Evaluation of the Sigma Quality level for Serum Iron determination by two colorimetric methods, Ferrozine and Ferene S

Iron plays important functions in the body such as the formation and functioning of hemoglobin and it’s disorders are among the most common diseases of human1. It is essential to ensure that its levels determination through laboratory tests are accurate and precise. The participation of laboratories in the External Quality Assessment (EQA) allows the increases of the quality level of the laboratory results and improvement of its performance.2This study was developed in the Portuguese Nacional EQA Program (PNAEQ) concerning the laboratories results from the Clinical Chemistry Scheme. The main objective of this study was to evaluate and improve the sigma quality level regarding the Iron parameter and reduce the variability of the laboratories results participating in the EQA program of Clinical Chemistry of the Nacional External Quality Assessment Program (PNAEQ). The mean Sigma quality level indicated that the Ferrozine method had a better performance compared with Ferene S method. Half of the control samples had a sigma quality level higher than 3.0, which is set as the minimum acceptable quality.3 Despite of the improved of the Sigma quality level in the Pilot Test, the results demonstrated a need to improved the analytical process performance and to identified more potential causes and implement new improvement actions. It becomes necessary to raise awareness with the laboratories, improving the Pilot Test participation frequency, resulting in a recurrent and current assessment of the laboratory activity performance. Developing Six Sigma projects on a periodic basis is important for continuously and progressively increasing the level of Sigma quality in laboratory examinations. The main advantage of quality assessment on the sigma scale is providing evidence of overall laboratory performance, taking into account random and systematic errors.N/

Lápis cor de pele : contributo para a lecionação da unidade letiva 2 : crescer na diversidade : para o 4º ano do 1º ciclo do ensino básico

Somos assim tão diferentes? Esta é a questão que atravessa este Relatório de Estágio e à qual nos propomos responder. Começamos por abordar os vários tipos de diversidade: diversidade na natureza; diversidade humana; cultural; religiosa; bem como o tema da diversidade na Sagrada Escritura e nas encíclicas Caritas in Veritate e Laudato Si. Compreenderemos que a sociedade deverá ser um lugar de encontro e de respeito mútuo. Deverá ser, por excelência, o lugar de diversidade e de compreensão dos outros. Martin Buber, Emmanuel Levinas e Paul Ricoeur são três dos autores cujas teses nos ajudarão a esclarecer a questão da alteridade. Cada um faz uma abordagem particular, mas convergem para o mesmo sentido – olhar o outro como um igual. Martin Buber privilegia o encontro eu-tu em detrimento do eu-isso, na medida em que, o outro não é um objeto ou uma coisa. Emmanuel Levinas privilegia o relacionamento face-a-face, olhando para o outro já não como um tu, mas sim como um vós, pelo qual somos infinitamente responsáveis. Por fim, Paul Ricoeur direciona-se para uma hermenêutica de compreensão do sujeito numa perspetiva de relação interpessoal. No final, debruçar-nos-emos na Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, partindo da análise da turma na qual as aulas foram lecionadas, que demonstrou alguns conhecimentos do tema. No entanto, há sempre algo de novo a acrescentar e novos conteúdos para serem adquiridos.Are we so different? This is the question that crosses this Internship Report and which we intend to respond to. We begin by addressing the various types of diversity: diversity in nature; human diversity; cultural; religious; as well as the theme of diversity in Sacred Scripture and in the encyclicals Caritas in Veritate and Laudato Si. We will perceive that society should be a place of encounter and mutual respect. It should be, par excellence, the place of diversity and understanding of others. Martin Buber, Emmanuel Levinas and Paul Ricoeur are three of the authors whose theses will help us to clarify the question of otherness. Each one makes a particular approach, but they converge towards the same sense - to look at the other as an equal. Martin Buber privileges the me-you encounter in detriment of the me-it, according as the other is not an object or a thing. Emmanuel Levinas privileges the face-to-face relationship, looking at the other no longer as a you, but as one of you, for which we are infinitely responsible. Finally, Paul Ricoeur is directed to a hermeneutic of understanding the subject in a perspective of interpersonal relation. In the end, we will focus on the Supervised Teaching Practice, starting from the analysis of the class in which the lessons were taught, which evidenced some knowledge of the theme. However, there is always something new to add and new content to be acquired

Physicochemical, microbiological and antimicrobial properties of commercial honeys from Portugal

The present study aimed to characterize five commercial honeys available in the Portuguese market in respect to their floral origins, physicochemical parameters and microbial safety and commercial quality assessment. Pollen profile, colour, moisture content, ash, acidity, electrical conductivity, pH, reducing sugars, apparent sucrose and HMF were the parameters analysed in each honey sample. Aerobic mesophiles, moulds and yeasts, fecal coliforms and sulphite-reducing clostridia were the microbial contaminants of interest studied. The antimicrobial effect against four fermentative yeasts was determined. Concerning the physicochemical parameters, all honey samples were found to meet European Legislation (EC Directive 2001/110) for all parameters, except for HMF and apparent sucrose. Microbiologically, the commercial quality was considered good and all samples showed to be negative in respect to safety parameters. We also verified that the presence of honey differentially affected the growth of fermentative yeasts under study, depending on the type of yeast, but this growth was not significantly influenced by the type of honey used

Incomplete Shone’s complex: adult age diagnosis

A 25-year-old male with previous history of heart surgery was referred for a control echocardiogram. He had been operated when he was 5 years old for reparation of aortic coarctation and the excision of a subaortic membrane, and was then lost to follow-up. No other changes were detected previously or during surgery. The patient was clinically stable without medication and the physical exam was unremarkable. The echocardiogram showed normal left ventricular function, but bicuspid aortic valve (figure 1 A), conditioning mild aortic stenosis, and a parachute mitral valve (figure 1 B, C) with single papillary muscle (figure 1 D, E – arrow) were present, with slight increase in transmitral velocity and mild regurgitation. No residual coarctation was present. Shone’s complex is a rare congenital heart disease consisting of several levels of left-sided obstructive lesions including supravalvar mitral ring, parachute mitral valve subaortic stenosis and coarctation of aorta, being classified as complete (if all levels are present) or incomplete (if only 2 or 3 lesions are present). Our patient had a previous surgical intervention and no correction was made for two undiagnosed lesions. Furthermore, the main critical problem associated with this condition appears to be mitral valve obstruction which was not significant in our patient. A conservative approach was decided and at 3-year follow-up no events occurred. This case highlights the importance of exhaustive preoperative echocardiographic evaluation and reminds us that, in the presence of two-levels of left-side cavities obstruction, other possible related anatomical lesions must be excluded.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Alimentação e uso convencional dos objetos na educação infantil : uma análise microgenética de ações e posicionamentos educacionais em duas creches do DF

Trabalho de conclusão de curso (graduação)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Educação, 2017.O presente estudo buscou caracterizar a forma como se dá o uso dos objetos durante o momento das refeições em duas creches do DF. A observação e análise focaram nas ações que emergiram em crianças de 12 a 24 meses e na intervenção pedagógica por parte dos educadores. O problema de pesquisa procurou identificar a forma como se desenvolve a relação triádica entre criança-objeto-educador nos momentos das refeições. O objetivo geral buscou-se analisar as ações, diálogos e posicionamentos que surgem durante os momentos de alimentação a respeito do uso convencional dos objetos no contexto educacional. Como metodologia, foi utilizada pesquisa derivando uma análise microgenética, com observação, e filmagens, fotos e registros escritos em duas creches do DF, sendo uma particular e outra pública, conveniada ao Governo do Distrito Federal, ambas de tempo integral. Da mesma forma, realizamos ainda, uma entrevista semiestruturada com as professoras das duas turmas observadas no primeiro semestre de 2017. Com base nas análises, percebemos que em ambas as creches o momento da alimentação é considerado mais como cumprimento das necessidades biológicas do que pedagógicas. Os resultados, de um modo geral, indicaram a forte influência do contexto geral no trabalho pedagógico

Impact of cultivar, processing and storage on the Mycobiota of european chestnut fruits

Sweet chestnut fruits are popular fruits commercialized as fresh or processed ready-to-eat products. The major post-harvest problems associated with stored chestnut fruits are fungal rots, which cause major losses in fruit quality. The aims of this work were to determine the incidence, abundance and diversity of rots and fungi in three chestnut varieties (Longal, Judia and Martaínha) of Portugal, collected from an industrial plant, and to identify the stages of storage and processing where fungi and rots are more significant. Thirty-three chestnut samples from the three varieties were collected from different stages of industrial processing. Nuts were internally and externally inspected for damage, infestation and infection, and internal fungi were isolated and molecularly identified. The variety Martaínha was identified as the least susceptible to fungal growth, while Longal was the most susceptible. A high diversity of fungi was detected and identified. The dominant fungi were Mucor racemosus, Penicillium spp. (the causal agents of green rots), Ciboria batschiana (black rot) and Botrytis cinerea (gray rot). Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi, the causal agent of brown rot, was also frequently detected. Sterilization with hydrothermal bath was effective in the elimination or reduction of most of the rot-causing fungi. These results could serve as a baseline for better monitoring fungal development and chestnut decay, and to develop effective management measures to control post-harvest chestnut rots.This work was funded by the project “ValorCast—Valorização da castanha e otimização da sua comercialização”, ref. PDR2020-101-032030, funded by Fundo Europeu Agrícola de Desenvolvimento Rural (FEADER) and the Portuguese government, under the scope of Ação 1.1 “Grupos Operacionais”, Medida 1. “Inovação”, PDR 2020—Programa de Desenvolvimento Rural do Continente. The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Program PT2020 provided financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2020), SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020), CITAB (UID/AGR/04033/2020) and Inov4Agro (LA/P/0126/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The views of stakeholders on mandatory or voluntary use of a simplified standard on non-financial information for SMEs in the European Union

Artigo publicado em revista científica internacional: This paper investigates the variables that may explain the views of stakeholders regarding the need for a simplified non-financial reporting (NFR) standard for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union (EU) and whether this standard should be mandatory or voluntary. This paper uses, as a source, 588 answers provided by different groups of stakeholders within the process of public consultation conducted by the EU, from February to June 2020, concerning possible revisions to the provisions of the Directive on NFR. The findings showed that the most consensual attribute that probably explains the views of stakeholders on this matter is the importance attributed by them to the concepts of comparability, reliability, and relevance. From the stakeholders’ perspective, this topic may also be explained by the users’ needs. Notwithstanding, its importance may differ, depending on the type of user. These findings are relevant within the process of developing an NFR model applicable to SMEs based on a mandatory standard, providing evidence that regulators and standard-setters should consider the qualitative characteristics of non-financial information as well as the needs of various stakeholders within this process.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Field trials with fungicides and nutrient solution in chestnut trees: incidence of rots and Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi in post-harvest nuts

Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi é o principal agente da podridão castanha em castanhas na pós-colheita, uma ameaça à sustentabilidade do mercado Europeu. Com o objetivo de reduzir os níveis de infeção da castanha foi avaliado, em campo, o impacto da aplicação de produtos comerciais no controlo de G. smithogilvyi. Árvores da variedade ‘Bouche de Bétizac’ com 8 anos foram tratadas com Bacillus amyloliquefaciens e tebuconazol (2x em junho e 1x em julho) e óxido de silício (em junho, julho e agosto), aplicados por pulverização foliar. Foram colhidos 120 ouriços por tratamento para avaliação biométrica, 200 castanhas por tratamento para avaliação externa e interna e 10 castanhas por tratamento para a análise microbiológica. Na análise biométrica as castanhas apresentaram melhores parâmetros perante a solução nutritiva. Nas análises microbiológicas, em todos os tratamentos foi detetado G. smithogilvyi, exceto nas castanhas tratadas com B. amyloliquefaciens e tebuconazol no momento da apanha e, no caso do tebuconazol, após 1 e 2 meses de armazenamento (4 ºC). Análises efetuadas à farinha a partir de castanhas armazenadas a -20 ºC e tratadas com tebuconazol, não detetaram resíduos desta substância. Ambos os fungicidas apresentaram efeitos promissores contra G. smithogilvyi. Porém, com a retirada do tebuconazol do mercado europeu, os biocidas poderão ser uma alternativa.Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi is the main causal agent of chestnut brown rot in post-harvest nuts, a threat to the sustaina- bility in the European market. With the objective of reducing the infection levels in chestnuts, the impact of commer- cial products application in G. smithogilvyi control was evaluated at the field. Trees with 8-years-old of the ‘Bouche de Bétizac’ variety were treated with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, tebuconazol (2x in June and 1x in July), and silicon oxide (in June, July and August), applied by foliar spray. For biometric evaluation 120 burrs per treatment were collected, 200 chestnut nuts per treatment for external and internal evaluation and 10 chestnuts nuts per treatment for microbiological analysis, after 1 and 2 months of storage (4 ºC). In the biometric evaluation, the nutrient solution treated chestnuts had the best parameters. In the microbiological analysis and for all treatments, G. smithogilvyi was detected, except in the chestnuts treated with B. amyloliquefaciens or tebuconazole, at the harvest, and the ones treated with tebuconazole after 1 and 2 months of storage (4 ºC). B. amyloliquefaciens could be a substitute against some rots, and although it had some effect against G. smithogilvyi after harvesting, more research is needed on its ability to control this fungus. Tebucona - zole activity against G. smithogilvyi lasted up to two months of refrigeration. However, with its withdrawal from the European market, biological control agents such as B. amyloliquefaciens, or similar, could be an alternativeProjeto “ValorCast - Valorização da castanha e otimização da sua comercialização” no âmbito da Ação 1.1 «Grupos Operacionais», integrada na Medida 1. «Inovação» do PDR 2020 – Programa de Desenvolvimento Rural do Continente (PDR2020-101-032030), financiado pelo Fundo Europeu Agrícola de Desenvolvimento Rural (FEADER) e Estado Português. AG agradece pelo financiamento da Bolsa de Investigação (BI/UTAD/5/2021), do ValorCast. AG, AS, JGL agradecem à Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) pelo apoio financeiro através de fundos nacionais FCT/MCTES ao CITAB (UIDB/04033/2020) e Inov4Agro (LA/P/0126/2020). PR agradece ao CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020) e ao SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chestnut brown rot and Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi: characterization of the causal agent in Portugal

Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Miller) is a nutritious food with high social and economic impacts in Portugal. The fungus Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi (syn. Gnomoniopsis castaneae) is the causal agent of chestnut brown rot, and is currently considered one of the major threats to the chestnut production chain worldwide. Considering the lack of knowledge on both the disease and the causal agent in Portugal, studies were conducted in an attempt to develop the necessary control strategies towards the mitigation of the disease in a timely way. Isolates of G. smithogilvyi were selected from three varieties of chestnut from the northeast of Portugal, and were characterized at the morphological, ecophysiological and molecular levels. Tests of pathogenicity and virulence were also developed. Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi was confirmed as the causal agent of brown rot disease in Portuguese chestnut varieties, which showed high susceptibility. The fungus showed high adaptability to chestnut substrates. The Portuguese isolates of G. smithogilvyi are morphologically and genetically similar to those from other countries, even though some physiological variability was observed among them.This work was funded by the project “ValorCast—Valorização da castanha e otimização da sua comercialização”, ref. PDR2020-101-032030, funded by the Fundo Europeu Agrícola de Desenvolvimento Rural (FEADER) and Portuguese Government, under the scope of Ação 1.1 «Grupos Operacionais», Medida 1. «Inovação», PDR 2020—Programa de Desenvolvimento Rural do Continente, as well as the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programe PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2020), SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020), CITAB (UID/AGR/04033/2020), and Inov4Agro (LA/P/0126/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio