Interceptive treatment with Invisalign® First in moderate and severe cases: a case series

The increasing demand for more aesthetic/comfortable orthodontic alternatives fostered the utilization of clear aligners in recent years. However, the efficacy of clear aligners for treating complex malocclusions is often treated with scepticism. This case series aims to evaluate the predictability of the Invisalign® First system in moderate and severe cases requiring interceptive orthodontic treatments in mixed dentition. A total of 23 patients with 102 interceptive orthodontic malocclusion traits were selected for orthodontic treatment with Invisalign® First and were examined over 18 months (Phase 1). Clinical assessments included ClinCheck® predictions, cephalometric measurements, and measuring tools commonly used to quantify tooth movement. Measurements taken at the beginning and end of the treatment were compared. The complexity degree of each case was established based on the set of problems presented by each patient. All treatment objectives were achieved within 18 months, except for two Class II cases, with 69% of them solved with the first set of aligners. Additional aligners were used in the remaining cases. Even though these 23 cases suggest that the Invisalign® First (Phase 1) may be effective in most interceptive problems, controlled randomized clinical trials are required to evaluate movement predictability and how this relates to the problem complexity and additional aligners required.This research was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, grant number UID/EEA/04436/2021 and 2020.09375.BD and UNIPRO—Oral Pathology and Rehabilitation Research Uni, grant number AlignAgen-GI2-CESPU-2022

Diagnostic challenge of peritoneal tuberculosis: A case report / Desafio diagnóstico de tuberculose peritoneal: Um relato de caso

Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, which mainly affect the lungs, but other sites can also be infected, such as the peritoneum. The clinical manifestations of peritoneal tuberculosis are nonspecific, with ascites (93%), abdominal pain (73%), and fever (58%). This makes the diagnostic process more complicated and leads to a delay in adequate treatment. We report a case of ascites caused by peritoneal tuberculosis in an elderly patient being treated for bladder cancer by intravesical therapy with BCG. There was a diagnostic dilemma due to the possibility of carcinomatosis related to a history of bladder cancer. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex, which mainly affect the lungs, but other sites can also be infected, such as the peritoneum. The clinical manifestations of peritoneal tuberculosis are nonspecific, with ascites (93%), abdominal pain (73%), and fever (58%). This makes the diagnostic process more complicated and leads to a delay in adequate treatment. We report a case of ascites caused by peritoneal tuberculosis in an elderly patient being treated for bladder cancer by intravesical therapy with BCG. There was a diagnostic dilemma due to the possibility of carcinomatosis related to a history of bladder cancer.

Assessing sediment yield and streamflow with SWAT model in a small sub-basin of the Cantareira System

Hydro-sedimentological models might be useful tools for investigating the effectiveness of soil and water conservation practices. However, evaluating the usefulness of such models requires that predictions are tested against observational data and that uncertainty from model parameterization is addressed. Here we aimed to evaluate the capacity of the SWAT model to simulate monthly streamflow and sediment load in the Posses creek catchment (12 km2), Southeast Brazil. The SUFI-2 algorithm from SWAT-CUP was applied for calibration, testing, uncertainty, and sensitivity analysis. The model was calibrated and initially tested using discharge and sediment load data, which were measured at the catchment outlet. Additionally, we used soil loss measurements from erosion plots within the catchment as independent data for model evaluation. Average monthly streamflow simulations obtained satisfactory results, with Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE) values of 0.75 and 0.51 for the calibration and testing periods, respectively. Sediment load simulations also displayed satisfactory results for calibration (NSE = 0.65) and testing (NSE = 0.52). However, the comparison with independent plot data revealed that SWAT severely overestimated hillslope erosion rates and compensated it with high sediment channel deposition. Moreover, the model was not sensitive to the parameters used for calculating hillslope sediment yields. Therefore, it should be used with caution for evaluating the interactions between land use, soil erosion, and sediment delivery. We found that the commonly used outlet-based approach for model calibration and testing can lead to internal misrepresentations, and models can reproduce the right answer for the wrong reasons

CFRP bioinspirados para melhoria da resistência ao impacto e autossensorização

Os compósitos reforçados com fibras de carbono (CFRP) são cada vez mais usados em aplicações de elevado desempenho devido às excelentes propriedades mecânicas e baixo peso que apresentam. A resistência interlaminar continua, no entanto, a ser uma das maiores limitações do seu desempenho mecânico [1-3]. Recentemente, tem-se vindo a tentar superar o problema aplicando nos CFRP mecanismos semelhantes aos que garantem um elevado desempenho ao impacto em organismos vivos, p.e., o exosqueleto dos artrópodes que apresenta uma estrutura fibrosa laminada helicoidal (Bouligand) à escala micrométrica [4-6]. Sistemas sensoriais estudados em seres vivos também têm inspirado o desenvolvimento de compósitos multifuncionais [7], sendo ainda um desafio a criação de tecnologias de fabrico capazes de replicar estas estruturas/sistemas. Neste trabalho fabricaram-se CFRPs com desempenho mecânico melhorado, usando laminados bioinspirados com fibras orientadas helicoidalmente (tipo Bouligand) e nanotubos de carbono (CNT) como sensores capazes de lhes conferiram multifuncionalidade (monitorização de dano). Produziram-se por infusão por vácuo, usando uma resina epóxída reforçada com fibras contínuas de carbono, placas CFRP (550x180x4 mm) com empilhamentos helicoidal e standard que, para comparação de propriedades, foram sujeitas a ensaios de impacto e de compressão após-impacto. Para garantir a multifuncionalidade, transferiram-se florestas de CNT verticalmente alinhados (VA-CNT) obtidas por deposição química a vapor (CVD) para o laminado. Usaram-se ainda técnicas não-destrutivas (NDT) de ultrassons (C-Scan) na análise da microestrutura e avaliação dos danos produzidos após impacto. Os resultados evidenciam as dificuldades encontradas em fabricar as placas e as melhorias que a integração de estruturas bioinspiradas conferem às características e multifuncionalidade dos compósitosProjeto IAMATinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Strain sensors based on knocked down carbon nanotubes and bucky papers thin films

Recently, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) thin films have been widely applied in sensing applications due to their piezoresistive response. Furthermore, CNT anisotropic electric properties, due to its alignment, can provide useful information regarding strain direction. We present a comparative study between knocked down vertically aligned CNT based sensor, reported in our previous work [1], and CNT bucky papers (BP) based sensors. For this purpose, commercial multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were dispersed in two different solvents, dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethanol, vacuum filtrated and dried. From these freestanding BP thin films, 10x10 mm squares were cut off and transferred to polyimide (PI) films. The relative electric resistance response and sensitivity of the strained samples was measured and compared with the knocked down CNT/PI based sensor. Moreover, the morphology of the samples was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed a high sensitivity to strain, however knocked down CNT/PI based sensor presented better mechanical performance and an anisotropic behaviour that can be used to infer strain direction.FCT, Programa MIT Portugal, projeto "IAMAT (Introduction of Advanced Materials Technologies into New Product Development for the Mobility Industries

Formação de Professores: uma arquitetura pedagógica com foco na M-Learning

Este artigo apresenta o desenvolvimento de uma Arquitetura Pedagógica (AP)para a M-Learning com foco na formação de professores. Para tanto, foi utilizado o objeto de aprendizagem EduMobile que apresenta diversos tipos de materiais digitais e visa introduzir estratégias para aplicação da M-Learning em contexto escolar. A referida AP foi aplicada em um curso de formação de professores realizado na Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. A metodologia do trabalho foi de abordagem qualitativa do tipo estudo de caso. Os dados foram coletados de duas formas: a) através das participações das atividades no Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA) utilizado; b) por meio de questionário aplicado no final das atividades. A análise dos dados apontou que uma AP para M-Learning precisa contemplar aplicativos, conteúdos interativos para dispositivos móveis (DM), objetivos com foco nos DM e metodologias que possibilitem a interatividade, mobilidade e conexão com a internet. Neste sentido, entende-se que o professor que pretende fazer uso destes aparelhos pode utilizar esta AP para guiá-lo e orientá-lo nesse processo

Novo gene produzindo cotilédone verde em feijão-caupi.

Foi estudada a genética da cor verde do cotilédone da cultivar de feijão-caupi Todo-verde, utilizando dois conjuntos de cruzamentos. Em um, a cultivar Todo-verde foi cruzada com as cultivares Bettergreen e Green Dixie Blackeye para realizar o teste de alelismo em relação ao gene gc (green cotyledon) presente nessas cultivares. No outro, a cultivar Todo-verde foi cruzada com as cultivares BRS-Guariba e BR2-Bragança para estudar a herança do caráter. Os cruzamentos foram realizados em casa-de-vegetação e o experimento de campo foi realizado em cultivo irrigado por aspersão convencional, na Embrapa Meio-Norte, em Teresina, Piauí, em 2004. Foi utilizado o delineamento aumentado, com quatro blocos. Os parentais constituíram os tratamentos comuns e as demais gerações os tratamentos regulares. Foi usado o teste do X2 para a análise dos dados. O teste de alelismo mostrou que o gene que condiciona o cotilédone verde na cultivar Todo-verde não é alelo do gene que produz cotilédone verde nas cultivares Bettergreen e Green Dixie Blackeye. O estudo da herança mostrou que a cor verde na cultivar Todo-verde é um caráter monogênico recessivo. Foi proposto o nome de green cotyledon-2 e o símbolo gc-2 para identificar o gene presente na cultivar Todo-verde

Phytochemical study of Muehlenbeckia platyclada (F. Muell) leaves

Medicinal plants have active substances with therapeutic potential that have been used in the treatment of various diseases in humans since the most primitive populations. The use of those plants establishes a direct relationship with the theme of planetary health as it allows to relate the health of the planet's natural systems and the health of human civilization. The plant species Muehlenbeckia platyclada, belonging to the Polygonaceae family, is important in traditional medicine, presenting antinociceptive and analgesic activities proven in several studies. The general objective of the current study is to understand the chemical and phytochemical characteristics of M. platyclada. From the leaves, the humidity and total ash contents were quantified as well as phytochemical prospecting was carried out. An aqueous extract and four ethanolic extracts of different concentrations were prepared from the leaves of the plant drug. Total phenol and flavonoid levels were quantified and the presence of antioxidant activity was verified. As a result: The sum of total ash and humidity content produced a value of 96.39%. It was possible to observe that the reactions for tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, terpenoids/steroids, and saponins were positive while anthraquinones and alkaloids were negative. The average phenol contents ranged from 1.83 to 8.53mg/100g (of organic plant material), concerning the extracting solvents (p < 0.05). The extracting liquid that provided the highest yield of phenols and flavonoids was 50% ethanol, using the hot and cold extraction method. Regarding antioxidant activity, the effective concentration (EC50) for rutin (positive control) was 5.50mg/mL and ranged from 14.30±0.10 to 65.66±7.79 mg/mL, being identified the aqueous extract as the one with the greatest activity. Phytochemical prospecting and investigation into antioxidant activity allow the classification of the studied plant as a potential anti-inflammatory and antitumor agent