A wolf in sheep’s clothing: when a stroke is not a stroke, and how comprehensive speech and language therapy assessment and intervention can help to set the alarm

A 70-year-old male patient, who was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in 2001 and did not undergo antiretroviral therapy, was admitted two months after the onset of left cortical-subcortical ischemic stroke, with involvement of the corona radiata and the left thalamus. As a consequence of this vascular event, he suffered aphasia, severe dysarthria, dysphagia, and right hemiparesis. The patient took part in a rehabilitation program at a rehabilitation centre for neurological diseases with a specialised interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. He underwent speech therapy intervention with a frequency of 2-3 hours per day. Despite the intensity of the program, there was a decline in his clinical and functional status during hospitalisation, with decreased capacity to swallow and communicate (either because of the exacerbation of the aphasia, or due to the worsening of dysarthria and apraxic features). Due to this global deterioration, additional imaging, as well as serological and aetiological examination was performed, which led to a diagnosis of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in the context of HIV1 infection. Antiretroviral therapy was administered to reverse the symptoms. This case illustrates the relevance of clinical disclosure for the establishment of appropriate functional prognoses and discharge planning. It also shows that the initial clinical features can be misleading and can lead to concealment of the real aetiology, as well as delays in appropriate treatment, especially in multipathology patients

A Gravidez e a maternidade na adolescência: um estudo a partir da unidade básica de saúde - Saco Grande

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Sócio Econômico, Curso de Serviço SocialO presente trabalho tem por objetivo discutir a questão da gravidez e a maternidade na adolescência a partir do Estudo Social das adolescentes que freqüentam o grupo sócio-educativo realizado na Unidade de Saude Saco Grande/ Florianópolis-SC. O estudo aborda o contexto socioeconômica e cultural das adolescentes suas familiares, ou seja, procura-se abordar de forma analítica a situação vivida pelas adolescentes, suas famílias e a proteção social que têm para arcar com as suas responsabilidades de ser mãe, ou ainda, com o seu "desejo" de construir uma nova família. O presente estudo permitiu o conhecimento de outras dimensões da gravidez e a maternidade na adolescência. Constatou-se quanto a escolaridade destes adolescentes aquilo que, quase todas as pesquisas já vinham mostrando, o baixo nível de escolaridade, embora observouse um grande desejo, vontade destas voltarem as salas de aulas o que é pouco provável pela própria história familiar e pela ausência de suporte assistencial estatal que garante a integralidade das ações como preconizado pelas legislações (Constituição Federal, SUS, Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e na LOAS. Enfim, este trabalho permitiu concluir que há muito a ser feito para os adolescentes no que diz respeito as ações sócio-educativas com caracter multiprofissonal, interdisciplinar e transdisciplinar em prol de um atendimento bio-psico-socia

A new approach for operating powered wheelchairs by people with severe impairments

This paper discusses the introduction of mechanisms to adapt commercial powered wheelchairs in order to facilitate its driving by people with severe impairments. Several models of operation are proposed and the most promising, at the moment, called legacy adapted mode, is detailed. A part of the formal operation model is presented. The model is then used in the STAGE simulator, not only for its valuation, but also to tune operational parameters that will be specific of each patient and to train the patients without a real wheelchair

Issues and specifications on a prescription system for controlling patient takes and drugs usage

Apresentação realizada no âmbito do 2nd IPLeiria International Health Congress, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, 9-10 Maio 2014Vivemos numa época de crescente digitalização em que as empresas determinam a relação custo/benefícios e em como melhorar a sua capacidade de resposta, por via do recurso a computadores e redes. Com o evoluir do esforço de informatização as empresas estão a obter um limiar de desmaterialização, que no contexto dos seus documentos é muitas vezes denominado “paper-free”. Não só a nível ambiental mas também pela facilidade de armazenamento da informação, da sua pesquisa e acesso, quer localmente, quer à distância de um simples “clique”, torna-se uma vantagem competitiva para a empresa. Contudo, apesar de estarmos na denominada “Era da Informação”, nem todas as empresas se adaptam a este tipo de ambiente “paper-free” e continuam a usar (e abusar) de recursos totalmente em papel, com as consequentes quebras de competitividade, resultantes da comparação com outras empresas mais desenvolvidas. Especificamente na área da saúde, apesar de existirem cada vez mais aplicações específicas para gestão de utentes e toma de medicação, desenvolvidos por grandes empresas da área, muitas vezes continuam a ser impressas as fichas clínicas dos pacientes e informação adjacente a estes, sendo que todo o controlo e gestão continua a ser efectuados em papel. Este problema tem origem em diversos factores, desde a pouca formação a nível informático por parte dos funcionários, o custo dos sistemas não só pela aquisição de hardware mas também pelo custo associado ao software, seu desenvolvimento ou aquisição e a respectiva manutenção, ou ainda pelo facto do software ser demasiado complexo. Acresce a estas questões de ordem logística, aspectos mais operacionais como o da mobilidade que, na maioria dos casos, é nula

Issues and specifications on a prescription system for controlling patient takes and drugs usage

Apresentação realizada no âmbito do 2nd IPLeiria International Health Congress, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Leiria, 9-10 Maio 2014Vivemos numa época de crescente digitalização em que as empresas determinam a relação custo/benefícios e em como melhorar a sua capacidade de resposta, por via do recurso a computadores e redes. Com o evoluir do esforço de informatização as empresas estão a obter um limiar de desmaterialização, que no contexto dos seus documentos é muitas vezes denominado “paper-free”. Não só a nível ambiental mas também pela facilidade de armazenamento da informação, da sua pesquisa e acesso, quer localmente, quer à distância de um simples “clique”, torna-se uma vantagem competitiva para a empresa. Contudo, apesar de estarmos na denominada “Era da Informação”, nem todas as empresas se adaptam a este tipo de ambiente “paper-free” e continuam a usar (e abusar) de recursos totalmente em papel, com as consequentes quebras de competitividade, resultantes da comparação com outras empresas mais desenvolvidas. Especificamente na área da saúde, apesar de existirem cada vez mais aplicações específicas para gestão de utentes e toma de medicação, desenvolvidos por grandes empresas da área, muitas vezes continuam a ser impressas as fichas clínicas dos pacientes e informação adjacente a estes, sendo que todo o controlo e gestão continua a ser efectuados em papel. Este problema tem origem em diversos factores, desde a pouca formação a nível informático por parte dos funcionários, o custo dos sistemas não só pela aquisição de hardware mas também pelo custo associado ao software, seu desenvolvimento ou aquisição e a respectiva manutenção, ou ainda pelo facto do software ser demasiado complexo. Acresce a estas questões de ordem logística, aspectos mais operacionais como o da mobilidade que, na maioria dos casos, é nula

Physical and chemical properties of some hazelnut varieties grown in Portugal

Worldwide there has been an increase in the demand for dried fruits. In Portugal, hazelnut is the dry fruit with the less cultivated area, however the country has conditions for a good production. This work intended to analyse the physical and chemical properties of seven hazelnut varieties grown in Portugal, named Negreta, Gunslebert, Tonda de Giffoni, Grada de Viseu, Butler, Segorbe and Longa de Espanha. For that purpose, hazelnut fruits were evaluated for biometric characteristics, apparent and true densities, colour, texture, nutritional parameters (moisture, ash, lipids content, protein, fibre and water activity), oxidative stability index and specific extinction coefficients (K232, K264, K268 and K272). The results showed that, in general, there were statistically significant differences among the varieties under study. Hazelnuts of variety Longa de Espanha revealed to be more elongated and the variety Butler had heavier fruits, both in shell and kernel. The variety Grada de Viseu was harder in the shell being the kernels of variety Segorbe softer but more resistant to fracture. For all varieties, fat was the major chemical component. The lowest extinction coefficient, K232, was found for Negreta, indicating that this variety presented a lower degree of primary oxidation products. The other specific extinction coefficients were relatively low for all samples. Moreover, Tonda de Giffoni was the variety with the higher oxidation stability. This work highlighted the differences in hazelnuts according to the variety, confirming the importance to perform more studies in this area since these results can be very useful in the hazelnut sector.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Big Data and Traffic Data Analysis: Urban Traffic Forecasting and Management

The paper reviews different methodologies and technologies used in urban traffic management and analysis systems based on Big Data. Several techniques are discussed, such as the installation of sensors, IoT devices and surveillance cameras for data collection, the use of machine learning algorithms and technologies for vehicle identification and classification, the use of Map Reduce techniques for data processing, and the communication between several social network applications to obtain real-time data about the location and movement of users. In addition, models based on neural networks and algorithms such as ABC are proposed for signal change prediction and traffic flow management. The advantages and disadvantages of each approach and how they can be applied to improve urban traffic management and reduce vehicle pollution are highlighted

Using CAN to retrofit houses for quadriplegic people

DETIThis paper describes the B-Live® system targetted to automate house appliances for severely impaired people, in particular quadriplegic. This system has been developed at Micro I/O for enhancing the quality of life and the independence of its potential users. The envisaged application is the retrofitting of common dwellings. The B-Live system is described and details on its software, hardware and CAN-based communications architecture are provided. A survey of the supported appliances and interfaces is presented as well as a description of the B-live configuration and operation procedures. The adequacy of the B-Live system to improve the autonomy of the envisaged users was informally evaluated by C5 and C6 patients at a demonstration house located in the CMRRC Rovisco Pais, a rehabilitation center near Aveiro, in Portugal. The conclusion is that the system has a short learning curve and can cope with the requirements of its potential users. The use of CAN in this application opens the possibility to include safety critical real-time systems in the BLive system. This is the case of the monitoring of the ventilator used for quadriplegic people that require breath assistance

Evaluation of genetic diversity and selection of the apple 'Bravo'

An experimental population containing 149 genotypes of the ‘Bravo’ apple randomly sampled all over it growing regions, as submitted to mass genotypic selection through the methods previously developed or other species such as grapevine. This study led to determining the coefficient of genotypic variation of some characteristics, as a quantifier of intra-varietal genetic diversity. The global values reveal the existence of a considerable diversity, but the comparative analysis is, at presente, affected by the lack of reference values for other ancient varieties. On the other hand, the values per sub regions are in general higher in “Beira Interior”, but the differences are moderate, which can suggest a frequent exchange of materials among the three regions and the consequent homogenization of the diversity. As a result of this work, it was also possible to select nineteen superior genotypes, with a predicted genetic gain of 25 % in the yield, which can be used immediately for new plantations. With these clones three field trials were also installed, at “Viseu”, “Moimenta da Beira” and “Covilhã”, in order to make clonal selection

Influence of different parameters on the characteristics of hazelnut (var. Grada de Viseu) grown in Portugal

“Grada de Viseu” is an indigenous hazelnut variety from Portugal, and it is considered by the producers as the most important variety in terms of production and productivity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of harvest year (2017/2018/2019) and location of production (Viseu/Faia) on some physical and chemical properties of the variety “Grada de Viseu,” namely biometric parameters, colour, true and bulk densities, texture parameters (hardness and friability), and chemical composition. The results showed that the fruits of the samples harvested in 2019 had higher values of height, width, and thickness. Hazelnuts from 2018 had a clearer shell, independently of the location of production, but only the samples from Faia harvested in 2018 had a clearer kernel. As for the texture, the fruits grown in Viseu harvested in 2018 had a harder shell and was more resistant to fracture, whereas the sample from 2019 had a harder kernel. In all cases, fat was the major chemical component. The sample from 2019 had a water activity greater than 0.62, meaning that its stability was not guaranteed. “Grada de Viseu” from Faia in 2018 presented a higher induction period and, therefore, was the one with the highest oxidation stability. The year of production showed to be the best predictor for almost every chemical and biometric characteristics. In general, it was possible to verify that harvesting year and geographical location influence hazelnut characteristics.This study was supported by National Funds through the FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., within the scope of the projects Refª UIDB/00681/2020 and UID/AGR/00690/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio