Desempenho operacional de trator com e sem o acionamento da tração dianteira auxiliar

Entre os fatores que podem influenciar o desempenho de tração do trator agrícola, destacam-se a pressão de inflação e a carga sobre o rodado motriz. Neste trabalho, o objetivo foi avaliar, em situação de campo, a influência dos fatores inflação (sob quatro níveis) e carga sobre o rodado motriz (sob quatro níveis), combinados com e sem o uso da tração dianteira auxiliar. O experimento, totalizando 32 tratamentos com três repetições, foi distribuído em blocos ao acaso. O trator estudado foi submetido a uma força de tração constante na barra de tração, imposta por outro trator. Os resultados evidenciaram a influência significativa da lastragem nos parâmetros patinagem e coeficiente de tração, que aumentaram com a redução da carga sobre o rodado. A pressão de inflação influiu significativamente nos parâmetros patinagem, velocidade de deslocamento e potência na barra, sem no entanto apresentar tendência de comportamento. O uso da tração dianteira auxiliar mostrou vantagens significativas em relação aos mesmos parâmetros anteriores. A interação dos fatores pressão de inflação e carga sobre o rodado mostrou que determinadas combinações de pressão foram mais favoráveis para o desenvolvimento de maior velocidade e menor patinagem. As características relacionadas ao desempenho do motor (consumo horário e rotação do motor) não foram afetadas por nenhum dos fatores e/ou suas interações.

Determinação da circunferência de rolamento de pneus agrícolas utilizando dois métodos: manual e eletrônico

A circunferência de rolamento dinâmica dos pneus agrícolas é uma medida importante para o estudo do desempenho de tratores agrícolas. Neste trabalho, compararam-se dois métodos de determinação da circunferência de rolamento dinâmica - um manual e um eletrônico (com instrumentação das rodas de tração) - sob duas velocidades de deslocamento e cinco combinações de pressão de inflação nos pneus dianteiros e traseiros. O método manual forneceu valores estatisticamente superiores aos do eletrônico, com diferença absoluta máxima de 0,24%. A pressão de inflação influenciou significativamente os valores medidos, enquanto a velocidade de deslocamento, para os valores do ensaio (3,0 e 6,0 km.h-1), não apresentou influência significativa.

Eumenitin, a novel antimicrobial peptide from the venom of the solitary eumenine wasp Eumenes rubronotatus

A novel antimicrobial peptide, eumenitin, was isolated from the venom of the solitary eumenine wasp Eumenes rubronotatus. The sequence of eumenitin, Leu-Asn-Leu-Lys-Gly-Ile-Phe-Lys-Lys-Val-Ala-Ser-Leu-Leu-Thr, was mostly analyzed by mass spectrometry together with Edman degradation, and corroborated by solid-phase synthesis. This peptide has characteristic features of cationic linear a-helical antimicrobial peptides, and therefore, can be predicted to adopt an amphipathic a-helix secondary structure. In fact, the CD spectra of eumenitin in the presence of TFE or SDS showed a high content of alpha-helical conformation. Eumenitin exhibited inhibitory activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and moderately stimulated degranulation from the rat peritoneal mast cells and the RBL-2H3 cells, but showed no hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. This antimicrobial peptide in the eumenine wasp venom may play a role in preventing potential infection by microorganisms during prey consumption by their larvae. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A QUANTITATIVE APPROACH TO SUBSIDIZE THE PRECAUTIONARY MANAGEMENT of THE SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES IN ITAIPU RESERVOIR, BRAZIL

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Factors affecting fish diversity and abundance in drying ponds and lagoons in the upper Paraná River basin, Brazil

Monthly samples were taken from April 1992 to March 1993 of fish assemblages present in six permanent lagoons and four ponds, fragmented from them during the drought period and during the terminal phases of desiccation, to evaluate changes in their diversity, abundance and dominance. Their relationships with hydrological and environment conditions were examined. A total of 63 fish species were identified. Species composition and abiotic factors were heterogeneous among the different water bodies. The proportion of piscivores and oxygen concentration were the determining factors for structuring the assemblages. The impact of piscivory upon fish diversity was neutral at the beginning and negative at the end of the dry season. In the terminal phase of desiccation, diversity was higher in ponds that contained a moderate proportion of piscivores than in these containing a higher proportion.

Gingival recession associated with noncarious cervical lesions: Combined periodontal-restorative approach and the treatment of long-term esthetic complications

The combined periodontalrestorative approach (that is, a connective tissue graft for root coverage and NCCL restoration with RMGI cement) has demonstrated significant root coverage and a good esthetic outcome. In some cases, though, the color of an RMGI restoration can change over time, compromising esthetics. In this situation, applying composite resin over an RMGI restoration can be a conservative approach to satisfy the patient's esthetic complaint. Long-term observation is necessary to evaluate the stability of the results and establish the success of this approach over time.

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.

Efeitos do treinamento com pesos nas funções cognitivas de idosos com doença de Alzheimer

Deterioration in cognitive functions is characteristic in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and may be associated with decline in daily living activities with consequent reduced quality of life. Objective: To analyze weight training effects on cognitive functions in elderly with AD. Subjects: 34 elderly with AD were allocated into two groups: Training Group (TG) and Social Gathering Group (SGG). Methods: Global cognitive status was determined using the Mini-Mental State Exam. Specific cognitive functions were measured using the Brief Cognitive Battery, Clock Drawing Test and Verbal Fluency Test. The protocols were performed three times a week, one hour per session. The weight training protocol consisted of three sets of 20 repetitions, with two minutes of rest between sets and exercises. The activities proposed for the SGG were not systematized and aimed at promoting social interaction among patients. The statistical analyses were performed with the U Mann Whitney and Wilcoxon tests for group comparisons. All analyses were considered statistically significant at a p-value of 0.05. Results: There were no significant differences associated to the effects of the practice of weight training on cognition in AD patients. Conclusion: In this study, no improvement in cognitive functions was evident in elderly with AD who followed a low intensity resistance exercise protocol. Thus, future studies could evaluate the effect of more intense exercise programs.

Effects of resistance training on the performance of activities of daily living in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of resistance training in activities of daily living performance in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Methods: An exploratory and longitudinal study, lasting for 16weeks, with the participation of 34 patients divided equally in: the training group (TG), who participated in a resistance training protocol (three sets of 20 repetitions in five exercises); and the social gathering group (SGG), who participated in a social interaction protocol (i.e. group dynamics, writing and reading activities). Results: We observed significant differences between the groups in moving around the house, climbing stairs, standing up from the floor and putting on socks tests. Conclusion: This study showed that resistance training improves agility, lower limb strength, balance and flexibility in AD patients, while SGG protocol is important to improve the agility. © 2012 Japan Geriatrics Society.

Análise de protocolos com intervenção motora domiciliar para pacientes com doença de Alzheimer: uma revisão sistemática

The regular practice of physical therapy is indicated as a non-pharmacological treatment of Alzheimer's disease by promoting cognitive, behavioral and functional benefits. However, little is known about the protocols with home-based motor intervention for this population. Thinking about it, this review aimed to investigate and analyze the protocols for home-based motor intervention for elderly with Alzheimer's disease described in scientific articles. A systematic search was performed in the following databases: Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus, using the following keywords and Boolean operators: home-based exercise OR home-based physical exercise OR home-based physical fitness OR home-based rehabilitation OR home-based physical therapy OR home-based physical activity OR home-based engine Intervention and AD OR Alzheimer's disease OR AlzheimerOR Alzheimer's dementia. We also conducted a manual search of reference lists of selected articles. Of the five articles that met the inclusion criteria adopted, three performed a protocol for home motor intervention, achieving good compliance with the program, improvement of general health and reduction of depressive symptoms. The other two studies were limited to describing the protocols. Although more studies are needed, with detailed protocols, this review allowed to show that protocols for home motor intervention can also produce positive effects for both patients and caregivers.

Exercise training decreases mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-3 expression and suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis in obese mice

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

Acute Aerobic Exercise Increases Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Elderly with Alzheimer's Disease

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

Comparative analysis of two techniques for detection and segmentation of moving bodies

This paper makes a comparative analysis of results produced by the application of two techniques for the detection and segmentation of bodies in motion captured in images sequence, namely: 1) technique based on the temporal average of the values of each pixel recorded in N consecutive image frames and, 2) technique based on historical values associated with pixels recorded in different frames of an image sequence.

Physical exercise and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in elderly: A systematic review

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

Effect of thermo-mechanical load cycling on silorane-based composite restorations

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