Effect of age and abomasal puncture on peritoneal fluid, hematology, and serum biochemical analyses in young calves

The goals of this study were to evaluate techniques for collection of peritoneal fluid from calves, establish reference ranges for fibrinogen in peritoneal fluid during the 1st month of life, and determine if abomasal puncture would alter peritoneal fluid or hematologic variables. Twenty-two healthy Holstein calves underwent 3 peritoneal fluid collections on day 1, day 15, and day 30 of age. Fibrinogen concentration in peritoneal fluid was 0.20 g/dL and 0.10 g/dL (P < .05) for day 1 and day 30, respectively, and 0.10 at day 15 (P > .05) for calves without abomasal puncture. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was 0.60 g/dL and 0.70 g/dL (P < .05) for days 15 and 30, respectively, in calves without abomasal puncture. There were no significant differences (P <= .05) in peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood total protein and fibrinogen concentrations, specific gravity, total and differential cell count, or erythrocyte counts between calves with or without abomasal puncture. We concluded that the reference ranges established for fibrinogen and total protein concentration are important for accurate evaluation of peritoneal fluid in calves for further comparison with similar-aged animals with gastrointestinal-tract or abdominal-cavity disease. Additionally, accidental abomasal puncture does not alter values of fibrinogen, total protein, and nucleated cell Count in peritoneal fluid and does not cause apparent clinical abnormalities.

Influência da forma de administração e da quantidade fornecida de colostro sobre a concentração de proteína total e de suas frações eletroforéticas no soro sangüíneo de bezerros da raça Holandesa

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of the amount of colostrum (two and four liters) and methods of colostrum feeding (direct suckling from the cow, feeding colostrum using nipple bottle, and no feeding colostrum) on different blood traits. Thirty two Holstein calves (four groups of eight animals each) were randomly allotted to four treatments: treatment 1 - calves were hand fed four liters of colostrum; treatment 2 - calves were hand fed two liters of colostrum; treatment 3 - calves were fed colostrum directly from the cow, and treatment 4 - calves were not fed colostrum. Higher values of total serum protein, betaglobulins and gamaglobulins were observed in the calves after 24 hours of colostrum feeding. No differences among animals fed colostrum directly from the cow and hand fed two or four liters of colostrum were observed for total protein and eletrophoretic fractions. However lower values of total and eletrophoretic fractions were observed for calves that were not fed colostrum.

Mast Cells and Ethanol Consumption: Interactions in the Prostate, Epididymis and Testis of UChB Rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influence of Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs on Viability and Fertility of Equine Semen

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Risk assessment of cadmium toxicity on hepatic and renal tissues of rats

Pollution and industrial practices result in concentrations of metals and other environmental agents that are related to environmental toxicity. A rat bioassay was utilized for the identification of toxic effects of cadmium intake. This demonstrated increased total urinary proteins and increased kidney weights in rats exposed to CdCl2, for 7 days, in drinking water (100 mg/L). Serum creatinine, total and direct bilirubin concentrations and alanine transaminase activity were increased in Cd-exposed rats, indicating renal and hepatic toxicity. It was also observed that lipoperoxide concentrations were increased, while Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase activity was decreased in rats treated with cadmium. This indicated that the renal and hepatic toxicity induced by cadmium involved superoxide radicals. (C) 1998 Academic Press.

Conventional and ultrastructural analyses of the chromosomes of Discocyrtus pectinifemur (Opiliones, Laniatores, Gonyleptidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fish assemblage structure and aquatic pollution in a Brazilian stream: some limitations of diversity indices and models for environmental impact studies

The aim of this study was to describe and quantify the effect of aquatic pollution on the fish assemblage structure of the Corumbatai River (Brazil), by comparing two sites with different water quality characteristics. The results revealed that abundance of individuals was low at the polluted site (B). However, the two sites did not differ significantly in species richness (total and average). This fact contradicts theories stating that portions where the transverse area of the channel is larger should present a higher biological richness. It was also observed that the ichthyofauna of site B had higher evenness, and, consequently, a tendency to a higher diversity than that at site A. This demonstrates that diversity estimates should be used cautiously in environmental impact studies, as they do not necessarily indicate better conditions of communities living in more preserved environments.

Population structure, feeding and reproductive aspects of Serrapinnus heterodon (Characidae, Cheirodontinae) in a Mogi Guaçu reservoir (SP), upper Paraná River basin

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Pectinase production by a Brazilian thermophilic fungus Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae N31 in solid-state and submerged fermentation

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of grape pre-drying and static pomace contact on physicochemical properties and sensory acceptance of Brazilian (Bordo and Isabel) red wines

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structure and composition of the stream ichthyofauna of four tributary rivers of the upper Rio Parana basin, Brazil

The ichthyofauna of 24 stretches of streams, all of 100 m length and of fifth or lower order and most of second and third order, were sampled along four left bank tributaries (Rio do Peixe, Rio Aguapei, Rio Sao Jose dos Dourados, lower Rio Tiete of the main channel of the Rio Parana in the state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Sampling of the fish fauna at each of the six sites in the four basins incorporated a standardized fish collecting methodology and a standardized documentation of environmental data serving as the basis for a comparative analysis of the collecting locations. The 8,189 fish specimens collected represented six orders, 18 families, 42 genera, and 56 species, with a total biomass of 28.8 kg. Approximately 52% of the collected species were characiforms, 28% siluriforms, 9% gymnotiforms, 5% cyprinodontiforms, 4% perciforms, and 2% synbranchiforms. The most abundant of the species were the characiforms Astyanax altiparanae (15% of total) and Knodus moenkhausii (12% of total). The two species with the largest overall biomasses were A. altiparanae (34% of total biomass) and the siluriform Hypostomus sp. (8% of total biomass). Analysis of the trophic structure of the studied ichthyofauna indicated that the 10 numerically dominant species across the 24 sampled streams can be grouped into five guilds that are in decreasing order of numerical importance: omnivores, insectivores, insectivores/invertivores, periphytivores, and algivores. Species richness in the sampled stream stretches varied from six to 20 species with an average richness of 14. The species richness estimated by extrapolation for all 24 sampled stream stretches was 67 species. The Characidae are predominant among the collected specimens with approximately 50% of both individuals and biomass, a fact hypothesized to be a function of several attributes typical of the family. Six of the 56 collected species were new to science and six other species are of indefinite taxonomic status and require further analysis in order to determine their identity.

Measurement of the nonlinear optical response of low-density lipoprotein solutions from patients with periodontitis before and after periodontal treatment: evaluation of cardiovascular risk markers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Positronium scattering by atoms and molecules at low energies

The recent theoretical and experimental activities in positronium (Ps) scattering by atoms and molecules are reviewed with special emphasis at low energies. We critically compare the results of different groups - theoretical and experimental. The theoretical approaches considered include the R-matrix and close-coupling methods applied to Ps-H, Ps-He and Ps-Li scattering, and a coupled-channel approach with a nonlocal model potential for Ps scattering by H, He, H-2, Ne, Ar, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs and Ps and for pickoff quenching in Ps-He scattering. Results for scattering lengths, partial. total and differential cross-sections as well as resonance and binding energies in different systems are discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Differential and partial cross sections of elastic and inelastic positronium-helium-atom scattering

Scattering of positronium (Ps) by a helium atom has been investigated in a three-Ps-state coupled-channel model including Ps(1s,2s,2p) states using a recently proposed time-reversal-symmetric regularized electron-exchange model potential. Specifically, we report results of differential cross sections for elastic scattering and target-elastic Ps excitations. We also present results for total and different partial cross sections and compare them with experiment and other calculations.

Occurrence of symbiotic fungi and rhizospheric phosphate solubilization in weeds

Estudos sobre a ecologia de organismos envolvidos no processo de produção são necessários para o desenvolvimento de uma agricultura sustentável, e hoje, a sustentabilidade está intimamente ligada à rentabilidade de produção. Objetivou-se com este trabalho verificar a ocorrência de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares em plantas daninhas de lavouras brasileiras e avaliar o potencial de solubilização de fosfato inorgânico da microbiota associada. 36 espécies de plantas daninhas foram avaliadas quanto à ocorrência de micorrizas, e 11 foram selecionadas para avaliação do potencial de solubilização total e relativa de fosfato. Todas as espécies apresentaram colonização por micorrizas, inclusive um exemplar da família Brassicaceae, geralmente enquadrada como não micorrizada. Na maioria das espécies, os tipos morfológicos de arbúsculos e enovelados de hifas foram observados, sendo os enovelados mais comuns entre as gramíneas. Fungos endofíticos do tipo dark septate foram visualizados na maioria das plantas. As plantas daninhas apresentaram distintos potenciais de solubilização de P na rizosfera. Amaranthus retroflexus, Bidens pilosa e Leonotis nepetaefolia apresentaram elevados valores de solubilização relativa de fosfato. Este é o primeiro relato de micorrizas e da atividade de solubilização de fosfato em plantas daninhas no Brasil.