Mind-IT: An Approach for Incorporating Mindfulness into Higher Education

Among practices of contemplative education, mindfulness has gained a great amount of attention. Research has suggested it should be incorporated into the school curriculum. However, implementing mindfulness in higher education is difficult, as the curriculum still largely focuses on building domain expertise. Structural constraint simply that mindfulness in higher education must rely on students\u27 individual interest to engage since it is typically not a required subject within disciplinary contexts. Moreover, the ways in which mindfulness has been introduced into higher education may be restricted to small groups of students or only highlight one aspect of mindfulness, which may further contribute to persistent barriers among students to engage. Therefore, through design-based research, I investigated ways to help higher education students overcome potential barriers for engaging with mindfulness and develop situational interest with the eventual goal of helping them develop a sustained interest in incorporating mindfulness in their lives and cultivate self-care and wellness. I plan to present in my poster session the rationale and the structure of the online course I created to introduce mindfulness to students in a graduate program, named Mind-IT. I will explain how the data collected in the three different phases of iteration informed the design and development of Mind-IT and depict the timeline of learning activities that participants in the study engaged with

Mind-It. Introducing Mindfulness Online to Help Students Change Perceptions and Develop Interest: A Design-Based Research Approach

This study aligns with contemporary perspectives on higher education suggesting that learning ought to be holistic, going beyond disciplinary knowledge and seeing students as whole beings, to support them in knowing themselves and integrating a more conscious society. In the attempt to contribute to this vision, this study advocates for incorporating mindfulness meditation—a contemplative practice to train the ability to be fully aware of the present moment with a nonjudgmental and curious attitude—into higher education curriculum. Adopting design-based research, I created and iteratively refined a two-week online course called Mind-IT to introduce mindfulness meditation to graduate students in the Veterinary Medicine. Due to potential barriers to engage in mindfulness meditation, the main goal of the study was to help students change their perceptions of mindfulness and develop situational interest in practicing it for their well-being. Results showed that Mind-IT helped students explore and shift their concept and experience of mindfulness, but need to offer more support for behavior change. Findings also showed that although excessive effort and time spent on some learning activities led to some frustration, Mind-IT helped students develop situational interest in mindfulness meditation

Characterization of extracellular electron transfer networks in Geobacter sulfurreducens, a key bacterium for bioremediation and bioenergy applications

Geobacter bacteria have awakened significantly attention because of their impact on natural environments and biotechnological applications that include the bioremediation of organic and inorganic contaminants, bioenergy production and bioelectronics. In addition to electron transfer towards extracellular terminal acceptors, Geobacter cells can also accept electrons from electrodes, in currentconsuming biofilms, a process that is currently explored in microbial electrosynthesis. These practical applications rely on an efficient transfer of electrons between the cell and its exterior, a process designated extracellular electron transfer (EET). However, the precise mechanisms underlying EET processes are still under debate. Genetic and proteomics studies have identified several c-type cytochromes as key components for EET in G. sulfurreducens. These proteins are located at the innermembrane (IM), periplasm and outer-membrane (OM). Examples of such cytochromes include the IMassociated cytochrome MacA, periplasmic cytochromes PpcA-E and PccH, as well as, the OM cytochrome OmcF, which were studied in this Thesis. Molecular interactions between PpcA-E and their putative redox partners, including a humic substance analogue molecule, MacA or PccH, were probed by NMR spectroscopy, stopped-flow kinetics and molecular docking. For the interacting pairs, their binding affinity was also determined by NMR chemical shift perturbation experiments. The results obtained showed that the interacting molecules establish reversible low-binding affinity complexes in specific regions of the proteins to warrant a rapid and selective electron transfer, a typical feature observed for electron transfer reactions between redox partners. In addition, NMR spectroscopy was also used to determine the solution structure of OmcF in the reduced state, its pH-dependent conformational changes and backbone dynamics. A biochemical and structural characterization of the cytochrome PccH was also carried out using circular dichroism, UV-visible and NMR spectroscopic techniques. The structure of PccH determined by X-ray crystallography showed that it is unique among the monoheme c-type cytochromes. The reduction potentials determined for PccH at different pH values by visible redox titrations are unusually low compared to those reported for other monoheme c-type cytochromes. Considering the structural and functional features of PccH it was proposed that this protein represents a first characterized example of a new subclass of monoheme c-type cytochromes. Overall, the results obtained constitute an important contribute to the current understanding of the G. sulfurreducens extracellular electron transfer mechanisms

Follow the red road of triheme cytochromes in Geobacter sulfurreducens

The bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens (Gs) is capable of oxidizing a large variety of compounds relaying electrons out of the cytoplasm and across the membrane in a process designated as extracellular electron transfer. The Gs genome was fully sequenced and a family composed by five periplasmic triheme cytochromes c7 (designated PpcA-E) was identified. These cytochromes play an important role in the reduction of extracellular acceptors. They contain approximately 70 amino acids, three heme groups with bis-histidinyl axial coordination, and share between 57 and 77% sequence identity. The triheme cytochrome PpcA is highly abundant in Gs and is most likely the reservoir of electrons destined for outer surface. In addition to its role in electron transfer pathways this protein can perform e-/H+ energy transduction, a process that is disrupted when the strictly conserved aromatic residue phenylalanine 15 is replaced by a leucine (PpcAF15L). This Thesis focuses on the expression, purification and characterization of these proteins using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The orientations of the heme axial histidine ring planes and the orientation of the heme magnetic axis were determined for each Gs triheme cytochrome. The comparison of the orientations obtained in solution with the crystal structures available showed significant differences. The results obtained provide the paramagnetic constraints to include in the future refinement of the solution structure in the oxidized state. In this work was also determined the solution structure and the pH-dependent conformational changes of the PpcAF15L allowing infer the structural origin for e-/H+ energy transduction mechanism as shown by PpcA. Finally, the backbone and side chain NH signals of PpcA were used to map interactions between this protein and the putative redox partner 9,10-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS). In this work a molecular interaction was identified for the first time between PpcA and AQDS, constituting the first step toward the rationalization of the Gs respiratory chain.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - Projecto de Re-Equipamento Científico (REDE/1517/RMN/2005

Catalytic hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to form methanol and methane

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímic

Analysis of the alterations induced by working memory tasks in the electroencephalogram

The working memory (WM) is an essential cognitive function with limited capability that allows the temporary storage and manipulation of information used in complex cognitive tasks. The Fluid Intelligence (FI) is the ability to engage and respond to new situations, regardless of previous knowledge.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evolución de las concentraciones de plomo en el estuario del Nervión, sudeste del golfo de Vizcaya

Over many years the Nervión estuary has received an intense lead input from various sources in relation to different human activities. This input has produced lead accumulation in some compartments of the estuarine system, which is mainly reflected in the sediments. In recent years, the closure and/or transformation of some contaminating industries, in addition to the implementation of a sewerage scheme, have considerably reduced these inputs into the system. The lead concentration in the sediments has shown a general decreasing trend since 1995. Although this trend is neither progressive nor statistically significant for all the studied stations, lead concentrations in surficial sediment are significantly lower in recent years than at the beginning of the study period. Regarding potential adverse effects on biota, although one third of the values measured during the study period are above concentrations associated with toxicity, in recent years very few values exceed these references. Time series of lead concentrations in biomonitors (mussels) do not show statistically significant temporal trends, and most of the values fulfil the quality objective proposed for this region.El estuario del Nervión recibió durante muchos años elevados aportes de plomo procedentes de diferentes actividades humanas desarrolladas en los márgenes del estuario. Esto produjo la acumulación de plomo en diferentes compartimentos del sistema, siendo el sedimento el compartimiento donde más claramente se refleja. En los últimos años, el cierre y/o transformación de algunas de las industrias más contaminantes, además de la implementación de un plan de saneamiento, han reducido considerablemente las entradas de plomo en el sistema. Las concentraciones de plomo en los sedimentos presentan una tendencia general decreciente desde el año 1995. Aunque esta tendencia no es progresiva ni estadísticamente significativa en todas las estaciones estudiadas, la concentración de plomo en el sedimento superficial es menor en los últimos años que al comienzo del periodo de estudio. En lo que respecta a los efectos adversos en la biota, aunque un tercio de los valores medidos durante el periodo de estudio están por encima de las concentraciones asociadas a toxicidad, en los últimos años solo unos pocos valores exceden dichas referencias. Las series temporales de plomo en biomonitores (mejillones) no presentan una tendencia temporal estadísticamente significativa y la mayoría de los valores cumplen con los objetivos de calidad propuestos para esta región

O Movimento da Escola Moderna e a abordagem à escrita no Jardim de Infância: conceções e práticas de uma equipa educativa

Relatório de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Educação Pré-EscolarO presente relatório constitui uma análise reflexiva e fundamentada da experiência vivenciada em contexto de Jardim de Infância (JI), no âmbito da Prática Profissional Supervisionada (PPS II), do Mestrado em Educação Pré-Escolar. Dividido em duas partes, oferece, por um lado, uma caracterização da ação educativa contextualizada, as intencionalidades pedagógicas delineadas e a análise da intervenção, apresentando, por outro, a investigação desenvolvida sobre as representações e práticas da equipa educativa em torno do Movimento da Escola Moderna (MEM) e da abordagem à escrita no JI. A prática decorreu numa organização socioeducativa da rede pública localizada na Área Metropolitana de Lisboa (AML), por um período de 16 semanas, entre outubro de 2022 e fevereiro de 2023, junto de um grupo de crianças composto por 20 crianças, com idades compreendidas entre os três anos e 10 meses e os cinco anos e 11 meses. Alinhada com os interesses do grupo, a problemática surgiu do meu interesse em conhecer os benefícios do MEM na potenciação da abordagem à escrita, bem como as estratégias utilizadas pela equipa educativa neste mesmo âmbito de intervenção. Definiram-se como objetivos do estudo: (i) analisar o modo como o MEM, em contexto/sala de JI, contribui para o contacto precoce com a escrita; e (ii) compreender o papel do educador na emergência da escrita em contexto Pré-Escolar. Mediante uma abordagem qualitativa, centrada num estudo de caso, procedi à recolha de dados a partir de dois inquéritos por questionário, à Educadora Cooperante e à Assistente Operacional, bem como ao seu exame posterior com base na análise de conteúdo. As principais conclusões do estudo indicam que a equipa educativa valoriza os contributos da abordagem à escrita no JI no desenvolvimento das crianças, assumindo estratégias fundamentadas por princípios do MEM que visionam a criança como o ator principal da sua aprendizagem.ABSTRACT This report is a reflective and reasoned analysis of the experience lived in the context of Kindergarten, within the Supervised Professional Practice of the Master's Degree in Pre-School Education. Divided into two parts, it offers, on the one hand, a characterization of the contextualized educational action, the pedagogical intentions outlined and the analysis of the intervention, presenting, on the other hand, the research developed on the representations and practices of the educational team around the Modern School Movement and the approach to writing in kindergarten. The practice took place in a public social and educational organization located in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, for a period of 16 weeks, between October 2022 and February 2023, with a group of 20 children, aged between three years and 10 months and five years and 11 months. Aligned with the group's interests, the issue arose from my interest in knowing the benefits of the Modern School Movement in promoting the approach to writing, as well as the strategies used by the educational team within this same scope of intervention. The objectives of the study were: (i) to analyze how the Modern School Movement, in the kindergarten context/classroom, contributes to early contact with writing; and (ii) to understand the educator's role in the emergence of writing in the preschool context. Using a qualitative approach, centered on a case study, I collected data from two interviews, with the Cooperating Educator and the Operational Assistant, and further examined them based on content analysis. The main conclusions of the study indicate that the educational team values the contributions of the approach to writing in kindergarten in the development of children, assuming strategies based on the principles of Modern School Movement that envision the child as the main actor of their learning.N/

Um bom momento para si, um grande momento no seu trabalho: variáveis individuais na experiência de timelessness

PsycINFO codes: 3660 Comportamento OrganizacionalO presente estudo pretende contribuir para o desenvolvimento da investigação ao nível do timelessness. Para isso testou-se empiricamente a relação do timelessness na criatividade tendo por base o modelo teórico desenvolvido por Mainemelis (2001), e analisou-se os efeitos da motivação intrínseca e do engagement numa experiência de timelessness. Para tal, recorreu-se a uma amostra de 200 colaboradores de 35 empresas portuguesas dispersos por um total de 40 funções diferentes. Consistentes com as nossas hipóteses os resultados mostraram que quanto mais intrinsecamente motivados e quanto mais engaged estiverem os colaboradores no desempenho das suas funções, maior a probabilidade de experienciarem timelessness; e quanto mais experiências de timelessness vivenciarem, maior o número de ideias criativas geradas. Através destes resultados concluímos que o timelessness tem um impacto positivo na criatividade, mas que para que o timelessness ocorra é necessário ter em conta os fatores que o antecedem. Assim sugere-se às empresas que promovam a motivação intrínseca e o engagement de forma a potenciarem e usufruírem dos benefícios desta experiência.The present study aims to contribute to the development of timelessness research. For this propose we tested empirically the relationship between timelessness and creativity, based on the theoretical model developed by Mainemelis (2001) and analyzed the effects of intrinsic motivation and engagement in an experiment of timelessness. We used a sample of 200 employees from 35 Portuguese companies scattered by a total of 40 different functions. Consistent with our hypotheses the results showed that the more intrinsically motivated and more engaged as employees in the performance of their functions, greater is the likelihood to experience timelessness; and the more experiences of timelessness they have, the largest number of creative ideas are generated. Through these results, we conclude that the timelessness has a positive impact on creativity, but for the timelessness to occur it is necessary to take into account the factors that precede it. So we suggested that companies should promote intrinsic motivation and engagement in their context in order to enhance timelessness and creativity, and enjoy the benefits of these experiences