Inner speech and clarity of self-concept in thought disorder and auditory-verbal hallucinations

Eighty patients and thirty controls were interviewed using one interview that promoted personal disclosure and another about everyday topics. Speech was scored using the Thought, Language and Communication scale (TLC). All participants completed the Self-Concept Clarity Scale (SCCS) and the Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire (VISQ). Patients scored lower than comparisons on the SCCS. Low scores were associated the disorganized dimension of TD. Patients also scored significantly higher on condensed and other people in inner speech, but not on dialogical or evaluative inner speech. The poverty of speech dimension of TD was associated with less dialogical inner speech, other people in inner speech, and less evaluative inner speech. Hallucinations were significantly associated with more other people in inner speech and evaluative inner speech. Clarity of self-concept and qualities of inner speech are differentially associated with dimensions of TD. The findings also support inner speech models of hallucinations

Preservation of a highly perishable food, watermelon juice, at and above room temperature under mild pressure (hyperbaric storage) as an alternative to refrigeration

The feasibility of food preservation under pressure (hyperbaric storage) at and above room temperatures, as an alternative to refrigeration was evaluated. Preservation of a highly perishable food, watermelon juice, was studied at pressures of 25e150 MPa and temperatures ranging 20e37 C, being compared to refrigeration and storage at atmospheric pressure at the same temperatures. Hyperbaric storage at 75 MPa (20e37 C) revealed an inhibitory effect on microbial growth, with at least an equal performance compared to refrigeration. An additional inactivation effect was verified for storage at 100 and 150 MPa, with reduction of the initial microbial counts to 1.00 Log CFU/mL for enterobacteriaceae and yeasts and moulds, and from 4.43 ± 0.04 to 3.31 ± 0.04 and 2.99 ± 0.07 Log CFU/ mL, respectively, for total aerobic mesophiles (25 C). In general, pH, titratable acidity and total soluble solids did not show a clear variation trend with pressure and no considerable differences among storage conditions were verified. Cloudiness decreased for samples stored under pressure and browning degree was in general lower in samples stored under pressure compared to refrigeration. This work demonstrates the potentiality of hyperbaric storage as a new preservation methodology, at variable (uncontrolled) room temperature without energetic costs during storage, as an alternative to refrigeration

MAPEAMENTO DAS UNIDADES GEOMORFOLÓGICAS DA PLANÍCIE COSTEIRA DO ESTADO DO PIAUÍ.

Este artigo apresenta os resultados do mapeamento das unidades geomorfológicas da planície costeira piauiense. O mapeamento levou em consideração as relações e a integração dos fatores estruturais, litológicos, climáticos, pedológicos e morfodinâmicos, a partir da classificação taxonômica estabelecida pelo IBGE (2009) e técnicas de sensoriamento remoto (FLORENZANO, 2008). Foram identificadas 8 Unidades Geomorfológicas, compartimentadas quanto às suas formas de acumulação (A) e dissecação (D)

The Safe-Port project: an approach to port surveillance and protection

SAFE-PORT is a recently started project addressing the complex issue of determining the best configurations of resources for harbour and port surveillance and protection. More specifically, the main goal is to find, for any given scenario, an adequate set of configuration solutions — i.e., number and type of sensors and equipments, their locations and operating modes, the corresponding personnel and other support resources — that maximize protection over a specific area. The project includes research and development of sensors models, novel algorithms for optimization and decision support, and a computer-based decision support system (DSS) to assist decision makers in that task. It includes also the development of a simulation environment for modelling relevant aspects of the scenario (including sensors used for surveillance, platforms, threats and the environment), capable to incorporate data from field-trials, used to test and validate solutions proposed by the DSS. Test cases will consider the use of intelligent agents to model the behaviour of threats and of NATO forces in a realistic way, following experts’ definitions and parameters

Applying SMED methodology in cork stoppers production

Organizations are increasingly required to have a high level of quality and flexibility in production. In order to remain in the market and become competitive, the working methods practiced must be reliable and efficient. The present project sought the improvement of an equipment of the cork industry by introducing a variation, through the application of Lean methods. The equipment under study performs the union of a cork stopper to a capsule, which is done by gluing it with hot-melt glue. The amount of production makes the changeover activity a regular process. The method followed in this work was the study and collection of information on the Lean production philosophy and its application in the cork industry. The working conditions of the assembly machine were also analyzed in order to find opportunities for improvement. Thus, the tool used was the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) technique in order to acknowledge the processes that really add value to the product. The SMED (Single Minute of Exchange of Die) methodology was applied in a way to reduce the downtime caused by tool changes, and a reduction of 43% in total changeover time was obtained. It was also created an A3 model to monitor the entire development of the SMED project, Finally, the OEE (Overall Equipment Efficiency) calculation was implemented as an indicator of overall equipment efficiency, in order to improve the monitoring of possible deviations during production. The feedback also proves that lean tools are a powerful method to get solid returns without large investments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of social isolation and social cognition in thought disorder

A better understanding of how social factors relate to the psychological processes in thought disorder (TD) is necessary for the development of effective psychological interventions. Sixty-eight participants diagnosed with psychosis (18–65; 47.1% female) were recruited and evaluated on social cognition (Hinting Task, HT; and reading the mind in the eyes test, RMET), social isolation (size of social network, frequency and quality of contact), psychotic symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS) and TD (Thought, Language and Communication Disorders Scale, TLC). A mediation model was tested with isolation as the predictor, TD as the outcome, and performance on HT and RMET as the mediators. The final model, with adjustment for comorbid symptoms (i.e. delusions, suspiciousness, hallucinations, and negative symptoms), supported full mediation and explained a significant amount of the observed variance (60%). Performance on the HT was a significant mediator of the relationship between social isolation and TD. From the covariates, delusions contributed independently and significantly to TD. The implications of the findings for psychological practice, and TD-specific interventions, are discussed as well as the limitations of the study. Further avenues for symptom-specific research are discussed, in particular with reference to more complex psychosocial models. © 201

Propriedades nutricionais, químicas e bioativas de duas espécies de cogumelos silvestres do género Leccinum, provenientes do Nordeste Transmontano

Os cogumelos são muito apreciados, não apenas pelas suas propriedades organoléticas e nutricionais, mas também pelo seu potencial medicinal e capacidade de produção e acumulação de compostos bioativos. As suas propriedades antioxidantes e antitumorais têm sido amplamente documentadas, nomeadamente, pelo nosso grupo de investigação [1,2]. No entanto, das numerosas espécies que caracterizam a micoflora transmontana, existem ainda espécies pouco estudadas como é o caso de Leccinum molle (Bon) Bon e Leccinum vulpinum Watling. Assim sendo, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi caracterizar nutricional e quimicamente amostras silvestres das espécies referidas, em exemplares provenientes do nordeste transmontano (novembro, 2012). As propriedades antioxidantes e antitumorais dos seus extratos metanólicos foram também estudadas em condições in vitro. As contribuições energéticas obtidas após determinação dos macronutrientes foram 391 e 360 kcal/100 g massa seca para L. molle e L. vulpinum, respetivamente. O açúcar presente em maior quantidade em L. molle foi o manitol (11 g/100 g), enquanto que para L. vulpinum foi a trealose (8 g/100 g). A percentagem de ácidos gordos encontrada em L. molle e L. vulpinum foi, respectivamente: ácidos gordos saturados- 17% (maioritariamente ácido palmítico), monoinsaturados- 39 e 29% (maioritariamente ácido oleico), polinsaturados- 44 e 54% (maioritariamente ácido linoleico). Relativamente à vitamina E, a isoforma β-tocoferol foi a maioritária em L. molle (13 μg/100 g) e γ-tocoferol em L. vulpinum (296 μg/100 g). A composição em ácidos fenólicos foi 0.19 mg/100 g (ácidos p-hidroxibenzóico e cinâmico) e 0.69 mg/100 g (também os ácidos gálico e protocatéquico), respetivamente, e em ácidos orgânicos 4 mg/100 g (ácidos oxálico, cítrico e fumárico) e 0.5 mg/100 g (ácido quínico em vez de cítrico). L. vulpinum apresentou maior atividade antioxidante em todos os ensaios (atividade captadora de radicais livres, poder redutor e inibição da peroxidação lipídica): valores de EC50 < 1.2 mg/mL. No que concerne a atividade antitumoral, esta espécie foi a única que inibiu a proliferação de linhas celulares tumorais humanas (mama, pulmão, cólon, cervical e hepatocelular), sendo a linha celular HCT-15 a mais susceptível (carcinoma de cólon; GI50 = 78 μg/mL). Até 400 μg/mL, os extratos não revelaram toxicidade para células não tumorais (culturas primárias de células de fígado). Este estudo contribui para a valorização das espécies de cogumelos anteriormente mencionadas, fornecendo mais informação relativamente à sua composição química e bioatividade

Effect of an inhomogeneous external magnetic field on a quantum dot quantum computer

We calculate the effect of an inhomogeneous magnetic field, which is invariably present in an experimental environment, on the exchange energy of a double quantum dot artificial molecule, projected to be used as a 2-qubit quantum gate in the proposed quantum dot quantum computer. We use two different theoretical methods to calculate the Hilbert space structure in the presence of the inhomogeneous field: the Heitler-London method which is carried out analytically and the molecular orbital method which is done computationally. Within these approximations we show that the exchange energy J changes slowly when the coupled dots are subject to a magnetic field with a wide range of inhomogeneity, suggesting swap operations can be performed in such an environment as long as quantum error correction is applied to account for the Zeeman term. We also point out the quantum interference nature of this slow variation in exchange.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures embedded in tex

Associação independente da variante rs1333049, no locus 9p21, com a doença coronária, numa população portuguesa

Funding: This study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund’s Operational Programme for the Enhancement of Economic Potential and Territorial Cohesion for the Autonomous Region of Madeira (INTERVIR+).Introduction: Recent genome-wide association studies have identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the 9p21 locus as risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Among them, the SNP rs1333049 has demonstrated a consistent association with CAD, which has been successfully replicated in several populations. Aim: To investigate whether the SNP rsl333049 located on the 9p21 chromosome is an independent risk factor for CAD in a Portuguese population. Methods: We performed a case-control study which included 1406 individuals, 723 consecutive coronary patients (mean age 53.7±8.9 years, 79.9% male) and 683 controls without coronary disease (mean age 53.3±10.5 years, 73.9% male). Cases and controls were selected so as not to be significantly different in terms of gender and age. We studied the SNP rs1333049 at the 9p21 locus in all individuals, using standard PCR combined with the TaqMan technique (Applied Biosystems). The allelic and genotype distribution (C/G), odds ratios and corresponding confidence intervals for CAD risk were determined. A forward Wald logistic regression analysis model was constructed, adjusted for age, gender, conventional risk factors, biochemical markers and the genotypes under study, in order to determine which variables were linked significantly and independently with CAD. Results: The C allele was found in 60% of the CAD patients and 53% of the controls, with OR=1.33; p=0.0002. The CC genotype appeared in 35.7% of CAD patients, with OR=1.34, p=0.010. The heterozygous CG genotype was present in 48.1% of the CAD patients and 47% of the controls, and did not present vascular risk (OR=1.05, p=0.670). After logistic regression analysis, the CC genotype remained in the equation with 0R=1.7; p=0.018 and CG with OR=I.5, p=0.048. Conclusion: In the present study we replicated the coronary risk linked to the recently discovered variant rs1333049 on the 9p21 chromosome in a Portuguese population. Although the mechanism underlying the risk is still unknown, the robustness of this risk allele in risk stratification for CAD has been consistent, even in very different populations. The presence of the CC or CG genotype may thus prove to be useful for predicting the risk of developing CAD in the Portuguese population.publishersversionpublishe

VScore: a software for management of large scale virtual screening projects in computer clusters

Virtual screening (VS) of large compound databases using docking tools present several challenges forthe average user and currently the use of High Processing Computer (HPC) clusters is mandatory. The availability ofsoftware tools with the abilityto perform ali the necessary VS tasks, ranging from compound and protein structure preparation, cluster job submitting to results management and analysis is a requisite for successful VS projects. We have developed VScore (Virtual Screening core), a ready-to-use automated software tool with a graphical user interface that can manage large scale VS projects, using AutoDock^and/orAutoDockVina as docking toais. VScore handles information in a dedicated database, implemented in MySQL making data management of large libraries of chemical compounds easier. This database structure makes possible several advanced features that set VScore apart including: one time protein/ligand preparation step, comparative docking using multipie structures from the same protein targets or even structures of different protein