CT maxillary sinus evaluation: a retrospective cohort study

Background: Proximity of the dental roots to the sinus floor makes dental disease a probable cause of maxillary sinusitis. The aim of this study was to find out if maxillary sinus pathologic changes were more prevalent in patients with dental disease and to evaluate the performance of computed tomography (CT) in analyzing and detecting apical periodontitis and other odontogenic causes on the maxillary sinusitis etiology in a Portuguese Caucasian population. Material and Methods: Retrospective cohort study. The total sample of 504 patients and their CT was included in this study. The patients were from a private dental clinic, specializing in oral surgery, where the first complaint was not directly related to sinus disease, but with dental pathology. For each patient, the etiological factors of maxillary sinusitis and the imaging CT findings were analyzed. All the axial, coronal and sagittal CT slices were evaluated and general data were registered. The latter was selected based on the maxillary sinus CT published literature. Results: 32.40% of patients presented normal sinus (without any etiological factor associated), 29.00% showed presence of etiological and imaging findings in the maxillary sinus, 20.60% had only imaging changes in the maxillary sinus and 18.00% of patients presented only etiological factors and no change in the maxillary sinus. Conclusions: Radiological imaging is an important tool for establishing the diagnosis of maxillary sinus pathology. These results indicate that the CT scan should be an excellent tool for complement the odontogenic sinusitis diagnosis

Operation regimes: A comparison based on Nannochloropsis oceanica biomass and lipid productivity

Microalgae are currently considered to be a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. However, significant research efforts are crucial to improve the current biomass and lipid productivities under real outdoor production conditions. In this context, batch, continuous and semi-continuous operation regimes were compared during the Spring/Summer seasons in 2.6 m(3) tubular photobioreactors to select the most suitable one for the production of the oleaginous microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica. Results obtained revealed that N. oceanica grown using the semi-continuous and continuous operation regimes enabled a 1.5-fold increase in biomass volumetric productivity compared to that cultivated in batch. The lipid productivity was 1.7-fold higher under semi-continuous cultivation than that under a batch operation regime. On the other hand, the semi-continuous and continuous operation regimes spent nearly the double amount of water compared to that of the batch regime. Interestingly, the biochemical profile of produced biomass using the different operation regimes was not affected regarding the contents of proteins, lipids and fatty acids. Overall, these results show that the semi-continuous operation regime is more suitable for the outdoor production of N. oceanica, significantly improving the biomass and lipid productivities at large-scale, which is a crucial factor for biodiesel production.POCI-01-0247-FEDER-035234, LISBOA-01-0247-FEDER-035234, ALG-01-0247-FEDER-035234info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Heterotrophic and photoautotrophic media optimization using response surface methodology for the Novel Microalga Chlorococcum amblystomatis

The nutritional requirements of novel microalgal strains are key for their effective cultivation and metabolite content. Therefore, the optimization of heterotrophic and photoautotrophic culture media is crucial for novel Chlorococcum amblystomatis growth. Heterotrophic and photoautotrophic biomass samples were characterized to identify the differences between their heterotrophic and photoautotrophic biomass composition and their biotechnological potential. Media optimization through surface response methodology led to 44.9 and 51.2% increments in C. amblystomatis-specific growth rates under heterotrophic and photoautotrophic growth, respectively. This microalga registered high protein content (61.49–73.45% dry weight), with the highest value being observed in the optimized photoautotrophic growth medium. The lipid fraction mainly constituted polyunsaturated fatty acids, ranging from 44.47 to 51.41% for total fatty acids (TFA) in cells under heterotrophy. However, these contents became significantly higher (70.46–72.82% TFA) in cultures cultivated under photoautotrophy. An interesting carotenoids content was achieved in the cultures grown in optimized photoautotrophic medium: 5.84 mg·g−1 β-carotene, 5.27 mg·g−1 lutein, 3.66 mg·g−1 neoxanthin, and 0.75 mg·g−1 violaxanthin. Therefore, C. amblystomatis demonstrated an interesting growth performance and nutritional profile for food supplements and feed products that might contribute to meeting the world’s nutritional demand.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effects of LED lighting on Nannochloropsis oceanica grown in outdoor raceway ponds

Growth in most microalgal mass cultivation systems is light-limited, particularly in raceway ponds (RWP) where the light path is higher. Artificial lighting can be a promising solution to diminishing dark zones and enhance microalgal productivity. Therefore, our goal was to prevent the cell shift from photosynthesis to a respiration-only stage by resorting to LED illumination. Nannochloropsis oceanica cultures were accordingly grown out-doors in a preliminary small-scaleexperiment, followed by pilot-scale trials. In the former, three 3.0-m(2) RWP were set up under three distinct conditions: 1) without LEDs (control); 2) LEDs turned on during the night; and 3) LEDs turned on for 24 h. In the pilot-scale trial, one of two 28.9-m(2) pilot-scale RWPs was coupled to the best LED setup - determined in the small-scale preliminary experiment - using the same light intensity (normal mode) and half of the intensity (economy mode), with the second RWP serving as a control. In the preliminary experiment, the use of LEDs for 24 h was deemed as not helpful during daytime, before the culture reached asymptotic to 0.5 g DW L-1 - when dark zones appeared during the day due to sunlight attenuation in the 0.1 m-deep cultures. Overall, use of LEDs increased biomass growth chiefly by increasing nighttime productivities - materialized in higher chlorophyll, protein, and carbohydrate productivities in LED-lit cultures. A higher impact of LED lighting was observed under lower sunlight irradiances. A preliminary economic analysis indicates that use of LEDs in RWPs outdoors should be considered for high-value metabolites only.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Challenges in producing policy-relevant global scenarios of biodiversity and ecosystem services

Scenario-based modelling is a powerful tool to describe relationships between plausible trajectories of drivers, possible policy interventions, and impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Model inter-comparisons are key in quantifying uncertainties and identifying avenues for model improvement but have been missing among the global biodiversity and ecosystem services modelling communities. The biodiversity and ecosystem services scenario-based inter-model comparison (BES-SIM) aims to fill this gap. We used global land-use and climate projections to simulate possible future impacts on terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services using a variety of models and a range of harmonized metrics. The goal of this paper is to reflect on the steps taken in BES-SIM, identify remaining methodological challenges, and suggest pathways for improvement. We identified five major groups of challenges; the need to: 1) better account for the role of nature in future human development storylines; 2) improve the representation of drivers in the scenarios by increasing the resolution (temporal, spatial and thematic) of land-use as key driver of biodiversity change and including additional relevant drivers; 3) explicitly integrate species- and trait-level biodiversity in ecosystem services models; 4) expand the coverage of the multiple dimensions of biodiversity and ecosystem services; and finally, 5) incorporate time-series or one-off historical data in the calibration and validation of biodiversity and ecosystem services models. Addressing these challenges would allow the development of more integrated global projections of biodiversity and ecosystem services, thereby improving their policy relevance in supporting the interlinked international conservation and sustainable development agendas

Integrative transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to unravel the resistance profile of Kawisari coffee against Hemileia vastatrix

29th Conference of Association for the Science and Information on Coffee, 11 Sept. - 14 Sept. 2023 Hanoi, Vietnaminfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterization of the transcriptional signatures associated with resistance and susceptibility to Hemileia vastatrix in the Kawisari coffee hybrid

Coffee leaf rust (CLR), a disease caused by the biotrophic fungus Hemileia vastatrix (Hv), is the main threat to the worldwide production of Arabica coffee. The gradual breakdown of resistance in coffee varieties in the last years has highlighted the need for novel sources of resistance to CLR. This work aimed to unveil the cellular and molecular resistance profile of the Kawisari hybrid (C. arabica x C. liberica), a genotype used as a resistance donor in Arabica breeding programs in India. This coffee genotype was inoculated with two Hv races that triggered either resistance or susceptibility. Progress of infection was monitored using light microscopy. Simultaneously, we conducted a time-course RNA-seq characterization of the transcriptional responses. The microscopic studies showed that the post-haustorial resistance of Kawisari was associated with the hypersensitive response, accumulation of phenolic-like compounds and haustorium encasement with callose. The transcriptomic analysis suggest the downregulation of host primary metabolism genes at the early onset of infection, followed later by activation of genes functionally associated with multiple plant defense responses, including salicylic acid and jasmonate hormonal signaling. Resistance was also accompanied by the differential regulation of genes associated with phenylpropanoid metabolism and lignin biosynthesis. Our results, further validated by qPCR, provide important new insight into the molecular mechanisms underpinning resistance against CLR in this coffee genotype.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and FEDER funds through PORNorte under the project CoffeeRES PTDC/ASPPLA/ 29779/2017 and by FCT UNIT LEAF (UID/AGR/04129/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

AVALIAÇÃO POSTURAL DE INDIVÍDUOS COM RETRAÇÃO DA CADEIA MUSCULAR POSTERIOR APÓS O ALONGAMENTO GLOBAL

Introduo e Objetivo: A reeducao postural uma tcnica de alongamento muscular global que vem sendo utilizada para promover reequilbrio muscular, e assim tratar indivduos com lombalgia e problemas posturais. Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos desta tcnica de alongamento sobre a postura corporal, o presente trabalho utilizou a avaliao postural clnica e computadorizada para verificar os efeitos imediatos do alongamento global sobre a postura de indivduos com retrao muscular. Mtodos: Dezesseis voluntrios jovens (8 homens e 8 mulheres), foram submetidos a avaliaes posturais antes e imediatamente aps a prtica de uma postura de alongamento global, com fechamento do ngulo coxofemoral, por cerca de 12 minutos. Na avaliao postural clnica foram mensurados ngulos articulares e a distncia mo-cho para verificar a flexibilidade da cadeia muscular posterior. Na avaliao postural computadorizada foi realizada a demarcao de pontos anatmicos e a captura de imagens para clculos de distncias e ngulos articulares bi-dimensionais. Para a anlise estatstica dos dados foram aplicados testes no paramtricos com nvel de significncia de 0,05 (Teste de Wilcoxon, Teste do Sinal e Teste de Mann-Whitney). Resultados: Os resultados da avaliao postural clnica revelaram melhora significativa da flexibilidade da cadeia muscular posterior indicada pela reduo do ngulo coxofemoral e da distncia 3 dedo-solo em ambos os sexos. Na avaliao postural computadorizada no foi observada melhora significativa da simetria corporal dos voluntrios. Concluso: Acreditamos que o aumento da flexibilidade aps o alongamento prolongado e de baixa intensidade, possa ser atribudo ao aumento da tolerncia ao exerccio e reduo do estresse viscoelstico do tecido muscular. No entanto, o relaxamento viscoelstico imediato no foi suficientemente relevante para causar reequilbrio muscular que acarretasse a melhora da simetria postural

Global mismatches in aboveground and belowground biodiversity

Human activities are accelerating global biodiversity change and have resulted in severely threatened ecosystem services. A large proportion of terrestrial biodiversity is harbored by soil, but soil biodiversity has been omitted from many global biodiversity assessments and conservation actions, and understanding of global patterns of soil biodiversity remains limited. In particular, the extent to which hotspots and coldspots of aboveground and soil biodiversity overlap is not clear. We examined global patterns of these overlaps by mapping indices of aboveground (mammals, birds, amphibians, vascular plants) and soil (bacteria, fungi, macrofauna) biodiversity that we created using previously published data on species richness. Areas of mismatch between aboveground and soil biodiversity covered 27% of Earth's terrestrial surface. The temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome had the highest proportion of grid cells with high aboveground biodiversity but low soil biodiversity, whereas the boreal and tundra biomes had intermediate soil biodiversity but low aboveground biodiversity. While more data on soil biodiversity are needed, both to cover geographic gaps and to include additional taxa, our results suggest that protecting aboveground biodiversity may not sufficiently reduce threats to soil biodiversity. Given the functional importance of soil biodiversity and the role of soils in human well-being, soil biodiversity should be considered further in policy agendas and conservation actions by adapting management practices to sustain soil biodiversity and considering soil biodiversity when designing protected areas.Peer reviewe