Maturity Models Architecture: A large systematic mapping

Maturity models are widespread in research and in particular, IT practitioner communities. However, theoretically sound, methodologically rigorous and empirically validated maturity models are quite rare.  This systematic mapping paper focuses on the challenges faced during the development of maturity models. More specifically, it explores the literature on maturity models and standard guidelines to develop maturity models, the challenges identified and solutions proposed.  Our systematic mapping  revealed over six hundred articles on maturity models. Extant literature reveals that researchers have primarily focused on developing new maturity models pertaining to domain-specific problems and/or new enterprise technologies. We find rampant re-use of the design structure of widely adopted models such as Nolan’s Stage of Growth Model, Crosby’s Grid, and Capability Maturity Model (CMM). We also identify three dominant views of maturity models and provide guidelines for various approaches to constructing maturity models with a standard vocabulary. We finally propose using process theories and configurational approaches to address the main theoretical criticisms with regard to maturity models and conclude with some recommendations for maturity model developers

Dorso-ventral differences in gene expression and Brachyury chromatin binding in Xenopus

The main question developmental biologists pursue is the understanding of the processes involved in transforming a single cell into a whole organism with distinct tissues. In this thesis, I addressed this question, using the frog embryo and focusing on tissue-specific regulation by transcription factors. As an approximation for dorsal and ventral tissues, I used UV and LiCl treatments, that resulted in ventralised and dorsalised embryos, respectively. In a first instance, I did a whole poly(A)-transcriptome comparison of LiCl- and UV-treated embryos which validated the use of this approach as a proxy for dorsal and ventral cell types. Furthermore, I characterised these cell types, identified and characterise new genes, with a special focus in a dorsally expressed gene activated by the canonical Wnt signalling. To study cell-specific regulation at the chromatin level I compared the chromatin landscape of dorsalised and ventralised embryos. I observed that both RNAPII and the putative enhancer marker p300 bind the chromatin differently in a way that correlated with gene expression. I also compared the binding of Brachyury, a zygotic transcription factor expressed in both cell types. Although the majority of sites were bound similarly, a small subset was differentially bound in the two condition. I showed evidence that these differences could be due to absence/presence of co-factors that mediated the binding to these sites. Finally, I compared Brachyury morpholino(MO)-mediated KD (knockdown) and KO (knockout) embryos and showed, that whilst phenotypically are similar, transcriptionally there was a group of genes misregulated only in MO-injected embryos. I further explored the nature of these genes and revealed new insights into the use of morpholinos in loss of gene function experiments

Life cycle energy of vehicles on lightweighting and alternative powertrain strategies—A review

To improve vehicles environmental performance, different strategies have been explored namely to reduce the use stage energy. In order to avoid problem shifting, a life cycle perspective should be used to compare alternative solutions. This paper aims to compare existing studies focused on life cycle energy (LCE) of vehicles to analyze the impacts and benefits regarding two trending improvement strategies: lightweight materials and alternative powertrain selection. A Literature review was performed to systematize quantitatively the LCE results of different studies (e.g. presented among figures, tables, and literature text). The LCE results were compiled and normalized for the same driving distance, 200 000 km, per life cycle stage. Moreover, the study discusses research findings on the application of the two strategies to improve overall vehicles’ LCE. As lightweight materials have generally higher embodied energy, the material selection is highly influenced by end-of-life scenarios. It was observed that carbon/glass fiber composites generally have the highest embodied energy, being a preferable option for vehicles that last longer driving distances. Innovative powertrains sourced by renewable energy sources, electric mixes, can significantly reduce vehicles’ LCE use stage, counteracting the benefit of lightweight design. Thus, the benefit of both strategies should be studied together.This research was funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement “No. 810764”, and by the regional European and development fund through the grant POCI-01- 0247-FEDER-046095. This work was supported by project Base Funding – UIDB/04730/2020 of the Center for Innovation in Engineering and Industrial Technology – CIETI; LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE) and UIDB/00511/2020 - UIDP/00511/2020 (LEPABE) funded by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Psychometric properties of the ScreenQ for measuring digital media use in Portuguese young children

Aim: Digital media use is prevalent among children and linked to potential developmental and health risks, but validated measures of children's digital media use are lacking. The aim of this study was to validate the Portuguese version of the ScreenQ with three distinct children's age groups. Methods: Parents of children living in Portugal completed an online survey including the 16-item version of the ScreenQ and items related to home activities and digital media use. A combination of classical and modern theory (Rasch) methods was used for analysis. Results: A total of 549 mothers and 51 fathers of 325 girls and 322 boys from 6 months to 9 years and 11 months old responded to the survey. Point-measure correlations were all positive and endorsement of item values were within acceptable ranges. Cronbach's coefficient α was acceptable for a new measure, and test–retest reliability was high. Statistically significant correlations were found between ScreenQ total scores and relevant demographic, play-related, parenting and digital media use items. Conclusion: The Portuguese version of the ScreenQ exhibited sound psychometric properties, including internal consistency and concurrent validity referenced to external items. Higher ScreenQ scores were correlated with higher digital media multitasking, lower parent–child interaction, and higher concerns regarding child's learning and behaviour

