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The mitochondrial genomes of Iberian freshwater and diadromous fishes
Get PDFThe Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe, is home to a distinctive freshwater fish
fauna, predominantly composed of endemic species. This is a consequence of the prolonged
isolation from western Europe caused by the Pyrenees, the diverse geological and climatic
gradients, and the isolation of river basins. Freshwater and diadromous fishes have
diversified in the Iberian Peninsula and include 72 currently recognized native species, 50 of
which are endemic to the region. Habitat loss and degradation, the introduction of invasive
species, and climate change have placed Iberian freshwater and diadromous fishes among the
most threatened groups of vertebrates, with some species on the brink of extinction. Here,
we present 60 new complete mitochondrial genome assemblies out of the 109 freshwater
and diadromous fish species found in the Iberian Peninsula, including the mitogenomes of
37 endemics. These resources are crucial for characterising the mitochondrial evolution of
species, reconstructing phylogeny and paleogeography, advancing species identification,
delineation, and monitoring, and ultimately supporting conservation planning
Inhibitory Effects of Aqueous and Hydroalcoholic Extracts from Jatobá Coat (Hymenaea courbaril L.) on Pancreatic Amylase and Starch Absorption
Get PDFJatobá (Hymenaea courbaril) is a native tree abundant in Brazil. The fruit coat is an industrial by-product of jatobá flour processing, typically discarded. Presently, within the circular bioeconomy concept, there are efforts underway that aim at finding economically viable applications for the bio-residues of jatobá. Within this context, the present work attempts to find possible applications for the jatobá coat in glycemic control through inhibition of α-amylase activity. Aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were used. In vitro experiments included detailed kinetic studies with an α-amylase catalyzed reaction. Starch absorption in vivo was assessed by means of a starch tolerance test in mice. Both extracts inhibited α-amylase. The IC50 values for the aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts were 81.98 ± 3.53 µg/mL and 51.06 ± 0.42 µg/mL, respectively. The inhibition was of the non-competitive type. Both extracts reduced hyperglycemia caused by starch administration in mice, the aqueous extract being effective over a larger dose range. This action can be attributed to the α-amylase inhibition. In silico studies suggested that procyanidin dimers, taxifolin 7-O-rhamnoside, and quercetin 7-rhamnoside contribute, but several other not-yet-identified substances may be involved. The findings suggest that aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts from jatobá coat warrant further investigations as potential modulators of glycemia following starch ingestion.This study was funded by grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq 404589/2023-5) and Fundação Araucária (FA 160/2022), Brazil
Consumers' Sensory Profile and Understanding of Clean‐Label Sausage. An Approach Using Ultra‐Flash Profile and Check‐All‐That‐Apply
Get PDFClean‐label meat products are trending in the food industry; however, they are little known by consumers. In this context, the present work aims to: (i) assess the sensory characteristics of fresh sausage supplemented with natural additives through the application of ultra‐flash profile (UFP) and (ii) investigate consumers' knowledge of clean‐label meat products using check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA) questions. Fresh sausage formulations were prepared from different concentrations of celery and rosemary extracts with curry. The results showed that different concentrations of these natural additives corresponded to different sensory profiles. The attributes that most effectively distinguish sausages are their red color, flavorful seasoning, juiciness, and spiciness. The results from CATA questions indicate a lack of understanding regarding chemicals and additives in food, as well as about clean‐label. Clean‐label meat sausage appears promising as consumers place a high value on natural additives. The remaining challenge for the meat industry's marketing sector is to establish a connection between natural additives and clean‐label products in the minds of consumers.The authors thank Fundação Araucária (project number 429/2022-
NAPI Agrobioalimentar), CAPES and acknowledge the technical sup-
port provided. Thanks also to Robert Lee for his assistance with the
English manuscript
New frontiers in the exploration of phenolic compounds and other bioactives as natural preservatives
No full textPhenolic compounds are secondary metabolites widely distributed in the plant kingdom, valued for their strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. These bioactive compounds are promising natural alternatives to artificial preservatives in the food industry, aligning with consumer demand for sustainable solutions that ensure food quality and safety. In this review, the structural complexity of bioactive phenolic compounds, which include their various subclasses and the chemical basis of their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, is explored. This review examines innovative extraction methods designed to preserve the bioactivity of these compounds. Additionally, it examines their incorporation as natural preservatives, focusing on stability issues and applications in the food sector. The structural diversity of phenolic compounds underpins their broad applications in food preservation. These include antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which contribute to food safety and offer potential health benefits. The use of agro-industrial biowastes as a sustainable supply of phenolics is a promising approach; however, standardization is necessary to obtain extracts with consistent and effective biological activity. Innovative techniques, such as encapsulation and integration into edible films, are being developed to improve the stability and effectiveness of these compounds, expanding their application in various
food productsThis work was supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES
(PIDDAC): CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00690/
2020) and UIDP/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00690/2020); and
SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020). National
funding by FCT- Foundation for Science and Technology, through the
institutional scientific employment program-contract with S.A.H. and L.
