Advancing Health Behavior Research and Scholarship through Mentorship of First Generation, Underrepresented Undergraduate Students

This article provides perspectives about mentorship of undergraduate mentees from directors of formal, externally funded training programs within the context of one of the most ethnically diverse national universities. The authors reflect about their mentorship of first generation and underrepresented undergraduate students and offer recommendations for others training similar students

Ajustamento conjugal: Características psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Dyadic Adjustment Scale

A Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS; Spanier, 1976) é considerada uma das melhores medidas de avaliação da qualidade da relação conjugal. O objectivo deste estudo foi analisar o comportamento psicométrico da versão portuguesa da DAS. A amostra incluiu um total de 207 participantes (103 mulheres e 104 homens) casados ou a viver maritalmente com o companheiro/a há pelo menos seis meses. Os resultados de análises factoriais confirmatórias revelaram um bom ajustamento da estrutura multidimensional originalmente proposta. O alfa para a escala global de 32 itens foi .897, e variou entre .655 e .849 para as quatro sub-escalas. Os restantes dados (incluindo sobre a fidelidade teste-reteste e associação das notas com várias variáveis) indicaram também que a versão portuguesa da DAS apresenta características psicométricas equivalentes às da versão original. Adicionalmente, os resultados deste estudo sugerem que a sub-escala de Satisfação (10 itens) pode ser usada como uma versão curta da DAS quando o objectivo for avaliar o ajustamento conjugal em termos globais. ------ ABSTRACT ------ The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS; Spanier, 1976) is considered to be one of the best measures of marital quality. The goal of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the DAS. The sample was constituted of 207 participants (103 women and 104 men) who were married to or cohabiting with the partner for at least six months. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed a good fit of the multidimensional factor structure proposed originally. The alpha was .897 for the global scale, and varied between .655 and .849 for the four sub-scales. Additional analyses (including of testretest reliability and the association of scores with various variables) provided further evidence for similar psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the DAS as compared to the original version. The results of the present study also suggest that the Satisfaction sub-scale (10 itens) can be used as a short-form of the original DAS when the ai

Vinculação parental durante a gravidez: Versão portuguesa da forma materna e paterna da Antenatal Emotional Attachment Scale

Neste estudo apresentam-se os resultados da adaptação para a população portuguesa das formas materna e paterna da Antenatal Emotional Attachment Scale (AEAS; J.T. Condon, 1993). As duas formas portuguesas da AEAS (ou Escala de Vinculação Pré-Natal) apresentam um bom nível de consistência interna e de estabilidade teste-reteste. Foi estudada também a associação das notas da vinculação pré-natal com a idade, tempo de gestação, experiência parental, ajustamento conjugal, depressão materna e envolvimento paterno no pós-parto. Os resultados não são contra-intuitivos e vão ao encontro do que tem sido reportado na literatura. No geral, pode concluir-se que as duas formas portuguesas da AEAS são medidas fidedignas e válidas para avaliar a vinculação pré-natal. Os resultados com a versão portuguesa, contudo, não apoiam o modelo multidimensional apresentado por Condon (1993) e sugerem que a vinculação pré-natal tal como medida pela AEAS é unidimensional. ------ ABSTRACT ------ The maternal and the paternal forms of the Antenatal Emotional Attachment Scale (AEAS; J.T. Condon, 1993) were adapted for use with Portuguese expectant parents. Both Portuguese forms of the AEAS have a good level of internal consistenc y and test-retest stability. We also analysed the association of the scores in AEAS with time of gestation, age, parental experience, marital adjustment, maternal depression and paternal involvement after the birth. The results are not counter-intuitive and are in line with previous research. In general, the results indicate that the Portuguese forms of the AEAS are reliable and valid measures of prenatal attachment. However, this study does not support the multidimensional model presented by Condon and suggests, instead, that prenatal attachment as measured by the AEAS is unidimensional

LabVIEW-based control and acquisition system for the dosimetric characterization of a silicon strip detector

Theaimofthisworkistopresentanewdataacquisition,control,andanalysissoftwaresystemwrittenin LabVIEW.Thissystemhasbeendesignedtoobtainthedosimetryofasiliconstripdetectorinpolyethylene. It allows the full automation of the experiments and data analysis required for the dosimetric characterization of silicon detectors. It becomes a useful tool that can be applied in the daily routine check of a beam accelerator.MINECO ICTI2013-2016/FPA2013-47327-C2-1-RMINECO ICTI2013-2016/FPA2014-53290-C2-2- PJunta de Andalucía P12-FQM-160

Green Space Typologies in the City of Porto – Portugal: Identifying Nodes and Links for Greenway Planning

In the XIX century, Porto was a small and compact urban centre surrounded by a large belt of agriculture and forest. Since the mid XX century, as a consequence of the industrial revolution, the city sprawled throughout the rural fringes up to its administrative limits creating an urban continuum with the adjacent municipalities. As a result, the current green structure of the city lacks a long-term planning strategy with resulting breakdown of the rural matrix, fragmentation and discontinuity of main green systems. Functioning as habitat and corridors, urban greenways are very effective strategies for minimizing overall impacts of ecological fragmentation: habitat loss and habitat isolation. A greenway system articulates ecological structure and function, providing simultaneously recreational opportunities, biodiversity protection and assuring present and future open space needs (Ahern, 2002). Currently, greenways are being established in cities worldwide, proving their relevance, especially in rapidly changing urban contexts. Supported by these assumptions and the results of current studies on Porto green structure, this work aims at proposing a greenway network for the city, grounded on an integrated and coherent system of multifunctional green areas. The adopted approach relies on the premise that a structure of green nodes and links (corridors) should act as the framework for that greenway system

The Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS) - a comprehensive dusty photoionization model of NGC6781

We perform a comprehensive analysis of the planetary nebula (PN) NGC6781 to investigate the physical conditions of each of its ionized, atomic, and molecular gas and dust components and the object's evolution, based on panchromatic observational data ranging from UV to radio. Empirical nebular elemental abundances, compared with theoretical predictions via nucleosynthesis models of asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, indicate that the progenitor is a solar-metallicity, 2.25-3.0 Msun initial-mass star. We derive the best-fit distance of 0.46 kpc by fitting the stellar luminosity (as a function of the distance and effective temperature of the central star) with the adopted post-AGB evolutionary tracks. Our excitation energy diagram analysis indicate high excitation temperatures in the photodissociation region (PDR) beyond the ionized part of the nebula, suggesting extra heating by shock interactions between the slow AGB wind and the fast PN wind. Through iterative fitting using the Cloudy code with empirically-derived constraints, we find the best-fit dusty photoionization model of the object that would inclusively reproduce all of the adopted panchromatic observational data. The estimated total gas mass (0.41 Msun) corresponds to the mass ejected during the last AGB thermal pulse event predicted for a 2.5 Msun initial-mass star. A significant fraction of the total mass (about 70 percent) is found to exist in the PDR, demonstrating the critical importance of the PDR in PNe that are generally recognized as the hallmark of ionized/H+ regions.Comment: 34 pages, 13 Figures and 16 Tables, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Serie

S100A6 Amyloid Fibril Formation Is Calcium-modulated and Enhances Superoxide Dismutase-1 (SOD1) Aggregation

S100A6 is a small EF-hand calcium- and zinc-binding protein involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and cytoskeletal dynamics. It is overexpressed in neurodegenerative disorders and a proposed marker for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Following recent reports of amyloid formation by S100 proteins, we investigated the aggregation properties of S100A6. Computational analysis using aggregation predictors Waltz and Zyggregator revealed increased propensity within S100A6 helices HI and HIV. Subsequent analysis of Thioflavin-T binding kinetics under acidic conditions elicited a very fast process with no lag phase and extensive formation of aggregates and stacked fibrils as observed by electron microscopy. Ca2+ exerted an inhibitory effect on the aggregation kinetics, which could be reverted upon chelation. An FT-IR investigation of the early conformational changes occurring under these conditions showed that Ca2+ promotes anti-parallel β-sheet conformations that repress fibrillation. At pH 7, Ca2+ rendered the fibril formation kinetics slower: time-resolved imaging showed that fibril formation is highly suppressed, with aggregates forming instead. In the absence of metals an extensive network of fibrils is formed. S100A6 oligomers, but not fibrils, were found to be cytotoxic, decreasing cell viability by up to 40%. This effect was not observed when the aggregates were formed in the presence of Ca2+. Interestingly, native S1006 seeds SOD1 aggregation, shortening its nucleation process. This suggests a cross-talk between these two proteins involved in ALS. Overall, these results put forward novel roles for S100 proteins, whose metal-modulated aggregation propensity may be a key aspect in their physiology and function

8º Congresso nacional de psicologia da saúde : actas

A Sociedade Portuguesa de Psicologia da Saúde (SPPS) tem como acontecimento central das suas actividades regulares a realização de um congresso de dois em dois anos. Nestes congressos tem sido nosso objectivo a criação de um espaço de encontro entre académicos e profissionais da psicologia que, nas diversas interfaces que a Psicologia e a Saúde comportam, desenvolvem as suas investigações e/ou as suas actividades profissionais. Este ano, o 8º Congresso Nacional de Psicologia da Saúde, decorre no ISPA em Lisboa, nos dias 11, 12 e 13 de Fevereiro e propõe como tema “Sexualidade, Género e ”, razão pela qual os conferencistas convidados, a comissão cientifica que se encarregou de organizar a maioria dos simpósios e muitas das comunicações apresentadas oralmente ou sob a forma de poster, tenham caído neste âmbito. Como habitualmente, no primeiro dia do Congresso ficam disponíveis os resumos submetidos e revistos pela Comissão Cientifica, e as Actas do Congresso em que são apresentadas os trabalhos que os participantes quiseram submeter, e foram aprovados para publicação, sobre o essencial das suas apresentações. Este ano, além desses materiais, resolvemos lançar um livro que reúne um conjunto de textos que, tendo sido submetidos como actas o foram igualmente aos prémios de “investigador de mérito” e de “jovem investigador de mérito”. Estes prémios, que há vários anos a SPPS patrocina, pretendem distinguir trabalhos que, pela sua qualidade podem, e devem, servir de referência para anos vindouros. Os resumos são publicados num número especial da revista “Psicologia, Saúde & Doenças” e as Actas deste congresso surgem, pela primeira vez, em formato digital. O curto espaço que decorre entre a entregue dos textos para publicação e o Congresso e a necessidade de composição dos mesmos, exigiria da parte 1 8º CONGRESSO NACIONAL DE PSICOLOGIA DA SAÚDE dos colegas que desejam ver os seus trabalhos publicados, um cuidado e rigor que, nem sempre se verificam. O nosso pedido expresso que as publicações obedeçam a critérios APA, não é muitas vezes respeitado, tal como não não é o tamanho dos textos, o número de textos enviados, a congruência de títulos e mesmo de autores entre os resumos submetidos e os textos depois enviados para publicação, os prazos em que são enviados, já para não falar do não pagamento atempado da inscrição. Embora as actas não sejam, assumidamente, uma publicação de primeira linha, devem no entanto, ter a dignidade e a observação dos critérios científicos estabelecidos que continuem a justificar a sua publicação. Assim, cabe aos organizadores destas actas a ingrata tarefa de por um lado recusar linearmente muitos textos que não preenchem estes quesitos e, também, editar muitos outros para que possam ser publicados. Tudo isto num espaço de tempo muito curto. Estas observações tornam-se pertinentes na circunstância habitual de os autores se confrontarem com a não inclusão de textos que enviaram e que não vão encontrar aqui publicados e, também, de verificarem que quadros ou imagens enviadas não puderam, por razões técnicas, ser reproduzidos. Ainda assim, são muitos os textos publicados. Tivemos em atenção a qualidade e pertinência do material submetido para não aplicarmos rigidamente princípios estipulados que deixariam de fora ainda mais textos. Neste percurso, de mais de quinze anos de publicações regulares de actas dos congressos, consideramos que a qualidade do material apresentado tem, genericamente, melhorado pelo que esperamos que os desafios com que a comunidade cientifica, em geral, e a psicologia da saúde em particular, se confrontam, possibilitem, além de uma melhoria crescente de qualidade do material publicado o espelhar dos contextos de intervenção e investigação que se vão oferecendo à psicologia da saúde.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Percutaneous versus Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation of the Posterior Tibial Nerve in Idiopathic Overactive Bladder Syndrome with Urinary Incontinence in Adults: A Systematic Review

Background: Percutaneous electrical stimulation and transcutaneous electrical stimulation (PTNS and TTNS) of the posterior tibial nerve are internationally recognized treatment methods that offer advantages in terms of treating patients with overactive bladder (OAB) who present with urinary incontinence (UI). This article aims to analyze the scientific evidence for the treatment of OAB with UI in adults using PTNS versus TTNS procedures in the posterior tibial nerve. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, between February and May 2021 in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, in accordance with the PRISMA recommendations. Results: The research identified 259 studies, 130 of which were selected and analyzed, with only 19 used according to the inclusion requirements established. The greatest effectiveness, in reducing UI and in other parameters of daily voiding and quality of life, was obtained by combining both techniques with other treatments, pharmacological treatments, or exercise. Conclusions: TTNS has advantages over PTNS as it is more comfortable for the patient even though there is equality of both therapies in the outcome variables. More research studies are necessary in order to obtain clear scientific evidenc

Influence of the O2/CO ratio and the presence of H2O and CO2 in the feed-stream during the preferential oxidation of CO (PROX) over a CuOx/CeO2-coated microchannel reactor

The catalytic performance of a CuOx/CeO2 powder catalyst and that of a microchannel reactor or microreactor (MR) coated with the same solid was determined and compared. The catalytic activity measurements were carried out with varying O2/CO molar ratios in the feed-stream. In addition, the influence of the presence of CO2 and H2O in the reaction mixture was studied. Some discrepancies were observed between the performances of the powder catalyst and the MR depending on the O2/CO ratio. The MR presented a very good performance with a superior selectivity for CO conversion. This behaviour was due to a more efficient heat removal in the case of the MR that inhibited the H2 oxidation reaction and the r-WGS. The isothermicity of the microreactor during the process was demonstrated through the monitoring of the MR inlet and outlet temperatures. Concerning the presence of CO2 or H2O in the feed-stream, both compounds gave rise to a decrease of the CO conversion. The negative effect on the catalytic performance was more marked when both compounds were fed together, although the principal inhibitor effect was associated to the CO2. This seems to be related with the formation of stable carbonates at the catalyst surface.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación ENE2009-14522-C05-01Junta de Andalucía P09-TEP-545