Portuguese Norms Research Articles

"Da boca do povo na língua errada do povo, língua certa do povo"

For Antonio Candido and Afrânio Coutinho, artistic nationalism was a trademark of Brazilian letters, as it corresponded to the search for a national identity. At the linguistic level, Brazilian writers defended “the Brazilian language” as an element of political emancipation and cultural autonomy. This work aims to show, through excerpts from newspapers and literary supplements from the 20th century, how after Brazil's political independence in 1822, literature was used as an instrument to forge linguistic independence. These debates that lasted throughout the 19th century culminated in the Modern Art Week. Brazilian modernism changed the way we see and think about literature and language. In the 19th century, the invention of the “Brazilian language” became a flag, as the Portuguese norm became an obstacle to national affirmation. In the 1950s, in Brazilian and Portuguese literary supplements, such debates still found resonance.

Portuguese Norms of Name Agreement, Concept Familiarity, Subjective Frequency and Visual Complexity for 150 Colored and Tridimensional Pictures.

Pictures are complex stimuli that require a careful control of several characteristics and attributes standardized for different languages. In this work we present for the first time European Portuguese (EP) norms for name agreement, concept familiarity, subjective frequency and visual complexity for a new set of 150 colored pictures. These pictures were selected to represent exemplars of the most used semantic categories in research and to depict objects which, though familiar to the participants, were rarely used in daily life, which makes them particularly prone to speech failures such as tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) states. Norms were collected from 640 EP native speakers that rated each picture in the four variables through a web-survey procedure. Results showed, as expected, that a large number of pictures in the dataset elicited a TOT response, and additionally that the ratings obtained in each of the dimensions are in line with those observed in other pictorial datasets. Norms can be freely downloaded at https://www.psi.uminho.pt/en/Research/Psycholinguistics/Pages/Databases.aspx.

Effects of socio-demographic variables on performance on the Cambridge neuropsychological automated tests for the assessment of dementia and Portuguese norms for older adults living in retirement homes

Objective: This study aimed to analyze the effects of age, education, gender, computer experience, institutionalization time, and psychotropic drug use on performance on four tests of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) which are recommended for the assessment of dementia (Rapid Visual Information Processing [RVP], Paired Associates Learning [PAL], Spatial Working Memory [SWM], and Reaction Time [RTI]), and to provide norms for Portuguese older persons without neuropsychiatric diagnoses who are living in retirement homes. Method: The normative sample included 128 adults aged 69–96 years who had no neuropsychiatric diagnosis and who had lived in retirement homes for 3–232 months. The CANTAB was administered, at the latest, one week after a screening session that comprised an interview and the administration of pencil-and-paper tests. Results: The simultaneous multiple linear regression models were significant (p < .05) for all tests except the RTI five-choice movement time measure. The total variance explained by the socio-demographic variables was smaller for the CANTAB measures (4–14%) than for the pencil-and-paper tests (10–33%). Significant effects involving age or gender were observed for RVP, PAL, and SWM. A marginally significant computer experience effect was found for the RTI simple movement time measure. We additionally observed significant effects of education, age, gender, and computer experience on several pencil-and-paper tests. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that different socio-demographic variables influence distinct tests and measures of the same test, and that the associations between computer experience and several pencil-and-paper tests may be mediated by possible cognitive skills developed through computer use.

Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy: The Reality Beyond Our Eyes.

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy refers to a mild neurocognitive impairment not detectable by clinical examination that can be present in cirrhotic patients. To determine the prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy in a secondary healthcare center in Northern Portugal. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Cirrhotic outpatients were included. overt hepatic encephalopathy, illiteracy, active alcohol consumption, psychotropic drug use and therapy with lactulose. The presence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy was defined as a value ≥ -4 on the Psychometric Hepatic Encephalopathy Score, calculated according to the Portuguese norms. Variables analyzed: etiology and severity of liver disease and venous blood ammonia concentration. p values < 0.05 were considered significant. From the 102 patients who were evaluated, 41 were included: 31 males, mean age 57 ± 10 years, mean education 5 ± 2 years, 31 in Child-Pugh class A, mean MELD score 6 ± 3. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy was diagnosed in 14 (34%) patients. The presence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy was unrelated to severity of liver disease. Despite being more elevated, the mean venous ammonia concentration in minimal hepatic encephalopathy patients was not statistically different from the mean venous ammonia concentration in non-minimal hepatic encephalopathy patients (48.5 ± 13.3 vs. 45.6 ± 15.6 μmol/L, p = 0.555). The prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy reported is in accordance with the international published data. Minimal hepatic encephalopathy is a frequent condition that is present early in the course of cirrhosis, even in compensated cirrhotic patients. Therefore, this hidden entity should be actively pursued and managed properly.

The Portuguese version of the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45): Normative data, reliability, and clinical significance cut-offs scores.

The Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45) is one of the most extensively used standardized self-report instruments to monitor psychotherapy outcomes. The questionnaire is designed specifically for the assessment of change during psychotherapy treatments. Therefore, it is crucial to provide norms and clinical cut-off values for clinicians and researchers. The current study aims at providing study provides norms, reliability indices, and clinical cut-off values for the Portuguese version of the scale. Data from two large non-clinical samples (high school/university, N = 1,669; community, N = 879) and one clinical sample (n = 201) were used to investigate psychometric properties and derive normative data for all OQ-45 subscales and the total score. Significant and substantial differences were found for all subscales between the clinical and non-clinical sample. The Portuguese version also showed adequate reliabilities (internal consistency, test-retest), which were comparable to the original version. To assess individual clinical change, clinical cut-off values and reliable change indices were calculated allowing clinicians and researchers to monitor and evaluate clients' individual change. The Portuguese version of the OQ-45 is a reliable instrument with comparable Portuguese norms and cut-off scores to those from the original version. This allows clinicians and researchers to use this instrument for evaluating change and outcome in psychotherapy. This study provides norms for non-clinical and clinical Portuguese samples and investigates the reliability (internal consistency and test-retest) of the OQ-45. Cut-off values and reliable change index are provided allowing clinicians to evaluate clinical change and clients' response to treatment, monitoring the quality of mental health care services. These can be used, in routine clinical practice, as benchmarks for treatment progress and to empirically base clinical decisions such as continuation of treatment or considering termination.

A-55 * Portuguese Norms of the Halstead Category Test: Preliminary Data

A-55 * Portuguese Norms of the Halstead Category Test: Preliminary Data

The role of human resources in processes of portuguese firms’ RD&amp;I certification and development

Innovation is seen as a competitive advantage that many companies use to ensure the continuity and success of your business.NP 4457:2007 is the Portuguese norm that supports management, based on a model of innovation backed up by interfaces and interaction between technical/scientific knowledge, its specific mechanisms and the overall society.Our paper aims to analyse innovation activities and the involvement of human resources in Portuguese firms certified by NP4457 and associated to the implementation of Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&amp;I) management systems. We have collected the data through IPAC’s database, using a survey administered to all firms.Our results suggest the existence of a Human Resources (HR) involvement policy, customers and suppliers. The involvement of stakeholders with innovation activities results of its acceptance as a mechanism able to generate wealth, with benefits for both firms and the community.

O dictionnaire suisse romand e a lexicografia diferencial

Differential lexicography is little known outside the French-speaking world. This paper seeks to describe the traits of differential lexicography by examining the Dictionnaire Suisse romande (DSR). In line with considerations by Coseriu, Völker and Glessgen, variation is taken here to be an integral part of the system. In lexicography it is a matter of analysing how (diatopic, diachronic, …) variations are associated with a linguistic level termed “unmarked”. The normalised variant of French, so-called standard French, was essentially elaborated by 17th-century grammarians such as Vaugelas and Bouhours. In Francophone lexicography, firmly established by the Richelet (1680) and Furetière (1690) dictionaries, standard French continues to be the frame of reference. In many dictionaries, however, standard French is explained in terms of usage in France, despite its supranational status. This is the context in which the methodology of differential lexicography emerges. The notion of what is differential is manifest in the choice of nomenclature. Only lexemes whose usage differs from that described in general dictionaries of French as a frame of reference (but not as a norm) are registered. In brief, the DSR covers a regional norm, or sub-norm, relating to the peculiarities of Swiss French. Other differential works of reference corroborate this observation: French is seen to consist of a standard form and regional norms described by differential lexicography. This contrasts with the situation that holds for the Portuguese language, for which there is an “educated peninsular Portuguese norm” and an “educated Brazilian norm”.

O dictionnaire suisse romand e a lexicografia diferencial

Differential lexicography is little known outside the French-speaking world. This paper seeks to describe the traits of differential lexicography by examining the Dictionnaire Suisse romande (DSR). In line with considerations by Coseriu, Völker and Glessgen, variation is taken here to be an integral part of the system. In lexicography it is a matter of analysing how (diatopic, diachronic, …) variations are associated with a linguistic level termed “unmarked”. The normalised variant of French, so-called standard French, was essentially elaborated by 17th-century grammarians such as Vaugelas and Bouhours. In Francophone lexicography, firmly established by the Richelet (1680) and Furetière (1690) dictionaries, standard French continues to be the frame of reference. In many dictionaries, however, standard French is explained in terms of usage in France, despite its supranational status. This is the context in which the methodology of differential lexicography emerges. The notion of what is differential is manifest in the choice of nomenclature. Only lexemes whose usage differs from that described in general dictionaries of French as a frame of reference (but not as a norm) are registered. In brief, the DSR covers a regional norm, or sub-norm, relating to the peculiarities of Swiss French. Other differential works of reference corroborate this observation: French is seen to consist of a standard form and regional norms described by differential lexicography. This contrasts with the situation that holds for the Portuguese language, for which there is an “educated peninsular Portuguese norm” and an “educated Brazilian norm”.

EQ-5D Portuguese population norms

The EQ-5D is a widely used preference-based measure. Normative data can be used as references to analyze the effects of healthcare, determine the burden of disease and enable regional or country comparisons. Population norms for the EQ-5D exist for other countries but have not been previously published for Portugal. The purpose of this study was to derive EQ-5D Portuguese population norms. The EQ-5D was applied by phone interview to a random sample of the Portuguese general population (n = 1,500) stratified by age, gender and region. The Portuguese value set was used to derive the EQ-5D index. Mean values were computed by gender and age groups, marital status, educational attainment, region and other variables to obtain the EQ-5D Portuguese norms. Health status declines with advancing age, and women reported worse health status than men. These results are similar to other EQ-5D population health studies. This study provides Portuguese population health-related quality of life data measured by the EQ-5D that can be used as population norms. These norms can be used to inform Portuguese policy makers, health care professionals and researchers in issues related to health care policy and planning and quantification of treatment effects on health status.

Portuguese Norms for the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A

The Portuguese version of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (HGSHS:A) was administered to 313 Portuguese college students. Score distribution, item pass rates, item analysis, and reliability of the HGSHS:A are presented and compared to earlier published reference samples. No differences were found between males and females. Reliability of the HGSHS:A Portuguese version was lower than that reported by most of the studies but within the range of the non-English versions. In general, Portuguese data are congruent with the reference samples and the Portuguese translation of the HGSHS:A. It appears to be a viable instrument for primary screening of hypnotic suggestibility in a Portuguese context.

The Clock Drawing Test: Portuguese Norms, by Age and Education, for Three Different Scoring Systems

The Clock Drawing Test has been systematically used to assess visuospatial deficits related to the parietal lobes, but we now acknowledge its much more complex relation with other cognitive abilities. Despite its common use in clinical and investigational practices, no study has developed normative data for the Portuguese population. We present the distribution of clock drawing scores using three scoring systems in a representative community sample of cognitively healthy subjects. We found that the systems were well correlated with each other and with cognitive screening tests widely used and had good psychometric properties. Normative data for the three scoring systems were developed considering age and education. These results allow a more rigorous interpretation of the test performance in clinical context and are especially relevant for epidemiological research.

Medidas sumário física e mental de estado de saúde para a população portuguesa

The goal of this article is to describe the procedures followed to obtain physical and mental summary measures of the health state measurement instrument SF-36.An exploratory factor analysis, with varimax rotation, found the two summary measures associated with an explained variance of 72.5%. After computing the physical and mental summary measures the standard values were obtained for the definition of Portuguese norms relating to these aggregated indicators.The determination of these measures allows their use as explanatory variables in econometric studies.

Accessibility of sports facilities for persons with reduced mobility and assessment of their motivation for practice

This study aims to create awareness, both within the scientific community and among providers of sports facilities, for individuals with impaired or reduced mobility, promoting the development of technical solutions that allow greater autonomy and social integration of people with disabilities. The purpose of this work is, on the one hand, to evaluate the accessibility of sports facilities for people with reduced mobility and, on the other hand, to investigate why this user group has such low rates of participation in sporting activities. Firstly, using the Portuguese norms and legislation transcribed from European Community directives, a check list was created comprising all the items that sports facilities should abide by in order to provide accessibility and safety to people with reduced mobility. Another questionnaire was designed aimed at this user group, with questions pertaining to their desire and ability to use sports facilities. This questionnaire was distributed in Portugal, in the greater metropolitan area of Porto, to users of Rehabilitation Centres and Physiotherapy Clinics. The results obtained from the check-list showed the compliances and non-compliances of the respective sports facilities, proving that many barriers preventing the participation of people with reduced mobility still exist. Twenty-four people with permanent impairment of the lower extremities (paraplegia) answered the questionnaire pertaining to the desire and ability to perform physical activity. Two individuals (8%) had sporting activities available to them in their area of residence and only five (21%) performed any physical activity. The main reason given for not taking part in any activity was the lack of adapted sports facilities. All the participants felt that taking part in sports is beneficial. The benefits stated were: general well-being and development of the psychomotor component (e.g. coordination, balance, body posture), of physical condition (e.g. strength, resistance, flexibility) and social integration and quality of life. Besides wellbeing, they also mentioned social interaction, a way of occupying their time and an escape from the routine as the main motives for which they would like to take up physical exercise.

Utilização do SF-6D na medição das preferências dos portugueses: sistema de valores e normas da população dos 18 aos 64 anos

IntroductionThere has been an increasing interest in the study of the health state valuations across countries. Evidence suggests that health state valuations may differ from country to country. In recent years there has been increasing interest in surveys conducted to obtain value sets for the most used preference-based instruments, such as the EQ-5D, the HUI and the SF-6D. A Portuguese value set for the SF-6D was recently published. However this system weight had some inconsistencies in what concerned the weights of the six dimensions of the SF-6D. The correction of these inconsistencies would improve the value set. This study seeks to present the Portuguese system weight for the SF-6D without inconsistencies. It also aims at providing Portuguese norms for individuals aged 18–64 for the SF-6D. MethodsInconsistencies were found in some levels of the dimensions of the SF-6D. These levels were aggregated and parsimonious models were estimated through generalized estimating equations. The data used to obtain the Portuguese norms for individuals aged 18–64 came from a random sample of the Portuguese population aged 18–64 (n=2,459). The SF-36v2 was applied to this sample and results from the best parsimonious model were used to obtain the Portuguese norms for individuals aged 18–64. ResultsAggregating levels of each dimension whenever inconsistencies occurred enabled to obtain a Portuguese system weight for the SF-6D. However there are still some problems of under prediction in some states assigned to poor health.The mean utility value obtained for the Portuguese working age population was 0.81 (associated with a standard deviation of 0.12). Portuguese norms for the SF-6D for individuals aged 18–64 were computed by gender, age, marital status and educational level. Lower levels of utilities were observed in women, the elderly, individuals with low educational level, widowed and individuals living in rural areas. ConclusionThis research demonstrates that it is possible to estimate preference weights for measuring health related quality of life. This model improves significantly the results previously presented. There is still evidence of under prediction in some states. The Portuguese norms play an important role in the interpretation of research results.

Portuguese Norms for the Waterloo-Stanford Group C (WSGC) Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility

Portuguese norms for the Waterloo-Stanford Group C (WSGC) scale of hypnotic susceptibility are presented. A Portuguese translation of this scale was given to 625 Portuguese college students. Score distribution, item analysis, and reliability of the WSGC are presented and compared to three North American samples. The findings show that normative data from the Portuguese sample are congruent with the reference samples. The only significant difference obtained was a lower proportion of participants scoring within the high range of hypnotic suggestibility on the WSGC.

3D noise map of an hospital and noise sources evaluation

This paper presents the tri‐dimensional acoustical characterization of Castelo Branco Hospital. Traffic and air conditioning machines produce noise that influences the Hospital and the buildings nearby. The results are presented in two dimensions at a height of four meters above the ground and in the vertical direction to access the noise levels in the building floors. For the construction of the model were used and compared to types of measurements of vehicles counting, for characterization of the traffic noise. The first approach was performed at every hour during the 24 hours of the day, by counting periods of 10 minutes. In the second approach counting was performed for 30 minutes on six time intervals, identified by inquiries to the nearby population and by a 24 hour noise measurement. The air conditioning machines were modelled using the Portuguese norm, NP EN ISO 3744. Correlation results taken from the two previous approaches and the noise measurements used to validate the Cadna/A model showed values of 0.87 and 0.85. Since they are very similar, one can conclude that both approaches can be used in practice. Taking the economical factor, the second approach is preferable because it takes less time to be performed.

Las primeras propuestas de ‘Selección de Norma’ para el gallego

SummaryLinguistic sttudies of Galician began in the last third of the 18th century with Father Martín Sarmiento (1695–1772). Since the tradition of writing in this language had been interrupted towards the end of the 15th century, its later recovery required certain decisions on what the model for ‘good Galician’ would be as well as on the norm for the writing system. In this article, I will explore the various destinies of the available options: (1) the adherence to actual speech; (2) the adherence to an archaic available norm; and (3) the approach to the Portuguese norm, which in its extreme formulation, assumes the adoption of this language as the high variant and the written form of Galician. A close examination of prefaces and introductions to grammars, dictionaries, and other relevant texts shows a clear preference for the first solution. ‘Good Galician’ would thus be the one spoken by the people, in all its diversity, with some exclusions which varied according to the author: In some cases, important towns and urban variants were excluded; in others, the mountainous regions and the areas bordering with Castile; and in certain cases, the ‘people’ only meant ‘the best’ in each town. Options 2 and 3 made a timid appearance towards the end of 19th century even though 3 gained acceptance throughout the 20th century, specially in the last twenty years.