Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / This work aims to present an analysis through the experiments driven in a watershed to support the future studies that point out to identification and checking the causes that promote the degradation in the semiarid region of the Northeast of Brazil. It was taken two watershed cited in the Escola AgrotÃcnica Federal de Iguatu â EAFIGT located in the Iguatu County, CearÃ, Brazil, It was made the morphometrical characterization, the identification of the vegetation (herbaceous and arboreal) substrates and the evaluation of the sediments transport related to physical aspects with the hydrological processes. The experiment was developed during the first semester of 2008 (rainfall station). The considered morphometrical aspects were: length and sinuosity of the main stream and slope, area, length, form factor, compactness coefficient, concentration time of the watershed, as well as the runoff time. The cover vegetation was estimated account all species present in a sampled space of 10 m x 10 m in a randomized design with three replications in each watershed. From the all computed individuals present in each sampled space, the density of vegetable was obtained by area and the population was estimated in the watersheds. In the evaluation of the sediments transport it was used the following equipments: suspended sediment flow collectors, weir parshall and meteorological station. The station was made in the Universidade Federal do CearÃ- UFC/DENA/LEMA. Results showed that cover vegetation was composed, basically by 23 species, being the most abundant Hyptis sauaviolens (L.) point (Bambural) and Hyptis sp. (Melosa) herbaceous and arboreal shrubby the Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart (Pereiro). The plant density for unity of area was 1,43 individual/m2 and 1,18 individual/m2 for the watershed B1 and B2, respectively. The estimated of vegetation population was 16,395 individuals for B1 and 24,421 individuals for B2, respectively. During the studied period, the air temperature went from 41 oC to 20 oC and the relative humidity went from 100% to 35%. The most intensity rainfall for 5 minutes was 140 mm h-1 in an event of 126 mm. The watershed areas were 1,15 ha and 2,06 ha for the watershed B1 and B2, respectively, with slope 8,7 for B1 and 10,6 %. for B2. The sinuosity of streams were 1,2 for the B1 and 1,4 for B2. The sediment delivery during the collected period was 9,22 and 17,95 kg for watersheds B1 and B2, respectely. The peak of flow registered in the B2 watershed was 740 m3 h-1 while in the B1 watershed was not possible register the peak flow. In spite of the experimental area present a good cover vegetable, it was identified the human activity. Although the number of vegetable species is high, it points out to succession stage. Even with the same characteristic pair watersheds can have different hydrologic behavior. / Este trabalho teve como objetivo a apresentaÃÃo de uma anÃlise a partir de experimentos conduzidos em micro-bacia para servir de suporte a futuros estudos que visem a identificaÃÃo e monitoramento das causas que levam a degradaÃÃo no Nordeste semi-Ãrido brasileiro. Para isso, foi tomado como unidade duas micro-bacias localizadas no municÃpio de Iguatu-Ce, pertencentes à Escola AgrotÃcnica Federal de Iguatu-EAFIGT e efetuada a caracterizaÃÃo morfomÃtrica, a identificaÃÃo dos substratos herbÃceo e arbÃreo e a avaliaÃÃo do transporte de sedimentos relacionado os aspectos fÃsicos com o processo hidrolÃgico. Considerou-se o perÃodo de experimento o primeiro semestre de 2008 (estaÃÃo chuvosa). Os aspectos morfomÃtricos obtidos foram: comprimento dos cursos e da bacia, declividade da bacia, Ãrea da bacia, fator de forma, coeficiente de compacidade, tempo de concentraÃÃo, sinuosidade do curso principal, tempo mÃdio de escoamento superficial. Para a identificaÃÃo do extrato vegetal foi feito levantamento das espÃcies vegetais em amostragem aleatÃria, com trÃs repetiÃÃes para cada micro-bacia no espaÃamento de 10 x 10 m. Computando todos os indivÃduos de cada espÃcie, a partir desses dados foi obtida a densidade de indivÃduos por Ãrea e estimada a populaÃÃo nas Ãreas das micro-bacias. Na avaliaÃÃo do transporte de sedimentosfoi procedida a instalaÃÃo de equipamentos: coletores de sedimentos em suspensÃo no curso dos cÃrregos, calhas Parshall e estaÃÃo hidro-meteorologica. A estaÃÃo foi confeccionada na Universidade Federal do CearÃ-UFC/DENA/LEMA. Foram identificadas no trabalho 23 espÃcies vegetais, sendo as mais abundantes Hyptis sauaviolens (L.) point (Banbural) e Hyptis sp. (Melosa) as herbÃceas e arbÃrea arbustiva o Aspidosperma pyrifolium Mart (Pereiro). A densidade de indivÃduos por unidade de Ãrea obtida foram 1,43 indivÃduo/m2 e 1,18 indivÃduo/m2 para as micro-bacias B1 e B2, respectivamente. As populaÃÃes estimadas foram 16.395 indivÃduos para B1 e 24.421 indivÃduos para B2. Durante o perÃodo de estudo a temperatura do ar variou de 20 e 41 oC e a umidade relativa variou desde valores de 35% a saturaÃÃo. A chuva de intensidade mÃxima para 5 minutos foi 140 mm h-1 em um evento de 126 mm. As Ãreas das micro-bacias B1 e B2 foram, respectivamente, 1,15 ha e 2,06 ha, com declividades 8,7 e 10,6%. Os cÃrregos apresentaram-se com sinuosidade de 1,2 para a B1 e 1,4 para a B2. A produÃÃo de sedimentos em suspensÃo coletada para o perÃodo observado foi 9,22 e 17,95 kg. A vazÃo mÃxima para B2 foi de 740 m3 h-1, para a micro-bacia B1 nÃo foi possÃvel o registro da vazÃo mÃxima. Apesar da Ãrea experimental apresentar uma boa cobertura vegetal, a aÃÃo antrÃpica existe. O nÃmero de espÃcies vegetais à bem diversificado, mas aponta estagio de sucessÃo. Mesmo com caracterÃsticas semelhantes bacias adjacentes podem ter respostas hidro-sedimentolÃgicas diferentes.

Context: Knee injury is a common problem for runners. Knee pain is a common symptom in knee injury and is associated with alterations in knee and hip muscle activation and hip joint angles. Relieving pain through intervention may help to restore neuromuscular function. Objective: To examine the effects of ice and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) combination treatment on perceived knee pain, hip frontal plane angle, and muscle activation during running in individuals with experimental knee pain (EKP). Design: Crossover. Setting: Laboratory. Subjects: 19 participants (11 males and 8 females, 23.2 ± 1.9 y, 176 ± 11.6 cm, 71.5 ± 16.9 kg; right leg dominant). Interventions: Hypertonic saline was infused into the infrapatellar fat pad for 74 minutes (total 11.1 mL). Subjects underwent 2 treatment conditions (sham; ice/TENS combination). Measurements were recorded during running at 4 time points (preinfusion, postinfusion, posttreatment, and postinterval). Main Outcome Measures: Perceived knee pain on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS), knee and hip muscle peak electromyography (EMG) amplitude, and hip adduction angles. Results: Hypertonic saline infusion increased perceived anterior knee pain in all participants. The average of peak perceived knee pain was 28 mm on a 100-mm VAS in EKP application. While the increased perceived knee pain level stayed consistent across time in the sham session, ice/TENS combination treatment significantly reduced perceived knee pain by 35% at 6 minutes after the treatment start (p = 0.049), and the reduced knee pain lasted for 22 minutes (p > 0.05). Peak EMG amplitude of the gluteus medius was decreased by 13.5% and 14.3% (p = 0.023; p = 0.013) during running after EKP in sham and treatment sessions, respectively. However, the peak EMG amplitude was not restored to pain-free level during running after the treatment (p = 0.026). No other muscles changed their peak EMG amplitude due to EKP or treatment. Hip adduction angles during running were also not altered by EKP or treatment (p > 0.3) in both sham and treatment sessions. Conclusions: EKP increased perceived knee pain and decreased peak muscle activation of the gluteus medius during running. Ice/TENS combination treatment reduced perceived knee pain quickly, but did not restore neuromechanics during running.

