Repositório RCAAP

Although the primary stability of joint implants is fundamental for successful osseointegration, little is know about this issue in the context of stemless shoulder implants. Considering 3D finite element models, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the primary stability of five stemless designs, based on the Sidus, SMR, Simpliciti, Eclipse, and Global Icon stemless systems. Three alternative bone quality conditions were considered for cancellous bone. For the Sidus, SMR, and Simpliciti designs, which do not possess a collar that sits on the cortical rim of the humeral resected surface, contact and no contact conditions were considered between the bone surface and the humeral head components. Micromotions at bone-implant interfaces promoting osseointegration were computed as a measure of primary stability for eight load cases consisting of peak in vivo joint loads measured during selected upper limb activities. Under good bone quality conditions, all stemless designs presented micromotions below 150 μm. The Eclipse-based and Global-Icon based designs were the least sensitive to bone quality. Stemless designs presenting a solid collar or contact between the humeral head component and bone provided more stability. Overall, the Eclipse-based and Global Icon-based designs presented the best performance from the primary stability point of view. However, if bone adaptation data available in the literature are considered along with the primary stability data computed here, the Global Icon-based design, as well as other designs, might be considered superior long-term options due to their better compromise between primary stability and impact on bone adaptation.

Objective: To test motor fiber excitability in early affected patients with transthyretin (TTR)-type familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) before and during tafamidis treatment. Methods: We examined the left median nerve of 21 healthy-matched controls and 10 early affected TTR-FAP patients using the automated threshold-tracking program, QTRAC. TTR-FAP patients were tested one day before the initiation of tafamidis treatment, 3 and 6 months later. Results: The drug was well-tolerated in all patients; there was no drop-out. No statistical difference was found between healthy controls and TTR-FAP patients at study entry. On treatment, both stimulus intensity for 50% of the maximal motor response and rheobase increased significantly from entry to the last evaluation at 6 months (P<0.05). Strength duration time constant decreased significantly from the 3rd to the 6th month of evaluation (P<0.05). There was also a "fanning-out" effect on the late depolarization phase (TEd 90-100ms) as well as a shortened relative refractory period from study entry to the 6th month of evaluation. Conclusions: Threshold-tracking of median nerve motor fibers is not a helpful technique for the early diagnosis of TTR-FAP patients. Tafamidis was well-tolerated. We observed possible membrane hyperpolarization during treatment. Threshold tracking can contribute to documenting the action of new drugs to treat neuropathies. Tafamidis may change nerve electrical properties by reducing the burden of amyloid fibrils.

Rationale: The nuclear receptor retinoid X receptor (RXR) belongs to a nuclear receptor superfamily that modulates diverse functions via homodimerization with itself or several other nuclear receptors, including PPARα. While the activation of PPARα by natural or synthetic agonists regulates the sleep-wake cycle, the role of RXR in the sleep modulation is unknown. Objectives: We investigated the effects of bexarotene (Bexa, a RXR agonist) or UVI 3003 (UVI, a RXR antagonist) on sleep, sleep homeostasis, levels of neurochemical related to sleep modulation, and c-Fos and NeuN expression. Methods: The sleep-wake cycle and sleep homeostasis were analyzed after application of Bexa or UVI. Moreover, we also evaluated whether Bexa or UVI could induce effects on dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine epinephrine, adenosine, and acetylcholine contents, collected from either the nucleus accumbens or basal forebrain. In addition, c-Fos and NeuN expression in the hypothalamus was determined after Bexa or UVI treatments. Results: Systemic application of Bexa (1 mM, i.p.) attenuated slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. In addition, Bexa increased the levels of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine epinephrine, adenosine, and acetylcholine sampled from either the nucleus accumbens or basal forebrain. Moreover, Bexa blocked the sleep rebound period after total sleep deprivation, increased in the hypothalamus the expression of c-Fos, and decreased NeuN activity. Remarkably, UVI 3003 (1 mM, i.p.) induced opposite effects in sleep, sleep homeostasis, neurochemicals levels, and c-Fos and NeuN activity. Conclusions: The administration of RXR agonist or antagonist significantly impaired the sleep-wake cycle and exerted effects on the levels of neurochemicals related to sleep modulation. Moreover, Bexa or UVI administration significantly affected c-Fos and NeuN expression in the hypothalamus. Our findings highlight the neurobiological role of RXR on sleep modulation.

Importance: The APOE ε2 and APOE ε4 alleles are the strongest protective and risk-increasing, respectively, genetic variants for late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the mechanisms linking APOE to AD-particularly the apoE protein's role in AD pathogenesis and how this is affected by APOE variants-remain poorly understood. Identifying missense variants in addition to APOE ε2 and APOE ε4 could provide critical new insights, but given the low frequency of additional missense variants, AD genetic cohorts have previously been too small to interrogate this question robustly. Objective: To determine whether rare missense variants on APOE are associated with AD risk. Design, setting, and participants: Association with case-control status was tested in a sequenced discovery sample (stage 1) and followed up in several microarray imputed cohorts as well as the UK Biobank whole-exome sequencing resource using a proxy-AD phenotype (stages 2 and 3). This study combined case-control, family-based, population-based, and longitudinal AD-related cohorts that recruited referred and volunteer participants. Stage 1 included 37 409 nonunique participants of European or admixed European ancestry, with 11 868 individuals with AD and 11 934 controls passing analysis inclusion criteria. In stages 2 and 3, 475 473 participants were considered across 8 cohorts, of which 84 513 individuals with AD and proxy-AD and 328 372 controls passed inclusion criteria. Selection criteria were cohort specific, and this study was performed a posteriori on individuals who were genotyped. Among the available genotypes, 76 195 were excluded. All data were retrieved between September 2015 and November 2021 and analyzed between April and November 2021. Main outcomes and measures: In primary analyses, the AD risk associated with each missense variant was estimated, as appropriate, with either linear mixed-model regression or logistic regression. In secondary analyses, associations were estimated with age at onset using linear mixed-model regression and risk of conversion to AD using competing-risk regression. Results: A total of 544 384 participants were analyzed in the primary case-control analysis; 312 476 (57.4%) were female, and the mean (SD; range) age was 64.9 (15.2; 40-110) years. Two missense variants were associated with a 2-fold to 3-fold decreased AD risk: APOE ε4 (R251G) (odds ratio, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.33-0.59; P = 4.7 × 10-8) and APOE ε3 (V236E) (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.25-0.56; P = 1.9 × 10-6). Additionally, the cumulative incidence of AD in carriers of these variants was found to grow more slowly with age compared with noncarriers. Conclusions and relevance: In this genetic association study, a novel variant associated with AD was identified: R251G always coinherited with ε4 on the APOE gene, which mitigates the ε4-associated AD risk. The protective effect of the V236E variant, which is always coinherited with ε3 on the APOE gene, was also confirmed. The location of these variants confirms that the carboxyl-terminal portion of apoE plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. The large risk reductions reported here suggest that protein chemistry and functional assays of these variants should be pursued, as they have the potential to guide drug development targeting APOE.

Background: Adolescent childbirth is a major public health problem in Sao Tome and Principe (STP). Adolescent pregnancy and childbirth can carry a risk of morbidity associated with the physiological and sociological characteristics of teenage girls. This study aims to identify the main adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes for adolescent pregnancies in the Hospital Dr. Ayres de Menezes (HAM), the only hospital in STP. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study. Pregnant women ≤ 19 years of age (n = 104) were compared to non-adolescent women (n = 414). The obstetric and perinatal outcomes were compared between groups using the t test. Odds ratio (OR) were calculated through Cochran's and Mantel-Haenszel statistics test for odds ratio equal to 1, 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p values (p < 0.05) were considered significant. Results: The adverse perinatal outcomes imputable to adolescent births were foetal distress with low first minute Apgar score < 7 (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.18-3.18, p = 0.009) and performance of neonatal resuscitation manoeuvres (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.07-5.38, p = 0.032). Compared to older mothers, teenage girls were likely to have a non-statistically significant threefold higher risk of having an obstructed labour (OR 3.40, 95% CI 0.89-12.94, p = 0.07). Other perinatal outcomes as neonatal asphyxia, risk for cerebral palsy, premature birth, early neonatal infection, and neonatal death were identical between groups as well as maternal anaemia, mode of delivery or other obstetrical outcomes. Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancies were associated with worse perinatal outcomes as foetal distress and higher need for neonatal resuscitation manoeuvres. This study may support STP health authorities in their efforts to make Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education) and 5 (gender equality) a reality by 2030, since it identifies specific problems that need to be addressed to improve maternal adolescent health.

Intracellular pathogens manipulate host cells to survive and thrive. Cellular sensing and signaling pathways are among the key host machineries deregulated to favor infection. In this study, we show that liver-stage Plasmodium parasites compete with the host to sequester a host endosomal-adaptor protein (APPL1) known to regulate signaling in response to endocytosis. The enrichment of APPL1 at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) involves an atypical Plasmodium Rab5 isoform (Rab5b). Depletion of host APPL1 alters neither the infection nor parasite development; however, upon overexpression of a GTPase-deficient host Rab5 mutant (hRab5_Q79L), the parasites are smaller and their PVM is stripped of APPL1. Infection with the GTPase-deficient Plasmodium berghei Rab5b mutant (PbRab5b_Q91L) in this case rescues the PVM APPL1 signal and parasite size. In summary, we observe a robust correlation between the level of APPL1 retention at the PVM and parasite size during exoerythrocytic development.

Context.—: There is a need to avoid the overdiagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) and to find more specific biomarkers. Objective.—: To evaluate the clinical utility of [-2]pro-prostate-specific antigen ([-2]proPSA) derivatives in detecting clinically significant PCa (csPCa) and to compare it with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and with the percentage of free PSA (%fPSA). Design.—: Two hundred thirty-seven men (PSA: 2-10 ng/mL) scheduled for a prostate biopsy were enrolled. Parametric and nonparametric tests, receiver operating characteristic curves, and logistic regression analysis were applied. Outcomes were csPCa and overall PCa. Results.—: Both [-2]proPSA derivatives were significantly higher in csPCa and overall PCa (P < .001). The areas under the curves for the prediction of csPCa were higher for the percentage of [-2]proPSA (%[-2]proPSA) (0.781) and the prostate health index (PHI) (0.814) than for PSA (0.651) and %fPSA (0.724). There was a gain of 11% in diagnostic accuracy when %[-2]proPSA or PHI were added to a base model with PSA and %fPSA. Twenty-five percent to 29% of biopsies could have been spared with %[-2]proPSA (cutoff: ≥1.25%) and PHI (cutoff: ≥27), missing 10% of csPCas. The same results could have been achieved by using [-2]proPSA as a reflex test, when %fPSA was 25% or less (cutoffs: ≥1.12% and ≥24 for %[-2]proPSA and PHI, respectively). Conclusions.—: The [-2]proPSA derivatives improve the diagnostic accuracy of csPCa when the PSA value is between 2 and 10 ng/mL, sparing unnecessary biopsies and selecting patients for active surveillance. [-2]proPSA can be used as a reflex test when %fPSA is 25% or less, without reducing the diagnostic accuracy for csPCa and the number of spared biopsies.

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a collective term that refers to complaints of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, fatigue and/or pain of the craniocervical muscles, limitation of movement of the mandible, and TMJ noises. Sleep bruxism (SB) is a disorder involving rhythmic (phasic) or non-rhythmic (tonic) masticatory muscle activity during sleep and is not a movement disorder or a sleep disorder in otherwise healthy individuals. The present study aimed to support or reject the null hypothesis that there is no association between SB and TMD. Methods: The study population was recruited from patients who visited the Artmedica Clinic, Mossoro city, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Patients who underwent polysomnography received information about the research and were invited to participate following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study sample consisted of 40 individuals with age ranging from 19 to 76 years. The subjects were administered the questionnaire of the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders (AEDC). Those who answered affirmatively to at least one question of the questionnaire were recommended to visit the primary researcher's dental clinic for examination; those who met the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) were evaluated, and their condition was classified into one or more subtypes of TMD. The subjects were divided into 4 groups according to the polysomnographic findings and the responses to the AEDC questionnaire. Of the 40 individuals who answered the AEDC questionnaire and underwent polysomnography, 28 presented with TMD symptoms. The data were expressed as simple frequency and percentage values using statistical software. Values of p < 0.05 were considered to be significant. Results: The results showed that the frequency of TMD in individuals diagnosed to have SB was 46.4%. According to the DC/TMD of the 28 individuals, the most prevalent TMD subtype was local myalgia (85.7%). Of the total subjects, 32.5% had TMD and SB, 36.4% were males, and in the age range of 31 to 40 years (40%). Conclusion: In this study sample, there was no association between SB as currently defined and TMD, thus confirming previous findings on this topic.

Enquadramento: No estudo do desenvolvimento psicossocial na adolescência atual, destacam-se duas perspectivas: (1) o bem-estar psicológico; e (2) os recursos de desenvolvimento. Objetivo: Neste contexto, procedeu-se à caracterização do bem-estar psicológico e dos recursos de desenvolvimento em adolescentes de uma escola portuguesa. Metodologia: A amostra incluiu 201 alunos do 6º, 9º e 11º anos. Foi utilizado um instrumento de avaliação do bem-estar psicológico e um de avaliação dos recursos de desenvolvimento. Resultados: Apresenta-se a distribuição dos alunos por níveis de bem-estar psicológico e por recursos de desenvolvimento, consideram-se as diferenças significativas entre alunos do 6º, do 9º e do 11º ano nas dimensões do bem-estar psicológico e dos recursos de desenvolvimento, bem como as correlações entre estas dimensões. Conclusões: Apesar da consistência com outros estudos, os resultados permitem levantar questões que tem a ver com a especificidade da amostra. Sugerem-se estudos posteriores.

O panorama da imigração em Portugal alterou-se no final da década de 90 do século XX com a entrada no país de um número expressivo de imigrantes oriundos do Leste da Europa e do Brasil. Nessa data, o colectivo de imigrantes cabo-verdianos, até então o mais numeroso, perdeu a sua posição relativa face aos grupos de imigrantes ucranianos e brasileiros. Esta alteração, no volume e composição da mão-de-obra disponível em Portugal, terá também modificado as opções de contratação dos empregadores, com potenciais impactos na situação laboral dos imigrantes de origem africana. A questão do impacto da entrada de novos fluxos de imigrantes no mercado de trabalhotem merecido uma grande atenção por parte da academia, sobretudo na vertente dosefeitos para trabalhadores nacionais, incluindo minorias étnicas em posição dedesvantagem (caso dos afro-americanos nos Estados Unidos), designadamente pelapossibilidade de conflito que encerra. No entanto, é para outros trabalhadores imigrantes que estes impactos são potencialmente maiores, e, no caso português, a população africana residente foi colectivamente percebida como a mais vulnerável face às novas vagas. O trabalho de investigação desenvolvido recorreu a dados do lado da procura e da ofertade trabalho para reflectir sobre os efeitos subjectivos e objectivos no acesso aoemprego, nos níveis salariais, nas condições de trabalho e na mobilidade geográfica sentidos pelos imigrantes de origem africana neste contexto. Apurou-se que estes efeitos foram distintos por sector de actividade, e para homens e mulheres, e que não se verificaram imediatamente após a entrada, mas foram-se desenrolando ao longo do tempo, tendo sido também influenciados pela conjuntura económica.

A Polineuropatia Amiloidótica Familiar (PAF) é uma doença neurodegenerativa, com manifestações clínicas entre a terceira e a quarta década de vida, associada à deposição de agregados amilóides de transtirretina (TTR) em diversos tecidos. A TTR é produzida maioritariamente pelo fígado. A PAF está associada a mutações pontuais na TTR, desestabilizadoras da sua estrutura tetramérica, levando à formação de monómeros sem a sua estrutura nativa. O diagnóstico da PAF é importante para a aplicação de tratamentos adequados e atempados, e a pesquisa de biomarcadores pré-sintomáticos é vital. A saliva total é um fluído de diagnóstico de confiança e é utilizado para algumas doenças, por ser de recolha e análise fáceis em relação ao sangue, e pelo facto da saliva ter proteínas filtradas a partir do soro. As glândulas salivares em indivíduos com PAF encontram-se infiltradas com depósitos de TTR, pelo que podem ocorrer alterações a nível do proteoma e de modificações pós-traducionais, como a glicação, que podem servir como biomarcadores. Neste trabalho, verificou-se que os perfis electroforéticos da saliva dos indivíduos com PAF se encontram alterados. Foi possível identificar proteínas que não tinham sido identificadas antes na saliva, como a α-sinucleína, sendo que esta mostra um perfil electroforético, por si só, alterado. Estas eram maioritariamente filtradas a partir do soro. Por outro lado, foi observada uma expressão proteica diferencial na saliva dos indivíduos com PAF, sendo que algumas das proteínas identificadas como diferenciadamente expressas, também se encontravam glicadas. A par destes resultados foi verificada a presença de monómeros de TTR em maior quantidade do que o seu tetrâmero, na saliva dos indivíduos PAF. Finalmente, foi possível a identificação de proteínas expressas diferenciadamente na saliva de indivíduos PAF, que podem ser utilizadas como biomarcadores para a PAF, podendo ser consideradas como eventuais biomarcadores pré-sintomáticos.

Esta Newsletter (NL) resulta de uma parceria entre o Instituto de Saúde Baseada na Evidência e a Cochrane Portugal, e tem como objectivo disponibilizar informação sobre áreas importantes para a prática clínica, com base na melhor evidência científica disponível. São incluídos estudos relevantes, criticamente avaliados pela sua validade, importância dos resultados e aplicabilidade prática, resumidos numa óptica de suporte à decisão. É dada prioridade a estudos de causalidade incluindo-se ainda, quando justificado, estudos qualitativos e metodológicos, assim como revisões científicas. O conteúdo da NL é da exclusiva responsabilidade do(s) seu(s) autor(es).

Starting from the development of a set of videos that show a continuous zoom towards or from different windows, this research work explores the way in which the movements of approaching or distancing affect the way we observe something. Playing with the observer and the observed, we explore what happens in the distance between them. Based on Georges Didi-Huberman's work What We See Looks Back at Us, we approach the issue of the visible and how we interpret it beyond it, reflecting on how distance can be a way of building an idea. The window, as an architectural element that separates a public from a private space, allows us both to observe the outside and to imagine what is happening inside. By seeing beyond the visible, the gaze we cast on something can also be returned to us, creating a back-and-forth movement that connects to the zoom in and zoom out technique. The movement of approximation or distancing is also analysed in other references, where the work Wavelength by Michael Snow stands out. Confronting audio-visual and sculptural works that contain or propose movements of approximation and distancing, we will question how distance can reveal as much or more than approximation.

A informação que aparece sistematizada neste capítulo tem como finalidade o estudo da gestão da sala de aula pelos professores, apresentando perspetivas teóricas e investigações empíricas que permitam a sua compreensão e promoção, à luz de contributos situados, sobretudo, no âmbito da Psicologia da Educação. Depois de uma primeira parte a incidir na teoria, apresenta-se uma segunda parte dedicada à investigação e uma terceira parte de aplicação prática. Na primeira parte, as competências de gestão da sala de aula são consideradas na sua multi- dimensionalidade, gestão de conteúdos, gestão de comportamentos e gestão de conflitos. Competências comunicacionais na gestão da sala de aula são descritas no âmbito do Modelo Comunicacional Eclético (MCE), dado que este modelo fornece conceitos, procedimentos e estratégias que, pela sua abrangência e facilidade de aplicação, agilizam a compreensão dos processos que caraterizam as interações na sala de aula. Competências de organização dos espaços e dos tempos aparecem também contempladas, no âmbito da teorização apresentada. Na segunda parte, descreve-se um conjunto de investigações acerca da gestão da sala de aula, diferenciadas em estudos de caraterização e de avaliação, estudos sobre a gestão da sala de aula como variável independente, e estudos sobre a gestão da sala de aula como variável dependente. Na terceira parte, incluem-se propostas de atividades mais práticas e, ainda, sugestões de leitura de aprofundamento do tema gestão da sala de aula, bem como indicações de recursos online.

Introdução: A retenção escolar em Portugal assume valores preocupantes. A análise ao indicador "Percursos Diretos de Sucesso", criado pelo Ministério da Educação, permite perceber que a maioria dos alunos que deveria ter terminado o 3.º ciclo ou o ensino secundário em 2019 não o conseguiu fazer sem reprovar um ano ou ter negativa em, pelo menos, um dos exames nacionais: num universo de456.368 estudantes, apenas 201.937 (44%) tiveram o chamado “percurso direto de sucesso”. (Fonte: http://infoescolas.mec.pt/ 02/2019) Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi averiguar se os alunos que reprovaram de ano foram os que revelaram no inicio do ano letivo menos envolvimento afetivo na escola quando comparados com os alunos que transitaram de ano Métodos: A amostra é constituída por 330 alunos do 10º ano de uma escola secundária do distrito de Lisboa. Para a recolha dos dados foi utilizada a escala Envolvimento dos Alunos na Escola (EAE-E4D), elaborada por Veiga (2013, 2014, 2016), que foi passada no final do primeiro período. Resultados: encontraram-se diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos em todos os itens da dimensão afetiva, tendo o grupo que reprovou piores resultados. Conclusões: conclui-se assim que o envolvimento afetivo dos alunos na escola é importante para o sucesso académico e que aescola deve promover estratégias para promover esse envolvimento no sentido de proporcionar bem-estar aos alunos e prevenira retenção escolar.

O envolvimento dos alunos na escola tem sido associado ao grau de comprometimento com a escola e à motivação para aprender. Vários estudos apontam a falta de envolvimento dos alunos como estando associada ao baixo rendimento académico, a problemas de comportamento e ao abandono escolar. Esta investigação tem como objetivo averiguar se os alunos com retenção escolar no final do ano letivo foram os que manifestaram, no início desse ano escolar (final do primeiro período), menos envolvimento escolar comparativamente com os que não ficaram retidos. A amostra foi constituída por 330 alunos do 10 º ano de escolaridade, de uma Escola Secundária de Lisboa. Foi utilizada a escala de Envolvimento dos Alunos na Escola - E4D-EAE (Veiga, 2013, 2016). Os resultados indicaram que os alunos com retenção escolar no final do ano letivo revelaram no primeiro período níveis mais baixos de envolvimento escolar, a nível Afetivo, Cognitivo e Comportamental, não havendo diferenças na dimensão Agenciativa. Uma regressão logística revelou que, controlando a variável género e área curricular, a dimensão mais importante e preditora da retenção foi a dimensão Afetiva. Tais resultados corroboram estudos revistos e permitem conduzir à elaboração de referências de intervenção psico-educacional junto dos alunos.

Erikson’s psychosocial development is a well-known and sound framework for adolescent development. However, despite its importance in scientific literature, the scarcity of literature reviews on Erikson’s theory on adolescence calls for an up-todate systematization. Therefore, this study’s objectives are to understand the extent and nature of published research on Erikson’s psychosocial development in adolescence (10–19 years) in the last decade (2011–2020) and identify directions for meaningful research and intervention. A scoping review was conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, PRISMA-ScR guidelines, and a previous protocol, including a comprehensive search in eight databases. From 932 initial studies, 58 studies were selected. These studies highlighted the burgeoning research on Erikson’s approach, with a more significant representation of North American and European studies. The focus of most studies was on identity formation, presenting cross-cultural evidence of its importance in psychosocial development. Most of the studies used quantitative designs presenting a high number of different measures. Regarding topics and variables, studies emphasized the critical role of identity in adolescents’ development and well-being and the relevance of supporting settings in psychosocial development. However, shortcomings were found regarding the study of online and school as privileged developmental settings for adolescents. Suggestions included the need to consider the process of identity formation in the context of lifespan development and invest in supporting adolescents’ identity formation. Overall, conclusions point out Erikson’s relevance in understanding adolescents’ current challenges while offering valuable research and intervention directions to enhance adolescent growth potential.

This comment to the famous Dodwell Vase, an archaic Corinthian pyxis representing two figures bearing heroic names (Agamemnon and Thersander), proposes that the composition establishes a link between two archaic epic cycles: Troy and Thebes. In this essay, we will present a concise story of the discovery of the vessel, introduce the main questions surrounding the piece, and offer a reading of the scenes and inscriptions on the vase. This proposal analyses the figures in light of their mythographic and literary traditions, and hypothesises on the painter’s intention to depict the two heroes, together with other figures and two interconnected scenes, taking into consideration the development of archaic epic cycles.

O livro das odes Nemeias integra, pelo menos desde o século III a. C., um conjunto de quatro livros de Epinícios, agrupados e classificados de acordo com os jogos onde foi vencedor o atleta elogiado em cada uma das composições.

Within the scope of socio-cognitive theories, student engagement in school has been studied as a multidimensional construct. A four-dimensional perspective was adopted, with the dimensions: affective, cognitive, behavioural and agentic. The objective, to analyse how the variables age and parental education relate to student engagement in school. The sample consisted of 715 Portuguese public Higher Education students from the Lisbon area. The data was collected through an online survey, which included the Student Engagement in School: a Four-Dimensional Scale – Higher Education Version. Data analysis not only revealed that students of age 26 or older scored considerably higher results in engagement than younger colleagues, but also highlighted significant differences of engagement in the affective, behavioural and agentic dimensions, depending on parental education. The results, while partially corroborating the revised literature, suggest future in-depth studies.