Clean-label products: Factors affecting liking and acceptability by Portuguese older adults.

Consumers are preferring more "natural" foods, made of "healthier" and "familiar" components - the "clean-label" trend. As the population ages, understanding the older adult consumer segment becomes increasingly important. This study aims to identify the factors influencing the acceptability and liking of clean-label products in older adults living in the community. A convenience sample of 100 older adults was used for this cross-sectional study. Socio-demographic data, health status, independence level, lifestyle characteristics, nutritional status, and food and nutrient intake data were collected. The acceptability and liking for clean-label products comprised two parts: Sensory analysis with overall liking evaluation of three pairs of products, using a 9-point hedonic scale and free comments; Willingness to eat and preference assessment of nine pairs of products using the Food Action scale and a simple preference test. The participants were 80% female with a mean age of 75 years old. The overall liking for clean-label versions of cookies and mayonnaise was lower than for traditional versions. However, participants were more willing to eat the clean-label versions of products, particularly ham and yogurt. Most of the participants would prefer buying the clean-label version of all nine pairs of products, especially for ham, loaf bread, sausages, and yogurt. In sum, older adults living in the community exhibit a lower liking but, a greater willingness to eat and a higher preference for buying clean-label products. Older adults who favor clean-label products have higher levels of education and are reported to have a more adequate diet.

Eventos virtuais promovidos pela liga de cuidados à saúde da mulher na pandemia de covid-19 / Eventos virtuales promovidos por care league a la salud de la mujer en la pandemia de covid-19 / Virtual events promoted by the women's health care league during the covid-19 pandemic

Resumo Objetivo analisar a percepção dos participantes sobre os eventos online promovidos durante o primeiro ano da pandemia da Covid-19 pela Liga de Cuidados à Saúde das Mulheres (LCSM). Métodos estudo transversal, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa, desenvolvido de forma online com 90 participantes em dez eventos sobre a temática relativa à saúde da mulher, promovidos pela LCSM no ano de 2020. Os dados foram coletados por um formulário semi-estruturado online no período de julho a novembro de 2021. Para a análise de dados, utilizou-se o IBM SPSS, por meio de estatística descritiva das variáveis qualitativas e para a análise dos dados qualitativos utilizou-se a análise temática. Resultados 98,89% dos participantes responderam que os eventos da LCSM no formato online influenciaram de forma positiva na vida acadêmica, profissional ou pessoal. A análise das respostas permitiu a identificação de três categorias: sentimento de "aproximação" à Universidade, descrição das influências positivas, e conhecimentos para além da sala de aula. Conclusão e implicações para a prática Os dados do presente estudo permitem inferir o importante e necessário papel da tecnologia da informação e das ligas acadêmicas na construção do conhecimento e no aprofundamento das reflexões e do debate sobre os cuidados à saúde das mulheres.

Resumen Objetivo analizar la percepción de los participantes de los eventos online promovidos durante el primer año de la pandemia del Covid-19 por la Liga para el Cuidado de la Salud de la Mujer (LCSM). Método estudio transversal, descriptivo, con abordaje cuantitativo y cualitativo, desarrollado online con 90 participantes en diez eventos sobre el tema salud de la mujer, promovidos por la LCSM en 2020. Los datos fueron recogidos a través de un formulario semi-estructurado en línea de julio a noviembre de 2021. Para el análisis de datos se utilizó IBM SPSS, a través de estadística descriptiva de variables cualitativas y para el análisis de datos cualitativos se utilizó análisis temático. Resultados El 98,89% de los participantes respondieron que los eventos LCSM en formato online influyeron positivamente en su vida académica, profesional o personal. El análisis de las respuestas permitió identificar tres categorías: sentirse "más cerca" de la Universidad, descripción de influencias positivas y conocimiento más allá del aula. Conclusión e implicaciones para la práctica Los datos del presente estudio permiten inferir el importante y necesario papel de las tecnologías de la información y de las ligas académicas en la construcción del conocimiento y en la profundización de la reflexión y el debate sobre el cuidado de la salud de las mujeres.

Abstract Objective to analyze the participants' perception of the online events promoted during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic by the Women's Health Care League (LCSM). Methods cross-sectional, descriptive study, with a quantitative and qualitative approach, developed online with 90 participants in ten events on the theme of women's health, promoted by LCSM in 2020. Data were collected using a semi-structured online form from July to November 2021. For data analysis, IBM SPSS was used, through descriptive statistics of qualitative variables and for the analysis of qualitative data, thematic analysis was used. Results 98,89% of the participants answered that the LCSM events in online format had a positive influence on their academic, professional or personal life. The analysis of the responses allowed the identification of three categories: feeling of "closeness" to the University, description of positive influences, and knowledge beyond the classroom. Conclusion and implications for practice The data from this study allow us to infer the important and necessary role of information technology and academic leagues in the construction of knowledge and in the deepening of reflections and debate on women's health care.

A new approach of H∞ filtering for combustion systems using optical instrumentation.

This paper proposes a new filtering scheme applied to a linearized model of a nonlinear representation for combustion systems, whose parameters are obtained by means of optical sensors. To ensure a robust representation regarding the chosen operation point and external disturbances variations, a linear parameter-varying (LPV) state-space representation is proposed in terms of noise disturbances and time-varying parameters affecting the plant (like the instrumentation noise and non-laminar air flow). Concerning the proposed filtering scheme, a new observer structure, which includes the incorporation of the control signal as an additional input of the filter, is proposed to assure improved stability margins and performance given in terms of the H∞ norm. The filter design method is based on a convex optimization technique and is capable to deal with unstable dynamics. A numerical experiment, whose data were obtained from an actual combustion plant, illustrates the flexibility and advantages of the method when compared with the maximum correntropy criterion based Kalman filter, the full-order filter and the standard Luenberger observer.

A Novel Theoretical Probabilistic Model for Opportunistic Routing with Applications in Energy Consumption for WSNs.

This paper proposes a new theoretical stochastic model based on an abstraction of the opportunistic model for opportunistic networks. The model is capable of systematically computing the network parameters, such as the number of possible routes, the probability of successful transmission, the expected number of broadcast transmissions, and the expected number of receptions. The usual theoretical stochastic model explored in the methodologies available in the literature is based on Markov chains, and the main novelty of this paper is the employment of a percolation stochastic model, whose main benefit is to obtain the network parameters directly. Additionally, the proposed approach is capable to deal with values of probability specified by bounded intervals or by a density function. The model is validated via Monte Carlo simulations, and a computational toolbox (R-packet) is provided to make the reproduction of the results presented in the paper easier. The technique is illustrated through a numerical example where the proposed model is applied to compute the energy consumption when transmitting a packet via an opportunistic network.

Nutritional interventions in older people with COVID-19: an overview of the evidence.

Older people are a high-risk group for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because of a range of factors, including age-related changes in anatomical pulmonary and muscle function, decreased immunity and increased inflammation. These factors partly explain why older people with COVID-19 experience more severe symptoms and higher mortality than younger adults and are more likely to require nutritional support. Furthermore, there is an association between suboptimal nutritional status and poorer recovery from COVID-19. Therefore, nutritional interventions are an important aspect of care for older people with COVID-19. All members of the multidisciplinary team, including dietitians and nurses, need to assess, treat and prevent nutritional deficiencies in older people with COVID-19. This literature review provides an overview of the evidence regarding the role of nutritional interventions in the treatment of, and recovery from, COVID-19 in older people.

Robust Static Output-Feedback Control for MJLS with Non-Homogeneous Markov Chains: A Comparative Study Considering a Wireless Sensor Network with Time-Varying PER.

This paper deals with the problem of control through a semi-reliable communication channel, such as wireless sensor networks (WSN). Particularly, the case investigated is the one where the packet loss rate of the network is time-varying due to, for instance, variation in the distance between the nodes. Considering this practical motivation, the control system is modeled using a formulation based on discrete-time Markov jump linear systems (MJLS) with non-homogeneous Markov chains (time-varying transition probabilities). New control design conditions based on parameter-dependent linear matrix inequalities are proposed in order to solve this problem. The purpose is to demonstrate that this strategy is suitable to handle the networked control problem by comparing the temporal behavior of the closed-loop system with the Markovian controller and a standard proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. The case study presented in the paper considers the problem of the remote control of a Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) vehicle through a wireless communication channel. The network packet loss model employed in the case study is based on data collected on a wireless network workbench, which was previously developed and validated by the authors.

Estimated dietary intake of nitrate and nitrite from meat consumed in Fiji.

To assess the risk posed by meat consumption to the Fiji and Pacific populace, the present study reports nitrate and nitrite in meat. Twelve commercially available meat products, with a total of 210 fresh and processed meat samples, were analysed for nitrate and nitrite by an optimised RP-HPLC technique with isocratic elution using n-octylamine in 20.0% methanol at pH 6.60. The nitrate content in the meat samples ranged from 0.00 to 124 mg kg-1 whereas the nitrite ranged from 0.00 to 164 mg kg-1. The study shows that the nitrate and nitrite contents of meat samples in Fiji were below the maximum level proposed by European Union legislation but above the limit set by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ). The estimated dietary intake of nitrate and nitrite was calculated from a 24-h diet recall study as well as from Fiji's food balance sheets.

Protocol for Energy-Efficiency in Networked Control Systems Based on WSN.

This paper proposes a new communication protocol for output-feedback control through multi-hop Wireless Sensor Network (WSN). The protocol is based on a Hop-by-Hop transport scheme and is especially devised to simultaneously fulfill two conflicting criteria: the network energy consumption and the stability/performance (in terms of H∞ norm) of the closed-loop system. The proposed protocol can be implemented by means of three heuristics, basically using distinct rules to control the maximum number of retransmissions allowed in terms of the voltage level of the batteries of the network nodes. As another contribution, a Markov jump based representation is proposed to model the packet loss in the communication channel, giving rise to a systematic procedure to determine the transition probability matrix and the Markov chain operation modes of a network with multiple information sources. The synthesis of the output-feedback controller is made in two steps (observer filter plus a state-feedback controller) for the Markov model assuming partial availability of the operation modes. The efficiency and applicability of the communication protocol is illustrated by means of a numerical experiment, based on a physical model of a coupled tanks plant. The features of each heuristic of implementation of the proposed protocol are presented in the numerical comparisons.

The galactose-binding lectin isolated from Bauhinia bauhinioides Mart seeds inhibits neutrophil rolling and adhesion via primary cytokines.

In this study, the amino acid sequence and anti-inflammatory effect of Bauhinia bauhinioides (BBL) lectin were evaluated. Tandem mass spectrometry revealed that BBL possesses 86 amino acid residues. BBL (1 mg/kg) intravenously injected in rats 30 min prior to inflammatory stimuli inhibited the cellular edema induced by carrageenan in only the second phase (21% - 3 h, 19% - 4 h) and did not alter the osmotic edema induced by dextran. BBL also inhibited carrageenan peritoneal neutrophil migration (51%), leukocyte rolling (58%) and adhesion (68%) and the neutrophil migration induced by TNF-α (64%). These effects were reversed by the association of BBL with galactose, demonstrating that the carbohydrate-binding domain is essential for lectin activity. In addition, BBL reduced myeloperoxidase activity (84%) and TNF-α (68%) and IL1-ß (47%) levels. In conclusion, the present investigation demonstrated that BBL contains highly homologous isolectins, resulting in a total of 86 amino acid residues, and exhibits anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting neutrophil migration by reducing TNF-α and IL1-ß levels via the lectin domain.

System of planning and evaluation of school meals.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a software to plan and evaluate school meals according to the main national and international standards for foods and nutrition. DESIGN: Development of software. SETTING: Public schools, Portugal. SUBJECTS: School meals for students. RESULTS: The System of Planning and Evaluation of School Meals (SPARE) is a software that allows the planning of school meals in an effective and organized way, according to the main national and international standards for food and nutrition. The regular use of this tool enables the evaluation, monitoring and verification towards continuous improvement of the quality of school meals. CONCLUSIONS: The SPARE software aims to promote healthy eating by focusing on the planning and production of safe and adequate meals in the school environment. This software can be adapted to different age groups and to different contexts, attending to specific nutritional and food standards.