Sharing best practices in introducing and teaching ethics principles to public administration employees : research report

O projeto, financiado pelo Programa Aprendizagem ao Longo da Vida, decorreu entre 1 de agosto de 2011 e 31 de julho de 2013 e foi coordenado pelo Instituto de Administração Pública de Praga, tendo como parceiros a Escola de Economia e Direito de Berlim, a Escola Nacional de Administração Pública da Polónia e o INA, de Portugal. A coordenação portuguesa do estudo esteve a cargo da Prof. Doutora Helena Rato e da Dra. Matilde Gago, com a colaboração do Prof. Doutor César Madureira e da Dra. Margarida Quintela, ex investigadores do INA, atualmente na DGAEP.

Evaluation of the double diffusion, enzyme immunoassay and immunoblotting techniques, for the diagnosis of human hydatid disease in tropical areas

Hydatid disease in tropical areas poses a serious diagnostic problem due to the high frequence of cross-reactivity with other endemic helminthic infections. The enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the double diffusion arc 5 showed respectively a sensitivity of 73% and 57% and a specificity of 84-95% and 100%. However, the specificity of ELISA was greatly increased by using ovine serum and phosphorylcholine in the diluent buffer. The hydatic antigen obtained from ovine cyst fluid showed three main protein bands of 64,58 and 30 KDa using SDS PAGE and immunoblotting. Sera from patients with onchocerciasis, cysticercosis, toxocariasis and Strongyloides infection cross-reacted with the 64 and 58 KDa bands by immunoblotting. However, none of the analyzed sera recognized the 30 KDa band, that seems to be specific in this assay. The immunoblotting showed a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 100% when used to recognize the 30 KDa band.

Advanced image processing techniques for detection and quantification of drusen

Dissertation presented to obtain the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Electrical Engineering, speciality on Perceptional Systems, by the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculty of Sciences and Technology

A teaching-learning sequence of colour informed by history and philosophy of science

In this work, we present a teaching-learning sequence on colour intended to a pre-service elementary teacher programme informed by History and Philosophy of Science. Working in a socio-constructivist framework, we made an excursion on the history of colour. Our excursion through history of colour, as well as the reported misconception on colour helps us to inform the constructions of the teaching-learning sequence. We apply a questionnaire both before and after each of the two cycles of action-research in order to assess students’ knowledge evolution on colour and to evaluate our teaching-learning sequence. Finally, we present a discussion on the persistence of deep-rooted alternative conceptions.

Teaching and learning with social software in higher education: content management systems integrated with Web-based applications as a key factor for success

The change of paradigm imposed by the Bologna process, in which the student will be responsible for their own learning, and the presence of a new generation of students with higher technological skills, represent a huge challenge for higher education institutions. The use of new Web Social concepts in teaching process, supported by applications commonly called Web 2.0, with which these new students feel at ease, can bring benefits in terms of motivation and the frequency and quality of students' involvement in academic activities. An e-learning platform with web-based applications as a complement can significantly contribute to the development of different skills in higher education students, covering areas which are usually in deficit.

Modern techniques for constraint solving the CASPER experience

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

Using data mining techniques to support breast cancer diagnosis

More than ever, there is an increase of the number of decision support methods and computer aided diagnostic systems applied to various areas of medicine. In breast cancer research, many works have been done in order to reduce false-positives when used as a double reading method. In this study, we aimed to present a set of data mining techniques that were applied to approach a decision support system in the area of breast cancer diagnosis. This method is geared to assist clinical practice in identifying mammographic findings such as microcalcifications, masses and even normal tissues, in order to avoid misdiagnosis. In this work a reliable database was used, with 410 images from about 115 patients, containing previous reviews performed by radiologists as microcalcifications, masses and also normal tissue findings. Throughout this work, two feature extraction techniques were used: the gray level co-occurrence matrix and the gray level run length matrix. For classification purposes, we considered various scenarios according to different distinct patterns of injuries and several classifiers in order to distinguish the best performance in each case described. The many classifiers used were Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machines, k-nearest Neighbors and Decision Trees (J48 and Random Forests). The results in distinguishing mammographic findings revealed great percentages of PPV and very good accuracy values. Furthermore, it also presented other related results of classification of breast density and BI-RADS® scale. The best predictive method found for all tested groups was the Random Forest classifier, and the best performance has been achieved through the distinction of microcalcifications. The conclusions based on the several tested scenarios represent a new perspective in breast cancer diagnosis using data mining techniques.

Indizar, clasificar y organizar las colecciones de las bibliotecas escolares: herramientas en lengua española y portuguesa

La biblioteca escolar es un servicio de información básico para todos los miembros de una comunidad educativa, que forma parte de los espacios docentes de los centros y de los procesos pedagógicos que tienen lugar en ellos. Las bibliotecas escolares funcionan como centros de recursos para las actividades de enseñanza-aprendizaje, están constituidas por un conjunto sistematizado y dinámico de servicios y fondos documentales que permiten a los usuarios desarrollar hábitos lectores y buscar y valorar las fuentes de información, entre otras relevantes funciones. Los recursos de información que albergan son uno de sus principales activos, pero si colección documental no está organizada, las tareas de búsqueda y localización de la información resultarán complicadas y la calidad de los recursos obtenidos, cuestionable. Los bibliotecarios deben conocer en profundidad las características específicas del fondo documental y las fuentes disponibles; las técnicas y herramientas adecuadas para procesar y tratar el fondo bibliográfico, así como los métodos de recuperación de la información más convenientes. En este contexto, el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar de forma pormenorizada los procesos de indización y clasificación que se realizan en las bibliotecas escolares para procesar y recuperar la información que albergan su colecciones, así como describir las características más relevantes de las herramientas específicas que se usan en las bibliotecas escolares españolas, brasileñas y portuguesas, adaptadas a las características de los usuarios que utilizan sus servicios y acuden a ellas para resolver necesidades de información. Para lograr este propósito, se analiza el concepto de biblioteca escolar de forma crítica, se estudian sus funciones y se examinan las técnicas y los instrumentos que permiten organizar la información. Entre otras herramientas, se estudian listas de encabezamientos de materia como los Encabezamientos de materia para libros infantiles y juveniles y la Lista de Encabezamientos de materia para las bibliotecas públicas; sistemas de clasificación, como la Clasificación Decimal Universal (edición de bolsillo) o la clasificación por centros de interés y tesauros especializados como el Tesauro de la Educación UNESCO-OIE y el Tesauro Europeo de la Educación, entre otros.

Agreement between premortem and postmortem diagnoses in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome observed at a brazilian teaching hospital

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the main causes of death in adults worldwide. More commonly than in the general population, in patients with AIDS there is substantial disagreement between causes of death which are clinically suspected and those established by postmortem examination. The findings of 52 postmortem examinations were compared to the premortem (clinical) diagnoses, and there was 46% agreement between them. Fifty two percent of the patients had more than one postmortem diagnosis, and 48% had at least one AIDS-related disease not suspected clinically. Cytomegalovirus infection was the commonest (30.7%) autopsy finding, but not a single case had been suspected premortem. Bacterial infection, tuberculosis, and histoplasmosis were also common, sometimes not previously suspected, postmortem findings. This study shows that multiple infections occur simultaneously in AIDS patients, and that many among them are never suspected before the postmortem examination. These findings suggest that an aggressive investigation of infections and cancers should be done in patients with AIDS, particularly in those who do not respond to therapy of an already recognized condition

Detection of mycoplasmas in urethral swabs from HIV-1 infected patients and control individuals using culture techniques and polymerase chain reaction

The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of certain mycoplasma species, i.e., Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma penetrans, in urethral swabs from HIV-1 infected patients compared to swabs from a control group. Mycoplasmas were detected by routine culture techniques and by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, using 16SrRNA generic primers of conserved region and Mycoplasma penetrans specific primers. The positivity rates obtained with the two methods were comparable. Nevertheless, PCR was more sensitive, while the culture techniques allowed the quantification of the isolates. The results showed no significant difference (p < 0.05) in positivity rates between the methods used for mycoplasma detection.

EXPERIENCE IN THE EVALUATION OF CHILDREN WITH HEPATOSPLENOMEGALY AT A TEACHING AMBULATORY, SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL

Objectives: Describe cases of children with hepatosplenomegaly (HS) attended at the General Pediatric Teaching Ambulatory (AGER) of Instituto da Criança, São Paulo, identifying the main causes, evolution, necessity for hospitalization and/or referral to specialists. Methodology: Retrospective analysis of the records of children presenting HS on admission at AGER from September 1, 1993 to August 31, 1996. Results: Of the 89 children included (age range, 1 to 148 months; median, 24 months), 64 (72%) were referred from other services for HS investigation. Most common presenting complaints were: fever - 39 (44%); pallor - 26 (29%); weight loss - 21 (24%) and jaundice - 14 (16%). Main alterations noticed on physical examination were: pallor - 47 (53%) and short stature - 17 (19%). Anemia was diagnosed in 70 children (79%); 35 children (39%) had infections; 7 (8%) metabolic disorders and 5 (6%) neoplastic disorders. The most frequent infections were of the urinary tract - 9 (10%) and hepatitis A - 6 (7%).Thirty six children (40%) were referred to specialists, 17 of which were already diagnosed. Conclusions: Most of the children with HS present deficiency anemia associated with infections which the general pediatrician is able to diagnose. Persistence of unexplained HS for more than 2 months, especially when there is substantial volume enlargement or alteration in the organs consistency, is an indication for referral to specialists.

PALEOPARASITOLOGY: PERSPECTIVES WITH NEW TECHNIQUES

Paleoparasitology is the study of parasites found in archaeological material. The development of this field of research began with histological identification of helminth eggs in mummy tissues, analysis of coprolites, and recently through molecular biology. An approach to the history of paleoparasitology is reviewed in this paper, with special reference to the studies of ancient DNA identified in archaeological material.

Archaeological roman glasses: comparative characterisation by non-destructive analytical techniques

Dissertation presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration