Quantifying chemical short-range order in metallic alloys.

Metallic alloys often form phases-known as solid solutions-in which chemical elements are spread out on the same crystal lattice in an almost random manner. The tendency of certain chemical motifs to be more common than others is known as chemical short-range order (SRO), and it has received substantial consideration in alloys with multiple chemical elements present in large concentrations due to their extreme configurational complexity (e.g., high-entropy alloys). SRO renders solid solutions "slightly less random than completely random," which is a physically intuitive picture, but not easily quantifiable due to the sheer number of possible chemical motifs and their subtle spatial distribution on the lattice. Here, we present a multiscale method to predict and quantify the SRO state of an alloy with atomic resolution, incorporating machine learning techniques to bridge the gap between electronic-structure calculations and the characteristic length scale of SRO. The result is an approach capable of predicting SRO length scale in agreement with experimental measurements while comprehensively correlating SRO with fundamental quantities such as local lattice distortions. This work advances the quantitative understanding of solid-solution phases, paving the way for the rigorous incorporation of SRO length scales into predictive mechanical and thermodynamic models.

Acetylsalicylic acid and dihydroartemisinin combined therapy on experimental malaria-associated acute lung injury: analysis of lung function and the inflammatory process.

BACKGROUND: Severe malaria can cause respiratory symptoms, which may lead to malaria-acute lung injury (MA-ALI) due to inflammation and damage to the blood-gas barrier. Patients with severe malaria also often present thrombocytopenia, and the use of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug with immunomodulatory and antiplatelet effects, may pose a risk in regions where malaria is endemic. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the systemic impact of ASA and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on ALI induced in mice by Plasmodium berghei NK65 (PbNK65). METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control (C) and PbNK65 infected groups and were inoculated with uninfected or 104 infected erythrocytes, respectively. Then, the animals were treated with DHA (3 mg/kg) or vehicle (DMSO) at the 8-day post-infection (dpi) for 7 days and with ASA (100 mg/kg, single dose), and analyses were performed at 9 or 15 dpi. Lung mechanics were performed, and lungs were collected for oedema evaluation and histological analyses. RESULTS: PbNK65 infection led to lung oedema, as well as increased lung static elastance (Est, L), resistive (ΔP1, L) and viscoelastic (ΔP2, L) pressures, percentage of mononuclear cells, inflammatory infiltrate, hemorrhage, alveolar oedema, and alveolar thickening septum at 9 dpi. Mice that received DHA or DHA + ASA had an increase in Est, L, and CD36 expression on inflammatory monocytes and higher protein content on bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF). However, only the DHA-treated group presented a percentage of inflammatory monocytes similar to the control group and a decrease in ΔP1, L and ΔP2, L compared to Pb + DMSO. Also, combined treatment with DHA + ASA led to an impairment in diffuse alveolar damage score and lung function at 9 dpi. CONCLUSIONS: Therapy with ASA maintained lung morpho-functional impairment triggered by PbNK65 infection, leading to a large influx of inflammatory monocytes to the lung tissue. Based on its deleterious effects in experimental MA-ALI, ASA administration or its treatment maintenance might be carefully reconsidered and further investigated in human malaria cases.

Maxillomandibular relationship record methods for computer-engineered complete dentures: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this scoping review was to identify different methods employed for recording the maxillomandibular relationship (MMR) for computer-aided designed and manufactured (CAD-CAM) complete dentures (CDs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This scoping review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and was developed according to Arksey and O'Malley and The Joanna Briggs Institute protocol. The methods were registered on the Open Science Framework (< osf.io/rf4xm> ). The focus question was: "What are the different techniques for recording the maxillomandibular relationship in the digital workflow used in CECDs?" Two investigators searched 3 online databases [MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and Science Direct] independently. The inclusion criteria were clinical studies and reviews that assessed techniques for recording MMR using digital workflow for manufacturing of CECDs. A descriptive analysis was performed considering the study design, manufacturing system, clinical steps, and tools for the determination of MMR, and the difficulty level of procedures. RESULTS: 4779 articles were identified in the electronic search and 10 studies were included for data analysis. The review identified 4 commercially available CAD-CAM denture systems and 3 innovative methods suitable for abbreviating the number of appointments (2 to 4 visits). The trial denture is inherent to the procedure for the Baltic System and 3 innovative techniques. Three techniques (2 innovative and WholeYouNexteeth) demonstrated lower difficulty levels for performing the clinical procedures, regardless of the professional skills. CONCLUSIONS: The commercially available and innovative techniques for the recording of MMR may provide predictability of the treatment. The techniques are effective, however, rely on the learning curve and the patient's clinical condition. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Recording of the maxillomandibular relationship is paramount for the manufacturing and functionality of complete dentures. Clinicians should be aware of the different tools and techniques described for registering the jaw relationship.

Targeting bonding protocols to increase the bond between acrylic resin or 3D printed denture bases and prefabricated or 3D printed denture teeth.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The difference in chemical composition between denture base resin and denture teeth requires the development of bonding protocols that increase the union between the materials. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the impact of different bonding protocols on the bond between heat-polymerized and 3-dimensionally (3D) printed acrylic resin denture bases and acrylic resin prefabricated and 3D printed artificial teeth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Four types of artificial teeth were evaluated: prefabricated acrylic resin (VITA MFT) and 3D printed (Cosmos TEMP, PRIZMA 3D Bio Denture, and PrintaX AA Temp) bonded to 20×24-mm cylinders of heat-polymerized (VipiWave) and 3D printed (Cosmos Denture, PRIZMA 3D Bio Denture, and PrintaX BB Base) denture bases. Three bonding protocols were tested (n=20): mechanical retention with perforation + monomer (PT1), mechanical retention with perforation + airborne-particle abrasion with 50-µm aluminum oxide + monomer (PT2), and mechanical retention with perforation + Palabond (PT3). Half of the specimens in each group received 10 000 thermocycles and were then subjected to the bonding test at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/minute. The failure type was analyzed and scanning electron micrographs made. Additionally, surface roughness (Ra) and wettability (degree) were analyzed (n=15). ANOVA was used to evaluate the effect of the bonding protocol, and the Student t test was applied to compare the experimental groups with the control (α=.05). For type of failure, a descriptive analysis was carried out using absolute and relative frequency. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the surface changes (α=.05). RESULTS: Among the protocols, PT3 with in Yller and PT2 with Prizma had the highest bond strengths of the heat-polymerized denture base and 3D printed teeth (P<.05). When comparing the experimental groups with the control, PT3 and PT2 had greater union with the 3D printed denture base + 3D printed teeth (in Yller), with no difference from the heat-polymerized denture base + prefabricated teeth in acrylic resin. The treatment of the 3D printed tooth surfaces affected the surface roughness of Prizma (P<.001) and wettability (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: To increase the bond between Yller 3D printed denture base + 3D printed teeth, a bonding protocol including mechanical retention with perforation + Palabond or mechanical retention with perforation + airborne-particle abrasion with aluminum oxide + monomer is indicated. For the other materials tested, further bonding protocols need to be investigated.

Flexural strength, surface roughness, micro-CT analysis, and microbiological adhesion of a 3D-printed temporary crown material.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the thermocycling effect of 3D-printed resins on flexural strength, surface roughness, microbiological adhesion, and porosity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 150 bars (8 × 2 × 2 mm) and 100 blocks (8 × 8 × 2 mm) were made and divided into 5 groups, according to two factors: "material" (AR: acrylic resin, CR: composite resin, BIS: bis-acryl resin, CAD: CAD/CAM resin, and PRINT: 3D-printed resin) and "aging" (non-aged and aged - TC). Half of them were subjected to thermocycling (10,000 cycles). The bars were subjected to mini-flexural strength (σ) test (1 mm/min). All the blocks were subjected to roughness analysis (Ra/Rq/Rz). The non-aged blocks were subjected to porosity analysis (micro-CT; n = 5) and fungal adherence (n = 10). Data were statistically analyzed (one-way ANOVA, two-way ANOVA; Tukey's test, α = 0.05). RESULTS: For σ, "material" and "aging" factors were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The BIS (118.23 ± 16.26A) presented a higher σ and the PRINT group (49.87 ± 7.55E) had the lowest mean σ. All groups showed a decrease in σ after TC, except for PRINT. The CRTC showed the lowest Weibull modulus. The AR showed higher roughness than BIS. Porosity revealed that the AR (1.369%) and BIS (6.339%) presented the highest porosity, and the CAD (0.002%) had the lowest porosity. Cell adhesion was significantly different between the CR (6.81) and CAD (6.37). CONCLUSION: Thermocycling reduced the flexural strength of most provisional materials, except for 3D-printed resin. However, it did not influence the surface roughness. The CR showed higher microbiological adherence than CAD group. The BIS group reached the highest porosity while the CAD group had the lowest values. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: 3D-printed resins are promising materials for clinical applications because they have good mechanical properties and low fungal adhesion.

Workflow for complete dentures fabrication in three appointments: A dental technique.

This technical report describes a novel workflow for complete denture fabrication designed to abbreviate the necessary steps for dental prostheses delivery by using a 3-appointment protocol in which preliminary impressions are made in the first session together with the registration of maxillary lip support, occlusal plane, and reference lines for tooth arrangement. A trial denture is fabricated with conventional or computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing procedures and is evaluated in the second appointment for esthetics, the definitive impression, and the maxillomandibular relationship record to provide precise references for definitive denture fabrication.

Partially digital workflow for making complete-arch implant-supported fixed prostheses: A dental technique.

This article describes a technique for making complete-arch implant-supported fixed prostheses by using intraoral scanning and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technology for the fabrication of a metal substructure and conventional processing for the prosthesis base. For this, a device was designed to accurately capture the position of multiple implants and the associated digitalized surgical guide, and the metal substructure was planned and milled directly in cobalt-chromium. The color of the gingiva and artificial teeth was selected by using the intraoral scanner software program, and the prosthesis base was processed conventionally. The straightforward methods used to fabricate the prostheses eliminated possible errors associated with conventional substructure casting and occlusal registration.

Physical, Mechanical, and Anti-Biofilm Formation Properties of CAD-CAM Milled or 3D Printed Denture Base Resins: In Vitro Analysis.

PURPOSE: To investigate surface characteristics (roughness and contact angle), anti-biofilm formation, and mechanical properties (mini-flexural strength) of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) polymer, and three-dimensional (3D) printed resin for denture base fabrication compared with conventional heat polymerized denture base resins. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 discs and 40 rectangular specimens were fabricated from one CAD-CAM (AvaDent), one 3D printed (Cosmos Denture), and two conventional heat polymerized (Lucitone 199 and VipiWave) materials for denture base fabrication. Roughness was determined by Ra value; the contact angle was measured by the sessile drop method. The biofilm formation inhibition behavior was analyzed through Candida albicans adhesion, while mini-flexural strength test was done using a three-point bending test. The data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The CAD-CAM PMMA group showed the lowest C. albicans adhesion (log CFU/mL: 3.74 ± 0.57) and highest mini-flexural strength mean (114.96 ± 16.23 MPa). 3D printed specimens presented the highest surface roughness (Ra: 0.317 ± 0.151 µm) and lowest mini-flexural strength values (57.23 ± 9.07 MPa). However, there was no statistical difference between CAD-CAM PMMA and conventional groups for roughness, contact angle, and mini-flexural strength. CONCLUSIONS: CAD-CAM milled materials present surface and mechanical properties similar to conventional resins and show improved behavior in preventing C. albicans adhesion. Nevertheless, 3D printed resins present decreased mini-flexural strength.

Atomistic insights into metal hardening.

For millennia, humans have exploited the natural property of metals to get stronger or harden when mechanically deformed. Ultimately rooted in the motion of dislocations, mechanisms of metal hardening have remained in the cross-hairs of physical metallurgists for over a century. Here, we performed atomistic simulations at the limits of supercomputing that are sufficiently large to be statistically representative of macroscopic crystal plasticity yet fully resolved to examine the origins of metal hardening at its most fundamental level of atomic motion. We demonstrate that the notorious staged (inflection) hardening of metals is a direct consequence of crystal rotation under uniaxial straining. At odds with widely divergent and contradictory views in the literature, we observe that basic mechanisms of dislocation behaviour are the same across all stages of metal hardening.

Trueness of a device for intraoral scanning to capture the angle and distance between implants in edentulous mandibular arches.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The digitalization of completely edentulous arches presents limitations because of the lack of anatomic structures for best-fit alignment during the image generation process of the scanner's software program. PURPOSE: The purpose of this clinical study was to evaluate a new device for intraoral scanning and to analyze its usefulness in capturing the 3-dimensional (3D) position of implants in edentulous mandibular arches. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 3D positions of 40 implants in 10 participants with fixed interim mandibular prostheses were evaluated by comparing 3 scanning techniques. Images were generated in 2 experimental groups, with digital scan bodies (group SC) and with the scanning device (group SD) and in a control group (group CT) in which images were obtained by laboratory scanning of casts produced from splinted impression copings. The standard tessellation language (STL) files were superimposed by using a reverse engineering software program to measure the 3D coordinate system. Variations in implant linear displacements (Δx, Δy, and Δz), total 3D displacement (Δx2+Δy2+Δz2), and angle projections (ΔθXY, ΔθXZ, and ΔθYZ) were statistically analyzed (α=.05). The distances between the implants were also measured. The Spearman correlation coefficient (α=.05) was used to find the correlation between the 3D coordinates and the distances between the implants. RESULTS: Group SD had lower values for linear displacement than group SC; however, this difference was not statistically significant except for implant #2. The overall evaluation showed a significant difference with better accuracy for group SD. Concerning angular displacements, group SD showed lesser angular variation for the 3 projection planes. For the distances between the implants, significant differences were only observed for the "all" assessment in which group SD behaved similarly to group CT, while group SC showed the highest values (P<.05). No correlation was detected between the axes (x, y, and z) and the distances between the implants. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluated scanning device led to improved trueness for linear, angular displacements, and distances between implants in mandibular edentulous arches.

Neurovascular Interactions in Malaria.

Malaria is caused by Plasmodium infection and remains a serious public health problem worldwide, despite control efforts. Malaria can progress to severe forms, affecting multiple organs, including the brain causing cerebral malaria (CM). CM is the most severe neurological complication of malaria, and cognitive and behavior deficits are commonly reported in surviving patients. The number of deaths from malaria has been reducing in recent years, and as a consequence, neurological sequelae have been more evident. Neurological damage in malaria might be related to the neuroinflammation, characterized by glia cell activation, neuronal apoptosis and changes in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. The neurovascular unit (NVU) is responsible for maintaining the homeostasis of the BBB. Endothelial and pericytes cells in the cerebral microvasculature and neural cells, as astrocytes, neurons, and microglia, compose the NVU. The NVU can be disturbed by parasite metabolic products, such as heme and hemozoin, or cytokines that can promote activation of endothelial and glial cells and lead to increased BBB permeability and subsequently neurodegeneration. In this review, we will approach the main changes that happen in the cells of the NVU due to neuroinflammation caused by malaria infection, and elucidate how the systemic pathophysiology is involved in the onset and progression of CM.

Atomic-Level Features for Kinetic Monte Carlo Models of Complex Chemistry from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

The high computational cost of evaluating atomic interactions recently motivated the development of computationally inexpensive kinetic models, which can be parameterized from molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the complex chemistry of thousands of species or other processes and accelerate the prediction of the chemical evolution by up to four orders of magnitude. Such models go beyond the commonly employed potential energy surface fitting methods in that they are aimed purely at describing kinetic effects. So far, such kinetic models utilize molecular descriptions of reactions and have been constrained to only reproduce molecules previously observed in MD simulations. Therefore, these descriptions fail to predict the reactivity of unobserved molecules, for example, in the case of large molecules or solids. Here, we propose a new approach for the extraction of reaction mechanisms and reaction rates from MD simulations, namely, the use of atomic-level features. Using the complex chemical network of hydrocarbon pyrolysis as an example, it is demonstrated that kinetic models built using atomic features are able to explore chemical reaction pathways never observed in the MD simulations used to parameterize them, a critical feature to describe rare events. Atomic-level features are shown to construct reaction mechanisms and estimate reaction rates of unknown molecular species from elementary atomic events. Through comparisons of the model ability to extrapolate to longer simulation time scales and different chemical compositions than the ones used for parameterization, it is demonstrated that kinetic models employing atomic features retain the same level of accuracy and transferability as the use of features based on molecular species, while being more compact and parameterized with less data. We also find that atomic features can better describe the formation of large molecules enabling the simultaneous description of small molecules and condensed phases.

Disputed Territories in Southeastern Brazil: Effects of the Serra da Bocaina National Park on Nearby Coastal Communities.

The establishment of national parks in Brazil has been made based on a history of conflicts with local populations living within the limits or buffer zones of protected areas. These conflicts begin with disputes over territorial ownership. They affect local livelihoods, access to and use of space and natural resources, and create power asymmetries. In response to these conflicts, the Federal Conservation Agency has put forward norms that guarantee inclusive arenas for local people to take part in negotiations with park managers. In this study, environmental conflicts caused by the implementation of parks overlapping local population territories are analyzed aiming to understand their role as mechanisms promoting institutional changes. We collected data from two communities that overlap the Serra da Bocaina National Park through interviews, workshops, and direct observations. For each community, we characterized conflicts involving the community and Park officers. We identified consequences to the community's livelihoods and analyzed their influence on institutional change. The results suggest that one community responded to conservation conflicts through actions towards negotiation and collaboration with the national park. The other community promoted changes in agricultural production methods and sought new markets as a strategy for staying in the territory. Conflicts are effective as a mechanism for institutional changes, as local actors articulate with autonomous organizations at different levels. We highlight the importance of a continuous documentation on conflicts and their consequences to rural livelihoods in both communities and conflict management actions taken by the Park in the long term.

Transferable Kinetic Monte Carlo Models with Thousands of Reactions Learned from Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of complex chemistry typically involves thousands of atoms propagating over millions of time steps, generating a wealth of data. Traditionally these data are used to calculate some aggregate properties of the system and then discarded, but we propose that these data can be reused to study related chemical systems. Using approximate chemical kinetic models and methods from statistical learning, we study hydrocarbon chemistries under extreme thermodynamic conditions. We discover that a single MD simulation can contain sufficient information about reactions and rates to predict the dynamics of related yet different chemical systems using kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulation. Our learned KMC models identify thousands of reactions and run 4 orders of magnitude faster than MD. The transferability of these models suggests that we can viably reuse data from existing MD simulations to accelerate future simulation studies and reduce the number of new MD simulations required.

Zingiber officinale formulation reduces hepatic injury and weight gain in rats fed an unhealthy diet.

This study investigated the ability of formulation containing Zingiber officinale (ginger) to reverse health changes promoted by unhealthy diet in Wistar rats. Five compounds from the gingerol family and three from the shogaol family were identified in the chromatographic analyzes of the extract. The animals were fed a combination of unhealthy foods, the cafeteria diet, which promoted increases in body weight, hepatocyte nucleus area, total hepatocyte area and liver fat accumulation, as well as reduced hepatic glutathione S-transferase concentration, compared to the control group, which received commercial chow. The treatment with ginger improved all these results, highlighting the reduction of 10% of body weight and 66% of the total area of lipid droplets deposited, compared to the group that received the cafeteria diet. Ginger treatments also attenuated lipid peroxidation, with a mean reduction of 41% in malondialdehyde levels and a mean increase of 222% in glutathione S-transferase activity in the liver. The cafeteria diet and ginger extract did not promote significant changes in glycemic and lipid profile, liver weight and liver enzymes compared to the control group. We suggest that ginger can have beneficial effects on health complications associated with unhealthy diet, such as excessive adiposity, oxidative stress and hepatic injury.

Effect of Low-Volume High-Intensity Interval Exercise and Continuous Exercise on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness in Untrained Healthy Males.

Farias Junior, LF, Browne, RAV, Frazão, DT, Dantas, TCB, Silva, PHM, Freitas, RPA, Aoki, MS, and Costa, EC. Effect of low-volume high-intensity interval exercise and continuous exercise on delayed-onset muscle soreness in untrained healthy males. J Strength Cond Res 33(3): 774-782, 2019-The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a single session of a low-volume high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and a continuous exercise (CE) on the magnitude of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in untrained healthy males. Fifteen participants (25.1 ± 4.4 years) completed 2 experimental sessions in a randomized order: (a) low-volume HIIE: 10 × 60 seconds at 90% of maximal velocity (MV) interspersed with 60 seconds of active recovery at 30% of MV and (b) CE: 20 minutes at 60% of MV. Pressure-pain threshold (PPT), pressure-pain tolerance (PPTol), and perceived pain intensity (PPI) were assessed in the rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and gastrocnemius before and 24 hours after exercise. There was a decrease of PPT in the rectus femoris (-0.5 kg·cm) and PPTol in the gastrocnemius (-1.4 kg·cm) and an increase of PPI in the rectus femoris (14.4 mm) and in the biceps femoris (11.7 mm) 24 hours after the low-volume HIIE session (p ≤ 0.05). There was a decrease of PPT (rectus femoris: -0.8 kg·cm; biceps femoris: -0.5 kg·cm; gastrocnemius: -0.9 kg·cm) and PPTol (rectus femoris: -1.9 kg·cm; biceps femoris: -2.7 kg·cm; gastrocnemius: -1.6 kg·cm) and an increase of PPI (rectus femoris: 8.1 mm; biceps femoris: 10.3 mm; gastrocnemius: 17.5 mm) in all muscles 24 hours after the CE session (p ≤ 0.05). No difference was observed between HIIE and CE sessions in any DOMS-related parameter (p > 0.05). In conclusion, a single session of low-volume HIIE and CE elicited a similar mild DOMS 24 hours after exercise in untrained healthy males.

CAD/CAM-fabricated removable partial dentures: a case report.

AIM: The objective of this case study is to present the manufacturing process and delivery of a removable partial denture (RPD) using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 46-year-old female patient presented at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte complaining of the lack of retention in her mandibular RPD. After the design and preparation of the abutment teeth, further appointments were made. In the first appointment, intraoral scanning (IOS) with a Trios scanner was performed, followed by virtual planning of the framework. The RPD was then printed, invested, cast by induction, and polished. In the second appointment, the RPD was delivered. CONCLUSION: The technique proved to be efficient in terms of clinical time and sufficient for patient comfort and satisfaction.

Anomalous diffusion of water molecules at grain boundaries in ice Ih.

Using ab initio and classical molecular dynamics simulations, we study pre-melting phenomena in pristine coincident-site-lattice grain boundaries (GBs) in proton-disordered hexagonal ice Ih at temperatures just below the melting point Tm. Concerning pre-melt-layer thicknesses, the results are consistent with the available experimental estimates for low-disorder impurity-free GBs. With regard to molecular mobility, the simulations provide a key new insight: the translational motion of the water molecules is found to be subdiffusive for time scales from ∼10 ns up to at least 0.1 µs. Moreover, the fact that the anomalous diffusion occurs even at temperatures just below Tm where the bulk supercooled liquid still diffuses normally suggests that it is related to the confinement of the GB pre-melt layers by the surrounding crystalline environment. Furthermore, we show that this behavior can be characterized by continuous-time random walk models in which the waiting-time distributions decay according to power-laws that are very similar to those describing dynamics in glass-forming systems.

Use of performance indicators to assess the solid waste management of health services.

Modern society faces serious challenges, among them, the complexity of environmental problems. Thus, there are several possible sources of environmental degradation, however, the waste produced by health services have an important peculiarity due to its toxic or pathogenic characteristics, since when managed improperly provide also health risk public. The involvement of solid waste from healthcare services environmental impact integrates matters a little more complex, because in addition to environmental health, they also interfere with the healthiness of environments that generate, with the consequences of nosocomial infections, occupational health and public. Thus, the management has become an urgent need, especially when we see no use of performance indicators management in healthcare environments in the city of São Mateus, ES. For this, we used the Analytic Hierarchy Process Method to prioritize such indicators as the potential improvement in health services waste management process - WHS and thus environmental analysis was performed with the use of a template for SWOT analysis. The results showed that the performance indicator training strategies developed with employees has the greatest potential to assist in improvements in WHS (Health Services Waste) management process followed indicator knowledge of the regulations associated with procedures performed by employees and importance of biosafety regulations.

Relationship between pelvic floor muscle and hormone levels in polycystic ovary syndrome.

AIMS: To evaluate the electrical activity of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. METHODS: Forty-two women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS group) and 13 premenopausal women (control group) were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Total testosterone and estradiol were measured and muscle tone and maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of PFM were determined by surface electromyography. RESULTS: There was a difference in muscle tone (PCOS = 59.9 µV and Control group = 25.5 µV; P < 0.0001) and MVC (PCOS = 159.7 µV and Control group = 63.7 µV; P < 0.0002) between groups. The concentration of estradiol and testosterone showed a strong correlation with tone (r = 0.9, r = 0.8 respectively) and MVC (r = 0.9, r = 0.9 respectively) in women with PCOS. The control group exhibited a strong correlation between testosterone and muscle tone (r = 0.9) and MVC (r = 0.9). CONCLUSION: Women with PCOS display higher electromyographic values than those in premenopause. Moreover, electrical activity showed a positive relation with estradiol and testosterone concentrations. Although PCOS is a heterogeneous disorder affecting young women, it is suggested that the hyperandrogenic state associated with PCOS is a protective factor for PFM. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:780-785, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.