Comparação de indicadores económico-financeiros na atratividade em investimentos de eficiência energética e energias renováveis

Os projetos de eficiência energética e de energias renováveis carecem de uma avaliação económica e financeira, que demostre a viabilidade de os mesmos serem executados. Os investidores necessitam de indicadores económicos que traduzam de forma clara e comparável a viabilidade do projeto. O objetivo deste trabalho consistiu em comparar projetos de eficiência energética e energias renováveis entre duas organizações com missões distintas. Por um lado, temos uma indústria (Granorte) que tem o objetivo de ser economicamente competitiva. Por outro lado, temos uma instituição particular de solidariedade social (ADPVT) que visa responder às necessidades da sociedade. Ao longo de 6 meses (de fevereiro a agosto de 2018), o aluno recolheu dados de ambas as organizações para a finalidade deste estudo comparativo. Em suma, os projetos são avaliados com base em indicadores económico-financeiros, tais como o Valor Atual Líquido, a Taxa Interna de Retorno e o Período de Retorno do Investimento. Conclui-se que todos os projetos de eficiência energética podem ser transversais às duas organizações (e.g iluminação). A indústria tem uma capacidade financeira maior do que a IPSS, isso é notável através do investimento no projeto C. O projeto D da ADPVT não é recomendável a sua execução tendo em conta o período de retorno do investimento.Energy efficiency and renewable energy projects require an economic and financial assessment to show their viability. Investors need economic indicators that clearly and comparably translate the project viability. The present work has the objective of comparing different projects in two organizations with different missions. In one hand, we have an industry, which aims to be economically competitive. On the other hand, we have a social solidarity private institution (IPSS) that aims to answer to the social needs of our society. The present work was developed in a six months period, from February to August 2018. In short, projects were evaluated based on economic and financial indicators, such as the Net Present Value, the Internal Rate of Return and the Return of the Investment (Payback Period). In conclusion, energy efficiency projects can be the same type in both organizations (e.g lightning systems). The industry company has a large financial capability to apply funds to these projects than social institution. Project C is the example. Project D from ADPVT isn´t recommended for execution taking into account the return of investment.Mestrado em Sistemas Energéticos Sustentávei

Waste-to-energy technology for the brazilian context: a review article

Waste-to-Energy Technologies (WtE) have been widely used in European countries, in Japan, in some US cities, and have been growing in China. Currently, in Brazil, there are no WtE power plants in operation, but there are studies on the feasibility of this technology. The Systematic Bibliographic Review (SBR) presented in this mini-review article appears as a result of a process of prospecting documents in the following databases: Science Direct, Web of Science and Scopus. The purpose was to map the articles of the last five years on the applications of WtE technologies in Brazil. From the selection of articles relevant to the research, these documents were registered and cataloged, as well as their qualitative and quantitative analyses. During the systematization process, it was possible to raise hypotheses about which professionals have been working the most on this topic, the journals in which these researches are being published and the keywords most addressed for these case studies. In addition, it was possible to identify the characteristics of the publications related to the theme, the central axes of analysis of the studies and the primary techniques studied for the Brazilian reality. It was also considered part of the results of the present work, the systematization of the main definitions of WtE, the presentation of the main WtE technologies operations, and the exposition of the benefits and impacts of each of these technologies

Multi-step subcritical water extracts of fucus vesiculosus l. And codium tomentosum stackhouse: Composition, health-benefits and safety

PO-CI-01-0145FEDER-030240Mental health and active aging are two of the main concerns in the 21st century. To search for new neuroprotective compounds, extracts of Codium tomentosum Stackhouse and Fucus vesiculosus L. were obtained through multi-step (four step) subcritical water extraction using a temperature gradient. The safety assessment of the extracts was performed by screening pharmaceutical compounds and pesticides by UHPLC-MS/MS, and iodine and arsenic levels by ICP-MS. Although the extracts were free of pharmaceutical compounds and pesticides, the presence of arsenic and high iodine contents were found in the first two extraction steps. Thus, the health-benefits were only evaluated for the fractions obtained in steps 3 and 4 from the extraction process. These fractions were tested against five brain enzymes implicated in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and major depression etiology as well as against reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, having been observed a strong enzyme inhibition and radical scavenging activities for the step 4 fractions from both seaweed species. Regarding the variation of the chemical composition during the extraction, step 1 fractions were the richest in phenolic compounds. With the increase in temperature, Maillard reaction, caramelization and thermo-oxidation occurred, and the resulting products positively affected the antioxidant capacity and the neuroprotective effects.publishersversionpublishe

A assistência psíquica no Sistema Único de Saúde: um relato de experiência

The aim was to describe an experience report about the assistance offered by the Unified Health System to psychiatric patients and how this support network can be fundamental in their lives. This is a qualitative, descriptive research, which will report the experience lived in Primary Care correlated with the theoretical aspects of the course, in the context of Mental Health. Some evidenced literatures were selected. Thus, they were used to search for articles on the Google Scholar and Scientific Electronic Library Online search platforms. For the discussion, the two categories were listed: Primary Care in mental health care and multi- and interdisciplinarity in psychiatric and mental health care, which were later analyzed and claimed. It is concluded that the psychic assistance provided to patients with mental problems is essential for them to achieve: autonomy, freedom, exercise their citizenship, equity and access to quality health services.O objetivo principal foi descrever um relato de experiência acerca da assistência ofertada pelo Sistema Único de Saúde aos pacientes psiquiátricos e como essa rede de apoio pode ser fundamental em suas vidas. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, do tipo descritiva, que relatará a experiência vivenciada na Atenção Primária correlacionadas com as vertentes teóricas do curso, no âmbito da Saúde Mental. Foram selecionadas algumas literaturas evidenciadas. Desse modo, foram utilizadas para busca de artigos nas plataformas de pesquisa Google Acadêmico e Scientific Electronic Library Online. Para a discussão, foram elencadas as duas categorias: A Atenção Primária na assistência à saúde mental e a multi e interdisciplinaridade no cuidado psiquiátrico e de saúde mental, sendo que, posteriormente, os mesmos foram analisados e pleiteados. Conclui-se que a assistência psíquica prestada aos pacientes com problemas mentais é fundamental para que eles consigam: autonomia, liberdade, exercer sua cidadania, equidade e acesso à serviços de saúde de qualidade

Combining modeling tools to identify conservation priority areas: A case study of the last large-bodied avian frugivore in the Atlantic Forest

Applicability of modeling tools to tackle conservation problems is key for conservation planning. However, modeling papers regarding real-world conservation issues are scarce. Here, we combined two modeling tools to identify priority areas in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, focusing on the last large-bodied frugivorous bird in the region, the red-billed curassow (Crax blumenbachii). We used population viability analysis (PVA) to determine (1) the minimum viable population size under different hunting scenarios; and (2) the minimum critical forest patch size required to maintain viable populations. We used ecological niche modeling (ENM) to identify remnants that retain suitable environmental conditions to ensure the long-term persistence of this species. We overlapped the outputs from PVA and ENM models to identify priority areas for curassows. Under our best-case scenario, 56 individuals would suffice to maintain a viable population and 71 forest patches located within the species' known range are above the critical size of 3141 ha. In the worst-case scenario, at least 138 individuals would be required to maintain a viable population in forest patches larger than 9500 ha, corresponding to only 20 Atlantic Forest fragments within the species range. Among these, 17 presented median habitat suitability values higher than 0.70, eight of which were selected as priority areas for law enforcement and nine as priority areas for reintroduction. We encourage conservation biologists and land managers to combine modeling tools which can be guided by our conservation planning framework. This approach is promising to inform long-term conservation planning of a flagship species and its entire ecosystem

Portuguese recommendations for the use of biological and targeted synthetic diseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis – 2020 update

