Motor coordination of children: construction of centiles charts with LMS method by Cole and Green

The purposes of this study were 1) to construct reference values to KTK test battery; 2) to compare Vouzela childrens motor coordination with those from other Portuguese sites and international references; 3) to present pseudo-velocity curves for each KTK test. The sample comprises 811 children aged six to 11 years. Motor coordination was assessed with the four tests of the KTK Battery. Centile charts were constructed using the LMS method implemented in LMSchartmarker Pro software. Pervasive interindividual differences were noted in all coordination tests. Mean values of Vouzela childrens motor coordination were lower than German and Belgian samples. 50th percentile was similar among Vouzela, Peruvian and Azorean samples. Pseudo-velocity curves suggested a marked specificity to each test and sex, as well as decreasing of the coordinative gains per year.Os propósitos do estudo foram: 1) apresentar valores de referência percentílica às quatro provas da bateria de testes KTK; 2) comparar o desempenho coordenativo entre crianças vouzelenses e de outros estudos do país e exterior; e 3) apresentar pseudo-curvas de velocidade para cada prova. Foram avaliadas 811 crianças com idades entre os seis e os 10 anos. O desempenho coordenativo foi estimado por meio da bateria KTK. Cartas percentílicas e pseudo-curvas de velocidade foram construídas com base no método LMS, implementado no "software" LMSchartmarker Pro versão 2.54. Os valores de referência percentílicas expressam forte variabilidade interindividual do desempenho coordenativo. Em geral, os valores médios vouzelenses são inferiores aos belgas e alemães. O comportamento do percentil 50 das quatro provas do KTK é similar entre Vouzela, Peru e Açores. As pseudo-curvas de velocidade sugerem especificidade em cada prova e sexo, bem como diminuição dos ganhos coordenativos ao longo da idade

Ganhos genéticos para caracteres de raiz em populações de cenoura nos sistemas orgânico e convencional de produção

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar os ganhos genéticos para caracteres de raiz em populações de cenoura cultivadas nos sistemas orgânico e convencional. Os experimentos foram conduzidos na Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília (DF). Duas populações de cenoura derivadas da cultivar Brasília e de origem comum até 2002, foram subdivididas em duas populações, avaliadas e selecionadas, por oito gerações consecutivas, nos verões de 2000 a 2007. Em 2008, amostras de sementes das populações, provenientes de cada ciclo de seleção, foram semeadas em campo e conduzidas sob manejo orgânico e convencional de produção, em delineamento de blocos casualizados com nove tratamentos, quatro repetições e parcelas de 1 m². Aos 90 dias após a semeadura, 20 raízes por parcela foram colhidas para a avaliação dos caracteres comprimento, diâmetro do xilema e do floema; comprimento da extensão do ombro verde; massa fresca; presença de halo; formato de ponta e de ombro e coloração do xilema e floema. Foi realizada análise de variância com determinação da interação entre tratamentos e sistemas de produção, agrupamento de médias entre os tratamentos, e calculados os ganhos reais com a seleção. Pôde-se verificar que nos oito anos de seleção não houve ganhos significativos para os caracteres estudados nas duas populações. Com isso, conclui-se que os caracteres avaliados já se encontram fixados nas duas populações estudadas. Verificou-se que a seleção não precisa ser realizada nos dois sistemas de cultivo, orgânico e convencional, possibilitando diminuição de recursos financeiros e de mão-de-obra empregados no melhoramento.The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic gain with the selection of root characters of carrot populations cultivated in organic and conventional production systems. The experiments were carried out at Embrapa Hortaliças, Brasília, Brazil. Two carrot populations derived from Brasília cultivar and with common origin until 2002, were separate in two populations and evaluated for eight generations during 2000 to 2007. In 2008, seed samples of the population in each cycle of selection were sowed in the field in both organic and conventional production systems, in a randomized blocks design with four replications of nine treatments and plots of 1 m². After 90 days of sowing, 20 roots per plot were harvested for the evaluation of the length, xylem and phloem diameter, green shoulder length, fresh mass, presence of halo, tip and shoulder format, and the color parameters of xylem and phloem. Variance analysis was carried out to determine the interaction between treatments and production systems, grouping of means among treatments, and the real gain with the selection was estimated. In the last eight years of selection, a significant gain was not observed on the studied characters in the two populations. So we concluded that those traits are already quite developed and stabilized in both populations. The selection doesn't need to be accomplished in both areas of organic and conventional cultivation, making possible the decrease of financial and labor resources utilized in the breeding

Cardiovascular risk and physical activity practice in children and adolescents of Muzambinho/MG: influence of gender and age

INTRODUÇÃO E OBJETIVO: A doença cardiovascular inicia na infância e está atrelada à presença de fatores de risco cardiovascular (FRC). A prevalência desses fatores varia em diferentes populações brasileiras, tendo sido estudada principalmente em cidades de médio e grande porte. Este estudo avaliou a prevalência dos FRC e da prática de atividade física (AF) em crianças e adolescentes de Muzambinho, uma cidade de pequeno porte. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 205 sujeitos (entre sete e 18 anos - 108 do gênero masculino). Foram medidos: peso, estatura, glicemia, colesterolemia, pressão arterial (PA) e prática de AF. As comparações foram realizadas pelo teste do Qui-quadrado. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de sobrepeso foi de 19% e de valores alterados de PA, glicemia e colesterolemia foram de, respectivamente, 11, 5 e 15%. Não houve diferença na prevalência dos FRC entre os sexos. O tabagismo, o alcoolismo, a PA alterada e a insuficiência de AF aumentaram com a idade. Setenta e nove por cento dos sujeitos praticavam AF de locomoção, 10% ocupacional, 97% nas aulas de educação física, 72% no recreio e 90% de lazer. Noventa e dois por cento foram considerados ativos. A prática de AF ocupacional foi maior nas meninas e aumentou nos meninos com a idade. A prevalência de AF de lazer e recreio diminuiu com a idade nos dois sexos. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de FRC, exceto do sedentarismo, foi expressiva, não diferiu entre os sexos e aumentou com a idade. A prática de AF de todos os tipos foi alta, diferenciou-se entre os sexos e diminuiu com a idade.INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular disease begins at infancy and it has been linked to the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF). Prevalence of these factors varies a lot among different Brazilian populations and has been mostly studied in big and medium size cities. Thus, this study assessed the prevalence of CRF and physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents from Muzambinho, a small city in the state of Minas Gerais. METHODS: 205 subjects (7 to 18 years - 108 males) were studied. Body weight and height, glycemia, cholesterolemia, blood pressure (BP), and PA were measured. Comparisons were made by Qui-square test. RESULTS: Obesity and altered values of BP, glycemia, and cholesterolemia were found, respectively, in 19, 11, 5 and 15% of the subjects. There was no difference between genders, while the prevalence of smokers, drinkers, altered BP, and inactivity increased with age. Seventy-nine percent of the subjects practiced community PA; 10% occupational PA; 97% physical education classes; 72% PA during school recess; and 90% leisure time PA. Ninety-two percent of them were active. Occupational PA was higher in girls, and increased with age in boys. Leisure time and during school recess PA decreased with age in both genders. CONCLUSION: Except for physical inactivity, prevalence of CRF was high, did not differ between genders, and increased with age. High levels of all kinds of PA were found; they differed between genders, and decreased with age.CNPqUSP - Pró-Reitoria de Graduaçã

Retrato dos professores de Educação Física das escolas estaduais do estado de São Paulo

This study intended to build up a profile of a physical education teacher, as well as a description of the conditions available to the practice in state schools. It was based on a questionnaire answered by 2700 teachers who work in São Paulo. It was revealed that the average teacher is between 30 and 40 years old, 77% of them come from private schools, 64.69% have more than 10 years of experience, 61.32% teach for more than 30 hours/week, 53.47% have changed schools at least 3 times in the last 5 years, and 87% of them listed the pedagogical material as their main problem.Com base em um questionário que abrangeu 2700 professores de Educação Física(incluir que se trata de professor de EF) da rede estadual de ensino de São Paulo, buscou-se construir um perfil do professor e obter um retrato das condições disponíveis para a prática profissional. Entre outros resultados, encontrou-se que os professores têm entre 30 e 40 anos de idade, 77% se formaram em instituições privadas, 64,69% têm mais de 10 anos de experiência, 61,32% ministram mais de 30 h/semana de aulas, 53,47% trocaram de escola ao menos três vezes nos últimos cinco anos e, para 87% deles, o material didático é o principal problema

Infection by the hepatitis C virus in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis in Mato Grosso state, central Brazil: a cohort study

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant problem for patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy. This situation has never been studied in Mato Grosso state, central Brazil. This study was conducted aiming to estimate the prevalence of the anti-HCV and the incidence of seroconversion in the main metropolitan region of the state. METHODS: 433 patients from the six hemodialysis units were interviewed and anti-HCV was tested by a third-generation enzyme immunoassay. An open cohort of patients who tested negative for anti-HCV at the entry of the study was created and seroconversions was assessed monthly. The staff responsible for the units were interviewed to assess whether the infection control measures were being followed. Logistic and Cox regression analysis were performed in order to assess risk factor to HCV. RESULTS: The entry on the study took place between January 2002 and June 2005. 73 out of 433 (16.9%, CI95%: 13.3–20.8) was found to be anti-HCV reactive. The multivariate analysis indicated as risk factors associated to anti-HCV the duration of the hemodialysis treatment, the number of transfusions received, and the unit of treatment. An open cohort of 360 patients who tested negative for anti-HCV was created, with a following average of 24 (± 15) months. Forty seroconversions were recorded corresponding to an incidence density of 4.6/1000 patient-months, ranges 0 to 30 among the units. Cox regression indicated the time of hemodialysis (RR = 2.2; CI95%: 1.1–4.6; p < 0.05) and the unit where treatment was performed (RR = 42.4; CI95%: 9.9–180.5; p < 0.05) as risk factors for seroconversion. The three units with highest anti-HCV prevalence and incidence were identified as those that more frequently failed to apply control measures. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated high prevalence and incidence of anti-HCV in some of the hemodialysis units. Time on hemodialysis therapy was an independent factor associated to HCV. Blood transfusion was associated with anti-HCV in initial survey but was not important in incident cases. Failure of applying control meaures was more evident in units with the highest HCV prevalence and incidence. The results suggest that nosocomial transmission was the main spread factor of HCV in the studied population

A simple method to fabricate high-performance nanostructured WO3 photocatalysts with adjusted morphology in the presence of complexing agents

The rich and complex chemistry of tungsten was employed to synthesize innovative WO3 nanoplatelets/nanosheets by simple anodization in acidic electrolytes containing different concentrations of complexing agents or ligands, namely F− and H2O2. The morphological and photoelectrochemical properties of these nanostructures were characterized. The best of these nanostructures generated stable photocurrent densities of ca. 1.8 mA cm− 2 at relatively low bias potentials (for WO3) of 0.7 VAg/AgCl under simulated solar irradiation, which can be attributed to a very high active surface area. This work demonstrates that the morphology and dimensions of these nanostructures, as well as their photoelectrochemical behavior, can be controlled by adjusting the ligand concentration in the electrolytes, hence providing an easy and non-expensive route to fabricate and customize high-performance nanostructured photocatalysts for clean energy production and environmental applications