Identifying geographical patterns of wildfire orientation: a watershed-based analysis

We searched for geographical patterns in the orientation of wildfires, using watersheds as spatial support for the analysis. An 1975–2005 annual fire atlas of mainland Portugal was used to compute the orientation of fire perimeters and watersheds, using principal component analysis. Circular statistics were employed to test for the existence of a preferred, as opposed to random, mean fire orientation in each watershed, and to search for evidence of orographic channelling of fire by comparing fire orientation and watershed orientation. We also tested for differences in fire orientation patterns under conditions of mild versus severe fire weather. Our findings show that in the 31 year period of the study, 84% of the overall area burned is accounted for by watersheds where fires display preferential orientation. Twelve of 102 watersheds display evidence of alignment between fire and watershed orientation and we found no distinction in fire orientation as response to fire weather. The spatial arrangement of watersheds where fires present similar orientation suggests wind as a major driver of the broader patterns found in this study. Results from this analysis ought to be relevant for supporting the delineation of landscape- scale fuelbreaks

A methodological framework for assessing the agroecological performance of farms in Portugal: Integrating TAPE and ACT approaches

We would like to thank CERNAS funded by national funds FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the project Ref. UIDB/00681/2020, the GreenUPorto funded by national funds via FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) through the Strategic Projects UIDB/05748/2020 and UIDP/05748/2020 and Valorizar a Agricultura Familiar Project (PDR2020-2024-058135) for the opportunity of applying the questionnaires within the scope of its research.Agroecology integrates science, social movements, and agricultural practices, playing a central role in the sustainability of food systems. It addresses agroecosystems and food systems holistically; however, defining whether a farm is agroecological remains a challenge. This article proposes a methodology to measure farms’ agroecological performance, adapted to the family farming context in Portugal. The aim of the developed methodology is to compare the agroecological performance of family farms (conventional and non-conventional), providing information about anchors for agroecological transition and supporting public policies. A literature review identified existing farm evaluation methodologies, with Tool for Agroecological Performance Evaluation (TAPE) and Agroecology Criteria Tool (ACT) scoring highest in an assessment process. Questions from both were integrated into a questionnaire for family farmers. This field work provided critical insights towards the methodologies: (1) territorial adaptability; (2) transition constraints’ origin; and (3) use of non-academic language. The results were incorporated into the developed methodology, which combines the TAPE indicator matrix and Gliessman’s five levels of food system change, the latter of which provides the framework for the ACT. This study made it possible to identify the most relevant aspects for characterizing family farmers/farms and the importance of how the evaluation criteria/indicators are ordered by element/theme, as it alters the values of each farm’s agroecological performance.This research was funded by National Funds through the FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology, I.C.-P., within the scope of the individual doctoral research grant reference UI/BD/153087/2022.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of extracellular vesicles during CNS development

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)With a diverse set of neuronal and glial cell populations, Central Nervous System (CNS) has one of the most complex structures in the body. Intercellular communication is therefore highly important to coordinate cell-to-cell interactions. Besides electrical and chemical messengers, CNS cells also benefit from another communication route, what is known as extracellular vesicles, to harmonize their interactions. Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) and their subtype exosomes are membranous particles secreted by cells and contain information packaged in the form of biomolecules such as small fragments of DNA, lipids, miRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins. They are able to efficiently drive changes upon their arrival to recipient cells. EVs actively participate in all stages of CNS development by stimulating neural cell proliferation, differentiation, synaptic formation, and mediating reciprocal interactions between neurons and oligodendrocyte for myelination process. The aim of the present review is to enlighten the presence and contribution of EVs at each CNS developmental milestone.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) induce concerted changes in the osteoblastic expression of their receptor RAGE and in the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)

An increase in the interaction between advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and their receptor RAGE is believed to contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic complications of Diabetes mellitus, which can include bone alterations such as osteopenia. We have recently found that extracellular AGEs can directly regulate the growth and development of rat osteosarcoma UMR106 cells, and of mouse calvaria-derived MC3T3E1 osteoblasts throughout their successive developmental stages (proliferation, differentiation and mineralisation), possibly by the recognition of AGEs moieties by specific osteoblastic receptors which are present in both cell lines. In the present study we examined the possible expression of RAGE by UMR106 and MC3T3E1 osteoblastic cells, by immunoblot analysis. We also investigated whether short-, medium- or long-term exposure of osteoblasts to extracellular AGEs, could modify their affinity constant and maximal binding for AGEs (by 125I-AGE-BSA binding experiments), their expression of RAGE (by immunoblot analysis) and the activation status of the osteoblastic ERK 1/2 signal transduction mechanism (by immunoblot analysis for ERK and P-ERK). Our results show that both osteoblastic cell lines express readily detectable levels of RAGE. Short-term exposure of phenotypically mature osteoblastic UMR106 cells to AGEs decrease the cellular density of AGE-binding sites while increasing the affinity of these sites for AGEs. This culture condition also dose-dependently increased the expression of RAGE and the activation of ERK. In proliferating MC3T3E1 pre-osteoblasts, 24-72 h exposure to AGEs did not modify expression of RAGE, ERK activation or the cellular density of AGE-binding sites. However, it did change the affinity of these binding sites forAGEs, with both higher- and lower-affinity sites now being apparent. Medium-term ( 1 week) incubation of differentiated MC3T3E1 osteoblasts with AGEs, induced a simultaneous increase in RAGE expression and in the relative amount of P-ERK. Mineralising MC3T3E1 cultures grown for 3 weeks in the presence of extracellular AGEs showed a decrease both in RAGE and P-ERK expression. These results indicate that, in phenotypically mature osteoblastic cells, changes in ERK activation closely follow the AGEs-induced regulation of RAGE expression. Thus, the AGEs-induced biological effects that we have observed previously in osteoblasts, could be mediated by RAGE in the later stages of development, and mediated by other AGE receptors in the earlier pre-osteoblastic stage

A test for directional-linear independence, with applications to wildfire orientation and size

Original PaperA nonparametric test for assessing the independence between a directional random variable (circular or spherical, as particular cases) and a linear one is proposed in this paper. The statistic is based on the squared distance between nonparametric kernel density estimates and its calibration is done by a permutation approach. The size and power characteristics of various variants of the test are investigated and compared with those for classical correlation-based tests of independence in an extensive simulation study. Finally, the best-performing variant of the new test is applied in the analysis of the relation between the orientation and size of Portuguese wildfire

Exploring the reactivity of formylporphyrins with 3-(diethylamino)phenol. Synthesis, spectroscopic properties and singlet oxygen generation of a new porphyrin–rosamine conjugate

The design of novel molecular structures with tunable photophysical properties is an important research field for many applications including optoelectronics, sensing and bioimaging. Porphyrin and rhodamine/rosamine derivatives are among the most studied and relevant chemosensors and imaging probes due to their attractive photophysical properties, such as high absorption coefficients and long emission wavelengths. In this work, we present the synthesis and the structural characterization of a new porphyrin–rosamine conjugate H2P3 and its related triarylmethane precursors H2P1 and H2P2. The photophysical properties of H2P1, H2P2 and H2P3, and their ability to chelate iron(III) and copper(II) ions, were evaluated by absorption and emission spectroscopy. The formation of copper(II) complexes was confirmed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), which also allowed the detection of an intense and stable radical signal for the free-base H2P3. Further studies involving the addition of the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine spin trap to derivatives H2P1, H2P2 and H2P3, showed that only H2P3 gives rise to an EPR detectable signal due to a strong generation of singlet oxygen.publishe

Advances in Pyridyl-Based Fluorophores for Sensing Applications

Fluorescence sensing plays an important role in high sensitivity, selectivity, and real-time monitoring of biological and environmentally relevant species. Several classes of fluorescent dyes (fluorophores) including rhodamine, BODIPY, 1,8-naphthalimide, and coumarin-among others−when conveniently functionalized with reactive pyridyl receptors, have emerged as effective sensors to detect and quantify chemical species with high accuracy through fluorescent imaging and spectroscopy. Among the sensing targets, monitoring of harmful chemical species, e.g., metal ions (zinc, copper, iron, mercury, cadmium, lead, etc.) and anions (chloride, fluoride, sulfide, thiocyanate, etc.) can be used to understand their physiological and pathological role in live-cells and tissues, as well as to protect human health. This chapter focuses on recent advances in the molecular design of pyridyl-substituted fluorophores, their photophysical properties, and sensing applications

Habilidades sociales e intergeneracionalidad en las relaciones familiares

Teniendo en cuenta la importancia de los lazos familiares para el aprendizaje y desarrollo de habilidades sociales y el papel de la transmisión de conductas de padres a hijos, el objetivo de este trabajo es presentar dos estudios sobre las relaciones familiares intergeneracionales. El primer estudio evaluó 142 díadas de padres adultos e hijos adolescentes, y los resultados mostraron evidencia de la transmisión intergeneracional de varias clases de habilidades sociales, especialmente entre las madres y sus hijos adolescentes. Además, los datos muestran la influencia de la relación entre padres y adolescentes en el repertorio de habilidades sociales de los niños, lo que sugiere la importancia de esta relación. El segundo estudio investigó 113 díadas de padres mayores e hijos adultos. Se encontraron similitudes para 29 de las 38 habilidades sociales evaluadas, así como entre las puntuaciones generales de las HS para ambos grupos de edad, lo que pone en evidencia la transmisión intergeneracional de las habilidades sociales de los padres ancianos a sus hijos adultos. Además las habilidades sociales y la calidad de la relación se encontraron correlaciones positivas entre las habilidades sociales y la calidad de la relación según la evaluación de los padres y de los hijos. Se discute la evidencia de la transmisión intergeneracional de las habilidades sociales y el impacto en la calidad de las relaciones familiares, así como las implicaciones de estos resultados para la planificación de programas de intervención en habilidades sociales y la calidad de vida.Given the importance of family ties for social skills learning and development, as well as the role of behavior transmission from parent to child, the aim of this paper is to present two studies on intergenerational family relationships. The first study assessed 142 dyads of adult parents and adolescents, and the results showed evidence of intergenerational transmission of various social skills, especially among mothers and their adolescent children. Furthermore, the data show the influence of the relationship between parents and adolescents in the repertoire of social skills of children, suggesting the importance of this relationship. The second study investigated 113 dyads of older parents and adult children. Similarities were found for 29 of the 38 evaluated social skills as well as between the overall scores of social skills for both age groups, which highlights the intergenerational transmission of social skills for elderly parents to their adult children. One has found positive correlations between social skills and relationship quality assessed by parents and children. We discuss the evidence of the intergenerational transmission of social skills and the impact on the quality of family relationships, and the implications of these results for planning intervention programs in social skills and quality of life

Habilidades sociales e intergeneracionalidad en las relaciones familiares

Teniendo en cuenta la importancia de los lazos familiares para el aprendizaje y desarrollo de habilidades sociales y el papel de la transmisión de conductas de padres a hijos, el objetivo de este trabajo es presentar dos estudios sobre las relaciones familiares intergeneracionales. El primer estudio evaluó 142 díadas de padres adultos e hijos adolescentes, y los resultados mostraron evidencia de la transmisión intergeneracional de varias clases de habilidades sociales, especialmente entre las madres y sus hijos adolescentes. Además, los datos muestran la influencia de la relación entre padres y adolescentes en el repertorio de habilidades sociales de los niños, lo que sugiere la importancia de esta relación. El segundo estudio investigó 113 díadas de padres mayores e hijos adultos. Se encontraron similitudes para 29 de las 38 habilidades sociales evaluadas, así como entre las puntuaciones generales de las HS para ambos grupos de edad, lo que pone en evidencia la transmisión intergeneracional de las habilidades sociales de los padres ancianos a sus hijos adultos. Además las habilidades sociales y la calidad de la relación se encontraron correlaciones positivas entre las habilidades sociales y la calidad de la relación según la evaluación de los padres y de los hijos. Se discute la evidencia de la transmisión intergeneracional de las habilidades sociales y el impacto en la calidad de las relaciones familiares, así como las implicaciones de estos resultados para la planificación de programas de intervención en habilidades sociales y la calidad de vida.Given the importance of family ties for social skills learning and development, as well as the role of behavior transmission from parent to child, the aim of this paper is to present two studies on intergenerational family relationships. The first study assessed 142 dyads of adult parents and adolescents, and the results showed evidence of intergenerational transmission of various social skills, especially among mothers and their adolescent children. Furthermore, the data show the influence of the relationship between parents and adolescents in the repertoire of social skills of children, suggesting the importance of this relationship. The second study investigated 113 dyads of older parents and adult children. Similarities were found for 29 of the 38 evaluated social skills as well as between the overall scores of social skills for both age groups, which highlights the intergenerational transmission of social skills for elderly parents to their adult children. One has found positive correlations between social skills and relationship quality assessed by parents and children. We discuss the evidence of the intergenerational transmission of social skills and the impact on the quality of family relationships, and the implications of these results for planning intervention programs in social skills and quality of life