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

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

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

Diabetes literacy among higher education students

Literacy in diabetes appears to be one of the key tools to combat the increasing prevalence of this chronic disease that has grown exponentially over the years and globally at national level. This study aimed to evaluate the level of literacy in diabetes among students and provide guidelines for proposing an intervention project among this community. The specific objectives were: validate the Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ); and relate the levels of knowledge about diabetes with the socio-demographic and clinical variables. The sample comprises 432 higher education students who replied to the questionnaire in the period between February 15 and March 18, 2016. It was found that the DKQ (Sousa, 2003) that evaluates the knowledge of people about diabetes and its treatment seems to be acceptable for the general population and the two-dimensional model obtained from the confirmatory factor analysis revealed good levels of adjustment (CMIN/ DF=1.645, CFI=0.983, NFI=0.959, TLI=0.979, PCFI=0.803, RMSEA=0.039). The results showed a low level of literacy about diabetes and that there is a need for investment in community education projects to increase literacy about diabetes.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

Laparoscopy in liver transplantation: The future has arrived

In the last two decades, laparoscopy has revolutionized the field of surgery. Many procedures previously performed with an open access are now routinely carried out with the laparoscopic approach. Several advantages are associated with laparoscopic surgery compared to open procedures: reduced pain due to smaller incisions and hemorrhaging, shorter hospital length of stay, and a lower incidence of wound infections. Liver transplantation (LT) brought a radical change in life expectancy of patients with hepatic endstage disease. Today, LT represents the standard of care for more than fifty hepatic pathologies, with excellent results in terms of survival. Surely, with laparoscopy and LT being one of the most continuously evolving challenges in medicine, their recent combination has represented an astonishing scientific progress. The intent of the present paper is to underline the current role of diagnostic and therapeutic laparoscopy in patients waiting for LT, in the living donor LT and in LT recipients

Mental health and sleep-vigil disturbances in high school students: sleep hygiene consultation

Sleep disturbance has consequences on cognitive level as well as on the metabolic balance of youth. The improvement of literacy levels on sleep habits and rest promotes their suitability. This study aimed to evaluate the mental health levels (anxiety, depression and stress) and sleep quality of higher education students through a descriptive and correlational study, quantitative and transversal in nature, on a non-probabilistic and by convenience sample of 510 higher education students. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale were used. Among the results we underline a poor quality of sleep in most of the sample as well as a statistically significant correlation between sleep quality and mental health in the analysed aspects, noting also the statistically significant poorer quality of sleep among female students and higher levels of depression and anxiety among male students. We conclude that the Sleep Hygiene Consultations performed by the clinical office of the Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, are appropriate and timely to improve the literacy levels about sleep and rest habits, and to promote its fitness in the course of academic activities, contributing to a healthy development with less risk of anxiety, depression, stress and other risk behaviours.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Conhecimentos sobre o papiloma vírus humano (HPV) e cancro do colo do útero (CCU): estudo exploratório em estudantes da área da saúde do ensino superior

A nível mundial, o cancro do colo do útero é a segunda causa de morte das mulheres estando, em regra, associado à infeção pelo Vírus do Papiloma Humano (HPV). Verifica-se uma elevada prevalência de infeções por este agente em jovens com atividade sexual, constituindo o grupo com o maior número de infetados. Objetivou-se avaliar os conhecimentos sobre o HPV e CCU, numa amostra de alunos do ensino superior através de um estudo descritivo e exploratório, quantitativo, num plano transversal. Amostra não probabilística e por conveniência, foi constituída por 337 alunos da Escola Superior de Saúde do Instituto Politécnico de Bragança. Foi utilizado o questionário “HPV e cancro do colo do útero”. No domínio da transmissão do HPV verificamos que apenas 14,2% assinalou como verdadeiras as afirmações “o HPV transmite-se por sexo anal” e “o HPV transmite-se por sexo oral”, ou 7,4% “o HPV transmite-se por contacto de pele”, apenas 25,9% dos inquiridos assinalam como falsa a afirmação “O HPV transmite-se através do sangue” e manifestam igualmente pouco conhecimento no que diz respeito à incidência e mortalidade por CCU e à percentagem de presença de HPV no CCU. Os inquiridos evidenciam conhecimentos reduzidos sobre os meios de transmissão do HPV, desconhecimento nos domínios da incidência, mortalidade do CCU e percentagem de presença de HPV no CCU podendo conduzir ao aumento de comportamentos sexuais de risco.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio