CCM2-Artigos (em revistas ou actas indexadas)
URI permanente para esta coleção:
Conteúdo: Artigos em revistas ou actas de conferências indexadas
a) incluídas na
a) incluídas na
- » Web of Science
- (v. www.webofknowledge.com)
- » ERIH
- (European Research Index for Humanities: erihplus)
- » Latindex
- (Sistema Regional de Información para Revistas Científicas de América Latina, Caribe, España y Portugal: latindex.org/latindex/)
- » Scielo
- (Scientific Electronic Library Online: www.scielo.org)
- » Scopus SJR
- (SCImago Journal & Country Rank: www.scimagojr.com)
Navegar
Entradas recentes
- 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.
- Assessing the bioactive potential of Lysimachia atropurpurea extracts using HPLC-MS/MS, in vitro and in silico analysisPublication . Ak, Gunes; Nilofar, Nilofar; Saka, Enver; Uba, Abdullahi Ibrahim; Rodrigues, Maria João; Fernandes, Eliana; Custódio, Luísa; Yildiztugay, Evren; Yapıcı, Ismail; Gulcin, Ilhami; Mahmoud, Orchid A.; Eldahshan, Omayma A.; Singab, Abdel Nasser B.; Wu, Yimao; Li, Meng-Yao; Zengin, GokhanThe genus Lysimachia is of great interest to the scientific community, especially in terms of its potential anticancer effects. In this study, the aerial parts and roots of Lysimachia atropurpurea L. were collected and extracted by maceration using solvents of ethyl acetate (EA), ethanol (EtOH), ethanol/water, and water. The biological activities of the extracts, including antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and anticancer effects, were evaluated using various assays. High-performance liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis revealed a total of 32 compounds in the extracts of L. atropurpurea. The roots showed significantly the highest antioxidant activity compared to the aerial part. In case of cholinesterase inhibition, the aerial parts of the EtOH extract showed the highest acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activity, measuring 3.05 mg galatamine equivalent (GALAE)/g. The EtOH and EtOH/water extracts exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity, reducing the viability of human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cancer cells to as low as 4.86–6.33 %. The results of network pharmacology and molecular docking suggest that the extract of L. atropurpurea exerts inhibitory effects on hepatocellular carcinoma through the modulation of SRC, PI3K, and HSP90, while it demonstrates potential inhibitory activity against neuroblastoma by targeting SRC, PI3K, HSP90, ESR1, AKT, and other related targets. In conclusion, the L. atropurpurea extracts showed potential antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and selective anticancer effects, which support their potential for further research as therapeutic agents in drug development.
- Ecotype impacts agronomic and nutritional traits of Sarcocornia perennis under saline greenhouse cultivation conditionsPublication . Fernandes, Eliana; Trentin, Riccardo; Rodrigues, Maria João; Castañeda-Loaiza, Viana; Guerreiro Pereira, Catarina Alexandra; Sisay, Tesfaye Asmare; Standing, Dominic; Sagi, Moshe; Shpigel, Muki; Custódio, LuísaThis study evaluated the effects of two Sarcocornia sp. ecotypes on the agronomic and nutritional traits of vegetatively propagated plants grown under different salinity levels. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed both as Sarcocornia perennis. Commercial rooting treatments significantly improved the cutting success. Productivity peaked at the first harvest, with ecotypes Sp_E1 and Sp_E2 reaching maximum yields at 22.6 and 15.8 g/L salinity, respectively. Productivity declined at higher salinity, especially in Sp_E1. Ecotype Sp_E2 had better regrowth and resilience under moderate salinity, making it more suitable for extended cultivation cycles. Both ecotypes were rich in moisture, ash, essential minerals, and fiber, offering nutritious low-fat vegetables, though their high sodium content suggests moderate intake in sodium-restricted diets. Antinutritional factors were detected only at the third harvest, highlighting the need for careful evaluation in long-term cultivation. Overall, S. perennis shows promise for commercial cultivation in saline environments, with ecotype Sp_E2 being the more resilient option.
