Developing a Card Game for Assessment and Intervention in the Person and the Family in Palliative Care: “Pallium Game”

Abstract: Communication between the multidisciplinary team, the person, and the family in palliative and end-of-life situations implies, in most situations, a high negative emotional burden. Therefore, innovative strategies are needed to reduce it. The goal of this study is to describe the various stages of development and validation of a collaborative card game for people in palliative care and their families. Phase one is an exploratory study, Phase two is a Delphi study, and Phase three is a multiple case study. Participants for phases 2 and 3 were recruited using a convenience sampling method. The results demonstrate in an organized and structured way the different phases required to build a collaborative card game. The use of the game was found to be useful and effective. Four categories emerged from the content analysis of the open-ended responses: usability, evaluation tool, communication and therapeutic relationship, and meaning when using the game. A collaborative game in palliative care helps to create a space for individuals and families to express feelings and experiences, meeting the myriad of physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs. The “Pallium game” is a useful and impactful approach to discussing sensitive topics in palliative care.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Study of different pretreatments on Spirulina platensis biomass for bioethanol production

Aquatic biomass presents a large variety of compounds that can be used for the production of third generation (3G) biofuels, mainly carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and co-products, which can be obtained and used in the production of biofuels such as bioethanol from rich carbohydrate biomass [1]. Nowadays Spirulina platensis biomass can be considered as an alternative since it has a great capacity to produce carbohydrates [2]. This work presents a study of 3G biorefinery process from Spirulina platensis biomass; diverse types of hydrothermal pretreatments (autoclave 121 °C 20 min; freezing/thawing -4 °C and gelatinization 100 °C 10 min; gelatinization 100 °C 20 min; microwave 121 °C 20 min; ultrasound bath 20 min) and their effects on enzymatic hydrolysis with -amylase and amyloglucosidase in order to obtain fermentable sugars were evaluated. Moreover, two fermentation strategies were evaluated; simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) and pre-saccharification and fermentation (PSF), the conditions used for the fermentation were pH 4.5, 35 ° C, 150 rpm and Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast was employed, all strategies were used as alternatives in 3G bioethanol process. Results showed that the pretreatment with autoclave (121 ° C 20 min 5% solids) was better for the cellular breakdown and accessibility of enzymes to cellular matrix in the enzymatic hydrolysis. The treatment of pre-saccharification and fermentation (PSF) with 5 % solids pretreated with autoclave at 121 ° C for 20 min and pre-hydrolyzed with -amylase and amyloglucosidase after fermentation obtained a maximum yield of conversion of glucose to bioethanol of 79.34 %. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) was the best strategy for the obtention of bioethanol from pretreatment biomass of Spirulina platensis with a yield of 81.12 %. These results are good since there are no previously reported studies of the use of SSF for bioethanol from microalgae biomass production.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of a shunt active power filter with energy backup capability

This paper presents a new Shunt Active Power Filter (SAPF) that is able to compensate current power quality problems and also to serve as energy backup to the loads in case of power outages. The paper describes the hardware topology, the control system of the SAPF, as well as the energy backup control scheme. Also it describes the power outage detection scheme to trigger the energy backup mode, as well as the grid synchronization after the power restoration. To assess the behavior of the SAPF when compensating power quality problems in transient and steady-state, and during the operation as energy backup system, several simulations were performed.This work is financed by FEDER Funds, through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors – COMPETE, and by National Funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal, under the projects PTDC/EEA-EEL/104569/2008 and FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER022674.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pathway for cyanotoxin valorization: microscystin as case study

Book of Abstracts of CEB Annual Meeting 2017info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Combined effect of light intensity and CO2 concentration on Microcystis aeruginosa growth

[Excerpt] Worldwide occurrence of hepatotoxic cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa and the accumulation of its toxin (microcystin), have been responsible for several human deaths and animal intoxication incidents. In recognition to its toxicity, the WHO and national governments established recommendation values for this toxin in water, which gave rise to an increasing demand for microcystin's analytical standards. These standards might be used either as laboratory standards in human and environmental risk assessment or as tools for molecular and cell biology studies. However, their availability is limited due to constraints found in production and purification processes, which inflate the final price to values as high as 28000€/mg. [...

