Dynamic Morse decompositions for semigroups of homeomorphisms and control systems

In this paper, we introduce the concept of dynamic Morse decomposition for an action of a semigroup of homeomorphisms. Conley has shown in [5, Sec. 7] that the concepts of Morse decomposition and dynamic Morse decompositions are equivalent for flows in metric spaces. Here, we show that a Morse decomposition for an action of a semigroup of homeomorphisms of a compact topological space is a dynamic Morse decomposition. We also define Morse decompositions and dynamic Morse decompositions for control systems on manifolds. Under certain condition, we show that the concept of dynamic Morse decomposition for control system is equivalent to the concept of Morse decomposition.

Factors associated with the prevalence of hypertension and control practices among elderly residents of São Paulo city, Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of hypertension and control practices among the elderly. The survey analyzed data from 872 elderly people in São Paulo, Brazil, through a cluster sampling, stratified according to education and income. A Poisson multiple regression model checked for the existence of factors associated with hypertension. The prevalence of self-reported hypertension among the elderly was 46.9%. Variables associated with hypertension were self-rated health, alcohol consumption, gender, and hospitalization in the last year, regardless of age. The three most common measures taken to control hypertension, but only rarely, are oral medication, routine salt-free diet and physical activity. Lifestyle and socioeconomic status did not affect the practice of control, but knowledge about the importance of physical activity was higher among those older people with higher education and greater income. The research suggests that health policies that focus on primary care to encourage lifestyle changes among the elderly are necessary.

Soil attributes and efficiency of sulfentrazone on control of purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.)

Herbicidas aplicados ao solo são submetidos à adsorção, lixiviação e degradação por processos físicos, químicos e biológicos, além da absorção pelas plantas. Todos esses processos são afetados pela classe dos solos onde foram aplicados e das condições climáticas reinantes logo após a aplicação, que afetarão a eficiência dos produtos no controle de plantas daninhas. Investigaram-se as influências dos atributos de solos e condições de cultivo na eficiência do herbicida sulfentrazone no controle da planta daninha tiririca (Cyperus rotundus L.). O Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo Distrófico (LVAd), o Latossolo Vermelho (LVd - Distrófico; LVdf - Distroférrico; LVef - Eutroférrico) e o Nitossolo Vermelho Eutrófico (NVe) foram coletados sob duas condições de cultivo, visando obter solos com teores diferenciados de argila, óxido de ferro e matéria orgânica. As amostras dos solos foram submetidas à caracterização granulométrica, química e mineralógica e, em seguida, utilizadas no bioensaio de avaliação da eficiência do sulfentrazone (1,6 L p.c. ha-1) no controle da tiririca em condições de pré-emergência. O sulfentrazone apresentou comportamento diferenciado entre as classes de solos estudados e a sua eficiência diminuiu com o aumento do teor de óxido de ferro nos solos, na seguinte ordem: LVAd, LVd, NVe, LVef e LVdf, sendo que as variações nos teores de argila (240 a 640 g kg-1) e da matéria orgânica (12 a 78 g kg-1) dos solos não interferiram na eficiência do sulfentrazone.

Control of Brachiaria decumbens and Panicum maximum by S-metolachlor as influenced by the occurrence of rain and amount of sugarcane straw on the soil

Com o objetivo de estudar o controle em pré-emergência de Brachiaria decumbens e Panicum maximum pelo herbicida S-metolachlor em função do intervalo de tempo entre a aplicação e a ocorrência de chuva e da quantidade de palha de cana-de-açúcar na superfície do solo, dois experimentos foram desenvolvidos em vasos mantidos em casa de vegetação. No primeiro, foram estudadas cinco quantidades de palha sobre o solo (0, 3, 6, 10 e 15 t ha-1) e cinco dosagens de S-metolachlor (0; 0,96; 1,44; 1,92 e 2,40 kg ha-1). No outro, foram avaliadas duas quantidades de palha sobre o solo (0 e 10 t ha-1) e sete intervalos de tempo entre a aplicação de S-metolachlor e a simulação de chuva (1 dia antes; logo após; 4, 8, 12, 16 e 20 dias após a aplicação). As dosagens de S-metolachlor não foram afetadas pelos níveis de palha na superfície do solo. Além disso, sem a manutenção de palha sobre o solo, o controle das plantas daninhas pelo herbicida S-metolachlor não foi influenciado pelos intervalos de tempo entre a aplicação e a simulação de chuva, até 20 dias. Com 10 t ha-1 de palha, o controle de B. decumbens e P. maximum pelo S-metolachlor não foi prejudicado quando choveu até 12 dias da sua aplicação ou um dia antes, mas, nesse caso apenas para P. maximum.

Nucleus isthmi and control of breathing in amphibians

Despite recent advances, the mechanisms of neurorespiratory control in amphibians are far from understood. One of the brainstem structures believed to play a key role in the ventilatory control of anuran amphibians is the nucleus isthmi (NI). This nucleus is a mesencephalic structure located between the roof of the midbrain and the cerebellum, which differentiates during metamorphosis; the period when pulmonary ventilation develops in bullfrogs. It has been recently suggested that the NI acts to inhibit hypoxic and hypercarbic drives in breathing by restricting increases in tidal volume. This data is similar to the influence of two pontine structures of mammals, the locus coeruleus and the nucleus raphe magnus. The putative mediators for this response are glutamate and nitric oxide. Microinjection of kynurenic acid (an ionotropic receptor antagonist of excitatory amino acids) and L-NAME (a non-selective NO synthase inhibitor) elicited increases in the ventilatory response to hypoxia and hypercarbia. This article reviews the available data on the role of the NI in the control of ventilation in amphibians. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Efficiency of entomopathogenic fungi in the control of eggs and larvae of the horn fly Haematobia irritans (Diptera: Muscidae)

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

Mechanism and control of Genipa americana seed germination

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Loss of Y-chromosome does not correlate with age at onset of head and neck carcinoma: a case-control study

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Temporal relationship between successful pancreas transplantation and control of ocular complications in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Purpose. The impact of pancreas transplantation (PT) on the progression of eye disease is still controversial. This study evaluated the course of retinopathy in transplanted rats in two different diabetic stages.Methods. Sixty inbred male Lewis rats were assigned to four experimental groups: NC-15 nondiabetic control rats; DC-15 untreated diabetic control rats; PT1-15 diabetic rats that received syngeneic pancreas transplants 2 weeks after alloxan diabetes induction; PT2-15 diabetic rats that received pancreas transplants 12 weeks after diabetes onset. Clinical and laboratory parameters and tens opacity were examined in all rats prior to treatment and at 1-, 6-, and 12-months follow-up. Nucleated eyes from five rats in each group processed for ultrastructural study of the retinal at 6 and 12 months after PT or at follow-up.Results. Cataracts were observed in 20%, 60%, and 100% of DC rats at 1-, 6-, and 12-months follow-up, respectively. Early PT (2 weeks) significantly reduced the prevalence of this complication but not late (12 weeks) PT. PT1 rats also showed improved ultrastructure of the superficial and deep capillary plexuses of the retina, and of Muller cells, compared with DC and PT2. In the last group, retinopathy continued to evolve despite successful PT.Conclusion. Our results suggested that prevention of diabetic ocular lesions by PT was closely dependent on earlier performance of the procedure.

Vasopressin and angiotensin receptors of the medial septal area of the brain in the control of thirst and salt appetite induced by vasopressin in water-deprived and sodium-depleted rats

In this study we investigated the influence of d(CH2)(5)-Tyr (Me)-AVP (A(1) AVP) and [Adamanteanacatyl(1),D-ET-D-Tyr(2), Va1(4), aminobutyril(6) ,As-8,As-9]-AVP 9 (A(2)AVP), antagonists of V-1 and V-2 arginine(8)-vasopressin (AVP) receptors, respectively, as well as the effects of losartan and CGP42112A, antagonists of angiotensin II (ANGII) AT(1) and AT(2), receptors, respectively, on water and 0.3 M sodium intake induced by water deprivation or sodium depletion (furosemide treatment) and enhanced by AVP injected into the medial septal area (N4SA). A stainless steel carmulawas implanted into the medial septal area (NISA) of male Holtzman rats AVP injection enhanced water and sodium intake in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with V-1 antagonist injected into the MSA produced a dose-dependent reduction, whereas prior injection of V-2 antagonist increased, in a dose-dependent manner, the water and sodium responses elicited by the administration of AVP. Both AT(1) and AT(2) antagonists administered into the MSA elicited a concentration-dependent decrease in water and sodium intake induced by AVP, while simultaneous injection of the two antagonists was more effective in decreasing AVP responses. These results also indicate that the increase in water and sodium intake induced by AvT was mediated primarily by MSA AT(1) receptors. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Interaction of serotonin and cholecystokinin in the lateral parabrachial nucleus to control sodium intake

Serotonin [5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)] and CCK injected into the lateral parabrachial nucleus (LPBN) inhibit NaCl and water intake. In this study, we investigated interactions between 5-HT and CCK into the LPBN to control water and NaCl intake. Male Holtzman rats with cannulas implanted bilaterally in the LPBN were treated with furosemide + captopril to induce water and NaCl intake. Bilateral LPBN injections of high doses of the 5-HT antagonist methysergide (4 mug) or the CCK antagonist proglumide (50 mug), alone or combined, produced similar increases in water and 1.8% NaCl intake. Low doses of methysergide (0.5 mug) + proglumide (20 mug) produced greater increases in NaCl intake than when they were injected alone. The 5-HT2a/2c agonist 2,5-dimetoxy-4-iodoamphetamine hydrobromide (DOI; 5 mug) into the LPBN reduced water and NaCl intake. After proglumide (50 mug) + DOI treatment, the intake was not different from vehicle treatment. CCK-8 (1 mug) alone produced no effect. CCK-8 combined with methysergide (4 mug) reduced the effect of methysergide on NaCl intake. The data suggest that functional interactions between 5-HT and CCK in the LPBN may be important for exerting inhibitory control of NaCl intake.

Adrenergic mechanisms of the Kölliker-Fuse/A7 area on the control of water and sodium intake

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

Postural control in Down syndrome: the use of somatosensory and visual information to attenuate body sway

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of visual and somatosensory information on body sway in individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Nine adults with DS (19-29 years old) and nine control subjects (CS) (19-29 years old) stood in the upright stance in four experimental conditions: no vision and no touch; vision and no touch; no vision and touch; and vision and touch. In the vision condition, participants looked at a target placed in front of them; in the no vision condition, participants wore a black cotton mask. In the touch condition, participants touched a stationary surface with their right index finger; in the no touch condition, participants kept their arms hanging alongside their bodies. A force plate was used to estimate center of pressure excursion for both anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. MANOVA revealed that both the individuals with DS and the control subjects used vision and touch to reduce overall body sway, although individuals with DS still oscillated more than did the CS. These results indicate that adults with DS are able to use sensory information to reduce body sway, and they demonstrate that there is no difference in sensory integration between the individuals with DS and the CS.