Internet e transferência de tecnologia: a Embrapa na opinião dos extensionistas rurais.

Na sociedade contemporânea, as TIC possuem papel central, na medida em que a informação e o conhecimento são as matérias-primas primordiais ao desenvolvimento tecnológico e social. A Internet e especialmente a Web são as principais responsáveis por esta revolução silenciosa. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar como a Web e o site da Embrapa Gado de Leite têm sido utilizados na rotina dos profissionais de extensão rural. Esta pesquisa é descritiva e utilizou-se de questionários estruturados e aplicados por meio de entrevista. Com relação à Embrapa Gado de Leite, os dados demostram que há necessidade de se estreitar o relacionamento com os agentes de Ater, e que a distância física ainda é uma barreira importante neste sentido. Os extensionistas acreditam que a melhoria da interação destes dois atores pode trazer benefícios como o desenvolvimento de pesquisas mais compatíveis com as reais necessidades dos diferentes níveis de produtores de leite, especialmente os pecuaristas familiares

A Web como ferramenta de capacitação para a extensão rural.

Resumo: Desde sua criação e introdução no Brasil, na década de 1990, a web vem despertando interesse como meio de comunicação, de informação e de interação entre pessoas, instituições e profissionais de diversas áreas, inclusive a extensão rural e a pesquisa agropecuária. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar como a web pode contribuir como ferramenta de capacitação para o contexto da extensão rural. Entre os resultados, postula-se que a web aparece como um novo espaço de capacitação para a extensão rural. Os extensionistas acreditam na possibilidade de treinamento à distância num futuro próximo; entretanto, o incentivo dado pelas instituições de Ater ainda é baixo. Abstract: Since its creation and introduction in Brazil, in the 1990s, the web has aroused interest as a means of communication, information, and interaction between people, institutions, and professionals from different areas, including the rural extension and agricultural research. The objective of this study was to analyze how the web can contribute as a training tool in the context of the rural extension. Among the results, the web is postulated as a new training space for the rural extension. Rural extensionists believe on the possibility of distance training in the near future; however, the incentive given by the institutions of technical assistance for the rural extension (ATERs) is still low.Título em inglês: The web as a training tool for rural extension

CCL4 induces inflammatory signalling and barrier disruption in the neurovascular endothelium

Background: During neuroinflammation many chemokines alter the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that regulates the entry of macromolecules and immune cells into the brain. As the milieu of the brain is altered, biochemical and structural changes contribute to the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation and may impact on neurogenesis. The chemokine CCL4, previously known as MIP-1β, is upregulated in a wide variety of central nervous system disorders, including multiple sclerosis, where it is thought to play a key role in the neuroinflammatory process. However, the effect of CCL4 on BBB endothelial cells (ECs) is unknown. Materials and methods: Expression and distribution of CCR5, phosphorylated p38, F-actin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) were analysed in the human BBB EC line hCMEC/D3 by Western blot and/or immunofluorescence in the presence and absence of CCL4. Barrier modulation in response to CCL4 using hCMEC/D3 monolayers was assessed by measuring molecular flux of 70 ​kDa RITC-dextran and transendothelial lymphocyte migration. Permeability changes in response to CCL4 in vivo were measured by an occlusion technique in pial microvessels of Wistar rats and by fluorescein angiography in mouse retinae. Results: CCR5, the receptor for CCL4, was expressed in hCMEC/D3 cells. CCL4 stimulation led to phosphorylation of p38 and the formation of actin stress fibres, both indicative of intracellular chemokine signalling. The distribution of junctional proteins was also altered in response to CCL4: junctional ZO-1 was reduced by circa 60% within 60 ​min. In addition, surface VE-cadherin was redistributed through internalisation. Consistent with these changes, CCL4 induced hyperpermeability in vitro and in vivo and increased transmigration of lymphocytes across monolayers of hCMEC/D3 cells. Conclusion: These results show that CCL4 can modify BBB function and may contribute to disease pathogenesis

Inclusão digital e políticas públicas no meio rural: um estudo sobre os territórios digitais.

Este estudo tem como objetivo discutir as políticas públicas de inclusão digital no meio rural e, para isso, utilizou-se como exemplo empírico o projeto Territórios Digitais, contrastando sua caracterização com referências bibliográficas deste campo de estudos. Os Territórios Digitais é uma proposta de fortalecimento interministerial por meio das TICs como forma de, então, enfrentar os desafios econômicos e sociais no espaço rural via o estabelecimento de telecentros rurais aqui chamados ?Casas Digitais?. Entre os resultados, evidenciou que devido ao contingente de ?excluídos digitais? encontrados no meio rural o que se percebe é que a proposta das Casas Digitais teoricamente é boa, quando comparado a outras iniciativas de inclusão digital via telecentros, mas sua avaliação ainda é incipiente, por partir do princípio de que esta política é recente. Um dos desafios para a sobrevivência desta ação está na permanência dos usuários. Para tanto, há a necessidade de atender às demandas destas pessoas no que se refere ao acesso de sites de interesse e serviços agregados, tendo como prioridade a melhoria da educação na comunidade em que estão inseridos

CCL4 induces inflammatory signalling and barrier disruption in the neurovascular endothelium

Background: During neuroinflammation many chemokines alter the function of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that regulates the entry of macromolecules and immune cells into the brain. As the milieu of the brain is altered, biochemical and structural changes contribute to the pathogenesis of neuroinflammation and may impact on neurogenesis. The chemokine CCL4, previously known as MIP-1β, is upregulated in a wide variety of central nervous system disorders, including multiple sclerosis, where it is thought to play a key role in the neuroinflammatory process. However, the effect of CCL4 on BBB endothelial cells (ECs) is unknown. Materials and methods: Expression and distribution of CCR5, phosphorylated p38, F-actin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) were analysed in the human BBB EC line hCMEC/D3 by Western blot and/or immunofluorescence in the presence and absence of CCL4. Barrier modulation in response to CCL4 using hCMEC/D3 monolayers was assessed by measuring molecular flux of 70 ​kDa RITC-dextran and transendothelial lymphocyte migration. Permeability changes in response to CCL4 in vivo were measured by an occlusion technique in pial microvessels of Wistar rats and by fluorescein angiography in mouse retinae. Results: CCR5, the receptor for CCL4, was expressed in hCMEC/D3 cells. CCL4 stimulation led to phosphorylation of p38 and the formation of actin stress fibres, both indicative of intracellular chemokine signalling. The distribution of junctional proteins was also altered in response to CCL4: junctional ZO-1 was reduced by circa 60% within 60 ​min. In addition, surface VE-cadherin was redistributed through internalisation. Consistent with these changes, CCL4 induced hyperpermeability in vitro and in vivo and increased transmigration of lymphocytes across monolayers of hCMEC/D3 cells. Conclusion: These results show that CCL4 can modify BBB function and may contribute to disease pathogenesis

Feasibility, clinical efficacy, and well-being outcomes of an online singing intervention for postnatal depression in the UK: SHAPER-PNDO, a single-arm clinical trial

Background: Postnatal depression (PND) affects over 12% of mothers, with numbers rising during COVID-19. Singing groups can support mothers with PND; however, online delivery has never been evaluated. SHAPER-PNDO, a single-arm clinical trial, evaluated the feasibility, clinical efficacy, and well-being outcomes of a 6-week online version of Breathe Melodies for Mums (M4M) singing intervention developed for mothers with PND during COVID-19 lockdowns. Methods: The primary objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of a group online singing intervention for new mothers with postnatal depression. This was ascertained through recruitment rates, study retention rates, attendance rates to the singing sessions, and study completion rates. The secondary objective of the study was to assess the clinical efficacy and well-being outcomes of the singing intervention. Specifically, we measured change in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Office for National Statistics Wellbeing Scale (ONS) scores from baseline to end-of-intervention (week 6); follow-up assessments were completed at weeks 3, 16, and 32. Mothers were eligible if they scored ≥10 on the baseline EPDS. Results: Eighty-seven percent of the 37 recruited mothers completed the study, attending, on average, 5 of the 6 group singing sessions. With regard to secondary outcomes, at end-of-treatment, mothers experienced significant reductions in depression (EPDS, 16.6 ± 3.7 to 11.2 ± 5.3, 95% CI [0.79,1.65]), anxiety (STAI-S, 48.4 ± 27.1 to 41.7 ± 26.8, 95% CI [4.96, 17.65]) and stress (PSS, 29.0 ± 5.7 to 19.7 ± 5.3, 95% CI [1.33, 7.07]); and, furthermore, significant improvements in life satisfaction (ONS, 50.5 ± 23.0 to 72.8 ± 11.7, 95% CI [− 39.86, − 4.64]) and feelings of worthwhileness (ONS, 51.7 ± 30.4 to 78.6 ± 15.1, 95% CI [− 52.79, − 0.85]). Reduction on the EPDS correlated with a reduction on the BDI and the STAI-S and maternal childhood maltreatment was predictive of a smaller treatment response. Conclusions: M4M online was feasible to mothers who partook in the programme. Furthermore, M4M online supports the mental health and well-being of new mothers experiencing PND, especially when barriers to in-person treatment are present. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04857593. Registered 22 April 2021, retrospectively registered

Scaling-up Health-Arts Programmes: the largest study in the world bringing arts-based mental health interventions into a national health service.

The Scaling-up Health-Arts Programme: Implementation and Effectiveness Research (SHAPER) project is the world's largest hybrid study on the impact of the arts on mental health embedded into a national healthcare system. This programme, funded by the Wellcome Trust, aims to study the impact and the scalability of the arts as an intervention for mental health. The programme will be delivered by a team of clinicians, research scientists, charities, artists, patients and healthcare professionals in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and the community, spanning academia, the NHS and the charity sector. SHAPER consists of three studies - Melodies for Mums, Dance for Parkinson's, and Stroke Odysseys - which will recruit over 800 participants, deliver the interventions and draw conclusions on their clinical impact, implementation effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. We hope that this work will inspire organisations and commissioners in the NHS and around the world to expand the remit of social prescribing to include evidence-based arts interventions

Scaling-up Health-Arts Programmes: the largest study in the world bringing arts-based mental health interventions into a national health service.

The Scaling-up Health-Arts Programme: Implementation and Effectiveness Research (SHAPER) project is the world's largest hybrid study on the impact of the arts on mental health embedded into a national healthcare system. This programme, funded by the Wellcome Trust, aims to study the impact and the scalability of the arts as an intervention for mental health. The programme will be delivered by a team of clinicians, research scientists, charities, artists, patients and healthcare professionals in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and the community, spanning academia, the NHS and the charity sector. SHAPER consists of three studies - Melodies for Mums, Dance for Parkinson's, and Stroke Odysseys - which will recruit over 800 participants, deliver the interventions and draw conclusions on their clinical impact, implementation effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. We hope that this work will inspire organisations and commissioners in the NHS and around the world to expand the remit of social prescribing to include evidence-based arts interventions