In vitro evaluation of the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of extracts of Gracilaria gracilis with a view into its potential use as an additive in fish feed

Fish in aquaculture systems are subject to several stressors that inhibit the immune response and potentiate the development of disease and increased mortality. The inclusion of additives in the fish diet, namely seaweeds or their extracts, that are natural sources of bioactive compounds can be an important tool for promoting the health and well-being of these animals. The present study aims at the development of sustainable and effective methodologies for the extraction of bioactive compounds of the red seaweed Gracilaria gracilis, exploring its antibacterial and antioxidant potential and considering its potential use as an additive for functional fish feeds. The yield of the extraction methods was evaluated upon the use of sequential solid–liquid extraction techniques with ethanol and water as solvents, different extraction temperatures (room temperature: 40ºC and 70ºC), and extraction time. The results demonstrated that the adoption extraction times of 30 min. at 40ºC provided higher yields. We also evaluated the antioxidant capacity and the antibacterial properties of the obtained extracts against different strains that cause fish diseases by disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH reducing capacity method and quantification of total polyphenols content (TPC).With these results, we can establish extraction procedures that allow the future use of G. gracilis extracts, with antibacterial and antioxidant effects in a safe and effective way.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Frequency of the CCR5-A32 mutation in the Atlantic island populations of Madeira, the Azores, Cabo Verde, and São Tomé e Príncipe

There is evidence thathe CCR5-A32 mutation confers protection against HIV-1 infection tohomozygous individuals. It is believed that this mutation spread through Europe with the Vikings and that it has been subjected to positive selection, leading to a high frequency in Europe (-10%). We carried out the present study to determine the 32-bp deletion allele and genotype frequencies of the CCR5 gene (CCR5-A32 ) in the Atlantic island populations of Madeira, the Azores, Cabo Verde, and Säo Tomé e Principe. These Atlantic archipelagos were all colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th and 16th centuries, but the latter two received most of their settlers from the West African coast. The frequency of the CCR5-A32 mutation varies between 0% in Säo Tomé e Principe and 16.5% in the Azores. The Azores Islands have one of the highest frequencies of homozygotes found in Europe (4.8%). There are significant differences (P < 0.05) between some of these populations, for example, between Säo Tomé e Principe and Cabo Verde, and even within populations (e.g., Portugal, Madeira, and the Azores).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New insights on the sporulation, germination, and nutritional profile of Gracilaria gracilis (Rhodophyta) grown under controlled conditions

The red seaweed Gracilaria gracilis is a widely cultivated species known for its high agar content. It is also an important source of proteins, minerals, and vitamins. The chemical profile of seaweed depends on the cultivation methods used and the growing conditions to which they are exposed. Thus, two independent methods of sporulation and germination were tested upon Gracilaria gracilis grown in controlled conditions. During the tests, different substrates, culture media and incubation times were tested to induce cystocarp maturation. The results showed that cystocarp maturation and spore release were successful, with a visible volume increase and format change in the protruding cystocarps. Furthermore, the process of maturation to germination was accomplished, fulfilling the complete life cycle. In parallel, the nutritional profile of the biomass obtained was evaluated and compared with the nutritional values of biomass collected from the environment. Results showed no significant differences between wild specimens and cultivated ones in organic matter, ash content, lipid content, carbohydrates, or phycocolloid content. The present work, therefore, presents two simple alternative methods with potential applications in start-ups aimed at the cultivation of seaweed. Through these methods, it is possible to obtain biomass with nutritional characteristics similar to those obtained in the wild.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Mondragon Case: Companies Addressing Social Impact and Dialogic Methodologies

Mondragon Cooperative (MC) is one of the most outstanding examples of worker cooperatives in history. It has maintained its cooperative values along its trajectory, being competitive in the international market since 1956, under the motto: ‘Humanity at work’. Recently, scientific research has focused on impact, which has led to the emergence of the Successful Cooperative Actions (SCAs). Based on the case of MC, the scientific literature has identified key actions of this business model that can be transferred to other corporate contexts. Using a methodological approach, it is key to identify the SCAs that MC implements, which could apply to other cooperatives with similar principles but not the same success. This study aims to analyse the methodological innovation in qualitative research when the aim is focused on the transferability of the social impact of MC to other contexts. This paper shows that research focussing on the identification of SCAs modifies qualitative methodology by focussing on the transferability of actions to obtain social impact

Já que vou e vou

A presente memória acompanha o projeto de realização âmbito do Mestrado de Realização – Cinema e Televisão, que acompanha a curta metragem intitulada “Já que vou e vou”, cujo tema principal é o suicídio, pretendendo compreender o que se passa na mente de uma pessoa que toma essa decisão. O tema é contextualizado sendo feita uma sucinta introdução ao tema do suicídio, tendo como fontes artigos científicos e a página oficial da internet da Organização Mundial de Saúde, e apresentando a evolução do estudo do suicídio na sociologia, descrevendo três períodos fundamentais: pré-Durkheim, aquando Durkheim e após Durkheim. É feito um levantamento de filmes que desenvolveram a mesma temática e leva-se a cabo uma contraposição com a curta deste projeto. É também sumarizado o processo de criação da curta-metragem nomeadamente: a préprodução, produção e pós-produção

Seasonal changes in the nutritional composition of agarophyton vermiculophyllum (Rhodophyta, Gracilariales) from the Center of Portugal

Seaweeds exhibit high nutritional value due to a balanced concentration of proteins, vitamins and minerals, a high concentration of low digestibility polysaccharides, and reduced levels of lipids, many of which are n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. The species Agarophyton vermiculophyllum is no exception and, as such, a comprehensive study of the chemical and nutritional profile of this red seaweed was carried out for 1 year. Seasonal variations in moisture, ash, protein and amino acids content, crude fibers, ascorbic acid, agar, lipids, and the corresponding fatty acid profile, were analyzed. We found low levels of fatty acids and a high protein content, but also noticed interesting seasonal change patterns in these compounds. The present study gives insights on the environmental conditions that can lead to changes in the nutritional composition of this species, aiming, therefore, to bring new conclusions about the manipulation of environmental conditions that allow for maximizing the nutritional value of this seaweed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Is the time-domain reflectometry (TDR) technique suitable for moisture content measurement in low-porosity building materials?

Measuring moisture content in building materials is essential both for professional practice and for research. However, this is a very complex task, especially when long-term minor destructive measurements are desired. The time-domain reflectometry (TDR) technique is commonly used for soil moisture measurements, but its application in construction materials is considered a relatively new method, particularly for low-porosity building materials. The major obstacles to its current use in construction materials are (1) the difficulty of ensuring good contact between the TDR probe and the material, and (2) the lack of appropriate conversion functions between the measured relative permittivity and the moisture content of building materials. This paper intends to contribute to overcoming these difficulties by explaining in detail all the required steps to monitor moisture content in real-scale limestone walls. For that, a device is presented to guarantee the correct installation of the TDR probes on the walls, and a calibration procedure through the gravimetric method is proposed to avoid the use of an unsuitable calibration function developed for soil moisture measurements. In addition, the importance of the individual probe calibration is discussed, as well as TDR advantages and disadvantages for construction materials. The results obtained so far reveal that the TDR technique is suitable to detect moisture content variations in limestone, which is a low-porosity building material. (c) 2020 by the authors

PROTAGONISMO JUDICIAL NO BRASIL: em busca da concretização de direitos fundamentais sociais

Este texto faz uma análise sobre a atuação cada vez mais determinante do Judiciário brasileiro para tornar efetivos os direitos fundamentais sociais, na tentativa de compreender esse fenômeno, suas causas e consequências.Palavras-chave: Direitos fundamentais, protagonismo judicial.JUDICIAL PROTAGONISM IN BRAZIL: In search for the concretization of the fundamental social rightsAbstract: This text makes an analysis about the each time more determinant acting of the Brazilian Judiciary to turn effective the fundamental social rights, attempting to comprehend this phenomenon, its causes and consequences.Keywords: Fundamental rights, judicial protagonism

Narrativas de alunas de pedagogia: desvelando experiências formativas

O estudo focaliza a formação docente para lidar com a diversidade de alunos na sala de aula comum. Apresenta-se uma pesquisa desenvolvida em um grupo de estudos com graduandas de Pedagogia que realizaram estágio extracurricular em uma rede de ensino municipal e, dentre as funções, apoiavam alunos com deficiência. A investigação assume o método biográfico e, no presente texto, busca-se compreender os reflexos da experiência das estudantes nesse estágio, em especial, na formação para lidar com o processo educativo desses alunos. Os encontros do grupo foram audiogravados e posteriormente transcritos. O procedimento analítico buscou interpretar os sentidos que a experiência produziu nas alunas. Os resultados, organizados em três eixos temáticos, indicam que o grupo de estudos se configurou como um espaço institucional de formação para as graduandas e possibilitou, por meio das narrativas, reflexão e transformação de saberes tácitos em conhecimento. Conclui-se que a narrativa biográfica contribui para criar uma proximidade entre a formação, a profissão de professor e as condições concretas da escola e do trabalho docente

Narratives of pedagogy students: unveiling formative experiences

El estudio se centra en la capacitación de maestros para hacer frente a la diversidad de alumnos en el aula común. Se presenta una investigación desarrollada en un grupo de estudios con graduandas de Pedagogía que realizaron una etapa extracurricular en una red de enseñanza municipal y, entre las funciones, apoyaban a alumnos con necesidades educativas especiales. La investigación asume el método biográfico y, en el presente texto, se analizan los reflejos de la experiencia de las estudiantes en esa etapa, en especial en la formación para hacer frente al proceso educativo de esos alumnos. Los encuentros del grupo fueron grabados en audio y posteriormente transcritos. El procedimiento analítico buscó interpretar los sentidos que la experiencia produjo en las alumnas. Los resultados, organizados en tres ejes temáticos, destacan las contribuciones de la narrativa biográfica para crear una proximidad entre la formación, la profesión de profesor y las condiciones concretas de la escuela y del trabajo docente.The study focuses on teacher training to address the diversity of students within the common classroom. We present a research developed in a study group with graduates of Pedagogy that carried out an extracurricular internship in the municipal education network and, among their functions, supported students with special educational needs. The research makes use of the biographical method and the present paper assesses the reflexes of the students’ experience in this stage, especially in their training to deal with the educational process of such students. The group meetings were audiotaped and later transcribed. The analytical procedure sought to interpret how the experience affected the students. The results, organized in three thematic axes, highlight the contributions of the biographical narrative to create proximity between the training, the teaching profession, and the concrete conditions of the school and the teaching work.O estudo focaliza a formação docente para lidar com a diversidade de alunos na sala de aula comum. Apresenta-se uma pesquisa desenvolvida em um grupo de estudos com graduandas de Pedagogia que realizaram estágio extracurricular em uma rede de ensino municipal e, dentre as funções, apoiavam alunos com deficiência. A investigação assume o método biográfico e, no presente texto, busca-se compreender os reflexos da experiência das estudantes nesse estágio, em especial, na formação para lidar com o processo educativo desses alunos. Os encontros do grupo foram audiogravados e posteriormente transcritos. O procedimento analítico buscou interpretar os sentidos que a experiência produziu nas alunas. Os resultados, organizados em três eixos temáticos, indicam que o grupo de estudos se configurou como um espaço institucional de formação para as graduandas e possibilitou, por meio das narrativas, reflexão e transformação de saberes tácitos em conhecimento. Conclui-se que a narrativa biográfica contribui para criar uma proximidade entre a formação, a profissão de professor e as condições concretas da escola e do trabalho docente