The Addition of Strength Training to Practice of High Intensity Group Gymnastics May Not Imply in Highest Levels of Strength and Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of maximum strength, endurance muscular and quality of life among practitioners of group gymnastics (IG) of isolated form and practitioners of group gymnastics combinated with strength training (CG). This study is characterized as observational of comparative cross-sectional design. The sample was composted by young women, trained at least for three months, without health complications. Maximum strength (1RM) and endurance muscular (repetition at 60% 1RM) of the lower limbs were evaluated in knee extension exercise, unilaterally. Overall quality of life and in four domains was evaluated by the WHOQOL-bref. Data were described by mean and standard deviation values. Outcomes were compared by independent t-test, adopting a significance level (α) of 0.05. Thirty women were evaluated (isolated gymnastic (IG), n = 15;30.13 ± 7.24 years—combined gymnastic and strength (CG), n = 15;29.46 ± 8.18 years). Similarly values were found among groups for all outcomes (p > 0.05). The results suggest that the association of strength training with gymnastics training, possibly accumulating excessive training volume, may not increase the levels of maximum strength, endurance muscular and quality of life in young women.

Determination of Uranium Traces in Nuclear Reactor IEA-R1 Pool Water

IEA-R1 nuclear reactor operation has the routine to control uranium content in pool water to be in trace range below 50 μg/L. There are several routes to determine the uranium trace content in water in the literature;voltammetry has been systematically employed. In the present study, the chosen chemical determination of uranium traces used the voltammetric method known as AdCSV (adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry). This technique, based on mercury voltammetry, is an adequate methodology to determine uranium traces. The chloranilic acid [CAA] (2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzo-quinone) is indicated as chelating agent. The redox reaction of UO2+2?with CAA is sensitive in the range of 2 2(CAA)2] reduction potential. In this work, we present the uranium trace results for IEA-R1 reactor water, sampled after an operation routine shutdown. The uranium trace determination for IEA-R1 pool water showed content around 1 μg/L [U] with statistical significance. Therefore the IEA-R1-reactor-water purification showed to be adequate and safe.

The Scenario of Lean Product Development in Brazilian Auto-industry

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the impact of lean product development （LPD） in the Brazilian automotive sector. A mailed-questionnaire survey was used to examine 23 questions about LPD principles and practices. The target population for the study was Brazil＇s largest product development and design companies. The study identified that although the automobile sector is seen as a reference in the adoption of lean practices, there is still potential for improvement by establishing partnership relations with suppliers, and with those on the other points of the chain by identifying what provides value to clients. Set-based concurrent engineering is also a practice that needs to be better developed, as well as the value stream mapping tool to identify waste and activities that add value to the product development process. There has been no previous study of this nature in Brazil that characterizes the sector and highlights its importance in relation to the global scene, providing incentives to international investors. The value of the work is in the results that allow diagnosing the lean development practices that are most used in the automotive sector. Moreover, the survey questions can be applied in other economic sectors and at companies of other sizes. The study contributed to providing a systematic view of the product development process from the perspective of people, processes, and technology, and assists companies and academics manage change.

Viticultural Performance of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon （Vitis vinifera L.） Cultivated in High Altitude Regions of Southern Brazil

Different studies show that the altitude regions of the State of Santa Catarina have great potential for the production of grapevine varieties. The aim of this study was to characterize the phenological development, determine the thermal requirements in degree-days （DD）, the index heliothermic （IH） and climatic variables during the vegetative and productive development of varieties Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Campo Belo do Sul （27°40′04″ S, 50°44′48″ W, altitude 950 m a.s.l.） and Sao Joaquim （28°15′13″ S, 49°57′02″ W, altitude 1,400 m a.s.l.） during 2012/2013 cycle. Phenological stages evaluated were bud break, full bloom, veraison and maturity. Higher temperatures, global radiation, PAR and lower volumes of rainfall were the main climatic parameters that differentiated Campo Belo do Sul from Sao Joaquim. Due to occurrence of higher temperatures, Campo Belo do Sul presented thermal summation around 40% higher than Sao Joaquim. The low temperatures of Sao Joaquim extended the period of grape ripening and were responsible for the highest levels of titratable acidity and the higher concentrations of anthocyanins and total polyphenols in both varieties. The results show that in the altitude ranges studied （900 and 1400 m）, climatic behavior and viticultural performance of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were suitable for producing quality wines.

Perceptions on Floods by the Population Residing in the Watershed of Ribeirão Garcia, Brazil

Any anthropic action transforms the environment. However, the Urbanization is a human achievement, not the “villain” or “protagonist” of passive actors and experienced environmental degradations, but the model of urban occupation, construction and densification, interconnected with the ineffectiveness of the current drainage system. When evaluating programs to minimize flood impacts, the social component is a necessary but often neglected dimension. This component can be evaluated through the articulation between the actors (population and public power) and the resident community’s perception in relation to the needs and interventions. The present work seeks to analyze the perception of the community resident in the watershed of Ribeir?o Garcia regarding the problems arising from urban floods. The repeated flood events occurring in the Ribeirao Garcia watershed in the city of Blumenau-SC, Brazil, make this place a potential area for an investigative process, which can subsidize future decision-making processes aimed at the adequacy of a sustainable system in medium and long term. For the accomplishment of this work, a qualitative research was adopted. Fieldwork and semi-structured interviews with residents in the sample areas have been carried out to analyse land use and occupation. The procedures that supported this sample survey were divided into four steps: definition of the total population and the sample size;preparation of a questionnaire;application of the questionnaire and tabulation of results. It can be seen that, despite the problems of floods and landslides to residents of all sample areas, the locals have different perceptions regarding the proposed issues and that these different perceptions are linked to the sample geographic location. The analysed space is full of contrasts in physical, social and economic aspects, which favours one part of the population and disfavours the other. The process of densification and overcrowding of inadequate areas has been one of the negative effects of a disorganized housing sector in a speculative real estate market, and different levels of infrastructure among the districts, consolidating, in many ways, a process of social exclusion and spatial segregation. The analysis of the resident community’s perception in the Ribeirao Garcia watershed shows that the most susceptible communities to this type of events are those of low income, located in risk areas. It also demonstrates that, despite these communities’ present empirical situation knowledge on the causes and consequences of the floods, most residents prefer to transfer responsibility only to the public power, without assuming their own responsibility. The study of community perception makes it clear that the problem has been aggravated in part by a lack of knowledge of the relationship between land use and flooding.

Biofloc technology (BFT): Adjusting the levels of digestible protein and digestible energy in diets of Nile tilapia juveniles raised in brackish water

Several studies have been performed adjusting the levels of dietary digestible protein and digestible energy for tilapia,but none of them was performed in biofloc technology(BFT)system,especially in brackish(10)water.In this sense,three levels of digestible protein(22,26 and 30%DP)and three levels of digestible energy(3000,3150 and 3300 kcal DE/kg)were evaluated on growth performance,body composition,hematological parameters and planktonic community in juveniles of Nile tilapia(O.niloticus)raised under BFT conditions.A total of 540 tilapia fingerlings(GIFT strain with 1.25±0.15 g initial weight)were reared during 42 days in thirty-six plastic tanks(75 L),fed three times a day.No interaction was detected in the parameters evaluated.The fish fed with feed containing 26%and 30%of DP obtained higher final weight,specific growth rate and condition factor as compared to those fed with 22%of DP(P<0.05).Body protein on tilapia carcass increased proportionally according to dietary protein.The higher dietary energy level promoted a higher body lipid deposition.According to hematological parameters fish from all treatments presented a satisfactory immunological status.The monitoring of planktonic community indicated a variation over time,specially on the number of dinoflagellates,rotifers and microalgae.The results indicated that diets containing 26%of DP and 3150 kcal/kg of DE for Nile tilapia juveniles promoted suitable growth performance and health conditions when reared in biofloc brackish water,and enabled savings in regards to dietary protein once the energy levels were adjusted.