Cryopreservation of Sheep Produced Embryos – Current and Future Perspectives

Due to economical and scientific limitations, sheep embryo reproductive technologies are less commercially applied than in other animal species. However, it is very clear that, in the near future, those techniques are expected to have a central role in animal production as a consequence of genetic and reproductive demands. One drawback is that results obtained after sheep embryo cryopreservation are unattractive for commercial purposes. It is expected that a successful cryopreservation of sheep embryos can push forward all other reproductive biotechnologies in this species, such as multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), artificial insemination, or in vitro production of embryos. This paper tries to discuss the current and future perspectives of cryopreservation of in vivo- and in vitro-produced sheep embryos concerning advantages and limitations for its practical use and possible solutions for improving methods to allow a higher survival rate of cryopreserved embryos

Nutritional and phytochemical composition of Vaccinium padifolium Sm wild berries and radical scavenging activity

Blueberries have a well-deserved reputation as a potential functional food, supported by studies which have identified and quantified various nutrients and bioactive phytochemicals with known benefits for human diet and health. Wild blueberries have attracted particular attention due to the levels and concentrations of those phytonutrients. This study aims to evaluate for the first time the chemical composition of Madeira Island's endemic Vaccinium padifolium Sm wild berry. Results show that this fruit contains high values of total soluble phenolic content (around 4 g GAE kg-1 FW), as well as significant values of total monomeric anthocyanin content (around 3 g eq. cyanidin kg-1 FW) and DPPH scavenging activity (around 86.72%). Additionally, results reveal that this fruit has water content of about 88% as well as low sugar content (17.98 and 29.73 g kg-1 for glucose and fructose, respectively). Results also confirm that this wild blueberry is a good source of dietary fiber, fat and minerals. The high level of terpenoid compounds stands out in the aroma profile analysis.Ana C. Pereira acknowledges Agencia Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI) for financial support through her grant, M1420-09-5369-FSE- 000001.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Conversion of cellulosic materials into glycolipid biosurfactants, mannosylerythritol lipids, by Pseudozyma spp. under SHF and SSF processes

Background: Mannosylerythritol lipids (MEL) are glycolipids with unique biosurfactant properties and are produced by Pseudozyma spp. from different substrates, preferably vegetable oils, but also sugars, glycerol or hydrocarbons. However, solvent intensive downstream processing and the relatively high prices of raw materials currently used for MEL production are drawbacks in its sustainable commercial deployment. The present work aims to demonstrate MEL production from cellulosic materials and investigate the requirements and consequences of combining commercial cellulolytic enzymes and Pseudozyma spp. under separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) processes. Results: MEL was produced from cellulosic substrates, Avicel® as reference (>99% cellulose) and hydrothermally pretreated wheat straw, using commercial cellulolytic enzymes (Celluclast 1.5 L® and Novozyme 188®) and Pseudozyma antarctica PYCC 5048T or Pseudozyma aphidis PYCC 5535T. The strategies included SHF, SSF and fed-batch SSF with pre-hydrolysis. While SSF was isothermal at 28°C, in SHF and fed-batch SSF, yeast fermentation was preceded by an enzymatic (pre-)hydrolysis step at 50°C for 48 h. Pseudozyma antarctica showed the highest MEL yields from both cellulosic substrates, reaching titres of 4.0 and 1.4 g/l by SHF of Avicel® and wheat straw (40 g/l glucan), respectively, using enzymes at low dosage (3.6 and 8.5 FPU/gglucan at 28°C and 50°C, respectively) with prior dialysis. Higher MEL titres were obtained by fed-batch SSF with pre-hydrolysis, reaching 4.5 and 2.5 g/l from Avicel® and wheat straw (80 g/l glucan), respectively. Conclusions: This work reports for the first time MEL production from cellulosic materials. The process was successfully performed through SHF, SSF or Fed-batch SSF, requiring, for maximal performance, dialysed commercial cellulolytic enzymes. The use of inexpensive lignocellulosic substrates associated to straightforward downstream processing from sugary broths is expected to have a great impact in the economy of MEL production for the biosurfactant market, inasmuch as low enzyme dosage is sufficient for good systems performance

Efficient Methods for Scheduling Jobs in a Simulation Model Using a Multicore Multicluster Architecture

Over the past decade, the fast advance of network technologies, hardware and middleware, as well as software resource sophistication has contributed to the emergence of new computational models. Consequently, there was a capacity increasing for efficient and effective use of resources distributed aiming to integrate them, in order to provide a widely distributed environment, which computational capacity could be used to solve complex computer problems. The two most challenging aspects of distributed systems are resource management and task scheduling. This work contributes to minimize such problems by i) aiming to reduce this problem through the use of migration techniques; ii) implementing a multicluster simulation environment with mechanisms for load balancing; iii) plus, the gang scheduling implementation algorithms will be analyzed through the use of metrics, in order to measure the schedulers performance in different situations. Thus, the results showed a better use of resources, implying operating costs reduction

Insignia - A Monitoring and Enhancement Model for Portuguese Historical Military Heritage

The INSIGNIA project aims to develop an enhancement model for Portuguese historical military heritage, applied to the Military Tourism Route (RTM) – a tourism product developed by the Portuguese Military Tourism Association (ATMPT), in partnership with Portuguese municipalities and several public and private entities. The RTM is composed of a set of thematic routes associated to events in Portugal's military history and aggregates a set of resources, services, and a digital repository platform of existing historical and military heritage in Portugal, equipped with dynamic programming in constant updating. The purpose of INSIGNIA is to safeguard, promote, and enhance national historical and military heritage, contributing to the affirmation of military tourism in Portugal and promoting the qualification of its agents, facilities, and the territories themselves. Therefore, an action-research methodology will be used, based on document analysis, inquiry, and observation as techniques for collecting information. The methodological plan includes the implementation of five actions aimed at monitoring and optimising the product in the territory. So far, the preliminary results of the literature review tell us about the existing projects and the launch of the RTM digital platform tells us the number of entries and preferences among the routes presented. INSIGNIA began in 2021 and will continue until 2023.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Insignia - A Monitoring and Enhancement Model for Portuguese Historical Military Heritage

The INSIGNIA project aims to develop an enhancement model for Portuguese historical military heritage, applied to the Military Tourism Route (RTM) – a tourism product developed by the Portuguese Military Tourism Association (ATMPT), in partnership with Portuguese municipalities and several public and private entities. The RTM is composed of a set of thematic routes associated to events in Portugal's military history and aggregates a set of resources, services, and a digital repository platform of existing historical and military heritage in Portugal, equipped with dynamic programming in constant updating. The purpose of INSIGNIA is to safeguard, promote, and enhance national historical and military heritage, contributing to the affirmation of military tourism in Portugal and promoting the qualification of its agents, facilities, and the territories themselves. Therefore, an action-research methodology will be used, based on document analysis, inquiry, and observation as techniques for collecting information. The methodological plan includes the implementation of five actions aimed at monitoring and optimising the product in the territory. So far, the preliminary results of the literature review tell us about the existing projects and the launch of the RTM digital platform tells us the number of entries and preferences among the routes presented. INSIGNIA began in 2021 and will continue until 2023.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Membrane transport systems and the biodegradation potential and pathogenicity of genus Rhodococcus

PMID:24772091 WOS:000347032600001The Rhodococcus genus contains species with remarkable ability to tolerate toxic compounds and to degrade a myriad of substrates. These substrates have to cross a distinctive cell envelope dominated by mycolic acids anchored in a scaffold of arabinogalactan covalently attached to the cell wall peptidoglycan, and a cellular membrane with phospholipids, whose composition in fatty acids can be rapidly altered in response to environmental conditions. The hydrophobic nature of the cell envelope facilitates the entrance of hydrophobic molecules but some substrates require active transport systems. Additionally, toxic compounds may also be extruded by energy spending efflux systems. In this review, physiological evidences of the use of transport systems by Rhodococcus strains and genomic studies that corroborate their existence are presented and discussed. The recently released complete genomes of several Rhodococcus strains will be the basis for an in silico correlation analysis between the efflux pumps present in the genome and their role on active transport of substrates. These transport systems will be placed on an integrative perspective of the impact of this important genus on biotechnology and health, ranging from bioremediation to antibiotic and biocide resistance.publishersversionpublishe

Evolutionary patterns and development prospects for e-government: a Delphi-based approach to perceptions of the administrative agent

Information technology is an open door for governments to service citizens in a more timely, cost-efficient and effective manner. Even considering citizen resistance, cultural adversity or changes in the economic agents’ relationship, few would contest that concern over the state of electronic government (e-government) has increased over the years. This concern has been responsible for the emergence of a wide range of new initiatives devoted to development of the information and knowledge society, which occupies a central place in government policies and planning strategies worldwide. In this paper, we aim to analyze the evolutionary patterns of e-government in Portugal and, based on an application of the Delphi technique, provide development prospects considering the perceptions of a panel of administrative agents. Despite the low use of e-government services, our study demonstrates that the administrative agent expresses overall satisfaction with its use. Additionally, the high level of modernization allows us to forecast the increased use of information and communication technologies in terms of e-government services

Ability of Different Measures of Adiposity to Identify High Metabolic Risk in Adolescents

Introduction. This study aimed to evaluate the screening performance of different measures of adiposity: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) for high metabolic risk in a sample of adolescents. Methods. A cross-sectional school-based study was conducted on 517 adolescents aged 15–18, from the Azorean Islands, Portugal. We measured fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic blood pressure. HOMA and TC/HDL-C ratio were calculated. For each of these variables, a Z-score was computed by age and sex. A metabolic risk score (MRS) was constructed by summing the Z-scores of all individual risk factors. High risk was considered when the individual had ≥1SD of this score. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) were used. Results. Linear regression analyses showed that, after adjusting for age and pubertal stage, all different measures of adiposity are positively and significantly associated with MRS in both sexes, with exception of WHtR for boys. BMI, WC, and WHtR performed well in detecting high MRS, indicated by areas under the curve (AUC), with slightly greater AUC for BMI than for WC and WHtR in both sexes. Conclusion. All measures of adiposity were significantly associated with metabolic risk factors in a sample of Portuguese adolescents