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Reading is one of the most important milestones a child achieves throughout development. Above the letter level, the syllable has been shown to play a relevant role at early stages of visual word recognition in adult skilled readers. However, studies aiming to examine when, during reading acquisition, the syllable emerges as a functional sublexical unit are scarce, and the studies conducted so far have led to inconsistent results. In this work, beginning and intermediate European-Portuguese (EP) developing readers performed a sandwich masked lexical decision task in which CV (e.g., RU.MOR[rumour]) and CVC (e.g., CIS.NE[swan]) first-syllable EP words were preceded either by syllable congruent (e.g., rum.ba-RU.MOR, cis.ra-CIS.NE), syllable incongruent (e.g., rum.ba-RU.MOR, ci.ser-CIS.NE), unrelated (e.g., va.cra-RU.MOR, zar.vo-CIS.NE) pseudowords primes, or identity (e.g., ru.mour-RU.MOUR, cis.ne-CIS.NE) primes. Results showed reliable syllable effects only for intermediate readers and for CV and CVC words alike. Findings are discussed attending to current models of visual word recognition.

The role of syllables as a sublexical unit in visual word recognition and reading is well established in deep and shallow syllable-timed languages such as French and Spanish, respectively. However, its role in intermediate stress-timed languages remains unclear. This paper aims to overcome this gap by studying for the first time the role of syllables at early stages of visual word recognition in Portuguese (European), a language where the spelling-sound correspondences are less transparent than Spanish but less opaque than French, and also with fuzzier syllabic boundaries than both languages. To that purpose, 36 native speakers of Portuguese performed a lexical decision task combined with a masked priming paradigm. Ninety-six dissyllabic Portuguese target words, and 96 nonwords, half of which with a CV (ru.mor [rumor]) and the other half with a CVC first-syllable structure (forno [oven]), were preceded by a briefly presented nonword prime (50 ms) that could be syllable congruent (e.g., ru.mis-RU.MOR, for.pa-FOR.NO), syllable incongruent (e.g., rum.pa-RU.MOR, fo.rou-FOR.NO), or unrelated (e.g., ca.fas-RU.MOR, pou.me-FOR.NO) with the targets. Results were clear-cut and showed a facilitative syllabic priming effect in Portuguese, as target words preceded by syllable congruent primes were recognized faster and more accurately than when preceded either by incongruent or unrelated primes, although the effect was restricted to CV words. For nonwords there were no signs of syllabic effects. The findings are discussed attending to the characteristics of the Portuguese language and to current models of visual word recognition.

Although the syllable has been shown to play a relevant role at early stages of visual word recognition, several studies using consonant-vowel (CV) and consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) first-syllable words have also shown that reliable effects are observed for CV but not for CVC words. Several proposals have been advanced to account for this syllable structure effect, though studies aiming to directly address this issue are scarce. Here we tested whether syllable complexity might underlie the syllable structure effect observed in several languages, by replicating the masked priming lexical decision study conducted by Campos, Oliveira, and Soares (2018) with Portuguese adult skilled readers using 50-ms pseudoword primes, but using longer (67-ms and 82-ms) prime durations. If the structure syllable effect is driven by syllable complexity, increasing prime durations should make facilitative syllable priming effects to emerge for CVC words. Furthermore, by manipulating prime durations we can also provide new insights into the temporal dynamics of syllable effects at early stages of visual word recognition. Results from linear mixed effects (lme) models analyses showed that even with increased prime durations, reliable syllable effects were still restricted to CV words. Increasing prime durations to 67 ms and 82 ms only strengthened orthographic priming effects for CVC words. Moreover, the magnitude of the priming effects for CV words remained fairly constant across these prime durations, thus suggesting that the CV advantage on visual word recognition is not a short-lived effect. Results are discussed attending to current findings in the literature. Bien qu'il ait été démontré que les syllabes jouent un rôle important aux stades précoces de la reconnaissance visuelle des mots, plusieurs études utilisant des mots dont la première syllabe combine une consonne et une voyelle (CV) ou une consonne, une voyelle et une consonne (CVC) ont aussi démontré que des effets fiables sont observés pour les mots CV, mais pas pour les mots CVC. Plusieurs propositions ont été formulées pour rendre compte de cet effet de la structure des syllabes. Or, les études visant à aborder directement cette question sont peu nombreuses. Dans la présente étude, nous avons examiné si la complexité des syllabes pourrait être à l'origine de l'effet de la structure des syllabes observé dans diverses langues en reproduisant l'étude de décision lexicale par amorçage masqué menée par Campos, Oliveira, et Soares (2018) auprès de lecteurs adultes de langue portugaise utilisant des pseudo-mots amorces de 50 ms mais avec des durées d'amorce plus longues (67 ms et 82 ms). Si l'effet de la structure des syllabes est régi par la complexité des syllabes, l'augmentation de la durée des amorces devrait favoriser l'émergence d'effets facilitateurs de l'amorce syllabique pour les mots CVC. De plus, en manipulant la durée des amorces, nous pouvons aussi jeter un nouvel éclairage sur la dynamique temporelle des effets des syllabes aux stades précoces de la reconnaissance visuelle des mots. Les résultats d'analyses de modèles non linéaires intégrés à effets mixtes ont démontré que, même en accroissant la durée des amorces, les effets fiables des syllabes se limitaient toujours aux mots CV. Le fait d'augmenter la durée de 67 à 82 ms ne faisait que renforcer les effets d'amorçage des mots CVC. De plus, la magnitude des effets d'amorçage pour les mots CV demeurait relativement constante parmi l'ensemble de ces durées d'amorçage, ce qui donne à penser que l'avantage CV sur la reconnaissance visuelle des mots n'est pas un effet éphémère. Ces résultats sont abordés au regard des constatations actuelles formulées dans la documentation. Public Significance Statement Previous studies conducted in different languages have shown that the syllable plays a relevant role at the early stages of visual word recognition for CV, but not for CVC first-syllable words. Here we tested whether syllable complexity can account for this syllable structure by manipulating prime durations using a masked priming lexical task. Linear-mixed models (lme) analyses revealed that reliable syllable effects were still observed for CV words and remain fairly constant, even with longer prime duration. Increasing prime durations only strengthened orthographic effects for CVC words. Syllable complexity is not the driving force of the syllable structure effect observed at the early stages of visual word recognition, at least within the range of the prime durations tested in this article with the masked priming paradigm.

Bien qu'il ait été démontré que les syllabes jouent un rôle important aux stades précoces de la reconnaissance visuelle des mots, plusieurs études utilisant des mots dont la premiere syllabe combine une consonne et une voyelle (CV) ou une consonne, une voyelle et une consonne (CVC) ont aussi démontré que des effets fiables sont observés pour les mots CV, mais pas pour les mots CVC. Plusieurs propositions ont été formulées pour rendre compte de cet effet de la structure des syllabes. Or, les études visant a aborder directement cette question sont peu nombreuses. Dans la présente étude, nous avons examiné si la complexité des syllabes pourrait etre a l'origine de l'effet de la structure des syllabes observé dans diverses langues en reproduisant l'étude de décision lexicale par amorçage masqué menée par Campos, Oliveira, et Soares (2018) aupres de lecteurs adultes de langue portugaise utilisant des pseudo-mots amorces de 50 ms mais avec des durées d'amorce plus longues (67 ms et 82 ms). Si l'effet de la structure des syllabes est régi par la complexité des syllabes, l'augmentation de la durée des amorces devrait favoriser l'émergence d'effets facilitateurs de l'amorce syllabique pour les mots CVC. De plus, en manipulant la durée des amorces, nous pouvons aussi jeter un nouvel éclairage sur la dynamique temporelle des effets des syllabes aux stades précoces de la reconnaissance visuelle des mots. Les résultats d'analyses de modeles non linéaires intégrés a effets mixtes ont démontré que, meme en accroissant la durée des amorces, les effets fiables des syllabes se limitaient toujours aux mots CV. Le fait d'augmenter la durée de 67 a 82 ms ne faisait que renforcer les effets d'amorçage des mots CVC. De plus, la magnitude des effets d'amorçage pour les mots CV demeurait relativement constante parmi l'ensemble de ces durées d'amorçage, ce qui donne a penser que l'avantage CV sur la reconnaissance visuelle des mots n'est pas un effet éphémere. Ces résultats sont abordés au regard des constatations actuelles formulées dans la documentation.

Várias investigações comportamentais e eletrofisiológicos observaram evidências robustas quanto à importância da sílaba como unidade de acesso lexical no reconhecimento visual de palavras. No entanto, o facto de que em tarefas de decisão lexical com priming mascarado, efeitos silábicos foram observados para palavras com uma estrutura silábica de consoante-vogal (CV), mas não com estrutura silábica de consonante-vogal-consonante (CVC) – o chamado efeito de estrutura silábica – tem sido negligenciado ainda que ponha em causa a importância da sílaba. Neste trabalho, investigamos o papel da sílaba no reconhecimento visual de palavras do Português-Europeu (PE) com leitores em desenvolvimento (i.e., alunos do terceiro e quinto ano) e leitores proficientes, assim como as potenciais causas para o efeito de estrutura silábica. Deste modo, no Artigo 1 realizamos uma tarefa de decisão lexical com paradigma de priming mascarado onde a congruência entre primes pseudopalavras e targets palavras e pseudopalavras com estrutura CV e CVC, foi manipulada gerando uma condição de congruência (e.g., ru.mis-RU.MOR), uma de incongruência (e.g., rum.pa-RU.MOR), e uma nãorelacionada (e.g., ca.fas-RU.MOR). No Artigo 2 uma manipulação semelhante foi utilizada para estudar o efeito silábico e o efeito de estrutura silábica em leitores iniciantes e intermédios, usado o paradigma de priming de sandwich combinado com a tarefa go/no-go. Nos Artigos 3 e 4 duas explicações para o efeito de estrutura foram investigadas: a maior complexidade de sílabas CVC, e a vizinhança silábica mais densa de palavras CV respetivamente. No Artigo 3 replicamos o paradigma do Artigo 1, mas com durações de priming maiores de 67 e 82 ms em vez de 50 ms, e no Artigo 4, palavras CV e CVC foram controladas quanto ao número de vizinhos silábicos. Finalmente no Artigo 5 investigamos o efeito de estrutura silábica através do uso de potenciais de eventos relacionados (PER) combinado com um paradigma de congruência de cores onde palavras CV e dois tipos de CVC, aquelas com correspondência fonológica e ortográfica, CVCO+P+, e aquelas sem CVCO+P-, apareciam segmentadas de acordo com a sua sílaba (e.g., zebra), ou não (e.g., zebra). Os nossos resultados mostram evidência de uma ativação precoce da sílaba para leitores em desenvolvimento e proficientes. Foram também observados efeitos silábicos para palavras CV e CVC com leitores em desenvolvimento, e em leitores proficientes, os resultados dos PERs mostraram efeitos silábicos para targets CV, CVCO+P+, e CVCO+P-, sugerindo uma ativação silábica que precede a ativação lexical e que é conduzida pela ortografia.

The role of the syllable as a sublexical unit of visual word recognition has been established in languages such as Spanish and French. However, its role in European Portuguese (EP), a language with unique characteristics, remains unknown. EP has an intermediate depth orthography, highly diverse syllabic structures, and well defined syllabic boundaries. Furthermore, most studies fail to successfully disentangle syllabic effects from orthographic overlap effects, and only study this effect in monosyllabic and dissyllabic words. The present dissertation is composed of two main experiments. Experiment 1 aimed to analyze whether the syllable has a functional role at first stages of visual word recognition in EP by using a lexical decision task combined with a masked priming paradigm in skilled readers. In Experiment 2, we further analyze the developmental trajectories of this effect, by using dissyllabic and trisyllabic EP words with beginning (3rd graders), intermediate (5thgraders) and a control group of skilled EP readers. Results showed reliable syllabic effects in skilled and intermediate readers, thus establishing the syllable as the sublexical unit of visual word recognition for EP.

The purpose of this dissertation is to determine Adidas AG target share price as of 13th March of 2019 (day when the full 2018 annual report was published) by accomplishment of a more profound valuation of the Group. Consequently, issue an adequate investment recommendation of either buy, hold or sell by comparing it with the market price on that date. Therefore, the research question underlying this dissertation is: “What is the fair value of one common share at 13thMarch of 2019 and how different it is from the market price?”Adidas AG is the second largest representative of the global footwear and apparel market. The Company has strongly solidified its position over the past 4 years, surpassing its biggest competitor Nike, Inc.The valuation is determining upon a thorough analysis on the Sportswear Industry, followed by its current macroeconomics context and expected market trends, as well as a detailed company analysis in order to form accrued assumptions for the future.The primary method used was the Discounted cash-flow analysis as the major source for the aim of this dissertation, and secondly the forward-looking multiples valuation as a complementary approach. Both valuation methods reach a range price per share of €248,4- €281,3 which implies a BUY recommendation with an upside of 21%-37%.Subsequently, my valuation is compared with equity report issued by Warburg Research and Piper Jaffray & Co. The main differences between the valuation methodologies and assumptions are analysed.

Large-scale production of microalgae and their bioactive compounds has steadily increased in response to global demand for natural compounds. Spirulina, in particular, has been used due to its high nutritional value, especially its high protein content. Promising biological functions have been associated with Spirulina extracts, mainly related to its high value added blue pigment, phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is used in several industries such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, which increases its market value. Due to the worldwide interest and the need to replace synthetic compounds with natural ones, efforts have been made to optimize large-scale production processes and maintain phycocyanin stability, which is a highly unstable protein. The aim of this review is to update the scientific knowledge on phycocyanin applications and to describe the reported production, extraction, and purification methods, including the main physical and chemical parameters that may affect the purity, recovery, and stability of phycocyanin. By implementing different techniques such as complete cell disruption, extraction at temperatures below 45 °C and a pH of 5.5–6.0, purification through ammonium sulfate, and filtration and chromatography, both the purity and stability of phycocyanin have been significantly improved. Moreover, the use of saccharides, crosslinkers, or natural polymers as preservatives has contributed to the increased market value of phycocyanin.

Despite rapid advances in genomic technology, our ability to account for phenotypic variation using genetic information remains limited for many traits. This has unfortunately resulted in limited application of genetic data towards preventive and personalized medicine, one of the primary impetuses of genome-wide association studies. Recently, a large proportion of the \"missing heritability\" for human height was statistically explained by modeling thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms concurrently. However, it is currently unclear how gains in explained genetic variance will translate to the prediction of yet-to-be observed phenotypes. Using data from the Framingham Heart Study, we explore the genomic prediction of human height in training and validation samples while varying the statistical approach used, the number of SNPs included in the model, the validation scheme, and the number of subjects used to train the model. In our training datasets, we are able to explain a large proportion of the variation in height (h(2) up to 0.83, R(2) up to 0.96). However, the proportion of variance accounted for in validation samples is much smaller (ranging from 0.15 to 0.36 depending on the degree of familial information used in the training dataset). While such R(2) values vastly exceed what has been previously reported using a reduced number of pre-selected markers (<0.10), given the heritability of the trait (∼ 0.80), substantial room for improvement remains.

Student engagement is a key factor in academic achievement and degree completion, though there is much debate about the operationalization and dimensionality of this construct. The goal of this paper is to describe the development of an psycho-educational oriented measure – the University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI). This measure draws on the conceptualization of engagement as a multidimensional construct, including cognitive, behavioural and emotional engagement. Participants were 609 Portuguese University students (67 % female) majoring in Social Sciences, Biological Sciences or Engineering and Exact Sciences. The content, construct and predictive validity, and reliability of the USEI were tested. The validated USEI was composed of 15 items, and supported the tri-factorial structure of student engagement. We documented evidence of adequate reliability, factorial, convergent and discriminant validities. USEI’s concurrent validity, with the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-Student Survey, and the predictive validity for self-reported academic achievement and intention to dropout from school were also observed.