Modulation of neuroinflammation by phenolic sulfates metabolites

"Within the central nervous system, microglial cells are key regulators of a set of inflammatory processes. The microglial inflammatory response is the main contributor to the process of neuroinflammation. Inside the brain, under certain abnormal conditions, a sustained microglial activation may lead to an exacerbation of the inflammatory state, causing chronic pathological conditions such as neurodegeneration. (...)"N/

Chlor-alkali membrane cell process : study and characterization

Estágio realizado na CUF - Químicos Industriais e orientado pelo Doutor Paulo Alexandre Pereira AraújoTese de doutoramento. Engenharia Química e Biológica. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 201

Sensorização 3D e Controlo de Manipuladores Industriais através de uma plataforma de baixo custo

A utilização de manipuladores industriais requer cada vez mais células inteligentes, flexíveis e que se consigam adaptar a diferentes e imprevistas condições de operação. Assim, o problema de se identificar e determinar a posição e orientação das peças que um manipulador tem que operar é de elevada importância. Existem diferentes sistemas de visão 3D com potencial de aplicação nesta área, desde sistemas de mais baixo custo baseados em Raspberry PI, até sensores industriais mais sofisticados e dispendiosos. Um dos objetivos desta dissertação assenta na comparação das diferentes caracteristicas desses sistemas (precisão, repetibilidade, volume de trabalho, entre outros) para se analisar a sua aplicabilidade em diferentes situações reais

Microbial volatile fingerprints : potential use for soil/water diagnostics and correlation with traditional microbial parameters

This project used an electronic nose (E-nose) system composed of an array of 14 nonspecific conducting polymer sensors for soil and water diagnostics, based on qualitative microbial volatile production patterns. It tested the feasibility of using soil microbial volatile fingerprints for detecting and monitoring changes in microbial activity in three soils, as a response to key environmental factors such as temperature (16, 25, 37°C), water potential (-0.7, -2.8 MPa), and nutrient (glucose and wheat straw) inputs. It also investigated their potential use for atrazine detection when applied to soil at usual field application rates (2.5 ppm) as well as for monitoring its bioremediation using the white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor (R26), for up to 24 weeks. Furthermore, statistical correlations were investigated between soil volatile profiles and traditional microbial parameters for characterising microbial communities and their metabolic activities such as respiration, dehydrogenase (DHA) and laccase (LAC) activities, bacterial and fungal colony counts and fungal community structure under different soil conditions. Finally, this study explored the potential of microbial volatile production patterns for monitoring the activity and differentiation of two Streptomyces species (S. aureofaciens A253 and S. griseus A26) in potable water and in soil, as well as the production of geosmin in both environments. Data in this research has demonstrated that the production of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in soil is likely to arise from microbial metabolism. The E-nose was able to detect variations in the patterns of volatile production from soil according to treatments, functioning as indicators of shifts in microbial activity and community structure. The potential for discrimination between soil types in relation to environmental factors and nutrient addition has been demonstrated for the first time using principle component analysis (PCA). Significant (p0.80) between PC1 and soil respiration was particularly relevant, since it indicates that microbial volatile fingerprints, similarly to respiration, respond quickly to changes in soil conditions. The sensor array was also able to detect Streptomyces activity and differentiation as well as discriminate between bacterial species at different concentrations in potable water and in soil. Using this approach, the presence of geosmin was detected in water at 0.5 ppb (below its human odour threshold detection, OTD) and in soil at 100 ppb (OTD not established). This study has, therefore, demonstrated that an E-nose can be employed as a rapid, sensitive, reproducible and non-invasive tool for characterising changes in soil environmental conditions, as well as for monitoring key soil processes such as organic matter decomposition and atrazine degradation. It also suggests that this approach can complement, and perhaps replace, some of these methods for a quick and routine evaluation of the impact of environmental factors on soil microbial communities. Furthermore, this study showed that an E-nose can also be employed for assessing Streptomyces activity and detecting geosmin production at an early stage in water and soil.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Sole microbiome progression in a hatchery life cycle, from egg to juvenile

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) pose unique challenges in microbial community management since they rely on a stable community with key target groups, both in the RAS environment and in the host (in this case, Solea senegalensis). Our goal was to determine how much of the sole microbiome is inherited from the egg stage, and how much is acquired during the remainder of the sole life cycle in an aquaculture production batch, especially regarding potentially probiotic and pathogenic groups. Our work comprises sole tissue samples from 2 days before hatching and up to 146 days after hatching (−2 to 146 DAH), encompassing the egg, larval, weaning, and pre-ongrowing stages. Total DNA was isolated from the different sole tissues, as well as from live feed introduced in the first stages, and 16S rRNA gene was sequenced (V6-V8 region) using the Illumina MiSeq platform. The output was analysed with the DADA2 pipeline, and taxonomic attribution with SILVAngs version 138.1. Using the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index, both age and life cycle stage appeared to be drivers of bacterial community dissimilarity. To try to distinguish the inherited (present since the egg stage) from the acquired community (detected at later stages), different tissues were analysed at 49, 119 and 146 DAH (gill, intestine, fin and mucus). Only a few genera were inherited, but those that were inherited accompany the sole microbiome throughout the life cycle. Two genera of potentially probiotic bacteria (Bacillus and Enterococcus) were already present in the eggs, while others were acquired later, in particularly, forty days after live feed was introduced. The potentially pathogenic genera Tenacibaculum and Vibrio were inherited from the eggs, while Photobacterium and Mycobacterium seemed to be acquired at 49 and 119 DAH, respectively. Significant co-occurrence was found between Tenacibaculum and both Photobacterium and Vibrio. On the other hand, significantly negative correlations were detected between Vibrio and Streptococcus, Bacillus, Limosilactobacillus and Gardnerella. Our work reinforces the importance of life cycle studies, which can contribute to improve production husbandry strategies. However, we still need more information on this topic as repetition of patterns in different settings is essential to confirm our findings

A agradabilidade de vozes disfónicas em adolescentes

Comunicação apresentada no VII Congresso Nacional da APTF (Associação Portuguesa de Terapeutas da Fala), 2014, Lisbo

Biochar Application to Soils - A Critical Scientific Review of Effects on Soil Properties, Processes and Functions

Biochar application to soils is being considered as a means to sequester carbon (C) while concurrently improving soil functions. This report reviews the evidence for potential effects of biochar incorporation into soils on soil properties and processes with implications for agronomic and environmental functions. Further to this, while beyond the main scope of this report, an overview of the main environmental and occupational health issues associated to biochar production and handling, and the socio-economic implications is given. Extrapolation of reported results must be done with caution, owing to the relatively small number of studies reported in the primary literature, when compared to possible instigation of biochar application to soils on a national or European scale . To try and bridge the gap between small scale, controlled experiments and large scale implementation of biochar application to a range of soil types across a range of different climates, a statistical meta-analysis was undertaken. A full search of the scientific literature led to a compilation of studies used for a meta-analysis of the effects of biochar application to soils and plant productivity. Results showed a small overall, but statistically significant, positive effect of biochar application to soils on plant productivity. The greatest positive effects were seen on acidic free-draining soils with other soil types, specifically calcarosols showing no significant effect (either positive or negative). This suggests that one of the main mechanisms behind the reported positive effects of biochar application to soils on plant productivity may be a liming effect although further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis. There is currently a lack of data concerning the effects of biochar application to soils on other soil functions. This means that although these are qualitatively and comprehensively discussed in this report, a robust meta-analysis on such effects is not possible currently. Effects that are expected (both positive and negative) include nutrient leaching to ground/surface waters, soil water retention, soil water repellency, N2O and CH4 emissions, albedo and soil biological activity although insufficient data are available at present to accurately quantify any of these effects or to report a consensus on their direction (either positive or negative). Preliminary evidence has also been reported concerning a possible priming effect whereby accelerated decomposition of soil organic matter occurs upon biochar addition to soil. This has the potential to both harm crop productivity in the long term due to loss of soil organic matter, as well as releasing more CO2 into the atmosphere as increased quantities of soil organic matter is respired from the soil. This is an area which requires urgent further research and is discussed in more detail in this report.JRC.DDG.H.7-Land management and natural hazard

Representativeness of European biochar research : part II – pot and laboratory studies

Biochar research is extensive and there are many pot and laboratory studies carried out in Europe to investigate the mechanistic understanding that govern its impact on soil processes. A survey was conducted in order to find out how representative these studies under controlled experimental conditions are of actual environmental conditions in Europe and biomass availability and conversion technologies. The survey consisted of various key questions related to types of soil and biochar used, experimental conditions and effects of biochar additions on soil chemical, biological and physical properties. This representativeness study showed that soil texture and soil organic carbon contents used by researchers are well reflected in the current biochar research in Europe (through comparison with published literature), but less so for soil pH and soil type. This study provides scope for future work to complement existing research findings, avoiding unnecessary repetitions and highlighting existing research gaps.Peer reviewe