ABSTRACT
Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a disease demyelinating disease. Symptomology is diverse, and motor symptoms are strongly present. That is the reason why research of limb apraxia in people with MS started recently. The presence of limb apraxia in some individuals was found, however, the characteristics of apraxia have not been described till date. Therefore, the aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of apraxia in people with MS using Roy’s conceptual-production model of apraxia. Methods: To test this, a sample of 60 people was formed, 30 with MS (age 51.34; SD=7.70 years) and 30 without (average age 50.30; SD=10.47 years), who belonged to the control group. The instruments used were the questionnaire for collecting demographic data and basic disease data from participants as well as the Waterloo-Sunnybrook apraxia battery for assessing the apraxia presence. Results: Limb apraxia was not present for the majority of people. On the basis of the obtained scores, it was found that the following patterns of the apraxia were most commonly present as P+DI-CI-ID-; P-DI-CI-ID-; P+DI+CI-ID+. Conclusion: Results indicate that in most people with MS, there is apraxia which, at its base, has damage at the level of the production system, with the problems of dual processing of information and slow processing, as well as problems in attention control. In a smaller number of people with MS, apraxia is characterized by impairment at the level of the sensory/perceptive system, as well as the impairment to both the conceptual and the production system.
ABSTRACT
En la primera parte de este trabajo se presenta la construcción y el desarrollo de la Prueba Argentina Psicolingüística de Denominación de Imágenes (PAPDI). La misma tiene dos características que la diferencian de las pruebas actualmente disponibles en nuestro medio: (a) Los estímulos fueron seleccionados controlando las variables que afectan las etapas de análisis visual y reconocimiento de la imagen (Complejidad visual y Concordancia con la imagen) y el conocimiento conceptual (Variabilidad de la Imagen y Familiaridad) del dibujo del objeto también se manipularon las variables (Frecuencia léxica y Edad de adquisición) que afectan la etapa que busca evaluar la prueba: activación, selección y recuperación de la etiqueta léxica. Los índices que operacionalizan a las variables son dependientes de la cultura y de la lengua de dónde se obtengan, por ello se tomaron sus valores de normas argentinas. (b) Las claves semánticas han sido elaboradas cuidadosamente, siguiendo las normas de producción de atributos semánticos también recolectadas en nuestro país, ya que el uso de las mismas permite generar hipótesis más precisas acerca de la localización del déficit. Por lo tanto, se presenta el proceso de construcción y desarrollo de la prueba mostrando cómo se tuvieron en cuenta estas particularidades, cuáles variables han sido controladas y cuáles manipuladas, y su justificación. Por último, los resultados de la prueba piloto permitieron seleccionar 30 ítems y la constitución de la versión final de la prueba, que es lo suficientemente breve para su uso en la clínica y de libre acceso.
In the current paper, first part, we present the design and development of the Argentinean Psycholinguistic Image Naming Test (PAPDI). This test has two characteristics that make it different from those currently available in our country: (a) the stimuli have been selected by controlling the variables that affect the stages of visual analysis and image recognition (Visual Complexity and Image Agreement) and conceptual knowledge (Image Variability and Familiarity) of the drawing of the object; and the variables (Frequency of Use and Age of Acquisition) that affect the stage that seeks to evaluate the test were manipulated: activation, selection and retrieval of the lexical label (phonological form of the name), to generate a gradient of difficulty in the items of the test. However, the variable Naming Agreement, that also affects this stage, was controlled to selected pictures with only one predominating name. The quantification of these factors by means of specific variables is influenced by the cultural and linguistic context from which they were obtained, consequently we took their values from Argentinean normative data base and (b) semantic cues were elaborated according to semantic feature production norms also from Argentina. The phonological cues corresponded to the first syllable of the object's name. Their use allows to generate more precise hypotheses about the location of the deficit and allows to infer relevant information about the cognitive profile. Therefore, the process of construction and development of the test is presented, showing how these particularities were taken into consideration, which variables were controlled and which were manipulated, and their justification. For the design of the test 62, black and white pictures were originally selected from the 400 pictures taken from Cycowicz's set (of frequent use in Experimental Psychology and Neuropsychology). They correspond to concrete concepts from different semantic categories belonging to both living andnon living domains. The criteria used to include those images were that they were moderately complex (in quantity of lines and details), moderately familiar and that they had a mean image variability value. They had to have a medium to high concordance degree between the mental image and its corresponding representation. Besides, these images had to have a naming agreement superior to 80%. To conform the first version of the test, the 62 images selected were ordered according to the variable Age of Acquisition and each image was assigned its corresponding semantic and phonological cues. The former were extracted from the Argentinean norms considering the most relevant features. The second consisted on the word´s first syllable. A pilot study with healthy population (n = 50), of different ages, both sexes and three educational levels, was carried out through which 30 images were selected that constituted the test´s final version. The deleted items were: figures that did not evokea univocal response, that is, they were easily confused with other objects; figures that had more than one acceptable answer although not all were correct; and items that presented a ceiling effect where the scores accumulated in high scores and did not allow to discriminate the participants' ability to select, retrieve and produce a word (only 25 and 30% of the items were retained). In the test´s final version, the items were reordered according to the Age of Acquisition and Frequency values and their difficulty in naming (following the percentage of successes in the spontaneous response). And images that were contain in another naming tests were deleted. The test is short enough for use in the clinic and freely accessible. The second part of the paper presents the psychometric studies that provide evidence of their relevance and validity.
ABSTRACT
Este trabalho teve por objetivo estimar e validar um modelo de simulação para a cultura da soja na região de Santiago, RS. Para isso, foi necessário desenvolver procedimento experimental, para geração de dados necessários a fim de calibrar e testar o modelo de simulação, da extração da água do solo, e a respectiva resposta em produção da cultura. Como resultados experimentais, obtiveram-se variações no crescimento e desenvolvimento da cultura da soja com a aplicação de diferentes estratégias de irrigação, resultando em produtividades distintas. O aumento nas lâminas de irrigação proporcionou incremento nos componentes de produção. Os testes dos dados simulados demonstraram variação inferior a 8% na comparação dos dados medidos, no experimento de campo, com os dados simulados pelo modelo. O modelo de produção proposto foi capaz de simular satisfatoriamente o acúmulo de matéria seca total e a produção de grãos para a cultura da soja.
This study aimed estimate and validate a simulation model for the soybean crop in the region of Santiago, RS, Brazil which will, to the agricultural sector, support in decision making. For this, it was necessary to develop experimental procedure for generating the data needed to calibrate and test the simulation model, the extraction of water from the soil, and the response in crop production. As experimental results, obtained variations in the growth and development of soybean by applying different strategies for irrigation, resulting in different productivities. The increase in irrigation provided an increment in production components. Tests of simulated data showed a variation of less than 8% when comparing the data measured in field experiments with simulated data. The production model proposed was successfully able to simulate the accumulation of total dry matter and grain production for soybeans.
ABSTRACT
Symbiotic modern scienee and technology with convergence of disciplines are accelerating professional doctor cultivation.In addition,market pressure is also calling for high quality talents for practice.Professional doctors with high degree should possess specified research skills,comprehensive knowledge,occupational quality and professional ability,and the integration of all these so that they can provide extraordinary service for the society.This paper,fiom perspective of knowledge production model Ⅱ,discusses occupational features of professional doctors,the value and cultural identification of professional doctors,and higher education unable to place oneself outside the market competition.It is necessary to make clear the educational target,establish the efficiently educational system and regulations of professional doctor education.