Jogos lógicos de tabuleiro como instrumento pedagógico e recreativo para todas as idades

O Programa de Extensão da UFRGS “Jogos Lógicos de Tabuleiro” (LoBoGames) iniciou, informalmente, em 2012, com atividades pontuais e como uma das oficinas promovidas pelo Projeto de Extensão “Atelier Pedagógico”, sendo registrado em 2013 como um Projeto de Extensão próprio, e como Programa de Extensão no biênio 2014/2015. O crescente interesse do público em geral em relação às atividades propostas tem surpreendido, com potencial de aplicação nos mais diversos eixos de atuação como atividade recreativa, escolar educativa, socialização de grupos, formação de lideranças, dentre outros

A 40-Year Cohort Study of Evolving Hypothalamic Dysfunction in Infants and Young Children (<3 years) with Optic Pathway Gliomas

Despite high survival, paediatric optic pathway hypothalamic gliomas are associated with significant morbidity and late mortality. Those youngest at presentation have the worst outcomes. We aimed to assess presenting disease, tumour location, and treatment factors implicated in the evolution of neuroendocrine, metabolic, and neurobehavioural morbidity in 90 infants/children diagnosed before their third birthday and followed-up for 9.5 years (range 0.5–25.0). A total of 52 (57.8%) patients experienced endo-metabolic dysfunction (EMD), the large majority (46) of whom had hypothalamic involvement (H+) and lower endocrine event-free survival (EEFS) rates. EMD was greatly increased by a diencephalic syndrome presentation (85.2% vs. 46%, p = 0.001)), H+ (OR 6.1 95% CI 1.7–21.7, p 0.005), radiotherapy (OR 16.2, 95% CI 1.7–158.6, p = 0.017) and surgery (OR 4.8 95% CI 1.3–17.2, p = 0.015), all associated with anterior pituitary disorders. Obesity occurred in 25% of cases and was clustered with the endocrinopathies. Neurobehavioural deficits occurred in over half (52) of the cohort and were associated with H+ (OR 2.5 95% C.I. 1.1–5.9, p = 0.043) and radiotherapy (OR 23.1 C.I. 2.9–182, p = 0.003). Very young children with OPHG carry a high risk of endo-metabolic and neurobehavioural comorbidities which deserve better understanding and timely/parallel support from diagnosis to improve outcomes. These evolve in complex, hierarchical patterns over time whose aetiology appears predominantly determined by injury from the hypothalamic tumour location alongside adjuvant treatment strategies

On the use of symmetry in configurational analysis for the simulation of disordered solids

The starting point for a quantum mechanical investigation of disordered systems usually implies calculations on a limited subset of configurations, generated by defining either the composition of interest or a set of compositions ranging from one end member to another, within an appropriate supercell of the primitive cell of the pure compound. The way in which symmetry can be used in the identification of symmetry independent configurations (SICs) is discussed here. First, Pólya's enumeration theory is adopted to determine the number of SICs, in the case of both varying and fixed composition, for colors numbering two or higher. Then, De Bruijn's generalization is presented, which allows analysis of the case where the colors are symmetry related, e.g. spin up and down in magnetic systems. In spite of their efficiency in counting SICs, neither Pólya's nor De Bruijn's theory helps in solving the difficult problem of identifying the complete list of SICs. Representative SICs are obtained by adopting an orderly generation approach, based on lexicographic ordering, which offers the advantage of avoiding the (computationally expensive) analysis and storage of all the possible configurations. When the number of colors increases, this strategy can be combined with the surjective resolution principle, which permits the efficient generation of SICs of a problem in |R| colors starting from the ones obtained for the (|R| − 1)-colors case. The whole scheme is documented by means of three examples: the abstract case of a square with C4v symmetry and the real cases of the garnet and olivine mineral families

Imaging findings of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19

[Background] A hyperinflammatory immune-mediated shock syndrome has been recognised in children exposed to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).[Objective] To describe typical imaging findings in children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19.[Materials and methods] During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, imaging studies and clinical data from children treated for multisystem inflammatory syndrome were collected from multiple centres. Standardised case templates including demographic, biochemical and imaging information were completed by participating centres and reviewed by paediatric radiologists and paediatricians.[Results] We included 37 children (21 boys; median age 8.0 years). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was positive for SARS-CoV-2 in 15/37 (41%) children and immunoglobulins in 13/19 children (68%). Common clinical presentations were fever (100%), abdominal pain (68%), rash (54%), conjunctivitis (38%) and cough (32%). Thirty-three children (89%) showed laboratory or imaging findings of cardiac involvement. Thirty of the 37 children (81%) required admission to the intensive care unit, with good recovery in all cases. Chest radiographs demonstrated cardiomegaly in 54% and signs of pulmonary venous hypertension/congestion in 73%. The most common chest CT abnormalities were ground-glass and interstitial opacities (83%), airspace consolidation (58%), pleural effusion (58%) and bronchial wall thickening (42%). Echocardiography revealed impaired cardiac function in half of cases (51%) and coronary artery abnormalities in 14%. Cardiac MRI showed myocardial oedema in 58%, pericardial effusion in 42% and decreased left ventricular function in 25%. Twenty children required imaging for abdominal symptoms, the commonest abnormalities being free fluid (71%) and terminal ileum wall thickening (57%). Twelve children underwent brain imaging, showing abnormalities in two cases.[Conclusion] Children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome showed pulmonary, cardiac, abdominal and brain imaging findings, reflecting the multisystem inflammatory disease. Awareness of the imaging features of this disease is important for early diagnosis and treatment.Peer reviewe

B-type natriuretic peptide-induced delayed modulation of TRPV1 and P2X3 receptors of mouse trigeminal sensory neurons

Important pain transducers of noxious stimuli are small- and medium-diameter sensory neurons that express transient receptor vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channels and/or adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-gated P2X3 receptors whose activity is upregulated by endogenous neuropeptides in acute and chronic pain models. Little is known about the role of endogenous modulators in restraining the expression and function of TRPV1 and P2X3 receptors. In dorsal root ganglia, evidence supports the involvement of the natriuretic peptide system in the modulation of nociceptive transmission especially via the B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) that activates the natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A) to downregulate sensory neuron excitability. Since the role of BNP in trigeminal ganglia (TG) is unclear, we investigated the expression of BNP in mouse TG in situ or in primary cultures and its effect on P2X3 and TRPV1 receptors of patch-clamped cultured neurons. Against scant expression of BNP, almost all neurons expressed NPRA at membrane level. While BNP rapidly increased cGMP production and Akt kinase phosphorylation, there was no early change in passive neuronal properties or responses to capsaicin, \u3b1,\u3b2-meATP or GABA. Nonetheless, 24 h application of BNP depressed TRPV1 mediated currents (an effect blocked by the NPR-A antagonist anantin) without changing responses to \u3b1,\u3b2-meATP or GABA. Anantin alone decreased basal cGMP production and enhanced control \u3b1,\u3b2-meATP-evoked responses, implying constitutive regulation of P2X3 receptors by ambient BNP. These data suggest a slow modulatory action by BNP on TRPV1 and P2X3 receptors outlining the role of this peptide as a negative regulator of trigeminal sensory neuron excitability to nociceptive stimuli. \ua9 2013 Vilotti et al

Pseudouridylation defect due to DKC1 and NOP10 mutations causes nephrotic syndrome with cataracts, hearing impairment, and enterocolitis

Research UK Innovation and Project; Cancer Research U

Brave Consumers for a New Digital World: Exploring Online Shopping Motives During Covid-19

The study aims to explore the e-commerce industry by focusing on consumer behavior during the initial stage of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. We use survey data from 1027 Italian consumers to examine the relations between utilitarian and hedonic motives, trust in online shopping, perceived risk of Covid-19, attitudes, and online shopping behavior employing structural equation modeling. The results show that perceived risk of Covid-19 exerts both a direct and indirect effect on online purchase behavior. Further, we find that utilitarian motives, hedonic motives, and trust have an indirect effect on online purchase behavior through attitudes

Let Thy Food Be Thy Medicine: Exploring the Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Online Food Delivery Industry

The Covid-19 outbreak and consequent lockdowns have altered consumer food shopping behavior. Against this backdrop, the present study explores the factors that influences online food delivery ordering during the pandemic emergency. A survey was conducted online from 20 July to 23 August, 2020, among the Italian population. A total of 1030 usable responses were included in the data analysis. Results of structural equation modeling highlighted that looking for comfort food has a significant direct effect on the individual’s actual use of food delivery apps (FDA) during Covid-19. Attitudes, perceived benefits, and emotion have an indirect positive impact on the individual’s actual use of FDA. Perceived ease of use of FDA was not significant

Jogos lógicos de tabuleiro como instrumento pedagógico e recreativo para todas as idades

O Programa de Extensão da UFRGS “Jogos Lógicos de Tabuleiro” (LoBoGames) iniciou, informalmente, em 2012, com atividades pontuais e como uma das oficinas promovidas pelo Projeto de Extensão “Atelier Pedagógico”, sendo registrado em 2013 como um Projeto de Extensão próprio, e como Programa de Extensão no biênio 2014/2015. O crescente interesse do público em geral em relação às atividades propostas tem surpreendido, com potencial de aplicação nos mais diversos eixos de atuação como atividade recreativa, escolar educativa, socialização de grupos, formação de lideranças, dentre outros