Conjugated linoleic acid reduces permeability and fluidity of adipose plasma membranes from obese Zucker rats

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. July 2010; 398 (2): 199-204.Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a dietary fatty acid frequently used as a body fat reducing agent whose effects upon cell membranes and cellular function remain unknown. Obese Zucker rats were fed atherogenic diets containing saturated fats of vegetable or animal origin with or without 1% CLA, as a mixture of cis(c)9,trans(t)11 and t10,c12 isomers. Plasma membrane vesicles obtained from visceral adi- pose tissue were used to assess the effectiveness of dietary fat and CLA membrane incorporation and its outcome on fluidity and permeability to water and glycerol. A significant decrease in adipose membrane fluidity was correlated with the changes observed in permeability, which seem to be caused by the incor- poration of the t10,c12 CLA isomer into membrane phospholipids. These results indicate that CLA supple- mentation in obese Zucker rats fed saturated and cholesterol rich diets reduces the fluidity and permeability of adipose membranes, therefore not supporting CLA as a body fat reducing agent through membrane fluidification in obese fat consumers

Sampling strategies for biotope definition: minimal sampling area for selected groups of macroinvertebrates in the rocky subtidal of São Miguel, Azores.

Copyright © Springer-Verlag and AWI 2005.Azorean rocky shores are mainly characterized by patchy algae-based communities with variable associated macrofauna. Characterization studies should therefore include quantitative information for both algae and macroinvertebrates. Unlike for the algae, minimal sampling areas are undefined for macroinvertebrates in the Azores. The present study defines the minimal area to be used for the assessment of the abundance of conspicuous benthic macroinvertebrate abundance. This study proposes methodologies to be used for a selected group of invertebrates when simultaneously undertaking quantifications of macroalgae

Quantifying chaos for ecological stoichiometry

The theory of ecological stoichiometry considers ecological interactions among species with different chemical compositions. Both experimental and theoretical investigations have shown the importance of species composition in the outcome of the population dynamics. A recent study of a theoretical three-species food chain model considering stoichiometry [B. Deng and I. Loladze, Chaos 17, 033108 (2007)] shows that coexistence between two consumers predating on the same prey is possible via chaos. In this work we study the topological and dynamical measures of the chaotic attractors found in such a model under ecological relevant parameters. By using the theory of symbolic dynamics, we first compute the topological entropy associated with unimodal Poincareacute return maps obtained by Deng and Loladze from a dimension reduction. With this measure we numerically prove chaotic competitive coexistence, which is characterized by positive topological entropy and positive Lyapunov exponents, achieved when the first predator reduces its maximum growth rate, as happens at increasing delta(1). However, for higher values of delta(1) the dynamics become again stable due to an asymmetric bubble-like bifurcation scenario. We also show that a decrease in the efficiency of the predator sensitive to prey's quality (increasing parameter zeta) stabilizes the dynamics. Finally, we estimate the fractal dimension of the chaotic attractors for the stoichiometric ecological model

Epigenetic engineering shows H3K4me2 is required for HJURP targeting and CENP-A assembly on a synthetic human kinetochore

Here, centromeric histone marks on a human artificial chromosome are found to resemble the chromatin landscape in transcribed genes, and selective manipulation shows them to govern the incorporation of the centromere-specifying CENP-A histone variant

The economic impact of a new type of ripening chamber in traditional cheese manufacturing

ALT20-03-0145-FEDER-023356 UIDP/04035/2020 UIDB/05064/2020A new prototype of a ripening chamber was proposed in the CFD4CHEESE project aiming to evaluate the application of computational fluid dynamics in the optimization of traditional cheeses ripening conditions. With the purpose of evaluating the possible impact on the energy cost of cheese ripening in three Portuguese regions (Setubal, Evora, and Beja), we demonstrated the potential economic benefits of the prototype. The proposed automation process would imply higher productive efficiency, reducing the consumption of water and electricity. The simple consideration of the reduction of electricity costs is enough to recover the investment needed to have the new ripening chambers, meaning that the investment is economically viable. In addition to the economic impact in firms, which are mostly small and medium firms, our results also contribute to an increase on the sustainable use of natural resources.publishersversionpublishe

Descrição da biodiversidade terrestre dos Açores

Os Açores constituem um arquipélago de nove ilhas oceânicas isoladas, onde os organismos terrestres chegaram através do vento, do mar, noutros animais e, nos tempos históricos, com a ajuda humana. Este capítulo analisa de forma detalhada aquilo que se conhece sobre a biodiversidade terrestre dos Açores. Para tal analisámos os quatro grandes grupos de organismos listados no capítulo 4: Bryophyta (musgos, antocerotas e hepáticas), Pteridophyta e Spermatophyta (fetos e fanerogâmicas), Mollusca (lesmas e caracóis) e Arthropoda (centopeias, diplópodes, crustáceos, aranhas, ácaros, insectos, etc.). O número total de espécies e/ou subespécies dos Açores pertencentes aos quatro grupos de organismos acima referidos é de cerca de 3705 (3666 espécies e 224 subespécies). No entanto, adicionando outros grupos como os vertebrados (Chordata, Vertebrata), anelídeos (Annelida), nemátodos (Nematoda) e líquenes, aquele número sobe para 4487 espécies e/ou subspecies (4443 espécies e 232 subespécies). O número total de espécies e/ou subespécies endémicas dos Açores pertencentes aos Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Spermatophyta, Mollusca e Arthropoda totaliza as 393 (384 espécies e 44 subespécies). Os filos animais são os mais diversos em taxa endémicos (Mollusca = 49; Arthropoda = 267), com cerca de 80 % dos endemismos dos Açores. Deve ser ainda de assinalar a elevada percentagem de endemismo nos caracóis e lesmas (Mollusca) terrestres dos Açores, com cerca de 44% de endemismo. As plantas vasculares possuem 68 endemismos e os briófitos 9. Usando um estimador não paramétrico, a estimativa conservadora da riqueza de taxa endémicos terrestres de briófitos, plantas vasculares, moluscos e artrópodes rondará 530 taxa, pelo que apenas 77% dos endemismos dos Açores serão conhecidos. Em apenas alguns géneros se verificou uma taxa de especiação elevada, na sua maior parte pertencentes aos filos Mollusca e Arthropoda. A maior parte das espécies de artrópodes e moluscos endémicos são conhecidas apenas de uma ilha, enquanto que, nas plantas, uma grande fracção das espécies ocorre na maioria das ilhas. A análise das proporções das várias categorias de colonização mostra que uma grande proporção da phanerofauna de artrópodes e da flora de plantas vasculares do arquipélago é constituída por espécies introduzidas. Deste modo, as invasões por espécies exóticas constituem um problema actual e terão impactos futuros na biodiversidade dos Açores, criando um padrão de uniformização da fauna e flora. Os Açores constituem o arquipélago da Macaronésia geologicamente mais recente, estando situado mais a norte. As suas nove ilhas isoladas no meio do oceano Atlântico possuem uma grande diversidade de histórias geológicas e constituem laboratórios ecológicos e evolutivos extraordinários. Torna-se cada vez mais importante um esforço adicional nos estudos de taxonomia e ecologia de comunidades que envolvam o estudo de grupos taxonómicos mal conhecidos (fungos, líquenes, muitos grupos de artrópodes) mas também a revisão taxonómica de muitas espécies de briófitos e plantas vasculares.ABSTRACT: The Azores is a remote oceanic archipelago of nine islands where the terrestrial organisms arrived by wind, on the sea, on other animals and on historical times by human assistance. This chapter highlights what we know about Azorean terrestrial biodiversity. Four important terrestrial taxonomic groups listed in Chapter 4 are analysed in detail: Bryophyta (mosses, liverworts), Pteridophyta and Spermatophyta (ferns and phanerogamics), Mollusca (slugs and snails) and Arthropoda (millipedes, centipedes, mites, spiders, insects, etc.). Currently the total number of terrestrial species and/or subspecies of the above mentioned organisms in the Azores is estimated of about 3705 (3666 species and 224 subspecies). However, if we add other groups like vertebrates (Chordata, Vertebrata), annelids (Annelida), nematodes (Nematoda) and lichens, this number reaches 4487 species and/or subspecies (4443 species and 232 subspecies). The total number of endemic species and/or subspecies from the Azores belonging to Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Spermatophyta, Mollusca and Arthropod is about 393 (384 species and 44 subspecies). The animals Phyla are the most diverse in endemic taxa (Mollusca = 49; Arthropoda = 267), comprising about 80% of the Azorean endemics. The percentage of endemismo within Mollusca (44%) is remarkable. Vascular plants have 68 endemic species while bryophytes have 9 endemics. Using a non-parametric estimator we obtained a conservative estimate for endemic Azorean terrestrial vascular plants, bryophytes, molluscs and arthropods around 530 taxa, which mean that only about 77% have already been described. In only some genera there was a substantial inter and intra-island speciation, most cases occurring in Mollusca and Arthropoda. Most of the endemic arthropods and molluscs are known in only one island, whereas in plants a large proportion of species occur in most islands. Na analysis of the proportions of the colonization categories in arthropods and vascular plants shows that a major proportion of the species are introduced. Therefore, invasions of alien organisms are an actual and future environmental threat in the Azores, creating a pattern of biotic homogenization that is of great contemporary concern. The Azores is the northernmost and the most recent Macaronesian archipelago. The nine islands, isolated in the middle of the Atlantic, with different geological histories, are wonderful ecological and evolutionary laboratories. An additional effort on taxonomic and community-level research implies the detailed examination of poorly studied groups (fungi, lichens, many arthropod groups), but a revision of the taxonomic status of many bryophyte and vascular plants is also deeply needed

Automating the processing steps for obtaining bone tissue engineered substitutes : from imaging tools to bioreactors.

Bone diseases and injuries are highly incapacitating and result in a high demand for tissue substitutes with specific biomechanical and structural features. Tissue engineering has already proven to be effective in regenerating bone tissue but has not yet been able to become an economically viable solution due to the complexity of the tissue which is very difficult to be replicated, eventually requiring the utilization of highly labour-intensive processes. Process automation is seen as the solution for mass production of cellularized bone tissue substitutes at an affordable cost by being able to reduce human intervention as well as reducing product variability. The combination of tools such as medical imaging, computer-aided fabrication and bioreactor technologies, which are currently used in tissue engineering, shows potential to generate automated production ecosystems which will in turn enable the generation of commercially available products with widespread clinical application.The authors would like to acknowledge the partial support by the European Network of Excellence EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283). Pedro Costa would also like to acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology for his PhD grant (SFRH/BD/62452/2009)

Mineralization of Sialoliths Investigated by Ex Vivo and In Vivo X-ray Computed Tomography

The fraction of organic matter present affects the fragmentation behavior of sialoliths; thus, pretherapeutic information on the degree of mineralization is relevant for a correct selection of lithotripsy procedures. This work proposes a methodology for in vivo characterization of salivary calculi in the pretherapeutic context. Sialoliths were characterized in detail by X-ray computed microtomography (μCT) in combination with atomic emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Correlative analysis of the same specimens was performed by in vivo and ex vivo helical computed tomography (HCT) and ex vivo μCT. The mineral matter in the sialoliths consisted essentially of apatite (89 vol%) and whitlockite (11 vol%) with average density of 1.8 g/cm3. In hydrated conditions, the mineral mass prevailed with 53 ± 13 wt%, whereas the organic matter, with a density of 1.2 g/cm3, occupied 65 ± 10% of the sialoliths' volume. A quantitative relation between sialoliths mineral density and X-ray attenuation is proposed for both HCT and μCT.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio