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Learning analytics (LA) adoption is a challenging task for higher education institutions (HEIs) since it involves different aspects of the academic environment, such as information technology infrastructure, human resource management, ethics, and pedagogical issues. Therefore, it is necessary to provide institutions with supporting instruments to deal with these challenges. Although there has been much research on factors that are associated with the adoption of LA in HEIs, there has been much less research on specific models that can be used to guide actual adoption. In this sense, we developed MMALA, a Maturity Model for Adopting Learning Analytics. It is a guide that describes the necessary practices for taking the first steps in this area and enables institutions to reach higher levels of maturity in LA use, culminating in an organized and systematic adoption. In this paper, we describe the development process of MMALA, focusing on the model evaluation, which used both the questionnaire and the expert opinion method. MMALA can also give institutions an overview of their current situation regarding LA adoption. In this sense, we present the results of the maturity evaluation of three Brazilian HEIs using MMALA.

Nowadays, SPOCs (Small Private Online Courses) have been used as complementary methods to support classroom teaching. SPOCs are courses that apply the usage of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), combining classroom with online education, making them an exciting alternative for contexts such as emergency remote teaching. Although SPOCs have been continuously proposed in the software engineering teaching area, it is crucial to assess their practical applicability via measuring the effectiveness of this resource in the teaching-learning process. In this context, this paper aims to present an experimental evaluation to investigate the applicability of a SPOC in a Verification, Validation, and Software Testing course taught during the period of emergency remote education during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Therefore, we conducted a controlled experiment comparing alternative teaching through the application of a SPOC with teaching carried out via lectures. The comparison between the teaching methods is made by analyzing the students' performance during the solving of practical activities and essay questions on the content covered. In addition, we used questionnaires to analyze students' motivation during the course. Study results indicate an improvement in both motivation and performance of students participating in SPOC, which corroborates its applicability to the software testing teaching area.

The contents taught in the programming subjects have a great relevance in the formation of computing students. However, these subjects are characterized by high failure rates, as they require logical reasoning and mathematical knowledge. Thus, establishing knowledge through the subject of algorithms can help students to overcome these difficulties and absorb the contents and skills required. Thus, this work aims to present and discuss the results of a second experiment on the application of a teaching plan composed of several active methodologies (Virtual Learning Environments, Coding Dojo, Gamification, Problem-Based Learning, Flipped Classroom and Serious Games) in an algorithms subject. Based on this experiment, it was evaluated whether there were learning gains compared to the learning acquired with the traditional method. Finally, an analysis was performed using the two-tailed Student-t approach, used for independent samples, which presented statistically significant results.

Brazil has focused on internationalization of the higher education sector, in response to trends across the globe. The main program for promoting internationalization was the Science without Borders program. The paper analyses Brazilian international mobility from a regional perspective, particularly reviewing how inequality affected access to fellowships. The Northeast Region, which historically records higher poverty indicators than the South and Southeast regions, showed average growth statistically equal to the Southeast Region. By comparing access to scholarships and fellowships between the two largest regions of Brazil, this paper sought to analyze any structural change between the Southeast region and the Northeast. The Science without Borders (Ciência sem Fronteira, in Portuguese) program has achieved considerable results. In the first four years of the program, completed student exchange programs increased by 1,620% (i.e., 2011-2014). Despite this, the structure of unequal regional access remained. Using the hypothesis test methodology T for means with different variances, it was possible to evaluate at a significance level of 95%. The two largest regions in Brazil maintained the unequal profile of access to the program. The conclusion is that the growth in the offer of scholarships for internationalization between 2010 and 2019 has not changed the unequal regional profile of access to public education services in Brazil.

An earlier diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder might lead to an earlier intervention, yet knowledge and awareness of autism spectrum disorder in Latin America and Caribbean Countries are limited. A later autism spectrum disorder diagnosis has been associated with negative consequences, as it might imply later access to services. This study aims to identify factors associated with the age of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis as reported by 2520 caregivers of autistic children from six Latin America and Caribbean Countries. Results indicate that on average, caregivers were concerned about their child's development by 22 months of age; however, the diagnosis was 24 months later. Current age of autistic individuals, better language abilities, and having public health coverage increased the age of diagnosis. On the contrary, the presence of medical comorbidities, severity level, and type of diagnosis decreased the age of diagnosis. The age of diagnosis of autistic individuals in Latin America and Caribbean Countries corresponded to the start of formal schooling despite a much earlier age of first noticed developmental concern, highlighting the need to reduce this age gap and increase children's probability of benefiting from early intervention. Taken together, autism spectrum disorder personal/clinical characteristics and access to health service are the main determinants for the age of diagnosis.

Globalization has changed the landscape of higher education. The purpose of this study is to enhance understanding of how higher education leaders are engaging emerging questions about successful leadership, particularly when it comes to international student populations in times of crisis. Guided by the Intercultural Leadership framework, this comparative case study illuminates how university presidents from eight different countries were informed in their perceptions of international students and how they acted to support this vulnerable population. The results of this analysis highlight practical implications for higher education leaders to utilize when navigating global crises while protecting international student populations.

The objective of the research was to analyze the scientific production regarding accident prevention in early child rearing institutions. An integrative literature review, referring to the years between 2011 and 2021, whose research was carried out in May 2021 in seven information resources, raised the following issue: it was found that not all educators considered their knowledge about accident prevention satisfactory. However, most of them had already witnessed cases of injuries of this nature at schools. The first aid actions of these professionals were sometimes inefficient and many of them were not able to perform it due to the lack of appropriate materials and/or training to handle them, showing a need for qualification. The findings show weaknesses related to the knowledge and training of professionals from day care centres and preschools about accident prevention and first aid in early child rearing institutions, which makes a health-education interface crucial.

Background: Social distancing used as a measure to contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2, led to a series of changes in eating behavior, including food craving. Purpose: We aimed to evaluate food craving and its associated factors among women and men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online questionnaire was conducted, containing data about food craving and possible associated factors. Results 1363 individuals were included in the survey. Food craving was shown in 46.0% of the respondents. Among women, increased or reduced weight, working/studying during the pandemic without changes, increased snacking, worsened sleep quality, uncontrolled eating were some factors associated with food craving. For men, some factors associated were having a morning snack, living with parents, reduced sleep hours, and emotional eating. Discussion: Factors associated with food craving varied between men and women, being more present among women. These differences can be related to hormonal differences, way of working, daily tasks, and food preferences. Translation to Health Education Practice: Our findings may be used to develop guidelines for maintaining healthy eating habits in pandemic situations. In addition, the study showcases the need for health educators to consider the qualitative and quantitative aspects of nutrition, which can interfere with increased food cravings.

Background: The assessment of knowledge about cardiovascular diseases through instruments helps to identify gaps and educational needs of the target audience. Purpose: To validate and verify the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Heart Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (HDKQ-BR) for adults in Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional methodological study carried out in a Brazilian city with 300 participants. Internal consistency, temporal stability (test-retest) and convergent structural validity were verified. Item Response Theory (IRT) was used to determine parameters a (discrimination) and b (difficulty) of each item and the unidimensionality of the instrument and the differential item functioning (DIF) for sex, education and age. Results: The internal consistency of the HDKQ-BR was 0.694. The test-retest reliability was confirmed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC = 0.779). According to the IRT, parameter a was between 0.176 and 1.175 and parameter b between -10.834 and 4.969. Discussion: The HDKQ-BR showed unidimensional structure and adequate psychometric performance for its application in populations with the same profile in Brazil. Translation to Health Education Practice: To assess the knowledge of an adult population about CVDs is important for improving the health literacy. The study focused on Area I of Responsibilities for Health Education Specialists (Assessment of Needs and Capacity).

Objectives: To gain insight into children's health-related knowledge and understanding of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) and COVID-19, and measures adopted to mitigate transmission. Design: A child-centred qualitative creative element embedded in an online mixed-methods survey of children aged 7-12years. Setting: Children participated in the study in six countries -- the UK, Australia, Sweden, Brazil, Spain and Canada. Method: A qualitative creative component, embedded in an online survey, prompted children to draw and label a picture. Children were recruited via their parents using the researchers' professional social media accounts, through known contacts, media and websites from health organisations within each country. Analysis of the form and content of the children's pictures took place. Results: A total of 128 children (mean age 9.2 years) submitted either a hand-drawn (n = 111) or digitally created (n = 17) picture. Four main themes were identified which related to children's health-related knowledge of (1) COVID-19 and how it is transmitted; (2) measures and actions to mitigate transmission; (3) places of safety during the pandemic; and (4) children's role in mitigating COVID-19 transmission. Conclusion: Children's pictures indicated a good understanding of the virus, how it spreads and how to mitigate transmission. Children depicted their actions during the pandemic as protecting themselves, their families and wider society.

Teachers' professional development in Schools as Learning Communities may become a key process for the sustainability and transferability of this model worldwide. Learning Communities (LC) is a community-based project that aims to transform schools through dialogic learning and involves research-grounded schools that implement Successful Educational Actions (SEAs). More than 600 such schools in Europe and South America, many of them located in high poverty areas, have shown a reduction in drop-out rates and an increase in school quality and attainment. This article analyses how teachers' professional development is built in these schools. Following a communicative methodology approach, we analyse the implementation of the programme in four schools in South America. The main features are grounded in transformative theories and socially responsive research and provide evidence-based arguments and practical knowledge for effective implementation built upon egalitarian relationships and communication within the entire community.

This study examines initial teacher education through the experiences of experienced physical education teachers. The participants were 12 PE teachers working in primary education (grades 1-9 in Brazil) in the municipal public school systems of Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo, and Diadema, cities located in the São Paulo region known as the 'Greater ABC' or 'ABC "paulista"'. The participating teachers had also graduated from higher education institutions located in this region. This broad area was selected due to its diversity of institutions offering initial teacher education in physical education. The aim was to understand teacher's perceptions about both public school and teaching during their initial teacher education programs in physical education. Data were gathered through focus group interviews and analyzed to understand how the curricula of different institutions in the same region conceptualized public schools and the teaching of physical education in their initial teacher degree programs. Although teacher education and acting in the classroom cover the same territory, teachers identify a large gap between knowledge prioritized in teacher education programs and that required in everyday school life. Attention is drawn to the lack of themes relevant to working in contemporary schools and report the privileged status given to knowledge those teachers understand as being secondary or even unnecessary in pedagogical practices. Final considerations aimed at bringing about a shift in discussing alternatives for changing and reinterpreting the curriculum of physical education teacher education, thus establishing meanings that meet perspectives in line with everyday school life, its needs, and its reality.

Learning physiology is challenging for students. The nature of the discipline, which includes many complex mechanisms, makes the subject complicated. Furthermore, the length of the textbooks and the usual multiple-choice tests, which prioritize memorizing instead of understanding, tend to discourage the students. Therefore, different pedagogical strategies have been adopted to motivate and facilitate the learning of physiology. In this sense, many pedagogical strategies have been using art as a tool to motivate and induce students to self-learn. Besides, art as a pedagogical tool has also been shown to be important in developing self-assurance, self-pride, as well as the development of critical-thinking skills in the students. Here, we incorporate a new practice of self-directed teaching and learning, which involves artwork interpretation in a physiological context. This extra-classroom activity integrating art and physiology (The PhysioArt Project) improved students' engagement, increasing their interest in the discipline by providing a more creative, pleasurable, and enthusiastic atmosphere for enjoying and learning physiology, which also has contributed to the development of creativity, critical thinking, and students' self-assurance. Interestingly, the benefits elicited by The PhysioArt Project activities have also helped us to enhance the student-professor relationship, inducing a more humanized education.

An experimental procedure is presented that was developed by fifth-year chemical engineering and industrial chemistry undergraduates at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro doing the discipline on Experimental Organic Technology. The aim of this study was to apply the solvatochromic effect of the dye Nile Blue chloride to the characterization of biodiesel/diesel blends with different biodiesel content, using an alternative image processing analysis method involving low-cost, simple, and rapid assays. The effect of the solvatochromic dye Nile Blue chloride was monitored using the software ImageJ, which is being used currently, yielding rapid and effective responses. As an outcome, the students proposed a procedure that had potential application to colorimetric determination of biodiesel content in diesel oil. This gave students the opportunity to put the knowledge acquired in the course into practice, by dealing with issues concerning the fuels industry, making the learning process more dynamic, engaging, and effective.

Lack of access to services and support is an important issue for people with autism, but in low- and middle-income countries there is a lack of data on this problem. The aims of this study were to describe the challenges and priorities, identify barriers to care, and map stigma among families of individuals with autism in Latin America. This survey was undertaken by the "Red Espectro Autista Latinoamerica" network, a coalition of researchers/clinicians from six Latin American countries; it comprised 2942 caregivers of children with autism from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela, and the Dominican-Republic, who completed the Spanish/Portuguese version of the Caregiver Needs Survey. The survey showed that the main priorities were greater community awareness and improvements in education. The main barriers to care were waiting lists (50.2%), treatment costs (35.2%), and lack of specialized services (26.1%). Stigma experienced by families was frequent: one-third reported feeling discriminated against and helpless for having a child with autism, 48.8% reported some type of financial problem, 47.4% had to reduce work hours, and 35.5% had to stop working because of their child's autism. This survey describes the main needs/challenges faced by individuals with autism in Latin America, helping to build data-driven strategies at a national/regional level.

This paper disseminates some results of an international research on the social risk manifestations published in eight periodicals in Rio de Janeiro from July 2013 to December 2014. A sample of the research coincides with the population: 541 news, which constitutes 1255 analytical units. The methodology consisted of a content analysis of the news, using the Software Atlas. The quantitative results were presented from each one of the emerging categories. The results of the qualitative study were obtained by analysis of the most frequent categories of the social risks found. The press has been taken as the setting for the study for considering it as an important tool for analysis and discussion of the issue of social risk. The analysis of the news designed educational campaigns for prevention of social risk, targeting both the general public as well as the educational institution in charge of nurturing future Brazilian teachers, as they will be responsible for the education of newer generations in the prevention of social risk.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate five job qualification programs for young apprentices, in Goiás, a Brazilian State. We expect to contribute to the improvement and strengthening of the job training programs in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach: We applied propensity score matching and extensions such as the generalized propensity score method (dose-response effect). Findings: We found evidence of the heterogenous effects of the five job qualification programs on employability. We found that the duration of the programs influences employability in up to two years after the program. Research limitations/implications: This research is based on secondary data provided by the responsible institutions. The evidence is obtained through a nonexperimental method. Practical implications: The research has implications for public or private institutions dedicated to the professional qualification of young apprentices. Social implications: The findings of the study provide some ways of comparing training programs, for young workers, that can be applied in different types of institutions. Originality/value: This study provides new insight about the professional qualification of young apprentices, by comparing fives programs in Midwest Brazil.

The aim of this study was to present the association of educational strategies and differentiated instructions with assistive technology for special education students. The use of technology is an important ally for mediation among teachers, students and academic content. For special education students, there is a need to promote general adjustments, such as architectural, curricula and material adaptations. Among the technological possibilities, assistive technology has gained prominence in order to provide functional improvement and success in performance by people with disabilities. The potential participation achieved by using a resource properly implemented makes this theme present in educational policies aiming the inclusive education, permeating the need for the teacher to make use of these resources when teaching these students. However, by just having the resource available does not guarantee that it will benefit learning, it is necessary to introduce differentiated instruction strategies, because each student's specific needs must be considered. Teachers who use differentiated instruction are quite aware of the goal they want to achieve and the curriculum sequence defined by the governing bodies of education, and care about the education and learning of academic content with the necessary adaptations for special education students. They are aware that students are at different skill levels, but in a continuous understanding and development. The main goal of assistive technology, associated with the applicability of appropriate strategies, is to maximize the skills of each student by teaching and helping him/her to develop it as much and as quickly as he/she can. Once the skills are acquired, they enhance learning for these students because they make accessibility to content easier and make the learning enjoyable.

Academic papers on entrepreneurship in engineers' education have been growing in the last decades. However, studies on entrepreneurship in engineering have not sought to analyze how entrepreneurship education, in connection to active learning, design thinking, and Bloom's Taxonomy, inserted in an integrated way, as a tool, might help the process of engineering students' entrepreneurial skills development. Thus, this study has the goal to propose an integrated tool, linked to the principles of entrepreneurship education, active learning, design thinking, and Bloom's Taxonomy, to foster engineering students' entrepreneurial skills development. The tool, called Entrepreneurial Dynamic Learning, is operationalized and validated in a 2-year case study in a Brazilian public university. The study also produces practical implications, and five are highlighted: (1) at the level of governments and policy makers; (2) engineering scientific associations; (3) universities, coordinators, and professors of engineering undergraduate programs; (4) engineering education researchers; and (5) the Brazilian National Confederation of Industry.

This bibliometric review analyzed the research trends and main characteristics of articles related to Electronic Apex Locators (EALs). The search was conducted in November 2023 on the Web of Science Core Collection. Narrative and systematic reviews, observational and intervention studies, laboratory, and clinical studies were included. Two researchers selected the articles and extracted the number of citations, year of publication, journal, study design, theme, country, continent, institutions, author, and keywords. Collaborative networks were generated using the VOSviewer software. The relationship between data were determined by Spearman's correlation. The search resulted in 374 articles, of which 294 were included. Most cited article had 175 citations. The most prevalent journal was the Journal of Endodontics (n = 84). The predominant study design was the laboratory-based (n = 223). The predominant theme was the EALs accuracy (n = 175). Piasecki L was the author with the highest number of articles (n = 11). Only 8.16% of the studies were conducted in deciduous teeth. The country with the most studies was Brazil (n = 46). Asia (n = 107) was the continent with the highest number of publications. There was a weak positive correlation between the number of citations and impact factor (rho =.294), and a strong negative correlation between citations and year of publication (rho = −.710). The majority of articles were laboratory-based studies conducted on permanent teeth, focusing on the accuracy of EALs. Future studies should prioritize research on deciduous teeth, systematic reviews, and, notably, clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) affects multiple organs, the most severe consequences being observed in the lungs. Despite significant progress in developing CF transmembrane conductance regulator-specific treatments for CF lung disease, exploring alternative CFtargeted medications seems reasonable. We sought to evaluate the potential beneficial effects of oral benzbromarone as an adjuvant therapy in CF patients with reduced lung function. Methods: This was a prospective open-label pilot study of oral benzbromarone (100 mg/day) administered once daily for 90 days. Patients were followed at a tertiary referral center in southern Brazil. Safety was assessed by the number of reported adverse events. Secondary objectives included percent predicted FEV1 (FEV1 %) and pulmonary exacerbations. Results: Ten patients were enrolled. Benzbromarone was found to be safe, with no serious drug-related adverse events. Eight patients completed the study; the median relative change in FEV1 % tended to increase during the treatment, showing an 8% increase from baseline at the final visit. However, a nonparametric test showed that the change was not significant (p = 0.06). Of a total of ten patients, only one experienced at least one pulmonary exacerbation during the study. Conclusions: Oral benzbromarone appears to be safe, and improved FEV1 % has been observed in patients with CF. Further assessment in larger trials is warranted to elucidate whether oral benzbromarone can be a potential adjuvant therapy for CF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) has emerged as one of the world's most heinous crimes. The problem affects millions of children worldwide and no country or community is fully immune from its effects. This paper reports first generation research of the relationship that exists between CSEC and the phenomenon of missing children living in and around the coastal regions of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the country's richest State. Data are reported from interviews and case records of 64 children and adolescents, who were receiving care through a major youth serving non-governmental organization (NGO) located in the coastal city of Sao Vicente. Also, data about missing children and adolescents were collected from Police Reports -- a total of 858 Police Reports. In Brazil, prostitution is not a crime itself, however, the exploitation of prostitution is a crime. Therefore, the police have no information about children or adolescents in this situation, they only have information about the clients and exploiters. Thus, this investigation sought to accomplish two objectives: (1) to establish the relationship between missing and sexual exploited children; and (2) to sensitize police and child-serving authorities in both the governmental and nongovernmental sectors to the nature, extent, and seriousness of many unrecognized cases of CSEC and missing children that come to their attention. The observed results indicated that the missing children police report are significantly underestimated. They do not represent the number of children that run away and/or are involved in commercial sexual exploitation.

We tested differences in college adjustment between students admitted to a Brazilian undergraduate university through the standard entrance process (nonquota students), and those admitted under the affirmative action selection process (quota students). Participants consisted of 494 college students (27.1% quota students) from 2 public universities from South Brazil. Data was analyzed through independent "t" tests. Results indicated there were no differences between quota and nonquota students regarding college adjustment as measured by Academic Experiences Questionnaire-Reduced Version (AEQ-r). We discuss new perspectives on the stereotyping and controversy quota students face individually and in a societal context.

Background: Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) may exhibit some degree of change in swallowing dynamics during the course of the disease. These changes can affect their physical, functional and emotional quality of life. Aims: To develop a quality of life and swallowing questionnaire for individuals with PD. Methods & Procedures: The first version of the questionnaire comprised 29 items taken from the accounts of 50 patients treated over a 2-month period at Sarah Hospital in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. A committee of 10 experts in the field analyzed the content and reduced the questionnaire to 28 questions. The questionnaire was then administered to 140 PD patients and 47 healthy individuals. A factor analysis of the items guided the drafting of the final questionnaire, which consisted of 19 items grouped into four factors, encompassing physical, functional and emotional aspects. A test-retest assessment was conducted with 44 individuals with PD. Outcomes & Results: The internal consistency, estimated by the mean of Cronbach's alpha coefficient, varied between 0.71 (domain 3) and 0.94 (domain 1) in the test and between 0.69 (domain 3) and 0.95 (domain 1) in the retest. The correlation coefficient in the test/retest comparison was high and significant, demonstrating that the measurement was stable. A significant difference was observed between the PD group and the comparison group. Conclusions & Implications: The questionnaire developed is a valid, statistically appropriate and clinically effective self-administered instrument for individuals with PD.

This experiment describes a simple protocol for teaching acid-base titrations using potentiometry, conductivity, and/or photometry to determine end points without an added indicator. The chosen example examines the titratable acidity of a red wine with NaOH. Wines contain anthocyanins, the colors of which change with pH. Importantly, at the equivalence point, anthocyanins maintain their color, and this effect can be captured optically using a desktop scanner. RGB-based color values are obtained from the digitized images using a dedicated application and employed to generate plots of |v| versus titrant volume. The end point is the point at which the slope (d|v|/?/dV) of the titration curve is at a maximum; (d|v| is a vector expression of the color change). The photometric titrations were carried out using a plastic 96-well immunology plate and a flat-bed scanner, and RGB values were extracted simultaneously from all 96 wells in less than 5 min from the images using the ImageJ plugin "ReadPlate". The wine was also titrated using conventional potentiometric and conductometric techniques, and methods were compared using F-test, "t"-test, and one-way ANOVA. The potentiometric titration yields pH versus titrant volume curves, and the equivalence point is where the slope, or the slope of the derivative curve (dpH/dV), is greatest. The conductometric titration yields conductivity versus titrant volume curves, and the end point is determined as the volume where the slope exhibits a marked change. All titration and derivative curves were plotted and analyzed using spreadsheet software.

Purpose: This research aims to compare the preference of social media sites and institutional communication channels of a higher education institution by confronting elements that form perceived usefulness and user satisfaction with the system. Social media technologies are a part of the routine of the modern society in many diverse ways, including the support and even substitution of software designed specifically for knowledge acquisition and sharing. If students do not see value in the use of virtual learning environments and learning platforms, such tools might be prone to obsolescence as well. Design/methodology/approach: The study was applied in a Brazilian public university located in a major city near São Paulo. The paper shows the results of the analysis of a survey with 108 answers, testing a model based on the information system success and on the technology acceptance model. The perceived usefulness of information technology is also subject to test through a Student t-test. Findings: The paper shows that students perceive more value when using social media technologies to perform academic activities than in information systems provided by the university, mainly owing to the ease of use of the former. Service quality does not present a strong role as an antecedent variable in any case. Practical implications: Students do not expect or do not see value in technical support during their general experience or usefulness for any of the analysed technologies. Thus, higher education institutions should focus their initiatives in providing availability, information quality and usability for institutional channels or, if they choose to do so, social media sites as well. Originality/value: This study contributes to educational institutions by attaining better use of available IT tools for academic purposes. Previous studies looked for monitored or institutionalized use of social media tools in an educational context, but there was no in-depth analysis of spontaneous use by students to perform academic tasks.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the causal links between public and private university environments and the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of students. Design/methodology/approach: The impact of different university environments on the students' EI was checked using a model adapted from Krueger et al. (2000). The study comprised a sample of students enrolled in business administration from three public and three private universities at first semester (freshmen) and at the last two semesters (senior) in Brazil. The model was measured through various questions and later assessed by principal component analysis to build constructs. Via t-test and path analysis the EI and the antecedents were subjected to a comparative analysis to test the equality of the models across the four categories emerged. Findings: The two main types of Brazilian university environments (public and private) do not present significant differences in the way they influence EI and its antecedents. Both the tests of means and the tests of measurement of the structural relations between constructs confirm this finding with only a few exceptions. The result of this study is opposed to other studies carried out in Brazil, by showing that the public university environment is not worse for the entrepreneurship than the private. The environmental effects are mostly equal and they as a whole are not conducive to the development of EI. Research limitations/implications: The study comprises business students only, and enrolled on regular universities. It is worth highlighting that evidence was brought to the debate for a group of universities in Brazil. Replicating the study with students from other areas and other universities, as well as students in Master's and Doctorate programs could enrich the analyses. Practical implications: This study provides insight into entrepreneurship education, as to which the university environment is conducive to the entrepreneurship. It brings insights for the development of entrepreneurial universities. Originality/value: This study contributes to understanding the differences between the public and private universities environment regarding students' EI.

Bothrops atrox is an endemic crotaline snake of the Amazon region, and due to its wide distribution and ample abundance it is the most responsible for snakebites that require medical attention in the North region of Brazil, with the state of Pará having the highest rate of incidences. B. atrox is also a key crotaline species in medical research and its venom has been intensively studied during recent years. As intraspecific variation of its venom between populations from floodplains and upland areas were reported and these differences in venom composition were likely related to a variable feeding ecology of the snakes inhabiting the different ecosystems. We confirmed that habitat variation influenced the external head and venom gland morphology of B. atrox i.e., in floodplains snakes had a smaller head size, venom gland size and mass compared to snakes from the other sampled habitats around western Pará. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined municipal managers’ perceptions of extraordinary funding and its use to address COVID-19. In this multiple-case, quantitative and qualitative study, using embedded mixed methods, semi-structured interviews were conducted in six case-municipalities in São Paulo state. Secondary data for 2020 to 2022, drawn from information systems, were analysed. The municipalities differed by population, health expenditures and access to federal funding, making it possible to observe different financial management strategies and resource allocation. In addition to the extraordinary funding, considerable budget transfers were found to have been made by Parliamentary Amendments during the study period. In a context where the national Unified Health System is underfunded, extraordinary funding and budget transfers by Parliamentary Amendments often enabled managers to organise municipal health systems to meet their understanding of health needs and possible responses to those needs. Funding to address COVID-19 was allocated mainly to medium- and high-complexity services and to engaging private companies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive health plays an important role in the quality of life and autonomy of older adults. and it is influenced by hearing ability. This article aims to analyze the association between self-perceived hearing status and cognitive impairment in Brazilian older adults. This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted with 4,977 older adults who participated in ELSI Brazil 2015. The cognitive impairment status (outcome. categorized as "yes" and "no") and variable of interest (self-perceived hearing status. categorized as "good" "fair" and "poor") were obtained using a self-report method. The following domains were considered for cognition: temporal orientation. memory (short and long term). and language (recent and late). Poisson regression with robust variance estimation was used to assess the self-perceived hearing status-cognitive impairment association in the crude and adjusted analyses. Sociodemographic. lifestyle. and medical history variables were used to adjust the analyses. We found that 31.8% of the participants reported fair or poor hearing and 42% had cognitive impairment. In the adjusted analysis. older adults with poor hearing were revealed to have a stronger association with cognitive impairment than their peers with good hearing. Therefore. in older Brazilian adults. lower self-perceived hearing status is associated higher levels of cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saúde Coletiva is the property of MPM Comunicacao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study analysed the role of knowledge management (KM) tools used to cultivate a community of practice (CP) in its knowledge creation (KC), transfer, learning processes. The goal of such observations was to determine requirements that KM tools should address for the specific CP formed by Deaf and non-Deaf members of the CP. The CP studied is a formal knowledge organisation based on learning and the evaluation of socio-linguistic aspects pertaining to the Brazilian Sign Language (Libras). Non-Deaf and members of the Deaf community cultivated such knowledge organisation through specific collaborative meetings and the use of Internet-based tools for KM. Knowledge was created to validate an intellectual artefact (a computational description model of the phonetic structure of Libras (PSL)) to be used as basis in the development of tools to aid the Deaf community in their learning, communication, informational, educational and other needs necessary for full exercise of citizenship. The Internet-based KM tools were paramount for the cultivating of the CP. Nevertheless, additional requirements for the KM tools emerged, such as: video-conferencing, video manipulation features, better management of asynchronous communication, among others. (Contains 3 figures and 3 tables.)

This paper presents the results of an investigation which was part of a project called "Recreating Histories". It is concerned with the analysis of historical narratives created by the children who participated in the project and an analysis of historical sources kept by families who live in Campina Grande do Sul (Brazil). It draws on the theoretical and methodological approaches of Artieres, Freire, and Rusen, the work of researchers into history education, Ashby, Cooper, Barca, and Lee, and of the authors of this project, Schmidt and Garcia. (Contains 3 tables.)

The relation between parenting styles and adolescent outcomes was analyzed in a sample of 1,198 15-18-year-old Brazilians. The adolescents were classified into 1 of 4 groups (Authoritative, Authoritarian, Indulgent, and Neglectful) on the basis of their own ratings of their parents on two dimensions: Acceptance/Involvement and Strictness/Imposition. The adolescents were then contrasted along two different outcomes: (1) priority given to Schwartz Self-transcendence and Conservation values, and (2) level of Self-esteem (appraised in 5 domains: Academic, Social, Emotional, Family, and Physical). Results showed that Authoritative and Indulgent parenting is associated with the highest internalization of Self-Transcendence and Conservation values of teenagers, whereas Authoritarian parenting is associated with the lowest. On the other hand, adolescents with Indulgent parents have equal or higher levels of Self-esteem than adolescents with Authoritative parents, while adolescents raised in Authoritarian and Neglectful homes have the lowest scores in Self-Esteem. (Contains 4 tables.)

Copyright of Saúde Coletiva is the property of MPM Comunicacao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study evaluated cytogenetic and molecular parameters in 30 Brazilian youths with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders (PDD). The high frequency of chromosomopathies found support the hypothesis that PDDs may develop as a consequence to chromosomal abnormalities and justify the cytogenetic and molecular assessment during diagnosis in all patients with PDD. (Contains references.) (Author/DB)

This study investigates the impact of winds, tides, and river discharges on the coastal current and salinity variability of Southern Brazil's inner shelf. Data on wind speed, current, surface salinity, and temperature were collected for analysis from a metocean buoy of the Brazilian Coastal Monitoring System (SiMCosta). The observed current time series can be interpreted as a sum of highly variable flows correlated with local wind stress, and a residual mean current flowing southward along the coast at a few centimeters per second. Tidal currents were predominantly diurnal, albeit negligible, representing approximately 1.7% of the current variance in the region. We observed a prevalence of northwest winds and southeastward currents on the inner shelf, as well as an intermittent flow in both the alongshore and cross-shore directions due to meteorological frontal system passages. The power spectrum of both current components presented similar frequency patterns, indicating the prevalence of high-energy events in periods of 3 to 10 days over the entire time series. The alongshore current is highly correlated (r=0.73, p<0.05) with alongshore wind and a delay of 3 hours. In the low- (period >40 h) and high-frequency (period <40 h), the temporal lags were of 5 and 3 hours, respectively, with correlations of 0.79 (p<0.05) and 0.60 (p<0.05). The wavelet analysis has shown that high-energy events in alongshore wind stress are more common between August and October and less often between February and March, with similar surface currents and salinity patterns. A decrease in surface salinity during the winter season was observed due to the high level of Patos Lagoon's outflow. Mean daily salinity correlated negatively with Patos Lagoon's outflow, however part of this variability is associated with the intrusion of Patos Lagoon's plume and the passage of frontal systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyzed the clarity of publications on human papillomavirus (HPV) in the Instagram profiles of official Brazilian health agencies. An infodemiological study analyzed publications on HPV in the 81 Instagram profiles selected from the Health Ministry, States' Health Departments, and dental councils and associations. The following data were collected: classification of content, type of profiles, type of media, how the content was addressed, number of posts, frequency, likes, comments, viewings, and hashtags, and how the HPV vaccine was addressed. The clarity of the educational publications was assessed using the Brazilian version of the Clear Communication Index (BR-CDC-CCI). Data analysis was performed with Spearman's correlation and the Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05). A total of 504 publications on HPV were found. The average number of likes was 528.3 (SD = 2388.2) and the average BR-CDC-CCI score was 67.1 (SD = 14.1). The quality and clarity of the information was considered adequate (BR-CDC-CCI score = 90) in 6.9% of the publications. A weak positive correlation was found between the number of likes and both the BR-CDC-CCI score (r = 0.195) and number of posts (r = 0.124). Publications from the Health Ministry had a significantly higher BR-CDC-CCI score (72.9) compared to the other profiles analyzed (p = 0.01). Most publications concerned government actions, had low engagement, and written educational information was of low clarity and quality. However, the effort to reach the population was evident, with an increase in publications over the years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Fronteiras is the property of Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To investigate the types of restorative materials used for restorative treatment in primary teeth through a retrospective university-based study. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of all clinical records of children attended at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at the School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. Inclusion criteria were primary anterior and posterior teeth that received dental restorations for treatment of dental caries lesions, dental trauma or dental development defects from 2013 to 2018. Restoration repairs and interim restorations during this period were also recorded. Descriptive analyzes were performed to assess the distribution according to the type of restorative material used over the years. Results: A total of 5,236 restorative procedures were performed in primary teeth, including restoration repair and interim restorations. Of those, 69% were done in posterior teeth and 31% in anterior teeth. Sixty percent of the procedures performed during this period were made of composite resin and a lower percentage of glass ionomer cement (18%) followed by silver amalgam (1%). The number of interim restorations was smaller but proportional to those of composite resin over the years. Conclusion: A tendency to carry out restorative treatment of primary teeth with composite resin during the 6 years of followup was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study determined whether COVID-19 fear is correlated with sociodemographic characteristics, general health, mental health, and sleep quality in an elderly Brazilians. Methods: Elderly people aged ≥ 60 years replied to an online survey containing questions about their sociodemographic characteristics; general health; levels of stress, anxiety, and depression; sleep quality; and COVID fear. Results: Data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics (α = 5%). In total, 705 elderly people with mean age of 66 ± 5 years, and most (82.7%) respondents were women, graduated and from southeastern Brazil. COVID-19 fear correlated positively and moderately with sleep quality and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress (all p < 0.001). It was associated with females. Elderly people from northern and northeastern Brazil and diabetics had increased COVID-19 fear (all p < 0.05). Conclusion: The fear of COVID-19 exists among Brazilian female old people, diabetics, increases anxiety and stress symptoms, and worsen sleep quality in elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)