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The present study addresses the impact of multimodal complexity in the transmission of a dance exercise. This study examined what kind of temporal correspondence favors the clarity of a teaching instruction in the context of a dance class. From an autoethnographic perspective, we describe a real learning situation in which a teacher marks (bodily demonstration and verbal counting) a movement exercise for a dancer. We analyze (microanalysis) the components of this marking, considering the model of the visual spatial indicator and the zero velocity and the prosodic components of the voice. It was hypothesized that when the emphasis of the movement and the emphasis of the voice are synchronized in phase this favors the clarity of the instruction. Seventy-five participants - dancers; musicians; non-musicians-non-dancers - evaluated dance exercises (audiovisual clips) with different modes of synchronization between voice and movement following two testing strategies. We found that in-phase exercise markings are significantly easier to follow and understand than when they are not. The work aims to show that a neglect in the multimodal organization of the instruction can generate distortion (noise) between the conceptualization and the perception of the message, putting at risk the result of the communication.

Increasingly, immigration policies are understood as structural determinants, rooted in racism, nativism, and ethnocentrism, which raise serious public health concerns for Latinx adolescents' mental health. Our objective was to examine how immigration policy enforcement affects mental health of Latinx youth raised in a county with an aggressive interior immigration enforcement program. From 2009 to 2021, Gwinnett County, GA, led the nation in deportations under the 287(g) program as a "universal enforcement model," where local law enforcement were deputized to detain undocumented immigrants, primarily through traffic violations. From June to July 2022, we followed a participatory action research approach with two groups of Latinx youth who grew up in Gwinnett County. In total, 10 youth took photos related to the research question, and engaged in facilitated dialogue using photovoice guide SHOWED/VENCER for four, 2-hour sessions that were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed following grounded theory principles to arrive at a conceptual model codeveloped and validated by youth. Youth described how 287(g) led to policing and deportation in their communities, fueling stereotypes, and discrimination that criminalized Latinx immigrants. Youth linked immigration enforcement policies like 287(g) to exclusionary systems that contributed to fear, marginalization, and loss in their communities, bringing experiences of sadness, grief, isolation, hopelessness, and low self-worth. From youth-driven research, we identified mental health implications of the 287(g) program among Latinx youth. The cascading harms of immigration enforcement policies highlight the need to address these policies and identify immediate strategies to promote Latinx youth mental health.

O lodo gerado em estações de tratamento de água (ETA) tem cerca de 97% de umidade (valor que varia de acordo com as características do sistema de tratamento), sendo considerado um resíduo sólido de acordo com a Lei n. 12.305/2010, que prevê como primeira ordem de prioridade para os resíduos a redução, seguida do reuso e da reciclagem. A redução do volume do lodo pode ser realizada através do desaguamento, usando sistemas naturais ou mecânicos. Entre os sistemas naturais, o leito de drenagem (LD) se mostrou promissor em vários estudos que promoveram esse processo com distintos teores de sólidos totais (%ST), avaliando a eficiência do sistema de LD em ensaios submetidos a condições iniciais muito distintas. Neste trabalho, avaliou-se a influência do %ST do lodo bruto em drenagens submetidas a condições iniciais controladas, analisando-se a influência da variação do %ST em leitos com a mesma altura de lodo e as mesmas taxas de aplicação de sólidos (TAS). Utilizou-se o sistema gravimétrico para a medição das vazões nos ensaios, e também foram realizadas medidas de pH, turbidez e cor aparente para mensurar a qualidade dos drenados. Verificou-se que leitos com maiores %ST submetidos a mesma TAS, apesar de apresentarem menores vazões, terminaram suas drenagens em menos tempo. Também se verificou que o volume drenado é inversamente proporcional ao %ST do lodo bruto. Não foi observada uma relação direta entre o %ST e os valores de cor aparente e turbidez, evidenciando que a qualidade do líquido drenado foi independente do %ST do lodo bruto.

Smartphones are widely used among high school students nowadays. With their constant use of this technology, they have become more dependent on it. This study assessed the extent of smartphone utilisation and the academic performance of the 195 junior high school students at a public national high school. Respondents were identified using stratified random sampling and were asked to answer a survey questionnaire assessing their smartphone utilisation during their math classes while their performance in the subject was determined using their First Quarter grades. The data gathered were treated using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that the respondents had very satisfactory performance and they often use their smartphones during their math classes. Smartphone utilisation has a negative negligible correlation with the student's academic performance in Mathematics. Furthermore, Smartphone utilisation has no significant relationship between the respondents' math performance. Hence, teachers are encouraged to monitor students' use of gadgets during their math classes.

