Search

Zusammenfassung Hintergrund Die Einarbeitung neuer Mitarbeiter:innen ist entscheidend für eine effektive Zusammenarbeit und Bindung. Ziel der Arbeit Entwicklung und Evaluation einer strukturierten Einarbeitung in die Prozessabläufe der Hochschulambulanz. Material und Methoden Wir entwickelten ein Modell zum Kennenlernen der Mitarbeiter:innen, Räumlichkeiten, Prozessabläufe und Untersuchungen: Teilnehmer:innen durchliefen als fiktive Patient:innen alle Stationen eines Ambulanzbesuchs. Es folgte die Selbsteinschätzung allgemeiner, ablaufbezogener und spezifischer, untersuchungsbezogener Kompetenzen. Ergebnisse Es durchliefen 11 Ärzt:innen in Weiterbildung, 8 Operationspflegekräfte und 6 Studierende das Modell. Das Kompetenzlevel und der Kompetenzzugewinn variierten je nach Station und Berufsgruppe. Vor allem erlebten Ärzt:innen und Studierende eine allgemeine Kompetenzsteigerung (je 98 %; Operationspflegekräfte 64 %). Spezifische Kompetenzzugewinne der Ärzt:innen zeigten sich beim Kennenlernen prozessbezogener Schnittstellen, bei Software und Untersuchungstechniken und der Orientierung in der Ambulanz (Kompetenzsteigerung an 83 % der Stationen). Die Operationspflege profitierte von einer verbesserten Kommunikation mit Mitarbeiter:innen (Kompetenzsteigerung an 33 % der Stationen). Schlussfolgerung Eine allgemeine Kompetenzsteigerung kann durch ein strukturiertes Einarbeitungskonzept bei allen Berufsgruppen, besonders bei neuen Ärzt:innen, erreicht werden. Ein je nach Wirkungsfeld adaptierter Ambulanzdurchlauf erscheint für einen maximalen Kompetenzzugewinn empfehlenswert.

The years 2019 to 2022 are being marked by the pandemic resulting from a viral infection, COVID-19. The demand and use of PPE has never been so high and it is often discarded without considering the correct disposal route and the environmental impact that this type and volume of waste can generate. The aim of this study was to analyze the increased demand for PPE used during the pandemic and, consequently, the generation of these wastes. In addition to this analysis, it is extremely important to raise the discussion about the treatment of these residues and the possibilities of more ecological personal protection equipment, such as biodegradable or reusable ones. The extensive use of PPE, which is mostly plastics and is not easily degraded, mainly leads to its accumulation in landfills but, if disposed of incorrectly, it could reach marine environments, contributing to the formation of microplastics in the oceans. Therefore, this article also aims to relate these themes to the Sustainable Development Goals, as efficient management aligned with sustainable development goals is essential to mitigate these anticipated problems and ensure a more sustainable future.

The main objective of this project is to investigate how active methodologies, based on workshops with environmental themes, can help high school students to learn subject matter in the area of the chemistry, physics and mathematics sciences and enhance their awareness of the importance of the preservation of the planet. In this study,13 schools were visited in 4 years. During this time they participated in workshops that involved the use of residues to produce new materials, to provide environmental education regarding the reuse of waste and concepts embedded in the chemistry, physics and mathematics sciences. The results highlight that most of the students (98%) found the Mobile Science project interesting, 97% enjoyed participating in the workshops. Regarding the content of the workshops, 92% of the students answered positively; that is, the workshops were related and helped to understand the exact sciences. The Mobile Science project is part of the Unisul ́s actions aligned to sustainable development goals (SDGs), UN 2030 Agenda.

The aim of this study was to investigate the inactivation of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water by atmospheric pressure non-thermal plasma using air and argon (Ar) as plasma gas using two reactor geometries for application efficiency purpose. The following reactor geometries were tested: gas phase plasma discharge with an electrode in the liquid phase – RFG and direct plasma discharges in the liquid phase with both electrodes immersed – RFL. Microbiological analyzes of water pre-inoculated with E. coli were carried out before and after non-thermal plasma treatment and also pH, conductivity and temperature of the water were checked during the plasma treatment. The obtained results showed that when air was used as plasma gas the two plasma reactors studied RFG and RFL had similar performance taken about 8 min to inactivate E. coli colony in water. However when Ar was used as plasma gas only the RFG-type reactor showed a decrease in the colony counts of E. coli during treatment. As the RFG-type reactor produces plasma discharges at the gas-liquid-water vapor interface there may be some air acting as contaminant providing the formation of air reactive species that diffuses in the liquid medium resulting in bacteria inactivation. This result indicates that the chemical species formed by non-thermal plasma using air as plasma gas (such hydrogen peroxide and nitrates lowering the pH and increasing the conductivity) are the key species inducing bacteria inactivation in water. Although the two reactors showed a similar results using air as plasma gas the RFL-type reactor with both electrodes immersed has operational advantages since it generates the plasma directly inside the water supply pipes.

Journal of Clinical Medicine (17), 5101 (2022). doi:10.3390/jcm11175101, Published by MDPI, Basel

Research aimed at finding alternative fuels to replace petroleum diesel (petrodiesel) used in controlled combustion engines (CCEs) has identified biodiesel as one of the main candidates, due to its sustainability and potential for use in energy matrices. In this study, the gas emissions from a diesel CCE were investigated, with a focus on total hydrocarbons (THC) and carbon monoxide (CO). Biodiesel (B100) samples derived from the transesterification of frying oil, produced applying conventional chemical catalysis (CC) or non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology, were tested as alternative fuels. Three engine rotation speeds were investigated (900, 1500, and 2500 rpm) and biodiesel samples obtained from the residual frying oil were compared with conventional road diesel (S-500) without biodiesel added, acquired from a gas station. Blends were also prepared with S-500 and B100 obtained applying NTP for 15 or 30 min, in mixes containing 2, 12, 20, and 50% of biodiesel. These blends showed reductions in THC and CO emissions of 62% and 80%, respectively, compared with the emissions for 100% S-500. Thus, biodiesel produced from frying oil offers low emissions of CO and THC, highlighting the potential for reductions using biodiesel produced applying the NTP technology.

Fish stocks are being severely depleted, marine habitats are threatened and marine pollution is on the rise due to discarded fishing gear. This equipment is generally from illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, leading to incidental fishing and sometimes ghost fishing. In this study, data obtained from reports produced by the Environmental Military Police in Santa Catarina, Brazil, on gill nets fixed in the coastal area and at the baseline limit of this state, for the period of 2019 to 2020, were analyzed. The results show a large number of seized and collected illegal fishing gear, as well as mammals, fish and birds found entangled in the nets.

In this study, we investigated the outdoor production of a microalga C. vulgaris cultured in two different media under autotrophic cultivation: Bold Basal Medium (BBM) as the control and BBM supplemented with desalination concentrate (BBM + DC) using open raceway ponds (8 m2). Data were collected on the growth, biomass productivity and biochemical composition. The culture developed in BBM + DC showed a biomass productivity of 6.8 g m-2 day-1, while for the BBM control it was 8.5 g m-2 day-1. Intracellular protein was the main algal component (~28.6%), followed by carbohydrate + fiber (~26.0%) and lipids (~5.0%). The predominant fatty acids were mainly α-linolenic (~19.5%), palmitic (~16.5%) and linoleic (~10.0%) acids. This study demonstrates the feasibility of culturing C. vulgaris in an alternative medium based on DC in order to valorize the desalination wastewater through its application to algal mass production.

A crescente utilização de agrotóxicos apresenta um risco ao meio ambiente. Uma vez que estes contaminantes não são eliminados através do método convencional de tratamento de efluentes, diversos métodos foram estudados, como por exemplo, a utilização do plasma não térmico (PNT). Para avaliar a eficiência do PNT na degradação do pesticida Ridomil® em meio líquido, foi preparado 3 concentrações diferentes, o solo contaminado com as amostras preparadas do pesticida e as minhocas da espécie Eisenia Fetida como bioindicadores. No teste de fuga, observa-se que na concentração de 6,5 g/L não houve rejeição do solo e quando expostas por 15 e 30 min. ao PNT houve rejeição, enquanto às submetidas por 45 min., houve grande aceitação. No teste crônico, na concentração de 9,375 g/L e após passar pelo PNT durante 30 min., foi observado uma menor perda de peso das minhocas, assim como as mudanças na condutividade e na concentração de sulfato nas soluções, indicando que o plasma atua na estrutura química do pesticida. The increasing use of pesticides presents a risk to the environment. Since these contaminants are not eliminated through the conventional effluent treatment method, several methods have been studied, such as the use of non-thermal plasma (NTP). To evaluate the efficiency of NTP in the degradation of the pesticide Ridomil® in liquid, 3 different concentrations were prepared, the soil contaminated with the samples prepared from the pesticide and the earthworms of the species Eisenia Fetida as bioindicators. In the escape test, it was observed that at the concentration of 6.5 g/L there was no rejection of the soil and when exposed for 15 and 30 min. to the PNT there was rejection, while the ones submitted for 45 min., there was great acceptance. In the chronic test, at the concentration of 9.375 g/L and after passing the NTP for 30 min, a lower weight loss of the earthworms was observed, as well as the changes in conductivity and sulfate concentration in the solutions, indicating that plasma acts on the chemical structure of the pesticide.

The COVID-19 pandemic can be divided into two waves: the first is associated with health problems, and the second with economic and environmental problems. However, it is necessary to analyze the existence of a third wave that, in the long run, can have a deeper impact on people's lives. This wave emerged from the virus capacity to accentuate social, economic, political, and cultural inequalities. In this sense, the novel coronavirus has profoundly affected efforts to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established in the 2030 Agenda, especially with regard to SDG 3, SDG 10, SDG 12 and SDG 16. In that spectrum, this chapter aims to demonstrate how the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic affect compliance with the SDGs. The impact of this pandemic had been such that it is possible that it will mean the beginning of a new era, based on the need for global solidarity and the desire to pursue sustainable development paths. The COVID-19 pandemic provides an opportunity to propose new actions for a more sustainable world, drafting a recovery from economic and social crises that finds comprehensive solutions.

This work aimed to study the pumpkin puree processing by cold plasma corona discharge as an alternative to heat treatment to reduce Escherichia coli contamination and evaluate physicochemical alterations, using argon (Ar) as the process gas. The treatment time to verify E. coli inactivation was between 2 and 20 min, while physicochemical alterations were analyzed at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. Cold plasma corona discharge technology to inactivate E. coli proved to be promising, reaching 3.62 log cycles of reduction at 20 min of treatment. The inactivation kinectics showed a tendency of higher decrease with time. Physicochemical characteristics indicate that plasma induces a decrease of pH; however, there is an indication that process gases have an important role and react with the environment and procedure reactive species. This technology may reduce the total carotenoid content of pumpkin puree and in color, mainly the a* parameter, which showed great reduction.

This study assessed the effect of non-thermal plasma (NTP) on Nannochloropsis gaditana cell rupture and subsequent lipid extraction. Micrograph images showed that the surface of original N. gaditana cells appeared smooth and had no apparent holes, whereas after NTP the cells showed a non-uniform apparently fractured surface with many pores and large splits. Maximum lipid recovery from N. gaditana cells (~19%) for NTP-assisted rupture was observed at 10 min, similar to extraction after 10 min sonication (19.0%). The lipid recovery after both pretreatments (average 19.0%) was 2-fold higher than the control treatment (no pretreatment 9.5%). In addition, lipids from unruptured algal cells were mainly composed of ω-3polyunsaturated fatty acids (~31% of total fatty acids), while lipids after NTP were predominantly composed of saturated fatty acids (36.0% of total fatty acids), which could be advantageous for biodiesel production. This study demonstrates an alternative approach based on NTP-technology for algal cell rupture prior to lipid extraction with potential uses for algal biodiesel production.

Microalgae are one of the most promising sources for new functional food products, due to their ability to synthesize polyunsaturated fatty acids, pigments and natural antioxidants (e.g. carotenoids and phenolic compounds). The aim of this study was to compare the fatty acid composition, total carotenoids and antioxidant activity of Phaeodactylum tricornutum, Nannochloropsis oculata, and Porphyridium cruentum extracts obtained from supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) and subcritical n-butane extraction methods SC-CO2 method was selective in extract saturated fatty acids (SFAs) for all microalgae species studied. On the other hand, subcritical n-butane was shown to be an excellent and powerful method to extract polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs ω3 + ω6). Regarding to total carotenoids and antioxidant activity using DPPH scavenging assay a significant correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.80) was found among the extracts independent of the extraction method tested. This indicates that carotenoid compounds might be the major contributor to the antioxidant capacities of these microalgae.