EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL LOADING ON POWER OUTPUT DURING VERTICAL JUMP: A PILOT STUDY WITH WATER POLO GOAL KEEPERS.

The purpose of this study was to describe preliminary results of the effects of external loading on power output during vertical jumps performed on a force platform by three elite water polo goal keepers (1 female and 2 male). Peak power output was calculated from time-force curves during vertical jumps with and without external additional loads corresponding to 0%, 5%, 10% and 15 % of their body weight. The jumps were performed from a squat position, without lower limb counter-movement or arm swings. The peak instantaneous power was reached at 0% additional load (body weight) by two of the athletes, and for the third, the peak instantaneous power was reached at 5% additional load. This study suggests that for water polo goal keepers, the load that generates maximum power output in dry land exercises is body weight, without any additional load

Fishers' knowledge and seahorse conservation in Brazil

From a conservationist perspective, seahorses are threatened fishes. Concomitantly, from a socioeconomic perspective, they represent a source of income to many fishing communities in developing countries. An integration between these two views requires, among other things, the recognition that seahorse fishers have knowledge and abilities that can assist the implementation of conservation strategies and of management plans for seahorses and their habitats. This paper documents the knowledge held by Brazilian fishers on the biology and ecology of the longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi. Its aims were to explore collaborative approaches to seahorse conservation and management in Brazil; to assess fishers' perception of seahorse biology and ecology, in the context evaluating potential management options; to increase fishers' involvement with seahorse conservation in Brazil. Data were obtained through questionnaires and interviews made during field surveys conducted in fishing villages located in the States of Piauí, Ceará, Paraíba, Maranhão, Pernambuco and Pará. We consider the following aspects as positive for the conservation of seahorses and their habitats in Brazil: fishers were willing to dialogue with researchers; although captures and/or trade of brooding seahorses occurred, most interviewees recognized the importance of reproduction to the maintenance of seahorses in the wild (and therefore of their source of income), and expressed concern over population declines; fishers associated the presence of a ventral pouch with reproduction in seahorses (regardless of them knowing which sex bears the pouch), and this may facilitate the construction of collaborative management options designed to eliminate captures of brooding specimens; fishers recognized microhabitats of importance to the maintenance of seahorse wild populations; fishers who kept seahorses in captivity tended to recognize the condtions as poor, and as being a cause of seahorse mortality

ESTUDO DA COMPOSIÇÃO QUÍMICA E DO PODER DE DISSOLUÇÃO DOS ÓLEOS ESSENCIAIS DE ANIS-ESTRELADO (Illicium verum) E CRAVO DA ÍNDIA (Syzygium aromaticum) PARA RECICLAGEM DO ISOPOR

Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar e avaliar o potencial de dissolução óleos essenciais de Anis-estrelado (Illicium verum) e Cravo da Índia (Syzygium aromaticum) para servir na reciclagem do isopor. A extração dos óleos essenciais foi realizada através da hidrodestilação. Foram identificados, o Anetol (55%) e o Eugenol (90,7%), como componentes químicos majoritários dos óleos estudados. Dentre os óleos essenciais estudados, óleo de Cravo da Índia apresentou melhor eficiência no processo de reciclagem do isopor. Por fim, os resultados apontam que os óleos essenciais estudados, podem ser empregados como solventes alternativos para reciclagem do isopor, gerando maiores possibilidades de aplicação e permitindo sua utilização de forma sustentável

High molecular weight polystyrene particles by cationic miniemulsion polymerization catalyzed by an iron-containing imidazolium-based ionic liquid

Cationic styrene polymerizations in aqueous media were conducted using the miniemulsion polymerization technique with the ionic liquid 1-N-butyl-3-N-methylimidazolium heptachloro diferrate (BMI.Fe2Cl7) as catalyst, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as surfactant and hexadecane as costabilizer. The ionic liquid was effective to initiate styrene miniemulsion polymerization at a BMI.Fe2Cl7:styrene molar ratios as low as 1:1000. Increasing the reaction temperature from 70 °C to 90 °C led to an increase in both, conversion and molecular weight. And polystyrene with much higher molecular weight (viscosity average molecular weights of up to 2231 kDa) than those usually obtained in cationic polymerizations was produced. Furthermore, while particle sizes remained almost constant around 150 nm during polymerizations, an almost linear increase of conversion with reaction time was observed. In addition, molecular weight increased steadily with conversion approaching the behavior of living cationic polymerization. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstrac

Epidemiology and Clinical Forms of Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Review

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a disease caused by overactive parathyroid glands with consequent hypercalcemia. However, its presentation is variable, with patients demonstrating a range from normocalcemia to severe hypercalcemic PHPT. The present study aims to perform a literature review on the epidemiology and the clinical forms of PHPT using information published in the PubMed and Cochrane databases. It describes data about prevalence, etiology, diagnosis, classic and non-classic manifestations, providing updated information on classical hypercalcemic hyperthyroidism, in addition to its normocalcemic variant

Use and commercialization of Podocnemis expansa (Schweiger 1812) (Testudines: Podocnemididae) for medicinal purposes in two communities in North of Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Throughout Brazil a large number of people seek out reptiles for their meat, leather, ornamental value and supposed medicinal importance. However, there is a dearth of information on the use of reptiles in folk medicine. In North Brazil, the freshwater turtle, <it>Podocnemis expansa</it>, is one of the most frequently used species in traditional medicines. Many products derived from <it>P. expansa </it>are utilized in rural areas and also commercialized in outdoor markets as a cure or treatment for different diseases. Here we document the use and commercialization of <it>P. expansa </it>for medicinal purposes in the state of Pará, Northern Brazil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were gathered through interview-questionnaires, with some questions left open-ended. Information was collected in two localities in Pará State, North of Brazil. In the City of Belém, data was collected through interviews with 23 herbs or root sellers (13 men and 10 women). Attempts were made to interview all animal merchants in the markets visited. In fishing community of the Pesqueiro Beach, interviews were done with 41 inhabitants (23 men and 18 women) and during the first contacts with the local population, we attempted to identify local people with a specialized knowledge of medicinal animal usage.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>P. expansa </it>was traded for use in traditional medicines and cosmetics. Fat and egg shells were used to treat 16 different diseases. Turtle fat was the main product sold. The demand for these products is unknown. However, the use of this species in folk medicine might have a considerable impact on wild population, and this must be taken into account for the conservation and management of this species.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicated that the use and commercialization of <it>P. expansa </it>products for medicinal purposes is common in North of Brazil. More studies regarding the use and commerce of Brazilian turtles are urgently needed in order to evaluate the real impact of such activities on natural populations. We hope that our findings about the trade and use of <it>P. expansa </it>in folk medicine will motivate further studies on the use of animals in folk medicine and its implications for conservation.</p

Zootherapeutics utilized by residents of the community Poço Dantas, Crato-CE, Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Animals have been used as a source of medicine in Brazil since ancient times, and have played a significant role in healing practices. Specifically in Northeast Brazil, zootherapy is a very common practice, and together with medicinal plants, it plays an important role as a therapeutic alternative. In the state of Ceara, no works have been carried out on rural communities with regard to use of zootherapeutics, even though the practice of zootherapy is common in this region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the use of medicinal animals in a rural community (Poco Dantas) in the municipality of Crato, Ceara, Brazil.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The field survey was carried out from October 2008 to January 2009 by conducting interviews using structured questionnaires with 72 people (33 men and 39 women), who provided information on animal species used as remedies, body parts used to prepare the remedies, and ailments for which the remedies were prescribed. We calculated the informant consensus factor (ICF) to determine the consensus over which species are effective for particular ailments, as well as the species use value (UV) to determine the extent of utilization of each species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 29 species, distributed in 17 families were categorized as having some medicinal property. The taxa most represented were: mammals (9), insects (7), reptiles and birds (4). <it>Progne chalybea</it>, a species not previously recorded as being of medicinal use, was cited in the present work, where it is utilized in the treatment of alcoholism. The animals are used in the treatment of 34 diseases or symptoms, where sore throat, inflammations and cough are the ailments with the greatest number of citations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data show that zootherapy represents an important therapeutic alternative for the inhabitants of the community. New studies on medicinal fauna should be conducted with the aim of determining the exploitation level of the species utilized, promoting sustainable development of medicinal species that are eventually threatened, and preserving and disseminating the knowledge developed by traditional individuals of the community.</p

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of the Decoction of Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825) and Tropidurus semitaeniatus (Spix, 1825) Used by the Traditional Medicine

Tropidurus hispidus and Tropidurus semitaeniatus are two lizard species utilized in traditional medicine in Northeast Brazil. Their medicinal use includes diseases related with bacterial infections such as tonsillitis and pharyngitis. They are used in the form of teas (decoctions) for the treatment of illnesses. In this work, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the decoctions of T. hispidus (DTH) and T. semitaeniatus (DTS) against bacterial strains, namely, standard and multiresistant Escherichia coli, Staphylococus aureus, and Pseudomonas aureuginosa, alone and in combination with aminoglycoside antibiotics. The decoctions were prepared using the whole body of the dried lizards, and the filtrate was frozen and lyophilized. When tested alone, the samples did not demonstrate any substantial inhibition of bacterial growth. However, in combination with antibiotics as aminoglycosides, decoctions reduced the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the assayed antibiotics against multiresistant strains of S. aureus and P. aureuginosa. Chemical prospecting tests revealed the presence of alkaloids in DTS. This is the first study evaluating the medicinal efficacy of T. hispidus and T. semitaeniatus and contributes to the list of new sources of medicines from natural products of animal origin