Relationship Between Speed and Time in Running

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of using different mathematical models to describe the relationship between treadmill running speed and time to exhaustion. All models generated a value for an aerobic parameter (critical speed; S(critical)). 35 university students performed 5-7 constant-speed 0%-slope treadmill tests at speeds that elicited exhaustion in similar to 3 min to similar to 10 min. Speed and time data were fitted using 3 models: (1) a 2-parameter hyperbolic model; (2) a 3-parameter hyperbolic model; and (3) a hybrid 3-parameter hyperbolic + exponential model. The 2-parameter model generated values for S(critical) (mean (+/- SD): 186 +/- 33 m.min(-1)) and anaerobic distance capacity (ADC; 251 +/- 122 m) with a high level of statistical certainty (i.e., with small SEEs). The 3-parameter models generated parameter estimates that were unrealistic in magnitude and/or associated with large SEEs and little statistical certainty. Therefore, it was concluded that, for the range of exercise durations used in the present study, the 2-parameter model is preferred because it provides a parsimonious description of the relationship between velocity and time to fatigue, and it produces parameters of known physiological significance, with excellent confidence.

Estimation of water transit time in soils under Amazon forest cover using variations in sigma18O values.

In an attempt to estimate the soil-water transit time using the variation in 18O values, a statistical model was used. This model is based on linear regression analysis applied to the values observed for soil water and rain water. The time obtained from these correlations represents the mean time necessary for the water to run from one collecting point to the next.-from Authors

Estimation using 18O of the water residence time in small watersheds

From the 18O hydrograph separation method, it was found that groundwater contribution is the principal component of the total discharge produced by these two catchment areas. The weighted mean of the 18O concentration in the precipitation, obtained for a four year period, was close to -6.0‰, with a variation in range of +2.3‰ to -16.3‰. For Bufalos stream water the weighted mean of 18O values during the same period (1984-1987) was -6.3‰, with a variation from -2.5‰ to -10.1‰, whereas for Paraiso this mean was -6.4‰, with extreme values of -3.1‰ and -9.8‰. From these values it was found that the amplitude damping (Ariver/Aprecipitation) was 0.41 for the Bufalos watershed and 0.36 for Paraiso. Using the appropriate equation to estimate the mean residence time of water in the subsurface reservoir of the Bufalos and Paraiso watersheds, the results of 4.3 and 5.0 months, respectively, were obtained. -from Authors

Method for the evaluation of insecticidal activity over time in Atta sexdens rubropilosa workers (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The active ingredients used in the formulation of toxic baits for leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) should possess a delayed action defined as an insecticidal activity whereby worker mortality is ≤15% at 24 hours and ≥90% at 21 days. Serious shortcomings have occurred in the search for new active ingredients, such as the initial selection of fenoxycarb, copper oxychloride and diflubenzuron, compounds considered very promising but whose inefficiency was verified only later, indicating methodological problems. In view of this situation, we developed a classification method for insecticidal activity over time using workers of the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel. The insecticides used were fipronil, sulfluramid GX071HB and sulfluramid GX439, vehicled in an attractive pasty formulation prepared based on citrus pulp. The results obtained were consistent from a toxicological viewpoint and agreed with the literature in terms of the control of colonies. Sulfluramids were found to possess a delayed action at a broad range of concentrations, in agreement with the fact that these substances are highly effective in the control of all leaf-cutting ant species. The smaller range of concentrations of fipronil with delayed action is probably related to its lower efficacy for species more difficult to control such as Atta capiguara (Forti et al. 2003). We discuss the importance of relating behavioral particularities to the specific feeding habits of leaf-cutting ants, with methodological adequacy of the assessment of insecticides aimed at toxic baits.

Effect of time in hardness test on artificially demineralized human dental enamel

A cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH) test was carried out in human dental enamel exposed to a demineralizing solution in order to evaluate two different times of indentation in sound tissue and artificially induced caries. Twenty caries-free extracted human molars had one of their smooth surfaces sectioned and the enamel surface was isolated with nail polish except for an area of 6 mm2. These specimens were submitted to artificially induced enamel caries on a lactate buffer containing 0.1 ppm fluoride (F) during 28 days. All specimens were bisected to create groups A and B in which CSMH test was performed employing a Knoop indenter with a 25g load for 5 or 10 s, respectively. Student's paired t-test (p<0.05) was used to determine statistically significant differences between group A and B in 7 depths. There were no significant differences between any of the analyzed depths. Since the present experiment showed no significant difference when comparing indentations made with a 25 g load during either 5 or 10 s in different depths, this method can be used with either one of the time intervals tested without compromising a CSMH test on artificially demineralized human enamel.

The influence of the mixing time in the rheological behavior of cement pastes

Rheology has the purpose to study the flux and deformation of materials when submitted to some tension or outer mechanical solicitation. In practice, the effective scientific field broached by rheology is restricted only to the study of homogeneous fluids behavior, in which are included eminent liquids, particles suspensions, and emulsions. The viscosity (η) and the yield stress (τ 0) are the two basic values that define the fluids' behavior. The first one is the proportionality constant that relates the shear rate (γ) with the shear stress (τ) applied, while the second indicates the minimal tension for the flowage beginning. The fluids that obey the Newton's relation - Newtonians fluids - display the constant viscosity and the null yield stress. It's the case of diluted suspensions and grate amount of the pure liquids (water, acetone, alcohol, etc.) in which the viscosity is an intrinsic characteristic that depends on temperature and, in a less significant way, pressure. The suspension, titled Cement Paste, is defined as being a mixture of water and cement with, or without, a superplasticizer additive. The cement paste has a non-Newtonian fluid behavior (pseudoplastic), showing a viscosity that varies in accord to the applied shear stress and significant deformations are obtained from a delimited yield stress. In some cases, systems can also manifest the influence of chemical additives used to modify the interactions fluid/particles, besides the introduced modifications by the presence of incorporated air. To the cement paste the rheometric rehearsals were made using the rheometer R/S Brookfield that controls shear stress and shear rate in accord to the rheological model of Herschel-Bulkley that seems to better adapt to this kind of suspension's behavior. This paper shows the results of rheometrical rehearsals on the cement paste that were produced with cements HOLCIM MC-20 RS and CPV-ARI RS with the addition of superplasticizer additives based of napthaline and polycarboxilate, with and without a constant agitation of the mixture. The obtainment of dosages of superplasticizer additives, as well as the water/cement ratio, at the cement at the fluidify rate determination, was done in a total of 12 different mixtures. It's observed that the rheological parameters seem to vary according to the cement type, the superplasticizer type, and the methodology applied at the fluidity rate determination.

Time in the stair-climbing test as a predictor of thoracotomy postoperative complications

Objectives: The stair-climbing test as measured in meters or number of steps has been proposed to predict the risk of postoperative complications. The study objective was to determine whether the stair-climbing time can predict the risk of postoperative complications. Methods: Patients aged more than 18 years with a recommendation of thoracotomy for lung resection were included in the study. Spirometry was performed according to the criteria by the American Thoracic Society. The stair-climbing test was performed on shaded stairs with a total of 12.16 m in height, and the stair-climbing time in seconds elapsed during the climb of the total height was measured. The accuracy test was applied to obtain stair-climbing time predictive values, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated. Variables were tested for association with postoperative cardiopulmonary complications using the Student t test for independent populations, the Mann-Whitney test, and the chi-square or Fisher exact test. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: Ninety-eight patients were evaluated. Of these, 27 showed postoperative complications. Differences were found between the groups for age and attributes obtained from the stair-climbing test. The cutoff point for stair-climbing time obtained from the receiver operating characteristic curve was 37.5 seconds. No differences were found between the groups for forced expiratory volume in 1 second. In the logistic regression, stair-climbing time was the only variable associated with postoperative complications, suggesting that the risk of postoperative complications increases with increased stair-climbing time. Conclusions: The only variable showing association with complications, according to multivariate analysis, was stair-climbing time. © 2013 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery.

Triiodothyronine Increases mRNA and Protein Leptin Levels in Short Time in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes by PI3K Pathway Activation

The present study aimed to examine the effects of thyroid hormone (TH), more precisely triiodothyronine (T3), on the modulation of leptin mRNA expression and the involvement of the phosphatidyl inositol 3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in adipocytes, 3T3-L1, cell culture. We examined the involvement of this pathway in mediating TH effects by treating 3T3-L1 adipocytes with physiological (P=10nM) or supraphysiological (SI=100 nM) T3 dose during one hour (short time), in the absence or the presence of PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). The absence of any treatment was considered the control group (C). RT-qPCR was used for mRNA expression analyzes. For data analyzes ANOVA complemented with Tukey's test was used at 5% significance. T3 increased leptin mRNA expression in P (2.26 ± 0.36, p< 0.001), SI (1.99 ±0.22, p< 0.01) compared to C group (1± 0.18). This increase was completely abrogated by LY294002 in P (1.31±0.05, p< 0.001) and SI (1.33±0.31, p< 0.05). Western blotting confirmed these results at protein level, indicating the PI3K pathway dependency. To examine whether leptin is directly induced by T3, we used the translation inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX). In P, the presence of CHX maintained the levels mRNA leptin, but was completely abrogated in SI (1.14±0.09, p> 0.001). These results demonstrate that the activation of the PI3K signaling pathway has a role in TH-mediated direct and indirect leptin gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. © 2013 Oliveira et al.

Electromyographic reaction time in older female fallers and non-fallers after postural perturbation

O tempo de reação eletromiográfica (TRE) reflete a magnitude e a velocidade com que os músculos são ativados para realizar movimentos, evitar lesões ou posicionar uma articulação e pode ser avaliado após uma perturbação externa para análise do desempenho do controle postural e relacioná-lo com a possibilidade de quedas em idosos. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar o TRE dos músculos oblíquo interno (OI), reto femoral (RF), vasto lateral (VL), tibial anterior (TA), multífido (MU), glúteo máximo (GM), bíceps femoral (BF) e gastrocnêmio lateral (GL) em situações de perturbação do equilíbrio em idosos com e sem histórico de quedas. Para isso, foram avaliadas vinte e nove mulheres com 60 anos ou mais, fisicamente ativas e não-institucionalizadas e separadas em dois grupos de acordo com o relato de quedas nos 12 meses pregressos ao estudo: Grupo de Idosas Caidoras (GIC) (n=13; 72,4 ± 8,0 anos) e Grupo de Idosas Não-Caidoras (GINC) (n=16; 67,8 ± 6,8 anos). O TRE dos músculos avaliados durante o teste de desequilíbrio postural anterior e posterior não foram significativamente diferentes entre os grupos. Os resultados sugerem que a ativação muscular dos músculos avaliados, tanto durante o desequilíbrio anterior quanto no desequilíbrio posterior, não podem ser considerados um fator determinante para quedas.

Taxonomic studies on Mucor inaequisporus, isolated for the first time in South America

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

Environment and dispersal paths override life strategies and residence time in determining regional patterns of invasion by alien plants

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Metabolic risk and television time in adolescent females

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Temporal variability of soil CO2 emission after conventional and reduced tillage described by an exponential decay in time model

A quantificação do impacto das práticas de preparo sobre as perdas de carbono do solo é dependente da habilidade de se descrever a variabilidade temporal da emissão de CO2 do solo após preparo. Tem sido sugerido que as grandes quantidades de CO2 emitido após o preparo do solo podem servir como um indicador das modificações nos estoques de carbono do solo em longo termo. Neste trabalho é apresentado um modelo de duas partes baseado na temperatura e na umidade do solo e que inclui um termo exponencial decrescente do tempo que é eficiente no ajuste das emissões intermediárias após preparo: arado de disco seguido de uma passagem com a grade niveladora (convencional) e escarificador de arrasto seguido da passagem com rolo destorroador (reduzido). As emissões após o preparo do solo são descritas utilizando-se estimativa não linear com um coeficiente de determinação (R²) tão alto quanto 0.98 após preparo reduzido. Os resultados indicam que nas previsões da emissão de CO2 após o preparo do solo é importante considerar um termo exponencial decrescente no tempo após preparo.

Fertility Rates Following Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination in Dairy Heifers in a Practical Progesterone-Based Protocol

Background: In bovines, more efficient management practices are important for maximizing profitability. In order to increase the pregnancy rates in artificial insemination (AI) programs, several hormonal protocols were developed to synchronize the follicular wave and the moment of ovulation in beef and dairy cattle. In dairy cattle, detection of estrus can be difficult due to a number of factors including the incidence of silent estrus. Hormonal treatments designed to control both luteal and follicular function has permitting efficient synchronizations of time of ovulation. Thus, the AI can be performed in a large number of animals on a fixed schedule without the need for detection of estrus. Using these management techniques, the fixed-time artificial insemination (TAI) can overcome the problem of accurate estrus detection and help in reducing the incidence of repeat breeding. In addition, with TAI in cattle operations, it is possible to facilitate management practices and commercialization, and to reduce the time and semen wasting with animals inseminated at incorrect times. The investigation of practical and efficient TAI protocols is important for reducing the labor and animal handling of TAI in dairy cattle, as well as for increasing the profitability of the cattle management system. This study was carried out in order to investigate the effectiveness of TAI in dairy heifers treated with a practical progesterone-based protocol.Materials, Methods & Results: This experiment was conducted at the university farm located in southwestern Brazil, during May 2009. Thirty-nine cycling crossbred dairy heifers were employed in this study. All animals received a single intramuscular injection of estradiol benzoate and intravaginal progesterone releasing device in a random stage of the estrous cycle (Day 0). on day 7 the animals were treated with PGF2a analogue and on day 9 the device was removed. Forty-eight hours after the device removal (day 11) a synthetic analogue of GnRH was administered and the animals were fixed-time artificially inseminated at the time of GnRH injection. The inseminations were performed using four different batches from the same Holstein bull. Among the heifers that were synchronized (87.2%), 30.8% ovulated until 24 h after TAI and 56.4% ovulated between 24 and 32 h after TAI. The conception rate was 61.5%. No effects of ovulation time in conception rates were detected. The conception rate from heifers that ovulated until 24 h after TAI was 58.3% and from heifers that ovulated between 24 and 32 h after TAI was 77.3%. The mean of ovulatory follicle in heifers that ovulated until 24 h was 14.3 mm and in heifers that ovulated between 24 and 32 h was 11.9 mm.Discussion: Taking together, the findings of the present study, along with those of others, emphasize the concept that development of practical methods for TAI offers significant advantages to dairy producers if conception rates are close or greater to those obtained after breeding at detected estrus. Thus, the results of the present study reinforce the possibility of making dairy cattle production more cost-effective using TAI. In conclusion, with the progesterone-based TAI protocol of the present experiment all synchronized animals ovulated up to 32 h after GnRH+TAI and no effects of ovulation time related to conception rate was detected. The exogenous control of luteal and follicular development facilitated the reproductive management and animal handling. Also, inseminating the heifers at the moment of GnRH injection in a progesterone-based TAI protocol is a practical strategy and provided satisfactory results regarding ovulation and conception rates in dairy heifers.

A multisampling time-domain CMOS imager with synchronous readout circuit

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