Objective: to report the development of an audit technology for applicability of the steps of the Nursing Process in a hospital in western Santa Catarina. Method: experience report involving nurses and nursing professors. Results: it was possible to structure a flowchart describing the step-by-step of the audit procedures in the hospital institution, as well as showing the indicators used to analyze the aspects referred to in the instrument of audit. The data were analyzed and discussed with the nurses in “conversation wheels” aiming at the improvement. Conclusion: the experience allowed realizing that, for the implementation of the Nursing Process in the clinical practice of health services, it is vital to establish the audit process jointly. The deployment of a structured committee in the hospital of study, concerned with developing management technologies for qualification of care and structured in a collective and participative way, was crucial to the success of actions.

Objetivo: informar sobre el desarrollo de una auditoría de la tecnología para la aplicabilidad de los pasos del Proceso de Enfermería en un hospital en el oeste de Santa Catarina. Método: relato de experiencia con enfermeras y profesores en enfermería. Resultados: fue posible estructurar un diagrama de flujo que describe el paso a paso de los procedimientos de auditoría de la institución hospitalaria, así como muestra los indicadores usados para analizar los aspectos contemplados en el instrumento de auditoría. Los datos fueron analizados y discutidos con las enfermeras en la “rueda de conversación” con el objetivo de la mejora. Conclusión: la experiencia permitió percibir que, para la aplicación del Proceso de Enfermería en la práctica clínica de los servicios de salud, es vital establecer conjuntamente el proceso de auditoría. La implementación de una comisión estructurada en el hospital en el presente estudio, interesada en desarrollar tecnologías de gestión para calificación de cuidado y estructurada de manera colectiva y participativa, fue crucial para el éxito de las acciones.

Objetivo: relatar o desenvolvimento de uma tecnologia de auditoria para aplicabilidade das etapas do Processo de Enfermagem em um Hospital do Oeste de Santa Catarina. Método: relato de experiência envolvendo enfermeiros e docentes de enfermagem. Resultados: foi possível estruturar um fluxograma discriminando o passo a passo dos procedimentos de auditoria na instituição hospitalar, bem como mostrar os indicadores utilizados para analisar os aspectos designados no instrumento de auditoria. Os dados foram analisados e discutidos com os enfermeiros em “rodas de conversa” visando o aperfeiçoamento. Conclusão: a experiência permitiu perceber que para a implementação do Processo de Enfermagem na prática clínica dos serviços de saúde é vital estabelecer conjuntamente o processo de auditoria. A implantação de uma comissão estruturada no Hospital em estudo, preocupada em desenvolver tecnologias de gestão para qualificação do cuidado e estruturada de forma coletiva e participativa, foi fundamental para o sucesso das ações.

Abstract We report on the nearly complete genome sequence of Clostridium beijerinckii strain Br21, formerly isolated from a sugarcarne vinasse wastewater treatment plant. The resulting genome is ca. 5.9 Mbp in length and resembles the size of previously published C. beijerinckii genomes. We annotated the genome sequence and predicted a total of 5323 genes. Strain Br21 has a genetic toolkit that allows it to exploit diverse sugars that are often found after lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment to yield products of commercial interest. Besides the whole set of genes encoding for enzymes underlying hydrogen production, the genome of the new strain includes genes that enable carbon sources conversion into butanol, ethanol, acetic acid, butyric acid, and the chemical block 1,3-propanediol, which is used to obtain polymers. Moreover, the genome of strain Br21 has a higher number of ORFs with predicted beta-glucosidase activity as compared to other C. beijerinckii strains described in the KEGG database. These characteristics make C. beijerinckii strain Br21 a remarkable candidate for direct use in biotechnological processes and attest that it is a potential biocatalyst supplier.

ABSTRACT Due to its high carbohydrate content, algae biomass can be employed as feedstock to produce hydrogen (H2) by fermentation. However, to make the carbohydrates entrapped within the cell wall more bioavailable, algae biomass must be treated before fermentation. We submitted Kappaphyccus alvarezzi macroalgae biomass to autoclave (at 120 °C and 1 atm for 6 h) treatment and/or enzymatic (Celluclast® and/or a recombinant β-glucosidase) hydrolysis, to break down complex carbohydrates into available sugars that were used to produce H2 by fermentation. Macroalgae biomass treated with Celluclast®+β-glucosidase and with combined thermal treatment and enzymatic hydrolysis reached very similar TRS productivities, 0.24 and 0.22 g of TRS/L.h, respectively. The enzymatically treated biomass was employed as feedstock to produce H2 by Clostridium beijerinckii Br21, which afforded high yield: 21.3 mmol of H2/g of dry algae biomass. Hence, treatment with Celluclast® and recombinant β-glucosidase provided macroalgae biomass for enhanced bioconversion to H2 by C. beijerinckii Br21.

ABSTRACT In microbial fuel cells (MFCs), the oxidation of organic compounds catalyzed by microorganisms (anode) generates electricity via electron transfer to an external circuit that acts as an electron acceptor (cathode). Microbial fuel cells differ in terms of the microorganisms employed and the nature of the oxidized organic compound. In this study, a consortium of anaerobic microorganisms helped to treat the secondary sludge obtained from a sewage treatment plant. The microorganisms were grown in a 250 mL bioreactor containing a carbon cloth. The reactor was fed with media containing acetate (as the carbon source) for 48 days. Concomitantly, the electrochemical data were measured with the aid of a digital multimeter and data acquisition system. At the beginning of the MFC operation, power density was low, probably due to slow microorganism growth and adhesion. The power density increased from the 15th day of operation, reaching a value of 13.5 μW cm–2 after ca. 24 days of operation, and remained stable until the end of the process. Compared with data in the literature, this power density value is promising; improvements in the MFC design and operation could increase this value even further. The system investigated herein employed excess sludge as a biocatalyst in an MFC. This opens up the possibility of using organic acids and/or carbohydrate-rich effluents to feed MFCs, and thereby provide simultaneous effluent treatment and energy generation.

To achieve economically competitive biological hydrogen production, it is crucial to consider inexpensive materials such as lignocellulosic substrate residues derived from agroindustrial activities. It is possible to use (1) lignocellulosic materials without any type of pretreatment, (2) lignocellulosic materials after a pretreatment step, and (3) lignocellulosic materials hydrolysates originating from a pretreatment step followed by enzymatic hydrolysis. According to the current literature data on fermentative H2 production presented in this review, thermophilic conditions produce H2 in yields approximately 75% higher than those obtained in mesophilic conditions using untreated lignocellulosic substrates. The average H2 production from pretreated material is 3.17 ± 1.79 mmol of H2/g of substrate, which is approximately 50% higher compared with the average yield achieved using untreated materials (2.17 ± 1.84 mmol of H2/g of substrate). Biological pretreatment affords the highest average yield 4.54 ± 1.78 mmol of H2/g of substrate compared with the acid and basic pretreatment - average yields of 2.94 ± 1.85 and 2.41 ± 1.52 mmol of H2/g of substrate, respectively. The average H2 yield from hydrolysates, obtained from a pretreatment step and enzymatic hydrolysis (3.78 ± 1.92 mmol of H2/g), was lower compared with the yield of substrates pretreated by biological methods only, demonstrating that it is important to avoid the formation of inhibitors generated by chemical pretreatments. Based on this review, exploring other microorganisms and optimizing the pretreatment and hydrolysis conditions can make the use of lignocellulosic substrates a sustainable way to produce H2.

A microfauna presente em uma ETE por lodos ativados foi caracterizada, correlacionada com parâmetros físico-químicos e utilizada em modelos existentes de avaliação de sistemas. Durante 351 dias o lodo ativado manteve-se estável com flocos compactos, pequenos e com poucos filamentos. Os protozoários predominantes no lodo foram as tecamebas e os ciliados predadores de flocos, indicando estabilidade do sistema. Os métodos propostos em literatura, baseados no IBL, na densidade total da microfauna e na relação entre ciliados predadores de flocos e ciliados fixos, mostraram-se eficientes para o diagnóstico das condições depurativas do sistema. A análise qualitativa do lodo, englobando o tamanho, quantidade de filamentos, compactação e a identificação das espécies dominantes, foi suficiente para uma caracterização imediata das condições depurativas do sistema de tratamento.

Microfauna found in an activated sludge WTP was characterized, correlated to the physical-chemical parameters and used in existing assessment models. During 351 days, the activated sludge remained stable with compacted and small poorly filamentous flocs. It was composed mainly by testate amoebas and crawling ciliates that indicated the stability of the system. The application of the existent system evaluation models to microfauna (SBI, crawling ciliate/attached ciliate relation and total density) was found to be efficient for the assessment of the system depurative conditions. The sludge qualitative analysis, which included the flocs size, amount of filaments, compacting and the identification of the dominant microfauna species, was enough to an immediate diagnosis of the treatment system depurative conditions.