SEA-PHAGES Research

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and kill bacteria and there is an abundant amount of them in the world. They have been recently utilized in biotechnological applications including their use in combating antibiotic resistance and bioremediation of oil spills. Through the SEA-PHAGES program, my goal (along with my team) was to discover and isolate bacteriophages found in soil and analyze their full genome sequence

SCHOOL FACULTY’S KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

Children between the ages of five and eighteen spend a significant amount of time in school settings where they may have the opportunity to receive mental health services if needed. Children come into contact with many school faculty members, such as teachers, social workers, counselors, secretaries, administrators, and many more. These faculty ideally would be able to identify and properly refer children to mental health services. However, prior research demonstrates that many faculty members are not aware of the various types of mental health services and programs provided in schools. In addition, for mental health services to be correctly offered to children, school faculty members need proper mental health training that would aid in identifying when a child needs additional support, as well as identifying appropriate mental health services geared towards children. Equally important, it is imperative to understand the perspective of school faculty members because they are in regular contact with children and they may inform others of the needs of schools, parents, and the community. The purpose of this study was to assess school faculty’s knowledge and understanding of mental health related services provided in schools. The targeted population was school faculty working in a K-12 settings across a variety of school districts in California. Participants were sought through online platforms and were asked to complete a survey. This study identified areas in which school faculty may require additional support in identifying mental health needs among students and raising awareness of the mental health support that is available to students. The results identified the lack of mental health related training provided to all school faculty members. Implications of these findings and recommendations for social work are discussed

Plant functional traits and vegetation strategies

In this thesis we tested the predictions from the CSR theory for the community membership. Predictions are that, in the absence of competition, species from all strategies (Competitors, Ruderals and Stress-tolerants) will persist in low-stress habitats, whereas in high-stress habitats, only species with Stress-tolerant traits will survive. CSR recognizes that species evolved similar traits to one universal stress. For this reason, we were interested in testing which strategies will survive in different sources of stress. Our results from field and greenhouse experiments suggest that CSR theory does not predict community membership from the initial stages of a plant life-cycle. Instead, we found that the habitat stress plays a major role in determining the species that are incorporated into a community. In this thesis we also used a trait-based approach to evaluate: 1) the relationship between key traits using annuals species, and 2) the links between genome size and phenotypic variation within species. Firstly, we studied the triangular relationship reported for seed mass and leaf area in woody species. These traits are involved in the plant reproduction strategy and plant water and energy-use. We found a triangular relationship in annuals species, suggesting that is conserved across groups (woody and annuals). We also found that the driver of this relationship is related to soil fertility. Finally, for the relationship between genome size and phenotypic variation within species, we found that larger genome species display higher variation in traits than small genome species. This can be a potential advantage in heterogeneous environments where the amount of phenotypic variation would allow the species to adapt to them

Lifestyle choices of Brazilian college students

Lifestyle choices reflect the beliefs that individuals attribute to aspects of life. This construct can be assessed with the Individual Lifestyle Profile (PEVI) questionnaire, which measures elements of Nutrition, Physical Activity, Preventive Behaviors, Social Relationships and Stress Management.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Early psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: A sational survey

Isolation measures used to contain epidemics generate social interaction restrictions and impose changes in routines of the public that increase negative psychological outcomes. Anxiety and depression are the most common symptoms.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Symptoms related to mental disorder in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Background Studies of previous pandemics indicate that healthcare workers have a high risk of developing symptoms related to mental health, especially depression, anxiety, and stress. Objective To identify mental disorder symptoms among Brazilian healthcare workers during the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic and compare findings in different work categories. Methods This was an online cross-sectional study. Information related to the pandemic and mental disorder symptoms was collected. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale and the Impact of Event Scale-revised were used. Associations were estimated by the chi-square test. The mean scores were compared among work categories with ANOVA (α = 5%) and the prevalence of symptoms was estimated. Results 1,609 healthcare workers participated in the survey [mean age: 36.9 (SD = 11.6) years, women = 83.6%]. There was no association between work category and changes in mental health during the pandemic (p = 0.288) or prevalence of unsafe feeling (p = 0.218). A significant relationship was observed between maintaining work activities during the pandemic and work category (p < 0.001). Physicians had the lowest out-of-work prevalence (9.5%) while dentists had the highest (32.3%). Physicians and nurses showed the highest prevalence of in-person work routine. Psychologists presented the highest prevalence of remote work (64.0%) while dentists had the lowest (20.2%). A high prevalence of depression (D), anxiety (A), and stress (S) symptoms was observed in all professional categories (D: 57.2, 95% CI 48.3–66.1%; A: 46.20%, 95% CI = 37.2–55.2%; S: 55.80%, 95% CI = 46.8–64.8%), with physicians (D = 38.4%, A = 25.80%, S = 37.90%), psychologists (D = 50.2%, A = 39.0%, S = 43.1%), and nurses (D = 50.0%, A = 40.9%, S = 49.0%) having significantly lower scores. Psychologists had the lowest pandemic-related psychological impact (42.70%, 95% CI 36.8–48.6%). Conclusion Extreme changes in the work routine of dentists and psychologists and an overall high prevalence of mental symptoms due to the pandemic were found. Researchers should focus on gathering information that can identify workers at increased risk of mental illness to guide discussions and develop actions to minimize the harm of the pandemic. In addition, we suggest that healthcare and support systems urgently adopt mental health care measures with specialized professionals to protect the psychological well-being of the healthcare community.· · · · ·info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ETHE1 and MOCS1 deficiencies : disruption of mitochondrial bioenergetics, dynamics, redox homeostasis and endoplasmic reticulum-mitochondria crosstalk in patient fibroblasts

Ethylmalonic encephalopathy protein 1 (ETHE1) and molybdenum cofactor (MoCo) defciencies are hereditary disorders that afect the catabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids. ETHE1 defciency is caused by mutations in the ETHE1 gene, while MoCo defciency is due to mutations in one of three genes involved in MoCo biosynthesis (MOCS1, MOCS2 and GPHN). Patients with both disorders exhibit abnormalities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, among other biochemical fndings. However, the pathophysiology of the defects has not been elucidated. To characterize cellular derangements, mitochondrial bioenergetics, dynamics, endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mitochondria communication, superoxide production and apoptosis were evaluated in fbroblasts from four patients with ETHE1 defciency and one with MOCS1 defciency. The efect of JP4-039, a promising mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant, was also tested on cells. Our data show that mitochondrial respiration was decreased in all patient cell lines. ATP depletion and increased mitochondrial mass was identifed in the same cells, while variable alterations in mitochondrial fusion and fssion were seen. High superoxide levels were found in all cells and were decreased by treatment with JP4-039, while the respiratory chain activity was increased by this antioxidant in cells in which it was impaired. The content of VDAC1 and IP3R, proteins involved in ER-mitochondria communication, was decreased, while DDIT3, a marker of ER stress, and apoptosis were increased in all cell lines. These data demonstrate that previously unrecognized broad disturbances of cellular function are involved in the pathophysiology of ETHE1 and MOCS1 defciencies, and that reduction of mitochondrial superoxide by JP4-039 is a promising strategy for adjuvant therapy of these disorders

Subjective wellbeing of preschool children

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Autoquestionnaire Qualité de Vie Enfant Imagé (AUQEI) in pre-school children and estimate the influence of demographic characteristics on their subjective wellbeing. Methods: Construct validity was estimated using confirmatory analysis and the chi-square per degrees of freedom ratio (χ2/df), Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI), and Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA). Reliability was assessed by the ordinal alpha (α) and omega (ω) coefficients and the factorial invariance by the difference in CFI (ΔCFI). Mean scores for each AUQEI item and the general score were calculated. Results: A total of 443 Preschool children enrolled in public education institutions participated. The original 4-factor AUQEI model showed collinearity between factors and a high correlation between two items. A single factor model was tested, presenting adequate fit to the data (χ2/df = 4.47; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.98; RMSEA = 0.08; α = 0.98; ω = 0.93; UniCo > 0.95, EVC > 0.85, and MIREAL 0.05). Conclusions: The assessment of subjective wellbeing with the single-factor AUQEI model provided valid, reliable, and invariant. Thus, being a relevant and interesting instrument to assess wellbeing in young children.Peer reviewe

Concern of primiparous women with regard to labor and birth

Objective: Recognizing the concerns of primiparous women about labor and birth, the nurse identify actions to mitigating the feelings of women. Method: this was a descriptive, exploratory research, qualitative in nature, with six primiparous women rooming at the University Hospital Antonio Pedro through semistructured interviews and analyzed with the principles of thematic analysis, after approval by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Antonio Pedro, under nº 218 283. Results: in the data analysis, the results showed their feelings and expectations regarding their relationship with labor and birth, such as fear, insecurity and anxiety. However, the presence of a companion proved to be important for inhibition of these feelings. Conclusion: the health professional should facilitate and promote care to the mother, with a resulting assistance of a trust and bond

Desenvolvimento e validação de metodologia analítica para a determinação do teor de ácido glicólico na matéria-prima e em formulações dermocosméticas

Glycolic acid is widely used in therapeutical care as a soft peeling, leading to the thickness of the horny layer, which is useful in the renewal of the epidermis and the reduction of the face lines. However, in high concentrations it can be associated to a potential of irritation of the skin. A chemical peeling has diverse clinical applications, among them the treatment of injured skin face like: acne, ichthyose, melasma, warts and other else. The present work had the goal to establish and to validate an analytical methodology for the determination of the glycolic acid purity in the raw material and in the dermocosmetic formulations, the acid-base neutralization titration method was used, and the end point was determined with visual indicator as well as potenciometric. The analysis of glycolic acid in the raw material, and particularly, in the finished product is important to maintain the quality control and to guarantee the consumers security. Therefore, the raw material and the products, with glycolic acid, were analyzed in two days, as its purity in free and total glycolic acid was determined using sodium hydroxide 0,1 N and the hydrochloric acid 0,1 N solutions. The developed methodology was based on the reaction with the active substance and with the property characteristics of these formulations. It was demonstrated to be practical and efficient in quantify the glycolic acid.O ácido glicólico é amplamente utilizado na terapêutica para se obter um peeling suave, levando ao afinamento do estrato córneo útil na renovação da epiderme e na redução das linhas faciais. Porém, em concentrações elevadas pode estar associado a um alto potencial de irritação da pele. O peeling químico tem diversas aplicações clínicas dentre elas o tratamento da pele facial lesada por problemas como acne, ictiose, melasma, verrugas e outros problemas. O presente trabalho objetivou estabelecer e validar a metodologia analítica para a determinação do teor de ácido glicólico na matéria-prima e em formulações dermocosméticas, tendo empregado o método titulométrico de neutralização ácido-base, determinando-se o ponto de equivalência com indicador e/ou indicação potenciométrica. A análise do teor de ácido glicólico na matéria-prima e, particularmente, no produto acabado, é importante para o controle de qualidade, principalmente, para a segurança dos consumidores. Portanto, a matéria-prima e os produtos, contendo ácido glicólico, foram analisados em dois dias, quanto ao teor de ácido glicólico livre e total utilizando soluções de hidróxido de sódio 0,1 N e o ácido clorídrico 0,1 N. A metodologia desenvolvida baseou-se na reação com a substância ativa e com as características próprias destas formulações, demonstrando ser prática e eficaz na quantificação do ácido glicólico