Cape Verde: The Case for Euroization

After 10 years of a fixed exchange rate against the euro and a deepening integration with the European Union (EU), the authorities of Cape Verde maintain a strong commitment to nominal stability and are now considering the official euroization of the country. Compared to the current pegging, euroization could be costly if the economic conditions of Cape Verde were to require control over the interest rates and the exchange rate. Given the strong economic and financial integration between Cape Verde and Europe, and the fact that Cape Verde records inflation rates at levels that are similar to those of the European Monetary Union (EMU), the relevant issue is whether the European Central Bank (ECB) monetary policy fits the needs of Cape Verde. In order to answer this question, we empirically assess the synchronization between the business cycle of Cape Verde and the business cycle of the EMU. For that purpose, we compute output gaps and then use conventional correlation measures as well as other indicators recently suggested in the literature. Replicating the methodology for each of the current 27 EU members, our results show that Cape Verde ranks better than several EU countries and even better than some EMU countries. We thus argue that there is a strong case for the euroization of Cape Verde. Euroization would secure the benefits already attained with the pegging to the euro and would warrant additional benefits, most likely with no relevant costs stemming from inappropriate ECB monetary policies.Africa, Cape Verde, European Monetary Union, Euroization, Business Cycles

Tratamento de efluentes da indústria de conservas de peixe por coagulação-floculação com diferentes coagulantes

Os principais problemas ambientais das indústrias de conservas de peixe são o elevado consumo de água e o elevado conteúdo de matéria orgânica, óleos e gorduras e sais nos seus efluentes. Cada vez mais há uma necessidade de se considerar o tratamento deste tipo de efluentes de forma a que estes cumpram os requisitos de qualidade ditados pela legislação. Assim, este trabalho tem como objectivo o estudo do tratamento primário de efluentes da indústria de conservas de peixe através de um tratamento por coagulação-floculação química. Para tal, testaram-se quatro coagulantes diferentes (um orgânico e três inorgânicos) e várias concentrações de cada um deles (100, 200 e 400 mg/L), de forma a seleccionar as melhores condições do processo. Contudo, observou-se que não existe um único coagulante óptimo, tudo depende do objectivo pretendido. Entre as condições estudadas pode-se afirmar que, se o objectivo for a maximização da remoção de óleos e gorduras, a melhor opção será a utilização de 200 mg/L de cloreto de polialumínio, atingindo remoções de 99,5%. Se o pretendido for a remoção de sólidos suspensos totais, é recomendada a utilização de 400 mg/L de cloreto de ferro, obtendo remoções de 85,8%.Este trabalho é parcialmente financiado pela FCT –Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia e pelo FEDER sob o programa COMPETE (Projecto PEst-C/EQB/LA0020/2013) e pelo projecto ValorPeixe –Valorização de subprodutos e águas residuais da indústrias de conservas de peixe, projecto em co-promoção I&DT QREN, nº 13634, financiado pelo FEDER através do POFC – Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade, pelos quais os autores estão agradecidos. Os autores querem também agradecer à indústria de conservas de peixe em estudo pelas amostras de efluente e à Rivaz Química (Maia, Portugal) por cederem gentilmente o coagulante orgânico RIPOL 070. A autora Raquel O. Cristóvão quer também agradecer à FCT pela sua bolsa de pós-doutoramento (SFRH/BPD/81564/2011).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Primary treatment optimization of a fish canning wastewater from a Portuguese plant

A sequence with three stages was optimized as a primary treatment for wastewaters from a fish canning industry of northern Portugal. Sedimentation tests were assessed at different times. The removal of a high fraction (75%) of oil and grease (O&G) and of some (48%) total suspended solids (TSS) occurred after a settling time of 1.5h. Coagulant dosage and pH value were optimized in the coagulation/flocculation treatment using several organic and inorganic coagulants. Best removal efficiencies (99.2% O&G, 85.8% TSS and 25.2% dissolved organic carbon (DOC)) were reached using 400mg/L of FeCl3 at raw pH wastewater. DAF was also tested, optimizing chamber pressure and recycle ratio. Removals of 94% for O&G and 43% for TSS were achieved. The coupling of the latter two processes was also investigated, but no improvement of the previous results was observed. The best approach proved to be a decantation process followed by coagulation/flocculation treatment. © 2014 The Authors

Tratamento de efluentes da indústria de conservas de peixe com vista à sua reutilização

É de grande interesse ambiental e económico estudar o tratamento de efluentes da indústria de conservas de peixe de forma a obter uma água com os requisitos de qualidade necessários para considerar a sua reutilização e/ou reciclagem para a unidade industrial. No entanto, o elevado conteúdo de sal tem sido um fator limitante, pois persiste mesmo após o tratamento convencional dos efluentes. Assim, foi estudado e otimizado um processo de clarificação por filtração rápida, osmose inversa e desinfeção UV, como tratamento de afinação do efluente previamente tratado, de modo a remover sólidos, sais e microrganismos remanescentes. Este tratamento de afinação permitiu alcançar eficiências de remoção de 78% de sólidos suspensos totais, 97,3% de carbono orgânico dissolvido, 99,8% de azoto total solúvel, 99,1% de condutividade, acima de 96% de aniões e catiões e 100% de bactérias heterotróficas (UFC), atingindo-se, como pretendido, água com os requisitos de qualidade necessários para ser reutilizada ou reciclada para a unidade industrial. Consequentemente, é possível uma redução da descarga de efluentes, uma limitação do uso de água e uma redução dos custos associados.Este trabalho é parcialmente suportado pelo projeto PEst C/EQB/LA0020/2013, financiado pela FEDER através do Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade –COMPETE e pela Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia –FCT e pelo projeto em co-promoção I&DT QREN nº 13634, ValorPeixe – Valorização de Subprodutos e Águas Residuais da Indústria de Conservas de Peixe, financiado pela FEDER através do Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade POFC aos quais os autores se encontram agradecidos. Os autores querem também agradecer à indústria de conservas em estudo pelas amostras de efluente. A autora Raquel O. Cristóvão agradece também à FCT pela bolsa de Pós-doutoramento (SFRH/BPD/81564/2011).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fish canning industry wastewater treatment for water reuse – a case study

