Valuable information from reliability analysis of pile foundation

The work presented in this paper was developed under the PhD thesis entitled “Reliability and Cost Models of Pile Foundations”. Our main goal is to present guidelines for geotechnical engineers to carry out reliability based designs (RBD). This analyses help evaluate the probability of a particular behavior in a time period, with the knowledge of the input parameters randomness (uncertainties). The biggest benefit is that it quantifies and gives information about the parameters that mostly influence the behavior under study. This capacity is important, not only because of the new regulation codes and social concerns, but also because these probabilistic formats support decision making under uncertainties, providing qualitative judgments and investments, very important in geotechnical area. Based on that, this work shows valuable information that a geotechnical engineers can obtain from a simple reliability analysis of a pile foundation, such as the most influential uncertainties in pile design or the minimum dimensions of the pile (Figure 3a) and maximum load (Figure 3b) that lead to a previously established probability of failure. Furthermore, a comparison between two widely known RBD methodologies was done, First Order Reliability Method (FORM) and Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS). FORM is the most traditional one, an approximate method (level II of reliability), while ordinary MCS has a higher level of accuracy (level III, pure probabilistic) and is a very straight forward method. Nevertheless, FORM has some limitations when complex performance functions are necessary and it is not possible to approximate normal distributions. The uncertainties considered in this work and the methodology scheme is presented in Figure 1 (Honjo et al., 2010 and Honjo et al., 2011).FC

The role of bacteria in pine wilt disease: insights from microbiome analysis.

Pine Wilt Disease (PWD) has a significant impact on Eurasia pine forests. The microbiome of the nematode (the primary cause of the disease), its insect vector, and the host tree may be relevant for the disease mechanism. The aim of this study was to characterize these microbiomes, from three PWD-affected areas in Portugal, using Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis, 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing, and a functional inference-based approach (PICRUSt). The bacterial community structure of the nematode was significantly different from the infected trees but closely related to the insect vector, supporting the hypothesis that the nematode microbiome might be in part inherited from the insect. Sampling location influenced mostly the tree microbiome (P < 0.05). Genes related both with plant growth promotion and phytopathogenicity were predicted for the tree microbiome. Xenobiotic degradation functions were predicted in the nematode and insect microbiomes. Phytotoxin biosynthesis was also predicted for the nematode microbiome, supporting the theory of a direct contribution of the microbiome to tree-wilting. This is the first study that simultaneously characterized the nematode, tree and insect-vector microbiomes from the same affected areas, and overall the results support the hypothesis that the PWD microbiome plays an important role in the disease's development

Characterization of microbial population of “Alheira” (a traditional Portuguese fermented sausage) by PCR-DGGE and traditional cultural microbiological methods

This study evaluates the microbial ecology of ‘Alheira’ by traditional microbiological analysis and a PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) protocol. Methods and Results: Total microbial DNA from ‘Alheiras’ was extracted directly from the products and subjected to PCR using Eubacterial primers for 16S rDNA. The amplicons were separated by DGGE. The results demonstrated that different products of the same batch display identical profiles, whereas products from different batches of the same producer could display different DGGE profiles. ‘Alheiras’ from different producers were distinguishable based on the respective DGGE profiles. The obtained sequences from prevalent phylotypes affiliated with order Lactobacillales and order Bacillales and class Gammaproteobacteria. The same samples were subjected to traditional microbiological analysis. In both methods, lactic acid bacteria were dominant and were present together with other organisms, mainly members of the family Micrococcaceae. Conclusions: The approach explored in this study allowed the description of the microbial community present in ‘Alheira’ in particular the diversity of lactic acid bacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: This can be useful for the microbiological characterization of traditional products in order to develop new methods of quality control capable of supporting a standardization of the processes, while preserving their typical traits

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

Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) : a model organism for the screening of estrogenic chemicals in marine surface waters?

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - SETAC Europe 14th Annual Meeting, Prague, Czech Republic, April 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. However, studies with endocrine disrupting chemicals have been performed mainly with freshwater organisms. The sensitivity of a marine fish species to different estrogenic chemicals was investigated under chronic exposure conditions. This work is part of a study focusing on the combination effects of mixtures of estrogenic chemicals in marine and freshwater organisms (ACE, EVK1-CT-2001-100). 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 for a set of reference chemicals (17Ã -estradiol, ethynylestradiol, nonylphenol, octylphenol, bisphenol A). Effects at subcellular level were analysed using vitellogenesis as endpoint. Its relevance is evaluated by further investigations about the individual fitness (condition factor, hepatossomatic index), as well as the liver cytochrome P450 activity. The general suitability of the sea bass as a model organism for the screening of estrogenic chemicals in the marine environment is discussed.Comissãoo Europeia (CE) - ACE, EVK1-CT-2001-100

Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) as a potential bioindicator of estrogenic contamination in marine surface waters

Resumo apresentado sob poster apresentado ao 5th International Symposium on Fish Endocrinology, September, 2004, Castellon, Spain.Exposure of aquatic wildlife in surface waters to (xeno-)estrogens is known to cause reproductive dysfunction. Estrogenic responses in fish are the net result of complex chains of events that will depend on a number of factors, such as bioavailability, bioconcentration/bioaccumulation, and biotransformation. Most of known estrogenic chemicals are lipophilic and hydrophobic and therefore have a strong potential to accumulate in aquatic biota. Therefore, determining environmental exposures may be very difficult and not be particularly meaningful. As test organism the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) was selected, a common species in European marine systems. This work is part of a study focusing on the combination effects of mixtures of estrogenic chemicals in marine and freshwater organisms. Juvenile sea bass were used in order to analyse the bioconcentration and distribution among different tissues of the chemical residues of a set of reference estrogenic chemicals such as 17ß-estradiol (E2), ethynylestradiol (EE2), nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), bisphenol-A (BPA). Fish were exposed for a period of two weeks to environmentally relevant levels of these compounds, after which liver, bile, muscle, gill and kidney were collected and analyzed. Actual concentrations of E2, EE2 and BPA seawater in the tanks were determined by either gas chromatography with ion trap detection or HPLC coupled to diode array detection. In bile, levels of BPA were determined according to a method presented earlier by Houtman et al. (13th Annual Meeting SETAC Europe, 2003). Actual NP and OP concentrations in both water and tissues were determined by HPLC-ESI-MS according to recently developed methods by Pojana et al. (J. Anal. Chem., in press). Bioconcentration and distribution of residual compounds in tissues were correlated to the levels of plasma vitellogenin (results are presented also at this conference) and to actual exposure concentrations. The general suitability of the sea bass as a bioindicator of estrogenic contamination in the marine environment is discussed.Comissão Europeia (CE) - ACE, EVK1-CT-2001-100

Cardiovascular risk profile of mothers of a Portuguese birth cohort: a survey 4 years after delivery

Objectives: The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of smoking, low fruit and vegetable intake, sedentariness, overweight/obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus in mothers of a Portuguese birth cohort, 4 years after delivery. Methods: A birth cohort was assembled at public maternities of Porto (2005–2006). Children and mothers were reevaluated 4 years later. In this analysis, 5435 women were included. Socioeconomic characteristics, smoking, diet and exercise were self-reported. Anthropometrics and blood pressure were measured. A subgroup of 2483 randomly selected women provided a fasting venous blood sample for lipid and glucose measurements. Results: Overall, 25.3% women smoked, 71.5% consumed < 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, 81.3% were sedentary, 31.4% were overweight, 21.3% obese and 31.8% had abdominal obesity. The prevalence of hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus was 8.7%, 18.5% and 0.9%, respectively. At least one risk factor from each of the 3 groups (adverse lifestyles, adiposity and cardiometabolic comorbidities) was observed in 17.4% of women. Except for smoking, all risk factors were associated with unemployment, lower education and lower income. Conclusions: The high prevalence of unfavorable lifestyles and adiposity, and the aggregation of risk factors emphasize the adverse cardiovascular risk profile at a young age

Assessment of hydrocarbon pollution in NW Iberian Peninsula using bioaccumulation and molecular biomarkers in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry - SETAC Europe 15th Annual Meeting, Lille, France, May 2005.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH´s) are ubiquitous contaminants in marine environment as a result of uncontrolled spills, river transport, surface runoff and atmospheric deposition. A significant amount of industrial activity including shipping and oil refining is located along the NW Iberian Peninsula coast. The use of exposure biomarkers holds out promise due to the incipient state of the cost-effective methodologies for diagnosis and monitoring of oil pollution. This work presents the preliminary results concerning the identification of a set of biomarkers for an early warning detection of PAH toxicity. The bivalve Mytillus galloprovincialis was selected due to its ubiquitous distribution along coastline, being used as sentinels in pollution monitoring. This species has also an important value. Four locations in the vicinity of industrial wastewater discharges along the NW Iberian coast were selected and compared with a nearby (reference) site for (i) measurements of PAH body burdens and (ii) levels of enzyme activity: catalase (CAT), superoxide-dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), gluthathione S-transferase (GST) and Na+/K+ATPase (ATPase). The results will be discussed on the basis of their potential in providing additional evidence for discriminate between well known polluted and unpolluted sites