Posturographic Assessment in Yoga Practitioners and Non-Practitioners: Balance Benefits

[Introduction: Balance is a complex process resulting from the interaction between the following systems: sensorial (input), central nervous system (coordinator), and motor (output).The aging of the vestibular system, central nerv-ous system, and the rest of the body systems may con-tribute to balance dysfunction.]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A posição dos Estados Unidos frente às alternativas emergentes de liderança na América Latina: uma análise dos casos do Brasil de Lula e da Venezuela de Hugo Chávez

Desde a Doutrina Monroe, a América Latina tem se configurado como zona de influência importante para os interesses dos Estados Unidos. Esse país atuou durante anos e, continua atuando, como ator hegemônico, tanto na esfera global quanto regional. Contudo, frente às novas configurações de poder estabelecidas em tempos de globalização e interdependência econômica, Brasil e Venezuela surgem como alternativas à liderança norte-americana na América Latina. Frente esse cenário, o presente trabalho abordará a temática da liderança regional na América Latina e o posicionamento dos Estados Unidos em relação a essas duas alternativas. Verificou-se assim, que a liderança brasileira já é vista como legitima por parte dos Estados Unidos e positiva ao interesse dos mesmos. Por outro lado, a alternativa bolivariana de Chávez representa um entrave aos interesses comerciais e de segurança dos Estados Unidos na região

Influence of the insertion speed during a straight electrode array implantation, a numerical study

Approximately 466 million people worldwide suffer from some type of hearing loss. About ninety-three percent of them are adults, aged over 15 years (World Health Organization 2018). Profound hearing loss in children lead to a deficient development of spoken language, resulting in a negative impact on daily communication. On the other hand, in adults which have acquired the profound hearing loss after having developed spoken language and cognitive abilities are able to use these skills with the help of a cochlear implant, as mentioned by Jorgensen et al. (Jorgensen et al. 2018). Cochlear implant is an electronic device implanted into the cochlea to directly stimulate the auditory nerve. This device is particularly implanted in patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss (Khater and Mohammad 2017). The surgery is safe, but involves some risks, such as infections, device malfunction which can lead to poor hearing outcome (Loundon et al. 2010). Future improvements in cochlear implant surgery will necessarily involve the decrease of the intra-cochlear damage, thus preserving the patient’s residual hearing. The mechanical properties of the electrode array components, the geometrical shape, the processor and the surgical techniques are some of the aspects that can be optimized in order to help the patients to recover their normal hearing capacities. In this work, the influence of the insertion speed during a cochlear implantation was studied. A straight electrode array was initially modelled. Many authors indicate as being the less traumatic type of cochlear implant. The electrode array was meshed with linear hexahedral elements, with reduction integration, whereas the cochlear wall was modelled with 4-node shell elements. Four different insertion speeds: 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2m/s were investigated. The numerical simulations of the cochlear implantation carried out in Abaqus software showed the same pattern of the insertion force against insertion depth, thus indicating the different phases of the implantation. Results demonstrated that lower insertion speeds, led to a reduction on the contact pressure and insertion force. It is then expected that a lower insertion speed will allow to increase the residual hearing while reducing surgical complications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Auditory brainstem response in children with risk factor for hearing loss: comparative analysis between the use of different acoustic stimuli in electrophysiological findings

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) is classically evoked with the click stimulus. New stimuli, such as chirp, have been proposed with the aim of improving the identification of different types and degrees of hearing loss.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Numerical study of tympanosclerosis including its effect on human hearing

Tympanosclerosis is an abnormal disorder of the middle ear or only the eardrum (i.e., myringosclerosis) in which there are calcium deposits. Normally, it is caused by recurrent middle ear infections. In this work, a 3D finite element model of the ear was developed, simulating different cases of tympanosclerosis. Through this model, the magnitude and the phase angle of the umbo and stapes displacement were obtained. The middle ear sound transfer function was determined for a stimulus of 80, 90 and 100 dB SPL, in a frequency range between 100 Hz and 10 kHz, applied on the outer surface of the eardrum in the external auditory canal. Depending on the tympanosclerosis affected area, the main conclusion is that worse results (leading to hearing loss) occur when all of the ossicular chain is affected.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estrategia para Optimizar el Proceso de Radicación de Incapacidades con el Fin de Evitar Pérdidas de Dinero por Reclamaciones de la Empresa Human Talent S.A.S.

Dentro del contexto relacionado con el estudio de la incapacidad temporal de alguna manera podría considerarse a través de sus antecedentes legislativos próximos, recorrer su definición, alcance, características, límites, los sujetos que intervienen en ella; como a profundizar en su objeto de protección en el curso del contrato de trabajo, para Expresar que la exigencia del permiso para despedir al trabajador en debilidad manifiesta, crea una zona difusa entre las concepciones de incapacidad temporal y discapacidad en el contexto de la estabilidad laboral. Explorar cual es el ámbito de los derechos del trabajador incapacitado temporalmente y confrontar la problemática de la extensión de derechos del trabajador con discapacidad, permitirá que emerjan soluciones como alternativa de protección al trabajador incapacitado temporalmente, separando la aplicación del fuero de discapacidad y por tanto consolidando dos instituciones independientes. Ante esta situación podría también acercarse a este significativo aumento de los índices en relación al nivel de ausentismo al que se enfrentan día a día las empresas conlleva a la necesidad de instaurar medidas de mitigación y control al tema, para analizar las consecuencias económicas que atentan la sostenibilidad empresarial. El presente estudio pretende caracterizar las causas que generan ausentismo laboral en la empresa HUMAN TALENT S.A.S., con el fin de diseñar un sistema de acciones de carácter preventivo y de promoción de la salud, que permitan minimizar los niveles de ausentismo. Se realizó una investigación de tipo descriptiva, analítica cualitativa y comparativa, tomándose como modelo el método Covey.Within the context related to the study of temporary disability, it could somehow be considered through its close legislative background, to explore its definition, scope, characteristics, limits, the subjects involved in it; as to deepen its object of protection in the course of the employment contract, to express that the requirement of permission to fire the worker in manifest weakness creates a diffuse area between the conceptions of temporary disability and disability in the context of job stability . Exploring what is the scope of the rights of the temporarily disabled worker and confronting the problem of the extension of rights of the disabled worker, will allow solutions to emerge as an alternative protection for the temporarily disabled worker, separating the application of the disability jurisdiction and therefore consolidating Two independent institutions. Faced with this situation, it could also approach this significant increase in the indices in relation to the level of absenteeism that companies face every day, leading to the need to establish mitigation and control measures to the issue, to analyze the economic consequences that undermine the business sustainability The present study aims to characterize the causes that generate work absenteeism in the company HUMAN TALENT S.A.S., in order to design a system of preventive actions and health promotion, which minimize levels of absenteeism. A descriptive, qualitative and comparative analytical research was carried out, using the Covey method as a model

Efeitos biomecânicos da evolução do colesteatoma sobre a corda do tímpano

A otite média crónica pode levar ao aparecimento de um tumor benigno do ouvido, chamado colesteatoma. Esta patologia, se não for devidamente tratada, pode ter graves consequências. Uma delas pode resultar em paralisia facial se comprimir um ramo do nervo facial que atravessa o ouvido médio. Neste trabalho foram avaliadas as tensões exercidas do tumor contra o nervo. A maior tensão foi obtida na área de contacto entre o nervo e a bigorna.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Finite element modelling of the surgical procedure for placement of a straight electrode array: Mechanical and clinical consequences

A cochlear implant is an electronic device implanted into the cochlea to directly stimulate the auditory nerve. Such device is used in patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss. The cochlear implant surgery is safe, but involves some risks, such as infections, device malfunction or damage of the facial nerve and it can result on a poor hearing outcome, due to the destruction of any present residual hearing. Future improvements in cochlear implant surgery will necessarily involve the decrease of the intra-cochlear damage. Several implant related variables, such as materials, geometrical design, processor and surgical techniques can be optimized in order for the patients to partially recover their hearing capacities The straight electrode is a type of cochlear implant that many authors indicate as being the less traumatic. From the finite element analysis conducted in this work, the influence of the insertion speed, the friction coefficient between the cochlear wall and the electrode array, and several configurations of the cochlear implant tip were studied. The numerical simulations of the implantation showed the same pattern of the insertion force against insertion depth, thus indicating the different phases of the insertion. Results demonstrated that lower insertion speeds, friction coefficients and tip stiffness, led to a reduction on the contact pressures and insertion force. It is expected that these improved configurations will allow to preserve the residual hearing while reducing surgical complications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cupula response to otoconia debris in the semicircular canal

The vertigo symptoms are commonly related with inner ear diseases and it affects 20%-30% of the world population, and its prevalence increases with age. In this work, a three-dimensional computational model of the semicircular canal of the vestibular system, containing the fluids which promote the body balance, was used. The smoothed-particle hydrodynamics method was the computational process used to simulate the fluid behaviour, in which the elements are represented by particles and have constant mass. The other vestibular components were discretized using the finite element method. The movement performed to endolymph/cupula interaction analysis was reproduced in the simulation through the acquisition of the displacement field based on image analysis. The results obtained with the frames of the video recorded during the process is the appropriate method to simulate the real moves, due to the analysis of the region of interest located near the inner ear. The data obtained from the video acquisition were the input in the simulation with the semicircular model. The principal stress cupular response allowed to understand the interaction of the vestibular structures during a vertigo episode, and the influence of the otoconia in the cupula displacement. This model is the first step to improve the vestibular rehabilitation and the quality of life of patients suffering from vertigo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How the computational methods can contribute to better knowledge of the ear

The biomechanical behavior of the human ear can be studied using mathematical approaches, such as the finite element method. This methodology allows to perform simulations to evaluate the influence of sound transmission through all way of the ear, since the sound is selected by the outer ear to the inner ear. The finite element method is currently the preferred method for the numerical solution of partial differential equations, and it is used in several fields of the biological sciences. Due to its large applicability and efficiency, there are several works where this methodology is applied in different specialties, to analyze loads, strains or displacements, as in the case of the biomechanical study of the ear. From CT images, three-dimensional accurate computational models are created. The technique employs a set of calculations of numerical analysis for solutions of kinematic (displacements and rotations) and mechanical aspects (strength, stress, pressure, deformation). The use of these computer models enables the motion analysis of all ossicular chain points at any moment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio