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Literacia em saúde digital entre adolescentes do 3º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e Secundário
Publication . Viana, Cláudia Elisabete
Introdução: O acesso crescente à internet ampliou as possibilidades de promoção da literacia em saúde, entre os adolescentes, tornando relevante o conceito de literacia em saúde digital (eHealth Literacy), que se refere à capacidade de aceder, compreender, avaliar e utilizar informações de saúde online.
Objetivo: Descrever os níveis de literacia em saúde digital de adolescentes do 3º ciclo e ensino secundário de um Agrupamento de Escolas do distrito de Viseu, explorando relações com as variáveis género, compreensão de informações em saúde e o uso problemático da internet.
Métodos: Estudo descritivo-correlacional, quantitativo e transversal, realizado com 291 adolescentes, utilizando a eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) e a análise estatística no SPSS 27.
Resultados: A média global da eHEALS foi de 3,674, indicando perceções positivas sobre as competências de literacia em saúde digital. Os rapazes apresentam maior confiança no uso de informações online para tomada de decisões (t= 2,001; p= 0,046). A capacidade de avaliar criticamente a qualidade da informação digital relacionou-se positivamente com a compreensão da informação em saúde. O impacto no desempenho e nas relações correlacionou-se significativamente com os itens da eHEALS.
Conclusão: Os adolescentes apresentaram boa literacia em saúde digital, destacando-se a avaliação crítica como essencial para decisões mais informadas e uso consciente da informação online.
Comparative materials-level evaluation of 3′- and 5′-Thiol DNA aptamer conjugation on gold nanospheres and nanoflowers: Apparent DNA loading output, morphology retention, and qualitative salt-challenge response
Publication . Sun, Jingchun; Zhang, Linbing; Gonçalves, David; Kuang, Shaoping; Yang, Hongsheng
Gold nanospheres (AuNPs) and gold nanoflowers (AuNFs) are widely used as platforms for DNA aptamer functionalization, while conjugation behavior and colloidal tolerance remain important factors affecting subsequent sensing-oriented optimization. In this study, 82-nt thiolated DNA aptamer constructs bearing either 3′-SH or 5′-SH terminal modification were immobilized onto citrate-stabilized AuNPs and AuNFs under matched stepwise salt-aging conditions. Apparent nanoparticle-associated DNA output was estimated by Qubit-based measurement of unbound ssDNA in the supernatant and expressed as mass-based loading output (ng). Under the tested stock-dispersion conditions, AuNP samples showed higher apparent conjugation output than AuNF samples. Specifically, the apparent conjugation yields for AuNPs were 80.65 ± 1.64% (3′-SH) and 84.76 ± 1.98% (5′-SH), whereas those for AuNFs were 66.64 ± 3.36% (3′-SH) and 73.65 ± 1.36% (5′-SH). The corresponding apparent DNA loading outputs were 2329.7 ± 47.4 ng and 2448.7 ± 57.1 ng for AuNPs, and 1925.1 ± 97.0 ng and 2127.4 ± 39.3 ng for AuNFs. DLS size increases and zeta potential shifts toward more negative values were consistent with the formation of a DNA-associated interfacial layer, while TEM images supported morphology retention after conjugation. A qualitative visual salt-challenge assessment indicated that aptamer-functionalized nanoparticles displayed improved resistance to salt-induced aggregation relative to bare particles under the tested conditions. Because the commercially supplied AuNP and AuNF dispersions were not normalized to identical particle number or accessible surface area, the reported values should be interpreted as comparative apparent outputs rather than intrinsic loading capacities. Within this scope, the present study provides a convenient preliminary materials-level evaluation of thiolated aptamer conjugation behavior and may support future glyphosate aptasensor optimization.
Working With VIPP-School to improve teacher–child interaction: Two case studies
Publication . Starreveld, Kim M.; Mathilde M., Overbeek; Willemen, Agnes M.; Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian
The Video-Feedback Intervention to Promote Positive Pedagogy and Sensitive Discipline in School (VIPP-School) aims at enhancing teacher sensitivity and sensitive discipline in interactions with children showing behavior problems. Although the first evidence for effectiveness has been shown, the mechanisms of change that underly the learning process of teachers during the intervention are still unclear. This study presents two case studies of kindergarten teachers participating in VIPP-School. Drawing on the intervention manual, logbooks, intervener feedback, and independent observations, we describe how the intervention was carried out and how each teacher’s personalized learning path related to changes in sensitivity and sensitive discipline. These cases highlight the importance of iterative cycles of reflection and application of new strategies for learning. The results provide further insight into mechanisms of change in video-feedback interventions and show how the protocolized VIPP-School intervention can be tailored to individual teacher–child dyads.
Outcomes of the therapeutic relationship in treating individuals who have committed crimes: A systematic review
Publication . Sousa, Marta; Félix, Sílvia; Padinha, Catarina; Caridade, Sónia; de Castro Rodrigues, Andreia; Cunha, Olga
Several studies suggest that the quality of the therapeutic relationship (TR) between the patient and their therapist plays a significant role in predicting the outcomes of various forms of psychotherapy. However, it remains unclear whether the TR also influences the outcomes of treatment programs for justice-involved populations. Therefore, this systematic review aims to identify the impact of the TR on treatment outcomes with justice-involved individuals. A comprehensive search was conducted in B-on, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycInfo, and Scielo for peer-reviewed quantitative studies providing data on individuals who committed crimes, available in English, Portuguese, or Spanish. A total of 18 studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the final synthesis. Most of the included studies comprised predominantly male samples convicted of sexual offenses or intimate partner violence–related crimes. Regarding therapists, both genders were represented, along with a diversity of academic backgrounds. In terms of effectiveness, the findings suggest that the TR may exert a stronger influence on proximal, intrapersonal outcomes—such as motivation to change and well-being—than on more distal, behavioral outcomes, including aggression or recidivism. However, the existing studies are scarce and present several methodological limitations. Although the findings suggest the relevance of considering therapists and their training as potential responsivity factors in treatment, further research is needed to draw firm conclusions.
Nonapeptide molecular evolution during the adaptive radiation of Tanganyika cichlids
Publication . Sorigue, Pol; Salzburger, Walter; Oliveira, Rui F.
Oxytocin (OT) and vasotocin (VT) are evolutionarily conserved nonapeptides that regulate a wide range of physiological and behavioral processes in vertebrates. Their receptor families have undergone gene duplications that facilitated functional diversification throughout vertebrate evolution. Using the diverse cichlid species in Lake Tanganyika, which have undergone repeated evolutionary transitions between social phenotypes, we investigated the molecular evolution of the nonapeptide system and its potential involvement in social behavior. We performed a positive selection analysis based on the ratio and examined the correlation between amino acid variants and two social phenotypes. We also analysed gene expression data to explore associations between brain receptor expression and social phenotype variation. Our findings reveal that, while most sites in nonapeptide receptors are under strong purifying selection, a few sites– primarily in the extended intracellular loop 3 (IL3) of VTR2A receptors– show signatures of positive selection. Additionally, a specific amino acid in VTR2Aa correlates with pair‐bonding, suggesting its potential role in social attachment. Gene expression analyses further revealed that components of the nonapeptide system, including VTR2Bb and OT, are differentially expressed across social phenotypes, supporting a role for regulatory variation alongside coding changes. Together, these findings provide new insights into how conserved neuroendocrine systems contribute to social diversity in cichlids.