Monitorização da Dinâmica Corporal para Prevenção da Apneia do Sono

A avaliação e monitorização de sinais vitais é uma ferramenta fundamental utilizada na medicina, principalmente no que se relaciona com o estado físico do indivíduo. A evolução constante da tecnologia assumiu um papel central na evolução de produtos ligados ao contexto médico, que atualmente assumem-se como produtos do quotidiano. Existiu também uma alteração do paradigma, ou seja, produtos anteriormente utilizados exclusivamente na medicina, agora usados em atividades diárias. A preocupação da monitorização de sinais vitais é uma temática emergente, uma vez que uma análise correta destes dados permite intervir precocemente em aspetos que melhoram a qualidade de vida do indivíduo. A prevenção tornou-se um fator essencial, visto que os utilizadores interagem com estes produtos no quotidiano. Esta necessidade leva ao aparecimento de novos produtos, que estejam ligados à atividade diária do indivíduo. É neste paradigma que a solução se apresenta, a interação do produto com o utilizador de forma discreta e menos intrusiva, oferecendo maior conforto e funcionalidade. Assim sendo, o designer deve perceber os princípios de funcionamento dos componentes que permitem recolher informação sobre os sinais vitais e ambientais. O papel do design neste projeto de investigação passou pelo desenvolvimento de uma solução para monitorização da dinâmica corporal no período do sono, de forma a contribuir para a prevenção da apneia do sono. A solução divide-se em três elementos, que interligados, proporcionam ao utilizador um controlo do período de sono. Os elementos são: tapete de mapeamento de pressão, um monitor de sono, e uma aplicação móvel. Os aspetos ergonómicos e funcionais foram tidos em conta na conceção do produto assim como a aplicação de métodos de desenvolvimento de produto, com o intuito de obter uma solução que respeite as necessidades do utilizador. A solução foi validada, do ponto de vista conceptual, através de um protótipo semi-funcional.

Práticas integrativas e complementares em Currais Novos/RN: uso de plantas medicinais?

The objective of this study is to investigate how the team of health professionals of the Family Health Strategies program and clients in Currais Novos/RN deal with the use (or not) of medicinal plants as one of the complementary and holistic practices in the Individual Health System (SUS in Portuguese). The research is carried out using a qualitative approach, applying semi-structured interviews, related to the proposed objective, as the instruments of data collection. The interviews applied to professionals and clients were based on questionnaires and were recorded, with their permission, then transcribed in a field diary. The subjects of the study were doctors, nurses, dentists and community health agents of the Family Health Strategies team, totaling 24 (twenty four) health professionals, as well as ten volunteers identified in the research as people who use medicinal plants for health care purposes. From this study, we verify the great importance that health professionals and clients attribute to the use of medicinal plants, as well as evidence that family tradition is the main vehicle for the dissemination of knowledge regarding their use. Most medicinal plants had popular indications similar of those used scientifically, however, 70% of the clients reported never having had medical health advice or encouragement to use medicinal plants in their treatments. Half of the group of professionals interviewed reported not feeling safe in prescribing medicinal plants; approximately 25% reported having received information on the subject during their undergraduate program. Expected outcomes of this study include instigating the implementation of treatment protocols by the health professionals, and broadening holistic care practices, as well as access to alternative therapeutic options, client participation, ultimately strengthening the link between primary care and Family Health Strategies

Tendências e projeções da mortalidade pelos cânceres específicos ao gênero no Brasil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES

Mortalidade em idosos longevos e "mais jovens" no Brasil

The aim of the present study was to trace the mortality profile of the elderly in Brazil using two neighboring age groups: 60 to 69 years (young-old) and 80 years or more (oldest-old). To do this, we sought to characterize the trend and distinctions of different mortality profiles, as well as the quality of the data and associations with socioeconomic and sanitary conditions in the micro-regions of Brazil. Data was collected from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Based on these data, the coefficients of mortality were calculated for the chapters of the International Disease Classification (ICD-10). A polynomial regression model was used to ascertain the trend of the main chapters. Non-hierarchical cluster analysis (K-Means) was used to obtain the profiles for different Brazilian micro-regions. Factorial analysis of the contextual variables was used to obtain the socio-economic and sanitary deprivation indices (IPSS). The trend of the CMId and of the ratio of its values in the two age groups confirmed a decrease in most of the indicators, particularly for badly-defined causes among the oldest-old. Among the young-old, the following profiles emerged: the Development Profile; the Modernity Profile; the Epidemiological Paradox Profile and the Ignorance Profile. Among the oldest-old, the latter three profiles were confirmed, in addition to the Low Mortality Rates Profile. When comparing the mean IPSS values in global terms, all of the groups were different in both of the age groups. The Ignorance Profile was compared with the other profiles using orthogonal contrasts. This profile differed from all of the others in isolation and in clusters. However, the mean IPSS was similar for the Low Mortality Rates Profile among the oldest-old. Furthermore, associations were found between the data quality indicators, the CMId for badly-defined causes, the general coefficient of mortality for each age group (CGMId) and the IPSS of the micro-regions. The worst rates were recorded in areas with the greatest socioeconomic and sanitary deprivation. The findings of the present study show that, despite the decrease in the mortality coefficients, there are notable differences in the profiles related to contextual conditions, including regional differences in data quality. These differences increase the vulnerability of the age groups studied and the health iniquities that are already present.

O Programa Nacional Biblioteca da Escola - PNBE: da gestão ao leitor na educação infantil de Natal-RN

This study aims to investigate the process of implementation of Programa Nacional Biblioteca da Escola, PNBE, and the reader's training on Childhood Education level in Natal. The promotion of literary reading is the opportunity of inclusion in a world that is connected to citizenship, to human rights and social justice, because the reading is the way which gives meaning to the life and, therefore, it is a right for everybody. The study is characterized as a qualitative research with evaluative approach. The methodological procedure that constitutes this corpus took place in three stages: the first one was about the analysis of laws and documents of national public policies for the reading promotion; questionnaires were applied by Managing Committee - Natal/RN to CMEIs and the available websites from MEC that provide distribution of the acquis; in the second stage, we adopted the semi-structured interview as a methodological procedure elaborated with open questions that focus on the program management and to the acquis of PNBE; and in the third step we visited the 21 centers of childhood education in Natal for interviewing and to do the exploratory observation in places of reading. The Informant actors in this research are: the advisors of SME - Natal and FNDE, managers and teachers in Municipal Childhood Education Centers who totalize 30 informants. This theoretical and methodological framework follows the studies of Amarilha (1993; 1994; 2002; 2006; 2010; 2012), Bardin (2001), Bogdan; Biklen (1994), Castro (2007; 2008; 2012), Demo (2000; 2006; 2008), Fischer (2006), Moreira; Caleffe (2008), Paiva (2008; 2012), Secchi (2010; 2012), Soares (2003; 2008) and Zilberman (2001; 2003; 2008). The analysis indicates that decentralization strategy which is adopted in public management model will transfer responsibilities and assumption of the PNBE, exempting the actors to planning actions ensuring the efficiency and efficacy implementation on reading policy to national and municipal levels. The qualified acquis that is distributed by MEC reaches every Childhood Education center and does not depend on teacher's desire or it action, only a few of them know about it and they do not have information about the PNBE, neither receive specific training in order to articulate it to the practice of reading with children from Childhood Education. The reading project implemented by private education system in Natal overlaps the PNBE, making it invisible. The reading places that are available for that schooling stage are summarized to the reading corners. In some CMEI, books remain stored in boxes or they are locked in the closet, out of use to the teachers and students. Thus, care for the acquisition, selecting acquis, and a preoccupation to the supply of the reading and books for this education level are lost into volumes of closed boxes, teachers are jettisoned to this process and children do not have any enchantment to the reading or books. In this context, this paper draws attention to how much we should still investigate in order to understanding the perspectives, stresses and challenges from public policies for the reading promotion in our country. We hope that the research will help to improve the management model of the PNBE, ensuring the reading democratization and therefore the reader's training in early Childhood Education.

O Programa Nacional Biblioteca da Escola - PNBE: da gestão ao leitor na educação infantil de Natal-RN

This study aims to investigate the process of implementation of Programa Nacional Biblioteca da Escola, PNBE, and the reader's training on Childhood Education level in Natal. The promotion of literary reading is the opportunity of inclusion in a world that is connected to citizenship, to human rights and social justice, because the reading is the way which gives meaning to the life and, therefore, it is a right for everybody. The study is characterized as a qualitative research with evaluative approach. The methodological procedure that constitutes this corpus took place in three stages: the first one was about the analysis of laws and documents of national public policies for the reading promotion; questionnaires were applied by Managing Committee - Natal/RN to CMEIs and the available websites from MEC that provide distribution of the acquis; in the second stage, we adopted the semi-structured interview as a methodological procedure elaborated with open questions that focus on the program management and to the acquis of PNBE; and in the third step we visited the 21 centers of childhood education in Natal for interviewing and to do the exploratory observation in places of reading. The Informant actors in this research are: the advisors of SME - Natal and FNDE, managers and teachers in Municipal Childhood Education Centers who totalize 30 informants. This theoretical and methodological framework follows the studies of Amarilha (1993; 1994; 2002; 2006; 2010; 2012), Bardin (2001), Bogdan; Biklen (1994), Castro (2007; 2008; 2012), Demo (2000; 2006; 2008), Fischer (2006), Moreira; Caleffe (2008), Paiva (2008; 2012), Secchi (2010; 2012), Soares (2003; 2008) and Zilberman (2001; 2003; 2008). The analysis indicates that decentralization strategy which is adopted in public management model will transfer responsibilities and assumption of the PNBE, exempting the actors to planning actions ensuring the efficiency and efficacy implementation on reading policy to national and municipal levels. The qualified acquis that is distributed by MEC reaches every Childhood Education center and does not depend on teacher's desire or it action, only a few of them know about it and they do not have information about the PNBE, neither receive specific training in order to articulate it to the practice of reading with children from Childhood Education. The reading project implemented by private education system in Natal overlaps the PNBE, making it invisible. The reading places that are available for that schooling stage are summarized to the reading corners. In some CMEI, books remain stored in boxes or they are locked in the closet, out of use to the teachers and students. Thus, care for the acquisition, selecting acquis, and a preoccupation to the supply of the reading and books for this education level are lost into volumes of closed boxes, teachers are jettisoned to this process and children do not have any enchantment to the reading or books. In this context, this paper draws attention to how much we should still investigate in order to understanding the perspectives, stresses and challenges from public policies for the reading promotion in our country. We hope that the research will help to improve the management model of the PNBE, ensuring the reading democratization and therefore the reader's training in early Childhood Education.

Planejamento de trajetórias e navegação de robôs móveis

Oil exploration at great depths requires the use of mobile robots to perform various operations such as maintenance, assembly etc. In this context, the trajectory planning and navigation study of these robots is relevant, as the great challenge is to navigate in an environment that is not fully known. The main objective is to develop a navigation algorithm to plan the path of a mobile robot that is in a given position (

Planejamento de trajetórias e navegação de robôs móveis

Oil exploration at great depths requires the use of mobile robots to perform various operations such as maintenance, assembly etc. In this context, the trajectory planning and navigation study of these robots is relevant, as the great challenge is to navigate in an environment that is not fully known. The main objective is to develop a navigation algorithm to plan the path of a mobile robot that is in a given position (

Análise do uso do Portal de Periódicos da CAPES na perspectiva de mestres e doutores formados pelo Programa de Pós-graduação em Administração da UFRN

The Brazilian CAPES Journal Portal aims to provide Information in Science and Technology (IST) for academic users. Thus, it is considered a relevant instrument for post-graduation dynamics and the country´s Science and Technology (S&T) development. Despite its importance, there are still few studies that focus on the policy analysis and efficiency of these resources. This research aims to fill in this gap once it proposes an analysis of the use of the CAPES Journal Portal done on behalf of the master´s and doctoral alumni of the Post Graduate Program in Management (PPGA) at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). The operationalization of the research´s main objective was possible through the specific objectives: characterize graduate profile as CAPES Journal Portal users b) identify motivation for the use of CAPES Journal Portal c) detect graduate satisfaction degree in information seeking done at CAPES Journal Portal d) verify graduate satisfaction regarding the use of the CAPES Journal Portal e) verify the use of the information that is obtained by graduates in the development of their academic activities. The research is of descriptive nature employing a mixed methodological strategy in which quantitative approach predominates. Data collection was done through a web survey questionnaire. Quantitative data analysis was made possible through the use of a statistical method. As for qualitative analysis, there was use of the Brenda Dervin´s sense-making approach as well as content analysis in open ended questions. The research samples were composed by 90 graduate students who had defended their dissertation/thesis in the PPGA program at UFRN in the time span of 2010-2013. This represented by 88% of this population. As for user profile, the analysis has made evident that there are no quantitative differences related to gender. There is predominance of male graduates that were aged 26 to 30 years old. As for female graduates, the great majority were 31 o 35 years old. Most graduates had Master´s degree scholarship in order to support their study. It was also seen that the great majority claim to use the Portal during their post graduation studies. The main reasons responsible for non use was: preference for the use of other data bases and lack of knowledge regarding the Portal. It was observed that the most used information resources were theses and dissertations. Data also indicate preference for complete text. Those who have used the Portal also claimed to have used other electronic information fonts in order to fulfill their information needs. The information fonts that were researched outside in the Portal were monographs, dissertations and thesis. Scielo was the most used information font. Results reveal that access and use of the Portal has been done in a regular manner during post graduation studies. But on the other hand, graduates also make use of other electronic information fonts in order to meet their information needs. The study also confirmed the important mission performed by the Portal regarding Brazilian scientific communication production. This was seen even though users have reported the need for improvement in some aspects such as: periodic training in order to promote, encourage and teach more effective use of the portal; investment aiming the expansion of Social Sciences Collection in the Portal as well as the need to implement continuous evaluation process related to user satisfaction in regarding the services provided.

Uma abordagem baseada em filtragem colaborativa integrada a mapas de saliência para a recomendação de imagens

Nowadays, the amount of customers using sites for shopping is greatly increasing, mainly due to the easiness and rapidity of this way of consumption. The sites, differently from physical stores, can make anything available to customers. In this context, Recommender Systems (RS) have become indispensable to help consumers to find products that may possibly pleasant or be useful to them. These systems often use techniques of Collaborating Filtering (CF), whose main underlying idea is that products are recommended to a given user based on purchase information and evaluations of past, by a group of users similar to the user who is requesting recommendation. One of the main challenges faced by such a technique is the need of the user to provide some information about her preferences on products in order to get further recommendations from the system. When there are items that do not have ratings or that possess quite few ratings available, the recommender system performs poorly. This problem is known as new item cold-start. In this paper, we propose to investigate in what extent information on visual attention can help to produce more accurate recommendation models. We present a new CF strategy, called IKB-MS, that uses visual attention to characterize images and alleviate the new item cold-start problem. In order to validate this strategy, we created a clothing image database and we use three algorithms well known for the extraction of visual attention these images. An extensive set of experiments shows that our approach is efficient and outperforms state-of-the-art CF RS.

Projectos de consultoria em SAP e tecnologias microsoft: análise e desenvolvimento de soluções de software à medida

À medida que a sociedade evolui, também as profissões evoluem com ela. Uma profissão que tem crescido de forma notável é a de consultor na área das tecnologias de informação. De facto, há alguns anos atrás, esta profissão não tinha o relevo que tem na actualidade, pois com a evolução das tecnologias da informação, as ferramentas ao dispor das empresas diversificaram-se e como tal, a mão-de-obra vai-se especializando nestas ferramentas. As empresas, na impossibilidade de contratar mão-de-obra para instalar, manter e evoluir todas as suas ferramentas, recorrem cada vez mais à experiência de consultores externos; estes são contratados para realizar tarefas específicas que as empresas não têm capacidade de executar com os próprios recursos e a sua ligação com estas entidades termina após a conclusão destas tarefas. Cada vez mais as empresas procuram tirar o máximo partido das ferramentas informáticas à sua disposição e os sistemas de Enterprise Resource Planning não são excepção. À medida que os utilizadores vão usufruindo dos sistemas, surgem novas necessidades que, depois de colmatadas, permitem a sua optimização. Além disso, com a alteração das leis, é preciso adaptar os sistemas para que estes evoluam e possam reflectir os novos requisitos legais. Com o aumento da regulação bancária, as entidades bancárias são obrigadas a comunicar informação sobre as suas finanças ao Banco de Portugal, de modo a que o banco possa analisar a saúde financeira das entidades e emitir recomendações sobre a sua forma de actuar. Esta nova forma de comunicação será efectuada por meio de relatórios em eXtended Business Reporting Language (XBRL). Pretende-se caracterizar a profissão de consultor e apresentar alguns projectos realizados enquanto consultor numa consultora de grande dimensão.

Links hipertextuais na comunicação científica: análise webométrica dos sítios acadêmicos latino-americanos em ciências sociais

VANTI, Nadia. Links hipertextuais na comunicação científica: análise webométrica dos sítios acadêmicos latino-americanos em Ciências Sociais. Porto Alegre, 2007. 292 f. Tese (Doutorado em Comunicação e Informação) – Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, 2007.

Open Space – Estratégia e Concretização: o caso EDP Porto

Este estudo centra-se numa investigação sobre o conceito de trabalho em open space na nova sede no Porto da empresa Energias de Portugal - SA, tendo em conta a estratégia implementada e os resultados conseguidos. Para isso, dissecámos as premissas apresentadas aos trabalhadores na cerimónia de inauguração do novo espaço - “O Open Space opera como plataforma de comunicação e de partilha de informação” e “O Open Space responde às necessidades dos trabalhadores, criando ambientes de trabalho modernos e funcionais”. A fim de avaliarmos o campo empírico, construímos e enviámos em formato eletrónico para o e-mail de todos os trabalhadores da amostra um instrumento de medida que denominámos de open space (OS). As ilações retiradas estão baseadas nos resultados analisados e discutidos após processamento em SPSS - predictive analytics software and solutions e em reports gráficos. O open space da EDP Porto é um local moderno e funcional, privilegiado em relação à fluidez e partilha de informação, capaz de manifestar estratégias de negócio e de salientar aspetos da marca e da cultura da Empresa. A formação/informação sobre comportamentos e regras básicas a seguir na partilha de um mesmo espaço, as razões de negócio que levam a organização a mudar o espaço de trabalho, a par das vantagens que ambas as partes podem tirar do novo conceito, influencia positivamente ou negativamente a perceção da mudança e o estado emocional dos trabalhadores. O ruído, a temperatura ambiente, a concentração ou a privacidade, são alguns dos fatores que poderão variar com o layout e funcionam como condicionantes de uma maior ou menor satisfação ambiental. No entanto, existem sempre questões que permanecem pendentes e foi nesse contexto que deixámos algumas propostas para novas investigações num trabalho científico que nunca se esgota. / This study focuses on researching the concept of working in an open space in the new Oporto’s headquarters of the company Energias de Portugal - SA, given the strategy implemented and the results achieved. For this, we dissected the assumptions presented to workers at the inauguration ceremony of the new space - "The Open Space operates as a platform for communication and information sharing" and "The Open Space responds to the needs of workers, creating modern and functional workplaces". In order to evaluate the empirical side, we built and sent, in electronic format, an e-mail to all the workers of the sample with a measurement tool that we called the open space (OS). The conclusions are based on the results analyzed and discussed after being processed in SPSS - predictive analytics software and solutions and graphs in reports. The open space of the EDP Oporto is a modern and functional place, privileged in relation to fluidity and information sharing, capable of manifesting business strategies and highlight aspects of the brand and culture of the Company. The training/information on behaviors and basic rules to follow when sharing the same space, the business reasons that lead the organization to change the workspace, along with the advantages that both parties can benefit from the new concept, influence positively or negatively the perception of change and the emotional state of workers. Noise, temperature, concentration or privacy, are some of the factors that may vary with the layout and function as constraints in a greater or lesser environmental satisfaction. However, there are always issues that remain outstanding and it was in this context that we made some proposals for further research in a scientific paper that never runs out.

Sistema de notificação e monitorização de acidentes para motociclos

A percentagem de utilização de motociclos tem vindo a crescer relativamente à utilização de veículos automóveis. Provavelmente, este número continuará a aumentar anualmente devido a diversos fatores: a mobilidade, a flexibilidade de circulação e o menor gasto de combustível. No entanto, um dos principais problemas da condução de motociclos é o elevado risco de acidente, comparativamente com os veículos automóveis. A segurança do condutor e passageiros, quando sujeitos a um acidente, merece total atenção. Convém, pois, encontrar soluções com capacidade de prevenir ou ajudar a minimizar o número de mortalidade que possam ocorrer diariamente. Uma maior atenção às medidas de segurança rodoviária veio diminuir o número de acidentes, no entanto, quando estes acontecem, a ajuda das unidades médicas demora algum tempo a chegar. Sabe-se que nestas situações, qualquer segundo pode fazer a diferença. Este é o problema que o autor deseja resolver. Na presente dissertação, o autor pretende demonstrar como desenvolveu um sistema para motociclos com a capacidade de reconhecer um acidente, enviando um alerta (SMS) com a informação do local da ocorrência (GPS). Este sistema foi preparado para operar em locais isolados com pouco ou nenhum tráfego rodoviário. Implementou-se no referido sistema uma tecnologia sem fios e fiabilizou-se um método capaz de ser utilizado em diversos modelos de motociclos. Procedeu-se à realização de interfaces que permitem monitorizar e possibilitar o reconhecimento da informação sobre o condutor e sobre o acidente, em tempo real.

Utilização das normas de interoperabilidade do Open Geospatial Consortium nos organismos da Administração Pública em Portugal

Com o crescimento da Internet como plataforma global para partilha de informação, cresceu também a diversidade de tipologias de informação a ser partilhada e consultada, nomeadamente informação geográfica. Neste âmbito surge como preocupação a interoperabilidade entre sistemas permitindo que sistemas diferentes possam “comunicar”, partilhando informações e recursos. O presente trabalho propõe-se recolher informação sobre a utilização das normas de interoperabilidade do Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) na Administração Pública em Portugal, permitindo analisar e tirar conclusões relativamente a esta temática, tendo também em conta o seu enquadramento legal nacional.