Valorização do bagaço de uva: avaliação da potencialidade de produção de Biogás

O bagaço de uva, um dos subprodutos do processamento de vinho, tem sido considerado uma mais-valia em muitas aplicações biotecnológicas. O presente estudo tem por objectivo investigar a biodegradação do bagaço de uva (GP) sob regime anaeróbio mesófilo, na presença de co-substratos solúveis (glucose ou acetato). O seu potencial de produção de biogás foi também avaliado, para diferentes granulometrias. Testes de actividade metanogénica específica (SMA) foram efectuados com dois tipos de inóculo diferentes e medida em dois pontos da curva cumulativa de biogás, quando a variação da pressão com o tempo alcançou um valor máximo, primeiro no início da reacção (SMA I) e depois de um patamar, quando uma nova fase de crescimento não linear foi observada (SMA II). Obtiveram-se em geral valores mais elevados de SMA I para populações mesofílicas incubadas com GP para um tamanho de partícula, Ф, de 0,40mm e 0,5 g de massa (entre 0,053 ± 0,001 e 0,074 ± 0,011 L biogás / gSSV·d). A presença de um co-substrato parece aumentar os valores de SMA I para 0,091 ± 0,010 L biogás / gSSV·d. Os valores de SMA II foram em geral mais elevados dos que os obtidos para SMA I (para um Ф de 0,40mm e 0,5 g e glucose SMA II foi de 0,319 L biogás / gSSV·d) indicando um aumento da actividade metabólica nesta etapa da reacção. Os resultados da degradação anaeróbia do bagaço foram também seguidos por quantificação do potencial de produção de biogás, CQO, TOC, proteína, lignina polimérica precipitável em meio ácido (APPL), lignina solúvel residual e fenóis. Os valores mais elevados para a produção média de biogás foram obtidos para o bagaço com Ф de 0,40mm e 1 g suplementado com glucose (106,8 mL biogas/g SSV·d). Dependendo da granulometria do bagaço, da massa, da adição de co-substrato ou do tipo de inóculo, a APPL no licor residual está presente em maior ou menor quantidade (entre 0,107 ± 0,084 e 1,311 ± 0,549 g/L). O teor de fenol no licor residual foi também mais baixo para o inóculo mesófilas II (variou entre 1,5 e 82,5 mg GAE/L) do que para o mesófilas I (variou entre 17 ± 9 e 350 ± 4 mg GAE/L).Grape pomace, a by-product of the wine industry, has been shown to be an useful product for many biotechnological applications. This study aims to investigate the anaerobic biodegradation of grape pomace (GP) under anaerobic mesophilic regime, in the presence of a soluble co-substrate (glucose or acetate). The potential of biogas production was also evaluated for several GP granulometries. Specific methanogenic activity (SMA) tests were performed with two different inocula and measured in two points of the cumulative biogas curve, when the variation of the pressure along the time reached a maximum value, first in the beginning of the reaction (SMA I) and then after a plateau, when a new non-linear grow-phase was observed (SMA II). Higher values of SMA I were in general attained for mesophilic populations incubated with GP and particle size, Ф, of 0,40mm and 0,5 g (ranging from 0,053 ± 0,001 to 0,074 ± 0,011 Lbiogas / gSSV·d). The presence of a co-substrate seems to enhance these SMA I results for 0,091 ± 0,010 Lbiogas / gSSV·d. SMA II values were in general higher than those obtained for SMA I (for Ф of 0,40mm and 0,5 g and glucose SMA II was of 0,319 Lbiogas / gSSV.d) indicating an enhancing of the metabolic activity at that at this step of the reaction. Results for anaerobic biodegradation of GP were also followed by quantification of potential biogas production, COD, TOC, protein, acid precipitable polymeric lignin (APPL), residual soluble lignin and phenols. The highest values for the average biogas production was achieved for GP with a Ф of 0,40mm and 1 g supplemented with glucose (106,8 mL biogas/g SSV·d). Depending on the granulometry of GP, the mass, the addition of a co-substrate or the type of inoculum, APPL in the residual liqueur is present in bigger or smaller amounts (ranged from 0,107 ± 0,084 and 1,311 ± 0,549 g/L). The residual phenol content was also lower for inoculum mesophils II (ranged from 1,5 to 82,5 mg GAE/L) than for mesophils I (ranged from 17 ± 9 to 350 ± 4 mg GAE/L)

A intenção empreendedora: nos alunos da Universidade da Beira Interior

O empreendedorismo tem vindo a ser considerado como um dinamizador da economia através do indivíduo empreendedor com características únicas. Como as empresas familiares são muito importantes para a economia é necessário verificar a existência de futuros empreendedores no seio familiar. Foram feitos inquéritos na Universidade da Beira Interior (UBI) com o objectivo principal de identificar a intenção empreendedora dos filhos que pertencem a empresas familiares. Os dados obtidos foram analisados com o SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). Os resultados principais deste trabalho foram que grande parte dos inquiridos não demonstram intenção empreendedora e que os filhos que pertencem a empresas familiares apresentam os mesmos resultados que os outros.Entrepreneurship has been considered as a potential savior of the economy through entrepreneurial individual with unique characteristics. A family business is very important to the economy and because of that is necessary to check for future entrepreneurs in the family. Surveys were done at the University of Beira Interior (UBI) with the main objective of identifying entrepreneurial intention of children belonging to family businesses. Data were analyzed with SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences). The main results of this study were that most surveyed didn’t manifest entrepreneurial intention and the children belonging to family businesses have the same results as the others surveyed

B-cell lymphoma 2 family members and sarcomas: a promising target in a heterogeneous disease

Targeting the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins has been the backbone for hematological malignancies with overall survival improvements. The Bcl-2 family is a major player in apoptosis regulation and, has captured the researcher’s interest in the treatment of solid tumors. Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of diseases, comprising several entities, with high morbidity and mortality and with few specific therapies available. The treatment for sarcomas is based on platinum regimens, with variable results and poor outcomes, especially in advanced lesions. The high number of different sarcoma entities makes treatment standardization as well as the performance of clinical trials difficult. The use of Bcl-2 family members modifiers has revealed promising results in in vitro and in vivo models and may be a valid option, especially when used in combination with chemotherapy. In this article, a revision of these results and possibilities for the use of Bcl-2 family members inhibitors in sarcomas was performed

Neuroendocrine Carcinoma and Intracystic Papillary Neoplasm: A Rare Association in the Gallbladder

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the gallbladder is a very rare neoplasia comprising only 0.2% of all the gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors. We present the case of an 85-year-old male with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms, progressive weight loss, and deterioration in the preceding 15 days. Imaging study showed a 5-cm polypoid mass localized at the gallbladder fundus, leading to a radical cholecystectomy. Pathology revealed the known lobulated polypoid lesion, on cut section, constituted by friable tissue without evident infiltration of the gallbladder wall and a contiguous friable, brown, flat lesion. Histological evaluation displayed a small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, consisting of intermediate and small cells, rounded or spindle, with extensive areas of necrosis, with positivity for neuroendocrine immunomarkers, associated with intracystic papillary neoplasm with high and low dysplasia. This is an uncommon association with few cases presented in the literature

Examination of raw samples and ethanol extracts of Gerês Propolis collected in different years

Propolis, a natural resin created by bees, has garnered significant attention from both the scientific community and industry due to an impressive range of bioactivities. Nonetheless, the intrinsic variability in its chemical composition and bioactive profiles has been hindering propolis' full potential use. We previously showed that ethanol extracts (EEs) of a Portuguese propolis sample (Gerês) collected over four consecutive years displayed similar chemical and biological profiles, a constancy never documented before. However, the characteristics of the unprocessed samples of Gerês propolis were never described. Hence, the central objective of this study is to assess the quality parameters of unprocessed propolis samples collected from Gerês (G), over a four-year period (2019-2022), alongside the analysis of the chemical composition and bioactivities of the EEs prepared with the same raw samples. The ash, wax, balsam and water contents of the unprocessed samples-G19 to G22-showed minor fluctuations, likely attributed to uncontrollable natural events impacting the propolis source and collection process. On the other hand, the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of all the four ethanol extracts (G19.EE-G22.EE) consistently align with prior studies. Furthermore, the Gerês propolis extracts showed remarkable uniformity in chemical composition parameters too, particularly concerning total polyphenol, flavonoid and ortho-diphenol contents. In summary, our research reinforces the beneficial properties of propolis and show that extracts' bioactivities remain within the reference ranges for Gerês propolis, despite minor differences in unprocessed samples, suggesting a consistent action over time. Thus, this work could be instrumental towards the establishment of standard parameters for propolis applications, offering valuable insights to this field of propolis research.This work was supported by the “Contrato-Programa” UIDB/04050/2020 funded by national funds through the FCT I.P

A review of solar thermochemical CO2 splitting using ceria-based ceramics with designed morphologies and microstructures

ABSTRACT: This review explores the advances in the synthesis of ceria materials with specific morphologies or porous macro- and microstructures for the solar-driven production of carbon monoxide (CO) from carbon dioxide (CO2). As the demand for renewable energy and fuels continues to grow, there is a great deal of interest in solar thermochemical fuel production (STFP), with the use of concentrated solar light to power the splitting of carbon dioxide. This can be achieved in a two-step cycle, involving the reduction of CeO2 at high temperatures, followed by oxidation at lower temperatures with CO2, splitting it to produce CO, driven by concentrated solar radiation obtained with concentrating solar technologies (CST) to provide the high reaction temperatures of typically up to 1,500 degrees C. Since cerium oxide was first explored as a solar-driven redox material in 2006, and to specifically split CO2 in 2010, there has been an increasing interest in this material. The solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency is influenced by the material composition itself, but also by the material morphology that mostly determines the available surface area for solid/gas reactions (the material oxidation mechanism is mainly governed by surface reaction). The diffusion length and specific surface area affect, respectively, the reduction and oxidation steps. They both depend on the reactive material morphology that also substantially affects the reaction kinetics and heat and mass transport in the material. Accordingly, the main relevant options for materials shaping are summarized. We explore the effects of microstructure and porosity, and the exploitation of designed structures such as fibers, 3-DOM (three-dimensionally ordered macroporous) materials, reticulated and replicated foams, and the new area of biomimetic/biomorphous porous ceria redox materials produced from natural and sustainable templates such as wood or cork, also known as ecoceramics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

3DOM ceria ecoceramics from sustainable cork templates for solar thermochemical CO2 splitting

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