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Prior research has consistently shown that motivation is a catalyst for students' writing performance, with important implications for writing instruction. However, this body of research has mainly relied on a variable-centered approach that does not acknowledge the similarities and differences between and within groups of students. In the current study, we sought to address this research gap by examining the association between different motivational profiles and writing performance using a person-centered approach. Accordingly, we aimed to: (1) identify different motivational profiles in writing, based on students' implicit theories and achievement goals; and (2) examine whether students in different profiles varied in writing performance. To this end, we sampled 212 Portuguese sixth-grade students (M = 11.11 years, SD = 0.56) and collected motivational and writing performance measures at a single time point. Cluster analyses revealed two distinct writing motivation profiles: one profile reflected students with a growth mindset who were less oriented toward performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals, and another profile represented students with a fixed mindset who were more oriented toward performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals. Subsequent analyses indicated that one profile could be considered as more adaptive than the other. Specifically, students in the growth mindset and less performance-oriented profile wrote opinion texts with better quality and earned higher writing grades than students in the fixed mindset and more performance-oriented profile. Overall, these findings suggest that teachers should add motivation-enhancing practices to writing instruction and tailor their teaching practices according to students' unique motivational profiles.

Although intercultural practices are believed to be extremely relevant to combat educational disadvantages, evidence on the factors that are related to their implementation is not yet well established. This study aims to deepen the understanding regarding the implementation of intercultural practices by professionals working in disadvantaged and culturally diverse contexts, examining its association with the institution's socioeconomic and cultural diversity, organizational climate and professionals' self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Participants were 78 professionals (95.3% female, with an age average of 42.52), working in disadvantaged and culturally diverse educational settings in Portugal. Self-efficacy was positively associated with the use of intercultural practices, while higher concentration of Roma and lower education/low-income children were negatively associated with the implementation of intercultural practices, self-efficacy and job satisfaction. A supportive organizational climate was positively associated with professionals' sense of efficacy and job satisfaction. Findings highlight the importance of promoting a positive organizational climate and helping professionals to effectively handle diversity, namely by providing conditions to improve their levels of self-efficacy.

Simple Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a rising incidence and poor prognosis due to late diagnosis and limited treatments. Currently, treatment is based solely on TNM staging, without considering molecular tumor characterization. In the present study, we validated a combined amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) and high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) technique for detecting mutations in codon 12 of KRAS in PDAC tumor and plasma samples and assessed its prognostic value. We included 88 newly diagnosed PDAC patients, treated with either surgery, chemotherapy, or best supportive treatment only. Both tumor and plasma samples were analyzed, and the most frequent mutations were G12D (36%) and G12V (25%). KRAS mutations G12D and/or G12C in tumors and plasma were associated with lower progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) independently of disease stage or treatment performed. ARMS–HRMA offers a rapid, cost-effective method for detecting KRAS mutations and can aid in prognosis and treatment decisions. Background/Objectives: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) incidence is rising, and prognosis remains poor due to late diagnosis and limited effective therapies. Currently, patients are treated based on TNM staging, without molecular tumor characterization. This study aimed to validate a technique that combines the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) with high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) for detecting mutations in codon 12 of KRAS in tumor and plasma, and to assess its prognostic value. Methods: Prospective study including patients with newly diagnosed PDAC with tumor and plasma samples collected before treatment. Mutations in codon 12 of KRAS (G12D, G12V, G12C, and G12R) were detected using ARMS–HRMA and compared to Sanger sequencing (SS). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the prognostic significance of these mutations. Results: A total of 88 patients, 93% with ECOG-PS 0–1, 57% with resectable disease. ARMS–HRMA technique showed a higher sensitivity than SS, both in tumor and plasma (77% vs. 51%; 25 vs. 0%, respectively). The most frequent mutation was G12D (n = 32, 36%), followed by G12V (n = 22, 25%). On multivariate analysis, patients with G12D and/or G12C mutations, either in tumor or plasma, had lower PFS (HR 1.792, 95% CI 1.061–3.028, p = 0.029; HR 2.081, 95% CI 1.014–4.272, p = 0.046, respectively) and lower OS (HR 1.757, 95% CI 1.013–3.049, p = 0.045; HR 2.229, 95% CI 1.082–4.594, p = 0.030, respectively). Conclusions: ARMS–HRMA is a rapid and cost-effective method for detecting KRAS mutations in PDAC patients, offering the potential for stratifying prognosis and guiding treatment decisions. The presence of G12D and G12C mutations in both tumor and plasma is associated with a poorer prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Gastric cancer is characterized by high morphologic and molecular heterogeneity. Microsatellite instability (MSI-high) and Epstein–Barr-virus-positive (EBV+) tumors have been associated with better prognosis, but the benefit of perioperative chemotherapy (POPChT) in these tumors is still debatable. Moreover, recent evidence has suggested that response to treatment and prognosis are sex-modulated. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of tumor-specific molecular subtypes on survival and response to POPChT. In our cohort, we did not find differences in overall survival and progression-freesurvival between microsatellite stable (MSS)/EBV-, MSI-high or EBV+ tumors in patients submitted to direct surgery or POPChT. However, females with MSI-high tumors showed a significantly better OS than females with MSS tumors when submitted to POPChT, while in males, the opposite behavior was observed. Thus, our findings may help to pave the way to personalized treatment in GC, considering both patients' and disease characteristics. We investigated the impactof microsatellite instability (MSI) and Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) status in gastric cancer (GC), regarding response to perioperative chemotherapy (POPChT), overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS). We included 137 cases of operated GC, 51 of which were submitted to POPChT. MSI status was determined by multiplex PCR and EBV status by EBV-encoded RNA in situ hybridization. Thirty-seven (27%) cases presented as MSI-high, and seven (5.1%) were EBV+. Concerning tumor regression after POPChT, no differences were observed between the molecular subtypes, but females were more likely to respond (p = 0.062). No significant differences were found in OS or PFS between different subtypes. In multivariate analysis, age (HR 1.02, IC 95% 1.002–1.056, p = 0.033) and positive lymph nodes (HR 1.82, IC 95% 1.034–3.211, p = 0.038) were the only prognostic factors for OS. However, females with MSI-high tumors treated with POPChT demonstrated a significantly increased OS compared to females with MSS tumors (p = 0.031). In conclusion, we found a high proportion of MSI-high cases. MSI and EBV status did not influence OS or PFS either in patients submitted to POPChT or surgery alone. However, superior survival of females with MSI-high tumors suggests that sex disparities and molecular classification may influence treatment options in GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]