Electrotechnologies applied to microalgal biotechnology Applications, techniques and future trends

Electrotechnologies are based on the direct application of an external electric field through a given semi-conductive material. These technologies are part of a wide range of biotechnological processes, considered cost-effective and environmentally-friendly in view of the less intensive use of non-renewable resources and high levels of energetic efficiency. In this regard, electrotechnologies are a promising processing tool to overcome some of the microalgae's exploitation limitations. The application of electric field-based techniques can cover upstream (i.e. electroporation for genetic transformation, inactivation of culture contaminants, and improvement of growth kinetics) and downstream processes (e.g. harvesting and extraction methods). Pulsed electric fields (PEF) and moderate electric fields (MEF), targeted at microalgae cellular permeabilization and subsequent extraction of valuable compounds, count with a substantial body of fundamental research which puts them on the front row to become mainstream techniques in a near future. This review provides comprehensive knowledge systematization of the current status of the direct application of these techniques on microalgal biotechnology, as wells as future trends and challenges regarding developments in electrotechnologies to be applied to microalgae industrial exploitation.Thisresearch workwas supported by theGrants SFRH/BPD/98694/ 2013 (Bruno Fernandes), SFRH/BD/110723/2015 (Rui Rodrigues), SFRH/BPD/81887/2011 (Ricardo Pereira) and SFRH/BD/52335/2013 (Pedro Geada) from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal). Luís Loureiro is recipient of a fellowship supported by a doctoral advanced training (call NORTE-69-2015-15) funded by the European Social Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. This study was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-FEDER-006684), Project UID/Multi/04423/2013, Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462), FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, by the project NOVELMAR (reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000035), co-financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Norte 2020) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), through the ERDF and by BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER 000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 – Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparison of harvesting methods for the cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa

BioTech 2017 and 7th Czech-Swiss Symposium with ExhibitionMicrocystis aeruginosa is a wellknown cyanobacterium that has been spreading all over the world due to increased temperatures and eutrophication of water bodies caused by intensive anthropogenic activities. This toxin-producing microorganism is frequently responsible for diminishing water quality and causing intoxication of humans and animals. Due to this, its intracellular cyanotoxin – microcystin (MC) – is commonly used as tool for molecular and cell biology studies or as a standard in human and environmental risk assessment assays. Moreover, MC is a promising anticancer/antitumor drug candidate and a possible antimicrobial, antifungal, antialgal and insecticide agent. Despite MC’s potential application in several biotechnological fields, its high production costs significantly contribute for the prohibitive selling prices (28000 e/mg). Thus, improvements in process’ cost-effectiveness is needed, especially in terms of downstream processing techniques which are probably the major bottlenecks of cyanobacteria production at large scale, commonly representing 20-30 % of the total costs. Bearing this in mind, this study aimed at optimizing harvesting of M. aeruginosa induced by pH change and compares the optimal conditions obtained with the use of three different flocculant agents: chitosan, ferric chloride, and aluminium chloride. Harvesting induced by pH was assessed by testing pH values ranging between 2 and 14. Despite the fact that harvesting efficiencies above 90 % were obtained for most pH values, pH 2 was the one where higher sedimentation rate was observed and consequently the chosen method to compare with the three flocculants. Aluminium chloride addition was found to be the most efficient method, reaching 93 % of sedimentation efficiency within the first 2 h. These results are in agreement with zeta potential measurements where cells presented nearly neutral (approx. 0 mV) charge, while positive or negative charges where achieved using the other three methodologies.This research work was supported by the grant SFRH/BPD/98694/2013 (Bruno Fernandes) and SFRH/BD/52335/2013 (Pedro Geada) from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal). Luís Loureiro is recipient of a fellowship supported by a doctoral advanced training (call NORTE-69-2015-15) funded by the European Social Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684), Project UID/Multi/04423/2013, Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462), FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, by the project NOVELMAR (reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000035), co-financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Norte 2020) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), through the ERDF, and by BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Combined effect of environmental factors on Microcystis aeruginosa growth and toxin productivity

[Excerpt] Despite numerous studies reporting the influence of environmental factors over cyanobacterial growth and toxicity, not much is known about the impact of synergies generated between these parameters. Taking advantage of such unexplored perspective, the aim of this work is to assess the combined effect of light intensity, CO2 concentration, temperature, and medium pH on Microcystis aeruginosa growth and toxin productivity. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Microalgal biomass pretreatment for bioethanol production: a review

Biofuels derived from microalgae biomass have received a great deal of attention owing to their high potentials as sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Microalgae have a high capacity of CO2 fixation and depending on their growth conditions, they can accumulate different quantities of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. Microalgal biomass can, therefore, represent a rich source of fermentable sugars for third generation bioethanol production. The utilization of microalgal carbohydrates for bioethanol production follows three main stages: i) pretreatment, ii) saccharification, and iii) fermentation. One of the most important stages is the pretreatment, which is carried out to increase the accessibility to intracellular sugars, and thus plays an important role in improving the overall efficiency of the bioethanol production process. Diverse types of pretreatments are currently used including chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological, and their combinations, which can promote cell disruption, facilitate extraction, and result in the modification the structure of carbohydrates as well as the production of fermentable sugars. In this review, the different pretreatments used on microalgae biomass for bioethanol production are presented and discussed. Moreover, the methods used for starch and total carbohydrates quantification in microalgae biomass are also briefly presented and compared.CONACYT -Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologíainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio