https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/460 Sat, 31 Oct 2026 19:26:59 GMT 2026-10-31T19:26:59Z https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/8726 Title: Perda de força muscular do assoalho pélvico em portadoras de câncer de mama e mecanismos moleculares associados Autor: Silva, Cristiane Dallastra Candido da Primeiro orientador: Ribeiro, Lucinéia de Fátima Chasko Abstract: Breast cancer is the neoplasm that most affects women worldwide, in both developed and developing countries. Among the risk factors are hereditary, genetic, and environmental factors, with exposure to pesticides being correlated with an increased probability of disease development. Due to its inflammatory and systemic nature, survivors may develop new diseases or dysfunctions. Evidence demonstrates that breast cancer patients present loss of muscle strength, including that of the pelvic floor (PF). Pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and oxidative stress metabolites participate in the molecular mechanisms associated with this loss. Although there is no direct established correlation between elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and specific weakness of PF muscles, it is plausible that similar mechanisms affect this musculature given its composition and function. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize pelvic floor muscle strength in breast cancer patients and investigate the clinical profile and associated molecular markers. The sample consisted of a total of 122 participants with infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) treated at the 8th Regional Health Unit of Paraná – Brazil. After collecting sociodemographic data, clinical and gynecological data, and occupational pesticide exposure, pelvic floor muscle strength was measured through perineometry tests, with reference values between 0 and 46.4 mmHg, and bidigital palpation through pelvic floor assessment (PFA) with a scale between 0 and 5. Plasma levels of TNF-α and oxidative stress levels were quantified through lipoperoxide measurements by high sensitivity chemiluminescence, as well as levels of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx). Quantitative variables were evaluated with appropriate statistical tests, using GraphPad Prism 9.0, RStudio, and SPSS software, and p-values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Pelvic floor muscle strength of 73.8% of women was classified as mild to moderate through perineometry, and 61.5% of women had weak and non-resistant perineal function through PFA. A negative correlation was observed between perineometry values and TNF-α and NOx, indicating worse pelvic floor muscle conditions with increased levels of these inflammatory markers (p=2.06e-07 and p=1.700e-02). A significant correlation was also identified between PFA and the patients' pesticide exposure profile (p=0.0223), as well as a significant negative correlation with perineometry (p=0.0404). The group exposed to pesticides (n=66) presented lower perineometry values (95% CI: 0.007-0.409). Significant differences were also found between patients with unsatisfactory PFA and perineometry results with elevated TNF-α values, suggesting that this cytokine may be a mediator of pelvic floor strength loss in breast cancer (p=0.0001). Publisher: Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná Tipo do documento: Tese Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/8726 2026-06-23T00:00:00Z https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/8719 Title: Pensamento Computacional implícito no Ensino de Língua Inglesa por Tarefas e Aprendizagem Baseada em Projetos no Ensino Médio Autor: Lins, Thais Mazotti Primeiro orientador: Torrentes, Greice Castela Abstract: English language teaching is often associated with instructional models centered on the transmission of grammatical content, which is not always related to students’ everyday lives. This approach may hinder their active involvement in the learning process. In this regard, Project-Based Learning and Task-Based Language Teaching offer possibilities for promoting students’ participation in knowledge construction and problem-solving. This research addresses the following question: How does the collaborative design and playing of board games, integrated with Project-Based Learning and Task-Based Language Teaching, implicitly mobilize Computational Thinking skills and relate to the organization of thought and engagement of high school students? To answer this question, the general objective was to analyze the implicit mobilization of Computational Thinking skills during the collaborative design and playing of board games in an English language teaching proposal grounded in Project-Based Learning and Task-Based Language Teaching, considering how these skills manifest themselves in the organization of thought and student engagement. The specific objectives were to identify and categorize the Computational Thinking skills implicitly mobilized during the collaborative design and playing of the board games and to analyze this mobilization in relation to student engagement and the communicative use of English. The thesis argues that an English language teaching proposal based on a project designed around pedagogical challenges can contribute to student engagement and the mobilization of cognitive processes related to analytical thinking and Computational Thinking skills, promoting the communicative and contextualized use of the language. To investigate this question, a descriptive and interpretive qualitative case study was conducted with a third-year high school class during English lessons at an educational institution in Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil. The pedagogical proposal was structured around collaborative educational challenges involving the design and playing of board games in groups. The games focused on tourism in the tri-border region and addressed the grammatical topic Simple Past. Data collection included two questionnaires, one administered after the board games had been designed and another after students had played games created by their classmates, as well as the teacher-researcher’s field diary and materials produced by the students, including game boards, rulebooks, and cards. The analysis identified the mobilization of skills associated with Computational Thinking — decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithms — during the design and playing of the games, while also providing insights into how these skills related to the use of English in contextualized interactions. The results indicate manifestations of engagement, active participation, cooperation, and student agency, as well as the use of English in communicative situations related to the proposal. The evidence suggests that integrating Computational Thinking, linguistic knowledge, and hands-on learning activities can contribute to the organization of thought, decision-making, and the functional use of English. Publisher: Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná Tipo do documento: Tese Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/8719 2026-09-24T00:00:00Z https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/8709 Title: Programas de bem-estar mental para professores: uma revisão de literatura Autor: Santos, Gabriele de Souza Góes Nascimento dos Primeiro orientador: Rodrigues, Maria Ester Abstract: Teachers’ mental health has become an increasingly relevant concern in the educational field due to the growing prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout associated with the demands and working conditions of teaching. This scenario reinforces the need to systematize and critically analyze programs and interventions reported in the literature to promote well-being and prevent mental health problems, considering both indicators of psychological distress and protective resources and socio-emotional competencies involved in teaching practice. Therefore, this study aimed to examine national and international programs designed to promote teachers’ mental health, comparing their theoretical foundations, characteristics, assessed indicators, and outcomes. Methodologically, this research consists of an integrative literature review with a qualitative approach and a descriptive, comparative, and interpretative purpose. Searches were conducted in national and international databases (ERIC, Scopus, PsycInfo, and SciELO), using descriptors in English, Portuguese, and Spanish combined with Boolean operators, and applying publication year filters (2021–2025) and previously defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. After screening titles, abstracts, and keywords, followed by full-text reading and duplicate removal, the final corpus comprised nine studies. The results indicated a diversity of interventions aimed at teachers’ mental health, with a predominance of approaches based on mindfulness, self-compassion/compassion, cognitive-behavioral therapy, yoga, and the development of socio-emotional competencies, as well as technology mediated proposals. Regarding assessment strategies, most studies relied on psychological scales and questionnaires to measure indicators such as psychological well-being, perceived stress, anxiety and depression symptoms, burnout, resilience, emotional regulation, self-efficacy, and job satisfaction. Overall, the studies reported positive effects of the interventions on the assessed indicators, particularly reductions in stress and burnout and the strengthening of protective resources, although variations were observed in study designs, samples, instruments, and program delivery formats. It is concluded that the analyzed interventions represent promising strategies to strengthen teacher well-being and promote mental health in educational contexts. However, the reviewed literature remains predominantly oriented toward the development of individual resources, indicating the need to expand research and policies that more consistently incorporate institutional, organizational, and structural dimensions related to teaching work, in order to address contextual determinants of professional distress and support sustainable conditions for teacher care and professional recognition. Publisher: Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná Tipo do documento: Dissertação Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/8709 2026-08-05T00:00:00Z https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/8706 Title: Efeito do Exercício Físico Resistido como Estratégia Profilática nas Lesões Funcionais e Morfológicas da Artrite Reumatoide no Músculo Sóleo de Ratos Autor: Kiekiss, Gabriella Canan Primeiro orientador: Torrejais, Marcia Miranda Abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the joints and periarticular tissues, including skeletal muscle. Specific medications are used in therapeutic protocols for RA and may cause considerable adverse effects. However, other therapeutic approaches, such as physical exercise applied preventively, have emerged as promising strategies for modulating the inflammatory response and preserving joint and musculoskeletal integrity. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the morphofunctional effects of high-intensity resistance exercise (RE) on the soleus muscle of Wistar rats when applied preventively before the induction of RA. Thirty Wistar rats, approximately 12 weeks old and with a mean body weight of 320 g, were allocated into four experimental groups: control group (CG), arthritis group (AG), exercise group (EG), and exercise + arthritis group (EAG). Animals in the exercise groups underwent ladder-climbing resistance exercise, with progressive loading, a progressive number of sets, and a fixed number of repetitions, for nine weeks before RA induction. RA was induced using the Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) model. During the experiment, the following assessments were performed: muscle strength, nociception, joint incapacitation, and motor function. Joint edema and the arthritic index were also evaluated. Euthanasia was performed on the eighth and ninth days following RA induction. The soleus muscle was collected and processed for morphological and morphometric analyses of muscle fibers using Hematoxylin and Eosin staining, as well as for analysis of connective tissue using Picrosirius Red staining. An increase in joint edema and arthritic index, as well as functional impairment, was observed in the AG and EAG, as evidenced by reduced muscle strength, nociception, and motor function, in addition to increased joint incapacitation. Morphological analyses indicated focal alterations in muscle fibers resulting from RA, including disorganization of muscle fascicles, muscle fibers with centrally located nuclei, nuclei surrounded by a basophilic halo, muscle fibers undergoing atrophy and necrosis, and inflammatory infiltrates. However, these alterations were less pronounced in the EAG. In the AG and EAG, muscle spindles with disorganized outer capsules and inflammatory cells within their structures were identified. Regarding the morphometric analyses, reductions in fiber area and major and minor diameters, along with increased muscle fiber density, were identified in the AG and EAG. However, these alterations were less evident in the EAG. An increase in connective tissue was observed in the group with RA, whereas no alteration was observed in the EAG. In conclusion, resistance exercise applied preventively in the context of RA demonstrated limited potential regarding functional parameters; however, it promoted partial attenuation of the muscle morphostructural alterations observed in the experimental model. Further studies using prolonged exercise protocols are required. Publisher: Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná Tipo do documento: Dissertação Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT https://tede.unioeste.br/handle/tede/8706 2026-02-27T00:00:00Z