The importance of physical education classes in pre-school children

The purpose of this study was to analyse differences between total physical activity (TPA) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) of pre-school children during daily school hours when they attended the physical education class (PED) and school days without PE class (NPED) and to assess the contribution of PE classes to TPA in school hours. The sample was composed of 193 pre-school healthy children (96 girls) aged from three to five years old and was conducted between February and December of 2008. Children wore accelerometers for at least four consecutive days during school hours. Data were analysed with specific software, age-specific counts-per-minute cut-off points and a 5 s epoch were used. Independent and general linear model repeated measures were used to assess differences between gender and differences between different days within each gender, respectively. Boys engaged more MVPA than girls (P < 0.05). During PED, pre-school children engaged significantly more in TPA and MVPA than during NPED (P < 0.05). PE class contributed, on average, 27.7% for the TPA and 32.8% of daily MVPA during PED in both gender. The results of this study suggest that structured PA such as a PE class increased the daily TPA and MVPA level of pre-school children.

Ensinar ciências a alunos com incapacidade intelectual recorrendo ao software Scratch: um estudo de caso

Este estudo procura a valorização do ensino dirigido a alunos com Incapacidade Intelectual. Tem como objetivos conceber um recurso didático, integrando as ferramentas do Scratch, para alunos com Incapacidade Intelectual; averiguar a exequibilidade do uso desse recurso em ambiente natural de ensino e promover o envolvimento de alunos com Incapacidade Intelectual na realização de tarefas propostas na disciplina de Ciências da Natureza. Pretendemos dar resposta às seguintes questões de investigação: (1) A utilização do Scratch é adequada e exequível no trabalho quotidiano de alunos com Incapacidade Intelectual? (2) Em que medida o Scratch pode contribuir para um melhor envolvimento dos alunos com Incapacidade Intelectual na realização das tarefas propostas? Para este efeito, planificamos duas aulas. Na primeira, abordou-se o conteúdo a tratar – Poluição – e na segunda aula utilizou-se o Scratch, desafiando os alunos a desenvolverem diversas tarefas de forma mais ativa. O presente estudo segue uma abordagem metodológica de natureza qualitativa, centrando-se num estudo de caso, onde se aborda a importância do uso das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação, mais concretamente o software educativo Scratch, como sendo uma ferramenta potenciadora do envolvimento dos alunos. Este estudo foi aplicado a três alunos com Incapacidade Intelectual que tinham sido atribuídos à docente investigadora no presente ano letivo. Os dados foram recolhidos através da análise dos Programas Educativos Individuais dos alunos participantes; da entrevista realizada à docente de Educação Especial; de gravações áudio, de fotografias, de trabalhos realizados pelos alunos participantes e de notas de campo da investigadora. Foi centralidade do estudo a conceção de uma proposta didática e o desenvolvimento dos respetivos recursos, utilizando o software educativo Scratch. Quer a proposta didática quer os recursos a ela associados constituem em si mesmo parte dos resultados do trabalho desenvolvido. Os dados obtidos neste estudo permitem sustentar a ideia de que é possível trabalhar com alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais, nomeadamente Incapacidade Intelectual, recorrendo ao software educativo Scratch e que o uso desta ferramenta proporcionou um maior envolvimento e autonomia dos alunos nas tarefas propostas.

Prevalence of pediculosis capitis in children from a rural school in Yucatan, Mexico

We conducted an analytical cross-sectional survey to estimate the prevalence of and factors associated with active head lice infestation. In total 140 children, aged 6 to 16-years, from a public school in rural Yucatan, Mexico, were examined by wet-combing. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on individuals and the conditions in the surrounding environment. Head lice infestation was found in 19 out of the 140 children tested (13.6%) and this was associated with both lower income (OR 9.9, 95% CI 2.15-45.79, p = 0.003) and a higher frequency of hair washing (OR 8, 95% CI 1.58-50, p = 0.012). Intersectoral control programs that take into account the socioeconomic differences of children should be implemented.

Alterações da função visual e da qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde em indivíduos idosos

RESUMO: Introdução: A visão é um sentido fundamental na relação do indivíduo com os mais variados ambientes, sendo elemento central na funcionalidade e independência do idoso, qualquer perturbação da função visual provoca limitações na qualidade de vida. As alterações demográficas em curso caracterizam-se pelo envelhecimento progressivo da população, paralelamente constata-se um aumento da prevalência de perturbações do sistema visual com alteração da função e do funcionamento visual. Considerando que os indivíduos idosos são mais dependentes da visão, e que não existem para esta área estudos desenvolvidos em Portugal, esta investigação tem como fundamento analisar a influência que a perturbação da função visual em indivíduos com 65 ou mais anos tem na qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde. Estudaram-se também as características sócio-demográficas dos indivíduos participantes, da saúde visual e a percepção da saúde geral, bem como identificaram se junto dos idosos participantes e de Médicos especialistas em Medicina Geral e Familiar perspectivas sobre perturbações da função visual e envelhecimento. Desenho de estudo: Estudo transversal, caso-controlo e descritivo-exploratório. Materiais e Métodos: A partir de uma população de 112 indivíduos com 65 ou mais anos, frequentadores de várias instituições de apoio social do Concelho de Loures e de idosos frequentadores/institucionalizados da Mansão de Santa Maria de Marvila, unidade orgânica da Fundação D. Pedro IV, foram incluídos no estudo 90 (80,4%). Após consentimento informado, procedeu-se à avaliação da função visual nos Laboratórios de Ortóptica da Escola Superior de Tecnologia de Saúde de Lisboa, onde também se aplicaram o Questionário de Funcionamento Visual VFQ-25 e uma questão aberta para o tipo de dificuldades de visão sentidas durante o último ano. Aplicou-se ainda, em ambiente virtual, uma pergunta aberta a Médicos especialistas em Medicina Geral e Familiar para aspectos relacionados com o diagnóstico/suspeita relativamente tardio de perturbações da função visual. Procedeu-se ao tratamento descritivo das características sócio-demográficas, da percepção de saúde geral e da saúde visual e das respostas dos idosos e dos médicos. Analisou-se a relação entre função visual e qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde aplicando o teste não-paramétrico de Mann-Whitney. Resultados: Constatou-se que os indivíduos da amostra são maioritariamente do género feminino (71,1%), casados (41,1%), detentores de baixos níveis de escolaridade em que 63,3% apenas frequentou/concluiu o 1º ciclo do ensino básico e quase na sua totalidade reformados (88,9%). Verifica-se que 77,8% dos idosos percepciona a sua saúde geral como razoável ou boa. Da mesma forma, 86,7% dos indivíduos têm a função visual alterada devido principalmente à alteração da acuidade visual para longe (86,7%), registando-se que 65,5% dos olhos tinham uma acuidade visual igual ou superior a 5/10. Outras dimensões que contribuíram para a alteração da função visual contam-se a sensibilidade ao contraste (63,3%), estereopsia (51,1%), visão cromática (38,9%) e a motilidade ocular (25,6%). Obtiveram-se assim maiores pontuações para as diversas escalas do questionário VFQ-25 em indivíduos com função visual alterada exceptuando nas escalas actividades de perto, condução e dependência. Verificou-se portanto existir relação entre alteração da função visual e perturbação da qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde. À questão colocada aos idosos, 42,6% não manifestou qualquer razão para que visse mal/sentisse dificuldades de visão durante o último ano. A diminuição da acuidade visual para longe/perto foi referida por 20,5% dos indivíduos, seguido pela deterioração do estado de saúde geral e ocular por 15%. As respostas do Médicos especialistas em Medicina Geral e Familiar sobre razões para a suspeita/diagnóstico relativamente tardia das perturbações da função visual, indicam a iliteracia dos idosos para a saúde da visão e semiologia ocular (34%), a baixa formação/informação dos Médicos de Medicina Geral e Familiar na área da saúde da visão (22%) e a pouca acessibilidade e resposta demorada/ineficaz dos serviços de oftalmologia do SNS (20%) como principais motivos para os assuntos questionados.Conclusões: As alterações do sistema visual com impacto na função e no funcionamento visual alteram a qualidade de vida relacionada com a saúde, devido principalmente à alteração da acuidade visual para longe. Os idosos do estudo não valorizam a saúde visual ao percepcionarem positivamente a saúde geral e a saúde visual relativamente à avaliação da função visual. É fundamental definir estratégias e programas de literacia para a saúde da visão para toda a população, não apenas destinados a idosos. Sugere-se repensar o modelo de formação base dos Médicos com especial incidência na área da saúde da visão, com necessidades sentidas de formação/informação. As respostas obtidas dos idosos e dos Médicos indicaram existir fragilidades na saúde da visão, necessário repensar o modelo de prestação de cuidados de saúde nesta área. Esta investigação permitiu ao autor uma reflexão sobre as temáticas relacionadas com o envelhecimento levando a uma mudança de atitudes e comportamento na abordagem profissional a indivíduos idosos, promovendo autonomia nas escolhas e decisões em questões de saúde, na criação de estratégias para lidar com o problema de visão e na adaptação à nova condição de saúde da visão.---------------ABSTRACT:Purpose: The vision is a fundamental sense in the individual's relationship with the most varied environments, a central element in the functionality and independence of the elderly, any disturbance of visual function causes limitations in quality of life. The current demographic changes are characterized by progressive aging of population, there has been a parallel increase in the prevalence of disorders of the visual system by changing the visual function and functioning. Whereas the elderly are more dependent on vision, and there are no studies in this area developed in Portugal, this research is based analyze the influence that the disturbance of visual function in subjects aged 65 years or more has on the health related quality of life. We studied also the socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects, the eye health and general health perception, and identified themselves with the elderly participants and medical specialists in Family General Medicine perspective on disorders of visual function and aging. Design: Cross-sectional study, case control, descriptive and exploratory. Methods: From a population of 112 people with 65 or more years, regulars of various social welfare institutions of the Municipality of Loures and elderly regulars/institutionalized the Mansion of Santa Maria de Marvila, organic unity of the Foundation D. Pedro IV, were included 90 (80.4%). After informed consent, proceeded to the assessment of visual function in the Laboratories of Orthopticsof the School of Health Technology of Lisbon, where he also applied the Visual Functioning Questionnaire VFQ-25 and an open question for the type of vision difficulties experienced during the last year. Was applied also in a virtual environment, an open question to Doctors specialists in family general medicine related to the diagnosis/suspected relatively late disturbance of visual function. We carried out the descriptive treatment of socio-demographic characteristics, perception of general health and eye health and the responses of older people and doctors. We analyzed the relationship between visual function and quality of life related to health by applying the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test. Results: We found that individuals in the sample are mostly female (71.1%), married (41.1%), holders of low levels of education in which only 63.3% frequented / completed the 1st cycle of primary and almost entirely retired (88.9%). It is found that 77.8% of the elderly perceive their general health as fair or good. Likewise, 86.7% of individuals have altered vision mainly due to the change in visual acuity away (86.7%),up to 65.5% of eyes had a visual acuity of 5/10 or greater. Other dimensions that contributed to the alteration of visual function include contrast sensitivity (63.3%), stereopsis (51.1%), color vision (38.9%) and ocular motility (25.6%). There was thus obtained the highest scores for different scales of the questionnaire VFQ-25 in patients with altered vision except for scales related to near activities, driving and dependence. It is therefore a relationship between alteration in visual function and disturbance of quality of life related to health. To question for the elderly, 42.6% expressed no reason to see evil/feel difficulty seeing over the last year. The decrease in visual acuity for distance/near was reported by 20.5% of subjects, followed by the deterioration of general health and eye for 15%. The responses of medical specialists in general practice about reasons for the suspicion/diagnosis relatively late disturbance of visual function, indicate the illiteracy of the elderly for healthy vision and ocular semiology (34%), low education/information for Doctors in the health of vision (22%) and poor accessibility and response timeconsuming/ inefficient NHS ophthalmology services (20%) as main reasons for the subjects questioned. Conclusion: Changes in the visual system with an impact on visual function and the functioning change the health related quality of life, mainly due to the change in distance visual acuity. Older people do not value the visual health perceiving the general health and eye health positively relatively of visual function. It is essential to define strategies and literacy programs for eye health for the entire population, not just for the elderly. It is suggested reconsider the model of basic training of Doctors with special focus on the health of the vision, with special needs sensed training/information. The responses of older people and doctors have indicated there is weakness in eye health, need to rethink the model of health care in this area. This research allowed the author to reflect on issues related to aging leading to a change in attitudes and behavior in professional approach to the elderly, promoting autonomy in choices and decisions in health issues, creating strategies to deal with the problem of vision and adaptation to new conditions of eye health.

Serological survey for Chagas' disease in school children in the Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

A serological survey for Chagas' disease was carried out in school children in the Rio de Janeiro State, a zone considered as non-endemic for the infection. A total of 168 schools in 20 municipalities have been visited and 13,254 blood samples were obtained. The blood eluates were screened by the indirect fluorescence test (IFT), and all positive samples were checked and confirmed in sera by the complement fixation test (CFT). AH serologically positive children were subject to a clinical scrutiny, and the houses where the children lived have been searched for triatomine bugs. Only in two municipalities, Magé and Araruama, there was a significant number of children found positive. The total number of reactive samples by IFT and CFT from 13,004 blood samples screened was 143 (1.00 per cent). No serious clinicai symptoms suggestive of Chagas' disease have been found in any of the positive children, and no triatomine bugs were discovered in the dwellings where the children lived. The overall small percentage of children with positive serology postulates that the infection is not a serious health problem in the area investigated. It is recommended, however, to carry out a more detailed study in Magé and Araruama to find the reason for the relatively high percentage of serologically positive children encountered in these two municipalities.

Nova School of Business & Economics: Sustainability report

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Comparative analysis: Public and private school management systems

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Economics from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

The Management of the Allergic Child at School: EAACI/GA2LEN Task Force on the Allergic Child at School

Allergy affects at least one-quarter of European schoolchildren, it reduces quality of life and may impair school performance; there is a risk of severe reactions and, in rare cases, death. Allergy is a multi-system disorder, and children often have several co-existing diseases, i.e. allergic rhinitis, asthma, eczema and food allergy. Severe food allergy reactions may occur for the first time at school, and overall 20% of food allergy reactions occur in schools. Up to two-thirds of schools have at least one child at risk of anaphylaxis but many are poorly prepared. A cooperative partnership between doctors, community and school nurses, school staff, parents and the child is necessary to ensure allergic children are protected. Schools and doctors should adopt a comprehensive approach to allergy training, ensuring that all staff can prevent, recognize and initiate treatment of allergic reactions.

Renewable energy systems the theme for the PACITA summer school on TA, Liège, Belgium, 25 28 June 2012

The summer school “Renewable Energy Systems: Role and Use of Parliamentary Technology Assessment” was the first European Summer School with a pure focus on technology assessment. The aim of the three-day long summer school of the European project Parliaments and Civil Society in Technology Assessment (PACITA) was to create awareness of the potential of technology groups in Europe. Therefore, the summer school involved keynotes, practical exercises, mutual reflection, cutting edge training and networking to deal with the theme of renewable energy systems out of the perspective of Technology Assessment (TA), to meet transition objectives or to critically assess energy technologies.

Control of parasitic infections among school children in the peri-urban area of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil

Tide prevalence of intestinal parasitosis ivas investigated in a primaiy school located in Rubiâo Júnior, a peri-urban district of Botucatu, São Paulo slate, Brazil, in order to assess the effect of treatment and practical measures of prophylaxis in the control of parasitic infections among 7-to- 18-year-old school children of a low socio-economic status. The first series of parasitological examinations included 219 school children, ef which 123 (56.1 %) were found to be infected with one or more parasite species. Eighty- four children canying pathogenic parasites were submitted to various anti-parasitic treatment schedules. We re-evaluated 15 (89 %) students after 4 to 6 months post- chemotherapy. The results indicate that the combination of treatment with prophylactic measures has been successful in the control of parasitic infections, since reinfection rates were generally low (< 5-3 %), except for Giardia lamblia infections (18.6 %), and a marked reduction oti the prevalence rates was obsewed with a significant percentage of cure (> 73-1 %) in children infected with most parasite species. The reasons for the apparent failure in the control of infections caused by Hymenolepis nana and Strongyloides stercoralis are discussed.

Seroprevalence and sociocultural conditionants of Chagas disease in school aged children of marginal zones of Asunción

Chagas disease is becoming a public health problem in Latin America due to the wide distribution, the high prevalence, the magnitude of the damage caused and the difficulties to control it. In Paraguay, the disease is mainly distributed in the departments of Paraguari, Cordillera and Central. Prevalence in marginal zones, where migrations from rural populations and endemic areas make possible the urbanization of the disease, has no been studied yet. This is a descriptive study with a cross-sectional sampling and a probabilistic system recruitment carried out in school aged children from marginal zones of Asuncion to determine the prevalence of Chagas' disease. Serological methods, parasite isolation and questionnaires were used to achieve the goals. Nine hundred and fifty three children were studied to determine the prevalence of Chagas' disease in marginal zones which was 1.4%.

Enteroparasites prevalence among daycare and elementary school children of municipal schools, Rolândia, PR, Brazil

Coproparasitological analyses were performed on 191 daycare children and 434 elementary school children from urban and rural areas in Rolândia, Parana State, Brazil. The overall prevalence of enteroparasites was 15.2 % for daycare children and 52.5% for elementary school children. Risk factors are discussed.

WebGIS applied to Improve Spatial Knowledge of High School Students

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies

In-School CSR and its impact on brand image, brand identification and brand reputation: The moderator effect of brand familiarity, product involvement and cause-brand fit

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics