Trabalhar relacionamentos interpessoais e emoções como dimensões da educação sexual com crianças de 1.º CEB

Emoções e relacionamentos são tópicos incluídos nos Standards para a Educação Sexual na Europa (WHO, 2010) que estipulam uma abordagem adequada a cada faixa etária e ao longo de todo o sistema educativo. Em Portugal, a recente legislação sobre educação sexual (Lei n.º 60/2009) inclui esta temática no currículo escolar, obrigatoriamente, a partir do 1.ºCEB, privilegiando uma educação integral do indivíduo, considerando o seu desenvolvimento nos níveis cognitivo, físico, psicoafetivo, emocional e social. A necessidade de realização deste trabalho surgiu da observação de relações conflituosas e de competição, assim como de limitações na expressão de emoções, entre crianças, em contexto de estágio. O objetivo principal foi aprofundar o conhecimento sobre o desenvolvimento da inteligência emocional (IE) nas crianças e a sua relação com a educação sexual (ES), tentando compreender o impacto de algumas práticas de ES no desenvolvimento de competências inerentes à IE. Seguiu-se uma metodologia qualitativa, tendo-se realizado uma investigação-ação com uma turma de 20 alunos (12 de sexo feminino; 8 de sexo masculino) de 2.º ano de escolaridade, com idades compreendidas entre os 7 e os 8 anos. Implementou-se um conjunto de atividades com base nas orientações curriculares para a ES no 1.ºCEB, tentando estimular as competências emocionais e de relacionamento interpessoal das crianças. Também se aplicou um questionário na fase de diagnóstico e na fase de avaliação, para verificar a eficácia da intervenção. A análise e reflexão das práticas implementadas revelou o desenvolvimento da empatia e que os alunos foram demonstrando novas atitudes de resolução de conflitos. A comparação dos resultados obtidos nos dois momentos de aplicação do questionário revelou uma evolução ao nível da identificação de emoções em expressões faciais e de novas emoções, da distinção entre emoções positivas e emoções negativas e da identificação de situações que desencadeiem emoções de amor ou amizade.

Educação sexual no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico: O saber e o sentir das crianças

A sexualidade humana deve ser entendida no conjunto das suas múltiplas dimensões e as conceções prévias das crianças e jovens não podem ser negligenciadas na promoção da Educação Sexual. Perante estas necessidades, os objetivos da investigação realizada centraram-se: i) na sistematização das conceções de sexualidade mais frequentes nos alunos do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (CEB), tendo em consideração as influências de fatores individuais e socioculturais; ii) na aferição dos assuntos que as crianças desejam ver esclarecidos. A metodologia de investigação foi qualitativa - estudo de caso - e optou-se pela técnica de focus groups para a recolha de dados. Realizaram-se quatro grupos de discussão, constituídos em função dos fatores sexo, idade e ano de escolaridade. A amostra incluiu vinte e duas crianças. As discussões foram orientadas por um roteiro de questões, audiogravadas e posteriormente transcritas. Foi feita uma análise de conteúdo com recurso ao programa NVivo (versão 9.0), tendo-se selecionado nove termos pivô (adultos, família, namorar, sexy, sexo, engravidar, bebé, separar e falar) e duas categorias emergentes (rapazes&raparigas; amor&paixão). Os resultados permitiram-nos verificar: existência de estereótipos de género; recurso a linguagem vulgar na denominação de partes do corpo; valorização dos relacionamentos interpessoais; existência de brincadeiras com cariz sexual; diferenças de género na verbalização dos temas amor e paixão; a interpretação do divórcio como consequência da falta de amor e respeito; diferenças na aceitação dos modelos de família não tradicionais; noções temporais sobre os processos de maturação sexual e gestação; parca comunicação sobre sexualidade. Esta investigação permitiu-nos ainda concluir que os assuntos mobilizadores de mais interesse e dúvidas relacionam-se com: relações interpessoais; papéis sociais/papéis de género; diferentes expressões da sexualidade; maturação sexual e reprodução humana.

Single-function approach to calibrating whatman n.º 42 filter paper based on suction versus water content relationships

Several suction–water-content (s-w) calibrations for the filter paper method (FPM) used for soil-suction measurement have been published. Most of the calibrations involve a bilinear function (i.e., two different equations) with an inflection point occurring at 60 kPafunction with a smooth transition between the high and low suctions based on a regression analysis of various previously published calibrations obtained for filter paper Whatman No. 42 (W42) is presented and discussed. The approach is applied herein to data obtained from three establish bilinear calibrations (six equations) for W42 filter paper to determine the two fitting parameters of the continuous function. An experimental evaluation of the new calibration show that the suctions estimated by the contact FPM test using the proposed function compare well with suctions measured by other laboratory techniques for two different soils for the suction range of 50 kPa

Litterfall production in intact and selectively logged forests in southern of Amazonia as a function of basal area of vegetation and plant density

Nutrient recycling in the forest is linked to the production and decomposition of litter, which are essential processes for forest maintenance, especially in regions of nutritionally poor soils. Human interventions in forest such as selecttive logging may have strong impacts on these processes. The objectives of this study were to estimate litterfall production and evaluate the influence of environmental factors (basal area of vegetation, plant density, canopy cover, and soil physicochemical properties) and anthropogenic factors (post-management age and exploited basal area) on this production, in areas of intact and exploited forest in southern Amazonia, located in the northern parts of Mato Grosso state. This study was conducted at five locations and the average annual production of litterfall was 10.6 Mg ha-1 year-1, higher than the values for the Amazon rainforest. There were differences in litterfall productions between study locations. Effects of historical logging intensity on litterfall production were not significant. Effects of basal area of vegetation and tree density on litterfall production were observed, highlighting the importance of local vegetation characteristics in litterfall production. This study demonstrated areas of transition between the Amazonia-Cerrado tend to have a higher litterfall production than Cerrado and Amazonia regions, and this information is important for a better understanding of the dynamics of nutrient and carbon cycling in these transition regions.

Exploring the role of O-Mannosylation in the modulation of E-Cadherin function in Gastric Cancer cell line models

Dissertação de mestrado em Bioquímica Aplicada – Biomedicina

Composition and structure variation for magnetron sputtered tantalum oxynitride thin films, as function of deposition parameters

Tantalum oxynitride thin films were produced by magnetron sputtering. The films were deposited usinga pure Ta target and a working atmosphere with a constant N2/O2ratio. The choice of this constant ratiolimits the study concerning the influence of each reactive gas, but allows a deeper understanding of theaspects related to the affinity of Ta to the non-metallic elements and it is economically advantageous.This work begins by analysing the data obtained directly from the film deposition stage, followed bythe analysis of the morphology, composition and structure. For a better understanding regarding theinfluence of the deposition parameters, the analyses are presented by using the following criterion: thefilms were divided into two sets, one of them produced with grounded substrate holder and the otherwith a polarization of −50 V. Each one of these sets was produced with different partial pressure of thereactive gases P(N2+ O2). All the films exhibited a O/N ratio higher than the N/O ratio in the depositionchamber atmosphere. In the case of the films produced with grounded substrate holder, a strong increaseof the O content is observed, associated to the strong decrease of the N content, when P(N2+ O2) is higherthan 0.13 Pa. The higher Ta affinity for O strongly influences the structural evolution of the films. Grazingincidence X-ray diffraction showed that the lower partial pressure films were crystalline, while X-rayreflectivity studies found out that the density of the films depended on the deposition conditions: thehigher the gas pressure, the lower the density. Firstly, a dominant -Ta structure is observed, for lowP(N2+ O2); secondly a fcc-Ta(N,O) structure, for intermediate P(N2+ O2); thirdly, the films are amorphousfor the highest partial pressures. The comparison of the characteristics of both sets of produced TaNxOyfilms are explained, with detail, in the text.

Goblet cell density association with tear function and ocular surface physiology

Purpose: To determine the relationship of goblet cell density (GCD) with tear function and ocular surface physiology. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 35 asymptomatic subjects with mean age 23.8±3.6 years. Tear film assessment, conjunctiva and cornea examination were done in each subject. Conjunctival impression cytology was performed by applying Nitrocellulose Millipore MFTM-Membrane filter over the superior bulbar conjunctiva. The filter paper was than fixed with 96% ethanol and stained with Periodic Acid Schiff, Hematoxylin and Eosin. GCD was determined by optical microscopy. Relation between GCD and Schirmer score, tear break-up time (TBUT), bulbar redness, limbal redness and corneal staining was determined. Results: The mean GCD was 151±122 cells/mm2. GCD was found higher in eyes with higher Schirmer score but it was not significant (p = 0.75). There was a significant relationship ofGCDwith TBUT (p = 0.042). GCD was not correlated with bulbar redness (p = 0.126), and limbal redness (p = 0.054) as well as corneal staining (p = 0.079). No relationship of GCD with age and gender of the subjects (p > 0.05) was observed. Conclusion: GCD was found correlated with TBUT but no significant correlation was found with the aqueous portion of the tear, limbal as well as bulbar redness and corneal staining.

Imagem corporal em adolescentes: associação com a maturação sexual e sintomas de transtornos alimentares

OBJETIVO:Verificar a associação da imagem corporal (IC) com a maturação sexual e com sintomas de transtornos alimentares (TA) em adolescentes. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 325 adolescentes do sexo feminino (11 a 14 anos) da cidade de Santa Maria, RS, Brasil. Utilizaram-se a escala de silhuetas corporais e o Teste de Atitudes Alimentares (EAT-26). Foram coletadas informações sobre a menarca. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de insatisfação com a IC foi de 75,8%; 61,5% apresentaram o desejo de reduzir o peso corporal. A média de idade da menarca foi de 11,5 (desvio-padrão = 0,99) anos. Foi verificada associação significante entre IC e menarca (p < 0,001), faixa etária em que ocorreu a menarca (p < 0,001) e sintomas de TA (p < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A presença da menarca e sua ocorrência em idades mais precoces fazem com que as adolescentes apresentem desejo maior de perder peso. Além disso, as escolares que apresentaram o desejo de ter um corpo mais magro estão mais propensas a apresentar sintomas de TA.

Prevalence of mental disorders among sexual offenders and non-sexual offenders

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of mental disorders in convicted sex offenders admitted to the Psychiatric Custody and Treatment Hospital (Forensic Psychiatric Facility). METHOD: 89 patient records of males admitted from March 2005 to August 2006 were analyzed. The analysis included evaluation of two study groups: Group I comprised subjects who had committed sex offenses (sexual offenders) while Group II contained subjects convicted for other crimes (non-sexual offenders). Variables studied were: age bracket, years of schooling, marital status, skin color, place of birth, previous psychiatric admissions and psychiatric diagnosis. RESULTS: Mental retardation and personality disorders were the mainly diagnoses in Group I (sexual offenders) (61,76% and 29,41% respectively). In the other hand, schizophrenic subjects predominated in Group II (non-sexual offenders) (82,93%). CONCLUSION: Different from international data, we have found low prevalence of personality disorders among Brazilian forensic population and we believe that it's due to a distinguishing characteristic of the Brazilian legal system, which does not consider personality disorder a mental disease, thus, not prompting these patients to civil commitment.

Consumo de substâncias psicoativas em uma amostra de adolescentes e sua relação com o comportamento sexual

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o consumo de substâncias psicoativas e o padrão de comportamento sexual em alunos do ensino médio, na cidade de Serafina Corrêa - RS, com uma população aproximada de 15 mil habitantes. MÉTODO: Em estudo transversal, a amostra foi composta por todos os alunos, de ambos os sexos, que estavam cursando o ensino médio nessa cidade. Foram aplicados: um questionário para verificação das variáveis sociodemográficas, um sobre comportamento sexual e outro sobre o consumo de drogas. RESULTADOS: A amostra constituiu-se de 453 alunos, sendo 261 (57,62%) do sexo feminino. A droga mais usada durante a vida foi o álcool (82,34%), seguida por tabaco (12,58%), maconha (6,62%) e cocaína (5,30%). Em relação ao comportamento sexual dos adolescentes, observou-se que 247 (54,5%) referiram já ter tido relação sexual. Foi encontrada uma associação entre o adolescente já ter utilizado drogas em geral (p < 0,001), álcool (p < 0,001) ou tabaco (p = 0,023) e já ter tido relação sexual. CONCLUSÃO: O estudo permitiu conhecer o uso de drogas e características do comportamento sexual dos adolescentes dessa cidade e poderá ser útil para a elaboração de um programa de intervenção para diminuir os fatores de risco para drogadição, incluindo a educação para a promoção da saúde.

Influence of emphysema distribution on pulmonary function parameters in COPD patients

Objective: To evaluate the impact that the distribution of emphysema has on clinical and functional severity in patients with COPD. Methods: The distribution of the emphysema was analyzed in COPD patients, who were classified according to a 5-point visual classification system of lung CT findings. We assessed the influence of emphysema distribution type on the clinical and functional presentation of COPD. We also evaluated hypoxemia after the six-minute walk test (6MWT) and determined the six-minute walk distance (6MWD). Results: Eighty-six patients were included. The mean age was 65.2 ± 12.2 years, 91.9% were male, and all but one were smokers (mean smoking history, 62.7 ± 38.4 pack-years). The emphysema distribution was categorized as obviously upper lung-predominant (type 1), in 36.0% of the patients; slightly upper lung-predominant (type 2), in 25.6%; homogeneous between the upper and lower lung (type 3), in 16.3%; and slightly lower lung-predominant (type 4), in 22.1%. Type 2 emphysema distribution was associated with lower FEV1 , FVC, FEV1 /FVC ratio, and DLCO. In comparison with the type 1 patients, the type 4 patients were more likely to have an FEV1 < 65% of the predicted value (OR = 6.91, 95% CI: 1.43-33.45; p = 0.016), a 6MWD < 350 m (OR = 6.36, 95% CI: 1.26-32.18; p = 0.025), and post-6MWT hypoxemia (OR = 32.66, 95% CI: 3.26-326.84; p = 0.003). The type 3 patients had a higher RV/TLC ratio, although the difference was not significant. Conclusions: The severity of COPD appears to be greater in type 4 patients, and type 3 patients tend to have greater hyperinflation. The distribution of emphysema could have a major impact on functional parameters and should be considered in the evaluation of COPD patients.

The role of IFNγ in higher brain function: in health and under chronic stress

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências da Saúde

Effects of protein-calorie restriction on mechanical function of hypertrophied cardiac muscle

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of food restriction (FR) on hypertrophied cardiac muscle in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: Isolated papillary muscle preparations of the left ventricle (LV) of 60-day-old SHR and of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were studied. The rats were fed either an unrestricted diet or FR diet (50% of the intake of the control diet) for 30 days. The mechanical function of the muscles was evaluated through monitoring isometric and isotonic contractions. RESULTS: FR caused: 1) reduction in the body weight and LV weight of SHR and WKY rats; 2) increase in the time to peak shortening and the time to peak developed tension (DT) in the hypertrophied myocardium of the SHR; 3) diverging changes in the mechanical function of the normal cardiac muscles of WKY rats with reduction in maximum velocity of isotonic shortening and of the time for DT to decrease 50% of its maximum value, and increase of the resting tension and of the rate of tension decline. CONCLUSION: Short-term FR causes prolongation of the contraction time of hypertrophied muscles and paradoxal changes in mechanical performance of normal cardiac fibers, with worsening of the shortening indices and of the resting tension, and improvement of the isometric relaxation.

Aortic stenosis. Gender influence on left ventricular geometry and function in patients under 70 years of age

OBJECTIVE: To verify if adaptive left ventricle (LV) characteristics are also present in individuals under 70 years of age with severe aortic stenosis (AS). METHODS: The study comprised 40 consecutive patients under 70 years of age with AS and no associated coronary artery disease, referred for valve surgery. Out of the 40 patients, 22 were men and 18 women, and the mean age was 49.8±14.3 years. Cardiac symptoms, presence of systemic hypertension (SH), functional class according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA), and valve lesion etiology were considered. LV cavity dimensions, ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), mass (MS), and relative diastolic thickness (RDT) were examined by Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Fourteen (63.6%) men and 11 (61.6%) women were classified as NYHA class III/IV (p=0.70). There was no difference in the frequency of angina, syncope or dyspnea between genders. The incidence of SH was greater in women than in men (10 versus 2, p=0.0044). Women had a smaller LV end-diastolic diameter index (32.1±6.5 x 36.5±5.3mm/m², p=0.027), LV end-systolic diameter index (19.9±5.9 x 26.5±6.4mm/m², p=0.0022) and LV mass index (MS) (211.4±71.1 x 270.9±74.9g/m², p=0.017) when compared with men. EF (66.2±13.4 x 52.0±14.6%, p=0.0032), FS (37.6±10.7 x 27.9±9.6%, p=0.0046) and RDT (0.58±0.22 x 0.44±0.09, p=0.0095) were significantly greater in women than in men. CONCLUSION: It is the patient gender rather than age that influences left ventricular adaptive response to AS.