Controle pelo Estímulo:: Aspectos Conceituais e Metodológicos acerca do Controle Contextual

O artigo aborda algumas implicações do paradigma da equivalência de estímulos na Análise Experimental do Comportamento. São apresentadas duas expansões propostas por Sidman ao conceito de contingência tríplice enquanto unidadede análise para o estudo das interações organismo-ambiente. A primeira expansão (contingência de quatro termos) é fundamentada na distinção entre as funções controladoras dos estímulos discriminativo e condicional. A segunda expansão(contingência de cinco termos) é fundamentada na função controladora do ambiente de selecionar discriminações condicionais de um repertório comportamental. São discutidos exemplos relativos a tais expansões, bem como descritos o paradigma da equivalência de estímulos e o procedimento de pareamento-de-acordo-com-o-modelo. O artigo menciona também dois programas de pesquisa que poderiam fornecer melhor sustentação empírica para as expansões propostas na unidade de análise

Operant measurement of auditory threshold in prelingually deaf users of cochlear implants: II

Two experiments evaluated an operant procedure for establishing stimulus control using auditory and electrical stimuli as a baseline for measuring the electrical current threshold of electrodes implanted in the cochlea. Twenty-one prelingually deaf children, users of cochlear implants, learned a Go/No Go auditory discrimination task (i.e., pressing a button in the presence of the stimulus but not in its absence). When the simple discrimination baseline became stable, the electrical current was manipulated in descending and ascending series according to an adapted staircase method. Thresholds were determined for three electrodes, one in each location in the cochlea (basal, medial, and apical). Stimulus control was maintained within a certain range of decreasing electrical current but was eventually disrupted. Increasing the current recovered stimulus control, thus allowing the determination of a range of electrical currents that could be defined as the threshold. The present study demonstrated the feasibility of the operant procedure combined with a psychophysical method for threshold assessment, thus contributing to the routine fitting and maintenance of cochlear implants within the limitations of a hospital setting.FAPESPConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNP

Operant measures of auditory threshold in prelingually deaf children with cochlear implant

Limiares auditivos de crianças surdas pré-linguais usuárias de implante coclear foram avaliados com estimulação elétrica em um dos eletrodos mediais. A avaliação empregou um procedimento operante do tipo go/no go para ensinar uma discriminação simples, evidenciada por uma resposta motora, entre presença e ausência do estímulo auditivo. Estabelecida a linha de base, a manipulação na intensidade do estímulo foi implementada de acordo com o método psicofísico de escada modificado, começando por uma seqüência descendente. Os sete participantes do estudo mostraram perda da precisão no responder sob controle do estímulo quando a intensidade diminuía além de um certo valor e a precisão era recuperada quando a intensidade era novamente aumentada, o que permitiu a identificação de limiares individuais. Os resultados sugerem que o método psicofísico combinado com o procedimento operante pode ser uma alternativa viável para avaliar limiar auditivo de pessoas sem linguagem em situação clínica de regulagem do implante coclear.Auditory thresholds of prelingually deaf children who received cochlear implants were evaluated for the electrical stimulation to one of the medial electrodes. A go/no go operant procedure was used to teach a simple discrimination, indicated by a motor response, between the presence versus the absence of an auditory stimulus. Simple discrimination was used as a baseline upon which the electrical stimulus's intensity was manipulated in a decreasing sequence followed by an increasing sequence, according to a modified psychophysical staircase method. The accuracy of responding in the presence of the electrical stimulus was reduced for all seven participants when the stimulus intensity decreased bellow a certain value and was recovered when the stimulus intensity was increased to the previous level. The experimental design allowed reliable identification of individual thresholds. The results suggest that the psychophysical paradigm in combination with the operant procedure might be useful for the evaluation of the auditory threshold for purposes of cochlear implant fitting in clinical settings.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Relational learning in children with cochlear implants

The present study attempted to extend the stimulus equivalence methodology to study auditory-visual relations and assess their symbolic function in individuals with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss who had received cochlear implants

Position statement of the Brazilian Academy of Rhinology on the use of antihistamines, antileukotrienes, and oral corticosteroids in the treatment of inflammatory sinonasal diseases

Introduction: Inflammatory conditions of the nose and paranasal sinuses are very prevalent in the general population, resulting in marked loss of quality of life in affected patients, as well as significant work, leisure, and social activity losses. These patients require specific and specialized treatment. A wide range of oral medications are available. Objective: The present document is aimed to clarify, for professionals treating patients with inflammatory sinonasal diseases, both specialists and general practitioners, specific oral therapies in noninfectious nasal inflammatory conditions. Methods: The methodology used to create this article included the search for the key words: oral corticosteroids, antihistamines, antileukotrienes, rhinitis, rhinosinusitis in the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases in the last 5 years. Since no relevant article was found for the text on the subject of interest in the last 5 years, the search was extended for another 5 years, and so on, according to the authors' needs. Results: Relevant literature was found regarding the use of antihistamines, antileukotrienes and oral corticosteroids in these conditions. The Brazilian Academy of Rhinology emphasizes, after extensive discussion by the collegiate, key points in the treatment with these drugs. Conclusion: There is support in the literature for the use of these drugshowever, final considerations about the role of each of them have been made. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. on behalf of Associacao Brasileira de Otorrino-laringologia e Cirurgia Cervico-Facial.Univ Sao Paulo, Disciplina Otorrinolaringol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Otorrinolaringol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Otorrinolaringol, Ribeirao Preto, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Ciencias Saude, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Otorrinolaringol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Fac Med, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Ribeirao Preto, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Bahia, Fac Med, Disciplina Otorrinolaringol, Salvador, BA, BrazilHosp Inst Paranaense Otorrinolaringol, Centro Rinite & Alergia, Curitiba, PR, BrazilUniv Estado Rio De Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Brasilia, Fac Med, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Otorrinolaringol & Cabeca & Pescoco, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Luterana Brasil, Fac Med, Otorrinolaringol, Canoas, RS, BrazilMt Sinai Hosp, Dept Othorhinolaryngol, Toronto, ON, CanadaUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Ciencias, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Dept Oftalmol Otorrinolaringol & Cirurgia Cabeca, Ribeirao Preto, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Ciencias Saude, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Otorrinolaringol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Otorrinolaringol & Cabeca & Pescoco, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Multicriteria approach to prioritize forest restoration areas for biodiversity conservation in the eastern Amazon

Due to the global magnitude of forest degradation and deforestation and the high cost of ecological restoration, several approaches have been used to prioritize conservation or restoration areas based on different objectives and criteria. The present work aims to develop a multicriteria approach to defining forest restoration priority areas in the Itacaiúnas River basin, eastern Amazon, that maximizes the criteria equitably. The selected criteria were: improve forest connectivity, provide climatic refuges for biodiversity, mitigate the impacts of deforestation on streamflow, and improve the probability of natural regeneration. A strong difference between selected areas was observed when the criteria of forest connectivity and mitigate the impact on streamflow were considered separately, but greater equity among the criteria was achieved using the multicriteria approach. The most priority areas were concentrated near protected areas. The method used provides a flexible framework, and different criteria or subarea selections can be applied for different purposes to facilitate adaptive management. Analyzing forest restoration prioritization on rural properties can provide guidance for conserving and restoring biodiversity at the landscape scale while complying with legal requirements

O caso do aplicativo Solidarius

Este artigo considera as potenciais motivações do uso de um aplicativo social para a realização de doações para famílias carentes. Os dispositivos móveis e seus indissociáveis aplicativos fazem cada vez mais parte do cotidiano das pessoas, que passam todo o tempo com seus aparelhos sempre ligados, conectados e tão próximos como a própria roupa do corpo. O estudo conduzido observou, ao abordar o aplicativo social Solidarius criado para realização de doações para o grupo de assistência social Sociedade São Vicente de Paulo - Vicentinos, que a solidariedade mediada pela tecnologia se materializa em uma nova modalidade assistencial. Apesar de ser anônima, esta possibilita a existência de um vínculo, que exclui o envolvimento direto com as pessoas em situação de vulnerabilidade comum nas ações de voluntariado, mas permite ao usuário um sentido de pertencimento a uma instituição ou a uma causa maior que ele mesmo.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO