Emergence and initial growth of rambutan seedlings as a function of seed storage conditions

Introduction. Rambutan is a tropical fruit species with recalcitrant seeds. Despite the expansion of exotic fruit cultivation in Brazil, lots of which fruit species, including rambutan, need basic information, especially in relation to propagation and storage of seeds, which are important for genetic improvement studies, maintenance of genetic sources and seedling production. Materials and methods. A completely randomized design was adopted with treatments distributed in a factorial arrangement, 3 x 4, referring to three seed storage conditions [room temperature conditions; a dry chamber with (18 +/- 2) degrees C and 60% relative humidity; and a cold chamber with (10 +/- 2) degrees C and 70% relative humidity] and four storage times ( 0, 7, 14 and 21 d). Each treatment of 10 seeds was replicated five times. Data on seedling emergence, emergence rate, plant height, number of leaves and length of main root were submitted to variance analysis and means were separated using Tukey's test. Correlation analysis between seed moisture and seedling emergence was performed. Results and discussion. Our results indicated that dry chamber conditions promoted the statistically significantly highest seedling emergence after 7 d of storage. Cold chamber conditions promoted an extremely low seedling emergence independently of time. Conclusion. Rambutan seeds can be stored in a dry chamber for 7 d without losing viability; after 14 d of storage the loss of emergence is 60%.

Measurement of the differential cross section d sigma/dt in elastic p(p)over-bar scattering at root s=1.96 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Study of crystallite size and strain as a function of morphological evolution in zinc oxide powder obtained from hydroxycarbonate precursor

In this work, zinc oxide samples were obtained from hydroxycarbonate by thermal decomposition at 300°C. Zinc hydroxycarbonate samples were produced by homogeneous precipitation over different periods of time. The method used to obtain zinc oxide produces different morphologies as a function of the precursor precipitation time. Among the obtained particle shapes were porous spherical aggregates, spherulitic needle aggregates, and single acicular particles. This work investigated spherulitic needle-aggregate formation and the correlation among morphology, domain size, and microstrain. Transmission electron microscopy data revealed that the acicular particles that form the spherulitic needle aggregates consist of nanometer crystallites. Apparent crystallite size and microstrain in the directions perpendicular to (h00), (h0l), (hk0), and (00l) planes were invariable as a function of precursor precipitation time. From the results, it was possible to conclude that the precursor precipitation period directly influenced the morphology of the zinc oxide but did not influence average crystallite size and microstrain for ZnO samples. Therefore, using this route, it was possible to prepare zinc oxide with different morphologies without microstructural alterations. © 2001 International Centre for Diffraction Data.

Electromyographic validation of the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles in frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells exercises

Based on the lack of electromyographic researches on sport and programmes of physical conditioning, we can say that it is necessary to reexamine some exercises routinely used in the programmes of physical conditioning. Thus, the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles were studied electromyographically so that we could evaluate the validity in some ways of execution of the frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells exercises for the development of these muscles. We analyzed 24 male volunteers, 18 to 25 years old, using a 2-channel TECA TE 4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes. For the execution of the exercise it was used a supine bench, a straight board and two bars of 40 cm made of light wood. The results showed that TS acted preferentially in standing modality and in the inclined supine modality, however with activity levels that do not justify its inclusion in physical fitness programmes.

Potencial cognitivo P300 em indivíduos com diabetes mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus may lead to alterations in the eyes, kidneys, cranial nerves, peripheral nerves, ears etc. The cognitive function, also, seems to be compromised in subjects presented with Diabetes Mellitus, since the cortical and subcortical structures responsible for this function are hindered in some insulin-dependent patients. The cognitive potential P300 has been used as an objective procedure to assess cerebral cognitive functions. Objective: Analyze the sensitivity of P300 cognitive potential for the detection of alterations on the auditory cortex secondary to Diabetes Mellitus. Study design: transversal cohort. Material and Method: Sixteen diabetic subjects of both genders aged 7 to 71 years, and seventeen non-diabetic individuals at the same age range participated in this study, the evaluation procedures were pure tone audiometry (PTA) and P300 cognitive potential. Glycemia of the group presented with Diabetes was assessed prior to applying the P300. Results: No statistically significant difference was shown for the PTA results. A statically significant difference was observed between groups when analyzing the latency of the P300 component measured in Fz. there was a correlation between glycemia and the latency and amplitude of P300. Conclusion: The investigation of the cognitive potential of P300 is an important procedure for the prevention and early diagnosis of neurological changes in individuals presented with Diabetes Mellitus.

Evaluating quality of life in mercury intoxicated people in urban-industrial environments through short-form 36 application

Context and objective: Records of contact with mercury (Hg) exist for more than 3500 years and several problems related to the use of this element can be noticed. Considering inexistence of current reports about it, quality of life perception evaluation was studied in people chronically intoxicated by mercury in an industrial environment. Design and setting: This is a cross-sectional descriptive observational study. Information from 47 urban-industrial workers from lamps manufacturing in São Paulo, clinically diagnosed as intoxicated by mercury and currently followed by the Occupational Health Service of Faculdade de Medicine da Universidade de São Paulo, with average age of 41.7 years old, was considered. Methods: SF36 questionnaire application was performed, with inferences tested by χ-square proof, by Spearman linear correlation and Mann-Whitney non-parametric test, adopting p < 0.05 as significant level. Results: In the eight domains, observed medians are 40% for physical functioning; 0 for physical function; 30% for body pain; 30% for general health; 22.2% for vitality; 50% for social functioning; 0 for emotional role and 36% for mental health. Correlation between age and SF36 domains does not reveal statistical significance, except for physical functioning, indicating that lower scores presented by older people in this domain are not followed by changes on other ones. Conclusions: Values obtained in people chronically intoxicated by mercury are actually lower, in the motor and mental scope components. Some instruments domains are higher for men than for women. Older ages are inversely associated to good performance in physical function domain. © Copyright Moreira Jr. Editora. Todos os direitos reservados.

Qualidade de vida em portadores de esclerose múltipla

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease which may exert significant effects on the life of patients. Traditional outcome measures in MS lack in consider the effects of the disease on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The goal of this study is to measure HRQoL in MS patients in the city of Uberlân-dia, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Brazilian version of the SF-36 was applied in 23 MS patients and in 69 subjects of general population (blood donors) in Uberlândia. MS patients scored lower in all SF-36 scales than do the general population, principally in physical function domains. Patients with EDSS scores ≤3.5 had higher mean scores in four domains than do the patients with EDSS scores ≥4.0, and lower in all domains than control group. Depressive symptoms and heat intolerance showed correlation with SF-36 domains and components. In conclusion, MS patients have a significant negative impact on all HRQoL domains measured by SF-36, compared with general population, even in the stages with lower disability.

Lack of correlation between periodontitis and renal dysfunction in systemically healthy patients

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess a suggested association between periodontitis and renal insufficiency by assaying kidney disease markers. Methods: Variables used to diagnose periodontitis were: (i) probing pocket depth (PPD), (ii) attachment loss (AL), (iii) bleeding on probing (BOP), (iv) plaque index (PI) and (v) extent and severity index. Blood and urine were collected from 60 apparently healthy non-smokers (men and women), consisting of a test group of 30 subjects with periodontitis (age 46±6 yrs) and a control group of 30 healthy subjects (age 43±5 yrs). Kidney function markers (urea, creatinine, uric acid and albumin contents) were measured in the serum and urine. Also, the glomerular filtration rate was estimated from creatinine clearance, from the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula and from the albumin: creatinine ratio in a 24-h sample of urine. Results: It was found that the control group had a greater mean number of teeth than the test group and that the two groups also differed in PPD, AL, BOP and PI, all these variables being higher in the test group (P=0.006). For the extent and severity index of both PPD and AL, the test group had much higher medians of both extent and severity than the control group (P=0.001). With regard to kidney function, none of the markers revealed a significant difference between the control and test groups and all measured values fell within the reference intervals. Conclusions: It is proposed that severe periodontitis is not associated with any alteration in kidney function.

Correlation between oral health perception and clinical factors in a Brazilian community

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse associations between self-perception of oral health and relevant clinical, personal and socio-demographic factors in a Brazilian community. Material And Methods: Urban adults living in a city in southern Brazil were interviewerd and examined. Individuals with acute pain and who needed multiple extractions of teeth were excluded. Self-perception and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) were applied to measure the impact of oral conditions on the quality of life. Socio-demographic and clinical indicators were also analysed. Results: The clinical examination revealed a high dental caries experience (DMFT = 18.9) and a high prevalence of periodontal disease. Oral condition was considered normal by 42% of respondents. The variables associated with the OHIP-14 were: education, age, self-assessment, dental caries and the DMFT index. Conclusions: Self-perception of oral health was associated with OHIP-14 and the clinical indicators had low influence in the self-perception. Therefore, the development of educational initiatives and preventive strategies for the adult population is recommended. © BASCD 2011.

Characterization of the Genetic Variability of a Sugarcane Commercial Cross Through Yield Components and Quality Parameters

The phenotypic characterization as well as the knowledge of the correlation among traits, is the first step to quantify the potential of a cross for further QTL (quantitative trait loci) detection. The present work aimed to evaluate the yield components and quality parameters variability of a mapping population derived from a bi-parental cross between IACSP95-3018 and IACSP93-3046 at plant cane and ratoon cane as well as to estimate the heritabilities and pair-wise correlation among the traits evaluated. The progeny clones differed significantly for the traits measures indicating the existence of significant amount of variability among them as also as the presence of transgressive clones. Broad-sense heritabilities values were generally high for stalk diameter, stalk weight, stalk height, Brix and Pol%Cane in plant cane and ratoon cane. Tones of sugarcane per hectare (TCH) were significantly correlated with stalk weight and stalk number in both years. Regarding to all the yield components, stalk number together with stalk weight were the most important components in the determination of TCH. While fiber and Pol%Cane were negative correlated showing that they are inversely correlated traits. © 2012 Society for Sugar Research & Promotion.

Apatia, funções cognitivas e funcionalidade motora em idosos com doença de Alzheimer

The aims of this study were to characterize the presence of apathy in patients with AD, determine the relationship between apathy, motor function and cognitive function, and to verify differences among patients stratified by level of apathy in relation to cognitive and motor abilities. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 37 patients with AD. The following tests were used: MoCA, the Frontal Assessment Battery, Verbal Fluency, Clock Drawing Test, Andreotti & Okuma Battery Tests, Sit and Reach, Resistance of Upper Limbs - AAHPERD Battery Test, Sit and Lift Chair and the Apathy domain of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. After verifying the normality of the data distribution, comparisons were made using Student's t-test and the U Mann Whitney test; relationships were also assessed using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients. All analyses were considered to be statistically significant at a p-value of 0.05. Results: 46% of participants in this study showed mild symptoms of apathy. Significant and weak associations were found (p=0.04) between apathy and the attention domain on the MoCA and between apathy and the Walk Test. Analysis of differences in cognitive and motor functions according to participants' level of apathy revealed no significant differences for any of the variables. Conclusion: Apathy was reflected in attention and the Walk Test, suggesting these variables may be related to cognitive and functional decline in AD patients.

Effect of drying technique on some physical properties of cross-linked high amylose/pectin mixtures

Polymers mixtures as well as cross-linking reactions are approaches that have been used successfully to modulate the polymers characteristics in order to improve the control over drug release rate. High amylose and pectin are polysaccharides frequently used to prepare drug delivery systems. Since the drying technique can strongly influence the properties of such systems, the aim of this work was to characterize high amylose/pectin mixtures cross-linked with sodium trimetaphosphate and dried by different techniques-oven and lyophilization. The results showed that samples dried by lyophilization presented reduced particle size, higher porosity and higher swelling ability than the samples dried in oven. Besides, lower thermal stability and different diffraction patterns showed by the former particles should reflect the structural changes as a function of drying technique. © 2013 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc.

Measurement of differential top-quark-pair production cross sections in pp collisions at √s = 7TeV

Normalised differential top-quark-pair production cross sections are measured in pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeVat the LHC with the CMS detector using data recorded in 2011 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 5. 0 fb-1. The measurements are performed in the lepton+jets decay channels (e+jets and μ+jets) and the dilepton decay channels (e+}e-, μ+μ-, and μ±e∓). The tt̄ differential cross section is measured as a function of kinematic properties of the final-state charged leptons and jets associated to b quarks, as well as those of the top quarks and the tt̄ system. The data are compared with several predictions from perturbative QCD calculations up to approximate next-to-next-to-leading-order precision. No significant deviations from the standard model are observed. © 2013 CERN for the benefit of the CMS collaboration.

Linear and Poisson models for genetic evaluation of tick resistance in cross-bred Hereford x Nellore cattle

Cattle resistance to ticks is measured by the number of ticks infesting the animal. The model used for the genetic analysis of cattle resistance to ticks frequently requires logarithmic transformation of the observations. The objective of this study was to evaluate the predictive ability and goodness of fit of different models for the analysis of this trait in cross-bred Hereford x Nellore cattle. Three models were tested: a linear model using logarithmic transformation of the observations (MLOG); a linear model without transformation of the observations (MLIN); and a generalized linear Poisson model with residual term (MPOI). All models included the classificatory effects of contemporary group and genetic group and the covariates age of animal at the time of recording and individual heterozygosis, as well as additive genetic effects as random effects. Heritability estimates were 0.08 ± 0.02, 0.10 ± 0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.04 for MLIN, MLOG and MPOI models, respectively. The model fit quality, verified by deviance information criterion (DIC) and residual mean square, indicated fit superiority of MPOI model. The predictive ability of the models was compared by validation test in independent sample. The MPOI model was slightly superior in terms of goodness of fit and predictive ability, whereas the correlations between observed and predicted tick counts were practically the same for all models. A higher rank correlation between breeding values was observed between models MLOG and MPOI. Poisson model can be used for the selection of tick-resistant animals. © 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.

Facial pain associated with fibromyalgia can be marked by abnormal neuromuscular control: A cross-sectional study

Background. Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) development in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is not yet fully understood, but altered neuromuscular control in FMS may play a role in triggering TMD. Objective. The purpose of this study was to verify the association between neuromuscular control and chronic facial pain in groups of patients with FMS and TMD. Design. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Methods. This study involved an analysis of facial pain and electromyographic activity of the masticatory muscles in patients with FMS (n=27) and TMD (n=28). All participants were evaluated according to Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and surface electromyography (SEMG). Myoelectric signal calculations were performed using the root mean square and median frequency of signals. Results. The data revealed premature interruption of masticatory muscle contraction in both patient groups, but a significant correlation also was found between higher median frequency values and increased facial pain. This correlation probably was related to FMS because it was not found in patients with TMD only. Facial pain and increased SEMG activity during mandibular rest also were positively correlated. Limitations. Temporal conclusions cannot be drawn from the study. Also, the study lacked a comparison group of patients with FMS without TMD as well as a control group of individuals who were healthy. Conclusions. Altered neuromuscular control in masticatory muscles may be correlated with perceived facial pain in patients with FMS. © 2013 American Physical Therapy Association.