life of lettuce leaves stored between 5 and 15 °C for several days. Microbial analyses, i.e., pathogens and spoilage organisms, were carried out in order to assess the efficacy of the decontamination treatment. Moreover, sensory studies were performed to determine the impact of ultrasound technology on several quality parameters such as appearance, browning, texture and odours of the lettuce. The ultrasound treated samples had a faster microbial increase at temperatures higher than 5 °C, showing that the antimicrobial efficiency of ultrasound treatment decreases as the temperature increases. ANCOVA analysis revealed that although ultrasound treatment did not have a significant effect on the total count, it had a significant effect on the count of pathogenic bacteria. Regarding the sensorial analysis, the control sample showed a better score at 5 °C even after 10 days of storage, while at 15 °C the decrease in quality occurred immediately after day 2. Ultrasound treated samples appeared to have a negative impact in the sensory quality of lettuce as these samples were the ones with lower scores. ANCOVA performed using the storage parameters showed that storage temperature, storage time and ultrasound treatment all affected the sensory scores. According to these results, ultrasound can be efficient specifically against pathogenic bacteria. Although, the sensory results showed that the ultrasound treatment has a negative effect in lettuce leaves, it would be beneficial to combine ultrasound with other technologies to obtain the optimal balance between anti-microbial efficacy and sensory damage. more...

An evaluation regarding the influence of substrate material characteristics and deposition parameters on the tribological behaviour of carbon-based is presented. Chromium nitride interlayers and carbon-based thin films were deposited on hardened AISI 5115 case hardening steel, by magnetron sputtering. The physical vapour deposition (PVD) deposition was performed at three different temperatures: 180 °C, 200 °C and 250 °C. The chemical composition of the samples was assessed by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS), the structure by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and the surface morphology by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The surface chemistry was analysed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman Spectroscopy. The coatings are homogeneous, amorphous, with a smooth surface. The mechanical behaviour has been assessed on a pin-on disk rotational tribometer (wear characteristics), on a micro scratch tester (adhesion to the substrate), by ball-cratering (film thickness); by nanoindentation (hardness and the modulus of elasticity). A strong correlation between the substrate characteristics, but more importantly, of the deposition temperature, on one hand, and the mechanical characteristics, on the other hand, has been observed. The fracture toughness is positively influenced by the presence of the ceramic interlayer (chromium nitride). The modulus of elasticity and friction coefficient (both in dry conditions and lubricated) are decreased for higher deposition temperatures, however the higher deposition temperature negatively affects the hardness of the steel substrate., We hereby acknowledge the structural funds project PRO-DD (POSCCE, O.2.2.1., ID 123, SMIS 2637, ctr. no 11/2009) for providing some of the infrastructure used in this work. more...

This article aims to review the current literature pertaining to the effects of eating local seasonal food on sustainable consumption. To this end, we examined definitions of seasonal and local food, the methodological approaches adopted to study the impact of seasonal consumption on sustainability, and sustainability dimensions investigated in journal articles. Highlighting what seasonal and local means, it is crucial to evaluate the effect of the consumption of these foods on sustainability. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using Scopus and Clarivate’s Web of Science database in line with the recommendations from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our findings suggest that the concept of local seasonality provides relevant information to the study of sustainable consumption. However, for better use of this concept, it is crucial to define what is local. At this point, regulation of labels based on geographic proximity or political boundaries proves pertinent. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

Indium sulfide thin films, doped with silver, were synthesized by spray pyrolysis technique. These samples were subsequently annealed in air and in vacuum, at the temperature of 400 ◦C, for 2 h. This work reports the effect of the thermal treatments on the structure, morphology and optical characteristics of the films, but also the study of the photodegradation efficiency of methylene blue solution. The as-produced films are polycrystalline, exhibiting the tetragonal β-phase structure of In2S3. The annealing treatments cause an increase of 27% and 74% of the crystallite size, and of the roughness of the films (20% and 56%), for the vacuum and air annealed samples, respectively, but provoke a significant decrease of the optical transmittance. The optical band gap decreases from 2.71 eV in the as-produced film, to 2.45 eV and 2.39 eV in the vacuum and air-annealed films, respectively. The photodegradation efficiency of the methylene blue solution increases from 83.0% for the as-produced film to around 95.4%, regardless the type of annealing., Grant of the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research, CNCS - UEFISCDI, project number PN–III–P1-1.1-TE-2019-1209, within PNCDI III more...

