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29 pages, 3 figures, 4 tables., Fishers’ participation in the fishery management decision-making process is generally low, particularly in small-scale fisheries (SSF). Within the overarching goal of improving fisheries governance, fishers’ participation is crucial. Yet, how can fishers participate in the decision-making processes which affect their actions, and to what extent do fisher associations represent their interests? These questions were tackled by means of an empirical case study in the “Tertúlia do Polvo” project, focusing on the octopus SSF in the Algarve region (south Portugal), where the octopus fishery is managed top-down with sporadic participation of fishers. During the study (2014 and 2015), seven participatory workshops (tertúlias) were held, involving fisher associations, management authorities and researchers, to propose and discuss management measures for the fishery. Also, a face-to-face questionnaire survey (121 valid replies) was undertaken with local fishers to gauge their opinions about the management measures proposed during the workshops. Results show a strong agreement between the outcomes achieved during the workshops and the main concerns and possible solutions identified by fishers. Taking into consideration the difficulty in structuring and assuring a transparent and effective participation of fishers in the management of their activity, the results obtained are promising. In this study, the use of a participatory process (restricted to a small group of stakeholders) combined with consultation (targeting a sample of the fisher population) allowed the validation of the overall results obtained. Such a methodological approach can be tried in other fishing communities to implement efficient and effective collaborative management, contributing to improved fisheries governance.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T16:48:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-08-01 The ant genus Linepithema is widely known, thanks to the pest species Linepithema humile (Mayr), which is easily mistaken for Linepithema micans (Forel) due to their morphological similarity. Like L. humile, L. micans is associated to the main grapevine pest in Brazil, Eurhizococcus brasiliensis (Wille), also known as ground pearl. Therefore, the present study uses mtDNA fragments to expand the knowledge of haplotype diversity and distribution of L. micans in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), to understand the genetic differences of the populations identified in this study. We identified 15 haplotypes of L. micans spread across different localities. Twelve of these haplotypes were new for the species. The high haplotype diversity uncovered in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) for this species was predictable, as L. micans is in its native environment. Additional studies that take gene flow into account may reveal interesting aspects of diversity in these populations. Universidade Estadual Paulista julio de Mesquita Filho UNESP-Campus Rio Claro, Av. 24A Universidade Federal Do Piauý-Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Av. Sao Sebastiao, 2819 Embrapa Uva e Vinho Laboratorio de Entomologia, Av. Livramento 515 Universidade Estadual Paulista julio de Mesquita Filho UNESP-Campus Rio Claro, Av. 24A

As a result of over-erosion of soils, the fine particles, which contain the majority of nutrients, are easily washed away from soils, which become deficient in a host of components, accumulating in lakes. On one hand, the accumulation of nutrients-rich sediments are a problem, as they affect the quality of the overlying water and decrease the water storage capacity of the system; on the other hand, sediments may constitute an important resource, as they are often extremely rich in organic and inorganic nutrients in readily available forms. In the framework of an extensive work on the use of rock related materials to enhance the fertility of impoverish soils, this study aimed to evaluate the role on the nutrients cycle, of particles recycling processes from the watershed to the bottom of a large dam reservoir, at a wet tropical region under high weathering conditions. The study focus on the mineralogical transformations that clay particles undergo from the soils of the drainage basin to their final deposition within the reservoir and their influence in terms of the geochemical characteristics of sediments. We studied the bottom sediments that accumulate in two distinct seasonal periods in Tucurui reservoir, located in the Amazonian Basin, Brazil, and soils from its drainage basin. The surface layers of sediments in twenty sampling points with variable depths, are representative of the different morphological sections of the reservoir. Nineteen soil samples, representing the main soil classes, were collected near the margins of the reservoir. Sediments and soils were subjected to the same array of physical, mineralogical and geochemical analyses: (1) texture, (2) characterization and semi-quantification of the clay fraction mineralogy and (3) geochemical analysis of the total concentration of major elements, organic compounds (organic C and nitrogen), soluble fractions of nutrients (P and K), exchangeable fractions (cation exchange capacity, exchangeable bases and acidity) and pH(H 2 O). There is a remarkable homogeneity in the sedimentary distribution along the reservoir in terms of the texture and mineralogy of the clay fraction and of the chemistry of the total, soluble and exchangeable phases. These observations contrast with the physical, morphological and chemical heterogeneity of the soils and the setting lithology. Most of the sediments has a higher contribution of fine-grained material and the mineralogy of the clay fraction is dominated by kaolinite in soils and kaolinite and illite in sediments, followed by lesser amounts of gibbsite, goethite, and metahaloisite and by small/vestigial contents of chlorite and smectite. The sediments are mainly inherited from the watershed but there exist marked differences between the accumulated sediments and their parent materials. These differences mainly come from the selective erosion of fine-grained particles and the extreme climatic conditions which enhance complex transformations of mineralogical and chemical nature. Compared with the parental soils, the reservoir sediments show the following differences: (1) enrichment in fine-grained and less dense inorganic particles, (2) aggradative mineralogical transformations, including enrichment in clay minerals with higher cationic adsorption and exchange capacity, (3) degradation of the crystalline structure of Fe- and Al-oxides (goethite, gibbsite), (4) increase in easily leached elements (Mg, Ca, P, K, Na) and decrease in chemically less mobile elements (Si, Fe) and (5) higher contents of organic carbon, nitrogen, and soluble forms of P and K, mainly concentrated in the clay fraction. These transformations are extremely important in the nutrients cycle, denoting that sediments represent an efficient sink for nutrients from the over-erosion of soils. Mineral and organic compounds can permanently or temporarily sequester these nutrients, recycling them and enhancing their availability through the slow release of components from relatively loose crystal structures. These processes can easily explain the enrichment in soluble and exchangeable forms of elements such as P, K, Ca or Mg. This study conclude that the particles recycling in a large tropical dam reservoir which receives high fluxes of allochthonous nutrients, has an important role in the good quality of sediments for agricultural use and in the profitable use of this technology to recover depleted soils in remediation projects in regions near large hydroelectric plants.

Carrot ( Daucus carota L.) is a biennial plant that accumulates considerable amounts of carotenoid pigments in the storage root. To better understand the molecular mechanisms for carotenoid accumulation in developing storage roots, plastid terminal oxidase ( PTOX ) cDNA was isolated and selected for reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Present in photosynthetic species, PTOX is a plastid-located, nucleus encoded plastoquinone (PQ)-O 2 oxidoreductase (plastioquinol oxidase). The enzyme is known to play a role as a cofactor for phytoene desaturase, and consequently plays a key role in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. A single PTOX gene was identified ( DcPTOX ) in carrot. DcPTOX encodes a putative protein with 366 amino acids that contains the typical structural features of PTOXs from higher plants. The expression of DcPTOX was analysed during the development of white, yellow, orange, red, and purple carrot roots, along with five genes known to be involved in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway, PSY2 , PDS , ZDS1 , LCYB1 , and LCYE. Expression analysis revealed the presence of DcPTOX transcripts in all cultivars, and an increase of transcripts during the time course of the experiment, with differential expression among cultivars in early stages of root growth. Our results demonstrated that DcPTOX showed a similar profile to that of other carotenoid biosynthetic genes with high correlation to all of them. The preponderant role of PSY in the biosynthesis of carotenoid pigments was also confirmed.

Due to the significant increase in consumption of fruits and their derivatives, it is necessary to invest in operations aimed at their use, minimizing the pre and post-harvest losses, due to its high perishability. The fruit processing pulp is a widely used technique because much of the population seeking convenience and a healthier diet, in addition to increase the product shelf life and can provide it to distant regions and periods off season. This study evaluated physicochemical and microbiological characteristics, in three consecutive months, 17 flavors of fruit pulp of a manufacturing company in order to use the final product control as a means to identify control gaps present in the acquisition of raw materials as well as during processing steps and packaging. It was noticed that about 60% of all pulps were unfit for human consumption, with the highest percentage in the physicochemical analysis (45%), followed by microbiological (30%). In the microbiological characteristics, the large amount of molds and yeasts suggest failure through cleaning and sanitizing fruits and in the processing area. For the physicochemical analysis, pH and total soluble solids content were the most alarming, verifying the possibility of water adittion (illegal) and acidulant excess, which causes the pulp loses its fruit identity. The most problematic fruits were pineapple, prune, caja, cashew, graviola, guava and passion fruit. The control of the final product proved essential to the company's quality assurance.

Wolbachia bacteria are widely distributed across invertebrate taxa, including ants, but several aspects of this host-associated interaction are still poorly explored, especially with regard to the ancestral state association, origin, and dispersion patterns of this bacterium. Therefore, in this study, we explored the association of Wolbachia with Formicidae in an evolutionary context. Our data suggest that supergroup F is the ancestral character state for Wolbachia infection in ants, and there is only one transition to supergroup A, and once ants acquired infection with supergroup A, there have been no other strains introduced. Our data also reveal that the origin of Wolbachia in ants likely originated in Asia and spread to the Americas, and then back to Asia. Understanding the processes and mechanisms of dispersion of these bacteria in Formicidae is a crucial step to advance the knowledge of this symbiosis and their implications in an evolutionary context.

Highlights • Microorganisms have been use as weapons since pre-historic times. • Biowarfare is the intentional use of biological agents as weapons in war scenarios. • Bioterrorism is the intentional use of biological agents against a civilian population. • Biocrime is the intentional use of biological agents against a specific individual. • Microbial forensics can be applied to solve cases of BW, BT, and BC., Microbial Forensics is a field that continues to grow in interest and application among the forensic community. This review, divided into two sections, covers several topics associated with this new field. The first section presents a historic overview concerning the use of microorganisms (or its product, i.e. toxins) as harmful biological agents in the context of biological warfare (biowarfare), bioterrorism, and biocrime. Each case is illustrated with the examination of case reports that span from prehistory to the present day. The second part of the manuscript is devoted to the role of MF and highlights the necessity to prepare for the pressing threat of the harmful use of biological agents as weapons. Preventative actions, developments within the field to ensure a timely and effective response and are discussed herein.

Worldwide emergence of bacterial strains resistant to multiple classes of antimicrobials and the increase incidence of infections caused by bacteria resistant to last-resource antibiotics is now a common problematic and likely to increase in coming years. Surveillance of important resistant clones and associated mobile genetic elements is essential for decision-making in terms of mitigation measures to be applied for the prevention of such infections. However, the role of natural environments, and especially aquatic ecosystems that display optimal grounds for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development and dissemination, as important components of the AMR cycle has been disregarded until recent years. It is now widely accepted that resistant strains and resistance determinants are disseminated in the aquatic environment and that resistance profiles are mainly shaped by anthropogenic environmental contamination. In light of the One Health concept, developing strategies for the monitoring of AMR prevalence and dissemination and unraveling critical points of action are required. Therefore, bacterial indicators and targeted vectors assume special importance in surveillance schemes. Aeromonas spp., a ubiquitous bacterial genus with importance as human, animal and food pathogens, are common in aquatic environments. Environmental isolates belonging to this genus often display acquired resistance determinants and their use as indicators to survey water quality and sewage pollution has been accepted. Wild animal species are also of highly importance in this context. They constitute potential AMR reservoirs in natural environments, as they actively participate in the dissemination of resistant bacteria and resistance determinants across habitats. Characterizing Aeromonas spp. retrieved from wildlife represents a potential aid for surveillance programs aiming at unraveling the intricate mechanisms of AMR evolution and dispersal in natural aquatic environments, as well as understanding possible consequences for human and animal health.

Background: Periodontal disease (PD) is a highly prevalent inflammatory disease in dogs. This disease is initiated by a polymicrobial biofilm on the teeth surface, whose control includes its prevention and removal. Recently, it was shown that nisin displays antimicrobial activity against canine PD-related bacteria. Moreover, guar gum biogel has shown to be a promising topical delivery system for nisin. Methods: In this study we aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the nisin-biogel in the presence of canine saliva and after a 24-month storage, at different conditions, using a canine oral enterococci collection. We also studied the nisin-biogel cytotoxicity using a Vero cell line and canine primary intestinal fibroblasts. Results: The presence of saliva hampers nisin-biogel antimicrobial activity, and higher nisin concentrations were required for an effective activity. A significant reduction (p &le, 0.05) in inhibitory activity was observed for nisin-biogel solutions stored at 37 &deg, C, over a 24-month period, which was not observed with the other conditions. The nisin-biogel showed no cytotoxicity against the cells tested at concentrations up to 200 &micro, g/mL. Conclusions: Our results confirmed the potential of the nisin-biogel for canine PD control, supporting the development of an in vivo clinical trial.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are major complications of Diabetes mellitus being responsible for significant morbidity and mortality. DFUs frequently become chronically infected by a complex community of bacteria, including multidrug-resistant and biofilm-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Diabetic foot infections (DFI) are often recalcitrant to conventional antibiotics and alternative treatment strategies are urgently needed. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs), such as pexiganan and nisin, have been increasingly investigated and reported as effective antimicrobial agents. Here, we evaluated the antibacterial potential of pexiganan and nisin used in combination (dual-AMP) to control the growth of planktonic and biofilm co-cultures of S. aureus and P. aeruginosa clinical strains, co-isolated from a DFU. A DFU collagen three-dimensional (3D) model was used to evaluate the distribution and efficacy of AMPs locally delivered into the model. The concentration of pexiganan required to inhibit and eradicate both planktonic and biofilm-based bacterial cells was substantially reduced when used in combination with nisin. Moreover, incorporation of both AMPs in a guar gum delivery system (dual-AMP biogel) did not affect the dual-AMP antimicrobial activity. Importantly, the application of the dual-AMP biogel resulted in the eradication of the S. aureus strain from the model. In conclusion, data suggest that the local application of the dual-AMPs biogel constitutes a potential complementary therapy for the treatment of infected DFU.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered a major global concern by the World Health Organization. Evidence is growing on the importance of circulation of MDR bacterial populations between animals and humans. Horses have been shown to carry commensal isolates of this bacterial species and can act as human MDR bacteria reservoirs. In this study, we characterized an extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing K. pneumoniae sequence type (ST) 348 isolate from a horse, an ST reported for the first time in an animal, using next-generation sequencing. We compared it with six other MDR K. pneumoniae ST348 human isolates previously identified in health-care facilities in Portugal using a core genome multi-locus sequence typing approach to evaluate a possible genetic link. The horse isolate was resistant to most of the antimicrobials tested, including 3rd generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides, and presented several antimicrobial resistance genes, including blaESBL. Twenty-one allele differences were found between the horse isolate and the most similar human isolate, suggesting a recent common ancestor. Other similarities were observed regarding the content on antimicrobial resistance genes, plasmid incompatibility groups, and capsular and somatic antigens. This study illustrates the relevance of the dissemination of MDR strains, and enhances that identification of these types of bacterial strains in both human and veterinary settings is of significant relevance in order to understand and implement combined control strategies for MDR bacteria in animals and humans.

Studies will be matrix triplets (X,Dp,Dn), where the matrix X has a row per object and a column per variable, while Dp and Dn are weight matrices for objects and variables, respectively. Given a series of studies (Xi,Dp,Dn),i=1,...,k, we condense the matrix triplets into the Ai = XiDpXtiDn, and use spectral analysis of matrix S = [Sij],i,j = 1,...,k, with Sij = tr(AiAjt) to study the series evolution. When we have a series of studies for each treatment of a basis design we carry out an ANOVA-like inference to study the action of the factors in the base design on the evolution of the series associated to the differents treatments.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:18:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-07-01 Barcapel Foundation Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Camponotus is a hyper-diverse ant genus that is associated with the obligate endosymbiont Blochmannia, and often also with Wolbachia, but morphological studies on the location of these bacteria in the queen’s ovaries during oogenesis remain limited. In the present study, we used the Neotropical weaver ant Camponotus textor to characterize the ovary using histology (HE) techniques, and to document the location of Blochmannia and Wolbachia during oogenesis through fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This is the first morphological report of these two bacteria in the same host with polytrophic meroistic ovaries and reveals that Blochmannia is found inside late-stage oocytes and Wolbachia is associated with the nuclei of the nurse cells. Our results provide insights into the developmental sequence of when these bacteria reach the egg, with Blochmannia establishing itself in the egg first, and Wolbachia only reaching the egg shortly before completing egg development. Studies such as this provide understanding about the mechanisms and timing of the establishment of these endosymbionts in the host. Departament of Biology e Center for Studies on Social Insects Biosciense Institute São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista Field Museum of Natural History Department of Science and Education Integrative Research Center, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive Departament of Biology e Center for Studies on Social Insects Biosciense Institute São Paulo State University (UNESP), Campus Rio Claro, Avenida 24A, 1515, Bela Vista Barcapel Foundation: 007343/2014-00 CNPq: 157837/2015-7

