Microbiota assessment in optical shops: an ignored concern to public health

The presence of microorganisms in ophthalmic instruments and surfaces can lead to the exposure of patients to several infections. However, there is no information regarding fungal and bacteria contamination in optical shops. This study aims to characterize fungi and bacteria contamination in air and surfaces from 10 optical shops covering also ophthalmic instruments. Air samples were collected through an impaction method onto malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with chloramphenicol (0.05%) used for fungi and Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) supplemented with nystatin (0.2%) used for bacteria. Outdoor samples were also performed to be used as reference. Surface and equipment’s swab samples were also collected side-by-side. All the collected samples were incubated at 27ºC for 5 to 7 days (fungi) or at 30º for 7 days (bacteria). Regarding fungal distribution, thirteen different species/genera were found in the air, being the most common Alternaria sp. (62.0%). Eight different species/genera were identified in the surfaces, ranging from 2 to 5x104 CFU/m2, being the most common A. versicolor complex and Penicillium sp. (40.0%). The trial frames were the most contaminated equipment, since 50.0% of the collected samples were with countless colonies. The airborne bacterial population indicated higher concentrations in the contactology office (average: 133 CFU/m3) than in the client’s waiting rooms (average: 126 CFU/m3). The surface samples indicated bacterial concentrations ranging from 2x104 to 1x106 CFU/m2, pointing out the automatic refractometer as the surface with higher bacterial load.

Bacterial contamination in hotel rooms during the cleaning activity

Introduction - Some studies point to human activities as one of the responsible for most bacterial concentration. However, there is no information regarding bacteria contamination in hotel room during the cleaning activity. Aim of the study - This study aims to assess and characterize the occupational exposure of bacterial contamination in hotel rooms, more precisely in a room with carpet floor and another room without carpet, during the cheaning activity.

Occupational exposure to particles during hotel´s rooms cleaning

Background: The majority of studies investigated ambient particles, although in most industrialized countries people spend most of their time indoors and significant emissions of fine and ultrafine particles leading to human exposure are caused by various indoor tasks, including cleaning tasks. Objective: To characterize the occupational exposure to particles during cleaning of hotel's rooms. Methodology: Measurements of mass concentration and particle number concentration were performed before and during cleaning tasks in two rooms with different floor types (wood and carpet) with the equipment Lighthouse, model 3016 IAQ. Results: Considering mass concentration, particles with higher were responsable for higher leves of contamination, particularly PM5.0 and PM10.0. However, considering the particle number concentration, the smaller particle size obtained the higher values. Conclusion: It was observed higher number of particles of the smaller size in all tasks, which is associated with worse health effects. It was observed that the room with wood in the floor has lower values when compared to the room with carpet. The tasks with greater exposure were the 'vacuuming' and 'clean up powder'.

Prevalence of fungi in indoor air with reference to gymnasiums with swimming pools

Fungal contamination of air in 10 gymnasiums with swimming pools was monitored. Fifty air samples of 200 L each were collected, using a Millipore air tester, from the area surrounding the pool, in training studios, in showers and changing rooms for both sexes, and also, outside premises, since these are the places regarded as reference. Simultaneously, environmental parameters – temperature and humidity – were also monitored. Some 25 different species of fungi were identified. The six most commonly isolated genera were the following: Cladosporium sp. (36.6%), Penicillium sp. (19.0%), Aspergillus sp. (10.2%), Mucor sp. (7%), Phoma sp. and Chrysonilia sp. (3.3%). For yeasts, three different genera were identified, namely, Rhodotorula sp. (70%), Trichosporon mucoides and Cryptococcus uniguttulattus (10%).

A qualidade das salas de berçários nos concelhos de Setubal e de Palmela

Tendo por principal objetivo contribuir para o estudo da qualidade das creches dos Concelhos de Setúbal e de Palmela, com este trabalho pretende-se (1) avaliar e descrever a qualidade de 30 salas de berçário através da aplicação da Escala de Avaliação do Ambiente de Creche – Edição Revista (Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale – Revised Edition [ITERS-R], Harms, Cryer, & Clifford, 2006), (2) avaliar e descrever as práticas de socialização dos prestadores de cuidados responsáveis pelas 30 salas de berçário através da aplicação da Escala de Interação do Prestador de Cuidados (Caregiver Interaction Scale [CIS], Arnett, 1989), (3) estudar a associação entre as práticas de socialização dos profissionais e a qualidade das salas de berçário, (4) estudar associações entre a qualidade das salas de berçário e as práticas de socialização dos profissionais e algumas variáveis de estrutura (rácio adulto/criança, tamanho do grupo, educação, formação e experiência dos prestadores de cuidados). Tendo em conta que os estudos efetuados em Portugal revelam qualidade inadequada e mínima nas salas de creche, os resultados obtidos no presente estudo sugerem que as salas observadas possuem qualidade entre o mínimo e o bom. Embora o presente estudo apresente resultados superiores, verificou-se que os itens que apresentam maiores fragilidades (áreas deficitárias), assim como os itens que expressam maior qualidade (áreas fortes) parecem convergir com os resultados das investigações já efetuadas, com efeito os itens relacionados com as subescalas Atividades e Rotinas de cuidados pessoais são os que apresentam os resultados mais preocupantes. A subescala Interação foi a que apresentou resultados superiores e as práticas de socialização dos prestadores de cuidados revelaram ser excelentes. Verificou-se, igualmente, que as salas orientadas por educadores de infância, assim como, as salas em que o principal prestador de cuidados era educador de infância revelaram qualidade superior do que salas orientadas por assistentes operacionais (auxiliares de ação educativa). Este efeito chama a atenção para a importância da formação e qualificação dos profissionais de educação, assim como, para a necessidade de se alterarem as políticas educativas, nomeadamente no que diz respeito à obrigatoriedade de existirem educadores de infância nas salas de berçário. - ABSTRACT With the main objective of contributing to the study of quality of infant/toddler center-based child care in the Counties of Setúbal and Palmela, this work aims to (1) assess and describe the quality of 30 infant classrooms by applying the Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale-Revised Edition ([ITERS-R], Harms, Cryer, & Clifford, 2006), (2) assess and describe the socialization practices of caregivers responsible for 30 infant classrooms by applying the Caregiver Interaction Scale ([CIS], Arnett, 1989), (3) study the association between the socialization practices of professionals and the quality of infant classrooms, (4) to study associations between the quality of infant classrooms and the socialization practices of professionals and some structure variables (ratio adult/child group size, education, training, and experience of carers). Considering that the studies carried out in Portugal reveal minimum or inadequate quality in infant/toddler center-based child care, the results of this study suggest that, in accordance with ITERS-R, the quality of the infant classrooms observed varies between minimum and good. Although the present study reports higher quality scores, it was found that items which present the biggest weaknesses (deficit areas) as well as the items which express higher quality (strengths) appear to converge with the results of the investigations already carried out, since the items related with subscales Activities and Personal Care Routines are those with the most worrisome results. The Interaction subscale from ITERS-R proved to be the one with higher scores, and socialization practices of caregivers proved to be excellent. It was also found that the rooms oriented by early childhood teachers, as well as the rooms in which the primary care provider was also guided by childhood teachers showed higher quality than when guided by operational assistants (educational activities assistants). This effect draws attention to the importance of the education professionals training and qualification, as well as the need for altering the educational policies, in particular as regards the obligation to ensure the existence of early childhood teachers in infant classrooms.

Relatório de estágio em gabinete de engenharia na componente de climatização

Trabalho Final de Mestrado para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Mecânica com especialização em Energia, Climatização e Refrigeração

Potenciar a consciência fonológica de crianças pré-escolares em contexto naturalístico

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Ciências da Educação Especialidade Intervenção Precoce

Fungal contamination assessment in Portuguese elderly care centers

Individuals spend 80-90% of their day indoors and elderly subjects are likely to spend even a greater amount of time indoors. Thus, indoor air pollutants such as bioaerosols may exert a significant impact on this age group. The aim of this study was to characterize fungal contamination within Portuguese elderly care centers. Fungi were measured using conventional as well as molecular methods in bedrooms, living rooms, canteens, storage areas, and outdoors. Bioaerosols were evaluated before and after the microenvironments' occupancy in order to understand the role played by occupancy in fungal contamination. Fungal load results varied from 32 colony-forming units CFU m(-3) in bedrooms to 228 CFU m(-3) in storage areas. Penicillium sp. was the most frequently isolated (38.1%), followed by Aspergillus sp. (16.3%) and Chrysonilia sp. (4.2%). With respect to Aspergillus genus, three different fungal species in indoor air were detected, with A. candidus (62.5%) the most prevalent. On surfaces, 40 different fungal species were isolated and the most frequent was Penicillium sp. (22.2%), followed by Aspergillus sp. (17.3%). Real-time polymerase chain reaction did not detect the presence of A. fumigatus complex. Species from Penicillium and Aspergillus genera were the most abundant in air and surfaces. The species A. fumigatus was present in 12.5% of all indoor microenvironments assessed. The living room was the indoor microenvironment with lowest fungal concentration and the storage area was highest.

Determination of airborne nanoparticles in elderly care centres

According to numerous studies, airborne nanoparticles have a potential to produce serious adverse human health effects when deposited into the respiratory tract. The most important parts of the lung are the alveolar regions with their enormous surface areas and potential to transfer nanoparticles into the blood stream. These effects may be potentiated in case of the elderly, since this population is more susceptible to air pollutants in general and more to nanoparticles than larger particles. The main goal of this investigation was to determine the exposure of institutionalized elders to nanoparticles using Nanoparticle Surface Area Monitor (NSAM) equipment to calculate the deposited surface area (DSA) of nanoparticles into elderly lungs. In total, 193 institutionalized individuals over 65 yr of age were examined in four elderly care centers (ECC). The occupancy daily pattern was achieved by applying a questionnaire, and it was concluded that these subjects spent most of their time indoors, including the bedroom and living room, the indoor microenvironments with higher prevalence of elderly occupancy. The deposited surface area ranged from 10 to 46 μm2/cm3. The living rooms presented significantly higher levels compared with bedrooms. Comparing PM10 concentrations with nanoparticles deposited surface area in elderly lungs, it is conceivable that living rooms presented the highest concentration of PM10 and were similar to the highest average DSA. The temporal distribution of DSA was also assessed. While data showed a quantitative fluctuation in values in bedrooms, high peaks were detected in living rooms.

O regime da arbitragem tributária

Mestrado em Fiscalidade

A organização do ambiente educativo como mediador das experiências de aprendizagem das crianças

Relatório da Prática Profissional Supervisionada Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar

Mediação de Conflitos Interpessoais

Relatório da UC Seminário de Apoio à Prática Profissional Supervisionada Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar

O papel do adulto na resolução de conflitos entre crianças do jardim de infância

Relatório da Prática Profissional Supervisionada Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar

Particulate matter distribution in selected Portuguese archives: a preliminary study

Particulate matter (PM) can have a significant impact on human health and on artifacts stored and kept inside museums and archives. To the author's knowledge, its immediate and/or longterm concentrations and distribution on Portuguese archives has never been determined. Four Portuguese archives (with and without HVAC/air filtration systems) were selected and the immediate concentration of airborne particulate matter was measured by active sampling. Indoor-outdoor ratios were also determined. International and national guidelines were used to ascertain the environment’s quality, both for the readers and staff and for the documents preserved in these institutions. Inside, PM2.5 ranged between 0.37μg/m3 and 27.61μg/m3, while PM10 ranged between 4.43μg/m3 and 285.52μg/m3. The lowest values were determined in storage rooms and the highest in reading rooms. In terms of human health, Portuguese guidelines for immediate PM10 concentration were not met in several locations. For conservation purposes, storage rooms were classified according to an original air quality grid. Air filtration systems proved valuable in maintaining a safe environment for our written heritage and the staff and readers that deal with it and care for it every day. This study constitutes the first snapshot of the particulate matter concentrations and distribution in Portuguese Archives.

Determination of airborne nanoparticles in elderly care centres

According to numerous studies, airborne nanoparticles have a potential to produce serious adverse human health effects when deposited into the respiratory tract. The most important parts of the lung are the alveolar regions with their enormous surface areas and potential to transfer nanoparticles into the blood stream. These effects may be potentiated in case of the elderly, since this population is more susceptible to air pollutants in general and more to nanoparticles than larger particles. The main goal of this investigation was to determine the exposure of institutionalized elders to nanoparticles using Nanoparticle Surface Area Monitor (NSAM) equipment to calculate the deposited surface area (DSA) of nanoparticles into elderly lungs. In total, 193 institutionalized individuals over 65 yr of age were examined in four elderly care centers (ECC). The occupancy daily pattern was achieved by applying a questionnaire, and it was concluded that these subjects spent most of their time indoors, including the bedroom and living room, the indoor microenvironments with higher prevalence of elderly occupancy. The deposited surface area ranged from 10 to 46 mu m(2)/cm(3). The living rooms presented significantly higher levels compared with bedrooms. Comparing PM10 concentrations with nanoparticles deposited surface area in elderly lungs, it is conceivable that living rooms presented the highest concentration of PM10 and were similar to the highest average DSA. The temporal distribution of DSA was also assessed. While data showed a quantitative fluctuation in values in bedrooms, high peaks were detected in living rooms.