Este artigo tem o objetivo de descrever e analisar redes sociais de trabalho entre agricultores de um município do estado do Ceará. Para isso, foram mapeadas as redes sociais de dois agricultores e ...seus contatos, totalizando oito participantes. Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizada entrevista, observação e a técnica do gerador de nomes para mapeamento das redes sociais. Para a análise dos dados, foram utilizados indicadores de redes com o auxílio dos softwares Ucinet e NetDraw e de Análise de Conteúdo. Os resultados mostraram que as duas redes de trabalho fazem uso de laços de amizade e parentesco para o seu funcionamento, mobilizando capital social para viabilizar a produção rural em uma configuração semelhante a redes socioprodutivas. Contudo, apresentam diferenças, já que uma das redes é mais desenvolvida, com laços mais diversificados e uma maior quantidade de relações de trabalho remunerado e hierarquia. Conclui-se que as redes fazem parte da organização do trabalho dos agricultores e tornam viável a produção dos bens agrícolas, seja por meio de ajuda para a realização das atividades, seja pelo acesso a informações e recursos mais variados.
The molecular mechanisms underlying epileptogenesis have been widely investigated by differential gene expression approach, especially RT-qPCR methodology. However, controversial findings highlight ...the occurrence of unpredictable sources of variance in the experimental designs. Here, we investigated if diurnal rhythms of transcript's levels may impact on differential gene expression analysis in hippocampus of rats with experimental epilepsy. For this, we have selected six core clock genes (Per1, Per3, Bmal1, Clock, Cry1 and Cry2), whose rhythmic expression pattern in hippocampus had been previously reported. Initially, we identified Tubb2a/Rplp1 and Tubb2a/Ppia as suitable normalizers for circadian studies in hippocampus of rats maintained to 12:12 hour light:dark (LD) cycle. Next, we confirmed the temporal profiling of Per1, Per3, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2 mRNA levels in the hippocampus of naive rats by both Acrophase and CircWave statistical tests for circadian analysis. Finally, we showed that temporal differences of sampling can change experimental results for Per1, Per3, Bmal1, Cry1 and Cry2, but not for Clock, which was consistently decreased in rats with epilepsy in all comparison to the naive group. In conclusion, our study demonstrates it is mandatory to consider diurnal oscillations, in order to avoid erroneous conclusions in gene expression analysis in hippocampus of rats with epilepsy. Investigators, therefore, should be aware that genes with circadian expression could be out of phase in different animals of experimental and control groups. Moreover, our results indicate that a sub-expression of Clock may be involved in epileptogenicity, although the functional significance of this remains to be investigated.
Resumo: O presente artigo tem como objetivo descrever e analisar métodos de pesquisas em psicologia do trabalho que aplicaram a análise de redes sociais (ARS) para identificação de relações formadas ...entre trabalhadores em seus contextos laborais. Os métodos utilizados nessas investigações são essencialmente qualitativos, em articulação com uma análise quantitativa de dados matriciais, fazendo uso de entrevistas e de observação para a coleta de dados. Todas as pesquisas realizaram o mapeamento de redes egocentradas usando a técnica de geração de nomes. A análise das entrevistas foi realizada por meio de análise de conteúdo e os dados matriciais pelo programa UCINET. As pesquisas mostraram a possibilidade de variações na coleta dos dados, como a utilização de fotografias, do Diagrama da Escolta Social e diferentes maneiras de aplicar o gerador de nomes. A ARS mostrou-se um método versátil, compatível com contextos laborais e alternativa viável para estudos em psicologia do trabalho.
Neuropathological studies often use autopsy brain tissue as controls to evaluate changes in protein or RNA levels in several diseases. In mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), several genes are up or ...down regulated throughout the epileptogenic and chronic stages of the disease. Given that postmortem changes in several gene transcripts could impact the detection of changes in case-control studies, we evaluated the effect of using autopsy specimens with different postmortem intervals (PMI) on differential gene expression of the Pilocarpine (PILO)induced Status Epilepticus (SE) of MTLE. For this, we selected six genes (Gfap, Ppia, Gad65, Gad67, Npy, and Tnf-α) whose expression patterns in the hippocampus of PILO-injected rats are well known. Initially, we compared hippocampal expression of naïve rats whose hippocampi were harvested immediately after death (0h-PMI) with those harvested at 6h postmortem interval (6h-PMI): Npy and Ppia transcripts increased and Tnf-α transcripts decreased in the 6h-PMI group (p<0.05). We then investigated if these PMI-related changes in gene expression have the potential to adulterate or mask RT-qPCR results obtained with PILO-injected rats euthanized at acute or chronic phases. In the acute group, Npy transcript was significantly higher when compared with 0h-PMI rats, whereas Ppia transcript was lower than 6h-PMI group. When we used epileptic rats (chronic group), the RT-qPCR results showed higher Tnf-α only when compared to 6h-PMI group. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that PMI influences gene transcription and can mask changes in gene transcription seen during epileptogenesis in the PILO-SE model. Thus, to avoid erroneous conclusions, we strongly recommend that researchers account for changes in postmortem gene expression in their experimental design.
The interaction of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (mTLE) with the circadian system control is apparent from an oscillatory pattern of limbic seizures, daytime's effect on seizure onset and the ...efficacy of antiepileptic drugs. Moreover, seizures
can interfere with the biological rhythm output, including circadian oscillation of body temperature, locomotor activity, EEG pattern as well as the transcriptome. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this cross-talk remain unclear. In this study, we systematically evaluated the temporal expression of seven core circadian transcripts (
, and
) and the spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA) in post-
(SE) model of mTLE. Twenty-four hour oscillating SLA remained intact in post-SE groups although the circadian phase and the amount and intensity of activity were changed in early post-SE and epileptic phases. The acrophase of the SLA rhythm was delayed during epileptogenesis, a fragmented 24 h rhythmicity and extended active phase length appeared in the epileptic phase. The temporal expression of circadian transcripts
, and
was also substantially altered. The oscillatory expression of
was maintained in rats imperiled to SE, but with lower amplitude (A = 0.2) and an advanced acrophase in the epileptic phase. The diurnal rhythm of
and
was absent in the early post-SE but was recovered in the epileptic phase.
and
rhythmic expression were disrupted in post-SE groups while
presented an arrhythmic profile in the epileptic phase, only. The expression of
did not display rhythmic pattern in any condition. These oscillating patterns of core clock genes may contribute to hippocampal 24 h cycling and, consequently to seizure periodicity. Furthermore, by using a pool of samples collected at 6 different Zeitgeber Times (ZT), we found that all clock transcripts were significantly dysregulated after SE induction, except
and
. Collectively, altered SLA rhythm in early post-SE and epileptic phases implies a possible role for seizure as a nonphotic cue, which is likely linked to activation of hippocampal-accumbens pathway. On the other hand, altered temporal expression of the clock genes after SE suggests their involvement in the MTLE.
Two lettuce cultivars (Everglades and Virginia) were used to evaluate the performance of pelleted and bare seeds of lettuce under different germination temperatures. A completely randomized 2 x 2 x 5 ...factorial design was used. The factors consisted of two cultivars with pelleted and bare seeds, five intervals of germination temperatures (17 to 19ºC, 21 to 23 degreesC, 25 to 28 degreesC, 30 to 32 degreesC, 34 to 38 degreesC), with four replications. The first germination count, T50, germination, germination speed index, emergence, emergence speed index and dry mass of plants were evaluated. Sowing germination test was carried out on two sheets of blotting-paper, moistened with water at a ratio of 2.5 times the paper weight in 'gerbox' plastic boxes. The boxes with seeds were kept in a thermogradient table, with alternating light procedure: 12 hours of darkness and 12 hours of light. The temperature was regulated to a gradient according to each treatment. On the 4th day, first germination count and germination test were performed. On the 7th day, germination was evaluated with normal seedlings as a parameter. The cultivar Everglades showed a higher germination, especially with pelleted seeds. The germination performance of the cultivars is influenced by the use of bare or pelleted seeds and by temperature. Better seed quality and early growth of lettuce are observed in temperatures between 17 to 23 degreesC.
Background
Few studies have investigated whether quality initiatives in the process of organ donation yield better results of the organ donation process.
Objective
To analyze whether the indicators ...of the organ donation process in Brazilian hospitals meet the standards established by the Organ Donation European Quality System (ODEQUS).
Design
We evaluated the quality of the organ donation in a selected group of Brazilian hospitals served by the Nucleus of Organ Procurement (NOP) using standards of the ODEQUS.
Results
Structural and process indicators had 100% conformity. Indicators of results showed a family consent rate of 61% (29% lower than ODEQUS goal); a conversion rate of potential donors to effective donors of 47% (28% below the goal); and a 12% rate of sudden cardiac arrest (higher than the quality limit).
Conclusions
Our findings highlight the importance for the development of quality initiatives in identifying gaps and weaknesses in the process that should be corrected or even restructured, therefore maximizing the number of donors and organs transplanted. Hospitals that participate in the NOP process met 61% of the quality indicators proposed by ODEQUS. Identification of potential donors, family consent, conversion, and sudden cardiac arrest rates are areas that did not conform to ODEQUS standard and revealed a great opportunity for improvement.
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