Conjugated linoleic acid reduces permeability and fluidity of adipose plasma membranes from obese Zucker rats

NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. July 2010; 398 (2): 199-204.Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a dietary fatty acid frequently used as a body fat reducing agent whose effects upon cell membranes and cellular function remain unknown. Obese Zucker rats were fed atherogenic diets containing saturated fats of vegetable or animal origin with or without 1% CLA, as a mixture of cis(c)9,trans(t)11 and t10,c12 isomers. Plasma membrane vesicles obtained from visceral adi- pose tissue were used to assess the effectiveness of dietary fat and CLA membrane incorporation and its outcome on fluidity and permeability to water and glycerol. A significant decrease in adipose membrane fluidity was correlated with the changes observed in permeability, which seem to be caused by the incor- poration of the t10,c12 CLA isomer into membrane phospholipids. These results indicate that CLA supple- mentation in obese Zucker rats fed saturated and cholesterol rich diets reduces the fluidity and permeability of adipose membranes, therefore not supporting CLA as a body fat reducing agent through membrane fluidification in obese fat consumers

Agro-food industry residues for biodiesel production: BIOFFA project

The aim of the project BIOFFA is to develop processes for the production of biofuels from residual raw-materials with high free fatty acid (FFA). In technological terms, two distinct approaches, leading to different final products, are being assessed: production of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) – biodiesel, and hydrogenated oil – H-oil. Different residues available in Portugal, including poultry fat, cattle fat, olive pomace oil and used frying oils, were collected and characterised, and the objectives of the project will be considered to be met if it will be possible to produce mixtures of both biofuels (biodiesel + H-oil) similar to the nowadays commercially available formulas (biodiesel + petro-diesel) with the superior advantages of valorising residues and producing the overall mixture from biological materials

Microbiota-assisted phytoremediation of metal contaminated soils by sunflower

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Microbiota-assisted phytoremediation of metal contaminated soils by sunflower

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Soil microbiota benefits from phytoremediation coupled to metal-resistant rhizobacteria

Phytoremediation is used for requalifying soils contaminated with heavy metals (HM). Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is one of the most studied species for the remediation of HM-contaminated soils. To increase the bioavailability of nutrients and of metals in soils, metal-resistant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), can be associated to phytoremediation strategies. Soil microbiota can benefit from this association, due to the reduced exposure to HMs toxic effect. In this study, next-generation sequencing (NGS) was applied for investigating shifts in soil microbial community after HMs remediation by sunflowers from a soil amended with Cupriavidus sp. strain 1C2. Sunflower was also grown in a non-contaminated soil (control). Actinobacteria were dominant while Proteobacteria was the second most abundant phylum in both soils. Acidobacteria and Nitrospirae were present in higher relative abundance in the control soil. Results have shown that phytoremediation associated to PGPR induced changes in the contaminated soil microbial community: Acidobacterium (Acidobacteria phylum) and Nitrospira (Nitrospirae phylum) bacterial genera increased their abundance at the end of plant growth. These changes did not occur in the control soil, which presented a more stable bacterial community throughout the experiment. This research increases our knowledge on the relationship between soil microbiota and phytoremediation strategies achievements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Biomethane production from phytoremediation derived maize biomass via anaerobic digestion

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What did we learn after the 2020 pandemic? Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a North region of Portugal during 3rd lockdown

Background: Serological studies of antibody prevalence in response to infection with the acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are useful to monitor the epidemic progression of the disease and to evaluate infection rates. In this study, we estimated the prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgM and IgG) in a Portuguese sub-district, during National lockdown - January-March 2021.Methods: In the seroepidemiological survey participants were tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgM and IgG), in blood samples. The estimated seroprevalence and results were stratified by age, gender, education, occupational exposure, symptoms and previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.Results: Seroprevalence was 41.3%, (15.7% IgG positive, 11.6% IgM positive and 14% positive for both). The majority (74%) of the participants were working presentially and did the serological assay because they had either symptoms / positive contact (90%) or had a previous positive antigen test (36%). From all the seropositive cases only 44% were symptomatic. Our results show that seroprevalence of SARS -CoV-2 is high in the North, in parallel with the National Surveillance System. Seroprevalence was higher in woman than man and in adults older than 21. Almost all the people with symptoms or a positive contact had a positive test and were working at their regular places of work reflecting the danger of occupational exposure. Conclusions: These results suggest that, between January and March 2021, the restriction conditions were effective but unable to stop SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. It is essential to assess SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence to monitor population immunity and if it lasts, specially from new COVID 19 variants

The potential of phytoremediation derived maize biomass for the production of biomethane via anaerobic digestion

Maize is an energetic plant with ability for heavy metals removal from contaminated soil. The growth and ability for heavy metals removal by this energetic culture was tested using an industrialised soil contaminated with zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) vs. an agricultural soil. Plants biomass production and metal accumulation was monitored and resulting biomass (roots, stems and cobs) was used for biogas production in several biomethane assays (BMP) in a factorial design with different inoculum to substrate ratios being tested. The biogas produced during the anaerobic digestion was monitored until stable production and its composition was analysed through gas-chromatography. It was possible to observe that maximum methane production seems to be proportional to the amount of anaerobically degradable substrate and is quickly obtained (ca. 8 days after incubation). It was also noticeable that the metals present in the industrial soil were not damaging to the anaerobic biodegradation of the biomass. The production of biomethane from metal contaminated soils’ phytoremediation derived maize biomass appears thus as a possibility to counterpart biogas production in an increasingly demanding status of renewable energy requirementsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Small shrubby patches increase bird taxonomic and functional richness of wood-pastures

Wood-pastures are semi-natural systems that combine a grazed grassland with a tree layer. Shrubs are often controlled, mostly to improve grazing potential, resulting in a reduction of the available ecological niches. From a conservation perspective, it is thus important to identify management practices that counter this reduction. Our overall objective was to determine the value of small shrubby patches to increase the richness of wood-pasture bird communities. As study model we used Mediterranean oak wood-pastures in southern Portugal, locally known as montados. Birds and environmental variables were sampled in 50 m radius plots of wood-pasture with and without small shrubby patches (128–3748 m2, covering less than 0.5% of the study area), in winter (n = 54) and spring (n = 65). Species assemblages’ composition changed between seasons, but in both seasons the assemblages in plots with and without patches were statistically different. Seven species were statistically associated to the presence of patches, in winter and spring, increasing the richness of the respective assemblages. A comparison of the functional composition of communities of patches and matrix revealed that patches increased richness of landscapes by boosting the presence of species with functional traits uncommon in the ecologically simplified matrix. Their presence is promoted by resources added by the patches (e.g. nesting sites, protection, food), but the ranges of individual birds in general extended well beyond the patches. This study demonstrated that the presence of few and small shrubby patches can significantly enrich the bird communities of wood-pastures, both taxonomically and functionally, indicating that promoting them is a cost-effective management measure for these valuable systems.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio