On the relationship between squid and the environment: artisanal jigging for Loligo plei at Sao Sebastiao Island (24 degrees S), southeastern Brazil

The squid Loligo plei concentrates in the southeastern Brazil Bight, where it has traditionally supported small-scale fisheries around Sao Sebastiao Island (SSI). Sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll-a (Chl a), windspeed, wave height, rainfall, and lunar phase are related to fishing records and to the results of a survey of local fishers to investigate how they believe environmental variables might affect catches of L. plei. Daily fishery-dependent data over the years 2005-2009 were obtained from a fishing cooperative and were matched with satellite and meteorological forecast data. Generalized linear models were used to explore the significance of environmental variables in relation to variability in catch and catch per unit effort (cpue). Squid are fished with jigs in water shallower than 20 m, generally where SST is warmer and Chl a and windspeed are lower. Cpue and monthly catches decreased from 2005 to 2008, followed by a slight increase in 2009. The correlations between fishery and environmental data relate well to fishers` oceanological knowledge, underscoring the potential of incorporating such knowledge into evaluations of the fishery.

Daily morphological changes determined by high-energy events on an embayed beach: a qualitative model

This paper examines the daily morphological responses of Sununga Beach, an embayed beach located on the south-eastern Brazilian coast, to storms in the South Atlantic Ocean. The main mechanisms and timing of beach erosion and accretion, the relationship between wave height and direction, and beach volume changes are considered, to establish a qualitative model for short-term embayed beach morphological changes. The methodology consisted of daily topographic surveys during the month of May in 2001, 2002, and 2003, using an RTK-GPS (real-time kinematics global positioning system). Weather and wave model results were used to correlate hydrodynamics and beach morphology. The results indicate that the morphodynamics of Sununga Beach are characterized by a process of beach rotation, which occurred more or less clearly during all three surveys. Unlike what has been commonly described in the literature for longer time intervals and alternations of fair and stormy weather, the beach rotation processes on Sununga Beach occurred under conditions of moderate-to-high wave energy change (wave heights greater than 2 m). An integrated evaluation of the behaviour of the meteorological aspects, together with beach morphology, enabled us to recognize that extra-tropical cyclones were the most important agent in remobilizing the beach planform, whether in beach rotation or in cross-shore erosion. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Can Indian Ocean SST anomalies influence South American rainfall?

In this study we examine the impact of Indian Ocean sea surface temperature (SST) variability on South American circulation using observations and a suite of numerical experiments forced by a combination of Indian and Pacific SST anomalies. Previous studies have shown that the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) mode can affect climate over remote regions across the globe, including over South America. Here we show that such a link exists not only with the IOD, but also with the Indian Ocean basin-wide warming (IOBW). The IOBW, a response to El Nino events, tends to reinforce the South American anomalous circulation in March-to-May associated with the warm events in the Pacific. This leads to increased rainfall in the La Plata basin and decreased rainfall over the northern regions of the continent. In addition, the IOBW is suggested to be an important factor for modulating the persistence of dry conditions over northeastern South America during austral autumn. The link between the IOBW and South American climate occurs via alterations of the Walker circulation pattern and through a mid-latitude wave-train teleconnection.

Instrumental activities of daily living performance in healthy and cognitively intact seniors from a Brazilian sample and its relation to age and other socio-demographic variables

Background: Studies on functional capacity in community-dwelling older people have shown associations between declines in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) and several factors. Among these, age has been the most consistently related to functional capacity independent of other variables. We aimed at evaluating the performance of a sample of healthy and cognitively intact Brazilian older people on activities of daily living and to analyze its relation to social-demographic variables. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected for previous epidemiological studies with community-dwelling subjects aged 60 years or more. We selected subjects who did not have dementia or depression, and with no history of neurological diseases, heart attack, HIV, hepatitis or arthritis (n = 1,111). Functional capacity was assessed using the Brazilian version of the Older American Resources and Services Questionnaire (BOMFAQ). ADL performance was analyzed according to age, gender, education, and marital status (Pearson's chi(2), logistic regression). Results: IADL difficulties were present in our sample, especially in subjects aged 80 years or more, with lower levels of education, or widowed. The logistic regression analysis results indicated that "higher age" and "lower education" (p <= 0.001) remained significantly associated with IADL difficulty. Conclusions: Functional decline was present in older subjects even in the absence of medical conditions and cognitive impairment. Clinicians and researchers could benefit from knowing what to expect from older people regarding IADL performance in the absence of medical conditions.

Prevalence of adults with type 1 diabetes who meet the goals of care in daily clinical practice: A nationwide multicenter study in Brazil

Objective: To determine the prevalence of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus who meet the glycemic and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors goals and the frequency of screening for diabetic complications in Brazil according to the American Diabetes Association guidelines. Research design and methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between December 2008 and December 2010 in 28 public clinics in 20 Brazilian cities. Data were obtained from 1774 adult patients (56.8% females, 57.2% Caucasians) aged 30.3 +/- 9.8 years with diabetes duration of 14.3 +/- 8.8 years. Results: Systolic blood pressure was at goal in 40.3% and diastolic blood pressure was at goal in 26.6% of hypertensive patients. LDL cholesterol and HbA1c were at the goal in 45.2% and 13.2% of the patients, respectively. Overweight was presented in 25.6% and obesity in 6.9%. Among those with more than 5 years of disease, screening for retinopathy was performed in the preceding year in 70.1%. Nephropathy and feet complications were screened in 63.1% and 65.1%, respectively. Conclusions: The majority of patients did not meet metabolic control goals and a substantial proportion was not screened for diabetic complications. These issues may increase the risk of chronic complications and negatively impact public health. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antihypertensive and antioxidant effects of a single daily dose of sodium nitrite in a model of renovascular hypertension

Dietary nitrite and nitrate have been reported as alternative sources of nitric oxide (NO). In this regard, we reported previously that sodium nitrite added to drinking water was able to exert antihypertensive effects in an experimental model of hypertension in a dose-dependent manner. Taking into consideration that nitrite is continuously converted to nitrate in the bloodstream, here we expanded our previous report and evaluate whether a single daily dose of sodium nitrite could exert antihypertensive effects in 2 kidney-1 clip (2K1C) hypertensive rats. Sham-operated and 2K1C rats were treated with vehicle or sodium nitrite (15 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. We evaluated the effects induced by sodium nitrite treatment on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and NO markers such as plasma nitrite, nitrite + nitrate (NOx), cGMP, and blood levels of nitrosyl-hemoglobin. In addition, we also evaluated effects of nitrite on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes. Dihydroethidium (DHE) was used to evaluate aortic reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by fluorescence microscopy, and plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS) were measured in plasma samples from all experimental groups. Red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity were evaluated with commercial kits. Sodium nitrite treatment reduced SBP in 2K1C rats (P < 0.05). We found lower plasma nitrite and NOx levels in 2K1C rats compared with normotensive controls (both P < 0.05). Nitrite treatment restored the lower levels of nitrite and NOx. While no change was found in the blood levels of nitrosyl-hemoglobin (P > 0.05), nitrite treatment increased the plasma levels of cGMP in 2K1C rats (P < 0.05). Higher plasma TBARS levels and aortic ROS levels were found in hypertensive rats compared with controls (P < 0.05), and nitrite blunted these alterations. Lower SOD and catalase activities were found in 2K1C hypertensive rats compared with controls (both P < 0.05). Nitrite treatment restored SOD activity (P < 0.05), whereas catalase was not affected. These data suggest that even a single daily oral dose of sodium nitrite is able to lower SBP and exert antioxidant effects in renovascular hypertension.

Florística e fitossociologia em parcelas permanentes da Mata Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal

Este trabalho resume os dados de florística e fitossociologia de 11, das 14 parcelas de 1 ha, alocadas ao longo do gradiente altitudinal da Serra do Mar, São Paulo, Brasil. As parcelas começam na cota 10 m (Floresta de Restinga da Praia da Fazenda, município de Ubatuba) e estão distribuídas até a cota 1100 m (Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana da Trilha do rio Itamambuca, município de São Luis do Paraitinga) abrangendo os Núcleos Picinguaba e Santa Virgínia do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar. Na Restinga o solo é Neossolo Quartzarênico francamente arenoso, enquanto que na encosta o solo é um Cambisolo Háplico Distrófico argilo-arenoso, sendo que todas as parcelas apresentaram solo ácido (pH 3 – 4) com alta diluição de nutrientes e alta saturação de alumínio. Na Restinga e no sopé da encosta o clima é Tropical/Subtropical Úmido (Af/Cfa), sem estação seca, com precipitação média anual superior a 2.200 mm e temperatura média anual de 22 °C. Subindo a encosta mantêm-se a média de precipitação, mas há um gradativo resfriamento, de forma que a 1.100 m o clima é Subtropical Úmido (Cfa/Cfb), sem estação seca, com temperatura média anual de 17 °C. Destaca-se ainda que, quase diariamente, a parte superior da encosta, geralmente acima de 400 m, é coberta por uma densa neblina. Nas 14 parcelas foram marcados, medidos e amostrados 21.733 indivíduos com DAP ≥ 4,8 cm, incluindo árvores, palmeiras e fetos arborescentes. O número médio de indivíduos amostrados nas 14 parcelas foi de 1.264 ind.ha–1 (± 218 EP de 95%). Dentro dos parâmetros considerados predominaram as árvores (71% FOD Montana a 90% na Restinga), seguidas de palmeiras (10% na Restinga a 25% na FOD Montana) e fetos arborescentes (0% na Restinga a 4% na FOD Montana). Neste aspecto destaca-se a FOD Terras Baixas Exploradas com apenas 1,8% de palmeiras e surpreendentes 10% de fetos arborescentes. O dossel é irregular, com altura variando de 7 a 9 m, raramente as árvores emergentes chegam a 18 m, e a irregularidade do dossel permite a entrada de luz suficiente para o desenvolvimento de centenas de espécies epífitas. Com exceção da FOD Montana, onde o número de mortos foi superior a 5% dos indivíduos amostrados, nas demais fitofisionomias este valor ficou abaixo de 2,5%. Nas 11 parcelas onde foi realizado o estudo florístico foram encontradas 562 espécies distribuídas em 195 gêneros e 68 famílias. Apenas sete espécies – Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae), Calyptranthes lucida Mart. ex DC. e Marlierea tomentosa Cambess (ambas Myrtaceae), Guapira opposita (Vell.) Reitz (Nyctaginaceae), Cupania oblongifolia Mart. (Sapindaceae) e as Urticaceae Cecropia glaziovii Snethl. e Coussapoa microcarpa (Schott) Rizzini – ocorreram da Floresta de Restinga à FOD Montana, enquanto outras 12 espécies só não ocorreram na Floresta de Restinga. As famílias com o maior número de espécies são Myrtaceae (133 spp), Fabaceae (47 spp), 125 Fitossociologia em parcelas permanentes de Mata Atlântica http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br/v12n1/pt/abstract?article+bn01812012012 http://www.biotaneotropica.org.br Biota Neotrop., vol. 12, no. 1 Introdução A Mata Atlântica sensu lato (Joly et al. 1999) é a segunda maior floresta tropical do continente americano (Tabarelli et al. 2005). A maior parte dos Sistemas de Classificação da vegetação brasileira reconhece que no Domínio Atlântico (sensu Ab’Saber 1977) esse bioma pode ser dividido em dois grandes grupos: a Floresta Ombrófila Densa, típica da região costeira e das escarpas serranas com alta pluviosidade (Mata Atlântica – MA – sensu stricto), e a Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, que ocorre no interior, onde a pluviosidade, além de menor, é sazonal. Na região costeira podem ocorrer também Manguezais (Schaeffer-Novelli 2000), ao longo da foz de rios de médio e grande porte, e as Restingas (Scarano 2009), crescendo sobre a planície costeira do quaternário. No topo das montanhas, geralmente acima de 1500 m, estão os Campos de Altitude (Ribeiro & Freitas 2010). Em 2002, a Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica em parceria com o INPE (Instituto..., 2002) realizaram um levantamento que indica que há apenas 7,6% da cobertura original da Mata Atlântica (s.l.). Mais recentemente Ribeiro et al. (2009) refinaram a estimativa incluindo fragmentos menores, que não haviam sido contabilizados, e concluíram que resta algo entre 11,4 e 16% da área original. Mesmo com esta fragmentação, o mosaico da Floresta Atlântica brasileira possui um dos maiores níveis de endemismos do mundo (Myers et al. 2000) e cerca da metade desses remanescentes de grande extensão estão protegidos na forma de Unidades de Conservação (Galindo & Câmara 2005). Entre os dois centros de endemismo reconhecidos para a MA (Fiaschi & Pirani 2009), o bloco das regiões sudeste/sul é o que conserva elementos da porção sul de Gondwana (Sanmartin & Ronquist 2004), tido como a formação florestal mais antiga do Brasil (Colombo & Joly 2010). Segundo Hirota (2003), parte dos remanescentes de MA está no estado de São Paulo, onde cerca de 80% de sua área era coberta por florestas (Victor 1977) genericamente enquadradas como Mata Atlântica “sensu lato” (Joly et al. 1999). Dados de Kronka et al. (2005) mostram que no estado restam apenas 12% de área de mata e menos do que 5% são efetivamente florestas nativas pouco antropizadas. Nos 500 anos de fragmentação e degradação das formações naturais, foram poupadas apenas as regiões serranas, principalmente a fachada da Serra do Mar, por serem impróprias para práticas agrícolas. Usando o sistema fisionômico-ecológico de classificação da vegetação brasileira adotado pelo IBGE (Veloso et al. 1991), a Floresta Ombrófila Densa, na área de domínio da Mata Atlântica, foi subdividida em quatro faciações ordenadas segundo a hierarquia topográfica, que refletem fisionomias de acordo com as variações das faixas altimétricas e latitudinais. No estado de São Paulo, na latitude entre 16 e 24 °S temos: 1) Floresta Ombrófila Densa das Terras Baixas - 5 a 50 m de altitude; 2) Floresta Ombrófila Densa Submontana – no sopé da Serra do Mar, com cotas de altitude variando entre 50 e 500 m; 3) Floresta Ombrófila Densa Montana – recobrindo a encosta da Serra do Mar propriamente dita, em altitudes que variam de 500 a 1.200 m; 4) Floresta Ombrófila Densa Altimontana – ocorrendo no topo da Serra do Mar, acima dos limites estabelecidos para a formação montana, onde a vegetação praticamente deixa de ser arbórea, pois predominam os campos de altitude. Nas últimas três décadas muita informação vem sendo acumulada sobre a composição florística e a estrutura do estrato arbóreo dos remanescentes florestais do estado, conforme mostram as revisões de Oliveira-Filho & Fontes (2000) e Scudeller et al. (2001). Em florestas tropicais este tipo de informação, assim como dados sobre a riqueza de espécies, reflete não só fatores evolutivos e biogeográficos, como também o histórico de perturbação, natural ou antrópica, das respectivas áreas (Gentry 1992, Hubbell & Foster 1986). A síntese dessas informações tem permitido a definição de unidades fitogeográficas com diferentes padrões de riqueza de espécies e apontam para uma diferenciação, entre as florestas paulistas, no sentido leste/oeste (Salis et al. 1995, Torres et al. 1997, Santos et al. 1998). Segundo Bakker et al. (1996) um método adequado para acompanhar e avaliar as mudanças na composição das espécies e dinâmica da floresta ao longo do tempo é por meio de parcelas permanentes (em inglês Permanent Sample Plots –PSPs). Essa metodologia tem sido amplamente utilizada em estudos de longa duração em florestas tropicais, pois permite avaliar a composição e a estrutura florestal e monitorar sua mudança no tempo (Dallmeier 1992, Condit 1995, Sheil 1995, Malhi et al. 2002, Lewis et al. 2004). Permite avaliar também as consequências para a floresta de problemas como o aquecimento global e a poluição atmosférica (Bakker et al. 1996). No Brasil os projetos/programas que utilizam a metodologia de Parcelas Permanentes tiveram origem, praticamente, com o Projeto Rubiaceae (49) e Lauraceae (49) ao longo de todo gradiente da FOD e Monimiaceae (21) especificamente nas parcelas da FOD Montana. Em termos de número de indivíduos as famílias mais importantes foram Arecaceae, Rubiaceae, Myrtaceae, Sapotaceae, Lauraceae e na FOD Montana, Monimiaceae. Somente na parcela F, onde ocorreu exploração de madeira entre 1960 e 1985, a abundância de palmeiras foi substituída pelas Cyatheaceae. O gradiente estudado apresenta um pico da diversidade e riqueza nas altitudes intermediárias (300 a 400 m) ao longo da encosta (índice de Shannon-Weiner - H’ - variando de 3,96 a 4,48 nats.indivíduo–1). Diversas explicações para este resultado são apresentadas neste trabalho, incluindo o fato dessas altitudes estarem nos limites das expansões e retrações das diferentes fitofisionomias da FOD Atlântica durante as flutuações climáticas do Pleistoceno. Os dados aqui apresentados demonstram a extraordinária riqueza de espécies arbóreas da Floresta Ombrófila Densa Atlântica dos Núcleos Picinguaba e Santa Virgínia do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, reforçando a importância de sua conservação ao longo de todo o gradiente altitudinal. A diversidade desta floresta justifica também o investimento de longo prazo, através de parcelas permanentes, para compreender sua dinâmica e funcionamento, bem como monitorar o impacto das mudanças climáticas nessa vegetação.

