Effect of intermittent feeding on growth in early juveniles of the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus

Three experiments were conducted with juveniles of the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus to investigate the effect of intermittent feeding regimes on growth and the ability to tolerate the shortage of food. In experiment 1, stage III juveniles were assigned to one of seven intermittent feeding groups (from FS1: 1 day fed/1 day non-fed to FS7: 7 days fed/7 days non-fed) and two control groups, continuously fed (CF) and continuously starved (CS) animals; this experiment comprised a short-term intermittent feeding period until the first molt, followed by a continuous feeding period. In the experiment 2, stage III juveniles were assigned to one of three intermittent feeding groups (FS2 to FS4) and one control group (CF); it consisted of a prolonged intermittent feeding period, until the end of the experiment In the experiment 3, stage VI and VII juveniles were assigned to one of three intermittent feeding groups (FS2 to FS4) and one control (CF); it also consisted of a prolonged intermittent feeding period. The red claw crayfish juveniles were able to tolerate periods of intermittent feeding and underwent compensatory growth after continuous feed was re-established. The ability of crayfish to tolerate intermittent feeding was influenced by developmental stage and duration of the intermittent feeding period. Stage III juveniles survived, but decreased growth, when subjected to prolonged intermittent feeding. However, they showed full compensatory growth when the intermittent feeding period was short and followed by continuous feeding. on the other hand, stage VI-VII tolerated 60 days of prolonged intermittent feeding without any change in growth and survival. The hepatosomatic index (based on wet weight) values of the treatments and the control were similar, suggesting that intermittent feeding may not be considered a nutritional stress condition. The relative pleon weight (based on wet weight) values of the treatments and control were similar suggesting low use of nutrients from the muscle to increase the chance for survival. The juveniles of C quadricarinatus can tolerate relatively long periods of low food availability and this is an important adaptation for their survival in changing/unpredictable environments and an attribute favorable for the production of the species. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Serological Evidence of Bovine Herpesvirus 5 (BoHV-5) in Cattle at the Colombia's Eastern Plains

Several diseases involve the nervous system of cattle, among which infections with Rabies Virus and Bovine Herpes Virus 5 (BoHV-5) are noteworthy. In order to detect seropositive animals to BoHV-5, 156 Brahman-Zebu bovines blood samples from Colombia's eastern plains were analyzed through seroneutralization assay; the area has a history of animals dying with nervous symptoms and which rule out the disease of rabies. All animals were over one year old and randomly selected from two different herds reporting no vaccination for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in a period exceeding one year. Results indicated seropositivity for BoHV-5 in 91 cases (58.4%), of which 88 were also seropositive for bovine herpes virus 1 (BoHV-1), while 41 were seronegative for both agents. 22/64 seronegative cases for BoHV-5 were seropositive for BoHV-1 and 2/43 seronegative cases for BoHV-1 were seropositive for BoHV-5, and consequently, these animals could be only infected by encephalitis herpes virus. With these initial findings, emphasis its placed on the need establish the true impact of the disease in Colombia and proposes the epidemiological surveillance of cattle in the region studied in order to establish mechanisms for control of viral infection.

The Genome Sequence of Taurine Cattle: A Window to Ruminant Biology and Evolution

To understand the biology and evolution of ruminants, the cattle genome was sequenced to about sevenfold coverage. The cattle genome contains a minimum of 22,000 genes, with a core set of 14,345 orthologs shared among seven mammalian species of which 1217 are absent or undetected in noneutherian (marsupial or monotreme) genomes. Cattle-specific evolutionary breakpoint regions in chromosomes have a higher density of segmental duplications, enrichment of repetitive elements, and species-specific variations in genes associated with lactation and immune responsiveness. Genes involved in metabolism are generally highly conserved, although five metabolic genes are deleted or extensively diverged from their human orthologs. The cattle genome sequence thus provides a resource for understanding mammalian evolution and accelerating livestock genetic improvement for milk and meat production.

Ionized oxygen vacancy-related electrical conductivity in (Pb(1-x)La(x)) (Zr(0.90)Ti(0.10))(1-x/4)O(3) ceramics

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

Dielectric response features and oxygen migration on rare earth modified lead titanate ferroelectric ceramics

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

Viabilidade econômica do cultivo de abacaxi no arenito Caiuá, região noroeste do Estado do Paraná

A área da região noroeste do Estado do Paraná, sobre o arenito Caiuá, carece de opções de exploração agrícola economicamente viáveis. Assim, o abacaxi apresenta-se como opção de cultivo, entretanto, necessitando de maiores estudos referentes à sua exploração nesta região. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a viabilidade socioeconômica do cultivo desta frutífera na região de Umuarama, Estado do Paraná em relação às principais regiões fornecedoras de abacaxi para o Estado. Para tanto, visitaram-se três propriedades nos municípios de Umuarama, Cafezal do Sul e Cruzeiro do Oeste, objetivando levantar os coeficientes técnicos desta atividade e seus indicadores de lucratividade. A região analisada apresenta boa capacidade competitiva em relação às regiões tradicionalmente produtoras (Frutal, Estado de Minas Gerais e Guaraçaí, Estado de São Paulo), principalmente pela proximidade do mercado consumidor. O abacaxi é uma excelente opção de cultivo no contexto da agricultura familiar.

Retinol sérico de adolescentes de uma escola da cidade de São Paulo

OBJETIVO: Investigar os níveis séricos de retinol de 218 adolescentes de ambos os sexos com idade entre 10 e 19 anos, matriculados em colégio da rede privada de ensino da cidade de São Paulo, foi o objetivo deste trabalho. MÉTODOS: Para a avaliação da condição nutricional dos adolescentes, utilizaram-se as medidas antropométricas de peso e altura e também a história dietética. A dosagem de retinol foi realizada pela técnica de espectrofotometria, considerando como níveis séricos inadequados valores <1,05µmol/L (30µg/dL). RESULTADOS: A média de ingestão, de acordo com a faixa etária, foi maior que a recomendação, porém com altos valores de desvios padrão, em ambos os sexos. A prevalência de adolescentes com níveis séricos de vitamina A abaixo do adequado foi de 30% em ambos os sexos e a análise da correlação de Índice de Massa Corporal com os níveis séricos de retinol não mostrou significância, como também a análise da correlação entre a densidade de ingestão de vitamina A e níveis séricos de retinol. CONCLUSÃO: Os achados deste estudo sugerem a necessidade da realização de mais investigações sobre vitamina A no período da adolescência, para verificar se o nível sérico baixo desse nutriente é um fator de risco para a saúde do adolescente ou é reflexo da captação acelerada que ocorre para atender necessidades metabólicas.

Registro periodontal simplificado em gestantes

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

Percepção das condições de saúde bucal por gestantes atendidas em uma unidade de saúde no município de Araraquara, São Paulo, Brasil

OBJETIVOS: avaliar a percepção das condições de saúde bucal de um grupo de gestantes, através da aplicação do índice General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). MÉTODOS: participaram do estudo 53 gestantes que freqüentavam uma Unidade Básica de Saúde em Araraquara, São Paulo. Foi aplicado um questionário contendo questões do índice GOHAI, questões sobre a autopercepção das condições bucais e sobre as características sócio-demográficas. Por meio dos testes não-paramétricos Mann-Whitney e Kruskall-Wallis, foram determinados a associação das variáveis sociais e de autopercepção com o índice GOHAI. RESULTADOS: a percepção das condições bucais, medida pelo índice GOHAI, foi positiva e apresentou um valor médio de 31,6. Os dados subjetivos mostram que apenas 12,0% das gestantes classificaram sua condição bucal como ruim, a maioria declarou nenhum problema dentário, embora 58,7% tenha relatado distúrbios gengivais. As questões como dor e/ou desconforto foram as mais percebidas pelas gestantes. CONCLUSÕES: as gestantes fizeram uma avaliação positiva de sua condição bucal, estando o índice GOHAI associado a variáveis relacionadas à autopercepção. Tal índice pode ser aplicado em grupos populacionais como as gestantes, possibilitando medidas educativas e/ou preventivas direcionadas às suas reais necessidades.

Neurochemistry of the afferents to the rat cochlear root nucleus: Possible synaptic modulation of the acoustic startle

Afferents to the primary startle circuit are essential for the elicitation and modulation of the acoustic startle reflex (ASR). In the rat, cochlear root neurons (CRNs) comprise the first component of the acoustic startle circuit and play a crucial role in mediating the ASR. Nevertheless, the neurochemical pattern of their afferents remains unclear. To determine the distribution of excitatory and inhibitory inputs, we used confocal microscopy to analyze the immunostaining for vesicular glutamate and GABA transporter proteins (VGLUT1 and VGAT) on retrogradely labeled CRNs. We also used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry to detect and localize specific neurotransmitter receptor subunits in the cochlear root. Our results show differential distributions of VGLUT1- and VGAT-immunoreactive endings around cell bodies and dendrites. The RT-PCR data showed a positive band for several ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits, M1-M5 muscarinic receptor subtypes, the glycine receptor alpha 1 subunit (GlyR alpha 1), GABA(A), GABA(B), and subunits of alpha 2 and beta-noradrenergic receptors. By immunohistochemistry, we confirmed that CRN cell bodies exhibit positive immunoreaction for the glutamate receptor (GluR) 3 and NR1 GluR subunits. Cell bodies and dendrites were also positive for M2 and M4, and GlyR alpha 1. Other subunits, such as GluR1 and GluR4 of the AMPA GluRs, were observed in glial cells neighboring unlabeled CRN cell bodies. We further confirmed the existence of nor-adrenergic afferents onto CRNs from the locus coeruleus by combining tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry and tract-tracing experiments. Our results provide valuable information toward understanding how CRNs might integrate excitatory and inhibitory inputs, and hence how they could elicit and modulate the ASR. (C) 2008 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative distribution of gibberellins and indole-acetic acid in pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings

The objective was to determine the distribution in pea seedling of GA (by thin layer chromatography) and IAA (by HPLC). Three samples of 30 7/day-old seedlings were sectioned into: apical meristem + plumular hook; stem elongation zone; stem non-elongation zone; cotyledons; root non-elongation zone; root tip. The material was frozen in liquid N and stored at -80 degrees C. The stem elongation zone, the apical meristem+plumular hook and the root tip had low IAA, whereas the stem non-elongation zone and root non-elongation zone had high IAA content. The stem elongation zone and apical meristem plumular hook had high GA, while root non-elongation zone had the lowest GA content.

Senna occidentalis Link. (Caesalpiniaceae) imbibition curves for NaCl osmotic potential levels up to 0.6 MPa

An investigation is reported on the statistical model of imbibition curves of the seeds of Senna occidentalis Link. (Caesalpiniaceae), up to Phase II (start of root emission) in osmotic potential levels (0; -0.2; -0.4 and -0.6 MPa), induced NaCl or PEG 6000. The statistical model for both solutions was y = a [1 b exp(-cx)] where y is the fresh matter of seed in g, and x the time of evaluation in h. The analysis of variance of the estimated parameters, showed that with the NaCl solution, the -0.4 and -0.6 MPa levels differed significantly from the 0 and -0.2 MPa levels, and that with the PEG solution, the -0.6 MPa differed from the rest. Prolongation of Phase II occurred as the potential decreased, with both solutions. More reduction in water uptake and prolongation of this phase occurred with the PEG treatment.

Cordia verbenacea and secretion of mast cells in different animal species

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)