Espécies exóticas invasoras marinhas da ilha de Santa Maria, Açores

XIV Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia - Santa Maria 2009.No âmbito da XIV Expedição Científica à ilha de Santa Maria 2009, organizada pelo Departamento de Biologia da Universidade dos Açores, realizaram-se várias prospecções, com recurso a mergulho com escafandro autónomo, com o objectivo de identificar espécies marinhas exóticas (macroalgas e macroinvertebrados) na marina e porto comercial da Ilha de Santa Maria e áreas adjacentes. Identificaram-se 9 espécies exóticas, das quais 4 são consideradas como invasoras um pouco por todo o mundo: as algas Asparagopsis armata e Codium fragile, e as ascídeas Clavelina lepadiformis e Distaplia corolla. Para além disso, efectuou-se uma avaliação preliminar do tráfego de recreio, verificando-se um aumento do mesmo desde 2007 até Junho de 2009, principalmente a nível local

Conjugated linoleic acid reduces permeability and fluidity of adipose plasma membranes from obese Zucker rats

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. July 2010; 398 (2): 199-204.Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a dietary fatty acid frequently used as a body fat reducing agent whose effects upon cell membranes and cellular function remain unknown. Obese Zucker rats were fed atherogenic diets containing saturated fats of vegetable or animal origin with or without 1% CLA, as a mixture of cis(c)9,trans(t)11 and t10,c12 isomers. Plasma membrane vesicles obtained from visceral adi- pose tissue were used to assess the effectiveness of dietary fat and CLA membrane incorporation and its outcome on fluidity and permeability to water and glycerol. A significant decrease in adipose membrane fluidity was correlated with the changes observed in permeability, which seem to be caused by the incor- poration of the t10,c12 CLA isomer into membrane phospholipids. These results indicate that CLA supple- mentation in obese Zucker rats fed saturated and cholesterol rich diets reduces the fluidity and permeability of adipose membranes, therefore not supporting CLA as a body fat reducing agent through membrane fluidification in obese fat consumers

Lista de espécies de artrópodes associados a diferentes culturas frutícolas da Ilha Terceira (Açores)

Actas do I Workshop de Fruticultura : contributo para o seu desenvolvimento. Angra do Heroísmo, 21-23 Abril 2005.Conhecer a acarifauna e a entomofauna de um habitat agrícola é um dos passos fundamentais para se conseguir uma protecção integrada e sustentável das culturas. Neste trabalho apresenta-se uma lista das espécies de artrópodes encontradas em quatro culturas frutícolas da ilha Terceira (bananeiras, citrinos, macieiras e pessegueiros). Os indivíduos foram capturados com recurso a três métodos de amostragem: i) recolha directa das folhas e/ou ramos; ii) técnica dos batimentos; iii) armadilhas Malaise. No total foram estabelecidas 679 morfoespécies diferentes, tendo-se identificado, até ao momento, 218 morfoespécies até ao nível de género e/ou espécie. Destacam-se 17 espécies que são citadas pela primeira vez para a ilha Terceira, 12 são novidades para os Açores e uma espécie é citada pela primeira vez para Portugal (Fungitarsonemus peregrinus, Acariformes (Prostigmata): Tarsonemidae). Salienta-se, ainda, uma das espécies do género Encarsia sp. (Hymenoptera: Aphelenidae), que muito provavelmente será uma espécie nova para a ciência. Finalmente discute-se a importância deste estudo para trabalhos futuros, e a necessidade de desenvolver mais listas faunísticas para estas e outras culturas

Green technologies in the valorization of agrofood wastes in the frame of the biorefinery concept

Food production results in the generation of residues at different step of the production chain. A great part of the residues is generated at the agricultural part of the process. Although some of these residues may have already an application as for example feed or bedding, however more energetically and economically efficient use is desirable. Especially that this kind of residues are low-cost bulky feedstock and renewable carbon source, which can be processed and valorised to produce fine chemicals and bio-based commodities fulfilling the requirement of biorefinery concept. However, considering the globally occurring changes, the valorisation of residues made in the frame of biorefinery concept must be done in the green fashion. This way the broadly understood sustainability and bio-based economy requirements can be satisfy. This work will show some examples of valorisation of food production chain residues using greener methods. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the diverse application methods of ionic liquids and high density fluids in direct integrated valorisation of biomass towards value-added chemicals

Lista de espécies de artrópodes associados a diferentes culturas frutícolas da ilha Terceira (Açores, Portugal)

Copyright © 2010 SEA, Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa.Conhecer a acarifauna e a entomofauna de um habitat agrícola é um dos passos fundamentais para se conseguir uma protecção integrada e sustentável das culturas. Neste trabalho apresenta-se uma lista das espécies de artrópodes encontradas em quatro culturas frutícolas da ilha Terceira (bananeiras, citrinos, macieiras e pessegueiros). Os indivíduos foram capturados com recurso a três métodos de amostragem: i) recolha directa das folhas e/ou ramos; ii) técnica dos batimentos; iii) armadilhas Malaise. No total foram estabelecidas 679 morfoespécies, tendo-se identificado 218 morfoespécies até ao nível de género e/ou espécie. Destacam-se 17 espécies que foram encontradas pela primeira vez para a ilha Terceira durante esta amostragem, 12 que constituíam novidades faunísticas para os Açores e uma espécie que foi citada pela primeira vez para Portugal. Finalmente discute-se a importância deste estudo para trabalhos futuros, e a necessidade de desenvolver mais listas faunísticas para estas e outras culturas.RESUMEN: Conocer la acarifauna y la entomofauna de un hábitat agrícola es uno de los primeros pasos necesarios para llegar a una protección más integrada y sostenible de los cultivos. En este trabajo se presenta el listado de especies de artrópodos que habitan en cuatro tipos de frutales en la isla Terceira (plataneros, cítricos, manzanos y melocotoneros). Los individuos fueron capturados mediante tres métodos de colecta: búsqueda directa sobre las hojas y ramas; técnica de batido; y trampas Malaise. En total se han identificado 679 morfoespecies, de las cuales 218 se identificaron hasta el nivel de género y/o espécie. Diecisiete morfoespecies se han encontrado por primera vez en Terceira durante este muestreo, 12 son nuevas para las Azores y una especie es nueva para Portugal. Además se discute la importancia de este estudio para futuros proyectos de investigación, y la necesidad de desarrolla r más listados faunísticos en es tos y otros tipos de frutales.ABSTRACT: Knowing the arthropod fauna associated with agroecosystems is essential to achieve sustainable integrated pest management. Here we present a checklist of the arthropod species found on four types of fruit crops on Terceira Island (bananas, orange-trees, apple-trees and peach-trees). The specimens were collected using three different sampling methods: i) direct collecting from leaves and/or branches; ii) beating technique; iii) Malaise traps. In total, we detected 679 morphospecies, of which 218 were identified to the genus and/or species level. Seventeen species are first records for Terceira Island, 12 for the Azores and one for Portugal. Finally we discuss the importance of this work for future studies, as well as the need to develop more checklists for these and other crops

Carbon dioxide in biomass processing: contributions to the green biorefinery concept

The 21st century is witnessing a huge demand of fossil reserves coupled with a rapid reduction in readily and economically reachable oil feedstocks.The present energy demand is not fulfilled from fossil fuel sources, making the world exposed to geopolitical risk. Furthermore, concerns regarding the security of the supply chain and the environmental impacts have resulted in an ever-increasing shift of global energy policies to seek alternative technologies and sustainable sources of energy, materials, chemicals, and value-added products. Recently, the need for development of an economy based on renewable resources has been recognized by society, and diverse R&D activities have started to be funded to accomplish this aim. However, generation of bioproducts based on sustainable supply chains poses vast challenges for an eco-based economy.The simplest way to provide a supportable supply chain is through the employment of renewable biomass feedstocks, which is the only sustainable option to substitute for fossil fuel resources, as sources of organic compounds over a relatively short time scale and with limitless supply

Detection of RHDV strains in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis): earliest evidence of rabbit lagovirus cross-species infection

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.-- et al.Rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is a highly lethal Lagovirus, family Caliciviridae, that threatens European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Although a related virus severely affects hares, cross-species infection was only recently described for new variant RHDV in Cape hares (Lepus capensis mediterraneus). We sequenced two strains from dead Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) collected in the 1990s in Portugal. Clinical signs were compatible with a Lagovirus infection. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete capsid gene positioned them in the RHDV genogroup that circulated on the Iberian Peninsula at that time. This is the earliest evidence of RHDV affecting a species other than European rabbits.This work was supported by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia; research project ref.: FCT-ANR/BIABIC/0043/2012). FCT also supported the doctoral grants of AML and AP (refs.: SFRH/BD/78738/2011 and SFRH/BD/71252/2010) and the FCT Investigator grant of JA (ref.: IF/01396/2013). “Genomics Applied To Genetic Resources” co-financed by North Portugal Regional Operational Programme 2007/2013 (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), also supported this work.Peer Reviewe

Activation of adenosine A2A receptors induces TrkB translocation and increases BDNF-mediated phospho-TrkB localization in lipid rafts : implications for neuromodulation

Copyright © 2010 the authorsBrain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling is critical for neuronal development and transmission. Recruitment of TrkB receptors to lipid rafts has been hown to be necessary for the activation of specific signaling pathways and modulation of neurotransmitter release by BDNF. Since TrkB receptors are known to be modulated by adenosine A2A receptor activation, we hypothesized that activation of A2A receptors could influence TrkB receptor localization among different membrane microdomains. We found that adenosine A2A receptor agonists increased the levels of TrkB receptors in the lipid raft fraction of cortical membranes and potentiated BDNF-induced augmentation of phosphorylated TrkB levels in lipid rafts. Blockade of the clathrin-mediated endocytosis with monodansylcadaverine(100µM) did not modify the effects of theA2A receptor agonists but significantly impairedBDNFeffects on TrkB recruitment to lipid rafts. The effect of A2A receptor activation in TrkB localization was mimicked by 5 µM forskolin, an adenylyl cyclase activator. Also, it was blocked by the PKA inhibitors Rp-cAMPs and PKI-(14 –22), and by the Src-family kinase inhibitor PP2. Moreover, removal of endogenous adenosine or disruption of lipid rafts reduced BDNF stimulatory effects on glutamate release from cortical synaptosomes. Lipid raft integrity was also required for the effects of BDNF on hippocampal long-term potentiation at CA1 synapses. Our data demonstrate, for the first time, a BDNF-independent recruitment of TrkB receptors to lipid rafts induced by activation of adenosine A2A receptors, with functional consequences for TrkB phosphorylation and BDNF-induced modulation of neurotransmitter release and hippocampal plasticity.Supported by Fundacão para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/21374/2005 for N.A.L., SFRH/BD/21359/2005 for V.C.S., and SFRH/BPD/11528/2002 for D.B.P.) and by the European Union [European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) COST B30 concerted action, Neural Regeneration and Plasticity (NEREPLAS)]

Small shrubby patches increase bird taxonomic and functional richness of wood-pastures

Wood-pastures are semi-natural systems that combine a grazed grassland with a tree layer. Shrubs are often controlled, mostly to improve grazing potential, resulting in a reduction of the available ecological niches. From a conservation perspective, it is thus important to identify management practices that counter this reduction. Our overall objective was to determine the value of small shrubby patches to increase the richness of wood-pasture bird communities. As study model we used Mediterranean oak wood-pastures in southern Portugal, locally known as montados. Birds and environmental variables were sampled in 50 m radius plots of wood-pasture with and without small shrubby patches (128–3748 m2, covering less than 0.5% of the study area), in winter (n = 54) and spring (n = 65). Species assemblages’ composition changed between seasons, but in both seasons the assemblages in plots with and without patches were statistically different. Seven species were statistically associated to the presence of patches, in winter and spring, increasing the richness of the respective assemblages. A comparison of the functional composition of communities of patches and matrix revealed that patches increased richness of landscapes by boosting the presence of species with functional traits uncommon in the ecologically simplified matrix. Their presence is promoted by resources added by the patches (e.g. nesting sites, protection, food), but the ranges of individual birds in general extended well beyond the patches. This study demonstrated that the presence of few and small shrubby patches can significantly enrich the bird communities of wood-pastures, both taxonomically and functionally, indicating that promoting them is a cost-effective management measure for these valuable systems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Low Serum Levels of DKK2 Predict Incident Low-Impact Fracture in Older Women

There are currently no robust noninvasive markers of fragility fractures. Secreted frizzled related protein-1 (sFRP-1), dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) and DKK2, and sclerostin (SOST) inhibit Wnt signaling and interfere with osteoblast-mediated bone formation. We evaluated associations of serum levels of sFRP-1, DKK1, DKK2, and SOST with incident low-impact fracture and BMD in 828 women aged ≥65 years from EpiDoC, a longitudinal population-based cohort. A structured questionnaire during a baseline clinical appointment assessed prevalent fragility fractures and clinical risk factors (CRFs) for fracture. Blood was collected to measure serum levels of bone turnover markers and Wnt regulators. Lumbar spine and hip BMD were determined by DXA scanning. Follow-up assessment was performed through a phone interview; incident fragility fracture was defined by any new self-reported low-impact fracture. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze fracture risk adjusted for CRFs and BMD. During a mean follow-up of 2.3 ± 1.0 years, 62 low-impact fractures were sustained in 58 women. A low serum DKK2 level (per 1 SD decrease) was associated with a 1.5-fold increase in fracture risk independently of BMD and CRFs. Women in the two lowest DKK2 quartiles had a fracture incidence rate of 32 per 1000 person-years, whereas women in the two highest quartiles had 14 fragility fractures per 1000 person-years. A high serum sFRP1 level was associated with a 1.6-fold increase in fracture risk adjusted for CRFs, but not independently of BMD. Serum levels of SOST (r = 0.191; p = 0.0025) and DKK1(r = -0.1725; p = 0.011) were correlated with hip BMD, but not with incident fragility fracture. These results indicate that serum DKK2 and sFRP1 may predict low-impact fracture. The low number of incident fractures recorded is a limitation and serum levels of Wnt regulators should be further studied in other populations as potential noninvasive markers of fragility fractures. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.publishersversionpublishe