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Lately conspiracy theories (CT) are increasingly hovering over Education Studies, mostly as problems in search of a solution. This paper problematizes this educational solutionist discourse by reflecting critically on different framing of CT (i.e., epistemological and ethico-political) and some related educational responses, ranging from pre/debunking strategies to democratic discussion. In addition, Media Data Literacy Education (MDLE) is presented as a viable educational approach to address CT circulating online. The approach is empirically explored through an online workshop with a small group of social workers attending a course for socio-pedagogical educators at the University of Florence. A qualitative mixed methodology is used to explore the pedagogical relevance of the MDLE intervention in addressing the educational challenges posed by CT and to highlight a possible critical rethinking of participants on the CT and their data. Results suggests that participants see MDLE as a valid pedagogical strategy to guide different learners (adolescents, general public and themselves) in the critical evaluation of media (dis)information. In addition, although the workshop seems to have enhanced participants' critical thinking about mediatisation and datafication of CT further research is needed to develop and evaluate this pedagogical strategy, especially in relation to multiperspectival thinking and democratic discussions of CT in formal educational contexts.

Lately conspiracy theories (CT) are increasingly hovering over Education Studies, mostly as problems in search of a solution. This paper problematizes this educational solutionist discourse by reflecting critically on different framing of CT (i.e., epistemological and ethico-political) and some related educational responses, ranging from pre/debunking strategies to democratic discussion. In addition, Media Data Literacy Education (MDLE) is presented as a viable educational approach to address CT circulating onlife. The approach is empirically explored through an online workshop with a small group of social workers attending a course for socio-pedagogical educators at the University of Florence. A qualitative mixed methodology is used to explore the pedagogical relevance of the MDLE intervention in addressing the educational challenges posed by CT and to highlight a possible critical rethinking of participants on the CT and their data. Results suggests that participants see MDLE as a valid pedagogical strategy to guide different learners (adolescents, general public and themselves) in the critical evaluation of media (dis)information. In addition, although the workshop seems to have enhanced participants' critical thinking about mediatisation and datafication of CT further research is needed to develop and evaluate this pedagogical strategy, especially in relation to multiperspectival thinking and democratic discussions of CT in formal educational contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 has shown a relevant heterogeneity in spread and fatality among countries together with a significant variability in its clinical presentation, indicating that host genetic factors may influence COVID-19 pathogenicity. Indeed, subjects carrying single pathogenic variants of the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene - i.e. CF carriers - are more susceptible to respiratory tract infections and are more likely to undergo severe COVID-19 with higher risk of 14-day mortality. Given that CF carrier prevalence varies among ethnicities and nations, an ecological study in 37 countries was conducted, in order to determine to what extent the diverse CF carrier geographical distribution may have affected COVID-19 spread and fatality during the first pandemic wave. The CF prevalence in countries, as indicator of the geographical distribution of CF carriers, significantly correlated in a direct manner with both COVID-19 prevalence and its Case Fatality Rate (CFR). In a regression study weighted for the number of tests performed, COVID-19 prevalence positively correlated with CF prevalence, while CFR correlated with population percentage older than 65-year, cancer and CF prevalence. Multivariate regression model also confirmed COVID-19 CFR to be associated with CF prevalence, after adjusting for elderly, cancer prevalence, and weighting for the number of tests performed. This study suggests a putative contribution of population genetics of CFTR in understanding the spatial distribution of COVID-19 spread and fatality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A robust current control approach with disturbance cross-coupling compensation for permanent magnet synchronous motor drives (PMSM) is proposed in this paper. The proposed approach can enhance the reference tracking and provides a robust option for current control of PMSM drives. A discrete-time sliding mode current controller is proposed. The PMSM model includes the digital implementation delay, present due to the discrete-time algorithm execution. A discrete-time backstepping disturbance observer is developed, being combined to the sliding mode controller as a means to improve the robustness and tracking capability. The effects of coupling, parametric