Validation of the lactate minimum test as a specific aerobic evaluation protocol for table tennis players

The purpose of this study was to validate the lactate minimum test as a specific aerobic evaluation protocol for table tennis players. Using the frequency of 72 balls·min-1 for 90 sec, an exercise-induced metabolic acidosis was determined in 8 male table tennis players. The evaluation protocol began with a frequency of 40 balls·min-1 followed by an increase of 8 balls·min-1 every 3 min until exhaustion. The mean values that corresponded to the subjects' lactate minimum (Lacmin) were equal to 53.1 ± 1.5 balls·min-1 [adjusted for the time test (Lacmin_time)] and 51.6 ± 1.6 balls·min-1 [adjusted for the frequency of balls (Lacmin_Freq)], which resulted in a high correlation between the two forms of adjustment (r = 0.96 and (P = 0.01). The mean maximum lactate steady state (MLSS) was 52.6 ± 1.6 balls·min-1. Pearson's correlations between Lacmin_time vs. MLSS and Lacmin_freq vs. MLSS were statistically significant (P = 0.03 and r = 0.86, P = 0.03 and r = 0.85, respectively). These findings indicate that the Lacmin test predicts MLSS. Therefore, it is an excellent method to obtain the athletes' anaerobic threshold. Also, there is the advantage that it can be performed in 1 day in the game area. However, the Lacmin value does not depend on the Lacpeak value.

How do primary health care teams learn to integrate intimate partner violence (IPV) management? A realist evaluation protocol

Background: Despite the existence of ample literature dealing, on the one hand, with the integration of innovations within health systems and team learning, and, on the other hand, with different aspects of the detection and management of intimate partner violence (IPV) within healthcare facilities, research that explores how health innovations that go beyond biomedical issues—such as IPV management—get integrated into health systems, and that focuses on healthcare teams’ learning processes is, to the best of our knowledge, very scarce if not absent. This realist evaluation protocol aims to ascertain: why, how, and under what circumstances primary healthcare teams engage (if at all) in a learning process to integrate IPV management in their practices; and why, how, and under what circumstances team learning processes lead to the development of organizational culture and values regarding IPV management, and the delivery of IPV management services. Methods: This study will be conducted in Spain using a multiple-case study design. Data will be collected from selected cases (primary healthcare teams) through different methods: individual and group interviews, routinely collected statistical data, documentary review, and observation. Cases will be purposively selected in order to enable testing the initial middle-range theory (MRT). After in-depth exploration of a limited number of cases, additional cases will be chosen for their ability to contribute to refining the emerging MRT to explain how primary healthcare learn to integrate intimate partner violence management. Discussion: Evaluations of health sector responses to IPV are scarce, and even fewer focus on why, how, and when the healthcare services integrate IPV management. There is a consensus that healthcare professionals and healthcare teams play a key role in this integration, and that training is important in order to realize changes. However, little is known about team learning of IPV management, both in terms of how to trigger such learning and how team learning is connected with changes in organizational culture and values, and in service delivery. This realist evaluation protocol aims to contribute to this knowledge by conducting this project in a country, Spain, where great endeavours have been made towards the integration of IPV management within the health system.

Toxicity reduction evaluation protocol for municipal wastewater treatment plants /

Mode of access: Internet.

Large scale multi-view stereopsis evaluation

The seminal multiple view stereo benchmark evaluations from Middlebury and by Strecha et al. have played a major role in propelling the development of multi-view stereopsis methodology. Although seminal, these benchmark datasets are limited in scope with few reference scenes. Here, we try to take these works a step further by proposing a new multi-view stereo dataset, which is an order of magnitude larger in number of scenes and with a significant increase in diversity. Specifically, we propose a dataset containing 80 scenes of large variability. Each scene consists of 49 or 64 accurate camera positions and reference structured light scans, all acquired by a 6-axis industrial robot. To apply this dataset we propose an extension of the evaluation protocol from the Middlebury evaluation, reflecting the more complex geometry of some of our scenes. The proposed dataset is used to evaluate the state of the art multiview stereo algorithms of Tola et al., Campbell et al. and Furukawa et al. Hereby we demonstrate the usability of the dataset as well as gain insight into the workings and challenges of multi-view stereopsis. Through these experiments we empirically validate some of the central hypotheses of multi-view stereopsis, as well as determining and reaffirming some of the central challenges.

Person-centred information to parents in paediatric oncology (the PIFBO study) : A study protocol of an ongoing RCT

Background: Parents of children with cancer experience a demanding situation and often suffer from psychological problems such as stress. Trying to coping with the complex body of information about their child's disease is one factor that contributes to this stress. The aim of this study is to evaluate an intervention for person-centred information to parents of children with cancer that consists of four sessions with children's nurses trained in the intervention method. Methods/Design: This is a multi-centre RCT with two parallel arms and a 1:1 allocation ratio. The primary outcome is illness-related parental stress. Secondary outcomes are post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety, depression, satisfaction with information, expected and received knowledge, and experiences with health care providers. A process evaluation is performed to describe experiences and contextual factors. Data are collected using web questionnaires or paper forms according to the parents' preference, audio recording of the intervention sessions, and qualitative interviews with parents and the intervention nurses. Discussion: Few studies have evaluated information interventions for parents of children with cancer using large multi-centre RCTs. This intervention is designed to be performed by regular staff children's nurses, which will facilitate implementation if the intervention proves to be effective. Trial registration: Clinical trials NCT02332226 (December 11, 2014).

Estudos dos desniveis e desvios posturais nas atletas que praticam a modalidade esportiva voleibol

Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Educação Física

Estudo da postura corporal e aspectos nutricionais em escolares do ensino fundamental da rede publica

Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Educação Física

Insegurança alimentar, vínculo mãe-filho e desnutrição infantil em área de alta vulnerabilidade social

OBJETIVO: analisar a insegurança alimentar e o vínculo inadequado mãe-filho como dois potenciais determinantes da desnutrição em crianças de quatro a seis anos de idade. MÉTODOS: estudo de caso-controle desenvolvido em Escolas Municipais de Educação Infantil (EMEIs) no Jardim Jaqueline, área de alta vulnerabilidade social do município de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram aplicados a Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimentar e o Protocolo de Avaliação do Vínculo Mãe-filho, além de coletadas informações biológicas e socio-econômicas. Para verificação dos efeitos de cada variável independente e controle dos efeitos das demais variáveis incluídas no modelo, foi utilizado o modelo de regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS: verificou-se que tanto a insegurança alimentar familiar (OR=3,6) como o vínculo inadequado mãe-filho (OR=9,4) estiveram associados com a desnutrição infantil (p<0,05), mesmo após o controle para o peso ao nascimento da criança e idade, estado conjugal e trabalho maternos. CONCLUSÕES: tanto a insegurança alimentar familiar (OR=3,6) como o vínculo mãe-filho inadequado (OR=9,4) mostraram-se fatores determinantes da ocorrência da desnutrição na população estudada.

Relações entre ansiedade-estado e ansiedade-traço, sintomas depressivos e sensibilidade ao stresse em puérperas

RESUMO: A Dissertação teve por objectivos comparar e estudar as relações entre os fenómenos psicológicos observados no puerpério, nomeadamente a ansiedade-estado e ansiedade-traço, os sintomas depressivos e a sensibilidade ao stresse. A amostra foi composta de 200 puérperas, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 42 anos (M = 28,88; DP = 5,87), que sabiam ler e falar Língua Portuguesa, possuíam pelo menos quatro anos de escolaridade, residiam em Portugal há mais de um ano e tinham tido um parto de termo. As participantes responderam a um protocolo de avaliação constituído por um Questionário de dados sociodemográficos, um Questionário de dados clínicos e os instrumentos DASS e STAI. Com a DASS pretendia-se avaliar os construtos ansiedade hiperfisológica, depressão e stresse; através da STAI observou-se a ansiedade-traço e ansiedade-estado. Os resultados demonstraram que as primíparas, quando comparadas com as multíparas, possuíam maior ansiedade-estado. Constatou-se que as mulheres que tiveram um parto distócico mostraram mais sensibilidade ao stresse. Também se concluiu que as puérperas que manifestaram patologias médicas durante a gestação apresentaram, no puerpério, ansiedade-traço, sintomas depressivos e sensibilidade ao stresse. Por último, confirmou-se que as mulheres com um trabalho de parto mais longo revelaram maior ansiedade-estado. Espera-se, com esta investigação, contribuir para um maior conhecimento psicológico das puérperas. ABSTRACT: The aims of this Dissertation were to compare and to ascertain the relationships between postpartum psychological phenomena, namely state-anxiety, trait-anxiety, depressive symptoms and stress sensitivity. The sample encompassed 200 puerperas aged 18 to 42 (M = 28,88; SD = 5,87), who were able to read and write in Portuguese, attended at least four years at school, lived in Portugal for at least one year and had a term delivery. Participants were requested to answer an evaluation protocol composed by a sociodemographic Questionnaire, clinical data Questionnaire, DASS and STAI instruments. DASS enabled the evaluation of hyperphysiological anxiety, depression and stress constructs; through STAI state-anxiety and trait-anxiety were scrutinized. Results revealed that primiparas had greater state-anxiety than multiparas. Women who had a dystocic delivery showed increased stress sensitivity. Postpartum women who suffered medical intercurrences during pregnancy exhibited traitanxiety, depressive symptoms and stress sensitivity. Women who underwent protracted labour had greater state-anxiety. This research is expected to attain a greater psychological knowledge regarding postpartum women.

Fatores de atraso na alta hospitalar em hospitais de ensino

OBJETIVO Analisar os motivos de atraso na alta hospitalar de pacientes internados em enfermarias de clínica médica. MÉTODOS Foram analisados 395 prontuários de pacientes consecutivos das enfermarias de clínica médica de dois hospitais públicos de ensino: Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais e Hospital Odilon Behrens. Foi utilizado o Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol para definir o momento a partir do qual as anotações do prontuário permitiam concluir que a permanência no hospital não mais era adequada. O intervalo entre esse momento e a data da alta hospitalar efetivada definiu o total de dias de atraso na alta hospitalar. Foi utilizado, sistematicamente, instrumento para categorizar os motivos de atraso da alta hospitalar, tendo sido realizada análise de frequências. RESULTADOS O atraso na alta hospitalar ocorreu em 60,0% das 207 internações do Hospital das Clínicas e em 58,0% das 188 internações do Hospital Odilon Behrens. O atraso por paciente foi em média de 4,5 dias no primeiro e 4,1 dias no segundo, o que corresponde à taxa de ocupação de 23,0% e 28,0% em cada hospital, respectivamente. Os principais motivos de atraso nos dois hospitais foram, respectivamente: espera para realização de exames complementares (30,6% e 34,7%) ou para liberação dos laudos dos exames (22,4% e 11,9%) e os relacionados à responsabilidade médica (36,2% e 26,1%), compreendendo a demora na discussão do caso clínico e na tomada de decisão clínica e dificuldades nas interconsultas, respectivamente (20,4% e 9,1%). CONCLUSÕES Foi constatado percentual elevado de atraso na alta hospitalar nos dois hospitais. O atraso foi devido principalmente a fatores relacionados a processos, que podem ser melhorados por intervenções da equipe assistencial e dos gestores. O impacto na média de permanência hospitalar e na taxa de ocupação foi expressivo e preocupante, num cenário de relativa escassez de leitos e longas esperas por internação.

Consulta de Úlcera de Perna do Hospital de Santa Marta

Leg ulcers constitute a highly prevalent pathology in society, and are particularly common in the Angiology and Vascular Surgery outpatient clinic. The prevalence of these patients in this Department result from the fact that 70% of them display superficial and/or deep venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. To address this problem and optimize the therapeutic approaches available to the Chronic Leg Ulcer (CLU) patients, the Department of Angiology and Vascular Surgery has created, in March 2005, an appointment specific to CLU patients. An evaluation protocol was developed, including ulcer characterization, standardization of the conservative treatment, followed by surgical intervention, whenever required. The results obtained were evaluated 18 months after the onset of this protocol. Analysis of the results revealed that the majority of the patients responded positively to the new therapeutic approach, with closure of the ulcer in 43% of the patients and a significant improvement detected for an additional 30%. Furthermore, it was observed that a detailed evaluation of these patients should be regarded as a whole, followed by a standardized and targeted approach, resulting in a particularly successful approach on the treatment of this pathology.

Secure multiParty computation protocols

Dissertação de Mestrado em Engenharia Informática

Occupational stress and coping among portuguese military police officers

This study describes the professional experience of military police officers from the Portuguese Republican National Guard (N = 95). We focused on the main sources and consequences of stress and the coping strategies used to deal with stress. The evaluation protocol included one closed-ended question and four open-ended questions. Data analysis of meaningful text segments was conceptually based and data categorization followed deductive content analysis. Results allowed the identification of 483 meaning units. Factors intrinsic to the job and the relationships at work were the main stressors referred by participants. The consequences of stressors were evident at an individual level, affecting family, psychological, and physical/health domains. The coping strategies used to deal with the main source of stress in the professional career were focused on problem solving (e.g., active confrontation) and emotional regulation (e.g., situation acceptance). Practical implications and future avenues of research with these professionals are discussed.

Stress, cognitive appraisal, and psychological health: testing instruments for health professionals

The job of health professionals, including nurses, is considered inherently stressful (Lee & Wang, 2002; Rutledge et al., 2009), and thus it is important to improve and develop specific measures that are sensitive to the demands that health professionals face. This study analysed the psychometric properties of three instruments that focus on the professional experiences of nurses in aspects related to occupational stress, cognitive appraisal, and mental health issues. The evaluation protocol included the Stress Questionnaire for Health Professionals (SQHP; Gomes, 2014), the Cognitive Appraisal Scale (CAS; Gomes, Faria, & Gonçalves, 2013), and the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12; Goldberg, 1972). Validity and reliability issues were considered with statistical analysis (i.e. confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and composite reliability) that revealed adequate values for all of the instruments, namely, a six-factor structure for the SQHP, a five-factor structure for the CAS, and a two-factor structure for the GHQ-12. In conclusion, this study proposes three consistent instruments that may be useful for analysing nurses’ adaptation to work contexts.

Itinerari d'educació ambiental i sensorial de Sant Pere del Burgal

El Parc Natural de l’Alt Pirineu (PNAP) va ser creat l’any 2003. Actualment, el parc està desenvolupant una xarxa d’itineraris d’Educació Ambiental (EA). L’Ecomuseu de la Vall d’Àneu (EVA) ofereix rutes guiades al sender del Monestir de Sant Pere del Burgal, ja senyalitzat i equipat pel PNAP, en estar inscrit al seu àmbit territorial. Es tracta d’un sender de fàcil accés i recorregut, molt ample al primer tram tot oferint una gran varietat d’aspectes d’interès. L’objectiu principal del present projecte és plantejar un itinerari d’EA sensorial adaptat als col·lectius amb mobilitat reduïda i persones invidents. Amb aquesta finalitat es desenvolupen continguts i materials didàctics i es determinen les accions que els articularan. En un primer moment s'ha analitzat la viabilitat de l’itinerari aplicant el protocol de valoració dissenyat pel grup Edukamb. La puntuació obtinguda és de 74 punts sobre 100, corroborant la idoneïtat del seu recorregut pels visitants. En el disseny de l’itinerari, s’han determinat els elements i processos d’interès a l’entorn, s’han proposat quatre parades sensorials i una pasarel·la de fusta al primer tram i quatre parades de component antropològica i la instal·lació d’una corda perimetral al segon tram. Finalment també, la instal·lació de maquetes tridimensionals tàctils, una descriptiva dels aspectes i les parades de l’itinerari a l’inici del camí i una arquitectònica de l’entorn del monestir en arrivar al mateix. S’han proposat millores en la senyalització present, alternatives i complements al material pedagògic considerat al projecte i el disseny de protocols de valoració per itineraris adaptats a tot tipus de col·lectius.