Digital Literacy, Fake News and Education

The role of digital literacy in strengthening citizens’ resilience to misinformation and ‘fake news’ has been the subject of research projects and networking and academic and policy discourses in recent years, given prominence by an escalation of the perceived crisis following election and referendum results in the US and UK respectively. This special issue sets out to take forward critical dialogue in the field of media and digital literacy education by publishing rigorous research on the subject. The research disseminated in this collection speaks to the political and economic contexts for ‘fake news’, the complex issue of trust and the risks of educational solutionism; questions of definition and policy implementation; teaching about specific subgenres such as YouTube and clickbait; international comparisons of pedagogic approaches and challenges for teachers in this changing ecosystem

Sub-Bandgap Sensitization of Perovskite Semiconductors via Colloidal Quantum Dots Incorporation

ABSTRACT: By taking advantage of the outstanding intrinsic optoelectronic properties of perovskite-based photovoltaic materials, together with the strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and electronic confinement in PbS quantum dots (QDs), sub-bandgap photocurrent generation is possible, opening the way for solar cell efficiencies surpassing the classical limits. The present study shows an effective methodology for the inclusion of high densities of colloidal PbS QDs in a MAPbI3 (methylammonium lead iodide) perovskite matrix as a means to enhance the spectral window of photon absorption of the perovskite host film and allow photocurrent production below its bandgap. The QDs were introduced in the perovskite matrix in different sizes and concentrations to study the formation of quantum-confined levels within the host bandgap and the potential formation of a delocalized intermediate mini-band (IB). Pronounced sub-bandgap (in NIR) absorption was optically confirmed with the introduction of QDs in the perovskite. The consequent photocurrent generation was demonstrated via photoconductivity measurements, which indicated IB establishment in the films. Despite verifying the reduced crystallinity of the MAPbI3 matrix with a higher concentration and size of the embedded QDs, the nanostructured films showed pronounced enhancement (above 10-fold) in NIR absorption and consequent photocurrent generation at photon energies below the perovskite bandgap.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Playing with robotic cubes: age matters

Our society is ageing, yet new digital devices and services tend not to be designed with the needs of older people in mind. The wrong use of digital devices could lead to errors related to the characteristics of human-technology interactions. Problem solving is a key skill for such activities and devices. Running an unknown technological artefact means being faced with a problem situation that can be influenced by creative exploration of the new artefact. Our study aims to analyse creative exploration within the context of a problem-solving activity using parts of modular robotics with which both older and younger participants are unfamiliar. Does age matter

Effectiveness of biosimilar infliximab CT-P13 compared to originator infliximab in biological-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis: data from the Portuguese Register Reuma.pt

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of the infliximab biosimilar (sim-INF) CT-P13 with originator infliximab (orig-INF) over 24 months of follow-up in biological-naïve patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods: Biological-naïve patients from the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt), with a clinical diagnosis of RA or axSpA, who were starting either the sim-INF CT-P13 or the orig-INF after 2014 (date of market entry of CT-P13 in Portugal), were included. Patients on biosimilar and originator were compared regarding different response outcomes at 3 and 6 months, adjusting for age, sex and baseline C Reactive Protein (CRP). The main outcome was the change in DAS28-Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) for RA and the ASDAS-CRP for axSpA. Additionally, the effect of sim-INF vs orig-INF on different response outcomes over 24 months of follow-up was tested with longitudinal generalized estimating equations (GEE) models. Results: In total, 140 patients were included, 66 (47%) of which with RA. The distribution of patients starting the sim-INF and the orig-INF was the same between the two diseases (approximately 60% and 40%, respectively). From the 66 patients with RA, 82% were females, mean age was 56 (SD 11) years and mean DAS28-ESR 4.9 (1.3) at baseline. As for the patients with axSpA, 53% were males, mean age was 46 (13.0) years and mean ASDAS-CRP 3.7 (0.9) at baseline. There were no differences in efficacy between RA patients treated with the sim-INF and the orig-INF, either at 3 months (∆DAS28-ESR: -0.6 (95% CI -1.3; 0.1) vs -1.2 (-2.0; -0.4)), or at 6 months (∆DAS28-ESR: -0.7 (-1.5; 0.0) vs -1.5 (-2.4; -0.7)). This was also true for patients with axSpA (∆ASDAS at 3 months: -1.6 (-2.0; -1.1) vs -1.4 (-1.8; -0.9) and at 6 months: -1.5 (-2.0; -1.1) vs -1.1 (-1.5; -0.7)). Results were similar with the longitudinal models over 24 months. Conclusion: There are no differences in effectiveness between the sim-INF CT-P13 and the orig-INF in the treatment of biological-naïve patients with active RA and axSpA in clinical practice.Pathophysiology and treatment of rheumatic disease