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Bast fibers are defined as those obtained from the outer cell layers of the bast of various plant families. They are finding use in textile applications and are widely used as reinforcements for green composites, as bast fibers are perceived as "sustainable". There is a growing demand for bast fibers across the world due to their renewable and biodegradable nature. The bast fibers are mainly composed of cellulose, which potentially considers the growing techniques, harvesting and extraction processes of bast fibers most used to produce fibers with appropriate quality to apply in the daily lives of modern men and women in contemporary society. This review paper looks at many aspects of natural fibers, with a focus on plant bast fibers, including their impact on prehistoric and historical society. This review shows that bast fibers are competitive compared to man-made fibers in many applications, but variability in mechanical properties and low tenacity may limit their use in high-strengthh composites and extend to, particularly in aerospace, automotive, packaging, building industries, insulation, E-composites (Eco composites), geotextiles and many other applications are currently being explored. Considering, important characteristics of bast fibers include physical, mechanical, and chemical properties. This makes bast fibers one of the most important classes of plant fibers to use as reinforcing agents in thermosetting/thermoplastic polymer matrices. And the effect of bast fibers as reinforcement in the properties of ECO-composites, GREEN-composites, BIO-composites, lightweight composites. Bast fibers play an important role in sustainability, the preservation of the health of the environment, the well-being of the next generation, and even the daily lives of men and women in the contemporary world.

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This article presents a study on the tensile properties of knitted fabrics commonly employed in polymeric matrix textile composites. The key mechanical parameters investigated include stress (Pa), strain, Young's modulus (Pa), and work of rupture (J). The knitted fabrics were developed using the Cixing Knitting System software and subsequently manufactured using a double jersey (electronic) flat knitting machine. The primary objective of this research was to explore the impact of various factors on the mechanical behavior of these knitted fabrics. The factors studied were wale and course directions, float stitch density, loop length (cm), and the type of synthetic knitting yarns used (100% polyester and 100% polyamide) along with different combinations of knitting yarns (100% cotton and 67% polyester/33% cotton hybrid). The adopted ASTM D 5034 standard, Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed to evaluate the mechanical performance of these fabric structures. The findings of the study revealed that the statistical adjustment of the data set for stress, strain, Young's modulus, and work of rupture in knitted fabric structures significantly reduced the standard deviations for mechanical responses. This information holds particular significance as it pertains to the frequent use of these knitted fabric structures as reinforcement in textile-reinforced composite materials. Overall, this study sheds light on the mechanical behavior in structures of knitted fabrics used in polymeric matrix composites, providing valuable insights for the design and optimization of advanced textile-based materials.

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The use of Kevlar in the field of ballistic and stabbing protection has been studied by researchers in polymeric composites for this purpose. This study presents complementary knowledge on energy absorption and dissipation in ρ-aramid fabric impregnated with shear thickening fluids (STFs), especially aiming to obtain better protection against impacts that are deeply associated with STFs, as well as color change, accelerated aging (QUV), and penetration depth (drop tower test). In addition, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed. The research shows that there was a good distribution of STF particles on the ρ-Aramid fabric surface, promoting increased friction between the interfilament and the yarns, further increasing performance and, consequently, improving the energy absorption and dissipation mechanism and, also, the penetration effectiveness in relation to non-impregnated ρ-Aramid fabric. Regarding the protection efficiency against UV exposure (250-400 nm region), there was a significantly decreased compared to those non-impregnated Kevlar® woven with STFs. The FTIR analysis showed that the conditions of aging, after exposure to UV, did not produce new functional groups, that is, there was no chemical modification. Finally, Kevlar fabric impregnated with STFs improved penetration depth performance with the blades independent of the blade type with up to 81% increase in resistance. This result was improved due to interactions between the nanoparticles present in STFs, yarns, and even high-performance woven impregnated with shear-thickening fluids.

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PURPOSE: To identify the usefulness of Four Square Step Test (FSST) in discriminating balance control in non-frail, pre-frail, and frail community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Cross- sectional study conducted in specialized outpatient geriatric care settings. One hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients without severe cognitive impairment and who could walk were included. We classified participants as non-frail, pre-frail, and frail using the Fried frailty phenotype. FSST was assessed by measuring the time (seconds) participants took to step into each of the four quadrants formed by four sticks arranged on the floor (clockwise and counterclockwise as quickly as possible) without knocking the sticks. RESULTS: Of all participants, 36% were non-frail, 37% pre-frail, and 27% frail. Frail and pre-frail older adults took significantly more time to execute the FSST (23.1, 95% CI 18.8-27.4; p < 0.001 and 17.9; 95% CI 14.3-21.5; p = 0.003, respectively) compared to with non-frail (11.6, 95% CI 11.0-12.3). Frail and pre-frail older adults were not significantly different (p = 0.058). Most participants who failed to perform the test were frail (n = 15; 36%), followed by pre-frail (n = 7; 12%) and non-frail (n = 2; 3.5%). DISCUSSION: Our results showed that pre-frail and frail older adults had poorer performance in FSST when compared to non-frail older adults. It is important to use instruments that allow early identification, especially of pre-frail older adults, as they are still at the beginning of the frailty process when the control and reversal of adverse outcomes are promising. Failing the test could be a sign of mobility loss, particularly due to balance and cognitive problems. Clinical practitioners could use the test to compare individual's performance attending rehabilitation programs over different periods of time. CONCLUSION: FSST is a useful and safe measure of dynamic balance and discriminates frail and pre-frail from non-frail older adults. Further diagnostic accuracy studies should be conducted to determine FSST predictive capacity.

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Introduction The linguistic factor may have delayed the universal adoption of the International Anatomical Terminology (IAT), which was widespread in Latin and in English only. Independent translations are possible, but they are not devoid of methodological difficulties. Objective To estimate the usage of the translated version of the Terminologia Anatomica in neurosurgical articles in Brazil. Method Consecutive national publications were checked for the correspondence of their anatomical terms to the following categories: IAT ­ Brazilian version; IAT in Latin; Nomina Anatomica ­ previous versions; incomplete terms; derivative terms; eponyms; neologisms; and others (misspellings and prosaic terms). The years 2014 and 2015 were chosen for analysis so that included articles were published at least 16 years after the publication of the original IAT (1998) and at least 13 years since the publication of the Brazilian version (2001). Results Out of a total of 183 articles analyzed, 1,132 anatomical terms were identified, referring to 334 different anatomical structures. Most of the structures were described using terms from the Brazilian version of the IAT (n » 834; 73.7%). Those that did not belong to or did not derive from any version of the IAT totaled 281 (24.8%). The remaining 17 terms (1.5%) corresponded to words derived or provided for in the Latin IAT. No association was identified between the number of authors and any category of nomenclature. Conclusion Althoughmost anatomical structures cited in Portuguese were described in accordance with the Brazilian version of the IAT, the degree of adherence was considered moderate given that about one-quarter of the terms escaped this terminology.

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PURPOSE: Knowledge about the germline mutational spectrum among Brazilian with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) is limited. Only five studies have performed comprehensive BRCA sequencing, corresponding to 1041 individuals among a Brazilian population of over 207 million people. Herein we aimed to determine the clinical and molecular characteristics of Brazilian patients who underwent oncogenetic counseling and genetic testing of a panel of high-risk and moderate-risk genes from 2009 to 2017. METHODS: Massively parallel sequencing was applied in 157 individuals (132 breast cancer-affected and 25 breast cancer-unaffected individuals) selected according NCCN criteria for hereditary breast cancer. Analysis of mutation segregation in family members was performed by capillary bidirectional sequencing, clinical response after treament and survival analysis was estimated by Kaplan-Meier. RESULTS: Nineteen germline variants were identified,15 pathogenic and 4 VUS (Variants of Uncertain Significance) in 27 individuals (27/157; 17% P < 0.0001) distributed among 7 genes. Sixty-eight percent of patients (13/19) harbor mutation in BRCA genes and 32% (6/19) in moderate risk genes. This is the first study reporting ATR deleterious germline mutation in association with hereditary breast cancer. Cancer-affected patients with moderate- risk mutation present a more aggressive phenotype, with bilateral cancer (25% vs. 13%, P = 0.0305), high-grade tumors (79.2% vs. 46.3%, P = 0.0001) and triple-negative (50% vs. 22.4%, P < 0.0001). However, no difference in the 5 years overall survival was observed between BRCA and moderate risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: This work highlights the benefits of large-scale sequencing for oncogenetic counseling and extends our understanding about the genetics of hereditary breast cancer in the multi-ethnic Brazilian population.

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OBJECTIVE: A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the prevalence of tooth wear facets and sleep disorders. METHODS: The sample was divided into two groups: Group I: police officers (n = 144), and Group II: industrial workers (n = 142). A self-reported questionnaire, a clinical examination recorded in the dental records, and the Brazilian version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Questionnaire Index were used for data collection. Descriptive analysis, chi-squared and multiple logistic regression were used as statistical tests at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: Group I was almost twice as likely to have tooth wear facets as was Group II (OR = 1.88 95% CI = 1.03-3.44). Sleep disorders were worse among the participants of Group I. CONCLUSIONS: The type of profession exerted an influence on sleep disorders and the presence of wear facets among the groups, with police officers most likely to suffer from these disorders.

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Diseases caused by endoparasites trigger serious health problems, harming the development and production of birds. The objective of this study was to diagnose the presence of eggs and oocysts of Ascarididae and Eimeriidae parasites in Japanese quail excreta using the Willis-Mollay technique in the metropolitan region of the Cuiabá river valey, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Eggs and oocysts of the family Eimeriidae was found in 40% of the samples and the family Ascarididae in about 56% of the collected samples. The high parasite rate is a consequence of inadequate management of excreta, as well as lack of use or misuse of coccidiostats as food additives.(AU)

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Diseases caused by endoparasites trigger serious health problems, harming the development and production of birds. The objective of this study was to diagnose the presence of eggs and oocysts of Ascarididae and Eimeriidae parasites in Japanese quail excreta using the Willis-Mollay technique in the metropolitan region of the Cuiabá river valey, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Eggs and oocysts of the family Eimeriidae was found in 40% of the samples and the family Ascarididae in about 56% of the collected samples. The high parasite rate is a consequence of inadequate management of excreta, as well as lack of use or misuse of coccidiostats as food additives.

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OBJECTIVE: The present study assessed the reliability and validity of isokinetic dynamometry in the qualitative determination of the evolution of total knee arthroplasty. CASES: 20 patients whose mean age was 71.35 years, undergoing knee arthroplasty, and 25 controls whose mean age was 71.36 years. METHOD: Computerized isokinetic assessment of flexor and extensor muscles using a CYBEX 6000 dynamometer. RESULTS: The total flexor/extensor effort ratio for the treated side of patients vs the nondominant side of controls was not significantly different. The flexion/extension ratio concerning maximum torque for the treated side of patients vs the nondominant side of controls was significantly different. CONCLUSION: By detecting deficiencies in the balance of flexor and extensor muscles (a balance that is required for uniform gait), it will be possible to select specific rehabilitation exercises according to the individual needs of each patient undergoing surgery.

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OBJETIVO: O presente estudo avaliou a dinamometria isocinética na determinação qualitativa da evolução da artroplastia total do joelho. CASUÍSTICA E MÉTODO: Vinte pacientes com média de 71, 35 anos, submetidas a artroplastia de joelho e 25 controles com média de 71,36 anos. Foi utilizada avaliação isocinética computadorizada para os músculos flexores e extensores dos joelhos num dinamômetro marca CYBEX® 6000. RESULTADOS: A análise estatística dos valores da relação entre o trabalho total flexor e extensor não demonstrou diferenças significativas entre o lado operado das pacientes e o lado não dominante das voluntárias. A relação flexão/extensão do torque máximo demonstrou uma diferença significativa entre o lado operado das pacientes e o lado não-dominante das voluntárias. CONCLUSÃO: Por detecção de deficiências do equilíbrio dos músculos flexores e extensores (equilíbrio este necessário para uma marcha uniforme), poderão ser enfatizados exercícios de reabilitação específicos conforme a necessidade de cada paciente operada.

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Anterior knee instability associated with a varus deformity is a complex condition with several treatment possibilities. Among these, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) associated to a simultaneous valgus tibial osteotomy is a increasing indication. This simultaneous procedure adds technical issues to those related to the isolated surgeries. Thus, the osteotomy plane and location of fixation hardware shouldnÆt conflict with tibial tunnel and ACL graft fixation. Authors analyze the relations between a opening tibial valgus osteotomy stabilized with a Puddu plate and ACL reconstruction with a patellar tendon graft fixated with interference screws in 10 human cadaver knees. A straight oblique tibial osteotomy starting on the medial tibial cortex and oriented laterally and proximally was performed on all knees with a 10mm opening medially and stabilized with a Puddu plate on the most posterior aspect of the medial tibia, and a tibial tunnel drilled 50° to tibial plateau. With this technique there was no intersection between tibial tunnel or interference screw and the osteotomy or the plate fixation screws.

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Comparamos, através de uma avaliação isocinética concêntrica, o torque dos músculos flexores e extensores dos joelhos de 20 pacientes portadoras de osteoartrose submetidas a artroplastia total unilateral do joelho com o de voluntárias. A faixa etária foi entre 65 e 75 anos. O estudo foi realizado na velocidade angular de 60º/s. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: torque máximo, trabalho total e relação flexão/extensão do torque máximo e trabalho total. Concluímos que a dinamometria isocinética é um método fidedigno de avaliação muscular e que, em relação aos valores isocinéticos, o lado contralateral não é um bom parâmetro de comparação nas pacientes submetidas a artroplastia total do joelho.Using concentric isokinetic assessment, this study compared the knee flexor/extensor muscular strength in 20 patients with osteoarthritis submitted to unilateral total knee arthroplasty to women volunteers. The patients’ age varied from 65 to 75 years old. The angular velocity was 60º/s. The parameters evaluated were: peak torque, total work, flexor/extensor torque rate. We concluded that the isokinetic dynamometry is a reliable method of muscle assessment, and it can be used in clinical trials including patients submitted to total knee arthroplasty. In addition, regarding isokinetic values, the contralateral side is not a good parameter to compare patients submitted to this kind of procedure...

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OBJECTIVE: To assess knee flexor-extensor muscular strength in elderly women with no previous history of musculoskeletal disorders on the lower limbs using an isokinetic dynamometer, in order to obtain data that could be used as a comparative parameter in the evaluation of elderly women with knee disorders, thus facilitating a better rehabilitation of these patients. METHODS: Twenty-six volunteers aged 75 to 83 years were studied using a Cybex 6000 isokinetic dynamometer. The chosen angular velocity was 60 degrees /s, and concentric exercise was used for either flexion or extension. The studied parameters were: peak torque, angle of peak torque, and flexor-extensor torque rate. RESULTS: There were no differences between dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) knee peak torque values. This was true for both flexor (D = 42.46 +/- 9.09 Nm / ND = 40.65 +/- 9.38 Nm) and extensor (D = 76.92 +/- 13.97 Nm / ND = 77.65 +/- 15.21 Nm) movements. The descriptive statistical analysis of the values obtained for the flexor-extensor peak torque rate and for the angle of occurrence of peak torque was the same for the dominant and nondominant sides. CONCLUSIONS: The values of peak torque for the contralateral side can be used as a reference during rehabilitation of elderly women with acute disease of the knee, and the angular velocity of 60 degrees /s is proper and safe for isokinetic assessment of elderly people.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess knee flexor-extensor muscular strength in elderly women with no previous history of musculoskeletal disorders on the lower limbs using an isokinetic dynamometer, in order to obtain data that could be used as a comparative parameter in the evaluation of elderly women with knee disorders, thus facilitating a better rehabilitation of these patients. METHODS: Twenty-six volunteers aged 75 to 83 years were studied using a Cybex® 6000 isokinetic dynamometer. The chosen angular velocity was 60 º/s, and concentric exercise was used for either flexion or extension. The studied parameters were: peak torque, angle of peak torque, and flexor-extensor torque rate. RESULTS: There were no differences between dominant (D) and nondominant (ND) knee peak torque values. This was true for both flexor (D = 42.46 ± 9.09 Nm / ND = 40.65 ± 9.38 Nm) and extensor (D = 76.92 ± 13.97 Nm / ND = 77.65 ± 15.21 Nm) movements. The descriptive statistical analysis of the values obtained for the flexor-extensor peak torque rate and for the angle of occurrence of peak torque was the same for the dominant and nondominant sides. CONCLUSIONS: The values of peak torque for the contralateral side can be used as a reference during rehabilitation of elderly women with acute disease of the knee, and the angular velocity of 60 º/s is proper and safe for isokinetic assessment of elderly people

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Total hip arthroplasty is a common surgical procedure in a population with the organic frailty of aging. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism are the more common and dangerous complications of this procedure. Therefore, surgeon knowledge of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of these complications is mandatory both technically and ethically. The authors make a descriptive and critical revision of the literature regarding the most recent acquisitions in diagnosid, prevention, and treatment of these complications

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