Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-03"
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- Increased heat resilience of intraspecific outbred compared to inbred lineages in the Kelp Laminaria digitata: physiology and transcriptomicsPublication . Liesner, Daniel; Pearson, Gareth Anthony; Bartsch, Inka; Rana, Shivani; Harms, Lars; Heinrich, Sandra; Bischof, Kai; Glöckner, Gernot; Valentin, KlausMarine forests and kelps as their foundation species are threatened by ocean warming especially at the warm distributional edges. Previously identified genetic divergence and ecotypic differentiation within kelp species may allow to produce more resilient lineages by intraspecific outbreeding among populations. In a mechanistic investigation of heat stress, heterosis (hybrid vigour), and underlying gene expression patterns, we assessed the thermal performance of inbred (selfings) and outbred (reciprocal crosses) sporophytes of the N-Atlantic kelp Laminaria digitata among clonal isolates from two divergent populations; one from the temperate North Sea (Helgoland) and one from the Arctic (Spitsbergen). First, we investigated the upper thermal tolerance of microscopic sporophytes in a 14-day experiment applying sublethal to lethal 20-23 degrees C. The upper survival temperature of microscopic sporophytes was lower for the inbred Arctic selfing (21 degrees C) than for the temperate selfing and the reciprocal crosses (22 degrees C). Only in the temperate selfing, 4.5% of sporophytes survived 23 degrees C. We then subjected 4-7 cm long sporophytes to a control temperature (10 degrees C), moderate (19 degrees C) and sublethal to lethal heat stress (20.5 degrees C) for 18 days to assess gene expression in addition to physiological parameters. Growth and optimum quantum yield decreased similarly in the reciprocal crosses and the temperate selfing at 19 and 20.5 degrees C, while inbred Arctic sporophytes died within seven days at both 19 and 20.5 degrees C. In response to 20.5 degrees C, 252 genes were constitutively regulated across all surviving lineages, which we use to describe metabolic regulation patterns in response to heat stress in kelp. At sublethal 20.5 degrees C, ca. 150 genes were differentially expressed by either crossed lineage in comparison to the temperate selfing, indicating that they maintained a growth response similar to the temperate selfing with differential metabolic regulation during sublethal heat stress. Subtle differences in physiology and the differential expression of nine genes between the reciprocal crosses at 20.5 degrees C indicate that female and male gametophytes may contribute differently to offspring traits. We consider potential inbreeding depression in the Spitsbergen selfing and quantify the better performance of both crosses using heterosis-related parameters. We discuss the potential and risks of outbreeding to produce more resilient crops for mariculture and marine forest restoration.
- Domain-dependent evolution explains functional homology of protostome and deuterostome complement C3-like proteinsPublication . Peng, Maoxiao; Li, Zhi; Cardoso, João; Niu, Donghong; Liu, Xiaojun; Dong, Zhiguo; Li, Jiale; Power, DeborahComplement proteins emerged early in evolution but outside the vertebrate clade they are poorly characterized. An evolutionary model of C3 family members revealed that in contrast to vertebrates the evolutionary trajectory of C3-like genes in cnidarian, protostomes and invertebrate deuterostomes was highly divergent due to independent lineage and species-specific duplications. The deduced C3-like and vertebrate C3, C4 and C5 proteins had low sequence conservation, but extraordinarily high structural conservation and 2-chain and 3-chain protein isoforms repeatedly emerged. Functional characterization of three C3-like isoforms in a bivalve representative revealed that in common with vertebrates complement proteins they were cleaved into two subunits, b and a, and the latter regulated inflammation-related genes, chemotaxis and phagocytosis. Changes within the thioester bond cleavage sites and the a-subunit protein (ANATO domain) explained the functional differentiation of bivalve C3-like. The emergence of domain-related functions early during evolution explains the overlapping functions of bivalve C3-like and vertebrate C3, C4 and C5, despite low sequence conservation and indicates that evolutionary pressure acted to conserve protein domain organization rather than the primary sequence.
- Does emotional valence modulate word recognition? A behavioral study manipulating frequency and arousalPublication . Paulino, Catarina; Guerreiro, Milene; Faisca, Luis; Reis, AlexandraEffects of emotional valence have been observed in lexical decision tasks, suggesting that valence information modulates early word recognition. However, is still unclear the processing advantage of the different valence categories, and how these advantages might be modulated by word frequency and arousal. To clarify this question, a lexical decision task was designed using emotional words as stimuli. Emotional words were divided into three categories: 60 positive, 60 negative, and 60 neutral words. Word frequency was manipulated into low and high conditions and arousal was controlled among experimental conditions (word valence and frequency). In the first experiment, 54 participants performed the task with a maximum stimuli exposure time of 2000 ms. In a follow-up experiment, 42 participants performed the same task with two shorter fixed time exposures (150 ms and 300 ms). The results were similar between experiments: positive words were recognized faster and negative words were recognized slower than neutral ones. Furthermore, this valence effect was modulated by word frequency, affecting only words that take longer to be recognized (low-frequency words). However, the valence by frequency interaction was attenuated for high-arousal words when the pressure to respond was high (short exposure time - 150 ms). Overall, the results confirm that the emotional status of a word can affect word processing at early stages when automatic processes are taking place.
- Treating affect phobias: Therapeutic alliance as a moderator of the emotional experience effect on outcomesPublication . Ferreira, Laura Inês; Janeiro, LuísPsychodynamic-oriented psychotherapies have demonstrated their efficacy in emotional disorders' treatment. However, it remains unclear what are the specific mechanisms accounting for change. In psychodynamic psychotherapeutic models as the Affect Phobia Therapy (APT), emphasis is placed on therapeutic relationship and the ability of clients to regain adaptive contact with their emotions. Specifically, it is argued that there must be a high therapeutic alliance for the emotions' exposure to lead to positive outcomes. This exploratory study aimed to examine whether the level of therapeutic alliance (high vs. low) moderates the contribution of emotional experience to outcomes. Twenty-six clients (65% females; Mage= 25; SD= 7.26) with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms undergoing a psychodynamic psychotherapy on a university counselling centre were included. After each weekly session, clients answered measures of therapeutic alliance, emotional experience, and outcomes (Psychological Well-Being and Subjective Discomfort). Data were analysed using Hierarchical Linear Models for longitudinal data. Results indicated that effect of emotional experience on outcomes depends on levels of therapeutic alliance. In clients with low therapeutic alliance, higher levels of emotional experience contributed to a decrease in Psychological Well-Being and an increase in Subjective Discomfort across sessions. In clients with higher levels of alliance, both outcomes decreased significantly between sessions, regardless of the emotional experience effect. Our findings highlight that it is important to consider that exposure to adaptive emotions may have adverse effects when a strong alliance is not established.
- CIBIA XII - Iberoamerican Congress of Food Engineering, 2019Publication . Cruz, Rui; SILVA, L. M.; Vieira, MargaridaClimate change enhanced the need to decarbonize the food production and supply chain covering food processing, packaging, transport, retailing, and end-of-life disposal. Today's way food products are offered to consumers contributes to 30% of the greenhouse emissions (GHE), which is more than 2 tons of CO₂ per person per year in the United States and Europe. Alternatives to decrease this number include lowering meat intake and replacing it with plant-based protein, as the highest greenhouse gas emissions are released during meat production. Another solution is using raw materials produced locally or in the surroundings to produce food products, avoiding food transportation in ships, airplanes, or trains from long distances or overseas. Replacing non-biodegradable materials in food products packaging with new, bio-based, and biodegradable ones is another suitable alternative. Also, reducing food waste is of crucial importance as its carbon emissions account for approximately 6% of GHE, mainly due to decomposing process of the organic matter in landfills.
- Marketing Sensorial: casos no retalho, hospitalidade e turismoPublication . Agapito, DoraEste livro introduz estudantes, docentes, investigadores e profissionais de marketing e gestão aos fundamentos científicos do marketing sensorial e à sua aplicação a vários setores de atividade. São apresentados casos no retalho, hospitalidade e turismo.
- Magnetic hysteresis loops revisited: step closer to understand the role of exterior anglesPublication . Nikolić, Violeta N.; Rajnak, Michal; Morais Lopes, Fernando; Lazarov, Nenad Dj.The characterization of nanocomposite samples which contain Cu, Fe-species, prepared by the sol-gel method, was established by Nikolic et al., in a previous article (Nikolic et al. in Journal of Solid State Physics 513:1, 2021). In this study, the magnetic behavior of nanocomposite samples was examined The basic parameters of the room- and low-temperature magnetic hysteresis loops are discussed. To better describe the shape of magnetic hysteresis loop, the authors proposed to consider additional parameters - measures of the exterior angles of the hysteresis curve. Behavior of hysteresis parameters and exterior angles, caused by annealing treatment, was investigated by measuring hysteresis loops at two measured temperatures: 298K, and 5K. Correlation between changes in the behavior of hysteresis parameters and exterior angles was discussed. An attempt has been made to attribute physical meaning to chosen measured angles, which would allow a better understanding of the magnetic hysteresis curve.
- Major expansion of marine forests in a warmer ArcticPublication . Assis, Jorge; Serrao, Ester; Duarte, Carlos M.; Fragkopoulou, Eliza; Krause-Jensen, DorteAccelerating warming and associated loss of sea ice are expected to promote the expansion of coastal marine forests (macrophytes) along the massive Arctic coastlines. Yet, this region has received much less attention compared to other global oceans. The available future projections of Arctic macrophytes are still limited to few species and regions, and mostly focused at lower latitude ranges, thus precluding well-informed IPCC impact assessments, conservation and management. Here we aim to quantify potential distributional changes of Arctic intertidal and subtidal brown macroalgae and eelgrass by the year 2100, relative to present. We estimate habitat suitability by means of species distribution modeling, considering changes in seawater temperature, salinity, nutrients and sea ice cover under two greenhouse gas emission scenarios, one consistent with the Paris Agreement (RCP 2.6) and the other representing limited mitigation strategies (RCP 8.5). As data on substrate conditions do not exist, the models were restricted to the depth range supporting Arctic macrophytes (down to 5 m for eelgrass and 30 m for brown macroalgae). Models projected major expansions of Arctic macrophytes between 69,940 and 123,360 km2, depending on the climate scenario, with polar distribution limits shifting northwards by up to 1.5 latitude degrees at 21.81 km per decade. Such expansions in response to changing climate will likely elicit major changes in biodiversity and ecosystem functions in the future Arctic. Expansions are, however, less intense than those already realized over the past century, indicating an overall slowing down despite accelerated warming as habitats become increasingly occupied..
- Mutational and bioinformatics analysis of the NKX2.1 gene in a cohort of Iranian pediatric patients with congenital hypothyroidism (CH)Publication . Heidari, Mohammad Mehdi; Madani Manshadi, Seyed Ali; Eshghi, Ahmad Reza; Talebi, Fatemeh; Khatami, Mehri; Bragança, José; Ordooei, Mahtab; Chamani, Reyhane; Ghasemi, FarzanehCongenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common congenital endocrine disorder in neonates and children with a global incidence of 1 in 3,000–4,000. Adequate thyroid hormone levels in the bloodstream are essential for the normal growth and development of the nervous system in children. Consequently, CH is associated with irreversible central nervous system and mental health problems, as well as poor growth of untreated children with CH. Girls are more likely to be affected than boys (female to male ratios are 2:1) [1–3]. Early diagnosis methods for CH are still necessary to establish more efficient treatments of CH, which is an important public health issue worldwide, including developed countries [4]. CH can be classified either as primary or as central hypothyroidism, and it is an autosomal recessive disorder. But in a significant percentage of patients, CH is sporadic and non-hereditary and caused by de novo developmental defects in the thyroid gland (primary congenital hypothyroidism). Hereditary forms of CH with decreased thyroid hormone synthesis are either due to a defective thyroid gland development (thyroid dysgenesis) present in 80% of patients or to a failure in thyroid hormone synthesis (thyroid dyshormonogenesis) present in 20% of the patients [5, 6]. Thyroid dysgenesis (TD; OMIM 218700), which refers to the most common cause of congenital hypothyroidism and abnormal structural malformations in the thyroid, is subcategorized into: (i) thyroid ectopy, an abnormally located and small thyroid gland; (ii) thyroid athyreosis, complete lack of the thyroid gland in imaging studies; and (iii) hypoplasia, a smaller gland of thyroid tissue but in a normal position. Dyshormonogenesis (OMIM 274400–274900) refers to the failure of thyroid hormone synthesis by a structurally normal thyroid gland [7]. In recent years, the overall incidence of CH has increased, including the transient form of CH in children, which is a consequence of thyroid hormone deficiency due to low thyroxine and elevated thyrotropin expression. Temporary CH may show symptoms of mild dyshormonogenesis during the first months of life due to insufficient production of thyroxine (T4) [8, 9]. Transient CH usually resolves itself in the first few months of infancy because of an increase in thyroxine production, but some of these children may also be treated for CH in infancy with levothyroxine (a manufactured form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine). However, after treatment endogenous hormonal levels are normalized, and by the age of 3, these children no longer need medication.
- The Escarpão Plateau (South of Portugal) - A study case of nesting geosites from the aspiring algarvensis geoparkPublication . Veiga-Pires, Cristina; Oliveira, Sónia; Moura, Delminda; Pereira, LuísLocated along the southern limit of the aspiring algarvensis UGGp, the Escarpão Plateau is a singular geomorphological structure sculpted by the conjugation of fluvial, karst and tectonic processes. The plateau is deeply scarved by the Quarteira Rivulet forming a valley that crosses the most complete sedimentary sequence of the Upper Jurassic of the Eastern Algarve (161,2 to 145,5 million years).