Educational disadvantage: effects on the implementation of multicultural practices

Apesar de desvantagem educacional ser um conceito bastante investigado, poucose conhece acerca dos seus efeitos na implementação de práticas multiculturais por partede profissionais. Desta forma, o presente estudo tem como intuito aprofundar oentendimento relativamente a este tópico, examinando se o nível de diversidade, climaorganizacional, assim como os níveis de auto-eficácia, necessidades de apoio e satisfaçãono trabalho dos profissionais, influenciam as suas práticas multiculturais. Os participantesforam 93 profissionais Portugueses, a trabalhar em diferentes tipos de contextoseducacionais. Os resultados mostram que a auto-eficácia é um preditor da implementaçãode práticas multiculturais. Para além disso, um clima organizacional positivo influenciapositivamente os sentimentos de eficácia e satisfação no trabalho dos profissionais, apesarde estas variáveis serem afetadas negativamente pelas proporções de crianças de origemcigana e pertencentes a famílias de baixo nível educacional ou de rendimentos. Osresultados mostram também que a auto-eficácia cultural/linguística e a proporção decrianças que falam outra língua que não o Português em casa estão positivamenteassociadas. Estas evidências destacam a importância de criar e manter um climaorganizacional positivo, assim como de auxiliar os profissionais a lidar com a diversidadede forma mais eficaz, nomeadamente fornecendo-lhes condições para melhorarem os seusníveis de auto-eficácia

Mitigação do risco sísmico em edifícios urbanos antigos

The present thesis aims at contributing for the study of the seismic vulnerability assessment of urban cultural heritage assets, and subsequently, for the earthquake risk mitigation in historic centres, through the investigation of the eventual correlation between analytical and semiempirical methods, that could possibly lead to the development of a new hybrid approach. Hence, in Chapter 1, the framework of the main topic of the thesis, and the respective aims and motivations, are presented and briefly discussed, along with the outline and organisation of the document, as well as the list of publications that support the work carried out in this thesis. Chapter 2 provides a comprehensive literature review on disaster risk mitigation of UCH assets located in historic centres, by means of adopting a holistic framework about the features of such a complex system. This exercise is fundamental to understand the current streams of thought and to identify new gaps and opportunities that could eventually enhance the knowledge level on this particular field of research. Chapter 3 discusses some of the main challenges associated with survey and inspection techniques for input data acquisition of UCH assets, with particular focus to the investigation of assets located in historic centres, which are most likely enclosed in aggregate. In a second moment, the main challenges concerning the seismic response assessment of UCH assets are discussed, namely focusing on the pros and cons of macroelement approaches. Chapter 4 presents the main findings of a cost-benefit analysis model applied to investigate the integration of traditional seismic strengthening solutions in the rehabilitation of UCH assets. While in a first phase, only the economic viability of using such strengthening solutions was investigated, in a second phase, a cost-benefit model is applied to four different case studies considered representative of both rural and urban masonry building typologies of Faial island, in Azores. Chapter 5 presents the investigation of the correlation between two well-known approaches for the seismic risk assessment of UCH assets in historic centres: the “vulnerability index” method and the seismic “capacity curve” derived by using a simplified numerical model together with a nonlinear static procedure. Finally, Chapter 6 summarises the key conclusions that have been pointed out in the previous chapters of the thesis and outlines the grounds of future developments and research paths.A presente tese tem por objetivo contribuir para o estudo da avaliação da vulnerabilidade sísmica de edifícios urbanos antigos, e subsequentemente, para a mitigação do risco sísmico em centros históricos, através da investigação da eventual correlação entre métodos analíticos e semiempíricos, que possa levar ao desenvolvimento de uma nova abordagem híbrida. Assim, no Capítulo 1, é feita uma breve contextualização do tópico principal da tese e dos respetivos objectivos e motivações, sendo ainda apresentada a estrutura e organização do documento, assim como a lista das publicações que suportam o trabalho aqui desenvolvido. O Capítulo 2 apresenta uma revisão exaustiva da literatura, de forma a que se possam identificar não só as atuais linhas de investigação neste tópico, mas também lacunas na investigação e eventuais janelas de oportunidade para melhorar o conhecimento científico nesta área específica. No Capítulo 3 são discutidos alguns dos principais desafios associados com as técnicas de inspecção e diagnóstico de edifícios urbanos antigos, com foco para as particularidades dos edifícios integrados em agregados urbanos. Numa segunda fase, são também discutidos os desafios associados à avaliação da resposta sísmica de edifícios urbanos antigos, nomeadamente no que diz respeito às vantagens e limitações da utilização de métodos analíticos baseados em abordagens por macrolementos. O Capítulo 4 apresenta a análise custo-benefício associada à adopção de soluções tradicionais de reforço sísmico na reabilitação de edifícios urbanos antigos. Se numa primeira fase, é analisada, de forma isolada, a viabilidade dessas soluções de reforço, num segundo momento, é aplicado um modelo de análise custobenefício a quatro casos de estudo considerados representativos, quer do edificado rural quer do edificado urbano da ilha do Faial, nos Açores. O Capítulo 5 apresenta o estudo da correlação entre duas abordagens reconhecidas internacionalmente para a avaliação do risco sísmico de edifícios de alvenaria localizados em centros históricos: o método do “índice de vulnerabilidade” e a “curva de capacidade” resultante da utilização de um modelo numérico simplificado juntamente com uma abordagem estática não-linear. Finalmente, no Capítulo 6, são resumidas as principais conclusões de cada um dos capítulos anteriores, assim como as principais linhas orientadoras para novos desenvolvimentos e trabalhos futuros.Programa Doutoral em Engenharia Civi

Seismic vulnerability of building aggregates through hybrid and indirect assessment techniques

This work approaches the seismic vulnerability assessment of an old stone masonry building aggregate, located in San Pio delle Camere (Abruzzo, Italy), slightly affected by the 2009 April 6th earthquake occurred in L’Aquila and its districts. This building aggregate has been modelled by using the 3muri software for seismic analysis of masonry constructions. On one hand, static non-linear numerical analyses were performed to obtain capacity curves together with the prediction of damage distributions for the input seismic action (hybrid technique). On the other hand, indirect techniques, based on different vulnerability index formulations, were used for assessing the building aggregate’s behaviour under earthquake action. The activities carried out have provided a clear framework on the seismic vulnerability of building aggregates, as well as aid future retrofitting interventions

A hierarchical decision-making framework for the assessment of the prediction capability of prognostic methods

In prognostics and health management, the prediction capability of a prognostic method refers to its ability to provide trustable predictions of the remaining useful life, with the quality characteristics required by the related maintenance decision making. The prediction capability heavily influences the decision makers' attitude toward taking the risk of using the predicted remaining useful life to inform the maintenance decisions. In this article, a four-layer, top-down, hierarchical decision-making framework is proposed to assess the prediction capability of prognostic methods. In the framework, prediction capability is broken down into two criteria (Layer 2), six sub-criteria (Layer 3) and 19 basic sub-criteria (Layer 4). Based on the hierarchical framework, a bottom-up, quantitative approach is developed for the assessment of the prediction capability, using the information and data collected at the Layer-4 basic sub-criteria level. Analytical hierarchical process is applied for the evaluation and aggregation of the sub-criteria and support vector machine is applied to develop a classification-based approach for prediction capability assessment. The framework and quantitative approach are applied on a simulated case study to assess the prediction capabilities of three prognostic methods of the literature: fuzzy similarity, feed-forward neural network and hidden semi-Markov model. The results show the feasibility of the practical application of the framework and its quantitative assessment approach, and that the assessed prediction capability can be used to support the selection of the suitable prognostic method for a given application

Valutazioni della vulnerabilità sismica di un aggregato di edifici antichi

Mestrado em Engenharia CivilThe present dissertation approaches the assessment of the seismic vulnerability of old stone masonry building aggregates. With this topic it is presented a review on the most recent methods and tools used for the seismic vulnerability assessment of masonry buildings, focusing the research developed both in Italy and Portugal. Moreover, a case study of an old stone masonry building aggregate was assessed, which is located in San Pio delle Camere (Abruzzo, Italy), slightly a ected by the 6th April 2009 L'Aquila earthquake. This building aggregate was modelled using the STA DATA software 3muri®. On one hand, static non-linear numerical analysis was performed to obtain capacity curves and a prediction of the damage distribution in the structure, caused by the input seismic action (hybrid method), on the other hand indirect methods were used, based on di erent vulnerability index formulations.A presente dissertação insere-se no estudo da avaliação da vulnerabilidade sísmica de agregados de edifícios antigos de alvenaria de pedra. É feita uma revisão geral da literatura sobre os mais recentes estudos e ferramentas para a avaliação da vulnerabilidade sísmica de agregados de edifícios de alvenaria de pedra, enfatizando o trabalho de investigação desenvolvido em Itália e em Portugal nesta temática. É avaliada a vulnerabilidade sísmica de um caso de estudo de um agregado de edifícios, localizado em San Pio delle Camere (na região de Abruzzo, em Itália), afectado pelo sismo de L'Aquila e modelado com o recurso ao programa da STA DATA 3muri®. Numa primeira fase, a avaliação da vulnerabilidade sísmica do agregado foi conseguida através de uma metodologia híbrida, que estima as curvas de fragilidade com base nos deslocamentos espectrais resultantes de análises estáticas não-lineares. Posteriormente foram aplicados métodos indirectos, baseados na estimativa de um índice de vulnerabilidade, para diferentes formulações correntes.La presente tesi di laurea magistrale si propone di contribuire allo sviluppo dello studio sulla valutazione della vulnerabilità sismica degli aggregati di edi ci in muratura di pietra. È stata fatta una ricerca e una revisione sui più recenti metodi e strumenti utilizzati per la valutazione della vulnerabilità sismica di edi ci in muratura, con particolare attenzione per la ricerca sviluppata in Italia e in Portogallo. È stato presentato il modello equivalente di un caso di studio che ha coinvolto un edi cio aggregato situato a San Pio delle Camere (Abruzzo, Italia) paese colpito dal terremoto de l'Aquila nell'aprile del 2009. Per la redazione del modello è stato utilizzato il software di STA DATA 3muri®, dove sono stati discussi l'in uenza di alcuni parametri sulla costruzione del comportamento globale e delle corrispondenti pushover curve. Sono stati anche discussi i risultati ottenuti per le curve di fragilità e le distribuzioni di danni dovuti all' azione sismica considerata. In una seconda fase sono stati applicati e discusse metodologie sempli cate basate nella valutazione dell'indice di vulnerabilità. In ne è stato fatto il confronto tra metodologie per ulteriori sviluppi della ricerca

Evaluation of tissue and circulating mir-21 as potential biomarker of response to chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer

This research received funding from European Structural & Investment Funds through the COMPETE Programme—Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa—Programme Grant LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-016405,and from National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia—Programme Grant SAICTPAC/0019/2015.Response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) is quite variable and it is urgent to find predictive biomarkers of response. We investigated miR-21 as tissue and plasma biomarker of response to CRT in a prospective cohort of RC patients; The expression of miR-21 was analyzed in pre-and post-CRT rectal tissue and plasma in 37 patients with RC. Two groups were defined: Pathological responders (TRG 0, 1 and 2) and non-responders (TRG 3). The association between miR-21, clinical and oncological outcomes was assessed; miR-21 was upregulated in tumor tissue and we found increased odds of overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 0.40–6.63, p = 0.498) and pre-CRT plasma (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.45–7.19, p = 0.414) of non-responders. The overall recurrence risk increased with miR-21 overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (HR: 2.175, p = 0.37); Significantly higher miR-21 expression is observed in tumor tissue comparing with non-neoplastic. Increased odds of non-response is reported in patients expressing higher miR-21, although without statistical significance. This is one of the first studies on circulating miR-21 as a potential biomarker of response to CRT in RC patients.publishersversionpublishe

Evaluation of Tissue and Circulating miR-21 as Potential Biomarker of Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Cancer

Response to chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) is quite variable and it is urgent to find predictive biomarkers of response. We investigated miR-21 as tissue and plasma biomarker of response to CRT in a prospective cohort of RC patients; The expression of miR-21 was analyzed in pre- and post-CRT rectal tissue and plasma in 37 patients with RC. Two groups were defined: Pathological responders (TRG 0, 1 and 2) and non-responders (TRG 3). The association between miR-21, clinical and oncological outcomes was assessed; miR-21 was upregulated in tumor tissue and we found increased odds of overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 0.40–6.63, p = 0.498) and pre-CRT plasma (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 0.45–7.19, p = 0.414) of non-responders. The overall recurrence risk increased with miR-21 overexpression in pre-CRT tumor tissue (HR: 2.175, p = 0.37); Significantly higher miR-21 expression is observed in tumor tissue comparing with non-neoplastic. Increased odds of non-response is reported in patients expressing higher miR-21, although without statistical significance. This is one of the first studies on circulating miR-21 as a potential biomarker of response to CRT in RC patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Potential of miR-21 to Predict Incomplete Response to Chemoradiotherapy in Rectal Adenocarcinoma

Funding: This work has received funding from European Structural and Investment Funds through the COMPETE Programme Grant LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-016405, from National Funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia Programme grant SAICTPAC/0019/2015 and by a cholar from the Portuguese Society of Coloproctology as Investigation in Coloproctology Research Prize 2016–2018.Background: Patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma (LARC) are treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). However, biomarkers for patient selection are lacking, and the association between miRNA expression and treatment response and oncological outcomes is unclear. Objectives: To investigate miRNAs as predictors of response to neoadjuvant CRT and its association with oncological outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed miRNA expression (miR-16, miR-21, miR-135b, miR-145, and miR-335) in pre- and post-chemoradiation rectal adenocarcinoma tissue and non-neoplastic mucosa in 91 patients treated with neoadjuvant CRT (50.4 Gy) and proctectomy. Two groups were defined: a pathological complete responders group (tumor regression grade—TRG 0) and a pathological incomplete responders group (TRG 1, 2, and 3). Results: miR-21 and miR-135b were upregulated in tumor tissue of incomplete responders comparing with non-neoplastic tissue (p = 0.008 and p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed significant association between miR-21 in pre-CRT tumor tissue and response, with a 3.67 odds ratio (OR) of incomplete response in patients with higher miR-21 levels (p = 0.04). Although with no significance, patients treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) presented reduced odds of incomplete response compared with those treated with capecitabine (OR = 0.19; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–1.12, p = 0.05). Moreover, significant differences were seen in overall survival (OS) in relation to clinical TNM stage (p = 0.0004), cT (p = 0.0001), presence of distant disease (p = 0.002), mesorectal tumor deposits (p = 0.003), and tumor regression grade (p = 0.04). Conclusion: miR-21 may predict response to CRT in rectal cancer (RC).publishersversionpublishe

Predictive Value for Increased Red Blood Cell Distribution Width in Unprovoked Acute Venous Thromboembolism at the Emergency Department

Observational StudyAcute venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common worldwide disease admitted to emergency departments (ED), usually presenting as pulmonary embolism or lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Due to the lack of typical clinical and biomarker diagnostic features of unprovoked VTE, early identification is challenging and has direct consequences on correct treatment delay. Longitudinal, prospective, observational study. Patients admitted to ED with a suspicion of unprovoked acute VTE between October 2020 and January 2021 were included. Clinical and laboratorial variables were compared between VTE positive and negative diagnoses. Red cell distribution width (RDW) cut point was determinate through a receiver operating characteristic analysis. RDW accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. Fifty-eight patients were analyzed. And 82.8% of suspected patients with VTE were diagnosed with an acute thrombotic event confirmed by imaging examination. In patients with VTE, RDW at admission in ED was higher than with other diagnosis, respectively, 14.3% (13.2-15.1) and 13.5% (13.0-13.8). Platelet count was the only additional characteristic that revealed difference between the 2 groups (264×109/L for VTE and 209×109/L for non-VTE). Logistic regression models showed good discriminatory values for RDW≥14%, with an area under the curve (AUC) = 0.685 (95% confidence interval, 0.535-0.834). These findings were more pronounced in isolated DVT, with a sensitivity of 76.9%, specificity 100%, and accuracy 85.7%. Our study demonstrated a significant association between an early high RDW and the diagnosis of acute unprovoked DVT. RDW ≥ 14% has an independent predictor of unprovoked VTE in adult patientsFunding: The present study has been partially financed by Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, in the context of the Doctoral Program of Medicine.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio