Revisão sistemática da investigação em ensino da programação em contexto de ensino superior não presencial

Os trabalhos de investigação, através de seus métodos científicos, proporcionam valiosos contributos para o avanço do conhecimento. Nesse contexto, a revisão sistemática da literatura ocupa um lugar de capítal importância no processo científico identificando, avaliando e recompilando dados. O propósito da presente investigação é mostrar até que ponto o estado actual do conhecimento sobre o ensino e a aprendizagem da programação abrange o âmbito do ensino superior não presencial. Para tal, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da produção científica, caracterizando e sintetizando o state-of-the-art do conhecimento, abordando as duas grandes modalidades de educação: presencial e não presencial e analisando o corpus de literatura existente actualmente, dando prioridade à mais recente.Research, through its scientific methods, provides valuable contributions for the advancement of knowledge. In this context, the systematic literature review occupies a place of primary importance in the scientific process by identifying, assessing and gathering data. The aim of this research is to determine to which extent current knowneldge on the teaching and learning of the programming encompasses distance education. Thus, a systematic literature review was conducted, characterizing and synthesizing the state-of-the-art of the knowledge, distinguishing two major types of education: face-to-face and distance learning, and analyzing the current corpus of literature, giving priority to the most recent

Biomimetic Scaffolds Modulate the Posttraumatic Inflammatory Response in Articular Cartilage Contributing to Enhanced Neoformation of Cartilaginous Tissue In Vivo

Focal chondral lesions of the knee are the most frequent type of trauma in younger patients and are associated with a high risk of developing early posttraumatic osteoarthritis. The only current clinical solutions include microfracture, osteochondral grafting, and autologous chondrocyte implantation. Cartilage tissue engineering based on biomimetic scaffolds has become an appealing strategy to repair cartilage defects. Here, a chondrogenic collagen-chondroitin sulfate scaffold is tested in an orthotopic Lapine in vivo model to understand the beneficial effects of the immunomodulatory biomaterial on the full chondral defect. Using a combination of noninvasive imaging techniques, histological and whole transcriptome analysis, the scaffolds are shown to enhance the formation of cartilaginous tissue and suppression of host cartilage degeneration, while also supporting tissue integration and increased tissue regeneration over a 12 weeks recovery period. The results presented suggest that biomimetic materials could be a clinical solution for cartilage tissue repair, due to their ability to modulate the immune environment in favor of regenerative processes and suppression of cartilage degeneration

Bromodomain inhibitor i-BET858 triggers a unique transcriptional response coupled to enhanced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in high-grade ovarian carcinoma cells

Background: Ovarian cancer has a specific unmet clinical need, with a persistently poor 5-year survival rate observed in women with advanced stage disease warranting continued efforts to develop new treatment options. The amplification of BRD4 in a significant subset of high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas (HGSC) has led to the development of BET inhibitors (BETi) as promising antitumour agents that have subsequently been evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials. Here, we describe the molecular effects and ex vivo preclinical activities of i-BET858, a bivalent pan-BET inhibitor with proven in vivo BRD inhibitory activity. Results: i-BET858 demonstrates enhanced cytotoxic activity compared with earlier generation BETis both in cell lines and primary cells derived from clinical samples of HGSC. At molecular level, i-BET858 triggered a bipartite transcriptional response, comprised of a ‘core’ network of genes commonly associated with BET inhibition in solid tumours, together with a unique i-BET858 gene signature. Mechanistically, i-BET858 elicited enhanced DNA damage, cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death compared to its predecessor i-BET151

As 'cenas' punk em Portugal (1977-2012): um olhar sociológico a partir da análise das redes de produção, distribuição e consumo de fanzines e e-zines

Embora a prática de produção, distribuição e consumo de fanzines seja anterior à emergência do fenómeno do punk no Reino Unido e E.U.A., a verdade é que foi com ele que ganhou relevância, assumindo-se como um espaço de liberdade de pensamento e criação, bem como de alternativa aos media convencionais. Desde a década de 1970 o universo das fanzines expandiu-se de forma clara, a diversos níveis: em termos temáticos e de abrangência estilista, mas também em termos de abrangência territorial e dos suportes comunicacionais utilizados. Neste artigo propomo-nos a apresentar os resultados preliminares da investigação em curso (inserida no contexto de um projeto de investigação mais amplo sobre a função, desenvolvimento e consolidação do movimento punk em Portugal, entre 1977-2012) sobre o surgimento, desenvolvimento e transformação de práticas punk, subterrâneas e do-it-yourself, do qual as fanzines e, mais recentemente, as e-zines constituem um exemplo particularmente interessante. A partir de um conjunto alargado de fanzines e e-zines associadas ao movimento punk português, produzidas ao longo das últimas décadas (com particular enfoque nos anos 1990, 2000 e 2010), bem como da análise qualitativa de entrevistas que têm vindo a ser realizadas com alguns atores envolvidos na produção e consumo de fanzines, serão analisados alguns dos aspetos mais relevantes associados às suas redes de produção, distribuição e consumo Procuraremos compreender qual a sua relevância (atual e passada) no contexto da 'cena' punk/hardcore em Portugal, quais os principais traços do seu desenvolvimento e transformação e, por fim, identificaremos algumas tendências de evolução e mudança, sempre que possível estabelecendo alguns pontos de comparação com estudos internacionais de cariz similar, de modo a identificar aspetos de convergência, mas também de diferenciação das fanzines e e-zines produzidas em Portugal relativamente às que são produzidas em outros países.Although the production, distribution and consumption of fanzines is prior to the emergence of punk in the UK and USA, it was with this phenomenon that it became relevant, as an area of freedom of thought and creativity, and alternative to conventional media. Since the 1970s the fanzines scene clearly expanded, at different levels: thematically, graphically, but also in terms of territorial coverage and the kind of medium used. In this paper we present the preliminary results of an ongoing research on the emergence, development and transformation of punk, underground and do-it-yourself practices, in which the fanzines and, more recently, e-zines are interesting examples. This research was made in the context of a broader research project on the role, development and consolidation of the punk movement in Portugal, between 1977 to 2012. In this paper we came from a broader set of fanzines and e-zines associated with the Portuguese punk movement , produced over the past decades (particularly between 1990, 2000 and 2010), as well as qualitative analysis of interviews that have been conducted with some actors involved in the production and consumption of zines. We analyze some of the most relevant aspects related with the Portuguese punk fanzines' networks of production, distribution and consumption. The paper seeks to understand the fanzines' relevance (past and present) within the context of the punk / hardcore 'scenes' in Portugal, identify some of the main trends of evolution and change, establish some points of comparison with international studies of similar nature, in order to identify aspects of convergence, but also differentiation between punk fanzines and e-zines produced in Portugal and those produced in other countries

Selenium nanoparticles modulate histone methylation via lysine methyltransferase activity and S-adenosylhomocysteine depletion

At physiological levels, the trace element selenium plays a key role in redox reactions through the incorporation of selenocysteine in antioxidant enzymes. Selenium has also been evaluated as a potential anti-cancer agent, where selenium nanoparticles have proven effective, and are well tolerated in vivo at doses that are toxic as soluble Se. The use of such nanoparticles, coated with either serum albumin or the naturally occurring alkaline polysaccharide chitosan, also serves to enhance biocompatibility and bioavailability. Here we demonstrate a novel role for selenium in regulating histone methylation in ovarian cancer cell models treated with inorganic selenium nanoparticles coated with serum albumin or chitosan. As well as inducing thioredoxin reductase expression, ROS activity and cancer cell cytotoxicity, coated nanoparticles caused significant increases in histone methylation. Specifically, selenium nanoparticles triggered an increase in the methylation of histone 3 at lysines K9 and K27, histone marks involved in both the activation and repression of gene expression, thus suggesting a fundamental role for selenium in these epigenetic processes. This direct function was confirmed using chemical inhibitors of the histone lysine methyltransferases EZH2 (H3K27) and G9a/EHMT2 (H3K9), both of which blocked the effect of selenium on histone methylation. This novel role for selenium supports a distinct function in histone methylation that occurs due to a decrease in S-adenosylhomocysteine, an endogenous inhibitor of lysine methyltransferases, the metabolic product of methyl-group transfer from S-adenosylmethionine in the one-carbon metabolism pathway. These observations provide important new insights into the action of selenium nanoparticles. It is now important to consider both the classic antioxidant and novel histone methylation effects of this key redox element in its development in cancer therapy and other applications

Stimuli-responsive metal-directed self-assembly of a ring-in-ring complex

[Abstract] Concentration, temperature and/or solvent polarity control the speciation on the metal-directed self-assembly of a ditopic pyridyl ligand L with cis-protected Pd(II) metal centers. This results into a controllable dynamic system, involving a [Pd2L2]6+ metallacycle and a [Pd4L4]12+ ring-in-ring complex.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; CTQ-201341097-PXunta de Galicia; EM2014/05

Differential expression of long non-coding Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) genes in endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC): a pilot meta-analysis for pathological insights and potential diagnostic biomarker identification

Introduction: Endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas of the ovary are the most common subtypes of epithelial malignancy arising from endometriosis and are often termed endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinomas (EAOCs). There is a paucity of experimental evidence in the medical literature regarding the role of long non-coding ribonucleic acid (RNA) gene expression in the pathogenesis of these carcinomas. Purpose: There is a need to develop understanding of the pathogenesis of these carcinomas for neoplastic risk stratification in endometriosis and to develop novel diagnostic biomarkers. Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary, in particular, has a poor prognosis as a result of resistance to standard platinum-based chemotherapy. Methods: RNAseq datasets from EAOCs were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and compared with normal ovarian control sequences using a customized bioinformatic pipeline. Results: We found 88 differentially expressed non-coding RNA molecules present in both endometrioid and clear cell carcinoma types compared with controls. A further 117 were specifically differentially expressed in the endometrioid carcinoma group and 128 in clear cell carcinoma samples alone. Genes of interest for further study from the 88 shared set in both EAOC types include CASC9, RP4-561L24.3, SLC2A1-AS1, LUCAT1, XIST, CASC15, and MIR99AHG. These genes appear to influence ferroptosis as a common pathway. Conclusions: Alterations in the ferroptosis pathway may be a key event in development of EAOC in ovarian endometriosis patients. Further work is required to elucidate the function of the candidate RNA genes identified in this study by in-vitro, cell line and cultured organoid experiments. These candidate RNA gene biomarkers have potential clinical utility in early diagnosis, risk stratification of endometriosis, and post-surgical monitoring

Welsh Government Flying Start Programme Evaluation Using Linked Data

Introduction Flying Start (FS) is the Welsh Government’s (WG) flagship Early Years programme for families with children aged less than 4 years of age. Running since 2006, the four entitlements are: • Free part-time childcare for 2-3 year olds • Enhanced Health Visiting • Parenting support • Speech, language, and communication support Objectives and Approach Currently, while we know which areas in Wales are receiving FS support, individual-level data on which child received what entitlements is not available. This means that area-level outcomes can be used as proxy indicators but the individual impact of receiving FS support cannot be examined. This project describes the issues around collecting individual-level data in deprived Welsh regions, a pilot project to facilitate this collection and will report some emerging findings from the analysis of pilot data. Results Following from previous studies funded by the ESRC and WG (e.g. Supporting People Data Linking Feasibility Study), a Dataflow Development Project (DDP) has been launched to install Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) appliances into 6 pilot Local Authorities in Wales. The SAIL appliance technology will provide Local Authorities with the ability to link individual-level data within a Local Authority or between Local Authorities and to securely anonymise data into the SAIL Databank or ADRC-W. The DDP will test acquiring the individual level FS data from pilot Local Authorities into SAIL. The project aims to evaluate FS by linking the FS cohort to a range of outcomes including health, education and social care. We will report emerging findings from the analysis of pilot data. Conclusion/Implications There is grow interest in using linked administrative data to evaluate government initiatives, and mounting enthusiasm in Local Government. If successful, this model is likely to be adopted by related WG programmes; improving the evidence base, facilitating effective evaluation, and adding to the data available for re-use in Wales

Making waves : wastewater-based epidemiology for COVID-19 - approaches and challenges for surveillance and prediction

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the feces of infected patients and wastewater has drawn attention, not only to the possibility of fecal-oral transmission but also to the use of wastewater as an epidemiological tool. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted problems in evaluating the epidemiological scope of the disease using classical surveillance approaches, due to a lack of diagnostic capacity, and their application to only a small proportion of the population. As in previous pandemics, statistics, particularly the proportion of the population infected, are believed to be widely underestimated. Furthermore, analysis of only clinical samples cannot predict outbreaks in a timely manner or easily capture asymptomatic carriers. Threfore, community-scale surveillance, including wastewater-based epidemiology, can bridge the broader community and the clinic, becoming a valuable indirect epidemiological prediction tool for SARS-CoV-2 and other pandemic viruses. This article summarizes current knowledge and discusses the critical factors for implementing wastewater-based epidemiology of COVID-19