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Universities are rethinking their teaching and research programs and their whole third mission in response to the framework provided by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But how do universities walk the talk? What are the main strategies and activities undertaken by universities to implement the 2030 Agenda? While the higher education literature has documented the growing number of practices and strategies around SDGs, there have been few attempts to synthesize these scholarly resources. Moreover, the knowledge base revolves around an array of activities, which makes the literature seem fragmented. To fill this gap, the present paper conducts a systematic literature review and derives a method of categorizing activities that can support further knowledge growth. We classified 130 selected papers based on the type of university activities considered (research, teaching, third mission, and managing operations) and the level of the implemented action (macro, meso, and micro). Subsequently, we identified the main gaps in the literature and discussed future research avenues for addressing higher education's role in accomplishing SDGs.

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most important human virus transmitted by mosquitos. Dengue pathogenesis is characterized by a large induction of proinflammatory cytokines. This cytokine induction varies among the four DENV serotypes (DENV1 to 4) and poses a challenge for live DENV vaccine design. Here, we identify a viral mechanism to limit NF-κB activation and cytokine secretion by the DENV protein NS5. Using proteomics, we found that NS5 binds and degrades the host protein ERC1 to antagonize NF-κB activation, limit proinflammatory cytokine secretion, and reduce cell migration. We found that ERC1 degradation involves unique properties of the methyltransferase domain of NS5 that are not conserved among the four DENV serotypes. By obtaining chimeric DENV2 and DENV4 viruses, we map the residues in NS5 for ERC1 degradation, and generate recombinant DENVs exchanging serotype properties by single amino acid substitutions. This work uncovers a function of the viral protein NS5 to limit cytokine production, critical to dengue pathogenesis. Importantly, the information provided about the serotype-specific mechanism for counteracting the antiviral response can be applied to improve live attenuated vaccines.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar os resultados preliminares em médio prazo (até 6 meses) do uso isolado ou em combinação com a cirurgia de catarata do dispositivo XEN® Gel Stent na população brasileira. Métodos Realizou-se um estudo longitudinal retrospectivo de olhos portadores de glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto consecutivamente submetidos à cirurgia de implante de XEN® Gel Stent isolada (Grupo XEN®) ou em combinação com a cirurgia de catarata (Grupo Faco-XEN®) no mesmo centro entre abril e dezembro de 2023. Analisou-se a capacidade de redução da pressão intraocular e da quantidade de medicamentos hipotensores oculares, além das intercorrências intra e pós-operatórias. O critério de sucesso foi pressão intraocular < 18 mmHg e pelo menos 20% de redução da pressão intraocular pré-operatória (sucesso absoluto: sem medicação; sucesso relativo: com ou sem medicação). Avaliou-se ainda a duração do procedimento cirúrgico ao longo da curva de aprendizado. Resultados Foram incluídos 37 olhos no estudo (15 no Grupo Faco-XEN® e 22 no Grupo XEN®). A pressão intraocular média reduziu de 19,35 mmHg, no pré-operatório, para 13,05 mmHg, ao fim do acompanhamento (p < 0,001). Já a quantidade de medicamentos caiu de 2,95 para 0,22 por olho, no mesmo período (p < 0,001). A maioria dos pacientes (83%) chegou ao fim do acompanhamento livres de colírios. Não houve diferenças entre os dois grupos em relação à capacidade de redução pressórica e dos colírios. A taxa de sucesso absoluto foi de 81,2 e 86,7% nos Grupos XEN® e Faco-XEN®, respectivamente (p = 0,532). Seis olhos apresentaram falência da bolha e necessitaram de reintervenção cirúrgica. Houve uma redução significativa do tempo de cirurgia ao longo do acompanhamento. Conclusão O dispositivo XEN® Gel Stent foi efetivo, tanto em cirurgia isolada quando combinada, em reduzir a pressão intraocular e a quantidade de medicamentos, com elevado perfil de segurança na população brasileira.

The collection and use of Sargassum spp. as feedstock for the production of valuable products such as biomethane by anaerobic digestion (AD) would mitigate the negative impact of the blooms and the costs related to waste management in the Dominican Republic. In this work, the effect of the particle size of pelagic Sargassum spp. biomass, as a result of mechanical pretreatments, on the biomethanation was determined. The granulometric analysis of the mechanically pre-treated biomass was carried out using a Mastersize2000. The Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) of the samples was determined using an Automatic Potential System Test II (AMPTS® II). The kinetic parameters of the reaction were scientifically evaluated by using First order kinetic Model and modified Gompertz Model. The granulometric analysis showed a monomodal distribution on crushed biomass (505 µm) and a bimodal distribution on the milling sample (107 µm). The bimodal biomass means the biomass is characterized by the presence of fine and large particles. We observed that BMP increased by 78.85% when particles were reduced from 50,000 µm to 505 µm and by 73.61% when particles were reduced from 50,000 µm to 107 µm. A low methane yield from the milling biomass (107 µm) compared to the crushed biomass (505 µm) could be related to the excessive reduction of particle size. The fine particles are subject to the formation of aggregates and consequently, the contact area between the algae cells and the microorganisms that operate the anaerobic digestion process decreases.

The variability of solar photovoltaic (PV) power output, driven by rapidly changing cloud dynamics, hinders the transition to reliable renewable energy systems. Information on future sky conditions, especially cloud coverage, holds the promise for improving PV output forecasting. Leveraging recent advances in generative artificial intelligence (AI), we introduce SkyGPT, a physics-constrained stochastic video prediction model, which predicts plausible future images of the sky using historical sky images. We show that SkyGPT can accurately capture cloud dynamics, producing highly realistic and diverse future sky images. We further demonstrate its efficacy in 15-minute-ahead probabilistic PV output forecasting using real-world power generation data from a 30-kW rooftop PV system. By coupling SkyGPT with a U-Net-based PV power prediction model, we observe superior prediction reliability and sharpness compared with several benchmark methods. The propose approach achieves a continuous ranked probability score (CRPS) of 2.81 kW, outperforming a classic convolutional neural network (CNN) baseline by 13% and the smart persistence model by 23%. The findings of this research could aid efficient and resilient management of solar electricity generation, particularly as we transition to renewable-heavy grids. The study also provides valuable insights into stochastic cloud modeling for a broad research community, encompassing fields such as solar energy meteorology and atmospheric sciences.

RESUMO O presente artigo é uma atualização sobre os principais conceitos, as técnicas, os equipamentos, as lentes e as utilidades do exame de gonioscopia, com foco principal na sua importância para as novas terapias antiglaucomatosas: trabeculoplastia seletiva a laser e cirurgias angulares. Se faz necessária esta revisão e atualização por se tratar de um exame imprescindível para a prática diária do oftalmologista, consolidando o conhecimento necessário para realizá-lo e pelo crescente uso da gonioscopia nas novas terapias antiaglaucomatosas.

Resumo Fundamento: Os ensaios clínicos demonstraram a segurança da Edoxabana, um anticoagulante oral não dependente de vitamina K (NOAC), e a sua eficácia na prevenção de acidente vascular cerebral e embolia sistémica em pacientes com fibrilação atrial não valvar (FANV) e também na prevenção e tratamento de tromboembolismo venoso. No entanto, pesquisas adicionais são necessárias para avaliar a segurança e a eficácia da Edoxabana em um cenário real na população brasileira. Objetivo: A fim de compreender os riscos e benefícios do uso da Edoxabana em cenários clínicos de rotina, o estudo EdoBRA está sendo conduzido para obter informações sobre a segurança e eficácia do uso da Edoxabana em pacientes não pré-selecionados com FANV no Brasil. Métodos: O estudo EdoBRA é um estudo multicêntrico, prospectivo e observacional, realizado em 36 centros no Brasil. São elegíveis para este estudo pacientes com FANV, ≥ 18 anos de idade, tratados com Edoxabana disponível comercialmente, que iniciaram o tratamento por pelo menos 14 dias e não mais do que 90 dias antes da data de inclusão no estudo, e que não estão participando de nenhum outro estudo de intervenção. Ao todo, 700 pacientes devem ser inscritos e acompanhados por um ano, com coletas de dados programadas para o período basal e 3, 6 e 12 meses após a inscrição no estudo. O objetivo primário de segurança é o sangramento clinicamente relevante (de acordo com critérios da Sociedade Internacional de Trombose e Hemostasia - ISTH), e o objetivo secundário de eficácia são desfechos cardiovasculares relevantes relacionados à FANV. Conclusão: O estudo observacional EdoBRA gerará informações adicionais relevantes sobre a Edoxabana enquanto NOAC em diversos aspectos do manejo de pacientes no atendimento clínico de rotina, como perfil de segurança e efetividade em pacientes com FANV no Brasil.

Abstract Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an opportunistic pathogen causing a variety of infections that are difficult to treat, especially because of the development of antimicrobial resistance. It has a clonal distribution around the world. To have a better understanding of the MRSP population, we search the presence of MRSP in colonized or infected dogs. Samples from 99 dogs with infections and 35 from asymptomatic dogs were collected. Isolates were identified by mass spectrometry and Multiplex-PCR. The mecA gene was confirmed by conventional PCR. MRSP strains were analyzed by whole-genome sequencing. 75 S. pseudintermedius were identified, most from infection cases. The species were isolated from 70 out of the 135 dogs. Penicillin and Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole presented higher resistance rates. Forty-seven strains were classified as multi-drug resistant (MDR), and were more isolated from dogs with infection (P

O presente trabalho descreve a experiência da Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí (FMJ) na construção de novos indicadores de gestão da avaliação institucional, para além dos indicadores de processos educacionais estabelecidos pelo Sistema Nacional de Avaliação da Educação Superior (SINAES), elaborado pela Comissão Nacional de Avaliação da Educação Superior (CONAES). Sua construção se deu conforme o modelo de gestão do Balanced Scorecard (BSC) e adequados ao Modelo de Excelência de Gestão (MEG®) da Fundação Nacional da Qualidade (FNQ). O desenvolvimento e a análise desse processo levaram em consideração o impacto dos índices de avaliação das instituições de ensino superior, e a geração de um conjunto de indicadores amplamente discutidos pela comunidade acadêmica e posteriormente traduzidos em propostas de ação, que passaram a integrar o planejamento estratégico da instituição, fortalecendo o processo de mudança vivenciado pelo curso.

Abstract Background Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) is slowly but steadily being implemented in all phases of clinical research. As part of the European project “Building Data Rich Clinical Trials” a survey was launched to investigate the knowledge, experiences and opinions on this topic of clinicians and researchers from seven European clinical and non-clinical centers (Cancer Core Europe). Methods An invitation to take part in a cross-sectional web survey was sent to 199 clinicians and researchers working in the field of precision oncology. The questionnaire was developed ad hoc because no existing questionnaires met the purpose of this study. The analysis takes account of whether respondents had experience on PPI or not. Results On a total of 101 respondents, this survey reveals that 76.2% of them knew about PPI before answering the questionnaire, 54.5% had experience in the previous five years and 86.1% were interested in a training course on this topic. PPI knowledge grew together with career seniority (peak of 86.5% for established career professionals), while the group most interested in a course was the early-career professionals (100.0%). Finally, the majority of respondents stated they had no training or education on PPI (67.3% of experienced and 82.6% of not-experienced respondents). Conclusions This survey shows that most cancer researchers knew the term PPI, even if only a little more than half of them had any relative experience. Opinions on PPI benefits, negative effects, barriers and requirements differed between the groups of PPI experienced and not-experienced respondents, showing that experience itself can influence respondents’ opinions. Most of respondents reported they would prefer a training course based on practical rather than theoretical tools.

Background: Attention optimizes the selection of visual information, while suppressing irrelevant visual input through cortical mechanisms that are still unclear. We set to investigate these processes using an attention task with an embedded to-be-ignored interfering visual input. Objective: We delivered electrical stimulation to attention-related brain areas to modulate these facilitatory/inhibitory attentional mechanisms. We asked whether overtly training on a task while being covertly exposed to visual features from a visually identical but different task tested at baseline might influence post-training performance on the baseline task. Methods: In Experiment one, at baseline subjects performed an orientation discrimination (OD) task using a pair of gratings presented at individual's psychophysical threshold. We then trained participants over three-day separate sessions on a temporal order judgment task (TOJ), using the exact same gratings but presented with different time offsets. On the last post-training session we re-tested OD. We coupled training with transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) over the parietal cortex, the human middle temporal area or sham, in three separate groups. In Experiment two, subjects performed the same OD task at baseline and post-training, while tRNS was delivered at rest during the same sessions and stimulation conditions as in Experiment one. Results: Results showed that tRNS over parietal cortex facilitated learning of the trained TOJ task. Moreover, we found a detrimental effect on the untrained OD task when subjects received parietal tRNS coupled with training (Experiment one), but a benefit on OD when subjects received stimulation while at rest (Experiment two). Conclusions: These results clearly indicate that task-irrelevant information is actively suppressed during learning, and that this prioritization mechanism of selection likely resides in the parietal cortex.

Abstract Background Cognitive deficits arise with age and can increase the risk for subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which may result in dementia, leading to health problems, care dependency and institutionalization. Computer-based cognitive interventions (CCIs) have the potential to act as important counteraction functions in preserving or improving cognition concomitant to available pharmacological treatment. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of CCIs performed individually with a personal or tablet computer, game console, virtual, augmented, or mixed reality application on cognition in community-dwelling people with SCD, MCI and dementia. Methods A systematic review with meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed. The systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, IEEE Xplore Digital Library, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO. In addition, a search for gray literature and backward citation searching were carried out. To judge on the evidence, two reviewers independently used the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The standardized mean difference (SDM) for pooling comparable studies using the random-effects model was applied. Results Twenty-four RCTs were identified, of which 1 RCT examined CCIs in individuals with SCD, 18 RCTs with MCI, and 6 RCTs with dementia. Most interventions were conducted with personal computers. Meta-analyses with 12 RCTs showed significant effects of computer-based cognitive interventions for people with MCI in the domains memory, working memory, attention/concentration/processing speed and executive functioning, but no significant improvements in global cognition and language. Regarding dementia a meta-analysis pooled with 4 RCTs demonstrated a tendency towards, but no significant increase of memory functions (SMD 0.33, CI 95% [-0.10, 0.77]). One RCT regarding SCD reported significant improvements in memory functions for participants conducting a cognitive training on a personal computer. Conclusions The results demonstrated that CCIs have beneficial effects on domain-specific cognition in people with MCI but no significant effects on people with dementia. In terms of SCD, one study showed significant improvements in memory functions. It seems that the beneficial effect for cognitive preservation or improvement due to CCIs occurs at the earliest intervention state. However, more research on SCD is needed. Trial registration PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CDR42020184069.

Between NISQ (noisy intermediate scale quantum) approaches without any proof of robust quantum advantage and fully fault-tolerant quantum computation, we propose a scheme to achieve a provable superpolynomial quantum advantage (under some widely accepted complexity conjectures) that is robust to noise with minimal error correction requirements. We choose a class of sampling problems with commuting gates known as sparse IQP (Instantaneous Quantum Polynomial-time) circuits and we ensure its fault-tolerant implementation by introducing the tetrahelix code. This new code is obtained by merging several tetrahedral codes (3D color codes) and has the following properties: each sparse IQP gate admits a transversal implementation, and the depth of the logical circuit can be traded for its width. Combining those, we obtain a depth-1 implementation of any sparse IQP circuit up to the preparation of encoded states. This comes at the cost of a space overhead which is only polylogarithmic in the width of the original circuit. We furthermore show that the state preparation can also be performed in constant depth with a single step of feed-forward from classical computation. Our construction thus exhibits a robust superpolynomial quantum advantage for a sampling problem implemented on a constant depth circuit with a single round of measurement and feed-forward.

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a percepção e as atitudes da população brasileira a respeito dos cuidados e da atenção com a saúde ocular. Métodos Realizou-se um estudo transversal. A amostra foi aleatória e calculada para ser representativa da população brasileira. A coleta dos dados foi feita por empresa especializada em levantamentos populacionais, por meio de contato telefônico, por equipe treinada. O questionário foi estruturado com perguntas objetivas sobre os hábitos com a saúde ocular dos entrevistados. Todas as entrevistas foram gravadas e revisadas. Resultados A população de estudo foi de 2.132 pessoas. O perfil da amostra foi semelhante ao da população brasileira. Entre os entrevistados, 11,4% nunca tinham ido ao oftalmologista, 35% só o procuravam quando havia algum sintoma ocular ou visual, e 29,5% foram ao oftalmologista há mais de 2 anos. Pouco mais da metade dos entrevistados (55,8%) declarou ter algum problema de visão, e a miopia foi autodeclarada por quase metade dos entrevistados (43,2%), com proporção ainda maior nos jovens e naqueles com maior escolaridade. Dos entrevistados, 11,0% relataram já ter comprado óculos de grau sem prescrição médica, e 9,8% faziam ou já tinham feito uso de colírios sem prescrição médica, com proporção mais elevada nos autodeclarados indígenas e naqueles com menor escolaridade. Catarata e glaucoma apareceram como os problemas visuais mais frequentes na população acima de 50 anos. O tabagismo foi o principal fator de risco para o autodeclarado problema visual. Conclusão Obteve-se, nesta pesquisa, um retrato dos hábitos com relação à saúde ocular da população brasileira, que aponta para uma realidade em que parte dos brasileiros nunca foi ao oftalmologista e fazia uso de óculos e colírios sem a devida prescrição médica. Identificaram-se, ainda, os grupos populacionais mais propensos para problemas visuais e as populações mais vulneráveis e com maior dificuldade de acesso ao oftalmologista.

Este artigo apresenta os resultados parciais da pesquisa de mestrado desenvolvida no PPGDesign da UFPE, cujo objetivo foi mapear a cadeia produtiva das joias de território do Pará com sementes amazônicas visando contribuir para o fortalecimento e a sustentabilidade do setor joalheiro local. O método foi adaptado do Modelo de Análise da Cadeia Produtiva do Artesanato proposto pelo Laboratório de Design O Imaginário/UFPE, para coletar informações sobre a identificação da matéria-prima, dos processos produtivos e do acesso ao mercado. A pesquisa de cunho qualitativo contou com a participação voluntária de designers cadastrados no Programa Polo Joalheiro/Pará; representantes do IGAMA e da Embrapa, sendo os primeiros resultados, indicativos de fragilidades nas etapas iniciais de fabricação. Os produtores dependem dos atravessadores para coleta e beneficiamento da matéria prima, no entanto, a Embrapa-PA já dispõe de um método eficaz para o tratamento das sementes, ainda não praticado pelos produtores locais.

Renewable energy forecasting is crucial for integrating variable energy sources into the grid. It allows power systems to address the intermittency of the energy supply at different spatiotemporal scales. To anticipate the future impact of cloud displacements on the energy generated by solar facilities, conventional modeling methods rely on numerical weather prediction or physical models, which have difficulties in assimilating cloud information and learning systematic biases. Augmenting computer vision with machine learning overcomes some of these limitations by fusing real-time cloud cover observations with surface measurements acquired from multiple sources. This Review summarizes recent progress in solar forecasting from multisensor Earth observations with a focus on deep learning, which provides the necessary theoretical framework to develop architectures capable of extracting relevant information from data generated by ground-level sky cameras, satellites, weather stations, and sensor networks. Overall, machine learning has the potential to significantly improve the accuracy and robustness of solar energy meteorology; however, more research is necessary to realize this potential and address its limitations.

Post-Renaissance ceramics (XVI–XIX) obtained in the Emilia Romagna region (north of Italy) demonstrate the difficulty in correctly identifying two different main types of artifacts: (i) enamel terracotta (or majolica) and (ii) glazed engobed terracotta (or mezza-majolica). This problem arises from the fact that the two different artifacts have the same shape, mixture, and even the same decoration in terms of color and style. Based only on macroscopic observation, the distinction between majolica and mezza-majolica could be problematic. This study aims to propose an immediate identification of the finds by diagnostic investigations to achieve identification of the type of coating applied. Different kinds of archeological finds were collected during a restoration of an important building in the city center of Faenza, Italy, and were analyzed by optical transmitted light polarized microscopy on thin sections, scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDS), and colorimetry analysis. The results identified two types of clayey material; one was Fe enriched carbonate clay and the other had Fe enriched non carbonate clay used in the production of the ceramic artifact. The analysis also distinguishes the different techniques by which the artifacts were produced, either by single firing or by double firing.