New modified electrochemical conductive paper support for BSA detection

Chemical sensors and biosensors are widely used to detect various kinds of protein target biomolecules. Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) have raised great interest in this area, because these act as antibody-like recognition materials, with high affinity to the template molecule. Compared to natural antibodies, these are also of lower cost and higher stability. There are different types of supports used to carry MIP materials, mostly of these made of gold, favourably assembled on a Screen Printed Electrode (SPE) strategy. For this work a new kind of support for the sensing layer was developed: conductive paper. This support was made by modifying first cellulose paper with paraffin wax (to make it waterproof), and casting a carbon-ink on it afterwards, to turn it conductive. The SPAM approach previously reported in1 was employed herein to assemble to MIP sensing material on the conductive paper. The selected charged monomers were (vinylbenzyl) trimethlammonium chloride (positive charge) or vinylbenzoic acid (negative charge), used to generate binding positions with single-type charge (positive or negative). The non-specific binding area of the MIP layer was assembled by chronoamperometry-assisted polymerization (at 1 V, for 60, 120 or 180 seconds) of vinylbenzoate, cross-linked with ethylene glycol vinyl ether. The BSA biomolecules lying within the polymeric matrix were removed by Proteinase K action. All preparation stages of the MIP assembly were followed by FTIR, Raman spectroscopy and, electrochemical analysis. In general, the best results were obtained for longer polymerization times and positively charged binding sites (which was consistent with a negatively-charged protein under physiological pH, as BSA). Linear responses against BSA concentration ranged from 0.005 to 100 mg/mL, in PBS buffer standard solutions. The sensor was further calibrated in standard solutions that were prepared in synthetic or real urine, and the analytical response became more sensitive and stable. Compared to the literature, the detection capability of the developed device is better than most of the reported electrodes. Overall, the simplicity, low cost and good analytical performance of the BSA SPE device, prepared with positively charged binding positions, seems a suitable approach for practical application in clinical context. Further studies with real samples are required, as well as gathering with electronic-supporting devices to allow on-site readings

Analysis of entrepreneurial propensity of students from the Viseu pole of Portuguese Catholic University

Este artigo pretende mostrar a importância do ensino superior na promoção do empreendedorismo. Assim, começa-se com uma análise teórica dos conceitos de empreendedorismo e de empreendedor e dos principais motivos que conduzem ao empreendedorismo, bem como dos obstáculos que o dificultam. Salienta-se também a importância que o ensino superior tem na promoção do empreendedorismo. Faz-se, por fim, uma breve evolução histórica da educação para o empreendedorismo no ensino superior e do que tem sido feito em Portugal nesta área. Em termos metodológicos, apresentam-se os resultados de um estudo efetuado com 348 alunos do Pólo de Viseu da Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Este estudo teve como principal objetivo conhecer a propensão empreendedora dos seus alunos. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo sugerem que os alunos têm pouca tendência empreendedora, o que se poderá dever aos receios e às dificuldades em desenvolver um negócio próprio, assim como a alguns fatores que condicionam a criação e o sucesso de uma empresa. Assim, é fundamental evidenciar a importância do empreendedorismo, quer para os indivíduos, quer para a sociedade, e, por isso, é indispensável fomentar a sua promoção, sobretudo junto da comunidade escolar.This article aims to show the importance of higher education in promoting entrepreneurship. So, we start with a theoretical analysis of the concepts of entrepreneurship and entrepreneur and the main reasons that lead to entrepreneurship, such as the obstacles to it. Also highlight the importance that higher education has to promote entrepreneurship, and, finally, a brief historical development of entrepreneurship education in higher education and what has been done in this area in Portugal. In methodological terms, we present the results of a study conducted with 348 students from Viseu pole of the Portuguese Catholic University. This study aimed to know the entrepreneurial propensity of their students. The results of this study suggest that students have little entrepreneurial trend, which could be due to the fears and difficulties in developing their own business, as well as some factors that influence the creation and success of a company. Thus, it is crucial to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship, both for individuals and for society, and therefore it is essential to foster its promotion especially among the school community.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation disorders: from disease to lipidomic studies—a critical review

Fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs) are inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) caused by defects in the fatty acid (FA) mitochondrial β-oxidation. The most common FAODs are characterized by the accumulation of medium-chain FAs and long-chain (3-hydroxy) FAs (and their carnitine derivatives), respectively. These deregulations are associated with lipotoxicity which affects several organs and potentially leads to life-threatening complications and comorbidities. Changes in the lipidome have been associated with several diseases, including some IEMs. In FAODs, the alteration of acylcarnitines (CARs) and FA profiles have been reported in patients and animal models, but changes in polar and neutral lipid profile are still scarcely studied. In this review, we present the main findings on FA and CAR profile changes associated with FAOD pathogenesis, their correlation with oxidative damage, and the consequent disturbance of mitochondrial homeostasis. Moreover, alterations in polar and neutral lipid classes and lipid species identified so far and their possible role in FAODs are discussed. We highlight the need of mass-spectrometry-based lipidomic studies to understand (epi)lipidome remodelling in FAODs, thus allowing to elucidate the pathophysiology and the identification of possible biomarkers for disease prognosis and an evaluation of therapeutic efficacyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Heavy metal accumulation in plant species indigenous to a contaminated portuguese site: prospects for phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is a promising alternative to conventional soil clean-up methods; however, up to date, there is still not enough information on plant species suitable for application in this field of science. Therefore, plant screening on contaminated sites can lead to the identification of further species of interest. In the present study, pedological and botanical characteristics of an industrialised area known for its metal contamination, in special with Zn—Esteiro de Estarreja, in Portugal—were examined in a 1-year screening. Twenty-seven species were found, with a higher occurrence and variability in the summer/spring season. Zinc levels in the tissues of the collected plant samples ranged from 34 mg kg−1 in shoots to 2,440 mg kg−1 in roots of different species. Species as Verbascum virgatum, Hypochoeris radicata, Phalaris arundinacea, Conyza bilbaoana, Paspalum urvillei and Aster squamatus have shown high Zn shoot accumulation and bioconcentration factors (BCFshoots > 1) and high metal translocation factors (TF > 1). Others, namely Spergularia capillacea, excluded Zn from the shoot tissues and stored the metal at the root zone (BCFroots > 1), behaving as tolerant plants. Plants were also screened for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi colonisation, and only few species showed mycorrhizal presence, namely C. bilbaoana, Hirschfeldia incana, Epilobium tetragonum, Conyza sumatrensis, Pteridium aquilinum, P. urvillei and A. squamatus. The present work showed important indigenous species that can cope with installed harsh conditions and with potential for utilisation in phytoremediation strategies, either through metal removal to aerial parts or through its immobilisation in the root zone.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Assessment of the plant growth promotion abilities of six bacterial isolates using Zea mays as indicator plant

Zea mays, one of the most important cereals worldwide, is a plant not only with food and energy value, but also with phytoremediation potential. The use of plant growth promoting (PGP) rhizobacteria may constitute a biological alternative to increase crop yield and plant resistance to degraded environments. In search for PGP rhizobacteria strains, 6 bacterial isolates were isolated from a metal contaminated site, screened in vitro for their PGP characteristics and their effects on the growth of Z. mays were assessed. Isolates were identified as 3A10T, ECP37T, corresponding to Chryseobacterium palustre and Chryseobacterium humi, and 1ZP4, EC15, EC30 and 1C2, corresponding to strains within the genera Sphingobacterium, Bacillus, Achromobacter, and Ralstonia, respectively. All the bacterial isolates were shown to produce indole acetic acid, hydrogen cyanide and ammonia when tested in vitro for their plant growth promoting abilities, but only isolates 1C2, 1ZP4 and ECP37T have shown siderophore production. Their further application in a greenhouse experiment using Z. mays indicated that plant traits such as root and shoot elongation and biomass production, and nutrient status, namely N and P levels, were influenced by the inoculation, with plants inoculated with 1C2 generally outperforming the other treatments. Two other bacterial isolates, 1ZP4 and ECP37T also led to increased plant growth in the greenhouse. These 3 species, corresponding to strains within the genera Ralstonia (1C2), Sphingobacterium (1ZP4), and to a strain identified as C. humi (ECP37T) can thus be potential agents to increase crop yield in maize plants.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Plasma phospholipidomic profile differs between children with phenylketonuria and healthy children

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a disease of the catabolism of phenylalanine (Phe), caused by an impaired function of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase. Therapeutics is based on the restriction of Phe intake, which mostly requires a modification of the diet. Dietary restrictions can lead to imbalances in specific nutrients, including lipids. In the present study, the plasma phospholipidome of PKU and healthy children (CT) was analysed by HILIC-MS/MS and GC-MS. Using this approach, 187 lipid species belonging to 9 different phospholipid classes and 3 ceramides were identified. Principal component analysis of the lipid species dataset showed a distinction between PKU and CT groups. Univariate analysis revealed that 146 species of phospholipids were significantly different between both groups. Lipid species showing significant variation included phosphatidylcholines, containing polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which were more abundant in PKU. The high level of PUFA-containing lipid species in children with PKU may be related to a diet supplemented with PUFA. This study was the first report comparing the plasma polar lipidome of PKU and healthy children, highlighting that the phospholipidome of PKU children is significantly altered compared to CT. However, further studies with larger cohorts are needed to clarify whether these changes are specific to phenylketonuric children.publishe

The polar lipidome of cultured Emiliania huxleyi: a source of bioactive lipids with relevance for biotechnological applications

Polar lipids from microalgae have aroused greater interest as a natural source of omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), an alternative to fish, but also as bioactive compounds with multiple applications. The present study aims to characterize the polar lipid profile of cultured microalga Emiliania huxleyi using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS) and fatty acids (FA) analysis by gas chromatography (GC-MS). The lipidome of E. huxleyi revealed the presence of distinct n-3 PUFA (40% of total FA), namely docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) and stearidonic acid (18:4n-3), which give this microalga an increased commercial value as a source of n-3 PUFA present in the form of polar lipids. A total of 134 species of polar lipids were identified and some of these species, particularly glycolipids, have already been reported for their bioactive properties. Among betaine lipids, the diacylglyceryl carboxyhydroxymethylcholine (DGCC) class is the least reported in microalgae. For the first time, monomethylphosphatidylethanolamine (MMPE) has been found in the lipidome of E. huxleyi. Overall, this study highlights the potential of E. huxleyi as a sustainable source of high-value polar lipids that can be exploited for different applications, namely human and animal nutrition, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.FCT/ FCT/MCTES (Portugal) for the financial support to CICECO (UIDB/50011/2020 and 50011/2020), QOPNA (UID/QUI/00062/2019), LAQV-REQUIMTE (UIDB/50006/2020), CESAM (UIDB/50017/2020 and UIDP/50017/2020), RNEM (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-402-022125) and CCMAR: (UIDB/04326/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio