Filhos da maturidade : Atitudes sobre a gravidez e maternidade, ansiedade, depressão e stress em grávidas tardias

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto Universitário

Auto-conceito no pré- escolar : Comparação das auto-percepções das crianças e as heteropercepções dos pais e educadores

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto Universitário

"Amor a quanto obrigas…!" - Estudo comparativo da auto-eficácia do uso do preservativo masculino em jovens adultos masculinos e femininos

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao ISPA - Instituto Universitário

Improving silicon probe performance through layer-by-layer coating

Fully comprehending brain function, as the scale of neural networks, will only be possi-ble with the development of tools by micro and nanofabrication. Regarding specifically silicon microelectrodes arrays, a significant improvement in long-term performance of these implants is essential. This project aims to create a silicon microelectrode coating that provides high-quality electrical recordings, while limiting the inflammatory response of chronic implants. To this purpose, a combined chitosan and gold nanoparticles coating was produced allied with electrodes modification by electrodeposition with PEDOT/PSS in order to reduce the im-pedance at 1kHz. Using a dip-coating mechanism, the silicon probe was coated and then charac-terized both morphologically and electrochemically, with focus on the stability of post-surgery performance in anesthetized rodents. Since not only the inflammatory response analysis is vital, the electrodes recording degradation over time was also studied. The produced film presented a thickness of approximately 50 μm that led to an increase of impedance of less than 20 kΩ in average. On a 3 week chronic implant, the impedance in-crease on the coated probe was of 641 kΩ, compared with 2.4 MΩ obtained for the uncoated probe. The inflammatory response was also significantly reduced due to the biocompatible film as proved by histological tests.

Rating corporate groups a modelling experience

This paper aims to provide a model that allows BPI to measure the credit risk, through its rating scale, of the subsidiaries included in the corporate groups who are their clients. This model should be simple enough to be applied in practice, accurate, and must give consistent results in comparison to what have been the ratings given by the bank. The model proposed includes operational, strategic, and financial factors and ends up giving one of three results: no support, partial support, or full support from the holding to the subsidiary, and each of them translates in adjustments in each subsidiary’s credit rating. As it would be expectable, most of the subsidiaries should have the same credit rating of its parent company.

Produção hospitalar : a importância da complexidade e da gravidade

RESUMO - A definição e medição da produção são questões centrais para a administração hospitalar. A produção hospitalar, quando se consideram os casos tratados, baseia-se em dois aspectos: a definição de sistemas de classificação de doentes como metodologia para identificar produtos e a criação de índices de casemix para se compararem esses mesmos produtos. Para a sua definição e implementação podem ser consideradas características relacionadas com a complexidade dos casos (atributo da oferta) ou com a sua gravidade (atributo da procura), ou ainda características mistas. Por sua vez, a análise do perfil e da política de admissões dos hospitais adquire um maior relevo no contexto de novas experiências previstas e em curso no SNS e da renovada necessidade de avaliação e regulação que daí decorrem. Neste estudo pretendeu-se discutir a metodologia para apuramento do índice de casemix dos hospitais, introduzindo- se a gravidade dos casos tratados como atributo relevante para a sua concretização. Assim, foi analisada uma amostra de 950 443 casos presentes na base de dados dos resumos de alta em 2002, tendo- -se dado particular atenção aos 31 hospitais posteriormente constituídos como SA. Foram considerados três índices de casemix: índice de complexidade (a partir do peso relativo dos DRGs), índice de gravidade (a partir da escala de mortalidade esperada do disease staging recalibrada para Portugal) e índice conjunto (média dos dois anteriores). Verificou-se que a análise do índice de complexidade, de gravidade e conjunto dá informações distintas sobre o perfil de admissões dos hospitais considerados. Os índices de complexidade e de gravidade mostram associações distintas às características dos hospitais e dos doentes tratados. Para além disso, existe uma diferença clara entre os casos com tratamento médico e cirúrgico. No entanto, para a globalidade dos hospitais analisados observou-se que os hospitais que tratam os casos mais graves tratam igualmente os mais complexos, tendo-se ainda identificado alguns hospitais em que tal não se verifica e, quando possível, apontado eventuais razões para esse comportamento.

Search for dark matter in events with heavy quarks and missing transverse momentum in pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

This article reports on a search for dark matter pair production in association with bottom or top quarks in 20.3fb−1 of pp collisions collected at s√=8 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. Events with large missing transverse momentum are selected when produced in association with high-momentum jets of which one or more are identified as jets containing b-quarks. Final states with top quarks are selected by requiring a high jet multiplicity and in some cases a single lepton. The data are found to be consistent with the Standard Model expectations and limits are set on the mass scale of effective field theories that describe scalar and tensor interactions between dark matter and Standard Model particles. Limits on the dark-matter--nucleon cross-section for spin-independent and spin-dependent interactions are also provided. These limits are particularly strong for low-mass dark matter. Using a simplified model, constraints are set on the mass of dark matter and of a coloured mediator suitable to explain a possible signal of annihilating dark matter.

Foreign acquisition and internal organization

NIPE WP 05/2016

Self-esteem, assertiveness and resilience in adolescents institutionalized

The institutionalization of children and adolescents has been an increasingly visible problem in modern society. Unfavourable socio-economic conditions have been joining the behavior problems and school absenteeism. When the family fails in its competence for education, social security or the Court withdraws the child or adolescent to a host institution. The aim of this research was to characterize self-esteem, assertiveness and resilience of institutionalized adolescents in the northern region of Portugal and to establish associations with these dependent variables and gender, scholar level and duration of the institutionalization. For the purpose of this study a wider questionnaire was carried out, and validated with a smaller group. It was a transversal study following a predominantly quantitative methodology, with a convenience sample. The sample included 101 adolescents (55 female and 46 males) from eight institutions, aged between 11 to 21 years old (average 15.45). For self-esteem the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg, 1965), already validate for Portuguese adolescents, was used. For assertiveness and resilience it was applied the Global Evaluation Scale of Assertiveness and the Global Evaluation Scale of Resilience (Jardim & Pereira, 2006) we previously adapted and validated for adolescents. Collected data was introduced in a SPSS database. A descriptive analysis was done to characterize the sample concerning all the variables. To establish associations between individual factors and dependent variables t test, correlations and non-parametric test were applied. Results indicated a relatively low self-esteem (28.03), with girls having a lower value than boys, without significant differences. No correlations were found between self-esteem and the time in the institution. Assertiveness of the sample is average (23.97) and higher for girls than boys, with a positive significant correlation with the scholar grade. Also the resilience is average (25.97), having girls a little lower mean than boys and no significant differences or correlations were found.

Avaliação de habilidades motoras globais em crianças com e sem perturbação do espectro do autismo na zona Norte de Portugal

Dissertação de mestrado em Educação Especial (área de especialização em Intervenção Precoce)

Modernização administrativa O licenciamento zero das atividades económicas nas Autarquias locais - Câmara Municipal de Óbidos

Dissertação de Mestrado em MPA – Administração Pública

DESARROLLO DE APLICACIONES ESTADÍSTICAS PARA LA AGRICULTURA DE PRECISIÓN. STATISTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE

A partir de las últimas décadas se ha impulsado el desarrollo y la utilización de los Sistemas de Información Geográficos (SIG) y los Sistemas de Posicionamiento Satelital (GPS) orientados a mejorar la eficiencia productiva de distintos sistemas de cultivos extensivos en términos agronómicos, económicos y ambientales. Estas nuevas tecnologías permiten medir variabilidad espacial de propiedades del sitio como conductividad eléctrica aparente y otros atributos del terreno así como el efecto de las mismas sobre la distribución espacial de los rendimientos. Luego, es posible aplicar el manejo sitio-específico en los lotes para mejorar la eficiencia en el uso de los insumos agroquímicos, la protección del medio ambiente y la sustentabilidad de la vida rural. En la actualidad, existe una oferta amplia de recursos tecnológicos propios de la agricultura de precisión para capturar variación espacial a través de los sitios dentro del terreno. El óptimo uso del gran volumen de datos derivado de maquinarias de agricultura de precisión depende fuertemente de las capacidades para explorar la información relativa a las complejas interacciones que subyacen los resultados productivos. La covariación espacial de las propiedades del sitio y el rendimiento de los cultivos ha sido estudiada a través de modelos geoestadísticos clásicos que se basan en la teoría de variables regionalizadas. Nuevos desarrollos de modelos estadísticos contemporáneos, entre los que se destacan los modelos lineales mixtos, constituyen herramientas prometedoras para el tratamiento de datos correlacionados espacialmente. Más aún, debido a la naturaleza multivariada de las múltiples variables registradas en cada sitio, las técnicas de análisis multivariado podrían aportar valiosa información para la visualización y explotación de datos georreferenciados. La comprensión de las bases agronómicas de las complejas interacciones que se producen a la escala de lotes en producción, es hoy posible con el uso de éstas nuevas tecnologías. Los objetivos del presente proyecto son: (l) desarrollar estrategias metodológicas basadas en la complementación de técnicas de análisis multivariados y geoestadísticas, para la clasificación de sitios intralotes y el estudio de interdependencias entre variables de sitio y rendimiento; (ll) proponer modelos mixtos alternativos, basados en funciones de correlación espacial de los términos de error que permitan explorar patrones de correlación espacial de los rendimientos intralotes y las propiedades del suelo en los sitios delimitados. From the last decades the use and development of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Satellite Positioning Systems (GPS) is highly promoted in cropping systems. Such technologies allow measuring spatial variability of site properties including electrical conductivity and others soil features as well as their impact on the spatial variability of yields. Therefore, site-specific management could be applied to improve the efficiency in the use of agrochemicals, the environmental protection, and the sustainability of the rural life. Currently, there is a wide offer of technological resources to capture spatial variation across sites within field. However, the optimum use of data coming from the precision agriculture machineries strongly depends on the capabilities to explore the information about the complex interactions underlying the productive outputs. The covariation between spatial soil properties and yields from georeferenced data has been treated in a graphical manner or with standard geostatistical approaches. New statistical modeling capabilities from the Mixed Linear Model framework are promising to deal with correlated data such those produced by the precision agriculture. Moreover, rescuing the multivariate nature of the multiple data collected at each site, several multivariate statistical approaches could be crucial tools for data analysis with georeferenced data. Understanding the basis of complex interactions at the scale of production field is now within reach the use of these new techniques. Our main objectives are: (1) to develop new statistical strategies, based on the complementarities of geostatistics and multivariate methods, useful to classify sites within field grown with grain crops and analyze the interrelationships of several soil and yield variables, (2) to propose mixed linear models to predict yield according spatial soil variability and to build contour maps to promote a more sustainable agriculture.

О применимости шкалы эквивалентно-эффективной температуры воздуха в условиях города Тбилиси

წარმოდგენილია ქალაქ თბილისის მოსახლეობის გულსისხლძარღვთა დაავადებებით გამოწვეული სიკვდილიანობისა და ჰაერის ეკვივალენტურ-ეფექტური ტემპერატურის მონაცემების შედარებითი ანალიზის შედეგები. ნაჩვენებია, რომ ჰაერის ეკვივალენტურ-ეფექტური ტემპერატურის არსებული სკალა შეიძლება გამოყენებული იქნას ქალაქ თბილისში ადამიანის ჯამრთელობაზე მისი ზემოქმედების ხარისხის შესაფასებლად.

Perceived behavioral changes in early multiple sclerosis.

Acquired behavioral changes have essentially been described in advanced multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study was designed to determine whether behavioral modifications specifically related to the MS pathological process could be identified in the initial phase of the disease, as compared to control patients with chronic, relapsing and progressive inflammatory disorders not involving the central nervous system (CNS). Eighty-eight early MS patients (Expanded Disability Status Scale score <or= 2.5) and 48 controls were tested. Perceived changes by informants in behavioral control, goal-directed behavior, decision making, emotional expression, insight and interpersonal relationships were assessed using the Iowa Scale of Personality Change (ISPC). Executive behavioral disturbances were screened using the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX). The mean change between the premorbid and postmorbid ISPC ratings was similar in the MS [12.2 (SD 15.6)] and in the control [11.5 (SD 15.1)] group. The perceived behavioral changes (PBCs) most frequently reported in both groups were lack of stamina, lability/moodiness, anxiety, vulnerability to stress and irritability. Pathological scores in the DEX were also similar in both groups. Correlations between PBCs and DEX scores were different in MS and control groups. MS patients with cognitive impairment had a marginally higher number of PBCs than control patients (p=0.056) and a significantly higher DEXp score (p=0.04). These results suggest that (1) PBCs occurring in early MS patients were not different from those induced by comparable chronic non-CNS disorders, (2) qualitative differences in the relationship between behavioral symptoms and executive-behavioral changes may exist between MS and control groups, and (3) behavioral symptoms seem associated with cognitive deficits in MS. We further plan to assess these observations longitudinally.

Thrombolysis in ischemic stroke without arterial occlusion at presentation.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: None of the randomized trials of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator reported vascular imaging acquired before thrombolysis. Efficacy of tissue-type plasminogen activator in stroke without arterial occlusion on vascular imaging remains unknown and speculative. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, multicenter study to collect data of patients who presented to participating centers during a 5-year period with ischemic stroke diagnosed by clinical examination and MRI and with imaging evidence of no vascular occlusion. These patients were divided into 2 groups: those who received thrombolytic therapy and those who did not. Primary outcome measure of the study was excellent clinical outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 1 at 90 days from stroke onset. Secondary outcome measures were good clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 0-2) and perfect outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 0). Safety outcome measures were incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 4-6). RESULTS: A total of 256 patients met study criteria, 103 with thrombolysis and 153 without. Logistic regression analysis showed that patients who received thrombolysis had more frequent excellent outcomes with odds ratio of 3.79 (P<0.01). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage was more frequent in thrombolysis group (4.9 versus 0.7%; P=0.04). Thrombolysis led to more frequent excellent outcome in nonlacunar group with odds ratio 4.90 (P<0.01) and more frequent perfect outcome in lacunar group with odds ratio 8.25 (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides crucial data that patients with ischemic stroke who do not have visible arterial occlusion at presentation may benefit from thrombolysis.