Reproductive efficiency of adult and prepubertal goats subjected to repeated follicular aspiration

The objective of this study was to assess the reproductive response of adult and prepubertal goats subjected to repeated laparoscopic ovum pick-up (LOPU). The study animals were divided into two groups, specifically, adult nanny goats (GA, n=10) and prepubertal nanny goats (GP, n=10), which were subjected to estrous synchronization and ovarian stimulation for LOPU. Both groups underwent six LOPU procedures at seven-day intervals and were subsequently subjected to controlled mating and pregnancy diagnosis to evaluate their future fertility. The study showed a reduction in the number of follicles visualized and in the amount and quality of the oocytes that were recovered and exposed to in vitro maturation. As indicated by the fertility test, however, no complications were found during the laparoscopic procedures that would impair the reproductive future of the animals. Therefore, a viable number of oocytes were obtained even with the decreased reproductive efficiency, proving that repeated LOPUs do not interfere with the reproductive of adult and prepubertal nanny goats. These results indicate a positive aspect of this procedure, allowing for increasing reproductive performance of this kind, when used for the production in vitro.

A procedure to evaluate the efficiency of utilization of dietary amino acid for poultry

The aim of this study was to develop a procedure based on Gompertz function to determine the efficiency of utilization of amino acid. The procedure was applied to determine the efficiency of utilization of dietary lysine, methionine+cystine and threonine by growing pullets and based on the efficiencies were estimated the requirements for the growth phase of birds. The Gompertz function was fitted to the data of feed intake, body weight, feather-free body protein weight and feather protein weight of four strains of laying hens in the growth phase. The rates of consumption and daily protein deposition (PD) were calculated. The amino acid deposition was obtained by multiplying the PD by the amino acid concentration in feather protein and feather-free body protein. The results showed that the efficiency of utilization of amino acid decreased with maturity and, conversely, there was a proportional increase of the requirement per kg of weight gain. The procedure based on the Gompertz function to determine the efficiency of utilization of amino acid proved to be suitable to evaluate the efficiency of utilization of amino acid and can be a useful tool to diagnose the effectiveness of the nutritional management, aiding in decision-making on the nutritional management.

Action of rain on the efficiency of herbicides applied post-emergence in the control of Senna obtusifolia

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

Economic efficiency of two baling systems for sugarcane straw

In recent years, harvesting process of sugarcane is changing itself, passing through semi-mechanized for mechanized system, who, currently predominate in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Mechanized harvesting consists in a sequence of operations which includes cutting the pointer and chopping the stalk. The straw is a harvesting residue, and it stays in the ground, piling up above soil, with a possible prejudice for crop yield. An economic way to retract this straw is using mechanized processing for bailing it, involving hay balers, which are imported to Brazil and their use require regularly field conditions of work. Those balers could produce square or round bales, which can be sold to energy generation. This study aims to estimate economic efficiency indicators of round and square systems for sugarcane straw, establishing a relationship between baling costs and the incoming generated from those bales. Based on data set, round baling system was 26% more efficient than square baling system, and that round baler has a lower purchase price and a higher compress ratio of biomass, allowing a greater potential for power generation, turning it a more advantageous in a possible marketing for bales produced. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Procedures to Evaluate the Efficiency of Protective Clothing Worn by Operators Applying Pesticide

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

Efficiency of OPU-IVEP-ET of Fresh and Vitrified Embryos in Buffaloes

The present study aims to report ovum pickup (OPU), in vitro embryo production (IVEP) and embryo transfer (ET) outcomes of fresh and vitrified buffalo embryos. For this purpose, 36 buffalo donors were submitted to 11 OPU sessions (n = 201). A total of 998 oocytes (5.0 +/- 0.5/donor/session) and 584 viable oocytes (2.9 +/- 0.3/donor/session) were recovered. Viable oocytes (grades 1, 2 and 3) were subjected to IVM, IVF (D0) and IVC. On D2, 54.5% of cleavage rate was obtained. Embryo yield on D7 was 44.9% (grade 1: 229 embryos, grade 2: 5 embryos and grade 3: 28 embryos). From this total, 115 fresh (grades 1 to 3) and 70 vitrified embryos (only grade 1) were transferred into recipients previously synchronized with fixed time embryo transfer (FTET) protocol. Vitrification was performed using the cryotop method. Pregnancy diagnosis in fresh and in vitrified groups were, respectively: 43.5% (50/115) and 37.1% (26/70) on 30 days after embryo transfer, and 41.7% (48/115) and 31.4% (22/70) on 60 days after embryo transfer. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the possibilities for commercial use of the techniques of OPU, IVEP and ET of fresh and vitrified embryos in buffaloes.

High fluorescence quantum efficiency of CdSe/ZnS quantum dots embedded in GPTS/TEOS-derived organic/silica hybrid colloids

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Transformation of wealth produced into quality of life: analysis of the social efficiency of nation-states with the DEA's triple index approach

Although an essential condition for the occurrence of human development, economic growth is not always efficiently converted into quality of life by nation-states. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to measure the social efficiency-the ability of a nation-state to convert its produced wealth into quality of life-of a set of 101 countries. To achieve this goal, the Data Envelopment Analysis method was used in its standard, cross-multiplicative and inverted form, by means of a new approach called 'triple index'. The main results indicated that the former Soviet republics and Eastern European countries stood out in terms of social efficiency. The developed countries, notwithstanding their high social indicators, did not excel in efficiency; however, the countries of south of Africa, despite having the worst social conditions, were also the most inefficient.

DYNAMICS AND PREDATION EFFICIENCY OF CHRYSOPERLA EXTERNA (NEUROPTERA: CHRYSOPIDAE) ON ENNEOTHRIPS FLAVENS (THYSANOPTERA: THRIPIDAE)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Obesogenic environment by excess of dietary fats in different phases of development reduces spermatic efficiency of wistar rats at adulthood: correlations with metabolic status

This study compares the impact of obesogenic environment (OE) in six different periods of development on sperm parameters and the testicular structure of adult rats and their correlations with sex steroid and metabolic scenario. Wistar rats were exposed to OE during gestation (O1), during gestation/lactation (O2), from weaning to adulthood (O3), from lactation to adulthood (O4), from gestation to sexual maturity (O5), and after sexual maturation (O6). OE was induced by a 20% fat diet, and control groups were fed a balanced diet (4% fat). Serum leptin levels and adiposity index indicate that all groups were obese, except for O1. Three progressive levels of impaired metabolic status were observed: O1 presented insulin resistance, O2 were insulin resistant and obese, and groups O3, O4, and O5 were insulin resistant, obese, and diabetic. These three levels of metabolic damage were proportional to the increase of leptin and decreased circulating testosterone. The impairment in the daily sperm production (DSP) paralleled these three levels of metabolic and hormonal damage being marginal in O1, increasing in O2, and being higher in groups O3, O4, O5, and O6. None of the OE periods affected the sperm transit time in the epididymis, and the lower sperm reserves were caused mainly by impaired DSP. In conclusion, OE during sexual maturation markedly reduces the DSP at adulthood in the rat. A severe reduction in the DSP also occurs in OE exposure during gestation/lactation but not in gestation, indicating that breast-feeding is a critical period for spermatogenic impairment under obesogenic conditions.

Lifetime reproductive efficiency of BALB/c mouse pairs after an environmental modification at 3 mating ages

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Treatment efficiency of effluent prawn culture by wetland with floating aquatic macrophytes arranged in series

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparison of the digestive efficiency of extruded diets fed to ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus)

The digestive tract of ferrets is anatomically simple, with no caecum, ileocolic valve or external differentiation between the transition of ileum and colon. The species has a short large intestine that provides minor contributions to the digestive process. Aiming to better understand the digestibility efficiency of ferrets, the present study compared the digestibility of extruded diets with different amounts of macronutrients fed to dogs, cats and ferrets. Three formulations for cat maintenance were used (values in % of DM basis): high carbohydrate (HC; nitrogen-free extract (NFE) = 54 %, protein = 31 % and fat = 8 %); moderate carbohydrate (MC; NFE = 37 %, protein = 41 % and fat = 10 %); and low carbohydrate (LC; NFE = 19 %, protein = 46 % and fat = 23 %). Apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility was determined by the method of total collection of faeces. Results were compared by ANOVA, considering the diet and species effects and their interactions. Means were compared by the Tukey's test (P < 0·05). Dogs and cats presented similar food intakes, but ferrets consumed almost two times more food (g/kg body weight). Species × diet interactions were verified for apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD; P < 0·05). Ferrets presented lower DM digestibility than dogs and cats for all three diets (P < 0·05), lower NFE digestibility than dogs for the three diets and lower NFE digestibility than cats for the HC and LC diets (P < 0·05). For crude protein (CP), ferrets presented lower ATTD than dogs and cats (P < 0·05), whereas for fat, dogs and ferrets presented similar ATTD, and higher values than those presented by cats (P < 0·05). Kibble diets had a lower DM, CP and NFE digestibility when fed to ferrets compared with dogs and cats. Fat digestibility was similar between dogs and ferrets and higher than that for cats.

Neuromuscular efficiency of the vastus lateralis and biceps femoris muscles in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament injuries

To analyze strength and integrated electromyography (IEMG) data in order to determine the neuromuscular efficiency (NME) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles in patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, during the preoperative and postoperative periods; and to compare the injured limb at these two times, using the non-operated limb as a control. EMG data and BF and VL strength data were collected during three maximum isometric contractions in knee flexion and extension movements. The assessment protocol was applied before the operation and two months after the operation, and the NME of the BF and VL muscles was obtained. There was no difference in the NME of the VL muscle from before to after the operation. On the other hand, the NME of the BF in the non-operated limb was found to have increased, two months after the surgery. The NME provides a good estimate of muscle function because it is directly related to muscle strength and capacity for activation. However, the results indicated that two months after the ACL reconstruction procedure, at the time when loading in the open kinetic chain within rehabilitation protocols is usually started, the neuromuscular efficiency of the VL and BF had still not been reestablished.

Socio-eco-efficiency of integrated and non-integrated systems of crop, forestry and livestock in the Ipameri city, at brazilian Cerrado

Pós-graduação em Ciências Ambientais - Sorocaba