Resveratrol affects differently rat liver and brain mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative stress in vitro: Investigation of the role of gender

Resveratrol (3,5,40-trihydroxy-trans stilbene) is commonly recognized by its antioxidant properties. Despite its beneficial qualities, the toxic effects of this natural compound are still unknown. Since mitochondria are essential to support the energy-dependent regulation of several cell functions, the objective of this study was to evaluate resveratrol effects on rat brain and liver mitochondrial fractions from male and females regarding oxidative stress and bioenergetics. No basal differences were observed between mitochondrial fractions from males and females, except in liver mitochondria, the generation of H2O2 by the respiratory chain is lower for female preparations. Resveratrol inhibited lipid peroxidation in preparations from both genders and organs. Furthermore, brain mitochondria in both gender groups appeared susceptible to resveratrol as seen by a decrease in state 3 respiration and alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential fluctuations during ADP phosphorylation. As opposed, liver mitochondria were less affected by resveratrol. Our data also demonstrates that resveratrol inhibits complex I activity in all mitochondrial preparations. The results suggest that brain mitochondria appear to be more susceptible to resveratrol effects, and gender appears to play a minor role. It remains to be determined if resveratrol effects on brain mitochondria contribute to deterioration of mitochondrial function or instead to mediate hormesis-mediated events.This work is supported by PTDC/AGR-ALI/108326/2008 to M.S.S. from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, FEDER/ Compete/National Funds. A.C.M., A.M.S. and V.A.S. are recipient of SFRH/BD/33892/2009, SFRH/BD/76086/2011 and SFRH/BPD/ 31549/2006 fellowships, respectively

Role of protein kinase R in the killing of Leishmania major by macrophages in response to neutrophil elastase and TLR4 via TNF and IFN

In cutaneous leishmaniasis, Leishmania amazonensis activates macrophage double-stranded, RNA-activated protein kinase R (PKR) to promote parasite growth. In our study, Leishmania major grew normally in RAW cells, RAW-expressing dominant-negative PKR (PKR-DN) cells, and macrophages of PKR-knockout mice, revealing that PKR is dispensable for L. major growth in macrophages. PKR activation in infected macrophages with poly I:C resulted in parasite death. Fifty percent of L. major-knockout lines for the ecotin-like serine peptidase inhibitor (ISP2; Δisp2/isp3), an inhibitor of neutrophil elastase (NE), died in RAW cells or macrophages from 129Sv mice, as a result of PKR activation. Inhibition of PKR or NE or neutralization of Toll-like receptor 4 or 2(TLR4 or TLR2) prevented the death of Δisp2/isp3. Δisp2/isp3 grew normally in RAW-PKR-DN cells or macrophages from 129Sv pkr−/−, tlr2−/−, trif−/−, and myd88−/− mice, associating NE activity, PKR, and TLR responses with parasite death. Δisp2/isp3 increased the expression of mRNA for TNF-α by 2-fold and of interferon β (IFNβ) in a PKR-dependent manner. Antibodies to TNF-α reversed the 95% killing by Δisp2/isp3, whereas they grew normally in macrophages from IFN receptor–knockout mice. We propose that ISP2 prevents the activation of PKR via an NE-TLR4-TLR2 axis to control innate responses that contribute to the killing of L. major.—Faria, M. S., Calegari-Silva, T. C., de Carvalho Vivarini, A., Mottram, J. C., Lopes, U. G., Lima, A. P. C. A. Role of protein kinase R in the killing of Leishmania major by macrophages in response to neutrophil elastase and TLR4 via TNFα and IFNβ

Benchmarking of secondary schools based on students’ results in higher education

The performance of secondary schools is usually assessed based on students’ results on national exams at the end of secondary education. This research uses data on academic achievements by first-year univer- sity students to benchmark secondary schools on their ability to lead students to success in higher edu- cation. The analysis is conducted using data of University of Porto and Catholic University of Porto, Portu- gal, for a three-year period, corresponding to more than 10.0 0 0 students from 65 degrees, for which the school of origin is known. A number of variables representing students’ success in Higher education were constructed for each school in our sample and aggregated through a Benefit of the Doubt indicator. Re- sults suggest that the schools’ ranking based on schools’ ability to prepare students for university success is quite different from the ranking based on results on national exams. Given these findings, we propose complementing schools’ performance assessments (traditionally based on national exam results or indi- cators of value added) with indicators that account for the preparation of students for success in future challenges, which is indisputably a key objective of secondary education. We propose a composite indi- cator for the analysis of these complementary aims as well, and results show that frontier units indeed exhibit trade offs between traditional measures of performance and our new measure of performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Fasting Glucose Metabolism in Pregnancy

