Older adults’ spirituality and life satisfaction: a longitudinal test of social support and sense of coherence as mediating mechanisms

Spirituality is proposed to be a component of successful ageing and has been shown to predict wellbeing in old age. There has been conceptual discussion of possible mechanisms that link spirituality with positive psychological functioning in older adults, but few empirical examinations of these linking mechanisms over time. The current study examined the role of Antonovsky's Sense of Coherence (SOC) and social support in mediating the effects of spirituality on life satisfaction in older participants over a four-year period. The study used a cross-lagged panel analysis to evaluate longitudinal mediation within a path analysis framework. Results showed that the meaningfulness dimension of SOC mediated the influence of spirituality on life satisfaction over time, suggesting that spirituality may influence older adults' experience and perception of life events, leading to a more positive appraisal of these events as meaningful. Social support was not found to mediate the pathway between spirituality and life satisfaction. This study may be the first to examine the link between spirituality, sense of coherence, social support and wellbeing, as measured by life satisfaction, using longitudinal data from a community sample of older adults. The study provides evidence for the positive role of spirituality in the lives of older people. This is an area that requires further examination in models of successful ageing

Vitamin D and chronic pain in the elderly

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is a frequent complaint during medical visits, especially among the elderly. In the attempt to find more effective therapies with less adverse effects in this population, especially considering elderly people with neuropathic and musculoskeletal pain, there are studies relating vitamin D to pain, which could propose it as an analgesic alternative. This study aimed at reviewing in the literature the role of vitamin D in chronic musculoskeletal pain in the elderly. CONTENTS: Pubmed, Medline, LILACS, Cochrane Library and Scielo databases were queried for the last ten years, looking for studies in Portuguese and English. Initial search keywords were vitamin D and chronic pain, resulting in 220 articles, of which only those addressing musculoskeletal pain in the elderly were selected. From those, only ten met established criteria and were analyzed, resulting in: one systematic review, five transversal analytical studies, two case-series retrospective studies, one prospective observational study and one randomized and controlled clinical trial. Five studies have shown significant relationship between vitamin D deficit and chronic musculoskeletal pain; three studies have shown pain improvement after vitamin D supplementation and two have not observed pain improvement with such supplementation. CONCLUSION: Studies relating vitamin D to chronic pain in the elderly are still scarce and highly heterogeneous. The evaluation of vitamin D deficit should be more frequent during geriatric consultations, because this has been correlated to some painful syndromes and its correction could bring therapeutic benefits in some cases.JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A dor crônica é queixa muito frequente nas consultas, principalmente entre os idosos. Na tentativa de buscar terapêuticas mais eficazes e com menos efeitos adversos, nessa população, especialmente considerando idosos com dor neuropática e musculoesquelética, tem-se observado estudos que vêm relacionando a vitamina D a quadros dolorosos, o que poderia propô-la como uma alternativa analgésica. O objetivo deste estudo foi rever, na literatura, o papel da vitamina D na dor crônica neuromusculoesquelética em idosos. CONTEÚDO: Realizada a revisão bibliográfica na base de dados do Pubmed, Medline, LILACS, Biblioteca Cochrane e Scielo, contemplando os últimos 10 anos, títulos em português e inglês. Os descritores usados na busca inicial foram vitamina D e dor crônica, resultando 220 artigos, dos quais apenas os que se tratavam de dor neuromusculoesquelética em idosos foram utilizados. Destes, somente 10 preenchiam os critérios estabelecidos e foram analisados, resultando: um estudo de revisão sistemática, cinco estudos analíticos transversais, dois estudos retrospectivos do tipo série de casos, um estudo observacional prospectivo e um trial clínico randomizado e controlado. Observou-se em cinco estudos uma relação significativa entre a hipovitaminose D e dor crônica musculoesquelética, em três estudos uma melhora da dor após suplementação com vitamina D, e, em outros dois, não haver melhora da dor com esta suplementação. CONCLUSÃO: Os estudos relacionando a vitamina D e a dor crônica em idosos ainda são escassos e bastante heterogêneos. A avaliação do déficit de vitamina D deveria estar mais presente nas consultas geriátricas, pois este tem sido correlacionado com certas síndromes dolorosas e sua adequação poderia trazer beneficio terapêutico em alguns casos.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Dynamic simulations of multiphase flow in bubble columns.

The aim of this paper is to introduce tracker particles to capture the hydrodynamics of support beads used in gas-liquid-solid biological reactors through the use of computational fluid dynamics. The gas-liquid interactions were modelled using an algebraic slip mixture model, where the gas and liquid phases are treated as a pseudo-continuous mixture. The interactions between the gas and liquid phases are calculated as force terms in the momentum conservation equation. With this model and the standard k-? turbulence model, the turbulent motion of gas-liquid flow is captured for a representative case of bubble column with an aspect ratio of 5:1[1, 2, 3]. A superficial gas velocity of 0.02 m s-1 returned vertical velocities of 0.15 ± 0.02 m s-1 at a height of 2.5 column diameters, this is a reasonable value for a column of less than 0.2 m diameter. In the two-dimensional case the two large eddies developed, showing the overall flow structure, though the flow was stable. For the three-dimensional case a dominant mode with a frequency of 4 min-1, which took 20 seconds to develop after the initialisation of the flow field. Particles were injected into the flow regime and generally followed the motion of the vortical structures present, this was due to the low density of the particles with respect to the liquid phase, leading to lows levels of particle slip. The motion of the particles was analysed by assessing the direction in which the particles were travelling within the column, leading to a measure of the mixing properties in different parts of the column

Analyzing the role of social variables and programmed consequences in instruction-following

Twelve children in the eight-to-nine year age range were exposed to a matching-to-sample procedure in an investigation dealing with the role of monitoring in instruction-following. On this task, two comparison stimuli were touched in the presence of a contextual stimulus. Whereas incorrect responses resulted in reinforcement loss, correct responses avoided this consequence. There were five phases in the experiment: Phases 1, 3 and 5 began with an instruction corresponding to the contingencies; contingencies in effect in Phase 1 were reversed in Phase 2, reestablished in Phase 3, reversed again in Phase 4 and renewed in Phase 5. The participants were subjected to two conditions, differing with regard to the phase where an observer was introduced in the experimental situation. During Phases 2 and 4, 10 participants did not follow instructions. This finding indicates that even when monitoring is present, instruction-following does not occur if it is not reinforced.Investigando o papel da monitorização no seguimento de instruções, 12 crianças foram expostas a um procedimento de escolha segundo o modelo. A tarefa era tocar um dos dois estímulos de comparação na presença de um estímulo contextual. As respostas corretas evitavam e as incorretas produziam perda de reforçadores. O experimento consistia de cinco fases. As Fases 1, 3 e 5 eram iniciadas com uma instrução correspondente às contingências; as contingências em vigor na Fase 1 eram revertidas na Fase 2, restabelecidas na Fase 3, novamente revertidas na Fase 4 e restabelecidas na Fase 5. Os participantes foram atribuídos a duas condições, que diferiam quanto à fase na qual um observador era introduzido na situação experimental. Observou-se que 10 participantes abandonaram o seguimento de instruções nas Fases 2 e 4. Sugere-se que, mesmo quando é monitorado, o seguimento de instruções tende a deixar de ocorrer quando produz perda de reforçadores

Medidas governamentais de enfrentamento à Covid-19 a partir do Projeto São José III

that during the period of social isolation experienced by the state was important to strengthen the maintenance of family farming enterprises served by the agrarian development policies covered by the secretariat. Thus, even having suffered losses in production and marketing, investment alternatives in technical assistance and guidance to family farmers, fairs, virtual assistance to beneficiaries contributed to minimizing the effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The methodology used was a qualitative research, using a questionnaire. A total of 267 questionnaires were sent, with 237 being returned, corresponding to 88.8% of the total. The Google Web virtual tool was used to answer the questionnaire.O estudo tem por objetivo identificar os impactos causados pelo vírus Sars Cov 2, nos empreendimentos apoiados pelo Projeto São José III. No percurso de identificação de políticas públicas voltadas para o enfrentamento da crise econômica e social, fruto do avanço da Covid-19 pelo interior do Ceará. Foram identificados os esforços da Secretaria do Desenvolvimento Agrário na manutenção de uma agenda de ações que, ao longo do período de isolamento social vivenciado pelo estado, foi importante para o fortalecimento de manutenção dos empreendimentos da agricultura familiar atendidos pelas políticas de desenvolvimento agrário abrigados no âmbito da secretaria. Assim, mesmo tendo sofrido perdas na produção e comercialização, as alternativas de investimentos em assistência técnica e orientação aos agricultores familiares, realização de feiras, atendimento virtual aos beneficiários contribuíram para a minimização dos efeitos causados pela pandemia da Covid-19. A metodologia utilizada foi a de uma pesquisa de cunho qualitativo com o uso de questionário. Foram enviados 267 questionários, sendo devolvidos 237, o que corresponde a 88,8% do total. A ferramenta virtual Google Web foi utilizada para responder o questionário

ECO-MAKER: DEIXANDO UM LEGADO NA HORTA DA E.M.E.F. PROFESSORA “SOFIA IMBIRIBA” – SANTARÉM –PA (BRASIL)

Atualmente ouve-se a expressão “faça você mesmo”, a frequência ao ouvir essa expressão está ligada diretamente à cultura maker, que refere a “pôr a mão na massa” e encontrar soluções criativas para seus problemas. Diante dessa perspectiva, a ação, tornou-se possível através do projeto de recuperação do solo, continuidade e revitalização da horta da E.M.E.F Profª. Sofia Imbiriba, nomeou-se essa ação “Eco-Maker, deixando um legado na horta da E.M.E.F Profª. Sofia Imbiriba”, contou com a participação empenhada de toda a comunidade escolar. Seguindo sugestões, os problemas foram resolvidos como: limpeza e construção dos canteiros, os mesmo com a utilização de materiais recicláveis, troca das irrigações, plantações de sementes novas. Após finalizações das ações fazedoras, tornou-se notório a mudança do cenário da horta, os voluntários do projeto e o grupo acadêmico responsável pela ação, satisfeitos. Tornando acreditar nos objetivos alcançados através do projeto, sendo relevante tanto aos acadêmicos envolvidos na ação, quanto aos colaboradores da comunidade escolar. Palavras-Chave: Cultura Maker.  Revitalização. Legado. “ECO MAKER: LEAVING A LEGACY IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN OF E.M.E.F. TEACHER SOFIA IMBIRIBA” – SANTARÉM- PA (BRASIL) Abstract: Currently listening to the expression “make it yourself” but frequency to listen to it is connected directly to “maker culture” referring “to get the hands dirty” and it figures out creative solutions to the problems. Before that perspective, the action became it possible through of soil recovery project for continuity and revitalization Teacher Sofia Imbiriba Middle School vegetable garden named as “Eco-maker: leaving a legacy in the vegetable garden of E.M.E.F. Teacher Sofia Imbiriba”, in which involved the whole school community. After some suggestions, the problems have been solved through of cleaning and building flowerbed used to the same recycled materials changing the irrigations and planting new seed. After finalizing those maker actions, it becomes notorious the change of vegetable garden scene, the voluntaries from the project and academic group responsible by actions they get satisfied. It becomes possible to believe in achieved goals through of project and it is as relevant to academics involved those actions as such contributors from school community.  Keywords: Maker Culture; revitalization; legacy