Abstract Regular exercise is beneficial to health. This study evaluated the effects of moderate and intense physical exercise modalities on intradermal infection by Staphylococcus aureus in a murine model. Mice that practiced moderate exercise had lower bacterial load on lymph nodes and less inflammatory infiltrate in dermis. They presented greater weight, however, less amount of epididymal fat: the weight was increased while they had fat diminished. A positive correlation was observed between lipid content and bacterial load in mice trained at moderate intensity. Animals that were under high intensity exercises presented superior bacterial load on the lymph nodes, increased neutrophil count and circulating lymphocytes, and had leukocyte recruitment to the dermis augmented, when compared to the ones in moderate exercise. These findings suggest that moderate physical activity modulates the immune response in dermal infection caused by S. aureus in a murine model.

Abstract Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compose the two major noncommunicable chronic inflammatory diseases. Physical activity has been shown as a promising complementary approach to control the systemic inflammation. However, it is still unclear whether this modulation is gender-dependent. The objective of this study was evaluate the gender-related influence of physical activity on the inflammatory response and biochemical profile of individuals with SAH and T2DM. An international physical activity questionnaire was applied to 376 individuals diagnosed with SAH and T2DM in order to access their exercises routine and was evaluated the influence of physical activity in biochemical, anthropometrical, and immunological markers involved in these disorders in men and women. Even though active individuals have exhibited lower serum levels of IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17A, the ratios between IL-10 and all inflammatory cytokines were higher in men than in women. Physically active individuals also demonstrated increased HDL/LDL and HDL/VLDL ratios. Moreover, multiple correlations revealed that in active women both IL-10 and TNF-α serum levels positively correlate with fasting glucose levels, and were negatively associated with HDL levels. Our findings suggest that gender-related differences dictate a distinct crosstalk between inflammatory and biochemical markers in physically active individuals.

RESUMO A fim de avaliar o efeito de diferentes doses da rbST sobre a dinâmica folicular, a produção e a maturação in vitro de oócitos, 20 vacas Sindi, divididas em três grupos, receberam um dispositivo de progesterona intravaginal, estradiol e PGF2α, além de 2mL de solução salina (grupo controle), 250 (grupo rbST 250) ou 500mg de rbST (grupo rbST 500). Cinco dias depois, realizou-se a ovum pick up, e os complexos cumulus-oócitos (CCOs) recuperados foram selecionados, classificados e maturados in vitro. Os dados de contagem foram comparados pelo procedimento glht (General Linear Hypothesis Test), e os dados em porcentagem foram submetidos ao qui-quadrado, no programa estatístico R, onde as diferenças foram consideradas significativas quando P<0,05. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os grupos quanto à quantidade de folículos e à taxa de maturação. Os grupos rbST 250 e rbST 500 foram significativamente superiores (P<0,05) ao grupo controle em relação ao número de folículos grandes (0,42±0,20 vs. 0). O grupo rbST 500 apresentou maior (P<0,05) porcentagem de oócitos viáveis (91,52%) do que os grupos controle (67,85%) e rbST 250 (53,33%). A rbST aumenta o número de folículos grandes, e 500mg de rbST aumentam a porcentagem de oócitos viáveis em vacas Sindi.

ABSTRACT In order to evaluate the effect of different doses of rbST on the follicular dynamics, production, and in vitro maturation of oocytes, 20 Sindhi cows were divided into three groups, receiving an intravaginal progesterone device, estradiol and PGF2α, and 2mL of solution saline (Control Group), 250 (rbST 250 Group) or 500mg rbST (rbST 500 Group). Five days later, the ovum pick up was performed, and the cumulus-oocyte (CCO) complexes recovered were selected, classified, and matured in vitro. The counting data were compared by the glht (General Linear Hypothesis Test) procedure, and the percentage data were submitted to Qui- square, in the statistical program R, where differences were considered significant when P< 0.05. There was no difference (P> 0.05) between the groups regarding follicle quantity and maturation rate. The rbST 250 and rbST 500 groups were significantly higher (P< 0.05) than the Control group in relation to the number of large follicles (0.42±0.20 versus 0). The rbST 500 group presented higher (P< 0.05) percentage of viable oocytes (91.52%) than the Control (67.85%) and rbST 250 (53.33%) groups. rbST increases the number of large follicles and 500mg rbST increases the percentage of viable oocytes in Sindhi cows.

Abstract Given the scarcity of studies with elderly and the existence of studies investigating the effect of vitamin D supplementation in PEH (post exercise hypotension), this study evaluated the effect of a single megadose of vitamin D on resting blood pressure (RBP) and post-exercise hypotension (PEH) in the elderly. 11 hypertensive elderly women (70.3 ± 1.7 years) received a single megadose of 200.000 IU of cholecalciferol or a placebo, orally, through capsules. On day 7, the subjects performed 30 minutes of aerobic exercise with blood pressure measurement before exercise and every 10 minutes after exercise during 60 minutes, besides cardiac autonomic modulation. RBP did not significantly change. Exercise promoted significant systolic PEH only in one moment post exercise in treated group and in the placebo group promoted significant systolic PEH at four moments. Significant diastolic PEH did not occur in any of the groups. Sympathovagal activity increased at post exercise balance in supplemented subjects at 20 min, 40 min, 50 min and 60 min when compared to rest; this increase was not observed in the placebo. A megadose of vitamin D did not reduce RBP, promoted partial inhibition of systolic PEH and increased sympathovagal balance.

O estudo visou investigar o efeito da suplementação dietética com óleo de palma sobre o perfil sérico lipídico e as características seminais de touros bubalinos (Bubalus bubalis), bem como suas correlações. Doze touros foram alocados no Grupo CONT (n=5) ou Grupo ÓLEO (n=7) e receberam alimentação isoproteica composta por silagem de milho e concentrado (milho triturado, farelo de trigo e ureia), com proporção volumoso/concentrado de 50%, durante 130 dias (Períodos 1 e 2). Diferencialmente, óleo de palma foi adicionado ao concentrado (2% MS) do Grupo ÓLEO. Sêmen e sangue foram colhidos quinzenalmente. Houve aumento nas concentrações séricas de colesterol, HDL e lipídios totais nos animais do Grupo ÓLEO, enquanto o período influenciou nas taxas de colesterol, LDL, lipídios totais e VLDL (P<0,05). Houve decréscimo no turbilhonamento e discreta redução na integridade de membranas nos animais do Grupo ÓLEO (P<0,05). Correlações significativas foram encontradas entre triglicerídeos e defeitos menores (r=-0,412; P=0,006), LDL e defeitos totais (r=-0,333; P=0,030), lipídios totais e defeitos menores (r=-0.366; P= 0,017), lipídios totais e defeitos totais (r=-0.309; P= 0,046), e VLDL e viabilidade espermática (r=0,381; P=0,012), apontando efeitos positivos da maior lipidemia na morfologia e na viabilidade espermática. O uso de óleo de palma alterou o perfil lipídico sérico, mas não favoreceu per se os parâmetros seminais relacionados com o potencial de fertilidade dos touros.

The study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with palm oil on serum lipid profile, the seminal characteristics of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and the correlations between them. Twelve bulls were divided into Group CONT (n = 5) or Group OIL (n = 7). Animals in both groups were fed with isoproteic diets composed of corn silage and concentrated (ground corn, wheat bran and urea), with 50% forage/concentrate ratio, during 130 days (Periods 1 and 2). Palm oil (2%DM) was added to diet offered to Group OIL. Semen and blood samples were collected every two weeks. Increased serum levels of cholesterol, HDL and total lipids were observed for Group OIL, while the period influenced on cholesterol, LDL, total lipids and VLDL (P<0,05). Treatment decreased gross motility (P<0.05) and slightly reduced sperm membrane integrity (P<0.05) in animals of Group OIL. There were significant correlations between triglycerides and minor defects (r=-0.412, P=0.006), LDL and total defects (r=-0.333, P=0.030), total lipids and minor defects (r=-0.366, P=0.017), VLDL and spermatic viability (r=0.381, P=0.012), and total lipids and totals defects (r=-0.309, P=0.046), highlighting positive effects of higher lipid serum levels on sperm morphology and viability. The incorporation of palm oil in the diet altered the serum lipid profile, but it showed no positive effect on seminal parameters related to the potential of bull fertility

The use of numerical simulation in the design and evaluation of products performance is ever increasing. To a greater extent, such estimates are needed in a early design stage, when physical prototypes are not available. When dealing with vibro-acoustic models, known to be computationally expensive, a question remains, which is related to the accuracy of such models in view of the well-know variability inherent to the mass manufacturing production techniques. In addition, both academia and industry have recently realized the importance of actually listening to a products sound, either by measurements or by virtual sound synthesis, in order to assess its performance. In this work, the scatter of significant parameter variations on a simplified vehicle vibro-acoustic model is calculated on loudness metrics using Monte Carlo analysis. The mapping from the system parameters to sound quality metric is performed by a fully-coupled vibro-acoustic finite element model. Different loudness metrics are used, including overall sound pressure level expressed in dB and Specific Loudness in Sones. Sound quality equivalent sources are used to excite this model and the sound pressure level at the driver's head position is acquired to be evaluated according to sound quality metrics. No significant variation has been perceived when evaluating the system using regular sound pressure level expressed in in dB and dB(A). This happens because of the third-octave filters that averages the results under some frequency bands. On the other hand, Zwicker Loudness presents important variations, arguably, due to the masking effects.

Neste trabalho foram analisados os grãos de pólen de seis táxons do gênero Brunfelsia: B. bonodora (Vell.) J.F. Macbr., B. brasiliensis (Spreng.) L.B. Sm. & Downs var. brasiliensis, B. brasiliensis subsp. macrocalyx (Dusén) Plowman, B. hydrangeiformis subsp. capitata (Benth.) Plowman, B. latifolia (Pohl) Benth. e B. uniflora D. Don. Os grãos de pólen foram tratados com ACLAC 60% (exceto os de B. latifolia, que sofreram o processo da acetólise). Os grãos de pólen foram, posteriormente, mensurados, descritos, foto e eletromicrografados. A análise sob MEV foi utilizada visando a elucidação de dúvidas sobre a ornamentação da exina. Constatou-se que os grãos de pólen são médios ou grandes; isopolares; suboblatos ou oblato-esferoidais; âmbito subcircular, quadrangular a pentagonal; área polar de muito pequena a grande; 3-5-colporados; sexina variavelmente rugulada porém, melhor visualizada sob MEV.

This work presents an analysis of the pollen grains of six taxa of the genera Brunfelsia: B. bonodora (Vell.) J.F. Macbr., B. brasiliensis (Spreng.) L.B. Sm. & Downs var. brasiliensis, B. brasiliensis subsp. macrocalyx (Dusén) Plowman, B. hydrangeiformis subsp. capitata (Benth.) Plowman, B. latifolia (Pohl) Benth. e B. uniflora D. Don. The pollen grains were treated with ACLAC 60% (except the pollen grains of B. latifolia that were submitted to acetolysis). Afterwards, they were measured and photographed by light microscopy and SEM. The analysis under SEM was used to check the sculpturing of the exine. It was observed that the pollen grains are medium or large; isopolar; suboblate or oblate spheroidal; the amb is subcircular, square to pentagonal; the polar area is very small to large; 3-5-colporate; the sexine is variably rugulated, but best visualized in SEM.