Being moved: how do attachment styles and emotion regulation affect the experience of being moved?

This work intends to contribute to the empirical body of research on positive emotions in general, having a particular interest in the emotional experience of being moved or touched. The being moved experience was also explored with attachment and emotion regulation strategies (reappraisal and suppression). A sample of Portuguese and Norwegian participants (aged 18 to 66 years old) was collected through an online procedure resulting in a total of 387 answers from the general population. The emotional experience of being moved was elicited by three different videos (presented randomly and previous tested) and manipulated by different instructions that asked participants different emotion regulation strategies – no instructions, reappraisal instructions and suppression instructions. After each movie participants answered a being moved scale and an attachment scale was also rated. Results suggest a significant relation between being moved and the manipulation of emotion regulation strategies (reappraisal and suppression). Reappraisal and suppression downregulate the experience of being moved and tears (comparing with no instructions regarding to emotion regulation strategies). Comparing both emotion regulation strategies, reappraisal downregulates more the being moved experience and tears than suppression. On the other hand, an anxiety attachment style proved to be significant and positively correlated with experiences of being moved as well as with feelings of choking up and tears. Nationality is also an important variable predicting being moved experiences. The comparison between the Portuguese and Norwegian samples showed significant differences in how participants feel touched. Results showed that Portuguese participants reported higher levels of being moved, higher levels of tears and feeling choked up, but lower level of feeling a warmth in their chest. In general, the being moved experience and their bodily sensations are sensitive to emotion regulation activity and to the attachment styles.O presente trabalho procura contribuir para uma melhor compreensão das emoções positivas a nível geral e, mais especificamente, da experiência emocional de nos sentirmos comovidos. Deste modo, foi explorada a sua relação com a vinculação e com as estratégias de regulação emocional (reavaliação e supressão). Foram recolhidas de forma on-line 387 respostas de participantes de nacionalidade Portuguesa e Norueguesa, entre os 18 e 66 anos de idade. A experiência emocional foi desencadeada através da apresentação aleatória de três vídeos, cuja eficácia no desencadear de experiências emocionais de comoção foi previamente testada. Os vídeos foram precedidos por diferentes instruções, com o intuito de manipular o tipo de regulação emocional (ausência de instruções, reavaliação e supressão). Posteriormente a cada vídeo os participantes responderam a uma medida que avaliou a comoção. Foi ainda pedido aos participantes que respondessem a uma medida de vinculação. Verificou-se que tanto a reavaliação como a supressão emocional diminuem a experiência emocional de comoção e o relato de lágrimas (comparativamente com a condição na qual não são dadas instruções específicas de regulação emocional). A redução da comoção e das lágrimas é mais elevada na condição de reavaliação (comparativamente com a condição de supressão). Verificam-se também relações no sentido positivo entre o estilo de vinculação ansioso e sentirmo-nos comovidos, o auto-relato de lágrimas e nó na garganta. Por fim, a nacionalidade é também uma variável preditora desta experiência emocional. Comparações entre a amostra Portuguesa e Norueguesa mostram diferenças significativas na experiência de comoção: os Portugueses referem maior nível de comoção, mais lágrimas e nó na garganta, e menos sensação de calor no peito. De forma geral, conclui-se que a experiência de nos sentirmos comovidos e as sensações corporais que lhe estão associadas são sensíveis às estratégias de regulação emocional que activamos e também ao estilo de vinculação

Lymphogranuloma venereum: a retrospective analysis of an emerging sexually transmitted disease in a Lisbon Tertiary Center

Commentary: G. Ciccarese et al. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021; 35:1606-1607. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.17468.Background: Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is a sexual transmitted infection (STI), currently endemic within the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) of Western Countries. L2B variant has been reported as the predominant strain in the current LGV epidemics, although a shift towards L2-434 has been observed in some European countries. Objectives: To evaluate and characterize the population with LGV infection diagnosed in Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all LGV diagnoses between 2016 and 2019 was performed. The diagnosis was established through ompA-genotyping of samples yielding a positive result to Chlamydia trachomatis (CT). All considered samples were retrieved from the clinician activity, through swabbing and urine analysis and CT infection diagnosis was obtained using real-time PCR. Results: During the period studied 16 279 CT diagnostics tests were employed, with a striking increase from 2016 (n = 467) to 2019 (n = 9362). A total of 1602 diagnoses of CT were established, from which 168 (10.5%) corresponded to LGV, with both infections showing a rising evolution, between 2016 and 2019, of 2.9 and 2.7 times, respectively. The majority of the LGV strains were genotyped as L2/434 (67.3%; n = 113). LGV predominantly affected MSM and men who have sex with men and women (97.0%; n = 163). Anorectal infection was the most prevalent one (90.5%; n = 152), being proctitis the main clinical presentation (76.2%; n = 128). Absence of symptoms was reported in almost 15% of the cases (n = 24). The presence of concomitant infection with human immunodeficiency virus was dominant (73.2%; n = 123) and the prevalence of one or more STI co-infections was about 60.1% (n = 99). Conclusions: An increasing evolution of CT and LGV testing and diagnosing was observable throughout the studied period. Characteristics of the population are similar with those described within LGV epidemics. In accordance with recent European studies, predominance towards L2 genotype was identified.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Insucesso escolar e factores de risco do aluno – Validação de uma nova medida de auto-resposta numa amostra alargada de alunos do 2º e 3º ciclo do ensino básico

O insucesso escolar radica num conjunto vasto de factores de risco, os quais têm vindo a ser incluídos na literatura em três categorias específicas: família, escola e factores individuais. Embora as duas primeiras categorias desempenhem um papel importante no fenómeno do insucesso, são os factores do próprio aluno, isto é, as suas variáveis cognitivas, comportamentais e interpessoais, os que possuem um papel de maior interesse ao nível da intervenção psicológica reabilitativa, por serem factores de risco modificáveis. Para avaliá-los, foi desenvolvida uma medida de auto-relato – Auto-avaliação dos factores de Risco do Aluno, no âmbito do projecto Rede de Mediadores para o Sucesso Escolar (Associação dos Empresários Para a Inclusão Social – EPIS), com base em evidências teóricas e a partir da experiência do terreno neste projecto. Esta investigação tem como objectivo validar essa medida em alunos do 2º e 3º ciclo de escolaridade. Os resultados mostram que a escala avalia 8 dimensões empíricas robustas do ponto de vista psicométrico (que explicam 52.7% da variância total): problemas de comportamento e de autoregulação, rejeição pelos pares, baixo auto-conceito escolar, desvalorização da escola, ansiedade de desempenho, ausência de rotinas de estudo, baixa auto-eficácia escolar, e desconfiança face aos professores. A AFRA revelou ser capaz de discriminar entre alunos com diferentes graus de rendimento, bem como entre alunos com e sem história de reprovação.

Apple Flour in a Sweet Gluten-Free Bread Formulation: Impact on Nutritional Value, Glycemic Index, Structure and Sensory Profile

Baking bread without gluten presents many challenges generally related with poor sensorial and nutritional characteristics, and strategies to overcome this issue are needed. Despite many glutenfree (GF) bread studies, to the best of our knowledge, few are dedicated to sweet GF bread. Sweet breads have traditionally been an important type of food and are still frequently consumed worldwide. Apple flour is naturally GF, and is obtained from apples which do not accomplish market quality requirements and are being wasted. Apple flour was, therefore, characterized in terms of nutritional profile, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity. The aim of this work was to develop a GF bread with incorporation of apple flour, in order to study its effect on nutritional, technological, and sensory characteristics of sweet GF bread. Additionally, in vitro starch hydrolysis and glycemic index (GI) were also analyzed. Results demonstrated the influence of apple flour in dough’s viscoelastic behavior, increasing G’ and G”. Regarding bread characteristics, apple flour led to better acceptance by the consumer, with firmness increasing (21.01; 26.34; 23.88 N), and consequently specific volume decreasing (1.38; 1.18; 1.13 cm3/g). In addition, an increase of bioactive compounds content and antioxidant capacity of the breads were revealed. As expected, the starch hydrolysis index increased, as well as GI. Nevertheless the values were really close to low eGI (56), which is a relevant result for a sweet bread. Apple flour showed good technological and sensory properties as a sustainable and healthy food ingredient for GF breadinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Terapia focada na compaixão online para a perturbação de ansiedade social na adolescência (CFT@TeenSAD): Dados preliminares de eficácia ao longo do tratamento

This work investigated the efficacy of Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) on symptoms of social anxiety disorder (SAD) in adolescence, based on data collected throughout treatment. CFT has contributed to the psychological well-being of various populations, but limited evidence exists on its therapeutic gains for SAD in adolescence. Twenty-one adolescents (57.1% girls; 15-18 years old) presenting with SAD received online treatment. The CFT@TeenSAD intervention was organized into four modules: Our mind according to CFT, Developing the compassionate self and the skills of a compassionate mind, Practicing compassionate behavior, and Last remarks and continuing a compassionate journey. Before each session, adolescents reported on perceived change in symptom severity. At the end of each session, clinicians rated overtime change in that severity. Self-reports (F(1,540) = 32.271, p < .0005, ηp2 = .63) and clinician’s reports (F(1,528) = 24.783, p < .0005, ηp2 = .57) showed that improvement was significantly heightened during treatment, with significant changes across all four intervention modules. Trajectories of change were similar across gender. Though preliminary, findings point to online CFT being a promising approach to treat SAD in adolescent boys and girls, given that it contributes to continuous decrease in severity of social anxiety symptoms.Este trabalho investigou a eficácia da Terapia Focada na Compaixão (TFC) nos sintomas da perturbação de ansiedade social (PAS) na adolescência, com base em dados recolhidos ao longo da intervenção. A TFC contribuiu para o bem-estar psicológico em várias populações, mas é escassa a evidência sobre a sua eficácia no tratamento da PAS em adolescentes. Vinte e um adolescentes (57.1% raparigas; 15-18 anos) com PAS receberam tratamento online. A intervenção CFT@TeenSAD foi organizada em quatro módulos sequenciais: A mente de acordo com a TFC, Promoção do eu-compassivo e de competências para uma mente compassiva, Prática de comportamento compassivo, Últimas notas e continuar numa viagem compassiva. Antes de cada sessão, os adolescentes reportaram mudança percebida na gravidade dos sintomas e os clínicos fizeram essa avaliação no final de cada sessão. Tanto os adolescentes (F (1.540) = 32.271, p<0.0005, ηp2 = 0.63) como os clínicos (F (1.528) = 24.783, p< 0.0005, ηp2= 0.57) relataram melhoria continuada ao longo do tratamento, com mudança significativa ao longo dos quatro módulos. As trajetórias de mudança foram semelhantes para rapazes e raparigas. A TFC surge como uma abordagem promissora na PAS em adolescentes, contribuindo para a diminuição contínua da gravidade dos sintomas

Culture-dependent characterization of cyanobacterial diversity in the intertidal zones of the Portuguese coast: A polyphasic study

Cyanobacteria are important primary producers, and many are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen playing a key role in the marine environment. However, not much is known about the diversity of cyanobacteria in Portuguese marine waters. This paper describes the diversity of 60 strains isolated from benthic habitats in 9 sites (intertidal zones) on the Portuguese South and West coasts. The strains were characterized by a morphological study (light and electron microscopy) and by a molecular characterization (partial 16S rRNA, nifH, nifK, mcyA, mcyE/ndaF, sxtI genes). The morphological analyses revealed 35 morphotypes (15 genera and 16 species) belonging to 4 cyanobacterial Orders/Subsections. The dominant groups among the isolates were the Oscillatoriales. There is a broad congruence between morphological and molecular assignments. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 9 strains have less than 97% similarity compared to the sequences in the databases, revealing novel cyanobacterial diversity. Phylogenetic analysis, based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequences showed at least 12 clusters. One-third of the isolates are potential N2-fixers, as they exhibit heterocysts or the presence of nif genes was demonstrated by PCR. Additionally, no conventional freshwater toxins genes were detected by PCR screening

Characterization of haemosporidian infections in warblers and sparrows at south-western European reed beds

Abstract The prevalence and intensity of avian haemosporian infections (genera Haemoproteus and Plasmodium) were investigated using molecular techniques and microscopy in nine passerine species at three Portuguese reed beds along a small latitudinal gradient. The effect of age, sex, season, site and year in the infection prevalence was evaluated for some of these host species. Of the sampled birds, 34.5% were infected, all with low level parasitemias. Haemoproteus spp. was only present in migrant species and was not locally transmitted, while Plasmodium spp. infected more species and reached a higher overall prevalence. Prevalence differed among bird species and was affected by different variables for each species: it was associated with age in the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, with season in the Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti and with year in the House Sparrow Passer domesticus. Site did not influence prevalence for any species at this small geographical scale. Reed Warbler adults had already migrated to Africa and contacted with two different parasite faunas, whereas juveniles had not, thereby explaining the importance of age to explain parasitemia in this species. For the resident Cetti's Warbler, prevalence varied significantly with season, perhaps due to lower food availability in autumn and winter, making birds weaker and more prone to infection

Characterization of Plasma Labile Heme in Hemolytic Conditions

The deposited article is the accepted manuscript (post-print version) posted online 7 August 2017 and provided by The Febs Journal. This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. The deposited article version contains attached the supplementary materials within the pdf. This publication hasn't any creative commons license associated, although it is in open access.Extracellular hemoglobin (Hb), a byproduct of hemolysis, can release its prosthetic heme groups upon oxidation. This produces metabolically active heme that is exchangeable between acceptor proteins, macromolecules and low molecular weight ligands, termed here labile heme. As it accumulates in plasma labile heme acts in a pro-oxidant manner and regulates cellular metabolism while exerting pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects that foster the pathogenesis of hemolytic diseases. Here we developed and characterized a panel of heme-specific single domain antibodies (sdAbs) that together with a cellular-based heme reporter assay, allow for quantification and characterization of labile heme in plasma during hemolytic conditions. Using these approaches we demonstrate that labile heme generated during hemolytic conditions is bound to plasma molecules with an affinity higher than 10(-7) M and that 2-8% (~2-5 μM) of the total amount of heme detected in plasma can be internalized by bystander cells, i.e. bioavailable heme. Acute, but not chronic, hemolysis is associated with transient reduction of plasma heme binding capacity (HBC1/2 ), that is, the ability of plasma molecules to bind labile heme with an affinity higher than 10(-7) M. The heme-specific sdAbs neutralize the pro-oxidant activity of soluble heme in vitro, suggesting that these maybe used to counter the pathologic effects of labile heme during hemolytic conditions. Finally, we show that heme-specific sdAbs can be used to visualize cellular heme. In conclusion, we describe a panel of heme-specific sdAbs that when used with other approaches provide novel insights to the pathophysiology of heme. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia grants: (RECI-IMI-IMU-0038-2012, PTDC/SAU-TOX/116627/2010, HMSP-ICT/0018/2011, SFRH/BD/44828/2008, SFRH/BPD/47477/2008, PTDC/SAU-FAR/119173/2010, IF/01010/2013/CP1183/CT0001); ERC grants: (ERC-2011-AdG 294709-DAMAGECONTROL); NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellowship: (1003484).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Características de la comunidad vegetal del humedal de Tambo de Mora Chincha, Ica Perú

Se estudió las características de la comunidad vegetal del humedal de Tambo de Mora en la provincia de Chincha en el departamento de Ica. Los objetivos fueron: realizar un inventario florístico, establecer las comunidades vegetales, estimar la diversidad florística, reconocer las formas de crecimiento y conocer el estado de conservación de vegetación. Se utilizó el software PAST 3.24 para establecer las comunidades vegetales mediante el Análisis de Correspondencia. Para la diversidad florística se calculó el índice de Simpson, la riqueza de especies con el índice de Margalef, la diversidad con el índice de Shannon Wienner y la Equitatibidad de Pielou. Se clasificó las formas de crecimiento según Whittaker (1975). El estado de conservación se determinó a partir la lista roja de especies amenazadas de la Unión Internacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza (UICN). La cobertura vegetal se calculó a partir de la fórmula correspondiente. Se registró 29 especies de flora vascular de las cuales Thypha domingensis es usada para elaborar artesanías. Se establecieron 4 comunidades vegetales: Typhal, Gramadal, Matorral de Tessaria y Vega mixta. La Vega mixta es la comunidad dominante y la de mayor cobertura; Gramadal presenta mayor diversidad. Predomina la forma de crecimiento tipo hierba. Se encontró 17 categorizadas como de Preocupación menor en la UICN, de las cuales 12 son consideradas nativas. Se concluye que la riqueza de especies y diversidad es baja; se proponen 4 tipos de comunidades vegetales, predominando las hierbas. Un número importante de especies están incluidas en la UICN. Palabras claves: Inventario, comunidad, diversidad, forma de crecimiento, estado de conservación

Renal control of disease tolerance to malaria

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