School governance and academic excellence: the representations of distinguished students in an annual award of excellence

Within a research project on «academic excellence in the state school», this paper is a contribution to the sociological reflection on the cultural and organisational characteristics of the school and its relationship with the academic success of students. The data we present stem from a case study underway at a secondary school in the north of Portugal, referring to the universe of students that since 2003 have distinguished themselves for achieving grades equal to or greater than 18 (on a scale of 0 to 20) and have thus been included in the school’s Framework of Excellence. From a contextual approach to this educational practice, we focused on the cultural characteristics of the school/subject as analytical support for the study of school and non-school dimensions in their mutual connections. To this end, we used the information from document analysis and data collected from a questionnaire survey administered to more than two-thirds of the students included in the above-mentioned Framework of Excellence. Subsequently, we will use the data from this survey to understand the extent to which academic excellence is perceived as an indivisible social construction of the school’s political and organisational matrix, particularly in terms of the educational and teaching guidelines adopted by the management body. We will conclude by questioning the meaning of the school’s management policies regarding the emphasis on educational outcomes, with particular focus on the representations of excellent students in the processes of school leadership, teaching organisation, school merit and justice.

Determinação do ciclo estral em catetos Pecari tajacu: aspectos colpocitológicos e clínicos

Este trabalho teve por objetivo estudar o ciclo estral do cateto, aplicando a colpocitologia como método diagnóstico. As amostras da citologia vaginal foram coletadas em dez fêmeas adultas, durante três vezes na semana, por seis meses. Verificou-se que a duração média do ciclo estral para esta espécie foi de 28,45 ± 5,45 dias. Observou-se diferença estatística (p<0,01) em relação à frequência dos diferentes tipos celulares na mesma fase do ciclo estral. No proestro foi verificado o aumento de células intermediárias e superficiais. A fase de estro caracterizou-se pela elevação significativa de células superficiais em relação aos demais tipos celulares e pela ausência de leucócitos. Durante este período, a genitália externa estava hiperêmica, edemaciada e com muco. No metaestro houve um decréscimo de células superficiais, quando comparado com o proestro e com o estro, e uma elevação significativa de células intermediárias, presença de leucócitos, de células de metaestro e de foam. Na fase de diestro, houve um aumento de células intermediárias, e um decréscimo no número de leucócitos. Conclui-se que, por meio da colpocitologia, é possível diferenciar as fases do ciclo estral em catetos.

Firm innovation and co-location in Portugal

This paper investigates the geographical distribution and concentration of firms’ innovation persistence and innovation type (product and process) based on three waves of the Portuguese Community Innovation Survey data covering the period 1998–2006. The main findings are: 1) both innovation persistence and innovation type are asymmetrically distributed across Portuguese regions, 2) the degree of correlation between geographical location and innovative output varies with the innovation type, and 3) the correlation between geographical unit and innovation increases when the spatial unit of analysis is narrower. The results suggest that the firms’ choices of geographical location have a long-lasting effect, engendering no equal probabilities of being persistently innovative.

A protecção constitucional da família por via dos impostos: um estudo comparado entre o ordenamento jurídico Angolano e o ordenamento jurídico Português

Dissertação de mestrado em Direito Tributário e Fiscal

Critical analyses of the introduction of liquid-based cytology in a public health service of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare the performance of the current conventional Pap smear with liquid-based cytology (LBC) preparations. STUDY DESIGN Women routinely undergoing their cytopathological and histopathological examinations at Fundação Oncocentro de São Paulo (FOSP) were recruited for LBC. Conventional smears were analyzed from women from other areas of the State of São Paulo with similar sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS A total of 218,594 cases were analyzed, consisting of 206,999 conventional smears and 11,595 LBC. Among the conventional smears, 3.0% were of unsatisfactory preparation; conversely, unsatisfactory LBC preparations accounted for 0.3%. The ASC-H (atypical squamous cells - cannot exclude high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) frequency did not demonstrate any differences between the two methods. In contrast, the incidence of ASC-US (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) was almost twice as frequent between LBC and conventional smears, at 2.9 versus 1.6%, respectively. An equal percentage of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions were observed for the two methods, but not for low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, which were more significantly observed in LBC preparations than in conventional smears (2.2 vs. 0.7%). The index of positivity was importantly enhanced from 3.0% (conventional smears) to 5.7% (LBC). CONCLUSIONS LBC performed better than conventional smears, and we are truly confident that LBC can improve public health strategies aimed at reducing cervical lesions through prevention programs.

O ensino da flauta de bisel em grupo como inovação pedagógica: Uma investigação-ação no 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico

Tese de Doutoramento em Estudos da Criança (Especialidade em Educação Musical)

Avaliação experimental da utilização de conectores indentados em elementos mistos de aço e betão leve

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Civil

O telejornalismo: um estudo sobre as diferenças de um canal informativo e um canal generalista da mesma estação

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Ciências da Comunicação (área de especialização em Informação e Jornalismo)

Inclusão de alunos com necessidades educativas especiais na escola regular: perceções de professores do ensino primário na Região Académica IV - Angola

Dissertação de mestrado em Educação Especial (área de especialização em Dificuldades de Aprendizagem Específicas)

A cooperar é que se aprende?: a aprendizagem cooperativa e educação intercultural: um contributo na construção da autonomia do aluno

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Ensino de Inglês e Espanhol no 3º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e Ensino Secundário

Safety and efficacy of coronary stent implantation. Acute and six month outcomes of 1,126 consecutive patients treated in 1996 and 1997

PURPOSE: The authors analyzed the 30-day and 6-month outcomes of 1,126 consecutive patients who underwent coronary stent implantation in 1996 and 1997. METHODS: The 30-day results and 6-month angiographic follow-up were analyzed in patients treated with coronary stents in 1996 and 1997. All patients underwent coronary stenting with high-pressure implantation (>12 atm) and antiplatelet drug regimen (aspirin plus ticlopidine). RESULTS: During the study period, 1,390 coronary stents were implanted in 1,200 vessels of 1,126 patients; 477 patients were treated in the year 1996 and 649 in 1997. The number of percutaneous procedures performed using stents increased significantly in 1997 compared to 1996 (64 % vs 48%, p=0.0001). The 30-day results were similar in both years; the success and stent thrombosis rates were equal (97% and 0.8%, respectively). The occurrence of new Q wave MI (1.3% vs 1.1%, 1996 vs 1997, p=NS), emergency coronary bypass surgery (1% vs 0.6%, 1996 vs 1997, p=NS) and 30-day death rates (0.2% vs 0.5%, 1996 vs 1997, p=NS) were similar. The 6-month restenosis rate was 25% in 1996 and 27% in 1997 (p= NS); the target vessel revascularization rate was 15% in 1996 and 16% in 1997 (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Intracoronary stenting showed a high success rate and a low incidence of 30-day occurrence of new major coronary events in both periods, despite the greater angiographic complexity of the patients treated with in 1997. These adverse variables did not have a negative influence at the 6-month clinical and angiographic follow-up, with similar rates of restenosis and ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization rates.

Intervir através da educação física na coeducação: realidade ou intenção?

