Morphometry and Morphology of the Articular Surfaces of the Medial Region of the Temporomandibular Joint in the Felis Catus (Domestic cat) - A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study.

The articular surfaces of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in the cat consist of the articular head of the condylar process of the ramus of the mandible and the mandibular fossa of the petrous part of the temporal bone. Anatomic conformation of the TMJ articular surfaces can vary; however, this has not been studied in the cat. Thus, the aim of this study was to characterize the conformation of the medial region of the TMJ in mesocephalic adult cats as well as to determine the articular relationship by measurement of the degree of coverage of the mandibular fossa over the articular head. This was accomplished by assessing 60 TMJs from 30 mesocephalic adult cats by means of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The width and depth of the mandibular fossa, and the degree of coverage of the mandibular fossa were evaluated using parasagittal reconstructions of the medial aspect of the TMJ by two observers. No statistically significant difference was observed during the intra and interobserver evaluation of the mandibular fossa width and depth and the degree of coverage of the mandibular fossa over the articular head. P-values for the studied variables were greater than 0.05. The resulting measurements demonstrated a concave mandibular fossa with a prominent retroarticular process and a poorly developed articular eminence; a well-defined rounded articular surface, and a high degree of coverage (171°) of the mandibular fossa over the articular head. In conclusion, the articular surfaces at the medial aspect of the TMJ displayed elevated geometric similarity, with an articular head of the condylar process deeply seated in the mandibular fossa.

Forensic analysis of auditorily similar voices / Perícia em vozes auditivamente semelhantes

ABSTRACT Purpose: to verify contributions of acoustic spectrographic analysis in the forensic identification of speakers with auditorily similar voices, considering the distinctive behavior of acoustic parameters: formants of vowel "é", of connected speech, mean fundamental frequency in Hz, linear prediction curve of vowel "é" and linear prediction curve area; and to propose an objective method to use the analyzed parameters. Methods: a quantitative, qualitative and descriptive study, conducted in Pernambuco on 16 pairs of male siblings, aged 18-60 years. The subjects recorded videos from which the audios were extracted, numbered and sent to three examiners, in two groups: older brothers and younger brothers, for perceptual-auditory pairing. The correct pairings, indicated by at least two examiners, were submitted to acoustic analysis. The statistical tests included Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni, with p<0.05. Results: the results of analyses of formants and the mean fundamental frequency were not enough to distinguish similar voices. Unprecedentedly, in the measurements of areas generated by the linear prediction curve graphs, a distinctive statistical significance was observed. Conclusion: it was concluded that, among the parameters studied, the measurements of areas of the linear prediction curve objectively indicated effectiveness in distinguishing speakers with auditorily similar voices.

RESUMO Objetivo: verificar contribuições da análise espectrográfica acústica na identificação forense de falantes em vozes auditivamente semelhantes, considerando o comportamento distintivo dos parâmetros acústicos: formantes da vogal "é", da fala encadeada, média da frequência fundamental em Hz, curva de predição linear da vogal "é" e área da curva de predição linear; propor um método objetivo da utilização dos parâmetros analisados. Métodos: estudo quantitativo, qualitativo e descritivo, realizado em Pernambuco com 16 pares de irmãos do sexo masculino, entre 18-60 anos. Os sujeitos gravaram vídeos de onde extraíram-se os áudios que foram numerados e enviados a três avaliadores, em dois grupos: dos irmãos mais velhos e dos irmãos mais novos, para pareamento perceptivo-auditivo. Os pareamentos corretos, apontados por pelo menos dois avaliadores, foram submetidos à análise acústica. Os testes estatísticos foram Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, Bonferroni, com p<0,05. Resultados: os resultados das análises dos formantes e da média da frequência fundamental não foram suficientes para distinguir as vozes semelhantes. Ineditamente nas medidas das áreas geradas pelos gráficos da curva de predição linear, foi verificada significância estatística distintiva. Conclusão: concluiu-se que entre os parâmetros estudados, as medidas das áreas da curva de predição linear apontaram, objetivamente, eficácia na distinção de falantes com vozes auditivamente semelhantes.

Radiographic Assessment of the Feline Temporomandibular Joint with Oblique Projections: A Preliminary Ex Vivo Study.

Radiographic assessment of the temporomandibular joint in the domestic cat using conventional radiographic views can be challenging due to superimposition of overlying structures and the complex anatomy of the skull. The use of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and cone beam computed tomography to assess the temporomandibular joint in the cat has increased, but these modalities are not always available in general veterinary practices. Conventional radiography is still commonly used for first line assessment of the temporomandibular joint. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine optimal angle of obliquity of lateroventral-laterodorsal and laterorostral-laterocaudal (nose up lateral oblique) oblique radiographic views in the assessment of the temporomandibular joints in five feline mesaticephalic dry skulls. Visibility of the mandibular head, mandibular fossa, retroarticular process, and temporomandibular joint space were evaluated and scored by two veterinary radiologists. The results of this study identified that the dependent temporomandibular joint anatomy was best seen on the latero-10°-ventral-laterodorsal, latero-15°-ventral-laterodorsal, and latero-20°-ventral-laterodorsal, oblique views, and opposite lateral oblique views at these angulations may be helpful in characterization of this anatomy in clinical patients. The results also indicate that the laterorostral-laterocaudal (nose up lateral oblique) oblique view did not allow adequate discrimination of all TMJ anatomy at any angle, and is not recommended.

Generalized symmetrical partial linear model.

In this work, we propose a new model called generalized symmetrical partial linear model, based on the theory of generalized linear models and symmetrical distributions. In our model the response variable follows a symmetrical distribution such a normal, Student-t, power exponential, among others. Following the context of generalized linear models we consider replacing the traditional linear predictors by the more general predictors in whose case one covariate is related with the response variable in a non-parametric fashion, that we do not specified the parametric function. As an example, we could imagine a regression model in which the intercept term is believed to vary in time or geographical location. The backfitting algorithm is used for estimating the parameters of the proposed model. We perform a simulation study for assessing the behavior of the penalized maximum likelihood estimators. We use the quantile residuals for checking the assumption of the model. Finally, we analyzed real data set related with pH rivers in Ireland.

Comparison of unilateral rostral, middle and caudal segmental mandibulectomies as an alternative treatment for unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis in cats: an ex vivo study.

OBJECTIVES: Temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) is the partial or complete inability to open the mouth due to intra- or extra-articular fibrous, bony or fibro-osseous tissue proliferation. Surgical procedures such as gap arthroplasty, condylectomy or wide extra-articular osteotomy have been recommended to treat this condition; these techniques are challenging, time-consuming and have been occasionally associated with postoperative recurrence, severe periarticular neurovascular iatrogenic trauma and death. Segmental mandibulectomy had previously been recommended as an alternative option for unilateral TMJA, but the location of mandibulectomy and extent of bone removal from the mandible region have not been mentioned in the literature. This study aimed to validate the area of the mandibular body (rostral, middle or caudal) and amount of bony tissue that should be osteotomized during a segmental mandibulectomy for treatment of unilateral TMJA in cats. METHODS: In this block study, 30 cadaver heads of domestic shorthair cats were randomly divided into three groups of 10 specimens each based on the mandibular region that would undergo segmental mandibulectomy (rostral, middle and caudal). The size of the removed mandibular segment and pre- and postoperative vertical range of mandibular motion were compared for statistical purposes. RESULTS: A significant statistical difference was observed between the pre- and postoperative vertical range of mandibular motion between the rostral, middle and caudal segmental mandibulectomies (P <0.001). The mean postoperative recovered range of mandibular motion for the rostral, middle and caudal segmental mandibulectomies was 50.4%, 81.9% and 90.4%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The caudal segmental mandibulectomy showed the highest postoperative vertical range of mandibular motion. The removal of a minimum of 1.2 cm of the caudal mandibular body was required to achieve nearly full recovery of presurgical mouth opening in the specimens of this study. The caudal segmental mandibulectomy may eliminate the risk of iatrogenic periarticular neurovascular damage inherent to more invasive surgeries performed at the temporomandibular joint area. When performed unilaterally, the caudal segmental mandibulectomy is a viable surgical alternative that may show a similar outcome to other surgical techniques.

Effect of the smoking using Brazilian reforestation woods on volatile organic compounds, lipid oxidation, microbiological and hedonic quality of bacons during shelf life.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using different reforestation woods (Acacia mearnsii and Eucalyptus citriodora) on the formation of volatile organic compounds and to evaluate the changes in the lipid fraction (peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), microbiological counts and overall liking in bacons stored for 60 days at 5 ± 1 °C. Smoking with Eucalyptus citriodora wood increased the total phenolic content and, consequently, reduced the concentration of hexanal, TBARS, and PV values. Although smoking with different reforestation woods did not impact negatively on the liking of products, no changes on antimicrobial activity was observed in the developed products. Thus, the use of Eucalyptus citriodora wood may be an alternative for smoking meat products as it reduced lipid oxidation and improved the volatile compounds profile, and provided higher antioxidant activity. The information generated herein can be used as a platform for companies to test the viability of producing meat products smoked with reforestation woods.

Off-Flavours and Unpleasantness Are Cues for the Recognition and Valorization of Organic Wines by Experienced Tasters.

The drivers of consumer acceptance concerning organic wines are not well understood. In particular, among wine professionals, there are anecdotal evidences claiming that consumers accept off-flavours that would not be tolerated if the wines were conventionally produced. Therefore, the aim of this study was to shed further light on this issue by tasting blind wines of both types of production using a tasting panel comprised by experienced individuals of several nationalities. The tasted wines were both conventional and organic and were with and without off-flavours. The same wines were evaluated in three tasting sessions where the given information was: (1) all wines were conventional, (2) all wines were organic, and (3) tasters were asked to guess the mode of production. A group of untrained tasters also rated the same organic wines in an informed session. The results showed that wines were significantly better scored and were given a higher willingness to pay value in the "organic" session. In addition, the experienced tasting panel produced a list of the most frequent sensory descriptors. When tasters were asked to guess the mode of production, wines that were supposed to be organic received a higher citation of off-flavours, such as "oxidized", "reductive", and "animal/undergrowth". Moreover, an overall emotional response of unpleasantness was associated with the recognition of organic wines in the "guess" session. Untrained tasters rated the same organic wines with lower liking scores and were willing to pay less. In conclusion, off-flavours and their unpleasantness worked as a cue to identify wines supposed to be organic by experienced tasters. Their corresponding higher valorization could be explained by the psychological halo effect induced by the organic label. Contrarily, consumers did not show this halo effect, depreciating wines with unpleasant flavours irrespective of their mode of production.

Morphologic and Morphometric Description of the Temporomandibular Joint in the Domestic Dog Using Computed Tomography.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in the domestic dog is a synovial joint with 2 articular surfaces, the mandibular fossa of the squamous portion of the temporal bone and the articular head of the condylar process of the mandible. Although different diagnostic imaging techniques have been used to study the TMJ in dogs, morphologic and morphometric studies based on computed tomography (CT) are scarce. The purpose of the present study was to describe the morphologic and morphometric features of the TMJ in domestic dogs using CT. Width and depth of the mandibular fossa and 2 different angles between the mandibular fossa and the condylar process were measured in 96 TMJs of 48 dogs of different breeds (Labrador retriever, German shepherd, cocker spaniel, boxer, English bulldog, pug, shih tzu, and Cavalier King Charles spaniel). Temporomandibular joint conformation differed between breeds. Mid- and small-sized dogs had mandibular fossae that were more shallow, less developed retroarticular processes, and irregularly shaped condylar processes. The TMJs were more congruent in large dogs, presenting with deeper mandibular fossae, prominent retroarticular processes, and more uniform condylar processes. The measurements proposed in this study demonstrated 3 different morphologic conformations for the TMJ in the dogs of this study.

Estudio anatómico de la inervación del músculo flexor corto del pulgar / Anatomical study of the flexor pollicis brevis muscle innervation

El músculo flexor corto del pulgar está compuesto por dos órdenes de fibras de las que unas constituyen la cabeza superficial y las otras, la cabeza profunda. Generalmente, se ha descrito que la primera de ellas es inervada por el nervio mediano y la segunda, por el nervio ulnar. Esta descripción está sujeta a numerosas variaciones, así la cabeza superficial del músculo fue encontrada con doble inervación por SALA en el 74,0 por ciento, por FOREST en el 68.0 por ciento y por DAY & Napier sólo en un 23 por ciento. Por su prte DE SOUZA, la encontró inervada por el n. mediano en un 93,3 por ciento. Para la cabeza profunda, se admite en general, que está inervada por el nervio ulnar en mas de un 65,0 por ciento. Con la finalidad de esclarecer las dudas surgidas en la literatura consultada y dada la importancia que tiene la inervación de esta región en la cirugía de la mano, procedimos a efectuar un estudio anatómico detallado de la inervación del músculo flexor corto del pulgar, para lo cual usamos 12 manos fijadas en formol al 10 por ciento de las que ocho de ellas, correspondían a fetos de entre 6 y 7 meses, material perteneciente a la Unidad de Anatomía, Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de la Frontera. Las disecciones se realizaron con la ayuda de una lupa WILD M5. El ramo nervioso para la cabeza superficial del músculo en estudio, se desprendió en 11 casos del ramo tenar del nervio mediano y en el caso restante, del nervio digital palmar propio del pulgar, parte radial. El número de ramos que penetraron en la cabeza superficial fue de un ramo en 8 casos, 2 ramos en tres casos y 3 ramos en 1 caso. La cabeza profunda fue inervada en los 12 casos por un ramo que procedía del ramo profundo del nervio ulnar