Large scale additive manufacturing of eco-composites

The evolution of additive manufacturing processes is enabling the production of parts with improved dimensional accuracy, mechanical, physical and chemical properties [1]. New materials also contribute to this trend, and in this scope, eco-composites, materials with environmental and ecological advantages, which include natural polymers, have been acquiring increased relevance [2]. The purpose of this study is to develop composite material parts manufactured from recycled thermoplastics and natural fibres, in this case, wood residues. Additive manufacturing (fused deposition modelling) will be accomplished using a robot combined with extrusion unit. The objective is to access the influence of the main manufacturing parameters, such as temperature, distance between layers or deposition speed, on the final part characteristics, especially dimensional accuracy. Reverse engineering and several material analysis techniques will be employed to achieve this goal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High Efficiency Cooling and Heating Channels for Injection Moulding

This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the following project: UID/Multi/04044/2013 and PAMI ROTEIRO/0328/2013 (Nº 022158). In addition, the authors acknowledge the funding from the project Coolgrafeno, copromoção n. 17883 from the Portuguese National Innovation Agency.For many years traditional injection moulding has been the norm for obtaining polymer based products, and yet this cycle still shows potential for improvement. This paper will encompass the potential in the thermal part of the cycle, by introducing a novel approach to conventional tubular cooling designs, empowered by additive technologies this reiterates what’s being known as conformal cooling. Different geometries and techniques are compared to determine the optimal cross section layout of the fluid channels and inner surface of the moulding parts. If the cooling achieved is sufficiently fast the crystallographic growth of the material can be manipulated to obtain specific properties observable in the mesoscale. This however can be transversely applied in other heat exchanging structures in future studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análise do potencial de eutrofização associado à operação de uma ETAR urbana

A principal função das ETARs é proporcionar uma redução da carga contaminante das águas residuais, devendo ter por referência indicadores de sustentabilidade ambiental. Neste trabalho, propôs-se aplicar a metodologia de ACV a uma ETAR urbana, tendo por objetivo quantificar o potencial de eutrofização associado à operação da ETAR, incluindo processos a montante e a jusante. O inventário do ciclo de vida teve por base dados referentes a dois anos civis e a unidade funcional utilizada foi de 1 metro cúbico de água residual afluente à ETAR. Os resultados apontam para o descarte das lamas desidratadas no solo (79,87%) e a descarga do efluente no ambiente (19,42%) como os principais impactes associados à fase de operação do sistema de tratamento. Em relação à composição do efluente a presença de azoto e fósforo apresentam um contributo de aproximadamente 90%, sendo o restante 10% resultantes da presença de matéria orgânica carbonácea (CQO). Neste sentido, foi possível compreender os efeitos que apontam para as principais contribuições que necessitam ser levadas em consideração ao analisar o indicador potencial de eutrofização.Os autores agradecem à Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) e a FEDER no âmbito do Programa PT2020 pelo suporte financeiro ao CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013). Um agradecimento muito especial à empresa Àguas do Norte, s.a. através da coordenadora de exploração e equipa técnica da ETAR de estudo, pela informação primária disponibilizada e por todos os esclarecimentos prestados.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Saúde mental de pessoas idosas e dos seus cuidadores formais numa estrutura residencial para pessoas idosas em período de Covid-19

Trabalho de Projeto apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Castelo Branco para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Gerontologia Social.A pandemia provocada pela Coronavírus Disease-19, que tem assolado o Mundo nos últimos tempos, implicou entre outras coisas a adoção de medidas restritivas na tentativa de limitar a disseminação do vírus. Além disso, o medo de ser infetado, de ficar doente devido ao vírus, do desconhecido, bem como o impacto do isolamento social e a quarentena muitas das vez necessários para conter a propagação do vírus, compromete a saúde mental dos idosos institucionalizados, neste caso em Estrutura Residencial para Pessoas idosas, mas também dos seus cuidadores formais. Assim, este estudo dirige-se aos idosos institucionalizados numa Estrutura Residencial para Pessoas idosas de uma Instituição Particular de Solidariedade Social do interior da região centro, bem como também aos seus cuidadores formais, sendo que o seu principal objetivo é compreender qual o impacto que a pandemia provocada pela Coronavírus Disease-19 teve na saúde mental das pessoas idosas institucionalizadas naquela instituição e dos seus cuidadores formais. Incluíram-se nesta investigação as pessoas idosas com mais de 65 anos, que residiam na instituição antes de setembro de 2018, que apresentavam capacidade de responder aos instrumentos de recolha de dados, verificado através da aplicação do teste de declínio cognitivo de 6 itens, constituindo-se esta amostra por 7 pessoas idosas. Os cuidadores formais incluídos neste estudo foram todos os que prestam cuidados às pessoas idosas na Estrutura Residencial para Pessoas Idosas da referida instituição, sendo esta amostra constituída por 18 sujeitos. Para a recolha de dados foram inicialmente aplicados um Questionário de Dados Gerais às pessoas idosas e outro distinto aos cuidadores formais, de forma a poder caraterizar as duas amostras. Às pessoas idosas, foram aplicadas as versões portuguesas do Inventário de Ansiedade Geriátrica de Pachana et al., a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Yesavage versão de 15 itens, concluindo com a realização de uma entrevista. Aos cuidadores formais foi aplicada a versão portuguesa da Escala de Ansiedade, Depressão e Stresse versão de 21 itens de Lovibond & Lovibond, sendo que a recolha de dados aos cuidadores terminou com algumas questões relacionadas com a pandemia e a saúde mental dos mesmos. Os resultados permitem concluir que a pandemia provocada pela Coronavírus Disease-19 pela afetou a saúde mental das pessoas idosas, e dos cuidadores formais. No que respeita às pessoas idosas, verificou-se que o isolamento social, a privação de ver a família despertou sentimentos de ansiedade, desânimo e tristeza, sendo que deixou algumas marcas na saúde mental dos sujeitos em estudo, tal como se pode ver através dos resultados das escalas e das respostas às entrevistas. Também os cuidadores viram a sua saúde mental afetada, por sentimentos de ansiedade, stresse, com repercussões na sua saúde física, sendo que também neste caso, os efeitos da pandemia ainda se fazem sentir negativamente na saúde mental destes sujeitos.The pandemic caused by the Coronavirus Disease-19, which has plagued the world in recent times, has involved, among other things, the adoption of restrictive measures in an attempt to limit the spread of the virus. In addition, the fear of being infected, of getting sick due to the virus, of the unknown, as well as the impact of social isolation and quarantine, often necessary to contain the spread of the virus, compromises the mental health of institutionalized elderly people, in this case in Residential Structure for the Elderly, but also in their formal caregivers. Thus, this study is aimed at the institutionalized elderly in a Residential Structure for the elderly of a Private Institution of Social Solidarity in the interior of the central region, as well as their formal caregivers, with its main objective being to understand the impact that the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus Disease-19 had on the mental health of the institutionalized elderly in that institution and on their formal caregivers. Elderly people over 65 years old, who lived in the institution before September 2018, who had the ability to respond to the data collection instruments, verified through the application of the 6-item cognitive decline test, were included in this investigation. This sample was consisted by 7 elderly people. The formal caregivers included in this study were all those who provide care to the elderly in the Residential Structure for the Elderly of the aforementioned institution, and this sample consisted of 18 subjects. For data collection, a General Data Questionnaire was initially applied to the elderly and another separate questionnaire to formal caregivers, in order to characterize the two samples. The Portuguese versions of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory by Pachana et al., the Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale, a 15-item version, were applied to the elderly, concluding with an interview. For formal caregivers, the Portuguese version of the Lovibond & Lovibond 21-item Anxiety, Depression and Stress Scale was applied, and data collection for caregivers ended with some questions related to the pandemic and their mental health. The results allow us to conclude that the Coronavirus Disease-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of both the elderly and formal caregivers. With regard to the elderly, it was possible to verify that social isolation, the deprivation of seeing the family aroused feelings of anxiety, discouragement and sadness, and left some marks on the mental health of the subjects under study, as can be seen through the results of scales and responses to interviews. In turn, caregivers also saw their mental health affected by feelings of anxiety, stress, with repercussions on their physical health, and in this case, the effects of the pandemic are still negatively felt on the mental health of these subjects

Microstructure of Thermoplastic Composites Reinforced with Wool and Wood

Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to FEDER – Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional, in the aim of COMPETE 2020 with the copromotional project WOWW - World of Outstanding Wool and Wood and to Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Project reference UID/Multi/04044/2013 and PAMI – ROTEIRO/0328/2013 (Nº 022158). The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution to language revision of Dr Sonia Fiuza. The Coimbra Chemistry Centre, CQC, supported by FCT, through the project PEstOE/QUI/UI0313/2013 is also acknowledgedIn the last decades the studies on thermoplastic composites reinforced with natural fibres have been mostly focused on vegetable lignocellulosic or cellulosic fibres. These materials provide eco-sustainable solutions for a large range of applications and have been actually adopted by multiple industries. The interest on fibres of animal origin is more recent and research on composites reinforced with these fibres predominantly composed of keratin, such as wool, feathers or silk, is increasing in virtue of some advantageous properties that may overcome some of the intrinsic limitations from vegetable fibres. The combined use of vegetable and animal fibres in composites appropriate for melt blending processing is at early stages of research. After chemical treatments, the fibres of animal origin have been mostly applied as binders between vegetable fibres and polymers, but not as main constituents of these composites. The use of both types of fibres simultaneously in composites of thermoplastic matrices is the subject of the present study where the fibres of animal origin (wool) are sourced from different kinds of residues from a textile industry and the fibres of vegetable origin (wood) are the residues from carpentry activities. The chemical composition, the macro and microstructure of the fibres is analyzed, as well as that of the composites that combine non-biodegradable and biodegradable polymers with diverse ratios of the fibres in different conditions (wool as cards, yarns and felt cloths; wood as sawdust). The addition of coupling agents to enhance the compatibility between wool, wood and different polymers is also analysed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Selective Coordination of Cu2+ and Subsequent Anion Detection Based on a Naphthalimide-Triazine-(DPA)2 Chemosensor

UIDB/50006/2020 SFRH/BD/120985/2016 Project LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-007660 PPBI-POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122 DL 57-021/DL/2018 ROTEIRO/0031/2013-PINFRA/22161/2016A new fluorescent chemosensor for copper (II) and subsequent anion sensing was designed and fully characterized. The sensor consisted of a 1,8-naphthalimide core, bearing two terminal dipicolylamine (DPA) receptor units for binding metal cations, and an ethoxyethanol moiety for enhanced water solubility. The DPA units are connected to position 4 of the fluorophore via a triazine-ethylenediamine spacer. Fluorescence titration studies of the chemosensor revealed a high selectivity for Cu2+ over other divalent ions, the emissions were strongly quenched upon binding, and a stability constant of 5.52 log units was obtained. Given the distance from DPA chelating units and the fluorophore, quenching from the Cu2+ complexation suggests an electron transfer or an electronic energy transfer mechanism. Furthermore, the Cu2+-sensor complex proved to be capable of sensing anionic phosphate derivatives through the displacement of the Cu2+ cation, which translated into a full recovery of the luminescence from the naphthalimide. Super-resolution fluorescence microscopy studies performed in HeLa cells showed there was a high intracellular uptake of the chemosensor. Incubation in Cu2+ spiked media revealed a strong fluorescent signal from mitochondria and cell membranes, which is consistent with a high concentration of ATP at these intracellular sites.publishersversionpublishe

I. Film: Using Electrospinning to Create Bioactive Films

This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the project UID/Multi/04044/2013 and PAMI – ROTEIRO/0328/2013 (Nº 022158). In addition, the authors acknowledge the funding from the project Multifunctional Films for Intelligent and Active Applications (iFILM), project in consortium n. 17921, from the Portuguese National Innovation Agency. The authors gratefully acknowledge to all the consortium partners for their contribute on the project development.With increasing competition between companies, they are increasingly striving to produce higher quality products and to improve their production processes, and the food industry is no different. In order to preserve food for longer, this type of company has dedicated its attention to intelligent packaging, capable of preserving food for longer and of acting as a sensor of the state of food. To develop a film capable of fulfilling the new ambitions of the companies various manufacturing processes have been studied. This document gives an overview of the electrospinning process, capable of producing nano-fibres of biological materials. This document aims to serve as a study base for the I.film project through the study of the process that will provide the polymer film with the necessary biological characteristics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análise matemática e realidade aumentada: um estudo no ensino superior em Portugal

Neste texto, começamos por definir Realidade Aumentada (RA), enquadrando-a nas tecnologias tridimensionais, referindo a sua importância e atualidade. Depois, num breve estado da arte, apresentamos um mapeamento, a partir de estudos que focam a RA em contextos educacionais, nomeadamente no ensino superior e no domínio da matemática. Posteriormente, descrevemos parte do estudo desenvolvido no âmbito do trabalho de doutoramento “As Tecnologias Tridimensionais como contributo para a aprendizagem da Matemática no Ensino Superior”, que teve como objetivo principal contribuir para uma compreensão mais profunda de como as tecnologias tridimensionais podem potenciar o ensino e a aprendizagem da Matemática, no contexto nacional do ensino superior, em particular na área das engenharias. Da análise dos nossos dados e resultados, foi possível concluir que os desafios que se colocam hoje ao nível dos métodos de ensino, da aquisição e consequente consolidação do conhecimento podem ser em parte (cor)respondidos com a aplicação de tecnologias disponíveis, como a RA, que permitam uma compreensão mais completa dos conteúdos, levando à endogeneização de conhecimento e também à internalização de competências com bases mais sólidas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio