Programa digital para la conciencia fonológica: un estudio aleatorizado

The purpose of this study is to analyze the efficacy of the Phonological Awareness Digital Program (PADP) in typically developing preschool children aged 4 to 6 years. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with a total of 49 children assigned to two groups: the experimental group, EG (n=25) and the delayed control group, CG (n=24). Both groups were assessed before and after the implementation of the PADP. A follow-up study for the experimental group was also performed after two months. Outcome measures of phonological awareness skills (task 1: Syllable segmentation task; task 2: Syllable identification task; task3: Syllable omission task; task 4: Onset-rime units segmentation task; task 5: Phoneme segmentation task; task 6: Phoneme blending task) were evaluated at three separate moments. The results showed significant improvement in phonological awareness skills for the EG between the first and the second assessments for all the tasks considered. Between the second and third assessment, the results showed a significant improvement for the CG. The follow-up study also demonstrated the PADP’s efficacy. The PADP has shown to be an effective program in promoting the development of phonological awareness in children. These findings provide evidence for different professionals to use PADP with preschool children.El propósito de este estudio es analizar la eficacia del Programa Digital de Conciencia Fonológica (PADP) en niños en edad preescolar con desarrollo típico de 4 a 6 años. Se realizó un ensayo controlado aleatorio con un total de 49 niños asignados a dos grupos: el grupo experimental, GE (n = 25) y el grupo de control retardado, GC (n = 24). Ambos grupos fueron evaluados antes y después de la implementación del PADP. También se realizó un estudio de seguimiento para el grupo experimental después de dos meses. Medidas de resultado de las habilidades de conciencia fonológica (tarea 1: tarea de segmentación de sílabas; tarea 2: tarea de identificación de sílabas; tarea 3: tarea de omisión de sílabas; tarea 4: tarea de segmentación de unidades de inicio-tiempo; tarea 5: tarea de segmentación de fonemas; tarea 6: tarea de combinación de fonemas) fueron evaluados en tres momentos separados. Los resultados mostraron una mejora significativa en las habilidades de conciencia fonológica para el GE entre la primera y la segunda evaluación para todas las tareas consideradas. Entre la segunda y la tercera evaluación, los resultados mostraron una mejora significativa para el GC. El estudio de seguimiento también demostró la eficacia del PADP. El PADP ha demostrado ser un programa eficaz para promover el desarrollo de la conciencia fonológica en los niños. Estos hallazgos proporcionan evidencia para que diferentes profesionales utilicen PADP con niños en edad preescolar.publishe

Monitoring of biological processes in microalgae production using Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Microalgae industrial production is nowadays viewed as a solution for environmental conscious and sustainable alternative production of fuel, feed, food and chemicals. Throughout the years, several technological advances have been studied and implemented that increased the competitiveness of microalgae production. However, online monitoring and a real-time process control of a microalgae production factory still requires development to support economic sustainability. In this work, fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with chemometric modelling is studied as an online monitoring tool to be used in microalgae production. Fluorescence spectroscopy is a noninvasive and highly sensitive technique, able to detect instantaneously several natural fluorophores but also the interferences between them and the environmental media. Chemometric methods are often used to deconvolute the information within the fluorescence matrices, known as excitation-emission matrices (EMMs), and to determine the relationship between them and the parameters to be monitored. To prove the potential of fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with chemometric modelling techniques, different strategies are studied. Firstly, the EEMs of the spectra are used as raw data, without pre-treatment for removal of water scatter and inner-filter effects. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is used to extract the meaningful information from the spectra, resulting in Principal Components (PCs). Through Projection to Latent Structures (PLS) modelling, prediction models are developed using the PCs from the fluorescence EEMs as inputs, to find linear correlations with the parameters to be monitored, the outputs. A second strategy is studied with pre-treated EEMs. With these EEMs, two input strategies in the PLS models are tested: using directly the EEMs in PLS or compressing the EEMs into PCs though PCA prior to PLS. Two marine microalgae are used in these studies, Dunaliella salina and Nannochloropsis oceanica. Five parameters are monitored – cell concentration, cell viability, pigments concentration, fatty acids composition and nitrogen concentration – in four different processes – cultivation, product formation (carotenoids and lipids), harvesting by membrane filtration and permeate recover. The combination of fluorescence spectroscopy, with its high sensitivity and resolution, coupled with chemometric analysis for data pre-treatment and development of prediction models, enhances th

Caracterização química e molecular de espécies das famílias Lamiaceae e Apiaceae da flora aromática de Portugal

Tese de mestrado em Biologia (Biologia Celular e Biotecnologia) apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2007In the past years chemical analyses and molecular markers have been used widely in the identification of cultivars and in the chemical and genetic relationship analyses of individuals and species contributing vastly for the evolutionary and ecological studies. This study aimed at a deeper research of some aromatic plants of the Portuguese flora, these included Thymus caespititius, Crithmum maritimum, Ammi huntii, Angelica lignescens, Melanoselinum decipiens and Chaerophyllum azoricum, carrying out a joint approach of the chemical composition of essential oils and the analysis of molecular markers. Chemical analyses of the essential oils of T. caespititius, C. maritimum and C. azoricum reinforced the results found in the literature. Although some plants, with distinctive geographic location, present quantitative variations in the chemical composition of the essential oils, these are not relevant for the separation of the individuals by place of harvest. In the essential oils of A. huntii the main components identified were dillapiol in the oils isolated from individuals harvested on São Miguel and trans-isomiristicin in the oils isolated from individuals harvested on São Jorge and Flores. In these samples a high chemical polymorphism was detected, allowing to consider the existence of two chemotypes, dillapiol/terpinolene/trans-α-bergamotene and trans-isomiristicin/limonene/ß-mircene. Chemical and molecular analyses allowed the distinction between individuals of A. lignescens from individuals of M. decipiens, revealing a separation in an inter-specific level corroborating the existence of two distinctive species, one endemic from Azores and the other endemic from Madeira. Molecular analyses of these species showed a high number of genetic polymorphisms (above 75%) amongst the several individuals of different species, allowing the distinction of the various individuals and the determination of the genetic relationships between them. Through this research a modeNos últimos anos, a análise química e os marcadores moleculares têm sido utilizados na identificação de cultivares e na análise de relações genéticas entre indivíduos e espécies, contribuindo, também, para estudos evolutivos e ecológicos. Com este trabalho pretendeu-se aprofundar o estudo de algumas plantas aromáticas da flora de Portugal, como Thymus caespititius, Crithmum maritimum, Ammi huntii, Angelica lignescens, Melanoselinum decipiens e Chaerophyllum azoricum, realizando uma abordagem conjunta da composição química e da análise de marcadores moleculares, A análise química dos óleos essenciais de T. caespititius, C. maritimum e C. azoricum permitiu corroborar dados anteriores existentes na bibliografia. Apesar de algumas variações quantitativas observadas na composição química dos óleos essenciais em plantas com localizações geográficas distintas, estas não foram relevantes na separação dos diferentes indivíduos em função do local de colheita. Nos óleos essenciais de A. huntii os componentes maioritários detectados foram o dilapiole, nos óleos isolados dos indivíduos de São Miguel e a trans-isomiristicina nos óleos isolados dos indivíduos de São Jorge e Flores. Nestas amostras foi detectado um elevado polimorfismo químico, levando a considerar a existência de dois quimiotipos, dilapiole/terpinoleno/ trans-α-bergamoteno e trans-isomiristicina/limoneno/ß-mirceno. As análises químicas e moleculares permitiram a distinção entre indivíduos de A. lignescens dos indivíduos de M. decipiens, relevando uma boa separação a nível inter-específico, corroborando a existência de duas espécies distintas, uma endémica das ilhas dos Açores (A. lignescens) e outra endémica da ilha da Madeira (M. decipiens). Através da análise molecular observou-se um elevado número de polimorfismos genéticos entre os diferentes indivíduos das diferentes espécies em estudo, superior a 75%, permitindo a distinção dos vári

Morocco: Laverde's gateway to Africa

Throughout its activity, Laverde has continuously worked to be seen in the national and international market as a prestigious company, focusing mainly on the quality of its products. In order to maintain its reputation, the company invests regularly in research and development and has also invested in new infrastructures. The new factory will guarantee superior levels of quality, the development of new product lines and the increase of Laverde's production capacity. For this reason, it will be necessary to dispose of merchandise and the company considers that it would be fundamental to adopt an internationalization strategy for a new continent, even though Laverde currently has a mainly export-oriented market. Morocco is a gateway to Africa and seems a good investment option, since it is a constantly growing country, in which the cosmetics sector is significantly appreciated. In addition, most of the raw materials used in Laverde products are from Morocco. However, nowadays nearly all of them are acquired through intermediate countries and the decision to enter in the Moroccan market can facilitate these trade links. A business plan will be elaborated, in order to analyse the investment decision and to formulate a strategy to enable the company to achieve sustainable growth and to consolidate its market position from a global perspective. For this reason, the strengths and competitive advantages will be identified and the opportunities and risks associated with the internationalization decision will be taken into account.Durante toda a sua atividade, a Laverde trabalhou continuamente para ser vista no mercado nacional e internacional como uma empresa conceituada, apostando principalmente na qualidade dos seus produtos. Com o intuito de manter a sua reputação, a empresa investe regularmente em investigação e desenvolvimento e, além disso investiu em novas infraestruturas. A nova fábrica vai permitir que a empresa garanta níveis de qualidade superiores, que desenvolva novas linhas de produtos e que aumente a sua capacidade produtiva. Por este motivo, surge a necessidade de escoar mercadoria e, apesar de atualmente a Laverde ter um mercado principalmente direcionado para a exportação, considera que seria fundamental adotar uma estratégia de internacionalização para um novo continente. Marrocos surge como uma porta de entrada em África e apresenta-se como uma boa opção de investimento, visto que se trata de um país em constante crescimento, no qual o sector da cosmética é significativamente valorizado. Além disso, grande parte das matérias-primas utilizadas nos produtos da Laverde têm origem em Marrocos. No entanto, atualmente são praticamente todas adquiridas através de países intermediários e a decisão de entrar no mercado Marroquino, pode facilitar estas ligações comerciais. Para analisar a decisão de investimento, será elaborado um plano de negócios de modo a formular uma estratégia que permita à empresa um crescimento sustentável e a consolidação da sua posição no mercado numa perspetiva global. Deste modo, serão analisados os pontos fortes e vantagens competitivas e identificadas as oportunidades e os riscos associados à internacionalização

Corporate education: Driving aspects towards networked corporate university

This article aims to analyze the maturity evolution process of the stages of the corporate education system, listing the driving aspects of this process. To accomplish it, a qualitative research with a descriptive exploratory approach was carried out through an integrative review. The survey and systematic review were based on the analysis of existing scientific knowledge about "corporate education" and "evolution of the corporate education system". In the end, it is possible to list 25 driving factors for the evolution of the corporate education system to be considered by organizations that intend to reach the last stage of evolution, the Networked Corporate University (NCU), the most contemporary model proposed by the literature. In conclusion, this study brings theoretical contributions advancing on the existing theories and practices, as it can be considered that, when the Corporate Education System evolves towards the NCU stage, it will meet the context requirement that drives it to amplify the vision, beyond human capital, to social and relational capital

Interculturality and intercultural education: representations and practices of a group of educational partners

The purpose of this article is to give an insight into interculturality and practices of intercultural education by a group of partners before and after having participated in the development of a project on intercultural education. The group was formed of 12 people representing different institutions in the community, namely primary schools, associations and the local council. Data were collected via two interviews, carried out individually with each of the partners. The answers given by the participants showed that, although they believe in the importance of implementing intercultural education, there was some initial ambiguity in the representations of interculturality, which is sometimes associated with multiculturality. In the final interview, the partners stated that their representations of these concepts changed after participating in the project, thus helping them to differentiate between both. They also mentioned that their participation was an opportunity for rethinking and improving their work practices concerning intercultural education

Avaliação do papel dos ácidos salicilico, abcisico e jasmónico na interacção Coffea arabica - Hemileia vastatrix: implementação de um método de análise

Mestrado em Engenharia Alimentar - Instituto Superior de AgronomiaCoffee leaf rust, the most widespread disease of Coffea arabica L. cultivars, is caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix Berk. & Br.. The coffee – rust interaction is a gene-for-gene system that involves at least nine dominant plant resistant genes, singly or associated. Previous cytological studies have shown that coffee resistance to H. vastatrix is characterized by restricted fungal growth associated with rapid localised plant cell death (hypersensitive reaction – HR). Salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) are known to be plant hormones that play a crucial role in controlling plant growth, development, and response to biotic and abiotic cues. It has been suggested that crosstalk occur among JA, SA and ABA in plant response to biological threats. The reduced concentrations of these compounds in complex samples, as it is the case of coffee leaves, requires the optimization of sample preparation techniques and the use of sensitive and selective techniques for their quantification. In order to examine the possible association of the SA, ABA and JA with the resistance response, Coffea arabica S4 Agaro leaves were inoculated with race II of H. vastatrix (incompatible interaction) and extracts were obtained at various times after inoculation. Initially, we made the optimization and validation of the method for analysis of SA, JA and ABA, by HPLC-MS/MS in leaf samples of healthy coffee. We evaluated several methods of sample preparation, all based on liquid-liquid extractions. For a better sensitivity and selectivity a MRM mode was used for the quantification, using the best transitions obtained for each compound. The optimized HPLC-MS/MS method seems adequate for the separation and quantification of SA, ABA and JA in the extracts. Cytological study of infection process of the fungus, allowed identifying the different phases of differentiation of H. vastatrix, before and after penetrations in leaf tissue. In the incompatible interaction there was an initial increase of concentration for all compounds between 20h-30 hours after inoculation (h.a.i.) which leads us to consider their involvement in the hypersensitivity reaction. There was a second increase, only for SA and JA, around 48-72h.a.i., which suggests the possible involved of these compounds in more delayed defense responses. The weak increase of ABA and JA in coffee-rust incompatible interaction, on the contrary to the values obtained for SA, confirmed the assumptions of literature on the signaling action of this compound (SA) against biotrophic pathogens

Acompanhamento da execução orçamental e da LCPA nos hospitais EPE: caso do Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga EPE

O presente relatório de estágio é elaborado no âmbito do estágio curricular, integrado no Mestrado em Controlo de Gestão, ministrado pelo Instituto Superior de Contabilidade e Administração de Coimbra. O estágio realizou-se nos Serviços Financeiros do Centro Hospitalar do Baixo Vouga, E.P.E. (CHBV), tendo como principais objetivos a integração e compreensão da dinâmica dos Serviços Financeiros do CHBV, mais precisamente nas funções de controlo de gestão. Ao longo dos tempos os hospitais têm sofrido sucessivas alterações, ao nível da sua gestão, num ambiente em que as restrições orçamentais impostas tendem a ser cada vez maiores. Neste sentido, o controlo de gestão assume um papel fundamental, na medida em que se torna relevante o acompanhamento, avaliação e o apoio à tomada de decisão para o cumprimento dos objetivos estratégicos e orçamentais, tendo uma importância decisiva para o bom desempenho dos hospitais. Neste contexto, o relatório de estágio centra-se na aplicação da Lei dos compromissos e pagamentos em atraso (LCPA) nos hospitais Entidades Públicas Empresariais e no acompanhamento da execução orçamental e do cumprimento da lei, no CHBV. Não menos importante que a abordagem destes conceitos, foram analisados três tipos de relatório de reporte de informação financeira e não financeira, elaborados no período de estágio, nomeadamente: o Relatório de Execução Orçamental, o Relatório e Contas e o Relatório de Governo Societário. Os mesmos permitiram a recolha de informação e a realização de análises de desvios e de diversos indicadores, que revelaram ser ferramentas essenciais para o papel de controlle