Perceptions of portuguese family health care teams regarding the expansion of nurses’ scope of practice = Perceções de equipas de saúde familiar portuguesas sobre o alargamento do campo de exercício da enfermagem

Theoretical framework: Expanding primary health care nurses’ scope of practice is a strategy that has been used in various health systems to good advantage. Its feasibility depends on the health professionals’ consensus as to its suitability. Objectives: To find out the perceptions of Portuguese family health care teams regarding the expansion of primary care nurses’ scope of practice. Methodology: Focus groups. Results: The team perception is that citizen expectations, the shortage of nurses and the need for specific training are the main issues to be faced. The teams discussed various roles that the nursing profession could take on in Primary Health Care (PHC) via a work reorganisation included in the regulatory framework. Conclusion: The assignment of wider clinical roles to PHC nurses is not unanimously approved of, since it is perceived by some doctors and nurses as inappropriate and unfair. Some health care teams expressed their willingness to take part in this option, due to its potential contribution to improving the response to care needs not currently being met. Enquadramento: O alargamento do campo de exercício do enfermeiro de cuidados primários tem constituído uma estratégia utilizada em diversos sistemas de saúde com ganhos conhecidos. A sua exequibilidade depende do consenso dos profissionais de saúde sobre a sua adequação. Objetivos: Conhecer as perceções de equipas de saúde familiar portuguesas sobre o alargamento do campo de exercício do enfermeiro de cuidados primários. Metodologia: Grupos focais. Resultados: Na perceção das equipas, as expetativas dos cidadãos, a escassez de enfermeiros e a necessidade de formação específica são os principais problemas a enfrentar. As equipas discutiram vários papéis que a profissão de enfermagem poderia assumir em Cuidados de Saúde Primários (CSP), mediante uma reorganização do trabalho, enquadrada normativamente. Conclusão: A atribuição de papéis clínicos mais vastos ao enfermeiro de CSP não reúne unanimidade, por ser percebida, por alguns médicos e enfermeiros, como desajustada e iníqua. Algumas equipas de saúde manifestaram disponibilidade para aderir a esta opção, face ao seu potencial contributo para melhorar a resposta a necessidades assistenciais atualmente não satisfeitas.publishersversionpublishe

Avaliação agronômica e caracterização química de acessos de gengibre (Zingiber officinale) nas condições de Manaus, AM.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar agronomicamente três acessos de gengibre nas condições de Manaus, AM.Edição dos Resumos do 52º Congresso Brasileiro de Olericultura, Salvador, jul. 2012

Electrodialytic removal of tungsten and arsenic from secondary mine resources – Deep eutectic solvents enhancement

UID/AMB/04085/2019. LAQV UID/QUI/50006/2019. PD\BD\135170\2017. IF/01146/2015.Tungsten is a critical raw material for European and U.S. economies. Tungsten mine residues, usually considered an environmental burden due to e.g. arsenic content, are also secondary tungsten resources. The electrodialytic (ED) process and deep eutectic solvents (DES) have been successfully and independently applied for the extraction of metals from different complex environmental matrices. In this study a proof of concept demonstrates that coupling DES in a two-compartment ED set-up enhances the removal and separation of arsenic and tungsten from Panasqueira mine secondary resources. Choline chloride with malonic acid (1:2), and choline chloride with oxalic acid (1:1) were the DES that in batch extracted the average maximum contents of arsenic (16%) and tungsten (9%) from the residues. However, when ED was operated at a current intensity of 100 mA for 4 days, the extraction yields increased 22% for arsenic and 11% for tungsten, comparing to the tests with no current. From the total arsenic and tungsten extracted, 82% and 77% respectively were successfully removed from the matrix compartment, as they electromigrated to the anolyte compartment, from where these elements can be further separated. This achievement potentiates circular economy, as the final treated residue could be incorporated in construction materials production, mitigating current environmental problems in both mining and construction sectors.proofpublishe

Supercritical CO2 assisted impregnation of ibuprofen on medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHA)

This work is financed by national funds from FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P., in the scope of the project UIDB/50006/2020 of the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV, the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences-UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy-i4HB. Liane Meneses and Alexandre Paiva would like to acknowledge FCT for the financial support through SFRH/BD/148510/2019 and IF/01146/2015.In this work, we propose the utilization of scCO2 to impregnate ibuprofen into the mcl- PHA matrix produced by Pseudomonas chlororaphis subs. aurantiaca (DSM 19603). The biopolymer has adhesive properties, is biocompatible and has a melting temperature of 45 °C. Several conditions, namely, pressure (15 and 20 MPa) and impregnation time (30 min, 1 h and 3 h) were tested. The highest ibuprofen content (90.8 ± 6.5 mg of ibuprofen/gPHA) was obtained at 20 MPa and 40 °C, for 1 h, with an impregnation rate of 89 mg/(g.h). The processed mcl-PHA samples suffered a plasticization, as shown by the decrease of 6.5 °C in the Tg, at 20 MPa. The polymer’s crystallinity was also affected concomitantly with the matrices’ ibuprofen content. For all the impregnation conditions tested the release of ibuprofen from the biopolymer followed a type II release profile. This study has demonstrated that the mcl-PHA produced by P. chlororaphis has a great potential for the development of novel topical drug delivery systems.publishersversionpublishe

Petrografia e Geoquímica do Complexo Migmatítico de Bemposta (Zona Centro Ibérica, NE de Portugal)

ABSTRACT: The Bemposta Migmatite Complex (CMB) belong to the Central-Iberian Zone, NE Portugal. It is a high-grade metamorphic belt composed by metasediments of Ediacarian-Lower Cambrian age affected by partial melting during the second Variscan deformation event (D2). The anatexis culminated with intrusion of syn-tardi-D2 leucogranite sills in the CMB. Field and petrographic evidence suggest that the anatexis of the metasediments was controlled by muscovite dehydration-melting reactions. On the other hand, the stromatic leucosomes show that they were probably produced at a slightly deeper structural level (through biotite dehydration-melting reactions) and subsequently injected in these lithologies. The geochemical data reveals that leucosomes no longer correspond to the original melt compositions. During melt migration and ascent, they underwent fractional crystallization and accumulation of K-feldspar. Syn-tardi-D2 leucogranites that intrude CMB were most likely produced by higher degrees of partial melting. They have fractionated compositions and variable degrees of contamination with residual accessory mineral phases. Thus, CMB is interpreted as a Migmatite Injection Complex, where anatectic melts produced at slightly deeper levels were accumulated.RESUMO: O Complexo Migmatítico de Bemposta (CMB) situa-se na Zona Centro Ibérica (NE Portugal) correspondendo a um cinturão metamórfico de alto grau, composto por metassedimentos do Ediacariano-Câmbrico Inferior afetados por fusão parcial durante a segunda fase de deformação Varisca (D2). A anatexia destas rochas culminou com a intrusão de leucogranitos sin-tardi-D2 do tipo sill. As evidências de campo em consonância com a petrografia sugerem que a anatexia dos metassedimentos foi controlada pela reação de desidratação da moscovite. Os leucossomas mostram evidências de terem sido produzidos em níveis estruturais inferiores (através da reação da desidratação da biotite) e subsequentemente injetados nestas litologias. Os dados de geoquímica revelam que os leucossomas durante a sua ascensão foram afetados por cristalização fracionada e acumulação de feldspato potássico. Os leucogranitos sin-tardi-D2 que intruem o CMB resultaram de altas taxas de fusão e possuem composições equivalentes a magmas afetados por cristalização fracionada, contaminados por minerais acessórios residuais. Assim, o CMB é interpretado como um Complexo Migmatítico de Injeção, onde os líquidos anatéticos produzidos em profundidade se acumularam.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Innovative concrete-filled cold-formed steel (CF-CFS) built-up columns

This paper presents an innovative type of concrete-filled cold-formed steel (CF-CFS) built-up composite column. Twenty- four innovative specimens of four CF-CFS cross-section configurations were used to investigate their behavior at ambient and elevated temperatures. First, the axial load-bearing capacity of the innovative CF-CFS was obtained using a series of experimental tests under pure compression. Then their fire resistance was evaluated using another series of experimental tests subjected to elevated temperatures. Moreover, finite element modeling approaches were developed to further explore the behavior of the CF-CFS composite columns. The applicability of the available design codes, including EN 1994-1-1 and EN 1994-1-2 for the CF-CFS composite column, was discussed. The results showed that the design codes could conservatively predict the CF-CFS composite columns when the effective cross-sectional area was used to determine the Class 4 CFS components. In contrast, unconservative results were obtained using the gross cross-sectional area. Enhanced design methodologies were developed, tackling the specificities associated with the use of built-up tubular steel sections. Therefore, a modification was introduced for the innovative CF-CFS columns to predict buckling and fire resistance with a good agreement. Reliability analysis was also performed to reliability index for each methodology.This work is financed by national funds throughthe Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under grant agreement 2021.06528.BD attributed to the 1st author and under the grant agreement 2020.03588. CEECIND attributed to the 2nd author. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and T echnology (FCT) for its support under the framework of the research project PTDC/ECI-EGC/31858/2017 - INNOCFSCONC - Innovative hybrid structural solutions using cold-formed steel and lightweight concrete ", financed by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme- COMPETE and by national funds through FCT , and PCIF/AGT/0062/2018 – INTERFACESEGURA – Segurança e Resiliência ao Fogo das Zonas e Interface Urbana-Florestal, financed by FCT through National funds. This work was partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R&D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), under reference UIDB/04029/2020

Influence of natural deep eutectic systems in water thermal behavior and their applications in cryopreservation

Natural deep eutectic systems (NADES), which have applications as solvents for both engineering and life sci-ences, are mainly composed of sugars, aminoacids or organic acids. In this work NADES composed by glucose,urea and proline (G:U:P in a molar ratio of 1:1:1) and proline and glucose (P:G 5:3) were prepared and addedin different mass fractions to water.By differential scanning calorimetry it was verified as the crystallization tendency of water is modified even forlow fraction of NADES added. This is also observed by polarized optical microscopy which allowed followingthe formation of crystals with different crystalline morphologies as bulk water. Calorimetric data also shown asthe crystallization temperature decreases for all P:G mixtures and this shift is more accentuated for weight frac-tion of NADES higher than 0.5. Crystallization is totally suppressed for NADES fraction higher than 0.7.NADES/water mixtures cytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro, revealing that they are less toxic as compared withthe commonly used cryoprotective additives as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Additionally, cell viability testswith cell lines cryopreserved using DMSO and both the prepared NADES showed comparable viability.This work combines thermophysical data on NADES and evaluates itâ s in vitro performance, providing cues fortheir use in cryopreservation applications.European Union Horizon 2020 Program under the agreement number ERC-2016-CoG 725034 (ERC Consolidator Grant Des.solve). This research was also funded by PTDC/EQU-EQU/29851/2017. A. Paiva acknowledges the financial support from project IF/01146/2015 attributed within the 2015 FCT researcher program. This work was supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry - LAQV which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020

Deep eutectic systems for carbonic anhydrase extraction from microalgae biomass to improve carbon dioxide solubilization

This work was supported by the project “DESalgae – Capturing and re-using CO2 using deep eutectic solvents and microalgae” funded by Dutch national fund NWO Open Competition Domain Science – XS [ OCENW.XS4.162 ]; Special thanks to AlGreen B.V. (Wageningen) for providing Spirulina sp. biomass. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors.This work is the first proof-of-concept of the use of carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme from microalgae biomass, extracted with deep eutectic systems (DES), with the goal of engineering a solution that will lead to a breakthrough in the Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) strategy. Three distinct microalgae were processed-Tisochrysis lutea, Chlorella vulgaris, and Spirulina sp.-with three DES-Choline chloride-Urea (ChCl-U), Choline chloride-Poly(ethylene glycol) (ChCl-PEG), and Poly(ethylene glycol)-Urea (PEG-U). To evaluate the most promising microalgae-DES, CA activity was evaluated with a specific enzymatic activity kit and through CO2 solubility assays. Preliminary results indicate that: DES is a suitable solvent medium for CA extraction from microalgal biomass, preserving its activity (specific CA activity up to 0.70 mU.mg-1); CA extraction efficiency differs between DES and microalgal species, indicating the potential for further research; from the tested DES, the ones containing PEG were favorable to maintain CA activity (CO2 solubility up to 4 g CO2.g-1 DES). This work paves the way towards a disruptive CCU approach.publishersversionpublishe

Design of cold-formed steel battened built-up columns

When individual profiles cannot withstand the acting forces, cold-formed steel (CFS) battened built-up columns may be used to provide a suitable load-bearing capacity. A suitable load-bearing capacity can be achieved when the individual profiles present a high composite action. The ideal configuration for battened CFS columns to enable composite action between two lipped-channels CFS profiles is shown in this research. Various column lengths and different spacing between lipped channels were considered. A calibrated finite element modeling approach evaluated the influence of the number of fasteners per batten panel and the distance between the batten panels. Furthermore, the appropriate number of fasteners per batten panel was discussed. After identifying the optimal details for the battened column, a parametric study was done. The maximum axial loads of a series of finite element models were compared to analytical predictions from different design methodologies according to EN1993-1-1 and AISI S100. The results recommended the use of three rows of fasteners per batten panel. Furthermore, a new analytical procedure was proposed by adopting the modified slenderness ratio in AISI S100-16 in the formulation provided in EN1993-1-1. The reliability of the available methodologies was assessed by comparing the reliability index for the analytical methods.This work is financed by national funds throughthe Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under grant agreement 2021.06528.BD attributed to the 1st author and under the grant agreement 2020.03588. CEECIND attributed to the 2nd author. The authors gratefully acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and T echnology (FCT) for its support under the framework of the research project PTDC/ECI-EGC/31858/2017 - INNOCFSCONC - Innovative hybrid structural solutions using cold-formed steel and lightweight concrete ", financed by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme-COMPETE and by national funds through FCT