Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-05-23"
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- Modulated stress to balance Nannochloropsis oculata growth and eicosapentaenoic acid productionPublication . Sousa, Sérgio; Freitas, Ana C.; Gomes, Ana M.; Carvalho, Ana P.Two environmental parameters, temperature and light intensity, were independently used as stress modulators to enhance eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) production by the microalga Nannochloropsis oculata, without hindering biomass production. A sinusoidal approach was used, as environmental conditions were alternated between optimum and stress status in multi-day cycles. Low temperatures (5 and 10 °C) and light intensities (30 and 50 μmol photons/m2/s) were tested. Results revealed that the modulated stress approach used was able to avoid decreases in biomass production. Temperature stress (10 °C) presented the highest impact, increasing EPA content to 12.8 mgEPA/L, 158% more than the amount obtained in optimum (non-modulated) growth conditions at that point in time, while the lower light intensity stress was able to increase to 126% more. It is important to point out that in both cases increases in EPA amounts resulted from increased content in each individual cell and not just from increased biomass contents. Key points: • Temperature stress (10 °C) presented the highest impact increasing EPA content 158% • Lower light intensity stress was able to increase EPA to 126% more • EPA increased in individual cell contents simultaneous with biomass increase.
- Portuguese version of the spiritual well-being questionnaire: validation study in people under assisted reproductive techniquesPublication . Romeiro, Joana; Nogueira, Paulo Jorge; Fisher, John; Caldeira, SílviaAttention has been given to the experience of individuals undergoing assisted reproductive techniques. However, only recent literature has focused on the spiritual journey triggered by such an event and highlighted the nurses and midwives’ roles in the assessment of the spiritual needs of those living with infertility. This study aimed to perform a psychometric test of the factor structure of the Portuguese version of the Spiritual Well-being Questionnaire in a sample of people undergoing assisted reproductive techniques. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2019 and June 2020 on a sample of 104 Portuguese adults attending fertility treatment. An online questionnaire was released on fertility-related websites. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on six hypothesized models of the instrument. The findings provided evidence of an adequate internal consistency of the instrument, and the validity and reliability of the oblique four-factor model was confirmed. Spiritual well-being had a significant association with the nature of infertility and a higher score was achieved by participants that perceived religion as very important. This study provides a validated tool for nurses and midwives to assess spiritual well-being and promote an integrated reproductive healthcare approach. Further longitudinal research with bigger samples would provide more evidence of the spiritual needs of people living with this condition.
- Promoção da saúde materna e neonatal nos limites da vulnerabilidadePublication . Nunes, João Paulo Batalim; Vieira, Margarida Maria da SilvaEnfrentar a mortalidade materna e neonatal no mundo e nos países desfavorecidos, em especial, é um imperativo que se acentua com a evidência de que as causas do problema são conhecidas e relativamente simples de enfrentar, nomeadamente no âmbito das funções dos profissionais de enfermagem. A Mortalidade Materna e a Neonatal por um lado e, o estado de desenvolvimento dos países e das comunidades, por outro, são indicadores fundamentais na análise e conhecimento dos níveis de saúde dos povos, pois a sua estreita inter-relação, alimenta e favorece situações de pobreza que, por sua vez, se constituem como obstáculo ao próprio desenvolvimento. As Nações Unidas e outras agências internacionais com responsabilidade na abordagem desta situação, desenvolveram, através da agenda dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milénio, -ano 2000-, e dos Objetivos para um Desenvolvimento Sustentável, -ano 2015-, um esforço para parametrizar as diferentes intervenções dos Estados e das Organizações, em função de objetivos claros e interdependentes. Angola, é um país da África austral, que apresenta valores muito elevados nos índices de mortes maternas e neonatais, de tal forma que sua magnitude tornou os esforços por encontrar vias de superação, uma prioridade nacional, assim definida pelo Estado Angolano. O Centro Materno-Infantil N.ª Sr.ª da Graça, em Benguela, está integrado no universo da rede de unidades de saúde da Igreja Católica de Angola e localiza-se no seio da comunidade de um Bairro periférico de Benguela, numa Paróquia com cerca de 140.000 pessoas. Desenvolve desde há dez anos, um importante trabalho de promoção da saúde materna e neonatal, promovendo consultas de vigilância da gravidez, apoio ao parto e puerpério, pediatria, ginecologia e obstetrícia, atividades de promoção da saúde, em ambiente escolar e comunitário. Tem desde 2009, uma média de 800 partos e 1900 consultas de pré-natal, por ano. Por ser considerado um Centro de referência, quanto à qualidade dos cuidados de saúde, com números reduzidos quanto à mortalidade materna e neonatal, foi integrado num projeto com apoio internacional, de reforço das competências das enfermeiras, parteiras e gestores, das unidades de saúde, da Igreja Católica nas Províncias de Benguela, Huambo e Bié e de elementos de unidades de saúde do Estado Angolano, nas mesmas Províncias. O projeto Forvida – programa Obrigado Mãe, apoiou a adaptação do Centro, às necessidades em saúde materno-infantil, de uma população que vive nos limites da vulnerabilidade. Utilizando uma estratégia de Estudo de Caso, estudámos o Centro, procurando conhecer as razões subjacentes à reduzida taxa de Mortalidade Materna e Neonatal. Foram explorados os fatores estruturais e processuais, bem como as ações de melhoria levadas a cabo e a dinâmica de permanente cooperação com instituições nacionais angolanas e internacionais. Obtiveram-se, no final, resultados epidemiológicos da Mortalidade Materna e Neonatal, de 133/100.000 e 9/1.000,respetivamente. Estes resultados são significativamente inferiores aos aceites pelas instâncias internacionais, 477/100.000 (RMM) e 29/1.000 (MN), em 2018. A partir de 2018 e em função de alterações metodológicas no cálculo das estimativas, Angola passou a apresentar um valor de 241/100.000 (RMM) (UI:[167- 346]) e de 29/1.000 (MN). (1) Conclui-se que os resultados se ficam a dever à relevante consonância da atividade do CMI-NSG, com os Standards de qualidade para este tipo de unidades de saúde, definidos pela OMS, concretizados no modelo de gestão e na organização dos profissionais de enfermagem e médicos, do Centro, bem como na permanente ligação à comunidade envolvente. Considera-se demonstrado, ter sido possível reduzir os indicadores de Mortalidade Materna e, Neonatal, no Centro, numa situação de vulnerabilidade social, com poucos recursos económicos.
- A sacrifice must be made: from Kierkegaard's tragic hero to the contemporary heroPublication . Kovič, AmadeaIn Søren Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling: A Dialectical Lyric (1843), the figure of a tragic hero is defined by the sacrifice he makes for the benefit of his community. To illustrate this concept, Kierkegaard presents three examples of influential fathers who have sacrificed their children: Agamemnon, Jephthah, and Brutus. In contemporary democratic societies, such a sacrifice would likely not be perceived as heroic anymore, since consciously sacrificing a human life is generally considered an unimaginable act. Thus, this article advocates that while sacrifice is still a key element for the development of contemporary heroes, the way it is executed has changed significantly since Kierkegaard’s time: if the tragic hero had to make a choice to sacrifice a loved one, for contemporary (anti)heroes like Marvel’s Deadpool (Miller 2016; Leitch 2018) or Disney’s Cruella (Gillespie 2021) sacrifice no longer presents itself in the form of a choice, but rather an unexpected event.
- Study and optimization of a microfluidic paper based analytical device for the quantification of salivary copperPublication . Almeida, Adriana Raquel Gomes Tavares; Mesquita, Raquel Beatriz Ribeiro de; Rangel, António Osmaro Santos SilvaEarly diagnosis of pathology can promote a better recovery and treatment. Thus, the development the devices the rapid evaluation of the health condition, contribute to this process. In this context, in the recent years there has been growth in the development of low cost, easy to use devices. In this work, a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) was development for the determination of copper in human saliva, being a form of rapid test. The device is suitable for the detection of excess copper, as consequently to change the healthy status. The development of the device involved several studies in order to get the rapid determination, accurate, cheaper and easy to use. Colorimetric reaction was chosen between copper and diphenylcarbazide create the complex of red colour. After the reaction time has elapsed, a scanner is used to obtain the digital image of μPAD detection zone, in order to calculate the absorbance based on the intensity of colour of each analytical local, obtained by Image J software. This device provides a copper determination in the range of 80.0 – 600 μg/L, a calibration curve of A= (0.0701±0.0008) [Cu2+] – (0.0043 ± 0.0004), the limit of detection of 17 μg/L and the limit of quantification of 56 μg/L. After inserting the sample in the μPAD, it can be digitized, within a time period of 20 - 40 min. The accuracy of the results was assessed by calculating recovery percentages using saliva from volunteers.
- Responses presented by adult patients with COVID-19, based on the formulated nursing diagnoses: a scoping reviewPublication . Cortinhal, Vanessa; Pereira, António; Correia, Sofia; Deodato, Sérgio(1) Background: this review aims to identify the human responses exhibited by adult patients with COVID-19, by listing the corresponding nursing diagnoses. Nursing diagnosis it's a clinical analysis of human responses to a person, family, or community. Therefore, it is possible to state that nursing diagnoses represent human responses. (2) Methods: a scoping review was conducted following recommendations provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the research was carried out between December 2020 and 15 January, 2021, via CINAHL Complete, Complementary Index, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Academic Search Complete, Science Citation Index, Directory of Open Access Journals, Scopus, Social Sciences Citation Index, Business Source Complete, eBook Index (by B-on), and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (by Cochrane Library). (3) Results: with respect to studies using the NANDA-I taxonomy, the findings have shown that "impaired gas exchange" was the most highlighted nursing diagnosis. ICNP taxonomy, the relevant nursing diagnosis is "cough present". (4) Conclusions: concurrently, as suggested by the human responses documented in this review, throughout the pandemic, the requirements for adequate care provision have been constantly updated, to improve the quality of life of those patients, as much as possible.