DAWRS: A Differential - Algebraic System Solver by the Waveform Relaxation Method

We investigate the concurrent solution of low-index differential-algebraic equations (DAE’s) by the waveform relaxation (WR) method, an iterative method for system integration. We present our new simulation code, DAWRS (Differential - Algebraic - Waveform Relaxation Solver), to solve DAE’s on parallel machines using the WR methods, and describe new techniques to improve the convergence of such methods. As experimental results, we demonstrate the achievable concurrent performance to solve DAE’s for a class of applications in chemical engineering

Diversidade de mamíferos em fragmentos florestais urbanos na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Cachoeira, Joinville, SC

Na mata atlântica, reduzida a cerca de 12% de sua cobertura original, é inevitável que a riqueza mastofaunística esteja pressionada pelas atividades antrópicas. A Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Cachoeira, inserida na malha urbana, possui fragmentos de floresta ainda pouco conhecidos em relação à sua diversidade. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a ocorrência de mamíferos nos fragmentos florestais urbanos da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Cachoeira. A amostragem foi realizada em cinco fragmentos de floresta ombrófila densa, combinando diversos métodos: armadilhas de contenção viva, armadilhas fotográficas, redes de neblina, transecções para procura de vestígios, entrevistas e revisão na literatura. Foram registradas 32 espécies de 13 famílias e sete ordens, sendo duas espécies exóticas. Três espécies foram registradas nos cinco sítios: Dasypus novemcinctus, Carollia perspicillata e Canis familiaris. Cinco espécies foram registradas em quatro sítios: Didelphis aurita, Artibeus lituratus, Nasua nasua, Procyon cancrivorus e Dasyprocta azarae. Catorze espécies foram registradas somente em um dos cinco sítios. Do total de espécies, 56,3% são onívoras. A diversidade nos sítios não está relacionada ao tamanho dos fragmentos. Sugerem-se programas de monitoramento, controle de espécies exóticas, construção de corredores, enriquecimento e translocações

Influence of daily beer or ethanol consumption on physical fitness in response to a high-intensity interval training program. The BEER-HIIT study

The authors would like to thank all the participants that took part of the study for their time and effort. We are grateful to Ms. Ana Yara PostigoFuentes for her assistance with the English language. This study is part of Cristina Molina-Hidalgo’s Doctoral Thesis conducted in the Official Doctoral Programme in Psychology of the University of Granada, Spain.Background: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is an effective approach to improve physical fitness, but consuming beer, which is a regular practice in many physically active individuals, may interfere with these effects. The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of a 10-week (2 days/week) HIIT program on cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and power parameters, and also to assess the possible influence on them of a moderate consumption of beer (at least from Monday to Friday) or its alcohol equivalent. Methods: Young (24 ± 6 years old) healthy adults (n = 73, 35 females) were allocated to five groups. Four groups participated in the HIIT intervention program while the fifth group was a control Non-Training group (n = 15). Participants in the training groups chose whether they preferred receiving alcohol or alcohol-free beverages. Those choosing alcohol were randomized to either beer or ethanol intake: (i) T-Beer group (alcohol beer, 5.4%; n = 13) or (ii) T-Ethanol (sparkling water with vodka, 5.4%; n = 14). Those choosing alcohol-free intake were randomized to (iii) T-Water group (sparkling water, 0.0%; n = 16), or (iv) T-0.0Beer group (alcohol-free beer, 0.0%; n = 15). Men ingested 330 ml of the beverage at lunch and 330 ml at dinner; women ingested 330 ml at dinner. Before and after the intervention, maximal oxygen uptake in absolute and relative terms (VO2max.), maximal heart rate, total test duration, hand grip strength and four types of vertical jumps were measured. Results: HIIT induced significant improvements in absolute and relative values of VO2max, and total test duration (all p < 0.05) in all the training groups; also, clinical improvements were found in hand grip strength. These positive effects were not influenced by the regular intake of beer or alcohol. No changes in the vertical jumps occurred in any of the groups. Conclusions: A moderate beer or alcohol intake does not mitigate the positive effect of a 10-week HIIT on physical fitness in young healthy adults. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03660579. Registered 20 September 2018. Retrospectively registered.Centro de Informacion Cerveza y Salud (CICS), Madrid, SpainSpanish Government FPU14/04172 FPU15/0396