Effects of plant densities and management of purple nutsedge on sugarcane yield and effect of growth stages and main way of herbicides contact and absorption on the control of tubers

Field experiments carried out with Cyperus rotundus L. at low (58-246), medium (318773), and high (675-1198 shoots/m(2)) densities showed sugarcane yield reductions of 13.5, 29.3, and 45.2%, respectively in relation to the control. In the second field experiment, the integration of a mechanic method with two sequences of plowing and disking operations in the dry season, and complementary applications of trifloxysulfuron-sodium + ametrine and sulfentrazone (rainy season) was studied. Average of the chain connected to original shoot showed 92, 95, and 65% of reduction with trifloxysulfuron-sodium + ametrine and surfactant, at the application stages early, preflowering, and full flowering, respectively.

Exercise training prevents hyperinsulinemia, muscular glycogen loss and muscle atrophy induced by dexamethasone treatment

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

Determination of the optimal quantity of crop residues for energy in sugarcane crop management using linear programming in variety selection and planting strategy

The aim of this work was to present organizational models for optimizing the reduction of crop residue generated by the sugarcane culture. The first model consisted of the selection of varieties of sugarcane to be planted meeting the mill requirements and, at the same time, to minimize the quantity of residue produced. The second model discussed the use of residue to produce energy. This is related to the selection of variety and quantity to be planted, in order to meet the requirements of the mill, to reduce the quantity of residue, and to maximize as much as possible the energy production. The use of linear programming was proposed. The two models presented similar results in this study, and both may be used to define the varieties and areas to be cultivated. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier B.V. Ltd.

Effects of Exercise Training on Hippocampus Concentrations of Insulin and IGF-1 in Diabetic Rats

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

Quadratic gravity theories in 2+1 dimensions and the topological Chern-Simons term

The addition of a topological Chern-Simons term to three-dimensional higher-derivative gravity is not a good therapy to cure the nonunitarity of the aforementioned theory. Moreover, R+R-2 gravity in (2+1)D, which is unitary at the tree level, becomes tree-level nonunitary when it is augmented by the abovementioned topological term. Therefore, unlike what is claimed in the literature, topological higher-derivative gravity in (2+1)D is not tree-level unitary and neither is topological three-dimensional R+R-2 gravity.

Chiral symmetry breaking in QCD-like gauge theories with a confining propagator and dynamical gauge boson mass generation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

EFFECTS of 14-WEEK SWIMMING TRAINING PROGRAM on THE PSYCHOLOGICAL, HORMONAL, and PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS of ELITE WOMEN ATHLETES

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Interactive DC-DC converters tools for instant design and education

This paper deals with the usage of interactive simulations tools to serve as an oriented design tool for the lectures and laboratory experiments in the power electronics courses. A dynamic and interactive visualization of simulations for idealized converters in steady state are provided by the proposed educational tools, allowing students to acquire qualification in non-isolated DC-DC converters, without previous circuitry knowledge, either without the usage of sophisticated simulation packages. The interaction with proposed simulation tools can be accomplished by student using direct or graphic mode. In direct mode the parameters related with the design of converter can be inserted simply editing default values presented in textboxes, while in the graphic mode students interact indirectly with design information by manipulating visual widgets. In order to corroborate the proposed interactive simulation tools, comparisons of results from buck-boost and boost converters on proposed tools and a well-known simulator package with those on experimental evaluation from laboratory classes were presented. © 2009 IEEE.

Exercise training ameliorates the impairment of endothelial and nitrergic corpus cavernosum responses in diabetic rats

Aims: The effect of exercise training (ET) on vascular responsiveness in diabetes mellitus has been largely well studied. However, limited studies have investigated the effects of ET on functional responses of the corpus cavernosum (CC) in diabetic animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether prior ET prevents the impairment of erectile function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Main methods: Rats were exercised for four weeks prior to the induction of diabetes, and then again for another 4 weeks thereafter. Concentration-response curves to acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside, Y-27632, BAY 412272 and phenylephrine (PE) were obtained in CC. The excitatory and inhibitory effects of electrical-field stimulation were also evaluated. Key findings: Plasma SOD levels were markedly decreased in the sedentary diabetic group (D-SD) as compared to control sedentary animals (C-SD), approximately 53% (P < 0.05) and this reduction was restored in trained diabetic animals. Physical training restored the impairment of endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation responses seen in the D-SD group. The potency values for Y-27632 in the CC were significantly reduced in the D-SD group, which was reversed by physical training. The impairment of electrical-field stimulation (EFS)-induced relaxation seen in the D-SD group was restored by physical training. On the other hand, both EFS-induced contractions and concentration-response curves to PE in cavernosal strips were not modified by either diabetes or physical training. Significance: Practice of regular physical exercise may be an important approach in preventing erectile dysfunction associated with diabetes mellitus by re-establishment of the balance between NO production and its inactivation. © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Proactive management of extreme prematurity: Disagreement between obstetricians and neonatologists

Objective: To verify, in extremely preterm infants, if disagreement between obstetricians and neonatologists regarding proactive management is associated with early death.Study Design: Prospective cohort of 484 infants with 23 0/7 to 266/7 weeks, without malformations, born from January 2006 to December 2009 in eight Brazilian hospitals. Pro-active management was defined as indication of ≥1 dose of antenatal steroid or cesarean section (obstetrician) and resuscitation at birth according to the international guidelines (neonatologist). Main outcome was neonatal death in the first 24 h of life.Result: Obstetricians and neonatologists disagreed in 115 (24%) patients: only neonatologists were proactive in 107 of them. Disagreement between professionals increased 2.39 times the chance of death in the first day (95% confidence interval 1.40 to 4.09), adjusted for center and maternal/neonatal clinical conditions.Conclusion: In infants with 23 to 26 weeks of gestation, disagreement between obstetricians and neonatologists, translated as lack of antenatal steroids and/or vaginal delivery, despite resuscitation procedures, increases the odds of death in the first day. © 2012 Nature America, Inc.

Influence of a preventive training program on lower limb kinematics and vertical jump height of male volleyball athletes

Objective: To examine the influence of a preventative training program (PTP) on sagittal plane kinematics during different landing tasks and vertical jump height (VJH) in males. Design: Six weeks prospective exercise intervention. Participants: Fifteen male volleyball athletes (13 ± 0.7 years, 1.70 ± 0.12 m, 60 ± 12 kg). Interventions: PTP consisting of plyometric, balance and core stability exercises three times per week for six weeks. Bilateral vertical jumps with double leg (DL) and single leg (SL) landings were performed to measure the effects of training. Main outcome measurements: Kinematics of the knee and hip before and after training and VJH attained during both tasks after training. The hypothesis was that the PTP would produce improvements in VJH, but would not generate great changes in biomechanical behavior. Results: The only change identified for the SL was the longest duration of landing, which represents the time spent from initial ground contact to maximum knee flexion, after training, while increased angular displacement of the knee was observed during DL. The training did not significantly alter the VJH in either the SL (difference: 2.7 cm) or the DL conditions (difference: 3.5 cm). Conclusions: Despite the PTP's effectiveness in inducing some changes in kinematics, the changes were specific for each task, which highlights the importance of the specificity and individuality in selecting prevention injury exercises. Despite the absence of significant increases in the VJH, the absolute differences after training showed increases corroborating with the findings of statistically powerful studies that compared the results with control groups. The results suggest that short-term PTPs in low risk young male volleyball athletes may enhance performance and induce changes in some kinematic parameters. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Product-portfolio management: A framework based on Methods, Organization, and Strategy

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