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Teachers' knowledge plays a central role in technology integration. In this study we analyze situations, where there is some divergence between the mathematical results and the information offered by the graphing calculator (lack of mathematical fidelity), putting the focus in the teachers and in their approaches. The goal of this study is to analyze, in the light of knowledge for teaching mathematics with technology (KTMT) model, the teachers' professional knowledge, assuming the situations of lack of mathematical fidelity as having the potential to reveal some characteristics of their knowledge. Specifically, considering the teaching of functions at 10th grade (age 16), we intend to analyze: (1) What knowledge do the teachers have of technology and of its mathematical fidelity? (2) What can the teachers' options related to situations of lack of mathematical fidelity tell us about their knowledge in other KTMT domains? The study adopts a qualitative and interpretative approach based on the case studies of two teachers. Data were collected by interviews and class observation, being the analysis guided by the KTMT model. The main result points to the relevance of the mathematics and technology knowledge. However, there is evidence of some difficulties to integrate the information provided by the technology with the mathematics, and also of some interference of the teaching and learning and technology knowledge, and specifically of the knowledge related to the students. This suggests that the analysis of the teachers' actions in relation to situations of lack of mathematical fidelity, can be useful to characterize their KTMT.

Recognising the relevance of learning Geometry, and in particular 3D Geometry, this study aims to discuss the contributions that digital technology and paper and pencil approaches can bring to students' learning. We seek, therefore, to identify the differences between the two approaches, and specifically: What factors are relevant in one and the other approach? What does one approach facilitate over the other? A quantitative and a qualitative and interpretive methodology was adopted, and based on a didactic intervention, the students' resolutions of the proposed tasks were analysed. The results obtained show that the experience and prior knowledge of the students with each of the solids involved seems to be decisive in the approach with paper and pencil. However, technology emerges as an enhancing resource when prior knowledge is more fragile. The study also shows differences between the representations supported by the two resources, suggesting the mobilisation of different knowledge by the students in relation to each of the resources.

Aligning learning goals with the needs of the labour market is a difficult task for universities, especially in the present day. Although organisations seek professionals with flexible and varied skills, universities often underestimate the importance of cross-curricular skills. Thus, this article aims to identify the perception of recent graduates as to the importance of the transversal skills that they acquired and developed at university and the ways in which they are now applied in the work environment. In this exploratory study, we sent a questionnaire to recent graduates that allowed us to analyse the development and applicability of these competencies in organisations. The results are further discussed within the broader framework of how universities adapt to the strong socio-economic challenges that characterise current times and the integration of recent graduates into the labour market.

Driven by several elements, including the unwillingness to pay for material, the spread of subscription services, and the profitability of illegal activity, digital piracy has grown to be a common problem in the contemporary world. Along with financial damages for businesses and content creators, this phenomenon has legal repercussions for individuals involved in piracy and cybersecurity issues. The effective fight against digital piracy depends on an awareness of the drivers and hazards connected with this illegal activity. With an eye towards a thorough knowledge of this intricate problem, in this study, the focus centers on the reasons, attitudes, and actions behind digital piracy. Through examining how people defend their behavior in particular situations, in this study, the aim is to clarify the ethical issues and decision-making procedures related to piracy—even among otherwise law-abiding people. Combining a variety of the relevant literature and ideas, including situation ethics theory, in this study, we seek to provide insights for legislators, business players, and academics eager to meet the difficulties presented by digital piracy. This study adds to the continuous discussion on lessening the detrimental effects of digital piracy on content creators, businesses, and cybersecurity by looking at the underlying reasons for piracy and supporting legal access to material. Along with a dearth of research on the origins and moral questions of digital piracy, there is a lot of contradictory material. By examining the factors behind this unlawful activity, clarifying the complex dynamics involved, and offering understanding of the causes of digital piracy, this study seeks to close a significant void in the knowledge. The findings of this study will enable individuals to develop strategies for handling this prevalent issue in the digital era. Developing successful interventions that can reduce this illegal conduct and safeguard the interests of content producers, businesses, and cybersecurity overall depends on an awareness of the reasons behind digital piracy. This study advances the knowledge of the difficulties presented by this global phenomenon by investigating the ethical issues and decision-making procedures related to digital piracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal stress may lead to tissue- and sex-specific cardiometabolic disorders in the offspring through imbalances in the insulin signaling pathway. Therefore, we aimed to determine the sex-specific adaptations of prenatal stress on the insulin signaling pathway of cardiac and hepatic tissue of adult offspring Wistar rats. Wistar pregnant rats were divided into control and stress groups. Unpredictable stress protocol was performed from the 14th to the 21st day of pregnancy. After lactation, the dams were euthanized, and blood was collected for corticosterone measurement and the offspring were separated into four groups according to sex and intervention (n = 8/group). At 90 days old, the offspring were submitted to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and an insulin tolerance test (ITT). After euthanasia, blood collection was used for biochemical analysis and the left ventricle and liver were used for protein expression and histological analysis. Stress increased maternal corticosterone levels. It also increased glucose concentration in both OGTT and ITT and reduced insulin receptor (Irβ) and insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS1) activation, while reducing the insulin receptor inhibition [protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B)] in the liver of male offspring at 90 days old, without repercussions in cardiac tissue. Moreover, female offspring submitted to prenatal stress exhibited reduced fatty acid uptake, with lower hepatic CD36 expression, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (cHDL), and increased Castelli risk indexes I and II. Unpredictable prenatal stress evoked reduced insulin sensitivity and liver-specific impairment in insulin signaling activation in male while increasing markers of cardiovascular risk in females. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Prenatal stress may contribute to tissue-specific programming, especially in the liver. Our results showed that, although there were no repercussions to stress in cardiac tissue at 90 days old, prenatal stress induces a glucose intolerance phenotype with insulin signaling pathway alterations in the liver of male offspring at 90 days old. Furthermore, the prenatal stress altered lipid profile and increased cardiovascular risk in female offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher education is central to the development of the professional knowledge of pre-service teachers. The main goal of this paper is to reflect on the development that the analysis (done by a group of pre-service secondary teachers) of a set of tasks, based on elements related to domains of KTMT--"Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics with Technology"--can bring to the knowledge of pre-service teachers of mathematics. Specifically, the goal was to investigate the following questions: (1) What are the factors that guide the pre-service teachers' task discussion? (2) Which KTMT domains are emphasized by pre-service teachers during task discussion? The elements taken into account are the characteristics of the tasks (focus on cognitive level, structuring level and technology role), the use of representations (focus on balance and articulation of representations), and the equilibrium between experimentation (focus on digital technology affordances) and justification (focus on argumentation and proof). The methodology of this case study involves a qualitative approach. The main conclusions suggest that influences in the pre-service teachers' discussion of tasks fell into the following categories: the potentialities of technology, the type of tasks, and the prospective teachers' experience with a set of tasks, and analysis of some real students' reports. With regard to KTMT, although it was possible to identify some global development, "Teaching and Learning and Technology Knowledge" was the domain in which stronger development took place.

Using technology to get a graphical representation of functions requires the choice of a suitable viewing window. The literature suggests teachers' knowledge as being central in this process, but does not tell us much about how the teachers should manage this. This study aims to improve understanding about the teachers' choices related to the viewing window on the study of functions. It also intends to illustrate how this analysis can be a useful way to access aspects of teachers' knowledge based on the framework of "Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics with Technology" (KTMT). The study adopts a qualitative methodological approach, undertaking case studies of two teachers. The findings recognize the importance of carefully sequencing the students' contact with this kind of situation and the impact of the viewing window over the teachers' choices of tasks, pointing to the relevance of considering situations where the students actually face the difficulties. This highlights the relation of teachers' choices of viewing window to their knowledge of different KTMT's domains, and specifically the relevance of knowledge of different ways to change the window; of the difficulties faced by the students; of the most suitable tasks (and required viewing window) at each moment; of the impact of the viewing window on the appearance of a graph and of the different situations associated, from the mathematical point of view.

The limited recyclability of fibre-reinforced thermoset composites has fostered the development of alternative thermoplastic-based composites and their manufacturing processes. The most common thermoplastic-based composites are often costly due to their availability in the form of prepreg materials and to the high pressure and temperatures required for their manufacturing. Yet, the manufacturing of economic and recyclable composites, made of semi-preg composite materials using traditional composite manufacturing technologies, has only been proved at a laboratory scale through the manufacturing of flat plates. This work reports the manufacturing of a real structural part, a wing spar section with complex geometry, made of commingled polyamide 12 (PA12) fibres and carbon fibres (CFs) semi-preg and by oven vacuum bagging (OVB). The composite layup was studied using finite element analysis, and processing simulation assisted in the determination of the PA12/CF preform for OVB. Processing of two forms of semi-preg materials was first evaluated and optimised. The material selection for part manufacturing was mainly defined by the materials' processability. The spar section was manufactured in two OVB stages and was then mechanically tested. The mechanical test showed a linear strain response of the prototype up to the maximum load and validated the optimised layup configuration of the composite structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the health risks associated with synthetic colorants, natural pigments have emerged as a promising alternative. These renewable choices not only provide health benefits but also offer valuable technical and sensory properties to food systems. The effective application of natural colorants, however, requires the optimization of processing conditions, exploration of new sources, and development of novel formulations to ensure stability and maintain their inherent qualities. Several natural pigment sources have been explored to achieve the broad color range desired by consumers. The purpose of this review is to explore the current advances in the obtention and utilization of natural pigments derived from by-products, which possess health-enhancing properties and are extracted through environmentally friendly methods. Moreover, this review provides new insights into the extraction processes, applications, and bioactivities of different types of pigments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A process and Structural Health Monitoring system was implemented on a Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) for hydrogen storage at 350 bar to be used in a fuel-cell system of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. This work reports the embedment strategy of optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors to monitor the full life cycle of the vessel, consisting of an aluminium liner and a wound carbon fibre reinforced polymer composite overwrap. A FBG sensing array, bonded on the aluminium liner circumferential section, was covered with a localised unidirectional prepreg composite tape, enabling composite winding and curing monitoring. The sensing array strategy allowed to detect and locate Barely Visible Impact Damage resulting from drop-weight impact tests, based on the ratio of the residual strain amplitude between FBG sensor pairs. Errors as small as 17 mm and up to 56 mm were determined between the predicted and 'real' impact locations. To simulate the real-life operational pressure charging and discharging cycles, the COPV was subjected to cycling testing at different pressure ranges. The FBG sensors were able to monitor a total of 20 980 pressure cycles, revealing a linear response to the applied pressure, and remained operational after COPV failure. Furthermore, the FBG sensing array was able to detect the residual plastic strain caused in the aluminium liner by the autofrettage process that the COPV was subjected to prior to pressure cycling, at 600 bar for 2 min, to improve its fatigue performance. This manuscript also reports the COPV structural design by Finite Element Modelling (FEM), its manufacturing process and burst pressure testing for the FEM analysis validation. A small difference of 0.7% was found between the simulated and experimental determined burst pressure of 1061 ± 26 bar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We sought to investigate possible impaired hyperaemia during dynamic handgrip exercise (HGE) in young healthy individuals who had recovered from COVID‐19. We tested the vascular function in individuals recovered from COVID‐19 using a nitric oxide donor (i.e., sodium nitroprusside; SNP), which could revert a possible impaired endothelial function during HGE. Further, we tested whether individuals who recovered from COVID‐19 would present exaggerated brachial vascular resistance under an adrenergic agonist (i.e., phenylephrine; PHE) stimuli during HGE. Participants were distributed into two groups: healthy controls (Control; men: n = 6, 30 ± 3 years, 26 ± 1 kg/m2; and women: n = 5, 25 ± 1 years, 25 ± 1 kg/m2) and subjects recovered from COVID‐19 (post‐COVID; men: n = 6, 29 ± 3 years, 25 ± 1 kg/m2; and women: n = 10, 32 ± 4 years, 22 ± 1 kg/m2). Participants in the post‐COVID group tested positive (RT‐PCR) 12–14 weeks before the protocol. Heart rate (HR), brachial blood pressure (BP), brachial blood flow (BBF) and vascular conductance (BVC) at rest were not different between groups. The HGE increased HR (Control: Δ9 ± 0.4 bpm; and post‐COVID: Δ11 ± 0.4 bpm) and BP (Control: Δ6 ± 1 mmHg; and post‐COVID: Δ12 ± 0.6 mmHg) in both groups. Likewise, BBF (Control: Δ632 ± 38 ml/min; and post‐COVID: Δ620 ± 27 ml/min) and BVC (Control: Δ6.6 ± 0.4 ml/min/mmHg; and post‐COVID: Δ6.1 ± 0.3 ml/min/mmHg) increased during HGE. SNP did not change HGE‐induced hyperaemia but did decrease BP, which induced a reflex‐related increase in HR. PHE infusion also did not change the HGE‐induced hyperaemia but raised BP and reduced HR. In conclusion, exercise‐induced hyperaemia is preserved in healthy young subjects 12–14 weeks after recovery from COVID‐19 infection. What is the central question of this study?How does vascular function compare during dynamic handgrip exercise in young healthy adult males and females who recovered from COVID‐19?What is the main finding and its importance?No differences were observed in exercise hyperaemia in healthy young adults, males and females, who recovered from COVID‐19 compared to the healthy control group. Vascular function seems to be preserved in individuals 12–14 weeks after COVID‐19 during dynamic handgrip exercise in young healthy adults, males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carotenoids, prominent lipid-soluble phytochemicals in the human diet, are responsible for vibrant colours in nature and play crucial roles in human health. While they are extensively studied for their antioxidant properties and contributions to vitamin A synthesis, their interactions with the intestinal microbiota (IM) remain poorly understood. In this study, beta (β)-carotene, lutein, lycopene, a mixture of these three pigments, and the alga Osmundea pinnatifida were submitted to simulated gastrointestinal digestion (GID) and evaluated on human faecal samples. The results showed varying effects on IM metabolic dynamics, organic acid production, and microbial composition. Carotenoid exposure influenced glucose metabolism and induced the production of organic acids, notably succinic and acetic acids, compared with the control. Microbial composition analysis revealed shifts in phyla abundance, particularly increased Pseudomonadota. The α-diversity indices demonstrated higher diversity in β-carotene and the pigments' mixture samples, while the β-diversity analysis indicated significant dissimilarity between the control and the carotenoid sample groups. UPLC-qTOF MS analysis suggested dynamic changes in carotenoid compounds during simulated fermentation, with lutein exhibiting distinct mass ion fragmentation patterns. This comprehensive research enhances our understanding of carotenoid-IM interactions, shedding light on potential health implications and the need for tailored interventions for optimal outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) during electrophysiological study (EPS), is a globally accepted tool for risk stratification of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in some specific clinical situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognosis of ventricular arrhythmia induction in a cohort of patients with syncope of undetermined origin (SUO). Methods: This is a historical cohort study in a population of patients with SUO referred for EPS between the years 2008–2021. In this interval, 575 patients underwent the procedure. Results: Patients with induced ventricular arrhythmias had a higher occurrence of structural heart disease (36.7% vs. 76.5%), ischemic heart disease (28.2 vs. 57.1%), heart failure (15.5% vs. 34.4%), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction (59.16% vs. 47.51%), when compared to the outcome with a negative study. PVS triggered ventricular arrhythmias in 98 patients, 62 monomorphic and 36 polymorphic. During a median follow‐up of 37.6 months, 100 deaths occurred. Only the induction of sustained ventricular arrhythmias showed a significant association with the primary outcome (all‐cause mortality) with a p value <.001. After the performance of EPS, 142 patients underwent cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) implantation. At study follow‐up, 30 patients had therapies by the device. Only the induction of sustained monomorphic ventricular arrhythmia showed statistically significant association with appropriate therapies by the device (p =.012). Conclusion: In patients with SUO, the induction of sustained monomorphic ventricular arrhythmia after programmed ventricular pacing is related to a worse prognosis, with a higher incidence of mortality and appropriate therapies by the ICD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on teacher's Knowledge for Teaching Mathematics with Technology (KTMT), paying a special attention to teacher's representational fluency. It intends to characterize how the teacher uses and integrates the different representations provided by the graphing calculator on the process of teaching and learning functions at the high school level. Specifically, it intends to understand the balance established between the use of the different representations, and the way these representations are articulated. The study adopts a qualitative approach undertaking one teacher case study. Data were collected for two school years, at 10th and 11th grades, and included class observation, semi-structured interviews and documents gathering. Data analysis was mainly descriptive and interpretative in nature, considering the problem under study. The conclusions reached reveal an active use of the graphical and algebraic representations and a scarce use of the tabular representation. The lack of balance on the use of representations also includes the work within a representation. In this case, the graphical representation is the only one that was explored. The conclusions also indicate a flexible articulation between the two representations usually used. It was possible to identify different patterns on the use of the representations and a frequent use of an interactive approach, marked by repeated alternations between representations. Globally, this study emphasizes teacher's KTMT and raises questions about the impact of technology on teacher's representational fluency and about the difference between a numerical and a tabular representation.

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Several epidemiologic studies have found that consuming fruits and vegetables lowers the risk of getting a variety of chronic illnesses, including several types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and bowel diseases. Although there is still debate over the bioactive components, various secondary plant metabolites have been linked to these positive health benefits. Many of these features have recently been connected to carotenoids and their metabolites' effects on intracellular signalling cascades, which influence gene expression and protein translation. Carotenoids are the most prevalent lipid-soluble phytochemicals in the human diet, are found in micromolar amounts in human serum, and are very susceptible to multiple oxidation and isomerisation reactions. The gastrointestinal delivery system, digestion processes, stability, and functionality of carotenoids, as well as their impact on the gut microbiota and how carotenoids may be effective modulators of oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways, are still lacking research advances. Although several pathways involved in carotenoids' bioactivity have been identified, future studies should focus on the carotenoids' relationships, related metabolites, and their effects on transcription factors and metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand the functional thinking of 10th-grade students while studying functions. Specifically, we intend to answer the following research questions: what are the functional thinking processes used by 10th-grade students when studying functions? What difficulties do students present while learning functions? In view of the nature of this research objective, we adopted a qualitative and interpretative approach. In order to answer these questions, data were collected from the written records produced by the students while solving the proposed tasks, from records of the oral interactions during discussions and from a questionnaire. The results show that functional thinking processes were implicit in the resolution of the tasks proposed to the students. The students expressed an understanding of how the variables were related, presenting evidence of their functional thinking while working on the new concepts represented by the functions addressed in the proposed tasks. Some students expressed difficulties in interpreting the different types of representations associated with the functions, in retaining the necessary information from a graphical representation that would help them to draw conclusions and establish correspondences, in explaining functional relationships, and in interpreting the information provided by algebraic expressions. These difficulties can reduce the recognition of the relationships between variables and their behavior in the different representations, becoming an obstacle to learning for some students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) people are more likely to be exposed to domestic violence when compared with others. Using a qualitative methodology, 16 LGBT people were interviewed to analyze their experiences as victims of sexual violence by family members and/or partners or former partners. Through a thematic content analysis, three main themes emerge regarding sexual violence: (i) dynamics of sexual violence; (ii) traumatic memories and dissociation episodes from sexual violence, and (iii) risk factors for the occurrence of sexual violence. The results show that participants have suffered sexual violence in childhood, adulthood, or both, with trans people being the most victimized. Coercion, manipulation, threats, and deprivation were the most common strategies used to restrict victims and prevent them from reporting the crime. Many participants report blocking their traumatic memories, as a coping mechanism related to the sexual violence suffered. Offender substance abuse, early age of victims at the time of their sexual victimization, and depressive symptoms were reported to increase the likelihood of an episode of sexual violence. It is necessary to assure specialized training among the professionals that work with LGBT victims of sexual violence within domestic contexts, considering the severe impacts they may face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal was to determine the impact of mental stress (MS) on blood flow regulation in overweight/obese men. Fourteen overweight/obese men (27 ± 7 years; 29.8 ± 2.6 kg/m2) participated in two randomized experimental sessions with oral administration of the AT1R blocker Olmesartan (40 mg; AT1RB) or placebo (PL). After 2 h, a 5‐min acute MS session (Stroop Color Word Test) was administered. Blood flow was assessed at baseline and during the first 3 min of MS by vascular ultrasound in the brachial artery. Blood was collected before (baseline) and during mental stress (MS) for measurement of nitrite (chemiluminescence) and endothelin‐1 (ELISA kit). The AT1R blocker was able to reverse the MS responses observed in the placebo session for retrograde flow (p < 0.01), retrograde SR (p < 0.01) and oscillatory shear index (p = 0.01). Regarding vasoactive substances, no differences were observed in ET‐1 (p > 0.05) responses to MS between experimental sessions. However, for nitrite responses, the administration of the AT1R blocker was able to increase circulating levels of NO (p = 0.03) Blockade of AT1R appears to prevent the decrease in endothelial function by reducing low shear stress and maintaining the vasoactive substances balance after MS in overweight/obese men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]