Teaching Computational Thinking: are we considering students' socio-cultural context?

INTRODUCTION: Research to promote Computational Thinking (CT) has become frequent and carried out with the most different characteristics. Educational researchers argue that learning research needs to consider aspects of students' sociocultural context, regardless of what tools are used and how content is worked. However, it is not known if, and to what extent, these aspects are being considered in research to promote CT. OBJECTIVE: This research investigates whether the literature on initiatives to teach CT is recognizing and exploring aspects of students' sociocultural context and, mainly, how this is occurring. METHOD:A systematic review of the literature covering a decade (2007-2017) of articles published in the main vehicles of Computer Science in Education and Computer Science, considering the national and international scenario. RESULTS: The data indicate the students' sociocultural context is not being considered in the activities, although there is evidence that the scenario may be beginning to change. CONCLUSION: The results show that there is a growing concern and an evident effort by researchers to bring relevant elements of students' lives into the conducted practices. However, although it is possible to identify aspects of students' sociocultural context being considered by the mapped researches, it is still necessary to advance in terms of the rigor of the characterization of these aspects and the theoretical basis of the research

Propaganda institucional do Senado Federal

O objeto principal desta monografia é a propaganda institucional no Senado Federal, que irá abordar temas como a própria propaganda institucional e o marketing institucional, além da comunicação governamental. A partir daí, será exposto a relação que essas teorias irão ter com o Senado já que são próprias da comunicação de empresas privadas. Essas teorias possuem ferramentas que servem como base para construir a imagem e divulgar informações pertinentes a estas empresas, assim verificaremos se o Senado Federal também as utiliza e como as direciona para a comunicação do setor público sem fugir tanto das raízes da comunicação do setor privado

Ciprofloxacin removal catalysed by conductive carbon materials

Current wastewater treatment technologies are not effective in the removal of pharmaceuticals. In anaerobic bioreactors, the electrons produced during the oxidation of organic matter can potentially be used for the biological reduction of pharmaceuticals. However, these reactions occur generally at a slow rate, due to electron transfer limitations, and might be accelerated through redox mediators (RM). Carbon nanomaterials (CM) have been effective RM in the biological reduction of other pollutants. For instance, CNT@2%Fe were found to increase 76-fold the biological reduction of Acid Orange 10. The magnetic properties of those composites allow their easier recover after the process by using a magnetic field. In this study, CNT and CNT@2%Fe were studied in the anaerobic removal of Ciprofloxacin (CIP). Furthermore, the potential contribution of adsorption and biodegradation processes for CIP removal was assessed. Toxicity assessment is highly important as it is desired that the products formed after the process are not more toxic than the initial compound. Moreover, the evaluation of the possible contribution of nanomaterials used in the process for the final toxic effect of threated solution, is crucial. In this sense, the detoxification of the treated solutions was evaluated towards Vibrio fischeri.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2019 unit and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Optical Studies in Red/NIR Persistent Luminescent Cr‐Doped Zinc Gallogermanate (ZGGO:Cr)

Zn1+xGa2‐2xGexO4 (ZGGO:Cr)‐persistent phosphor, with a molar fraction, x, of x = 0.1, doped with a 0.5% molar of chromium, was synthesised via solid‐state reaction at 1350 °C for 36 h. X‐ray diffraction measurements and Raman spectroscopy evidence a single crystalline phase corresponding to the cubic spinel structure. Room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL) and afterglow decay profiles were investigated using above and below bandgap excitation. In both cases, persistent PL was observed for almost 8 h, mainly originating from a Cr3+ defect, the so‐called N2 optical centre. RT PL excitation and diffuse reflectance allow identification of the best pathways of Cr3+ red/NIR emission, as well as estimation of the ZGGO bandgap energy at 4.82 eV. An in‐depth investigation of the observed luminescence at 15 K and temperature‐dependent PL under site‐selective excitation reveals the spectral complexity of the presence of several optically active Cr3+ centres in the ZGGO host that emit in almost the same spectral region. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of the R‐lines’ intensity indicates the existence of thermal populating processes between the different optical centres. Such observations well account for a wide distribution of defect trap levels available for carrier capture/release, as measured by the persistent luminescence decay, from which the carriers are released preferentially to the N2 Cr3+‐related optical centre.publishersversionpublishe

TRATAMENTO NÃO OPERATÓRIO DO TRAUMA DE VÍSCERAS ABDOMINAIS PARENQUIMATOSAS

Nonoperative management of the solid organ injuries (liver, spleen and kidneys) in hemodynamically patients has become the standard of care in the last decade. Computed tomography scan is invaluable in determining appropriate patient selection and to exclude other injuries that may necessitate laparotomy. Nonoperative management strategies primarily consist of careful observation with or without the use of adjunctive angiography. The widespread use of angiographic embolization has increased the number and type of patients that can be safety managed without operative intervention. The increasing use of nonoperative management is based on the low failure rates reported in most studies. Success rates of nonoperative treatment have increase to > 90% for these injuries. Practitioners must remain vigilant, however, because failures of nonoperative management may need immediate intervention. This review will discuss current concepts in nonoperative management, including diagnosis, patient selection, nonoperative treatment strategies, benefits, risks, and complications.O tratamento não operatório das lesões de órgãos parenquimatosos abdominais (fígado, baço e rins) em pacientes com estabilidade hemodinâmica tem se tornado o método de escolha na última década. A TC é indispensável para a adequada seleção do paciente e para excluir outras lesões que podem necessitar de laparotomia. As estratégias de tratamento não operatório consistem da observação clínica e monitorização cuidadosa com ou sem o uso adjunto da angiografia. A utilização disseminada de embolização angiográfica tem aumentado o número e o tipo de pacientes que podem ser tratados sem cirurgia. O aumento desta modalidade de tratamento não operatório é baseado nas baixas taxas de falha terapêutica relatado na maioria dos estudos. As taxas de sucesso do tratamento não operatório é maior de 90% para estas lesões. Este artigo de revisão discutirá os conceitos atuais no manuseio não operatório, incluindo o diagnóstico, a seleção dos pacientes, as estratégias utilizadas no tratamento não operatório, os benefícios, os riscos e as complicações

Facts and challenges on hydrocarbons bioremediation

Book of Abstracts of CEB Annual Meeting 2017[Excerpt] The intense activity of the oil industry generates substantial amounts of contaminated wastes and wastewaters. Moreover, accidental oil spills occur frequently, causing severe damages in the marine environment and in the soil. Subsurface soil contamination is generally caused by oil leakages from underground storage tanks and transport pipelines that can further lead to groundwater contamination. To date, common techniques for remediation of petroleum-contaminated environments include physical removal, washing by cosolvents or surfactants, thermal desorption, electrokinetic movement of contaminants and oxidation/reduction via chemical agents. Biological technologies can be an alternative to the more aggressive physicochemical methods, as bioremediation exploits the metabolic diversity of microorganisms and their ability to degrade organic contaminants. Aerobic bioremediation is frequently preferred over anaerobic processes, due to faster rates of hydrocarbons activation and biodegradation [1]. However, in subsurface environments oxygen is generally scarce and anoxic conditions prevail. Anaerobic microorganisms can biodegrade hydrocarbons coupled to the reduction of nitrate, iron(III), sulfate or under methanogenic conditions [2]. In situ bioremediation of hydrocarbons at anoxic conditions has not been extensively studied, despite the broad occurrence of these contaminants in the subsurface. Reduced knowledge on the catabolic mechanisms and microbial communities involved in anaerobic hydrocarbons biodegradation has limited this approach, and needs further research. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Green synthesis of carbon nanotubes impregnated with metallic nanoparticles: Characterization and application in glyphosate adsorption

In the present work, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were used as support material for the impregnation of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) produced by green synthesis. The influences of the plant extracts (pomegranate (Punica Granatum), Eucalyptus, and pecan (Carya illinoinensis, leaves), metal species (copper and iron), metallic concentrations, and type of functionalization (OH and COOH) on the characteristics of the obtained materials were studied. The precursor and impregnated MWCNTs were characterized through X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, point of charge, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms and, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All the synthesized materials were tested as adsorbents to remove glyphosate (GLY) in an aqueous medium. The MWCNTs were resistant to withstand the synthesis process, preserving its structure and morphological characteristics. The copper and iron on the surface of MWCNTS confirm the successful synthesis and impregnation of the MNPs. The MWCNTs impregnated with high metallic concentrations showed favorable adsorption of GLY. The adsorption capacity and percentage of removal were 21.17 mg g−1 and 84.08%, respectively, for the MWCNTs impregnated with iron MNPs using the pecan leaves as a reducing agent. The results indicated that an advanced adsorbent for GLY could be obtained by green synthesis, using MWCNTs as precursors and pecan leaves as a reducing agent

Inhibition studies with 2-bromoethanesulfonate reveal a novel syntrophic relationship in anaerobic oleate degradation

Degradation of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) in methanogenic environments is a syntrophic process involving the activity of LCFA-degrading bacteria and hydrogen-utilizing methanogens. If methanogens are inhibited, other hydrogen scavengers are needed to achieve complete LCFA degradation. In this work, we developed two different oleate (C18:1 LCFA)-degrading anaerobic enrichment cultures, one methanogenic (ME) and another in which methanogenesis was inhibited (IE). Inhibition of methanogens was attained by adding a solution of 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BrES), which turned out to consist of a mixture of BrES and isethionate. Approximately 5 times faster oleate degradation was accomplished by the IE culture compared with the ME culture. A bacterium closely related to Syntrophomonas zehnderi (99\% 16S rRNA gene identity) was the main oleate degrader in both enrichments, in syntrophic relationship with hydrogenotrophic methanogens from the genera Methanobacterium and Methanoculleus (in ME culture) or with a bacterium closely related to Desulfovibrio aminophilus (in IE culture). A Desulfovibrio species was isolated, and its ability to utilize hydrogen was confirmed. This bacterium converted isethionate to acetate and sulfide, with or without hydrogen as electron donor. This bacterium also utilized BrES but only after 3 months of incubation. Our study shows that syntrophic oleate degradation can be coupled to desulfonation.IMPORTANCE In anaerobic treatment of complex wastewater containing fat, oils, and grease, high long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) concentrations may inhibit microbial communities, particularly those of methanogens. Here, we investigated if anaerobic degradation of LCFAs can proceed when methanogens are inhibited and in the absence of typical external electron acceptors, such as nitrate, iron, or sulfate. Inhibition studies were performed with the methanogenic inhibitor 2-bromoethanesulfonate (BrES). We noticed that, after autoclaving, BrES underwent partial hydrolysis and turned out to be a mixture of two sulfonates (BrES and isethionate). We found out that LCFA conversion proceeded faster in the assays where methanogenesis was inhibited, and that it was dependent on the utilization of isethionate. In this study, we report LCFA degradation coupled to desulfonation. Our results also showed that BrES can be utilized by anaerobic bacteria.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of the UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004), funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020—Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. We also acknowledge Project MultiBiorefinery (SAICTPAC/0040/2015 [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016403]), funded by Sistema de Apoio à Investigação Científica e Tecnológica (SAICT), Programas de Atividades Conjuntas (PAC), and the financial support of the European Research Council under the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013)/ERC (grant agreement 323009)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio