Selection of yeast strains isolated during Alentejo wine productions to be used as starters

The knowledge of new species of yeasts potentialities with fermentative characteristics and/or with specific sensorial properties can be an important tool for the development of oenological processes with higher microbial complexity in a controlled system, conferring a higher wine quality and promoting innovative organoleptic characteristics to the final product. Identification and characterization of yeasts with certain oenological properties is very important to explore their fermentation potential and improve wine production. The aim of this study was the identification and characterization of yeast strains with oenological potential, isolated from different grape musts fermentations from Alentejo region. Initial screening allowed a selection of 16 different yeast strains from grape must from Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon, Antão Vaz and Síria, at various stages of the fermentation process, to be used in immobilization systems, on the development of new oenological solutions. Batch cultures of these microorganisms were performed in order to characterize kinetic growth, carbohydrate consumption and ethanol production. Selected strains were characterized by their macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. DNA were extracted and amplified for strains identification and characterization [1]. The identification was done by the sequencing of PCR products obtained after amplification of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene, and it was possible to identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Torulaspora delbrueckii, zygoascus meyerae, Pichia kudriavzevii, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, Saccharomyces sp. and Hanseniaspora sp.. strains. Molecular analysis by M13-PCR allowed to characterize the genetic profiles for all the isolated yeast strains, showing differences on molecular profiles that allowed grouping according to phylogenetic proximity, both between different species and between strains of the same species. This approach allows better microbiologic knowledge about the grape must flora and to improve the selection of the most appropriate consortia to be used in the creation of new starters for immobilization solutions

Innovative approaches for immunodetection of proteic binders in art

The characterization and identification of the proteinaceous compounds in a complex and multi-layered painting is crucial for studying the technique used by the artist and for conservation and restoration purposes. These organic compounds, such as animal glues, milk and egg, have a particular importance since they are widely used as binders and adhesives in paintings. Proteins are typically detected by methods like chromatographic and proteomic techniques. However, the immunodetection approach shows to be a powerful method in protein analysis. In this study immunologic techniques, based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), were used in order to identify different proteic binders used in easel paintings. The methodology based on indirect ELISA allows the detection of the target antigen in paint models microsamples. These approach is very promising with regard to the possibility of apply these methodology in the detection of proteinaceous binders in real samples

Caracterização Inorgânica de Cogumelos Amanita Ponderosa: Abordagem em Data Mining

A espécie silvestre de cogumelos Amanita ponderosa é característica de microclimas da Península Ibérica. Gastronomicamente é muito relevante, devido não só ao consumo tradicional das populações rurais, mas também devido ao seu valor comercial nos mercados gourmet. Desta forma a caracterização mineral de cogumelos comestíveis torna-se extremamente importante para os processos de certificação e comercialização. O objetivo deste estudo focou a análise da composição inorgânica de corpos de frutificação de A. ponderosa (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, Ag, Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb e Zn) e seus respetivos substratos de solo de 24 pontos de amostragem diferentes do sudoeste da Península Ibérica (nomeadamente Alentejo, Andaluzia e Extremadura). A análise da composição mineral revelou alto conteúdo em macroelementos, tais como: potássio, fósforo e magnésio, presença de oligoelementos importantes e baixos teores de metais pesados nos limites da Dose Diária Recomendada (DDR). O fenómeno de bioconcentração foi observado para alguns macro e microelementos, tais como K, Cu, Zn, Mg, P, Ag e Cd. Por outro lado, observou-se que os corpos de frutificação de Amanita ponderosa apresentam diferentes perfis inorgânicos de acordo com a sua localização. Metodologias de Data Mining foram aplicadas de forma a estudar a composição mineral dos corpos de frutificação de A. ponderosa, tendo sido utilizado o método de agrupamento "k-means" recorrendo a Árvores de Decisão (DTs) de forma a explicar o modelo de segmentação. Os resultados apontaram que é possível gerar um modelo explicativo de segmentação, realizado com dados baseados na composição inorgânica de cogumelos e conteúdo mineral do solo, mostrando a possibilidade de relacionar esses dois tipos de dados

New solutions of immobilized yeasts with oenological potential

The wine sector is expanding worldwide, with more and more wine producers entering this sector, which leads to an increase in wine production. Thus, it is important that companies have access to new technologies, optimizing their production. The development of new methodologies, such as immobilized yeasts has great oenological potential, since they have several oenological applications and allow to improve the quality / price relation of the final product. This type of methodology nowadays begins to be used by the producers, especially in the production of sparkling wines, during the second alcoholic fermentation. In addition, they can also be used in alcoholic and malolactic fermentations, in the production of late harvest wines or in the correction of some problems, such as excessive volatile acidity or late fermentation. The aim of this work was the production of new solutions of immobilized yeasts with oenological potential. A set of yeasts strains isolated during different stages of grape musts fermentation were immobilized in two different inorganic porous supports: volcanic tuff and expanded clay. The immobilization success was accessed by scanning electron microscopy and to validate the potential of the immobilization, the immobilized solutions were tested in microvinification assays during 7 days. After this period the stability of the matrixes and the presence of yeast cells on the immobilized system were confirmed by SEM. The results proved that both supports with immobilized yeasts allowed the conversion of must sugars into ethanol, and can be reused during five batches with high efficiency, displaying the potential use of these matrices in oenological context

Decisão de investimento e de financiamento: o caso do Parque Enxerim

Dissertação de mest., Finanças Empresariais, Faculdade de Economia, Univ. do Algarve, 2012O objetivo deste projeto consiste na decisão de investimento e de financiamento do caso do Parque Enxerim. A metodologia utilizada levou à conceção de um plano de negócios de um centro comercial com o conceito de factory outlet center, considerando a constituição de uma sociedade comercial, que terá sempre a mesma estrutura e que será financiada por um empréstimo bancário ou por um fundo de investimento imobiliário. Poderiam ter sido estudadas propostas mistas, mas estas duas formas de financiamento apresentadas serão as duas ideias limite deste projeto. Com base na revisão de literatura selecionam-se, para a análise de investimento e de financiamento do Parque Enxerim, critérios de medição de rendibilidade do projeto juntamente com as teorias da estrutura de capital e custo de capital. O instrumento utilizado para conceção do plano de negócios foi o a folha de cálculo desenvolvida pelo IAPMEI em www.iapmei.pt/resources/download/Finicia_pn_v11_2010.xls, a qual foi adaptada para este projeto, desenvolvendo um ficheiro para o caso da sociedade comercial ser financiada por capitais alheios, através de um empréstimo bancário e desenvolvendo outro ficheiro para o caso da sociedade comercial ser financiada por capitais próprios, por via de fundos de investimento. Os resultados desta análise dão a conhecer a importância da estrutura do capital no que diz respeito à decisão de investimento e de financiamento de um projeto, neste caso, o Parque Enxerim

Mesoporous Silica Based Protein Release Systems

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) such as MCM41 are effective support carriers with excellent adsorption properties and large surface areas [1-3]. Bioactive molecules like proteins such as albumin, casein and collagen are universally present in nature and products. Interaction of these proteins and MCM41 have not been widely explored. The aim of this study is to assess how these proteins behave in the presence of MCM41 and assess its protein release properties for the purpose of interdisciplinary applications

Biodeterioration in Art: a case study of Munch´s paintings.

Biocolonization and biodeterioration phenomena in Cultural Heritage is presently considered a relevant issue when planning conservation strategies and preservation measures in museum collections. Artworks such as easel paintings are source of various ecological niches for microbial communities’ growth due to the presence of several organic resources. Therefore, the identification of proteinaceous materials may play an important role in the evaluation of their conservation status, in the characterisation of the artistic technique, and in the definition of compatible conservation/restoration processes. Another challenge is to understand the microbiota associated to the degradative processes when developing conservation strategies in CH artworks. For this study Edvard Munch paintings belonging to Munch Museum in Oslo presenting surface alterations were analysed to increase the knowledge about the materials used by the painter and try to understand the source and the dynamics of the associated colonising microbiota, helping in devising a conservation intervention plan. Immunoenzymatic assays was carried out in microsamples allowing the detection of casein as the binder used by the artist. The high throughput sequencing approaches allowed us to explore and characterise the microbial communities that colonise these artworks. Bacterial communities found in these artworks were mainly composed by species characterised by proteolytic capacity, an important biodeteriogenic characteristic for these paintings. Simulation assays performed in paint models prepared with casein as binder display signs of degradative action promoted by the proteolytic strains isolated from the damaged areas. This approach can be useful to promote effective intervention processes in E. Munch’s paintings with the same pathologies

Optimization of protein extraction and ELISA immunodetection from protein-based paint models with mesoporous silica nanoparticles and MCM41

Protein-based biological materials such as albumin, casein and collagen are found in various cultural heritage (CH) artefacts. This study focuses on the study of protein binders from easel paintings media. Proteins have complex structures which are difficult to identify with non-invasive spectroscopic methods (FT-IR, Raman, UV). Immunoassays such as ELISA determine the protein’s source of origin which is necessary for art objects. To increase the detection and identification of proteins by immunoassays, the efficiency of micro-extraction of proteins from heritage materials is a crucial step. Extractions mediated by cycles of orbital agitation and ultrasonic radiation give the possibility to extract proteins from easel painting sample. In this work, protein-based paint models coupled with silica nanoparticles were used for micro-extraction. Nanoparticles possess high surface-to-volume ratios that can attach bioactive molecules such as proteins and increase the total protein recovered from microsamples. Protein extracts were quantified with Bradford Assay in the presence of Coomassie blue. The protein recovery results were statistically computed, and the SPSS analysis shows significant (p <0.05) increase in protein recovery, above 1.3 times for NPSiO2 and above 1.6 times for MCM-41. The statistical data shows evidence that silica nanoparticles intensify the total protein recovered from paint microsamples. Finally, ELISA was realized on the protein extracts to verify and compare the immunodetection of protein from the paint models with and without the use of silica nanoparticles

Geometria: um estudo sobre ângulos e polígonos, no 9º ano de escolaridade, com recurso ao GeoGebra

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Ensino de Matemática no 3º ciclo do Ensino Básico e no SecundárioO presente estudo pretende analisar qual o contributo do ambiente de geometria dinâmica – GeoGebra - na aprendizagem da geometria, nomeadamente, no estudo de ângulos e polígonos, com alunos do 9º ano de escolaridade. Através do uso deste software em sala de aula, procurou-se ter uma melhor compreensão do interesse e motivação dos discentes, e de que modo o seu uso contribui para a aprendizagem de novos conceitos. A revisão de literatura baseou-se essencialmente na utilização das tecnologias na escola, nomeadamente, no ensino da matemática e particularizou-se para a aprendizagem em ambientes de geometria dinâmica. A metodologia utilizada foi de natureza qualitativa e recorreu a estudo de caso. A investigadora assumiu o papel de observadora participante e assistiu a todas as aulas que fazem parte deste trabalho. Na recolha de dados foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos: notas de campo, registo de vídeo, inquéritos, entrevistas semiestruturada e documentos produzidos pelos alunos. Na análise de dados são descritas e analisadas as tarefas e exercícios realizados pelos quatro alunos em estudo. Estes apresentaram, de início, algumas dificuldades no manuseamento da ferramenta, no entanto, com o decorrer das aulas notou-se um melhor desempenho, o que os levou a ter mais confiança na resolução das tarefas e, consequentemente, menos tempo de execução. Nas últimas aulas apresentaram fluidez de raciocínio e confiança no trabalho realizado, mostrando que tinham aprendido os conceitos de ângulo, ângulo ao centro e ângulos inscrito numa circunferência, as propriedades que relacionam os ângulos ao centro, ângulos inscritos e arcos de uma mesma circunferência e as propriedades relativas à soma dos ângulos internos de polígonos convexos

The inhibition of biodegradation on building limestone by plasma etching

Plasma etching is an innovative technique that has been recently applied in the cleaning of soiled archaeological objects. This research investigated the use of low-pressure plasma etching in cleaning microbial contaminations on an oolitic limestone from an UNESCO World Heritage listed monument: the Batalha Monastery in Central Portugal. The cleaning effect was assessed by FTIR, SEM, optical microscope, and cell viability index measurement. Experimental work suggests that plasma discharge can cause rupture in the microbial cell structures and is helpful in removing microorganisms from the surface of the stone. At the macroscopic level, detachment of microbial crust was also observed in plasma etched bio-deteriorated limestone surfaces. Furthermore, plasma etching can inhibit the microbial growth by decomposing and eliminating the sugar-containing compounds on the limestones, thus eliminating a major nutrient supply for microbial metabolism and reproduction. Plasma etching can therefore be regarded as a fast and eco-friendly conservation tool for stone heritage architecture to prevent/reduce the onset of bio-colonization and biodegradation.European Commission H2020-MSCA-ITN-EJD, GA 76631