uncertainties and load disturbances are compensated by the backstepping disturbance observer. The stability analysis of the combined system is presented and the limits for overall system stability are discussed. Simulations and experimental results validate the combined scheme and demonstrate the good performance of the proposal. • The proposal includes the digital implementation delay in the problem formulation. • The proposed system is analyzed in the discrete-time domain. • Mitigation of the coupling effect in dq axes via the disturbance observer. • The proposed switching functions cross the sliding surface at each sampling period. • A simple structure suitable to nonlinear plants with mismatched uncertainties [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by articular cartilage degeneration, synovial inflammation, and subchondral bone thickening, affecting the synovial joint as an organ and leading to pain and disability. Subcutaneous stromal vascular fraction is safe and relieves pain, improves function, and repairs cartilage defects in patients with knee OA. Our goal is to describe step-by-step the arthroscopic treatment of mild to moderate knee OA with photo-stimulated stromal vascular fraction harvested from the thigh using a selective tissue engineering photo-stimulation ("One S.T.E.P.") technique. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant extracts have been fed as additives to domestic animals, but their effects on behavior are variable, although synergism between products is rarely explored. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of oregano (Origanum vulgare) and green tea (Camellia sinensis L.) extracts fed separately or associated as additives on behavior in lactating dairy cows. Thirty-two Holstein and Holstein-Gyr cows were distributed in 4 groups of 8 animals: control (CON) – without plant extracts; oregano extract (OR) – addition of 0.056% of oregano extract in the diet dry matter (DDM); green tea (GT) – addition of 0.028% of green tea extract in DDM; and mixture (MIX) – addition of 0.056% of oregano extract and 0.028% of green tea extract in DDM, following a randomized block design with time-repeated measurements. The trial lasted 58 days. There was no treatment by day interaction for any of the variables, but block by treatment interaction was significant for eating time. In Holstein cows, GT and OR decreased eating time compared with cows in CON. Compared to CON, OR reduced eating rate, while GT increased time spent standing and the number of social interaction events between cows. There were not additive effects of feeding extracts associated, except for rumination time and the number of non-agonistic interactions. Cows in MIX spent less time ruminating compared with cows in GT and engaged more non-agonistic events compared with cows in OR. Cows in MIX tended to have more drinking bouts than cows in GT and OR, and tended to eat less feed than cows in GT. Oregano and green tea extracts did not disturb feeding behavior, feed intake and milk production when fed separately to lactating dairy cows. When oregano and green tea extracts were fed associated, cows tended to reduce feed intake and resting time, and decreased ruminating time. Therefore, its association is not recommended. Considering their potential benefits evidenced in other studies on health, redox status and mitigation of methane emissions, as well as the absence of negative effects on feed intake, behavior and milk production, oregano and green tea extract may be used separately for lactating cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) Ala16Val single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has shown to be associated to risk factors of vascular diseases. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) plays an essential role in the plasticity and neuronal regeneration of the brain after vascular injuries. However, little is known about interaction between MnSOD Ala16Val SNP on stroke, a frequent neurologic disease that involves various interacting pathways, such as vascular dysfunctions, inflammation, and neurotrophic factors. In this sense, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between MnSOD Ala16Val SNP with BDNF levels on stroke and also its influence on nitrosative stress, inflammatory, apoptotic, and DNA damage parameters. For this, 88 subjects were investigated, 44 subjects poststroke and 44 healthy controls. Questionnaires were applied to clinical characteristics and after laboratorial exams were collected. We analyzed levels of oxidative/nitrosative stress, inflammatory, apoptotic, and DNA damage markers. We showed a higher proportion of VV genotype in poststroke as compared to healthy subjects. Nitrite/nitrate, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, Caspase 3 (CASP 3) and 8 (CASP 8) activation, Acethylcholinesterase (AChE), and Picogreen levels were higher in VV poststroke group, as well as BDNF and ACh levels were lower in VV and AV poststroke. We may suggest that V allele carries a worse outcome profile after stroke, relating to nitrosative stress, inflammatory, and apoptotic response. These events associated to a BDNF reduction, probably, contribute to the appearance or reincidence of stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]