Atmospheric Pressure DC Plasma Processing of TIO2/PEDOT:PSS Nanocomposites

In this work we demonstrate the synthesis of a TiO2/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite material in aqueous solution through atmospheric pressure direct current (DC) plasma processing at room temperature. The dispersion of the TiO2 nanoparticles is enhanced after microplasma processing, and TiO2/polymer hybrid nanoparticles with a distinct core shell structure have been obtained. We have observed increased TiO2/PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite electrical conductivity due to microplasma processing. The improvement in nanocomposite properties is due to the enhanced dispersion and stability in liquid polymer of microplasma treated TiO2 nanoparticles. Both plasma induced surface charge and nanoparticle surface termination with specific plasma chemical species are thought to provide an enhanced barrier to nanoparticle agglomeration and promote nanoparticle-polymer bonding, which is expected to have a significant benefit in materials processing with inorganic nanoparticles for wide range of applications.

People with intellectual disabilities: promoting quality end of life care

Background: Internationally concerns have been highlighted about the quality of palliative care that people with intellectual disability receive. It has also been evidenced that people with intellectual disabilities are seldom referred to hospice and palliative care services. 

Aims: This study aimed to explore the experience of health and social care professionals in providing palliative care to people with intellectual disabilities. 

Methods An exploratory, qualitative design was used. A purposive sample of thirty health and social care professionals, working in intellectual disability and palliative care services, who had provided end-of-life care to adults with intellectual disabilities, were recruited to the study following informed consent. They were asked to reflect on a case scenario of a person with intellectual disability to whom they had provided end of life care. A semi-structured interview technique, with open questions and prompts, was used to explore their experiences and insights. The narrative from the case scenarios were content analysed using a recognised framework. 

Results: Three themes emerged from the data within the case scenarios: Identifying end of life care needs, meeting support needs and empowerment in partnership. Examples of good practice and issues in practice were apparent. 

Conclusion/ Discussion: This study contributes to the developing international evidence base to enhance end of life care for people with intellectual disabilities and provides further insights into this area of practice. Funder: HSC Research and Development Doctoral Fellowship Scheme

Consumers sensory evaluation of melon sweetness and quality

CONSUMERS SENSORY EVALUATION OF MELON SWEETNESS AND QUALITY Agulheiro Santos, A.C, Rato, A.E., Laranjo, M. and Gonçalves, C. Departamento de Fitotecnia, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas (ICAAM), Instituto de Investigação e Formação Avançada (IIFA), Universidade de Évora, Polo da Mitra, Ap.94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal. ABSTRACT The sensory quality of fruits is made of a range of attributes like sweetness, acidity, aroma, firmness, color. Taste perception and perception threshold of these attributes are variable according to the psychological and cultural development of individuals. To better understand the quality evaluation of melon by consumers, consumers were invited to taste melon samples, in supermarkets in Évora (South region), Lisbon (Central region) and Vila Nova de Gaia (North region). The present work explored the importance given by consumers to sweetness in order to classify the overall quality of melon. Furthermore, the relationship of the chemical evaluation of Total Soluble Solids (TSS) with sweetness of melon was studied. Fruits from the variety Melão branco picked randomly from those that were exposed for sale in supermarkets were used for analysis. Fruits were chinned along the equatorial zone and only the central part of the fruit, opposite to the part that leaned on the soil, was used to obtain homogeneous samples. Consumers were invited to taste four small pieces of each fruit, previously referenced with a code number, and answer a questionnaire with two questions related to sweetness and overall quality. Each question had five possible levels, identified from “Nothing sweet”, to “Extremely sweet”, in one case, and from “Poor” to “Excellent” in the other. Simultaneously, the values of TSS (measured in ºBrix) for each melon used in the study were evaluated by refractometry. This sensory analysis allowed us to point out the following findings: first of all, there is good agreement between the results obtained to classify “Sweetness” and “Overall Quality” (Cohen’s Kappa=53.1%, p<0.001), which means, for example, that fruits with excellent quality are in general extremely sweet. Moreover, fruits with less than 9.6 °Brix are considered of poor quality and nothing sweet, whereas fruits with values between 10 °Brix and 12 °Brix are considered good in terms of overall quality. It seems that the thresholds for the stimulus/intensity of sweetness lied between 10 °Brix to 14 °Brix for this melon variety. Acknowledgments This work was support by national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) under the Strategic Project Pest-OE/AGR/UI0115/2014 and co-funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE Program.

A three-dimensional hydrodynamic model with generic vertical coordinate

A three-dimensional primitive equation model and its application to a tidal estuary is described. The model solves the primitive equations for incompressible fluids with Boussinesq and hydrostatic approximations. The discretization is based on the finite volume method and allows a general vertical coordinate. The computational code is implemented in such a way that different vertical coordinates can be used in different parts of the domain. The model was designed to be able to simulate the flow both in the open ocean and in coastal and estuarine zones and can be coupled in a simple way to ecological models. The model was implemented successfully in several estuarine and coastal areas. Results are show for the Sado estuary in Portugal to illustrate model accuracy and potential. Quantitative validation is based on field data (water levels and velocities) while qualitative verification is based on the analysis of secondary flows.

Sistemas solares térmicos por medida: avaliação de comportamento térmico a longo prazo

Tese de mestrado integrado em Engenharia da Energia e do Ambiente, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2014

The Long Range Transport of Birch (Betula) Pollen from Poland and Germany Causes Significant Pre-season Concentrations in Denmark

Background Birch pollen is highly allergic and has the potential for episodically long range transport. Such episodes will in general occur out of the main pollen season. During that time allergy patients are unprotected and high pollen concentrations will therefore have a full allergenic impact. Objective To show that Denmark obtains significant quantities of birch pollen from Poland or Germany before the local trees start to flower. Methods Simultaneous observations of pollen concentrations and phenology in the potential source area in Poland as well as in Denmark were performed in 2006. The Danish pollen records from 2000-2006 were analysed for possible long range transport episodes and analysed with trajectories in combination with a birch tree source map. Results In 2006 high pollen concentrations were observed in Denmark with bi-hourly concentrations above 500 grains/ m3 before the local trees began to flower. Poland was identified as a source region. The analysis of the historical pollen record from Copenhagen shows significant pre-seasonal pollen episodes almost every year from 2000-2006. In all episodes trajectory analysis identified Germany or Poland as source regions. Conclusion Denmark obtains significant pre-seasonal quantities of birch pollen from either Poland or Germany almost every year. Forecasting of birch pollen quantities relevant to allergy patients must therefore take into account long-range transport. This cannot be based on measured concentrations in Denmark. The most effective way to improve the current Danish pollen forecasts is to extend the current forecasts with atmospheric transport models that take into account pollen emission and transport from countries such as Germany and Poland. Unless long range transport is taken into account pre-seasonal pollen episodes will have a full allergic impact, as the allergy patients in general will be unprotected during that time.

Risk of Exposure to Airborne Ambrosia Pollen from Local and Distant Sources in Europe – an Example from Denmark

Background. Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. is a noxious invasive alien species in Europe. It is an important aeroallergen and millions of people are exposed to its pollen. Objective. The main aim of this study is to show that atmospheric concentrations of Ambrosia pollen recorded in Denmark can be derived from local or more distant sources. Methods. This was achieved by using a combination of pollen measurements, air mass trajectory calculations using the HYPLIT model and mapping all known Ambrosia locations in Denmark and relating them to land cover types. Results. The annual pollen index recorded in Copenhagen during a 15-year period varied from a few pollen grains to more than 100. Since 2005, small quantities of Ambrosia pollen has been observed in the air every year. We have demonstrated, through a combination of Lagrangian back-trajectory calculations and atmospheric pollen measurements, that pollen arrived in Denmark via long-distance transport from centres of Ambrosia infection, such as the Pannonian Plain and Ukraine. Combining observations with results from a local scale dispersion model show that it is possible that Ambrosia pollen could be derived from local sources identified within Denmark. Conclusions. The high allergenic capacity of Ambrosia pollen means that only small amounts of pollen are relevant for allergy sufferers, and just a few plants will be sufficient to produce enough pollen to affect pollen allergy sufferers within a short distance from the source. It is necessary to adopt control measures to restrict Ambrosia numbers. Recommendations for the removal of all Ambrosia plants can effectively reduce the amount of local pollen, as long as the population of Ambrosia plants is small.

Fate Hazardous elements in soils surrounding a coal-fired power plant complex

Proceedings of the 13th International UFZ-Deltares Conference on Sustainable Use and Management of Soil, Sediment and Water Resources - 9–12 June 2015 • Copenhagen, Denmark

Portugal: o caminho entre o real e o virtual

A revolução tecnológica que se verificou a partir da década de 1980 e o fenómeno da globalização geraram alterações profundas nas sociedades contemporâneas. Desde então, praticamente todos os aspetos do seu quotidiano passaram a depender dos sistemas computorizados, que numa primeira fase estavam ligados em pequenas redes e começaram depois a ficar interligados através da Internet. Esta evolução para a Era da Informação mudou drasticamente o modo como se lida com os riscos. A virtualização do mundo real fez com que surgissem novas ameaças à segurança com origem no domínio cibernético, bem como por seu intermédio. Entretanto, o mundo Pós-Guerra Fria também alterou profundamente o sistema internacional e também viu surgir um conjunto de novos atores, estatais e não estatais, que vieram provocar instabilidade ao sistema, fosse por vontade própria ou como consequência dos acontecimentos. Atualmente, as ameaças à segurança são múltiplas e de natureza variada, sendo o ciberespaço um domínio utilizado pelos vários atores no sentido de desestabilizar a ordem instalada, como por exemplo através do ativismo político, mas também como meio para infringir danos. As capacidades cibernéticas passaram também a ser consideradas como mais uma opção para atuar em conflitos, principalmente pelas grandes potências. Neste contexto, o presente trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a abordagem em Portugal a esta nova realidade, em que a maioria, se não todas, das suas infraestruturas críticas dependem do bom funcionamento das ligações em rede, e em que estas são utilizadas por mais de metade da população portuguesa de forma regular.