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- Exploring the relationship between socioemotional skills and decision-making styles in health studentsPublication . Silva, Cândida G.; Gordo, Sara; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Henriques, Carolina; Rosa, MarleneHigher education in health study programs is particularly focused on the development of technical skills, despite there being a consensus on the importance of training students regarding socioemotional and life skills. The aim of this study was to characterize and explore correlations between socioemotional skills and decision-making styles in undergraduate health students. Undergraduate students (18–25 years old) were recruited at a School of Health Sciences in Portugal. Participants were characterized in terms of sociodemographic data, socioemotional skills (Study on Social and Emotional Skills questionnaire) and decisionmaking styles (Melbourne Decision Making questionnaire). Descriptive statistics and correlations between questionnaires´ subscales were calculated. Students presented higher scores in tolerance (34.8±3.4), cooperation (34.7±2.4), empathy (31.1±3.2), vigilance (16.0±1.9), and procrastination (9.9±2.1). Assertiveness presented negative correlations with buck-passing (rho=-0.43, p<0.01) and procrastination (rho=-0.38, p<0.01) and positive correlation with vigilance (rho=0.22, p=0.03). Students demonstrated higher values in empathy, cooperation, and tolerance skills, meaning they tend to be kind and care for others’ well-being. Vigilance style is related to assertiveness characterizing hard working leaders able to pay attention to others’ needs. Training that involves socioemotional skills might be crucial for the style of decision-making in future health professionals.
- Improving the ripening process after 1-MCP application: Implications and strategiesPublication . Dias, Cindy; Ribeiro, Tânia; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Ferrante, António; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Pintado, ManuelaBackground: Consumers’ lifestyles demand high-quality products, requesting adequate fruit storage. Management of ethylene production is of paramount importance when planning postharvest storage, since this phytohormone is the key molecule behind the ripening and senescence process. Cold storage combined with 1-MCP has been one of the most applied postharvest treatments to extend the shelf-life of several fruit. However, 1-MCP is a potent inhibitor of ethylene action, leading frequently to the blockage of ripening denominated as ‘evergreen’ effect. Scope and approach: Ethylene biosynthesis and perception pathway are described, as well as a critical review on 1-MCP inhibitory mechanisms. Technologies used to induce postharvest ripening after 1-MCP application are described with special attention to the latest and most significant published works. The most relevant 1-MCP reversion strategies are discussed, aiming to develop more innovative and effective approaches for stimulating ripening. Finally, the importance of tailoring treatments to specific cultivars is discussed, using pear as a case study. Key findings and conclusions: Optimizing temperature and applying exogenous ethylene have been the main methods to reverse the effect of 1-MCP. Also, treatment with other phytohormones has shown promising results. However, the strategies effectiveness is dependent on the cultivar, time of application, and concentration of the applied compound. Also, since 1-MCP binds irreversibly to the ethylene receptor, the biosynthesis of new receptors may reverse the ‘evergreen’ behaviour. Therefore, attempts should be made to develop strategies according to each cultivar and their capacity to stimulate the expression of ethylene genes both related to its biosynthesis and perception.
- Cold storage demand for Rocha pear ripening: A comparison between a shorter and a longer cold periodPublication . Dias, Cindy; Ribeiro, Tânia; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Ferrante, António; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Pintado, Manuela'Rocha' pear is a cultivar that when harvested at the recommended maturity stage (physiological condition that allows resisting to prolong cold storage), requires chilling exposure after harvest, to induce an autonomously ripening appreciated by the consumer. Fruit were stored immediately after harvest, for 6 d (batch 1) or 26 d (batch 2), in normal cold atmosphere storage, to further our understanding of 'Rocha' pear ripening under different short cold storage durations. The ripening events were then monitored at 0, 3, 7, and 10 d of shelf-life at room temperature (± 20 °C) through physicochemical and biochemical changes, including firmness, soluble sugars, malic acid, esters profile, and ethylene metabolism (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO)). We found that ripening behaviour upon rewarming from both cold storage periods was similar, with fruit ripening with a typical pattern of ethylene production and respiration rates concomitant with a higher ACO activity. Soluble sugar and esters emission were not influenced by cold storage duration, but interestingly butyl acetate levels were significantly higher on pear, which was cold stored for 26 d Our data provide more novel information about Rocha' pear's ripening physiology, indicating for the first time that approximately one week of chilling temperature is enough to promote ripening rate processes. Such knowledge could be an asset to the efficient management of 'Rocha' pear storage.
- Relationship between minerals and physicochemical parameters with fruit quality in ‘Rocha’ pear orchardsPublication . Dias, Cindy; Ribeiro, Tânia; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Vasconcelos, Marta W.; Ferrante, António; Pintado, ManuelaAt the same location, variability among orchards may be high, which is reflected in fruit quality, and it may be associated mainly with growers’ practices. This study aimed to identify physicochemical variability within pears (Pyrus communis L. cv 'Rocha') from three orchards from the same location and under the same climate conditions and correlate it with mineral composition.
- Edible flowers of Helichrysum italicum: Composition, nutritive value, and bioactivitiesPublication . Primitivo, Maria João; Neves, Marta; Pires, Cristiana L.; Cruz, Pedro F.; Brito, Catarina; Rodrigues, Ana C.; Carvalho, Carla C. C. R. de; Mortimer, Megan M.; Moreno, Maria João; Brito, Rui M. M.; Taylor, Edward J.; Millson, Stefan H.; Reboredo, Fernando; Campos, Maria; Vaz, Daniela C.; Ribeiro, VâniaHelichrysum italicum (H. italicum) is a halophyte shrub with bright yellow flowers with a strong curry-like aroma. The essential oils of H. italicum have been used in the production of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, due to their antiallergic and anti-inflammatory properties. In the agri-food sector, H. italicum flowers can be used for seasoning and flavoring food, and as natural food preservatives. Here, we report on the composition, bioactive compounds, and nutritive value of H. italicum flowers. Flowers were mainly composed of carbohydrates (>80 % dry weight), followed by minerals (6.31 ± 0.95 % dw), protein (5.44 ± 0.35 % dw), and lipids (3.59 % ± 0.53 % dw). High percentages of Fe, Zn, Ca, and K were found in the flower material, along with a high content in antioxidants, polyphenols, and carotenoids, as corroborated by the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. Flowers were mainly composed of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) (54.50 ± 0.95 % of total FA), followed by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (37.73 ± 1.25 % of total FA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) (7.77 ± 0.34 %), as detected by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The omega-6 PUFA linoleic acid (22.55 ± 0.76 % of total FA) was the most abundant fatty acid found. Flower extracts showed antimicrobial activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Komagataella phaffii, as well as against Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumoniae) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. H. italicum flower material was nontoxic to human intestinal Caco-2 model cells at concentrations up to 1.0 % w/v.
- Corema album spp: Edible wild crowberries with a high content in minerals and organic acidsPublication . Brito, Catarina; Bertotti, Taciana; Primitivo, Maria João; Neves, Marta; Pires, Cristiana L.; Cruz, Pedro F.; Martins, Patrícia A. T.; Rodrigues, Ana Cristina; Moreno, Maria João; Brito, Rui M. M.; Campos, Maria; Vaz, Daniela C.; Pessoa, Maria Fernanda; Lidon, Fernando; Reboredo, Fernando; Ribeiro, Vânia S.Edible wild plants are part of the ethnobotanical and gastronomic heritage of different geographical areas. Corema album (L.) D. Don is an endemic species of the dune systems of the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The aerial parts of Corema album are a source of nutrients and antioxidants. The Corema album white berry (Portuguese crowberry) is rich in calcium, iron, and zinc. The plant also shows high phenolic content and antioxidant capacity associated with the leaves, fruit, and flowers. The presence of organic acids, namely phenolic acids, such as hydroxycinnamic acids, and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) omega-3 and omega-6 has also been confirmed. Toxicity studies evaluated by cell viability tests with human intestinal epithelium model cells (Caco-2) have shown that, at low concentrations, plant extracts may present beneficial effects.
- Preliminary results on the effect of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid on restoring ‘Rocha’ pear ripening treated with 1-MCPPublication . Dias, C.; Rodrigues, A.C.; Vasconcelos, M.W.; Ferrante, A.; Pintado, M.Loss of ripening capacity is still a major problem associated with the use of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), despite its benefit in preserving climacteric fruit under long-term cold storage, specially, in controlled atmosphere. Several strategies have been tested to overcome this problem, namely the use of phytohormones (e.g., ethylene). In this study, ‘Rocha’ pear treated with 1-MCP was after storage exposed to a synthetic phytohormone, the auxin 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (1-NAA) at 2 mM, for 2 h. Before treatment, as well as 3, 6 and 24 h after treatment, the primary impact of 1-NAA on the expression of genes encoding ethylene receptor (PcETR2) and ethylene biosynthesis enzyme (PcACS4) was determined. The restoration of ripening capacity was assessed across shelf-life by measuring ethylene production and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxyl acid oxidase (ACO) activity. Herein, the expression of PcACS4 significantly increased in pears treated with 1-NAA compared to pear treated only with 1-MCP. Additionally, the expression of PcETR2 was enhanced, revealing the potential of the 1-NAA treatment in inducing the production of new ethylene receptors. Time course physicochemical analysis revealed that fruit ripening was promoted by 1-NAA treatment, as judged by the higher ethylene production (ca. 50%) and ACO activity (ca. 15%) compared to treated only with 1-MCP. The application of the auxin indicated its potential in reactivating the ripening of ‘Rocha’ pear under the effect of 1-MCP.