Fair Play Game: a group contingency strategy to increase students' active behaviours in physical education

A dependent group contingency strategy called Fair Play Game was applied to promote increase in number of steps during physical education classes for sixth-grade students. Results from a multiple baseline design across three classes showed that the mean number of steps for baseline vs. intervention were: Class 1: 43 vs. 64 steps/minute; Class 2: 49 vs. 81 steps/minute; Class 3: 50 vs. 87 steps/minute. Visual inspection of the graphs showed that Class 1 had an upward trend of number of steps (baseline vs. intervention) without a change in level. Classes 2 and 3 demonstrated clearer change in level of number of steps between these two phases. Social validity data showed that students increased their engagement in class and Fair Play Game is a feasible and acceptable strategy. Therefore, it can be concluded that Fair Play Game appeared to be associated with students' increase in active behaviours in physical education lessons.     

Analysis of the 2012-2016 drought in the northeast Brazil and its impacts on the Sobradinho water reservoir

The northeast region of Brazil (NEB) suffers with the worst drought during 2012–2016 that has greatly affected water availability in general, in particular the hydropower reservoirs. We have analyzed a large dataset of satellite measurements and images to understand the variability of precipitation, land surface temperature (LST) and their association with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), indicator of water and vegetation stress. The drought conditions during 2012–2016 show association of poor rainfall in the year 2012, an increase of LST 7ºC above the average, reduction in NDVI upto 30% and a sharp decrease upto 28% in Relative Humidity (RH). The largest reservoir of the NEB, Sobradinho, shows decline in surface water upto about 50% which is clearly evident from the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) for the period 2015–2016 compared to the year 2011.     

Chagasic Megacolon and Proximal Jejunum Microbiota

Background: Among other factors, control of jejunal microflora depends on intestinal emptiness, and it can be impaired by Chagas disease. This study was developed to identify the microecology of the proximal jejunum in chagasic megacolon. Our objective was to characterize both the jejunal microbial stasis before surgery and the microflora after surgical treatment in patients with chagasic megacolon. Methods: The intestinal fluids were collected, and the proximal jejunum microflora was analyzed. Results: Preoperative microflora had shown an increase in bacteria compatible with bacterial overgrowth syndrome, mainly facultative and strict anaerobes microorganisms and fungi. The microflora had changed in the postoperative period in 83% of these patients, with significant decrease in the number of transient microorganisms. Conclusions: Chagasic megacolon was related to an increase in jejunal microflora. By removing the impairment of the colon there was a transient decrease in the proximal jejunum microflora.     

Heterogeneous phenotypes of platelet and plasma von Willebrand factor in obligatory heterozygotes for severe von Willebrand disease

To characterize the heterogeneity of severe (type III) von Willebrand disease (vWD), plasma and platelet von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) and ristocetin cofactor activity (Ricof) were measured in 28 obligatory heterozygotes (ie, parents or children of probands from 15 different kindreds with severe vWD). On the average, heterozygotes had low levels of vWF in both platelets and plasma. There was, however, considerable heterogeneity, with four distinct patterns. Eleven heterozygotes had concordant reduction of vWF:Ag and Ricof in both plasma and platelets; five had low levels of vWF:Ag and Ricof in plasma contrasting with normal levels in platelets; eight had a peculiar pattern, the reverse of the above (ie, low levels in platelets and normal levels in plasma); and in one, both vWF measurements were normal in plasma and platelets. These patterns were genetically determined: they were consistent in four couples of consanguineous heterozygotes and in two couples carrying the same gene deletion. Only the remaining three heterozygotes had no clearly identifiable pattern. Other findings of this study were that although most of the heterozygotes had normal bleeding times, the 7 of 28 who had prolonged bleeding times had concordantly low levels of vWF measurements in both plasma and platelets. In conclusion, this large series of obligatory heterozygotes provides evidence for phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity of severe vWD.