Competências pessoais e suporte social dos estudantes do ensino superior Angolano: Implicações no rendimento académico

O estudo tem como principal objetivo analisar as competências pessoais e o suporte social dos estudantes universitários de Angola e determinar as suas implicações, efeitos e capacidade preditiva no rendimento académico. A amostra foi constituída por 598 estudantes de 2º e 4º ano de instituições de ensino superior públicas e privadas de Luanda (Angola). Os instrumentos utilizados foram sete: um questionário de natureza sociodemográfica, académica e de perceção de apoio dos professores e seis escalas que avaliaram: inteligência, autoconceito, coping, habilidades sociais, adaptação e suporte social. Os resultados indicam, em termos gerais, que os constructos inteligência, autoconceito (nas dimensões matemática, assuntos escolares em geral e honestidade/ fiabilidade), adaptação académica e suporte social (dimensão numérica) relacionam-se de forma significativa e positiva com o rendimento académico. A análise de regressão linear múltipla e o modelo de equações estruturais confirmam que são preditores do rendimento académico: o autoconceito académico (especificamente nas dimensões matemática e assuntos escolares em geral), a inteligência e a variável sociodemográfica idade. Estes resultados devem ser considerados em investigações futuras, o que permitirá elaborar programas de intervenção educativa cujo objetivo será otimizar e melhorar o rendimento académico dos estudantes do ensino superior

Transthyretin is involved in depression-like behaviour and exploratory activity

Transthyretin (TTR), the major transporter of thyroid hormones and vitamin A in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), binds the Alzheimer β-peptide and thus might confer protection against neurodegeneration. In addition, altered TTR levels have been described in the CSF of patients with psychiatric disorders, yet its function in the CNS is far from understood. To determine the role of TTR in behaviour we evaluated the performance of TTR-null mice in standardized tasks described to assess depression, exploratory activity and anxiety. We show that the absence of TTR is associated with increased exploratory activity and reduced signs of depressive-like behaviour. In order to investigate the mechanism underlying these alterations, we measured the levels of cathecolamines. We found that the levels of noradrenaline were significantly increased in the limbic forebrain of TTR-null mice. This report represents the first clear indication that TTR plays a role in behaviour, probably by modulation of the noradrenergic system.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Programa Operacional "Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação" POCTI/NSE/37315/2001

An fMRI paradigm based on Williams inhibition test to study the neural substrates of attention and inhibitory control

The purpose of this study is to present an fMRI paradigm, based on the Williams inhibition test (WIT), to study attentional and inhibitory control and their neuroanatomical substrates. We present an index of the validity of the proposed paradigm and test whether the experimental task discriminates the behavioral performances of healthy participants from those of individuals with acquired brain injury. Stroop and Simon tests present similarities with WIT, but this latter is more demanding. We analyze the BOLD signal in 10 healthy participants performing the WIT. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the inferior prefrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the posterior cingulate cortex were defined for specified region of interest analysis. We additionally compare behavioral data (hits, errors, reaction times) of the healthy participants with those of eight acquired brain injury patients. Data were analyzed with GLM-based random effects and Mann-Whitney tests. Results show the involvement of the defined regions and indicate that the WIT is sensitive to brain lesions. This WIT-based block design paradigm can be used as a research methodology for behavioral and neuroimaging studies of the attentional and inhibitory components of executive functions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Rendimiento académico y variables sociodemográficas y académicas en la Educación Superior en Angola

La coyuntura social de un país y las variables sociodemográficas condicionan  el rendimiento académico en la Educación Superior. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar dichas variables teniendo en cuenta, a su vez, la titulación y el curso académico en 598 estudiantes de Educación Superior de Angola. Los resultados indican que los hombres y los hijos de padres con estudios básicos presentan un mayor rendimiento académico. La edad y el estado civil no arrojan diferencias significativas, pero sí se obtienen al considerar la titulación. También se constata un incremento en el rendimiento académico a lo largo de la carrera universitaria

Relación entre el rendimiento académico y el apoyo social de los profesores en estudiantes de Educación Superior en Angola

Las investigaciones realizadas en el contexto universitario muestran la influencia del docente en la promoción del rendimiento académico a través de las relaciones que establecen con los estudiantes. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la relación entre el rendimiento académico y la percepción de los alumnos sobre el apoyo social proporcionado por sus profesores. La muestra estaba constituida por 598 estudiantes de Educación Superior de Angola. Se constata que la percepción de apoyo social proporcionado por los profesores aumenta con el incremento del rendimiento académico

Study of behavioural and neural bases of visuo-spatial working memory with an fMRI paradigm based on an n-back task

The goal of this study was to propose a new functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm using a language-free adaptation of a 2-back working memory task to avoid cultural and educational bias. We additionally provide an index of the validity of the proposed paradigm and test whether the experimental task discriminates the behavioural performances of healthy participants from those of individuals with working memory deficits. Ten healthy participants and nine patients presenting working memory (WM) deficits due to acquired brain injury (ABI) performed the developed task. To inspect whether the paradigm activates brain areas typically involved in visual working memory (VWM), brain activation of the healthy participants was assessed with fMRIs. To examine the task's capacity to discriminate behavioural data, performances of the healthy participants in the task were compared with those of ABI patients. Data were analysed with GLM-based random effects procedures and t-tests. We found an increase of the BOLD signal in the specialized areas of VWM. Concerning behavioural performances, healthy participants showed the predicted pattern of more hits, less omissions and a tendency for fewer false alarms, more self-corrected responses, and faster reaction times, when compared with subjects presenting WM impairments. The results suggest that this task activates brain areas involved in VWM and discriminates behavioural performances of clinical and non-clinical groups. It can thus be used as a research methodology for behavioural and neuroimaging studies of VWM in block-design paradigms

A influência dos meios de comunicação social nas atitudes e comportamentos sexuais de jovens universitários

Tese de mestrado, Sexualidade Humana, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2013É indiscutível o papel relevante que os meios de comunicação desempenham no quotidiano das pessoas, como promotores e difusores de ideias e valores na sociedade contemporânea. A sexualidade tem sido um tema frequentemente abordado nos mais diversos meios de comunicação social. Considerada um direito fundamental do ser humano a sexualidade é encarada como uma importante componente da saúde e do bem estar dos indivíduos. Vários autores defendem que os meios de comunicação social influenciam (negativa ou positivamente) a sexualidade dos jovens, nomeadamente ao nível do comportamento sexual, atitudes, valores e crenças. Analisar a influência dos meios de comunicação social nos comportamentos e atitudes sexuais dos jovens constituiu-se como objetivo geral desta investigação. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo e correlacional, com recurso a questionário, aplicado a 128 estudantes universitários homogeneamente distribuídos quanto ao género, maioritariamente de nacionalidade portuguesa, solteiros, com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 20 anos. Concluiu-se que os diferentes meios de comunicação social, incluindo a internet, não influenciam quer os conhecimentos e as atitudes face à contraceção, quer os comportamentos e atitudes sexuais dos jovens universitários estudados. Também não foi encontrada uma associação entre a qualidade da informação percecionada pelos jovens acerca da sexualidade e os conhecimentos e atitudes face à contraceção e os comportamentos e atitudes sexuais, o mesmo se verificou no que se refere à educação sexual em meio escolar. Pode-se afirmar que persiste um duplo padrão revelador da desigualdade nos comportamentos sexuais que continua a determinar as relações de género, dado que se observaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas no que respeita ao género quanto à utilização dos meios de comunicação e ao nível dos comportamentos e atitudes sexuais, revelando as mulheres comportamentos e atitudes sexuais mais positivos.It’s beyond question the relevant role that the media has in people’s everyday life, when promoting and spreading ideas and values in the contemporary society. Sexuality has been a frequently discussed subject though all the media. Considered a human being fundamental right, sexuality is seen as an important component of individual’s health and well being. Several authors state that the media influences (negatively or positively) young people’s sexuality, mainly regarding sexual behavior, attitudes, values and beliefs. To analyze the influence of the media in young people´s sexual behavior and attitudes is the main objective of this investigation. It focuses on a descriptive and correlational study, using a questionnaire applied to 128 university students homogeneously distributed regarding gender, mainly Portuguese, single with ages between 18 and 20 years old. We have come to the conclusion that the different media, including the internet, does not influence neither the knowledge nor the attitude towards contraception, nor the behavior or sexual attitudes of the studied university students. Also, no relation between the quality of information perceived by the subjects on sexuality and the knowledge and attitudes towards contraception and the behavior and sexual attitudes was found, the same can be applied when referring to sexual education in schools. We can state that a double standard remains, which reveals the inequality in sexual behaviour that continues to determine the relations between genders, given that statistically relevant differences were found concerning gender regarding the use of media and concerning the behavior and sexual attitudes, where women revealed the most positive behaviour and sexual attitudes

Atividades assistidas por cães: estudos de caso de alunos com necessidades educativas especiais

Special Education should treat each Special Educational Need as unique fitting the resources and contents to the individual characteristics. This way, the Dog-Assisted Activities seem to be an option in the Special Education Needs environment. The main goal of our research – the Dog-Assisted Activities in the Special Education Needs environment – is to describe the dog’s influence in the stimulation of children with Special Educational Needs in educational environment. We tried to understand if the Dog-Assisted Activities helped pupils developing different behaviors. We observed five pupils with cognitive and motor Special Educational Needs attending the ground school. The activities, with and without the dog, realized in the classroom, in different moments, were recorded by a camera. The data processing was made based on the different behaviors frequency and duration. After analyzing the results, we concluded that the activities with the dog stimulated the regarded children: the frequency and duration of their smile increased, their postures and body movements improved, stereotypies and aggressive behaviors reduced and the interaction was promoted. It is important to say that for the Dog-Assisted Activities implementation is necessary the certification of pairs dog-person, but sometimes the schools don’t allow them. However, this kind of activities could be effective in specific situations of specialized support to pupils with Special Needs.As práticas em contexto educativo com alunos com Necessidades Educativas Especiais (NEE) devem privilegiar, através de diferentes estratégias e recursos, atividades que se adequem às características das (in)capacidades de cada aluno. Estes pressupostos levaram-nos à realização de uma investigação, onde Atividades Assistidas por Cães se apresentam como uma opção às práticas atuais. Definiu-se como principal objetivo caraterizar a influência do cão na estimulação da criança com NEE em contexto escolar. Procurou-se perceber se as Atividades Assistidas por Cães (AAC) levavam os alunos a desenvolver diferentes comportamentos. Foram observados cinco alunos com NEE nos domínios cognitivo e motor que frequentavam o 1º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. As atividades foram registadas através de vídeo, em sala de aula, em diferentes momentos, com e sem cão. O tratamento de dados centrou-se na frequência e duração dos vários comportamentos. Os resultados permitiram concluir que a presença do cão nas atividades estimulou as crianças observadas, verificando-se um aumento da frequência e duração do sorriso, uma melhoria de posturas e movimentos corporais, uma redução de estereotipias e comportamentos agressivos e uma fomentação da interação. Importa salientar que, embora a implementação das AAC necessitem de creditação de duplas cão-homem e as escolas nem sempre permitam a sua realização, estas podem ser eficazes em situações específicas de apoio especializado a alunos com NEE

Use of innovative technologies in group-based reminiscence interventions in older adults’ with dementia: a scoping review

Background: Reminiscence therapy (RT) emerges in the literature as a non-pharmacological intervention commonly implemented in groups of older adults with dementia, and which has significant positive results in outcomes such as cognition and depressive symptomatology. Simultaneously, we witness the gradual addition of innovative technologies in non-pharmacological interventions in this population segment. However, no studies have synthesized the main contributions of the use of technology in group-based RT sessions. Aim: To map the available evidence on group-based RT sessions/activities aided by technological innovations, and critically discussed the potentialities and weaknesses of its use. Methods: Scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Two independent reviewers analyzed the relevance of the studies, extracted and synthesized data. Results: Seven studies were included. Overall, the use of technological aids potentiates the interaction and communication between older adults with dementia, staff, and relatives. Nevertheless, issues related to ergonomics, connectivity, and intention of use emerge as recurrent pitfalls. Conclusion: While technological aids can foster a more personalized and dynamic group-based RT session, the development of such innovations must follow an user-centered approach that involves older adults with different stages of dementia in order to create solutions with significance and applicability to its end-users.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Seasonal change in main alkaloids of jaborandi (<i>Pilocarpus microphyllus</i> Stapf ex Wardleworth), an economically important species from the Brazilian flora

<div><p><i>Pilocarpus microphyllus</i> Stapf ex Wardleworth (jaborandi, Rutaceae) is one of the most important Brazilian medicinal species owing to its content of pilocarpine (PIL), an alkaloid used for treating glaucoma and xerostomia. This species contains another alkaloid, epiisopiloturine (EPI), which has demonstrated effectiveness against schistosomiasis. The aim of this work was to assess seasonal changes of PIL and EPI in three populations of cultivated <i>P</i>. <i>microphyllus</i> from northeastern Brazil over one year, including the dry and rainy seasons. Alkaloid profiles were correlated to phenotypic and genetic patterns in the morphological and molecular characterizations. PIL was the primary alkaloid and its levels differed among populations in all months except September. The S01 population (green line) showed an especially high PIL content compared to populations S02 and S03 (traditional line), which had similar alkaloid contents. PIL content gradually decreased in the three populations in the rainy season.EPI content was significantly different between the green line (S01) and the traditional line (S02 and S03).S01 had a significantly lower EPI content in all months, demonstrating that it was not the best source for EPI extraction. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers and morphological analyses clearly separated S01 from S02 and S03, in agreement with the alkaloid results. This study shows the first correlation between the chemical, morphological, and molecular markers of <i>P</i>. <i>microphyllus</i> and highlights the potential benefits of a multidisciplinary research approach aimed at supporting both industry and conservation of natural resources.</p></div