Do the reward and the promotion policies influence the worker’s motivation?

This paper studies the influence of reward and promotion policy on worker motivation, both intrinsic, understood as belonging to the individual, and extrinsic, seen in the literature as dependent on interventions or external incentives linked to work. In this research, we seek to analyze the level of motivation of the worker under these two concepts, which are the dependent variables. The literature review adresses theories with important discussions about motivation at work, as well as the characteristics used in the rules of a worker's reward and promotion policy, being Transparency, Justice and Controllability, which are the independent variables. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. They were examined through factorial analysis and multiple linear regression. The results showed that the justice used in the rules of monetary reward is a characteristic that exerts influence in both the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The controllability of the promotion system exerts influence on the extrinsic motivation. However, other variables did not reach statistical significance. This work allowed us to confirm theoretical discussions. Also, it offered a model of analysis with practical and managerial visions of the organizational daily life

Targeted sequencing identifies novel variants in common and rare MODY genes

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a form of monogenic diabetes with autosomal dominant inheritance. To date, mutations in 11 genes have been frequently associated with this phenotype. In Brazil, few cohorts have been screened for MODY, all using a candidate gene approach, with a high prevalence of undiagnosed cases (MODY-X). Methods: We conducted a next-generation sequencing target panel (tNGS) study to investigate, for the first time, a Brazilian cohort of MODY patients with a negative prior genetic analysis. One hundred and two patients were selected, of which 26 had an initial clinical suspicion of MODY-GCK and 76 were non-GCK MODY. Results: After excluding all benign and likely benign variants and variants of uncertain significance, we were able to assign a genetic cause for 12.7% (13/102) of the probands. Three rare MODY subtypes were identified (PDX1/NEUROD1/ABCC8), and eight variants had not been previously described/mapped in genomic databases. Important clinical findings were evidenced in some cases after genetic diagnosis, such as MODY-PDX1/HNF1B. Conclusion: A multiloci genetic approach allowed the identification of rare MODY subtypes, reducing the large percentage of MODY-X in Brazilian cases and contributing to a better clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic characterization of these rare phenotypes

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

A Política de Recompensa e sua Influência na Motivação do Trabalhador

Esta pesquisa estuda a influência da política de recompensa nos níveis de motivação, baseando-se na percepção dos trabalhadores de uma indústria farmacêutica localizada no Rio de Janeiro, e identifica entre as características percebidas da política quais impactam a motivação, quanto a transparência das regras, justiça na sua aplicação e a controlabilidade do trabalhador sobre sua trajetória na empresa. A literatura diferencia a motivação em intrínseca, entendida como estímulos próprios do indivíduo, e extrínseca como resultado das intervenções ou recompensas externas vinculadas ao trabalho, de modo que nesta pesquisa busca-se observar o nível de motivação segundo esses dois conceitos, que são as variáveis explicadas do modelo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário estruturado e examinados por análise fatorial e regressão linear múltipla. Os resultados mostram que a justiça da compensação monetária é uma característica que exerce influência positiva, estatisticamente significativa e relevante, tanto na motivação extrínseca quanto na motivação intrínseca. Os resultados também mostram que a controlabilidade do sistema de promoção exerce influência positiva na motivação extrínseca, já a transparência da compensação monetária revelou influência negativa na motivação intrínseca. Como contribuição, este trabalho considerou que o modelo de análise oferece auxilio gerencial, além de fortalecer teorias e estudos acerca do tema

Evaluation of clinical tests and magnetic resonance imaging for knee meniscal injuries: correlation with video arthroscopy

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine the specificity, sensitivity, accuracy, likelihood, and correlation of the findings of meniscal tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to knee video arthroscopy., Methods: A cross-sectional study, conducted between June and December 2015, which evaluated 84 patients with meniscal tears (MT) selected for video arthroscopy. Two orthopedic trainees and a resident performed a physical examination with specific tests. The results and reports from MRI were compared with arthroscopy findings. The data were analyzed in the statistical program , R. Results: The Steinmann I, test was the most specific, with specificity of 86% and 91% for medial meniscus tears (MMT) and lateral meniscus tears (LMT), respectively. With regard to accuracy, the pain test on palpation of the joint interline (PPJI) showed values of 67% and 73% for detection of MMT and LMT, respectively. The PPJI test showed higher sensitivity, with a 77% chance of detecting MMT. Analysis of the set of three tests (McMurray, PPJI, and Steinmann , I, ) compared to arthroscopy showed 85% sensitivity for MMT and 70% sensitivity for LMT. MRI showed a greater specificity for the diagnosis of MMT and LMT; the values were 82% and 91%, respectively. Conclusion: The combination of the three tests shows better results compared to the isolated tests and thus can be associated to the MRI to make an effective diagnosis. However, further studies assisting in the development of a protocol to standardize diagnostic evaluation are required

Effects of video game training on cognition in the elderly: systematic review

Aims: To perform a systematic review of the literature on the effect of video game training on cognition in the elderly. Methods: The search was conducted using LILACS, SciELO, PsyINFO and PubMed databases in both English and Portuguese. The search term used were video game training, combined with the following: cognition, cognitive effects, cognitive performance, cognitive plasticity, cognitive tests. The inclusion criteria consisted of intervention studies on video game training, original articles in English or Portuguese, full-text availability, and target population older people. Studies that failed to meet these criteria were excluded. Articles from 2005 to 2015 were collected, and the review was performed between January 2015 and July 2015. Results: Seventy articles were found, but only twenty-one met the selection criteria. Of the 21 articles included in the study, only 7 studies (33%) revealed statistically significant improvement in speed of processing, sustained attention and alert, working visuospatial memory, cognitive flexibility, immediate and delayed visual memory, visual-motor coordination and visuospatial ability between the research groups (p<0.05). Other results were found in relation to the methodology of the studies. Of the 21 studies, 11 studies (52%) were performed with training of short duration (1-6 weeks) and total time of training ranging between 4.5 and 23.5 hours. Ten studies (47%) were performed with training of long duration (7-12 weeks) total time of training between 12 and 36 hours. The short duration training showed better performance. Conclusions: The total time required for training was the main finding of this systematic review. Cognitive intervention using short duration training (between one and six weeks) with video games in a total time between 4.5 and 23.5 hours is effective in elderly participants. This length time between the minimum and maximum time of cognitive intervention is necessary and sufficient for the consolidation of systems and acquisition of a learning in aging. The cognitive effects observed in the studies suggest that the aging brain is able to acquire, maintain and even enrich new learnings

Targeted sequencing identifies novel variants in common and rare MODY genes

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a form of monogenic diabetes with autosomal dominant inheritance. To date, mutations in 11 genes have been frequently associated with this phenotype. In Brazil, few cohorts have been screened for MODY, all using a candidate gene approach, with a high prevalence of undiagnosed cases (MODY-X). Methods: We conducted a next-generation sequencing target panel (tNGS) study to investigate, for the first time, a Brazilian cohort of MODY patients with a negative prior genetic analysis. One hundred and two patients were selected, of which 26 had an initial clinical suspicion of MODY-GCK and 76 were non-GCK MODY. Results: After excluding all benign and likely benign variants and variants of uncertain significance, we were able to assign a genetic cause for 12.7% (13/102) of the probands. Three rare MODY subtypes were identified (PDX1/NEUROD1/ABCC8), and eight variants had not been previously described/mapped in genomic databases. Important clinical findings were evidenced in some cases after genetic diagnosis, such as MODY-PDX1/HNF1B. Conclusion: A multiloci genetic approach allowed the identification of rare MODY subtypes, reducing the large percentage of MODY-X in Brazilian cases and contributing to a better clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic characterization of these rare phenotypes

Targeted sequencing identifies novel variants in common and rare MODY genes

Background: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a form of monogenic diabetes with autosomal dominant inheritance. To date, mutations in 11 genes have been frequently associated with this phenotype. In Brazil, few cohorts have been screened for MODY, all using a candidate gene approach, with a high prevalence of undiagnosed cases (MODY-X). Methods: We conducted a next-generation sequencing target panel (tNGS) study to investigate, for the first time, a Brazilian cohort of MODY patients with a negative prior genetic analysis. One hundred and two patients were selected, of which 26 had an initial clinical suspicion of MODY-GCK and 76 were non-GCK MODY. Results: After excluding all benign and likely benign variants and variants of uncertain significance, we were able to assign a genetic cause for 12.7% (13/102) of the probands. Three rare MODY subtypes were identified (PDX1/NEUROD1/ABCC8), and eight variants had not been previously described/mapped in genomic databases. Important clinical findings were evidenced in some cases after genetic diagnosis, such as MODY-PDX1/HNF1B. Conclusion: A multiloci genetic approach allowed the identification of rare MODY subtypes, reducing the large percentage of MODY-X in Brazilian cases and contributing to a better clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic characterization of these rare phenotypes