Unavoidable Conflict Between Massive Gravity Models and Massive Topological Terms

Massive gravity models in 2+1 dimensions, such as those obtained by adding to Einstein's gravity the usual Fierz-Pauli, or the more complicated Ricci scalar squared ($R^2$), terms, are tree level unitary. Interesting enough these seemingly harmless systems have their unitarity spoiled when they are augmented by a Chern-Simons term. Furthermore, if the massive topological term is added to $R + R_{\mu\nu}^2$ gravity, or to $R + R_{\mu\nu}^2 + R^2$ gravity (higher-derivative gravity), which are nonunitary at the tree level, the resulting models remain nonunitary. Therefore, unlike the common belief, as well as the claims in the literature, the coexistence between three-dimensional massive gravity models and massive topological terms is conflicting.Comment: 13 pages, no figure

Pragmatism, need for comfort and need for acceptance – psychological traits for successful entrepreneurship in Portugal

The purpose of this study was to revisit the inventory developed by Galvão and Pinheiro (2016), measuring seven psychological traits common to business owners, and to propose an inventory that could improve the measuring of psychological traits of Portuguese business owners. The 26 items inventory was used on two samples. Sample 1, included 229 individuals (33.2% business owners) and Sample 2, used to cross-validate findings, included 257 individuals (44.0% business owners). Correlational statistical tests and a Principal Component Analysis were carried out, resulting in items loading to 3 components. The loading items were presented to 17 business owners to validate the trait they most associated to each question, resulting in a fit to 16 items also identified by the authors as having theoretical foundations. Structural Equation Modelling was performed showing good fits for both sample 2 (RMSEA=0.052; TLI=0.942; CFI=0.951) as sample 1 (RMSEA=0.036; TLI=0.966; CFI=0.971). With this study we were able to create the Portuguese Entrepreneurial Psychological Traits Inventory (PEPTI), an inventory that measures psychological traits that are significantly higher in business owners and that is adapted to Portuguese culture and that overcame the issues pointed out by Galvão and Pinheiro (2016) in their study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O responder controlado temporalmente: desdobramentos da pesquisa com a tarefa de bissecção

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cytokine storm modulation in COVID-19: a proposed role for vitamin D and DPP-4 inhibitor combination therapy (VIDPP-4i)

A dysregulated immune response characterized by the hyperproduction of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (a.k.a. 'cytokine storm') plays a central role in the pathophysiology of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this Perspective article we discuss the evidence for synergistic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties exerted by vitamin D and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, the latter being a class of antihyperglycemic agents used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, which have also been reported as immunomodulators. Then, we provide the rationale for investigation of vitamin D and DPP-4 inhibitor combination therapy (VIDPP-4i) as an immunomodulation strategy to ratchet down the virulence of SARS-CoV-2, prevent disease progression and modulate the cytokine storm in COVID-19

Context effects in temporal differentiation: some data and a model

We examined whether temporal context influences how animals produce a time interval. Six pigeons pecked one key to start an interval and then another key to end the interval. Reinforcement followed whenever the interval duration fell within a range of values signaled by the keylight colors. During Phase 1, keylight colors S1 and L1, intermixed across trials, signaled the ranges (0.5-1.5 s) and (1.5- 4.5 s), respectively. During Phase 2, colors S2 and L2 signaled the ranges (1.5-4.5 s) and (4.5-13.5 s), respectively. We asked whether the intervals produced in the presence of L1 and S2, stimuli signalling the same range, varied with their temporal context, short in Phase 1, long in Phase 2. The results showed that a) the intervals produced in the presence of the different keylight colors accorded with the main properties of temporal differentiation, including Weber’s law, b) the L1 intervals had slightly higher means than the S2 intervals, a weak contrast effect, c) the L1 intervals also had higher variability than the S2 intervals. An extension of the learning-to-time model to temporal differentiation tasks reproduced some of the major features of the data but left unanswered how context might change the model parameters.MPC, AM, and MV benefited from grants from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT SFRH/BD/73875/2010, PTDC/MHC-PCN/3540/2012, and IF/01624/2013/CP1158/CT0012, respectively). This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre, University of Minho, and partially supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science through national funds and when applicable co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement (UID/PSI/01662/2013). The authors thank Catarina Soares, Margarida Monteiro, Francisca Cunha, Janete Silva, Lénia Amaral, Pilar Niño and Sofia Ribeiro for help collecting data.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Idiosyncratic psychological aspects in entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship is having the courage to transform an idea in reality and with it achieve personal, nancial and recognition satisfaction. The psychological ability to handle failure has proven essential in success. We analysed the importance of idiosyncratic psychological aspects in the success of entrepreneurs through an observational study accompanying 20 entrepreneurs from the idea presentation phase to company incorporation. During the observation period 4 distinct psychological phases of the entrepreneurs were observed, being it possible to describe them as follows: absorption of information and knowledge; application of the gathered knowledge to their speci c cases; frustration generated by criticism, namely from investors who didn’t recognise the value of their projects; realism and implementation of the project. Having passed more than 6 months after the analysis period, one can verify that the entrepreneurs who have travelled the 4 phases are today developing their projects being that the remaining ones are in a similar situation as at the end of the initial two months. Conclusion: The ability to cope with frustration and rejection is a determinant factor in the success of the entrepreneur. The ability to learn from rejection, more than resilience help the entrepreneur to proceed

Combination of vitamin D and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (VIDPP-4i) as an immunomodulation therapy for autoimmune diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) represent the most common types of autoimmune diabetes and are characterized by different age of onset, degrees of immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic beta cells and rates of disease progression towards insulin dependence. Several immunotherapies aimed to counteract autoimmune responses against beta cells and preserve beta-cell function are currently being investigated, particularly in T1D. Preliminary findings suggest a potential role of combination therapy with vitamin D and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors (VIDPP-4i) in preserving beta-cell function in autoimmune diabetes. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the immunomodulatory properties of vitamin D and DPP-4 inhibitors, as well as the rationale for investigation of their combined use as an immunomodulation therapy for autoimmune diabetes

Management of presenteeism. The effects on productivity of a food processing company

Presenteeism consists in going to work without conditions to produce, which can have a much higher impact than absenteeism on the productivity of an organisation. Presenteeism translates in both physical as psychological perturbations. It is a difficult to quantify reality, as is its translation into direct and indirect costs within the organisation. Our goal was to analyse the effects of presenteeism on the productivity of a company in the food-procession sector through a descriptive and transversal study of exploratory nature. The Stanford Presenteeism Scale SPS-6 (validated by Ferreira et al, 2010) and a semi-structured interview were used. Most of the workers referred having already gone to work feeling ill at least two days in the last year, mentioning that their health condition affected their performance, made them feel desperate and lacking pleasure from work. Management mentioned that presenteeism has a direct impact on productivity without, however, being able to quantify the true costs. Presenteeism is a reality in organisational scenarios, exceling in the educational and health sectors. We underline the importance of making organisations aware of the psychosocial risks and the importance of having healthy leaderships, work stress control and the presence of clinical psychologists and professional coaches

Estratégias para o design instrucional de cursos pela internet

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Produção.Em virtude dos crescentes avanços das tecnologias de informação e comunicação e da popularização da internet entre a população mundial, vem se criando uma nova cultura dentro da já tradicional Educação a distância que é o E-learning, ou seja, o uso da Internet e seus recursos para fins de treinamento e educação. Com esta nova cultura, torna-se necessário também a criação de novos modelos educacionais que agregem os conceitos de E-learning para que o uso desta prática acarrete em cursos eficazes. O objetivo deste trabalho é o de analisar estratégias para o design instrucional de cursos pela Internet, propondo estratégias para avaliação, acompanhamento e revisão, para que ao final se obtenha um programa de comprovada eficácia. As estratégias foram aplicadas em um caso real que é a disciplina de Educação e Tecnologia II do curso de Pedagogia da UNIVALI. Como resultado desta experiência pudemos constatar que as estratégias funcionaram ao propor o design do curso, as análises e o planejamento; algumas questões prejudicaram a eficácia final da experiência, mas já foram revisadas como havia sido planejado no curso e estão sendo reaplicadas para uma nova avaliação