g., parents, siblings, peers) in romantic and sexual development in diverse populations. This paper accomplishes two goals. First, we assesses the measurement invariance of legal cynicism among adolescents in São Paulo, Brazil, Montevideo, Uruguay, and Zurich, Switzerland. Second, we evaluate a series of social and individual antecedents that are expected to influence legal cynicism across contexts. This paper first evaluates the measurement invariance of legal cynicism using Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis with three randomized clustered samples of adolescents in Zurich (n=1447), São Paulo (n=2680) and Montevideo (n=2204). Second, we assessed the correlates for legal cynicism in each city using structural equation modelling techniques. The results demonstrated metric invariance, but not scalar invariance among adolescents in São Paulo, Zurich, and Montevideo. We were able to establish partial measurement invariance for legal cynicism in São Paulo and Zurich, and therefore proceeded with the comparison of latent means and antecedents. The results show that on average legal cynicism and whether developmental models of self-control may help us understand the origins and nature of legal cynicism, as it is currently measured. Based on the expectancy-value theory and value transmission theory, the present study investigated the transmission process of academic values between best friends within the classroom. Expectancy-value theory argues that value related beliefs of important socialization agents influence the development of adolescents' academic values and that this effect is mediated through adolescents' perception of socializers' academic values. In this regard, best friends within the classroom were less focused by researchers although they become important socialization agents in adolescence. Therefore, the present study investigated the influence of friends' actual academic values on adolescents' academic values, and if this effect is mediated through adolescents' perception of friends' actual values. All dimensions of academic values according to the expectancy-value theory were focused intrinsic value, attainment value, utility value, and emotional cost. The research questions were investigated based on a two-wave longitudinal study in Germany. The final sample comprised of 303 adolescents of the fifth and seventh grade with a stable, reciprocated friend. Structural equation models revealed that the friends' actual attainment value indirectly influenced the attainment value of adolescents through the friends' perceived attainment value. The same effect pattern was found for emotional cost. For the utility value and intrinsic value, no transmission effect was observed. The results provide evidence that the transmission process was not uniform for all of the academic values. Results were discussed in terms of different theoretical concepts explaining the value transmission process between friends. The results provide evidence that the transmission process was not uniform for all of the academic values. https://www.selleckchem.com/ Results were discussed in terms of different theoretical concepts explaining the value transmission process between friends. Oxidative stress (OS) is the basis of several diseases. Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystemic syndrome, considered one of the major causes of maternal and fetal mortality. The placenta is considered the main anatomical pathogenetic substrate for the disease, being the placental OS a likely critical pathway in the pathogenesis of PE. This meta-analysis aimed to verify whether there is OS in the preeclamptic placenta and which markers are altered in this condition. The search was conducted in the following databases MEDLINE (via PubMed), Lilacs and Scopus. Relevant studies were identified until May 2020. The quality of the studies was evaluated according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. From the 3998 screened records, 43 were finally included in the systematic review, and 23 in the meta-analysis. The biomarkers evaluated were related to cell and macromolecules' damage, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), lipid peroxides, isoprostane, total oxidant status (TOS), carbonylated proteins and some of the reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), like hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide. It was also related to antioxidant activity, both enzymatic, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase and total antioxidant status, and non-enzymatic, through quantification of reduced glutathione, vitamin C and E, zinc and copper. It was observed that there was OS in the preeclamptic placentas, based on results, like lower activity of some of the enzymes of the antioxidant system (SOD and GPx) as well as the increase in oxidative damage markers (MDA and lipid peroxide), corroborating literature data. It was observed that there was OS in the preeclamptic placentas, based on results, like lower activity of some of the enzymes of the antioxidant system (SOD and GPx) as well as the increase in oxidative damage markers (MDA and lipid peroxide), corroborating literature data. Ultrasound elastography is a technique used to quantify biomechanical changes that occur in parenchymal tissue with disease. Recent research has applied the technique to the placenta in order to investigate changes associated with uteroplacental dysfunction. We performed a literature review to summarise the current available information regarding this novel technique. Pubmed, CINAHL and Embase were searched using the terms "placenta", "ultrasound" and "elastography". Only full text studies written in English and limited to placental sonoelastography were included. Twenty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Publications were divided into in vivo and ex vivo groups, and further categorised into four subgroups normal pregnancy, pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and other pregnancy complications. Ultrasound elastography can quantitatively assess biomechanical properties of the placenta in conditions where placental function is compromised.