Study of the Materials and Techniques of a Rare Papier-Mâché Mushroom Model Crafted in H. Arnoldi Factory.

The Natural History and Science Museum of the University of Porto houses a collection of 45 models of fungi in papier-mâché from the 19th-century, which were used at the university until 2015 as didactic models. For the first time, the materials and techniques used in the production of a Boletus edulis model were studied (vernacular name: cep, porcini). These sculptures, made to life-size scale, are painted in colors similar to those of the represented species (white, brown, and light brown). They are fixed to a rectangular base, which is painted black, and to which moss has been pasted. To fully characterize each color, at the molecular level, a multi-analytical approach was used, combining energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (micro-XRF) with fingerprinting techniques of Raman microscopy (microRaman and handheld Raman) spectroscopy and microFourier transform infrared spectroscopy (microFTIR). The papier-mâché was prepared with a groundwood paper to which kaolin and a quartz-based material have been added to reinforce the structure. Raman microscopy also identified carbon black in it, which is possibly responsible for its grey color. The white color was unequivocally identified as lithopone by microRaman. This white paint was prepared in a proteinaceous tempera, with calcium carbonate having been identified as filler (by microFTIR). In the brown color, iron was identified by microXRF, pointing to the use of ocher, which was not possible to identify by microRaman and microFTIR. Regarding the black rectangular base, the moss was fixed using a collagen-based glue. The binding medium in this black is possibly a mixture of drying oil and protein. Again, XRF detected iron as the main element, but it was not possible to acquire a Raman spectrum due to the high fluorescence of the binder/varnish. Others, such as the writing inks, will also be discussed. The colors identified are in line with the best materials available for use by artists of that time. This new knowledge is fundamental to informing the choice of the best conservation strategies for the preservation of these extraordinary models.

Sustainability Competencies in Higher Education Research: An Analysis of Doctoral Theses in Portugal.

Educational research has been highlighting the importance of defining key competencies and learning outcomes related to education for sustainability as a reference for the transparent evaluation of students' learning in this domain. Drawing on a reference framework that identifies five key competencies in sustainability (i.e., systems-thinking competency, anticipatory competency, normative competency, strategic competency, and interpersonal competency), the study reported in this paper aims to understand whether, how, and to what extent these competencies are present in doctoral theses in Higher Education published in Portugal in the past ten years. To address this objective, a qualitative study framed in an interpretative paradigm was conducted, and a literature review was used as a preferential research method to elicit meaning, gain understanding, and develop empirical knowledge. The retrieved documents were treated using deductive content analysis, which was performed using WebQDA software. Results of the analysis show that the competencies considered in the reference framework are present in research on education for sustainability carried out in recent years in Portugal, with a greater emphasis on strategic and anticipatory competencies. Findings suggest that it is important to continue to conduct research on these competencies to successfully integrate them into educational curricula and teacher education programs.

Dose Administration Aid Service in Community Pharmacies: Characterization and Impact Assessment.

Adherence to therapies is a primary determinant of treatment success. Lack of medication adherence is often associated with medical and psychosocial issues due to complications from underlying conditions and is an enormous waste of medical resources. Dose Administration Aid Service (DAAS) can be seen as part of the solution, allowing individual medicine doses to be organized according to the dosing schedule determined by the patient's prescriber. The most recent systematic reviews admit the possibility of a positive impact of this service. In line with this background, the study reported in this paper aimed to characterize DAAS implementation in Portugal and understand the perceptions of pharmacists and owners of community pharmacies regarding the impact of DAAS, preferred methodology types, and State contribution. The study was guided by qualitative description methodology and reported using the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 18 pharmacists and/or owners of community pharmacies. Using qualitative content analysis, we identified categories that revealed that automated weekly methodology is the preferred methodology, because of its easiness of use and lower cost of preparation. However, the investment cost was felt to be too high by the participants considering the number of potential users for implementation in practice. Participants were also unanimous in recognizing that DAAS has a very positive impact in terms of safety and medication adherence, and the majority agreed that it also helped reduce medication waste. Implications of these findings for medication adherence are discussed.

Papéis sociais desempenhados pelas creches comunitárias e públicas no Rio de Janeiro

Ao longo da sua história, as creches comunitárias e públicas têm desempenhado vários papéis sociais. A revisão da literatura sobre a história das creches e da infância (ARIES, 1981, KRAMER, 1987; KUHLMANN, 1998; RIZZO, 2000; ROSEMBERG, 1985) mostra que esses papéis estão diretamente relacionados com o contexto social, político e histórico em que as creches estão inseridas. Sendo assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar os papéis sociais desempenhados pelas creches comunitárias e públicas do Rio de Janeiro e as características do contexto que propiciaram o seu surgimento e a sua organização. Definiu-se creches comunitárias como as instituições estabelecidas a partir da integração e mobilização de moradores, geralmente em favelas, com o objetivo primeiro de conseguirem algum espaço onde as crianças pudessem ficar durante o dia. A metodologia baseou-se na análise documental, sendo realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica de cunho teórico na literatura científica da área. Entre as principais conclusões, considera-se a necessidade de integração das duas funções predominantes encontradas no estudo, a função educacional e a função assistencial. A autora sugere que estas funções podem e devem acontecer no mesmo espaço e com a mesma finalidade: propiciar e favorecer o desenvolvimento global e pleno da criança (AU)

A utilizaçäo da Escala de BRADEN como instrumento para avaliar o risco de desenvolvimento de úlceras de pressäo em pacientes de um serviço de emergência / Decubitus ulcer: emergency medical service

Ulceras de pressäo säo sinônimos de deficiência na qualidade da assistência de enfermagem prestada. Por isso, faz-se necessário a utilizaçäo de instrumentos que possibilitem detectar fatores de risco que favorecem o desenvolvimento de úlceras de pressäo nos pacientes institucionalizados. Este estudo, do tipo descritivo-exploratório, objetivou caracterizar as úlceras de pressäo quanto a localizaçäo, classificaçäo e estágio de evoluçäo em que se encontram, quando da entrada do paciente em um serviço de emergência, e avaliar o potencial de risco apresentado pelos pacientes quanto a evoluçäo da úlcera de pressäo, utilizando-se a Escala de Braden. Os resultados demonstram que a utilizaçäo de escalas preditivas na avaliaçäo do paciente, feita pelo enfermeiro, permite determinar possíveis deficiências relacionadas a múltiplos fatores, independentemente da patologia, que preconizam o surgimento das úlceras de pressäo.