Do NFTs sound good? An exploratory study on audio NFTs and possible avenues

Crypto, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and the metaverse have taken a massive place in our daily conversations and are highly valued. Moreover, NFTs range from luxury fashion to art, and sound is no exception, although it still needs to be explored. Could this be a unique opportunity to go digital from creation to distribution? This study looks at sound NFTs and new avenues for digital audio communication. During the pandemic, podcasts have been exhausted, leaving space for new digital media business opportunities. We look at how sound has grown, assuming a prominent role in the new media ecosystem due to podcasts consumption. We explore NFTs and their evolution in different markets over the years, highlighting the space that sound content has gained on these platforms as new possibilities for dissemination, promotion, and sale. We use content analysis on marketplaces that provide sound NFTs to understand what audio content consumers can find and future opportunities

A review on potential technological advances for fashion retail: smart fitting rooms, augmented and virtual realities = Uma revisão sobre os potenciais avanços tecnológicos para o varejo de moda: provadores inteligentes, realidades aumentada e virtual

Este artigo técnico avaliará os novos avanços tecnológicos que podem mudar a forma como compramos roupas, explorando soluções existentes que ainda são comumente confundidas entre si: provadores inteligentes, espelhos interativos, Realidade Virtual (RV) e Realidade Aumentada (RA). A abordagem metodológica baseada numa pesquisa exploratória terá início com uma revisão da literatura sobre provadores inteligentes e espelhos interativos, comparando as principais diferenças entre essas duas tecnologias e abordando as suas tentativas de implementação malsucedidas no varejo. A nossa pesquisa também avaliará tecnologias diárias, aquelas que possivelmente poderiam melhorar a experiência dos clientes com compras online, bem como de clientes com mobilidade reduzida. Com dispositivos inteligentes em cada esquina, é hoje mais difícil convencer os consumidores com produtos inovadores. Neste contexto, propomos algumas possibilidades de futuro para o varejo de moda, com os resultados a serem apresentados numa primeira abordagem, na esperança de que a partir deles possam ser criadas soluções inovadoras para o futuro. Além disso, as implicações sustentáveis relacionadas com esta abordagem serão abordadas nas considerações adicionais. Este estudo técnico considera apenas duas soluções básicas, que, eventualmente, eram muito complexas para caber no varejo de moda, e explora soluções adicionais que poderiam mudar essas limitações. Embora exploradas e pesquisadas nos últimos anos, soluções como os provadores inteligentes e os espelhos interativos já fizeram parte do que se considerou o futuro do varejo de moda. No entanto, modelos de negócios deficientes e falta de avanços tecnológicos na época limitaram essas soluções. As novas tecnologias, como a Realidade Aumentada (RA), a Realidade Virtual (RV) e a Realidade Mista (RM), combinadas com a mais recente evolução dos smartphones, podem relançar estas soluções.This technical paper will assess new technological advances that could change the way we buy clothes, exploring existing solutions that are still commonly confused with each other: Smart fitting rooms (SFR), interactive mirrors (IM), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR). The methodological approach based on an exploratory research will start with a literature review on SFR and IM, comparing the main differences between these two technologies and addressing their unsuccessful attempts in retail. Our research will also assess daily technologies, which could possibly improve the customer's experience with online shopping, as well as customers with reduced mobility. With smart gadgets in every corner, consumers are more difficult to convince with innovative products. We will propose future possibilities for fashion retail, where results will be presented as a first approach, in hopes of creating innovative solutions for the future. Moreover, sustainable implications related with this approach will be addressed in our additional considerations. This technical study considers only two basic solutions that were eventually too complicated to fit into fashion retail, exploring additional solutions that could change these limitations. Although explored and researched in the last years, solutions like IM and SFR were once part of what was considered the future of fashion retail. However, poor business models and lack of technological advances at the time limited these solutions. New technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed-Reality (MR), combined with the latest smartphone evolution could relaunch solutions like these

Show me what you post, and I'll tell you who you are: a reflection on GenZ's perception on body image and mani-pulation on social media

In a society increasingly dominated by the image cult, reports on the growth of prejudice and discrimination based solely on physical appearance have increased. GenZ is the first generation born entirely in a fully developed internet and has known social media early. Therefore, it is crucial to understand their perception of body image and image manipulation perception as they are targeted daily on social media by retouched images of celebrities and branded content. In this study, we opted to develop a survey applied to 785 GenZers residing in Portugal to collect their perceptions about this topic. Results aim to show their perceptions of body image on social media by reflecting on their own posting habits and their views on celebrity retouched images. At the end of this study, the main results are presented in the hopes that new generations will gradually begin to deconstruct stereotypes and prejudices that mark a society still dominated by the image and by the aesthetic and beauty standards

Big girls don't cry: an assessment of Research Units' leadership and gender distribution in Higher Education Institutions

Academia is often pointed out as a challenging environment to evolve in, especially for women. Whilst women perform in multidisciplinary settings, studies point out still-existing gender gaps in academia, especially in positions of power. This study looks at decision-making positions in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), specifically in Portuguese academic research. Furthermore, we seek to understand if research roles are distributed equally gender-wise among cohorts in research units, as well as if deans' genders are a factor of influence in such role attributions. We will look at the research roles in academia, particularly research units fostered by HEIs, to observe gender distribution based on total cohorts. Using univariate and bivariate tests, our research aims to assess gender distribution in leading research roles in public and private institutions. We take the specific case of Portugal; therefore, we cannot extrapolate the results to other countries. However, outcomes point out resisting differences in fields of research and coordination and role distribution among R&D units, as well as in fundamental relations between power positions in academia and research

Body understanding measure for pregnancy scale (BUMPs) : Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties among Brazilian pregnant women

The Body Understanding Measure for Pregnancy Scale (BUMPs) is a scale developed and validated for British pregnant women to assess body satisfaction during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation and verify the psychometric properties of BUMPs for Brazilian adult pregnant women. The cross-cultural adaptation was performed using translation, back-translation, expert committee, expert analysis, and pre-testing, which showed easy comprehension by pregnant women. Psychometric analyses were evaluated in a sample of 618 pregnant women (31.08 ± 4.94 years old). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses resulted in 19 items and three factors, with satisfactory fit indices. BUMPs presented an invariant measurement across white vs. nonwhite women and across the three gestational trimesters. BUMPs showed good indicators of convergent, internal consistency, and test-retest reproducibility validity. It was concluded that the Brazilian version of BUMPs has adequate psychometric properties for Brazilian pregnant women, being an excellent instrument for analyzing body satisfaction in this population, facilitating additional investigations into these constructs

Cefaleia pós anestesia raquidiana: uma revisão integrativa

The aim was to analyze and list the risk factors that predispose to headache after spinal anesthesia, as well as the form of prevention, through an integrative review of the literature. The study refers to an integrative review with data taken from the SciELO, Google Scholar and other databases found in the VHL (LILACS and MedLine). The 11 articles studied revealed that there are relationships between the incidence of CPR and the physiological and anatomical aspects of the patient, as well as the type of needle used in the procedure and the number of punctures. In addition, alternative therapeutic forms to the blood patch were discussed, such as the blockade of ganglia and nerves in pain control and relief of associated symptoms, which were presented in a positive way. The analysis of the different predisposing factors to headache and the treatment of this condition is essential for maximizing subarachnoid anesthesia and mitigating this adverse effect.Objetivou-se analisar e elencar os fatores de risco que predispõem à cefaleia pós anestesia subaracnóidea, bem como a forma de prevenção, através de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. O estudo refere-se a uma revisão integrativa com dados retirados das bases de dados da SciELO, Google Acadêmico e as demais bases encontradas na BVS (LILACS e MedLine). Os 11 artigos estudados revelaram existir relações entre a incidência de CPR com aspectos fisiológicos e anatômicos do paciente, bem como com o tipo de agulha usada no procedimento e o número de punções. Ademais, foram discutidas formas terapêuticas alternativas ao “blood-patch”, como o bloqueio de gânglios e nervos no controle da dor e alívio de sintomas associados, que se apresentaram de forma positiva. A análise dos diversos fatores predisponentes à cefaleia e ao tratamento dessa condição é indispensável para a maximização da anestesia subaracnóide e atenuação desse efeito adverso

High-concentration carbamide peroxide can reduce the sensitivity caused by in-office tooth bleaching: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial

Objectives: A single-blinded, randomized, parallel clinical trial evaluated the use of 37% carbamide peroxide (CP) on bleaching effectiveness and tooth sensitivity reported by patients undergoing in-office tooth bleaching, in comparison with the results of using 35% hydrogen peroxide. Material and Methods:Forty patients were allocated to receive two sessions of in-office tooth bleaching using either 35% hydrogen peroxide (HP) or 37% CP. Each patient’s sensitivity level was evaluated during and up to 24 h after bleaching. The effectiveness of the bleaching procedures was evaluated with a spectrophotometer one week after each session and 30 days after the last session. The impact of tooth bleaching on the patients’ perceptions regarding smile changes, in addition to the bleaching procedures and their results, were also recorded. Absolute and relative sensitivity risks were calculated. Data on sensitivity level were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney or T-test, and data from the color evaluation were subjected to 2-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results: The use of CP reduced the risk and level of tooth sensitivity to values close to zero, whereas the difference between the bleaching agents disappeared after 24 h. An increased bleaching effect was observed for HP, mainly due to an improved reduction of redness and yellowness. Participants perceived improved tooth bleaching for HP and reduced sensitivity for CP, but no differences regarding the comfort of the techniques were noted. Conclusions: In our study, 37% CP resulted in reduced tooth sensitivity but decreased the tooth bleaching effectiveness. However, both bleaching agents resulted in high levels of patient satisfaction

Effects of aerobic training during hemodialysis on heart rate variability and left ventricular function in end-stage renal disease patients

INTRODUCTION: Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis is predictive of cardiac death, especially due to sudden death. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of aerobic training during hemodialysis on HRV and left ventricular function in ESRD patients. METHODS: Twenty two patients were randomized into two groups: exercise (n = 11; 49.6 ± 10.6 years; 4 men) and control (n = 11; 43.5 ± 12.8; 4 men). Patients assigned to the exercise group were submitted to aerobic training, performed during the first two hours of hemodialysis, three times weekly, for 12 weeks. HRV and left ventricular function were assessed by 24 hours Holter monitoring and echocardiography, respectively. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of protocol, no significant differences were observed in time and frequency domains measures of HRV in both groups. The ejection fraction improved non-significantly in exercise group (67.5 ± 12.6% vs. 70.4 ± 12%) and decreased non-significantly in control group (73.6 ± 8.4% vs. 71.4 ± 7.6%). CONCLUSION: A 12-week aerobic training program performed during hemodialysis did not modify HRV and did not significantly improve the left ventricular function.INTRODUÇÃO: Pacientes com doenca renal crônica (DRC) sob tratamento hemodialítico apresentam diminuicao da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (VFC) que representa um fator de risco independente para a mortalidade cardíaca, especialmente a morte súbita. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do exercício aeróbico, realizado durante as sessões de hemodiálise, na VFC e na funcao ventricular esquerda de pacientes portadores de DRC. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 22 pacientes randomizados em dois grupos: exercício (n = 11; 49,6 ± 10,6 anos; 4 homens) e controle (n = 11; 43,5 ± 12,8; 4 homens). Os pacientes do grupoexercício foram submetidos a três sessões semanais de exercício aeróbico, realizado nas duas horas iniciais da hemodiálise, durante 12 semanas. Para a análise da VFC e da funcao ventricular esquerda, todos os pacientes foram submetidos aos exames de Holter de 24 horas e ecocardiograma, respectivamente. RESULTADOS: Após 12 semanas de protocolo, nao foi observada diferenca significante em nenhum dos parámetros da VFC nos domínios do tempo e da frequência em ambos os grupos. A fração de ejeção aumentou de modo nao significante nos pacientes do grupo-exercício (67,5 ± 12,6% vs. 70,4 ± 12%) e diminuiu nao significantemente nos pacientes do grupo-controle (73,6 ± 8,4% vs. 71,4 ± 7,6%). CONCLUSÃO: A realizacao de 12 semanas de exercício aeróbico, durante as sessões de hemodiálise, nao modificou a VFC e nao promoveu melhora significante na funcao ventricular esquerda.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Sudeste de Minas GeraisUniversidade Federal de Juiz de Fora Departamento de Clínica MédicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUFJFUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

DETERMINANTES DA REFERÊNCIA E CONTRA-REFERÊNCIA ENTRE PROFISSIONAIS: MÉDICOS E FISIOTERAPEUTAS

Introdução: processo de referência e contra-referência consiste na direção ao sujeito, junto com seu registro da doença, para outro serviço de saúde. Objetivos: O objetivo desse estudo foi analisar os determinantes da referência e contra-referência entre profissionais de saúde: médicos (GM) e fisioterapeutas (GF) no município de Mossoró-RN. Métodos: A pesquisa tem caráter descritivo. Foi aplicado questionário semi-estruturado em amostra de 40 voluntários, sendo estes subdivididos em 2 grupos: GM (n=20) e GF (n=20). Resultados: O item apontado com maior frequência em ambos os grupos para a referência e contra-referência ao tratamento clínico foi o tipo de diagnóstico médico: GM (95%) e GF (90%), e com menor frequência a variável princípios e diretrizes do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), sendo GM (50%) e GF (45%). Para a análise dos determinantes da referência e contra-referência a um profissional específico, houve diferença significativa entre os grupos (p=0,047) apenas para o fator relacionamento pessoal (GM=95%; GF=70%). Conclusão: Constatou-se que todos os fatores avaliados influenciam a referência e contra-referência entre os profissionais e que o relacionamento pessoal entre os profissionais é mais determinante para a prática da referência médica do que para a contra-referência fisioterapêutica