Search

Exposições repetidas ou intensas a radiações UV (ultravioleta) causam alterações cutâneas pela geração das espécies reativas do oxigênio (EROs), danosas aos tecidos, causando queimaduras, manchas, eritemas, fotoenvelhecimento e mutações no DNA. O uso de protetores solares é um meio de prevenir ou reduzir os efeitos destas exposições, por terem a capacidade de refletir e/ou absorvé-las. Os protetores podem ser de origem sintética ou natural. O desenvolvimento de ativos, capazes de aumentar à eficiência de protetores solares, principalmente os de origem vegetal, representa uma demanda crescente da cosmetologia. Moringa oleifera é uma planta com variadas aplicações farmacológicas, apresenta um rápido crescimento nos países tropicais, e está presente no nordeste brasileiro e norte do estado de Minas Gerais. Com base nisso, esse estudo visa avaliar a utilização de matérias primas de origem natural como agentes fotoprotetores, buscando as tendências do mercado consumidor. Para isso, formulações inéditas de extrato diclorometano de sementes de Moringa oleífera,em associação com diferentes extratos etanólicos de própolis, foram estudadas em relação à capacidade fotoprotetora. Em relação aos extratos de própolis (verde, vermelha e marrom) foram usados os etanólicos 70%. A atividade fotoprotetora foi estudada in vitro. Os resultados mostraram aumentos significativos de FPS para as formulações. O incremento elevado na proteção solar foi verificado na própolis verde, justificado pela maior quantidade de flavonóides que ela apresenta. Concluímos que os extratos de própolis incorporados nas formulações com extrato de diclorometano nas sementes Moringa oleiferaapresentaram um sinergismo na intensificação do fator de proteção solar.

Long-term kleptoplasty, the capability to retain functional stolen chloroplasts (kleptoplasts) for several weeks to months, has been shown in a handful of Sacoglossa sea slugs. One of these sea slugs is Elysia timida, endemic to the Mediterranean, which retains functional chloroplasts of the macroalga Acetabularia acetabulum. To understand how light modulates the lipidome of E. timida, sea slug specimens were subjected to two different 4-week light treatments: regular light and quasi-dark conditions. Lipidomic analyses were performed by HILIC-HR-ESI-MS and MS/MS. Quasi-dark conditions caused a reduction in the amount of essential lipids for photosynthetic membranes, such as glycolipids, indicating high level of kleptoplast degradation under sub-optimal light conditions. However, maximum photosynthetic capacities (Fv/Fm) were identical in both light treatments (≈0.75), showing similar kleptoplast functionality and suggesting that older kleptoplasts were targeted for degradation. Although more stable, the phospholipidome showed differences between light treatments: the amount of certain lipid species of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) decreased under quasi-dark conditions, while other lipid species of phosphatidylcholine (PC), PE and lyso-PE (LPE) increased. Quasi-dark conditions promoted a decrease in the relative abundance of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These results suggest a light-driven remodelling of the lipidome according to the functions of the different lipids and highlight the plasticity of polar lipids in the photosynthetic sea slug E. timida. This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 949880). The authors are also thankful to the COST Action EpiLipidNET, CA19105-Pan-European Network in Lipidomics and EpiLipidomics. This work is a contribution of the Marine Lipidomics laboratory. The authors thank the University of Aveiro, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), and Ministério da Ciência Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES) for the financial support to the research units CESAM [UIDB/50017/2020 + UIDP/50017/2020 + LA/P/0094/2020] and LAQV-REQUIMTE (UIDP/50006/2020 + UIDB/50006/2020) through national funds and, where applicable, co-funded by ERDF, within Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020, and to the Portuguese Mass Spectrometry Network (RNEM, LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-402-022125). The authors acknowledge FCT/MCTES for individual funding in the scope of the Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus (CEECIND/00580/2017 to Felisa Rey, CEECIND/01578/2020 to Tânia Melo, 2020.03278.CEECIND to Sónia Cruz and CEECIND/01434/2018 to Paulo Cartaxana). Thanks are due to Dr. Gonçalo Calado, Dr. José Templado and Dr. Marta Calvo for help in the collection of E. timida and A. acetabulum.

Given the relatively long life of stem cells (SCs), efficient mechanisms of quality control to balance cell survival and resistance to external and internal stress are required. Our objective was to test the relevance of cell quality control mechanisms for SCs maintenance, differentiation and resistance to cell death. We compared cell quality control in P19 stem cells (P19SCs) before and after differentiation (P19dCs). Differentiation of P19SCs resulted in alterations in parameters involved in cell survival and protein homeostasis, including the redox system, cardiolipin and lipid profiles, unfolded protein response, ubiquitin-proteasome and lysosomal systems, and signaling pathways controlling cell growth. In addition, P19SCs pluripotency was correlated with stronger antioxidant protection, modulation of apoptosis, and activation of macroautophagy, which all contributed to preserve SCs quality by increasing the threshold for cell death activation. Furthermore, our findings identify critical roles for the PI3K-AKT-MTOR pathway, as well as autophagic flux and apoptosis regulation in the maintenance of P19SCs pluripotency and differentiation potential. Abbreviations: 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; AKT/protein kinase B: thymoma viral proto-oncogene; AKT1: thymoma viral proto-oncogene 1; ATG: AuTophaGy-related; ATF6: activating transcription factor 6; BAX: BCL2-associated X protein; BBC3/PUMA: BCL2 binding component 3; BCL2: B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2; BNIP3L: BCL2/adenovirus E1B interacting protein 3-like; CASP3: caspase 3; CASP8: caspase 8; CASP9: caspase 9; CL: cardiolipin; CTSB: cathepsin B; CTSD: cathepsin D; DDIT3/CHOP: DNA-damage inducible transcript 3; DNM1L/DRP1: dynamin 1-like; DRAM1: DNA-damage regulated autophagy modulator 1; EIF2AK3/PERK: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3; EIF2S1/eIF2α: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2, subunit alpha; ERN1/IRE1α: endoplasmic reticulum to nucleus signaling 1; ESCs: embryonic stem cells; KRT8/TROMA-1: cytokeratin 8; LAMP2A: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NANOG: Nanog homeobox; NAO: 10-N-nonyl acridine orange; NFE2L2/NRF2: nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2, like 2; OPA1: OPA1, mitochondrial dynamin like GTPase; P19dCs: P19 differentiated cells; P19SCs: P19 stem cells; POU5F1/OCT4: POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1; PtdIns3K: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; RA: retinoic acid; ROS: reactive oxygen species; RPS6KB1/p70S6K: ribosomal protein S6 kinase, polypeptide 1; SCs: stem cells; SOD: superoxide dismutase; SHC1-1/p66SHC: src homology 2 domain-containing transforming protein C1, 66 kDa isoform; SOX2: SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; SPTAN1/αII-spectrin: spectrin alpha, non-erythrocytic 1; TOMM20: translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20; TRP53/p53: transformation related protein 53; TUBB3/betaIII-tubulin: tubulin, beta 3 class III; UPR: unfolded protein response; UPS: ubiquitin-proteasome system

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial, A presente dissertação, enquadrada no curso de Mestrado Integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial da Universidade do Minho (UM), teve como propósito obter melhorias na gestão das ferramentas de produção de uma empresa de cortiça, com o auxílio de ferramentas e princípios de Lean Thinking e de Manutenção Produtiva Total (TPM). A metodologia de investigação utilizada nesta dissertação foi a Action-Research, cuja primeira etapa consiste no diagnóstico da situação inicial. Para tal, recorreu-se a ferramentas como diagrama de spaghetti, estudo de tempos e identificação dos sete desperdícios, tendo-se detetado vários problemas desde elevadas distâncias percorridas, elevado espaço fabril ocupado, falta de normalização, inexistência de planos de manutenção e dificuldades na gestão de informação. No sentido de combater os problemas referidos, constatou-se que as oportunidades de melhoria requeriam a redefinição do layout da área de estudo, para o qual se recorreu a métodos como o SLP, CORELAP e CRAFT, a organização das ferramentas de produção e do espaço fabril através da implementação de 5S e Gestão Visual e, por último, a elaboração de um programa em linguagem VBA para a gestão de informação e planos de manutenção. Com a implementação das melhorias, foi possível obter uma redução de 27% do espaço ocupado, 63% de distâncias percorridas e tempo despendido nas mesmas (poupança de 234Km e 65h anuais), 71% nos custos de movimentações (ganho de 1332€/ano) e 100% no tempo e custos associados a paragens de produção por falta de espaço (ganho de 26h e 1530€ anuais). Para além disso, reduziu-se em 75% o tempo de procura de ferramentas de produção, e verificou-se um aumento da eficiência da linha de produção, isto é, do OEE, em cerca de 27%. O programa em VBA permitiu a simplificação da gestão de informação (redução do número de ficheiros em 96%), e o planeamento de ações de manutenção. Por fim, é de realçar o aumento da motivação dos operadores da área de estudo., The present dissertation, included on the Integrated Master on Industrial Engineering and Management course at Minho University, aimed to obtain improvements in the production tools management from a cork industry, through tools and principles of Lean Thinking and Total Productive Maintenance. The research methodology used in this dissertation was the Action-Research, whose first step is to diagnose the current situation of the study area. For this purpose, tools as spaghetti diagram, time studies and seven wastes identification were used, and several problems were detected such as long distances, confined factory space, lack of standardisation, absence of maintenance plans and difficulties in information management. In order to solve these problems, it was found that the improvement opportunities required the redefinition of the productive area layout, for which methods like SLP, CORELAP and CRAFT were applied, the organization of production tools and manufacturing place through the implementation of 5S and Visual Management and, at last, the development of a program in excel using VBA programming language. With the implementation of the project, it was possible to reduce the occupied space in 27%, the distances travelled and the time spent on them in 63% (saving of 234Km and 65h annual), the movements costs in 71% (gain of 1332€/year) and the time and costs related to production stoppages by the lack of space in 100% (gain of 26h and 1530€ annual). Furthermore, the time to search for production tools was reduced by 75% and an increase in the production line efficiency (OEE) by 27% was also verified. The VBA program leads to a simplification of information management (reduction of the number of files in 96%), integrating maintenance plans to the production tools. Finally, it should be emphasized the increase in the employee’s motivation.

