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This study focuses on three different regions of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis): an inner layer (IB), middle layer (MB), and outer layer (OB), to comprehensively characterize the structural features, chemical composition (ash, extractives and lignin contents), and the lignin monomeric composition as determined by analytical pyrolysis. The results show that bamboo presents a gradient structure. From the IB to OB, the vascular bundle density and fiber sheath ratio increase, the porosity decreases (from 45.92% to 18.14%), and the vascular bundle diameter–chord ratio increases (from 0.85 to 1.48). In terms of chemical composition, the ash, extractives, and acid-soluble lignin content gradually decrease from IB to OB. The holocellulose content follows the trend: MB (66.3%) > OB (65.9%) > IB (62.8%), while the acid-insoluble lignin content exhibits the opposite trend: IB (22.6%) > OB (17.8%) > MB (17.7%). Pyrolysis products reveal the diversity of carbohydrates and lignin derivatives, with a lignin monomeric composition rich in syringyl and guaiacyl units and lower amounts of H-units: the IB has an H:G:S relation of 18:26:55, while 15:27:58 is the ratio for the MB and 15:40:45 for the OB; S/G ratio values were, respectively, 1.22, 1.46, and 0.99. A comprehensive analysis highlights significant gradient variations in the structure and chemistry of bamboo, providing robust support for the classification and refinement methods of bamboo residues for potential applications.

Natural and thermally modified Pine, Ash, and Acacia woods were exposed in two different environments: urban and maritime/industrial. The weathering effects were evaluated during 24 months regarding color, chemical, and structural changes. In all wood species, thermal modification induced color, chemical, and structural changes. All woods became darker (Pine ΔL*: −32.01; Ash ΔL*: −36.83; Acacia ΔL*: −27.50), total extractives content increased (Pine: 19 %; Ash: 32 % and Acacia: 18 %), and the samples presented deformation and damaged cells. Total lignin was not significantly changed, although there were detected changes in lignin, namely the reduction of G-units in Pine (≈2 %) and reduction of S/G ratio in Acacia (≈0.04 %). Ash remained almost the same. After weathering, modified woods suffered fewer color changes, indicating that the thermal modification could improve the resistance to color change. Acacia wood, when exposed to maritime/industrial conditions, revealed a higher color change (ΔE: 35.7 at 24 months) when compared with urban conditions (ΔE: 23.5 at 24 months). Delignification, possibly caused by photodegradation, occurred in all wood samples, and the loss of extractive happened, perhaps caused by rain. Modified woods were slightly less resistant to weathering in maritime/industrial environments. Some structural damage, namely cracked cells, the appearance of molds, blue staining, and particle deposition, was observed. The thermal modification enables color stabilization but does not seem to improve the weathering resistance in all studied wood species. Exposure to the different environments did not lead to significant differences in the morphology and chemical composition of the three natural and modified wood species.

A comprehensive analysis of outdoor weathering and soil burial of cork during 1-year experiments was carried out with measurements of CIELAB color parameters, cellular observations by scanning electron microscopy, and surface chemical features analysed by ATR-FTIR and wet chemical analysis. Cork applied in outdoor conditions above and below ground retained its physical structure and integrity without signs of deterioration or fracturing. The cellular structure was maintained with some small changes at the one-cell layer at the surface, featuring cellular expansion and minute cell wall fractures. Surface color and chemistry showed distinct results for outdoor exposure and soil burial. The weathered cork surfaces acquired a lighter color while the soil buried cork surfaces became darker. With outdoor weathering, the cork polar solubles increased (13.0% vs. 7.6% o.d. mass) while a substantial decrease of lignin occurred (about 28% of the original lignin was removed) leading to a suberin-enriched cork surface. The chemical impact on lignin is therefore responsible for the surface change towards lighter colors. Soil-burial induced hydrolysis of ester bonds of suberin and xylan, and the lignin-enriched cork surface displayed a dark brown color. FTIR and wet chemical results were consistent. Overall cork showed a considerable structural and physical stability that allows its application in outdoor conditions, namely for building façades or other surfacing applications. Architects and designers should take into account the color dynamics of the cork surfaces.

Background and purpose: Accurate dosimetry in Ultra-High Dose Rate (UHDR) beams is challenging because high levels of ion recombination occur within ionisation chambers used as reference dosimeters. A Small-body Portable Graphite Calorimeter (SPGC) exhibiting a dose-rate independent response was built to offer reduced uncertainty on secondary standard dosimetry in UHDR regimes. The aim of this study was to quantify the effect of the geometry and material properties of the device on the dose measurement. Materials and methods: A detailed model of the SPGC was built in the Monte Carlo code TOPAS (v3.6.1) to derive the impurity and gap correction factors, kimp and kgap. A dose conversion factor, DwMC/DgMC, was also calculated using FLUKA (v2021.2.0). These factors convert the average dose to its graphite core to the dose-to-water for a 249.7 MeV mono-energetic spot-scanned clinical proton beam. The effect of the surrounding Styrofoam on the dose measurement was examined in the simulations by substituting it for graphite. Results: The kimp and kgap correction factors were 0.9993 ± 0.0002 and 1.0000 ± 0.0001, respectively when the Styrofoam was not substituted, and 1.0037 ± 0.0002 and 0.9999 ± 0.0001, respectively when substituted for graphite. The dose conversion factor was calculated to be 1.0806 ± 0.0001. All uncertainties are Type A. Conclusions: Impurity and gap correction factors, and the dose conversion factor were calculated for the SPGC in a FLASH proton beam. Separating out the effect of scatter from Styrofoam insulation showed this as the dominating correction factor, amounting to 1.0043 ± 0.0002.

Parinari curatellifolia is an important evergreen tree from the Miombo woodland of south-central and eastern Africa. The bark is corky, suggesting an increased protection against the ecosystem high temperatures and drought conditions as well as against wild fires. The cork in the bark rhytidome of P. curatellifolia was analyzed here for the first time with a focus on chemical and cellular features. P. curatellifolia cork has the cellular characteristics of cork tissues, with typical honeycomb structure in the tangential section and a brick-wall layer in the transverse and radial sections, without intercellular voids. Chemically P. curatellifolia cork has 8.4 % extractives, 33.9 % suberin, 31.9 % lignin and 25.2 % polysaccharides of the cork. The hemicelluloses are mostly xylans, with a substantial proportion of arabinose and galactose. Suberin showed a proportion of long chain lipids to glycerol (LCLip:Gly, mass ratio) of 8.5, and the long chain monomeric composition included a similar proportion of α,ω-diacids and ω-hydroxy acids (35.4 % and 31.5 % of long chain monomers) with a substantial proportion of monoacids (19.4 % of long chain monomers). Lignin is a guaiacyl-syringyl lignin with S/G of 0.32 and H:G:S of 1:14.1:4.5. The rhytidome composition and the cellular and chemical features of its cork are in line with environment-targeted protective features namely as a transpiration and insulation barrier, and as an increased fire protection.

Abstract A paradigm shift is occurring in clinical oncology exploiting the recent discovery that short pulses of ultra-high dose rate (UHDR) radiation—FLASH radiotherapy—can significantly spare healthy tissues whilst still being at least as effective in curing cancer as radiotherapy at conventional dose rates. These properties promise reduced post-treatment complications, whilst improving patient access to proton beam radiotherapy and reducing costs. However, accurate dosimetry at UHDR is extremely complicated. This work presents measurements performed with a primary-standard proton calorimeter and derivation of the required correction factors needed to determine absolute dose for FLASH proton beam radiotherapy with an uncertainty of 0.9% (1 $$\sigma$$ σ ), in line with that of conventional treatments. The establishment of a primary standard for FLASH proton radiotherapy improves accuracy and consistency of the dose delivered and is crucial for the safe implementation of clinical trials, and beyond, for this new treatment modality.

The number of older and frail patients has greatly increased in nephrology departments. Traditional treatment options have become inappropriate because they seem unable to achieve goals such as quality of life. Principles from palliative care have been brought to chronic kidney disease management with good results; thus a new way to approach these patients has been reported. In Portugal, in 2011, Direcção Geral de Saúde published a guideline to substantiate supportive care as an option, for certain patients, in certain circumstances. The best evidence known at the time was stated and the conditions that should be met were regulated, but limited information was given about practical implementation of what. In this article we describe our experience with a supportive care program from planning to the implementation steps, since 2015. We reflect on the flowchart, the barriers, the conquests, and the data up to the end of 2020.

There is a lack of knowledge on the European bison (Bison bonasus L. 1758) foraging behavior that is essential to develop an appropriate feeding strategy for each specific situation (captive or wild). Utilization of faecal markers may allow us to fill this gap, accommodating animal welfare and intensive labour issues that are major limitations of traditional techniques. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of n-alkane markers (C25 to C33) to estimate diet composition, feed intake its digestibility on three captive maleBison bonasus fed on known amounts of straw, and a beeswax labelled concentrate feed. Feeds and faecal samples were taken daily during 10 days. Prior to calculations, faecal concentrations were corrected for incomplete faecal recovery (FR). Results indicated that 4–5 days were sufficient for these markers to reach a steady concentration in bison faeces. Accurate estimates of diet composition and feed intake were obtained not differing from known values. Results suggest that faecal recovery of n-alkanes in bison are incomplete and tend to increase with carbon-chain length. Apparent dry-matter digestibility (DMDap) estimates were affected by the n-alkane (C27, C29,C31, and C33) used in the calculations. Estimates of DMDap obtained with application of FR corrections were 6.3% higher than those without correction. Results indicate that feeding a known amount of beeswax labelled supplement can be successfully used to estimate composition, feed intake, and its digestibility, requiring the application of n-alkane FR data.

The Clean Forest project aims to valorize forest biomass wastes (and then prevent their occurrence as a fuel source in forests), converting it to bioenergy, such as the production of 2nd generation synthetic biofuels, like bio-methanol, bio-DME, and biogas, depending on the process operating conditions. Valorization of potential forest waste biomass thus enhances the reduction of the probability of occurrence of forest fires and, therefore, presents a major value for local rural communities. The proposed process is easy to implement, and energetically, it shows significantly reduced costs than the conventional process of gasification. Additionally, the input of energy necessary to promote electrolysis can be achieved with solar energy, using photovoltaic panels. This paper refers to the actual progress of the project, as well as the further steps which consist of a set of measures aimed at the minimization of the occurrence of forest fires by the valorization of forest wastes into energy sources.

The main objective of this work was to assess Eucalyptus globulus lignin as an adsorbent and compare the results with kraft lignin, which has previously been demonstrated to be an effective adsorbent. Eucalypt lignin was extracted (by the dioxane technique), characterised, and its adsorption properties for Cr(VI) ions were evaluated. The monomeric composition of both types of lignin indicated a high content of guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units but low content of p-hydroxyphenyl (H), with an H:G:S ratio of 1:50:146 (eucalypt lignin) and 1:16:26 (kraft lignin), as determined by Py-GC/MS. According to elemental analysis, sulphur (2%) and sodium (1%) were found in kraft lignin, but not in eucalypt lignin. The adsorption capacity of the eucalypt lignin was notably higher than the kraft lignin during the first 8 h, but practically all the ions had been absorbed by both the eucalypt and kraft lignin after 24 h (93.4% and 95%, respectively). Cr(VI) adsorption onto both lignins fitted well using the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, with capacities of 256.4 and 303.0 mg/g, respectively, for eucalypt and kraft. The study’s overall results demonstrate the great potential of eucalypt lignin as a biosorbent for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions.

Once more under the auspices of the Sociedade Portuguesa de Química, two important fields of Chemistry are brought together into a single event, the 14th National Organic Chemistry Meeting and the 7th National Medicinal Chemistry Meeting. These conferences brought together both long-recognized experts and newcomers.

The impact that construction has on sustainability as a relevant consumer of materials is well known, especially with regard to cement, which contributes to high CO2 emissions. It is well known that in tile adhesives, cement add positive technical contributes, supporting tensile adhesion, especially after water immersion and freeze–thaw cycles. On the other hand, it is also known that that it is possible to replace Portland cement with alternative sources, such as blast furnace slag, fly and bottom ashes, or other pozzolanic materials. Even so, other materials can be also used to contribute to additional performance. This work intends to prove that using recycled materials or by-products is not just a potential way to replace existing materials, improving environmental sustainability, but also contributes additional value to mortars, such as cement-based tile adhesives. Different recycled waste materials are introduced to a cement-based tile adhesive and the evaluation of properties according to EN 12004 is conducted. The results show how the introduction of recycled rubber can contribute to improve the workability of a tile adhesive, acting as a lightweight aggregate. Moreover, it can contribute to reducing the dynamic elasticity modulus; thus, it has a potential contribution to reduce global tensions in tiling systems, and the adhesion results are maintained by the introduction of slag, another recycled material. The weight reduction reduces mortar consumption, one of the main targets to support indicated strategy and justify a more sustainable performance. The results indicate that the introduction of rubber and slag provide good technical and mechanical performance for the mortars, as well as excellent workability.

INTRODUÇÃO: A Rede CUF em 18 de março, disponibilizou o Hospital CUF Infante Santo (HCIS) como hospital de referência para os doentes com COVID-19 na área da grande Lisboa. O internamento do doente não crítico (IDNC) ficou a cargo de uma equipa médica dedicada (EMD) constituída por médicos do Cluster Tejo, sob coordenação da Medicina Interna. Este estudo reporta as principais características demográficas e clínicas da população internada no IDNC. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospetivo analisando os doentes admitidos entre 27 de março e 7 de maio de 2020, no IDNC. Os critérios para diagnóstico de COVID-19 basearam-se na confirmação laboratorial e/ou critérios de diagnóstico imagiológicos. Excluíram-se da análise os doentes inicialmente suspeitos, mas cujo diagnóstico final encontrado foi outro. Clinicamente, o doente não crítico foi definido como tendo um Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) entre 0-2. Os dados foram coletados do processo clínico eletrónico e da base de dados criada para seguimento destes doentes. Apresentam-se as características demográficas, clínicas, exames complementares, terapêutica e resultados. RESULTADOS: Incluíram-se 44 doentes, média de idades 67 anos, 52,3% homens. Divididos em grupos de acordo com a apresentação, com pneumonia em 75%, os restantes com outra apresentação. Proveniência: domicílio 81,8%, residência sénior 11,4% e outro hospital 8%. Fatores de risco para doença mais grave foram: Idade > 65 anos, 56,8%, hipertensão arterial 59%, doença respiratória crónica 15,9%, obesidade 15,9%, neoplasia ativa 13,6%, diabetes 11,4%, cardiopatia isquémica 11,4%, insuficiência cardíaca 6,8%, imunossupressão 6,8%, com índice de comorbilidades de Charlson média de 3.6. Agravamento clínico significativo com necessidade de escalar cuidados em três doentes (6,8%), em dois (4,5%) com ventilação mecânica invasiva, adicionalmente registado um óbito (2,3%). Demora média de internamento 10 dias, três (6,8%) doentes foram transferidos para outro hospital e 40 (91%) tiveram alta. DISCUSSÃO: A casuística apresentada representa o primeiro grupo de doentes não críticos internados com COVID-19 na Rede CUF da Região de Lisboa. Houve evolução e mortalidade intra-hospitalar abaixo do expectável para as características desta população, nomeadamente perante a presença de fatores de risco para doença mais grave e elevado índice de comorbilidades. CONCLUSÃO: A interpretação dos resultados obtidos fica condicionada ao pequeno tamanho da amostra e às incertezas ainda existentes nesta nova doença.

Sustainability of cork oak (Quercus suber) forests is threatened by biotic and abiotic factors and characterization of potentially differing genetic resources has therefore gained importance. This work addresses the chemical variation of the three tissues of cork oak stems – cork, phloem and wood – in relation to tree and provenance, looking for genetic chemical diversity and for physiological derived differences. The three tissues differ with cork clearly differentiating regarding summative composition, component ratios and monomeric composition. Cork is the only tissue where suberin is present (42.3% o.d. mass) as the main cell wall component, and it has a high content of extractives (11.7%) with significant proportion of lipophilic compounds. Phloem is more lignified than wood (38.0% vs. 23.4%) and has less polysaccharides (49.1% vs. 64.6%) with glucose-to-other sugars relation of 1:1.3 in phloem and 1:0.7 in wood. Analytical pyrolysis showed that lignification is a heterogeneous process and the lignin monomeric composition depends on tissue and cell type: cork lignin has a H:G:S ratio of 1:2.5:0.3 and S/G ratio of 0.12, while phloem and wood lignins have mainly G and S units with a S/G ratio of respectively 1.1 and 2.3. No significant differences were found between the three provenances, but some chemical variation occurred between the trees within a provenance. NIR spectroscopy and principal component analysis differentiated cork, phloem and wood, while the dispersion within each group highlighted the significant tree variability, while provenances were a non-significant factor of chemical variation.

Invasive species are currently a world menace to the environment, although the study of their chemistry may provide a means for their future beneficial use. From a study of Portuguese Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. five known compounds were isolated: lupeol, 3β-Z-coumaroyl lupeol, 3β-E-coumaroyl lupeol (dioslupecin A), kolavic acid 15-methyl ester and vomifoliol (blumenol A). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, and as a result some corrections are made to their previous 13C NMR assignments. Cytotoxicity of 3β-E-coumaroyl lupeol (dioslupecin A) and kolavic acid 15-methyl ester was evaluated against HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells although biological activity was not evident.

Eight polyhydroxy triterpenoid acids, hederagenin, (4α)-23-hydroxybetulinic acid, maslinic acid, corosolic acid, arjunolic acid, asiatic acid, caulophyllogenin, and madecassic acid, with 2, 3, and 4 hydroxyl substituents, were identified and quantified in the dichloromethane extract of Eucalyptus globulus wood by comparing their GC-retention time and mass spectra with standards. Two other triterpenoid acids were tentatively identified by analyzing their mass spectra, as (2α)-2-hydroxybetulinic acid and (2α,4α)-2,23-dihydroxybetulinic acid, with 2 and 3 hydroxyl substituents. Two MS detectors were used, a quadrupole ion trap (QIT) and a quadrupole mass filter (QMF). The EI fragmentation pattern of the trimethylsilylated polyhydroxy structures of these triterpenoid acids is characterized by the sequential loss of the trimethylsilylated hydroxyl groups, most of them by the retro-Diels-Alder (rDA) opening of the C ring with a π-bond at C12-C13. The rDA C-ring opening produces ions at m/z 320 (or 318) and m/z 278 (or 277, 276, 366). Sequential losses of the hydroxyl groups produce ions with m/z from [M - 90] to [M - 90*y], where y is the number of hydroxyl substituents present (from 2 to 4). Moreover, specific cleavage in ring E was observed, passing from m/z 203 to m/z 133 and conducting other major fragments such as m/z 189.

Residues of Cistus ladanifer obtained after commercial steam distillation for essential oil production were evaluated to produce cellulose enriched solids and added-value lignin-derived compounds. The delignification of extracted (CLRext) and extracted and hydrothermally pretreated biomass (CLRtreat) was studied using two organosolv processes, ethanol/water mixtures (EO), and alkali-catalyzed glycerol (AGO), and by an alkali (sodium hydroxide) process (ASP) under different reaction conditions. The phenolic composition of soluble lignin was determined by capillary zone electrophoresis and by Py-GC/MS, which was also used to establish the monomeric composition of both the delignified solids and isolated lignin. The enzymatic saccharification of the delignified solids was also evaluated. The ASP (4% NaOH, 2 h) lead to both the highest delignification and enzymatic saccharification (87% and 79%, respectively). A delignification of 76% and enzymatic hydrolysis yields of 72% were obtained for AGO (4% NaOH) while EO processes led to lower delignification (maximum lignin removal 29%). The residual lignin in the delignified solids were enriched in G- and H-units, with S-units being preferentially removed. The main phenolics present in the ASP and AGO liquors were vanillic acid and epicatechin, while gallic acid was the main phenolic in the EO liquors. The results showed that C. ladanifer residues can be a biomass source for the production of lignin-derivatives and glucan-rich solids to be further used in bioconversion processes.

Background: Albuminuria was widely considered as the first clinical sign of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which is why it has traditionally been used as a screening test for DKD. However, increasing evidence has shown that a significant number of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients have a decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) without significant albuminuria, known as non-albuminuric DKD (NA-DKD). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with NA-DKD. Methods: This was a 1-year retrospective study that included 146 type 2 diabetic patients with GFR

The changes in the cellulose structure of eight Eucalyptus species (E. botryoides, E. globulus, E. grandis, E. maculata, E. propinqua, E. rudis, E. saligna and E. viminalis) in a mild torrefaction (from 160 °C to 230 °C, 3 h) were studied in situ and after cellulose isolation from the wood by solid-state carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR), wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and by analytic pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Changes in molecular weight were assessed by viscosimetry. A small decrease in cellulose crystallinity (ca. 2%–3%) was attributed to its amorphization on crystallite surfaces as a result of acid hydrolysis and free radical reactions resulting in the homolytic splitting of glycosidic bonds. The degree of the cellulose polymerization (DPv) decreased more than twice during the heat treatment of wood. It has been proposed that changes in the supramolecular structure of cellulose and in molecular weight during a heat treatment can be affected by the amount of lignin present in the wood. The limitations of FTIR and Py-GC/MS techniques to distinguish the minor changes in cellulose crystallinity were discussed.

Granulated cork was submitted to subcritical water extraction/hydrolysis in a semi-continuous reactor at temperatures in the range of 120–200 °C and with a constant pressure of 100 bar. The influence of temperature on the composition of the cork extracts obtained was assessed—namely, their content of carbohydrates and phenolics. The extraction yield increased with the temperature, and this was associated with the decrease in the dielectric constant of water and the increase in its ionic product. Extracts composed of up to 36% phenolics were obtained at temperatures of up to 120 °C, with an antioxidant activity only two times lower than that of pure gallic acid, but in low amounts. Assays at higher temperatures generated extracts richer in carbohydrates and with a phenolics content of ca. 20 wt.% in comparatively far higher amounts. Neither the amount of suberin nor its structure were affected by the subcritical water treatment.

In this review, a brief description of the invasive phenomena associated with plants and its consequences to the ecosystem is presented. Five worldwide invasive plants that are a threat to Portugal were selected as an example, and a brief description of each is presented. A full description of their secondary metabolites and biological activity is given, and a resume of the biological activity of extracts is also included. The chemical and pharmaceutical potential of invasive species sensu lato is thus acknowledged. With this paper, we hope to demonstrate that invasive species have potential positive attributes even though at the same time they might need to be controlled or eradicated. Positive attributes include chemical and pharmaceutical properties and developing these could help mitigate the costs of management and eradication.

The synthesis of an unreported 2-aminopyrrolidine-1-carboxamidine unit is here described for the first time. This unusual and promising structure was attained through the oxidative decarboxylation of amino acids using the pair of reagents, silver(I)/peroxydisulfate (Ag(I)/S2O82−) followed by intermolecular (in the case of l-proline derivative) and intramolecular trapping (in the case of acyl l-arginine) by N-nucleophiles. The l-proline approach has a broader scope for the synthesis of 2-aminopyrrolidine-1-carboxamidine derivatives, whereas the intramolecular cyclization afforded by the l-acylarginines, when applied, results in higher yields. The former allowed the first synthesis of cernumidine, a natural alkaloid isolated in 2011 from Solanum cernuum Vell, as its racemic form.

False banana /Ensete ventricosum [Welw.] Cheesman/ is exploited as a food crop in Ethiopia where it represents an important staple food. The plant is harvested and large amounts of biomass residues are originated, mainly from the pseudo stem (i.e., fiber bundles obtained from the leaf sheaths after being scrapped to produce starchy food) and the inflorescence stalk. These materials were studied in relation to their summative chemical composition, composition of lignin, lipophilic and polar extracts. Moreover, their structural characteristics, in view of their valorization, were scrutinized. The analytical studies were performed with the aid of FTIR, GC/MS, Py-GC/MS and SEM. The fiber bundles are aggregates of mainly long and slender fibers with low ash, extractives and lignin contents (3.8%. 4.4% and 10.5% respectively) and high holocellulose and α-cellulose contents (87.5% and 59.6% respectively). The hemicelluloses in the fibers are mostly highly acetylated xylans and the lignin is of the H-type (H:G:S, 1:0.7:0.8). This lignin composition is in line with the FTIR peaks at 1670 cm-1 and 1250 cm-1.The inflorescence stalk has high ash content (12.3% in the main stalk and 24.6% in fines) with a major proportion of potassium, high extractives (25.9%), and low lignin and α-cellulose contents (5.8% and 17.9% respectively). The stalk includes numerous starch granules in the cellular structure with the predominant presence of parenchyma. The potential valorization routes for these materials are clearly different. The fiber bundles could be used as a fiber source for paper pulp production with the possibility of a prior hemicelluloses removal while the inflorescence stalk has nutritional value for food and fodder. Furthermore, it can also be used for sugar fermentation products.

The wood of a mature (40-year-old) Eucalyptus globulus Labill tree was characterized at different stem height levels (0%, 10%, 35%, and 50% of total height) regarding pulping, bleaching, and paper properties. Pulp yields increased upwards from 46% to 50%, and Kappa number decreased from 17.5 to 12.3 at 0 and 50% height, respectively. The estimated specific wood consumption ranged from 3.2 m3 odt-1 to 3.1 m3 odt-1 at 0% and 50% height levels, respectively. Pulp drainage varied along the stem, with less drainability (20.3 ºSR) and higher water retention value (1.07 g.g-1) at the base. Pulp fiber length increased (827 µm vs. 877 µm) and width decreased (19 µm vs. 17 µm) from 0% to 50% height levels. Tensile, tear, and internal bond strength decreased upwards, with mean values of 34.9 N.m.g-1, 3.1 mN.m2.g-1, and 95.8 J.m-2, respectively. These findings support the use of mature E. globulus trees without loss of pulp production and quality.

Mature 40-year-old trees of Eucalyptus globulus harvested in Portugal were studied to determine the heartwood development and variation of basic density and extractives content at different stem height levels. The heartwood radius decreased regularly from bottom to top in all the trees: for instance 22.2 cm, 13.0 cm, and 10.4 cm, respectively, at the 0%, 35%, and 60% height levels of tree 1. The average sapwood thickness was 2.8 cm at the stem base. The mean basic density fell in a range between 0.607 g cm-3 and 0.782 g cm-3 and was highest in the outer heartwood at all height levels. The total content of extractives varied axially and radially along the stem. It decreased until the 35% height level, and then it remained approximately constant upwards. The extractives content increased radially from the sapwood to the inner heartwood (6.2% to 12.5% at the base). Ethanol-soluble compounds were the major fraction at the base: 4.9%, 8.4%, and 10.9% of dry mass, respectively, for sapwood, outer heartwood, and inner heartwood. The non-polar extractives were obtained by dichloromethane extraction in very low amounts.

In this study, Eucalyptus globulus stumpwood samples collected from six different sites in Portugal were evaluated for their ease of pulping, using two delignification processes (kraft and alkaline sulfite-anthraquinone-methanol (ASAM)). Morphologically, the stumpwood included fibers with a mean length of 0.930 mm, diameter of 21.4 µm, lumen width of 9.1 µm, and cell-wall thickness of 6.1 µm. The Runkel ratio varied between 1.0 and 1.9, and the slenderness ratio ranged between 50.6 and 35.1. ASAM pulps presented higher yields and kappa numbers (49.3% and 36, respectively) when compared to kraft pulps (42.7% and 14, respectively). Extractive-free material increased pulp yield (51.7% and 47.5% for ASAM and kraft, respectively) and decreased kappa number (18 and 11). The kraft pulps showed a coarseness of 0.096 mg/m, curl of 5.2%, and 16.7% kinked fibers, while for the ASAM pulps, these values were 0.105 mg/m, 5.2%, and 16.3%, respectively.

The composition and structure of lignin in different tissues - phellem (cork), phloem and xylem (wood) - of Quercus suber was studied. Whole cell walls and their respective isolated milled lignins were analyzed by pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2D-NMR) and derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC). Different tissues presented varied p-hydroxyphenyl:guaiacyl:syringyl (H:G:S) lignin compositions. Whereas lignin from cork has a G-rich lignin (H:G:S molar ratio 2:85:13), lignin from phloem presents more S-units (H:G:S molar ratio of 1:58:41) and lignin from xylem is slightly enriched in S-lignin (H:G:S molar ratio 1:45:55). These differences were reflected in the relative abundances of the different interunit linkages. Alkyl-aryl ethers (β–O–4´) were predominant, increasing from 68% in cork, to 71% in phloem and 77% in xylem, as consequence of the enrichment in S-lignin units. Cork lignin was enriched in condensed structures such as phenylcoumarans (β-5´, 20%), dibenzodioxocins (5-5´, 5%), as corresponds to a lignin enriched in G-units. In comparison, lignin from phloem and xylem presented lower levels of condensed linkages. The lignin from cork was highly acetylated at the γ-OH of the side-chain (48% lignin acetylation), predominantly over G-units; while the lignins from phloem and xylem were barely acetylated and this occurred mainly over S-units. These results are a first time overview of the lignin structure in xylem, phloem (generated by cambium), and in cork (generated by phellogen), in agreement with literature that lignin biosynthesis is flexible and cell specific.

We describe the case of a 68-year-old man, who presented with an ischemic stroke due to cardiac embolization related to mitral valve endocarditis. Blood cultures were always negative and post-operative valve histology did not show microorganisms. The patient also presented further recurrent peripheral embolic events. These clinical aspects were the first sign of a pancreas adenocarcinoma, which was only diagnosed in the clinical autopsy. In conclusion, these clinical findings of recurrent thromboembolic events with no microorganisms isolated suggests the diagnostic of a marantic endocarditis.

Heat treatment improves some wood properties namely: equilibrium moisture, dimensional stability and durability and mechanical properties. In this study, the heat treatment was applied to woods of three natural species from Brazil: Aspidosperma populifolium (peroba mica), Dipteryx odorata (cumaru) and Mimosa scabrella (bracatinga). The woods were heated in an oven under vacuum and under nitrogen, at 180, 200, and 220°C for one hour. The untreated and heat-treated woods were characterized in relation to equilibrium moisture content, basic density, shrinkage, Janka hardness, and bending MOR and MOE according to NBR 7190 standards. All the thermal rectified woods showed a reduction in the hygroscopic equilibrium content, especially when the heating was under vacuum from 13-15% in the untreated woods to 1-3% for vacuum treatment at 220 °C. The dimensional stability was improved to only a small extent e.g. volumetric shrinkage tended to decrease with increasing temperature. The mechanical properties were affected differently for the three wood species. Heat-treated cumarushowed increased Janka hardness, MOR and MOE; and peroba mica increased MOR and MOE but not Janka hardness; while bracatinga was less influenced by the heat treatment.

In this review a brief description of the invasive phenomena associated with algae and its consequences on the ecosystem are presented. Three examples of invasive algae of Southern Europe, belonging to Rodophyta, Chlorophyta, and Phaeophyta, were selected, and a brief description of each genus is presented. A full description of their secondary metabolites and biological activity is given and a summary of the biological activity of extracts is also included. In Asparagopsis we encounter mainly halogenated compounds. From Caulerpa, several terpenoids and alkaloids were isolated, while in Sargassum, meroterpenoids prevail.

Este estudo avalia a prevalência de excesso de peso e obesidade entre jovens em idade escolar residentes em território Europeu. Apresenta e compara ainda as estimativas de consumo de vegetais, fruta e refrigerantes; níveis de atividade física; tempo gasto a ver televisão e a jogar jogos de computador e de consola. Os resultados obtidos revelam que as prevalências de excesso de peso e obesidade são superiores no sul da Europa. Sugerem também que os adolescentes do norte da Europa relatam um consumo de fruta e vegetais mais frequente e um menor consumo de refrigerantes, reportando ainda um maior nível de atividade física, enquanto os adolescentes do sul da Europa referem com mais frequência assistir televisão e jogar videojogos duas ou mais horas por dia durante a semana.

O aumento da prevalência de obesidade tem sido explicado por mecanismos ambientais obesogénicos, possivelmente associados ao estatuto socioeconómico: indivíduos de baixo estatuto socioeconómico são mais propensos a viver em áreas desfavorecidas, onde escasseiam os recursos e as oportunidades que poderiam propiciar e apoiar uma vida saudável. Esta associação constitui a ideia central dos modelos de “amplificação da privação”, uma versão particular dos modelos de “injustiça ambiental”. Neste estudo observam-se 1885 crianças em idade escolar residentes no distrito de Coimbra. Utilizando modelos logísticos ordenados, analisam-se as associações entre o seu índice de massa corporal, a sua atividade desportiva, o ambiente construído e social dos seus locais de residência – avaliado pela perceção dos pais – com o seu estatuto socioeconómico. Os resultados mostram que crianças de menor estatuto socioeconómico são mais propensas a ser obesas e têm menor probabilidade de participar em atividades desportivas extracurriculares do que as de elevado estatuto socioeconómico. Revelam, ainda, que estas crianças têm menor probabilidade de viver numa área cujo ambiente construído seja percecionado de forma positiva pelos seus pais. Estes resultados evidenciam um gradiente socioeconómico no acesso a recursos e facilidades materiais locais, que se sobrepõe ao estatuto socioeconómico individual, originando clusters de fatores prejudicais à saúde, concluindo-se pela existência (e relevância) de um modelo ambiental de amplificação da privação que penaliza as crianças mais vulneráveis.

A comprehensive review on the chemistry of Spongia sp. is here presented, together with the biological activity of the isolated compounds. The compounds are grouped in sesquiterpene quinones, diterpenes, C21 and other linear furanoterpenes, sesterterpenes, sterols (including secosterols), macrolides and miscellaneous compounds. Among other reports we include studies on the intraspecific diversity of a Mediterranean species, compounds isolated from associated sponge and nudibranch and compounds isolated from S. zimocca and the red seaweed Laurentia microcladia. Under biological activity a table of the reported biological activities of the various compounds and the biological screening of extracts are described. The present review covers the literature from 1971 to 2015.

Na epidemiologia da obesidade, embora recentes investigações no campo da genética revelem a importância dos componentes géneticos na suscetibilidade individual, os fatores ambientais demonstram um efeito mais acentuado. Esta perspetiva socioecológica resulta do brusco aumento da prevalência de excesso de peso e obesidade que ocorreu em todo o mundo, num curto espaço de tempo, sugerindo uma explicação que não é somente, nem fundamentalmente, de índole genética. Este texto tem como propósito avaliar o impacto dos fatores ambientais no índice de massa corporal da população infantil, em idade escolar, residente no distrito de Aveiro. Os resultados obtidos revelaram uma influência significativa da perceção parental dos atributos do ambiente social, nomeadamente a perceção da insegurança da comunidade local, no excesso de peso e obesidade.