Browsing by Author "Anjos, O."
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- Advanced classification of Brazilian stingless bee honey by genus using comprehensive analytical techniques and chemometricsPublication . Ressutte, Jéssica; Galvan, Diego; Luz, Cynthia F.P. da; Gonçalves, Ana Margarida; Rebelo, Kemilla S.; Sattler, José Augusto G.; Passarinha, Luis A.; Gallardo, Eugenia; Anjos, O.; Spinosa, Wilma A.This study aimed to investigate Brazilian stingless bee honey (SBH) to compare their chemical compositions. Fifty-five samples from the genera Melipona, Scaptotrigona, Frieseomelitta, Tetragona, and Tetragonisca, collected from five regions were evaluated by melissopalynological and physicochemical analysis, phenolic compounds, sugar profiling, and FTIR-ATR. Multiblock Analysis (MA) was employed to discriminate and assess the influence of entomological (bee genus) and geographical origins on the honey's characteristics. Subsequently, Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) were employed to classify the samples based on quantitative data and FTIR-ATR spectra, respectively. The primary factor influencing the chemical profile of Brazilian SBH was entomological origin. MA partially separated samples, while LDA and PLS-DA effectively predicted Melipona, Scaptotrigona, and Tetragonisca samples. Key parameters for separation using MA included sugar profile, phenolic compounds, and FTIR-ATR regions (1800–750 cm⁻¹). In the LDA model, electrical conductivity, pH, color (a*), raffinose content, reducing sugars, and trehalulose + maltose were key for classification. For PLS-DA, spectral regions 1610–1557 cm⁻¹ , 1126–960 cm⁻¹ , and 1170–915 cm⁻¹ were critical for distinguishing samples. This study enhances the understanding of how entomological and geographic factors influence Brazilian SBH characteristics and supports its traceability for quality and authenticity.
- Advances in ISO standardization of bee pollenPublication . Anjos, O.; Alpat, Ufuk; Özkök, Aslı; Campos, Maria da Graça; Margaoan, Rodica; Damarli, Emel; Almeida, Paulo Russo; Bobis, Otilia; Varadi, Alina Felicia; Bruneau, Etienne; Li, Hongliang; Geer, Leo de; Meeme, Rehema; Gloger, Thomas; González Porto, Amelia; Yorulmaz, Elif Önder; Samancı, Aslı Elif Tanuğur; Artık, Nevzat; Chhuneja, Pardeep KumarStandardization, although voluntary in many countries around the world, is extremely important for regulating the marketing of goods and services. The standardization of a product guarantees quality parameters not only in the production processes but also in the finished product, thus giving greater confidence to consumers.
- Advances in palynological analysis of bee pollen loadsPublication . Almeida, Paulo Russo; Margaoan, Rodica; Dastan, Tugce; Alpat, Ufuk; Bruneau, Etienne; Özkök, Aslı; Li, Hongliang; Anjos, O.Advances in palynological analysis of bee pollen loads
- Alternative species for the forest industry as forms of diversify the landscapePublication . Santos, António J.; Simões, Rogério; Pereira, Helena; Anjos, O.Together the forest and industrial activities within the Portuguese forest sector have a great importance in the national economy. The most used wood species in Portugal for industry (wood panel, sawmill, wood crates) are pine and eucalypt, which leads to extreme dependence and competition between the various industries for the same material, and thus unsustainable pressure on these forest resources. This is one of the causes of the decrease of pinewood area in recent years. On the other hand, this dependence leads to extensive areas of forest monocultures and, subsequently, increased risk of the forest fire propagation. This work intends to stimulate the diversification of the wood products used in the national industry of pulp and to provide a pulp with appropriate characteristics for incorporation as fibber for paper reinforcement. At the level of forest producers, the use of this prime-material would increase competitiveness among tree species and revitalization of less favoured rural areas and, turning them into a possible solution for the lack of wood and an incentive to the reforestation of these areas. Wood from species Cupressus sempervirens and Cupressus arizonica, Acacia delbata and Acacia melanoxylon were analysed. Content of extractives and of Klason lignin, fibre length and coarseness were determined. Representative wood samples from Pinus pinaster grown in Portugal and from Pinus sylvestris grown in Finland were used as reference. The wood from Cupressus sempervirens showed lower Klason lignin and a fibre quality that appears to be more adequate to pulp and paper. Acacia species, with their relatively short, flexible and collapsible fibres, have potential to produce papers with good relationships light scattering/tensile strength and smoothness/tensile strength, at low energy consumption in refining. The studied acacia species showed slightly better performance in pulping than the Eucalyptus globulus sample used as a comparison.
- An insight into the level of information about sustainability of edible insects in a traditionally non-insect-eating country: exploratory studyPublication . Guiné, Raquel P.F.; Florença, Sofia G.; Anjos, O.; Correia, Paula M.R.; Ferreira, Bruno M.; Costa, Cristina A.Insects have been reported as a possible alternative solution to help feed the growing world population with less stress on the planet, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment and natural ecosystems. However, the consumption of edible insects (EIs), although culturally accepted for some communities, is not readily accepted for others. Hence this work explores the level of information that people in a traditionally non-insect-eating country have about the sustainability issues related with EIs, and also some possible reasons that could motivate their consumption. The study was based on a questionnaire survey and the results were explored by descriptive statistic tools, tree classification analysis, factor analysis and cluster analysis. The results showed that the level of information is still low in general, with most people not manifesting an opinion. However, some aspects are relatively familiar to the participants (88.9% know that the ecological footprint of insects is smaller than other meats and 86.9% know that they efficiently convert organic matter into protein). Factor and cluster analysis showed three classes: cluster 1—people not informed about the facts disclosed through the true statements and also not able to distinguish the false information; cluster 2—people not informed about the facts disclosed through the true statements but who were able to distinguish the false information; and cluster 3—people well informed about the facts disclosed through the true statements but who were marginally unable to distinguish the false information. It was also found that education, sex and professional area are the most relevant sociodemographic factors associated with the level of information, and the highest motivations to consume EIs are their contribution to preserve the environment and natural resources followed by being a more sustainable option (for 64.7% and 53.4% of participants, respectively). Hence it was concluded that, although some work still needs to be done to better inform people about EIs, there is already some conscientiousness that they constitute a good and more sustainable alternative to other types of mea
- Análise espacial da caracterização físico-química de amostras de melPublication . Roque, Natália; Gouveia, Cecília; Garção, Hélder; Fernandez, Paulo; Peres, Maria de Fátima; Anjos, O.
- Annual growth rings thickness and trees total volume calculation of Acacia melanoxylonPublication . Rucha, Andreia; Santos, António J.; Campos, José; Anjos, O.; Tavares, MárioThis text presents some results on the variation of Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon R. Br.) annual growth rings thickness in Portugal, as well as the best models to evaluate total volumes stand trees, under or over-bark. Annual ring thickness evaluations were done on 261 wood sample disks collected at the usually used levels. With the purpose of obtaining those disks, 20 sample trees of 40cm dbh were harvested in four northwest sites of Portugal. The study of earlywood and latewood thickness leads to the conclusion that the wood type is responsible for 16% of ring size variance, and earlywood is 61% larger in average than latewood. The site, number of ring and its interaction are responsible for 12% of annual woody increment variation. Respective residuals are very relevant in both cases - 75 and 88%. Based on the study of those wood variables, the four places were arranged into three independent homogeneous groups. Differences between averages of earlywood and latewood thickness were significative, as well as those between North and South exposures. The selected model (v=β1*dβ2*hβ3) that uses sites as dummy variables for stand tree volumes estimation is also presented. Maximum expected errors perform values between 155dm3 to mean maximum volumes of 1362dm3 under-bark, and 169dm3 to mean maximum volumes of 1459dm3 over-bark.
- Antibacterial activity of Moroccan Zantaz Honey and the influence of its physicochemical parameters using chemometric toolsPublication . Elamine, Youssef; Imtara, Hamada; Miguel, Maria Graça; Anjos, O.; Estevinho, Letícia M.; Alaiz, Manuel; Girón-Calle, Julio; Vioque, Javier; Martín, Jesús; Lyoussi, BadiâaThe emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has prompted the development of alternative therapies, including the use of natural products with antibacterial properties. The antibacterial properties of Zantaz honey produced in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated and analyzed using chemometric tools. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against S. aureus were the lowest (112.5 ± 54.5 mg/mL), revealing that this species was most sensitive to Zantaz honey. P. aeruginosa showed an intermediate sensitivity (MIC= 118.75 ± 51.9 mg/mL), while E. coli was the most resistant to treatment (MIC = 175 ± 61.2 mg/mL). Content of monosaccharides, certain minerals, and phenolic compounds correlated with antibacterial activity (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis of physicochemical characteristics and antibacterial activity indicated that the parameters most associated with antibacterial activity were color, acidity, and content of melanoidins, fructose, epicatechin, methyl syringate, 4-coumaric acid, and 3-coumaric acid.
- Antioxidant ativities of wine spirits aged by a sustainable technology using chestnut wood staves and micro-oxygenationPublication . Alves, Sheila Oliveira; Lourenço, Sílvia; Anjos, O.; Caldeira, Ilda; Fernandes, Tiago A.; Catarino, Sofia; Canas, SaraAntioxidant ativities of wine spirits aged by a sustainable technology using chestnut wood staves and micro-oxygenation.