Objective: To update the recommendations for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs and tsDMARDs), endorsed by the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology (SPR). Methods: These treatment recommendations were formulated by Portuguese rheumatologists taking into account previous recommendations, new literature evidence and consensus opinion. At a national meeting, in a virtual format, three of the ten previous recommendations were re-addressed and discussed after a more focused literature review. A first draft of the updated recommendations was elaborated by a team of SPR rheumatologists from the SPR rheumatoid arthritis study group, GEAR. The resulting document circulated among all SPR rheumatologists for discussion and input. The level of agreement with each of all the recommendations was anonymously voted online by all SPR rheumatologists. Results: These recommendations cover general aspects such as shared decision, treatment objectives, systematic assessment of disease activity and burden and its registry in Reuma.pt. Consensus was also achieved regarding specific aspects such as initiation of bDMARDs and tsDMARDs, assessment of treatment response, switching and definition of persistent remission. Conclusion: These recommendations may be used for guidance of treatment with bDMARDs and tsDMARDs in patients with RA. As more evidence becomes available and more therapies are licensed, these recommendations will be updated.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Integrating the pastoral component in agricultural systems

This paper aims to discuss the impact of the introduction of pastures and grazing animals in agricultural systems. For the purposes of this manuscript, we focus on within-farm integrated crop-livestock systems (ICLS), typical of Southern Brazil. These ICLS are designed to create and enhance the synergisms and emergent properties have arisen from agricultural areas where livestock activities are integrated with crops. We show that the introduction of the crop component will affect less the preceding condition than the introduction of the livestock component. While the introduction of crops in pastoral systems represents increasing diversity of the plant component, the introduction of animals would represent the entry of new flows and interactions within the system. Thus, given the new complexity levels achieved from the introduction of grazing, the probability of arising emergent properties is theoretically much higher. However, grazing management is vital in determining the success or failure of such initiative. The grazing intensity practiced during the pasture phase would affect the canopy structure and the forage availability to animals. In adequate and moderate grazing intensities, it is possible to affirm that livestock combined with crops (ICLS) has a potential positive impact. As important as the improvements that grazing animals can generate to the soil-plant components, the economic resilience remarkably increases when pasture rotations are introduced compared with purely agriculture systems, particularly in climate-risk situations. Thus, the integration of the pastoral component can enhance the sustainable intensification of food production, but it modifies simple, pure agricultural systems into more complex and knowledge-demanding production systems

Predictors of cardiac involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Copyright © 2023 Bandeira, Dourado, Melo, Martins, Fraga, Ferraro, Saraiva, Sousa, Parente, Soares, Correia, Almeida, Dinis, Pinto, Oliveira Pinheiro, Rato, Beirão, Samões, Santos, Mazeda, Chícharo, Faria, Neto, Lourenço, Brites, Rodrigues, Silva-Dinis, Dias, Araújo, Martins, Couto, Valido, Santos, Barreira, Fonseca and Campanilho-Marques. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Objectives: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a group of rare disorders that can affect the heart. This work aimed to find predictors of cardiac involvement in IIM. Methods: Multicenter, open cohort study, including patients registered in the IIM module of the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt/Myositis) until January 2022. Patients without cardiac involvement information were excluded. Myo(peri)carditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, conduction abnormalities, and/or premature coronary artery disease were considered. Results: 230 patients were included, 163 (70.9%) of whom were females. Thirteen patients (5.7%) had cardiac involvement. Compared with IIM patients without cardiac involvement, these patients had a lower bilateral manual muscle testing score (MMT) at the peak of muscle weakness [108.0 ± 55.0 vs 147.5 ± 22.0, p=0.008] and more frequently had oesophageal [6/12 (50.0%) vs 33/207 (15.9%), p=0.009] and lung [10/13 (76.9%) vs 68/216 (31.5%), p=0.001] involvements. Anti-SRP antibodies were more commonly identified in patients with cardiac involvement [3/11 (27.3%) vs 9/174 (5.2%), p=0.026]. In the multivariate analysis, positivity for anti-SRP antibodies (OR 104.3, 95% CI: 2.5-4277.8, p=0.014) was a predictor of cardiac involvement, regardless of sex, ethnicity, age at diagnosis, and lung involvement. Sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. Conclusion: Anti-SRP antibodies were predictors of cardiac involvement in our cohort of IIM patients, irrespective of demographical characteristics and lung involvement. We suggest considering frequent screening for heart involvement in anti-SRP-positive IIM patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio