Search

The theoretical literature on risk aversion and Expected Utility Theory is extensive; however, the analysis of this behaviour with natural experiments could be more comprehensive. In this paper, we use data from 120 episodes of the Portuguese version of the TV game show The Price is Right, namely from The Wheel game, to explore risk aversion as well as the impact of gender in decision-making. The Wheel game has straightforward rules and huge expected payoffs. All contestants have access to the same information and distributions of uncertainty, making it a unique field laboratory to conduct an experimental test of rational decision theory. The objective is to infer the risk aversion levels of decision-makers from their choice to turn the wheel and the influence of gender on risk attitudes. There is a widespread view that women are more risk-averse than men. However, we could not reject the hypothesis that women and men have the same level of risk aversion. Nevertheless, we have evidence that contestants are more risk-averse than risk-seeking. The omission bias, loss aversion and regret can explain that behaviour.

Types of mobility in the Pacific Islands are numerous and diverse. Case-studies from the region offer insights into the actions and agency of people, households and communities in the face of accelerating climate vulnerability.

The causes of the low desiccation tolerance and low longevity of coffee seeds have not yet been fully elucidated, and a full understanding of their complex physiology is of great interest. Among several alternatives, the loss of antioxidant capacity in seeds may be related to their rapid loss in quality during storage. The objective of this study was to determine the total antioxidant capacity of coffee harvested at different ripeness stages before and after the storage of seeds with different water contents and to relate antioxidant capacity to physiological quality. Seeds in the greenish-yellow or cherry stages, recently harvested or stored for nine months at 10 °C with 40, 30, 20 and 12% water content (wet basis ? wb), were submitted to physiological and biochemical quality evaluations, and the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) was determined. The germination and root protrusion of coffee seeds from greenish-yellow and cherry fruits were not affected by drying, but seeds harvested at physiological maturity had greater vigor when the moisture content was lower. The quality of coffee seeds decreased during storage, and this decrease was greater in seeds stored with higher water contents. Coffee seeds in the greenish-yellow stage had a higher antioxidant capacity than those in the cherry stage when recently harvested, but there was a substantial reduction in this capacity during storage at both maturation stages. Coffee seed deterioration is related to a reduction in antioxidant capacity, and the isoenzymatic profiles of the antioxidant process are little affected by the seed maturation stage. The deterioration of coffee seeds during storage is related to a reduction in their total antioxidant capacity, regardless of their maturation stage, being more pronounced in the greenish-yellow stage. Made available in DSpace on 2022-08-11T18:20:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Trolox-equivalent-antioxidant-2022.pdf: 571249 bytes, checksum: 0946592100510f938bf44bcf45434e4a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2022 Título em português: Capacidade antioxidante equivalente ao trolox em sementes de Coffea arabica L.

No abstract available.

The aim of this study was to evaluate how the inclusion of a blend of essential oils in milk replacer (MR) affects different outcomes of dairy heifers. The outcomes evaluated: feed intake, performance, body development, blood cells and metabolites, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), rumen fermentation, fecal scores, and respiratory scores. All outcomes were evaluated during pre-weaning (4?60 d of age), and carry-over effects during post-weaning (61?90 d of age) periods. The experimental units utilized were 29 newborn Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy heifers, with genetic composition of 5/8 or more Holstein and 3/8 or less Gyr and body weight (BW) at birth of 32.2 ± 5.2 kg. Experimental units were assigned to either a control (CON, n = 15) or a blend of essential oil supplementation (BEO, n = 14) treatment, maintaining a balance of genetic composition. The BEO was supplemented in the MR with 1 g/d/calf of a blend of essential oils (Apex Calf, Adisseo, China) composed by plant extracts derived from anise, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. During the pre-weaning phase, all heifers were fed 5 L of MR/d reconstituted to 15% (dry matter basis), divided into two equal meals. Water and starter were provided ad libitum. During the post-weaning, animals received a maximum of 3 kg of starter/d, and ad libitum corn silage, divided into two meals. Feed intake, fecal and respiratory scores were evaluated daily. The BW was measured every three days, while body development was recorded weekly. Blood samples were collected on 0, 30, and 60 d of age for total blood cell count, weekly and on the weaning day to determinate ß-hydroxybutyrate, urea and glucose, and biweekly for IGF-1. Ruminal parameters (pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia-N, and acetate:propionate proportion?C2:C3) were measured on days 14, 28, 42, 60, 74 and 90. A randomized complete block design with an interaction between treatment and week was the experimental method of choice to test the hypothesis of the BEO?s effect on all outcomes. An ANOVA procedure was used for continuous outcomes, and a non-parametric test was used for the ordered categorical outcomes, both adopting a CI = 95%. Results indicated that there was not enough evidence to accept the alternative hypothesis of the effect of BEO in MR on feed intake, performance, body development, and blood metabolites during both pre-weaning and post-weaning periods. However, results indicated that the inclusion of BEO in MR significantly affects the proportion of C2:C3 during pre- and post-weaning (P = 0.05). Similarly, the effect was significant for basophil (P menor igual 0.001), and platelet (P = 0.04) counts pre-weaning. The interaction between week and treatment was also significant for lymphocytes (P menor igual 0.001), revealing a cumulative effect. Lastly, fecal scores were also significant (P = 0.04) during pre-weaning, with lower values for BEO. The BEO contributed to ruminal manipulation in pre-weaning and carry-over effects in post-weaning, immunity improvement, and decreased morbidity of neonatal diarrhea in the pre-weaning phase. Made available in DSpace on 2021-08-21T02:09:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Effects-blend.pdf: 937173 bytes, checksum: f938678db848f27d30d12b82699db2aa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021

Seed deterioration induces the formation of free radicals and proliferation of microorganisms, but the application of external antioxidants may lessen these effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of cathode and anode water on the physiological quality and health of Coffea arabica L. seeds. Part of the seeds were soaked in cathode water and the other part in anode water for periods of 1, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours. The physiological quality of the seeds was evaluated by the germination test and tetrazolium test, and seed health by the Blotter test. Analysis of variance and Pearson correlation analysis were performed on the data for all the response variables. Soaking in cathode water or anode water up to 24 hours improves the physiological quality of coffee seeds. Anode water has a beneficial effect on the health of coffee seeds, reducing the incidence of Fusarium spp., Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp., and Alternaria spp. after one hour of soaking and of Aspergillus spp. after six hours. Soaking in cathode water for a period of one hour leads to a reduction in the fungi Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Cladosporium spp., and Alternaria spp., and reduction in Penicillium spp. after six hours. Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-16T02:21:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vilela-et-al.-2021-Antioxidant-and-antimicrobial-activity-of-cathode-and-anode.pdf: 501480 bytes, checksum: 8637b101bfdcf73571d6a72d756d8840 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021

Submitted by arminda sustelo (arminda.m.sustelo@hff.min-saude.pt) on 2020-09-21T14:55:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Port J Nephrol Hypert.pdf: 238471 bytes, checksum: 02179cc3751a4c650c8d3b60e68be875 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2020-09-21T14:55:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Port J Nephrol Hypert.pdf: 238471 bytes, checksum: 02179cc3751a4c650c8d3b60e68be875 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

During drying and freezing, protective mechanisms act to maintain seed physiological quality. Some of these mechanisms contribute to the integrity of cell membranes. The damage caused to cell membranes due to cell stress can be seen in ultrastructural studies. The aim of this study was to investigate ultrastructural changes in endosperm cells of coffee seeds brought about by drying and by exposure to low temperatures. Seeds of Coffea Arabica were dried in silica gel to moisture contents of 40, 20, and 5 % (wb) and brought to equilibrium at temperatures of 10, -20, and -86oC. Germination, vigor, and tetrazolium tests were performed for evaluation of seed physiological quality. Ultrastructural damage was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Coffee seeds with 40% moisture content have whole, swollen, and expanded cells, with a filled lumen and without signs of damage. The physiological and ultrastructural quality of seeds exposed to below zero temperatures with 40% moisture content is compromised. They have null germination and empty cells, indicating leakage of cell content. Drying of coffee seeds leads to uniform contraction of inner cell content. Drying of coffee seeds to 5% moisture content leads to intense contraction of cell volume, with physiological and ultrastructural damage. Made available in DSpace on 2022-01-18T16:00:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ultrastructural-damage-in-coffee-seeds.pdf: 2841205 bytes, checksum: f6e1825a4a770de6f6741d98678d1658 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020

Recalcitrant and intermediate seeds have limitations regarding conservation because of their sensitivity to desiccation and response to storage. Establishing a method for seed storage is difficult because these seeds deteriorate rapidly, which can intensify production of reactive oxygen species that cause lethal oxidative damage to plant tissues. Orthodox seeds, which have greater tolerance to desiccation and storage, are also subject to deterioration processes, in degrees that vary according to the species. Damage caused by harmful levels of free radicals can be mitigated by the action of endogenous or exogenous antioxidants. Recent studies have led to new technologies for protection coming from antioxidants, one of which is cathodic protection. This is a technique with promising results in recalcitrant species, as well as in other living organisms. This paper reviews results regarding the antioxidant activity of cathodic water produced from electrolysis of a calcium chloride and magnesium chloride solution. Made available in DSpace on 2022-01-18T19:00:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 antioxidant-effect.pdf: 1308488 bytes, checksum: 079917058049a4882ce0c9623d6623f6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020 Título em português: Ação antioxidante da água catódica em sementes.