Abstract In this paper, we present a spectral analysis of a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensor based on multilayer graphene (MLG) operating as a terahertz refractometer. This device's structure is based on Kretschmann configuration, and the graphene layers are modeled as surface impedances with conductivity described by the Kubo model. The structure's electromagnetic response is obtained from the Generalized Coefficients Model, considering TM excitation performed in a frequency range from 1 to 4Thz. In this approach, we evaluate the sensor response for two, three, four and five layers of graphene, equally doped. To verify the effects of MLG doping, we varied the chemical potential by 0.35eV and 0.70eV. As a result, we present the plasmonic response of the device, verifying the operating frequency range for each case of multilayer graphene. In addition, the sensitivity, FWHM and Figure of Merit (FOM) are calculated to describe the sensor performance in each demonstrated case. From the results presented, we verified that the increase in doping reduces the sensitivity of the sensor, however, it improves its FOM. The validation of the proposed model was carried out from simulations in a software based on the Finite Element Method.

Abstract The present work describes the use of a simulation model based on asymptotic methods (ray tracing) on the propagation of ultra-wideband radio signals in a densely-arborized urban channel. The model was previously validated and adjusted using data obtained from measurement campaigns in the millimeter-wave band in locations different from the one to be analyzed here. The simulation uses deterministic methods to predict the received power, cross-polar discrimination, root mean square delay spread, and mean delay in a channel with a high density of scatterers (trees, buildings, and poles). Simulated signals were transmitted in the vertical and horizontal polarizations, considering non-specular reflections caused by rough surfaces and the effect of the transmitter’s height variation in outdoor channels.

O presente artigo investiga o pensamento de Francisco Weffort por meio da reconstrução da coletânea O populismo na política brasileira, publicada em 1978, mas composta por textos do período 1963-1971. Usando recursos filológicos, o trabalho discute os escritos do autor reunidos para publicação do livro, contextualizando-os e comparando suas diferentes versões. Por meio da reconstrução dos momentos de escrita do autor, caracteriza os ambientes intelectuais e políticos no qual este se insere, bem como suas diferentes reflexões a respeito do populismo. Explora, em seguida, os escritos do período 1972-1978 sobre o tema, mas não inseridos na coletânea estudada. O artigo propõe que: a) na coletânea de 1978 estão presentes ao menos dois sentidos do conceito de populismo, anteriores a 1971; b) consequentemente, a coletânea O populismo na política brasileira não contempla uma definição homogênea ou finalizada do conceito, já que exclui o conceito de sindicalismo populista com o qual Weffort trabalhou ao longo de toda a década de 1970. Por fim, conclui que, para uma crítica rigorosa do conceito de populismo em Weffort, é importante levar em conta uma leitura cronologicamente rigorosa da coletânea, bem como dos textos deste período deixados de fora da mesma.

This article investigates Francisco Weffort’s thinking through the reconstruction of the Populism in Brazilian Politics collection, published in 1978, but comprising texts from 1963 to 1971. Using philological techniques, the study discusses the author’s writings gathered for the book publication, contextualizing and comparing them in their different versions. By reconstructing the author’s writing moments, the article characterizes his intellectual and political environments, as well as his different populism interpretations over time. It then explores writings on the subject from 1972 to 1978 which were not included in the assessed collection. The article proposes that: a) at least two senses concerning the populism concept prior to 1971 are present in the 1978 collection and that b) consequently, Populism in Brazilian politics does not contemplate a homogeneous or finalized definition of the concept, as it excludes the populist unionism concept that Weffort worked with throughout the 1970s. Finally, it concludes that, in order to carry out a rigorous critique of the populism concept noted in Weffort, it is important to take into account a rigorously chronological reading of the collection, as well as of other texts from this period left out of this collection.

Le présent article analyse la pensée de Francisco Weffort à partir d’une reconstitution du recueil O populismo na politica brasileira, publié en 1978 mais composé de textes rédigés entre 1963 et 1971. Se valant de ressources philologiques, le travail examine les écrits réunis pour la publication, les replace dans leur contexte et compare les différentes versions. Il resitue les moments d’écriture de l’auteur dans les environnements politiques et intellectuels de l’époque et met l’accent sur ses réflexions autour du populisme. Dans un deuxième temps, l’article étudie les écrits de la période 1972-1978 sur le même thème mais qui n’ont pas été insérés dans le recueil. Il en ressort que: a) dans le recueil de textes de 1978, au moins deux sens du concept de populisme, antérieurs à 1971, sont présents ; b) par voie de conséquence, le recueil ne contient pas une définition homogène ou finalisée du concept vu qu’il ignore le concept de syndicalisme populiste – une notion sur laquelle a travaillé l’auteur tout au long de la décennie 1970. Enfin, pour une critique du concept de populisme chez Weffort, il est important de procéder à une lecture chronologiquement rigoureuse du recueil et aux textes de la même période qui n’en font pas partie.

Introduction: The goal of this work is to validate tools to assess clinical competences of undergraduate medical students in the workplace. One of the most well-known scales is the Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX). This scale has been vastly studied, however, its validity is very variable amongst studies and it has never been validated to the EU-Portuguese language and context. Subjects and methods: The translation process of the Mini-CEX was conducted by 2 bilingual individuals and overseen by four physicians specialized in medical education. We performed methods of both qualitative (translation, assessment of the translation, back translation) and quantitative nature (internal consistency, construct and content validity analysis). The scale was applied to 3rd year medical students in a simulated assessment environment with a final sample size of 818 assessments. Results: The results show that the Portuguese version of the Mini-CEX is a valid scale and fit its purpose for the assessment of clinical competencies. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.927), confirmed the internal consistency of the scale. Additionally, the validity analysis also proved to be satisfactory, with confirmatory results for all domains of the analysis. Conclusions: This work intends to provide a scale, translated, adapted and validated to Portuguese that is focused on clinical competencies. Given the confirmatory results of the scale's validity, supporting its feasibility and applicability, we believe this tool is ready to be implemented as a complement to clinical skills assessment.

Introducción: El objetivo de este trabajo es validar herramientas para evaluar las competencias clínicas de los estudiantes de medicina de pregrado en el lugar de trabajo. Una de las escalas más conocidas es el Mini-Clinical Evaluation Exercise (Mini-CEX). Esta escala se ha estudiado ampliamente, pero su validez es muy variable entre los estudios y nunca se ha validado para el idioma y el contexto portugués europeo. Sujetos y métodos: El proceso de traducción del Mini-CEX fue realizado por dos personas bilingües y supervisado por cuatro médicos especializados en educación médica. Se llevaron a cabo métodos de naturaleza cualitativa (traducción, evaluación de la traducción, traducción inversa) y cuantitativa (consistencia interna, construcción y análisis de validez de contenido). La escala se aplicó a estudiantes de medicina de tercer año en un entorno de evaluación simulada, con un tamaño final de la muestra de 818 evaluaciones. Resultados: Los resultados muestran que la versión portuguesa del Mini-CEX es una escala válida y se ajusta a su propósito para la evaluación de las competencias clínicas. El coeficiente alfa de Cronbach (0,927) confirmó la consistencia interna de la escala. Además, el análisis de validez también demostró ser satisfactorio, con resultados confirmatorios para todos los dominios del análisis. Conclusiones: Este trabajo pretende proporcionar una escala, traducida, adaptada y validada al portugués, que se centre en las competencias clínicas. Dados los resultados confirmatorios de la validez de la escala, que respaldan su viabilidad y aplicabilidad, creemos que esta herramienta está lista para implementarse como complemento de la evaluación de habilidades clínicas.

Abstract This research evaluated the monthly variation of plant mineral nutrition in six species of fruit trees over a year. Leaf samples were taken from the fruit trees and nutritional status (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Mo) was determined in the leaves in a month basis from April until November for apple, persimmon and peach. Mandarin mineral nutrition was monitored for one year, and grape and fig from May to November. Using this data, the Diagnosis Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) was also calculated to evaluate the nutrient balance in the plants. The concentration of N and P had seasonal differences, especially in apple and peach, which reached the peak during the summer. Apple, fig, and grape trees had large ranging on their mineral contents over the year, especially with the P and K levels reaching the minimum during the harvesting season. However, the seasonal changes in leaf micronutrient concentrations were not uniform and not affected by phenological stage. The DRIS data demonstrated that mandarin had the best nutrient balance compared to others and that K was the most limiting element among the fruit trees. In summary, the current data suggest the occurrence of a significant seasonality in mineral nutrition in these six fruit trees, especially in temperate ones.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: Recentemente, o Score de Distúrbios Evacuatórios (SDE) foi desenvolvido e validado por Renzi para avaliação e comparação da eficácia do tratamento dos doentes com esta patologia. Objetivo - O nosso objetivo é validar uma versão portuguesa do SDE de acordo com as orientações da checklist de COSMIN. MÉTODOS: O SDE foi traduzido para o português, cumprindo as orientações para validação cultural. Indivíduos com distúrbio evacuatório e controlos saudáveis foram convidados a responder ao SDE numa fase inicial, 2 semanas e 3 meses depois, respetivamente. Foi avaliada a consistência interna, confiabilidade, erro de medição, validade de conteúdo e constructo, responsividade e interpretabilidade. RESULTADOS: Foram entrevistados 113 indivíduos (77 doentes; 36 controlos saudáveis) na fase inicial. O SDE foi aplicado novamente aos 77 doentes, 2 semanas depois, e a 30 doentes, 3 meses depois. Relativamente à consistência interna, a análise fatorial confirmou a unidimensionalidade e o coeficiente α de Cronbach foi 0,77, suportando homogeneidade dos itens. O kappa quadrático ponderado de 0,89 estabeleceu a reprodutibilidade teste-reteste. Considerando o erro de medição, a mudança mínima detectável a nível individual foi 2,66 e a nível de grupo foi 0,30. A validade do constructo foi avaliada através do coeficiente de correlação de Spearman entre o SDE e o score total (-0,32) e físico (-0,43) do SF-36. Em termos de validação clínica, verificou-se uma diferença significativa de 11 pontos entre as médias dos doentes e controlos. A responsividade foi confirmada pelo coeficiente de correlação de -0,86 entre a mudança do score e a evolução clínica, avaliados após 3 meses. Através da curva ROC, a mudança mínima importante foi 2,00 e a AUC foi 0,97. Não foram observados efeito-chão efeito-tecto. CONCLUSÃO: Este projeto permitiu validar a versão portuguesa do SDE de Renzi. É possível agora utilizar esta ferramenta na avaliação de distúrbios evacuatórios em doentes falantes de língua portuguesa.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Recently, the Obstructed Defecation Syndrome score (ODS score) was developed and validated by Renzi to assess clinical staging and to allow evaluation and comparison of the efficacy of treatment of this disorder. OBJECTIVE: Our goal is to validate the Portuguese version of Renzi ODS score, according to the Consensus based Standards for the selection of the Health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. METHODS: Following guidelines for cross-cultural validity, Renzi ODS score was translated into the Portuguese language. Then, a group of patients and healthy controls were invited to fill in the Renzi ODS score at baseline, after 2 weeks and 3 months, respectively. We assessed internal consistency, reliability and measurement error, content and construct validity, responsiveness and interpretability. RESULTS: A total of 113 individuals (77 patients; 36 healthy controls) completed the questionnaire. Seventy and 30 patients repeated the Renzi ODS score after 2 weeks and 3 months respectively. Factor analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of the scale. Cronbach’s α coefficient of 0.77 supported item’s homogeneity. Weighted quadratic kappa of 0.89 established test-retest reliability. The smallest detectable change at the individual level was 2.66 and at the group level was 0.30. Renzi ODS score and the total (-0.32) and physical (-0.43) SF-36 scores correlated negatively. Patient and control’s groups significantly differed (11 points). The change score of Renzi ODS score between baseline and 3 months correlated negatively with the clinical evolution (-0.86). ROC analysis showed minimal important change of 2.00 with AUC 0.97. Neither floor nor ceiling effects were observed. CONCLUSION: This work validated the Portuguese version of Renzi ODS score. We can now use this reliable, responsive, and interpretable (at the group level) tool to evaluate Portuguese ODS patients.

Objetivo: Caraterizar o síndrome pós-trombótico e a qualidade de vida em doentes com antecedentes de trombose venosa profunda (TVP) ilio-femoral, possíveis candidatos a trombólise dirigida por cateter na altura do diagnóstico. Material e métodos: Revisão retrospetiva dos processos clínicos dos doentes com o diagnóstico de TVP ilio-femoral de 1 de janeiro de 2009 a 31 de dezembro de 2013. Seleção dos doentes de acordo com os critérios consensualmente aceites para trombólise dirigida por cateter na altura do diagnóstico. Entrevista clínica, realização de eco-Doppler venoso dos membros inferiores com preenchimento da escala Villalta e dos questionários SF-36 e VEINES-QOL/Sym. Resultados: Durante este período foram observados, no Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa, 369 doentes com TVP dos membros inferiores. Destas, 39 envolviam o sector ilio-femoral em doentes potencialmente candidatos a trombólise dirigida por cateter. Compareceram à convocatória 28 doentes, sendo 85,7% do sexo feminino. Sessenta e quatro por cento dos doentes usava regularmente meia elástica de contenção. Quarenta por cento dos doentes apresentavam um fator de trombofilia. Mais de 80% evidenciava alterações ao eco-Doppler, sendo que 46% mantinha oclusão venosa e 36% refluxo ilio-femoral. Do total dos doentes avaliados, 21% apresentava insuficiência femoro-poplítea. Cerca de 90% dos doentes evidenciava síndrome pós-trombótica, sendo grave em 18%. A qualidade de vida global, representada pelo estado geral de saúde, foi classificada como má em 43% dos doentes. A vitalidade e a saúde mental foram os domínios mais negativamente influenciados. Na análise estatística, os doentes com piores pontuações nos questionários de qualidade de vida foram os com síndrome pós-trombótica, as mulheres, os doentes com trombose no membro inferior direito, com refluxo = 2 segundos, com insuficiência distal ao segmento envolvido pela TVP e quando a mesma foi diagnosticada no primeiro mês após um procedimento cirúrgico. Conclusão: Neste estudo verificamos uma elevada frequência de síndrome pós-trombótica e a uma diminuição significativa da qualidade de vida. Um subgrupo de doentes apresentou resultados particularmente preocupantes. Estes resultados sugerem que deverá ser considerado um tratamento invasivo alternativo à opção conservadora habitual. Contudo, serão necessários dados suplementares para definir a influência da trombólise dirigida por cateter na qualidade de vida destes doentes.

Aim: Define post-thrombotic syndrome and quality of life in patients with a history of iliofemoral venous thrombosis, possible candidates for catheter-directed thrombolysis at time of diagnosis. Material and methods: Retrospective review of clinical records of patients diagnosed with iliofemoral venous thrombosis from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013. Selection of patients according to consensually accepted criteria for catheter-directed thrombolysis, at time of diagnosis. Patients were summoned for clinical interview, venous ultrasound examination of the lower limbs and filling of the Villalta, the SF-36 and the VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaires. Results: In Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013, 369 patients with deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs were observed. Of these, 39 involved the ilio-femoral veins, in patients potentially candidates for catheter-directed thrombolysis. 28 patients were evaluated, 85.7% female. 64% of patients regularly wore elastic stockings. 40% of patients had a thrombophilia. Over 80% showed changes in the ultrasound examination, 46% had venous occlusion and 36% ilio-femoral reflux. 21% of patients had femoral-popliteal reflux. About 90% of patients showed post-thrombotic syndrome, being severe in 18%. The overall quality of life, represented by the general state of health, was classified as poor in 43% of patients. The vitality and mental health were the most adversely affected domains. In the statistical analysis, patients with worse outcomes in the questionnaires of quality of life were the ones with post-thrombotic syndrome, the women, patients with DVT in the right leg, with reflux = 2 seconds, with distal reflux to the segment involved by the thrombosis and when the DVT was diagnosed in the first month after a surgical procedure. Conclusion: The patients of this study, with ilio-femoral venous thrombosis, had a high frequency of post-thrombotic syndrome and a significant reduction in the quality of life. A subset of patients experienced worse outcomes. These results suggest that an invasive alternative should be considered in the initial treatment of proximal DVT. However, additional data are needed to precisely define the influence of catheter-directed thrombolysis in the quality of life of these patients.

OBJETIVO: Analisar as características biomecânicas do equilíbrio dos idosos, com base na oscilação do centro de pressão em cinco posições de colocação dos pés, com olhos abertos e fechados. Participaram da amostra vinte idosos sendo que para aquisição dos dados utilizou-se a plataforma de força extensométrica amti® or6-5, com freqüência de 100hz durante 60s. MÉTODOS: Processou-se a filtragem dos dados com fft butterworth de 4ª ordem e passa baixa de 20 hz e aplicou-se os testes estatísticos de kruskal wallis e de mann whitney. RESULTADOS: As situações que apresentaram menor estabilidade foram as posições com os olhos fechados e as posições com polígono de sustentação reduzido e as que apresentaram maior estabilidade foram a posição com pés afastados a 10cm e angulados a 45º a posição livre e a posição com pés paralelos e afastados a 10cm todas com olhos abertos. CONCLUSÃO: O feedback visual contribuiu no controle postural.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the biomechanical characteristics of balance in elderly people, based on pressure center oscillation in five foot positions, carried out with open and closed eyes. the sample was made up of 20 elderly people. data were collected using a force platform (amti® or6-5) adjusted to the frequency of 100hz over 60 seconds. METHODS: Data were filtered using a 4th order butterworth filter and fft (fast fourier transform) as well as a 20 hz low pass filter. the kruskal-wallis and mann whitney statistical tests were applied. RESULTS: The cases with the least stability were the positions with eyes closed and those with a reduced sustentation polygon. the positions that presented the greatest stability were the feet 10cm apart at an angle of 45º, a free standing position, and that with feet parallel and 10cm apart, all with the eyes open. CONCLUSION: Visual feedback contributed to posture control.

Um experimento foi conduzido em casa-de-vegetação para observar a distribuição de hifas de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA), na rizosfera do mamoeiro intercalado com outras plantas. Para isto foram construídos vasos de acrílico divididos em três compartimentos. Mudas de mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.) foram transplantadas para um dos compartimentos laterais em todos os vasos, enquanto que mudas de grama batatais (Paspalum notatum Flügge) e milheto (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br.) foram separadamente transplantadas para o outro compartimento situado na outra extremidade. Um outro tratamento foi constituído de mudas de mamoeiro em um compartimento e 25% de extrato metanólico de raízes de grama batatais (BRE) ou de milheto (MRE), fracionados em cromatógrafo de coluna. Um vaso com apenas mudas de mamoeiro foi preparado como testemunha. O compartimento central foi inoculado com o fungo Gigaspora margarita. A densidade de hifas, a percentagem de infecção micorrízica e o número de esporos nos compartimentos com grama batatais e milheto foram maiores do que naqueles com mamoeiro. Nos compartimentos com BRE e MRE e algumas hifas e esporos foram observados nestes compartimentos. Naqueles sem planta, foram observadas poucas hifas ou esporos.

An experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions to observe the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) hyphae in the rhizosphere of papaya and other plants under intercropping system. Special acrylic root boxes with three compartments, separated by nylon mesh screens, were constructed. One outer compartment contained seedlings of papaya (Carica papaya L.) and other contained seedlings of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge) or millet (Pennisetum glaucum L. R. Br.). The central compartment was inoculated with an AM fungus (Gigaspora margarita). In another experiment, the outer compartments were treated with 25% MeOH eluates of bahiagrass (BRE) and millet (MRE) root extracts. A control box, containning only papaya seedlings was also prepared. Hyphal density, root infection levels and spore numbers were higher in the bahiagrass and millet compartments than in the papaya compartment. Similar results were found for the percentage of AM infection and the number of AM spores. In the compartments treated with BRE and MRE the density of AM hyphae was around 20%, and a few spores were found in those compartments. Few AM hyphae and spores were observed in the control compartment.

This study investigated the effects of sublethal concentrations of the pesticide monocrotophos (organophosphate) on the agonistic behavior of two fishes species, Astyanax altiparanae Garutti & Britski, 2000 (lambari) and Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Nile tilapia). Sublethal concentrations of the pesticide for the two species were determined and lambari was more resistant than Nile tilapia. The sublethal concentrations were smaller than 400 mgl-1 for lambari and 20 mgl-1 for Nile tilapia. The two species were tested in grouping conditions (triads) and isolation, under monocrotophos concentrations of 200 mgl-1 for lambari and 5 mgl-1 for Nile tilapia. The concentration decreased the aggressiveness in lambari, but in Nile tilapia an opposite effect was detected. The results show a species-specific effect of the monocrotophoson aggression.

Atualmente há grande necessidade de maior disponibilização de material didático no ensino médico. A escassez de segmentos anatômicos e a toxicidade dos conservantes, como o formol, têm gerado uma busca intensa por novos meios de demonstração da anatomia humana. Como solução para esta dificuldade pode-se utilizar imagens tridimensionais (3D), que facilitam o processo de aprendizado. Este estudo tem como objetivo comparar e descrever duas técnicas de reprodução de imagens bidimensionais em três dimensões, o que é chamado de estereoscopia. Os dois métodos avaliados foram o de filtro de cores (anaglífico) e o de luz polarizada. As técnicas foram analisadas segundo a nitidez e o efeito 3D. Avaliaram-se 14 imagens por 5 pessoas, com notas de 0 a 4. A média total da técnica de polarização foi superior em relação à técnica anaglífica. Ambas realizam codificação de imagens, que consiste na separação e na exclusividade com que cada olho vê a imagem correspondente. Após vários ensaios fotográficos e adaptações gradativas a uma melhor técnica, baseando-se em conhecimentos de física elementar, fotografia e neuroanatomia, concluímos que ambas são capazes de produzir efeito 3D. No entanto, a melhor técnica, em termos de qualidade final da imagem foi a de polarização, não alterando a coloração natural da peça, mantendo traços nítidos e possuindo menor custo.

The need of didactic material is increasing in medical science nowadays. The lack of anatomical specimens, and the toxicity of conservators, have originated an intense search for alternative ways of demonstrating the human anatomy. As a solution for this difficulty, three-dimensional (3-D) images may be used, facilitating the learning process. This study aims at comparing and describing two techniques of reproduction of bi-dimensional images into three dimensions, which is called stereoscopy. The methods evaluated are filter of colors (anaglyphic) and polarized light. Techniques were analyzed for clearness and 3-D effect. Fourteen images were evaluated by 5 people, with scores ranging from 0 to 4. Total mean scores of polarized light was superior compared to the anaglyphic technique. Both methods use the codification of the image, which means separation and exclusivity with each eye seeing its corresponding image. After several photographic essays and gradual adaptation to a better technique, based on optical physics, photography and neuroanatomical knowledge, we concluded that both techniques are suitable means for production of 3-D images. The best technique, however, considering the final quality of image was polarized light, which did not alter the natural color of the specimen, conserving clearness of images with lower cost.