Upper airway assessment in cone-beam computed tomography for screening of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: development of an evaluation protocol in dentistry

Background: The upper airways are formed by the nasal cavities, pharynx, and larynx. There are several radiographic methods that allow evaluation of the craniofacial structure. Upper airway analysis in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) may be useful in diagnosing some pathologies such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). OSAS prevalence has increased significantly in recent decades, justified by increased obesity and average life expectancy. It can be associated with cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension. In some individuals with OSAS, the upper airway is compromised and narrowed. Nowadays, CBCT is widely used in dentistry by clinicians. Its use for upper airway assessment would be an advantage for screening some abnormalities related to an increased risk of pathologies such as OSAS. CBCT helps to calculate the total volume of the airways and their area in different anatomical planes (sagittal, coronal, and transverse). It also helps identify regions with the highest anteroposterior and laterolateral constriction of the airways. Despite its undoubted advantages, airway assessment is not routinely performed in dentistry. There is no protocol that allows comparisons between studies, which makes it difficult to obtain scientific evidence in this area. Hence, there is an urgent need to standardize the protocol for upper airway measurement to help clinicians identify at-risk patients. Objective: Our main aim is to develop a standard protocol for upper airway evaluation in CBCT for OSAS screening in dentistry. Methods: To measure and evaluate the upper airways, data are obtained using Planmeca ProMax 3D (Planmeca). Patient orientation is performed in accordance with the manufacturer's indications at the time of image acquisition. The exposure corresponds to 90 kV, 8 mA, and 13,713 seconds. The software used for upper airway analysis is Romexis (version 5.1.O.R; Planmeca). The images are exhibited in accordance with the field of view of 20.1×17.4 cm, size of 502×502×436 mm, and voxel size of 400 μm. Results: The protocol described and illustrated here allows for automatic calculation of the total volume of the pharyngeal airspace, its area of greatest narrowing, its location, and the smallest anteroposterior and laterolateral dimensions of the pharynx. These measurements are carried out automatically by the imaging software whose reliability is proven by the existing literature. Thus, we could reduce the possible bias of manual measurement, aiming at data collection. Conclusions: The use of this protocol by dentists will allow for standardization of the measurements and constitutes a valuable screening tool for OSAS. This protocol may also be suitable for other imaging software. The anatomical points used as reference are most relevant for standardizing studies in this field.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

State of the art and major clinical outcomes of the use of essential oils in the performance of athletes: a systematic review

Introduction: Essential oils (EOs) has been around for years and studies show that they are useful in treating various diseases and improving health. According to the United States OEs Handbook, OEs are a vital part of complementary and alternative medicine and the positive findings of OEs are now becoming a trend in sports performance research for athletes. Objective: It was to list the main scientific findings of clinical studies on the effectiveness of essential oils in improving the health and sports performance of athletes. Methods: A total of 195 articles were found involving clinical studies of the influence of essential oils on human health. After this process, 42 articles were included and 32 were discussed in this study. The present study was prepared following the systematic review guidelines – PRISMA. Results and Conclusion: Essential oils have been used in medicine for decades and have been proven to eliminate toxins from the body. They are also shown to improve the body's ability to absorb essential vitamins and nutrients. In this sense, the application of these oils not only helps to prevent and heal sports injuries but also to stimulate and relax the mind and body, leading to higher levels of fitness. Because of these inherent properties of EOs, there is growing interest in using them to tone the body and mind in a variety of ways, such as musculoskeletal preparation, injury prevention, and improving mood and performance to achieve a higher success rate in sports. sports and fitness, as well as post-exertion recovery. They can be used as an aid to make recovery faster, reducing the effect of fatigue and raising the energy level of the mind and body

Impact of Instagrammers on consumers travel behaviour in the hospitality sector

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo refletir como é que as inovações na tecnologia têm sido um forte fator que contribuíram para a transformação das categorias tradicionais de informação e, consequentemente, transformaram a perceção e experiência prática do turismo. As plataformas de redes sociais são um dos maiores fenómenos derivados dos avanços tecnológicos e têm tido uma adesão mundial extraordinária. Compreender como o novo turista viaja e como é que estes pesquisam por informação é crucial para todas as marcas e marketeers. Desde modo, a análise de novas tendências no turismo resultantes do uso de redes sociais, em particular da plataforma Instagram e do uso de Influencers em estratégias de marketing, é o ponto fulcral deste projeto dado que estas novas tendências não podem ser ignoradas se um negócio/destino quer manter a sua vantagem competitiva. As razões pelas quais a plataforma Instagram foi a escolhida para ser estudada, serão explicadas adiante, bem como detalhado o funcionamento da plataforma. Os influenciadores relacionados com o turismo, os Travel Instagrammers - também denominados influenciadores digitais - são um dos tipos de Instagrammers que existem e que estão agora a ser usados por hotéis e destinos. Perspetiva-se que terão um poder influenciador maior sobre os consumidores do que estratégias tradicionais de marketing e mesmo mais do que celebridades tradicionais. Deste modo, através deste projeto, será possível melhor compreender quem são estes indivíduos que são chamados de influenciadores digitais, a diferença entre eles, o porquê de serem tao influenciadores e, por fim, quais os benefícios para as marcas em trabalharem com eles. De acordo com os resultados do estudo de caso desta dissertação, influenciadores de viagem aparentam ter um impacto positive em duas dimensões do comportamento do consumidor, nomeadamente no Brand Awareness e Brand Loyalty. É, no entanto, importante mencionar que esse impacto é sentido em maior escala no conceito de Brand Awareness que na lealdade do consumidor. No entanto, relativamente à intenção de compra, os resultados obtidos não permitem dizer que os Instagrammers têm impactos positivos no comportamento do consumidor. As conclusões que podemos tirar relativamente à intenção de compra do consumidor é que os resultados são apenas parcialmente validados. De modo geral, os Instagrammers são considerados úteis para estratégias de marketing de hotéis que tenham por objetivo criar uma comunidade online bem como fomentar o reconhecimento da sua marca e alimentar boas relações com os seus clientes.This dissertation aims to reflect how innovation in technology has been a major force that has contributed to the transformation of traditional sources of information, thereby redefining the perception and practical experience of tourism. Social media platforms are one of the biggest highlights of the advances in technology and have been increasing in terms of worldwide usage, now more than ever. Understanding how the new tourist travels and how they search for information is a fundamental step for all businesses and marketeers. As a result, the analysis of new trends in tourism due to the use of social media, specifically Instagram and the use of digital influencers in marketing strategies, is the prevalent theme of this chapter since these new advances cannot be ignored if a hotel aims to keep their competitive advantage. The reasons why Instagram was the chosen platform to be analysed will herewith be justified along with a detailed explanation on how the platform works. Travel Instagrammers, one type of Instagrammers, also known as digital influencers, are now being endorsed by hotels and destinations and are believed to have a bigger influential power over consumers than traditional marketing strategies or even traditional celebrities. Therefore, this paper strives to give a better understand of who these digital influencers are, the different types of digital influencers that exist, why they are so influential and in what ways they can benefit brands by working with them. According to the findings of the survey made for this paper, Travel Instagrammers are seen to have a positive impact for two of the three constructs of consumer behaviour. These two constructs are respectively, Brand Awareness and Brand Loyalty. Nevertheless, this impact is higher for the concept of Brand Awareness than for the loyalty of the consumers. However, when it comes to purchase intention the findings were just partly validated and it cannot be affirmed that Instagrammers have a positive impact on the purchase intention of consumers. Overall, Instagrammers were found to be a useful marketing strategy for hotels who aim to build a digital community, create awareness of their brand and build a strong relationship with their followers

The agricultural links, the underlying wealth to the new major tourist projects in the Portuguese rural space: the case of Alentejo

The current emergence of new tourist options in the national rural space is characterized by the connection with the farming and food production resources of the big farms where these options can be found. This new model differs from the traditional rural tourism in small units scattered throughout the territory, which was disseminated in the framework of the rural development policies of Portugal engendered by the European programs LEADER and PRODER. Based on the example of Alentejo, this paper deals with the relationship between recent changes occurred in the rural environment and the sustainability of these new tourist units within this setting. The L’and Vineyards of Montemor‐o‐Novo, the Herdade da Malhadinha Nova and the Grous, in Albernoa (Beja), or still the tourist Project of S. Lourenço do Barrocal in Reguengos de Monsaraz are examples of this new model of high standing (5 stars) projects. These projects designed around a concept of tourist township elect gastronomy, wine and olive oil production and, in general, biological production as key elements to the tourism product aiming to offer the clientele a rural experience in a ‘comfortable contemporary setting ‘. The link between clients and the rural world is provided by the loyalty to ‘new’ producers’ clubs (of wine, olive oil….) and by the existence of new specific professional trainings. The successful rural culture comes to the cities. Are the rural populations benefitting from this interest and do they like it

The experiences of the patient for the period of visit in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit (UTIC)

O internamento numa UCI caracteriza-se pela presença de pessoas vulneráveis, instáveis e em estado crítico em que o sofrimento e a morte estão constantemente presentes. O doente cardíaco crítico vivencia para além da perda de integridade física, uma alteração da sua auto-estima, da sua auto-imagem, da relação com os seus pares e do desempenho de papéis sociais, sendo isto gerador de sentimentos de exclusão social e familiar. Objetivo: Identificar as vivências do doente face ao período de visita na UTIC (Unidade de tratamento Intensivo Coronário), de forma a melhorar a prestação de cuidados ao doente internado. Processo Metodológico: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, transversal, descritiva, com análise de conteúdo dos dados obtidos por entrevista semi-estruturada. Resultados: O contributo das visitas, a relação de confiança na equipa e o acompanhamento familiar foram as vivências mais evidenciadas pelo doente cardíaco em relação ao período de visita na UTIC. Conclusão: O estudo analisado indica-nos uma clara necessidade de mudança no que se refere à atual norma de visita na UTIC. Realça a necessidade de um maior acompanhamento familiar que se exprime numa personalização do horário de visita, definido pelo alargamento do horário, pela duração e número de visitas. Palavras-Chave: Vivências do Doente Cardíaco Crítico, Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos, Visita Familiar/Pessoa Significativ

The Methodology For The Creation Of An Administration Model For LowCapacity Public Means Of Transportation Administered By Cooperatives

The proliferation of passengers’ informal means of transportation has become a nationwide problem, independent of the size, socioeconomic characteristics or geographical location of cities. Giving in to strong pressures, most cities that previously had some kind of informal means of transportation, started to regulate and legalize that type of activity, which has been run by individual owners organized into cooperatives. Generally speaking, the informal transportation services have high popular acceptance, however, the competition with bus operating companies and conflicts with governmental authorities make these transportation operators seek higher sustainability to the services they offer. Thus, this study sought a methodology for creating an administrative model, in which the urban transport cooperatives may consolidate themselves, seek larger control and performance on the quality of the services rendered to users, in addition to maintaining a satisfactory economical-financial balance for the cooperated operators and thus, improve their image towards the managing agency.Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies. Faculty of Economics and Business. The University of Sydne

Bees, ecosystem services and the Brazilian Forest Code

As abelhas são consideradas os principais polinizadores em ambientes naturais e agrícolas. Esse serviço ecossistêmico é essencial para a manutenção das populações selvagens de plantas e para a produção de alimento nos ambientes agrícolas e está ameaçado em várias regiões do mundo. O desmatamento é uma das causas principais porque ele afeta as populações de abelhas. A conservação das florestas é necessária para a manutenção das populações de abelhas e da polinização nas paisagens agrícolas.Bees are considered the main pollinators in natural and agricultural environments. This ecosystem service is essential to the maintenance of wild plant populations and to food production on agricultural environments and it's threatened in many regions of the world. Deforestation is pointed out as one of the main causes because it affects bee populations. Conservation of forests is necessary for the maintenance of bee populations and pollination services on agricultural landscapes

Mechanical properties of polymethyl methacrylate as denture base material: heat-polymerized vs. 3D-printed — systematic review and meta-analysis of in vitro studies

The synergy between dentistry and informatics has allowed the emergence of new technologies, specifically 3D printing, which has led to the development of new materials. The aim of this research was to compare the mechanical properties of dental base resins for 3D printing with conventional ones. This systematic review was developed using the PRISMA guidelines, and the electronic literature search was performed with the PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science—MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, until 30 April 2022. Two researchers selected the studies independently, and thus eight articles were found eligible for analysis. A meta-analysis was developed to estimate flexural strength. The Cohen’s kappa corresponding to this review was 1.00, and the risk assessment was considered low for the included studies. The 3D printing resin presented lower values of flexural strength and hardness compared with the heat-cured resin. Regarding impact strength, a lower value was recorded for the heat-cured resin compared with the 3D printing resin. Three-dimensional printing resins are viable materials for making prosthetic bases but need further clinical research.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio