Fiber average size and distribution dependence on the electrospinning parameters of poly(vinylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene)) membranes for biomedical applications

Poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoethylene) electrospun membranes were obtained from a blend of dimethylformamide (DMF) and methylethylketone (MEK) solvents. The inclusion of the MEK to the solvent system promotes a faster solvent evaporation allowing complete polymer crystallization during the jet travelling between the tip and the grounded collector. Several processing parameters were systematically changed to study their influence on fiber dimensions. Applied voltage and inner needle diameter do not have large influence on the electrospun fiber average diameter but in the fiber diameter distribution. On the other hand, the increase of the distance between the needle tip to collector results in fibers with larger average diameter. Independently on the processing conditions, all mats are produced in the electroactive phase of the polymer. Further, MC-3T3-E1cell adhesion was not inhibited by the fiber mats preparation, indicating their potential use for biomedical applications.

Influence of electrospinning parameters on Poly(hydroxybutyrate) electrospun membranes fiber size and distribution

Poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) obtained from sugar cane was dissolved in a blend of chloroform and dimethylformamide (DMF) and electrospun at 40 ºC. By adding DMF to the solution, the electrospinning process for the PHB polymer becomes more stable, allowing complete polymer crystallization during the jet travelling between the tip and the grounded collector. The influence of processing parameters on fiber size and distribution was systematically studied. It was observed that an increase of tip inner diameter promotes a decrease of the fiber average size and a broader distribution. On the other hand, an increase of the electric field and flow rate produces an increase of fiber diameter until a maximum of ~2.0 m, but for electric fields higher than 1.5 kV.cm-1, a decrease of the fiber diameter was observed. Polymer crystalline phase seems to be independent of the processing conditions and a crystallinity degree of 53 % was found. Moreover, thermal degradation of the as-spun membrane occurs in single step degradation with activation energy of 91 kJ/mol. Furthermore, MC-3T3-E1 cell adhesion was not inhibited by the fiber mats preparation, indicating their potential use for biomedical applications.

A brief survey on online analysis of movement data

The increasing availability of mobility data and the awareness of its importance and value have been motivating many researchers to the development of models and tools for analyzing movement data. This paper presents a brief survey of significant research works about modeling, processing and visualization of data about moving objects. We identified some key research fields that will provide better features for online analysis of movement data. As result of the literature review, we suggest a generic multi-layer architecture for the development of an online analysis processing software tool, which will be used for the definition of the future work of our team.

Participatory Online Platforms and the Construction of Citizen’s Autonomy in Health Issues

The goal of the present study is mapping the nature of possible contributions of participatory online platforms in citizen actions that may contribute in the fight against cancer and its associated consequences. The research is based on the analysis of online solidarity networks, namely the ones residing on Facebook and the blogosphere, that citizens have been gradually resorting to. The research is also based on the development of newer and more efficient solutions that provide the individual (directly or indirectly affected by issues of oncology) with the means to overcome feelings of impotence and fatality. In this chapter, the authors summarize the processes of usage of these decentralized, freer participatory platforms by citizens and institutions, while attempting to unravel existing hype and stigma; the authors also provide a first survey of the importance and the role of institutions in this kind of endeavor; lastly, they present a prototype, developed in the context of the present study that is specifically dedicated to addressing oncology through social media.

Anuário Financeiro das Freguesias Portuguesas - 2014: Divulgação online da informação e sua análise preliminar

Desde 2003 que é publicado o Anuário Financeiros dos Municípios Portugueses que apresenta, de uma forma independente, a situação económica, financeira e patrimonial de todos os municípios portugueses (308) e também do setor empresarial local. Ao longo deste anos tem-se assistido ao aumento da disponibilização da informação financeira nos websites dos municípios e de uma forma menos presente nas entidades do sector empresarial local. Efetivamente, a preocupação com a accountability e a transparência das contas públicas tem crescido de forma significativa nos últimos 20 anos. Com o processo de descentralização de poderes e delegação de competências do governo central para o governo local, nomeadamente para as os municípios e por sua vez destes para as freguesias, aumentou a preocupação com a accountability e transparência ao nível das freguesias. Decorrente da reforma administrativa de 2011, Portugal conta com a existência, a nível nacional de 3091 freguesias distribuídas pelo território nacional, onde se identificam freguesias de diferentes dimensões, com diferentes modelos de organização. A freguesia representa a entidade pública com maior aproximação das comunidades locais, desempenhando por isso um papel fulcral na divulgação de informação relevante e no uso das novas tecnologias e dos meios digitais para melhor comunicar com a população. Assim, e considerando a sua representatividade ao nível da administração local, e o impacto que têm no seu conjunto, entendeu-se oportuno iniciar-se o projeto do Anuário Financeiro das Freguesias Portuguesas que, numa primeira fase e de forma preliminar, analisa a divulgação online da informação por parte das freguesias e, num segundo momento, analisa a informação financeira divulgada de forma agregada. É intenção do autores dar continuidade ao Anuário, apresentando resultados de uma forma sistemática, pelo menos de dois em dois anos, evidenciando as evoluções a nível da divulgação da informação. Para a realização deste projeto contamos com habitual apoio do Tribunal de Contas que se associou a este projeto através da disponibilização da informação aí depositada por parte das freguesias.