Abstract Objective Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD and BMD) are dystrophinopathies caused by variants in DMD gene, resulting in reduced or absent dystrophin. These conditions, characterized by muscle weakness, also manifest central nervous system (CNS) comorbidities due to dystrophin expression in the CNS. Prior studies have indicated a higher prevalence of epilepsy in individuals with dystrophinopathy compared to the general population. Our research aimed to investigate epilepsy prevalence in dystrophinopathies and characterize associated electroencephalograms (EEGs) and seizures. Methods We reviewed 416 individuals with dystrophinopathy, followed up at three centers between 2010 and 2023, to investigate the lifetime epilepsy prevalence and characterize EEGs and seizures in those individuals diagnosed with epilepsy. Associations between epilepsy and type of dystrophinopathy, genotype, and cognitive involvement were studied. Results Our study revealed a higher epilepsy prevalence than the general population (1.4%; 95% confidence interval: 0.7–3.2%), but notably lower than previously reported in smaller dystrophinopathy cohorts. No significant differences were found in epilepsy prevalence between DMD and BMD or based on underlying genotypes. Cognitive impairment was not found to be linked to higher epilepsy rates. The most prevalent epilepsy types in dystrophinopathies resembled those observed in the broader pediatric population, with most individuals effectively controlled through monotherapy. Interpretation The actual epilepsy prevalence in dystrophinopathies may be markedly lower than previously estimated, possibly half or even less. Our study provides valuable insights into the epilepsy landscape in individuals with dystrophinopathy, impacting medical care, especially for those with concurrent epilepsy.

Abstract Background Early-stage invasive ductal carcinoma displays high survival rates due to early detection and treatments. However, there is still a chance of relapse of 3–15% after treatment. The aim of this study was to uncover the distinctive transcriptomic characteristics and monitoring prognosis potential of peritumoral tissue in early-stage cases. Methods RNA was isolated from tumoral, peritumoral, and non-tumoral breast tissue from surgical resection of 10 luminal early-stage invasive ductal carcinoma patients. Transcriptome expression profiling for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identification was carried out through microarray analysis. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathways enrichment analysis were explored for functional characterization of identified DEGs. Protein-Protein Interactions (PPI) networks analysis was performed to identify hub nodes of peritumoral tissue alterations and correlated with Overall Survival and Relapse Free Survival. Results DEGs closely related with cell migration, extracellular matrix organization, and cell cycle were upregulated in peritumoral tissue compared to non-tumoral. Analyzing PPI networks, we observed that the proximity to tumor leads to the alteration of gene modules involved in cell proliferation and differentiation signaling pathways. In fact, in the peritumoral area were identified the top ten upregulated hub nodes including CDK1, ESR1, NOP58, PCNA, EZH2, PPP1CA, BUB1, TGFBR1, CXCR4, and CCND1. A signature performed by four of these hub nodes (CDK1, PCNA, EZH2, and BUB1) was associated with relapse events in untreated luminal breast cancer patients. Conclusions In conclusion, our study characterizes in depth breast peritumoral tissue providing clues on the changes that tumor signaling could cause in patients with early-stage breast cancer. We propose that the use of a four gene signature could help to predict local relapse. Overall, our results highlight the value of peritumoral tissue as a potential source of new biomarkers for early detection of relapse and improvement in invasive ductal carcinoma patient’s prognosis.

Abstract Background Gastrointestinal cancers represent one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. Strikingly, the incidence of Early Onset Gastrointestinal Cancer (EOGIC) has been rising during the last decades and changes in lifestyle and environmental exposure seem to play a role. EOGIC has been defined as a different entity compared to on-average gastrointestinal cancer, with distinct clinical and molecular characteristics. Inherent to the particularities of younger age, there is an unmet need for a tailored approach for the management of these patients. The TEOGIC proposes a comprehensive study to characterize EOGIC patients in the northern of Spain. Methods Patients with histologically confirmed new diagnosis of colorectal, gastroesophageal and pancreatic adenocarcinoma will be considered for two cohorts: EOGIC (≤ 50 years old) and non-EOGIC (60–75 years old), with a ratio of 1:2. Two hundred and forty patients will be recruited in 4 Public Hospitals from northern Spain. After receiving unified informed consent, demographic and clinical data of the patients will be collected in a REDCap database. Lifestyle related data will be obtained in questionnaires assessing diet, physical activity and the general quality of life of the patients before diagnosis. Biological samples prior to any onco-specific treatment will be obtained for the analyses of circulating inflammatory proteins, gut microbiota, and the proteome of the tumor microenvironment. Histologic characteristics and routine biomarkers will be also collected. Thereafter, data will be integrated and analyzed to assess tumor specific, pan-tumor and sex-associated differential characteristics of EOGIC. Discussion The underlying risk factors and differential characteristics of EOGIC remain poorly studied, particularly in our geographical area. Although limited by the exploratory nature and the small sample size estimated to be recruited, TEOGIC represents the first attempt to comprehensively characterize these young patients, and thus attend to their special needs. Findings derived from this study could contribute to raise awareness and preventive behaviors in the population. In parallel, molecular studies could lead to the identification of potential novel non-invasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets that would help in the development of the tailored clinical management of these patients, focusing on screening programs for early diagnosis and precision medicine.

The progressive increase in HIV infection among older adults requires constant research and monitoring, given that geriatric syndromes associated with HIV comorbidities have become an important public health problem. We reported this systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), and it has a central question: Is the incidence of cognitive impairment higher in older patients living with HIV than in their seronegative peers? The following databases were searched for this review: MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria were studies whose samples were ≥ 50% patients aged ≥ 50 years, with and without HIV, and a main outcome related to the incidence of cognitive impairment. Only cohort studies with follow-up lasting ≥ 24 months were considered. Three reviewers independently screened the documents for eligibility criteria, extracted the data, assessed the risk of bias (Newcastle-Ottawa Scale), and evaluated the quality of evidence. A narrative synthesis was prepared. In total, 10 798 trials were screened, 8884 were excluded, 14 were analyzed, and 5 were included in this review. Only 1 applied cognitive assessment tests; the rest used secondary data from the medical records. Most found that the incidence of cognitive disorders was higher among older people living with HIV, which highlights the need for public policies aimed at primary and secondary prevention strategies. Further research from other countries is still required. PROSPERO register (CRD42022321914).

Abstract Introduction Blinding is a methodologically important aspect in randomised controlled trials yet frequently overlooked in trials of spinal manual therapy interventions for back pain. To help inform the blinding methods of a future, double-placebo-controlled trial comparing spinal manual therapy and nerve root injection for lumbosacral radicular pain, we set four objectives: (1) to assess the feasibility of blinding participants, randomly allocated to an active or placebo-control spinal manual therapy intervention protocol, (2) to assess the feasibility of blinding outcome assessors within the trial, (3) to explore the influence of spinal manual therapy experience and low back pain on blinding, and (4) to explore factors contributing to perceptions about intervention assignment among participants and outcome assessors. Methods and analysis Two-parallel-group, single-centre, placebo-controlled, methodological blinding feasibility randomised trial. We will recruit between 60 and 100 adults with or without back pain and with or without experience of spinal manual therapy from Zurich, Switzerland. Participants will be randomised to either an active spinal manual therapy or a placebo-control spinal manual therapy protocol—both interventions delivered over two study visits, up to two weeks apart. The primary outcome is participant blinding using the Bang blinding index within each intervention arm immediately after each of the two study visits. Secondary outcomes are participant blinding using the James blinding index, outcome assessor blinding (Bang and James blinding indices), self-reported factors influencing perceived intervention assignment among participants and outcome assessors, and participant-reported credibility and expectancy of study interventions. Other outcomes—included to blind the study objective from participants—are lumbar spine range of motion, self-rated general health, satisfaction with care, pain intensity, and function. Intervention provider outcomes include intervention component fidelity and quality of intervention delivery. Ethics and dissemination The independent ethics commission of Canton Zurich granted ethical approval for this study (KEK 2023–00381). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Findings will be disseminated in scientific conferences and a peer-reviewed publication and inform the blinding methods of a future double-placebo controlled trial comparing spinal manual therapy and nerve root injection for lumbosacral radicular pain—the SALuBRITY trial. Trial registration NCT05778396.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe how smartphone applications can contribute to the management of epilepsy in children and adolescents. Data source: This is an integrative review conducted on the Medline, PubMed, and SciELO databases, based on the descriptors “epilepsy” and “smartphone.” Original studies published between 2017–2023 in Portuguese or English that addressed the research question were included. Theses and dissertations, duplicate studies, literature reviews, and studies that did not answer the research question were excluded. Data synthesis: A total of 178 studies were located, of which six were selected for this review. The sample included 731 participants (631 children and adolescents with epilepsy and 100 caregivers). The applications allow for the collection of seizure frequency; timing and type of crisis; reminders for medication administration; and information about sleep quality. They can store these data for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and users to monitor the progress of the condition. Conclusions: The use of applications in managing seizures in children and adolescents with epilepsy shows promising results by promoting continuous and personalized monitoring. Further studies are needed to optimize beneficial outcomes and overcome challenges.

Optical fiber tapers have been widely proposed and demonstrated as reliable optical fiber structures for sensing, lasers, and supercontinuum generation applications. This paper proposes an innovative approach to fabricating optical fiber tapers using plasma as the heat source. From our literature review, and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that plasma has been used as the heat source for producing optical fiber tapers. The system is not intricate and simple to replicate. Moreover, the elements involved make this machine attractive to research groups devoted to optical fibers. The setup consistently generates robust biconical optical fiber tapers. A typical waist of ∼8 μm and taper lengths ranging from 3 to 15 mm are achieved. Our results showed tapers with interference fringes up to 12 dB, from 1465 nm to 1599 nm. Furthermore, the statistical evaluation presented demonstrates a good level of reproducibility in our tapering process.

Background: Switching between therapies is a recommended strategy for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients who experience treatment failure; however, studies including real-life data are scarce. Objectives: To assess the incidence rate (IR) of switching between biologics and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) due to inefficacy in PsA, and to compare the risk of switching due to inefficacy across different b/tsDMARDs groups. Design: A longitudinal retrospective study, spanning from 2007 to 2022, was conducted on patients with PsA treated with b/tsDMARDs at an outpatient rheumatology clinic. Methods: The primary outcome was switching between b/tsDMARDs due to inefficacy. The independent variable was the exposure to b/tsDMARDs during follow-up. As covariates, clinical, treatment-related, and sociodemographic variables were considered. Survival techniques were run to estimate the IR of switching due to inefficacy per 100 patients*year and confidence interval at 95% (95% CI). Cox multivariate regression analyses were run to assess the risk of b/tsDMARDs switching due to inefficacy, expressed as hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI. Results: In all, 141 patients were included, with 893.09 patients*year follow-ups. 52.48% of them were females in their fifties. In total, 262 courses of treatment were recorded. During the study period, 56 patients presented 121 switches and 103 related to inefficacy (IR: 11.53 (9.51–13.98)). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors (TNFi) showed the lowest IR. In the bivariate analysis, all b/tsDMARDs had more risk of switching compared to TNFi (HR: anti-lL-17 vs TNFi: 2.26 (1.17–4.36); others vs TNFi: 3.21 (1.59–6.45)); however, this statistical significance was no longer present in the multivariate analysis once adjustments were made for the covariates. Still, the final model achieved statistical significance in the following variables: gender, clinical symptoms, prescription year, therapy courses, glucocorticoids, and sulfasalazine. Conclusion: In this study, we did not find differences in the rate of switching due to inefficacy among different groups of b/tsDMARDs. Other concomitant treatments, sociodemographic, and clinical variables were identified as risk factors for switching due to inefficacy.

Resumo de Iniciação Científica

Este artículo presenta un estudio que tiene como objetivo demostrar la ecuación de continuidad en su forma diferencial e integral a través de un prototipo de trabajo práctico experimental. El alcance del estudio abarca la aplicación de vectores y busca desarrollar capacidades, habilidades, destrezas, actitudes y valores relacionados con la obtención, interpretación y procedimiento de la información. La metodología utilizada es cualitativa y descriptiva, involucrando la revisión de documentos, libros y revistas para establecer generalidades. Los resultados más importantes revelan la eficacia y confiabilidad del prototipo para la demostración de la ecuación de continuidad. Se destaca la utilidad del trabajo práctico en la interpretación de contenidos de mecánica de fluidos, siendo relevante para investigadores, docentes y estudiantes de diversas disciplinas como Zeledón, Pérez, Laguna, Herrera-Castrillo. Use of information and communication technologies to reduce food waste Ingeniería, Física y Matemáticas. Las principales conclusiones establecen la importancia de vincular asignaturas y aplicar enfoques multidisciplinarios en el estudio de las ciencias exactas y aplicadas. Se resalta la relevancia de la ecuación de continuidad en la comprensión de los fenómenos relacionados con los fluidos y se enfatiza la necesidad de seguir desarrollando prototipos y métodos prácticos para facilitar su enseñanza y aprendizaje.

Analytical detection methods play a pivotal role in scientific research, enabling the identification and quantification of specific analytes in various disciplines. This scientific report aims to compare two very different methodologies for determining the Molecular Mass (MM, also known as Molecular Weight, MW) of proteins: electrophoresis gel and the Interferometric Optical Detection Method (IODM). For this purpose, several proteins with different MM were selected.The electrophoresis technique was employed to validate the structure and MM of different parts or fragments of the Matrix Metallopeptidase 9 antibody (anti-MMP9), antibody against S100 calcium binding protein A6 (anti-S100A6) and Cystatin S4 antibody (anti-CST4) by examining the presence of bands with expected sizes. The IODM was applied to study the above-mentioned proteins (part of the antibodies) together with the protein G, as a reference to correlate the MM and protein sizes with the measured signal.We report the evidence of IODM as a competitive analytical approach for the determination of the MM of proteins for the first time. This innovative method allows for accurate MM determination using minimal sample volumes and concentrations, employing a simple experimental procedure that eliminates the requirement for protein denaturation.