Repositório do ISPA
Institutional Repository of Ispa-University Institute
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Marine protected areas stage of establishment and level of protection are good predictors of their conservation outcomes
Publication . Horta e Costa, Barbara; Benito-Abelló, Carmela de; Pike, Elizabeth; Turnbull, John; MacCarthy, Jessica; Harasta, Nikki; Fragkopoulou, Eliza; Roessger, Julia; Sullivan-Stack, Jenna; Grorud-Colvert, Kirsten; Gill, David; Morgan, Lance; Gonçalves, Emanuel J.; Zupan, Mirta; Gonçalves, Jorge M.S.; Claudet, Joachim
Despite the importance of active management and strong protection in driving marine protected areas (MPA) performance, coverage area remains the sole indicator for global targets. To assess whether conservation quality lags behind quantity, we conducted a global meta-analysis of 123 MPAs. We show that MPAs’ Levels of Protection and Stages of Establishment are reliable proxies for MPAs’ ecological outcomes; hence, they are good candidates for tracking MPA quality. Actively managed MPAs have significantly higher fish density and biomass than non-protected surrounding areas, while MPAs that are only implemented do not. The effectiveness of actively managed MPAs can be maximized if they are fully or highly protected. Lightly and minimally protected areas that are only implemented can deliver negative outcomes. Our findings highlight the important interplay between stages and levels as developed in the MPA Guide and support the need to include both in conservation targets to track not only MPA quantity but also quality.
Neural mechanisms of learned suppression uncovered by probing the hidden attentional priority map
Publication . Huang, Changrun; Moorselaar, Dirk van; Foster, Joshua; Donk, Mieke; Theeuwes, Jan
Attentional capture by an irrelevant salient distractor is attenuated when the distractor appears more frequently in one location, suggesting learned suppression of that location. However, it remains unclear whether suppression is proactive (before attention is directed) or reactive (after attention is allocated). Here, we investigated this using a ‘pinging’ technique to probe the attentional distribution before search onset. In an EEG experiment, participants searched for a shape singleton while ignoring a color singleton distractor at a high-probability location. To reveal the hidden attentional priority map, participants also performed a continuous recall spatial memory task, with a neutral placeholder display presented before search onset. Behaviorally, search was more efficient when the distractor appeared at the high-probability location. Inverted encoding analysis of EEG data showed tuning profiles that decayed during memory maintenance but were revived by the placeholder display. Notably, tuning was most pronounced at the to-be-suppressed location, suggesting initial spatial selection followed by suppression. These findings suggest that learned distractor suppression is a reactive process, providing new insights into learned spatial distractor suppression mechanisms.
Digital competence for pedagogical integration: A study with elementary school teachers in the Azores
Publication . Loureiro, Ana Claudia; Santos, Ana Isabel; Meirinhos, Manuel
This study builds on previous research carried out in 2021 on the self-perception of elementary school teachers in Portugal regarding their digital competences for the pedagogical integration of technologies in educational contexts. In order to verify this perception throughout the country, we extended the research to include teachers from the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ARA), considering the following objectives: (i) to verify teachers’ digital competences; (ii) to identify their levels of digital competence; and (iii) to identify the level of influence of training on the categorization of teachers’ level of digital competence. This is an exploratory study that used an online questionnaire based on the digital competences in Area 2 of the DigCompEdu framework. Two hundred seven teachers took part in this study. The results revealed that teachers seem to feel capable of using technology but need to improve their ability to adapt digital resources for student learning. The global mapping of digital competences will make it possible to verify these competences, these attitudes and abilities, and the integration of ICT into teaching the ractices as well as helping to outline future projects and guidelines in the area of teacher training in the ARA in particular.
O papel mediador da desconexão digital na relação entre o workaholism e os afetos em contexto organizacional
Publication . Canês, Madalena João Novo; Sabino, Ana
Num mundo cada vez mais digital, a conectividade constante tornou-se uma característica habitual do ambiente de trabalho contemporâneo, impulsionada sobretudo pela crescente utilização de dispositivos móveis que mantêm as pessoas permanentemente ligadas. Neste contexto, é fundamental perceber fenómenos como o workaholism que têm vindo a ganhar destaque, particularmente no que se refere ao seu impacto sobre os afetos dos colaboradores.
O presente estudo teve como principal objetivo investigar se as dimensões da Desconexão Digital funcionam como variáveis mediadoras na relação entre as dimensões do workaholism e os afetos positivos e negativos. Com base numa amostra de 184 participantes,
os resultados revelaram que, no domínio dos afetos positivos, a Desconexão Digital, particularmente na dimensão das Restrições Tecnológicas, apresentou um efeito mediador significativo em todas as dimensões do workaholism (Motivacional, Cognitiva, Emocional e
Comportamental). Em contrapartida, a dimensão Comunicação não evidenciou efeitos mediadores significativos. Relativamente aos afetos negativos, não foram identificados efeitos de mediação, indicando que a Desconexão Digital não desempenha um papel relevante nessa
relação. Estes resultados reforçam a importância da gestão da conectividade digital como um fator protetor no contexto rganizacional, com especial impacto na promoção de experiências
emocionais positivas no trabalho. A presente investigação contribui ainda para a reflexão sobre estratégias organizacionais que favoreçam uma cultura de desconexão digital, como forma de mitigar os efeitos adversos associados ao Workaholism.
Empower-grief for relatives of cancer patients: Implementation And findings from an exploratory randomized controlled trial
Publication . Dias Neto, David Manuel; Coelho, Alexandra; Silva, Ana Nunes; Garcia-Marques, Teresa; Albuquerque, Sara
Grief reactions among relatives of palliative care patients are often overlooked, with most interventions targeting Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD) rather than its prevention. Few interventions have been developed for individuals at risk. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Empower-Grief, a selective intervention designed to address early problematic grief reactions and to explore predictors of its effectiveness. This exploratory randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared Empower-Grief with Treatment as Usual (TAU) among relatives or caregivers of palliative and oncological patients at risk of developing PGD. A total of 46 participants were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and six months later. The primary outcome was PGD symptoms, with additional measures including anxiety, depression, coping strategies, attachment style, psychological flexibility, post-traumatic growth, social support, and therapeutic alliance. The final analyses indicate equivalence between Empower-Grief and TAU, suggesting that both interventions yielded comparable outcomes in reducing PGD symptoms and associated psychological distress. The initial symptoms and therapeutic alliance were predictors of the results in both post- and follow-up moments. This study contributes to the evidence on grief interventions in palliative care, highlighting the importance of structured support for bereaved caregivers. While Empower-Grief demonstrated comparable effectiveness to TAU, its lower intensity, ease of training, and application make it a promising treatment option.