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

How socially responsible human resource management fosters work engagement: The role of perceived organizational support and affective organizational commitment

Purpose – In recent years, efforts to reinforce the links between corporate social responsibility and human resource management have highlighted employees’ role as crucial organizational stakeholders. This study aims to investigate whether workers’ perception of socially responsible human resource management (SR-HRM) based on employee-focused practices is related to work engagement (WE). This research also explored whether perceived organizational support (POS) and affective commitment (AC) can contribute to explaining this relationship. Social exchange theory and job demands-resources model were used to theoretically frame the research. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a sample of 222 employees working in diverse organizations, using individual online surveys. Several analyses were conducted to assure data robustness to common method bias. Findings – The results confirm that SR-HRM fosters WE and that this effect is subject to sequential mediation by POS and AC. Accordingly, SR-HRM practices contribute to higher level of POS, which then foster stronger affective bonds with employers and, in turn, higher levels of vigor, absorption and dedication among workers. Originality/value – The findings contribute to the expansion of the SR-HRM literature by providing a deeper understanding of how this management strategy affects employees’ job-related attitudes, particularly WE a much-overlooked variable in this realm.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

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

Cyber and offline dating abuse in a portuguese sample: prevalence and context of abuse

The increasing use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and networking has promoted the occurrence of different forms of victimization, specifically in terms of interpersonal interaction (e.g., cyberbullying or online risk-taking behaviour), which also includes cyber dating abuse (CDA). Some studies report that CDA is an extension of offline dating abuse (ODA). Because Portuguese studies in this area are scarce, this study aims to bridge this knowledge gap, seeking to investigate the extent and the context of CDA occurrence, and the relationship between CDA and all forms of ODA, i.e., physical, verbal-emotional and control. A convenience sample of 173 Portuguese adolescents and young adults was studied. This sample is mostly female (86.7%), has a mean (M) age of 25.36 years old and a standard deviation (SD) of 6.88 years of age. The results show that CDA and ODA among the Portuguese are very prevalent and related. Control (31.8 vs. 20.8%) and verbal-emotional ODA (26.7 vs. 20.2%) as well as control CDA (38.2 vs. 43.4%) were the most prevalent forms of abuse, either in terms of victimization or in terms of perpetration. The results also showed that CDA usually appears in a context of jealousy, also explaining control CDA and CDA direct aggression. A significant relationship between control CDA and CDA direct aggression and physical, verbal-emotional and control ODA was found. Experiencing control and verbal-emotional ODA are the main risk factors of control CDA victimization. This study allows to lay the groundwork for further research on dating victimization and perpetration through ICT, and has important practical implications at the level of Portuguese prevention strategies and intervention policies, thus emphasizing the role of the official authorities and the law itself.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio