Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-05"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 93
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- The use of egg quality parameters to evaluate the effect of a diet supplemented with algae and antioxidants in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)Publication . Ramos Júdez, Sandra; Fatsini Fernández, Elvira; Marrero Alemán, Carlos; García-Pichel, Candela; Parente, Pedro; Medina, D.; Castro, C.; Cabrita, Elsa; Oliveira, CatarinaEnhancing egg quality can be achieved by improving breeders’ diet through the antioxidant content, as oxidative stress could adversely affect egg quality. Micro- and macroalgae species are natural sources of antioxidants and other essential nutrients that can be incorporated in fish feeds. In this study the quality of Scophthalmus maximus eggs were compared between breeders fed a commercial (non-supplemented) diet and those fed a diet enriched with 5 % Arthrospira platensis and 1 % of the iodine-rich Laminaria digitata, further fortified with antioxidants (astaxanthin, vit. C and E) (supplemented diet). Several egg parameters were evaluated. Hierarchical clustering of all the egg batches grouped them into two main categories: higher (≥ 50 % buoyancy) and lower-quality eggs (≤ 30 % buoyancy). The expression of transcripts related to egg quality (ctsz, ccna2), oxidative response (nrf2, cat), and apoptosis (bax, casp3a) was also measured in batches categorized by quality, as well as in higher-quality batches from females fed the commercial versus supplemented diet. Eggs of higher quality (greater buoyancy), regardless of females’ diet, had significantly higher total antioxidant status (TAS) levels (P < 0.05), suggesting TAS as an egg quality marker. The expression of ccna2 was upregulated, while ctsz showed almost no expression in higher-quality eggs but was down-regulated in lower-quality eggs, highlighting their potential as markers of egg quality in turbot. Higher-quality eggs from females fed the supplemented diet exhibited higher TAS, lower superoxide dismutase activity, and an upregulation of nrf2 compared to higher-quality eggs from non supplemented females. This suggests a more efficient cellular mechanism to restore oxidative homeostasis. Supplementing the diet increased the likelihood of achieving ≥80 % buoyant eggs and overall cumulative egg production, contributing to more effective and sustainable turbot farming.
- Improving benzyl – isothiocyanate bioaccessibility in white mustard (Sinapis alba) sauce through spray – drying microencapsulation and pickering emulsionsPublication . Rincón, E.; Grenha, Ana; da Silva, Joana Pinto; Espinosa, E.; Lafont-Déniz, F.; Almeida, M. P.; Cámara-Martos, F.This study compared the bioaccessibility and behaviour of different formulations of benzyl - isothiocyanate (benzyl - ITC) prepared using different approaches and the INFOGEST in vitro digestion protocol. The aim was to improve the low bioaccessibility of this bioactive compound caused by its lipophilic properties. Spray-dried microparticles were prepared using a matrix of either mannitol or maltodextrin, and compared with Pickering emulsions produced with cellulose nanofibres. The different systems were characterised and their ability to associate benzyl - ITC determined. The in vitro digestion characteristics provided by the different systems was evaluated. Microencapsulation of benzyl-ITC by spray-drying was not successful when mannitol was used as excipient, while maltodextrin resulted in a production yield around 70 % with an ITC association efficiency up to 75 %. Nevertheless, significant improvement of benzyl- ITC bioaccessibility in a mustard sauce was not achieved. In contrast, the formulation of benzyl - ITC in a Pickering emulsion prepared with cellulose nanofibres showed an association efficiency of around 100 % and high bioaccessibility with values up to 77 %. The chemical similarity between the mixed micelles formed for lipid absorption in the small intestine, and the structure of cellulose nanofibre emulsion could justify the observed improvement.
- eDNA metabarcoding of marine invertebrate communities at RO desalination plant outfalls in CyprusPublication . Grammatiki, K.; Jonge, N. de; Nielsen, J. L.; García-Gomez, S. C.; Avramidi, E.; Lymperaki, Myrsini; Marcou, M.; Ioannou, G.; Papatheodoulou, M.; Dargent, O.; Xevgenos, D.; Hesselsøe, M.; Küpper, F. C.Seawater desalination has become an essential part of the drinking water supply of many arid countries in the world - including Cyprus and the wider Mediterranean - Middle Eastern region. In this study, the microinvertebrate fauna near the outfall sites of 2 seawater desalination plants, Dhekelia and Larnaca, in Cyprus was assessed by microscopy-based classical taxonomy and eDNA metabarcoding. The results show impact of desalination brine discharge on marine benthic communities. The community structure and the impact of abiotic factors was more prominent in the sediments than the water, and the alpha diversity results from metabarcoding were consistent with the results from microscopy but differed taxonomically.
