Stretching Exercise Program Improves Gait in the Elderly

Background: Ageing is characterized by a number of physical changes that contribute to a decline in the ability to perform daily tasks. Stretching has been proposed to reduce hip flexion contracture and increase hip and pelvis range of motion, thus improving gait performance. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a supervised stretching program designed to improve the range of motion of the lower limbs alters gait kinematics in older adults. Methods: Twenty healthy older adult women (65.9 +/- 4.2 years old and BMI 24.9 +/- 3.5) were divided into 2 groups. The experimental group undertook 12 sessions of stretching exercises, whereas the control group did not engage in any physical activity. Gait performance was assessed at the beginning of the experiment and after the 4-week intervention period. Results: Those in the experimental group showed increased step length, higher velocity and reduced double support time after training. In addition, participants involved in the stretching program showed greater anterior and lateral pelvis tilt and also greater rotation (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Based on our results, we can suggest that a supervised stretching program is effective to alter a number of gait variables. Moreover, after the stretching protocol, aged participants displayed gait parameters which were similar to those reported in young healthy adults. Therefore, stretching can be used as an effective means to improve range of motion and reverse some age-related changes that influence gait performance. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

Interação entre fatores visuais e olfativo em localização de recursos pela mosca-varejeira, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), em condições naturais

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Predaceous ant fauna in new sugarcane fields in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Body size and flight distance in stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Meliponini): inference of flight range and possible ecological implications

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Questioning the implementation of habitat corridors: a case study in interior São Paulo using ants as bioindicators

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva entre dois mundos: uma análise de notícias do New York Times

Este trabalho analisa um conjunto de notícias publicadas pelo The New York Times , versão on-line, que aborda a presença do presidente do Brasil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, no Fórum Social Mundial em Porto Alegre, Brasil, e no Fórum Econômico Mundial em Davos, Suíça, em janeiro de 2003. Baseando-se no referencial teórico-metodológico da Análise Crítica do Discurso - Bell e Garrett (1998), Fairclough (1995 e 2001) e Fowler (1991) -, investigam-se as estratégias discursivas utilizadas pelo jornal para referir-se ao presidente brasileiro participando de dois eventos de repercussão internacional, que representam pólos ideológicos opostos.

Manipulation of fire ant density, Solenopsis spp., for short-term reduction of Diatraea saccharalis larval densities in Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Parasitismo em lagarta-do-cartucho, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), na região do Triângulo Mineiro, MG

Com o objetivo de avaliar a freqüência e distribuição de parasitóides associados a larvas da lagarta do cartucho, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), foram realizadas amostragens em campos comerciais da cultura do milho (Zea mays), nos anos agrícolas 1991/92 (duas regiões) e 1992/93 (cinco regiões). em cada local amostrado foram coletadas aproximadamente 100 larvas, em plantas com 20 a 40 dias após a emergência. As larvas foram criadas em laboratório a 25 ± 2ºC, UR 50 - 60%, fotoperíodo de 14 horas e observadas diariamente. Os parasitóides mais freqüentes foram: Chelonus texanus (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Diadegma sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) e Archytas incertus (Macquart) (Diptera: Tachinidae). Foi observado que o parasitismo total foi de 10,3% em 1991/92 e 13,8% em 1992/93. Os parasitóides Diptera apresentaram preferência pela fase de pupa da lagarta do cartucho (76,5%), nos dois anos agrícolas. Os parasitóides Hymenoptera tiveram preferência por larvas de 3º e 4º ínstares (41,9 e 45,2%), no ano agrícola 1991/92 e de 2º e 3º ínstares (39,1 e 43,5%), no ano agrícola 1992/93.

Size, taxonomic and biomass distributions of flying insects in Central Amazonia: Forest edge vs. understory

Significantly more individuals and biomass of flying insects were present at the forest edge than in the understory throughout the year, as monitored by flight interception traps, in Central Amazonia. Numbers and biomass of flying insects increased at higher rates at the edge with rainfall, associated with termite swarming behavior and increased Homopteran density. The most abundant insects were Diptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera and Isoptera, whose ranked abundances varied with respect to forest edge and understory, as well as with season.

SEASONAL SPACE USAGE BY THE INTRODUCED PHARAOHS ANT, MONOMORIUM-PHARAONIS (L) (HYM, FORMICIDAE), IN INSTITUTIONAL SETTINGS IN BRAZIL AND ITS RELATION TO OTHER STRUCTURAL ANT SPECIES

In an institutional setting in Brazil, the pharaoh's ant, Monomorium pharaonis was found to be the dominant and most abundant ant present throughout the year. The only other regularly collected ant was the exotic Tapinoma melanocephalum. However, M. pharaonis dominated bait station visitations, although locally concentrated, with other species restricted to regions in which M. pharaonis was not found.

LARVAL INSTARS AND IMMATURE DEVELOPMENT OF A BRAZILIAN POPULATION OF PHARAOHS ANT, MONOMORIUM-PHARAONIS (L) (HYM, FORMICIDAE)

The immature development of pharaoh's ant, Monomorium pharaonis, workers was s died in a naturally collected Brazilian population. Three larval instars were confirmed by measuring maximal cephalic widths in cohorts of known age. Minimum egg to adult duration was 25 days, while the maximum duration was 54 days, both of which are larger than those reported for European populations. Larval instar development is cyclical at the colony level, suggesting reproductive bursts followed by lower reproductive activity of the queens.