Androcentrism in the scientific field: Brazilian systems of graduate studies, science and technology as a case study.

This article performs an analysis of female participation in science, in the Brazilian system of graduate studies and scientific research as a case study. This is relevant because science is a central supporting structure for modern societies and, therefore, a detailed analysis of the scientific power structure behind academic policy creation can reveal aspects of androcentrism in scientific activity. The main goal of this work is to identify the process of misogyny in science by describing its reproductive pattern. Our results show that women are around 50% of the undergraduate and graduate students when all fields are taken into consideration, but only 37% of the researchers in the CNPq system. We also observe a significant increase in female percentage within scientific activities at the initial and intermediary levels, except for the most prestigious areas as hard science. However, a scissor effect is identified between the initial level and the more prominent positions. This unbalanced participation reveals that female occupations in science are mostly as lower workforce since women are quite far from the social decision-making circles in this career.

Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Práticas dos Trabalhadores de Saúde em Moçambique sobre a COVID-19: estudo online rápido / Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Health Workers in in Mozambique about COVID-19: rapid online study

Os profissionais de saúde (PS), como profissionais da linha de frente, têm maior risco de infecção pela COVID-19. Foram adoptadas várias medidas para controlar a rápida propagação da epidemia da COVID-19 em Moçambique. A adesão dos (PS) a essas medidas é influenciada por seus conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas (CAP) em relação à COVID-19. Neste estudo, analisámos os CAP dos PS em relação à COVID-19 durante o primeiro mês da pandemia em Moçambique. Os PS, foram convidados a participar do estudo, através dos grupos de redes sociais. O questionário de conhecimento é composto por 13 questões referentes às características clínicas e prevenção da COVID-19. As atitudes e práticas em relação à COVID-19 foram avaliadas por meio de perguntas sobre a confiança no controle da COVID-19 e o uso de máscaras quando em locais públicos.Entre os respondentes da pesquisa (n = 431), 53,1% eram mulheres, 57,8% possuíam o grau de licenciatura. A taxa geral de respostas correctas do questionário de conhecimento foi de 87,2%. A maioria dos inquiridos (86,2%) tem confiança de que Moçambique vencerá a luta contra a COVID-19. A maioria dos PS (91,2%) usou máscara quando saiu de casa nos últimos dias. Em geral, os participantes da pesquisa possuem bons conhecimentos sobre a COVID-19 e atitudes positivas em relação à vitória na batalha contra a COVID-19. As acções de educação e treinamento em COVID-19 para profissionais de saúde devem ter em consideração factores como género, experiência de trabalho e nível de diferenciação profissional. No entanto, existem lacunas em aspectos de conhecimento e práticas que devem receber atenção especial pelas autoridades de saúde em futuras iniciativas de educação dos profissionais de saúde sobre a COVID-19.

Health Care Workers (HCW) as a frontline's professional has higher risk of infections and worst outcome by COVID-19. Measures have been adopted to control the rapid spread of the COVID-19 epidemic in Mozambique. HCW adherence to these measures is affected by their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards COVID-19. In this study, we investigated Mozambican HCW KAP towards COVID-19 during the first month of the pandemic in Mozambique. An online sample of Mozambican HCW was invited to participate via the HCW social media groups. The knowledge questionnaire consisted of 13 questions regarding the clinical characteristics and prevention of COVID-19. Attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 was assessed using questions on confidence in winning the battle against COVID-19 and wearing masks when going out in recent days. Among the survey respondents (n=431), 53.1 % were women, 57.8% held a bachelor degree. The overall correct rate of the knowledge questionnaire was 87.2%. The majority of the respondents (86.2%) had confidence that Mozambique can win the battle against COVID-19. Most HCW (91.2%) wore masks when going out in recent days. In general, HCW who participated in the survey have good knowledge about COVID-19, and positive attitudes towards victory in the battle against COVID-19. Education and training actions on COVID-19 for HCW should take into account factors such as gender, work experience and level of professional differentiation. However, there are gaps in aspects of knowledge and practices that should be given special attention by health authorities in future initiatives to raise awareness and education for health professionals

Actions developed by the Brazilian Physiological Society to promote women's participation in science.

Here we described two activities related to Women in Science: one main conference and one symposium, both developed during the Annual Congress of the Brazilian Physiological Society, which were held within the XXXIII Annual Meeting of the Federation of Brazilian Experimental Biology Societies, from September 3-6, 2018, in Campos do Jordão (SP/Brazil). This conference and the symposium were among the most popular activities of the congress. This is important because the activities addressed important issues, including the fact that only 29% of the worlds' researchers are women, and women have difficulty progressing in a scientific career. Our report discusses why and which strategies could change this reality. We believe this symposium has not only contributed to advance and bring insights to physiological sciences, but, more importantly, it inspired and motivated physiologists to think about gender balance and the contribution and participation of women in physiological science.

HPV-Mediated Resistance to TNF and TRAIL Is Characterized by Global Alterations in Apoptosis Regulatory Factors, Dysregulation of Death Receptors, and Induction of ROS/RNS.

Persistent infection with high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) is the main risk factor for the development of invasive cervical cancer although is not sufficient to cause cervical cancer. Several host and environmental factors play a key role in cancer initiation/progression, including cytokines and other immune-response mediators. Here, we characterized the response to the individual and combined action of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) on HPV-transformed cells and human keratinocytes ectopically expressing E6 and E7 early proteins from different HPV types. We showed that keratinocytes expressing HPV early proteins exhibited global alterations in the expression of proteins involved in apoptosis regulation/execution, including TNF and TRAIL receptors. Besides, we provided evidence that TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) was down-regulated and may be retained in the cytoplasm of keratinocytes expressing HPV16 oncoproteins. Finally, fluorescence analysis demonstrated that cytokine treatment induced the production and release of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) in cells expressing HPV oncogenes. Alterations in ROS/RNS production and apoptosis regulatory factors expression in response to inflammatory mediators may favor the accumulation of genetic alterations in HPV-infected cells. Altogether, our results suggested that these events may contribute to lesion progression and cancer onset.