Activated carbons from the co-pyrolysis of rice wastes for Cr(III) removal

ABSTRACT: Rice husk and polyethylene were mixed (50 % w/w each) and submitted to a pyrolysis assay. Four physical activations with CO2 were performed on the resulting co-pyrolysis char (PC). The activation at 800 °C, for 4h, generated the activated carbon (PAC3) with the best textural properties. PC, PAC3 and a commercial activated carbon (CAC) were characterized and submitted to Cr(III) removal assays. PC had a high percentage of volatile matter that was removed after the physical activation, resulting in more available pores in the final material (PAC). In the Cr(III) removal assays, two S/L ratios were tested: 5 and 10 g L-1. PC did not remove any Cr(III) from the solutions, but PAC presented similar results to CAC. At the S/L of 5 g L-1, Cr(III) removal was of 58.5 % for PAC and 62.5 % for CAC, both by adsorption mechanism; at the S/L of 10 g L-1, Cr(III) removal was almost complete due to precipitation caused by pH increase. The highest uptake capacities were of 7.92 mg g-1 for PAC and 8.71 mg g-1 for CAC, at the S/L of 5 g L-1. The results indicated that PAC3 may be a viable alternative to CAC on Cr(III) removal from aqueous media.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of a 12-Week Strength Training Program on Muscle Strength Measures of Institutionalized Older Adults—A Pilot Study

Institutionalized older adults are characterized by high levels of dependence and low levels of physical activity compared to those living in the community. This combination of factors leads to an increased risk of loss of muscle mass. Sarcopenia can be countered through strength training. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a strength training program on the physical fitness of institutionalized older adults. This study included a sample of 31 institutionalized older adults (20 females, 11 males) aged between 65 and 96 years (M = 81.64, SD = 8.67). Participants reported an average institutionalization duration of 2.43 years (SD = 2.20), ranging from half a year to ten years. A 12-week strength training program was implemented, with sessions held twice a week. Strength fitness was assessed through the following parameters: handgrip strength, upper limb muscular endurance, lower limb muscular endurance, agility and balance, body mass index, and waist circumference. The results demonstrated that a 12-week strength training program improved physical fitness in terms of lower limb muscular endurance, upper limb muscular endurance, agility, and dynamic balance (p < 0.05).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bleb morphology of glaucoma drainage devices on magnetic resonance imaging

© 2023 The Authors. Acta Ophthalmologica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica Foundation. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.Purpose: To evaluate bleb morphology features of different glaucoma drainage devices (GDD) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and methods: Prospective cohort study of GDD and bleb morphology in consecutive glaucoma patients implanted with Ahmed Glaucoma Valve (AGV), Paul Glaucoma Implant (PGI), Baerveldt Glaucoma Implant (BGI) and Ahmed ClearPath (ACP) devices. Thirty-six eyes from 30 consecutive patients underwent standardized GDD implantation followed by MRI at least 1 month after surgery. Main outcomes included bleb volume and endplate position relative to the optic nerve. Secondary outcomes included intraocular pressure (IOP), medication and surgical complications during a 12-month follow-up. Results: Seven eyes were implanted with the AGV (19%), 5 with BGI (14%), 16 with PGI (44%) and 8 with ACP (22%). MRI scans were obtained 85 ± 66 days after surgery. Mean total bleb volume was 563 ± 390 mm3 . This bleb volume was inversely correlated with early post-operative IOP (day 7; rs = -0.3326, p = 0.0475) but positively correlated with IOP at 12 months (rs = 0.3592, p = 0.0341). No significant difference in total bleb volume was found between GDD types (p = 0.1223). A double-layered bleb was observed in 34 eyes (94%). The inferior bleb volume was significantly larger in PGI devices versus other GDD types (380 ± 205 vs. 193 ± 161 mm3 ; p = 0.0043). Distance from the endplate to the optic nerve was 9.5 ± 4.0 mm, similar across GDDs (p = 0.2519). Conclusions: Double-layered blebs are a common finding with GDDs. Bleb volume showed different correlations with IOP at distinct timepoints and the PGI device formed larger blebs. A standardized GDD implantation technique ensures a safe distance from the GDD endplate to the optic nerve.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Asymptomatic chronic red eye: a surgical technique case report

© 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of IJS Publishing Group Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)Introduction and importance: Ocular Surface Squamous-cell Neoplasia (OSSN) is an infrequent diagnosis whose clinical suspicion assumes great importance and should not be overlooked. The following case-report aims to describe the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with OSSN whose complaints were mild in comparison to the severity of the disease. The chosen surgical technique was paramount for a disease-free outcome while minimizing the scarring effects of surgical removal. Case presentation: Patient presented mild discomfort right eye and painless persistent hyperaemia. Slit-lamp observation showed a clear diagnosis and lesion's extent evaluated through multimodal imaging. After surgical excision the patient underwent topical ocular treatment with mitomycin-C for a higher margin of safety even before the pathology results were available. Discussion: Ancillary exam technology improvement has allowed a higher margin of safety while determining the extent of OSSN lesions. In the absence of clear diagnostic criteria and guidelines, clinical reasoning and OSSN awareness are critical for timely diagnosis and treatment, as several treatment options are available, allowing an increasing number of patients to be treated non-invasively. In this case-report, we highlight the importance of early-recognition and the reasoning for choosing a combined treatment option with a higher margin of safety. Conclusion: Early recognition and prompt treatment of OSSN lesions is of paramount importance to avoid ocular invasiveness and potentially preclude both ocular and systemic complication. The choice of a combined surgical and medical approach may provide a higher margin of safety for suitable cases. This patient is currently disease-free at 6-month follow-up.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cr(III) removal from synthetic and industrial wastewaters by using co-gasification chars of rice waste streams

ABSTRACT: Blends of rice waste streams were submitted to co-gasification assays. The resulting chars (G1C and G2C) were characterized and used in Cr(III) removal assays from a synthetic solution. A Commercial Activated Carbon (CAC) was used for comparison purposes. The chars were non-porous materials mainly composed by ashes (68.3-92.6% w/w). The influences of adsorbent loading (solid/liquid ratio - S/L) and initial pH in Cr(III) removal were tested. G2C at a S/L of 5 mg L-1 and an initial pH of 4.50 presented an uptake capacity significantly higher than CAC (7.29 and 2.59 mg g(-1), respectively). G2C was used in Cr(III) removal assays from an industrial wastewater with Cr(III) concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg L-1. Cr(III) removal by precipitation (uptake capacity ranging from 11.1 to 14.9mg g(-1)) was more effective in G2C, while adsorption (uptake capacity of 16.1 mg g(-1)) was the main removal mechanism in CAC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bringing user experience empirical data to gesture-control and somatic interaction in virtual reality videogames: an exploratory study with a multimodal interaction prototype

Comunicação apresentada na SciTecIn15 - Conferência Ciências e Tecnologias da Interação, realizada em Coimbra, de 12-13 de novembro de 2015With the emergence of new low-cost gestural interaction devices various studies have been developed on multi-modal human-computer interaction to improve user experience. We present an exploratory study which analysed the user experience with a multimodal interaction game prototype. As a result, we propose a set of preliminary recommendations for combined use of such devices and present implications for advancing the multimodal field in human-computer interaction

Evaluation of the adsorption potential of biochars prepared from forest and agri-food wastes for the removal of fluoxetine

Twelve biochars from forest and agri-food wastes (pruning of Quercus ilex, Eucalyptus grandis, Pinus pinaster, Quercus suber, Malus pumila, Prunus spinosa, Cydonia oblonga, Eriobotrya japonica, Juglans regia, Actinidia deliciosa, Citrus sinensis and Vitis vinifera) were investigated as potential low-cost and renewable adsorbents for removal of a commonly used pharmaceutical, fluoxetine. Preliminary adsorption experiments allowed to select the most promising adsorbents, Quercus ilex, Cydonia oblonga, Eucalyptus, Juglans regia and Vitis vinifera pruning material. They were characterized by proximate, elemental and mineral analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, determination of specific surface area and pH at the point of zero charge. Batch and equilibrium studies were performed, and the influence of pH was evaluated. The equilibrium was reached in less than 15 min in all systems. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 6.41 mg/g for the Eucalyptus biochar, which also demonstrated a good behavior in continuous mode (packed column).Manuela M. Moreira is grateful for the financial support financed by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the scope of the project CEECIND/02702/2017 and to REQUIMTE/LAQV. The authors are also grateful for the financial support from FCT/MCTES through national funds (UID/QUI/50006/2019), project PTDC/ASP-PES/29547/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-29547) by FUNCAP and FCT/MCTES with national funds and co-funded by FEDER and to the projects “PTDC/BII-BIO/30884/2017” and WaterJPI/0007/2016 financed by ERA-NET Cofund Water Works 2015. The supply of the vineyard prunings is acknowledged to Sogrape, S.A. and the biochar production to Ibero Massa Florestal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Study of the Potential of Water Treatment Sludges in the Removal of Emerging Pollutants

This research was funded by CENSE through the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; UIDB/04085/2020) and through a PhD grant for Rita Dias (SFRH/BD/148793/2019). The authors are also indebted to EPAL AdVT for their financial support to this project. This work was also supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV, which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020). Maria Bernardo acknowledges Norma Transitoria DL57/2016 Contract (FCT/MCTES).Presently, water quantity and quality problems persist both in developed and developing countries, and concerns have been raised about the presence of emerging pollutants (EPs) in water. The circular economy provides ways of achieving sustainable resource management that can be implemented in the water sector, such as the reuse of drinking water treatment sludges (WTSs). This study evaluated the potential of WTS containing a high concentration of activated carbon for the removal of two EPs: the steroid hormones 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). To this end, WTSs from two Portuguese water treatment plants (WTPs) were characterised and tested for their hormone adsorbance potential. Both WTSs showed a promising adsorption potential for the two hormones studied due to their textural and chemical properties. For WTS1, the final concentration for both hormones was lower than the limit of quantification (LOQ). As for WTS2, the results for E2 removal were similar to WTS1, although for EE2, the removal efficiency was lower (around 50%). The overall results indicate that this method may lead to new ways of using this erstwhile residue as a possible adsorbent material for the removal of several EPs present in wastewaters or other matrixes, and as such contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets.publishersversionpublishe

Traumatismo Crânio-Encefálico e disfunção do eixo adrenocorticotrófico: prevalência, severidade, tipologia e topografia do trauma

Trabalho Final do Mestrado Integrado em Medicina apresentado à Faculdade de MedicinaO traumatismo crânio-encefálico grave é uma das principais causas de mortalidade e também de morbilidade em doentes jovens. Uma das possíveis complicações deste tipo de eventos é a disfunção dos eixos endocrinológicos. Esta complicação pode manifestar-se em fase aguda ou em fase crónica, podendo caracterizar-se por défices hormonais de qualquer dos eixos endocrinológicos.A fisiopatologia desta complicação não é ainda suficientemente conhecida, sendo diversas as hipótese aceites para justificar este facto, nomeadamente causas vasculares, edema, compressão da haste hipofisária ou ainda o aumento da pressão intracraniana.Devido à grande variedade de distúrbios possíveis e devido à morbilidade associada a alguns défices hormonais, torna-se necessário identificar quais os eixos mais frequentemente afectados e qual a sua relação com a localização e gravidade do traumatismo, para que seja possível uma pesquisa de défices hormonais orientada pelo aspecto imagiológico inicial do traumatismo. Desta forma, poderemos actuar de forma precoce na reposição hormonal dos eixos afectados, evitando as consequências de défices graves detectados tardiamente e possivelmente melhorando também os ‘outcomes’ finais da recuperação dos doentes com traumatismos crânio-encefálicos.Os vários estudos realizados noutros centros europeus demonstraram uma elevada prevalência de traumatismos crânio encefálicos em adultos jovens, com um elevado impacto funcional.Apesar de já ser realizada TAC-CE a todos os doentes com traumatismo crânio-encefálico grave, não existem ainda quaisquer indicadores que permitam antever qual será a sua repercussão desse mesmo traumatismo a nível hormonal, não existindo também nenhum estudo recente publicado no CHUC (Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra) que compare a prevalência deste problema neste centro com o de outros a nível mundial.Este estudo propõe-se a analisar e publicar os dados mais relevantes acerca da prevalência e incidência da disfunção endocrinológica em doentes com Traumatismos Crânio-Encefálicos com internamento superior a 24 horas, correlacionando a localização, gravidade e tipologia dos traumatismos com a incidência de complicação.A comparação ao longo do tempo e entre diferentes centros mundiais de referência é central para aumentar a compreensão de qual é a realidade clínica neste campo, permitindo no Futuro que seja feita uma intervenção mais precoce, evitando as consequências nefastas dos défices hormonais não diagnosticados atempadamente. O CHUC é um centro com elevado número de casos de traumatismo crânio-encefálico, pelo que poderá permitir utilizar uma amostra de elevada dimensão, contribuindo para a relevância da investigação. Um tratamento estatístico e redacção cientificamente correctos poderão permitir a este trabalho contribuir significativamente para o avanço do conhecimento científico na área. Acresce ainda que este trabalho não envolve custos de qualquer tipo para o Hospital, nem afecta de forma alguma os doentes envolvidos ou compromete os seus direitos. Serão excluídos todos os doentes que não tenham assinado o consentimento informado e todos os doentes com idade inferior a 18 anos.Será feita uma breve análise estatística descritiva recorrendo ao SPSS 24®. Os dados obtidos serão comparados com estudos semelhantes de outros países (ver referências bibliográficas).O nome e número de processo clínico dos doentes e a data do traumatismo crânio-encefálico não serão divulgados nem tratados. Os dados tratados serão a idade, sexo, a gravidade, a tipologia e a topografia das lesões provocadas pelo traumatismo crânio-encefálico, o respectivo diagnóstico clínico e técnica cirúrgica utilizada, correlacionando estes dados com o estado funcional dos vários eixos hormonais avaliados; estes dados não permitem de maneira alguma comprometer o anonimato e privacidade dos doentes individuais.Introduction: Traumatic Brain Injury is a major public health problem and a precise knowledge on its impact is necessary to improve the related clinical outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of adrenocorticotropic axis impairment in these patients and to relate the cortisol levels with the severity of trauma, the typology and topography of the lesions. Methods: Data from the digital clinical files of all the TBI patients admitted to Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC) from 1st January until 30th June 2016 and were retrospectively collected and analysed. Results: Across the 6 months considered, 164 patients with TBI meeting this study criteria were admitted to CHUC. Severe TBI accounted for 17 patients (10.4%), 42 (25.6%) had a moderate TBI and 105 (64%) had a mild TBI. A total of 41 patients (25%) had abnormal cortisol values from which 33 (20.1%) had hypercortisolism and 8 (4.9%) had hypocortisolism. A statistically significant difference was found, suggesting that severity of TBI is associated with differences in cortisol levels (p = 0.01). It became apparent that higher than normal cortisol levels were associated with moderate to severe head trauma, while mild head trauma was more associated with normal or subnormal cortisol levels. No differences were found between cortisol median values of intra or extra-axial lesions, neither across topography or gender groups (p = 0.43). Significant differences in cortisol levels were also found between groups submitted to clinical and imagological evaluation versus surgical therapy with the patients submitted to surgical therapy presenting higher cortisol levels than those monitored by imagological evaluation Conclusions: The prevalence of cortisol abnormalities reported in our study is consistent with the range of values set by most studies in this regard and our findings are in line with results from other groups regarding susceptibility of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal axis to head trauma. We found a statistically significant difference in cortisol median values between mild head trauma group and moderate/severe groups, with mild severity group having lower median cortisol levels, but no relation between hypocortisolism and head trauma severity. Thus, at this time, we cannot propose screening to be restricted to a specific subset of patients. Therefore, the screening for hypocortisolism should not be held exclusively according to severity of trauma, and should encompass a wider number of variables, to reflect the complexity of this disorder. We feel this study should be continued with further patient recruitment, in order to disclose which patients are most likely to benefit from screening and subsequent treatment of pituitary insufficiency, allowing an early replacement of the hormonal deficits and therefore improving the clinical outcomes of such patients

Glaucoma triage system: results of implementing a virtual clinic

© The Author(s) 2023. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.Purpose: This study describes the virtual clinic triage system implementation process at Hospital Santa Maria-Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (HSM-CHULN) and analyzes its results regarding healthcare outcomes for the patients and the system. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed, comparing two cohorts (pre-virtual cohort; virtual triage cohort). Outcomes related to waiting time, number of hospital visits, decisions at first contact, and ancillary exam-based decisions were reported. Results: Two hundred and ninety-two charts were reviewed (pre-virtual cohort: 132; virtual cohort: 160). Mean waiting time between referral and the first medical contact with the glaucoma department decreased on average by 71.3 days (human contact: 286.6 days; virtual triage contact: 215.3 days). Triage system significantly decreased waiting time for glaucoma patients, with an average decrease of 326.8 days between referral and treatment decision. Triage staging allowed to label 107 (66.9; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 59.6%, 74.2%) as non-urgent; 30 (18.8%; 95% CI: 12.7%, 24.9%) as urgent, and 23 (14.3%; 95% CI: 8.9%, 19.7%) as immediate contact, with the scheduling of future appointments reflecting National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines in every patient. Moreover, the number of visits to perform the same exams and obtain the same clinical decisions was reduced by 63.6%. Conclusion: Our virtual screening strategy significantly decreased waiting time, number of hospital visits, and increased chances of data-assisted clinical decision. While results can be further improved, this system can add value in an overburdened healthcare system, where triage systems with remote decision-making may be valuable tools in optimizing glaucoma care, even without allocation of extra resources.Open access funding provided by FCT|FCCN (b-on).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio