JOURNAL OF BIOENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGIES AND HEALTH

Study of Equations for the Non-Invasive Calculation of Hemoglobin Levels

Noemi Araújo Esquivel da Silva — 2024-12-14

In many medical contexts, hemoglobin measurement is a routine procedure. However, the standard test for this parameter is invasive, which may cause discomfort and increase the risk of infection. Consequently, numerous studies have been conducted to develop non-invasive methods for hemoglobin measurement. This study aims to assess the performance of two equations that utilize optical signal data to estimate hemoglobin levels. The average error between the hemoglobin values calculated by these equations and reference values from the literature was analyzed. The equations yielded average errors of 23% and 4%, achieved by incorporating a correction factor into the second equation. These findings suggest that non-invasive hemoglobin estimation is promising, and including correction factors enhances accuracy.

Challenges of Operationalizing a Mobile Computerized Tomography Unit: Experience Report from the ProPulmão Project

Javier Felipe Carrasco Carrasco — 2024-12-14

The ProPulmão pilot project, launched in 2023, aimed to screen and analyze the epidemiological profile of lung cancer in remote communities across Bahia, Brazil, where access to imaging exams is limited. Recognizing the critical role of low-dose computed tomography (CT) in reducing lung cancer mortality, the project employed a mobile unit equipped with a 16-channel CT scanner and the necessary medical infrastructure to screen asymptomatic smokers and ex-smokers who had quit smoking up to 15 years ago. While the initiative proved effective, it encountered significant logistical challenges, particularly with internet connectivity and power supply—both essential for the consistent operation of the CT unit and the transmission and storage of medical images. Despite these obstacles, the project successfully facilitated early detection of lung cancer cases, underscoring the importance of such screening programs. The challenges led to refining work protocols, including improved image storage techniques, a deeper understanding of managing medical image servers, and enhanced communication between the technical and medical teams. These experiences contributed to the ProPulmão project's success. They provided valuable insights for implementing similar initiatives in other states across Brazil, thereby promoting greater accessibility and early detection in underserved areas.

Survey of Smart Technologies for Application in Home Elderly Care

Rodrigo Dias Paolillo — 2024-12-14

This project addresses the increasing demands of an aging population and the need to adapt social structures to accommodate elderly individuals better in specialized care settings. As the number of elderly individuals grows, there is a pressing need for practical solutions to enhance their quality of life and ensure their well-being. The methodology employed in this project includes a comprehensive survey of care environments' characteristics and a thorough analysis of available intelligent technologies. These technologies encompass various communication options such as RFID, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), LoRaWAN, ZigBee, and Ultra Wideband, as well as a range of sensors designed to monitor sleep, physical activity, and nutrition among the elderly. Implementing these intelligent technologies aims to facilitate the early identification of potential health risks and provide continuous monitoring of the elderly's overall quality of life and health. Preliminary tests have indicated the necessity for further investigation into additional resources to enhance the effectiveness and coverage of these sensors.

Assistive Technologies in Aphasia Rehabilitation: Prototyping for the Task of Object Naming

Évila Maria de Souza Carneiro — 2024-12-14

Aphasia is a language disorder caused by brain injuries, often as a result of a stroke. This condition significantly impairs communication and profoundly affects the lives of patients. Rehabilitation is critical in improving outcomes and may include tasks such as object naming, where patients identify presented images. This process can be enhanced through the use of assistive technologies. This exploratory study was conducted in three stages: a systematic review, developing and validating a preliminary prototype, and creating the final version. The systematic review revealed that integrating technology into treatment provides immediate and long-term benefits. However, a notable gap was identified: the lack of designed software for this purpose. To address this need, the study proposes developing a prototype application to support aphasia rehabilitation, with a primary focus on object-naming exercises.

Building Citizens: The Educational Role of the 'New Ekinata' Project in Obtaining Documents by Young People

Rafael Athaliba Bomfim Fraga — 2024-12-14

The 'New Ekinata' project introduces an innovative approach to civic education for young Brazilians by focusing on acquiring essential documents for citizenship. The project proposes the development of a mobile game designed to educate and engage youth in obtaining documents, understanding their requirements, and appreciating their significance in societal life. This initiative addresses the information gap many young people face, empowering them to understand and exercise their rights and duties. The game seeks to make learning more engaging and practical, with a detailed analysis planned at the project's conclusion to assess its development, impact on civic awareness, and contribution to facilitating access to essential documents.

Use of Artificial Intelligence and Sizing and Simulation Software in Photovoltaic Plants

Carlos Eduardo Malaquias Fernandes — 2024-12-14

This academic study investigates the application of sizing and simulation software, such as PV*SOL and PVSYST, to analyze actual data collected from solar plants in Petrolina (PE), Messias (AL), and Piranhas (AL), comparing it with meteorological data from nearby stations. The study's objective is to assess the accuracy and effectiveness of these tools in implementing, testing, and monitoring solar plants. Essential factors in photovoltaic project design include meteorological data, site shading, module orientation, geographic location, temperature-induced losses, electrical components, equipment, and climate change considerations. The analysis covers January to December 2023, using hourly data from reliable meteorological inputs. These software tools aid in system sizing by incorporating multiple factors and estimating energy output, which is crucial to closely matching predicted energy production with actual performance. The quality of meteorological databases and mathematical models impacts software performance, necessitating efforts to filter, qualify, and catalog data sources. Production results indicated an annual output of 3,796 MWh for the Petrolina plant and 1,027 MWh for the Messias II plant, with measured data showing a 5% to 12% variation from estimated figures. Furthermore, the study incorporates Neural Designer, a machine learning-based neural network software, to conduct additional comparative analyses. The findings provide insights into site selection, equipment, plant characteristics, operational practices, and alignment of energy production with software predictions, offering recommendations for improvements and identifying potential locations for future solar farms.

Additive Manufacturing in the Oil Gas Industry: Strategies for Managing Powder Waste in Multi Jet Fusion Printing (MJF)

Beatriz Almeida Castro de Souza — 2024-12-14

In the context of the Product Development Process (PDP), particularly during the development phase, there is growing recognition of the importance of waste management in producing components used in the industry. This increased awareness has led to a progressive interest in formulating approaches to understand and mitigate the possible resulting environmental impacts. Within this context, considering the substantial increase in the application of Additive Manufacturing techniques in the oil and gas industry, especially the deposition of polymeric layers, notably through the use of PA 12 and PP powder, it becomes imperative to thoroughly examine the production process in order to assess the feasibility of reincorporating discarded materials into the production chain of polymeric materials. In this context, this article proposes a detailed analysis of the manufacturing flow of a Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) Additive Manufacturing machine to assess the percentage of waste generated in small-scale prints by quantifying the mass of waste generated in the process, as well as pointing out alternatives for disposing of this waste. When the parts are produced, PA12 and PP powder waste is generated; in this deposition process, the powder is reused, returning to its production process. However, after the part has been made, it needs to be blasted with glass microspheres to remove all the powder residue that is trapped in the part. The waste generated during blasting is a mixture of PA12, PP, and glass microspheres, which, if not disposed of in an environmentally appropriate way, can have an environmental impact. Over 9 days, the results revealed an average of 12.15% waste from the component blasting process. It is suggested that this waste be used to manufacture filaments by extrusion and in additive manufacturing machines to deposit molten material. This material can produce other components for the oil and gas industry using FDM printers. It should be noted that bibliographical references identify viable techniques for reintegrating discarded materials into other manufacturing processes. Reducing PA12 and PP waste in additive manufacturing contributes to economic efficiency. It aligns with environmental and social goals, promoting sustainable practices and supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the oil and gas sector.

Application of Microencapsulation in Lipids: Technological and Scientific Prospection

Thalia Catherine Sacramento Ferreira — 2024-12-14

The food industry has been actively developing solutions to address healthy eating challenges in today's fast-paced world. One such solution is using microencapsulation techniques for bioactive compounds, particularly lipids. This study aims to investigate the potential of microencapsulation technology in enhancing the stability of lipids against oxidation in the body, which can compromise their nutritional efficacy. A bibliometric mapping was conducted using The Lens database, applying a combination of keywords and filters to identify relevant patents and publications. The goal was to analyze the scientific and technological activity surrounding the topic. The results reveal a significant increase in research and patent activity over the past decade, primarily focusing on microencapsulation methods and their applications in food supplements. Furthermore, a growing trend toward using this technology to develop new functional foods with potential socioeconomic benefits was observed.

Development of Technological Routes for Extraction of Bioactives from Coffee Film and Assessment of the Potential of the Phytochemical Profile

Roberto Andrei Santos Borromei — 2024-12-14

The project proposes exploring the potential of coffee skins as a source of valuable compounds due to the excess coffee on the market and the devaluation of prices. Traditionally, the extraction of compounds from coffee skins occurs using methods such as pressing or the use of solvents. However, these methods may have limitations, such as low yield or toxicity. Coffee skin is rich in substances that interest various sectors, such as antioxidants, chlorogenic acids, and dietary fiber. The project seeks to develop coffee skin extraction routes, aiming to increase the yield and quality of the extracted compounds while avoiding their degradation. Furthermore, we intend to evaluate the potential of the photochemical profile of the materials obtained.

Bibliometric Study of the Production of Scaffold by Polycaprolactone and Graphene Electrospinning

Marco Aurélio Silveira — 2024-12-14

This bibliometric study investigated the production of scaffolds using electrospinning with the incorporation of graphene into polycaprolactone (PCL) for biomedical applications. Bibliometric methods were employed to analyze relevant scientific literature and identify trends, publication patterns, key authors and institutions, and primary application areas. Using specific keywords in the Web of Science database, 54 articles published over the past five years were identified. Results indicate a decline in annual publications, potentially due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Iran emerged as the leading country in research on this topic, while the most cited journals included Materials Science Multidisciplinary, Polymer Science, and Materials Science Biomaterials. These findings provide a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape, highlighting areas of interest and potential future directions.

Study of the Potential of the Green Hydrogen Economy in Bahia: A Multiscale Approach

Augusto S.C. de Menezes — 2024-12-14

Given the urgent need to decarbonize global energy sources, this study aims to provide an in-depth understanding of the green hydrogen economy, addressing the challenges, opportunities, and benefits of its development in the Brazilian state of Bahia, which is the fifth largest state in the country. The research focuses on demonstrating the potential of this emerging economy in the state, employing a framework based on a multiscale methodology. This framework is designed to enhance understanding of Bahia's energy and fuel markets. Furthermore, the study explores the technologies and opportunities associated with green hydrogen in Bahia, detailing a framework that maps its potential in various regions, highlighting the primary production hubs and applications. The multiscale methodology plays a pivotal role in achieving these goals.

A Systematic Review of the Regulation of Green Hydrogen-Based Electricity Generation in Brazil

Elisabete Joana Paes Barreto — 2024-12-14

This article presents a systematic review of the current state of the art regulating electricity generation from green hydrogen in Brazil. The study was conducted through searches using selected descriptors in the SciELO and Google Scholar databases, supplemented by consultations in the ANEEL Virtual Library, Google, and ChatGPT. The goal was to identify documents related to laws, norms, and regulations addressing the use of green hydrogen for electricity generation in Brazil without any temporal restriction. The analysis of multiple documents revealed that, to date, no regulatory framework has been officially approved for green hydrogen in Brazil. This regulatory gap highlights the need for comparative studies with legislation from other countries to inform the development of an appropriate framework for the Brazilian context.

Methods for Prospecting and Monitoring Hydrocarbon Gases on Oil and Gas Platforms and Basins: A Brief Review

Guilherme Brandão da Cunha — 2024-12-14

This work provides an overview of oil and gas prospecting methods and techniques, focusing on their advantages and limitations. It also highlights their application in monitoring hydrocarbon leaks on platforms and basins. A mapping of techniques, classified into geological, geophysical, and geochemical categories, illustrates their relevance, offshore or onshore suitability, and practical applicability. The discussion underscores the need for integrated approaches to improve exploration efficiency and safety while aligning with sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Analysis of the CO2 Separation Process from Natural Gas Streams by Absorption with MEA using Aspen HYSYS

Fernanda dos Santos Cardoso — 2024-12-14

The increasing concern for environmental preservation and efforts to mitigate global warming has intensified studies on process decarbonization. Simultaneously, natural gas (NG) consumption has been rising due to its lower environmental impact than other fossil fuels. To meet commercial standards, natural gas undergoes a CO2 separation stage, with amine absorption technology being the most widely used due to its industrial applicability. This study aims to organize a test spreadsheet to initiate a sensitivity analysis of the CO2 absorption process in natural gas streams based on simulations conducted using Aspen HYSYS. The analysis identifies combinations of process parameters that optimize separation results.

Seawater Refinary: A Pathway for Sustainable Metal Recovery and Green Hydrogen Production

Leonardo Oliveira Santos de Santana — 2024-12-14

With the growing environmental challenges of saltwater desalination, seawater mining is emerging as a sustainable alternative to traditional onshore mining. This paper explores the potential of recovering metals from seawater and producing green hydrogen, proposing a "seawater refinery" concept inspired by oil and biorefineries. The refinery leverages advanced separation technologies and "Zero Liquid Discharge" methods to convert brine into valuable products, including green hydrogen (H₂) while minimizing environmental impacts.