Phytochemical studies and biological activity of carnivorous plants from the Mediterranean region

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências Biotecnológicas (Biotecnologia Vegetal), Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2010

Tourism in Timor Leste: contributions to a sustainable development

The main goal of this thesis is to analyse tourism as a contributor to sustainable development, from a supply and demand perspective, in Timor-Leste, a destination not only “young” but also framed in an early stage of touristic development. From the supply side, studies 1 and 2 present a literature review on the concept of sustainable development, in small islands destinations, its weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and whose attractiveness lies in an integrated set of natural resources (attractive beaches, biodiversity, the coral triangle, a rich fauna and flora), its geographic location, tropical climate, socio cultural tradition and a Luso-Timorense cultural mix, that can meet the needs of important segments of the tourist demand. In these studies, the focus is on the residents’ attitudes in relation to sustainable development and, in particular, on the perceptions of local leaders about the importance of the operationalization of the concept. As Timor-Leste is a “young” destination, it is travel industry is still faced with several problems in order to be able to satisfy the demand and to meet the tourists’ motivations, preferences and requirements. In this perspective, the study 3 examines diaspora tourism, while a niche market, allowing for not only the entry of Timor-Leste in the international tourism market, but also an articulation between the people of Timor-Leste in the diasporas and the development of sustainable tourism . In general, the results show that the development of sustainable tourism cannot be successfully implemented without the involvement of all stakeholders such as residents, public sector (local government, policy makers, planners), private sector (tourism operators), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that include civil society, religious institutions, the academic community (the supply side), and Timorese diasporas tourists as consumers (the demand side).

Yeast diversity in the Mediterranean strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) fruits' fermentations

In the Mediterranean region the fruits of the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) may be fermented and distilled to produce a traditional beverage very much appreciated in Southern Europe. The aim of the present work was to study the diversity of the yeast population and the killer activity of the isolates identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, obtained during solid state industrial fermentations of the arbutus berries. The identification of the isolates was performed by the 5.8S rRNA-ITS region restriction analysis and by sequencing the D1/D2 region of the large subunit of the rRNA gene. At the start of the fermentations, various non-Saccharomyces species were detected including Aureobasidium pullulans, Dothichiza pithyophila, Dioszegia zsoltii, Hanseniaspora uvarum and yeasts belonging to the genera Metschnikowia, Cryptococcus and Rhodotorula. However, as the biological processes progressed the number of different species decreased with S. cerevisiae and Pichia membranaefaciens becoming dominant at advanced stages of the must fermentation that is characterized by high concentrations of ethanol. Forty three isolates identified as S. cerevisiae were tested for killer activity against two sensitive reference strains and Zygosaccharomyces bailii. Their killer sensitivity in relation to five killer referenced toxins (K2, K5, K8, K9 and K10) was also studied. Out of the isolates analyzed, 95.3% were sensitive and 4.7% were tolerant against the killer toxins tested. Only three isolates revealed killer activity against one sensitive strain and two of them against the spoiler yeast Z. bailii. The microbiota obtained revealed an interesting potential to be used as starter cultures to overcome unpredictable uncontrolled fermentations of the arbutus fruits as well as in other applications of biotechnological interest. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Using creative problem solving (CPS) to improve leadership in a non-profit organization

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Creative Problem Solving (CPS) method in improving the leadership process in a non-profit organization. The research was designed around an intervention and structured in three stages (pre-consult, intervention and follow-up), with a team designated by management, in order to bring leadership cohesion to both departments of the organization and also between the board and executive management. The results, expressed in the tasks performed and in the interviews to team members, allowed us to conclude on the effectiveness of the CPS method to improve organizational leadership, by establishing a stronger relationship between departments, as well as, in the long term, between the board and executive management. These results highlight possible solutions to improve the leadership of non-profit organizations.

A etnoarqueologia no Brasil: ciência e sociedade no contexto da redemocratização

Dissertação mest., Arqueologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2008

Chemical and microbial changes during the natural fermentation of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) fruits

Aguardente de medronho is the name given in Portugal to a spirit made from the fermented fruit of Arbutus unedo (strawberry tree), a plant grown in the Mediterranean region. In order to gain a better understanding of the fermentation process, as it is performed in the farms, a natural fermentation with wild microbiota was carried out during 36 days, and some physicochemical and microbiological parameters were studied. The microbial parameters analyzed were total viable, lactic and acetic acids bacteria, and yeast counts. The physicochemical parameters monitored were sugars, minerals, ethanol, organic acids and pH. Yeasts were the main responsible for the fermentation of the fruits, as the lactic and acetic acids bacteria are absent. As the fermentation progressed, the sugars increased during the first 2 days and gradually decreased along the fermentation period. Maintaining the good quality of the product could contribute to the preservation and valorization of traditional resources that are of great importance to prevent their disappearance.

Effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on the proliferation and extracellular matrix mineralization and gene expression of gilthead seabream skeletal cell lines

The aquaculture industry aims at replacing significant amounts of marine fish oil by vegetable oils in fish diet. Dietary lipids have been shown to alter the fatty acid composition of bone compartments, which would impact the local production of factors controlling bone formation. Knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the nutritional regulation of bone metabolism is however scarce in fish. Two in vitro bone-derived cell systems developed from seabream (an important species for aquaculture in the Mediterranean region) vertebra, capable of in vitro mineralization and exhibiting prechondrocyte (VSa13) and pre-osteoblast (VSa16) phenotype, were used to assess the effect of certain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs; arachidonic (AA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids) on cell proliferation, extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization and gene expression. While all PUFAs promoted morphological changes in both cell lines, VSa16 cell proliferation appeared to be stimulated by PUFAs in a dose dependent manner until 100M, whereas proliferation of VSa13 cells was impaired at concentrations above 10M. AA, EPA and DHA inhibited VSa13 ECM mineralization, alone and in combination, while VSa16 ECM mineralization was only inhibited by AA and EPA. DHA had the opposite effect, increasing mineralization almost by 2 fold. When EFAs were combined, DHA apparently compensated for the inhibitory effect of AA and EPA. Expression of marker genes for bone and lipid metabolisms has been investigated by qPCR and shown to be regulated in pre-osteoblasts exposed to individual PUFAs. Our results show that PUFAs are effectors of fish bone cell lines, altering cell morphology, proliferation and mineralization when added to culture medium. This work also demonstrates the suitability of our in vitro cell systems to get insights into mineralization-related effects of PUFAs in vivo and to evaluate the replacement of fish oils by vegetable oil sources in fish feeds.

Tolerance of young (Ceratonia siliqua L.) carob rootstock to NaCl

One-year-old carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) rootstock was grown in fertilised substrate to evaluate the effects of NaCl salinity stress. The experiment consisted of seven treatments with different concentrations of NaCl in the irrigation water: 0 (control), 15, 30, 40, 80, 120 and 240 (mmol L(-1)), equivalent to electrical conductivities of 0.0, 1.5, 2.9, 3.9, 7.5, 10.9 and 20.6 dS m(-1), respectively. Several growth parameters were measured throughout the experimental period. At the end of the experiment, pH, extractable P and K, and the electrical conductivity of the substrate were assessed in each salinity level. On the same date, the mineral composition of the leaves was compared. The carob rootstock tolerated 13.4 dS m(-1) for a period of 30 days but after 60 days the limit of tolerance was only 6.8 dS m(-1). Salt tolerance indexes were 12.8 and 4.5 for 30 and 60 days, respectively. This tolerance to salinity resulted from the ability to function with concentrations of Cl(-) and Na(+) in leaves up to 24.0 and 8.5 g kg(-1), respectively. Biomass allocation to shoots and roots was similar in all treatments, but after 40 days the number of leaves was reduced, particularly at the larger concentrations (120 and 240 mmol NaCl L(-1)). Leaves of plants irrigated with 240 mmol NaCl L(-1) became chlorotic after 30 days exposure. However, concentrations of N, P. Mg and Zn in leaves were not affected significantly (P > 0.05) by salinity. Apparently, K(+) and Ca(2+) were the key nutrients affected in the response of carob rootstocks to salinity. Plants grown with 80 and 120 mmol L(-1) of NaCl contained the greatest K. concentration. Na(+)/K(+) increased with salinity, due to an elevated Na(+) content but K(+) uptake was also enhanced, which alleviated some Na. stress. Ca(2+) concentration in leaves was not reduced under salinity. Salinization of irrigation water and subsequent impacts on agricultural soils are now common problems in the Mediterranean region. Under such conditions, carob seems to be a salt as well as a drought tolerant species. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.