The valorization of wastewaters from the fish canning industry is of great concern, not only because of the high quantities generated, but also economic and environmental benefits may result from a proper treatment approach of the waste generated while reducing costs related to wastewater discharge. A limiting factor for reuse and recycling treated fish canning wastewater into an industrial plant and also for other uses is the high salt content, which persists even after conventional treatment. So, the reuse of fish canning industrial wastewater was assessed by combining conventional treatments, such as sedimentation, chemical coagulation-flocculation and aerobic biological degradation (activated sludge process) followed by a polishing step by reverse osmosis (RO) and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. In this investigation all these processes were optimized in order to remove essentially the effluent suspended particles (primary treatment), the organic matter content in the biological aerated reactor (secondary treatment) and, finally, the remaining salts and microorganisms (tertiary treatment). The overall removal efficiencies obtained were: 99.9% for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), 99.8% for oil and grease (O&G), 98.4% for total suspended solids (TSS), above 96% for anions and cations and 100% for heterotrophic bacteria expressed as colony-forming units (CFU). The final clarified effluent was found to have the quality requirements to be recycled or reused in the industrial plant, allowing the reduction of the effluent to be discharged, the water use and the costs of tap water for industrial use. As regards the energy and chemicals costs, to obtain a treated effluent to be reused in the process costs 0.85 V/m3. This value can be reduced by about 60% if the goal is only to meet the legislated standards for the effluent discharge into water bodies. Tap water for the industrial plant costs about 2.1 V/m3.This work is partially supported by project PEst-C/EQB/LA0020/2013,financed by FEDER through COMPETE - Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade and by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and by ValorPeixe - Valorizaçãode Sub-produtos e Águas Residuais da Indústria de Conservas de Peixe, project in co-promotion I&DT QREN, nº13634,financed by FEDER through POFC - Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade for which the authors are thankful. Raquel O. Cristóvão thanks FCT for the Post-doc Scholarship (SFRH/BPD/81564/2011).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Deteção molecular de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em raposas-vermelhas (Vulpes vulpes)

Deteção molecular de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis em raposas-vermelhas (Vulpes vulpes)

Occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in road killed wild carnivores in Portugal

Occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in road killed wild carnivores in Portugal

Influence of physical exercise and protein supplementation in quality of life (SF36) in seniors to live in the community

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Catalytic bi-reforming of methane for carbon dioxide ennoblement

New processes that may reduce the net carbon emissions and contribute to a more circular economy are needed. Bi-reforming of methane (BRM) is a promising method for syngas production, with a hydrogen-to-carbon monoxide ratio of two in the reaction products, relevant for example when the purpose is methanol synthesis. In this work, reaction studies were carried out over a nickel-based catalyst varying the temperature (798-1123 K). Three main temperature zones have been identified; a low temperature zone where the conversion of carbon dioxide is almost null, a middle temperature range where steam reforming of methane (SRM) is dominant while the conversion of carbon dioxide via dry reforming of methane (DRM) is low, and finally a high temperature range where DRM becomes more significant. The results show that syngas can be successfully produced using this process. For the range of operating conditions studied, the carbon dioxide and methane conversions increase with temperature, reaching 40% and 100%, respectively at the largest temperature studied. However, the production of syngas in a molar ratio of 1:2 for CO-to-H-2 requires the use of high temperatures. Most probably the nickel agglomerates on top of the gamma-alumina support are responsible for the poor catalyst performance. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Severe Asthma in the Era of COVID-19: A Narrative Review

Introduction and objectives: Severe asthma management during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a challenge and will continue to be, at least in the next few months, as herd immunity is still a mirage. A lot has to be learned about how COVID-19 affects underlying diseases, and severe asthma is no exception. Methods: Narrative review of papers available until February 2021 in PubMed and Google Scholar, relating severe asthma and COVID-19. Four main research topics were reviewed: SARS-CoV-2 infection: immunology and respiratory pathology; interrelationship of severe asthma endotypes and COVID-19 disease mechanisms; severe asthma epidemiology and COVID-19; and biologics for severe asthma in the context of COVID-19. Results: COVID-19 disease mechanisms start with upper respiratory cell infection, and afterwards several immunological facets are activated, contributing to disease severity, namely cell-mediated immunity and antibody production. Although infrequent in the COVID-19 course some patients develop a cytokine storm that causes organ damage and may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome or multiorgan failure. Regarding severe asthma endotypes, type2-high might have a protective role both in infection risk and disease course. There is conflicting data regarding the epidemiological relationship between COVID-19 among severe asthma patients, with some studies reporting increased risk of infection and disease course, whereas others the other way round. Biologics for severe asthma do not seem to increase the risk of infection and severe COVID-19, although further evidence is needed. Conclusions: Globally, in the era of COVID-19, major respiratory societies recommend continuing the biologic treatment, preferably in a self-home administration program.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio