AROUSED AND MIND-WONDERING: EEG CONNECTIVITY PATTERN OF THE DEFAULT MODE NETWORK DURING FREE VIEWING OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT VIDEO

O DMN pode ser considerado uma das redes de resting state (RSNs) mais estudadas. Esta rede compreende como principais hubs, o córtex pré-frontal medial (mPFC) e o córtex cingulado posterior (PCC) e por isso desempenha um papel no processamento autorreferencial. Um estudo anterior avaliou modificações da conectividade funcional nos hubs do DMN durante a visualização passiva de um vídeo erótico em pacientes com disfunção erétil, destacando um possível papel desempenhado pelo DMN na memória autobiográfica relacionada a contextos sexuais explícitos. No entanto, pouco se sabe sobre as modificações de conectividade funcional dos EEG power spectrum no DMN e estados de arousal sexual em mulheres. Neste estudo, 10 mulheres sem disfunções sexuais ou histórico de doenças médicas gerais participaram na visualização de um longo vídeo erótico enquanto a sua atividade EEG foi gravada. O estímulo erótico apresentado foi dividido em 4 fases que corresponderam a interações sexuais representadas no vídeo. 19 elétrodos considerados como correspondentes às zonas de ativação dos DMN hubs foram selecionados. As correlações obtidas dos power spectrum DMN para cada fase foram mais significativas para a banda de frequência beta sobre os elétrodos central, parietal e occipital. O processamento autorreferencial interno associado à atividade dos hubs do DMN pode estar presente durante os estados de arousal sexual em mulheres. Esta relação potencial precisa de ser investigada mais profundamente. Palavras-chave: DMN; EEG; excitação sexual; power spectrum; mulheres.The DMN can be considered one of the most studied resting-state networks (RSNs). This network comprises principal hubs, the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and plays a role in self-referential processing. A previous study assessed functional connectivity modifications in the DMN hubs during passive viewing of long-VSS in erectile dysfunction patients, hypothesizing a possible role played by the DMN in autobiographical memory related to explicit sexual contexts. However, little is known about functional connectivity modifications of EEG power spectra in the DMN and sexually aroused states in terms of power spectra analysis in women. In this study, 10 women with no sexual dysfunctions or history of general medical diseases engaged in the free viewing of a long erotic clip while their EEG was recorded. The erotic stimuli presented was divided in 4 phases that corresponded to sexual interactions presented. 19 electrodes to access DMN activity. DMN power spectra correlations for each phase were more significant for beta power frequency band over central, parietal, and occipital sites. Internal self-related processing associated to DMN activity might be present during sexual aroused states in women. This potential link needs to be further investigated. Keywords: DMN; EEG; sexual arousal; power spectrum; women

E-learning tools: engaging our students?

Since Generation Z students have grown up around WIFI-laptops, video game, etc. they expect technology to be involved in teaching approaches, however students' perception towards e-learning tools indicate that 80% of students (∼180 students) prefer a face-to-face approach.(undefined

O ensino de genética no ensino médio : a abordagem da lembrança estimulada em uma perspectiva de aprendizagem significativa

O presente artigo explora ideias no campo do ensino de Genética, buscando identificar possibilidades de construção de sentido em salas de aulas de Biologia do 2º ano do Ensino Médio de uma escola pública em um município paulista na perspectiva da aprendizagem significativa. Para tal, utilizamos a análise textual discursiva ao investigar o desenvolvimento de uma sequência didática que tem como aporte metodológico a abordagem da lembrança estimulada. Nossos resultados revelam que a terminologia empregada, o uso de analogias e o pluralismo metodológico são fatores que potencializam o processo de construção de sentidos à luz do contexto da aprendizagem significativa

Efeito de um protocolo de exercícios baseado em realidade virtual sobre o equilíbrio postural e qualidade de vida de mulheres grávidas: ensaio clínico randomizado

Introduction - Pregnancy is a period of intense hormonal, physical and emotional changes that can result in altered postural balance (PB) and worsening of quality of life (QOL). Objective - The main objective of this thesis was to investigate the influence of an exercise protocol, based on virtual reality, on PB and QOL of pregnant women. Methodology - Randomized controlled clinical trial with a sample of 57 pregnant women divided into a control group (CG = 29) and an experimental group (EG = 28). Sociodemographic, clinical and obstetric information was collected, was evaluated the PB (Balance Master System®) and Wii Fit Plus® was used to train this body function. The evaluation of the quality of life was carried out through the Quality of Life Index of Ferrans and Powers. The CG participated in 12 meetings of the Preparatory Course for Gestation, Childbirth and Postpartum (PCGCP). The GE attended the PCGCP and, simultaneously, performed the training protocol, based on RV, which consisted in the execution of 5 games for postural balance, during 12 individual sessions, held three times a week. For statistical analysis were used Student's t-tests for independent samples, Mann-Whitney, Chi-square and repeated measures ANOVA (2x2). Results - The main result of this study was that there were no intra and intergroup differences for PB (P> 0.11) and QoL (P = 0.20), indicating maintenance of these variables with the progress of pregnancy and through the implementation of the two proposed interventions. Conclusion - The results suggest that health education interventions and training with Wii Fit Plus® prevent worsening of postural balance and quality of life, expected with the onset of the pregnancy period.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Introdução - A gravidez é um período de intensas modificações hormonais, físicas e emocionais que podem resultar em alteração do equilíbrio postural (EP) e piora da qualidade de vida (QV). Objetivo – O objetivo principal dessa tese foi investigar qual o efeito de um protocolo de exercícios, baseados em 12 sessões de realidade virtual, sobre o EP e QV de mulheres grávidas saudáveis. Metodologia – Estudo do tipo ensaio clínico controlado randomizado com amostra de 57 gestantes, divididas em grupo controle (GC=29) e grupo experimental (GE=28). Foram coletadas informações sociodemográficas, clínicas e obstétrias, avaliado o EP (Balance Master System®) e utilizado o Wii Fit Plus® para treinamento desta função corporal. A avaliação da QV foi realizada por meio do Índice de Qualidade de Vida de Ferrans e Powers. O GC participou de 12 encontros do Curso Preparatório para Gestação, Parto e Pós-parto (CPGPP). O GE frequentou o CPGPP e, simultaneamente, realizou o protocolo de treinamento, baseado em RV, que consistiu na execução de 5 jogos para o equilíbrio postural, ao longo de 12 sessões individuais, realizadas três vezes por semana. Para análise estatística, foram aplicados os testes T de Student para amostras independentes, Mann-Whitney, Qui-quadrado e ANOVA de medidas repetidas (2x2). Resultados – O resultado principal desse estudo mostrou que não houve diferenças intra e intergrupos para o EP (P>0,11) e a QV (P=0,20), indicando manutenção dessas variáveis com o progredir da gravidez e mediante a execução das duas intervenções propostas. Conclusão – Os resultados sugerem que o treinamento com o Wii Fit Plus® não afeta o equilíbrio postural e a qualidade de vida de mulheres grávidas saudáveis

Evolution of the risk perception of infection by COVID-19 – Evidence from the COVID-19 Barometer: Social Opinion

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, several non-phar-maceutical interventions (NPI) have been adopted worldwide in an attempt to keep the growing transmission of the virus under control. Several factors might influence the effectiveness of NPI. This study aimed to evaluate the evolution of the perception of the risk of infection by COVID-19 in Portugal between March 2020 and March 2022, and to identify associated factors. We used the "Covid-19 Barometer: Social Opinion" barometer, which was launched at the beginning of the pan-demic in Portugal to identify and monitor the evolution of the Portuguese population's perception of the pandemic and its impact on daily life and was online during two years. We also considered COVID-19 incidence, stringency data, COVID-19 variants’ prevalence and Google searches on COVID-19.The outcome considered was the per-ceived risk of infection by COVID-19, which was classified into low versus high/moderate. The explanatory variables from the Barometer were grouped into dimensions: general factors (socio-demographic and health-related variables), adherence to protection measures, vaccine hesitancy and coping mechanisms.Considering the nature of this study and the outcome variable, generalized linear models were used to study the temporal evolution of the considered variables – in particular, mixed effects logistic regressions. One model was fit per group of vari-ables/dimension. Preliminary results show that, linked to a higher risk perception are lower levels of education, poor health status and working full-time at the workplace (as opposed to remote working) – the last two with a growing tendency over time. On the other hand, individuals with a previous COVID-19 diagnosis and a better mental health status are more likely to perceive lower risks, a propensity that diminishes over time.Students and unemployed individuals are also more likely to have a lower perception of risk, when compared to employed individuals of the same age and sex. Additionally, there is in general a higher probabil-ity of perceiving a lower risk of infection as time progresses.Ackowledgments: This work is partially financed by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the project UIDB/00006/2020.N/

Optimization of Organizational Design

This study aims to present new techniques that airlines can utilize in order to gain efficiency through human resources allocation to adapt with the challenging and constant-moving environment of aviation industry. As the classical hierarchical structure that dominates most of the airlines today is not a prone environment for the changes proposed, researchers will explore human resources optimization using the optimization software Lindo, mixed with concepts and techniques of Agile Methodology, such as evaluation score and talent mapping to develop a model for the best match between employees’ and tasks of Avianca Brasil Project Department, considering productivity and cost that will present the most efficient outcome

Association between the adrenoreceptor β2 gene and pediatric asthma severity – a study of the PACMAN cohort

"Pharmacogenetics of Asthma medication in Children: Medication with Anti-Inflammatory effects" (PACMAN) is an observational retrospective pharmacy-based study carried out in 2009, in the Netherlands, aiming to investigate the effects of genetic variation on treatment response to asthma medication in children and to identify (profiles of) SNPs that characterize response phenotypes. Data on respiratory symptoms and medication use, including medication type and amount, was collected from pharmaceutical records of asthmatic children and data on the children’s sex, age, genetic traits, and ethnicity. We aimed to assess the association between asthma severity and the Arg16Glu polymorphism of the β2 adrenoreceptor gene (ADRB2). This gene is expressed in bronchial muscle cells, which is involved in the physiological response of the airway response and has been associated with clinical drug response and asthma exacerbations. We used the PACMAN data and considered the dispensing of oral corticosteroid prescriptions as a proxy of the disease severity since corticoids are commonly used in uncontrolled asthmatic states (exacerbations). We considered two different genetic models – additive and genotypic, which can be translated for analysis purposes into a numeric format, corresponding to the number of copies of the minor allele, and categorical (each genotype representing a category), respectively. We used models of the class of the Generalized Linear Mixed Models for count data with excess of zeros, namely zero-inflated and hurdle models, considering a Negative Binomial distribution to account for overdispersion. Both models included the polymorphism in the zero and count components and were adjusted for children’s baseline characteristics. In both approaches to deal with the excess of zeros, a significant effect of the polymorphism was found only in the binary component of the models. In the count component, only sex and age showed a significant effect. This points towards the existence of an effect of the polymorphism in the presence of asthma exacerbations, with not shown effect in the frequency of OCS prescription.This work is partially financed by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the project UIDB/00006/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio