2,199 research outputs found
Ciência, Tecnologia e Desenvolvimento Industrial no Portugal Oitocentista. O caso dos lanifícios do Alentejo
Na primeira parte deste trabalho pretendemos analisar até que ponto Portugal estava desfasado em termos científicos e tecnológicos daquilo que era feito nos outros países da Europa, procurando verificaras possibilidades de circulação e transmissão do conhecimentos e a aproximação que, ao longo do período em análise, se verificou entre o mundo científico e a actividade económica e política. Análise que passa necessariamente pela acção das instituições, como as academias, as sociedades e as associações, de estruturas administrativas, como a Junta do Comércio ou o Ministério das Obras, Públicas Comércio e Industria, e pelo papel desempenhado pelos homens ligados a essas instituições ou às estruturas administrativas-
Na segunda parte do trabalho analisamos a indústria dos lanifícios em dois distritos do Alentejo, Évora e Portalegre, procurando verificar quer a forma como tradicionalmente se organizava esta actividade, quer a forma como os discursos sobre o progresso e as vantagens de aplicação de maquinismos ou de princípios científicos e técnicos foram entendidos e aplicados pelos fabricantes e pelos industriais que na região alentejana se dedicavam a esta actividade
Design and Synthesis of CNS-targeted Flavones and Analogues with Neuroprotective Potential Against H2O2- and Aβ1-42-Induced Toxicity in SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cells
With the lack of available drugs able to prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the discovery of new neuroprotective treatments able to rescue neurons from cell injury is presently a matter of extreme importance and urgency. Here, we were inspired by the widely reported potential of natural flavonoids to build a library of novel flavones, chromen-4-ones and their C-glucosyl derivatives, and to explore their ability as neuroprotective agents with suitable pharmacokinetic profiles. All compounds were firstly evaluated in a parallel artificial membrane permeability assay (PAMPA) to assess their effective permeability across biological membranes, namely the blood-brain barrier (BBB). With this test, we aimed not only at assessing if our candidates would be well-distributed, but also at rationalizing the influence of the sugar moiety on the physicochemical properties. To complement our analysis, logD7.4 was determined. From all screened compounds, the p-morpholinyl flavones stood out for their ability to fully rescue SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells against both H2O2- and Aβ1-42-induced cell death. Cholinesterase inhibition was also evaluated, and modest inhibitory activities were found. This work highlights the potential of C-glucosylflavones as neuroprotective agents, and presents the p-morpholinyl C-glucosylflavone 37, which did not show any cytotoxicity towards HepG2 and Caco-2 cells at 100 μM, as a new lead structure for further development against AD.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia-UID/Multi/0612/2019Unión Europea-D3i4AD), FP7-PEOPLE-2013-IAPP, GA 61234
Transcriptome profiling of the posterior salivary glands of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis from the Portuguese West coast
The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. The authors acknowledge \u201CFundo azul\u201D for the funding of research project MARVEN (Ref. FA_05_2017_007). This work is also financed by national funds from The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), I.P., in the scope of project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of UCIBIO and project LA/P/0140/2020 of i4HB. FCT is also acknowledged for the grants SFRH/BD/144914/2019 to CG and 2022.11150.BD to IMC. Acknowledgments
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024 Gonçalves, Moutinho Cabral, Alves de Matos, Grosso and Costa.Cephalopods like octopuses and cuttlefishes are known to secrete a ‘toxic saliva’ to inject into their prey, especially crustaceans since the XIX century. However, only in the mid-XX century were the first coleoid-specific toxins successfully isolated. Motivated by the growing interest on the global ocean as an almost inexhaustible source of novel bioactive compounds, we used RNA-Seq - based transcriptomics and de novo assembly of transcriptomes to screen the posterior salivary glands of Sepia officinalis (the common cuttlefish) from the Portuguese West coast for toxins and other bioactive proteins and peptides. Supported by microanatomical analyses, the posterior salivary glands constitute indeed the ‘venom gland’ whereas the more elusive anterior salivary glands (embedded in the buccal mass) are responsible for the production of mucin-rich saliva that is effectively the vehicle that transports the toxins as the venom is injected into the prey. Indeed, the transcriptomic profiling suggests that the cuttlefish venom is complex mixture of bioactive proteins, among which neurotoxins are major players, together with enzymes whose function is to digest the extracellular matrix to facilitate diffusion of the toxins. Nonetheless, by comparing with previous RNA-Seq data obtained from S. officinalis collected from other biogeographical areas, it may be suggested that significant inter-populational variation in venom composition can occur, which may potentially increase the span of bioactives secreted by these animals. We isolated and validated the full coding sequences for three important toxins, a cysteine-rich venom protein (CRVP), a venom insulin (VIns) and a cephalotoxin (CTX). The toxins seem to be relatively conserved among coleoids but diverging from other venomous mollusks such as cone snails. Their properties as potent modulators of glucose (in the case of VIns) and as potential neurotoxins (like CRVP and CTX) can render them primer targets for drug development.publishersversionpublishe
Aerobic and anoxic growth and nitrate removal capacity of a marine denitrifying bacterium isolated from a recirculation aquaculture system
