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Construção e análise psicométrica de um inventário de habilidades sociais para cuidadores de idosos familiares
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2016-03-11) Pinto, Francine Náthalie Ferraresi Rodrigues; Del Prette, Zilda Aparecida Pereira; https://lattes.cnpq.br/8113238388739093; Barham, Elizabeth Joan; https://lattes.cnpq.br/9868595523538592; https://lattes.cnpq.br/9926751005913223
With the rise in life expectancy and the high incidence of chronic degenerative diseases among the elderly, there is a growing demand to dedicate time to caring for an elderly family member. Caring for a dependent elderly person requires the acquisition of skills that are specific to this context, such as social skills (SS), which affect the wellbeing of the caregiver and the elderly care recipient. Given the situation-dependent nature of SS, it is important to be able to identify deficits in caregivers’ SS, but no instruments for evaluating SS in this population were found. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to develop an inventory of social skills for family caregivers of the elderly, and to analyze its psychometric properties. A review of the literature on the use of social skills among caregivers for the elderly is presented in Manuscript I. Based on a literature search using the major Psychology databases, nine studies (seven articles and two dissertations) were found, four about intervention evaluations and five reporting correlations for social skills with burden, stress, self-esteem, social support or quality of the relationship. According to the evidence, caregivers with a better-developed SS repertoire have more positive perceptions of their quality of life. In addition, although there are instruments to assess SS in other contexts, none were found for family caregivers of the elderly, in Brazil. Thus, it was concluded that it would be important to construct an instrument for this context, to assist in the identification of SS deficits, in this population. In Manuscript II, the objectives were to ascertain the primary conflicts that arise when caring for an elderly family member and identify the SS considered as important in this situation, to obtain information for preparing items for a new instrument. Interviews were conducted with 50 caregivers of the elderly, 25 elderly care-recipients and 25 professional in the field of aging. The main conflicts involved difficulties to reconcile differences of opinion, or financial issues. The SSs considered most useful included: expressing positive feelings, controlling aggressiveness, and discussing problems. Based on this information, 37 items were written, creating an initial version of an instrument to evaluate the social skills of those who care for elderly family members (IHS-CI). In Manuscript III, the aim was to describe the initial steps in the validation of this instrument. In Study 1, five independent judges conducted a semantic and content analysis of the instrument, resulting in the exclusion of six items. In Study 2, to obtain evidence about the psychometric properties of the new version of this instrument, 205 participants, all of whom cared for an elderly family member, completed the IHS-CI and a further five measures. Based on an analysis of the internal structure of the instrument, three factors were identified: Expression of emotions, Assertive communication, and Information seeking. The global, internal reliability of the instrument was excellent (α =0.886). Scores on the IHS-CI were positively correlated with greater quality of life and positive caregiver-elderly care-recipient interactions, and negatively correlated with burden, depression and conflicts. Additional studies are needed to gain further evidence of the validity of the IHSCI and to establish norms for the interpretation of test-scores. After this, the instrument will be ready for use to evaluate the social skills of family caregivers of the elderly, to guide interventions that can contribute to the greater wellbeing and quality of life of caregivers and of their elderly care-recipients.
Escala de identificação de dotação e talento : construção de instrumento, evidências de validade e precisão
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2016-03-11) Freitas, Márcia de Fátima Rabello Lovisi de; Schelini, Patrícia Waltz; https://lattes.cnpq.br/6185333517392859; https://lattes.cnpq.br/7995151225216788
The Munich Model of Giftedness unites individual and environmental characteristics in a single scheme for the identification and development of giftedness and talent (G&T). In this model, natural abilities are called predictors, individual and environmental variables are called moderators and measures of observable talent are called criteria variables. There are seven predictors in the model that reflect the domains for G&T, intellectual abilities, creative abilities, social competence, practical intelligence, artistic abilities, musicality and psychomotor skills. In this thesis, the goal was to design a scale for the identification of G&T characteristics in students in their 4th, 5th and 6th years of primary school, through teacher nomination, as well as analyze their evidence of content validity, internal structure validity, reliability and convergent validity. To achieve the proposed goals, a series of four studies was performed: construction of the scale items; investigation of evidence of content validity based on specialists’ analyses; investigation of evidence of internal structure validity and analysis of internal consistency through teacher nomination, and investigation of evidence of convergent validity based on the correlation with the Raven's Progressive Matrices, in a sample of students. The 120 initial items of the scale were based on predictors of the Munich Model of Giftedness and complementary theories that helped in defining domains. The experts evaluated these items and proposed changes in some items, while others were excluded for not exceeding a minimum ratio of interjudge agreement. The second version of the scale consisting of 98 items, was applied to 16 teachers of 4th, 5th and 6th year primary school students which evaluated 433 students. The results of the factor analysis from this application indicated that the scale has a well-defined three-factor structure that encompasses items from the seven predictors of the model, which explains 54.8% of the total variance. The internal consistency of the instrument and for each three factors can be considered good to excellent. The scale scores also presented moderate to strong correlations with the Raven's Progressive Matrices, providing evidence for the convergent validity of the instrument. Despite the satisfactory results found, further studies are needed to increase the representativeness of the participant sample, and of the analysis for standardizing the instrument in order to conduct analyses to establish norms for interpretation of scores obtained using this instrument.
Educação ambiental no Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga (São Paulo-SP) : articulação entre programas educativos, população do entorno e plano de manejo
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2016-03-11) Araújo-Bissa, Caio Henrique de; Oliveira, Haydée Torres de; https://lattes.cnpq.br/5458113597909705; https://lattes.cnpq.br/9145990545180181
Since the Brazilian National System of Conservation Units, the society participation in management of protected areas (PAs) is guaranteed and emphasized as an important issue. Environmental education (EE) contributes to the PAs so that they can ensure biodiversity conservation, being present in actions with visitors and the surrounding population and in management processes in order to make them participative. In this context, this research studied the Fontes do Ipiranga State Park (PEFI). The PEFI is a different PA, because inside its area there are institutions such as the São Paulo Zoo, the São Paulo Botanical Garden and the Cientec Park, responsible for visitation in the area. Thus, the research objectives were to understand the development and implementation of educational activities in the institutions at PEFI; identify the participation of local communities in activities at the PA; identify the perception of managers, educators and local communities towards PEFI; and support for the preparation of an integrated educational project, using participatory methodologies. The research had a qualitative approach with data collection conducted through interviews with educators responsible for the EE programs of the institutions at PEFI, people from local communities and managers, as well as from the direct observation of the PA council meetings. In a second step, we held a meeting with the research participants, using the Café ComPartilha methodology (based on World Café methodology), to stimulate dialogue between these people and carry out analyzes of the EE described in the management plan and the implementation of an integrated EE program. The main results of the research were that, regarding the perception about PEFI, most people do not see the PA as a whole; they see the institutions at PEFI as different matters and not related to the PA. Nevertheless, people from local communities have positive perceptions towards PEFI, such as a concern for its conservation. The participation of local communities exists only through representation on the PA management council. The population did not effectively participate in the elaboration and updating of the PEFI's management plan until the moment when this survey happened. EE activities currently in operation do not have people from local communities as their main public, they are developed individually by each institution and focus only on their visitors. PEFI is not the main theme hardly in any of the activities, being more present in a museum at São Paulo Botanical Garden and in an exposition at São Paulo Zoo. The PEFI’s managers are not involved directly with the EE programs that take place in the area; this is a responsibility of the institutions that develop them. The search for the integration of educational activities at PEFI is not a clear element in the management plan, which offers no tools for its realization; in addition, there are political barriers to the implementation of an EE integrated program. However, people involved in this research showed interest in that, suggesting that the formulation of the activities should be performed collectively, including institutions, managers and people from local communities. Finally, the lack of an identity of PEFI as a PA proves to be the main factor influencing the dynamics of activities that occur in the area. This factor can be mitigated from greater dialogue between the different groups. We hope that the research will help strengthening PEFI, mainly through EE, in order to ensure its conservation.
Biomarcadores sanguíneos para a doença de Alzheimer : avaliação da expressão gênica da ADAM10 e de micro- RNAs
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2016-03-11) Moralles, Patricia Regina Manzine; Pavarini, Sofia Cristina Iost; https://lattes.cnpq.br/1983620301963081; Cominetti, Márcia Regina; https://lattes.cnpq.br/3725318894555272; https://lattes.cnpq.br/6348503930553992
ADAM10 is an-secretase that cleaves APP in the non-amyloidogenic pathway, thereby inhibiting -amyloid peptide (A ) production in Alzheimer´s disease (AD). Studies have shown decreased ADAM10 platelet levels in AD patients as well as the deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) related to molecules involved in the pathophysiology of this disease. The objective was to verify and compare ADAM10 gene expression and micro-RNAs (miRNAs) between AD patients and controls without cognitive impairment. It is a comparative study, based on the assumptions of quantitative research. Biological samples were collected, analyzed and stored in a biorepository. The ADAM10 gene expression in whole blood was studied in 47 AD, 32 healthy controls and 21 mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects by RT-qPCR techniques and analyzed by relative expression by 2- Ct. For miRNAs analyses, using MegaplexTM and MirWalk 2.0 database, were analyzed by RT-qPCR ~700 miRNAs in total blood and 21 miRNAs of them were validated in a sample of 21 AD subjects and 17 healthy controls. Statistical association tests, regression and diagnostic accuracy were performed. No significant differences in ADAM10 gene expression were observed between AD and control groups. Therefore, the decrease of ADAM10 protein in platelets of AD patients was not caused by a reduction in mRNA encoding for ADAM10. Mir-144-5p, miR-374 and miR-221 were downregulated in AD subjects, with moderate accuracy diagnosis. However, the association of selected miRNAs expression and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was significantly better as a diagnostic tool compared to their expression separately. The validated miRNAs are involved in the regulation of pathways related to neurodegenerative diseases (beta-amyloid cascade, ubiquitination, transcriptional regulator, synaptic transmission, vesicle trafficking). Specifically, miR-144-5p, miR-374 and miR-221 are relevant for AD, as regulators of APP, BACE1 and ADAM10 translation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a downregulation of these specific miRNAs in total blood of Alzheimer’s disease patients, compared to healthy cognitive controls. These findings are in agreement with AD protein outcomes and place the miRNAs evaluated as potential biomarkers that can be used to improve AD diagnosis.
Desenvolvimento da cognição social em préescolares sob a ótica da teoria das molduras relacionais
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2016-03-11) Benatti, Lívia Andrade; Souza, Débora de Hollanda; https://lattes.cnpq.br/3640676759708745; https://lattes.cnpq.br/8309210241087768
Theory of Mind is conventionally defined as the ability to understand and make inferences about one’s own mental states (i.e., desires, intentions and beliefs) and those of other people, and based on this repertoire, one can predict and explain human behavior. Recent research, supported by Relational Frame Theory (RFT), has emphasized the role of perspective taking in the development of Theory of Mind. Results suggest that children who undergo perspective-taking training show improved performance in Theory of Mind tasks. The goal of the present study was to administer the Perspective Taking Protocol, used in these previous studies, in Brazilian children with low performance in theory of mind tasks. Three studies were conducted, two of them being pilot studies, which revealed the need for adaptations to the original procedure. Study 1 aimed to test the original protocol with one child aged 4 years and 9 months. The protocol consisted in the presentation of blocks of simple verbal trials and trials including reversal and double reversal of roles with the experimenter. Trials included the deictic frames I-YOU, HERE-THERE and NOW-THEN. The protocol, however, proved to be incompatible with the child’s repertoire, that is, he did not meet the learning criteria established in the original study. In order to test the difficulty level of the protocol, in Study 2, two young university students received the same training. Data suggested that the two adult participants succeeded in completing the protocol, having met criteria; however, they did face difficulties during the procedure. In Study 3, four participants, aged 4 and 5, were administered an adapted version of the protocol. In order to train reversed trials, physical tips (i.e., cards) and gestural signs were used and were gradually withdrawn until participants could respond without any assistance. Participants were also evaluated in three tasks of Theory of Mind, before and after the teaching procedure. During training, children were able to respond correctly on the reversed trials, even after removal of physical tips. All four participants showed improved performance in Theory of Mind tasks after training, with scores 1 or 2 points higher (scores could vary from 0 to 3), in comparison to pretest. Results suggest that, despite the evidence showing that the Perspective Taking Protocol is effective, it should be altered in order to be consistent with the repertoire of children with quite distinct characteristics from those who participated in the original study. In the case of children participating in the present research, changes in the distribution of trials throughout training blocks, as well as changes in the format of those trials had a positive learning effect. We hope the results of the present study may encourage future work on the potential benefits of procedures aimed at perspective taking training, in particular, with individuals who present delays or difficulties in social cognition.
Estudo do efeito do estresse crônico sobre a função cardiovascular em ratos adolescentes e adultos
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2016-03-11) Duarte, Josiane de Oliveira; Crestani, Carlos Cesar; https://lattes.cnpq.br/1117432571971568; https://lattes.cnpq.br/8005945206577202
This study aimed to investigate the physiological and somatic changes evoked by chronic stress regimens in adolescent and adult rats, with a focus on cardiovascular function. Additionally, we evaluated the long-term changes induced by stress exposure during adolescence, as well as a possible vulnerability to effects of stress in adult animals exposure to chronic stress during adolescence. Male rats were exposed to repeated restraint stress (RRS) or chronic variable stress (CVS) during adolescence (28 days) and/or adulthood (60 days). Adrenal hypertrophy, thymus involution, and elevated plasma glucocorticoid were observed only in adolescent rats, whereas reduction in body weight was caused by both stress regimens in adults. CVS increased blood pressure and heart rate regardless of the age, whereas RRS increased blood pressure selectively in adults. Resting tachycardia evoked by CVS was associated with increased cardiac sympathetic tone in adults while a decreased cardiac parasympathetic activity was observed in adolescents. Changes in baroreflex function were evoked by both RRS and CVS, but this effect was age- and type-stress specific. The pressor response to systemic administration of a α1-adrenoceptor agonist was increased by both stress regimens in adolescents. Depressor responses to acetylcholine and the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside were affected by RRS in both ages. Except for the circulating glucocorticoid change, all alterations observed during adolescence were reversed in adulthood. However, the RRS or CVS in adult animals subjected to the respective chronic stressor during adolescence evoked responses that was not identified in animals exposure to the stressors only in adulthood, including: CVSevoked increase in circulating corticosterone, adrenal hypertrophy, RRS-evoked increase in heart rate and cardiac sympathetic activity, reduction of intrinsic heart rate by CVS, and baroreflex changes evoked by both stressors. These findings suggest a stress vulnerability of adolescents to somatic and neuroendocrine effects regardless of stress regimen. Our results indicate an age- and stress type-specific influence in stressevoked cardiovascular/autonomic changes. Data suggest minimal consequences in adulthood of stress during adolescence, but indicate that stress experience during adolescence causes a vulnerability to neuroendocrine and cardiovascular effects of stress in adulthood.
Efeito da inserção de nanopartículas sintéticas preparadas por rota coloidal em matriz acrílica comercial de uso odontológico
(Universidade Federal de São Carlos, 2016-03-11) Souza Neto, Francisco Nunes de; Camargo, Emerson Rodrigues de; https://lattes.cnpq.br/7720754304065239; https://lattes.cnpq.br/9814643622665592
Acrylic resins are very used in dentistry to dental restorations and manufacture of prostheses. New compositions of acrylic resin have been developed through the incorporation of silver nanoparticles due to the antimicrobial potential. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized and employed in the preparation of nanocomposites with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). PMMA-Ag nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized by structural, thermal, mechanical and biological techniques in order to evaluate the influence of these nanoparticles on the physicochemical properties of the new formed materials. PMMA-Ag nanocomposites were synthesized with the addition of 0.05, 0.5 and 5% (l/l) of silver nanoparticles in the polymer during the plastic phase. Possible interactions between nanoparticles and polymeric matrix occurred through the carboxylate ions, resulting in a gain in the thermal stability due to the barrier effect, which slows down the degradation of nanocomposites. The nanocomposites showed a heterogeneous distribution of spherical particles in the polymeric matrix. The mechanical tests showed the nanocomposites presented low storage modulus, loss modulus and tan δ values, which are characteristic of materials which exhibit an interfacial interaction between inorganic nanoparticles with polymer matrix. Clinically, the nanocomposites can be applied in dentistry, according to the normative American Dental Association (1958), through its specification No. 12 and ISO 4049, which evaluate the mechanical properties of dental materials. These results showed statistically are not difference between nanocomposites and the polymeric matrix. The microbiological adhesion test of PMMA and its nanocomposites to combat Candida glabrata revealed the nanocomposite with a lower percentage of colloidal solution have higher fungicide activity.