Strategies and Challenges for the Circular Economy: a Case Study in Portugal and a Panorama for Brazil

Abstract: This article is about a case study based on the participation and contact with dynamized activities through action plans for the circular economy in Europe, specifically in Portugal. It aims to identify the main in-progress actions and the challenges for the diffusion of the circular economy in the Portuguese nation and draw a panorama for Brazil, transiting through different data sources, economic sectors and stakeholders. Through data triangulation, the investigative plan contemplated participatory observations in workshops, interviews with experts, documental analyses and means of communication. After going through data cross checking for validation, the content was aggregated to a strategic analysis matrix. As a result, it was possible to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and challenges associated with the growth of the circular economy in Portugal, as well as to indicate directions and possibilities in the Brazilian context. It is possible to realize, for both countries, the importance of the international benchmarking for the recognition and promotion of circular economy actions, besides the necessity to revise laws aligned with the internal e external market rules, by increasing the offer of circular products and services.

Influence of preparation procedures on the phenolic content, antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of green and black teas

The influence of common tea preparation procedures (temperature, infusion time, consumption time interval and tea bag/loose-leaf) and the type of water used, on the total phenolic content (TPC), the radical scavenging activity and the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were assessed. Higher TPC and antioxidant activity were obtained when using lower mineralized waters. Tea bags also evidenced higher antioxidant activity than loose-leaf samples. Under the same conditions (90 ºC and five minutes of infusion time) green tea contains almost twice the quantity of polyphenols and the free radical scavenging ability of black tea. In the α-glucosidase assay all infusions were active (97-100 %). Furthermore, HPLC allowed to identify some of the polyphenols present in both teas and to monitor their composition change with time. After twenty-four hours, the antioxidant activity was maintained without significant changes, but a small decrease in enzyme inhibition was observed, although this activity was still very high

Qualidade de vida pós-unidades de terapia intensiva: protocolo de estudo de coorte multicêntrico para avaliação de desfechos em longo prazo em sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras / Quality of life after intensive care unit: a multicenter cohort study protocol for assessment of long-term outcomes among intensive care survivors in Brazil

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de incapacidades físicas, cognitivas e psiquiátricas, fatores associados e sua relação com qualidade de vida em pacientes sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras. Métodos: Um estudo de coorte prospectivo multicêntrico está sendo conduzido em dez unidades de terapia intensiva adulto clínico-cirúrgicas representativas das cinco regiões geopolíticas do Brasil. Pacientes com idade ≥ 18 anos que receberam alta das unidades de terapia intensiva participantes e permaneceram internados na unidade de terapia intensiva por 72 horas ou mais, nos casos de internação clínica ou cirúrgica de urgência, e por 120 horas ou mais, nos casos de internação cirúrgica eletiva, serão incluídos de forma consecutiva. Estes pacientes serão seguidos por 1 ano, por meio de entrevistas telefônicas estruturadas 3, 6 e 12 meses pós-alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. Dependência funcional, disfunção cognitiva, sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, sintomas de estresse pós-traumático, qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, re-hospitalizações e mortalidade em longo prazo serão avaliados como desfechos. Discussão: O presente estudo tem o potencial de contribuir para o conhecimento a respeito da prevalência e dos fatores associados à síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos na população de pacientes adultos sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras. Ademais, a associação entre síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde poderá ser estabelecida.

ABSTRACT Objective: To establish the prevalence of physical, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, associated factors and their relationship with the qualities of life of intensive care survivors in Brazil. Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study is currently being conducted at 10 adult medical-surgical intensive care units representative of the 5 Brazilian geopolitical regions. Patients aged ≥ 18 years who are discharged from the participating intensive care units and stay 72 hours or more in the intensive care unit for medical or emergency surgery admissions or 120 hours or more for elective surgery admissions are consecutively included. Patients are followed up for a period of one year by means of structured telephone interviews conducted at 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge from the intensive care unit. The outcomes are functional dependence, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety and depression symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, health-related quality of life, rehospitalization and long-term mortality. Discussion: The present study has the potential to contribute to current knowledge of the prevalence and factors associated with postintensive care syndrome among adult intensive care survivors in Brazil. In addition, an association might be established between postintensive care syndrome and health-related quality of life.

Sweet's syndrome associated with cellulitis - a challenging diagnosis

Abstract Sweet's syndrome is a neutrophilic dermatosis with worldwide distribution that has been associated with inflammatory autoimmune diseases, infections, malignancies, drugs, and pregnancy. The disease is idiopathic in up to 50% of patients. A 64-year-old woman, diagnosed with right limb cellulitis (4 days of evolution), was seen at our department, due to persistent cellulitis and progressive appearance of painful nodules and plaques in both shins and the right forearm (2 days of evolution). Taken together, clinical, laboratory and pathological data suggested the diagnosis of Sweet's syndrome, probably secondary to cellulitis of the right inferior limb. We suggest that cellulitis may be associated with Sweet's syndrome, a rare association in the literature.

Late-onset of eruptive syringomas: a diagnostic challenge

Syringoma is a benign, adnexal tumor of the eccrine sweat gland ducts. Eruptive syringomas are a rare variant, occurring before or during puberty in most cases. A 57-year-old man was observed in our department, with a 10-year history of multiple brownish papules (1-4mm in diameter), localized on the neck, shoulders, trunk and axillae. The clinical diagnosis was cutaneous mastocytosis. Histopathological examination from a papule in the trunk was compatible with the diagnosis of syringoma. The patient was treated with isotretinoin, without any improvement. The clinical diagnosis of eruptive syringoma is diffi cult and histological examination is crucial for its diagnosis. Long-term morbidity is not associated with syringomas; they are treated for cosmetic reasons with unsatisfactory results.

Saber sobre a importância do uso do preservativo influencia o seu uso? / Does the knowledge about the importance of condom influence the decision of using it?

Nas décadas de 80 e 90 assistiu-se a campanhas maciças na mídia, advertindo quanto ao perigo das doenças sexualmente transmissíveis, principalmente a AIDS, e indicando uma forma de praticar o "sexo seguro" através do uso do preservativo. Näo usar proteçäo soava como se contaminar com doença mortal. No entanto, näo sabemos o quanto esta forma de atuar foi (e é) efetiva. Com a finalidade de verificar se a informaçäo incorporada (usar preservativo) foi (e é) realmente praticada, e saber se há compatibilidade entre discurso e prática quanto ao uso do dispositivo. Realizamos pesquisa utilizando para tal, um questionário composto de 9 perguntas objetivas e uma aberta, relacionadas à atitude e comportamento em relaçäo ao uso ou näo do condom. A amostra foi constituída por dois grupos, o primeiro por mulheres que freqüentam o ambulatório de ginecologia do Hospital Moncorvo Filho e o segundo formado por estudantes universitárias da Universidade Gama Filho. As razöes mais aceitas para dispensar o uso do preservativo foram: o casal estar junto há muitos anos; a mulher conhecer bem o homem; estar casada ou viver junto com o parceiro. O amor, a recusa do homem e as dificuldades na relaçäo, foram razöes fortes entre as mulheres do hospital mas bem menor entre as universitárias. Poucas mulheres deixam de considerar a camisinha na proteçäo ao contágio com a AIDS. As mulheres entrevistadas de uma maneira geral näo ignoram a importância de usar o preservativo em todas as relaçöes sexuais porém, estar instruída sobre a importância do preservativo näo determina a universalidade do seu uso. As razöes para dispensar o uso do preservativo säo emocionais e prendem-se ao comportamento do casal, sendo o juízo que a mulher faz do homem e a sua atitude perante a relaçäo do fator determinante da dispensa.

A primeira relaçäo sexual / The first intercourse

Objetiva verificar como as jovens adolescentes se percebem em sua primeira relaçäo sexual, e as que ainda näo a tiveram, como encaram este ato futuro

Genetic parameter estimates and efficiency of three selection procedures in carrot breeding, variety Campinas

The potential for genetic breeding of the carrot variety "Campinas" was assessed through estimates of the genetic-statistical parameters of 16 traits of agronomic importance. The parameters were obtained from 102 half-sib progenies, harvested in a seed production field. Two experiments were carried out in Randomized Complete Blocks in the fall-winter and spring-summer planting periods. To compare the three selection methods, usually employed in population breeding genetics the expected genetic gains were estimated considering each blockor plot as strata, and mass selection between and within the half-sib progenies. Samples of 15 marketable roots per plot were evaluated at the individual level for the characters root length (RL) and root shape index (SI). A joint analysis of variance, weighted for the differences in number of replications between the experiments was performed for the six common traits. The results of the genetic parameter estimates of the single variance analysis indicated that the variety Campinas was best adapted to the fall-winter planting period. Heritabilities greater than 60 per cent were observed for the majority of traits assessed at the plot level. The selecction against the trait premature flowering (PF) may result in satisfactory genetic gain in the two environmental conditions because of the high genetic variability coefficients obtained. The percentage of marketable cylindrical roots (MCR) demonstrated an expected genetic gain per cycle of only 4.82 per cent in the fall-winter period, probably because it had already been selected, for various cycles, under these environmental conditions. On the other hand, in the spring-suminer planting period, the genetic gain was estimated to be 14.44 per cent. Total and marketable yields were high in the fall-winter period and low in the spring-summer period. For the traits RL and SI, assessed at the individual level, the stratified mass selection, considering each plot as strata, was less efficient in relation to the other proposed selection methods. Therefore it is concluded that breeding of the variety Caampinas, based on the performance of the half-sib progenies for root quality and yield is fairly promising within each planting period, but simultaneous selection for both periods is difficult.