Ratio of weight to height gain: a useful tool for identifying children at risk of becoming overweight or obese at preschool age

PURPOSE: To analyze the usefulness of the weight gain/height gain ratio from birth to two and three years of age as a predictive risk indicator of excess weight at preschool age. METHODS: The weight and height/length of 409 preschool children at daycare centers were measured according to internationally recommended rules. The weight values and body mass indices of the children were transformed into a z-score per the standard method described by the World Health Organization. The Pearson correlation coefficients (rP) and the linear regressions between the anthropometric parameters and the body mass index z-scores of preschool children were statistically analyzed (alpha = 0.05). RESULTS: The mean age of the study population was 3.2 years (�� 0.3 years). The prevalence of excess weight was 28.8%, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 8.8%. The correlation coefficients between the body mass index z-scores of the preschool children and the birth weights or body mass indices at birth were low (0.09 and 0.10, respectively). There was a high correlation coefficient (rP = 0.79) between the mean monthly gain of weight and the body mass index z-score of preschool children. A higher coefficient (rP = 0.93) was observed between the ratio of the mean weight gain per height gain (g/cm) and the preschool children body mass index z-score. The coefficients and their differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Regardless of weight or length at birth, the mean ratio between the weight gain per g/cm of height growth from birth presented a strong correlation with the body mass index of preschool children. These results suggest that this ratio may be a good indicator of the risk of excess weight and obesity in preschool-aged children.

Morfologia dos ��rg��os genitais masculinos e da cloaca da ema (Rhea americana americana)

As caracter��sticas morfol��gicas, macrosc��picas e microsc��picas, dos ��rg��os genitais masculinos e da cloaca foram analisados em 23 emas, quatro filhotes (duas semanas), sete jovens (de tr��s a oito meses) e doze adultos (tr��s anos), provenientes da Cooperativa Emas do Brasil, RS, e do CEMAS, Mossor��, RN. Os test��culos da ema possuem formato alongado e localizam-se na cavidade celom��tica, na regi��o intra-abdominal dorsal, com comprimento e larguras m��dias de 7,6��1,2cm e 2,6�� 0,7cm nos adultos; 4,5��1,5cm e 0,9��0,4cm nos jovens; e 0,8��0,3cm, e 0,2��0,1cm nos filhotes. O test��culo est�� envolto pela t��nica albug��nea e seu par��nquima possui t��bulos semin��feros irregulares, compostos por epit��lio espermatog��nico e por c��lulas de sustenta����o, e pelo tecido intersticial, com as c��lulas end��crinas intersticiais, tecido conjuntivo frouxo e vasos. Nos adultos observaram-se todas as c��lulas da linhagem espermatog��nica, enquanto nos jovens com 3 meses, os test��culos apresentaram t��bulos semin��feros com luz reduzidas, espermatog��nias e c��lulas de sustenta����o indiferenciadas. Os ductos eferentes possuem um epit��lio c��bico ciliado, enquanto no ducto epididim��rio o epit��lio �� columnar. O epid��dimo apresentou-se alongado e fusiforme junto a margem medial do test��culo. O ducto deferentes apresentou trajeto sinuoso nos adultos, retil��neo nos jovens, convoluto na sua por����o m��dia, diminuindo seu formato sigm��ide em sua por����o caudal, pr��ximo �� cloaca. O epit��lio �� pseudoestratificado e reveste a luz irregular nos adultos e circular nos jovens, mantendo proximidade com o ureter. A cloaca dividiu-se em tr��s segmentos: o coprodeu, o urodeo e o proctodeo. No urodeu os ductos deferentes desembocaram em papilas na parede ventro-lateral, pr��ximo a inser����o do falo fibroso. O falo �� um ��rg��o fibroso linf��tico, localizado na parede ventral, no assoalho da cloaca, e apresentou duas por����es: uma r��gida bifurcada e contorcida, e outra simples espiralada e flex��vel, a qual normalmente esteve invertida. Em exposi����o for��ada, o falo teve 14 cm de comprimento. De forma geral os ��rg��os reprodutores das emas compartilharam da morfologia de outras aves, principalmente aquelas descritas para os avestruzes.

Ultra-som pulsado de baixa intensidade em fraturas diafis��rias: aplica����o cl��nica em c��es

Os efeitos da estimula����o ultra-s��nica sobre a consolida����o ��ssea t��m sido demonstrados por trabalhos experimentais e cl��nicos. Este estudo teve por objetivo investigar a aplica����o cl��nica do ultra-som pulsado de baixa intensidade como tratamento adjuvante de fraturas diafis��rias em c��es. Foram utilizados 16 c��es de ra��as variadas, com faixa et��ria entre sete meses e seis anos, peso corp��reo entre 2,5 e 43kg, portadores de fraturas diafis��rias fechadas recentes localizadas no r��dio e ulna, f��mur ou t��bia e f��bula, estabilizadas por procedimentos de osteoss��ntese (fixa����o esquel��tica externa, pinos intramedulares ou a associa����o desses m��todos). Os c��es foram divididos em dois grupos: fraturas estabilizadas tratadas por ultra-som de baixa intensidade (grupo tratado, n=8); fraturas estabilizadas, n��o tratadas por estimula����o ultra-s��nica, (grupo controle, n=8). Os animais foram avaliados por exames cl��nicos e radiogr��ficos nos per��odos pr��-operat��rio, p��s-operat��rio imediato e a cada 30 dias posteriores aos procedimentos cir��rgicos. Realizou-se tratamento com ultra-som pulsado (sinal senoidal com freq����ncia de 1,5MHz, largura de pulso de 200&micro;s e freq����ncia de repeti����o de 1kHz) de baixa intensidade (30mW cm-2), aplicado de modo estacion��rio no foco de fratura. A terapia ultra-s��nica foi realizada 20 minutos por dia, durante 21 dias consecutivos, a partir do per��odo compreendido entre o 1&deg; e o 9&deg; dia p��s-operat��rio. O teste t de Student, empregado na an��lise estat��stica, mostrou diferen��a significante (P<0,001 e alfa=0,05) entre as m��dias dos par��metros de tempo para consolida����o ��ssea observadas nos animais dos grupos tratado (m��dia de 67,5 dias) e controle (m��dia de 106 dias). Este protocolo de estimula����o ultra-s��nica promoveu sinais cl��nicos e radiogr��ficos acelerados da consolida����o ��ssea nas fraturas tratadas. Os resultados deste estudo sugerem que o ultra-som pulsado de baixa intensidade pode ser indicado como terapia adjuvante de fraturas diafis��rias recentes em c��es.

Nutritional characteristics and in vitro digestibility of silages from different corn cultivars harvested at two cutting heights

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional traits and in vitro digestibility of silages from different corn cultivars harvested at two cutting heights. It was evaluated 11 cultivars (Dina 766, Dina 657, Dina 1000, P 3021, P 3041, C 805, C 333, AG 5011, FO 01, Dina co 9621 and BR 205) harvest 5 cm above ground (low) and 5 cm below the intersection of the first ear (high). It was used a random block design (three blocks), arranged in a 11 �� 2 factorial scheme. Silages from plants harvested at high cutting height presented average content of dry matter significantly superior to silages from plants harvested at low height. Cultivars FO 01, AG 5011, Dina co 9621 and Dina 766 presented greater content of crude protein than cultivars C 805, P 3041 and P 3021, which presented the lowest contents of this nutrient. The raise in the cut height increased in vitro dry matter true digestibility coefficients and in vitro dry matter digestibility of silage evaluated. The increase in cut height improved nutritive value of silages by decreasing concentrations of fibrous fractions and increasing in vitro dry matter digestibility.

Evaluation of corn cultivars harvested at two cutting heights for ensilage

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics, bromatological-chemical composition and digestibility of 11 corn cultivars (Zea mays) harvested at two cutting heights. Cultivars D 766, D 657, D 1000, P 3021, P 3041, C 805, C 333, AG 5011, FO 01, CO 9621 and BR 205 were evaluated when they were harvested 5 cm above ground (low) and 5 cm below the insertion of the first ear (high). The experiment was designed as random blocks, with three replicates, arranged in an 11 x 2 factorial scheme. Cultivars presented similar productions of forage dry matter and grains. Percentages of stalk, leaf, straw, cob and kernel fractions were different among cultivars, as well as dry matter content of the whole plant at harvest. Considering the whole plant, only the contents of gross energy, nitrogen in neutral detergent fiber, and in vitro neutral and acid detergent fiber digestibility did not differ among cultivars. Increase on the cutting height improved forage quality due to the reduction of stalk and leaf fractions and contents of cell wall constituents.

Preval��ncia de sobrepeso e obesidade em crian��as de dois a seis anos matriculadas em escolas particulares no munic��pio de S��o Paulo

OBJETIVO: verificar a preval��ncia de sobrepeso e obesidade segundo sexo e idade em crian��as de 2 a 6 anos de idade, alunos de escolas particulares no munic��pio de S��o Paulo. M��TODO: foram realizadas medidas de peso e de altura para verifica����o do estado nutricional de oitocentos e seis crian��as de ambos os sexos. Para a classifica����o do estado nutricional das crian��as foram utilizadas as curvas de percentis do ��ndice de Massa Corporal (IMC = Peso (kg) / Altura�� (cm)) para idade, conforme padr��o de refer��ncia do Multicentre Growth Study, recomendado pela Organiza����o Mundial de Sa��de que classifica como sobrepeso valores de percentis > 85 e < 97 e para a obesidade valores < 97. Para an��lise da rela����o entre sexo, idade da crian��a e estado nutricional utilizou-se modelo linear generalizado de regress��o m��ltipla (glm) com liga����o logar��tmica e fam��lia binomial, que permite, diretamente, a estima����o das raz��es de preval��ncias. A preval��ncia de sobrepeso+obesidade foi 37,2 por cento para o sexo masculino e 33,4 por cento para o sexo feminino. A raz��o de preval��ncia (RP) mostrou que n��o existe diferen��a significativa entre obesidade e sobrepeso+obesidade para sexo e idade. CONCLUS��O: observaram-se preval��ncias de sobrepeso e de obesidade superiores ��s preval��ncias m��dias da popula����o brasileira. Os resultados encontrados neste estudo refor��am a preocupa����o com a obesidade infantil que aparentemente vem crescendo, em idades mais precoces como dos pr��-escolares

Spectral Region Optimization for Raman-Based Optical Biopsy of Inflammatory Lesions

Objective: The biochemical alterations between inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia (IFH) and normal tissues of buccal mucosa were probed by using the FT-Raman spectroscopy technique. The aim was to find the minimal set of Raman bands that would furnish the best discrimination. Background: Raman-based optical biopsy is a widely recognized potential technique for noninvasive real-time diagnosis. However, few studies had been devoted to the discrimination of very common subtle or early pathologic states as inflammatory processes that are always present on, for example, cancer lesion borders. Methods: Seventy spectra of IFH from 14 patients were compared with 30 spectra of normal tissues from six patients. The statistical analysis was performed with principal components analysis and soft independent modeling class analogy cross-validated, leave-one-out methods. Results: Bands close to 574, 1,100, 1,250 to 1,350, and 1,500 cm(-1) (mainly amino acids and collagen bands) showed the main intragroup variations that are due to the acanthosis process in the IFH epithelium. The 1,200 (C-C aromatic/DNA), 1,350 (CH(2) bending/collagen 1), and 1,730 cm(-1) (collagen III) regions presented the main intergroup variations. This finding was interpreted as originating in an extracellular matrix-degeneration process occurring in the inflammatory tissues. The statistical analysis results indicated that the best discrimination capability (sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 100%) was found by using the 530-580 cm(-1) spectral region. Conclusions: The existence of this narrow spectral window enabling normal and inflammatory diagnosis also had useful implications for an in vivo dispersive Raman setup for clinical applications.

Haptic Stabilization of Posture in Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Using a Nonrigid Tool

This study assessed the effects of haptic information on the postural control systems of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), through the use of a nonrigid tool that we call the ""anchor system"" (e.g., ropes attached to graduated weights that rest on the floor). Eleven participants with ID were asked to stand, blindfolded, on a balance beam placed at two heights (10 and 20 cm), for 30 s, while using the anchor system at two weights. The lighter anchor weight appeared to improve the individuals' balance in contrast to a control task condition; therefore, we concluded that haptic sensitivity was more significant in helping to orient the body than was the anchor's mechanical support alone.

Evolution of magnetic properties and crystallographic texture in electrical steel with large plastic deformation

Deformation leads to a hardening of steel due to an increase in the density of dislocations and a reduction in their mobility, giving rise to a state of elevated residual stresses in the crystal lattice. In the microstructure, one observes an increase in the contribution of crystalline orientations which are unfavorable to the magnetization, as seen, for example, by a decrease in B(50), the magnetic flux density at a field of 50 A/cm. The present study was carried out with longitudinal strips of fully processed non-oriented (NO) electrical steel, with deformations up to 70% resulting from cold rolling in the longitudinal direction. With increasing plastic deformation, the value of B(50) gradually decreases until it reaches a minimum value, where it remains even for larger deformations. On the other hand, the coercive field H(c) continually increases. Magnetometry results and electron backscatter diffraction results are compared and discussed. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3560895]

Study of metal oxide-semiconductor capacitors with rf magnetron sputtering TiO(x) and TiO(x)N(y) gate dielectric layer

Metal oxide-semiconductor capacitors with TiO(x) deposited with different O(2) partial pressures (30%, 35%, and 40%) and annealed at 550, 750, and 1000 degrees C were fabricated and characterized. Fourier transform infrared, x-ray near edge spectroscopy, and elipsometry measurements were performed to characterize the TiO(x) films. TiO(x)N(y) films were also obtained by adding nitrogen to the gaseous mixture and physical results were presented. Capacitance-voltage (1 MHz) and current-voltage measurements were utilized to obtain the effective dielectric constant, effective oxide thickness, leakage current density, and interface quality. The results show that the obtained TiO(x) films present a dielectric constant varying from 40 to 170 and a leakage current density (for V(G)=-1 V, for some structures as low as 1 nA/cm(2), acceptable for complementary metal oxide semiconductor circuits fabrication), indicating that this material is a viable, in terms of leakage current density, highk substitute for current ultrathin dielectric layers. (C) 2009 American Vacuum Society. [DOI: 10.1116/1.3043537]

Near-infrared third-order nonlinearity of PbO-GeO(2) films containing Cu and Cu(2)O nanoparticles

We report measurements of the nonlinear (NL) refractive index n(2) of lead-germanium films (LGFs) containing Cu and Cu(2)O nanoparticles (NPs). The thermally managed eclipse Z-scan technique with 150 fs pulses from a laser operating at 800 nm was used. The NL refractive index measured, n(2)=6.3x10(-12) cm(2)/W has electronic origin and the NL absorption coefficient alpha(2) is smaller than 660 cm/GW. The figure of merit n(2)/lambda alpha(2) is enhanced by more than two orders of magnitude in comparison with the result for the LGFs without the copper based NPs. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Eucalyptus sp seedling response to potassium fertilization and soil water

A considerable portion of Brazil's commercial eucalypt plantations is located in areas Subjected to periods of water deficit and grown in soils with low natural fertility, particularly poor In potassium. Potassium is influential in controlling water relations of plants. The objective of this study was to verify the influence of potassium fertilization and soil water potential (psi(w)) oil the dry matter production and oil water relations Of eucalypt seedlings grown under greenhouse conditions. the experimental units were arranged in 4x4x2 randomized blocks factorial design, as follow: four species of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus urophylla, Eucalyptus camaldulensis and hybrid Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla), four dosages of K (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg dm(-3)) and two soil water potentials (-0.01 M Pa and -0.1 M Pa). Plastic containers with 15 cm diameter and 18 cm height, with Styrofoam base, containing 3.0 dm(3) of soil and two plants per container were used. Soil water potential was kept at -0.01 MPa for 40 days after seeding. Afterward, the experimental units were divided into two groups: in one group the potential was kept at 0.01 MPa, and in the other one, at -0.10 MPa. Sol I water potential was control led gravimetrically twice a day with water replacement until the desired potential was reestablished. A week before harvesting, the leaf water potential (psi), the photosynthetic rate (A), the stomatal conductance (gs) and the transpiration rate were evaluated. The last week before harvesting, the mass of the containers was recorded daily before watering to determine the consumption of water by the plants. After harvesting, total dry matter and leaf area were evaluated. the data were Submitted to analysis of variance, to Tukey's tests and regression analyses. The application of K influenced A, gs and the transpiration rate. Plants deficient in K showed lower A and higher Us and transpiration rates. There were no statistical differences in A, gs and transpiration rates ill plants with and Without water deficit. The addition of K reduced the consumption of water per unit of leaf area and, in general, plants submitted to water deficit presented a lower consumption of water.

INFLUENCE OF ALTITUDE, AGE AND DIAMETER ON YIELD AND ALPHA-BISABOLOL CONTENT OF CANDEIA TREES (Eremanthus erythropappus)

The heartwood of candeia tree is a source of essential oil rich in alpha-bisabolol, a substance widely used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry. Bearing in mind the economic importance of alpha-bisabolol, this work aimed to evaluate the influence of tree age on the yield and content of alpha-bisabolol present in essential oil from candeia, considering two distinct reliefs and three diameter classes, in Aiuruoca region, south Minas Gerais state. The two distinct reliefs correspond respectively to one section of the stand growing at 1,000m of altitude (Area 1) and another section growing at 1,100m of altitude (Area 2). In each section, 15 trees were felled from among 3 different diameter classes. Discs were removed from the base of each tree to estimate their age by doing growth ring count. Soil samples were taken and Subjected to physical and chemical analysis. The logs were reduced into chips and random samples were taken for distillation to extract essential oil. The method used was steam distillation at a pressure of 2 kgf/cm(2)/2.5 h. The chemical analysis was performed in a gas chromatograph (GC) based on the alpha-bisabolol standard reference. The yield of essential oil from trees in Area I was higher than that from trees in Area 2, with the same pattern of influence for older trees. In Area 2, the alpha-bisabolol content was higher in younger trees. No differences were found between the relevant parameters in relation to diameter classes.

QTL mapping for yield components in a tropical maize population using microsatellite markers

QTL mapping provides usefull information for breeding programs since it allows the estimation of genomic locations and genetic effects of chromossomal regions related to the expression of quantitative traits. The objective of this study was to map QTL related to several agronomic important traits associated with grain yield: ear weight (EW), prolificacy (PROL), ear number (NE), ear length (EL) and diameter (ED), number of rows on the ear (NRE) and number of kernels per row on the ear (NKPR). Four hundred F-2:3 tropical maize progenies were evaluated in five environments in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The genetic map was previously estimated and had 117 microssatelite loci with average distance of 14 cM. Data was analysed using Composite Interval Mapping for each trait. Thirty six QTL were mapped and related to the expression of EW (2), PROL (3), NE (2), EL (5), ED (5), NRE (10), NKPR (5). Few QTL were mapped since there was high GxE interaction. Traits EW, PROL and EN showed high genetic correlation with grain yield and several QTL mapped to similar genomic regions, which could cause the observed correlation. However, further analysis using apropriate statistical models are required to separate linked versus pleiotropic QTL. Five QTL (named Ew1, Ne1, Ed3, Nre3 and Nre10) had high genetic effects, explaining from 10.8% (Nre3) to 16.9% (Nre10) of the phenotypic variance, and could be considered in further studies.

Herbage accumulation, growth and structural characteristics of Mombasa grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) harvested at different cutting intervals

The objective of the present study was to evaluate herbage accumulation, morphological composition, growth rate and structural characteristics in Mombasa grass swards subject to different cutting intervals (3, 5 and 7 wk) during the rainy and dry seasons of the year. Treatments were assigned to experimental units (17.5 m(2)) according to a complete randomised block design, with four replicates. Herbage accumulation was greater in the rainy than in the dry season (83 and 17%, respectively). Herbage accumulation (24,300 kg DM ha(-1)), average growth rate (140 kg DM ha(-1) d(-1)) and sward height (111 cm) were highest in the 7 wk cutting interval, but leaf proportion (56%), leaf:stem (1.6) and leaf:non leaf (1.3) ratios decreased. Herbage accumulation, morphological composition and sward structure of Mombasa grass sward may be manipulated through defoliation frequency. The highest leaf proportion was recorded in the 3-wk cutting interval. Longer cutting intervals affected negatively sward structure, with potential negative effects on utilization efficiency, animal intake and performance.