HealthAdvisor ecosystem mobile solutions

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia InformáticaApreciando plataformas on-line de partilha de opiniões ou experiências sobre diversos serviços pode-se reparar que existe a necessidade, por parte dos utilizadores, de saber opiniões de outros. Aqui insere-se o sentido de comunidade que é prevalente na Internet. Desde redes sociais a videojogos este conceito faz-se presente onde a criação de uma comunidade pode ser a chave para o sucesso de uma nova ideia. Neste caso a nova ideia trata-se de HealthAdvisor Mobile Solutions (HeAd-MS), integrante de HealthAdvisor Ecosystem (HeAd-ES), HeAd-MS aponta para a criação de uma plataforma móvel onde é possível partilhar opiniões e avaliações sobre serviços de saúde existentes, estas opiniões e avaliações são feitas pela comunidade e para a comunidade, gerando assim valor para os utilizadores numa espécie de simbiose entre utilizador e plataforma. O que surge com a existência do HealthAdvisor Mobile Solutions trata-se de uma solução não só integrante mas ainda parte vital de um ecossistema maior HealthAdvisor Ecosystem que tem como objetivo a criação de uma comunidade como suporte principal e mais valia do sistema, potenciando o seu crescimento e florescimento graças à sua transparência e simplicidade. Com o desenvolvimento desta dissertação o que se alcançou foi a criação de uma aplicação móvel, cross-platform, com foco na comunidade. Aqui um utilizador pode-se informar sobre serviços de saúde, saber opiniões/avaliações de outros utilizadores e ainda partilhar a sua própria opinião sobre esses mesmos serviços. A aplicação foi desenvolvida em React Native servida de dados por uma web REST API.Assessing on-line platforms of opinion or experience sharing on various services it is possible to notice that there is a need, from the users, to know opinions from others. It‘s here where the sense of community emerges. Prevailing on the internet from social networks to video games this concept makes itself present where the creation of a community can be the key to the success of an idea. In this case the new idea is HealthAvisor Mobile Solutions (HeAd-MS), which integrates the HealthAdvisor Ecosystem (HeAd-ES), HeAd-MS aims for the creation of a mobile platform where it is possible to share opinions and ratings on existing health services. These opinions and ratings are made by the community for the community, generating value to the users in a sort of symbiosis between the user and the platform. What emerges with the existence of HealthAdvisor Mobile Solutions is a solution that not only belongs but is also a vital part of a bigger ecosystem, HealthAdvisor Ecosystem, that has as its objective the creation of a community as main support and is an important asset to the system, potentiating its growth and allowing it to thrive thanks to its transparency and simplicity With the development of this dissertation what was achieved was the creation of a cross-platform mobile application with a focus on the community. Here a user can find out about health services, find out about other users’ reviews and ratings and also share their own opinion about these same services. The application was developed in React Native and is served data by a web REST API

Vulnerabilidade, monitorização e risco na zona vulnerável do Tejo

Em virtude das características hidrogeológicas e da ocupação agrícola intensiva, no dia 3 de Setembro de 2004, através da Portaria 1100/2004, o sector norte da zona aluvionar do Tejo foi designado zona vulnerável à poluição difusa de nitratos de origem agrícola (ZVT). Esta região abrangendo os concelhos da Golegã, Alpiarça, Santarém, Chamusca, Vila Nova da Barquinha, Constância e Torres Novas tem uma área aproximada de 19.124ha não estando contudo integrada a área protegida do Paúl de Boquilobo. Actualmente, a ZVT está a ser estudada no âmbito do projecto AGRO 530 intitulado ?Plano de Intervenção e Desenvolvimento de um Sistema de Apoio à Decisão para o Norte da Zona Aluvionar do Tejo?. Com início em Julho de 2004, participam neste projecto, o Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), que coordena, o Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) e a Direcção Regional de Agricultura do Ribatejo e Oeste (DRARO). A partir do momento em que se designa uma área como zona vulnerável uma das obrigações processuais é a elaboração de um plano de acção (segundo o Decreto-Lei 235/97, artigo 7º). Um dos objectivos deste projecto é contribuir para uma correcta implementação daquele plano de maneira a que nessa zona se pratique uma agricultura sustentável e socialmente aceitável. O trabalho, que agora se apresenta, pretende divulgar as principais linhas de força desse projecto. Os resultados já obtidos sobre a qualidade da água subterrânea naquela zona vulnerável, principalmente no que respeita à contaminação por nitratos e pesticidas, mostram que nas áreas envolventes da Golegã, da Azinhaga e da Chamusca ocorrem teores de nitratos muito acima do valor legal de 50 mg/l de NO3, e que num total de 89 amostras de água subterrânea, colhidas em 2004, em 27% foram detectados pelo menos, um dos pesticidas e/ou metabolitos analisados, sendo que, em 146 amostras de água subterrânea colhidas em 2005, a frequência de detecção de, pelo menos, um pesticida e/ou metabolito, foi de 38%. Estes resultados reforçam a necessidade do desenvolvimento de sistemas de apoio à decisão, particularmente para o uso sustentável de fertilizantes azotados e de pesticidas nas principais culturas da ZVT

Portal blood flow volume measurement in schistosomal patients: evaluation of Doppler ultrasonography reproducibility

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility of Doppler ultrasonography in the measurement of portal blood flow volume in schistosomal patients. MATERIALS AND METHODOS: Prospective, transversal, observational and self-paired study evaluating 21 patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis submitted to Doppler ultrasonography performed by three independent observers for measurement of portal blood flow. Pairwise interobserver agreement was calculated by means of the intraclass correlation coefficient, paired t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Interobserver agreement was excellent. Intraclass correlation ranged from 80.6% to 93.0% (IC at 95% [65.3% ; 95.8%]), with the Pearson's correlation coefficient ranging between 81.6% and 92.7% with no statistically significant interobserver difference regarding the mean portal blood flow volume measured by Doppler ultrasonography (p = 0.954 / 0.758 / 0.749). CONCLUSION: Doppler ultrasonography has demonstrated to be a reliable method for measuring the portal blood flow volume in patients with portal hypertension secondary to schistosomiasis, with a good interobserver agreement.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a reprodutibilidade do ultra-som Doppler na quantificação do volume de fluxo portal em pacientes esquistossomóticos. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo, transversal, observacional e autopareado, avaliando 21 pacientes portadores de esquistossomose hepatoesplênica, submetidos a mensuração do fluxo portal pelo ultra-som Doppler por três observadores, de forma independente, sendo calculada a concordância entre estes, dois a dois, pelo coeficiente de correlação intraclasse, teste t-pareado e grau de linearidade de Pearson. RESULTADOS: A concordância interobservador foi excelente. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse variou entre 80,6% e 93,0% (IC a 95% [65,3% ; 95,8%]), com coeficiente de correlação de Pearson variando entre 81,6% e 92,7% e sem diferença estatisticamente significante entre os observadores quanto à média do fluxo portal mensurado pelo ultra-som Doppler (p = 0,954 / 0,758 / 0,749). CONCLUSÃO: O ultra-som Doppler é um método confiável para quantificar o fluxo portal em pacientes portadores de hipertensão porta de origem esquistossomótica, apresentando boa concordância interobservador.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Diagnóstico por ImagemUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Diagnóstico por ImagemUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Petrophysical Rock Typing of Coquinas from the Morro do Chaves Formation, Sergipe-Alagoas Basin (NorthEast Brazil)

ABSTRACT. This work has analyzed, considering the petrophysical point of view, samples of Coquinas obtained in the outcrop of the Morro do Chaves formation(Sergipe-Alagoas Basin). The complex sedimentological aspects for this study have been...Keywords: carbonate, porosity and permeability properties, NMR, electrical resistivity. RESUMO. Esse trabalho analisa, considerando o ponto de vista petrofísico, amostras de Coquinas obtidas em afloramento da Formação Morro do Chaves (Bacia de Sergipe–Alagoas). Os aspectos sedimentológicos complexos envolvidos neste estudo foram...Palavras-chave: carbonato, propriedades permoporosas, RMN, resistividade elétrica.</jats:p

NMR Porosity Partitioning Applied to the Evaluation of Permeability, Irreducible Water Saturation and Electrical Resistivity of Coquinas from the Morro do Chaves Formation

The economic viability analysis of a possible petroleum reservoir is based on the knowledge about its petrophysical properties, especially the porosity and its relationship with other properties, such as permeability and resistivity. In carbonate systems, the porosity presents a high degree of heterogeneity, which affects other quantities associated with it. In the present work, data of electrical resistivity, permeability, porosity by nuclear magnetic resonance (total porosity and its partitioning in micro, meso and macroporosity values, and irreducible water saturation) of five samples of Coquinas from the Morro do Chaves Formation (Sergipe-Alagoas Basin) extracted with vertical symmetry. The analysis of these data allowed the correlation between the permoporous pairs and the resistivity, evidencing the effect of the permoporous relations in the electric current flow, and between the percentage distribution of the porous space (micro - percentage values lower than 3.8%, meso - percentage values between 7.9 and 24.8%, and macroporosity, with percentage values higher than 71.5%) with permeability and irreducible water saturation, indicating a strong effect of mesoporosity on the observed values for those parameters. Also, within the analysis process, it was possible to determine the spatial behavior of the analyzed quantities in relation to the outcro

Antinociception induced by chronic glucocorticoid treatment is correlated to local modulation of spinal neurotransmitter content

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>While acute effects of stress on pain are well described, those produced by chronic stress are still a matter of dispute. Previously we demonstrated that chronic unpredictable stress results in antinociception in the tail-flick test, an effect that is mediated by increased levels of corticosteroids. In the present study, we evaluated nociception in rats after chronic treatment with corticosterone (CORT) and dexamethasone (DEX) in order to discriminate the role of each type of corticosteroid receptors in antinociception.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both experimental groups exhibited a pronounced antinociceptive effect after three weeks of treatment when compared to controls (CONT); however, at four weeks the pain threshold in CORT-treated animals returned to basal levels whereas in DEX-treated rats antinociception was maintained. In order to assess if these differences are associated with altered expression of neuropeptides involved in nociceptive transmission we evaluated the density of substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), somatostatin (SS) and _B2-γ-aminobutiric acid receptors (GABA_B2) expression in the spinal dorsal horn using light density measurements and stereological techniques. After three weeks of treatment the expression of CGRP in the superficial dorsal horn was significantly decreased in both CORT and DEX groups, while GABA_B2was significantly increased; the levels of SP for both experimental groups remained unchanged at this point. At 4 weeks, CGRP and SP are reduced in DEX-treated animals and GABA_B2unchanged, but all changes were restored to CONT levels in CORT-treated animals. The expression of SS remained unaltered throughout the experimental period.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data indicate that corticosteroids modulate nociception since chronic corticosteroid treatment alters the expression of neuropeptides involved in nociceptive transmission at the spinal cord level. As previously observed in some supraspinal areas, the exclusive GR activation resulted in more profound and sustained behavioural and neurochemical changes, than the one observed with a mixed ligand of corticosteroid receptors. These results might be of relevance for the pharmacological management of certain types of chronic pain, in which corticosteroids are used as adjuvant analgesics.</p

Interobserver variability of ultrasound parameters in portal hypertension

The aim of this study was to assess interobserver agreement of ultrasound parameters for portal hypertension in hepatosplenic mansonic schistosomiasis. Spleen size, diameter of the portal, splenic and superior mesenteric veins and presence of thrombosis and cavernous transformation were determined by three radiologists in blinded and independent fashion in 30 patients. Interobserver agreement was measured by the kappa index and intraclass correlation coefficient. Interobserver agreement was considered substantial (κ = 0.714-0.795) for portal vein thrombosis and perfect (κ = 1) for cavernous transformation. Interobserver agreement measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient was excellent for longitudinal diameter of the spleen (r = 0.828-0.869) and splenic index (r = 0.816-0.905) and varied from fair to almost perfect for diameter of the portal (r = 0.622-0.675), splenic (r = 0.573-0.913) and superior mesenteric (r = 0.525-0.607) veins. According to the results, ultrasound is a highly reproducible method for the main morphological parameters of portal hypertension in schistosomiasis patients.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Diagnóstico por ImagensUniversidade de Brasília Faculdade de MedicinaUNIFESP, Depto. de Diagnóstico por ImagensSciEL

Vulnerability, monitoring and risk of nitrate contamination in Tagus vulnerable zone

Taking in account the hydrogeologic characteristics and the intensive agricultural occupation, on 3rd September of 2004, through Portaria 1100/2004, the Northern Tagus alluvium was defined vulnerable zone to diffuse pollution with nitrates from agricultural source (ZVT). This region enclosing Golegã, Alpiarça, Santarém, Chamusca, Vila Nova da Barquinha, Constância and Torres Novas councils, has an approach area of 19124 ha not integrating the Paúl de Boquilobo protection area. Currently, ZVT is to be studied in the scope of the project AGRO 530 entitled “Intervention Plan and Support Decision System Development for the Northern Tagus Alluvium”. With the beginning in July of 2004, the institutions “Instituto Superior de Agronomia” (ISA) (Coordination), “Instituto Superior Técnico” (IST) and “Direcção Regional de Agricultura do Ribatejo e Oeste” (DRARO) participate in this project. From the moment that an area is designed as vulnerable zone, one of the procedural obligations is the elaboration of an action plan(according to the Decree-Law 235/97, article 7º). One of the objectives of this project is to contribute for one correct implementation of the plan towards a sustainable and socially acceptable agriculture. The work, that now is presented, intends to divulge the outlines of this project. The results already obtained on the groundwater quality in the vulnerable zone, mainly concerning nitrates and pesticides contamination, show that in the involving areas of Golegã, Azinhaga and Chamusca occur nitrates levels much higher than parametric value of 50 mg/ l of NO3 - , and that in a total of 89 groundwater samples, collected in 2004, in 27% were detected at least one of the pesticides and/or metabolites, being that, in 146 groundwater samples collected in 2005, the detection frequency of, at least, on pesticide and/or metabolite, it was of 38%. These results reinforce the development need of support decision systems, particularly for the sustainable nitrogen fertilizer and pesticide use in the main cultures of the ZVT

Agreement between magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography in the classification of schistosomal periportal fibrosis, according to Niamey's criteria

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility of magnetic resonance imaging and the agreement between ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the classification of periportal fibrosis in patients with schistosomiasis based on Niamey's qualitative criteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, double-blinded study was conducted between February 2005 and June 2006 with 20 patients (10 men and 10 women, with ages ranging between 24 and 60 years, mean age 42.7 years) diagnosed with schistosomiasis mansoni. Both ultrasound and magnetic resonance images were independently evaluated by two experienced observers. Interobserver agreement was evaluated for findings of periportal fibrosis on magnetic resonance images and in a comparison between magnetic resonance and ultrasound images. RESULTS: The analysis of magnetic resonance images showed total interobserver agreement in 14 patients (70%). The comparison between ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging showed agreement between images in only six cases (30%) by observer 1, and in eight cases (40%) by observer 2. CONCLUSION: Magnetic resonance imaging presents a good reproducibility in the evaluation of periportal fibrosis in later stages of schistosomiasis, however, the correlation between magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound is poor.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a reprodutibilidade da ressonância magnética e a concordância entre a ultra-sonografia e a ressonância magnética na classificação da fibrose periportal em pacientes esquistossomóticos, segundo os critérios qualitativos de Niamey. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo prospectivo e duplo-cego, entre fevereiro de 2005 e junho de 2006, em 20 pacientes (10 homens e 10 mulheres, idades entre 24 e 60 anos, média de 42,75 anos) com diagnóstico de esquistossomose mansônica. As imagens de ultra-sonografia e de ressonância magnética foram avaliadas por dois examinadores experientes de forma independente. Foi medida a concordância interobservador para a ressonância magnética e entre a ressonância magnética e a ultra-sonografia. RESULTADOS: A ressonância magnética apresentou resultados concordantes entre os observadores em 14 pacientes (70%). Quando comparamos a ressonância magnética com a ultra-sonografia, obtivemos concordância em apenas seis pacientes pelo observador 1 (30%) e em oito pacientes pelo observador 2 (40%). CONCLUSÃO: A ressonância magnética tem boa reprodutibilidade na avaliação de fibrose periportal em pacientes com esquistossomose avançada, porém sua concordância com a ultra-sonografia é fraca.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Diagnóstico por ImagemUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de GastroenterologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Diagnóstico por ImagemUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de GastroenterologiaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MedicinaSciEL