Inhibition-based biosensor for cyanide detection – a preliminary study

Abstract in proceedings of the Fourth International Congress of CiiEM: Health, Well-Being and Ageing in the 21st Century, held at Egas Moniz’ University Campus in Monte de Caparica, Almada, from 3–5 June 2019.This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudio y análisis de un nuevo dispositivo para la rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal

Introduction: Currently, there are several types of devices and techniques for the rehabilitation of the tibiotarsal joint. However, complete and effective rehabilitation still falls short of expectations, since the existing devices are not adaptable to the level of torque and the number of repetitions and sessions to be performed, as these depend on each patient and on the stage at which he is finds. Objetives: To improve a mechatronic device for the rehabilitation of the tibiotarsal joint, the Therapheet. Methods: This study presents a review of the tibiotarsal joint rehabilitation protocols, as well as the classification of devices used for this purpose. Thus, the purpose is to improve the Therapheet, developed at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Minho, obtaining a viable, functional and safe rehabilitation device, standing out from the rest on the market, since it allows the execution of the six rehabilitation exercises. Results: It was obtained a prototype of equipment for rehabilitation of the tibiotarsal joint was obtained, proposing changes for improvement according to the specificities and requirements for such a device, having been subjected to a series of preliminary tests to verify its functionality, performance and suitability. The equipment proved to be functional, in terms of executing the ankle rehabilitation movements, however, it still manifests some flaws in terms of the user's stability, sudden movements, and above all dysfunctions arising from excess mass that make up its structure and limitations pneumatic technology adopted. Conclusions: The control of the amplitude of the characteristic angles of the movements of the foot is still done manually, so it would be significant to implement an automated system that would allow the control of the range of amplitude, according to the patient's rehabilitation phase. One option would be the implementation of a new technology, such as the insertion of servomotors.Introdução: Atualmente existem vários tipos de dispositivos e técnicas para a reabilitação da articulação tibiotársica. No entanto, a reabilitação completa e eficaz ainda está aquém das expectativas, uma vez que os dispositivos existentes não são adaptáveis ao nível do binário e do número de repetições e sessões a executar, pois estas dependem de cada paciente e do estádio em que este se encontra. Objetivos: Melhorar um dispositivo mecatrónico, de reabilitação da articulação tibiotársica, o Therapheet. Métodos: Neste estudo é apresentada uma revisão dos protocolos de reabilitação da articulação tibiotársica, assim como a classificação dos dispositivos utilizados para este propósito. Assim, a finalidade é aperfeiçoar o Therapheet, desenvolvido no Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica da Universidade do Minho, obtendo-se um dispositivo de reabilitação viável, funcional e seguro, destacando-se dos restantes no mercado, uma vez que permite a executação dos seis exercícios de reabilitação. Resultados: Foi obtido um protótipo de equipamento para reabilitação da articulação tibiotársica, propondo alterações de melhoria de acordo com as especificidades e os requisitos necessários para um dispositivo deste tipo, tendo sido submetido a uma série de testes preliminares para verificar a sua funcionalidade, desempenho e adequabilidade. O equipamento demonstrou ser funcional, a nível de execução dos movimentos de reabilitação do tornozelo, no entanto, ainda manifesta algumas falhas ao nível da estabilidade do utilizador, movimentos bruscos, e sobretudo disfunções provenientes de excesso de massa que compõe a sua estrutura e de limitações da tecnologia pneumática adotada. Conclusões: O controlo da amplitude dos ângulos característicos dos movimentos do pé ainda é feito manualmente, pelo que seria significativa a implementação de um sistema automatizado que possibilitasse o controlo da graduação da amplitude, de acordo com a fase de reabilitação do paciente. Uma opção seria a implementação de uma nova tecnologia, como a inserção de servomotores.Introducción: Actualmente, existen varios tipos de dispositivos y técnicas para la rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal. Sin embargo, la rehabilitación completa y efectiva aún no cumple con las expectativas, ya que los dispositivos existentes no son adaptables al nivel de torque y al número de repeticiones y sesiones a realizar, ya que dependen de cada paciente y la etapa en la que se encuentra. Objetivos: Mejorar un dispositivo mecatrónico para la rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal, el Therapheet. Métodos: Este estudio presenta una revisión de los protocolos de rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal, así como la clasificación de los dispositivos utilizados para este propósito. Por lo tanto, el propósito es mejorar un dispositivo mecatrónico desarrollado en el Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica de la Universidad de Minho, el Therapheet, obteniendo un dispositivo de rehabilitación viable, funcional y seguro, que se destaque del resto en el mercado, ya que permite la ejecución de los seis ejercicios de rehabilitación. Resultados: Se obtuvo un prototipo de equipo para la rehabilitación de la articulación tibiotarsal, proponiendo cambios para mejorar de acuerdo con las especificidades y requisitos de dicho dispositivo, habiendo sido sometido a un serie de pruebas preliminares para verificar su funcionalidad, rendimiento e idoneidad. El equipo demostró ser funcional, en términos de ejecución de los movimientos de rehabilitación de tobillo, sin embargo, todavía presenta algunos defectos en términos de estabilidad del usuario, movimientos bruscos y, sobre todo, disfunciones derivadas del exceso de masa que conforman su estructura y limitaciones. Tecnología neumática adoptada. Conclusións: El control de la amplitud de los ángulos característicos de los movimientos del pie todavía se realiza manualmente, por lo que sería importante implementar un sistema automatizado que permita el control del rango de amplitud, de acuerdo con la fase de rehabilitación del paciente. Una opción sería la implementación de una nueva tecnología, como la inserción de servomotores.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia with-in the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDP/04077/2020. It has been also supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020

Catalytic performance of bulk and colloidal Co/Al layered double hydroxide with Au nanoparticles in aerobic olefin oxidation

A Co/Al layered double hydroxide material was synthesized in both bulk and exfoliated (colloidal) forms. Anion exchange with methionine allowed immobilization of Au nanoparticles previously prepared by a biomimetic method using an anti-oxidant tea aqueous extract to reduce the Au salt solution. The catalytic performance of bulk and exfoliated clays Au-hybrid materials was assessed in aerobic olefin epoxidation. Both catalysts were very active towards the epoxide products and with very interesting substrate conversion levels after 80 h reaction time. The Au-exfoliated material, where the nanosheets work as large ligands, yielded higher product stereoselectivity in the case of limonene epoxidation. This arises from a confined environment around the Au nanoparticles wrapped by the clay nanosheets modulating access to the catalytic active centres by reagents. Mechanistic assessment was also accomplished for styrene oxidation by DFT methodspublishe

In Situ AFM Imaging of Adsorption Kinetics of DPPG Liposomes: A Quantitative Analysis of Surface Roughness

IF/00808/2013 (POPH, UE-FSE). M.R. acknowledges the financial support from the project PTDC/FIS-NAN/0909/2014, FCT, Portugal.The adsorption of intact liposomes on surfaces is of great importance for the development of sensors and drug delivery systems and, also, strongly dependent on the surface roughness where the liposomes are adsorbed. In this paper, we analyzed, by using atomic force microscopy in liquid, the evolution of the morphology of gold surfaces and of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) surfaces with different roughness during the adsorption of liposomes prepared with the synthetic phospholipid 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-[phospho-rac-(1-glycerol)]. Our results reveal the following. On smooth surfaces of Au only and Au with PAH, the liposomes open and deploy on the substrate, creating a supported-lipid bilayer, with the opening process being faster on the Au/PAH surface. On rough substrates of Au coated with polyelectrolyte multilayers, the liposomes were adsorbed intact on the surface. This was corroborated by power spectral density analysis that demonstrates the presence of superstructures with an average lateral size of 43 and 87 nm, in accordance with two and four times the mean liposome hydrodynamic diameter of about 21 nm. In addition, this work presents an adequate and effective methodology for analysis of adsorption phenomena of liposomes on rough surfaces.preprintepub_ahead_of_prin

Ciprofloxacin removal catalysed by conductive carbon materials

Current wastewater treatment technologies are not effective in the removal of pharmaceuticals. In anaerobic bioreactors, the electrons produced during the oxidation of organic matter can potentially be used for the biological reduction of pharmaceuticals. However, these reactions occur generally at a slow rate, due to electron transfer limitations, and might be accelerated through redox mediators (RM). Carbon nanomaterials (CM) have been effective RM in the biological reduction of other pollutants. For instance, CNT@2%Fe were found to increase 76-fold the biological reduction of Acid Orange 10. The magnetic properties of those composites allow their easier recover after the process by using a magnetic field. In this study, CNT and CNT@2%Fe were studied in the anaerobic removal of Ciprofloxacin (CIP). Furthermore, the potential contribution of adsorption and biodegradation processes for CIP removal was assessed. Toxicity assessment is highly important as it is desired that the products formed after the process are not more toxic than the initial compound. Moreover, the evaluation of the possible contribution of nanomaterials used in the process for the final toxic effect of threated solution, is crucial. In this sense, the detoxification of the treated solutions was evaluated towards Vibrio fischeri.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2019 unit and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Feeding Patterns of Potential West Nile Virus Vectors in South-West Spain

Background: Mosquito feeding behaviour determines the degree of vector–host contact and may have a serious impact on the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) epidemics. Feeding behaviour also interacts with other biotic and abiotic factors that affect virus amplification and transmission. Methodology/Principal Findings: We identified the origin of blood meals in five mosquito species from three different wetlands in SW Spain. All mosquito species analysed fed with different frequencies on birds, mammals and reptiles. Both ‘mosquito species’ and ‘locality’ explained a similar amount of variance in the occurrence of avian blood meals. However, ‘season of year’ was the main factor explaining the presence of human blood meals. The differences in diet resulted in a marked spatial heterogeneity in the estimated WNV transmission risk. Culex perexiguus, Cx. modestus and Cx. pipiens were the main mosquito species involved in WNV enzootic circulation since they feed mainly on birds, were abundant in a number of localities and had high vector competence. Cx. perexiguus may also be important for WNV transmission to horses, as are Cx. pipiens and Cx. theileri in transmission to humans. Estimates of the WNV transmission risk based on mosquito diet, abundance and vector competence matched the results of previous WNV monitoring programs in the area. Our sensitivity analyses suggested that mosquito diet, followed by mosquito abundance and vector competence, are all relevant factors in understanding virus amplification and transmission risk in the studied wild ecosystems. At some of the studied localities, the risk of enzootic circulation of WNV was relatively high, even if the risk of transmission to humans and horses was less. Conclusions/Significance: Our results describe for first time the role of five WNV candidate vectors in SW Spain. Interspecific and local differences in mosquito diet composition has an important effect on the potential transmission risk of WNV to birds, horses and humansPeer reviewe

Salud mental como efecto del desarrollo psicoafectivo en la infancia (Mental health as an effect on childhood emotional development)

Resumen:  Objetivo: Comprender cómo el concepto de salud mental se relaciona con las nociones de interferencias en el desarrollo y recuperación psicoafectiva. Método: El presente artículo tiene como método la revisión documental. Es un estudio sistemático, metódico y organizado de textos, artículos y documentos sobre el tema estableciendo un análisis del concepto de salud mental como efecto del desarrollo psicoafectivo a la luz de la teoría psicodinámica, y las categorías analíticas corresponden al concepto de salud mental, interferencias en el desarrollo y recuperación psicoafectiva. Resultados: La salud mental en la infancia y adolescencia es una preocupación reciente, pues se ha incrementado la incidencia de trastornos mentales en esta población. Las interferencias en el desarrollo se constituyen como dificultades en el curso esperado del desarrollo infantil repercutiendo en la salud mental. En Colombia, niños, niñas y adolescentes se ven expuestos a problemáticas que alteran el desarrollo psicoafectivo e impiden el despliegue de las potencialidades humanas y la consolidación de la personalidad. Conclusión: Se comprende que la salud mental es el efecto de los procesos de integración madurativo-constitucionales, mientras que las interferencias en el desarrollo como: abuso, maltrato, negligencia, abandono, entre otras, representan alteraciones en dicho proceso, pues afectan las condiciones biopsicosociales de los niños y niñas, por lo que la recuperación psicoafectiva se propone como una posibilidad para reestablecer la salud emocional y el balance óptimo indispensable para la superación de la adversidad y el curso esperado del desarrollo. Abstract:  Objective: To understand the relationship between mental health, notions of development interference and emotional development. Method: This paper has a documentary research method. It is based on a systematic, methodic and organized study of texts, articles and documents about the subject through a psychodynamic theory, it was established an analysis of the concept of mental health as an effect of emotional development and analytic categories, development interference and emotional recovery. Results: Because of the statistics of mental disorders increasing on infancy and adolescences, mental health is a recent worry. The development interferences as difficulties on normal child development are associated to the loss of mental health during infancy. In Colombia, children and adolescences are exposed to problems which affect their emotional development and block the deployment of human potentialities and the consolidation of personality. Conclusion: As a result, mental health is then known as the result of the maturatingconstitutional process, meanwhile the development interferences such as: abuse, mistreatment, negligence, neglect, among others, represent alterations in this maturating-constitutional process because all of them affects the child bio-psychosocial conditions, also according to these damages the emotional recovery turn into a proposal to restore the emotional health and the optimal balance necessary to overcome the adversity and promote the normal development on infancy

Health risk assessment from exposure to particles during packing in working environments

Packing of raw materials in work environments is a known source of potential health impacts (respiratory, cardiovascular) due to exposure to airborne particles. This activity was selected to test different exposure and risk assessment tools, aiming to understand the effectiveness of source enclosure as a strategy to mitigate particle release. Worker exposure to particle mass and number concentrations was monitored during packing of 7 ceramic materials in 3 packing lines in different settings, with low (L), medium (M) and high (H) degrees of source enclosure. Results showed that packing lines L and M significantly increased exposure concentrations (119-609 μg m-3 respirable, 1150-4705 μg m-3 inhalable, 24755-51645 cm-3 particle number), while nonsignificant increases were detected in line H. These results evidence the effectiveness of source enclosure as a mitigation strategy, in the case of packing of ceramic materials. Total deposited particle surface area during packing ranged between 5.4-11.8x105 μm2 min-1, with particles depositing mainly in the alveoli (51-64%) followed by head airways (27-41%) and trachea bronchi (7-10%). The comparison between the results from different risk assessment tools (Stoffenmanager, ART, NanoSafer) and the actual measured exposure concentrations evidenced that all of the tools overestimated exposure concentrations, by factors of 1.5-8. Further research is necessary to bridge the current gap between measured and modelled health risk assessments

Visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Maranhão, Brazil: evolution of an epidemic

The authors provide a brief report on the historical evolution of visceral leishmaniasis in the State of Maranhão, Brazil, evaluating possible factors for growth of the disease in the State and control measures by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to integrate health services finto the maintenance of control programs.Os autores fazem um breve relato da evolução histórica da leishmaniose visceral no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil, avaliando as possíveis causas da expansão da referida doença no Estado, assim como as medidas de controle adotadas pelo Ministério da Saúde objetivando a diminuição da incidência da mesma.Universidade Federal do Maranhão Faculdade de Medicina Departamento de PatologiaEscola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPMSciEL