In the present study, we assessed the bacterial richness and composition of sediment samples collected in and around the port of Aveiro, on the Atlantic coast of mainland Portugal. Sediment samples ...were collected in five locations: two within the port harbor, two in port areas along a channel adjacent to the harbor and one in a relatively undisturbed reference location. These areas were characterized as under high, medium and no port activity, respectively. In-depth, barcoded-pyrosequencing analysis indicated that port activity affects the composition and abundance of bacterial communities colonizing surface sediments. Sampling sites under the influence of port activities (channel and harbor) were associated with higher relative abundances of Desulfobacterales and a marked decline in the abundance of Flavobacteriia. In addition, there was a pronounced prevalence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in the port area that were closely related to hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria (Desulfococcus spp.), antifouling paint (bacterium strain WH6-7) and copper rich sediments (bacterium strain CanalPD16A). Here we provide evidence that specific phylotypes detected have the potential to be used as biomarkers and should be evaluated in future studies as proxies for sediment disturbance associated with port activity.
► A pyrosequencing approach unravels the effects of port activity on bacterial diversity. ► Port sites harbored high abundance of alkane degraders related to Desulfococcus spp. ► Bacterial phylotypes detected can be used as biomarkers for sediment disturbance. ► The barcoded pyrosequencing approach used may contribute for risk assessment in ports.
Electrochromic devices (ECDs) comprising visible/near‐infrared (NIR) transparent amorphous indium zinc oxide (a‐IZO) outermost layers and novel NIR‐emitting electrolytes are proposed for smart ...windows of buildings in cold climate regions. The electrolytes are composed of a di‐urethane cross‐linked poly(oxyethylene)(POE)/siloxane hybrid matrix (d‐Ut(600), 600 is the average molecular weight of the POE chains in gmol−1), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid, and the Er(tta)3(H2O)2 complex (tta− is 2‐thenoyltrifluoracetonate). The electrolytes, synthesized by sol‐gel route, were obtained as transparent, flexible, and hydrophilic monoliths with nanoscale surface roughness, exhibiting emission in the NIR wavelength region. The first electro‐optical tests, performed in 2019, with an archetypal ECD including amorphous tungsten oxide and crystalline nickel oxide as EC layers, a‐IZO as outermost layers, and d‐Ut(600)400Er(tta)3(H2O)2BmimCl (400 is the molar ratio of oxyethylene units/Er3+ ion) as the electrolyte, demonstrated rather low coloration efficiency (CEin/CEout) values of −4/+6 cm2 C−1 at 555 nm. After 3 years of storage at rest in the dark and at room temperature, the same device demonstrates a huge performance enhancement, leading to CEin/CEout values about two orders of magnitude higher, apart from higher optical density, and improved cycling stability. In addition, this device offers a bright hot, and semi‐bright warm dual modulation operation suitable for smart windows of skylights, roof lights, upper windows, inclined glazing, and privacy glazing of buildings located in cold climate regions.
Electrochromic windows: An electrochromic prototype incorporating a NIR‐emitting hybrid electrolyte doped with an erbium complex and an ionic liquid provided a dual modulation operation suitable certain windows of buildings (e. g., skylights, upper windows) located in cold climate regions. After 3‐year storage at rest, the device demonstrated remarkable electro‐optical performance enhancement, its figures of merit being competitive with current state‐of‐the‐art values.
•“PortoNovo” project aimed to standardize methods to monitor water quality in ports.•Bioassays and chemical analysis were carried out in the Port of Aveiro.•Sediments from four of the five sampling ...sites showed high toxicity levels.•Chemical analysis were within legislation limits for all five sites.•Both approaches complement each other and reveal current gaps within the WFD.
The “PortoNovo” project was developed to standardize the methodologies for water quality management in the port areas of coastal Atlantic regions to improve the Water Frame Directive (WFD) for these specific water bodies. Under this scope, water and sediment samples were collected from five sites within the Port of Aveiro, Portugal. According to the physical and chemical parameters that were analyzed (i.e., metals, total organic carbon, polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), the sediments were not considered at risk based on European sediment quality laws. However, the bioassays that were performed on the sediment samples (Microtox®) and the standardized acute toxicity test using the marine rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, on sediment elutriates revealed higher toxicity levels. The use of bioassays to assess sediment quality clearly complements more conservative approaches and highlights current gaps within the WFD. The approach presented here can be easily transferred to other port areas for more reliable water quality management.
In Portugal around 20,000 individuals are ostomized, with all the associated changes in patients’ everyday life that can compromise their Quality of Life (QoL).
Assess and compare QoL of a group of ...ostomized patients according to sex, age group, type of surgery, primary disease, stoma duration and stoma type.
Ostomized patients observed in Stomatherapy department in between January 1st and May 30th 2017 was enrolled. QoL was assessed using the questionnaire Stoma Care QoL Questionnaire). Four domains were evaluated: Self-esteem and Self-image – SeSi Score; relation with Family and Friends – FF Score; relation with Sleep and Fatigue – SF score and ostomy Device Functioning insecurities – DeF score.
Urostomy patients had significantly higher Total Scores, SeSi and FF scores than colostomy and ileostomy patients. Regarding SeSi Score, patients aged 70 years old or more and malignant diseases presented significantly higher scores than their younger counterparts and benign causes, respectively. FF Score document that patients with malignant diseases have significantly higher scores than patients with benign diseases.
Ileostomy and colostomy patients have a significantly lower QoL than urostomy patients mostly because of its impact on social relations and self-esteem and self-image.
Em Portugal estima-se que cerca de 20.000 indivíduos sejam portadores de estoma, com todas as alterações associadas que podem comprometer a sua Qualidade de Vida (QdV).
Avaliar a QdV de doentes ostomizados de acordo com o sexo, idade, tipo de cirurgia, doença primária, duração e tipo de estoma.
Foram incluídos todos os avaliados na consulta de Estomatoterapia entre Janeiro e Maio de 2017. A avaliação da QdV foi efetuada com recurso ao Questionário de QdV Stoma care. Avaliaram-se quatro domínios: autoestima e autoimagem (SeSi); relação com família e amigos (FF) relação com sono e cansaço e inseguranças relacionada com funcionamento do dispositivo (DeF).
Doentes com urostomia apresentaram Scores Total, SeSi e FF, significativamente superior a doentes com colostomia e ileostomia. Relativamente ao score SeSi, os doentes com idade igual ou superior a 70 anos e doença maligna apresentaram scores significativamente maiores que os mais jovens e com doenças benignas, respectivamente. Quanto ao score FF verificou-se que doentes com causas malignas apresentaram scores significativamente superiores aos com causas benignas.
Doente ileostomizados e colostomizados apresenta QdV significativamente inferior aos doentes com urostomia, sobretudo devido ao impacto nas relações sociais, auto-estima e auto-imagem.
Abstract Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based composite films doped with lanthanide-doped sol–gel derived imidazolium-based ionosilicas (IS-Ln) were recently proposed as active layers of ...luminescent down shifting (LDS) layers, but subsequent work demonstrated also their potential as electrolytes for electrochromic devices (ECDs) with foreseen application in smart windows of energy-efficient buildings. Nevertheless, some challenges remained to be addressed in the latter devices, the most critical one being the poor solubility of PMMA in the ionic liquid used in the formulation of these materials. To avoid this drawback, in the present work we propose novel lanthanide-containing acrylate/ionosilicas (AC/IS-Ln, Ln = Tb 3+ , Eu 3+ ). The transparent, homogeneous, and luminescent hybrid materials synthesized are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, atomic force microscopy, contact angle measurements, ionic conductivity, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Optimized samples are successfully employed as electrolytes in luminescent ECD prototypes. The ECD device doped with AC/IS-Eu shows good cycling stability with reproducible bleaching/coloring over 50 chronoamperometry cycles, high coloration efficiency (CE) values CE in /CE out in the visible (−89/+98 cm 2 C −1 ), and near-infrared (−126/138 cm 2 C −1 ) spectral regions, and outstanding memory effect. Graphical Abstract
Because of the morphological and morphometric variation of testicular follicles in different genera of the subfamily Triatominae, it was of interest to associate those parameters with the different ...medial pronotal band patterns (wide and narrow) found in Rhodnius brethesi (Matta) (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). This is a wild species often associated with Leopoldina piassaba Wallace (Arecales: Arecaceae) palm, with a geographical distribution restricted to the Amazon region. The specimens used were from the state of Amazonas, and were kept under conditions of 29 ± 1 °C, 80 ± 5% RH, 12:12 L:D photoperiod, and were fed weekly on blood from Swiss mice. Three—day—old fasting males were separated in accordance with the patterns of the medial pronotal band, dissected, and the testicles removed. After removal of the testicular membrane, the follicles were spread, drawn by camera lucida, and measured. The results showed that the testis of R. brethesi consists of seven follicles, divided into two groups by length; two long and five short. In specimens with a wide medial pronotal band, the long follicles were 5.4 mm in length, but in specimens with a narrow medial band, the long follicles were 5.64 mm in length. The difference was significant. The short follicles were not different in length, suggesting the presence of a possible complex “brethesi” in the Amazon region.
The objective of the research was to identify the barriers to telehealth adoption from the perspective of health professionals from the Military Police of the state of Pará in the Amazon. The ...analysis of evidence showed that of the seven aspects identified as barriers to the adoption of telehealth, the organizational issue was the most strongly pointed out. The main contribution of this research was the construction of a framework on the barriers to telehealth implementation in the view of health managers who serve regions with large territorial extensions. O Hospital Militar de Área de Sao Paulo (HMASP) já vem adotando essa prática realizando teleconsultas em campanha e até mesmo transmissao de cirurgias ao vivo.
Doppler echocardiography is the most frequent method for detecting and evaluating the severity of valvular aortic stenosis. The aim of this study was to assess the variability and reproducibility of ...echocardiographic parameters including aortic valve area (AVA), peak aortic jet velocity (V(max)), velocity ratio (V(LVOT)/V(max)), peak gradient (G(max)) and mean gradient (G(mean)) in aortic stenosis (AS) patients.
Doppler echocardiograms were obtained from 150 randomly selected patients (56.7% male; mean age 73 +/- 9 years) with asymptomatic moderate aortic valve stenosis. The echocardiographic measurements were performed by two independent level III (expert) blinded observers. To assess intra-observer variability, we evaluated parameters of AS progression at two different times (mean of two weeks after the first examination).
For intra-observer variability (observer 1), the variation and reproducibility coefficients were, respectively, 1.88% and 0.16 m/s for V(max), 2.08% and 0.14 for V(LVOT)/V(max) 2.05% and 0.18 cm2 for AVA, 3.89% and 5.18 mmHg for G(max) and 7.87% and 6.30 mmHg for G(mean). For inter-observer variability, the variation and reproducibility coefficients were, respectively, 2.00% and 0.14 m/s for V(max), 2.91% and 0.14 for V(LVOT)/V(max), 7.67% and 0.16 cm2 for AVA, 8.53% and 7.06 mmHg for G(mean) and 3.90% and 5.58 mmHg for G(max). Both intra- and inter-observer studies showed excellent intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for all echocardiographic parameters (ICC ranged from 0.943 to 0.990 for intra-observer variability and from 0.955 to 0.992 for interobserver variability).
Doppler echocardiographic measurements of AVA, V(max), G(max) and G(mean) are highly reproducible when performed by expert observers. Of all echocardiographic parameters, V(max) and V(LVOT)/V(max) showed the best variability and reproducibility, and thus constitute reliable tools for clinical and research purposes in aortic stenosis diagnosis and follow-up.
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