Different approaches to the development and use of carbon materials for water treatment purposes

Tese de doutoramento, Química (Química Tecnológica), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2018The work presented in this thesis consisted in the preparation of porous materials and in their application in adsorption processes of organic compounds in aqueous phase, and bacteria adhesion. After the theoretical introduction (Chapters II to VI), the results presented in Chapter VII correspond to the study centred in the preparation of activated carbons from an apple tree branches char by chemical activation with potassium carbonate and hydroxide, under different experimental conditions. The employed methodology allowed to obtain materials with a high global preparation yield and to reduce the volatile content of the precursor. The activated carbons synthesized with potassium carbonate and hydroxide present a highly developed porosity, with high micropore volumes and specific surface areas (values up to 1920 cm3 g-1 and 2445 cm3 g-1, respectively). The impact of activation on the morphology of the carbons was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and it was observed that the more severe activation with KOH led to a higher consumption of the carbonaceous matrix and an homogenization of the particle size, in comparison to the activation with carbonate. The performance of the materials in the adsorption of the pharmaceutical compounds atenolol and tiamulin hydrogen fumarate was comparable and better than that of the commercial samples tested. The carbons with higher adsorption capacity were the KOH activated samples, which allowed for the removal of 556 mg g-1 of atenolol and of approximately 250 mg g-1 of tiamulin, in equilibrium conditions. The supermicropores volume was important for atenolol adsorption and some impact of the carbons’s surface chemistry on the process was observed. The adsorption of the antibiotic tiamulin also occurred on the supermicropores of the solids and the mesopore volume of carbon NS facilitated its diffusion. In Chapter VIII the performance of activated carbons with different morphologies in the adsorption of two organic pollutants was assessed, and the role of morphology in thermal treatment regeneration processes was evaluated. The activated carbon cloth was characterized in terms of texture, morphology and surface chemistry, together with commercial samples in the granular and powdered forms. The carbon felt presents an open structure composed by fibres of high diameter. The porosity of this solid revealed to be mostly composed by supermicropores easily accessible at the surface of the material fibres. The carbons were tested in liquid phase adsorption experiments for the removal of paracetamol and clofibric acid. The diffusion of these species was facilitated in the cloth because the micropores are at the matrix surface, and in carbon NS due to the high mesopore volume. Both pollutants were efficiently adsorbed by the solids up to maximum adsorbed quantities of 323 mg g-1 and 568 mg g-1 of paracetamol and clofibric acid, respectively. Regeneration by thermal treatment was studied in cyclic saturation-regeneration assays. The more moderate conditions of regeneration (heating at 400 ºC during 1 h) were more efficient in recovering the porosity of the samples. The regeneration treatment was more efficient in the case of the cloth and granular carbon that retained some porosity and approximately 50 % of the initial adsorption capacity up to the third reuse.In regards to the study of bacteria adhesion of Escherichia coli cells in activated carbons, the results in Chapter IX reveal that the powdered carbon had a clear better performance removing up to 4log of cells per cm3 of suspension after 48 h of contact time. The adhesion mechanism in this solid seems to occur in two stages: an initial adhesion favoured by attractive electrostatic interactions, and immobilization of bacteria cells due to the formation of carbon-cell-cell carbon agglomerates. No adhesion of microorganisms occurred on the oxidized sample, suggesting that the establishment of initial repulsive interactions was sufficient to avoid colonization of the sample. The formation of cell + carbon structures was more difficult when the carbon particles were saturated with caffeine. At last, in the study reported in Chapter X, tannin polymers obtained from Mimosa tree bark were characterized, and the potential of the materials as adsorbents of several organic compounds in aqueous phase was evaluated. The use of higher surfactant amounts promoted the formation of wider mesopores and lower phenolic content. One of the samples was washed with a hydrochloric acid solution, and the treatment caused a slight widening of the mesopores with some porous volume loss, and without loss in phenolic content. A detailed study of methylene blue adsorption in aqueous phase was performed, and then the materials were tested for the removal of a set of pharmaceutical compounds and a plasticizer, highly consumed worldwide. The two tested samples showed adsorbent properties removing up to a maximum amount of 152 mg g-1 of pollutant, in equilibrium conditions. The good performance of the polymers was attributed at a great extent to the aromatic character of the materials. The molecular species with smaller molar volume, and with lower width were adsorbed in higher amounts suggesting a packing of the species in the polymers mesopores

Impact Assessment and Recommendations: Making Sense H2020 CAPS Project

The aim of this report is to address the impact of Making Sense, considering not only citizens and communities involved on the ground level, but also the organizations behind it. We chose to aggregate, summarize and break down our review into five dimensions, adopting a STEEP model and looking into sub-topics inside each of them: Social (Values, representations and practices; Community extension effects; Collective events as awareness raising; Internal communication; Inclusion and fairness; Exchanges and synergies with other organisations), Technoscientific (Open hardware, software and other open tools; Training and education; Materials and tools for local communities; Technical and scientific outputs; Open source platforms), Economic (New entrepreneurial initiatives; Alternative relationships with economic assets; Job creation; Direct exploitation and transfer), Environmental (Igniting environmental changes; Reducing environmental harm; Collective measuring and calibration events; Networking effects; Sustainability plan), Policy (New ways and channels of participation; Communities capacity to impact policy decisions; Organisational influence in political or power dynamics). Through our strategies to measure and assess impact we were able to conclude that Making Sense impact goals were clearly fulfilled, recalling its main intended impacts established at the beginning, first divided in societal objectives: “Make visible and tangible the invisible”, “Understand their environment”, “Turn data and insight into compelling stories & action”, “Using public networks of low cost, open source sensors”, and second into desired results: “Better informed, more engaged citizens”, “Impactful dialogues between citizens and governments”, “More data, more insight, better policies”, “More enjoyable, social, inclusive, healthy & livable cities”.JRC.I.2-Foresight, Behavioural Insights and Design for Polic

Analysis of long-term precipitation sequencing patterns in North America

Precipitation sequencing, or the overall temporal pattern of precipitation events and the persistence of those events, is an important factor in describing nonstationarity in climate variability. It is a vital, yet often overlooked part of developing long-term climate predictions. Precipitation sequencing, which is based on rainfall of all magnitudes, is not well understood in part because much of recent research has focused on changes solely in extreme precipitation. This study examines precipitation sequencing pattern changes in North America over a study period of 1880-2010, and compares sequencing changes for both nonextreme and extreme rainfall. Results reveal nonstationarity in precipitation sequencing in North America and indicate that changes in non-extreme rainfall are greater in magnitude and more prevalent than those in extreme rainfall. Analysis of the spatial variation of non-extreme precipitation sequencing reveals both continent-scale trends and, unexpectedly, strongly localized, regional trends. Results not only validate questions about the assumption of stationarity in climate models and studies but illustrate the importance of conducting precipitation studies at the proper scale in order to capture significant local trends. Incorporation of both elements into climate models can improve the robustness of long-term predictions. Results from this analysis reveal the need for increased study of non-extreme rainfall and for moving away from the assumption of stationarity in precipitation patterns when developing climate predictions. Additionally, results may shed light on the regional nature of precipitation sequencing changes and its drivers, which may help scientists make better decisions when choosing which climate models fit their studies

IL-10 underlies distinct susceptibility of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice to Mycobacterium avium infection and influences efficacy of antibiotic therapy

Increased production of IL-10 has been frequently associated with augmented susceptibility to infection. However, the correlation between IL-10 activity and susceptibility to mycobacterial infection is still uncertain. Although studies using transgenic mice overexpressing IL-10 consistently showed an increased susceptibility to mycobacterial infection, experimental approaches in which IL-10 activity was reduced or abrogated originated inconclusive data. We show here that this controversy might be due to the mouse strains used in the various experimental procedures. Our results show that BALB/c mice are more susceptible than C57BL/6 to Mycobacterium avium infection. This increased susceptibility of BALB/c mice is, to a great extent, due to distinct activity of IL-10 between the two mouse strains. In accordance, reduction of IL-10 activity through the administration of anti-IL-10R mAb, or the absence of IL-10 as studied in IL-10 knockout mice, clearly decreased the susceptibility of BALB/c mice to M. avium but had a less obvious effect in C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, abrogation of IL-10 activity in infected BALB/c mice increased the efficacy of antimycobacterial therapy, whereas for the C57BL/6 mice it produced no effect. These observations show that the activity of IL-10 in response to the same mycobacterial stimulus influences not only the susceptibility to infection but also the efficacy of antimycobacterial therapy. This should now be considered in the context of human response to mycobacterial infection, particularly as a possible strategy to improve treatment against infections by mycobacteria

Brain interference: Revisiting the role of IFNγ in the central nervous system

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine, first described as a secreted molecule capable of interfering with viral replication. Since then, numerous other important actions in the context of the immune response to invading pathogens (including those invading the brain) have been ascribed to this pleiotropic cytokine. Nevertheless, the precise role of IFN gamma in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and its possible contribution to the regulation of normal brain function, remains enigmatic. This review integrates and considers current knowledge about IFN gamma actions with accumulating evidence of its importance on neurocytogenesis, synaptic plasticity and neurodegeneration within the framework of brain health and disease.Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) for providing fellowships to S. Monteiro (SFRH/BD/69311/2010) and S. Roque (SFRH/BPD/72710/2011). Work by the authors was co-funded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional (QREN), through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), the “Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 SR&TD Integrated Program – NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000021), Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional (QREN), através do Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER)”, and by national funds from the FCT (PEst-C/SAU/LA0026/2013), and “Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER), através do COMPETE (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037298)”info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estratégias de motivação na disciplina de economia numa escola secundária

Relatório da prática de ensino supervisionada, Mestrado em Ensino de Economia e Contabilidade, Universidade de Lisboa, 2011Este trabalho, cujo tema é “Estratégias de motivação na disciplina de Economia numa Escola Secundária”, tem como objectivo reflectir sobre um conjunto de estratégias que permitam estimular os alunos a participar activamente e de forma interessada nas aulas desta disciplina. O estudo em causa foi realizado na disciplina de Economia, com os alunos do 10.º ano do curso de Ciências Socioeconómicas da Escola Secundária de Carcavelos, onde realizei a minha prática de ensino supervisionada. Ao longo do meu trabalho com a turma observei que nela coexistiam alunos bastante activos e participativos e alunos passivos e nada participativos. Parecia haver alunos que conheciam a realidade socioeconómica que os rodeia e que por essa razão se envolviam e interessavam pela disciplina, querendo sempre intervir na aula para relatar as suas experiências, ao passo que outros se mostravam bastante apáticos e algo desinteressados. Perante o exposto, a problemática de ordem curricular que pretendo aprofundar consiste em “Como promover a motivação dos alunos em turmas onde coexistem alunos bastante activos e participativos com alunos passivos e pouco interventivos? Como estimular estes últimos a participar activamente e de forma interessada no decorrer da aula?” Na minha opinião todas as sugestões para a “resolução” desta questão poderão ser importantes para os próprios alunos e para a turma em geral. Se conseguir encontrar estratégias que incentivem e estimulem os alunos a gostar da disciplina e a participar, certamente terão melhor aproveitamento. Será importante para mim, enquanto mediadora/facilitadora de aprendizagens, conseguir fazer com que estes alunos se sintam mais motivados pela disciplina e pela própria vontade de aprender.This work, which discusses the subject matter “Motivation strategies in the subject of Economics”, has the purpose of reflecting on a set of strategies which allow stimulating the students to participate actively and enthusiastically in the class. The above mentioned study was accomplished throughout Economics classes, with the 10th grade Economic Sciences students in Escola Secundária de Carcavelos (Carcavelos High School) where I have accomplished my practice of supervised teaching. Throughout the work with this class, I had the chance to witness that in the same class there were simultaneously quite active and participating students as well as passive and non participating ones. It looked as if some students were quite aware of the social and economic reality surrounding them, and therefore they were very involved and interested by this subject, being always willing to intervene in the class recalling their own experiences. On the other hand, other students revealed themselves as indifferent and somewhat uninterested on the subject. Regarding the above, the curricular issue I am going to further deepen is “How to promote the motivation of students in classes where very active and participating students coexist with passive and non intervening ones? How to stimulate the latter to actively participate in an interested manner during classes? ” Personally I believe that all the suggestions for the resolution of this issue may be important for the students themselves and for the class in general. If I am able to find the right strategies to encourage and to stimulate these students to enjoy and participate on this subject, they will certainly achieve much better results. It will be extremely important for me, as a learning mediator/facilitator, to be able to get these students interested and motivated by this subject and by their own will to learn

Plano de marketing digital - Induflex

Versão final (Esta versão contém as críticas e sugestões dos elementos do júri)O plano de marketing digital aqui apresentado para a Induflex, uma empresa de mobiliário estofado com mais de três décadas de experiência, tanto no mercado nacional como internacional, pretende através de ações de marketing digital e de uma presença frequente nos canais digitais, criar valor junto do seu público. Para isso, estudar o público e definir as personas, torna-se relevante para a segmentação dos públicos com atitudes e necessidades diferentes que precisam de ser trabalhadas, tendo em conta as áreas de negócio de atuação da empresa. Tendo como objetivo o aumento de leads e fidelização de clientes, foi usada a estratégia de Inbound Marketing, em conjunto com as técnicas de SEO, ações de e-mail marketing, gestão das redes sociais e técnicas de automação de marketing.The digital marketing plan presented here for Induflex, a upholstered furniture company with more than three decades of experience, both in the national and international market, intends through digital marketing actions and a frequent presence in digital channels, create value for the target market. For this, studying the public and defining the personas, becomes relevant for the segmentation of the public with different attitudes and needs that need to be worked out, taking in consideration the areas of business of the company. Aiming at increasing leads and customer loyalty, the inbound marketing strategy was used along with SEO techniques, e-mail marketing actions, social media management and marketing automation techniques

Las medidas de protección y asistencia en los casos de violencia familiar en la UDAVIT del Distrito de Huancayo, 2020.

La presente investigación titulada LAS MEDIDAS DE PROTECCIÓN Y ASISTENCIA EN LOS CASOS DE VIOLENCIA FAMILIAR EN LA UDAVIT DEL DISTRITO DE HUANCAYO, 2020, tuvo como objetivo de investigación determinar la eficacia que tienen las medidas de protección y asistencia a favor del testigo y la víctima en los casos de violencia familiar en la UDAVIT del distrito de Huancayo, año 2020. Respecto de la metodología empleada, tuvo como método de investigación al Hipotético deductivo, de tipo básica, de carácter descriptivo, el Diseño es No Experimental – y de corte Transversal, La población la constituyeron las Carpetas Asistenciales de la Unidad de Asistencia a Víctimas y Testigos de la Fiscalía del Distrito de Huancayo, sobre violencia familiar, en el año 2020. Para la elección de la muestra se ha empleado el método no probabilístico, constituido por el un total de 57 Carpetas Asistenciales de la Unidad de Asistencia a Víctimas y Testigos de la Fiscalía del Distrito de Huancayo, sobre violencia familiar, en los cuales se ha emitido ya el informe final Multidisciplinario Final en el año 2020. Se concluyó que, al analizar un total de 57 Carpetas Asistenciales de la Unidad de Asistencia a Víctimas y Testigos de la Fiscalía del Distrito de Huancayo, sobre violencia familiar, en los cuales se ha emitido ya el informe final Multidisciplinario en el año 2020, las medidas de protección y asistencia a favor del testigo y la víctima han resultado ser ineficaces

A Fala do Corpo em Luiza Neto Jorge e Luís Miguel Nava

Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Línguas, Literaturas e Culturas,A presente dissertação “A fala do corpo em Luiza Neto Jorge e Luís Miguel Nava”, aborda o erotismo na poesia de Luiza Neto Jorge, da geração de 1960, e de Luís Miguel Nava, poeta revelado em finais da década de 1970. O presente estudo visa tratar a importância, que a “fala” poética tem no corpo “despido” de cada poeta, ou seja, dar a compreender ao leitor em quê e como se constitui essa fala provida de um corpo sexualmente inseparável da palavra, bem como o itinerário ao universo poético das respetivas obras de Luiza Neto Jorge, Poesia e Luís Miguel Nava, Poesia Completa 1979-1994. A tese é composta por três capítulos integrados nos dois primeiros, que dizem respeito à descrição e argumentação dos poetas, o terceiro capítulo, por último, uma crítica às semelhanças e diferenças de cada poeta, voltando uma vez mais à questão da fala do corpo na poesia erótica contemporânea do século XX

Suplementos alimentares: uma visão geral

Durante as últimas décadas, observou-se uma tendência crescente, da consciencialização do papel benéfico dos alimentos na saúde pública, impulsionada por uma nova categoria de substâncias, constituintes dos alimentos, que para além de terem valor nutricional, possuem propriedades benéficas para a saúde. De modo, a acompanhar esta evolução, foram surgin do na literatura diversos conceitos, com o objetivo de definir estes constituintes e a sua res petiva ação. A nível industrial, foi necessário, estabelecer rapidamente, um enquadramento legal e regras de comercialização, o que originou dissemelhanças entre países. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo, reunir de modo geral, toda informação relativa a Su plementos Alimentares, clarificar diferentes conceitos associados a estes, tais como, Nutra cêuticos e Alimentos Funcionais, sumariar o seu enquadramento legal, bem como todos os requisitos necessário há sua comercialização, a fim do público obter uma informação geral e harmonizada, que o leve a fazer escolhas adequadas. Através de uma pesquisa pormenorizada da literatura e das legislações, americana, europeia e nacional, o termo Nutracêutico é aplicado no marketing e tem a denominação de Suplementos Alimentares, estes são considerados géneros alimentícios, que se destinam a complementar ou suplementar o regime alimentar normal e que constituem fontes concentradas de nutrientes ou outras substâncias com efeito nutricional ou fisiológico, comercializados em formas farmacêuticas e doseadas (não são medicamentos), enquanto que os Alimentos Funcionais apresentam-se na sua forma natural. Os Suplementos Alimentares obedecem à legislação dos alimentos no geral e à legislação específica de Suplementos Alimentares, a sua comercialização no mercado português, requer uma notificação à Direção Geral da Alimentação e Veterinária, a qual, em associação com outras autoridades, como a Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica e a Direção Regional de Agricultura e Pescas, coordena as operações de implementação e controlo. Devido à consciencialização sobre a saúde e com o impacto repentino do COVID-19, testemunhou-se um aumento no consumo de Suplementos Alimentares, o que impactou positivamente o mercado mundial.During the last decades, there has been a growing trend towards awareness of the beneficial role of food in public health, driven by a new category of substances, constituents of food, which, in addition to having nutritional value, have beneficial properties for health. In order to accompany this evolution, several concepts have emerged in the literature, with the aim of defining these constituents and their respective action. At the industrial level, it was neces sary to quickly establish a legal framework and marketing rules, which gave rise to dissimilar ities between countries. This dissertation aims to gather, in general, all information related to food supplements, clari fy different concepts associated with them, such as Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods, summarize their legal framework, as well as all requirements commercialization is necessary, in order for the public to obtain general and harmonized information, which leads them to make appropriate choices. Through a detailed research in the literature and legislation, American, European and na tional, the term Nutraceutical is applied in marketing and is called Food Supplements, they are considered foods, which are intended to complement or suplement the normal diet and which constitute concentrated sources of nutrients or other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, marketed in pharmaceutical forms (they are not medicines), while Func tional Foods are presented in their natural form. The Food Supplements comply with food legislation in general and with the specific legisla tion on Food Supplements, their marketing in the Portuguese market requires notification to the Direção Geral da Alimentação e Veterinária, which, in association with other entities, such as the Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica and the Direção Regional de Agricultura e Pescas, coordinates the operations for the implementation and control. Due to awareness about health and the sudden impact of COVID-19, an increase in Food Supplements consumption was witnessed, which positively impacted the world market