Search

Background: Children living in poverty often are exposed to situations that negatively affect various aspects of their development. So, it is important to propose interventional programs that minimize the negative effects of living in poverty on these children. Objective: To verify the impact of a mastery climate cognitive-motor skills school-based intervention on academic and motor performance, body mass index, and perceptions of competence and self-worth in children living in poverty. Method: 280 children (50% girls), 7- to10-years-old, from Ceará state -- Brazil, participated in this study. Intervention (IG, N = 140) and comparison (N = 140) groups were composed. The Test of Gross Motor Development -- 2, the Self-Perception Profile for Children, the School Performance Test (reading, writing, math), and the Body Mass Index (BMI) were used. Children in the IG participated in a mastery climate intervention and children in the CG in a recreational sports program for 12 weeks (36 sessions /140 min each session/ three times a week) with 60 min of academic activities, 20 min recess and snacks, and 60 min of motor practices. Results: The intervention group showed significant improvement from pre- to post-test, and higher motor, academic (reading, math), perceived competence, social acceptance, and self-worth scores than the comparison group at pos-test (p from 0.031 to <0.001). Conclusion: Mastery climate cognitive-motor intervention positively impacts the motor and academic performance and the self-perceptions of the children living in poverty, reinforcing the need for these interventions to helping children become more proficient and assured about their competences.

This study investigated the application of item quadruplets to control social desirability in measuring socio-emotional competencies and their relationship with intelligence. Quadruplets involve four variations of an item, differing in the polarity of their descriptive content and evaluative content (social desirability): positive-desirable, negative-desirable, positive-undesirable, and negative-undesirable. The sample consisted of 431 individuals aged 18-67, predominantly female (71.1%). To control social desirability, items were manipulated in quadruplets. The results indicated a superior model fit when a general social desirability factor was estimated, with factor loadings reinforcing the presence of a general evaluative content factor. Additionally, controlling for this general factor led to more interpretable and enhanced loadings for the descriptive factors, affirming the hypothesis that controlling a general evaluative factor improves the theoretical congruence. The study also found negative correlations between intelligence and both social desirability and extroversion. The findings support the effectiveness of the quadruplets method in assessing social desirability.

This study describes the cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3), which assesses 11 skills areas within three major adaptive domains: the conceptual, social, and practical. The translation was performed by two independent translators, which was followed by the synthesis of the translations by two experts and then an analysis of the synthesis by 33 specialists from the areas of health and education (three per subscale) who were experts in the domains evaluated by ABAS-3. Of the 1121 items of the five ABAS-3 forms, 82 (7.31%) needed revision. There was good agreement between the specialists in respect of most items, with only minor adjustments being required. There was good evidence of content validity and the adequacy of the adaptation in respect of the conceptual, idiomatic, and semantic aspects of the items of the instrument. This initial process of cross-cultural adaptation was necessary because adaptive behavior is strongly influenced by environmental factors such as socioeconomic status and culture.

Background: Motor skill assessment is time-consuming and some difficulties are inherent in the administration of motor tests, especially in children with neurodevelopment disorders. Purpose: This study aimed to develop and investigate the face, content, and criterion validity of a Motor Skills Sequential Pictures (MSSP) for the Test of Gross Motor Development -- 3 (TGMD-3) to be animated and used in a mobile application (App). Methods: The MSSP was created representing each of the 13 TGMD-3 skills, performance criteria and accuracy was assessed by 23 experts, 52 undergraduate students, and 66 children (range 3-10 years; n = 48 with neurotypical development, n = 18 with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ASD). We conducted two rounds of MSSP expert evaluations to improve the MSSP accuracy. Content validity was conducted with the experts' results using percentage of agreement, content validity coefficient (CVC), kappa, and Chi[superscript 2] tests for the first and final version of the MSSP. University students participated in the face validity evaluation of the MSSP final version using percentage of agreement. Further content validity was conducted with experts and university students' scores using Chi[superscript 2]. Children participated in the last phase of the study and were requested to identify and perform the skills, and if unsuccessful, they received verbal support based on the motor performance criteria. Results: For content validity results associated with the experts' agreement, scores were high and increased from the first to the second round (CVC from 87.0% to 96.1%; Kappa coefficient >0.60, p > 0.0001). High agreement was obtained for the face validity of all skills (range 94.1-100%). Further, significant associations were found for experts and university students scores for the MSSP final version (p [less than or equal to] 0.002), providing further evidence for the MSSP content validity. The results for children with neurotypical development showed that children aged 3-4 had more difficulties in identifying the skills compared to older children. Developmental criterion validity was found for several skills (hop, jump, slide, one-hand strike, two-hand strike; p values from <0.0001 to .050); the MSSP was a more robust support as children age. In the ASD group, identifying skills was difficult for all ages, but mainly in locomotor skills. Furthermore, an inverse trend was found for the developmental validity criteria for children with ASD for several skills (sSkip, jump, slide, catch, kick; p values from .016 to .050), younger children relied more on the MSSP support to identify the skills. Conclusion: The MSSP, mainly ball skills, proved to be valid to illustrate the TGMD-3 motor performance criteria and may be useful as a visual pedagogical support for children to facilitate skill understanding. Future directions will be to evaluate whether the MSSP animation, in an app-based program, will improve children's motor skill performance.

Background: The Test of Gross Motor Development--3 (TGMD-3) is used to assess locomotor (LOCS) and ball (BS) skills in children. This test provides relevant information for evaluating learning and determining teaching efficacy. However, conducting and coding the test is time consuming. A screening form may improve its usage in specific settings and populations. Purpose: This study aimed to develop a screening form for the TGMD-3-SF and examine its validity and reliability. Method: We assessed 1,192 3-to-10-year-old children; 772 children completed the TGMD-3 and 420 the TGMD-3-SF; 114 children were retested for temporal stability and 300 for criterion validity. Results: We found appropriate results for the two-factors model, LOCS (gallop, hop, and skip) and BS (one-hand strike, kick, and overhand throw), RMSEA = 0.025, comparative-fit index = 0.99, and Tukey--Lewis index = 0.99; internal consistency (LOCS, [alpha] = 0.60; BS, [alpha] = 0.71); item validity (LOCS, r = 0.43, p < 0.001; BS, r = 0.47, p < 0.001); interrater (ICC = 0.86-0.99), intrarater (ICC = 0.61-0.92), test-retest (LOCS, ICC = 0.87; BS, ICC = 0.78) reliability, and concurrent validity (LOCS, r = 0.89, p < 0.01; BS, r = 0.90, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The TGMD-3-SF is valid and reliable for assessing children's gross motor development.