B., and through the individual research grant of I.O BD/06017/2020
(https://doi.org/10.54499/2020.06017.BD)
Characterization of physical performance and change of direction deficit across age groups in young female volleyball players
Get PDFBackground Volleyball performance relies heavily on agility, strength, and the ability to change direction, yet there is limited research investigating these physical attributes across different age groups in youth volleyball players. The change of direction (COD) deficit—a metric that isolates directional efficiency by comparing agility to linear speed— may provide a more nuanced understanding of an athlete’s movement capabilities. The aim of this study was to investigate: (i) the differences in anthropometrics, lower limb strength/power, dynamic balance, linear sprint speed, and change of direction (COD) ability between young volleyball age groups; (ii) the effect of age on COD deficit in young volleyball players, and; (iii) the COD deficit predictors.
Methods A cross-sectional analysis of young volleyball athletes was conducted. Seventy-seven female volleyball players from three age groups (U13:12.43 ± 0.89; U16:14.38 ± 0.52; U18:16.78 ± 0.93) participated in standardized tests measuring their physical qualities.
Results The older age groups (U18) were significantly taller, heavier, and faster in linear sprints than their younger counterparts. No significant differences between groups were observed in lower limb strength and power or dynamic balance. The U16 group demonstrated the lowest COD deficit. The regression analysis identified drop jump height (DJ) as the sole significant predictor of COD deficit, explaining 6.9% of the variance (R2 = 0.069, p = 0.033), highlighting its relevance as an indicator of reactive strength.
Conclusions These findings suggest that while anthropometric features have increased and sprint performance improved with age, there is no corresponding improvement in lower limb strength, power, or dynamic balance. Drop jump height was the sole predictor of COD deficit, emphasizing the importance of reactive strength in determining agility. Coaches should focus on enhancing lower limb strength and reactive power to optimize COD performance and prevent performance stagnation (training plateaus), particularly in older athletesThis work was supported by national funds (FCT\u2013Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) under the project UIDB/DTP/04045/2020
Polyolefin and Polystyrene‐Derived Carbon Nanotubes: Catalysts for Oxidative Desulfurization Under a Biphasic System
No full textThe conversion of plastic solid waste into carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and the effectiveness of these CNTs as catalysts for oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of a simulated fuel were investigated. The primary focus is on the use of CNTs synthesized from various polymer sources, including polyolefins and polystyrene (PS), to remove sulfur compounds using hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O2 ) as an oxidant. The surface modification of CNTs by using acids (H2 SO4 or HNO3 ), the influence of the carbon feedstock (polyolefins vs PS), the use of co-catalysts, and the effect of the extractant phase were all evaluated on the oxidative removal of dibenzothiophene from a simulated fuel.
Results revealed that CNTs derived from polyolefins displayed higher desulfurization efficiency (up to 77% in 8 h), with nitric acid-treated CNTs showing the best performance under oil-water biphasic systems. Replacing water with acetonitrile and adding a co-catalyst (formic acid) resulted in a desulfurization of 91% in 2 h of reaction. Under certain conditions, C─S bond cleav-age was observed. This research contributes to the valorization of plastic solid waste and the reduction of atmospheric pollution, promoting circular economy practices and environmental sustainability.This work was financially supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00690/2020) and UIDP/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00690/2020); SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020); LSRE-LCM, UIDB/50020/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/50020/2020) and UIDP/50020/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/50020/2020); ALiCE, LA/P/0045/2020 (DOI:10.54499/LA/P/0045/2020). F.F.R. acknowledges the national funding by FCT and the European Social Fund, FSE, through the individual research grant SFRH/BD/143224/2019. A.S.S. was sup-
ported by the doctoral grant SFRH/BD/151346/2021, financed by FCT with funds from NORTE2020, under MIT Portugal Program.
J.L.D.T. acknowledges the financial support through the program of Atracción al Talento of Comunidad de Madrid (Spain) for the individual research grant 2022-T1/AMB-23946. The authors are also grateful for the finantial support provided by Sociedade Ponto Verde for the project “Estudo técnico-económico para a valorização de resíduos de embalagens plásticas na produção de nanotubos de carbono”
Artificial intelligence in music creation: impacts on creativity and the production process
No full textA Inteligência Artificial (IA) tem vindo a ganhar destaque em várias áreas, incluindo a música, onde se apresenta como uma ferramenta inovadora para a criação e produção de temas musicais. Esta pesquisa foca-se na utilização da IA na criação musical, investigando os seus impactos tanto na criatividade quanto no processo de produção, com a RaussTuna, Tuna Mista de Bragança do Instituto Politécnico de Bragança (Portugal), como estudo de caso. O estudo visa compreender como a IA pode ser integrada no processo criativo da Tuna, abordando a composição, a criação de arranjos e o trabalho colaborativo entre os membros. Para isso, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, com entrevistas aos membros da Tuna, observação das suas atividades musicais e experimentação com ferramentas de IA, como softwares para a criação de arranjos e composição musical. Através desta abordagem, procurou-se avaliar de que forma a IA pode influenciar tanto a criatividade individual quanto a coletiva, e como pode afetar a produção musical na Tuna. Os resultados preliminares indicam que a IA pode ter um impacto significativo na criatividade dos membros. Por um lado, as ferramentas de IA foram vistas como uma forma de ampliar o potencial criativo, oferecendo novas abordagens para a composição, permitindo a criação de melodias e harmonias que talvez não surgissem de forma tão espontânea através dos métodos tradicionais. A IA ajudou na personalização de arranjos e na criação de novas ideias musicais, enriquecendo o processo criativo da Tuna. No entanto, surgiram também preocupações relacionadas com a originalidade da música criada por IA, com alguns membros a expressarem receio de que a utilização excessiva desta tecnologia pudesse comprometer a ligação emocional que caracterizam a produção musical da Tuna. No que respeita ao processo de produção, a IA demonstrou ter um impacto positivo ao otimizar a criação de arranjos e simplificar certos aspetos da produção musical. Estas ferramentas permitiram aumentar a eficiência e acelerar o tempo de produção, algo crucial no contexto de uma Tuna que frequentemente trabalha sob limitações de tempo. Apesar de alguns desafios relacionados com o uso da IA, os membros da Tuna reconheceram que, quando aplicada de forma equilibrada e estratégica, a IA pode ser um contributo para a criatividade musical. O estudo conclui que a integração da IA nas práticas tunae pode enriquecer a produção musical, trazendo novas possibilidades criativas e melhorando a eficiência na produção, sem comprometer a identidade cultural e artística da Tuna.Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gained relevance in several disciplines, such as music, where it appears as a revolutionary tool for the elaboration and production of songs. This research focuses on the application of AI in musical composition, analyzing its effects on creativity and the production process, using the RaussTuna - Tuna Mista de Bragança of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (Portugal), as a case study. The research aims to understand how AI can be integrated into the Tuna's creative process, touching on aspects such as composition, the development of arrangements, and collaboration between members. To this end, qualitative research was applied, including interviews with Tuna members, analysis of their musical activities, and tests with AI tools, such as software aimed at arranging and composing. This approach sought to investigate how AI can affect creativity, both individual and collective, as well as its impact on Tuna's musical production. The first results suggest that AI can have a significant influence on the creativity of the members. From one perspective, AI tools were perceived as a way of expanding creative potential, providing new ways of composing and allowing the creation of melodies and harmonies that might not have appeared so organically through conventional methods. AI contributed to the personalization of arrangements and the emergence of new musical ideas, enriching the creative process within Tuna. However, concerns were also raised about the originality of the AI-generated songs, with some members expressing fears that an excessive use of this technology could damage the emotional connection that defines Tuna's musical output. Regarding the production process, AI has shown a positive effect by optimizing the creation of arrangements and simplifying various aspects of music production. These tools have helped to improve efficiency and speed up production time, something essential for a Tuna that usually operates under tight deadlines. Despite some challenges associated with the use of AI, Tuna members recognized that, when used in a balanced and strategic way, AI can contribute to musical creativity. The study concludes that the inclusion of AI in Tuna's practices can enhance music production, bringing new creative opportunities and increasing efficiency, without compromising the group's cultural and artistic identity
Associação entre o índice de massa corporal com a qualidade de sono em estudantes do ensino superior
Get PDFIntrodução: A relação entre o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e a Qualidade do Sono tem sido investigada, devido às suas implicações na saúde metabólica, cardiovascular e neurocognitiva. Evidências científicas, sugerem que o excesso de peso e obesidade podem estar associados a distúrbios do sono, como a apneia obstrutiva do sono, e menor eficiência do descanso noturno. Esses fatores, podem impactar negativamente a regulação hormonal do apetite e metabolismo energético, criando um ciclo bidirecional entre a qualidade do sono e o controle do peso corporal.
Objetivos: Analisar a associação entre o IMC com a qualidade de sono em estudantes da Escola Superior de Saúde de Bragança.
Metodologia: Estudo de caracter observacional, transversal, quantitativo, analítico e correlacional, realizado através de um questionário dividido em várias secções: dados sociodemográficos, dados antropométricos e Qualidade de Sono (com recurso ao questionário do Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh – PSQI-PT). A amostra foi probabilística aleatória estratificada, com um total de 150 indivíduos, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 35 anos. Os dados foram analisados com o software IBM SPSS Statistic 30, sendo utilizado o teste de Spearman para avaliar a associação entre o IMC e qualidade de sono, considerando um nível de significância de 5% (α = 0,05).
Resultados: Neste estudo, os indivíduos eram maioritariamente do sexo feminino (86%). Relativamente à qualidade do sono, cerca de 52,67% apresentaram pobre qualidade do sono e relativamente ao IMC, 57,33% são normoponderais, 27,33% apresentavam excesso de peso e 4,67% baixo peso. Não houve associação estatisticamente significativa entre o IMC e a qualidade global do sono (p = 0,825), nem com os componentes individuais do PSQI-PT (p>0,05).
Discussão: Os dados sugerem que, nesta amostra, não há associação entre o IMC e a qualidade do sono. No entanto, outros fatores, como consumo de cafeína ou hábitos alimentares poderão ter impacto nos resultados. Considera-se que estudos futuros devem incluir amostras maiores, com análise de potenciais variáveis mediadoras
Proposal for the Development of Bio Based Hybrid Molecules: Exploring Molecular Dynamics for Coloring and Preservation of Molecules
Get PDFDespite the considerable progress in the field of food additives, the controversy in which some of them are still involved has encouraged research into the next generation of safer and healthier counterpart
Silvopastoralism as an Agroforestry Systems: Survey Analysis of Perceptions in the Agricultural Sector of Trás-os-Montes region, Portugal
Get PDFSilvopastoralism, as a traditional agroforestry practice that combines extensive livestock production with forestry, offering both economic and environmental benefits, has been losing prominence, thus compromising the ecosystem services it provides. This research arises from the need to understand the obstacles to its adoption in Trás-os-Montes, a region marked by vulnerability to rural wildfires and demographic desertification. Despite the scientific recognition of the environmental and social benefits of silvopastoralism, there remains a significant gap in knowledge regarding the perceptions and challenges experienced by producers in its implementation.
Based on the SILFORE project, this study involved 60 face-to-face surveys with various stakeholders in the agroforestry sector in the Trás-os-Montes region. The objective was to identify perceptions of the usefulness of silvopastoralism and the main constraints to its application. The data collected were statistically analyzed using frequency measures and measures of central tendency.
The results reveal a clear appreciation for the role of silvopastoralism in wildfire prevention, biodiversity conservation, and the preservation of native breeds. However, factors such as low economic profitability, lack of technical support, and the absence of tailored public policies compromise its viability. It is concluded that the revitalization of silvopastoralism depends on integrated strategies involving technical assistance, institutional recognition, and the valorisation of associated products—contributing to the resilience of rural territories.This work was supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): CIMO, UIDB/00690/2020 (DOI:10.54499/UIDB/00690/2020) and UIDP/00690/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00690/2020); and SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020). It was also funded by the European Union through the LIFE Programme, under the project SILFORE — Towards the conservation and management of resilient agroforestry systems through silvopastoralism (Project 101074445 — LIFE21-CCA-ES-LIFE SILFORE)