Higher screen time is associated with overweight, poor dietary habits and physical inactivity in Brazilian adolescents, mainly among girls

To analyse the associations between high screen time and overweight, poor dietary habits and physical activity in adolescents according to sex. The study comprised 515 boys and 716 girls aged 14-17 years from Londrina, Brazil. Nutritional status (normal weight or overweight/obese) was assessed by calculating the body mass index. Eating habits and time spent in physical activity were reported using a questionnaire. The measurement of screen time considered the time spent watching television, using a computer and playing video games during a normal week. Associations between high screen time and dependent variables (nutritional status, eating habits and physical activity levels) were assessed by binary logistic regression, adjusted for sociodemographic and lifestyle variables. Most adolescents (93.8% of boys and 87.2% of girls) spent more than 2 hours per day in screen-time activities. After adjustments, an increasing trend in the prevalence of overweight and physical inactivity with increasing time spent on screen activities was observed for both sexes. Screen times of >4 hours/day compared with <2 hours/day were associated with physical inactivity, low consumption of vegetables and high consumption of sweets only in girls and the consumption of soft drinks in both sexes. The frequency of overweight and physical inactivity increased with increasing screen time in a trending manner and independently of the main confounders. The relationship between high screen time and poor eating habits was particularly relevant for adolescent girls.

Reduction in cytoplasmic lipid content in bovine embryos cultured in vitro with linoleic acid in semi-defined medium is correlated with increases in cryotolerance

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

Atributos químicos e físicos de um argissolo cultivado com Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. IPR-86 Milênio, sob lotação rotacionada e adubado com nitrogênio

A avaliação dos atributos químicos e físicos do solo é necessária em estudos que exploram intensivamente os sistemas de pastejo. No presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar as variações nos atributos físicos e químicos de um Argissolo cultivado com capim-milênio, sob pastejo, no intervalo compreendido entre outubro/2001 e maio/2002, no quinto ano de aplicação sucessiva das seguintes doses de N: 0, 150, 300 e 450 kg ha-1. Após os cinco anos de aplicação de 450 kg ha-1 de N, o teor de MO aumentou em 5 g dm-3, o que resultou em aumento da CTC. No período de outubro/2001 a maio/2002 houve diminuição nos valores de pH e de V com a aplicação de N. A densidade do solo variou pouco com a adubação nitrogenada; a percentagem de microporos aumentou e a de macroporos diminuiu na camada de 0-5 cm com o aumento das doses de N, mas a porosidade total permaneceu constante; e a resistência à penetração, quando o solo apresentava 90 g kg-1 de água, não foi afetada pelas doses de N e não foi restritiva ao crescimento das plantas.

Automação do fornecimento de ração para organismos aquáticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Características qualitativas da carne de frango de corte proveniente de diferentes sistemas de produção

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Uso da cromatografia gasosa para avaliação da difusão em membrana de Polietileno de Alta Densidade (pead) em contato com hidrocarboneto

The constant petrol fuel leak in gas stations has caused concern in many countries around the world. Those fuels have toxic organic compounds in their composition, like Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), which are harmful to the human health. In this work the efficiency of the protection layer with a High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) membrane of 2.5 mm thickness was evaluated. The study was based in the diffusive process in the intact membrane by a permeameter developed to evaluate the diffusive process. The membrane was putted in the middle of the system to separate two sides: a local soil impregnated with diesel oil (in one side) and pure water (in the other side). The chromatography technique was conducted to evaluate the contamination in the pure water. The analyses were made monthly in a total period of 6 months of research. The results tests show that the membrane was less effective to antracene and naphthalene compounds. Despite that, the results showed that the HDPE membrane is a good alternative to prevent contamination of water and soil by the compounds under study up to one year, based on the performance in the time of study.

Monitoramento e avaliação de processos erosivos marginais em reservatórios de usinas hidrelétricas por meio de varredura a laser

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fibra, metabolismo ácido-básico e balanço de macroelementos em gatos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

O fitoplâncton como discriminador ambiental dos reservatórios do Sistema Cantareira (SP)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais - Sorocaba

O fitoplâncton como discriminador ambiental dos reservatórios do Sistema Cantareira (SP)

Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais - Sorocaba

Characterization of a Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) - derived chitinase and its potential for pest control

The larval endoparasitoid Toxoneuron nigriceps (Viereck) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) has a toolbox of biological weapons to secure for host colonization and the successful parasitization of its host Heliothis virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The cDNA of a putative chitinase has been previously isolated and initially characterized from teratocytes of this parasitoid among the plethora of molecules available in the venom and calyx fluids injected by females, oral and/or anal secretions released by the parasitoid larvae and/or produced by the expression of genes of the symbiotic associated polydnavirus. This putative chitinase has been initially associated with the host cuticle digestion to allow for parasitoid egression and with the asepsis of the host environment, acting as an antimicrobial. As chitinases are commonly expressed in plants against plant pathogens, the chitinase derived from the teratocytes of T. nigriceps is a potential tool for the development of insect pest control methods based on the disruption of the perithrophic membrane of herbivores. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the activity of the putative chitinase from teratocytes of T. nigriceps (Tnchi) produced using the Escherichia coli expression system and its potential to control H. virescens larvae when expressed into transgenic tobacco plants. The purified E. coli-produced Tnchi protein showed no chitinolitic activity, but was active in binding with colloidal and crystalline chitins in water and with colloidal chitin in buffered solution (pH = 6.74). Transgenic tobacco plants showed no enhanced chitinolitic activity relative to control plants, but survival of three-day old larvae of H. virescens was severely affected when directly fed on transgenic tobacco leaves expressing the recombinant Tnchi protein. Some properties of the Tnchi protein and the potential use of Tnchi-transgenic plants to control plant pests are discussed. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Hydration and anomalous solubility of the Bell-Lavis model as solvent

We address the investigation of the solvation properties of the minimal orientational model for water originally proposed by [Bell and Lavis, J. Phys. A 3, 568 (1970)]. The model presents two liquid phases separated by a critical line. The difference between the two phases is the presence of structure in the liquid of lower density, described through the orientational order of particles. We have considered the effect of a small concentration of inert solute on the solvent thermodynamic phases. Solute stabilizes the structure of solvent by the organization of solvent particles around solute particles at low temperatures. Thus, even at very high densities, the solution presents clusters of structured water particles surrounding solute inert particles, in a region in which pure solvent would be free of structure. Solute intercalates with solvent, a feature which has been suggested by experimental and atomistic simulation data. Examination of solute solubility has yielded a minimum in that property, which may be associated with the minimum found for noble gases. We have obtained a line of minimum solubility (TmS) across the phase diagram, accompanying the line of maximum density. This coincidence is easily explained for noninteracting solute and it is in agreement with earlier results in the literature. We give a simple argument which suggests that interacting solute would dislocate TmS to higher temperatures.

Time-related effects of general functional training in spinal cord-injured rats

OBJECTIVES: This prospective, randomized, experimental study with rats aimed to investigate the influence of general treatment strategies on the motor recovery of Wistar rats with moderate contusive spinal cord injury. METHODS: A total of 51 Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: control, maze, ramp, runway, and sham (laminectomy only). The rats underwent spinal cord injury at the T9-T10 levels using the NYU-Impactor. Each group was trained for 12 minutes twice a week for two weeks before and five weeks after the spinal cord injury, except for the control group. Functional motor recovery was assessed with the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan Scale on the first postoperative day and then once a week for five weeks. The animals were euthanized, and the spinal cords were collected for histological analysis. RESULTS: Ramp and maze groups showed an earlier and greater functional improvement effect than the control and runway groups. However, over time, unexpectedly, all of the groups showed similar effects as the control group, with spontaneous recovery. There were no histological differences in the injured area between the trained and control groups. CONCLUSION: Short-term benefits can be associated with a specific training regime; however, the same training was ineffective at maintaining superior long-term recovery. These results might support new considerations before hospital discharge of patients with spinal cord injuries.

Changes in the intermediate water mass formation rates in the global ocean for the Last Glacial Maximum, mid-Holocene and pre-industrial climates

The paleoclimate version of the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Climate System Model version 3 (NCAR-CCSM3) is used to analyze changes in the water formation rates in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), mid-Holocene (MH) and pre-industrial (PI) control climate. During the MH, CCSM3 exhibits a north-south asymmetric response of intermediate water subduction changes in the Atlantic Ocean, with a reduction of 2 Sv in the North Atlantic and an increase of 2 Sv in the South Atlantic relative to PI. During the LGM, there is increased formation of intermediate water and a more stagnant deep ocean in the North Pacific. The production of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) is significantly weakened. The NADW is replaced in large extent by enhanced Antarctic Intermediate Water (AAIW), Glacial North Atlantic Intermediate Water (GNAIW), and also by an intensified of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), with the latter being a response to the enhanced salinity and ice formation around Antarctica. Most of the LGM intermediate/mode water is formed at 27.4 &lt; sigma(theta) &lt; 29.0 kg/m(3), while for the MH and PI most of the subduction transport occurs at 26.5 &lt; sigma(theta) &lt; 27.4 kg/m(3). The simulated LGM Southern Hemisphere winds are more intense by 0.2-0.4 dyne/cm(2). Consequently, increased Ekman transport drives the production of intermediate water (low salinity) at a larger rate and at higher densities when compared to the other climatic periods.

A Note on Large Deviations for the Stable Marriage of Poisson and Lebesgue with Random Appetites

Let IaS,a"e (d) be a set of centers chosen according to a Poisson point process in a"e (d) . Let psi be an allocation of a"e (d) to I in the sense of the Gale-Shapley marriage problem, with the additional feature that every center xi aI has an appetite given by a nonnegative random variable alpha. Generalizing some previous results, we study large deviations for the distance of a typical point xaa"e (d) to its center psi(x)aI, subject to some restrictions on the moments of alpha.