This study aimed to translate the Pictorial Scale of Physical Self-Concept for Brazilian Children (PSPPS-BR) into the Brazilian-Portuguese language, conduct a transcultural adaptation of it, and investigate its validity. Method: The authors adopted the reverse translation procedures to obtain the PSPPS-BR's Brazilian-Portuguese version. Three motor behavior experts assessed the scale items' clarity and pertinence. Ten professionals participated in the face validity study. Children (N = 300; 150 girls and 150 boys; 8-10 years old; M[subscript age] = 9.0, SD = 0.81) were randomly selected from six schools in Brazil and assessed using the PSPPS-BR, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence, and the Self-Perception Profile for Children. The children (N = 100) were reassessed for test-retest reliability. Results: High clarity and pertinence agreement among experts (content validity coefficient from 98.4% to 100%; Gwet's agreement coefficient from 0.85 to 1.00, p < 0.001) and among professionals (content validity coefficient clarity: 83-100%, relevance: 90-100%) were obtained. The confirmatory factorial analysis showed adequate model fits (root mean square error of approximation = 0.067; comparative fit index = 0.968; Tukey-Lewis index = 0.949). Polychoric correlations showed an adequate internal consistency for total scale ([alpha] = 0.78) and items (alpha from 0.73 to 0.78). The intraclass coefficient correlation shown strong test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.95). Conclusion: The PSPPS-BR showed adequate validity and reliability for Brazilian children.

Background: Children with Down syndrome (DS) demonstrate poorer performance in locomotor and ball skills than children with typical development. During motor assessment, keeping children's attention and motivation is challenging, especially for children with DS, which may affect the test outcomes. This study aimed first to examine the impact of examiner and App‐animation demonstrations during the assessment on the performance of fundamental motor skills, focus of attention and intrinsic motivation for children with DS and neurotypical development (NTD). The secondary aim was to examine the differences in those outcomes between children with DS and neurotypical development. Methods: A sample of 24 children (10 with DS and 14 with NTD) aged between 3 and 10 years were subjected to two motor performance assessment protocols: a traditional protocol using the Gross Motor Development Test‐3 (TGMD‐3) and a protocol using animations from an application as support for TGMD‐3 (AppP). The focus of attention was obtained from video recordings during protocol instruction (number of eye shifts, eye shift time, instruction focus time, number of instructions required and total instruction time). Intrinsic motivation was assessed by the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) at the end of each protocol. Results: The results showed no significant differences between the protocols for locomotor skills, ball skills and gross motor index. However, children with NTD outperformed those with DS in these skills. When analysing the focus of attention, children with DS showed greater ocular deviations and longer instruction time requested in the traditional protocol compared with AppP, even when compared with NDT children. When comparing protocols in both groups, AppP demonstrated fewer ocular deviations and shorter ocular deviation times. Regarding intrinsic motivation, children with DS in the traditional protocol had lower motivation scores than those with NTD. Regarding the purchase of protocols, in both groups, the AppP presented higher scores for interest/pleasure, perceived competence and general motivation, with lower pressure/tension. Conclusion: The animated application (AppP) proved effective as a visual support during the TGMD‐3 assessment, particularly benefiting children with DS by enhancing motivation and attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study applied the Person-Process-Context-Time model based on Bioecological theory to investigate the sociocultural influences on motor skill development. Purpose: The objectives of the present study were: (a) to assess the personal resources associated with the development of motor skills of children from three different geographic regions located in Northeastern Brazil; and, (b) to identify the factors in the microsystems (i.e. schools and in the state-funded sports programs) and mesosystems (i.e. interrelations between contexts) that contribute to the development of motor skills in children, and how more distal systems, the exosystems (i.e. department of education and sports) and macrosystem (i.e. school funding; public educational policy; legislation; regional culture) influence this process in each geographic region. Research design: The Test of Gross Motor Development-2 was used to assess the motor performance of 274 economically underprivileged children from three different geographic regions, semiarid (n = 66), mountainous (n = 104), and coastal (n = 104) regions of Brazil. The principal investigator of this study conducted non-participant observations, the interviews with the physical education (n = 15) and classroom (n = 17) teachers, and the children's assessments. The Collective Subject Speech method was used to analyze the teachers' interviews. Data collection and analysis: Teachers and children were interviewed and assessed, respectively, at the schools. Researcher ecological insertion was adopted to understand contextual factors further. Qualitative data was obtained through observation and interviews. Data reduction for the interviews was obtained using the Key Expression, Central Ideas, and Anchorages. Children's motor scores were analyzed using a three-way ANOVA (sex (boys and girls) x geographic regions (semiarid, mountainous, and coastal) × microsystem) for locomotor and object control skills. To follow up the significant interactions, post hoc tests using simple effects (One-Way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc) followed by appropriate cell-to-cell comparisons (Independent T-Test) were conducted. Results: The results indicate a prevalence of delays in the total sample (percentile < 5 at the TGMD-2). Higher motor scores were observed for children enrolled in sports compared to physical education programs. Girls had limited opportunities to learn sports skills and consequently, demonstrated poorer motor scores within the microsystems from the three regions. The interviews revealed that teachers did not feel adequately trained, had limited resources and facilities, and scarcely met the children's developmental needs. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the educational policies and the teachers' lack of training were the primary restrictions related to promoting opportunities for children to learn motor skills within the investigated regions.

This study describes the cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System (ABAS-3), which assesses 11 skills areas within three major adaptive domains: the conceptual, social, and practical. The translation was performed by two independent translators, which was followed by the synthesis of the translations by two experts and then an analysis of the synthesis by 33 specialists from the areas of health and education (three per subscale) who were experts in the domains evaluated by ABAS-3. Of the 1121 items of the five ABAS-3 forms, 82 (7.31%) needed revision. There was good agreement between the specialists in respect of most items, with only minor adjustments being required. There was good evidence of content validity and the adequacy of the adaptation in respect of the conceptual, idiomatic, and semantic aspects of the items of the instrument. This initial process of cross-cultural adaptation was necessary because adaptive behavior is strongly influenced by environmental factors such as socioeconomic status and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms–Expanded version (IDAS-II) is one of the few tools designed to assess internalizing symptoms based on dimensional models. We conducted two studies, the first testing internal validity aspects of the IDAS-II and the second testing the external validity of the scales. In the first study we adapted the IDAS-II to Brazilian Portuguese and tested its internal structure, including a higher order factorial solution coherent with the internalizing spectrum, the stability of the factor structure, and its measurement invariance for sex and racial groups. Participants were 2,379 Brazilian adults. In the second study, we investigated the IDAS-II scales' associations with broad pathological personality traits in Brazilian (N = 245) and North American (N = 402) samples. The results of the first study indicated that the IDAS-II scales are grouped into three first-order factors (Distress, Obsessions/Fear, and Positive Mood), replicating Wester et al. (2022) and Petre et al. (2023). Our results also suggested the plausibility of an internalizing second-order factor for the IDAS-II Brazilian version. The multigroup confirmatory factor analysis shows that this scale is invariant for males and females and for White and Black/Brown people. In the second study, the IDAS-II scales demonstrated mostly coherent associations with broad domains of pathological personality traits. Besides the internal validity of the Brazilian IDAS-II, our results also provide information about its external validity and expand its nomological network, as it is the first study reporting its associations with broad domains of pathological personality traits. Public Significance Statement: Our results attest to the validity of the Brazilian version of Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms–Expanded version and indicate that the measure is invariant for sex and race, is coherent with the hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology model, and presents plausible associations with pathological personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fundamental motor skill proficiency is essential for engagement in sports and physical play and in the development of a healthy lifestyle. Children with motor delays (with and without disabilities) lack the motor skills necessary to participate in games and physical activity, and tend to spend more time as onlookers than do their peers. As such, intervention programs are crucial in promoting motor skill development of children with motor delays. While mastery climate (MC) interventions have shown to positively impact children's motor performance, what is unknown is the impact of cognitive strategies used by children within these climates. Furthermore, although vigorous play seems to be related to the development of gross motor skills, it is still unknown if children with and without disabilities would benefit from exercise play (EP) interventions. Purpose: This study examined the effects of MC and EP interventions on the motor skill development and verbal recall (VR) of children with motor delays. The sample included children with and without disabilities. Research designs: One hundred and thirty-eight children from 27 urban public schools were referred to the present study. Children were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development second edition (TGMD-2) and a VR checklist. Sixty-four children (18 with disabilities and 46 without) met the inclusion criteria, which was a score less than the fifth percentile on the TGMD-2. Participants were randomly assigned to the MC or EP 14-week interventions emphasizing gross motor skill practice. Data collection and analysis: Children were assessed at pre- and postintervention. A 2 (groups) × 2 (disability) × 2 (time) analyses of variance with repeated measures on the last factor was conducted. Change scores, t-test comparisons on the delta scores and Cohen's D were also calculated. Results: The MC group demonstrated significant and positive changes over the intervention period. Further, the MC group showed superior locomotor and object control performance and higher recall of verbal cues (p = .05) at post-intervention compared to the EP group. Children with and without disabilities within the MC showed similar patterns of improvement. The EP intervention did not demonstrate significant improvements. Conclusion: Children with and without disabilities showed improvements in motor skills and VR when exposed to an MC, incorporating the six TARGET structures. These structures included (a) providing feedback and encouragement, providing opportunities for decision-making and establishing personal goals, (b) including parents in the recognition of children's achievements, (c) creating opportunities to experience leadership and self-pacing, (d) guiding children to use verbal cues and modeling when practicing gross motor skills, and (e) providing demonstrations and teaching children to self-monitor their performance. Instruction is therefore seen as critical to learning gross motor skills, as demonstrated from the findings. Although there were opportunities for vigorous play within the EP intervention, the children did not show improvements in motor performance or VR. These findings suggest that new trends in teacher education physical education to prioritize physical activity over good motor skill instruction may not be advantageous for children in the early years, and should be reconsidered.

Purpose: Research indicates that delayed motor development observed in the first years of life can be prevented through compensatory intervention programmes that provide proper care during this critical period of child development. Method: This study analysed the impact of a 12-week compensatory motor intervention programme on 32 babies with atypical motor development, characterising and correlating risk factors for developmental delays between the ages of 6 and 8 months. We conducted play activities that involved muscle stretching, improving muscle tone, sight and sound tracking, posture control in different situations, handling objects and movement. The aim was to allow babies to experience new movement situations and overcome challenges. Results: The results showed significant improvements in motor performance, reinforcing the positive effects of a contextualised approach that addresses the needs of developing children, as opposed to focusing solely on acquiring specific skills in early childhood.

Governmental research agencies from Germany, Italy, Spain, and UK have suggested the use of specific two- and three-parameter probability density functions (PDFs) for estimating the magnitude and frequency of annual maximum streamflow (AMS). In Brazil, there are no guidelines concerning the use of multiparameter PDFs to model AMS, with most applications relying on two-parameter distributions. Considering the worldwide promising results when using multiparameter PDFs, here we focused on the evaluation of ten PDFs to model AMS over all gauged streams of Brazil. The methodology developed for this study consisted of the: (i) acquisition of streamflow data; (ii) organization of the AMS series; (iii) screening of AMS series considering temporal and statistical criteria; (iv) fit of the following PDFs to the AMS series based on the L-moments method: Gumbel, Gamma, Generalized Logistic, Generalized Normal, Generalized Pareto, three-parameter Log-Normal, Pearson type 3, Generalized Extreme Value, Kappa, and Wakeby; (v) quantile estimation; and (vi) PDF performance assessment according to the Filliben test and the relative absolute error (RAE). Based on the almost 4 thousand AMS series considered on this study, we concluded that: (i) Gumbel and Gamma provided poor performance (more than 17% of non-satisfactory fits); (ii) the multiparameter PDFs (Wakeby and Kappa) outperformed all other PDFs; (iii) Gumbel and Generalized Extreme Value had the highest RAE values for quantile estimate; and (iv) this study contributes to the scientific advances reported in the recent statistical hydrology literature and can provide local decision makers with the necessary technical information for developing national design flood guidelines.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The irrational use of water bodies has been a main concern worldwide, requiring the steady monitoring of water sources in order to track whether the water quality parameters are within the guidelines limits. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the water quality of Mirim Lagoon by using a water quality index and statistical methods. Also, this study seeks to analyze, by the correlation matrix, the influence of the parameters used in WQI on the results of the index for Mirin Lagoon, as well as compare and validate, via a significance test, the results of WQIValentini with the results of WQICETESB, widely applied in Brazil. The water samples analyzed in this study were collected over the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 from several monitoring points of Mirim Lagoon and analyzed regarding the parameters dissolved oxygen, thermotolerant coliforms, pH, biochemical oxygen demand, temperature, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, turbidity, and total solids. The WQICETESB results of the monitoring points in Mirim Lagoon ranged from 58.3 to 81, falling within acceptable and good water quality, respectively. Regarding the correlation-WQI parameter, phosphorus was the most representative parameter for the WQICETESB result in the monitoring points ML1, ML2, ML3, ML4, and ML5, while the thermotolerant coliforms was the most significant parameter for the points ML6 and ML7. On the other hand, the WQIValentini results ranged from 48.0 to 76.9, maintaining the absolute majority within acceptable and good ranges. Moreover, in order to compare the results of WQICETESB with the WQIValentini, and, hence, prove or disprove the equivalence of both, a paired t-test was used, demonstrating that there is no significant variation between both indexes. The results of this study enabled us to evaluate the Mirim Lagoon water quality by using WQICETESB and WQIValentini, as well as by using multivariate statistical methods. In addition, regarding the use of the WQIValentini to assess Mirin Lagoon water quality, there was evidence that this index generates results statistically indistinguishable from those generated by the WQICETESB, proving its applicability for water quality monitoring of this lagoon. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that the use of an adequate equation with fewer variables provides a reduction in the costs of physicochemical and microbiological analysis, which may encourage environmental agencies to invest more in water quality monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our goal was to investigate the role of body mass index (BMI) and motor competence (MC) in children's physical activity (PA) levels during physical education (PE) classes. We assessed PA levels of 5-to-10-year old children ("n" = 264) with pedometers in four PE classes. MC was assessed using the TGMD-2 and BMI values were classified according to CDC guidelines. We found small-to-moderate positive correlations between MC and PA; BMI was not significantly correlated with MC and PA. The linear regression model indicated that overall MC was a better predictor of PA than BMI. Our results suggest that children with higher MC find a way to be more active even in a structured setting such as a PE class. Our findings draw attention to the importance of promoting MC, especially for children with high BMI. (Contains 2 tables.)

Aim: The aim was to investigate the validity of evidence of the Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System second edition for Brazilian children. Methods: 258 children participated, both sexes (n = 133 girls; 51.6%), 5 to 9 years old (total sample Mage = 7.1, SD = 1.4), from four regions of Brazil. The Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System - second edition, was used. Results: Experts showed agreement about the high clarity and practical pertinence of the items (content validity coefficient from 98.4 to 100%; Gwet's agreement coefficient from 0.85 to 1.00, p < 0.001). Confirmatory factorial analysis showed adequate adjustment indexes (RMSEA [0.048, 90% C.I. = 0.043 to 0.053], SRMR [0.243], CFI [0.91], RNI [0.91], TLI [0.91], χ²/df [1.962]). The multigroup analysis showed configural, metric and scalar invariance of two models for gender (CFI = 0.97; RMSEA, [90%C.I.] = 0.05 [0.03 to 0.07]; metric: ΔRMSEA = 0.001; scalar: ΔRMSEA = -0.004) and age band (5-7 years-old and 8-9 years-old; CFI = 0.94; RMSEA, [90%C.I.] = 0.05 [0.03 to 0.07]; metric: ΔRMSEA = 0.002; scalar: ΔRMSEA = 0.010). The Heterotrait-Monotrait ratio test showed adequate discriminant validity among three dimensions (self-care and productivity [value = 0.76]; self-care and leisure [value = 0.57], productivity and leisure [value = 0.76]). Alpha for polychoric correlations showed an adequate internal consistency for all items and total scale (all a values >0.70). Composite reliability (Self-care = 0.8; Productivity = 0.81; Leisure = 0.8) reinforce evidence about reliability. Percentage agreement showed adequate item-level test-retest reliability (values between 76 and 92%). Conclusion: This scale showed adequate content and internal structure validity evidence to assess the perceived self-efficacy for Brazilian children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines sex differences regarding children's self-perceptions and motor competence (locomotor and object control subtests), parents' perceptions about their boys' and girls' competence, and the associations among these variables. Parents and their children (N = 77; M = 8.70, SD = 2.13) participated in the study. The children's motor competence was assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development -- Second Edition (TGMD-2). The children's self-perceptions were assessed using the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance and the Self-Perception Profile for Children, depending on the child's age. The parental perception of their children's motor competence was assessed using an adapted version of the children's perceptions of motor competence. Boys and girls were similar regarding the locomotor subtest; boys showed significantly higher scores for the object control subtest than girls. Parents' perceptions of children's motor competence were significantly related to the children´s motor competence and were the stronger predictor in the locomotor model and the second predictor in the object control subtest model; sex was the stronger predictor for the object control subtest. Our findings address new information regarding children's motor and parents' motor competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leprosy is a chronic disease and also a global health issue, with a high number of new cases per year. Toll-like receptors can respond to mycobacterial molecules in the early stage of infection. As important components of the innate immune response, alterations in genes coding for these receptors may contribute to susceptibility/protection against diseases. In this context, we used a casecontrol study model (183 leprosy cases vs. 185 controls) to investigate whether leprosy patients and the control group, in southern Brazil, have different frequencies in TLR1 (TLR1 G>T; rs5743618), TLR2 (TLR2 T>C, rs1816702 and rs4696483), and TLR4 (TLR4 A>G, rs1927911) polymorphisms. Analysis of the TLR1 1805G>T polymorphism presented the G/G genotype more frequently in the control group. TLR2 T>C rs1816702 and TLR2 T>C rs4696483, the T/T and C/T genotype, respectively, were more frequent in the control group than in leprosy patients, suggesting protection from leprosy when the T allele is present (rs4696483). Haplotype analyses between TLR1 (rs5743618) and TLR2 (rs1816702 and rs4696483) polymorphisms suggest risk for the presence of the TCC haplotype and protection in the presence of the TCT haplotype. This study suggests that polymorphisms in TLR1 and TLR2 are factors that may contribute to development/resistance of leprosy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of delays and borderline impaired performance for Brazilian girls and boys and the differences in the motor trajectories (locomotor and ball skills) of girls and boys (3- to 10-years-old) across WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrial, Rich, and Democratic) countries and Brazil–a low- and middle-income country (LMIC). Methods: We assessed 1000 children (524 girls; 476 boys), 3- to 10.9-year-old (M = 6.9, SD = 2.1; Girls M = 6.9, SD = 2.0; Boys M = 6.9, SD = 2.1), using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3. Using systematic search, original studies investigating FMS in children using the TGMD-3 were eligible; 5 studies were eligible to have the results compared to the Brazilian sample. One sample t-test to run the secondary data from Irish, American, Finnish, and German children (i.e., mean, standard deviation). Results: The prevalence of delays and borderline impaired performance was high among Brazilian girls (28.3% and 27.5%) and boys (10.6% and 22.7%). The cross-countries comparisons showed significant (p values from.048 and <.001) overall lower locomotor and ball skills scores for Brazilian children; the only exceptions were skipping, catching, and kicking. We observed stability in performance, across countries, after 8-years-old, and no ceiling effects were found in the samples. Conclusions: The Brazilian sample emphasized the need for national strategies to foster children's motor proficiency. Differences in motor opportunities may explain the differences in motor trajectories between children in WEIRD and LMIC countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish oil has been shown to be a viable alternative for the diversification of the energy matrix, since its use contributes to meet the need for new raw materials for the biofuel production. Castor oil has aroused interest in recent years and has come to be seen as a productive means for obtaining renewable fuel, standing out for presenting some anomalous properties in relation to other oils. The present study aimed to produce samples of biodiesel from a blend of castor oil/fish oil through the process of transesterification via basic catalysis, methyl route. Subsequently, physical-chemical analysis of the biofuel generated was carried out in order to ascertain its classification in the parameters required by the established standards and relate the results obtained through statistical tests. By the method used, except the iodine index, all physical-chemical analysis was within the required quality parameters. The kinematic viscosity complied with the limit acceptable in Brazil ranging from 4.16 to 5.87. Regarding the acidity index, the results of the samples showed an average of 0.29 mg KOH/g and all 11 samples met the acceptable limits. The results of the saponification index, in turn, were very satisfactory since the sample with the highest saponification index showed only 102.89 mg KOH/g. The iodine index results ranged from 125.33 to 141.51 g I2/100 g, demonstrating oxidative stability below expectations. Thus, as confirmed by the statistical analyses, the production of biofuel with a higher concentrations of castor oil must be tested in order to assess whether the addition of this oil can actually enable its action as an antioxidant additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is one of the most critical diseases in the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The characterization and localization of pathogenic fungal races are essential for understanding pathogen population dynamics and developing resistant cultivars. Here, we discussed the relationship between the diversity of C. lindemuthianum and common bean resistance genes against anthracnose disease. Indeed, several studies using a system of 12 differential bean cultivars have been carried out since 1991 to monitor anthracnose, reporting the constant appearance of new races. Colletotrichum lindemuthianum shows high virulence diversity, with 298 races distributed across 29 countries. In Brazil, we identified 89 races, with races 73, 65, and 81 as the most frequent. Moreover, we highlighted the common bean gene clusters, their unique location on chromosomes, and their relationship with races and resistance genes. The genetic mapping studies, molecular markers linked to anthracnose resistance alleles, and the specific races were integrated on the seven-chromosome map using the reference genome of common bean. Recently, the ease of use of genome sequences and the development of molecular technologies have allowed molecular markers for marker-assisted selection applied to anthracnose-resistant cultivars. As a result, it is feasible that Mesoamerican genes Co-5, Co-42, Co-6, Co-16, and Co-17, and the Andean genes Co-12, Co-14, Co- Bf, Co-15, Co-AC, and CoPv01CDRK are well known to confer resistance to most races reported in Brazil and around the world. Thus, pyramiding these genes through molecular markers can help reduce the time and cost of introducing resistance genes in commercial common bean cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a scenario of increased degradation of the quality of water resources, the Water Quality Index appears in the USA, developed by the National Sanitation Foundation, one of the most used methods currently for monitoring water quality, using variables that reflect the changes that have occurred in the hydrographic basin region. This method was adapted for use in Brazil by the Environmental Company of the state of São Paulo (CETESB) and the variables used to calculate the WQI in this adaptation, as well as their relative weights, are the same regardless of the location where the water resource is inserted. Thus, this study aims to show that the relative weights of these variables do not reflect the reality of all locations, and for the case study in Mirim Lagoon, variables with less theoretical relative weight can influence the final result of the WQI in greater quantities, as observed by the correlation between phosphorus-WQI at points ML4 and ML5 of Mirim Lagoon, a correlation that overcomes in intensity parameter-WQI correlations of variables with higher theoretical weights. The use of statistical correlation methods makes it possible to make well-supported inferences about the monitoring data used, showing that variables with less expression within the calculation of the WQI may, indeed, represent great importance in the final result of this index, depending on the factors that influence quality of each water resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to translate the Pictorial Scale of Physical Self-Concept for Brazilian Children (PSPPS-BR) into the Brazilian-Portuguese language, conduct a transcultural adaptation of it, and investigate its validity. Method: The authors adopted the reverse translation procedures to obtain the PSPPS-BR's Brazilian-Portuguese version. Three motor behavior experts assessed the scale items' clarity and pertinence. Ten professionals participated in the face validity study. Children (N = 300; 150 girls and 150 boys; 8–10 years old; Mage = 9.0, SD = 0.81) were randomly selected from six schools in Brazil and assessed using the PSPPS-BR, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence, and the Self-Perception Profile for Children. The children (N = 100) were reassessed for test–retest reliability. Results: High clarity and pertinence agreement among experts (content validity coefficient from 98.4% to 100%; Gwet's agreement coefficient from.85 to 1.00, p <.001) and among professionals (content validity coefficient clarity: 83–100%, relevance: 90–100%) were obtained. The confirmatory factorial analysis showed adequate model fits (root mean square error of approximation =.067; comparative fit index =.968; Tukey–Lewis index =.949). Polychoric correlations showed an adequate internal consistency for total scale (α =.78) and items (alpha from.73 to.78). The intraclass coefficient correlation shown strong test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient >.95). Conclusion: The PSPPS-BR showed adequate validity and reliability for Brazilian children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that mainly affects the axial and sacroiliac joints. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding cytokines have been associated with AS, which can interfere with the production of these cytokines and contribute to the development of AS. In order to contribute to a better understanding of the pathology of AS, our objective was to investigate a possible association of the IL10 −1082 A>G SNP (rs1800896) with AS and to evaluate the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-17F in AS patients and controls comparing them with their respective genotypes (TNF rs1800629, IL10 rs1800896, IL17A rs2275913, and IL17F rs763780). Patients and controls were selected from the Maringá University Hospital and the Maringá Rheumatism Clinic, in Paraná State, Southern Brazil, and they were diagnosed by the ASAS Criteria. In total, 149 patients and 169 controls were genotyped for the IL10 −1082 A>G polymorphism using a polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP); the measurement of TNF-α serum levels was performed through the immunofluorimetric test and IL-10, IL-17A, and IL-17F using an ELISA test. There was a high frequency of the IL10 −1082 G allele in AS patients compared with controls with an odds ratio of 1.83 and 95% confidence interval of 1.32 to 2.54, and a significant difference in the genotype frequencies of the IL10 −1082 A/G+G/G between patients and healthy controls, with an odds ratio of 3.01 and 95% confidence interval of 1.75 to 5.17. In addition, increased serum levels of IL-10 were observed in AS patients: 2.38 (IQR, 0.91) pg/ml compared with controls 1.72 (IQR 0.93) pg/ml (P = 0.01). Our results also showed an association between IL17F rs763780 C/T+T/T genotypes and increased serum levels of IL-17F in patients with AS and also in controls. We can conclude that patients with the A/G and G/G genotypes for −1082 A>G (rs1800896) in the IL10 gene are three times more likely to develop AS, that the serum level of IL-10 was higher in AS patients and that the IL17F rs763780 polymorphism can affect the levels of IL-17F in the serum of patients and controls in the same way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines and extinctions are increasing globally and challenge conservationists to keep pace with biodiversity monitoring. Organisms leave DNA traces in the environment, e.g., in soil, water, and air. These DNA traces are referred to as environmental DNA (eDNA). The analysis of eDNA is a highly sensitive method with the potential to rapidly assess local diversity and the status of threatened species. We searched for DNA traces of 30 target amphibian species of conservation concern, at different levels of threat, using an environmental DNA metabarcoding approach, together with an extensive sequence reference database to analyse water samples from six montane sites in the Atlantic Coastal Forest and adjacent Cerrado grasslands of Brazil. We successfully detected DNA traces of four declined species (Hylodes ornatus, Hylodes regius, Crossodactylus timbuhy, and Vitreorana eurygnatha); two locally disappeared (Phasmahyla exilis and Phasmahyla guttata); and one species that has not been seen since 1968 (putatively assigned to Megaelosia bocainensis). We confirm the presence of species undetected by traditional methods, underscoring the efficacy of eDNA metabarcoding for biodiversity monitoring at low population densities, especially in megadiverse tropical sites. Our results support the potential application of eDNA in conservation biology, to evaluate persistence and distribution of threatened species in surveyed habitats or sites, and improve accuracy of red lists, especially for species undetected over long periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work–family interface can be viewed as a process in which daily fluctuations in work demands and resources influence family functioning and behavior, and vice versa. This study aimed to test the daily processes of both directions of the work–family interface through two studies. The first study consisted of 103 male and female workers from 17 Brazilian states. The participants' ages ranged from 20 to 61 years (M = 33.68; SD = 9.13). Each participant answered a daily questionnaire over the course of 10 days, totaling 1,030 answers. The second study's sample consisted of 101 male and female workers from 15 states in Brazil. Participants' ages ranged from 20 to 62 years (M = 33.77; SD = 8.46). Each participant answered the daily questionnaire over the course of ten days, with the number of answers totaling 1,010. The first study showed that at the daily level, perceived work-related demands and social support at work were significantly related to family satisfaction. The second study indicated that at the daily level, perceived family demands and family social support showed significant associations with job satisfaction. Positive affect had a mediating role in these relationships, whereas the use of problem-solving coping strategies had a moderating role. Both studies also showed that the relationships identified remain significant when the variables were tested at different times: independent variables, mediating variable and moderator variable on one day, and the dependent variable on the following day. Day-to-day implications for organizations are discussed, and suggestions for a future research agenda on the work–family interface are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Universitas Psychologica is the property of Pontificia Universidad Javeriana 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.)

Background: This study extended previous research by investigating the combined effects of neonatal birth risks, neonatal adverse outcomes, and socioeconomic status on preterm neurodevelopment. Method: A total of 184 preterm infants were assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development III in a follow-up clinic in southern Brazil. Structural equation modeling was conducted with 3 latent variables (neonatal birth risks, neonatal adverse outcomes, and socioeconomic status) and 3 outcomes (cognitive, language, and motor development). Results: The analyses showed that neonatal adverse outcomes were associated with infants' cognitive (b = –0.45, P <.001), language (b = –0.23, P =.001), and motor (b = –0.51, P <.001) development. Socioeconomic status also explained the variances (cognitive: b = 0.20, P =.006; language: b = 0.28, P =.001; and motor: b = 0.21, P =.004), whereas neonatal birth risks remained significant only in the motor development (b = 0.15, P =.040). Conclusion: This study suggests that the most evident contributors to poor neurodevelopment were adverse outcomes and socioeconomic risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periodontitis (PD) is a chronic inflammatory process resulting from the relationship of the immune response with the components in dental plaque. Cytokines and their genetic polymorphisms seem to be involved in the immunopathogenesis of this disease. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of IL16 polymorphism with PD. A case-control study was conducted in a sample of individuals from southern Brazil. The genotyping of IL16, rs11556218 T>G, rs4072111 C>T e rs4778889 T>C, was performed using the PCR-RFLP methodology. The serum level of IL-16 was determined using an IL-16 ELISA kit for humans. SNPStats and OpenEpi software and Wilcoxon's U test were used to perform statistical analysis. IL16 rs11556218 polymorphism was significantly associated to PD in nonsmoking patients: individuals with G/G genotype were less likely to develop PD compared to the T/T genotype (OR = 0.10; Pc = 0.019, codominant model). In addition, the TTT haplotype was associated with a high risk for PD (OR = 2.45; P = 0.01). A low IL-16 serum level was observed among individuals with PD when compared to controls (P = 0.027). Thus, the IL16 rs16556218 polymorphism and the serum levels of IL-16 were associated with periodontitis in a Brazilian sample, and this was influenced by environmental factors such as smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) for Brazilian infants. Methods: The study was conducted with 20 health professionals and 655 Brazilian infants (between 34 weeks of Post-Menstrual Age and 17 weeks Corrected Age). Results: (1) Content validity: High concordance among the experts, for language clarity and pertinence, were found (ICC from.74 to.100; AC1 from.87 to 1.00); (2) Inter-rater, intra-rater, and test-retest reliability: Strong inter (α from.65 to.99) and intra (α from.97 to.99) raters agreement, and high test-retest reliability (r = 1.00; ICC = 1.00); (3) Internal consistency: Excellent internal consistency (α from.71 to.98); (4) Discriminant validity: Significant power to identify groups at-risk for delays (p <.0001); (5) Predictive validity: Capability to predict motor delay (r.55 to.89) was found; and, (6) Concurrent validity: Significant (p <.05) and low correlations at the first months (τ.21 to.24) and weak to moderate correlations at 3 and 4 month-old (τ.42 and.44, respectively) were observed between the TIMP and Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Conclusions: The results provide evidence of validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the TIMP for Brazilian infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manihot esculenta Crantz is originally from the Amazon region of Brazil, which has the highest genetic diversity. Due to the wide adaptation of cassava to the most diverse environments, the evolutionary forces acted on the crop, resulting in a more complex genetic structure. This study evaluated the population structure and the genetic diversity through 25 SSR markers of 144 sweet cassava accessions collected in seven places in the south of Brazil. All the loci analyzed were polymorphic and showed several alleles per loci with a mean of 3.36 alleles and 38 rare alleles in the population. The mean value of polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.488, which indicates that the markers were informative and the mean observed heterozygosity was 0.644, while the mean expected heterozygosity was 0.557. The sweet cassava accessions were divided into 10 groups based on the population structure analysis. There was a moderate genetic differentiation (PhiPT = 0.106) among the sweet cassava subpopulations. The wide genetic variability among the studied accessions of sweet cassava demonstrates the importance of the emergency in the conservation of plants in germplasm banks, because the intense change in agriculture; the expansion of areas occupied by soybeans, corn, and other crops; and also the farmers' migration from rural areas to urban areas reduced cassava cultivation over time, and as a consequence, genetic variability has been lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D, together with its nuclear receptor (VDR), plays an important role in modulating the immune response, decreasing the inflammatory process. Some polymorphisms of the VDR gene, such as Bsm I (G>A rs1544410) , Apa I (G>T rs7975232), and Taq I (T>C rs731236) could affect its stability and mRNA transcription activity, while Fok I T>C (rs2228570) gives a truncated protein with three fewer amino acids and more efficiency in binding vitamin D. This study evaluated these four polymorphisms in the immunopathogenesis of leprosy in 404 patients and 432 control individuals without chronic or infectious disease in southern Brazil. When analyzing differences in the allele and genotype frequency of polymorphisms between patients (leprosy per se , multibacillary, and paucibacillary clinical forms) and controls, we found no statistically significant association. Regarding haplotype analysis, the bAt haplotype was associated with protection from leprosy per se (P = 0.004, OR = 0.34, CI = 0.16–0.71) and from the multibacillary clinical form (P = 0.005, OR = 0.30, CI = 0.13–0.70). In individuals aged 40 or more years, this haplotype has also showed protection against leprosy per se and multibacillary (OR = 0.26, CI = 0.09–0.76; OR = 0.26, CI = 0.07–0.78, respectively), while the BAt haplotype was a risk factor for leprosy per se in the same age group (OR = 1.34, CI = 1.04–1.73). In conclusion, despite having found no associations between the VDR gene polymorphisms with the development of leprosy, the haplotypes formed by the Bsm I, Apa I, and Taq I polymorphisms were associated with leprosy per se and the multibacillary clinical form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence (PMSC) was developed to assess young children's perceptions of competence in fundamental motor skills (FMS) and in active play (AP). The objectives of the present study were to assess validity and reliability with Brazilian children. Nineteen health-related professionals and 331 children (4 to 8 years old) were enrolled in the study. Kappa concordance coefficient, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), polychoric correlations, and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were used. The back-reverse translation prevents the bias of a single translation. Experts and professionals confirmed the clarity and pertinence of the items with high agreement scores (values >.90). Test-retest reliability results showed strong ICC (values >.90). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient showed good internal consistency (α values from.70–.85). The CFA showed appropriate fit indexes for a three-factor model (i.e., six object control, six locomotion, and six AP items) and a two-factor model (i.e., 12 FMS and six AP items). However, the two-factor model showed superior indexes (χ2/df = 3.1; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation =.06; Goodness-Of-Fit Index =.90; Comparative Fit Index =.91; Akaike Information Criterion = 485.8). The PMSC is a valid and reliable assessment to use in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We compared children with, at-risk for, or without developmental coordination disorder (DCD) on the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2) and the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) through (a) correlations, (b) gender and age comparisons, (c) cross tab analyses, and (d) factor analyses. Method: Children (N = 424; age range: 4–10 years) from southern Brazil completed the TGMD-2 and MABC and placed into groups (DCD: ≤ 5th%, n = 58; at-risk: > 5th to ≤ 15th%, n = 133; typically developing (TD) >16th%, n = 233). Results: The strongest correlation was between total performance on the TGMD-2 and MABC (r =.37). No gender differences were found for performance on the MABC while boys performed better than girls on the TGMD-2. Cross tab analyses indicated a high level of agreement for children who performed in the lowest percentiles on each assessment. Factor analyses suggested that, for both the TD and at-risk groups, three factors loaded on the motor assessments. In contrast, the DCD group loaded on a sport skill, general skill, and a manipulative skill factor, accounting for 42.3% of the variance. Conclusions:: Evidence suggests that children who perform very poorly on one assessment are likely to perform poorly on the other. Children with DCD may have sports-related skill deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Exact Sciences is the property of Master Editora 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.)

The pictorial scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence (PMSC) was developed to assess young children's perceptions of competence in fundamental motor skills (FMS) and in active play (AP). The objectives of the present study were to assess validity and reliability with Brazilian children. Nineteen health-related professionals and 331 children (4 to 8 years old) were enrolled in the study. Kappa concordance coefficient, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), polychoric correlations, and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were used. The back-reverse translation prevents the bias of a single translation. Experts and professionals confirmed the clarity and pertinence of the items with high agreement scores (values >.90). Test-retest reliability results showed strong ICC (values >.90). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient showed good internal consistency (α values from.70–.85). The CFA showed appropriate fit indexes for a three-factor model (i.e., six object control, six locomotion, and six AP items) and a two-factor model (i.e., 12 FMS and six AP items). However, the two-factor model showed superior indexes (χ2/df = 3.1; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation =.06; Goodness-Of-Fit Index =.90; Comparative Fit Index =.91; Akaike Information Criterion = 485.8). The PMSC is a valid and reliable assessment to use in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Assessing children's motor skills is important for identifying children with delays, measuring learning, and determining teaching effectiveness. One popular assessment for measuring fundamental motor skills in children is the Test of Gross Motor Development‐2 (TGMD‐2). Although the TGMD‐2 long form is widely known, a short form of the TGMD‐2 has not been yet proposed and investigated. The aim of this study was to develop a short form of the TGMD‐2 and to examine its validity, interrater reliability and test–retest reliability. Method: Data from 2,463 Brazilian children were analyzed. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate the validity of reducing the number of TGMD‐2 skills. Results: The short‐form version of the TGMD‐2 with six skills has appropriate indices of confirmatory factorial validity (root mean square error of approximation: 0.06, 90% confidence interval [0.06, 0.07]; comparative fit index: 0.94; normed fit index: 0.94: Tucker–Lewis index: 0.83; goodness‐of‐fit index: 0.98; adjusted goodness‐of‐fit index: 0.95), internal consistency (α = 0.70 for the overall test), interrater and intrarater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients values from 0.81 to 0.96) and test–retest reliability (r values from 0.55 to 0.95). Conclusions: From these findings, practitioners now have a valid and reliable, short form of the TGMD‐2 for use in assessing children's motor skill competence; promoting wider use of the test for screening and pedagogical purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being at risk or in social vulnerability situations can affect important aspects of child development. The aim of this study was to investigate fundamental motor skills (locomotor and object control) and school (writing, arithmetic, reading) performances, the perceived competence and the nutritional status of girls and boys living in social vulnerability in the poorest regions of Brazil. Two hundred eleven (211) children (87 girls, 41%), 7–10-year-old (M = 8.3, SD = 0.9), from public schools in Ceará (Brazil), living in social vulnerability, participated in the study. Children were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development – 2, the Body Mass Index (BMI), the Self-Perception Profile for Children, and the School Performance Test. Multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), adjusted for age, did not show any significant effect for locomotion. There was an effect of gender on the object control. Boys showed higher scores in striking, kicking, throwing, and rolling a ball. Quade's nonparametric analysis showed no difference in BMI between the genders. Most children presented healthy weight. The MANCOVA showed no effect of gender on children’s scores on perceived competence on the subscales; moderate scores were found for most children. There were no gender effects on school performance; both boys and girls demonstrated inferior performance. Boys and girls in social vulnerability showed inferior performance in most motor skills, moderate perceived competence and inferior school performance. These results reveal that the appropriate development of these children is at risk and that intervention strategies should be implemented to compensate the difficulties presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Paideia (0103863X) is the property of Paideia 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.)

The Test of Gross Motor Development is used to identify children's level of motor proficiency, specifically to detect motor delays. This study aimed to translate the TGMD-3 items and assess reliability and content and construct validity for the TGMD-3 in Brazil. A cross-cultural translation was used to generate a Brazilian Portuguese version of the TGMD-3. The validation process involved 33 professionals and 597 Brazilian children (ages 3-10) from the five main geographic regions of Brazil. The results confirmed language clarity and pertinence, as well as face validity of the TGMD-3. High intrarater (.60 to .90) and interrater (.85 to .99) reliability was evident, and test-retest temporal stability was confirmed (locomotor .93; ball skills .81). Adequate internal consistency was present for the skills-to-test and subtests correlations (TGMD-3-BR: α .74; locomotor skills: α .63; ball skills: α .76) and performance-criteria-to-test and -subtest correlations (TGMD-3: α .93; locomotor skills: .90; ball skills: .88). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the construct validity of a two-factor model (RMSEA = .04, 90% confidence interval: .03 to .05; CFI = .94; NFI = .91; TLI = .92; GFI = .94; AGFI = .92). The TGMD-3 is a valid and reliable instrument for Brazilian children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Estimates of the prevalence of developmental coordination disorder range from 1.7% to 19%, raising concerns about the discriminative ability of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). Aims: We compared MABC performance of children aged 4-12 years from the USA and Brazil. We aimed to examine: a) the prevalence of motor impairment across countries; b) age band and sex differences across countries; c) the test's ability to discriminate and predict motor impairment; and d) to identify the discriminating capacity of each MABC subtest. Methods: Children (n=1055) from Brazil and the USA were included in the present study. MABC cut-off points (typical development: above 15%, at risk: 6-15%; developmental coordination disorder: 0-5%) and discriminant analyses were used. Findings: Prevalence of probable developmental coordination disorder (24.1%) and at risk (16.2%) was higher in the Brazilian sample. Higher prevalence of probable developmental coordination disorder was observed among girls and among children aged 11-12 years old for the Brazilian sample and among boys and among children aged 9-12 years old for the American sample. Differences in scores across countries were only observed for children with typical development in manual dexterity and balance skills. The MABC discriminant functions were able to predict the classification of children into typical development, at risk, and probable developmental coordination disorder. The manual dexterity subtest was the strongest predictor for both samples, whereas the ball skills subtest was the weakest predictor. Conclusions: Differences for prevalence were found across countries. American results were similar with current estimates relative to incidence and gender; for Brazilian children, prevalence was near three times higher and more persistent among girls. Overall, in both countries the motor difficulties demonstrated by children with probable and at risk of developmental coordination disorder were similar for all tasks. The MABC showed predictably and discriminant capacity in the identification of children with probable and at risk developmental coordination disorder in both countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. is a plant of the Malvaceae family, commonly known as roselle. H. sabdariffa is known to contain antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, antiobesity, insulin resistance reduction, antihypertensive, and skin cancer chemopreventive properties. This study evaluated the effects of H. sabdariffa aqueous extract against cyclophosphamide (CPA, 25 mg/Kg) induced damage to DNA in male Wistar rats by micronucleus test. Samples of H. sabdariffa calyx were obtained in the municipality of Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The aqueous extract was prepared by infusion and each animal received a daily dose of 400 mg/Kg by gavage for 15 consecutive days of treatment. The presence of anthocyanins was confirmed by ferric chloride test and phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography, with emphasis on the identification of rutin. The animals were sacrificed by deepening of anaesthesia to obtain bone marrow and determination of the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes. The group treated with the aqueous extract of H. sabdariffa revealed a 91% reduction in micronucleus frequency when compared with the positive control group. Under the conditions tested, H. sabdariffa L. presented a protective effect to CPA-induced damage to DNA of the treated animals, and it is a potential candidate as a chemopreventive agent against carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to assess the distribution of alleles and genotypes of the blood group systems Rh, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, and Diego in 251 regular blood donors registered in the hemotherapy unit of the Southwestern region of Paraná, Southern Brazil. The frequencies were obtained by direct counting on a spreadsheet program and statistical analyses were conducted in order to compare them with other Brazilian populations using chi-squared with Yates correction on OpenEpi software. The frequencies of RHD* negative, RHCE*c/c and RHCE*e/e were higher than expected for the Caucasian population. A difference was also observed for FY alleles, FY*01/FY*01 genotype and FY*02N.01 -67T/C (GATA Box mutation). Two homozygous individuals were defined as a low frequency phenotype K + k− ( KEL*01.01/KEL*01.01 ) and, for Diego blood group system the rare DI*01 allele was found in ten blood donors, of which one was DI*01/DI* 01 (0.4%). The allele and genotype frequencies of Kidd blood group system were similar to expected to Caucasians. The results showed the direction in which to choose donors, the importance of extended genotyping in adequate blood screening and the existence of rare genotypes in Brazilian regular blood donors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Infant developmental delays have been associated with several risk factors, such as familial environmental, individual and demographic characteristics. The goal of this study was to longitudinally investigate the effects of maternal knowledge and practices, home environment and biological factors on infant motor and cognitive outcomes. Methods This was a prospective cohort study with a sample of 49 infants from Southern Brazil. The infants were assessed three times over 4 months using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale and the Bayley Scale of Infant Development (Mental Development Scale). Parents completed the Daily Activities Scale of Infants, the Affordances in The Home Environment for Motor Development - Infant Scale, the Knowledge of Infant Development Inventory and a demographic questionnaire. Generalized estimating equation with Bonferroni method as the follow-up test and Spearman correlation and multivariate linear backward regression were used. Results Cognitive and motor scores were strongly associated longitudinally and increased over time. Associations between the home affordances, parental practices and knowledge, and motor and cognitive development over time were observed. This relationship explained more variability in motor and cognitive scores compared with biological factors . Conclusions Variability in motor and cognitive development is better explained by environment and parental knowledge and practice. The investigation of factors associated with infant development allows the identification of infants at risk and the implementation of educational programs and parental training to minimize the effects of developmental delay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The lack of Brazilian norms restrains the use of the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) to precisely categorize infant motor development and discriminate infants with motor difficulties from typically developing infants.Objective: This study investigated reference values for the AIMS for Brazilian infants.Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study of infants from birth-to-18 months old. Trained professionals assessed infants in daycares, homes, and governmental health centers.Results: Results showed increases in raw scores across age groups from 0- to 15-months of age. The stability of raw scores was observed after 16 months of age. Brazilian infants demonstrated lower scores in specific ages compared to the Canadian sample.Conclusions: Canadian and Brazilian children showed differences in motor performance scores across age and norms were established for Brazilian infants. This study highlights the importance to establish reference values for AIMS of infants across cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE Determine the outcomes and interventions for patients undergoing cardiac catheterization with nursing diagnosis of impaired tissue integrity. METHODS Survey with e-questionnaires sent for expert nurses in two rounds. FINDINGS Only one nursing outcome was approved: tissue integrity-skin and mucosa and five related interventions, namely, pressure control, topical drug administration, care of incision site, care of injuries, and infection control. CONCLUSIONS The expected outcomes and the most significant interventions for the implementation of nursing care during the immediate recovery of patients with impaired tissue integrity following invasive hemodynamic procedures were defined. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE The study findings support selection of appropriate nursing outcomes and interventions for this patient profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rh blood group system is one of the most complex, polymorphic and immunogenic blood group systems in humans. Some individuals produce a weak or a partial D as a result of RHD and RHCE gene conversion events and RHD point mutations. Because the incidence of RHD variants differs considerably among ethnic groups, the objective of this study was to establish the frequency of blood donors carrying some weak and partial RHD, at the molecular level, in 400 blood donors from the North/Northwest of the state of Parana, Southern Brazil. Another 30 blood donors whose RhD typing results in serology were inconclusive were also included. In this mixed Brazilian population, the most frequent weak D types were 1, 4, 3 and 2 (frequencies of 4.35%, 2.32%, 1.46% and 0.29%, respectively; total of 8.41%) and partial D was found in 2.90% of samples carrying the RHD gene. For samples with inconclusive RhD typing, 53.33% of them presented weak and partial RHD, and 43.75% had concomitantly more than one RHD variant. Our results demonstrate the presence of Caucasian and African D variants. This knowledge can contribute to the safety of transfusion strategies in this ethnic admixture population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to find the social and environmental management of sugarcane and brown sugar production in the riverside community of Varginha, in Santo Antônio de Leverger, MT, Brazil. We used semi-structured interviews with open questions and direct observation for the descriptive treatment. In the only remaining mill on site, four brothers work in consortium using the knowledge they have learned from their ancestors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to examine sex and age differences in fundamental motor skills (FMS) and to describe the prevalence of low motor proficiency and mastery competence. The Test of Gross Motor Development--Second Edition was used to assess 2,377 children (3-10 years old) from eight states and 75 schools in Brazil. The results showed that (a) boys are more proficient than girls in the majority of FMS, (b) FMS development begins to plateau at age 7, (c) low motor proficiency is present at age 10 for several FMS, and (d) mastery competence was achieved by only a small number of children. These findings suggest that increased opportunities to engage in physical activity that promotes FMS competence are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]