Microbial decomposers communities are mainly structured by trophic status in circumneutral and alkaline streams

In streams, the release of nitrogen and phosphorus is reported to affect microbial communities and the ecological processes they govern. Moreover, the type of inorganic nitrogen (NO3, NO2 or NH4) may differently impact microbial communities. We aimed to identify the environmental factors that structure aquatic microbial communities and drive leaf-litter decomposition along a gradient of eutrophication. We selected 5 circumneutral (Portuguese) and 5 alkaline (French) streams differing in nutrient concentrations to monitor mass loss of alder leaves, bacterial and fungal diversity by PCR-DGGE, fungal biomass and reproduction, and bacterial biomass during 11 weeks of leaf immersion. The concentrations of inorganic nutrients in the stream water ranged from 5 - 300 µg L-1 SRP; 0.30 – 5.50 mg L-1 NO3-N; 2 - 103 µg L-1 NO2-N; and < 4 - 7,100 µg L-1 NH4-N. Species richness was maximum in moderately anthropized (eutrophic) streams but decreased in the most anthropized (hypertrophic) streams. Different species assemblages were found in subsets of streams of different trophic status. In both geographic areas, the limiting nutrient, either nitrate or phosphate, stimulated the microbial activity in streams of intermediate trophic status. In the hypertrophic streams, fungal biomass and reproduction were significantly lower and bacterial biomass dramatically decreased at the site with the highest ammonium concentration. The limiting nutrients that defined the trophic status were the main factor structuring fungal and bacterial communities whatever the geographic area. Very high ammonium concentration in the stream water most probably has negative impacts on microbial decomposer communities

Polyhydroxyfullerene binds cadmium ions and alleviates metal-induced oxidative stress in saccharomyces cerevisiae

The water-soluble polyhydroxyfullerene (PHF) is a functionalized carbon nanomaterial with several industrial and commercial applications. There have been controversial reports on the toxicity and/or antioxidant properties of fullerenes and their derivatives. Conversely, metals have been recognized as toxic mainly due to their ability to induce oxidative stress in living organisms. We investigated the interactive effects of PHF and cadmium ions (Cd) on the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by exposing cells to Cd (<= 5 mg liter(-1)) in the absence or presence of PHF (<= 500 mg liter(-1)) at different pHs (5.8 to 6.8). In the absence of Cd, PHF stimulated yeast growth up to 10.4%. Cd inhibited growth up to 79.7%, induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and promoted plasma membrane disruption in a dose- and pH-dependent manner. The negative effects of Cd on growth were attenuated by the presence of PHF, and maximum growth recovery (53.8%) was obtained at the highest PHF concentration and pH. The coexposure to Cd and PHF decreased ROS accumulation up to 36.7% and membrane disruption up to 30.7% in a dose- and pH-dependent manner. Two mechanisms helped to explain the role of PHF in alleviating Cd toxicity to yeasts: PHF decreased Cd-induced oxidative stress and bound significant amounts of Cd in the extracellular medium, reducing its bioavailability to the cells.FEDER-POFC-COMPETE; Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014, PTDC/AAC-AMB/121650/2010]; [SFRH/BD/45614/2008]; [Pest-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013

Hermenêutica e Foucault: a criação de modos de resistência e reexistência

Este trabalho, apresentado em forma de ensaio filosófico e pedagógico, propõe experimentar modos outros de escrever e interpretar os conceitos de Michel Foucault. Para desenvolver a analítica, parte-se de três conceitos basilares: saber (arqueologia), poder (genealogia) e subjetividade (arqueogenealogia). A tese que se instaura é que a interpretação se dá na articulação entre movimentos recíprocos de interioridade e exterioridade do sujeito –constituído pelos discursos, pelos jogos de poder e pelas tecnologias de si – que, para significar o mundo, dá nomes e, assim, sentido para a existência. Como resultado, o trabalho propõe pensar a hermenêutica foucaultiana como transgressora, não pelo seu caráter subversivo, mas pela possibilidade de funcionar como ferramenta teórica e metodológica. Interpretar é, nessa perspectiva, projetar o espaço-outro, o tempo-outro e a vida-outra, indagando o impacto da crise anti-intelectualista e negacionista

Remote sensing indicators to assess riparian vegetation and river ecosystem health

Environmental managers need information to quickly detect which stressor combinations should be addressed to reverse river degradation across large study areas. The pivotal role of riparian vegetation in regulating thermal regimes and inputs of light, nutrients and organic matter has made it a major target of stressor-mitigation and conservation actions. However, due to the dendritic and extensive nature of river networks, field-based monitoring of local riparian conditions is expensive and time-consuming. Ongoing developments in remote sensing offer an unparalleled opportunity to address this challenge. Nonetheless, there is still a limited understanding of the capacity of remote sensing indicators to predict changes in local riparian and river conditions, urging for local calibration with in situ measurements. This study aims to evaluate the capacity of remote sensing to detect impacts on quality elements commonly used in river biomonitoring: riparian vegetation, abiotic river condition and macrophyte biomass. To this end, four remote sensing metrics were tested against field-based indicators in 50 stream locations from four river basins across the Northwest of Portugal: i) the lateral riparian continuity at reach scale (riparian forest buffer width), ii) the riparian vegetation density at reach scale (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI100m), and iii) the land use intensification at both reach (LUI100m) and iv) segment (LUI500m) scales. We found that the combination of remote sensing variables (riparian forest buffer width and the land use intensification index) correlated with riparian vegetation quality and dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations. We also found that the riparian vegetation density was able to predict changes in vascular plant biomass except for bryophytes. Our study provides new insights on the capacity of satellite-based indicators to assess riparian and river health, illustrating their utility for land and water managers, to identify and monitor, at a reduced cost and time, po- This work was supported by the River2Ocean project (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000068), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (NORTE 2020).The work was also supported by the "Contrato-Programa" UIDB/04050/2020 funded by national funds through the FCT I.P., the Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA). CG-C was supported by a "Juan de la Cierva -Incoporacion" contract (MINECO, IJC2018-036642-I). CCS was supported by the "Financiamento Programatico" UIDP/04050/2020 funded by national funds through the FCT I.P

Training program influences the relation between functional and neuromuscular performance indicators during the season in young soccer players

AbstractThe aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a training program on the relation between performance indicators of different physical capacities intra and inter functional and neuromuscular systems at different times of the season. Subjects were 16 young soccer players with an average age of 16.5±0.4 years. The study was carried out for 17 weeks, including three assessment moments (T1: 1st, T2: 10th and T3: 17th week). High correlation was found between indicators of neuromuscular predominance (30 meters sprint test (30m) and Maximum Sprint (MaxSprint) (RAST) in T1) (r=0.93, p≤0.001), functional (Sprints Average (MidSprint) and Minimal Sprint (MinSprint) (RAST) in T1, T2 and T3; MinSprint and Fatigue Index (FI) (RAST) in T3) (r=0.95, 0.85, 0.91; −0.86, p≤0.001, respectively) and between functional and neuromuscular indicators (30m and MidSprint in T1; 30m and MinSprint in T1; MaxSprint and MidSprint in T1 and T2 and MaxSprint and MinSprint in T1) (r=0.95, 0.93, 0.96, 0.84, 0.87, p≤0.001, respectively). The training contents had influence on the correlation of performance indicators at different times of the season

Host dispersal shapes the population structure of a tick-borne bacterial pathogen

Birds are hosts for several zoonotic pathogens. Because of their high mobility, especially of longdistance migrants, birds can disperse these pathogens, affecting their distribution and phylogeography. We focused on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, which includes the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, as an example for tick-borne pathogens, to address the role of birds as propagation hosts of zoonotic agents at a large geographical scale. We collected ticks from passerine birds in 11 European countries. B. burgdorferi s.l. prevalence in Ixodes spp. was 37% and increased with latitude. The fieldfare Turdus pilaris and the blackbird T. merula carried ticks with the highest Borrelia prevalence (92 and 58%, respectively), whereas robin Erithacus rubecula ticks were the least infected (3.8%). Borrelia garinii was the most prevalent genospecies (61%), followed by B. valaisiana (24%), B. afzelii (9%), B. turdi (5%) and B. lusitaniae (0.5%). A novel Borrelia genospecies "Candidatus Borrelia aligera" was also detected. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis of B. garinii isolates together with the global collection of B. garinii genotypes obtained from the Borrelia MLST public database revealed that: (a) there was little overlap among genotypes from different continents, (b) there was no geographical structuring within Europe, and (c) there was no evident association pattern detectable among B. garinii genotypes from ticks feeding on birds, questing ticks or human isolates. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that the population structure and evolutionary biology of tick-borne pathogens are shaped by their host associations and the movement patterns of these hosts.Peer reviewe

Anemia em gestantes brasileiras antes e após a fortificação das farinhas com ferro

OBJECTIVE: To compare prevalence of anemia and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in Brazilian pregnant women before and after flour fortification with iron. METHODS: A repeated cross-sectional panel study of public health care centers of municipalities in the five Brazilian regions was conducted. Retrospective data were obtained from 12,119 medical records of pregnant women distributed in two groups: before fortification (delivery prior to June 2004) and after fortification (date of last period after June 2005). Anemia was defined as HbOBJETIVO: Comparar prevalencia de anemia y valores de hemoglobina (Hb) en gestantes brasileñas, antes y después de la fortificación de las harinas con hierro. MÉTODOS: Estudio de evaluación de paneles repetidos, desarrollado en servicios públicos de salud de municipios de las cinco regiones brasileñas. Datos retrospectivos se obtuvieron de 12.119 prontuarios de gestantes distribuidas en dos grupos: antes de la fortificación, con parto anterior a junio de 2004, y posterior a la fortificación, con última menstruación después de junio 2005. Anemia fue definida como HbOBJETIVO: Comparar prevalência de anemia e valores de hemoglobina (Hb) em gestantes brasileiras, antes e após a fortificação das farinhas com ferro. MÉTODOS: Estudo de avaliação de painéis repetidos, desenvolvido em serviços públicos de saúde de municípios das cinco regiões brasileiras. Dados retrospectivos foram obtidos de 12.119 prontuários de gestantes distribuídas em dois grupos: antes da fortificação, com parto anterior a junho de 2004, e após a fortificação, com última menstruação após junho de 2005. Anemia foi definida como Hb < 11,0 g/dL. Valores de Hb/idade gestacional foram avaliados segundo dois referenciais da literatura. Foram utilizados teste qui-quadrado, t de Student e regressão logística, com nível de 5% de significância. RESULTADOS: Na amostra total, anemia caiu de 25% para 20% após fortificação (p < 0,001), com médias de Hb significativamente maiores no grupo "após" (p < 0,001). Observaram-se, entretanto, diferenças regionais importantes: reduções significativas nas regiões Nordeste (37% para 29%) e Norte (32% para 25%), onde as prevalências de anemia eram elevadas antes da fortificação, e reduções menores nas regiões Sudeste (18% para 15%) e Sul (7% para 6%), onde as prevalências eram baixas. Os níveis de Hb/idade gestacional de ambos os grupos se mostraram discretamente mais elevados nos primeiros meses, porém bem mais baixos após o terceiro ou quarto mês, dependendo da referência utilizada para comparação. Análise de regressão logística mostrou que grupo, região geográfica, situação conjugal, trimestre gestacional, estado nutricional inicial e gestação anterior associaram-se com anemia (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência de anemia diminuiu após a fortificação, porém continua elevada nas regiões Nordeste e Norte. Embora a fortificação possa ter tido papel nesse resultado favorável, há que se considerar a contribuição de outras políticas públicas implementadas no período estudado

PROTECCIÓN DE LA PROPIEDAD FAMILIAR

O referido trabalho tem por objetivo abordar alguns aspectos e a importância de se explicar e esclarecer a Lei nº 8.009/1990 de Impenhorabilidade do Bem de Família. Uma legislação condizente com o direito moderno, assegurado pela legislação para que, caso algum membro da entidade familiar adquira dívidas, o imóvel não possa ser penhorado. Esta lei assegura aos que passam por dificuldades financeiras, uma vida digna, sem privação de sua moradia. Atenta-se, acima de tudo, esclarecer o tema, analisando os controversos que o cercam em sua aplicabilidade prática. A inserção do bem de família na legislação brasileira pode ser considerada uma vitória social em razão de sua destacada importância, principalmente entre as classes mais baixas, resguardando o único imóvel que a família tiver para não ser dado como garantia em uma dívida.  O referido trabalho tem por objetivo abordar alguns aspectos e a importância de se explicar e esclarecer a Lei nº 8.009/1990 de Impenhorabilidade do Bem de Família. Uma legislação condizente com o direito moderno, assegurado pela legislação para que, caso algum membro da entidade familiar adquira dívidas, o imóvel não possa ser penhorado. Esta lei assegura aos que passam por dificuldades financeiras, uma vida digna, sem privação de sua moradia. Atenta-se, acima de tudo, esclarecer o tema, analisando os controversos que o cercam em sua aplicabilidade prática. A inserção do bem de família na legislação brasileira pode ser considerada uma vitória social em razão de sua destacada importância, principalmente entre as classes mais baixas, resguardando o único imóvel que a família tiver para não ser dado como garantia em uma dívida.  This work aims to address some aspects and the importance of explaining and clarifying Law No. 8.009/1990 of Unseizability of the Family Property. Legislation consistent with modern law, ensured by legislation so that, if any member of the family entity acquires debts, the property cannot be pledged. This Law guarantees those who are experiencing financial difficulties a dignified life, without deprivation of their housing. It aims, above all, to clarify the theme, analyzing the controversies that surround it in its practical applicability. The inclusion of the family property in Brazilian legislation can be considered a social victory due to its outstanding importance, especially among the lower classes, protecting the only property that the family has so that it is not given as collateral for a debt.Este trabajo tiene como objetivo abordar algunos aspectos y la importancia de explicar y aclarar la Ley Nº 8.009/1990 de Inembargabilidad de la Propiedad Familiar. Legislación coherente con el derecho moderno, garantizada por la legislación para que, si algún miembro de la entidad familiar adquiere deudas, la propiedad no pueda ser pignorada. Esta Ley garantiza a quienes atraviesan dificultades económicas una vida digna, sin privación de su vivienda. Pretende, sobre todo, aclarar el tema, analizando las controversias que lo rodean en su aplicabilidad práctica. La inclusión de la propiedad familiar en la legislación brasileña puede considerarse una victoria social debido a su importancia sobresaliente, especialmente entre las clases bajas, protegiendo la única propiedad que tiene la familia para que no se dé como garantía de una deuda