Spatial and temporal variability in coccolithophore abundance and distribution in the NW Iberian coastal upwelling system

A systematic investigation of the spatial and temporal variability in coccolithophore abundance and distribution through the water column of the NW Iberian coastal up-welling system was performed. From July 2011 to June 2012, monthly sampling at various water depths was conducted at two parallel stations located at 42 degrees N. Total coccosphere abundance was higher at the outer-shelf station, where warmer, nutrient-depleted waters favoured coccolithophore rather than phytoplanktonic diatom blooms, which are known to dominate the inner-shelf location. In seasonal terms, higher coccosphere and coccolith abundances were registered at both stations during upwelling seasons, coinciding with high irradiance levels. This was typically in conjunction with stratified, nutrient-poor conditions (i.e. relaxing upwelling conditions). However, it also occurred during some upwelling events of colder, nutrient-rich subsurface waters onto the continental shelf. Minimum abundances were generally found during downwelling periods, with unexpectedly high coccolith abundance registered in subsurface waters at the inner-shelf station. This finding can only be explained if strong storms during these downwelling periods favoured resuspension processes, thus remobilizing deposited coccoliths from surface sediments, and hence hampering the identification of autochthonous coccolithophore community structure. At both locations, the major coccolithophore assemblages were dominated by Emiliania huxleyi, small Gephyrocapsa group, Gephyrocapsa oceanica, Florisphaera profunda, Syracosphaera spp., Coronosphaera mediterranea, and Calcidiscus leptoporus. Ecological preferences of the different taxa were assessed by exploring the relationships between environmental conditions and temporal and vertical variability in coccosphere abundance. These findings provide relevant information for the use of fossil coccolith assemblages in marine sediment records, in order to infer past environmental conditions, of particular importance for Paleoceanography. Both E. huxleyi and the small Gephyrocapsa group are proposed as proxies for the upwelling regime with a distinct affinity for different stages of the upwelling event: E. huxleyi was associated with warmer, nutrient-poor and more stable water column (i.e. upwelling relaxation stage) while the small Gephyrocapsa group was linked to colder waters and higher nutrient availability (i.e. early stages of the upwelling event), similarly to G. oceanica. Conversely, F. profunda is suggested as a proxy for the downwelling regime and low-productivity conditions. The assemblage composed by Syracosphaera pulchra, Coronosphaera mediterranea, and Rhabdosphaera clavigera may be a useful indicator of the presence of subtropical waters conveyed northward by the Iberian Poleward Current. Finally, C. leptoporus is proposed as an indicator of warmer, saltier, and oligotrophic waters during the downwelling/winter regime.EXCAPA project - Xunta de Galicia [10MDS402013PR]; CALIBERIA project (Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia - Portugal) [PTDC/MAR/102045/2008]; CALIBERIA project [COMPETE/FEDER-FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-010599, BI/PTDC/MAR/102045/2008/2010-016, BI/PTDC/MAR/102045/2008/2010-022, BI/PTDC/MAR/102045/2008/2011-027]; Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad [CGL2015-68459-P]; Ministry of Education of Spain [AP2010-2559]; ETH Zurich Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETHZ); Xunta de Galicia (Spain); FCT [SFRH/BPD/111433/2015]; Plurianual/Estrategico project [UID/Multi/04326/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The feasibility of wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for the assessment of lead concentration in animal bone powder

"This work demonstrates the feasibility of wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence for the assessment of lead in animal bone powder.

Hydrocarbon toxicity towards hydrogenotrophic methanogens in oily waste streams

Hydrocarbon-containing wastes and wastewaters are produced worldwide by the activities of the oil and gas industry. Anaerobic digestion has the potential to treat these waste streams, while recovering part of its energy potential as biogas. However, hydrocarbons are toxic compounds that may inhibit the microbial processes, and particularly the methanogens. In this work, the toxicity of hexadecane (030 mM) towards pure cultures of hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanobacterium formicicum and Methanospirillum hungatei) was assessed. Significantly lower (p 30 mM for M. formicicum and M. hungatei, respectively, suggesting that toxic effects from aliphatic hydrocarbons towards hydrogenotrophic methanogens may not occur during anaerobic treatment. Hydrocarbon toxicity towards hydrogenotrophic methanogens was further assessed by incubating an anaerobic sludge with H2/CO2 in the presence of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons (provided by the addition of an oily sludge from a groundwater treatment system). Specific methanogenic activity from H2/CO2 decreased 1.2 times in the presence of the hydrocarbons, but a relatively high methane production (~30 mM) was still obtained in the assays containing the inoculum and the oily sludge (without H2/CO2), reinforcing the potential of anaerobic treatment systems for methane production from oily waste/wastewater.This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of project MORE (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016575) and by the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Influence of Obesity in the Autonomic Nervous System Activity in School-Aged Children in Northern Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Obesity is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in childhood, being an important public health issue. Excessive weight has been associated with autonomic dysfunction but the evidence in children is scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effect of overweight and obesity on the autonomic nervous system activity, in children. Material and Methods: Data from a cross-sectional study of 1602 children, aged 7 to 12 years, was used and 858 children were included in the analysis. Body mass index was calculated and classified according to criteria of the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Body composition was characterized by bioelectrical impedance. Linear regression models were used to determine the association between body mass index, body composition and the autonomic nervous system activity, assessed by pupillometry. Results: Average dilation velocity was higher among children with obesity, according to the CDC and percentage of body fat criteria (ß = 0.053, 95% CI = 0.005 to 0.101 and ß = 0.063, 95% CI = 0.016 to 0.109, respectively). The same trend was observed for WHO and IOTF criteria (ß = 0.045, 95% CI = -0.001 to 0.091, and ß = 0.055, 95% CI = -0.001 to 0.111, respectively). CDC and WHO body mass index z-scores were also positively associated with the values of average dilation velocity (rs = 0.030, p = 0.048; and rs = 0.027, p = 0.042, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings suggest an association between body mass and changes in the autonomic activity, Moreover, this study provides proof of concept for interventions targeting the prevention/treatment of obesity in children that may offer some benefit in re-establishing the balance of the autonomic nervous system, and subsequently preventing the consequences associated with the autonomic nervous system dysfunction

Synthesis and antioxidant activity of new xanthone-type compounds

3rd Portuguese Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry and 1st Portuguese-Spanish-Brazilian Meeting on Medicinal Chemistry, Aveiro, 28-30 Novembro 2012.Owing to our continuing interest in the synthesis of novel oxygen heterocycles we have recently developed a unique synthetic procedure towards the synthesis of new xanthenodiones (2)[5] and extend the work to their aromatization into xanthones (3). Our aim was also to obtain new derivatives with potential biological activities, therefore their ability to scavenge the DPPH radical and to reduce iron(III) were also evaluated. In the present communication we will present and discussed our last results on the synthetic and potential application of xanthones (3).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). We are also grateful to the Portuguese National NMR Network (RNRMN) supported with funds from FCT

METAL-COATED OPTICAL FIBRE BRAGG GRATING FOR ELECTRIC CURRENT SENSING

The use of optical fibres as sensing elements for electric current measurement has been developed by several methods such as those utilising magnetic field to generate the Faraday effect [ ] 1 , magnetomotive force to make fibres bend [ ] 2 , magnetostrictive material bonded on a fibre to constrict or lengthen the fibre [ ] 3 , and heating effect to change the fibre's length and refractive index The sensitivity of optical fibres to minute changes in temperature suggests their potential use to measure electric current. The electric current measurement using the thermal characteristics of optical fibres was already implemented many years ago by detecting the heat generated by the electric current flowing through metallic coating on the fibre using a fibre Mach-Zehnder interferometer This paper describes a current sensor device which utilises this temperature sensitivity to modulate the wavelength of the light reflected by an optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG). In the present work, the temperature change and, consequently, the wavelength change, is accomplished by passing electric current through a thin conductive coating on the surface of a short length of the fibre where the fibre grating is located. The measurement of the Bragg wavelength shift produced by the heating effect is obtained using a passive all-fibre demodulation scheme previously described by one of the authors [ ] 5 . The aim of the scheme is to combine the resolution of a conventional current transformer (CT) with the electrical insulation achievable with a fibre optic system. The configuration of the optical fibre current sensor system is shown i

Preserved monocyte-derived dendritic cell differentiation and maturation in the presence of HIV-2 envelope

© 2012 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers. All rights reserved, USA and worldwide.Dendritic cells (DCs) are fundamental for the initiation of immune responses and are important players in AIDS immunopathogenesis. Impairment of DC function may result from bystander effects of HIV-1 envelope proteins independently of direct HIV-1 infection. HIV-2 envelope proteins are thought to interact with a broader range of receptors than those of HIV-1, and have been shown to have T cell immunosuppressive properties mediated by monocytes. The effects of HIV-2 envelope on DC differentiation and maturation were investigated. The modulatory properties of the HIV-2 envelope on DC generated from monocytes were assessed using both recombinant proteins (HIV-2(ROD) and HIV-2(ALI)) and whole chemically inactivated virus (aldrithiol-2-treated HIV-2(ROD)). DC phenotype was assessed by flow cytometry and DC function by their ability to stimulate allogeneic T cells and to produce cytokines. We demonstrate that HIV-2 Env had no effects upon DC differentiation and maturation despite its broad receptor usage and ability to modulate monocyte function. It is plausible to speculate that a reduced ability of the HIV-2 Env to impair myeloid DC function could represent a contributory factor to the relatively benign course of HIV-2 disease.This work was supported by grants from “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (FCT) and by “Programa Operacional Ciência e Inovação 2010” (POCI2010) to AES. RC and RBF received scholarships from FCT co-financed by POCI 2010 and FSE, and AB from GlaxoSmithKline

Endurance of methanogenic archaea in anaerobic bioreactors treating oleate-based wastewater

Methanogenic archaea are reported as very sensitive to lipids and long chain fatty acids (LCFA). Therefore, in conventional anaerobic processes, methane recovery during LCFA-rich wastewater treatment is usually low. By applying a start-up strategy, based on a sequence of step feeding and reaction cycles, an oleate-rich wastewater was efficiently treated at an organic loading rate of 21 kg COD m(-3) day(-1) (50 % as oleate), showing a methane recovery of 72 %. In the present work, the archaeal community developed in that reactor is investigated using a 16S rRNA gene approach. This is the first time that methanogens present in a bioreactor converting efficiently high loads of LCFA to methane are monitored. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiling showed that major changes on the archaeal community took place during the bioreactor start-up, where phases of continuous feeding were alternated with batch phases. After the start-up, a stable archaeal community (similarity higher than 84 %) was observed and maintained throughout the continuous operation. This community exhibited high LCFA tolerance and high acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic activity. Cloning and sequencing results showed that Methanobacterium- and Methanosaeta-like microorganisms prevailed in the system and were able to tolerate and endure during prolonged exposure to high LCFA loads, despite the previously reported LCFA sensitivity of methanogens.This study has been financially supported by FEDER funds through the Operational Competitiveness Programme (COMPETE) and by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the frame of the projects FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007087 and FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-014784. Financial support from FCT and the European Social Fund (ESF) through PhD grants SFRH/BD/48960/2008 and SFRH/BD/24256/2005 attributed to Andreia Salvador and Ana Julia Cavaleiro is also acknowledged

Chemical characterization and bioactivity of phytochemicals from Iberian endemic Santolina semidentata and strategies for ex situ propagation

Asteraceae family members are well-known for their medicinal potential, comprising several properties that make them unique among plants. Here we focus on Santolina semidentata, an endemic plant from the Iberian Peninsula, not yet described for its medicinal properties. Phytochemical characterization of S. semidentata was performed, concerning total phenol content, flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, HPLC-DAD profile, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory capacity, cytotoxicity and neuroprotective effect in a human neurodegeneration cell model. Moreover, essential oil composition and antifungal activity were also analised. This oil might be useful for therapeutical purposes, particularly in the treatment of dermatophytosis. S. semidentata potential for neuroprotection was revealed by acetylcholinesterase inhibitory capacity and also by an effective protective effect in human neuronal cells. Furthermore, different seed conservation protocols, as well as successful in vitro propagation were established which may be useful when integrated in a broad strategy for the conservation of these endemic plants and their sustainable use for potential biotechnological applications. The results presented here greatly contribute to value this species regarding its potential as a source of phytochemicals with prospective neuroprotective health benefits, either as alternative neuroprotective drugs or as leads for synthetizing more effective molecules.The authors wish to thank to “Fundo EDP para a Biodiversidade” for financial support. This work was also supported by “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” through grant PEst-OE/EQB/LA0004/2011, BGCT/33418/2008, Green-it: UID/Multi/04551/2013, iNOVA4Health: UID/Multi/04462/2013 and financial support to CNS (IF/01097/20132), RP (SFRH/BD/63615/2009), IF (SFRH/BD/86584/2012) and AG (SFRH/BD/103155/2014).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio