bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of fluid responsiveness using pulse pressure variation, stroke volume variation, plethysmographic variability index, central venous pressure, and inferior vena cava variation in patients undergoing mechanical ventilation: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chaves Renato Carneiro de Freitas , Barbas Carmen Silvia Valente , Queiroz Veronica Neves Fialho , Serpa Neto Ary , Deliberato Rodrigo Octavio , Pereira Adriano José , Timenetsky Karina Tavares , Silva Júnior João Manoel , Takaoka Flávio , de Backer Daniel , Celi Leo Anthony , Corrêa Thiago Domingos
Published: August 2024

Importance

Maneuvers assessing fluid responsiveness before an intravascular volume expansion may limit useless fluid administration, which in turn may improve outcomes.

Objective

To describe maneuvers for assessing fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients.

Registration

The protocol was registered at PROSPERO: CRD42019146781.

Information sources and search

PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, SCOPUS, and Web of Science were search from inception to 08/08/2023.

Study selection and data collection

Prospective and intervention studies were selected.

Statistical analysis

Data for each maneuver were reported individually and data from the five most employed maneuvers were aggregated. A traditional and a Bayesian meta-analysis approach were performed.

Results

A total of 69 studies, encompassing 3185 fluid challenges and 2711 patients were analyzed. The prevalence of fluid responsiveness was 49.9%. Pulse pressure variation (PPV) was studied in 40 studies, mean threshold with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) = 11.5 (10.5–12.4)%, and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) with 95% CI was 0.87 (0.84–0.90). Stroke volume variation (SVV) was studied in 24 studies, mean threshold with 95% CI = 12.1 (10.9–13.3)%, and AUC with 95% CI was 0.87 (0.84–0.91). The plethysmographic variability index (PVI) was studied in 17 studies, mean threshold = 13.8 (12.3–15.3)%, and AUC was 0.88 (0.82–0.94). Central venous pressure (CVP) was studied in 12 studies, mean threshold with 95% CI = 9.0 (7.7–10.1) mmHg, and AUC with 95% CI was 0.77 (0.69–0.87). Inferior vena cava variation (∆IVC) was studied in 8 studies, mean threshold = 15.4 (13.3–17.6)%, and AUC with 95% CI was 0.83 (0.78–0.89).

Conclusions

Fluid responsiveness can be reliably assessed in adult patients under mechanical ventilation. Among the five maneuvers compared in predicting fluid responsiveness, PPV, SVV, and PVI were superior to CVP and ∆IVC. However, there is no data supporting any of the above mentioned as being the best maneuver. Additionally, other well-established tests, such as the passive leg raising test, end-expiratory occlusion test, and tidal volume challenge, are also reliable.
Comparative analysis of phosphorylated proteomes between plerocercoid and adult Spirometra mansoni reveals phosphoproteomic profiles of the medical tapeworm
Authors: Liu Yong Yan , Wang Rui Jie , Ru Si Si , Gao Fei , Liu Wei , Zhang Xi
Published: August 2024

Background

Plerocercoid larvae of the tapeworm Spirometra mansoni can infect both humans and animals, leading to severe parasitic zoonosis worldwide. Despite ongoing research efforts, our understanding of the developmental process of S. mansoni remains inadequate. To better characterize posttranslational regulation associated with parasite growth, development, and reproduction, a comparative phosphoproteomic study was conducted on the plerocercoid and adult stages of S. mansoni.

Methods

In this study, site-specific phosphoproteomic analysis was conducted via 4D label-free quantitative analysis technology to obtain primary information about the overall phosphorylation status of plerocercoids and adults.

Results

A total of 778 differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were detected between adults and plerocercoids, of which 704 DAPs were upregulated and only 74 were downregulated. DAPs involved in metabolic activity were upregulated in plerocercoid larvae compared with adults, whereas DAPs associated with binding were upregulated in adults. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) analyses indicated that most DAPs involved in signal transduction and environmental information processing pathways were highly active in adults. DAPs upregulated in the plerocercoid group were enriched mainly in metabolic activities. The kinases PKACA, GSK3B, and smMLCK closely interact, suggesting potential active roles in the growth and development of S. mansoni.

Conclusions

The dataset presented in this study offers a valuable resource for forthcoming research on signaling pathways as well as new insights into functional studies on the molecular mechanisms of S. mansoni.

Graphical abstract
mRNA vaccines in tumor targeted therapy: mechanism, clinical application, and development trends
Authors: Gao Yu , Yang Liang , Li Zhenning , Peng Xueqiang , Li Hangyu
Published: August 2024

Malignant tumors remain a primary cause of human mortality. Among the various treatment modalities for neoplasms, tumor vaccines have consistently shown efficacy and promising potential. These vaccines offer advantages such as specificity, safety, and tolerability, with mRNA vaccines representing promising platforms. By introducing exogenous mRNAs encoding antigens into somatic cells and subsequently synthesizing antigens through gene expression systems, mRNA vaccines can effectively induce immune responses. Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their great contributions to mRNA vaccine research. Compared with traditional tumor vaccines, mRNA vaccines have several advantages, including rapid preparation, reduced contamination, nonintegrability, and high biodegradability. Tumor-targeted therapy is an innovative treatment modality that enables precise targeting of tumor cells, minimizes damage to normal tissues, is safe at high doses, and demonstrates great efficacy. Currently, targeted therapy has become an important treatment option for malignant tumors. The application of mRNA vaccines in tumor-targeted therapy is expanding, with numerous clinical trials underway. We systematically outline the targeted delivery mechanism of mRNA vaccines and the mechanism by which mRNA vaccines induce anti-tumor immune responses, describe the current research and clinical applications of mRNA vaccines in tumor-targeted therapy, and forecast the future development trends of mRNA vaccine application in tumor-targeted therapy.
Cardioembolic stroke in Chagas disease: unraveling the underexplored connection through a systematic review
Authors: Vásconez-González Jorge , Miño Camila , Izquierdo-Condoy Juan S. , Salazar-Santoliva Camila , López-Cortés Andrés , Ortiz-Prado Esteban
Published: August 2024

Background

Chagas disease (CD), triggered by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, is originally endemic across Latin America, affecting millions. While cardiac complications are widely recognized, the association between CD and stroke remains underexplored. This systematic review aims to elucidate the relationship between CD and stroke, highlighting the cardioembolic origins of stroke in CD patients and assessing the elevated stroke risk compared to non-infected individuals.

Methodology

Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed and Scopus databases without date restrictions, including articles in both Spanish and English. This approach enabled the identification and analysis of relevant studies to understand the interplay between CD and stroke risk.

Results

Our analysis of 25 selected studies indicates that strokes in CD patients predominantly arise from cardioembolic sources. The data underscore a significant increase in stroke risk among individuals infected with T. cruzi compared to uninfected counterparts. Additionally, CD patients face a higher stroke and mortality risk than those with other heart failure etiologies, irrespective of disease severity.

Conclusion

The review establishes CD as a critical contributor to stroke incidence, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and diagnosis of CD in stroke patients, particularly in regions with high CD prevalence. Recognizing the increased stroke risk associated with T. cruzi infection is crucial for developing targeted educational and preventive strategies in endemic areas.
Approach to the Paediatric Patient With Suspected Pheochromocytoma or Paraganglioma Versus Neuroblastoma
Authors: Hendriks A Emile J , Burns Charlotte , Fleming Ben , Harper Ines , Hook Elizabeth , Armstrong Ruth , Pamporaki Christina , Eisenhofer Graeme , Murray Matthew J , Casey Ruth T
Published: August 2024

Catecholamine-producing tumors of childhood include neuroblastic tumors, phaeochromocytoma, and paraganglioma (PPGL). PPGL and neuroblastic tumors can arise in similar anatomical locations and clinical presentations can overlap, resulting in diagnostic challenges. Distinguishing between these tumor types is critical as management and long-term surveillance strategies differ depending on the diagnosis. Herein we describe 2 clinical cases and illustrate key considerations in the diagnostic workup of a neuroblastoma vs PPGL for patients presenting with adrenal, pelvic, and retroperitoneal masses in childhood.
Impact of tango on Parkinson's disease - a narrative review
Authors: Muzyk Magdalena , Duda Weronika , Mrowczyk Patrycja , Nowoświat Patrycja , Bado Michał , Goncerz Michał , Bilecki Krzysztof , Bednarczyk Paulina , Pilawska Sandra Agnieszka , Maślankiewicz Maria , Malaka Ewa Katarzyna
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a fast-growing neurodegenerative condition caused by the deficiency of dopamine (Bloem et al., 2021).  Main symptoms include tremor, bradykinesia, muscular rigidity and postural instability (Ye et al., 2023). Although PD treatment primarily involves pharmacotherapy, physical activity-based treatments such as tango dance can improve the quality of life of patients.
Aim of the study: This narrative review aims to assess the impact of the therapeutic benefits of tango dance therapy for people with PD.
Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed database up to 2024. The review included randomised controlled trials, case reports, and pilot studies focused on the impact of tango on PD.
Results: Several studies have evaluated the impact of tango on patients with PD. Some of them found that tango improves dynamic balance and walking, reduces the risk of falling, improves body awareness, stability, and emotional well-being among patients with PD.
Conclusions: The impact of tango on PD is not yet conclusively documented, and further research is needed.
Understanding the Pathophysiology of Atopic Dermatitis – insights into Immune Dysregulation and Skin Barrier Dysfunction
Authors: Kucharska Maja , Kwiliński Kacper , Wawrzyńska Barbara , Cąkała Marlena , Kruszewski Adrian , Paduszyńska Natalia , Dąbrowska Anna , Przybysz Paulina , Szyszka Monika
Published: August 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by a disrupted skin barrier and immune dysregulation. The exact pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis despite extensive research remains complex. It includes genetic disorders, a defect in the epidermal barrier, an altered immune response, and disruption of the skin’s microbial balance. Recent advances in research have provided deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms including the role of filaggrin mutations, Th2 cytokine-mediated inflammation, and the skin microbiome. Understanding the intricate interplay between these components is crucial for developing targeted therapeutic strategies.
Aim of the study: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AD, highlighting recent advances and areas for future research.
Material and methods: Comprehensive literature searches were performed across the main electronic databases of PubMed and GoogleScholar using the keywords: “atopic dermatitis”, “eczema pathophysiology”, “skin barrier”.
Conclusions: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a complex, chronic inflammatory skin disease with a multifaceted pathophysiology involving genetic, immunological, and environmental factors. Recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying AD have highlighted the importance of skin barrier dysfunction, immune system dysregulation, and microbial interactions in the disease's progression.
The role of supplementation in traumatic brain injury among athletes and non-athletes population
Authors: Pilawska Sandra Agnieszka , Bado Michał , Goncerz Michał , Nowoświat Patrycja , Bilecki Krzysztof , Bednarczyk Paulina , Malaka Ewa Katarzyna , Duda Weronika , Muzyk Magdalena , Maślankiewicz Maria
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most common causes of death and long-term disability. The consequences following TBI can be persistent and cause life-long implications for survivors. Treatment of TBI may be complex and involve large monetary costs. The frequent injury mechanisms are traffic-related, falls, violence or sport-related accidents. Higher risk of brain injury and its complications indicate that people affected by brain trauma may benefit from the prophylactic and post-traumatic use of certain supplements both in the context of physical performance and in the event of potential injury. 
Aim of the Study: This narrative review examines the current literature of the role of supplementation before and after TBI and its effects on the patient's outcome. 
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive search was performed using PubMed and Google Scholar focusing on the literature published up to April 2024. The review included randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, systematic reviews that focused on the use of creatine monohydrate, omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium and zinc in TBI and among the general population. Data of pathophysiology and epidemiology of TBI and safety profile of supplements were involved.
Results: The evidence indicates that the role of supplementation with creatine, omega-3 PUFAs and zinc is important in mitigating secondary damage after TBI, as well as in protecting against damage if administered before injury.
Conclusion: Because of the complex and multifactorial nature of the TBI more studies are required to constitute an effective nutrition-based strategy for reducing the cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with this injury. The evidence supporting multiple dietary components to improve a patient's outcome seems strong and the cost of its implementation is low. A group of particular interest that may benefit additionally are athletes who use dietary supplementation in their daily routine.
Neurological complications of infective endocarditis - a review
Authors: Stanicki Paweł , Szarpak Julita , Pażyra Aldona , Kusak Natalia , Żak Natalia , Jaworska Barbara
Published: August 2024

Introduction and purpose
Infective endocarditis (IE) is a disease resulting from infection of the endocardium. In addition to cardiac symptoms, frequent complications of IE include various damage to the nervous system.
The aim of this study is to describe the current state of knowledge about the neurological complications of infective endocarditis.
 
Methods
Medical publications were reviewed using the "PubMed" and "Google Scholar" databases. The obtained results were verified in terms of the following criteria: publication in 2016, retrospective analysis, obtaining 44 papaers covering a total of 8067 patients. The information was supplemented with case reports and meta-analyses.
 
Description of the state of knowledge
Neurologic complications occur in 20 to 60% of patients with IE. The most common is ischemic stroke, the symptoms of which may precede the diagnosis of IE. Less common complications that often remain asymptomatic include mycotic aneurysms and intracranial hemorrhages. Infectious material entering the brain may also cause meningitis and brain abscess. However, these complications do not occur often. Magnetic resonance imaging of the head is an effective test for detecting neurological damage in the course of IE. The recommendation for routine use of this test is debatable. In addition to antibiotic therapy, cardiac surgery is used to treat IE to remove bacterial vegetation. Research indicates the high effectiveness of this type of surgery in the prevention and treatment of neurological complications of infective endocarditis.
Review of Cerium-based Catalysts and Eco-Friendly Oxidants for Chlorine-Free Benzaldehyde Production via Selective Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol
Authors: Bathula Ganesh Babu , Gopal N.O. , Chelimela Narsaiah , Kurra Mohan , goud S. Sharat kumar , Nimma Rameshwar , Mavurapu Satyanarayana , SB Jonnalagadda , Vasam Chandra Sekhar
Published: August 2024

This review article describes the designing and aptness of diverse range of cerium-based catalysts for the oxidation of benzyl alcohols (Bz-OLs) in producing exclusively benzaldehydes (Bz-ALs) in the presence of eco-friendly oxidants. The discussion highlights the significance of surface and structural properties inherent to cerium-based catalysts, including the abundance of oxygen vacancies, the redox properties of Ce3+/Ce4+ couple, their acid-base characteristics and morphology influence, which play crucial roles in substrate adsorption, reorganization of bonding between substrate and oxidant in promoting selective oxidation reactions. The consolidated data tables (1-4) comprising the best conditions optimized with various ceria based heterogeneous reported so far between the years 2019-2024 is included in the following sections to assess the catalyst design and performance.
An Investigation of the Effect of Adding KSCN on the UV-visible Absorption Behaviour of Chitosan-based Iodophor
Authors: Singh Naorem Shubhaschandra , Devi CH Shanti , Devi S Manimukta , Devi W Harimati
Published: August 2024

Electronic spectral analysis of a tri-iodide solution in an acetic acid medium revealed the presence of strong absorption bands for tri-iodide at 287.5 and 351.5 nm. A notable shift in the absorption band to 310 nm indicated the formation of a complex between Chitosan and tri-iodide in an acidic medium solution. Chitosan-tri-iodide complex formation was significant at concentrations >0.5% (w/v). At lower concentrations, weak complexation is evident through the comparatively lower absorption of the iodophors. The introduction of KSCN to the polymer-iodophor system leads to a gradual reduction in absorption over time and is completed within 1 hour. If polymer mixtures of (1:1) ratio were used in iodophor, it persists as complex iodophor for a longer period. Photoluminescence investigations show sharp and narrow emission peaks at 350.5 and 701.5nm, highlighting unique fluorescent species alongside effective radiative recombination. It minimizes energy dissipation and suggests promising fluorescence applications across diverse fields.
Investigation Rheological Behavior of Chocolate
Authors: Stanciu Ioana
Published: August 2024

In this article we studied chocolate with 100% cocoa without lecithin and traces of milk in the form of chips. The data obtained are in accordance with those obtained from the specialized literature. This article proposes two relations of dependence of log dynamic viscosity on log shear rate. The relations determined by second-order polynomial and exponential fitting can be successfully applied to confectionery products because the obtained correlation coefficients are close to unity.
TiO2 Thin Film’s Fabrication and Characterization in Response to Heat Treatment
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Sharma Hansraj , Yadav Jagavendra , Prasad Jagdish , Singh Mangej
Published: August 2024

In this study, substrates of glass were used for the deposition of transparent nanostructured thin layers of Titanium dioxide (TiO2) using a spin-coating system, and the solution was processed by sol-gel process. TiO2 sol and films were prepared with TTIP, hydrochloric acid, DI water, and ethanol. Here is the current work, these thin films were analyzed for various annealing treatments at 300 ◦C, 400 ◦C, 500 ◦C. The various attributes of films such as structural are described by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and RAMAN spectroscopy, morphology, and topography are studied by SEM and AFM, and optical properties are examined by UV-VIS spectroscopy. The direct energy bandgap estimated for the TiO2 films is 3.65ev, 3.71ev, and 3.75ev after heating at 300 ◦C- 400 ◦C- 500 ◦C. The initial crystalline phase (anatase) of TiO2 shows up after 400 ◦C for the four layers which are confirmed by XRD and RAMAN studies. At high temperatures, brookite and rutile crystalline phases are also found with the anatase phase. The attained films are translucent in the wavelength range between 380-700 nm and blurred in the 100- 380 nm range.
Adsorption of Chromium (VI) from Wastewater Using Blended Natural Adsorbent
Authors: Kondagorla Shivshankar R. , Madhamshettiwar Swapnil V.
Published: August 2024

In this study adsorption of chromium (VI) ion by using blended natural novel adsorbent like neem leaves powder with peanut shell powder. The batch Adsorption experiments were conducted by different proportions of blended neem leaf powder and peanut shells powder and variations in the weight of adsorbents, contact time at room temperature, and various pH. Investigate the concentration of adsorbate before adsorption and after adsorption by 1, 5 Diphenyl Carbazide Colorimetric method with reference to calibration curve. Results obtained by blended neem leaves powder with peanut shell powder adsorbent are more effective at pH 6. Removal of efficiency increases with increasing contact time and dosage of adsorbent. This adsorbent is low cost and readily available in nature.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of Metal Sulfides (MS2; M = Mo and W) Nanostructures with their Structural and Optical Properties
Authors: Yadav Kavita , Kumari Kavitha , Sharma Yashpal , Gangwar Jitendra
Published: August 2024

Transition metal disulfides (MS2; M= Mo and W) nanostructures were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal methodology based on the reaction between transition metal (Mo/W) and S sources at 240 °C for 24 hours. Detailed structural, morphological and optical analyses were performed using XRD, TGA/DSC, FESEM/EDX, HRTEM and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Gross structural investigations reveal that the crystalline nature of MS2 materials with flake-like and rod-like morphologies. MoS2 in 2D flake-like morphology with thickness of about 15 nm ( 2 nm) and WS2 in 1D rod-like morphology with width between 7-9 nm ( 0.5 nm) were achieved. The UV-Vis spectroscopy data elucidate two different optical band gaps 1.88 eV and 2.29 eV were achieved for MoS2 nanoflakes, and for WS2 nanorods it was 1.84 eV. The simple and cost-effective synthesis approach with detailed microstructure analyses and optical properties indicate a great potential of nanostructured MoS2 and WS2 as a vital component in new-generation semiconductor and optoelectronics devices.
Analysis of Different Metals in Groundwater and Its Toxicity in Plants
Authors: Gupta Priyanka , Tamrakar Gaurav , Pandey Preeti
Published: August 2024

Both rural and urban parts of the world, groundwater is an essential reservoir of freshwater Due to drainage and consequently rising pollution are a serious risk to the planet's ability to provide safe water supplies. For both health and medical practitioners, water that has been polluted by heavy metals—specifically, the elements cadmium, arsenic, nickel, copper, lead, manganese, and mercury—is developing a serious health risk. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the amount of heavy metals in the groundwater of the Kanker district in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh's Northern Bastar region. In the premonsoon period in May - June of the study region, samples were taken using manually operated pumps, tube wells, and dug wells at 15 distinct locations. The amount of each element, including Pb, Mn, Zn, and Fe, was measured with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and the appropriate digestion technique. The water samples had mean concentrations of metallic elements in an order: Fe > Pb > Zn > Mn. The outcome of this study was that the extent of accumulation of heavy metals in water samples is significantly greater than the recommended limitation, indicating that residents and the environment around them may be at risk.
Multivariate Analysis for Assessment of Vamsadhara River Water Quality, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Saikrishna CH.V. , Rao L. Vaikunta , Rao D. Mallikarjuna
Published: August 2024

Vamsadhara is a prominent river in north-western Andhra Pradesh. Without enough and reliable knowledge on the quality of the water, people utilize it for home and agricultural purposes quite a lot. This study aims to evaluate the quality of river water for agricultural and domestic consumption. Water samples from 10 sampling stations were collected during the pre and post-monsoon seasons of 2021, and the water quality index and agricultural indices were computed. The Water Quality Index was found to be satisfactory in both the seasons. Correlation and regression analyses are performed to understand the relationship between various hydrochemical parameters. The pre-season and post-season principal components were found to explain 81.3% and 78.9% of the total variance, respectively. The variables in both seasons are solely hydro-chemical and are believed to result from geological processes, suggesting geogenic sources. Water quality parameters for irrigation are within the limits. In irrigated soils, a higher growth of exchangeable Na is typically encouraged by elevated Mg levels. Water with a magnesium hazard level below fifty is considered suitable for irrigation. The Mg hazard was slightly excessive in most of the examined locations of the Vamsadhara River. The river water quality for irrigation is good to excellent, with exemptions from MH. Prioritizing effective sewage water treatment facilities before release into rivers.
Child health tourism for surgical care
Authors: Kufeji D
Published: August 2024

What are the risks of seeking medical treatment for children outside of the UK?
Disclosing alternatives for pain relief
Authors: Wheeler Robert
Published: August 2024

When is it important for a clinician to inform patients of all available pain relief options - and the side effects?
From Foes to Friends?
Authors: Maher Nora
Published: August 2024

This paper analyzes the Saudi-Iran deal brokered by China in March 2023, representing a breakthrough in the bilateral relations between Riyadh and Tehran after prolonged antagonism and proxy wars. It explores the potential of the historic deal by analyzing the strategic realignment of Riyadh and Tehran, focusing on the prospects for both sides. Furthermore, the paper raises concerns about the viability of the Saudi-Iran deal considering the underlying vulnerabilities. To ensure the smooth advancement of diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran, it is crucial to consider the vulnerabilities of the deal. This includes acknowledging the limitations of the agreement, addressing ongoing strategic issues, and considering external factors such as the delayed normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel, and the United States’ (US) disruptive role in the Middle East affairs, particularly in the wake of war in Gaza. These factors have the potential to impede the development of Saudi-Iran relations and the long-term efficacy of the deal.
SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF THE HEPTAPEPTIDE ANALOGUE OF NOCICEPTIN MOLECULE
Authors: Ismailova Larisa Ismail , Akhmedov Namiq Abdulavval
Published: August 2024

It is known that nociceptins are a new type of regulatory peptide. Knowledge of these peptide molecules' structural and functional properties is of great practical importance for medicine and pharmacology. Their mechanisms of action are considered anti-opioid. This scientific work is devoted to studying the spatial structure of the heptapeptide H-Phe1-Gly2-Gly3-Phe4-Val5-Gly6-Pro7-OH. It examines the conformational capabilities of this heptapeptide molecule. This neuropeptide molecule is a stable analog of the nociceptin. The biologically active conformation of the peptide molecule, which is realized upon interaction with the receptor, is included in the set of low-energy structures. Therefore, studying the spatial structure of peptide molecules is of great interest. Theoretical conformational analysis about nonvalent, electrostatic, and torsional interactions, the energy of the hydrogen bonds, and a special computer program carried out the calculations. The 10 low-energy conformations of this molecule and the values of the dihedral angles of the main chain and side chains are found, and the energy of the intra- and inter-residue interactions is estimated. It is revealed that low energy conformations of this molecule have the half-folded and folded type of backbone. The side chains of the Phe1 and Phe4 amino acids in low-energy conformations carry out effective interactions and are conformationally labile amino acids; they bring together the regions of the main chain and the side chains of the amino acids included in the heptapeptide. These folded forms bring parts of the backbone and the amino acids' side chains together, resulting in important interactions.
De-Exceptionalizing Pandemic Death in the United States: COVID-19’s Ambiguous and Layered Mourning
Authors: Santikarma Ariel , Wagner Sarah
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT: In the spring and early summer of 2020, mainstream media in the United States announced the “death of ritual” as public officials limited communities from gathering to care for their deceased—whether COVID-19 victims or people who happened to die during this first wave of pandemic restriction. From backlogged funeral homes and crematoria to bodies stacked in refrigerated trucks and families scrambling to find their deceased, headlines seemed to augur an unprecedented condition of interrupted or derailed mourning. But how singular was this moment? On the one hand, funeral directors were telling a different story, reminding us that they’d been here before when the stigma of HIV/AIDS robbed the deceased and their loved ones of expected ritual care. On the other, as scholars of post-conflict societies and missing migrants can attest, COVID-19 was by no means unique in disrupting the pace and order of mourning. This piece challenges the characterization of pandemic death in the United States, especially in the first waves of infection, as exceptional because of what it glosses over: the predictability of which bodies and whose lives routinely pay the highest tolls. Instead, we reflect on the temporality of incomplete and curtailed care by juxtaposing the pandemic’s seemingly singular chronotope—born from the politicized bodies of the living as much as the dead—with the exigencies of uncertain death that surround missing persons of conflicts and borders. Seemingly punctuated events like wars and pandemics that give rise to aberrant death throw timelines into disarray; they also expose what underlies and endures: longstanding inequities to conditions that secure life in the first place. Thus, challenging this notion of presumed exceptionalism, we argue that the US experience of pandemic death and mourning throws into relief—at least temporarily—its systems of domination and invites a closer look at the intertwining projects of memory and political transformation.
A Fit Resting Place for One Who Loved Liberty, Justice, and Equality”: Liberalism, Antislavery, and the American Expatriate Community in Florence, Italy, 1820–1865
Authors: Martin Scott C.
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This article examines the American expatriate community in Florence, Italy, between 1840 and 1865. Florence, with its history of liberalism, attracted reformers from all over the Atlantic world, including many Americans and Britons committed to antislavery. During the two decades before the Civil War, Florence attracted American and British cultural elites who valued its history, culture, cosmopolitanism, and suitability for untrammeled discussion and debate about a variety of liberal causes, including antislavery. For American reformers and intellectuals like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Sumner, Theodore Parker, and Sarah Parker Redmond, the city represented both a physical location and an imagined community dedicated to antislavery and liberal reform. American abolitionists’ interaction in Florence with English abolitionists such as Robert and Elizabeth Browning and Fanny Trollope suggests that the city looms larger in the geography of nineteenth-century abolitionism than previously appreciated.
The Deviant Body: Object and Spectacle in The Old Curiosity Shop
Authors: Spooner Todd
Published: August 2024

Abstract: The Old Curiosity Shop , by title and by content, sublimely exhibits the Victorian period's enchantment with the curious. At first blush, the items of allure are the inanimate objects on display in Nell's grandfather's shop. With more measured inspection the question of animacy blurs, as both living and nonliving curiosities are subjected to the glare of fixation and fetishization. The Old Curiosity Shop is crowded with both inanimate and animate curiosities, the partition often obscured. As Victorian society obsessed over things and peculiarities, the animacy distinction collapsed. Deviant body forms were not exempt, reduced to mere curiosities, interchangeable and without identity, resulting in their ultimate abstraction through commodity culture, and displayed for profit in fairground sideshows. The Old Curiosity Shop embraces this fascination with body deviance, serving both as a reflection of cultural interest and as a vehicle to fuel societal captivation.
Frames of Glass: Goldfish and Gender in Paint, Performance, and Print, 1870–1914
Authors: Zuhlke Anika
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This article draws upon examples from fiction, popular journalism, travel writing, theatre, and fine art from 1870 to 1914 to trace the evolving representation of goldfish in relation to shifting attitudes toward women in British and American culture. Beautiful and domesticated, yet quiet, unobtrusive, and often confined to its own miniature domestic "sphere," the goldfish seemed initially to parallel the domestic wife and had been used to naturalize domestic ideology. In the 1870s and 1880s, however, the importation of fancy goldfish with different and exaggerated morphological traits unsettled what the Victorians had taken to be self-evident and natural about this species and, by extension, their own. I argue that, at a time when the gender debate was inflected by biologically deterministic arguments about women's "natural" societal roles, the figure of the goldfish became a remarkably flexible discursive tool to grapple with (or endorse) the changing economic and social trajectories of Anglo-American women. A hitherto unexamined alternative to the quintessential Victorian image of the "bird in the cage," this study of the goldfish and its bowl provides insight into how the Victorians' confrontation with other species encouraged them to look more critically at themselves.
Oliver as Object: Character, Genre, and Agency in the Victorian Novel
Authors: Kennedy Meegan
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This essay revisits the perennial question of Oliver Twist's flat and inert character. It argues that the different genres overlaid within the novel—allegory, statistical report, it-narrative—allow Dickens to make the social critique that drives the novel. The statistical report and itnarrative, particularly, demonstrate that the discourse of Benthamism, which underpinned the New Poor Law, is inadequate to narrate human subjectivity. These genres dramatize Dickens's critique of the law: that it turns people into fungible units. The flat characters and objectifying genres of Oliver Twist drive the novel's powerful argument about humanity and community. For most of the novel, Oliver can be read via a posthuman critique; he has more in common with the objects and animals of it-narrative than with Pip or David Copperfield. To bring about novelistic resolution, Dickens finally turns to a familiar and satisfying romance plot, revising Oliver into a true protagonist with agency and a unique identity. This essay challenges the convention that flat characters are authorial failures by arguing that in Victorian novels, as genre and character co-create one another, they construct particular, strategic models of human subjectivity and agency.
CONSELHOS MUNICIPAIS DE EDUCAÇÃO DA REGIÃO METROPOLITANA DE SOROCABA/SP: INÍCIO DE CONVERSA (PRIMEIRA PARTE)
Authors: Lima Paulo Gomes
Published: August 2024

A presente pesquisa por meio da equipe selecionada, se debruçará sobre a recorrência das maneiras em que os Conselhos Municipais de Educação e Municípios dialogam sobre as categorias de “participação”, “cidadania” e “educação socialmente referenciada”, conforme trabalho de Silva (2010) e que se utilizará como referência, para a compreensão de tal contextualização é necessário explicitar: a) O contexto histórico e a importância do município na região (no caso a região metropolitana de Sorocaba); b) Os marcos legais e estrutura educacional de cada um dos municípios estudados; c) Uma breve pontuação sobre o funcionamento dos Conselhos Municipais de Educação. A equipe mencionada é composta de pesquisadores, mestrandos e doutorandos vinculados ao Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas Estado, Política, Planejamento, Avaliação e Gestão da Educação (GEPLAGE) da Universidade Federal de São Carlos -  Campus Sorocaba.
O CONSELHO MUNICIPAL DE EDUCAÇÃO DE SÃO MIGUEL ARCANJO/SP: CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO MUNICÍPIO E ESTRUTURA EDUCACIONAL
Authors: Lopes Silmara Aparecida , Damasceno Etiane Lilian Barbosa
Published: August 2024

Esta pesquisa de caráter científico propõe-se, de forma introdutória, a investigar analisar o funcionamento do Conselho Municipal de Educação de São Miguel Arcanjo desde sua instalação até os dias atuais. Trata-se de estudo metodologicamente fundamentado na utilização de fontes de dados para análises e interpretações de legislações, documentos e revisão bibliográfica. Foram analisadas 72 (setenta e duas) atas de reuniões do Conselho Municipal de Educação de São Miguel Arcanjo, datadas de setembro de 2002 a abril de 2017. Pelas análises das atas, foi possível perceber que, provavelmente, tais membros ainda não tenham conseguido conquistar o espaço ideal dentro dessa instância de participação popular e que ainda encontram dificuldades para contribuir para uma educação de qualidade socialmente referenciada.
ESTUDO DE CASO COMO ESTRATÉGIA DE INVESTIGAÇÃO QUALITATIVA EM EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Melo Júnior Arlindo Lins de , Morais Rogério de
Published: August 2024

O estudo de caso é uma estratégia de investigação qualitativa no âmbito das ciências humanas e sociais e tem como finalidade não somente realizar diagnósticos extremamente detalhados sobre um determinado problema social, mas compreender como determinadas realidades se manifestam, bem como identificar os condicionantes que as geram. O objetivo do presente trabalho é discutir o estudo de caso como estratégia de pesquisa por meio de algumas contribuições da literatura especializada à luz da pesquisa qualitativa, dessa forma destacam-se como referências centrais na discussão as obras de Robert K. Yin (2001) e de Ludke e André (2013). Dois eixos são privilegiados na discussão, a saber: (1) Estudos de caso único e (2) estudos de caso múltiplos, portanto, trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória de abordagem qualitativa e cunho bibliográfico. Embora estude-se casos específicos, o estudo de caso constitui uma estratégia relevante para a compreensão e singularidade do desvelamento do objeto.
CONSELHO MUNICIPAL DE EDUCAÇÃO DE IPERÓ/SP: CRIAÇÃO, IMPLEMENTAÇÃO E GESTÃO DEMOCRÁTICA
Authors: Rueda Jurany Leite , Santos Jociane Marthendal Oliveira
Published: August 2024

Os conselhos municipais de educação são órgãos considerados fundamentais no processo de gestão democrática no Sistema Municipal de Ensino. Esta pesquisa em andamento sobre o Conselho Municipal de Iperó – que se encontra em sua segunda etapa – tem como objetivo analisar a natureza, finalidade, organização e funcionamento do Conselho no processo da gestão democrática da educação no município. Para essa análise, utilizou-se documentos relacionados ao CME de Iperó, tais como legislação municipal sobre o Conselho e atas das reuniões realizadas por esse órgão, além da Constituição Federal de 1988, LDB nº 9394/96 e autores que abordam os temas e suas correlações. A pesquisa evidenciou, por meio da legislação municipal, que o CME de Iperó é definido em sua natureza como órgão normativo, deliberativo e consultivo, tendo, pelo menos no que se refere à lei, autonomia para atuar no cumprimento de suas atribuições.
CONSELHO MUNICIPAL DE EDUCAÇÃO DE PILAR DO SUL/SP: CRIAÇÃO, IMPLEMENTAÇÃO E GESTÃO DEMOCRÁTICA
Authors: Melo Eliane Pimentel Camilo Barra Nova de , Santos Jociane Marthendal Oliveira
Published: August 2024

A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo compreender a criação, composição, organização e competência do Conselho Municipal de Educação de Pilar do Sul numa perspectiva de gestão democrática e qualidade da educação socialmente referenciada. De cunho qualitativo apresenta como metodologia a abordagem bibliográfica e documental, pois pauta-se em análise crítica das leis, decretos e portarias municipais, além, das atas das plenárias do Conselho de 2017 sob a luz de pesquisadores da política educacional brasileira Evidenciaram-se descompassos entre o conceito de gestão democrática aqui impressa e a atuação do Conselho Municipal de Educação de Pilar do Sul com consequente prejuízo a oferta de uma educação de qualidade socialmente referenciada. Entretanto, constatou-se abertura ao diálogo do poder público municipal quanto a melhor compreensão do seu próprio funcionamento e busca pela implementação de mudanças em direção a uma gestão verdadeiramente democrática.
ASPECTOS HISTÓRICOS DA EDUCAÇÃO EM SEXUALIDADE E REFLEXÕES EM PROL DA CIRCULAÇÃO DE IDEIAS
Authors: Marques Jéssica Karine , Bozzini Isabela Custódio Talora , Milaré Tathiane
Published: August 2024

Este trabalho discute a educação em sexualidade no espaço escolar, trazendo um apanhado histórico da sexualidade, e buscando uma reflexão e elementos norteadores fundamentais para uma análise Fleckiana. No geral, as escolas brasileiras, sejam elas públicas ou privadas, sempre tentaram manter o tema sexualidade longe dos procedimentos curriculares e das responsabilidades institucionais. Que papel a escola tem sobre a temática? Com base nas categorias Fleckianas, buscou-se discutir a sexualidade na perspectiva de diferentes estilos e coletivos de pensamentos com vieses em direitos humanos; educação/ensino; biologia família; religião e políticas públicas.
AÇÕES AFIRMATIVAS PARA O ENSINO SUPERIOR NO BRASIL: UMA REALIDADE?
Authors: Fonseca Ione Barbosa
Published: August 2024

Esse artigo tem como objetivo discutir as políticas de ações afirmativas realizadas pelo governo federal brasileiro, destinadas a melhorar os índices de acesso ao ensino superior pelas classes sociais desfavorecidas a partir da década de 1990. Como estudo reflexivo, esse estudo tem caráter exploratório, por meio de uma revisão de bibliografia e cunho qualitativo. Para efeitos de contribuição ou descobertas do estudos percebeu-se a fragilidade de políticas públicas que pretendem incluir, entretanto, sem modificar e/ou reorientar a estrutura da educação superior no Brasil. Nesse sentido, destaca-se que se o processo de inclusão social à educação superior é o objeto possível, a necessidade da população solicita uma educação superior não-excludente.
O ENSINO SUPERIOR NO BRASIL: EXPANSÃO E POLÍTICAS DE ACESSO
Authors: Barros Ivana de
Published: August 2024

O principal objetivo desse estudo é refletir sobre o Ensino Superior no Brasil e suas políticas de acesso no final do século XX e primeiras décadas do século XXI. Destaca-se a centralidade da educação superior e a questão da demanda reprimida observada desde sua gênese, visto ser uma etapa educacional descompassada pela luta de classes e hegemonia do capital. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória de caráter qualitativo. O estudo destacou que, embora a expansão das políticas de acesso através dos programas REUNI, PROUNI, FIES e IFET impactou a realidade brasileira, mas, se mostrou como insuficiente para o atendimento da demanda na rede pública, favorecendo o crescimento de ofertas e expansão da rede privada.
POLÍTICAS DE EDUCAÇÃO SUPERIOR E A TRAJETÓRIA DO TUNING EUROPEU NO BRASIL
Authors: Machado de Paula Cristiane Aparecida
Published: August 2024

Este artigo, em um primeiro momento, estabelece relações e criar uma linha do tempo entre o Processo de Bolonha na Europa e a implantação do Programa Alfa Tuning na América Latina – PATAL - apresentando as principais características do mesmo. Em um segundo momento, busca analisar o Plano Pedagógico de Curso - PPC - de um curso de graduação na área da Educação de uma Universidade Federal Brasileira, que de acordo com os documentos estudados, aderiu ao PATAL. A metodologia utilizada foi a leitura de textos bibliográficos e documentos que tratam da temática e a pesquisa do PPC do referido curso, no site oficial da Instituição. Em uma primeira análise, é possível inferir que os princípios norteadores do Programa Alfa Tuning na América Latina, embora tendo sido aprovados por algumas Universidades Brasileiras, não foram introduzidos em seus Projetos Pedagógicos de Curso e, consequentemente, não se realizam efetivamente em nosso país.
FATORES CONTRIBUINTES PARA O APRENDIZADO DOS ESTUDANTES DE ADMINISTRAÇÃO DE UMA ESCOLA DE NEGÓCIOS
Authors: Fontanini Carlos Augusto Candêo , Wollmann Dewey Moreto , Chiesa Amanda Mocelin
Published: August 2024

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar os fatores contribuintes para a aprendizagem dos estudantes de um curso de administração. Na elaboração do Referencial Teórico, foram utilizados autores como Cunha (2011), Chong (2014), Gorozidis e Paioannou (2014); Camas e Brito (2017), Aguilar, Moriña e Perera (2019), Juliatto (2013), Pimenta e Anastasiou (2011), Guerra e Montenegro (2017), entre outros. Os dados da pesquisa foram coletados durante o Exame Multidisciplinar, a partir de uma pergunta aberta aos estudantes sobre quais os fatores que mais contribuem para os seus aprendizados. Das 352 respostas obtidas, 337 foram validadas. Para a organização dos dados, foi utilizada a técnica de análise de conteúdo de Bardin (2012) e foram criadas três dimensões para o agrupamento dos fatores: professor, estudante e universidade. Os resultados revelam que, segundo a pesquisa, os professores são os que mais contribuem para o aprendizado dos seus estudantes.
O EDUCADOR E PROFESSOR FRENTE AOS NOVOS DESAFIOS: INOVAÇÃO, ÉTICA E EDUCAÇÃO PERMANENTE
Authors: Barros Rosanna , Choti Deise
Published: August 2024

O tema deste número da Ensaios Pedagógicos permitiu reunir nove artigos que priorizaram a ação de refletir em torno da complexidade da inovação ética na intervenção educacional em contextos de globalização económica de cariz conservador, face à qual o educador e professor humanista enfrenta novos e complexos desafios. Através dos textos aqui compilados percebe-se, de maneiras distintas, a relevância de interrelacionar conhecimentos teóricos específicos e habilidades técnico-práticas, de modo integrado e sem dicotomias, convocando os espaços e tempos da educação formal e não-formal, mas igualmente da aprendizagem informal, para alargar possibilidades de reflexão crítica nas aulas, nos seminários, em reuniões pedagógicas, em cursos de aprimoramento, nos encontros com os grupos de investigação, nos workshops, nos congressos e nas mais variadas atividades acadêmicas e âmbitos profissionais que enquadram a educação permanente do educador e do professor.