Determinantes regionais da sobrevivência e da mortalidade das empresas : o caso português

O objectivo do presente trabalho consiste fundamentalmente, em identificar e analisar os principais determinantes da sobrevivência e da mortalidade das empresas em Portugal, no ano 2006, com recurso às técnicas próprias de árvores de classificação binária. No que diz respeito à mortalidade empresarial, o modelo utilizado, árvore de classificação binária demonstrou que quanto maior for o número de nascimentos reais de empresas num determinado sector maior será a mortalidade destas. Para os determinantes da sobrevivência, os nossos resultados evidenciam que o número médio do pessoal ao serviço nos nascimentos das empresas afecta as suas sobrevivências, ou seja, as empresas que iniciam as suas actividades com maior número de pessoal ao serviço têm maior probabilidade de sobreviver.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Marine organism sulfated polysaccharides exhibiting significant antimalarial activity and inhibition of red blood cell invasion by Plasmodium

The antimalarial activity of heparin, against which there are no resistances known, has not been therapeutically exploited due to its potent anticoagulating activity. Here, we have explored the antiplasmodial capacity of heparin-like sulfated polysaccharides from the sea cucumbers Ludwigothurea grisea and Isostichopus badionotus, from the red alga Botryocladia occidentalis, and from the marine sponge Desmapsamma anchorata. In vitro experiments demonstrated for most compounds significant inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth at low-anticoagulant concentrations. This activity was found to operate through inhibition of erythrocyte invasion by Plasmodium, likely mediated by a coating of the parasite similar to that observed for heparin. In vivo four-day suppressive tests showed that several of the sulfated polysaccharides improved the survival of Plasmodium yoelii-infected mice. In one animal treated with I. badionotus fucan parasitemia was reduced from 10.4% to undetectable levels, and Western blot analysis revealed the presence of antibodies against P. yoelii antigens in its plasma. The retarded invasion mediated by sulfated polysaccharides, and the ensuing prolonged exposure of Plasmodium to the immune system, can be explored for the design of new therapeutic approaches against malaria where heparin-related polysaccharides of low anticoagulating activity could play a dual role as drugs and as potentiators of immune responses

Modification and Optimization of Activated Carbons for Phenolic Compounds Removal

Phenols are generally considered to be one of the important organic pollutants discharged into the environment causing unpleasant taste and odour of drinking water. Development of inexpensive adsorbents from industrial wastes for the treatment of wastewaters is an important area in environmental sciences. For the phenolic compounds removal, it appears that the pH of the solution, the real surface area of the solid, and functional groups play a major role. The objective of this study was to screen various adsorbents for potential application for the removal of phenolic compounds for drinking water concentration range. The adsorbents used in this study were AC prepared from recycled PET and AC prepared from cork submitted to a reduction post treatment

Direct Nitrogen Enrichment of Activated Carbon Produced from Synthetic or Natural Precursor

The specific application of activated carbons (AC) as adsorbents for gases and vapours depends on the properties of pollutants to be removed, but the performance of the AC depends on various properties. If their porosity is the main parameter in gas adsorption, the chemical nature of their surface plays a significant role in liquid phase interactions and in their usefulness as catalyst support materials. Of particularly interest are the AC containing heteroatoms, such as oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, sulphur and nitrogen. Generally, the AC containing various nitrogen groups,present more basic character and increased adsorption of acidic agents is expected. These AC found widespread applications as adsorbents for hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, sulphur and carbon dioxide and as catalysts for selective oxidation of hydrogen sulphide

Microporosity evaluation of active carbon from polish lignite by the use of ethanol

Microporous activated carbons prepared by KOH chemical activation or steam activation from lignite were characterised by adsorption of N2 at 77 K and CO2 at 298 K. Subsequently, the adsorption of ethanol was carried out and complemented by adsorption of benzene and cyclohexane. The isotherm analysis included application of the αs method using ethanol reference data obtained here by also studying non-porous carbon blacks. The work confirmed that ethanol is an experimentally convenient adsorptive to use and leads to results in overall agreement with those obtained using other probe molecules. Of particular interest was the observation that ethanol can gain access to the whole microporosity even in the case of samples containing constricted micropore entrances

Activated Carbon Post Treatment - Influence on Phenolic Compounds Removal

● AC preparation from different precursors and their modification / optimisation with sodium hydroxide and urea to improve the adsorption capacities for phenolic compounds from the liquid phase. ● Comparative study of the influence of textural and chemical parameters of AC on the liquid phase adsorption

Modification and Optimization of Activated Carbons for Phenolic Compounds removals

Phenols are generally considered to be one of the important organic pollutants discharged into the environment causing unpleasant taste and odour of drinking water. Development of inexpensive adsorbents from industrial wastes for the treatment of wastewaters is an important area in environmental sciences. For the phenolic compounds removal, it appears that the pH of the solution, the real surface area of the solid, and functional groups play a major role. The objective of this study was to screen various adsorbents for potential application for the removal of phenolic compounds for drinking water concentration range. The adsorbents used in this study were AC prepared from recycled PET and AC prepared from cork submitted to a reduction post treatment

Modification and Optimization of Activated Carbons for Phenolic

Phenolic compounds are generally considered to be one of the important organic pollutants discharged into the environment causing unpleasant taste and odour of drinking water [1,2]. So, removal of phenolics compounds from industrial effluents is required before sewage disposal. The development of inexpensive adsorbents from industrial wastes for the treatment of wastewaters is an important area in environmental sciences. For the phenolic compounds removal, it appears that the pH of the solution, the real surface area of the solid and functional groups play a major role. Adsorption onto activated carbons (AC) is often considered, amongst the methods currently employed to remove inorganic and organic pollutants, from aqueous or gaseous phases, as the most efficient and one of the most economical. A detailed characterization of physical and chemical surface properties of an AC has become one of the most important issues in adsorption technology because it ascertain its suitability for one or more of the application fields