The present study provides an evaluation of noise pollution in six Urban Parks located in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Equivalent noise levels (L(eq)) were measured in 303 points (each point measured during 3 min) spread throughout the Parks. Measured values were confronted with local legislation (Law 10625) allowed limits, and the Parks were thus classified as "acoustically polluted or unpolluted". Measured values were also evaluated according to international legislation: Decree no. 12 of the City Council of Rome, DIN 18005 for German cities, the World Health Organization, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Urban parks in the downtown area of Curitiba, surrounded by roads of heavy traffic and in the midst of intense commercial activities, do not satisfy any of the standards used. The most noise-polluted parks in Curitiba were the Public Walk Park and the Botanical Garden Park, with measured L(eq) of 64.8 dB(A) and 67 dB(A).

The serotonin transporter gene has a 44 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism within the promoter region (5-HTTLPR) with two allelic forms, the long (L) and the short (S) variants. Association between the low-activity S variant and bipolar disorder (BPD) has been shown but its replication has not been consistent. It has also been described as an association between the S allele and suicidal behavior. Since suicidal behavior is a rather frequent event in BPD, an important question is whether suicidality, instead of bipolarity itself, could be related to S allele. We assessed 351 subjects (167 bipolar inpatients and 184 healthy controls). Diagnosis was conducted by a psychiatrist using a structured interview (MINI-PLUS), according to DSM-IV criteria. Suicidal behavior was assessed using a semi-structured instrument and a review of medical records. Genotyping of the 5-HTTLPR was performed using PCR. There were 77 patients with a history of previous suicide attempts. Bipolar patients and healthy controls showed comparable genotypic and allelic frequencies. Patients carrying the S allele made violent suicide attempts more frequently (chi(2) = 20.2; P = 0.0001) and made more suicide attempts (t = 2.6; P = 0.01). We were able to show an association between the S allele and suicidal behavior but not with BPD. Our data suggest that a phenotypic stratification, taking into account the suicidal behavior history, is of pivotal importance when performing association studies between BPD and 5-HTTLPR genotypes, which could explain previous contradictory results.

The purpose of this study was to report evidence obtained in a survey based on the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework (Garrison, Anderson & Archer, 1991;2000) carried out in different groups. The study comprised 510 higher education students enrolled in blended online courses offered through Moodle platform during one semester. It considered students from different private and public Portuguese polytechnic schools and universities. Moreira & Almeida (2011) have suggested that CoI framework is a valid, reliable, and efficient measure of its dimensions within the Portuguese population. Although similarities in aspects of social presence were discovered among polytechnic and universities students, the two groups showed some differences. In particular, it was observed that the polytechnic students appear to be a more robust community when compared to university students.

Resumo ObjetivoAnalisar comparativamente a percepção ao ruído urbano no cotidiano dos habitantes de uma zona controlada acusticamente e outra não controlada. Métodos Duas zonas de uma cidade foram selecionadas por meio de avaliações objetivas dos níveis sonoros equivalente como zona controlada e zona não controlada acusticamente. Uma amostra aleatória de cada zona foi selecionada e submetida a questionário. Foram gerados indicadores estatísticos da percepção ao ruído urbano por meio da análise multivariada fatorial. Resultados O valor médio para o nível sonoro (L eq ) encontrado no centro (zona não controlada acusticamente) foi de 72,9 dB(A), e na zona controlada acusticamente foi de 53,3 dB(A). A análise multivariada fatorial gerou três indicadores estatísticos: percepção temporal, percepção de ruídos atípicos e fontes e distúrbios. Conclusões A população da zona controlada indicou aumento no nível de ruído percebido. O nível sonoro no centro da cidade tem se mantido praticamente constante e muito acima do especificado pela Lei Municipal. Os indicadores gerados podem servir como parâmetros para caracterizar a percepção à exposição contínua ao ruído pela população. Abstract ObjectiveTo comparatively analyze the perception of daily urban noise between residents of an acoustically and a non-acoustically controlled area. Methods Two urban areas were selected through objective assessments of equivalent sound levels and defined as a non-acoustically and an acoustically controlled area. A random sample of each area was selected and a questionnaire was applied to its residents. Statistical indicators of urban noise perception were generated through factorial multivariate analysis. ResultsThe average sound level (L eq ) found in the downtown district (a non-acoustically controlled area) was 72.9 dB(A) and in the acoustically controlled area was 53.3

The potential of DTIC has brought new challenges to teachers, making it essential to acquire digital competences. The aim of this research is to assess Portuguese university teachers' digital competence level. The quantitative methodological approach emphasises the teachers' perception of their digital competences in three dimensions: teachers´ professional and pedagogic competences and learners' competences and involved 118 Portuguese University teachers. The main findings show that the digital competence level of teachers is moderate, and that subdimensions "Guidance", "Analysing Evidence" and "Responsible Use", are the weakest. On the other hand, the subdimension in which teachers perceive to have more competence is "Organisational Communication". The results show the need for teachers to increase their digital competence level through specific training, especially as regards the pedagogical use of technology, in particular more practical, experimental training.

Disponível em RESUMO: Partindo da análise das dissertações apresentadas pelos alunos da Escola Médico-Cirúrgica do Porto, desde 1837 até ao início do século XX, verificamos que para além do somar de teses sobre assuntos relativos à criança, nos últimos 25 anos do Oitocentos, aumentou a variedade dos aspectos abordados. De facto, aos temas tradicionais, que rondavam os momentos da gravidez, do parto e do pós-parto, tratados de modo mais actualizado, juntavam-se outros que se debruçavam sobre determinadas doenças infantis ou sobre instituições dedicadas à infância. Na transição do século XIX para o XX, a escolarização começava também a ser alvo do discurso higienista. Contudo ele não se detinha somente nas condições ambientais da escola, ele pretendia intervir no domínio pedagógico considerando que a pedagogia científica que se estava a construir não se podia consumar sem assentar na fundamentação do saber médico.Palavras-chave: Criança. Educação. Escolarização. Higiene. Medicina. HYGIENE AND MEDICAL CONTROL OF INFANCY AND SCHOOLABSTRACT: Analyzing the theses presented by the students of the Medical-Surgical School of Porto, between 1837 and the beginning of the XX th century, we noted an increase not only of the number of theses on matters related to children, but also, in the last 25 years of the XIX th century, of the diversity of themes studied. In fact, besides such traditional themes as pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum, treated in a more updated fashion, others emerged as

The current pandemic crisis the world is living in has brought new and emerging challenges to teachers, making it essential to acquire digital skills, especially in virtual learning environments and online technologies. In this sense, from the DigCompEdu CheckIn self-assessment questionnaire, validated for the Portuguese population by Dias-Trindade, Moreira, and Nunes (2019), the research presented in this paper aims to identify the most fragile and robust areas of digital skills of primary and secondary education (ISCED) perceived by teachers in Portugal. The quantitative methodological approach emphasizes teachers' perception of their digital skills in three dimensions: teachers’ professional competences, teachers’ pedagogical competences and students' competences and involved 434 teachers from mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions. The results allow us to conclude that teachers have an overall moderate level of digital proficiency – level B1 - Integrators – and the dimensions pedagogical competences and students’ competences are those where teachers have more weaknesses than in other levels. From a panorama observed before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is possible to understand their needs regarding work that involves digital technologies at different moments in the teaching activity. The results thus, show the need for teachers to increase their level of digital competence through specific training and the importance of developing public policies that prepare teachers for a more digital school.

No abstract