Photoacclimation strategies in northeastern Atlantic seagrasses: Integrating responses across plant organizational levels.

Seagrasses live in highly variable light environments and adjust to these variations by expressing acclimatory responses at different plant organizational levels (meadow, shoot, leaf and chloroplast level). Yet, comparative studies, to identify species' strategies, and integration of the relative importance of photoacclimatory adjustments at different levels are still missing. The variation in photoacclimatory responses at the chloroplast and leaf level were studied along individual leaves of Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera marina and Z. noltei, including measurements of variable chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthesis, photoprotective capacities, non-photochemical quenching and D1-protein repair, and assessments of variation in leaf anatomy and chloroplast distribution. Our results show that the slower-growing C. nodosa expressed rather limited physiological and biochemical adjustments in response to light availability, while both species of faster-growing Zostera showed high variability along the leaves. In contrast, the inverse pattern was found for leaf anatomical adjustments in response to light availability, which were more pronounced in C. nodosa. This integrative plant organizational level approach shows that seagrasses differ in their photoacclimatory strategies and that these are linked to the species' life history strategies, information that will be critical for predicting the responses of seagrasses to disturbances and to accordingly develop adequate management strategies.

Conhecimentos dos acadêmicos sobre prevenção do câncer de mama / Undergraduate students' knowledge about the prevention of breast cancer / Conocimiento de los estudiantes sobre la prevención del cáncer de mama

Estudo com o objetivo de identificar o conhecimento dos acadêmicos, quanto aos fatores de prevenção para o câncer de mama. De natureza quantitativa, exploratória e descritiva, desenvolvido numa instituição de ensino superior do Estado de Santa Catarina, com 50 acadêmicos matriculados nos cursos de enfermagem, fisioterapia e psicologia no 1º semestre de 2008. A coleta de dados ocorreu de fevereiro a abril de 2008. Utilizou-se um questionário semi-estruturado e análise estatística descritiva. Os resultados apontaram que os acadêmicos dos cursos de enfermagem e fisioterapia demonstraram maior conhecimento sobre o tema. Os fatores de prevenção mencionados foram: consumo de legumes, verduras, frutas, exercícios físicos e amamentação. Conclui-se que o nível de conhecimento dos estudantes sobre os fatores de prevenção do câncer de mama, numa perspectiva interdisciplinar, é importante para repensar a inserção da educação em saúde como conteúdo curricular imprescindível na promoção de uma universidade saudável.

This study aimed to identify what undergraduate students know of factors for breast cancer prevention. This was a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study, developed in a University in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, with 50 students enrolled in nursing, physiotherapy and psychology programs in the first semester of 2008. The data were collected from February to April, 2008. A semi-structured questionnaire and descriptive statistics were used. Results showed that students of nursing and physiotherapy demonstrated greater knowledge about the issue than the psychology students. Mentioned prevention factors: consumption of vegetables, greens and fruits, physical exercises and breastfeeding. Conclusions indicate that the level of students' knowledge about factors that can prevent breast cancer, in an interdisciplinary perspective, is important to rethink the inclusion of health education as an essential curriculum content to promote a healthy university.

Objetivo del estudio fue identificar el conocimiento de los estudiantes, acerca de los factores para la prevención del cáncer de mama. Un cuantitativo exploratorio y descriptivo, desarrollado en una institución de educación superior de Santa Catarina, Brasil, con 50 estudiantes matriculados en la enfermería, fisioterapia y psicología en el primer semestre de 2008. Los datos fueron recolectados de febrero a abril de 2008. Se utilizó un cuestionario semi-estructurado y estadística descriptiva. Los resultados mostraron que los estudiantes de enfermería y terapia física han demostrado mayor conocimiento sobre el tema que los estudiantes de psicología. Menciona factores: el consumo de verduras, frutas, el ejercicio físico y la lactancia. Se concluye que el nivel de conocimiento acerca de los factores que pueden prevenir el cáncer de mama, una perspectiva interdisciplinaria, es importante para reconsiderar la inclusión de la educación para la salud como los contenidos curriculares esenciales en la promoción de una universidad saludable.

[Undergraduate students' knowledge about the prevention of breast cancer]. / Conhecimentos dos acadêmicos sobre prevenção do câncer de mama.

This study aimed to identify what undergraduate students know of factors for breast cancer prevention. This was a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study, developed in a University in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil with 50 students enrolled in nursing, physiotherapy and psychology programs in the first semester of 2008. The data were collected from February to April 2008. A semi-structured questionnaire and descriptive statistics were used. Results showed that students of nursing and physiotherapy demonstrated greater knowledge about the issue than the psychology students. Mentioned prevention factors: consumption of vegetables, greens and fruits, physical exercises and breastfeeding. Conclusions indicate that the level of students' knowledge about factors that can prevent breast cancer, in an interdisciplinary perspective, is important to rethink the inclusion of health education as an essential curriculum content to promote a healthy university.