Analgesic interpatient variability of remifentanil assessed through pupillary dilation reflex

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pupillary pain index correlates with postoperative pain scores in neurosurgical patients

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Improving Models of Species Ecological Niches: A Remote Sensing Overview

Effective conservation capable of mitigating global biodiversity declines require thorough knowledge on species distributions and their drivers. A species ecological niche determines its geographic distribution, and species distribution models (SDMs) can be used to predict them. For various reasons, e.g., the lack of spatial data on relevant environmental factors, SDMs fail to characterize important ecological relationships. We argue that SDMs do not yet include relevant environmental information, which can be measured with remote sensing (RS). RS may benefit SDMs because it provides information on e.g., ecosystem function, health and structure, complete spatial assessment, and reasonable temporal repeat for the processes that determine geographical distributions. However, RS data is still seldom included in such studies with the exception of climate data. Here we provide a guide for researchers aiming to improve their SDM studies, describing how they might include RS data in their specific study. We propose how to improve models of species ecological niches, by including measures of habitat quality (e.g., productivity), nutritional values, and seasonal or life-cycle events. To date, several studies have shown that using ecologically-relevant environmental predictors derived from RS improve model performance and transferability, and better approximate a species ecological niche. These data, however, are not a panacea for SDMs, as there are cases in which RS predictors are not appropriate, too costly, or exhibit low predictive power. The integration of multiple environmental predictors derived from RS in SDMs can thus improve our knowledge on processes driving biodiversity change and improve our capacity for biodiversity conservation

Benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides functionalized with chloride atoms and/or ester groups

Proceedings of the 19th Int. Electron. Conf. Synth. Org. Chem.With the aim of contributing to the development of fluorescent near-infrared (NIR) probes with applications in biomedicine, our research group is committed to the development of new water-soluble benzo[a]phenoxazine derivatives and the evaluation of their photophysical and biological potential. Herein we report the photophysical behaviour in anhydrous ethanol of four synthesised benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides, possessing the (3-chloropropyl)amino and/or (4-ethoxy-4- oxobutyl)amino groups at 5- and 9-positions of the polycyclic system.Thanks are due to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the NMR portuguese network (PTNMR, Bruker Avance III 400-Univ. Minho), FCT and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETE-QREN-EU for financial support to the Research Centres CFUM [PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2011 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-022711)] and CQ/UM [PEstC/QUI/UI0686/2013(FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022716)]. A post-doctoral grant to B. R. Raju (SFRH/BPD/62881/2009) is also acknowledged to FCT, POPH-QREN, FSE.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synthesis and photophysical studies of new benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides as potential antifungal agents

A set of four new benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides possessing ethyl, propyl, decyl and tetradecyl groups at the 9-amino function of the heterocycle along with a propyl group at the 5-amino position was efficiently synthesised. These compounds displayed fluorescence with maximum emission wavelengths of 673 and 685 nm, in anhydrous ethanol and water. All the benzo[a]phenoxazines were evaluated against the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a broth microdilution assay. It was found that their antifungal activity depended on the variation in the lengths of the aliphatic chains. The highest MIC activity of 1.56 µM was obtained for compound 7 comprising a di-alkylated propyl substituent at 9-amino position and a propyl chain at the 5-amino position of the heterocycle core.FEDER-COMPETE-QREN-EUFSEThanks are due to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the NMR portuguese network (PTNMR, Bruker Avance III 400-Univ. Minho), FCT and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETE-QREN-EU for financial support to the Research Centres CFUM [PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2011 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-022711)] and CQ/UM [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2011 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022716)]. A post-doctoral grant to B. R. Raju (SFRH/BPD/62881/2009) is also acknowledged to FCT, POPH-QREN, FSE. This work was supported by the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-007569) funded by national funds through the FCT I.P. and by the ERDF through the COMPETE2020 - Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI).ERDFPOPH-QRENCOMPETE202

Macro and microscopic maturation stage key of green crab (Carcinus maenas, Linnaeus 1758): reproductive cycle and differences among estuarine systems

Gonadal histology is a helpful tool to validate species' macroscopic maturity stages in fisheries biology. Regardless of the many studies on Carcinus maenas, there are still few concerning gonads tissue histology and description of maturity stages. In Portugal, information regarding this species' biology to help support the regulation of crab fisheries, including the minimum landing size, has not yet been defined. In this work, the macro and microscopic characteristics of the reproductive cycle of C. maenas, oogenesis, and spermatogenesis development stages along the Portuguese coast are described, and a new macroscopic scale based on the histological analyses is suggested. During 2019 and 2020, adult C. maenas (both males and females) were collected from the Ria de Aveiro estuary, Rio Sado estuary, and Ria Formosa lagoon, respectively, North, Center, and South Portugal. No-significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in carapace width and individual weight between all systems. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in gonad weight, gonadosomatic index, and Fulton's condition index between the Rio Sado estuary and Ria Formosa lagoon. Furthermore, significant differences (P < 0.05) in the oocyte diameter between the northern and southernmost locations suggest a geographic variation related to the local environmental conditions of each system. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed maturity stage and carapace width an association, and a similar morphometry between Ria de Aveiro and Ria Formosa. Temperature was correlated to both maturity stage and carapace width in Ria de Aveiro and Ria Formosa. From the histological analysis and based on microscopic criteria, it was observed that females previously classified within the late macroscopic development stage 2 should be considered mature, so a classification change in the current ovary's developmental stage is proposed. These findings can allow fisheries researchers to reclassify the estimations of maturity ogives and help support the regulation of this species' fishery. The proposed macroscopic scale was validated by histological analyses and can be used elsewhere.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ecological sensitivity and vulnerability of fishing fleet landings to climate change across regions

The degree of exposure of fishing communities to environmental changes can be partially determined by the vulnerability of the target species and the landings composition. Hence, identifying the species that ecologically most contribute to the vulnerability of the landings are key steps to evaluate the risk posed by climate change. We analyse the temporal variability in intrinsic sensitivity and the ecological vulnerability of the Portuguese fisheries landings, considering the species proportions derived both from the weights and revenues. To account for the diversification of species of each fleet, we explored the species dependence of the fishery in combination with the vulnerability of them. The analyses were carried out separately for three fleet typologies and three regions. Opposite to what has been observed at a global scale, the ecological sensitivity of the fisheries landings between 1989 and 2015 did not display a decline across areas or fishing fleets. Considering each fleet independently, for trawling, where average vulnerability was lower than in the other fleets, the sensitivity of the landings increased since the 2000s. On the other hand, the high vulnerability found in multi-gear fleets was compensated by diversification of the species caught, while purse-seine fleets targeted low vulnerability species but presented a high fishery dependence on few species. The results highlight the importance of combining information on ecological vulnerability and diversification of fishing resources at a regional scale while providing a measure of the ecological exposure to climate change.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synthesis, photophysical characterisation and photostability studies of NIR probes with aliphatic, aromatic and chlorinated terminals in 5- and 9-amino positions of benzo[a]phenoxazines

A new series of benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides possessing mono- or disubstituted amines with 3-chloropropyl groups at the 9-position, isopropyl, cyclohexyl and phenyl groups as terminals at 5-postion was synthesised. Photophysical studies were performed in dry ethanol and aqueous solutions. The terminals at the 5-amino position were found to influence the acid-base equilibrium. The presence of hydroxyl functionality at 2-position was found to introduce an additional basic form that is the one in equilibrium with the cationic acid form in dry ethanol solutions. The photostability of these compounds in different media was also investigated and a high resistance to photobleaching in model biological membranes was observed. In proteins a moderate of 20% photobleaching occurs in 1h 30min, while in water more than 60% of the compound molecules are photodegraded during the same time interval.Thanks are due to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the NMR portuguese network (PTNMR, Bruker Avance III 400-Univ. Minho), FCT and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETE-QREN-EU for financial support to Research Centres CQ/UM [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037302)] and CFUM [PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2013 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-022711)]. Post-doctoral grant to B. R. Raju (SFRH/BPD/62881/2009) is also acknowledged to FCT, POPH-QREN, FSE

New benzo[a]phenoxazines bearing the (4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)amino group: synthesis and photophysical properties

Synthesis of new benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides possessing the (4,6-dichloro-1,3,5- triazin-2-yl)amino at 5-amino function of the heterocycles is described. The preliminary photophysical properties of these compounds in anhydrous ethanol when acidified with TFA or basified with TEAH is also investigated, as well as their response in aqueous media. These benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides exhibited fluorescence with maximum emission wavelengths between 628 and 676 nm, in anhydrous ethanol and water.Thanks are due to the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the NMR portuguese network (PTNMR, Bruker Avance III 400-Univ. Minho), FCT and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development)-COMPETE-QREN-EU for financial support to the Research Centres CFUM [PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2011 (F-COMP-01-0124-FEDER-022711)] and CQ/UM [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2013(FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022716)]. A post-doctoral grant to B. R. Raju (SFRH/BPD/62881/2009) is also acknowledged to FCT, POPH-QREN, FSE.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of land use and land cover change in climate change vulnerability assessments of biodiversity: a systematic review

Context For many organisms, responses to climate change (CC) will be affected by land-use and land-cover changes (LULCC). However, the extent to which LULCC is concurrently considered in climate change vulnerability assessments (CCVAs) is unclear. Objectives We identify trends in inclusion of LULCC and CC in vulnerability assessments of species and the direction and magnitude of their combined effect on biodiversity. Further, we examine the effect size of LULCC and CC in driving changes in “currencies” of response to CC, such as distribution, abundance and survival. Methods We conducted a systematic literature review of articles published in the last 30 years that focused on CCVA and accounted for impacts of both CC and LULCC. Results Across 116 studies, 34% assumed CC and LULCC would act additively, while 66% allowed for interactive effects. The majority of CCVAs reported similar effect sizes for CC and LULCC, although they affected different CCVA currencies. Only 14% of the studies showed larger effects of CC than of LULCC. Another 14% showed larger effects of LULCC than CC, specifically for dispersal, population viability, and reproduction, which tend to be strongly affected by fragmentation and disturbance. Although most studies found that LULCC and CC had negative effects on species currencies, in some cases effects were neutral or even positive. Conclusions CCVAs that incorporate LULCC provided a better account of drivers of vulnerability, and highlight aspects of drivers that are generally more amenable to on-the-ground management intervention than CCVAs that focus on CC alone