A theoretical model of the evolution of virulence in sexually transmitted HIV/AIDS

INTRODUCTION: The evolution of virulence in host-parasite relationships has been the subject of several publications. In the case of HIV virulence, some authors suggest that the evolution of HIV virulence correlates with the rate of acquisition of new sexual partners. In contrast some other authors argue that the level of HIV virulence is independent of the sexual activity of the host population. METHODS: Provide a mathematical model for the study of the potential influence of human sexual behaviour on the evolution of virulence of HIV is provided. RESULTS: The results indicated that, when the probability of acquisition of infection is a function both of the sexual activity and of the virulence level of HIV strains, the evolution of HIV virulence correlates positively with the rate of acquisition of new sexual partners. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that in the case of a host population with a low (high) rate of exchange of sexual partners the evolution of HIV virulence is such that the less (more) virulent strain prevails.

Os desafios da qualificação profissional pós-secundária não-superior (nível 4) para a inovação empresarial no contexto da União Europeia e dos países da OCDE

A maioria das nações mais desenvolvidas deve, em larga medida, a sua prosperidade à produtividade da sua força de trabalho. Esta produtividade relaciona-se, fundamentalmente, com dois aspectos essenciais. Por um lado, com o nível e adequação das qualificações e competências da população activa, as quais permitem desenvolver o empreendedorismo e criar riqueza e, por outro, com a qualidade e grau de sofisticação dos equipamentos, tecnologias, modelos de organização e sistemas de gestão de que as empresas dispõem. Nesta comunicação, elaborada por convite para apresentação na sessão comemorativa do 20º aniversário da AFTEM, no Porto, após a contextualização das exigências do mercado de trabalho em resultado da inovação empresarial e da emergência das economias baseadas no conhecimento, apresentam-se alguns estudos recentemente concluídos em diversos países e regiões da OCDE, nomeadamente, Austrália, Irlanda, Reino Unido e Escócia – nos quais se foca a necessidade de incrementar o nível de qualificações para responder às necessidades do tecido produtivo por forma a manter a competitividade da indústria e serviços desses países e regiões à escala global; em particular realça-se a importância de se aumentar a percentagem de população activa com nível 4 de qualificação profissional. Aborda-se, ainda, a situação da formação pós secundária não superior em Portugal (nível 4). Conclui-se, formulando algumas recomendações em termos de estratégias e de trabalho futuro com vista a dinamizar as oportunidades de qualificação de nível 4, em estreita articulação com as empresas, como forma de o tecido produtivo nacional dispor de níveis de qualificação de recursos humanos que permitam a mobilidade para novas actividades com maior valor acrescentado e, por esta via, atingir níveis de rentabilidade semelhante à dos restantes estados membros da UE e de outros países da OCDE.

Teaching and learning mathematics using moodle

This paper summarizes a project that is contributing to a change in the way of teaching and learning Mathematics. Mathematics is a subject of the Accounting and Administration course. In this subject we teach: Functions and Algebra. The aim is that the student understand the basic concepts and is able to apply them in other issues, when possible, establishing a bridge between the issues that they have studied and their application in Accounting. As from this year, the Accounting course falls under in Bologna Process. The teacher and the student roles have changed. The time for theoretical and practical classes has been reduced, so it was necessary to modify the way of teaching and learning. In the theoretical classes we use systems of multimedia projection to present the concepts, and in the practical classes we solve exercises. We also use the Excel and the mathematical open source software wxMaxima. To supplement our theoretical and practical classes we have developed a project called MatActiva based on the Moodle platform offered by PAOL - Projecto de Apoio Online (Online Support Project). With the creation of this new project we wanted to take advantage already obtained results with the previous experiences, giving to the students opportunities to complement their study in Mathematics. One of the great objectives is to motivate students, encourage them to overcome theirs difficulties through an auto-study giving them more confidence. In the MatActiva project the students have a big collection of information about the way of the subject works, which includes the objectives, the program, recommended bibliography, evaluation method and summaries. It works as material support for the practical and theoretical classes, the slides of the theoretical classes are available, the sheets with exercises for the students to do in the classroom and complementary exercises, as well as the exams of previous years. Students can also do diagnostic tests and evaluation tests online. Our approach is a reflexive one, based on the professional experience of the teachers that explore and incorporate new tools of Moodle with their students and coordinate the project MatActiva.

Teaching with Moodle in higher education

Nowadays, with the use of technology and the Internet, education is undergoing significant changes, contemplating new ways of teaching and learning. One of the widely methods of teaching used to promote knowledge, consists in the use of virtual environments available in various formats, taking as example the teaching-learning platforms, which are available online. The Internet access and use of Laptops have created the technological conditions for teachers and students can benefit from the diversity of online information, communication, collaboration and sharing with others. The integration of Internet services in the teaching practices can provide thematic, social and digital enrichment for the agents involved. In this paper we will talk about the advantages of LMS (Learning Management Systems) such as Moodle, to support the presential lectures in higher education. We also will analyse its implications for student support and online interaction, leading educational agents to a mixing of different learning environments, where they can combine face-to-face instruction with computer-mediated instruction, blended-learning, and increases the options for better quality and quantity of human interaction in a learning environment. We also will present some tools traditionally used in online assessment and that are part of the functionalities of Moodle. These tools can provide interesting alternatives to promote a more significant learning and contribute to the development of flexible and customized models of an evaluation which we want to be more efficient.

Becoming a teacher: student teachers´ experiences and perceptions about teaching practice

In an attempt to build a more comprehensive and holistic understanding of the complexity, dynamics and idiosyncrasies involved in becoming a teacher, this study focussed on the experiences of 295 student teachers. Their feelings, cognitions and perceptions regarding teaching practice were analysed using the short version of the Inventory of Experiences and Perceptions of the Teaching Practice. Results emphasise some of the difficulties experienced during this period (e.g., stress, sense of weariness and ‘vulnerability’), as well the positive perceptions of these student teachers regarding their growing knowledge and skilfulness, as well as their sense of efficacy, flexibility and spontaneity in their performance and interactions. Their perception of their accomplishments in achieving reasonable levels of acceptance and recognition within the school community and their positive evaluation of the guidance and support provided by their supervisors are also emphasised. Differences were found – in terms of gender and graduate course background – in the way these student teachers experienced some aspects of teaching practice.

Experiencing flow while teaching and learning in individual tuition settings

Conferência anual da ISME

Effective teaching and optimal experiences: possible link

ISME, Thessaloniki, 2012

New tendencies on intercultural communication

18th SPACE Annual Conference and EURASHE-SEPHE Seminar 21-24 March 2007 Thursday 22 March 2007

A perspectiva dos professores sobre o alargamento da escolaridade obrigatória e a inclusão de alunos com necessidades educativas especiais no ensino seundário

O tema da dissertação prende-se com as consequências do alargamento da escolaridade obrigatória nas Escolas Secundárias, concretamente naquilo que se relaciona com o previsível aumento de casos de alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais decorrente desse alargamento. Este trabalho pretende conhecer o que os professores pensam sobre este tema no que se refere à sua concepção sobre inclusão e Necessidades Educativas Especiais, às suas experiências anteriores com este tipo de alunos, como encaram os professores o alargamento da escolaridade obrigatória no secundário, qual o nível de preparação que pensam ter para trabalhar com estes alunos, como encaram as adequações curriculares que serão necessárias e finalmente que tipo de necessidades pensam que podem surgir nas escolas para dar uma resposta adequada à nova situação. Para que todas as afirmações dos professores estivessem fundamentadas, fez-se uma abordagem teórica referente à evolução do ensino em Portugal e da Educação Especial numa perspectiva nacional e internacional, fazendo também um contraponto com a actualidade. Em termos metodológicos, optou-se por um estudo qualitativo, com características exploratórias e descritivas. Para a recolha de dados foi selecionada uma escola do centro de Lisboa, que se situa numa zona habitacional e de serviços. Realizaram-se seis entrevistas semi-dirigidas, construídas a partir de um guião, constituído por um conjunto de questões formuladas segundo objectivos e organizadas por temas. Para analisar os dados, foi utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo. A análise feita permitiu concluir que esta temática não é uma preocupação actual dos professores do ensino secundário. Apesar da aceitação genérica do conceito de inclusão, os professores sentem dificuldade na adequação de conteúdos e na adaptação do sistema de avaliação, embora todos os entrevistados tivessem experiências anteriores com alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais. Quanto às necessidades que podem surgir, os professores consideram que elas se vão relacionar sobretudo com equipamento informático, acessibilidades e formação de professores. - Abstract The subject approached in this paper relates to the consequences of the extent of mandatory school years in secondary schools, specifically with the increase in the number of students with special educational needs. Therefore it will be evaluated teacher’s opinions and ideas about the subject, how they define inclusion and special educational needs, their prior experiences with this kind of students and how they intend to face the extend of mandatory school years, their background to deal with this students, and the changes that, in school, they think would be necessary to give adequate answers to this new situation. In order to support teacher’s opinions, a theoretical approach was made, regarding the evolution of teaching and of Special Education in Portugal, in a national and international perspective, comparing it to our current reality. To achieve these goals, a qualitative research was designed, in order to obtain exploratory and descriptive data. To collect the data, a semi-structured interview was created from some preestablished guidelines, according to the objectives and organized by topics, these interviews took place in a school located in the center of Lisbon. To analyze the answers, a content analysis technique was used. The results observed allowed to conclude that this subject is not a current concern for the interviewed teachers. Despite the global acceptance of inclusion, as a concept, teachers still have some difficulties adapting contents and adapting the evaluation system, although all the teachers interviewed had prior experience with students with special educational needs. About the necessities that may emerge, teachers think they will be computer related, regarding accessibility and regarding teacher formation.

Análise de desempenho em redes móveis Long Term Evolution (Parceria CELFINET)

A rede móvel Long Term Evolution (LTE) é uma tecnologia que está a ser fortemente implementada, não só em Portugal mas no resto do mundo. A adoção do LTE deve-se em grande parte à maior capacidade e à baixa latência oferecidas, para além de ser expansível ao LTE-Advanced. O trabalho apresentado tem por objetivo a análise do desempenho de uma rede LTE piloto e comparar os resultados com o teoricamente expectável. Foi adotada uma metodologia de planeamento em LTE e comprovada através das medidas empíricas realizadas. Dessas medições são também sugeridos dois novos modelos de propagação para LTE nos 2,6 GHz. Para distâncias inferiores a 1 km sugere-se o modelo LTE-PL. Para distâncias superiores a 1 km foi feita uma adaptação ao modelo Okumura-Hata para que se aproximasse aos resultados obtidos. Das medições efetuadas observou-se que em boas condições rádio, os débitos bináriossão bastante próximos dos máximos teóricos. Além disso foi obtido o desvio padrão em LTE de uma área Urbano Denso de 12 dB. Foi ainda possível definir uma margem para as perdas de penetração in-car de 2,7 dB. Efetuou-se uma análise de vários Key Performance Indicators que permitem avaliar o desempenho do LTE, tendo também sido definidas categorias de qualidade de serviço. Por último foi avaliado o impacto da velocidade e da distância, pelas medidas realizadas.

Mantle source heterogeneity, magma generation and magmatic evolution at Terceira Island (Azoresarchipelago): Constraints from elemental and isotopic (Sr, Nd, Hf, and Pb) data

