Road to sustainability in the short-let industry: the guest ready case: how can the short-let industry become more sustainable? Specifically, what is the environmental (CO2) and financial impact of replacing small plastic amenities, cleaning products and conventional energy with greener alternatives?

Small hospitality companies’ transition to sustainability has been little studied. This qualitative and quantitative analysis of a short-let start-up explores the question: How can the short-let industry become more sustainable? What is the environmental (CO2) and financial impact of replacing small plastic amenities, cleaning products and conventional energy with greener alternatives? It concludes that if it overcomes barriers typical of smaller companies’ focus on profitability and finds a business model that monetises the impact of embarking on the sustainability trend, cost reductions due to adopting environment-friendly products can lead to an enhanced financial performance and to clear environmental benefits

Confluências e divergências nos materiais de entretelagem em Portugal e Espanha

For many centuries, painting materials were common in Portugal and Spain, as in the rest of Europe. Through them we can deduce that the origin of gacha as lining adhesive comes from its use in canvases’ preparation. Likewise, in the Peninsula, techniques and materials in conservation were parallel, as the use of adhesives and starch past for lining. In Portugal, until about mid-twentieth century, wax-resin’s use is introduced and diffused, although it lasted relatively short time. In Spain, however, gacha was still in use.Los materiales de la pintura fueron comunes en Portugal y España, como en el resto de Europa, durante muchos siglos, y a través de ellos se puede deducir que el origen de la gacha como adhesivo de entelado deriva del uso de esa materia para la preparación de los lienzos. Del mismo modo, las técnicas y materiales de las intervenciones de restauración fueron paralelas en la península, como el uso de colas y pastas de harina como adhesivos de entelado. Hasta que cerca de mediados del siglo XX se introduce y difunde la utilización de cera-resina en Portugal, que duró relativamente poco tiempo. Mientras tanto, en España se continuó empleando la gacha.Os materiais utilizados em pintura foram comuns em Portugal e Espanha, como no resto da Europa, durante muitos séculos. Através deles é possível deduzir que a origem da ‘gacha’, como adesivo para entretelagem, deriva do seu uso na preparação das telas. Do mesmo modo, nas intervenções de restauro, as técnicas e os materiais utilizados estiveram a par, assim como o uso de colas e de pastas de farinha, como adesivos para entretelagens. Em Portugal, até meados do século XX, introduz-se e difunde-se a utilização de cera-resina, que permanecerá relativamente pouco tempo. Ao contrário, em Espanha continua a utilizar-se a gacha

Comparison of commercial kits to measure cytokine responses to Plasmodium falciparum by multiplex microsphere suspension array technology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multiplex cytokine profiling systems are useful tools for investigating correlates of protective immunity. Several Luminex and flow cytometry methods are commercially available but there is limited information on the relative performance of different kits. A series of comparison experiments were carried out to determine the most appropriate method for our subsequent studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two Luminex methods were compared, the Bio-Rad human 17-plex panel and the Invitrogen (formerly BioSource) human cytokine 10-plex kit, and two flow cytometry methods, the Becton Dickinson Human Th1/Th2 Cytokine Kit (CBA) and the Bender MedSystems Human Th1/Th2 11plex FlowCytomix Multiplex Kit. All kits were tested for the measurement of cytokines in supernatants collected from human leukocytes stimulated with viable <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>infected red blood cells (iRBC) or <it>P. falciparum </it>schizont lysates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data indicated that the kits differed in sensitivity and reproducibility depending on the cytokine, and detected different quantities of some cytokines. The Bio-Rad 17-plex kit was able to detect more positive responses than the Invitrogen 10-plex kit. However, only when detecting IL-1, IL-6 or TNF did the two Luminex based methods correlate with one another. In this study, the flow cytometry based techniques were less variable and correlated better with one another. The two flow cytometry based kits showed significant correlation when detecting IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF, IL-10 and IL-6, but overall the BD kit detected more positive responses than the Bender MedSystems kit.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The microsphere suspension array technologies tested differed in reproducibility and the absolute quantity of cytokine detected. Sample volume, the number of cytokines measured, and the time and cost of the assays also differed. These data provide an accurate assessment of the four techniques, which will allow individual researchers to select the tool most suited for their study population.</p

Global change at the Polar regions

CSIC SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES: TOWARDS 2030, Vol. 7: GLOBAL CHANGE IMPACTS, CHALLENGE 4The Polar Regions are key Earth’s climate regulators and, hence, any perturbation in their baseline conditions can have global repercussions. Owing their intrinsic particularities such as the presence of huge amounts of sea and continental ice, their terrestrial and marine ecosystems are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations. In fact, both the Arctic and the Antarctic Peninsula are the regions where temperature has raised most and faster than any other Earth’s place. Moreover, other environmental issues related to anthropogenic changes such as the occurrence of contaminants, invasive species, emerging diseases and exploitation of living marine resources are also affecting the Polar Regions. Therefore, sound, detailed and long-term knowledge of the polar systems functioning, interactions and feedbacks is of paramount importance to establish and characterize the main impacts and consequences in both polar and extra-polar latitudes. Only then, efficient and environmentally friendly measures would be established both to mitigate the negative effects of current anthropogenic impactsPeer reviewe

Metabolomics profile responses to changing environments in a common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) germplasm collection

Metabolomics is one of the most powerful -omics to assist plant breeding. Despite the recognized genetic diversity in Portuguese common bean germplasm, details on its metabolomics profiles are still missing. Aiming to promote their use and to understand the environment’s effect in bean metabolomics profiles, 107 Portuguese common bean accessions, cropped under contrasting environments, were analyzed using spectrophotometric, untargeted and targeted mass spectrometry approaches. Although genotype was the most relevant factor on bean metabolomics profile, a clear genotype × environment interaction was also detected. Multivariate analysis highlighted, on the heat-stress environment, the existence of higher levels of salicylic acid, and lower levels of triterpene saponins. Three clusters were defined within each environment. White accessions presented the lowest content and the colored ones the highest levels of prenol lipids and flavonoids. Sources of interesting metabolomics profiles are now identified for bean breeding, focusing either on local or on broad adaptation.To FCT, Portugal, in BEGEQA project (PTDC/AGR-TEC/3555/2012), E.M. PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/89287/2012), as well as to R&D unit, UIDB/04551/2020 (GREEN-IT – Bioresources for sustainability) and COST Action FA1403 (STSM-FA1403-290815-063873) for funding. The authors also acknowledge PORTUGAL 2020 to the Portuguese Mass Spectrometry Network, grant number LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-402-022125. The project NETDIAMOND (SAICTPAC/0047/2015), financially supported by FEEI (Lisboa 2020 and FCT/POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016385), to the iNOVA4Health (UID/Multi/04462/2013), financially supported by FCT and co-funded by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement, as well as to POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029702, funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) and by national funds (PIDDAC) through FCT/MCTES

A balanced pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokine signature in young African children is associated with lower risk of clinical malaria

Background: The effect of timing of exposure to first Plasmodium falciparum infections during early childhood on the induction of innate and adaptive cytokine responses and their contribution to the development of clinical malaria immunity is not well established. Methods: As part of a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial in Mozambique using monthly chemoprophylaxis with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus artesunate to selectively control timing of malaria exposure during infancy, peripheral blood mononuclear cells collected at ages 2.5, 5.5, 10.5, 15 and 24 months were stimulated ex vivo with parasite schizont and erythrocyte lysates. Cytokine mRNA expressed in cell pellets and proteins secreted in supernatants were quantified by real time quantitative PCR and multiplex flow cytometry, respectively. Children were followed up for clinical malaria from birth until 4 years of age. Results: Higher pro-inflammatory (IL-1, IL-6, TNF) and regulatory (IL-10) cytokine concentrations during the second year of life were associated with reduced incidence of clinical malaria up to 4 years of age, adjusting by chemoprophylaxis and prior malaria exposure. Significantly lower concentrations of antigen-specific TH1 (IL-2, IL-12, IFN-) and TH2 (IL-4, IL-5) cytokines by 2 years of age were measured in children under chemoprophylaxis compared to children receiving placebo (p<0.03). Conclusions: Selective chemoprophylaxis altering early natural exposure to malaria blood stage antigens during infancy had a significant effect on TH lymphocyte cytokine production more than one year later. Importantly, a balanced pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine signature probably by innate cells around age 2 years was associated with protective clinical immunity during childhood

Novel site-specific PEGylated L-asparaginase

L-asparaginase (ASNase) from Escherichia coli is currently used in some countries in its PEGylated form (ONCASPAR, pegaspargase) to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). PEGylation refers to the covalent attachment of poly(ethylene) glycol to the protein drug and it not only reduces the immune system activation but also decreases degradation by plasmatic proteases. However, pegaspargase is randomly PEGylated and, consequently, with a high degree of polydispersity in its final formulation. In this work we developed a site-specific N-terminus PEGylation protocol for ASNase. The monoPEG-ASNase was purified by anionic followed by size exclusion chromatography to a final purity of 99%. The highest yield of monoPEG-ASNase of 42% was obtained by the protein reaction with methoxy polyethylene glycol-carboxymethyl N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester (10kDa) in 100 mM PBS at pH 7.5 and PEG:ASNase ratio of 25:1. The monoPEG-ASNase was found to maintain enzymatic stability for more days than ASNase, also was resistant to the plasma proteases like asparaginyl endopeptidase and cathepsin B. Additionally, monoPEG-ASNase was found to be potent against leukemic cell lines (MOLT-4 and REH) in vitro like polyPEG-ASNase. monoPEG-ASNase demonstrates its potential as a novel option for ALL treatment, being an inventive novelty that maintains the benefits of the current enzyme and solves challenges.publishe

Potential of Pectins to Beneficially Modulate the Gut Microbiota Depends on Their Structural Properties

Pectins are plant cell-wall polysaccharides which can be utilized by commensal bacteria in the gut, exhibiting beneficial properties for the host. Knowledge of the impact of pectins on intestinal bacterial communities is insufficient and limited to a few types of pectins. This study characterized the relationship between the structural properties of pectins and their potential to modulate composition and activity of the gut microbiota in a beneficial way. For this purpose we performed in vitro fermentations of nine structurally diverse pectins from citrus fruits and sugar beet, and a pectic derivative, rhamnogalacturonan I (RGI), using a TIM-2 colon model. The composition of microbiota during TIM-2 fermentations was assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Both general and pectin-specific changes were observed in relative abundances of numerous bacterial taxa in a time-dependent way. Bacterial populations associated with human health, such as Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, Coprococcus, Ruminococcus, Dorea, Blautia, Oscillospira, Sutterella, Bifidobacterium, Christensenellaceae, Prevotella copri, and Bacteroides spp. were either increased or decreased depending on the substrate, suggesting that these bacteria can be controlled using structurally different pectins. The main structural features linked to the pectin-mediated shifts in microbiota included degree of esterification, composition of neutral sugars, distribution of homogalacturonan and rhamnogalacturonan fractions, degree of branching, and the presence of amide groups. Cumulative production of the total short chain fatty acids and propionate was largest in fermentations of the high methoxyl pectins. Thus, this study indicates that microbial communities in the gut can be specifically modulated by pectins and identifies the features in pectin molecules linked to microbial alterations. This knowledge can be used to define preferred dietary pectins, targeting beneficial bacteria, and favoring more balanced microbiota communities in the gut

IgM and IgG against Plasmodium falciparum lysate as surrogates of malaria exposure and protection during pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Difficulties to disentangle the protective versus exposure role of anti-malarial antibodies hamper the identification of clinically-relevant immune targets. Here, factors affecting maternal IgG and IgMs against Plasmodium falciparum antigens, as well as their relationship with parasite infection and clinical outcomes, were assessed in mothers and their children. Antibody responses among 207 Mozambican pregnant women at delivery against MSP119, EBA175, AMA1, DBLalpha and parasite lysate (3D7, R29 and E8B parasite lines), as well as the surface of infected erythrocytes, were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. The relationship between antibody levels, maternal infection and clinical outcomes was assessed by multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: Placental infection was associated with an increase in maternal levels of IgGs and IgMs against a broad range of parasite antigens. The multivariate analysis including IgGs and IgMs showed that the newborn weight increased with increasing IgG levels against a parasite lysate, whereas the opposite association was found with IgMs. IgGs are markers of protection against poor pregnancy outcomes and IgMs of parasite exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Adjusting the analysis for the simultaneous effect of IgMs and IgGs can contribute to account for heterogeneous exposure to P. falciparum when assessing immune responses effective against malaria in pregnancy