ISO 14001:2015: An Improved Tool for Sustainability

ISO 14001 is an International Standard of worldwide acceptance based on the concept that better environmental performance can be achieved when environmental aspects are systematically identified and managed giving a major contribution to Sustainability, through pollution prevention, improved environmental performance and complying with applicable laws. This paper aims to discuss the Sustainability approach through the use of Environmental Management Standards (EMS), the results achieved by organizations that implement and certify those EMS and a special focus on the current process of ISO 14001:2015 revision and the logic behind it.

Application of the EcoBlock method to eco-design - electric hand dryers versus paper towels

Sustainable Construction, Materials and Practice, p. 426-432

Developing and implementing an environmental performance index for the Portuguese military

Business Strategy and the Environment nº 15, p. 71–86

Milk intake is inversely related to body mass index and body fat in girls

Dairy foods comprise a range of products with varying nutritional content. The intake of dairy products (DPs) has been shown to have beneficial effects on body weight and body fat. This study aimed to examine the independent association between DP intake, body mass index (BMI), and percentage body fat (%BF) in adolescents. A cross-sectional, school-based study was conducted with 1,001 adolescents (418 boys), ages 15–18 years, from the Azorean Archipelago, Portugal. Anthropometric measurements were recorded (weight and height), and %BF was assessed using bioelectric impedance analysis. Adolescent food intake was measured using a self-administered, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed separately for girls and boys, and separate multiple linear regression analysis was used to estimate the association between total DP, milk, yogurt, and cheese intake, BMI, and %BF, adjusting for potential confounders. For boys and girls, respectively, total DP consumption was 2.6 ± 1.9 and 2.9 ± 2.5 servings/day (P = 0.004), while milk consumption was 1.7 ± 1.4 and 2.0 ± 1.7 servings/day (P = 0.001), yogurt consumption was 0.5 ± 0.6 and 0.4 ± 0.7 servings/day (P = 0.247), and cheese consumption was 0.4 ± 0.6 and 0.5 ± 0.8 servings/day (P = 0.081). After adjusting for age, birth weight, energy intake, protein, total fat, sugar, dietary fiber, total calcium intake, low-energy reporters, parental education, pubertal stage, and physical activity, only milk intake was negatively associated with BMI and %BF in girls (respectively, girls: β = −0.167, P = 0.013; boys: β = −0.019, P = 0.824 and girls: β = −0.143, P = 0.030; boys: β = −0.051, P = 0.548). Conclusion: We found an inverse association between milk intake and both BMI and %BF only in girls.

Sustentabilidade e bem-estar humano : duas faces da mesma moeda? : estudo exploratório do bem estar subjectivo em comunidades intencionais que vivem segundo princípios de sustentabilidade

RESUMO - Nos últimos vinte anos tem-se assistido a uma crescente consciencialização de que os nossos estilos de vida são insustentáveis aos níveis económico, social e ambiental, o que tem repercussões na nossa saúde e bem-estar. Do crescimento populacional à pobreza e inequidade geradas pelo modelo de “crescimento económico” actual, à perda de biodiversidade e disrupção dos ecossistemas naturais, ao desmesurado crescimento urbano, à poluição e acumulação de desperdícios, às alterações climáticas, ao isolamento individual e à diminuição do capital social na sociedade do consumo: a necessidade de desenvolvimento sustentável e gerador de bem-estar nunca foi tão grande e evidente. Ao longo dos últimos anos têm surgido comunidades intencionais que se organizam segundo princípios de sustentabilidade, como um fenómeno de contra-cultura – as Ecoaldeias (Ecovillages). No entanto, os benefícios para a saúde e bem-estar deste tipo de comunidades não são ainda claros, sendo a experiência de investigação nesta área escassa. O estudo aqui proposto visa conhecer, a título exploratório, os níveis de bem-estar subjectivo em comunidades intencionais que vivem segundo princípios de sustentabilidade em Portugal, se estes níveis são melhores que na população em geral, e quais os factores percebidos que o influenciam. Para tal, terá componentes quantitativas e qualitativas e irá basear-se num questionário auto-administrado aos residentes das Ecoaldeias portuguesas, que inclui o Índice de Bem-estar Pessoal - uma escala de medição do Bem-estar subjectivo validada para a população portuguesa. As suas conclusões poderão contribuir para o desenvolvimento de abordagens mais elaboradas, capazes de edificar uma infra-estrutura teórica para o sistema de conceitos em foco, tão necessária quer a investigações com maior potencial explicativo, quer a decisões com melhor fundamento. ------------ ABSTRACT - Over the past twenty years there has been a growing awareness that the way we live is unsustainable at the economic, social and environmental level, which has impact in our health and wellbeing. From the population growth to poverty and inequity generated by the current model of economic growth, to biodiversity loss and disruption of natural ecosystems, to disproportionate urban growth, to pollution and waste accumulation, to climate change and the individual isolation social loss capital in the consumption society: the need for a development that is sustainable and generates wellbeing has never been greater and more evident. Over the last years intentional communities who live according to principles of sustainability have emerged, has a phenomenon of counter-culture - the ecovillages. The health and wellbeing benefits of this type of communities are not clear, as the investigation in this area is little. The aim of this exploratory study is to know the levels of subjective wellbeing of such communities, in Portugal, if these levels are different from the general population and what are the main perceived contributing factors. This study will have a qualitative and quantitative component and will be based in the application of a self-administered questionnaire that includes the Subjective Wellbeing Index, a measurement scale of subjective wellbeing, validated for the Portuguese population. Its findings may contribute to the development of more elaborate approaches that allow to build a theoretical framework for the system of concepts focused, needed both for further investigations with more explanatory potential, as for more grounded decision-making, to tackle the challenges of sustainable development.

How composite indicators of innovation can influence technology policy decision?

Based on the report for Project III of the PhD programme on Technology Assessment and prepared for the Winter School that took place at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Caparica Campus on the 6th and 7th of December 2010.

Strategic Drivers for Implementing Sustainability Programs in Portuguese Organizations– Let’s Listen to Aristotle: From Triple to Quadruple Bottom Line

This article describes a study that investigated the main strategic drivers that influence the implementation of sustainability/social responsibility programs. An online survey was administered to managers of Portuguese organizations with certified management systems. The findings suggest that the implementation of such programs is mainly correlated to: 1.) the approach to understanding and working toward the satisfaction of the community’s needs (in the broad sense of social responsibility); 2.) how systematically sustainability within the organization is identified and managed (e.g., pollution prevention, improved environmental performance, and compliance with the applicable environmental laws); and 3.) the degree to which the organization tries to understand the needs of the employees and works toward satisfying them. In addition to the survey, five interviews with top managers of the surveyed organizations provided some useful insights. There was no consensus on the meaning of sustainability and social responsibility: some described it as an instrumental approach for obtaining better organizational results, while others regarded it as the right thing to do (i.e., it is values driven). In all cases, however, the managers supported a kind of umbrella construct under which different size corporations use different models (for example, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), ISO 14001 environmental management systems), although some managers reported that they simply do not know what to do. All of those surveyed agreed that the lack of a systematic approach could represent a major threat to their organization, making them willing to pay more attention and take more action on the issue of sustainability. An additional suggestion made by managers was to change from a triple bottom line (economic dimension, environmental dimension, social equity dimension) to a quadruple bottom line by adding another dimension: personal and family happiness. This fourth dimension was recognized by the Greek philosopher/thinker Aristotle (384-322 BCE) who thought of happiness as the highest good (virtue) and ultimate goal and purpose of life, achieved through living well, in harmony. Such harmony suggests a balance and a lack of excess—in other words a sustainable existence.

Electrospun Polyaniline-Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite Nanofibers Based High Sensitive Ammonia Gas Sensor

Ammonia is an important gas in many power plants and industrial processes so its detection is of extreme importance in environmental monitoring and process control due to its high toxicity. Ammonia’s threshold limit is 25 ppm and the exposure time limit is 8 h, however exposure to 35 ppm is only secure for 10 min. In this work a brief introduction to ammonia aspects are presented, like its physical and chemical properties, the dangers in its manipulation, its ways of production and its sources. The application areas in which ammonia gas detection is important and needed are also referred: environmental gas analysis (e.g. intense farming), automotive-, chemical- and medical industries. In order to monitor ammonia gas in these different areas there are some requirements that must be attended. These requirements determine the choice of sensor and, therefore, several types of sensors with different characteristics were developed, like metal oxides, surface acoustic wave-, catalytic-, and optical sensors, indirect gas analyzers, and conducting polymers. All the sensors types are described, but more attention will be given to polyaniline (PANI), particularly to its characteristics, syntheses, chemical doping processes, deposition methods, transduction modes, and its adhesion to inorganic materials. Besides this, short descriptions of PANI nanostructures, the use of electrospinning in the formation of nanofibers/microfibers, and graphene and its characteristics are included. The created sensor is an instrument that tries to achieve a goal of the medical community in the control of the breath’s ammonia levels being an easy and non-invasive method for diagnostic of kidney malfunction and/or gastric ulcers. For that the device should be capable to detect different levels of ammonia gas concentrations. So, in the present work an ammonia gas sensor was developed using a conductive polymer composite which was immobilized on a carbon transducer surface. The experiments were targeted to ammonia measurements at ppb level. Ammonia gas measurements were carried out in the concentration range from 1 ppb to 500 ppb. A commercial substrate was used; screen-printed carbon electrodes. After adequate surface pre-treatment of the substrate, its electrodes were covered by a nanofibrous polymeric composite. The conducting polyaniline doped with sulfuric acid (H2SO4) was blended with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) obtained by wet chemical synthesis. This composite formed the basis for the formation of nanofibers by electrospinning. Nanofibers will increase the sensitivity of the sensing material. The electrospun PANI-RGO fibers were placed on the substrate and then dried at ambient temperature. Amperometric measurements were performed at different ammonia gas concentrations (1 to 500 ppb). The I-V characteristics were registered and some interfering gases were studied (NO2, ethanol, and acetone). The gas samples were prepared in a custom setup and were diluted with dry nitrogen gas. Electrospun nanofibers of PANI-RGO composite demonstrated an enhancement in NH3 gas detection when comparing with only electrospun PANI nanofibers. Was visible higher range of resistance at concentrations from 1 to 500 ppb. It was also observed that the sensor had stable, reproducible and recoverable properties. Moreover, it had better response and recovery times. The new sensing material of the developed sensor demonstrated to be a good candidate for ammonia gas determination.

Sarcosine oxidase composite screen-printed electrode for sarcosine determination in biological samples

As the prostate cancer (PCa) progresses, sarcosine levels increase both in tumor cells and urine samples, suggesting that this metabolite measurements can help in the creation of non-invasive diagnostic methods for this disease. In this work, a biosensor device was developed for the quantification of sarcosine via electrochemical detection of H2O2 (at 0.6 V) generated from the catalyzed oxidation of sarcosine. The detection was carried out after the modification of carbon screen printed electrodes (SPEs) by immobilization of sarcosine oxidase (SOX) on the electrode surface. The strategies used herein included the activation of the carbon films by an electrochemical step and the formation of an NHS/EDAC layer to bond the enzyme to the electrode, the use of metallic or semiconductor nanoparticles layer previously or during the enzyme immobilization. In order to improve the sensor stability and selectivity a polymeric layer with extra enzyme content was further added. The proposed methodology for the detection of sarcosine allowed obtaining a limit of detection (LOD) of 16 nM, using a linear concentration range between 10 and 100 nM. The biosensor was successfully applied to the analysis of sarcosine in urine samples.

Sarcosine oxidase composite screen-printed electrode for sarcosine determination in biological samples

XIX Meeting of the Portuguese Electrochemical Society - XVI Iberic Meeting of Electrochemistry

An efficient numerical scheme for solving multi-dimensional fractional optimal control problems with a quadratic performance index

The shifted Legendre orthogonal polynomials are used for the numerical solution of a new formulation for the multi-dimensional fractional optimal control problem (M-DFOCP) with a quadratic performance index. The fractional derivatives are described in the Caputo sense. The Lagrange multiplier method for the constrained extremum and the operational matrix of fractional integrals are used together with the help of the properties of the shifted Legendre orthonormal polynomials. The method reduces the M-DFOCP to a simpler problem that consists of solving a system of algebraic equations. For confirming the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed scheme, some test problems are implemented with their approximate solutions.

Refractive index matching applied to fecal smear clearing

Thick smears of human feces can be made adequate for identification of helminth eggs by means of refractive index matching. Although this effect can be obtained by simply spreading a fleck of feces on a microscope slide, a glycerol solution has been routinely used to this end. Aiming at practicability, a new quantitative technique has been developed. To enhance both sharpness and contrast of the images, a sucrose solution (refractive index = 1.49) is used, which reduces the effect of light-scattering particulates. To each slide a template-measured (38.5 mm³) fecal sample is transferred. Thus, egg counts and sensitivity evaluations are easily made.

Feeding sources and trypanosome infection index of Rhodnius pallescens in a Chagas disease endemic area of Amador County, Panama

The sylvatic triatomine Rhodnius pallescens is considered to be the most important and widespread vector of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli in Panama. However, its behavior and biological characteristics have only been partially investigated. Thus, to achieve sustainable and efficient control over Chagas disease in Panama, a better understanding of the ecology and biology of R. pallescens is essential. In this study we evaluated R. pallescens host feeding sources using a dot-blot assay, and the trypanosome infection index by PCR analysis in a Chagas disease endemic area of central Panama. It was found that in peridomestic palm trees, 20.3% of the examined bugs had fed on opossums (Didelphis marsupialis). However, we observed an increased anthropophagy (25.4%) for those bugs collected inside houses. Considering the domestic and peridomestic habitats as a whole, the proportion of collected R. pallescens infected with trypanosomes was 87.4%. In the two habitats the predominant infection was with T. cruzi (80-90%). Between 47-51% of the analyzed triatomines were infected with T. rangeli. Mixed infections (40-51%) were also detected. These findings provide a better basis for the implementation of a rational control and surveillance program for Chagas disease in regions where R. pallescens is endemic.

Re-Use Assessment of Thermoset Composite Wastes as Aggregate and Filler Replacement for Concrete-Polymer Composite Materials: A case study regarding GFRP pultrusion wastes

Glass fibre-reinforced plastics (GFRP), nowadays commonly used in the construction, transportation and automobile sectors, have been considered inherently difficult to recycle due to both the cross-linked nature of thermoset resins, which cannot be remoulded, and the complex composition of the composite itself, which includes glass fibres, polymer matrix and different types of inorganic fillers. Hence, to date, most of the thermoset based GFRP waste is being incinerated or landfilled leading to negative environmental impacts and additional costs to producers and suppliers. With an increasing awareness of environmental matters and the subsequent desire to save resources, recycling would convert an expensive waste disposal into a profitable reusable material. In this study, the effect of the incorporation of mechanically recycled GFRP pultrusion wastes on flexural and compressive behaviour of polyester polymer mortars (PM) was assessed. For this purpose, different contents of GFRP recyclates (0%, 4%, 8% and 12%, w/w), with distinct size grades (coarse fibrous mixture and fine powdered mixture), were incorporated into polyester PM as sand aggregates and filler replacements. The effect of the incorporation of a silane coupling agent was also assessed. Experimental results revealed that GFRP waste filled polymer mortars show improved mechanical behaviour over unmodified polyester based mortars, thus indicating the feasibility of GFRP waste reuse as raw material in concrete-polymer composites.