Digital Materialities and Incompatible Institutional Logics

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Enzyme production by solid-state fermentation

Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is a fermentation process which uses moist solid supports (mainly, agro-industrial residues) as substrate. This process has many advantages when compared with submerged fermentation (SmF) and is being successfully exploited for the production of enzymes and secondary metabolites. Its advantages include higher fermentation productivity, higher concentration of the products, less catabolic repression, low water and energy demanding, less effluent generation, and requirement of simple fermentation equipments [1]. This research group has been working in the production of fungi enzymes using SSF. Recently, we reported the production, isolation and purification of an ochratoxin A (OTA) hydrolytic enzyme [2]. This enzyme was produced by SSF on wheat germ and purified from the culture filtrate by acetone precipitation and anion exchange chromatography. The isolated enzyme is a metalloenzyme which can degrade OTA at pH 7.5 and 37 ºC, allowing its detoxification. OTA is a mycotoxin produced by several fungi in some agricultural commodities being present in food and feed products. Presently, we are assessing the application of this enzyme on detoxification processes for some agricultural commodities

Parapharyngeal space tumours: one case report

RESUMO Os tumores do espaço parafaríngeo são raros e correspondem a menos de 1% de todas as neoplasias da cabeça e pescoço. Os tumores, benignos ou malignos, podem ter origem em qualquer uma das estruturas contidas no espaço parafaríngeo e geralmente apresentam-se como uma tumefação indolor no pescoço ou orofaringe, geralmente o diagnóstico definitivo é anatomo-patológico; contudo é importante reconhecer a possibilidade de ocorrência de lesões vasculares que obrigam à realização de estudos imagiologicos desta região antes de se proceder a biópsia ou excisão da lesão. Os autores relatam um caso de uma doente com uma volumosa tumefacção parafaringea esquerda com 3 meses de evolução, indolor e causadora de disfagia. O estudo imagiológico demonstrou um aneurisma da artéria carótida interna que foi tratado através de procedimentos endovasculares com oclusão do aneurisma.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tonsillar metastasis of a lower limb pleomorphic sarcoma

Os tumores das amígdalas palatinas são raros (1.45 casos:100000 indivíduos/ ano) e maioritariamente primários, geralmente de origem epitelial ou linfoproliferativa. Contudo, estima-se que 0.8% sejam secundários. A maioria dos cerca de 100 casos descritos na literatura é referente a carcinomas pulmonares, da mama, de células renais e melanomas, não havendo referência a nenhum caso de metastização por sarcoma do membro inferior. Este artigo descreve o caso de uma paciente de 72 anos que apresentava hipertrofia, endurecimento e ulceração da amígdala palatina direita. A amigdalectomia direita levou ao diagnóstico de sarcoma pleomórfico. A neoplasia primária, na face interna da coxa esquerda, tinha sido diagnosticada dois anos antes. Uma pequena minoria dos tumores da amígdala palatina é metastática. A metastização da amígdala por um sarcoma do membro inferior não se encontrava descrita na literatura, mas como noutros tipos histológicos, surgiu numa fase tardia da doença e com prognóstico muito reservado.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Novel bio-strategies for the detoxification of mycotoxins using lactic acid bacteria

A ocorrência de bolores micotoxigénicos pertencentes aos géneros Aspergillus, Penicillium e Fusarium em alimentos para consumo Humano e animal, tem um impacto importante sobre a saúde pública e constitui também um importante problema económico. Isto é devido à síntese por este tipo de fungos filamentosos de metabolitos altamente tóxicos conhecidos como micotoxinas. A maioria das micotoxinas são substâncias cancerígenas, mutagénicas, neurotóxicas e imunossupressoras, sendo a ocratoxina A (OTA) uma das mais importantes. A OTA é uma micotoxina, tóxica para os animais e Humanos principalmente devido às suas propriedades nefrotóxicas. Alguns grupos de bactérias gram positivas nomeadamente as bactérias do ácido láctico (BAL) são capazes de controlar o crescimento de fungos, melhorando e aumentando a vida útil de muitos produtos fermentados e, assim, reduzir os riscos para a saúde provocados pela exposição às micotoxinas. Algumas BAL são, também, capazes de destoxificar certas micotoxinas. Em trabalhos anteriores do nosso grupo foi observada a biodegradação da OTA por estirpes de Pediococcus parvulus isoladas de vinhos do Douro. Assim, com este trabalho, pretendeu-se compreender com maior detalhe o processo de biodegradação da OTA pelas referidas estirpes e identificar quais as enzimas que estão associadas à sua biodegradação. Para atingir este objetivo utilizaram-se algumas ferramentas ioinformáticas (BLAST, CLUSTALX2, CLC Sequence Viewer 7, Finch TV), desenharam-se primers específicos e realizaram-se PCR específicos para os genes envolvidos. Através da utilização de ferramentas de bioinformática, foi possível identificar várias proteínas que pertencem à família das carboxipeptidases e que podem eventualmente participar no processo da degradação da OTA, tais como D-Ala-D-Ala carboxipeptidase serínica e carboxipeptidase membranar. Estas BAL podem desempenhar um papel importante na destoxificação da OTA, sendo as carboxipeptidases uma das enzimas envolvidas na sua biodegradação.The occurrence of mycotoxigenic moulds such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium in food and feed has an important impact on public health and also constitutes a major economic problem. This is due through the synthesis of highly toxic metabolites known as mycotoxins by these kind of moulds. Most of the mycotoxins are carcinogenic, mutagenic, neurotoxic and immunosuppressive, being ochratoxin A (OTA) one of the most important. OTA is toxic to animals and Humans, mainly due to its nephrotoxic properties. Some group of Gram-positive bacteria named lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are able to control moulds ́ growth, improving the shelf life of many fermented products and reducing health risks due to exposure to mycotoxins. Some LAB are capable of mycotoxin detoxification. From previous work of our group was observed OTA biodegradation by Pediococcus parvulus isolated from Douro wines. So, we wanted to have a better understanding of this OTA degradation process and identify which molecules where present in this process. For achieving our aim we used some bioinformatics tools (BLAST, CLUSTALX2, CLC Sequence Viewer 7, Finch TV), we designed specific primers and we did gene specific PCR. Through the employment of bioinformatics tools it was possible to identify several proteins belonging to the carboxypeptidase family that participate in the process of OTA degradation, such as serine type D-Ala-D-Ala carboxypeptidase and membrane carboxypeptidase. LAB can play an important role in the mycotoxins detoxification, being carboxypeptidase proteins one of the molecules present in the OTA degradation process.Agradecimentos: Este trabalho foi financiado por fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE e por fundos nacionais através da Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia -FCT, ref. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028029 e PTDC/AGR-TEC/3900/2012, respetivamente. Luís Abrunhosa recebeu apoio através da bolsa Incentivo/EQB/LA0023/2014 do ON.2 O Novo Norte

Isolation and purification of an enzyme hydrolyzing ochratoxin A from aspergillus niger

Ochratoxin A is a mycotoxin produced by several Aspergillus and some Penicillium species which may be present in food and feed products. It can be enzymatically hydrolyzed into ochratoxin α and l-β-phenylalanine, thereby decreasing its toxicity. The ochratoxin A degradation capacity of Aspergillus niger is well known and here we report the isolation and purification of a novel enzyme from A. niger that hydrolyzes this mycotoxin. A wheat germ medium supplemented with ochratoxin A was used to produce the enzyme, which was purified from culture filtrate by acetone precipitation and anion exchange chromatography. An overall purification of 2.5-fold with a recovery of 68% and a final specific activity of 36 U/mg was obtained. The enzyme is a metalloenzyme as it was inhibited at 10 mM EDTA, whereas PMSF had no effect. The ochratoxin A hydrolytic enzyme presented a V max of 0.44 μM/min and a K m of 0.5 mM when the reaction was carried out at pH 7.5 and 37°C.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Congenital defects of the middle ear-uncommon cause of pediatric hearing loss

INTRODUCTION: In children, hypoacusis, or conductive hearing loss, is usually acquired; otitis media with effusion is the most common etiology. However, in some cases this condition is congenital, ranging from deformities of the external and middle ear to isolated ossicular chain malformations. The non-ossicular anomalies of the middle ear, for instance, persistent stapedial artery and anomaly of the facial nerve, are uncommon but may accompany the ossicular defects. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic tests, and therapeutic options of congenital malformations of the middle ear. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of cases followed in otolaryngologic consultations since 2007 with the diagnosis of congenital malformation of the middle ear according to the Teunissen and Cremers classification. A review of the literature regarding the congenital malformation of the middle ear and its treatment is presented. CONCLUSION: Middle ear malformations are rarely responsible for conductive hearing loss in children. As a result, there is often a late diagnosis and treatment of these anomalies, which can lead to delays in the development of language and learnin

An antisocial alchemy: Psychopathic traits as a moderator of the different forms and functions of aggression in delinquency and conduct disorder among youth

The aim of the present study is to examine the possible role of psychopathic traits as a moderator of the aggression-antisociality/delinquency link. Our sample was composed of 567 youth (M = 15.91 years, SD = 0.99 years, age range = 14-18 years) from Portugal. Results indicated that psychopathic features significantly moderate four different forms and functions of aggression - proactive overt, proactive relational, reactive overt, and reactive relational - when predicting delinquency. However, psychopathic traits only significantly moderate proactive relational aggression when predicting Conduct Disorder. Psychopathic traits and aggression constitute an antisocial alchemy for antisocial behavior but more research is needed about moderation effects therein particularly among clinical and justice system involved samples of youth to inform behavioral interventions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Aspectos do controlo da qualidade da fluodesoxiglucose num laboratório de produção

Resumo do poster apresentado ao XII Congresso Nacional de Medicina Nuclear, 12-14 Novembro 2009, Mealhad

Entre lo virtual y lo real: la tecnologia y la ciudad como una oportunidad y un desafio para la educación del futuro

We live immersed in a world that pulsates with the transforming rhythm of the communications ecosys-tem and with multiple interfaces between the virtual and the real time. Each individual is increasingly influenced by new technologies (information and communication systems) and globalization, where education plays a vital important sense. It is a world that becomes emancipated by the designation of the future world and imposes geography free of spatial patterns but instead uses time patterns. It is a geography where cities are transformed into events and technologies into time with interfaces between the virtual and real, which aims the ubiquitous to answer to the dreams of happiness. Within this scenario, the city fulfils in the imaginary of the education of the future a place of participatory opportunity for all individuals (regardless of age) in entrepreneurship, social inclusion, in order to live in harmony with each other and with quality of life. The city presents itself as the protagonist of education of the future, driven by technology, believing to be able to counteract the marginalization, the development of ghettos, uncritical identities, emptiness generated by the loneliness, alienation, poverty, violence and exclusion. The city presents itself as able to participate in the adaptive development of new lifestyles that arise within the demand of the knowledge society, even when technologized.Vivimos inmersos en un mundo que pulsa al ritmo del transformador ecosistema de comunicaciones y con interfaces múltiples entre el tiempo real y el virtual. Cada individuo es cada vez más influenciado por las nuevas tecnologías (sistemas de información y comunicación) y por la globalización, donde la educación juega un sentido de vital importancia. Es un mundo que se ha emancipado en la designación de un mundo del futuro a imponer a nosotros una geografía libre de los patrones espaciales para imponer los temporales. Se trata de una geografía donde las ciudades se transforman en hechos y las tecnologías en tiempo con las interfaces entre lo virtual y lo real, que quieren el ubicuo para responder a los sueños de felicidad. En este escenario, la ciudad ocupa en imaginario de la educación del futuro un lugar de oportunidades compartidas por todas las personas (Sin importar la edad) en el espíritu empresarial, en la inclusión social, con el fin de vivir en armonía unos con otros, con calidad de vida. La ciudad se presenta como protagonista de la educación del futuro, apalancada por las tecnologías, a creerse capaz de contrariar la marginalidad, el desarrollo de guetos, identidades acríticas, vacíos generados por la soledad, la alienación, la pobreza, la violencia, la exclusión. Se presenta hábil para participar en el desarrollo adaptativo de los nuevos estilos de vida que van surgiendo en la demanda de la sociedad del conocimiento, inclusive si tecnologizada