Avaliação espácio-temporal do uso do território por ungulados domésticos no parque natural do Douro Internacional

A presente dissertação surge no âmbito de um projeto de implementação de Medidas Compensatórias decorrentes do processo de Avaliação e Pós-avaliação de Impacte Ambiental de três linhas da Rede Elétrica Nacional, que atravessam parte do Parque Natural do Douro Internacional (PNDI), sítio de relevante interesse faunístico (área importante para as aves (IBA). A tese enquadra-se numa das medidas compensatórias do referido projeto, direcionada à promoção de pastoreio extensivo, com o objetivo de compensar o potencial impacte das linhas na Gralha-de-bico-vermelho (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). O pastoreio, em especial o de percurso, tem um papel fundamental na criação de ambientes favoráveis para a conservação desta espécie. Esta medida, prossupõe duas atividades essenciais: a avaliação espácio-temporal da utilização do território pela pastorícia extensiva através da monitorização dos percursos realizados por rebanhos existentes na área de estudo e avaliação da disponibilidade alimentar para a Gralha-de-bico-vermelho, através da monitorização de invertebrados do solo. Através do acompanhamento mensal dos percursos dos rebanhos de 3 pastores (Setembro 2011 a Agosto 2012) foi possível verificar que dois dos pastores acompanhados fazem um pastoreio mais tradicional, realizando percursos longos e ajustados à duração do dia e aos recursos naturais disponíveis em cada altura. Por outro lado, um dos pastores já faz pouco pastoreio de percurso, levando apenas o rebanho a alimentar-se a algumas culturas que realiza, apenas numa das partes do dia. Nas monitorizações dos invertebrados verificou-se que as Ordens mais abundantes dizem respeito aos Hymenopteras, Coleópteras, Collembolas, Hemipteras e Artrópodas, evidenciando a existência de alimento disponível para a espécie-alvo deste estudo a Gralha-de-bico-vermelho. Tendo em conta que se pretende promover o pastoreio de percurso nas áreas importantes para a gralha-de-bico-vermelho, propõe-se a realização de sementeiras nessas áreas, e que as mesmas sejam disponibilizadas para os pastores, no sentido de aumentar o tempo despendido pelos rebanhos nas áreas importantes para a melhoria do habitat da Gralha- de-bico-vermelho.The present dissertation was integrated in a Compensatory Project that was set by the Environmental Impact Assessment of three power lines of the Portuguese National Electric Network company (REN, S.A.) that crosses the “Douro Internacional Natural Park (PNDI), a site of high interest in terms of fauna (Important bird area (IBA)). This thesis is included in one of the compensatory measures of the referred project, which aimed the promotion of extensive grazing, in order to compensate the impact of those power lines on the Red-Billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax). Grazing, especially rough grazing plays an important role in the promotion of favorable habitat for this species. This measure proposes two essential activities: the spatio-temporal evaluation of territory usage, by monitoring the routes of rough grazing herds within the study area and the evaluation of the food availability for the Red-Billed Chough, by monitoring invertebrates in the soil. The herds of 3 shepherds were accompaned monthly, from September 2011 to August 2012. It was possible to determine that two shepherds use traditional rough grazing with long and daytime adjusted routes relying on the available resources of each time of the year. The other shepherd doesn’t use rough grazing, rather taking the animals once a day to feed on his cultivated crops. Invertebrate monitoring showed that the most abundant orders are the Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Collembola, Hemiptera and Artrópodas, pointing out that there is food available for the target species of the study area Gralha-de-bico-vermelho. Given that the rough grazing should be promoted in important areas for the Red-Billed Chough, sowings should be carried out in those areas, and they should be available for the shepherds in order to increase the time that herds spend on those areas and therefore improving the Red-Billed Chough’s habitat.Bio3, Estudos e Projetos em Biologia e Valorização de Recursos Naturais, Lda., Aveir

Stereolithography-based 3D-printing of transparent and biocompatible microfluidics for Organs-on-a-Chip applications

Soft-lithography methods are routinely applied in biomedical research, for instance for the fabrication of microfluidic devices, multichannel bioprinting print heads and Organs-on-a-Chip

On beta and sigma convergence of Czech regions

The aim of the article is to examine beta and sigma convergence of fourteen Czech regions during 1995-2009. Using real GDP per capita panel data from the Czech Statistical Office it was found that Czech regions σ-diverged in the period and this divergence was accelerating in time regardless of whether the capital city Prague was included among regions or not. Also, statistically significant β-divergence was present during the same period. There are two main possible reasons for the divergence: inequalities in foreign and domestic investments as well as the accumulation of human and physical capital in the most attractive regions, while less competitive regions were left behind. Policy implications necessary to reverse the situation include government’s support of investments in poorer regions and also gaining more financial resources from European ESF and ERDF funds

3D-Printed PLA-Bioglass Scaffolds with Controllable Calcium Release and MSC Adhesion for Bone Tissue Engineering

Large bone defects are commonly treated by replacement with auto- and allografts, which have substantial drawbacks including limited supply, donor site morbidity, and possible tissue rejection. This study aimed to improve bone defect treatment using a custom-made filament for tissue engineering scaffolds. The filament consists of biodegradable polylactide acid (PLA) and a varying amount (up to 20%) of osteoconductive S53P4 bioglass. By employing an innovative, additive manufacturing technique, scaffolds with optimized physico-mechanical and biological properties were produced. The scaffolds feature adjustable macro- and microporosity (200–2000 µm) with adaptable mechanical properties (83–135 MPa). Additionally, controllable calcium release kinetics (0–0.25 nMol/µL after 24 h), tunable mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) adhesion potential (after 24 h by a factor of 14), and proliferation (after 168 h by a factor of 18) were attained. Microgrooves resulting from the 3D-printing process on the surface act as a nucleus for cell aggregation, thus being a potential cell niche for spheroid formation or possible cell guidance. The scaffold design with its adjustable biomechanics and the bioglass with its antimicrobial properties are of particular importance for the preclinical translation of the results. This study comprehensibly demonstrates the potential of a 3D-printed bioglass composite scaffold for the treatment of critical-sized bone defects

Sugar Beet Plot Harvester

SUGAR beet companies, state experiment stations, and the USDA Agricultural Research Service use replicated plots to evaluate sugar beet yields as influenced by varieties, fertilizers, water-management practices, etc. As a result, many people need some type of sugar-beet, plot-harvesting equipment. Plots frequently are up to 50 ft in length from which two to eight rows may be harvested. Harvesting sugar-beet plots by hand involves a great deal of manual labor. Beets are first undercut, then pulled and topped by hand, piled in the center of the plot, counted as they are placed in a wire basket, and lifted by hand to a scale for weighing. This method is slow and expensive

Bioprinting Cell- and Spheroid-Laden Protein-Engineered Hydrogels as Tissue-on-Chip Platforms

Human tissues, both in health and disease, are exquisitely organized into complex three-dimensional architectures that inform tissue function. In biomedical research, specifically in drug discovery and personalized medicine, novel human-based three-dimensional (3D) models are needed to provide information with higher predictive value compared to state-of-the-art two-dimensional (2D) preclinical models. However, current in vitro models remain inadequate to recapitulate the complex and heterogenous architectures that underlie biology. Therefore, it would be beneficial to develop novel models that could capture both the 3D heterogeneity of tissue (e.g., through 3D bioprinting) and integrate vascularization that is necessary for tissue viability (e.g., through culture in tissue-on-chips). In this proof-of-concept study, we use elastin-like protein (ELP) engineered hydrogels as bioinks for constructing such tissue models, which can be directly dispensed onto endothelialized on-chip platforms. We show that this bioprinting process is compatible with both single cell suspensions of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and spheroid aggregates of breast cancer cells. After bioprinting, both cell types remain viable in incubation for up to 14 days. These results demonstrate a first step toward combining ELP engineered hydrogels with 3D bioprinting technologies and on-chip platforms comprising vascular-like channels for establishing functional tissue models

3D-Printing of Hierarchically Designed and Osteoconductive Bone Tissue Engineering Scaffolds

In Bone Tissue Engineering (BTE), autologous bone-regenerative cells are combined with a scaffold for large bone defect treatment (LBDT). Microporous, polylactic acid (PLA) scaffolds showed good healing results in small animals. However, transfer to large animal models is not easily achieved simply by upscaling the design. Increasing diffusion distances have a negative impact on cell survival and nutrition supply, leading to cell death and ultimately implant failure. Here, a novel scaffold architecture was designed to meet all requirements for an advanced bone substitute. Biofunctional, porous subunits in a load-bearing, compression-resistant frame structure characterize this approach. An open, macro- and microporous internal architecture (100 µm–2 mm pores) optimizes conditions for oxygen and nutrient supply to the implant’s inner areas by diffusion. A prototype was 3D-printed applying Fused Filament Fabrication using PLA. After incubation with Saos-2 (Sarcoma osteogenic) cells for 14 days, cell morphology, cell distribution, cell survival (fluorescence microscopy and LDH-based cytotoxicity assay), metabolic activity (MTT test), and osteogenic gene expression were determined. The adherent cells showed colonization properties, proliferation potential, and osteogenic differentiation. The innovative design, with its porous structure, is a promising matrix for cell settlement and proliferation. The modular design allows easy upscaling and offers a solution for LBDT