(In)Consistencies in responses to sodium bicarbonate supplementation: a randomised, repeated measures, counterbalanced and double-blind study

Objectives: Intervention studies do not account for high within-individual variation potentially compromising the magnitude of an effect. Repeat administration of a treatment allows quantification of individual responses and determination of the consistency of responses. We determined the consistency of metabolic and exercise responses following repeated administration of sodium bicarbonate (SB). Design and Methods: 15 physically active males (age 25 ± 4 y; body mass 76.0 ± 7.3 kg; height 1.77 ± 0.05 m) completed six cycling capacity tests at 110% of maximum power output (CCT 110% ) following ingestion of either 0.3 g.kg -1 BM of SB (4 trials) or placebo (PL, 2 trials). Blood pH, bicarbonate, base excess and lactate were determined at baseline, pre-exercise, post-exercise and 5-min post-exercise. Total work done (TWD) was recorded as the exercise outcome. Results: SB supplementation increased blood pH, bicarbonate and base excess prior to every trial (all p ≤0.001); absolute changes in pH, bicarbonate and base excess from baseline to pre-exercise were similar in all SB trials (all p > 0.05). Blood lactate was elevated following exercise in all trials (p ≤ 0.001), and was higher in some, but not all, SB trials compared to PL. TWD was not significantly improved with SB vs. PL in any trial (SB1: +3.6%; SB2 +0.3%; SB3: +2.1%; SB4: +6.7%; all p > 0.05), although magnitude-based inferences suggested a 93% likely improvement in SB4. Individual analysis showed ten participants improved in at least one SB trial above the normal variation of the test although five improved in none. Conclusions: The mechanism for improved exercise with SB was consistently in place prior to exercise, although this only resulted in a likely improvement in one trial. SB does not consistently improve high intensity cycling capacity, with results suggesting that caution should be taken when interpreting the results from single trials as to the efficacy of SB supplementation. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0247462

Entropic Entanglement Criteria for Continuous Variables

We derive several entanglement criteria for bipartite continuous variable quantum systems based on the Shannon entropy. These criteria are more sensitive than those involving only second-order moments, and are equivalent to well-known variance product tests in the case of Gaussian states. Furthermore, they involve only a pair of quadrature measurements, and will thus should prove extremely useful the experimental identification of entanglement.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Relationships and events: towards a general theory of reification and truthmaking.

We propose a novel ontological analysis of relations and relationships based on a re-visitation of a classic problem in the practice of knowledge repre- sentation and conceptual modeling, namely relationship reification. Our idea is that a relation holds in virtue of a relationship's existence. Relationships are therefore truthmakers of relations. In this paper we present a general theory or reification and truthmaking, and discuss the interplay between events and rela- tionships, suggesting that relationships are the focus of events, which emerge from the context (the scene) they occur in

Bioecologia e controle da mosca-das-frutas sul-americana.

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Vestígios da antiga sofística em Jacques Derrida

Na escrita de Jacques Derrida existem nuanças de um savoir faire que foi atribuído pela tradição filosófica à antiga sofística. Pretendo mostrar alguns aspectos onde Derrida parece retomar operações de linguagem que são características da primeira sofística, que será representada aqui por perspectivas de Górgias Leontino e Alcidamante de Eléia. Essa tradição sofística, principiada com Górgias, acreditava que as linguagens eram como phármaka [drogas] para o espírito. O texto parte de uma leitura de Derrida sobre o feminino, para analisar passagens onde Derrida maneja a linguagem de modo similar a que Górgias usou para deslocar alguns alicerces da antiga ontologia eleática.This paper aims to analyze the role of sociability within the Schopenhauer's conception of wisdom of life. Schopenhauer considered that, in view of a wise and happy life, the most advisable way is the renunciation of social life. However, in his acquired character conception, central to his eudemonologia, the sociability is one element that helps in enhancing the self-knowledge through a “trade [the individual] with the world”. The paper presents some concepts that can be considered and placements front of this apparent paradox, as the idea of non-radical of wisdom of life and the moral of the notion of “as if” (Als-Ob)

Flavonoids and other compounds from Ouratea ferruginea (Ochnaceae) as anticancer and chemopreventive agents.

The chemical study of the extracts from leaves and stems of Ouratea ferruginea allowed the identification of a new isoflavone, 5-hydroxy-7,3′4′5′-tetramethoxyisoflavone, and twenty two known compounds, including friedelin, 3β-friedelinol, lupeone, a mixture of sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol, sitosteryl- and stigmasteryl-3-O-b-D-glucopyranosides, 5,4′-dihydroxy-7,5′,3′-trimethoxyisoflavone, 5,4′-dihydroxy-7,3′-di-methoxyisoflavone (7,3′-di-O-methylorobol), 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxyisoflavone (piscigenin), 2R,3R-epicatechin, syringic acid, 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone, 2,6-dimethoxyhydroquinone, syringic and ferulic aldehyde, a mixture of vanillic acid, 1-hydroxy-2-methoxy-4-(1E-3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-benzene and 3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-dihydrocinamaldehyde, besides amenthoflavone and 7-O-methylamenthoflavone (sequoiaflavone) which are considered as chemotaxonomic markers of Ouratea. The structures were identified by IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR and GC-MS, HPLC-MS, besides comparison with literature data. The inhibitory effects of 5,4′-dihydroxy-7,5′,3′-trimethoxyisoflavone, 7,3′-di-O-methylorobol, piscigenin and 7-O-methylamenthoflavone on cytochrome P450-dependent 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were evaluated in vitro. The 5,4′-dihydroxy-7,5′,3′-trimethoxy-isoflavone was the best inhibitor, inhibiting almost 75% of GST activity. Sequoiaflavone was the most potent inhibitor, inhibiting ECOD assay in 75%. These activities allow us to consider both these flavonoids as potential anticancer and chemopreventive agents

Identification of the nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-kB) in cortical of mice Wistar using Technovit 7200 VCR

Objective: this study aimed to develop a nondecalcified bone sample processing technique enabling immunohistochemical labeling of proteins by kappa-beta nuclear factor (NF-kB) utilizing the Technovit 7200 VCR® in adult male Wistar rats. Study Method: A 1.8 mm diameter defect was performed 0.5mm from the femur proximal joint by means of a round bur. Experimental groups were divided according to fixing solution prior to histologic processing: Group 1- ethanol 70%; Group 2-10% buffered formalin; and Group 3- Glycerol diluted in 70% ethanol at a 70/30 ratio + 10% buffered formalin. The post-surgical periods ranged from 01 to 24 hours. Control groups included a nonsurgical procedure group (NSPG) and surgical procedures where bone exposure was performed (SPBE) without drilling. Prostate carcinoma was the positive control (PC) and samples subjected to incomplete immunohistochemistry protocol were the negative control (NC). Following euthanization, all samples were kept at 4o C for 7 days, and were dehydrated in a series of alcohols at -20o C. The polymer embedding procedure was performed at ethanol/polymer ratios of 70%-30%, 50%-50%, 30%-70%, 100%, and 100% for 72 hours at -20o C. Polymerization followed the manufacturer?s recommendation. The samples were grounded and polished to 10-15?m thickness, and were deacrylated. The sections were rehydrated and were submitted to the primary polyclonal antibody antiNF-kB on a 1:75 dilution for 12 hours at room temperature. Results: Microscopy showed that the Group 2 presented positive reaction to NF-kB, diffuse reactions for NSPG and SPBE, and no reaction for the NC group. Conclusion: The results obtained support the feasibility of the developed immunohistochemistry technique

Comprehensive Overview on HVDC Converter Transformer Design: Additional Discussions to the IEC/IEEE 60076-57-129 Standard

HVDC has been chosen as an economical and technical solution for power transmission through long distances, asynchronous interconnections and long submarine cables crossing. Despite DC transmission benefits to power systems, the converters non-linearity produces undesirable effects to the converter transformer in service, mainly listed in the technical standard IEC/IEEE 60076-57-129. However, additional discussions and complementary information can be found in a plurality of references, which are brought in the article under a comprehensive overview perspective. Some design solutions deal with these effects increasing the technical margins, which have direct influence on manufacturing costs and transformer reliability and availability levels. This article goes through the main topics pointed by the standard and the references, investigating their consequences in the converter transformer operation, in order to provide a comprehensive tutorial on design solutions and considerations to deal with those undesirable effects