The Effects of American Sign Language on General Self- Efficacy and Anxiety Among Mothers in a Residential Rehabilitation Facility for Drug Addiction and Substance Abuse

Globally, approximately 208 million people aged 15 and older used illicit drugs at least once in the last 12 months; 2 billion consumed alcohol and tobacco consumption affected 25% (World Drug Report, 2008). In the United States, 20.1 million (8.0%) people aged 12 and older were illicit drug users, 129 million (51.6%) abused alcohol and 70.9 million (28.4%) used tobacco (SAMHSA/OAS, 2008).Usually considered a problem specific to men (Lynch, 2002), 5.2% of pregnant women aged 15 to 44 are also illicit drug and substance abusers (SAMHSA/OAS, 2007). During pregnancy, illicit drugs and substance abuse (ID/SA) can significantly affect a woman and her infant contributing to developmental and communication delays for the infant and influencing parenting abilities (Budden, 1996; March of Dimes, 2006b; Rossetti, 2000). Feelings of guilt and shame and stressful experiences influence approaches to parenting (Ashley, Marsden, & Brady, 2003; Brazelton, & Greenspan, 2000; Ehrmin, 2000; Johnson, & Rosen, 1990; Kelley, 1998; Rossetti, 2000; Velez et al., 2004; Zickler, 1999). Parenthood is an expanded role that can be a trying time for those lacking a sense of self-efficacy and creates a high vulnerability to stress (Bandura, 1994). Residential treatment programs for ID/SA mothers and their children provide an excellent opportunity for effective interventions (Finkelstein, 1994; Social Care Institute for Excellence, 2005). This experimental study evaluated whether teaching American Sign Language (ASL) to mothers living with their infants/children at an ID/SA residential treatment program increased the mothers’ self-efficacy and decreased their anxiety. Quantitative data were collected using the General Self-Efficacy Scale and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory showing there was both a significant increase in self efficacy and decrease in anxiety for the mothers. This research adds to the knowledge base concerning ID/SA mothers’ caring for their infants/children. By providing a simple low cost program, easily incorporated into existing rehabilitation curricula, the study helps educators and healthcare providers better understand the needs of the ID/SA mothers. This study supports Bandura’s theory that parents who are secure in their efficacy can navigate through the various phases of their child’s development and are less vulnerable to stress (Bandura, 1994).

Determination of Biomolecular Interdomain Motions using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Biological macromolecules can rearrange interdomain orientations when binding to various partners. Interdomain dynamics serve as a molecular mechanism to guide the transitions between orientations. However, our understanding of interdomain dynamics is limited because a useful description of interdomain motions requires an estimate of the probabilities of interdomain conformations, increasing complexity of the problem.

Staphylococcal protein A (SpA) has five tandem protein-binding domains and four interdomain linkers. The domains enable Staphylococcus aureus to evade the host immune system by binding to multiple host proteins including antibodies. Here, I present a study of the interdomain motions of two adjacent domains in SpA. NMR spin relaxation experiments identified a 6-residue flexible interdomain linker and interdomain motions. To quantify the anisotropy of the distribution of interdomain orientations, we measured residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) from the two domains with multiple alignments. The N-terminal domain was directly aligned by a lanthanide ion and not influenced by interdomain motions, so it acted as a reference frame to achieve motional decoupling. We also applied {\it de novo} methods to extract spatial dynamic information from RDCs and represent interdomain motions as a continuous distribution on the 3D rotational space. Significant anisotropy was observed in the distribution, indicating the motion populates some interdomain orientations more than others. Statistical thermodynamic analysis of the observed orientational distribution suggests that it is among the energetically most favorable orientational distributions for binding to antibodies. Thus, the affinity is enhanced by a pre-posed distribution of interdomain orientations while maintaining the flexibility required for function.

The protocol described above can be applied to other biological systems in general. Protein molecule calmodulin and RNA molecule trans-activation response element (TAR) also have intensive interdomain motions with relative small intradomain dynamics. Their interdomain motions were studied using our method based on published RDC data. Our results were consistent with literature results in general. The differences could be due to previous studies' use of physical models, which contain assumptions about potential energy and thus introduced non-experimental information into the interpretations.

Using Helix-coil Models to Study Protein Unfolded States

An abstract of a thesis devoted to using helix-coil models to study unfolded states.\\

Research on polypeptide unfolded states has received much more attention in the last decade or so than it has in the past. Unfolded states are thought to be implicated in various

misfolding diseases and likely play crucial roles in protein folding equilibria and folding rates. Structural characterization of unfolded states has proven to be

much more difficult than the now well established practice of determining the structures of folded proteins. This is largely because many core assumptions underlying

folded structure determination methods are invalid for unfolded states. This has led to a dearth of knowledge concerning the nature of unfolded state conformational

distributions. While many aspects of unfolded state structure are not well known, there does exist a significant body of work stretching back half a century that

has been focused on structural characterization of marginally stable polypeptide systems. This body of work represents an extensive collection of experimental

data and biophysical models associated with describing helix-coil equilibria in polypeptide systems. Much of the work on unfolded states in the last decade has not been devoted

specifically to the improvement of our understanding of helix-coil equilibria, which arguably is the most well characterized of the various conformational equilibria

that likely contribute to unfolded state conformational distributions. This thesis seeks to provide a deeper investigation of helix-coil equilibria using modern

statistical data analysis and biophysical modeling techniques. The studies contained within seek to provide deeper insights and new perspectives on what we presumably

know very well about protein unfolded states. \\

Chapter 1 gives an overview of recent and historical work on studying protein unfolded states. The study of helix-coil equilibria is placed in the context

of the general field of unfolded state research and the basics of helix-coil models are introduced.\\

Chapter 2 introduces the newest incarnation of a sophisticated helix-coil model. State of the art modern statistical techniques are employed to estimate the energies

of various physical interactions that serve to influence helix-coil equilibria. A new Bayesian model selection approach is utilized to test many long-standing

hypotheses concerning the physical nature of the helix-coil transition. Some assumptions made in previous models are shown to be invalid and the new model

exhibits greatly improved predictive performance relative to its predecessor. \\

Chapter 3 introduces a new statistical model that can be used to interpret amide exchange measurements. As amide exchange can serve as a probe for residue-specific

properties of helix-coil ensembles, the new model provides a novel and robust method to use these types of measurements to characterize helix-coil ensembles experimentally

and test the position-specific predictions of helix-coil models. The statistical model is shown to perform exceedingly better than the most commonly used

method for interpreting amide exchange data. The estimates of the model obtained from amide exchange measurements on an example helical peptide

also show a remarkable consistency with the predictions of the helix-coil model. \\

Chapter 4 involves a study of helix-coil ensembles through the enumeration of helix-coil configurations. Aside from providing new insights into helix-coil ensembles,

this chapter also introduces a new method by which helix-coil models can be extended to calculate new types of observables. Future work on this approach could potentially

allow helix-coil models to move into use domains that were previously inaccessible and reserved for other types of unfolded state models that were introduced in chapter 1.

Spontaneous Unfolding and Refolding of FNIII Domains Assayed by Thiol Exchange

Fibronectin (FN) is a large extracellular matrix (ECM) protein that is made up of

type I (FNI), type II (FNII), & type III (FNIII) domains. It assembles into an insoluble

supra-­‐‑molecular structure: the fibrillar FN matrix. FN fibrillogenesis is a cell‐‑mediated process, which is initiated when FN binds to integrins on the cell surface. The FN matrix plays an important role in cell migration, proliferation, signaling & adhesion. Despite decades of research, the FN matrix is one of the least understood supra-­‐‑molecular protein assemblies. There have been several attempts to elucidate the exact mechanism of matrix assembly resulting in significant progress in the field but it is still unclear as to what are FN-­‐‑FN interactions, the nature of these interactions and the domains of FN that

are in contact with each other. FN matrix fibrils are elastic in nature. Two models have been proposed to explain the elasticity of the fibrils. The first model: the ‘domain unfolding’ model postulates that the unraveling of FNIII domains under tension explains fibril elasticity.

The second model relies on the conformational change of FN from compact to extended to explain fibril elasticity. FN contain 15 FNIII domains, each a 7-­‐‑strand beta sandwich. Earlier work from our lab used the technique of labeling a buried Cys to study the ‘domain unfolding’ model. They used mutant FNs containing a buried Cys in a single FNIII domain and found that 6 of the 15 FNIII domains label in matrix fibrils. Domain unfolding due to tension, matrix associated conformational changes or spontaneous folding and unfolding are all possible explanation for labeling of the buried Cys. The present study also uses the technique of labeling a buried Cys to address whether it is spontaneous folding and unfolding that labels FNIII domains in cell culture. We used thiol reactive DTNB to measure the kinetics of labeling of buried Cys in eleven FN III domains over a wide range of urea concentrations (0-­‐‑9M). The kinetics data were globally fit using Mathematica. The results are equivalent to those of H-­‐‑D exchange, and

provide a comprehensive analysis of stability and unfolding/folding kinetics of each

domain. For two of the six domains spontaneous folding and unfolding is possibly the reason for labeling in cell culture. For the rest of the four domains it is probably matrix associated conformational changes or tension induced unfolding.

A long-­‐‑standing debate in the protein-­‐‑folding field is whether unfolding rate

constants or folding rate constants correlate to the stability of a protein. FNIII domains all have the same ß sandwich structure but very different stabilities and amino acid sequences. Our study analyzed the kinetics of unfolding and folding and stabilities of eleven FNIII domains and our results show that folding rate constants for FNIII domains are relatively similar and the unfolding rates vary widely and correlate to stability. FN forms a fibrillar matrix and the FN-­‐‑FN interactions during matrix fibril formation are not known. FNI 1-­‐‑9 or the N-­‐‑ terminal region is indispensible for matrix formation and its major binding partner has been shown to be FNIII 2. Earlier work from our lab, using FRET analysis showed that the interaction of FNI 1-­‐‑9 with a destabilized FNIII 2 (missing the G strand, FNIII 2ΔG) reduces the FRET efficiency. This efficiency is restored in the presence of FUD (bacterial adhesion from S. pyogenes) that has been known to interact with FNI 1-­‐‑9 via a tandem ß zipper. In the present study we

use FRET analysis and a series of deletion mutants of FNIII 2ΔG to study the shortest fragment of FNIII 2ΔG that is required to bind FNI 1-­‐‑9. Our results presented here are qualitative and show that FNIII 2ΔC’EFG is the shortest fragment required to bind FNI 1-­‐‑9. Deletion of one more strand abolishes the interaction with FNI 1-­‐‑9.

Electrostatic Contributions to the Thermodynamics of Ribonuclease P Protein Folding

Electrostatic interactions are of fundamental importance in determining the structure and stability of macromolecules. For example, charge-charge interactions modulate the folding and binding of proteins and influence protein solubility. Electrostatic interactions are highly variable and can be both favorable and unfavorable. The ability to quantify these interactions is challenging but vital to understanding the detailed balance and major roles that they have in different proteins and biological processes. Measuring pKa values of ionizable groups provides a sensitive method for experimentally probing the electrostatic properties of a protein.

pKa values report the free energy of site-specific proton binding and provide a direct means of studying protein folding and pH-dependent stability. Using a combination of NMR, circular dichroism, and fluorescence spectroscopy along with singular value decomposition, we investigated the contributions of electrostatic interactions to the thermodynamic stability and folding of the protein subunit of Bacillus subtilis ribonuclease P, P protein. Taken together, the results suggest that unfavorable electrostatics alone do not account for the fact that P protein is intrinsically unfolded in the absence of ligand because the pKa differences observed between the folded and unfolded state are small. Presumably, multiple factors encoded in the P protein sequence account for its IUP property, which may play an important role in its function.

O Impacto das Experiências de Vergonha nos Adolescentes

A presente investigação pretendeu ver cumpridos três dos seus principais objectivos: 1) Adequar e analisar os instrumentos de avaliação em adolescentes, garantindo, medidas confiáveis dos constructos em estudo; 2) Examinar o impacto das experiências de vergonha, verificando se estas podem funcionar como acontecimentos determinantes e centrais na formação da identidade do adolescente; 3) Explorar a relação entre as experiências de vergonha e sintomas de desajustamento psicológico (sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e stress). A amostra é constituída por 397 jovens (190 rapazes e 207 raparigas), com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e os 18 anos (M= 14,91) a frequentar o ensino básio e secundário do sistema regular de ensino. Para além do CES que foi objecto de uma análise mais detalhada, preencheram igualmente os seguintes questionários: ISS, OAS e DASS-21. Os resultados obtidos mostram que indivíduos cujas memórias de vergonha se tornaram pontos de referência na sua identidade, tendem a manifestar valores mais elevados de vergonha externa e vergonha interna. Verificou-se também que indivíduos que apresentam centralidade das memórias de vergonha evidenciam maior vulnerabilidade à sintomatologia psicopatológica, nomeadamente depressão, ansiedade e stress. Por fim, constatou-se que tanto a vergonha externa, como a vergonha interna em adolescentes se apresentam correlacionadas com a psicopatologia. No entanto, a vergonha interna surge mais associada à depressão que a vergonha externa, que se correlaciona mais com a ansiedade e o stress. No que respeita à adaptação das escalas CES, OAS e ISS para a população adolescente, verificou-se que apresentaram boas qualidades psicométricas. Podemos concluir com a nossa investigação, que tal como na população adulta, os adolescentes que experienciaram memórias de vergonha que se tornaram centrais na sua identidade e história de vida, tendem a manifestar níveis mais elevados de vergonha externa e interna. Por outro lado, encontram-se também mais propensos a desenvolver sintomatologia psicopatológica, como a depressão, ansiedade e stress.

Cyberbullying: estudo da prevalência de comportamentos de cyberbullying e sua relação com vivências de vergonha e estados emocionais negativos

Objectivos: O presente estudo tem como principal objectivo avaliar a prevalência dos comportamentos de cyberbullying, analisando a influência de variáveis sóciodemográficas, e, compreender a sua relação com as vivências de vergonha interna e externa e com os estados emocionais negativos, particularmente a depressão, a ansiedade e o stress. Método: Para a recolha de dados recorreu-se a uma mostra de adolescentes (N=131) a frequentar o 3º ciclo do ensino básico, com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e os 18 anos (M= 13,76; DP= 1,25). O protocolo de avaliação foi constituído por um questionário psicossocial desenvolvido especificamente para este estudo e por um conjunto de medidas fidedignas para avaliar o cyberbullying (CBQ e CBQ-V), a vergonha interna (ISS), vergonha externa (OAS) e os estados emocionais negativos (DASS-21). Resultados: Os nossos dados revelaram que 76 adolescentes (58%) exerceram um qualquer comportamento de cyberbullying (com um predomínio dos rapazes), enquanto 50 adolescentes (38,2%) já foram vítimas de um qualquer comportamento de cyberbullying (com igual proporção entre rapazes e raparigas). Manter lutas e discussões online, usando insultos mediante mensagens electrónicas foi o comportamento praticado mais frequente (30,5%), enquanto o ser removido intencionalmente de um grupo online foi o comportamento sofrido mais frequente (16,1%). A idade e os anos de reprovações mostraram uma associação positiva com os comportamentos de agressão por cyberbullying. Foi ainda analisada a sobreposição entre a execução e a vitimização de comportamentos de cyberbullying, tendo sido discriminados quatro grupos de adolescentes: só agressores (adolescentes que apenas exerceram comportamentos de agressão), só vítimas (apenas sofreram comportamentos de cyberbulling), vítimas e agressores (adolescentes que são simultaneamente agressores e vítimas), e nem vítimas nem agressores (adolescentes que não exerceram nem sofreram qualquer comportamento de cyberbullying). Os resultados evidenciaram que quanto maior a frequência de comportamentos de agressão por cyberbullying, maior a vergonha interna e maior os níveis de stress demonstrados. Por sua vez, quanto maior a frequência de vitimização por cyberbullying, maior a vergonha interna e externa, bem como maior os níveis de ansiedade e stress. Conclusão: Devido a complexidade do fenómeno cyberbullying e seu recente surgimento, serão necessários mais estudos, particularmente longitudinais, para compreender a relação antecedente e/ou consequentes aos comportamentos de cyberbullying entre estados emocionais negativos e as experiências de vergonha. / Objectives: The present study has as main objective to assess the prevalence of cyberbullying behaviours, analyzing the influence of socio demographic variables, and, understand its relationship to the experiences of internal and external shame and negative emotional states, particularly depression, anxiety and stress. Method: For data collection we used a sample of adolescents (N=131) attending the 3rd cycle of basic education, aged between 12 and 18 years (M=13,76; SD=1,25). The evaluation protocol consisted of a psychosocial questionnaire developed specifically for this study and a set of reliable measure to assess cyberbullying (CBQ and CBQ-V), internal shame (ISS), external shame (OAS) and the emotional states negative (DASS-21). Results: Our data indicate that 76 adolescents (58%) exerted any conduct of a cyberbullying (with a predominance of boys), while 50 adolescents (38,2%) had been victims of cyberbullying behaviour of any one (with an equal ratio of boys and girls). Keep fighting and discussions online, through e-mails using insults behaviour was practiced more often (30,5%), while being intentionally removed a group of online behaviour is seen more frequently (16,1%). The age and years of failures were positively associated with the behaviours of aggression by cyberbullying. Was further examined the overlap between enforcement and victimization of cyberbullying behaviours, having been discriminated four groups of adolescents: only aggressors (adolescents who have had only aggressive behaviour), only victims (only suffered cyberbullying behaviours), victims and aggressors (adolescents who are both perpetrators and victims), and neither victims nor aggressors (adolescents who did not exercise any behaviour or suffered cyberbullying). Results showed that the higher the frequency of aggression by cyberbullying behaviour, the greater shame and internal stress levels demonstrated. In turn, the higher the frequency of cyberbullying victimization, the greater the shame internal and external, as well as higher levels of anxiety and stress. Conclusion: Due to the complexity of the phenomenon cyberbullying and its recent emergence, further studies are needed, particularly longitudinal, to understand the relationship between antecedent and/or consequential to cyberbullying behaviours between negative emotional states and experiences of shame.

Vergonha e Solidão na Doença Mental Crónica: contributo de um estudo exploratório

Este estudo pretende explorar a natureza da vergonha, enquanto vivência emocional, e a sua relação com a solidão nos doentes mentais crónicos. Foi avaliada a vergonha interna e externa, a solidão, e estados emocionais negativos, nomeadamente a depressão, ansiedade e stress. Nesta investigação participaram 41 utentes com diagnóstico de perturbação mental. Para avaliar as variáveis psicológicas pretendidas foi utilizada a Escala de Vergonha Interna (ISS), a Escala de Vergonha Externa (OAS), A Escala de Solidão UCLA e a Escala de Depressão, Ansiedade e Stress (DASS-21). Os resultados indicaram que os doentes mentais da nossa amostra apresentam maiores níveis de vergonha comparativamente à população geral. São as mulheres que apresentam valores mais elevados de vergonha interna, enquanto os divorciados apresentam maiores índices de vergonha externa e de solidão. Os doentes que têm uma actividade laboral manifestam menores níveis de solidão e de depressão. Quanto mais elevadas as habilitações literárias dos participantes, menor é o nível de ansiedade. No estudo de comparação entre doentes institucionalizados e não-institucionalizados, verificou-se que os primeiros apresentam níveis significativamente mais elevados de ansiedade, não se distinguindo relativamente à percepção de solidão e de vergonha (interna e externa). A análise da relação entre as variáveis evidenciou que os valores de vergonha interna e de solidão estavam associados de forma positiva e elevada à depressão e de forma moderada à ansiedade e stress. Não obstante as limitações reconhecidas, o presente estudo contribuiu para um melhor conhecimento dos estados emocionais negativos nos doentes mentais. / This study aims to explore the nature of shame, while emotional experience and its relationship with loneliness in the chronic mentally ill. We evaluated the internal and external shame, loneliness, and negative emotional states, including depression, anxiety and stress. 41 users participated in this investigation with a diagnosis of mental disorder. To assess the psychological variables was intended to use Internal Shame Scale (ISS), the Foreign Shame Scale (OAS), the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Scale for Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21). The results indicated that the mentally ill in our sample have higher levels of shame compared to the general population. They are women who have higher levels of internal shame, while the divorced have higher rates of external shame and loneliness. Patients who have a work activity demonstrate lower levels of loneliness and depression. The higher the educational level of participants, the lower the level of anxiety. In the comparative study of institutionalized patients and non-institutionalized, it was found that the former have significantly higher levels of anxiety, not distinguishing relation to the perception of loneliness and shame (internal and external). The analysis of the relationship between the variables showed that the values of internal shame and loneliness were positively associated with depression and high and moderately to anxiety and stress. Despite the recognized limitations, this study contributes to a better understanding of negative emotional states in the mentally ill.

Jazz Innovations, Part II, February 18, 2016

Concert program for Jazz Innovations II, February 18, 2016

Sentimentos de Paranóia e de Vergonha nos Sem-Abrigo

A população “sem-abrigo” e todos os problemas envolventes, como a pobreza e a exclusão social apresentam uma complexidade cada vez mais inquietante e preocupante na nossa sociedade. O fenómeno multifacetado dos sem-abrigo constitui um grave problema social. A pertinência deste estudo prende-se com a escassez de investigação relativa à população sem-abrigo e perceber melhor a sua complexidade, nomeadamente no que respeita à caracterização psicológica dos indivíduos sem-abrigo. Neste sentido, o presente estudo tem como objectivo conhecer melhor esta população através da recolha de informação relativa aos seus receios, valores, prazeres, percepção do motivo da sua situação, consumo de substâncias psicotrópicas, contacto com a família e amigos. Paralelamente pretendemos avaliar os sentimentos de vergonha (em função de experiências negativas precoces), de paranóia e emoções negativas (depressão, ansiedade e stress) nesta população específica e analisar a relação entre estas variáveis. A amostra é constituída por 56 sujeitos na condição de sem-abrigo, com uma média de idade de 40,86 e de 7 anos de escolaridade, sendo a maioria (n=49) do sexo masculino. O protocolo de avaliação, para além do questionário psicossocial desenvolvido para o efeito, incluía ainda escalas para medir a Depressão, Ansiedade e Stress (DASS-21), Vergonha Externa (OAS), Vergonha Interna (ISS) e Paranóia (GPS). Os dados do nosso estudo permitiram pôr em evidência algumas das dificuldades mais significativas dos sem-abrigo, nomeadamente, as rupturas dos laços familiares, o desemprego e a toxicodependência entre outros. Constatámos que os sem-abrigo da nossa amostra apresentam valores médios mais elevados de paranóia, vergonha externa e interna, quando comparados com os valores da população normal. Verifica-se ainda que quando mais escolarizada é a nossa amostra, menor sintomatologia depressiva e relacionada com o stress apresenta. Encontrámos correlações significativas positivas e moderadas entre as variáveis em estudo. Dada a escassez de investigação em indivíduos sem-abrigo, e apesar das limitações inerentes a este estudo, esperamos ter dado um contributo para alargar o conhecimento deste complexo fenómeno, nomeadamente no que respeita à caracterização psicológica destes indivíduos. / The homeless population and all the related issues such as poverty and social exclusion are a complex and increasingly worrying concern of our society. The multifaceted phenomenon of homelessness is a serious social problem. The relevance of this study relates to the scarcity of research on the homeless population and to better understand its complexity, particularly the psychological characteristics of the homeless individuals. As such, this study aims to better understand this population by collecting information on their fears, values, pleasures, perception of the reason for their situation, consumption of psychotropic substances, contact with family and friends. Simultaneously we intend to evaluate the feelings of shame (due to early negative experiences), paranoia and negative emotions (depression, anxiety and stress) in this specific population as well as analyse the relationship between these variables. The study sample is based on 56 individuals in the condition of homelessness, mostly male (n = 49), with an average age of 40.86 and 7 years of schooling. In addition to the psychological questionnaire developed for this purpose, the evaluation protocol also included scales to measure Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS-21), External Shame (OAS), Internal Shame (ISS) and Paranoia (GPS). The data in our study allowed to highlight some of the most significant problems of homelessness, including disruption of family ties, unemployment, drug abuse and others. We learnt that the homeless in our sample have a higher average number of paranoia, internal and external shame, when compared to the normal population. We have also found that the more educated our sample is, the less are the depressive symptoms and stress-related features. Among the studied variables, we have found significant positive and moderate correlations. Given the scarcity of research on homeless individuals and despite the limitations of this study, we hope to have contributed to increase the knowledge on this complex phenomenon, especially concerning the psychological characterization of these individuals.

Validação da Escala de Memórias Precoces de Calor e Segurança em Relação ao Grupo de Pares (EMPCS-Pares)

A presente investigação pretendeu validar para a população portuguesa de adolescentes a Escala de Memórias Precoces de Calor e Segurança em Relação ao Grupo de Pares (EMPCSPares) bem como ver cumpridos os seus principais objetivos: 1) Adaptação da escala de memórias precoces de calor e segurança (EMPCS), enquanto medida global, para o contexto de interação com o grupo de pares; 2) Explorar a validade de construto através da análise fatorial exploratória (estudo da dimensionalidade); 3) Analisar a consistência interna do instrumento e explorar a qualidade dos itens; 4) Examinar a validade convergente e divergente através da associação com outras variáveis semelhantes e distintas do construto em análise; 5) Analisar possíveis efeitos das variáveis sociodemográficas, como a idade, género e escolaridade nos resultados da escala, bem como a sua associação com a perceção global de qualidade vida; 6) Comparar as memórias precoces emocionais em função da qualidade de vinculação (segura e insegura). A amostra é constituída por 354 jovens (152 rapazes e 202 raparigas), com idades compreendidas entre os 12 e os 18 anos (M= 15,81; DP = 1,58) a frequentar o ensino básico e secundário do sistema regular de ensino público (7ºano de escolaridade ao 12º ano de escolaridade). Do protocolo constam os seguintes instrumentos: escala de memórias precoces de calor e segurança no contexto familiar (EMPCSFamília) e na interação com o grupo de pares (EMPCSPares); escala de auto-compaixão (SCS-A); escala de vergonha externa (OAS – A); questionário de vinculação (AQ-C); escala de ansiedade, depressão e stress (EADS-21). Os resultados obtidos mostram que a escala tem uma estrutura unidimensional, possui uma excelente consistência interna, uma estabilidade temporal adequada, assim como uma boa validade convergente e divergente. Revelou igualmente discriminar os jovens com uma vinculação segura dos que apresentam uma vinculação insegura. Apesar da necessidade de mais estudos, nomeadamente a realizar em amostras clínicas, a EMPCSPares mostrou ser um instrumento robusto e útil na avaliação de memórias emocionais no contexto de interação com os pares, constituindo um contributo relevante para a investigação e prática clínica com adolescentes. / This research intends to validate for the Portuguese population of adolescents the Early Memories Scale Heat and Safety Relative to Peer Group (EMPCSPares) and see fulfilled its main objectives: 1) The early warm and security memories scale adaptation (EMPCS), as a global measure for the interaction context with the peer group; 2) Explore the construct validity by exploratory factor analysis (study of dimensionality); 3) To analyze the internal consistency of the instrument and explore the quality of the items; 4) Examine the convergent and divergent validity by association with other similar and different variables of the construct in question; 5) Analyze possible effects of sociodemographic variables such as age, gender and education in the scale results, as well as its association with the global perception of quality of life; 6) compare the emotional early memories due to the link quality (secure and insecure). The sample consists of 354 children (152 boys and 202 girls), aged between 12 and 18 years (M = 15.81, SD = 1.58) attending basic and secondary education in the regular public education system (7th grade to 12th grade). The Protocol contains the following instruments: Scale of early heat and security memories in the family context (EMPCSFamily) and interaction with the peer group (EMPCSPairs) ; Self - compassion scale (SCS-A); external shame scale (OAS - A); linking questionnaire (AQ- C) ; scale of anxiety, stress and depression (EADS 21) . The results obtained show that the scale has a one-dimensional structure, has an excellent internal consistency, an adequate temporal stability as well as good convergent and divergent validity. It also showed discriminate young people with a secure attachment of those who have an insecure attachment. Despite the need for further studies, including the conduct of clinical samples, the EMPCSPares proved to be a robust and useful tool in the evaluation of emotional memories in the context of interaction with peers, constituting an important contribution to research and clinical practice with adolescents.

Hmx1 Function In Lateral Facial Development

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-08

Ampliando as ações educativas dos museus por meio da formação de comunidades virtuais de aprendizagem

Este artigo tem como objetivo mostrar que é possível incentivar a aprendizagem informal em museus através da construção de comunidades virtuais, com base em repositórios de objetos de aprendizagem, ferramentas comunicacionais e produção de OAs por parte dos visitantes. O enfoque é incentivar a aprendizagem no sentido de motivar a participação/envolvimento do visitante nas atividades da comunidade virtual. Nesta perspectiva, partimos do pressuposto de que a informação, a comunicação, a interação e a cooperação são essenciais para o processo de aprender no contexto informal dos museus. Acreditamos que a interação e a cooperação são partes integrantes do processo de aprendizagem proporcionado por comunidades virtuais e que o principal recurso de aprendizagem oferecido nessas comunidades são os objetos de aprendizagem. Diante do exposto, construímos a Comunidade Virtual do Muzar e realizamos uma experimentação do ambiente de modo a verificar o quanto os visitantes são incentivados a produzir novos conhecimentos.

Librarians, professionals and paraprofessionals

Ms. Van Patten Elia Maria de Ocampo attended the Ninth International Conference on City Library Associations Guyana from 14 to 17 July 1980, Venezuela. Elia was very inspiring to see that the Costa Rican school library system up to the head of the whole region. There are big plans in other countries but have not been able to practice in that it has successfully done in our country. This told us Elia Maria:  Venezuela was chosen by the International Association of School Librarians to host its ninth Annual Conference. The event was held in Ciudad Guayana from 14 to 18 July 1980 and its importance lies in the fact that he offered an excellent and unique opportunity to meet and exchange ideas on the situation of school libraries in America and other regions . Conference was attended by 160 delegates from 13 different countries. Representing the school libraries of the Ministry of Education and with funding from the OAS through the Multinational Project on School Library Resource Centers that attended this important library activity.

A (in)capacidade estatal de defesa dos direitos humanos : o incidente de deslocamento de competência nº 3 e a violência policial no estado de Goiás

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Centro de Estudos Avançados Multidisciplinares, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Direitos Humanos e Cidadania, 2015.