In or out: Justice-involved women characterization and their perceptions about penal sanctions.

Women incarceration rates in Portugal are rising, nevertheless, noncustodial sanctions should be chosen, whenever possible. This paper aims to understand which women are being sentenced to noncustodial sanctions and which are not, and what they think about their penalty, considering that the penalties’ effectiveness is linked to how they are experienced. A self-report questionnaire was administered to 152 Portuguese women serving custodial and non-custodial sentences. Results demonstrated that women were not spared from prison, regardless of their parental and marital situation and whether or not this was their first penalty or if it was a nonviolent crime conviction. The women generally considered their sentences to be unfair, and rehabilitation was not considered the purpose guiding judges’ sentencing decisions. Implications for the rehabilitation of justice-involved women are discussed since these perceptions might compromise their adherence to the penalties and minimize its effectiveness.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCT; FEDERinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Feedback on audit and action planning for dental caries control : a qualitative study to investigate the acceptability among interdisciplinary pediatric dental care teams

Introduction: American Indian and Alaska Native children suffer from the poorest oral health of all populational groups in the United States. Evidence-based practices (EBP) for caries control are well established, but systematically implementing such practices have proven difficult. Audit and feedback with goal setting, and action planning to implement these EBPs have not been tested or adapted for Alaska Native healthcare settings. The aim of this study was to investigate acceptability and perceived feasibility of an audit and feedback intervention for pediatric dental caries control among dental providers and patient stakeholders. Methods: The pilot program was implemented in two dental clinics from a tribal healthcare consortium in Alaska. Key-informant interviews were conducted to investigate the contextual, organizational, and behavioral facilitators and barriers to the implementation and expansion of the program. Interview transcripts were analyzed by two researchers using thematic analysis. Results: Eight key informants were interviewed twice (during and after the intervention period), and one once, for a total of 17 interviews. Patient stakeholders were not interviewed due to COVID-19 pandemic clinic closures and social isolation mandates. Three principal themes emerged: a positive organizational climate and culture fostered the acceptability of the program, the positive impacts of the program observed in the pediatric dental teams and the organization, and the challenges to implement the program including understanding the data reports, trusting the accuracy of the data, and competing priorities. Conclusions: The intervention of audit and feedback with goal setting and action planning was well accepted and perceived as feasible by the study participants given the financial and human resources provided by the research project. This qualitative study can inform the design and evaluation of process-oriented implementation strategies geared towards decreasing health inequities and improving health outcomes, such as dental caries in American Indian and Alaska Native children and adolescents

Characterization of the biology and infectivity of Leishmania infantum viscerotropic and dermotropic strains isolated from HIV+ and HIV- patients in the murine model of visceral leishmaniasis

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases with a variety of clinical manifestations. The form of the disease is highly dependent on the infective Leishmania species and the immunological status of the host. The infectivity of the parasite strain also plays an important role in the progression of the infection. The aim of this work is to understand the influence of the natural infectivity of Leishmania strains in the outcome of visceral leishmaniasis. METHODS: In this study we have characterized four strains of L. infantum in terms of molecular typing, in vitro cultivation and differentiation. Two strains were isolated from HIV+ patients with visceral leishmaniasis (Bibiano and E390M), one strain was isolated from a cutaneous lesion in an immunocompetent patient (HL) and another internal reference strain causative of visceral leishmaniasis (ST) also from an immunocompetent patient was used for comparison. For this objective, we have compared their virulence by in vitro and in vivo infectivity in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis. RESULTS: Molecular typing unraveled a new k26 sequence attributed to MON-284 zymodeme and allowed the generation of a molecular signature for the identification of each strain. In vitro cultivation enabled the production of promastigotes with comparable growth curves and metacyclogenesis development. The HL strain was the most infective, showing the highest parasite loads in vitro that were corroborated with the in vivo assays, 6 weeks post-infection in BALB/c mice. The two strains isolated from HIV+ patients, both belonging to two different zymodemes, revealed different kinetics of infection. CONCLUSION: Differences in in vitro and in vivo infectivity found in the murine model were then attributed to intrinsic characteristics of each strain. This work is supported by other studies that present the parasite's inherent features as factors for the multiplicity of clinical manifestations and severity of leishmaniasis.This work was supported by FCT project number PTDC/BIA‒MIC/11866/2011, FEDER Ciência 2010 project number PTDC/SAU‒FCF/101017/2008 and MICINN project number PIM2010‒ENI00627. JC was supported by fellowship from FCT code SFRH/BD/48626/2008 and CS by Contratos de Técnicos de apoyo a la investigación en el SNS code AES-FIS-2011.S

Association between motor proficiency and oral health in people with intellectual disabilities

Background: People with intellectual disabilities (IDs) may be at increased risk of developing periodontal diseases and dental caries due to poor oral hygiene. Our aim was to investigate motor proficiency factors associated with presence of visible plaque and gingival bleeding in people with IDs. We were particularly interested in the level of dependence, manual coordination and fine manual control of people with ID, as well as the level of exhaustion of the primary caregiver. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 299 people with ID were evaluated for oral hygiene using the simplified Visible Plaque Index and for gum inflammation using the Gingival Bleeding Index. The Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test assessed motor proficiency through fine manual control (fine motor integration and fine motor precision) and manual coordination (manual dexterity and upper limb coordination). The level of dependence was assessed by the Katz dependency index, and the caregiver was tested for exhaustion using the fatigue severity scale. Prevalence ratios [and 95% confidence intervals (CI)] were calculated using crude and adjusted Poisson regression with robust variance. Results: The exhaustion of the caregiver was associated positively to visible plaque [prevalence ratio (PR) = 1.36; 95% CI 1.06-1.65]. For gingival bleeding, people with IDs that had better fine motor integration (PR = 0.49; 95% CI 0.33-0.75) and precision (PR = 0.50; 95% CI 0.26-0.94), as well as manual dexterity (PR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.49-0.77), presented better results. Conclusion: Poor oral hygiene and gum inflammation were associated with motor proficiency of people with IDs and caregivers' exhaustion. Interventions to improve the oral health of people with IDs should take into account such conditions

Thyroid shields and neck exposures in cephalometric radiography

BACKGROUND: The thyroid is among the more radiosensitive organs in the body. The goal of this study was twofold: (1) to evaluate age-related changes in what is exposed to ionizing radiation in the neck area, and (2) to assess thyroid shield presence in cephalometric radiographs METHODS: Cephalometric radiographs at one academic setting were sampled and neck exposure was related to calendar year and patient's gender and age. RESULTS: In the absence of shields, children have more vertebrae exposed than adults (p < 0.0001) and females have more neck tissue exposed inferior to the hyoid bone than males (p < 0.0001). The hyoid bone-porion distance increased with age (p <0.01). Thyroid shields were visible in 19% of the radiographs and depended strongly on the calendar year during which patient was seen (p-value <0.0001). Compared to adults, children were less likely to wear thyroid shields, particularly between 1973 and 1990 (1.8% versus 7.3% – p-value < 0.05) and between 2001 and 2003 (7.1% versus 42.9% – p-value < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the absence of a thyroid shield, children have more neck structure exposed to radiation than adults. In agreement with other reports, thyroid shield utilization in this study was low, particularly in children

Feasibility and acceptability of home delivery of water for dental caries control in latinx children — “sediento por una sonrisa,” thirsty for a smile : single-arm feasibility study

Background: Outcomes of surgical treatments under general anesthesia for early childhood caries of young children from low-income groups are poor requiring retreatment within 2 years. Dietary sugar is an ideal intervention target given that it is the most prominent risk factor for dental caries and there is increasing evidence of successful interventions to reduce its intake. Our aim is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of the Thirsty for a Smile intervention, designed to promote consumption of water in lieu of sugar sweetened beverages, among children who underwent surgery for early childhood caries and their caregivers, mostly from Latino heritage. Methods: A single-arm feasibility study was conducted in a dental practice from a community health center in eastern Washington State. Bottled water was delivered to the participants’ homes and caregivers received patientcentered counseling for setting goals to increase children’s water intake and reduce sugar sweetened beverages consumption. We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures through participation rates, interviews and a questionnaire completed by the caregivers. Data was analyzed and themes and descriptive statistics presented. Results: Twenty-two dyads of caregivers and their children between 2 and 9 years old who recently had surgical treatment for early childhood dental caries were enrolled. All study assessments were completed by more than 90% of participants, except for the final 24-h dietary recall (73%). Dietary counseling, both in person and brief telephone calls, was highly acceptable to the caregivers, and they also reported their children enjoyed and used the water bottles. On a scale from 1 to 10, the average rating for the helpfulness of the dietary counseling component for changing child’s drinking habits was 9.62 and for the water delivery component, 8.86. Conclusions: This study tested the feasibility of conducting a trial in a dental practice setting, and the acceptability among caregivers of young children who underwent surgery for early childhood caries. It demonstrated that the Thirsty for a Smile intervention and study processes were feasible and acceptable. The study provides useful information for implementation of a two-arm randomized controlled trial in this setting and may also benefit other researchers attempting to test similar interventions

Processos avaliativos em tempos de pandemia: métodos, instrumentos e as novas tecnologias.

O artigo apresenta um levantamento sobre o processo avaliativo em tempos de pandemia, no qual se enfatiza os métodos e instrumentos utilizados no período, para que as práticas desenvolvidas tivessem resultados positivos, destaca o uso das tecnologias da informação e comunicação (TICs) educacionais e o impacto delas nas práticas educativas. Tem como objetivo verificar quais processos avaliativos foi utilizado no ensino remoto, durante a pandemia, com ênfase, nos instrumentos e métodos aplicados. A pesquisa traz como principal questionamento: os métodos e instrumentos avaliativos aplicados nos tempos de pandemia foram eficazes e atingiram os objetivos de ensino? Além de ser um estudo bibliográfico, de natureza qualitativa, com fundamentação teórica baseada em diferentes autores. A pesquisa permite entender, de modo específico, os métodos e instrumentos de avaliação utilizados nos tempos de Pandemia de Coronavírus (COVID-19) durante os anos letivos de 2020 e 2021 dentro de um sistema educacional com o ensino remoto

Efeitos da poluição do ar na função respiratória de escolares, Rio de Janeiro, RJ

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between daily exposure to air pollution and lung function in school children. METHODS: Panel study with a random sample of 118 students (between 6 and 15 years of age), enrolled in a public school of the city of Rio de Janeiro, state of Rio de Janeiro, and living within 2 km of the study site. Data on students' characteristics were obtained with a questionnaire, including the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood - ISAAC. Daily peak expiratory flow measurements were taken to measure lung function. Daily data on PM10, SO2, O3, NO2 and CO levels, temperature and humidity were provided by a portable monitor. Repeated measurements of lung function were associated with pollutant levels with a multilevel model adjusted for time trend, temperature, air humidity, exposure to smoking at home, presence of asthma, height, sex, weight and age of children. RESULTS: Mean peak expiratory flow was 243.5 l/m (sd=58.9). The lowest mean peak expiratory flow was 124 l/m, and the highest, 450 l/m. For the 10 µg/m³ increase in PM10, there was a 0.34 l/min decrease in mean peak flow on the third day. For the 10 µg/m³ increase in NO2, there was a decrease between 0.23 l/min and 0.28 l/min in mean peak flow after exposure. CO and SO2 effects on students' peak flow were not statistically significant. O3 showed a protective result: an increase in 10 µg/m³ of O3 would be associated, after a day of exposure, with a 0.2 l/min increase in mean lung function. CONCLUSIONS: Even within acceptable levels most of the time, air pollution, especially PM10 and NO2, was associated with a decrease in lung function in children living in the city of Rio de Janeiro.OBJETIVO: Analizar la asociación entre exposición diaria a la polución del aire y función respiratoria de escolares. MÉTODOS: Estudio de painel con una muestra aleatoria de 118 escolares (seis a 15 años de edad) de la red pública de Río de Janeiro (Sureste de Brasil), residentes hasta 2 km de la localidad de estudio. Datos sobre características de los niños fueron obtenidos por cuestionario, incluyendo el International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Exámenes diarios de pico de flujo fueron realizados para medir la función respiratoria. Datos diarios de los niveles de PM10, SO2, O3, NO2 y CO, temperatura y humedad fueron providenciados por un monitor móvil. Las medidas repetidas de función respiratoria fueron asociadas a los niveles de los contaminantes por medio de modelo multinivel ajustado por tendencia temporal, temperatura, humedad del aire, exposición domiciliar al humo de cigarro, ser asmático, altura, sexo, peso y edad de los niños. RESULTADOS: El pico de flujo de expiración promedio fue de 243,5 l/m (dp=58,9). El menor pico promedio del flujo de expiración fue 124 l/m y el mayor 450 l/m. Para el aumento de 10 ?g/m³ de PM10 hubo una disminución de 0,34 l/min en el promedio de pico de flujo en el tercer día. Para el aumento de 10 ?g/m³ de NO2 hubo uma disminución entre 0,23 l/min a 0,28 l/min en el promedio del pico de flujo luego de una exposición. Los efectos del CO y del SO2 en el pico de flujo de los escolares no fueron estadísticamente significativos. El O3 presentó un resultado protector: el aumento de 10 ?g/m³ de O3 estaría asociado, un día después de la exposición, al aumento de 0,2 l/min en el promedio de la función respiratoria. CONCLUSIONES: Aún dentro de niveles aceptables en la mayor parte del período, la polución atmosférica, principalmente el PM10 y el NO2, estuvo asociada a la disminución de la función respiratoria de niños residentes en Río de Janeiro.OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação entre exposição diária à poluição do ar e função respiratória de escolares. MÉTODOS: Estudo de painel com uma amostra aleatória de 118 escolares (seis a 15 anos de idade) da rede pública do Rio de Janeiro (RJ), residentes até 2 km do local do estudo. Dados sobre características das crianças foram obtidos por questionário, incluindo o International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Exames diários de pico de fluxo foram realizados para medir a função respiratória. Dados diários dos níveis de PM10, SO2, O3, NO2 e CO, temperatura e umidade foram fornecidos por um monitor móvel. As medidas repetidas de função respiratória foram associadas aos níveis dos poluentes por meio de modelo multinível ajustado por tendência temporal, temperatura, umidade do ar, exposição domiciliar ao fumo, ser asmático, altura, sexo, peso e idade das crianças. RESULTADOS: O pico de fluxo expiratório médio foi 243,5 l/m (dp=58,9). A menor média do pico de fluxo expiratório foi 124 l/m e a maior 450 l/m. Para o aumento de 10 µg/m³ de PM10 houve uma diminuição de 0,34 l/min na média do pico de fluxo no terceiro dia. Para o aumento de 10 µg/m³ de NO2 houve uma diminuição entre 0,23 l/min a 0,28 l/min na média do pico de fluxo após a exposição. Os efeitos do CO e do SO2 no pico de fluxo dos escolares não foram estatisticamente significativos. O O3 apresentou um resultado protetor: o aumento de 10 µg/m³ de O3 estaria associado, um dia depois da exposição, a aumento de 0,2 l/min na média da função respiratória. CONCLUSÕES: Mesmo dentro de níveis aceitáveis na maior parte do período, a poluição atmosférica, principalmente o PM10 e o NO2, esteve associada à diminuição da função respiratória de crianças residentes no Rio de Janeiro

Sistema de drenagem urbana e as inundações na unidade hidrográfica do Canal do Anhaia – Paranaguá - Brasil

This article deals with the analysis of the urban drainage system and the flooding of the Anhaia Canal, located in the area of immediate influence of the Port D. Pedro II in the municipality of Paranaguá, Paraná Coast. The study is based on the georeferenced map MI - 2858/2-NE FOLHA SG.22-X-D-V/2-NE of the Ministry of the Army-Department of Engineering and Construction, Directorate of Geographic Services Southern Region of Brazil in Scale 1-25,000 that allows identifying the limits of space. The daily precipitation events (mm³) concentrated or with moderate distribution of the city were surveyed near the Paranaguá Meteorological Station, linked to the 8th Meteorological District of Porto Alegre. The analysis period included the monthly average precipitation between 2010 and 2019. For the identification of floodable or floodable areas it was used the compilation of information from two sources: the company Águas de Paranaguá and the City Hall of Paranaguá and additionally personal observations of the authors systematized during the fieldwork of this project and anecdotal other professional activities in the city of Paranaguá. The study allowed to notice that the tide level and the precipitations, are natural factors, that influence in the flow of waters of the Canal in the Bay of Paranaguá, however, it was perceived that the floodings, are of anthropic origin having in view, the alterations that occurred in the study area, such as, the impermeabilization of the soil, change in the geometry of the Canal, garbage and debris in the margins of the Canal, deficiency in the mouths of wolf and alteration in the local hydrological cycle. It is concluded that the floods that occur in the region can be avoided with preventive maintenance measures, cleaning of the drainage network, cleaning of the access roads, and mitigatory actions with the community through environmental education projects.&nbsp; Traducción realizada con la versión gratuita del traductor www.DeepL.com/TranslatorEste artigo aborda a análise do sistema de drenagem urbana e as inundações do Canal do Anhaia, localizado na área de influência imediata do Porto D. Pedro II no município de Paranaguá, Litoral do Paraná. O estudo tem por base a carta georreferenciada MI - 2858/2-NE FOLHA SG.22-X-D-V/2-NE do Ministério do Exército–Departamento de Engenharia e Construção, Diretoria de Serviços Geográfico Região Sul do Brasil na Escala 1-25.000 que permite identificar os limites de espaço. Foram levantados, junto à Estação de Meteorologia de Paranaguá, vinculada ao 8º Distrito de Meteorologia de Porto Alegre, os eventos de precipitações diárias (mm³) concentradas ou com distribuição moderada do município. O período de análise compreendeu a média mensal de precipitação entre 2010 e 2019. Para a identificação das áreas inundáveis ou alagáveis foi utilizada a compilação de informações provenientes de duas fontes: a empresa Águas de Paranaguá e a Prefeitura Municipal de Paranaguá e adicionalmente observações pessoais dos autores sistematizadas durante os trabalhos de campo desse projeto e anedóticas em outras atividades profissionais na cidade de Paranaguá. O estudo permitiu perceber que o nível da maré e as precipitações, são fatores naturais, que influenciam no escoamento das águas do Canal na Baia de Paranaguá, entretanto, percebeu-se que os alagamentos, são de origem antrópica tendo em vista, as alterações que ocorreram na área de estudo, tais, com, a impermeabilização do solo, mudança na geometria do Canal, lixos e entulhos nas margens do Canal, deficiência nas bocas de lobo e alteração no ciclo hidrológico local. Conclui-se que as inundações que ocorrem na região podem ser evitadas com medidas preventivas de manutenção, limpeza na rede de drenagem, limpeza nas vias de acesso além de ações mitigatórias com a comunidade através de projetos de educação ambiental