Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) is an evidence-based instructional approach combining background knowledge, writing, and self-regulation strategies to improve students' writing motivation and performance. While the positive impact of SRSD on writing performance variables is well-established, mixed findings were found for motivational variables, namely self-efficacy. In addition, the impact of SRSD on...
Carbon capture and geological storage (CCS) is a key technology for the World deep decarbonization. However, several challenges remain, such as the optimization of the carbon transportation infrastructures. This study proposes a methodology that applies the Kernel Density function in a geographic information system software and uses as input, CO2 emission sources data to identify emission clusters and emission ...
Group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis remains a devastating disease. The absence of an animal model reproducing the natural infectious process has limited our understanding of the disease and, consequently, delayed the development of effective treatments. We describe here a mouse model in which bacteria are transmitted to the offspring from vaginally colonised pregnant females, the natural route of infection. ...
Dental caries is among the more prevalent chronic human infections for which an effective human vaccine has not yet been achieved. Enolase from Streptococcus sobrinus has been identified as an immunomodulatory protein. In the present study, we used S. sobrinus recombinant enolase (rEnolase) as a target antigen and assessed its therapeutic effect in a rat model of dental caries. Wistar rats that were fed a cario...
Streptococcus agalactiae is a contagious, mastitis-causing pathogen that is highly adapted to survive in the bovine mammary gland. This study used a BALB/c mouse model of Streptococcus agalactiae mastitis to evaluate leukocyte populations in regional lymph nodes and cytokine expression in the mammary gland involved in the immune response against Streptococcus agalactiae. It was found that the bacteria replicate...
Interactions of several microbial pathogens with the plasminogen system increase their invasive potential. In this study, we show that Streptococcus agalactiae binds human plasminogen which can be subsequently activated to plasmin, thus generating a proteolytic bacterium. S. agalactiae binds plasminogen via the direct pathway, using plasminogen receptors, and via the indirect pathway through fibrinogen receptor...