Molecular effect of an OPTN common variant associated to Paget's disease of bone

Paget's disease of bone (PDB) is a chronic bone disorder and although genetic factors appear to play an important role in its pathogenesis, to date PDB causing mutations were identified only in the Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1) gene at the PDB3 locus. PDB6 locus, also previously linked to PDB, contains several candidate genes for metabolic bone diseases. We focused our analysis in the most significantly associated variant with PDB, within the Optineurin (OPTN) gene, i.e. the common variant rs1561570. Although it was previously shown to be strongly associated with PDB in several populations, its contribution to PDB pathogenesis remains unclear. In this study we have shown that rs1561570 may contribute to PDB since its Tallele results in the loss of a methylation site in patients' DNA, leading to higher levels of OPTN gene expression and a corresponding increase in protein levels in patients' osteoclasts. This increase in OPTN expression leads to higher levels of NF-KB translocation into the nucleus and increasing expression of its target genes, which may contribute to the overactivity of osteoclasts observed in PDB. We also reported a tendency for a more severe clinical phenotype in the presence of a haplotype containing the rs1561570 T allele, which appear to be re-enforced with the presence of the SQSTM1/P392L mutation. In conclusion, our work provides novel insight towards understanding the functional effects of this variant, located in OPTN intron 7, and its implication in the contribution to PDB pathogenesis.national funds from Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [UID/Multi/04326/2013]; Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Canada [MOP130457]; CHU de Quebec Foundation; Canadian Foundation for Innovation; Fonds de recherche du Quebec-sante; Laval University; CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval Research Centre; FCT [SFRH/BD/77227/2011, SFRH/BPD/111898/2015]; Fonds de recherche Quebec-Sante (FRQ-S), Quebec, Canad

Influencia do tempo de mistura no processamento mecanizado de uma dieta administrada a un efectivo de bovinos da raça alentejana

Com o objectivo de conhecer a influência do processamento mecanizado em dietas administradas em efectivos bovinos, efectuaram-se dois tipos de avaliações: uma avaliação qualitativa e uma avaliação granulométrica. Na avaliação qualitativa foram considerados os teores percentuais em matéria seca, proteína bruta, ADF e NDF, e na avaliação granulométrica, a proporção de partículas acima dos 9.5 mm, 4 mm, 1 mm e fundo. Ambas as avaliações foram efectuadas considerando 3 tempos de mistura de 5, 15 e 20 min. de um reboque unifeed de eixo horizontal. Verificou-se que com o aumento do tempo de mistura, nomeadamente entre os 5 e os 15 minutos, há uma redução significativa da fracção de maior dimensão comparativamente com a de menor dimensão, e que nos 15 min. se verificam fenómenos de destroçamento/agregação. Quanto á avaliação qualitativa, verifica-se que apesar de, ao aumentar o tempo de mistura, se verificar homogeneidade no conteúdo em matéria seca, há contudo até aos 15 min. um aumento significativo da fracção fibrosa, e dos 15 aos 20 minutos uma redução significativa da fibra e aumento significativo do teor proteico. Os resultados obtidos sugerem influência do processamento mecanizado neste tipo de dietas pelo tempo de mistura praticado, e desta forma desvios entre a dieta formulada e a administrada

Estimativa de chuvas usando pluviômetros plásticos.

bitstream/item/55788/1/cot075.pdfDisponível também no formato online

Uso de termômetro de baixo custo para estimar a evapotranspiração das culturas.

O presente trabalho compara valores de ETo estimados pelo método de Hargreaves, empregando-se dados de temperatura obtidos em uma estação meteorológica automática e utilizando-se um termômetro de máxima e mínima de base plástica, do tipo Capela.bitstream/item/31575/1/cot102.pd

Dietary lipid level affects growth performance and nutrient utilisation of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) juveniles

Over the last few years, several aspects of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) culture have been developed and optimised but the dietary lipid level for optimal growth has never been determined. Hence, five isonitrogenous diets (56 % dietary protein) with increasing dietary lipid levels (4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 % DM) were fed to satiation to triplicate groups of twenty fish (mean initial weight 10 g). Fifteen tanks were randomly assigned one of the five diets. Feed was distributed using automatic feeders, and fish were fed over a 16-week period. At the end of the experiment the fish fed on diets containing the two lowest dietary lipid levels (4 and 8 %) showed a 3-fold body-weight increase with a significantly higher daily growth index than fish fed higher lipid levels (1-2 v. 0-8). Moreover, these fish displayed a significantly lower dry feed intake (12g/kg per d) and feed conversion ratio (1-0) compared with fish fed higher lipids levels (16-19 g/kg per d; feed conversion ratio 2-0). Low dietary lipid levels (< 12 %) significantly improved nutrient retention and gain and hence growth, without major effects on whole-body composition. Despite the slight alteration in n-3 PUFA muscle content in the fish fed low-fat-diets, this fish fed low dietary lipid still remains a rich n-3 PUFA product and generally maintained its nutritional value. These results evidenced a low lipid tolerance of Senegalese sole juveniles and suggest a maximal dietary inclusion level of 8 % lipids for both optimal growth and nutrient utilisation without compromising flesh quality.IDEIA; European fund FEDERinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Entry by research-based spin-offs: the determinants of regional variation

Reflecting the increasing number of research based spin-offs (RBSOs) created since the nineties, previous studies focus their analysis on the factors that influence university entrepreneurship. However, empirical studies that investigate the determinants of variation on RBSO creation across regions are scarce. Using a unique self-collected dataset that comprehends the population of RBSOs created in Portugal from 1979 until to 2007 we investigate the intensity of spin-offs creation across regions, by focusing on the characteristics of the universities and the region in which the spin-off is located. Our results suggest that the quality and prestige of the universities located in a municipality, as well as the presence of university-affiliated incubators and/or university research parks have a positive impact on the intensity of RBSO creation. Regarding the regional characteristics, the availability of qualified human capital and the regional demand size seem to exert an important effect on spin-off activity across regions.FC

Oxidative stress responses and histological hepatic alterations in barbel, Barbus bocagei, from Vizela river, Portugal

Barbel (Barbus bocagei) a common species in Portuguese rivers was studied to assess the impact of water contamination on hepatic oxidative stress response, lipid peroxidation and histology. The Vizela River is a tributary of the Ave River, located in one of the most industrialized areas of Portugal. The oxidative stress biomarkers analyzed included superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, glucose 6‑phosphate dehydrogenase and xanthine oxidase activities. Levels of reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation were also evaluated. Except xanthine oxidase activity, that did not show any alteration, all the other enzymatic activities were increased in the liver of barbel captured in the Vizela River when compared with reference barbel. While, no differences were observed for glutathione reductase content, lipid peroxidation was higher in barbel from the Vizela River. Liver histological alterations were determined and their severity scored. Though lymphocyte foci were only observed in Vizela River barbel, macrophage aggregates were also present in reference barbel, although the severity score was higher in Vizela fish. The results of this study show that barbel liver oxidative stress responses, lipid peroxidation and histology are sensitive to the contaminants present in Vizela River water and are valuable biomarkers for monitoring purposes.Barbos (Barbus bocagei), una especie común en los ríos portugueses, se utilizó para evaluar el impacto de la contaminación del agua en la respuesta hepática al estrés oxidativo, en la peroxidación lipídica y en la histología del órgano. El río Vizela es un afluente del río Ave, situado en una de las regiones más industrializadas de Portugal. Los biomarcadores de estrés oxidativo analizados fueron la actividad de las enzimas superóxido dismutasa, catalasa, glutatión S-transferasa, glutation reductasa, glucosa 6 fosfato deshidrogenasa y de la xantina oxidasa. Los niveles de glutatión reducido y de la peroxidación lipídica también fueron evaluados. Excepto la xantina oxidasa, que no mostró ninguna alteración, todas las otras actividades enzimáticas han sufrido incrementos en el hígado de los barbos capturados en el río Vizela, cuando se comparan con los barbos de referencia. No se observaron diferencias para el contenido de glutatión reductasa, pero la peroxidación lipídica fue mayor en los barbos del río Vizela. Las alteraciones en la histología hepática fueron identificadas y clasificadas de acuerdo con su gravedad. Mientras que los linfocitos de focos se observaron sólo en barbos del Río Vizela, los agregados de macrófagos también estuvieron presentes en barbos locales de referencia, aunque la gravedad de las alteraciones fue mayor en los peces del río Vizela. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que las respuestas de estrés oxidativo, la peroxidación lipídica y la histología hepática son sensibles a los contaminantes presentes en el agua del Río Vizela, demonstrando ser biomarcadores valiosos para propósitos de monitoreo

Los centros de interpretación ambiental como una herramienta metodológica para la enseñanza de la educación ambiental - Descubrir el Parque Natural de Montesinho: ver y aprender en cada paso

Los centros de interpretación ambiental son una herramienta metodológica importante para el enfoque de la educación ambiental en la enseñanza primaria. En consecuencia, presentamos una actividad de educación ambiental no formal llevada a cabo en el Parque Natural de Montesinho (Portugal), en donde los alumnos ponen de manifesto una concepción de la biodiversidad basada en elementos bióticos y antropocéntricos. La actividad, además de promover la interdisciplinaridad, ayuda el alumnado a convertirse en ciudadanos preocupados y concientes de su responsabilidad, a nivel local y global