Affiliative Subgroups in Preschool Classrooms: Integrating Constructs and Methods from Social Ethology and Sociometric Traditions

Recent studies of school-age children and adolescents have used social network analyses to characterize selection and socialization aspects of peer groups. Fewer network studies have been reported for preschool classrooms and many of those have focused on structural descriptions of peer networks, and/or, on selection processes rather than on social functions of subgroup membership. In this study we started by identifying and describing different types of affiliative subgroups (HMP- high mutual proximity, LMP- low mutual proximity, and ungrouped children) in a sample of 240 Portuguese preschool children using nearest neighbor observations. Next, we used additional behavioral observations and sociometric data to show that HMP and LMP subgroups are functionally distinct: HMP subgroups appear to reflect friendship relations, whereas LMP subgroups appear to reflect common social goals, but without strong, within-subgroup dyadic ties. Finally, we examined the longitudinal implications of subgroup membership and show that children classified as HMP in consecutive years had more reciprocated friendships than did children whose subgroup classification changed from LMP or ungrouped to HMP. These results extend previous findings reported for North American peer groups

Affiliative Subgroups in Preschool Classrooms: Integrating Constructs and Methods from Social Ethology and Sociometric Traditions

Recent studies of school-age children and adolescents have used social network analyses to characterize selection and socialization aspects of peer groups. Fewer network studies have been reported for preschool classrooms and many of those have focused on structural descriptions of peer networks, and/or, on selection processes rather than on social functions of subgroup membership. In this study we started by identifying and describing different types of affiliative subgroups (HMP- high mutual proximity, LMP- low mutual proximity, and ungrouped children) in a sample of 240 Portuguese preschool children using nearest neighbor observations. Next, we used additional behavioral observations and sociometric data to show that HMP and LMP subgroups are functionally distinct: HMP subgroups appear to reflect friendship relations, whereas LMP subgroups appear to reflect common social goals, but without strong, within-subgroup dyadic ties. Finally, we examined the longitudinal implications of subgroup membership and show that children classified as HMP in consecutive years had more reciprocated friendships than did children whose subgroup classification changed from LMP or ungrouped to HMP. These results extend previous findings reported for North American peer groups

Combining IoT and users’ profiles to provide contextualized information and services

Technological evolution has led to the emergence of a set of solutions suitable to support mobility and ubiquity scenarios. Wireless computing and mobile devices together with the miniaturization of sensors and actuators, which are now embedded in physical spaces, are today’s reality. This phenomenon opened the door to a set of opportunities for reengineering how we perceive a given fact or situation and how we act on it. With regard to the delivery of information to users of a given physical space, there is now the possibility of radically transforming the mechanisms of interaction between the space and the user, redesigning the entire experience of interaction. This change allows the user to see the physical space around him adapt to himself and provide him with contextualized and personalized information according to his profile of interest. This approach can improve the way we manage customer relationships in a given business context. This article presents an overview of the state of the art of intelligent spaces and analyzes the potential of indoor positioning systems and techniques, and proposes a conceptual model for the detection of users in physical spaces and the consequent adaptation of an intelligent physical space to provide information aligned with the user's interest profile and in accordance with their privacy rules.UNIAG, R&D unit funded by the FCT – Portuguese Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education. UID/GES/4752/2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Literature review on shift work and nurse’s burnout

Abstract of communication presented at the Fourth International Congress of CiiEM: Health, Well-Being and Ageing in the 21st Century. Egas Moniz University Campus, Monte de Caparica, Portugal, 3–5 June 2019This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cost-effectiveness of the endovascular repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Portugal

AbstractEndovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR) for the treatment of aortic abdominal aneurism has been shown to improve short-term survival and quality of life as compared to Open Repair (OR), while reducing the rate of serious complications and allowing for the treatment of more patients.ObjectivesTo examine the cost-effectiveness of EVAR compared to OR in the treatment of aortic abdominal aneurism in the Portuguese context using a model previously developed in the UK.MethodologyWe adapted an international economic evaluation model to the Portuguese situation, assuming that the health benefits of EVAR observed in clinical trials would also apply to Portuguese patients. We carried out an expert panel survey to calculate the resource use associated with the intervention and its short and long-term consequences, valued with Portuguese prices.ResultsThe major cost difference in the primary intervention (difference of 3,064 € in favor of OR) is related to the cost of the endograft/graft. No major differences are observed in the total cost of complications and re-interventions between the two procedures. EVAR represents a cost of 16,709 € over lifetime compared to 12,130 € for OR. Using data from the literature we show that EVAR allows for 0.17 additional undiscounted years of life and 0.091 additional undiscounted quality-adjusted life years. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of EVAR is of 65,605 €/QALY.ConclusionEndovascular repair of aortic abdominal aneurysm represents an effective alternative and has been used increasingly in Portugal and elsewhere. Our study shows that its cost-effectiveness is currently above the commonly accepted threshold in Portugal, but that the economic value of EVAR would greatly improve if benefits were confirmed in the long run after the intervention. Under these circumstances, EVAR would become an economically valuable intervention that could be adopted on a large scale in Portugal

Co-evolution of friendships and antipathies: A longitudinal study of preschool peer groups

Material suplementar está disponível em: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg. 2016.01509This Document is Protected by copyright and was first published by Frontiers. All rights reserved. It is reproduced with permission.We used stochastic actor-based models to test whether the developmental dynamics of friendships and antipathies in preschool peer groups (followed throughout three school years) were co-dependent. We combined choices from three sociometric tasks of 142 children to identify friendship and antipathy ties and used SIENA to model network dynamics. Our results show that different social processes drive the development of friendship and antipathy ties, and that they do not develop in association (i.e., friendship ties are not dependent on existing antipathies, and vice-versa). These results differ from those of older children (age range = 10-14) suggesting that the interplay of friendship and antipathy only plays a significant role in the peer group context in older children. We propose these differences to be likely related with preschool age children's inaccurate perceptions of their classmates' relationships, particularly of their antipathies, and/or with the absence of shared norms to deal with antipathetic relationships.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT); National Science Foundation (NSF

The Practices of Existential Psychotherapists:Development and Application of an Observational Grid

Within the major therapeutic paradigms, observational instruments have been developed to assess orientation-specific interventions or processes. However, to date, no such instrument exists to assess existential practices. Recent research indicates the key practices of existential therapists, and forms an empirical basis on which to develop an observatory grid. This paper describes the development of such a grid, and its exploratory testing with eight clients of four Portuguese existential psychotherapists. A total of 32 sessions were observed and both speaking turn and whole-session analysis showed that it was feasible to assess existential therapy using the instrument, although psychometric findings recommend further refinement of the tool. Session-rating data suggest that the chief practices applied by existential therapists were relational, followed by the use of hermeneutic interventions and reformulations. Interventions based on phenomenological and existential assumptions were observable in practice but limited in frequency. Further refinements and developments of the observational grid, together with additional research – using a range of therapists from different schools of existential therapy – are recommended.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Concurrent agreement between an anthropometric model to predict thigh volume and dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry assessment in female volleyball players aged 14-18 years

A variety of performance outputs are strongly determined by lower limbs volume and composition in children and adolescents. The current study aimed to examine the validity of thigh volume (TV) estimated by anthropometry in late adolescent female volleyball players. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures were used as the reference method. Total and regional body composition was assessed with a Lunar DPX NT/Pro/MD+/Duo/Bravo scanner in a cross-sectional sample of 42 Portuguese female volleyball players aged 14-18 years (165.2 ± 0.9 cm; 61.1 ± 1.4 kg). TV was estimated with the reference method (TV-DXA) and with the anthropometric method (TV-ANTH). Agreement between procedures was assessed with Deming regression. The analysis also considered a calibration of the anthropometric approach. The equation that best predicted TV-DXA was: -0.899 + 0.876 × log10 (body mass) + 0.113 × log10 (TV-ANTH). This new model (NM) was validated using the predicted residual sum of squares (PRESS) method (R2PRESS = 0.838). Correlation between the reference method and the NM was 0.934 (95%CI: 0.880-0.964, Sy∙x = 0.325 L). A new and accurate anthropometric method to estimate TV in adolescent female volleyball players was obtained from the equation of Jones and Pearson alongside with adjustments for body mass.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Strong relationships between soil and vegetation in reference ecosystems of a riparian atlantic rainforest in the upper Doce River watershed, southeastern Brazil

Habitat loss and fragmentation have been impacting ecosystem services essential for human survival. The Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, a biodiversity hotspot, has suffered from historical deforestation and, more recently, from an environmental disaster caused by the Fundão dam collapse that released ore tailings drastically affecting a large territory in the Doce River watershed. This work aims to assess the relationships between soil properties and vegetation in a reference ecosystem to provide guidelines for restoration projects in areas affected by the dam collapse. We conducted phytosociological (vegetation characteristic) and soil quality studies in three distinct natural sites and studied different vegetation strata to better understand plant species composition in reference sites along the impacted Doce River and their potential role in community structuring and functioning. We recorded 140 species, 78 in the tree stratum, and 90 in the sapling stratum. Furthermore, our results highlight the influence of soil on floristic composition in the Atlantic rainforest. Smallscale edaphic variation influenced species composition in both sapling and tree strata. We also identified species of the same genus with strong association with the extremes of the edaphic gradient. Therefore, we highlight that studies in various regions along the Doce River watershed are of utmost importance to evaluate the association between species and soils. The particularities of the species are crucial to the effectiveness of restoration processes since this plant-soil correlation should not be extrapolated even within the same genus. This knowledge is of strategic relevance to provide scientificbased guidance for restoring these environments, aiming at the recovery of biodiversity and ecosystem services.Fil: Ramos, Letícia. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Negreiros, Daniel. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Ferreira, Bárbara S. Silva. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Figueiredo, João Carlos Gomes. Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros; BrasilFil: Paiva, Dario C.. Florida International University; Estados UnidosFil: Oki, Yumi. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: De Souza Justino, Wénita. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Dos Santos, Rubens Manoel. Universidade Federal de Lavras; BrasilFil: Aguilar, Ramiro. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Nunes, Yule Roberta Ferreira. Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros; BrasilFil: Fernandes, G Wilson. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasi