Postoperative self-efficacy and psychological morbidity in radical prostatectomy

Objective: evaluate the general and perceived self-efficacy, psychological morbidity, and knowledge about postoperative care of patients submitted to radical prostatectomy. Identify the relationships between the variables and know the predictors of self-efficacy. Method: descriptive, cross-sectional study, conducted with 76 hospitalized men. The scales used were the General and Perceived Self-efficacy Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, in addition to sociodemographic, clinical and knowledge questionnaires. Results: a negative relationship was found for self-efficacy in relation to anxiety and depression. Psychological morbidity was a significant predictor variable for self-efficacy. An active professional situation and the waiting time for surgery also proved to be relevant variables for anxiety and knowledge, respectively. Conclusion: participants had a good level of general and perceived self-efficacy and small percentage of depression. With these findings, it is possible to produce the profile of patients about their psychological needs after radical prostatectomy and, thus, allow the nursing professionals to act holistically, considering not only the need for care of physical nature, but also of psychosocial nature.

Indústria Transformadora em Timor-Leste: uma proposta para um setor industrial

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Industrial

Concrete with triphasic conductive materials for self-monitoring of cracking development subjected to flexure

In this study, the macro steel fiber (SF), carbon fiber (CF) and nano carbon black (NCB) as triphasic conductive materials were added into concrete, in order to improve the conductivity and ductility of concrete. The influence of NCB, SF and CF on the post crack behavior and conductivity of concrete was explored. The effect of the triphasic conductive materials on the self-diagnosing ability to the load–deflection property and crack widening of conductive concrete member subjected to bending were investigated. The relationship between the fractional change in surface impedance (FCR) and the crack opening displacement (COD) of concrete beams with conductive materials has been established. The results illustrated that there is a linear relationship between COD and FCR.

Characterization of dry-stack interlocking compressed earth blocks

Earth has been a traditional building material to construct houses in Africa. One of the most common techniques is the use of sun dried or kiln fired adobe bricks with mud mortar. Fired bricks are the main cause for deforestation in countries like Malawi. Although this technique is low-cost, the bricks vary largely in shape, strength and durability. This leads to weak houses which suffer considerable damage during floods and seismic events. One solution is the use of dry-stack masonry with stabilized interlocking compressed earth blocks (ICEB). This technology has the potential of substituting the current bricks by a more sustainable kind of block. This study was made in the context of the HiLoTec project, which focuses on houses in rural areas of developing countries. For this study, Malawi was chosen for a case study. This paper presents the experimental results of tests made with dry-stack ICEBs. Soil samples from Malawi were taken and studied. Since the experimental campaign could not be carried out in Malawi, a homogenization process of Portuguese soil was made to produce ICEBs at the University of Minho, Portugal. Then, the compression and tensile strength of the materials was determined via small cylinder samples. Subsequently, the compression and flexural strength of units were determined. Finally, tests to determine the compressive strength of both prisms and masonry wallets and to determine the initial shear strength of the dry interfaces were carried out. This work provides valuable data for low-cost eco-efficient housing

Influence of casting condition on the anisotropy of the fracture properties of Steel Fibre Reinforced Self-Compacting Concrete (SFRSCC)

Identification of the tensile constitutive behaviour of Fibre Reinforced Concrete (FRC) represents an important aspect of the design of structural elements using this material. Although an important step has been made with the introduction of guidance for the design with regular FRC in the recently published fib Model Code 2010, a better understanding of the behaviour of this material is still necessary, mainly for that with self-compacting properties. This work presents an experimental investigation employing Steel Fibre Self-Compacting Concrete (SFRSCC) to cast thin structural elements. A new test method is proposed for assessing the post-cracking behaviour and the results obtained with the proposed test method are compared with the ones resulted from the standard three-point bending tests (3PBT). Specimens extracted from a sandwich panel consisting of SFRSCC layers are also tested. The mechanical properties of SFRSCC are correlated to the fibre distribution by analysing the results obtained with the different tests. Finally, the stress-crack width constitutive law proposed by the fib Model Code 2010 is analysed in light of the experimental results.

Geotechnical engineering for sustainable transportation infrastructure

This paper highlights how transportation geotechnics can interact with transportation infrastructures and how through the planning, design, construction and maintenance can contribute to ensure solutions more safe, reliable and resilient in the future. In this context sustainable concepts are discussed and applied as best practices to preserve natural resources and assuring socio-economic and environment benefits for the society

An algorithmic approach to estimating the minimal number of periodic points for smooth self-maps of simply-connected manifolds

For a given self-map f of M, a closed smooth connected and simply-connected manifold of dimension m ≥ 4, we provide an algorithm for estimating the values of the topological invariant Dm r [f], which equals the minimal number of r-periodic points in the smooth homotopy class of f. Our results are based on the combinatorial scheme for computing Dm r [f] introduced by G. Graff and J. Jezierski [J. Fixed Point Theory Appl. 13 (2013), 63–84]. An open-source implementation of the algorithm programmed in C++ is publicly available at http://www.pawelpilarczyk.com/combtop/.

New self-assembled supramolecular hydrogels based on dehydropeptides

Supramolecular hydrogels rely on small molecules that self-assemble in water as a result of the cooperative effect of several relatively weak intermolecular interactions. Peptide-based low molecular weight hydrogelators have attracted enormous interest owing to the simplicity of small molecules combined with the versatility and biocompatibility of peptides. In this work, naproxen, a well known non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, was N-conjugated with various dehydrodipeptides to give aromatic peptide amphiphiles that resist proteolysis. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to obtain insight into the underlying molecular mechanism of self-assembly and to rationalize the design of this type of hydrogelators. The results obtained were in excellent agreement with the experimental observations. Only dehydrodipeptides having at least one aromatic amino acid gave hydrogels. The characterization of the hydrogels was carried out using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy and also rheological assays.

A supervisão pedagógica como prática de transformação: o lugar das narrativas profissionais

Este texto tem como objetivo discutir o lugar das narrativas profissionais, de natureza autobiográfica, produzidas por professores em contexto de formação pós-graduada em supervisão pedagógica. Começando pela discussão do conceito de qualidade em educação, e que radica numa concepção de educação para o desenvolvimento sustentável e para a transformação de pessoas e de contextos, a autora passa para uma análise do papel dos professores no desenvolvimento de práticas pedagógicas de qualidade. Embora os contextos de educação e de formação tenham um papel determinante, os professores, principalmente através das expectativas que detêm face aos seus alunos, têm um papel crucial no combate a formas de discriminação e de exclusão nas escolas. O conceito de supervisão que informa este texto também se coloca ao serviço da qualidade em educação enunciada, ao ser tomado enquanto teoria e prática de regulação crítica e colaborativa da pedagogia e do desenvolvimento profissional, numa visão da educação para a transformação e para a sustentabilidade. O texto finaliza com a ilustração do modo como as narrativas profissionais se constituem enquanto estratégias de autossupervisão do trabalho docente num contexto de formação pós-graduada. Desenvolvidas em contextos profissionais, e estabelecendo pontes entre o conhecimento acadêmico e experiencial, elas incidem na análise dos modos como o trabalho docente se coloca (ou não) ao serviço de uma pedagogia e de um desenvolvimento profissional docente assente em valores de sustentabilidade e de transformação, identificando os constrangimentos estruturais e apontando rumos de ação.

Self-evaluated burden in adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): a pilot study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate feasibility and easiness of administration of a brief and simple instrument addressing impairment associated with adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and if ADHD subtypes were correlated to specific profiles of self-reported impairment. METHODS: Thirty-five adults (19 men and 16 women; mean age of 31.74 years) diagnosed with ADHD according to DSM-IV with a semi-structured interview (K-SADS PL) were asked to fill out a Likert scale covering six different functional areas (academic, professional, marital, familiar, social and daily activities). Clinicians questioned patients about their understanding of the questionnaire and investigated their answers in more details to check consistency of their answers. RESULTS: No patient reported difficulties in understanding the questionnaire. Further questioning of patients' answers confirmed their choices in the six areas. Academic burden had the highest average score in the whole sample, followed by professional burden. Social area had the lowest average score in this sample.

Self-compacting concrete and conventional concrete in the arena Pernambuco: comparative study of durability indicators and economic feasibility

This study addressed the application, strength and durability of self-compacting concrete (SCC) in a large-scale construction site, comparing its performance with vibrated conventional concrete (CC) with similar characteristics, assessing its economic feasibility. The studies were undertaken in the Arena Pernambuco project and involved the concreting during May, June and July 2012, for data collection, accompanying the routine concrete control tests and performing specific strength and durability tests. The SCC compressive strength was on average 4.5% higher than the CC one, and its formwork reinforced to withstand greater lateral pressure of the fresh concrete. The durability indicators results were in favour of SCC, which cost was 13.5% higher than CC.

Água e alimentação no contexto das alterações climáticas: um caso de estudo - Região Norte

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Civil

Evaluation of the performance of steel fibre reinforced self-compacting concrete in elevated slab systems; from the material to the structure

Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of Structural/Civil Engineering

Resilience of concrete structures in the marine environment through microstructural innovation

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Civil