Relationship Between Antioxidant Capacity, Proanthocyanidin and Anthocyanin Content During Grape Maturation of Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz Grape Varieties

To investigate antioxidant capacity in seeds and skins during grape maturation and its relationship withanthocyanin and proanthocyanidin content, two Portuguese red grape varieties, Touriga Nacional and TintaRoriz (Vitis vinifera L.) were studied. Two analytical methods were used for antioxidant capacity analysis:the DPPH and ABTS methods. Proanthocyanidins from seeds and skins were separated into monomers,oligomers and polymers, while 13 individual anthocyanins from the skins were also evaluated by HPLC.For both grape varieties studied, antioxidant capacity from the skins and seeds was characterised duringgrape maturation by a general decrease, mainly in the first weeks after véraison, followed by stabilisationand a slight increase in the values in the last three weeks of ripening. A similar tendency was observedfor the amount of all the different proanthocyanidin fractions quantified. Our results also showed thatseeds are an important source of proanthocyanidins with respect to the grape berry skins. Seeds werealso the grape berry fraction with the highest antioxidant capacity when compared to the antioxidantcapacity content of the skins. For the 13 individual monomeric anthocyanins quantified during grapematuration, evolution was generally characterised by a continuous increase in the values. However, forsome of the individual anthocyanins, the continuous increase was followed by stabilisation or a decreasein the values in the last weeks of ripening. Finally, there was a positive relationship between the differentproanthocyanidin fractions and antioxidant capacity of both grape varieties studied; while a negativerelationship during grape maturation was obtained for individual anthocyanins

Mesoscopic modelling of bipolar charge evolution in CN-PPV LEDs

Since various chances are possible in the molecular structure of the repeat unit, substituted poly(para-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) has ben used as active component in light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to obtain light emission in a wide range of colours.A major aspect determining device performance is the competition between current flow, trapping and recombination within the polymer layer. By suitable Monte Carlo calculations, we have performed computer experiments in which bipolar charge carriers are injected at constant rate in polymer networks made of cyano-substituted PPV chains with variable length and orientation. The intra-molecular electronic properties used in these simulations were calculated by a quantum molecular dynamics method. In order to assess the influence of cyano-substitution on the properties of single-layer PPV LEDs, we have focused our attention on bipolar charge evolution in time. Specifically addressed are the differences in electric field strength needed for intra-molecular charge mobility of electrons and holes and their consequences at mesoscopic scale. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Redes de interação proteica revelam fatores de risco associados à perturbação do espetro do autismo

Objetivo: No presente estudo foi colocada a hipótese de que fatores de risco comuns para a PEA convergem em vias fisiológicas específicas, e cumulativamente levam ao aparecimento de sintomas (6). Para identificar estas vias fisiológicas foi desenvolvido um método de análise de redes de interação proteína-proteína (protein-protein interaction, PPI), o qual envolve a sobreposição dos resultados de associação genómica obtidos em GWAS com redes de interação proteica previamente definidas. Esta abordagem pretende assim capturar informação de relevância biológica mesmo nos resultados negativos dos estudos de associação genómicos, e definir uma rede de interações proteicas (PPI) específica para a PEA

Emergy analysis of a silvo-pastoral system, a case study in southern Portugal

The Mediterranean silvo-pastoral system known as Montado, in Portugal, is a complex land use system composed of an open tree stratum in various densities and an herbaceous layer, used for livestock grazing. Livestock also profit from the acorns, and the grazing contributes to avoid shrub encroachment. In the last 20 years, subsidies from the European Union have greatly promoted cattle rearing in this system and the introduction of heavy breeds, at the expense of sheep, goats or the native cattle breeds. The balance of the traditional system is thus threatened, and a precise assessment of the balance between the different components of the system, therefore is highly needed. The goal of this study was to gain a better understanding of a Montado farm system with cattle rearing as the major economic activity by applying the emergy evaluation method to calculate indices of yield, investment, environmental loading and sustainability. By integrating different ecosystem components, the emergy evaluation method allows a comprehensive evaluation of this complex and multifunctional system at the scale of an individual farm. This method provides a set of indices that can help us understand the system and design management strategies that maximize emergy flow in the farm. In this paper, we apply the emergy evaluation method to a Montado farm with cattle rearing, as a way to gain a better understanding of this system at the farm scale. The value for the transformity of veal (2.66E+06 sej J−1) is slightly higher, when compared to other systems producing protein. That means that the investment of nature and man in this product was higher and it requires a premium price on the market. The renewability for Holm Oaks Farm (49 %), lower than for other similar systems, supports the assumption that this is a farm in which, comparing with others, the number of purchased inputs in relation to renewable inputs provided by nature, is higher. The Emergy Investment Ratio is 0.91 for cattle rearing compared to a value of 0.49 for cork and 0.43 for firewood harvesting, making it clear that cattle rearing is a more labor demanding activity comparing with extractive activities as cork and firewood harvesting

Effect of molecular properties on the performance of polymer light-emitting diodes

The performance of a single layer polymer light-emitting diode depends on several interdependent factors, although recombination between electrons and holes within the polymer layer is believed to play an important role. Our aim is to carry out computer experiments in which bipolar charge carriers are injected in polymer networks made of poly(p-phenylene vinylene) chains randomly oriented. In these simulations, we follow the charge evolution in time from some initial state to the steady state. The intra-molecular properties of the polymer molecules obtained from self-consistent quantum molecular dynamics calculations are used in the mesoscopic model. The purpose of the present work is to clarify the effects of intra-molecular charge mobility and energy disorder on recombination efficiency. In particular, we find that charge mobility along the polymer chains has a serious influence on recombination within the polymer layer. Our results also show that energy disorder due to differences in ionization potential and electron affinity of neighbouring molecules affects mainly recombinations that occur near the electrodes at polymer chains parallel to them.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) – Programa Operacional “Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação” - POCTI/CTM/41574/2001Comunidade Europeia (CE). Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER

Tin determination in fistula seals from Conimbriga and Augusta Emerita

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Brief report: High frequency of biochemical markers for mitochondrial dysfunction in autism: no association with the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier SLC25A12 gene

In the present study we confirm the previously reported high frequency of biochemical markers of mitochondrial dysfunction, namely hyperlactacidemia and increased lactate/pyruvate ratio, in a significant fraction of 210 autistic patients. We further examine the involvement of the mitochondrial aspartate/glutamate carrier gene (SLC25A12) in mitochondrial dysfunction associated with autism. We found no evidence of association of the SLC25A12 gene with lactate and lactate/pyruvate distributions or with autism in 241 nuclear families with one affected individual. We conclude that while mitochondrial dysfunction may be one of the most common medical conditions associated with autism, variation at the SLC25A12 gene does not explain the high frequency of mitochondrial dysfunction markers and is not associated with autism in this sample of autistic patients

Postural balance in elderly evaluated in a force platform: the vestibular system and its importance in the aging process

Balance dysfunction remains a significant factor for disability in the elderly [1]. Several mechanisms have been proposed do explain the changes in balance during aging. Balance disorders represent a growing public health problem due to the association with falls and fall related injuries [2]. The complexity of the balance system, however, often requires a thorough, multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and successful treatment of balance impairment [3]. The vestibular system detects head movement in space and in turn generates reflexes that are crucial for daily activities, such as stabilizing the visual axis and maintaining head and body posture [4]. To measure postural balance an accurate and reliable instrument is needed that can numerically reflect the importance of the different variables involved in human balance [5]. With this study it’s our aim to directly determine the balance of older people and to establish the importance of the vestibular system in aging. University of León, León, Spain The data of postural balance in three test conditions was collated with a Metitur® force platform (normal standing with eyes open, normal standing with eyes closed, foam standing with eyes open and foam standing with eyes closed, with 30 seconds duration each). Height was measured with a Seca® We evaluated 49 elderly (42 woman and 7 men) with a mean age of 68,73±9,39 years and with a BMI of 28,63±4,77. The postural balance data obtained was: stadiometer: subjects were asked to stand with back, buttocks and heels against the stadiometer. Subject’s feet were together and flat on the floor and their heads in the Frankfort plane. Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 3,56±1,39 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 6,82±2,5 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 4,51±2,35 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 10,96±4,75 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open – 4,37±1,67 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open – 9,29±2,86 Mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed – 5,59±2,62 Mean y speed in foam standing with eyes closed – 15,01±4,29 Establishing correlations, we observed that the age is positively correlated to different types of evaluations in foam: mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open (0,358*; p=0,011), mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open (0,419**, p=0,002), mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed (0,331*, p=0,02) and mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed. Comparing the subjects studied with reference values of same age and sex [5], we can observe that our subjects achieve better results (less velocity) in both “x” and “y” axis (subjects versus references values): Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 3,56±1,39 mm/s vs. 4,18±081 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 6,82±2,5 mm/s vs. 7,27±1,84 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 4,51±2,35 mm/s vs. 5,68±1,44 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 10,96±4,75 mm/s vs. 12,20±3,01 mm/s Taking into account the results in the different tests, the platform software assigns a classification to the importance of the different systems involved in balance. The vestibular system is itself responsible for 55,19% of the total balance of the studied subjects. The subjects of our sample had better results when compared with reference values of some age and sex. They also tended to have more pronounced sway with age in foam standing with eyes open and in foam standing with eyes closed, in both “x” and “y” axis, which means that the vestibular system has a very important role in the balance of the elderly subjects we have studied

Postural balance in elderly evaluated in a force platform: the vestibular system and its importance in the aging process

Balance dysfunction remains a significant factor for disability in the elderly [1]. Several mechanisms have been proposed do explain the changes in balance during aging. Balance disorders represent a growing public health problem due to the association with falls and fall related injuries [2]. The complexity of the balance system, however, often requires a thorough, multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and successful treatment of balance impairment [3]. The vestibular system detects head movement in space and in turn generates reflexes that are crucial for daily activities, such as stabilizing the visual axis and maintaining head and body posture [4]. To measure postural balance an accurate and reliable instrument is needed that can numerically reflect the importance of the different variables involved in human balance [5]. With this study it’s our aim to directly determine the balance of older people and to establish the importance of the vestibular system in aging. University of León, León, Spain The data of postural balance in three test conditions was collated with a Metitur® force platform (normal standing with eyes open, normal standing with eyes closed, foam standing with eyes open and foam standing with eyes closed, with 30 seconds duration each). Height was measured with a Seca® We evaluated 49 elderly (42 woman and 7 men) with a mean age of 68,73±9,39 years and with a BMI of 28,63±4,77. The postural balance data obtained was: stadiometer: subjects were asked to stand with back, buttocks and heels against the stadiometer. Subject’s feet were together and flat on the floor and their heads in the Frankfort plane. Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 3,56±1,39 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 6,82±2,5 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 4,51±2,35 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 10,96±4,75 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open – 4,37±1,67 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open – 9,29±2,86 Mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed – 5,59±2,62 Mean y speed in foam standing with eyes closed – 15,01±4,29 Establishing correlations, we observed that the age is positively correlated to different types of evaluations in foam: mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open (0,358*; p=0,011), mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open (0,419**, p=0,002), mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed (0,331*, p=0,02) and mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed. Comparing the subjects studied with reference values of same age and sex [5], we can observe that our subjects achieve better results (less velocity) in both “x” and “y” axis (subjects versus references values): Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 3,56±1,39 mm/s vs. 4,18±081 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 6,82±2,5 mm/s vs. 7,27±1,84 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 4,51±2,35 mm/s vs. 5,68±1,44 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 10,96±4,75 mm/s vs. 12,20±3,01 mm/s Taking into account the results in the different tests, the platform software assigns a classification to the importance of the different systems involved in balance. The vestibular system is itself responsible for 55,19% of the total balance of the studied subjects. The subjects of our sample had better results when compared with reference values of some age and sex. They also tended to have more pronounced sway with age in foam standing with eyes open and in foam standing with eyes closed, in both “x” and “y” axis, which means that the vestibular system has a very important role in the balance of the elderly subjects we have studied

Synaptic Transmission: Looking for Clues to Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Etiology in Copy Number Variants Containing Synaptic Genes

Copy Number Variants (CNVs) play an important role in susceptibility to ASD, often mediated by the deletion or duplication of genes involved in synaptic structure and function. Increasing evidence suggests a central role for defects in synaptic structure and function in the pathogenesis of non-syndromic ASD. In this study we tested the hypothesis of an enrichment in CNVs encompassing synaptic transmission genes in ASDThis work was supported by the fellowships SFRH/BD/79081/2011 to BO, SFRH/BPD/74739/2010 to ICC and SFRH/BPD/64281/2009 to CC from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT; Portugal)