Holothurians have a reduced GPCR and odorant receptor-like repertoire compared to other echinoderms

Sea cucumbers lack vision and rely on chemical sensing to reproduce and survive. However, how they recognize and respond to environmental cues remains unknown. Possible candidates are the odorant receptors (ORs), a diverse family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) involved in olfaction. The present study aimed at characterizing the chemosensory GPCRs in sea cucumbers. At least 246 distinct GPCRs, of which ca. 20% putative ORs, were found in a transcriptome assembly of putative chemosensory (tentacles, oral cavity, calcareous ring, and papillae/tegument) and reproductive (ovary and testis) tissues from Holothuria arguinensis (57 ORs) and in the Apostichopus japonicus genome (79 ORs). The sea cucumber ORs clustered with those of sea urchin and starfish into four main clades of gene expansions sharing a common ancestor and evolving under purifying selection. However, the sea cucumber ORs repertoire was the smallest among the echinoderms and the olfactory receptor signature motif LxxPxYxxxxxLxxxDxxxxxxxxP was better conserved in cluster OR-l1 which also had more members. ORs were expressed in tentacles, oral cavity, calcareous ring, and papillae/tegument, supporting their potential role in chemosensing. This study is the first comprehensive survey of chemosensory GPCRs in sea cucumbers, and provides the molecular basis to understand how they communicate.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology: UIDB/04326/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An Interactive WebGIS Integrating Environmental Susceptibility Mapping in a Self-Burning Waste Pile Using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Approach

Mining activities promote resulting wastes, so coal mines are prone to release contaminants to the environment, namely to the soil and water. Therefore, the analysis of this type of risk is crucial in waste pile management. The Sao Pedro da Cova (Porto, Portugal) coal waste pile has been studied in recent years, with several data acquired from 2019-2021 under a research project using distinct methodologies. These results are now combined in a multi-approach method to estimate the environmental impacts of the waste pile and identify the contamination. With the integration of all the data in a Geographical Information System (GIS) environment, and to fulfill a scientific gap, this study aims: (i) to create a susceptibility map of contamination in the areas surrounding the self-burning coal waste pile in Sao Pedro da Cova, using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy AHP approaches; and (ii) to develop a webGIS application incorporating all the information acquired that can be useful for the residents of Sao Pedro da Cova and also to the decision-making public entities and researchers. The results obtained show that the contamination susceptibility is higher surrounding the abandoned mine, particularly along the waste piles and the corresponding runoff areas, which can be especially sensitive

Long-term tobacco exposure and immunosenescence: paradoxical effects on T-cells telomere length and telomerase activity

Immunosenescence are alterations on immune system that occurs throughout an individual life. The main characteristic of this process is replicative senescence, evaluated by telomere shortening. Several factors implicate on telomere shortening, such as smoking. In this study, we evaluated the influence of smoking and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on cytokines, telomere length and telomerase activity. Blood samples were collected from subjects aged over 60 years old: Healthy (never smokers), Smokers (smoking for over 30 years) and COPDs (ex-smokers for ≥15 years). A young group was included as control. PBMCs were cultured for assessment of telomerase activity using RT-PCR, and cytokines secretion flow cytometry. CD4+ and CD8+ purified lymphocytes were used to assess telomere length using FlowFISH. We observed that COPD patients have accelerated telomere shortening. Paradoxically, smokers without lung damage showed preserved telomere length, suggesting that tobacco smoking may affect regulatory mechanisms, such as telomerase. Telomerase activity showed diminished activity in COPDs, while Smokers showed increased activity compared to COPDs and Healthy groups. Extracellular environment reflected this unbalance, indicated by an anti-inflammatory profile in Smokers, while COPDs showed an inflammatory prone profile. Further studies focusing on telomeric maintenance may unveil mechanisms that are associated with cancer under long-term smoking

Preterm birth versus neonatal pain challenges for organizations and health teams

A incidência do parto pré-termo tem aumentado em todo o mundo, desafios de sobrevivência dos recémnascidos prematuros de muito baixo peso têm colocado a inovação e a evolução tecnológica acima de outros fatores críticos a eles inerentes: a hipersensibilidade sensorial e a imaturidade neurológica para a manifestar. Estudos realizados em diferentes países e Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatais têm revelado o elevado número de procedimentos dolorosos a que diariamente estes recém-nascidos são submetidos e confirmado o seu insuficiente tratamento. A dor continuada e prolongada tem reflexos imediatos (alterações cardiovasculares, hormonais e metabólicas) no prematuro, e posteriormente na infância e idade adulta (hiperatividade, deficit de atenção, transtornos de ansiedade e stress. Apesar de ser possível avaliar e tratar a dor no recém nascido, existe um hiato entre o conhecimento cientifico e a pratica clinica. Conquistou-se nas últimas décadas a valorização e o reconhecimento pelos profissionais de saúde, da dor neonatal, não sendo estes suficientes para a sua prevenção, avaliação e tratamento. Conhecer os fatores que incrementam a gestão da dor neonatal e identificar as estratégias que possam contribuir para melhorar as práticas de cuidados é o objetivo deste trabalho. Para tal realizou-se uma revisão sistemática, que considera os mais importantes artigos científicos publicados sobre este tema, no últimos 5 anos, possibilitando assim a análise do quão importante esta questão está a ser considerada pela comunidade científica. A qualidade parece emergir da estreita colaboração e decisões partilhadas entre profissionais de saúde. Programas personalizados como o NIDCAP®, Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program, têm-se revelado vantajosos na redução do número de procedimentos dolorosos. Recomenda-se a adoção de guidelines | protocolos de prevenção e tratamento, com auditorias e estudos de acompanhamento que caraterizem a sua eficácia. Mudar culturas organizacionais é considerada a chave para a eficácia da gestão da dor neonatal e diminuição de morbilidades, sendo o fator social um importante impulsionador para a aplicabilidade de medidas individuais importantes para a sua prevenção, avaliação e tratamento

The INOVMineral Project's Contribution to Mineral Exploration-A WebGIS Integration and Visualization of Spectral and Geophysical Properties of the Aldeia LCT Pegmatite Spodumene Deposit

Due to the current energetic transition, new geological exploration technologies are needed to discover mineral deposits containing critical materials such as lithium (Li). The vast majority of European Li deposits are related to Li-Cs-Ta (LCT) pegmatites. A review of the literature indicates that conventional exploration campaigns are dominated by geochemical surveys and related exploration tools. However, other exploration techniques must be evaluated, namely, remote sensing (RS) and geophysics. This work presents the results of the INOVMINERAL4.0 project obtained through alternative approaches to traditional geochemistry that were gathered and integrated into a webGIS application. The specific objectives were to: (i) assess the potential of high-resolution elevation data; (ii) evaluate geophysical methods, particularly radiometry; (iii) establish a methodology for spectral data acquisition and build a spectral library; (iv) compare obtained spectra with Landsat 9 data for pegmatite identification; and (v) implement a user-friendly webGIS platform for data integration and visualization. Radiometric data acquisition using geophysical techniques effectively discriminated pegmatites from host rocks. The developed spectral library provides valuable insights for space-based exploration. Landsat 9 data accurately identified known LCT pegmatite targets compared with Landsat 8. The user-friendly webGIS platform facilitates data integration, visualization, and sharing, supporting potential users in similar exploration approaches

Manual de boas práticas de gestão dos espaços florestais na bacia drenante da Albufeira de Castelo do Bode

No âmbito do Projecto “Nascentes para a Vida” foram concluídas tarefas que se encontram sintetizadas neste documento, em particular no que se refere às seguintes tarefas: • Tarefa 3.1: Medidas a implementar ao nível das linhas de água afluentes à Albufeira de Castelo do Bode; • Tarefa 3.2: Implementação de um programa de gestão de matos e promoção da biodiversidade na envolvente da Albufeira de Castelo do Bode; • Tarefa 4.2: Monitorização das áreas submetidas às técnicas de gestão florestal e desenvolvimento de um conjunto de indicadores para uma gestão florestal sustentável. Diagnosticados os incêndios florestais como um dos maiores factores de perturbação na área de estudo, é sobre este tema que incide essencialmente o exposto neste trabalho

Exceptionally large migration length of carbon and topographically-facilitated self-limiting molecular beam epitaxial growth of graphene on hexagonal boron nitride

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Available online 18 December 2016We demonstrate growth of single-layer graphene (SLG) on hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), only limited in area by the finite size of the h-BN flakes. Using atomic force microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy, we show that for growth over a wide range of temperatures (500◦C – 1000◦C) the deposited carbon atoms spill off the edge of the h-BN flakes. We attribute this spillage to the very high mobility of the carbon atoms on the BN basal plane, consistent with van der Waals MBE. The h-BN flakes vary in size from 30 µm to 100 µm, thus demonstrating that the migration length of carbon atoms on h-BN is greater than 100 µm. When sufficient carbon is supplied to compensate for this loss, which is largely due to this fast migration of the carbon atoms to and off the edges of the h-BN flake, we find that the best growth temperature for MBE SLG on h-BN is ∼950◦C. Self-limiting graphene growth appears to be facilitated by topographic h-BN surface features: We have thereby grown MBE self-limited SLG on an h-BN ridge. This opens up future avenues for precisely tailored fabrication of nano- and hetero-structures on pre-patterned h-BN surfaces for device applications.This work is supported by ONR (N000140610138 and Graphene MURI), AFOSR (FA9550-11-1-0010), EFRC Center for Re-Defining Photovoltaic Efficiency through Molecule Scale Control (award DE-SC0001085), NSF (CHE-0641523), NYSTAR and Spanish Government (AIC-B-2011-0806, MAT2014-54231, MAT2015-67021-R). S.W. and A.P. were supported by the US Department of Energy Office of Science, Division of Materials Science and Engineering (award DE-SC0010695)