Modeling interactions between social and natural systems is a hard task. It involves collecting data, building up a conceptual approach, implementing, calibrating, simulating, validating, and possibly repeating these steps again and again. There are different conceptual approaches proposed in the literature to tackle this problem. However, for complex problems it is better to combine different approaches, giving rise to a need for flexible and extensible frameworks for modeling natureesociety interactions. In this paper we present TerraME, an open source toolbox that supports multi-paradigm and multi-scale modeling of coupled human-environmental systems. It enables models that combine agentbased, cellular automata, system dynamics, and discrete event simulation paradigms. TerraME has a GIS interface for managing real-world geospatial data and uses Lua, an expressive scripting language.

The minimum amount of physical activity needed to obtain health benefits has been widely determined. Unlikely, the impact of extreme amounts of very vigorous physical activity (VVPA, ≥ 8 metabolic equivalents) to the heart remains controversial. We aimed to evaluate the dose-response relationship between VVPA and heart rate variability (HRV) in adults. We selected 1040 asymptomatic individuals (60% women, 42 ± 15 years, 28 ± 6 kg/m2) from the Epidemiology and Human Movement Study (EPIMOV). Participants remained in the supine position for 10 min, and we selected an intermediate 5-min window for HRV analysis. The standard deviation of the RR intervals, root mean square of RR intervals, successive RR intervals that differ > 50 ms, powers of the low-and high-frequency bands and Poincaré plot standard deviations were quantified. Participants used a triaxial accelerometer (Actigraph GT3x+) above the dominant hip for 4–7 consecutive days for quantifying their physical activity. We also evaluated the maximum oxygen uptake () during an exercise test. We stratified participants into five groups according to the VVPA in min/week (group 1, ≤ 1.50; 2, 1.51–3.16; 3, 3.17–3.54; 4, 3.55–20.75; and 5, > 20.75). The linear trends of the HRV through the quintiles of VVPA were investigated. We used logarithmic transformations to compare the five groups adjusted for age, sex, cardiovascular risk, and . We found a better HRV with increased VVPA for all HRV indices studied (p trend < 0.05). However, group 5 did not differ from group 4 (p > 0.05) for none of the indices. We conclude that there is an incremental benefit of VVPA on HRV of asymptomatic adults. Since we found neither additional benefits nor the harmful impact of amounts of VVPA as high as 22 min/week on HRV, our results should not discourage asymptomatic adults to perform VVPA.

Objective: To determine whether a restrictive pattern on spirometry is associated with the level of physical activity in daily life (PADL), as well as with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, in asymptomatic adults. Methods: A total of 374 participants (mean age, 41 ± 14 years) underwent spirometry, which included the determination of FVC and FEV1. A restrictive pattern on spirometry was defined as an FEV1/FVC ratio > 0.7 and an FVC < 80% of the predicted value. After conducting demographic, anthropometric, and CVD risk assessments, we evaluated body composition, muscle function, and postural balance, as well as performing cardiopulmonary exercise testing and administering the six-minute walk test. The PADL was quantified with a triaxial accelerometer. Results: A restrictive pattern on spirometry was found in 10% of the subjects. After multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for confounders (PADL and cardiorespiratory fitness), the following variables retained significance (OR; 95% CI) as predictors of a restrictive pattern: systemic arterial hypertension (17.5; 1.65-184.8), smoking (11.6; 1.56-87.5), physical inactivity (8.1; 1.43-46.4), larger center-of-pressure area while standing on a force platform (1.34; 1.05-1.71); and dyslipidemia (1.89; 1.12-1.98). Conclusions: A restrictive pattern on spirometry appears to be common in asymptomatic adults. We found that CVD risk factors, especially systemic arterial hypertension, smoking, and physical inactivity, were directly associated with a restrictive pattern, even when the analysis was adjusted for PADL and cardiorespiratory fitness. Longitudinal studies are needed in order to improve understanding of the etiology of a restrictive pattern as well as to aid in the design of preventive strategies.

Introduction: Bacterial resistance is a growing concern in the nosocomial environment in which Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes play an important role due to their opportunism and carbapenemase-production. This work aimed to evaluate physiological and molecular characteristics of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae and E. aerogenes isolated in a Brazilian tertiary hospital. Methodology: In total, 42 carbapenem-resistant bacteria isolated from clinical specimens were included (21 K. pneumoniae and 21 E. aerogenes). Drug-sensitive K. pneumoniae (n = 27) were also included. Antimicrobial susceptibility and biocide tolerance patterns, hemolytic activity, tolerance to oxidative stress, and aggregative ability were assessed. Genetic markers related to carbapenem resistance, or ESBLproduction were screened by PCR. Results: Compared to drug-sensitive strains, carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae were more tolerant to biocides and to oxidative stress, and they displayed an increase in biofilm formation. The genetic markers blaKPC (95.2%) and blaTEM (90.5%) were the most frequent. Among the carbapenem-resistant E. aerogenes strains, blaKPC, and blaTEM were detected in all bacteria. Drug-sensitive E. aerogenes were not isolated in the same period. blaSHV, blaVIM, and blaCTX markers were also observed among carbapenem-resistant bacteria. Conclusions: Results suggest that carbapenemase-producing enterobacteria might show peculiar characteristics regarding their physiology associated with their environmental persistency, virulence, and multidrug resistance. The observed phenomenon may have implications not only for antimicrobial chemotherapy, but also for the prognosis of infectious diseases and infection control.

Resumo -As respostas cardiovasculares agudas foram comparadas entre três diferentes protocolos de treinamento resistido de alta velocidade de contração muscular em mulheres idosas destreinadas. Doze voluntárias, aparentemente saudáveis (62.6 ± 2,9 anos), realizaram três diferentes protocolos no supino horizontal (SH) e no leg press 45º (LP). Todos os protocolos envolveram três séries de 10 repetições realizados com uma carga de 10RM e 2 minutos de recuperação entre as séries. O protocolo contínuo consistiu em 10 repetições, com nenhuma pausa entre as repetições. Os protocolos descontínuos foram realizados com uma pausa de cinco (PD5) ou 15 (PD15) segundos, entre a quinta e sexta repetições. Frequência cardíaca (FC), pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e duplo produto (DP) foram avaliados no repouso e ao final de todas as séries nos exercícios. ANOVA fatorial foi usada para comparar as respostas cardiovasculares entre os diferentes protocolos. Comparado com o repouso, FC, PAS e DP foram respectivamente 22.3%, 23.2% e 51.2% (p < 0.05) maiores no exercício SH e 41.7%, 43.0% e 102.9% (p < 0.05) maiores no exercício LP, após a terceira série, em todos os protocolos. FC e DP foram 5.6% e 8.2% (p < 0.05), respectivamente, menores no DP5 e DP15 comparado com o PC, no exercício SH. A FC, PAS e DP foram 5.2%, 8.0% e 14,8% ,respectivamente, menores no DP5 comparado com o PC, no exercício LP. Portanto, parece que o exercício resistido de alta velocidade descontínuo tem uma menor demanda cardiovascular do que exercício resistido contínuo em mulheres idosas. Palavras-chave: Freqüência cardíaca; Pressão arterial; Duplo produto; Exercício resistido. Abstract -Acute cardiovascular responses to different high-velocity resistance exercise protocols were compared in untrained older women. Twelve apparently healthy volunteers (62.6 ± 2.9 years) performed three different protocols on the bench press (BP) and leg press (LP). All protocols consisted of three sets of 10 repetitions performed with a 10RM load and 2 min of rest between sets. The continuous protocol (CP) consisted of 10 repetitions with no pause between repetitions. The discontinuous protocols were performed with a pause of five (DP5) or 15 (DP15)seconds between the fifth and sixth repetition. Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and rate pressure product (RPP) were assessed at baseline and at the end of all exercise sets. Factorial ANOVA was used to compare the cardiovascular response among different protocols. Compared to baseline, HR, SBP and RPP were, respectively, 22.3%, 23.2% and 51.2% (p < 0.05) higher for BP exercise, and 41.7%, 43.0% and 102.9% (p < 0.05) higher for LP exercise after the third set in all protocols. For BP exercise, HR and RPP were 5.6% and 8.2% (p < 0.05) lower in DP5 and DP15, respectively, compared to CP. For LP exercise, HR, SBP and RPP were, respectively, 5.2%, 8.0% and 14.8% lower in DP5 compared to CP. In conclusion, discontinuous high-velocity resistance exercise seems to have a lower cardiovascular demand than continuous resi...

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES: Accelerometry provides objective measurement of physical activity levels, but is unfeasible in clinical practice. Thus, we aimed to identify physical fitness tests capable of predicting physical inactivity among adults. DESIGN AND SETTING: Diagnostic test study developed at a university laboratory and a diagnostic clinic. METHODS: 188 asymptomatic subjects underwent assessment of physical activity levels through accelerometry, ergospirometry on treadmill, body composition from bioelectrical impedance, isokinetic muscle function, postural balance on a force platform and six-minute walk test. We conducted descriptive analysis and multiple logistic regression including age, sex, oxygen uptake, body fat, center of pressure, quadriceps peak torque, distance covered in six-minute walk test and steps/day in the model, as predictors of physical inactivity. We also determined sensitivity (S), specificity (Sp) and area under the curve of the main predictors by means of receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS:The prevalence of physical inactivity was 14%. The mean number of steps/day (≤ 5357) was the best predictor of physical inactivity (S = 99%; Sp = 82%). The best physical fitness test was a distance in the six-minute walk test and ≤ 96% of predicted values (S = 70%; Sp = 80%). Body fat > 25% was also significant (S = 83%; Sp = 51%). After logistic regression, steps/day and distance in the six-minute walk test remained predictors of physical inactivity. CONCLUSION:The six-minute walk test should be included in epidemiological studies as a simple and cheap tool for screening for physical inactivity. RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVOS:A acelerometria fornece medida objetiva do nível de atividade física, porém não é viável na prática clínica. Assim, foram investigados testes de aptidão física capazes de predizer inatividade física em adultos. DESENHO E LOCAL: Estudo de teste diagnóstico, desenvolvido em laboratório universitário e uma clínica de diagnósticos. MÉTODOS: 188 participantes assintomáticos tiveram o nível de atividade física avaliado por acelerometria, ergoespirometria em esteira, composição corporal por bioimpedância, função muscular isocinética, equilíbrio postural em plataforma de força e teste de caminhada de seis minutos. Foram realizadas análise descritiva e regressão logística múltipla, incluindo idade, sexo, consumo de oxigênio, gordura corporal, centro de pressão, pico de torque de quadríceps, distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos e passos/dia no modelo como preditores da inatividade física. Adicionalmente, foram determinadas a sensibilidade (S), especificidade (Sp) e área abaixo da curva dos principais preditores por meio de curvas de característica de operação do receptor. RESULTADOS: A prevalência da inatividade física foi 14%. O número médio de passos/dia (≤ 5357) foi o melhor preditor da inatividade física (S = 99%, Sp = 82%). O melhor teste de aptidão física foi a distância no teste de caminhada de seis minutos e ≤ 96% dos valores preditos (S...

Objetivo: O presente estudo comparou a percepção de discentes do curso de Bacharelado em Educação Física da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto sobre a imagem corporal (IC), massa corporal (MC) e percentual de gordura (%G) em fotografias de homens adultos. Material e Métodos: Participaram do estudo 31 discentes de ambos os sexos (22,7 ± 2,9 anos), iniciantes (G-AV1) e concluintes (G-AV2) do curso de Bacharelado em Educação Física da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto e 10 voluntários (G-MOD; 22,7 ± 3,2 anos), não discentes do curso de Educação Física, não praticantes de exercício físico regular, do sexo masculino, que atuaram como modelos para obtenção de fotografias de corpo inteiro. Resultados: Os resultados não mostraram diferença significativa (p> 0.05) entre a avaliação da IC feita pelo G-AV1 e G-AV2, a partir das fotografias do G-MOD. Não foram encontradas diferenças (p> 0.05) entre a avaliação subjetiva da MC feita pelo G-AV1, G-AV2 e a MC do G-MOD. A avaliação do %G do G-MOD, realizadas pelo G-AV1 e G-AV2 foi diferente (p< 0.05) dos valores do G-MOD. Conclusão: Concluiu-se que alunos iniciantes e concluintes do curso de Bacharelado em Educação Física da Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto têm percepção semelhante para a IC e MC, mas diferente para o %G de homens adultos. DESCRITORES Imagem Corporal.Percepção de Forma.Composição Corporal.

The Cerrado is a savanna formation predominantly located in the central Brazilian plateau; this vegetation is rich in bryophytes. This study analyzes bryophyte diversity, composition and distribution among various Cerrado vegetation types (Gallery Forest, Deciduous Forest, Rupestrian Cerrado and Rupestrian Fields) and substrates in the Área de Proteção Ambiental Morro do Macaco, from municipality of Iporá, Goiás state, in Central-West Brazil. The collection was performed in four plots of 20m x 20m, in each vegetation types, from August to December 2010, the data were analyzed with the Shannon-Wiener (H') and Simpson diversity index and the floristic similarity with UPGMA. We found 37 species, with 28 to Bryophyta and nine to Marchantiophyta. Trichostomum brachydontium Bruch is a new record to the Brazilian Midwest and an endemic species (Archidium oblongifolium Peralta et al.) occurs in the study area. The forested areas were the richest in species number and the substrate most colonized was soil. The results extend the information about the Cerrado bryophytes, increasing the knowledge of their taxonomic diversity and ecology.