Metodologia para o Estudo de Fármacos Vegetais

O mecanismo de actuação, a toxicidade e os efeitos clínicos permanecem desconhecidos para a maioria dos fármacos vegetais, assentando o seu uso no conhecimento tradicional. É porém frequente encontrar plantas tóxicas que, quando ingeridas inapropriadamente e sem acompanhamento técnico, podem ser letais. A identificação micromorfológica é útil na inventariação da diversidade e no reconhecimento de caracteres diferenciadores de fármacos vegetais. O recurso a metodologias no âmbito da biologia molecular é uma mais-valia em relação ao complexo, moroso e dispendioso estudo fitoquímico. Usando quantidades de material muito pequenas, elas constituem também um avanço na certificação da qualidade, segurança e reprodutibilidade da composição de fármacos. Como exemplo da sua aplicação, apresentamos um estudo realizado com plantas endémicas de Cabo Verde, usadas na medicina tradicional, Tornabenea insularis e T. annua. Estas espécies apresentam problemas taxonómicos, o que também levanta questões na sua correcta utilização. Através da combinação dos microcaracteres foliares e dos frutos bem como da extracção de DNA e amplificação por PCR da região ITS e do gene 26S rDNA, os nossos resultados não permitem a separação dos dois taxa, não confirmando assim a actual classificação

The ECSI model in higher education in tourism: a segmentation analysis in the Portuguese case

This research explores the European Consumer Satisfaction Index model applied to higher education in tourism by including the construct of employability and by accounting for unobserved heterogeneity. In particular, it intends to identify segments of higher education institutions' (HEI) consumers based on the structural model estimates of the European Consumer Satisfaction Index (ECSI), enlarged with the employability construct. A model-based segmentation approach using FIMIX in PLS path model-ling is used. Th e ECSI is properly adjusted to the educational framework and shows its effectiveness when assessing students' satisfaction regarding the attended HEI. Two distinctive graduate segments are identifi ed using a sample of 166 HEI consumers. The results confi rm the assumption of heterogeneity as the relationships differ across segments and the need for HEIs to target those segments differently in such a competitive context.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Selection of the most adequate suspension system for lower limb amputees: evaluation parameters

A proper suspension system influence the overall satisfaction of a lower limb ¬amputee on the daily basis. The present study aimed to establish the main parameters needed to evaluate and support the advantages of the new proposed suspension system by reviewing the literature related with amputee’s satisfaction. Eleven studies were select and detailed analyzed. Most of the mentioned studies used Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ) as a method to classify the amputee’s satisfaction in different domains. Several studies pointed out pistoning and easy donning and doffing as the main parameters that addresses the amputee’s satisfaction with the currently available suspension systems. Amputees had a general preference for suspension systems that have an easy donning and doffing. However, the current studies do not explore the impact of the amputee’s characteristics on their satisfaction with the suspension system. The authors believe that amputee’s characteristics such as age, activity level, duration of prosthetic use, skin quality of the residual limb and hand functionality can influence the selection of the suspension system. Further research is still needed to objectively define the clinical parameters for the selection of the most adequate suspension system. Therefore the research should be carried out using a homogenous study group to perceive the advantages, drawbacks and problems using different suspension systems and, consequently, to understand the full potential of the suspension system proposed by the authors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of an easy and effective attachment system for lower limb prosthesis

This study aimed to introduce a new suspension system that is capable of increasing the amputee’s satisfaction in terms of locking the residual limb inside the prosthetic socket. This paper describes the design and development phases carried out to optimize the final solution. The design system was based on the amputee’s needs and the requirements of prosthetic suspension systems. The final solution is a combination of a guiding and fixation system, to overcome some of the reported problems with the current systems, presenting a new simple suspension method that improves the donning and doffing of prosthesis. The new suspension system is a good alternative system to improve the life quality of amputees with lower activity level on the daily basis and, consequently, ease their rehabilitation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Structural transitions in orb2 prion-like domain relevant for functional aggregation in memory consolidation

Grant BBM_TRA_0203 PD/BD/148028/2019 UIDB/04378/2020The recent structural elucidation of ex vivo Drosophila Orb2 fibrils revealed a novel amyloid formed by interdigitated Gln and His residue side chains belonging to the prion-like domain. However, atomic-level details on the conformational transitions associated with memory consolidation remain unknown. Here, we have characterized the nascent conformation and dynamics of the prion-like domain (PLD) of Orb2A using a nonconventional liquid-state NMR spectroscopy strategy based on 13C detection to afford an essentially complete set of 13Ca, 13Cb, 1Ha, and backbone 13CO and 15N assignments. At pH 4, where His residues are protonated, the PLD is disordered and flexible, except for a partially populated a-helix spanning residues 55–60, and binds RNA oligos, but not divalent cations. At pH 7, in contrast, His residues are predominantly neutral, and the Q/H segments adopt minor populations of helical structure, show decreased mobility and start to self-associate. At pH 7, the His residues do not bind RNA or Ca21, but do bind Zn21, which promotes further association. These findings represent a remarkable case of structural plasticity, based on which an updated model for Orb2A functional amyloidogenesis is suggested.publishersversionpublishe

Implications for phase separation

Funding Information: The authors would also like to acknowledge Prof. Dr. Jaime Mota, Dra. Irina Franco for the technical assistance with the microscopic experiments, Philip O'Toole for the aid in protein production and Dr. Aldino Viegas and Dr. David Pantoja-Uceda for the support and valuable discussions regarding NMR spectroscopy. This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT-Portugal) for funding UCIBIO project (UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020) and Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy – i4HB Project (LA/P/0140/2020). The authors also thank FCT-Portugal for the PhD grant attributed to SF (PD/BD/148028/2019) under the PTNMRPhD Program. JO is a recipient of a Leonardo Grant from the Spanish BBVA Foundation (BBM_TRA_0203) and a Ramón y Cajal Grant (RYC2018-026042-I funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by “ESF Investing in your future.”) JO and DVL are supported by the Spanish Grants PID-2019-109276RA-I00 and PID-2019-109306RB-I00, respectively, both funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. The NMR spectrometers are part of the National NMR Facility supported by FCT-Portugal (ROTEIRO/0031/2013–PINFRA/22161/2016, co-financed by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI and PORL and FCT through PIDDAC). The 800 MHz spectrometer present in the “Manuel Rico” NMR laboratory (LMR-CSIC) is a node of the Spanish Large-Scale National Facility (ICTS R-LRB-MR). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Protein Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Protein Society.The mediation of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) for fused in sarcoma (FUS) protein is generally attributed to the low-complexity, disordered domains and is enhanced at low temperature. The role of FUS folded domains on the LLPS process remains relatively unknown since most studies are mainly based on fragmented FUS domains. Here, we investigate the effect of metabolites on full-length (FL) FUS LLPS using turbidity assays and differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, and explore the behavior of the folded domains by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. FL FUS LLPS is maximal at low concentrations of glucose and glutamate, moderate concentrations of NaCl, Zn2+, and Ca2+ and at the isoelectric pH. The FUS RNA recognition motif (RRM) and zinc-finger (ZnF) domains are found to undergo cold denaturation above 0°C at a temperature that is determined by the conformational stability of the ZnF domain. Cold unfolding exposes buried nonpolar residues that can participate in LLPS-promoting hydrophobic interactions. Therefore, these findings constitute the first evidence that FUS globular domains may have an active role in LLPS under cold stress conditions and in the assembly of stress granules, providing further insight into the environmental regulation of LLPS.publishersversionpublishe

Flora de Cabo Verde: Plantas Vasculares - 32. Cucurbitaceae

Ervas anuais ou perenes, escandentes, trepadoras ou prostradas, com gavinhas, raramente ervas erectas sem gavinhas. Folhas alternas, palminerveas, simples ou pedadamente compostas. Gavinhas distalmente 2-fidas ou proximalmente 2-7-fidas, raras vezes reduzidas a espinhos ou ausentes, em geral urna por nó. Flores unissexuadas, monóicas ou dióicas, axilares, diversamente dispostas, as Q geralmente solitarias. Probrácteas por vezes presentes na base dos pedúnculos. Tubo-receptáculo (hipanto) curto a tubular, em geral -i-lobado, lobos geralmente pequenos. Pétalas em geral 5, livres ou diversamente unidas, corola na maioria dos casos regular. Androceu basicamente com 5 estames, diversamente modificado, em geral com 2 duplos estames e 1 estame simples, livres ou f unidos; tecas das anteras frequentemente convolutas; estaminódios com frequência presentes nas flores Q. Ovário ínfero, 1-locular ou por vezes 34ocular, geralmente formado a partir de 3 carpelos unidos; placentacão parietal, raramente axilar, placentas com frequência intrusivas; óvulos anatrópicos, horizontais, pêndulos ou ascendentes; estilete 1, com 2 ou geralmente 3 lobos estigmáticos. ou 3 estiletes. Fruto seco ou carnudo, cápsula, baga ou pepónio de casca dura, diversamente deiscente ou indeiscente, I -polispérmico, raras vezes tuna sâmara 1-spérmica. Sementes frequentemente achatadas, por vezex aladas: embrião grande; endosperma ausente. Familia pantropical de cerca de 600 espécies, algumas economicamente importantes como plantas alimenticias

A comparison between pure active pharmaceutical ingredients and therapeutic deep eutectic solvents: solubility and permeability studies

THEDES, so called therapeutic deep eutectic solvents are here defined as a mixture of two components, which at a particular molar composition become liquid at room temperature and in which one of them is an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API). In this work, THEDES based on menthol complexed with three different APIs, ibuprofen (ibu), BA (BA) and phenylacetic acid (PA), were prepared. The interactions between the components that constitute the THEDES were studied by NMR, confirming that the eutectic system is formed by H-bonds between menthol and the API. The mobility of the THEDES components was studied by PFGSE NMR spectroscopy. It was determined that the self-diffusion of the species followed the same behavior as observed previously for ionic liquids, in which the components migrate via jumping between voids in the suprastructure created by punctual thermal fluctuations. The solubility and permeability of the systems in an isotonic solution was evaluated and a comparison with the pure APIs was established through diffusion and permeability studies carried out in a Franz cell. The solubility of the APIs when in the THEDES system can be improved up to 12 fold, namely for the system containing ibu. Furthermore, for this system the permeability was calculated to be 14 105 cm/s representing a 3 fold increase in comparison with the pure API. With the exception of the systems containing PA an increase in the solubility, coupled with an increase in permeability was observed. In this work, we hence demonstrate the efficiency of THEDES as a new formulation for the enhancement of the bioavailability of APIs by changing the physical state of the molecules from a solid dosage to a liquid system.he European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007- 2013) under grant agreement nREGPOT-CT2012-316331- POLARIS and from Project ‘‘Novel smart and biomimetic materials for innovative regenerative medicine approaches (Ref.: RL1 - ABMR - NORTE-01-0124-FEDER-000016)” co-financed by North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Funding was also provided by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, through contracts LAQV-REQUIMTE: UID/QUI/50006/2013 and UCIBIOREQUIMTE: UID/Multi/04378/2013. This work was co-financed by the ERDF under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-007728).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Flora de cabo Verde: Plantas Vasculares – 55. Rhamnaceae

Árvores, arbustos, subarbustos ou lianas, raramente ervas, glabros ou com pêlos simples. Folhas alternas, raramente opostas, simples, geralmente pecioladas; limbo inteiro, dentado, serrado ou trenado, peninérveo ou com 3-5 nervuras desde a base; estípulas em regra presentes, algumas vezes espinescentes, f caducas. Inflorescências axilares, mais raramente terminais, com as flores em cimeiras, racemos ou fascículos, por vezes, unifloras. Flores brancas, esverdeadas ou amareladas, actinomórficas, periginicas ou epigínicas, bissexuadas raramente unissexuadas. Receptáculo de cónico a obcónico. Sépalas (4) 5, valvadas. Pétalas (4) 5, por vezes nulas, com frequência unguiculadas, muitas vezes cuculadas cobrindo parcial ou totalmente os estames, alternadas com as sépalas e geralmente menores que estas. Disco nectarífero em regra presente e bem desenvolvido, geralmente soldado ao hipanto, intrastaminal, livre ou unido ao ovario, muito variável na forma. Estames (4) 5, epipétalos; filetes livres, soldados à base das pétalas; anteras (1) 2-tecas, introrsas, longitudinalmente deiscentes. Ovário sincárpico, séssil, livre e súpero ou imerso no disco e ínfero ou semi-ínfero, (1) 2-3 (5)-locular; lóculos 1-ovulados com placentacão basilar; óvulos erectos, anatrópicos; estilete 2-4lobado ou 2-3-fido. Fruto urna drupa, cápsula septicida ou esquizocarpo, por vezes alado. Sementes em regra com albúmen pouco abundante, por vezes nulo; embrião grande, direito. Familia com cerca de 55 géneros e 900 espécies, distribuidas pelas regiões tropicais e subtropicais de África, América, Ásia e Austrália

Concepção e desenvolvimento de sistemas biotecnológicos

In a simple and succinct form the authors intend to present the research and development activities that are being undertaken at the University of Minho in the area of biotechnology applied to the study, design, development and construction of equipment goods, which are being carried out together with important Iberian and European industrial companies. The projects are as follows: • Real time monitoring of beer fermentation using optical fiber sensors – MONI®TOR; • EggReady – Development of a prototype for a continuous industrial production of fried eggs, and • HealthyCream – Development of innovative dietetical solutions for the deli shop industry. These projects have been submitted and approved, and are all funded by the Portuguese National Strategic Reference Framework (QREN operational programmes 2007-2013). They are being developed with the following partner companies, all based in Portugal: UNICER Bebidas, S.A. – Innovation and Quality Department (Leça do Balio, Matosinhos); Derovo – Derivados de Ovos, S.A. (Pombal); Decorgel, S.A. (Trofa); Valinox – Indústrias Metalúrgicas, Lda. (Arouca), and the Departments of Biological Engineering (Braga) and Mechanical Engineering (Guimarães), School of Engineering, University of Minho.Pretende-se dar a conhecer, de uma forma simples e sucinta, os projectos de investigação e desenvolvimento que decorrem, actualmente, na Universidade do Minho, na área da biotecnologia aplicada ao estudo, concepção, projecto, desenvolvimento e construção de tecido industrial ibérico e europeu. Os projectos são: · Monitorização em tempo real da fermentação de cerveja na região do UV-Vis e IVPOC (SWNIR) com recurso a sondas de fibra óptica – MONI®TOR”; · EggReady - Protótipo para produção industrial, em contínuo, de ovos estrelados para consumo no canal HORECA, e · HealthyCream - Desenvolvimento de soluções dietéticas inovadoras para a indústria de pastelaria. Estes projectos foram submetidos e aprovados, sendo financiados pelo programa de incentivos do Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional Português, QREN (2007-2013). Estão a ser realizados em parceria com as empresas UNICER Bebidas, S.A. – Núcleo de Investigação e Desenvolvimento (Leça do Balio, Matosinhos); Derovo – Derivados de Ovos, S.A. (Pombal); Decorgel, S.A. (Trofa); Valinox – Indústrias Metalúrgicas, Lda. (Arouca), e os Departamentos de Engenharia Biológica (Braga) e Engenharia de Mecânica (Guimarães) da Escola de Engenharia da Universidade do Minho, todas estas instituições sediadas em Portugal