On an international level Codex Alimentarius is the main standard-setting body for the production and the commercialisation of food and feed. Founded in 1963 upon joint initiative of two other international organisations, notably FAO and the World Health Organization (WHO), its main mission consists in the development of technical standards with the aim to facilitate international trade and promote safety and quality of food in the interest of consumers globally. more...

In this work, we explore the addition of Ti ribbons on the racetrack of a Zr target to prepare Zr-O-N films including Ti, by reactive magnetron sputtering with a mixture of N2 and O2 as reactive gases. This approach is simple and not invasive, it avoids the modification of the target and minimizes its contamination. These films were compared in terms of chemical composition, density, film growth and crystallographic structure with others prepared in identical conditions without Ti ribbons. In addition, the composition and density of the films were correlated with crystallographic references from literature. The color and electrical properties of the films were evaluated as well. It was observed that poisoning of the Zr target is promoted by the increase of the N2 + O2 flow and the reduction of magnetron current, but it is retarded by the introduction of the Ti ribbons. This effect was particularly remarkable at lower target current, since the sputtering is confined in areas nearer to the racetrack, where the Ti ribbons are located. To account for the poisoning of the target and compare it among the different samples, a ‘poisoning parameter’ was defined, using a combination of the chemical composition of the films and the deposition rates. The color and electrical properties of the films correlate surprisingly well with their oxygen-to-metal ratio, while the concentration of N does not seem to play any significant role., The financial support of Portuguese Foundation of Science and Technology (FCT), under the projects IF/00671/2013, M-ERA-NET2/0012/2016, and Strategic Funding UIDB/04650/2020 are gratefully acknowledged. The financial support from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK program is also acknowledged. more...

Frequentemente desvalorizada por se destinar prioritarianente a um público juvenil e devido ao tom descomprometido que no início a definiu, a BD parece condenada a desempenhar um papel menor nos debates acerca dos processos culturais em torno dos quais se define o sentido hegemónico do mundo. Esta menorização simbólica e prática de um amplo universo de significação tem deixado na sombra modalidades relevantes de reforço, reiteração e também de crítica a representações sociais estereotipadas, nomeadamente no que concerne às identidades étnicas e de género. Neste breve texto, centrar-nos-emos num exemplo concreto, os álbuns da série Jim del Monaco, discutindo se as referências, francamente estereotipadas a que recorre, são neutralizadas pelo vetor humorístico, ou se, ao contrário, são geradoras de ambiguidade, apelando a uma análise interseccional e desconstrutivista., Fréquemment dévalorisée parce que destinée en priorité à un public juvénile et en raison du ton détaché qui l’a définie à ses débuts, la BD semble condamnée à jouer un rôle mineur dans les débats autour des processus culturels par rapport auxquels se définit le sens hégémonique du monde. Cette minimisation symbolique et pratique d’un vaste univers de significations a laissé dans l’ombre des modalités importantes de ren- forcement, de réitération ainsi que de critique des représentations sociales stéréotypées, notamment en ce qui concerne les identités ethniques et de genre. Les auteurs centrent leur article sur un exemple concret : les albums de la série Jim del Monaco, et cherchent à voir si les références, franchement stéréotypées auxquelles elle recourt, sont neutralisées par le vecteur humo- ristique, ou si, au contraire, elles engendrent de l’ambiguïté et nécessitent une analyse intersectionnelle et déconstructiviste., Comics have often been underrated for primarily targeting a young rea- dership and because of the detached tone that initially characterized them.And now, they seem condemned to play a minor role in the debates concerning the cultural processes that define the hegemonic worldview.This symbolic but also factual minimizing of a vast world of meanings has obscured crucial ways in which stereotyped social representations have been reinforced, carried on and critiqued.This is particularly true as far as racial and gender identities are concerned.The authors of this article take the example of the Jim del Monaco comic series in order to verify if its unabashedly stereotypical references are neutralized through the means of humour or if, instead, those references give rise to ambiguity and call for a reading which is both intersectional and deconstructive. more...

There is an increasing importance of the role of children and adolescents in the food market and to successfully develop food products intended for them, it is necessary to apply proper sensory evaluation methodologies. Although children can execute traditional methods for food liking and preference evaluation, traditional sensory descriptive methods may not be suitable for them and it is necessary to assess their ability to perform novel sensory profiling methods. Thus, this study aimed to assess children’s acceptance of an innovative food product – cookies incorporating fermented grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) flour – and their ability to describe a sensory profile using a Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) approach. Two different types of cookies (salty and sweet) were developed, differing in the level of substitution of wheat flour by fermented grass pea flour (between 0 and 40%). The cookies were evaluated by two sensory panels of 60 children (8–12 years), who assessed the overall liking using a 7-point facial hedonic scale and the sensory profile of the samples using a CATA ballot with 21 sensory terms previously developed through focus groups with children. Children showed the ability to discriminate the different samples with the hedonic scale and according to their sensory profile. Results revealed that the focusgroup with children is an adequate way to generate CATA ballots and that the CATA approach is adequate to evaluate how children discriminate the sensory profile of food products. Furthermore, the food neophobia level of the children negatively impacted their acceptance of the food products info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

This work aimed to adapt the EsSense Profile® emotions list to the discrimination of herbal infusions, aiming to evaluate the effect of harvesting conditions on the emotional profile. A panel of 100 consumers evaluated eight organic infusions: lemon verbena, peppermint, lemon thyme, lemongrass, chamomile, lemon balm, globe amaranth and tutsan, using a check-all-that-apply (CATA) ballot with the original EsSense Profile®. A set of criteria was applied to get a discriminant list. First, the terms with low discriminant power and with a frequency mention below 35% were removed. Two focus groups were also performed to evaluate the applicability of the questionnaire. The content analysis of focus groups suggests the removal of the terms good and pleasant, recognized as sensory attributes. Six additional terms were removed, considered to be too similar to other existing emotion terms. Changes in the questionnaire, resulting in a list of 24 emotion terms for the evaluation of selected herbal infusions, were able to discriminate beyond overall liking. When comparing finer differences between plants harvested under different conditions, differences were identified for lemon verbena infusions, yielding the mechanical cut of plant tips as the one leading to a more appealing evoked emotions profile. Author C. Rocha acknowledges Industry Doctoral grant No. SFRH/BDE/100483/2014, funded by FCT, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). Authors Rocha, Cunha and Moura acknowledge financial support from the national funds by FCT, under projects UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020 with funding from FCT/MCTES through national funds. This research was funded through project “Infusão Premium— Criação de lotes de plantas aromáticas premium com propriedades sensoriais e funcionais validadas com elevada aceitação pelo consumidor”, financed by ANI, through Sistemas de Incentivos à Investigação e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico do QREN; and also through project “4C’s—Consumer Cross-Cultural Context”, funded by COMPETE2020, Portugal2020, Norte2020 and FEDER-European Regional Development Funds. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

There is no question that the potential of the production and commercialisation of edible insects in terms of food security and sustainability (see Sects. 2.3 and 2.4) has produced a considerable impact on the EU market and its regulatory framework over the last decade. more...

A characterisation of the global market for insect as food and feed is no easy job as comprehensive business studies are still lacking in light of the fact that the sector operates differently across the world and that, in certain geographical areas, edible insects, in particular, are a relatively recent novelty. more...

Objective:To determine nutritional adequacy of school lunch and to assess the impact of food waste on nutrient intake of primary schoolchildren.Design:The weighing method was used for evaluating initial servings and plate waste for lunch. Energy and nutritional contents of meals served, consumed and wasted were estimated using the software Food Processor Plus. The mean nutritional value of food served and consumed was compared with dietary guidelines.Setting:Portuguese public primary schools in the city of Porto.Participants:All 525 fourth-grade children, aged from 9 to 10 years old, attending to twenty-one public primary schools.Results:Overall, school lunches served did not meet the dietary guidelines for energy and nutrients, as only 12·5 % of the evaluated meals were adequate for energy, 33·5 % for proteins, 11·9 % for carbohydrates and 57·1 % for lipids. The majority of meals served were below the age-specific lower limit, namely for energy (83·7 %) and carbohydrates (86·8 %). The only exception, also unbalanced, was observed for proteins, as 42·4 % of lunches served exceeded the recommended upper limit. Furthermore, lunches served and consumed by children did not meet the dietary guidelines for fibre and for the micronutrients evaluated. Children wasted 26 % of the energy content provided in lunches, corresponding to 91·5 kcal, 25 % of proteins and 29 % of carbohydrates supplied.Conclusions:The lunches served and consumed by children at school canteens failed to meet nutritional standards. These results are not only a consequence of inadequate food portions served but also a result of the high plate waste values observed. more...

Within most Western societies, insects are considered to be a novel food with rising popularity as an alternative to conventional food sources, due to strong environmental pressures, fast population growth, food insecurity and growing demand for animal-derived food. Although insects are already consumed in several parts of the world, acceptance of edible insects in Western countries is considered very low mainly due to food neophobia and disgust. The main goal of this study was to evaluate the determinants of acceptance of bread incorporating insects. An online survey was conducted on regular consumers of bread which sought to assess their attitudes towards the consumption of edible insects. Results of the survey demonstrated that most participants were unwilling to try bread supplemented with edible insects. Nevertheless, the types of bread with higher acceptance were special-type bread incorporating processed insects. Disgust towards insects was a strong predictor of rejection of insect’s consumption. Through the application of a binary logistic regression model to the responses obtained, the best predictor of acceptance of bread with the incorporation of insects was the willingness to consume insects. Other predictors were gender (males had higher acceptance), consumption of specialty bread and food neophilia. more...

[EN] The demand for healthy, satiating, and convenient products is growing, with ready-to-eat expanded snacks being the preferred. These are produced made by extrusion, which is a versatile and efficient technology, with an immense potential to develop new food products. In addition to satisfy consumer requests, it is interesting to add alternative protein sources to these products, such as insects that have nutritional benefits and ecological advantages. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of extrusion temperature and enrichment with house cricket (Acheta domesticus) on properties of extruded snacks. Extrudates were produced with a single-screw extruder at two barrel temperatures (165 and 175 degrees C), formulated with corn flour and house cricket powder in mass ratios, 100:0, 95:5, 90:10, and 85:15. Water content, water activity, expansion, porosity, water absorption, water solubility indices; swelling index and hygroscopicity; colour, texture, protein content, in vitro digestibility, and protein bioaccessibility were measured. The results suggest that incorporating edible insects in extruded snacks can be a good alternative to the snacks on the market, since they maintain the appropriate physicochemical characteristics, especially when formulated at low temperatures. Further, they improve the protein content, with the recommended percentage use of 5 and 10% of house cricket, for the formulation of snacks with extrusion at 165 degrees C., The authors want to thank the Centro de Cooperacion al Desarrollo, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for their financial support throughout the ADSIDEO 2018-2020 projects and acknowledge the Erasmus+ placement grant given to L.R. Moreover, authors L.R. and L.M.C acknowledge support to GreenUPorto by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, within the scope of UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020. more...

BackgroundMany foods have an antioxidant activity and nutrition may mitigate COVID-19. Some of the countries with a low COVID-19 mortality are those with a relatively high consumption of traditional fermented foods. To test the potential role of fermented foods in COVID-19 mortality in Europe, we performed an ecological study.MethodsThe European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database was used to study the country consumption of fermented vegetables, pickled/marinated vegetables, fermented milk, yoghurt and fermented sour milk. We obtained the COVID-19 mortality per number of inhabitants from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. EuroStat data were used for data on potential confounders at the country level including Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (2019), population density (2018), percentage of people older than 64 years (2019), unemployment rate (2019) and percentage obesity (2014, to avoid missing values). Mortality counts were analyzed with quasi-Poisson regression models - with log of population as an offset - to model the death rate while accounting for over-dispersion.ResultsOf all the variables considered, including confounders, only fermented vegetables reached statistical significance with the COVID-19 death rate per country. For each g/day increase in the average national consumption of fermented vegetables, the mortality risk for COVID-19 decreased by 35.4% (95% CI: 11.4%, 35.5%). Adjustment did not change the point estimate and results were still significant.DiscussionThe negative ecological association between COVID-19 mortality and consumption of fermented vegetables supports the a priory hypothesis previously reported. The hypothesis needs to be tested in individual studies performed in countries where the consumption of fermented vegetables is common. more...

In this contribution, based on the detailed understanding of the processes&rsquo, characteristics during reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS), we demonstrated the deposition of silicon oxide (SiO2) thin films with improved optical and mechanical performances. A strategy for stabilizing the arc-free HiPIMS of Si target in the presence of oxygen was investigated. Arcing was suppressed by suitable pulse configurations, ensuring good process stability without using any feedback control system. It was found that arcing can be significantly alleviated when ultra-short HiPIMS pulses are applied on the target. The optical and mechanical properties of SiO2 coatings deposited at various pulsing configurations were analyzed. The coatings prepared by ultra-short pulse HiPIMS exhibited better optical and mechanical performance compared to the coatings prepared by long pulse HiPIMS. The optimized SiO2 coatings on quartz substrates exhibited an average transmittance of 98.5% in the 190&ndash, 1100-nm wavelength range, hardness of 9.27 GPa, hardness/Young&rsquo, s modulus ratio of 0.138, and critical adhesion load of 14.8 N. The optical and mechanical properties are correlated with the film morphology, which is inherently related to energetic conditions and process stability during film growth. more...

The rice industry is one of the most significant food industries since rice is a widely consumed cereal in the world. As a result of this substantial production, the rice industry has a significant amount of side streams, including bran, representing millions of tons of raw materials mainly designated to animal feed. Rice bran is a rich source of γ-oryzanol, a bioactive compound with substantial health benefits. In this perspective, different bran rice samples from distinct germplasm origins (Philippines, Italy and Portugal) were studied for their γ-oryzanol content by HPLC-PDA, cytotoxicity in four human tumour cell lines, hepatotoxicity in a normal cell line and for their antimicrobial effects on different bacterial and fungal strains. The Ballatinao sample presented the strongest activity against all the tumour cell lines, and was also the sample showing the highest amount of γ-oryzanol, suggesting its contribution to the exhibited cytotoxic properties. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, the tested samples were able to inhibit the majority of bacterial and fungal strains, with the Portuguese Ceres sample being the one presenting the highest bacterial inhibition and the Maluit and Dinorado samples, the highest fungal inhibition. Overall, the results show that rice bran extracts may be considered as potential candidates for antimicrobial agents when incorporated into food matrices. Ruaraid Hamilton from IRRI Philipines for supplying the rice seeds and Paula Marques from COTARROZ Portugal for multiplying the rice grain collection in COTARROZ greenhouses. Project POCI-01-0247-FEDER-017931 - ArrozBig - Development of rice products with low glycemic index and FCT SFRH/BD/120929/2016 PhD grant (Ana Castanho). The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT. Portugal) and FEDER under Program PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013) and R. Calhelha contracts. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

BackgroundFatigue is a frequent disabling symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS), but its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to explore the underlying neural basis of fatigue in patients with MS.MethodsWe enrolled 60 consecutive patients with MS and 60 healthy controls (HC) matched on age, sex, and education. Fatigue was assessed using the Portuguese version of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS). All participants underwent 3T brain MRI (conventional and diffusion tensor imaging [DTI] sequences). White matter (WM) focal lesions were identified and T1/T2 lesion volumes were computed. Tract-based spatial statistics were applied for voxel-wise analysis of DTI metrics fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity (MD) on normal-appearing WM (NAWM). Using Freesurfer software, total and regional volumes of cortical and subcortical gray matter (GM) were calculated.ResultsCompared to HC, patients with MS scored significantly higher on MFIS (33.8 ± 19.7 vs 16.5 ± 15.1, p < 0.001). MFIS scores were not significantly correlated with T1/T2 lesion volumes, total GM volume, or any regional volume of cortical and subcortical GM. Significant correlations were found between global scores of MFIS and MD increase of the NAWM skeleton, including corona radiata, internal capsule, external capsule, corticospinal tract, cingulum, corpus callosum, fornix, superior longitudinal fasciculus, superior fronto-occipital fasciculus, sagittal stratum, posterior thalamic radiation, cerebral peduncle, and uncinate fasciculus.ConclusionsIn this study, fatigue was associated with widespread NAWM damage but not with lesion load or GM atrophy. Functional disconnection, caused by diffuse microstructural WM damage, might be the main neural basis of fatigue in MS. more...

The purpose of this work is to discuss the main structural characteristics of a group of tantalum oxynitride (TaNxOy) thin films, with different compositions, prepared by magnetron sputtering, and to interpret and compare the structural changes, by X-ray diffraction (XRD), when the samples are vacuum annealed under two different conditions: i) annealing, followed by ex-situ XRD: one sample of each deposition run was annealed at a different temperature, until a maximum of 800 ◦C, and the XRD patterns were obtained, at room temperature, after each annealing process; ii) annealing with in-situ XRD: the diffraction patterns are obtained, at certain temperatures, during the annealing process, using always the same sample. Insitu XRD annealing could be an interesting process to perform annealing, and analysing the evolution of the structure with the temperature, when compared to the classical process. A higher structural stability was observed in some of the samples, particularly on those with highest oxygen content, but also on the sample with non-metal (O + N) to metal (Ta) ratio around 0.5., Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2013., info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion more...

"Available online 10 October 2017", In this paper, we present a statistical method that allows evaluating the degree of a transparency of a thin film. To do so, the color coordinates are measured on different substrates, and the standard deviation is evaluated. In case of low values, the color depends on the film and not on the substrate, and intrinsic colors are obtained. In contrast, transparent films lead to high values of standard deviation, since the value of the color coordinates depends on the substrate. Between both extremes, colored films with a certain degree of transparency can be found.This method allows an objective and simple evaluation of the transparency of any film, improving the subjective visual inspection and avoiding the thickness problems related to optical spectroscopy evaluation. Zirconium oxynitride films deposited on three different substrates (Si, steel and glass) are used for testing the validity of this method, whose results have been validated with optical spectroscopy, and agree with the visual impression of the samples., This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the project number F/00671/2013 and the framework of the Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2013, info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

Foodborne diseases (FBD) generate a substantial burden on society and individual; however, it is not clear how consumers perceive the impact of different consequences of FBD on individual lifestyles. This study aims to investigate consumer risk perceptions of FBD, considering different consequences and scenarios. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 150 consumers from ten restaurants in Brazil. Consumers were interviewed in the restaurant post-food consumption to determine the personal risk of experiencing FBD. The restaurant food safety measures was assessed using a validated checklist. A FBD risk score was calculated. Ten questions were used to assess consumers' risk perceptions. The likelihood perception (L) of FBD was measured according to three contexts: actual restaurant of food consumption, another restaurant, and the consumers’ home. The consequences (C) of FBD on consumers' lifestyle were measured considering the impact on financial, performance, social, physical, psychological, and time aspects. Thus, 21 measures of cumulative risk perception (3L x 7C) were established. Findings indicated that consumers perceived the likelihood of FBD as low, mainly when considering food consumed at the actual restaurant and home. It is noted that risk perception was determined as higher when considering performance, physical, and time consequences. There was no association between the risk assessment determined for the restaurant and consumer risk perceptions from such restaurants. Consumers were skeptical about their personal likelihood of experiencing FBD, unaware of the actual risk associated with FDB. However, consumers consider that the impact of FBD on their performance, physical, and time is relevant. In a multidimensional way the risk assessment could be helpful to understand consumer behavior relating to food and restaurant choices. Understanding consumer fears and perceptions generate invaluable insight and data that can be used to develop targeted educational campaigns and food safety strategies. more...

Sea urchin gonads are considered a prized seafood product. Their market price depends on quality and appearance, mainly evaluated through colour. The desirable yellow-orange colour is determined by carotenoids deposition in the gonads, mainly the accumulation of echinenone, which depends on availability, uptake and bioconversion of β-carotene from dietary sources. Two β-carotene sources, a synthetic (SYN) and a natural (paprika, PAP) source, were tested at low (L) and high (H) incorporation target levels (100 and 250 mg β-carotene kg−1 feed) in diets for Paracentrotus lividus. A non-supplemented diet was used as a control (CTRL) diet. After eight weeks of feeding, all diets effectively increased gonad weight and somatic index in both sexes, without significant differences between treatments. Total carotenoid content and profile, lightness (L*) and texture of gonads did not vary significantly among dietary treatments. However, gonad redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values were significantly higher in urchins fed the L_SYN diet than in those fed either with the CTRL or L_PAP diets; female displayed higher values than male. L_SYN also showed higher consumers´ acceptance when compared to the other diets and female displayed higher acceptance rates than male, probably due to the fact that females were more orange, appealing and pleasant compared with the yellow, grainy and not appealing males. Male fed L_SYN diet exhibited similar colour and carotenoid content compared to wild animals in the same stage of gonad maturation (stage III), but female differed significantly; however, neither of the sex demonstrated acceptance differences in relation to their wild counterparts. Diets with the lower β-carotene inclusion induced changes in gonad colour but not in carotenoid pigments. This suggests that gonad colour is not exclusively modulated by dietary carotenoid supplementation and that it may be affected by other sex-dependent nutritional or metabolic factors. more...

The main goal of this research was to explore and understand Chefs’ perceptions regarding sea urchin gonads sensorial features, production and use, with an emphasis on echinoculture. This study used a mixed methodology, where three groups of chefs were interviewed: Michelin star, from Ericeira and from Algarve, these being the two main regions of sea urchin consumption. During the interviews, Chefs exposed that there is some apprehension regarding the consumption of sea urchin mainly due to their appearance. Moreover, this product is yet to be explored in Portugal where it still sits in a niche market, emphasizing the need to advertise benefits and sensory pleasure that this product could provide. Furthermore, the existent preconception and suspicion about aquaculture products and their acceptance should be countered, since the future availability of these gourmet products and other seafood commodities with high-quality will be dependent on their production in sustainable culture systems. The Chefs also performed sensory evaluation through the application of Projective Mapping with Ultra Flash Profiling, showing that sea urchin gonad’s sensory properties were mainly influenced by sex. These results emphasize the need for communication and marketing strategies through locals, chefs and gastronomic events, focused on the promotion of consumers awareness about the exclusivity of this product and the importance of aquaculture for the future of the seafood market. The authors would like to thank Tiago Sá from CIIMAR for providing technical support during the samples harvesting and transport. Luís F. Baião was financially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, and Sense Test, Lda., through the industrial PhD grant PD/BDE/129043/2017. Work supported by project CAVIAR - Market valorisation of sea urchin gonads through dietary modulation (FA_05_2017_015), financed through programme Fundo Azul. Authors also acknowledge financial support from National Funds from FCT, within the scope of UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020 (GreenUPorto) and UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020 (CIIMAR). info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion more...

The use of poorly designed packaging for high metabolic fresh produce like oyster mushrooms may lead to condensation inside the package and to shelf-life shortening. In order to quantify transpiration rate (TR) of oyster mushrooms and to develop an empirical predictive model that will allow to design an effective packaging system, fresh mushrooms were stored at 2, 6, 10, 14 and 18 °C and at 86, 96 and 100% relative humidity (RH) under an ambient atmosphere. Periodically, mushroom mass was recorded over 248 h of storage. TR of mushrooms ranged between 0.52 (±0.04), at 2 °C and 100% RH, and 3.88 (±0.41) g.kg −1 .h −1 for mushrooms stored at 18 °C and 86% RH. An empirical mathematical model considering the effect of temperature and RH was developed. Temperature effect was explained using an Arrhenius model and the constants of the model were fitted into linear equations to explain the effect of RH on TR. more...

Objectives The clinical approach to acute vestibular syndromes is often complex for the physician. Neurosonology offers a noninvasive method to study the cervicocephalic circulation when a vascular etiology is suspected. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a vascular neurosonological exam in isolated acute vestibular syndrome. Methods All patients submitted to cerebrovascular ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging during the period between 2011 and 2015 with acute isolated vestibular syndrome. Those with any clinical sign of brainstem lesion on presentation were excluded. All patients performed the neuroimaging study (brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) and neurologic surveillance. Neurosonological exam included all intra- and extracranial segments of the vertebrobasilar circulation. Positive ultrasound exam was defined as the presence of stenotic or occlusive disease in any of these segments related to the infarcted area. Results A total of 108 patients were included: 60 (53.6%) were males (mean age: 60.75 years (standard deviation, 14.17)). In 27 patients (25.0%) a cerebral ischemic lesion was found to be the cause of the vertigo. Neurosonological assessment showed a sensitivity of 40.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 22.4; 61.2), specificity of 100% (95% CI: 95.5; 100.0), positive predictive value (PPV) of 100% (95% CI: 71.5; 100.0), and negative predictive value (NPV) of 83.5% (95% CI: 74.6; 90.3). Conclusions Our study suggests that cerebrovascular ultrasound is a highly specific method for the diagnosis of cerebrovascular vertigo. However, its low sensitivity makes it a poor candidate for screening. more...