Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2024-08"
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- Non-exponential transients and the evaluation of stress in (disordered) organic thin film transistorsPublication . Stallinga, PeterIn this work, the transient techniques for disordered organic thin film transistors are analyzed. A special emphasis is made on stress. Stress in this work is the continuous increase of the threshold voltage upon applying a gate bias. In this work a new stress evaluation method is presented that allows for a rapid determination of stress. Moreover, a figure -of -merit is proposed that can be applied to non -exponential transients, including those of stressing. The transients are compared to the empirical transient functions reported in literature that range from power -law to stretched exponential and logarithmic.
- Transcriptome datasets and histological profiles of critical larval stages in gilthead seabreamPublication . NAJAFPOUR, BABAK; Canario, Adelino; Power, Deborah MaryThe transcriptome of the seabream larvae farmed in different European commercial hatcheries was analysed during critical larval stages. The complementary data herein presented support the findings reported in the associated research article "Insights into core molecular changes associated with metamorphosis in gilthead seabream larvae across diverse hatcheries". Samples were collected from gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata ) hatcheries in Greece (site Gr), Italy (site It), and France (site Fr). RNA was extracted from larvae with different weights, mainly at the flexion (23 and 25 dph) and mid-metamorphosis stages (43, 50, 52, 56, and 60 dph). RNAseq libraries were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq xten. The paired-end sequenced raw reads were deposited in the NCBISRA database with the accession number PRJNA956882. Differential expression and function of genes were obtained by comparing transcriptome profiles of larvae at different developmental stages.
- The age and depositional environments of the lower Karoo Moatize Coalfield of Mozambique: insights into the postglacial history of central GondwanaPublication . Fernandes, Paulo; Hancox, Philip John; Mendes, Márcia; Pereira, Zélia; Rodrigues Lopes, Gilda Maria; Marques, João; Jorge, Raul Carlos Godinho Santos; Albardeiro, LuísThe Moatize Coalfield belongs to a network of continental Karoo basins of central Mozambique, known as the Zambezi Basin. Palynological and sedimentological studies were performed on four coal exploration boreholes to determine the age, depositional settings, and overall geological evolution of its extensive coal deposits. Clastic formations recognised in this coalfield, in ascending order, are the Vu´zi, Moatize and Matinde formations. Palynomorph assemblages indicate that the Moatize Coalfield succession ranges from Roadian (lower Guadalupian) to Changhsingian (upper Lopingian) in age. Two main depositional phases are identified, whose initiation and development are attributed to regional tectonic events and climate amelioration. The first phase formed towards the end of the deglacial period, characterised initially by fan deltas, represented by the upper Vu´zi Formation, and the shift to lake–delta environments, represented by the lower part of the Moatize Formation. This phase took place from Roadian to the Wordian times. The lake–delta settings indicate a sediment aggradation trend with high subsidence rates in the lake basin, which, together with the associated post-glacial climate amelioration, led to the accumulation of coal deposits in swamps of the delta top and lake margins. The second depositional phase took place from Capitanian to Changhsingian times and related to fluvial environments initiated by uplift that reorganised the depocenter into alluvial plains characterised by bedload dominated rivers (braided) and overbank floodplains. Results obtained in this study provide critical information for the onset of the deglaciation events and the age of coal deposits in this part of Gondwana, important for wider stratigraphic correlation of these events in Africa and throughout the Gondwana.
- Reducing invertebrate by-catch in a coastal fishery using a raised monofilament trammel netPublication . Szynaka, Monika Jadwiga; Monteiro, Pedro; Erzini, Karim; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Campos, AidaTrammel nets are one of the least selective fishing gears and are known to catch a variety of species, many of which are discarded, including important invertebrates that are considered habitat-forming species. Although there are few studies focusing on this type of by-catch, these habitat-forming species include corals and sponges that are vulnerable to disturbances from fishing activities using bottom contact gear. Experimental fishing was conducted off the port of Portimao (southern Portugal) from November 2021 to April 2022 using standard and modified trammel nets rigged to be lifted off the bottom with the objective of reducing invertebrate by-catch and impacts on the bottom habitat. The modified lifted net caught 36% less by-catch of invertebrates in numbers than the standard net, with no significant decrease of biomass and value of target species. The results obtained with the two net types are discussed, as well as the necessity for good video recording equipment that can improve sampling accuracy, and the usefulness of interviewing the fishers on net performance after experimental fishing was conducted.
- Reducing invertebrate by-catch in a coastal fishery using a raised monofilament trammel netPublication . Monika Jadwiga Szynaka; Pedro Monteiro; Karim Erzini; Jorge M.S. Gonçalves; Aida Campos; Szynaka, Monika Jadwiga; Monteiro, Pedro; Erzini, Karim; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Campos, AidaTrammel nets are one of the least selective fishing gears and are known to catch a variety of species, many of which are discarded, including important invertebrates that are considered habitat-forming species. Although there are few studies focusing on this type of by-catch, these habitat-forming species include corals and sponges that are vulnerable to disturbances from fishing activities using bottom contact gear. Experimental fishing was conducted off the port of Portimao (southern Portugal) from November 2021 to April 2022 using standard and modified trammel nets rigged to be lifted off the bottom with the objective of reducing invertebrate by-catch and impacts on the bottom habitat. The modified lifted net caught 36% less by-catch of invertebrates in numbers than the standard net, with no significant decrease of biomass and value of target species. The results obtained with the two net types are discussed, as well as the necessity for good video recording equipment that can improve sampling accuracy, and the usefulness of interviewing the fishers on net performance after experimental fishing was conducted.
- Neanderthal hunting grounds: the case of Teixoneres Cave (Spain) and Pié Lombard rockshelter (France)Publication . Uzunidis, Antigone; Blasco, Ruth; Brugal, Jean-Philip; Fourcade, Tiffanie; Ochando, Juan; Rosell, Jordi; Roussel, Audrey; Rufà, Anna; Sánchez Goñi, Maria Fernanda; Texier, Pierre-Jean; Rivals, FlorentThe study of Neanderthal-Environment interactions very often lacks precise data that match the chronogeographical frame of human activities. Here, we reconstruct Neanderthals' hunting grounds within three distinct habitats using dental microwear analysis combined with zooarchaeological data. The predation patterns toward ungulates are discussed in term of frequency (NISP/MNI) and potential meat intake (MAM). Unit IIIa of Teixoneres Cave (MIS 3, NE Spain) corresponds to a mosaic landscape, Unit IIIb was more forested, and, in the "Ensemble" II of Pie Lombard (MIS 4, SE France), forest cover dominated. At Pie Lombard, Neanderthals rely on a high diversity of taxa from closed and semi-open hunting grounds, mostly two ungulate species as well as rabbits and several bird taxa. At Teixoneres Cave, mainly open areas are exploited in summer with a predation mostly focused on large gregarious ungulates. The larger size of ungulate herds in open spaces may have allowed Neanderthals to restrict their subsistence behaviour only to very few species, in specific hunting strategies. In Unit IIIa, they do not appear to have made any selection within the most abundant species, while in Unit IIIb, they focused on aurochs and also opportunistically and heavily on newborn red deer. Neanderthal subsistence strategies seem, therefore, only partially linked to the hunting grounds they had access to. While it impacted the diversity of the prey they selected, Neanderthal groups were able to develop distinct hunting strategies within similar environments.
- Functional constituents of Colchicum lingulatum Boiss. & Spruner subsp. Rigescens K. Perss. Extracts and their biological activities with different perspectivesPublication . Yagi, Sakina; Zengin, Gokhan; Eldahshan, Omayma A.; Singab, Abdel Nasser B.; Selvi, Selami; Cetiz, Mehmet Veysi; Rodrigues, Maria João; Custódio, Luísa; Dall’Acqua, Stefano; Elhawary, Esraa A.The genus Colchicum comprises medicinal plants with important bioactive alkaloids, mainly colchicine, and phenolics. The present study was aimed to determine for the first time the phytoconstituents, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic properties of corms of C. lingulatum. Different solvents extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water) were obtained. The extracts were examined for chemical characterization, antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and cytotoxic properties. To gain more insights, in silico and network pharmacological analysis were performed. Results of GC/MS analysis of the hexane extract revealed that the extract was dominated by oxygenated diterpenes (37%). UHPLC/MS analysis of ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts indicated the presence of flavonoids as the most abundant class in addition to phenolic acids and alkaloids. The alkaloid colchicine together with its derivatives colchiceine, colchiciline and isomers were detected in the methanol and aqueous extracts. Results of antioxidant activity showed that the methanol extract exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging. At 100 mu g/mL, the ethyl acetate, methanol and aqueous extracts displayed potent cytotoxicity against the human embryonic (HEK 293), murine macrophages (RAW 264.7). In silico analyzes have investigated the potential of C. lingulatum in cancer therapy using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods. These results demonstrate C. lingulatum can be a valuable source of bioactive compounds in the development of functional applications including nutraceuticals.
- Technological transformation: the importance of E-WOM and perceived privacy in the context of opinion platformsPublication . Gelashvili, Vera; Martínez-Navalón, Juan Gabriel; de Matos, Nelson Manuel da Silva; Correia, Marisol B.Opinion platforms are the result of technological advances that have increased the importance for users to check other users' opinions about products and services before making a purchase. The aim of this research paper is twofold: (i) to analyse whether there is a direct and positive relationship between the privacy of Google Maps users and variables such as satisfaction and trust, and (ii) whether the E-WOM of Google Maps is related to the satisfaction and trust of its users. To achieve the objectives of the study, a questionnaire was collected from users of Google Maps reviews in Spain. A total of 375 valid responses were analysed using PLS-SEM methodology. In particular, structural model analysis was used for the formative and reflective variables. This study sheds new light on opinion platforms and their usefulness for efficient business management, as well as specifying the importance of user privacy for their satisfaction. The importance of E-WOM for user satisfaction, trust and privacy is emphasised. The findings underline the importance of technological advances for different stakeholders and society. This study reduces the gap in the usefulness of opinion platforms, especially Google Maps, and contributes to the academic literature on the variables studied.
- Foredune initiation and early development through biophysical interactionsPublication . Costas, Susana; Serrão Bon de Sousa, Maria Luísa; Gallego-Fernández, Juan B.; Hesp, Patrick; Kombiadou, KaterinaCoastal dunes result from complex interactions between sand transport, topography and vegetation. However, uncertainty still persists due to limited quantitative analyses, integrating plant distribution and morphologic changes. This study aims to assess the initiation and maintenance of feedback processes by analysing the early development stages of incipient foredunes, combining data on the evolution of the plant cover and communities and dune morphology. Over three years, the monitoring of a newly formed dune (1 ha plot) reveals the progressive plant colonisation and the episodic accumulation of sand around vegetated areas controlled by sediment availability. Distinct colonisation rates were observed, influenced by inherited marine conditions, namely topography and presence of beach wrack. Berm-ridges provided elevations above the critical threshold for plant colonisation and surface roughness, aiding sediment accumulation. Beach wrack above this threshold led to rapid expansion and higher plant concentration. In the initial stages, vegetation cover significantly influenced sediment accumulation patterns, with higher accumulation around areas with high plant cover and low slopes or around areas with sparse vegetation but milder slopes. As the dune system matured and complexity grew, the link between vegetation cover and accumulation became nonlinear. Mid to low coverages (5 -30 %) retained most of the observed accumulation, especially when coupled with steep slopes, resulting from positive feedbacks between vegetation, topography and sand transport. As foredune developed, vegetation cover and diversity increased while inherited morphologies grew vertically, explaining the emergence of dune ridge morphological types. Flat surfaces lacking wrack materials experienced a three-year delay in colonisation and sand accumulation, leading to the formation of terrace -type incipient foredunes. These observations underline feedback processes during the early stages of dune formation, with physical feedbacks primarily driving initiation and biophysical feedbacks prevailing in subsequent colonisation stages.
- Understanding the Atlantic influence on climate and vegetation dynamics in western Iberia over the last 2000 yearsPublication . Santos, Ricardo N.; Rodrigues, Teresa; Naughton, Filipa; Schefuß, Enno; Oliveira, Dulce; Moreno, João; Raposeiro, Pedro M.; Gil-Romera, Graciela; Morgan, Alistair; Leira, Manel; Gomes, Sandra D.; Ladd, S. Nemiah; Trigo, Ricardo M.; Ramos, Alexandre M.; Hernández, ArmandPredicting the environmental impact of climate change in extremely sensitive areas, like western Iberia, requires an understanding of the long-term interactions between climate and vegetation. Here we present a novel hightemporal resolution multiproxy analysis, including plant-wax n-alkane isotope data, pollen analysis, macrocharcoal identification, chironomid and diatom records of sediments from a mountain lake in central Portugal. We examined the evolution of the Atlantic and Mediterranean climate influences over the last two millennia, exploring their connection with major atmospheric patterns and impacts on the climatic signal and vegetation dynamics in this understudied region. During the Roman Period (RP; ca. -200 – 500 AD), the study area was characterized by grass dominance, with high temperatures indicated by chironomid composition and microcharcoal content. The increase in plant-wax δ2 H values during this period suggests a shift from wet to dry conditions. The Early Middle Ages (EMA; ca. 500–900 AD) were characterized by colder and a transition to wetter conditions, as indicated by the vegetation and plant-wax n-alkane isotope data. The Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA; ca. 900–1300 AD) was generally warm, with a short initial lake level drop. This period exhibits the maximum expansion of the Mediterranean forest over the last 2 ka and possibly proximal moisture sources. During the Little Ice Age (LIA; 1300–1850 AD), a reduction of the Mediterranean forest and a strong depletion of plant-wax δ2 H values suggest cold and wet conditions with strong influence of remote Atlantic moisture, with the coldest and wettest phase of the last 2 ka detected between 1550 and 1900 AD. The post-LIA period, from 1900 AD onwards, shows a change to the present warmer and drier conditions, in a highly anthropized landscape. We also demonstrate that major changes in climate have influenced vegetation patterns, with these changes mainly controlled by large-scale atmospheric dynamics. This underscores the sensitivity of western Iberian ecosystems to climate shifts, enriches the current regional understanding of climate-vegetation interplay, and offers valuable insights for future climate change projections.