What Do We Really Know About Grit? A Multivariate Statistical Investigation on the Construct Validity of Grit

The primary purpose of this study was to collect evidence on the construct validity of grit using convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity principles. To accomplish this purpose and extend previous research on grit, college students from two schools completed an instrument comprised of a cognitive ability test, and a questionnaire. The questionnaire was comprised of existing and multiple measures of grit, interest, self-efficacy, locus of control, and conscientiousness along with a number of college success measures. Structural equation modeling was used as the primary statistical analysis technique. Factor analysis, correlation analysis, and path analysis were also used. First, the results from a series of exploratory factor analyses based on four sources of evidence revealed four different factor structures of grit: (a) two-factor structure comprised of perseverance of effort and consistency of interest, (b) three-factor structure comprised of goal attainment, focus, and perseverance, (c) four-factor structure comprised of perseverance of effort, consistency of interest, harmonious passion and obsessive passion, and (d) two-factor structure comprised of grit and passion. Second, the results based on four different path analysis models found conscientiousness to be the sole predictor of both GPA and long-term college goals. Conscientiousness was an even better predictor of college success than cognitive ability – not grit. Third, a series of correlation analyses based on different measures of grit and conscientiousness found a statistically significant strong positive relationship between grit and conscientiousness. Fourth, the resulting confirmatory factor analysis’ Pearson correlation coefficients revealed a statistically significant “strong” to “very strong” positive relationship among all five latent constructs: interest, self-efficacy, locus of control, conscientiousness, and grit. Finally, results from the structural equation model found interest to be a predictor of subjective college success and conscientiousness to be the dominant predictor of both subjective college success and objective college success. Overall, the results from this study indicate that grit was not only hardly distinguishable from conscientiousness and other motivational constructs, it disappeared altogether. The dominant predictor of college success was conscientiousness. The popularity around grit may just be in its name

Monitoring immediate-early gene expression through firefly luciferase imaging of HRS/J hairless mice

BACKGROUND: Gene promoters fused to the firefly luciferase gene (luc) are useful for examining gene regulation in live transgenic mice and they provide unique views of functioning organs. The dynamics of gene expression in cells and tissues expressing luciferase can be observed by imaging this enzyme's bioluminescent oxidation of luciferin. Neural pathways involved in specific behaviors have been identified by localizing expression of immediate-early genes such as c-fos. A transgenic mouse line with luc controlled by the human c-fos promoter (fos::luc) has enabled gene expression imaging in brain slice cultures. To optimize imaging of immediate-early gene expression throughout intact mice, the present study examined fos::luc mice and a second transgenic mouse containing luc controlled by the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early gene 1 promoter and enhancer (CMV::luc). Because skin pigments and hair can significantly scatter light from underlying structures, the two transgenic lines were crossed with a hairless albino mouse (HRS/J) to explore which deep structures could be imaged. Furthermore, live anesthetized mice were compared with overdosed mice. RESULTS: Bioluminescence imaging of anesthetized mice over several weeks corresponded with expression patterns in mice imaged rapidly after a lethal overdose. Both fos::luc and CMV::luc mice showed quantifiable bright bioluminescence in ear, nose, paws, and tail whether they were anesthetized or overdosed. CMV::luc and fos::luc neonates had bioluminescence patterns similar to those of adults, although intensity was significantly higher in neonates. CMV::luc mice crossed with HRS/J mice had high expression in bone, claws, head, pancreas, and skeletal muscle, but less in extremities than haired CMV::luc mice. Imaging of brain bioluminescence through the neonatal skull was also practical. By imaging luciferin autofluorescence it was clear that substrate distribution did not restrict bioluminescence imaging to capillaries after injection. Luciferin treatment and anesthesia during imaging did not adversely affect circadian rhythms in locomotor activity. CONCLUSIONS: Imaging of gene expression patterns with luciferase can be extended from studies of live animals to rapid imaging of mice following a pentobarbital overdose before significant effects from postmortem changes occurs. Bioluminescent transgenic mice crossed with HRS/J mice are valuable for examining gene expression in deep tissues

As aparências mutantes de um corpo que se desnuda

 Pretendo nesse artigo apontar para uma análise das significações que o corpo feminino adquiriu ou foi adquirindo no Teatro de Revista brasileiro no final do século XIX, quando este gênero consegue firmar-se em nosso teatro, até sua desintegração, enquanto gênero específico, no final da década de 1960; e através deste percurso, analisar a participação do corpo feminino revisteiro como definidor do sujeito, da sua história, como construtor de identidades sociais

Temperature and Lung Function in Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-limiting genetic disorder in the United States, and is characterized by progressive obstructive lung disease. The severity of lung disease can be highly variable even among individuals with identical mutations in the disease-causing gene, CFTR. Half of the variation in CF lung function is attributable to environmental/stochastic factors, thus identifying environmental factors that affect lung function is crucial in ameliorating the disease burden. Using data from the CF Twin-Sibling Study and two national registries, we previously demonstrated that warmer annual ambient temperatures were associated with lower lung function after adjusting for CFTR genotype and demographic/environmental factors. However, the mechanisms behind this association remain to be elucidated. Thus, the objectives of this thesis were to identify mechanisms by which ambient temperature affects lung function, specifically through assessments of common CF respiratory pathogens using databases of subjects with CF (Chapter 2), tests for gene-environment interactions using genomic data from the CF Twin-Sibling Study (Chapter 3), and assessment of whether this phenomenon exists in the general population using NHANES databases (Chapter 4). Taken together, the results from Chapters 2 and 4 of this study potentially explain 40-83% of the association between lower lung function and warmer temperatures in CF and identify some mechanisms that underlie this association. The mediation analyses in Chapter 2 in two separate populations of individuals with CF ascribed 12-43% of the association in CF to 3 respiratory pathogens. Chapter 4 also confirmed the presence of this association within the general population with effect sizes of 0.7% and 1.0% predicted FEV1 decrease for every 10°F increase in mean annual ambient temperature in the two NHANES general population cohorts and suggested that 28-40% of the association seen in CF can be ascribed to a mechanism also present in the general population. Chapter 3 did not identify any specific gene-environment interactions with genetic modifiers of CF lung disease or genetic modifiers of lung function in the general population. Our results have important implications for both individuals with CF with respect to their healthcare and the general population with respect to population health and climate change

Construções a partir do olhar masculino: as personagens cômicas femininas

Neste artigo tenho por objeto de estudo os textos (dramaturgia) encenados pelo Grupo Teatral da União Operária - 1931/1951

Construções a partir do olhar masculino: as personagens cômicas femininas

Neste artigo tenho por objeto de estudo os textos (dramaturgia) encenados pelo Grupo Teatral da União Operária - 1931/1951

III Festival Teatral de Moscou - 1935: a escrita de Joracy Camargo

Neste artigo analiso a leitura realizada por Joracy Camargo sobre o teatro que pode acompanhar na União Soviética, quando foi à Moscou, como integrante da delegação francesa, para participar do III Festival Teatral de Moscou realizado em outubro de 1935. Apresento as aproximações que Joracy estabeleceu entre o teatro brasileiro e o teatro soviético, e, por fim, o objeto central desta escrita, que é o diálogo travado por Joracy diante do que lhe era apresentado em Moscou

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Executive Summary of a Workshop

Comment in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: The Ongoing Search for One Definition to Rule Them All. [J Pediatr. 2018] Midlife crisis? In its 50th year, BPD redefines itself. [J Pediatr. 2018