An��lise da acuidade visual no implante de LIO f��quica em miopias elevadas

Introdu����o ��� Na corre����o de miopias elevadas, a cirurgia por implante de lente intraocular f��quica tem tido progressivamente uma maior ades��o em rela����o �� cirurgia por laser. Compara-se a acuidade visual (AV) antes e ap��s a cirurgia implanto-refrativa, verificando-se a efetividade deste m��todo no incremento da vis��o em miopias elevadas. Metodologia ��� Foram analisados, retrospetivamente, 70 olhos de 41 pacientes, com miopia elevada, entre os 20 e 50 anos, submetidos a cirurgia implanto-refrativa entre 2009 e 2012. Resultados ��� Um dia ap��s cirurgia, 42,86% da amostra melhorou a AV, 34,29% manteve e 22,85% diminuiu. Ap��s 30 dias observou-se um aumento generalizado da quantidade de vis��o, sendo que: 64,29% atingiu os 10/10 de AV, 24,29% alcan��ou entre 9/10-7/10 e 11,42% entre 6/10-4/10. Conclus��o ��� Comprovou-se a efetividade desta t��cnica cir��rgica, verificando-se o aumento da AV em 52,86% da amostra.

The visual image in Epiphanic Short History

The visual image is a fundamental component of epiphany, stressing its immediacy and vividness, corresponding to the enargeia of the traditional ekphrasis and also playing with cultural and social meanings. Morris Beja in his seminal book Epiphany in the Modern Novel, draws our attention to the distinction made by Joyce between the epiphany originated in a common object, in a discourse or gesture and the one arising in ���a memorable phase of the mind itself���. This type materializes in the ���dream-epiphany��� and in the epiphany based in memory. On the other hand, Robert Langbaum in his study of the epiphanic mode, suggests that the category of ���visionary epiphany��� could account for the modern effect of an internally glowing vision like Blake���s ���The Tyger���, which projects the vitality of a real tyger. The short story, whose length renders it a fitting genre for the use of different types of epiphany, has dealt with the impact of the visual image in this technique, to convey different effects and different aesthetic aims. This paper will present some examples of this occurrence in short stories of authors in whose work epiphany is a fundamental concept and literary technique: Walter Pater, Joseph Conrad, K. Mansfield, Clarice Lispector. Pater���s ���imaginary portraits��� concentrate on ���priviledged moments��� of the lives of the characters depicting their impressions through pictorial language; Conrad tries to show ���moments of awakening��� that can be remembered by the eye; Mansfield suggests that epiphany, the ���glimpse���, should replace plot as an internal ordering principle of her impressionist short-stories; in C. Lispector the visualization of some situations is so aggressive that it causes nausea and a radical revelation on the protagonist���s.

Fun����o visual e desempenho na leitura em crian��as do 1�� ciclo do ensino b��sico do concelho de Lisboa

RESUMO - Esta tese pretende ser um contributo para o estudo das anomalias da fun����o visual e da sua influ��ncia no desempenho da leitura. Apresentava como objetivos: (1) Identificar a preval��ncia de anomalias da fun����o visual, (2) Caracterizar o desempenho da leitura em crian��as com e sem anomalias da fun����o visual, (3) Identificar de que modo as anomalias da fun����o visual influenciam o desempenho da leitura e (4) Identificar o impacto das vari��veis que determinam o desempenho da leitura. Foi recolhida uma amostra de conveni��ncia com 672 crian��as do 1�� ciclo do ensino b��sico de 11 Escolas do Concelho de Lisboa com idades compreendidas entre os 6 e os 11 anos (7,69��1,19), 670 encarregados de educa����o e 34 Professores. Para recolha de dados, foram utilizados tr��s instrumentos: 2 question��rios de perguntas fechadas, avalia����o da fun����o visual e prova de avalia����o da leitura com 34 palavras. Ap��s observadas, as crian��as foram classificadas em dois grupos: fun����o visual normal (FVN=562) e fun����o visual alterada (FVA=110). Identificou-se uma preval��ncia de 16,4% de crian��as com FVA. No teste de leitura, estas crian��as apresentaram um menor n��mero de palavras lidas corretamente (FVA=31,00; FVN=33,00; p<0,001) e menor precis��o (FVA=91,18%; FVN=97,06%; p<0,001). Esta tend��ncia tamb��m foi observada na compara����o entre os 4 anos de escolaridade. As crian��as com fun����o visual alterada mostraram uma tend��ncia para a omiss��o de letras e a confus��o de grafema. Quanto �� flu��ncia (FVA=24,71; FVN=27,39; p=0,007) esta foi inferior nas crian��as com FVA para todos os anos de escolaridade, exceto o 3�� ano. As crian��as com hipermetropia (p=0,003) e astigmatismo (p=0,019) n��o corrigido leram menos palavras corretamente (30,00; 31,00) e com menor precis��o (88,24%; 91,18%) que as crian��as sem erro refrativo significativo (32,00; 94,12%). A performance escolar classificada pelos professores foi inferior nas crian��as com FVA e mais de �� necessitavam de medidas de apoio especial na escola. N��o se verificaram diferen��as significativas na performance da leitura das crian��as com FVA por grupos de habilita����es dos encarregados de educa����o. Verificou-se que o risco de ter um desempenho na leitura alterado �� superior [OR=4,29; I.C.95%(2,49;7,38)] nas crian��as que apresentam FVA. Relativamente ao 1�� ano de escolaridade, o 2��, 3�� e 4�� anos apresentam um menor risco de ter um desempenho na leitura alterado. As vari��veis m��todo de ensino, habilita����es dos encarregados de educa����o, tipo de escola (p��blica/privada), idade do Professor e n��mero de anos de experi��ncia do Professor, n��o foram fatores estatisticamente significativos para explicar a altera����o do desempenho na leitura, quando o efeito da fun����o visual se encontra contemplado no modelo. Um mau desempenho na leitura foi considerado nas crian��as que apresentaram uma precis��o inferior a 90%. Este indicador pode ser utilizado para identificar crian��as em risco, que necessitam de uma observa����o Ort��ptica/Oftalmol��gica para confirma����o ou exclus��o da exist��ncia de altera����es da fun����o visual. Este trabalho constitui um contributo para a identifica����o de crian��as em desvantagem educacional devido a anomalias da fun����o visual trat��veis, propondo um modelo que pretende orientar os professores na identifica����o de crian��as que apresentem um baixo desempenho na leitura.

Estudo de implementa����o da NP EN ISO 22000:2005 na Cooperativa de Olivicultores de F��tima, C. R.L.

O conceito de ���Seguran��a Alimentar��� faz sentido no momento em que o ser humano tem consci��ncia de que o que ingere deve ser in��cuo para a sua sa��de e bem-estar. Para dar resposta a esta preocupa����o global, a ind��stria alimentar teve necessidade de adotar diretrizes orientadoras para a produ����o de alimentos seguros. Em consequ��ncia disso, surgiram as normas para os Sistemas de Gest��o da Seguran��a Alimentar (SGSA) e a sua implementa����o �� hoje em dia um elemento fundamental para a competitividade da empresa e dos produtos que comercializa. O trabalho desenvolvido na presente disserta����o visa o estudo da implementa����o de um Sistema de Gest��o da Seguran��a Alimentar com base no referencial de certifica����o NP EN ISO 22000:2005, na Cooperativa de Olivicultores de F��tima C. R. L.. A implementa����o de um sistema de gest��o e a sua posterior certifica����o, �� uma mais-valia para uma empresa. Ao obter a certifica����o, obt��m-se reconhecimento e satisfa����o dos clientes e outras partes interessadas, melhoria da imagem e prestigio, acesso a novos mercados, redu����o de custos de funcionamento atrav��s da melhoria do desempenho operacional e uma nova cultura com a sensibiliza����o e motiva����o dos colaboradores, orientada para a melhoria continua e para a satisfa����o dos clientes e outras partes interessadas. Tendo por base os C��digos de Boas-pr��ticas e HACCP existentes, fez-se a revis��o e atualiza����o de todo o sistema. Reapreciou-se o processo de fabrico e reavaliaram-se os pontos cr��ticos. Reviram-se os Programas Pr��-requisitos e melhorou-se o sistema HACCP. Os SGSA t��m uma elevada relev��ncia nas organiza����es associadas ao sector alimentar tamb��m nas ind��strias produtoras de azeite, uma vez que estas devem implementar metodologias capazes de assegurar que os perigos para a sa��de dos consumidores s��o eliminados ou reduzidos a n��veis aceit��veis. Os principais perigos na ind��stria do azeite numa fase inicial s��o a presen��a de microrganismos patog��nicos e parasitas da azeitona (Ex.: Bactrocera oleae) que se podem desenvolver devido ao excessivo tempo de espera at�� �� opera����o ou por temperaturas inadequadas, podendo este perigo ser resolvido atrav��s do controlo na rece����o, de fornecedores, e do tempo de opera����o; boas pr��ticas de fabrico e forma����o do pessoal. A presen��a de folhas, terra, pedras e metais diversos �� outro dos perigos mais frequentes que s��o contornados atrav��s do controlo na rece����o; inspe����o visual; avalia����o dos fornecedores, limpeza e lavagem das azeitonas. Ao longo da produ����o e embalamento os principais perigos s��o os res��duos de produtos de higieniza����o, incorpora����o de part��culas estranhas ou restos de sujidade e a contamina����o qu��mica por res��duos de massas e ��leos de lubrifica����o, perigos estes que s��o colmatados atrav��s de boas pr��ticas de fabrico; plano de higiene e de manuten����o dos equipamentos e do uso de lubrificantes homologados para a ind��stria alimentar.

Visual search for normal color and dichromatic observers using a unique distracter color

It is well known that color coding facilitates search and iden- tification in real-life tasks. The aim of this work was to compare reac- tion times for normal color and dichromatic observers in a visual search experiment. A unique distracter color was used to avoid abnormal color vision vulnerability to background complexity. Reaction times for nor- mal color observers and dichromats were estimated for 2��� central vision at 48 directions around a white point in CIE L���a���b��� color space for systematic examination on the mechanisms of dichromatic color percep- tion. The results show that mean search times for dichromats were twice larger compared to the normal color observers and for all directions. The difference between the copunctual confusion lines and the confusion direction measure experimentally was 5.5��� for protanopes and 7.5��� for deuteranopes.

Mother's anxiety and depression during the third pregnancy trimester and neonate's mother versus stranger's face/voice visual preference

Background: Neonates show visual preference for their mother's face/voice and shift their attention from their mother to a stranger's face/voice after habituation. Aim: To assess neonate's mother versus stranger's face/voice visual preference, namely mother's anxiety and depression during the third pregnancy trimester and neonate's: 1) visual preference for the mother versus the stranger's face/voice (pretest visual preference), 2) habituation to the mother's face/voice and 3) visual preference for the stranger versus the mother's face/voice (posttest visual preference). Method: Mothers (N=100) filled out the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI) both at the third pregnancy trimester and childbirth, and the ���preference and habituation to the mother's face/voice versus stranger��� paradigm was administered to their newborn 1 to 5 days after childbirth. Results: Neonates of anxious/depressed mothers during the third pregnancy trimester contrarily to neonates of non-anxious/non-depressed mothers did not look 1) longer at their mother's than at the stranger's face/voice at the pretest visual preference (showing no visual preference for the mother), nor 2) longer at the stranger's face/voice in the posttest than in the pretest visual preference (not improving their attention to the stranger's after habituation). Conclusion: Infants exposed to mother's anxiety/depression at the third gestational trimester exhibit less perceptual/social competencies at birth.

Gesti�� de factures electr��niques amb .NET (Visual Studio Tools for Office)

Creaci�� d��un software de gesti�� de factures electr��niques desenvolupat en aquesta plataforma tecnol��gica, amb indicaci�� expressa d��utilitzaci�� de les eines VSTO (Visual Studio Tools for Office) en la seva ��ltima versi��.

Net increase of lactate and glutamate concentration in activated human visual cortex detected with magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7 tesla.

After the landmark studies reporting changes in the cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRGlc ) in excess of those in oxygen (CMRO2 ) during physiological stimulation, several studies have examined the fate of the extra carbon taken up by the brain, reporting a wide range of changes in brain lactate from 20% to 250%. The present study reports functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements at 7 Tesla using the enhanced sensitivity to study a small cohort (n = 6). Small increases in lactate (19% ���� 4%, P &lt; 0.05) and glutamate (4% ���� 1%, P &lt; 0.001) were seen within the first 2 min of activation. With the exception of glucose (12% ���� 5%, P &lt; 0.001), no other metabolite concentration changes beyond experimental error were significantly observed. Therefore, the present study confirms that lactate and glutamate changes during physiological stimulation are small (i.e. below 20%) and shows that the increased sensitivity allows reproduction of previous results with fewer subjects. In addition, the initial rate of glutamate and lactate concentration increases implies an increase in CMRO2 that is slightly below that of CMRGlc during the first 1-2 min of activation.

Comparison of early cortical networks in efficient and inefficient visual search: an event-related potential study.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have indicated that efficient feature search (FS) and inefficient conjunction search (CS) activate partially distinct frontoparietal cortical networks. However, it remains a matter of debate whether the differences in these networks reflect differences in the early processing during FS and CS. In addition, the relationship between the differences in the networks and spatial shifts of attention also remains unknown. We examined these issues by applying a spatio-temporal analysis method to high-resolution visual event-related potentials (ERPs) and investigated how spatio-temporal activation patterns differ for FS and CS tasks. Within the first 450 msec after stimulus onset, scalp potential distributions (ERP maps) revealed 7 different electric field configurations for each search task. Configuration changes occurred simultaneously in the two tasks, suggesting that contributing processes were not significantly delayed in one task compared to the other. Despite this high spatial and temporal correlation, two ERP maps (120-190 and 250-300 msec) differed between the FS and CS. Lateralized distributions were observed only in the ERP map at 250-300 msec for the FS. This distribution corresponds to that previously described as the N2pc component (a negativity in the time range of the N2 complex over posterior electrodes of the hemisphere contralateral to the target hemifield), which has been associated with the focusing of attention onto potential target items in the search display. Thus, our results indicate that the cortical networks involved in feature and conjunction searching partially differ as early as 120 msec after stimulus onset and that the differences between the networks employed during the early stages of FS and CS are not necessarily caused by spatial attention shifts.

Auditory-visual multisensory interactions in humans: timing, topography, directionality, and sources.

Current models of brain organization include multisensory interactions at early processing stages and within low-level, including primary, cortices. Embracing this model with regard to auditory-visual (AV) interactions in humans remains problematic. Controversy surrounds the application of an additive model to the analysis of event-related potentials (ERPs), and conventional ERP analysis methods have yielded discordant latencies of effects and permitted limited neurophysiologic interpretability. While hemodynamic imaging and transcranial magnetic stimulation studies provide general support for the above model, the precise timing, superadditive/subadditive directionality, topographic stability, and sources remain unresolved. We recorded ERPs in humans to attended, but task-irrelevant stimuli that did not require an overt motor response, thereby circumventing paradigmatic caveats. We applied novel ERP signal analysis methods to provide details concerning the likely bases of AV interactions. First, nonlinear interactions occur at 60-95 ms after stimulus and are the consequence of topographic, rather than pure strength, modulations in the ERP. AV stimuli engage distinct configurations of intracranial generators, rather than simply modulating the amplitude of unisensory responses. Second, source estimations (and statistical analyses thereof) identified primary visual, primary auditory, and posterior superior temporal regions as mediating these effects. Finally, scalar values of current densities in all of these regions exhibited functionally coupled, subadditive nonlinear effects, a pattern increasingly consistent with the mounting evidence in nonhuman primates. In these ways, we demonstrate how neurophysiologic bases of multisensory interactions can be noninvasively identified in humans, allowing for a synthesis across imaging methods on the one hand and species on the other.

A multicase study for the evaluation of a pattern-based visual design process for collaborative learning

Collage is a pattern-based visual design authoring tool for the creation of collaborative learning scripts computationally modelled with IMS Learning Design (LD). The pattern-based visual approach aims to provide teachers with design ideas that are based on broadly accepted practices. Besides, it seeks hiding the LD notation so that teachers can easily create their own designs. The use of visual representations supports both the understanding of the design ideas and the usability of the authoring tool. This paper presents a multicase study comprising three different cases that evaluate the approach from different perspectives. The first case includes workshops where teachers use Collage. A second case implies the design of a scenario proposed by a third-party using related approaches. The third case analyzes a situation where students follow a design created with Collage. The cross-case analysis provides a global understanding of the possibilities and limitations of the pattern-based visual design approach.

Estimating the net contribution of interleukin-28B variation to spontaneous hepatitis C virus clearance.

The identification of associations between interleukin-28B (IL-28B) variants and the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) raises the issues of causality and the net contribution of host genetics to the trait. To estimate more precisely the net effect of IL-28B genetic variation on HCV clearance, we optimized genotyping and compared the host contributions in multiple- and single-source cohorts to control for viral and demographic effects. The analysis included individuals with chronic or spontaneously cleared HCV infections from a multiple-source cohort (n = 389) and a single-source cohort (n = 71). We performed detailed genotyping in the coding region of IL-28B and searched for copy number variations to identify the genetic variant or haplotype carrying the strongest association with viral clearance. This analysis was used to compare the effects of IL-28B variation in the two cohorts. Haplotypes characterized by carriage of the major alleles at IL-28B single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were highly overrepresented in individuals with spontaneous clearance versus those with chronic HCV infections (66.1% versus 38.6%, P = 6 �� 10(-9) ). The odds ratios for clearance were 2.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6-3.0] and 3.9 (95% CI = 1.5-10.2) in the multiple- and single-source cohorts, respectively. Protective haplotypes were in perfect linkage (r(2) = 1.0) with a nonsynonymous coding variant (rs8103142). Copy number variants were not detected. We identified IL-28B haplotypes highly predictive of spontaneous HCV clearance. The high linkage disequilibrium between IL-28B SNPs indicates that association studies need to be complemented by functional experiments to identify single causal variants. The point estimate for the genetic effect was higher in the single-source cohort, which was used to effectively control for viral diversity, sex, and coinfections and, therefore, offered a precise estimate of the net host genetic contribution.

Us explico un conte? ��s de llibres il��lustrats per a la did��ctica de l'educaci�� visual i pl��stica

L'objectiu d'aquest article ��s promoure la incorporaci�� de llibres il-lustrats a l'espai docent, tot defensant la interacci�� entre escola i entorn. Amb aquesta intenci�� es presenta una experi��ncia docent que es du a terme a les classes de Did��ctica de l'Educaci�� Visual i Pl��stica (UB), en la formaci�� inicial del professorat d'educaci�� prim��ria, que empra el llibre il-lustrat com a eina docent. Es tracta d'un corpus d'obres de gran qualitat, la tem��tica dels quals est�� relacionada amb el fet art��stic i la seva did��ctica. Amb l'��s a les aules universit��ries d'aquest tipus de llibres es volen aconseguir principalment tres objectius: donar-los a con��ixer als futurs mestres per a la seva formaci�� i perqu�� els puguin compartir amb els seus futurs alumnes a les aules d'Educaci�� Prim��ria; tractar temes espec��fics de l'��rea de pl��stica, i fomentar la reflexi�� sobre la pr��ctica docent o altres temes espec��fics.

La did��ctica de l'educaci�� visual i pl��stica, entre el discurs visual i el discurs est��tic. La perversi�� del model

El presente trabajo es el resultado de un a��o de investigaci��n de campo y de estudio bibliogr��fico, que se formaliz�� en un proyecto educativo dirigido a alumnos de 3 de secundaria en la ��rea de educaci��n visual y pl��stica. " Las manos" , t��tulo del proyecto, se present�� como una alternativa en la did��ctica de la educaci��n visual y pl��stica cuando se plantea desde un aprendizaje lineal, desde un modelo. El planteamiento consisti�� en potenciar la comprensi��n y expresi��n art��sticas a partir de la interrelaci��n de otras ��reas de conocimiento con la visual y pl��stica para sensibilizar al alumno en la importancia que tiene el proceso en el acto creativo. Valorar el proceso facilit�� la asimilaci��n de conceptos como figuraci��n, abstracci��n y s��ntesis tan importantes para entender el hecho art��stico. La valoraci��n positiva del proyecto no pretende contraponer dos metodolog��as diferentes: la lineal con modelos y la que se presenta en espiral, inductiva, con referentes que no tienen que ser necesariamente visuales. Las dos opciones pueden actuar en simbiosis siempre que el alumno sepa percibir el significado que quiere dar a su obra y que todo no quede en una pura representaci��n decorativa.

Dins el bosc de la cultura visual. Apunts per a una actualitzaci�� pedag��gica

L'era de la comunicaci�� acara la comunitat educativa davant de nous reptes, especialment en l'��mbit de la cultura visual. La cultura visual es manifesta avui arreu i no hi ha ��mbit ni familiar ni social ni educatiu que no en participi. M��s enll�� de la visualitzaci�� i experimentaci�� d'alguns procediments art��stics can��nics, l'ensenyament de les arts visuals i pl��stiques observa la necessitat d'ampliar el seu radi d'acci��, reflexi�� i an��lisi de manera coparticipada. Un rep��s a la traject��ria hist��rica de l'aprenentatge art��stic d��na peu a algunes preguntes rellevants com ara, quins aprenentatges per a quines compet��ncies? Per a quina societat i amb quins instruments cal educar els infants? Quines in��rcies i teories s��hereten del passat i quin lloc cal que tinguin en el futur? Quines aportacions cognitives o emp��riques permetrien una renovaci�� positiva en l'��mbit de l��educaci�� visual i pl��stica? S��n preguntes dif��cils per�� perempt��ries si no es vol girar l'esquena a l'evid��ncia dels canvis comunicatius i socials del nostre temps.