The aim of this study was to compute and validate trunk transverse surface area (TTSA) estimation equations to be used assessing the swimmer's drag force according to competitive level by gender. One group of 130 swimmers (54 females and 76 males) was used to compute the TTSA estimation equations and another group of 132 swimmers (56 females and 76 males) were used for its validations. Swimmers were photographed in the transverse plane from above, on land, in the upright and hydrodynamic position. The TTSA was measured from the swimmer's photo with specific software. It was also measured the height, body mass, biacromial diameter, chest sagital diameter (CSD) and the chest perimeter (CP). With the first group of swimmers it was computed the TTSA estimation equations based on stepwise multiple regression models from the selected anthropometrical variables. The TTSA prediction equations were significant and with a prediction level qualitatively considered as moderate. All equations included only the CP and the CSD in the final models. In all prediction models there were no significant differences between assessed and estimated mean TTSA. Coefficients of determination for the linear regression models between assessed and estimated TTSA were moderate and significant. More than 80% of the plots were within the 95% interval confidence for the Bland-Altman analysis in both genders. So, TTSA estimation equations that are easy to be computed by coached and researchers were developed. All equations accomplished the validation criteria adopted.

This work presents a way to assemble a low­cost thermographic camera from scratch based on a well­known long­wave infrared sensor named FLIR Lepton 3.5. After the camera is built, I will apply a calibration strategy to the camera. In conclusion, with the camera assembled and calibrated, I will be making a few comparisons against other cameras inside the market to know if the camera can be an opponent for other cameras of this type.

A multi-service traffic model is proposed, and its validation is achieved by using event-based simulation results. In the single-service case, theoretical and experimental results for ON-OFF blocking probability are close to each other, and there is an almost perfect concordance between theoretical and simulation values when the average sojourn time in cells is equal to the average holding time. In the multi-service case, the behaviour is not exactly the same but a coherent behaviour is achieved for an average traffic per user up to 0.10 Erl.

A multi-service traffic model is presented, and its validation is achieved in a vehicular scenario by using event-based simulation results. In the single-service case, theoretical and experimental results for ON-OFF blocking probability are close to each other, and there is an almost perfect concordance between theoretical and simulation values when the average sojourn time in cells is equal to the average holding time. The challenges presented by the multi-service case are identified, and a question related with a possible correspondence between blocking/handover failure probabilities and ON-OFF blocking probability are presented.

Increasing automation in automotive industry is an important contribution to overcome many of the major societal challenges. However, testing and validating a highly autonomous vehicle is one of the biggest obstacles to the deployment of such vehicles, since they rely on data-driven and real-time sensors, actuators, complex algorithms, machine learning systems, and powerful processors to execute software, and they must be proven to be reliable and safe. For this reason, the verification, validation and testing (VVT) of autonomous vehicles is gaining interest and attention among the scientific community and there has been a number of significant efforts in this field. VVT helps developers and testers to determine any hidden faults, increasing systems confidence in safety, security, functional analysis, and in the ability to integrate autonomous prototypes into existing road networks. Other stakeholders like higher-management, public authorities and the public are also crucial to complete the VTT process. As autonomous vehicles require hundreds of millions of kilometers of testing driven on public roads before vehicle certification, simulations are playing a key role as they allow the simulation tools to virtually test millions of real-life scenarios, increasing safety and reducing costs, time and the need for physical road tests. In this study, a literature review is conducted to classify approaches for the VVT and an existing simulation tool is used to implement an autonomous driving system. The system will be characterized from the point of view of its performance in some critical highway scenarios.

The aim of this study was to compute and validate estimation equations for the trunk transverse surface area (TTSA) to be used in assessing the swimmer's drag force in both genders. One group of 133 swimmers (56 females, 77 males) was used to compute the estimation equations and another group of 131 swimmers (56 females, 75 males) was used for its validations. Swimmers were photographed in the transverse plane from above, on land, in the upright and hydrodynamic position. The TTSA was measured from the swimmer's photo with specific software. Also measured was the height, body mass, biacromial diameter, chest sagital diameter (CSD) and the chest perimeter (CP). With the first group of swimmers, it was computed the TTSA estimation equations based on stepwise multiple regression models from the selected anthropometrical variables. For males TTSA=6.662*CP+17.019*CSD-210.708 (R(2)=0.32; Ra (2)=0.30; P<0.01) and for females TTSA=7.002*CP+15.382*CSD-255.70 (R(2)=0.34; Ra (2)=0.31; P<0.01). For both genders there were no significant differences between assessed and estimated mean TTSA. Coefficients of determination for the linear regression models between assessed and estimated TTSA were R(2)=0.39 for males and R(2)=0.55 for females. More than 80% of the plots were within the 95% interval confidence for the Bland-Altman analysis in both genders.

The working environment is a crucial aspect to considerfor guaranteeing a sustainable life. However, workers are exposed to various health risks daily, namely, psychological risks. These risks can be due to imbalances on the part of the workers themselves or to organisational and interfunctional risk factors arising from interactions within companies and the challenges of professional responsibilities. Over the past 20 years, the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) has become one of the most prominent tools for assessing psychological and social factors at work. This study aimed to present, discuss, and evaluate aspects of the cultural adaptation and preliminary psychometric validation of the short version of COPSOQ III for a Portuguese sample. For this purpose, we used data from 361 participants employed in the industrial (30.7%) and services (69.3%) sectors across various regions of Portugal. A third-order confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed using AMOS, revealing an acceptable fit. The results also demonstrate the robustness of the measurement model, confirming its reliability and validity. In light of some limitations of this preliminary study, directions for future research are proposed. Thus, a tool for assessing psychosocial risks is disseminated, making it possible to achieve more sustainable working environments where the operator’s health and well-being are prioritised.

Background & aims: As far as we know, no screening questionnaire has been developed and validated for identification of adverse food reactions in Portuguese-speaking adults, as an initial approach towards the investigation of cases of possible food allergy. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop and validate a screening questionnaire of food allergy in adult Portuguesespeaking patients. Methods: This was a multicentre, cross-sectional study using a simple random sample of 186 adults between 18 and 82 years old from various parts of the centre of Portugal. Intelligibility of the questionnaire was first assessed in 24 patients with confirmed IgE- or non-IgE-mediated food allergy, and in 24 volunteers without food allergies. The 17-item questionnaire was subsequently applied by phone to 78 food allergic patients (66 IgE-mediated and 12 non-IgE mediated) and to 60 non-food allergic volunteers, with subsequent reassessment (re-test). Face and content validity, intelligibility, construct validity, and test-retest reliability (temporal stability) were analysed. Results: Face and content validity allowed item reduction from 30 to 17 items with adequate content validity index >0.78. Construct validity was confirmed in the 66 confirmed IgE-mediated food allergic patients, 12 non-IgE-mediated food allergic patients, and 60 non-allergic patients. Test-Retest Reliability (general temporal stability) of the test had a Spearman correlation coefficient value of 0.845 for the retest. Cohen's Kappa values for the relevant questions were greater than 0.890 for almost all items. No differences were found when sex, age, and volunteers' recruitment origin were analysed. An inverse relationship was found between reliability and retest time interval. Conclusions: Due to the quick and easy implementation, confirmation of face, content and construct validity as well as high temporal reproducibility, this screening questionnaire may be a useful study tool for an initial approach to detection of food allergies in adults.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo o processo de construção e validação de um instrumento de observação. Neste contexto, centrámos a análise num requisito fundamental – a validade e fiabilidade do instrumento, instrumento este que servirá de base ao registo dos comportamentos observados durante a execução de vinte ciclos gestuais na técnica de bruços. O instrumento foi composto por um sistema de Formatos de Campo (Oliveira, Campaniço & Anguera, 2001), com base em referências da metodologia observacional e modelos biomecânicos da Natação (Colman & Persyn, 1993; Silva & Alves, 2000; Louro, Garrido, Ferraz, Marinho, Conceição, Tolentino, Barbosa & Silva, 2009), dando especial evidência a cinco critérios taxionómicos que agregam, na forma de códigos alfa-numéricos, a informação decisiva para descrever comportamentos que definem a técnica de bruços. Para garantir o rigor e objectividade do instrumento, foi efectuada a análise à qualidade e validade do instrumento recorrendo ao Índice de Kappa (Anguera, 1993; Blanco 1993, 1997), com base nos registos de cinco observadores treinados (inter-observadores, 96.9%) e, para efeitos de precisão, de mais um perito (intra-observador, 97.8%). Como conclusão, é possível apurar que a valência deste instrumento qualitativo é bem evidente pelos elevados valores de concordância, tornando-se um instrumento adequado para observar os comportamentos técnicos dos nadadores em bruços. - The aim of this study was the process of construction and validation of an observation instrument. In this context, we focused the analysis on a fundamental requirement - the validity and reliability of the instrument. This instrument will serve as basis for the registration of behaviors observed during the execution of twenty gestural cycles of the breaststroke technique. The instrument consisted of a Field Formats system (Oliveira, Campaniço & Anguera, 2001), based on references of the observational methodology and Swimming biomechanical models (Persyn & Colman, 1993; Silva & Alves, 2000; Louro, Garrido, Ferraz, Marinho, Conceição, Tolentino, Barbosa & Silva, 2009), giving special emphasis to five taxonomic criteria that aggregate, in the form of alpha-numeric codes, crucial information to describe behaviors that define the breaststroke technique. To ensure the instrument’s accuracy and objectivity, an analysis of the instrument’s quality and validity was made, using the Kappa Index (Anguera, 1993; Blanco 1993, 1997). This analysis was based on records of five trained observers (inter-observer, 96.9%) and, for accuracy purposes, another expert (intraobserver, 97.8%). In conclusion, it is possible to determine that, given the high reliability values, the validity of this qualitative instrument is evident, making it a suitable instrument to observe the technical behavior in breaststroke swimmers.

Este estudo teve como objetivo adaptar culturalmente e validar o Maastricht Upper Extre-mity Questionnaire (MUEQ) para a população portuguesa, tornando-o num instrumento confiável para avaliar riscos físicos e psicossociais em trabalhadores que utilizam Equipa-mentos Dotados de Visor (EDV). Seguiram-se as recomendações de Beaton et al. (2000) e as diretrizes constantes no Consensus-Based Standart for the Selection of Health Mesu-rement Instruments (COSMIN), realizando tradução, retroversão e pré-teste. Este estudo envolveu 450 participantes de uma Unidade Local de Saúde (ULS) do Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS). O MUEQ-Pt demonstrou elevada concordância entre especialistas (AC1 > 0,81), boa consistência interna (ICC = 0,811) e alfa de Cronbach aceitável (0,725). A vali-dade de construto foi confirmada por análise fatorial exploratória (AFE), com variância acu-mulada dos domínios obtidos, entre 10% e 80%. Os resultados indicam que o MUEQ-Pt é uma ferramenta válida e confiável para avaliar riscos ocupacionais na população portuguesa.