Multidimensional Scalling Analysis of the World Economy During the Period 1972-2012

The last 40 years of the world economy are analyzed by means of computer visualization methods. Multidimensional scaling and the hierarchical clustering tree techniques are used. The current Western downturn in favor of Asian partners may still be reversed in the coming decades.

Profiling of real-world web applications

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

Perinatal Death: Epidemiology and Etiology

Perinatal mortality rate is an important mark to evaluate women and perinatal health care. It is of utmost importance to know causes and the evolution of its two components aiming to improve health care in different fields – sanitary conditions, diagnosis and treatment of infectious disease, immunisations, diagnosing and caring for medical diseases induced by pregnancy or directly related to it, providing skilled birth attendance, preventing birth asphyxia, preventing preterm birth complications and infections. In high-income countries the epidemiology varies mainly with social and economic conditions; in low-income countries, paired with poverty, undernutrition, superstition, lack of medical care, deficient basic sanitary conditions are also found. Also, in rich countries, responsible for 1% of deaths, data are published and improvements evaluated, while in low-income countries responsible for 99% of deaths numbers and causes are unknown, making difficult to implement cost effective interventions, a reason why “stillbirth rates in low-income countries are now where they were in high-income countries 50 to 100 years ago”. Knowledge on causes of death are very important as often what is needed are “simple” measures as improvement of sanitary conditions and immunisation programmes rather than high technologies. About four million babies dye each year in the first 28 days of life and another 3 million dye before birth in the third-trimester, with 98% occurring in low-income and middle income countries and more than 1 million occurring during labour and delivery. Classically stillbirths are the major component of perinatal mortality rate. Causes of death are even more difficult to know. In low-income countries a great proportion of women give birth at home. Worldwide the main causes of stillbirth are asphyxia due to obstructed labour, eclampsia, abruption placenta and umbilical cord complications - making valid the assumption that skilled birth attendance would decrease stillbirth; and infection - chorioamnioitis, syphilis and malaria. In high-income countries placental pathology and infection, congenital anomalies, complications of preterm birth and post term delivery, are the most common. If in low-income countries famine and lack of provisions and health care are common, in high-income countries, advanced maternal age and diabetes, obesity, hypertension, smoking, are frequent findings.

Norovírus Associated Encephalopathy

clinical presentation is self limited. It is classified into five groups (genogroups I through V). There are numerous reports of neurologic complications, namely afebrile seizures, but only two reports of associated encephalopathy. Case Report: A 12 month old girl with previous history of a pneumonia treated with amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and clarythromycin, presented in our emergency department with strabismus, ataxia for 3 days, later associated with vomiting and diarrhea. On admission she had ataxia and an episode of strabismus, but her later neurologic exam was normal. Laboratory data revealed: 10,9 g/dL hemoglobin, 11.200/μL leukocytes, 29,1% neutrophils and 65,2% lymphocytes, 488.000/μL platelets and negative CRP. The brain MRI showed middle ear, maxillary sinus and ethmoidal opacification, with no other abnormalities. During the first day of admission she had a tonic (?) seizure for 20 minutes. CSF analysis showed 5,6 cells/μL, 100% lymphocytes, 80 mg/dL glucose and 154,1 mg/dL protein. The EEG revealed short duration paroxystic activity located to the vertex. She was treated with acyclovir, ciprofloxacin, cefthriaxone and phenytoin. Her symptoms resolved by the third day of admission. Blood samples were tested for numerous pathogens, including serology for Borrelia, which was positive for IgG but negative for IgM. Fecal sample analysis revealed positive PCR for norovirus, although it was negative in CSF samples. IL-6 was measured in the CSF and was negative (5,8 pg/mL). She had a history of recurrent otitis media and pernieal candidiasis, which led to a detailed immune function study, which showed Immunology tests revealed diminished IgA (< 0,244 g/L) and absent antibody response to vaccinations. Since she was only 13 months old when she was tested, only follow up will determine the relevance of these values. Follow up at two years of age showed no delays and a normal development. Conclusion: Norovirus encephalitis is a rare entity, although gastrointestinal infection with this agent is relatively common. Here we present a case of a probable norovirus associated encephalopathy, although PCR for norovirus was negative in CSF samples and there was no CSF cytokine increase. It was not associated with adverse neurologic outcome and so far her development is normal, unlike the evolution described in previous case reports.

Two Gestational Sacs, Two Locations - Heterotopic Pregnancy - Case Report

Introduction: Heterotopic pregnancy (HP) is defined as two gestational sacs simultaneously present in two different locations, being the uterus and the fallopian tubes the more common. Sporadic HP is a very rare condition (1:30,000 pregnancies). With the use of medically assisted reproduction the prevalence is significantly higher(1:7,000). Considering spontaneous pregnancy, HP is associated with risk factors, being prior inflammatory pelvic disease the most common. The clinical presentation is similar to that of ectopic pregnancy or spontaneous miscarriage although it is usually a more late diagnosis. Case report: 25 year-old pregnant woman, OI 0000, previously healthy; admitted at the Emergency Department (ED) with acute pelvic pain mainly at the right iliac fossa and moderate vaginal bleeding confirmed by speculum examination. She was hemodynamically stable and the bimanual palpation was painful; no prior medically assisted reproduction technique had been performed. The haemoglobin value was within normal range and the serum β-hCG was 2,763mUI/mL. The ultrasonography at the ED showed an in uterus gestational sac and another one inside the right fallopian tube; in both gestational sacs cardiac activity was absent. HP diagnosis was then established and the patient was admitted at the Obstetrics Ward for surveillance and ultrasonographic/laboratorial reassessment; complete miscarriage of the uterine pregnancy occurred but methotrexate was necessary for the treatment of persistent tubarian pregnancy. Conclusion: When evaluating a pregnant woman with pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding one should always be aware of several differential diagnosis amongst which HP should be considered. If the patient has in uterus viable pregnancy the treatment of the ectopic concomitant gestational sac should be as conservative as possible; methotrexate should not be used in that situation as it leads to uterine pregnancy miscarriage in about one third of the patients.

Assessment of physical impairments in leprosy patients: a comparison between the world health organization (who) disability grade and the Eye-Hand-Foot Score

This cross-sectional study assessed the grade of physical impairments in 61 individuals with leprosy receiving multidrug therapy (MDT) under the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), and residing in Campina Grande, Paraíba State, Brazil. Impairments were assessed using the disability grade (DG) standardized by the WHO, and the EHF score (Eye-Hand-Foot sum of impairment scores). Impairments were detected in 25 (41%) of the subjects. A total of 14 (23%) patients scored DG 1, while 11 (18%) were assigned DG 2. The EHF score ranged from 1 to 10 points in the group of patients with physical impairments, with a mean score of 3.6 points. The majority of individuals with impairments were affected in at least two sites. We conclude that the EHF score showed overlapping impairments in the segments examined and may be more appropriate than the DG classification system for describing the degree of physical impairment of leprosy patients.

Motivação de crianças e jovens para a prática vocal

Este relatório foi escrito no âmbito do estágio de Prática Educativa do Mestrado em Ensino da Educação Musical no Ensino Básico da Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico do Porto. No primeiro capítulo encontra-se a caracterização dos contextos onde decorreu a Prática Educativa – escolas, turmas e comunidades educativas. O segundo capítulo engloba a reflexão e fundamentação das opções realizadas ao longo das três Práticas Educativas, que resultaram da negociação entre os ideais, os programas e as crianças e os jovens envolvidos, suas competências, anseios e motivações. O terceiro capítulo é dedicado ao projeto de investigação realizado sobre a motivação de crianças e jovens dos 2º e 3º ciclos do ensino básico para participarem em atividades de prática vocal extracurriculares e suas implicações para a Educação Musical na sala de aula. O contraste entre a motivação dos alunos na sala de aula e em atividades extracurriculares suscitou o desenvolvimento deste estudo em dois contextos: o Coro dos Meninos Cantores do Município da Trofa e o Clube de Canto da Escola Básica Augusto Gil. A reflexão sobre a Prática Educativa é um instrumento ao serviço dos professores que lhes permite avaliar, e avaliarem-se, e introduzir mais consciência e reflexividade na sua acção, com vista a melhorá-la continuamente e a torná-la pertinente para o percurso dos seus alunos num mundo em constante mudança.

Playing With Fire: Decrease in Safe-Sex Attitudes Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in a Portuguese STI Clinic

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) present a major public health concern and a global cause of illness in both industrialized and developing countries. Portugal is no exception, with an increasing incidence of STIs, and one of the highest prevalences of HIV in Europe. Reduced risk perceptions among men who have sex with men (MSM) and a consequent high-risk sexual behaviour have been increasingly reported throughout the world. Objectives: To characterize the population of MSM attending a STI clinic in Lisbon, and to assess practice of condom use among these patients. Methods: Records of all MSM patients who attended the STI clinic from 2008 to 2011 were reviewed to study demographic characteristics, sexual behaviours, and leading diagnoses in this population. Results: Of a total of 389 patients, 108 MSM were identified (27.8%), mostly Portuguese men with high school or above education, aged 17 to 61 years (medium age of 32.4 years). More than half of the patients (52.8%) reported more than one sexual partner in the past 6 months (19.4% more than 5 partners), and only a third consistently used condom. A history of sex with sex workers was mentioned in 9.2%. The most prevalent diagnoses were syphilis (45.6%) and condylomata acuminata (38.9%). The prevalence of HIV infection in this subgroup of patients was significantly higher than in the rest of the population (47.2% vs. 14.9%). Inconsistent condom use increased over the years (36.4% in 2008, 66.7% in 2011), and these patients revealed a greater number of sexual partners than condom users (60.4% vs. 50%). However, 38.9% of condom users presented with early syphilis, suggesting inadequate use of this barrier method. Among HIV patients, almost half of them (49%) had sex with more than one partner in the previous six months, and 47.1% did not use the condom during all sexual practices. Of these, 45.8% were not on antiretroviral therapy. Conclusions: High-risk sexual behaviours (inconsistent use of condom and multiple partners) are increasingly prevalent in this MSM subpopulation, despite previous educational programmes. The high incidence of risk behaviours among HIV infected patients is particularly worrisome, and must be addressed with innovative interventions and population-based prevention strategies.

EVALUATION OF THE THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY OF LEVAMISOLE HYDROCHLORIDE ON THIRD-STAGE LARVAE OF Lagochilascaris minor IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED MICE

Lagochilascariosis, a disease caused by Lagochilascaris minor, affects the neck, sinuses, tonsils, lungs, the sacral region, dental alveoli, eyeballs and the central nervous system of humans. A cycle of autoinfection may occur in human host tissues characterized by the presence of eggs, larvae and adult worms. This peculiarity of the cycle hinders therapy, since there are no drugs that exhibit ovicidal, larvicidal and vermicidal activity. Given these facts, we studied the action of levamisole hydrochloride on third-stage larvae in the migration phase (G1) and on encysted larvae (G3) of L. minor. To this end, 87 inbred mice of the C57BL/6 strain were divided into test groups comprising 67 animals (G1-37; G3-30) and a control group (G2-10; G4-10) with 20 animals. Each animal was inoculated orally with 2,000 infective eggs of the parasite. The animals of the test groups were treated individually with a single oral dose of levamisole hydrochloride at a concentration of 0.075 mg. The drug was administered either 30 minutes prior to the parasite inoculation (G1 animals) or 120 days after the inoculation (G3 animals). The mice in the control groups were not treated with the drug. After the time required for the migration and the encysting of L. minor larvae, all the animals were euthanized and their tissues examined. The data were analyzed using the Student's unpaired t-test and the Levene test. The groups showed no statistically significant difference. Levamisole hydrochloride was ineffective on third-stage larvae of L. minor. These findings explain the massive expulsion of live adult worms, as well as the use of long treatment schemes, owing to the persistence of larvae and eggs in human parasitic lesions.

What do people do at work when they are not working?

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

While the crisis proceeds: A world redistribution of economic power?

The crisis has drawn attention to the fact that not only emerging powers but other regions of the world as well may be offering different development models and may constitute into alternative, in some dimensions more positive agents, in the conduct of the present stage of globalisation. Notwithstanding, the traditional western powers have not lost a large amount of control of the world economy. And the crisis proceeds, reallocating world power as in a Hobbesian anarchy. It is difficult to foresee smooth developments in the near future. On the contrary, multilateralism seems to be losing ground to unilateral action or bilateral arrangements. More or less disguised currency wars may lead to serious disequilibria, and turf wars may become more frequent, with motives ranging from securing captive markets to control of specific commodities and energy goods, or targeted regulatory frameworks. As economic policy becomes even more involved with defence and security affairs, the feedbacks from each side to the other seem likely to keep dissent and animosity high, rather than contributing to peaceful and constructive approaches. A more trouble-prone world may be easily expected.

Moral Mazes: the world of corporate managers (20th anniversary edition) [Robert Jackall]

Recensão do livro Moral Mazes: the world of corporate managers (20th anniversary edition) [Robert Jackall], 2010, Oxford University Press, Nova Iorque

História da Arte na World Wide Web

in Varia, Revista do IHA, N.3 (2007), pp.328-331

História da Arte na World Wide Web (II)

in Varia, Revista do IHA, N.4 (2007), pp.379-382