Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking Among Young Adults Aged 20–30 Years in Lisbon, Portugal

Background: Over the past decade, the changes to the pattern of alcohol consumption in Portugal, in particular among young people with heavy episodic drinking (binge drinking), are well documented. However, there are limited studies in individuals aged between 20 and 30 years, which is an important period of transition into adulthood where binge drinking can negatively influence the resolution of developmental tasks. Therefore, this study aims at analyzing the pattern of alcohol consumption and binge drinking among young adults aged between 20 and 30 years living in the municipality of Lisbon. Methodology: This is a quantitative, descriptive correlational study using a convenience sample composed of 259 individuals. We used the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for data collection. Results: Among the sampled subjects, 19.3% of them reported being nondrinkers. Among the alcohol-drinking subjects (N = 209), 61.3% reported binge drinking behaviors. We found a higher percentage of binge drinkers among vocational training students than among university students, as well as a relatively higher percentage of women. In both cases, we found no statistically significant differences. Within the total sample, 10.8% reported hazardous or harmful consumption, with men showing greater hazardous consumption. Conclusions: Although approximately one fifth of the sampled subjects reported being nondrinkers, the percentage of binge drinkers in this study was significantly higher than that reported in other studies. We also found that binge drinking is more common among vocational training students, although this difference was not statistically significant. Further studies are needed on this age group and in nonacademic settings

First- and second-order phase transitions in Ising models on small world networks, simulations and comparison with an effective field theory

We perform simulations of random Ising models defined over small-world networks and we check the validity and the level of approximation of a recently proposed effective field theory. Simulations confirm a rich scenario with the presence of multicritical points with first- or second-order phase transitions. In particular, for second-order phase transitions, independent of the dimension d_0 of the underlying lattice, the exact predictions of the theory in the paramagnetic regions, such as the location of critical surfaces and correlation functions, are verified. Quite interestingly, we verify that the Edwards-Anderson model with d_0=2 is not thermodynamically stable under graph noise.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl

Rhizosphere microbial community composition of common beans with different levels of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum.

Microbial communities in the rhizosphere make significant contributions to plant health, growth and protection against soil pathogens. Plants can take advantage of their rhizosphere microbiomes to fend off pathogens, avoiding microbial infections. Here, we aimed to identify potential microbial groups and functional traits correlated to the suppression of the soil borne Microbial diversity and functioning in the soil ecosystem 145 pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Through shotgun metagenomics we investigated the rhizosphere microbial communities of four common bean cultivars with different levels of resistance to the fungus, ranging from susceptible to resistant. Plants were grown in mesocosms experiments with two contrasting soils, i.e. Amazon Dark Earth (ADE) and an agricultural soil (AS). The soils presented clear differences in chemical properties, and ADE hosts higher microbial diversity than AS. Chemical analysis indicated a significant increase of pH, Ca, Fe, sum of bases and base saturation, and decrease of K, Mg, exchangeable Al, and Mn in rhizosphere of both soil types. Quantitative PCR showed an increase of 16S rRNA copy number with the increase resistance to the fungus in ADE soil. The rhizosphere of the four bean cultivars is dominated by the same bacterial phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Chloroflexi, albeit in different relative abundance between soil types. The community structure of rhizosphere was different from the bulk soil, revealing the selection process in this environment. In ADE soil, the most resistant cultivar presented higher taxonomic diversity when compared to other cultivars; in contrast, the functional diversity was lower. Comparing the resistant to the susceptible cultivars there was an increase of Nitrospirae, Solibacteres, Spirochaeta and Chryosiogenetes bacterial classes in the resistant. Also, resistant cultivar presented high number of sequences affiliated to the family Pseudomonadaceae and to the genera Bacillus and Solibacter. Interestingly, the resistant and moderately resistant cultivars, presented high proportion of sequences related to bacteriocin, a narrow spectrum antibiotic, which suggests its role on pathogen suppression. Preliminary analysis showed that the selection of the microbial communities inhabiting the common bean rhizosphere is cultivar and soil type dependent. Further analysis will search for bacterial groups potentially related to the fungal antagonism. FAPESP 2014/03217-3

Analysis of the rhizosphere microbial communities of common beans resistant and susceptible to Fusarium oxysporum.

The rhizosphere is the narrow zone of soil around the living plant roots that is influenced by the activity of the plants. Many beneficial microorganisms in the rhizosphere provide plants with mineral nutrients, phytohormones, and also help to protect the plant against soil-borne pathogens. Microbiological studies are addressed to understand how rhizosphere microorganisms are recruited from soil and either benefit or harm plant growth, nutrition and health. Here, we aimed to identify potential microbial groups and functional traits correlated to the suppression of the soil borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum, the causal agent of Fusarium wilt on common beans. We used shotgun metagenomics to investigate the rhizosphere microbiome of two common bean cultivars classified as resistant (Milênio) and susceptible (Alvorada). Plants were grown in mesocosms experiments in Amazon Dark Earth, a soil with high microbial diversity. Chemical analysis indicated a significant increase of pH, Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn, B, nitrate, cation exchange capacity, sum of bases and base saturation in rhizosphere of both common bean types. The microbial community structure of rhizosphere was different from the bulk soil in a deeper taxonomic classification (genera), revealing the selection process in this environment. Quantitative PCR showed an increase of 16S rRNA copy number with the increase resistance to the fungus in ADE soil. The resistant cultivar presented higher taxonomic diversity but lower functional diversity. The most abundant phyla in rhizosphere were Proteobacteria (41%), Actinobacteria (31%), Firmicutes (5%), Acidobacteria (3%) and Chloroflexi (3%). The resistant cultivar presented more abundance of the phyla Chlamydiae, Spirochaetes, Deinococcus-Thermus and Chrysiogenetes in comparison to the susceptible one and bulk soil. Comparing the resistant to the susceptible cultivar in a finer taxonomic level, 24 genera presented higher abundance in the resistant one, highlighting Bacillus and Pseudomonas. Preliminary analysis showed that there is a specific selection of the microbial communities inhabiting the rhizosphere of a resistant common bean cultivar. Further analysis will combine 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metatranscriptome for a deep taxonomical and functional analysis

A journey towards lean: The case of a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)

Objectives: The objective of this paper is to examine whether it is feasible to implement Lean in a small and medium-sized enterprise (SME), although literature mentions that it is uncommon and unlikely. Additionally, this paper explores how Lean has been progressively applied to a single SME, if there is room for improvement and how it can be accomplished. Finally, this paper seeks to understand if Lean can be a part of the management system. Data and Methods: This investigation covers one SME in Portugal. It operates in the cold-refrigerator industry. A qualitative methodology was used to conduct the research, supported on a case study. Data were collected from tape-recorded interviews and from written documentation provided by the company. Results: It was found that it is possible to implement Lean in a SME, despite some difficulties. Moreover, improvements on how to implement Lean in the field site were suggested, based on literature and on innovative practices found in the organization. Conclusions: Concluding, Lean proved to be crucial to successfully implement a quality management system, dully integrated into the management system. This paper shows that SME’s can also apply Lean processes and techniques. This conclusion is very important for academics and for practitioners, particularly in manufacturing organizations. Originality/Contributions: There is a gap in the literature regarding the application of Lean in SME’s. Very little research has been conducted on this subject. This paper shows that SME’s can successfully implement Lean techniques.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Metagenomic analysis of the rhizosphere microbiome of the common bean resistant to Fusarium oxysporum.

The rhizosphere microbiome plays a key role in the functioning of the host plant, influencing its physiology and development. It has been suggested that plants use mechanisms present in the rhizosphere microbiome to fend off infections, such as fungal diseases. This work aimed to assess the microbial community inhabiting the common bean rhizosphere in order to identify potential groups related to the suppression of the soil-borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. Therefore, using shotgun metagenomic sequencing (Illumina Miseq), we investigated the phylogenetic and potential functional diversity of microbial communities colonizing the rhizosphere of four cultivars of common bean with different levels of resistance to the fungus, ranging from high susceptibility to resistant. Quantitative PCR of total bacteria in rhizosphere samples showed in increase of 16S rRNA copy number with the increase of resistance to the fungus. Mesocosms experiments, including four common bean cultivars cultivated in Amazonian Dark Earth and three replicates, were conducted in greenhouse conditions and we obtained over than 12 million metagenomic sequences. The overall microbial diversity did not present significant variations across common bean cultivars. From the classified sequences, 97,4% were affiliated to Bacteria and 1,48% to Archaea. Proteobacteria represented the most abundant phyla (41,7%), followed by Actinobacteria (29,4%), Firmicutes (5,9%) and Acidobacteria (4,1%). The microbial communities structure were different between bulk soil and rhizosphere samples. Comparing all bean cultivars, the resistant one showed an overrepresention of the phyla Spirochaetes, Nitrospirae and Euryarchaeota. The resistant bean cultivar presented high number of sequences affiliated to the genus Bacillus. Interestingly, the resistant and moderately resistant cultivars, presented high proportion of sequences related to bacteriocin, a narrow spectrum antibiotics. Preliminary analysis showed that different common bean cultivars could select differential microbial groups in the rhizosphere environment. Further analysis will search for bacterial groups potentially related to the fungal antagonism

Arp2/3 complex activity in filopodia of spreading cells

Background Cells use filopodia to explore their environment and to form new adhesion contacts for motility and spreading. The Arp2/3 complex has been implicated in lamellipodial actin assembly as a major nucleator of new actin filaments in branched networks. The interplay between filopodial and lamellipodial protrusions is an area of much interest as it is thought to be a key determinant of how cells make motility choices. Results We find that Arp2/3 complex localises to dynamic puncta in filopodia as well as lamellipodia of spreading cells. Arp2/3 complex spots do not appear to depend on local adhesion or on microtubules for their localisation but their inclusion in filopodia or lamellipodia depends on the activity of the small GTPase Rac1. Arp2/3 complex spots in filopodia are capable of incorporating monomeric actin, suggesting the presence of available filament barbed ends for polymerisation. Arp2/3 complex in filopodia co-localises with lamellipodial proteins such as capping protein and cortactin. The dynamics of Arp2/3 complex puncta suggests that they are moving bi-directionally along the length of filopodia and that they may be regions of lamellipodial activity within the filopodia. Conclusion We suggest that filopodia of spreading cells have regions of lamellipodial activity and that this activity affects the morphology and movement of filopodia. Our work has implications for how we understand the interplay between lamellipodia and filopodia and for how actin networks are generated spatially in cells