Estudos multitemporais com dados de detecção remota sobre a fronteira da Guiné-Bissau

Este estudo incidiu sobre duas regiões muito importantes no que respeita à definição da fronteira na Guiné-Bissau, Cabo Roxo e Ponta Cajete e tem como objectivo desenvolver estudos multitemporais para definir a posição exacta dos marcos de fronteira, com base em informação geográfica e dados de detecção remota antiga e recente. Foram utilizadas imagens do satélite de alta resolução espacial (WorldView2) de 2013 e 2014. Para melhorar a resolução espacial das imagens e consequentemente beneficiar a interpretação do terreno, foram testados vários algoritmos de fusão das bandas multiespectrais com a pancromática. O resultado da análise multitemporal permitiu detectar a localização exacta do marco de fronteiro nº 184 e algumas mudanças nas formas de relevo litorais nas duas regiões em estudo

Chemical composition and potential biological activity of melanoidins from instant soluble coffee and instant soluble barley: A comparative study

In this work a comparative study of the chemical composition and potential biological activity of high molecular weight (HMW) melanoidins isolated from instant soluble coffee (ISC) and instant soluble barley (ISB) was performed. ISB HMW melanoidins were almost exclusively composed by an ethanol soluble (EtSn) melanoidin fraction composed by glucose (76%w/w) partially susceptible to in vitro digestion, whereas ISC was composed mainly by arabinogalactans (∼41% w/w) and lower amounts of galactomannans (∼14%w/w) presenting a range of ethanol solubilities and resistant to in vitro digestion. Melanoidins from ISC presented a significantly higher content of condensed phenolic compounds (17/100 g) when compared to ISB (8/100 g) showing also a higher in vitro scavenging of ABTS•+ (329 mmol Trolox/100 g vs. 124 mmol Trolox/100 g) and NO radicals (inhibition percentage of 57 and 26%, respectively). Nevertheless, ISB EtSn melanoidins presented, on average a higher inhibitory effect on NO production from LPS-stimulated macrophages. ISB melanoidins, up to 1 mg/mL, did not induce toxicity in Caco-2, HepG2 and RAW 264.7 cell lines while at the highest concentration ISC slightly reduced cell viability. Thus, consumption of a diet rich in ISC and ISB melanoidins may reduce the oxidative stress, the inflammatory levels and increase the protective effects against chronic inflammatory diseases

Tuning the Bioactive Properties of Dunaliella salina Water Extracts by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

(1) Background: Microalgae are promising feedstock for obtaining valuable bioactive compounds. To facilitate the release of these important biomolecules from microalgae, effective cell disruption is usually necessary, where the use of ultrasound has achieved considerable popularity as an alternative to conventional methods. (2) Methods: This paper aims to evaluate the use of ultra- sound technology in water medium as a green technology to recover high added-value compounds from Dunaliella salina and improve its sensory profile towards a high level of incorporation into novel food products. (3) Results: Among the variables, the solid concentration and extraction time have the most significant impact on the process. For the extraction of protein, or fat, the most influential factor is the extraction time. Total polyphenols are only significantly affected by the extraction time. The antioxidant capacity is strongly affected by the solid to liquid ratio and, to a small extent, by the extraction time. Ultrasound-assisted extraction improves the overall odor/aroma of D. salina with good acceptability by the panelists. (4) Conclusions: The application of ultrasonic-assisted extraction demonstrates a positive overall effect on enhancing the sensory profile, particularly the odor of microalgal biomass, while the bioactive properties are preserved. Notably, the intense sea/fish odors are reduced, while earthy and citrus notes become more prominent, resulting in an improved overall sensory profile score. This is the first time, to our knowledge, that this innovative, green, and efficient technology has been used to upgrade the aroma profile of microalgae.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação Psicológica de Jovens com Comportamentos Desviantes

A avaliação psicológica constitui sempre um processo complexo e que deve atender às especificidades inerentes ao indivíduo, ao grupo ou à comunidade. Assim, não se verificam exceções no que respeita às populações com exteriorização de condutas desviantes e, dentro deste grupo muito alargado, devem ainda ser consideradas as especificidades subjacentes ao tipo de comportamento e ao contexto da sua manifestação. Propomos um plano/roteiro de avaliação voltado para jovens com comportamentos desviantes, com maior ou menor flexibilidade no seguimento dos procedimentos aconselhados, sempre em função das características do alvo de avaliação. Tendo por base a revisão da literatura e a experiência adquirida no âmbito do trabalho desenvolvido pelo Grupo de Consumos e Delinquências (GCD), da Clínica Pedagógica de Psicologia (CPP) da Universidade Fernando Pessoa (UFP), delineámos um protocolo de avaliação, com o objetivo de nortear o conjunto de procedimentos, aquando da avaliação de jovens com sinalização de problemas comportamentais. Trata-se de uma proposta que procura abarcar uma vertente mais impressionista, em que se analisam aspetos mais subjetivos, apelando a técnicas como a observação e a entrevista, não deixando escapar os aspetos mais objetivos, através do recurso a técnicas e a instrumentos mais estruturados.

Prediction of lithium response using genomic data

Predicting lithium response prior to treatment could both expedite therapy and avoid exposure to side effects. Since lithium responsiveness may be heritable, its predictability based on genomic data is of interest. We thus evaluate the degree to which lithium response can be predicted with a machine learning (ML) approach using genomic data. Using the largest existing genomic dataset in the lithium response literature (n = 2210 across 14 international sites; 29% responders), we evaluated the degree to which lithium response could be predicted based on 47,465 genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms using a supervised ML approach. Under appropriate cross-validation procedures, lithium response could be predicted to above-chance levels in two constituent sites (Halifax, Cohen's kappa 0.15, 95% confidence interval, CI [0.07, 0.24]; and Würzburg, kappa 0.2 [0.1, 0.3]). Variants with shared importance in these models showed over-representation of postsynaptic membrane related genes. Lithium response was not predictable in the pooled dataset (kappa 0.02 [- 0.01, 0.04]), although non-trivial performance was achieved within a restricted dataset including only those patients followed prospectively (kappa 0.09 [0.04, 0.14]). Genomic classification of lithium response remains a promising but difficult task. Classification performance could potentially be improved by further harmonization of data collection procedures

Local Diversification of Methicillin- Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST239 in South America After Its Rapid Worldwide Dissemination

The global spread of specific clones of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major public health problem, and understanding the dynamics of geographical spread requires worldwide surveillance. Over the past 20 years, the ST239 lineage of MRSA has been recognized as an emerging clone across the globe, with detailed studies focusing on isolates from Europe and Asia. Less is known about this lineage in South America, and, particularly, Brazil where it was the predominant lineage of MRSA in the early 1990s to 2000s. To gain a better understanding about the introduction and spread of ST239 MRSA in Brazil we undertook a comparative phylogenomic analysis of ST239 genomes, adding seven completed, closed Brazilian genomes. Brazilian ST239 isolates grouped in a subtree with those from South American, and Western, romance-language-speaking, European countries, here designated the South American clade. After an initial worldwide radiation in the 1960s and 1970s, we estimate that ST239 began to spread in South America and Brazil in approximately 1988. This clone demonstrates specific genomic changes that are suggestive of local divergence and adaptational change including agrC single-nucleotide polymorphisms variants, and a distinct pattern of virulence-associated genes (mainly the presence of the chp and the absence of sea and sasX). A survey of a geographically and chronologically diverse set of 100 Brazilian ST239 isolates identified this virulence genotype as the predominant pattern in Brazil, and uncovered an unexpectedly high prevalence of agr-dysfunction (30%). ST239 isolates from Brazil also appear to have undergone transposon (IS256) insertions in or near global regulatory genes (agr and mgr) that likely led to rapid reprogramming of bacterial traits. In general, the overall pattern observed in phylogenomic analyses of ST239 is of a rapid initial global radiation, with subsequent local spread and adaptation in multiple different geographic locations. Most ST239 isolates harbor the ardA gene, which we show here to have in vivo anti-restriction activity. We hypothesize that this gene may have improved the ability of this lineage to acquire multiple resistance genes and distinct virulence-associated genes in each local context. The allopatric divergence pattern of ST239 also may suggest strong selective pressures for specific traits in different geographical locations

Nanotechnology in peripheral nerve repair and reconstruction

The recent progress in biomaterials science and development of tubular conduits (TCs) still fails in solving the current challenges in the treatment of peripheral nerve injuries (PNIs), in particular when disease-related and long-gap defects need to be addressed. Nanotechnology-based therapies that seemed unreachable in the past are now being considered for the repair and reconstruction of PNIs, having the power to deliver bioactive molecules in a controlled manner, to tune cellular behavior, and ultimately guide tissue regeneration in an effective manner. It also offers opportunities in the imaging field, with a degree of precision never achieved before, which is useful for diagnosis, surgery and in the patientâ s follow-up. Nanotechnology approaches applied in PNI regeneration and theranostics, emphasizing the ones that are moving from the lab bench to the clinics, are herein overviewed.The authors acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the financial support provided to Joaquim M. Oliveira (IF/01285/2015) and Joana Silva-Correia (IF/00115/2015) under the program “Investigador FCT”.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio