DNA methylation has been referred as an important player in plant genomic responses to environmental stresses but correlations between the methylome plasticity and specific traits of interest are still far from being understood. In this study, we inspected global DNA methylation levels in salt tolerant and sensitive rice varieties upon salt stress imposition. Global DNA methylation was quantified using the 5-methylcytosine (5mC) antibody and an ELISA-based technique, which is an affordable and quite pioneer assay in plants, and in situ imaging of methylation sites in interphase nuclei of tissue sections. Variations of global DNA methylation levels in response to salt stress were tissue- and genotype-dependent. We show a connection between a higher ability of DNA methylation adjustment levels and salt stress tolerance. The salt-tolerant rice variety Pokkali was remarkable in its ability to quickly relax DNA methylation in response to salt stress. In spite of the same tendency for reduction of global methylation under salinity, in the salt-sensitive rice variety IR29 such reduction was not statistically supported. In ‘Pokkali’, the salt stress-induced demethylation may be linked to active demethylation due to increased expression of DNA demethylases under salt stress. In ‘IR29’, the induction of both DNA demethylases and methyltransferases may explain the lower plasticity of DNA methylation. We further show that mutations for epigenetic regulators affected specific phenotypic parameters related to salinity tolerance, such as the root length and biomass. This work emphasizes the role of differential methylome flexibility between salt tolerant and salt sensitive rice varieties as an important player in salt stress tolerance, reinforcing the need to better understand the connection between epigenetic networks and plant responses to environmental stresses.

Background: Interviews are a common practice for gathering information in scientific studies. Although there is an extensive work about how to conduct and analyze an interview, transcription has usually remained a minor issue. Transcribing is the transformation of oral speech into a written and meaningful text that includes relevant information from the interview and that can be analyzed. Objectives: This article addresses and discusses the main conceptual and practical issues, as well as the main challenges involved in interview transcription, using an integrative approach. Main topics under analysis:What is the definition of transcription? Which types of transcripts exist? What content must be transcribed? How should an interview be transcribed? What special measures should be taken during a transcription? What are the main difficulties? Conclusion: Given the lack of universal protocols or rules for transcription, researchers should state their practices and decisions, which may influence data analysis.

Although the prevalence and associated features of stalking are well known in some countries, in many others, including Portugal, the experiences of stalking victims have remained unexplored until recently. This study aimed to identify the prevalence, characteristics, and impact of stalking victimization within a Portuguese population. A national community sample (N = 1210) took part in face-to-face interviews based on the Stalking Victimization Inventory.Lifetime prevalence of stalking was 19.5% and point prevalence was 11%. Victims were mainly targeted by acquaintances and former intimate partners. The most commonly experienced stalking behaviors were trying to establish contact, appearing in places where the victim was likely to be, and following the victim. Although stalking victimization disturbed both psychological health and lifestyle activity, 59.3% of the victims did not seek support. Results demonstrate that stalking victimization significantly affects the Portuguese population; consequently, it should be socially and legally recognized.

This study addressed and characterized direct and indirect criminal victimization among college students and examined the associations between victimization and other variables. The participants were 775 students of both genders with a mean age of 21.76 years. Data were collected through self-reports using the "Diagnosis of Local Security Questionnaire". Overall, 8.6% of the students reported direct victimization, and 39.7% reported indirect victimization. The most reported crimes were robbery and theft, while the least prevalent were sexual offense, domestic violence, and fraud. Most incidents involved a stranger and occurred at night in the street. Direct victimization was associated with gender, age, marital status, student level, attendance status, and institution domain. There were significant associations between indirect victimization and nationality, student type, attendance status, and institution domain. The perception of (in)security was significantly associated with victimization. Therefore, physical and social measures are necessary to reduce crime and increase security. ARTICLE HISTORY

According to the well-known pyramid of needs from Maslow (1943), safety and security are the second-level basic needs that should be satisfied for all humans. In a more recent work, entitled Needs and subjective wellbeing around the world, Tay and Diener (2011) assessed the association between the fulfilment of needs and subjective well-being across a sample of 123 countries from eight sociocultural regions of the world (i.e.