Modes of acquisition of health literacy skills in informal learning contexts

Neste artigo procuramos analisar os modos e processo de aprendizagem de competências de literacia em saúde em contextos informais. Pretendemos ampliar a compreensão dos processos de aprendizagem para além dos contextos formais, contribuindo para a elucidação dos profissionais de saúde sobre a forma como os indivíduos adquirem e gerem o conhecimento em saúde. Face ao nosso objetivo, recorremos um corpus analítico constituído por cem narrativas autobiográficas elaboradas, entre 2006 e 2011, em contextos educativos mas com reconhecido potencial para a utilização em diferentes campos científicos, incluindo a saúde. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam a existência de três diferentes características dos modos de aprendizagem de competências de literacia em saúde em contextos informais: i) aprendizagens que decorrem na ação, na concretização de tarefas quotidianas; ii) aprendizagens que resultam de processos de resolução de problemas; iii) aprendizagens que ocorrem de forma não planeada, fruto do fortuito e, em alguns casos, desprovidas de intencionalidade. ...En este artículo se analizan los modos y procesos de aprendizaje de competencias de literacia en salud en los contextos informales. Tenemos la intención de ampliar la comprensión del proceso de aprendizaje más allá de los contextos formales, contribuyendo a la elucidación de los profesionales de salud sobre cómo las personas adquieren y gestionan el conocimiento en salud. Teniendo en cuenta nuestro objetivo, utilizamos un corpus de análisis que consiste en cien relatos autobiográficos producidos, entre 2006 y 2011, en contextos educativos, pero con reconocido potencial para uso en diferentes campos científicos, incluyendo la salud. Los resultados demuestran la existencia de tres tipos diferentes de modos de aprendizaje de competencias de literacia de salud en contextos informales: i) el aprendizaje que tiene lugar en la acción en la consecución de las tareas diarias; ii) aprendizajes que derivan de procesos de resolución de problemas; iii) aprendizajes que se ocurren de modo no planificado, resultado del fortuito y, en algunos casos, carente de intencionalidad.In this article we try to analyze the learning processes of health literacy skills in informal contexts. We intend to broaden the understanding of the learning process beyond the formal contexts, thus contributing to the elucidation of health professionals on how individuals acquire and manage their knowledge in health matters. Given our goal, we use an analytic corpus constituted by one hundred autobiographical narratives written between 2006 and 2011, in educational contexts but with recognized potential for use in different scientific fields, including health. The results reveal the existence of three different types of modes of learning health literacy skills in informal context: : i) learning that takes place in action, in achieving daily tasks; ii) learning processes that result from problem solving; iii) learning that occurs in an unplanned manner, resulting from accidental circumstances and, in some cases, devoid of intentionality

Parity violating gravitational waves at the end of inflation

Inflaton-vector interactions of the type $\phi F\tilde{F}$ have provided interesting phenomenology to tackle some of current problems in cosmology, namely the vectors could constitute the dark matter component. It could also lead to possible signatures imprinted in a gravitational wave spectrum. Through this coupling, a rolling inflaton induces an exponential production of the transverse polarizations of the vector field, having a maximum at the end of inflation when the inflaton field velocity is at its maximum. These gauge particles, already parity asymmetric, will source the tensor components of the metric perturbations, leading to the production of parity violating gravitational waves. In this work we examine the vector particle production with an attempt to mimic its backreaction effects on the inflation evolution in the weak coupling regime. Furthermore, we fully integrate the gauge particle amplitudes spectrum during this production epoch, studying the behavior until the end of reheating. Finally, we calculate the gravitational wave spectrum solely relying on the vector mode WKB expansion in its regime of validity.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figure

Design and prototyping of a network-enabled low-cost low-power seismic sensor monitoring system

Esta tese explora recentes desenvolvimentos em tecnologias de informação, comunicações e sensores no campo da sismologia. A tese aborda o potencial das redes de monitorização sísmica de elevada densidade na melhoria da resolução da actividade sísmica observada e, consequentemente, na melhor compreensão dos processos físicos que estão na base da ocorrência de terramotos. A tese argumenta que a tecnologia de sistemas de microelectromecânica (MEMS), usada na produção de acelerómetros de pequena dimensão, tem aplicabilidade e elevado potencial no domínio da sismologia. Acelerómetros MEMS já facilitaram a instalação de redes sísmicas de elevada densidade com superior resolução espacial pela Universidade da Califórnia (Rede Sísmica Comunitária) e pela Universidade de Évora (Rede Sísmica de Sensores do Alentejo), esta última ainda em fase de instalação. Neste contexto, a tese descreve o trabalho conduzido no desenho e desenvolvimento de sistemas de sensores baseados em acelerómetros MEMS. Este trabalho inclui a conceptualização de componentes de arquitectura usados para a implementação de quatro protótipos. Adicionalmente, foram também desenvolvidos os componentes necessários para a operação e gestão da rede de sensores, que inclui servidores dedicados a operar software especificamente desenvolvido neste trabalho. A tese descreve também a instalação e avaliação de protótipos, usando como base de comparação uma estação sísmica de elevado desempenho, recorrendo inclusivamente à actividade sísmica resultante de dois eventos sísmicos. A tese conclui que a arquitectura conceptualizada para o sistema sensor e para a rede de sensores demonstrou ser eficaz. Adicionalmente, embora a tecnologia MEMS seja promissora, ainda exibe limitações que limitam a sua aplicabilidade no domínio da sismologia, especificamente na observação de eventos sísmicos moderados e fortes. Conclui-se também que a instalação de acelerómetros MEMS em conjunto com sismómetros pode trazer benefícios na observação de actividade sísmica. Espera-se também que futuras gerações de acelerómetros MEMS possam ter uma adoção generalizada na sismologia; ABSTRACT: This thesis exploits advances in information technologies, communications and sensor systems to the field of seismology. It addresses the potential for high-density networks for seismic monitoring aiming to improve the resolution of the recorded seismic activity and, consequently, to improve the understanding of the physical processes that cause earthquakes, as well as to gather more detailed seismic characterisation of studied regions. It argues that microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology, used to produce small size accelerometers, has a potential application in seismology. Indeed, MEMS accelerometers have enabled the deployment of high-density seismic networks capable of monitoring seismic activity with high spatial resolution, such as CalTech's Community Seismic Network (CSN) and University of Évora’s SSN-Alentejo, currently in the deployment phase. In this context, this thesis describes the work conducted to design and develop low-cost seismic sensor systems, based on low-cost MEMS accelerometers. This work includes the conceptualisation of the architectural components that were implemented in four prototypes. Moreover, server-side components, necessary to operate and manage the sensor network, as well as to provide visualisation tools for users, are also developed and presented. This work also describes the field deployment and evaluation of selected prototypes, using a high-performance seismic station as the reference sensor for comparison, based on generated signals and two recorded seismic events. It is concluded that the herein conceptualised architecture for the high-dense network and sensor prototypes has been demonstrated to be effective. Moreover, albeit promising, MEMS accelerometers still exhibit performance limitations constraining their application in seismology addressing moderate and strong motion. In addition, MEMS accelerometers characteristics complement seismometers, thus installing MEMS accelerometers with seismometers, may provide additional insights concerning seismic activity and seismology in general. It is also expected that next generation MEMS accelerometers will be capable to compete with traditional seismometers, becoming the de facto technology in seismology

Design of a Mobile Augmented Reality Platform with Game-Based Learning Purposes

Augmented reality (AR) is an emergent technology that overlays virtual objects into the real environment. Lately, AR is gaining prominence in education because of its increasing affordability through computers or mobile technologies. In addition, research sustaining the benefits of AR to promote student’s engagement to learn is increasing every day. However, the literature identifies lack of studies about the use of AR in education, namely, studies focused on the development of AR games designed over specific learning objectives (game-based learning). This paper presents a mobile augmented reality platform with learning purposes. The platform includes a mobile application that consists of a location-based game targeted to promote learning about the universe. Furthermore, it includes a back-office that allows teachers to introduce information about celestial bodies and also develop a set of multiple-choice questions to assess student’s learning about the subject matters they teach. The mobile application provides the users with physical movement and social interaction in the real world, while playing the game and for this reason it is included in the pervasive games’ paradigm. Besides engaging the students to play the game, we argue that this platform may be used as a resource to be implemented in informal and formal learning environments.Funding: This work is supported by national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I. P., in the context of the project PTDC/CED-EDG/32422/2017, and through the Médio Tejo Intermunicipal Community,under project “Ciências nas Escolas”. Acknowledgments: The authors wish to thank the Computer Engineering Teacher André Carvalho, and the Computer Engineering BSc students of Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Miguel Silva, Rafael Lopes, Telmo Faria and Bernardo Alegria, for their effort on the development of the PlanetarySystem platform.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Populações baseadas em multisets para algoritmos evolutivos

Os algoritmos evolutivos simulam a evolução natural de uma população de indivíduos aplicando iterativamente operadores genéticos, recombinação, mutação e seleção dos mais aptos. O processo evolutivo pode ser visto como um processo de otimização. Nesse caso, os indivíduos representam soluções do problema e as variáveis do problema são codificados no equivalente aos genes. Estes algoritmos podem ser facilmente implementados e existem variantes especializadas para resolver várias classes de problemas. Uma das maiores dificuldades apresentadas por estes algoritmos é a convergência prematura da população para soluções sub-ótimas antes do espaço de procura ser devidamente explorado. Várias estratégias foram desenvolvidas para reduzir este risco e, neste trabalho, estudamos a possibilidade de substituir a representação da população. Tradicionalmente as populações são representadas como coleções de indivíduos e nesta tese propomos a sua substituição por um multiconjunto (multiset). Esta nova forma de representação das populações, que denominamos multipopulações, permite manipular um conjunto de genomas e os seus clones, multi-indivíduos, de uma forma muito eficiente. Adaptamos o processo evolutivo para otimizar multipopulações, estudamos o seu comportamento em vários tipos de algoritmos e problemas e desenvolvemos operadores genéticos especializados para trabalhar com a nova representação. Em resultado disso obtemos uma forma inovadora de manter uma elevada diversidade genética na população. As experiências realizadas permitiram-nos compreender melhor a dinâmica que a nova representação introduz no processo evolutivo e mostrar a sua eficácia.Evolutionary algorithms simulate the natural evolution of a population of individuals by iteratively applying genetic operators, recombination, mutation and selection of the fittest. The evolutionary process can be viewed as an optimization process. In this case, individuals represent problem solutions and the problem variables are encoded in that equivalent to the gene. These algorithms can be easily implemented and there are specialized variants to solve different classes of problems. One of the biggest difficulties presented by these algorithms is the premature convergence of the population to suboptimal solutions before the search space is properly explored. Several strategies were developed to reduce this risk and, in this thesis, we studied the possibility of replacing the representation of the population. Traditionally populations are represented as collections of individuals and in this thesis we propose its replacement by a multiset. This new form of population representation, which we call multipopulations, allows manipulating a set of genomes and their clones, multi-individuals, in a very efficient way. We adapt the evolutionary process to optimize multipopulations, study their behavior on various types of algorithms and problems, and develop specialized genetic operators to work with the new representation. As a result, we get an innovative way to maintain a high genetic diversity in the population. The experiments allowed us to better understand the dynamics that the new representation introduces in the evolutionary process and show its effectiveness

Proposta de conteúdo para a disciplina de Introdução em Fisioterapia

Mestrado em FisioterapiaA Introdução em Fisioterapia é uma disciplina que visa a aquisição de conhecimentos, capacidades e competências por parte do estudante de modo a orienta-lo no seu percurso enquanto estudante de Fisioterapia e futuro profissional como Fisioterapeuta. A história não deve ser excluída nestas reflexões, pois, ela ajuda os estudantes a situarem-se no tempo e no espaço e a perceberem como se desenvolveu e se organiza o percurso profissional e científico da Fisioterapia. Esta necessidade ajuda a traçar caminhos e perspetivas da profissão como garantia de progresso. A história neste trabalho centrou-se principalmente em países como Inglaterra e Estados Unidos, em termos internacional e, localmente analisamos a história portuguesa e angolana que durante algum tempo foi a mesma. A Fisioterapia é a ciência da saúde encarregue do estudo, prevenção e tratamento dos distúrbios cinético-funcionais intercorrentes em órgãos e sistemas do corpo humano. O Fisioterapeuta trata e/ou previne anomalias do funcionamento músculo-esquelético, cardiorrespiratório, neurológico e tegumentar. Atua essencialmente em centros de saúde, escolas, instituições termais, departamentos ocupacionais de empresas, estruturas desportivas, instituições de ensino superior e instituições de apoio ao idoso entre outras. A metodologia usada para realização deste trabalho foi uma revisão bibliográfica, com as buscas em bases de dados como a Scielo, RCAAP, PubMed, B-on.pt; livros, dissertações, Google académico e páginas online. Consideramos de extrema importância a unidade curricular de Introdução em Fisioterapia, por isso, achamos conveniente fazer este trabalho e cremos também que poderá minimizar determinadas dúvidas quanto a Fisioterapia por parte dos estudantes.ABSTRACT - The introduction in Physiotherapy is a discipline that aims at the acquisition of knowledge by the student in order to guide you about the profession in the future will come to exercise. History must not be excluded in professional discussions because it helps students to situate in time and space to understand how developed and how it organizes professional and scientifically to the present. This need help to trace paths and perspectives of the profession as a guarantee of progress. The story in this work focused mainly in countries like England and the United States in terms of world history and locally focused on the Portuguese and Angolan history that is almost the same. Physiotherapy is the science of health in charge of the study, prevention and treatment of intercurrent functional kinetic disorders in organs and body systems. The physiotherapist treats and/or prevents abnormalities of the musculoskeletal function, cardiorespiratory, neurological and cutaneous. It operates primarily in health centers, schools, thermal institutions, occupational departments of companies, sports facilities, higher education institutions and institutions of support to the elderly and others. This work aims to organize a material that may be in support course Introduction in Physical Therapy and serve to assist first-year students and the teachers. The methodology used for this work was a literature review with searches in databases such as Scielo unless otherwise indicated, PubMed, B-on.pt; books, dissertations, academic and Google online pages. We consider extremely important the course of Introduction to Physical Therapy, therefore, find it convenient to make this work and also believe that can minimize certain doubts about Physiotherapy by students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Use of Digital Technologies to Develop Girls' Creativity: Paths and Practices in Greece, Lithuania, Portugal, and Slovenia

The presence (or lack thereof) of women in STEM and ICT has become a key issue for the industry and for policy makers, as complex and nuanced questions of gender are brought to the centerstage of public discussion. As part of this effort, this research aims to shine a light on the factors that keep girls and young women from pursuing careers in the field of ICT and provide tools and orientations to tackle these issues. A two-fold analysis was conducted, with interviews with experts in the sector, in the format of four round-table discussions, and an analysis of 30 case studies of projects/initiatives across four countries: Lithuania, Greece, Slovenia and Portugal. The collected insights point to the persistence of gendered stereotypes, as well as prevailing misconceptions on the nature of ICT work. Furthermore, it points to the importance of teachers and educators, as well as the visibility of female role models in the industry. The investment in concrete and creative pursuits in ICT also appears as a defining factor to spark the interest of girls in the field.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

On the origin of Goa Cathedral former altarpiece: Material and technical assessment to the work of Garcia Fernandes, Portuguese painter from 16th century Lisbon workshop

Goa Cathedral former altarpiece is one of the oldest set of paintings in India. The seven remaining paintings from the first altarpiece of Goa Cathedral, nowadays in the sacristy, are attributed by some art historians to Master Garcia Fernandes (act. 1514–1565), Portuguese painter from Lisbon workshop. The 16th century was the “Golden age” of Portuguese painting. In this context the Royal Lisbon workshop played a predominant role, where the activity of the painter Garcia Fernandes and his workshop can be distinguished. In this new approach, Goa paintings are being studied and compared with other works in Portuguese territory attributed to this same painter, as St. Bartholomew altarpiece from the chapel of Bartolomeu Joanes in Lisbon Cathedral. The stratigraphic study allowed to compare ground layers, pigments and binders which, were characterized using complementary analytical and imaging techniques: (X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), Infrared Reflectography (IRR), Infrared Photography (IRP), Macro Photography (MP), micro-X-ray Diffraction (μ-XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Raman micro-spectroscopy (μ-Raman), Fourier Transform Infrared micro-spectroscopy (μ-FTIR), Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (PY-GC/MS). This work brought a new insight on the techniques and materials used in this Masterpiece and highlighted the conclusion that Goa Cathedral former altarpiece must be a Portuguese production

Learning Information Systems: Designing Education Programs Using Letrinhas

The Letrinhas information system contributes to the improvement of students' reading literacy combining the potential of mobile devices and the specific needs of students and teachers. This information system has emerged within the framework of a partnership established between the Instituto Politécnico de Tomar (IPT) and the Artur Gonçalves Cluster of Schools, in Torres Novas, Portugal. After three years of the creation of the tool and its use in a real learning environment, the evaluation already carried out suggests a high degree of satisfaction on the part of teachers and students, as well as a very positive impact on improving the reading skills of the students involved in the project. The latest version of Letrinhas has new features which lead to the specific challenges and needs of the teachers in the above-mentioned cluster of schools. Being so, in addition to the evaluation and improvement of reading skills, the new version provides features that enable the creation of educational scenarios promoting learning environments that enhance, not only the autonomy of students, but also their motivation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio