A dry bacterial cellulose-carboxymethyl cellulose formulation as stabilizer for pickering oil-in-water emulsions

Hydrocolloidal microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from plant sources, is already widely used in industry to regulate the stability, texture, rheology and organoleptic properties of many food and cosmetic formulations. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is produced biotechnologically by different microorganisms, but most efficiently by acetic acid bacteria from the genera Komagataeibacter. This biomaterial is a prominent alternative to the already marketed celluloses, being more pure, crystalline, and having nanoscale fibres with high aspect ratio which account for excellent mechanical properties. BC has already been used in its hydrated form for the stabilization of oil-in-water (o/w) Pickering emulsions (particle-stabilized systems, as an alternative for the conventional surfactant-stabilized). For the sake of storage, economy and practicality, additives for industries are preferentially provided in a dry or powder form. Co-drying cellulose fibres or crystals with water soluble polysaccharides helps maintaining the rheologic and structuring properties after rehydration. Dry powdered, rehydratable bacterial cellulose (BC) formulations are reported, being produced by different grinding, drying and dispersing methods which were studied in terms of the impact in the final products properties. The main objective of this study was to assess the stabilizing properties of BC in Pickering o/w emulsions. For this, an equimassic formulation of BC and 90 kDa carboxymethyl cellulose (BC:CMC) was prepared and spray dried. Isohexadecane-in-water emulsions (10:90) were prepared in the presence of 0.10%, 0.25% and 0.50% of the BC:CMC formulation. Visual and microscopic aspect of the emulsions was registered over time. Samples were also visualized in Cryo-SEM. Rheological tests were performed to assess the emulsions viscosity profile, storage and loss moduli. Interfacial tension between the immiscible phases was measured with the Pendant Drop and Du Noüy Ring methods. For benchmarking purposes, the same emulsion preparation and analysis protocol was made with several different commercial cellulosic products and xanthan gum. In short, BC:CMC showed formation of a three-dimensional network and viscosity increasing (thickening) properties, crucial characteristics for emulsion stabilizing formulations. BC has technically superior properties that will allow it to compete with, or even replace, plant celluloses in industry.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A UE como actor global no combate às alterações climáticas

Ao longo das últimas décadas, a União Europeia (UE) foi adquirindo um papel de destaque nas questões ambientais, em particular nas alterações climáticas. A UE possui algumas das normas ambientais mais exigentes, normas essas que foram sendo desenvolvidas ao longo dos anos. A política ambiental europeia pretende proteger os recursos naturais do planeta e salvaguardar o bem-estar dos cidadãos europeus. Em relação às alterações climáticas, a UE tem formulado e implementado não só estratégias, mas também políticas climáticas, ao mesmo tempo que assume um papel de liderança nas negociações internacionais. Mais recentemente, a UE tem-se mostrado empenhada em garantir, com sucesso, a implementação do Acordo de Paris. Esta vertente da UE permitiu que a mesma começasse a ser estudada como um actor de pleno direito na arena internacional pelos académicos, levando a uma revisão de conceitos, como ‘actorness’ ou liderança. Com a questão das alterações climáticas a ser considerada como uma ameaça transnacional do século XXI, a UE começou a adoptar uma posição de liderança nesta vertente ambiental. Esta dissertação, que parte do enquadramento conceptual de Bretherton e Vogler de 2006, pretende examinar o conceito de ‘actorness’ através dos conceitos de presença, oportunidade, e capacidade e demonstrar se a UE é considerada como líder no combate às alterações climáticas.Over the last decades, the European Union (EU) has been taking a leading role in environmental issues, particularly in climate change. The EU has some of the most string environmental standards that have been developed over the last years. European environmental policy aims to protect the planet’s natural resources and to safeguard the well-being of European citizens. Regarding to climate change, the EU has been formulating and implementing not only climate strategies but also climate policies, while taking a leading role in international negotiations. More recently, the EU has been committed to successfully implementing the Paris Agreement. This aspect of the EU has allowed it to be studied as a full-fledged in the international arena by academics, leading to a review of concepts such as actorness. With climate change being considered as a transnational threat of the 21st century, the EU has begun to take a leading position in this environmental aspect. This dissertation, which uses Bretherton and Vogler’s conceptual framework of 2006, aims to examine the concept of actorness through the concepts of presence, opportunity and capacity and to demonstrate whether the EU is considered a leader in the fight against climate change

Emergências médicas em medicina dentária: prevalência e experiência dos médicos dentistas em Portugal

Tese de mestrado, Medicina Dentaria, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina Dentaria, 2020Introdução: As emergências médicas em medicina dentária podem representar risco para a vida ou estado de saúde do doente. A resposta por parte dos médicos dentistas deve ser, por isso, rápida e eficaz, adequando-se a cada situação clínica. Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência das emergências médicas no âmbito da consulta de medicina dentária em Portugal, aferir a formação e competência dos médicos dentistas, bem como descrever os fármacos e equipamentos disponíveis nos consultórios dentários. Materiais e métodos: Os dados foram recolhidos através de um inquérito online entre os meses de março e agosto de 2020, de carácter voluntário e confidencial. Foi aplicada estatística descritiva e analítica. Resultados: Foram considerados 176 questionários. 70% da amostra contactou com emergências médicas durante a consulta de medicina dentária. A síncope vasovagal foi a emergência mais prevalente (56%), seguida das crises de hipo e hiperglicemia, da hiperventilação e dos estados convulsivos. O enfarte do miocárdio e o AVC foram relatados por 2 médicos dentistas, enquanto que a paragem cardiorrespiratória foi assinalada por 1. 76% revelou ter formação em emergências médicas, sendo que, 89% e 84% se sente capaz de realizar SBV e a medição dos sinais vitais, respetivamente. Estabeleceu-se uma relação estatisticamente significativa entre ter formação e saber realizar alguns procedimentos técnicos. O ambu, o estetoscópio e o esfigmomanómetro estão presentes em aproximadamente metade das clínicas, assim como os fármacos simpaticomiméticos, antiagregantes plaquetários e o oxigénio. Discussão: A maioria das variáveis está de acordo com a literatura e com os estudos semelhantes anteriormente realizados. Conclusões: As emergências médicas nos consultórios de medicina dentária são frequentes, no entanto, as situações emergentes que representam ameaças para a vida e saúde dos doentes são pouco comuns. É importante que a formação prática constitua parte do ensino pré-graduado e que os consultórios dentários disponham de um conjunto de fármacos e equipamentos indispensáveis para responder às situações de emergência médica.Introduction: Medical emergencies in dental appointments can represent a risk to the patient's life or health. The physician’s response must be fast and assertive. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of medical emergencies taking place in dental appointments in Portugal, to measure the training and competence of dentists, and to describe the drugs/equipment available in the dental office. Materials and methods: Data was collected through an online form between March and August of 2020, on a voluntary and anonymous basis. Descriptive statistics and analytical statistics were applied. Results: 176 forms were valid and therefore taken into account. 70% of the sample has already faced medical emergencies during the dental appointment. Vasovagal syncope was the most prevalent emergency (56%), followed by hypo/hyperglycemia, hyperventilation and seizures. Myocardial infarction and stroke were reported by 2 dentists and cardiorespiratory arrest was reported by 1. Most of them revealed to have training related to medical emergencies (76%), with 89% and 84% feeling able to perform BLS and assess vital signs, respectively. A relation was established between having training and performing some technical procedures. Ambu, stethoscope and sphygmomanometer are present in approximately a half of the clinics, as well as sympathomimetic drugs, antiplatelet agents and oxygen. Discussion: Most variables are in accordance with the literature and similar studies. Conclusions: Medical emergencies in dental practices are frequent, however, the situations that most threaten the life and health of patients are not very prevalent. It is important that practical training is part of undergraduate education and that the recommendations on drugs and equipment that should be included in the dental office are reviewed

As diferenças de género na reinserção de toxicodependentes:estudo de casos no CRI de Viana do Castelo

Dissertação de Mestrado em Política SocialO consumo de drogas e as suas consequências constituem um drama humano e social onde se encontram envolvidos os consumidores, o seu seio familiar, laboral e social. Sabemos que a fase da reinserção social é parte integrante do processo de recuperação da toxicodependência, como tal, o presente trabalho pretende contribuir para a compreensão da importância desta etapa e relacionar a mesma com a questão do género. Este estudo ambiciona, também, salientar a necessidade de se ter em consideração, em processo de reinserção, que qualquer que seja a pessoa a que se destina, esta é um ser pleno de direitos que está envolvido num meio, pertencente a vários subsistemas. Portanto, cada processo de reinserção é único pois cada indivíduo tem necessidades diferenciadas. Em termos científicos, o objetivo será contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do flagelo que é a toxicodependência e todo o seu processo de recuperação.We can see the use of drugs and the consequences of this addiction, as a human and social drama, that includes the drugs addicts, his family and his social and work relationship. As we know, the social reinsertion stage is one part of the recuperation process of the drug addiction, so, the main objective of this work is try to elucidate to the importance of this stage, and make a connection with the genre question. This study try as well, to demonstrate the necessity to considerate , along of the reinsertion process, that any person involved have all social rights and is involved in a determined social reality and is a part of various subsystems. So, any reinsertion process is unique, because the addicts have many different necessities. In scientific terms, the objective is to give an contribute to a better perception of the scourge of the drug addiction and is recuperation process

Digitalização e triple-a na cadeia de abastecimento

Mestrado Bolonha em Gestão e Estratégia IndustrialRecentemente, vários estudos começaram a avaliar empiricamente a agilidade, adaptabilidade e o alinhamento das cadeias de abastecimento. Com a pandemia Covid19 as cadeias de abastecimento que eram consideradas ágeis, adaptáveis e alinháveis apresentaram um resultando na melhoria do desempenho de interrupção pós-COVID. O que destacou que a capacidade de simultaneamente ser ágil, adaptável e alinhar toda a cadeia de abastecimento para desenvolver uma vantagem competitiva sustentável. Sendo assim, este trabalho tem como principal objetivo estudar o impacto da digitalização nas caraterísticas da adaptabilidade, agilidade, o alinhamento, flexibilidade, inovação das cadeias de abastecimento e consequentemente no seu desempenho na mesma. Primeiramente, os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que a orientação digital e a digitalização têm um impacto positivo com a agilidade, adaptação, alinhamento, flexibilidade e a inovação da cadeia de abastecimento. Posteriormente, foi ainda possível verificar que a agilidade e a adaptação não possuem um impacto significativo no desempenho da cadeia de abastecimento. Este resultado contrariou diversos estudos que defendiam que a agilidade e a adaptação têm de facto uma relação positiva com o desempenho da cadeia de abastecimento, quer seja por um custo eficiente ou pelo serviço ao cliente. Por sua vez, obteve-se como resultado que o alinhamento, a flexibilidade e a inovação da cadeia de abastecimento detêm de um impacto significativo no desempenho da cadeia de abastecimento, enaltecendo assim diversos estudos anteriores.Recently, several studies have begun to empirically evaluate the agility, adaptability, and alignment of supply chains. With the Covid-19 pandemic the supply chains that were found to be agile, adaptable and alignable showed a resultant improvement in disruption performance post-COVID. Which highlighted that the ability to simultaneously be agile, adaptive and coordinate the entire supply chain to develop a sustainable competitive advantage. Therefore, the main objective of this paper is to study the effect of digitalization on various characteristics such as flexibility, innovation, adaptability, agility and alignment of supply chains and consequently on their performance. Firstly, the results obtained allowed us to conclude that digital orientation and digitalization have a positive impact on agility, adaptation, alignment, flexibility and innovation of the supply chain. Subsequently, it was further found that Agility and Adaptation do not have a significant impact on supply chain performance. This result contradicted several studies which argued that agility and adaptation have indeed a positive relationship with supply chain performance, either by cost efficiency or by customer service. In turn, it was obtained as a result that supply chain alignment, flexibility and innovation have a significant impact on supply chain performance, thus extolling several previous studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chelating Agents in Soil Remediation: A New Method for a Pragmatic Choice of the Right Chelator

Soil pollution by metal ions constitutes one of the most significant environmental problems in the world, being the ecosystems of extended areas wholly compromised. The remediation of soils is an impelling necessity, and different methodologies are used and studied for reaching this goal. Among them, the application of chelating agents is one of the most promising since it could allow the removal of metal ions while preserving the most meaningful properties of the original soils. The research in this field requires the joined contribute of different expertise spanning from biology to chemistry. In this work, we propose a parsimonious and pragmatic approach for screening among a range of potential chelating agents. This methodology, the Nurchi's method, is based on an extension of the Reilley procedure for EDTA titrations. This allows forecasting the binding ability of chelating agents toward the target polluting metal ions and those typically found in soils, based on the knowledge of the related protonation and complex formation constants. The method is thoroughly developed, and then tested by application to some representative cases. Its use and relevance in biomedical and industrial applications is also discussed

a study on perceived effects on health and economic condition

Funding Information: Acknowledgments: We thank all the participants who answered the questionnaire. We extend our thanks to Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia for funding Research 4 COVID-19—Ref. FCT 608. Funding Information: Funding: The present publication was funded by Fundação Ciência e Tecnologia, IP national support through CHRC (UIDP/04923/2020). Funding Information: The present publication was funded by Funda??o Ci?ncia e Tecnologia, IP national support through CHRC (UIDP/04923/2020). We thank all the participants who answered the questionnaire. We extend our thanks to Funda??o Ci?ncia e Tecnologia for funding Research 4 COVID-19?Ref. FCT 608. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Increasing evidence on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic suggests that its social and health impacts are being disproportionately shouldered by socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, including migrants. Knowledge of how these populations are experiencing the COVID-19 crisis is scarce. We examined the effects of the pandemic on the perceived individual financial situation and health condition of migrants in Lisbon, Portugal, and described the most affected sub-groups. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a diverse community-based sample of 1126 migrants. A worsening of their financial situation since the pandemic was reported by 55.6% of the participants and a worsening of their health condition by 19.9%. A worsened financial situation was most often reported by those ≥45 years old and with a lower income (<EUR 650). Likewise, a worsened health condition was most often reported by older and lower-income migrants, as well as by women and those with a lower level of education. Migration-related factors such as length of stay and migration status were not associated with worsened health conditions. Socioeconomic characteristics appear to be more important when assessing differences in perceived effects of the pandemic among migrants. The social impact of the pandemic both exacerbates economic and gender inequalities and may lead to worse health conditions within the population in the medium and long terms.publishersversionpublishe

Septic Pulmonary Embolism Case Report: Optimal Outcome after Insertion of an Inferior Vena Cava Filter in a Patient with Staphylococcus aureus Bacteraemia

A 14-year-old patient presented with bilateral pneumonia and pleural effusions, septic arthritis of the hip, deep venous thrombosis, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) containing the Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes was isolated. Contraindication to anticoagulation prompted inferior vena cava filter placement. He completed 4 weeks of treatment with flucloxacillin, with good clinical outcome. S. aureus containing PVL genes should be sought in cases of necrotizing pneumonia as it seems to increase the risk of severe multifocal infection and thrombotic complications. There are few reports of placement of filters during S. aureus sepsis and bacteraemia. This case highlights that when anticoagulation is not feasible, an inferior vena cava filter can be inserted safely, even in patients with active sepsis and high risk for seeding of the filter. Long-term follow-up confirmed a successful outcome with sterilization of the septic thrombosis with no further pulmonary embolism or additional sepsis episodes