Submitted by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2019-03-25T14:08:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE Manuela Oliveira de C. Magalhães. 2018.pdf: 1066566 bytes, checksum: 229ecd3c08a616bb9ae9c594818e68bc (MD5) Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2019-03-26T19:25:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE Manuela Oliveira de C. Magalhães. 2018.pdf: 1066566 bytes, checksum: 229ecd3c08a616bb9ae9c594818e68bc (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2019-03-26T19:25:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TESE Manuela Oliveira de C. Magalhães. 2018.pdf: 1066566 bytes, checksum: 229ecd3c08a616bb9ae9c594818e68bc (MD5) O aumento da expectativa de vida faz com que as pessoas alcancem idades mais avançadas, essa, no Brasil em 2015, segundo o IBGE, foi de 79,1 anos para as mulheres e 71,9 anos para os homens. O envelhecimento é mais expressivo nas mulheres devido à sobremortalidade masculina por diversas causas e durante todas as fases da vida. Mas as diferenças entre homens e mulheres não podem ser explicadas com base somente nas diferenças biológicas, visto que as desigualdades econômicas, políticas e sociais resultam de construções sociais e culturais. Portanto, ao estudar esta população não podemos deixar de levar em consideração que “o envelhecimento é também uma questão de gênero”. O aumento de anos vividos proporcionado pela maior expectativa de vida pode ser acrescido de incapacidades provenientes das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis mais prevalentes nessa faixa etária, impactando na qualidade de vida e em como as pessoas avaliam sua saúde. O desejo de que o envelhecimento ocorra de forma saudável e com a melhor qualidade possível, traz a necessidade de identificarmos marcadores de risco à saúde desta população. A autoavaliação da saúde é a percepção que o indivíduo tem das diferentes dimensões do seu estado de saúde. É utilizada em inquéritos de saúde, desde 1950, como uma medida preditora de risco de complicações e morbimortalidade na população. Além disto, promove modificação no estilo de vida ao influenciar os comportamentos de saúde, e permite uma avaliação dinâmica da trajetória da saúde. Vulnerabilidades em pessoas idosas podem ser identificadas pelo conhecimento dos aspectos envolvidos na autoavaliação da saúde, o que pode ser utilizado para adequar serviços de saúde, estabelecendo prioridades nos cuidados. Este conhecimento pode embasar a elaboração de programas e ações de saúde pública para a promoção de saúde e a prevenção de doenças, visando melhorar a qualidade de saúde. Por outro lado, ao se estudar a autoavaliação da saúde deve- se levar em consideração os seus distintos significados de saúde para mulheres e homens, o que vai influenciar a forma em que esta é avaliada. A presente tese objetiva investigar a autoavaliação da saúde em pessoas idosas no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil), coorte que estuda fatores que influenciam a manutenção da saúde e o desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas em 15.105 funcionários de seis instituições públicas de ensino superior e pesquisa no Brasil. Seus resultados são apresentados em três artigos científicos: 1. Autoavaliação da saúde entre mulheres e homens idosos do ELSA-Brasil (Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto): quais as similaridades e as diferenças? 2. Influência da morbidade crônica na autoavaliação da saúde em mulheres e homens idosos no ELSA-Brasil. 3. Preditores de mudanças na autoavaliação da saúde por mulheres e homens idosos em um estudo longitudinal: o que indicam os resultados do ELSA-Brasil? Os resultados desta pesquisa mostraram que as mulheres e os homens com 60 anos ou mais, ao contrário de outros estudos, não só avaliaram sua saúde de maneira positiva na linha de base, mas também apresentaram melhora nessa avaliação após quatro anos. A ausência ou menor número de morbidades crônicas teve um papel preponderante para uma melhor avaliação da saúde, o que reforça a importância da prevenção e controle das doenças crônicas no envelhecimento.

We report a Microsporum audouinii infection in a female juvenile chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) presenting generalized dermatitis compatible with dermatophytosis. Dermatophyte was identified by macro- and microscopic characterization of skin and scales cultures in Mycosel Agar. The topical treatment applied was effective, having the potential for dermatophytosis treatment in immunocompetent primates.

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Educação (área de especialização em Mediação Educacional e Supervisão na Formação), O presente relatório insere-se no âmbito do Estágio do Mestrado em Educação da área de Especialização Mediação Educacional e Supervisão na Formação da Universidade do Minho. Este projeto traduz o trabalho desenvolvido com um grupo de alunos do 7º ano de uma escola de 3º ciclo e de ensino secundário. A intervenção decorreu num período de cinco meses e procurou desenvolver no grupo de alunos competências sociais e pessoais de modo a que desenvolvessem uma identidade com a escola. Este grupo de alunos foi identificado como indisciplinado, desmotivado e alheio ao contexto educativo. A intervenção, que ocorreu num museu da escola (uma recriação de um antigo laboratório de ciências), contou com a participação de quinze alunos e utilizou na sua implementação uma metodologia coerente com o trabalho de projeto. A investigação de tipo investigação-ação, e na qual se usaram instrumentos reflexivos (como por exemplo, observação não participante, diários de bordo, inquérito por questionário, notas de campo e conversas informais), tinha como objetivos avaliar o impacto da intervenção no desenvolvimento de competências nos alunos e o modo como as reflexões das minhas práticas (autosupervisão) contribuíram para o meu desenvolvimento profissional. Os resultados obtidos indicam que a intervenção potenciou relações positivas entre pares, estimulou a sua autoestima, responsabilidade, autonomia e competências de cidadania. Contudo, os alunos ainda necessitam de desenvolver algumas competências de cooperação, partilha e respeito mútuo. O projeto também contribuiu para o meu desenvolvimento pessoal, a partir das reflexões críticas que fui elaborando. Contudo, constatei que ainda necessito de progredir por forma a desenvolver de modo mais autónomo os níveis mais elevados da tipologia de Smyth., This report part of the Master's Degree in Education Specialization in Educational Mediation and Supervision in the Training of the University of Minho. This project reflects the work developed with a group of 7 grade students . The intervention took place over a period of five months and sought to develop social and personal skills in the group of pupils in order to develop an identity with the school. This group of students was identified as undisciplined, unmotivated and unrelated to the educational context. The intervention, which took place in a school museum (a re-creation of a former science laboratory), involved fifteen students and used a methodology consistent with the project work in its implementation. Action-type research using reflexive instruments (eg, non-participant observation, logbooks, questionnaire survey, field notes and informal conversations) was used to assess the impact of development intervention of competences in the students and the way in which the reflections of my practices (self-supervision) contributed to my professional development. The results indicate that the intervention fostered positive relationships between peers, stimulated their self-esteem, responsibility, autonomy and citizenship competences. However, students still need to develop some skills of cooperation and sharing. The project also contributed to my personal development, based on the critical reflections that I have been elaborating. Nevertheless, I have found that I still need to progress in order to develop more autonomously the higher levels of the Smyth typology.

Staphylococcusis the genus most commonly isolated from bovine mastitis in many countries. It may express several virulence factors including biofilm formation, which may protect the bacterial community from antimicrobials’ action, preventing these compounds from reaching its interior, where they reach subinhibitory concentrations (subMIC).Most biofilm production assays are performed in static conditions, while studies regarding antimicrobial resistance usually do not resemble the udder environment because they are performed at high concentrations. In this study we evaluated the influence of dynamic conditions and media, including Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) and UHT whole milk (WM), as well as the effect of subMIC concentrations of five different antimicrobial agents on biofilm formation by staphylococci isolated from subclinical mastitis. Results suggest that dynamic conditions and media may influence biofilm formation and revealed that milking simulation may significantly increase biofilm production. Sub-MIC concentrations decrease biofilm formation in MHB but increase in WM, suggesting a protective role of milk against antimicrobial compounds’ action. Therefore,in vitroconditions that simulate the udder environment andin vivoconditions should be included as one of the parameters in evaluation of biofilm producing strains, in order to provide more reliable results.

The presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli has recently been reported in wild birds (gulls and birds of prey) that had no apparent exposure to antimicrobials. Little work has been done to assess the role of the food chain in the emergence and spread of MDR E. coli . In this study, we evaluated the presence of MDR E. coli in 29 fecal samples collected from wild birds living in a rehabilitation center (the center receives injured animals found in their natural habitat) and in eight feed samples. In total, 166 E. coli isolates were obtained: 129 from cloacal swabs and 37 from raw feed samples. The antimicrobial resistance profile of these isolates was determined, and we found that 75 isolates showed resistance to five or more drugs, resulting in a total of 38 different antimicrobial resistance patterns. Subsequently, the molecular characterization of 36 isolates, performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, revealed a great similarity between isolates collected from various species of birds and also between these last ones and the ones found in their feed samples.

Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus terreus and Aspergillus niger are common airborne fungi, and the most frequent causative agents of human fungal infections. However, the resistance and lifetime persistence of these fungi in the atmosphere, and the mechanism of aging of Aspergillus conidia are unknown.With this work, we intended to study the processes underlying conidial aging of these four relevant and pathogenic Aspergillus species. Chronological aging was therefore evaluated in A. fumigatus, A. flavus, A. terreus and A. niger conidia exposed to environmental and human body temperatures. The results showed that the aging process in Aspergillus conidia involves apoptosis,with metacaspase activation, DNA fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species production, associated with secondary necrosis. Distinct results were observed for the selected pathogenic species. At environmental conditions, A. niger was the species with the highest resistance to aging, indicating a higher adaption to environmental conditions, whereas A. flavus followed by A. terreus were the most sensitive species. At higher temperatures (37 °C), A. fumigatus presented the longest lifespan, in accordance with its good adaptation to the human body temperature. Altogether,with this work new insights regarding conidia aging are provided, which may be useful when designing treatments for aspergillosis.

The bivalve dredge fleet, considered as one of the most important artisanal fleets due to the high value of the catches, is by far the most extensively studied among the Portuguese artisanal segment. Acknowledging the growing presence of marine phycotoxins in the waters, the present study explores their impact on the revenue of the fleet that operates along the coast of mainland Portugal. The results obtained using stochastic frontier analysis models enlighten the harmful impact of algae blooms on the activity of the artisanal dredge fleets. In particular, it was observed that in the Algarve region, where the frequency and the intensity of these episodes is higher, the sustainability of the dredge fishing activity is seriously compromised by the phycotoxins.

Forensic laboratories frequently receive biological samples from crime scene investigations with limited DNA in terms of quantity and quality. Hair shafts are a common type of evidence constituting an ideal sample for DNA testing. Nevertheless, the majority of these hairs are rootless. In an attempt to facilitate the analyses of such samples, new DNA quantification (InnoQuant

Physalis is represented by species that produce fruits with relevant potential for national and international marketing. The species are normally grown from seeds, so maturation studies are important to assist the point of harvest, as well as seeds with a high physiological potential, since the fruits remain enclosed within a cup throughout their development. Despite the nutraceutical importance of fruits and medicinal potential of many species of Physalisinformation on the physiological seeds quality are scarce. This study aimed to monitor the physical and physiological changes of maturation and the viability of seeds during fruit development stages. The fruits of P. ixocarpa were collected in 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 days after anthesis (DAA). Length, diameter, fresh weight, skin and cup coloring characterization, TSS content, number and weight of seeds per fruit were obtained at each development stage. We also evaluated and correlated the coloring and pigment content of the cup (chlorophyll a and b). Water content, dry matter weight and germination rate were measured from fresh and dry seeds (room conditions, 72 hours). The main physical and physiological changes during maturation occurred within 35 DAA. The maximum physiological seeds quality was achieved within 45 DAA when the cup is completely or partially broken with coloring between yellowish-green and light-yellowish-brown and the ripe fruit in dark-green. RESUMO Physalis é representado por espécies que produzem frutos com relevante potencial de comercialização nacional e internacional. As espécies são normalmente cultivadas a partir de sementes, e estudos de maturação são importantes para auxiliar na obtenção do ponto de colheita e de sementes com elevado potencial fisiológico, visto que os frutos permanecem encerrados dentro de um cálice durante todo o seu desenvolvimento. Apesar da importância nutracêutica dos frutos e do potencial medicinal de muitas espécies de Physalisinformações sobre a qualidade fisiológica de sementes são escassas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo acompanhar as mudanças físicas e fisiológicas da maturação e a viabilidade das sementes durante os estádios de desenvolvimento do fruto. Os frutos de P. ixocarpa foram coletados aos 15, 25, 35, 45, 55 dias após a antese (DAA). Em cada estádio de desenvolvimento foi obtido o comprimento, diâmetro, peso fresco, caracterização da coloração da casca e do cálice, teor de SST, número e peso de sementes por fruto. Foram também avaliados e correlacionados a coloração e o teor de pigmentos (clorofilas a e b) do cálice. As sementes frescas e dessecadas (condições ambiente, 72 h) foram avaliadas quanto ao conteúdo de água, peso da matéria seca e taxa de germinação. Observou-se que as principais mudanças físicas e fisiológicas na maturação ocorreram até 35 DAA. A máxima qualidade fisiológica das sementes foi alcançada aos 45 DAA, indicando que a melhor época de coleta é quando o cálice encontra-se completamente ou parcialmente rompido, de coloração verde-amarelado a marrom-amarelado-claro e os frutos maduros de coloração verde-escuro.

