Growth and reproduction of earthworm in organic waste mixtures and effects on chemical and microbial properties of vermicompost

There is a large demand for organic fertilizers in organic agriculture, but few options for different wastes have been studied. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the biological responses of earthworms Eisenia andrei Bouche in wastes composed of cattle manure, peanut husk and spent coffee grounds, as well as to analyze the effect of earthworms on the microbial density and chemical properties of the vermicompost. Four treatments were employed, H1: cattle manure (100%), H2: cattle manure (75%) + peanut husk (25%), H3: cattle manure (75%) + spent coffee grounds (25%), H4: cattle manure (50%) + spent coffee ground (25%) + peanut husk (25%), with six replicates in a completely randomized design. The addition of spent coffee grounds to the manure increased the total biomass and indicated a rising trend in the production of cocoons, while the peanut husk apparently did not affect these variables. The CFU of bacteria and fungi were affected by the treatments at the beginning and end of the experiment and by the earthworms during the waste transformation. The evaluated organic waste mixtures differently affected the growth and reproduction of earthworms and chemical and biological properties of humus.

Use of anatomical, chemical, and molecular genetic characteristics in the quality control of medicinal species: a case study of sarsaparilla (Smilax spp.)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Correlation between i.r. spectra and thermal decomposition of cobalt(II), nickel(II), copper(II) and mercury(II) complexes with piperidinedithiocarbamate and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate

The thermal decomposition of pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and piperidinedithiocarbamate complexes of CoII, NiII, CuII and HgII have been studied by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The decomposition intermediates and final products were identified by their X-ray diffraction patterns. The i.r. spectra are discussed in terms of the thermal decomposition pathways.

Maxillo-mandibular counter-clockwise rotation and mandibular advancement with TMJ Concepts (R) total joint prostheses Part I - Skeletal and dental stability

The purpose of this study was to evaluate skeletal and dental stability in patients who had temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconstruction and mandibular counterclockwise advancement using TMJ Concepts total join, prostheses (TMJ Concepts Inc. Ventura, CA) with maxillary osteotomies being performed at the same operation. All patients were operated at Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas TX, USA, by one surgeon (Wolford). Forty-seven females were studied; the average post-surgical follow-up was 40.6 months. Lateral cephalograms were analyzed to estimate surgical and post-surgical changes. During surgery, the occlusal plane angle decreased 14.9 +/- 8.0 degrees. The maxilla moved forward and upward. The posterior nasal spine moved downward and forward. The mandible advanced 7.9 +/- 3.5 mm at the lower incisor tips, 12.4 +/- 5.4 mm at Point B, 17.3 +/- 7.0 mm at menton, 18.4 +/- 8.5 mm at pogonion, and 11.0 +/- 5.3 mm at gonion. Vertically, the lower incisors moved upward -2.9 +/- 4.0 mm. At the longest follow-up post surgery, the maxilla showed minor horizontal changes while all mandibular measurements remained stable. TMJ reconstruction and mandibular advancement with TMJ Concepts total joint prosthesis in conjunction with maxillary osteotomies for counter-clockwise rotation of the rnaxillo-mandibular complex was a stable procedure for these patients at the longest follow-up.

Chemical and bromatological characteristics of elephant grass silages with the addition of dried cashew stalk

Este trabalho foi conduzido para avaliar o valor nutritivo de silagens de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) com 0, 4, 8, 12 e 16% de pedúnculo de caju (Anacardium occidentale L.) desidratado, com base na matéria natural. Utilizou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Como silos experimentais, foram utilizados tambores plásticos de 210 L. Determinaram-se a composição nutricional, os valores de pH e os teores de nitrogênio amoniacal, ácido lático, acético, propiônico e butírico. A inclusão de pedúnculo de caju desidratado na ensilagem de capim-elefante promoveu aumento das concentrações de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF), nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente neutro (NIDN, % do N total), nitrogênio insolúvel em detergente ácido (NIDA, % do N total), pH e ácidos lático e propiônico. Por outro lado, os teores de FDN, FDA, hemicelulose, N-NH3 (% do N total) e ácido butírico diminuíram de forma linear conforme aumentaram os níveis do subproduto na ensilagem. O pedúnculo de caju desidratado não influenciou os teores de carboidratos totais e ácido acético das silagens. Esse subproduto pode ser ensilado com o capim-elefante até o nível de 16%, uma vez que aumenta os teores de PB e CNF e reduz os teores de FDN e FDA, melhorando o padrão de fermentação das silagens.

IR-visible upconversion and thermal effects in Pr3+/Yb3+-codoped Ga2O3 : La2S3 chalcogenide glasses

IR-visible upconversion fluorescence spectroscopy and thermal effects in pr(3+)/Yb3+-codoped Ga2O3:La2S3 chalcogenide glasses excited at 1.064 mum is reported. Intense visible upconversion emission in the wavelength region of 480-680 nm peaked around 500, 550, 620 and 660 nm is observed. Upconversion excitation of the Pr3+ excited-state visible emitting levels is achieved by st combination of phonon-assisted absorption, energy-transfer and phonon-assisted excited-state absorption processes. A threefold upconversion emission enhancement induced by thermal effects when the codoped sample was heated in the temperature range of 20-200 degreesC is demonstrated. The thermal-induced enhancement is attributed to a multiphonon-assisted anti-Stokes process which takes place in the excitation of the ytterbium and excited-state absorption of the praseodymium. The thermal effect is modelled by conventional rate equations considering temperature-dependent effective absorption cross-sections for the F-2(7/2)-F-2(5/2) ytterbium transition and (1)G(4)-P-3(0) praseadymium excited-state absorption, and it is shown to agree very well with experimental results. Frequency upconversion in singly Pr3+-doped samples pumped at 836 nm and 1.064 mum in a two-beam configuration is also examined.

Validation of mechanical, electrical and thermal nociceptive stimulation methods in horses

To validate a model for investigating the effects of analgesic drugs on mechanical, thermal and electrical stimulation testing. To investigate repeatability, sensitivity and specificity of nociceptive tests. Randomised experiment with 2 observers in 2 phases. Mechanical (M), thermal (TL) and electrical (E) stimuli were applied to the dorsal metacarpus (M-left and TL-right) and coronary band of the left thoracic limb (E) and a thoracic thermal stimulus (TT) was applied caudal to the withers in 8 horses (405 ± 43 kg). Stimuli intensities were increased until a clear avoidance response was detected without exceeding 20 N (M), 60°C (TL and TT) and 15 V (E). For each set of tests, 3 real stimuli and one sham stimulus were applied (32 per animal) using a blinded, randomised, crossover design repeated after 6 months. A distribution frequency and, for each stimulus, Chi-square and McNemar tests compared both the proportion of positive responses detected by 2 observers and the 2 study phases. The κ coefficients estimated interobserver agreement in determining endpoints. Sensitivity (384 tests) and specificity (128 tests) were evaluated for each nociceptive stimulus to assess the evaluators' accuracy in detecting real and sham stimuli. Nociceptive thresholds were 3.1 ± 2 N (M), 8.1 ± 3.8 V (E), 51.4 ± 5.5°C (TL) and 55.2 ± 5.3°C (TT). The level of agreement after all tests, M, E, TL and TT, was 90, 100, 84, 98 and 75%, respectively. Sensitivity was 89, 100, 89, 98 and 70% and specificity 92, 97, 88, 91 and 94%, respectively. The high interobserver agreement, sensitivity and specificity suggest that M, E and TL tests are valid for pain studies in horses and are suitable tools for investigating antinociceptive effects of analgesics in horses.

Chemical and biological characterisation of Machaerium hirtum (Vell.) Stellfeld: absence of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity and possible chemopreventive potential

Machaerium hirtum (Vell.) Stellfeld (M.hirtum) is a plant known as 'jacarandá-bico-de-pato' whose bark is commonly used against diarrhea, cough and cancer. The aim of this study was to phytochemically characterise the hydroethanolic extract of this plant, investigate its antimutagenic activities using the Ames test and evaluate its effects on cell viability, genomic instability, gene expression and cell protection in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2). Antimutagenic activity was assessed by simultaneous pre- and post-treatment with direct and indirect mutagens, such as 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (NPD), mitomycin C (MMC), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), using the Ames test, cytokinesis blocking micronucleus and apoptosis assays. Only 3 of the 10 concentrations evaluated in the MTT assay were cytotoxic in HepG2 cells. Micronucleated or apoptotic cells were not observed with any of the tested concentrations, and there were no mutagenic effects in the bacterial system. However, the Nuclear Division Index and flow cytometry data showed a decrease in cell proliferation. The extract showed an inhibitory effect against direct (NPD) and indirect mutagens (B[a]P and AFB1). Furthermore, pre- and post-treated cells showed significant reduction in the number of apoptotic and micronucleated cells. This effect is not likely to be associated with the modulation of antioxidant genes, as shown by the RT-qPCR results. Six known flavonoids were identified in the hydroethanolic extract of Machaerium hirtum leaves, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrophotometric methods. The presence of the antioxidants apigenin and luteolin may explain these protective effects, because these components can inhibit the formation of reactive species and prevent apoptosis and DNA damage. In conclusion, the M.hirtum extract showed chemopreventive potential and was not hazardous at the tested concentrations in the experiments presented here. Moreover, this extract should be investigated further as a chemopreventive agent.

Dietary electrolytes and thermal conditioning: minimizing heat stress in broilers

In tropical climates the heat is one of the major constraints to production of broilers and is responsible for inducing a high mortality, especially in the finishing phase. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the thermal conditioning early (TC) and feed formulation using dietary electrolytes (DE). Therefore, the electrolyte balance of K+Na-Cl was set at 350 mEq/kg and electrolyte ratio (K+Cl)/Na) in the 3:1 program PPFR (http://www.fmva.unesp.br/ppfr). A total of 300 Cobb 500 1-dold male broiler chicks was randomly allocated to 24 floor pens with six replicates per treatment in a 2x2 factorial arrangement (with and without TC and with and without DE). Dietary treatments consisted: (T1) a traditional diet without TC; (T2) traditional diet with TC; (T3) with the application of dietary electrolyte and without TC and (T4) application of dietary electrolyte with TC. The thermal conditioning was conducted at 5 d of age (36°C for 24 h), only half of the batch (150 birds). After this period, all birds were transferred to boxes of 1.5 x3m (12 birds / box), with wood shavings reused as litter. Chicks were exposed to acute stress (36°C) for 8 h at the age 36, in all treatments, being electronically monitored the temperature and humidity of the microclimate of the birds. Feed and water were provided ad libitum, even during periods of stress. Were measured performance data (weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion) and mortality rate. The early thermal conditioning (T2) and effect of dietary electrolytes (T3) were effective to minimize the mortality of broilers subjected to acute heat stress with a significant difference (P<0.05), without prejudice on broiler performance. The results also showed that there was a more favorable effect when applied dietary electrolytes and thermal conditioning simultaneously (treatment T4). However, for the treatment none of these strategies has been applied (T1), the mortality rate was 83% over that in which they were applied (T4). It was concluded from this study that both techniques: the thermal conditioning early as the dietary electrolytes are efficacious in minimize the damaging effects caused by heat broiler.

Validation of a stability-indicating HPLC method with diode array detection for the determination of beclomethasone dipropionate in aqueous suspension for nebulizer

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Land use and thermal comfort in the county of Ourinhos, SP

This study aims to analyze the thermal comfort in urban areas for different land uses. The ENVImet microclimatic model has been used for urban boundary layer simulation, providing the following thermal comfort indexes: PMV (Predicted Mean Vote) and PPD (Predicted Percentage of Dissatisfaction). The chosen area covers the central area in the city of Ourinhos, located in southeastern Brazilian city, with subtropical climate. Four simulations were accomplished: an area with real buildings and vegetation on site, a “grassy” area where buildings have been replaced by grass in the central area, another grassy area, known as “grass/tree”, with additional trees in, and a final area called “Park” also grassy, where trees were added all over the area. The structures which showed thermal comfort within the ISO 7730 standards were the grassy area with no trees at 9 a.m., and a paved area, as well as the park area at 3 p.m. Other situations have presented values of PMV and PPD off the limits required by the rules; they were very close to those values. The only point that presented a far cry from the comfort required was the spot in the asphalt at 9 a.m. The other situations showed PMV and PPD values not far from the limits of comfort. Only the point on the asphalt showed values far from the limit of comfort at 9 a.m.

Influence of sanitization on the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of organic and conventional broccoli

The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the effect of chlorinated and ozonized water on the physico-chemical characteristics of broccoli, produced under organic and conventional cultivation procedures. Organic and conventional broccolis were subjected to two sanitation treatments, using chlorine and ozone, and were kept under cold storage for seven days. Analyses of pH, titrable acidity, soluble solids and weight loss were performed and the content of Cu, Mn and Zn was determined. In addition, the presence of pesticides was verified. The results show no influence of the cultivation method or the sanitation treatment on sample weight loss. Cultivation methods and sanitizing treatments affected broccoli pH, titratable acidity, and soluble solids during the evaluation period. No differences regarding the metal content on organic and conventional broccoli were observed. Furthermore, the presence of organochlorine compounds, nor other pesticides, was not detected both in organic and conventional vegetables.