Impact of a Virtual Reality-Based Simulation on Empathy and Attitudes Toward Schizophrenia

Virtual Reality (VR) has been identified as one of the most promising resources for developing empathy towards stigmatized groups as it allows individuals to experience a situation close to reality from another person’s perspective. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the impact on empathy, knowledge, and attitudes towards people with schizophrenia of a VR simulation that reproduces the experience of psychotic symptoms while performing a cognitive task compared with watching a 2D video and, thus, how these experiences could reduce stigma towards people diagnosed with schizophrenia. The sample comprised of 102 higher education health students, distributed by the experimental and control groups. The impact of the program was measured by completing multiple questionnaires on levels of empathy, attitudes, and mental health knowledge. Both methods (VR and 2D video) were, to a certain extent, effective. However, VR was more effective at eliciting attitudes and knowledge change compared to the control group. These findings suggest that not only VR but also 2D videos could be interesting strategies to enhance empathy and improve attitudes towards people with schizophrenia in higher education health students

Impact of a virtual reality-based simulation on empathy and attitudes toward Schizophrenia

Virtual Reality (VR) has been identified as one of the most promising resources for developing empathy towards stigmatized groups as it allows individuals to experience a situation close to reality from another person’s perspective. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the impact on empathy, knowledge, and attitudes towards people with schizophrenia of a VR simulation that reproduces the experience of psychotic symptoms while performing a cognitive task compared with watching a 2D video and, thus, how these experiences could reduce stigma towards people diagnosed with schizophrenia. The sample comprised of 102 higher education health students, distributed by the experimental and control groups. The impact of the program was measured by completing multiple questionnaires on levels of empathy, attitudes, and mental health knowledge. Both methods (VR and 2D video) were, to a certain extent, effective. However, VR was more effective at eliciting attitudes and knowledge change compared to the control group. These findings suggest that not only VR but also 2D videos could be interesting strategies to enhance empathy and improve attitudes towards people with schizophrenia in higher education health students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estado de nutrição de pomares de pessegueiro na região da Beira Interior

A Beira Interior possui a principal área portuguesa de produção de pêssego (1803 ha) e possui também o know-how sobre esta cultura, existindo a única indicação geográfica protegida de pêssego do país – IGP pêssego da Cova da Beira, canais de comercialização, assistência técnica e ações de I&D. Paralelamente existe uma constante procura de conhecimento e inovação por parte dos produtores de modo a maximizarem o rendimento da cultura. Sendo a fertilização uma técnica com baixo peso nos custos de produção, aproximadamente 8%, é frequente existirem excessos para atingir produções mais elevadas. A fertilização reflete-se na disponibilidade de nutrientes e no estado de nutrição dos pomares que, com a rega, é determinante para o equilíbrio das plantas, para o seu vigor e produção e para a resistência a pragas ou doenças. A monitorização, desde a instalação, de 28 pomares localizados na região da Beira Interior, permitiu avaliar o estado de nutrição ao 3º ciclo vegetativo. Os resultados indicam que apesar do solo apresentar maioritariamente níveis altos de P e K, 45% dos pomares apresentaram teores foliares de K inferiores ao intervalo de referência. Também o teor de Zn se encontra em níveis inferiores a esse intervalo em 50% dos pomares.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Challenges in scaling of CMOS devices towards 65 nm node, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2005, nr 1

The current trend in scaling transistor gate length below 60 nm is posing great challenges both related to process technology and circuit/system design. From the process technology point of view it is becoming increasingly difficult to continue scaling in traditional way due to fundamental limitations like resolution, quantum effects or random fluctuations. In turn, this has an important impact on electricaldevice specifications especially leakage current and the circuit power dissipation

SARS-CoV-2 introductions and early dynamics of the epidemic in Portugal

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal was rapidly implemented by the National Institute of Health in the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, in collaboration with more than 50 laboratories distributed nationwide. Methods By applying recent phylodynamic models that allow integration of individual-based travel history, we reconstructed and characterized the spatio-temporal dynamics of SARSCoV-2 introductions and early dissemination in Portugal. Results We detected at least 277 independent SARS-CoV-2 introductions, mostly from European countries (namely the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland), which were consistent with the countries with the highest connectivity with Portugal. Although most introductions were estimated to have occurred during early March 2020, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 was silently circulating in Portugal throughout February, before the first cases were confirmed. Conclusions Here we conclude that the earlier implementation of measures could have minimized the number of introductions and subsequent virus expansion in Portugal. This study lays the foundation for genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, and highlights the need for systematic and geographically-representative genomic surveillance.We gratefully acknowledge to Sara Hill and Nuno Faria (University of Oxford) and Joshua Quick and Nick Loman (University of Birmingham) for kindly providing us with the initial sets of Artic Network primers for NGS; Rafael Mamede (MRamirez team, IMM, Lisbon) for developing and sharing a bioinformatics script for sequence curation (https://github.com/rfm-targa/BioinfUtils); Philippe Lemey (KU Leuven) for providing guidance on the implementation of the phylodynamic models; Joshua L. Cherry (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) for providing guidance with the subsampling strategies; and all authors, originating and submitting laboratories who have contributed genome data on GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org/) on which part of this research is based. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This study is co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica (234_596874175) on behalf of the Research 4 COVID-19 call. Some infrastructural resources used in this study come from the GenomePT project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184), supported by COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), Algarve Portugal Regional Operational Programme (CRESC Algarve2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Alves, L. F. (Ed.) (2016). Fotografias em obras de Eduardo Souto de Moura. Matosinhos: Scopio Editions

Published in June 2016 by Scopio Editions, the book of Luis Ferreira Alves, Fotografias em obras de Eduardo Souto de Moura [Photography of the architecture of Eduardo Souto de Moura] fits in the category of Architectural Photography..

Low temperature investigation of n-channel GAA vertically stacked silicon nanosheets

International audienc

Refined DC and Low-Frequency Noise Characterization at Room and Cryogenic Temperatures of Vertically Stacked Silicon Nanosheet FETs

In this work, two types of gate-all-around (GAA) vertically stacked silicon nanosheet (NS) FETs are investigated, the main difference being the vertical distance between the stacked NSs. Principal electrical parameters are estimated at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures using a refined Y -function methodology, the main advantage being that no extra iterative steps are necessary. The results are confirmed using other derivative dc parameter estimation methodologies. Low-frequency noise measurements evidence variability of the flat-band voltage noise and correlation between the noise level and the low field mobility. The dominant flicker noise mechanism is related to the correlated mobility and carrier number fluctuation mechanism with access resistance noise contribution in very strong inversion. The impact of the access resistance on the estimation of the Coulomb scattering coefficient is evidenced.In this work, two types of gate-all-around (GAA) vertically stacked silicon nanosheet (NS) FETs are investigated, the main difference being the vertical distance between the stacked NSs. Principal electrical parameters are estimated at room and liquid nitrogen temperatures using a refined Y -function methodology, the main advantage being that no extra iterative steps are necessary. The results are confirmed using other derivative dc parameter estimation methodologies. Low-frequency noise measurements evidence variability of the flat-band voltage noise and correlation between the noise level and the low field mobility. The dominant flicker noise mechanism is related to the correlated mobility and carrier number fluctuation mechanism with access resistance noise contribution in very strong inversion. The impact of the access resistance on the estimation of the Coulomb scattering coefficient is evidenced.A

Quem deveria participar na definição das prioridades em saúde e como deveriam essas prioridades ser estabelecidas? : resultados de um inquérito em Portugal. Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública. ISSN 0870-9025. Vol. 31, Nº 2 (Julho/Dezembro 2013), p. 214-222

ABSTRACT - Introduction: This article provides highlights of the evolution of the health care rationing debate towards a more explicit and open approach involving public participation. Discretionary models that have dominated the health sector decision-making are being questioned by different sectors of society. Methods: Using data from 442 college students, we explore public views on public involvement in health care rationing decisions. Results: Findings suggest that although citizens wish to be consulted, they believe doctors should play the most important role on rationing decisions. Discussion: Confidence in doctors is, nonetheless, not independent from the criteria used to support their decisions.RESUMO - Introdução: Este artigo destaca a evolução do debate sobre o racionamento dos cuidados de saúde com vista a uma aproximação mais explícita e mais aberta que envolva a participação pública. Os modelos arbitrários que dominaram a tomada de decisão no setor da saúde estão a ser questionados por diferentes setores da sociedade. Métodos: Partindo de dados recolhidos com 442 estudantes universitário, foram exploradas as opiniões sobre a participação pública no que se refere à tomada de decisão quanto ao racionamento dos cuidados de saúde.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

(Invited) In-Depth Understanding of the Key Contributors to the Total Flicker Noise in Advanced Logic Devices

The aim of this work is to perform an in-depth analysis in order to identify the key contributors to the total flicker noise in advanced MOSFET technologies, e.g. UTBOX, Gate-all-around (GAA) nanowire or nanosheet FET devices. For all investigated devices of these technologies an increase of the flat-band noise power spectral density level with the increase of the applied gate voltage was observed. This may be related to the correlated carrier number and mobility fluctuations noise mechanisms and/or with additional access resistances noise contributions. Different existing models have been applied in order to identify the key 1/f noise mechanism. However, a discrepancy in the obtained 1/f noise contributors is highlighted, and leads to some questioning about which employed model is most accurate and gives good indications on the key contributors and estimated parameters of the total flicker noise