Caracterização de Puccinia hemerocallidis causadora do primeiro surto de ferrugem de lírio-de-um-dia na Europa

Daylily (Hemerocallis spp.) is an ornamental plant widely used in gardens. Daylily rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia hemerocallidis, has disseminated through all continents only in the 21th century, except in Europe, where it has been considered a quarantine disease by the European Plant Protection Organisation. In Portugal, since November 2015, typical rust symptoms were observed in daylily plants in gardens in Lisbon, Alentejo, Algarve and Madeira, attaining high prevalence, incidence and severity. The causal agent was identified as P. hemerocallidis and the Koch’s postulates were fulfilled. Phylogenetic data suggest that this fungus may have been introduced from North America. Using flow cytometry, the genome size of the P. hemerocallidis populations present in Portugal was estimated to be 345 Mbp (0.3533 pg DNA/1C). For such analysis Rhamnus alaternus was validated as a DNA standard, exhibiting a nuclear content of 0.680 pg DNA/2C. The identification of this disease in diverse locations in Portugal represents a threat to European breeding and nursery industries, since there are the appropriate conditions for inoculum maintenance and propagation from Portugal to the rest of Europeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enhancer factors determining young people attitudes towards environmental questions : keys for multidisciplinar training

INTRODUÇÃO A Educação Ambiental (EA) apresenta uma pluralidade de objetivos assentando numa progressiva melhoria de relacionamento entre os seres-humanos e a natureza. Neste contexto, a EA deve ser implementada nas escolas, que como instituições sociais direcionadas à aquisição de aptidões, conceitos e valores, devem facultar uma educação multidisciplinar formando cidadãos capazes de atitudes ambientalmente sustentáveis. OBJETIVOS Explorar relações existentes entre um conjunto de determinantes sociodemográficos, familiares/escolares e psicológicos e o desenvolvimento de atitudes dos jovens adolescentes face ao ambiente. MÉTODOS Num estudo transversal quantitativo amostraram-se 500 adolescentes frequentando o ensino básico público do distrito de Viseu. A maioria pertencente ao género feminino (50.6%) e à classe socioeconómica III-classe média (45.0%), residentes em meio urbano (57.4%), e com idades compreendidas entre os 12-16 anos (M=13.38). O protocolo utilizou instrumentos de medida aferidos e validados para a população portuguesa, e a construção de um novo instrumento de mensuração – Escalado-Desempenho-da-Escola-na-Educação-Ambiental (EDEEA) – (Alfa de Cronbach=0.861). RESULTADOS As atitudes mais positivas em relação ao ambiente são expressas, maioritariamente, pelos adolescentes do género feminino, residentes na zona urbana apresentando maior preocupação com os problemas gerais do ambiente (M= 18.05). A prática de religião (M=109.44) e a funcionalidade familiar (F=4.603;p=0.010) mostraram-se variáveis significativas promovendo atitudes positivas para ações de proteção ambiental. O desempenho da escola na EA revelou-se muito significativo, explicando a maior percentagem de variância (R2 =18%; p=0.000) das atitudes dos jovens face ao ambiente. O autoconceito dos adolescentes revelou-se estatisticamente significativo, evidenciando-se interação entre a responsabilidade ambiental e o aspeto comportamental como determinante predizendo as atitudes dos jovens face ao ambiente (R²=19.90%). CONCLUSÕES As variáveis psicológicas e de contexto familiar e escolar, associaram-se com as atitudes dos jovens adolescentes face ao ambiente, pelo que deverão ser consideradas aquando da concepção e implementação de Programas e Intervenções de suporte à Educação Ambiental.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Educação ambiental: o papel atribuído aos actores educativos

Uma reflexão sobre as práticas sociais, num contexto marcado pela degradação permanente do meio ambiente, cria uma necessária articulação da Educação Ambiental com a Escola. A Educação Ambiental, configura-se crescentemente com uma questão que diz respeito a um conjunto de actores do universo educativo, potencializando o desenvolvimento dos diversos sistemas de conhecimento, a capacitação de profissionais numa perspectiva interdisciplinar. A Educação Ambiental deve ser implementada ao nível curricular de modo que os professores, desempenhem um papel crucial na construção e promoção de conhecimentos e competências necessários à existência de comportamentos ambientalmente responsáveis. Neste contexto, é importante conhecer a multiplicidade de concepções dos jovens face ao ambiente, que certamente influenciam os seus comportamentos e as suas práticas na construção de uma cidadania activa.A careful consideration of the social practices, in a context marked by the permanent degradation of the environment, establishes (promotes) a necessary integration of Environmental Education and School. Environmental Education is more and more related with a group of players in the educational universe, promoting the development of the different knowledge systems and the qualification of professionals in an interdisciplinary perspective. Environmental Education must be implemented at the curricular level, so that teachers may play a crucial role in the construction e promotion of knowledge and necessary skills for the presence of environmental responsible behaviours. In this context it is important to know the multiplicity of ideas of the youth in relation to the environment, which most certainly influence their behaviours in the development of an active citizenship.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - LIBEC/CIFPEC 16/64

Risk assessment of Portuguese children dietary exposure to co-occuring mycotoxins in processed cereal-based foods

Distinguido com o prémio melhor poster (best poster award) pela MoniQA Association. A MoniQA Association é uma rede internacional interdisciplinar que integra membros de diversas áreas da segurança alimentar, nomeadamente, laboratórios, institutos públicos, indústria, centros de investigação e universidades. A atribuição deste prémio ocorreu no âmbito da 5th MoniQA International Conference.People, animals and the environment can be exposed to multiple chemicals at once from a variety of sources, but current risk assessment is usually carried out based on one chemical substance at a time. In human health risk assessment, ingestion of food is considered a major route of exposure to many contaminants, namely mycotoxins, a wide group of fungal secondary metabolites that are known to potentially cause toxicity and carcinogenic outcomes. Mycotoxins are commonly found in a variety of foods including those intended for consumption by infants and young children and have been found in processed cereal-based foods available in the Portuguese market. The present study aims to characterize, for the first time, the risk associated with the exposure of Portuguese children to single and multiple mycotoxins present in processed cereal-based foods (CBF). Portuguese children (0-3 years old) food consumption data (n=103) were collected using a 3 days food diary. Contamination data concerned the quantification of 12 mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins and trichothecenes) were evaluated in 20 CBF samples marketed in 2014 and 2015 in Lisbon; samples were analyzed by HPLC-FLD, LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. Daily exposure of children to mycotoxins was performed using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Different strategies were used to treat the left censored data. For aflatoxins, as carcinogenic compounds, the margin of exposure (MoE) was calculated as a ratio of BMDL (benchmark dose lower confidence limit) to the aflatoxin exposure. The magnitude of the MoE gives an indication of the risk level. For the remaining mycotoxins, the output of exposure was compared to the dose reference values (TDI) in order to calculate the hazard quotients (ratio between exposure and a reference dose, HQ). For the cumulative risk assessment of multiple mycotoxins, the concentration addition (CA) concept was used. The combined margin of exposure (MoET) and the hazard index (HI) were calculated for aflatoxins and the remaining mycotoxins, respectively. 71% of CBF analyzed samples were contaminated with mycotoxins (with values below the legal limits) and approximately 56% of the studied children consumed CBF at least once in these 3 days. Preliminary results showed that children exposure to single mycotoxins present in CBF were below the TDI. Aflatoxins MoE and MoET revealed a reduced potential risk by exposure through consumption of CBF (with values around 10000 or more). HQ and HI values for the remaining mycotoxins were below 1. Children are a particularly vulnerable population group to food contaminants and the present results point out an urgent need to establish legal limits and control strategies regarding the presence of multiple mycotoxins in children foods in order to protect their health.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT

Application of mathematical models to mycotoxins children risk assessment: a case study of Portuguese children exposure to co-occurring mycotoxins in processed cereal-based foods

People, animals and the environment can be exposed to multiple chemicals at once from a variety of sources, but current risk assessment is usually carried out based on one chemical substance at a time. In human health risk assessment, ingestion of food is considered a major route of exposure to many contaminants, namely mycotoxins, a wide group of fungal secondary metabolites that are known to potentially cause toxicity and carcinogenic outcomes. Mycotoxins are commonly found in a variety of foods including those intended for consumption by infants and young children and have been found in processed cereal-based foods available in the Portuguese market. The use of mathematical models, including probabilistic approaches using Monte Carlo simulations, constitutes a prominent issue in human health risk assessment in general and in mycotoxins exposure assessment in particular. The present study aims to characterize, for the first time, the risk associated with the exposure of Portuguese children to single and multiple mycotoxins present in processed cereal-based foods (CBF). Portuguese children (0-3 years old) food consumption data (n=103) were collected using a 3 days food diary. Contamination data concerned the quantification of 12 mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins and trichothecenes) were evaluated in 20 CBF samples marketed in 2014 and 2015 in Lisbon; samples were analyzed by HPLC-FLD, LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. Daily exposure of children to mycotoxins was performed using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. Different strategies were used to treat the left censored data. For aflatoxins, as carcinogenic compounds, the margin of exposure (MoE) was calculated as a ratio of BMDL (benchmark dose lower confidence limit) to the aflatoxin exposure. The magnitude of the MoE gives an indication of the risk level. For the remaining mycotoxins, the output of exposure was compared to the dose reference values (TDI) in order to calculate the hazard quotients (ratio between exposure and a reference dose, HQ). For the cumulative risk assessment of multiple mycotoxins, the concentration addition (CA) concept was used. The combined margin of exposure (MoET) and the hazard index (HI) were calculated for aflatoxins and the remaining mycotoxins, respectively. 71% of CBF analyzed samples were contaminated with mycotoxins (with values below the legal limits) and approximately 56% of the studied children consumed CBF at least once in these 3 days. Preliminary results showed that children exposure to single mycotoxins present in CBF were below the TDI. Aflatoxins MoE and MoET revealed a reduced potential risk by exposure through consumption of CBF (with values around 10000 or more). HQ and HI values for the remaining mycotoxins were below 1. Children are a particularly vulnerable population group to food contaminants and the present results point out an urgent need to establish legal limits and control strategies regarding the presence of multiple mycotoxins in children foods in order to protect their health. The development of packaging materials with antifungal properties is a possible solution to control the growth of moulds and consequently to reduce mycotoxin production, contributing to guarantee the quality and safety of foods intended for children consumption.This research was performed under the MycoMix project (PTDC/DTP-FTO/0417/2012), funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal and through CESAM (UID/AMB/50017/2013)

Early Identification of Pre-school Children with Speech-language Disorder in Primary Health Care Settings

Speech-language disorders in pre-school children is considered a public health problem since its international prevalence is reportedly to be 20%. This study aimed to identify European-Portuguese pre-school children with speech-language disorder through RALF speech-language screening (Rastreio de Linguagem e Fala), in primary health care settings. RALF is a reliable and valid instrument that revealed strong levels of reliability, sensitivity and specificity for European-Portuguese (EP) pre-school children. 10 nurses with more than 6 years of clinical experience in a primary health care centers administered RALF to 37 (5-6 years old) EP children as part of health-child care routine. Results indicate that 21.6% of children did not pass the RALF screen and were referred to an in-depth speech and language assessment. This finding was in agreement with international research and reinforces the need for an early and precocious identification of the speech-language disorder in pre-school children. That is, way before the disorder has installed and has an impact on the academic, social and emotional development. This action-research study also reveals the important of using a valid, reliable, sensitive, and specific, as well as, culturally and linguistically adequate screening instruments by the health professionals as part of health-child care routine in primary health care centers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The consumption of unhealthy foods by Brazilian children is influenced by their mother’s educational level

Objective: To evaluate the association between the consumption of unhealthy foods in children under one year and the education level of the mothers, data obtained from participants of the II Survey on the prevalence of breastfeeding in the Brazilian capitals and the Federal District in 2008 was analyzed. Methods: During the second stage of the campaign for multi-vaccination, a questionnaire on food consumption in the last 24 hours was given to mothers or guardians of children under one year old. We analyzed the consumption of unhealthy foods according to age group, maternal education, region of residence and breastfeeding status. The state capitals and the Federal District were grouped according to the five macro-regions of the country (North, Northeast, Southeast, South and West). Processed juice, soda, coffee, cookies/salted snacks and sugar and/or honey were defined as unhealthy foods. Prevalence ratios (RP) for the association between the consumption of unhealthy foods and maternal education were estimated using Poisson regression models. Results: The study included 34,366 children. The consumption of sweet foods started early and was predominant until the age of six months; after this age, the consumption of biscuits and/or snacks became more prevalent. The consumption of these foods also differs in relation to the macro-region of residence. Consumption of unhealthy foods was higher among mothers with lower education levels. Conclusions: The consumption of unhealthy foods by Brazilian children under one year old was high, indicating a need for developing effective strategies to combat the consumption of unhealthy foods in Brazilian children as a way of preventing obesity and other future disorders

Invasive fish disrupt host-pathogen dynamics leading to amphibian declines

Sudden disease outbreaks may not necessarily reflect a recent pathogen introduction but may instead arise from the disruption of a host-pathogen equilibrium. Together with invasive species, emerging pathogens pose significant threats to biodiversity. The dynamics of each stressor have been studied separately, yet rarely when interacting. Using a 40-year dataset, we tested the hypothesis that the introduction of an invasive fish leads to such a disruption, manifested by ranavirosis outbreaks on amphibian hosts. MCP sequencing revealed the historical presence of two major Ranavirus clades, with low prevalence. The introduction of fish was not followed by the emergence of new viruses, but rather by an increase in the prevalence of the strains already present, fitting the ‘endemic pathogen hypothesis’. Two decades after the first die-offs, one amphibian species persists in extremely low numbers, but Ranavirus prevalence is closer to the enzootic phase that preceded the outbreaks. Models show that host population collapse and lack of recovery are best explained by the concerted interaction of Ranavirus and invasive fish. We provide robust evidence that invasive species can impact naïve communities by disrupting the host-pathogen balance, exacerbating health threats. This study emphasizes the importance of exploring the historical interactions between multiple stressors to understand population declines.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio