Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2025-09"
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- Physiological response of Palaemon elegans to multi-anthropogenic stressors: assessing the impact of marine heatwaves and UV filters contained in sunscreensPublication . Autiero, Alexandro; Martínez, Ico; Montesdeoca-Esponda, Sarah; Vinagre, Catarina; Gómez, May; Navarro, Alberto; Herrera, AliciaSunscreens UV filters have been identified as emerging pollutants, representing a toxic threat to aquatic environments. In addition to that, regions with intense sunscreen usage are usually exposed to marine heat waves. This study shows the combined effects of high-water temperatures associated with sunscreen exposure in Palaemon elegans (Rathke, 1836). A full factorial experiment tested two temperature conditions (20 and 32 degrees C) and two sunscreens (one eco-friendly and the other non-eco-friendly) over 12 h. Shrimp were exposed to both stressors and sampled after 30 min (T1), 6 h (T6) and 12 h (T12). At each sampling point, metabolic biomarkers (cytochrome c oxidase, electron transport system) and oxidative stress biomarkers (glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, lipid peroxidation) were analysed in the muscle and hepatopancreas. In the muscle, metabolic biomarkers showed that at T12, ETS activity was upregulated, showing a high metabolic demand at elevated temperatures, 32 degrees C. Meanwhile, COX activity was downregulated, suggesting possible mitochondrial dysfunction due to the increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), further enhanced by exposure to chemicals present in the non-eco-friendly sunscreen. LPO activity indicated the presence of oxidative stress in organisms exposed to high temperatures, 32 degrees C, in combination with the non-eco-friendly sunscreen. In contrast, oxidative stress biomarkers such as GST and SOD showed that these antioxidant defences function effectively at 20 degrees C, but their efficacy fails at 32 degrees C, probably due to significant ROS accumulation associated with elevated temperatures and chemical pollutants. UV filters accumulation over time and temperature was analysed using UHPLC. Results show that the concentration (mu g/g) of UV filters contained in the eco-friendly and non-eco. friendly sunscreens increased over time under higher temperature (32 degrees C). This indicates that marine heat waves can enhance the uptake of certain chemicals over just 12 h of exposure.
- Mitigation measures to reduce seabird's interactions with bottom-set nets in southern IberiaPublication . Frade, Magda; Carvalho, Flávia; Samel, Vighnesh Nilesh; Oliveira, Nuno; Andrade, Joana; Gonçalves, Jorge Manuel Santos; Marçalo, AnaBycatch poses a significant threat to seabird populations globally. On the southern coast of mainland Portugal, mitigation measures were tested to reduce seabird interactions with fishing vessels. Between 2021 and 2023, this study evaluated the effectiveness of a visual deterrent (a ’scarybird’ device), an acoustic deterrent (megaphone broadcasts), alongside modification in fisher’s behaviour discard management— avoiding discards during fishing operations to minimize seabird interactions. Observers monitored 166 fishing events, comparing control and experimental treatments. Discard management was the most effective deterrent, significantly reducing seabird abundance, particularly gulls (Larus spp.) and northern gannets (Morus bassanus). Model predictions indicated a 37 % and a 47 % reduction in the abundance of gulls and northern gannets, respectively, around commercial fishing vessels when discard management was used. This practice effectively kept a substantial proportion of birds away from the vessel during operations, thereby reducing their vulnerability to bycatch. The megaphone showed limited efficacy, with higher seabird abundance in treatment groups compared to controls. The scarybird device was largely ineffective in deterring gulls unless combined with discard management but showed potential in reducing interactions with northern gannets. Importantly, all mitigation measures did not negatively impact Landings Per Unit Effort (LPUE), which facilitated their acceptance among fishers. Our findings suggest that simple modifications in the fisher’s behaviour, such as retaining fish discards and viscera onboard, could serve as a promising bycatch mitigation measure, potentially eliminating the need for additional less effective mitigation devices that fishers may be reluctant to adopt.
- Photochemical treatment strategies for okadaic acid degradation: Effects of salinity, oxidants, and UV sourcesPublication . Moreno-Andrés, Javier; Lage, Sandra; Braga, Ana Catarina; Reis Costa, PedroThis study evaluates the degradation and detoxification of okadaic acid (OA), a marine biotoxin, through UVassisted photochemical processes using environmentally relevant OA concentrations. Experiments were conducted in distilled water (DW) and artificial seawater (ASW), applying two UV sources: UV-LED (lambda(max) = 275 nm) and low-pressure mercury lamp (LP-Hg; lambda = 254 nm), combined with hydrogen peroxide (HP), sodium peroxydisulfate (PDS), and potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS). Photolysis alone was ineffective, and kinetic rate constants (k(obs); min(-1)) followed the trend UV/PMS > UV/PDS > UV/HP for both UV sources. While all treatments showed high OA removal (>79 %) in DW, degradation was significantly reduced for HP (72.8 %-89.9 %) and PDS (67.8 %-76.6 %) in ASW. In contrast, UV/PMS efficacy improved in saline media, achieving rapid and effective degradation of OA, and reaching 99 % detoxification (PP2A activity) within 15 min. The main transformation product, norokadanone (m/z 757.453), formed via decarboxylation, showed significantly reduced toxicity compared to OA. These results confirm the suitability of sulfate radical-based processes (particularly UV/ PMS) for OA mitigation in marine environments. In addition, this work highlights the critical role of water matrix composition in marine toxin treatment and supports the development of scalable, mercury-free strategies for effectively mitigating hazardous compounds in coastal environments.
- High-frequency glacial climate instability during the early pleistocene: insights from IODP site U1387 (Gulf of Cadiz)Publication . Trotta, Samanta; Duque Castaño, Monica Liliana; Rodrigues, Teresa; Voelker, Antje; Maiorano, Patrizia; Balestra, Barbara; Flores, José-Abel; Siniscalchi, Agata; Addante, Marina; Marino, MariaWe provide new high-resolution data on alkenone-derived sea surface temperature (SST) and calcareous plankton key taxa in temporally well constrained, high resolution benthic and planktonic oxygen isotope records at Integrated Ocean Drilling Program site U1387 in the Gulf of Cadiz. The investigated time interval encompasses the Early Pleistocene marine isotope stages (MIS) 48 to MIS 43. The aim is to evidence millennial climate variability during glacial phases of the “41 kyr world” and understand the impact of North Atlantic climate dynamics on the southern Portuguese margin. Neogloboquadrina pachyderma and Coccolithus pelagicus ssp. pelagicus record prominent, short-term abundance peaks concurrent with short-term SST minima and heavier values of ™18O in late MIS 48 and in the middle of MIS 46 and MIS 44. Superimposed on the obliquity and precession forcing, the wavelet analysis carried out on selected proxies (planktonic ™18O, N. pachyderma, C. pelagicus ssp. pelagicus, alkenone derived sea surface temperature) highlighted the occurrence of a higher frequency climate variability.
- Built-in smartphone LiDAR for archaeological and speleological researchPublication . Antón, Daniel; Mayoral-Valsera, Juan; Simón-Vallejo, María Dolores; Parrilla-Giráldez, Rubén; Cortés-Sánchez, MiguelLiDAR technology is reshaping cave surveying by providing detailed 3D models that enhance the accuracy of morphological and rock art digitisation and reduce subjective interpretation. This technology, in its varied forms and solely or combined with other remote sensing techniques such as photogrammetry, enriches the documentation and supports multidisciplinary research by enabling spatial analyses and virtual exploration, thus opening new possibilities in various fields such as archaeology, geology, speleology, tourism or education. In this sense, this research aimed to democratise the use of low-cost mobile LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) 3D scanning, subjected to fewer accessibility limitations than tripod-mounted Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS), in cave archaeology and speleology. For this purpose, La Pileta Cave in M´ alaga (Spain) was chosen as a case study. Declared a Spanish National Monument in 1924, the cave boasts one of the greatest collections of prehistoric art in Europe and, therefore, a reference in South Iberia, and outstands out for its varied karstic morphologies. The research methodology involved a systematic process to ensure clarity and accuracy. First, the main itinerary in La Pileta was scanned using the smartphone LiDAR technique. This was followed by a Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) survey of a specific sector within the same itinerary, with numerous morphological details of its karstic environment and important Palaeolithic rock art samples. Both the smartphone LiDAR and TLS spatial data were then validated against a Ground Control Points (GCPs) network previously established using a total station. Given the higher accuracy of TLS for graphical documentation, it was further employed as a benchmark to validate the accuracy of smartphone LiDAR. Despite its limitations, this research revealed smartphone LiDAR as a suitable technique for geometric data recording in cave archaeology and speleology. Solely or combined with TLS, mobile LiDAR can be used to document rock art panels in karstic environments, surpassing the latter technique in terms of texture quality. In addition to the accurate graphic documentation carried out in the cave sector, this research broke down the advantages and disadvantages of the smartphone LiDAR technique and provided a series of recommendations for its use in this context.
- Pulmonaria mollis: rediscovering a forgotten edible plant through phytochemical profiling and bioactivity assessmentPublication . Srećković, Nikola; Monti, Daria Maria; Liberti, Davide; Mišić, Danijela; Gašić, Uroš; Matić, Sanja Lj; Mihailović, VladimirPulmonaria species were historically valued as traditional remedies for respiratory ailments and as wild food, yet their culinary and medicinal applications have largely been forgotten. Among them, Pulmonaria mollis remains underinvestigated, with scarce phytochemical and pharmacological data. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the phenolic composition and biological activities of methanol extracts from the aerial parts (PMA) and roots (PMR) of P. mollis. UHPLC–MS4 Orbitrap analysis identified 59 compounds, mostly phenolic acids. Quantitative profiling by UHPLC/DAD/(− )HESI-MS/MS showed PMA was rich in rosmarinic acid (4508.27 μg/ g), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (605.70 μg/g), and caffeic acid (325.42 μg/g), whereas PMR contained higher levels of salvianolic acids A (2311.09 μg/g) and B (4697.98 μg/g). Along with significant antioxidant activity confirmed by standard spectrophotometric assays, where PMR showed slightly stronger radical scavenging capacity, both extracts effectively protected DNA from hydroxyl- and peroxyl-induced oxidative damage. In enzyme inhibition assays, both extracts demonstrated α-amylase inhibitory effects, while PMR showed particularly potent α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 14.00 μg/mL), outperforming acarbose. Moderate antibacterial and antifungal activities were also observed, with PMR generally more effective, whereas cytotoxicity testing indicated selective activity against A431 (IC50 values of 178 ± 11 μg/mL and 64 ± 3 μg/mL for PMA and PMR, respectively) cells without affecting normal cells. Overall, the findings highlight P. mollis as a promising candidate for development into functional foods and nutraceuticals aimed at chronic disease prevention, providing valuable phenolic compounds and biological properties that support its potential use as an alternative to the commonly used Pulmonaria officinalis.
- Analysis of TERT association with clinical outcome in meningiomas: a multi-institutional cohort study.Publication . Gui, Chloe; Wang, Justin Z.; Patil, Vikas; Landry, Alexander P.; Castelo-Branco, Pedro; Singh, Olivia; Tabori, Uri; Aldape, Kenneth; Behling, Felix; Barnholtz-Sloan, Jill S.; Horbinski, Craig; Tabatabai, Ghazaleh; Ajisebutu, Andrew; Liu, Jeff; Patel, Zeel; Yakubov, Rebeca; Kaloti, Ramneet; Ellenbogen, Yosef; Wilson, Christopher; Cohen-Gadol, Aaron; Tatagiba, Marcos; Holland, Eric C.; Sloan, Andrew E.; Chotai, Silky; Chambless, Lola B.; Gao, Andrew; Makarenko, Serge; Yip, Stephen; Nassiri, Farshad; Zadeh, GelarehBackground TERT promoter mutation is a rare biomarker in meningiomas associated with aberrant TERT expression and reduced progression-free survival. Although high TERT expression is characteristic of tumours with TERT promoter mutations, it has also been observed in tumours with wildtype TERT promoters. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and prognostic association of TERT expression in meningiomas.
- Material matters: raw material influences stone tool performance in capuchin monkeysPublication . O’Malley, Theo D. R.; Slania, Nora E.; Falótico, Tiago; Torre, Ignacio de la; Luncz, Lydia V.; Reeves, Jonathan S.; Proffitt, TomosIdentifying the conditions that facilitate and shape tool use is a central focus in the field of human evolution and animal behaviour. Particular interest lies in the use of stone hammers by nonhuman primates to open encased food sources. It is widely theorized that similar behaviours were used by early hominins and provided a foundation for the emergence of stone knapping. Environmental factors are thought to be important in shaping the emergence and progression of tool use. However, there is limited information on whether access to different types of raw tool material for hammerstones and anvils affects the reliability or efficiency with which tool users exploit encased resources. Here, we experimentally provide wild capuchins, Sapajus libidinosus, in Brazil with raw materials differing in hardness. Materials were sourced globally from primate and hominin tool use sites. We measured the reliability and efficiency with which monkeys could crack nuts when using different raw materials, and how these metrics changed over the course of the experiment. We further reported variations in the durability of different raw materials, which directly relates to how long a tool remains useable. Our results showed that differences in capuchin nut-cracking performance were largely driven by the ability of the tool material to stabilize the nut on the anvil. Furthermore, there was wide variation in anvil durability during use. These differences appeared to be driven by multiple tool characteristics, including hardness, surface texture and anvil and hammerstone mass. When compared with similar studies, our results also suggest that stone properties, particularly hardness, may have differing effects on nut-cracking outcomes across species. Overall, the differences in raw material performance and durability seen here, respectively, highlight how local raw materials may influence the selective costs and benefits of tool use behaviours, and the accumulation of tools within the landscape.
- Comparative metabolomic and bioactivity profiling of wild and greenhouse–Transplanted Plantago coronopus LPublication . Trentin, Riccardo; Rodrigues, Maria João; Santos, Alexia dos; Fernandes, Eliana; Custódio, LuísaThis study investigates the influence of growing conditions on the metabolomic composition and associated bioactivities of Plantago coronopus L. Methanol extracts were prepared from freeze-dried biomass of both wild and greenhouse-transplanted plants and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant capacity and inhibitory effects on enzymes relevant to Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase), type 2 diabetes (alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase), and obesity-related disorders (lipase). An untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed using mass spectral library matching and in silico annotation tools to characterise the chemical composition of the extracts. Extracts from wild specimens exhibited stronger antioxidant activity and cholinesterase inhibition, coinciding with higher levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, and carbohydrates. These differences were associated with increased levels of bioactive metabolites, including caffeic acid derivatives, terpenoids, and lipid-like compounds, possibly linked to environmental stress responses. Despite lower bioactivity, greenhouse-grown plants still produced valuable compounds such as acteoside, echinacoside, and plantamajoside. These findings highlight the potential of P. coronopus as a source of bioactive metabolites and suggest that manipulating environmental conditions in controlled cultivation could enhance phytochemical yields.
- Locust bean gum (LBG) – a potential excipient for inhalation purposes: excipient characterisation and in vitro and in vivo toxicological evaluationPublication . Pontes, Jorge Filipe; Guerreiro, Filipa; da Silva, Joana Pinto; Almeida, Maria; Rosso, Annalisa; Rosa da Costa, Ana M; Agusti, Géraldine; Lollo, Giovanna; Gaspar, Maria Manuela; Grenha, AnaDry powders proposed for lung drug delivery typically involve excipients not approved for inhalation. The physicochemical characterisation of excipients is informative regarding their interaction with different body structures. Locust Bean Gum (LBG) has been proposed for diverse applications, including inhalation, benefiting from targeting ability towards phagocytic cells owing to the presence of mannose moieties. The aim of the present study was to characterise the physicochemical parameters of LBG and, for the first time, draw a toxicological profile for this excipient. LBG from three different suppliers was evaluated and eventual changes on polymer characteristics induced by purification and microparticle production were assessed, which were observed to not occur. The commercial samples showed identical FTIR spectra, as well as TGA and DSC profiles, Mw around 3.60 × 106 Da, and Tg near − 39 ◦C. All microparticles presented similar morphology and Feret diameters around 4 μm. In vitro assays performed on respiratory (A549) cells evidenced no impact of LBG microparticles on cell viability (> 80 %) when biorelevant concentrations (≈ 0.1 mg/mL) were used. Additionally, inhalation of LBG microparticles by mice provided indications of a safe profile, without induction of allergic reactions. The basis is laid for further exploration of this material in inhalation.