Exploitation of olive oil mil wastewater for esterase production

[Excerpt] Development of bio-sustainable and renewable resource technologies is extremely important on environmental contexts. Waste can contain many valuable substances and, through a suitable process or technology, this material can be converted into value-added products or raw materials that can be used in secondary processes. To reduce the environmental problems caused by olive oil mill wastewater (OOMW), which is the liquid effluent produced during the extraction process of olive oil, this waste can be applied to bioproducts production. (...

Thrombocytopenia induced by clopidogrel: a rare adverse effect

Introduction: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) can be induced by several drugs but there are few case reports of ITP induced by clopidogrel. Second-line treatment with thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) presents solid evidence and should be considered in patients in need of elective surgery who are poor responders to steroids. Case description: We report the case of a 79-year-old male who developed severe immune thrombocytopenic purpura after initiating treatment with clopidogrel. Because he needed elective orthopaedic surgery and he did not respond to corticotherapy and immunoglobulin, second-line treatment with romiplostim was initiated with a significant increase in platelet count. Discussion and conclusion: Clopidogrel can induce ITP and this diagnosis should be considered in patients who present with isolated thrombocytopenia. First-line therapy of ITP is not always successful; second-line treatment with TPO-RA has a high response rate and should be considered in patients in need of elective surgery who have failed to respond to first-line therapy. Learning points: Clopidogrel can cause immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP); although there are some published cases in literature, it is a rare adverse effect.ITP induced by clopidogrel should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients experiencing isolated thrombocytopenia.Second-line treatment of ITP with thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RA) presents solid evidence and should be considered in patients in need of elective surgery who are poor responders to steroids.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Competitive pressure systems mapping in the brazilian truck market

The automotive business in Brazil achieved 10% of the industry revenue and 6% of the formal employment by 2008. The commercial vehicle segment concentrated so far eight truck makers that experienced their best market figures in 2008, the economy crisis in 2009, and an extraordinary recovery in 2010. Government tax reduction programs as well as special financing incentives were undoubtedly decisive to re-stimulate the business during the crisis. Positive Brazilian perspectives with the boom in the agricultural, oil and gas, mining and infrastructure activities plus the coming sports events call the attention of new players that are quickly implementing different business strategies to become part of the game. New emission regulations starting from 2012 also bring uncertainties, challenges and opportunities. With the growing globalization and market concentration it's critical for any industry understand and minimize the forces of competitive pressures. The main goal of this paper, therefore, is to contribute to the academy with an alternative approach of strategic and behavioral analysis of rivalry and competition different than the five forces model of Porter. Ford, Iveco, MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo were assessed from 2008 to 2010 within three main performance indicators – unit sales, gross revenues and operating profits – supporting the elaboration of the competitive pressure systems mapping model of D'aveni, including a hypothetical future scenario with a new entrant and the potential impacts in the system. Main findings and results portray the asymmetrical strategic behavior of competitors and the temporary dynamic stability in the Brazilian truck industry

Economic burden of personal protective strategies for dengue disease: an optimal control approach

Dengue fever is a vector-borne disease that is widely spread. It has a vast impact on the economy of countries, especially where the disease is endemic. The associated costs with the disease comprise prevention and treatment. This study focus on the impact of adopting individual behaviors to reduce mosquito bites - avoiding the disease’s transmission - and their associated costs. An epidemiological model is presented with human and mosquito compartments, modeling the interaction of dengue disease. The model assumed some self-protection measures, namely the use of repellent in human skin, wear treated clothes with repellent, and sleep with treated bed nets. The household costs for these protections are taking into account to study their use. We conclude that personal protection could have an impact on the reduction of the infected individuals and the outbreak duration. The costs associated with the personal protection could represent a burden to the household budget, and its purchase could influence the shape of the infected’s curve.publishe

Substantive rationality of impression management:an analysis of corporate reports of JBS

Objective: To investigate the substantive rationality inherent to the practice of impression management (IM). Originality/value:Based on the taxonomy created by Merkl-Davies and Brennan (2011), it is analyzed: 1. the discussion under the sociological perspective; and 2. the actions of substantive rationality in the management of impressions that can manifest through actions of symbolic management. This study responds to the call of Merkl-Davies et al. (2011) by putting into practice an unconventional analytical model based on the use of the corporate reports (annual and sustainability) of the company JBS with special attention to the “Carne Fraca” [Weak Meat] Operation. Design/methodology/approach: A content analysis of the accounting narratives of JBS’ corporate reports between 2015 and 2018 was carried out.Findings: Accounting narratives suggest evidence of IM and substantive rationality. The preparers of the corporate reports used substantive rationality to legitimize the company’s actions, with the most significant manifestations of this practice in the 2017 report, the year of the “Carne Fraca” operation. The implications of this research lie in demonstrating evidence that guides companies regarding the use of accounting narratives to convince society of their actions as consistent with the structure of social rules and norms. Furthermore, we emphasize that the accounting narratives must be analyzed with caution since they can be elaborated under the influence of the manager’s opportunistic behavior.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Combining exercise with education based on transformative learning principles in fibromyalgia patients: a case series

Proceeding de trabalho apresentado no 7th World, 7 a 10 de maio, Congress of the World Institute of Pain, Maastricht, Holand

Safrinha recorde o Brasil.

bitstream/item/67631/1/Safrinha-recorde.pd

Influence de la densité de vegetation et de l'effeuillage sur le microclimat, rendement, composition du baie et qualité du vin du cépage portugais Touriga Nacional

The objectives of this experiment were to evaluate the influence of shoot density and basal leaf removal on the canopy microclimate characteristics and their influence on yield, fruit composition and wine quality of one of the most important and noble Portuguese red vine varieties – Touriga Nacional. The experiment was carried out in 2004 on a private enterprise (Dão Sul, Soc. Vitivinícola, SA) of Dão region, centre of Portugal. The vineyard was grafted in 1991 on 1103 P rootstock. The training system is Royat bilateral with vertical shoot positioning. Three different shoot densities were applied: D1 – 23 shoots/m row, D2 – 17 shoots/m row and D3 – 11 shoots/m row. At veraison was also introduced another factor: leaf removal (under clusters). During the growing season several parameters were measured (leaf area, leaf water potential, leaf gas-exchanges, leaf layer number, canopy size, intercepted photosynthetically active radiation, fruit composition, yield and vigour). Basal leaf removal improved the canopy microclimate by a lower leaf layer number with positive effects on the interception of radiation at fruit zone, inferior percentage of interior leaves and clusters. On shoot density, it was verified that the D2 presented the best conditions of canopy microclimate. Yield was positively influenced by shoot density increase by the augment of the cluster number, while cluster weight was not affected. Leaf removal had not a significant effect on yield parameters. The lower shoot density (D3) improved wine quality by greater colour intensity. Leaf removal improved significantly the wines colour intensity

Potentially toxic elements’ contamination of soils affected by mining activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite

Both sectors of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portuguese and Spanish, have been exploited since ancient times, but more intensively during and after the second half of the 19th century. Large volumes of polymetallic sulfide ore were extracted in open pits or in underground works, processed without environmental concerns, and the generated waste rocks and tailings were simply deposited in the area. Many of these mining sites were abandoned for years under the action of erosive agents, leading to the spread of trace elements and the contamination of soils, waters and sediments. Some of these mine sites have been submitted to rehabilitation actions, mostly using constructive techniques to dig and contain the contaminated tailings and other waste materials, but the remaining soil still needs to be treated with the best available techniques to recover its ecosystem functions. Besides the degraded physical structure and poor nutritional status of these soils, they have common characteristics, as a consequence of the pyrite oxidation and acid drainage produced, such as a high concentration of trace elements and low pH, which must be considered in the remediation plans. This manuscript aims to review the results from studies which have already covered these topics in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, especially in its Portuguese sector, considering: (i) soils’ physicochemical characteristics; (ii) potentially toxic trace elements’ concentration; and (iii) sustainable remediation technologies to cope with this type of soil contamination. Phytostabilization, after the amelioration of the soil’s properties with organic and inorganic amendments, was investigated at the lab and field scale by several authors, and their results were also considered