Recursos pessoais e contextuais preditores de perceção de saúde na adolescência

Self-Rated Health is the product of the interaction between personal characteristics and contextual conditions. It reflects the resources of the person, and it consists in a dynamic evaluation, i.e., a personal judgment that reflects both a point-in-time status and a developmental process. The Developmental Assets® framework provides a holistic approach in to the understanding of development, which focuses on resources that can be explored both at individual and contextual levels, in order to foster a healthy development. The purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between adolescents’ Perception of Health and their experience of Developmental Assets. A convenience sample of 503 Portuguese students was evaluated, mean age of 16 years (SD = 1.2), 63% of female gender. Results indicate that better Health Perception is associated with greater experience of Developmental Assets. Results suggest the impact of a subset of Developmental Assets on Health prediction, with Internal Assets being the strongest predictors. Results suggest the theoretical and practical utility of the Developmental Assets® framework for the understanding of Health Perception in adolescents.La Percepción de Salud es el producto de la interacción entre características personales y condiciones contextuales. Esto refleja los recursos de la persona, así como consiste en una evaluación dinámica, un juicio que refleja el estado y el proceso de desarrollo. El Modelo de Recursos del Desarrollo - Developmental Assets® - proporciona un enfoque holístico en la comprensión del desarrollo, foco en Recursos que pueden ser explorados tanto a nivel individual, como contextual para propiciar a los adolescentes un desarrollo saludable. El objetivo del presente estudio consiste en explorar la relación entre la Percepción de Salud y la experiencia de Recursos del Desarrollo. Se evaluó una muestra de conveniencia constituida por 503 estudiantes portugueses, con edades comprendidas entre los 13 y 19 años (M = 16, DE = 1.2), mayoritariamente del género femenino (63%). Los resultados indican que la mejor percepción de la salud está asociada a la mayor experiencia de recursos del desarrollo. Los datos sugieren el impacto de un subconjunto de Recursos en la predicción de Salud, constituyendo los Recursos Internos los predictores más fuertes. Se sugiere la utilidad teórica y práctica de la utilización del Modelo de Recursos del Desarrollo para la comprensión de la Percepción de Salud en adolescentes.A Perceção de Saúde é o produto da interação entre características pessoais e condições contextuais. Esta reflete os recursos da pessoa, assim como consiste numa avaliação dinâmica, um julgamento que reflete estado e processo de desenvolvimento. O Modelo de Recursos do Desenvolvimento – Developmental Assets® – proporciona uma abordagem holística na compreensão do desenvolvimento, foco em Recursos que podem ser explorados quer ao nível individual, quer contextual de modo a propiciar aos adolescentes um desenvolvimento saudável. O objetivo do presente estudo consiste em explorar a relação entre a Perceção de Saúde e a experiência de Recursos do Desenvolvimento. Foi avaliada uma amostra de conveniência constituída por 503 estudantes portugueses, com idades compreendidas entre os 13 e 19 anos (M = 16; DP = 1,2), maioritariamente do género feminino (63%). Os resultados indicam que melhor Perceção de Saúde está associada a maior experiência de Recursos do Desenvolvimento. Os dados sugerem o impacto de um subconjunto de Recursos na predição de Saúde, constituindo os Recursos Internos os preditores mais fortes. Sugere-se a utilidade teórica e prática da utilização do Modelo de Recursos do Desenvolvimento para a compreensão da Perceção de Saúde em adolescentes

Towards efficient ciprofloxacin adsorption using magnetic hybrid nanoparticles prepared with κ-, ι-, and λ-carrageenan

The efficient removal of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) from aqueous samples using magnetic nanosorbents prepared using three sulfated polysaccharides, κ-, ι- and λ-carrageenan and an alkoxysilane agent containing a reactive epoxide ring is described. The prepared nanosorbents were characterized in detail using FTIR spectroscopy, solid-state 29Si and 13C NMR spectroscopy and elemental microanalysis. The synthesis method was more effective for incorporating higher amounts of κ-carrageenan in the siliceous shells. Although being less sulfated, κ-carrageenan is cheaper than the other carrageenan tested. The CIP adsorption was a cooperative process, well described by the Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacities of 878, 969 and 865 mg/g for κ-, ι- and λ-carrageenan sorbents, respectively. Overall, the produced magnetic nanosorbents are among the best magnetic systems with high adsorptive efficiency for CIP. It is suggested that protonated CIP molecules are exchanged with ester sulfate counterions of carrageenan at the particles’ surface as the main pathway for CIP adsorption. The adsorption process was exothermic and entropically favorable for the three sorbents. However, at 298 K, the adsorption was spontaneous for κ-carrageenan-based sorbents and non-spontaneous for ι- and λ-carrageenan particles. The magnetic sorbents could be reused and maintained their ability towards CIP removal up to four cycles. The removal efficiency in wastewater was enhanced with the sorbent dose. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] Magnetic carrageenan nanosorbents were prepared using three carrageenan polysaccharides (κ-, ι-, and λ-carrageenan). The resulting magnetic particles removed the antibiotic ciprofloxacin efficiently from ultra-pure water and wastewater samples. Magnetic features enabled the fast magnetic separation of the nanosorbents from water.publishe

The Effect of Light Wavelength on CO2 Capture, Biomass Production and Nutrient Uptake by Green Microalgae: A Step Forward on Process Integration and Optimisation

Microalgae have drawn the attention of several researchers as an alternative to the traditional physicochemical CO2 capture methods, since they can convert CO2 and water into organic matter and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Microalgal growth can be improved by changing light supply, such as light intensity, wavelength, and photoperiod. In this study, the effect of different light wavelengths on CO2 capture, nutrient removal from a synthetic effluent and biomass production of Chlorella vulgaris, Tetradesmus obliquus and Neochloris oleoabundans was studied. The experiments were conducted with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with different wavelengths: 380-750 nm (white), 620-750 nm (red) and 450-495 nm (blue). The maximum specific growth rate was obtained by N. oleoabundans with white LEDs (0.264 +/- 0.005 d(-1)), whereas the maximum biomass productivity (14 +/- 4 mg(dw) L-1 d(-1)) and CO2 fixation rate (11.4 mg(CO2) L-1 d(-1)) were obtained by C. vulgaris (also with white LEDs). Nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies obtained under white light conditions were also the highest for the three studied microalgae

A First-order e-approximation algorithm for linear programs and a second-order implementation

This article presents an algorithm that finds an e-feasible solution relatively to some constraints of a linear program. The algorithm is a first-order feasible directions method with constant stepsize that attempts to find the minimizer of an exponential penalty function. When embedded with bisection search, the algorithm allows for the approximated solution of linear programs. We present applications of this framework to set-partitioning problems and report some computational results with first-order and second-order implementations

Application of the volume algorithm to the approximate and exact solving of the asymmetric

Neste artigo apresentamos resultados computacionais obtidos com o algoritmo volumétrico, uma variante do método do subgradiente, na resolução da relaxação linear que decorre da formulação estendida de fluxo desagregado para o problema do Caixeiro Viajante Assimétrico. As experiências computacionais foram realizadas numa selecção de instâncias da TSPLib e num conjunto de instâncias geradas aleatoriamente de acordo com o Dimacs Implementation Challenge. Também experimentámos a aplicação de heurísticas durante a execução do algoritmo volumétrico. As experiências computacionais mostram sucesso moderado com instâncias de média dimensão.In this paper we present computational results with the volume algorithm, a variant of the subgradient method, when solving the linear relaxation that stems from the extended disaggregated °ow formulation of the Asymmetric Travelling Salesman Problems. Computational experiments were performed on a selection of instances from the TSPLib and some randomly generated instances according to the Dimacs Implementation Challenge. We have also tried ATSP heuristics within the volume algorithm. Computational experiments show moderated success on medium-scale instances.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - Projecto POCTI/MAT/14243/199

Identification of gas sparging regimes for granular anaerobic membrane bioreactor to enable energy neutral municipal wastewater treatment

In this study, conventional and novel gas sparging regimes have been evaluated for a municipal wastewater granular anaerobic MBR to identify how best to achieve high sustainable fluxes whilst simultaneously conserving energy demand. Using continuous gas sparging in combination with continuous filtration, flux was strongly dependent upon shear rate, which imposed a considerable energy demand. Intermittent gas sparging was subsequently evaluated to reduce energy demand whilst delivering an analogous shear rate. For a flux of 5 L m-2 h-1, a fouling rate below 1 mbar h-1 was sustained with low gas sparging frequency and gas sparging rates. However, to sustain low fouling rates for fluxes above 10 L m-2 h-1, a gas sparging frequency of 50 % (i.e. 10 s on/10 s off) and an increase in gas sparging rate is needed, indicating the importance of shear rate and gas sparging frequency. An alternative gas sparging regime was subsequently tested in which filtration was conducted without gas sparging, followed by membrane relaxation for a short period coupled with gas sparging, to create a pseudo dead-end filtration cycle. Fouling characterisation evidenced considerable cake fouling rates of 200-250 mbar h-1 within each filtration cycle. However, long term fouling transient analysis demonstrated low residual fouling resistance, suggesting the cake formed during filtration was almost completely reversible, despite operating at a flux of 15 L m-2 h-1, which was equivalent or higher than the critical flux of the suspension. It is therefore asserted that by operating filtration in the absence of shear, fouling is less dependent upon the preferential migration of the sub-micron particle fraction and is instead governed by the compressibility of the heterogeneous cake formed, which enables higher operational fluxes to be achieved. Comparison of energy demand for the three gas sparging regimes to the energy recovered from municipal wastewater AnMBR demonstrated that only by using dead-end filtration can energy neutral wastewater treatment be realised which is the ultimate ambition for the technology

Effects of long-term exposure to colloidal gold nanorods on freshwater microalgae

Gold nanorods have shown to pose adverse effects to biota. Whether these effects may be potentiated through prolonged exposure has been rarely studied. Therefore, this work aimed at evaluating the effects of long-term exposure to sublethal levels of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) coated gold nanorods (Au-NR) on two freshwater microalgae: Chlorella vulgaris and Raphidocelis subcapitata. These algae were exposed to several concentrations of Au-NR for 72 h and, afterwards, to the corresponding EC5,72h, for growth, during 16 days. The sensitivity of the two algae to Au-NR was assessed at days 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 (D0, D4, D8, D12 and D16, respectively) after a 72-h exposure to several concentrations of Au-NR. At the end of the assays, effects on yield and population growth rate were evaluated. Raphidocelis subcapitata was slightly more sensitive to Au-NR than C. vulgaris: EC50,72h,D0 for yield were 48.1 (35.3-60.9) and 70.5 (52.4-88.6) μg/L Au-NR, respectively while for population growth rate were above the highest tested concentrations (53 and 90 μg/L, respectively). For R. subcapitata the long-term exposure to Au-NR increased its sensitivity to this type of nanostructures. For C. vulgaris, a decrease on the effects caused by Au-NR occurred over time, with no significant effects being observed for yield or population growth rate at D12 and D16. The capping agent CTAB caused reductions in yield above 30% (D0) for both algae at the concentration matching the one at the highest Au-NR tested concentration. When exposed to CTAB, the highest inhibition values were 69% (D4) and 21.3% (D8) for R. subcapitata, and 64% (D12) and 21% (D16) to C. vulgaris, for yield and population growth rate, respectively. These results suggested long-term exposures should be included in ecological risk assessments since short-term standard toxicity may either under- or overestimate the risk posed by Au-NR.publishe

Combined effects of bird extinctions and introductions in oceanic islands : Decreased functional diversity despite increased species richness

Aim We analyse the consequences of species extinctions and introductions on the functional diversity and composition of island bird assemblages. Specifically, we ask if introduced species have compensated the functional loss resulting from species extinctions. Location Seventy-four oceanic islands (> 100 km(2)) in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Time period Late Holocene. Major taxa studied Terrestrial and freshwater bird species. Methods We compiled a species list per island (extinct and extant, native and introduced), and then compiled traits per species. We used single-trait analyses to assess the effects of past species extinctions and introductions on functional composition. Then, we used probabilistic hypervolumes in trait space to calculate functional richness and evenness of original versus present avifaunas of each island (and net change), and to estimate how functionally unique are extinct and introduced species on each island. Results The net effects of extinctions and introductions were: an increase in average species richness per island (alpha diversity), yet a decline in diversity across all islands (gamma diversity); an average increase in the prevalence of most functional traits, yet an average decline in functional richness and evenness, associated with the fact that extinct species were functionally more unique (when compared to extant natives) than introduced species. Main conclusions Introduced species are on average offsetting (and even surpassing) the losses of extinct species per island in terms of species richness, and they are increasing the prevalence of most functional traits. However, they are not compensating for the loss of functional richness due to extinctions. Current island bird assemblages are becoming functionally poorer, having lost unique species and being composed of functionally more redundant species. This is likely to have cascading repercussions on the functioning of island ecosystems. We highlight that taxonomic and functional biodiversity should be assessed simultaneously to understand the global impacts of human activities.Peer reviewe

Improve protective efficacy of a TB DNA-HSP65 vaccine by BCG priming

Vaccines are considered by many to be one of the most successful medical interventions against infectious diseases. But many significant obstacles remain, such as optimizing DNA vaccines for use in humans or large animals. The amount of doses, route and easiness of administration are also important points to consider in the design of new DNA vaccines. Heterologous prime-boost regimens probably represent the best hope for an improved DNA vaccine strategy. In this study, we have shown that heterologous prime-boost vaccination against tuberculosis (TB) using intranasal BCG priming/DNA-HSP65 boosting (BCGin/DNA) provided significantly greater protection than that afforded by a single subcutaneous or intranasal dose of BCG. In addition, BCGin/DNA immunization was also more efficient in controlling bacterial loads than were the other prime-boost schedules evaluated or three doses of DNA-HSP65 as a naked DNA. The single dose of DNA-HSP65 booster enhanced the immunogenicity of a single subcutaneous BCG vaccination, as evidenced by the significantly higher serum levels of anti-Hsp65 IgG2a Th1-induced antibodies, as well as by the significantly greater production of IFN-γ by antigen-specific spleen cells. The BCG prime/DNA-HSP65 booster was also associated with better preservation of lung parenchyma

Bird extinctions and introductions are causing taxonomic and functional homogenization in oceanic islands

Humans are quickly reshaping species assemblages through the loss and gain of species at multiple scales. Extinctions and introductions are non-random events known to be contributing to taxonomic homogenization. However, it is not yet clear if they also promote functional homogenization. Here, we assess whether extinctions and introductions are leading to taxonomic and functional homogenization of 64 oceanic island bird assemblages, belonging to 11 archipelagos. Based on island lists of extinct and extant, native and introduced species and on species traits, we use probabilistic hypervolumes in trait space to calculate functional beta-diversity before and after extinctions and introductions. Bird extinctions and introductions promoted taxonomic and functional homogenization on most oceanic islands. These results follow our expectations, considering previous studies on taxonomic homogenization, the predictable link between taxonomic and functional diversity, and the trait similarity of many introduced species, often adapted to anthropogenic habitats, linked to the non-randomness of bird introductions on islands. Taxonomic homogenization was more common across than within archipelagos, also corroborating previous studies describing stronger homogenization on islands that are further apart and thus had distinctive native assemblages. Surprisingly, the widespread loss of species with similar traits, namely large flightless birds, often led to functional differentiation across archipelagos. However, this differentiation effect tended to be offset by the homogenizing effect of introductions. Functional homogenization increases the vulnerability to global changes, by reducing the variability of responses to disturbance and thus the resilience of ecosystem services, posing a threat to human societies on islands. Our results highlight subtle variations in taxonomic and functional beta-diversity of bird assemblages in oceanic islands, providing important insights to allow a better assessment of how anthropogenic changes might alter ecosystem functioning, which is vital to develop effective long-term conservation strategies. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.Peer reviewe