Estimating measurement uncertainty in the medical laboratory

Medical Laboratories Accreditation is covered by ISO 15189:2012 - Medical Laboratories — Requirements for Quality and Competence. In Portugal, accreditation processes are held under the auspices of the Portuguese Accreditation Institute (IPAC), which applies the Portuguese edition (NP EN ISO 15189:2014). Accordingly, Medical Laboratories accreditation processes now require the estimate of measurement uncertainty (MU) associated to the results. The Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM) describes the calculation of MU, not contemplating the specific aspects of medical laboratory testing. Several models have been advocated, yet without a final consensus. Given the lack of studies on MU in Portugal, especially on its application in the medical laboratory, it is the objective of this thesis to reach to a model that fulfils the IPAC’s accreditation regulations, in regards to this specific requirement. The study was based on the implementation of two formulae (MU-A and MU-B), using the Quality Management System (QMS) data of an ISO 15189 Accredited Laboratory. Including the laboratory’s two Cobas® 6000–c501 (Roche®) analysers (C1 and C2) the work focused three analytes: creatinine, glucose and total cholesterol. The MU-B model formula, combining the standard uncertainties of the method’s imprecision, of the calibrator’s assigned value and from the pre-analytical variation, was considered the one best fitting to the laboratory's objectives and to the study's purposes, representing well the dispersion of values reasonably attributable to the measurand final result. Expanded Uncertainties were: Creatinine - C1 = 9,60%; C2 = 5,80%; Glucose - C1 = 8,32%; C2 = 8,34%; Cholesterol - C1 = 4,00%; C2 = 3,54 %. ...[cont.]

Eliante in Sardinia: problematic contextualisation

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A formação docente e o tecnicismo pedagógico: um desafio para a educação contemporânea

The discussion about teacher education generates convergences and divergences between technical and innovative pedagogy. In this sense, the theme challenges educators, especially those working in higher education, to reassess educational practice, because learning based on conservative paradigms domesticates and immobilizes the subjects involved in the teaching-learning process, limiting their intellectual rebellion. Based on this premise, this article addresses teacher education and knowledge fragmentation, a heritage of conservative education paradigms based on traditional, scholastic, and technical approaches. This article provides a reflection on the pedagogical practice in higher education in teacher education and seeks to provoke a discussion about the reflective teacher. In addition, the article addresses Newtonian-Cartesian thinking, technicism and the insertion of technologies in education, in order to problematize the convergences and divergences between the technicist and innovative paradigms.La discusión sobre la formación docente plantea convergencias y divergencias entre la pedagogía tecnicista y la innovadora. En este sentido, el tema desafía a los educadores, especialmente a aquellos que trabajan en la enseñanza de educación superior, a reevaluar la práctica educativa, porque el aprendizaje basado en paradigmas conservadores, domestica e inmoviliza a los sujetos involucrados en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, limitando su rebelión intelectual. Basado en esta premisa, este documento aborda la formación del profesorado y la fragmentación del conocimiento, una herencia de paradigmas conservadores de la educación, basados en los enfoques tradicionales, escolanovistas y tecnicistas. Este artículo proporciona una reflexión sobre la práctica pedagógica en la educación superior en la formación del profesorado, y busca provocar una discusión sobre el profesor reflexivo. Además, el documento aborda el pensamiento newtoniano-cartesiano, el tecnicismo y la inserción de tecnologías en la educación, para problematizar las convergencias y divergencias entre los paradigmas tecnicistas e innovadores.A discussão sobre a formação docente suscita convergências e divergências entre correntes pedagógicas tecnicista e inovadora. Nesse sentido, a temática desafia educadores, especialmente aqueles que atuam na docência do Ensino Superior, a reavaliar a prática docente, pois a aprendizagem pautada em paradigmas conservadores domestifica e imobiliza os sujeitos envolvidos no processo ensino-aprendizagem, tolhendo-lhes sua rebeldia intelectual. Com base nessa premissa, este trabalho aborda a formação docente e a fragmentação do conhecimento, uma herança advinda dos paradigmas conservadores da educação, a partir das abordagens tradicional, escolanovista e tecnicista. Este trabalho oportuniza uma reflexão sobre a prática pedagógica no Ensino Superior na formação docente, e busca provocar uma discussão sobre o professor reflexivo. Além disso, o trabalho aborda o pensamento newtoniano-cartesiano, o tecnicismo, e inserção das tecnologias na educação, no intuito de problematizar as convergências e as divergências entre os paradigmas tecnicista e inovador

Determinação de mercúrio total e inorgânico em amostras biológicas tratadas com hidróxido de tetrametilamônio por espectrometria de absorção atômica com vapor frio usando diferentes temperaturas no tubo de quartzo

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciências Físicas e Matemáticas. Curso de Química.Neste trabalho se propõe um método simples, rápido e de baixo custo para determinação de mercúrio total e inorgânico em suspensão de amostras biológicas por espectrometria de absorção atômica com vapor frio. Mercúrio orgânico (metilmercúrio) é obtido pela diferença entre a concentração de mercúrio total e inorgânico. Depois do tratamento da amostra à temperatura ambiente com hidróxido de tetrametilamônio (TMAH), mercúrio inorgânico é medido por espectrometria de absorção atômica com vapor frio (CV AAS), mantendo o tubo de quartzo à temperatura ambiente, enquanto mercúrio total é medido pela mesma técnica, aquecendo o tubo de quartzo em uma chama de aracetileno. Pela análise de alguns materiais biológicos de referência certificados, ficou evidente que a diferença entre as concentrações mencionadas corresponde ao metilmercúrio. Espectrometria de absorção atômica em forno de grafite com vapor frio (CV-GF AAS) com retenção do vapor em um tubo de grafite tratado com Au aquecido foi usada para otimizar as condições de geração de vapor e também para determinar mercúrio total. De modo geral, as concentrações obtidas por ambas as técnicas estão de acordo com os valores certificados ou com as diferenças dos valores certificados para mercúrio total, inorgânico e metilmercúrio conforme o teste-t para um limite de confiança de 95%. Os resultados para Hg total obtidos pelas duas técnicas também estão em concordância. Os desvios padrão relativos foram menores que 10% para a maioria dos resultados. Os limites de detecção para as amostras foram: 0,13 mg g-1 para Hg total e 0,025 mg g-1 para Hg inorgânico por CV AAS. O limite de detecção para Hg total por CV-GF AAS foi 0,001 mg g-1. Simplicidade, baixo custo e alta eficiência sem o uso de técnicas cromatográficas são algumas das qualidades do método proposto, tornando-o adequado para a especiação de mercúrio em amostras biológica

Mindfulness in the treatment of substance use disorders: A phenomenological study of Swedish practitioners’ experiences

Mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been applied in numerous fields from behavioral medicine, nursing and psychiatry, to psychology and social work. Research on mindfulness and MBIs is increasingly providing evidence of the efficacy and benefits of MBIs for the treatment of a vast array of conditions. Yet, the application of mindfulness in the field of social work is still at its initial stages and among the most recent areas of its application includes the treatment of substance use disorders. However, the current research on mindfulness is based on epistemological and methodological stances that allow only a partial investigation of the phenomenon, as it is primary focused on the evaluation of the effectiveness of mindfulness and MBIs or in the search of its underlying neurological mechanism. The aim of this work is to employ the experience o f five Swedish practitioners to understand the influence of mindfulness in the social work therapeutic relationship, and exploring the advantages and challenges that MBIs offer in the treatment of substance use disorders in the Swedish context. The aim is pursued relying on a descriptive phenomenological research design. The main findings of this work suggest: (a) the suitability of phenomenology in theorizing mindfulness and MBIs within the therapeutic encounter and in the treatment of substance use disorders; (b) the body is the main tool in the process of understanding one’s own emotional and cognitive life in the therapeutic work with mindfulness and MBIs; (c) the compassionate, accepting and non-judging features of mindfulness and MBIs offer a valuable ideological alternative to the zero tolerance model and the treatment methods that characterize the Swedish drug policy; (d) mindfulness is not merely a therapeutic tool but represents an overreaching aspect of the life of its practitioners, whether they are social workers or clients. Keywords: mindfulness, MBIs, phenomenology, substance use disorders treatment, social work

Case of Demonomania, with Cerebral Disturbance

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CHARACTERIZATION OF POLY(METHYL METHACRYLATE BASED NANOCOMPOSITES ENHANCED WITH CARBON NANOTUBES

The viscoelastic relaxation dynamics of a series of poly(methyl methacrylate) [PMMA] based nanocomposites filled with carbon nanotubes have been studied using dynamic mechanical analysis and broadband dielectric spectroscopy. The networks were prepared using four methods: (i) melt mixing, (ii) solution processing, (iii) in-situ polymerization, and (iv) polymer grafting. Nanotube modifications included surface oxidation via acid exposure and surface functionalization for polymer grafting. The effect of variations in processing method and nanotube modification on glass transition temperature (Tg) and relaxation dynamics was investigated. The relaxation behavior of the nanocomposites was sensitive to processing method and nanotube functionalization. Nanotube loading (to 5 wt%) led to a progressive increase in rubbery modulus, with the increase more pronounced in the solution-processed samples owing to enhanced nanotube dispersion. In the case of the oxidized nanotubes, loading led to an increase in modulus, but also a systematic decrease in Tg of ~ 15°C with 3 wt% nanotubes. For in-situ polymerized (PMMA/MWNT-ox) nanocomposites, there was no readily discernable trend in Tg. Composites prepared via in-situ polymerization in the presence of methyl methacrylate functionalized tubes (i.e., polymer grafting) displayed a positive shift in Tg of nearly 20°C at 1 wt% loading. Investigation of the dielectric relaxation of the PMMA/MWNT composites indicated a percolation threshold between 0.3 and 0.4 wt% MWNT