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Ciência em tirinhas: explorando as ISTs na promoção da alfabetização científica por meio das histórias em quadrinhos

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Título: Ciência em tirinhas: explorando as ISTs na promoção da alfabetização científica por meio das histórias em quadrinhos Abstact: This undergraduate thesis investigated how the production of comic strips, integrated into an investigative teaching sequence, can contribute to the promotion of scientific literacy among 8th-grade students at the José Miranda Braz Municipal School in Zé Doca, Maranhão state. The qualitative research was based on the principles of Inquiry-Based Learning (IB) and used the Scientific Literacy Indicators as analytical frameworks. The sequence was organized into stages involving problematization, investigation, systematization, and communication of knowledge about Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), themes chosen for their social and formative relevance and the need to demystify taboos among adolescents. Data collection included field notes and analysis of the comic strips created by the students on the Pixton platform. The results showed that the creation of the comics enhanced the understanding of scientific concepts, stimulated argumentation, favored the social contextualization of STIs, and enabled the creative expression of hypotheses and explanations. Attributes related to scientific, social, and interaction indicators were identified, demonstrating that students mobilized knowledge, built cause-and-effect relationships, and understood the social implications of science. Despite the progress achieved, the project implementation process presented some challenges. Among them, the limitation of the school's technological infrastructure stood out, as it did not have sufficient equipment to serve all participants, especially for the final activity. Due to this deficiency, it was necessary for the students to travel to the campus of the Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (UEMA) in Zé Doca, where it was possible to use the computer lab and ensure the execution of the planned activities. In addition, difficulties related to transportation to the university, the students' initial apprehension about addressing the topic, as well as absences, dropouts, and limitations in using the digital platform used throughout the project were also observed. It is concluded that the use of comics as a teaching resource, combined with Inquiry-Based Education, constitutes an effective tool to promote engagement, critical thinking, and scientific literacy, especially when articulated with contextualized and digitally mediated practices.

Contribuição ao conhecimento da flora nativa de Zé Doca-MA: um levantamento florístico-taxonômico da família Malvaceae

Thu, 25 Jun 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Título: Contribuição ao conhecimento da flora nativa de Zé Doca-MA: um levantamento florístico-taxonômico da família Malvaceae Abstact: The Malvaceae family is widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical regions, standing out for its ecological, economic, and taxonomic relevance. In the state of Maranhão, especially in ecological transition areas such as the municipality of Zé Doca, significant gaps in floristic knowledge still exist, reinforcing the need for systematic studies focused on the identification and cataloging of the local flora. In this context, the present study aimed to contribute to the knowledge of the flora of Zé Doca, Maranhão, through a floristic-taxonomic survey of the Malvaceae family. Collections were carried out in different environments, including native vegetation areas, transition zones, urban spaces, and peri-urban areas, encompassing a diversity of ecological conditions. Botanical material was collected, and taxonomic identification was performed based on specialized literature and updated botanical databases. As a result, 10 species belonging to different genera of the Malvaceae family were recorded, exhibiting varied growth habits, including herbs, shrubs, subshrubs, and trees. Most species showed wide geographic distribution throughout Brazilian territory and lack of endemism, indicating a strong influence of anthropogenic processes, such as cultivation and dispersal associated with human activities. In addition, an identification key for the recorded species was developed, contributing to regional taxonomic recognition. The results demonstrate that the local floristic composition reflects both the presence of typical tropical environment elements and the influence of anthropization, characterizing a scenario of high ecological plasticity. Thus, this study contributes to filling gaps in the knowledge of Maranhão flora, providing support for future research in botany, conservation, and environmental education.

RNAs não codificantes no câncer de vulva: revisão sistemática de potenciais biomarcadores associados ao diagnóstico e prognóstico

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Título: RNAs não codificantes no câncer de vulva: revisão sistemática de potenciais biomarcadores associados ao diagnóstico e prognóstico Abstact: Vulvar cancer (VC) is a rare gynecological neoplasm characterized by etiological and molecular heterogeneity, particularly between human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated and HPV- independent tumors. In this context, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been investigated because of their involvement in gene regulation and tumor progression and their possible use as biomarkers. This study aimed to identify and synthesize the available evidence on ncRNAs associated with VC, considering their biological roles and diagnostic and prognostic potential. A systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) recommendations and registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under registration number CRD420261406196. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (LILACS), considering studies published between 2010 and 2025. A total of 238 records were identified, of which 78 were removed as duplicates. After screening 160 records and assessing 19 full-text articles, eight studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. Five studies primarily investigated microRNAs (miRNAs), two examined long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and one analyzed circular RNAs (circRNAs). Among the main findings, reduced expression of miR-30c and let- 7a was related to increased HMGA2 expression and tumor invasiveness; miR-223-5p and miR- 19b-1-5p showed lower expression in tumors with lymph node metastasis; and increased miR- 182-5p expression promoted proliferation, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The lncRNAs MALAT1 and MEG3 and a set of circulating miRNAs showed potential to distinguish vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC) from non-tumor samples or precursor lesions. In addition, the UCA1/miR-103a/WEE1 axis was associated with cisplatin resistance, whereas circRNAs presented exploratory findings related to HPV-positive tumors. It is concluded that ncRNAs may contribute to the biological and clinical characterization of VC, although their application as biomarkers requires validation in larger and independent studies.

Análise da presença de Prevotella em câncer cervical e câncer de cabeça e pescoço: uma revisão sistemática da literatura e análise in silico

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Título: Análise da presença de Prevotella em câncer cervical e câncer de cabeça e pescoço: uma revisão sistemática da literatura e análise in silico Abstact: Cervical cancer (CC) and head and neck cancer (HNC) represent a significant public health problem, especially in developing countries, and are frequently associated with infection by Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In addition to the viral etiology, recent evidence has pointed to the involvement of the microbiome, particularly bacteria of the genus Prevotella, in the progression of these neoplasms. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the presence and potential role of Prevotella in CC and HNC through a systematic literature review and in silico approaches. The methodology involved searching the PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. After screening 609 studies, six observational articles met the inclusion criteria. Data were organized into tables and evaluated for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool. Additionally, in silico analyses were performed to assess Prevotella abundance and differentially expressed genes in HNC samples. The results show that Prevotella is primarily associated with microbial dysbiosis, HPV persistence, and inflammation in both cancers. The in silico analysis revealed a significant difference in Prevotella abundance between the tumor and adjacent tissue groups (p < 2.2e-16) and identified 1,416 altered genes shared between CC and HNC. Among these, three genes (LAMP3, ISG15, and IL6) showed a direct relationship with the presence of the bacterium, being involved in inflammatory pathways and immune evasion. These findings highlight the potential influence of Prevotella in tumor epithelial microenvironments, contributing to the progression of both CC and H