Fostering computational thinking skills : a didactic proposal for elementary school grades

There is a growing presence of technology in the daily lives of elementary school students, with a recent exponential rise due to the constraints of remote teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to understand how the education system can contribute to helping students develop the required skills for technological careers, without neglecting its obligation to create conditions that allow them to acquire transversal skills and to enable them to exercise full citizenship. The integration of Educational Robotics and block programming activities in collaborative learning environments promotes the development of computational thinking and other ICT skills, as well as critical thinking, social skills, and problem solving. This paper presents a theoretical proposal of a didactic sequence for the introduction to educational robotics and programming with Scratch Jr. It is composed of three learning scenarios, designed for elementary school teaching. Its main goal is to create conditions that favour the development of computational thinking in a collaborative learning environment. With increasing complexity and degree of difficulty, all the tasks root from a common problem: How can we create an algorithm that programs the robot/sprite to reach a predetermined position?info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A qualitative study on health workers' and community members' perceived sources, role of information and communication on malaria treatment, prevention and control in southeast Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: It has been widely acknowledged that well-planned and executed communication programmes can contribute to achieving malaria prevention and treatment goals. This however requires a good understanding of current sources and roles of information used by both health workers and communities. The study aimed at determining health workers' and community members' sources, value and use of information on malaria prevention and treatment in Nigeria. METHODS: Qualitative data was collected from six selected communities (three urban and three rural) in Enugu state, southeast Nigeria. A total of 18 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 179 community members and 26 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health workers in public and private health facilities were used to collect data on where people receive treatment for malaria and access information on malaria. The FGDS and IDIs also provided data on the values, uses and effects of information and communication on malaria treatment seeking and provision of services. RESULTS: The findings revealed that the major sources of information on malaria for health workers and community members were advertisements in the mass media, workshops and seminars organized by donor agencies, facility supervision, posters, other health workers, television and radio adverts. Community involvement in the design and delivery of information on malaria control was seen as a strong strategy for improving both consumer and provider knowledge. Information from the different sources catalyzed appropriate provision and consumption of malaria treatment amongst health workers and community members. CONCLUSION: Health workers and consumers receive information on malaria prevention and treatment from multiple sources of communication and information, which they find useful. Harnessing these information sources to encourage consistent and accurate messages around malaria prevention and treatment is a necessary first step in the design and implementation of malaria communication and behaviour change interventions and ultimately for the sustained control of malaria

Leukotriene B4 mediates γδ T lymphocyte migration in response to diverse stimuli

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141926/1/jlb0323.pd

Outcomes and compliance with standards of care in ANCA-associated vasculitis: insights from a large multi-region audit

Objectives: We aimed to conduct a large audit of routine care for patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods: We invited all 34 hospitals within one health region in England to undertake a retrospective case note audit of all patients newly-diagnosed or treated with Cyclophosphamide or Rituximab for AAV April 2013-December 2014. We compared clinical practice to the BSR guideline for the management of adults with AAV, and use of Rituximab to the NHS England commissioning policy and NICE Technology Appraisal. Results: We received data from 213 patients. Among 130 newly diagnosed patients, delay from admission to diagnosis ranged from 0-53 days (median 6, IQR 3-10.5) for those diagnosed as in-patients. BVAS score was recorded in 8% at diagnosis. Remission at 6 months was achieved in 83% of patients. 1-year survival was 91.5%. 130 patients received Cyclophosphamide for new-diagnosis or relapse. The correct dose of i.v. cyclophosphamide (within 100mg of the target dose calculated for age, weight and creatinine) was administered in 58%. 25% of patients had an infection requiring hospital admission during or within 6 months of completing their cyclophosphamide therapy. 76 patients received Rituximab for new-diagnosis or relapse. 97% patients met NHS England or NICE eligibility criteria. PJP prophylaxis (recommended in the summary of product characteristics) was given in only 65% of patients. Conclusion: We identified opportunities to improve care, including compliance with safety standards for delivery of cyclophosphamide. Development of a national treatment protocol / checklist to reduce this heterogeneity in care should be considered as a priority

Cytokine gene expression and molecular detection of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in organs of experimentally infected mice.

Resumo - Mycobacterium avium subespécie paratuberculosis (MAP) pode infectar ruminantes e permanecer subclínica por longos períodos nos rebanhos. A identificação de órgãos mais susceptíveis à infecção e a avaliação da expressão das citocinas no local da infecção são importantes para compreender a patogênese de MAP. Neste estudo foi avaliada a probabilidade de detecção de DNA de MAP e a expressão de citocinas em órgãos de camundongos C57BL/6 infectados por via intraperitoneal durante 120 dias. Dentre os órgãos avaliados, o baço (85%), cólon (75%) e fígado (60%) tiveram as maiores frequências de positividade. Quando comparadas essas frequências entre os órgãos, verificou-se que o baço teve 1,54 vezes mais probabilidade de ser positivo em relação ao íleo, e 2,0 vezes mais probabilidade em relação às placas de Peyer. Além disso, aos 60 dias pós infecção, o baço e o fígado foram responsáveis pela maior expressão de IFN-γ e o íleo pela TNF-α e IL-4. Os resultados indicam que o baço é o melhor órgão para avaliar uma infecção experimental por MAP, principalmente nos períodos iniciais da infecção. Além disso, demonstrou que o baço, fígado e íleo têm importância direta na resposta inflamatória de modelos experimentais. Abstract - Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) can infect ruminants and remain subclinical for long periods within herds. The identification of organs that are more susceptible to infection and the evaluation of cytokine expression at the site of infection are important to understand the pathogenesis of MAP. In this study, the probability of detection of MAP-DNA and the expression of cytokines in organs of C57BL/6 mice infected intraperitoneally for 120 days were evaluated. Among the evaluated organs, the spleen (85%), colon (75%) and liver (60%) had the highest frequency of positivity. When compared these frequencies between organs, it has been found that the spleen had 1.54 times as likely to be positive in relation to the ileum, and 2.0 times more likely in relation to the Peyer?s patches. In addition, at 60 days post-infection, the spleen and the liver were responsible for upregulation of IFN-γ , and the ileum by TNF-α and IL-4. The results indicate that the spleen is the best organ for evaluating an experimental infection by MAP, especially in the initial stages of the infection. Moreover, it showed that the spleen, liver and ileum have a direct role in the inflammatory response in experimental models

Syzygium jambolanum treatment improves survival in lethal sepsis induced in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The leaves and the fruits from <it>Syzygium jambolanum </it>DC.(Myrtaceae), a plant known in Brazil as sweet olive or 'jambolão', have been used by native people to treat infectious diseases, diabetes, and stomachache. Since the bactericidal activity of <it>S. jambolanum </it>has been confirmed <it>in vitro</it>, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the prophylactic treatment with <it>S. jambolanum </it>on the <it>in vivo </it>polymicrobial infection induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>C57Bl/6 mice were treated by the subcutaneous route with a hydroalcoholic extract from fresh leaves of <it>S. jambolanum </it>(HCE). After 6 h, a bacterial infection was induced in the peritoneum using the lethal CLP model. The mice were killed 12 h after the CLP induction to evaluate the cellular influx and local and systemic inflammatory mediators' production. Some animals were maintained alive to evaluate the survival rate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prophylactic HCE treatment increased the mice survival, the neutrophil migration to infectious site, the spreading ability and the hydrogen peroxide release, but decreased the serum TNF and nitrite. Despite the increased migration and activation of peritoneal cells the HCE treatment did not decrease the number of CFU. The HCE treatment induced a significant decrease on the bone marrow cells number but did not alter the cell number of the spleen and lymph node.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that the treatment with <it>S. jambolanum </it>has a potent prophylactic anti-septic effect that is not associated to a direct microbicidal effect but it is associated to a recruitment of activated neutrophils to the infectious site and to a diminished systemic inflammatory response.</p

Does bariatric surgery improve cardiac autonomic modulation assessed by heart rate variability? A systematic review

Objectives. Our study aimed to explore the influence of Bariatric Surgery (BS) on heart rate (HR) variability (HRV) through a systematic review. Data Sources. Manuscripts were selected based on electronic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases from the inception of each database up to year 2020 and followed the PRISMA protocol. Searching of these studies was systematized using the PICOS strategy. Eligibility Criteria for Selecting Studies. We selected randomized and non-randomized controlled trials and cohorts’ prospective studies that reported the influence of BS on HRV. We assessed the quality rating using the Black and Downs questionnaire. Results. Following the screening and eligibility stages, 14 studies were included in the review. All studies agreed that BS promotes an increase in parasympathetic HR control and HRV and, a decrease in HR. Yet, the literature does not provide evidence that this outcome was directly caused by the surgical procedure. There is limited evidence to support that patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (TDM2) have greater improvement in HRV as an interim measure, to individuals without. The decrease in insulin resistance was correlated with the increase in HRV in some studies, but, other studies are unsupportive of this outcome. Improvements in two metabolic parameters (e.g., Leptin, NT-proBNP) were connected with a superior increase in HRV

Emerging Role of HMGB1 in the Pathogenesis of Schistosomiasis Liver Fibrosis

In chronic schistosomiasis, liver fibrosis is linked to portal hypertension, which is a condition associated with high mortality and morbidity. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) was originally described as a nuclear protein that functions as a structural co-factor in transcriptional regulation. However, HMGB1 can also be secreted into the extracellular milieu under appropriate signal stimulation. Extracellular HMGB1 acts as a multifunctional cytokine that contributes to infection, injury, inflammation, and immune responses by binding to specific cell-surface receptors. HMGB1 is involved in fibrotic diseases. From a clinical perspective, HMGB1 inhibition may represent a promising therapeutic approach for treating tissue fibrosis. In this study, we demonstrate elevated levels of HMGB1 in the sera in experimental mice or in patients with schistosomiasis. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that HMGB1 trafficking in the hepatocytes of mice suffering from acute schistosomiasis was inhibited by Glycyrrhizin, a well-known HMGB1 direct inhibitor, as well as by DIC, a novel and potential anti-HMGB1 compound. HMGB1 inhibition led to significant downregulation of IL-6, IL4, IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A, which are involved in the exacerbation of the immune response and liver fibrogenesis. Importantly, infected mice that were treated with DIC or GZR to inhibit HMGB1 pro-inflammatory activity showed a significant increase in survival and a reduction of over 50% in the area of liver fibrosis. Taken together, our findings indicate that HMGB1 is a key mediator of schistosomotic granuloma formation and liver fibrosis and may represent an outstanding target for the treatment of schistosomiasis