Generic patient search mechanism for ALERT applications

Estágio realizado na ALERT Life Sciences Computing, S. A.Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Informátca e Computação. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Surface Morphology Alterations In Bovine Dentin Exposed To Different Bleaching Agents

Aim: This study evaluated the morphological changes caused by internal bleaching agents on dentin surface. Methods: Twenty crowns of bovine incisors were cut into slabs that were randomly distributed in six experimental groups (n = 5), according to the bleaching agent used: G1 – sodium perborate + water, G2 – sodium perborate + 2% chlorhexidine gel, G3 – sodium perborate + 30% hydrogen peroxide, G4 – 30% hydrogen peroxide, G5 – 37% carbamide peroxide and G6 – gel base without carbamide. Two Control Groups were used: C1 with distilled water and C2 with 2% chlorhexidine gel. The specimens were immersed in the respective test bleaching agent and incubated at 37 °C for seven days. Following, they were prepared for scanning electron microscopy and five images from each tooth segment were recorded and analyzed for surface morphological alterations, by three previously calibrated examiners. Inter-examiner agreement was verified using the Kappa test. The rank averages obtained for the groups were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance at 5% significance level. Results: The analysis of the scores obtained indicated that all tested materials caused some morphological alteration on dentin, except for sodium perborate + water (G1) and Control Groups 1 and 2. Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide caused significantly more severe alterations (p < 0.05) to dentin structure, than the other bleaching agents evaluated. Conclusions: Sodium perborate-based pastes seemed to be the most harmless agent to dentin structures in non-vital tooth bleaching, while hydrogen peroxide solutions and carbamide peroxide agents caused the greatest alterations.8125-2

Aplicação de uma órtese funcional para mão em indivíduos com lesão do plexo braquial

One of the diseases that cause severe disability and that directly affect the individual’ssocial participation and quality of life is the brachial plexus injury. One of the interventions widelyused in the rehabilitation program of the individual who suffered brachial plexus injury is themanufacture and prescription of orthoses. However the majority of currently available orthosis forbrachial plexus injuries, are used in order to positioning the upper limb and to relieve pain, withoutoffering the functionality to injured limb. The aim of this study was to describe the fi rst tests of aprototype orthosis for hand function, known as Functional Glove in adult patients with paralysis inthe hand and wrist due to brachial plexus. This research consisted of experimental studie, attendedby three patients. Three instruments were used: Unimanual Function Test, Bimanual Function Testand Satisfaction Questionnaire. The results showed that the patients managed control the openingand closing of the orthosis by means of myoelectric signals picked up by surface electrodes placedover the selected muscles, allowing manipulation of objects in unimanual and bimanual activities.The patients reported high index of satisfaction with the use of Functional Glove.Uma das patologias que causam grande incapacidade e que afetam diretamente naparticipação social do indivíduo é a lesão do plexo braquial. No processo de reabilitação de indivíduosque sofreram lesão do plexo braquial, órteses são comumente utilizadas como recursosterapêuticos. Porém a maioria das órteses utilizadas nas lesões do plexo braquial, são usadas comobjetivo de posicionar o membro superior a fi m de evitar deformidades e aliviar a dor, sem oferecerfuncionalidade ao membro lesado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever os primeiros testes deum protótipo de órtese funcional para mão, defi nida como Luva Funcional, em indivíduos adultoscom paralisia em mão e punho, devido a lesão do plexo braquial. O trabalho consistiu em estudoexperimental, onde participaram três pacientes com lesão de plexo braquial. Foram utilizados trêsinstrumentos: Teste de Função Unimanual, Teste de Função Bimanual e Questionário de Satisfação.Os resultados demonstraram que os pacientes conseguiram controlar a abertura e o fechamentoda órtese por meio de sinais mioelétricos captados pelos eletrodos de superfíce colocados sobrea musculatura selecionada. Eles conseguiram segurar e soltar objetos utilizando a órtese LuvaFuncional e conseguiram realizar atividades que exigem o uso de duas mãos. Todos os pacientesdemonstraram alto índice de satisfação com o uso da órtese Luva Funcional

A didactic teaching methodology to assist in the analysis of the economic impact on fuel prices commercialized in the Carajás region.

This research aims to analyze the economic impacts caused by the addition of the third digit after the comma in the prices of fuels commercialized in the Carajás region (Parauapebas, Canaã dos Carajás, Curionópolis e Serra dos Carajás) located in the southeast of Pará State, Brazil, and the professional categories chosen were UBER application drivers, who use gasoline with additives in their vehicles, sales representatives who use motorcycles and regular gasoline for their work and lastly, intercity van cooperative drivers who use regular diesel fuel. The results of the investigation highlighted that there was a total loss of 2,10 BRL, for the three categories of professionals for every 100 liters of fuel consumed, representing an economic impact of approximately 43% for S-10 diesel, 38% for regular gasoline and 19% for gasoline with additives. Furthermore, in the professional categories analyzed, it was observed that the greatest economic impact occurred for the group of inter-municipal van drivers, with an annual cost of 191,52 BRL. Subsequently, App drivers obtained 14,72 BRL of economic implication per year, and finally, with less annual impact, sales representatives with a cost of 2,72 BRL

Short-Term Analysis of Human Dental Pulps After Direct Capping with Portland Cement

This study evaluated the short-term response of human pulp tissue when directly capped with Portland cement. In this series of cases, twenty human third molars that were scheduled for extraction were used. After cavity preparation, pulp exposure was achieved and Portland cement pulp capping was performed. Teeth were extracted after 1, 7, 14 and 21 days following treatment and prepared for histological examination and bacterial detection. Each group had 5 teeth. The results were descriptively analysed. Dentin bridge formation was seen in two teeth with some distance from the material interface (14 and 21 days). Soft inflammatory responses were observed in most of the cases. Bacteria were not disclosed in any specimen. PC exhibited some features of biocompatibility and capability of inducing mineral pulp response in short-term evaluation. The results suggested that PC has a potential to be used as a less expensive pulp capping material in comparison to other pulp capping materials

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Application of a functional hand orthosis in individuals with brachial plexus injuries

Uma das patologias que causam grande incapacidade e que afetam diretamente naparticipação social do indivíduo é a lesão do plexo braquial. No processo de reabilitação de indivíduosque sofreram lesão do plexo braquial, órteses são comumente utilizadas como recursosterapêuticos. Porém a maioria das órteses utilizadas nas lesões do plexo braquial, são usadas comobjetivo de posicionar o membro superior a fi m de evitar deformidades e aliviar a dor, sem oferecerfuncionalidade ao membro lesado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever os primeiros testes deum protótipo de órtese funcional para mão, defi nida como Luva Funcional, em indivíduos adultoscom paralisia em mão e punho, devido a lesão do plexo braquial. O trabalho consistiu em estudoexperimental, onde participaram três pacientes com lesão de plexo braquial. Foram utilizados trêsinstrumentos: Teste de Função Unimanual, Teste de Função Bimanual e Questionário de Satisfação.Os resultados demonstraram que os pacientes conseguiram controlar a abertura e o fechamentoda órtese por meio de sinais mioelétricos captados pelos eletrodos de superfíce colocados sobrea musculatura selecionada. Eles conseguiram segurar e soltar objetos utilizando a órtese LuvaFuncional e conseguiram realizar atividades que exigem o uso de duas mãos. Todos os pacientesdemonstraram alto índice de satisfação com o uso da órtese Luva Funcional.One of the diseases that cause severe disability and that directly affect the individual’ssocial participation and quality of life is the brachial plexus injury. One of the interventions widelyused in the rehabilitation program of the individual who suffered brachial plexus injury is themanufacture and prescription of orthoses. However the majority of currently available orthosis forbrachial plexus injuries, are used in order to positioning the upper limb and to relieve pain, withoutoffering the functionality to injured limb. The aim of this study was to describe the fi rst tests of aprototype orthosis for hand function, known as Functional Glove in adult patients with paralysis inthe hand and wrist due to brachial plexus. This research consisted of experimental studie, attendedby three patients. Three instruments were used: Unimanual Function Test, Bimanual Function Testand Satisfaction Questionnaire. The results showed that the patients managed control the openingand closing of the orthosis by means of myoelectric signals picked up by surface electrodes placedover the selected muscles, allowing manipulation of objects in unimanual and bimanual activities.The patients reported high index of satisfaction with the use of Functional Glove

Surface morphology alterations in bovine dentin exposed to different bleaching agents

Aim: This study evaluated the morphological changes caused by internal bleaching agents on dentin surface. Methods: Twenty crowns of bovine incisors were cut into slabs that were randomly distributed in six experimental groups (n = 5), according to the bleaching agent used: G1 – sodium perborate + water, G2 – sodium perborate + 2% chlorhexidine gel, G3 – sodium perborate + 30% hydrogen peroxide, G4 – 30% hydrogen peroxide, G5 – 37% carbamide peroxide and G6 – gel base without carbamide. Two Control Groups were used: C1 with distilled water and C2 with 2% chlorhexidine gel. The specimens were immersed in the respective test bleaching agent and incubated at 37 °C for seven days. Following, they were prepared for scanning electron microscopy and five images from each tooth segment were recorded and analyzed for surface morphological alterations, by three previously calibrated examiners. Inter-examiner agreement was verified using the Kappa test. The rank averages obtained for the groups were subjected to Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance at 5% significance level. Results: The analysis of the scores obtained indicated that all tested materials caused some morphological alteration on dentin, except for sodium perborate + water (G1) and Control Groups 1 and 2. Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide caused significantly more severe alterations (p < 0.05) to dentin structure, than the other bleaching agents evaluated. Conclusions: Sodium perborate-based pastes seemed to be the most harmless agent to dentin structures in non-vital tooth bleaching, while hydrogen peroxide solutions and carbamide peroxide agents caused the greatest alterations

Description of mitochon genome and phylogenetic considerations of Sabethes bipartipes, Sabethes cyaneus, Sabethes quasicyaneus, and Sabethes tarsopus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Center of Genomics and System Biology. Post-graduate program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Genomic and Bioinformatics. Belém, PA, BrazilState of Pará University. Post-graduate program in Parasitary Biology in the Amazon, Center of Biological and Health Sciences. Belém, PA, BrazilMinistério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilMinistério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilMinistério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilState of Pará University. Post-graduate program in Parasitary Biology in the Amazon, Center of Biological and Health Sciences. Belém, PA, BrazilState of Pará University. Post-graduate program in Parasitary Biology in the Amazon, Center of Biological and Health Sciences. Belém, PA, Brazil / Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilMinistério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilMinistério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilState of Pará University. Post-graduate program in Parasitary Biology in the Amazon, Center of Biological and Health Sciences. Belém, PA, Brazil / Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilThe genus Sabethes (Diptera: Culicidae) comprises species of great epidemiological relevance, particularly involved in transmission cycles of the Yellow fever virus in South America. Given the unavailability of information related to aspects of evolutionary biology and molecular taxonomy of species of this genus of mosquitoes, we report here the first sequencing of the mitochondrial genomes of Sabethes bipartipes, Sabethes cyaneus, Sabethes tarsopus, and Sabethes quasicyaneus. The sequences obtained showed an average length of 14,920 bp, comprising 37 functional genes (13 PCGs, 22 tRNA, and 02 rRNA). The phylogenies reconstructed by Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, based on the concatenated sequences of all 13 PCGs, produced similar topologies and strongly supported the monophyletic relationship between the Sabethes subgenera, corroborating the known taxonomic classification based on aspects of the external morphology of the taxa assessed. The data and information produced from the Sabethes species evaluated here may be useful for future taxonomic and evolutionary studies of the genus, as well as the Culicidae family