Sustainable cooperative distance learning system for education in developing countries

The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in a cooperative way can give a good improvement in the educational field; in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan area. Sustainable technologies and collaborative LMS are investigated in a case study as possible ways to improve, towards distance learning systems, education and towards it, social empowerment and development. A web-based system, customized for an academic year proposal in medicine and surgery field, helps the development of cooperation among universities and research empowerment and exchange, useful for both entities and their stakeholders. Different uses and approaches to the technological solution allow different participants to model and interact with the project despite difficulties and environmental gabs that could occur in some territories of the Sub-Saharan countries

Equações do 2.º grau do fim do século XIX ao início do século XXI: Uma análise de sete manuais escolares

Este artigo analisa o modo como as equações do 2.º grau são abordadas em sete manuais escola-res publicados entre o fim do século XIX e o início do século XXI, escolhidos entre os mais utilizados em cada período. Analisamos a forma como este assunto é apresentado em cada manual, incluindo a aborda-gem do tema, os exemplos e as tarefas propostas para o aluno resolver, bem como os contextos utilizados e a linguagem e grafismo. A análise realizada mostra que o assunto foi tendo um tratamento cada vez mais simplificado, tanto nos conteúdos como nas tarefas propostas e na linguagem, notando-se a influên-cia da Matemática moderna com a introdução de elementos da lógica e da teoria dos conjuntos. Ressalta, ainda, uma evolução muito interessante no uso dos termos “exercício” e “problema”. Numa primeira fase, os exercícios tendiam a ter grande complexidade e designavam-se por problemas os que tinham um enun-ciado em linguagem natural. Mais tarde, o termo “exercício” é substituído por “actividade”. No manual mais recente, o termo “exercício” desaparece e o termo “problema” passa a designar tarefas de tipo muito diversificado, incluindo tarefas extremamente simples.This paper analyses the way 2nd degree equation are studied in seven school mathematics text-books published between the end of the XIXth century and the beginning of the XXIst century, chosen among the most used in each period. We analyze the way this subject is presented in each textbook, in-cluding the way the theme is approached, the examples and the tasks proposed to the student, as well as the contexts used and the language and graphic style. The analysis undertaken shows that the topic had an approach increasingly simplified, in its content, in tasks proposed and in the language, and it can be noted an influence of modern mathematics with the introduction of elements of logic and set theory. It also stands a very interesting in the use of the terms “exercise” and “problem”. Ina first phase, the exercises had a great complexity. Those that were phrased in natural language were called problems. Later, the term “exercise” is substituted by “activity”. In the more recent textbook, the term “exercise” disappears and the term “problem” begins designating tasks of a much diversified nature, including very simple tasks

Glutathione activation of an organometallic half-sandwich anticancer drug candidate by ligand attack

Density functional theory calculations and X-ray absorption spectroscopic data suggest an unusual activation mechanism for this potent Os anticancer complex: catalytic attack by intracellular thiol glutathione on the azo bond of the chelated ligand

Visual Lateralization in the Cephalopod Mollusk Octopus vulgaris

Behavioral asymmetries exhibited by the common octopus, Octopus vulgaris, a cephalopod mollusk, during predatory and exploratory responses were investigated. Animals were tested for eye preferences while attacking a natural (live crab) or an artificial (plastic ball) stimulus, and for side preferences while exploring a T-maze in the absence of any specific intra- or extra-maze cues. We found individual-level asymmetry in some animals when faced with either natural or artificial stimuli, but not when exploring the maze. Our findings suggest that visual lateralization in O. vulgaris is context-dependent

