Validação da versão portuguesa da Escala de Motivação Situacional (SIMS) em contextos académicos

The Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS), seeks to evaluate the motivation experienced when carrying out a specific task. The purpose of this research was to validate a Portuguese-language version of the scale, using a sample of 409 students, by attempting to reproduce its factor structure. The reliability analysis revealed acceptable internal consistency indexes in all subscales. Construct validity was assessed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The contributions of the factors and index of goodness-of-fit demonstrated the need to eliminate two items, which seems to agree with the results in other validation studies. Overall, results revealed that the SIMS is composed of four consistent factors and attested its psychometric quality. The scale does seem to represent a self-report measure of situational intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, external regulation, and amotivation, and can be widely used for the assessment of this construct in Portuguese academic contexts.A Escala de Motivação Situacional (sims) procura avaliar a motivação experimentada no desempenho de uma tarefa específica. O objetivo deste estudo foi validar a versão portuguesa, com uma amostra de 409 estudantes, ao tentar reproduzir a sua estrutura fatorial. Os resultados demostram uma consistência interna adequada relativamente às subescalas. A validade de constructo foi avaliada com a Análise Fatorial Confirmatória. Os valores de contribuição de cada fator e os índices de ajustamento assinalam a necessidade de eliminação de dois itens, que, por seu turno, vai de encontro a resultados de outros estudos de validação. Em geral, os resultados indicam que a sims é composta por quatro fatores consistentes e demostram a qualidade psicométrica. A escala parece ser uma boa medida de auto-relato para avaliar a motivação intrínseca, regulação identificada, regulação externa, e amotivação situacional, podendo ser utilizada na avaliação do constructo no contexto acadêmico português. Palavras-chave: autodeterminação, motivação situacional, medidas de motivação, alunos de ensino secundário, alunos universitários.Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), Portuga

Forma y vacío en la poesía de Severo Sarduy

In this essay we will elevate models on simulated models and/or figures in Severo Sarduy's poetry which can reveal the relationship between form and void and the philological and philosophical implications of that correlation.En el presente artículo vamos a elevar modelos sobre los modelos y/o figuras simuladas en la poesía de Sarduy que, nos pueden revelar la relación entre la forma y el vacío y, las implicaciones filológicas y filosóficas de dicha correlación

The Aesthetics of Evanescence in the Poetry of Octavio Paz

Creamos la estética de la evanescencia que contrastamos con lo que Peirce llama la Primeridad y con el concepto de infiniversión que hemos descubierto en la poética moderna. Reconocemos en poemas de Octavio Paz, especialmente, Ladera Este y Árbol Adentro, características de ésta estética, tales como: dispersión, elementalidad, alteridad, impermanencia, contradicción, vacuidad, etc. Y vinculamos con la misma estética los símbolos del espejo y el abismo.We create the aesthetics of evanescence as opposed to what Peirce calls Firstness and to the concept of "infiniversion" that we have discovered in modern poetics. In Octavio Paz's poems, specially "Latera Este" and "Árbol adentro" we recognize features of this aesthetics, such as: dispersion, elementariness, otherness, impermanence, contradiction, emptiness, etc. And we link the symbols of mirror and the abyss to this same aesthetics

Validação da versão portuguesa da Situational Motivation Scale (SIMS) em contextos académicos

A Escala da Motivação Situacional – SIMS (Guay, Vallerand & Blanchard, 2000), procura avaliar, de acordo com o modelo hierárquico da motivação intrínseca / extrínseca de Vallerand (1997), a motivação experimentada no decurso da realização de uma tarefa específica. Na presente comunicação pretendemos dar conta dos principais resultados do estudo de tradução e adaptação à população portuguesa da SIMS, junto de uma amostra de 312 estudantes do ensino superior. Globalmente, os resultados das análises psicométricas dos itens e das diferentes subescalas (amotivação, regulação externa, regulação identificada e motivação intrínseca) atestam a qualidade psicométrica da SIMS. No que se refere à validade de constructo (CFA), os contributos dos fatores e os índices de qualidade do ajustamento demostraram a necessidade de eliminação de dois itens, o que parece estar de acordo com os resultados encontrados em outros estudos de validação (e.g., Martín-Albo, Núñez & Navarro, 2009). Em síntese, os resultados obtidos parecem suportar a utilização da versão portuguesa da escala SIMS para avaliar a motivação situacional em contexto académico

Seminal traits, suitability for semen preservation and fertility in the native Portuguese horse breeds Puro Sangue Lusitano and Sorraia: Implications for stallion classification and assisted reproduction

The Puro Sangue Lusitano (PSL) is the major national breed of horse in Portugal, but no studies exist on its seminal characteristics, or on the possibility of conserving semen for future use. The aim of this study was to evaluate semen parameters, fertility and the aptness to semen preservation in Lusitano Stallions. In order to compare characteristics defined by a single or by multiple semen collections per stallion 152 ejaculates obtained from 152 Lusitano stallions presented at an annual breeding soundness examination as well as data related to 371 ejaculates obtained from 9 PSL were analyzed. These latter samples were also evaluated in terms of their possible use in assisted reproduction and were compared with 113 ejaculates obtained from 4 Sorraia horses, a rare and endangered Portuguese breed. The percentage of motile spermatozoa (PMS) was assessed after collection (AC), after semen dilution (AD) and at 24 h of cool-storage. Mean values obtained for sperm motility and morphology and semen pH observed after semen collection differ significantly (P < 0.05) between single collection/multiple stallions and multiple collections/limited stallions, and no age related effects were detected. Overall, Lusitano semen quality was comparable to that of related breeds, while Sorraia stallions had very poor semen quality. The response to cool-storage of diluted semen samples differed among stallions and breeds, and the best results for progressive motile sperm cells at 24 h were in a range of 35-53% for PSL stallions and were lower for Sorraia stallions. Fertility rates obtained with artificial insemination (AI) averaged at 85% for PSL. With the exception of PMS AC, sperm vitality and semen pH no other seminal trait seemed to influence fertility rates in the Lusitano breed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T43-4SPJ1TD-3/1/6a0fc54305a5730ccff6ba975a4abd0

About a counter-hegemonic truth: Learnings from the decision of the International Criminal Court on the attack against the freedom flotilla

This article explores the counter-hegemonic implications in exercising the right to truth for victims in criminal proceedings, having acknowledged its importance in different regulatory regimes such as International Human Rights Law, and International Criminal Law. To this end, it focuses on the analysis of the possibilities of a counter-hegemonic truth that conveys the historical truth of victims to criminal proceedings, based on the recent decision by the International Criminal Court regarding the attack on the “Freedom Flotilla”

Obtención de bioplástico a partir de Opuntia ficus indica reforzado con almidón de Ipomoea batatas

Actualmente, varios países exceden el uso de plástico convencional, generando alteraciones ambientales negativas. El Opuntia ficus indica y el Ipomoea batatas pueden generar bioplásticos competitivos con polímeros. Por tanto, el objetivo de la investigación fue obtener bioplástico a partir del Opuntia ficus indica reforzado con almidón de Ipomoea batatas. El tipo de investigación fue aplicada con enfoque cuantitativo y diseño cuasiexperimental. Para la elaboración del bioplástico se extrajo el mucílago de Opuntia ficus indica, asimismo, se obtuvo el almidón del Ipomoea batatas mediante el rayado y filtración. Seguidamente, se procedió al mezclado del mucílago, almidón, glicerina, ácido acético, agua destilada, canela y clavo de olor. Se obtuvieron muestras de bioplásticos con diferentes dosis de mucílago. Los resultados indicaron que la muestra de bioplástico con 20 g de mucílago presentó las mejores propiedades mecánicas como resistencia 2,3984e-5 MPa y elongación 638%. Asimismo, el bioplástico presentó una buena biodegradación en suelo agrícola con el 99,99% en 35 días. Finalmente, se concluye que el bioplástico cumplió con las propiedades de elasticidad y resistencia, considerándose apto para la elaboración de bolsas para plantas y uso agrícola debido al menor tiempo de biodegradabilidad

Brachypodium distachyon GNRF, SWAM1 and SWAM4 are transcriptional regulators of secondary cell wall biosynthesis

Plant cell walls are complex structures that contain a matrix of cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose. The regulation of the biosynthesis of these components has been well-studied in the eudicot plant Arabidopsis thaliana, and a transcriptional network has been elucidated. Several NAC and MYB family transcription factors are key regulators of secondary cell wall biosynthesis, and their functional characterization provides significant insight into the complex underlying transcriptional network. Genetic and structural evidence suggests that genes controlling this process might be different between eudicots and monocots. Here, the model grass Brachypodium distachyon has been selected to characterize the function of GNRF (GRASS NAC REPRESSOR OF FLOWERING), SWAM1 (SECONDARY WALL ASSOCIATED MYB1), and SWAM4 in the regulation of secondary cell wall biosynthesis. Phylogenetic analysis identified that GNRF and SWAM4 as the respectively AtSND2 and AtMYB61 transcription factors in B. distachyon. Co-expression analysis showed that both, GNRF and SWAM4, clustered with putative cell-wall-associated genes. Functional characterization was performed by using the overexpression plants GNRF-OE and SWAM4-OE; sodium azide mutant plants from a TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesion IN Genome) collection for gnrf-1, gnrf-2, gnrf-3, gnrf-4, gnrf-5, swam4-1, and swam4-2; a T-DNA insertional mutant plant, gnrf-6; and a dominant repressor plant, SWAM4-DR. GNRF-OE plants remained at juvenile stage and exhibited persistent vegetative growth, and some gnrf mutant plants were late flowering. SWAM4-DR plants were severely dwarfed. Stems of all genotypes were subjected to lignin quantification, cell wall thickness measurements, Q-RT-PCR, and RNA-seq analysis. Cell wall and transcriptomic analysis revealed that GNRF is a repressor of SWAM1, a MYB activator of cell wall thickening, and represses genes encoding cellulose, lignin, and xylan biosynthetic enzymes. GNRF was found to function as a pleiotropic repressor of cell wall biosynthesis, flowering, and transport proteins. Protein-DNA interactions were revealed in yeast by yeast-one-hybrid assays; the GNRF binding site (CT/GTA/G/CA/TNNNNT/G/CAA/CA/T/GA/TA/T) was identified by DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) assay. SWAM4 is a putative regulator of cell wall biosynthetic genes (CESA4, CESA7, CESA8, CAD, and COMT), and other proteins associated with cell wall formation. Collectively, GNRF, SWAM4, and SWAM1 were characterized as secondary cell wall regulators in B. distachyon

La estética de la disolución y la infiniversión en la poesía de J. Á. Valente

A partir de la obra poética de José Ángel Valente construimos una estética de la disolución en la que todo parece disolverse en su propio interior y esta infiniversión crea una red que liga las problemáticas del infinito, el ritmo, la materia, la forma y el vacío.From the poetic works of José Ángel Valente we construct an aesthetic of dissintegration where all seems to dissolve in itself, and this infiniversión, thus creating a net which binds the problems of the infinite, rhythm, matter, form and emptiness

¿Lucha de soberanías? Dimensiones hegemónica y contrahegemónica de los derechos humanos y jurisdicción complementaria de la Corte Penal Internacional

Se ha aludido que la jurisdicción complementaria que define a la Corte Penal Internacional vulnera elejercicio de la soberanía estatal. No obstante, tratándose de crímenes de Estado en tanto crímenes contrala humanidad, bien puede sostenerse que la jurisdicción complementaria podría llegar a constituir unretroceso. Esto, entre otras razones, por no ser coherente con la lógica de protección eficaz de bienesjurídicos de especial valía para la humanidad, en cuya congruencia en el pasado se estableció la jurisdicciónconcurrente que definió los tribunales internacionales de Yugoslavia y Ruanda. En dichas condiciones resulta interesante revisar este fenómeno a partir de la constitución contrahegemónicade los derechos humanos, reconociéndose, como lo hace Sousa Santos, la existencia, vinculacionese implicaciones de las formas de poder en las sociedades capitalistas, al igual que sus profundosmensajes en relación con los crímenes de Estado. Ello, con mayor razón, cuando se ha establecido que ladiscusión de la contrahegemonía –que inicia con Gramsci y que en parte desarrolla Sousa Santos desdela perspectiva de la dominación de la globalización neoliberal– propugna, como lo señala Bonet (2010),por un “nuevo contrato social global más solidario e incluyente que el hoy en crisis contrato social de lamodernidad occidental”. AbstractIt has been mentioned that the complementary jurisdiction which defines the ICC prevents the exercise ofstate sovereignty. However, for state crimes as crimes against humanity, it can be argued that supplementaljurisdiction could eventually form a setback. This, among other reasons, because it is not consistent withthe logic of effective protection of legal interests of particular value to humanity, whose congruency wasestablished in the past, defining the concurrent jurisdiction of the international tribunals in Yugoslaviaand Rwanda.In these conditions it is interesting to check this phenomenon from the counter-establishment of humanrights, recognizing as Boaventura de Sousa Santos does, existence, linkages and implications of theforms of power in capitalist societies, like their deep messages concerning state crimes. This, even moreso when it has been established that the discussion of counter-hegemony, beginning with Gramsci andpartly developed by Sousa Santos under the perspective of domination of neoliberal globalization, callsfor a “new global social contract more caring and inclusive than today social contract crisis of Westernmodernity “(Bonet, 2010). Resumo:Foi mencionado que a jurisdição complementar define o ICC impede o exercício da soberania do Estado.No entanto, para crimes de estado como crimes contra a humanidade, pode-se argumentar que a competênciasuplementar poderia, eventualmente, formar um revés. Isto, entre outras razões, porque não écoerente com a lógica de protecção eficaz dos interesses jurídicos de especial valor para a humanidade,cuja congruência foi estabelecido no passado, que define a competência concorrente dos tribunais internacionaisna Iugoslávia e Ruanda.Nessas condições, é interessante verificar esse fenômeno a partir do contador-estabelecimento dos direitoshumanos, reconhecendo como faz Boaventura de Sousa Santos, a existência, as ligações e as implicaçõesdas formas de poder nas sociedades capitalistas, como suas mensagens profundas sobre crimesde Estado. Isto, ainda mais quando foi estabelecido que a discussão da contra-hegemonia, começando com Gramsci e Boaventura desenvolve em parte sob o domínio da globalização neoliberal, apela para um“contrato social nova crise global de contrato de mais carinho e inclusiva do que hoje social modernidadeocidental “(Bonet, 2010)