Exploring blended learning tools to transform a laboratory course unit in engineering: Challenges, setbacks and rewards

To boost students engagement on learning outcomes, promote active peer learning, and adopt more dynamic teaching practices, a module of a laboratory course unit (TPL) in engineering was reformulated exploring blended learning. This reformulation was even more challenging than initially anticipated as it was implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic. As TPL learning practises are based on the operation of laboratory modules mimicking heat and mass transfer phenomena, asynchronous and on-line synchronous learning classes and face-to-face laboratory classes were outlined. To promote the asynchronous learning, a full script of TPL and pitch and longer videos presenting, respectively, each work and its practical operation process were formerly prepared and available online. Students were required to work in group to define the variables and conditions to be evaluated in each laboratory module, organize and plan the experimental activities, create data recording documents, and later present and argue their options in virtual synchronous classes. In the face-to-face classes, different activities were performed in a rotating system, scheduled and tuned in the online classes. It was also aimed in-situ promoting peer discussion of the data and reports elaboration, goals not attained due to the pandemic restrictions, as only two students of each group were present in each hands-on class and in sequential times. TPL reformulation was a tough and time-consuming task since 73 students were enrolled, divided into 3 shifts, each one with 5 groups of five students. Students individual learning evolution was inferred through online quizzes that were periodically made available. A final inquiry, launched to obtain students` opinion about this transformation endeavour highlighted the script, videos, and the prompt teachers feedback on the reports as the most fruitful and important aspects for students engagement and guide their learning pathway. The rationale behind this paper was to disclose this transformation experience and share information and strategies that can be used in the teaching/learning of laboratory classes. © 2021 University of Minho. All rights reserved.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Brazilian Botanic Gardens

We argue that botanic gardens, as plant conservation focused institutions, have been tested in temperate regions that possess a relatively robust conservation infrastructure and a relatively low number of threatened species. The ability of the Brazilian botanic gardens to support plant conservation is especially challenging, given their small number relative to Brazil’s plant diversity and the increasing rate of habitat loss and plant endangerment. This study, the first for Brazil, assesses the conservation capacity of Brazilian botanic gardens. An assessment is made of the status of conservation facilities in Brazilian botanic gardens and the conservation status of their plant collections.This was based on a survey sent to thirty-six Brazilian botanic gardens in 2011– 2013 using information from the 2008 Brazilian Red List, and seven state conservation lists. The results identified a small percentage of threatened species (n =102/21 per cent) in ex situ collections of 22 botanic gardens and less than 10 per cent representation for each state red list. An assessment based on the updated Brazilian Red List (2014) showed that 425 threatened species were maintained in living collections of 18 botanic gardens. Despite the extensive size of some collections, the proportion of threatened species in the collections was found to be very low. Improvement in infrastructure, technical capacity, including horticultural skills, and development of policies and protocols will benecessary to increase the effectiveness of the collections for conservation aims

Science communication in bioengineering and biotechnology: Active and collaborative learning project

In a society increasingly dependent on science and technology, the need to equip our students with the most varied digital and communication skills is crucial. Active and collaborative learning among peers is essential for the acquisition of transversal skills. Communication is one of the main tools that the Engineer uses to reach his target audience. Science Communication in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (CCBioTec) is a project on Innovation and Development of Teaching and Learning supported by Center IDEA-UMinho, a structure that emerges to promote and value Innovation and Development of Teaching and Learning at the University of Minho. CCBioTec is transversal to a set of Learning Units (LU) under the responsibility of the Department of Biological Engineering (DEB), including one LU of each year of the Integrated Masters in Biological Engineering and in Biomedical Engineering. The main goals of CCBioTEc are: to foster the awareness of the DEB educational community on the importance of science communication, as well as to develop science communication skills, through the production of short videos (pitches) displaying the explanation, in a simple and dynamic way, of complex concepts of Bioengineering and Biotechnology related with the curricula of each LU. CCBioTec started in the second semester of 2020/21, and it will go on in the 1st semester of 2021/22. The project was designed to be implemented according to the following steps: 1 - Technical and pedagogical training of teachers; 2 - Technical training of students involved in the project - Week CCBioTEC-2021; 3 - Development of materials for Science Communication in Bioengineering and Biotechnology; 4 - CCBioTec-2021 competition. In CCBioTec, teachers presenting himself as a mediator/facilitator of learning, boosting students development of transversal skills, collaborative work, decision making and the expression of ideas, together with the acquisition of knowledge foreseen in the curricular contents of the LU.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bio-Guided Optimization of Cystoseira abies-marina Cosmeceuticals Extraction by Advanced Technologies

Cystoseira abies-marina (reclassified as Gongolaria abies-marina) is a brown seaweed species rich in meroterpenoids, presenting interesting antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there is still a lot to uncover regarding the bioactive potential of this species, as evidenced by the lack of records of antiaging activities from Cystoseira abies-marina, making this macroalga an excellent candidate for studies of its cosmeceutical potential. Ultrasound-(UAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) are advanced sustainable technologies that are very efficient in enhancing bioactive compound extraction. Applying these extraction techniques to a new biological matrix often calls for optimizing the parameters toward the best extraction yield. Since Cystoseira abies-marina is a new matrix for both UAE and MAE techniques, the present work proposes the optimization of the extraction process, using a novel approach: instead of only focusing on increasing the yield, the goal of this work is to determine the parameters for UAE and MAE that lead to extracts with better antiaging activities. For this bio-guided approach, several Cystoseira abies-marina extracts were prepared by UAE and MAE under varying conditions of solvent, time, and algae/solvent ratios. Their antiaging activities were then determined, and all the results combined to unveil the conditions yielding extracts with higher cosmeceutical potential. Using statistical tools, it was found that, for UAE, the best conditions were ethyl acetate, 15 min, and a ratio of 1:4, which led to an extract with high yield, and causing the strong inhibition of tyrosinase and elastase. In turn, ethanol, 10 min, and a ratio of 1:4 were the best conditions for MAE, leading to the extract with the best antioxidant activity. The results show that the proposed bio-guided approach was effective in obtaining extracts with high cosmeceutical potential, unveiling the possibility of modulating an extract’s activity by changing the extraction method.FUNDING: Thanks are due to FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for supporting G.P.R.’s grant (SFRH/BD/144446/2019), through National and European Funds and co-financed by the European Social Fund through the Regional Operational Programme Centro 2020, as well as to FCT, the European Union, QREN, FEDER, and COMPETE, through funding the cE3c center (UIDB/00329/2020). This work received financial support from PT National Funds (FCT/MCTES, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior) through projects UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020. A.F.P. thanks FCT for funding through the Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus (2020.01614.CEECIND/CP1596/CT0007).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Electronic transference assessment of the redox processes at carbon electrodes coated with Geobacter sulfurreducens that grown at different temperatures

In the present study, the kinetic parameters of redox reactions and the proteomic profiles of Geobacter sulfurreducens grown at different temperatures (25 ºC and 37 ºC) were evaluated. Oxidation peaks with different potentials and current intensities were observed for both cultures. Also, the outer membrane proteins of the bacteria at the two temperatures revealed different profiles that can be responsible for different redox centers. Thus, G. sulfurreducens that grows at different temperatures may express different cytochromes in the external membrane

Influence of the temperature in the electronic transfer mechanism of Geobacter sulfurreducens

Geobacter species are important in the reduction of metals (e.g. Fe, Mn) in soils and sediments and constitute one of the most effective microorganisms known to use electrodes as the sole electron acceptor in microbial fuel cells to generate electricity. G. sulfurreducens transfers electrons directly to the electrode from different external membrane cytochromes. Each cytochrome is associated with a range of electrical potentials, being energetically more favourable than some others. Different growth conditions of the bacteria, such as temperature, may influence the prevalence of certain cytochromes in the external membrane. The aim of this work was to evaluate the difference in the electronic transfer mechanisms in G. sulfurreducens that growth at different temperatures (25 ºC and 37 ºC). The cyclic voltammetry is an electrochemical technique that can be used to assess the redox reactions between bacteria and electrode and was used to compare different cultures of G. sulfurreducens (Figure 1). With these studies it can be concluded that at different temperatures the oxidation peaks potentials and current intensities were different. The current intensity increased in bacteria that growth at higher temperatures but the potential of the oxidation peak was more anodic, thus more energy was required. The oxidation reaction was limited by diffusion. An irreversible electronic transfer is noticed. At 25ºC the kinetic of the reaction had a mixed control and charge transfer was reversible for lower sweep scan rates. SDS-Page was used to characterize the membrane protein complexes. The membrane proteins extracted from bacteria that growth at different temperatures migrated differently in the gel, revealing proteins of different molecular weights. G. sulfurreducens may provide an interesting model for structural comparison of proteins since the two samples revealed different profiles. The separation of the membrane proteins was obtained from sucrose gradient centrifugation and 2D electrophoresis. The complete proteins characterization is already being developed in our laboratories

UTILIZAÇÃO DE PESCADA (Macrodom ancylodon) DE BAIXO VALOR COMERCIAL NA OBTENÇÃO DE SURIMI PARA ELABORAÇÃO DE MOLDADO SABOR CAMARÃO

Foi utilizada pescada gó (Macrodon ancylodon) para a produção de surimi, o qual serviu de matériaprima para elaboração de moldado sabor camarão. A matériaprima e o produto foram caracterizados mediante determinações de umidade, proteínas, cinzas, lipídios, carboidratos e valor calórico. O pH encontrado na matériaprima foi de 6,9, indicando o seu estado de frescor. Todas as amostras foram submetidas a análises microbiológicas (Coliformes fecais, Salmonella e Staphylococcus aureus). O rendimento do surimi foi de 23,12%, obtendose na análise sensorial do produto aceitação de 89,6%. Os resultados encontrados demonstram que o surimi pode ser empregado como matériaprima de boa qualidade na elaboração de produtos processados a serem utilizados na alimentação humana, constituindose em alternativa viável para o aproveitamento do pescado de baixo valor comercial. Abstract Fished gó" (Macrodon ancylodon) was utilized for the production of surimi, which served as raw material for molded flavor shrimp elaboration. The raw material and the products were characterized through determinations of humidity, proteins, ashes, lipids, carbohydrates and caloric value. The pH found in the raw material was of 6,9, indicating its state of coolness. All the samples were submitted to microbiological analyses (fecal Coliforms, Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus). The product was evaluated by sensorial analysis, being verified acceptance of 89,6%. It also took place evaluation of the revenue of Surimi being obtained a good result (23,12%). The results found show that surimi can be applied as raw material of good quality on the elaboration of processed products to be used in human foods, constituting a possible alternative to make good use of low commercial value fishery

Kinetic study of the redox processes in carbon electrodes with Geobacter sulfurreducens at different growth temperatures

Geobacter sulfurreducens is a bacteria that can transfer electrons directly to the electrode from different external membrane cytochromes. Each cytochrome is associated with a range of electrical potentials, being energetically more favourable than some others. Different growth conditions of the bacteria, such as temperature, may influence the prevalence of certain cytochromes in the external membrane. The aim of this work was to evaluate the difference in the kinetic parameters of the electronic transfer in G. sulfurreducens that growth at different temperatures (25 ºC and 37 ºC). The cyclic voltammetry is an electrochemical technique that can be used to assess the redox reactions between bacteria and electrode and was used to compare different cultures of G. sulfurreducens. With these studies it can be concluded that at different temperatures the oxidation peaks potentials and current intensities were different. The current intensity increased in bacteria that growth at higher temperatures but the potential of the oxidation peak was more anodic, thus more energy was required. The oxidation reaction was limited by diffusion. An irreversible electronic transfer is noticed. At 25ºC the kinetic of the reaction had a mixed control and charge transfer was reversible for lower sweep scan rates. SDS-Page was used to characterize the membrane protein complexes. The membrane proteins extracted from bacteria that growth at different temperatures migrated differently in the gel, revealing proteins of different molecular weights. G. sulfurreducens may provide an interesting model for structural comparison of proteins since the two samples revealed different profiles. The separation of the membrane proteins was obtained from sucrose gradient centrifugation and 2D electrophoresis. The complete proteins characterization is already being developed in our laboratories

Toxicological evaluation of new tacrine analogues from 4-amino-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile

Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), FEDER and COMPET

Effect of chronic treatment with Rosiglitazone on Leydig cell steroidogenesis in rats: In vivo and ex vivo studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The present study was designed to examine the effect of chronic treatment with rosiglitazone - thiazolidinedione used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus for its insulin sensitizing effects - on the Leydig cell steroidogenic capacity and expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) in normal adult rats.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twelve adult male Wistar rats were treated with rosiglitazone (5 mg/kg) administered by gavage for 15 days. Twelve control animals were treated with the vehicle. The ability of rosiglitazone to directly affect the production of testosterone by Leydig cells <it>ex vivo </it>was evaluated using isolated Leydig cells from rosiglitazone-treated rats. Testosterone production was induced either by activators of the cAMP/PKA pathway (hCG and dbcAMP) or substrates of steroidogenesis [22(R)-hydroxy-cholesterol (22(R)-OH-C), which is a substrate for the P450scc enzyme, and pregnenolone, which is the product of the P450scc-catalyzed step]. Testosterone in plasma and in incubation medium was measured by radioimmunoassay. The StAR and P450scc expression was detected by immunocytochemistry.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The levels of total circulating testosterone were not altered by rosiglitazone treatment. A decrease in basal or induced testosterone production occurred in the Leydig cells of rosiglitazone-treated rats. The ultrastructural and immunocytochemical analysis of Leydig cells from rosiglitazone-treated rats revealed cells with characteristics of increased activity as well as increased StAR and P450scc expression, which are key proteins in androgen biosynthesis. However, a number of rosiglitazone-treated cells exhibited significant mitochondrial damage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results revealed that the Leydig cells from rosiglitazone-treated rats showed significant reduction in testosterone production under basal, hCG/dbcAMP- or 22 (R)-OH-C/pregnenolone-induced conditions, although increased labeling of StAR and P450scc was detected in these cells by immunocytochemistry. The ultrastructural study suggested that the lower levels of testosterone produced by these cells could be due to mitochondrial damage induced by rosiglitazone.</p