Socioeconomic inequalities and school readiness in low and middle-income countries : Does access to early years education make a difference?

Studies from high, low and middle-income countries suggest significant associations between poverty and children’s school readiness outcomes (Bornstein et al., 2012). While consistent evidence, mostly from high income countries, indicate that parental income influences school readiness through ability to afford educational resources as well as parenting behaviours (Sosu & Schmidt, 2017), our understanding of these mechanisms in low and middle income countries is poor (Wolf, & McCoy, 2019). Additionally, we know little about the extent to which current educational policies such as the introduction of universal early years education moderate the poverty and school readiness gap. In this ongoing study, we draw on family investment models to shed light on the relationship between poverty and school readiness outcomes. Further, we investigate the extent to which access to early childhood education moderate the relationship between poverty and school readiness

Disney: a never-ending empire

Disney is an American Media & Entertainment conglomerate founded in 1923. This report focuses on the Media Networks and Direct to Consumer & International portions of the company. The analysis of both of these segments is marked by the presence of trends such as cord cutting and segment cannibalization. The report also discusses key risks, the model’s discount rates and the sensitivity analysis performed

Comparative characterization of skeletal muscle phenotype in mice during aging and in MANF loss of function conditions

Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2023O músculo esquelético sofre uma perda progressiva de massa, função e força com a idade, um processo conhecido como Sarcopénia. O estado de inflamação crónica que acompanha este processo de envelhecimento é um condutor potencial mas subexplorado do envelhecimento do músculo. Num estudo recente, o laboratório Neves/Sousa-Victor descobriu que a MANF, uma proteína da resposta de resistência ao stress e expressa pela maioria dos tecidos do corpo humano, tem uma função imunomoduladora autócrina, promovendo a ativação anti-inflamatória e a resolução dos danos dos tecidos, comprovada em estudos no tecido hepático. Desta forma, com este trabalho, testámos a hipótese de que a inflamação causada pela perda de função da proteína MANF poderá levar a um fenótipo de envelhecimento muscular acelerado. Para isso, analisámos tecidos musculares esqueléticos de diferentes modelos de rato: ratos WT em diferentes idades e ratos LysMCre-MANF de meia-idade, que representam um knockout de um alelo de MANF em células mieloides. Para além disso, estudámos ainda o impacto da suplementação da proteína MANF ao nível do envelhecimento muscular e a sua possível reversão fenotípica. Para efetuar estas análises recorremos à sua caracterização histológica e bioquímica. Desta forma, concluímos que a perda de função do MANF nas células mieloides conduz a um fenótipo de envelhecimento muscular acelerado. Foi ainda possível identificar uma citocina, a Osteopontina, comum ao processo de envelhecimento e à perda de MANF. Estatisticamente, a injeção direta de MANF não demonstrou relevância contudo, fenotipicamente, é possível observar alterações inflamatórias locais.The skeletal muscle suffers a progressive loss of mass and function/strength with age, a process known as Sarcopenia. The state of chronic inflammation that accompanies this aging process is a potential but underexplored driver of muscle aging. In a recent study, the Neves/Sousa-Victor lab discovered that MANF, a stress responsive protein expressed by most tissues of the human body, has an autocrine immunomodulatory function, promoting anti-inflammatory activation and resolution of tissue damage, proved in studies in the liver tissue. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that inflammation driven by MANF loss of function could lead to a phenotype of accelerated muscle aging. We analyzed skeletal muscle tissue from different mouse models including WT mice at different ages and Middle-aged LysMCre-MANF fl mice, representing a tissue-specific conditional knockout allele of MANF in myeloid cells. In addition, we also studied the impact of MANF protein supplementation on muscle aging and its possible phenotypic reversal. To perform these analyses, we resorted to histological and biochemical characterization. In this way, we conclude that the loss of function of MANF in myeloid cells leads to some features of muscle aging, including increased macrophage infiltrates, fibrosis and increased markers of oxidative stress. It was also possible to identify a cytokine, Osteopontin, up regulated both in aging process and in the loss of MANF condition. The analysis of MANF supplementation in aged muscles did not result in significant differences in the parameters analyzed, however, the injury effects produced by the repeated injections precludes a more rigorous analysis of the results

The Mediating Effect of Parental Involvement on School Climate and Behavior Problems: School Personnel Perceptions

As a reflection of the culture and norms of the school community, the school climate (SC) is a potential factor connected to students’ major behavior problems (BP). Parental involvement (PI) is considered as an essential factor for SC, contributing to promote good students’ educational results, as well as better social functioning. The present study aimed to analyze the mediating effect of PI on the relationship between SC and BP, taking into consideration the school personnel perceptions. A total of 329 school personnel (teachers versus no teachers) aged between 29 and 66 (M = 50.78, SD = 7.56), mainly female (79%), were integrated in the sample. Based on the perception of the school personnel, the results indicate moderate level of PI and SC, as well as the existence of different BP in the school context. The mediating effect of PI in the relationship between the SC and BP has been demonstrated. These results suggest that, if the SC and PI are improved, it could be an effective strategy to enhance the social functioning of students in the school context. This study thus contributes to a comprehensive empirical analysis of how PI can improve the relationship between the SC and the BP of Portuguese students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A integração Google Earth-SIG-Servidor de mapas e o monitoramento ambiental.

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Rammed Earth Construction Nowadays - Comparing Methodologies and Design Between Portugal and USA

The future of earthen construction depends on the way it is adapted to our comfort needs, to the new standards and building codes. Based on site visits and interviews, this study is a comparative overview of several rammed earth recent works, in Portugal and in the USA. The main goal is to compare different strategies of rammed earth construction, regarding distinct cultures, climate and resources, technical background and methodologies, taking into consideration all the agents involved within the process. A detailed analysis of contemporary rammed earth masterworks was performed in both countries and a very distinct approach was found regarding design and constructive solutions. New strategies have been developed for innovation, combining traditional techniques with modern construction systems and new materials, changing the earthen construction paradigm. Nevertheless, earthen materials are still seen as an alternative and experimental resource, fulfilling some clients expectations and builders ambition to make different architecture

Experimental observation of fractional topological phases with photonic qudits

Geometrical and topological phases play a fundamental role in quantum theory. Geometric phases have been proposed as a tool for implementing unitary gates for quantum computation. A fractional topological phase has been recently discovered for bipartite systems. The dimension of the Hilbert space determines the topological phase of entangled qudits under local unitary operations. Here we investigate fractional topological phases acquired by photonic entangled qudits. Photon pairs prepared as spatial qudits are operated inside a Sagnac interferometer and the two-photon interference pattern reveals the topological phase as fringes shifts when local operations are performed. Dimensions $d = 2, 3$ and $4$ were tested, showing the expected theoretical values.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Programação de servidor de mapas para disponibilização de dados geográficos multidisciplinares utilizando tecnologias livres.

A crescente utilização de geotecnologias, e consequente elaboração de bases cartográficas, vem demandando a implementação de ferramentas para acesso dinâmico e interativo às informações organizadas. Servidores de mapas possibilitam a integração de informações geográficas representadas por mapas temáticos, imagens de satélite, fotografias aéreas ortorretificadas, e modelos 3D ou de realidade virtual georreferenciados. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho apresenta procedimentos adotados para a programação do servidor de mapas desenvolvido para facilitar o acesso a informações georreferenciadas disponibilizadas no GeoPortal da Embrapa Milho e Sorgo. O servidor de mapas permite o acesso a bases cartográficas digitais na internet de forma interativa e dinâmica, utilizando software livres, considerando as plataformas Windows e Linux e possibilitando a integração espacial de informações geográficas multidisciplinares provenientes de diferentes fontes e formatos.bitstream/item/95877/1/doc-158.pd

Edge phonons in black phosphorus

Exfoliated black phosphorus has recently emerged as a new two-dimensional crystal that, due to its peculiar and anisotropic crystalline and electronic band structures, may have potentially important applications in electronics, optoelectronics and photonics. Despite the fact that the edges of layered crystals host a range of singular properties whose characterization and exploitation are of utmost importance for device development, the edges of black phosphorus remain poorly characterized. In this work, the atomic structure and the behavior of phonons near different black phosphorus edges are experimentally and theoretically studied using Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations. Polarized Raman results show the appearance of new modes at the edges of the sample, and their spectra depend on the atomic structure of the edges (zigzag or armchair). Theoretical simulations confirm that the new modes are due to edge phonon states that are forbidden in the bulk, and originated from the lattice termination rearrangements.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure