Fostering advances to neuropsychological assessment based on the Research Domain Criteria: The bridge between cognitive functioning and physiology

Objectives: The current review aimed to explore the advances in neuropsychological assessment in light of a recent research framework designed to improve our knowledge on mental health – the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC). Methods: RDoC proposals on neuropsychological tests were reviewed across the RDoC cognitive systems domain. The focus is on the physiological unit of analysis and the potential applications are illustrated given the functional relevance of RDoC constructs to psychopathological and neurological conditions. Results: The advances in neuropsychology anchored in RDoC are not observable in terms of innovative paradigms, but rather in the neurobiological correlates that may be obtained from the classical neuropsychological tasks. The behavior unit of analysis may be integrated with physiological outcomes while mapping distinct cognitive constructs simultaneously. Conclusions: Under the aegis of RDoC, the integration of multiple levels of analysis allows to obtain a more detailed and complete neuropsychological characterization with high potential to be translated into better intervention strategies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Grain productive efficiency of soybean plants under lactofen application

Adverse factors cause a decrease in the productive potential of crops. For soybean [(Glycine max (L.) Merrill], the excessive growth is a factor that results in plants with low effective efficiency. Thus, plants with an architecture that favours greater interception of solar radiation and deposition of pesticides tend to be more productive. The objective of this study is to evaluate the different application of lactofen, which is used as a growth inhibitor, improve the productive efficiency of soybeans by increasing the biological activity of the leaves. The study was conducted in the field with soybean cultivars NA 5909 RG and BMX Potência RR. The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with four treatments and five replicates: T1: control; T2: application of 140 g a.i ha-1 of lactofen in phenological stage V3; T3: application of 140 g a.i ha-1 of lactofen in phenological stage V6; and T4: application of 70 g a.i ha-1 of lactofen in phenological stage V3 + 70 g a.i ha-1 of lactofen in phenological stage V6. The interception of photosynthetically active radiation in the lower layer increased in all treatments. Lactofen application increased the percent area covered and the number of phytosanitary products spray droplets per cm² in the middle and lower layers of the plants. The lower third of the plants experienced the greatest effect of the treatments with regard to the number of pods, grains and grain weight, with treatment T2 presenting significant increases. The use of lactofen as a growth inhibitor at the beginning of pod development in soybean caused changes to plant architecture and root development, consequently enhanced the productive efficiency of the plant, primarily due to increased grain production in the lower layer. Future research using lactofen in different phenological stages and cultivars may provide more insights in to the performance of this growth inhibitor in soybean

Neurophysiological correlates of near-miss in pathological and problematic gambling

Introduction: Near-miss is losing events that come close to a win. It illustrates one of the cognitive distortion types that can occur during gambling. We intended to analyze the neurophysiological correlates of the near-miss effect through an ERP (Event-related Potentials) study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Chiado e Estilo. A importância da noção de Estilo na construção do Chiado de Siza

A presente tese constitui‑se como um estudo interpretativo, no campo da teoria de projecto, da intervenção de Álvaro Siza no Chiado, em Lisboa, depois do incêndio de 1988, através da formulação de um problema concreto que o próprio título denuncia: a importância da noção de Estilo na construção do Chiado de Siza.Nesse sentido, a investigação partiu de premissas, outras, que não as habituais teorias de intervenção no património, uma vez que estas nos pareciam entrar num campo de especialização da disciplina, a que não aderimos particularmente e que, inclusivamente, não pareciam interessar ao próprio autor do projecto.A História adquire na tese um valor documental que se constitui como pano de fundo para a construção de um ponto de vista sobre o Chiado (antes e depois de Siza).Este trabalho centra‑se, assim, no processo de criação, partindo de uma reflexão operativa de Goethe, a prósito da criação da obra de arte, que, transportada para o campo da arquitectura, nos permite pensare interpretar a intervenção de Siza no contexto pombalino.A importância da noção de estilo, como se pode observar em José‑Augusto França, não é nova a propósito da compreensão do projecto do Marquês de Pombal, após o terramoto de 1755, para a Baixa de Lisboa.O que esta tese propõe é alargar a simples noção de estilo a uma ideia mais vasta, como a proposta por Goethe em simples imitação, maneira e estilo, colocando‑a à prova no Chiado de SizaO "estilo pombalino", enquadrado na história dos estilos, e o Estilo, na acepção de Goethe (e de outros autores afins), constituem, aparentemente, duas vias distintas que, no projecto pombalino, e na interpretação que Siza faz dele, nos parecem convergir.A investigação que aqui propomos tenta dar resposta a esta problemática convocando a lição do Chiado de Siza, uma obra exemplar (no sentido de referência), onde o autor parece desenvolver esta mesma investigação através da prática projectual, ou seja, da arquitectura e seus problemas.This thesis is an interpretive study of Siza's intervention in Lisbon's Chiado district after the 1988 fire. It is developed in the field of design theory, through the formulation of a concrete problem outlined in the title itself: the importance of the notion of Style in the construction of Siza's Chiado.With this aim in mind, the research was based on premises other than those customarily applied in theories relating to interventions in the architectural heritage, since these appeared to lead to a field of specialisation in the discipline that the author did not particularly adhere to, and which was consequently of no immediate interest.In this thesis, History assumes a documentary value, serving as a backdrop for the formulation of a point of view about the Chiado area (before and after Siza).The work is therefore centred upon the process of creation, beginning with an operative reflection that Goethe made about the creation of a work of art, and which, when transposed to the field of architecture, enables us to think about and interpret Siza's intervention in the context of Pombal's Lisbon.As can be seen from the work of José‑Augusto França, the importance of the notion of style does not represent a new approach to understanding the Marquis of Pombal's project for Lisbon's central Baixa district after the earthquake.What this thesis does, however, propose is that we should expand the simple notion of style to encompass a much vaster idea, such as the one proposed by Goethe in a simple imitation of nature, manner and style, putting it to the test in relation to Siza's Chiado.The so‑called "Pombaline style", framed within the history of styles, and Style, in Goethe's (and other similar authors') acceptance of this term, apparently amount to two distinct paths that, in the Pombaline project, and in the interpretation that Siza makes of it, appear to converge with one another.The research that is proposed here seeks to respond to this problematics by invoking the lesson of Siza's Chiado, an exemplary work (in the sense of a benchmark), in which the author seems to develop this same research through the implementation of a design project, or, in other words, through the practice of architecture and its problems

The use of new digital information and communication technologies in psychological counseling during the CoViD-19 pandemic

The use of digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) has enabled many professionals to continue to provide their services during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, little is known about the adoption of ICTs by psychologists and the impact of such technologies on their practice. This study aimed to explore psychologists’ practices related with the use of ICTs before and during the COVID-19 lockdown, to identify the main changes that the pandemic has brought and the impact that such changes have had on their practice with clients, and also identify the factors that potentially have affected such changes. The Portuguese Psychologists Association announced the study, and 108 psychologists responded to an online survey during the mandatory lockdown. The results showed that these professionals continued to provide their services due to having adopted ICTs. Comparing with face-to-face interventions, psychologists recognized that additional precautions/knowledge were needed to use such technologies. Despite the challenges identified, they described the experience with the use of ICTs as positive, meeting clients’ adherence, and yielding positive results. Psychologists with the most years of professional experience maintained their services the most, but those with average experience showed the most favorable attitudes toward the use of technologies and web-based interventionsThis research was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) through R&D Units funding (UIDB/05210/2020), and through a doctoral grant (SFRH/BD/138723/2018) awarded to Andreia Geraldo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Functional connectivity as outcome measure of cognitive rehabilitation

This study examines the contributes of functional connectivity (FC) in the assessment of the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation programs (CRP). We conducted a systematic search on EBSCO, WoS and Pubmed, further complemented with hand search. Thirty-two studies analyzing the efficacy of CRP and having FC as outcome were included in this review. The fMRI is the most frequent technique used to assess FC, with resting-state (RS) acquisition protocols. Despite that, 7 fMRI studies used task-engaged (TE) protocols, and 4 used both RS and TE. Two studies used MEG and 1 used EEG, all with RS protocols. Significant changes in FC after CRP were reported in all studies, both compared to baseline and control groups. Additionally, significant positive improvements in neuropsychological outcomes were reported in 28 studies. Correlations between neuropsychological and FC outcomes were found in 19 studies, and FC was significantly correlated with measures of depression and quality of life in 2 studies. The relationship between FC and behavioral outcomes suggests that FC can provide important measures when assessing the efficacy of CRP.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

O técnico de farmácia enquanto agente de educação para a saúde entre pares

A capacitação das pessoas ao longo da vida para, de forma informada, tomarem decisões conscientes sobre as opções mais saudáveis em diferentes contextos é, atualmente, considerada fundamental para o seu bem-estar. A Educação para a Saúde é entendida como um processo que utiliza oportunidades educacionais programadas que promovem a capacitação dos indivíduos na tomada de decisão informada sobre a sua saúde. Os Técnicos de Farmácia, são por inerência às suas funções, educadores para a saúde tanto junto da população geral como também entre pares e outros profissionais de saúde. A área técnico-científica de Ciências Sociais e Humanas (CSH), dinamiza, por isso, a Unidade Curricular Educação para a Saúde, integrada no currículo do 3.º ano da licenciatura em Farmácia da Escola Superior de Saúde do Politécnico do Porto (ESS-P.PORTO). Esta unidade curricular tem como principal objetivo capacitar os futuros profissionais de farmácia para planearem, construírem e porem em prática ações de educação para a saúde, junto da comunidade e entre pares e outros profissionais de saúde. Para cumprir esse objetivo, os estudantes formam pequenos grupos de trabalho e escolhem um tema na área da saúde mental, que investigam através de uma revisão da literatura. Com base na investigação realizada, cada grupo desenvolve uma ação de formação sobre esse tema direcionada para profissionais de farmácia, abordando as principais características específicas da condição clínica, as abordagens terapêuticas farmacológicas e não farmacológicas mais comuns, e também estratégias de comunicação e de promoção da adesão terapêutica que os técnicos de farmácia podem utilizar na interação com os seus utentes. Esta formação é primeiramente testada em contexto de sala de aula, onde os estudantes partilham o feedback entre pares, utilizando para o efeito uma grelha de análise comum. Depois de analisada, a formação é apresentada em contexto formal junto dos pares e de outros técnicos de farmácia, entre os quais monitores de estágio. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam a elevada envolvência dos estudantes no desenvolvimento desta atividade prática, assim como a sua pertinência junto dos profissionais de farmácia, o público alvo da formação final.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exposure to traumatic events and the electroencephalographic response to aversive conditioning paradigms

Exposure to traumatic experiences can lead to significant behavioral and emotional changes, namely to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Late Positive Potential (LPP) is the event-related potential most consensually referred as a neural correlate of this phenomena. Despite that, a lack of scientific evidence is still noticeable regarding the contribution of the Contingent Negative Variation (CNV) to its comprehension. We intended to explore the relation between the occurrence of traumatic events and the amplitude of the CNV and the LPP event-related potentials. Thirty-four university students participated in the study. All participants completed the Life Experience Survey (LES) and participated in an experiment with EEG recording. In this experiment, the participants were exposed to two aversive conditioning protocols: one with auditory stimuli and the other with facial expressions of anger, both as aversive stimuli. Significant results were found for the conditioning effect of the aversive conditioning protocol with the auditory stimuli, and also to its extinction. The results show a greater sensitivity of the LPP when compared to the CNV for the discrimination between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli. This highlights a stronger association of the LPP with aversive anticipation, which can influence the methodological design of future studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio