Contrasting magmatic signatures in the Rairakhol and Koraput alkaline complexes, Eastern Ghats belt, India

The relation between alkaline magmatism and tectonism has been a contentious issue, particularly for the Precambrian continental regions. Alkaline complexes at the southwestern margin of Eastern Ghats belt, India, have been interpreted as rift-valley magmatism. However, those complexes occurring in granulite ensemble in the interior segments of the Eastern Ghats belt could not possibly be related to the rift-system, assumed for the western margin of the Eastern Ghats belt. Koraput complex was emplaced in a pull-apart structure, dominated by magmatic fabrics and geochemically similar to a fractionated alkaline complex, compatible with an alkalibasalt series. Rairakhol complex, on the other hand, shows dominantly solid-state deformation fabrics and geochemically similar to a fractionated calc-alkaline suite. Isotopic data for the Koraput complex indicate ca. 917 Ma alkaline magmatism from a depleted mantle source and postcrystalline thermal overprint at ca. 745 Ma, also recorded from sheared metapelitic country rocks. The calc-alkaline magmatism of the Rairakhol complex occurred around 938 Ma, from an enriched mantle source, closely following Grenvillian granulite facies imprint in the charnockitic country rocks.

An Eulerian Immersed Boundary Method for flow simulations over stationary and moving rigid bodies

The fluid flow over bodies with complex geometry has been the subject of research of many scientists and widely explored experimentally and numerically. The present study proposes an Eulerian Immersed Boundary Method for flows simulations over stationary or moving rigid bodies. The proposed method allows the use of Cartesians Meshes. Here, two-dimensional simulations of fluid flow over stationary and oscillating circular cylinders were used for verification and validation. Four different cases were explored: the flow over a stationary cylinder, the flow over a cylinder oscillating in the flow direction, the flow over a cylinder oscillating in the normal flow direction, and a cylinder with angular oscillation. The time integration was carried out by a classical 4th order Runge-Kutta scheme, with a time step of the same order of distance between two consecutive points in x direction. High-order compact finite difference schemes were used to calculate spatial derivatives. The drag and lift coefficients, the lock-in phenomenon and vorticity contour plots were used for the verification and validation of the proposed method. The extension of the current method allowing the study of a body with different geometry and three-dimensional simulations is straightforward. The results obtained show a good agreement with both numerical and experimental results, encouraging the use of the proposed method.

Treadmill exercise testing of asymptomatic men and women without evidence of heart disease

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis of differences in performance including differences in ST-T wave changes between healthy men and women submitted to an exercise stress test. Two hundred (45.4%) men and 241 (54.6%) women (mean age: 38.7 ± 11.0 years) were submitted to an exercise stress test. Physiologic and electrocardiographic variables were compared by the Student t-test and the chi-square test. To test the hypothesis of differences in ST-segment changes, data were ranked with functional models based on weighted least squares. To evaluate the influence of gender and age on the diagnosis of ST-segment abnormality, a logistic model was adjusted; P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Rate-pressure product, duration of exercise and estimated functional capacity were higher in men (P < 0.05). Sixteen (6.7%) women and 9 (4.5%) men demonstrated ST-segment upslope ≥0.15 mV or downslope ≥0.10 mV; the difference was not statistically significant. Age increase of one year added 4% to the chance of upsloping of segment ST ≥0.15 mV or downsloping of segment ST ≥0.1 mV (P = 0.03; risk ratio = 1.040, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.002-1.080). Heart rate recovery was higher in women (P < 0.05). The chance of women showing an increase of systolic blood pressure ≤30 mmHg was 85% higher (P = 0.01; risk ratio = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.1-3.05). No significant difference in the frequency of ST-T wave changes was observed between men and women. Other differences may be related to different physical conditioning.

Physical and dynamical characterization of (5201) Ferraz-Mello, a possible extinct Jupiter family comet

Context. The subject of asteroids in cometary orbits (ACOs) has been of growing interest lately. These objects have the orbital characteristics typical of comets, but are asteroidal in appearance, i.e., show no signs of a coma at any part of their orbits. At least a fraction of these objects are thought to be comets that have either exhausted all their volatile content or developed a refractory crust that prevents sublimation. In particular, the asteroid ( 5201) Ferraz-Mello has, since its discovery, been suspected to be an extinct Jupiter family comet due to the peculiar nature of its orbit. Aims. The aim of this work is to put constraints on the possible origin of ( 5201) Ferraz-Mello by means of spectroscopic characterization and a study of the dynamics of this asteroid. Methods. We used the SOAR Optical Imager (SOI) to obtain observations of ( 5201) Ferraz-Mello using four SDSS filters. These observations were compared to asteroids listed in the Sloan Moving objects catalog and also to photometry of cometary nuclei, Centaurs, and TNOs. The orbital evolution of ( 5201) Ferraz-Mello and of a sample of asteroids and comets that are close to that object in the a - e plane were simulated using a pure N-body code for 4 000 years forward and 4 000 years backward in time. Results. The reflectance spectrum obtained from its colors in the SDSS system is unusual, with a steep spectral gradient that is comparable to TNOs and Centaurs, but with an increase in the reflectance in the g band that is not common in those populations. A similar behavior is seen in cometary nuclei that were observed in the presence of a faint dust coma. The dynamical results confirm the very chaotic evolution found previously and its dynamical similarity to the chaotic evolution of some comets. The asteroid is situated in the very stochastic layer at the border of the 2/1 resonance, and it has a very short Lyapunov time ( 30 - 40) years. Together, the spectral characteristcs and the dynamical evolution suggest that ( 5201) Ferraz-Mello is a dormant or extinct comet.

Effects of Infrared-LED Illumination Applied During High-Intensity Treadmill Training in Postmenopausal Women

Background data: Technology and physical exercise can enhance physical performance during aging. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of infrared-light-emitting diode (LED) illumination (850 nm) applied during treadmill training. Materials and methods: Twenty postmenopausal women participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups. The LED group performed treadmill training associated with infrared-LED illumination (n = 10) and the control group performed only treadmill training (n = 10). The training was performed during 3 months, twice a week during 30 min at intensities between 85 and 90% of maximal heart rate. The irradiation parameters were 31 mW/cm(2), treatment time 30 min, 14,400 J of total energy and 55.8 J/cm(2) of fluence. Physiological, biomechanical, and body composition parameters were measured at the baseline and after 3 months. Results: Both groups improved the time of tolerance limit (Tlim) (p < 0.05) during submaximal constant-speed testing. The peak torque did not differ between groups. However, the results showed significantly higher values of power [from 56 +/- 10 to 73 +/- 8W (p = 0.002)] and total work [from 1,537 +/- 295 to 1,760 +/- 262 J (p = 0.006)] for the LED group when compared to the control group [power: from 58 +/- 14 to 60 +/- 15W (p >= 0.05) and total work: from 1,504 +/- 404 to 1,622 +/- 418 J (p >= 0.05)]. The fatigue significantly increased for the control group [from 51 +/- 6 to 58 +/- 5 % (p = 0.04)], but not for the LED group [from 60 +/- 10 to 60 +/- 4 % (p >= 0.05)]. No significant differences in body composition were observed for either group. Conclusions: Infrared-LED illumination associated with treadmill training can improve muscle power and delay leg fatigue in postmenopausal women.

Intercepting moving targets: does memory from practice in a specific condition of target displacement affect movement timing?

This investigation aimed at assessing the extent to which memory from practice in a specific condition of target displacement modulates temporal errors and movement timing of interceptive movements. We compared two groups practicing with certainty of future target velocity either in unchanged target velocity or in target velocity decrease. Following practice, both experimental groups were probed in the situations of unchanged target velocity and target velocity decrease either under the context of certainty or uncertainty about target velocity. Results from practice showed similar improvement of temporal accuracy between groups, revealing that target velocity decrease did not disturb temporal movement organization when fully predictable. Analysis of temporal errors in the probing trials indicated that both groups had higher timing accuracy in velocity decrease in comparison with unchanged velocity. Effect of practice was detected by increased temporal accuracy of the velocity decrease group in situations of decreased velocity; a trend consistent with the expected effect of practice was observed for temporal errors in the unchanged velocity group and in movement initiation at a descriptive level. An additional point of theoretical interest was the fast adaptation in both groups to a target velocity pattern different from that practiced. These points are discussed under the perspective of integration of vision and motor control by means of an internal forward model of external motion.

Use of peripheral vision in the interception of moving targets

Use of peripheral vision to organize and reorganize an interceptive action was investigated in young adults. Temporal errors and kinematic variables were evaluated in the interception of a virtual moving target, in situations in which its initial velocity was kept unchanged or was unexpectedly decreased. Observation of target approach was made through continuous visual pursuit (focal vision) or keeping visual focus at the origin of the trajectory or at the contact spot (peripheral vision). Results showed that visual focus at the contact spot led to temporal errors similar to focal vision, although showing a distinct kinematic profile, while focus at the origin led to an impoverished performance

Electrical stimulation and treadmill gait in tetraplegic patients: assessment of its effects on the knee with magnetic resonance imaging

Study design: Evaluation of knees of tetraplegic patients who have been walking for several months with the aid of a system that involves neuromuscular stimulation, treadmill and a harness support device. Objectives: To investigate if the training program could cause knee injury to tetraplegic patients. Setting: Hospital das Clinicas - UNICAMP. Campinas-SP, Brazil. Methods: Nine patients were evaluated. Clinical exam and magnetic resonance images (MRIs) were used for evaluation. MRIs were taken before and after the training program, in a 6-month interval for each patient. There were two sessions of training every week. Each session lasted 20 min. Results: No severe clinical abnormality was observed in any patient. Mild knee injury was observed in four of nine patients studied. Conclusions: Tetraplegic patients undergoing treadmill gait training deserve a close follow-up to prevent knee injury.

Failure analysis of belt/roll tribological pair used for the production of eucalypt fiber panels

The premature failure of a large agglomeration machine used for the annual production of 360,000 m(3) of eucalypt fiber panels was investigated to identify the nucleation and growth mechanisms of cracking in PH stainless steel belts (126 m x 2.9 m x 3.0 mm). These belts are used to compress a cushion composed of eucalyptus fibers and glue, being the pressure transmitted from the pistons by the action of numerous case-hardening steel rolls. Examination of the belt working interfaces (belt/rolls and belt/eucalypt fibers) indicated that the main cracking was nucleated on the belt/roll interface and that there is a clear relationship between the crack nucleation and the presence of superficial irregularities, which were observed on the belt/roll working surface. Used rolls showed the presence of perimetric wear marks and 2 mu m silicon-rich encrusted particles (identified as silicon carbide). Lubricant residues contained the presence of helicoidal wires, which were originated by the release of the stainless steel cleaning brush bristles, and 15 mu m diameter metallic particles, which were generated by material detachment of the belt. The presence of foreign particles on the tribological interface contributed to an increase of the shear stresses at the surfaces and, consequently, the number of the contact fatigue crack nucleation sites in the belt/roll tribo-interface. The cracking was originated on the belt/roll interface of the stainless steel belt by a mixed rolling/slip contact fatigue mechanism, which promoted spalling and further nucleation and growth of conventional fatigue cracks. Finally, the system lubrication efficiency and the cleaning procedure should be optimised in order to increase the life expectancy of the belt. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Treadmill running protects spinal cord contusion from secondary degeneration

It is known that physical activity triggers changes in the central nervous system Adult rats, trained on treadmills for 4 weeks, and a group of sedentary rats was submitted to contuse moderate spinal cord injury A group of sedentary rats was submitted to a sham operation The trained group continued running on treadmill after lesion for 4 weeks Motor behavior evaluated by BBB score was smaller in the sedentary group compared to the trained rats by 7 days after lesion Computerized activity monitor showed clear-cut differences in spontaneous motor parameters in trained rats only before lesion After surgery, sedentary rats showed changes in motor parameters but not in later periods of analysis Animals were euthanized by 28 days after surgery, and their spinal cords were processed for Nissl staining and immunohistochemistry The number of the remaining neurons and the lesion areal and lesion volume fractions were obtained by stereological method The number of the remaining neurons did not change after training Lesion volume and lesion areal fraction per section were smaller in the trained group Lesion index was more pronounced in the sedentary group Microdensitometric image analysis demonstrated a microglial reaction, astroglial activation, and glial FGF-2 production more pronounced in the spinal cord of sedentary animals GAP-43 was higher in caudal levels of contusion in the sedentary group In conclusion, treadmill running may favor a better functional recovery in the acute period after spinal cord lesion and wound repair processes leading to neuroprotection (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Gait analysis following treadmill training with body weight support versus conventional physical therapy: a prospective randomized controlled single blind study

Study design: Single-blind randomized, controlled clinical study. Objectives: To evaluate, using kinematic gait analysis, the results obtained from gait training on a treadmill with body weight support versus those obtained with conventional gait training and physiotherapy. Setting: Thirty patients with sequelae from traumatic incomplete spinal cord injuries at least 12 months earlier; patients were able to walk and were classified according to motor function as ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) impairment scale C or D. Methods: Patients were divided randomly into two groups of 15 patients by the drawing of opaque envelopes: group A (weight support) and group B (conventional). After an initial assessment, both groups underwent 30 sessions of gait training. Sessions occurred twice a week, lasted for 30min each and continued for four months. All of the patients were evaluated by a single blinded examiner using movement analysis to measure angular and linear kinematic gait parameters. Six patients (three from group A and three from group B) were excluded because they attended fewer than 85% of the training sessions. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in intra-group comparisons among the spatial-temporal variables in group B. In group A, the following significant differences in the studied spatial-temporal variables were observed: increases in velocity, distance, cadence, step length, swing phase and gait cycle duration, in addition to a reduction in stance phase. There were also no significant differences in intra-group comparisons among the angular variables in group B. However, group A achieved significant improvements in maximum hip extension and plantar flexion during stance. Conclusion: Gait training with body weight support was more effective than conventional physiotherapy for improving the spatial-temporal and kinematic gait parameters among patients with incomplete spinal cord injuries. Spinal Cord (2011) 49, 1001-1007; doi:10.1038/sc.2011.37; published online 3 May 2011

Moving ear syndrome: The role of botulinum toxin

We report a 30-year-old man with moving ear syndrome caused by focal myoclonic jerks of the right temporal muscle. This focal myoclonus would disappear while the patient was sleeping, swallowing, or speaking. He was treated with botulinum toxin type A with a favorable outcome. Previous reports of this condition and possible therapeutic approaches are discussed. (c) 2007 Movement Disorder Society.

Effect of treadmill exercise on lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized rats: anthropometrical and mechanical analyses

The purpose of this study was to examine the preventive effect of exercise on lumbar vertebrae in ovariectomized rats. Three-month-old female Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control group (A, n = 10); non-exercised ovariectomized group (B, n = 7) and exercised ovariectomized group (C, n = 7). The rats from group C were subjected to treadmill exercise (15 m/minute in the initial six weeks and 19 m/minute in the next six weeks, 1 hour/day, 4 days/week) for 12 weeks. At death, the fourth lumbar vertebrae were removed and an anthropometrical analysis by a paquimeter and a mechanical compression test by a universal test machine were performed. After 12 weeks, the ovariectomy decreased the superior-inferior vertebral height and the maximal braking load in group B compared to group A, while the exercise increased the vertebral mass in group C compared to both groups A and B (p < 0.01) and the stiffness compared to group B. We concluded the physical activity has an important role to prevent the osteopenia in lumbar vertebrae.

Influence of treadmill training on motor performance and organization of exploratory behavior in Meriones unguiculatus with unilateral ischemic stroke: Histological correlates in hippocampal CA1 region and the neostriatum

This study examined the effects of motor stimulation via treadmill on the behavior of male gerbils after external carotid ischemic brain lesion. The animals were assigned to five groups; ischemic with no stimulation (SIG), ischemic with stimulation (SIG 12/24/48/72 It after surgery), non-ischemic with no stimulation (CC), non-ischemic with stimulation (CE) and sham, surgery without occlusion with no stimulation (SH). All the animals were tested in the open-field (OF) and rotarod (RR), 4 days after surgery in order to evaluate exploratory behaviors and motor performance. Data were submitted to one-way variance (ANOVA) and Dunnett`s post hoc comparisons. SIG and SIG 12 groups showed a significant decrease in motor response (crossing) when compared to the control group (CC) (F = 20.65, P < 0.05) in the OF. SIG 12 group showed an increase in grooming behavior (F = 23.136, P < 0.05) and all ischemia groups (SIG, SIG 12/24/48/72) spent less time on the RR (F = 10.40, P < 0.05), when compared to the control group (CC). Histological analyses show extensive lesions in the hippocampus and neostriatum for all groups with ischemia (SIG, SIG 12/24/48/72), which are structures involved in the organization of motor behavior. Interestingly, the most pronounced damage was found in animals submitted to motor stimulation 12 h after ischemia which can be correlated to the increased number of grooming behavior showed by them in the OF. These findings suggest that motor stimulation through treadmill training improve motor behavior after ischemia, except when it starts 12h after surgery. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low-intensity Treadmill Exercise-related Changes in the Rat Stellate Ganglion Neurons

Stellate ganglion (SG) represents the main sympathetic input to the heart. This study aimed at investigating physical exercise-related changes in the quantitative aspects of SG neurons in treadmill-exercised Wistar rats. By applying state-of-the-art design-based stereology, the SG volume, total number of SG neurons, mean perikaryal volume of SG neurons, and the total volume of neurons in the whole SG have been examined. Arterial pressure and heart rate were also measured at the end of the exercise period. The present study showed that a low-intensity exercise training program caused a 12% decrease in the heart rate of trained rats. In contrast, there were no effects on systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, or mean arterial pressure. As to quantitative changes related to physical exercise, the main findings were a 21% increase in the fractional volume occupied by neurons in the SG, and an 83% increase in the mean perikaryal volume of SG neurons in treadmill-trained rats, which shows a remarkable neuron hypertrophy. It seems reasonable to infer that neuron hypertrophy may have been the result of a functional overload imposed on the SG neurons by initial posttraining sympathetic activation. From the novel stereological data we provide, further investigations are needed to shed light on the mechanistic aspect of neuron hypertrophy: what role does neuron hypertrophy play? Could neuron hypertrophy be assigned to the functional overload induced by physical exercise? (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.