Fraccionamento do efluente da indústria da cortiça por ultra-nanofiltração: caracterização e estudo da sua biodegradabilidade

O efluente da Indústria da Cortiça apresenta elevados teores de carga orgânica e de compostos fenólicos, nomeadamente teninos, com baixa biodegradabilidade e significativa toxicidade, o que dificulta o seu tratamento. O objectivo deste trabalho é o estudo da biodegradabilidade de diferentes fracções do efluente da cortiça, na perspectiva de contribuir para viabilizar o seu tratamento. Biológico, em simultâneo com a sua valorização, pela recuperação do seu conteúdo em taninos. O fraccionamento foi realizado através de processos de separação por membranas, nomeadamente por ultrafiltração e nanofiltração, de Limite de Exclusão Molecular (MWCO) compreendido entre 0,125-91kDa. O efluente e as fracções permeadas obtidas foram analisadas em termos de conteúdo orgânico (COT, CBO, CQO), fenóis, taninos, cor, pH e condutividade. A caracterização do efluente revelou um elevado conteúdo orgânico (2285-2604 mg de CQO/L, 670,5-1056,8 mg C/L, 1000-1225 mg CBO/L), biodegradabilidade relativamente baixa (0,44-0,47 para CBO/CQO; k de 0,25-0,24 d-1) e elevado conteúdo de fenóis (0,36-0,41 g de ácido tânico/L) e de taninos (0,25-0,27 g ácido tânico/L). O fraccionamento do efluente permitiu concluir uma diminuição do seu conteúdo poluente nos permeados com a diminuição do MWCO das membranas utilizadas. A diminuição simultânea de matéria orgânica e fenóis foi particularmente significativa no permeado da membrana de MWCO de 3,8 kDa que, por outro lado, apresenta uma melhoria significativa para o índice de biodegradabilidade e k (0,83;0,38-0,44 d-1), o que significa que este permeado apresenta já viabilidade para sofrer um processo biológico para remoção de matéria orgânica e o concentrado apresenta um elevado potencial para recuperação de taninos. Nas fracções de MWCO inferior a 3,8 kDa, a diminuição de matéria orgânica é muito significativa, com um aumento da sua fracção biodegradável. Embora os resultados não sejam totalmente conclusivos em termos de biodegradabilidade, esta fracção apresenta já características adequadas para reutilização como água de processo

Contributo para a recuperação do turismo no Algarve : da imagética à gestão territorial

Este estudo pretende fornecer evidências empíricas das motivações, interesses e comportamentos, e da imagem mental que consumidores turísticos estrangeiros têm do destino Algarve. Especificamente elaboraram-se as seguintes hipóteses: (1) A nacionalidade e a idade dos consumidores turísticos influenciam os motivos pelos quais escolhem o Algarve como destino turístico; (2) A nacionalidade, a idade, o género, e as habilitações literárias dos consumidores influenciam a escolha das actividades e dos produtos que experienciam no destino turístico Algarve; (3) A nacionalidade, a idade e o género dos consumidores influenciam a imagem que têm do destino Algarve; (4) O conceito do “Allgarve” não é reconhecido pelos consumidores turísticos, independentemente da nacionalidade; (5) O logotipo do programa “Allgarve” é associado a alguns atributos do destino Algarve. Participaram neste estudo 305 consumidores turísticos estrangeiros, e foram analisados os dados de uma amostra de 269 turistas que responderam a um questionário de versão física papel. Comprovaram-se as hipóteses. Concluiu-se que consumidores turísticos estrangeiros deslocam-se ao destino Algarve em função do bem-estar que sentem usufruir no destino e não apenas em função do produto “sol e praia” a curta distância de voo; têm interesse na cultura do território, e em actividades assentes no património cultural do território; e têm uma imagem positiva do Algarve como um destino agradável, hospitaleiro e acolhedor, limpo, e com uma cultura própria, embora com falta de eficiência institucional e excesso de construção na linha costeira

Roadmap of DNA methylation in breast cancer identifies novel prognostic biomarkers

Background Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease resulting in diverse clinical behaviours and therapeutic responses. DNA methylation is a major epigenetic alteration that is commonly perturbed in cancers. The aim of this study is to characterize the relationship between DNA methylation and aberrant gene expression in breast cancer. Methods We analysed DNA methylation and gene expression profiles from breast cancer tissue and matched normal tissue in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Genome-wide differential methylation analysis and methylation-gene expression correlation was performed. Gene expression changes were subsequently validated in the METABRIC dataset. The Oncoscore tool was used to identify genes that had previously been associated with cancer in the literature. A subset of genes that had not previously been studied in cancer was chosen for further analysis. Results We identified 368 CpGs that were differentially methylated between tumor and normal breast tissue (∆β > 0.4). Hypermethylated CpGs were overrepresented in tumor tissue and were found predominantly (56%) in upstream promoter regions. Conversely, hypomethylated CpG sites were found primarily in the gene body (66%). Expression analysis revealed that 209 of the differentially-methylated CpGs were located in 169 genes that were differently expressed between normal and breast tumor tissue. Methylation-expression correlations were predominantly negative (70%) for promoter CpG sites and positive (74%) for gene body CpG sites. Among these differentially-methylated and differentially-expressed genes, we identified 7 that had not previously been studied in any form of cancer. Three of these, TDRD10, PRAC2 and TMEM132C, contained CpG sites that showed diagnostic and prognostic value in breast cancer, particularly in estrogen-receptor (ER)-positive samples. A pan-cancer analysis confirmed differential expression of these genes together with diagnostic and prognostic value of their respective CpG sites in multiple cancer types. Conclusion We have identified 368 DNA methylation changes that characterize breast cancer tumor tissue, of which 209 are associated with genes that are differentially-expressed in the same samples. Novel DNA methylation markers were identified, of which cg12374721 (PRAC2), cg18081940 (TDRD10) and cg04475027 (TMEM132C) show promise as diagnostic and prognostic markers in breast cancer as well as other cancer types.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Relatório de trabalhos realizados em erasmus na universidade de Salford em Manchester, UK

O presente relatório tem como propósito retratar a minha experiência na Universidade de Salford, em Inglaterra, ao abrigo do programa de mobilidade (Erasmus +) em alternativa ao 5º ano tradicional. Neste relatório é apresentado, através de texto e de imagens (vertente teórica e pratica), o projeto desenvolvido em Manchester, onde tive o privilégio de realizar dois semestres, que constituem o último ano do curso do Mestrado em Arquitetura.The current work aims to describe my experience at Salford University, in England, under the mobility program (Erasmus +), as an alternative to the traditional 5th year. This report presents, through text and images (theoretical and practical aspects), the project developed in Manchester, where I had the privilege of holding two semesters, which constitute the final year of the Master’s in Architecture

Provenance and clinical benefit of medicines introduced to the French market, 2008 to 2018

IMPORTANCE Both the commercial sector and academia play a vital role in medicine development. Ongoing debates exist on their contribution and the value of medicinal products entering the market. OBJECTIVE To identify the provenance and clinical benefit of medicines that entered the French market between 2008 and 2018. DESIGN AND SETTING In this cross-sectional study, the provenance of each medicine in the French market was established via a review of multiple sources documenting at least 2 matching findings per product. The clinical benefit was assigned using the matched scale developed from the Prescrire and Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) gradings. The χ2 test was used to analyze the proportions and frequencies of medicines graded by Prescrire and HAS by origin, therapeutic category, and clinical benefit. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The origins and therapeutic categories of medicines. Clinical benefit based on Prescrire and HAS grading. Concordance of Prescrire and HAS grading. RESULTS Of the 632 medicines that entered the French market between 2008 and 2018, 464 originated (73%) in the commercial sector, and 168 originated (27%) in the academic setting or in collaboration with commercial enterprises. Prescrire graded psychotropic agents (13/14 [93%]), whereas HAS graded respiratory agents (24/25 [96%]) as the highest percentage of medicines that provided no added benefit. Prescrire graded 360 medicines (77.6%) that originated in the industry and 108 medicines (64.3%) that originated in the academic setting (P = .001) to have no added clinical benefit. HAS assigned such grading to 331 ([71.3%] industry) vs 104 ([61.9%] academia) (P = .02). Based on the Prescrire grading, academia invented more medicines delivering some added benefit 57 (33.9%) vs 98 (21.1%) invented by industry (P = .001). HAS grading on some added benefit 51 ([30.4%] academia) vs 121 ([26.1%] industry) did not reach statistical significance (P = .29). However, HAS grading on substantial added clinical benefit reached statistical significance in favor of academia (13 [7.7%] vs 12 [2.6%] in the industry; P = .003), whereas Prescrire grading did not (1.8% academia vs 1.3% industry; P = .64). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE More than 70% of medicines that entered the French market during the 10-year period originated in the commercial sector. Although most medicines were not graded as providing clinical benefit, medicines originating in the academic setting were more likely to be graded as conferring clinical benefit than those originating in the commercial setting

2-Phenoxyethanol derivatization in ink dating determination

Abstract in proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of CiiEM: Health, Well-Being and Ageing in the 21st Century, held at Egas Moniz’ University Campus in Monte de Caparica, Almada, from 3–5 June 2019.This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Corporate social responsibility in a local subsidiary : internal and external stakeholders' power

Purpose: Using a theoretical and empirical focus on the power stakeholders exert, the purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the factors that influence the subsidiaries of multinationals' participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR) under the pressures (expectations and demands) their complex system of internal and external stakeholders' places upon them. Design/methodology/approach: Using an in-depth case study, the relationship a local subsidiary in the food and beverage industry has with its stakeholders as regards CSR is analyzed. Findings: The findings illustrate three main aspects: how the local company is affected by and how it affects its stakeholders (an example of the multidirectionality of power and influence); the direct and indirect practices that are adopted to address challenges; and the importance of the role the local subsidiary plays as an implementer and diffuser of its parent organization's responsible practices across the industry value chain. Originality/value: To the best of authors' knowledge, the focus is on analyzing the power stakeholders have in the context of multinational companies that has not been applied before, and the outcome of using this approach is that the authors have uncovered gaps in the literature for future research

Implementing integrated management systems in chemical firms

Altres ajuts: Program for the Formation of University Researchers (FPU)The main objective of this research is to study how management system standards can be integrated into a single system in organisations from the chemical industry. Data for this study include a survey carried out in 76 organisations, registered with, at a minimum, both the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards for quality and environmental management, 17 of which were from the chemical industry. Additionally, six case studies are illustrated, revealing the process of integration of three chemical and three non-chemical organisations. The first conclusion to be drawn from this study is that organisations seem to prefer integration over keeping their management systems (MSs) separated, with these MSs evolving towards a state of complete integration. Although there are no significant differences between chemical and non-chemical firms regarding the benefits and difficulties of integration, the interviews and survey answers illustrated a number of benefits experienced by the companies from operating one integrated system, such as synergism promotion and cost savings for the firm, as well as a reduction of the time spent when managing the systems. However, some difficulties, such as the lack of human resources and the lack of employees' motivation, also arose during the integration process

Integration of standardized environmental and quality management systems audits

Altres ajuts: Program for the Formation of University ResearchersIn the last few years, many organizations have chosen to implement standardized Management Systems (MSs), such as the ones based on ISO 14001 and ISO 9001. However, few studies exist on how firms carry out the process of auditing these MSs. Our goal is to study how companies with more than one standardized MSs conduct the audits and to which extent they integrate the audit elements in order to benefit from the advantages of having a sole, integrated audit system. We provide four case studies and confirm the idea that firms with more than one MS integrate their audits. However, the degree and specific characteristics of this integration vary in the different companies analyzed. This paper contains one of the first qualitative empirical studies regarding the integration of MSs audits. The study provides an original contribution to the understanding of whether and how the four case study organizations have integrated certain aspects of the audit systems, for instance, the human resources, time, and audit inputs and outputs

Relatório da prática de ensino supervisionada relativo ao ano lectivo de 2010/2011 na Escola Secundária c/ 3º ciclo Diogo de Gouveia, em Beja

O presente Relatório, denominado Relatório da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada no ano lectivo de 2010/2011 na Escola Secundária c/ 3.ºCiclo de Diogo de Gouveia, em Beja, tem como base o trabalho desenvolvido ao longo do ano lectivo. Neste relatório são apresentadas algumas metodologias teórico-práticas utilizadas no processo de ensino-aprendizagem, as orientações curriculares seguidas na preparação das aulas bem como na sua execução, as estratégias utilizadas na avaliação das aprendizagens dos alunos, e ainda uma avaliação da prática lectiva levada a cabo ao longo do ano lectivo. Sendo a reflexão um elemento crucial em todo o processo de ensino-aprendizagem, pretendemos apresentar uma componente reflexiva sobre todos os elementos condicionantes no exercício da profissão, tendo sempre em vista uma melhoria na forma como as competências são desenvolvidas no aluno, visando ainda o contributo para a sua formação enquanto indivíduo numa sociedade de pertença. Tendo como suporte o Decreto-Lei n.º241/2001, e partindo dos aspectos referidos anteriormente, serão exploradas cinco áreas: a preparação científica, pedagógica e didáctica; a planificação, condução de aulas e avaliação de aprendizagens; a análise da prática de ensino; a participação na escola, e o desenvolvimento profissional; Abstract: This report, entitled Report of Supervised Teaching Practice for the academic year 2010/2011 at the Secondary and 3. ºcicle Diogo de Gouveia in Beja, is based on the work developed during the school year. In this report we present some theoretical-practical methodologies used in the teaching-learning process and the curricular orientations followed for preparing and giving classes. We also present the strategies used in the evaluation of students and an evaluation of the teaching process carried out throughout the year. Since reflection is a crucial element in the entire teaching-learning process, we want to present a reflexive component of all the constraints of this profession, always taking into account an improvement on the way students develop their skills and the contribution for their formation as individuals in a belonging society. With the Decree-Law 241/2001 as a support and based on the aspect above- mentioned, we will explore five areas: the scientific, pedagogic and didactic preparation; the planning and conducting of classes and the evaluation of the learning process; the analysis of the teaching practice; the participation in school and the professional development