Synchronous and asynchronous distance learning of anaphora in foreign languages

This paper analyses the influence of the distance learning modality (synchronous/asynchronous) in the learning of anaphora in English and Spanish as foreign languages, based on the results of a course offered to 45 Modern Language students at a Brazilian university in the first semester of 2020. Factors as the level of proficiency, type of task, and degree of motivation were also considered in this experimental study. Two experimental groups and one control group were compared in four written tests. English learners demonstrated a higher prior knowledge of anaphora than Spanish learners and showed the best test results. A positive and moderate correlation was found between the knowledge of anaphora, level of proficiency, and degree of motivation to study the language. Although the experimental groups made progress in the reading tests, the same did not happen in the writing tests. Finally, the difference was not significant between the two experimental groups.UIDB/50021/2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FAGOCITOSE BENCH: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY ON PARAMETRIC DESIGN IN STREET FURNITURE PROJECTS FOCUSED ON DESIGN AND EMOTION

Design e emoção e design paramétrico são dois temas de estudo que, recentemente, têm se beneficiado de um especial interesse por parte da indústria e da comunidade científica. Este trabalho visa explorar como o design paramétrico pode servir como resposta às exigências estético-formais existentes em projetos envolvendo design e emoção no que tange projetos de mobiliário urbano. Para tal, serão analisados aspectos da abordagem de ambos os tópicos no contexto projetual de uma peça de mobiliário urbano e suas possíveis contribuições quando trabalhados em conjunto. Como resultado, foi obtido um projeto–conceito de características “open source”, no qual o design paramétrico atende aos requisitos do design e emoção, unindo os dois tópicos de estudo e discutindo essa aplicação no processo projetual. Palavras-chave: Design paramétrico, design e emoção, mobiliário urbano. Design and emotion and parametric design are two topics that have recently benefited from an increased interest both from academy and industry. This paper aims at exploring how parametric design can be a response to the aesthetic-formal requirements existing in street furniture projects involving design and emotion. In order to achieve this, aspects regarding both topics are analyzed in the context of street furniture, along with the investigation of the possible contributions of their combined usage. As result, an open source concept project was developed, in which parametric design meets the requirements of design and emotion, therefore, melding both topics while allowing for the discussion of this application in general design processes. Keywords: Parametric design, design & emotion, street furniture

The risk of metabolic syndrome as a result of lifestyle among Ellisras rural young adults

The study aimed to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and lifestyle risk factors among Ellisras adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 624 adults (306 males and 318 females). MetS was defined according to the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. The prevalence of MetS was 23.1% (8.6% males and 36.8 % females). Females appeared to have higher mean values for waist circumference (WC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TCHOL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), while males had high mean values for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). No significant age and gender differences were observed for dietary intake. Significantly more females (51.9%) presented with increased WC than males (4.6%). Participants who had a high dietary energy intake were significantly less likely to present with larger WC (OR: 0.250 95% CI [0.161; 0.389]), low HDL-C (OR: 0.306 95% CI [0.220; 0.425]) and high LDL-C (OR: 0.583 95% CI [0.418; 0.812]) but more likely to present with elevated FBG (OR: 1.01 95% CI [0.735; 1.386]), high TCHOL (OR: 1.039 95% CI [0.575; 1.337]), high TG (OR: 1.186 95% CI [0.695; 2.023]) and hypertension (OR: 5.205 95% CI [3.156; 8.585]). After adjusting for age, gender, smoking, and alcohol status, high energy intake was more than two times likely to predict MetS in adults with a large WC (OR: 2.766 95% CI [0.863; 3.477] and elevated FBG (OR: 2.227 95% CI [1.051; 3.328]). Therefore, identifying groups that are at an increased risk and those that are in their early stages of MetS will help improve and prevent the increase of the MetS in the future

Avaliação do desempenho intelectual e escolar de crianças submetidas à tonsilectomia e adenoamigdalectomia no pré e pós-operatório Intellectual and school performance evaluation of children submitted to tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy before and after surgery

Vários estudos demonstram o impacto dos distúrbios obstrutivos do sono na qualidade de vida de crianças. No entanto, poucos tratam do desempenho escolar e intelectual em crianças que passaram por tonsilectomia ou adenoamigdalectomia, indicando benefícios destas cirurgias. OBJETIVO: Avaliar e comparar o desempenho intelectual e de aprendizado de crianças submetidas a cirurgias de tonsilectomia ou adenoamigdalectomia no pré e pós-operatório. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Por meio de um estudo longitudinal e descritivo, 83 crianças entre 7 e 11 anos foram avaliadas pela Psicologia no pré e pós-operatório. A primeira avaliação ocorreu antes da cirurgia, a segunda e a terceira avaliações ocorreram com um e seis meses após esta. Foram utilizados Ficha Sociodemográfica, Teste das Matrizes Progressivas Coloridas de Raven e o Teste de Desempenho Escolar. RESULTADOS: O grupo de crianças do estudo apresentou evolução estatisticamente significante nas avaliações de desempenho intelectual (p Several studies have demonstrated the impact of obstructive sleep disorders on the quality of life of children. However, few studies address school and intellectual performances of children who have undergone tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy, indicating the benefits of these surgeries. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare the learning and intellectual performances of children submitted to tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy, before and after surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 83 children between the ages of 7 and 11 were evaluated by a psychologist employing a longitudinal and descriptive study in the pre and post-surgery groups. The first evaluation was performed just before surgery, and the second and third evaluations one and six months after the surgical procedure. The social-demographic form, Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices Test and the School Performance Test were used. RESULTS: The group of children in this study presented a statistically significant evolution in their intellectual performance evaluations (p < 0.05) and also school performance evaluations in writing, mathematics and reading sub-tests (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Based on our findings we concluded that tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy performed in children with obstructive respiratory disorders produce a positive impact on intellectual and school learning development

Chicago Public School Nurses Examine Barriers to School Asthma Care Coordination

Objective/Design: Well documented asthma disparities in Chicago pose a continual challenge for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Coordinated Health Care for Complex Kids (CHECK) is a health care demonstration project funded by a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Health Care Innovation Award. A collaborative partnership was formed between CHECK and CPS. With CHECK support, CPS administered a survey to 160 nurses to understand the asthma problems nurses perceived and interest in intervention. Results: Seventy–five percent (n=120) completed the survey. While asthma was the top diagnosis managed by 95%, 72% reported gaps in asthma understanding. Appropriate communication between school nurses and providers occurred 33% of the time; 18% believed they received sufficient support to follow-up on deficient paperwork. The barriers mentioned were lack of medications (73%), time (67%), and communication with providers (61%). When asked their opinions on potential interventions, 78% of nurses supported web-based applications, 66% community health workers, and 66% stock albuterol in schools. Conclusions: The greatest barriers for CPS nurses with asthma management are time and communication. Potential interventions such as web-based communication applications and community health workers in schools were well received