Intervir de forma consciente e organizada em prol da promoção da igualdade de oportunidades na escola tem sido, nas últimas décadas, um dos propósitos da Educação Física (EF) na Europa. Através das rotinas e das oportunidades que se proporcionam, rapazes e raparigas têm acesso a uma prática de atividade física e desportiva (AFD) que lhes possibilita aperfeiçoar capacidades, competências e atitudes. Consideramos que o contributo da EF na educação é de um valor significativo, viabilizando às crianças e jovens construir a sua imagem corporal e os estereótipos de género, desenvolver afectos e emoções, cultivar a sua relação com os outros, criar capacidades e valores, ajudando deste modo uma formação das atitudes individuais ou coletivas, que respeitem a igualdade de género e, por isso, os direitos humanos. Este estudo foi realizado a partir da informação recolhida, através da aplicação de um questionário, a uma amostra de 993 crianças, 57.5% raparigas e 42.5% rapazes, com idades compreendidas entre os 10 e 12 anos, pertencentes a várias escolas do ensino público e ambicionou comparar as perceções e preferências de rapazes e raparigas relativamente às práticas AFD que decorrem na disciplina de EF, para se poderem apresentar alternativas de práticas mais flexíveis e integradoras. A partir dos nossos resultados podemos concluir que a AFD na escola continua a ser muito marcada por práticas de técnicas de movimento, jogos e competições desportivas, vivências muito identificadas com os estereótipos masculinos e que, nem sempre ajudam à formação de um bom esquema corporal e de comportamentos que se tendem a manter ao longo da vida, para muita(o)s jovens. Sugerimos que as atividades oferecidas às crianças e jovens nas escolas sejam mais diversificadas e inclusivas, impondo um nível de desempenho e de satisfação mais adequado a cada caso em particular, devendo estar mais centradas quer em atividades de ar livre, quer em práticas que desenvolvem também as dimensões sensitiva, expressiva e corporal do(a)s aluno(a)s.

Bio-detoxification of mycotoxins by lactic acid bacteria from different food matrices

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) play a key role in the biopreservation of a wide range of fermented food products, such as yogurt, cheese, fermented milks, meat, fish, vegetables (sauerkraut, olives and pickles), certain beer brands, wines and silage, allowing their safe consumption, which gave to these bacteria a GRAS (Generally Recognised as Safe) status. Besides that, the use of LAB in food and feed is a promising strategy to reduce the exposure to dietary mycotoxins, improving their shelf life and reducing health risks, given the unique mycotoxin decontaminating characteristic of some LAB. Mycotoxins present carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, neurotoxic and immunosuppressive effects over animals and Humans, being the most important ochratoxin A (OTA), aflatoxins (AFB1), trichothecenes, zearalenone (ZEA), fumonisin (FUM) and patulin. In a previous work of our group it was observed OTA biodegradation by some strains of Pediococcus parvulus isolated from Douro wines. So, the aim of this study was to enlarge the screening of the biodetoxification over more mycotoxins besides OTA, including AFB1, and ZEA. This ability was checked in a collection of LAB isolated from vegetable (wine, olives, fruits and silage) and animal (milk and dairy products, sausages) sources. All LAB strains were characterized phenotypically (Gram, catalase) and genotypically. Molecular characterisation of all LAB strains was performed using genomic fingerprinting by MSP- PCR with (GTG)5 and csM13 primers. The identification of the isolates was confirmed by 16S rDNA sequencing. To study the ability of LAB strains to degrade OTA, AFB1 and ZEA, a MRS broth medium was supplemented with 2.0 g/mL of each mycotoxin. For each strain, 2 mL of MRS supplemented with the mycotoxins was inoculated in triplicate with 109 CFU/mL. The culture media and bacterial cells were extracted by the addition of an equal volume of acetonitrile/methanol/acetic acid (78:20:2 v/v/v) to the culture tubes. A 2 mL sample was then collected and filtered into a clean 2 mL vial using PP filters with 0.45 m pores. The samples were preserved at 4 °C until HPLC analysis. Among LAB tested, 10 strains isolated from milk were able to eliminate AFB1, belonging to Lactobacillus casei (7), Lb. paracasei (1), Lb. plantarum (1) and 1 to Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Two strains of Enterococcus faecium and one of Ec. faecalis from sausage eliminated ZEA. Concerning to strains of vegetal origin, one Lb. plantarum isolated from elderberry fruit, one Lb. buchnerii and one Lb. parafarraginis both isolated from silage eliminated ZEA. Other 2 strains of Lb. plantarum from silage were able to degrade both ZEA and OTA, and 1 Lb. buchnerii showed activity over AFB1. These enzymatic activities were also verified genotypically through specific gene PCR and posteriorly confirmed by sequencing analysis. In conclusion, due the ability of some strains of LAB isolated from different sources to eliminate OTA, AFB1 and ZEA one can recognize their potential biotechnological application to reduce the health hazards associated with these mycotoxins. They may be suitable as silage inoculants or as feed additives or even in food industry.

Food safety in wine: removal of ochratoxin A in contaminated white wine using commercial fining agents

The presence of mycotoxins in foodstuff is a matter of concern for food safety. Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by certain molds, being ochratoxin A (OTA) one of the most relevant. Wines can also be contaminated with these toxicants. Several authors have demonstrated the presence of mycotoxins in wine, especially ochratoxin A (OTA) [1]. Its chemical structure is a dihydro-isocoumarin connected at the 7-carboxy group to a molecule of L--phenylalanine via an amide bond. As these toxicants can never be completely removed from the food chain, many countries have defined levels in food in order to attend health concerns. OTA contamination of wines might be a risk to consumer health, thus requiring treatments to achieve acceptable standards for human consumption [2]. The maximum acceptable level of OTA in wines is 2.0 g/kg according to the Commission regulation No. 1881/2006 [3]. Therefore, the aim of this work was to reduce OTA to safer levels using different fining agents, as well as their impact on white wine physicochemical characteristics. To evaluate their efficiency, 11 commercial fining agents (mineral, synthetic, animal and vegetable proteins) were used to get new approaches on OTA removal from white wine. Trials (including a control without addition of a fining agent) were performed in white wine artificially supplemented with OTA (10 µg/L). OTA analysis were performed after wine fining. Wine was centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 min and 1 mL of the supernatant was collected and added of an equal volume of acetonitrile/methanol/acetic acid (78:20:2 v/v/v). Also, the solid fractions obtained after fining, were centrifuged (4000 rpm, 15 min), the resulting supernatant discarded, and the pellet extracted with 1 mL of the above solution and 1 mL of H2O. OTA analysis was performed by HPLC with fluorescence detection according to Abrunhosa and Venâncio [4]. The most effective fining agent in removing OTA (80%) from white wine was a commercial formulation that contains gelatine, bentonite and activated carbon. Removals between 10-30% were obtained with potassium caseinate, yeast cell walls and pea protein. With bentonites, carboxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone and chitosan no considerable OTA removal was verified. Following, the effectiveness of seven commercial activated carbons was also evaluated and compared with the commercial formulation that contains gelatine, bentonite and activated carbon. The different activated carbons were applied at the concentration recommended by the manufacturer in order to evaluate their efficiency in reducing OTA levels. Trial and OTA analysis were performed as explained previously. The results showed that in white wine all activated carbons except one reduced 100% of OTA. The commercial formulation that contains gelatine, bentonite and activated carbon (C8) reduced only 73% of OTA concentration. These results may provide useful information for winemakers, namely for the selection of the most appropriate oenological product for OTA removal, reducing wine toxicity and simultaneously enhancing food safety and wine quality.

Postoperative necrotizing fasciitis of the thorax in cardiac surgery

Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare soft tissue infection and a life-threatening emergency, often fatal. Its incidence and management are described plentifully in the medical literature regarding the most common anatomical sites involved like the abdomen, lower and upper limbs, and perineum. However, available data and case reports of chest wall necrotizing fasciitis after thoracic procedures are scarce, mainly after major cardiac operations. We report and discuss a case of necrotizing fasciitis of the chest wall occurring in the immediate postoperative period of a cardiac procedure, and include a brief review of the concepts, pathophysiology, and treatment reported in the medical literature. We emphasize the need for early diagnosis and urgent and effective surgical debridement. Of importance is the fact that we have not found any references in the literature to cases similar or equal to the one we describe here, which occurred in the postoperative period of a cardiac procedure.