Role of floral organ identity genes in the development of unisexual flowers of Quercus suber L

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10732-0Monoecious species provide an excellent system to study the specific determinants that underlie male and female flower development. Quercus suber is a monoecious species with unisexual flowers at inception. Despite the overall importance of this and other tree species with a similar reproductive habit, little is known regarding the mechanisms involved in the development of their male and female flowers. Here, we have characterised members of the ABCDE MADS-box gene family of Q. suber. The temporal expression of these genes was found to be sex-biased. The B-class genes, in particular, are predominantly, or exclusively (in the case of QsPISTILLATA), expressed in the male flowers. Functional analysis in Arabidopsis suggests that the B-class genes have their function conserved. The identification of sex-biased gene expression plus the identification of unusual protein-protein interactions suggest that the floral organ identity of Q. suber may be under control of specific changes in the dynamics of the ABCDE model. This study constitutes a major step towards the characterisation of the mechanisms involved in reproductive organ identity in a monoecious tree with a potential contribution towards the knowledge of conserved developmental mechanisms in other species with a similar sex habit.This work was funded by FCT/COMPETE/FEDER with the project grants FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-019461/PTDC/AGR-GPL/118508/2010. “Characterization of Reproductive Development of Quercus suber”. R.S. and MMRC were supported by FCT grants with the references SFRH/BD/84365/2012 and SFRH/BSAB/113781/2015, respectively. A special acknowledgment for the John Innes Centre Bioimaging facility and staff for their contribution to this publication and for Sara Laranjeira and Helena Silva for helping revise the manuscriptinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of carbon source, carbon concentration and culture conditions on in vitro rooting of Pinus pinea L. microshoots

In stone pine (Pinus pinea L.), clonal propagation via adventitious shoot formation from cotyledons has been reported before but rooting of these shoots is poor. The number of rooted shoots had low frequency limiting the used of micropropagation protocols as a choice for mass propagation of superior genotypes. Therefore the main objective of the present work was to increase the number and quality of roots per shoot in order to ensure the survival and growth of a great number of plants in the acclimation phase. To achieve this, different combinations of carbon source (sucrose or glucose) at different concentrations, under different environmental conditions (temperature and light), were tested in the induction and expression phases of the adventitious root formation. Shoots of different clones obtained via organogenesis have been employed for the experiments. Observations were made on the rooting percentage, root length and number of roots per shoot. The results showed a general increased of the number of roots per shoot and an earlier root formation when glucose was used as a carbon source. However, there were no differences in the percentage of rooting between the carbons sources tested. The best results were obtained using 0.117 M of glucose and dark treatment combined with 19°C during the induction phase of the rhizogenic process. Light and low sugar concentration proved to be beneficial for the expression phase, increasing the root length. A remarkable interclonal difference in the ability to form roots was observed. It was possible to obtain a rooting percentage of more than 75% in several of the tested clones

SME internationalization : the case of JIX

Mestrado em Gestão/MBAO principal objetivo desta tese é obter uma definição estratégica e um plano de internacionalização, que guiarão uma Pequena e Média Empresa (PME) portuguesa no seu processo de internacionalização. Desta forma, será possível definir uma estratégia e metodologia de internacionalização tendo em conta os objetivos de expansão internacional e os principais objetivos comerciais da empresa, nomeadamente: i) alcançar receitas de 5 milhões de euros por ano, dentro de 4 anos; ii) com 100% das vendas no mercado externo e iii) abrangendo 50% do mercado mundial. Num mundo cada vez mais globalizado, as PMEs precisam dos mercados internacionais para aumentar seu desempenho económico-financeiro, aumentar o seu nível de competitividade e assegurarem a sua sobrevivência. A União Europeia passa por uma das maiores crises das últimas décadas e Portugal é um dos países mais afetados, apresentando baixas taxas de sobrevivência das empresas nacionais e com elevada saturação do mercado interno. De forma a assegurarem a sua sobrevivência, as empresas nacionais precisam de investir em novos mercados onde surgem novas oportunidades de negócios, permitindo que invistam no seu crescimento e que sejam criadas condições de sustentabilidade a longo prazo. As empresas portuguesas precisam de defender uma posição no mercado internacional, especialmente no contexto actual da União Europeia. A pesquisa teórica realizada para esta tese explora conceitos, modos e processos relacionados com internacionalização e gestão estratégica de PMEs, e aplica essa base teórica a um plano de internacionalização para um caso específico de uma PME portuguesa.The main objective of this thesis is to obtain a strategic definition and an internationalization plan that will guide a Portuguese Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) in its internationalization process. Therefore, it will be possible to follow its international expansion objectives and enterprise main objectives, namely: i) to achieve revenues of 5 million euros per year, within four years; ii) with 100% of sales from the foreign market and iii) covering 50% of the worldwide market. In an increasingly globalized world, SMEs need to rely on foreign markets to increase their economic and financial performance, their level of competitiveness and this way their survival. The European Union is going through one of the biggest crises of recent decades and Portugal is one of the most affected countries, presenting a low survival rate for domestic companies and high saturation of the internal market. To survive, domestic companies need to invest in new markets where new business opportunities emerge, allowing them to invest in their growth and create long-term sustainability conditions. Portuguese companies need to defend a position in the international market, especially in the context of the European Union. The theoretical research conducted for this thesis explores concepts, modes and processes related to SMEs internationalization and strategic management, and applies that theoretical base to an internationalization plan for a case of a Portuguese SME.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Una poética de lo inacabado: una mirada sobre la película Moscú, de Eduardo Coutinho

The article discusses Eduardo Coutinho´s film Moscow as a unique case in the filmography of this documentalist, in which the film-work turns to a theatrical creation process that has no other end that the film itself. Instead of opening the eye of the camera to testimonies or scenes from “real life”, as in other works, Coutinho uses the interface of theatre, proposing to Grupo Galpão and theatre director Enrique Diaz, a process of construction around the play Three sisters by Anton Chekhov. The article seeks to discuss the particularities of this creative process, analyzing their directions and guidelines; the interrelationships between reality and fiction; the hybridism between theatre, cinema and the multiple authors of the film, from the authors’ own vision of what I have called a “Poetics of the unfinished”. As theoretical tools, I recall the thoughts of art historian Michael Baxandall, genetics critic Cecília Almeida Salles, cinema theoretician Christian Metz and philosopher Gilles Deleuze.El artículo discute la película Moscú de Eduardo Coutinho como un caso singular en la filmografía del documentalista, en el cual la película-obra se vuelve sobre un proceso de creación teatral que no divisa otro fin que no sea la película misma. Al contrario de abrir el “ojo” de la cámara para testimonios o escenas de la “vida real”, como en otros trabajos, Coutinho usa la interfaz del teatro, proponiendo al Grupo Galpão y al director de teatro Enrique Díaz, un proceso de construcción alrededor de la obra Las tres hermanas, de Anton Chejov. El artículo busca discutir las particularidades de este proceso creativo, analizando sus encargos y directrices; las interpenetraciones entre realidad y ficción; el hibridismo entre teatro, cine y las múltiples autorías de la película, a partir de la visión de los propios autores de aquello que llamé una “poética de lo inacabado”. Como herramientas teóricas, recurro a las reflexiones del historiador del arte Michael Baxandall, de la crítica genética Cecília Almeida Salles, del teórico del cine Christian Metz y del filósofo Gilles Deleuze

Vinculação e autoconceito em crianças e jovens institucionalizados

As crianças institucionalizadas, expostas desde cedo a experiências adversas, constituem um grupo particularmente vulnerável e com elevado risco de desenvolverem problemas de saúde e de comportamento. Neste contexto, as questões relacionadas com a vinculação e com o autoconceito, com o propósito de uma intervenção socioeducativa atempada, constituem motivos sólidos para investir neste emergente domínio. O presente estudo de carater quantitativo, correlacional e transversal tem como principal objetivo o estudo das relações entre as representações dos modelos internos de vinculação e os padrões de autoconceito em crianças institucionalizadas. Foi utilizada uma amostra não probabilística ocasional, por conveniência, constituída por 82 crianças com idades compreendidas entre os 8 e os 17 anos de idade (M=12.56, DP=2.708), distribuídas por 52.4% do género masculino (n=43) e 47.6% do género feminino (n=39). Através da aplicação de um questionário sociodemográfico, do Inventário de Vinculação para a Infância e a Adolescência (IVIA) e Piers-Harris Children’s Self- Concept Scale (PHCSCS) V1-6, constataram-se diferenças significativas entre o género e todos os níveis do Autoconceito assim como nos níveis de vinculação evitante e ambivalente, apresentam diferenças significativas relativamente ao género, e no caso da Vinculação evitante também relativamente ao tempo de institucionalização. Não foi possível concluir que não existem diferenças significativas entre os níveis de autoconceito, em função da idade, tempo e motivo de institucionalização. Relativamente aos níveis de vinculação, também não existem diferenças significativas em função da idade, nem dos motivos de institucionalização. Através da utilização de testes correlacionais, apuraram-se correlações positivas e significativas entre a vinculação segura e o autoconceito global, as dimensões de ansiedade, de popularidade, de felicidade, de aptidão física e do estatuto intelectual e uma correlação negativa fraca entre a vinculação ambivalente e o autoconceito no global, assim como no nível da ansiedade, do comportamento e da popularidade.Institutionalized children exposed to early adverse experiences are a particularly vulnerable group with a high risk of developing health problems. Issues related to attachment and self-concept with the purpose of timely socio-educational intervention, are solid reasons to investigate this emerging and proactive domain. This quantitative, correlational and cross-sectional study’s main aim is the analysis of the relationship between internal bonding models and self-concept patterns of institutionalized children. A quantitative analysis was carried out, using a nonprobabilistic sample of 82 children between 8 to 17 years of age (M=12.56, SD=2,708) with a distribution by gender of 52.4 % male (n=43) and 47.6% female(n=39).Through the submission of a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Inventory of Bonding for Childhood and Adolescence and Piers-Harris Children’s Self-Concept Scale (PHCSCS) V1-6 it was possible to conclude that there are Significant differences between gender and all levels of self-concept such as there are considerable differences regarding avoiding and ambivalent bonding levels, according to gender and institutionalization period. No significant differences were found between the levels of self-concept and age, time and reason of institutionalization. Regarding attachment levels, there are no significant differences according to age or reason of institutionalization. Through the use of correlational tests, positive correlations were found between safe attachment and overall self-concept, anxiety, popularity, happiness, physical fitness and intellectual status, and a negative correlation was found between ambivalent bonding and overall self-concept as well as concerning anxiety, behavior and popularity

Measurement of the relative branching fractions of charmless three-body B+ decays at LHCb

This thesis documents a measurement of the relative branching fractions of the charmless three body decays B+ ! K+K+

Criopreservação de Ovócitos e o Impacto da Pandemia COVID‑19

Egg freezing has evolved over the last decades, becoming an accepted and recognized technique for fertility preservation. This technique has various medical and non ‑medical indications and it is becoming an important step in overcoming age‑related de‑clines in fertility. Nonetheless, since it remains inadequately understood by the general public and medical professionals, raising its awareness is of vital importance. There are numerous factors that influence the technique’s success, particularly the number of matured eggs retrieved and the woman’s age, which affects the quantity and quality of oocytes. Women were prompted to more seriously contemplate social egg freezing throughout the COVID‑19 pandemic, given that social isolation complicated their search for an ideal male partner and allowed for more time to consider and research this topic.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Distribution Patterns of Microplastics in Seawater Surface at a Portuguese Estuary and Marine Park

EC-397R-18 JPIOCEANS/0001/2015 SFRH/BD/130652/2017Measuring local levels of marine pollution by microplastics (MP) and identifying potential sources in coastal areas is essential to evaluate the associated impacts to environment and biota. The accumulation of floating MP at the sea surface is of great concern as the neustonic habitat consists of a feeding ground for primary consumers (including filter-feeders) and active predators, which makes these organisms a relevant via of MP input into the marine trophic chain. Here, a baseline evaluation of MP accumulation at the sea surface was conducted with a neuston net (335 μm mesh) at the Arrábida coastal area, in Portugal. The study site encompasses a marine protected area and an estuary, both under strong anthropogenic pressures due to multiple activities taking place. A short-term investigation on local spatiotemporal distribution, concentration and composition of MP was performed for the first time, through the monthly collection (summer 2018 to winter 2019) of samples at 6 stations. All the neuston samples contained MP and their mean concentration was 0.45 ± 0.52 items m−3 (mean ± SD). Both the averaged MP:neuston and MP:ichthyoplankton ratios were higher in December, when concentrations of organisms decreased. Temporal distribution patterns followed expected trends, as MP concentration was clearly higher in winter months due to precipitation and runoff. Although mean MP concentrations did not vary significantly between sampling stations, there was a spatial distribution of MP in relation to particle shape and size. Fragments were the most abundant shape and MP belonging to 1–2 mm size class were dominant. Amongst a diversity of 10 polymers identified by FTIR analysis, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and copolymer PP/PE were the most abundant. Potential links between local sources/activities and the different polymers were suggested. Altogether, the information provided in this study aims to raise awareness among the identified sectors and consequently to act toward the prevention of MP inputs in the region.publishersversionpublishe

Estudo numérico de um escoamento laminar de um fluido newtoniano em condutas de secção não circular com curvatura de 90º

Tese de Mestrado Integrado. Engenharia Mecânica. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 201