The influence of trophic status and seasonal environmental variability on morpho-functional traits in tropical man-made shallow lakes.

In the tropics, seasons are delimitated by the extent of rainfall resulting in seasonal differences in water parameters shaping phytoplankton community dynamics. Dry periods can intensify eutrophication and often result in seasonal or even perennial cyanobacterial dominance. This study was developed to evaluate phytoplankton response to trophic state and seasonal differences of environmental filters (dry and rainy periods) using the morphology-based functional groups (MBFG) approach. We also aimed at identifying environmental thresholds of each MBFG dominance in six man-made lakes located in the tropical semiarid region of Brazil. Our results showed clear MBFG association with lakes' trophic states. The dominant groups in mesotrophic conditions were members of MBFGs V (unicellular flagellates) and VI (non-flagellated with a siliceous exoskeleton), and in meso-eutrophic MBFG IV (medium size without specialized traits) dominated. Conversely, MBFG VII (with mucilage and aerotopes) and VIII (nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria) dominated mostly under eutrophic conditions, though linked to shallower euphotic zones. Light and phosphorous were the most important environmental thresholds associated with MBFG's dominance. Overall, most of the lakes displayed seasonal differences in environmental filters. In contrast to what was expected, the rainy season was associated with higher nutrients, suspended solids, and reduced euphotic depth compared to the dry season. Our results, overall, show that the effects of seasonality varied across lakes and highlight eutrophication as the main environmental factor for MBFG selection suggesting reduced seasonality effects during dry years in the tropics.

Clinical, functional, mental and social profile of the Nicoya Peninsula centenarians, Costa Rica, 2017.

BACKGROUND: In Latin America, knowledge about the demography and health status of adults aged 100 years and over is scarce. Insufficient studies of the elderly population in Costa Rica exist despite having a "Blue Zone" (geographical area with a high concentration of centenarians) in the Peninsula of Nicoya, with a high percentage of centenarians in the districts of Santa Cruz, Nicoya, Hojancha, Nandayure and Carrillo. AIMS: To describe the clinical, functional, mental and social profile of centenarians residing in the Blue Zone of the Peninsula of Nicoya, Costa Rica. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using a population base of 43 community-dwelling centenarians. A comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed, including sociodemographic information, health status, electrocardiogram and laboratory tests. RESULTS: The mean age of centenarians was 101.93 years, of whom 18 (42%) were men and 25 (58%) women. Two (4.6%) resided in nursing homes. Women had worse results than men in the evaluation of dependence on basic and instrumental activities of daily living, and the short physical performance battery performance test. A high prevalence of low Vitamin D levels (87.3%), atrial fibrillation (9.3%) and visual impairment (46.5%) was found. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study describing the medical, functional, mental and social profile of centenarians in the Peninsula of Nicoya (Blue Zone) in Costa Rica. This population has a high prevalence of malnutrition and hypertension with dependence on the basic activities of daily living, and a low prevalence for diabetes, depression, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and polypharmacy.

[Structural-functional approach to chronic cerebral ischemia in elderly people.]

The aim of the study - experience in implementing a structural-functional approach to chronic brain ischemia (CCI) in elderly people by combining simultaneously produced measurements. Object of research - elderly patients with CCI 1 stage. As a result of the study, the methodological experience of the system study of CCI from the standpoint of the structural and functional approach in the elderly is shown. Thus, it has been demonstrated that the progression of chronic cerebral-dygemical morphological changes in the form of periventricular and subcortical leukoaareosis (according to magnetic resonance imaging) correlates with the degree of expression of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (according to the brief indicative test). Hyperhomocysteinemia are typical for patients with CCI 1 stage, what correlates with mild cognitive dysfunction. The identified biochemical, neuroimaging, neuropsychological correlates should be taken into account during medical and psychological rehabilitation of these people.

Assessments and Interventions to Address Challenging Behavior in Individuals with Intellectual Disability and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Japan: A Consolidated Review.

Intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder are neurodevelopmental disorders that emerge during the developmental period. A significant barrier that impedes the social adaptation of individuals with these disorders is the exhibition of problem behaviors, such as self-injurious, stereotyped, and aggressive/destructive behaviors. In recent years, these problem behaviors have been collectively referred to as "challenging behavior," in accordance with the contention that they result from an interaction between the individual and his or her social environment. Evidence-based psychosocial interventions that adopt the functional approach to treating challenging behavior are increasing. However, in order to effectively implement such interventions in educational settings and welfare facilities, it is essential to develop staff training programs and usable psychometric assessments. Accordingly, a brief overview of research studies on challenging behavior that have been conducted in Japan, as well as the various support systems that are available to individuals who exhibit challenging behavior, are presented in this article. The discussion makes it apparent that, in order to improve treatment systems in Japan that are aimed at addressing challenging behavior, it is necessary to establish not only better staff training programs, but also reliable and valid assessments measuring challenging behavior that can be readily used by teachers and parents. On the basis of this discussion, it is proposed that technological advancements must be applied to psychosocial approaches in the study of problem behaviors, in order to develop assessment system using software applications and automatic measurement system of target behaviors using sensing technology.

Associations Between Gait-Related Falls and Gait Adaptations When Stepping Onto a Curb: A Prospective Falls Study.

Objectives: To examine gait regulation during the approach to stepping onto a curb for older adults who did or did not report gait-related falls over a 12-month follow-up. Methods: A total of 98 participants aged 60 years and older were analyzed. Primary outcomes were step length adaptations (lengthening or shortening) during a curb approach and the occurrence of a gait-related fall during a 12-month follow-up. Results: Linear mixed-effects modeling indicated stronger adaptations toward the end of the approach. Participants who reported experiencing a gait-related fall showed a stronger relationship between the adjustment required and adjustment produced, indicating different gait adaptations during the step leading onto the curb. Discussion: The link between prospective gait-related falls and gait adaptations indicated that older adults with reduced capabilities require stronger adaptations to complete tasks reminiscent of everyday life. This finding may provide insight into the mechanisms of falls in older adults and should inform new fall prevention interventions.

Regulating for a reason: Emotion regulation goals are linked to spontaneous strategy use.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated how individual differences in emotion regulation goals predict emotion regulation strategy use in daily life. METHOD: Across three studies, we assessed two common types of emotion regulation goals (hedonic, social) and strategies spanning the entire process model of emotion regulation. We conducted two studies using global measures with undergraduates (N = 394; 18-25 years; 69% female; 56% European American) and community members (N = 302; 19-74 years; 50% female; 75% European American), and a nine-day daily diary study with another community sample (N = 272; 23-85 years; 50% female; 84% European American). RESULTS: Globally and in daily life, pro-hedonic goals were positively associated with all antecedent-focused strategies (situation selection, situation modification, distraction, and reappraisal), pro-social goals were positively linked to reappraisal, and impression management goals positively predicted suppression. Contra-hedonic goals were negatively associated with reappraisal and positively associated with suppression in some studies. CONCLUSIONS: The reasons why people regulate their emotions are predictive of the strategies they use in daily life. These links may be functional, such that people typically use strategies that are suitable for their goals. These findings demonstrate the value of an individual difference approach and highlight the motivational component of emotion regulation.

Representations and motivations of blood donation in adolescence through a mixed method approach.

BACKGROUND: Scientific literature on blood donation is prevalently concentrated on adults, leaving out adolescents almost completely. While the latter represents "ideal" candidates, they constitute, however, the segment of the population least present among blood donors. OBJECTIVES: The present work, composed of two studies, proposes looking into the representations that the adolescents have of blood donation and give voice to the motivations that could persuade them to becoming donors once they reach the legal age for donation. Study I aims to investigate adolescents' representations about the world of blood donation. Study II aims to investigate a) the underlying motivations for blood donations and b) the relationship between motivations and propensity to donate. MATERIALS/METHODS: This paper is based on a mixed methods research design. In Study I, five focus groups were conducted comprising a total of 25 adolescents; for Study II, a self-report questionnaire was administered to 285 adolescents. RESULTS: Study I reveals a lack of information for everything regarding donation, something that produces fear, false beliefs, and an idealized image of the donor. Study II shows that for males, social motivations are fundamental while ego-protective motivations are deterrents, and that females are most impacted by understanding. CONCLUSION: The study shows how the adolescent population cannot be recruited in the same way as adults, and presents valuable points for those who finalize advertising campaigns for donor recruitment recruitment.

Psychological Foundations of Xenophilia: Understanding and Measuring the Motivational Functions of Exploratory Cross-Cultural Contact.

Two multipart studies (total N = 1,638) were conducted to introduce and test a functional perspective on exploratory cross-cultural contact. Studies 1a and 1b addressed the lack of standardized measures and developed a psychometrically valid inventory of six individual motivational functions: knowledge and understanding, value expression, professional advancement, social development, personal-, and group-image concerns. Studies 2a and 2b produced experimental evidence that different environments offer differing "fulfillment opportunities" such that the motivating potential of a distinct contact function results from a function by environment fit. First, participants were more persuaded by and wanted to visit a cultural center more when it matched their motivational functions (Study 2a). Second, participants showed a preference to choose an intercultural interaction partner with a higher potential over a partner with a lower potential to fulfill their primary cross-cultural contact motivation (Study 2b, preregistered). Theoretical and practical implications of this perspective are discussed.

Semiparametric Bayesian analysis of censored linear regression with errors-in-covariates.

The accelerated failure time (AFT) model is a well-known alternative to the Cox proportional hazard model for analyzing time-to-event data. In this paper we consider fitting an AFT model to right censored data when a predictor variable is subject to measurement errors. First, without measurement errors, estimation of the model parameters in the AFT model is a challenging task due to the presence of censoring, especially when no specific assumption is made regarding the distribution of the logarithm of the time-to-event. The model complexity increases when a predictor is measured with error. We propose a non-parametric Bayesian method for analyzing such data. The novel component of our approach is to model (1) the distribution of the time-to-event, (2) the distribution of the unobserved true predictor, and (3) the distribution of the measurement errors all non-parametrically using mixtures of the Dirichlet process priors. Along with the parameter estimation we also prescribe how to estimate survival probabilities of the time-to-event. Some operating characteristics of the proposed approach are judged via finite sample simulation studies. We illustrate the proposed method by analyzing a data set from an AIDS clinical trial study.

The quality of volunteers' motives: Integrating the functional approach and self-determination theory.

Volunteers' motives have been differentially linked to various aspects of successful volunteering. Using self-determination theory, we propose that volunteer functions are systematically related to the experience of self-determined versus controlled motivation. This "quality of motivation," in turn, explains why motives are differentially associated with satisfaction. We conducted two studies: Study 1 (N1 = 824) addressed motives, quality of motivation, and satisfaction; Study 2 (N2 = 323) additionally examined function-specific benefits and the extent to which they match volunteers' motives. Overall, our hypotheses were supported: values, understanding, and social justice motives were positively associated with relatively self-determined motivation (RSM), whereas career, social, protective, and enhancement motives showed negative correlations. The relationships between motives and satisfaction were partially mediated by RSM. Concerning benefits, Study 2 corroborated these findings for values, protective, enhancement, and social justice. This research introduces a new perspective on the quality of volunteers' motives-with theoretical and practical implications.

Hip joint center localisation: A biomechanical application to hip arthroplasty population.

AIM: To determine hip joint center (HJC) location on hip arthroplasty population comparing predictive and functional approaches with radiographic measurements. METHODS: The distance between the HJC and the mid-pelvis was calculated and compared between the three approaches. The localisation error between the predictive and functional approach was compared using the radiographic measurements as the reference. The operated leg was compared to the non-operated leg. RESULTS: A significant difference was found for the distance between the HJC and the mid-pelvis when comparing the predictive and functional method. The functional method leads to fewer errors. A statistical difference was found for the localization error between the predictive and functional method. The functional method is twice more precise. CONCLUSION: Although being more individualized, the functional method improves HJC localization and should be used in three-dimensional gait analysis.

Evidências de validade de uma versão brasileira do Inventário de Funções do Voluntariado - IFV / Evidence of validity of a Brazilian version of the Volunteer Functions Inventory - VFI

Entender os motivos que levam o indivíduo a iniciar e manter-se no voluntariado pode contribuir para o recrutamento de novos voluntários e para a retenção no serviço de pessoas já engajadas, pois permite aproximar os objetivos individuais de potenciais voluntários das exigências e benefícios associados às oportunidades concretas de ajuda que o ambiente proporciona. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos adaptar e validar para o Brasil o Inventário de Funções do Voluntariado (IFV) e correlacionar o IFV com a versão reduzida do Questionário de Perfis de Valores (QPV21). Além de corroborar a validade convergente entre estes dois instrumentos, os resultados indicaram que as motivações dos 319 participantes agregaram-se em torno de quatro fatores (valores e entendimento, proteção, carreira e engrandecimento social), replicando parcialmente a estrutura fatorial do instrumento original e confirmando a existência de diferenças culturais nas motivações para o voluntariado. Outras implicações teóricas e empíricas são discutidas.

Understanding the reasons why people begin and continue to volunteer can contribute to the recruitment of new volunteers and to the retention of those that already engaged, by bringing the individual goals of potential volunteers closer to the requirements and benefits associated with the existing work opportunities. This study aims to adapt and validate the Volunteers Function Inventory (VFI) for Brazil as well as to correlate the VFI with the reduced version of Schwartz's Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ21). Results confirmed the convergent validity between these two instruments. In addition, the factor structure of the original instrument was partially replicated, with the motivations of the 319 participants grouping around four factors (values and understanding, protection, career, and social enhancement). These results suggest the existence of cultural differences in the motivations for volunteering. Other empirical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Uma abordagem funcional para os comportamentos delirar e alucinar / A functionalist approach for delusion and hallucination behaviors

O presente artigo busca discutir duas categorias psiquiátricas, delírios e alucinações, tradicionalmente descritas como sintomas de transtorno psicótico, com o conceito de comportamento orientado pelo behaviorismo radical de B. F. Skinner. O artigo inicia com a visão da Associação Americana de Psiquiatria, a qual procura descrever essas categorias como sintomas positivos de esquizofrenia e suas repercussões. Uma abordagem funcionalista para os comportamentos de delirar e alucinar são consideradas em alguns importantes detalhes. Os conceitos de visão e audição condicionada são discutidos como experiência comum. Finalmente, considerações são dadas para as implicações dos efeitos desses tipos de comportamentos-problema e sugestões para lidar com eventos dessa natureza no contexto clínico são oferecidas.(AU)

This article discusses two psychiatric symptoms, delusions and hallucinations, traditionally described as a characteristic of psychotic disorders based on the concept of behavior of the radical behaviorism of B. F. Skinner. The article begins with the criteria of the American Psychiatric Association, which describes these categories as positive symptoms of schizophrenia and shows their repercussions. A functionalist approaches to the behaviors of delusion and hallucination are considered in some important details. The concepts of vision and hearing conditioned facilities are discussed as a common experience. Finally, considerations are given to the implications of the effects of these types of behaviors, problems and suggestions are offered for dealing with such events in the clinical setting.(AU)

Evidências de validade de uma versão brasileira do Inventário de Funções do Voluntariado - IFV / Evidence of validity of a Brazilian version of the Volunteer Functions Inventory - VFI

Entender os motivos que levam o indivíduo a iniciar e manter-se no voluntariado pode contribuir para o recrutamento de novos voluntários e para a retenção no serviço de pessoas já engajadas, pois permite aproximar os objetivos individuais de potenciais voluntários das exigências e benefícios associados às oportunidades concretas de ajuda que o ambiente proporciona. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos adaptar e validar para o Brasil o Inventário de Funções do Voluntariado (IFV) e correlacionar o IFV com a versão reduzida do Questionário de Perfis de Valores (QPV21). Além de corroborar a validade convergente entre estes dois instrumentos, os resultados indicaram que as motivações dos 319 participantes agregaram-se em torno de quatro fatores (valores e entendimento, proteção, carreira e engrandecimento social), replicando parcialmente a estrutura fatorial do instrumento original e confirmando a existência de diferenças culturais nas motivações para o voluntariado. Outras implicações teóricas e empíricas são discutidas.(AU)

Understanding the reasons why people begin and continue to volunteer can contribute to the recruitment of new volunteers and to the retention of those that already engaged, by bringing the individual goals of potential volunteers closer to the requirements and benefits associated with the existing work opportunities. This study aims to adapt and validate the Volunteers Function Inventory (VFI) for Brazil as well as to correlate the VFI with the reduced version of Schwartz's Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ21). Results confirmed the convergent validity between these two instruments. In addition, the factor structure of the original instrument was partially replicated, with the motivations of the 319 participants grouping around four factors (values and understanding, protection, career, and social enhancement). These results suggest the existence of cultural differences in the motivations for volunteering. Other empirical and theoretical implications are discussed.(AU)

Uma abordagem funcional para os comportamentos delirar e alucinar / A functionalist approach for delusion and hallucination behaviors

O presente artigo busca discutir duas categorias psiquiátricas, delírios e alucinações, tradicionalmente descritas como sintomas de transtorno psicótico, com o conceito de comportamento orientado pelo behaviorismo radical de B. F. Skinner. O artigo inicia com a visão da Associação Americana de Psiquiatria, a qual procura descrever essas categorias como sintomas positivos de esquizofrenia e suas repercussões. Uma abordagem funcionalista para os comportamentos de delirar e alucinar são consideradas em alguns importantes detalhes. Os conceitos de visão e audição condicionada são discutidos como experiência comum. Finalmente, considerações são dadas para as implicações dos efeitos desses tipos de comportamentos-problema e sugestões para lidar com eventos dessa natureza no contexto clínico são oferecidas.

This article discusses two psychiatric symptoms, delusions and hallucinations, traditionally described as a characteristic of psychotic disorders based on the concept of behavior of the radical behaviorism of B. F. Skinner. The article begins with the criteria of the American Psychiatric Association, which describes these categories as positive symptoms of schizophrenia and shows their repercussions. A functionalist approaches to the behaviors of delusion and hallucination are considered in some important details. The concepts of vision and hearing conditioned facilities are discussed as a common experience. Finally, considerations are given to the implications of the effects of these types of behaviors, problems and suggestions are offered for dealing with such events in the clinical setting.

Why the Cognitive Approach in Psychology Would Profit From a Functional Approach and Vice Versa.

Cognitively oriented psychologists often define behavioral effects in terms of mental constructs (e.g., classical conditioning as a change in behavior that is due to the formation of associations in memory) and thus effectively treat those effects as proxies for mental constructs. This practice can, however, hamper scientific progress. I argue that if psychologists would consistently define behavioral effects only in terms of the causal impact of elements in the environment (e.g., classical conditioning as a change in behavior that is due to the pairing of stimuli), they would adopt a functional approach that not only reveals the environmental causes of behavior but also optimizes cognitive research. The cognitive approach in turn strengthens the functional approach by facilitating the discovery of new causal relations between the environment and behavior. I thus propose a functional-cognitive framework for research in psychology that capitalizes on the mutually supportive nature of the functional and cognitive approaches in psychology.