The relationship between the speech perception and the degree of satisfaction among adult users of cochlear implants

Introduction: In recent years, the benefits associated with the use of cochlear implants (CIs), especially with regard to speech perception, have proven to surpass those produced by the use of hearing aids, making CIs a highly efficient resource for patients with severe/profound hearing loss. However, few studies so far have assessed the satisfaction of adult users of CIs. Objective: To analyze the relationship between the level of speech perception and degree of satisfaction of adult users of CI. Method: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in the Audiological Research Center (CPA) of the Hospital of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC/USP), in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 12 users of CIs with pre-lingual or post-lingual hearing loss participated in this study. The following tools were used in the assessment: a questionnaire, "Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life" (SADL), culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese, as well as its relationship with the speech perception results; a speech perception test under quiet conditions; and the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT)Brazil under free field conditions. Results: The participants in the study were on the whole satisfied with their devices, and the degree of satisfaction correlated positively with the ability to perceive monosyllabic words under quiet conditions. The satisfaction did not correlate with the level of speech perception in noisy environments. Conclusion: Assessments of satisfaction may help professionals to predict what other factors, in addition to speech perception, may contribute to the satisfaction of CI users in order to reorganize the intervention process to improve the users' quality of life

Polymer single screw extruder optimization using tchebycheff scalarization method and simulated annealing algorithm

The single screw extrusion optimal design involves the optimization of six criteria that can be efficiently handled by a weighted Tchebycheff scalarization method. The performance of the method has been analyzed for three different methods to generate weight vectors. The experimental results show that the tested strategies provide similar and reasonable solutions and supply a valuable procedure to identify good trade-offs between conflicting objectives.European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 734205- H2020-MSCA-RISE-2017. The work has also been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020, UIDB/00013/2020 and UIDP/00013/2020 of CMAT-U

Single screw extrusion optimization using the tchebycheff scalarization method

The optimal design of a single screw extrusion (SSE) is a very difficult task since it deals with several conflicting performance indices. Past research to find the optimal SSE design has been successfully conducted by optimization procedures, in particular by multi-objective optimization. Problems with two or more objectives have been addressed by multi-objective evolutionary algorithms that search for the whole set of promising solutions in a single run. Our approach has been guided by the bi-objective optimization problems, using a methodology based on the weighted Tchebycheff scalarization function. The numerical results show that the proposed methodology is able to produce satisfactory results with physical meaning.This work has been supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia within the R&D Units Project Scope: UIDB/00319/2020, UIDB/05256/2020 and UIDP/05256/2020, UIDB/00013/2020 and UIDP/00013/2020 of CMAT-UM, and the European project MSCA-RISE-2015, NEWEX, Reference 734205

Community-acquired invasive liver abscess syndrome caused by a K1 serotype Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate in Brazil: a case report of hypervirulent ST23

Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Medicina Divisão de Doenças InfecciosasUNIFESP, Depto. de MedicinaUNIFESP, Depto. de Medicina Divisão de Doenças InfecciosasSciEL

Synthesis, molecular modeling and preliminary biological evaluation of a set of 3-acetyl-2,5-disubstituted-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazole as potential antibacterial, anti-Trypanosoma cruzi and antifungal agents

AbstractA series of 3-acetyl-2,5-disubstituted-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives was synthesized and their activity screened in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus, Trypanosoma cruzi, and Candida albicans. The bioactivity was expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for S. aureus strains, and as fifty-percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) of parasite population growth for T. cruzi. A molecular modeling approach was performed to establish qualitative relationships regarding the biological data and the compounds’ physicochemical properties. The 5-(4-OC4H9Ph, 5l), and 5-(4-CO2CH3Ph, 5o) derivatives were the most active compounds for S. aureus ATCC 25923 (MIC=1.95–1.25μg/mL) and T. cruzi (IC50=7.91μM), respectively. Also, a preliminary evaluation against C. albicans involving some compounds was performed and the 5-(4-CH3Ph, 5e) derivative was the most active compound (MIC=3.28–2.95μg/mL). In this preliminary study, all synthesized 3-acetyl-2,5-disubstituted-2,3-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives were active against all microorganisms tested

Variação linguística no contexto escolar: uma proposta de formação profissional para o processo de alfabetização

Com o artigo pretende-se relacionar o trabalho das variações linguísticas, no início do processo de alfabetização, considerando-se as especificidades e particularidades dosalunos dos anos iniciais do Ensino Fundamental. O objetivo é sistematizar uma proposta de formação profissional para a erradicação ou, pelo menos, minimização do preconceito e da discriminação, relacionados aos diversos usos da linguagem na sociedade. A metodologia utilizada foi a análise bibliográfica, que permitiu a elaboração de atividades. O artigo possibilita a articulação entre teoria e prática na apropriação da língua padrão, sem nenhuma manifestação de preconceito linguístico, inibindo a exclusão social. Essa situação tornou-se possível por meio da construção de atividades, subsidiadas por teorias, referentes aos temas sobre alfabetização, letramento e variação linguística

Nasolacrimal Duct Neoplasm in a Bitch

Background: Nasolacrimal duct tumors are divided into primary and secondary, with primary tumors being rare in all species. Secondary involvement of the lacrimal sac and duct can occur from any skin lesion involving the eyelid and/or conjunctiva and from any neoplastic process involving the paranasal sinuses. Lacrimal sac metastatic lesions may originate from any distant site and include carcinomas or melanomas, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most common type. The objectives of the present report were to describe a case of squamous cell carcinoma in the nasolacrimal duct and to emphasize the importance of a good ophthalmic evaluation.   Case: A 16-year-old spayed bitch white poodle was presented to the veterinary clinic. The owner complained that the animal had epiphora and mucoid secretion in the right eye, eyelid hyperemia in both eyes, and sporadic sneezing with blood. On ophthalmic examination, the animal was initially diagnosed with nasolacrimal duct obstruction and right eye (OD) blepharitis and OU uveitis. Fourteen days after the first evaluation, the nasolacrimal duct region increased, with the presence of bloody secretion. Biomicroscopy showed nodules inside the lacrimal duct, in the punctum region. The animal was sedated to obtain a fragment of the nodule for histopathological analysis, and a subsequent oral cavity evaluation identified a nodule in the transition region between the 4th premolar and 1st molar, which was sent for cytology. Cytology of the medial corner region of the RE showed epithelial and mesenchymal cells with malignancy characteristics, and the biopsy was suggestive of malignant epithelial neoplasia (carcinoma). A surgical procedure for nodule resection was ruled out because bone involvement was extensive, and chemotherapy was selected. The patient died 2 months after the 1st consultation. The diagnosis was confirmed through necropsy via immunohistochemical tests, demonstrating squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) both in the mouth and the nasal and ocular sinuses. Discussion: The most common conditions affecting the nasolacrimal drainage system in dogs are those causing obstructions. These may be congenital, arising from a developmental defect of micropunctum or agenesis of the punctum, they may be acquired, arising from infection and inflammation. SCC is a malignant neoplasm originating in the stratified squamous epithelium. The predisposing factors in cats and dogs include lack of adnexal pigmentation and, possibly, chronic irritation of the ocular surface. A light coat is considered a relevant factor, especially in regions with little hair coverage. In addition to a mass lesion, other clinical signs of eyelid or ocular surface tumors may include epiphora, conjunctival vascular injection, mucopurulent ocular discharge, 3rd eyelid protrusion, conjunctival/corneal roughness or ulceration, and corneal neovascularization or pigmentation. Clinical presentations are nonspecific. Neoplasms, whether nasal and/or in the maxillary sinus, can invade the nasolacrimal duct and spread to the nasal cavity, and neoplasms in the nasal cavity can invade the nasolacrimal duct. Ophthalmic evaluation along with good inspection of the oral cavity is a useful tool in the diagnosis of eye neoplasms that may have effects on the oral cavity or vice versa due to the strong association between them. Early diagnosis is crucial for the clinical or surgical management of each case of ophthalmic neoplasia and for therapeutic success. Keywords: neoplasm, tumor, nasolacrimal duct, dog, eye. Título: Neoplasia de ducto nasolacrimal em uma cadela Descritores: neoplasia, tumor, canalículo lacrimal cão, olho.