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- Development of active films utilizing antioxidant compounds obtained from tomato and lemon by-products for use in food packagingPublication . Mariño-Cortegoso, Sandra; Stanzione, Mariamelia; Andrade, Mariana A.; Restuccia, Cristina; Rodríguez-Bernaldo de Quirós, Ana; Buonocore, Giovanna G.; Barbosa, Cássia H.; Vilarinho, Fernanda; Silva, Ana Sanches; Ramos, Fernando; Khwaldia, Khaoula; Sendón, Raquel; Barbosa-Pereira, Letricia; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam.This study focused on the recovery of antioxidant compounds from lemon and tomato by-products for use as natural additives in the development of active food packaging formulated using three different polymeric matrices that included low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polylactic acid (PLA), and G-polymer (GP). The films were characterized according to chemical-physical, thermal analyses, and their barrier and mechanical properties. Migration assays were performed to evaluate the release of active compounds from polymeric matrices, which were quantified in the food simulant by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector and then confirmed via liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The antioxidant capacities of the films were determined to evaluate their applicability for use as antioxidant-active packaging. The incorporation of extracts into polymers resulted in different structural changes and enhanced properties according to the nature of the polymeric matrix based on the interactions of the –OH groups of polyphenols and the chemical groups of the polymers. The lemon (LE) and tomato (TE) extracts lead to a substantial improvement in water barrier properties of PLA and GP-based films. The active PLA and GP films released high amounts of polyphenolic compounds (up to 65% for GP containing LE); mainly hesperidin and eriocitrin for LE films, and chrologenic acid for TE films. PLA loaded with lemon extract at 4% was selected as the most suitable for use as antioxidant packaging to extend the shelf-life of foods with high fat content.
- The interplay between lncRNAs, RNA-binding proteins and viral genome during SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals strong connections with regulatory events involved in RNA metabolism and immune responsePublication . Enguita, Francisco J.; Leitão, Ana Lúcia; McDonald, J. Tyson; Zaksas, Viktorija; Das, Saswati; Galeano, Diego; Taylor, Deanne; Wurtele, Eve Syrkin; Saravia-Butler, Amanda; Baylin, Stephen B.; Meller, Robert; Porterfield, D. Marshall; Wallace, Douglas C.; Schisler, Jonathan C.; Mason, Christopher E.; Beheshti, Afshin; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); Ivyspring International PublisherRationale: Viral infections are complex processes based on an intricate network of molecular interactions. The infectious agent hijacks components of the cellular machinery for its profit, circumventing the natural defense mechanisms triggered by the infected cell. The successful completion of the replicative viral cycle within a cell depends on the function of viral components versus the cellular defenses. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are important cellular modulators, either promoting or preventing the progression of viral infections. Among these ncRNAs, the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) family is especially relevant due to their intrinsic functional properties and ubiquitous biological roles. Specific lncRNAs have been recently characterized as modulators of the cellular response during infection of human host cells by single stranded RNA viruses. However, the role of host lncRNAs in the infection by human RNA coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 remains uncharacterized. Methods: In the present work, we have performed a transcriptomic study of a cohort of patients with different SARS-CoV-2 viral load and analyzed the involvement of lncRNAs in supporting regulatory networks based on their interaction with RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Results: Our results revealed the existence of a SARS-CoV-2 infection-dependent pattern of transcriptional up-regulation in which specific lncRNAs are an integral component. To determine the role of these lncRNAs, we performed a functional correlation analysis complemented with the study of the validated interactions between lncRNAs and RBPs. This combination of in silico functional association studies and experimental evidence allowed us to identify a lncRNA signature composed of six elements - NRIR, BISPR, MIR155HG, FMR1-IT1, USP30-AS1, and U62317.2 - associated with the regulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: We propose a competition mechanism between the viral RNA genome and the regulatory lncRNAs in the sequestering of specific RBPs that modulates the interferon response and the regulation of RNA surveillance by nonsense-mediated decay (NMD).
- Tackling food insecurity in Cabo Verde islandsPublication . Brilhante, Miguel; Varela, Eromise; Essoh, Anyse P.; Fortes, Arlindo; Duarte, Maria Cristina; Monteiro, Filipa; Ferreira, Vladimir; Correia, Augusto Manuel; Duarte, Maria Paula; Romeiras, Maria M.; NOVA School of Business and Economics (NOVA SBE); MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteLegume species are important food sources to reduce hunger and deal with malnutrition; they also play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture in the tropical dry islands of Cabo Verde. To improve the knowledge of the heritage of plant genetic resources in this Middle Income Country, this study had three main goals: (i) to provide a checklist of food legumes; (ii) to investigate which species are traded in local markets and, based on field surveys, to compare species for their chemical, phenolic, antioxidant, and nutritional composition; and (iii) to discuss the agronomic value and contribution to food security in this archipelago. Our results revealed that 15 species are used as food and 5 of them are locally traded (Cajanus cajan, Lablab purpureus, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Vigna unguiculata). The role of these species as sources of important minerals, antioxidants, and nutritional components for food security is highlighted, and the native ones (Lablab purpureus and Vigna unguiculata) stand-out as particularly well-adapted to the climate of these islands, which are already experiencing the adverse effects of climate change. We conclude that the sustainable use of these genetic resources can contribute to the reduction of hunger and poverty, thus meeting some challenges of the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Physical and morphological characterization of chitosan/montmorillonite films incorporated with ginger essential oilPublication . Souza, Victor Gomes Lauriano; Pires, João Ricardo Afonso; Rodrigues, Carolina; Rodrigues, Patricia Freitas; Lopes, Andréia; Silva, Rui Jorge; Caldeira, Jorge; Duarte, Maria Paula; Fernandes, Francisco Braz; Coelhoso, Isabel Maria; Fernando, Ana Luisa; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); CENIMAT-i3N - Centro de Investigação de Materiais (Lab. Associado I3N); DCM - Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais; DQ - Departamento de Química; LAQV@REQUIMTE; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteNovel bionanocomposite films of chitosan/montmorillonite (CS/MMT) activated with ginger essential oil (GEO) were produced and characterized in terms of their physical and morphological properties. The homogenization process led to a good interaction between the chitosan and the nanoparticles, however the exfoliation was diminished when GEO was incorporated. Film glass transition temperature did not statistically change with the incorporation of either MMT or GEO, however the value was slightly reduced, representing a relaxation in the polymer chain which corroborated with the mechanical and barrier properties results. Pristine chitosan films showed excellent barrier properties to oxygen with a permeability of 0.184 × 10-16 mol/m·s·Pa being reduced to half (0.098 × 10-16 mol/m·s·Pa) when MMT was incorporated. Although the incorporation of GEO increased the permeability values to 0.325 × 10-16 mol/m·s·Pa when 2% of GEO was integrated, this increment was smaller with both MMT and GEO (0.285 × 10-16 mol/m·s·Pa). Bionanocomposites also increased the UV light barrier. Thus, the produced bioplastics demonstrated their ability to retard oxidative processes due to their good barrier properties, corroborating previous results that have shown their potential in the preservation of foods with high unsaturated fat content.
- Phytosomes with persimmon (Diospyros kaki l.) extractPublication . Direito, Rosa; Reis, Catarina; Roque, Luís; Gonçalves, Margarida; Sanches-Silva, Ana; Gaspar, Maria Manuela; Pinto, Rui; Rocha, João; Sepodes, Bruno; Bronze, Maria Rosário; Figueira, Maria Eduardo; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB); ACS - American Chemical SocietyPersimmon (Diospyros kaki L.), a fruit rich in phenolic compounds (PCs), has been considered effective in mitigating oxidative damage induced by an excess of reactive oxygen species. Due to large molecular weight and intrinsic instability in some physiological fluids, PCs’ passage through biological membranes is very limited. Carriers like phytosomes are promising systems to optimize oral absorption of encapsulated extracts. This work prepared and fully characterized phytosomes containing bioactive phenolic extracts from persimmon in terms of size, surface charge, encapsulation efficiency and stability over six months. These phytosomes were orally dosed to Wistar rats during a 15-day period. Afterwards, haematological and biochemical analyses were performed. Monodisperse phytosomes were successfully prepared, with size less than 300nm (PI < 0.3) and high encapsulation efficiency (97.4%) of PCs. In contrast to free extract, extract-loaded phytosomes had higher antioxidant activity after 6 months storage. Oral administration of extract-loaded phytosomes and free extract did not lead to lipidic profile changes and were within referenced normal ranges, as well as glycaemia levels and urine parameters. The results highlighted the potential of persimmon PCs as food supplements or pharmacological tools, suggesting a promising and safe phytosomal formulation containing bioactive agents of persimmon that could lead to health benefits.
- Switchgrass and Giant Reed Energy Potential when Cultivated in Heavy Metals Contaminated SoilsPublication . Gomes, Leandro; Costa, Jorge; Moreira, Joana; Cumbane, Berta; Abias, Marcelo; Santos, Fernando; Zanetti, Federica; Monti, Andrea; Fernando, Ana Luísa; DQ - Departamento de Química; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteThe cultivation of energy crops on degraded soils contributes to reduce the risks associated with land use change, and the biomass may represent an additional revenue as a feedstock for bioenergy. Switchgrass and giant reed were tested under 300 and 600 mg Cr kg−1, 110 and 220 mg Ni kg−1, and 4 and 8 mg Cd kg−1 contaminated soils, in a two year pot experiment. Switchgrass yields (average aerial 330 g.m−2 and below ground 430 g.m−2), after the second year harvest, were not affected by Cd contamination and 110 mg Ni kg−1, but 220 mg Ni kg−1 significantly affected the yields (55–60% reduction). A total plant loss was observed in Cr-contaminated pots. Giant reed aboveground yields (control: 410 g.m−2), in the second year harvest, were significantly affected by all metals and levels of contamination (30–70% reduction), except in 110 mg Ni kg−1 pots. The belowground biomass yields (average 1600 g.m−2) were not affected by the tested metals. Contamination did not affect the high heating value (HHV) of switchgrass (average 18.4 MJ.kg−1) and giant reed aerial fractions (average 18.9 MJ.kg−1, stems, and 18.1 MJ.kg−1, leaves), harvested in the second year, indicating that the biomass can be exploited for bioenergy.
- Gasification of Solid Recovered Fuels with Variable Fractions of Polymeric Materials †Publication . Alves, Octávio; Calado, Luís; Panizio, Roberta M.; Nobre, Catarina; Monteiro, Eliseu; Brito, Paulo; Gonçalves, Margarida; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteGasification is a promising thermochemical technology used to convert waste materials into energy with the introduction of low amounts of an oxidant agent, therefore producing an environmental impact that is lower when compared to incineration and landfilling. Moreover, gasification allows a sustainable management of wastes and reduces the use of fossil fuels responsible for the increment of greenhouse gases. This work aimed to perform gasification tests with solid recovered fuels (SRF) containing organic fractions mainly retrieved from construction and demolition wastes to assess the potential for energy conversion. Tests were conducted in a pilot-scale downdraft gasifier (maximum feedstock input of 22 kg/h) at c.a. 800 °C, using SRF samples containing different proportions of polymeric wastes ranging between 0 and 20 wt %. Gas and chars obtained as by-products were analysed to evaluate their properties and to establish valid pathways for their valorisation. The addition of polymeric wastes reduced char production but rose both tar and HCl concentrations in the gas. The SRF with 10 wt % of polymeric wastes generated the best results, producing the highest calorific value for the gas (3.5 MJ/Nm3) and the highest cold-gas efficiency (45%). Possible char applications include their use as catalysts for tar decomposition, or as an additive in construction materials. Gasification can therefore be considered a valid solution for the energetic valorisation of these SRFs.
- Towards identifying industrial crop types and associated agronomies to improve biomass production from marginal lands in EuropePublication . Scordia, Danilo; Papazoglou, Eleni G.; Kotoula, Danai; Sanz, Marina; Ciria, Carlos S.; Pérez, Javier; Maliarenko, Oksana; Prysiazhniuk, Oleh; von Cossel, Moritz; Greiner, Beatrice E.; Lazdina, Dagnija; Makovskis, Kristaps; Lamy, Isabelle; Ciadamidaro, Lisa; Petit-dit-Grezeriat, Lucas; Corinzia, Sebastiano A.; Fernando, Ana L.; Alexopoulou, Efthymia; Cosentino, Salvatore L.; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; Wiley-VCH VerlagGrowing industrial crops on marginal lands has been proposed as a strategy to minimize competition for arable land and food production. In the present study, eight experimental sites in three different climatic zones in Europe (Mediterranean, Atlantic and Continental), seven advanced industrial crop species [giant reed (two clones), miscanthus (M. × giganteus and two new seed-based hybrids), saccharum (one clones), switchgrass (one variety), tall wheatgrass (one variety), industrial hemp (three varieties) and willow (eleven clones)], and six marginality factors alone or in combination (dryness, unfavorable texture, stoniness, shallow soil, topsoil acidity, heavy metal and metalloid contamination) were investigated. At each site, biophysical constraints and low-input management practices were combined with prevailing climatic conditions. The relative yield of a site-specific low-input system compared with the site-specific control was from small to large (i.e. from −99% in industrial hemp in the Mediterranean to +210% in willow in the Continental zone), due to the genotype-by-management interaction along with climatic variation between growing seasons. Genotype selection and improved knowledge on crop response to changing environmental, site-specific biophysical constraint and input application has been detected as key to profitably grow industrial crops on marginal areas. This study may act to provide hints on how to scale up investigated cropping systems, through low-input practices, under similar environmental and soil conditions tested at each site. However, further attention to detail on the agronomy of early plant development and management in larger multi-year and multi-location field studies with commercially scalable agronomies are needed to validate yield performances, and thereby to inform on the best industrial crop options.
- Methodologies to Assess the Biodegradability of Bio-Based Polymers—Current Knowledge and Existing GapsPublication . Pires, João Ricardo Afonso; Souza, Victor Gomes Lauriano; Fuciños, Pablo; Pastrana, Lorenzo; Fernando, Ana Luísa; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteOur society lives in a time of transition where traditional petroleum-based polymers/plastics are being replaced by more sustainable alternative materials. To consider these bioproducts as more viable options than the actual ones, it is demanded to ensure that they are fully biodegradable or compostable and that there is no release of hazardous compounds to the environment with their degradation. It is then essential to adapt the legislation to support novel specific guidelines to test the biodegradability of each biopolymer in varied environments, and consequently, establish consistent data to design a coherent labeling system. This review work aims to point out the current standards that can serve as a basis for the characterization of biopolymers’ biodegradation profile in different environments (soil, compost, and aquatic systems) and identify other laboratory methodologies that have been adopted for the same purpose. With the information gathered in this work, it was possible to identify remaining gaps in existing national and international standards to help establish new validation criteria to be introduced in future research and policies related to bioplastics to boost the sustainable progress of this rising industry.
- A Structural View of miRNA Biogenesis and FunctionPublication . Leitão, Ana Lúcia; Enguita, Francisco J.; MEtRICS - Centro de Engenharia Mecânica e Sustentabilidade de Recursos; DCTB - Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa (ex-GDEH); MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing InstituteMicro-RNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that act as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression. Since their discovery in 1993, they have been the subject of deep study due to their involvement in many important biological processes. Compared with other ncRNAs, miRNAs are generated from devoted transcriptional units which are processed by a specific set of endonucleases. The contribution of structural biology methods for understanding miRNA biogenesis and function has been essential for the dissection of their roles in cell biology and human disease. In this review, we summarize the application of structural biology for the characterization of the molecular players involved in miRNA biogenesis (processors and effectors), starting from the X-ray crystallography methods to the more recent cryo-electron microscopy protocols.