A cadeia da instrumentação para o monitoramento do desgaste da ferramenta por emissão acústica está constituída por sensores, condicionador de sinal, conversor A/D e transmissor. A seleção ou projeto de cada uma das etapas é de suma importância para manter o conteúdo do sinal de emissão acústica (neste caso a fonte de emissão acústica é a usinagem). O sinal de emissão acústica de interesse tem componentes que vão dos 100kHz a 1 MHz. Devido às características do projeto, são desenvolvidos o condicionador e o transmissor. São apresentados os projetos do pré-amplificador e filtro (que pertencem ao condicionador), os quais realizam suas respectivas funções de amplificação e filtragem. O pré-amplificador, cuja função é a de fortalecer o sinal fraco na saída do sensor, amplifica o sinal em 20 dB. Ele tem uma resposta plana na faixa de interesse (freqüências inferiores a 1 MHz). O filtro, que é do tipo banda passante, tem por função eliminar as componentes vinculadas às vibrações mecânicas e os ruídos elétricos e eletromagnéticos, assim como evitar o fenômeno do \"aliasing\" no processamento do sinal. Ele não deixa passar as componentes do sinal de freqüências inferiores a 100 kHz e superiores a 1 MHz. Tem uma resposta plana na banda de interesse, o que garante a manutenção do formato do sinal. São consideradas nos projetos indicados as respostas dos componentes eletrônicos para as freqüências de trabalho e a proteção dos circuitos contra ruídos na alimentação dos mesmos. / The instrumentation for tool wear monitoring by acoustic emission is composed by sensors, signal conditioner, A/D converter and transmitter. The selection or project of each step is very important to keep the container of acoustic emission signal (in this case the source of acoustic emission is the metal cutting). The interesting acoustic emission signal has its components, which comes from 100 kHz to 1 MHz. In spite of the project characteristics, the conditioner and the transmitter are developed. The projects of the pre-amplifier and the filter are presented (they belong to the conditioner), which makes their functions of amplification and filtration. The pre-amplifier, which function is to amplify the weak signal on the output of the sensor, amplifies the signal by 20 dB. It has a flat response on the frequency range (frequencies less than 1 MHz). The filter, which is the type of flat-band, has the function of eliminating the components connected to the mechanic vibrations and the electric/electromagnetic noises, therefore to avoid the aliasing phenomenon on the signal processing. It attenuates the signal components of frequencies lower than 100 kHz and higher than 1 MHz. There is a flat response on the frequency range, which warrants the maintenance of the signal format. It is considered into the projects indicated the electronic components\' responses to the work frequencies and the circuit protection against noises into their feeding.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo compreender a vivência do familiar cuidador durante e após cuidar de um ente querido em seu processo de fim de vida e morte. Com os crescentes avanços científicos e tecnológicos, a expectativa de vida da população mundial tem aumentado, além disso, pessoas de quaisquer faixas etárias têm sobrevivido por mais tempo a doenças graves e/ou acidentes. Essas mudanças significativas ocorridas na população têm aumentado a demanda por cuidados, que têm sido realizados, em sua maior parte, por familiares mais próximos. Dessa forma, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi conhecer melhor esse familiar cuidador; os impactos para ele na experiência de cuidar, o seu papel no processo, e como lida com as idiossincrasias dessa intensa vivência. O trabalho foi fundamentado no método fenomenológico de pesquisa de Amedeo Giorgi. Foram realizadas entrevistas individuais abertas com os colaboradores, que partiram da pergunta: Como foi para você ter acompanhado e cuidado de seu ente querido em seu processo de fim de vida? E como foi ter vivido a perda dele? Que foram acompanhadas de acordo com o que os familiares consideravam relevante. Participaram deste estudo seis adultos, três mulheres e três homens, com idades entre 26 e 63 anos, cuidadores de familiares acometidos por doenças potencialmente fatais. Os colaboradores foram localizados pela divulgação do trabalho entre pessoas conhecidas e escolheram participar voluntariamente. A compreensão das narrativas mostrou que: 1) Quando uma pessoa com doença potencialmente fatal é diagnosticada e passa a ser tratada/cuidada, é fundamental englobar nesses cuidados também sua família, em especial o membro cuidador, pois esse é fortemente afetado pela doença e seus desdobramentos, vivenciando impactos e rupturas, acompanhados de muito sofrimento e angústia; 2) A relação entre a pessoa com a doença/familiar cuidador e os profissionais de saúde mostrou-se importante, influenciando todo o processo de fim de vida e morte. Porém, os profissionais também apresentam suas dificuldades em lidar com o sofrimento e a finitude humanas. Assim, é imprescindível apontar a necessidade de também receberem cuidados em meio à sua prática cotidiana; 3) Destacou-se ainda a importância dos cuidados nãofarmacológicos/ não-técnicos no cuidado a cuidadores familiares e cuidadores profissionais. É necessário recuperar modos de escuta e acolhimento, em um movimento de se desvincular da grande dependência do tecnicismo, abrindo espaço para as subjetividades; 4) E ainda, é preciso enfatizar a necessidade do próprio cuidador, em sua intensa vivência, poder se ver/se perceber em todo esse processo. Perceber-se enquanto ser que sofre, angustia-se perante a dor e a morte. É importante que acolha a própria dor e angústia e, assim, possa crescer/projetar-se para as inúmeras perspectivas que o poder-ser da existência humana possibilita. Tendo como base os achados, ao final, há a apresentação de palavras diretamente escritas a profissionais e cuidadores. Dessa forma, este trabalho, enquanto amplia as compreensões a respeito da intensa vivência que é o cuidar de um ente querido/paciente em seus últimos momentos de vida, pode auxiliar familiares cuidadores e profissionais de saúde em sua profunda jornada / This study aimed to understand the experiences of family caregivers during and after caring for a loved one in the process of end of life and death. With important progress in scientific and technological areas, life expectancy of the world population has increased. Moreover, people of any age have survived longer with serious illnesses and/or accidents. These significant changes in population has increased the demand for care, which have been conducted, mostly by close relatives. Then, the aim of this research was learning more about this caregiver; understanding the impacts to him in care experience, their role in the process and knowing better how he deals with the idiosyncrasies of this intense experience. This work is based on the phenomenological research method developed by Amedeo Giorgi. The interviews had a non-directive approach and were started with the question: How did you experienced the taking care of your loved one in an end of life process? And how did having lived his/her loss? They were conducted taking in account what the participants considered as relevant issues. Six adults participated, three men and three women, ranging from 26 to 63 years of age; they were the main caregivers of relatives with potentially fatal diseases. The collaborators had knowledge about the study through divulgation for known people and voluntarily wished to cooperate. The comprehensive analysis of the narratives showed that: 1) It is fundamental to include family, especially the caregiver member, in the care when a person with advanced disease is diagnosed and is treated/cared. It because the caregiver is strongly affected by the disease and its consequences, experiencing impacts and disruptions, accompanied by much suffering and anguish; 2) The relationship between the person with the disease/caregivers and health professionals proved important, because it influences the whole end of life process and death. However, professionals also have their difficulties in dealing with suffering and human finitude. Therefore, it is essential to foreground the need to also receive care in their daily practice; 3) It was also highlighted the importance of nonpharmacological/ non-technical care in caring for family caregivers and professional caregivers. It is necessary to recover ways of listening and acceptance, in a movement to avoid the heavy reliance on technicality and to make room for subjectivities; 4) And, it is necessary to emphasize the need for the caregiver to see and perceive himself/herself throughout this process. Perceive himself as being who suffers and anguishes in front of pain and death. It is important to embraces his/her pain and anguish and, then, can grow/project himself to the numerous perspectives that the can-be human existence allows. At the end, based on findings, there is a presentation of words written directly to professionals and caregivers. Thus, this paper, while expanding understandings about the intense experience that is caring for a loved one/patient in the last moments of life, can help family caregivers and health professionals in your deep journey

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-05-17T20:45:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SerlandiaSilvaSousa.pdf: 5627954 bytes, checksum: 247a7c10cddfe915f80ebc5f5e03adb0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-17T20:45:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SerlandiaSilvaSousa.pdf: 5627954 bytes, checksum: 247a7c10cddfe915f80ebc5f5e03adb0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-11-30 / INTRODUCTION: The end of life of cancer patients can be not only painful, but also with a huge impact on their Quality of Life (QoL). There is a gap concerning to the care of which factors are relevant and important and how they can be managed by the health team. AIMS: Recognize which factors can affect the Quality of Life in women with advanced breast and cervical cancer. METHODS: From July to December of 2015, a Cross-sectional and prospective study was performed in 50 patients with advanced breast cancer and uterine cervical that had been treated in the outpatient and inpatient sectors at the Clinic of Oncology from the Aldenora Bello Institute of Oncology, São Luis, Maranhão. Sociodemographic, clinical and religious data were collected, and questionnaires were also applied: Religiosity and Spirituality Coping (REC), Quality of Life, Whoqol - bref of the World Health Organization (WHO), Depression Scale (Beck Inventory) and Self Efficacy Scale. In a second moment, after the death, the assessment of quality of life and at the end-of-life care variables were made via an interview with the patient's personal caregiver. To evaluate the correlation among the instruments that were considered in this study, it was calculated the Spearman’s correlation coefficient. RESULTS: It was not possible to realize the statistically significant correlation between QoL in patients' and their caregivers' perspective. There was a significant and positive correlation between length of hospital stay and ICU time with level of patients concern. There was still a weak but significant inverse correlation of the physical stress level of the patients and their ICU stay according to the caregiver's perspective. Based on these caregivers' perspective, the QoL in the last days of life obtained an inverse and significant correlation with the variable negative reevaluation of the spiritual meaning of the patients. The length of stay (LOS) in an intensive care unit (ICU) had a strong and significant inverse correlation with self-efficacy. Moreover, the patient's level of concern had a positive and significant correlation with depression. CONCLUSION: In their last days of life, the patients had a low quality of life, becoming worse whether it is considered the length of stay (especially in ICU) in patients with negative reevaluation of the spiritual meaning, with low self-efficacy and depressed. / INTRODUÇÃO: O final da vida de pacientes com câncer pode ser, não apenas sofrido, mas também com grande impacto na Qualidade de Vida (QV). Há uma lacuna no atendimento de quais fatores são relevantes e importantes e que podem ser manejados pela equipe de saúde. OBJETIVO: Determinar quais os fatores que influenciam na qualidade de vida de mulheres com câncer avançado de mama e de colo de útero. METODOLOGIA: Estudo transversal e prospectivo realizado com 50 pacientes com câncer de mama e de colo de útero em estágio avançado, atendidas nos setores ambulatorial e de internação da Clínica Oncológica do Instituto Maranhense de Oncologia Aldenora Bello, no período de julho à dezembro de 2015. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, clínicos e religiosos, e ainda foram aplicados questionários: Coping religiosidade e espiritualidade (CRE), Qualidade de Vida WHOQOL – bref da Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) Escala de Depressão (Inventario de Beck) e Escala de Autoeficácia. Em um segundo tempo, após o óbito, foi feita a avaliação da qualidade de vida no final da vida e variáveis do cuidado no final da vida, através de uma entrevista com o cuidador fixo das pacientes. Para avaliar a correlação entre os instrumentos considerados no estudo foi calculado o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman. RESULTADOS: Não foi possível observar a correlação estatisticamente significante entre a QV na visão das pacientes e dos seus cuidadores. Houve correlação significante e positiva entre tempo de internação e tempo em UTI com nível de preocupação das pacientes. Ainda, houve correlação inversa fraca, porém significante, do nível de estresse físico das pacientes e a permanência em UTI, na visão do cuidador. A QV nos últimos dias de vida na visão dos cuidadores obteve correlação inversa e significante com a variável reavaliação negativa do significado espiritual das pacientes. O tempo de internação em UTI obteve correlação inversa, forte e significante, com autoeficácia. Já o nível de preocupação da paciente obteve correlação positiva e significativa com a depressão. CONCLUSÃO: As pacientes tiveram uma baixa qualidade de vida, nos últimos dias de vida, sendo pior quanto maior o tempo de internação (especialmente em UTI), nas pacientes com reavaliação negativa do significado espiritual, com baixa autoeficácia e deprimidas.

A cirurgia parendodôntica é um recurso utilizado para solucionar casos em que a terapia endodôntica não obteve sucesso, ou ainda na impossibilidade da sua realização. A escolha de um material retroobturador adequado pode contribuir positivamente para o reparo tecidual. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a capacidade seladora de três materiais usados para retroobturação, em dois tempos diferentes, tendo como marcador o corante Rodamina B a 0,2%. Sessenta e seis dentes tiveram as suas coroas seccionadas, os canais preparados com limas manuais e obturados com cimento e guta-percha. Seccionaram-se dois milímetros da porção apical e cavidades retrógradas foram preparadas com pontas de ultra-som lisas; dividindo-se então, em 3 grupos experimentais que receberam os seguintes materiais: MTA Ângelus ® , Real Seal ® e um material experimental desenvolvido pelo IPEN-USP (Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares da Universidade de São Paulo). Dez elementos de cada grupo foram imersos em soro fisiológico durante 72h a 37°C, antes de serem impermeabilizados e colocados no corante por 24h (grupos I A, II A e III A). Os demais permaneceram 60 dias em soro fisiológico para depois serem impermeabilizados e colocados no marcador (grupos I B, II B e III B). O controle positivo consistiu de 3 espécimes, que não tiveram as cavidades retroobturadas. Outros três espécimes serviram como controle negativo, cada um foi retroobturado com um dos materiais em estudo e foram totalmente impermeabilizados antes de serem imersos no corante. Após o tempo de imersão no corante, todos os espécimes foram lavados, e em seguida, clivados ongitudinalmente no sentido mésio-distal. As superfícies foram avaliadas em lupa estereoscópica com aumento de 20X e fotografadas. A infiltração linear foi medida com auxílio de uma lente reticulada e régua milimetrada. Os resultados foram submetidos aos testes estatísticos de Kruskal-Wallis e verificou-se que não houve diferença entre os grupos do MTA Ângelus ® e do Real Seal ® , sendo que a maior infiltração do corante ocorreu na interface dentina-material experimental, com diferença estatisticamente significante ao nível de 1% (a=0,01). Fazendo a análise estatística de Mann-Whitney entre os grupos com o mesmo material, verificou-se que o tempo de permanência em umidade até 60 dias não influenciou na vedação dos materiais retroobturadores. / Apical surgery is a resource that is used to solve cases in which endodontic therapy was either unsuccessful or could not be done. Choice of root-end filling material contributes for successful. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sealing ability of three materials used for root-end filling, using 0.2% Rhodamine B. Sixty-six teeth had their crowns removed, and their canals were cleaned and shaped with manual files, and filled with cement and gutta-percha. Two millimeters of the apical portion were sectioned and root-end cavities were prepared in all specimens with smooth ultrasonic tips. Three groups were formed to receive the following materials: MTA Ângelus ® , Real Seal ® , and an experimental material developed by the IPEN-USP (Institute of Energetic and Nuclear Research from São Paulo University). Ten specimens from each group were immersed in a physiological saline solution for 72h at 37°C, before being waterproofed and put in the colorant for 24 h (groups I A, II A, and III A). The others remained in physiological saline solution for 60 days and were then waterproofed and put in the marker (groups I B, II B, and III B). The positive control consisted of three specimens that did not have their cavities root-end filled. Another three specimens served as a negative control, each being root-end filled with one of the materials being studied, and they were totally waterproofed before being immersed in Rhodamine B. After the time of immersion in the colorant, all of the Speci mens were washed and then cleaved longitudinally in the mesio-distal direction. The surfaces were evaluated under a stereoscopic magnifying glass at 20X magnification and photographed. The linear infiltration was measured with a micro metered lens and millimeter rule . The results were submitted to the Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests and it was noticed that there was no difference between the MTA Ângelus ® and Real Seal ® groups. The experimental material presents the most colorant microleakage, with a statistically significant difference (a=0.01). The Mann-Whitney statistical analysis performed in the groups with the same material showed that the period of time the specimen remained exposed to moisture - up to 60 days - did not impact the materials’ sealing capacity.

Student Number : 0002066T - MSc dissertation - School of Electrical and Information Engineering - Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment / Investigations of uni-directional, horizontally polarized waveguide antennas with longitudinal slotted arrays operating at 2.45GHz and their applications to wireless local area networks (WLAN) are presented in this paper. Requirements, considerations, and limitations associated with the design process of this particular waveguide are discussed and presented. Various antenna parameters were simulated using MATLAB® and SuperNEC® software simulation programs, and were applied to a sensitivity analysis of antenna design. End-fed and center-fed antennas were designed, built, and measured at WLAN frequencies. Measured antennas had high gain above 15dBi, broad beam around the azimuth, and high efficiency, but were limited by their impedance dependency and narrow bandwidth. The center-fed antenna had 3dBi higher gain than the 18dBi gain of the end-fed antenna. The VSWR ratio of both antennas was less than 1:1.5 at the operating frequency. The center-fed antenna had broader azimuth and elevation patterns by 40° and 10°, respectively. The end- fed antenna had more stable gain and VSWR, 50% wider VSWR bandwidth of 100MHz, and more directional elevation pattern. The design criteria generated using waveguide theory and simulated analysis was validated by the physical design and performance of the measured antennas.

AIM - To explore the perspectives of service users and professional staff towards service user involvement within the context of a changing cultural environment at a UK hospice. METHOD - Case study and thematic analysis including interviews with 16 staff including the CEO and 6 service users at a UK hospice. FINDINGS - Three overarching themes were identified: involvement and disempowerment in decision-making; belonging and alienation in a period of organisational change; struggle to maintain wellbeing and identity in a changing culture. A key finding is that service users receiving care from the hospice wanted their voices to be heard, valued and respected for their personal care and issues affecting the hospice. Service users did not consider it a burden to be asked for their views. They felt disempowered by a consultation process about organisational changes that appeared not to take their views on board. There is a need to consider whether a reliance on surveys for involving service users is sufficient or can become tokenistic. External social-political-economic pressures plus increasing privatisation of public services could influence the way that hospices operate in future. This could involve moving from a sanctuary to a business culture and potentially towards managerialism by adopting a regulatory rather than rights-based approach with an emphasis on increasing reach, measuring numbers and hitting targets. Service users being viewed as consumers with a focus on reablement/rehabilitation activities and less on psychosocial support could also serve to push hospices to start behaving more like hospitals. CONCLUSION - More qualitative research is needed to ensure the voices of service users living with a life-limiting illness are heard. The contributions they make towards co-production of services and research should also be heard and influence practice and policy. Service users should also be more involved in education and training of staff.

Cuidado Paliativo é cuidado ativo total de pacientes cuja doença não é mais passível de responder a tratamento curativo. Almeja-se controlar a dor e outros sintomas e tratar de problemas de ordem psicológica, social e espiritual. O objetivo é melhorar a qualidade de vida do paciente e de seus familiares, de acordo com a definição da Organização Mundial de Saúde. Esta abordagem, portanto, é de responsabilidade de uma equipe multidisciplinar que enfoca a pessoa doente e o alívio integral do sofrimento. A vida é afirmada, e a morte é encarada como natural, não sendo antecipada nem postergada. Dada a importância desta difícil tarefa, é crucial que o atendimento seja de boa qualidade, e para tanto é necessário utilizar indicadores de qualidade do Cuidado Paliativo. No caso do câncer incurável, os indicadores de qualidade do Cuidado Paliativo incluem a avaliação da qualidade de vida, do controle dos sintomas e da satisfação do paciente e da família com o cuidado. Além desses indicadores, fundamentais, porém de difícil obtenção, existem aqueles obtidos com base em dados administrativos. Dentre estes, os mais frequentes são a fração de pacientes encaminhados ao Cuidado Paliativo, a porcentagem de pacientes que receberam quimioterapia no final da vida e fração de óbitos ocorridos na unidade de cuidados paliativos ou no domicílio. Numa situação ideal, espera-se que a grande maioria dos pacientes seja encaminhada à unidade de cuidados paliativos e que o óbito ocorra na própria unidade ou na residência do paciente, e não em unidades de emergência, na terapia intensiva ou em enfermarias gerais. Quanto à quimioterapia no final da vida, pode ser um indicador de tratamento inapropriadamente agressivo. Cabe ressaltar, contudo, que estes indicadores não estão universalmente validados. Levando-se em consideração esta limitação, estudos em outros países concluem que o Cuidado Paliativo é subutilizado e introduzido tardiamente no curso da doença. Este cenário negativo inclui o uso agressivo da quimioterapia no final da vida. Um diagnóstico de câncer de pulmão metastático geralmente implica em um curto tempo de vida com uma carga elevada de sintomas. Nesta situação, a quimioterapia parece ser vantajosa, prolongando a vida e melhorando a sua qualidade, quando se avalia esse grupo de pacientes de uma forma global. Em um paciente individual, porém, há de ser levar em conta seu estado funcional, bem como as comorbidades e a toxicidade do tratamento. Também são importantes aspectos da comunicação médico-paciente quanto ao prognóstico e os benefícios esperados da quimioterapia. Neste contexto, a necessidade da visão global do paciente e do controle de sintomas implica no Cuidado Paliativo, isoladamente ou associado ao tratamento oncológico específico. Resolvemos, portanto investigar, retrospectivamente, indicadores de qualidade, com base em dados administrativos, do Cuidado Paliativo em pacientes portadores de câncer de pulmão não pequenas células (CPNPC) metastático atendidos na Fundação Pio XII, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, cujo óbito tenha ocorrido entre Janeiro de 2003 e Janeiro de 2005. Os indicadores escolhidos foram a porcentagem de pacientes encaminhados à unidade de Cuidados Paliativos, o local do óbito e a porcentagem de pacientes que receberam quimioterapia no último mês de vida.No total foram revisados 275 prontuários, destes 36 estavam incompletos, sendo elegíveis 239 pacientes para as análises. A data do óbito foi detectada em 218 pacientes, sendo o atestado de óbito disponível em 166 pacientes. A maioria dos pacientes (75,3%) tinha baixa escolaridade, analfabetos ou com o ensino fundamental incompleto. A cor era branca em 78,6% dos casos e a idade mediana era de 64 anos (intervalo 31-90 anos). O hábito do tabagismo foi detectado em 77,4% dos pacientes. Quanto às características clínicas, notamos que o escore de estado funcional Karnofsky (KPS) não foi registrado em aproximadamente metade dos pacientes. Naqueles em que havia registro, 58,8% apresentavam estado funcional preservado (KPS >70%). Os sítios de metástase mais frequentes foram o fígado (39,3%), ossos (22,6%) e cérebro (19,7%). Em relação aos sintomas, os mais frequentes foram dor (47,6%) e dispnéia (34,3%), sendo os opiódes usados por 36,8% dos pacientes. O tratamento oncológico consistiu em cirurgias (6,5%), radioterapia (61,9%) e quimioterapia (44,7%). Os esquemas mais utilizados (85,9%) em primeira linha foram as combinações baseadas em platina, com uma mediana de três ciclos administrados por paciente. A quimioterapia de segunda linha foi aplicada em 9,0% dos pacientes.Quanto aos indicadores de qualidade do Cuidado Paliativo, somente 104/239 (43,5%) dos pacientes foram encaminhados à unidade de cuidados paliativos. Nestes o óbito ocorreu em 38 ± 58 (media ± desvio padrão) dias, sendo uma fração importante destes, 20/104 (19,2%), em menos de quatro dias. Num modelo por análise de regressão logística, o sexo feminino, a menor escolaridade, a realização de radioterapia, a ausência de dor, e a ausência do uso de quimioterapia foram preditivos do encaminhamento à unidade (p=0,04; 0,03; 0,01; 0,03; 0,05), respectivamente. A quimioterapia foi aplicada em 46 dos 239 pacientes (19,2%) no último mês de vida, sendo a ausência de realização de radioterapia (p= 0,02) o único fator preditivo, pela análise de regressão logística. Em relação ao local do óbito, este ocorreu no domicílio ou na unidade de cuidados paliativos em somente 119/218 (55,5%) dos casos, sendo os restantes em enfermarias clínicas, na emergência ou em unidades de terapia intensiva. A sobrevida global foi de 4,4 ± 0,3 (media ± desvio padrão) meses após o diagnóstico da metástase, pela análise de Kaplan-Meier.Em conclusão, este grupo de pacientes portadores de CPNPC metastático não se beneficiou plenamente do Cuidado Paliativo e uma fração significativa destes foi submetida a tratamento agressivo no final da vida. A dificuldade em estimar-se o prognóstico e fatores culturais ligados a negação da finitude humana e exaltação da tecnologia, além de barreiras na comunicação médico-paciente precisam ser melhor estudados / Palliative Care is the total active care of patients whose disease is no longer amenable to curative measures. Control of pain and other symptoms is a priority, and psychological, social and spiritual issues are taken into consideration. The goal is to improve the quality of life of patients and of their families, according to the World Health Organization definition. Thus a team approach is necessary, with focus on the individual as a whole and aiming to ease suffering. Life is affirmed and death is seen as natural and neither hastened nor postponed. Given the importance of this hard task, quality of care should be optimal. In relation to incurable cancer, Palliative Care quality measures include the evaluation of the quality of life, of symptom control and of patient´s and family satisfaction with care. In addition to these measures, which are fundamental but difficult to obtain, there are those obtained from administrative data. Among these, the most frequent are the percentage of patients who were referred to the palliative care unit, the percentage of patients who were treated with chemotherapy near the end of life and the fraction of patients who died in their homes or in the palliative care unit. In an ideal setting, the great majority of these patients should be referred to Palliative Care, the place of death should be the Palliative Care unit or the patients´ homes. Death should not occur in emergency rooms, intensive care units or acute care inpatient units. Regarding chemotherapy administration near the end of life, that may imply in an inappropriately aggressive treatment. However, these quality measures lack universal validation. With this caveat in mind, studies conducted in other countries concluded that Palliative Care is underutilized and introduced late in the disease course. This negative scenario includes the aggressive use of chemotherapy near the end of life.A diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer usually implies in a short survival and a heavy symptom burden. Chemotherapy may prolong survival and improve the quality of life, when this population is analyzed as a whole. In the individual patient, however, performance status, comorbidities and treatment toxicity must be taken into consideration. Patient-doctor communication issues that deal with prognosis and the expected benefits of chemotherapy are also critical. In this context, to see the patient as a whole and symptom control demands Palliative Care, alone or in addition to specific anti-cancer treatment.Thus, we decided to retrospectively investigate administrative based quality measures of Palliative Care in metastatic non small cell lung cancer patients (NSCLC), who were managed at Fundação Pio XII, Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, and who died from January 2003 to January 2005. The measures that were chosen were the percentage of patients who were referred to the palliative care unit, the place of death and the percentage of patients who were treated with chemotherapy in the last month of life. A total of 275 patient charts were reviewed, 36 were incomplete, thus 239 patients were eligible for the analysis of clinical and treatment characteristics. The time of death was available for 218 patients, and the death certificate was available for 166 patients. Most (75,3%) patients had a low educational level, being illiterate or with incomplete elementary school. Patients were white (78,6%) with median age of 64 years (range 31-90 years). Smoking history was positive in 77,4% patients. In relation to the clinical characteristics, Karnofsky (KPS) performance status score was not recorded in approximately half of the patient group. In those that it was available, 58,8% presented with preserved functional status do (KPS>70). The most frequent metastatic sites were liver (39,3%), bones (22,6%) and brain (19,7%). The most frequent symptoms were pain (47,6%) and shortness of breath (34,3%); opioids were used by 36,8% dos patients. Cancer treatment was surgery (6,5%), radiotherapy (61,9%) and chemotherapy (44,7%). The most commonly used protocols in first line (85,9%) were platinun based combination chemotherapy, with a median of three cycles per patient. Second line chemotherapy was administered to 9,0% of patients.In relation to the Palliative Care quality measures, only 104/239 (43,5%) patients were referred to the unit, 38±58 days before death, being a significant minority, 20/104 (19,2%) referred late, four or less days before death. In a logistic regression model, female gender, low educational level, radiotherapy, lack of pain and lack of chemotherapy administration were predictive of referral to the unit (p=0,04; 0,03; 0,01; 0,03; 0,05), respectively. Chemotherapy was administered to a significant minority 46/239 (19,2%) of patients in the last month of life. In this case, the lack of radiotherapy was the only predictive variable by logistic regression analysis (p= 0,02). The place of death was in the patients´ homes or in the Palliative Care unit in only 119/218 (55,5%) cases, being the rest in acute care beds, emergency rooms or intensive care units. The overall survival after the diagnosis of metastatic disease was 4,4 ± 0,3 months, by Kaplan-Meier analysis.In conclusion, our NSCLC patients did not fully benefit from Palliative Care and a significant fraction of these patients were submitted to aggressive care near the end of their lives. The difficulty in estimating patients´ prognosis and cultural factors linked to the denial of human finitude and technicism, as well as patient- doctor communication barriers should be explored in future studies

BACKGROUND: Nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) frequently care for patients and their families at the end-of-life (EOL). Providing high quality EOL care is important for both patients and families, yet ICU nurses face many obstacles that hinder EOL care. Researchers have identified various ICU nurse-perceived obstacles, but no studies have been found addressing the progress that has been made over the last 17 years.OBJECTIVE: To determine the most common and current obstacles in EOL care as perceived by ICU nurses and then to evaluate whether or not meaningful changes have occurred since data were first gathered in 1998.METHODS: A quantitative-qualitative mixed methods design was used. A random, geographically dispersed sample of 2,000 members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses was surveyed.RESULTS: Five obstacle items increased in mean score and rank as compared to 1999 data including: (1) family not understanding what the phrase "life-saving measures" really means; (2) providing life-saving measures at families' requests despite patient's advance directive listing no such care; (3) family not accepting patient's poor prognosis; (4) family members fighting about use of life support; and, (5) not enough time to provide EOL care because the nurse is consumed with life-saving measures attempting to save the patient's life. Five obstacle items decreased in mean score and rank compared to 1999 data including (1) physicians differing in opinion about care of the patient; (2) family and friends who continually call the nurse rather than calling the designated family member; (3) physicians who are evasive and avoid families; (4) nurses having to deal with angry families; and, (5) nurses not knowing their patient's wishes regarding continuing with tests and treatments.CONCLUSIONS: Obstacles in EOL care, as perceived by critical care nurses, still exist. Family-related obstacles have increased over time and may not be easily overcome as each family, dealing with a dying family member in an ICU, likely has never experienced a similar situation. Based on the current top five obstacles, recommendations for possible areas of focus may include (1) improved nursing assessment regarding the health literacy of families followed with directed, appropriate, and specific EOL information, (2) improved care coordination between physicians and other health care providers to facilitate sharing care plans, (3) advanced directives that are followed as written by patients, (4) designated family contact communicating with family and friends regarding patient information, and, finally, (5) earlier, transparent discussions of patient prognoses as disease processes advance and patient conditions deteriorate.

The purpose of this study was to compare scores students received on the eighth grade EXPLORE test in math and English to scores received in English 9 and Algebra I on both the End-of-Course (EOC) test and the final average in those courses. These scores were taken from a rural East Tennessee High School and the middle schools that feed into the high school. Data were collected over a 2-year period (2012 – 2014). Students who had a score in eighth grade and a corresponding score in ninth grade were included. All others were omitted. A series of Pearson correlations were conducted between EXPLORE scores in Math and English with final averages in English 9 and Algebra I and EOC scores in English 9 and Algebra I. An independent samples t test was conducted to determine whether the mean scores on the EXPLORE English and math test, mean scores for English 9 and Algebra I final averages and mean scores for EOC exams in English 9 and Algebra 1 differ between female and male students. Based on the findings of this study, the score received on the eighth grade EXPLORE in English has a strong positive correlation to the score received on the English 9 EOC and the final average in English 9. The same was true for the score on the EXPLORE in math, it also had a strong positive correlation to the score received on the Algebra I EOC and the final average in Algebra I. Additionally gender has an impact upon English 9 final averages, English 9 EOC scores, Algebra I final averages and EXPLORE scores in English, with female students scoring higher than male students in those categories. Conversely gender did not have an effect on Algebra I EOC scores or EXPLORE scores in math.

To further the research done in machining complex surfaces, Jensen [1993] developed an algorithm that matches the normal curvature at a point along the surface with the resultant radius formed by tilting a standard flat end mill. The algorithm called Curvature Matched Machining (CM2) is faster and more efficient than conventional three-axis machining [Jensen 1993, Simpson 1995 & Kitchen 1996]. Despite the successes of CM2 there are still many areas available for research. Consider the machining of a mold or die. The complex nature of a mold requires at least 20-30 weeks of lead time. Of those 20-30 weeks 50% is spent in machining. Of that time 50-65% is spent in rough machining. For a mold or die that amounts to 7 to 8 weeks of rough machining. If one could achieve as much as a 10-15% reduction in machining time that would amount to almost one week worth of time savings. As can be seen, small improvements in time and efficiency for rough machining can yield significant results [Fallbohmer 1996]. This research developed an algorithm that focused on reducing the overall machining time for parts and surfaces. Particularly, the focus of this research was within rough machining. The algorithm incorporated principles of three-axis rough cutting with five-axis CM2, hence Rough Curvature Matched Machining (RCM2). In doing so, the algorithm ‘morphed‘ planar machining slices to the semi-roughed surface allowing the finish pass to be complete in one pass. This roughing algorithm has significant time-savings over current roughing techniques.