Este relatório resulta da realização de um estágio curricular, durante seis meses, no departamento fiscal da Faurecia – Assentos de Automóvel, Lda.. O objetivo do relatório é demonstrar os procedimentos utilizados na área fiscal, num contexto real, para as empresas do Grupo Faurecia em Portugal. Para tal, serão descritas as atividades desenvolvidas ao longo do estágio: o preenchimento de declarações / obrigações declarativas impostas pela Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira; o preenchimento de inquéritos do Instituto Nacional de Estatística; a gestão e acompanhamento de projetos de investimento no âmbito do Sistema de Incentivos à Inovação Empresarial do Portugal 2020; e o respetivo preenchimento dos formulários de pedidos de pagamento. A realização do estágio curricular foi enriquecedora na medida que possibilitou aprofundar e adquirir conhecimentos na área fiscal, desenvolvimento de competências comportamentais e profissionais e aplicação prática dos conhecimentos obtidos durante a formação académica. Com o presente relatório e a realização do estágio, concluiu-se que a área fiscal é muito importante para um bom desempenho de uma empresa e que influência a sua situação financeira. This report is the result of a curricular internship, during six months, in the tax department of Faurecia – Assentos de Automóvel, Lda.. The aim of the report is to demonstrate the procedures used in the tax area, in a real context, for Faurecia Group companies in Portugal. To this end, the activities carried out during the internship will be described: the completion of declarations / declaration obligations imposed by the Tax and Customs Authority; the completion of surveys by the National Institute of Statistics; the management and monitoring of investment projects under the Portugal 2020 Business Innovation Incentive System; and the respective completion of payment application forms. The curricular internship was enriching as it allowed deepening and acquiring knowledge in the tax area, development of behavioral and professional skills and practical application of the knowledge obtained during academic training. With this report and the implementation of the internship, it was concluded that the tax area is very important for the good performance of a company and that it influences its financial situation. Mestrado em Contabilidade

Composites may be obtained by the mixture of two materials, which one of them is a polymer, with the objective of produced a material with a specific characteristics. Vegetable oils (VO) are mixture with conventional polymer to improve biodegradation capacity without loss mechanical properties. VOs polymers are an alternative to conventional polymers on composites. Previous studies showed that the mixture of Moringa oleifera polymer (PMO) with polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable polymer (PB) producing a composite with high biodegrading capacity maintaining mechanical properties. M. oleifera oil (MO) was obtained from extraction of seeds in and presents higher concentration of instauration fatty acids as oleic acid (71%) which has high stability and favors the polymerization process. The polymerization assisted by microwaves technology can be used in organic synthesis as a function of the process efficiency and the increase in the selective heating rate. The polymerization of MO assisted by microwaves produced a polymer (PMO) with molecular weight higher than 50,000 g.mol-1.This manuscript shows comparing results for biodegradation behavior and mechanical properties of mixtures by MO or PMO with low density polyethylene and the commercial biopolymer composed by poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) with poly(lactic acid) (PLA). It was verified that MO presented a plasticizer behavior on mixture LDPE/PBAT/PLA (PM) and PMO presented a compatibilizer behavior with PM. It was also verified that mixtures with PMO presented better biodegradation and mechanical properties than those composed by MO.