Validity of the iLOAD ® app for resistance training monitoring

We would like to thank Erick Carlos da Cunha Totó for his help during data collection and Jair Barbosa of BEPid-UCB for his support from the start of this project.Background This study aimed (I) to assess the inter-rater agreement for measuring the mean velocity (MV) of the barbell with the iLOAD® app, and (II) to compare the magnitude of the MV and total work of a training session between the iLOAD® app and a linear encoder (reference method). Method Sixteen young healthy individuals (four women and 12 men) were tested in two sessions separated by 48 h. The 10 repetition maximum (RM) load was determined in the first testing session in the half squat exercise. The second testing session consisted of 3 sets of 10 repetitions during the half squat exercise performed against the 10RM load. Both the iLOAD® app and a linear encoder were used to calculate the MV and total work of each training set. MV was recorded with the iLOAD® app by two independent researchers to evaluate the inter-rater agreement. Results Trivial differences and nearly perfect correlations were observed between raters for the MV values collected under individual sets (effect size [ES] ≤ 0.02, r ≥ 0.987), as well as for the whole training session (ES = 0.01, r = 0.997). Trivial-small differences and nearly perfect correlations were observed between the iLOAD® app and the linear encoder (Chronojump, Barcelona, Spain) for MV (EV ≤ 0.25, r ≥ 0.903) and total work (ES ≤ 0.05, r ≥ 0.973). Bland-Altman plots did not reveal heteroscedasticity of the errors between the iLOAD® app and the linear encoder for MV (r2 = 0.010) and total work (r2 < 0.001). Conclusions iLOAD® is a valid smartphone app which can provide real-time feedback of the MV and total work completed in a set of multiple repetitions in the half squat exercise

Participaci?n competitiva en las subastas RER: estrategia basada en la teor?a de opciones reales

Las energ?as o recursos energ?ticos renovables (RER) son una de las alternativas para reducir la emisi?n de gases de efecto invernadero, una de las causas de los cambios clim?ticos, y al mismo tiempo, un mercado en expansi?n vigorosa en la ?ltima d?cada, relevante para la atracci?n de inversiones y la generaci?n de empleos. El principal mecanismo de promoci?n de las energ?as renovables en el Per? son las subastas, instrumentos que permiten obtener resultados eficientes a partir de la competencia entre los postores. En el Per?, la estructura de las subastas RER es similar a la estructura de una composici?n de distintas opciones de compra financieras (call options) e involucra una secuencia de decisiones similares, respecto al pago de primas para adquisici?n de derechos de decisi?n en fechas establecidas, a aquellas asociadas al citado instrumento financiero derivativo. Por ello, en esta investigaci?n se trata de establecer si se puede utilizar la teor?a de las opciones reales (TOR) para comprender la racionalidad de invertir en un proyecto con gran incertidumbre respecto del VAN, como los elaborados para participar en una subasta RER. As?, en este trabajo se eval?an las estrategias que utilizaron los postores de proyectos e?licos en la cuarta subasta RER promovida por el Gobierno peruano, y la consecuente adjudicaci?n lograda para algunos de sus proyectos. Espec?ficamente, sobre la base de las opciones reales y considerando las garant?as requeridas, se trata de inferir la estrategia utilizada por una de las empresas postoras. Se pretende ayudar a los postores y a los reguladores a utilizar la teor?a de opciones reales para formular estrategias competitivas m?s eficientes en las pr?ximas subastas RER. Los postores podr?an desarrollar estrategias para aumentar su probabilidad de adjudicaci?n a un costo de participaci?n proporcionalmente m?s bajo, y los reguladores podr?an mejorar la definici?n de las garant?as de seguridad de la oferta y de fiel cumplimiento

Imobilização de dióxido de titânio em malha de alumínio reciclado para a degradação de corante têxtil por Fotocatálise Heterogênea por Redes Neurais

In this work, aluminum net crafted (recycled) were used as TiO2 support for the treatment of textile dye Remazol golden yellow (RGY 150). The immobilization of 200mg of TiO2 was accomplished after aluminum net calcination. The following experiments were carried out in a photocatalytic bench reactor: preliminary tests, a 23 factorial experimental design with best system and the degradation kinetic in systems with TiO2 supported on aluminum net.It was observed characteristic peaks of aluminum and TiO2 (anatase and rutile) by XRD and the catalyst film formation was verified by SEM. The system UV/H2O2/TiO2 performed higher efficiency, with 99% of dye degradation in 50 minutes, followed by the system UV/H2O2/TiO2sp with 93% of dye degradation. Whereas the supported catalyst presents execution advantages and high degradation rates, the factorial design was realized for this system, displaying best degradation (100% degradation in 35 minutes). It was obtained k = 0.114 min-1 and R² = 0.994 in a pseudo-first-order model adjustment system. The use of artificial neural network was proven to be efficient to predict the degradation of a textile dye, with an absolute error of 0.0181. After treatment, there was a decrease of dye toxicity.Neste trabalho, redes de alumínio recicladas foram utilizadas como suporte de TiO2 para o tratamento do corante têxtil Remazol amarelo ouro (RGY 150). A imobilização de 100 mg de TiO2 foi realizada após calcinação do material de alumínio. Foram conduzidos em reator de bancada fotocatalítico testes preliminares, um experimento fatorial 23 com o melhor sistema e a cinética de degradação em sistemas com TiO2 suportado em rede de alumínio. Foram observados picos característicos de alumínio e TiO2 (anatase e rutilo) por DRX e a formação do filme catalítico foi verificada porMEV. O sistema UV/H2O2/TiO2 apresentou maior eficiência, com 99% de degradação do corante em 50 minutos, seguido do sistema UV/H2O2/TiO2sp com 93% de degradação do corante. Enquanto o catalisador suportado apresenta vantagens de execução e altas taxas de degradação, o planejamento fatorial foi realizado para este sistema, apresentando melhor degradação (100% de degradação em 35 minutos). Foi obtido k = 0,114 min-1 e R² = 0,994 em um sistema de ajuste de modelos de pseudo-primeira ordem. O uso da rede neural artificial mostrou-se eficiente para predizer a degradação de um corante têxtil, com erro absoluto de 0,0181. Após o tratamento, houve uma diminuição da toxicidade do corante

The Noncommutative Harmonic Oscillator based in Simplectic Representation of Galilei Group

In this work we study symplectic unitary representations for the Galilei group. As a consequence the Schr\"odinger equation is derived in phase space. The formalism is based on the non-commutative structure of the star-product, and using the group theory approach as a guide a physical consistent theory in phase space is constructed. The state is described by a quasi-probability amplitude that is in association with the Wigner function. The 3D harmonic oscillator and the noncommutative oscillator are studied in phase space as an application, and the Wigner function associated to both cases are determined.Comment: 7 pages,no figure

Steady-state modulation of voltage-gated K+ channels in rat arterial smooth muscle by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and protein phosphatase 2B

Voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv) are important regulators of membrane potential in vascular smooth muscle cells, which is integral to controlling intracellular Ca2+ concentration and regulating vascular tone. Previous work indicates that Kv channels can be modulated by receptor-driven alterations of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) activity. Here, we demonstrate that Kv channel activity is maintained by tonic activity of PKA. Whole-cell recording was used to assess the effect of manipulating PKA signalling on Kv and ATP-dependent K+ channels of rat mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells. Application of PKA inhibitors, KT5720 or H89, caused a significant inhibition of Kv currents. Tonic PKA-mediated activation of Kv appears maximal as application of isoprenaline (a β-adrenoceptor agonist) or dibutyryl-cAMP failed to enhance Kv currents. We also show that this modulation of Kv by PKA can be reversed by protein phosphatase 2B/calcineurin (PP2B). PKA-dependent inhibition of Kv by KT5720 can be abrogated by pre-treatment with the PP2B inhibitor cyclosporin A, or inclusion of a PP2B auto-inhibitory peptide in the pipette solution. Finally, we demonstrate that tonic PKA-mediated modulation of Kv requires intact caveolae. Pre-treatment of the cells with methyl-β-cyclodextrin to deplete cellular cholesterol, or adding caveolin-scaffolding domain peptide to the pipette solution to disrupt caveolae-dependent signalling each attenuated PKA-mediated modulation of the Kv current. These findings highlight a novel, caveolae-dependent, tonic modulatory role of PKA on Kv channels providing new insight into mechanisms and the potential for pharmacological manipulation of vascular tone

Purification of a lectin with antibacterial activity from Bothrops leucurus snake venom

A novel lectin was isolated from Bothrops leucurus snake venom using a combination of affinity and gel filtration chromatographies. the lectin (BIL) agglutinated glutaraldehyde-treated rabbit and human erythrocytes with preference for rabbit erythrocytes. Galactose, raffinose, lactose, fetal bovine serum and casein inhibited lectin-induced rabbit erythrocyte agglutination. BIL, with a molecular mass of 30 kDa and composed of two subunits of 15 kDa, showed dependence on calcium. BIL is an acidic protein with highest activity over the pH range of 4.0-7.0 and stable under heating to 70 degrees C. Fluorescence emission spectra showed tryptophan residues partially buried within the lectin structure. the percentages of secondary structure revealed by circular dichroism were 1% alpha-helix, 44% beta-sheet, 24% beta-turn and 31% unordered. BIL showed effective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Bacillus subtilis with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 31.25, 62.25 and 125 mu g/mL, respectively. in conclusion, B. leucurus snake venom contains a galactoside-binding lectin with antibacterial activity. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ Fed Pernambuco, Dept Bioquim, BR-50670420 Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Fed Bahia, Dept Zool, BR-40170210 Salvador, BA, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, Dept Zool, BR-50670420 Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Estadual Oeste Parana, Ctr Engn & Ciencias Exatas, BR-85903000 Toledo, Parana, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc