Estrat��gias de aproxima����o escola-fam��lia. Um estudo no contexto do 1�� CEB

O envolvimento parental na escola assume-se atualmente como um elemento essencial do processo educativo com um contributo decisivo para um desenvolvimento saud��vel e equilibrado dos alunos. Por��m, numa sociedade em constante muta����o o processo educativo torna-se mais complexo, exigindo que a pr��pria escola evolua rapidamente de forma a ser capaz de satisfazer todas as necessidades dos alunos e das suas fam��lias. Pelo seu potencial positivo no processo educativo o envolvimento dos pais na escola tem sido estudado e objeto de reflex��es de diversos investigadores que se debru��aram sobre a tem��tica da educa����o. �� assim no ��mbito do envolvimento parental e do seu potencial, que esta investiga����o se desenrola, partindo mais concretamente da seguinte quest��o: quais as estrat��gias de aproxima����o escola-fam��lia que melhor podem favorecer o envolvimento das fam��lias na escola? Na procura por uma resposta para esta quest��o a investigadora pretendeu n��o apenas identificar um conjunto diferenciado estrat��gias/a����es que promovem o envolvimento das fam��lias no processo educativo, mas tamb��m envolver as fam��lias no desenvolvimento e operacionaliza����o dessas estrat��gias/a����es, avaliando a relev��ncia de cada uma das estrat��gias/a����es no aprofundamento da rela����o escola-fam��lia. O presente estudo foca a sua aten����o sobre a turma da professora e autora deste projeto, desenvolvendo de forma colaborativa um conjunto de estrat��gias/a����es de envolvimento parental e aferindo sobre os efeitos destas na rela����o escola-fam��lia. A presente investiga����o permitiu concluir que o catalisador da aproxima����o e aprofundamento da rela����o escola-fam��lia n��o se cinge apenas ��s estrat��gias/a����es, mas tamb��m �� forma como escola e fam��lia comunicam.

Entre a oposi����o e a negocia����o : Um projeto de investiga����o-a����o sobre o papel do adulto na preven����o e media����o de conflitos entre pares na inf��ncia

Esta investiga����o surgiu da identifica����o de dificuldades ao n��vel da intera����o e gest��o de conflitos entre pares, que a investigadora teve a oportunidade de observar no grupo de crian��as com quem desenvolvia a sua pr��tica educativa. Este estudo tem como objetivo compreender de que forma a transforma����o da praxis do educador influencia os processos de preven����o e a media����o dos conflitos entre pares no jardim-de-inf��ncia. Tendo em conta as formas e as caracter��sticas das rela����es entre pares na inf��ncia bem como o desenvolvimento moral das crian��as em idade pr��escolar, a investigadora levou a cabo um projeto de investiga����o-a����o com um grupo de vinte e quatro crian��as de cinco anos. Ao longo do projeto, a investigadora procurou conhecer e experimentar estrat��gias de preven����o e media����o de conflitos interpares, monitorizando esse processo atrav��s da reflex��o sobre a a����o, assim como compreender os efeitos dessa experimenta����o no desenvolvimento profissional e na aprendizagem das crian��as. Os processos do projeto s��o apresentados atrav��s de uma descri����o densa dos eixos centrais da a����o: constru����o do quadro de regras, organiza����o do tempo e do grupo, organiza����o do espa��o e dos materiais, experimenta����o de instrumentos de pilotagem, reuni��o de grande grupo e estrat��gias de resolu����o de conflitos. Os dados apresentados resultam da interpreta����o das categorias emergentes da an��lise das entrevistas e das notas de campo. Atrav��s dessa interpreta����o, foi poss��vel constatar os efeitos positivos do projeto, n��o apenas ao n��vel das compet��ncias de escuta e de negocia����o das crian��as, mas tamb��m para a pr��tica profissional da investigadora, que desenvolveu compet��ncias de reflex��o e de autossupervis��o.

Viva@Matem��tica project: a different way to see math

Viva@Mat is a project developed by four Math teachers from the School of Industrial Studies and Management (ESEIG) that was born with the fundamental objective of engaging ESEIG students with different math backgrounds in Math challenging activities. Some of these activities were transformed into real palpable materials and others into small interactive ones, being the great majority of them proposed by ESEIG��� students themselves. This small project rapidly grew into something we didn���t expect ��� it did flow over the walls of our institution to the general involving community ��� specifically to pre-university schools through the Viva@Math Exhibits ��� Orange, Blue and Green (the fourth, the Purple one is still in development). Nowadays, Viva@Math Exhibits ��� the public face of the Project ��� are itinerant and have been travelling between several, and different institutions (pre-university schools, preparatory schools, libraries, among others), around ESEIG and IPP area of influence and having registered visitors/participants of all ages. In this article we will describe the Viva@Math Project, its different activities that are categorized in some ���great groups��� like Numerical Trivia, Logic Activities and Mental Calculation, Puzzles, Geometric Curiosities, Magic Tricks, among others, designed to challenge students to use the underlying logical-mathematical reasoning to any ordinary and everyday activity. We will give specific and concrete examples of some of the activities developed and, also, reproduce of the general stimulating feedback the Project receives from the enrolled ���actors��� (teachers, students and their relatives, institutions, among others). We feel that this Project has become a small ���bridge��� between the pre-university schools and Higher Education Institutions (HEI), in trying to shorten the ���gap��� between the institutions of different levels of education and bring them to work together.

21st century quality: Looking into the ���Crystal ball���

The discussion of possible scenarios for the future of Quality is on the priority list of major Quality Practitioners Societies. EOQ ��� European Organization for Quality (EOQ, 2014) main team for its 58th EOQ-Congress held June 2014 in G��teborg was ���Managing Challenges in Quality Leadership��� and ASQ - American Society for Quality (ASQ, 2015) appointed ���the Future of Quality��� for Quality Progress Magazine November 2015 issue. In addition, the ISO 9001:2008 revision process carried by ISO/TC 176 aims to assure that ISO 9001:2015 International Standard remains stable for the next 10 years (ISO, 2014) contributing to an increased discussion on the future of quality. The purpose of this research is to review available Quality Management approaches and outline, adding an academic perspective, expected developments for Quality within the 21st Century. This paper follows a qualitative approach, although data from international organizations is used. A literature review has been undertaken on quality management past and potential future trends. Based on these findings a model is proposed for organization quality management development and propositions for the future of quality management are advanced. Firstly, a state of the art of existing Quality Management approaches is presented, for example, like Total Quality Management (TQM) and Quality Gurus, ISO 9000 International Standards Series (with an outline of the expected changes for ISO 9001:2015), Six Sigma and Business Excellence Models.Secondly, building on theoretical and managerial approaches, a two dimensional matrix ��� Quality Engineering (QE - technical aspects of quality) and Quality Management (QM: soft aspects of quality) - is presented, outlining five proposed characterizations of Quality maturity levels and giving insights for applications and future developments. Literature review highlights that QM and QE may be addressing similar quality issues but their approaches are different in terms of scope breadth and intensity and they ought to complement and reciprocally reinforce one another. The challenges organizations face within the 21st century have stronger uncertainty, complexity, and differentiation. Two main propositions are advanced as relevant for 21st Century Quality: - QM importance for the sustainable success of organizations will increase and they should be aware of the larger ecosystem to be managed for improvement, possibly leading to the emergence of a new Quality paradigm, The Civilizacional Excellence paradigm. - QE should get more attention from QM and the Quality professionals will have to: a) Master and apply in wider contexts and in additional depth the Quality Tools (basic, intermediate and advanced); b) Have the soft skills needed for its success; c) Be results oriented and better understand and demonstrate the relationships between approaches and results These propositions challenge both scholars and practitioners for a sustained and supported discussion on the future of Quality. ���All things are ready, if our mind be so.��� (Shakespeare, Henry V, circa 1599).

Earth building materials in pre-historic domestic architectures on the south of Portugal

HERITAGE 2008 - World Heritage and Sustainable Development. Barcelos: Green Lines Institute for Sustainable Development, Vol. 2, p. 571-579

Valida����o e aplica����o cl��nica de uma escala de cogni����o social na esquizofrenia = Validation and clinical use of a measure of social cognition in schizophrenia

RESUMO: A cogni����o social encontra-se frequentemente alterada na esquizofrenia. Esta altera����o relaciona-se com a diminui����o do funcionamento social,caracterizando-se quer por d��fices quer por vieses cognitivos sociais. No entanto, existem poucos instrumentos fi��veis e v��lidos para avaliar a cogni����o social na esquizofrenia, nomeadamente capazes de medir os vieses cognitivos sociais e a cogni����o social auto-relevante. Adicionalmente, as bases biol��gicas da disfun����o social n��o est��o totalmente esclarecidas. Evid��ncias recentes sugerem que o pept��deo oxitocina (OXT) influencia o funcionamento social, e que esta rela����o poder�� ser mediada pela cogni����o social. Este Trabalho de Projecto descreve a contribui����o do autor para o desenvolvimento e avalia����o psicom��trica inicial de um novo instrumento de avalia����o da cogni����o social, e a utilidade desta escala na investiga����o das associa����es entre a OXT e a capacidade e vieses cognitivos sociais. A Waiting Room Task (WRT), uma escala constitu��da por 26 v��deos sequenciais que simulam a experi��ncia de observar outra pessoa numa sala de espera, foi administrada num estudo transversal com 61 doentes com esquizofrenia e 20 controlos saud��veis. Observou-se uma menor capacidade cognitiva social e um aumento dos vieses cognitivos sociais nos doentes com esquizofrenia, comparativamente aos controlos. Nos controlos e doentes com del��rios, o desempenho na WRT correlacionou-se significativamente com os n��veis de OXT. Esta correla����o n��o se observou nos doentes sem del��rios, sugerindo que o papel da OXT na cogni����o social poder�� encontrar-se atenuado neste grupo. Estes achados fornecem suporte inicial para a adequa����o da WRT como instrumento de avalia����o da cogni����o social na esquizofrenia, podendo ainda ser ��til na investiga����o da sua base biol��gica. ------------ ABSTRACT: Social cognition is often impaired in schizophrenia. This impairment is related to poor social functioning and is characterized by both social cognitive deficits and biases. However, there are few reliable and valid measures of social cognition in schizophrenia, particularly measures of social cognitive bias and of self-relevant social cognition. Also, the biological bases of social dysfunction are not well understood. Emerging evidence suggests that the peptide oxytocin (OXT) influences social functioning, and that this relationship may be mediated by social cognition. This Research Project describes the author���s contribution to the development and initial psychometric testing of a new measure of social cognition, and the utility of this instrument to examine associations between OXT and social cognitive capacity and bias. The Waiting Room Task WRT), a video-based test comprising 26 sequential videos simulating the experience of facing another person in a waiting room, was administered in a cross-sectional study involving 61 patients with schizophrenia and 20 healthy controls. Social cognitive capacity was lower and social cognitive bias was increased in patients with schizophrenia compared with controls. Among controls and patients with delusions, performance on the WRT was significantly correlated with OXT level. This correlation was not found in patients without delusions suggesting that OXT���s role in social cognition may be blunted in this group. These findings provide initial support for the adequacy of the WRT as a measure for assessing social cognition in schizophrenia that may also be useful in understanding its biological underpinnings.

Portugal as a country exporting talent: Image of young high-skilled Portuguese people working outside Portugal

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

Intestinal helminthes and/or Toxocara infection are unrelated to anti-HBs titers in seven-year-old children vaccinated at birth with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the possible effect of nematode infection on anti-HBs antibody levels in the serum of seven-year-old schoolchildren vaccinated at birth with the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine. Anti-HBs and anti HBc antibodies were evaluated in the sera of 100 schoolchildren with at least one intestinal nematode and/or a positive serological reaction for anti-Toxocara antibodies and in 95 schoolchildren without intestinal helminthiasis or serum anti-Toxocara antibodies. Both groups were from public elementary schools located on the urban periphery of Vit��ria, ES, Brazil. Among these 195 children, the median anti-HBs antibody titer was 31.3IU/ml and the frequency of titers less than 10IU/ml was 33.8% (95% CI: 27.1-40.4%). There were no significant differences between the medians of anti-HBs titers or the frequency of titers less than 10IU/ml between the groups with or without helminthes (29.5 and 32.9IU/ml and 33 and 34.7%, respectively; p>0.05). Even when the children with intestinal nematodes and/or anti-Toxocara antibodies and with blood eosinophil counts over 600/mm�� were compared with children without infection from intestinal nematodes and without anti-Toxocara antibodies, with blood eosinophil counts less than 400 eosinophils/mm��, these differences were not significant. None of the children presented anti-HBc antibodies. In conclusion, infections with intestinal nematodes and/or the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies did not interfere with the anti-HBs antibody titers in seven-year-old children vaccinated at birth with the recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.

Clinical, demographic and epidemiological characteristics of patients with hepatitis B followed at a university hospital in southeastern Brazil: predominance of HBeAg negative cases

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B is common in Brazil, although there are regional differences regarding the degree of endemicity, the most frequent forms of transmission and the presence of different evolutive stages of chronic disease. The present study aimed to determine the clinical, demographic and epidemiological characteristics of patients chronically infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) residing in the Ribeir��o Preto region, southeastern Brazil. METHODS: A total of 529 medical records of individuals with HBV monoinfection were reviewed. RESULTS: More than 60% of the subjects were males, with a mean age of 38 years-old. The HBeAg-negative serological pattern was verified in 84.4% of the patients, among whom the risk of vertical/intrafamily transmission was 43.2% (p = 0.02). The consumption of alcohol in amounts exceeding 20g a day was observed in 21.3% of the subjects and was more frequent among men (33%) (p < 0.001). Among patients with cirrhosis, 54.1% were alcohol abusers (p = 0.04), all of them males. The presence of cirrhosis was more frequent in the HBeAg-positive group (24.4%) than in the HBeAg-negative group (10.2%) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High proportions of HBV-infected subjects with an HBeAg-negative pattern were observed, with a higher risk of vertical/intrafamily transmission. Alcohol abuse was associated with male subjects and with cirrhosis of the liver in this group. A tendency toward an increase in the number of HBeAg-negative cases was observed over time.

Hepatitis B marker seroprevalence and vaccination coverage in adolescents in the City of Itaja��, State of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil, in 2008

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B infection constitutes an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In Brazil, however, the current epidemiological situation is not clear. Considering the importance of establishing this prevalence, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HBV markers in voluntary adolescents, junior high (secondary school) students, in the City of Itaja��, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. METHODS: A seroepidemiological, transverse study was conducted with 353 randomly chosen adolescents from elementary school in 2008. Blood samples were analyzed for HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs. All analyses were conducted by automated microparticle enzyme immunosorbent assay (Abbott��, AxSYM system, Deerfield, IL, USA), according to the manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: The prevalence of HBsAg was 0.6% (CI 95% 0.1 - 2.0), that of anti-HBc was 1.1% (CI 95% 0.3 - 2.9) and that of detectable anti-HBs was 83.6% (CI 95% 79.3 - 87.3). Hepatitis B vaccination coverage was 97.5% (CI 95% 95.2 - 98.8). CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the success of the vaccination program against hepatitis B in the region studied and indicate that prevention strategies must be maintained and, if possible, expanded to contribute to the establishment of positive prevalence rates in all age groups.

Hepatitis B virus infection in a population exposed to occupational hazards: firefighters of a metropolitan region in central Brazil

INTRODUCTION: By the nature of their activities, firefighters are exposed to a high risk of contracting hepatitis B virus (HBV) as most of the Fire Brigade occurrences in Campo Grande, State of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil, are related to the rescue of victims of traffic accidents and the transportation of clinical and psychiatric emergencies. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroepidemiological profile of HBV infection in firefighters from the City of Campo Grande, central Brazil. METHODS: The research involved 308 firefighters. After giving written consent, they were interviewed and blood was collected for the detection of HBsAg, anti-HBs and total anti-HBc of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: The participants had an average of 36.4 years of age (SD �� 6.5), being 89.9% male. Blood tests revealed 6.5% of seropositivity for hepatitis B (HB) infection (n=20), and 1% for HbsAg. Isolated anti-HBs markers, indicative of vaccine immunity, were found in 66.9% of the participants and 28.2% were susceptible to infection. With regard to risk factors for HB infection, multivariate regression analysis showed a statistically significant association with length of service; and prevalence was higher in individuals with over 20 years of service. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HB found among the firefighters was low and length of time in the profession was found to be a risk factor. Non-occupational risk factors did not influence the occurrence of HB infection in the population studied.

O contrato de Project Finance

Currently, Angola portrays a notorious economic growth and due to recent innovative legislations, it has become the major investment attracting pole, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, having, thus, an extraordinary potentiality for a rapid and sustainable development, likely to place her in outstanding positions in the world economic ranking. Yet, such economic growth entails demanding levels of intensive investment in infrastructure, what has been reported of the Angolan Government to be unable to respond to, save if recurring to very high index of external debt, poisoning, in this way, the future budgeting of the country. Due to these infrastructure investment shortages, the cost of production remains highly onerous and the cost of life extremely unaffordable. On this account, the current study disserts about the contract of Project Finance; an alternative finance resource given as a viable solution for the private financing of infrastructure, aiming to demonstrate that such contractual figure, likewise the experience of several emerging economies and others, is a contract bid framework to take into account in today���s world. It refers to a financing technique ��� through which the Government may satisfy a common need (for example, the construction of a public domain or public servicing), without having to pay neither offer any collateral ��� based on a complex legal-financial engineering, arranged throughout a coalition of typical and atypical agreements, whereby it is mandatory to look back at the basic concepts of corporate law. More than just a simple financial study, the dissertation at stake analyses the nature and legal framework of Project Finance, which is a legally atypical and innominate contract, concluding that there is a relevant need for regulating and devoting a special legal regime in the Angolan jurisdiction for this promising legal form in the contemporary corporate finance world.

Epidemiology of the viral hepatitis B and C in female prisoners of Metropolitan Regional Prison Complex in the State of Goi��s, Central Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Little information regarding hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among Brazilian female prisoners exists. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors associated with HBV and HCV infections and identified viral genotypes among female prisoners in Goi&#225;s, Central Brazil. METHODS: Women incarcerated in the largest prison in the State of Goi&#225;s were invited to participate in the study. All female prisoners were interviewed and tested for the detection of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs), against hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), and antibody against HCV (anti-HCV) by ELISA. HBsAg and anti-HCV positive samples were tested for HBV DNA and HCV RNA and genotyped, respectively. RESULTS: Participants (n=148; 98.6%) completed the study with an overall HBV prevalence of 18.9%. Age >30 years, a low education level, sex with a sexually transmitted diseases carrier, and a male sexual partner serving in the same penitentiary were associated with HBV infections. Only 24% of the women were anti-HBs positive suggesting previous HBV vaccination. Nine female prisoners (6.1%) were anti-HCV positive. Age >40 years, injecting drug use and length of incarceration were statistically associated with anti-HCV antibodies. Five samples were HCV RNA positive and classified as genotypes 1 (subtypes 1a; n=3 and 1b; n=1) and 3 (subtype 3a; n=1). The HBsAg-reactive sample was HBV DNA positive and genotype A. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the necessity of public policies to control hepatitis B and C infections and emphasize the importance of hepatitis B vaccination in prison environments.

Rehabilitation of renders of old buildings in Portugal: survey, supporting methodology proposal and case study

The main purpose of the research is to present a proposal for a methodology to support the rehabilitation project of renders of old buildings in Portugal. To achieve the objective it was considered essential to define the main types of participants and aspects to integrate the proposal. The research methodology consists in an inquiry presented to professional participants in rehabilitation, a market study of materials and products available in Portugal, the design of a methodology proposal and its application to a case study. The inquiry sample totals 24 answers from the targeted professionals. A sequence of relevant supporting procedures consists in the proposal, which aims to provide a supporting methodology to decide and project in this context and also to be tested with its application to the building. This proposal was applied to an old building with load-bearing stone masonry walls and air-lime based renders. It was concluded that the assessment of the building and external renderings��� condition, its diagnosis and of the supporting walls, the definition of intervention, the specification of materials to be used and performance requirements to comply, and also plans for conservation and periodic maintenance, are crucial. From the inquiry, compatibility between materials and complementary roles and points of view of different types of participants in rehabilitation must be highlighted. A proposal for a methodology to support the project could provide useful guidance particularly for architects and construction engineers, and improve the understanding of direct participants on site, therefore contributing for the correct implementation of intervention.

Hepatitis B and C in a Brazilian deaf community

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION:Although deaf people are exposed to hepatitis B and C risk factors, epidemiological studies regarding these diseases in deaf people are lacking.METHODS:After watching an explanatory digital versatile disc (DVD) in Brazilian Sign Language, 88 deaf people were interviewed and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), and hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV).RESULTS:The prevalence of hepatitis B markers was 8%; they were associated with incarceration and being born outside the State of S��o Paulo. No cases of hepatitis C were identified.CONCLUSIONS:Participants showed a substantial lack of knowledge regarding viral hepatitis, indicating a need for public policies that consider linguistic and cultural profiles.