Sensitividade in vitro de brotações de figueira à radiação gama

Fig breeding programs through conventional methods are rare in many countries, e.g. Brazil, since the wasp Blastophaga psenes, which is responsible for the natural pollination, is not present. For these cases a low cost alternative for the breeding program is the induction of physical mutagenesis by radiation. The sensivity of fig explant buds of different sizes to gamma radiation were evaluated. Fig plantlets "Roxo de Valinhos" already established in vitro were classified by size in 2.5 to 4.5 cm, 5 to 9 7 cm and 8 to 10 cm long, and irradiated with: 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 Gy doses. After irradiation each plantlet was cut in pieces containing one-bud and transferred to WPM culture medium, according to the bud position: medium and apical. Explants were grown in a growth room for 90 days when, explant mortality, root formation, height of aerial part, number of buds and plantlet weight were evaluated. Doses of up to 50 Gy do not cause plantlet death and that doses larger than 30 Gy inhibit root formation. Therefore, the 30 Gy dose may be recommended for the irradiation of fig plantlets larger than 2.5 cm.Os programas de melhoramento de figueira por métodos convencionais são raros em muitos países, como o Brasil, por exemplo, por não ser encontrada a mosca Blastophaga psenes responsável pela polinização natural. Para estes casos, uma alternativa de baixo custo para os programas de melhoramento é a irradiação, por meio de mutagênicos físicos. Avaliou-se o efeito de doses de radiação gama em gemas de explantes de figueira de diferentes tamanhos. Foram usadas plântulas previamente estabelecidas in vitro, que foram separadas nos tamanhos: 2,5 a 4,5 cm; 5 a 7 cm e 8 a 10 cm e irradiadas nas doses 10, 20, 30, 40 e 50 Gy. Após a irradiação, as plântulas foram repicadas em explantes contendo uma gema e, na inoculação no meio nutritivo WPM, foram separadas em função da posição de gemas: basal, mediana e apical. Após 90 dias em sala de crescimento, foram avaliadas as seguintes características: mortalidade de explantes, formação de raízes, comprimento da parte aérea, número de gemas e peso das plântulas. Doses de até 50 Gy não provocam morte de plântulas e que doses acima de 30 Gy impedem a formação de raízes sendo esta recomendada como a dose para irradiação de plântulas de figueira maiores que 2,5 cm

Padrões de diversidade mitocondrial da abelha melífera em Portugal continental

A distribuição natural da abelha melífera (Apis mellifera L.) abrange a África, a Europa e o Médio Oriente (Figura 1). Esta ampla área geográfica é ocupada por 30 subespécies (raças geográficas) de abelhas (Ruttner 1988; Engel 1999; Sheppard e Meixner 2003; Meixner et al. 2011) que têm sido agrupadas em quatro linhagens (Ruttner 1988), nomeadamente: a linhagem do Médio Oriente (O), a linhagem Africana (A), a linhagem da Europa oriental (C) e a linhagem da Europa ocidental (M). A Europa alberga uma importante componente dessa diversidade representada pela ocorrência de duas das quatro linhagens (C e M). A linhagem C agrupa cerca de uma dezena de subespécies, entre as quais se encontram as duas mais utilizadas pela apicultura à escala mundial: a italiana (A. m. ligustica) e a carniola (A. m. carnica). A linhagem M apesar de ocupar uma extensa área que vai desde o Sul da Península Ibérica até ao Sul da Escandinávia e desde o Reino Unido até à Rússia, agrupa apenas duas subespécies: a abelha negra (A. m. mellifera), a norte dos Pirenéus, e a abelha ibérica (A. m. iberiensis), na Península Ibérica.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologi

Aplicação de programa de intervenção a jovens adultos em acompanhamento no âmbito de medidas penais de execução na comunidade

O presente relatório descreve as atividades de estágio desenvolvidas no âmbito do Mestrado em Reabilitação Psicomotora, Ramo de Aprofundamento de Competências Profissionais da Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, realizado na Direção Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais (DGRSP), na Equipa de Lisboa 1. O trabalho compreende a implementação e avaliação do impacto de um Programa de Promoção de Competências Sociais e Emocionais – Programa Endireita, dirigido a jovens adultos com comportamentos delinquentes em acompanhamento no âmbito de medidas penais de execução na comunidade. O Programa é composto por 22 sessões, com três principais domínios de intervenção: Comunicação Interpessoal, Autorregulação e Resolução de Problemas. A aplicação foi feita a dois grupos, com zona de intervenção em Carnaxide (1=10) e Porto Salvo (2=6), com idades compreendidas entre os 19 e os 29 anos. A avaliação foi feita com base em instrumentos de avaliação quantitativa e qualitativa. Os resultados obtidos apontam para uma melhoria nas competências comportamentais, relacionais e emocionais dos participantes, indo ao encontro dos objetivos da intervenção. Além da análise e discussão de resultados, o trabalho conta com a descrição do local de estágio, das atividades desenvolvidas, apresentando as dificuldades, limitações, conclusões e sugestões para intervenções futuras.The present report describes the activities developed within the scope of the Master's Degree in Psychomotor Rehabilitation, Branch of Professional Skills Development, of the Faculty of Human Kinetics, carried out in the General Directorate of Probation and Prison Services, Team Lisbon 1. The work compreends the implementation and evaluation of a Social Skills Training Program, for young adults with delinquent behaviours that have criminal measures in the community. The program is divided into three main domains: Interpersonal Communication, Self-Regulation and Problem Solving and consists of 22 sessions. The program was implemented in two intervention groups, one in the area of Carnaxide (1=10), and the other in Porto Salvo (2=6), with ages between 19 and 29 years old. For the evaluation, quantitative and qualitative instruments were used. The results of the intervention point to an increase of the participants relational, emotional and behavioural skills, meeting the objectives of the intervention. In addition to analysing and discussing the results, this work also includes the presentation of the internship context, the activities developed, as well as the difficulties, limitations, conclusions and suggestions for future intervention

Exploring the influence of physical activity on lymphedema development in female breast cancer survivors

In recent years, there has been a notable rise in the number of breast cancer survivors, highlighting the advancements in treatment and care. However, the presence of cancer treatment side effects, such as lymphedema (LE), significantly affects the function, active participation, and overall quality of life of these individuals. It is imperative, therefore, to gain a deeper understanding of the most effective strategies for preventing and treating LE. Preventing LE involves promoting active and healthy lifestyles by instilling behavioral changes and addressing modifiable risk factors. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize Portuguese breast cancer survivors' physical activity (PA) levels. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted. Women who survived breast cancer between 1 and 5 years after surgery were selected. A characterization questionnaire was performed, upper limb lymphedema volume was measured with tape measures and PA levels were assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). A group of 20 women with a mean age of 61±8 years and an average of 39 months after breast surgery participated in the study. Of those, 80% were overweight, of which 35% were obese. There was an average volume of 2100cm3 in the affected upper limb and an average of 2013cm3 in the unaffected side. The difference between the two limbs presented an average of 87.3 cm3. So far, none of the participants showed a significant difference between limbs (greater than 10% difference). Despite this, 45% of participants have subclinical LE (difference between both upper limbs of 5 to 10%). No significant associations were found between the LE and PA (rs=0.231; p=0.3) nor between LE and the number of hours sitting (rs=0.291, p=0.213). However, a strong positive correlation was found between Body Mass Index (BMI) and limb volume difference (rs=0.583; p=0.007). The study does not provide evidence of a direct association between physical activity (PA) and lymphedema (LE). However, there is a correlation between body mass index (BMI) and lymphedema, and higher BMI is identified as a risk factor for the development of lymphedema. Moreover, engaging in physical activity can contribute to the control and management of BMI, revealing the influence of PA on BMI. Consequently, PA indirectly serves as a preventive strategy against lymphedema by helping to control BMI. By incorporating PA as part of a comprehensive approach to managing BMI, the risk of developing lymphedema may be reduced. In summary, the observations suggest that while PA may not directly prevent lymphedema, it can play an important role in indirectly preventing its development by helping to control BMI.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Variação espacial e sazonal de cobertos de Castanheiro (Castanea sativa Mill.) na região de Trás-os-Montes: avaliações com recurso ao índice NDVI

Mestrado de dupla diplomação com a UTFPR - Universidade Tecnológica Federal do ParanáA produção nacional de castanhas representa um fator crucial para a economia regional, especialmente em Trás-os-Montes, Nordeste de Portugal. As áreas ocupadas com castanheiros têm vindo a aumentar ao longo dos últimos anos. Sendo assim, esta dissertação tem como principal objetivo, analisar, avaliar e delimitar espacialmente os castanheiros, identificando a distribuição da cobertura vegetal ocupada por castanheiros (Castanea sativa Mill.) na região Nordeste (NE) de Portugal, utilizando recursos de imagem do Satélite Sentinel 2, dos últimos cinco anos, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 e 2021, com enfoque na utilização de bandas espectrais pelo cálculo do Índice de Vegetação por diferença Normalizada (NDVI), para identificar e analisar o castanheiro ao longo das estações do ano e sua distribuição espacial, diferenciando a cobertura florestal da cobertura de pomares. As imagens de satélite foram obtidas a partir do servidor EO Browser. Realizou-se o tratamento das imagens nos softwares ArcGis e Google Earth, e, para o tratamento dos dados obtidos utilizou-se o software Excel. Neste estudo constatou-se que os castanheiros se adaptam às variações espaciais e, porém, em áreas com maiores altitudes ocorre maior concentração e distribuição de castanheiros (entre 500 e 1000 metros) , estando distribuídos em sua maior parte nos concelhos de Vinhais e Bragança com altitudes médias de 714 e 799 metros, respetivamente. Os valores de NDVI variam ao longo do ano, esse fato está relacionado ao estado fenológico dos castanheiros em conjunto com as distinções climáticas das estações ao longo do ano. No outono e inverno valores de NDVI são menores já no verão e primavera são maiores uma vez que os castanheiros possuem mais visibilidade no NIR. O valor máximo de NDVI para as florestas foi de 0,70 frente ao 0,56 para os pomares. Os valores de NDVI são sensíveis às variações climáticas, eventos como geadas e de neve impactam diretamente na leitura espectral da imagem, sendo assim, o NDVI pode ser um indicador bioclimático.The national chestnut production represents a crucial factor for the regional economy, especially in Trás-os-Montes, Northeast Portugal. The areas occupied with chestnut trees have been increasing over the last years. Therefore, this dissertation has as main objective, to analyse, evaluate and spatially delimit the chestnut trees, identifying the distribution of the vegetation cover occupied by chestnut trees (Castanea sativa Mill. ) in the Northeast (NE) region of Portugal, using Sentinel 2 Satellite image resources from the last five years, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, focusing on the use of spectral bands by calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), to identify and analyse the chestnut tree throughout the seasons and its spatial distribution, differentiating the forest cover from the orchard cover. The satellite images were obtained from the EO Browser server. The treatment of the images was carried out in ArcGis and Google Earth software, and, for the treatment of the data obtained, Excel software was used. This study showed that the chestnut-trees adapt to spatial variations and, however, in areas with higher altitudes occurs greater concentration and distribution of chestnut trees (between 500 and 1000 meters), being distributed mostly in the municipalities of Vinhais and Bragança with average altitudes of 714 and 799 meters, respectively. The NDVI values vary throughout the year, this fact is related to the phenological state of the chestnut-trees together with the climatic distinctions of the seasons throughout the year. In autumn and winter NDVI values are lower, whereas in summer and spring they are higher because the chestnut-trees have more visibility in the NIR. The maximum NDVI value for the forests was 0.70 versus 0.56 for the orchards. The NDVI values are sensitive to climatic variations, events such as frost and snow impact directly on the spectral reading of the image, therefore, the NDVI can be a bioclimatic indicator

Female breast cancer survivors: how can physical activity and grip strength impact the development of lymphedema?

Introduction: Over the past few years there has been an increase in the number of breast cancer survivors, which implies living with the chronic implications resulting from the treatment. These complications harm the function, participation, and quality of life of this population. The development of lymphedema (LE) is one of the main complications and concerns that arise from breast cancer treatment and therefore it is crucial to understand the best way to prevent and treat its development. Scientific evidence suggests that LE prevention involves promoting active and healthy lifestyles by changing behaviors and controlling changeable risk factors. Practicing physical activity (PA) brings various clinical benefits, which are effective, safe, and viable in controlling complications after breast cancer treatments, as well as improving the function and quality of life of the population being studied. In general, greater benefits were demonstrated for women with increased physical activity levels, with a moderate PA (3-6 MET) considered feasible and sufficient to improve the prognosis of these patients (International Society of Lymphology, 2020). On the other hand, this population has a reduced tendency to change their lifestyle and do PA. In this regard, it becomes relevant to conduct a study that characterizes the physical exercise habits of Portuguese women who survived breast cancer with LE. Objectives: Study the relationship between physical activity (PA) with grip strength and lymphedema volume in female breast cancer survivors. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, with a convenience sample. Women who survived breast cancer between 1 and 5 years after surgery were selected and women with bilateral surgery and who have not finished the active phase of the treatments were excluded.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Looking Thru the Nano Lens: Art, Science and Nature

In 2018, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the School of Chemistry, Sydney Nano and the Department of Art History at the University of Sydney set up a pilot project called the Nano Lens. Our project set out to examine and experiment with what it means to look closely at the natural world and inviting us, as colleagues, into a discussion and collaboration, drawing on our different perspectives. The Nano Lens also gave agency to a group of scientists in training (undergraduate and postgraduate students), and a sense of ownership of the science, which was then transmitted to the public. Taking inspiration from the artwork of the prominent Australian painter Margaret Preston (1875-1963) and the flora she depicted, the Nano Lens has opened up new research that intersects science and the arts; celebrating the value of collaboration and offering opportunities for staff and students to engage in and lead interdisciplinary discussions with the public. This paper will discuss our pilot project and the initial findings of our research together and discuss the benefits that our alliance has had in fostering collaboration and outreach activities where academics and students work together to share their research with the public. We seek to reflect on what we have learnt from the project and from opportunities to share our work and approaches. What does it mean to look like a scientist or to look like an artist and how has this enriched student learning? What value is there in opening up opportunities for informal learning about science and collaboration outside your disciplines

A Paleoproterozoic intra-arc basin associated with a juvenile source in the Southern Brasilia Orogen : application of U-Pb and Hf-Nd isotopic analyses to provenance studies of complex areas

A. Westin and M.C. Campos Neto acknowledge support from São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) through grants 2011/13311-9, 2013/13530-8 and 2013/19095-1. A. Westin is a grant holder at FAPESP and M. C. Campos Neto is a CNPq researcher. P. A. Cawood, C. J. Hawkesworth and H. Delavault acknowledge support from Natural Environment Research Council grant NE/J021822/1.Early Proterozoic sedimentary basins are an important record of crust generation processes and consequently a fundamental key to unravelling Earth's evolution through geological time. Sediments within the basins are typically deformed and metamorphosed by subsequent tectonothermal events, which can obliterate their links to source terranes. Nd-whole-rock and detrital zircon U-Pb and Lu-Hf isotopic analyses are among the most reliable tools to be used in provenance investigations, since zircon is a resilient mineral and the Sm-Nd system is not extensively modified during metamorphism. These methods have been applied to a study of the provenance and tectonic setting of the São Vicente Complex, preserved in a Neoproterozoic passive margin related allochthon within the Southern Brasilia Orogen. The complex consists of siliciclastic and calc-silicate gneisses with mafic and minor ultramafic rocks, which were deformed and metamorphosed during late Neoproterozoic collision between the Paranapanema Block and the São Francisco-Congo plate. Detrital zircons indicate derivation from a juvenile Paleoproterozoic source terrane (peaks of crystallisation ages of ca. 2130 Ma, 2140 Ma and 2170 Ma; ɛHft between +0.1 and +6.0; NdTDM = 2.31-2.21 Ga; ɛNdt = +1.6 to +2.8), with a minor contribution from older continental crust. Interlayered amphibolite rocks, with juvenile signatures (ɛHft = +5.8 to +8.2; NdTDM = 2.14 and 2.30 Ga; ɛNdt = +2.2 and +3.2), yielded similar ages of 2136 ± 17 and 2143 ± 14 Ma, suggesting syn-sedimentary magmatism. Thus, the maximum age of deposition at around 2130 Ma represents the best estimate of the depositional age of the complex. The dominance of detrital zircons ages close to the age of deposition, along with syn-sedimentary magmatism, imply a convergent margin basin tectonic environment for the São Vicente Complex, with similarities to fore arc basin and trench deposits. Amphibolite and meta-sedimentary rocks point to important juvenile magmatism around 2.14 Ga. Juvenile Rhyacian (ca. 2.1 Ga) granite-granodiorite-tonalite orthogneisses with arc-related geochemical signatures (Pouso Alegre Complex) that override the São Vicente Complex, are the probable main source of detritus within the complex. Both basin and source were part of the southern edge of the São Francisco plate during the assembly of West Gondwana, and served as sources for early Neoproterozoic passive margin related basins. The age of intrusive anorogenic A-type Taguar granite indicates that by 1.7 Ga the São Vicente Complex was in a stable tectonic environment.PostprintPeer reviewe

Development of a new application of the comet assay to assess levels of O6-methylguanine in genomic DNA (CoMeth)

O6-methylguanine (O6meG) is one of the most premutagenic, precarcinogenic, and precytotoxic DNA lesions formed by alkylating agents. Repair of this DNA damage is achieved by the protein MGMT, which transfers the alkyl groups from the O6 position of guanine to a cysteine residue in its active center. Because O6meG repair by MGMT is a stoichiometric reaction that irreversibly inactivates MGMT, which is subsequently degraded, the repair capacity of O6meG lesions is dependent on existing active MGMT molecules. In the absence of active MGMT, O6meG is not repaired, and during replication, O6meG:T mispairs are formed. The MMR system recognizes these mispairs and introduces a gap into the strand. If O6meG remains in one of the template strands the futile MMR repair process will be repeated, generating more strand breaks (SBs). The toxicity of O6meG is, therefore, dependent on MMR and DNA SB induction of cell death. MGMT, on the other hand, protects against O6meG toxicity by removing the methyl residue from the guanine. Although removal of O6meG makes MGMT an important anticarcinogenic mechanism of DNA repair, its activity significantly decreases the efficacy of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs that aim at achieving cell death through the action of the MMR system on unrepaired O6meG lesions. Here, we report on a modification of the comet assay (CoMeth) that allows the qualitative assessment of O6meG lesions after their conversion to strand breaks in proliferating MMR-proficient cells after MGMT inhibition. This functional assay allows the testing of compounds with effects on O6meG levels, as well as on MGMT or MMR activity, in a proliferating cell system. The expression of MGMT and MMR genes is often altered by promoter methylation, and new epigenetically active compounds are being designed to increase chemotherapeutic efficacy. The CoMeth assay allows the testing of compounds with effects on O6meG, MGMT, or MMR activity. This proliferating cell system complements other methodologies that look at effects on these parameters individually through analytical chemistry or in vitro assays with recombinant proteins.We thank the COST Action TD0905 “Epigenetics: From Bench to Bedside” for financial support. A.A. Ramos and D. Pedro are supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology, Portugal, Grant SFRH/BD/35672/2007 and SFRH/BD/64817/2009, respectively. The work was supported by FCT research grant PEst-C/BIA/UI4050/2011, which is co-funded by the program COMPETE from QREN with co-participation from the European Community fund FEDER