Temperament, executive functioning, and anxiety in school-age children who stutter

The purpose of this study was to examine temperament dimensions, executive functioning ability, and anxiety levels in school-age children who stutter and their non-stuttering peers. Participants were 100 Portuguese children aged 7 to 12 years (M = 9.13; SD = 1.70), including 50 children who stutter and 50 children who do not stutter. Analyses, which were performed separately for younger and older participants, sought to identify correlations between key variables. Temperament was evaluated through a parent questionnaire, executive functioning was evaluated through children’s responses on a performance test, and anxiety level was assessed through a self-perception scale. On the temperament measure, comparisons between children who stutter and their non-stuttering peers revealed that older children who stutter exhibited significantly higher scores on the Anger/Frustration, Impulsivity, and Sadness subscales, and lower averages on the Attention/Focusing, Perceptual sensitivity, and Soothability/Falling Reactivity subscales. On the executive functioning task, comparisons revealed that the group of younger children who stutter exhibited significantly higher average execution times than their non-stuttering peers. There were no statistically significant differences in anxiety between children who stutter and children who do not stutter, and there were no statistically significant correlations between temperament factors and measures of executive functioning. Children who stutter experienced lower ability to orient attention and greater emotional reactivity compared with their non-stuttering peers. Significant correlations were found between executive functioning and age and among the temperament factors themselves. These results, which support the need for a multidimensional view of stuttering, were interpreted in the context of the Dual Diathesis – Stressor model. Findings indicate that temperament and executive functioning abilities may contribute to the development of stuttering.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Gaguez na criança - atualização da revisão de literatura

Introduction: Stuttering is a fluency disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted. The disorder is frequently misunderstood and to better analyze it is necessary to understand stuttering as more than a speech problem. Recent literature points out thatshould instead be viewed as a communication disorder with the potential to affect several aspects of children’s lives.  Different perspectives about stuttering can bring a more diverse analysis and move the field forward in scientific knowledge, however, it can also lead to fragmented and controversial views. Despite some lingering scientific consensus issues, there has been growing agreement among researchers that stuttering is a multifactorial disorder. Aim: To summarize and analyze previously published research considering stuttering as a dynamic disorder influenced by several factors. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review which focuses on the development of stuttering, and the implications for the onset, manifestation, and chronicity of this disorder in school-age children who stutter. Results: Because of the ever-increasing literature in the area of stuttering, the review addresses assessment procedures and the perception of the impact of stuttering on children’s daily life. Conclusion: This comprehensive view contributes to an updated understanding of therapeutic and scientific factors to be considered in the evaluation and treatment of stuttering.Introdução: A gaguez é uma Perturbação da Fluência na qual o fluxo da fala é interrompido. Para melhor compreender esta perturbação não é possível analisá-la como um simples problema de fala. Deve ser vista como uma perturbação da comunicação com potencial para afetar vários aspetos da vida das crianças. Diferentes perspetivas sobre a gaguez podem trazer uma análise mais diversificada e contribuir para o avanço científico nesta área; no entanto, também pode levar a visões fragmentadas e controversas. Apesar de nem sempre haver unanimidade científica entre os diferentes autores, existe um consenso crescente entre os investigadores de que a gaguez é uma perturbação multifatorial. Objetivo: Resumir e analisar pesquisas publicadas anteriormente, considerando a gaguez como uma perturbação dinâmica, influenciada por vários fatores. Materiais e Métodos: Revisão da literatura que se foca no desenvolvimento da gaguez, manifestação e cronicidade em crianças, com idade escolar que gaguejam. A revisão aborda ainda os procedimentos de avaliação e a perceção do impacto da gaguez na vida diária das crianças. Conclusão: Esta visão abrangente contribui para uma melhor compreensão dos fatores terapêuticos e científicos que devem ser considerados na avaliação e intervenção da gaguez

Digital twins para sustentabilidade e gestão de acidentes

Os modelos BIM são maioritariamente gerados e usados no contexto do projeto e construção. Contudo, a informação que contêm é cada vez mais utilizada na gestão dos edifícios e cidade. Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de ferramentas baseadas em modelos BIM que são enquadradas no conceito de Smart City. Estas aplicações contêm informação geométrica e funcional da construção e trocam dados com outras fontes tal como sensores ambientais, de consumo de energia ou água ou com os responsáveis técnicos e utilizadores, tornando-se em Gémeos Digitais/Digital Twins. São apresentadas duas aplicações onde são usados modelos BIM de pequena e grande escala como suporte de visualização e interação com os utilizadores. Em ambas são feitas integrações de informação de várias origens que são integradas numa plataforma agregadora. Nestas aplicações o modelo BIM é uma das peças do sistema que compreende sensores, bases de dados, algoritmos de filtragem e tratamento de dados, sendo por isso necessário recorrer a técnicas de extração, compatibilização de informação de várias fontes e apresentação ao utilizador em suportes acessíveis, o que aponta caminhos para a utilização do BIM em novos cenários.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A study of referral bias in NMOSD and MOGAD cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) are rare disorders often seen in highly specialized services or tertiary centres. We aimed to assess if cohort characteristics depend on the origin of the referral catchment areas serviced by our centre (i.e. local, regional or national). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study using a national referral service database including local (Oxfordshire), regional (Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties), and national patients. We included patients with the diagnosis of NMOSD, seronegative NMOSD or MOGAD, followed at the Oxford Neuromyelitis Optica Service. RESULTS: We included 720 patients (331 with MOGAD, 333 with aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4)-NMOSD, and 56 with seronegative NMOSD. The distribution of diagnoses was similar across referral cohorts. There were no significant differences in the proportion of pediatric onset patients, sex, or onset phenotype; more White AQP4-NMOSD patients were present in the local than in the national cohort (81 % vs 52 %). Despite no differences in follow-up time, more relapsing MOGAD disease was present in the national than in the local cohort (42.9 % vs. 24 %, p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: This is the first study assessing the impact of potential referral bias in cohorts of NMOSD or MOGAD. The racial difference in the AQP4-NMOSD cohorts likely reflects the variation in the population demographics rather than a referral bias. The over representation of relapsing MOGAD patients in the national cohort probably is a true referral bias and highlights the need to analyze incident cohorts when describing disease course and prognosis. It seems reasonable therefore to compare MOGAD and NMOSD patients seen withing specialised centres to general neurology services, provided both use similar antibody assays

Validation of a small-animal PET simulation using GAMOS: a Geant4-based framework

onte Carlo-based modelling is a powerful tool to help in the design and optimization of positron emission tomography (PET) systems. The performance of these systems depends on several parameters, such as detector physical characteristics, shielding or electronics, whose effects can be studied on the basis of realistic simulated data. The aim of this paper is to validate a comprehensive study of the Raytest ClearPET small-animal PET scanner using a new Monte Carlo simulation platform which has been developed at CIEMAT (Madrid, Spain), called GAMOS (GEANT4-based Architecture for Medicine-Oriented Simulations). This toolkit, based on the GEANT4 code, was originally designed to cover multiple applications in the field of medical physics from radiotherapy to nuclear medicine, but has since been applied by some of its users in other fields of physics, such as neutron shielding, space physics, high energy physics, etc. Our simulation model includes the relevant characteristics of the ClearPET system, namely, the double layer of scintillator crystals in phoswich configuration, the rotating gantry, the presence of intrinsic radioactivity in the crystals or the storage of single events for an off-line coincidence sorting. Simulated results are contrasted with experimental acquisitions including studies of spatial resolution, sensitivity, scatter fraction and count rates in accordance with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) NU 4-2008 protocol. Spatial resolution results showed a discrepancy between simulated and measured values equal to 8.4% (with a maximum FWHM difference over all measurement directions of 0.5 mm). Sensitivity results differ less than 1% for a 250–750 keV energy window. Simulated and measured count rates agree well within a wide range of activities, including under electronic saturation of the system (the measured peak of total coincidences, for the mouse-sized phantom, was 250.8 kcps reached at 0.95 MBq mL−1 and the simulated peak was 247.1 kcps at 0.87 MBq mL−1). Agreement better than 3% was obtained in the scatter fraction comparison study. We also measured and simulated a mini-Derenzo phantom obtaining images with similar quality using iterative reconstruction methods. We concluded that the overall performance of the simulation showed good agreement with the measured results and validates the GAMOS package for PET applications. Furthermore, its ease of use and flexibility recommends it as an excellent tool to optimize design features or image reconstruction techniques

O sistema de gestão ambiental do ISCTE-IUL: um modelo de integração-qualidade-sustentabilidade

O artigo pretende partilhar a experiência do ISCTE - Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL) na integração da sustentabilidade na cultura de qualidade. O ISCTE-IUL assumiu o compromisso com a Qualidade enquanto pilar do seu desenvolvimento estratégico, materializando-se num Sistema Interno de Garantia da Qualidade (SIGQ-IUL). Por seu lado, a sustentabilidade institucional – nas dimensões ambiental, social e económica – constitui também uma aposta estratégica e transversal que tem vindo a ser implementada nas práticas de gestão da instituição, no ensino, na investigação e na extensão universitária. O ISCTE-IUL é certificado de acordo com a Norma Portuguesa ISO 9001 desde 2008. O projeto da Sustentabilidade foi iniciado em 2016 e envolve um conjunto de ações para a melhoria do desempenho sustentável da instituição, das quais se destacam a implementação do Sistema de Gestão Ambiental (SGA) do ISCTE-IUL e a obtenção da respetiva certificação em 2018. Considerando a abrangência do SIGQ-IUL, um primeiro desafio prendia-se com o modelo previsto para a integração da Sustentabilidade, tendo sido adotada uma integração com relativa autonomia. Discutimos as implicações que o SGA colocou a diferentes níveis, com especial destaque para a necessidade de assumir a Sustentabilidade enquanto fator-chave da estratégia e da prática diária da Instituição, desde logo ao nível do campus, onde se procura a gestão eficiente dos recursos e a diminuição dos impactes ambientais negativos. Por outro lado, todo este processo tem-se traduzido em mais uma experiência de partilha, envolvimento e aprendizagem muito positivos para o ISCTE-IUL, com um contributo relevante para a melhoria da qualidade. A comunicação centra-se em dois aspetos: (i) a apresentação do modelo de integração da Sustentabilidade no SIGQ-IUL e (ii) o desenho e a implementação do SGA. Por último, uma nota conclusiva, resumindo os desafios particulares da Gestão da Sustentabilidade no ISCTE-IUL que presidem à conceção do Sistema de Gestão Ambiental.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Apresentação Pélvica: Parto Vaginal Versus Cesariana, Qual a Melhor Intervenção?

INTRODUCTION: The best route of delivery for the term breech fetus is still controversial. We aim to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between vaginal and cesarean term breech deliveries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Multicentric retrospective cohort study of singleton term breech fetuses delivered vaginally or by elective cesarean section from January 2012 - October 2014. Primary outcomes were maternal and neonatal morbidity or mortality. RESULTS: Sixty five breech fetuses delivered vaginally were compared to 1262 delivered by elective cesarean. Nulliparous women were more common in the elective cesarean group (69.3% vs 24.6%; p < 0.0001). Gestational age at birth was significantly lower in the vaginal delivery group (38 ± 1 weeks vs 39 ± 0.8 weeks; p = 0.0029) as was birth weight (2928 ± 48.4 g vs 3168 ± 11.3 g; p < 0.0001). Apgar scores below seven on the first and fifth minutes were more likely in the vaginal delivery group (1st minute: 18.5% vs 5.9%; p = 0.0006; OR 3.6 [1.9 - 7.0]; 5th minute: 3.1% vs 0.2%; p = 0.0133; OR 20.0 [2.8 - 144.4]), as was fetal trauma (3.1% vs 0.3%: p = 0.031; OR 9.9 [1.8-55.6]). Neither group had cases of fetal acidemia. Admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, maternal postpartum hemorrhage and the incidence of other obstetric complications were similar between groups. DISCUSSION: Although vaginal breech delivery was associated with lower Apgar scores and higher incidence of fetal trauma, overall rates of such events were low. Admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and maternal outcomes were similar. CONCLUSION: Both delivery routes seem equally valid, neither posing high maternal or neonatal complications' incidence.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Breech Presentation: Vaginal Versus Cesarean Delivery, Which Intervention Leads to the Best Outcomes?

The best route of delivery for the term breech fetus is still controversial. We aim to compare maternal and neonatal outcomes between vaginal and cesarean term breech deliveries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A High Dynamic Range ASIC for Time of Flight PET with monolithic crystals

The HRFlexToT is a 16-channel ASIC for SiPM anode readout designed for Positron Emission Tomography (PET) applications that features high dynamic range (>8 bits), low input impedance, common cathode connection, high speed and low power (~3.5 mW/ch). The ASIC has been manufactured using XFAB 0.18 mm CMOS technology. The main characteristics of the HRFlexToT, compared to its predecessor, are a new energy measurement readout providing a linear Time Over Threshold (ToT) with an extended dynamic range, lower power consumption and better timing response. Initial measurements show a linearity error below 3%. Single Photon Time Resolution (SPTR) measurements performed using a Hamamatsu MPPC S13360-3050CS (3x3 mm2 pixel, 50 umm cell) shows 30% improvement with respect to the previous version of the ASIC, setting this specification in the order of 141 ps FWHM and reducing 3 times power consumption. It is important to highlight that an SPTR of 141 ps FWHM is, according to the best of our knowledge, the best resolution achieved so far for this sensor. Coincidence Time Resolution (CTR) measurements are expected to be performed during 2018

A transição para uma economia de baixo carbono nas escolas: a aplicação do projeto Interreg Sudoe ClimACT na Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa

Projecto Interreg Sudoe ClimACT - SOE1 / P3 / P0429A estratégia Europa 2020 para um crescimento inteligente, sustentável e inclusivo, contempla cinco grandes objetivos para o fim da década, sendo que um deles diz respeito ao clima e energia, em que os Estados-Membros se comprometem a: (i) reduzir as emissões de gases de efeito estufa em 20%; (ii) aumentar em 20% a quota de energias renováveis no mix energético; e (iii) atingir a meta de 20% de eficiência energética. O projeto ClimACT pretende apoiar a transição para uma economia de baixo carbono nas escolas, propondo-se ao desenvolvimento e implementação de ferramentas e metodologias de apoio aos gestores escolares, às empresas envolvidas nas áreas da energia e ambiente, assim como aos estudantes, para que identifiquem soluções inteligentes para a gestão dos edifícios escolares. Estas soluções irão considerar a eficiência energética, a utilização de energias renováveis, o respeito para com o ambiente, os mecanismos de apoio financeiros e a vertente comportamental das comunidades académicas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio