Valorization of agro‐industrial residues: Bioprocessing of animal fats to reduce their acidity

Adding value to agro‐industrial residues is becoming increasingly important, satisfying needs to promote resources' use efficiency and a more sustainable and circular economy. This work performs a parametric and kinetic study of enzymatic esterification of lard and tallow with high acidity, obtained by the rendering of slaughter by‐products, allowing their use as a feed ingredient and increasing their market value. After an initial analysis of potential enzyme candidates, a Candida antarctica lipase B was selected as a biocatalyst for converting free fatty acids (FFA) to esters, using excess ethanol as the reagent. Results show that the fat acidity can be reduced by at least 67% in up to 3 h of reaction time at 45 °C, using the mass ratios of 3.25 ethanol/FFA and 0.0060 enzyme/fat. Kinetic modelling shows an irreversible second‐order rate law, function of FFA, and ethanol concentration better fitting the experimental results. Activation energy is 54.7 kJ/mol and pre-exponential factor is 4.6 × 106 L mol−1 min−1. (c) 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

CD81 promotes a migratory phenotype in neuronal-like cells

Tetraspanins, such as CD81, can form lateral associations with each other and with other transmembrane proteins. These interactions may underlie CD81 functions in multiple cellular processes, such as adhesion, morphology, migration, and differentiation. Since CD81's role in neuronal cells' migration has not been established, we here evaluated effects of CD81 on the migratory phenotype of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. CD81 was found enriched at SH-SY5Y cell's membrane, co-localizing with its interactor filamentous-actin (F-actin) in migratory relevant structures of the leading edge (filopodia, stress fibers, and adhesion sites). CD81 overexpression increased the number of cells with a migratory phenotype, in a potentially phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)-Ak strain transforming (AKT) mediated manner. Indeed, CD81 also co-localized with AKT, a CD81-interactor and actin remodeling agent, at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Pharmacologic inhibition of PI3K, the canonical AKT activator, led both to a decrease in the acquisition of a migratory phenotype and to a redistribution of intracellular CD81 and F-actin into cytoplasmic agglomerates. These findings suggest that in neuronal-like cells CD81 bridges active AKT and actin, promoting the actin remodeling that leads to a motile cell morphology. Further studies on this CD81-mediated mechanism will improve our knowledge on important physiological and pathological processes such as cell migration and differentiation, and tumor metastasis.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portuguese Ministry of Science and Technology), Centro 2020 and Portugal2020, the COMPETE program, QREN, and the European Union (FEDER program) via the Institute for Biomedicine iBiMED UID/BIM/ 04501/2013, fellowship SFRH/BD/90996/2012, project PTDC/CVT-CVT/ 32261/2017, and the support of the LiM facility of iBiMED, a member of the Portuguese Platform of BioImaging (PPBI- POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122).publishe

Pulmonary Inflammation Is Regulated by the Levels of the Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter

Acetylcholine (ACh) plays a crucial role in physiological responses of both the central and the peripheral nervous system. Moreover, ACh was described as an anti-inflammatory mediator involved in the suppression of exacerbated innate response and cytokine release in various organs. However, the specific contributions of endogenous release ACh for inflammatory responses in the lung are not well understood. To address this question we have used mice with reduced levels of the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), a protein required for ACh storage in secretory vesicles. VAChT deficiency induced airway inflammation with enhanced TNF-alpha and IL-4 content, but not IL-6, IL-13 and IL-10 quantified by ELISA. Mice with decreased levels of VAChT presented increased collagen and elastic fibers deposition in airway walls which was consistent with an increase in inflammatory cells positive to MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the lung. In vivo lung function evaluation showed airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in mutant mice. The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (p65-NF-kappa B) in lung of VAChT-deficient mice were higher than in wild-type mice, whereas a decreased expression of janus-kinase 2 (JAK2) was observed in the lung of mutant animals. Our findings show the first evidence that cholinergic deficiency impaired lung function and produce local inflammation. Our data supports the notion that cholinergic system modulates airway inflammation by modulation of JAK2 and NF-kappa B pathway. We proposed that intact cholinergic pathway is necessary to maintain the lung homeostasis

The selective catalytic reduction of no over copper-containing hematite

The activity of copper-doped hematite in the SCR with propane, in the presence of oxygen, was evaluated in this work. It was found that copper sulfate led to the production of solids with different specific surface areas depending on the amount of copper. The sulfur and copper species were mainly located on the surface. The copper-containing catalysts were more active in the reduction of nitrogen oxides and less active in the propane oxidation as compared to pure hematite. This behavior was assigned to an association of both sulfur and copper species to produce new sites active for NO reduction.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

The selective catalytic reduction of no over copper-containing hematite

The activity of copper-doped hematite in the SCR with propane, in the presence of oxygen, was evaluated in this work. It was found that copper sulfate led to the production of solids with different specific surface areas depending on the amount of copper. The sulfur and copper species were mainly located on the surface. The copper-containing catalysts were more active in the reduction of nitrogen oxides and less active in the propane oxidation as compared to pure hematite. This behavior was assigned to an association of both sulfur and copper species to produce new sites active for NO reduction.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Homozygous Inactivating Mutation In Nanos3 In Two Sisters With Primary Ovarian Insufficiency.

Despite the increasing understanding of female reproduction, the molecular diagnosis of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is seldom obtained. The RNA-binding protein NANOS3 poses as an interesting candidate gene for POI since members of the Nanos family have an evolutionarily conserved function in germ cell development and maintenance by repressing apoptosis. We performed mutational analysis of NANOS3 in a cohort of 85 Brazilian women with familial or isolated POI, presenting with primary or secondary amenorrhea, and in ethnically-matched control women. A homozygous p.Glu120Lys mutation in NANOS3 was identified in two sisters with primary amenorrhea. The substituted amino acid is located within the second C2HC motif in the conserved zinc finger domain of NANOS3 and in silico molecular modelling suggests destabilization of protein-RNA interaction. In vitro analyses of apoptosis through flow cytometry and confocal microscopy show that NANOS3 capacity to prevent apoptosis was impaired by this mutation. The identification of an inactivating missense mutation in NANOS3 suggests a mechanism for POI involving increased primordial germ cells (PGCs) apoptosis during embryonic cell migration and highlights the importance of NANOS proteins in human ovarian biology.201478746

Determinantes de saúde em crianças dos 3 aos 10 anos

RESUMO 1: Introdução: Os estilos de vida atuais sugerem comportamentos de risco que estão na base do perfil de saúde do país. Objetivo: Avaliar os estilos de vida e sua associação com dados sociodemográficos numa amostra de crianças portuguesas dos 3 aos 10 anos de idade. Participantes e métodos: Estudo transversal de natureza quantitativa num universo de 1617 crianças dos jardins de infância e escolas do 1.º ciclo dos dois agrupamentos de escolas de Tondela e do agrupamento de escolas de Vouzela. A amostra do estudo foi constituída por um total de 1385 crianças. A análise estatística dos dados foi efetuada com recurso ao software estatístico IBM SPSS versão 21.0. A comparação de proporções foi realizada através do teste Qui-quadrado, onde as prevalências foram expressas em proporções, com base no nível de significância de p=0,05, com intervalos de confiança de 95%. Resultados: Constatou-se que as crianças com mais idade apresentavam uma menor adesão a comportamentos alimentares saudáveis, uma maior prevalência de atividade física (49,2%), no entanto, foram, também aquelas que apresentaram um maior índice de atividades sedentárias (27,1%). Os rapazes apresentaram maiores níveis de atividade física (51,6%) e índices mais elevados de comportamentos sedentários (28,6%). Relativamente à zona de residência, existiu uma maior prevalência de consumo de legumes (73,2%) e fastfood (24,0%) e de comportamentos sedentários (26,1%) em zonas urbanas. As crianças que pertenciam a agregados familares de rendimentos mais favoráveis e com maior nível de habilitações literárias consumiam mais leite e derivados, legumes e praticavam mais atividade física. No entanto, apresentaram maior prevalência de consumo de fastfood e comportamentos sedentários. Conclusões:Torna-se perceptível a necessidade de se intervir nos grupos mais vulneráveis no sentido de uma mais eficaz equidade em saúde. Palavras-chave: Crianças; estilos de vida; dados sociodemográficos; escolas.ABSTRACT 1: Introduction: The current lifestyles suggests risk behaviors that are the basis of a country's health profile. Objective: Assess the lifestyles and its association with sociodemographic variables among a sample of Portuguese children from 3 to 10 years old. Participants and methods: A Cross-sectional study was desgined with a total of 1617 children from public schools, from the two main school groups of Tondela and Vouzela. The final study sample was built with a total of 1385 children. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS software version 21.0 for Windows. Comparison of proportions was performed using the “Chi-square” test, where prevalences were expressed as proportions, based on the significance level of p = 0.05, with a 95% confidence intervals. Results: It was found that the older children had a lower adherence to healthy eating habits and a higher prevalence of physical activity (49.2%). However, there were also those with higher rate of sedentary activities (27.1%). The boys had higher levels of physical activity (51.6%) and higher rates of sedentary behaviors (28.6%). With regard to residence area, there was a higher prevalence of consumption of vegetables (73.2%), fastfood (24.0%) and sedentary behaviors (26.1%) in urban areas. Children belonging to households of more favorable monthly earnings and a higher level of educational qualifications consumed more dairy product, vegetables and practiced more physical activity. However, they had a higher prevalence of fastfood consumption and sedentary behaviors. Conclusions: It becomes noticeable the need to make an intervention on the most vulnerable groups to obtain more effective health equity. Keywords: Children; lifestyles; sociodemographic data; schools.RESUMO 2: Introdução: As iniquidades de género na distribuição de recursos estão ainda profundamente associadas à saúde precária e à diminuição do bem-estar das mulheres e das crianças. Objetivo: Analisar a influência dos fatores materno-fetais nos estilos de vida numa amostra de crianças portuguesas dos 3 aos 10 anos de idade Participantes e métodos: Estudo transversal de natureza quantitativa num universo de 1617 crianças dos jardins de infância e escolas do 1.º ciclo dos dois agrupamentos de escolas de Tondela e do agrupamento de escolas de Vouzela. A amostra do estudo foi constituída por um total de 1385 crianças. A análise estatística dos dados foi efetuada com recurso ao software estatístico IBM SPSS versão 21.0. A comparação de proporções foi realizada através do teste Qui-quadrado, onde as prevalências foram expressas em proporções, com base no nível de significância de p=0,05, com intervalos de confiança de 95%. Resultados: As crianças que habitam em meio rural apresentavam um peso à nascença superior comparativamente às do meio urbano (93,7%). As grávidas com mais idade obtiveram uma prevalência de antecipação da primeira consulta de gravidez mais elevada (96,5%) assim como uma prevalência mais elevada de consultas de vigilância durante a gravidez (97,2%) quando comparadas com as grávidas mais novas. As mães com habilitações literárias superiores ao 9.º ano de escolaridade apresentavam uma prevalência de amamentação superior (58,0%) e os seus filhos uma prevalência de consumo de fastfood superior (64,9%) quando comparadas com as mães com habilitações literárias inferiores. Conclusões: Denota-se a importância da maturidade, formação e capacitação das mães para os cuidados maternos e neonatais. Palavras-chave: crianças; estilos de vida; fatores materno-fetais.ABSTRACT 2: Introduction: Gender inequalities in the distribution of resources is still deeply associated with poor health and reduced welfare of women and children. Objective: To analyze the influence of maternal and fetal factors in lifestyles of children, in a sample of children from 3 to 10 years old. Participants and methods: A Cross-sectional study was desgined with a total of 1617 children from public schools, from the two main school groups of Tondela and Vouzela. The final study sample was built with a total of 1385 children. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS software version 21.0 for Windows. Comparison of proportions was performed using the “Chi-square” test, where prevalences were expressed as proportions, based on the significance level of p = 0.05, with a 95% confidence intervals. Results: Children who live in rural areas presented a higher birth weight compared to those who live in urban areas (93.7%). Older pregnant women obtained a higher prevalence of the first medical appointment antecipation (96.5%) as well as a higher prevalence of medical appointments during pregnancy (97.2%) when compared with younger pregnant women. Mothers with qualifications higher than the 9th grade showed a higher prevalence of breastfeeding (58.0%) and their children presented a higher prevalence of fastfood consumption (64.9%) when compared with mothers with lower educational qualifications. Conclusion: To denote the importance of maturity and training of mothers in maternal and neonatal care. Keywords: children; lifestyles; maternal fetal factors

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mammals in Portugal: a data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in Portugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with ~26% of all species being included in the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associated with habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mammals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion for marine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems functionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is crucial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublished georeferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mammals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira that includes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occurring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live observations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%), bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent less than 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrows | soil mounds | tunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animal | hair | skulls | jaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8), observation in shelters, (9) photo trapping | video, (10) predators diet | pellets | pine cones/nuts, (11) scat | track | ditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalization | echolocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and 100 m (76%). Rodentia (n =31,573) has the highest number of records followed by Chiroptera (n = 18,857), Carnivora (n = 18,594), Lagomorpha (n = 17,496), Cetartiodactyla (n = 11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n = 7008). The data set includes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened (e.g., Oryctolagus cuniculus [n = 12,159], Monachus monachus [n = 1,512], and Lynx pardinus [n = 197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate the publication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contribute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting on the development of more accurate and tailored conservation management strategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications