Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study is to account for a recent non-mainstream econometric approach using microdata and how it can inform research in business administration. More specifically, the paper draws from the applied microeconometric literature stances in favor of fitting Poisson regression with robust standard errors rather than the OLS linear regression of a log-transformed dependent variable. In addition, the authors point to the appropriate Stata coding and take into account the possibility of failing to check for the existence of the estimates – convergency issues – as well as being sensitive to numerical problems. Design/methodology/approach The author details the main issues with the log-linear model, drawing from the applied econometric literature in favor of estimating multiplicative models for non-count data. Then, he provides the Stata commands and illustrates the differences in the coefficient and standard errors between both OLS and Poisson models using the health expenditure dataset from the RAND Health Insurance Experiment (RHIE). Findings The results indicate that the use of Poisson pseudo maximum likelihood estimators yield better results that the log-linear model, as well as other alternative models, such as Tobit and two-part models. Originality/value The originality of this study lies in demonstrating an alternative microeconometric technique to deal with positive skewness of dependent variables.

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on adipose tissue, pancreatic islets and liver in mice fed high-fat diet. C57BL/6 male mice were fed one of two diets: standard chow (Lean group - LE) or a high-fat diet (Obese group OB). After the first 12-weeks, the animals were divided into non-trained (LE-NT and OB-NT), trained groups (LE-T and OB-T), and started the exercise protocol. The HIIT protocol in the trained animals (LE-T and OB-T) compared to their counterparts (LE-NT and OB-NT) led to a reduction in size of the pancreatic islets (LE-T vs. LE-NT -40 %, OB-T vs. OB-NT -22 %) and to an increase in insulin immunodensity in pancreatic islet (LE-T vs. LE-NT +35 %, OB-T vs. OB-NT +31 %). Apart from the above results, in adipose tissue, a decrease of the diameter of adipocytes (LE-T vs. LE-NT -23 %, OB-T vs. OB-NT -12 %), a reduction in adiposity index (LE-T vs. LE-NT -49 %, OB-T vs. OB-NT -24 %) and in the liver, a decrease in the context of hepatic steatosis (LE-T vs. LE-NT -57 %, OB-T vs. OB-NT -77 %). These metabolic changes characterize a benefits performance of the HIIT protocol in swimming. HIIT is able to mitigate the bad effects caused by high-fat diet, even with continued intake of this diet in an animal model. HIIT has the advantage of requiring only a few weekly sessions with short duration in each session. These benefits are important to motivate people who nowadays live with a lack of time condition for these activities.

El objetivo fue evaluar el impacto del entrenamiento con intervalos de alta intensidad (EIAI) sobre el tejido adiposo, el hígado y los islotes pancreáticos en ratones alimentados con dieta alta en grasas. Ratones C57BL/6, machos fueron alimentados con una de dos dietas: dieta estándar (grupo magro - MA) o una dieta alta en grasas (grupo obeso - OB). Después de las primeras 12 semanas, los animales fueron divididos en dos grupos, no entrenados (MA-NE y OB-NE) y grupos entrenados (MA-E y OB-E), y comenzaron el protocolo de ejercicio. El protocolo de IEAI en los animales entrenados (MA-E y OB-E) en comparación con sus contrapartes (MA-NE y OB-NE) condujo a una reducción en el tamaño de los islotes pancreáticos (MA-E vs. MA-NE -40 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE -22 %) y al aumento de la inmunodensidad de insulina en los islotes pancreáticos (MA-E vs. MA-NE +35 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE +31 %). Además, en el tejido adiposo se detectó una disminución del diámetro de los adipocitos (MA-E vs. MA-NE -23 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE -12 %), una reducción en el índice de adiposidad (MA-E vs. MA-NE -49 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE -24 %) y en el hígado una disminución de la esteatosis (MA-E vs. MA-NE -57 %, OB-E vs. OB-NE -77 %). Estos cambios metabólicos caracterizan una actuación beneficiosa del protocolo de EIAI en la natación. El EIAI es capaz de mitigar los efectos negativos causados por la dieta alta en grasas, incluso con la ingesta continuada de esta dieta en el modelo animal. La EIAI tiene la ventaja de requir sólo unas pocas sesiones semanales con corta duración de cada sesión. Estos beneficios son importantes para motivar a la personas en las condiciones de falta de tiempo que tienen en la actualidad.

RESUMO O processo de metanização tem sido empregado com sucesso como tratamento biológico de distintas tipologias de efluentes orgânicos. Para conversão do biogás em energia, o sulfeto de hidrogênio (H2S) é o principal composto a ser removido. A metanização da vinhaça, principal efluente do setor sucroenergético, gera um biogás com concentrações de H2S que podem ultrapassar os 30.000 ppmV, com grande variação devido às condições operacionais das usinas. Processos químicos de dessulfuração apresentam-se como uma alternativa que alia robustez e maior controle operacional do processo, além de não resultarem em diluição da concentração de metano, como ocorre em processos biológicos. Entretanto, a principal desvantagem desses processos é a demanda de compostos químicos, resultando em custos operacionais elevados. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a viabilidade técnica de se realizar uma dessulfuração química de biogás com altas concentrações de H2S, além de determinar as concentrações de hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) em meio aquoso que proporcionassem altas eficiências de remoção de H2S e que possibilite que o efluente desse processo seja passível de regeneração por microrganismos sulfo-oxidantes. Foi utilizado um lavador do tipo Venturi, com uma solução de 5,00 x 10-2 mol.L-1 de NaOH. Na faixa de pH de crescimento desses microrganismos, as eficiências de remoção de H2S variaram de 99,3 a 99,9%. Constatou-se que é possível atingir eficiências máximas de remoção de H2S utilizando soluções de 5,00 x 10-3 mol.L-1 de NaOH, obtendo um efluente com pH adequado ao crescimento de microrganismos sulfo-oxidantes. Verificou-se, ainda, que o CO2 exerce grande influência na competição pelas hidroxilas presentes no meio.

ABSTRACT The methanation process has been successfully used as a biological treatment method for different effluent typologies. For biogas to energy conversion, the hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is the most important compound that must be removed. The methanation of vinasse, which is the major effluent of the sugar and ethanol industry, results in a biogas with hydrogen sulfide concentrations that might exceed 30,000 ppmV. The concentrations may vary considerably according to the operational conditions of the production process. Chemical desulphurization processes are presented as an alternative that combines robustness and provides better operational process control. Moreover, the chemical desulphurization does not result in dilution of the methane concentration, which is side effect noticed in the biological desulphurization processes. However, the main disadvantage of the chemical desulphurization is exactly the high demand for chemical compounds, which results in high operational costs. The present research investigated the technical feasibility of applying a chemical desulphurization process to treat biogas with high hydrogen sulfide concentrations; the research also aimed to determine the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentration in the aqueous medium, as the NaOH presence enables high efficiency of hydrogen sulfide removal and allows the effluent regeneration by sulfo-oxidant microorganisms. The experiments were carried out using a Venturi absorption tower with a NaOH chemical solution of 5.00 x 10-2 mol.L-1. In the pH range favorable to this microorganisms, the H2S removal efficiency varied from 99.3 to 99.9%. It was observed that it is possible to achieve maximum efficiency of removal of H2S using solutions of 5.00 x 10-3 mol.L-1 NaOH, obtaining an effluent with proper pH to grow sulfo oxidant microorganisms. Moreover, it was verified that carbon dioxide significantly influenced the competition for the hydroxyls present in the solution.

C57BL/6 mice develop signals and symptoms comparable at least in part with the metabolic syndrome in humans. This study aimed to evaluate the beneficial effects of exercise training upon skeletal microcirculation in these mice. Animals were fed one of two diets during an eight week period: standard chow (SC) or very high-fat (HF). Afterwards, the exercise training protocol (treadmill) was established and mice divided into SC and HF sedentary (SC-Sed, HF-Sed) or exercised groups (SC-Ex, HF-Ex), respectively. HF/HF-Sed mice had the greatest body mass (plus 65% than SC-Sed; P<0.0001), and exercise reduced it by 23% (P<0.0001). The plasma insulin was higher in the HF-Sed than in the matched Ex (P<0.001). The ratio between capillaries/myocytes in HF-Ex group increased by 64% than in HF-Sed group (P<0.001) and increased by 80% in SC-Ex group than in SC-Sed group (P<0.001). In conclusion, exercise improved the lipid profile by reducing body mass gain, insulin resistance, ameliorating the skeletal muscle microcirculation.

Los ratones C57BL/6 desarrollan señales y síntomas similares al menos en parte con el síndrome metabólico en los seres humanos. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos beneficiosos del ejercicio físico sobre la microcirculación ósea en estos ratones. Los animales fueron alimentados con una de dos dietas durante un período de ocho semanas: comida estándar (CE) o muy alta en grasas (AG). Posteriormente, fue establecido un protocolo de entrenamiento físico (cinta) y los ratones fueron divididos en grupos CE y AG sedentarios (CE-Sed, AG-Sed) o grupos de ejercicios (CE-Ej, AG-Ej), respectivamente. Los ratones AG/AG-SED tuvieron una masa corporal mayor (más del 65% de CE-Sed, p <0,0001), y el ejercicio se redujo en un 23% (p <0,0001). La insulina en el plasma fue mayor en el AG-Sed que en el pareado-Ej (p <0,001). La relación entre capilares/miocitos en el grupo AG-Ej aumentó en un 64% más que en el grupo AG-Sed (p <0,001) y aumentó en un 80% más en el grupo CE-Ej que en el grupo CE-Sed (p <0,001). En conclusión, el ejercicio mejora el perfil lipídico mediante la reducción de la ganancia de masa corporal, resistencia a la insulina, mejorando la microcirculación del músculo esquelético.