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Efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments in inclusion body myositis: a systematic review
No full textAcknowledgements: This paper will contribute towards a Post Doctoral Program for EJFS. This paper was presented as an abstract at EULAR 2024 (Santos E, et al. POS1314: Efficacy of pharmacological treatment in inclusion body myositis: a systematic review. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 2024;83:633)Supplemental material: This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.Objective: To identify the best evidence on the efficacy of treatment interventions for inclusion body myositis (IBM) and to describe their safety.
Methods: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of pharmacological treatments of adults with IBM, conducted according to the Cochrane Handbook, updating a previous Cochrane review. The search strategy was run on Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov and the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Assessment of risk of bias, data extraction and synthesis were performed independently by two reviewers. Data pooled in statistical meta-analyses, if possible.
Results: From a total of 487 records, 48 were selected for full-text review, 14 fulfilled the inclusion criteria, but only 2 RCTs were included in meta-analyses due to clinical heterogeneity (different drug interventions or dosages). Treatments included various immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory agents, alongside interventions modulating muscle growth and protein homoeostasis. Efficacy was assessed across multiple outcomes, namely muscle strength, physical function, mobility and muscle trophicity. Trials of methotrexate (MTX), intravenous immunoglobulin, interferon beta-1a and MTX, MTX and anti-T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin, oxandrolone, MTX and azathioprine, bimagrumab, arimoclomol, and sirolimus provided low-quality to high-quality evidence of having no effect on the progression of IBM.
Conclusions: Drug interventions for IBM were not effective for most of the outcomes of interest. We observed inconsistency of outcome measures across trials. More RCTs are needed, of adequate size and duration, and using a standardised set of outcome measures
Relatório de Estágio – Incorporação dos ODS nas estratégias empresariais
No full textO presente relatório foi elaborado no âmbito do Mestrado em Contabilidade e Fiscalidade
da Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Gestão do Instituto Politécnico de Leiria e resulta do
estágio curricular realizado na unidade de negócio da Moneris Guia, entre setembro de 2024
e janeiro de 2025. O estágio teve como principal objetivo, não só integrar os conhecimentos
teóricos adquiridos ao longo do curso com a prática profissional, contribuindo para o
desenvolvimento de competências técnicas e transversais essenciais para a área da
contabilidade, fiscalidade e finanças, mas também completar o requisito necessário para
inscrição e ingresso na Ordem dos Contabilistas Certificados.
Durante o estágio, foram desempenhadas diversas tarefas na área da contabilidade e
fiscalidade, incluindo a preparação de demonstrações financeiras, encerramento de contas,
processamento de salários, apoio na elaboração de relatórios de gestão e cumprimento de
obrigações fiscais. Estas atividades permitiram não só consolidar os conhecimentos
adquiridos ao longo do mestrado, mas também desenvolver competências práticas, como a
utilização de software contabilístico, a interpretação de normativos fiscais e a aplicação de
técnicas de análise financeira, essenciais para o exercício da profissão.
O relatório estrutura-se em três capítulos principais. O primeiro capítulo apresenta a
Moneris, caracterizando a sua estrutura organizacional, missão e serviços prestados. O
segundo capítulo descreve as atividades desenvolvidas durante o estágio, relacionando-as
com o plano de estágio profissional da Ordem dos Contabilistas Certificados. Por fim, o
terceiro capítulo aborda a ligação entre os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS)
e as estratégias empresariais, analisando a sua implementação no contexto da Moneris.
A principal finalidade deste estudo é demonstrar como as práticas empresariais podem
alinhar-se com os ODS, promovendo a sustentabilidade e a responsabilidade social
corporativa. A análise da aplicação dos ODS na Moneris revelou que, embora a empresa
ainda não elabore relatório de sustentabilidade, já implementa várias práticas alinhadas com
os ODS, como a promoção de um ambiente de trabalho inclusivo, a digitalização de
processos e a redução do impacto ambiental. Com base nestas práticas, foi proposta a
elaboração de um relato de sustentabilidade, incluindo indicadores e metas concretas para
monitorizar o progresso da empresa no âmbito da sustentabilidade. Este relatório reforça a relevância da contabilidade na promoção da sustentabilidade,
demonstrando que o setor pode desempenhar um papel ativo na criação de valor sustentável
para as empresas e para a sociedade.
Um dos principais contributos deste estágio foi a oportunidade de aplicar os conhecimentos
académicos num contexto profissional real, permitindo uma compreensão mais profunda dos
desafios e oportunidades na área da contabilidade e finanças. Além disso, o estágio permitiu
desenvolver competências transversais, como o trabalho em equipa, a gestão do tempo e a
comunicação eficaz, que são essenciais para o sucesso na carreira profissional.This report was prepared within the scope of the master’s degree in accounting and taxation
of the School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria and
results from the curricular internship carried out in the business unit of Moneris Guia,
between september 2024 and january 2025. The main objective of the internship was not
only to integrate the theoretical knowledge acquired throughout the course with professional
practice, contributing to the development of technical and transversal skills essential for the
area of accounting, taxation and finance, but also to complete the necessary requirement for
registration and entry into the Order of Certified Accountants.
During the internship, several tasks were performed in the area of accounting and taxation,
including the preparation of financial statements, closing accounts, processing salaries,
support in the preparation of management reports and compliance with tax obligations.
These activities allowed not only to consolidate the knowledge acquired throughout the
master's degree, but also to develop practical skills, such as the use of accounting software,
the interpretation of tax regulations and the application of financial analysis techniques,
essential for the exercise of the profession.
The report is structured in three main chapters. The first chapter introduces Moneris,
characterizing its organizational structure, mission, and services provided. The second
chapter describes the activities developed during the internship, relating them to the
professional internship plan of the Order of Certified Accountants. Finally, the third chapter
addresses the link between the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and business
strategies, analysing their implementation in the context of Moneris.
The main purpose of this study is to demonstrate how business practices can align with the
SDGs, promoting sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The analysis of the
application of the SDGs at Moneris revealed that, although the company does not yet prepare
a sustainability report, it already implements several practices aligned with the SDGs, such
as promoting an inclusive work environment, digitizing processes, and reducing
environmental impact. Based on these practices, it was proposed to prepare a sustainability
report, including indicators and concrete targets to monitor the company's progress in the
field of sustainability. This report reinforces the relevance of accounting in promoting sustainability, demonstrating
that the sector can play an active role in creating sustainable value for companies and society.
One of the main contributions of this internship was the opportunity to apply academic
knowledge in a real professional context, allowing a deeper understanding of the challenges
and opportunities in the area of accounting and finance. In addition, the internship allowed
the development of transversal skills, such as teamwork, time management and effective
communication, which are essential for success in a professional career
Learning to use R2L in Portugal
No full textThis chapter reports on the use of the genre-based literacy pedagogy Reading to learn (R2L) in the cultural, educational and linguistic context of Portugal. R2L was officially introduced during the European Comenius project Teacher Learning for European Literacy Education (TeL4ELE). Following the project, R2L was introduced in pre-service teacher training programmes and in different university courses as part of their literacy development strategies. R2L workshops have been conducted in different parts of the country and there is a growing body of research on the use of R2L in different fields and educational settings (articles, book chapters, theses).
Working closely with teachers and school boards, and creating interdisciplinary teams have proven to be crucial in overcoming initial resistance by professionals who claim to possess prior knowledge of genre principles (language teachers) and by those who fear R2L will compromise content teaching (subject teachers). Lack of materials on genre pedagogy, and the pre-existence of genre-related terminology in the Portuguese curriculum has led to a project to describe and exemplify the genres of the Portuguese curriculum and to promote dialogue between different genre-based approaches in use in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
PROMOÇÃO DA COMPETÊNCIA EMOCIONAL DOS ENFERMEIROS NUM SERVIÇO DE URGÊNCIA
No full textO presente relatório, concretizado no âmbito do Mestrado e Especialidade em
Enfermagem de Saúde Mental e Psiquiátrica, da Escola Superior de Saúde do Instituto
Politécnico de Leiria, visa apresentar as competências desenvolvidas para a obtenção do
grau de Mestre e do Título de Enfermeiro Especialista em Enfermagem de Saúde Mental
e Psiquiátrica (EEESMP). Apresenta-se dividido em três partes: a descrição dos contextos
de aprendizagem; a análise crítico-reflexiva sobre as atividades desenvolvidas de forma
a adquirir competências comuns (Regulamento n.º 140/2019) e específicas do EEESMP
(Regulamento n. º515/2018); a descrição das etapas e os resultados obtidos no
desenvolvimento do Projeto de Melhoria Continua da Qualidade dos Cuidados de
Enfermagem (PMCQCE): BEmotions.
Os serviços de urgência (SU) são setores desgastantes dos hospitais (Amaral et al., 2017)
e a complexidade dos cuidados de saúde exige aos enfermeiros a mobilização de diversas
competências. A competência emocional (CE) emerge como um fator de protetor em
situações de elevado stress laboral (Pereira et al., 2022).
O PMCQCE procura promover a CE dos enfermeiros num SU face à satisfação o trabalho
(ST) atravès da intervenção psicoeducacional intitulada “BEmotions”. Esta foi constituída
por 5 sessões semanais, alusivas às cinco dimensões da CE do construto de CE de Veiga-
Branco, com a duração de 90 minutos e a amostra foi composta por 10 enfermeiros.
Os resultados demonstram que os participantes apresentam um nível global de CE
moderado. Foram apuradas melhorias, quer na CE, quer na ST após a intervenção
psicoeducacional BEmotions. Sugere-se a sua replicação noutras unidades e/ou grupos
profissionais no âmbito da saúde ocupacional e da promoção da saúde mental e bem-estar
no local de trabalho.Developed within the Master Degree and Specialization in Metal Health and Psychiatric
Nursing at the School of Health Sciences – Politécnico de Leiria, this report aims to
present the acknowledgment acquired for the achievement of the title Master and the title
Specialized Nurse in Metal Health and Psychiatric Nursing (SNMHN).
The report is structured into three main sections: a description of the learning contexts; a
critical and reflective analysis of the activities undertaken to develop both the general
competencies (Regulation No. 140/2019) and the specific competencies of the SNMHN
(Regulation No. 515/2018); and a presentation of the stages and outcomes of the
Continuous Quality Improvement Project in Nursing Care (CQIPNC), BEmotions.
Emergency departments (EDs) are among the most demanding hospital settings (Amaral
et al., 2017), and the complexity of healthcare delivery requires nurses to mobilize a wide
range of competences. Emotional competence (EC) has emerged as a protective factor in
high-stress professional environments (Pereira et al., 2022).
The CQIPNC aimed to promote EC among nurses working in an ED by addressing job
satisfaction (JS) through a psychoeducational intervention BEmotions. The intervention
consisted on five weekly sessions, each lasting 90 minutes, based on the five dimensions
of EC as defined by Veiga-Branco. The sample included 10 nurses.
The results indicate that participants demonstrated a moderate overall level of EC.
Improvements were observed in both EC and JS following the BEmotions intervention.
It is recommended that this intervention is to be replicated in other units and/or
professional groups within the context of occupational health, and the promotion of
mental health and well-being in the workplace
The Specialist vs. The Generalist: A Comparative Analysis of Performance and Explainability for Financial Sentiment Classification
No full textThe accurate and transparent classification of sentiment in financial texts is a cornerstone of computational finance. This field is currently at a methodological crossroads, dominated by two paradigms: the fine-tuned specialist, represented by domain-adapted models like FinBERT, and the instructed generalist, embodied by modern Large Language Models (LLMs) like Google's Gemini. While performance benchmarks are emerging, a significant research gap exists in the systematic comparison of their performance trade-offs and the nature of their explainability.
This dissertation conducts a comparative study between a fine-tuned FinBERT model and the Gemini 2.5 Pro LLM on an extended version of the Financial PhraseBank dataset. The analysis is performed along two axes: (1) Classification Performance, evaluated via metrics robust to class imbalance, and (2) Explainability, where FinBERT's predictions are analyzed using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). For Gemini, two distinct prompting protocols are compared: a two-step Separated Protocol designed to rigorously test the "overthinking" hypothesis and a single-step Simultaneous Protocol.
The results reveal a nuanced performance verdict. While FinBERT excels in accuracy, a key finding is that both Gemini protocols achieve virtually identical performance, challenging the initial "overthinking" hypothesis and suggesting a high degree of robustness in modern LLMs. The qualitative analysis uncovers two distinct reasoning styles: FinBERT's logic is bottom-up and pattern-based, excelling at domain-specific jargon, while Gemini's is top-down and conceptual, grasping holistic meaning but failing on specialized idioms.
Ultimately, this work concludes that the choice between a specialist and a generalist is not one of absolute superiority, but a strategic trade-off between accuracy, risk sensitivity, implementation cost, and the desired nature of explainability. This dissertation provides a comprehensive framework for navigating that trade-off.A classificação precisa e transparente de sentimento em textos financeiros é um pilar da finança computacional. Este campo encontra-se numa encruzilhada metodológica, dominada por dois paradigmas: o especialista afinado, representado por modelos adaptados ao domínio como o FinBERT, e o generalista instruído, personificado por Modelos de Linguagem de Grande Escala (LLMs) modernos como o Gemini da Google. Embora as comparações de desempenho estejam a emergir, existe uma lacuna de investigação significativa na comparação sistemática dos seus compromissos de desempenho e da natureza da sua explicabilidade.
Esta dissertação realiza um estudo comparativo entre um modelo FinBERT afinado e o LLM Gemini 2.5 Pro, utilizando uma versão estendida do conjunto de dados Financial PhraseBank. A análise é realizada ao longo de dois eixos: (1) Desempenho de Classificação, avaliado através de métricas robustas ao desequilíbrio de classes, e (2) Explicabilidade, onde as previsões do FinBERT são analisadas com SHAP. Para o Gemini, são comparados dois protocolos de prompting distintos: um Protocolo Separado em duas etapas, desenhado para testar rigorosamente a hipótese de "overthinking", e um Protocolo Simultâneo de uma só etapa.
Os resultados revelam um veredicto de desempenho matizado. Embora o FinBERT se destaque em acurácia, uma descoberta fundamental é que ambos os protocolos do Gemini alcançam uma performance virtualmente idêntica, desafiando a hipótese inicial de "overthinking" e sugerindo um elevado grau de robustez nos LLMs modernos. A análise qualitativa desvenda dois estilos de raciocínio distintos: a lógica do FinBERT é bottom-up e baseada em padrões, destacando-se no jargão específico do domínio, enquanto a do Gemini é top-down e conceptual, captando o significado holístico mas falhando em expressões idiomáticas especializadas.
Em suma, este trabalho conclui que a escolha entre um especialista e um generalista não é uma questão de superioridade absoluta, mas sim um compromisso estratégico entre acurácia, sensibilidade ao risco, custo de implementação e a natureza desejada da explicabilidade. Esta dissertação fornece uma estrutura abrangente para navegar esse compromisso
Ascertaining Restaurant Financial Sustainability by Analyzing Menu Performance
No full textThe complexity of companies in the restaurant industry is clear, and various
techniques can be used to make decisions. The analysis of performance and the optimization
of restaurant menus are considered important, which is why several approaches can be
used. The objective of this study is to achieve financial sustainability in the restaurant
industry through menu performance analysis and identifying strategies to improve menu
profitability. A qualitative methodology of a dual case study was adopted by comparing
a restaurant within a hotel and a street restaurant. The results show that for restaurant
owners and managers, these approaches are useful, simple, and pertinent for measuring the
performance of the restaurant menu and consequently improving results. The originality
of this research lies in the fact that three analysis models were applied simultaneously,
allowing for an in-depth analysis of the profitability of the menus being analyzed. This
study identified the most profitable items for each restaurant and the items that needed
to be changed to contribute more to the profitability of the restaurant’s menu, resulting
in practical implications. Through theoretical implications, this study corrects the limited
knowledge about performance through the restaurant menu, creating a starting point for
knowledge spreading to society. In conclusion, this research is one of the first to bridge
the gap between theory and practice, taking several approaches to assess restaurant menu
performances, which can be useful in restaurants to promote sustainability.N/
Loss and Grief Among Bereaved Family Members During COVID-19 in Brazil: A Grounded Theory Analysis
No full textArticle number - 829This article belongs to the Special Issue Grief Care: Religion and Spiritual Support in Times of LossThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in countless losses around the world, profoundly affecting the lives of many people, especially those who faced the death of family members, bringing several negative repercussions to these families and constraining the experience of grief. This study aimed to understand the experience of loss and grief among bereaved individuals who lost family members during the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative study was guided by Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory as a methodological framework. The study adhered to the Criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist. Data collection took place between May and November 2023 through telephone interviews that were audio-recorded and later transcribed in full. The purposive sample consisted of 21 bereaved family members who had lost their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were mainly female (n = 16) with a mean age of 55.5 (SD = 16.2). The loss of their family members occurred 12 to 24 months before data collection. The following central phenomenon was identified through the analytical process: “Family experience of loss and grief: between the unspoken goodbye and post-loss adjustment”. This was anchored in the following three categories: (1) Anguish and fear of the unknown; (2) Death by COVID-19—communication of death and lack of goodbyes; and (3) (Re)construction of meaning—support networks and the grieving process. Our findings recommend that policymakers allocate additional resources to grief support services to better prepare for future pandemic events. Furthermore, it is necessary to invest in the implementation of relevant training programs for healthcare professionals, with a family centered approach.This work was funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)—grant number: 001/2023. It was also supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia; I.P. (UID/05704/2023); and by the Scientific Employment Stimulus—Institutional Call— (https://doi.org/10.54499/CEECINST/00051/2018/CP1566/CT0012, accessed on 10 June 2025)
Driving Behavior Classification Using a ConvLSTM
No full textArticle number - 52This article belongs to the Special Issue Autonomous Vehicles and Urban Evolution: Technological, Social and Environmental PerspectivesThis work explores the classification of driving behaviors using a hybrid deep learning model that combines Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) with Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks (ConvLSTM). Sensor data are collected from a smartphone application and undergo a preprocessing pipeline, including data normalization, labeling, and feature extraction, to enhance the model’s performance. By capturing temporal and spatial dependencies within driving patterns, the proposed ConvLSTM model effectively differentiates between normal and aggressive driving behaviors. The model is trained and evaluated against traditional stacked LSTM and Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) architectures, demonstrating superior accuracy and robustness. Experimental results confirm that the preprocessing techniques improve classification performance, ensuring high reliability in driving behavior recognition. The novelty of this work lies in a simple data preprocessing methodology combined with the specific application scenario. By enhancing data quality before feeding it into the AI model, we improve classification accuracy and robustness. The proposed framework not only optimizes model performance but also demonstrates practical feasibility, making it a strong candidate for real-world deployment.This work was supported by national funds through the Portuguese Foundation for Science
and Technology (FCT) under the project UIDB/04524/2020
UM OLHAR REFLEXIVO SOBRE A PRÁTICA PEDAGÓGICA E A ABORDAGEM AO MOVIMENTO NA EDUCAÇÃO DE INFÂNCIA
No full textO presente relatório surge no âmbito do Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar correspondente aos anos letivos 2021/2022 e 2022/2023, sendo que se divide em duas partes. A primeira parte refere-se à dimensão reflexiva pertencente às práticas de ensino supervisionadas em contexto de Creche, Jardim de Infância I e II. Esta contém reflexões das aprendizagens, desafios, propostas sugeridas, projetos realizados, experiências vivenciadas e conquistas que ocorreram nos diferentes contextos educativos onde foram efetuadas as práticas. No contexto de creche destacam-se temas relevantes como a creche e as rotinas diárias, o momento do acolhimento e o papel do educador. No contexto de Jardim de Infância I evidencia-se o papel do/a educador/a no jardim de infância, as emoções e o portfólio. Quanto ao contexto de Jardim de Infância II reflete-se sobre a heterogeneidade e o papel da diferenciação pedagógica, a aprendizagem lúdica no jardim de infância, a voz ativa da criança no processo educativo e a metodologia de trabalho por projeto.
A segunda parte é relativa à dimensão investigativa realizada no contexto de Jardim de Infância II. Foi desenvolvido um estudo de caráter qualitativo sobre como cinco crianças se expressavam quando ouviam três estilos diferentes de música (rock, popular e infantil). Para a recolha de dados recorreu-se à observação participante (através de gravações videográficas e registos no diário de campo) e a entrevistas semiestruturadas. O método de análise dos dados centrou-se na análise de conteúdo e análise descritiva.
Os resultados obtidos permitem perceber/identificar como as crianças se movimentavam corporalmente e que tipo de movimentos se evidenciavam de acordo com as categorias e subcategorias dos “Temas do Movimento” e a evolução de cada criança na primeira parte da análise. Conclui-se que os movimentos realizados pelas crianças foram diversificados ao longo das sessões implementadas, sendo que os mais comuns foram saltar, abrir e fechar as pernas, levantar os braços, balançar e rodopiar o corpo. Relativamente aos estilos musicais, o que diferenciou os movimentos foi a sua intensidade. Já a segunda parte centrou-se na análise das entrevistas semiestruturadas de cada criança.
Por fim, apresentam-se as considerações finais em que se descreve brevemente, o essencial do percurso académico e o que contribuiu significativamente para construir a futura educadora que quero ser
Bibliometric Analysis of the Scientific Production in Cultural Tourism from 2010 to 2019 in Europe
No full textThis paper provides a general review of cultural
tourism as a research subject in the last decade in Europe.
First, it defines the terminology and its dimensions. This is
followed by the analysis of the scientific papers published
in international journals between 2010 and 2019, available in the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases, to
ensure the inclusion of high-impact studies according to
the bibliometric quality index. Through the quantitative
analysis of 625 WoS articles and 765 Scopus articles using
bibliographic coupling, co-citation and co-occurrence
analysis, this publication provides a significant overview
of the terms involved or related to cultural tourism and the
proposed clustering for each term. This paper concludes
with a discussion of the main trends identified, their characteristics and possible changes over timeN/