The Emotion of Pain for a Critical Theory of Society

Pain, as a physical and emotional experience, is an involuntary and unpleasant response to a situation, namely an external manifestation of an unintentional aversion to reality. This paper discusses the social aspects of pain that are relevant to political philosophy, insofar as the concept of pain can be considered as an effective parameter to define a society. It will be argued that if pain in our society is experienced as private, the experience of solidarity can only be shared with people and situations with whom we can identify.  In order to understand the emotional distance of many injustices in the world, the need for an awareness of human beings’ involvement in other people’s suffering is critical

Modeling and simulations of nanoparticles in liquid crystalline systems

The aim of this work is to investigate, using extensive Monte Carlo computer simulations, composite materials consisting of liquid crystals doped with nanoparticles. These systems are currently of great interest as they offer the possibility of tuning the properties of liquid crystals used in displays and other devices as well as providing a way of obtaining regularly organized systems of nanoparticles exploiting the molecular organization of the liquid crystal medium. Surprisingly enough, there is however a lack of fundamental knowledge on the properties and phase behavior of these hybrid materials, making the route to their application an essentially empirical one. Here we wish to contribute to the much needed rationalization of these systems studying some basic effects induced by different nanoparticles on a liquid crystal host. We investigate in particular the effects of nanoparticle shape, size and polarity as well as of their affinity to the liquid crystal solvent on the stability of the system, monitoring phase transitions, order and molecular organizations. To do this we have proposed a coarse grained approach where nanoparticles are modelled as a suitably shaped (spherical, rod and disk like) collection of spherical Lennard-Jones beads, while the mesogens are represented with Gay-Berne particles. We find that the addition of apolar nanoparticles of different shape typically lowers the nematic–isotropic transition of a non-polar nematic, with the destabilization being greater for spherical nanoparticles. For polar mesogens we have studied the effect of solvent affinity of the nanoparticles showing that aggregation takes places for low solvation values. Interestingly, if the nanoparticles are polar the aggregates contribute to stabilizing the system, compensating the shape effect. We thus find the overall effects on stability to be a delicate balance of often contrasting contributions pointing to the relevance of simulations studies for understanding these complex systems

High Power Laser and Photobiomodulation in Oral Surgery: Case Report

Introduction: The labial frenum is a fold of mucous membrane that attaches the lip and the cheek to the alveolar mucosa, the gingiva, and the underlying periosteum. In some cases, its presence can cause a midline diastema, periodontal diseases related to food impaction, or retention of biofilm, among others. In such cases, lip frenectomy is indicated as treatment, which can be performed with a scalpel (conventional method), an electric scalpel, or a surgical laser.Objective: To show a clinical case performed at Laser Extension Project in Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão grounded in a literature review.Case Presentation: A laser frenectomy was performed on a female patient, aged 20, who had a diastema between the upper central incisors and an indication for frenum removal. The high-power diode laser is excellent for procedures in soft tissue because its wavelength is well absorbed by hemoglobin and other pigments; its use also allows a reduction in the amount of anesthetic and medicines used. The parameters used were 2 W, in a continuous mode, 808 nm infrared emission; with delivery of the beam through optical fiber 300 μM; energy of 120 J; 20 pps.Conclusion: the high power diode laser allowed a satisfactory result, the procedure was safe, the technique was a simple one and of reduced clinical time, as mentioned in the literature. It is worth noting that the technique is dependent on the skill of the professional performing it

Burden and resources in caregivers of people with multiple sclerosis: A qualitative study.

BackgroundCaregivers of people with Multiple Sclerosis are required to provide ongoing assistance especially during the advanced stages of the disease. They have to manage interventions and assume responsibilities which significantly impact both their personal quality of life and family's dynamics.ObjectiveA qualitative phenomenological study was carried out to understand the experience of burden in caregivers and their resources to manage it. The study also explores how healthcare services involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway respond to the needs of well-being of patients and family members.Methods17 caregivers were involved in focus groups and in semi-structured individual interviews.ResultsFatigue is experienced by all respondents and it starts when physical disabilities increase or when people become aware of them. Many caregivers declare that they refer to intrinsic (love towards their relatives, patience and dedication) or extrinsic (family members, hobbies) resources to cope with the burden of assistance. Patient associations and the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway play a significant role in supporting caregivers.ConclusionsFatigue, loneliness, and isolation are experienced by caregivers and strongly affect their quality of life and health status. The study highlights caregivers' need to reconcile working times with care times, to give more space to self-care and to have moments to share their experiences with someone else. These needs should be at the core of health policies in order to avoid physical and emotional breakdowns which could lead to the rupture of the relational balance on which home care is based

AUTOGESTÃO ORGÂNICA SOCIOPRODUTIVA: PRÁXIS PARA IR ALÉM DA ALIENAÇÃO

Por definição, ir além da alienação significa superar as suas mediações sociais. Enquanto que no trabalho assalariado, tais mediações revelam-se na divisão social hierárquica, nas experimentações de trabalho associado, essas mesmas mediações impõem-se no campo da produção e circulação de mercadorias. O artigo discute a crítica dialética como recurso metodológico para se instaurar a práxis questionadora e transformadora dessa realidade, ensejando um processo social de compreensão crítica e construção política da emancipação social. Alicerçadas nessa práxis, em oposição à subordinação e à subsunção do trabalho ao capital, afirmam-se a organicidade (controle da produção) e a autogestão (autodeterminação política)

Characteristics of people interviewed.

BackgroundCaregivers of people with Multiple Sclerosis are required to provide ongoing assistance especially during the advanced stages of the disease. They have to manage interventions and assume responsibilities which significantly impact both their personal quality of life and family’s dynamics.ObjectiveA qualitative phenomenological study was carried out to understand the experience of burden in caregivers and their resources to manage it. The study also explores how healthcare services involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway respond to the needs of well-being of patients and family members.Methods17 caregivers were involved in focus groups and in semi-structured individual interviews.ResultsFatigue is experienced by all respondents and it starts when physical disabilities increase or when people become aware of them. Many caregivers declare that they refer to intrinsic (love towards their relatives, patience and dedication) or extrinsic (family members, hobbies) resources to cope with the burden of assistance. Patient associations and the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway play a significant role in supporting caregivers.ConclusionsFatigue, loneliness, and isolation are experienced by caregivers and strongly affect their quality of life and health status. The study highlights caregivers’ need to reconcile working times with care times, to give more space to self-care and to have moments to share their experiences with someone else. These needs should be at the core of health policies in order to avoid physical and emotional breakdowns which could lead to the rupture of the relational balance on which home care is based.</div

The resources of caregivers.

BackgroundCaregivers of people with Multiple Sclerosis are required to provide ongoing assistance especially during the advanced stages of the disease. They have to manage interventions and assume responsibilities which significantly impact both their personal quality of life and family’s dynamics.ObjectiveA qualitative phenomenological study was carried out to understand the experience of burden in caregivers and their resources to manage it. The study also explores how healthcare services involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway respond to the needs of well-being of patients and family members.Methods17 caregivers were involved in focus groups and in semi-structured individual interviews.ResultsFatigue is experienced by all respondents and it starts when physical disabilities increase or when people become aware of them. Many caregivers declare that they refer to intrinsic (love towards their relatives, patience and dedication) or extrinsic (family members, hobbies) resources to cope with the burden of assistance. Patient associations and the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway play a significant role in supporting caregivers.ConclusionsFatigue, loneliness, and isolation are experienced by caregivers and strongly affect their quality of life and health status. The study highlights caregivers’ need to reconcile working times with care times, to give more space to self-care and to have moments to share their experiences with someone else. These needs should be at the core of health policies in order to avoid physical and emotional breakdowns which could lead to the rupture of the relational balance on which home care is based.</div

The fatigue of caregivers in assistance.

BackgroundCaregivers of people with Multiple Sclerosis are required to provide ongoing assistance especially during the advanced stages of the disease. They have to manage interventions and assume responsibilities which significantly impact both their personal quality of life and family’s dynamics.ObjectiveA qualitative phenomenological study was carried out to understand the experience of burden in caregivers and their resources to manage it. The study also explores how healthcare services involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway respond to the needs of well-being of patients and family members.Methods17 caregivers were involved in focus groups and in semi-structured individual interviews.ResultsFatigue is experienced by all respondents and it starts when physical disabilities increase or when people become aware of them. Many caregivers declare that they refer to intrinsic (love towards their relatives, patience and dedication) or extrinsic (family members, hobbies) resources to cope with the burden of assistance. Patient associations and the Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Pathway play a significant role in supporting caregivers.ConclusionsFatigue, loneliness, and isolation are experienced by caregivers and strongly affect their quality of life and health status. The study highlights caregivers’ need to reconcile working times with care times, to give more space to self-care and to have moments to share their experiences with someone else. These needs should be at the core of health policies in order to avoid physical and emotional breakdowns which could lead to the rupture of the relational balance on which home care is based.</div