Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2019-06"
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- Scavenging behavior and interspecific competition decrease offspring fitness of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiaePublication . PEREZ, RUBEN; Bueno-Pallero, Francisco Angel; Vicente-Diez, Ignacio; Santiago Marco-Mancebon, Vicente; Perez-Moreno, Ignacio; Campos-Herrera, RaquelEntomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are well-studied biocontrol agents of soilw-dwelling arthropod pests. The insecticidal efficiency of EPNs is modulated by food web dynamics. EPNs can reproduce in freeze-killed insect larvae, even in competition with free-living bacterivorous nematodes (FLBNs) in the genus Oscheius. The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of EPNs as scavengers when competing with free-living saprophagous nematodes and fungi, and to determine the possible impact on subsequent EPN offspring fitness. Live and freeze-killed larvae of Galleria mellonella were used to evaluate the reproduction rate and progeny fitness of two EPN species, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and Steinernema feltiae, applied individually or combined with the FLBN species Oscheius onirici or Pristionchus maupasi, or Aspergillus flavus, an opportunistic saprophytic fungus. We hypothesized that (1) EPN scavenging behaviors previously observed (for H. megidis and S. kraussei) apply to other EPN species, (2) infective juveniles (IJs) emerging from freeze-killed larvae will display reduced pathogenicity and reproduction, and (3) fitness reduction will be amplified by exposure to other organisms competing for the resources. The reproduction rate of S. feltiae was lower in freeze-killed larvae than in larvae infected and killed by the nematode, whereas H. bacteriophora failed to reproduce as a scavenger. The S. feltiae Fl IJs that emerged from freeze-killed larvae exhibited lower pathogenicity rates than Us resulting from entomopathogenic activity, and also lower reproductive rates if they experienced high FLBN competitive pressure during development. This study illustrates that scavenging is a suboptimal alternative pathway for EPNs, especially in the face of scavenger competition, even though it provides a means for some EPN species to complete their life-cycle.
- Lymphomas of the head and neck region: an updatePublication . Cabecadas, Jose; Martinez, Daniel; Andreasen, Simon; Mikkelsen, Lauge Hjorth; Molina-Urra, Ricardo; Hall, Diane; Strojan, Primoz; Hellquist, Henrik; Bandello, Francesco; Rinaldo, Alessandra; Cardesa, Antonio; Ferlito, AlfioThe field of haematopathology is rapidly evolving and for the non-specialized pathologist receiving a specimen with the possibility of a lymphoid malignancy may be a daunting experience. The coincidence of the publication, in 2017, of the WHO monographies on head and neck and haematopoietic and lymphoid tumours prompted us to write this review. Although not substantially different from lymphomas elsewhere, lymphomas presenting in this region pose some specific problems and these are central to the review. In addition, differences in subtype frequency and morphological variations within the same entity are discussed. The difficulty in diagnosis related to some specimens led us to briefly mention common subtypes of systemic lymphomas presenting in the head and neck region.
- A new paradigm for Pharyngeal Tooth Formation?Publication . Oralova, V; Rosa, Joana; Larionova, D.; Witten, P. E.; Huysseune, A.As a corollary to the ‘modified outside in’ hypothesis about the evolutionary origin of vertebrate teeth (Huysseune et al., 2009, J. Anat. 214: 465-476), we previously hypothesized that the development of, allegedly endoderm-derived, pharyngeal teeth in teleost fish requires ectodermal contribution or signaling.
- Comparative analysis between the Spanish and Portuguese seismic codes. Application to a border RC primary schoolPublication . Requena-García-Cruz, María-Victoria; Morales-Esteban, Antonio; Segovia-Verjel, María-Luisa; Romero-Sánchez, Emilio; de Miguel-Rodríguez, Jaime; Estêvão, João M. C.The Iberian Peninsula is close to the Eurasia-Africa plate boundary resulting in a considerable seismic hazard. In fact, the southwestern Iberian Peninsula is affected by far away earthquakes of long-return period with large-very large magnitude. A project named PERSISTAH (Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos SISmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva, in Portuguese) aims to cooperatively assess the seismic vulnerability of primary schools located in the Algarve (Portugal) and Huelva (Spain). Primary schools have been selected due to the considerable amount of similar buildings and their seismic vulnerability. In Portugal, the Decreto Lei 235/83 (RSAEEP) is mandatory while in Spain, the mandatory code is the Seismic Building Code (NCSE-02). In both countries, the Eurocode-8 (EC-8) is recommended. Despite the fact that both regions would be equally affected by an earthquake, both seismic codes are significantly different. This research compares the seismic action of Ayamonte (Huelva) and Vila Real de Santo António (Portugal). Both towns are very close and located at both sides of the border. Moreover, they share the same geology. This analysis has been applied considering a RC primary school building located in Huelva. To do so, the performance-based method has been used. The seismic action and the damage levels are compared and analysed. The results have shown considerable differences in the seismic actions designation, in the performance point values and in the damage levels. The values considered in the Portuguese code are significantly more unfavourable. An agreement between codes should be made for border regions.
- Epidemiology of skin ulceration disease in wild sea cucumber Holothuria arguinensis, a new aquaculture target speciesPublication . Cánovas, F.; DOMINGUEZ GODINO, JORGE ANTONIO; Gonzalez-Wanguemert, MercedesInterest in wildlife epidemiology has increased in recent years. The control of diseases is critical for the survival of natural populations of economically valuable species. The present study is the first investigation of the etiology and epidemiology of skin ulceration disease in the sea cucumber Holothuria arguinensis, a new target species for fisheries and aquaculture in Europe. Bacterial cultures and molecular techniques were used to characterize this disease in animals collected during a survey across Ria Formosa Natural Park coastal lagoon in southern Portugal. Vibrio gigantis and V. crassostreae, which were both originally identified as disease agents in cultured oysters, were the most commonly isolated species of bacteria. Given that both sampling areas from which symptomatic H. arguinensis were collected were close to open oyster aquaculture facilities, this raises the possibility of an opportunistic infection, perhaps secondary to a decreased immune response caused by biotic or abiotic factors. An increase in prevalence of skin ulceration disease during the warmer season suggests that solar radiation and desiccation due to air exposure during low tide could be a cause of abiotic stress in the lagoon. Distributions of abundance and sizes of H. arguinensis in affected areas showed highest morbidity rates in adults. High fishery pressures throughout the study period could also cause elevations in prevalence and incidence rate of this disease. Skin ulcerative disease is endemic in this coastal lagoon. Disease monitoring is thus essential for the development of a conservation program to ensure the sustainability of fisheries and protection of natural resources.
- Abandonment of traditional saltworks facilitates degradation of halophytic plant communities and Carpobrotus edulis invasionPublication . Chefaoui, Rosa; Chozas, SergioAims In Mediterranean countries, traditional salt exploitation has been practiced over centuries. However, there is a progressive reduction of active saltworks, causing changes in the adjacent halophytic communities and, ultimately, the invasion by opportunistic plant species. Assessing the impact of land use change is key to understanding and protecting these fragile wetland ecosystems. Here, we explore how the abandonment of saltworks is impacting plant communities. We assess if the reduction in saltworks activity alters the composition of protected halophytic communities and favours the invasion by Carpobrotus edulis, an invasive species in many coastal regions throughout the world. Location The Natural Park of Ria Formosa (Algarve, Portugal). Methods We studied variations in the structure of halophytic communities affected to different degrees by C. edulis over three saltworks land use regimes in the Ria Formosa. Plant cover and soil salinity were estimated in a total of 60 transects pertaining to two saltworks complexes harbouring different land use and hydrologic regimes. We performed a non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination of saltworks based on plant cover and identified the indicator species of each saltworks class. Results We found that plant communities significantly varied among types of saltworks according to the pattern of soil salinity and hydrologic regime. We identified C. edulis as the main indicator species of the abandoned saltworks' communities, characterized by less saline soils and being desiccated in summer. Conclusions Land-use change caused by the abandonment of salinas facilitated the transition of halophytic into psammophytic communities and the invasiveness of C. edulis. The maintenance of traditional saltworks activities is vital for the preservation of this fragile wetland ecosystem.
