Investigation, Innovation and Citizenship: A project in construction

The European Conference on Educational Research 2008 took place in Gothenburg, Sweden from 8-9 September 2008 (Pre-conference) and 10-12 September 2008 (Main Conference).This paper aims to present a collaborative action-research which we are developing in the realm of a PhD project about The Ethic of Responsibility in Citizenship Education. This study is taking place in an Integrated School of the Azores Archipelago, through the active involvement of elementary school teachers of all areas of learning. Considering the needs of this particular educational context, the working out process aims at promoting: - the conceptualization and the re-conceptualization in the domain of Ethics and of Citizenship Education; - the learning to learn of teachers, based in a dynamic of research, in which these professionals critically think their educational practices over and diagnose the main problems and needs; - the innovation of the teaching guides centred in chained intervention plans, meaningful and integrated, and where citizenship becomes an effective experience and a transversal area of the curriculum. Throughout this paper we will discuss the data gathered in this process, analysing and reflecting upon the way the objectives were achieved, and presenting the conceptual information that was being built during the whole process

Context-aware mobile app for the multidimensional assessment of the elderly,

Rural areas in Europe are presenting a decreasing population density and an increasing age index. These elders usually present multiple diseases that require complex tools to identify the exact cares that they need. Currently, different frameworks can evaluate their functional status and identify the required cares to maintain their Quality of Life, together with the associated cost to the health system. Nevertheless, these frameworks are usually questionnaires that have to be performed by already overloaded professionals. In this paper, we make use of mobile technologies to build a system capable of monitoring the activities of the elderly and analysing these data to assess their functional status. The experiments carried out show us that it correctly evaluates these patients and reduces the effort required by health professionals

Episiotomía como factor de riesgo de prolapso de órgano pélvico. Hospital Víctor Lazarte Echegaray

Objetivo: Determinar si la episiotomía es factor de riesgo de Prolapso de Órgano Pélvico en las pacientes del hospital Víctor Lazarte Echegaray en el periodo 2014- 2016. Material y Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio de casos y controles analítico, observacional, retrospectivo, de corte transversal en base a la revisión de historias clínicas. La muestra de la población de estudio, obtenida por fórmula, estuvo constituida por 330 pacientes según criterios de inclusión y exclusión, distribuidos en dos grupos: 165 casos con prolapso y 165 controles sin prolapso. Resultados: La episiotomía estuvo presente en 116 casos y 87 controles y presentó diferencia estadística significativa (p=0.001 e IC95%=1.349-3.337), OR de 2.12. El uretrocistocele se presentó en 60% de los casos, seguido de úterocele en 26.1% y rectocele en 13.9%. El antecedente de episiotomía en el grupo de casos se observó en 70 pacientes con uretrocistocele. El OR fue 1.77, con p=0.025 e IC95%=1.073-2.948. La episiotomía no mostró diferencia estadísticamente significativa al asociarse con úterocele ni rectocele. La edad promedio para los casos y controles fue 61.97±5.55 y 61.25±5.03 respectivamente; la frecuencia de episiotomía fue de 70.3% para casos y 52.7% para controles. Conclusiones: La episiotomía fue factor de riesgo para prolapso de órgano pélvico y se confirmó en el caso del uretrocistocele, mientras que para úterocele y rectocele no lo fue. La comunicación al personal médico sobre el riesgo encontrado y la necesidad de investigaciones a mayor plazo, incluso en otras instituciones, es sugerible.Objective: To determine if episiotomy is a risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse in the patients of Víctor Lazarte Echegaray Hospital in the period 2014-2016. Material and Methods: An analytical, observational, retrospective, cross-sectional case-control study was carried out based on the review of medical records. The sample of the study population, obtained by formula, was constituted by 330 patients according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, divided into two groups: 165 cases with prolapse and 165 controls without prolapse. Results: Episiotomy was present in 116 cases and 87 controls and presented significant statistical difference (p = 0.001 and 95% CI = 1.349-3.337), OR of 2.12. The urethrocystocele was present in 60% of the cases, followed by the uterus in 26.1% and rectocele in 13.9%. The history of episiotomy in the case group was observed in 70 patients with urethrocystocele. The OR was 1.77, with p = 0.025 and 95% CI = 1.073- 2.948. The episiotomy showed no statistically significant difference when associated with uterotomy or rectocele. The average age for the cases and controls was 61.97 ± 5.55 and 61.25 ± 5.03 respectively; the frequency of episiotomy was 70.3% for cases and 52.7% for controls. Conclusions: Episiotomy was a risk factor for pelvic organ prolapse and was confirmed in the case of urethrocystocele, while for uterus and rectocele it was not. The communication to the medical staff about the risk found and the need for longer term research, even in other institutions, is suggested.Tesi

Enriched elderly virtual profiles by means of a multidimensional integrated assessment platform

The pressure over Healthcare systems is increasing in most developed countries. The generalized aging of the population is one of the main causes. This situation is even worse in underdeveloped, sparsely populated regions like Extremadura in Spain or Alentejo in Portugal. The authors propose to use the Situational-Context, a technique to seamlessly adapt Internet of Things systems to the needs and preferences of their users, for virtually modeling the elderly. These models could be used to enhance the elderly experience when using those kind of systems without raising the need for technical skills or the costs of implementing such systems by the regional healthcare systems. In this paper, the integration of a multidimensional integrated assessment platform with such virtual profiles is presented. The assessment platform provides and additional source of information for the virtual profiles that is used to better adapt existing systems to the elders needs

A proposal of sensitive indicators of the rehabilitation nursing care of people in the surgical process, to be included in the ontology of aging

Given the complex surgical scenario observed today, it is necessary to change the urgent definition of a specific ontology, especially in terms of aging. The interventions of the Specialist Nurse in Rehabilitation Nursing to the person in the surgical process are primordial for the maintenance of the functional capacities, prevention of complications and impediment of incapacities. However, it is necessary to provide individualized and fostered care in a practice of excellence, and the consequent organized reading of records of an aging ontology for decision making on rehabilitation indicators. Method: a systematic review of the literature was carried out using the EBSCO host (MEDLINE with Full Text, CINAHL Plus with Full Text and MedicLatina), using the PI [C] O method, and 11 articles were selected. Results: 41 indicators were identified to be included in the ontology classes of aging: pain control, patient and family education, support and communication, reduction of postoperative complications, gain of functionality, restoration of physical function, mobility, multidisciplinary intervention and the frequency of interventions. Conclusion: it is considered that it was imperative to identify sensitive indicators for rehabilitation nursing care, based on scientific evidence and thus provide an opportunity for nurses to reflect on their daily practices and conduct their actions towards excellence in care, to propose a set of 41 classes internationally on the ontology of aging

Simulated multi-tracer analyses with HI intensity mapping

We use full sky simulations, including the effects of foreground contamination and removal, to explore multi-tracer synergies between a SKA-like 21cm intensity mapping survey and a LSST-like photometric galaxy redshift survey. In particular we study ratios of auto and cross-correlations between the two tracers as estimators of the ratio of their biases, a quantity that should benefit considerably from the cosmic variance cancellation of the multi-tracer approach. We show how well we should be able to measure the bias ratio on very large scales (down to $\ell \sim 3$), which is crucial to measure primordial non-Gaussianity and general relativistic effects on large scale structure. We find that, in the absence of foregrounds but with realistic noise levels of such surveys, the multi-tracer estimators are able to improve on the sensitivity of a cosmic-variance contaminated measurement by a factor of $2-4$. When foregrounds are included, estimators using the 21cm auto-correlation become biased. However, we show that cross-correlation estimators are immune to this and do not incur in any significant penalty in terms of sensitivity from discarding the auto-correlation data. However, the loss of long-wavelength radial modes caused by foreground removal in combination with the low redshift resolution of photometric surveys, reduces the sensitivity of the multi-tracer estimator, albeit still better than the cosmic variance contaminated scenario even in the noise free case. Finally we explore different alternative avenues to avoid this problem.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figures, 1 tabl

Contributions to the ontology of aging, the sensitive indicators of rehabilitation nursing care, in terms of self-care, in people with respiratory disorders

With the increase in the average life expectancy, the appearance of chronic diseases and, in particular, in the respiratory forum and its disadvantages in the autonomy and self-care of patients, brought an important paradigm for health care and, in particular, rehabilitation nursing, with implications for the development of ontologies of aging. Thus, it is imperative to systematize them in scientifically measurable indicators to demonstrate the benefit that rehabilitation nursing brings to improve patients' quality of life, thus ensuring excellence. Each area of scientific health should contribute to the construction of aging ontology. Objective: to identify indicators sensitive to nursing care of rehabilitation, in terms of self-care, in relation to those with respiratory pathology, to be integrated into the ontology of aging. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed using the EBSCO (full-text MEDLINE, CINAHL, Full-Text Plus, British Nursing Index), using the PI [C] O method with 6 emergent articles. Results: A total of 20 indicators were identified, including: Ability to perform activities, increase physical and functional independence, symptom management, reduction of complications, increase in quality of life, which can be allocated as a proposal for classes of the aging ontology. Conclusion: Knowledge of indicators sensitive to nursing care recognition of the importance of rehabilitation nursing in increasing self-care and autonomy for people with respiratory pathology, and research in this area is fundamental for its effectiveness and efficiency, and its integration in the ontologies of aging is fundamental

Entre salmos e parábolas: Leitura bíblica a partir da análise teológico-literária

Esse artigo reflete acerca da análise teológico-literária dos textos bíblicos. Para isso, lança mão da contribuição de críticos literários e teólogos cujas pesquisas se debruçam sobre a Bíblia hebraica e as Bíblias cristãs. Tais textos são considerados herança literária fundamental à compreensão da vida humana em nosso tempo. Além disso, carregam orientações à vida religiosa (de judeus e cristãos), as quais, por sua vez, expressam-se em diversas formas literárias. A reflexão que permeia nosso texto pressupõe, portanto, o caráter crível e literário dos textos bíblicos, o que há de marcar a leitura analítica dos mesmos. Como experimentação teológico-literária, o desenvolvimento desse artigo culmina com a observação da poesia nos textos bíblicos e da ambigüidade fontal dessa poesia, concluindo com uma leitura do texto de Jó

Perspectives and Practices of Citizenship Education in the School Curriculum

ECER 2012. The European Conference on Educational Research 2012 will take place in the University of Cádiz.This paper aims to reflect the role of citizenship education in the Portuguese school curriculum, about the conceptions and teacher's practices in this area. We intend to present some result of a collaborative action research, which we developed in the realm of a PhD project about The Ethic of Responsibility in Citizenship Education. In the 21st century, citizenship education becomes an important pillar of the educative process. The goal of this process is educating the student for being active and responsible citizen. The active citizenship education cannot be limited to instruction on civics, but must be understand as a global and integrated process, based on an ethics of responsibility, which aims at educating the citizen by taking the dynamic unity of the self into consideration, both at the individual and at the community level. Considering the demands of citizenship education in the contemporary society, it is important to engage teachers in collaborative action research projects, which allow them to (1) reflect on their approaches to citizenship education and (2) foster innovation of their theories and practices in that domain. This collaborative action research was take place in elementary school from Terceira Island, with ten teachers of two councils – one from the eighth and one from the ninth grade

Mathematical Models and Numerical Simulations of phase change in Lagrangian and Eulerian descriptions

This thesis presents development of mathematical models for liquid-solid and solid-liquid phase change phenomena in Lagrangian and Eulerian descriptions. The mathematical models are derived by assuming a smooth interface (or transition region) between the solid and liquid phases in which the specific heat, thermal conductivity, density and latent heat are continuous and differentiable functions of temperature. The width of the interface region can be as large or as small as desired by a specific application. The derivations assume the matter to be homogeneous and isotropic. In case of Lagrangian description we assume zero velocity field i.e. no flow with free boundaries i.e. stress free medium. Under these assumptions the mathematical model reduces to the first law of thermodynamics i.e. energy equation. The derivation is based on specific total energy and the heat vector. The constitutive theory for heat vector is assumed to be Fourier heat conduction law. The specific total energy incorporates the physics of phase change in the transition region between the solid and the liquid phases. This results in a time dependent non-linear diffusion equation in temperature. The physics of initiation of the phase change as well as formation and propagation of the transition region (front) is intrinsic in the mathematical model and hence no other means of front tracking are required. For the purposes of numerical simulation, the mathematical model can also be recast as a system of first order partial differential equations. In case of Eulerian description, the mathematical model consists of the continuity equation, momentum equations, energy equation, constitutive theories for stress tensor and heat vector in the liquid phase, solid phase and as well in the transition region. In the liquid phase we assume the matter to be Newtonian fluid, hence the details of the mathematical model are straight forward. In the solid region we assume the solid to be hypoelastic, hence the rate constitutive theory is valid for the stress tensor. We also assume Fourier heat conduction law for the solid phase. In the transition region containing a mixture of solid and liquid phases, use of mixture theory is most appropriate for conservation laws as well as the constitutive theory. Such mathematical models are beyond the scope of the work considered in this thesis. Instead, we present a simple model that is based on representative volume fractions in the transition region. Eulerian descriptions are necessitated when phase change occurs in a flowing medium. Regardless of whether the mathematical models utilize Lagrangian or Eulerian description, the resulting mathematical models consist of a system of non-linear partial differential equation in space and time, i.e. they constitute initial value problems. Numerical solutions of these mathematical models are obtained using space-time least squares finite element process based on minimization of residual functional. This approach results in space-time variationally consistent integral forms that yield symmetric algebraic systems with positive definite coefficient matrices that ensure unconditionally stable computations during the entire evolution. The local approximations for the dependent variables in the mathematical model are considered in h,p,k framework which permits higher degree as well as higher order space-time approximations in space and time. Numerical values of the evolution are computed using a space-time strip or a space-time slab corresponding to an increment of time with time marching. Numerical studies in R^1 and R^2 are presented to demonstrate simulation of the initiation of the phase change as well as its subsequent propagation during evolution. These studies cannot be performed using sharp interface and phase field models. The smooth interface approach considered in the present work has many significant benefits: (i) Continuous and differentiable transition region permits desired physics and avoids singular fronts that are nonphysical. (ii) The mathematical model in Lagrangian description result in a single non-linear PDE from the first law of thermodynamics which provides the ability to initiate as well as locate the phase transition front during evolution without using special front tracking methods. (iii) In Eulerian description the Navier Stokes equations and the constitutive theories for stress tensor and heat vector result in a system of non-linear PDEs with the same features for phase change initiation and propagation as in the case of Lagrangian description. (iv) The mathematical models and the computational approach presented here permits initiation of the phase transition interface and its propagation without employing any special means. This is not possible in sharp interface and phase field mathematical models. (v) The computational methodology employed in this work ensures unconditionally stable computations in which very high accuracy of evolution is possible for each time step during evolution