Value co-creation in bio-based chemicals value network

The purpose of this Master’s thesis is to study value co-creation in emerging value network. The main objective is to examine how value is co-created in bio-based chemicals value network. The study provides insights to different actors’ perceived value in the value network and enlightens their motivations to commit to the collaborative partnerships with other actors. Empirical study shows that value co-creation is creation of mutual value for both parties of the relationship by combining their non-competing resources to achieve a common goal. Value co-creation happens in interactions, and trust, commitment and information sharing are essential prerequisites for value co-creation. Value co-creation is not only common value creation, but it is also value that emerges for each actor because of the co-operation with the other actor. Even though the case companies define value mainly in economic terms, the other value elements like value of the partnership, knowledge transfer and innovation are more important for value co-creation.

Collective learning within nursing clinical groups /

This qualitative study examined collective learning within nursing clinical groups. Specifically, it explored the influence of the individual on the group and the impact of the group on the individual. The study was organized using the concepts from Debbie Kilgore's theory of collective learning (1999). The sample consisted of 1 8 second-year university nursing students and 3 clinical instructors. Data were collected via individual interviews with each participant and researcher's observations during a group conference. The interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using key concepts from Kilgore's framework. Several interesting findings emerged. Overall, it appeared that individual components and group components contributed to the quality and quantity of collective learning that occurred in the groups. Individually, each person's past group experiences, personality, culture, and gender influenced how that individual acted in the group, their roles, and how much influence they had over group decisions. Moreover, the situation which seemed to cause the greatest sense of helplessness and loss of control was when one of their group members was breaking a norm. They were unable to deal with such situations constructively. Also, the amount of sense of worthiness (respect) and sense of agency (control) the member felt within the group had an impact on the person's role in group decisions. Finally, it seemed that students felt more connected with their peers within the clinical setting when they were close with them on a personal and social level. With respect to the group elements, it seemed that the instructors' values and way of being were instrumental in shaping the group's identity. In group 2, there were clear examples of group consciousness and the students' need to go along with the majority viewpoint, even when it was contrary to their own beliefs. Finally, the common goal of passing clinical and dealing with the fears of being in the clinical setting brought solidarity among the group members, and there seemed to be a high level of positive interdependence among them. From the discussion and analysis of the findings, recommendations were given on how to improve the learning within clinical groups.

An exploratory study for the discovery of non-invasive hepatocellular carcinoma biomarkers among high-risk hepatitis C virus infected patients

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is a major healthcare problem, representing the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Chronic infections with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and/or Hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the major risk factors for the development of HCC. The incidence of HBV -associated HCC is in decline as a result of an effective HBV vaccine; however, since an equally effective HCV vaccine has not yet been developed, there are 130 million HCV infected patients worldwide who are at a high-risk for developing HCC. Because reliable parameters and/or tools for the early detection of HCC among high-risk individuals are severely lacking, HCC patients are always diagnosed at a late stage where surgical solutions or effective treatment are not possible. Using urine as a non-invasive sample source, two different approaches (proteomic-based and genomic-based approaches) were pursued with the common goal of discovering potential biomarker candidates for the early detection of HCC among high-risk chronic HCV infected patients. Urine was collected from 106 HCV infected Egyptian patients, 32 of whom had already developed HCC and 74 patients who were diagnosed as HCC-free at the time of initial sample collection. In addition to these patients, urine samples were also collected from 12 healthy control individuals. Total urinary proteins, Trans-renal nucleic acid (Tr-NA) and microRNA (miRNA) were isolated from urine using novel methodologies and silicon carbide-loaded spin columns. In the first, "proteomic-based", approach, liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to identify potential candidates from pooled urine samples. This was followed by validating relative expression levels of proteins present in urine among all the patients using quantitative real time-PCR (qRT-PCR). This approach revealed that significant over-expression of three proteins: DJ-1, Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) and 11 Moemen Abdalla HCC Biomarkers Heat Shock Protein 60 (HSP60), were characteristic events among HCC-post HCV infected patients. As a single-based HCC biomarker, CAF-1 over-expression identified HCC among HCV infected patients with a specificity of 90%, sensitivity of 66% and with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 78%. Moreover, the CAF-lIHSP60 tandem identified HCC among HCV infected patients with a specificity of 92%, sensitivity of 61 % and with an overall diagnostic accuracy of 77%. In the second genomic-based approach, two different approaches were processed. The first approach was the miRNA-based approach. The expression levels of miRNAs isolated from urine were studied using the Illumina MicroRNA Expression Profiling Assay. This was followed by qRT-PCR-based validation of deregulated expression of identified miRNA candidates among all the patients. This approach shed the light on the deregulated expression of a number of miRNAs, which may have a role in either the development of HCC among HCV infected patients (i.e. miR-640, miR-765, miR-200a, miR-521 and miR-520) or may allow for a better understanding of the viral-host interaction (miR-152, miR-486, miR-219, miR452, miR-425, miR-154 and miR-31). Moreover, the deregulated expression of both miR-618 and miR-650 appeared to be a common event among HCC-post HCV infected patients. The results of the search for putative targets of these two miRNA suggested that miR-618 may be a potent oncogene, as it targets the tumor-suppressor gene Low density lipoprotein-related protein 12 (LPR12), while miR-650 may be a potent tumor-suppressor gene, as it is supposed to downregulate the TNF receptor-associated factor-4 (TRAF4) oncogene. The specificity of miR-618 and miR-650 deregulated expression patterns for the early detection of HCC among HCV infected patients was 68% and 58%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity was 64% and 72%, respectively. When the deregulated expression of both miRNAs was combined as a tandem biomarker, the specificity and the sensitivity were 75% and 58% respectively. 111 Moemen Abdalla HCC Biomarkers In the second, "Trans-renal nucleic acid-based", approach, the urinary apoptotic nucleic acid (uaNA) levels of 70ng/mL or more were found to be a good predictor of HCC among chronic HCV infected patients. The specificity and the sensitivity of this diagnostic approach were 76% and 86%, respectively, with an overall diagnostic value of 81 %. The uaNA levels positively correlated to HCC disease progression as monitored by epigenetic changes of a panel of eight tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs) using methylation-sensitive PCR. Moreover, the pairing of high uaNA levels (:::: 70 ng/mL) and CAF-1 over-expreSSIOn produced a highly specific (l 00%) multiple-based HCC biomarker with an acceptable sensitivity of 64%, and with a diagnostic accuracy of 82%. In comparison to the previous pairing, the uaNA levels (:::: 70 ng/mL) in tandem with HSP60 over-expression was less specific (89%) but highly sensitive (72%), resulting in a diagnostic accuracy of 64%. The specificities of miR-650 deregulated expression in combination with either high uaNA content or HSP 60 over-expression were 82% and 79%, respectively, whereas, the sensitivities of these combinations were 64% and 58%, respectively. The potential biomarkers identified in this study compare favorably with the diagnostic accuracy of the a-fetoprotein levels test, which has a specificity of 75%, sensitivity of 68% and an overall diagnostic accuracy of 70%. Here we present an intriguing study which shows the significance of using urine as a noninvasive sample source for the identification of promising HCC biomarkers. We have also introduced new techniques for the isolation of different urinary macromolecules, especially miRNA, from urine. Furthermore, we strongly recommend the potential biomarkers indentified in this study as focal points of any future research on HCC diagnosis. A larger testing pool will determine if their use is practical for mass population screening. This explorative study identified potential targets that merit further investigation for the development of diagnostically accurate biomarkers isolated from 1-2 mL urine samples that were acquired in a non-invasive manner.

A needs assessment of public health professionals: supporting the implementation of Ontario 2010 revised elementary health and physical education curriculum

Based on the Comprehensive School Health framework, Ontario's Foundations for a Healthy School (2009) outlines an integrated approach to school health promotion. In this approach the school, community and partners (including public health) are fully engaged With a common goal of youth health. With the recent introductions of the Ontario Public Health Standards (2009) and the revised elementary health and physical education curriculum (2010), the timing for a greater integration of public health with schools is ideal. A needs assessment was conducted to identify the perceived support required by public health professionals to implement the mandates of both policy documents in Ontario. Data was collected for the needs assessment through facilitated discussions at a provincial roundtable event, regional focus groups and individual interviews with public health professionals representing Ontario's 36 public health units. Findings suggest that public health professionals perceive that they require increased resources, greater communication, a clear vision of public health and a suitable understanding of the professional cultures in which they are surrounded in order to effectively support schools. This study expands upon these four categories and the corresponding seventeen themes that were uncovered during the research process.

The role of NGOs in global health research for development

Affiliation: Hélène Delisle: Département de nutrition, Faculté de médecine, Université de Montréal

Fixation d’un but thérapeutique pour les patients supportés à long terme par un DAV aux soins intensifs : l’expérience des soignants

La situation d’un patient trop malade pour une transplantation et qui est maintenu à long terme aux soins intensifs (SI) avec l’aide d’un dispositif d'assistance ventriculaire (DAV) peut évoluer de multiples façons. Malheureusement, plusieurs soignants vivent un malaise lorsque ce patient survit avec des complications, sans possibilité de transplantation cardiaque ni de retour à domicile. Par conséquent, différents buts thérapeutiques sont poursuivis au sein de l’équipe soignante. L’étude avait pour objectifs de cerner les buts poursuivis par les professionnels de la santé œuvrant auprès de ce type de patient, de clarifier les facteurs influençant les buts poursuivis et de mieux connaître les difficultés éprouvées par l’équipe soignante dans l’élaboration d’un but commun. La phénoménologie a été utilisée comme méthodologie de définition de la problématique. L’échantillon comprenait 12 participants représentant les infirmières, médecins et perfusionnistes d'une unité de SI, travaillant auprès de ce type de patient. Chacun des participants a fait l’objet d’une entrevue individuelle, semi-dirigée et enregistrée sur appareil audio. Il leur a d’abord été présenté une vignette à partir de laquelle ont été posées un certain nombre de questions identiques pour tous. Dans leurs réponses à ces questions, les participants ont eu la possibilité de s’exprimer autant sur leur expérience que sur le contexte du phénomène. Une seconde rencontre a été nécessaire afin de valider ou de corriger l’interprétation de ce que chacun avait exprimé durant l’entrevue. L'analyse des données témoigne d’un manque d’harmonie quant au but à poursuivre à l’égard du patient en question. Environ la moitié des participants visent la transplantation, alors que les autres poursuivent d’autres buts comme la sortie des SI, la limitation des traitements ou les soins palliatifs. Les participants sont influencés majoritairement par les volontés du patient, l'absence de mécanisme formel de communication entre eux et les facteurs professionnels tels que : les valeurs, les pratiques et l’environnement, sans oublier les rapports de pouvoir. Un certain nombre de barrières empêchent l’équipe de déterminer un but commun. Pour vaincre ces obstacles et s’entendre sur les buts à poursuivre en équipe, le développement de la communication multidisciplinaire s’impose. Pour y arriver, deux prérequis doivent être développés : l’intention éthique et l’engagement.

Souplesse et méfiance de la coopération policière transnationale

Même si la coopération policière transnationale est l’objet ces dernières années d’un engouement souvent attribué à des vertus d’efficacité, il reste que relativement peu d’informations sont disponibles sur le processus en lui-même. L’objectif général de la thèse était de fournir une analyse englobant à la fois les préoccupations des autorités politiques et celles des acteurs judiciaires et policiers. Ces acteurs occupent tous des rôles nécessaires dans le système de la coopération policière transnationale, mais outre cette constatation, les études à leur sujet ne se recoupent pas véritablement. C’est donc dire que, d’une part, les études sur les acteurs politiques se concentrent sur les décisions prises par ceux-ci, sur l’élaboration de concepts et sur la signature de conventions. D’autre part, les études sur les acteurs policiers et judiciaires mettent l’accent sur le déroulement quotidien des activités policières transnationales et sur ce qui s’ensuit, c’est-à-dire les procédures judiciaires. À l’aide de concepts tels que la discrétion et la souplesse, la familiarité, la confiance, la méfiance, le scepticisme et l’évitement, nous tentons de rallier les récents concepts de reconnaissance mutuelle et de confiance mutuelle avec ce qui se passe effectivement dans le monde opérationnel. La thèse, qui s’intéresse principalement à la coopération policière transnationale en matière de trafic de drogues, s’appuie sur deux types de données. Tout d’abord, des entrevues qualitatives semi-dirigées ont été menées auprès de 21 policiers et procureurs. Ensuite, une analyse documentaire a été effectuée sur des documents canadiens, soit les sept jurisprudences sur l’extranéité et un guide rédigé par un procureur à l’intention des enquêteurs œuvrant dans les enquêtes. Nous allons présenter rapidement les résultats les plus importants de la thèse. Dans le premier chapitre, il a été question de deux niveaux de structures de pouvoir, qui n’évoluent pas en vases clos, mais qui s’influencent mutuellement. C’est dire que le levier d’influence des acteurs étatiques sur les acteurs du policing transnational peut être relativement puissant, mais que des parades peuvent toujours être utilisées par les policiers dans des cas spécifiques. Nadelmann (1993) avait raison lorsqu’il a soutenu qu’une norme adoptée au niveau transnational n’est pas nécessairement utile à la réalisation des objectifs communs des États, c’est-à-dire l’immobilisation des criminels. La norme est le produit d’une négociation politique et d’un jeu de pouvoir. Au final, elle n’influe pas énormément sur les décisions prises par les policiers dans les enquêtes à composantes transnationales. Au mieux, elle est un guide de règles à ne pas violer ouvertement et impunément. De plus, alors que les pays et les organisations utilisent un système de récompense, d’incitatifs ou de menace de sanctions pour favoriser la coopération policière transnationale en vu d’une participation à une enquête à composantes transnationales, les individus qui travaillent dans les enquêtes à composantes transnationales utilisent la familiarité et valorisent la confiance comme moyen pour établir et maintenir des liens. Ces individus ne peuvent pas s’obliger entre eux, alors qu’il existe la possibilité d’imposer des sanctions réelles entre acteurs étatiques. Il s’agit donc de deux niveaux d’analyse, dans lesquelles la configuration des relations est différente. Dans le deuxième chapitre d’analyse, nous avons examiné les jurisprudences canadiennes et le guide d’un procureur à l’intention des policiers, ce qui nous a amené à constater la discrétion laissée par les agents judiciaires aux policiers travaillant au sein d’enquêtes à composantes transnationales. En fait, nous avons trouvé que les agents judiciaires sont conscients des difficultés des enquêtes à composantes transnationales et qu’ils sont plus flexibles dans ces cas que dans les enquêtes nationales. Le troisième chapitre d’analyse a montré que de nombreux moyens sont à la disposition des agents de l’enquête, et qu’une certaine logique sous-tendait les choix des policiers. Plus particulièrement, c’est la gestion des incertitudes, la nature de l’information et son utilisation envisagée qui importe pour les agents de l’enquête à composantes transnationale. Finalement, le dernier chapitre d’analyse illustre les différents types de relations entretenues entre agents de l’enquête. Nous avons trouvé que le scepticisme est prépondérant mais que la coopération demeure le plus souvent possible, lorsque les acteurs ont des intérêts en commun. Une certaine familiarité entre les acteurs est nécessaire, mais la confiance n’est pas toujours essentielle à la mise en œuvre des activités policières transnationales. En fait, cela dépend du niveau d’échanges nécessaires et du contexte. Gambetta (1988) avait d’ailleurs montré qu’une structure sociale relativement stable puisse se maintenir dans un contexte généralisé de méfiance.

La collaboration interprofessionnelle

Université de Montréal, Faculté des Études Supérieures. Ce rapport de stage intitulé : La collaboration interprofessionnelle, a été évalué par un jury.

Rôle des associations de quartier dans l’organisation des services publics dans les quartiers précaires à Port-au-Prince : Une étude de cas à Village Solidarité

Port-au-Prince, la ville la plus peuplée des Caraïbes est ceinturée de quartiers précaires connus sous l’appellation de bidonvilles. Ces quartiers construits généralement sur des terrains dangereux, envahis par une population en quête de logement, abritent la plus forte proportion des habitants de la ville. Ils constituent en même temps des lieux d’observation de l’inimaginable capacité des populations locales à garantir l’accès à certains services. À travers l’action d’une association locale évoluant à Village solidarité dans la zone métropolitaine de Port-au-Prince, nous avons étudié les apports et les limites des stratégies utilisées dans l’organisation de services publics d’électricité. L’analyse repose fondamentalement sur une approche de développement local reposant sur cinq notions complémentaires et interreliées qui sont les suivantes : le projet commun, l’appartenance et l’identité collective, les ressources, le leadership, l’opportunité politique. Les résultats de la recherche font état d’un projet commun aux contours assez flous qui reflète des insuffisances au niveau des modes de pensée, et au niveau des ressources matérielles et financières mises en jeu. Le style de leadership en place au sein de l’association est teinté de déterminisme religieux, pris au piège des manœuvres clientélistes des politiciens locaux et infantilisé par l’action des agences gouvernementales. A la fin de l’étude nous dégageons des pistes pour dynamiser les forces du milieu et réorienter l’action associative afin d’aller vers un projet collectif. Ces pistes reposent fondamentalement sur la transformation des modes de pensée influençant l’action et la transformation des pratiques organisationnelles.

Information Exchange and Fusion in Dynamic and Heterogeneous Distributed Environments

Context awareness, dynamic reconfiguration at runtime and heterogeneity are key characteristics of future distributed systems, particularly in ubiquitous and mobile computing scenarios. The main contributions of this dissertation are theoretical as well as architectural concepts facilitating information exchange and fusion in heterogeneous and dynamic distributed environments. Our main focus is on bridging the heterogeneity issues and, at the same time, considering uncertain, imprecise and unreliable sensor information in information fusion and reasoning approaches. A domain ontology is used to establish a common vocabulary for the exchanged information. We thereby explicitly support different representations for the same kind of information and provide Inter-Representation Operations that convert between them. Special account is taken of the conversion of associated meta-data that express uncertainty and impreciseness. The Unscented Transformation, for example, is applied to propagate Gaussian normal distributions across highly non-linear Inter-Representation Operations. Uncertain sensor information is fused using the Dempster-Shafer Theory of Evidence as it allows explicit modelling of partial and complete ignorance. We also show how to incorporate the Dempster-Shafer Theory of Evidence into probabilistic reasoning schemes such as Hidden Markov Models in order to be able to consider the uncertainty of sensor information when deriving high-level information from low-level data. For all these concepts we provide architectural support as a guideline for developers of innovative information exchange and fusion infrastructures that are particularly targeted at heterogeneous dynamic environments. Two case studies serve as proof of concept. The first case study focuses on heterogeneous autonomous robots that have to spontaneously form a cooperative team in order to achieve a common goal. The second case study is concerned with an approach for user activity recognition which serves as baseline for a context-aware adaptive application. Both case studies demonstrate the viability and strengths of the proposed solution and emphasize that the Dempster-Shafer Theory of Evidence should be preferred to pure probability theory in applications involving non-linear Inter-Representation Operations.

Elucidación de conceptos aplicados a la organización y cultura organizacional

La sociedad ha definido ciertas normas y pautas de comportamiento en los individuos que se encuentran en ella. La interacción y red de relaciones dadas entre ellos constituye la identidad de la misma. El carácter de las sociedades está determinado por medio de la Institución Social la cual proporciona una interpretación más profunda de la complejidad de las relaciones sociales de cualquier conjunto de personas relacionadas entre sí. Dentro de la sociedad existe una noción de Cultura Social que refleja una experiencia colectiva que vivencian todos los individuos en ella, los acontecimientos que han tenido lugar en el pasado y que repercuten o tienen incidencia en el presente e incluso en el futuro de ese grupo de personas. La organización resulta ser el vínculo existente entre un conjunto de individuos que se encuentran relacionados y dispuestos a alcanzar una meta común por medio del establecimiento de roles o funciones. La Cultura Organizacional genera sentido de identidad y pertenencia a la Organización, además de incentivar el compromiso entre los integrantes de la misma para la consecución de logros y objetivos en común. Por tanto, la Cultura Social no debe ser aplicada de igual forma a la Cultura Organizacional, ya que la vinculación y la clase de relación que surge de los individuos en la Sociedad o en la Organización, es completamente diferente. Los valores, creencias y ritos, que se crean en la sociedad no pueden ser transferidos a una empresa debido a que las relaciones y el fin último de cada una de ellas es diferente.

Redes organizacionales saludables

El entorno empresarial actual ha llevado a las empresas a adoptar nuevas estrategias para ingresar a nuevos mercados, logrando ser competitivos y productivos. Una de esas estrategias es la creación de las redes empresariales, que permite a las empresas apoyarse en otras con las que tienen un objetivo común. La asociatividad se ha consolidado como la forma más sencilla y practica de alcanzar mercados nuevos sin incurrir en muchos gastos o riesgos, sin que ello implique que los riesgos o gastos desaparezcan, si disminuyen de forma significativa. Por otro lado, las empresas también buscan ser saludables, esto a través de la implementación de programas y la adopción de nuevos criterios que les permita ser más competitivas y la vez poder aportar a sus empleados, sus proveedores y la comunidad. Buscan ser organizaciones que destaquen los aspectos positivos en sus organizaciones y mejorar las relaciones en todos los niveles.

Reputación y su relación con la efectividad de las empresas que conforman una Red Inter-Organizacional

En los últimos años, el entorno empresarial ha venido experimentando e indagando en nuevas estrategias organizacionales para un mejor desempeño de sus actividades, con el fin de alcanzar los objetivos que las compañías proyectan cada día. Una de estas estrategias es la conformación de redes inter-organizacionales, las cuales son una herramienta que les permite trabajar en cooperación para conseguir un objetivo común, que beneficie a cada uno de los miembros de la red. En este contexto, es relevante conocer su grado de efectividad así como conocer los factores clave que influyen en el buen funcionamiento de una red inter-organizacional. Por lo tanto, en este proyecto de investigación se hace énfasis en la reputación, el cual es un factor clave de la confianza y un elemento influyente en la efectividad de las redes inter-organizacionales, teniendo en cuenta no solo la reputación de los integrantes de la red, sino también la de la red en conjunto.

Liderazgo transformacional e inteligencias múltiples en empresas exitosas

En este trabajo se logra identificar una fuerte y positiva relación entre el liderazgo transformacional y la teoría de las inteligencias múltiples. Así pues, se ha encontrado que los líderes transformacionales usan, consiente o inconscientemente, la teoría de las inteligencias múltiples como herramienta para potencializar a cada uno de sus seguidores y conseguir un fin común dentro de la empresa.

Obesidade adolescente, composição corporal e aptidão física

RESUMO: A principal razão que me levou a escolher este estágio e esta intervenção, foi o facto de gostar muito de trabalhar com jovens. Esse gosto, aliado à paixão que tenho pelo exercício e saúde, trouxe-me para um projecto que visa alterar e promover estilos de vida saudáveis em jovens obesos com idades entre os 12 e os 16 anos de idade. O estágio teve a duração de 10 meses, de Outubro de 2010 a Julho de 2011. Começamos com a definição dos protocolos a implementar e das tarefas a realizar. A primeira dessas tarefas, centrava-se no recrutamento da amostra que pretendíamos para desenvolver o estudo. Paralelamente ao projecto TOP, colaborámos também nas consultas de obesidade pediátrica no Hospital de Santa Maria, o que nos permitiu recrutar jovens que iam às consultas e incluí-los no projecto TOP. Após termos efectuado o recrutamento, começámos com as aulas práticas e teóricas. Essas aulas ocorriam na Universidade Lusófona, todos os sábados, das 10 às 12 horas. Eram sempre da nossa responsabilidade as aulas práticas, e as teóricas quando se falava de exercício. Nas aulas práticas realizavam-se circuitos, jogos tradicionais, jogos colectivos, e jogos que promovessem a competição saudável e a inter-ajuda, visto que ali todos os participantes tinham um objectivo comum. Durante o ano foram realizadas duas colónias de férias, onde organizámos outro tipo de actividades, nomeadamente mini-golf e caminhadas na zona do Jamor. Tanto as colónias de férias, como as avaliações eram da nossa inteira responsabilidade, desde a preparação, à execução e realização das mesmas. De referir que, tendo em conta os resutados obtidos, os participantes que melhoraram na sua capacidade cardiovascular apresentaram igualmente melhoras ao nível da composição corporal, nomeadamente com a diminuição do perímetro da anca e do perímetro acima das cristas ilíacas. Importa ainda referir que ocorreram melhorias significativas (p <0,05) ao nível da composição corporal, no que se refere ao perímetro da meia distância entre a grelha costal e as cristas ilíacas, no teste da flexibilidade dos membros inferiores e na força média. Os objectivos do estágio centravam-se em adquirir competências no que diz respeito a conhecer as características da população alvo tanto das consultas como do programa TOP, saber aplicar as recomendações internacionais de actividade física para adolescentes obesos, ser capaz de adaptar a prescrição de exercício às diferentes necessidades dos adolescentes, planear e colocar em prática os planos de aula da componente física do TOP, conduzir de forma autónoma uma consulta de avaliação e aconselhamento físico, interagir em contexto clínico com especialidades de outras áreas de intervenção, planear e implementar a calendarização das sessões teórico-práticas do Projecto TOP, saber colaborar com uma equipa multidisciplinar num ambiente clínico e colaborar na intervenção e elaboração de um projecto científico. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que uma replicação futura deste projecto, tendo em conta sempre limitações que possam ocorrer, por exemplo, ao nível dos protocolos e testes, pode melhorar a qualidade de vida do adolescente, com vista a um futuro adulto mais saudável.ABSTRACT: The main reason that made me decide on this internship is the fact that I enjoy working with young people. This, combined with the passion I have for exercising and health, led me to a project aiming at changing lifestyles by promoting a healthy lifestyle among obese young people aged between 12 and 16 years old. The internship lasted for 10 months, from October 2010 to July 2011. We started with the definition of protocols to implement and carry out the POT project (Pediatric Obesity Treatment). The first task focused on the recruitment of the sample we needed to conduct the study for this project. Along with the POT project, we‟ve also collaborated in clinical pediatric obesity surgery in Santa Maria Hospital, which allowed us to recruit young people who came to surgery and include them in the sample. After having carried out the recruitment, we started with the practical and theoretical lessons. These lessons took place at the Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias (ULHT) every month on Saturdays from 10 to 12. It was always our responsibility to prepare and present both the physical lessons and the theoretical ones concerning advice on everyday exercising. During practical lessons, circuits, traditional games and team games were held in order to promote a healthy competition and mutual help, since all the participants had a common goal. During the year there were two holiday camps, where we did many more activities, including mini-golf and walking in the area of Jamor. In those camps, all activities and evaluation sessions were our responsibility. By analysing the results we came to the conclusion that the participants who improved their cardiovascular capacity also improved their body composition, particularly with the reduction of the hip circumference and the circumference above the iliac crests. It should also be noted that significant improvements (p <0.05) in terms of body composition occurred namely concerning the circumference of the half distance between the rib cage and the iliac crests, the test of lower limbs flexibility and average strength. The objectives of the internship were to develop the ability to understand the characteristics of the adolescents in the POT project, know how to apply international recommendations for physical activity for obese adolescents, being able to individualize the exercise prescription for the different needs of adolescents, plan and implement physical and theorical lessons, conduct an independent surgery with a physical evaluation and counseling, interact in the context of other clinical speciality areas, plan and implement the scheduling of theoretical-practical sessions, learn how to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team in a clinical setting, intervene and collaborate in the development of a scientific project. The results show that a future replication of this project, always taking into account constraints that may occur, for example, the ones concerning the protocols, the testing, can improve the quality of life of adolescents aiming to a healthier adult life.