Estudo eletromiografico dos musculos biceps femoral (cabeça longa), semitendineo e semimembranaceo na contração isometrica voluntaria maxima em 30, 60 e 90 graus de flexão da perna, com e sem o uso de bandagem funcional

Orientador : Fausto BerzinTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi o de verificar o efeito de uma técnica de bandagem funcional, na atividade elétrica e força dos Mm. bíceps femoral (Cabeça longa), semitendíneo e semimembranáceo, no membro inferior direito (membro dominante) de 12 voluntárias, sem histórias de distúrbios osteoarticulares e/ou musculares da região do joelho, com faixa etária variando de 21 a 26 anos (X = 23,08 ::I:: 2,24) e índice de massa corpórea no padrão da normalidade. A coleta dos sinais eletromiográficos foi realizada durante a contração isométrica voluntária máxima em 30, 60 e 90 graus de flexão da perna, de três maneiras: sem bandagem, com a bandagem aplicada na forma proposta por KAZEMI (1997), e com a bandagem frouxa. A técnica consistiu na colocação de bandagem rígida de 5 cm (Smith+Nephew@), a partir da aplicação de uma "almofada" feita com mousse de proteção na região medial posterior da coxa, no ponto médio entre o sulco infraglúteo e o eletrodo de superfície do M. semitendíneo. A bandagem era então fixada, tracionada lateralmente e para baixo, fixando-a no sentido transversal, de modo a promover uma força centrípeta em toda a circunferência da coxa. Os sinais foram captados por um módulo condicionador de sinais com conversão analógica-digital. A aquisição e o armazenamento dos dados em arquivo, se deram por meio do aplicativo AqDados@, versão 4.18 para MS-DOS (Lynx@). O software utilizado para o processamento e análise dos dados foi o Matlab@ (versão 5.0). Para a análise estatística dos dados utilizou-se o sistema computacional Statistical Analysis System. Estudou-se a suposição de normalidade dos dados através do teste de Shapiro- Wilk e como os conjuntos de dados experimentais para todas as variáveis consideradas não apresentaram evidências estatísticas para aceitar a suposição de normalidade, analisou-se cada uma das variáveis através do teste não-paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis. Para todas as análises de variância considerou-se o nível crítico de 5% (p<o, 05). As variáveis analisadas foram a densidade espectral de potência e a envoltória não normalizada com base nos diferentes músculos, angulações e tratamentos aplicados. Diante dos resultados obtidos conclui-se que: O recrutamento de unidades motoras em 30° e 60° de flexão da perna foi maior no M. semimembranáceo em comparação ao M. semitendíneo e dos dois em relação ao M. bíceps femoral (Cabeça longa); a bandagem foi efetiva no aumento dos valores da amplitude do sinal eletromiográfico em relação ao tempo (envoltória não normalizada) do M. bíceps femoral em 90° de flexão da perna, em comparação à condição da bandagem frouxa e sem a bandagem; o M. semimembranáceo, na situação sem bandagem, apresentou valores para a envoltória não normalizada menores à medida em que o ângulo de flexão da perna aumentou sendo a bandagem efetiva aos 60° e 90°, visto que os valores foram maiores nestas angulações; a bandagem foi eficaz e a bandagem frouxa promoveu efeito placebo positivo nos valores da envoltória não normalizada do M. semitendíneo em comparação com a situação sem bandagem; a bandagem produz melhores resultados em situações de menor alavanca dos segmentos envolvidos; a bandagem frouxa teve efeito placebo positivo nos músculos estudados nos ângulos de flexão da perna que estes tendem a apresentar menor atividade; a força dos músculos flexores é maior na medida em que a angulação de flexão da perna é menor e estes estão mais distendidos; a bandagem foi eficaz e a bandagem frouxa teve efeito placebo positivo no aumento da força dos músculos nos ângulos de 60° e 90° de flexão da pernaAbstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a functional bandage technique on the electric activity and strength of the biceps femoris (long head), semitendinous and semimembranosus, of the right lower member (dominant limb) of 12 volunteers without any previous injuries ofthe knee, aged between 21 the 26 years old (23,08 X =::1:: 2,24) and body mass index within the standard normality. The electromyographic signs were collected during the maximum voluntary isometric contraction at 30, 60 and 90 degrees of knee flexion, in three ways: without bandage, with the bandage applied in the form proposed by KAZEMI (1997), and with the loose bandage. The technique consisted to apply a rigid bandage with 5 cm width (Smith+Nephew@), from the application of a little cushion made with mousse of protection in the posterior medial region of the thigh, in the average point between the infragluteous wrinkie and the surface electrode of the semitendinous muscle. The bandage was then fixed, pulled laterally and down, fixing it in the transversal direction, in order to promote a centripetal force in all the circumference of the thigh. The signs were registered by a conditioning module of signs with analog-digital conversion. The acquisition and storage of the data in the file were done by means of the applicatory AqDados@, version 4.18 for MS-dos (Lynx@). The software used for the processing and analysis of the data was the Matlab@ (version 5.0). The computational system Statistical Analysis System was used for the statistical analysis of the data. The supposition of normality of the data was studied through the Shapiro- Wilk test. Since the sets of experimental data for all the considered variables did not show statistical evidences supporting the normality assumption, each variable was analyzed through the non-parametric Kruskal- Wallis testo The critical level of 5% was considered (p<0,05) for all the variance analyses. The analyzed variables were the spectral density of strength and the non-normalized covering on the basis of the different muscles, angles and applied treatments. Based on the results obtained it can be concluded that: the recruitment of the motor units at 30° and 60° of knee flexion was bigger in the semimembranosus muscle as compared to the semitendinous muscle, and in both as compared to the biceps femoris (long head) muscle; the bandage was effective in the increase of the values of the amplitude of electromyographic sign in relation to the time (non normalized covering) of the biceps femoris at 90° of knee flexion, as compared to the condition of the loose bandage and without the bandage; the semimembranosus muscle in the situation without any bandage showed values for the non-normalized covering gradually smaller as the angle of the flexion of the leg increased, the bandage being effective at 60° and 90°, since the values were bigger at these angles; the bandage was effective and the loose bandage had positive placebo effect for the values of non-normalized covering of the semitendinous muscle in comparison to the situation without bandage; the bandage produces better results in situations of smaller lever of the segments involved; the loose bandage had positive placebo effect on the studied muscles in angles of the flexion of the leg that these muscles tend to show less activity; the force of the flexor muscles is bigger as the angle of the flexion of the leg is smaller and these muscles are more distended; the bandage was effective and the loose bandage had positive placebo effect in increase the muscle strength at 60° e 90° of the flexion of the legDoutoradoDoutor em Biologia Buco-Denta

Efeito do Deca Durabolin no crescimento e desenvolvimento cranio-visceral de filhotes machos de ratas tratadas no inicio da gestação

Orientador: Decio TeixeiraDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: o presente trabalho foi realizado com a finalidade de verificar as eventuais alterações, no crescimento e desenvolvimento crânio-visceral, em filhotes ratos machos, oriundos de mães tratadas com Deca Durabolin em diferentes doses no início da gestação, e observar possíveis efeitos iatrogênicos nas mães. Foram utilizados 120 ratos machos (Rattus. norvegicus. albinus, Wistar), divididos em três grupos. de acordo com o tratamento administrado na mãe. Çrupo Controle: formado por 40 filhotes cujas mães receberam dose única de soro fisiológico Lm., assim que constatada a gravidez ( no 60 dia, após 5 dias de esfregaço vaginal com permanência na fase metaestro do ciclo estral). Grupo Dose Terapêutica: formado por 40 filhotes em cujas mães foi administrada dose única de Deca Durabolin Lm., na concentração de 0,71 mg/kg de peso corporal, logo após a constatação da gravidez, à semelhança do grupo anterior. Grupo Dose Excessiva: formado por 40.filhotes machos cujas mães receberam dose única de Deca Durabolin, também no 60 dia de gravidez, na concentração de 28,4 mglkg de peso corporal. As ninhadas foram padronizadas em número de 8. Os filhotes foram alimentados com leite materno, com ração balanceada padrão e água "ad libitum". Os animais foram redistribuídos em 4 sub-grupos de 10 e sacrificados respectivamente aos 10, 15, 45 e 90 dias de idade. Após a dissecção dos crânios, foram realizadas medidas do comprimento total, altura, largura, comprimento da base e comprimento da face. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à Análise de Variância e aplicado o teste de T ukey para comparação das médias duas a duas. A análise dos dados evidenciou que o Deca Durabolin teve efeito no crescimento do crânio de filhotes sacrificados aos 10 dias de idade, quando administrado na rata no início da gestação. Aos 15 e 45 dias, a diferença em relação ao grupo controle pratkê1rnente não existiu, provavelmente mascarada pela secreção de testosterona que ocorre neste período. Aos 90 dias foi significativa a diferença dos grupos tratados em relação ao grupo controle o que sugere que o Deca Durabolin, em dose excessiva, teve efeito no fechamento prematuro epifisiário ósseo, quando comparado ao grupo dose terapêutica. Constatou-se o efeito abortivo do Deca Durabolin quando administrado na gestação pelo alto índice observado: 39% no grupo dose terapêutica e 53% no grupo dose excessivaAbstract: The present work was performed aiming at checking eventual alterations during cranium-visceral grouth and development in male mice youngs born from females treated with Deca Durabolin in different doses during the beginning of pregnancy, as well as detecting possible iatrogenic effeCtS on females. 120 male mice were tested (Rattus, norvegicus, albinus, Wistar), divided into three groups, according to the treatmeot administered to the female. Control group: comprised of 40 youngs which mothers received only one dose of Lm. physiological serum as soon as pregnancy was evidenced (in the 6th day of pregnancy, after 5 days of vaginal smear with permanence of metestrus phase of the estrus cycle). Therapeutical dose group: comprised of 40 youngs which mothers it was administered only dose of Lm. Deca Durabolin in the concentration of 0,71 mg/kg of body weight, as soon as pregnancy was evidenced, in the likeness of the previous group. Overdose group: comprised of 40 male.youngs which mothers it was administered only one dose of Deca Durabolin also in the 6th day of pregnancy, in the concentration of28,4mglkg ofb'odyweight. The nides were standardized in number of8. The youngs were fed with mother's milk, standard balanced food and water "ad libitum". The animais were redistributed in 4 sub-groups of 10 and sacrified at the age of 10, 15,45 and 90 days, respectively. After dissection of the craniums, the totallength, height, width, basis length and face length were measured, beyond they were heavy individually. The results obtained were submitted to analysis of variance and the T ukey test was applied for. comparison of averages two by two. The data analysis proved the Deca Durabolin had effect on the cranium gr;outh of the 10 day old sacrified youngs when administered to the female mouse in the beginning of pregnancy. At the 15th and 45th day of life, the difference in comparison with the control group practically does not exist, probably hiden by the secretion of testosterone which occurs in that period. At the 90th day of life, the difference of the treated groups comparing to the control group was significant that suggests that the Deca Durabolin in overdose had effect on the premature closure of epiphysis when compared to the therapeutical group. Abortive effect of the Deca Durabolin was noted when administered during gestation due to the high levei presented: 39% in the therapeutical dose group and 53% in the overdose grouMestradoFisiologia e Biofisica do Sistema EstomatognaticoMestre em Ciência

Seismic characterization of reservoirs with variable fracture spacing by double focusing Gaussian beams

Fractured reservoirs account for a majority of the oil production worldwide and often have low recovery rate. Fracture characterization is important in building reservoir flow models for enhanced oil recovery. Information about fracture orientation, fracture spacing, and fracture compliances is essential. When a fracture network consisting of multiple sets of fractures with variable fracture spacing/orientation is present, we have to determine the spatial information about them as this may represent important connectivity information for fluid flow. We present a seismic method that can achieve the above goals in the context of seismic scattering, when the fracture spacing is on the order of half of the wavelength. The method is based measuring the beam interference pattern for two Gaussian beams focused on a fractured reservoir location, one beam from the sources and the other from the receivers. Numerical examples show that our method can provide spatially dependent information on fracture parameters.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory (Founding Members Program

Categorizing natural disaster damage assessment using satellite-based geospatial techniques

Remote sensing of a natural disaster&apos;s damage offers an exciting backup and/or alternative to traditional means of on-site damage assessment. Although necessary for complete assessment of damage areas, ground-based damage surveys conducted in the aftermath of natural hazard passage can sometimes be potentially complicated due to on-site difficulties (e.g., interaction with various authorities and emergency services) and hazards (e.g., downed power lines, gas lines, etc.), the need for rapid mobilization (particularly for remote locations), and the increasing cost of rapid physical transportation of manpower and equipment. Satellite image analysis, because of its global ubiquity, its ability for repeated independent analysis, and, as we demonstrate here, its ability to verify on-site damage assessment provides an interesting new perspective and investigative aide to researchers. Using one of the strongest tornado events in US history, the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma City Tornado, as a case example, we digitized the tornado damage path and co-registered the damage path using pre- and post-Landsat Thematic Mapper image data to perform a damage assessment. We employed several geospatial approaches, specifically the Getis index, Geary&apos;s &lt;i&gt;C&lt;/i&gt;, and two lacunarity approaches to categorize damage characteristics according to the original Fujita tornado damage scale (F-scale). Our results indicate strong relationships between spatial indices computed within a local window and tornado F-scale damage categories identified through the ground survey. Consequently, linear regression models, even incorporating just a single band, appear effective in identifying F-scale damage categories using satellite imagery. This study demonstrates that satellite-based geospatial techniques can effectively add spatial perspectives to natural disaster damages, and in particular for this case study, tornado damages

World Meteorological Organization Assessment of the Purported World Record 58°C Temperature Extreme at El Azizia, Libya (13 September 1922)

On 13 September 1922, a temperature of 58°C (136.4°F) was purportedly recorded at El Azizia (approximately 40 km south-southwest of Tripoli) in what is now modern-day Libya. That temperature record of 58°C has been cited by numerous world-record sources as the highest recorded temperature for the planet. During 2010–11, a World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission of Climatology (CCl) special international panel of meteorological experts conducted an in-depth investigation of this record temperature for the WMO World Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes (http://wmo.asu.edu/). This committee identified five major concerns with the 1922 El Azizia temperature extreme record, specifically 1) potentially problematical instrumentation, 2) a probable new and inexperienced observer at the time of observation, 3) unrepresentative microclimate of the observation site, 4) poor correspondence of the extreme to other locations, and 5) poor comparison to subsequent temperature values recorded at the site. Based on these concerns, the WMO World Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes rejected this temperature extreme of 58°C as the highest temperature officially recorded on the planet. The WMO assessment is that the highest recorded surface temperature of 56.7°C (134°F) was measured on 10 July 1913 at Greenland Ranch (Death Valley), California

Rpgrip1 is required for rod outer segment development and ciliary protein trafficking in zebrafish

The authors would like to thank the Royal Society of London, the National Eye Research Centre, the Visual Research Trust, Fight for Sight, the W.H. Ross Foundation, the Rosetrees Trust, and the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity for supporting this work. This work was also supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this research (Research Project) grant number ‘RGP – VPP – 219’.Mutations in the RPGR-interacting protein 1 (RPGRIP1) gene cause recessive Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), juvenile retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and cone-rod dystrophy. RPGRIP1 interacts with other retinal disease-causing proteins and has been proposed to have a role in ciliary protein transport; however, its function remains elusive. Here, we describe a new zebrafish model carrying a nonsense mutation in the rpgrip1 gene. Rpgrip1homozygous mutants do not form rod outer segments and display mislocalization of rhodopsin, suggesting a role for RPGRIP1 in rhodopsin-bearing vesicle trafficking. Furthermore, Rab8, the key regulator of rhodopsin ciliary trafficking, was mislocalized in photoreceptor cells of rpgrip1 mutants. The degeneration of rod cells is early onset, followed by the death of cone cells. These phenotypes are similar to that observed in LCA and juvenile RP patients. Our data indicate RPGRIP1 is necessary for rod outer segment development through regulating ciliary protein trafficking. The rpgrip1 mutant zebrafish may provide a platform for developing therapeutic treatments for RP patients.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Antagonism between Gdf6a and retinoic acid pathways controls timing of retinal neurogenesis and growth of the eye in zebrafish.

Maintaining neurogenesis in growing tissues requires a tight balance between progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation. In the zebrafish retina, neuronal differentiation proceeds in two stages with embryonic retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) of the central retina accounting for the first rounds of differentiation, and stem cells from the ciliary marginal zone (CMZ) being responsible for late neurogenesis and growth of the eye. In this study, we analyse two mutants with small eyes that display defects during both early and late phases of retinal neurogenesis. These mutants carry lesions in gdf6a, a gene encoding a BMP family member previously implicated in dorsoventral patterning of the eye. We show that gdf6a mutant eyes exhibit expanded retinoic acid (RA) signalling and demonstrate that exogenous activation of this pathway in wild-type eyes inhibits retinal growth, generating small eyes with a reduced CMZ and fewer proliferating progenitors, similar to gdf6a mutants. We provide evidence that RA regulates the timing of RPC differentiation by promoting cell cycle exit. Furthermore, reducing RA signalling in gdf6a mutants re-establishes appropriate timing of embryonic retinal neurogenesis and restores putative stem and progenitor cell populations in the CMZ. Together, our results support a model in which dorsally expressed gdf6a limits RA pathway activity to control the transition from proliferation to differentiation in the growing eye

WMO Assessment of Weather and Climate Mortality Extremes: Lightning, Tropical Cyclones, Tornadoes, and Hail

A World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Commission for Climatology international panel was convened to examine and assess the available evidence associated with five weather-related mortality extremes: 1) lightning (indirect), 2) lightning (direct), 3) tropical cyclones, 4) tornadoes, and 5) hail. After recommending for acceptance of only events after 1873 (the formation of the predecessor of the WMO), the committee evaluated and accepted the following mortality extremes: 1) “highest mortality (indirect strike) associated with lightning” as the 469 people killed in a lightning-caused oil tank fire in Dronka, Egypt, on 2 November 1994; 2) “highest mortality directly associated with a single lightning flash” as the lightning flash that killed 21 people in a hut in Manica Tribal Trust Lands, Zimbabwe (at time of incident, eastern Rhodesia), on 23 December 1975; 3) “highest mortality associated with a tropical cyclone” as the Bangladesh (at time of incident, East Pakistan) cyclone of 12–13 November 1970 with an estimated death toll of 300 000 people; 4) “highest mortality associated with a tornado” as the 26 April 1989 tornado that destroyed the Manikganj district, Bangladesh, with an estimated death toll of 1300 individuals; and 5) “highest mortality associated with a hailstorm” as the storm occurring near Moradabad, India, on 30 April 1888 that killed 246 people. These mortality extremes serve to further atmospheric science by giving baseline mortality values for comparison to future weather-related catastrophes and also allow for adjudication of new meteorological information as it becomes available

Spillover Effects of Studying with Immigrant Students; A Quantile Regression Approach

Abstract: We analyze how the share of immigrant children in the classroom aects the educational attainment of native Dutch children in terms of their language and math performance at the end of primary school. Our paper studies the spill-over effects at different parts of the test score distribution of native Dutch students using a quantile regression approach. We fi nd no evidence of negative spillover effects of the classroom presence of immigrant children at the median of the test score distribution. In addition, there is no indication that these spill-over effects are present at other parts of the distribution.

Abrogation of Stem Loop Binding Protein (Slbp) function leads to a failure of cells to transition from proliferation to differentiation, retinal coloboma and midline axon guidance deficits

Through forward genetic screening for mutations affecting visual system development, we identified prominent coloboma and cell-autonomous retinal neuron differentiation, lamination and retinal axon projection defects in eisspalte (ele) mutant zebrafish. Additional axonal deficits were present, most notably at midline axon commissures. Genetic mapping and cloning of the ele mutation showed that the affected gene is slbp, which encodes a conserved RNA stem-loop binding protein involved in replication dependent histone mRNA metabolism. Cells throughout the central nervous system remained in the cell cycle in ele mutant embryos at stages when, and locations where, post-mitotic cells have differentiated in wild-type siblings. Indeed, RNAseq analysis showed down-regulation of many genes associated with neuronal differentiation. This was coincident with changes in the levels and spatial localisation of expression of various genes implicated, for instance, in axon guidance, that likely underlie specific ele phenotypes. These results suggest that many of the cell and tissue specific phenotypes in ele mutant embryos are secondary to altered expression of modules of developmental regulatory genes that characterise, or promote transitions in, cell state and require the correct function of Slbp-dependent histone and chromatin regulatory genes