O Serviço Social nas Autarquias e a sua Importância para o Desenvolvimento Social Local

Aprofundar o conhecimento do Serviço Social e reflectir sobre a prática profissional do Assistente Social e a criação de políticas sociais com vista ao desenvolvimento social local, nomeadamente, na Câmara Municipal da Batalha, constituíram o objectivo de estudo. A descentralização do Poder Central para o Poder Local, assente na proximidade ao cidadão, mantém-se em discussão na agenda política e ganha maior relevo na conjuntura actual, com a reforma do Poder Local. Contudo, até ao momento, as transferências no âmbito da Acção Social mantêm-se bastante genéricas e sem regulamentação. Por essa razão, o Poder Local intervém na área social sem que essas competências estejam delineadas pela tutela e muitas vezes sem o devido financiamento, deixando aos Executivos Municipais a decisão sobre a criação de políticas sociais. Neste sentido, com o intuito de assegurarem os interesses das suas populações, as Câmaras Municipais implementam medidas sociais de âmbito local, que se revelam mais ou menos intensas, consoante o importância que lhes é dada por cada Executivo, que define as áreas de intervenção prioritárias e quais os recursos disponíveis para investir no domínio social. O Serviço Social revela ser um importante recurso das autarquias na criação das políticas sociais locais, na medida em que o Assistente Social, ao conhecer o território e intervir mais próximo dos cidadãos, pode propor programas de desenvolvimento local, adequados aos interesses da população. No caso particular da Câmara Municipal da Batalha, reflectiu-se sobre a prática da Assistente Social e evocaram-se as políticas sociais por esta planeadas e desenvolvidas, revelando o seu contributo para o desenvolvimento social do concelho. Atestou-se, em género de conclusão, que, apesar do Assistente Social ter um papel cada vez mais preponderante na execução das políticas de desenvolvimento local, a sua prática profissional tem limitações por não ser capaz, por si só, de resolver problemas sociais de génese estrutural, influenciados pela conjuntura nacional e internacional

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

The value of open-source clinical science in pandemic response: lessons from ISARIC

International audienc