This work addresses the present-day (<100 ka) mantle heterogeneity in the Azores region through the study of two active volcanic systems from Terceira Island. Our study shows that mantle heterogeneities are detectable even when "coeval" volcanic systems (Santa Barbara and Fissural) erupted less than 10 km away. These volcanic systems, respectively, reflect the influence of the Terceira and D. Joao de Castro Bank end-members defined by Beier et at (2008) for the Terceira Rift Santa Barbara magmas are interpreted to be the result of mixing between a HIMU-type component, carried to the upper mantle by the Azores plume, and the regional depleted MORB magmas/source. Fissural lavas are characterized by higher Ba/Nb and Nb/U ratios and less radiogenic Pb-206/Pb-204, Nd-143/Nd-144 and Hf-176/Hf-177, requiring the small contribution of delaminated sub-continental lithospheric mantle residing in the upper mantle. Published noble gas data on lavas from both volcanic systems also indicate the presence of a relatively undegassed component, which is interpreted as inherited from a lower mantle reservoir sampled by the ascending Azores plume. As inferred from trace and major elements, melting began in the garnet stability field, while magma extraction occurred within the spinel zone. The intra-volcanic system's chemical heterogeneity is mainly explained by variable proportions of the above-mentioned local end-members and by crystal fractionation processes. (C) 2011 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.

Information and communication technologies in education – a web-based intelligent tutoring system on teaching and learning electrical project

Electrical activity is extremely broad and distinct, requiring by one hand, a deep knowledge on rules, regulations, materials, equipments, technical solutions and technologies and assistance in several areas, as electrical equipment, telecommunications, security and efficiency and rational use of energy, on the other hand, also requires other skills, depending on the specific projects to be implemented, being this knowledge a characteristic that belongs to the professionals with relevant experience, in terms of complexity and specific projects that were made.

A web-based intelligent tutoring system on teaching and learning electrical project

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provide new strategies for disseminating information and new communication models in order to change attitudes and human behaviour concerning to education. Nowadays the internet is crucial as a means of communication and information sharing. To education or tutorship will be required to use ICT, supported on the internet, to establish the communication of teacher-student and student-student, disseminating the content of the subjects, and as a way of teaching and learning process. This paper presents an intelligent tutor that aims to be a tool to support teaching and learning in the field of the electrical engineering project.

Society and technological evolution: challenges and opportunities

Starting from the assumption that, the organizational learning process influences, in a positive way, the innovative environment and that it shows positive effects on individual, group and organizational performance, this paper deals with the analysis of companies that provide knowledge-intensive products. Referring to the initial information obtained through an adequate survey that is still being performed since May 2009, the main goal is to identify the ways to an organizational learning, measure its importance and identify the effects on the social and economic development. Our reflexion study handles two Portuguese knowledge-rich-organizations, based on the metropolitan area of Lisbon. The paper has the following methodological structure: in the first chapter we will make a theoretical contextualization about the organizational learning; in the second chapter we will handle the data recovered using the SPSS statistics software and, afterwards, presenting the main results. Finally, starting from the main conclusions achieved, we willgive clues to an ongoing reflection.

Territórios educativos de intervenção prioritária: de onde vêm? para onde vão?

A criação da medida de política educativa (Despacho Normativo n.º 55/2008) - Territórios Educativos de Intervenção Prioritária (TEIP) corresponde à necessidade de concretização de um princípio da Lei de Bases do Sistema Educativo português, visando assegurar uma educação de base para todos, bem sucedida. Esta mesma medida acontece na sequência de uma outra anterior com as mesmas características, criada no ano lectivo de 1996/1997. A sua implementação no terreno foi objecto de um estudo encomendado pelo Instituto de Inovação Educacional no qual participei, integrando uma equipa de investigação da Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação da Universidade de Lisboa. Nesta comunicação, proponho-me revisitar esse mesmo estudo, dando conta do balanço crítico então realizado, e, à luz das suas principais conclusões, refletir agora na qualidade de perito externo de um TEIP da região de Lisboa, sobre os modos como os TEIP2 evoluíram, em que sentido se deu tal evolução e quais os problemas que persistem. A consecução de um dos objectivos centrais desta medida de política educativa, especificamente a melhoria da qualidade das aprendizagens traduzida no sucesso educativo dos alunos, parece, de acordo com os relatórios oficiais, não ser ainda muito expressiva nem muito consistente. Torna-se, portanto, necessário interrogar e problematizar as práticas de ensino realizadas pelos professores, repensando estratégias pedagógicas que se configurem relevantes para dar expressão real àquele objectivo.