Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2020-08"
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- Characterization of disease progression in the initial stages of retinopathy in type 2 diabetes: A 2-year longitudinal studyPublication . Marques, Inês P.; Alves, Dalila; Santos, Torcato; Mendes, Luís; Lobo, Conceição; Santos, Ana Rita; Durbin, Mary; Cunha-Vaz, JoséTo characterize 2-year changes occurring in neurodegeneration, edema, and capillary dropout in nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy. Two-year prospective longitudinal observational cohort of eyes/patients with type 2 diabetes using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and opti cal coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Eyes were examined three times with intervals of 1 year. Thickness of the full retina and layer-by-layer measurements were used to identify edema or neurodegeneration. OCTA vessel density maps of the retina were used to identify capillary dropout. Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) classification was performed using the seven-field ETDRS protocol. A total of 62 eyes from 62 patients with diabetes were followed for 2 years. After verification for image quality, a total of 44 eyes from 44 patients (30% women) aged 52 to 80 years were retained for data analysis. There were 18 eyes with ETDRS grades 10 to 20, 17 eyes with ETDRS grade 35, and 9 eyes with ETDRS grades 43 to 47. During the 2-year follow-up period, there was a progressive increase in capillary dropout, whereas edema and neurodegeneration remained stable. In multivariate analysis, consid ering a model adjusted for age, sex, hemoglobin A1C, visual acuity, and diabetes duration, vessel density remained significantly different between Diabetic Retinopathy Severity Scale groups (Wilks’ λ = 0.707; P = 0.015) showing association with disease progression. Capillary dropout increased in a period of 2 years in eyes with minimal, mild, and moderate diabetic retinopathy, whereas the presence of edema and neurodegeneration remained stable
- Towards an encompassing maturity model for the management of higher education institutionsPublication . Pereira, Rui Humberto; Pereira, Rui Humberto; João Vidal de Carvalho; Vidal de Carvalho, Joao; Álvaro RochaMaturity models (MM) have been adopted in organisations from different sectors of activity, as guides and references for Information Systems (IS) management. In the educational field, these models have also been used to deal with the enormous complexity and demand of IS management. This paper presents a research project that aims to develop a new MM for Higher Education Institutions (HEI) that helps them to address those problems, as a useful tool for the management of their IS (and institutions as well). Thus, the MM in this area are identified, as well as the characteristics and gaps that they present, justifying the need and the opportunity for a new and comprehensive MM. Finally, we discuss the methodology for the development of MM that will be adopted for the design of the new model (called HEIMM) and the underlying reasons for its choice. At the moment, we are developing the HEIMM.
- Optimization of Highly Noncoplanar Arc Therapy Trajectories: A Dosimetric ApproachPublication . Rocha, Humberto; Dias, Joana; Ventura, Tiago; Costa Ferreira, Brigida; Lopes, Maria do CarmoThe latest generation of linear accelerators allows the use of noncoplanar trajectories in arc therapy which combine the benefits of noncoplanar intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment plans, such as improved organ sparing, with the benefits of arc therapy treatment plans, such as short treatment times. In this paper, we propose a two-step approach based on dosimetric criteria for the optimization of noncoplanar arc trajectories. In the first step, an initial set of anchor points (noncoplanar beam directions) is computed using a beam angle optimization (BAO) algorithm.
- Combined image-based approach for monitoring the adherence to inhaled medicationsPublication . Vieira-Marques, Pedro; Teixeira, João Fonseca; Valente, José; Pinho, Bernardo; Guedes, Rui; Almeida, Rute; Jácome, Cristina; Pereira, Ana; Jacinto, Tiago; Amaral, Rita; Gonçalves, Ivânia; Sousa, Ana Sá; Couto, Mariana; Magalhães, Manuel; Bordalo, Diana; Silva, Luís Nogueira; Fonseca, J. AlmeidaThe adherence to inhaled controller medications is of critical importance to achieve good clinical results in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. To objectively verify the adherence, a detection tool was previously developed and integrated in the mobile application InspirerMundi, based on image processing methods. In this work, a new approach for enhanced adherence verification was developed. In a first phase template matching is employed to confirm the inhaler positioning and to locate the dose counter. In a second phase Google ML Kit framework is used for the detection of each numerical dose in the dose counter. The proposed approach was validated through a new detection tool pilot implementation, using a set of images collected by patients using the application in their daily life. Performance of each of the two phases was evaluated for a set of commonly used inhaler devices. Promising results were achieved showing the potential of mobile embedded sensors without the need for external devices.
- Comparison of upper limb kinematics in two activities of daily living with different handling requirementsPublication . Mesquita, Inês; Fonseca, Pedro Filipe Pereira da; Borgonovo-Santos, Márcio; Ribeiro, Edgar; Pinheiro, Ana Rita; Correia, Miguel Velhote; Silva, CláudiaRecently, kinematic analysis of the drinking task (DRINK) has been recommended to assess the quality of upper limb (UL) movement after stroke, but the accomplishment of this task may become difficult for poststroke patients with hand impairment. Therefore, it is necessary to study ADLs that involve a simpler interaction with a daily life target, such as the turning on a light task (LIGHT). As the knowledge of movement performed by healthy adults becomes essential to assess the quality of movement of poststroke patients, the main goal of this article was to compare the kinematic strategies used by healthy adults in LIGHT with those that are used in DRINK. 63 adults, aged 30 to 69 years old, drank water and turned on a light, using both ULs separately, while seated. The movements of both tasks were captured by a 3D motion capture system. End-point and joint kinematics of reaching and returning phases were analysed. A multifactorial analysis of variance with repeated measures was applied to the kinematic metrics, using age, sex, body mass index and dominance as main factors. Mean and peak velocities, index of curvature, shoulder flexion and elbow extension were lower in LIGHT, which suggests that the real hand trajectory was smaller in this task. In LIGHT, reaching was less smooth and returning was smoother than DRINK. The instant of peak velocity was similar in both tasks. There was a minimal anterior trunk displacement in LIGHT, and a greater anterior trunk displacement in DRINK. Age and sex were the main factors which exerted effect on some of the kinematics, especially in LIGHT. The different target formats and hand contact in DRINK and LIGHT seem to be responsible for differences in velocity profile, efficiency, smoothness, joint angles and trunk displacement. Results suggest that the real hand trajectory was smaller in LIGHT and that interaction with the switch seems to be less demanding than with the glass. Accordingly, LIGHT could be a good option for the assessment of poststroke patients without grasping ability. Age and sex seem to be the main factors to be considered in future studies for a better match between healthy and poststroke adults.
- Automatic quality assessment of a forced expiratory manoeuvre acquired with the tablet microphonePublication . Almeida, Rute; Bernardo, Pinho; Jácome, Cristina; Teixeira, João Fonseca; Amaral, Rita; Gonçalves, Ivânia; Lopes, Filipa; Pinheiro, Ana Catarina; Jacinto, Tiago; Paixão, Cátia; Pereira, Mariana; Marques, Alda; Fonseca, João AlmeidaEvaluation of lung function is central to the management of chronic obstructive respiratory diseases. It is typically evaluated with a spirometer by a specialized health professional, who ensures the correct execution of a forced expiratory manoeuvre (FEM). Audio recording of a FEM using a smart device embedded microphone can be used to self-monitor lung function between clinical visits. The challenge of microphone spirometry is to ensure the validity and reliability of the FEM, in the absence of a health professional. In particular, the absence of a mouthpiece may allow excessive mouth closure, leading to an incorrect manoeuvre. In this work, a strategy to automatically assess the correct execution of the FEM is proposed and validated. Using 498 FEM recordings, both specificity and sensitivity attained were above 90%. This method provides immediate feedback to the user, by grading the manoeuvre in a visual scale, promoting the repetition of the FEM when needed.
- Transition to the revised OHADA law on accounting and financial reporting: corporate perceptions of costs and benefitsPublication . Fossung, Micheal Forzeh; Ntoung, Lious Agbor Tabot; Santos De Oliveira, Helena Maria; Pereira, Cláudia; Bastos, Susana; Pimentel, Liliana MarquesThis paper examines the ongoing transition to the revised Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa Act on Accounting and Financial Reporting for companies in general and to the International Financial Reporting Standards for listed and group companies with a particular focus on recent institutional developments and corporate concerns. The study used 80 professional accountants, most of whom were members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Cameroon and academics. Using the descriptive statistics, the study shows that the transition to the revised OHADA brings about a high level of comparability and transparency of the financial statements, that the International Financial Reporting Standards cannot be implemented in Cameroon (but not fully), and that the benefit of the transition exceeds the cost.
- Analysis and definition of data flows generated by bio stimuli in the design of interactive immersive environmentsPublication . Gomes, Paulo Sérgio Machado Veloso; Donga, João; Marques, António da Silva; Azevedo, João; Pereira, JavierThis work focuses on interactivity as one of the essential factors for creating immersive environments, particularly interactivity that generates involuntary responses over which the user does not have conscious control. A dynamic and adaptive model was designed to analyze and define the data flow generated by bio stimuli for the design of interactive immersive environments.
- Immersive Environment for Occupational Therapy: Pilot StudyPublication . Rodrigues, José; Coelho, Tiago; Menezes, Paulo; Restivo, Maria TeresaThere has been increasing interest in the application of virtual reality (VR) to occupational therapy and rehabilitation fields. This work presents a VR-based city adventure framework designed for occupational therapy. Its concept is based on taking the user to travel around a virtual city, where the motion is powered by the execution of some type of physical exercise, namely cycling in the current example. This framework is extensible and may integrate different goals focused on improving/maintaining motor and cognitive skills necessary for daily activities, mainly through upper and lower limb exercises and mental challenges. This led to the development of an immersive system, which was tested with an elderly sample (15 participants) in a day center and at a retirement home. Usability, satisfaction, performance and side effects were evaluated to understand future applicability and work directions.
- Fast and reliable ICP-MS quantification of palladium and platinum-based drugs in animal pharmacokinetic and biodistribution studiesPublication . Vojtek, Martin; Pinto, Edgar; Gonçalves-Monteiro, Salomé; Almeida, Agostinho; Marques, M. P. M.; Mota-File, Hélder; Ferreira, Isabel M. P. L. V. O.; Diniz, CarmenPalladium-(Pd)-based drugs are emerging as alternatives to platinum (Pt) anticancer chemotherapeutics, which increases the need for efficient and suitable procedures of Pd analysis in reduced amounts of pre-clinical animal samples. Herein, an ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) method was developed and validated for simple and fast analysis of Pd/Pt-based drugs in 11 distinct biological matrices (adipose tissue, muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, testis, heart, lungs, brain, blood and serum).