Assessment measures for specific language impairment in Brazil: A systematic review

Specific Language Impairment (SLI) is defined as an unexpected failure in linguistic abilities during a child\u27s early years of development. Children with SLI do not present significant impairment in nonverbal intellectual outcomes and do not lack normal environmental exposure to language. Brazilian and worldwide researchers have sought to understand the cultural implications of SLI in the Brazilian Portuguese language. Standardized and validated measures must be used in empirical studies. The present study systematically reviewed the instruments used to assess linguistic abilities in quantitative SLI research in Brazil. Three databases were chosen: Medline, SciELO, and Google Scholar. From a total of 828 articles retrieved, only 10 met the inclusion criteria. Seven standardized assessment measures were identified. However, only two of these reported psychometric properties using adequate normative data. No normalized instrument measured the entire spectrum of linguistic abilities. We discuss the results from the perspective of SLI theories and evidence in Brazil and worldwide

Exercise Frequency and Levels of Anxiety and Stress during the COVID-19 Pandemic are mediated by Craves to Move and to Rest

The concept of craves to move and to rest is a psychological construct that has recently been proposed as a key predictor for exercise adherence and a more active lifestyle in the fi eld of motivation research. During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, we observed that individuals who engaged in regular exercise reported better levels of psychological health and wellbeing. Based on this observation, our hypothesis was that craves to move and to rest could also mediate the relationship between the frequency of physical exercise and anxiety and perceived stress. To test our hypothesis, we recruited 574 volunteers who completed four online questionnaires assessing state anxiety, perceived stress, craves to move and to rest, and sociodemographic information (including weekly frequency of exercise) during the COVID-19 lockdown. We used a structural equation model, specifi cally a mediation analysis, which revealed a signifi cant mediating eff ect of craves to move and to rest between the frequency of physical exercise and anxiety and perceived stress levels. In other words, the weekly frequency of exercise was not directly associated with state anxiety, but rather through its eff ect on craves to move and to rest. Our results suggest that understanding the role of craves to move and to rest is crucial in comprehending the relationship between physical exercise and anxiety

Changes in Stress, Depression, and Anxiety Symptoms in a Brazilian Sample During Quarantine Across the Early Phases of the COVID-19 Crisis

Objective: We aimed to estimate prevalence and incidence of stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms in Brazilians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: We assessed 103 (54 women, 49 men) participants online in three periods of the pandemic: March 2020 (T1), April 2020 (T2), and June 2020 (T3). Estimates of prevalence and incidence were identified when mental health scores were two standard deviations above the mean compared to normative data. Mental health indicators were measured using the Perceived Stress Scale, the Filgueiras Depression Index, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State Subscale. Results: At T1, 89% of individuals were below cut-off scores for stress, anxiety, and depression, which dropped to 35% by T3. Estimated stress prevalence was 1.9% at T1, 7.8% at T2, and 28.2% at T3. Estimated depression prevalence was 0% at T1, 23.3% at T2, and 25.2% at T3. Estimated state anxiety prevalence was 10.7% at T1, 11.7% at T2, and 45.6% at T3. Stress incidence increased by 7.8% from T1 to T2, and 23.3% from T2 to T3. Depression incidence increased by 23.3% from T1 to T2, and 15.5% from T2 to T3. Anxiety incidence increased by 9.7% from T1 to T2, and 39.8% from T2 to T3. Stress severity scores significantly increased from 16.1 ± 8.7 at T1 to 23.5 ± 8.4 at T2, and 30.3 ± 6.0 at T3. Depression severity scores significantly increased from 48.5 ± 20.5 at T1 to 64.7 ± 30.2 at T2, and 75.9 ± 26.1 at T3. Anxiety increased from 49.0 ± 13.4 at T1 to 53.5 ± 12.5 at T2 and 62.3 ± 13.4 at T3. Females had significantly higher anxiety scores than males by T3 (66.7 ± 11.8 vs. 57.4 ± 13.5). Conclusion: Prevalence and incidence of stress, depression, and anxiety significantly increased throughout the pandemic. The largest increase in stress and anxiety occurred between T2 and T3, and between T1 and T2 for depression. Severity of stress, depression, and anxiety increased throughout the study

A agressividade na perspectiva de jovens atletas, de seus familiares e treinadores: uma análise temática

According to Social Modeling Theory, aggressive models influence other subjects to learn and replicate aggressive behaviors. Therefore, it is reasonable to observe and investigate this aspect in the most diverse environments, such as sports. The objective of this research is to understand the perception of aggression from the perspective of young athletes, their families and coaches. Starting from a socio-constructionist ontology and a socio-historicist epistemology, it is believed that social interactions and historical institutions have influenced the aggressiveness of young athletes; Therefore, teammates, family members and coaches would be agents that would shape the athlete's reality, with the coach being identified as the main influencing agent. It was carried out semi-structured interviews based on qualitative data from fourteen participants, six young athletes, six family members and two coaches. It was decided to carry out thematic analysis as a data analysis method. Four main themes were found from the thematic analysis: Events in the stands, Perspective of adults, Factors linked to aggression and Conceptions about aggressiveness. Given the analysis of the themes generated from the interviews, we could assume that the interviewees had prior notions regarding the difference between hostile and instrumental aggression, with the majority of interviewees expressing an aversion to hostility. In none interview did the participants point to teammates as influential people for aggressiveness and family members were the individuals highlighted in the interviews as the agents that most influence the hostile behaviors of young athletes.Según la Teoría del Modelado Social, los modelos agresivos influyen en otros sujetos para que aprendan y repliquen conductas agresivas. Por tanto, es razonable observar e investigar este aspecto en los más diversos entornos, como el deportivo. El objetivo de esta investigación es comprender la percepción de la agresión desde la perspectiva de los jóvenes deportistas, sus familias y entrenadores. Partiendo de una ontología socioconstruccionista y una epistemología sociohistoricista, se cree que las interacciones sociales y las instituciones históricas han influido en la agresividad de los jóvenes deportistas; Por tanto, compañeros de equipo, familiares y entrenadores tendrían interacciones que moldearían la realidad del deportista, siendo el entrenador identificado como el principal agente influyente. Se utilizaron entrevistas semiestructuradas para recopilar datos cualitativos de catorce participantes, seis atletas jóvenes, seis familiares y dos entrenadores. Se decidió realizar el análisis temático como método de análisis de datos. Del análisis temático se encontraron cuatro temas principales: Acontecimientos en las gradas, Perspectiva de los adultos, Factores vinculados a la agresividad y Concepciones sobre la agresividad. Dado el análisis de los temas generados a partir de las entrevistas, podríamos asumir que los entrevistados tenían nociones previas sobre la diferencia entre agresión hostil y agresión instrumental, expresando la mayoría de los entrevistados aversión a la hostilidad. En ninguna entrevista los participantes señalaron a sus compañeros como personas influyentes para la agresividad y los familiares fueron los individuos destacados en las entrevistas como los agentes que más influyen en las conductas hostiles de los jóvenes deportistas.Segundo a Teoria da Modelação Social, modelos agressivos influenciam outros sujeitos a aprenderem e replicarem comportamentos agressivos. Portanto, é razoável que se observe e se investigue esse fenômeno nos mais diversos ambientes, como no meio esportivo. O objetivo dessa pesquisa é conhecer a percepção de agressividade na perspectiva de jovens atletas, de seus familiares e treinadores. Partindo de uma ontologia socioconstrucionista e de uma epistemologia sócio-historicista, acredita-se que as interações sociais e as instituições historicamente constituídas influenciariam a agressividade dos jovens atletas; logo, colegas de equipe, familiares e treinadores seriam interações que moldariam a realidade do atleta, sendo o treinador apontado como o principal agente influenciador. Entrevistas semiestruturadas foram usadas para coletar dados qualitativos de quatorze participantes, seis jovens atletas, seis familiares e dois treinadores. Optou-se por realizar a análise temática como método de análise de dados. Foram encontrados quatro principais temas a partir da análise temática: Acontecimentos nas arquibancadas, Perspectiva de adultos, Fatores vinculados à agressividade e Concepções sobre a agressividade. Diante da análise dos temas gerados a partir das entrevistas, pôde-se assumir que os entrevistados tinham noções prévias a respeito da diferença entre agressividade hostil e instrumental, tendo a maioria dos entrevistados exprimido aversão à hostilidade. Em nenhuma entrevista os participantes apontaram colegas de equipe como pessoas influentes para a agressividade e os familiares foram os indivíduos apontados nas entrevistas como os agentes que mais exercem influência nos comportamentos hostis de jovens atletas

WORKING MEMORY IN ALZHEIMER DISEASE: A 5-YEAR SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL EVIDENCES FROM BADDELEY’S WORKING MEMORY MODEL

The Alzheimer’s disease is the most common of theneurogenerative conditions associated with dementia. Itis known as a pathological frame that comes with severalimpairments in cognitive and psychological processes.This study aimed to understand the relationship betweenAlzheimer’s disease and Working Memory impairments.We adopted Baddeley’s Working Memory Model tosystematically review if impairments in the subcomponentsof this theoretical model – phonological loop, visualsketchpad, episodic buffer and central executive – followdistinct or similar paths. The systematic review consultedMedline, Psycinfo and Scielo databases. From 329 articles,only 11 were accepted by the established criteria. Resultssuggested that episodic buffer and central executive,respectively, decline with AD severity. Phonological loopand visual sketchpad are the last of the Baddeley’s WorkingMemory Model subcomponents impaired

Cognition in soccer and futsal: evidence of validity of a 4-instrument protocol to assess executive functioning among women athletes

Evidence suggests that success in sports, especially soccer and futsal are linked to higher levels of executive functioning. Still, the literature does not present a homogeneous set of instruments to measure executive functions, which leads to large variability in results. In this paper, we assembled four already recognised measures to propose a valid 4-instrument protocol to assess executive functions among soccer and futsal athletes. We conducted two studies to validate the proposed protocol. We addressed known-groups validity and latent structure in Study 1 for data collected on 105 female soccer and futsal athletes from elite and lower-division clubs. Findings pointed to partial validity of the protocol - with working memory and inhibition showing the best results. For Study 2, we used performance data from 51 elite female soccer players collected throughout a season of the first division league to assess predictive validity. Our protocol was able to partially replicate previous findings and added new insights on how working memory, processing speed and higher-level executive functions might play different roles for goalscoring and assist-making skills. Specifically, study 1 did not find a significant difference between elite and lower-division athletes in higher-order executive functions as in previous studies, but it did find on visual working memory and inhibitory control which weights towards higher demands of core executive functions. On the other hand, study 2 yielded significant results for processing speed and visual working memory to predict assists among elite soccer players, but not inhibitory control as previous findings suggested. Regardless, the proposed 4-instrument protocol showed adequate criterion and structural validity in both studies

Physiological and productive performance of papaya plants irrigated in a semiarid environment

Papaya tree has great economic importance and potential of cultivation in semiarid environment. However, water scarcity in this region may inhibits photosynthetic activity and limit the production of this crop, being necessary to use strategies of irrigation management that rationalize water and allow the production of the plants without affecting photosynthetic activity. In this sense, this study aimed to evaluate the physiological and productive performance of papaya “Calimosa” under different water replacement rates in semiarid environment. Papaya plants were irrigated with four water replacement rates (50, 75, 100 and 125% ETo) from 30 days after transplant of seedlings to the experimental area.  At 10 months after transplant were realized evaluations of gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence, and at 12 months after transplant, it was started harvesting fruits to determine the yield. Water replacement rates significantly influenced the parameters of gas exchange of papaya with better results on rates of 125% ETo. However, application of water replacement rates of 100% ETo provide conditions adequate for the activity of gas exchange and better quantum efficiency of photosystem II, that contribute to fruit production in papaya. With rates less than 75% ETo occur drastic reductions in gas exchange, quantum efficiency of photosystem II, and fruit production of papaya, which impairs its cultivation in semiarid environments

Fake News: O Que É, Como Se Faz E Por Que Funciona?

This work presents a review about information disorder, amidst which we include the so-called “fake news” phenomenon. Due to its increased potential for propagation in digital age, false or malicious content has impacted political and social life and its consequences range from rejection of health recommendations to violent disorders. In this review, we first define information disorder, considering some theoretical distinctions between its different manifestations. We then address the processes of production and dissemination of false and malicious content, focusing the producers and also the channels thought which such materials are spread. Next, we discuss reception of false content, reviewing works on the psychological and cognitive bases of gullibility.Este trabajo presenta una revisión del desorden informativo, incluyendo las llamadas “fake news”. Los contenidos falsos o maliciosos, por su potencial de propagación en los medios digitales, impactan la vida política y social, asociándose desde el rechazo de recomendaciones de salud a disturbios violentos. En esta revisión, en primer lugar, caracterizaremos el desorden informativo, enumerando las distinciones conceptuales entre sus diferentes manifestaciones. En segundo lugar, nos ocuparemos de los procesos de producción y difusión de esos contenidos, planteado los agentes y canales implicados. A continuación, discutiremos el proceso de recibo de los contenidos falsos. Se presentan trabajos que, a partir de mecanismos de orden cognitivo y psicológico, buscan responder por qué se cree y socializan esos materiales.Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão sobre a desordem informacional, incluindo as chamadas “fake news”. Conteúdos falsos ou maliciosos, por seu potencial de propagação nos meios digitais, impactam a vida política e social, sendo associados desde a rejeição de recomendações de saúde até a distúrbios violentos. Nessa revisão, em primeiro lugar, caracterizamos a desordem informacional, elencando distinções conceituais entre suas diferentes manifestações. Em segundo lugar, tratamos dos processos produção e divulgação desses conteúdos, abordando os agentes e canais envolvidos. Na sequência, debatemos o processo de recepção de conteúdos falsos. São apresentados trabalhos que, a partir de mecanismos de ordem cognitiva e psicológica, buscam responder por que se acredita e se socializa esses materiais

Difference in Imagery use between Full-contact and Limited contact sports

Imagery is a set of techniques used in sport psychology to help athletes to improve skill performance, to boost motivation, to increase emotional management and to facilitate motor learning. Evidence suggests that individual differences explain the frequency of imagery use in sport. However, recent studies suggest that imagery is also linked to types of sport. The present study aimed to understand whether elite athletes from Full-contact and Limited contact sports differ regarding imagery use. The research had 199 participants divided in Full-contact (N=85) and Limited contact (N=114) sport categories. Demographics and frequency of imagery use were collected. A Canonical Discriminant Analysis was performed to assess the level of group discrimination each variable presented. Results suggested that Full-contact elite athletes train for more hours and use Cognitive Specific imagery more frequently than Limited contact professional athletes; whereas, this last group had significantly more sport psychologists working for them and higher frequency of Motivational Specific and Cognitive General imagery use. These findings altogether provide evidence that differences in imagery use can be also explained by sport categories, and sport psychologists must be aware of the particularities of each type of sport