Toward predicting Dinophysis blooms off NW Iberia: a decade of events

Dinophysis acuminata and Dinophysis acuta are recurrent species off NW Iberia but their outbreaks occur under different conditions. A decade (2004-2013) of weekly data for each species at two sentinel stations located at the entrance of Rias de Aveiro-AV (NW Portugal, 40 degrees 38.6' N) and Pontevedra-PO (Galicia, Spain, 42 degrees 21.5' N), were used to investigate the regional synchronism and mesoscale differences related to species detection, bloom (>200 cells L-1) initiation and development. Results highlight the high interannual variability of bloom events and summarize the associated meteorological/oceanographic conditions. D. acuta blooms were observed in 2004-2008 and 2013, and the species highest maxima at AV occurred after the highest maxima of its prey Mesodinium, with a time-lag of 2-3 weeks. D. acuminate blooms were observed every year at both stations. The cell concentration time series shows that the blooms generally present a sequence starting in March with D. acuminata in PO and three weeks later in AV, followed by D. acuta that starts at AV and three months later in PO. Exceptionally, D. acuminate blooms occurred earlier at AV than PO, namely in high spring upwelling (2007) or river runoff (2010) years. A four-year gap (2009-2012) of D. acuta blooms occurred after an anomalous 2008 autumn with intense upwelling which is interpreted as the result of an equatorward displacement of the population core. Numerical model solutions are used to analyze monthly alongshore current anomalies and test transport hypotheses for selected events. The results show a strong interannual variability in the poleward/equatorward currents associated with changes in upwelling forcing winds, the advection of D. acute blooms from AV to PO and the possibility that D. acuminata blooms at AV might result from inocula advected southward from PO. However, the sensitivity of the results to vertical position of the lagrangian tracers call for more studies on species distribution at the various bloom stages. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

The nuclear levels of thioredoxin reductase 1, gamma-H2AX, and yap are modulated by primary cilia in response to high glucose levels

This work was funded by Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa IPL/2021/ ObeCil_ESTeSL & IPL/ WintCilGlu_ESTeSL. H&TRC authors gratefully acknowledge the FCT/MCTES national support through the UIDB/05608/2020 and UIDP/05608/2020.Diabetes is a condition characterized by impaired regulation of blood glucose levels, leading to various complications such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy (DR), caused by a disrupted retinal blood barrier, is associated with oxidative stress resulting from dysregulated glucose levels in the retina. The primary cilium, an organelle involved in energy balance and glucose homeostasis, has been implicated in the development of various diseases known as ciliopathies, which include overlapping phenotypes such as obesity, diabetes, and retinopathy. This study aims to investigate the impact of high glucose levels on primary cilia assembly in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE-1) cell cultures and explore the role of cilia in the cellular response to high glucose levels. RPE-1 cells were grown in media supplemented with different glucose concentrations (5 mM, 25 mM, and 5 mM glucose + 20 mM mannitol), and cilia assembly was induced before or after glucose supplementation. The results revealed that glucose supplementation did not affect the number of ciliated cells, but cells supplemented with 25 mM glucose exhibited shorter cilia. To understand the role of cilia in response to high glucose levels, the nuclear levels of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TRXR1), a key enzyme involved in combating oxidative stress triggered by hyperglycemia, were evaluated. Additionally, γH2AX, a marker of DNA breaks and cellular senescence, and YAP, a Hippo pathway effector, were examined. It was observed that glucose supplementation, particularly at high levels (25 mM), influenced the nuclear levels of TRXR1, γH2AX, and YAP. Notably, the presence of cilia modulated the cellular response to high glucose levels, modulating the levels of these proteins. These preliminary findings indicate that primary cilia significantly influence the cellular response to high glucose concentrations, which are known to induce oxidative stress and potentially contribute to the development of DR.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Independent estimates of marine population connectivity are more concordant when accounting for uncertainties in larval origins

Marine larval dispersal is a complex biophysical process that depends on the effects of species biology and oceanography, leading to logistical difficulties in estimating connectivity among populations of marine animals with biphasic life cycles. To address this challenge, the application of multiple methodological approaches has been advocated, in order to increase confidence in estimates of population connectivity. However, studies seldom account for sources of uncertainty associated with each method, which undermines a direct comparative approach. In the present study we explicitly account for the statistical uncertainty in observed connectivity matrices derived from elemental chemistry of larval mussel shells, and compare these to predictions from a biophysical model of dispersal. To do this we manipulate the observed connectivity matrix by applying different confidence levels to the assignment of recruits to source populations, while concurrently modelling the intrinsic misclassification rate of larvae to known sources. We demonstrate that the correlation between the observed and modelled matrices increases as the number of observed recruits classified as unknowns approximates the observed larval misclassification rate. Using this approach, we show that unprecedented levels of concordance in connectivity estimates (r = 0.96) can be achieved, and at spatial scales (20–40 km) that are ecologically relevant.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia | Ref. PTDC/BIA-BIC/120483/2010Xunta de Galicia | Ref. POS-A/2012/189Xunta de Galicia | Ref. POS-B/2016/032Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia | Ref. SFRH/BD/ 84263/2012CESAM | Ref. UID/AMB/50017 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-00763

Eco-intensificación de la producción de naranja (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) orgánica : Estudio de caso en Papantla, Veracruz, México

La naranja es el fruto más popular en México, ya que tiene 334,658 hectáreas sembradas, en donde se producen 4.4 millones de toneladas con un rendimiento de 13 t/ha. La producción de naranja enfrenta problemas de baja productividad con una producción sostenida bajo un paradigma tecnológico convencional, reducidos precios obtenidos por los productores por sistemas de comercialización basada en el intermediarismo y falta de asesoría con técnicos formados con orientación agroecológica. Sin embargo, existe una propuesta del Centro de Investigaciones Interdisciplinarias para el Desarrollo Rural Integral (CIIDRI) de la Universidad Autónoma Chapingo fundamentada en la Eco-intensificación que logra aumentar los rendimientos. En el presente trabajo se presenta un proceso de innovación agrupando y describiendo a más de 20 prácticas agroecológicas en 6 apartados. Se concluye que la producción agroecologica en comparación con la producción convencional permite obtener un menor costo, mayor productividad, un sobreprecio y una producción sana para el suelo, agua planta y salud humana.Eje: B3 Economía y agroecología (Relatos de experiencias)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Eco-intensificación de la producción de naranja (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) orgánica : Estudio de caso en Papantla, Veracruz, México

La naranja es el fruto más popular en México, ya que tiene 334,658 hectáreas sembradas, en donde se producen 4.4 millones de toneladas con un rendimiento de 13 t/ha. La producción de naranja enfrenta problemas de baja productividad con una producción sostenida bajo un paradigma tecnológico convencional, reducidos precios obtenidos por los productores por sistemas de comercialización basada en el intermediarismo y falta de asesoría con técnicos formados con orientación agroecológica. Sin embargo, existe una propuesta del Centro de Investigaciones Interdisciplinarias para el Desarrollo Rural Integral (CIIDRI) de la Universidad Autónoma Chapingo fundamentada en la Eco-intensificación que logra aumentar los rendimientos. En el presente trabajo se presenta un proceso de innovación agrupando y describiendo a más de 20 prácticas agroecológicas en 6 apartados. Se concluye que la producción agroecologica en comparación con la producción convencional permite obtener un menor costo, mayor productividad, un sobreprecio y una producción sana para el suelo, agua planta y salud humana.Eje: B3 Economía y agroecología (Relatos de experiencias)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Eco-intensificación de la producción de naranja (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) orgánica : Estudio de caso en Papantla, Veracruz, México

La naranja es el fruto más popular en México, ya que tiene 334,658 hectáreas sembradas, en donde se producen 4.4 millones de toneladas con un rendimiento de 13 t/ha. La producción de naranja enfrenta problemas de baja productividad con una producción sostenida bajo un paradigma tecnológico convencional, reducidos precios obtenidos por los productores por sistemas de comercialización basada en el intermediarismo y falta de asesoría con técnicos formados con orientación agroecológica. Sin embargo, existe una propuesta del Centro de Investigaciones Interdisciplinarias para el Desarrollo Rural Integral (CIIDRI) de la Universidad Autónoma Chapingo fundamentada en la Eco-intensificación que logra aumentar los rendimientos. En el presente trabajo se presenta un proceso de innovación agrupando y describiendo a más de 20 prácticas agroecológicas en 6 apartados. Se concluye que la producción agroecologica en comparación con la producción convencional permite obtener un menor costo, mayor productividad, un sobreprecio y una producción sana para el suelo, agua planta y salud humana.Eje: B3 Economía y agroecología (Relatos de experiencias)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Towards operational modeling and forecasting of the Iberian shelves ecosystem

There is a growing interest on physical and biogeochemical oceanic hindcasts and forecasts from a wide range of users and businesses. In this contribution we present an operational biogeochemical forecast system for the Portuguese and Galician oceanographic regions, where atmospheric, hydrodynamic and biogeochemical variables are integrated. The ocean model ROMS, with a horizontal resolution of 3 km, is forced by the atmospheric model WRF and includes a Nutrients-Phytoplankton-Zooplankton-Detritus biogeochemical module (NPZD). In addition to oceanographic variables, the system predicts the concentration of nitrate, phytoplankton, zooplankton and detritus (mmol N m(-3)). Model results are compared against radar currents and remote sensed SST and chlorophyll. Quantitative skill assessment during a summer upwelling period shows that our modelling system adequately represents the surface circulation over the shelf including the observed spatial variability and trends of temperature and chlorophyll concentration. Additionally, the skill assessment also shows some deficiencies like the overestimation of upwelling circulation and consequently, of the duration and intensity of the phytoplankton blooms. These and other departures from the observations are discussed, their origins identified and future improvements suggested. The forecast system is the first of its kind in the region and provides free online distribution of model input and output, as well as comparisons of model results with satellite imagery for qualitative operational assessment of model skill.publishe

Fibrosis of Peritoneal Membrane, Molecular Indicators of Aging and Frailty Unveil Vulnerable Patients in Long-Term Peritoneal Dialysis

Funding: Sociedade Portuguesa de Nefrologia (SPN) SPN funded a project and Ana Rita Martins, MD, Nephrology fellow, for a residence at Jiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital, Madrid under the scope of novel serum biomarkers of CKD. iNOVA4Health research program (UIDP/04462/2020) is also acknowledged to support J.M.Peritoneal membrane status, clinical data and aging-related molecules were investigated as predictors of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) outcomes. A 5-year prospective study was conducted with the following endpoints: (a) PD failure and time until PD failure, (b) major cardiovascular event (MACE) and time until MACE. A total of 58 incident patients with peritoneal biopsy at study baseline were included. Peritoneal membrane histomorphology and aging-related indicators were assessed before the start of PD and investigated as predictors of study endpoints. Fibrosis of the peritoneal membrane was associated with MACE occurrence and earlier MACE, but not with the patient or membrane survival. Serum α-Klotho bellow 742 pg/mL was related to the submesothelial thickness of the peritoneal membrane. This cutoff stratified the patients according to the risk of MACE and time until MACE. Uremic levels of galectin-3 were associated with PD failure and time until PD failure. This work unveils peritoneal membrane fibrosis as a window to the vulnerability of the cardiovascular system, whose mechanisms and links to biological aging need to be better investigated. Galectin-3 and α-Klotho are putative tools to tailor patient management in this home-based renal replacement therapy.publishersversionpublishe

DUnAS: first steps in the creation of the Research Data Repository of the University of Aveiro

Em junho de 2019, a Universidade de Aveiro (UA), por intermédio dos Serviços de Biblioteca, Informação Documental e Museologia e dos Serviços de Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação, em colaboração com o Gabinete de Apoio à Investigação, deu os primeiros passos no projeto de criação do Repositório de Dados de Investigação da UA - DUnAs. O projeto pretende implementar um repositório aberto para o arquivo e publicação de dados de investigação, fomentando a sua visibilidade, impacto e reprodutibilidade. Este trabalho pretende salientar a estratégia desenvolvida na construção do repositório com base no sistema open source Dataverse e do respetivo serviço de helpdesk, abordando as iniciativas e as fases para a sua concretização. Os resultados obtidos na análise do sistema e o contacto com investigadores através da seleção de projetos piloto conduziu à definição dos elos do fluxo de depósito – curadoria – publicação, permitindo a criação de um serviço adaptado à comunidade.In June 2019, the University of Aveiro (UA), through the Library, Document Management and Museology Services and the Information Technology and Communication Services, in collaboration with the Research Support Office, took the first steps regarding the creation of the University of Aveiro Research Data Repository - DUnAs. The project aims to implement an open repository for the archive and publication of research data, promoting its visibility, impact and reproducibility. This work intends to highlight the strategy adopted while setting up the repository based on Dataverse, an open source platform, and the respective helpdesk service, addressing the initiatives and the phases for its implementation. The results obtained in the analysis of the Dataverse platform and the contact with researchers through the selection of pilot projects led to the definition of the deposit – curation – publication workflow and allowed the creation of a service adapted to the communitypublishe

Eight years of experience

Copyright © 2017 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.INTRODUCTION: Aortic stenosis is the most prevalent type of valvular disease in Europe. Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) is the standard therapy, while transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative in patients at unacceptably high surgical risk. Assessment by a heart team is recommended by the guidelines but there is little published evidence on this subject. The purpose of this paper is to describe the experience of a multidisciplinary TAVI program that began in 2008. METHODS: The heart team prospectively assessed 473 patients using a standardized approach. A total of 214 patients were selected for TAVI and 80 for SAVR. Demographic, clinical and procedural characteristics and long-term success rates were compared between the groups. RESULTS: TAVI patients were older than the SAVR group (median 83 vs. 81 years), and had higher surgical risk scores (median EuroSCORE II 5.3 vs. 3.6% and Society of Thoracic Surgeons score 5.1 vs. 3.1%), as did the patients under medical treatment only. These scores were unable to assess multiple comorbidities. Patients' outcomes were different between the three groups (mortality with SAVR 25% vs. TAVI 37.6% vs. conservative therapy 57.6%, p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The heart team program was able to select candidates appropriately for TAVI, SAVR and conservative treatment, taking into account the risk of both invasive treatments. The use of a prospective standardized heart team approach is recommended, but requires continuous monitoring to ensure effectiveness in a timely manner.publishersversionpublishe