Resistance exercise leading to failure versus not to failure : effects on cardiovascular control

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acute effects of resistance exercise (RE) leading to failure and RE that was not to failure on 24 h blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability (HRV) in sedentary normotensive adult women. Methods: Ten women (33.2 ± 5.8 years; 159.3 ± 9.4 cm; 58.0 ±6.4 kg; body fat 28.4 ± 2.8%) randomly underwent three experimental sessions: control (40 minutes of seated rest), RE leading to failure with 3 sets of 10 repetitions maximum (10-RM), and RE not to failure at 60% of 10-RM with 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Immediately post session BP and HRV were measured for 24 h. Results: Ratings of perceived exertion and heart rate were higher during the 10-RM session when compared with 60% of 10-RM (6.4 ± 0.5 vs 3.5 ± 0.8 and 123.7 ± 13.9 vs 104.5 ± 7.3 bpm, respectively). The systolic, diastolic and mean BP decreased at 07:00 a.m. after the 10-RM session when compared with the control session (−9.0 ± 7.8 mmHg, -16.0 ± 12.9 mmHg and −14.3 ± 11.2 mmHg, respectively). The root mean square of the squared differences between R-R intervals decreased after both the 60% of 10-RM and 10-RM sessions compared with the control session. Conclusions: An acute RE session leading to failure induced a higher drop of BP upon awakening, while both RE sessions reduced cardiac parasympathetic modulation. RE may be an interesting training strategy to acutely decrease BP in adult women

Exploring challenges in Giardia cyst visualisation by common microscopy methods

Giardia spp. is an intestinal parasite responsible for worldwide disease outbreaks. Guiding researchers and practitioners to choose among current methods for microscopy detection of the infectious forms may be directly beneficial to public health and the environment. This study provides an overall comparison of brightfield (BF), fluorescence and darkfield (DF) microscopies for detecting Giardia duodenalis and Giardia muris cysts, by illustrating micrographs of such protocols applied to purified samples, as well as discussing advantages and constraints based on secondary information and collected data. BF analysis included Lugol's iodine staining. In fluorescence microscopy, samples were processed by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with DAPI and by standalone DAPI dye. Cyst suspensions were also analysed by DF microscopy using a recently developed low-cost system. The three techniques enabled detecting Giardia spp. cysts, although they did not provide species identification by morphology. The overview of each method points out some relevant aspects to consider when selecting common optical microscopy techniques, and includes challenges and advantages regarding each of them. HIGHLIGHTS Comparisons of BF, DF, standalone DAPI and IFA-combined are provided.; BF and DF may be alternatives for low-cost detection of Giardia cysts.; Combinations of at least two diagnostic methods are recommended to minimise inherent errors.

Prevalência de flebites em pacientes adultos com cateter venoso periférico

Objective: To determine the prevalence of phlebitis and its association with sociodemographic characteristics and related to the peripheral venous catheter in adults admitted in a university hospital. Method: A cross-sectional study with a sample of 231 patients with peripheral venous access. Results: The prevalence of phlebitis was 24.7%, with higher concentration in grade 2 with 35.1%. Considering the degree, it was found statistically significant (p = 0.006) of Grade 1 phlebitis (92.3%) and 2 (65.0%) with a time of catheter 72 hours and phlebitis grade 3 (63.6 %) and Grade 4 (69.2%) had spent more than 72 hours. Conclusion: High prevalence of phlebitis in patients is worrying. Discussing these references with the nursing staff, establish indicators of the prevalence of phlebitis can be an important strategy for monitoring nursing care/healthObjetivo: verificar la prevalencia de flebitis y su asociación con características sociodemográficas y relacionados con el catéter venoso periférico en adultos internados en un hospital universitario. MÉTODO: Estudio transversal con una muestra de 231 pacientes con el acceso venoso periférico. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de flebitis fue el 24,7%, con una mayor concentración en el grado 2, con el 35,1%. Considerando el grado, se encontró estadística significativa (p = 0,006) de flebitis grado 1 (92,3%) y 2 (65,0%) con tiempo de permanencia del catéter hasta 72 horas y de flebitis grado 3(63,6 %) y grado 4 (69,2%) con tiempo de permanencia más que 72horas. CONSIDERACIONES FINALES: La alta prevalencia de flebitis en los pacientes estudiados es preocupante. Discutir estas referencias con el equipo de enfermería, establecer indicadores de prevalencia de flebitis puede ser una estrategia importante para la monitorización de los cuidados de enfermería / salud.Objetivo: verificar a prevalência de flebite e sua associação com aspectos sociodemográficos e relacionados ao cateter venoso periférico, em adultos internados em um hospital universitário. Método: estudo transversal, com uma amostra de 231 pacientes com acesso venoso periférico. Resultados: a prevalência de flebites foi de 24,7%, com maior concentração no grau 2 com 35,1%. Considerando o grau, encontrou-se estatística significativa (p=0,006) da flebite Grau 1 (92,3%) e 2 (65,0%) com tempo de permanência do cateter até 72 horas e da flebite Grau 3 (63,6%) e Grau 4 (69,2%) com tempo de permanência superior a 72 horas. Considerações finais: a alta prevalência de flebites nos pacientes estudados é preocupante. Discutir estes referenciais com a equipe de enfermagem, instituir indicadores de prevalência de flebites pode ser uma estratégia importante de acompanhamento da assistência de enfermagem/saúde

Parâmetros técnicos do processo de secagem de pimentão (Capsicum annuum L.) / Technical parameters of the bell pepper drying process (Capsicum annuum L.)

 O pimentão é um fruto muito consumido no Brasil e no mundo sendo encontrado em diferentes cores e destaca-se por ser uma fonte rica em vitamina C e sais minerais. Em temperatura ambiente conserva-se por pouco tempo fazendo-se necessário sua imediata conservação. A desidratação de alimentos destaca-se pela influência nos aspectos técnicos e econômicos. Este trabalho objetivou-se determinar as características físico-químicas e de secagem do pimentão. A matéria-prima foi adquirida no mercado local na cidade de Montes Claros. Foi lavada e higienizada em seguida branqueada a 100° C por 15 minutos. As análises físico-químicas foram conduzidas conforme as Normas Analíticas do Instituto Adolfo Lutz. A secagem foi realizada utilizando um secador de bandeja na temperatura de ar de secagem de 65ºC. A análise da cor foi feita utilizando um colorímetro. Os resultados evidenciaram que para atingir teor de umidade adimensional de 0,1 correspondentes a um teor de umidade de 9,36% em base úmida, são necessárias 6 horas na temperatura de ar de secagem de 65º C. Verifica-se que na secagem o pimentão sofre alteração da cor do produto de 7,89 (ΔE). Conclui-se que o modelo polinomial de terceiro grau ajustou-se bem aos dados experimentais da curva de secagem do pimentão desidratado e que o processo de secagem influencia na perda da cor. O pimentão após desidratado sofre ligeira modificação em suas características físico-químicas

Habitat specialization and phylogenetic structure of tree species in a coastal Brazilian white-sand forest

Aims The coastal Brazilian rainforest on white-sand (restinga) ranks among the most fragmented forest types in the tropics, owing to both the patchy distribution of sandy soils and widespread coastal development activities. Here we study the environmental and evolutionary determinants of a forest tree assemblage at a single restinga forest in Southeastern Brazil. We also explore the ability of competing hypotheses to explain the maintenance of species diversity in this forest type, which includes contrasting extremes of edaphic conditions associated with flooding stress. Methods The study was conducted in a white-sand forest permanent plot of 10.24 ha on the coastal plain of Southeastern Brazil. This plot was divided into 256 quadrats of 20×20 m, which were classified into two main edaphic habitats (flooded and drained). Trees with a diameter ≥1cm at breast height were identified. We assembled DNA sequence data for each of the 116 morphospecies recognized using two chloroplast markers (rbcL and matK). A phylogenetic tree was obtained using the maximum likelihood method, and a phylogenetic distance matrix was produced from an ultrametric tree. We analyzed similarity in floristic composition and structure between habitats and related them to cross-plot distances using permutation procedures. Null model torus shift simulations were performed to obtain a statistical significance level for habitat association for each species. The phylogenetic structure for the two habitats and for each 20×20 m quadrat was calculated using the mean phylogenetic distance weighted by species abundance and checked for significance using the standardized effect size generated by 5000 randomizations of phylogenetic tip labels. Important Findings Our results indicate that partitioning among edaphic habitats is important for explaining species distributions and coexistence in restinga forests. Species distributions within the plot were found to be non-random: there was greater floristic similarity within than between habitats, and >40% of the more abundant species were positively or negatively associated with at least one habitat. Patterns of habitat association were not independent of phylogenetic relatedness: the community was overdispersed with respect to space and habitat type. Closely related species tended to occur in different habitats, while neighboring trees tended to belong to more distantly related species. We conclude that habitat specialization is important for the coexistence of species in restinga forests and that habitat heterogeneity is therefore an essential factor in explaining the maintenance of diversity of this unique but fragile and threatened type of forest. © 2014 The Author

Insulin does not stimulate β-alanine transport into human skeletal muscle

To test whether high circulating insulin concentrations influence the transport of β-alanine into skeletal muscle at either saturating or subsaturating β-alanine concentrations, we conducted two experiments whereby β-alanine and insulin concentrations were controlled. In experiment 1, 12 men received supraphysiological amounts of β-alanine intravenously (0.11 g·kg−1·min−1 for 150 min), with or without insulin infusion. β-Alanine and carnosine were measured in muscle before and 30 min after infusion. Blood samples were taken throughout the infusion protocol for plasma insulin and β-alanine analyses. β-Alanine content in 24-h urine was assessed. In experiment 2, six men ingested typical doses of β-alanine (10 mg/kg) before insulin infusion or no infusion. β-Alanine was assessed in muscle before and 120 min following ingestion. In experiment 1, no differences between conditions were shown for plasma β-alanine, muscle β-alanine, muscle carnosine and urinary β-alanine concentrations (all P > 0.05). In experiment 2, no differences between conditions were shown for plasma β-alanine or muscle β-alanine concentrations (all P > 0.05). Hyperinsulinemia did not increase β-alanine uptake by skeletal muscle cells, neither when substrate concentrations exceed the Vmax of β-alanine transporter TauT nor when it was below saturation. These results suggest that increasing insulin concentration is not necessary to maximize β-alanine transport into muscle following β-alanine intake

Obesidade na atualidade: abordagem das principais consequências a longo prazo

Introdução: A obesidade é uma doença de etiologia multifatorial, se apresentando como uma das mais prevalentes síndromes do mundo. Tal condição pode ser definida como excesso de gordura corporal, mensurada pelo IMC. A moléstia pode apresentar diversas repercussões negativas no bem-estar do indivíduo, como doenças metabólicas e cardiovasculares, além de prejuízos sociais e psicológicos. Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão narrativa acerca das principais consequências da obesidade a longo prazo. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa com buscas na Scielo, Pubmed e Lilacs, no período de 2012 a 2022, utilizando os termos chave: “obesidade”, “consequências”, “evolução médica”, “obesity” e “consequences”. Resultados: Foram selecionados 10 artigos no total, sendo 4 na Scielo, 4 no Pubmed e 2 na Lilacs, por corresponderem ao objetivo do trabalho. Discussão: A principal consequência da obesidade se apresenta nos distúrbios metabólicos, com destaque para a Diabetes tipo 2, devido ao aumento da inflamação e, portanto, da resistência à insulina. Outros impactos repercutem na osteoartrite, diversos tipos de câncer, doença renal crônica e condições que podem levar a pessoa acometida a óbito. Indivíduos obesos estão vulneráveis a questões sociais, como isolamento e discriminação e podem, portanto, desenvolver doenças psicológicas. Conclusão: Conclui-se que a obesidade deve ser tratada de forma multidisciplinar, sugerindo novos estudos relacionados aos prejuízos laborais sofridos pelos trabalhadores obesos

Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above 4×10184{\times}10^{18} eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory

A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding $4{\times}10^{18}$ eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers with zenith angles greater than $60^{\circ}$ detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above $5.3{\times}10^{18}$ eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law $E^{-\gamma}$ with index $\gamma=2.70 \pm 0.02 \,\text{(stat)} \pm 0.1\,\text{(sys)}$ followed by a smooth suppression region. For the energy ($E_\text{s}$) at which the spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence of suppression, we find $E_\text{s}=(5.12\pm0.25\,\text{(stat)}^{+1.0}_{-1.2}\,\text{(sys)}){\times}10^{19}$ eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO

Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30 to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components. The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy -- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO