RCAAP Repository

Este estudo analisou as inter-relações que se estabelecem entre resiliência e stresse numa organização de práticas positivas assumidas e outra sem assunção dessas práticas. Abordaram-se as temáticas stresse, resiliência, organizações positivas, coping, percorrendo a sua evolução histórica até à atualidade. Adotou-se uma metodologia de investigação de natureza quantitativa. A amostra final foi constituída por 141 inquéritos validados, com idades entre os 18 e os 65 anos. Avaliaram-se os níveis indicadores fatuais de resiliência, aplicando a Escala de Resiliência de Wagnild e Young (1993), traduzida e adaptada para o português por Pesce, et al. (2005), e avaliaram-se os níveis de stresse aplicando-se o Questionário de Vulnerabilidade ao Stresse (23 QVS) criado por Adriano Vaz-Serra (2000). Os instrumentos apresentaram as qualidades psicométricas exigidas (sensibilidade e fidedignidade), a ER apresentou o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach de 0,777 e a QVS23 de 0,759. Estudou-se a variabilidade do grau de resiliência e da vulnerabilidade ao stresse em função das variáveis (idade, sexo, escolaridade, estado civil, antiguidade na empresa e no posto de trabalho). Os resultados revelam diferenças significativas face à idade, e habilitações literárias na vulnerabilidade ao stresse. A variável estado civil exerce efeito diferencial na resiliência. Concluiu-se que o tipo de práticas não influi na resiliência. Os colaboradores das organizações positivas são menos vulneráveis ao stresse, nomeadamente nas dimensões “Condições de vida adversas” e “Dramatização de Existência”. Não se verificou correlação entre a resiliência e o stresse.

As Lesões Musculosqueléticas Relacionadas com o Trabalho (LMERT) são patologias inflamatórias e degenerativas do sistema musculosquelético desenvolvidas pelos trabalhadores quando sujeitos a determinados riscos profissionais. O crescente número de trabalhadores tem vindo a aumentar com lesões musculosqueléticas, embora não tenhamos encontrado estudos que analisem as LMERT na indústria dos moldes. Este estudo teve como finalidade avaliar o grau de incidência das lesões musculosqueléticas bem como as localizações mais relatadas. A amostra constituiu-se por 196 trabalhadores masculinos inquiridos por questionário. Os dados permitiram caracterizar a amostra quanto a hábitos de vida, condições de trabalho, ambiente de trabalho, posturas adotadas nas tarefas laborais bem como retirar informações quanto a queixas relativas às LMERT, as causas, a localização, a frequência da dor. Os resultados revelam que os trabalhadores desempenham tarefas de caráter repetitivo, fundamentalmente de pé e com poucas pausas. Os sintomas musculosqueléticos mais frequentes situam-se na zona lombar, nos joelhos, nos braços e na cabeça, sendo nos trabalhadores com mais idade que se registam mais sintomas, assim como dores mais intensas e permanentes. O trabalho termina com algumas recomendações para trabalhos futuros.

Este estudo caracteriza os processos de exploração vocacional e de ajustamento académico, e os traços de personalidade de estudantes universitários a frequentar o ISLA Leiria. A amostra inclui 115 estudantes, de ambos os sexos (62,6%) mulheres e (37,4%) homens, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e 61 anos, a frequentar o 1º Ciclo do Ensino Superior, no ano letivo de 2010/2011. As medidas aplicadas foram o Career Exploration Survey (CES, Stumpf et al., 1983, versão adaptada por Taveira, 1997), o Academic Adjustment Questionnaire (AAQ; Lent et al., 2005; versão adaptada por Lent & Taveira, 2004) e o Inventário de Personalidade Neo - Revisto (NEOPI-R; Costa & Crae, 1992; versão adaptada por Lima, 1997). Os resultados indicam que a exploração vocacional dos alunos está ativada, ao nível das suas crenças, comportamentos, e reações à exploração, e que estes se encontram envolvidos em objetivos de trabalho. Verificou-se que não existem diferenças estatisticamente significativas nos processos de exploração vocacional em função do sexo dos participantes e em função dos anos que frequentam. Em termos de personalidade os resultados apresentam um nível de Neuroticismo moderado, assim como uma Abertura à Experiencia moderada também. A Conscienciosidade, a Extroversão e a Amabilidade revelam níveis mais positivos. Não são verificados níveis significantes de diferença em função do sexo de pertença ou do anos que frequentam. Relativamente ao Ajustamento Académico o dado mais relevante é a fraca autoeficácia para ultrapassar obstáculos. Aqui também não são registadas alterações em função do sexo de pertença ou do ano que frequentam.

Mercê das cerca de 45 edições em sete línguas publicadas entre 1585 e o termo do século XVI, a Historia de las cosas mas notables, ritos y costumbres del gran Reyno de la Chinado agostinho espanhol Juan González de Mendoza logrou ser o primeiro best-seller internacional sobre o mundo chinês e um dos mais influentes livros da proto-sinologia europeia de Quinhentos e Seiscentos. As reivindicações dos poderes seculares da colónia espanhola de Manila e dos mendicantes do Padroado por um lugar na China não só contribuíram decisivamente para a génese da obra, como ajudam a justificar o impacto que esta conseguiu na Europa culta da transição do século XVI para o século XVII. Seja como for, para a cabal compreensão deste caso editorial é necessário proceder a inquéritos complementares, como o que investigue o modo como frei González de Mendoza articulou as informações de origem espanhola e portuguesa de que dispôs para compor a sua síntese sobre a China. Neste particular, ganha especial importância observar o tratamento concedido aos conteúdos de índole geográfica e avaliar, a partir daí, as razões subjacentes a opções que certa vez denotam um recuo objectivo em relação às informações disponíveis, outras uma aparente ruptura face a textos de referência, outras ainda a recuperação de ideias há muito abandonadas nos meios de vanguarda que se iam encarregando da actualização do moderno conhecimento europeu sobre a China. A articulação entre algumas destas opções e o serviço da propaganda do acto missionário dos mendicantes espanhóis constitui uma das principais pistas a explorar.

Nowadays, learning a Pharmaceutical Profession is an increasing challenge. Apart from traditional texts, lectures and self-guided individual learning, pharmaceutical educators are encouraged to find and implement ways to promote higher order thinking, collaborative learning and to increase students’ motivation. One way of achieving these objectives is to complement traditional learning methods with the development and implementation of Case Based Learning (CBL), supported in real life situations.Methods regarding real problems stand in contrast to a more traditional approach to learning and instruction. They promote learner-centered, small group, interactive learning experiences, instead of large group, didactic, teacher-centered instruction. Developing such a learning approach can be a challenge. In this sense, it becomes relevant to promote and share experiences already underway and by doing so, disseminate knowledge in this field. It is our goal with this text toshare our experience in the design and implementation of a Case Based Approach to Therapeutics.

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic drug, with the ability to inhibit lysine binding at plasminogen receptors, used in adult trauma patients with on-going or at risk of significant haemorrhage. To understand the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of this drug in variable age groups undergoing surgeries with high blood loss, effective methods for determination of TXA in biological samples at sub-μg mL−1 are still required. We describe herein the development and validation of a method based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole-tandem mass spectrometry to quantify TXA in human plasma. An inexpensive, simple and efficient sample clean-up was implemented, not requiring matrix-matching calibration. Sample preparation consisted in protein precipitation using acetonitrile containing 0.5% (v/v) formic acid, followed by hydrophilic interaction based chromatographic separation, with elution in isocratic mode using a combination of acetonitrile and water (75:25, v/v), with quantification of TXA based on selected reaction monitoring. Good linearity was achieved (r2 > 0.997) for TXA concentrations ranging from 30 to 600 ng mL−1, with LOD of 18 ng mL−1 in plasma. The developed method proved to be selective, sensitive, accurate (96.4–105.7% of nominal values) and precise (RSD ≤ 4.5%). TXA was found to be stable in plasma extracts standing 24 h at room temperature (20 °C) or in the autosampler, and after three freeze-thawing cycles. Mean recovery values of TXA spiked plasma samples were ≥91.9%. No significant matrix effects were observed. The proposed methodology was successfully applied to the clinical study of plasma samples recovered during scoliosis surgery of pediatric patients pretreatment with TXA.

Dysphagia is defined as difficulty in swallowing and is more prevalent in advanced ages. To overcome this difficulty, the elderly resort to altering the physical form of the medication, resulting in consequences for themselves and for the therapy.

Introduction: Drugs produced by pharmaceutical industry are limited to some dosages and forms that do not cover all therapy needs. Thus, the compounding drugs appear as a custom solution for several situations. One of those formulations is the diazepam suspension, produced in some hospitals with an empirical expiration date of 14 days.

Despite extensive research on chronic ankle instability, the findings regarding proprioception have been conflicting and focused only on the injured limb. Also, the different components of proprioception have been evaluated in isolation. To evaluate bilateral ankle proprioception in individuals with unilateral ankle instability. Cohort study. Research laboratory center in a university. Patients or Other Participants: Twenty-four individuals with a history of unilateral ankle sprain and chronic ankle instability (mechanical ankle instability group, n = 10; functional ankle instability [FAI] group, n = 14) and 20 controls. Ankle active and passive joint position sense, kinesthesia, and force sense. We observed a significant interaction between the effects of limb and group for kinesthesia (F = 3.27, P = .049). Increased error values were observed in the injured limb of the FAI group compared with the control group (P = .031, Cohen d = 0.47). Differences were also evident for force sense (F = 9.31, P < .001): the FAI group demonstrated increased error versus the control group (injured limb: P < .001, Cohen d = 1.28; uninjured limb: P = .009, Cohen d = 0.89) and the mechanical ankle instability group (uninjured limb: P = .023, Cohen d = 0.76). Individuals with unilateral FAI had increased error ipsilaterally (injured limb) for inversion movement detection (kinesthesia) and evertor force sense and increased error contralaterally (uninjured limb) for evertor force sense.

Context: The determinant role of medium latency responses (MLRs) during compensatory postural adjustments in postural stability and the lack of clarity about the mechanisms behind chronic ankle instability (CAI) sustain the hypothesis that these postural responses are impaired in this condition. However, to the best of our knowledge, no authors have assessed MLRs in patients with CAI; most of the research regarding compensatory postural adjustments has been directed at the timing of short latency responses (SLRs). Objective:  To evaluate bilateral compensatory postural responses, including SLRs and MLRs, in response to a unilateral simulated ankle-sprain mechanism in participants with CAI. Design:  Case-control study. Setting:  Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants:  Twenty-four participants with CAI and 20 controls. Intervention(s):  Bilateral electromyography of the peroneus longus (PL), peroneus brevis, tibialis anterior (TA), and soleus (SOL) muscles was collected during a unilateral sudden-inversion perturbation (30°). Main Outcome Measure(s):  Muscle-onset activations and magnitudes of SLRs and MLRs in the support and perturbed positions. Results:  Participants with CAI showed (1) later-onset activation of the TA and SOL in the uninjured limb and bilateral decreases in the magnitude of the TA MLR in the support position, (2) increased magnitude of the PL MLR in the uninjured limb in the support and perturbed positions, and (3) increased magnitude of the PL SLR and MLR in the injured limb in the perturbed position. Conclusions:  Chronic ankle instability was associated with later TA and SOL activation in the uninjured limb and bilaterally decreased magnitude of the TA MLR in the support position.

Introduction and objectives Children up to 2 years old are at high risk of respiratory infections and nasal irrigation is often prescribed. Yet, to date there is no sufficient knowledge about its immediate effects on the nasopharynx and middle ear. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effect of a rhino-pharyngeal clearance intervention protocol on nasal obstruction and middle ear condition in children under 3 years of age with URTI. Materials and methods Randomized controlled trial in a day-care centre of Porto, including 44 children randomized to Intervention Group (IG) and Control Group (CG). Nasal auscultation and tympanometry were performed at baseline (M0) as well as after the intervention (M1), which consisted of nasal irrigation (NaCl .9%) followed by a forced nasal inspiration in the IG, and after 30 min of normal activities, in the CG. Results In M1 there was a lower frequency of children classified as having an obstructed nasal sound in the IG when compared to the CG (IG = 33.3%; CG = 68.4%; p = 0.042). We also observed an improvement of mean peak pressure (PP) in the IG (Left ear: M0 = −124daPa; M1 = −92daPa; p = 0.022. Right ear: M0 = −102daPa; M1 = −77daPa; p = 0.021), which was not observed in the CG (Left ear: M0 = −105daPa; M1 = −115daPa; p = 0.485. Right ear: M0 = −105daPa; M1 = −131daPa; p = 0.105). There were no significant results concerning the compliance of the tympanic membrane. Conclusions The rhino-pharyngeal clearance improved the nasal obstruction and PP of the middle ear of children under 3 years of age with URTI.

This paper presents an agent-based simulator designed for analyzing agent market strategies based on a complete understanding of buyer and seller behaviours, preference models and pricing algorithms, considering user risk preferences. The system includes agents that are capable of improving their performance with their own experience, by adapting to the market conditions. In the simulated market agents interact in several different ways and may joint together to form coalitions. In this paper we address multi-agent coalitions to analyse Distributed Generation in Electricity Markets

The aim of this study was to compare the magnitude and pattern of lower limb muscular activity during the sit-to-stand (STS) task with and without upper limb immobilization. The activity of six muscles from each lower limb (Rectus Femoris, Vastus Medialis, Biceps Femoris, Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius Medialis and Soleus) were recorded while 19 young healthy participants performed the STS task with and without an arm sling on their dominant side. Myoelectric signals were collected using BioPlux Research device, and two Bertec force platforms were used to determine different phases of the STS task. The peak of muscular activity and muscle onset times were calculated, two general linear models with an alpha of 0.05 were used between the conditions with and without upper limb immobilization. We found no statistically significant differences in the onset of lower limb muscular activity, and we observed decreased peak of muscular activity in the Rectus Femoris at the immobilized side and an increased peak in the Vastus Medialis at the side opposite to the upper limb immobilized compared to the control condition. We did observe differences in the magnitude of ipsilateral Rectus Femoris and contralateral Vastus Medialis as a consequence of upper limb immobilization.

It is extremely difficult to reduce the relations between the several body parts that perform human motion to a simplified set of features. Therefore, the study of the upper-limb functionality is still in development, partly due to the wider range of actions and strategies for motor execution. This, in turn, leads to inconsistent upper-limb movement parameterization. We propose a methodology to assess and quantify the upper-limb motor execution. Extracting key variables from different sources, we intended to quantify healthy upper-limb movement and use these parameters to quantify motor execution during rehabilitation after stroke. In order to do so, we designed an experimental setup defining a workspace for the execution of the action recording kinematic data. Results reveal an effect of object and instruction on the timing of upper-limb movement, indicating that the spatiotemporal analysis of kinematic data can be used as a quantification parameter for motor rehabilitation stages and methods.

On assistive technology targeted for people with activity limitations and participation, usability issues becomes an essential tool to ensure that the product has the appropriate ergonomics characteristics, in other words, ensure that it fits the specific user's needs. The aim of this study was to analyze the usability of an adaptive seating device for children with neuromotor impairments, by using kinematic indicators of the reaching movement. The study sample consisted of 13 children with associated neurologic conditions. The tests were developed by using a wooden bench height adjustable, integrated with the adaptive seating device under study, and a system to capture three-dimensional image, called Qualisys Track Manager. The following reaching kinematics variables were measured: maximum reaching velocity, movement duration, index of curvature, and unit movements. It was found that the use of the adaptive seating device had a positive impact on upper limb function in children with neuromotor impairments. It was also noticed an improvement in the reaching movement kinematics, which was statistical significant for the index of curvature and unit movements. As main conclusions, it is possible to point out some positive effects that the product under study seems to have on users’ movements, such as the improved movement quality of the upper limb, which could mean a better postural adjustments and higher trunk postural control. By identifying new measures of usability in terms of effectiveness and efficiency for the analyzed device, the results obtained may serve also as performance indicators, providing new data that may help to improve the product and eventually modifying it, in order to turn it more compatible with the needs of the considered target population.

The need for new business models to replace existing ones, soon obsolete, is a subject often discussed among researchers in the area. It is essential to find a practical solution that includes the concepts of demand response and distributed generation in the energy markets, these being the future of the electricity grid. It is believed that these resources can bring advantages to the operation of the system, namely increasing technical efficiency. However, one of the problems is the aggregation of small resources as a result of the associated uncertainties. The authors propose a business model with three main phases used in planning: optimal scheduling, aggregation, and remuneration. In this paper, a new phase was added, the classification, with the main purpose of assisting the aggregator of these small resources in operating situations. The focus is on the fair remuneration of participants in the management of the market, in addition to minimizing operating costs. After testing four different remuneration methods, it was proved that the method proposed by the authors obtained better results, proving the viability of the proposed model.

Background: An increasingly aging society and consequently rising number of patients with poststroke-related neurological dysfunctions are forcing the rehabilitation field to adapt to ever-growing demands. Although clinical reasoning within rehabilitation is dependent on patient movement performance analysis, current strategies for monitoring rehabilitation progress are based on subjective time-consuming assessment scales, not often applied. Therefore, a need exists for efficient nonsubjective monitoring methods. Wearable monitoring devices are rapidly becoming a recognized option in rehabilitation for quantitative measures. Developments in sensors, embedded technology, and smart textile are driving rehabilitation to adopt an objective, seamless, efficient, and cost-effective delivery system. This study aims to assist physiotherapists’ clinical reasoning process through the incorporation of accelerometers as part of an electronic data acquisition system. Methods: A simple, low-cost, wearable device for poststroke rehabilitation progress monitoring was developed based on commercially available inertial sensors. Accelerometry data acquisition was performed for 4 first-time poststroke patients during a reach-press-return task. Results: Preliminary studies revealed acceleration profiles of stroke patients through which it is possible to quantitatively assess the functional movement, identify compensatory strategies, and help define proper movement. Conclusion: An inertial data acquisition system was designed and developed as a low-cost option for monitoring rehabilitation. The device seeks to ease the data-gathering process by physiotherapists to complement current practices with accelerometry profiles and aid the development of quantifiable methodologies and protocols.

Smart home devices currently available on the market can be used for remote monitoring and control. Energy management systems can take advantage of this and deploy solutions that can be implemented in our homes. One of the big enablers is smart plugs that allow the control of electrical resources while providing a retrofitting solution, hence avoiding the need for replacing the electrical devices. However, current so-called smart plugs lack the ability to understand the environment they are in, or the electrical appliance/resource they are controlling. This paper applies environment awareness smart plugs (EnAPlugs) able to provide enough data for energy management systems or act on its own, via a multi-agent approach. A case study is presented, which shows the application of the proposed approach in a house where 17 EnAPlugs are deployed. Results show the ability to shared knowledge and perform individual resource optimizations. This paper evidences that by integrating artificial intelligence on devices, energy advantages can be observed and used in favor of users, providing comfort and savings.

Ankylosing Spondylitis(AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease characterized by inflammation of the joints of the spine and sacroiliac and to a lesser percentage of the peripheral joints. It is a debilitating condition which reduces quality of life in patients with AS. The practice of physical therapy is recommended as non-pharmacological treatment as well as the treatment and prevention of associated deformities. To collect and summarize the available evidence in scientific databases to realize the effectiveness of home based and group based programs in patients with AS. Systematic review, where articles for the study were collected from scientific database PubMed. We have found 65 articles with publication date between January 1, 2004 and January 31, 2014. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were established to make the selection of articles to include in the study. All investigators provided their agreement in presencial meeting for a final selection, and at a later stage, the articles were read in full by the three investigators. The present systematic review includes eight randomized controlled trials. All articles show functional benefits in patients with As subject to exercise programsin group based and/or home based. From the eight articles, 4 addressed programs conducted in home based context and 4 addressed in group based context programs. There appearsto be evidence that the programs carried out based on group are more effective than those home based conducted in patients with AS. It was concluded also be advantageous to carry out home-based exercise programsthan the absence of any exercise program.

Postural control, which involves stability and intersegmental orientation against gravity, is considered a prerequisite for movement to occur efficiently and in different contexts [1]. After central nervous system damage, individuals tend to demonstrate motor impairments, which can affect their functional ability in different activities, such as standing and walking [2]. These altered motor behaviours restrict voluntary, well-coordinated and effective movements, which in turn limit a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks [2]. Therefore, this study aimed at analysing the correlation between the orientation of the trunk and lower limbs of individuals after stroke during standing.