Occupational participation, stress, anxiety and depression in workers and students from Brazilian universities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Introduction The physical, social and occupational restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the health and well-being of the world population. Objective To identify the repercussions of the pandemic on the occupational participation of students, lecturers and technicians from three public universities in Northern Brazil, to compare the changes reported by participants in occupational participation before and during the pandemic, and to identify symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress self-reported. Method This is a Cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative study with a quantitative approach. One hundred and ninety-nine (n = 199) participants (students, lecturers and technicians) responded to an online questionnaire, the “Occupational Participation Checklist” and the Anxiety, Stress and Depression Scale (DASS-21). Data analysis were descriptive and also performed by applying the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. Results During the pandemic, an increase in occupational participation was identified for all participants in domestic activities (p <0.001) and a decrease in work and study face to face (p <0.001). Students reported more symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress when compared to lecturers (p<0.001). Most students did not organise their time to fulfil their occupations with satisfaction. Such difficulties were associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress, especially among the student's group (p<0.001). Conclusion This study provided preliminary evidence about differences in occupational participation before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The organization of time and difficulties in occupational participation were associated to levels of anxiety, depression and stress, especially in the sample of students

Redundancy and the Evolution of Cis-Regulatory Element Multiplicity

The promoter regions of many genes contain multiple binding sites for the same transcription factor (TF). One possibility is that this multiplicity evolved through transitional forms showing redundant cis-regulation. To evaluate this hypothesis, we must disentangle the relative contributions of different evolutionary mechanisms to the evolution of binding site multiplicity. Here, we attempt to do this using a model of binding site evolution. Our model considers binding sequences and their interactions with TFs explicitly, and allows us to cast the evolution of gene networks into a neutral network framework. We then test some of the model's predictions using data from yeast. Analysis of the model suggested three candidate nonadaptive processes favoring the evolution of cis-regulatory element redundancy and multiplicity: neutral evolution in long promoters, recombination and TF promiscuity. We find that recombination rate is positively associated with binding site multiplicity in yeast. Our model also indicated that weak direct selection for multiplicity (partial redundancy) can play a major role in organisms with large populations. Our data suggest that selection for changes in gene expression level may have contributed to the evolution of multiple binding sites in yeast. We conclude that the evolution of cis-regulatory element redundancy and multiplicity is impacted by many aspects of the biology of an organism: both adaptive and nonadaptive processes, both changes in cis to binding sites and in trans to the TFs that interact with them, both the functional setting of the promoter and the population genetic context of the individuals carrying them

Kualitas Hidup Pasien Diabetes Melitus Tipe 2 di Puskesmas Se Kota Kupang

Diabetes Mellitus is well known as a chronic disease which can lead to a decrease in quality of life in all domains. The study aims to explore the diabetic type 2 patient\u27s quality of life and find out the factors affecting in type 2 diabetic mellitus patients. The cross-sectional study design is used that included 65 patient with type 2 diabetes mellitus, in 11 public health centers of Kupang City. Data were collected by using Short Form Survey (SF-36) that assessed 8-scale health profile. Independent sample t-test is used to analyze the correlation between the factors affecting and the quality of life. the study showed that the QoL of DM patients decreased in all 8- health profile including physical functioning, social functioning, mental health, general health, pain, change in the role due to physical problems and emotional problems. The Study also showed there was a relationship between gender, duration of suffering from Diabetes mellitus, and complications to the quality of life. Male perceived a better quality of life than female

Capacidade funcional e fatores associados em idosos: estudo populacional Capacidade funcional y factores asociados en ancianos: estudio poblacional Functional capacity and associated factors in the elderly: a population study

OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação do comprometimento da capacidade funcional com condições de saúde e fatores sociodemográficos e comportamentais entre idosos residentes em comunidade do interior do Nordeste brasileiro. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de base populacional realizado com 316 idosos residentes em Lafaiete Coutinho-BA. A capacidade funcional foi avaliada por escala hierárquica, verificando associação com condições de saúde e fatores sóciodemográficos e comportamentais pela técnica de regressão logística multinomial. RESULTADOS: A dependência nas atividades independentes da vida diária (AIVD) foi associada ao grupo etário > 80 anos, uso de dois ou mais medicamentos e comprometimento cognitivo. A dependência nas atividades básicas da vida diária e AIVD foi associada ao grupo etário > 80 anos, falta de participação em atividades religiosas, hospitalização nos últimos 12 meses, comprometimento cognitivo e sobrepeso. CONCLUSÃO: Houve associação com comprometimento da capacidade funcional e condições de saúde e fatores sociodemográficos entre idosos residentes em comunidade no Nordeste brasileiro.<br>OBJETIVO: Analizar la asociación del compromiso de la capacidad funcional con condiciones de salud y factores sociodemográficos y comportamentales entre ancianos residentes en una comunidad del interior del Noreste brasileño. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal de base poblacional realizado con 316 ancianos residentes en Lafaiete Coutinho-BA. La capacidad funcional fue evaluada por una escala jerárquica, verificando asociación con condiciones de salud y factores sociodemográficos y comportamentales por la técnica de regresión logística multinomial. RESULTADOS: La dependencia en las atividades independentes de la vida diaria (AIVD) fue asociada al grupo etáreo > 80 años, uso de dos o más medicamentos y compromiso cognitivo. La dependencia en las actividades básicas de la vida diária y AIVD fue asociada al grupo etáreo > 80 años, falta de participación en actividades religiosas, hospitalización en los últimos 12 meses, compromiso cognitivo y sobrepeso. CONCLUSIÓN: Hubo asociación con compromiso de la capacidad funcional y condiciones de salud y factores sociodemográficos entre ancianos residentes en una comunidad del Noreste brasileño.<br>OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of impaired functional capacity with health conditions and sociodemographic and behavioral factors among elderly residents in a community of northeastern Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional population-based study, conducted with 316 elderly residents in Lafaiete Coutinho-BA. Functional capacity was evaluated by hierarchical scaling, by verifying association with health conditions and sociodemographic and behavioral factors by the technique of multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The dependence for independent activities of daily living (IADL) was associated with the age group > 80 years, use of two or more medications and cognitive impairment. Dependency in basic activities of daily living and IADL was associated with those in the age group > 80 years, with a lack of participation in religious activities, hospitalization in the past 12 months, cognitive impairment and who were overweight. CONCLUSION: There was an association with impaired functional capacity, health conditions and sociodemographic factors among elderly residents in a community in northeastern Brazil

Divergência genética entre acessos de batata-doce utilizando caracteres fenotípicos de raiz Genetic divergence among sweet potato accessions based on root traits

Estudos de quantificação da divergência genética entre acessos e caracterização dos recursos genéticos têm sido de grande importância em programas de melhoramento, auxiliando na identificação de genitores e no conhecimento do material genético disponível. Os objetivos do presente trabalho foram: (1) avaliar os acessos de batata-doce pertencentes ao banco de germoplasma da Embrapa com base em caracteres de raiz; (2) calcular a importância relativa dos caracteres morfo-agronômicos quantitativos na discriminação dos acessos e, (3) obter indicações das combinações híbridas mais promissoras para cruzamentos. Foi avaliada uma coleção de 11 clones pertencentes ao Banco Ativo de Germoplasma da Embrapa por meio de um experimento conduzido na Embrapa SPM/EN, em Canoinhas-SC. Os acessos foram cultivados em condições de campo no delineamento em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições, onde a parcela experimental foi composta por 10 plantas. As plantas de cada parcela foram colhidas e avaliadas para 12 caracteres fenotípicos de raiz. O estudo indicou que os caracteres número e massa total de raízes e peso específico foram os que mais contribuíram para a divergência genética. A maioria dos acessos é bastante similar quanto aos caracteres quantitativos avaliados. Porém, há a possibilidade de ganhos com a heterose, geração de variabilidade genética e de progênies superiores cruzando-se os acessos dos diferentes grupamentos formados; pois os genótipos mais contrastantes '1228', '051-1' e '1270' foram agrupados entre os melhores para várias características como massa e número total de raízes, massa comercial de raízes; os dois primeiros apresentaram elevado peso específico e o '1270' apresentou coloração alaranjada intensa, indicativo de alto teor de &#946;-caroteno.<br>The estimation of the genetic divergence among accessions of a germplasm bank, as well as their characterization are very important in breeding programs in order to identify the best parental genotypes and to provide a better understanding of the available plant genetic resources. Considering this information, the objectives of this research were: (1) evaluate the sweet potato plant accessions of Embrapa Germplasm Bank based on root traits; (2) estimate the relative importance of quantitative morphoagronomic characters in the genotype discrimination; and (3) find out promising hybrid combinations for crosses. Then, 11 sweet potato clones from Embrapa Germplasm Bank were evaluated in a trial at Embrapa SPM/EN Canoinhas, Brazil. The genotypes were cultivated in field conditions on a randomized blocks experimental design with four replications; the experimental plot was composed of 10 plants. In each experimental plot the plants were harvested and 12 characteristics of the roots were evaluated. The total number and mass of roots, and the specific gravity were the characteristics with the greatest influence on the genetic divergence. Most of the evaluated genotypes were closely related considering their quantitative characteristics. However, it is possible to obtain useful gains with heterosis and the generation of superior progenies, through crosses between genotypes from the different groups; because the most contrasting genotypes '1228', '051-1' and '1270' were grouped among the best ones for various characteristics such as mass and total number of roots, marketable root mass, the first two showed a high specific weight and '1270' intense orange color, indicative of high levels of &#946;-carotene