Auditoria de resultados no Ministério da Defesa Nacional, ramo Exército

Trabalho de Projeto apresentado ao Instituto de Contabilidade e Administração do Porto para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Auditoria, sob orientação do Dr. Rodrigo Carvalho e co-orientação do Major de Artilharia António Rabaço

Anatase as an alternative application for preventing biodeterioration of mortars: evaluation and comparison with other biocides

International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 64(2010)388 e 396

Spectroscopy studies on conservation issues in modern and contemporary paintings

Dissertation presented to the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of New University of Lisbon in fulfilment of the requirements for the Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration Specialization in easel painting

Strategic Planning and Organizational Effectiveness in Social Service Organizations in Portugal

This study aims to understand the reality of social service organizations, the level of implementation of the strategic planning as well as the impact of its application on organizational effectiveness. At first, we will group organizations in clusters according to the level of strategic planning implementation and its degree of effectiveness. Secondly, we will analyse all the different groups. Given the growing number of social service organizations and the consequent complexity of their structures, it turns out the need for these organizations adopt formal management techniques. Strategic planning is a valuable strategic management tool and one of its main objectives is to make organizations more effective. Therefore, the research has been conducted in order to determine if strategic planning is implemented in social service organizations and which effects has its application on organizational effectiveness. The survey, applied to 220 social service organizations, allowed us to gather them into different clusters, showing that different levels of strategic planning determine distinct degrees of organizational efficiency. Finally, it should be noted that findings of this research may be essential to decision makers of these organizations, because it was shown that the adoption of strategic planning has a positive influence on organizational effectiveness of social service organizations.

Evaluation of different immunization protocols with P. brasiliensis antigens in Guinea pigs

The objective of the present study was to develop an efficient and reproducible protocol of immunization of guinea pigs with P. brasiliensis antigens as an animal model for future studies of protective immunity mechanisms. We tested three different antigens (particulate, soluble and combined) and six protocols in the presence and absence of Freund's complete adjuvant and with different numbers of immunizing doses and variable lenght of time between the last immunizing dose and challenge. The efficacy of the immunizing protocol was evaluated by measuring the humoral and cellular anti-P. brasiliensis immune response of the animals, using immuno-diffusion, skin test and macrophage migration inhibition test. It was observed that: 1. Three immunizing doses of the antigens induced a more marked response than two doses; 2. The highest immune response was obtained with the use of Freund's complete adjuvant; 3. Animals challenged a long time (week 6) after the last immunizing dose showed good anti-P. brasiliensis immune response; 4. The particulate antigen induced the lowest immune response. The soluble and the combined antigens were equally efficient in raising good humoral and cellular anti-P. brasiliensis immune response

Multiple Linear Regression and Artificial Neural Networks to Predict Time and Efficiency of Soil Vapor Extraction

The prediction of the time and the efficiency of the remediation of contaminated soils using soil vapor extraction remain a difficult challenge to the scientific community and consultants. This work reports the development of multiple linear regression and artificial neural network models to predict the remediation time and efficiency of soil vapor extractions performed in soils contaminated separately with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, trichloroethylene, and perchloroethylene. The results demonstrated that the artificial neural network approach presents better performances when compared with multiple linear regression models. The artificial neural network model allowed an accurate prediction of remediation time and efficiency based on only soil and pollutants characteristics, and consequently allowing a simple and quick previous evaluation of the process viability.

Stool examination and rectal biopsy in the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy of schistosomiasis mansoni

From each of a group of 217 adult males selected through enzyme-immunoassay or skin-test (Group A), six stool samples were examined by both the Lutz/Hoffman, Pons & Janer (Lutz/HPJ) and Kato/Katz methods. In addition, one oogram of the rectal mucosa was performed. By these methods, schistosomiasis was detected in 44.7%, 47.5% and 40.1% of the individuals respectively. To evaluate the methods in the assessment of cure, the last 40 patients from group A, treated with a single oral dose of oxamniquine at 15 mg/kg were followed up for six months (Group B). The criteria for parasitological cure included three stool examinations by Kato/Katz and Lutz/HPJ methods, one, three and six months post-treatment and a rectal biopsy between the fourth and sixth months post-treatment. The examinations were negative in 87.5%, 90% and 95% of the patients, respectively. The efficacy of oxamniquine was 82.5% when the three methods were considered together and there was no statistically significant difference between the sensitivity of the individual methods.

Immunodiagnosis of hydatid disease: evaluation of antigens from hydatid cyst fluid and the vesicularfluid of Taenia crassiceps metacestode

The specificity and sensitivity of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA), presently used in South America areas where hydatidosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus is endemic, was compared to two alternative EIA. One of these uses an hydatid antigen of different prepraration and the other vesicular fluid of Taenia crassiceps cisticerci (VFCC). The effect of previous neutralization in the serum sample of antibodies anti-normal ovine or murine sera and anti-phosphorylcholine on the diagnostic efficiency of these EIA was studied. The frequency of distribution of the titers obtained with normal sera, hydatid sera positive to DD5 test and hydatid sera negative to DD5 test in three EIA systems was analyzed. Results showed a significant decrease of sensitivity of the EIA using VFCC when compared to these EIA using hydatid antigens. This makes inconvenient the use of VFCC for the immunodiagnosis of hydatid disease. No significant differences between the two EIA using hydatid antigens were observed. SDS-PAGE analysis showed remarkable differences between the VFCC and the hydatid antigens composition and some differences among these latters probably due to manufacturing procedures.

Schistosoma mansoni: evaluation of the activity of oxamniquine on schistosomules, at 24 hours after infection

Mice transcutaneously infected with about 400 cercariae were submitted to treatment with oxamniquine (400 mg/kg), 24 hours after infection. The recovery of schistosomules, at 4, 24, 48 and 72 hours and 35 days after treatment, showed the activity of the drug on the parasites, thus practically preventing their migration from the skin to the lungs. Worm recovery performed in the lungs (96 hours after treatment) showed recovery means of 0.6 worms/mouse in the treated group and 53.8 in the control group (untreated). The perfusion of the portal system carried out at 35 days after treatment clearly showed the elimination of all the parasites in the treated group, whereas a recovery mean of 144.7 worms/mouse was detected in the control group (untreated). These findings confirm the efficacy of oxamniquine at the skin phase of infection, and also show similarity with the immunization method that uses irradiated cercariae. The practical application of these findings in the medical clinic is discussed too

Time-domain optimization of amplifiers based on distributed genetic algorithms

Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the subject of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Development and Assessment of an E-Learning Course on Breast Imaging for Radiographers: A Stratified Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Mammography is considered the best imaging technique for breast cancer screening, and the radiographer plays an important role in its performance. Therefore, continuing education is critical to improving the performance of these professionals and thus providing better health care services. Objective: Our goal was to develop an e-learning course on breast imaging for radiographers, assessing its efficacy , effectiveness, and user satisfaction. Methods: A stratified randomized controlled trial was performed with radiographers and radiology students who already had mammography training, using pre- and post-knowledge tests, and satisfaction questionnaires. The primary outcome was the improvement in test results (percentage of correct answers), using intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis. Results: A total of 54 participants were assigned to the intervention (20 students plus 34 radiographers) with 53 controls (19+34). The intervention was completed by 40 participants (11+29), with 4 (2+2) discontinued interventions, and 10 (7+3) lost to follow-up. Differences in the primary outcome were found between intervention and control: 21 versus 4 percentage points (pp), P<.001. Stratified analysis showed effect in radiographers (23 pp vs 4 pp; P=.004) but was unclear in students (18 pp vs 5 pp; P=.098). Nonetheless, differences in students’ posttest results were found (88% vs 63%; P=.003), which were absent in pretest (63% vs 63%; P=.106). The per-protocol analysis showed a higher effect (26 pp vs 2 pp; P<.001), both in students (25 pp vs 3 pp; P=.004) and radiographers (27 pp vs 2 pp; P<.001). Overall, 85% were satisfied with the course, and 88% considered it successful. Conclusions: This e-learning course is effective, especially for radiographers, which highlights the need for continuing education.

Processo de transição do sistema de acreditação para o sistema de certificação de entidades formadoras, segundo o referencial normativo da DGERT: o caso da Iconefile, Formação & Consultoria Lda.

Trabalho de Projeto

Blood culture as a parameter of treatment effectiveness in experimental histoplasmosis of the hamster

The aim of this study was to determine the value of blood culture as a parameter of treatment effectiveness in experimental histoplasmosis. A total of thirty five hamsters, weighing approximately 120g, were inoculated intracardiacly with 0.1 ml of a suspension containing 4 x 10(7) cells/ml of the yeast phase of H. capsulatum. Treatments were started one week after the infection and lasted for 3 weeks. The azoles, (itraconazole, saperconazole and fluconazole) were administered once a day by gavage, at a dose of 8 mg/kg; Amphotericin B was given intraperitonealy every other day at a dose of 6mg/kg. Blood samples (1 ml) were obtained by heart punction from the 4th day after infection and were seeded in Sabouraud honey-agar and BHI-agar. The hamsters that survived were killed one week after treatment completion and the following criteria were considered for treatment evaluation: 1) rate of spontaneous death, at the end of the experience; 2) microscopic examination of Giemsa smears from liver and spleen and 3) determination of CFU in spleen cultures. Amphotericin B was the most effective drug, with negative blood cultures at day 20, negative spleen cultures in all cases and all the animals survived until the end of the study. Fluconazole was the less effective drug, blood cultures were positive during the whole experience, spleen cultures showed a similar average of CFU when compared with the control animals and 42.8% of these animals died. Saperconazole and itraconazole showed a similar activity, with survival of all hamsters and negative blood cultures at 23 and 26 days respectively. Blood culture seems to be valuable parameter for treatments' evaluation in experimental histoplasmosis of the hamster.

SCADA House Intelligent Management for Energy Efficiency Analysis in Domestic Consumers

The implementation of smart homes allows the domestic consumer to be an active player in the context of the Smart Grid (SG). This paper presents an intelligent house management system that is being developed by the authors to manage, in real time, the power consumption, the micro generation system, the charge and discharge of the electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, and the participation in Demand Response (DR) programs. The paper proposes a method for the energy efficiency analysis of a domestic consumer using the SCADA House Intelligent Management (SHIM) system. The main goal of the present paper is to demonstrate the economic benefits of the implemented method. The case study considers the consumption data of some real cases of Portuguese house consumption over 30 days of June of 2012, the Portuguese real energy price, the implementation of the power limits at different times of the day and the economic benefits analysis.

EVALUATION OF A RAPID SCREENING ASSAY FOR BACTERIAL IDENTIFICATION (DOT-ELISA) IN FECAL SAMPLES FROM CHILDREN

With the objective of standardizing a Dot Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Dot-ELISA) to detect antigens of fecal bacterial enteropathogens, 250 children, aged under 36 months and of both sexes, were studied; of which 162 had acute gastroenteritis. The efficacy of a rapid screening assay for bacterial enteropathogens (enteropathogenic Escherichia coli "EPEC", enteroinvasive Escherichia coli "EIEC", Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp.) was evaluated. The fecal samples were also submitted to a traditional method of stool culture for comparison. The concordance index between the two techniques, calculated using the Kappa (k) index for the above mentioned bacterial strains was 0.8859, 0.9055, 0.7932 and 0.7829 respectively. These values express an almost perfect degree of concordance for the first two and substantial concordance for the latter two, thus enabling this technique to be applied in the early diagnosis of diarrhea in infants. With a view to increasing the sensitivity and specificity of this immunological test, a study was made of the antigenic preparations obtained from two types of treatment: 1) deproteinization by heating; 2) precipitation and concentration of the lipopolysaccharide antigen (LPS) using an ethanol-acetone solution, which was then heated in the presence of sodium EDTA