- Water quality for bivalve molluscs and consumer safety: application of novel and adapted multimetric indices in a coastal lagoon system exposed to wastewater dischargesPublication . Cravo, Alexandra; Barbosa, Ana; Borlido Oliveira Lima, Maria João; Ferreira, Cristina; Correia, Cátia; Matos, André Filipe; Jacob, José; Caetano, SandraWater quality degradation associated with wastewater discharges compromises the production of marine living resources. Water quality indices (WQIs) are relevant tools for water quality management, but most applications are limited to the suitability of freshwater for drinking. In this study, a novel WQI was developed to assess the effects of urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharges on the water quality in Ria Formosa coastal lagoon, targeting the condition of bivalve molluscs and consumer food safety (WQIB). The application of WQIB was compared with an adapted version of the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index, using similar parameters (CCME-WQIB). WQIB and CCME-WQIB were applied to four areas next to WWTPs, over a 2-year period. WQIB integrated seven sub-indices (salinity, unionized ammonia, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, chlorophyll-a, Escherichia coli and toxigenic phytoplankton), using a weighted additive aggregation function. Water quality ranged from very poor to very good and generally improved with distance from the effluent discharge points, and during the cold period. Highest influence of WWTP discharges was detected in areas under weak hydrodynamics. In areas under strong hydrodynamics, poor water quality was caused by the advection of toxigenic phytoplankton from adjacent coastal waters during the warm period. Although correlated, the use of WQIB should be preferred over CCME-WQIB due its greater sensitivity, use of weighted parameters and application at the sampling event scale. Our novel index extends the limited number of WQIs applied to marine systems and can be adapted to other systems and water use purposes.
- Skin mucus and blood plasma as non-lethal sources of malnutrition protein biomarkers in meagre (Argyrosomus regius)Publication . Oliveira, Joana; Raposo de Magalhães, Cláudia; Schrama, Denise; Rodrigues, Pedro M.; Barata, Marisa; Soares, Florbela; Pousão-Ferreira, Pedro; Oliva-Teles, Aires; Couto, AnaDeveloping dietary formulations for aquaculture that meet nutritional requirements is essential to production, as nutrition is key for fish growth and health. However, novel dietary formulations may induce malnutrition, which is complex to evaluate and often requires animal sacrifice. Therefore, finding reliable non-lethal biomarkers to diagnose malnutrition in fish is important. This study aimed to obtain vital information on potential non-lethal biomarkers from blood plasma and skin mucus to assess the fish's nutritional status using meagre (Argyrosomus regius) juveniles. For that purpose, a nutritional challenge was performed with fish fed a fish meal (FM) and fish- oil (FO) based control diet (55.1 % FM; 11 % FO, CTRL), a challenging diet (15 % FM; 7 % FO, CD), and a highly challenging diet (5 % FM; 5 % FO, ED), which, despite being nutritionally complete, may pose digestive and physiological challenges to carnivorous species. Diets significantly affected blood parameters, except for leukocyte counts, peroxidase activity, and immunoglobulin levels. Overall, blood parameters showed potential as non-lethal biomarkers to accurately identify signs of malnutrition. Meagre's plasma and skin mucus proteomes provided crucial information on the species' reaction to malnutrition, and 29 proteins connected to various physiological functions such as metabolism, development and immunity showed potential as non-lethal biomarkers. Significance: The significance of this study lies in the establishment of potential non-lethal biomarkers for diagnosing malnutrition in fish. The results demonstrate that immunological, haematological, and biochemical parameters measured in fish blood can reveal signs of nutritional deficiencies. The findings further highlight that the proteomes of plasma and skin mucus provide valuable information about the fish's nutritional status. Notably, 29 proteins identified in this study, associated with various physiological functions, exhibit biomarker potential and warrant consideration in future research in the field of aquaculture nutrition. Moreover, the research provides critical insights into the proteome of meagre (Argyrosomus regius), enhancing our understanding of the species and contributing to the future improvement of its aquaculture production.
- Revisiting the thermal alteration of buried bonePublication . Gallo, Giulia; Aldeias, Vera; Stahlschmidt, MareikeThe impacts of heat exposure directly on bone material are widely acknowledged, yet a comprehensive understanding regarding the degree of thermal alteration experienced by bone buried beneath a combustion feature or fire event remains poorly described. Such potential incidental burning below a surface fire presents challenges for distinguishing between the intentional remains of fire use behaviors from haphazard heat exposure. In this study, we address the extent to which buried bone material can undergo alteration under concentrated high-heat conditions, achieved through using a fire simulator operating at 950 degrees C for a duration of 6 h simulating a high temperature hearth fire. Here we describe the degree of carbonization and calcination in bone samples buried at three depths (-2,-6, and-10 cm) in gravel and a mixed gravel and fine sand substrate. We find that, at the sustained temperature of 950 degrees C, plus heating and cooling time, calcination of bone material can occur at shallow depths of-2 cm under the fire simulator, whereas at-6 cm only one sample of each experimental condition is recognized to be fully structurally and chemically calcined. Despite only two samples calcining at this depth, several other bones buried at-6 cm displayed pale and light coloration, experiencing the elimination of organics without undergoing true calcination, likely due to the prolonged exposure to heat removing the organic component. At-10 cm depth, bone material centered under the heat source became carbonized, while buried bones positioned at the periphery of the heat source are recognized only be partially thermally altered. Notably, neither gravel nor a mixture of gravel and sand substrates create a detectable reduction environment in the spectroscopic analyses of the buried bones. Our findings highlight that not only can post-depositional heating significantly impact buried faunal material, but that in this way humans can act as post-depositional agents.
- MnCr2O4: A suitable material with significant optical response for optoelectronic devicesPublication . Hajji, Ala Ben Abderrazak; Wali, Mouna; Dhahri, Radhia; Kammoun, Souha; Dhahri, Essebti; Mariano, José; Jemmali, MosbahIn current high-tech electronics, a power-efficient and compact light source has an essential role to play in the development of non-destructive and non-invasive detection applications as well as for advancing of technological innovation. In this order, an innovative investigation has been taken into consideration in this paper to characterize the optoelectronic behaviour of MnCr2O4 spinel chromite compound based on both experimental and theoretical approaches. The room temperature X-ray diffraction gives rise to a single-phase spinel compound which crystallises in the cubic system with the space group (Fd 3 m). Thanks to the UV-Visible/NIR absorbance and reflectance measurement, the direct semiconducting behaviour (Edg = 2.41 eV) of chromite sample have been verified. The spectral behaviour of absorbance proves that the sample under study exhibit a broad absorption in the visible range. The high localized state density is confirmed by the significant high Urbach energy value that was observed (Eu = 2.86 eV). Various optical parameter such as refractive index, extinction coefficient, dielectric real and imaginary optical permittivity have been analysed to more investigate experimentally the optoelectronic behaviour of the studied sample. Owing to the Wemple Di-Domenico model additional dispersive parameters have been identified. A comprehensive analysis of the crystal field theory based on the theoretical evaluation of the algebraic Racah tensor was taken into consideration on trivalent chromium Cr3+ (3 d3) according to the Oh symmetry site.The demonstrated results are undoubtedly a road to achieving high-power conversion efficiency making our material promising for multitude optoelectronic application.
- West side story: regional inter‐troop variation in baboon bark‐stripping at gorongosa national park, MozambiquePublication . Biro, Dora; Muschinski, Jana; Hammond, Philippa; Bobe, René; Bamford, Marion K.; Capelli, Cristian; de Oliveira Coelho, João; Farassi, Rassina; Lüdecke, Tina; Martinez, Felipe I.; Silva, Maria Joana Ferreira; Carvalho, Susana; Mathe, JacintoObjectives: Baboons possess sophisticated physical and social cognitive abilities; hence, the lack of evidence to date of largescale behavioral variation in these primates is puzzling. Here we studied a candidate for such variation—the stripping of bark from Acacia robusta trees for consumption of the sap and soft tissue underneath—in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique. Materials and Methods: We surveyed an area inhabited by ~60 troops of chacma baboons, recording the availability and characteristics of the target trees, as well as the presence or absence of bark-stripping at 45 habitat plots distributed across a grid covering an area of ~300km2. Results: Camera traps confirmed the presence of baboons at all habitat plots, and we identified regional clumping in the distribution of the behavior, a pattern consistent across two consecutive years. Proportion and mean height/width of A. robusta did not predict whether bark-stripping behavior was present at a given site, nor did broader ecological variables such as habitat type and distance to the nearest water source. However, stripping sites had significantly higher numbers of A. robusta than non-stripping sites, and within a given bark-stripping site, baboons preferred to strip taller and wider trees among those available. Discussion: The prominent geographical clustering we uncovered may have been driven by opportunity (i.e., the prevalence of A. robusta at a given site), but is also consistent with a possible (non-mutually exclusive) cultural interpretation. We propose avenues for future research on Gorongosa's baboons to better quantify the relative contributions of ecology, genetics, and social.
- West Side Story: regional inter‐troop variation in baboon bark‐stripping at gorongosa national park, MozambiquePublication . Biro, Dora; Muschinski, Jana; Hammond, Philippa; Bobe, René; Bamford, Marion K.; Capelli, Cristian; de Oliveira Coelho, João; Farassi, Rassina; Lüdecke, Tina; Martinez, Felipe I.; Silva, Maria Joana Ferreira; Mathe, Jacinto; Carvalho, SusanaObjectives: Baboons possess sophisticated physical and social cognitive abilities; hence, the lack of evidence to date of large-scale behavioral variation in these primates is puzzling. Here we studied a candidate for such variation—the stripping of barkfrom Acacia robusta trees for consumption of the sap and soft tissue underneath—in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique.Materials and Methods: We surveyed an area inhabited by ~60 troops of chacma baboons, recording the availability andcharacteristics of the target trees, as well as the presence or absence of bark-stripping at 45 habitat plots distributed across a gridcovering an area of ~300 km 2 .Results: Camera traps confirmed the presence of baboons at all habitat plots, and we identified regional clumping in the distri-bution of the behavior, a pattern consistent across two consecutive years. Proportion and mean height/width of A. robusta did notpredict whether bark-stripping behavior was present at a given site, nor did broader ecological variables such as habitat type anddistance to the nearest water source. However, stripping sites had significantly higher numbers of A. robusta than non-strippingsites, and within a given bark-stripping site, baboons preferred to strip taller and wider trees among those available.Discussion: The prominent geographical clustering we uncovered may have been driven by opportunity (i.e., the prevalenceof A. robusta at a given site), but is also consistent with a possible (non-mutually exclusive) cultural interpretation. We proposeavenues for future research on Gorongosa's baboons to better quantify the relative contributions of ecology, genetics, and social.
- Clinical significance of histologic healing in IBD: evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCT) and real world (RW) dataPublication . Estevinho, Maria Manuela; Roseira, Joana; Teixeira, Pedro Vilela; Dignass, Axel; Magro, FernandoHistologic mucosal healing (HMH) has emerged as a crucial target in managing inflammatory bowel disease, complementing the established goal of endoscopic mucosal healing. This review evaluates the significance of HMH in both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). In UC, strong evidence shows that HMH correlates with improved long-term outcomes, including reduced hospitalization rates, and decreased need for corticosteroids and colectomy. Histologic healing is increasingly being incorporated as an endpoint in RCTs. Small-molecule therapies, such as S1P modulators and Jak inhibitors, have demonstrated particular efficacy in achieving HMH in UC. Real-world evidence (RWE) further supports HMH's utility as a predictive marker for favorable clinical outcomes in UC. In CD, however, HMH's role is less clear, given challenges in assessing and standardizing histologic healing. RCTs, such as SERENITY and VIVID, show that advanced therapies can achieve HMH in CD, though inconsistent histologic scoring and remission criteria complicate conclusions. Some studies suggest that histologic remission at induction may predict sustained remission, but real-world data offer mixed results regarding its prognostic value. This review provides an overview of current literature, emphasizing the need for standardized histologic assessment and extended studies, particularly for CD, while affirming HMH's growing importance in achieving deeper remission in UC. (c) 2024 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.