Catches of the sport fishing competitions along the Algarve coast (Portugal): species, sizes, catch rates, and trends

Background. Stocks of many marine fishes are in decline and a number of studies suggest that for some species the impact of recreational angling may be important. To date, only recreational (leisure) fishing surveys have been conducted in Portugal, with no studies on beach angling competitions, dynamically increasing in number over the past 10 to 20 years. In view of the above, we decided to evaluate the impact of such events on the Algarve coast (southern Portugal) in terms of the abundance, diversity, and respective weight of fish species caught and outline some conservation measures and recommendations for the management of the targeted species. Materials and methods. Participants of 22 angling competitions taking place between February and June 2007 were surveyed. In each competition a random sample of anglers was interviewed, and the specimens caught by each participant were identified, weighed, and measured. Results. Thirteen taxa belonging to eight families were identified, and the most common were: garfish, Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761); mullets, Mugilidae (not identified); and mackerels, Scomber spp. A total of 563 specimens were sampled, totalling 75.4 kg of weight, with the average catch per angler weighing 0.5 +/- 0.05 SE (n = 153) kg. Differences were also observed between the length at first maturity (L(50)) of the specimens caught and their respective Minimum Landing Size (MLS) and Allowed Minimum Size (AMS), most particularly in the case of the European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax (L.), with almost all individuals caught measuring below the species-specific L50. Analysis of time series of competition results (1996-2009) showed no evidence of a decrease in catches or in mean weight. Conclusion. Based on the results we propose that the AMS for beach angling competitions should be increased to the MLS in order to prevent the capture of juvenile fishes, especially the sea bass. Future studies should address the size selectivity of the hooks used in beach competitions, with a view to the implementation of a minimum hook size for competitions

Knowledge and attitude towards the gradual reduction of salt in bread – an online survey

Aim: Assess knowledge and attitude towards the gradual reduction of salt in bread and the potential impact on eating habits of children (6-18 years) and their families, as part as a Health Impact Assessment pilot study.N/

The stabilisation of receptor structure in low cross-linked MIPs by an immobilised template

In molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) a high level of cross-linking is usually important for preserving the receptor structure. We propose here an alternative approach for stabilising binding sites, which involves the use of an immobilised template. The idea is based on the assumption that an immobilised template will ‘‘hold’’ polymeric chains and complementary functionalities together, preventing the collapsing of the binding sites. To test this postulate, a range of polymers was prepared using polymerisable (2,4-diamino-6- (methacryloyloxy)ethyl-1,3,5-triazine) and non-polymerisable (or extractable) (2,4-diamino-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine) templates, methacrylic acid as functional monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as cross-linker. The level of cross- linking was varied from 12 to 80%. Polymerisations were performed in acetonitrile using UV initiation. Binding properties of the synthesised materials were characterised both by HPLC and equilibrium batch binding experiments followed by HPLC-MS or UV-visible detection. The adsorption isotherms of polymers were obtained and fitted to the Langmuir model to calculate dissociation constant, Kd, and concentration of binding sites for each material. The results strongly indicate that the presence of an immobilised template improves the affinity of MIPs containing low percentages of cross- linker. The low cross-linked MIPs synthesised with a polymerisable template also retain a reasonable degree of selectivity. Low crosslinked MIPs with such binding characteristics would be useful for the creation of new types of optical and electrochemical sensors, where induced fit or the ‘‘gate effect’’ could be used more effectively for generating and enhancin

Distribution of the transposable elements bilbo and gypsy in original and colonizing populations of Drosophila subobscura

Background: Transposable elements (TEs) constitute a substantial amount of all eukaryotic genomes. They induce an important proportion of deleterious mutations by insertion into genes or gene regulatory regions. However, their mutational capabilities are not always adverse but can contribute to the genetic diversity and evolution of organisms. Knowledge of their distribution and activity in the genomes of populations under different environmental and demographic regimes, is important to understand their role in species evolution. In this work we study the chromosomal distribution of two TEs, gypsy and bilbo, in original and colonizing populations of Drosophila subobscura to reveal the putative effect of colonization on their insertion profile. Results: Chromosomal frequency distribution of two TEs in one original and three colonizing populations of D. subobscura, is different. Whereas the original population shows a low insertion frequency in most TE sites, colonizing populations have a mixture of high (frequency ≥ 10%) and low insertion sites for both TEs. Most highly occupied sites are coincident among colonizing populations and some of them are correlated to chromosomal arrangements. Comparisons of TE copy number between the X chromosome and autosomes show that gypsy occupancy seems to be controlled by negative selection, but bilbo one does not. Conclusion: These results are in accordance that TEs in Drosophila subobscura colonizing populations are submitted to a founder effect followed by genetic drift as a consequence of colonization. This would explain the high insertion frequencies of bilbo and gypsy in coincident sites of colonizing populations. High occupancy sites would represent insertion events prior to colonization. Sites of low frequency would be insertions that occurred after colonization and/or copies from the original population whose frequency is decreasing in colonizing populations. This work is a pioneer attempt to explain the chromosomal distribution of TEs in a colonizing species with high inversion polymorphism to reveal the putative effect of arrangements in TE insertion profiles. In general no associations between arrangements and TE have been found, except in a few cases where the association is very strong. Alternatively, founder drift effects, seem to play a leading role in TE genome distribution in colonizing populations

Cold-induced growth arrest in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata: metabolic reorganisation and recovery

There are currently no standard diets or practices to counteract or ameliorate the growth arrest and extremely poor feed conversion rates (FCR) in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata caused by low water temperatures. The present study analysed the effects of reducing dietary lipid content from 18 to 14 % during a temperature fluctuation period. Temperature was gradually reduced from 22 degrees to 14 degrees C over a period of 5 d, and maintained at this low temperature for a further 45 d before gradual recovery over 7 d to 22 degrees C under controlled conditions, avoiding other stressors often present in cage culture conditions. Decreasing dietary lipid content at an elevated temperature (22 degrees C) did not significantly affect the standard growth rate or FCRs of the sea bream, indicating a possibility to reduce the dietary energy during the months before winter. Although cold-induced growth arrest and metabolic depression were unavoidable, a well-formulated, low-lipid diet adequately met the low energy demands at low temperatures. Analysis of plasma metabolites and liver enzyme activities demonstrated a reorganisation of liver metabolism, mainly in fish on a low-lipid diet. Recovery from low temperatures was delayed, with a higher dietary lipid content required for optimal liver condition, and mineral supplementation to maintain osmoregulation and bone formation. Our results provide useful information for fish producers and researchers, suggesting that dietary lipid contents should be reduced to allow fish to better cope with low temperatures, and that improved diets with higher lipid content are required for recovery from low temperatures.Spanish government - AGL2011-29873; Erasmus Turkish Programinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type I-b with neurological involvement is associated with a homozygous PTH1R mutation

Pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1b (PHP1b) is characterized by hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, increased levels of circulating parathyroid hormone (PTH), and no skeletal or developmental abnormalities. The goal of this study was to perform a full characterization of a familial case of PHP1b with neurological involvement and to identify the genetic cause of disease. The initial laboratory profile of the proband showed severe hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia and normal levels of PTH, which was considered to be compatible with primary hypoparathyroidism. With disease progression the patient developed cognitive disturbance, PTH levels were found to be slightly elevated and a picture of PTH resistance syndrome seemed more probable. The diagnosis of PHP1b was established after the study of family members and blunted urinary cAMP results were obtained in a PTH stimulation test. Integration of whole genome genotyping and exome sequencing data supported this diagnosis by revealing a novel homozygous missense mutation in PTH1R (p.Arg186His) completely segregating with the disease. Here, we demonstrate segregation of a novel mutation in PTH1R with a phenotype of PHP1b presenting with neurological symptoms, but no bone defects. This case represents the extreme end of the spectrum of cognitive impairment in PTH dysfunction and defines a possible novel form of PHP1b resulting from the impaired interaction between PTH and PTH1R

Caracterização de genes com expressão tecido-específica em raiz e folha de Coffea arabica.

O grande número de genes que tem sido identificado nos últimos anos terá um grande impacto no melhoramento genético vegetal, principalmente pela obtenção de plantas geneticamente modificadas. Tal inovação, apesar de já ocasionar um grande impacto na agricultura mundial aumentando produtividade e diminuindo custos no cultivo, tem sido alvo de muitas críticas e, uma das principais, tem sido a expressão constitutiva dos transgenes, a qual é promovida pelas seqüências promotoras atualmente empregadas. A alternativa mais viável para substituição de tais promotores é investir na clonagem e caracterização de promotores tecido específicos. Visando selecionar genes com expressão tecido específica em café (Coffea arabica) para posterior clonagem dos promotores correspondentes, no presente trabalho foi realizada a identificação e posterior validação de ESTs com expressão específica em raiz e folha. Para tal, análises ?in sílico? foram realizadas utilizando-se as informações e ferramentas disponíveis no Banco de Dados do Projeto Genoma Café. Até o momento foram identificadas treze seqüências com expressão específica em raiz e quatorze seqüências com expressão específica de folha. Visando a validação biológica de tais resultados, primers específicos para as seqüências alvo foram sintetizados. No processo de validação por RTPCR empregando RNA total de diferentes tecidos, dentre os vinte e sete candidatos analisados, apenas dois confirmaram ser tecido específicos, apresentando expressão em raiz e folha, respectivamente

Characterization of an FTLD-PDB family with the coexistence of SQSTM1 mutation and hexanucleotide (G4C2) repeat expansion in C9orf72 gene

The C9orf72 expansion is considered a major genetic cause of familial frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in several patients' cohorts. Interestingly, C9orf72 expansion carriers, present also abundant neuronal p62-positive inclusions. Although p62/SQSTM1 mutations were initially associated with Paget disease of bone (PDB), they have been also identified in FTD. We describe an FTD-PDB family in which the proband presented with behavioral FTD phenotype and concomitant Paget disease. The molecular genetic analysis revealed the co-occurrence of 2 mutations; the pathogenic C9orf72 expansion and p.P392L heterozygous missense mutation in SQSTM1 gene. Amongst the 6 family members analyzed, the p.P392L SQSTM1 mutation segregated as expected with PDB, whereas the C9orf72 expansion segregated with frontal cognitive impairment or dementia in all but one carrier. The coexistence of these conditions could be underestimated since neither patients with FTD nor patients with PDB undergo bone scintigraphy or cognitive assessment, respectively. The number of cases with double mutations could also be over looked as the molecular strategy adopted in most laboratories ends with the identification of one pathogenic mutation in one of the known causative genes. Therefore, we advocate for further clinical and molecular evaluation in suspect cases