- Production of split table olives of the Cobrancosa cultivar: a kinetic study of the fermentation profilePublication . PRATA, JESSICA; Barros, Tânia; Mateus, Tânia; Quintas, Célia; Pires-Cabral, PaulaThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Cobrancosa cultivar olive ripeness on the physicochemical parameters and model their progression profile throughout the fermentation period. Green and turning color olives undertook fermentation due to fruit and environmental microbiota resulting in final brines with the required acidity values and absence of coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The Monod model was used to explain the changes of a(W), total acidity and total phenolic content in the brines, and the same kinetic with inhibition was fitted to the changes of reducing sugar concentration in the brines. The inverse power model was adjusted to salt content in brines, a(W), total acidity, reducing sugars and total phenolic content in the olives. The Naperian logarithmic function was fitted to the changes of the surface color parameter (-a/b) of the fruits. For both olives, the models adjusted to the experimental data were the same, showing a similar trend in the physicochemical profiles, probably due to the previously fruit splitting, which promotes nutrients diffusing into the brines and the influx of salt into the olives during fermentation. However, different model parameters were estimated, depending on the ripeness degree, namely for total acidity, reducing sugars and total phenolic content of the brines, showing lower nutrients diffusion rates from the unripe olive pulp, through the skin into the brine, due to the hardness of the cell wall structures in this maturation stage.
- Al-Mutamid: de rei-poeta, a rota turística e culturalPublication . Gonçalves, AlexandraAl-Mutamid é uma personagem mítica na história do al-Andalus cuja vida despertou o interesse de especialistas e do público em geral. Viveu em Portugal, Espanha e Marrocos, onde acabou por morrer no exílio imposto pela poderosa dinastia Almorávida. A rota al-Mutamid estende-se de Lisboa a Granada, passando por Huelva e Sevilha. É uma das estradas mais ricas do al-Andalus, uma vez que a herança monumental da Andaluzia é adicionada à de Portugal do período muçulmano. Esta rota, com dois ramos, abrange o canto sudoeste da Península Ibérica fazendo um percurso pelas terras portuguesas até à capital da Andaluzia. Portugal muçulmano era uma parte consubstancial do al-Andalus. As fronteiras entre a Espanha muçulmana e os reinos cristãos do norte mudaram ao longo dos séculos. Durante o califado chegaram ao Douro, mas no período Almoada já estavam a sul do Tejo. Nada separava as áreas do al-Andalus que mais tarde se tornaram parte de Portugal.A rota estrutura uma narrativa baseada numa herança cultural comum a Portugal e Espanha, tendo na sua origem a convicção de que as rotas culturais são um elemento fundamental na construção de uma relação de benefícios mútuos entre cultura e turismo. Este trabalho resulta de uma estreita colaboração com a Fundação Pública Andaluza- El Legado Andaluzi, no período de 2013 a 2018 , e discute boas práticas com vista ao desenvolvimento de rotas turísticas e culturais.
- Periderm invasion contributes to the epithelial lining of the teleost pharynxPublication . Rosa, Joana; Oralova, V; Larionova, D.; Eisenhoffer, G. T.; Witten, P. E.; Huysseune, A.The gnathostome pharyngeal cavity functions in food transport and respiration. In amniotes the mouth and nares are the only channels allowing direct contact between internal and external epithelia. In teleost fsh, gill slits arise through opening of endodermal pouches and connect the pharynx to the exterior. Using transgenic zebrafsh lines, cell tracing, live imaging and diferent markers, we investigated if pharyngeal openings enable epithelial invasion and how this modifes the pharyngeal epithelium. We conclude that in zebrafsh the pharyngeal endoderm becomes overlain by cells with a peridermal phenotype. In a wave starting from pouch 2, peridermal cells from the outer skin layer invade the successive pouches until halfway their depth. Here the peridermal cells connect to a population of cells inside the pharyngeal cavity that express periderm markers, yet do not invade from outside. The latter population expands along the midline from anterior to posterior until the esophagusgut boundary. Together, our results show a novel role for the periderm as an internal epithelium becomes adapted to function as an external surface.
- Basic Emotion Recognition According to Clinical Personality TraitsPublication . Martins, A.; Ros, Antónia; Valerio, Leticia; Faísca, LuísDisturbances in the ability to recognize emotional faces have been attributed to individuals with specific personality disorders. Considering the importance of the dimensional models of psychopathology, studies involving healthy participants are becoming increasingly relevant in the domain of personality disorders. In this context, our main goal was to assess how clinical personality traits affect the ability to recognize basic emotions in a sample of subclinical participants. Photographs of faces expressing six basic emotions (happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust and surprise) were presented to 72 undergraduate students (42 women