Dor cortante: sofrimento emocional de meninas adolescentes

This research aims at investigating the experience lived by teenage girls who cut themselves, a symptom of emotional distress that has had social visibility nowadays and caused concern among mental health professionals. This is a qualitative research that uses the psychoanalytic method to study some blog posts signed by eight teenage girls who identify themselves as practitioners of self-injurious acts. The reading and the re-reading of the material, in a state of floating attention, allowed the production of two fields of affective-emotional meaning: “Devoid of affection” and “Crime and punishment”. The general picture indicates that these people inhabit an imaginary hostile world, marked by the experience of a persecutory guilty caused by the lack of affection, care, and consideration, pointing out that fundamental requirements in the constitution of the personality are not being satisfactorily contemplated.Keywords: self-harm, suffering, teenager.Esta pesquisa objetiva investigar a experiência vivida por meninas adolescentes que se autolesionam, sintoma de sofrimento emocional que vem ganhando maior visibilidade social e motivando preocupação entre profissionais de saúde mental. O trabalho articula-se como pesquisa qualitativa mediante uso do método psicanalítico, pelo estudo de postagens em blogs assinados por oito meninas adolescentes que se identificam como praticantes de atos autolesivos. Leituras e releituras do material, em estado de atenção flutuante, permitiram a produção interpretativa de dois campos de sentido afetivo-emocional: “Desprovidas de afeto” e “Crime e castigo”. O quadro geral indica que essas pessoas habitam, imaginariamente, um mundo hostil, marcado pela experiência de culpa persecutória pela privação de afeto, cuidado e consideração, apontando que exigências fundamentais na constituição da pessoalidade não estão sendo satisfatoriamente contempladas.Palavras-chave: autolesão, sofrimento, adolescência

Preoperative Predictive Factors of Successful Weight Loss and Glycaemic Control 1 Year After Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity

BACKGROUND: Gastric bypass (GBP) is one of the most effective surgical procedures to treat morbid obesity and the related comorbidities. This study aimed at identifying preoperative predictors of successful weight loss and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remission 1 year after GBP. METHODS: Prospective longitudinal study of 771 patients who underwent GBP was performed at four Italian centres between November 2011 and May 2013 with 1-year follow-up. Preoperative anthropometric, metabolic and social parameters, the surgical technique and the previous failed bariatric procedures were analyzed. Weight, the body mass index (BMI), the percentage of excess weight lost (% EWL), the percentage of excess BMI lost (% BMIL) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were recorded at follow-up. RESULTS: Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that BMI <50 kg/m2 (p\u2009=\u20090.006) and dyslipidaemia (p\u2009=\u20090.05) were predictive factors of successful weight loss. Multivariate analysis of surgical technique showed significant weight loss in patients with a small gastric pouch (p\u2009<\u20090.001); the lengths of alimentary and biliary loops showed no statistical significance. All diabetic patients had a significant reduction of HbA1c (p\u2009<\u20090.001) after surgery. BMI\u2009 65\u200950 kg/m2 (p\u2009=\u20090.02) and low level of preoperative HbA1c (p\u2009<\u20090.01) were independent risk factors of T2DM remission after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a useful tool for making more accurate predictions of best results in terms of weight loss and metabolic improvement

Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1-Alpha (HIF-1 Alpha) Is Induced during Reperfusion after Renal Ischemia and Is Critical for Proximal Tubule Cell Survival

Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) during renal transplantation delays allograft function. Identification of factors that mediate protection and/or epithelium recovery could help to improve graft outcome. We studied the expression, regulation and role of hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1 α), using in vitro and in vivo experimental models of I/R as well as human post-transplant renal biopsies. We found that HIF-1 α is stabilized in proximal tubule cells during ischemia and unexpectedly in late reperfusion, when oxygen tension is normal. Both inductions lead to gene expression in vitro and in vivo. In vitro interference of HIF-1 α promoted cell death and in vivo interference exacerbated tissue damage and renal dysfunction. In pos-transplant human biopsies, HIF-1 α was expressed only in proximal tubules which exhibited normal renal structure with a significant negative correlation with ATN grade. In summary, using experimental models and human biopsies, we identified a novel HIF-1 α induction during reperfusion with a potential critical role in renal transplant

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)