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- 14th International Chemical and Biological Engineering Conference (CHEMPOR-2023): Book of AbstractsPublication . Queiroz, Ana; Peres, António M.; Ribeiro, António E.; Barreiro, Filomena; Ferreira, Olga; Brito, Paulo; Pinho, SimãoWelcome to the 14th edition of the International Chemical and Biological Engineering Conference (ChemPor-2023) held at Bragança Polytechnic University (Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, IPB), Portugal, from 12 to 15 of September, 2023. This triennial conference, organized by a Portuguese Higher Education Institution and the Portuguese Engineers Association (Ordem dos Engenheiros), gathers experts from the chemical and biological engineering areas and related subjects to exchange knowledge and technological experiences within the academic, industrial, scientific, and technological communities. ChemPor-2023 addresses these research fields in different topics, from green chemistry to engineering education, always envisaging a sustainable development. The etymology of the word “conference”, from the Medieval Latin, means literally “bring together”. This 14th edition comes with a two-year delay following the global sanitary crisis since only a full inperson meeting could fulfill this purpose. ChemPor-2023 encompasses a gathering in a vivid, enlightening, and convivial way, and this hiatus did not limit this spirit or its objectives. The conference aims to celebrate creativity, diversity, and friendship among participants, promoting ideas exchange and fruitful interactions. We have circa 300 delegates from 4 continents, and your active participation is highly acknowledged. The general relevance of ChemPor-2023 is addressed in a variety of settings, including biorefinery, biotechnology, energy and environment, innovative materials, creation and design of novel reaction and separation processes, always foreseeing industrial applications for a sustainable shaping of the future. This edition includes an opening lecture by Jorge Calado in the immense but much less explored area of ArtScience, and an Honor Session dedicated to Alírio Rodrigues for his academic and scientific contributions, particularly regarding IPB. Besides, the conference includes 11 invited lectures from internationally recognized scientists and experts from the industry, 107 oral presentations distributed in 27 sessions, and 135 posters in two dedicated sessions. A session exclusively dedicated to companies and another for Ph.D. studies in industrial environments are to be highlighted. The “Professor Almiro e Castro” award, established in 2014 by PARALAB – Equipamentos Industrial and Laboratory SA, to recognize the scientific merit of a Portuguese professor or researcher in the last three years in the fields of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and related areas, will be announced at the closing of the conference. In that ceremony, the two best posters and the best oral communication awards by young scientists will also be granted. We want to reinforce our deepest appreciation to all the participants, but also to the members of the Honor, Scientific, and Local Organizing Committees for their invaluable contribution to the conference and acknowledge the institutional support of Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Ordem dos Engenheiros, Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Sociedade Portuguesa de Química, and Câmara Municipal de Bragança. Expressing enormous gratitude is mandatory to all our Sponsors and associated scientific journals and publishers. Nothing could have been possible without all of you! Finally, our best wishes for success for the next ChemPor organization.
- Adaptive genomic variation in honey bees from arid regionsPublication . Yadró Garcia, Carlos A.; Henriques, Dora; Haddad, N.; Obeidat, W. M.; AlShagour, B.; Muz, Mustafa Necati; Arab, A.; Eissa, A. A.; Hosri, C.; Lamghari, F.; Arruda, J.; Rufino, José; Martín Hernández, R.; Nanetti, A.; Pinto, M. AliceThe Middle East is home to a large number of Apis mellifera subspecies that have evolved under extreme aridity and desertic conditions. Therefore, they represent a unique opportunity to disentangle the genetic basis of adaptation to such challenging environmental conditions. We arranged a collection of 514 drone samples (haploid males) split into two latitudinal transects. Transect 1 comprised 342 samples: 66 A. m. lamarckii (Egypt), 197 A. m. syriaca (Jordan), 30 A. m. syriaca (Lebanon), 21 A. m. meda (southeastern Turkey), and 27 A. m. anatoliaca (Anatolia, Turkey). Transect 2 comprised 173 samples: 14 A. m. jemenitica (Oman), 9 A. m. jemenitica (UAE), 75 A. m. meda (Iran), and 75 A. m. caucasia (northeastern Turkey). For all samples, whole genomes were resequenced, and environmental and bioclimatic variables were retrieved from WorldClim. For each transect, we applied three genotype–environment association methods (Samβada, pRDA, and LFMM) and one outlier-detection approach (PCAdapt) to identify SNPs associated with environmental adaptation. SNPs were annotated, and the intersection of genes between the four methods in each transect was analysed for gene enrichment. In both transects, enriched terms included genes related to biological regulation through endocrine, neuroendocrine, and neurotransmitter pathways. The regulation of gene expression was also enriched, including several transcription factors, especially HOX genes. Transmembrane and ionic transporters also seem to play a central role in environmental adaptation in these subspecies. Finally, neurogenesis, synapse establishment, and neural system development were also enriched. When gene enrichment analysis was set to exclude electronic annotations (automatically assigned, non-curated GO terms), enriched terms included processes such as behaviour, learning or memory, cognition, and associative and olfactory learning and behaviour. Our findings point to a complex suite of regulatory and sensory 62 pathways that collectively shape the environmental adaptation of honey bee subspecies that have evolved in arid environments.
- Advice on how to start beekeeping, memories with bees and the uses of honey: results of an online questionnaire with European beekeepersPublication . Perichon, Samuel; Adamchuk, Leonora; Biber, Lejla; Božič, Janko; Chlebo, Róbert; Filipi, Janja; Leidenberger, Sonja; Mavrofridis, Georgios; Özgör, Erkay; Pocol, Cristina Bianca; Porporato, Marco; Rodríguez-Flores, María Shantal; Vilas-Boas, Miguel; Zacepins, AleksejsBeekeeping is a demanding activity that requires both particular human qualities from those who practise it and an environment that is favourable to bees. This is why the interviewed beekeepers advise to take time to think before starting to keep the bees, to find a mentor, and to always have the desire to get to know the bees even if this is not enough for success. In Northern and Western Europe, beekeepers consider patience and calmness as essential qualities to be a “good beekeeper”, while in Southern Europe, passion for bees is the main driver of success. The reasons for abandonment or failure also include human and environmental factors. To better understand the relationship between beekeepers and their bees, interviewees were encouraged to share their best memories. With years of experience, contemplative memories fade into memorable situations in which bee practices are described, and then in turn, they fade into moments of sociability. Honey harvesting plays an important role. Productive considerations are more expressed in Southern Europe, where it is an exceptional harvest that marks on people’s minds, more than the first honey harvest. The strong connection to their bees and the territory they live in is also expressed in the choice of their favourite honey. Many beekeepers mentioned the local honey production, which they are proud to produce with their own bees, even though they sometimes became criticized for a too high price for this local product. © 2024 International Bee Research Association.
- Analysis of Airborne Fungal Spores in Lima, Perú (2021–2024): Seven Clinically Important Spore TypesPublication . Idiaquez, Alexa Paredes; Calderón-Llosa, Oscar; Feliciano, Manuel; Sánchez-Reyes, EstefaníaFungal spore calendars help illustrate the abundance and distribution of spores throughout the year, enabling clinicians and patients to predict and treat allergic symptoms based on spore presence and concentration. This three-year study (2021–2024) established the first fungal spore calendar for the most clinically important spore types in Lima, Perú: Alternaria, Cladosporium, Nigrospora, Curvularia, Drechslera, Fusarium, and Stemphylium. Air sampling was performed using a Burkard volumetric spore trap placed on the rooftop of SANNA Clínica el Golf in San Isidro, Lima. Cladosporium was the most abundant (37,945 spores/m3), followed by Nigrospora (11,558), Curvularia (3946), Fusarium (2454), Alternaria (2138), Drechslera (1850), and Stemphylium (201). The highest concentrations of Alternaria, Nigrospora, Curvularia, and Drechslera were recorded in 2023–2024, with seasonal peaks mainly during spring/summer. Meteorological correlations showed that Alternaria, Cladosporium, Nigrospora, and Curvularia were positively correlated with temperature while Drechslera had a negative correlation. Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, and Stemphylium were negatively correlated with relative humidity, while other types showed a mix of both positive and negative responses or inverse responses. These two meteorological parameters are likely the main influences on spore concentrations; however, other factors may include other meteorological parameters. Cladosporium correlated positively with southwesterly winds, and negatively with northwesterly, winds, and Curvularia was positively correlated with northeasterly winds.
- Anthropogenic Barriers Limit Fish Access to Essential Habitats in the Amazon in the Face of Climate ChangePublication . Yofukuji, Kátia Yasuko; Fabrin, Thomaz Mansini Carrenho; Stabile, Bruno Henrique Mioto; Agostinho, Angelo Antonio; Jézéquel, Céline; Batista‐Silva, Valéria Flávia; Esser, Luiz Fernando; Ferreira, José Hilário Delconte; Ré, Reginaldo; Tedesco, Pablo A.; Azevedo, João C.; Bailly, DayaniBarriers represent one of the greatest threats to river integrity and freshwater fish, as they fragment habitats and impair species dispersal, particularly in a scenario of climate change. In this context, we applied a novel framework that combined predictions of species distribution models with a river connectivity index to identify accessible and climatic‐environmental suitable habitats for frugivorous and socioeconomically important fish in the Amazon basin. We also ranked dams based on their potential for river fragmentation and blocking access to climate refuge for fish species that provide essential ecosystem functions and services in the Amazon. Our results revealed that there are still extensive areas that remain both connected and climatic‐environmentally suitable along the Amazon‐Solimões rivers, acting as core areas for fish dispersal and tracking suitable habitats. However, the planned expansion of hydropower infrastructure combined with climate change can lead to a contraction of areas that will remain simultaneously climatic‐environmental suitable and connected. By identifying and ranking the most impactful barriers, our results can provide innovative and applicable information for sustainable energy planning decisions in the Amazon. These results can inform policies and conservation actions aimed at preserving river connectivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem services under rapidly changing conditions.
- Application of encapsulated tomato by-product extract as a colorant in mascarponePublication . Molina, Adriana K.; Leichtweis, Maria Gabriela; Machado, Manuela; Silva, Sara; Pintado, Manuela; Barreira, João C.M.; Dias, Maria Inês; Prieto Lage, Miguel A.; Barros, Lillian; Pereira, CarlaAgricultural by-products, often underutilized, represent a significant opportunity to obtain sustainable value-added products to develop new functional foods. In this context, the (typically discarded) aerial parts of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L. var. cerasiforme), were studied as new sources of natural bioactive compounds, focusing the extraction and encapsulation (using spray drying with maltodextrin as the encapsulant) of chlorophylls. The encapsulated natural colorant was subsequently incorporated into mascarpone cheese to assess its stability and effect on nutritional and antioxidant properties. The obtained extracts were mainly characterized by high concentrations of bioactive compounds, particularly quercetin-3-O-deoxyhexoside (14.4 ± 0.3 mg/g). The colorant imparted a greener hue to the mascarpone (a* –6.0 ± 0.05 vs. –1.7 ± 0.05 in control, p < 0.001) and maintained antioxidant activity (OxHLIA EC₅₀ = 1440 ± 72 to 1166 ± 66 μg/mL, p = 0.030) without altering the nutritional profile (p > 0.05). Moreover, no cytotoxicity was observed, and the fatty acid composition remained unchanged. Accordingly, the studied encapsulated colorant might be used as a functional ingredient in other dairy products, imparting an attractive color while preserving nutritional integrity. In conclusion, the incorporation of TAPC is an effective strategy to enrich dairy products with natural pigments and bioactive compounds without compromising quality. Future research is needed to explore its application in other food matrices and assess long-term storage effects.
- Assessing pesticide impact on honeybee gut microbiota: a call for microbial diversity as an environmental risk assessment endpointPublication . Rosa-Fontana, Annelise; Aguado, Daniel; Martín Hernández, Raquel; Higes, Mariano; Henriques, Dora; Pinto, M. AliceA recent roadmap for integrating environmental microbiota into risk assessments under the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) remit has been published. The honeybee gut microbiota has emerged as a promising avenue to protect bees against stressors. Honeybees exhibit a stable core microbiota, and dysbiosis may serve as an indicator of adverse conditions. We investigated the gut microbiota of newly emerged “Apis mellifera iberiensis” workers exposed to a single concentration of the insecticide flupyradifurone (FPF, 36 ppm). The control groups included pure syrup (negative control, NC) and syrup supplemented with 1% acetone (acetone control, AC). Laboratory trials followed official guidelines (OECD No. 245). The abdomen of each bee was separated from the thorax, and DNA extraction was performed individually. Full-length 16s rRNA amplicon metagenomic was sequenced through PacBio sequel II (HiFi/CCS mode). The Shannon diversity index was used to analyze honeybee gut microbiota composition across experimental groups. Our results revealed a significant increase in bacterial community diversity (Shannon index, P = 0.003) after ten days of chronic exposure to FPF. This effect was more pronounced when compared to the AC group (P = 0.003) than to the NC group (P = 0.03). These findings demonstrate that FPF disrupts the honeybee gut microbiota. This study represents the first characterization of honeybee gut microbiota strictly adhering to OECD guidelines without modifications or adaptations. Furthermore, we have provided new insights into pesticide risk assessment, highlighting an overlooked aspect of bee health assessment. We propose integrating this approach into pesticide risk assessments by using diversity indices as comparative parameters. Specifically, we advocate for the inclusion of honeybee gut microbiota dysbiosis as a sublethal effect in the initial screening phase of risk assessments (laboratory-based assays) and as a key parameter for evaluating pollinator health.
- Assessing the Shelf-Life of Olive Oil Under Different Storage Conditions: A Review of Predictive ModelsPublication . Ferreiro, Nuno Manuel; Veloso, Ana C.A.; Pereira, José Alberto; Rodrigues, Nuno; Peres, António M.Olive oil holds a significant position in the global vegetable oil market, often reaching high prices compared to other vegetable oils. However, like other oils, it is vulnerable to oxidation, which can degrade its quality during storage, making it essential to determine its shelf-life. So, kinetic or empirical models have been developed to estimate how long olive oil can maintain the legal quality standards necessary for its commercial classification or to be marketed with nutritional or health claim. This study reviews recent advancements in modelling approaches to predict the shelf-life of olive oil under different storage conditions, namely storage duration (from 2 months to 2 years), temperature (20–50 ºC), and light exposure (light versus dark storage). Most models estimate the timeframe in which olive oil remains compliant with regulatory requirements for specific commercial grades, namely extra virgin olive oil, with fewer models addressing health-related claims. Developed models include pseudo zero-, pseudo first-, and pseudo second-order kinetic models and empirical models, derived from experimental data on the oil’s chemical stability over time. While empirical models can be highly accurate, they often require extensive chemical data, including for compounds for which no legal thresholds exist, and complex statistical techniques, limiting their use by non-specialists. In contrast, kinetic models offer simpler and user-friendly mathematical equations. Nonetheless, olive oil’s shelf-life predictions remain influenced by factors such as initial oil composition, packaging materials, and storage conditions, underscoring the ongoing need to refine the predictive models.
- Assessment of farmer's knowledge about fungi and mycotoxin in Southern MozambiquePublication . Bila, João; Macuamule, Custódia; Bombe, Amina; Ribeiro, Maria Isabel; Venâncio, Armando; Afonso, Sandra; Rodrigues, PaulaMycotoxins find their way into the human and animal body through the consumption of mycotoxin contaminated foods, which may result in acute or chronic intoxication. This study aimed to assess knowledge about fungi and mycotoxins among farmers in the provinces of Gaza and Inhamban.e, in southem Mozamhique.Data were collected using quantitative study hased on non-probabilistic questionnaire, covering 180 farmers from Gaza (90) and Inhambane (90) Provinces, from October to November 2022. Data were subjected to descriptive and statistical analysis. The majority of farmers were aged 36 or over (75.0%), were female (75.2%), had no education or only had primary education (80.6%) and had been a farmer for longer 15 years old (64.4%). The level of knowledge about fungi and mycotoxins is mainly explained by the province of residence, followed by the level of education, age and gender, with producers with higher levels of education and of male gender recording a higher level of knowledge. Regarding mycotoxins, most fanners have never heard about these toxic compounds. Likewise, regardless of the province, a significant number of farmers did not know or have never accounted for production losses or income losses due to fungal or mycotoxin contamination.
- Association between handgrip strength and mortality in individuals undergoing hemodialysis: A retrospective cohort studyPublication . Klippel, Leticia de Paiva Souza; Martins, Cleodice Alves; Barbosa, Karen dos Santos; Leandro, Larissa Vitória Batista; Cattafesta, Monica; Cunha, Alexandre Cardoso da; Soares, Ana Cristina de Oliveira; Prado, Camila Bruneli do; Ferreira, Júlia Rabelo Santos; Peterle, Fernanda Zobole; Almeida-de-Souza, Juliana; Haraguchi, Fabiano Kenji; Furtado, Elane Viana Hortegal; Neto, Edson Theodoro dos Santos; Salaroli, Luciane BrescianiHandgrip strength offers a valuable method to detect changes and reduced muscle strength and frailty and can help improve prognosis by early diagnosis. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the association between reduced muscle strength and mortality in individuals undergoing hemodialysis. Retrospective cohort study with 994 individuals. Sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables were obtained from a 2019 study. Mortality data were sourced from death certificates recorded from 2019 to 2022 in the Mortality Information System. Muscle strength was classified based on the following cut-off values: <27 kg for men and <16 kg for women. Survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox Regression was used to evaluate the effect of handgrip strength and age on the time. More than 65 % of individuals in the sample show depleted strength, most of which were older adults (43.25 %, p < 0.001) and men (41.32 %, p = 0.008). Older adults with depleted strength showed a significantly higher number of observed deaths than expected ones (p < 0.001). After adjustment, HGS remained a significant predictor, associated with a 49 % increased risk of death (95 % CI: 1.16-1.91, p = 0.002). Having more than 11 years of formal education demonstrated a protective effect, reducing the risk of death by 1.6 times (95 % CI: 0.41-0.88, p = 0.009). Diabetes was found to be associated with almost a twofold increase in the risk of mortality (95 % CI: 1.54-2.49, p < 0.001). The decrease in handgrip strength predicts mortality in individuals undergoing hemodialysis with the risk being higher among older adults, those with diabetes and individuals with fewer than 11 years of education. (c) 2025 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.