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- 2024 Annual meeting of the international network on ectopic calcification (INTEC)—abstract proceedingsPublication . Cancela, M. Leonor; Alouane, Ahmed; Bertelli, Pietro M.; Camacho, Antonio; Derudder, Robbe; Forlino, Antonella; Harris, Matthew P.; Jacinto, Marta; Lengyel, Imre; Link, Wolfgang; Murshed, Monzur; Pasch, Andreas; Kaliya-Perumal, Arun-Kumar; Quaglino, Daniela; Qin, Zihan; Sabbagh, Yves; Seminari, Elena; Villar, Marcos M.; Winkler, Christoph; Vanakker, Olivier M.The 3rd Annual Meeting of the International Network on Ectopic Calcification (INTEC) was held in Faro, Portugal on 12–13 September 2024. This hybrid meeting brought together researchers and clinicians focused on the molecular, (patho)physiological, and clinical aspects of ectopic calcification in hereditary and acquired conditions, as well as in aging. The findings presented in this year’s meeting emphasised the complexity of the field, offering new insights into both mechanistic pathways and translational hurdles. The abstracts of this year’s meeting are collected in this conference paper, with permission from the corresponding authors.
- Carreer profiles: options and insightsPublication . Krug, LilianI hold a bachelor’s degree in oceanography (2004) from the Federal University of Paraná, Brazil; a master’s degree in remote sensing (2008) from the National Institute for Space Research, Brazil; a postgraduate specialization in observational oceanography (2010) from the Nippon Foundation-Partnership for Observation of the Global Ocean (NF-POGO) Centre of Excellence in Observational Oceanography at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, Bermuda; and a doctorate in marine and environmental sciences (2018) from the University of Algarve, Portugal. Since my undergraduate studies, I have worked on various applications of satellite remote sensing and modeled data to ocean and coastal research, including shallow water bathymetry, coral bleaching prediction, sea-air CO2 exchange, and phytoplankton phenology and variability, as well as their environmental drivers.
- Chemical and bioactivity profiling of the invasive macroalga rugulopteryx okamurae collected in southern Portugal supporting biotechnological valorisation approachesPublication . D’Unienville, Amandine; Lasnel, Lucas; Macquigneau, Wadi; Trentin, Riccardo; Pais, Adriana C. S.; Rodrigues, Maria João; Santos, Sónia A. O.; Custódio, LuísaThe invasive brown macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae has rapidly expanded across the Mediterranean–Atlantic region, generating severe ecological impacts. Nevertheless, the considerable amount of biomass available creates opportunities for valorisation within circular bioeconomy frameworks. This study provides an integrated characterization of the chemical profile and bioactivities of freshly collected floating biomass of R. okamurae from southern Portugal. Proximate composition was determined, and lipophilic (hexane) and hydrophilic (water) extracts were analyzed by GC–MS and spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity was assessed using complementary radical-scavenging, reducing power, and metal-chelation assays, and enzyme inhibition was evaluated against targets associated with neurodegenerative, metabolic, and dermatological disorders. The lipophilic fraction was dominated by long-chain alkanes (≈101 mg/g extract) and sterols, particularly fucosterol (≈43 mg/g extract), but exhibited low radical-scavenging capacity (no EC50 reached in DPPH or ABTS assays), and no relevant enzyme inhibition. In contrast, the water extract contained measurable phlorotannins (6.61 mg PGE/g extract) and showed moderate antioxidant (ABTS: EC50 = 5.17 mg/mL; FRAP: EC50 = 0.78 mg/mL) and enzyme inhibition activities (BChE: IC50 = 5.17 mg/mL; tyrosinase: IC50 = 0.78 mg/mL). Compared with previous studies on R. okamurae, this work applies a systematic fractionation of biomass from southern Portugal into polar and non-polar fractions and, for the first time, correlates the resulting detailed chemical profiles with multiple bioactivities. This approach revealed a clear functional differentiation between fractions, with bioactivity being mainly associated with polar metabolites. Overall, these findings highlight the value of structured extraction strategies for biomass valorisation and support the sustainable management of R. okamurae.
