Validation of the Portuguese version of impulsive-premeditated aggression scale in an inmate population

Aggression is one of the core symptoms of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) with therapeutic and prognostic relevance. ASPD is highly prevalent among inmates, being responsible for adverse events and elevated direct and indirect economic costs for the criminal justice system. The Impulsive/Premeditated Aggression Scale (IPAS) is a self-report instrument that characterizes aggression as either predominately impulsive or premeditated. This study aims to determine the validity and reliability of the IPAS in a sample of Portuguese inmates. A total of 240 inmates were included in the study. A principal component factor analysis was performed so as to obtain the construct validity of the IPAS impulsive aggression (IA) and premeditated aggression (PM) subscales; internal consistency was determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient; convergent and divergent validity of the subscales were determined analyzing correlations with the Barratt Impulsiveness scale, 11th version (BIS-11), and the Psychopathic Checklist Revised (PCL-R). The rotated matrix with two factors accounted for 49.9% of total variance. IA subscale had 11 items and PM subscale had 10 items. The IA and PM subscales had a good Cronbach's alpha values of 0.89 and 0.88, respectively. The IA subscale is correlated with BIS-11 attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsiveness dimensions (p < 0.05). The PM subscale is correlated with BIS-11 attentional, motor impulsiveness dimensions (p < 0.05). The PM subscale is correlated with PCL-R interpersonal, lifestyle, and antisocial dimensions (p < 0.05). The IA subscale is not correlated with PCL-R. The Portuguese translated version of IPAS has adequate psychometric properties, allowing the measurement of impulsive and premeditated dimensions of aggression

Papel da análise discriminante no aprimoramento da avaliação da satisfação dos usuários

OBJECTIVE: To test discriminant analysis as a method of turning the information of a routine customer satisfaction survey (CSS) into a more accurate decision-making tool. METHODS: A 7-question, 10-multiple choice, self-applied questionnaire was used to study a sample of patients seen in two outpatient care units in Valparaíso, Chile, one of primary care (n=100) and the other of secondary care (n=249). Two cutting points were considered in the dependent variable (final satisfaction score): satisfied versus unsatisfied, and very satisfied versus all others. Results were compared with empirical measures (proportion of satisfied individuals, proportion of unsatisfied individuals and size of the median). RESULTS: The response rate was very high, over 97.0% in both units. A new variable, medical attention, was revealed, as explaining satisfaction at the primary care unit. The proportion of the total variability explained by the model was very high (over 99.4%) in both units, when comparing satisfied with unsatisfied customers. In the analysis of very satisfied versus all other customers, significant relationship was identified only in the case of the primary care unit, which explained a small proportion of the variability (41.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Discriminant analysis identified relationships not revealed by the previous analysis. It provided information about the proportion of the variability explained by the model. It identified non-significant relationships suggested by empirical analysis (e.g. the case of the relation very satisfied versus others in the secondary care unit). It measured the contribution of each independent variable to the explanation of the variation of the dependent one.OBJETIVO: Testar a análise discriminante como um método de transformar a informação obtida num inquérito de satisfação dos usuários de rotina numa acurada ferramenta de tomada de decisão. MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se questionário auto-aplicável com sete questões de dez opções numa amostra dos pacientes atendidos em duas unidades ambulatórias públicas, em Valparaíso, Chile, sendo uma de cuidados primários (n=100) e a outra de atenção secundária (n=249). Utilizaram-se dois pontos de corte na variável dependente (índice final de satisfação): satisfeitos vs insatisfeitos e muito satisfeitos vs os demais. Os resultados foram comparados com medidas empíricas habitualmente utilizadas (proporção de satisfeitos, proporção de insatisfeitos e dimensão da mediana). RESULTADOS: O nível de resposta foi muito elevado (sempre acima de 97,0%). Uma variável adicional revelou-se (atendimento médico), explicando a satisfação com o atendimento na unidade primária. Ao comparar satisfeitos com insatisfeitos, a proporção total da variabilidade explicada pelo modelo foi muito elevada (acima de 99,4%) em ambas unidades. Ao comparar muito satisfeitos com os demais, observou-se relação significativa apenas no caso da unidade primária. Explicou-se uma baixa proporção da variabilidade (41,9%). CONCLUSÕES: A análise discriminante revelou relações não percebidas pela análise empírica e indicou a proporção exata da variabilidade explicada pelo modelo utilizado. A técnica afastou como não significativas relações sugeridas pela análise empírica (por exemplo, muito satisfeitos versus os demais no caso da unidade secundária). A técnica permitiu medir a intensidade da contribuição de cada variável na explicação da variação da satisfação

Molecular Responses of Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Associated to Accumulation and Depuration of Marine Biotoxins Okadaic Acid and Dinophysistoxin-1 Revealed by Shotgun Proteomics

The molecular pathways behind the toxicity of diarrheic shellfish toxins (DSTs) in bivalves have been scarcely studied. Thus, a shotgun proteomics approach was applied in this work to understand bivalves’ molecular responses to the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum lima (1.0 × 106 cells/L). Protein expression along with toxins levels were analyzed in the gills and digestive gland of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis during and after exposure to this toxic strain. Results revealed an accumulation of OA and DTX1 only in the digestive gland with maximum amounts attained at the end of uptake phase (day 5; 2819.2 ± 522.2 µg OA/kg and 1107.1 ± 267.9 µg DTX1/kg). At the end of the depuration phase (day 20), 16% and 47% of total OA and DTX1 concentrations remained in the digestive gland tissues, respectively. The shotgun proteomic analyses yielded 3051 proteins in both organs. A total of 56 and 54 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were revealed in the digestive gland and gills, respectively. Both organs presented the same response dynamics along the experiment, although with tissue-specific features. The early response (3 days uptake) was characterized by a high number of DEPs, being more marked in gills, in relation to the latter time points (5 days uptake and depuration). Functional enrichment analysis revealed the up-regulation of carboxylic (GO:0046943) and organic acid transmembrane transporter activity (GO:0005342) pathways after 3 days uptake for digestive gland. Matching to these pathways are a group of proteins related to transmembrane transport and response to toxic substances and xenobiotics, namely P-glycoprotein (ABCB11), Sodium-dependent proline transporter (SLC6A7), and Sideroflexin-1 (SFXN1). According to Clusters of Orthologous Groups (GOs) categories, most of the DEPs found for digestive gland in all time-points were related with “cellular processes and signaling” and involving signal transduction mechanisms, cytoskeleton and post-translational modification, protein turnover, chaperone functions. In gills, the early uptake phase was marked by a balance between DEPs related with “cellular processes and signaling” and “metabolism.” Depuration is clearly marked by processes related with “metabolism,” mainly involving secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transport, and catabolism. Proteomic data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD022293.This work was funded by Portuguese Science Foundation (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, FCT) and under the Projects MOREBIVALVES (PTDC/ASP-PES/31762/2017) and by the Strategic Funding UIDB/04423/2020 and UIDP/04423/2020 through national funds provided by FCT and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), in the framework of the program PT2020. This work had also support from the Portuguese Mass Spectrometry Network, integrated in the National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of Strategic Relevance (ROTEIRO/0028/2013 and LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-022125)

Longer duration of obesity is associated with a reduction in urinary angiotensinogen in prepubertal children

Background: We aimed to study the impact of obesity on urinary excretion of angiotensinogen (U-AGT) in prepubertal children, focusing on the duration of obesity and gender. Also, we aimed to evaluate whether plasma angiotensinogen (P-AGT) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) play a role in the putative association. Methods: Cross-sectional evaluation of 305 children aged 8–9 years (160 normal weight, 86 overweight, and 59 obese). Anthropometric measurements and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed. Angiotensinogen (AGT) was determined by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and H2O2 by a microplate fluorometric assay. Results: U-AGT and P-AGT levels were similar across body mass index (BMI) groups and between sexes. However, boys who were overweight/obese since the age of 4 years presented lower levels of U-AGT compared with those of normal weight at the same age. In children who were overweight/obese since the age of 4, urinary H2O2 decreased with P-AGT. Conclusions: A higher duration of obesity was associated with decreased U-AGT in boys, thus reflecting decreased intrarenal activity of the renin–angiotensin system. Also, children with a longer duration of obesity showed an inverse association between urinary H2O2 and P-AGT. Future studies should address whether these results reflect an early compensatory mechanism to limit obesity-triggered renal dysfunction.This project was supported by funds from Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) from Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade – COMPETE (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028751), by national funds from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (PTDC/DTP-PIC/0239/2012) and by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, that granted the study design and data collection and analysis. Liane Correia-Costa was supported by FCT (grant SFRH/SINTD/95898/2013), Teresa Sousa was supported by FCT and POPH/FSE (EC) (Ciência 2008 and SFRH/BPD/112005) and Franz Schaefer was supported by the ERA-EDTA Research Programme and the KfH Foundation for Preventive Medicine. The Epidemiology Research Unit (EPIUnit) is funded by FCT (UID/DTP/04750/2013)

Promoting regional development through a collaborative project in entrepreneurship education: lessons from a regional experiment to develop entrepreneurial competences in children and youngsters

The chapter focuses on the reflection around the relationship between entrepreneurial empowerment and regional development, based on the assumptions, methodology and results of a self-sustained supramunicipal project in entrepreneurship education, promoted by a wide network of partners representing all the municipalities of Baixo Alentejo, Portugal, and coordinated by the Polytechnic Institute of Beja (IPBeja). The project Promoting Entrepreneurship Education at the Schools of Baixo Alentejo (PEEBA) was carried out in collaboration with Elementary Schools (1st to 2nd Ciclos) and kindergartens of Baixo Alentejo with the objective to nurture entrepreneurial competencies in children and youngsters aged 3–12 through practical and experiential entrepreneurship education. It provided them with entrepreneurial skills and attitudes that will increase their opportunities, by helping them face their lives with more initiative and confidence and/or be more proactive at work, or even start their own business in a near future, in the hope that this may eventually contribute to reduce the brain drain in Baixo Alentejo. With the motto the socioeconomic future of our region will be shaped by the students we are educating now, the PEEBA is innovative and unique, since it consists in a platform that brings together all the key stakeholders in the field of entrepreneurship education within all the municipalities of a NUTS, in this particular case Baixo Alentejo, who show an interest in working collaboratively for a common goal: to create a shared ecosystem favourable to entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial capacity

Programa de intervención en representaciones de creatividad y motivación académica de adolescentes

Creativity and its promotion are widespread concerns in education. However, few efforts have been made to implement intervention programs designed to promote creativity and other related aspects (e.g., academic motivation). The Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), aimed for training creativity representations and creative problem solving skills in young people, has been one of the most implemented programs. This intervention’s materials and activities were adapted for Portuguese students, and a longitudinal study was conducted. The program was implemented during four months, in weekly sessions, by thirteen teachers. Teachers received previous training for the program and during the program’s implementation. Intervention participants included 77 Basic and Secondary Education students, and control participants included 78 equivalent students. Pretest-posttest measures of academic motivation and creativity representations were collected. Results suggest a significant increase, in the intervention group, in motivation and the appropriate representations of creativity. Practical implications and future research perspectives are presented.A criatividade e sua promoção geram grande preocupação em educação. Contudo, poucos esforços têm existido para implementar programas destinados a sua promoção e de outros aspetos relacionados (e.g., motivação acadêmica). O Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), criado para melhorar as representações de criatividade e a resolução criativa de problemas em jovens, tem sido um dos mais implementados. Os seus materiais e atividades foram adaptados para estudantes portugueses, efetuando-se um estudo longitudinal. O programa foi implementado durante quatro meses, semanalmente, por treze professores, que receberam formação antes e durante a implementação. O grupo experimental incluiu 77 estudantes do Ensino Básico e Secundário, apresentando o grupo de controlo 78 estudantes com características equivalentes. Os dados sobre a motivação e criatividade foram recolhidos num pré e pós-teste. Os resultados sugerem um aumento significativo na motivação e crenças apropriadas de criatividade no grupo experimental. Implicações práticas e perspectivas para investigações futuras são apresentadas.La creatividad y su promoción generan gran preocupación en educación. Sin embargo, han sido llevados a cabo pocos esfuerzos para implementar programas de promoción de la creatividad y otros aspectos (e.g., motivación académica). El Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), creado para mejorar las representaciones de creatividad y la solución creativa de problemas en jóvenes, ha sido bastante implementado. Se adaptaron sus materiales y actividades para estudiantes portugueses, y se desarrolló un estudio longitudinal. El programa se implementó semanalmente durante cuatro meses por trece profesores, que recibieron formación antes y durante la implementación. El grupo experimental incluyó 77 estudiantes de Educación Primaria y Secundaria y el grupo de control incluyó 78 estudiantes con características semejantes. Los datos de motivación y creatividad fueron recogidos en un pre y post-test, sugiriendo un aumento significativo de motivación y creencias apropiadas sobre la creatividad en el grupo experimental. Se presentan implicaciones prácticas y perspectivas para futuras investigaciones.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BPD/80825/201

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: Should we submit patients without angina to coronary angiography?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) accounts for about two-thirds of cases of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) [1]. Angina symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) are not sufficient to establish an ischemic etiology and according to recommendations coronary angiography (CA) is the gold standard [1–3]. There is a paucity of information on the performance of CA for detecting CAD in HFrEF without known CAD [4]. We aimed to determine the frequency of CAD in HFrEF patients of unknown etiology and without known CAD, and to identify variables associated with the presence and severity of CAD

The N-terminal half of the peroxisomal cycling receptor Pex5p is a natively unfolded domain

Targeting of most newly synthesised peroxisomal matrix proteins to the organelle requires Pex5p, the so-called PTS1 receptor. According to current models of peroxisomal biogenesis, Pex5p interacts with these proteins in the cytosol, transports them to the peroxisomal membrane and catalyses their translocation across the membrane. Presently, our knowledge on the structural details behind the interaction of Pex5p with the cargo proteins is reasonably complete. In contrast, information regarding the structure of the Pex5p N-terminal half (a region containing its peroxisomal targeting domain) is still limited. We have recently observed that the Stokes radius of this Pex5p domain is anomalously large, suggesting that this portion of the protein is either a structured elongated domain or that it adopts a low compactness conformation. Here, we address this issue using a combination of biophysical and biochemical approaches. Our results indicate that the N-terminal half of Pex5p is best described as a natively unfolded premolten globule-like domain. The implications of these findings on the mechanism of protein import into the peroxisome are discussed