Investigar e inovar na educação em ciências para um futuro sustentável

No pico de uma real situação de emergência planetária, a educação torna-se a melhor aliada de uma luta global com vista a um desenvolvimento sustentável. Para concretizar a Década da Educação para um Futuro Sustentável, a investigação em educação em ciências e a correspondente inovação na formação de professores e no ensino, apresentam-se entre os contributos mais fortes, amplos e eficazes. Parte do nosso contributo, que se apresenta neste artigo, tem passado pelo desenvolvimento de alguns estudos situados no quadro teórico que sustenta a educação CTS e assentes em temáticas centrais para a educação para a sustentabilidade ambiental: os transportes e a mobilidade, o uso da água, a fome no mundo, a preservação da biodiversidade. A aposta tem-se dirigido para o ensino nos primeiros anos através do desenho de propostas didácticas validadas por especialistas e em sala de aula e utilizadas quer no ensino quer como ferramentas de formação inicial e contínua de professores

Urban wastewater as a source of reclaimed water for irrigation: barriers and future possibilities

Water resources are under pressure worldwide, resulting in scarcity and deterioration of freshwater quality. According to European directives, we could reduce the pressure on water resources in urban areas by increasing the reuse of treated wastewater, reducing the impact on water bodies, and promoting water recycling through multiple uses of urban wastewater. Besides the need to address water supply challenges, wastewater treatment systems show environmental stewardship and innovative practices. Using reclaimed water for agricultural irrigation is gaining interest because of the drought conditions experienced in Europe over the past few years. Furthermore, using treated wastewater for agricultural irrigation may help to restore nutrients (N and P) to natural biogeochemical cycles. This review highlights the importance of water reuse, current legislation, and existing technologies to implement in wastewater treatment systems to meet the minimum requirements to produce reclaimed water to reuse in agricultural irrigation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prevalence of conventional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome

Background: Primary prevention studies have shown that early detection and aggressive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) prevent cardiovascular events. It is not well described the prevalence of CRF in patients, at the moment of admission due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Aim: To determine the prevalence of CRF among patients admitted with ACS. Methods: We analysed 4871 patients admitted consecutively in our coronary care unit with a diagnosis of ACS and included in a prospective registry, from January 2002 to October 2013. We studied the prevalence of conventional risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, smoking, dyslipidaemia) and compared findings according to gender and type of ACS: ACS with ST elevation (STEMI), ACS without ST elevation (NSTEMI). Results: Men represented 75% (n=3658) of the total population, were younger than women (61.6±12,9 vs 70.9 ±11.8 years; p<0.001) and had more frequently body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 (70.9% vs 62.3%; p<0.001). The most frequent CRF was hypertension (62.4%; n=3038), followed by dyslipidaemia (50.6%, n=2467), smoking (43.2%; n=2106) and diabetes (27.2%; n=1324). In women, the more common CRF were hypertension (75%) and dyslipidaemia (51.2%), whereas in men were smoking (54.4%) and dyslipidaemia (50.5%). We identify, at least, one CRF in 92,4% of all patients and two or three risk factors in 58.1%. Women had more frequently 2 CRF than men (40.1% vs 36.3%; p=0.011), although mean had, more often, 4 CRF (8.9% vs 4.1%; p<0.001). Previous history of cerebrovascular disease was more observed in women (8.6% vs 6.1%; p=0.002), but men had more often history of previous revascularization (9.8% vs 6.8%; p<0.001). On admission men presented more frequently STEMI (50.8% vs 43.5%; p<0,001) and less frequently renal dysfunction (17.2% vs 39.6%; p<0.001) and anaemia (18.8% vs 33.3%; p<0.001). Hypertension was the most prevalent CFR as in patients STEMI (56.6%) as in NSTEMI patients (67.9%), followed by smoking (47.5%) in STEMI patients and by dyslipidaemia (55.7%) in NSTEMI patients. Conclusion: We found at least one CRF in 92.8% of patients and two or three in more than half. Hypertension emerged as the major CRF in both forms of presentation of ACS

Modified shock index - a strong preditor of outcome among patients presenting ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background: Prompt identification of higher risk patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention will allow a more assertive strategy and approach. Aim: To evaluate the modified shock index (MSI) - a ratio of heart rate (HR) to mean blood pressure (MAP), as a predictor of in hospital and 6-month mortality among patients (pts) admitted with STEMI. Methods: We analyzed retrospectively 2389 pts admitted consecutively in our coronary care unit with acute coronary syndrome, from July of 2009 to June 2014 and we selected those who presented with STEMI (n=1140). They were divided in two groups: group 1 – pts with MSI <1.3, n=1076, 94.4%); group 2 – pts with MSI ≥1.3 (n=64, 5.6%). For each group we compared clinical and laboratory features and adverse events. Primary endpoint was the occurrence of death at 6 months; follow-up was completed in 99% of patients. Results: Patients of group 2 were older (62±14 vs 67±14; p=0.003), more frequent women (19% vs 37.5%; p1 (18.0% vs 56.3%; p<0.001), Killip=4 (2.9% vs 28.1%; p<0.001), anaemia (20.9% vs 48.4%; p<0.001) and renal insufficiency (eGFR<60 ml/min) (21.8% vs 42.6%; p<0,001). They also presented more severe coronary disease - left main coronary artery or 3 vessels disease (16.3% vs 31.3%; p=0.005) and higher prevalence of moderate to severe systolic dysfunction (48.3% vs 68.9%; p=0.009). They required more often aminergic support (7.4% vs 50%; p<0.001), intra-aortic balloon pump (2.9% vs 38.3%; p<0.001) and mechanical ventilation (2.6% vs 17.4%; p<0.001). They also had higher prevalence of malignant arrhythmias (6.1% vs 15.6%; p= 0.008) and mechanical complications (1.7 vs 6.3%; p=0.031). Compared with 1st group, the 2nd group had 6.42 times higher in hospital mortality [OR 6.42; 95% CI (4.07 – 12.67)]; p <0.001] and 7.18 times higher 6-month mortality [OR 7.18; 95% CI (3.30 - 12.46)]; p <0.001]. After adjusting for different baseline characteristics in multivariate analysis, MSI ≥1.3 remained as independent predictor of overall 6-month mortality [OR 3.81, 95% CI (1.81-8.03), p<0.001]. Conclusion: Modified shock index ≥1.3 is a stronger predictor of in hospital and 6 month mortality among patients with STEMI

Rapid sintering of weathered municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash and rice husk for lightweight aggregate manufacturing and product properties

This study assessed the technical feasibility of formulating lightweight aggregates (LWA) from municipal solid waste incinerator bottom ash (IBA) and residual biomass. Weathered IBA (WIBA) particles larger than 8 mm contain a mixture of calcium-rich compounds and other silicates mainly composed of glass and synthetic and natural ceramics, with low contents of heavy metals and soluble salts. Unfired LWA were formulated with the particle size fraction of WIBA larger than 8mm and rice husk (RH) used as the bloating agent. Rapid sintering of the unfired spherical pellets at 1,100°C for 5min produced some cohesive sintered LWA, whose porosity, apparent particle density, water absorption, and compressive strength directly correlated with the percentage of RH added. The fired LWA formulated with 5wt% of RH showed the highest bloating index (115%) and porosity (53%) and the lowest apparent particle density (0.61Mgm−3) and compressive strength (1.4MPa). The addition of more than 5wt% of RH increased the internal temperature of the sintered aggregates and decreased the viscosity of the molten glassy materials, resulting in the collapse of the inner structure. Consequently the porosity decreased and the apparent density of the particles increased, thereby shrinking the volume of the fired LWA. According to the standard leaching test (EN 12457-4), both the unfired precursor and the sintered aggregates showed concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids in the leachates that were well below the safety limits established for their reuse as secondary material

High-grade atrioventricular block in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients: insights of a terciary centre

Background: High-grade atrioventricular block (HABV) is associated with poorer outcomes in the setting of acute coronary syndromes. Limited information is available on the incidence and death associated with HABV in STEMI patients (pts) receiving contemporary treatment. Aim: To evaluate the incidence of HABV and its impact on outcome of STEMI patients, in primary percutaneous coronary intervention era. Methods: We analysed retrospectively 1149 STEMI pts admitted, consecutively, in our coronary care unit, from July of 2009 to June 2014. They were divided in two groups: group 1 – pts without HABV, n=1057, 92%); group 2 – pts with HABV (n=92, 8%). For each group we compared clinical features and adverse events. Primary endpoint was the occurrence of death at 6 months; follow-up was completed in 99,8% of patients. Results: Patients of group 2 were older (62±13 vs 69±15;p1 (18.0 % vs 42.4%;p1 (71.4% vs 37,2%;p<0.001), left ventricular dysfunction (100% vs 34.8%;p<0.001), but less right ventricular dysfunction (7.1% vs 28.4%;p<0.001). Compared with IMI pts, AMI pts had higher risk of in hospital [OR 9.04, 95% CI (2.87-28.50);p<0.001] and 6-month mortality [OR 10.88; 95% CI (3.33 – 35.53);p<0.001]. After adjusting for different baseline characteristics in multivariate analysis, HABV patients had higher risk of overall 6-month mortality compared to those without HABV [OR 2.18, 95% CI (1.25-3.79),p=0.006]. Conclusion: Besides low incidence of HABV, this complication continues to have a high risk of in-hospital and 6-month mortality and occurring with AMI the risk increases significantly