Sub-lethal effects of innovative anti-corrosion nanoadditives on the marine bivalve Ruditapes philippinarum.

Corrosion significantly affects the maritime industry. To address this issue, corrosion inhibitors are incorporated into polymeric coatings. However, some state-of-the-art inhibitors are toxic, prone to spontaneous leaching, and interact with coating components.

Fatty Acids of European Sardine () White Muscle Can Discriminate Geographic Origin Along the Iberian Atlantic Coast.

The European sardine () ranks among the most valuable species of Iberian fisheries, and the accurate tracing of its geographic origin, once landed, is paramount to securing sustainable management of fishing stocks and discouraging fraudulent practices of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The present study investigated the potential use of white muscle fatty acids (FAs) to successfully discriminate the geographic origin of samples obtained in seven commercially important fishing harbors along the Iberian Atlantic Coast. While 35 FAs were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the white muscle of , the following, as determined by the Boruta algorithm, were key for sample discrimination: 14:0, 22:6-3, 22:5-3, 18:0, 20:5-3, 16:1-7, 16:0, and 18:1-7 (in increasing order of relevance).

Is Silver a Precious Metal for G-Quadruplex Stabilization Mediated by Porphyrins?

Cancer is a leading cause of death, so continuous efforts into cancer therapy are imperative. In tumor cells, telomerase and oncogene activity are key points for uncontrolled cell growth. Targeting these processes with ligands that inhibit telomerase and/or reduce oncogene expression has been identified as a promising cancer therapy.

Transplantation of seagrass (Zostera noltei) as a potential nature-based solution for the restoration of historically contaminated mudflats.

Within the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) framework, a Nature-based Solution (NbS) using Zostera noltei transplants was tested to restore a historically contaminated intertidal area. In-situ transplantation relied on patches of seagrass and sediment from a Donor meadow and its evolution was monitored for two years. The evaluation of the transplant success encompassed the seagrass coverage area, seagrass biomass, tissue mercury (Hg) accumulation, and photosynthetic efficiency.

A critical review of microplastics characterisation in aquatic environments: recent trends in the last 10 years.

Anthropogenic activities have introduced various contaminants into freshwater and marine ecosystems. Microplastics (MPs) are persistent and ubiquitous contaminants threatening natural ecosystems and impairing organisms at different biological levels of organization. Their durability and degradation rate pose a great concern in the scientific community, and thus, several techniques have been used to detect MPs effectively.

Sensing in Inland Waters to Promote Safe Navigation: A Case Study in the Aveiro's Lagoon.

Maritime navigation safety relies on preventing accidents, such as collisions and groundings. However, several factors can exacerbate these risks, including inexistent or inadequate buoyage systems and nautical charts with outdated bathymetry. The International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) highlights high costs and traditional methods as obstacles to updating bathymetric information, impacting both safety and socio-economic factors.

Effects of Directive 2010/63/EU on research on wild-sourced animals: a review of publication trends in studies on captive wild mice ( sp.).

Most animals used in experimentation are small mammals. In the EU, Directive 2010/63/EU regulates the use of laboratory animals for experimental purposes. However, there are few guidelines for the use of wild-sourced animals, which cover permits, experimentation, transport, maintenance, and setting free after experiments.

Organic Farming Enhances Diversity and Recruits Beneficial Soil Fungal Groups in Traditional Banana Plantations.

This study investigates the impact of organic (OF) and conventional farming (CF) on soil fungal communities in banana monoculture plantations on Madeira Island. We hypothesized that OF promotes beneficial fungal groups over harmful ones, sustaining soil health. Soil samples were collected from six plantations (three OF and three CF) for ITS amplicon sequencing to assess fungal diversity.

Plastisphere in a low-pollution mountain river: Influence of microplastics on survival of pathogenic bacteria.

Microplastics (MPs) are found even in remote and low-pollution freshwater ecosystems. However, the microbial communities associated with MPs in these environments remain poorly understood. We characterized the plastisphere in a low-pollution riverine ecosystem and evaluated the influence of different MPs in the persistence of pathogens in such environments.

Insect frass from upcycling vegetable by-products with cereals: Effects on the soil properties, plant development and soil invertebrate fitness.

The use of insects in organic management systems is expanding due to their ability to recycle waste into valuable co-products for agriculture, notably frass, constituted by the insect's excrements, larval exuviae, and remaining undigested feedstock. This study aimed to assess the effects of different application rates of frass (0.16, 0.

Rookie independent directors and agency costs: Evidence from Chinese listed firms.

This study investigates the impact of rookie independent directors (RIDs) on agency costs. Utilizing a sample of Chinese listed firms, we employ panel ordinary least square estimations. Our findings reveal that increased RIDs is positively associated with agency costs, suggesting that rookie independent directors may exacerbate agency conflicts within Chinese firms.

Tackling water contamination by oncologic drugs: Supported ionic liquids as sustainable adsorbents for cyclophosphamide removal.

Due to the increasing incidence of cancer, the consumption of highly toxic oncological drugs is continuously growing. Given the current lack of efficient technologies to remove/treat these toxic drugs in wastewater treatment plants, the environmental quality is compromised, and aquatic organisms are at risk. To address this critical environmental burden, a new strategy based on supported ionic liquids (SILs) for the simultaneous removal of oncologic drugs and toxicity reduction of aqueous samples is here proposed.

Bioactive Lipids in : Implications for Functional Foods and Health.

is a green microalga extensively explored for β-carotene production, while knowledge of its lipid composition is still limited and poorly investigated. Among lipids, polar lipids have been highlighted as bioactive phytochemicals with health-promoting properties. This research aimed to provide an in-depth lipidome profiling of using liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Females Get Going: Sex-Specific Physiological Responses to Simultaneous Exposure to Hypoxia and Marine Heatwave Events in a Ubiquitous Copepod.

The existence of sex-specific differences in phenotypic traits is widely recognized. Yet they are often ignored in studies looking at the impact of global changes on marine organisms, particularly within the context of combined drivers that are known to elicit complex interactions. We tested sex-specific physiological responses of the cosmopolitan and ecologically important marine copepod Acartia tonsa exposed to combined hypoxia and marine heatwave (MHW) conditions, both of which individually strongly affect marine ectotherms.

Assessment of extracellular polymeric substances production and antioxidant defences in periphytic communities exposed to effluent contaminants.

Periphyton is frequently used in the evaluation of the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems using diatoms as a proxy. However, periphyton has a particularity, the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which might play a protective role against exposure to harmful environmental contaminants. Effluents originating in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) constitute some of the most complex mixtures of contaminants, to which aquatic ecosystems are frequently exposed, often containing tens to hundreds of different chemicals.

Variations in the structure and function of the soil fungal communities in the traditional cropping systems from Madeira Island.

Agricultural soils are responsible for ecological functions and services that include primary production of food, fiber and fuel, nutrient cycling, carbon cycling and storage, water infiltration and purification, among others. Fungi are important drivers of most of those ecosystem services. Given the importance of fungi in agricultural soils, in this study, we aimed to characterize and analyse the changes of the soil fungal communities of three cropping systems from Madeira Island, where family farming is predominant, and investigate the response of fungi and its functional groups to soil physicochemical properties.

A lipidomic approach towards identifying the effects of fragrance hydroperoxides on keratinocytes.

Background: Limonene and linalool are used in cosmetic products for their floral scents, but their oxidation products are strong contact allergens whose mechanisms of action are still not fully understood.

Objectives: The effects of limonene hydroperoxide (Lim-2-OOH) and linalool hydroperoxides (Lin-6/7-OOH) on the lipid profile of a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) were evaluated. 2,4-Dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was also included.

Bacterial Volatile Organic Compounds as a Strategy to Increase Drought Tolerance in Maize ( L.): Influence on Plant Biochemistry.

Maize is highly susceptible to drought, which affects growth and yield. This study investigated how bacterial volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) affect maize drought tolerance. Drought reduced shoot size but increased root length, an adaptation for accessing deeper soil moisture.

Soil type dependent toxicity of AgNM300K can be predicted by internal concentrations in earthworms.

A continuous challenge in nanotoxicology is the interaction of nanoparticles with the soil components. In the present study, we compare the toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNM300K) on earthworms across 4 different soils, exploring which among the total-, soil solution-, or worm tissue-Ag-concentrations that enables the best prediction of toxicity across the soils. We exposed the earthworm Eisenia fetida to AgNM300K for 56 days to assess survival, reproduction, and bioaccumulation.

Tailor-made packaging strategies of fresh pork belly with different fat content: Enhancing shelf life while minimizing environmental impact.

Pork belly is a meat cut valued for its rich flavour and texture, attributed to its high fat content, which also makes it susceptible to oxidation. Therefore, meat producers and processors must carefully select packaging options to maximise shelf life while meeting consumer preferences. This study aimed to develop customised packaging strategies for sliced pork belly with varying fat content to extend shelf life while minimizing environmental impact.

Insight into the efficiency of microalgae' lipidic extracts as photosensitizers for Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy against Staphylococcus aureus.

Antibacterial resistance causes around 1.27 million deaths annually around the globe and has been recognized as a top 3 priority health threat. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is considered a promising alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments.