Stress e Emergência Médica: níveis e factores de stress em profissionais de emergência pré–hospitalar

O stress é a doença da actualidade, devido à exigência e à pressão emocional que o meio pode exercer sobre todas as pessoas, quer no seu ambiente pessoal quer no ambiente profissional. O termo stress serve cada vez mais como justificação ou forma de expressão de irritações, mal-estar físico e mental, cansaço, ansiedade e depressões. Todavia torna-se pertinente percebermos a evolução do stress enquanto conceito e enquanto doença. Neste trabalho contextualizamos o stress no âmbito da Emergência Pré – Hospitalar, explorando-o, avaliando-o e analisando-o, de modo a podermos perceber os níveis de stress e de que forma os Profissionais de Emergência a ele estão sujeitos. Considerando a base teórica deste estudo definimos, como objectivo geral do trabalho, a avaliação de níveis e factores de stress percepcionados pelos profissionais de emergência médica e como objectivos específicos do estudo a descrever e caracterizar, a nível da região centro, os indivíduos que desempenham funções na emergência préhospitalar, verificar a percepção dos mesmos no que respeita ao stress na sua vida profissional, conhecer como percepcionam os níveis de stress em situações profissionais de emergência e identificar a sua percepção no que concerne aos níveis de stress diário no seu quotidiano. Com estes objectivos, utilizamos uma amostra de 184 profissionais de Emergência Médica divididos por quatro profissões [Médicos, Enfermeiros, Técnicos de Ambulância de Emergência (TAE) e Operadores de Central de Emergência Médica(OPCEM)], com idades compreendidas entre os 20 e os 56 anos. Realizámos ainda um estudo descritivo explorando os questionários de stress no INEM (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica) e o Questionário de Vulnerabilidade do Stress com variáveis do estudo demográfico. Podemos concluir que o stress está presente nas actividades de emergência. A sua presença relaciona-se, por um lado, com uma maior ou menor discriminação dos factores stressantes e, por outro, numa maior ou menor centração no sujeito, nomeadamente, um maior perfeccionismo e intolerância à frustração que se apresentam como distressantes para a actividade profissional de emergência. Os aspectos estudados permitem-nos clarificar o sentido e a utilidade do conceito, a sua operacionalidade e a sua importância nos profissionais de emergência. / Stress is the disease of our time, due to the requirement and emotional pressure that the media can have on all people, both in their personal environment and in the professional environment. The word stress increasingly serves as a justification or form of expression of irritation, physical discomfort and mental fatigue, anxiety and depression. However it is pertinent to realize the evolution of stress as a concept and as a disease. In this work, we contextualize under the stress of the Pre - Hospital Emergency, exploring it, assessing it and analyzing it, so you can see the stress levels and how the Emergency Professionals are subject to it. Whereas the theoretical basis of this study as a strategic objective of the work, the assessment of levels and stress factors perceived by medical emergency professionals and specific objectives of the study description and characterization, the level of the center, individuals who perform functions in pre-hospital emergency, check their perception with regard to the stress in your life, know how they experience the stress levels of professionals in emergency situations and identify the perceptions of individuals regarding the levels of daily stress in their daily lives. For this we used a sample of 184 professionals of Medical Emergency divided by four professions [(Doctors, Nurses, Technicians Ambulance Emergency (TAE), Operators of Emergency Medical Center (OPCEM)], aged 20 to 56 years. We conducted a descriptive study also exploring the questionnaires of stress in INEM(National Institute of Medical Emergency) and Vulnerability Questionnaire Stress with variables of the study population. We can conclude that stress is present in emergency activities. Its presence is related to, first, with more or less stressful factors of discrimination and, secondly, a greater or lesser concentration on the subject, in particular, greater perfectionism and intolerance to frustration that stand as unstressed for the activity of emergency professionals. The areas studied will clarify the meaning and usefulness of the concept, its operation and its importance in day-to-day occupation of emergency

Estudo de um equipamento de processamento de soldaduras por Friction Stir Welding

Este é um projeto I&D interno do INEGI, com as unidades DPS e LOME, que tem em vista a utilização de componentes disponíveis no INEGI para o estudo de um equipamento capaz de efetuar soldaduras por Friction Stir Welding. O equipamento já conta com controlo numérico para um sistema de três eixos e os respetivos motores, ficando assim encarregue de tirar o máximo proveito possível destes componentes. Este equipamento terá como finalidade munir o INEGI com um equipamento capaz de dar resposta a eventuais projetos externos/internos bem como para fins de investigação para a melhoria da qualidade do processo de soldadura. A conceção deste equipamento tem a particularidade das condições envolventes do processo nomeadamente os esforços desenvolvidos durante o processo de soldadura, em particular a força vertical (eixo da ferramenta) que é necessária fazer de forma a evitar a ascensão de material da junta de soldadura. A soldadura por Friction Stir Welding, é um processo de soldadura relativamente actual, desenvolvido em 1991 por Wayne Thomas pelo The Welding Institute que se sobrepõe aos métodos de soldadura convencionais, uma vez que não necessita de levar o/os materiais acima da sua temperatura de fusão, sendo um processo de soldadura no estado solido, o material não chega a fundir. Este processo consiste na utilização de uma ferramenta em rotação que que se desloca ao longo da junta de soldadura, que uma vez a fricção gerada entre a ferramenta e o material base gera calor que promove o aquecimento e quase fusão do material base. A ligação do material dá-se aquando a passagem da ferramenta na junta, misturando os materiais. Com o recurso a este método de fabrico é possível efetuar soldaduras com grande qualidade em materiais considerados de difícil soldabilidade pelos métodos convencionais, como por exemplo o Alumínio. Neste projecto foram estudadas varias soluções, contactados vários fornecedores e com o seu feedback foi desenvolvido o equipamento. Este projecto consiste essencialmente na análise estrutural e selecção de equipamentos. O equipamento final resultou de uma série de iterações e ideias de forma a optimizar toda estrutura para a magnitude dos esforços envolvidos, obtendo no final um equipamento capaz de cumprir os requisitos. No final prevêse um equipamento com a capacidade de suportar esforços verticais de 50 o que comparando com alguns ensaios já efectuados, estima-se que será capaz de produzir juntas soldadas de aproximadamente 15 a 16 de espessura em alumínios da série 6, sendo também possível soldar outros matérias desde que não ultrapassem os limites de carga do equipamento nos respectivos eixos. A estrutura do equipamento é baseada na utilização de chapas em aço estrutural S235JR (Fe 360) soldadas entre si e maquinadas de forma a obter a forma desejada. A validação estrutural foi efectuada recorrendo a simulações pelo método de elementos finitos usando o SolidWorks como ferramenta de cálculo. Sendo a soldadura por FSW um processo lento onde não são espectáveis grandes velocidades ou cargas dinâmicas, a análise estrutural foi efectuada como sendo simulações estáticas. Contudo, e devido ao demorado processo de cálculo, muitas considerações tiveram que ser feitas nomeadamente relativamente ao tipo de contactos considerados, rigidez de certos componentes, aplicação de cargas (superfícies de actuação), tipos de fixação. Para projetos futuros ainda fica em falta o estudo da componente eléctrica, incluído o roteamento das ligações, e fixações, o que pode dar origem a alterações em determinados componentes em termos de desenho de furações. A estrutura ainda pode ser optimizada considerando outros conceitos construtivos.This is a INEGI’s R&D project, resulting from a cooperation between DPS and LOME, which intends to use of equipment already available at INEGI in order to develop an equipment capable of preforming welds through the process of Friction Stir Welding. The available equipment consists of three axis computerized numeric controls (CNC) systems, and the servomotors for each axis. The equipment designed within this thesis will be used on research works aiming at the development of the welding process itself. FSW is a process where high forces are developed during welding, in particular the vertical force (tool axis) which is needed in order to keep the material within the stirring process. Developed in 1991 by Wayne Thomas at The Welding Institute, the Friction Stir Welding process still need further studies, but can be considered a real breakthrough when compared to conventional welding methods, mainly because it is a solid-state welding, which means that the base material don’t reach the melting temperature, therefore less defects are induced in the weld. This process requires a rotating tool that travels along the joint, generating frictional heat, which heats the base material. The joining occurs when the tool travels along the joint, heating the materials and mixing them together. With this method, high quality welds can be obtained even on materials that are considered of poor weldability, when using conventional methods, like Aluminum Alloys. For this project several solutions were tested, suppliers were reached and with the feedback the equipment was developed. This project main focus is on the structural analysis and the selection of components that will integrate the final equipment. The final equipment is a result of several iterations and ideas in order to optimize the complete structure for the loads developed when welding, resulting on a capable equipment that match the needs. At the end is expected to have an equipment that is capable of preforming welds on several materials and reaching vertical forces as high as 50 . When compared to tests already performed on other studies, it’s foreseen that high quality welds can be performed, for example on a 15 to 16 thickness of aluminum 6 series, as well as other type of materials as long as it doesn’t exceed vertical force limit of 50 . The structure development is based on the use of structural steel S235JR (Fe 360) sheets that are welded together and machined to the desired shape. The structural analysis was done using the finite elements module incorporated in SolidWorks. Since FSW is slow welding process and no high speeds or dynamic loads are expected, the full analysis was performed considering to be static. Although, and since it’s a very time consuming type of calculation, some considerations/simplifications were made, for instance the type of contact that occurs between each component, as well as the rigidity of some components, load surfaces and fixtures. As future works, the electrical component, including routing, power supply, and fixtures, should be studied, which can lead to a redesign of some of the components. Further structural optimization can also be performed considering other concepts of structures

Rare Earth Elements fractionation in native vegetation from the Moncorvo iron mines, NE Portugal

Fractionation of Rare Earth Elements (REE) and the accumulation and translocation indexes were measured and determined in the native vegetation [Halimium lasianthum (Lam.) Spach subsp. alyssoides (Lam.) Greuter; Cytisus multiflorus (L’Hér.) Sweet; and Cistus monspeliensis L.; Cistus ladanifer subsp. ladanifer; Lavandula stoechas L.] from the iron mining area of Moncorvo (NE Portugal). There is no correlation between the amounts of REE in rhizosphere and in plants. The REE concentration as the fractionation follows roots>leaves>stems in plants. A slightly enrichment in HREE were found in rhizosphere and plants (roots and stems), whereas the leaves are enriched in LREE. The accumulation and translocation depend of internal complexes ligands. The redox and pH conditions of the rhizosphere conditioned the REE uptake. Greatest bioaccumulation ability of heavy REE (HREE) was found in C. monspeliensis, followed by H. lasianthum that also, has a high capacity of the REE translocation to the aerial parts, contrary to C. monspeliensis. An M-type tetrad effect was determined mainly for HREE (Gd-Ho series) indicating a complexation of REE. The greatest differences in the REE fractionation patterns (mainly for HREE) are observed in stems, as a consequence of the transport function of this organ. Cerium anomaly indicates that the pH and redox conditions affected the uptake of Ce by plants, where the free ionic species are dominated in roots and leaves (positive anomaly), and stems (negative anomaly). Also the Eu-anomaly is greater in roots and leaves than in steams probably by participation in metabolic functions due to similarity with calcium

Predicting completion time in high-stakes exams

For the majority of students, assessment moments are associated with significant levels of stress and anxiety. While a certain amount of stress motivates the individual and improves performance, too much stress will have the contrary effect. Stress has therefore a fundamental role on student performance. It should be the educational organizations’ mission to understand the underlying mechanisms that lead to performance anxiety and provide their students with the best coping tools and strategies. In the present study we analyze student behavior during e-assessment in terms of mouse dynamics. Two major behavioral patterns can be identified, based on ten features that quantify the performance of the student’s interaction with the computer: (1) students who are able to sustain performance during the exam and (2) students whose performance varies significantly. Data shows that the behavior of each student during the exam correlates strongly with the time it takes the student to complete it. Several classifiers were trained that predict the completion time of each exam based on the students’ interaction patterns. Two of them do it with an average error of around twelve minutes. Results show that there are still mechanisms that can be explored to better understand the complex relationship between stress, performance and human behavior, that can be used for the implementation of better stress detection, monitoring and coping strategies.This work has been supported by COMPETE, Portugal: POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013. This work was funded by ‘‘EUSTRESS – Sistema de Informação para a monitorização e avaliação dos níveis do stress e previsão de stress crónico, Portugal’’, No. 2015/017832 P2020 SI I&DT, (NUP, Portugal, NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-017832) in co-promotion between Optimizer-Lda and ICVS/3B’s-Uminho

Avaliação da heterogeneidade das propriedades mecânicas de um BACRFA em elementos estruturais

O presente trabalho refere-se à avaliação da heterogeneidade das propriedades mecânicas de um Betão Auto-Compactável Reforçado com Fibras de Aço (BACRFA) ao longo de elementos estruturais. O programa experimental foi composto por séries de elementos com diferentes alturas e distintos comprimentos de modo a avaliar a influência da direcção preferencial de fluxo do BACRFA nas propriedades deste. O estudo acerca da utilização de BACRFA em fundações contínuas foi iniciado neste trabalho por intermédio da sua aplicação num protótipo tipo grelha que pretende simular aquele sistema estrutural. O betão fresco foi descarregado na mesma zona em todos os elementos com o intuito de avaliar a influência da distância de percurso do BACRFA nas suas propriedades. A variação das propriedades do BACRFA ao longo do desenvolvimento dos elementos foi efectuada recorrendo aos seguintes ensaios: velocidade de propagação de ondas ultra-sónicas; peso volúmico; resistência à compressão; resistência à flexão; teor e distribuição das fibras de aço

A comparison of automated time series forecasting tools for smart cities

Most smart city sensors generate time series records and forecasting such data can provide valuable insights for citizens and city managers. Within this context, the adoption of Automated Time Series Forecasting (AutoTSF) tools is a key issue, since it facilitates the design and deployment of multiple TSF models. In this work, we adapt and compare eight recent AutoTSF tools (Pmdarima, Prophet, Ludwig, DeepAR, TFT, FEDOT, AutoTs and Sktime) using nine freely available time series that can be related with the smart city concept (e.g., temperature, energy consumption, city traffic). An extensive experimentation was carried out by using a realistic rolling window with several training and testing iterations. Also, the AutoTSF tools were evaluated by considering both the predictive performances and required computational effort. Overall, the FEDOT tool presented the best overall performance.This work has been supported by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020 and the project “Integrated and Innovative Solutions for the well-being of people in complex urban centers” within the Project Scope NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000086

Echocardiography and cardiovascular risk:The relationship in the renal transplant recipient

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death among renal transplant recipientes (RTR). It is not known whether echocardiographic abnormalities are useful to identify RTR at high risk of CVD. Methods: Retrospective review of RTR with functioning and stable graft and an echocardiography performed in the last year. Risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and death using a risk calculator specific for RTR. Results: Among 107 patients (57.9% males, 50.4±13.9 years), 7-year risk of MACE was >10% in 30.9% of patients and 7-year risk of death >10% in 56.1%. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was found in 55.1%, diastolic dysfunction in 39.3%, dilated left atrium (LA) in 53.3%, high pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) in 9.0%, valvular calcifications in 22.4% and moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in 3.7%. Mean Ejection fraction was 68.36±6.87%. Univariate analysis showed an increased risk of MACE and death in patients with LVH, diastolic dysfunction, dilated LA, high PASP, valvular calcifications and MR. Multivariate analysis identified an independente association between the risk of MACE >10% and valvular calcifications and high PASP. Risk of death>10% in multivariate analysis had an independent association with diastolic dysfunction and elevated PASP. Conclusion: Echocardiographic abnormalities identify RTR at increased risk of MACE and death. Valvular calcifications and high PASP are predictors of MACE whereas diastolic dysfunction and high PASP predict death.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Book of abstracts of the 27th Colloquium of African Geology: 17th Conference of the Geological Society of Africa

On behalf of the Local Organizing Committee of “27th Colloquium of African Geology/17th Conference of the Geological Society of Africa – CAG27”, we would like to welcome you to this important meeting regarding “Africa: The key player for a better and sustainable world” that we feel privileged to host. This Conference, sponsored by the Universidade de Aveiro and the GeoBioTec Research Centre, under the auspices of the Geological Society of Africa (GSAf), is an opportunity to continue the scientific exchanges between researchers from all over the world in the field of Geosciences, and to demonstrate the high scientific research standards that are being carried out over the world. The participants in the conference will have the opportunity to share their expertise in a range of scientific fields, such as geology, geological resources, environmental risks, environment and human health, sustainable development, education, and tourism in Africa. (...)publishe

Multi-agent system for multimodal machine learning object detection

Multi-agent systems have shown great promise in addressing complex problems that traditional single-agent approaches are not be able to handle. In this article, we propose a multi-agent system for the conception of a multimodal machine learning problem on edge devices. Our architecture leverages docker containers to encapsulate knowledge in the form of models and processes, enabling easy management of the system. Communication between agents is facilitated by Message Queuing Telemetry Transport, a lightweight messaging protocol ideal for Internet of Things and edge computing environments. Additionally, we highlight the significance of object detection in our proposed system, which is a crucial component of many multimodal machine learning tasks, by enabling the identification and localization of objects within diverse data modalities. In this manuscript an overall architecture description is performed, discussing the role of each agent and the communication protocol between them. The proposed system offers a general approach to multimodal machine learning problems on edge devices, demonstrating the advantages of multi-agent systems in handling complex and dynamic environments.This work has been supported by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020

Long-term application of the organic and inorganic pesticides in vineyards: Environmental record of past use

Areas such as Douro Demarcated Region (Portugal), where vineyards are frequently located on steep slopes of narrow valleys, can be particularly sensitive to runoff and erosion processes. These particular conditions are expected to enhance the transport of pollutants, acting as a potential source of contamination to freshwater systems. The intense vine cultivation in this region includes decades of pesticides application, that have resulted in the accumulation of these chemicals and its degradation products in the vineyards soils and sediments. Residues of several pesticides related to agricultural activities were found in soils, with older vineyards showing higher levels of Cu and banned insecticides (such as DDT). The metabolite 4,4-DDE was the compound found at higher levels in soils and in sediments. The relatively high levels in more recent sediments suggest that soils are still a source of contamination. Levels of currently used pesticides were low, which is related with their physicochemical properties, the application period, and climacteric conditions