Application of the ADAPTED FRISCO framework in case-based learning activities

Acquisition of clinical skills is of upmost importance for health sciences profes- sionals, and a guarantee that safe and effective patient care will be provided. Clinical competencies may encompass a series of skills that are introduced through graduation and developed during professional activity, namely the technical skills, communication skills, clinical reasoning and reflexion in daily practice. Therefore, clinical competence is not a static skill, but it grows with practice and is lifelong learning. Case-based learning is frequently used to en- hance learning in clinical reasoning and judgment for rational decision-making, competencies that are also associated to critical thinking. To be effective, case- based activities need to be structured, the learning objectives adjusted to each situation and students sought to be guided throughout the activity, so that they are actively engaged in the learning process bridging learning to professional environments. In this paper the authors present a model for a case-based activity aiming to enhance clinical competency in health science students. Framed by the application of the FRISCO guidelines adapted in previous work, the au- thors illustrate, by an example, how, in the proposed activity, congruence may be achieved among intended learning, instructional activities, and assessment methods while teaching diagnostic reasoning to health sciences students. Keywords: critical thinking; case-studies learning; health science

Patient-centeredness: contribution to the adaptation of the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS)

Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo traduzir e contribuir para a adaptação para a população portuguesa (Português Europeu) da Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS). Método: Após o processo de tradução e de pré-teste, a escala foi aplicada a 593 estudantes do 1º ao 6º ano do curso de Medicina em várias Universidades de Portugal Continental. A validade do construto e a fiabilidade do instrumento foram aferidas através da análise fatorial exploratória (ACP) e confirmatória (AFC), e do cálculo do coeficiente alpha de Cronbach. Resultados: A versão final explica 31.54% da variância total e confirma a estrutura em dois fatores: Caring, (19.56% da variância) e Sharing (11.98% da variância). Os itens 2 e 4 apresentaram inconsistências com os fatores definidos à priori (versão original do instrumento), os itens 9 e 17 obtiveram cargas fatoriais inferiores a .3, e o item 3 registou uma diferença inferior a .1 entre as cargas fatoriais para os dois domínios. Os coeficientes de alpha de Cronbach foram .65, .50 e .56 para a escala total, e subscalas Caring e Sharing, respetivamente. A AFC revelou um bom ajustamento global do modelo de medida (χ2(132, N = 593) = 344.28, p < .001; χ2/gl = 2.61; GFI = .93; AGFI = .92; CFI = .87; NNFI = .81; SRMR = .084; RMSEA = .05, 95% CI [0.045, 0.059], p = .293). As análises exploratórias posteriores sugerem a possibilidade de melhoria dos índices de validade e de fiabilidade da escala total e da sub-escala Caring, com a retirada de itens específicos. Conclusão: Não obstante as fragilidades encontradas no que concerne à fiabilidade e validade da PPOS-P para uma amostra de estudantes portugueses de Medicina, este estudo representa um contributo científico para a adaptação da escala, que pode ser considerada para efeitos de avaliação de atitudes de centração no paciente nos contextos da educação médica e da investigação.ABSTRACT - Objective: The purpose of this study was to contribute to the European Portuguese adaptation of the Patient-Practitioner Orientation Scale (PPOS). Method: A sample of 593 medical students participated in the study. After permission from the original author, the translation procedures required to ensure translation of the PPOS to European Portuguese were performed. Construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) and reliability (internal consistency) were assessed. Results: The final version confirmed the original structures of two factors, explaining 31.54% of total variance; Caring (19.56%) and Sharing (11.98%). Items 2 and 4 showed inconsistencies with the factors defined earlier in the original version of the instrument, items 9 and 17 obtained a factorial load less than .3, and the item 3 achieved a difference of less than .1 between factorial charges for the two domains. The internal consistency of PPOS-P scales was adequate (Cronbach’s alpha of .65, .50 and .56 for total scale, and subscales Caring and Sharing, respectively). Confirmatory factor analysis provided an acceptable adjustment for the observed variables (χ2(132, N = 593) = 344.28, p < .001; χ2/gl = 2.61; GFI = .93; AGFI = .92; CFI = .87; NNFI = .81; SRMR = .084; RMSEA = .05, 95% CI [0.045, 0.059], p = .293). Subsequent exploratory analyzes suggest the potential for improving the levels of validity and reliability of the total scale and Caring subscale, with the removal of specific items. Conclusion: Although the fragilities identified in the validity and reliability of the PPOS-P in a sample of Portuguese medical students, this work can represent an important and useful contribution to further investigations that might consider this instrument as a measure of student’s changes of patient-centeredness attitudes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Shortcomings of phylogenetic studies on recent radiated insular groups: a meta-analysis using Cabo Verde biodiversity

ReviewOver the previous decades, numerous studies focused on how oceanic islands have contributed to determine the phylogenetic relationships and times of origin and diversification of di erent endemic lineages. The Macaronesian Islands (i.e., Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canaries, and Cabo Verde), harbour biotas with exceptionally high levels of endemism. Within the region, the vascular plants and reptiles constitute two of the most important radiations. In this study we compare relevant published phylogenetic data and diversification rates retrieved within Cabo Verde endemic lineages and discuss the importance of choosing appropriate phylogeny-based methods to investigate diversification dynamics on islands. From this selective literature-based review, we summarize the software packages used in Macaronesian studies and discuss their adequacy considering the published data to obtain well-supported phylogenies in the target groups. We further debate the importance of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), to investigate the evolutionary processes of diversification in the Macaronesian Islands. Analysis of genomic data provides phylogenetic resolution for rapidly evolving species radiations, suggesting a great potential to improve the phylogenetic signal and divergence time estimates in insular lineages. The most important Macaronesian reptile radiations provide good case-studies to compare classical phylogenetic methods with new tools, such as phylogenomics, revealing a high value for research on this hotspot areainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Clarifying changes in student empathy throughout medical school: a scoping review

Despite the increasing awareness of the relevance of empathy in patient care, some findings suggest that medical schools may be contributing to the deterioration of students' empathy. Therefore, it is important to clarify the magnitude and direction of changes in empathy during medical school. We employed a scoping review to elucidate trends in students' empathy changes/differences throughout medical school and examine potential bias associated with research design. The literature published in English, Spanish, Portuguese and French from 2009 to 2016 was searched. Two-hundred and nine potentially relevant citations were identified. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria. Effect sizes of empathy scores variations were calculated to assess the practical significance of results. Our results demonstrate that scoped studies differed considerably in their design, measures used, sample sizes and results. Most studies (12 out of 20 studies) reported either positive or non-statistically significant changes/differences in empathy regardless of the measure used. The predominant trend in cross-sectional studies (ten out of 13 studies) was of significantly higher empathy scores in later years or of similar empathy scores across years, while most longitudinal studies presented either mixed-results or empathy declines. There was not a generalized international trend in changes in students' empathy throughout medical school. Although statistically significant changes/differences were detected in 13 out of 20 studies, the calculated effect sizes were small in all but two studies, suggesting little practical significance. At the present moment, the literature does not offer clear conclusions relative to changes in student empathy throughout medical school.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Comparing different packaging conditions on quality stability of high-pressure treated Serra da Estrela cheeses during cold storage

Serra da Estrela cheese with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) is a traditional cheese that is wrapped in paper without vacuum. High-pressure processing (HPP), which requires vacuum packaging of the cheese, has been used for its cold pasteurization to overcome safety issues. In this study, two packaging systems were studied: non-vacuum greaseproof paper wrapping package and vacuum packaging in plastic film. Lactococci, lactobacilli, enterococci, and total mesophiles reached ca. 8 log cfu g−1 and 4–6 log cfu g−1 in control (unpasteurized) and HPP-treated cheeses, respectively, with no significant differences between packaging systems. Spoilage microorganisms' viable cell numbers were reduced to 5 log cfu g−1 in non-vacuum paper-wrapped cheeses. A vacuum-packaging system enabled better control of cheese proteolysis, which was revealed to be closer to that of the original control cheese values at the end of the 10-month storage period. In addition, cheese stored under vacuum film packaging became harder than non-vacuum paper-wrapped cheeses at each time point. Overall, conventional non-vacuum paper wrapping is adequate for short storage periods (<3 months), but for long periods vacuum packaging in plastic film is preferable.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The dualistic model of passion in adapted sport: a double-serial mediation analysis on satisfaction with life

Adapted sports practice has increased in recent years, and has now put an additional demand on research to further explore and understand the characteristics of this field of practice. The main aim of this study was to examine the serial mediation effects of motivation and affective activation in relationships between passion and satisfaction with life in adapted sports athletes. The study sample comprised 143 adapted sports athletes (male = 107) aged between 15 and 59 years (M = 29.21; SD = 10.45) enrolled in distinct modalities. Double serial mediation models were developed according to hypothetical associations, and were analyzed using PROCESS macro v. 3.3. In both models, no direct effect between the types of passion and satisfaction with life emerged. However, positive indirect effects through self-determined motivation have emerged in the harmonious and obsessive passion models, as for a distinct and positive effect of relatedness in satisfaction with lifeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio