Ankle dynamic in stroke patients: agonist vs. antagonist muscle relations

O documento em anexo encontra-se na versão post-print (versão corrigida pelo editor).

The influence of relationship quality and culture in the relations between exporter and distributor : the case of portuguese exports to Angola

The objective of this research is to investigate the role of the relationship quality, cooperation and culture between Portuguese companies and their export market intermediaries in Angola. In particular, we aim to understand the importance that the quality of the relationship has in cooperation and the role of cultures in export activities. An important aspect of this study is precisely the fact that it includes an African country, where, in terms of the literature, there is a strong lack of studies. In terms of methodology we opted for qualitative analysis; we present the results of two case studies of Portuguese exporting companies and one case study of Angolan intermediate. In general, the results are that the business relationships are characterized by trust, commitment, cooperation, culture, similar values, as in the past, Angola belonged to Portugal there is easy communication because both countries share the same. Such factors will influence the trade relations between Portuguese exporters and their Angolan distributors.

Multidimensional aspects related to shiftworkers' health and well-being

The impact of shift and night work on health shows a high inter- and intra-individual variability, both in terms of kind of troubles and temporal occurrence, related to various intervening factors dealing with individual characteristics, lifestyles, work demands, company organisation, family relations and social conditions. The way we define "health" and "well-being" can significantly influence appraisals, outcomes and interventions. As the goal is the optimisation of shiftworkers' health, it is necessary to go beyond the health protection and to act for health promotion. In this perspective, not only people related to medical sciences, but many other actors (ergonomists, psychologists, sociologists, educators, legislators), as well as shiftworkers themselves. Many models have been proposed aimed at describing the intervening variables mediating and/or moderating the effects; they try to define the interactions and the pathways connecting risk factors and outcomes through several human dimensions, which refer to physiology, psychology, pathology, sociology, ergonomics, economics, politics, and ethics. So, different criteria can be used to evaluate shiftworkers' health and well-being, starting from biological rhythms and ending in severe health disorders, passing through psychological strain, job dissatisfaction, family perturbation and social dis-adaptation, both in the short- and long-term. Consequently, it appears rather arbitrary to focus the problem of shiftworkers' health and tolerance only on specific aspects (e.g. individual characteristics), but a systemic approach appears more appropriate, able to match as many variables as possible, and aimed at defining which factors are the most relevant for those specific work and social conditions. This can support a more effective and profitable (for individuals, companies, and society) adoption of preventive and compensative measures, that must refer more to "countervalues" rather than to "counterweights".

Pre-operative tractography of the facial nerve in vestibular schwannomas: inter-observer agreement with surgical findings

Pre-operative diffusion tensor (DT) tractography is currently employed in our institutions. We use it to predict the course of the facial nerve (FN) in the vicinity of vestibular schwannomas (VS) of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA). In this study we were interested to assess the inter-observer reproducibility of this method. Two Neuroradiologists (PMGP and TT) determined independently the location of the FN by tractography and compared the results with in-vivo findings of microsurgery of VS.

Health, sleep and lack of time: relations to domestic and paid work in nurses

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether reported morbidity and complaints of lack of time and sleep are associated with the burden of professional work and housework among nurses. METHODS: A cross-sectional exploratory study was carried out among female nurses and nurse assistants (N=206) of a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire. The prevalence ratio and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. RESULTS: Mean duration of professional work and housework time was 40.4 and 31.6 hours/week, respectively. Long professional working time (over 44 hours/week) were associated with mild emotional disorders (PR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.05-1.80), complaints of lack of time for resting/leisure (PR=1.61; 95% CI: 1.31-1.97), housework (PR=1.48; 95% CI: 1.12-1.97), and childcare (PR=1.99; 95% CI: 1.51-2.63). Long housework time (over 28 hours/week) was associated with lower prevalence of lack of time for childcare (PR=0.62; 95% CI: 0.46-0.84). High housework load was associated with lack of personal time and complaints of varicose veins (PR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.14-1.50 and PR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.08-1.58, respectively). Complaints of varicose veins were also frequent among female nurses with a total work load above 84 hours (PR=1.30; 95% CI: 1.05-1.61), though this group has shown a lower prevalence of arterial hypertension and recurrent headaches (PR=0.35; 95% CI: 0.15-0.83 and PR=0.53; 95% CI: 0.32-0.89, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that both professional and home environments are relevant in the evaluation of work overload on nurses' health and their family and social life. It is stressed the need for instruments for analyzing total workload among female populations.

Inter-professional partnership: a case study

O estudo caso apresentado neste artigo aborda a colaboração entre profissionais de múltiplas áreas disciplinares. Este estudo descreve como foi realizada a parceria entre a equipa de enfermagem e a equipa de psicologia clinica nas visitas domiciliárias com familias em risco. Igualmente, discute as dificuldades enfrentadas quando os profissionais não partilhavam os mesmos modelos de praticas colaborativas.

Satisfação com o trabalho em contexto organizacional: um estudo de caso, na Empresa de Eletricidade dos Açores

Dissertação de Mestrado, Sociologia, 24 de Março de 2014, Universidade dos Açores.

Inter-relação de Meloidogyne enterolobii e Pratylenchus brachyurus em variedades de goiabeiras

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Produção Vegetal) - FCAV

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels in three pelagic fish species from Atlantic Ocean: inter-specific and inter-season comparisons and assessment of potential public health risks

The concentrations of 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in three commercially valuable fish species (sardine, Sardina pilchardus; chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus; and horse mackerel, Trachurus trachurus) from the Atlantic Ocean. Specimens were collected seasonally during 2007–2009. Only low molecular weight PAHs were detected, namely, naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene and phenanthrene. Chub mackerel (1.80–19.90 microg/kg ww) revealed to be significantly more contaminated than horse mackerel (2.73–10.0 microg/kg ww) and sardine (2.29–14.18 microg/kg ww). Inter-specific and inter-season comparisons of PAHs bioaccumulation were statistically assessed. The more relevant statistical correlations were observed between PAH amounts and total fat content (significant positive relationships, p < 0.05), and season (sardine displayed higher amounts in autumn–winter while the mackerel species showed globally the inverse behavior). The health risks by consumption of these species were assessed and shown to present no threat to public health concerning PAH intakes.

Estudo da variabilidade inter-anual de diferentes regimes de vento

Mestrado em Engenharia Química. Ramo optimização energética na indústria química

Medidas de morbidade referida e inter-relações com dimensões de saúde

OBJETIVO: Analisar as inter-relações entre auto-avaliação de saúde, percepção de doença de longa duração e diagnóstico de doenças crônicas. MÉTODOS: Na Pesquisa Mundial de Saúde, realizada no Brasil em 2003, foram entrevistados 5.000 indivíduos com 18 anos ou mais, selecionados a partir de amostra estratificada em três estágios. Foi utilizado o questionário original adaptado ao contexto brasileiro, abordando a presença de doença de longa duração ou incapacidade, a auto-avaliação de saúde (geral e dos vários domínios) e o diagnóstico de seis doenças crônicas (artrite, angina, asma, depressão, esquizofrenia e diabetes mellitus). Para comparar as relações entre a auto-avaliação de saúde, percepção de doença de longa duração e as doenças crônicas avaliadas foram utilizados teste estatístico de homogeneidade de proporções e modelos de regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS: A auto-avaliação de saúde "não boa" e a percepção de ser portador de doença de longa duração foram significativamente mais freqüentes entre mulheres, indivíduos com 50 anos ou mais e aqueles com alguma das doenças pesquisadas. Os entrevistados com diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus apresentaram as piores avaliações de saúde: 70,9% referiram doença de longa duração e 79,3% avaliaram sua saúde como "não boa". Verificou-se pior avaliação de saúde com a associação de duas ou mais doenças. O efeito da auto-avaliação de saúde sobre a percepção de doença de longa duração foi maior que o número de doenças. CONCLUSÕES: As três formas de aferição da morbidade mostraram inter-relações significativas. A auto-avaliação de saúde "não boa" apresentou efeito mais importante para a percepção de doença de longa duração, sugerindo que as medidas subjetivas do estado de saúde possam ser mais sensíveis para estabelecer e monitorar o bem-estar do indivíduo.

Rentabilidade e risco na comercialização agregada de energia elétrica

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Electrotécnica na Área de Especialização de Energia