- Impact of feed availability on growth performance and amino acid utilization of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) at elevated temperaturePublication . Le, Minh-Hoang; Espe, Marit; Conceição, Luís E. C.; Nguyen, Minh V.; Yúfera, Manuel; Engrola, Sofia; Jordal, Ann-Elise O.; Pham, Hung Q.; Rønnestad, IvarIntroduction: This study explored the effects of increased water temperatures and limited feeding on the growth, feed utilization, and nutrient retention in juvenile cobia (Rachycentron canadum). Methods: Juvenile cobia, approximately 5.0 g in body weight, were distributed across two temperature conditions: 34°C, to mimic a global warming scenario, and 30°C, the current local summer average, as controls. The setup included eighteen 200-liter tanks, with 20 fish per tank. Within each temperature regime, triplicate tanks received one of three feeding levels (55%, 75%, and 95% of satiation as determined at 30°C) over a six-week period. Results: The findings indicated that cobia exhibited the poorest growth performance at the elevated temperature (34°C) and the lowest feeding level (55%). These conditions also correlated with the lowest protein efficiency ratio and feed intake. The feed conversion ratio worsened with increased temperature and feeding levels, while protein production values decreased at higher temperatures. A lower feeding level caused a lower total lipid retention but led to increased retention of whole body essential amino acids. Discussion: After six weeks, a 24-hour post-prandial analysis showed selective retention of some amino acids in muscle and plasma, but significantly higher retention in the liver at the higher temperature. Only a few amino acids' retention was influenced by feeding level. These results suggest that temperature and feeding levels alter the prioritization of amino acid metabolism and retention, as well as the utilization of energy and substrates across different organs of the cobia.
- Trophic ecology and coastal niche partitioning of two sympatric shark species in the Azores (mid-Atlantic)Publication . Priester, C. Robert; Dierking, Jan; Hansen, Thomas; Abecasis, David; Fontes, Jorge M.; Afonso, PedroThe exploitation of marine resources has caused drastic declines of many large predatory fishes. Amongst these, sharks are of major conservation concern due to their high vulnerability to overfishing and their ecological role as top predators. The 2 protected and endangered shark species tope Galeorhinus galeus and smooth hammerhead Sphyrna zygaena use overlapping coastal areas around the globe as essential fish habitats, but data to assess their trophic ecology and niche partitioning are scarce. We provide the first comparative assessment of the trophic ecology, ontogenetic shifts, and niche partitioning of the co-occurring tope and juvenile smooth hammer head around the Azores Islands, mid-north Atlantic, based on δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S (CNS) stable isotope analysis of muscle tissue of the sharks and their putative prey species. Overall, isotopic niches of both species indicated a reliance on similar resources throughout the sampled sizes (tope: 35– 190; smooth hammerhead 54–159 cm total length), with significant ontogenetic shifts. Topes displayed a gradual shift to higher trophic levels and a more generalist diet with increasing size (increasing δ15N values and isotopic niche volumes, respectively), whereas smooth hammerhead diet shifted towards prey with lower δ34S at a constant trophic level and a more specialized diet than tope of comparable body size (decreasing δ34S and constant δ15N and δ13C values, respectively). Our results indicate contrasting ontogenetic shifts in δ13C and δ34S along with pronounced differences between niche overlap of life stages pointing to intra- and interspecific niche partitioning of habitat and prey.
- Lipidomic fingerprinting of the red seaweed Asparagopsis spp. evidencing specific profiling in gametophyte and tetrasporophyte life stagesPublication . Lopes, Diana; Rey, Felisa; Melo, Tânia; Pinho, Marisa; Moreira, Ana S.P.; Pes, Katia; Mata, Leonardo; Domingues, M. RosárioIn recent years, there has been a growing interest in seaweed biomass for multiple industrial applications due to their broad spectrum of high-value nutrients and bioactive metabolites. Seaweed lipids, and particularly the polar lipids, are a source of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which have been reported to possess various biological activities, and are a sustainable alternative to fish oils. However, the profile of polar lipids in seaweeds is still understudied and therefore it is crucial to expand the knowledge of the lipidome of seaweeds, particularly of those with commercial potential, including the invasive species such as Asparagopsis sp. These invasive species produce a large biomass, making it a sustainable strategy for reducing its abundance, which would result in both environmental and economic benefits. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the fatty acids and polar lipid profile of the two Asparagopsis species (A. armata and A. taxiformis), across two life stages (gametophyte and tetrasporophyte) and two different origins (wild and cultivated), using highly sensitive mass spectrometry-based approaches. Our study provides the first detailed characterization of the polar lipidome of Asparagopsis species and revealed that the gametophyte stage exhibited a greater number of polar lipid species than the tetrasporophyte stage. The phosphatidylcholine and the sulfoquinovosyl-diacylglycerol classes are the most abundant in all the samples studied. Although the lipidome of A. armata and A. taxiformis from the gametophyte stage showed similar distributions, variations in the relative abundance of lipid molecular species were observed. The statistical analysis of all A. armata specimens revealed that the lipid profile of samples from the same life stage were similar, regardless of their distinct origin (i.e., wild and cultivated). Furthermore, several polar lipid species with reported bioactivity were identified in Asparagopsis spp., providing insights into the lipid composition of these invasive species and their potential for further biotechnological applications. However, given the low absolute content of lipids in Asparagopsis species, it is unlikely to be viable to use nuisance or farmed biomass as a source of lipids alone.
- A demographic model to forecast Dinophysis acuminata harmful algal bloomsPublication . Vieira, Vasco Manuel Nobre de Carvalho da Silva; Leal Rosa, Teresa; Sobrinho-Gonçalves, Luís; Mateus, Marcos Duarte; Mota, BernardoHarmful algal blooms (HABs) in marine environments have significant adverse effects on public health, aquaculture and recreational activities. Surges of certain phytoplanktonic toxin-producing microalgae (mostly dinoflagellates or diatoms species) can induce Amnesic, Diarrhetic or Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP, DSP and PSP). Among HAB species, the genus Dinophysis leads to DSP in human consumers; this being the most recurrent problem in the Iberian Peninsula with the biggest economic impact on clam production and harvesting. While complete elimination of HABs is not feasible, timely implementation of appropriate measures can prevent their negative consequences. This is critical for aquaculture. Research on D. acuminata (dominant Dinophysis species in the North Atlantic) has been focused on ecophysiology and population dynamics, although with few modelling attempts. Weekly monitoring along the Portuguese coast since 2006 has revealed that D. acuminata thrives under spring/summer photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) coupled with water temperatures below 20°C, which typically coincide with the local upwelling regime. In order to advance this knowledge numerically, we developed a demographic model linking D. acuminata growth rate to PAR and sea surface temperature (SST). The 13-year (1-Jan-2006 to 31-Dec-2018) time-series of observations was closely fit by model forecasts. However, the model demonstrated limitations in issuing timely warnings of harmful proliferation of D. acuminata, failing to do so in 50% of cases, and issuing incorrect warnings in 5% of the cases. Furthermore, improving the odds of emitting timely warnings always worsened the odds of emitting false warnings, and vice-versa. To simultaneously improve both aspects, the modelling results clearly indicated the need of implementing both census/ projection intervals smaller than 7 days and a laboratory detection limit below 20 cell/L. The time resolution of the census and of the model proved to be the most limiting factor that must be addressed in order to improve numerical forecasting of HABs.
- Rhodolith beds in the Eastern Tropical Pacific: Habitat structure and associated biodiversityPublication . Diaz-Licona, Celeste A.; Schubert, Nadine; González-Gamboa, Vladimir; Tuya, Fernando; Azofeifa-Solano, Juan Carlos; Fernández-García, CindyRhodolith beds (RBs) are globally distributed marine benthic habitats and recognized biodiversity hotspots of conservation interest. However, considerable regions of the world’s oceans remain unknown in terms of the presence, distribution, structure, and associated biodiversity of such habitats. In the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), even basic information about these habitats is still extremely scarce. To fill this gap, we characterized the habitat structure and associated biodiversity of four shallow-water RBs at Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Specifically, information regarding rhodolith structural attributes (size, morphology, and CaCO3 content), as well as habitat characteristics (rhodolith nodule density, biomass and CaCO3 standing stocks) were collected. Moreover, the diversity and abundance of associated organisms, including macroalgae, invertebrates and fishes, were determined. Our study shows that Cocos Island harbors dense RBs (1,100 to >4500 nodules m-2) with substantial carbonate stocks (14-22 kg m-2), which provide habitats for a wide array of species (158 recorded species). This study adds 58 new records of RB-associated species to previously published records for the island, which increases the total number of species to 316, including 51 species endemic to the ETP and four species categorized as vulnerable by the IUCN. Our results also indicate that community composition and abundance of organisms vary among RBs, likely due to differences in rhodolith morphologies and sizes and/or local environmental conditions. Further research efforts are warranted to identify the drivers for these differences, as well as expanding studies towards other RBs at Cocos Island and in the ETP in general.
- Under pressure: deep-sea elasmobranchs experience high mortality and stress in a crustacean trawling fisheryPublication . Graça Aranha Carvalho Ramos, Sofia; Teodosio, Maria; Marsili, Tiago; Pires da Rocha, Pedro; Modesto, Teresa; Guerreiro, Pedro Miguel; Tambutte, Aurélien; Carvalho Alves, Alexandra; Relvas, Paulo; Dias, EsterCrustacean bottom trawling in southern Portugal is an economic and culturally important fishing activity but may result in considerable bycatch of deep-sea elasmobranchs (DSE). Due to DSE life-history strategies, at-vessel mortality (AVM) rates in crustacean bottom trawl fisheries are expectedly high but require further investigations. This study assessed the at-vessel condition of 18 species of DSE, and AVM rates and stress of four deep-sea shark species (Etmopterus pusillus, E. spinax, Galeus melastomus, and Scymnodon ringens), to understand the impact of bottom trawling on these animals. Opportunistic sampling on a crustacean trawler in the southern Portuguese coast, revealed that 95% of specimens were either dead (n = 1,258) or in poor condition (n = 224) upon collection, underscoring their minimal chance of post-release survival. General linear model analyses showed that AVM was species-specific and highest in smaller sharks, as well as in those from hauls that exhibited larger temperature dierences between bottom and surface waters, and those caught in hauls with heavier codend weight using a 55 mm codend mesh (targeting shrimp and prawns) instead of those caught in hauls using a 70 mm codend mesh (targeting Norway lobster). Stress, evaluated through metabolites and electrolytes levels in sharks’ plasma, indicated significant dierences in potassium, urea, and magnesium levels between live and deceased specimens of E. pusillus and G. melastomus, suggesting these as reliable mortality markers. Elevated lactate levels in G. melastomus further pointed to high post-release mortality risk. These findings highlight an urgent need to find solutions to mitigate the impacts of bottom trawling on those DSE, which are thoroughly discussed. A coordinated, multi-stakeholder approach involving researchers, the fishing industry, and regulatory bodies is crucial for developing and implementing eective, and more sustainable fisheries management and protection of DSE populations.
- Topical insulin meets nanomedicine: a synergy for enhanced skin regenerationPublication . Duarte, Sofia O. D.; Fonte, PedroChronic wounds, particularly those associated with diabetes, present an increasing public health burden due to their extended healing periods and high recurrence rates. One of the most common and clinically difficult forms of chronic wounds are diabetic foot ulcers, which are frequently distinguished by poor angiogenesis, ongoing inflammation, and wound environments that are rich in proteases. Over10 million people are impacted in Europe alone, with a high prevalence among those 65 and older. Over €4 billion is spent on healthcare each year, with each patient’s treatment costing between €6,000 and €10,000 [1,2]. Because of the ongoing inflammation and protease activity, conventional therapies frequently fail to promote complete regeneration, particularly in diabetic wound beds where heal-ing is severely compromised. As a result, there is now more interest in insulin, a biomolecule that is vital for wound heal-ing and has angiogenic, proliferative, and immunomodulatory qualities [2]. However, in chronic wound beds, insulin is extremely vulnerable to enzymatic degradation [3]. By encapsulating insulin in nanoparticles that resist degradation, enhance retention at the wound site, and permit con-trolled release, recent developments in nanomedicine overcome these drawbacks. These technologies better match drug availability with the changing wound environment and improve the regenerative effects of insulin [3,4]. As a result, combining topical insulin therapy with nanocarrier systems shows promise as a wound care approach, especially for diabetic ulcers and other chronic conditions.