The HAPO study found a continuous association between hyperglycemia at 24-32 weeks of gestation, below the diagnostic levels of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggesting the need to reconsider the diagnostic criteria for GDM. Recently, a consensus for diagnosis of diabetes in pregnancy was published, based on the results of the HAPO study. Diagnosing for diabetes is considered already in the first trimester with fasting plasma glucose (FPG), but oral glucose tolerance test is recommended to be performed only at 24-28 weeks of gestation. Identifying all pregnant women at risk for GDM in the first trimester would allow an individualization of obstetric care and establishment of a dietetic and exercise plan since earlier stages of pregnancy with potential benefits for both mother and fetus. The glycemic metabolism varies throughout pregnancy, as insulin resistance increases during pregnancy. However the cut-off values for blood glucose tests in screening and diagnosing GDM are independent of gestational age. The objectives of this study are to verify if the pregnant women with and without GDM diagnosed in the second/third trimester are already different from each other in the first trimester regarding FPG levels and to study the evolution of the FPG throughout pregnancy

Land use dynamics under the Bolsa Floresta Program: a case study of the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve (Amazonas, Brazil)

Original ArticleThe effectiveness of a program of payment for environmental services (PES) in the Brazilian Amazon was analyzed through an accurate mapping of deforested areas. The Bolsa Floresta Program (BFP) in Amazonas state (Brazil) was chosen as an example of a PES program that aims to compensate farmers for their commitment to zero deforestation of primary forests while opening swiddens only in secondary vegetation areas. However, the official measurement of opened swiddens is not effective since only deforested areas larger than 6.25 ha are mapped, whereas most areas opened for cassava crops are approximately 1 ha in size. The effectiveness of the BFP was evaluated in the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR). We tested a methodology for mapping areas from 0.45 ha upwards that have been opened for cassava swiddens. The years 2006 (before the implementation of the BFP), 2011, 2015 and 2019 were analyzed. The results indicated that 88% of the areas opened for swiddens were between 0.45 and 6.25 ha in size. After the implantation of the BFP, the cumulative total deforested area decreased, and there was a reduction in deforested areas in primary forests. An intensification of swidden cultivation was also observed, which could cause a decline in productivity. The monitoring by land-use zoning showed that the majority of opened areas were located in intensive use zones, following the rules of the SDR management plan. The results show the efforts of local families to fulfill the BFP rulesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dialogical as a methodological transdisciplinary principle in research in education

O presente trabalho apresenta a dialógica enquanto perspectiva de pesquisa transdiciplinar. O texto começa por referir o percurso seguido por Mikhail Bakthin, Paulo Freire, Edgar Morin e Basarab Nicolescu ao trabalharem a metodologia dialógica em suas obras. Além disso, discute a transdiciplinaridade compreendida em seu aspecto metodológico, como processo que ocorre em três etapas simultâneas: análise de diferentes níveis de realidade, a lógica do terceiro incluído e a complexidade. Buscou-se, através da pesquisa bibliográfica, levantar pontos teóricos sobre a dialogia e pesquisa transdisciplinas entre os autores supracitados. Na dialógica não se rejeita nenhuma flecha do conhecimento, o processo de conhecimento disciplinar, multidisciplinar, pluridisciplinar, interdisciplinar fazem parte da unidade na diversidade que compõe a transdiciplinaridade. Nesta perspectiva, Nicolescu (2000) diz que não há superação de um nível anterior de conhecimento, mas que os opostos coexistem e que, portanto, o princípio retroativo e de autorregulação ocorrem simultaneamente. Por isso, é um importante caminho metodológico para as ciências sociais.This paper presents the dialogue as of transdisciplinary research perspective. We start presenting the route followed by Mikhail Bakhtin, Paulo Freire, Edgar Morin and Basarab Nicolescu to work dialogical methodology in their works. Further, it discusses the transdisciplinarity understood in its methodological aspect, as a process that occurs in three simultaneous steps: analysis of different levels of reality, the logic of the included and complexity. We sought, through literature, raise theoretical points on the dialogism and research transdisciplinary between the above authors. In dialogic is not rejected any arrow of knowledge, the process of disciplinary knowledge, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary part of unity in diversity that makes up the transdisciplinarity. In this perspective, Nicolescu (2000) says there is no overcoming a previous level of knowledge, but that opposites coexist and that therefore the retroactive principle and self-regulatory occur simultaneously. So it is an important methodological approach to the social sciences.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterisation of Archaeological High-tin Bronze Corrosion Structures

Part of this work was carried out in the framework of the projects: 'Singing Bronze', funded by Banco Santander through the prize Santander/NOVA 2016; 'IberianTin' (PTDC/HAR-ARQ/32290/2017), funded by European Regional Development Fund funds through the regional program of Lisbon and through national funds through the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) (Foundation for Science and Technology); UID/CTM/50025/2019 granted to CENIMAT/i3N, financed through FEDER funds by COMPETE 2020 and national funds through FCT.Since ancient times, the use of high-tin bronze alloys (>17 wt.%) has been mainly limited to the production of specific objects such as mirrors and bells. High-tin bronzes can show distinctive colour reflection, as well as mechanical properties and corrosion resistance that clearly distinguish them from the classical bronze composition (with 8–12 wt.% tin). In the present study samples of archaeological high-tin bronze bells were studied by optical microscopy, SEM-EDX, and Raman imaging with the aim of characterising their microstructural long-term corrosion patterns. Results show the presence of high quantities of δ phase, when compared to the classical bronze composition, which makes some corrosion structures more visible in these alloys. The corrosion morphologies show selective corrosion of different metal phases along depth of corrosion, which were attributed to different oxygen potentials. This study proposes a classification of four types of corrosion structures occurring in two-phase bronzes as a consequence of aeration conditions during burial time and aeration within the corrosion structure.authorsversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Compounds identified on hexane and dichloromethane extracts of Salicornia ramosissima

3rd Portuguese Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry and 1st Portuguese-Spanish-Brazilian Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry, Aveiro, 28-30 Novembro 2012.Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods (common purple glasswort) is an annual halophyte, widely distributed in the salt marsh of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), that belongs to the Salicornia L. genus (Chenopodiaceae).[4] Although phytochemical studies genus on this genus report the presence of compounds which are well-recognized for their biological activities, such as flavonoids, chromones and alkaloids,[3] too little is known about secondary metabolites on purple glasswort. In our previous work we were able to isolate and identify ethyl o-hydroxycinnamate, (E)-fatty alcohol ferulic acid and scopoletin from the dichloromethane extract of S. ramosissima aerial parts. The structure and spectroscopic characterization of some secondary metabolites isolated from dichloromethane crude extract also will be presented and discussed.Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011) and Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN)

Some aromatic compounds from dichloromethane extract of Salicornia ramosissima.

6th Spanish-Portuguese-Japanese Organic Chemistry Symposium, Lisboa, de 18 a 20 de Julho de 2012 (Poster Communication).Salicornia ramosissima J. Woods, is an annual halophyte, confined to saline habitats, widely distributed in the salt marsh of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) and also present in many salt marshes of the Iberian Peninsula. Our interest in the phytochemical study of this specie, which belongs to the genus Salicornia and family Chenopodiaceae, is based on previous knowledge that plants of this genus presented compounds such as flavonoids, chromones and alkaloids which are well-recognized for their biological activities. Salicornia ramosissima was subject to some studies of growth conditions and salinity, but its phytochemical composition remains unknown. The analysis of the dichloromethane extract from S. ramosissima aerial parts allowed the isolation of some aromatic compounds, from which we present here their unequivocal structure elucidation.Thanks are due to the University of Aveiro, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER for funding the Organic Chemistry Research Unit (project PEst-C/QUI/UI0062/2011) and Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN). The authors also wish to acknowledge generous contribution of José M G Pereira for the original photographs of Salicornia in Aveiro region