Validação da BRBN-T: adaptação do Selective Reminding Teste do Word List Generation

Objective: This study aims to present the Selective Reminding Test (SRI) and Word List Generation (WLG) adaptation to the Portuguese population, within the validation of the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRBN-T) for multiple sclerosis .(MS) patients. Method: 66 healthy participants (54.5% female) recruited from the community volunteered to participate in this study. Results: A combination of procedures from Classical Test Theory (OTT) and Item Response Theory (ITR) were applied to item analysis and selection. For each SRT list, 12 words were selected and 3 letters were chosen for WLG to constitute the final versions of these tests for the Portuguese population. Conclusion: The combination of CTT and ITR maximized the decision making process in the adaptation of the SRI and WLG to a different culture and language (Portuguese). The relevance of this study lies on the production of reliable standardized neuropsychological tests, so that they can be used to facilitate a more rigorous monitoring of the evolution of MS, as well as any therapeutic effects and cognitive rehabilitation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Compliance to radiation therapy of head and neck cancer patients and impact on treatment outcome

The aims of the study were to evaluate head and neck cancer (HNC) patient's compliance to the planned radiation therapy (RT) using the department policy established in 2005 at IPOCFG and to estimate the impact on treatment outcome due to failure in receiving RT as prescribed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

iLeanDMAIC – A methodology for implementing the lean tools

Organizations focus must reside in their constant desire for improvement in order to satisfy their clients as a result of high-quality products, thus maximizing their profits through a waste reduction in the flow production. Lean thinking allows organizations to identify and eliminate wastes within the organization. The use of lean tools is considered a simple, efficient and cost-effective solution to achieve productivity and profit. DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) is a problem-solving methodology that improves processes, allows defect reduction and reduction of process variability, allowing companies to continuously improve their efficiency and performance. In this work, a combined methodology iLeanDMAIC based on Lean Tools and DMAIC was developed, aiming to help organizations to easily and accurately solve their problems. It includes a case-study implementation on an organization of the sector of wood products. We were able to successfully validate this methodology and to show its efficacy in enhancing production. Results using iLeanDMAIC allowed a reduction time in changeover in the assembly machine (from 39 min to 17 min), presenting this a 44% gain on manufacture. iLeanDMAIC can help organizations thrive against their competitors, make their business more cost-effective and efficient.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Avaliação, educação e comunicação do risco sísmico no contexto das escolas do Algarve

Tem sido observado, um pouco por todo o mundo, que as populações não têm consciência do risco sísmico dos edifícios onde habitam, e que possuem espectativas irrealistas sobre o comportamento dessas construções. A perceção generalizada é que as habitações irão ficar intactas após um sismo moderado ou destruidor, desde que estas tenham sido corretamente projetadas e construídas, de acordo com as normas vigentes. Contudo, os edifícios somente são projetados para garantir a salvaguarda da vida humana, e não para a salvaguarda do património em si, podendo até não ser economicamente viável a sua reparação. Além disso, um sismo moderado poderá causar danos moderados ou severos, principalmente a nível não-estrutural, afetando assim o funcionamento das instalações por tempo indeterminado. Por outro lado, é importante promover a educação e informação das populações para contribuir para o aumento da resiliência das sociedades a estes fenómenos. Neste contexto, foi desenvolvida uma plataforma informática no âmbito do projeto de investigação PERSISTAH (Projetos de Escolas Resilientes aos SISmos no Território do Algarve e de Huelva), que possibilita a realização de avaliações de segurança sísmica dos edifícios das escolas do primeiro ciclo do ensino básico existentes no Algarve, recorrendo a modernas técnicas de análise estrutural. Usando esta ferramenta, é possível verificar qual o grau de dano provável de um edifício de uma escola, quer seja para um qualquer cenário de ocorrência de um sismo, ou simplesmente no contexto da verificação dos níveis de segurança estabelecidos nas normas NP EN 1998-1:2010 e NP EN 1998-3:2017. Estão a ser criados documentos direcionados para técnicos da área da construção, para aprendizagem das referidas metodologias, assim como relativas ao uso de técnicas de reabilitação sísmica. Em paralelo, também foram desenvolvidos instrumentos para aumentar a resiliência sísmica da população estudantil, designadamente o Projeto Educativo “Porquê que o chão se move?”, com atividades e material pedagógico para a educação e comunicação do risco sísmico, e o “Guia Prático da Escola Resiliente aos Sismos”, que também visam a implementação de medidas de redução do risco sísmico não-estrutural.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Revitalização de uma tecelagem do século XIX : desenhos e padrões

Está em curso um projecto de colaboração entre a Universidade do Minho, o Instituto Monsenhor Airosa (IMA), tendo o Museu da Indústria Têxtil da Bacia do Ave como consultor, no sentido de avaliar, recuperar e valorizar o Artesanato do IMA (AMA). Neste trabalho, efectuou-se um levantamento e estudo dos produtos da tecelagem. Foram estudados os mais diversos pontos: matérias-primas, métodos e equipamentos de produção, desenhos utilizados, produtos acabados e sua colocação no mercado, bem como a envolvente histórica do Instituto Monsenhor Airosa

The relationship between childhood gender nonconformity, aversive childhood experiences, and mental health in heterosexual and non-heterosexual cisgender men: The buffering effect of sense of coherence

Childhood gender nonconformity (CGNC) seems to be associated with more mental health problems in adulthood. Previous research has suggested that this link might be mediated via the increased risk for aversive childhood experiences (ACEs) as a negative social reaction to CGNC. However, no study yet examined the role of resilience factors in this relationship. The present study aims to address this gap by examining the potential buffering effect of sense of coherence (SOC). In a German sample of 371 cisgender men, we used mediation models to investigate the relationship between CGNC, ACEs, and mental health problems in adulthood, that is, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and suicidal behavior. We then employed moderated mediation models to examine the buffering effect of SOC on the association ACEs and mental health problems. The results showed that higher levels of CGNC were associated with more severe adult mental health problems, with this link being partially mediated by higher levels of ACEs. For depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior in the last 12 months, we found evidence of a buffering effect of SOC. Higher levels of SOC were associated with a weaker association between ACEs and mental health problems. In contrast, this effect was absent for loneliness and lifetime suicidal behavior. Our study provides evidence that ACEs partly account for the relationship between CGNC and mental health in adulthood. Moreover, we found support for SOC having a buffering effect on this link. Future studies need to examine whether SOC might be an important target for resilience training in those experiencing CGNC. However, sustainable interventions may rather address the negative social reactions to CGNC

A quantitative proteomic approach to highlight Phragmites sp. adaptation mechanisms to chemical stress induced by a textile dyeing pollutant

Phragmites sp. is present worldwide in treatment wetlands though the mechanisms involved in the phytoremediation remain unclear. In this study a quantitative proteomic approach was used to study the prompt response and adaptation of Phragmites to the textile dyeing pollutant, Acid Orange 7 (AO7). Previously, it was demonstrated that AO7 could be successfully removed from wastewater and mineralized in a constructed wetland planted with Phragmites sp. This azo dye is readily taken up by roots and transported to the plant aerial part by the xylem. Phragmites leaf samples were collected from a pilot scale vertical flow constructed wetland after 0.25, 3.25 and 24.25h exposure to AO7 (400mgL-1) immediately after a watering cycle used as control. Leaf soluble protein extraction yielded an average of 1560 proteins in a broad pI range (pH3-10) by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. A time course comparative analysis of leaf proteome revealed that 40 proteins had a differential abundance compared to control (p<0.05) within a 3.25h period. After 24.25h in contact with AO7, leaf proteome was similar to control. Adaptation to AO7 involved proteins related with cellular signalling (calreticulin, Ras-related protein Rab11D and 20S proteasome), energy production and conversion (adenosine triphosphate synthase beta subunit) carbohydrate transport and metabolism (phosphoglucose isomerase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, frutockinase-1 and Hypothetical protein POPTR_0003s12000g and the Uncharacterized protein LOC100272772) and photosynthesis (sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase and ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase). Therefore, the quantitative proteomic approach used in this work indicates that mechanisms associated with stress cell signalling, energy production, carbohydrate transport and metabolism as well as proteins related with photosynthesis are key players in the initial chemical stress response in the phytoremediation process of AO7

Assessment of cognitive functions in patients with multiple sclerosis applying the normative values of the Rao’s brief repeatable battery in the Portuguese population

Background: The Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRBN-T) is one of the most sensitive and used measures for detecting cognitive impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Objective: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate this battery to the Portuguese population of MS patients. Methods: The Portuguese version of the BRBN-T was applied to a stratified control national sample of 326 individuals considering sex, age, educational level and geographic location and also a clinical sample of 115 MS patients from several national hospitals. Through the exploration of its psychometrics properties, the Portuguese BRBN-T norms were produced. Results: The normative data is presented as a regression-based formula to adjust test scores for gender, education and age, and the results reveal the BRBN-T has the ability to differentiate between MS patients and healthy participant’s cognitive performance. Conclusion: This study demonstrated in our clinical population a good ability to detect cognitive impairment. Its clearly contributed to reinforcing the neuropsychological assessment in Portugal in patients with MS, by providing a new set of instruments, which can be used in the clinical practice, and in future studies. Moreover, it will allow a rigorous and precise support in relation to neuropsychological assessment for future longitudinal studies and clinical trials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Promover a continuidade do ensino antes da ocorrência de um sismo

Portugal and Spain are countries prone to earthquake hazard. An earthquake that occurs in the sea may trigger a tsunami threat, so in this case they are also prone to tsunami. After a disaster, the size and severity of the event, undermines the availability of systems and services to function properly, resulting in losses and impacts in human, social, environmental and economic spheres. One of the potential negative effectsfor children’s education is caused by damaged school buildings and lack of road access to schools. The PERSISTAH project aims to study the seismic risk of primary schools located in the regions of Algarve (Portugal) and Huelva (Spain). The present research has specific objectives: 1) to improve school seismic safety; 2) to protect learners and education workers from death, injury and harm in schools; 3) to safeguard education investments; and 4) to strengthen risk reduction and resilience through educationThis project was funded by the INTERREG-POCTEP España-Portugal program and the European Regional Development Fund.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio