Garden of Literacies: ICDT Contributing to the Construction of New Realities for Digitally-Excluded Senior Citizens

This paper shows how digitally-excluded senior citizens use information and communication technologies (ICT) for the construction of new literacies in the digital convergence culture. The concept of literacies is related to how ICT can be used to expand ways people express themselves through different communication channels. This study lasted three years and involved 16 adults aged between 60 to 78 years. The results showed that they were able to insert themselves into the digital culture with a more critical and creative attitude. Also, during this study it was possible to identify four types of literacies: automatic, functional, conscious and contextual

Gestão Técnica de um Edifício de Serviços

Esta dissertação, enquadra-se na área da Gestão técnica centralizada ou Building Management Systems (BMS), procura reunir informação relevante acerca desta matéria evidenciando as suas potencialidades e questões técnicas a ter em conta. Este trabalho propõe a implementação de um projecto de BMS numa Escola Secundária da qual foram fornecidos elementos que conduziram ao levantamento de necessidades dos serviços de BMS a implementar. Actualmente, a utilização de sistemas de Gestão Técnica têm sido amplamente utilizados na construção de Edifícios, possuindo uma elevada integração com outros subsistemas. A função da Gestão Técnica é controlar um sistema que lhe seja integrado, esta tecnologia tem sido muito utilizada em Edifícios Comerciais em Portugal. No entanto, os sistemas que são aplicados a outros sistemas integrados podem ter problemas de comunicação, devido á multi-variedade que existe de componentes para esta área. O objectivo deste trabalho é a implementação de um Sistema de Gestão técnica num Edifício escolar, dando ênfase aos serviços e às suas interacções e chamando a atenção para os enormes potenciais em termos de valor acrescentado que é possível retirar destes conceitos. Apresentar noções fundamentais de integração, flexibilidade, adaptabilidade capacidade de oferecer um suporte eficaz à actividade das organizações sediadas no edifício. Para alcançar as informações de pesquisa, para este projecto, o autor irá obter dados de várias fontes. O método de elaboração deste trabalho pode ser classificados em duas partes. Primeira parte, recolha de informação e pesquisa de conhecimento na internet, artigos, livros de referência, cadernos técnicos e teses. Segunda parte, baseado em reflexão, estudo do caso do edifício proposto e alguns conhecimentos prévios.This dissertation relates to the area of Building Management Systems (BMS), seeks to gather relevant information on this matter indicating their potential and technical issues to consider. This work proposes the implementation of a BMS project in a high school which were supplied elements that led to the requirements of service needs to implement BMS. Currently, the application of BMS has been widely used in the construction of buildings, having a high integration with other subsystems. The function of the BMS is to control a system that can be integrated in one, this technology has been widely used in commercial buildings in Portugal. However, systems that are applied to other integrated systems may have communication problems, due to multi-component variety that exists in this market area. The aim of this work is the implementation of a BMS in a high school by focusing on the services and their interactions and pointing to the huge potential in terms added value that can be drawn from these concepts. Submit fundamental notions of integration, flexibility, adaptability, ability to provide effective support to the activities of organizations based in the building. To achieve the research information for this project, the author will get data from various sources. The method of preparation of this work can be classified into two parts. First part, collecting information and research knowledge on the internet, papers, reference books, white papers and dissertations. The second part, based on reflection, the case study of the proposed building and some prior knowledge

Increase of cooperation permitted by computers in a distance education environment

This article analyzes part of the results of a social research program developed along with neighborhood health agents of São Marcos and Santa Mônica in Campinas, state of São Paulo. It was a longitudinal study carried out over a period of a year and a half carried out throughout three phases: face-to-face, intermediary stage and pure distance work. In this article we solely discuss the activities during the face-to-face phase, whereby agents learnt how to use the computer and the TelEduc system. We opted to apply qualitative observation given that the main objective of this research was to identify Piaget's developmental stages within the context of the agents' capacity to understand tangible and intangible aspects of the technological universe. This relationship was possible when the subjects began to interact with basic elements of the computer and with TelEduc. After overcoming a state of anomia and understanding the tools that allowed a heteronomous attitude, agents used resources allowing them to enter a relationship of cooperation.O artigo contempla parte dos resultados de uma pesquisa-ação desenvolvida junto aos agentes de saúde dos bairros São Marcos e Santa Mônica, em Campinas-SP. Trata-se de pesquisa longitudinal, com duração de um ano e meio, envolvendo três fases: presencial, semipresencial e a distância. Aqui tratamos apenas das atividades ocorridas na fase presencial, nas quais os agentes começaram a aprender a utilizar o computador, e do TelEduc. Para tanto, optamos por uma observação qualitativa, já que o objetivo principal foi aferir os estágios de desenvolvimento de Piaget com a capacidade dos agentes em dominar as entidades tangíveis e intangíveis da informática (compreendem-se as entidades tangíveis como os elementos de hardware; e as entidades intangíveis, como os de software). Essa relação foi possível quando eles, de maneira presencial, começaram a interagir com os elementos básicos do computador e com o TelEduc. Após superarem a anomia e terem dominado as ferramentas que favoreceram posturas heterônomas, os agentes manipularam recursos que permitiram o começo de uma relação de cooperação.Este artículo contempla parte de los resultados de una investigación-acción desarrollada juntamente con los agentes de salud de los barrios Sao Marcos y Santa Mônica, Campinas/ Sao Paulo. Fue una investigación longitudinal, con duración de un año y medio, que constó de tres fases: Presencial, semipresencial y a distancia. En este artículo tratamos solamente de las actividades ocurridas en la fase presencial, en la cual los agentes comenzaron a aprender a utilizar el ordenador y TelEduc. Optamos por una observación cualitativa, ya que el objetivo principal fue asociar las tres fases de desarrollo piagetianas -anomia, heteronomia y cooperación - con la capacidad de los agentes de dominar las propiedades tangibles e intangibles de la informática. Esta asociación fue posible cuando ellos empezaron a interactuar con los elementos básicos del ordenador y del TelEduc. Después de superar la anomia y de dominar las herramientas qué favorecieran actitudes heterónomas, los agentes manipularon recursos que permitieron el comienzo de una relación de cooperación.42744

Transcriptomics of temperature-sensitive R gene-mediated resistance identifies a WAKL10 protein interaction network

© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Understanding temperature-sensitivity of R gene-mediated resistance against apoplastic pathogens is important for sustainable food production in the face of global warming. Here, we show that resistance of Brassica napus cotyledons against Leptosphaeria maculans was temperature-sensitive in introgression line Topas-Rlm7 but temperature-resilient in Topas-Rlm4. A set of 1,646 host genes was differentially expressed in Topas-Rlm4 and Topas-Rlm7 in response to temperature. Amongst these were three WAKL10 genes, including BnaA07g20220D, representing the temperature-sensitive Rlm7-1 allele and Rlm4. Network analysis identified a WAKL10 protein interaction cluster specifically for Topas-Rlm7 at 25 °C. Diffusion analysis of the Topas-Rlm4 network identified WRKY22 as a putative regulatory target of the ESCRT-III complex-associated protein VPS60.1, which belongs to the WAKL10 protein interaction community. Combined enrichment analysis of gene ontology terms considering gene expression and network data linked vesicle-mediated transport to defence. Thus, dysregulation of effector-triggered defence in Topas-Rlm7 disrupts vesicle-associated resistance against the apoplastic pathogen L. maculans.Peer reviewe

A model to prioritize access to elective surgery on the basis of clinical urgency and waiting time

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prioritization of waiting lists for elective surgery represents a major issue in public systems in view of the fact that patients often suffer from consequences of long waiting times. In addition, administrative and standardized data on waiting lists are generally lacking in Italy, where no detailed national reports are available. This is true although since 2002 the National Government has defined implicit Urgency-Related Groups (URGs) associated with Maximum Time Before Treatment (MTBT), similar to the Australian classification. The aim of this paper is to propose a model to manage waiting lists and prioritize admissions to elective surgery.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2001, the Italian Ministry of Health funded the Surgical Waiting List Info System (SWALIS) project, with the aim of experimenting solutions for managing elective surgery waiting lists. The project was split into two phases. In the first project phase, ten surgical units in the largest hospital of the Liguria Region were involved in the design of a pre-admission process model. The model was embedded in a Web based software, adopting Italian URGs with minor modifications. The SWALIS pre-admission process was based on the following steps: 1) urgency assessment into URGs; 2) correspondent assignment of a pre-set MTBT; 3) real time prioritization of every referral on the list, according to urgency and waiting time. In the second project phase a prospective descriptive study was performed, when a single general surgery unit was selected as the deployment and test bed, managing all registrations from March 2004 to March 2007 (1809 ordinary and 597 day cases). From August 2005, once the SWALIS model had been modified, waiting lists were monitored and analyzed, measuring the impact of the model by a set of performance indexes (average waiting time, length of the waiting list) and Appropriate Performance Index (API).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The SWALIS pre-admission model was used for all registrations in the test period, fully covering the case mix of the patients referred to surgery. The software produced real time data and advanced parameters, providing patients and users useful tools to manage waiting lists and to schedule hospital admissions with ease and efficiency. The model protected patients from horizontal and vertical inequities, while positive changes in API were observed in the latest period, meaning that more patients were treated within their MTBT.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The SWALIS model achieves the purpose of providing useful data to monitor waiting lists appropriately. It allows homogeneous and standardized prioritization, enhancing transparency, efficiency and equity. Due to its applicability, it might represent a pragmatic approach towards surgical waiting lists, useful in both clinical practice and strategic resource management.</p

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

BACKGROUND: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. METHODS: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. RESULTS: SVR24 rates were 46.1% (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1, 2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin

Coroa mortal: uma variação anatômica na origem da artéria obturatória/ Mortal crown: an anatomical variation in the origin of the obturator artery

Objetivo: O presente estudo tem como objetivo expor dados sobre uma variação anatômica da origem da artéria obturatória, denominada “Coroa Mortal”, encontrada numa peça cadavérica, proporcionando informações a fim de evitar acidentes durante as intervenções cirúrgicas na região inguinal. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizada uma dissecação anatômica, no laboratório de anatomia de uma instituição de ensino superior em Maceió, em uma hemipelve do sexo feminino, onde foi realizado o estudo morfológico e morfométrico, através do equipamento paquímetro, além do registro em fotografias. Resultados: ao invés de se comportar como ramo da própria artéria ilíaca interna ou da artéria epigástrica inferior, a mesma se originou diretamente da artéria ilíaca externa num tronco comum com a epigástrica inferior. Conclusões: Essa variação tem considerável relevância no momento cirúrgico, visto que vários acidentes vasculares são descritos na literatura durante a abordagem do saco herniário e durante o reforço da parede posterior do canal inguinal, acarretando em complicações hemorrágicas e óbit

Biallelic loss-of-function mutation in NIK causes a primary immunodeficiency with multifaceted aberrant lymphoid immunity

Primary immunodeficiency disorders enable identification of genes with crucial roles in the human immune system. Here we study patients suffering from recurrent bacterial, viral and Cryptosporidium infections, and identify a biallelic mutation in the MAP3K14 gene encoding NIK (NF- B-inducing kinase). Loss of kinase activity of mutant NIK, predicted by in silico analysis and confirmed by functional assays, leads to defective activation of both canonical and non-canonical NF- B signalling. Patients with mutated NIK exhibit B-cell lymphopenia, decreased frequencies of class-switched memory B cells and hypogammaglobulinemia due to impaired B-cell survival, and impaired ICOSL expression. Although overall T-cell numbers are normal, both follicular helper and memory T cells are perturbed. Natural killer (NK) cells are decreased and exhibit defective activation, leading to impaired formation of NK-cell immunological synapses. Collectively, our data illustrate the non-redundant role for NIK in human immune responses, demonstrating that loss-of-function mutations in NIK can cause multiple aberrations of lymphoid immunity