- Depth fluctuations of mediterranean outflow water along its northward propagation during the late pleistocenePublication . Chen, Xinyang; Wu, Jiawang; Pang, Xiaolei; Dang, Haowen; Zhong, Lifeng; Yu, Jimin; Colin, Christophe; Liu, Zhifei; Lange, Gert J. de; Kaboth‐Bahr, Stefanie; Xuan, Chuang; Ikeda, Hisashi; Herbert, Timothy D.; Huang, Huai‐Hsuan May; Zarikian, Carlos A. Alvarez; Abrantes, Fatima; Hodell, David A.Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) critically influences the Atlantic Meridional OverturningCirculation, yet its northward transport dynamics along the Iberian Margin remain unclear. Using terrigenousgrain‐size sortable silt and benthic foraminiferal carbon isotopes from two depth‐strategic sites (U1389:644 m vs. U1588: 1,339 m), we constrain MOW's northward depth fluctuations over the last 250 kyr. Resultsshow that MOW progressively deepened from ∼100 to 60 ka, then stabilized—synchronized with theprevalence of millennial‐scale climate variability. During interglacials, MOW directly influenced U1588,while deepened below this site during glacials. Flow speed gradients between Sites U1389 and U1588 showpronounced precession cycles. At precession maxima—Northern Hemisphere summer insolation minima—when flow intensified, MOW underwent enhanced mixing and dilution during northward transport. Thisresults from increased density contrasts between MOW and ambient waters, indicating deeper MOWpenetration. We demonstrate precessional forcing on both the strength and depth of MOW's northward propagation.
- Editors' Corner: Blubber thickness in cetaceansPublication . Canario, AdelinoWang Y, Zhang Q, Xu Q, Zhang H, Liu X, Yang G. Cetacean-specific GPR12 mutation is functionally associated with blubber thickening. Gene, volume 968, 10 October 2025, 149734. https://doi.org/10.1016 /j.gene.2025.149734. The blubber, a thick layer of fatty tissue, is a key adaptation in aquatic mammals, providing energy storage and facilitating buoyancy and locomotion (Berta, 2023). Blubber thickening has evolved independently in cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), raising questions about the genetic basis of this adaptation. Wang et al. (2025) reasoned that G protein-coupled receptor genes associated with the regulation of lipid metabolism could be involved, and homed in on GPR12, whose deficiency in mice leads to obesity and dyslipidemia (Bjursell et al., 2006)
- Feature papers in biochemPublication . Aureliano, Manuel; Ma, BuyongBiochemistry, or the chemistry of life, is an interdisciplinary science that uses strategies and methods from all exact and natural sciences. In that sense, Biochemistry is a discipline known to be challenging for students, typically due to the extent and complexity of the content [1]. However, in the last 10 years, at least fifteen Nobel Prizes in Chemistry, Physiology and Medicine have been awarded in the field and/or for applications of Biochemistry, which reflects the importance of this area of knowledge in contemporary societies [2–7]. Biochemistry connects essential metal ions such as Mg2+, Ca2+, Na+ and Fe2+, and organic compounds, such as nucleic acids, sugars, lipids and proteins, to make biological systems possible, representing a unique platform for interdisciplinary collaborations in teaching and in research [8,9]. Moreover, in addition to biomolecules (proteins, nucleic acids, sugars and lipids), small molecules are necessary for cellular homeostasis, for example, carbonate ions and phosphate ions, responsible for stabilizing physiological pH (close to 7.0) or antioxidants that prevent the effects of cellular stress, as well as due to environmental pollutants, such as metals and/or microplastics [10–12].
- Feature papers in BioChem, 2nd EditionPublication . Aureliano, Manuel; Ma, BuyongAs mentioned in the Editorial of the first edition of the Special Issue on “Feature Papers in BioChem”, biochemistry acts as a key cog in the “clock of the knowledge, permitting that wheels from several science areas move each other” [1]. Moreover, the understanding of life on earth is a perpetual topic in biochemistry, with boundaries dependent on the specificities of each time period and scientific environment [1]. Thus, following the first edition, this Special Issue on “Feature Papers in BioChem, 2nd Edition” still emphases interdisciplinary research in diverse and interconnected scientific areas, with a majority from molecular medicine, cell biology and of course biochemistry (Table 1). Among these scientific fields, a wide range of topics were addressed, as expressed by the diversity of the titles and keywords that can be found in each contribution.
- Filling the gaps: new seaweed distribution records from the coast of Mozambique, Western Indian OceanPublication . Bandeira, Salomao Olinda; Américo, Maria Josefa; Santos, Rui; Amone-Mabuto, Manuela; Dias, ValeraThis paper revises and updates information on the seaweed flora of Mozambique. Out of 367 recorded species, 194 species belong to Rhodophyta, 49 to Heterokontophyta and 124 to Chlorophyta. These species represent sampling at a handful of sites, mainly at sandstone areas in southern Mozambique. Forty-seven new species were added to the list, from field expeditions carried out after 2007, covering sandstone rocky pools, crevices between rock platforms in the midlittoral transition zone to the sublittoral fringe and the sublittoral zone. This update includes a record of the kelp Ecklonia radiata in Zavora, Inhambane. Seaweed specimens were deposited at the LMU Herbarium, Eduardo Mondlane University. A value of 6.49 of the Cheney Index indicates a rather tropical seaweed flora for Mozambique. This seaweed flora update is important from a biodiversity census perspective, as well as identifying species with economic potential.
- High variability in aggression and habituation to the mirror assay in ornamental Siamese fighting fish Betta splendensPublication . Coelho da Silva, Melina; Canario, Adelino; Hubbard, Peter; Cardoso, Sara D.; Gonçalves, DavidUnderstanding consistent inter-individual variability in animal behaviour, known as personality traits, is essential for exploring the mechanisms and evolutionary consequences of behavioural diversity. Aggressive behaviour influences survival, resource acquisition, and reproduction, so clarifying individual differences can enhance our understanding of ecological dynamics and improve experimental design accuracy in behavioural studies. In this study, ornamental male Betta splendens, a model organism for aggression research, were analysed for intra- and inter-individual variability in aggressive responses to their mirror image—a standard method for assessing aggression in fish—once per week, and their consistency was evaluated over three consecutive weeks There were significant differences in aggressive behaviour across individuals, with coefficients of variation ranging from 29 to 60%. While most fish exhibited the full suite of aggressive displays, some showed no aggressive behaviour, while others only displayed threat behaviours but did not advance to the attacks. The consistency of individual threat and attack behaviours varied, but repeatability was high overall (intra-class correlation coefficients≥0.5), indicating that individual fish have different levels of aggression. There was habituation to the mirror assay, with aggression decreasing significantly by the second week, though the degree of habituation, a form of learning, varied among individuals in some behaviours. Air-breathing frequency correlated positively with aggression behaviours and can be considered an indicator to infer aggression level in this species. These results indicate that inter-individual variation in aggressive behaviour and habituation to repeated testing using the mirror assay should be considered in aggression studies using B. splendens and potentially in other species.
- How institutions can better support international early-career researchersPublication . Lubośny, Marek; Annasawmy, Pavanee; Martínez, Itziar Burgués; Dermastia, Timotej Turk; Espasandín, Lucía; Fernandes, Joana Filipa; Morente Fontela, Marcos; Galobart, Cristina; Garcia-Garin, Odei; Gregório, Inês; Monferrer, Natalia Llopis; López-Acosta, María; Mazurkiewicz, Mikołaj; Piñeiro-Juncal, Nerea; Schadeberg, Amanda; Scopetani, Costanza; Sowa, Anna; Suaria, Giuseppe; Tsiola, AnastasiaTo build and establish essential international networks, gain international experience and secure a position on the academic tenure track, early-career researchers are increasingly seeking employment opportunities abroad1,2. Relocation to a foreign country — particularly one with a different culture and language — is an inherently challenging undertaking. Early-career researchers often encounter difficulties even before departing. A typical example would be the frustrating cycle between residence permit and employment contract: in many cases, obtaining a visa or residence permit is necessary to secure an employment contract. However, without proof of employment and a rental agreement, obtaining a visa can be difficult. In situations in which institutions fail to provide specialized and dedicated support, delays in the researcher’s arrival may occur that limit the ability of the early-career researcher to achieve and show their full potential within the host institution.