Obtaining a genetic profile from pieces of evidence collected at a crime scene is the primary objective of forensic laboratories. New procedures, methods, kits, software or equipment must be carefully evaluated and validated before its implementation. The constant development of new methodologies for DNA testing leads to a steady process of validation, which consists of demonstrating that the technology is robust, reproducible, and reliable throughout a defined range of conditions. The present work aims to internally validate two new retrotransposon-based kits (InnoQuant

Os avanços da biotecnologia nas últimas décadas têm transformado a diversidade biológica de mera fonte de matéria prima, em recurso informacional indispensável para o conhecimento científico e tecnológico desta área, em especial na fabricação de produtos ou processos elaborados a partir de espécies de plantas nativas da biodiversidade brasileira. Considerando que as grandes empresas internacionais vêm incorporando ativos da biodiversidade amazônica como matéria prima para o lançamento de seus produtos, este estudo pretende investigar, por meio de informações tecnológicas contidas em uma base de patente, as tendências tecnológicas de processos e/ou produtos relativos a E. oleracea, visando orientar linhas e projetos de pesquisa e de desenvolvimento tecnológico por pesquisadores vinculados a área de biotecnologia aplicada à saúde humana.

The detection of pathogenic microorganisms in aquatic environments is extremely relevant in terms of public health. As these laboratorial methodologies are usually difficult, expensive and time-consuming, they are frequently replaced by the assessment of fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. This study aimed to assess the presence of E. coli in fecal samples from Neotropical otters, to evaluate its potential as fecal indicator to be applied to the determination of water microbiological quality in areas where otters’ populations are high. Twenty-six otter fecal samples, collected in Alto Paranapanema river basin, São Paulo State, Brazil, were analyzed for the presence of E. coli, using conventional bacteriological methods. Only 8 scat samples (30%) were E. coli positive, indicating that this microorganism is not a suitable fecal indicator to assess water fecal contamination by Neotropical otters, and should not be used to infer the presence of otter related pathogens in waters.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:10:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-05-01 This study focuses on the weaver ant, Camponotus textor, Forel which occurs in some areas of the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, and its symbionts: Blochmannia, an obligate symbiont of Camponotus, and Wolbachia, known for causing reproductive alterations in their hosts. The main goal of this study was to investigate the presence, frequency of occurrence, and diversity of Wolbachia and Blochmannia strains in C. textor colonies. We found high infection rates (100%) and the occurrence of at least two distinct strains of Blochmannia (H_1 or H_7) in the same species. The observed haplotype variation within a single species may result from the high mutation rate of the symbiont. Similarly, the Wolbachia was found in all colonies with different rates of infections and a new strain (supergroup A) was deposited in the MLST database. The diversity found in the present study shows that there is still much to explore to understand about these symbiotic interactions. Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP – Campus Rio Claro Biologia CEIS, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista Universidade Federal do Piauí - Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Av. São Sebastião, 2819, 64.202-020 Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” UNESP – Campus Rio Claro Biologia CEIS, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista

In this work, fungi present in the grapevine's phyllosphere collected from the main demarcated wine regions of Portugal were identified, and their phylogenetic relationships were analysed. A total of 46 vine samples (leaves and berries) were collected from different parts of the country, being isolated a total of 117 fungal colonies that were identified to the genus level and sequenced in the following genetic regions: internal transcribed spacer region and 18S rRNA and β-tubulin gene. Next, a phylogenetic tree reconstruction for each genetic region was built. The isolates retrieved from environmental samples belonged to the genera Alternaria (31%), Cladosporium (21%), Penicillium (19%), Aspergillus (7%) and Epicoccum (3%). No genetic signatures of exchange of genetic material were detected, and consequently, the reconstructed phylogenetic trees allowed to distinguish between these different species/genera. In the fungal composition of the Vitis vinifera phyllosphere, several potential pathogens were identified that can be associated with decreases in crop productivity. Knowledge of fungi identification and genetic diversity is pivotal for the development of more adequate crop management strategies. Furthermore, this information will provide guidelines for a more specific and wiser use of fungicides. Significance and Impact of the Study The knowledge on the composition of the phyllosphere microbial community is still limited, especially when fungi are concerned. These micro-organisms not only play a crucial role in crop health and productivity but also interact with the winemaking process, determining the safety and quality of grape and grape-derived products. The elucidation of the micro-organisms present in the phyllosphere will have a notorious impact on plant breeding and protection programmes and disease management strategies, allowing a better control of pesticide applications.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:13:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-10-01 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) Bacterial endosymbionts are common in all insects, and symbiosis has played an integral role in ant evolution. Atta sexdens rubropilosa leaf-cutting ants cultivate their symbiotic fungus using fresh leaves. They need to defend themselves and their brood against diseases, but they also need to defend their obligate fungus gardens, their primary food source, from infection, parasitism, and usurpation by competitors. This study aimed to characterize the microbial communities in whole workers and different tissues of A. sexdens rubropilosa queens using Ion Torrent NGS. Our results showed that the microbial community in the midgut differs in abundance and diversity from the communities in the postpharyngeal gland of the queen and in whole workers. The main microbial orders in whole workers were Lactobacillales, Clostridiales, Enterobacteriales, Actinomycetales, Burkholderiales, and Bacillales. In the tissues of the queens, the main orders were Burkholderiales, Clostridiales, Syntrophobacterales, Lactobacillales, Bacillales, and Actinomycetales (midgut) and Entomoplasmatales, unclassified γ-proteobacteria, and Actinomycetales (postpharyngeal glands). The high abundance of Entomoplasmatales in the postpharyngeal glands (77%) of the queens was an unprecedented finding. We discuss the role of microbial communities in different tissues and castes. Bacteria are likely to play a role in nutrition and immune defense as well as helping antimicrobial defense in this ant species. Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Campus Rio Claro, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista Universidade Federal do Piauí - Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Av. São Sebastião, 2819 Centro de Estudos de Insetos Sociais UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Campus Rio Claro, Av. 24A, 1515, Bela Vista CAPES: 007343/2014-00 CNPq: 157837/2015-7 FAPESP: 2012/12541-3 CNPq: 306910/2011-0

Wind towers are used to produce electrical energy from the wind. A significant number of towers is manufactured using tubular separately steel or concrete, having limitations such as maximum diameter and height imposed essentially by transportation limitations. Developed computational studies on structural design of towers have been mainly focused on a single material. This investigation aims to develop a finite element method able to study structural design of wind towers combining different materials. The finite element model combines solid and shell elements encompassing different geometries. Several case studies are considered to validate the proposed method and accurate results are obtained.

Assessing impacts of management strategies may allow designing more resistant forests to wildfires. Planning-oriented models to predict the effect of stand structure and forest composition on mortality for supporting fire-smart management decisions, and allowing its inclusion in forest management optimization systems were developed. Post-fire mortality was modeled as a function of measurable forest inventory data and projections over time in 165 pure and 76 mixed forest stands in Portugal, collected by the 5th National Forest Inventory plots (NFI) plus other sample plots from ForFireS project, intercepted within 2006–2008 wildfire perimeters’ data. Presence and tree survival were obtained by examining 2450 trees from 16 species one year after the wildfire occurrence. A set of logistic regression models were developed under a three-stage modeling system: firstly multiple fixed-effects at stand-level that comprises a sub-model to predict mortality from wildfire; and another for the proportion of dead trees on stands killed by fire. At tree-level due to the nested structure of the data analyzed (trees within stands), a mixed-effect model was developed to estimate mortality among trees in a fire event. The results imply that the variation of tree mortality decreases when tree diameter at breast height increases. Moreover, the relative mortality increases with stand density, higher altitude and steeper slopes. In the same conditions, conifers are more prone to die than eucalyptus and broadleaves. Pure stands of broadleaves exhibit noticeably higher fire resistance than mixed stands of broadleaves and others species composition This research was supported by Project UID/AGR/00239/2013, PTDC/AGR-CFL/64146/2006 “Decision support tools for integrating fire and forest management planning” and project FIRE-ENGINE “Flexible Design of Forest Fire Management Systems” (MIT/FSE/0064/2009), both funded by the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT), and contributes to the activities of the ALTERFOR Project “Alternative models and robust decision-making for future forest management”—H2020-ISIB-2015-2/grant agreement No. 67654, funded by European Union Seventh Framework Programme. This research has received also funding from the European Union’s H2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 691149 (SuFoRun). The authors would like to thank the Portuguese Science Foundation for funding the doctoral scholarships of Brigite Botequim (SFRH/ BD/44830/2008) and the Post Doc grant SFRH/BPD/96806/2013 of Susete Marques. Researcher Jordi Garcia-Gonzalo was supported by a “Ramon y Cajal” research contract from the MINECO (Ref. RYC-2013-14262) and has received funding from CERCA Programme / Generalitat de Catalunya. In addition, the authors wish to acknowledge the Portuguese Forest Service (ICNF) for supplying the perimeters of wildfires and NFI Databases and ForFireS Project for providing the inventory Databases SI

Carbonaceous materials are attractive due to the versatility and abundance of the carbon element, characteristics that enable the development of new structures, by different preparation methods, with a manifold of physicochemical properties. In this way, this type of material could offer possibilities of application in different branches science and technology. Among the preparation techniques, hydrothermal carbonization has been outstanding on the attainment of carbonaceous micro and nanostructures in a sustainable and fast way, through the use of biomass, biomass residues and carbohydrates as precursors, without toxic reagents. This makes carbonaceous materials produced by this methodology potential alternative for biological applications such as development of biodevices and support for biocatalysts. In this thesis, carbon micro and nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal carbonization of glucose, physically and chemically characterized and their use as support for ConBr lectin was evaluated using covalent and non-covalent methodologies. ConBr lectin is a plant protein that has the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes. After the preparations, the microparticles were washed with deionized water and dried in an oven, while the nanoparticles were purified by dialysis. The analyses performed indicated that the microparticles were formed by individualized and coalesced spheres with negative zeta potential, average hydrodynamic diameter of approximately 1 μm and were composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The nanoparticles, obtained using different reaction parameters, appeared as nanometric agglomerates with different hydrodynamic diameters and negative zeta potential. Depending on these parameters, the nanoparticles had photoluminescence in the visible region and aqueous suspensions without precipitation or turbidity for at least two months. Those with a mean hydrodynamic diameter around 30 nm were stable under pH variation between 4,35 and 9,44 and in saline solutions phosphate buffer (PBS) and NaCl 0,9%. Both materials were subjected to interaction with ConBr lectin by amidation reaction with the aid of carbodiimide and by adsorption. The results obtained for both the microparticle and nanoparticle conjugates indicated that it was possible to immobilize the lectin in the particles so that it maintained its biological activity of erythrocyte's agglutination. Hydrochar; hydrothermal carbonization; ConBr lectin; amidation; adsorption; hemagglutination; C-dots; carbon nanoparticles; photoluminescence; Materiais carbonáceos são atrativos devido à versatilidade e abundância do elemento carbono, características que possibilitam o desenvolvimento de novas estruturas, por diversas metodologias de preparação, dotadas de propriedades físico-químicas variadas e que, deste modo, oferecem possibilidades de aplicação em diversos ramos da ciência e da tecnologia. Dentre estas técnicas de preparação, a carbonização hi-drotérmica tem se destacado por possibilitar a obtenção de micro e nanoestruturas carbonáceas de forma sustentável e rápida, através do uso de biomassa, resíduos de biomassa e carboidratos como precursores, sem o uso de reagentes tóxicos. Tal fato torna os materiais carbonáceos produzidos por esta metodologia alternativas poten-ciais para aplicações biológicas como, por exemplo, para o desenvolvimento de bio-dispositivos e suporte para biocatalisadores. Nesta tese, micro e nanopartículas de carbono foram preparadas por carbonização hidrotérmica de glicose, caracterizadas físico-quimicamente e submetidas à interação com a lectina ConBr, por meio de me-todologias covalente e não covalente, a fim de verificar a possibilidade de utilização destes materiais como suporte para a biomolécula. A lectina ConBr é uma proteína vegetal que possui a capacidade de aglutinar eritrócitos. Após as preparações, as micropartículas foram submetidas à lavagem com água e secagem em estufa, enquan-to as nanopartículas foram purificadas por diálise. As análises realizadas indicaram que as micropartículas são constituídas por esferas individualizadas e coalescidas, dotadas de potencial zeta negativo, diâmetro hidrodinâmico médio de, aproximada-mente, 1 μm, compostas por carbono, hidrogênio e oxigênio. As nanopartículas, obti-das utilizando diferentes parâmetros reacionais, apresentam-se em aglomerados na-nométricos com diferentes diâmetros hidrodinâmicos e potencial zeta negativo. De-pendendo dos referidos parâmetros, as nanopartículas apresentam fotoluminescência na região do visível e suspensões aquosas sem precipitação ou turbidez por, pelo menos, dois meses. Aquelas com diâmetro hidrodinâmico médio em torno de 30 nm mostraram-se estáveis sob variação de pH entre 4,35 e 9,44 e nas soluções salinas tampão fosfato (PBS) e NaCl 0,9%. Ambos os materiais foram submetidos à interação com a lectina ConBr por reação de amidação com auxílio de carbodiimida e por adsorção. Os resultados obtidos, tanto para os conjugados com micropartículas quanto para aqueles com nanopartículas, indicaram que foi possível imobilizar a lectina nas partículas de modo que esta mantivesse sua atividade biológica de agluti-nação de eritrócitos.

Timber management directly influences the population dynamics of tree species, like Copaifera spp. (copaiba), which provide oil-resin with ecological and economic importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the structure and population dynamics of Copaifera in unmanaged and managed stands by reduced-impact logging (RIL) in eastern Amazon in Para state, Brazil. Based on a stem map of the study area, 40 Copaifera trees were randomly selected, where an equal number of trees were selected in managed and unmanaged stands. A transect of 10 × 100 m was centered at each tree (50 m each side) to assess Copaifera regeneration. Transects were subdivided into ten plots, of which six were systematically chosen to assess the height, diameter and number of Copaifera seedlings and saplings. The field assessment occurred in 2011 and 2013. To estimate the amount of sunlight transmitted to the forest floor, we computed canopy cover from airborne LiDAR data. According to the results, the abundance of Copaifera seedlings/saplings was higher in managed than unmanaged stands. About 5% of Copaifera regeneration was found between 45–50 m from the Copaifera tree while ~73% of regeneration was concentrated within a 10 m radius of the Copaifera tree. We verified that the diameter distribution of Copaifera regeneration was not a negative exponential distribution, as is typical of most tree species in natural forest. Rather, the Copaifera regeneration had a spatially aggregated distribution. In this short-term analysis, the impact of timber management is not negatively affecting the population structure or dynamics of Copaifera regeneration.

While traditional forensic genetics has been oriented towards using human DNA in criminal investigation and civil court cases, it currently presents a much wider application range, including not only legal situations sensu stricto but also and, increasingly often, to preemptively avoid judicial processes. Despite some difficulties, current forensic genetics is progressively incorporating the analysis of nonhuman genetic material to a greater extent. The analysis of this material—including other animal species, plants, or microorganisms—is now broadly used, providing ancillary evidence in criminalistics in cases such as animal attacks, trafficking of species, bioterrorism and biocrimes, and identification of fraudulent food composition, among many others. Here, we explore how nonhuman forensic genetics is being revolutionized by the increasing variety of genetic markers, the establishment of faster, less error-burdened and cheaper sequencing technologies, and the emergence and improvement of models, methods, and bioinformatics facilities. MA, FP, MO, NP, AML and VG are supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), European RegionalDevelopment Fund (ERDF) and Programa Operacional Potencial Humano,through the grants IF/00955/2014, IF/01356/2012, SFRH/BPD/66071/2009, SFRH/BPD/97414/2013, IF/01262/2014 and SFRH/BPD/76207/2011, respectively. MA was also supported by the “Ramón y Cajal” grant RYC-2015-18241 from the Spanish Government. IPATIMUP integrates the i3S Research Unit, which is partially supported by FCT. The funders had no role in the preparation of the article.