Studies on the properties of Celluclast/Eudragit L-100 conjugate

A cellulase from Trichoderma reesei was immobilized on Eudragit L-100, a reversibly soluble polymer depending on the pH of the medium. The solubility of the modified cellulase was studied at different pH values. By changing the pH, the adsorption equilibrium of the derivatized proteins is switched towards the liquid phase, thus making recycling possible. This method allows for improved stability, without major loss of specific activity. The adsorption of cellulase on Eudragit lowers the enthalpy of denaturation, but affects only slightly the denaturation temperature. The use of carbodiimide was ineffective on linking the enzymes covalently to the polymer, since the immobilization process was found to be only mediated by non-covalent forces.INCO-DC (96-2205) - OLONOCO

A sequência descritiva no texto narrativo: uma experiência com alunos do 3º ano

O presente trabalho resulta da concretização de uma sequência de ensino realizada com alunos de uma turma do 3.º ano de escolaridade do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico, de uma escola do concelho de Aveiro, através da qual se propôs a construção de aprendizagem da escrita de sequências descritivas em textos narrativos. O plano de intervenção tem como principal objetivo avaliar os efeitos de uma sequência de ensino na aprendizagem discente, através da comparação das produções textuais inicial e final realizadas pelos alunos. Foram consideradas para a análise caraterísticas do texto narrativo e a integração, nas produções textuais, de sequência descritiva relativamente a personagens do texto. A análise dos dados recolhidos indica que ocorreram melhorias nos textos. Os resultados mais significativos verificam-se pela textualização, nas produções finais, da descrição das personagens bem como de uma melhor organização do texto.The present report results from the implementation of a teaching sequence carried out with students of a 3rd grade class of Primary School, from a school in the city of Aveiro. This teaching sequence, addressed the learning of the writing of descriptive sequence in narrative text. The intervention plan aims to evaluate the effects of this teaching sequence on students learning by comparing the initial and final textual production made by the students. The characteristics of the narrative text and the integration of a descriptive sequence in the relation to characters in the final textual productions were considered for the analysis. The analysis of the collected data indicates that there were improvements in the texts. The most significant results are characters´ descriptions made by students in their final texts as well as a better organization of the text.Mestrado em Ensino do 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e de Português e História e Geografia de Portugal no 2º Ciclo do Ensino Básic

Todas as línguas na aula de línguas: materiais pedagógicos para os 2º, 3º Ciclos do Ensino Básico e Ensino Secundário

Explorar a diversidade linguística nas práticas curriculares assume-se como um caminho a percorrer por dois motivos fundamentais: por um lado, a crescente mobilidade humana; por outro, a necessidade de preparação para uma comunicação global, preocupação inscrita nas recomendações do Conselho da Europa (2001), traduzidas no Quadro Europeu Comum de Referência para as Línguas. Neste sentido, importa apostar na promoção do plurilinguismo como valor e como competência (Beacco & Byram, 2003). Assim, valorizar o plurilinguismo passa sobretudo pela integração da diversidade linguística no currículo, integração que não pode fazer-se através de uma simplificação ou de uma limitação do seu valor e riqueza. A valorização da diversidade linguística presente na escola não deverá, pois, ser esgotada em festas ocasionais celebrando e divulgando línguas e culturas diferentes da portuguesa, ou apenas através da oferta de mais línguas estrangeiras numa perspectiva aditiva de currículo. Por conseguinte, a tarefa do Educador em Línguas passa por promover, de forma integrada e sistemática, espaços de contacto plurilingue e intercultural onde o aluno possa desenvolver a sua competência plurilingue, rentabilizando e alargando o seu repertório linguístico-comunicativo e de aprendizagem. O Atelier que nos propomos dinamizar terá como principal objectivo proporcionar aos docentes o contacto com materiais pedagógicos que consubstanciam propostas e possibilidades de resposta aos desafios acima identificados. Assim, o Atelier estará organizado em dois momentos. No primeiro momento, os participantes terão a possibilidade de contactar e analisar materiais e propostas de actividades plurilingues de diferente natureza. No segundo momento, promover-se-á a interacção entre os participantes visando uma reflexão sobre as possibilidades e constrangimentos da utilização deste tipo de materiais para o desenvolvimento da competência plurilingue e intercultural, indo ao encontro das mais recentes orientações para o ensino das línguas

Evaluation of toxic/protective effects of the essential oil of Salvia officinalis on freshly isolated rat hepatocytes

For this study the essential oil (EO) of sage (Salvia officinalis L.) was isolated from air-dried vegetative aerial parts of the plants by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS. A total yield of 12.07 mg of EO per g of plant dry mass was obtained and more than 50 compounds identified. The major compounds were cis-thujone (17.4 %), alpha-humulene (13.3 %), 1,8-cineole (12.7 %), E-caryophyllene (8.5 %) and borneol (8.3 %). The EO fraction of sage tea was also isolated by partition with pentane and the respective components identified. The toxic and antioxidant protective effects of S. officinalis EO were evaluated on freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Cell viability (LDH leakage), lipid peroxidation and glutathione status were measured in experiments undertaken with cells (suspensions of 1x106 cells per millilitre) exposed to EO alone (toxicity of the EO; t-BHP as positive control); and with cells exposed to EO and an oxidative compound (t-BHP) together (in EO protection evaluation; quercetin as positive control) for 30 min. The results show that the EO is not toxic when present at concentrations below 200 nl/ml; it was only at 2000 nl EO/ml that a significant LDH leakage and GSH decrease were observed indicating cell damage. In the range of concentrations tested, the EO did not show protective effects against t-BHP-induced toxicity.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/6942/2001, POCTI/AGR/43482/2001

Hepatotoxicity of an essential oil of Salvia officinalis L.: an in vitro study using freshly isolated rat hepatocytes

Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) is a popular Mediterranean aromatic herb that is cultivated worldwide. It is used since ancient times as a medicinal herb for treating a variety of ailments and has a reputation for memory enhancement [1,2]. It is also commonly used for flavouring and seasoning of foods, most of their properties being due to essential oils [1,3]. Sage extracts have also been reported to have an antioxidant effects and excellent properties in inhibiting lipid peroxidation [1]. Sage derivatives continue to be important components of contemporary phytopharmaceuticals, although their potentially toxic effects have not received much attention. In this study, the hepatotoxicity of an essential oil obtained by hydrodistilled aerial parts of Salvia officinalis L. plants (12 mg/g dry weight) harvested in April 2000, cultivated in Arouca experimental farms in northern Portugal, was investigated in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. The studied concentrations (0 microL/ml, 0.08 microL/ml, 0.4 microL/ml, 2 microL/ml, and 10 microL/ml) did not induce lipid peroxidation measured by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. However, it was observed a concentration dependent increase of lactate dehydrogenase leakage of 30 min of incubation with the essential oil (18.1%, 21.4%, 28.0%, 29.4%, and 51.6%). Values of reduced and oxidized glutathione will also be discussed. Tert-butylhydroperoxide (1.0 mM, 30 min), a well-known toxic compound, was used as positive control for cell damage. Our results show that care should be taken when applying essential oils in the food industry or as alternative medicines because of their potentially toxic effects on the liver

Participação em programas de intervenção comunitária e qualidade de vida: resultados de um estudo multicêntrico em Portugal

Analisar a qualidade de vida (QdV) em indivíduos que participam de programas de intervenção comunitária (PIC) orientados para uma vida ativa e saudável. Método: Estudo transversal multicêntrico com 304 participantes, com 55 anos ou mais de idade, a viver na comunidade em três localidades portuguesas. Metade desses indivíduos (n=152) envolvida em PIC (grupo de intervenção). Esse grupo foi emparelhado segundo sexo e grupo etário com número equivalente de participantes (n=152) que não frequenta PIC (grupo de comparação). As atividades dos PIC foram agrupadas segundo a sua natureza: socio-recreativas, educativas/aprendizagem ao longo da vida (ALV) e atividade física. Recolheu-se informação usando Questionário de Participação Social, WHOQOL-Bref e Escala de Satisfação com a Vida. Resultados: Os participantes dos PIC tinham média de idade de 71,4 (±5,4) anos, eram predominantemente mulheres (75,0%), casados (65,4%), com escolaridade inferior a cinco anos (71,7%) e rendimento familiar mensal até 750 euros (47,4%). O GI apresentou melhor QdV no domínio físico do que o GC (p<0,03). A atividade física foi a modalidade mais frequentada nos PIC (n=119; 78,3%) em comparação com atividades educativas/ALV (n=46; 30,3%) e socio-recreativas (n=25; 16,4%). Os praticantes de atividade física em PIC apresentaram melhor QdV nos domínios psicológico, relações sociais e ambiente do que os não-praticantes (p<0,05). Conclusão: A participação em PIC está associada à QdV pelo que, em linha com o quadro do envelhecimento ativo, se recomenda implementar PIC no âmbito das políticas públicas, promovendo sistematicamente a QdV da população.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

TSE Monitoring in Wildlife Epidemiology, Transmission, Diagnosis, Genetics and Control

Among the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids is now the rising concern within Europe. CWD will be outlined in this chapter gathering its epidemiology, transmission, diagnosis, genetics, and control. Prion diseases are fatal neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of an abnormal isoform of the prion protein (PrPc), usually designated by PrPsc or prion. CWD is a prion disease of natural transmission affecting cervids detected mainly in North America. The first European case was detected in Norway, in 2016, in a wild reindeer; until April 2018, a total of 23 cases were described. The definite diagnosis is postmortem, performed in target areas of the brain and lymph nodes. Samples are first screened using a rapid test and, if positive, confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western immunoblotting. It is not possible to establish a culling plan based on the genotype, once affected animals appear with all genotypes. However, some polymorphisms seem to result in longer incubation periods or confer a reduced risk. The control is not easy in captive cervids and even more in the wildlife; some recommendations have been proposed in order to understand the danger and impact of CWD on animal and public health

Neuropathology of animal prion diseases

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases are a fatal group of infectious, inherited and spontaneous neurodegenerative diseases affecting human and animals. They are caused by the conversion of cellular prion protein (PrPC) into a misfolded pathological isoform (PrPSc or prion- proteinaceous infectious particle) that self-propagates by conformational conversion of PrPC. Yet by an unknown mechanism, PrPC can fold into different PrPSc conformers that may result in different prion strains that display specific disease phenotype (incubation time, clinical signs and lesion profile). Although the pathways for neurodegeneration as well as the involvement of brain inflammation in these diseases are not well understood, the spongiform changes, neuronal loss, gliosis and accumulation of PrPSc are the characteristic neuropathological lesions. Scrapie affecting small ruminants was the first identified TSE and has been considered the archetype of prion diseases, though atypical and new animal prion diseases continue to emerge highlighting the importance to investigate the lesion profile in naturally affected animals. In this report, we review the neuropathology and the neuroinflammation of animal prion diseases in natural hosts from scrapie, going through the zoonotic bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the chronic wasting disease (CWD) to the newly identified camel prion disease (CPD).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Scrapie at abattoir: monitoring, control, and differential diagnosis of wasting conditions during meat inspection

Wasting disease in small ruminants is frequently detected at slaughterhouses. The wasting disorder is manifested by the deterioration of the nutritional and physiological state of the animal indicated by thinness, emaciation, and cachexia. Evidence of emaciation and cachexia, alone, are pathological conditions leading to carcass condemnation during an inspection. Several diseases are associated with a wasting condition, including scrapie, pseudotuberculosis, tuberculosis, paratuberculosis, Maedi Visna, and tumor diseases. On the other hand, parasitic diseases, nutrition disorders, exposure or ingestion of toxins, metabolic conditions, inadequate nutrition due to poor teeth, or poor alimentary diet are conditions contributing to poor body condition. Classical and atypical scrapie is naturally occurring transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in small ruminants. The etiological agent for each one is prions. However, each of these scrapie types is epidemiologically, pathologically, and biochemically different. Though atypical scrapie occurs at low incidence, it is consistently prevalent in the small ruminant population. Hence, it is advisable to include differential diagnosis of this disease, from other possibilities, as a cause of wasting conditions detected during meat inspection at the abattoir. This manuscript is a review of the measures in force at the abattoir for scrapie control, focusing on the differential diagnosis of gross lesions related to wasting conditions detected in small ruminants during meat inspection.This article was funded by the Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029947 “Chronic wasting disease risk assessment in Portugal” supported by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia)- FEDER-Balcão2020, projects UIDB/04033/2020. Nuno Gonçalves-Anjo has a Ph.D. grant scholarship (reference number SFRH/BD/146961/2019) financed by FCT through FSE (Fundo Social Europeu). Also, the authors of the research unit CECAV and CITAB received funding from the FCT, under the projects UIDB/CVT/0772/2020 and UIDB/04033/2020, respectively.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetic analyses of aplastic anemia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients with short telomeres, possible implication of DNA-repair genes

Background: Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures present at the terminal region of the chromosomes. Mutations in genes coding for proteins involved in telomere maintenance are causative of a number of disorders known as telomeropathies. The genetic origin of these diseases is heterogeneous and has not been determined for a significant proportion of patients. Methods: This article describes the genetic characterization of a cohort of patients. Telomere length was determined by Southern blot and quantitative PCR. Nucleotide variants were analyzed either by high-resolution melting analysis and Sanger sequencing of selected exons or by massive sequencing of a panel of genes. Results: Forty-seven patients with telomere length below the 10% of normal population, affected with three telomeropathies: dyskeratosis congenita (4), aplastic anemia (22) or pulmonary fibrosis (21) were analyzed. Eighteen of these patients presented known pathogenic or novel possibly pathogenic variants in the telomere-related genes TERT, TERC, RTEL1, CTC1 and ACD. In addition, the analyses of a panel of 188 genes related to haematological disorders indicated that a relevant proportion of the patients (up to 35%) presented rare variants in genes related to DNA repair or in genes coding for proteins involved in the resolution of complex DNA structures, that participate in telomere replication. Mutations in some of these genes are causative of several syndromes previously associated to telomere shortening