Prototyping an app to assist game-based activities: co-design using a qualitative approach

Qualitative approaches have gained prominence in the scientific community being important to develop studies that use them, namely to assist prototyping stages. This article seeks to contribute to the deepening of knowledge in the field of cataloging and evaluating educational games and describes the process of designing an application's wireframes. This allowed the gathering of the app’s functional requirements, using a qualitative methodological approach through co-design: a focus group of eight experts from different fields such as geography, sociology, science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics was constituted. Considering the Communicative Design Paradigm and the Octalysis gamification model, the functional requirements were grouped, after analysis, into six domains – Games, News, Interaction, User, Evaluation and Language. The prototype design emerged from this process enabling the design of 47 wireframes.in publicatio

Development of an injectable PHBV microparticles-GG hydrogel hybrid system for regenerative medicine

Uncontrollable displacements that greatly affect the concentration of active agents at the target tissues are among a major limitation of the use of microparticulate drug delivery systems (DDS). Under this context a biphasic injectable DDS combining poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) microparticles (MPs) and a gellan gum (GG) injectable hydrogel is herein proposed for the localized delivery and long-term retention of MPs carrying hydrophilic and hydrophobic model active agents. A double emulsion-solvent evaporation method was adopted to develop the PHBV MPs, carrying bovine serum albumin (BSA) or dexamethasone (Dex) as hydrophilic and hydrophobic active agents’ models, respectively. Moreover, this method was modified, together with the properties of the hydrogel to tailor the delivery profile of the active agents. Variations of the composition of the organic phase during the process allowed tuning surface topography, particle size distribution and core porosity of the PHBV MPs and, thus, the in vitro release profile of Dex but not of BSA. Besides, after embedding hydrogels of higher GG concentration led to a slower and more sustained release of both active agents, independently of the processing conditions of the microparticulate system.The authors would like to acknowledge the Project RL1 - ABMR - NORTE-01-0124-FEDER-000016 co-financed by North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work was partially supported by European Research Council grant agreement ERC-2012-ADG 20120216-321266 for project ComplexiTE

Molecular analysis of c-Kit and PDGFRA in GISTs diagnosed by EUS

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are characterized by overexpression and mutations of c-Kit. Approximately 80% of c-Kit mutations occur in exon H, being a response factor to imatinib (Gleevec) therapy. Mutations of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-a (PDGFRA) are observed in a subset of GISTs lacking c-Kit mutations. We aimed to assess whether c-Kit and PDGFRA mutation analysis of GISTs obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) could be routinely performed. Mutation analysis of c-Kit hotspot exons (9, 11, 13, and 17) and PDGFRA hotspot exons (12 and 18) was performed in aspirates of 33 GISTs and 18 non-GIST mesenchymal tumors. Of the GIST cases, 19 (58%) of 33 contained a mutation in exon 11, 1 (3%) in exon 9, and none in exons 13 and 17. No activating c-Kit mutations were identified in non-GIST cases. No PDGFRA mutation was detected. Mutation analysis is possible in these FNA cell blocks and can assist in the diagnosis and therapeutic decisions in GIST cases.Supported in part by NOVARTIS Oncologyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Jahr i Potter: slučajne sličnosti?

With the science of survival article and lately the book “bridge to the future” Potter became famous releasing the neologism “bioethics” and then known as the founder of bioethics. However, 43 years before, Jahr had proposed a similar idea in the article “Bio-ethics: reviewing the ethical relations of humans towards animals and plants (translated from German)”. We propose to correct the idea that Jahr is merely a precursor—and not a founder—of bioethics, here speculating the bridge bioethics of Rensselaer Potter as close similarity with Jahr’s thoughts. Following the “content analysis” method, a table was built to compare the theoretical schemes of Potter and Jahr, correlating by qualitative meta-analysis, each paragraph of Jahr’s base text (1927) with Potter’s analogous (1970). The similarity of the texts reveals that, in theory, Potter benefited from Jahrist utopia, imposing it a reductionist lineage. Potter expresses, therefore, an ethnological capture of jahrism.Člankom o znanosti preživljavanja, a kasnije i knjigom „Most prema budućnosti“, Potter je postao slavan upotrijebivši neologizam „bioetika“ i nakon toga poznat kao osnivač bioetike. Međutim, 43 godine prije Jahr je imao sličnu ideju i iznio je u članku „Bioetika: preispitivanje etičkih odnosa ljudi prema životinjama i biljkama (prevedeno s njemačkog)“. U radu predlažemo ispravljanje ideje da je Jahr samo preteča, a ne osnivač bioetike. Razmatramo bioetiku mosta Rensselaera Pottera kao vrlo sličnu Jahrovim mislima. Metodom „analize sadržaja“ napravljena je tablica koja uspoređuje teorijske sheme Pottera i Jahra, korelirajući kvalitativnom metaanalizom svaki odlomak Jahrova temeljnog teksta (1927.) s Potterovim analognim tekstom (1970.). Sličnost tekstova otkriva da je Potter, u teoriji, imao koristi od Jahrove utopije, namećući joj redukcionističko podrijetlo. Potter, prema tome, izražava etnološki vid jahrizma

Assessment of solar driven TiO2-assisted photocatalysis efficiency on amoxicillin degradation

The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of a solar TiO2-assisted photocatalytic process on amoxicillin (AMX) degradation, an antibiotic widely used in human and veterinary medicine. Firstly, solar photolysis of AMX was compared with solar photocatalysis in a compound parabolic collectors pilot scale photoreactor to assess the amount of accumulated UV energy in the system (Q (UV)) necessary to remove 20 mg L-1 AMX from aqueous solution and mineralize the intermediary by-products. Another experiment was also carried out to accurately follow the antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli DSM 1103 and Staphylococcus aureus DSM 1104 and mineralization of AMX by tracing the contents of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), low molecular weight carboxylate anions, and inorganic anions. Finally, the influence of individual inorganic ions on AMX photocatalytic degradation efficiency and the involvement of some reactive oxygen species were also assessed. Photolysis was shown to be completely ineffective, while only 3.1 kJ(UV) L-1 was sufficient to fully degrade 20 mg L-1 AMX and remove 61 % of initial DOC content in the presence of the photocatalyst and sunlight. In the experiment with an initial AMX concentration of 40 mg L-1, antibacterial activity of the solution was considerably reduced after elimination of AMX to levels below the respective detection limit. After 11.7 kJ(UV) L-1, DOC decreased by 71 %; 30 % of the AMX nitrogen was converted into ammonium and all sulfur compounds were converted into sulfate. A large percentage of the remaining DOC was in the form of low molecular weight carboxylic acids. Presence of phosphate ions promoted the removal of AMX from solution, while no sizeable effects on the kinetics were found for other inorganic ions. Although the AMX degradation was mainly attributed to hydroxyl radicals, singlet oxygen also plays an important role in AMX self-photosensitization under UV/visible solar light

Influence of PLLA/PCL/HA scaffold fiber orientation on mechanical properties and osteoblast behavior

Scaffolds based on aligned and non-aligned poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA)/polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers obtained by electrospinning, associated to electrosprayed hydroxyapatite (HA) for tissue engineering applications were developed and their performance was compared in terms of their morphology and biological and mechanical behaviors. The morphological results assessed by scanning electron microscopy showed a mesh of PLLA/PCL fibers (random and perfectly aligned) associated with aggregates of nanophased HA. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry confirmed the homogeneity in the blends and the presence of nanoHA in the scaffold. As a result of fiber alignment a 15-fold increase in Young’s Modulus and an 8-fold increase in tensile strength were observed when compared to non-aligned fibers. In PLLA/PCL/HA scaffolds, the introduction of nanoHA caused a remarkable improvement of the mechanical strength of this material acting as a reinforcement, enhancing the response of these constructs to tensile stress. In vitro testing was evaluated using osteoblast (MC3T3-E1) cells. The results showed that both fibrous scaffolds were able to support osteoblast cell adhesion and proliferation and that fiber alignment induced increased cellular metabolic activity. In addition, the adhesion and proliferation of Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated and a lower number of colony forming units (CFUs) was obtained in the scaffolds with aligned fibers.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine in alkaline media promoted by iron tetrapyridinoporphyrazine adsorbed on graphite surface

The electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine was studied using an ordinary pyrolytic graphite electrode modified with iron tetrapyridinoporphyrazine complex (FeTPyPz), employing cyclic voltammetry and rotating disk electrode techniques. Analyses of the voltammograms recorded at different potential scan rates and the polarization curves at different electrode rotation rates showed that the reaction of electrooxidation of hydrazine on FeTPyPz occurs via 4-electrons with the formation of N2 as main product. The kinetic parameters suggest that the second electron transfer step is rate controlling. The activity of FeTPyPz depends on its Fe(II)/Fe(I) formal potential and fits well in a volcano plot that includes several iron phthalocyanines, indicating that such formal potential is a good reactivity index for these complexes

Process enhancement at near neutral pH of a homogeneous photo-Fenton reaction using ferricarboxylate complexes: Application to oxytetracycline degradation

This work demonstrates the application at near neutral pH of a photo-Fenton reaction mediated by ferricarboxylates on the treatment of aqueous solutions containing the antibiotic Oxytetracycline (OTC) under solar irradiation. The formation of a Fe:OTC complex after Fe2+ oxidation to Fe3+, in the presence of H2O2, showed the inconvenience of using the conventional Fe2+/H2O2/UV-Vis process at near neutral pH levels, as the complex is retained in the filter. To overcome this, a Fe3+/Oxalate/UV-Vis or Fe3+/Citrate/H2O2/UV-Vis process was proposed. The higher tendency of Fe3+ to form complexes with carboxylates avoids the formation of Fe:OTC complexes and allows for proper OTC detection along reaction times. The photo-Fenton process itself is improved by the extension of the iron solubility to higher and more practical pH values, by the increase of the quantum yield of Fe2+ production and by presenting stronger radiation absorption at wavelengths up to 580 nm. In this way, process efficiency was evaluated for different variables such as Fe3+ concentration, pH, temperature and irradiance, using a compound parabolic collector (CPC) photoreactor at lab-scale under simulated solar radiation. Reaction rates were compared in the presence of different inorganic anions and humic acids, and in two different real wastewater matrixes. Results obtained in a CPC pilot-scale plant under natural solar light, using an iron/oxalate molar rati

Efectos de diferentes prácticas de preparación del terreno y fertilización sobre el crecimiento inicial del Pinus spp en el NE argentino

Se presentan los resultados de crecimiento obtenidos, a los seis meses de efectuada la plantación, cuyos objetivos son evaluar la respuesta de Pinus taeda L. y de Pinus elliottii E. frente a diversas prácticas de establecimiento en el noreste de la provincia de Corrientes, Argentina. Sobre un Kandiudalf se evaluó la respuesta del Pinus taeda a la aplicación de 0, 22.5 y 45 g de N pl-1; 0, 45 y 90 g P2O5 pl-1 y 0, 36 y 72 g K2O pl-1 . Se observaron diferencias estadísticas entre las distintas dosis de N, de P y la interacción de NxK. La aplicación de fósforo se tradujo en un efecto positivo, mientras que la aplicación de nitrógeno muestra una tendencia inversa. También se evaluó la respuesta del Pinus taeda y Pinus elliottii, implantados en sitios con drenaje deficiente preparados mediante rastra y camellones, en los cuales fueron aplicados, además, 0, 100 y 200 g pl-1 de NPK 15-30-12. Los mayores crecimientos se presentaron cuando ambas especies fueron implantadas en camellones. Para el Pinus taeda se detectó una tendencia positiva ante la aplicación del fertilizante.Growth results of two experiments, obtained six months after plantation are presented. The objective was to evaluate the response of Pinus taeda L. and Pinus elliottii E. under different silvicultural treatments in Corrientes, northeastern Argentina. Response of Pinus taeda, applying 0, 22.5 and 45 g N pl-1; 0, 45 and 90 g P2O5 pl-1; also 0,36 and 72 g K2O pl-1, on Kandiudalf soil was evaluated. Statistical differences were observed between N, P and NxP interaction. P doses had a positive effect, while N doses presented a negative effect. Response of Pinus taeda and Pinus elliottii on deficient drainage sites prepared with disk ploughs or mounding with applications of NPK 15-30-12, at 0, 100 and 200 g pl-1 to both species was also evaluated. The best growth results were obtained when both species were planted on moundings. A positive trend was detected in Pinus taeda when fertilizer was applied.EEA MontecarloFil: Fernandez, Roberto Anibal. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; ArgentinaFil: Rodríguez Aspillaga, F. Productos Tissue S.A.; ArgentinaFil: Lupi, Ana María. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; ArgentinaFil: Hernández, A. Productos Tissue S.A.; ArgentinaFil: Reis, H. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; Argentin