Business model of non-governamental organizations for the development of the education sector in Mozambique: A construtivist approach

This research aims to determine the business model of non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs) of the education sector in Mozambique. The work adopts a constructivist methodological approach in two stages: (i) inductive, centered on the construction of a proposal of social business model Canvas from the observation of 15 NGDOs operating in the education sector in the country, based on a theoretical framework solidly supported in the literature; (ii) deductive, testing the proposed model using a panel technique that allowed the refinement and reconstruction of the proposal initially formulated. The paper contributes to the literature on social business models by making a pioneering validation of knowledge built in this area and in a field of application not yet explored. The contribution to international relations lies at the level of the data collected and information produced on international cooperation in Mozambique.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synthesis of sub-5 nm Co-doped SnO2_2 nanoparticles and their structural, microstructural, optical and photocatalytic properties

A swift chemical route to synthesize Co-doped SnO$_2$ nanopowders is described. Pure and highly stable Sn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$O$_{2-\delta}$ (0 $\le$ x $\le$ 0.15) crystalline nanoparticles were synthesized, with mean grain sizes < 5 nm and the dopant element homogeneously distributed in substitutional sites of the SnO$_2$ matrix. The UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra of the Sn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$O$_{2-\delta}$ samples reveal red shifts, the optical bandgap energies decreasing with increasing Co concentration. The Urbach energies of the samples were calculated and correlated with their bandgap energies. The photocatalytic activity of the Sn$_{1-x}$Co$_x$O$_{2-\delta}$ samples was investigated for the 4-hydroxylbenzoic acid (4-HBA) degradation process. A complete photodegradation of a 10 ppm 4-HBA solution was achieved using 0.02% (w/w) of Sn$_{0.95}$Co$_{0.05}$O$_{2-\delta}$ nanoparticles in 60 min of irradiation.Comment: 29 pages, 2 tables, 10 figure

New ingredients with functional properties from hermetia illucens and tenebrio molitor through the enzymatic hydrolysis with corolase

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Effects of genotype, salt content and calibre on quality of traditional dry-fermented sausages

The increasing demand for traditional food products is concomitant with higher nutritional and health concerns. The effect of genotype, salt content and calibre on physicochemical, microbiological and texture parameters, along with sensory acceptability, was studied on low-salt Portuguese traditional dry-fermented sausages. A few significant differences were found in different microbial counts between pork genotypes' sausages. Lauric and stearic fatty acids showed significantly higher values for hybrid genotype products, while contents in gadoleic, heneicosanoic, linoleic and linolenic acids were higher in Alentejano pork sausages. Unexpectedly, there are no significant differences between genotypes for oleic acid, although lower contents were found in the Alentejano genotype.Texture Profile Analysis revealed significant differences in hardness, adhesiveness, resilience and chewiness between genotypes, with Alentejano pork sausages being softer and thus easier to chew. Salt reduction does not negatively affect the quality and acceptability of sausages. Furthermore, the use of hybrid genotype meat does not mischaracterise a product traditionally made exclusively of Alentejano pig meat

Two-in-One Protocol: Simultaneous Small-Pore and Ultrasmall-Pore Peritoneal Transport Quantification

BACKGROUND: Reduced free water transport (FWT) through ultrasmall pores contributes to net ultrafiltration failure (UFF) and should be seen as a sign of more severe functional deterioration of the peritoneal membrane. The modified peritoneal equilibration test (PET), measuring the dip in dialysate Na concentration, estimates only FWT. Our aim was to simultaneously quantify small-solute transport, FWT, and small-pore ultrafiltration (SPUF) during a single PET procedure. ♢ METHODS: We performed a 4-hour, 3.86% glucose PET, with additional measurement of ultrafiltration (UF) at 60 minutes, in 70 peritoneal dialysis patients (mean age: 50 ± 16 years; 61% women; PD vintage: 26 ± 23 months). We calculated the dialysate-to-plasma ratios (D/P) of creatinine and Na at 0 and 60 minutes, and the Na dip (Dip(D/PNa60')), the delta dialysate Na 0-60 (ΔDNa(0-60)), FWT, and SPUF. ♢ RESULTS: Sodium sieving (as measured by ΔDNa(0-60)) correlated strongly with the corrected Dip(D/PNa60') (r = 0.85, p < 0.0001) and the corrected FWT (r = 0.41, p = 0.005). Total UF showed better correlation with FWT than with indirect measurements of Na sieving (r = 0.46, p < 0.0001 for FWT; r = 0.360, p < 0.0001 for Dip(D/PNa60')). Corrected FWT fraction was 0.45 ± 0.16. A negative correlation was found between time on PD and both total UF and FWT (r = -0.253, p = 0.035 and r = -0.272, p = 0.023 respectively). The 11 patients (15.7%) diagnosed with UFF had lower FWT (89 mL vs 164 mL, p < 0.05) and higher D/P creatinine (0.75 vs 0.70, p < 0.05) than did the group with normal UF. The SPUF correlated positively with FWT in the normal UF group, but negatively in UFF patients (r = -0.709, p = 0.015). Among UFF patients on PD for a longer period, 44.4% had a FWT percentage below 45%. ♢ CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of FWT and SPUF is feasible by simultaneous quantification during a modified 3.86% glucose PET, and FWT is a decisive parameter for detecting causes of UFF in addition to increased effective capillary surface.This study was performed partially with the help of investigation grants to RS from Sociedade Portuguesa Nefrologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Fondos FEDER (REDinREN, RETICS 06/0016), and FIS 09/00641

Supplemental selenium source on gut health: Insights on fecal microbiome and fermentation products of growing puppies

Selenium is an essential trace element that can modulate the gut microbiome with an impact on host health. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of organic (selenium-enriched yeast) vs inorganic (sodium selenite) selenium source on fecal end-fermentation products and gut microbiome of puppies from 20 to 52 weeks of age. Alpha and beta diversity of the gut bacterial community were affected by age but not by gender or selenium source. The relative abundance of taxa was differently affected by age, and the DNA concentration of all selected bacterial groups increased with age, although total volatile fatty acids (VFA), acetate, propionate, caproate and lactate concentrations decreased. Organic selenium was associated with a higher concentration of total VFA, propionate and butyrate, a higher number of DNA copies of Lactobacillus, and a trend to lower DNA copies of Escherichia coli. Effects on fecal microbiome during growth differed with selenium source. Females had higher fecal end-fermentation products related to protein degradation, whereas males had higher DNA concentration of Bifidobacterium. Organic selenium might be beneficial over inorganic for dog food supplementation due to the positive modulation of the gut microbiome observed in puppies

Implications for patients waiting for a kidney transplant of using the calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA)

Introduction: Kidney transplant improves survival even in highly‑sensitized (HS) patients. To overcome their disadvantage in accessing transplantation, those with high Complement Dependent Cytotoxic PRA (CDC‑PRA) receive additional points during allocation. Whether this strategy reaches all HS patients and how long they wait for a transplant is largely undetermined. Methods: Patients on our unit’s active wait‑list for kidney transplantation in the year 2014 were analyzed. CDC‑PRA and calculated PRA (cPRA) were recorded. To obtain cPRA, antibodies in the last serum available specific for HLA‑A, ‑B or –DR with an intensity > 1000 MFI were considered. Results: The cPRA values in the population (N=551) were 0% (N=312), 1‑79% (N=118) and ≥ 80% (22%; N=121). Among these groups, the proportion of women (29.5, 55.9 and 61.2%, P 50%. Moreover, only 30% of HS by cPRA patients received the extra points designed to improve their transplantability. We consider that both CDC‑PRA and cPRA should be taken into account when defining HS status.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of potato peel and agro-forestry biochars supplementation on in vitro ruminal fermentation

UIDB/50006/2020 UIDB/04033/2020 grant ref. PDE/BDE/114434/2016 DL 57/2016 -Norma transitória.Background. The awareness of environmental and socio-economic impacts caused by greenhouse gas emissions from the livestock sector leverages the adoption of strategies to counteract it. Feed supplements can play an important role in the reduction of the main greenhouse gas produced by ruminants-methane (CH4). In this context, this study aims to assess the effect of two biochar sources and inclusion levels on rumen fermentation parameters in vitro. Methods. Two sources of biochar (agro-forestry residues, AFB, and potato peel, PPB) were added at two levels (5 and 10%, dry matter (DM) basis) to two basal substrates (haylage and corn silage) and incubated 24-h with rumen inocula to assess the effects on CH4 production and main rumen fermentation parameters in vitro. Results. AFB and PPB were obtained at different carbonization conditions resulting in different apparent surface areas, ash content, pH at the point of zero charge (pHpzc), and elemental analysis. Relative to control (0% biochar), biochar supplementation kept unaffected total gas production and yield (mL and mL/g DM, pD0.140 and pD0.240, respectively) and fermentation pH (p D 0.666), increased CH4 production and yield (mL and mL/g DM, respectively, pD0.001) and ammonia-N (NH3-N, pD0.040), and decreased total volatile fatty acids (VFA) production (p < 0.001) and H2 generated and consumed (p ≤ 0.001). Biochar sources and inclusion levels had no negative effect on most of the fermentation parameters and efficiency. Acetic.propionic acid ratio (pD0.048) and H2 consumed (pD0.019) were lower with AFB inclusion when compared to PPB. Biochar inclusion at 10% reduced H2 consumed (p < 0.001) and tended to reduce total gas production (pD0.055). Total VFA production (pD0.019), acetic acid proportion (pD0.011) and H2 generated (pD0.048) were the lowest with AFB supplemented at 10%, no differences being observed among the other treatments. The basal substrate affected most fermentation parameters independently of biochar source and level used. Discussion. Biochar supplementation increased NH3-N content, iso-butyric, iso-valeric and valeric acid proportions, and decreased VFA production suggesting a reduced energy supply for microbial growth, higher proteolysis and deamination of substrate N, and a decrease of NH3-N incorporation into microbial protein. No interaction was found between substrate and biochar source or level on any of the parameters measured. Although AFB and PPB had different textural and compositional characteristics, their effects on the rumen fermentation parameters were similar, the only observed effects being due to AFB included at 10%. Biochar supplementation promoted CH4 production regardless of the source and inclusion level, suggesting that there may be other effects beyond biomass and temperature of production of biochar, highlighting the need to consider other characteristics to better identify the mechanism by which biochar may influence CH4 production.publishersversionpublishe

Characterisation of "Catalão" and "Salsichão" Portuguese traditional sausages with salt reduction

The present study evaluated the effect of salt reduction on traditional dry-cured sausages' safety, quality and product acceptance, comprising physicochemical and microbiological parameters, biogenic amines, fatty acids, texture profile and sensory analysis. According to our results, salt content had a major effect on microbiological counts, although not compromising the products' safety. Marked differences were identified regarding biogenic amines, in particular for histamine, tyramine and cadaverine, which were detected in larger amounts in products with 3%. Moreover, significant differences in the fatty acids profile have also been found, but only in less abundant components such as linoleic, lauric and heneicosanoic acids. Texture profile analysis of low-salt products, revealed a decrease in hardness and chewiness, along with an increase in adhesiveness values. Sensory evaluations revealed that despite the less intense aroma, products with 3% salt, had a more balanced salt perception. Our results suggest that salt content may be reduced to 50% in dry-cured products, with the obvious health-related advantages