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In Portugal, the dispensing of most outpatient specialty medicines is performed exclusively through hospital pharmacies and totally financed by the National Health Service. During the COVID-19 first wave, the government allowed the transfer of the dispensing of hospital-only medicines (HOMs) to community pharmacies (CPs). This study aimed to measure the value generated by the intervention of CP in the dispensing of HOM.A single-arm, before-and-after study with 3-month follow-up was conducted enrolling a randomly selected sample of patients or caregivers with at least 1 dispensation of HOM through CP. Data were collected by telephone interview. Main outcomes were patients' self-reported adherence (Measure Treatment Adherence), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D 3-Level), satisfaction with the service, and costs related to HOM access.Overall 603 subjects were recruited to participate in the study (males 50.6%) with mean 55 years old (SD = 16). The already high mean adherence score to therapy improved significantly (P.0001), and no statistically significant change (P.5757) was found in the mean EQ-5D score between baseline (0.7 ± 0.3) and 3-month follow-up (0.8 ± 0.3). Annual savings account for €262.1/person, arising from travel expenses and absenteeism reduction. Participants reported a significant increase in satisfaction levels in all evaluated domains-pharmacist's availability, opening hours, waiting time, privacy conditions, and overall experience.Changing the dispense setting to CP may promote better access and satisfaction. Moreover, it ensures the persistence of treatments, promotes savings for citizens, and reduces the burden of healthcare services, representing a crucial public health measure.

Akkermansia muciniphila is a common human intestinal commensal with a mucin-degrading nature. Its immunomodulatory characteristics and regulatory role of mucus layer and gut barrier integrity highlight the potential benefits of using this bacterium as an interventional player against inflammatory/cardio-metabolic disorders.In this work, we evaluate the effect of microencapsulation by the emulsification/internal gelation method onA. muciniphila survival during aerobic storage (0, 15, 30 and 95 days) and subsequent exposure to simulatedgastrointestinal passage, in comparison with that of free cells. The present results show that microencapsulation by internal gelation promotes a 64.4 % entrapment efficacy of A. muciniphila cells (maintaining a 108 orderof magnitude for cell viability). Moreover, physical characterization showed that microparticles mean size was53,5 ± 12,1 μm and, as observed by electron scanning microscopy, microcapsules were spherical in shape. Moreimportantly, as storage time increased, encapsulated A. muciniphila demonstrated higher stability in GI conditions, when compared to its free counterpart. In conclusion, microencapsulation by internal gelation seems tobe an appropriate strategy in protecting A. muciniphila against the detrimental gastrointestinal transit after longperiods of aerobic refrigerated storage.

Studies have demonstrated that the addition of pulses to foods can make them more nutritious. We hypothesize that lupin flour adds nutritional benefits to yogurts. This study aimed to characterize a lupin-enriched yogurt in nutritional, rheological, and sensorial terms by a trained panel, and assess its environmental impact using the life cycle assessment (LCA) approach. For comparison, natural yogurt and a commercial formula were used as controls. The developed yogurt is “high in protein” (7g/100g), “source of fiber” (1.9g/100g), and “source of omega 3” (53 mg/100g). The lupin yogurt was the stiffest with the highest viscosity than controls according to rheological parameters. There were no significant sensory differences between the lupin-enriched yogurt and the controls, although some undesirable sensory characteristics such as bitterness, granularity, and after-taste were observed. The environmental impact per 100 g serving was similar to natural yogurt and slightly worse regarding commercial yogurt but better when expressed per Nutritional Density Unit (NDU). Using lupin flour to enrich yogurts for children can be an alternative to producing more nutritious products.

This paper aims to improve the performance of Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM) used in asbestos detection processes in a business context. Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) were studied, identifying the critical failure modes, proposing risk reduction measures and changing maintenance practices based on the Reliability Centered Maintenance strategy. In the elaboration of the FMEA it was evident the lack of data and poor information quality regarding the reliability and maintenance of TEM. These circumstances led to the implementation of training projects to standardize operations and to the development of a software application for data collection and reports generation with relevant performance indicators (Costs, Mean Down Time, Overall Equipment Effectiveness, …) to support operators tasks and decision-making. The approach followed and the tools developed allowed monitoring TEM productivity and maintenance performance. As a result, more informed decisions can be made that will lead to improved performance of TEM., This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020.

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) Process quality planning should establish the quality control plan to achieve the desired quality level with the minimum quality cost (appraisal and failure costs) for the final product. This plan sets out the critical quality variables, the control stations in the process, and the control method at each control station. The quality costs associated with quality control and defective products can be greater than or less than ideal regarding the required quality level. The purpose of this paper is to provide a stochastic dynamic programming model for designing the quality control plan in a manufacturing process, which allows obtaining the desired level of control with the lowest cost. Inputs to the model are, in particular, control stations in the process, levels of quality, control methodologies (no control, statistical process control, 100% inspection), probabilities of changing the quality level and quality costs. The output of this model is the quality control plan that satisfies the desired level of quality at the lowest cost. This plan establishes the control stations, the methodology used in each control station, the desired quality level for the final product, and the estimated quality costs. Finally, an illustrative example based on a manufacturing process demonstrates the applicability of this approach and several considerations are reported about future research directions., FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(UID/CEC/00319/2019)

Small ruminants' fermented probiotic milk is an alternative to fermented cows' milk, especially because of the monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acid profiles. The technological and biochemical potential of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus co-cultures, with or without inulin, on goats' and ewes' milk was assessed. Microbial stability, lactose consumption, organic acid production, proteolytic parameters and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) production in situ, were followed in ewes' and goats' fermented milk (EFM and GFM, respectively) over 21 days at 4 C; technological feasibility for probiotic fermented milk production was shown. In EFM, all co-cultures presented high viable cell numbers (>7.0 log cfu mL1 ) throughout storage, presenting faster acidification capacities and higher CLA isomer levels than in GFM. Inulin had no impact on probiotic growth, yet contributed to storage stability. CLA isomers and proteolysis indices were co-culture dependent traits: for example, co-culture of Bifidobacterium animalis B94 with Lactobacillus acidophilus L10 registered the best CLA-production in GFM. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

"27th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, FAIM2017, 27-30 June 2017, Modena, Italy", This paper presents a design procedure to develop dashboards to support and improve the performance of productive equipment and processes, to implement at the shop floor level. The procedure can be applied by other industries with the same objective, giving its simplicity and comprehensiveness. The dashboard to be designed allows an interactive performance management involving employees of several hierarchy levels where production activities take place. The procedure was implemented in the context of a pilot company and in general it was successful., This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

"27th International Conference on Flexible Automation and Intelligent Manufacturing, FAIM2017, 27-30 June 2017, Modena, Italy", This work presents an industrial case study focused on improving the quality of production processes, using lean production tools. The analysis of the initial situation was done using cause-effect diagrams, Pareto’s analysis, study of setup times and performance indicators, allowing identifying the main problems, such as high setup times, low availability of machines, lack of organization in the working area. Improvement proposals were implemented in the bonding section, like the SMED methodology, the 5S technique and visual management. As result it was achieved an average reduction of 47% in the setup time, corresponding to 10114€ of monthly profit., This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Extracts with prebiotic activity or bioactive compounds from natural sources such as seaweeds or mushrooms, combining a broad spectrum of biological properties, may offer great potential for their use as functional ingredients enabling intestinal microbiota modulation. In this context, selected enzymatic extracts from Sargassum muticum, Osmundea pinnatifida and Pholiota nameko were evaluated in vitro. Faecal fermentations were conducted anaerobically under controlled temperature and pH over 24 h. Enzymatic extracts of Ph. nameko and of O. pinnatifida at 1% (w/v), lead to increases in Bifidobacterium spp. after 6 h of fermentation in comparison to negative control, suggesting a stimulatory effect. No significant changes over 24 h were observed of Lactobacillus spp. In particular, the Ph. nameko extract obtained with Flavourzyme not only stimulated growth and/or activity of Bifidobacterium spp. but also led to a decrease of Clostridium histolyticum group upon 24 h, thus potentially benefiting colonic health. Higher percentages of this extract (2 and 3%) impaired a C. histolyticum reduction confirming this selective action and prebiotic potential. Differences in short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactic acid production between the four extracts may indicate a potential relationship between their physico-chemical properties, which differ in composition and structures, and modulation of gut bacterial species.

The performance of fermentation under sub-lethal high pressure (HP) is a strategy for stimulation of microbial growth and/or improvement of fermentation titers, rates and yields. The present work intended to study the possibility of applying HP to Paracoccus denitrificans glycerol fermentation, considering that HP-fermentation usually involves some process constrains, such as limited air volumes. Consequently, the work was divided in two main goals: i) study the effects of air availability on P. denitrificans; ii) assess if the strain is able to grow and maintain metabolic activity under HP (10–35 MPa). Paracoccus denitrificans growth and metabolism were highly affected by air availability. Samples under higher air availability showed considerable cell growth, but no production of ethanol or organic acids. On the other hand, samples without air had lower cell growth, but active metabolic activity (with the production of ethanol and organic acids). Regarding the HP experiments, P. denitrificans was able to grow at 10, 25 and 35 MPa, but to a lower extent compared to atmospheric pressure. Application of HP promoted modifications in the production of ethanol, acetate and succinate, and the fermentative profile varied according to the pressure level. Overall, the present work demonstrated new metabolic features of P. denitrificans at atmospheric pressure and HP conditions. It also opened the way for further studies regarding P. denitrificans fermentation under HP, as well as utilization of this technology for other glycerol fermentations, in particular in the case of high requirements of air availability.

The survival rates of Lactobacilus acidophilus Ki, Lactobacillus paracasei L26 and Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 were studied after whey protein microencapsulation via spray-drying, with or without l-cysteine-HCl, and storage up to 6 months at 5 °C and 22 °C, with variation in relative air humidity and oxygen levels. Lb. paracasei L26 was the least susceptible to storage conditions: above 106 cfu g−1 were recorded by 180 d at 22 °C, irrespective of relative humidity, and the presence/absence of oxygen and l-cysteine. Higher relative humidity, higher temperature and longer storage periods were deleterious to survival of both B. animalis BB-12 and Lb. acidophilus Ki; the effect of l-cysteine-HCl was dependent on the probiotic strain. The effect of overhead oxygen was not significant upon any probiotic strain studied. Whey protein microcapsules containing l-cysteine-HCl protected probiotic cultures from simulated gastrointestinal conditions. The authors gratefully acknowledge Formulab, Multisorb, DSM and Chr. Hansen for providing the whey protein concentrate, oxygen absorbers and probiotic strains, respectively. This work was funded by FEDER under the Operational Program for Competitiveness Factors – COMPETE and by National funds via FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within the framework of project PROBIOCAPS – references PTDC/AGR-ALI/71051/2006 and FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-008792. published