Medição da Qualidade em Bibliotecas e Centros de Informação: Novos Indicadores de Desempenho

Este estudo pretende ser uma revisão de algumas metodologias, de avaliação da qualidade e do desempenho dos serviços prestados nas bibliotecas e centros de informação, emergentes nos últimos cinco anos. Existe abundante literatura sobre esta matéria que se encontra profundamente ligada à gestão da qualidade. Procurou-se, de modo sumário, enumerar e promover o conhecimento de instrumentos criados e implementados em vários países do mundo. Optou-se por realçar os projectos que mais se evidenciaram a nível internacional e mostraram ser reconhecidos como instrumentos úteis e válidos para aferir, em termos quantitativos, os serviços prestados por bibliotecas públicas, académicas ou especializadas. Á biblioteca física veio adicionar-se a biblioteca digital, ambas coexistem e completam-se nos serviços de documentação. Os bibliotecários e gestores de informação têm, que gerir simultaneamente recursos humanos e de informação com, os seguintes objectivos finais: proporcionar um acesso rápido à informação; satisfazer as expectativas do utilizador e reduzir os custos dos serviços. Tendo enfoque nestas metas, vários profissionais em todo o mundo investigaram e definiram grande quantidade de metodologias para optimizar o desempenho e a qualidade dos serviços prestados nas bibliotecas. Neste contexto, é importante avaliar os serviços, uma vez que, existe a necessidade de conhecer se “os profissionais estão a oferecer os melhores serviços possíveis, aos utilizadores certos e a um preço justo” (DAVIS, 2008). A emergência das tecnologias de informação nas bibliotecas trouxe várias questões e novas abordagens. Para efectuar quantificações foram estabelecidas e alteradas, recentemente, várias ferramentas, a saber: • Novos indicadores de desempenho definidos pela International Organization for Standardization (ISO 11620:2008, ISO 2789:2006 e ISO/TR 281181:2009) e pela International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) (POLL, te BOEKHORST, 2007); • Adopção da estrutura Balanced Scorecard; • Novas dimensões da metodologia LibQUAL; • Utilização do Método de Avaliação Contingencial

FATORES FÍSICO-QUÍMICOS E BIOLÓGICOS LIGADOS À PRODUÇÃO DE MICOTOXINAS

O objetivo desta revisão de literatura foi abordar as condições favoráveis ao desenvolvimento de fungos toxigênicos que podem produzir micotoxinas. Os aspectos tratados incluíram temperatura e umidade, agentes competidores e atmosfera de crescimento. Também foram abordados os meios de cultura para identificação de fungos micotoxigênicos. Concluiu-se que o conhecimento dos fatores ligados à produção de micotoxinas possibilita a adoção de medidas para reduzir a presença de toxinas e melhorar o aproveitamento dos alimentos. PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL FACTORS LINKED TO THE PRODUCTION OF MYCOTOXINS Abstract The aim of this literature review was to approach the favorable conditions to toxigenic fungi development, which can produce mycotoxins. The aspects described included temperature and moisture, competitors agents and growing atmosphere. The culture media for mycotoxigenic fungi identification were also aborded. It was concluded that the knowledge of the factors linked to the production of mycotoxin possibilitates the adoption of measures to reduce the toxins presence and to enhance food utilization

Quality Measures for Libraries and Information Services.

The purpose of this article is to describe briefly two quality evaluation models for academic libraries: the Portuguese investigation proposes an action model to measure the performance of the libraries of the Universidade do Porto (UP). This tool is justified by the CAF – Common Assessment Framework (an auto-evaluation tool based on the European Foundation Quality Management Excellence Model), the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP); the PAQ – Quality of Products and Services Evaluation Program of the SIBi/USP, based on the Model SERVQUAL, is an assessment research implemented in the academic libraries of the Universidade de São Paulo (USP), in Brazil. The proposal has been presented as being viable and necessary for the management of the libraries of the SIBi/USP

Experience-related reductions of myelin and axon diameter in adulthood

The production of new myelin has been highlighted as an underappreciated mechanism of brain plasticity, but whether plastic decreases in myelin also happen in the adult brain has been largely unexplored. Recently, Sinclair et al. (Sinclair JS, Fischl MJ, Alexandrova O, Heß M, Grothe B, Leibold C, and Kopp-Scheinpflug C. J Neurosci 37: 8239–8255, 2017) have shown that auditory deprivation can lead to decrease in myelination and axon caliber even in healthy adulthood. These findings show that activity-regulated myelination is more complex than previously thought and expand our knowledge of how adult brain plasticity could operate on a cellular level

Advances in noninvasive myelin imaging

Myelin is important for the normal development and healthy function of the nervous system. Recent developments in MRI acquisition and tissue modeling aim to provide a better characterization and more specific markers for myelin. This allows for specific monitoring of myelination longitudinally and noninvasively in the healthy brain as well as assessment of treatment and intervention efficacy. Here, we offer a nontechnical review of MRI techniques developed to specifically monitor myelin such as magnetization transfer (MT) and myelin water imaging (MWI). We further summarize recent studies that employ these methods to measure myelin in relation to development and aging, learning and experience, and neuropathology and psychiatric disorders

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the operation (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007746) funded by the Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização–Compete2020 and by National Funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within the Center for Health Technology and Services Research, R&D Unit (reference UID/IC/4255/2013).BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer among men. Because screening for prostate cancer is a controversial issue, many experts in the field have defended the use of shared decision making using validated decision aids, which can be presented in different formats (eg, written, multimedia, Web). Recent studies have concluded that decision aids improve knowledge and reduce decisional conflict. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the impact of using Web-based decision aids to support men's prostate cancer screening decisions in comparison with usual care and other formats of decision aids. METHODS: We searched PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases up to November 2016. This search identified randomized controlled trials, which assessed Web-based decision aids for men making a prostate cancer screening decision and reported quality of decision-making outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened citations for inclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Using a random-effects model, meta-analyses were conducted pooling results using mean differences (MD), standardized mean differences (SMD), and relative risks (RR). RESULTS: Of 2406 unique citations, 7 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. For risk of bias, selective outcome reporting and participant/personnel blinding were mostly rated as unclear due to inadequate reporting. Based on seven items, two studies had high risk of bias for one item. Compared to usual care, Web-based decision aids increased knowledge (SMD 0.46; 95% CI 0.18-0.75), reduced decisional conflict (MD -7.07%; 95% CI -9.44 to -4.71), and reduced the practitioner control role in the decision-making process (RR 0.50; 95% CI 0.31-0.81). Web-based decision aids compared to printed decision aids yielded no differences in knowledge, decisional conflict, and participation in decision or screening behaviors. Compared to video decision aids, Web-based decision aids showed lower average knowledge scores (SMD -0.50; 95% CI -0.88 to -0.12) and a slight decrease in prostate-specific antigen screening (RR 1.12; 95% CI 1.01-1.25). CONCLUSIONS: According to this analysis, Web-based decision aids performed similarly to alternative formats (ie, printed, video) for the assessed decision-quality outcomes. The low cost, readiness, availability, and anonymity of the Web can be an advantage for increasing access to decision aids that support prostate cancer screening decisions among men.publishersversionpublishe

Medição da Qualidade em Bibliotecas e Centros de Informação: Novos Indicadores de Desempenho

Este estudo pretende ser uma revisão de algumas metodologias, de avaliação da qualidade e do desempenho dos serviços prestados nas bibliotecas e centros de informação, emergentes nos últimos cinco anos. Existe abundante literatura sobre esta matéria que se encontra profundamente ligada à gestão da qualidade. Procurou-se, de modo sumário, enumerar e promover o conhecimento de instrumentos criados e implementados em vários países do mundo. Optou-se por realçar os projectos que mais se evidenciaram a nível internacional e mostraram ser reconhecidos como instrumentos úteis e válidos para aferir, em termos quantitativos, os serviços prestados por bibliotecas públicas, académicas ou especializadas. Á biblioteca física veio adicionar-se a biblioteca digital, ambas coexistem e completam-se nos serviços de documentação. Os bibliotecários e gestores de informação têm, que gerir simultaneamente recursos humanos e de informação com, os seguintes objectivos finais: proporcionar um acesso rápido à informação; satisfazer as expectativas do utilizador e reduzir os custos dos serviços. Tendo enfoque nestas metas, vários profissionais em todo o mundo investigaram e definiram grande quantidade de metodologias para optimizar o desempenho e a qualidade dos serviços prestados nas bibliotecas. Neste contexto, é importante avaliar os serviços, uma vez que, existe a necessidade de conhecer se “os profissionais estão a oferecer os melhores serviços possíveis, aos utilizadores certos e a um preço justo” (DAVIS, 2008). A emergência das tecnologias de informação nas bibliotecas trouxe várias questões e novas abordagens. Para efectuar quantificações foram estabelecidas e alteradas, recentemente, várias ferramentas, a saber: • Novos indicadores de desempenho definidos pela International Organization for Standardization (ISO 11620:2008, ISO 2789:2006 e ISO/TR 281181:2009) e pela International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) (POLL, te BOEKHORST, 2007); • Adopção da estrutura Balanced Scorecard; • Novas dimensões da metodologia LibQUAL; • Utilização do Método de Avaliação Contingencial

Distinct mechanisms of spike timing-dependent LTD at vertical and horizontal inputs onto L2/3 pyramidal neurons in mouse barrel cortex

Spike timing‐dependent plasticity (STDP ) is an attractive candidate to mediate the synaptic changes that support circuit plasticity in sensory cortices during development. STDP is prevalent at excitatory synapses, but it is not known whether the underlying mechanisms are universal, or whether distinct mechanisms underpin STDP at different synapses. Here, we set out to compare and contrast STDP at vertical layer 4 and horizontal layer 2/3 inputs onto postsynaptic layer 2/3 neurons in the mouse barrel cortex. We find that both vertical and horizontal inputs show STDP , but that they display different time windows for induction of timing‐dependent long‐term depression (t‐LTD ). Moreover, whereas t‐LTD at vertical inputs requires presynaptic NMDA receptors and is expressed presynaptically, using paired recordings we find that t‐LTD at horizontal inputs requires postsynaptic NMDA receptors and is expressed postsynaptically. These results demonstrate that similar forms of plasticity on the same postsynaptic neuron can be mediated by distinct mechanisms, and suggest that these forms of plasticity may enable these two types of cortical synapses to support different functions

Impact of Renal Dysfunction on Liver Transplantation: a Retrospective Study in 708 Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients

Renal dysfunction often complicates the course of orthotopic liver transplant recipients and is associated with increased morbid -mortality. The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of chronic renal disease and its impact on patient survival. Clinical data included age, gender and weight,aetiology of hepatic failure, presence of diabetes,hypertension, hepatitis B and C infection, renal dysfunction pretransplant and immunosuppression. Laboratory data included serum creatinine at days 1, 7, 21, month 6, 12 and yearly. The glomerular filtration rate was determined by Cockcroft-Gault equation. We studied retrospectively from September 1992 to March 2007 708 orthotopic liver transplant recipients. Mean age 44±12.6 years, 64% males, 17% diabetic, 18.8% hypertensive, 19.9% with hepatitis C and 3.8% hepatitis B. Renal dysfunction pretransplant was known in 21.6%. Mean follow-up was 3.6 years. Mean transplant survival 75% at 12 months. 154 patients died. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed and a p<0.05 was considered significant. Acute kidney injury occurred in 33.2%. Chronic kidney disease stage 3 was observed in 34.3%,stage 4 in 6.2% and stage 5 in 5.1%. At the time of this study, 46.4% were on Cyclosporine A, 44.7% on tacrolimus and 8.9% on sirolimus. Using multivariate analysis, renal dysfunction was correlated with renal dysfunction pre -orthotopic liver transplant (p<0.001), acute kidney injury (p<0.001), haemodialysis development (p<0.001), and inversely correlated with the use of mycophenolate mophetil (p<0.001); mortality was positively correlated with renal dysfunction pretransplant (p=0.03),chronic kidney disease stage 4 (p=0.001), chronic kidney disease stage 5 (p<0.001) and inversely correlated with the use of tacrolimus (p=0.006). In conclusion orthotopic liver transplant recipients are disposed to renal complications that have a negative impact on survival of these patients

Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Familial Amyloidotic Polyneuropathy Is Associated with Long-Term Progression of Renal Disease

Orthotopic liver transplantation has become the treatment of choice for familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the renal complications post orthotopic liver transplantation in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy and their impact. We retrospectively studied 185 recipients who underwent 217 orthotopic liver transplants. Mean age 36.8±9.5 years, 59% males, 14.3% with renal dysfunction pre orthotopic liver transplantation. Mean follow-up 3.6±3.7 years. Thirty-two patients died. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed, and p<0.05 was considered significant. Acute kidney injury occurred in 57 patients and renal replacement therapy was needed in 16/57. In multivariate analysis, acute kidney injury was correlated with development of chronic kidney disease (p<0.001). Relating to development of chronic kidney disease, 23.5% had progress to stage 3, 6% to stage 4 and 5.1% to stage 5d. According to Spearmen correlation, risk factors for chronic kidney disease development were age (p<0.001), renal dysfunction pre orthotopic liver transplantation (p<0.001) and acute kidney injury post orthotopic liver transplantation (p<0.001). Mortality was correlated with age (p<0.001), retransplantation need (p=0.004), renal dysfunction pre orthotopic liver transplantation (p<0.001), acute kidney injury post orthotopic liver transplantation (p=0.04), and chronic kidney disease stage 5 (p<0.001). Using binary regression, mortality was correlated with chronic kidney disease development (p=0.02). In conclusion, familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy patients are disposed to renal complications that have a negative impact on the survival of these patients