Comparing two in-house developed SNP assays for inferring population structure in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.)

The honey bee, Apis mellifera L., is under pressure globally due to several factors, one of them is the large-scale introduction of foreign queens and/or colonies which act as vectors of pathogens, and also threaten the genetic integrity of native populations. Different molecular tools have been developed to monitor the genetic integrity of the populations. SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) have been preferred because are easily transferred between laboratories, have a low genotyping error, provide high-quality data, and are suitable for automation. Here, we compared the genotyping results obtained with two medium-density-SNP assays previously developed. One of assays was designed from 88 whole genomes of Apis mellifera iberiensis and 44 C-lineage individuals (the main ancestry of commercial bees) using fixed SNPs (FST=1) distributed in the 16 honey bee chromosomes. The other assay was designed from variation in immune genes using a discovery panel of 123 whole genomes, representing seven subspecies (A. m. iberiensis, A. m. mellifera, A. m. intermissa, A. m. sahariensis, A. m. ligustica, A. m. carnica, A. m. siciliana and three lineages (A, M and C). All the samples are from the native range of each subspecies and they were taken from inside the hives, placed in absolute ethanol and stored at -20ºC until DNA extraction. The tools were compared using 473 samples from the Azores, which harbour a genetically complex honey bee population. The samples were genotyped using the iPLEX MassARRAY® MALDI-TOF system. The membership proportions of each individual (Qvalue) were calculated using ADMIXTURE considering two genetic groups (K=2), with 10,000 iterations in 20 independent runs. Our results show that both assays provide similar Q-values, with a Pearson’s correlation of 0.89. Only 9.5% of the samples have an absolute Q-value difference > 0.10. The choice of the best SNP assay depends on the subspecies and the aim of the project. While the immune assays can be applied in different subspecies the other assay was specifically designed for A. m. iberiensis. Furthermore, if there is disease data available, the immune assay caninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Trust in financial markets : the role of the human element

Purpose – This paper suggests that the human element is key when it comes to investors’ trust in financial markets. Ignoring it may jeopardise the effectiveness of the recent regulatory growth. The study takes a demand-based perspective, assuming the relationship between financial advisors and investors is based upon trust, and it analyses the conditions that may lead to the existence (or not) of trust. Design/methodology/approach – Using a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) of data collected from 366 questionnaires, we are able to test, in a qualitative non-parametric way, the conditional arguments that may lead investors to trust (or not) their financial advisor. Findings – The results show that trust conditions differ, depending on the degree of investors’ participation in financial markets. The way investors with a basic relationship with financial markets perceive the behaviour of their financial advisors is key in establishing (or not) their trust. For investors with a more advanced relationship with the market, trust (or its absence) also depends on investors’ characteristics. In particular, their financial literacy plays a morethan-negligible role. The joint analysis of the conditions leading to trust and its absence highlights the robustness of our findings. Originality/value – By understanding the conditions that establish trust, financial institutions can design strategies to strengthen the level of investors’ confidence in their services, improving the relationship between market players, and increasing business. From the supervisory authorities’ point of view, the approval of a code of conduct for financial advisors, taking into account our results, can help improve the overall trust in financial markets. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to apply Butler’s (1991) psychometric scale and the fsQCA methodology to study investors’ trust in financial advisors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mitochondrial SNP markers to monitor evolutionary lineage ancestry in Apis mellifera mellifera conservation programs

The European dark honey bee, Apis mellifera mellifera , is threatened inmost of its native range, in part, due to introgressive hybridization with bees from the highly divergent C-lineage, mainly Apis mellifera carnica and Apis mellifera ligustica (De la Rúa et al. 2009; Pinto et al. 2014). Yet, the maintenance of locally adapted genetic diversity is critical for the population long-term survival and sustainability (De la Rúa et al. 2009; Meixner 2010). The growing awareness that genetic diversity is important for sustainable beekeeping led to implementation of different conservation and breeding programs throughout Europe, which are in need of reliable and costefficient molecular tools to accurately monitor Clineage introgression into A. m. mellifera (De la Rúa et al. 2009; Henriques et al. 2018a, b; Meixner 2010). The large mating flight distances and the polyandrous mating system make it challenging to preserve honey bee subspecies in an open conservation area where intruders can fly in (Neumann et al. 1999). It is therefore necessary to regularly control the genetic ancestry of new or superseded colonies.This work was financed by FEDER (Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional) through the program COMPETE 2020–POCI (Programa Operacional para a Competitividade e Internacionalização) and by Portuguese funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) in the framework of the project BeeHappy (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029871). Melanie Parejo was supported by a mobility fellowship awarded from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An overview of portuguese chemical engineering undergraduate laboratories

The UNESCO’s World Declaration on Higher Education for the Twenty-First Century, Vision and Action (1998) states in its paragraph “Innovative educational approaches: critical thinking and creativity”: “[…] New pedagogical and didactical approaches should be accessible and promoted in order to facilitate the acquisition of skills, competencies and abilities for communication, creative and critical analysis, independent thinking and team work […]”. The importance of teaching laboratories for students to acquire competencies and abilities especially in creative and critical analysis and teamwork is recognized. On the other hand it is generally recognized in all the EU countries that undergraduate labs are generally badly equipped, badly taught, badly organized and high budget consumers. To make things worse, the traditional education labs consume lots of reactants, produce lots of environmentally aggressive effluents, consume lots of students' time and have a modest output. Under this framework what should be changed? Would it be easy to do? Or are we condemned to live with bad labs and bad lab classes? Isolated efforts of laboratory professors and head of departments have been tried within each Portuguese University. Now it's time to involve all partners, head of departments, course directors, laboratory professors and students, of all schools, and make an effort to conquer a quantitative improvement of the undergraduate laboratories and dynamize an inter-school collaboration. The first step in this direction will be done, precisely, at this congress. Five experiences on main five Portuguese Universities (FEUP, IST, UA, UM, UC and UNL) are described, giving a picture of the effort being played in these institutions to improve the experimental education

Low Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet Is Associated with Poor Socioeconomic Status and Younger Age: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of the EpiDoC Cohort

Funding: This research was funded by Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia, IP national support through CHRC (UIDP/04923/2020) and through FrailcareAI (DSAIPA/AI/0106/2019).The Mediterranean diet (MD) is recognized as one of the healthiest dietary patterns as it has been consistently associated with several beneficial health outcomes. Adherence to the MD pattern has been decreasing in southern European countries for the last decades, especially among low socioeconomic groups. The aim of this study was to assess the adherence to the MD in Portugal, to evaluate regional differences, and explore associated factors (sociodemographic, economic, and lifestyles behaviors). This study used the third data collection wave of the Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Cohort Study (EpiDoC 3). MD adherence was assessed using the Portuguese-validated MD adherence score (MEDAS) questionnaire. Non-adjusted and adjusted logistic regression models were used to assess the risk factors for low MD adherence and individual MEDAS items. In this cross-sectional evaluation of the EpiDoC 3 cohort study (n = 5647), 28.8% of the Portuguese population had low adherence to a MD. Azores and Madeira had lower adherence to the MD than the rest of the country. Younger individuals in lower income categories (e.g., ORfinding it very difficult = 1.48; 95% CI 1.16–1.91) and with a lower educational level (e.g., OR0–4 years = 2.63; 95% CI 2.09–3.32) had higher odds of having a lower adherence to the MD. Portuguese adults have a high prevalence of low adherence to the MD, especially among those who are younger and have lower socioeconomic status. Public health policies to promote adherence to the MD should pay special attention to these groups.publishersversionpublishe

A risk-based framework to manage single-use systems over lifecycle: Design, cleaning, operation, ongoing process verification

Using a formal risk management approach, SU systems (SUSs) and classical stainless steel-based systems (CSSs) are examined in detail. The risk assessment steps include: identification, analysis, mitigation and reevaluation/verification of risks over lifecycle. Adequate risk tools are used for each step. Failure modes specific of each type of system, are considered. The scientific background described in BPOG’s Guidelines on extractables (2014) and leachables (Jan.2017) for SUSs is built in, together with other authoritative sources for both types of systems. The risk quantitation, profiling and the holistic risk visualization for both technology platforms, allows companies with stainless steel only fermentation capacity and those with a mix of both technologies, to consider how to best evolve their capacity, when potential impacts on product quality and patient safety are taken into account. In addition to allowing the relative benchmarking of both technology platforms, comparisons over lifecycle of a specific platform are made possible by our approach, enabling companies to retain a complete picture of all their risk-based decisions and very detailed knowledge about their assets performance. The knowledge management component proposed is unique and supports several business processes and also decisions a company needs to justify before authorities. Our talk provides an insightful discussion of SUSs, using state-of-the-art risk-based and knowledge management tools, illustrated by examples on Design, Cleaning, Operation and Ongoing Process Verification, focusing on risks to quality and safety

Influence of saliva and mucin on the adhesion of Candida oral clinical isolates

Objectives: This research work intends to clarify the role of artificial saliva, in particularly the role of mucin, a salivary protein, on the surface properties and adhesion ability of Candida spp. oral clinical isolates to abiotic surfaces. Methods: Four oral clinical isolates of Candida spp. were used: two Candida albicans strains (AC; AM) and two Candida parapsilosis strains (AD; AM2). The strains were isolated from patients using oral prosthesis. The microorganisms were cultured in the absence or presence of mucin and artificial saliva, and their adhesion to an abiotic surface (coated with mucin and artificial saliva) was evaluated. Results: The presence of mucin per se onto the abiotic surface decreased the adhesion of all strains, although the combination of mucin with artificial saliva had reduced this effect. No direct correlation between adhesion and the surface free energies of adhesion of the microorganisms was found. Significance: Candida spp. were human commensal microorganisms that became pathogenic when the host immune defenses were compromised. Medical devices were colonized by Candida spp. particularly, oral prostheses, which might lead to the degradation of the prostheses and systemic infections. The salivary secretions that constantly cover the oral cavity influenced Candida spp. adhesion process. Therefore, it was important to understand the interactions between Candida spp., salivary proteins and the characteristic of oral prosthesis when developing materials for oral prostheses.The authors thank the Project “BioHealth-Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality”, Ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000027, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The would also like to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia for the Strategic Project Pest-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013 and Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for Ana Oliveira PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/68588/2010) and Catarina L. Seabra PhD Grant (SFRH/BD/89001/2012). The authors would also like to acknowledge Professora Rosário Oliveira, which is no longer with us, for her exceptional contribution and dedication to this work

Between Heroes or Deities? Iron Age Sacrificial Agencies Depicted in Rock 6 From Monte de Porreiras (Northwest Portugal)

The aim of this work is to publish the rock engravings of Monte das Porreira 6, located in the council of Paredes de Coura, in the Northwest of Portugal. The study was based on photogrammetric surveys and subsequent contrast recurring to geometric distance determination./nIt is a profusely decorated rock with a long diachrony of carving. The initial phase includes Classical Atlantic Art, integrated in the regional Neo-Chalcolithic period. The second phase includes representation of several types of equids, horsemen, and antenna-hilted daggers. Based on parallels for such weapons, it is possible to integrate these motifs between the Late Bronze Age and an Early Iron Age of North-western Iberia./nIt is also possible to observe a change from an abstract grammar, during the first phase, to a figurative grammar, in which we can identify a narrative related to human and animal sacrifices, associated with the use of antenna-hilted daggers. These depictions recall a symbolism reminiscent of Strabo's writings, including bronze objects containing sacrificial scenes. The final phase of engraving indicates new symbolic changes, with valorisation of isolated actions perpetrated by horsemen, carrying throwing weapons, which may be a representation of a deity or hero.El objetivo de este trabajo es publicar los grabados rupestres del Monte das Porreira 6, situado en Paredes de Coura, en el no de Portugal. El estudio se ha basado en un levantamiento fotogramétrico y el posterior contraste con la determinación de la distancia geométrica./nSe trata de una roca profusamente decorada con una larga diacronía de grabados. La fase inicial incluye el arte atlántico clásico, integrado en el Calcolítico Reciente. La segunda fase incluye la representación de équidos, jinetes y puñales con mango de antenas. Basándose en los paralelos de dichas armas, es posible integrar estos motivos entre la Edad de Bronce Final y la Edad de Hierro Inicial./nTambién es posible observar el paso de una gramática abstracta, durante la primera fase, a una gramática figurativa, en la que se puede identificar una narrativa relacionada con los sacrificios humanos y de animales, asociada al uso de puñales con mango de antenas. Estas representaciones evocan un simbolismo que recuerda a los textos de Estrabón y objetos de bronce que contienen escenas de sacrificio. La última fase del grabado indica nuevos cambios simbólicos, con la valorización de acciones aisladas perpetradas por un jinete, portando un arma arrojadiza, que pueden representar a una divinidad o a un héroe

Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) : a model organism for assessing multi-level responses to estrogenic chemicals in marine surface waters

Resumo apresentado sob poster ao 5th International Symposium of Fish Endocrinology, CAstellon, Spain, Setember 5-9, 2004.There is growing concern that aquatic wildlife in surface waters of the European Union is exposed to natural and man-made chemicals that have the ability to mimic estrogens and lead to reproductive dysfunction. Estrogenic responses in fish are the net result of complex chains of events involving the uptake, distribution and metabolism of test agents until they interact with their target sites. Typically these aspects cannot be modelled in short-term cell-based assays, only studies with vertebrates offer the opportunity to assess potential interactions of test compounds at higher organisational levels. The most widely studied biological response in fish to environmental estrogens is the production of vitellogenin (Vtg). However, few studies have attempted to link this endpoint with effects on xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes and genotoxic responses. This work is part of a study focusing on the combination effects of mixtures of estrogenic chemicals in marine and freshwater organisms. As test organism the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) was selected, a common species in European marine systems. Juveniles were exposed under a flow-through system for 14 days to the natural estrogen 17ß-estradiol and ethynylestradiol. Actual chemical concentrations in the water-column were determined by gas chromatography with ion trap detection. Effects at subcellular level were analysed using Vtg as a reference endpoint [1]. Its relevance is evaluated by further investigations on liver 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities [2]. These measurements were integrated with organism level endpoints (i.e. condition factor, hepatossomatic index) to provide evidence for cause-effect of estrogenic contamination. The general suitability of the sea bass as a model organism for the screening of estrogenic chemicals in the marine environment is discussed.Comissão Europeia (CE) - ACE, EVK1-CT-2001-100

Two-stage aeration fermentation strategy to improve bioethanol production by scheffersomyces stipitis

Hardwood spent sulfite liquor (HSSL) is a by-product from pulp industry with a high concentration of pentose sugars, besides some hexoses suitable for bioethanol production by Scheffersomyces stipitis. The establishment of optimal aeration process conditions that results in specific microaerophilic conditions required by S. stipitis is the main challenge for ethanol production. The present study aimed to improve the ethanol production from HSSL by S. stipitis through a two-stage aeration fermentation. Experiments with controlled dissolved oxygen tension (DOT) in the first stage and oxygen restriction in the second stage were carried out. The best results were obtained with DOT control at 50% in the first stage, where the increase of oxygen availability provided faster growth and higher biomass yield, and no oxygen supply with an agitation rate of 250 rpm, in the second stage allowed a successful induction of ethanol production. Fermentation using 60% of HSSL (v/v) as substrate for S. stipitis provided a maximum specific growth rate of 0.07 h−1 , an ethanol productivity of 0.04 g L h−1 and an ethanol yield of 0.39 g g−1 , respectively. This work showed a successful two-stage aeration strategy as a promising aeration alternative for bioethanol production from HSSL by S. stipitis.publishe