The present study aims to compare spinal stability after two different minimally invasive techniques, the lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) and the transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) approaches. Two nonlinear three-dimensional finite element (FE) models of the L4-L5 functional spinal unit (FSU) were subjected to the loads that usually act on the lumbar spine. Findings show that the LLIF approach yields better results for torsion load case, due to the larger surface area of the implant. For extension, flexion and lateral bending loads, the TLIF approach presents smaller displacements probably due to the anterior placement of the cage and to the smaller damaged area of the annulus fibrosus.

This paper presents a finite element analysis to investigate the biomechanical changes caused by a minimally invasive anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) at the L5-S1 level, applying the SynFix implant. The main objective is to investigate spine stability during the recovery considering the early and long-term postoperative phases. Numerical simulations of segmental motion show that spine instability is higher in the early postoperative phase, especially for extension load case, as rotation angles are much greater than the ones obtained in the long-term postoperative phase.

There are various techniques to obtain lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) at L5-S1 functional unit (FSU) level. This paper presents a finite element analysis to investigate the biomechanical changes caused by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) at the L5-S1 FSU level. The information collected can be used to choose the best chirurgical treatment to solve several pathologies. This approach places the implant into the anterior portion of the intervertebral disc space, which stabilizes the flexion–extension movement across the operated level. Numerical results of segmental motion show that torsion and extension load cases yield the highest rotation angles during the early and long-term postoperative phases, respectively. Furthermore, a decrease in autogenous bone graft volume results in a reduction of displacements and rotation angles.

A escola desempenha um papel fundamental no desenvolvimento psicossocial dos jovens, constituindo-se como um meio privilegiado para a sua promoção, mas também para a prevenção dos mais diversos fenómenos sociais. Os profissionais que integram este contexto, por sua vez, representam agentes de mudança fulcrais, devendo por isso ser considerados na avaliação das mais diversas necessidades. O presente estudo, com recurso ao método do inquérito por questionário, envolveu uma amostra de 302 agentes educativos, com idades compreendidas entre os 29 e os 66 anos (M=50,25; D.P.=8,16) e a maioria dos participantes a pertencer ao sexo feminino (72,8%). Os resultados apontaram para umaperceção favorável dos respondentes a respeito das características do meio físico envolvente, bem como dos funcionamentos interno e externo do meio escolar. Não obstante, os participantes classificaram negativamente o envolvimento dos encarregados de educação nas iniciativas promovidas pelas instituições escolares e identificaram diversas manifestações comportamentais por parte dos alunos (e.g., absentismo escolar, desrespeito generalizado entre alunos, agressividade) que devem ser consideradas. Os participantes apontaram ainda algumas medidas (e.g., alargar e potenciar os recursos humanos, incutir maior rigor no sistema disciplinar, promover o policiamento, criar equipas multidisciplinares) que importa promover ao nível do funcionamento em meio escolar. No final serão debatidas as implicações práticas e preventivas do presente trabalho.

by caregivers or close associates, sometimes with coocurring psychopathology. 1 Violence against the elderly is now recognized as a health problem, which compromises not only individual and family adjustment, but also the development of society.This violence is defined as "an intentional act or failure to act by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes or a risk of harm to an older adult". 4This definition is consistent with the 1995 proposed definition by the International Network for Prevention of Elderly Abuse (INPEA), which is generally adopted in most documents and manuals (cf.Portuguese Association for Victim Support, APAV, 2010) to define violence perpetrated against a person aged 60 or over.This text is intended to discuss the phenomenon of violence against the elderly as a social problem that must cause us grave concern for the serious violation of the dignity of the human person, for the risk and harmful implications to their integrity and well-being of the elderly person, and in general, for their lives in society. 5,6In this sense, we will give a brief explanation of aspects that characterize the phenomenon of violence against the elderly, ending with the exposition of an example case of the phenomenon.

The cervical spine is one of the most complex structures of the human skeleton. The knowledge of the cervical spine kinematics is a very important tool for many clinical applications such as diagnosis, treatment and surgical interventions and for the development of new spinal implants. The finite element method (FEM) is a well-known and widely used numerical method to simulate structural behaviour of spine. The main goal of this paper was to create a 3D finite element model of cervical segment C4-C5-C6 using computed tomography (CT) data, in order to analyse and compare anterior cervical fusion and / or posterior cervical fusion as possible treatments for a fracture of type C2.2 according to the AO spine classification. As expected, with this study it was concluded that the anterior and posterior cervical fusion provides the best results when compared to the other types of cervical fusion studied.

Children exposed to domestic violence are both victims and sometimes sole witnesses, of a phenomenon that constitutes a serious threat to their adaptive development. Hence, it is paramount to protect them, without denying them the right to participate in a central matter in their lives about which they should be heard. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the procedures and methods of twelve professionals, experienced in the area of youth and childhood, regarding the execution of the right to participate in justice, by children that experience domestic violence between their parents. The data was collected through recorded individual interviews, later transcribed integrally for category content analysis. The results point towards a greater sensibility towards the necessity of acting with consideration for the children’s rights, even if in the majority of circumstances, the chosen route does not involve hearing the child as witness. This decision depends very much of where the complaint is filed, but also form the rejection of the parents or caretakers in involving the child in the judicial process. The constraints in hearing the child also come in the form of distrust as to the quality of testimony that they can offer, the inadequacy of the spaces, the procedures adopted for the collection of such testimonials and the fear of producing secondary victimization. We conclude that the right of participation in justice should be granted to children, something which is specified by the convention of children’s rights, while pointing out some suggestions to improve the safeguarding of the child’s best interest.

Children exposed to domestic violence are both victims and sometimes sole witnesses, of a phenomenon that constitutes a serious threat to their adaptive development. Hence, it is paramount to protect them, without denying them the right to participate in a central matter in their lives about which they should be heard. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate the procedures and methods of twelve professionals, experienced in the area of youth and childhood, regarding the execution of the right to participate in justice, by children that experience domestic violence between their parents. The data was collected through recorded individual interviews, later transcribed integrally for category content analysis. The results point towards a greater sensibility towards the necessity of acting with consideration for the children's rights, even if in the majority of circumstances, the chosen route does not involve hearing the child as witness. This decision depends very much of where the complaint is filed, but also form the rejection of the parents or caretakers in involving the child in the judicial process. The constraints in hearing the child also come in the form of distrust as to the quality of testimony that they can offer, the inadequacy of the spaces, the procedures adopted for the collection of such testimonials and the fear of producing secondary victimization. We conclude that the right of participation in justice should be granted to children, something which is specified by the convention of children's rights, while pointing out some suggestions to improve the safeguarding of the child's best interest.

The cervical spine is one of the most complex structures of the human skeleton. The knowledge of the cervical spine kinematics is a very important tool for many clinical applications such as diagnosis, treatment and surgical interventions and for the development of new spinal implants. The finite element method (FEM) is a well-known and widely used numerical method. In this study a three dimensional finite element (FE) model for the functional spine unit (FSU) C5-C6 was developed using computed tomography (CT) data. This model was used to study the internal stresses and strains of the intervertebral discs under static loading conditions of compression, extension, flexion, right lateral bending and left torsion. A hyperelastic constitutive model was used to describe the mechanical behavior of the nucleus pulposus. Maximum principal stresses in the disc were analyzed and higher values were found for the flexion movement. Maximum stresses in ligaments were observed for flexion and extension load cases.

A intervencao do sistema de justica junto de criancas expostas a violencia domestica tem sido objeto de especial atencao por parte de teoricos e investigadores. Varias sao as criancas que vitimas e / testemunha do crime de violencia domestica sao chamadas a depor, questionando-se sobre os beneficios, constrangimentos, prejuizos de uma participacao destas nestes processos. Este trabalho apresenta dados de uma investigacao que teve como objetivo conhecer as representacoes e procedimentos dos 12 profissionais com experiencia na area da infância e juventude (e.g., magistrados, psicologos, medicos, assistentes sociais) quanto a efetivacao dos direitos e garantias de justica e da protecao da crianca enquanto vitima e/ou testemunha em processos por crime de violencia domestica entre os seus progenitores. A recolha de dados foi efetuada atraves de entrevista semiestruturada, gravada em audio e posteriormente transcrita, para que os conteudos fossem analisados qualitativamente. Os resultados apontam no sentido de uma maior sensibilidade dos profissionais numa atuacao pautada pela consideracao dos direitos das criancas e jovens, tentando minimizar os danos e prevenindo a vitimacao secundaria, fundamentado no melhor interesse da crianca. No entanto, as dificuldades de interacao com a crianca ao longo do processo, a falta de uma acao interdisciplinar e de articulacao dos diversos organismos envolvidos, a ausencia de uma mais ativa comunitaria sao fatores que constrangem a intervencao do sistema de justica. Importa assim refletir sobre a justica de uma participacao, muitas vezes, comunicada pela propria crianca e a garantia de protecao no âmbito de processos-crime que implicam a sua familia. The intervention of the justice system from children exposed to domestic violence has received special attention from theorists and researchers. Several children who are victims and / or witness of domestic violence crime are called to testify, but we questioned about the benefits, constraints, damages of their participation in these processes. This paper presents data from a research that aim to understand the representations and procedures of 12 professionals with expertise in the area of children and youth (e.g., judges, psychologists, physicians, social workers) regarding the implementation of the rights and guarantees of justice and child protection as a victim and / or witness in proceedings for an offense of domestic violence between their parents. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, audio-recorded and later transcribed, for later qualitative contents analysis. The results point towards a higher sensitivity of the professionals that act guided by respect of the rights of children and young people, trying to minimize the damage and preventing secondary victimization, based on the best interest of the child. However, the difficulties of interaction with the child throughout the process, lack of interdisciplinary action and articulation of the various organizations involved, the absence of a more active community are factors that constrain the intervention of the justice system. It is therefore important to reflect on the fair participation of children, often communicated by her, their guarantee of protection in criminal proceedings involving his family. Palavras-chave / Keywords Justica, Protecao, Criancas, Testemunho. Justice, Protection, Children’s, Testimony.