Blisstrail: An Agile Project Business Case Study

AbstractToday's software development environment dictates speed, flexibility and a people-centered focus. Virtual teams represent a new organizational form that does not provide for same proximity collaboration. In this paper we propose a solution approach of a virtual team, as well as show some examples of using the Microsoft Visual Team Foundation Server 2013 tools to address these challenges

A multi-layer probing approach for video over 5G in vehicular scenarios

Fifth generation (5G) technologies are becoming a reality throughout the world. In parallel, vehicular networks rise their pace in terms of utilization; moreover, multimedia content transmissions are also getting an always increasing demand by their users. Besides the promised performance of 5G networks, several questions still arise among the community: are these networks capable of delivering high quality video streaming services in moving scenarios? What is the relationship between the network conditions and the video quality of experience? To answer to the previous questions, in this paper we propose a multi-layer probing approach able to assess video transmissions over 5G and 4G, combining data from all layers of a communication model, relating events from its origin layers. The probe's potential is thoroughly evaluated in two distinct video streaming use cases, both targeting a vehicular scenario supported by cellular 4G and 5G networks. Regarding the probe's performance, we show that a multitude of performance and quality indicators, from different stack layers, can be obtained. As for the performance of 4G and 5G networks in video streaming scenarios, the results have shown that the 5G links show a better overall performance in terms of video quality-of-experience, granting lower delays and jitter conditions, thus allowing video delay to be diminished and segment buffering to be better performed in comparison to 4G, while still showing adaptability in lightly traffic-saturated vehicular-to-vehicular scenarios.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Literacia da informação: o primeiro degrau para a Ciência Aberta

Introdução – No ensino superior, bibliotecários e professores têm desenvolvido estratégias para apoiar o desempenho académico dos estudantes, particularmente no respeitante às competências de literacia da informação, as quais são consideradas como uma poderosa ferramenta de intervenção na esfera da produção do conhecimento. Também a Ciência Aberta, centrada no eixo pesquisar fontes abertas/organizar dados abertos/publicar em acesso aberto, sobrevive das mesmas competências e dos mesmos saberes. Objetivos – O objetivo deste estudo é fazer uma reflexão sobre a missão das bibliotecas de ensino superior e o seu contributo para a Ciência Aberta, enquanto fonte e resultado da investigação científica, do ensino e da aprendizagem, através do fornecimento de competências de literacia da informação. Métodos – Revisão da literatura sustentada nos eixos da literacia da informação e da Ciência Aberta, compreendendo: a) seleção de três estudos de caso, desenvolvidos por bibliotecários e bibliotecas de ensino superior em Portugal no fomento de boas práticas e no fornecimento de competências que envolvam o saber pesquisar, selecionar, avaliar e utilizar a informação; b) seleção de um programa europeu de formação para doutorados e investigadores sobre literacia da informação e seu impacto na Ciência Aberta. Resultados/Conclusões – Os três estudos, desenvolvidos em comunidades académicas, apontam para: a) a necessidade de orientar a aprendizagem individual dos estudantes com a aprendizagem guiada por um docente; b) as competências de literacia da informação devem ser incluídas e desenvolvidas nos planos de estudo; c) a literacia da informação está associada ao ciclo de produção, comunicação, recuperação e utilização do conhecimento. O desenho curricular do programa FOSTER segue o mesmo conceito de formação de profissionais autónomos, reflexivos e críticos, à semelhança dos estudos de caso apresentados, capacitando doutorandos e investigadores para a investigação e para a divulgação dos dados científicos em acesso aberto. A literacia da informação, em conclusão, assume-se como uma ferramenta de aprendizagem essencial para o desenvolvimento da Ciência Aberta, potenciando o entendimento crítico dos conteúdos, a par do desenvolvimento e do progresso da investigação.ABSTRACT - Introduction - Librarians and teachers have developed strategies in higher education to support students' academic performance, particularly due to information literacy skills, which are considered as a powerful intervention tool in the knowledge production. Open Science, centered on the axis of researching open sources/organizing open data/publishing in open access, also survives from the same skills and knowledge. Main purpose - The main purpose of this study is a reflection on higher education libraries mission and their contribution to Open Science as a source and result of scientific research, teaching and learning, through the provision of information literacy skills. Methods – Literature review based on information literacy and Open Science, such as: a) selection of three case studies developed by librarians and Portuguese academic libraries, promoting good practices and the provision of skills that involve how to search, select, evaluate and use the information; b) selection of a European training program for PhDs and researchers on information literacy and its impact on Open Science. Results / Conclusions - The three studies, developed in academic communities, conclude that: a) orienting individual student learning with teacher-guided learning is a need; b) information literacy skills should be included and developed in the academic study plans; c) information literacy is associated with the cycle of production, communication, retrieval and use of knowledge. The curriculum design of the FOSTER program follows the same concept of training autonomous, reflexive and critical professionals, similar to the case studies presented, enabling Ph.D. students and researchers to research and disseminate scientific data in open access. Information literacy, in conclusion, is assumed as an essential learning tool for the development of Open Science, enhancing the critical understanding of contents, along with the development and research progress.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Effects of disturbance area on fouling communities from a tropical environment: Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Em comunidades incrustantes marinhas, o espaço livre no substrato é um dos principais recursos limitantes para o estabelecimento de novos organismos. Assim sendo, distúrbios físicos que removam biomassa se mostram importantes agentes para a estruturação e dinâmica dessas comunidades. A extensão do distúrbio é uma característica que parece afetar os padrões de recolonização, e desta forma altera a diversidade de espécies. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os efeitos de áreas crescentes de distúrbio em comunidades incrustantes. Para tal, comunidades macrobentônicas incrustantes foram previamente desenvolvidas por 6 meses na Baía de Guanabara (22°52'S, 043°08'W), recebendo uma única vez distúrbios circulares, aleatoriamente posicionados, com áreas crescentes (7 níveis, de 0 a 75% da cobertura removida, 10 réplicas por nível). Amostragens quinzenais foram realizadas após o distúrbio, de modo a acompanhar os padrões de desenvolvimento das comunidades. Na primeira amostragem observou-se que índices máximos de diversidade foram obtidos nas comunidades que receberam níveis intermediários de distúrbio. No entanto, no decorrer do tempo este perfil deu lugar a um pico de diversidade nas comunidades que sofreram os maiores níveis de distúrbio. Notou-se também um incremento contínuo da riqueza e diversidade ao longo do tempo até a 7ª amostragem (110 dias após os distúrbios), com subseqüente redução a partir deste momento. Tais padrões parecem corroborar a Hipótese do Distúrbio Intermediário, embora em médio prazo o perfil da comunidade mude drasticamente, revelando que perturbações físicas representam de fato um importante fator na estruturação de comunidades marinhas de substrato consolidado da Baía de Guanabara, além de realçar a importância de estudos de maior duração na avaliação dos impactos de distúrbios em comunidades marinhas.In marine fouling communities, free space is one of the key limiting resources for settlement of new organisms. In this way, removing biomass through physical disturbances would play an important role in the structure and dynamics of these communities. The disturbance size seems to be a characteristic that influences recolonization patterns, thus affecting species diversity. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of growing disturbance areas on fouling communities. Fouling panels were allowed to develop for 6 mo. at Guanabara Bay (22°52'S, 043°08'W) prior to a single application of randomly positioned, circular physical disturbances of growing areas (7 levels, from 0 to 75% removed cover, 10 replicates per treatment). Samples were taken fortnightly after the disturbance event, so as to follow the development patterns of the community afterward. At the first sampling the diversity showed maximum indices in communities to which intermediary disturbance levels were applied. However, this profile changed later to a diversity peak in communities with higher disturbance levels. It also showed a continuous increase in richness and diversity through time until the 7th sample (110 days after the disturbance event), with subsequent decrease. Such patterns seem to corroborate the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis, despite the drastic profile change with time, revealing that disturbance is indeed an important factor structuring hard bottom communities at Guanabara Bay, and highlighting the importance of longer term studies of disturbance impacts in marine communities

A COMUNICAÇÃO NA PROMOÇÃO DA DIGNIDADE EM CUIDADOS PALIATIVOS: DESAFIOS PARA A ENFERMAGEM

Objetivo: compreender a influência da comunicação enquanto instrumento básico de Enfermagem na promoção da dignidade em Cuidados Paliativos. Método: reflexão teórica mediante revisão da literatura e com recurso ao Modelo da Dignidade de Chochinov. A pesquisa de artigos científicos foi realizada na biblioteca do conhecimento online, na base de dados das publicações Elsevier e na plataforma agregadora de bases de dados EBSCO Host Web, publicados durante o período 2010-2016. Resultados: identificou-se intervenções associadas às competências comunicacionais dos enfermeiros que promovem a dignidade dos clientes em cuidados paliativos. As intervenções comunicacionais que mais promovem a dignidade são as que transmitem ao cliente paliativo o respeito pela sua individualidade e valorização da sua história pessoal. Conclusão: o enfermeiro deve adotar uma postura de compreensão empática, escuta ativa, disponibilidade, atenção às necessidades emocionais, aos componentes não verbais (como a presença física e o contacto visual), à gestão de expectativas e o incentivo do autocuidado.Descritores: Enfermagem. Cuidados Paliativos. Comunicação. Dignidade Humana

Frequency and predictors of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke in a Brazilian public hospital

OBJECTIVE: Scarce data are available on the occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage related to intravenous thrombolysis for acute stroke in South America. We aimed to address the frequency and clinical predictors of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after stroke thrombolysis at our tertiary emergency unit in Brazil. METHOD: We reviewed the clinical and radiological data of 117 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis in our hospital between May 2001 and April 2010. We compared our results with those of the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke registry. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with symptomatic intracranial transformation. RESULTS: In total, 113 cases from the initial sample were analyzed. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 16 (interquartile range: 10-20). The median onset-to-treatment time was 188 minutes (interquartile range: 155-227). There were seven symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages (6.2%; Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke registry: 4.9%; p = 0.505). In the univariate analysis, current statin treatment and elevated National Institute of Health Stroke Scale scores were related to symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. After the multivariate analysis, current statin treatment was the only factor independently associated with symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. CONCLUSIONS: In this series of Brazilian patients with severe strokes treated with intravenous thrombolysis in a public university hospital at a late treatment window, we found no increase in the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Additional studies are necessary to clarify the possible association between statins and the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage after stroke thrombolysis

Polypodium leucotomos targets multiple aspects of oral carcinogenesis and it is a potential antitumor phytotherapy against tongue cancer growth

Peer reviewe

Construction and calibration of Time Domain Reflectometry probes for assessing soil humidity in distropheric red latosol

Among the indirect methods of assessing soil moisture, Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) stands out, which uses the soil dielectric constant to provide volumetric moisture efficiently, quickly and non-destructively. Despite a practical and precise method, TDR has a high cost due to the probes and its Data Logger. In view of this, the present work aims to build and calibrate TDR probes to assess moisture in a Dystrophic Red Latosol. The present work was carried out in the experimental area of the hydraulics laboratory of the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), located in Dourados-MS, at latitude 22⁰ 12 \u27south, longitude 54⁰ 59\u27 west and altitude of 434 meters. Each probe built consisted of 3 stainless steel rods (Ø = 3 mm; L = 230 mm) RG 98 cable with 90% mesh and 50 ohm impedance, 4.7 pF ceramic capacitor and BNC connector. The construction procedures followed the following steps: 1- Making the cable, 2- Preparing the rods, 3- Welding the rods to the wires, 4 -Operating test and 5 - finishing phase. After construction, they were calibrated with the characteristic soil of the Region, proceeding with the Probe Reading in two depths (10 and 30 cm) and simultaneous collection of deformed soil samples to determine the moisture based on mass in Laboratory. Subsequently, calibrations with cubic polynomial adjustment were performed. The results showed adjustments with high determination coefficients, and the probes developed showed satisfactory performances

Impact of Bacillus Calmette–Guérin Moreau vaccine on lung remodeling in experimental asthma

AbstractWe analyzed the effects of different administration routes and application times of the BCG-Moreau strain on airway and lung inflammation and remodeling in a murine model of allergic asthma. BALB/c mice (n=168) were divided into two groups. The first group received BCG-Moreau strain while the second group received saline using the same protocol. BCG or saline were intradermally or intranasally injected one or two months before the induction of asthma. Mice were further sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin or received saline. Twenty-four hours after the last challenge, BCG prevented the triggering of pro-inflammatory cytokines, probably by increasing Foxp3 and interleukin (IL)-10, modulating eosinophil infiltration and collagen fiber deposition, thus reducing airway hyperresponsiveness. In conclusion, BCG-Moreau prevented lung remodeling in the present model of allergic asthma, regardless of administration route and time of vaccination. These beneficial effects may be related to the increase in regulatory T cells and to IL-10 production in tandem with decreased Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13)