Stone tool use in wild bearded capuchin monkeys, Cebus libidinosus. Is it a strategy to overcome food scarcity?

To determine whether tool use varied in relation to food availability in bearded capuchin monkeys, we recorded anvil and stone hammer use in two sympatric wild groups, one of which was provisioned daily, and assessed climatic variables and availability of fruits, invertebrates and palm nuts. Capuchins used tools to crack open encased fruits, mostly palm nuts, throughout the year. Significant differences between wet and dry seasons were found in rainfall, abundance of invertebrates and palm nuts, but not in fruit abundance. Catule nuts were more abundant in the dry season. We tested the predictions of the necessity hypothesis (according to which tool use is maintained by sustenance needs during resource scarcity) and of the opportunity hypothesis (according to which tool use is maintained by repeated exposure to appropriate ecological conditions, such as preferred food resources necessitating the use of tools). Our findings support only the opportunity hypothesis. The rate of tool use was not affected by provisioning, and the monthly rate of tool use was not correlated with the availability of fruits and invertebrates. Conversely, all capuchins cracked food items other than palm nuts (e.g. cashew nuts) when available, and adult males cracked nuts more in the dry season when catule nuts (the most common and exploited nut) are especially abundant. Hence, in our field site capuchins use tools opportunistically. (C) 2012 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

COMPARING RAINFALL INTENSITY DURATION RELATIONSHIPS FOR SITES OF THE STATE OF SAO PAULO

Rainfall intensity durations relationships are extremely important in the design of systems for mitigating runoff losses. The objective of this work was to compare rainfall depths generated by the PLUVIO 2.1 software, with depths from the standard intensity duration curves developed by MARTINEZ & MAGNI (1999). It was compared rainfall intensities of 10, 20, 30, 60, 120 and 1440 minute durations for 2, 5, 10, 50 and 100 year return periods for 30 sites in the state of Sao Paulo. The results showed that PLUVIO was effective, except in predicting the 24 hours rainfall from 100 year return period events in four locations in the central and eastern regions of the state.

Gender differences in incidence and determinants of disability in activities of daily living among elderly individuals: SABE study

Determining the groups that are most susceptible to developing disability is essential to establishing effective prevention and rehabilitation strategies. The aim of the present study was to determine gender differences in the incidence of disability regarding activities of daily living (ADL) and determinants among elderly residents of Sao Paulo, Brazil. In 2000, 1634 elderly with no difficulties regarding ADL (modified Katz Index) were selected. These activities were reassessed in 2006 and disability was the outcome for the analysis of determinants. The following characteristics were analyzed at baseline: sociodemographic, behavioral, health status, medications, falls, hospitalizations, depressive symptoms, cognition, handgrip, mobility and balance. The incidence density was 42.4/1000 women/year and 17.5/1000 men/year. After adjusting for socioeconomic status and health conditions, women with chronic diseases and social vulnerability continued to have a greater incidence of disability. The following were determinants of the incidence of disability: age and depressive symptoms in both genders; stroke and slowness on the sit-and-stand test among men; and osteoarthritis and sedentary lifestyle among women. Better cognitive performance and handgrip strength were protective factors among men and women, respectively. Adverse clinical and social conditions determine differences between genders regarding the incidence of disability. Decreased mobility and balance and health conditions that affect the central nervous system or lead to impaired cognition disable men more, whereas a sedentary lifestyle, reduction in muscle strength and conditions that affect the osteoarticular system disable women more. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The red-billed curassow (Crax blumenbachii): social organization, and daily activity patterns

We studied the Red-billed Currasow (Cray blumenbachii) in Vale Natural Reserve, Linhares, Espirito Santo State, Brazil, using camera traps. We found the Red-billed Curassow present in the entire area of the reserve (similar to 22,000 ha) during 40 months of camera trapping (2005-2008). Most records were of single individuals, especially males, but pairs and even groups of individuals were also recorded. Males were paired with one and two females, suggesting polygyny in the species. The species was recorded throughout the day with one peak from 0500 to 0600 hrs and another after 1600 hrs. The daily activity pattern was similar for males and females. The number and widespread nature of the records suggests the local population of this species may be higher than previously thought. Received 10 March 2011. Accepted 5 December 2011.

SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF THE RAINFALL EROSIVE POTENTIAL IN THE STATE OF MATO GROSSO DO SUL, BRAZIL

Information about rainfall erosivity is important during soil and water conservation planning. Thus, the spatial variability of rainfall erosivity of the state Mato Grosso do Sul was analyzed using ordinary kriging interpolation. For this, three pluviograph stations were used to obtain the regression equations between the erosivity index and the rainfall coefficient EI30. The equations obtained were applied to 109 pluviometric stations, resulting in EI30 values. These values were analyzed from geostatistical technique, which can be divided into: descriptive statistics, adjust to semivariogram, cross-validation process and implementation of ordinary kriging to generate the erosivity map. Highest erosivity values were found in central and northeast regions of the State, while the lowest values were observed in the southern region. In addition, high annual precipitation values not necessarily produce higher erosivity values.

Effect of Nintendo Wii (TM)-based motor and cognitive training on activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomised clinical trial

Objectives To investigate the effect of Nintendo Wii (TM)-based motor cognitive training versus balance exercise therapy on activities of daily living in patients with Parkinson's disease. Design Parallel, prospective, single-blind, randomised clinical trial. Setting Brazilian Parkinson Association. Participants Thirty-two patients with Parkinson's disease (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1 and 2). Interventions Fourteen training sessions consisting of 30 minutes of stretching, strengthening and axial mobility exercises, plus 30 minutes of balance training. The control group performed balance exercises without feedback or cognitive stimulation, and the experimental group performed 10 Wii Fit (TM) games. Main outcome measure Section II of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS-II). Randomisation Participants were randomised into a control group (n = 16) and an experimental group (n = 16) through blinded drawing of names. Statistical analysis Repeated-measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA). Results Both groups showed improvement in the UPDRS-II with assessment effect (RM-ANOVA P < 0.001, observed power = 0.999). There was no difference between the control group and the experimental group before training {8.9 [standard deviation (SD) 2.9] vs 10.1 (SD 3.8)}, after training [7.6 (SD 2.9) vs 8.1 (SD 3.5)] or 60 days after training [8.1 (SD 3.2) vs 8.3 (SD 3.6)]. The mean difference of the whole group between before training and after training was -0.9 (SD 2.3, 95% confidence interval -1.7 to -0.6). Conclusion Patients with Parkinson's disease showed improved performance in activities of daily living after 14 sessions of balance training, with no additional advantages associated with the Wii-based motor and cognitive training. Registered on http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT01580787). (C) 2012 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

RELATIONS BETWEEN SOIL SURFACE ROUGHNESS, TORTUOSITY, TILLAGE TREATMENTS, RAINFALL INTENSITY AND SOIL AND WATER LOSSES FROM A RED YELLOW LATOSOL

The soil surface roughness increases water retention and infiltration, reduces the runoff volume and speed and influences soil losses by water erosion. Similarly to other parameters, soil roughness is affected by the tillage system and rainfall volume. Based on these assumptions, the main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tillage treatments on soil surface roughness (RR) and tortuosity (T) and to investigate the relationship with soil and water losses in a series of simulated rainfall events. The field study was carried out at the experimental station of EMBRAPA Southeastern Cattle Research Center in Sao Carlos (Fazenda Canchim), in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Experimental plots of 33 m(2) were treated with two tillage practices in three replications, consisting of: untilled (no-tillage) soil (NTS) and conventionally tilled (plowing plus double disking) soil (CTS). Three successive simulated rain tests were applied in 24 h intervals. The three tests consisted of a first rain of 30 mm/h, a second of 30 mm/h and a third rain of 70 mm/h. Immediately after tilling and each rain simulation test, the surface roughness was measured, using a laser profile meter. The tillage treatments induced significant changes in soil surface roughness and tortuosity, demonstrating the importance of the tillage system for the physical surface conditions, favoring water retention and infiltration in the soil. The increase in surface roughness by the tillage treatments was considerably greater than its reduction by rain action. The surface roughness and tortuosity had more influence on the soil volume lost by surface runoff than in the conventional treatment. Possibly, other variables influenced soil and water losses from the no-tillage treatments, e. g., soil type, declivity, slope length, among others not analyzed in this study.

Daily vitamin supplementation and hypovitaminosis after obesity surgery

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine whether constant daily vitamin supplementation would be sufficient to prevent possible vitamin deficiencies in obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Methods: The study was conducted on 58 men and women (mean age 41 +/- 10 y) who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass RYGB and were assessed preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 mo after surgery. During the postoperative period, the patients received a multivitamin-mineral supplement on a daily basis. Results: Serum beta-carotene and vitamin C were lower starting from the third postoperative month and continued to be low after 12 mo, and vitamin A was decreased by the sixth month and increased by 12 mo. Vitamin B12 levels were stable up to 6 mo but were decreased by 12 mo. Folic acid levels increased from the third month and remained higher throughout follow-up. One year after surgery there were 19% and 21% increases in the number of patients with vitamin A and vitamin C deficiency, respectively, and a 4% decreased of patients with folic acid deficiency. Conclusion: Weight loss and improvement in patients' general condition followed surgery, but serum levels of some vitamins were decreased despite the use of a vitamin-mineral supplement. These patients need continuous follow-up and individualized prescription of supplementation after the surgical procedure to prevent and treat vitamin deficiencies. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.