Teacher training processes and teachers' competence : A sociological study in the primary school

The paper describes part of a study whose aim was to investigate the relation between modalities of teacher training and modalities of pedagogic practice implemented in the science classroom. The study is focused on primary school context and analyses the evolution of teachers performance in terms of their acquisition of recognition and realisation rules, i.e. coding orientation, to specific scientific learning contexts. Theoretically, the study is based on Bernstein’s theory of pedagogic discourse (1999, 2000)which provided the concepts to characterise the modalities of teacher training and of classroom pedagogic practices and to analyse teachers’ evolution in terms of recognition and realisation rules. The sample was made up of four teachers and their four socially heterogeneous school classes. An action-research methodology was followed.The results suggest that the teacher training implemented was favourable to the teachers’ professional development and their competence to lead all children to a high level of scientific development. The efficiency of the training process has to be mostly attributed to the strong classification of the researcher-teachers relation and to the strong framing of evaluation criteria, selection and sequence, together with weak framing of hierarchical rules and pacing.Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Instituto de Inovação Educacional e Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)

Black seabream, spondyliosoma cantharus : stock structure in the eastern atlantic and characterisation of the biology and fishery in the portuguese coast

Tese de doutoramento, Ciências do Mar, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2018In this thesis the stock structure of the black seabream, Spondyliosoma cantharus, along the Eastern Atlantic is explored using 4 different methodologies, body morphometry, otolith shape and stable isotopes ratio and genetics (mitochondrial and nuclear markers). Samples were gathered for five European areas (English Channel, Bay of Biscay, Galicia, west Portuguese coast – Peniche, and south Portuguese coast – Algarve), and two areas from African coast (Canary Islands and Angola). Results from morphometric analyses support the existence of different phenotypic stocks in each sampled area, while stable isotope ratios show fuzzier results with only 3 areas clearly distinguished: Angola, Canary Islands and Bay of Biscay. Genetic analyses were enhanced with samples from Mediterranean Sea and Cape Verde. A clear structuration is present between regions: North east Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Cape Verde and Angola, not being detected any population structuring within each region; however high levels of private haplotypes for all populations were observed, which can indicate that not enough dispersal/gene flow exists to homogenize more recent mutations at the ecological timescale. Integrating results from all methods, in a holistic stock structure analyses, the scenario with 6 different stock units in the North-eastern Atlantic is the most probable. Life history parameters for the species were also evaluated for the west Portuguese coast, since these are key parameters for a conscientious stock assessment. Maximum age of 17 years was assigned for a specimen with 38 cm. Age at growth was best described with the L00 hyperbolic modification of von Bertalanffy curve. Under this model, a change in growth occurs around 8 years, which corresponds roughly to the average age for sex reversal in the species. The estimated exploitation rate was relatively high (0.43 – 0.62), indicating that although the species is not the main target of the fisheries, its management needs careful attention. Considering the reproductive strategy of the species, half of the females’ population was mature at 18.41 cm and changed sex at 25.62 cm. Sex change takes only a brief period of time, since transitional individuals were scarce and most of them showed oocytes regressing into cystic structures. The species presents a clear indeterminate fecundity type with massive atresia happening at the end of the spawning season. Mean values of 203 oocytes and 5431 oocytes by gram of eviscerated female were estimated for relative batch fecundity and relative annual fecundity, respectively.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), SFRH/BD/92769/201

Przekształcanie procedury administracyjnej poprzez technologię jako szansa na wzmocnienie praw podmiotowych

The digital transformation of public administrations is visible in the way several services are being delivered, in the communication tools that are being used and on access to administrative information. Technology intervenes more deeply in decision-making procedures. The administrative decisions are increasingly based on automated processing, either partially or fully. Automated decision-making can facilitate the correctness of decisions, insofar as computing and algorithms potentially make the application of law less conducive to errors of fact and errors of law, and to motivations beyond the protected legal interests. It, however, poses interesting challenges: it redefines the very concept of executive application of the law (e.g., creating or making use of an administrative intermediate rationality), of procedural information gathering, of the duty to give reasons for decisions and of the way of reviewing them. Regardless of the automatization of decision-making, the administrative information systems interoperability conciliated with the data portability right redefine the gathering of information and evidence, reinforcing the principle of investigation, which can mean a higher accuracy of fact-finding with less burden on individuals. In both cases, the use of technology in the administrative procedure demands rethinking the meaning of central values of the exercise of administrative powers.Cyfrową transformację administracji publicznej można dostrzec w sposobie świadczenia szeregu usług, w stosowanych narzędziach komunikacyjnych oraz w dostępie do informacji administracyjnych. Technologia coraz bardziej ingeruje w procedury decyzyjne. Decyzje administracyjne są w coraz większym stopniu podejmowane na podstawie częściowej lub całkowitej automatyzacji. Zautomatyzowane podejmowanie decyzji może zapewnić ich większą prawidłowość, ponieważ,przynajmniej potencjalnie, dzięki obliczeniom i algorytmom stosowanie prawa jest w mniejszym stopniu narażone na błędy rzeczowe i prawne, a także na motywacje wykraczające poza chronione interesy prawne. Stanowi to jednak ciekawe wyzwanie: redefiniujesamo pojęcie wykonawczego stosowania prawa (np. tworzenie lub korzystanie z administracyjnej racjonalności pośredniej), gromadzenia informacji proceduralnych, obowiązku uzasadniania decyzji i sposobu ich weryfikacji

Wine Quality Assessment under the Eindhoven Classification Method

The identification, classification and recording of events leading to deterioration of wine quality is essential for developing appropriate strategies to avoid them. This work introduces an adverse event reporting and learning system that can help preventing hazards and ensure the quality of the wines. The Eindhoven Classification Method (ECM) has been extended and adapted to the incidents of the wine industry. Logic Programming (LP) was used for Knowledge Representation and Reasoning (KRR) in order to model the universe of discourse, even in the presence of incomplete data, information or knowledge. On the other hand, the evolutionary process of the body of knowledge is to be understood as a process of energy devaluation, enabling the automatic extraction of knowledge and the generation of reports to identify the most relevant causes of errors that can lead to a poor wine quality. In addition, the answers to the problem are object of formal evidence through theorem proving

‘Painting a Western musical score with Chinese ink’: exploring Chinese cultural concepts and sonorities to develop a cross-cultural performance

This research paper is an outcome of my ongoing Ph.D. project in which I intend to create a performance whose scenic dimension is explored to suggest a pre-reflective, embodied and interactive layer of awareness of Macao's mystical atmosphere to the audience. The performance will comprise the piano solo works of Áureo Castro, a Portuguese composer who lived in the 20th century in Macao and was an enthusiastic of Chinese music. His “Chinese Style” piano works merge Western composition techniques with melodies and rhythms inspired by Chinese folk music, thus revealing traces of Sino-Western interculturality. This paper addresses the second piano sonata of Áureo Castro and describes how performative choices are explored having as reference Chinese culture concepts and Chinese instrumental sonorities and gestures. These choices most likely are influenced by the performer´s imagery and poetic narrative from her own living experiences in Macao. Concepts such as non-sound, virtues, Chinese metaphors and musical gestures were experimented in order to create a compelling musical narrative. Moreover, piano playing and affordances were explored not only emulating and integrating the gestures and sonorities of traditional Chinese instrumentalists but also experimenting accordingly with musical parameters such as agogic, meter and phrasing to create sonorities that resemble or were inspired by Chinese music. From my perspective as performer, a conventional interpretation of piano works (i.e. one that follows traditional Western performance practices) would fail to be representative of Áureo Castro’s intentions as a composer who had a fondness for Chinese music and aimed to express feelings concerning the exotic atmosphere of Macao and its communities, but would miss as well to explore essential affordances of this music. As revealed by Áureo Castro about one of his most prominent compositions – “Macao Scenes” – the composer seeks to express the music as a “painting with ink that breathes Chinese atmosphere”. I hope this paper contributes for a better understanding on how exploring performative practices can enrich approaches and perspectives to cross-cultural music works and to contribute to the development of intercultural artistic research in the domain of music performance, where intercultural exchanges and hybridization are, on one hand, increasing and continuously reassessing cultural identities and, on other hand, have the potential to inspire future artistic works.publishe

Fatores de eficácia na intervenção clínica no mutismo seletivo: estudo de caso

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em PsicologiaO mutismo seletivo é uma perturbação complexa, bastante resistente à terapia, em que se deve ter em atenção todos os fatores situacionais, contextuais, e características individuais da criança, para um tratamento bem-sucedido. Este estudo de caso demonstra o processo de avaliação e terapêutico de uma menina de 10 anos que apresenta mutismo seletivo. O objetivo principal é compreender mais detalhadamente esta perturbação e as suas implicações na vida da criança. Recorrendo a uma terapia cognitiva-comportamental adaptada, com recurso ao jogo como forma de intervenção, pretendeu-se perceber quais revelaram ser as melhores estratégias com sucesso ao longo de todo o processo terapêutico. O tratamento consistiu em 47 sessões, incluindo psicoeducação, relaxamento, jogos lúdicos, exposição e sistema de recompensas. Os progressos obtidos são listados ao longo do estudo e surgem de um trabalho em equipa de terapeutas, direcionado especificamente para a criança. Ainda são necessários estudos nesta problemática, para encontrar mais respostas que possam ajudar estas crianças.Selective mutism is a complex disorder, quite resistant to therapy, in which all the situational and contextual factors, and individual characteristics of the child must be taken into account in order for a successful treatment. This case study demonstrates assessment and therapeutic processes of a 10-year-old girl with selective mutism. The main objective is to detailed understand this disorder and its implications in child's life. Using adapted cognitivebehavioral therapy, and play-therapy as a form of intervention, we tried to understand what proved to be the best strategies successfully throughout the therapeutic process. The treatment consisted of 47 sessions, including psychoeducation, relaxation, playful games, exposure and rewards system. The progress achieved is listed throughout the study and comes from a teamwork of therapists, specifically aimed at the child. Studies are still needed on this problem, to find more answers that can help these children

Estudo comparativo de homens e mulheres em liberdade condicional e da influência do género nas decisões judiciais

Ainda hoje nos deparamos com diferenças acentuadas ao nível do género, sendo a sua influência na decisão judicial um dos contextos mais abordados, verificando-se um número mais elevado de estudos referente à decisão sentencial, em comparação à concessão da liberdade condicional. Procurando observar as diferenças entre homens e mulheres ao nível da decisão judicial, foram analisadas 140 decisões de indivíduos que iniciaram a liberdade condicional com acompanhamento da Direção Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais (DGRSP). Apesar do género não se ter constituído como preditor significativo da duração da pena ou da fase de concessão da liberdade condicional, foi possível apurar diferenças entre homens e mulheres, nomeadamente, o tipo de crime que levou à condenação e a presença e especialização de antecedentes criminais. Como preditores da duração da pena, verificou-se o número de crimes cometidos no presente, para ambos os grupos, e a especialização dos antecedentes para os homens. Relativamente à concessão da liberdade condicional, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas.Nowadays we still face marked differences at gender level. Its influence on court decision is one of the most discussed contexts, where more studies have focused on sentencing decisions when compared with the granting of parole. Attempting to observe the differences between men and women at judicial decision level, 140 decisions about individuals that started parole with the supervision of the Direção Geral de Reinserção e Serviços Prisionais (DGRSP), were analyzed. Although gender was not found to be a significant predictor of sentence duration or parole granting phase, it was possible to identify differences between men and women, namely the crime type that led to conviction and the presence and specialization of criminal records. As predictors of sentence duration, the number of crimes committed was significant for both groups, as well as the criminal record specialization for men. Regarding granting parole, no differences were found between male and female parolees

Alterações do Sono e Processos de Regulação Emocional em Adultos

O sono é um processo fisiológico vital com um papel restaurador importante. A reduzida qualidade do sono pode afetar significativamente a qualidade de vida das pessoas e influenciar a sua capacidade de regulação emocional. Dada a pertinência do tema, o presente estudo tem como principal objetivo analisar a relação entre aspetos associados com o sono e processos de autorregulação emocional como a autocompaixão, o autojulgamento, o autocriticismo e a autotranquilização. A amostra desta investigação é constituída por 210 participantes, 163 mulheres e 47 homens, com idades compreendidas entre os 19 anos e os 59 anos (M = 35,82; DP = 9,81), recolhida na empresa Aquinos, em Tábua. Para a recolha de dados, utilizou-se o seguinte protocolo de investigação: Questionário Sociodemográfico, Questionário de Pittsburgh sobre a Qualidade do Sono (PSQI), Escala da Autocompaixão (SCS) e Escala das Formas do Autocriticismo e Autotranquilização (FSCRS). Os principais resultados sugerem que são as mulheres que têm uma pior qualidade subjetiva do sono, maior latência do sono e maior perturbação do sono. Relativamente ao uso de medicamentos, são os participantes mais velhos que mais recorrerem aos fármacos para dormir. Já os participantes mais novos apresentam uma atitude mais positiva, através da forma Eu tranquilizador. Os participantes casados/união de facto apresentam pior qualidade subjetiva do sono, maior latência do sono, menor duração do sono e maior perturbação do sono. Paralelamente é também este grupo dos participantes casados/união de facto que manifesta valores mais elevados na forma Eu inadequado. De referir ainda que os processos de regulação emocional de autojulgamento e Eu inadequado e Eu detestado revelaram uma associação significativa com a qualidade subjetiva do sono, a latência, a perturbação do sono, o uso de medicação para dormir e a disfunção diurna, isto é, os sujeitos que recorrem a estas estratégias de regulação emocional tendem a apresentar mais modificações nos seus padrões de sono. Por sua vez o Eu tranquilizador associa-se de forma negativa com o recurso a fármacos para dormir. Conclui-se que são as mulheres, os indivíduos mais velhos e os casados/união de facto que apresentam uma qualidade do sono mais pobre. Igualmente relevante é o facto de serem os indivíduos com níveis mais elevados de autojulgamento e autocrítica que tendem a apresentar mais dificuldades relativamente ao sono. Assim, estes elementos deverão ser tidos em consideração pelos profissionais de saúde para efeitos de delineação de estratégias terapêuticas relacionadas com alterações do sono. / Sleep is a vital physiological process with a restorative important role. The reduced quality of sleep can greatly affect quality of life emotional regulation capacity. The aim of the current study was to analyse the relationship between sleep quality in adults and emotional self-regulation processes such as self-compassion, self-judgment, self-criticism and self-reassurance. The sample is constituted by 210 participants, 163 women and 47 men, aged between 19 and 59 years old (M = 35,82, SD = 9,81), collected in Aquino enterprise, in Tábua. For data collection we used the following self-report instruments: Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and Scales of Forms of Self-Criticism and Self-Tranquilization (FSCRS). Results suggest that women who have a lower subjective sleep quality, higher sleep latency and higher sleep disorders when compared to men. The use of medication is higher in older participants. In turn younger participants show a more positive attitude, with higher scores in Reassuring Self. Married/cohabitation participants present a lower sleep quality, higher sleep latency, lower sleep duration and more sleep disturbance as well as higher scores in Inadequate Self. Emotion regulation processes of Self-judgment, Inadequate Self and Hated Self are associated with subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep disorders and with the use of medication. Individuals who tend to use these emotion regulation strategies are more prone to negative changes in their sleep patterns. It is also worth of note that those who present higher scores in the Reassurance Self tend to use less sleep medication. Individuals with high levels of self-judgment and self-criticism can effectively have more difficulties regarding sleep. In conclusion, women, older and married individuals show less sleep quality. Furthermore individuals who show more self-judgment and self-criticism tend to present more sleepdifficulties. These variables should be taken into account by health professionals when designing interventions programs for people dealing with sleep problems

A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: Doping in sport is a widespread problem not just among elite athletes, but mainly in recreational sports. ß2-agonists may be used for doping in sport because of their bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory actions, but more importantly for their potential anabolic action. The question of whether their use has increased due to asthma, EIA or EIC, or due to a misuse by non-asthmatic athletes because of potential ergogenic effects, remains open. The ‘‘Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2019”, which lists the drugs that are considered illegal in sports, states that all selective and non-selective ß2-agonists, including all optical isomers, are prohibited. However, there are some exceptions. This prohibition is based on the fact that these drugs have the potential to improve physical performance, which leads to an unfair competitive advantage when taken by healthy athletes. Objectives: The aim of this dissertation was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate if ß2-agonists do indeed increase athletes’ performance, based on published studies between 2007 and 2018. Methods: A systematic search strategy was conducted in Pubmed and Science Direct using selected keywords (“adrenergic agonists” and “athletic performance”) between 2007 and 2018. A manual search of the reference lists of relevant articles was also undertaken in this review. Results: When comparing the results for the same ß2-agonists on an athlete and on a non-athlete person we can verify that in both cases, there are statistically significant effects, but they are more prominent on non-athlete individuals. When comparing the inhaled ß2-agonists with the systemic ß2-agonists, we found out that there are statistically significant effects in both administration modes, but these effects vary according with the administrated ß2-agonist. We found out, as well, a statistically significant effect when an inhaled combination of salbutamol with salmeterol and formoterol was studied. Regarding the duration of the administration, we verified no influence on a longer administration since there are more statistically significant effects on single administrations. When these data were analysed based on the doses permitted and forbidden by WADA, we could verify that there were not statistically significant effects regarding ß2-agonists on the permitted doses by WADA, and that there were statistically significant effects when ß2-agonists were used on the doses nowadays. Conclusion: There were not found statistically significant effects regarding ß2-agonists on the permitted doses by WADA, which in contrast was not verified on the studies that include ß2-agonists nowadays forbidden by the “Prohibited List of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2019”. Being so, we could conclude that this list should be continuously updated as it has been done lately.Introdução: A utilização do doping no desporto é um problema bastante difundido não apenas entre atletas de elite, mas ainda mais nos desportos recreativos. Os agonistas ß2 podem ser utilizados como doping no desporto, devido às suas ações broncodilatadoras e anti-inflamatórias, mas mais importante ainda pelo seu potencial anabólico. O facto de a sua utilização por parte de atletas estar a aumentar põe em foco se será apenas para tratamento da asma, da asma induzida pelo exercício ou broncoconstrição induzida pelo exercício, ou um uso inadequado por atletas não asmáticos com vista ao benefício dos seus potenciais efeitos ergogénicos. A “Lista Proibida da Agência Mundial Anti-Doping (WADA) 2019”, que lista os fármacos que são considerados ilegais no desporto, postula que todos os agonistas ß2 seletivos e não seletivos, incluindo todos os isómeros óticos, estão proibidos. No entanto, definem-se algumas exceções. Esta proibição é baseada no facto de estes fármacos terem o potencial de melhorar o desempenho físico, o que proporciona uma vantagem competitiva injusta, quando são utilizados por atletas saudáveis. Objetivos: O objetivo desta dissertação foi, através da realização de uma revisão sistemática baseada em estudos publicados entre 2007 e 2018, avaliar se os agonistas ß2 aumentam o desempenho dos atletas. Métodos: Uma estratégia de pesquisa sistemática foi conduzida nas bases de dados Pubmed e Science Direct usando palavras-chave selecionadas previamente (“adrenergic agonists” e “athletic performance”) entre 2007 e 2018, com o objetivo de identificar estudos aleatorizados e controlados sobre os efeitos dos agonistas ß2 na performance de indivíduos saudáveis. Foi também realizada uma pesquisa manual nas listas de referências de estudos relevantes. Apenas foram selecionados estudos que incluíam indivíduos saudáveis (adultos: homens e mulheres); atletas de elite, atletas recreativos ou indivíduos não atletas. Foram documentados o nível e a intensidade da participação desportiva, o nível de treino (consumo máximo de oxigénio [????2??a??]) e o tipo de desporto dos participantes incluídos. Considerámos qualquer tipo de intervenção com agonistas ß2 de curta ou longa ação, inalados ou sistémicos (administração oral ou intravenosa), cuja administração foi simples (uma administração) ou múltipla (1 ou mais dias até semanas). Foram desenhadas as seguintes análises: atletas versus não atletas; tipo de agonista ß2 (inalado versus sistémico) e duração da intervenção: simples (administração única) versus curta duração (1 semana a =6 semanas) ou longa duração (> 6 semanas). Resultados: Para um mesmo agonista ß2, num indivíduo atleta e num individuo não atleta, foi verificado que em ambos os casos existem efeitos estatisticamente significativos, mas que estes são mais notórios em indivíduos não atletas. Quando comparados os agonistas ß2 inalados com os agonistas ß2 sistémicos, constatou-se que em ambos os modos de administração do agonista ß2 existem efeitos estatisticamente significativos, efeitos estes que variam de acordo com o agonista ß2 em questão. Também foi demonstrado um efeito estatisticamente significativo aquando da utilização da combinação de três agonistas ß2 inalados (salbutamol com salmeterol e formoterol). Relativamente à duração de administração dos agonistas ß2, foi verificado que não há influência numa administração de longa duração, sendo que existem mais efeitos estatisticamente significativos nas administrações únicas. Quando a análise destes dados é realizada tendo por base as doses permitidas e não permitidas pela WADA, verifica-se que não há efeitos estatisticamente significativos relativamente aos agonistas ß2 nas doses permitidas atualmente pela WADA, e que há efeitos estatisticamente significativos quando usados agonistas ß2 nas doses que nos dias de hoje são proibidas. Conclusão: Não foram encontrados efeitos estatisticamente significativos relativamente aos agonistas ß2 nas doses permitidas atualmente pela WADA, o que pelo contrário não se verificou nos estudos que incluem agonistas ß2 que nos dias de hoje são proibidos na “Lista Proibida da Agência Mundial Anti-Doping (WADA) 2019”. Deste modo, podemos concluir que esta lista deve continuar a ser regularmente atualizada, como tem vindo a ser feito nos últimos anos. Mais estudos sobre estes e outros fármacos, que possam potenciar a performance atlética, devem ser realizados, tentando envolver um maior número de participantes, indivíduos atletas e não atletas, doses maiores e simular a utilização destes em contexto de competição