The current meta-analysis compares the self-concepts and perceived competencies of gifted and nongifted students. Gifted and nongifted students’ beliefs about themselves differ across six domains. Using meta-analytic methods to synthesize the results of 37 studies, this meta-analysis shows that gifted students score significantly higher than nongifted students on measures of perceived academic and behavioral competence. Gifted students score significantly lower than nongifted students in perceived athletic competence. The small degree of difference between groups in the appearance, global, and social domains suggest that gifted students are not at significant advantage or disadvantage in these areas. Moderator variables such as grade level and measure account for systematic differences between gifted and nongifted students’ academic and behavioral perceptions of competence. The current study concludes with recommendations and guidelines for future self-concept and perceived competence research.

Introduction: Based on the perceived risk to newborns and pregnancy outcomes associated with certain drugs, women may be hesitant to prescribe and take drugs during pregnancy. In cases like these, pregnant women may seek treatment using natural health products (NHPs) as alternatives to drugs. Unfortunately, evidence of safety in pregnancy and lactation is unknown for many NHPs. Objectives: To review the present state of evidence on the safety of NHPs during pregnancy and lactation. To create a new system to validate evidence on NHPs during pregnancy and lactation designed to affect medical decision. Methodology: NHPs were systematically reviewed and in some cases, meta-analyzed for evidence of safety during pregnancy and lactation. Results: In total, 79 NHPs were systematically reviewed and 2 NHPs were meta-analyzed in order to determine the evidence of safety in pregnancy and lactation. Despite the presence of data (72/79 NHPs in pregnancy and 53/77 NHPs in lactation), the quality of the data was generally poor. Using evidence-based medicine principles, a new system of evaluating evidence was established for studies involving NHPs in pregnancy and lactation. A number of NHPs were identified as being of potential risk in pregnancy. A number of NHPs were identified as potentially being apparently safe in pregnancy and lactation. Blue cohosh is of potential concern for harm in pregnancy given an apparent dose-dependant relationship. Conclusion: There is a large knowledge gap on the safety of NHPs in pregnancy, even more so in lactation. The new system for evaluating NHP safety in pregnancy and lactation will require validation. In order to improve the knowledge gap, future studies are proposed on NHPs in pregnancy and lactation as part of the newly formed MotherNature research network.

Introduction: Based on the perceived risk to newborns and pregnancy outcomes associated with certain drugs, women may be hesitant to prescribe and take drugs during pregnancy. In cases like these, pregnant women may seek treatment using natural health products (NHPs) as alternatives to drugs. Unfortunately, evidence of safety in pregnancy and lactation is unknown for many NHPs. Objectives: To review the present state of evidence on the safety of NHPs during pregnancy and lactation. To create a new system to validate evidence on NHPs during pregnancy and lactation designed to affect medical decision. Methodology: NHPs were systematically reviewed and in some cases, meta-analyzed for evidence of safety during pregnancy and lactation. Results: In total, 79 NHPs were systematically reviewed and 2 NHPs were meta-analyzed in order to determine the evidence of safety in pregnancy and lactation. Despite the presence of data (72/79 NHPs in pregnancy and 53/77 NHPs in lactation), the quality of the data was generally poor. Using evidence-based medicine principles, a new system of evaluating evidence was established for studies involving NHPs in pregnancy and lactation. A number of NHPs were identified as being of potential risk in pregnancy. A number of NHPs were identified as potentially being apparently safe in pregnancy and lactation. Blue cohosh is of potential concern for harm in pregnancy given an apparent dose-dependant relationship. Conclusion: There is a large knowledge gap on the safety of NHPs in pregnancy, even more so in lactation. The new system for evaluating NHP safety in pregnancy and lactation will require validation. In order to improve the knowledge gap, future studies are proposed on NHPs in pregnancy and lactation as part of the newly formed MotherNature research network.

Background: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer is a novel healthcare technology, for which much research evidence has been published. The objectives of this work were to compare the oncologic outcomes of this technology across different study types, and to define patterns of adoption on the basis of the literature. Methods: A comprehensive systematic review of the literature was conducted using 1) existing systematic reviews, 2) randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 3) observational studies. Outcomes of interest were overall survival, and total lymph node harvest. Outcomes were compared for congruence. Adoption was evaluated by means of summary expert opinions in the literature. Results: 1) Existing systematic reviews were of low to moderate quality and displayed evidence of overlap and duplication. 2) Laparoscopy was not inferior to open surgery in terms of oncologic outcomes in any study type. 3) Oncologic outcomes from RCTs and observational studies were congruent. 4) Expert opinion in the literature has been supportive of this technology, paralleling the publication of large RCTs. Conclusions: The evaluation of laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer in RCTs and observational studies suggests that it is not inferior to open surgery. Adoption of this technology has paralleled RCT evidence.

近年來國內對於師徒制度成效日益重視，有關師徒制度研究已累積相當程度的實證資料。為瞭解師徒制度對徒弟職涯成效之影響，本研究以整合分析探討師徒制度為徒弟所提供兩大功能(職涯相關功能與社會心理功能)與徒弟職涯成效（薪資、升遷、工作滿意度與職涯承諾）之關係。研究者利用電腦資料關鍵字庫檢索、回溯法以及人工回顧法等方式，共蒐集到25篇合乎分析條件的實徵研究。並依照Rosenthal(1984)整合分析技術計算效果量r值。整合分析結果顯示：(1)徒弟所接受到的整體師徒功能與其職涯成效有正相關；(2)徒弟所接受到的職涯相關功能與其職涯成效有正相關；(3) 徒弟所接受到的之社會心理功能與其職涯成效有正相關。(4)社會心理功能與徒弟主觀職涯成效(工作滿意度、組織承諾、工作認同、職涯承諾與對師父滿意度)的正相關高於該功能與客觀職涯成效（工作表現、薪資、工作熟練度與晉升狀況）的相關；最後根據研究結果加以討論，提出師徒制度及整合分析研究的建議與未來方向。 關鍵詞：師徒功能、職涯成效、整合分析 / The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between mentoring functions and protégé career outcomes based on studies conducted in Taiwan using a meta-analysis technique. Specifically, I examined whether overall mentoring functions, career-related mentoring, and psychosocial mentoring positively relate to protégés’ objective and subjective career outcomes (salary, promotion, and job satisfaction). Using keywords search and the retroactive method, I identified 25 studies that can be used for meta-analysis. The effect size r was calculated by the method of Rosenthal (1984). The results of meta-analysis indicate that the overall mentoring function, career-related mentoring functions, and psychosocial mentoring functions are all positively relate to protégés’ objective and subjective career outcomes. Furthermore, psychosocial functions have a stronger positive relationship with subjective career outcome (job satisfaction, organization commitment, job involvement, and mentor satisfaction) than with objective career outcome (job performance, salary, job proficiency, and promotion). Based on the results of the study, suggestions for future research and practical implications are discussed. Keywords：Mentoring functions, protégé career outcome, meta-analysis

The current meta-analysis compares the self-concepts and perceived competencies of gifted and nongifted students. Gifted and nongifted students’ beliefs about themselves differ across six domains. Using meta-analytic methods to synthesize the results of 37 studies, this meta-analysis shows that gifted students score significantly higher than nongifted students on measures of perceived academic and behavioral competence. Gifted students score significantly lower than nongifted students in perceived athletic competence. The small degree of difference between groups in the appearance, global, and social domains suggest that gifted students are not at significant advantage or disadvantage in these areas. Moderator variables such as grade level and measure account for systematic differences between gifted and nongifted students’ academic and behavioral perceptions of competence. The current study concludes with recommendations and guidelines for future self-concept and perceived competence research.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The aerial environment in broiler houses requires differentiated management depending on the time of year to maintain an ammonia concentration below 10 ppm, optimal condition for broilers, and adequate performance and well-being. The ammonia is volatilized from the microbial decomposition in the poultry litter and dependent on several factors, among them, internal and external environmental conditions, litter characteristics and facility typology. The systematization and analysis of data can help in to understanding studies that contain a variability of interferences, like an aerial ambience; and a data mining is a technique that has the function of analyzing the generated database. Three studies were carried out to evaluate the production of ammonia in broiler houses in conditions of heat and mild climate, by means of meta-analysis and environmental measurement. The first study resulted in an ammonia concentration database using the meta-analysis technique. Data analysis was with data mining technique, using two ammonia concentration classes: less than 20 ppm and equal or above this limit. Negative pressure facilities presented high ammonia concentration and morning time presented an ammonia concentration equal or above 20 ppm. Conventional facilities, using wood shavings and stoking density whit more than 15 birds m-2 had an ammonia concentration classification above the ideal limit (≥ 20 ppm). The second study provided a meta-analysis of the ammonia emission that allowed, through the data mining technique, to obtain two classification approaches: a) high ammonia emission levels (≥ 42.2 mg Kg-1 of poultry litter) and b) low ammonia emission levels (<42.2 mg Kg-1 poultry litter). Only Dark House was qualified for “High” ammonia emission due the winter season. The wood shavings poultry litter presented low emission when in conventional houses, in contrast to rice husk (high ammonia emission). Poultry litter whit above 8.3 and stocking density greater than 12 birds m-2 obtained “High” ammonia emission classification. In the third study the ammonia concentration, air velocity, internal and external temperature were collected in six broiler houses of different typologies and climatic conditions of heat, being analyzed by geostatistics. The concentration of ammonia tends to be higher in the central and final part of the broiler houses, places where the internal temperature was higher. Better ventilation maneuvers could solve the problems with high temperature and ammonia concentration throughout the broiler houses. The results observed in the concentration and ammonia emission meta-analysis point to conditions of facilities and characteristics of the poultry litter. Data mining allowed the evaluation of ammonia production in different typologies of aviaries in a systematic way through two databases constructed by the meta-analysis technique. The rules of the figure models allowed extracting coherent and useful knowledge in meta-analysis databases. The use of maps of variability is another suitable means for the evaluation of variables such as ammonia concentration and internal temperature. However, several factors influence and, if handled correctly, can minimize the emission and concentration of ammonia inside the broiler house. Combining the thermal and aerial ambience with the ventilation system is an option to improve the welfare indexes in broilers. / O ambiente aéreo em aviários de frango de corte exige manejos diferenciados conforme a época do ano para manter a concentração de amônia abaixo de 10 ppm, condição ótima para frangos de corte apresentarem desempenho e bem-estar adequados. A amônia é volatilizada a partir da decomposição microbiana na cama de frango aviária e dependente de vários fatores, entre eles, condições ambientais internas e externas, características da cama e tipologia de aviário. A sistematização e análise de dados podem auxiliar na compreensão de estudos que contenham uma variabilidade de interferentes, como a ambiência aérea; e a mineração de dados é uma técnica que tem função de analisar o banco de dados gerado. Foram realizados três estudos para avaliar a produção de amônia em galpões de frango de corte durante condições de calor e clima ameno, por intermédio de metanálise e mensuração do ambiente. O primeiro estudo resultou em um banco de dados de concentração de amônia por meio da técnica de metanálise. A análise dos dados foi realizada por meio da técnica de mineração de dados para as classes de concentração de amônia menor que 20 ppm e igual ou acima deste limite. Aviários de pressão negativa apresentaram altas concentrações de amônia e o horário de coleta no turno da manhã apresentou condição de concentração de amônia igual ou acima de 20 ppm. Aviários de tipologia convencional, utilizando maravalha e com densidade de criação maiores de 15 aves m-2 obtiveram classificação de concentração de amônia acima do limite ideal (≥ 20 ppm). O segundo estudo propiciou uma metanálise da emissão de amônia que permitiu, por meio da técnica de mineração de dados, obter duas abordagens de classificação: a) altos níveis de emissão de amônia (≥ 42,2 mg Kg-1 de cama de frango) e b) baixos níveis de emissão de amônia (< 42,2 mg Kg-1 de cama de frango). Aviário de tipologia Dark House foi o único que se classificou para a emissão de amônia em “Elevada” em função da estação do ano ser inverno. A cama de frango de maravalha de madeira apresentou menor emissão em aviários convencionais, ao contrário da casca de arroz (alta emissão de amônia). Cama de aviário com pH acima de 8,3 e densidade de criação maiores de 12 aves m-² obtiveram classificação como “Elevada” emissão de amônia. No terceiro estudo foi realizado a coleta de concentração de amônia, velocidade do ar, temperatura interna e externa em seis aviários de tipologias diferentes e condições climáticas de calor, sendo analisados por meio da geoestatística. A concentração de amônia tende a ser maior na parte central e final dos aviários, lugares em que foi constatado maior temperatura interna. Melhores manejos de ventilação poderiam solucionar os problemas com temperatura alta e concentração de amônia ao longo dos aviários. Os resultados observados nas metanálises de concentração e emissão de amônia apontam para condições de instalações e características da cama de frango. A mineração de dados permitiu avaliar a produção de amônia em diferentes tipologias de aviários de forma sistemática por meio de dois bancos de dados construídos pela técnica de metanálise. As regras dos modelos permitiram extrair conhecimentos coerentes e úteis para os dois bancos de dados metanalíticos. A utilização de mapas de variabilidade é outro meio adequado para a avaliação de variáveis como a concentração de amônia e a temperatura interna. No entanto, vários fatores influenciam e, se manejados corretamente, podem minimizar a emissão e concentração de amônia no interior da instalação. Aliar a ambiência térmica e aérea em função do sistema de ventilação é uma opção para melhorar os índices de bem-estar em frangos de corte.

Orientador: Winston Bonetti Yoshida / Resumo: Introdução: O Angiossarcoma (AS) é um tumor vascular maligno raro. As vias moleculares associadas ao desenvolvimento e progressão do AS ainda são pouco entendidas. miRNAs são moléculas reguladoras da expressão gênica com papel importante na tumorigênese e constituem biomarcadores em potencial, podendo definir prognóstico e tratamento de pacientes com câncer. A identificação de perfis de expressão de miRNAs e das vias moleculares reguladas por miRNAs pode contribuir para a elucidação dos mecanismos de tumorigênese em AS. Objetivos: Identificação da expressão global de miRNAs e vias moleculares em AS. Identificar miRNAs alterados em AS; identificar genes-alvo regulados pelos miRNAs e mapear miRNAs e genes alvo relacionados ao desenvolvimento vascular. Material e Métodos: Realizamos uma meta-análise segundo a Declaração de Prisma e utilizando as principais bases de dados, PubMed e EMBASE. Após a aplicação de critérios de inclusão e exclusão específicos, um estudo (incluindo 5 amostras de AS) foi considerado elegível e selecionado para extração dos dados. Deste, foram identificados os miRNAs significativamente desregulados (FC>=1,5 e p<0,05). A seguir, os dados de expressão de miRNAs foram analisados utilizando as ferramentas de bioinformática miRWalk v.2.0 para predição de genes-alvo regulados pelos miRNAs e STRING e Cytoscape v.3.1.1/BINGO para identificação de redes de interação (miRNAs-mRNAs-alvo) e funções biológicas, respectivamente. Resultados: 59 miRNAs estavam com expres... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Doutor

A prevalência da obesidade está aumentando em um ritmo alarmante, por isso estratégias de prevenção e controle da obesidade são importantes. Com isto em mente, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática com metanálise para avaliar o efeito dos programas de intervenções que incentivassem a prática de atividade física e a alimentação saudável, identificando os mais apropriados para a prevenção e controle da obesidade na população escolar. Foram incluídos estudos controlados randomizados disponíveis nas seguintes bases de dados eletrônicas: Pubmed, Lilacs, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science e Cochrane Library. A qualidade dos estudos foi avaliada levando em conta os critérios de sigilo de alocação propostos pela Colaboração Cochrane e da escala de Jadad. Com o auxílio do programa Review Manager versão 5.1 foram obtidas as seguintes estatísticas: medidas de sumário baseadas na diferença de medias padronizadas (DMP) e no odds ratio (OR). A obtenção dos respectivos intervalos de confiança (IC) seguiu um modelo de efeitos fixos ou randômicos, dependendo da heterogeneidade observada. Os resultados foram apresentados por meio de gráficos Forest Plot. Foram identificados 995 estudos, sendo que somente 26 foram incluídos na metanálise. Considerando as diferentes características das intervenções e dos desfechos dos estudos, foram obtidas 13 metanálises. Os resultados das metanálises das intervenções isoladas com atividade física apresentaram efeito estatisticamente significativo na redução da dobra cutânea tricipital DMP: -0,43 (IC95%: -0,51; -0,34), (P<0,01) e do percentual de gordura corporal com DMP: -0,13 (IC95%: -0,27; 0,00), (P=0,05). Também, houve efeito estatisticamente significativo das intervenções isoladas com educação nutricional na redução do sobrepeso com OR: -0,77 (IC95%: 0,66; 0,90), (P<0,01). Além disso, os escolares que receberam intervenções combinadas com atividade física e educação nutricional apresentaram redução significativa da obesidade com OR: 0,56 (IC95%: 0,43; 0,74), (P<0,01), do sobrepeso com OR: 0,75 (IC95%: 0,63; 0,89), (P<0,01) e do índice de massa corporal, com DMP: -0,37 (IC95%: -0,63; -0,12), (P<0,01). Não houve efeito significativo das intervenções na redução da circunferência da cintura e da dobra cutânea bicipital. Através desta metanálise concluiu-se que as intervenções combinadas com atividade física e educação nutricional tiveram os efeitos mais positivos como estratégia para a prevenção e controle da obesidade em escolares, do que quando aplicadas isoladamente. / The prevalence of obesity is increasing an alarming rate. Because of that strategies for the prevention and control of obesity are important. With that in mind, a systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of intervention programs stimulating physical activity and healthy eating, and identifying those more suitable for the prevention and control of obesity among school-age students. We included randomized controlled trials available in the following electronic databases: Pubmed, Lilacs, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. The quality of these studies was evaluated taking into account the criteria of allocation concealment proposed by the Cochrane Collaboration and the Jadad Scale. Summary statistics based on the standardized mean difference (SMD) and on the odds ratio (OR) were estimated using Review Manager version 5.1. Confidence intervals (CI) were obtained using fixed or randomized effects models, according to the heterogeneity observed in the data. Results were presented using Forest Plots. Among the 995 studies identified only, 26 were included in the meta-analysis. Considering the different characteristics of interventions and the study outcomes, 13 meta-analyses were obtained. The results of the meta-analyses focusing on isolated interventions based on physical activity showed a statistically significant effect on the reduction of triceps skinfold SMD: -0.43 (CI 95%: -0.51;-0.34), (P< 0.01) and body fat percentage with SMD: -0.13 (CI 95%: -0.27; 0.00), (P= 0.05). There was also a statistically significant effect of the isolated interventions isolated based on nutritional education on the reduction of overweight with OR: -0.77 (CI 95%: 0.66; 0.90), (P< 0.01). Besides that, students who received an intervention combining physical activities and nutritional education presented a significant reduction of obesity with OR: 0.56 (CI 95%: 0.43; 0.74), (P< 0.01), overweight with OR: 0.75 (CI 95%: 0.63; 0.89), (P< 0.01) and Body Mass Index with SMD: -0.37 (CI 95%: -0.63; -0.12), (P< 0.01). We did not find a significant effect of interventions on the reduction of waist circumference and biceps skinfold. In closing, these meta-analyses indicated that combined interventions based on physical activity and nutritional education had a more positive effect as a feasible strategy for the prevention and control of obesity in school-age students when compared to isolated.

Text visualization is a field dedicated to the visual representation of textual data by using computer technology. A large number of visualization techniques are available, and now it is becoming harder for researchers and practitioners to choose an optimal technique for a particular task among the existing techniques. To overcome this problem, the ISOVIS Group developed an interactive survey browser for text visualization techniques. ISOVIS researchers gathered papers which describe text visualization techniques or tools and categorized them according to a taxonomy. Several categories were manually assigned to each visualization technique. In this thesis, we aim to analyze the dataset of this browser. We carried out several analyses to find temporal trends and correlations of the categories present in the browser dataset. In addition, a comparison of these categories with a computational approach has been made. Our results show that some categories became more popular than before whereas others have declined in popularity. The cases of positive and negative correlation between various categories have been found and analyzed. Comparison between manually labeled datasets and results of computational text analyses were presented to the experts with an opportunity to refine the dataset. Data which is analyzed in this thesis project is specific to text visualization field, however, methods that are used in the analyses can be generalized for applications to other datasets of scientific literature surveys or, more generally, other manually curated collections of textual documents.