Psychometric properties of assessment instruments for autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review of Brazilian studies

Objective To systematically review the scientific literature on the psychometric properties of international instruments for the assessment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the Brazilian population. Methods A search of bibliographic references was conducted in six electronic databases: PsycINFO, PubMed, IndexPsi, Lilacs, Capes (theses and dissertations) and SciELO. The studies were selected by two independent researchers. Results The procedure identified 11 studies of the Brazilian population that encompassed six ASD assessment tools. Given the information provided, the adaptation of the M-CHAT, a screening instrument, was the best conducted. All steps of the adaptation process were described and the changes made to the final version of the instrument were presented, which was not addressed in other studies. In terms of reliability, all of the instruments that assessed internal consistency showed adequate values. In addition, the ADI-R and the CARS adaptations also satisfactorily contemplated inter-rater reliability and test-retest indices, respectively. Finally, all studies aiming to validate instruments showed evidence of validity and sensitivity, and specificity values above 0.90 were observed in the ASQ, ADI-R and ABC. Conclusion Considering both the psychometric aspects and the copyright information, the screening instrument that currently appears to be best indicated for clinical and research use is the M-CHAT. It was also noticed that there are still no specific ASD diagnostic tools available for use in Brazil. This lack of diagnostic instruments consists in a critical situation for the improvement of clinical practice and the development of research in this area.

Investigation of cognition in schizophrenia: psychometric properties of instruments for assessing working memory updating

Objective This study describes the development of two updating measures of working memory (WM): Letter Updating Test (LUT) and Word Updating Test (WUT). Methods In stage 1, items were created and the instruments were assessed by experts and laymen. In stage 2, tests were given to 15 patients with schizophrenia and 15 paired controls. All were able to understand and respond to the instruments. In stage 3, 141 patients with schizophrenia and 119 healthy controls aged 18 to 60 took part; they were assessed on WM, processing speed (PS) and functional outcome. Results The results showed adequate rates of internal consistency for both measures developed, for both the total sample and each group separately, as well as evidence of convergent validity, discriminant validity and sensitivity to differentiate performance among the groups. Principal component analysis yielded two components, one for updating tests and other for PS measures, indicating factorial validity. Positive and significant, yet low, correlations were found with functionality measures. Conclusion These results provide adequate psychometric parameters for the measures developed, applicable to cognitive research settings in schizophrenia.

Microbial respiration with chlorine oxyanions: diversity and physiological and biochemical properties of chlorate- and perchlorate-reducing microorganisms

Chlorine oxyanions are valuable electron acceptors for microorganisms. Recent findings have shed light on the natural formation of chlorine oxyanions in the environment. These suggest a permanent introduction of respective compounds on Earth, long before their anthropogenic manufacture. Microorganisms that are able to grow by the reduction of chlorate and perchlorate are affiliated with phylogenetically diverse lineages, spanning from the Proteobacteria to the Firmicutes and archaeal microorganisms. Microbial reduction of chlorine oxyanions can be found in diverse environments and different environmental conditions (temperature, salinities, pH). It commonly involves the enzymes perchlorate reductase (Pcr) or chlorate reductase (Clr) and chlorite dismutase (Cld). Horizontal gene transfer seems to play an important role for the acquisition of functional genes. Novel and efficient Clds were isolated from microorganisms incapable of growing on chlorine oxyanions. Archaea seem to use a periplasmic Nar-type reductase (pNar) for perchlorate reduction and lack a functional Cld. Chlorite is possibly eliminated by alternative (abiotic) reactions. This was already demonstrated for Archaeoglobus fulgidus, which uses reduced sulfur compounds to detoxify chlorite. A broad biochemical diversity of the trait, its environmental dispersal, and the occurrence of relevant enzymes in diverse lineages may indicate early adaptations of life toward chlorine oxyanions on Earth.

Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory Short Form among divorced adults

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a Portuguese version of the Short Form of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI-SF). Using an online convenience sample of Portuguese divorced adults (N = 482), we confirmed the oblique five-factor structure of the PTGI-SF by confirmatory factor analysis. The results demonstrated the measurement invariance across divorce initiator status groups. Total score and factors of PTGI-SF showed good internal consistency, with the exception of the New Possibilities factor, which revealed an acceptable reliability. The Portuguese PTGI-SF showed a satisfactory convergent validity. In terms of discriminant validity, posttraumatic growth assessed by the Portuguese PTGI-SF was a distinct factor from posttraumatic psychological adjustment. These preliminary findings suggest the cultural adaptation and also psychometric properties of the present Portuguese PTGI-SF to measure posttraumatic growth after personal crisis.

Experimental procedures for the identification of material properties of intervertebal disc - a contribution for the development of biomimetic substitutes for the nucleus pulposus

Tese de Doutoramento em Engenharia Mecânica.

A general history of the dichlamydeous plants :comprising complete descriptions of the different orders...the whole arranged according to the natural system /by George Don.

1831 v.1

A general history of the dichlamydeous plants :comprising complete descriptions of the different orders...the whole arranged according to the natural system /by George Don.

1834 v.3

A general history of the dichlamydeous plants :comprising complete descriptions of the different orders...the whole arranged according to the natural system /by George Don.

1838 v.4

A general history of the dichlamydeous plants :comprising complete descriptions of the different orders...the whole arranged according to the natural system /by George Don.

1832 v.2

Construcción de un Test de Conocimiento General. Development of a General Knowledge Test

Entre los factores que contribuyen a predecir el rendimiento académico se pueden destacar aquellos que reflejan capacidades cognitivas (inteligencia, por ejemplo), y aquellas diferencias individuales consideradas como no-cognitivas (rasgos de personalidad, por ejemplo). En los últimos años, también se considera al Conocimiento General (CG) como un criterio para el éxito académico (ver Ackerman, 1997), ya que se ha evidenciado que el conocimiento previo ayuda en la adquisición de nuevo conocimiento (Hambrick & Engle, 2001). Uno de los objetivos de la psicología educacional consiste en identificar las principales variables que explican el rendimiento académico, como también proponer modelos teóricos que expliquen las relaciones existentes entre estas variables. El modelo teórico PPIK (Inteligencia-como-Proceso, Personalidad, Intereses e Inteligencia-como-Conocimiento) propuesto por Ackerman (1996) propone que el conocimiento y las destrezas adquiridas en un dominio en particular son el resultado de la dedicación de recursos cognitivos que una persona realiza durante un prolongado período de tiempo. Este modelo propone que los rasgos de personalidad, intereses individuales/vocacionales y aspectos motivacionales están integrados como rasgos complejos que determinan la dirección y la intensidad de la dedicación de recursos cognitivos sobre el aprendizaje que realiza una persona (Ackerman, 2003). En nuestro medio (Córdoba, Argentina), un grupo de investigadores ha desarrollado una serie de recursos técnicos necesarios para la evaluación de algunos de los constructos propuesto por este modelo. Sin embargo, por el momento no contamos con una medida de Conocimiento General. Por lo tanto, en el presente proyecto se propone la construcción de un instrumento para medir Conocimiento General (CG), indispensable para poder contar con una herramienta que permita establecer parámetros sobre el nivel de conocimiento de la población universitaria y para en próximos trabajos poner a prueba los postulados de la teoría PPIK (Ackerman, 1996). Between the factors that contribute to predict the academic achievement, may be featured those who reflect cognitive capacities (i.g. intelligence) and those who reflect individual differences that are considered like non-cognitive (i.g. personality traits). In the last years, also the General Knowledge has been considered like a criterion for the academic successfully (see Ackerman, 1997), since it has been shown that the previous knowledge helps in the acquisition of the new knowledge (Hambrick & Engle, 2001). An interesting theoretical model that has proposed an explanation for the academic achievement, is the PPIK (intelligence like a process, interests and inteligence like knowledge) proposed by Ackerman (1996), who argues that knowledge and the acquired skills in a particular domain are the result of the dedication of cognitive resources that a person perform during a long period of time. This model proposes that personality traits, individuals interests and motivational aspects are integrated as complex traits that determine the direction and the intensity of the dedication of cognitive resources on the learning that a person make (Ackerman, 2003). In our context, (Córdoba, Argentina), a group of researcher has developed a series of necessary technical resoures for the assesment of some of the theoretical constructs proposed by this model. However, by the moment, we do not have an instrument for evaluate the General Knowledge. Therefore, this project aims the construction of an instrument to asess General Knowledge, essential to set parameters on the knowledge level of the university population and for in next works test the PPIK theory postulates.

Determinants of Functional and Structural Properties of Large Arteries in Healthy Individuals

Background: Changes in the properties of large arteries correlate with higher cardiovascular risk. Recent guidelines have included the assessment of those properties to detect subclinical disease. Establishing reference values for the assessment methods as well as determinants of the arterial parameters and their correlations in healthy individuals is important to stratify patients. Objective: To assess, in healthy adults, the distribution of the values of pulse wave velocity, diameter, intima-media thickness and relative distensibility of the carotid artery, in addition to assessing the demographic and clinical determinants of those parameters and their correlations. Methods: This study evaluated 210 individuals (54% women; mean age, 44 ± 13 years) with no evidence of cardiovascular disease. The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was measured with a Complior® device. The functional and structural properties of the carotid artery were assessed by using radiofrequency ultrasound. Results: The means of the following parameters were: pulse wave velocity, 8.7 ± 1.5 m/s; diameter, 6,707.9 ± 861.6 μm; intima-media thickness, 601 ± 131 μm; relative distensibility, 5.3 ± 2.1%. No significant difference related to sex or ethnicity was observed. On multiple linear logistic regression, the factors independently related to the vascular parameters were: pulse wave velocity, to age (p < 0.01) and triglycerides (p = 0.02); intima-media thickness, to age (p < 0.01); diameter, to creatinine (p = 0.03) and age (p = 0.02); relative distensibility, to age (p < 0.01) and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01, respectively). Pulse wave velocity showed a positive correlation with intima media thickness (p < 0.01) and with relative distensibility (p < 0.01), while diameter showed a positive correlation with distensibility (p = 0.03). Conclusion: In healthy individuals, age was the major factor related to aortic stiffness, while age and diastolic blood pressure related to the carotid functional measure. The carotid artery structure was directly related to aortic stiffness, which was inversely related to the carotid artery functional property.