Evaluation of the Sigma Quality level for Serum Iron determination by two colorimetric methods, Ferrozine and Ferene S

Iron plays important functions in the body such as the formation and functioning of hemoglobin and it’s disorders are among the most common diseases of human1. It is essential to ensure that its levels determination through laboratory tests are accurate and precise. The participation of laboratories in the External Quality Assessment (EQA) allows the increases of the quality level of the laboratory results and improvement of its performance.2This study was developed in the Portuguese Nacional EQA Program (PNAEQ) concerning the laboratories results from the Clinical Chemistry Scheme. The main objective of this study was to evaluate and improve the sigma quality level regarding the Iron parameter and reduce the variability of the laboratories results participating in the EQA program of Clinical Chemistry of the Nacional External Quality Assessment Program (PNAEQ). The mean Sigma quality level indicated that the Ferrozine method had a better performance compared with Ferene S method. Half of the control samples had a sigma quality level higher than 3.0, which is set as the minimum acceptable quality.3 Despite of the improved of the Sigma quality level in the Pilot Test, the results demonstrated a need to improved the analytical process performance and to identified more potential causes and implement new improvement actions. It becomes necessary to raise awareness with the laboratories, improving the Pilot Test participation frequency, resulting in a recurrent and current assessment of the laboratory activity performance. Developing Six Sigma projects on a periodic basis is important for continuously and progressively increasing the level of Sigma quality in laboratory examinations. The main advantage of quality assessment on the sigma scale is providing evidence of overall laboratory performance, taking into account random and systematic errors.N/

From geosphere to biosphere: circulation of matter in nature

Con este experimento, para alumnos de la educación secundaria, se pretende estimular el gusto por la ciencia experimental. De una manera lúdica, vamos a intentar ejemplificar el movimiento de la materia en la naturaleza e ilustrar las consecuencias que los desequilibrios en los ciclos biogeoquímicos pueden tener para los seres vivos

Traditional Toys and Student Motivation and Commitment in Technological Education

Problem Statement: This research aims to understand the contribution of traditional toys as catalysts for motivation and student commitment in the development of Technological Education projects and activities. Research Questions: To what extent do work units related to traditional toys promote student motivation and commitment in the subject of Technological Education. Purpose of Study: Technological Education requires students to gain knowledge and know-how such that motivation and commitment are crucial for the development of classroom projects and activities. It is in this context that traditional toys are assumed to be catalysts for motivation and student interest. Research Methods: In terms of methodology, an exploratory research of a qualitative nature was carried out, based on semi-structured interviews to teachers and students within a 2nd cycle of Basic Education environment, encompassing five state schools in the Viseu municipality, Portugal. Nine teachers and forty-five technological education pupils, aged between 10 and 12, attending the 5th and 6th years of schooling participated. Findings: Content analysis of the answers revealed that the implementation of work units involving the construction of traditional toys are conducive to student motivation and commitment. Starting off with an initial idea, pupils are enabled to experience all the stages of toy building, from conception to completion, contributing to greater student satisfaction in the teaching-learning process. Conclusions: The traditional toys constitute an added value in the subject of Technological Education, promoting student motivation and commitment in the development of projects and activities. Students acquire knowledge and skills, which will enable them to analyze and thus resolve specific situations and prepare them for an increasingly technological world.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pré-projecto do museu de aviação dos Açores

Mestrado em Património, Museologia e Desenvolvimento (Relatório de Estágio).[…]. Ao longo do nosso Estágio, apercebemo-nos que a tarefa que encetávamos era ainda mais urgente, face a duas realidades específicas. Por um lado, constatámos a dispersão do acervo relacionado com a aviação nos Açores. Com efeito, não temos dúvidas de que, sem o processo de recolha do espólio da aviação, parte fundamental do nosso Estágio, rapidamente ficariam perdidos muitos registos da história deste arquipélago. Por outro lado, verificámos que muito dos testemunhos que foram auscultados no decurso do Estágio foram de indivíduos já com alguma idade e que também, naturalmente, irão deixar-nos, perdendo-se uma memória irrecuperável. Assim, a nossa principal preocupação neste Estágio foi a recuperação da história da aeronáutica nos Açores, não apenas para proteger o património material desta história, mas também o respetivo património imaterial, espelhado no saber e no labor de muitos homens e mulheres que dedicaram a sua vida na defesa quer da empresa em questão, mas também do próprio arquipélago

Influenza B season: low intensity with impact on mortality

Low intensity with impact on mortality - Influenza B seasonN/

Multicriteria Decision Support Model for Selection of Fiberglass Suppliers

This chapter presents a real case of a decision problem in supplier selection of one of the main raw materials of a wind blades industry. The study considered all currently qualified suppliers according to considerably rigorous standards and specifications and one in qualification process. It is a complex choice, given the strategic importance of the product and the multiplicity of criteria to be considered, both quantitative and qualitative. The strong competitiveness requires a special attention which concerns the supplier selection; not only the price matters; in fact, a day of stoppage due to failure in a delivery, for example, corresponds to high losses that would have justified the purchase from a supplier with a higher price but with no delivery failures. In order to contribute to the problem resolution, the methodologies PROMETHEE and AHP were applied, whose results allow the authors to stablish a ranking of the considered suppliers. The results will support the company on the selection of fiberglass suppliers and in some cases clarify where they can find the main trade-offs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Study of the macrofungi community associated with pinus (Pinus pinaster), chestnut (Castanea sativa) and oak (Quercus pyrenaica), in the Northeast of Portugal

The work here presented concerns the preliminary result of Project AGRO 689 “Agronomic, economic and environmental interest of macrofungi associated with pinus (Pinus pinaster), chestnut (Castanea sativa) and oak (Quercus pyrenaica), in the Northeast of Portugal: Production of mycorrhizal, pinus, chestnut and oak plants”. We intend to evaluate the diversity of macrofungi associated with each habitat and to get insight into the differences between mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal species as well as of edible and non-edible ones. Edible mycorrhizal and nonedible mycorrhizal ratios will also be calculated in order to know the impact of their collection in either ecological or economical aspects. During the two seasons of collection (Autumn 2004 and Spring 2005), oak habitat showed the highest number of species and carpophores while pinus was the poorest habitat either in terms of number of species and of carpophores. We discuss the results obtained, comparing the three habitats in terms of biodiversity and potential economical interest of edible macrofungi collection and of ratio of the different trophic levels. We intend to contribute for the evaluation of risk assessment of overcollection of edible species and to a sustainable macrofungi management.The work here presented concerns the preliminary results of Project AGRO 689 "Agronomic, economic and environmental interest of macrofungi associated with pinus (Pinus pinaster), chestnut (Castanea sativa) and oak (Quercus pyrenaica), in the Northeast of Portugal: Production of mycorrhizal pinus, chestnut and oak plants" We intend to evaluate the biodiversity ot"macrofungi associated with each habitat and to get insight into the differences between mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal species as well as of edible and non edible ones. Edible mycorrhizal and nonedible mycorrhizal ratios will also be calculated in order to know the impact of their collection in either ecological and economical aspects. During the two seasons of collection (Autumn 2004 and Spring 2005), oak habitat showed the highest number of species and of carpophores while pinus was the poorest habitat either in terms of number of species and of carpophores. We discuss the results obtained, comparing the three habitats in terms of biod iversity and potential economical interest of edible macrofungi collection and of ratio of the different trophic levels. We intend to contribute for the evaluation of risk assessment of overcollection of edible species and to a sustainable macrofungi management.This work was financed by the Project AGRO 689

The Portugues General Practitioner Sentinel Network

Brief description of The Portuguese General Practitioner Sentinel Network with work examples as well as advantages in participating.N/

Prevalência de síndrome de apneia obstrutiva do sono: um estudo da Rede Médicos-Sentinela

Este estudo tem como objetivo estimar a prevalência de SAOS com diagnóstico conhecido na população sob observação da Rede Médicos-Sentinela (MS)

Síndrome de Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono: epidemiologia, diagnóstico e tratamento. Um estudo da Rede Médicos-Sentinela

Estudo realizado em parceria com o Programa Nacional para as Doenças Respiratórias e a Rede Médicos SentinelaIntrodução: A síndrome de apneia obstrutiva do sono (SAOS) caracteriza-se por episódios recorrentes de apneias e hipopneias, secundários ao colapso da via aérea superior no sono, encontrando-se associada a complicações cardiovasculares. Desconhece-se a sua magnitude em Portugal, nomeadamente, ao nível dos cuidados de saúde primários. Material e métodos: Realizou-se um estudo transversal, no qual os Médicos-Sentinela participantes notificaram voluntariamente todos os casos com diagnóstico de SAOS das suas listas de utentes diagnosticados até 31 de Dezembro de 2013. Calculou-se a prevalência de SAOS desagregada por sexo e grupo etário, caracterizando-se os casos segundo sexo, idade, tipo de diagnóstico, tratamento e antecedentes pessoais. Para o estudo de associações entre fatores de risco e SAOS grave calcularam-se Odds Ratio ajustados para confundimento, através de um modelo de regressão logística. Resultados: A prevalência de SAOS na população com 25 ou mais anos de foi de 0,89 % (IC 95: 0,80 %-1,00 %), sendo superior no sexo masculino 1,47 % (IC 95: 1,30 % - 1,67 %) e no grupo etário entre os 65 e os 74 anos (2,35 %). A maioria tinha SAOS grave (48,4 %). A obesidade (84,6%), hipertensão arterial (74,8 %) e diabetes mellitus (38,7 %) foram as co-morbilidades mais frequentes; ser do sexo masculino (OR: 2,6) e ter obesidade (OR: 4,0) associou-se a um maior risco de SAOS grave. Discussão: Observou-se uma prevalência menor do que a estimada noutros países o que pode estar relacionado com a definição de caso ou revelar um subdiagnóstico desta condição clínica como referido por outros autores