The European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), is an environmentally and economically important species in Europe, mainly for fruit production. The chestnut fruit is well-known for its nutritional properties, namely its high concentration of carbohydrates (starch) and its low-fat content, as well as being one of the few fruits that do not contain gluten. Due to its chemical and nutritional characteristics beneficial to health, the sweet chestnut is a food recommended at different levels. The biochemistry of the mouth and nose of a human being is very complex. However, understanding the different interactions between the biochemistry of our sensory organs and food helps us to comprehend certain concepts, such as flavor and how it is involved in the sensory evaluation of the chestnuts. For the selection of high-quality products, it is necessary to develop reliable methods both from a qualitative and sensory point of view, and chestnut is a fruit with unique sensory characteristics that can be used in various gastronomic dishes, from main courses to desserts.
The introduction of a drink in the mouth and the action of saliva and enzymes cause the perception of basic tastes and some aromas perceived in a retro-nasal way. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the influence of the type of alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, and brandy) on lingual lipase and α-amylase activity and in-mouth pH. It was possible to see that the pH values (drink and saliva) differed significantly from the pH values of the initial drinks. Moreover, the α-amylase activity was significantly higher when the panel members tasted a colorless brandy, namely Grappa. Red wine and wood-aged brandy also induced greater α-amylase activity than white wine and blonde beer. Additionally, tawny port wine induced greater α-amylase activity than red wine. The flavor characteristics of red wines due to skin maceration and the contact of the brandy with the wood can cause a synergistic effect between beverages considered “tastier” and the activity of human α-amylase. We can conclude that saliva-beverage chemical interactions may depend on the saliva composition but also on the chemical composition of the beverage, namely its constitution in acids, alcohol concentration, and tannin content. This work is an important contribution to the e-flavor project, the development of a sensor system capable of mimicking the human perception of flavor. Furthermore, a better understanding of saliva–drink interactions allow us to comprehend which and how salivary parameters can contribute to taste and flavor perception.
Given the importance of gender equality to international economics and sustainable economic and social development, this dissertation addresses the gender imbalances in senior company board decision-making positions. This furthermore aims to identify the potential impacts of the 33.3% gender quota for supervisory and management boards approved in Portugal in August 2017. Consequently, this enables a deeper understanding of the conditions necessary for gender quotas to bring about sustainable gender balances in boardrooms and alongside changes in the corporate culture. This dissertation applies interpretative data analysis from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) and semi-structured interviews with representatives of nine PSI 20 firms (the 20 largest companies listed on the Portuguese Stock Exchange). The goals are thus to study the glass-ceiling existence and constraints within the Portuguese corporate context, perceptions on quota outcomes and legitimacy, and the perceived impacts of women on firm performances.The results of this study demonstrate how quota acceptability is independent of gender as there were no verified gender patterns among the responses obtained; that cultural factors and gender role expectations influence board dynamics and facilitate male access to board positions; and, the Portuguese quota requirement may successfully trigger gender parity in the boardroom due to the existence of a sanctioning mechanism for noncompliance and a strong record of path dependency (earlier legal initiatives). However, findings are inconclusive as regards any possible structural change in corporate mentality and culture as respondents remain divided about the influence of gender diversity on firm performance, the legitimacy of quotas and their effects on meritocracy.
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