A aprendizagem cooperativa num grupo heterogéneo de jardim de infância: conceções de educadores e futuros educadores

Relatório da Prática Profissional Supervisionada II apresentado à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Educação Pré-EscolarO presente relatório espelha um trabalho de reflexão contínuo acerca de todo o percurso realizado numa perspetiva de educadora-estagiária durante a Prática Profissional Supervisionada II (PPS II), que decorreu num Jardim de Infância (JI), com crianças de idades compreendidas entre os três e os seis anos, desde o dia 17 de outubro de 2022 até 6 de fevereiro de 2023. Dividido em cinco capítulos, e após uma breve introdução enquadradora, o relatório enceta com uma caracterização da ação educativa, que foi fundamental para definir as minhas intenções pedagógicas em relação à equipa pedagógica, às crianças e às famílias, procedendo, de seguida, a uma análise reflexiva e, devidamente fundamentada, da minha intervenção em JI. A investigação, apresentada posteriormente, e definida a partir da problemática identificada em contexto, centra-se na temática da aprendizagem cooperativa num grupo etariamente heterogéneo de JI, tendo sido operacionalizada através de uma abordagem mista, com recurso ao método de estudo de caso e utilizando como técnicas de recolha de informação a observação a consulta documental, entrevistas semiestruturadas, um inquérito por questionário, e, ainda, a recolha de registos fotográficos e notas de campo (registos diários). Com o objetivo de compilar e analisar as conceções dos/as educadores/as de infância, bem como dos/as futuros/as educadores/as de infância, procuro responder às seguintes perguntas: (i) “Como é que os/as educadores/as e os/as futuros/as educadores/as percecionam a cooperação em JI?”; (ii) “Quais os contributos da aprendizagem cooperativa no desenvolvimento das crianças inseridas num grupo etariamente heterogéneo?” e (iii) “Que estratégias podem ser adotadas na ação pedagógica para fomentar a cooperação entre as crianças?”. Assim, partindo da definição do conceito de cooperação em JI, dos contributos da aprendizagem cooperativa num grupo heterogéneo e do papel do/a educador/a na fomentação da cooperação entre as crianças, foi possível responder às referidas questões de investigação. Genericamente, os resultados obtidos permitiram depreender que a cooperação leva ao desenvolvimento cognitivo das crianças pelas interações próximas que estabelecem no seu quotidiano com os pares, sendo que, quando o grupo é etariamente heterogéneo, ocorrem partilhas e interações mais ricas no desenvolvimento e na aprendizagem das crianças. A encerrar o relatório, apresenta-se, ainda, uma análise reflexiva de todo o percurso desenvolvido, quer em contexto de Creche, quer de JI, e com impacto significativo na minha construção enquanto futura Educadora de Infância.This report reflects on the continuous reflection work on the entire journey undertaken from the perspective of a trainee-educator during the Supervised Professional Practice II (PPS II), which took place in a kindergarten (KI), with children aged between three and six years old, from october 17th, 2022 to february 6th, 2023. Divided into five chapters, and after a brief introductory frame, the report begins with a characterization of the educational action, which was crucial in defining my pedagogical intentions regarding the pedagogical team, the children, and their families, proceeding, then, with a reflective and well-founded analysis of my intervention in the KI. The research, presented subsequently and defined from the identified problem in context, focuses on the theme of cooperative learning in an age-heterogeneous group of KI, being operationalized through a mixed approach, using the case study method and information collection techniques such as observation, documentary consultation, semi-structured interviews, a questionnaire survey, and also collecting photographic records and field notes (daily records). The research, which aimed to compile and analyze the conceptions of childhood educators and future childhood educators, sought to answer the following questions: (i) "How do childhood educators and future childhood educators perceive cooperation in KI?"; (ii) "What are the contributions of cooperative learning in the development of children inserted in an age-heterogeneous group?" and (iii) "What strategies can be adopted in educational action to promote cooperation among children?". Thus, starting from the definition of the concept of cooperation in KI, the contributions of cooperative learning in an age-heterogeneous group, and the role of the educator in promoting cooperation among children, it was possible to answer the research questions. Generally, the results obtained allowed us to infer that cooperation leads to the cognitive development of children through the close interactions they establish in their daily lives with their peers, and when the group is age-heterogeneous, richer interactions and sharing occur in the children's development and learning. Finally, the report concludes with a reflective analysis of the entire development process, both in the context of the Nursery and the KI, and with significant impact on my construction as a future childhood educator.N/

SARS-CoV-2-induced amyloidgenesis : not one, but three hypotheses for cerebral COVID-19 outcomes

The main neuropathological feature of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is extracellular amyloid deposition in senile plaques, resulting from an imbalance between the production and clearance of amyloid beta peptides. Amyloid deposition is also found around cerebral blood vessels, termed cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), in 90% of AD cases. Although the relationship between these two amyloid disorders is obvious, this does not make CAA a characteristic of AD, as 40% of the non-demented population presents this derangement. AD is predominantly sporadic; therefore, many factors contribute to its genesis. Herein, the starting point for discussion is the COVID-19 pandemic that we are experiencing and how SARS-CoV-2 may be able to, both directly and indirectly, contribute to CAA, with consequences for the outcome and extent of the disease. We highlight the role of astrocytes and endothelial cells in the process of amyloidgenesis, as well as the role of other amyloidgenic proteins, such as fibrinogen and serum amyloid A protein, in addition to the neuronal amyloid precursor protein. We discuss three independent hypotheses that complement each other to explain the cerebrovascular amyloidgenesis that may underlie long-term COVID-19 and new cases of dementia

Short-term protocols to obtain insulin-producing cells from rat adipose tissue : signaling pathways and in vivo effect

Studies using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) as a source of insulin-secreting cells (IPCs) are a promising path in the pursuit for diabetes therapy. Here, we investigate three short-term differentiation protocols in order to generate IPCs from autologous adipose-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) with an expressive insulin-secreting profile in vitro and in vivo, as well as the signaling pathways involved in the chosen differentiation protocols. We extracted and cultured ADSCs and differentiated them into IPCs, using three different protocols with different inductors. Afterwards, the secretory profile was analyzed and IPCs differentiated in exendin-4/activin A medium, which presented the best secretory profile, was implanted in the kidney subcapsular region of diabetic rats. All protocols induced the differentiation, but media supplemented with exendin-4/activin A or resveratrol induced the expression and secretion of insulin more efficiently, and only the exendin-4/activin-A-supplemented medium generated an insulin secretion profile more like β-cells, in response to glucose. The PI3K/Akt pathway seems to play a negative role in IPC differentiation; however, the differentiation of ADSCs with exendin-4/activin A positively modulated the p38/MAPK pathway. Resveratrol medium activated the Jak/STAT3 pathway and generated IPCs apparently less sensitive to insulin and insulin-like receptors. Finally, the implant of IPCs with the best secretory behavior caused a decrease in hyperglycemia after one-week implantation in diabetic rats. Our data provide further information regarding the generation of IPCs from ADSCs and strengthen evidence to support the use of MSCs in regenerative medicine, specially the use of exendin-4/activin A to produce rapid and effectively IPCs with significant in vivo effects

O imaginário da promoção da saúde no quotidiano das famílias na atenção primária

Objective: to know the imaginary of Health Promotion of families in the Primary Health Care routine. Method: a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study, conducted from August to November 2015 in a municipality in southern Brazil, in the light of the Comprehensive Sociology and Everyday Life of Maffesoli. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 19 participants and analyzed according to Schatzman and Strauss. Results: four categories emerged: Seeking health in daily life; Prioritize and Promote a better quality of life; Weaknesses of health promotion in the daily life of the Unified Health System (SUS); Potentialities of health promotion in SUS routine. Final Considerations: Participants point to behavior change and do not expand health issues beyond the health sector and lifestyle. However, they emphasize the desire to urge themselves in search of rights, as citizens and users of SUS.Objetivo: conhecer o imaginário da Promoção da Saúde das famílias no quotidiano da Atenção Primária à Saúde. Método: estudo qualitativo, descritivo e exploratório, realizado de agosto a novembro de 2015 em um município no sul do Brasil, à luz do referencial da Sociologia Compreensiva e Quotidiano de Maffesoli. Os dados foram coletados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas, com 19 participantes e analisados de acordo com Schatzman e Strauss. Resultados: emergiram quatro categorias: Buscar saúde no quotidiano; Priorizar e Promover uma melhor qualidade de vida; Fragilidades da promoção da saúde no quotidiano do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS); Potencialidades da promoção da saúde no quotidiano do SUS. Considerações finais: os participantes apontam a mudança de comportamento e não expandem as questões de saúde para além do setor saúde e de um estilo de vida. Porém, ressaltam a vontade de se manifestar em busca de direitos, enquanto cidadãos e usuários do SUS

Neuroinflammation and neuromodulation in neurological diseases

Neuroimmunology is a relatively young science. This discipline has emerged today from the research field as a mature and fully developed innovative research area that integrates not only pure topics of neuroimmunology, but also expands on wider fields such as neuroplasticity, neuronal reserve and neuromodulation in association with clinical events, amongst which behavioral disorders stand out. The Cuban School of Neuroimmunology—a recent meeting that took place in Havana, Cuba—focused on topics based on the molecular mechanisms of neuroinflammation in neurological disorders involving behavioral manifestations, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), autism, cerebellar ataxias, Alzheimer´s disease and stroke among others, as well as on the use of new interventional technologies in neurology. Professor Luis Velazquez, from the Cuban Academy of Sciences, dictated an interesting lecture on Spinocerebellar ataxias, a genetic disorder where recent hypotheses related to the influence of neuroinflammation as a neurobiological factor influencing the progression of this disease have emerged. At the same time, the use of new interventional technologies in neurology was discussed, including those referring to novel disease modifying therapies in the course of MS and the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in several neurological diseases, the latter reinforcing how interventional strategies in the form of non-invasive bran stimulation can contribute to physical rehabilitation in neurology. This paper summarizes the highlights of the most relevant topics presented during the First Cuban School of Neuroimmunology, organized by the Cuban Network of Neuroimmunology, held in June 2019

Evaluation of inexpensive pollen substitute diets through quantification of haemolymph proteins

Throughout much of South and Central America, Africanized honey bees tend to abscond during dearth periods. Consequently, there has been much interest in finding ways to secure colonies by artificial feeding. Based on locally-available ingredients, we tested five different protein diets against bee bread and sucrose syrup by measuring the amount of protein in the haemolymph of caged, newly emerged Africanized honey bees fed exclusively on one of these diets for seven days. The diets contained one or several of the following ingredients: sucrose, soy meal, rice meal, sugar-cane-alcohol distillery yeast, wheat meal, soy milk powder, and ground lentils. Sucrose, in the form of sugar syrup, was used as a protein-free control. One of the diets, which included soy milk powder as a major protein source, instead of soy meal, resulted in low haemolymph protein levels, similar to that of the sucrose diet. All of the other protein diets raised the haemolymph protein levels significantly above that of the newly emerged bees (approximately 20 – 28 versus an initial 14 mg/ml haemolymph). The haemolymph protein levels of bees fed with these pollen substitute diets were similar to those of bees fed on bee bread. The initial protein levels in the newly emerged bees were considerably higher than in previous studies done in Brazil, apparently because our study was conducted during the spring, when natural food sources are relatively abundant. Nevertheless, it was still possible to objectively compare the diets under these conditions.FAPESP 2007/07701-3CNPqResearch Center on Biodiversity and Computing (Biocomp-USP

The BepiColombo Environment Radiation Monitor, BERM

The BepiColombo Environment Radiation Monitor (BERM) on board the European Space Agency's Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO), is designed to measure the radiation environment encountered by BepiColombo. The instrument measures electrons with energies from similar to 150 keV to similar to 10 MeV, protons with energies from similar to 1.5 MeV to similar to 100 MeV, and heavy ions with Linear Energy Transfer from 1 to 50 MeV.mg(-1).cm(2). BERM is operated continuously, being responsible for monitoring the radiation levels during all phases of the mission, including the cruise, the planetary flybys of Earth, Venus and Mercury, and the Hermean environment. In this paper, we describe the scientific objectives, instrument design and calibration, and the in-flight scientific performance of BERM. Moreover, we provide the first scientific results obtained by BERM during the BepiColombo flyby of Earth in April 2020, and after the impact of a solar energetic particle event during the cruise phase in May 2021. We also discuss the future plans of the instrument including synergies with other instruments on the BepiColombo and on other missions

Zika virus exposure affects neuron-glia communication in the hippocampal slices of adult rats

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy was associated with microcephaly in neonates, but clinical and experimental evidence indicate that ZIKV also causes neurological complications in adults. However, the changes in neuron-glial communication, which is essential for brain homeostasis, are still unknown. Here, we report that hippocampal slices from adult rats exposed acutely to ZIKV showed significant cellular alterations regarding to redox homeostasis, inflammatory process, neurotrophic functions and molecular signalling pathways associated with neurons and glial cells. Our findings support the hypothesis that ZIKV is highly neurotropic and its infection readily induces an inflammatory response, characterized by an increased expression and/or release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We also observed changes in neural parameters, such as adenosine receptor A2a expression, as well as in the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neuron-specific enolase, indicating plasticity synaptic impairment/neuronal damage. In addition, ZIKV induced a glial commitment, with alterations in specific and functional parameters such as aquaporin 4 expression, S100B secretion and glutathione synthesis. ZIKV also induced p21 senescence-associated gene expression, indicating that ZIKV may induce early senescence. Taken together, our results indicate that ZIKV-induced neuroinflammation, involving nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor κB (NFκB) pathways, affects important aspects of neuron-glia communication. Therefore, although ZIKV infection is transient, long-term consequences might be associated with neurological and/or neurodegenerative diseases

Conhecimentos e habilidades de enfrentamento aos fenômenos das drogas e violência por docentes

A adolescência é um período de transformações, no qual as pessoas estão sensíveis aos fenômenos sociais, comunitários e familiares, como as drogas e a violência. Em comunidades marginalizadas, estes fenômenos são vivenciados em maior intensidade, e fragilizam a coesão e integração social. Inserido neste cenário, a escola é concebida como fator de proteção e integração social, o que impõe aos profissionais da educação e gestores escolares conhecimentos e habilidades necessárias para a prevenção e o enfrentamento de situações de violência e uso de álcool e outras drogas, fenômenos comuns nos cenários educacionais. De modo a subsidiar políticas públicas e institucionais, torna-se imprescindível realizar diagnóstico situacional dos conhecimentos e habilidades de professores, bem como da existência de mecanismos institucionais para a prevenção e enfrentamento aos fenômenos que agravam a vulnerabilidade social dos adolescentes. Objetivou-se realizar o diagnóstico situacional dos conhecimentos e habilidades dos professores no enfrentamento aos fenômenos das drogas e violência, bem como da existência de mecanismos institucionais para a prevenção das referidas problemáticas, no âmbito de uma instituição de ensino pública federal, inserida no entorno do Distrito Federal. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo de abordagem quantitativa. Os dados foram coletados mediante aplicação de entrevistas semiestruturadas com professores. Foram entrevistados 35 docentes. O projeto foi aprovado em Comitê de Ética sob protocolo 3.196.541. Nosso estudo aponta para a ausência de conhecimentos e/ou formação, o que representou dificuldades para o uso de estratégias e manejo para o enfrentamento ao uso de álcool e outras drogas no contexto escolar, bem como violência. Espera-se que, a presente pesquisa incentive novos estudos sobre a temática e amplie a visão dos gestores quanto à complexidade do assunto