Validation of the Deardorff model for estimating energy balance components for a sugarcane crop

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

Water balance in goats subjected to feed restriction

The effect of feed restriction on water balance and nutrient utilization was investigated in individually penned Boer x Saanen kids. Twenty-two male Boer x Saanen kids with an initial average live weight (LW) of 15 kg were used. Seven kids were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (reference animals) and the remainders were allocated to one of the three treatments (0, 30 and 60% restriction) and therefore there were five kids per treatment. The feed intake for the 0% restriction treatment animals determined the intake for the animals in the 30 and 60% restriction treatment. When the animals in the 0% restriction treatment group reached 25 kg LW, the animals in the 30 and 60% restriction treatment groups were also slaughtered. There was a negative relationship between DMI and water intake. The digestibility coefficients for DM, OM, carbohydrates, ash, ether extract, energy, NDF, ADF and lignin did not differ between treatments, whereas the digestibility coefficient for CP was different between treatment groups. The highest metabolic water production was in animals in the 0% restriction treatment group. No significant differences were observed in the composition of gastro-intestinal tract contents of the goats in the different treatments. Lower water retention was found in the animals in the 60% restriction treatment group. The study showed that feed restriction affected water intake, CP digestibility and water retention in the body of the kid goats. This experiment demonstrated that DM:water intake ratio changed when severe feed restriction was applied (60% restriction) and water was freely available. It shows a different pattern of behaviour of penned goats, particularly if feed intake is restricted and perhaps caution is needed to extrapolate results from nutritional and physiological trials in pens to goats at pasture. (c) 2005 Elsevier BX All rights reserved.

Energy balance for biodiesel production by the castor bean crop (Ricinus communis L.)

The castor bean crop (Ricinus communis L.) has acquired prestige due to industries interest in the oil quality and recently for new sources of energy demand. The experiment that served as basis for the data used in this study was conducted at the Lageado Experimental Farm, in Botucatu - SP, 2008. This study aimed to avaluate the crop viability through energy balance and energy efficiency since the implantation until biodiesel production using parameters of consumption in operational management for installation and maintenance of culture harvest and oil production. The soil management operations, sow and harvest consumed the total of 266.20 MJ ha(-1), gathering with the fertilizers, pesticides, fuels, lubricants, labor, seed and industrial processing totaled 56,808 MJ ha(-1) of energy inputs. The energy production was 72,814.00 MJ ha(-1). The industry still lacks studies thal would contribution data collection and more specific energy coefficients. The castor beans cultivation was considered efficient allowing again of 15983.44 MJ ha(-1) equivalent to about 415 liters of diesel oil.

EFFICIENCY of PNEUMATIC and HORIZONTAL PERFORATED DISK METER MECHANISM IN CORN NO-TILLAGE SEEDERS IN SOIL WITH DIFFERENT MOBILIZATION REPORTS

This work objectified to evaluate the efficiency of two meter mechanism of corn seeds when submitted to different forward speed and soil management system during the non-tillage seeding. It was used a factorial design in randomized blocks. The factors whose effects were examined were related to the seeders with pneumatic and horizontal disk meter mechanisms for the distribution of the seeds, to the set tractor-seeder forward speeds (4.4; 8.0 and 9.8 km h(-1)), and to the soil management system considering the corn no-tillage seeding over minimum tillage with chisel plow and the no-tillage system for the seeding of oat culture (Avena strigosa Schreb). It was verified that the forward speed didn't influence the initial and final stands of plants but it interfered in the regularity of longitudinal distribution of plants. The smallest speed provided the largest percentile of normal spacing between plants. The pneumatic meter mechanism presented better performance than the horizontal disk perforated in the longitudinal distribution of plants. About corn productivity aspect it's indifferent the recommendation of use for pneumatic and perforated horizontal disk meter mechanism of seeds.

Radiation balance at the surface in the city of So Paulo, Brazil: diurnal and seasonal variations

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phosphorus and potassium balance in soil under crop rotation and fertilization

The use of crop rotation and manure application can provide sustainability for an agricultural production system by improving soil quality and increasing nutrient use efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mineral, organic and mineral+organic fertilization on grain yield and on soil phosphorus and potassium balance, in two crop systems under no-till, with and without rotation of cover crops. The experiment was carried out from 2006 to 2008 on a clayey Rhodic Hapludox in Marechal Candido Rondon, Parana State, Brazil. The cropping sequence in the rotation system involving cover crops was black oat + hairy vetch + forage turnip/corn/pigeon pea/wheat/mucuna + brachiaria + sunn hemp, and in the succession system was wheat/corn/wheat/soybean. Organic and mineral+organic fertilizations consisted of the application of solely manure and manure combined with mineral fertilizer, respectively. Soil P and K balances were calculated after the second year of the experiment, up to a depth of 0.40 m. First year corn yields were higher in the crop succession system accompanied by mineral fertilization. In the second year, wheat and soybean yield did not vary between crop systems and nutrient sources, demonstrating the residual effect of crop rotation and manure use. Crop rotation with cover crops resulted in an increase in soil K levels by promoting the recycling of this nutrient in the soil. In both crop systems, the application of mineral and organic fertilizers - either in isolation or in combination - resulted in a negative soil P and K balance in the short term. This represents a threat to the sustainability of the agricultural production system in the long term, due to the depletion of soil nutrient reserves.

Seleção de sementes de milho durante a simulação da semeadura com disco perfurado horizontal

Teve-se o objetivo de verificar a possível seleção de sementes de milho - arredondadas e achatadas - no processo de semeadura com disco perfurado horizontal, bem como as conseqüências na distribuição longitudinal. Os registros dos dados deram-se pela avaliação visual de duas pessoas, com contador manual, no final da esteira carpetada em movimento de 1,54 m s-1, com 4,60 m de perspectiva para avaliação. Assim, um sensor registrava o número de orifícios do disco horizontal que devia passar pelo tubo condutor, e os espaçamentos falhos e múltiplos eram computados por pessoas diferentes. Os espaçamentos aceitáveis foram obtidos pela subtração dos espaçamentos falhos e múltiplos do total contabilizado. A medição do comprimento e espessura das sementes foi realizada com auxílio de paquímetro. Não houve alterações significativas nas variáveis estudadas, até a passagem de 55 mil orifícios do disco horizontal pelo tubo condutor; portanto, não houve seleção de sementes de milho durante a simulação do processo de semeadura.

Estimativas das componentes da radiação solar incidente em superfícies inclinadas baseadas na radiação global horizontal

Statistics equations and validations with groups of annual and monthly data were evaluated for global, direct and diffuse solar radiation components incident on the tilted surface to 12.85, 22.85 and 32.85 degrees with the face North, in climate and geographical conditions of Botucatu, SP. It was employed the fractions of three components of extraterrestrial radiation in correlation with the coefficient clearness index horizontal plane, in a database of April/1998 to December/2007, whose measures at different periods in three inclinations, however concomitant to the horizontal plane. Increasing the angle of the surface led to increased scattering of the daily values of clearness index for inclined and horizontal surfaces. In annual groups, the lower performances were observed in the estimation of inclined daily diffuse radiation, with maximum Root Mean Square Error to 3.89 MJ m(-2) d(-1) (43.65%) and adjustments around 62%. In estimates of global and direct components of solar radiation on inclined planes, both annual and monthly equations can be applied, with performance dependents to climatic conditions.

Postural control and functional balance in individuals with diabetic peripheral neuropathy

A Neuropatia diabética periférica (NDP) cursa com redução somatossensitiva que pode levar a alterações no controle postural. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o controle postural na postura ereta, em diferentes condições, e o equilíbrio funcional em indivíduos com NDP, correlacionar os resultados obtidos na avaliação do controle postural com os valores do teste do equilíbrio funcional e comparar os resultados obtidos no grupo neuropata com o grupo controle, verificando as possíveis diferenças entre as condições de avaliação em ambos os grupos. Participaram do estudo 13 mulheres com NDP (GN) e 17 mulheres não diabéticas (GC). A avaliação do controle postural foi realizada por cinemetria nas condições: olhos abertos (OA), olhos fechados (OF) e semi tandem (ST). Após processamento no MATLAB, foram geradas as variáveis: amplitude média de oscilação (AMO) na direção ântero-posterior (AP) e médio-lateral (ML); e velocidade média de oscilação (VMO) na direção AP e ML. O equilíbrio funcional foi avaliado pelo Timed Up and Go Test. Houve diferença significante entre os grupos (p<0,005) na AMO-AP OA e OF, AMO-ML of e ST e VMO-ML ST. Houve diferença entre as condições OA e ST (p<0,005) e of e ST (p<0,005) para as variáveis AMO-ML e VMO-ML, com maior prejuízo para o GN, que também apresentou um menor equilíbrio funcional (p=0,001). A instabilidade ML foi correlacionada positivamente com o desequilíbrio funcional. Os resultados nos mostram uma alteração no sistema de controle postural na NDP, o que pode levar estes indivíduos a um maior risco a quedas e prejuízos funcionais.

Endurance training stimulates growth and survival pathways and the redox balance in rat pancreatic islets

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

Effects of mercury intoxication on the response of horizontal cells of the retina of thraira fish (Hoplias malabaricus)

Methyl mercury (MeHg) is highly neurotoxic, affecting visual function in addition to other central nervous system functions. The effect of mercury intoxication on the amplitude of horizontal cell responses to light was studied in the retina of the fish Hoplias malabaricus. Intracellular responses were recorded from horizontal cells of fish previously intoxicated with MeHg by intraperitoneal injection (IP group) or by trophic exposure (T group). Only one retina per fish was used. The doses of MeHg chloride administered to the IP group were 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 1.0, 2.0, and 6.0 mg/kg. The amplitudes of the horizontal cell responses were lower than control in individuals exposed to 0.01 (N = 4 retinas), 0.05 (N = 2 retinas) and 0.1 mg/kg (N = 1 retina), whereas no responses were recorded in the 1.0, 2.0, and 6.0 mg/kg groups. T group individuals were fed young specimens of Astyanax sp previously injected with MeHg corresponding to 0.75 (N = 1 retina), 0.075 (N = 8 retinas) or 0.0075 (N = 4 retinas) mg/kg fish body weight. After 14 doses, one every 5 days, the amplitude of the horizontal cell response was higher than control in individuals exposed to 0.075 and 0.0075 mg/kg, and lower in individuals exposed to 0.75 mg/kg. We conclude that intoxication with MeHg affects the electrophysiological response of the horizontal cells in the retina, either reducing or increasing its amplitude compared to control, and that these effects are related to the dose and/or to the mode of administration.

Electrolytic Balance in Broiler Chicks During the First Week of Age

Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, utilizando-se 712 pintos de corte para avaliar o efeito do balanço eletrolítico (Na+K-Cl) em rações pré-iniciais (1-7 dias) de frangos de corte. As rações à base de milho e farelo de soja, com 21,5 % de proteína e 2.900 kcal EM/kg, foram oferecidas à vontade. No experimento I, o nível de K foi fixado e os níveis de Na e Cl foram manipulados, em 4 tratamentos com 8 repetições de 16 aves cada. No experimento II, níveis mais elevados de Na e K foram usados, com 4 tratamentos e 5 repetições de 10 aves cada. em ambos os experimentos, os balanços eletrolíticos foram de 40; 140; 240 e 340 mEq/kg de ração. O balanço eletrolítico causou um efeito quadrático no ganho de peso e na conversão alimentar e um aumento linear no consumo de alimento quando o balanço eletrolítico foi aumentado pela suplementação de Na, indicando que esse íon estimula o consumo de alimento das aves nesse período. Porém, o consumo de alimento foi máximo em 202 mEq/kg, quando os níveis de K e Na foram simultaneamente aumentados na dieta, indicando que o limite superior de consumo de alimento é deprimido em função do K em excesso. O balanço eletrolítico ideal foi entre 246 e 277 mEq/kg obtidos pela manipulação dos níveis de Na e Cl.

Effect of hormone therapy on postural balance in postmenopausal women

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

Evaluation of postural balance in postmenopausal women and its relationship with bone mineral density- a cross sectional study

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