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine if a periodized strength and conditioning program resulted in long-term adaptations in NCAA Division I women’s volleyball athletes, and if these changes related to the team’s competitive performance. Specifically, this dissertation serves to: 1.) describe the changes in body composition and performance variables of 2 female volleyball athletes over a 4-year collegiate career, 2.) determine the degree and magnitude of change in performance variables after about 1, 2, and 3 years of periodized resistance training, and 3.) infer if volleyball performance characteristics are related to a team’s competitive success. The following are major findings of this dissertation. 1.) Positive changes in vertical jump height, strength, and explosiveness may be possible throughout 4 years of collegiate volleyball training even with increased body mass and percent body fat. Moreover, impaired ability to perform heavy lower-body resistance training exercises due to chronic injury negatively impacts long-term physical performance adaptations over 4 years. 2.) A combination of traditional resistance training exercises and weightlifting variations at various loads, in addition to volleyball practice, appear to be effective at increasing maximal strength by 44% and vertical jump height by 20%-30% in NCAA Division I women’s volleyball athletes after about two and half years of training. Furthermore, these characteristics can be improved in the absence of additional plyometric training outside of normal volleyball-specific practice. 3.) A rating percentage index RPI ranking ratio and unweighted match score ratio appear to be better predictors of overall team competitive season success than a weighted match score ratio. On the contrary, a weighted match score ratio may be better for determining an association between team match performance and volleyball-specific fitness. A considerable amount of research is needed to develop a volleyball-specific performance index that best quantifies team performance and whether or not a measurable association exists between improved fitness characteristics and increased overall team competitive success. The findings of this dissertation provide evidence that analyzing and monitoring volleyball-related performance variables over time can assist the sport performance group in making training based decisions as well as promote the successful development of an athlete.

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute effects of stretching and local vibration on flexibility and explosive strength in competitive female gymnasts. Flexibility was measured in the forward-split position and jump characteristics were recorded using a force plate. Analysis included flight time (FT), jump height (JH), peak force (PF), instantaneous forces, and rates of force development (RFDs). Randomly assigned and counterbalanced groups were: simultaneous vibration-stretching (VS) (n=22), stretching-only (n=7), and vibration-only (n=8). VS showed statistically greater measures of flexibility in both the right and left leg, favored and non-favored legs pre- versus post-treatment. Vibration-only group resulted in statistically greater right forward-split flexibility and non-favored leg flexibility. There were no statistical differences in JH, FT, PF, instantaneous forces, or RFDs in the VS, stretching-only, and vibration-only groups' pre- versus post-treatment tests. The conclusion was simultaneous vibration-stretching greatly increased flexibility while not altering explosive strength.

Sprinters are always looking for an improvement in their time, from the gun going off until the finish. An effective start can lead to reaching top velocity sooner and a decreased finish time. New developments in starting blocks, more specifically the width of the starting block pedal, has allowed for variation in foot placement in the blocks. With the ability to change how wide an athlete can place their feet in the blocks, this study looked at trying to find an optimum spacing for college level sprinters. Thirteen Male College Sprinters (mean age = 23.08 years) participated in this study. Subjects self selected their longitudinal block spacing with 3 different lateral positions being tested. In position 1, the feet were placed as narrow as was allowed by the starting block, simulating the width of a traditional set of blocks. Position 2 was defined by the hip width of the individual, distance between right ASIS to left ASIS. Position 3 was the preferred foot width of the subject as determined by completing a vertical jump. Measurements of peak force on the blocks at the time of the start as well as time to 10 m were taken. Neither peak force nor time to 10 m were different between conditions (p = .887, p = .135). The normal condition, position 1 (20cm), was measured to be the narrowest width with position 3 (mean = 37.6cm) being the widest in all subjects. The use of wider pedals on starting blocks is a fairly new idea in track and field, and is something that many athletes have not had the chance to practice with. Since the older style of starting blocks only allowed for a narrow stance that is what track athletes have become accustomed to and could possibly explain why there was no significant difference seen between the 3 starting positions. More research should be done after a time of adaptation to the new starting blocks by the athletes.

Thesis (M. Sc. (Statistics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2018 / TheEllisrasLongitudinalStudy(ELS)openedthepossibilitiesforunderstandingthegrowthvariationsamongchildreninruralSouthAfrica. Theaimofthe study was to analyse the growth spurt in height and weight of children using the ELS. This is part of the on going ELS and this study followed secondary analytical longitudinal study using data collected from November 1996 to November 2003. All children underwent a series of anthropometric measurements of height and weight according to the standard procedures recommended by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. The descriptive statistics was done for age, height, weight, velocity and acceleration by gender amongst rural children in Ellisras. Thelinearmixedmodelwasusedto analyse data. Based on the smallest values of AIC and BIC, the best model to fit the ELS data which was found to be the unstructured covariance structure model was chosen. The interaction between age and gender, which was significant at 5% level suggested that the relationship of age with growth varies depending on gender. There was also a significant positive linear relationship of age with distance. The onset of growth spurt for rural children in Ellisras was at 12.05 years for boys and at 12.32 years for girls, while the Senegalese boys took off earlier at 11.02 years. Ellisras rural boys and USA boys had their onset of growth spurt almost at the same age at 13 years for USA boys and 12.05 years for Ellisras rural boys. USA girls had their onset of growth spurt earlier at 11 years than Ellisras rural girls at 12.32 years. Newcastle upon Tyne adolescents reached ii their PHV at 14 and 12 years for boys and girls respectively, similarly with Ellisras rural children at 14.21 and 11.80 years for boys and girls respectively. Ellisras rural girls had their PHV at 11.80 years earlier than Ellisras rural boys at 14.21 years. Children in rural Ellisras in the ELS and their growth variations do not differ that much compared with other children across the world. Key words: Growth spurt, peak height velocity, boys, girls. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Aerobic and anaerobic performance of the upper body (UB) and lower body (LB) were assessed by arm cranking and treadmill tests respectively in a comparison of national (N) and international (I) male gymnasts. Force velocity and Wingate tests were performed using cycle ergometers for both arms and legs. In spite of a significant difference in training volume (4–12 vs. 27–34 h·wk−1 for N and I, respectively), there was no significant difference between N and I in aerobic and anaerobic performance. Upper body and LB maximal oxygen uptake (JOURNAL/jscr/04.02/00124278-200611000-00029/ENTITY_OV0312/v/2017-07-20T235327Z/r/image-pngO2max) values were 34.44 ± 4.62 and 48.64 ± 4.63 ml·kg−1·min−1 vs. 33.39 ± 4.77 and 49.49 ± 5.47 ml·kg−1·min−1, respectively, for N and I. Both N and I had a high lactic threshold (LT), at 76 and 82% of JOURNAL/jscr/04.02/00124278-200611000-00029/ENTITY_OV0312/v/2017-07-20T235327Z/r/image-pngO2max, respectively. Values for UB and LB force velocity (9.75 ± 1.12 and 15.07 ± 4.25 vs. 10.63 ± 0.95 and 15.87 ± 1.25 W·kg−1) and Wingate power output (10.43 ± 0.74 and 10.98 ± 3.06 vs. 9.58 ± 0.60 and 13.46 ± 1.34 W·kg−1) were also consistent for N and I. These findings confirm the consistency of JOURNAL/jscr/04.02/00124278-200611000-00029/ENTITY_OV0312/v/2017-07-20T235327Z/r/image-pngO2max values presented for gymnasts in the last 4 decades, together with an increase in peak power values. Consistent values for aerobic and anaerobic performance suggest that the significant difference in training volume is related to other aspects of perfomance that distinguish N from I gymnasts. Modern gymnastics training at N and I levels is characterized by a focus on relative strength and peak power. In the present study, the high LT is a reflection of the importance of strength training, which is consistent with research for sports such as wrestling. Aerobic and anaerobic performance of the upper body (UB) and lower body (LB) were assessed by arm cranking and treadmill tests respectively in a comparison of national (N) and international (I) male gymnasts. Force velocity and Wingate tests were performed using cycle ergometers for both arms and legs. In spite of a significant difference in training volume (4–12 vs. 27–34 h·wk−1 for N and I, respectively), there was no significant difference between N and I in aerobic and anaerobic performance. Upper body and LB maximal oxygen uptake (JOURNAL/jscr/04.02/00124278-200611000-00029/ENTITY_OV0312/v/2017-07-20T235327Z/r/image-pngO2max) values were 34.44 ± 4.62 and 48.64 ± 4.63 ml·kg−1·min−1 vs. 33.39 ± 4.77 and 49.49 ± 5.47 ml·kg−1·min−1, respectively, for N and I. Both N and I had a high lactic threshold (LT), at 76 and 82% of JOURNAL/jscr/04.02/00124278-200611000-00029/ENTITY_OV0312/v/2017-07-20T235327Z/r/image-pngO2max, respectively. Values for UB and LB force velocity (9.75 ± 1.12 and 15.07 ± 4.25 vs. 10.63 ± 0.95 and 15.87 ± 1.25 W·kg−1) and Wingate power output (10.43 ± 0.74 and 10.98 ± 3.06 vs. 9.58 ± 0.60 and 13.46 ± 1.34 W·kg−1) were also consistent for N and I. These findings confirm the consistency of JOURNAL/jscr/04.02/00124278-200611000-00029/ENTITY_OV0312/v/2017-07-20T235327Z/r/image-pngO2max values presented for gymnasts in the last 4 decades, together with an increase in peak power values. Consistent values for aerobic and anaerobic performance suggest that the significant difference in training volume is related to other aspects of perfomance that distinguish N from I gymnasts. Modern gymnastics training at N and I levels is characterized by a focus on relative strength and peak power. In the present study, the high LT is a reflection of the importance of strength training, which is consistent with research for sports such as wrestling.

The Prospect Rock Fault (PRF) is key to our understanding of the regional tectonic evolution of Vermont during the Taconic, Salinic, and Acadian Orogenies, and may have played an important role in the exhumation of blueschist and eclogite-facies rocks in the Tillotson Peak Complex (TPC) during the Taconic Orogeny. The TPC is in the footwall of the PRF in the eastern limb of the Green Mountain Anticlinorium. In the TPC, the dominant foliation is S2 and E-W trending F2 folds parallel L2 stretching lineations, which trend orthogonal to regional N-S trending folds associated with the Taconic Orogeny. The PRF itself is folded by F2 folds. Presently, there is a lack of consensus about the role of the PRF in the exhumation of the TPC, and studies have not reconciled the formation of the E-W folds and lineations to a regional model. Oriented samples and structural data were collected from the footwall of the PRF over several transects. Samples were processed into orthogonal thin sections for microstructural analyses and for 40Ar/39Ar step heating of white mica. The dominant foliations in the PRF samples were identified through microstructural analysis and correlating the age of deformation as S2 and S3. These were defined in thin section by mica and quartz microlithons, and oriented mica grains. S1, and in some samples S2, are locally preserved in some mica domains and albite/garnet inclusion trails. S4 appears as crenulations of S3, with no significant new mineral crystallization. In the field, L2 and L3 lineations are defined by mineral and quartz rods, and L4 lineations are defined as intersection lineations on S2 surfaces. 40Ar/39Ar analyses yielded plateau ages ranging from 458.6 ± 2.0 Ma to 419.0 ± 2.4 Ma (1σ). The oldest plateau ages are just slightly younger, yet concordant, with published and new 40Ar/39Ar ages from the TPC and come from the structurally highest portions of the footwall in the northern part of the study area. Virtually all apparent age spectra show age gradients. Results from this study suggest the PRF played a role in exhumation of the TPC and ages obtained are closely aligned with deformation ages constrained from 40Ar/39Ar dating in southern Quebec for the Taconic D2 and Salinian D3 deformation. These dates may aid correlatation of ages and structures regionally and further refining of tectonostratigraphic models describing southern Quebec and New England.

Com o desenvolvimento do sequenciamento em larga escala, novas tecnologias surgiram para auxiliar o estudo de sequências de ácidos nucleicos (DNA e cDNA); como consequência, o desenvolvimento de novas ferramentas para analisar o grande volume de dados gerados fez-se necessário. Entre essas novas tecnologias, uma, em particular, chamada Imunoprecipitação de Cromatina seguida de sequenciamento de DNA em larga escala ou CHIP-Seq, tem recebido muita atenção nos últimos anos. Esta tecnologia tornou-se um método usado amplamente para mapear sítios de ligação de proteínas de interesse no genoma. A análise de dados resultantes de experimentos de ChIP-Seq é desaadora porque o mapeamento das sequências no genoma apresenta diferentes formas de viés. Os métodos existentes usados para encontrar picos em dados de ChIP-Seq apresentam limitações relacionadas ao número de amostras de controle e tratamento usadas, e em relação à forma como essas amostras são combinadas. Nessa tese, mostramos que métodos baseados em testes estatísticos de hipótese tendem a encontrar um número muito maior de picos à medida que aumentamos o tamanho da amostra, o que os torna pouco conáveis para análise de um grande volume de dados. O presente estudo descreve um método estatístico Bayesiano, que utiliza meta-análise para encontrar sítios de ligação de proteínas de interesse no genoma resultante de experimentos de ChIPSeq. Esse métodos foi chamado Meta-Analysis Bayesian Approach ou MABayApp. Nós mostramos que o nosso método é robusto e pode ser utilizado com diferentes números de amostras de controle e tratamentos, assim como quando comparando amostras provenientes de diferentes tratamentos. / With the development of high-throughput sequencing, new technologies emerged for the study of nucleic acid sequences (DNA and cDNA) and as a consequence, the necessity for tools to analyse a great volume of data was made necessary. Among these new technologies, one in special Chromatin Immunoprecipitation followed by massive parallel DNA Sequencing, or ChIP-Seq, has been evidenced during the last years. This technology has become a widely used method to map locations of binding sites for a given protein in the genome. The analysis of data resulting from ChIP-Seq experiments is challenging since it can have dierent sources of bias during the sequencing and mapping of reads to the genome. Current methods used to nd peaks in this ChIP-Seq have limitations regarding the number of treatment and control samples used and on how these samples should be used together. In this thesis we show that since most of these methods are based on traditional statistical hypothesis tests, by increasing the sample size the number of peaks considered signicant changes considerably. This study describes a Bayesian statistical method using meta-analysis to discover binding sites of a protein of interest based on peaks of reads found in ChIP-Seq data. We call it Meta- Analysis Bayesian Approach or MABayApp. We show that our method is robust and can be used for dierent number of control and treatment samples, as well as when comparing samples under dierent treatments.

The Harrington Peak Quadrangle is located within the Caribou National Forest of southeast Idaho. Within this quadrangle are outcrops of olivine trachyte of Pliocene(?) age overlying sedimentary rocks of Mississippian to Tertiary age. The region contains thrust faults and later normal faults (generally trending north-south} formed during Basin and Range extension. The Largest outcrop of olivine trachyte (approximately1 1/2 X 3 km) probably formed as the result of a fissure eruption. Two other outcrop areas show evidence of being sites of local extrusion. Whole-rock chemical analyses revealed the olivine trachyte to have moderate amounts of SiO2 and Al2O3, high MgO and CaO, and K2O in excess over Na2O (approximately 2:1). Mineralogical characteristics include microphenocrysts of Mg-rich olivine and diopsidic augite in a groundmass of Ba-rich sanidine, diopsidic augite, Fe-Ti oxides, and less commonly phlogopite and/or plagioclase. The olivine trachyte closely resembles the ciminites from the Viterbo region of Italy and has some petrological and mineralogical similarities to many other continental potassic volcanic rocks. The olivine trachyte may have formed by partial melting of a heterogenous mica peridotite mantle source enriched in incompatible elements during a previous tectonic event.