Relações entre forças de caráter e percepção do apoio social

This study aimed to study the relations between character and social support, through the Characters Strengths Scale (EFC) and Social Support Scale - EPSUS-IJ (Youth version). 293 adolescents, 14 to 17 years (M=14.95, SD= 3.038) participated, 67.8% female. Results showed that the factor 1 (Contributing to Problems) EPSUS-IJ contributed significantly to explain 21 characters strengths. The second factor (Social Interaction) presented significant coefficients in 14 strengths, and factor 3 (Affectivity) in 12 strengths. The findings are discussed based on literature.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo estudiar las relaciones entre fortalezas del carácter y la percepción del apoyo social a través de la Escala de Fortalezas del Carácter – EFC y de la Escala de Apoyo Social - EPSUS-IJ (Versión Infanto-Juvenil). Participaron de la investigación 293 adolescentes, con edades entre 14 y 17 años (M=14.95, DT=3.038), de ambos sexos, siendo 67.8% del sexo femenino. Como resultado fue posible identificar que el factor 1 (Enfrentamiento de Problemas) contribuyó significativamente en 21 fortalezas. A su vez, en los factores Interacción Social y Afectividad presentaron coeficientes significativos en 14 y 12 fortalezas respectivamente. Los hallazgos se discuten con base en la literatura.O presente estudo teve por objetivo estudar as relações entre forças de caráter e percepção de suporte social, por meio da Escala de Forças de Caráter – EFC e da Escala de Suporte Social - EPSUS-IJ (Versão Infanto-Juvenil). Participaram da pesquisa 293 adolescentes, com idades entre 14 e 17 anos (M=14,95, DP=3,038), ambos os sexos, sendo 67.8% do sexo feminino. Como resultado foi possível identificar que o fator 1 (Enfrentamento de Problemas) contribuiu significativamente em 21 forças. Por sua vez, os fatores Interação Social y Afetividade apresentaram coeficientes significativos em 14 e 12 forças respetivamente. Os achados são discutidos à luz da literatura

Effect of Atmospheric Cold Plasma on the Aroma of Pineapple Juice: Improving Fresh and Fruity Notes and Reducing Undesired Pungent and Sulfurous Aromas

Pineapple aroma is characterized by several esters, which confers its fresh and fruity aroma. However, high concentrations of methyl hexanoate and thioesters bring an undesired pungently sweet aroma and sulfurous notes to pineapple juice. This study investigates the chemical effects of cold plasma on the aroma compounds and descriptors of pineapple juice, evaluating the effects of plasma on its esters and thioesters. Dielectric barrier discharge plasma was applied to pineapple juice, varying the excitation frequency (50 to 1000 Hz) and processing time (10 to 20 min) at constant voltage (20 kV). Plasma treatment induced successive demethylation of esters and the conversion of methyl esters into ethyl esters. Thioesters showed to be more stable under plasma treatment. Proper setting of plasma operating conditions enabled an improvement in the fresh and fruity descriptors of pineapple juice, a reduction of its undesired pungently sweet aroma, but an increase in the influence of sulfurous descriptors. Plasma treatment at 50 Hz reduced the undesired aromas of pineapple while maintaining its fresh and fruity descriptors

Fenvalerate, A Pyrethroid Insecticide, Adversely Affects Sperm Production and Storage in Male Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential estrogenic activity of fenvalerate by examining reproductive and fertility capabilities in Wistar rats. Adult male animals were treated for 30 d with 20 or 40 mg/kg/d fenvalerate or corn oil (vehicle) by oral gavage. Further, a possible estrogenic activity of fenvalerate (0.4, 1, 4, 8, or 40 mg/kg) was tested after a 3-d treatment of immature female rats using the uterotrophic assay. Exposure to the higher dose of fenvalerate was toxic to testis and epididymis as shown by a decrease in the absolute weights and sperm counts in both organs. Although the sperm counts were reduced, the fertility and sexual behavior were similar in control rats and rats treated with 40 mg/kg pesticide. Fenvalerate did not exert estrogenic activity in vivo at the tested doses. Data suggest that fenvalerate treatment in this study failed to compromise fertility, possibly due to enhanced reproductive capacity in rodents compared to humans.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Qualidade de vida e esgotamento profissional entre docentes da rede pública de Ensino Médio e Fundamental no Sul do Brasil Quality of life and burnout among public high school and primary school teachers in Southern Brazil

Para investigar os níveis de qualidade de vida entre docentes de escolas estaduais e municipais e relacioná-los com características sociodemográficas e do processo de trabalho, realizou-se um estudo transversal com 601 docentes da rede pública de Ensino Fundamental e Médio da zona urbana de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Os domínios da escala de qualidade de vida WHOQOL-bref - físico, psicológico, relações sociais e ambiente - foram analisados. Os índices médios foram: 69,2 (desvio-padrão - DP = 16,8) para o domínio físico, 70,6 (DP = 14,0) para o psicológico, 72,5 (DP = 17,3) para o domínio relações sociais e 60,7 (DP = 14,0) para o ambiente. Idade, tempo de docência e total de alunos não se associaram significativamente à qualidade de vida. Docentes das escolas municipais pontuaram mais no domínio físico do que os da rede estadual (p = 0,026). Os homens estavam melhores do que as mulheres somente nos domínios físico e psicológico. Quanto maior a renda familiar, mais alta a pontuação na qualidade de vida. Quanto maior a carga horária na escola, melhor a pontuação nos domínios físico e ambiente.<br>In order to investigate quality of life among public schoolteachers in relation to socio-demographic characteristics and work conditions, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 601 primary and secondary teachers from the State and Municipal public school system in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The study analyzed the following domains from the WHOQOL-BREF scale: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment. The mean indices were: 69.2 (SD = 16.8) for physical health, 70.6 (SD = 14.0) for psychological health, 72.5 (SD = 17.3) for social relationships, and 60.7 (SD = 14.0) for environment. Age, time in the teaching career, and total number of students were not significantly associated with quality of life. Teachers in municipal schools scored higher than their counterparts in the State public schools in the physical health domain (p = 0.026). Men scored higher than women in the physical and psychological health domains. Higher family income was associated with better quality of life. Higher classroom workload was associated with better scores in the physical health and environment domains

Early Changes Induced by Short-Term Low-Dose Cadmium Exposure in Rat Ventral and Dorsolateral Prostates

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. The etiology of PCa in humans is multifactorial and includes age, ethnicity, environmental factors, and other unknown causes. Epidemiological and experimental evidence has shown that cadmium is associated with PCa both in humans and rodents. This metal can act as an endocrine disruptor during prostate development, and it induces prostate lesions late in life. In this study, we investigated the effects of low-dose cadmium on rat prostate morphology during puberty. Two-month-old male Wistar rats were randomized into two experimental groups: cadmium-treated and control. The ventral and dorsolateral prostates were dissected, weighed, and immunohistochemically stained with specific antibodies against Ki-67 and the androgen receptor (AR). The concentration of cadmium was measured in the blood and prostate, and testosterone concentration was measured from the plasma. Our results show that cadmium concentration was increased in both the blood and the prostate of cadmium-treated rats, but there were no changes in the prostatic weight, epithelial cell height, or testosterone levels. However, AR immunostaining and epithelial cell proliferation (Ki-67 index) were increased in both prostates with an increase in apoptosis only in the dorsal lobe. Furthermore, atypical hyperplasic proliferative lesions were found in the dorsolateral lobe after cadmium exposure. Cadmium treatment reduced collagen fiber absolute volume in both prostates. Thus, low-doses of cadmium, even for a short period of time, can interfere with prostate epithelium-stroma homeostasis, and this disruption might be an important factor in the onset of prostate lesions late in life. Microsc. Res. Tech. 74: 988-997, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES