Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a cerrado landscape in São Carlos, southeastern Brazil

We studied bat assemblages in seven sampling sites in the rural zone of São Carlos, southeastern Brazil. The sampling sites were two riparian forests, two types of Brazilian savanna (cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão), a Pinus plantation, a semideciduous forest, and an open area. We sampled bats from January 2007 to December 2011 with mist nets, totalizing 100 capture nights and 38,587 m2h of capture effort. We captured 523 individual bats of 23 species belonging to three families. Sturnira lilium was the most frequently captured species and represented 40% of all captures, followed by Carollia perspicillata (17%) and Glossophaga soricina (12%). The studied heterogeneous landscape harbors a rich bat fauna compared to other studies with similar effort in well-preserved savannas

Concentração plasmática de glutamina e glutamato em ciclistas de elite durante duas temporadas de treinamentos e competições

It is well known that athletes practicing exhaustive exercise may present, at the end of a competitive season, signs of “overtraining”/”overreaching”, that comprise loss of performance and many physiological, metabolic and psychological changes. In an attempt to identify possible signs of “overreaching” we studied a group of ten professional cyclists, mass 72.1 ± 3.5 kg, VO2 máx 73.96 ± 3.7 mL.kg-1.min-1, age 23 ± 4.01 yr, for 2 consecutive competitive seasons. The maximal consumption of oxygen and blood lactate concentration, during an maximal incremental test, as a mean to evaluate changes in athletes performance, and plasma cortisol, glutamine and glutamate concentrations, as metabolic markers for “overreaching” were assessed. Blood samples were collected from the antecubital vein 9 times during the two years period, after bouts of high intensity training and competition. The maximal consumption of oxygen (74.9 ± 1.69 mL.kg-1.min-1 and 77.62 ± 3.37 mL.kg-1.min-1, beginning and the end of first season) and plasma lactate concentration did not change during the experiment, but at the end of both seasons the athletes reported early fatigue symptoms, evaluated by using Borg scale, and could not reach the same load at the end of the tests (early exhaustion). Plasma glutamine (559.8 µmo.l-1 to 531.7 µmo.l-1 in the first season and 438.7 µmo.l-1 to 393.06 µmo.l-1 in the second season) and glutamate (214 µmo.l-1 to 167.2 µmo.l-1 in the first season and 244.2 µmo.l-1 to 205.64 µmo.l-1 in the second season) concentration were reduced at the end of both seasons, and plasma cortisol (363.15 µmo.l-1 to 569.66 µmo.l-1 in the second season), increased. Therefore, we conclude that the changes in plasma glutamine, glutamate and cortisol during a competitive season could be used as an early indicative of “overreaching”.É bem descrito que atletas que praticam atividade física exaustivas podem apresentar, ao final de um macrociclo de competições, sinais de “overtraining”/”overreaching” que incluem a diminuição no desempenho e muitas mudanças fisiológicas, metabólicas e psicológicas. Na tentativa de identificar possíveis sinais do “overreaching”, nós estudamos um grupo de 10 ciclistas profissionais, peso 72,1 ± 3,5 kg, consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2 máx) 73,96 ± 3,7 mL.kg-1.min-1, idade 23 ± 4,01 anos, durante dois macrociclos anuais consecutivos. O VO2 máx e a concentração sangüínea de lactato, durante um teste incremental máximo, foram utilizados para avaliar o desempenho dos atletas e a concentração plasmática de cortisol, glutamina e glutamato, como marcadores metabólicos do “overreaching”. Durante o período de dois anos, nove amostras de sangue foram coletadas por punção venosa após os períodos de treinamento de alta intensidade e de competições. O VO² máx (74,9 ± 1,69 mL.kg-1.min-1 e 77,62 ± 3,37 mL.kg-1.min-1, respectivamente início e final do primeiro macrociclo) e a concentração plasmática de lactato não tiveram alterações durante o estudo, contudo, ao final de ambos macrociclos, os atletas apresentaram sinais de fadiga, percebidos através da escala de esforço subjetivo de Borg e pelo fato de não conseguirem suportar as mesmas cargas ao final dos testes (exaustão precoce). A concentração plasmática de glutamina (559,8 µmo.l-1 para 531,7 µmo.l-1 no primeiro macrociclo e 438,7 µmo.l-1 para 393,06 µmo.l-1 no segundo macrociclo) e do glutamato (214 µmo.l-1 para 167,2 µmo.l-1 no primeiro macrociclo e 244,2 µmo.l-1 para 205,64 µmo.l-1 no segundo macrociclo) diminuíram e a concentração plasmática de cortisol (363,15 µmo.l-1 para 569,66 µmo.l-1 no segundo macrociclo) aumentou. Com isso, nós concluímos que durante um macrociclo competitivo as mudanças na concentração plasmática de glutamina, glutamato e cortisol, podem ser utilizadas como marcadores precoces de um estágio de “overreaching”

Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a cerrado landscape in São Carlos, southeastern Brazil

We studied bat assemblages in seven sampling sites in the rural zone of São Carlos, southeastern Brazil. The sampling sites were two riparian forests, two types of Brazilian savanna (cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão), a Pinus plantation, a semideciduous forest, and an open area. We sampled bats from January 2007 to December 2011 with mist nets, totalizing 100 capture nights and 38,587 m2h of capture effort. We captured 523 individual bats of 23 species belonging to three families. Sturnira lilium was the most frequently captured species and represented 40% of all captures, followed by Carollia perspicillata (17%) and Glossophaga soricina (12%). The studied heterogeneous landscape harbors a rich bat fauna compared to other studies with similar effort in well-preserved savannas

Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a cerrado landscape in São Carlos, southeastern Brazil

We studied bat assemblages in seven sampling sites in the rural zone of São Carlos, southeastern Brazil. The sampling sites were two riparian forests, two types of Brazilian savanna (cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão), a Pinus plantation, a semideciduous forest, and an open area. We sampled bats from January 2007 to December 2011 with mist nets, totalizing 100 capture nights and 38,587 m2h of capture effort. We captured 523 individual bats of 23 species belonging to three families. Sturnira lilium was the most frequently captured species and represented 40% of all captures, followed by Carollia perspicillata (17%) and Glossophaga soricina (12%). The studied heterogeneous landscape harbors a rich bat fauna compared to other studies with similar effort in well-preserved savannas

Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in a cerrado landscape in São Carlos, southeastern Brazil

We studied bat assemblages in seven sampling sites in the rural zone of São Carlos, southeastern Brazil. The sampling sites were two riparian forests, two types of Brazilian savanna (cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão), a Pinus plantation, a semideciduous forest, and an open area. We sampled bats from January 2007 to December 2011 with mist nets, totalizing 100 capture nights and 38,587 m2h of capture effort. We captured 523 individual bats of 23 species belonging to three families. Sturnira lilium was the most frequently captured species and represented 40% of all captures, followed by Carollia perspicillata (17%) and Glossophaga soricina (12%). The studied heterogeneous landscape harbors a rich bat fauna compared to other studies with similar effort in well-preserved savannas

Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Fuel Oxidation Post HIT in Women Reproductive Age: A Pilot Study

Women of childbearing age have variations in substrate oxidation rates that can lead to overweight, type II diabetes, and other conditions that may be associated with metabolic inflexibility and the variations in estrogen concentrations observed during the monthly ovarian cycle. Purpose: This study aimed to verify and compare the influence of eight treadmill high-intensity interval training (HIT) sessions on carbohydrate and lipid oxidation rates (CHOox and LIPox, respectively) and intensities of ventilatory anaerobic thresholds (VATs) of women in different phases of the monthly ovarian cycle. Methods: Eleven irregularly active women performed incremental treadmill exercise testing followed by submaximal work-rate running for 45 min to determine VATs, VO2peak, peak velocity (Vpeak), and substrate oxidation rates, before and after a training period, in different phases of their monthly ovarian cycle (follicular phase group, FL, n = 6; luteal phase group, LT, n = 5). The training period consisted of eight HIT sessions, composed each one of eight sets of 60 s running at 100%Vpeak interspersed by 75 s recovery every 48 h. Results: Our results showed no significant differences in VATs intensities between groups. The comparison between groups showed significant differences in relative energy derived from CHO pre- and post-training of −61.42% and −59.26%, respectively, and LIP pre- and post-training of 27.46% and 34.41%, respectively. The relative energy derived from CHO after the training period was 18.89% and 25.50% higher for FL and LT, respectively; consequently, the relative energy derived from LIPox after the training period was 8,45% and 3.46% lower for FL and LT, respectively. Over the training period, Vpeak was ~13.5 km/h, which produced the relative intensities of ~89%VO2peak e ~93%HRpeak for both groups. Conclusion: The monthly ovarian cycle phases promote significant changes in substrate oxidation rates leading to a decrease in CHOox. High-intensity interval training can minimize the differences observed and constitute an alternative intervention

Respiratory Muscle Strength in Brazilian Adolescents: Impact of Body Composition

(1) Introduction: Studies on respiratory muscle strength (RMS) in adolescents are controversial. Few studies so far have investigated respiratory muscle strength in Brazilian adolescents and the impact of body composition on it. (2) Objective: to evaluate the respiratory muscle strength of Brazilian adolescents and compare this with nationally and internationally predicted normality values. (3) Method: A cross-sectional study (CAEE: 34634414.5.0000.5479) was carried out with 98 adolescents, where both sexes were divided into four groups: eutrophic (n = 44); overweight (n = 15), obese (n = 25), and severely obese (n = 14). All were submitted to an anthropometric assessment, body composition analysis and manovacuometry. To interpret the results, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Turkey’s post hoc test was used. The Kruskal–Wallis test and Friedman’s post hoc test were used to compare the observed vs. proposed results. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. (4) Results: There were no differences among the groups for maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressures. However, when considering the total sample, we could say that RMS was higher among boys, and there were no significant differences in RMS in relation to the maturational stage. The values obtained for MIP were lower than those suggested for the national equation and higher than those proposed for the international equation. Similarly, the values obtained for MEP were lower than those suggested for the national and international equation. (5) Conclusions: RMS was similar in adolescents with different body compositions and different maturation stages. Adiposity did not interfere with RMS in adolescents. Boys had higher MIP and MEP values compared to girls. Therefore, the reference values proposed by the equations do not consistently match RMS in the adolescents studied. This context reinforces the need for new studies that are related to RMS to establish normality values and propose equations that represent the youth population