Clima organizacional y satisfacción laboral en un contexto post-fusión de una empresa industrial de Lima

Esta investigación tiene el propósito de precisar el sentido e intensidad de la relación entre las variables Clima Organizacional y Satisfacción Laboral de los empleados (n=175) de una empresa industrial que ha atravesado por un proceso de fusión hace siete años. Para ello, se aplicaron las escalas de Clima Organizacional CL-SPC (Palma, 2000) y de Satisfacción Laboral SL-SPC (Palma, 2005), cuyos niveles de confiabilidad fueron de .85 y .82, respectivamente, evidenciando así óptimas características psicométricas. Se analizó la relación de las variables psicológicas registradas con las variables sociodemográficas edad, grado de instrucción, año de ingreso a la compañía y nivel jerárquico. Los resultados mostraron que existe una asociación positiva y directa entre percepción favorable del clima organizacional y la satisfacción laboral (rs(173)=.51, p<0,01) en el grupo total. Adicionalmente, se observó que los grupos de mayor edad tienen una percepción más favorable del clima laboral y que los colaboradores con mayor nivel jerárquico y grado de instrucción, perciben de manera más positiva el clima y la satisfacción laboral dentro de la empresa. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en relación al año de ingreso.This research intends to set the direction and intensity of the relationship between Organizational Climate and Job Satisfaction as psychological variables of employees (n=175) who belong to an industrial company that has gone through a merger process seven years ago. In order to do this, the scales of Organizational Climate CL-SPC (Palma, 2000) and Job Satisfaction SL-SPC (Palma, 2005) were applied. The level of reliability of the instruments were .85 and .82, respectively. Thus, psychometric characteristics were optimal. It was also analyzed the association between the psychological variables and some demographic factors (hierarchical level, age, level of education and year of joining the company). The results showed that there is a direct association between positive and favorable perception of organizational climate and job satisfaction (r (173) =.51, p <0.01) in the whole group. Additionally, it was observed that older age groups have a more favorable perception of the working environment and that employees with higher hierarchical level and also high level of education perceive in a more positive way climate and job satisfaction within the company. No statistically significant differences in relation to the year of entry were found.Tesi

The impact of psychostimulants on central and peripheral neuro-immune regulation: a scoping review of cytokine profiles and their implications for addiction

It is now well-accepted that psychostimulants act on glial cells causing neuroinflammation and adding to the neurotoxic effects of such substances. Neuroinflammation can be described as an inflammatory response, within the CNS, mediated through several cytokines, reactive oxygen species, chemokines and other inflammatory markers. These inflammatory players, in particular cytokines, play important roles. Several studies have demonstrated that psychostimulants impact on cytokine production and release, both centrally and at the peripheral level. Nevertheless, the available data is often contradictory. Because understanding how cytokines are modulated by psychoactive substances seems crucial to perspective successful therapeutic interventions, here, we conducted a scoping review of the available literature. We have focused on how different psychostimulants impact on the cytokine profile. Publications were grouped according to the substance addressed (methamphetamine, cocaine, methylphenidate, MDMA or other amphetamines), the type of exposure and period of evaluation (acute, short- or long-term exposure, withdrawal, and reinstatement). Studies were further divided in those addressing central cytokines, circulating (peripheral) levels, or both. Our analysis showed that the classical pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were those more investigated. The majority of studies have reported increased levels of these cytokines in the central nervous system after acute or repeated drug. However, studies investigating cytokine levels during withdrawal or reinstatement have shown higher variability in their findings. Although we have identified fewer studies addressing circulating cytokines in humans, the available data suggest that the results may be more robust in animal models than in patients with problematic drug use. As a major conclusion, an extensive use of arrays for relevant cytokines should be considered to better determine which cytokines, upon the classical ones, may be involved in the progression from episodic use to the development of addiction. A concerted effort is still necessary to address the link between peripheral and central immune players, including from a longitudinal perspective. Until there, the identification of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets to envision personalized immune-based therapeutics will continue to be unlikely.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The need to improve care transition interventions in psychiatry and mental health

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Sudden and Transient Block of Left Brain Hemisphere Activity in Catatonic Patients Undergoing Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Introduction: In the last 21 years, there has been an increase in studies on visual and quantitative EEG (qEEG). Although new findings have been reported, such as the extreme delta brush waves in anti-NMDA receptors encephalitis, there are still undocumented visual EEG alterations. In Psychiatry, these new findings are harder to detect because most patients do not undergo routine EEG. In this work, we report for the first time an EEG finding of a sudden and transient block of left brain hemisphere activity in two patients who underwent treatment with ECT. Methods: The EEG activity of the two patients undergoing ECT treatment was recorded using a Thymatron System IV device. Patient number 1: 23 year-old man with severe major depressive disorder with psychotic features and catatonia. Patient number 2: 48 year-old woman with bipolar disorder with mixed features and catatonia. Results and Discussion: The EEG recording of these two patients during their ECTs sessions showed a sudden and transient block (or arrest) of the left brain hemisphere activity. These findings are not attributed to background noise, electrode disconnection or device malfunction. Also, they were detected in two different patients. In patient 2 in two distinct admissions, two hospitals, utilizing two devices and by two different observers. After clinical improvement, these EEG alterations were not detected. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a sudden and transient block of the left brain hemisphere activity in psychiatric patients. Although the exact meaning of this finding remains unknown, a comparison can be made between this transient bradypsychia/block (arrest) of brain activity and bradycardia events in cardiology. We acknowledge the need for further studies to better understand these findings, particularly studies addressing different EEG abnormalities and the clinical traits they are associated with.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudo do AL2O3:MG, Y e do perspex vermelho na caracterização de campos mistos de radiação do reactor português de investigação

Tese de mestrado em Engenharia Física, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2011Neste trabalho é desenvolvida uma metodologia inovadora, que possibilita a aplicação de um material termoluminescente não comercial, o óxido de alumínio dopado com Mg e Y, Al2O3:Mg,Y, na medição de doses de neutrões rápidos e fotões num reactor nuclear. Esta metodologia é testada junto ao núcleo e num feixe de neutrões rápidos instalado no tubo E4 do Reactor Português de Investigação do Instituto Tecnológico e Nuclear em Sacavém. A dose de fotões é determinada pela primeira leitura de termoluminescência após a irradiação, enquanto a componente de neutrões rápidos é caracterizada através da medida da actividade do Al2O3:Mg,Y, induzida pelos neutrões com energias acima dos 7 MeV. O decaimento dos produtos de reacção origina um sinal termoluminescente auto-induzido, cuja leitura constitui um método alternativo de caracterização do campo de neutrões. Os resultados obtidos com o Al2O3:Mg,Y têm revelado uma resposta linear a fotões entre 1 mGy e 10 kGy. Para estender esta gama de detecção é investigada outra técnica na determinação de doses de fotões entre os 5 e os 50 kGy. Usam-se como detectores pequenas placas de polimetilmetacrilato, e, neste caso específico o perspex vermelho. É um método relativo que se baseia nas alterações do espectro de absorção óptica do perspex vermelho quando sujeito à acção dos fotões. As medições de densidade óptica são feitas por espectrofotometria. A validade destas técnicas é comprovada caracterizando o campo de fotões e de neutrões pelos métodos convencionais: recorrendo a uma câmara de ionização e a detectores de activação com neutrões, respectivamente. Os resultados da investigação provaram que o Al2O3:Mg,Y e o perspex vermelho são adequados na dosimetria de fotões em campos-mistos desde que os sistemas dosimétricos estejam devidamente calibrados. Obteve-se um acordo de 90% comparando as doses de fotões obtidas pelos três métodos. O Al2O3:Mg,Y revelou uma precisão da ordem dos 5% na determinação de fluxos de neutrões rápidos (> 7MeV).An innovative methodology is developed in this work, making possible the application of a non-commercial thermoluminescence material, the doped aluminium oxide Al2O3:Mg,Y, in the measurement of photon and fast neutron doses at a nuclear reactor. This methodology is tested in core grid positions and in a fast neutron beam implemented at the Portuguese Research Reactor of the Nuclear and Technological Institute in Sacavém. The photon dose is determined by the first thermoluminescence reading after the irradiation, whereas the fast neutron component is achieved by measuring the activity of the Al2O3:Mg,Y, induced for neutrons with energies above 7 MeV. The activity decline of the reaction products auto-induce a thermoluminescence signal, whose reading constitutes an alternative method for the characterization of the neutron field. Results obtained with Al2O3:Mg,Y have shown a linear response to photons from 1 mGy to 10 kGy. Another technique is here proposed to measure photon doses between 5 and 50 kGy, using as detectors small plates of polymethylmethachrylate and, in this specific case, red perspex. This is a relative method based on the photon induced changes in the optical absorption spectra of perspex. The optical density measurements are made by spectrophotometry. In order to evaluate the ability of this dosemeters for mixed field dosimetry, the measurements were compared with results obtained via conventional methods: using an ionization chamber; and, characterizing the neutron field using the neutron activation method. Results from this investigation proved that Al2O3:Mg,Y and Red perspex are suitable materials for photon doses measurements if careful calibrations procedures are followed. A comparison of the three methods applied to determine the photon dose shows an agreement within 90%. Results show a precision better than 5% for the determination of fast neutron with Al2O3:Mg,Y (> 7MeV)

TNF-alpha-induced microglia activation requires miR-342: impact on NF-kB signaling and neurotoxicity

Growing evidences suggest that sustained neuroinflammation, caused by microglia overactivation, is implicated in the development and aggravation of several neurological and psychiatric disorders. In some pathological conditions, microglia produce increased levels of cytotoxic and inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which can reactivate microglia in a positive feedback mechanism. However, specific molecular mediators that can be effectively targeted to control TNF-α-mediated microglia overactivation, are yet to be uncovered. In this context, we aim to identify novel TNF-α-mediated micro(mi)RNAs and to dissect their roles in microglia activation, as well as to explore their impact on the cellular communication with neurons. A miRNA microarray, followed by RT-qPCR validation, was performed on TNF-α-stimulated primary rat microglia. Gain- and loss-of-function in vitro assays and proteomic analysis were used to dissect the role of miR-342 in microglia activation. Co-cultures of microglia with hippocampal neurons, using a microfluidic system, were performed to understand the impact on neurotoxicity. Stimulation of primary rat microglia with TNF-α led to an upregulation of Nos2, Tnf, and Il1b mRNAs. In addition, ph-NF-kB p65 levels were also increased. miRNA microarray analysis followed by RT-qPCR validation revealed that TNF-α stimulation induced the upregulation of miR-342. Interestingly, miR-342 overexpression in N9 microglia was sufficient to activate the NF-kB pathway by inhibiting BAG-1, leading to increased secretion of TNF-α and IL-1β. Conversely, miR-342 inhibition led to a strong decrease in the levels of these cytokines after TNF-α activation. In fact, both TNF-α-stimulated and miR-342-overexpressing microglia drastically affected neuron viability. Remarkably, increased levels of nitrites were detected in the supernatants of these co-cultures. Globally, our findings show that miR-342 is a crucial mediator of TNF-α-mediated microglia activation and a potential target to tackle microglia-driven neuroinflammation.We would like to thank Dr. João Relvas laboratory for the help with N9 microglia cell culture; Dr. Sofia Lamas for the guidance on the animal welfare and support with animal experiments (Animal facility, i3S); and to LC Sciences for the miRNA microarray data and analysis. The mass spectrometry technique was performed by Hugo Osório at the i3S Proteomics Scientific Platform with support from the Portuguese Mass Spectrometry Network, integrated in the National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of Strategic Relevance (ROTEIRO/0028/2013; LISBOA-01–0145-FEDER-022125). This work was funded by project NORTE-01–0145-FEDER-000012, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). J.P.B. and J.B. are supported by FCT–Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, through BiotechHealth PhD program fellowship (PD/BD/135490/2018) and Areas of Basic and Applied Biology PhD program fellowship (PD/BD/135450/2017), respectively.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A aprendizagem no seio da família analfabeta

No Alentejo, a taxa de analfabetismo apresenta valores elevados – em 2001 era de 17,1%, de acordo com os valores proporcionados pelo Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Em contextos geográficos e sociais mais caracterizados pela ruralidade, esta realidade assume contornos mais evidentes, porque mais frequente e mais condicionadora do quotidiano dos indivíduos, das famílias e das comunidades. Muitas famílias residentes nas pequenas comunidades rurais da região alentejana são constituídas por adultos analfabetos, nomeadamente, quando as idades são avançadas. No entanto, como em todas as famílias, em qualquer circunstância, estas possuem uma determinada rotina de aprendizagem. Nesta comunicação, pretendem-se mostrar algumas das principais características dos estilos familiares de aprendizagem presentes em algumas famílias pertencentes a uma pequena comunidade rural do Alentejo marcada por uma elevada taxa de analfabetismo

A qualificação da mulher adulta: a dimensão familiar

O processo de Reconhecimento, Validação e Certificação de Competências (RVCC) tem vindo a ser concretizado por milhares de portugueses(as), desde o ano 2000. Aos Centros RVCC têm chegado adultos com perfis e percursos vitais muito diferentes. Um desses perfis corresponde ao da mulher adulta, casada e com filhos. Muitas destas mulheres assumiram protagonizar uma mudança de grande dimensão nas respetivas vidas com repercussões, também conscientemente assumidas, nas rotinas, relações, hierarquias e gestão quotidiana das respetivas famílias. A presente comunicação apresenta os resultados de um procedimento de investigação que se materializou no estudo de caso de três mulheres que protagonizaram um percurso de aprendizagem e de qualificação, através de um processo de RVCC

Ainda o analfabetismo no Alentejo: Passado e Presente de uma Realidade

Quando se fala em analfabetismo, o pensamento associado é, geralmente, de inexistência de algumas competências, aprendizagens, conhecimento e, em última análise, de parte significativa da cultura. O analfabetismo é um fenómeno que perdura na história (e cultura) do nosso país e, ainda hoje, está bastante presente na realidade portuguesa, sendo a região alentejana a que mais elevada taxa de indivíduos analfabetos apresenta. A presente comunicação visa dar a conhecer o passado e o presente de uma realidade ainda tão presente entre nós: o Analfabetismo no Alentej