Morphometric changes of Triatoma flavida Neiva, 1911 (Hemiptera:Triatominae) in the transition from sylvatic to laboratory conditions

The one-generational metric changes occurring in Triatoma flavida (Hemiptera: Triatominae) when carried from its wild habitat (caves) to laboratory, were examined using traditional morphometric techniques. As for other species of Triatoma, Rhodnius or Panstrongylus studied in similar conditions, a significant reduction of head, thorax and wing size was observed. Sexual dimorphism of the wings, while present in the wild sample, was not detected anymore in the laboratory individuals. Biological significance and epidemiological importance are discussed.

Effect of selenization conditions on the growth and properties of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 thin films

The opto-electronic properties of copper zinc tin sulfide can be tuned to achieve better cell efficiencies by controlled incorporation of selenium. In this paper we report the growth of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) using a hybrid process involving the sequential evaporation of Zn and sputtering of the sulfide precursors of Cu and Sn, followed by a selenization step. Two approaches for selenization were followed, one using a tubular furnace and the other using a rapid thermal processor. The effects of annealing conditions on the morphological and structural properties of the films were investigated. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed to investigate the morphology and composition of the films. Structural analyses were done using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy. Structural analyses revealed the formation of CZTSSe. This study shows that regardless of the selenization method a temperature above 450 °C is required for conversion of precursors to a compact CZTSSe layer. XRD and Raman analysis suggests that the films selenized in the tubular furnace are selenium rich whereas the samples selenized in the rapid thermal processor have higher sulfur content.

LATERAL FLOW ASSAY FOR CRYPTOCOCCAL ANTIGEN: AN IMPORTANT ADVANCE TO IMPROVE THE CONTINUUM OF HIV CARE AND REDUCE CRYPTOCOCCAL MENINGITIS-RELATED MORTALITY

SUMMARYAIDS-related cryptococcal meningitis continues to cause a substantial burden of death in low and middle income countries. The diagnostic use for detection of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen (CrAg) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid by latex agglutination test (CrAg-latex) or enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA) has been available for over decades. Better diagnostics in asymptomatic and symptomatic phases of cryptococcosis are key components to reduce mortality. Recently, the cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay (CrAg LFA) was included in the armamentarium for diagnosis. Unlike the other tests, the CrAg LFA is a dipstick immunochromatographic assay, in a format similar to the home pregnancy test, and requires little or no lab infrastructure. This test meets all of the World Health Organization ASSURED criteria (Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User friendly, Rapid/robust, Equipment-free, and Delivered). CrAg LFA in serum, plasma, whole blood, or cerebrospinal fluid is useful for the diagnosis of disease caused by Cryptococcusspecies. The CrAg LFA has better analytical sensitivity for C. gattii than CrAg-latex or EIA. Prevention of cryptococcal disease is new application of CrAg LFA via screening of blood for subclinical infection in asymptomatic HIV-infected persons with CD4 counts < 100 cells/mL who are not receiving effective antiretroviral therapy. CrAg screening of leftover plasma specimens after CD4 testing can identify persons with asymptomatic infection who urgently require pre-emptive fluconazole, who will otherwise progress to symptomatic infection and/or die.

Contribuição para a adaptação cultural do Neck Disability Index e caraterização da prática de fisioterapia em pacientes com dor crónica cervical

RESUMO: Objetivo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo contribuir para o processo de adaptação cultural do Neck Disability Index (NDI), através da análise da sua unidimensionalidade e do estudo da sua fiabilidade (consistência interna e fiabilidade teste-reteste), validade de constructo e poder de resposta. De igual forma pretendeu-se caraterizar a intervenção realizada pela fisioterapia e os resultados obtidos em pacientes com Dor Cervical Crónica (DCC). Introdução: A dor cervical é um problema cada vez mais comum nos países industrializados, constituindo uma das três condições mais frequentemente reportadas por queixas de origem músculo-esquelética. A sua incidência é um fenómeno em crescimento, com custos implicados para a sociedade. Desta forma reconhece-se a importância de um instrumento que monitorize a evolução da incapacidade funcional associada à DCC. O NDI é atualmente o instrumento de avaliação mais recomendado para avaliar a incapacidade funcional associada à dor cervical. Foi traduzido e adaptado à língua portuguesa, mas à data não foi realizada nenhuma avaliação das suas propriedades psicométricas. Por outro lado, apesar de a literatura referir que os serviços de Fisioterapia são extremamente procurados por indivíduos com DCC, em Portugal, a informação sobre a sua prática nesta condição clínica é escassa ou mesmo inexistente. Assim, e sendo a incapacidade nas atividades funcionais uma das variáveis de maior impacto da DCC e ao mesmo tempo um dos resultados principais da intervenção da Fisioterapia, importa por um lado possuir instrumentos capazes de avaliar o nível de incapacidade funcional e a sua mudança, e por outro, aferir qual a intervenção realizada pela Fisioterapia e quais os resultados obtidos. Metodologia: Realizou-se um estudo de coorte prospetivo com uma amostra de conveniência, do tipo não probabilístico, constituída por 88 pacientes com DCC de origem músculo-esquelética e causa não traumática referenciados para 6 serviços de fisioterapia / medicina física e de reabilitação de clínicas e centros de reabilitação, sendo elegíveis todos os pacientes que cumprissem os critérios de inclusão e exclusão estabelecidos. Os pacientes foram avaliados em três momentos pré-definidos: antes do início das sessões de fisioterapia ou na 1ª semana de tratamento; 4 a 7 dias após a 1ª avaliação; e 7 semanas após o início da fisioterapia. Para verificação da unidimensionalidade do NDI, procedeu-se a uma Análise Fatorial Exploratória. As propriedades psicométricas do NDI avaliadas foram a Fiabilidade (consistência interna e fiabilidade teste-reteste), a Validade de Constructo e o Poder de Resposta. Posteriormente procedeu-se à caraterização da prática da fisioterapia quanto às modalidades utilizadas, número de sessões de tratamento e duração do episódio de cuidados. Adicionalmente descreveu-se os resultados obtidos após a intervenção da fisioterapia ao nível da dor e incapacidade. Resultados: os resultados obtidos foram positivos e significativos, com a confirmação da unidimensionalidade do NDI, sendo que em todos os critérios seguidos o fator mínimo retido foi de um. Na avaliação da consistência interna o valor obtido foi acima do mínimo aceitável (α Cronbach = 0,77), enquanto o valor de fiabilidade teste-reteste foi elevado (CCI =0,95). De igual forma, os resultados foram positivos para a validade de constructo, obtendo-se uma associação positiva do NDI com a Escala Numérica da dor (END). O valores de poder de resposta reportaram uma Área Abaixo da Curva de 0,63 (IC 95%=0,51-0,75), com valor de Diferença Mínima Clinicamente importante de 5,5 pontos (sensibilidade = 69,6%; especificidade = 43,6%). Relativamente á intervenção de fisioterapia em casos de DCC verificou-se que as características da prática da fisioterapia reportadas neste relatório são de difícil comparação ou análise dada a escassez ou inexistência de trabalhos publicados sobre este assunto em pacientes com DCC. No entanto, neste estudo, encontraram-se reduções significativas na intensidade da dor e incapacidade funcional após a intervenção de fisioterapia (z= -7,16; p<0,001 e t= 10,412, p<0,05, respetivamente). Conclusão: Os resultados do presente estudo revelam que o NDI-VP possui uma boa Fiabilidade, Validade de Constructo e Poder de Resposta. Revela ainda que a intervenção da fisioterapia em casos de DCC, apesar da escassez de trabalhos publicados, proporciona uma redução significativa dos níveis de dor e incapacidade em pacientes com DCC.--------------- ABSTRACT:Objective: the aim of this study was to contribute for the process of cultural adaption of the Neck Disability Index (NDI), through the analysis of his unidimensionality and the study of his reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability), construct validity and responsiveness. At the same time it pretends to characterize the intervention performed by physical therapy and the results in patients with Chronic Neck Pain (CNP). Introduction: neck pain is a common problem in the industrialized countries, since is one of the three most reported conditions by complaints with musculoskeletal origin. His incidence is a growth phenomena that implicate great costs to society. Therefore the importance of an instrument that monitories the evolution of the functional disability associated to CNP is recognized. Nowadays, NDI is the instrument most recommended to evaluate functional disability associated to neck pain. It has been translated and adapted to portuguese but, till now, no evaluation of his psychometric proprieties has been completed. In the other hand, despite literature refers that physical therapy services are extremely searched by patients with neck pain, in Portugal, the information about practice in this clinical condition is very few or inexistent. Therefore, and since disability in the functional activities is one of the variables with most impact of CNP and, at the same time, one of the main results of physical therapy interventions, it’s important to have instruments capable of evaluate the level of functional disability and his change, and also calculate which intervention of physical therapy is most appropriate and his results. Methodology: it was used a prospective cohort study with a convenience sample, non-probabilistic, consisting of 88 patients with CNP of musculoskeletal origin and non-traumatic cause, referred to 6 physical therapy services of clinics and rehabilitation centers, and fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria established. Patients were evaluated in three pre-defined moments: before the beginning of physical therapy or during the first week of treatment; 4 to 7 days after the first evaluation; and 7 weeks after beginning of physical therapy. To verify NDI unidimensionality, we run an Exploratory Factorial Analysis. NDI psychometric proprieties evaluated were reliability (internal consistency and test-retest reliability), construct validity and responsiveness. Subsequently, it was proceeded the characterization the practice of physical therapy regarding to the modalities used, the number of treatment sessions and duration of the episode of care. Additionally it was described the results obtained after the intervention of the physical therapy, the level of pain and the disability. Results: results were positive and significant, with the confirmation of the NDI unidimensionality, since in every followed criteria the minimal retained factor was one. In the evaluation of internal consistency the value was above the minimal accepted (α Cronbach = 0,77), and the test-retest reliability value was high (CCI =0,95). Results were positive to construct validity, with an positive association of the NDI with Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Responsiveness values reported an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0,63 (IC 95%=0,51-0,75) with a Minimal Important Detectable Change (MIDC) of 5,5 points (sensitivity = 69,9%; specificity = 43,6%). Regarding physical therapy interventions in CNP, it was verified that the physical therapy characteristics reported are difficult to compare or analyze since there are very few published studies about this topic. However, in this study, significant reductions were founded in pain intensity and functional disability after intervention(z= -7,16; p<0,001 and t= 10,412, p<0,05, respectively).Conclusion: present study results reveals that NDI has an good reliability, construct validity and responsiveness. It also reveals that physical therapy intervention in CNP, beside few studies published, result in a significant reduction of pain and disability levels in patients with CNP.

Numerical methods and tangible interfaces for pollutant dispersion simulation

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia do Ambiente, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia

Capital requirements and loan market conditions insight into the Portuguese banking system (2004-2011)

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

Impact of health conditions on absenteeism from work

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

Influence of curing conditions on lime and lime-metakaolin mortars

Proceedings of the XII DBMC – 12th International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components, Vol.2, V.P Freitas, H.Corvacho, M.Lacasse (eds.), Porto, FEUP, March 2011, p.713-720

The influence of the regional basic diet from northeast Brazil on health and nutritional conditions of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Protein nutritionalstatus indicators were studied in weanling albino Swiss mice infected with S. mansoni andfed the Regional Basic Diet (RBD)from Northeast Brazil, a multideficient diet of low-protein content. Each mouse was infected percutaneously with 80 cercariae. The experiment lasted 63 days. The growth curve, food consumption, protein intake, weight gain, Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) and Net Protein Ratio (NPR) were the parameters investigated. RBD-fed mice showed a marked weight loss, a lower food and protein intake, a slower body weight gain and lower rates of food protein utilization when compared to casein-fed animals. Differences between infected and non-infected mice were not consistent. The present results suggest that the effects of RBD-induced malnutrition on health and nutritional conditions of the mice are more severe than those of Manson's schistosomiasis, in the initial phase of the disease.

Influence of light conditions on adult mortality and egg-laying of Triatoma brasiliensis neiva, 1911 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

We compared, for Triatoma brasiliensis, the egg-laying process and the mortality of adults under conditions of almost permanent darkness and with normal laboratory luminosity. Mortality did not differ between groups. The egg-laying per vial and per female was significantly greater in the group of normal luminosity. We consider that it is not recommendable to keep the adults of this species under complete darkness. Other biological aspects should be analysed in relation to luminosity.

Exopolysaccharide production by Enterobacter A47: optimization of cultivation conditions and study of polymer functional properties

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Biotecnologia

Influence of lime type and curing conditions on lime and lime-metakaolin mortars

Durability of Building Materials and Components (Vasco Peixoto de de Freitas, J.M.P.Q. Delgado, eds.), Building Pathology and Rehabilitation, vol. 3, VIII, 105-126. ISBN: 978-3-642-37474-6 (Print) 978-3-642-37475-3 (Online). Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-37475-3_5

Influence of curing conditions in lime-metakaolin blended mortars – A mineralogical and mechanical study

3rd Historic Mortars Conference, 11-14 September 2013, Glasgow, Scotland