Association between functional fitness and overweight in elderly women

The purpose of this study was to verify the association between functional fitness (FF) and excessive fatness (EF) in aged women. Three hundred ninety four women, averaged 69.4 years of age (DP = 3.4 years), participated in the study. FF was measured by means of a battery of motor tests. EF was determined by corporal mass and height measurements. FF was compared with AAHPERD normative values. Chi-square test (p < .05) was applied in order to verify an association between FF and EF. EF prevalence was 46.5% and there was an association (p < .05) between the index of functional aptitude (IAFG) and EF. Among those with EF, 87.8% presented a weak IAFG. EF was associated with a 5.07 (IC 95% = 3.12 – 7.14) times greater chance of lower FF. Results point to the conclusion that morphologic condition (EF) needs to be considered in evaluating FF in aged women

Validation of spallation neutron production and propagation within Geant4

Using simulations to understand backgrounds from muon-induced neutrons is important in designing next-generation low-background underground experiments. Validation of relevant physics within the Geant4 simulation package has been completed by comparing to data from two recent experiments. Verification focused on the production and propagation of neutrons at energies important to underground experiments. Discrepancies were observed between experimental data and the simulation. Techniques were explored to correct for these discrepancies.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 5 tables, submitted to NIM A. 6 Aug 200

Crack path simulation for cylindrical contact under fretting conditions

In this work different strategies to estimate crack path for cylindrical contacts under fretting conditions are carried out. The main goal is to propose and to evaluate methodologies not only to estimate the direction of crack initiation but also the subsequent propagation in its earlier stages, where the stress field is multiaxial, non-proportional and decays very fast due to the proximity with the contact interface. Such complex conditions pose a substantial challenge to the modelling of crack path. The numerical simulations are provided by a 2D Finite Element Analysis taking into account interactions between the crack faces. The results show that, under fretting conditions, models based on the critical plane method are not effective to estimate the crack initiation orientation, while models based on a so called “critical direction” applied along a critical distance provide better results. Regarding the subsequent crack propagation orientation, it was possible to see that stress intensity factor based models where one considers an infinitesimal virtual crack emerging from an original preexistent crack are powerful mechanisms of crack orientation estimatio

Metabolic profile and histopathology of kidneys and liver of lambs fed silages of forages adapted to a semi-arid environment

Thirty-two mixed-breed ram lambs (average age, 5.6 ± 0.4 months, and average live weight, 17.61 ± 2.63 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of diets containing silages of forages adapted to a semi-arid environment on the metabolic profile in serum and the histopathological assessment of liver and kidney tissues of the lambs. Lambs were allocated, in a completely randomised design, to four treatments (silage of old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lind), buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and ‘pornunça’ (Manihot sp.). The feedlot period was 49 days, and animals were slaughtered at an average weight of 27 ± 4.6 kg. On the last day of the experiment, blood was collected from the jugular vein of all animals to measure the protein, metabolic and energy profiles of the lambs. At slaughter, kidney and liver samples were collected for histopathological examination. The consuming of the diet containing buffelgrass silage resulted in a significantly higher activity of alanine-aminotransferase (30.14 IU/L) and the concentrations of urea (44.25 mg/dL), creatinine (0.94 mg/dL) and albumin (4.48 g/dL) in serum. Diets containing gliricidia silage resulted in significantly higher gamma-glutamyl transferase activity (92.0 IU/L), while the diets with pornunça silage resulted in higher serum levels of triglycerides (37.85 mg/dL). The diets had no effect on aspartate-aminotransferase enzyme activity and total protein, cholesterol and globulin concentrations, or the albumin : globulin ratio in serum. Mild congestion, necrosis and foci of mineralisation were observed in the kidneys of animals fed diets containing old man saltbush (50%) and pornunça (25%) silages, and mild fatty degeneration and mild mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in their livers. In conclusion, diets containing silages of forages that are adapted to semi-arid environments may be used for feeding lambs, given the absence of dysfunctioning plasmatic levels of liver enzymes and energy and protein profiles. Additionally, kidney failure was not observed in lambs fed these diets during the feedlot period.Keywords: blood parameters, buffelgrass, gliricidia, old man saltbush, pornunç

Characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components of lambs fed diets containing silages of forages adapted to the semi-arid environment

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets containing silages of forages that are adapted to the semi-arid environment on the characteristics of the carcass and of non-carcass components of 32 mixed-breed lambs at approximately six months old, with an average live weight of 17.61 ± 2.63 kg. Lambs were assigned to four treatments (diets containing silages of Atriplex nummularia Lind, Cenchrus ciliaris, Gliricidia sepium and Manihot sp.) in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. Animals fed the diet containing old man saltbush showed higher values for the intakes of dry matter (1.080 g/day), crude protein (190 g/day) and total digestible nutrients (740 g/day), body condition score (2.81 points), fatness (2.87 points), carcass conformation (3.19 points), live weight (29.1 kg), empty bodyweight (23.41 kg), weights of the commercial cuts neck, shoulder and ribs (0.46, 0.82 and 1.12 kg, respectively), and skin weight (1.972 kg). No differences were found between the diets for carcass dressing percentage, external and internal carcass lengths, leg length and circumference, rump circumference and width, chest width and depth, full bodyweight, empty bodyweight, cooling losses, pH before and after cooling, loin, and leg. Silages of old man saltbush, buffelgrass, gliricidia and pornunça are recommended for inclusion in lamb diets. Diets with old man saltbush silage provide the best results for characteristics of the carcass and of non-carcass components besides weight gain, which can reach up to 200 g/day depending on the formulation.Keywords: Carcass composition, feedlot, saltbush, shee

Specific heat of quasi-2D antiferromagnetic Heisenberg models with varying inter-planar couplings

We have used the stochastic series expansion (SSE) quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) method to study the three-dimensional (3D) antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on cubic lattices with in-plane coupling J and varying inter-plane coupling J_perp < J. The specific heat curves exhibit a 3D ordering peak as well as a broad maximum arising from short-range 2D order. For J_perp << J, there is a clear separation of the two peaks. In the simulations, the contributions to the total specific heat from the ordering across and within the layers can be separated, and this enables us to study in detail the 3D peak around T_c (which otherwise typically is dominated by statistical noise). We find that the peak height decreases with decreasing J_perp, becoming nearly linear below J_perp = 0.2J. The relevance of these results to the lack of observed specific heat anomaly at the ordering transition of some quasi-2D antiferromagnets is discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

The receptor AT1 appears to be important for the maintenance of bone mass and AT2 receptor function in periodontal bone loss appears to be regulated by AT1 receptor

A large number of experimental studies has demonstrated that angiotensin II (Ang II) is involved in key events of the inflammatory process. This study aimed to evaluate the role of Ang II type 1 (AT1) and Ang II type 2 (AT2) receptors on periodontitis. Methods: Experimental periodontitis was induced by placing a 5.0 nylon thread ligature around the second upper left molar of AT1 mice, no-ligature or ligature (AT1-NL and AT1-L), AT2 (AT2-NL or AT2-L) and wild type (WT-NL or L). Alveolar bone loss was scanned using Micro-CT. Cytokines, peptides and enzymes were analyzed from gingival tissues by Elisa and RT-PCR. Results: The blockade of AT1 receptor resulted in bone loss, even in healthy animals. Ang II receptor blockades did not prevent linear bone loss. Ang II and Ang 1-7 levels were significantly increased in the AT2-L (p < 0.01) group compared to AT2-NL and AT1-L. The genic expression of the Mas receptor was significantly increased in WT-L and AT2-L compared to (WT-NL and AT2-NL, respectively) and in AT1-L. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the receptor AT1 appears to be important for the maintenance of bone mass. AT2 receptor molecular function in periodontitis appears to be regulated by AT1

Masters of the manipulator: two new hypocrealean genera, Niveomyces (Cordycipitaceae) and Torrubiellomyces (Ophiocordycipitaceae), parasitic on the zombie ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani

During surveys in central Florida of the zombie-ant fungus Ophiocordyceps camponoti-floridani, which manipulates the behavior of the carpenter ant Camponotus floridanus, two distinct fungal morphotypes were discovered associated with and purportedly parasitic on O. camponoti-floridani. Based on a combination of unique morphology, ecology and phylogenetic placement, we discovered that these morphotypes comprise two novel lineages of fungi. Here, we propose two new genera, Niveomyces and Torrubiellomyces, each including a single species within the families Cordycipitaceae and Ophiocordycipitaceae, respectively. We generated de novo draft genomes for both new species and performed morphological and multi-loci phylogenetic analyses. The macromorphology and incidence of both new species, Niveomyces coronatus and Torrubiellomyces zombiae, suggest that these fungi are mycoparasites since their growth is observed exclusively on O. camponoti-floridani mycelium, stalks and ascomata, causing evident degradation of their fungal hosts. This work provides a starting point for more studies into fungal interactions between mycopathogens and entomopathogens, which have the potential to contribute towards efforts to battle the global rise of plant and animal mycoses

Selection among and within half-sib families in "Dentado Composto" maize variety for resistance to S. frugiperda and H. zea. ll cycle.

Estudou-se a obtenção de parâmetros genéticos para alguns caracteres de planta e espiga de milho (Zea mays L.) cv. Composto Dentado. O material é do segundo ciclo de seleção entre e dentro de famílias de meios-irmãos. Avaliaram-se 400 progénies num delineamento de látice simples 10 x 10 com uma repetição por local: Caruaru e S. Bento do Una, PE. Os experimentos não receberam tratamentos fitossanitários, e foram isolados das áreas que receberam tratamentos com inseticidas, utilizando-se infestações naturais. Foram coletados os dados para: altura da planta (AP) e da espiga (AE), número de espigas por planta (NE) e de espigas mal empalhadas (NEME), danos causados por H. zea (HZ) e S. frugiperda (SF), e produção de grãos (PG). As estimativas de variância genética aditiva foram altas (P < 0,05) para AP, AE e PG, e baixas para os demais caracteres. Tendo em vista os baixos valores encontrados para a variabilidade genética concernentes aos caracteres HZ e SF, é necessário um controle ambiental mais eficiente nas avaliações das progénies.The obtention of genetic parameters was studied for some characters of plant and ear of maize (Zea mays L.) cv. Composto Dentado. The material came from the second cicle of selection inter and intra families of half-sibs. Four hundred progenies were evaluated in a 10 x 10 simple lattice design, with one replicate for each place: Caruaru and São Bento do Una, PE, Brazil. The experiments did not receive phytosanitary treatments. They were isolated from the areas that received insecticide applications and lhe natural infestation was used. Data were colected for: plant height (PH), ear height (EH), number of ears per plant (NE), number of ear with loosed husk (NELH), S.frugiperda damage (SFD), H. Zea damage (HZD) and grain yield (GY). The variance analysis showed significance (P < 0.01) for all characters studied except for SFD. The estimate values for the additive genetic variance were high for PH, EH and GY and low for Lhe other characters. Considering the low values found for genetic variability concerning the characters HZ and SF, an environmental control more efficient ia the progenie evaluations is needed