Developing a structured and strategically focused performance assessment system

The number and adequacy of Performance-Indicators (PIs) for organisational purposes are core to the success of organisations and a major concern to the sponsor of this research. This assignment developed a procedure to improve a firm’s performance assessment system, by identifying two key-PIs out of 28 initial ones, and by setting criteria and their relative importance to validate and rank the adequacy and the right number of operational metrics. The Analytical-Hierarchy-Process was used with a synthesis-method to treat data coming from the management inquiries. Although organisational alignment has been achieved, business processes should also be targeted and PIs continuously revised.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Piezoelectric sensor for acoustic wave detection in anisotropic systems

This paper describes a seismic wave sensor, its readout electronics and data acquisition system. The seismic sensor is based on piezoelectric materials, which show the ability of transforming mechanical into electrical signals. In particular, the present sensor is based on a piezoelectric polymer, poly(vinilidene fluoride) as its main characteristics made it suitable for detecting the amplitude and frequencies involved in seismic events. After a general background on seismic events, waves and piezoelectric materials, the main steps on the sensor design and fabrication, the data acquisition system and the first test results are presented.The authors thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology FCT (Grant PTDC/CTM/69362/2006) for financial suppor

Forma atipica de apresentacao de febre mediterrânica familiar

A Febre Mediterrânica Familiar (FMF) é uma doença hereditária autossómica recessiva caracterizada por episódios de febre recorrente, artrite e poliserosite – peritonite, pleurite e/ou pericardite. A sua principal complicação é a amiloidose AA sistémica. Menina de 8 anos, origem africana, com febre recorrente desde os 5 anos e três internamentos com febre, dor abdominal e elevação dos reagentes de fase aguda. No primeiro episódio foi sujeita a apendicectomia e no terceiro o quadro clínico acompanhou-se de mialgias, púrpura e proteinúria não nefrótica. A biopsia renal foi compatível com nefrite de Henoch-Schönlein. Durante os episódios de febre e dor abdominal registou-se um nível sérico de amilóide A - 92 mg/L (VR < 6.8) que levantou a suspeita de FMF. Posteriormente o diagnóstico foi confirmado por estudo genético (homozigotia para M694V no gene MEFV). Iniciou colchicina e actualmente encontra-se em remissão completa. A FMF deve ser considerada no diagnóstico diferencial de febre e dor abdominal recorrente na criança, mesmo quando a forma de apresentação é atípica (p.e. Protracted Febrile Myalgia Syndrome). O estudo genético permite confirmar o diagnóstico e tem valor em termos de prognóstic

Pulmonary rehabilitation changes the oral microbiota of people with COPD

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is one of the most beneficial therapies for COPD, generally improving symptoms, exercise tolerance and functionality. Here, we investigated for the first time the effects of PR in the oral microbiota and immune mediators of people with COPD. 456 samples from 76 patients, 38 (72±9y, 76%♂, FEV1pp 49±16) integrating a 12-week community-based PR program, and 38 (70±8y, 82%♂, FEV1pp 52±20) not attending PR, were followed for 6 months and characterised based on sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical data, oral microbiota, and oral inflammatory profile. PR modulated patients’ microbiota composition and dynamics (Fig1A). Specifically, an enrichment of Proteobacteria (Haemophilus) and a depletion in Bacteroidetes, previously associated with increased severity (Melo-Dias et al, Respir Res 2022), were observed upon PR (Fig1B-C). We also observed a peak of IL-1β one month after the beginning of PR, and a significant increase in TNF-α in the third month of intervention (Fig1D). Additionally, IL-10 also increased in response to PR (Fig1D), and no significant differences were found in IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, and IL-23. Remarkably, our data suggest that PR modulates oral microbiota towards more severe states of the disease and increases both pro and anti-inflammatory markers. Future studies should address the implications and stability of these microbiota modifications and their correlation with inflammation.publishe

Production and nutritive value of piatã grass and hybrid sorghum at different cutting ages.

The influence of cutting age on production and nutritive value of piatã grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã) and hybrid sorghum (Sorghum spp. cv. BRS 801) under an integrated croplivestock system was evaluated. The trial was carried out at the Embrapa Beef Cattle (20º27' S; 54º37' W) in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, between April and October 2009. Experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replicates. Treatments were distributed across a split-plot design, which included three production systems (single piatã grass; single hybrid sorghum; mixed cultivation of sorghum and piatã grass). Half-plots consisted of three forage ages at harvest (with 70, 90 and 110 days after seeding). Variables included agronomical characteristics, productivity and nutrition value. Regardless of the evaluated systems, cutting age affected agronomical characteristics and in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM). Production was highest (4,048 kg ha-1) within the integrated system. Regardless of cutting age, monoculture sorghum had the highest crude protein level. Results showed that integrated sorghum and piatã grasses were an asset for forage productivity. Forages had higher values in crude protein and in in vitro digestibility of organic matter on the 70th day after seeding.Título em português: Produtividade e valor nutritivo de capim-piatã e sorgo de corte e pastejo em diferentes idades de corte

Responsiveness to pulmonary rehabilitation is related with changes in oral microbiota of people with COPD

Introduction: Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is one of the most cost-effective therapies for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with proven benefits in domains such as exercise capacity and quality of life. Despite its clear benefits, patients are not equal-ly responsive to PR. Reasons behind that as well as the role of the airway microbiota in PR effectiveness are currently unknown.Objectives: Here, we explored for the first time, the effects of PR on oral microbiota and inflammatory markers and the link with responsiveness to PR. Study design: 76 participants were enrolled in this prospective cohort study, half of whom integrated a 12-week PR program. During the 6-month follow-up, a total of 417 saliva samples, and data on dyspnoea during exercise (mBorg), exercise capacity (6MWT) and impact of the disease (CAT) were collected. PR responsiveness was defined as overcoming the published minimal clinically important difference for mBorg (-1 point), 6MWT (25m) and CAT (-2 points).Results: PR modulated patients’ microbiota composition and dy-namics. Specifically, an enrichment of Proteobacteria (Haemophi-lus) and a depletion in Bacteroidetes (Prevotella), previously as-sociated with increased severity (Melo-Dias et al, Respir Res 2022), were observed upon PR. We also observed changes in the levels of IL-1b, TNF-a and IL-10. When separating patients in responders (R) and non-responders (NR), distinct patterns of bacteria/bacteria and bacteria/inflammatory marker longitudinal correlation were ob-served among the groups. In R, the increase in Prevotella nega-tively correlated with Lautropia (enriched in most severe cases of COPD (Melo-Dias et al., Respir Res 2022)). The opposite trend was observed in NR, with Lautropia showing a positive correlation with several pro-inflammatory markers. Conversely, in all groups of R, Rothia and Gemellaceae presented negative correlations with sev-eral pro-inflammatory markers. Conclusions: Overall, despite responsiveness to PR being multidi-mensional and heterogeneous, giving rise to a moderate overlap across domains in individual response, PR-induced changes in mi-crobiota revealed surprisingly consistent patterns among R and NR. Future studies should address the implications and stability of these findings.publishe

Body adiposity index to analyze the percentage of fat in young men aged between 7 and 17 years

BACKGROUND: The body adiposity index (BAI), uses anthropometry to estimate percent body fat (%F). However, previous studies have shown that the BAI has limited accuracy for children and adolescents. OBJECTIVE: We propose to develop and validate an adjusted BAI for use in male children and adolescents from 7 to 17 years of age. METHODS: The sample consisted of 141 physically active male children and adolescents (age: 12.5 ± 2.14). The %F was determined by X-ray dual energy absorptometry equipment (DXA) as the standard method and by BAI, using an equation that uses height and hip circumference. Arithmetic modeling was used to adjust the structure of the BAI mathematical model. RESULTS: The BAI arithmetic adjustment was successful, resulting in the mathematical model named in the present study of adjusted body adiposity index (BAIADJ ). BAI and BAIADJ correlated with DXA (r ≤ .70, p  .05). CONCLUSION: The adjusted model of the body adiposity index proves to be an effective tool for the analysis of the fat percentage in young males. In addition, it demonstrated significant degrees of agreement and validity in relation to DXA

Avaliação da solarização do solo para o controle de Ralstonia solanacearum.

O presente trabalho avaliou o emprego da solarização como uma alternativa para o controle da murcha bacteriana, causada por Ralstonia solanacearum, em amostras de solo infestado com o patógeno, dispostas em bolsas de náilon e enterradas em parcelas solarizadas ou não. Dois experimentos foram instalados, um em Campinas (SP), de fevereiro a abril de 2001, e o outro em Piracicaba (SP), de dezembro de 2001 a janeiro de 2002. Os ensaios foram efetuados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, esquema fatorial, com quatro repetições, tendo cada parcela 4 x 4 m. Os fatores avaliados foram a solarização (com ou sem), efetuada com filme plástico transparente de 100 µm de espessura, o período de tratamento (30 e 60 dias e 37 e 60 dias para o primeiro e o segundo experimentos, respectivamente) e a profundidade de colocação das amostras (10 e 20 cm), fator verificado apenas no segundo ensaio. Após os períodos estipulados de solarização, o solo de cada bolsa foi colocado em vasos, para os quais foram transplantadas mudas de tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum). No solo não solarizado, em ambos os experimentos, 43 a 100% dos tomateiros murcharam. No segundo experimento, 6 a 22% dos tomateiros murcharam no solo solarizado por 37 dias. Entretanto não foram detectadas plantas murchas nas parcelas solarizadas do primeiro experimento e no segundo ensaio nenhum tomateiro murchou solo solarizado por 60 dias, nas duas profundidades estudadas. Os resultados indicam que a solarização é uma técnica promissora para o controle de R. solanacearum

Agronomic Characteristics, Chemical Composition and In vitro Gas Production of Sugarcane Cultivars (Saccharum spp.) for Feeding Ruminants.

solids content (BRIX), NDF/BRIX ratio and tons of sucrose/ha, total digestible nutrients, digestible energy, metabolizable energy, net energy and in vitro digestibility of organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent, of digestion and In vitro gas production of nonfibrous carbohydrates, latency time, digestion rate and gas production of fibrous carbohydrates, and in vitro digestibility of organic matter. There was a significant difference between the cultivars regarding the neutral detergent fiber content, in vitro digestibility of organic matter, total digestible nutrients, digestible energy, net energy, degradation rates of fibrous and non-fibrous carbohydrates and latency period. There was a negative correlation between stem percentage and NDF/BRIX and positive correlation between in vitro digestibility of organic matter and total digestible nutrients. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and mean test by Scott-Knott and Pearson's correlation analysis. The statistical program used was SAEG 2000. The RB835486 variety was superior to the other cultivars, as it presented 93.28% of stem, 57.5% of in vitro digestibility of organic matter, NDF / BRIX ratio of 2.68, 43.78% NDF, latency period 2.86h and fibrous carbohydrate degradation rate of 2.26% per hour. Therefore, this cultivar was better indicated for animal feeding between May and July in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil

Contribution of Different Patient Information Sources to Create the Best Possible Medication History

Introduction: Obtaining the best possible medication history is the crucial step in medication reconciliation. Our aim was to evaluate the potential contributions of the main data sources available - patient/caregiver, hospital medical records, and shared electronic health records - to obtain an accurate 'best possible medication history'. Material and Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted. Adult patients taking at least one medicine were included. Patient interview was performed upon admission and this information was reconciled with hospital medical records and shared electronic health records, assessed retrospectively. Concordance between sources was assessed. In the shared electronic health records, information was collected for four time-periods: the preceding three, six, nine and 12-months. The proportion of omitted data between time-periods was analysed. Results: A total of 148 patients were admitted, with a mean age of 54.6 +/- 16.3 years. A total of 1639 medicines were retrieved. Only 29% were collected simultaneously in the three sources of information, 40% were only obtained in shared electronic health records and only 5% were obtained exclusively from patients. The total number of medicines gathered in shared electronic health records considering the different time frames were 778 (three-months), 1397 (six-months), 1748 (nine-months), and 1933 (12-months). Discussion: The use of shared electronic health records provides data that were omitted in the other data sources available and retrieving the information at six months is the most efficient procedure to establish the basis of the best possible medication history. Conclusion: Shared electronic health records should be the preferred source of information to supplement the patient or caregiver interview in order to increase the accuracy of best possible medication history of the patient, particularly if collected within the prior six months