Bacterial biofilters used in marine recirculation aquaculture systems need improvements to enhance nitrogen removal efficiency. Relatively little is known about
biofilter autochthonous population structure and function. The present study was aimed at isolating and characterizing an Autochthonous denitrifying bacterium from a marine biofilter installed at a recirculation aquaculture system. Colonization of four different media in a marine fish farm was followed by isolation of various denitrifying strains and molecular classification of the most promising one, strain T2, as a novel member of the Pseudomonas fluorescens cluster. This strain exhibits high metabolic versatility regarding N and C source utilization and environmental conditions for growth. It removed nitrate through aerobic assimilatory metabolism at a specific rate of 116.2 mg NO3-N g dw _1 h _1. Dissimilatory NO3-N removal was observed under oxic conditions at a limited rate, where transient NO2-N formed represented 22% (0.17 mg L _1) of the maximum transient NO2-N observed under anoxic conditions. Dissimilatory NO3-N
removal under anoxic conditions occurred at a specific rate of 53.5 mgNO3-N g dw _1 h
_1. The isolated denitrifying strain was able to colonize different materials, such as
granular activated carbon (GAC), Filtralite and Bioflow plastic rings, which allow the development of a prototype bioreactor for strain characterization under dynamic
conditions and mimicking fish-farm operating conditions
Specific Antiproliferative Properties of Proteinaceous Toxin Secretions from the Marine Annelid Eulalia sp. onto Ovarian Cancer Cells
The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) funded project WormALL (PTDC/BTA-BTA/28650/2017) plus the grants SFRH/BD/109462/2015 to A.P.R., and CEECIND/02699/2017 to A.R.G. The Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit-UCIBIO is financed by national funds from FCT, ref. UIDB/04378/2020. FCT, along with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the COMPETE 2020-Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation also funded the projects: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007440 (UID/NEU/04539/2019), POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016428 (SAICTPAC/0010/2015), POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029311 (PTDC/BTM-TEC/29311/2017), POCI-01-0145-FEDER-30943 (PTDC/MEC-PSQ/30943/2017) and PTDC/MED-NEU/27946/2017. The work was also funded by the National Mass Spectrometry Network (RNEM) under the contract POCI-01-0145-FEDER-402-022125 (ref.: ROTEIRO/0028/2013).As Yondelis joins the ranks of approved anti-cancer drugs, the benefit from exploring the oceans' biodiversity becomes clear. From marine toxins, relevant bioproducts can be obtained due to their potential to interfere with specific pathways. We explored the cytotoxicity of toxin-bearing secretions of the polychaete Eulalia onto a battery of normal and cancer human cell lines and discovered that the cocktail of proteins is more toxic towards an ovarian cancer cell line (A2780). The secretions' main proteins were identified by proteomics and transcriptomics: 14-3-3 protein, Hsp70, Rab3, Arylsulfatase B and serine protease, the latter two being known toxins. This mixture of toxins induces cell-cycle arrest at G2/M phase after 3h exposure in A2780 cells and extrinsic programmed cell death. These findings indicate that partial re-activation of the G2/M checkpoint, which is inactivated in many cancer cells, can be partly reversed by the toxic mixture. Protein-protein interaction networks partake in two cytotoxic effects: cell-cycle arrest with a link to RAB3C and RAF1; and lytic activity of arylsulfatases. The discovery of both mechanisms indicates that venomous mixtures may affect proliferating cells in a specific manner, highlighting the cocktails' potential in the fine-tuning of anti-cancer therapeutics targeting cell cycle and protein homeostasis.publishersversionpublishe
“Introduction. «L’ingénieur dans tous ses états»: l’essor d’un champ de recherche pluridisciplinaire et transnational”
En octobre 1980, se tenait à l’Ecomusée du Creusot, ce haut lieu symbolique d’histoire industrielle française, un colloque intitulé « Ingénieurs et société » , une grande première dans le genre. Réunie sur l’initiative du directeur de l’Ecomusée, Marcel Evrard, sous la présidence de l’historien André Thépot, une assemblée pluridisciplinaire d’experts a été invitée à réfléchir sur les origines et la nature du groupe professionnel des ingénieurs qui, malgré le nombre de travaux les mentionnant, demeuraient, selon le constat collectif des experts, d’illustres inconnus de l’histoire. Ainsi, les organisateurs ont-ils souhaité dresser le bilan des travaux sur les ingénieurs menés jusqu’alors « en ordre dispersé » à l’occasion et/ou dans le cadre d’études aux thématiques historiques connexes ciblant un domaine des techniques, un secteur de l’industrie, un champ de recherche scientifique, une aire géographique, une administration, une institution, une entreprise, une biographie d’exception, pour ne citer que les cadrages les plus fréquents. En revanche, tout symbolique que fût son rôle dans l’industrialisation aux XIXe et XXe siècles, le groupe professionnel des ingénieurs ne pouvait pas se prévaloir de référer son histoire « à un domaine historique et sociologique constitué » : il demeurait donc très difficile à catégoriser . La démarche a été sous-tendue par une prise de conscience importante, celle d’appréhender la perte de cohérence qui menaçait ce groupe professionnel sous l’impact de l’éclatement de plus en plus prononcé des domaines d’intervention, de la diversification des modes d’action et des fonctions assimilées. Désenclaver les recherches sur les ingénieurs en tant que groupe professionnel et phénomène de société, les sortir de leur confinement, leur imprimer une dynamique propre, – telle était l’ambition des promoteurs du colloque. Et l’ouvrage Ingénieurs dans la société française qui en est issu (1982), a posé les fondements d’un nouveau champ d’investigations, tant au point de vue des problématiques que des approches méthodologiques..
How Is leisure related to wellbeing and to substance use? The probable key role of autonomy and supervision
Abstract: The present research is based on a large and representative national survey and intends to
analyse the correlation of several leisure activities with risk, and with health and well-being outcomes.
This work is part of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study, a collaborative
WHO international study that aims to explore the school-aged children behaviour regarding health
and risk behaviours in their life contexts. Participants were 8215 Portuguese adolescents, randomly
chosen from those attending the 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades in 2018. The sample included 52.7% of
girls and the mean age was 14.36 years old. Descriptive and comparative analyses were performed
(ANOVAS and Chi-Square). The results of the present study suggested that several leisure activities,
namely sports and social engagement activities (politic involvement and participation, religious
activities, scouting and volunteer work), are associated with the adolescents’ well-being and life
satisfaction. However, these types of activities can also be associated with an increase in substance
use. However, some activities are also associated with risky behaviour. Identifying activities that
promote well-being in young people can be important for professionals, families and public policies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Studies on the mechanism of action of anti-tumor bis(aminophenolate) ruthenium(III) complexes
Two
recently published
Ru(III) comp
lexes bearing
(
N
2
O
2
)
tetradentate bis(aminophenolate) ligands,
20
formulated as
[Ru(III)(
s
alan
)(PPh
3
)Cl]
(
where
s
alan
is the
tetradentate ligand
6,6'
-
(1S,2S)
-
21
cyclohexane
-
1,2
-
diylbis(azanediyl)bis(met
hylene)bis(3
-
methoxyphenol) in c
omplex
1
,
or
2,2'
-
(1S,2S)
-
22
cyclohexane
-
1,2
-
diylbis(azanediyl)bis(meth
ylene)bis(4
-
methoxyphenol)
in c
omplex
2
,
and
PPh
3
is
23
triphenylphosphane
)
were studied
herein to outline their
antitumor
mode of action.
Previously, it was
24
found that they were very active against human
ovar
ian
and bre
a
st adenocarcinoma
cells
(on a
72 h
25
challenge
)
.
In this work,
the human
cisplatin
-
sensitive o
varian
adeno
carcinoma
line
A2780
was used
26
as the cell model for further studies
a
t
a 24 h challenge
. B
oth complexes are active
,
their cytotoxicity
27
being
c
omparable to that
of c
isplatin
in the same conditions.
28
A
s a possible target in the cell for their action, the int
eraction
of
1
and
2
with DNA was assessed
29
through displacement of
well
-
established DNA
fluorescent probes
(
ethidium bromide
,
EB,
and
4',6
-
30
d
iamidino
-
2
-
p
henylindole,
DAPI
)
through
s
teady
-
state and time
-
resolved fluorescence
spectroscopy
.
31
The complete
emission spectra were analysed globally for the binary DNA
‒
p
robe and ternary DNA
‒
32
p
robe
‒
Ru(III)
complex
systems
.
B
oth Ru(III) complexes can
displace
EB
and
bind to DNA with
33
similar and
moderate strong affinity
with conditional stability constants
of
log
K’
=
(
5.05 ± 0.01
)
for
1
34
and
log K’=
(
4.79
± 0.01
)
for
2
.
The analysis of time
-
domain fluorescence intensity decays confirmed
35
both qualitatively and quantitatively the model used to describe the binding and competition processes.
36
Cell studies indicated that apoptosis is
t
he major mechanism of cell death
for both complexes
,
with
2
37
(the mo
re
active
complex
)
promoting
that process more efficiently than
1
.
Transmission
electron
38
micro
graphs
revealed
clear a
lteration
s on
intracellular
organization
consistent with the induction of
39
programmed cell death processes
- …