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Curcuminoids are a mixture of polyphenolic compounds (curcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin and demethoxycurcumin) produced in the plant Curcuma longa with several therapeutic properties, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, among others. Given this great potential, the curcuminoids market size is expected to reach $369M by 2033 with 11.3% CAGR [1]. However, these compounds are present in low amounts, accumulate during long growth periods, and their purification is environmentally unfriendly, expensive and difficult originating low yields and purity [2]. Hence, their biosynthesis by engineered microbes using synthetic biology has emerged as a potential competitive alternative. In the past, we developed for the first time a biosynthetic pathway in E. coli to produce curcumin, the curcuminoid with the highest therapeutic potential, from tyrosine, obtaining the highest production titers reported (43.2 µM curcumin, 125.8 µM total curcuminoids) [3,4]. This opened the door to produce curcumin from simple carbon sources which will be key at an industrial scale. In this study, we used a tyrosine overproducing E. coli strain to produce curcuminoids from glucose. Also, the previously constructed combinatorial biosynthetic pathway [3] was modified to overexpress more efficient enzymes for specific steps [5], including 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hydroxylase units B/C from Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, that convert the highly accumulated coumaric acid into caffeic acid, and feruloyl-CoA synthase from Sphingobium sp., that converts the hydroxycinnamic acids to CoA esters, having higher affinity to ferulic acid. All these modifications allowed to obtain the highest titers of curcumin reported so far from glucose with low amounts of the other curcuminoids being produced (> 250 µM curcumin, 12 µM total curcuminoids)., This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit. Daniela Gomes acknowledges her grant SFRH/BD/04433/2020., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The concept of the personalized portion is associated with the amount of food adapted to each person and their needs, the proposal is based on the integration of work environment of companies that collaborate with the contract catering sector. The key points to act and implement in the companies are: the implementation of the nutrition appointments; the development of the database with the information of each employee; the translation of this information for the distribution in macronutrients and grams that, finally, are converted from the image of the employee’s "dish" of simple and fast interpretation. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Biosurfactants are surface active molecules produced by microbes and have received increased attention, mainly due to their extraordinary properties and extensive potential applications. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) such as Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus are known to produce different types of biosurfactants with antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities, besides presenting antiadhesive properties against numerous pathogenic strains. These biological activities combined with their probiotic nature make LAB very promising candidates for several biomedical applications. Therefore, we believe that unraveling the biosynthetic pathways of these molecules could allow developing more sustainable bioprocesses and designing novel and/or improved molecules. This chapter explores the use of emergent molecular, synthetic, and systems biology tools to discover LAB biosurfactants production pathways and to expand LAB as biosurfactant cell factories toward innovative and sustainable industrial applications., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This dissertation focuses on the analysis of the impact of technological developments derived from the digital revolution of the past decades on the insurance sector,specifically regarding the application of Big Data in risk assessment on the insurance contract and its disruptive nature when compared to traditional models. The possible negative impact of processing bulk data within the insurance sector will posteriorly be analysed, focusing on the implications that may arise in the privacy and data protection circle under GDPR, and thus examining the role of regulatory authorities in the process. A presente dissertação centra-se na análise do impacto, no setor segurador, do desenvolvimento tecnológico característico da revolução digital das últimas décadas, em especial no que respeita à aplicação de Big Data na aferição de risco no contrato de seguro e à disrupção que esta representa face aos modelos tradicionais. Procuraremos, numa segunda fase, analisar o possível efeito negativo do tratamento de dados em massa, no âmbito do setor segurador, nomeadamente as implicações que podem surgir no círculo da privacidade e proteção de dados, ao abrigo do RGPD, trazendo à discussão o papel das entidades reguladoras no processo.

In this invited lecture, Synthetic Biology is presented as a powerful technology to solve many problems in different fields. After discussing the most important synthetic biology tools, applications in several industries (chemical, food, pharmaceutical), environment, and health (vector control and treatment) were presented., Este trabalho é suportado pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) no âmbito do financiamento estratégico (UIDB/04469/2020) e do LABBELS – Laboratório Associado em Biotecnologia, Bioengenharia e Sistemas Microeletromecânicos (LA/P/0029/2020)., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The complexity of the nervous system demands and relies on a diversity of molecular processes essential for its correct development and functioning. Coordinated growth and communication between neurons and glia is crucial and indispensable for the physiological functions of the nervous system. Balanced neuronal and glial interaction and communication is decisive, for instance, to ensure suitable axonal insulation and fasciculation. Axonal ensheathment and insulation are critical for fast and reliable impulse conduction and disturbances in these processes often result in highly debilitating disorders, such as multiple sclerosis. Despite the obvious importance, our knowledge regarding the molecular players responsible for controlling the development, growth and communication between neurons and glia is still somewhat limited. In my thesis, we identified RalA GTPase and the exocyst complex as key regulators of axonal ensheathment in Drosophila melanogaster larval peripheral nerves. Detailed genetic analysis showed that RalA is required for wrapping glia growth and development, acting together with its effector exocyst. Our data suggests that this mechanism is regulated through the activation of the EGF receptor and downstream signaling, with RalA and the exocyst likely controlling the secretion of the activating EGFR ligand and/or regulating EGFR endocytic pathway. In summary, we established RalA GTPase and the exocyst as a novel regulators of wrapping glia development providing a new perspective of the molecular pathways governing glia growth and development in the peripheral nervous system. With this, we expect to contribute for the identification of potential new points of intervention for potential improvement or development of novel therapies to mitigate symptoms caused by neurological disorders in which axonal ensheathment and/or Ral GTPase pathway are impaired. Resumo A complexidade do sistema nervoso exige e depende de uma diversidade de processos moleculares que são essenciais para o seu normal desenvolvimento e funcionamento. Um crescimento e comunicação coordenados entre neurónios e glia é crucial e indispensável para a função fisiológica do sistema nervoso. Uma interação e comunicação equilibrada entre neurónios e células da glia são decisivas, por exemplo, para garantir um adequado isolamento axonal e fasciculação. O isolamento axonal é critico para garantir que a condução de impulsos nervosos ocorre de forma rápida e fiável. Qualquer perturbação que comprometa o isolamento dos axónios resulta na sua maioria em condições extremamente debilitantes, como é o caso da esclerose múltipla. Apesar da óbvia importância, o conhecimento sobre os mecanismos responsáveis pela regulação e controlo do desenvolvimento, crescimento e comunicação entre neurónios e células da glia continua, de certa forma, limitado. Nos estudos desta tese, identificámos RalA GTPase e o complexo exocisto como reguladores cruciais para o isolamento axonal dos nervos periféricos de larvas de Drosophila melanogaster. Através de uma análise genética detalhada, mostrámos que RalA é necessária para o crescimento e desenvolvimento das células wrapping glia, agindo em conjunto com o seu efetor exocisto. Os nossos resultados sugerem que este mecanismo é regulado através da ativação do recetor EGF, com RalA e o complexo exocisto provavelmente a controlarem a secreção do ligando ativador do recetor EGFR ou através da regulação da via endocítica deste mesmo recetor. Em suma, estabelecemos RalA GTPase e o complexo exocisto como novos reguladores do desenvolvimento das células wrapping glia, gerando uma nova perspectiva das vias moleculares que governam o crescimento e desenvolvimento das células glia no sistema nervoso periférico. Deste modo, o nosso estudo contribui para a identificação de possíveis novos pontos de intervenção para um potencial melhoramento ou desenvolvimento de novas terapias para mitigar sintomas resultantes de doenças neurológicas, as quais sejam consequência de defeitos no isolamento axonal ou de falhas na via da Ral GTPase.

The use of curcumin, a polyphenol derived from turmeric, as a fighting cancer drug has been raising significant interest. However, obtaining curcumin-rich preparations can be challenging, and its microbial production provides a promising solution. The use of microorganisms comprises low-cost cultivation methods and fast production cycles. To this end, we have developed an engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain that can produce curcumin from simple carbon sources. Curcumin biosynthesis requires several enzymatic steps, including reactions catalyzed by the phenylpropanoid pathway and by type III polyketide enzymes, none of them naturally present in yeast. To enable curcumin production, we introduced the necessary genes into the S. cerevisiae genome and confirmed the de novo production of curcumin using standard media. Rice production is a major global food industry, and its processing generates large amounts of non-food biomass. Rice residues are rich in cellulose polymer, which can be broken down to obtain free glucose. Our aim is to use extracts from rice residues as the substrate to produce curcumin with our engineered yeast. These extracts also contain intermediates of the curcumin pathway such as ferulic acid, which can enhance curcumin biosynthesis. We performed hydrolysis on rice husk and bran residues to obtain the extracts and quantified the presence of carbon sources, fermentation inhibitors, and curcumin precursors in both extracts. We are currently using these extracts in yeast fermentation for curcumin production., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Prevention of bacterial adhesion is a way to reduce and/or avoid biofilm formation, thus restraining its associated infections. The development of repellent anti-adhesive surfaces, such as superhydrophobic surfaces, can be a strategy to avoid bacterial adhesion. In this study, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film was modified by in situ growth of silica nanoparticles (NPs) to create a rough surface. The surface was further modified with fluorinated carbon chains to increase its hydrophobicity. The modified PET surfaces presented a pronounced superhydrophobic character, showing a water contact angle of 156° and a roughness of 104 nm (a considerable increase comparing with the 69° and 4.8 nm obtained for the untreated PET). Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to evaluate the modified surfaces morphology, further confirming its successful modification with nanoparticles. Additionally, a bacterial adhesion assay using an Escherichia coli expressing YadA, an adhesive protein from Yersinia so-called Yersinia adhesin A, was used to assess the anti-adhesive potential of the modified PET. Contrarily to what was expected, adhesion of E. coli YadA was found to increase on the modified PET surfaces, exhibiting a clear preference for the crevices. This study highlights the role of material micro topography as an important attribute when considering bacterial adhesion., This work was supported by the ViBrANT project that received funding from the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklowdowska-Curie, Grant agreement no 765042 and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The new technologies and the imposition of digital have assumed a prominent role in the information society, triggering new trends and making resources highly valorizable. In turn, the image is dominant in communication, but the photograph still has a diverse treatment, as far as description, interpretation, and systematic use. The difficulty of using and handling collections of images is known but has been decreasing with the potential of automatic analysis, new image capture devices and the enormous memory capacity of the space, which encourages the production and storage of more photographs. In the field of Information Science, particularly in the management of research data, photography tends to be an ally of researchers to capture evidence and record facts associated with research. However, in several cases, it can also be included in its data sets and can be organized and described in information systems so that, when necessary, it is reused. Certainly, photography has played a prominent role in society. Today, through a simple smartphone, it is possible to register moments with extreme ease. Besides, the dissemination of content has never been easier. Currently, with a few clicks, a photo may be circulating on one or more social networks and viewed in various parts of the world. These facts have led to further reflection on photography and its role in society, its relations, and actors. However, in science, the purpose of photography is not yet fully cemented. In close contact with several research groups, one can see the interest and importance given to the image, but these are not yet fully aware and sensitized to the practices of imaging information processing, which makes it difficult to use them in a continuous and consistent manner. This work focuses on the use of photographic records as research support. The survey of the photographic production in science allows understanding with more clarity the informational behavior of the researchers producing of photography, analyzing the relevance of this in the investigation, pretending to show that the images are rich elements for the information retrieval, being able to foster the semantic interoperability and the reutilization. In the first phase, we intend to approach the conceptual and morphological issues of photography, in order to understand the particularities of this documentary typology. At a later stage, the objective is to present a quantitative and qualitative perspective of the photographic evolution, from an overview to a science-centered view. In the last phase, the goal is to expose the Generatin.Mobi. This project produced and used photographs significantly in the course of the project, and the practices used by the researchers are extremely relevant to understand their information behaviors, the importance given to the photographs, their destination, as well as the fundamental mechanisms for a description of photographic records.

Enrichment and diagnosis tools for pathogens currently available are time consuming, thus the development of fast and highly sensitive alternatives is desirable. In this study, a novel approach was described that enables selective capture of bacteria expressing hydrolyzed collagen-binding adhesins with hydrolyzed collagen-coated magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). This platform could be useful to shorten the time needed to confirm the presence of a bacterial infection. MNPs were synthesized by a simple two-step approach through a green co-precipitation method using water as solvent. These MNPs were specifically designed to interact with pathogenic bacteria by establishing a hydrolyzed collagen-adhesin linker. The bacterial capture efficacy of hydrolyzed collagen MNPs (H-Coll, The study received financial support from ViBrANT project that received funding from the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under the Marie Sklowdowska-Curie, Grant agreement no. 765042 and Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit. DL and AS receive additional funding from the Research Council of Norway (grant no. 294605, Center for Digital Life). The authors acknowledge Diana Vilas Boas from Centre of Biological Engineering for technical assistance in confocal scanning laser microscopy. The TEM experiments were carried out at the INL Advanced Electron Microscopy, Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

In this invited lecture, Synthetic Biology is presented as a powerful technology to solve many problems in different fields. After discussing several synthetic biology methods and tools, applications in several industries (chemical, food, pharmaceutical), environment, and health (vector control and treatment) were presented. Additionally, synthetic biology concerns and containment strategies were also discussed., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Funding Information: This research was funded by Fundação Álvaro Carvalho (funding manager), Câmara Municipal de Cascais, Fundação Vox Populi, Fundação Manuel Viegas Guerreiro, and Claude and Sofia Foundation. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Carvalho, Henriques, Queirós, Rodrigues, Mendonça, Rodrigues, Canhão, de Sousa, Antunes and Guimarães. Background and aim: The kinetics of antibody production in response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is not well-defined yet. This study aimed to evaluate the antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 and its dynamics during 9-months in a cohort of patients infected during the first phase of the pandemic. As a secondary aim, it was intended to evaluate the factors associated with different concentrations of IgG antibodies. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted from June 2020 to January 2021. This study recruited a convenience sample of adult individuals who where recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and were living in mainland Portugal. A total of 1,695 blood samples were collected from 585 recovered COVID-19 patients up to 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 acute infection. A blood sample was collected at baseline and three, 6 and 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 acute infection to assess the concentration of IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2. Results: The positivity rate of IgG reached 77.7% in the first 3 months after symptom onset. The IgG persists at all subsequent follow-up time-points, which was 87.7 and 89.2% in the 6th and 9th months after symptom onset, respectively. Three distinct kinetics of antibody response were found within the 9 months after infection. Kinetic 1 (K1) was characterized by a constant low IgG antibody concentration kinetic (group size: 65.2%); kinetic 2 (K2), composed by constant moderate IgG kinetic (group size: 27.5%) and kinetic 3 (K3) characterized by higher IgG kinetic (group size: 7.3%). People with ≥56 years old (OR: 3.33; CI 95%: [1.64; 6.67]; p-value: 0.001) and symptomatic COVID-19 (OR: 2.08; CI 95%: [1.08; 4.00]; p-value: 0.031) had higher odds of a “Moderate IgG kinetic.” No significant association were found regarding the “Higher IgG kinetic.” Conclusion: Our results demonstrate a lasting anti-spike (anti-S) IgG antibody response at least 9 months after infection in the majority of patients with COVID-19. Younger participants with asymptomatic disease have lower IgG antibody positivity and possibly more susceptible to reinfection. This information contributes to expanding knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 immune response and has direct implications in the adoption of preventive strategies and public health policies. publishersversion published

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are promising prebiotics in the relevant and increasing market of functional food. However, to achieve a more sustainable process, the industrial production of FOS should use cheap substrates. Zymomonas mobilis (ZM) has great potential for the production of FOS due to the presence of native enzymes (levansucrase) capable of metabolizing sucrose. In addition, ZM can use different carbon sources, such as molasses and sugarcane juice, which make the FOS production process cost-effective. In this study, sugarcane molasses (a potential replacement of sucrose) and corn step liquor (CSL) (a potential replacement of yeast extract (YE)), were used as nutrients for FOS production using ZM in an in vivo bioprocess approach. FOS production process from sucrose was first optimized and 52 g/L of FOS with a yield of 0.16 g/g was obtained. Afterwards, molasses and CSL were used as alternative nutrients. After studying different combinations of CSL and YE, the highest amount of FOS (54 g/L, with a yield of 0.18 g/g) was obtained with 12 g/L of CSL and 8 g/L of YE. In addition, 45 g/L of FOS were produced from molasses containing 200 g/L of sucrose, with a yield of 0.3 g/g. With this approach, it was possible to reduce around 5.5-times the cost associated with the FOS production medium. Moreover, this study proposed a sustainable process for the valorization of agro-industrial wastes contributing to the future Circular (Bio)Economy and the EU Green Deal., Cláudia Amorim, João Rainha, Beatriz B. Cardoso and Daniela Gomes acknowledge their grants (2020.0029.CEECIND, SFRH/BD/138325/2018, SFRH/BD/132324/2017 and SFRH/BD/04433/2020, respectively) from Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT). The study received financial support from Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and by LABBELS – Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Risk management, as a strategic management tool, has been identified as a problem since the Risk Management Plan for Corruption and Related Infractions (PGRCIC) is poorly developed in terms of identification, analysis, assessment, and treatment of risks inherent to activities it develops. Thus, over the years, discrepancies have been diagnosed around the dissemination, structure, content and monitoring of PGRCIC in Portuguese public Higher Education Institutions (HEI) (Ferreira, 2018). This paper aims to discuss the application of the legal regulation of the PGRCIC, with a special focus on Portuguese public HEI, as well as to emphasize the importance of updating their plans, to avoid organizational constraints and penalties. In methodological terms, it is subdivided into an exploratory qualitative analysis followed by an analysis of the normative, legal, and regulatory framework in the fight against corruption in the risk management. Then, an empirical analysis carried out in a documental research and analysis of the contents of the PGRCIC published on the websites of Portuguese public HEI, specifically, about planning, monitoring, and evaluating, as well as the identification of areas potentially risk creators. The results allow us to conclude that there is a long way to go, given that the investigation carried out found limitations in accessing and obtaining information, despite the public disclosure of the PGRCIC being a legal obligation. A gestão do risco, enquanto instrumento de gestão estratégica, tem vindo a ser identificada como problemática uma vez que o Plano de Gestão de Riscos de Corrupção e Infracções Conexas (PGRCIC) se encontra pouco desenvolvido no que respeita à identificação, análise, avaliação e tratamento dos riscos inerentes às atividades que desenvolve. Assim, ao longo dos anos, têm vindo a ser diagnosticadas discrepâncias em torno da divulgação, estrutura, conteúdo e monitorização dos PGRCIC nas Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) públicas portuguesas (Ferreira, 2018). Este artigo visa discutir a aplicação da regulamentação legal dos PGRCIC, com especial foco nas IES públicas portuguesas, assim como salientar a importância da atualização dos seus planos, por forma a evitar constrangimentos organizativos e penalizações. Em termos metodológicos, subdivide-se numa análise qualitativa exploratória, seguindo-se uma análise ao quadro normativo, legal e regulamentar no combate à corrupção na área da gestão do risco. Em seguida, desenvolveu-se uma análise empírica, com base numa pesquisa documental e análise de conteúdos dos PGRCIC divulgados nos websites das IES públicas portuguesas, especificamente, no que se refere ao planeamento, execução, verificação e monitorização, bem como a identificação das áreas potencialmente criadoras do risco. Os resultados permitem concluir que existe um longo caminho a percorrer, dado que na investigação realizada encontraram-se limitações no acesso e obtenção da informação, apesar da divulgação pública dos PGRCIC ser uma obrigação legal.

O symposium 2 do XXX Colóquio AFIRSE Portugal 2023 dedicado ao tema - “A Pesquisa que Ensina” na Escola: espaços educativos e atores NEPSO integrou três apresentações: 1. Espaços educativos e atores NEPSO: enquadramento e contextualização teórica; 2. Espaços educativos e atores NEPSO: a experiência em Portugal; 3. Espaços educativos e atores NEPSO: a experiência no Brasil. Produção científica Integrada no âmbito de projeto da UID4372/FCT Laboratório de Educação a Distância e Elearning, Universidade Aberta. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Com o surgir da Era da Informação e a mudança de gerações, o mundo do trabalho começa a sofrer alterações significativas. Atualmente a tendência dos escritórios é o layout de open space, tendo este um dos lados positivos, de proporcionar diálogo entre colegas de trabalho de modo a quebrar o gelo e acelerar o processo de desenvolvimento de novos conceitos. Mas esta liberdade de conversa tem o seu lado negativo, sendo este a necessidade de privacidade, o momento em que o trabalhador precisa de se concentrar de modo individual para executar as suas tarefas com maior eficácia, e a existência de ruído criado pelos colegas ou mesmo o fator de estar a visualizar tantas pessoas ao seu redor, pode levar a um aumento de distração e incapacidade de concentração. Este estudo está focado no potencial positivo de introduzir um assento cápsula, de um só utilizador, no local de trabalho de open space, que proporcione privacidade e concentração ao utilizador, com o intuito de aumentar o nível de produtividade no espaço de trabalho. Para o desenvolvimento do conceito do assento cápsula, foram realizados vários estudos e análises de resultados obtidos para fundamentarem as escolhas feitas. Estudos estes como o ganhar conhecimento sobre as tipologias de cadeiras de trabalho de escritório, a importância da seleção de um assento adequado, a arquitetura e anatomia da cadeira de escritório, análises ergonómicas e antropométricas da tipologia selecionada, entre outros.