Effects of feed restriction on yield, retail cuts and tissue composition of carcass of Saanen kids

Com o objetivo de estudar o efeito da restrição alimentar sobre as características de carcaça de caprinos leiteiros, realizou-se um experimento utilizando 27 cabritos machos Saanen distribuídos nos tratamentos 0 (alimentação à vontade), 30 ou 60% de restrição. Os animais apresentavam 5 kg de PV inicial e foram abatidos quando atingiram 20 kg de PV. Foram avaliados os rendimentos comercial e biológico, os cortes comerciais, a composição tecidual da perna, a área de olho-de-lombo (AOL) e a compacidade da carcaça. Utilizaram-se o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso e a análise de regressão em função da restrição alimentar. A restrição alimentar provocou redução do peso da carcaça e dos cortes comerciais, aumento da proporção do pescoço e diminuição da proporção do lombo. A proporção de ossos aumentou e a do tecido muscular e da gordura total diminuiu com o aumento da restrição. A proporção de gordura subcutânea diminuiu com o aumento da restrição alimentar. A área de olho-de-lombo (AOL) e a compacidade da carcaça foram afetadas pela restrição alimentar, mas ambas as medidas podem ser utilizadas para predizer a proporção de músculo da carcaça. O tratamento com 30% de restrição alimentar não prejudica a qualidade da carcaça de cabritos leiteiros.

Genetic parameters and relationships between heifers rebreeding and hip height in Nellore cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Habitat use and home range of brown-nosed coati, Nasua nasua (Carnivora: Procyonidae) in the Brazilian Cerrado biome

The brown-nosed coati (Nasua nasua) is a carnivorous species found in all the Brazilian biomes, some of which are endangered areas. The aim of this work was to determine the habitat use and selection, home range and core area of N. nasua in the Cerrado biome, central region of Tocantins, Brazil. The study was carried out in an area of approximately 20 000ha from May 2000 to July 2002. A total of seven box traps were placed in the area for 13 months, three of 11 captured animals were followed and monitored by radio-tracking during 13 months. The monitoring was conducted once a day, three times a week using a car and walking through the study area (radio-tracking and visual contact). The results demonstrate that these three males used more frequently the gallery forest formation, followed by cerrado and wetlands. The use of gallery forest by these animals indicated an habitat selection (Proportion test, z=12.98, p< 0.01). Besides, adult males used the gallery forest more frequently (Fisher's exact test, p<0.01) and wetlands less frequently (Fisher's exact test, p<0.01) than juvenile males, without significant differences between animal ages for cerrado percentage of habitat use. Besides, results also showed a gallery forest selection by adult (Proportion test z= 13.62, p<0.01) and juvenile (Proportion test z=2.68, p<0.01) males, and a wetland selection by the juvenile male (Proportion test z=3.90, p<0.01). The home ranges varied from 2.20 to 7.55km2 for the Minimum Convex Polygon 100% (MCP 100%) and from 4.38 to 13.32km2 for the Harmonic Mean 95% (HM 95%). The smallest home range overlap occurred between the adult males (Nm1 and Nm3), and the greatest between the juvenile Njm2 and the adult Nm1. The average of the core area (HM 75%) for the three monitored animals represented 21.29% of the home range calculated with HM 95%. No overlap between core areas was observed for adult males, but, it was an overlap between the core area of the juvenile male and its band with that of the two adult males. The present study provides new data on core area size and frequency habitat use by adult and juvenile males of N. nasua in the Brazilian Cerrado, that may support conservation efforts. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 1069-1077. Epub 2010 September 01.

Prospective Evaluation of Dietary Treatment in Childhood Constipation: High Dietary Fiber and Wheat Bran Intake Are Associated With Constipation Amelioration

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate, over 24 months, the intake of dietary fiber (DF) and the bowel habit (BH) of constipated children advised a DF-rich diet containing wheat bran.Patients and Methods: BH and dietary data of 28 children with functional constipation defined by the Boston criteria were obtained at visit 1 (V1, n = 28) and at 4 follow-up visits (V2-V5, n = 80). At each visit the BH was rated BAD (worse/unaltered; improved but still complications) or RECOVERY (REC) (improved, no complications; asymptomatic), and a food intake questionnaire was applied. DF intake was calculated according to age (year)+5 to 10 g/day and bran intake according to international tables. Nonparametric statistics were used.Results: Median age (range) was 7.25 years (0.25-15.6 years); 21 children underwent bowel washout (most before V1/V2), and 14 had the last visit at V3/V4. DF intake, bran intake, and the BH rate significantly increased at V2 and remained higher than at V1 through V2 to V5. At V1, median DF intake was 29.9% below the minimum recommended and at the last visit 49.9% above it. Twenty-four children accepted bran at 60 visits, at which median bran intake was 20 g/day and median proportion of DF due to bran 26.9%. Children had significantly higher DF and higher bran intake at V2 to V5 at which they had REC than at those at which they presented BAD BH. DF intake > age+10 g/day was associated with bran acceptance and REC. At the last visit 21 children presented REC (75%); 20 of them were asymptomatic and 18 were off washout/laxatives.Conclusions: High DF and bran intake are feasible in constipated children and contribute to amelioration of constipation.

Reproductive characteristics of stallions during the breeding and non-breeding season in a tropical region

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

Seed with and without Partial Tegument Removal and Substrate Affect Germination of Castanea sativa

Portuguese chestnut (Castanea sativa) is used for forest products, raw nuts and processed flour, paste, and candy. We studied the influence on germination efficiency of seed with and without partial tegument removal combined with different substrate composition (coconut fiber, pine compost and vermiculite) at São Paulo State University, Campus of Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. Randomized blocks were used in a factorial scheme 3x2 (three substrates x two seed types) consisting of six treatments with five replications (twelve seeds). Seeds were sowed in expanded polystyrene trays, with 72 cells, and maintained at 25 C under controlled environment. Rate, time elapsed and speed of seed germination was submitted to ANOVA and the average compared using Tukey's 5% test of probability and curves adjusted based on Gompertz regression. Coconut fiber or vermiculite associated with seed without partial tegument removal showed the highest germination rate, and coconut fiber with or without partial tegument removal displayed the fastest speed of seed germination.

Seed removal by ants from faeces produced by different vertebrate species

Ants frequently harvest seeds from faeces of frugivorous vertebrates. By transporting these seeds to nests, ants may influence seed dispersal success of plants. Seed removal by ants from vertebrate faeces is influenced by the seed species involved. Faeces from different vertebrates differ in chemical composition and physical characteristics. It remains unclear, however, whether the faeces itself affects the ant-seed interaction. In this study experimental seed-containing faecal portions were prepared using defecations of birds, marsupials, and monkeys and seeds of two aroids (Philodendron corcovadense and P. ppendiculatum, Araceae) and one liana species (Schlegelia parviflora, Bignoniaceae). Faecal portions were arranged along a transect established in the understory of a lowland rainforest in southeast Brazil. For P. appendiculatum the probability of detection and the proportion of seeds removed were identical between marsupial and monkey faeces. For P. corcovadense and S. parviflora, the probability of detection was affected by seed species and, apparently, also by the interaction between seed species and type of faeces (P = 0.097), but not by the type of faeces itself (bird or monkey). Both factors (i.e., seed species and type of faeces) affected the proportion of seeds removed (faeces type was marginally significant; P = 0.08), whereas the interaction between them was not significant. The results indicate that seed species affects seed removal by ants, while the type of faeces probably interacts with seed traits to influence faeces detection.

Parameter degeneracies in neutrino oscillation measurement of leptonic CP and T violation

The measurement of the mixing angle theta(13), sign of Deltam(13)(2), and the CP or T violating phase delta is fraught with ambiguities in neutrino oscillation. In this paper we give an analytic treatment of the paramater degeneracies associated with measuring the nu(mu)-->nu(e) probability and its CP and/or T conjugates. For CP violation, we give explicit solutions to allow us to obtain the regions where there exist twofold and fourfold degeneracies. We calculate the fractional differences, (Deltatheta/(θ) over bar), between the allowed solutions which may be used to compare with the expected sensitivities of the experiments. For T violation we show that there is always a complete degeneracy between solutions with positive and negative Deltam(13)(2) which arises due to a symmetry and cannot be removed by observing one neutrino oscillation probability and its T conjugate. Thus there is always a fourfold parameter degeneracy apart from exceptional points. Explicit solutions are also given and the fractional differences are computed. The biprobability CP/T trajectory diagrams are extensively used to illuminate the nature of the degeneracies.

Resistance of wild and near isogenic bean lines with arcelin variants to Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman): I - Winter crop

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of lithium doping on the evolution of rheological and structural properties during gelation of siloxane-poly(oxypropylene) nanocomposites

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

Analysis of culling probability in dairy buffalo using survival models

In order to contribute to the genetic breeding programs of buffaloes, this study aimed to determine the influence of environmental effects on the stayability (ST) of dairy female Murrah buffalo in the herd. Data from 1016 buffaloes were used. ST was defined as the ability of the female to remain in the herd for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 years after the first calving. Environmental effects were studied by survival analysis, adjusted to the fixed effects of farm, year and season of birth, class of first-lactation milk yield and age at first calving. The data were analyzed using the LIFEREG procedure of the SAS program that fits parametric models to failure time data (culling or ST = 0), and estimates parameters by maximum likelihood estimation. Breeding farm, year of birth and first-lactation milk yield significantly influenced (P < 0.0001) the ST to the specific ages (1 to 6 years after the first calving). Buffaloes that were older at first calving presented higher probabilities of being culled 1 year after the first calving, without any effect on culling at older ages. Buffaloes with a higher milk yield at first calving presented a lower culling probability and remained for a longer period of time in the herd. The effects of breeding farm, year of birth and first-lactation milk yield should be included in models used for the analysis of ST in buffaloes. Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2010.

Hydrophobic effect of amphiphilic derivatives of chitosan on the antifungal activity against aspergillus flavus and aspergillus parasiticus

Low molecular weight amphiphilic derivatives of chitosan were synthesized, characterized and their antifungal activities against Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus were tested. The derivatives were synthesized using as starting material a deacetylated chitosan sample in a two step process: the reaction with propyltrimethylammonium bromide (Pr), followed by reductive amination with dodecyl aldehyde. Aiming to evaluate the effect of the hydrophobic modification of the derivatives on the antifungal activity against the pathogens, the degree of substitution (DS1) by Pr groups was kept constant and the proportion of dodecyl (Dod) groups was varied from 7 to 29% (DS2). The derivatives were characterized by 1H-NMR and FTIR and their antifungal activities against the pathogens were tested by the radial growth of the colony and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. The derivatives substituted with only Pr groups exhibited modest inhibition against A. flavus and A. parasiticus, like that obtained with deacetylated chitosan. Results revealed that the amphiphilic derivatives grafted with Dod groups exhibited increasing inhibition indexes, depending on polymer concentration and hydrophobic content. At 0.6 g/L, all amphiphilic derivatives having from 7.0 to 29% of Dod groups completely inhibited fungal growth and the MIC values were found to decrease from 4.0 g/L for deacetylated chitosan to 0.25-0.50 g/L for the derivatives. These new derivatives open up the possibility of new applications and avenues to develop effective biofungicides based on chitosan. © 2013 by the authors.

The effects of water molecules on the electronic and structural properties of peptide nanotubes

The self-assembly of short amino acid chains appears to be one of the most promising strategies for the fabrication of nanostructures. Their solubility in water and the possibility of chemical modification by targeting the amino or carboxyl terminus give peptide-based nanostructures several advantages over carbon nanotube nanostructures. However, because these systems are synthesized in aqueous solution, a deeper understanding is needed on the effects of water especially with respect to the electronic, structural and transport properties. In this work, the electronic properties of l-diphenylalanine nanotubes (FF-NTs) have been studied using the Self-Consistent Charge Density-Functional-based Tight-Binding method augmented with dispersion interaction. The presence of water molecules in the central hydrophilic channel and their interaction with the nanostructures are addressed. We demonstrate that the presence of water leads to significant changes in the electronic properties of these systems decreasing the band gap which can lead to an increase in the hopping probability and the conductivity. © the Owner Societies 2013.

Probability of remission of juvenile idiopathic arthritis following treatment with steroid joint injection

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Rapid Assessment of Seed Removal and Frugivore Activity as a Tool for Monitoring the Health Status of Tropical Forests

Ecological processes in tropical forests are being affected at unprecedented rates by human activities. Yet, the continuity of ecological functions like seed dispersal is crucial for forest regeneration. It thus becomes increasingly urgent to be able to rapidly assess the health status of these processes in order to take appropriate management measures. We tested a method to rapidly evaluate seed removal rates on two animal-dispersed tree species, Virola kwatae and V.michelii (Myristicaceae), at three sites in French Guiana with increasing levels of anthropogenic disturbance. We counted fallen fruits, fruit valves, and seeds of each focal fruiting tree in a single 1m2 quadrat, and calculated two indices: the proportion of seeds removed and the proportion of fruits opened by mammals. They both provide an indirect and rapid assessment of frugivore activity. Our results showed a significant decrease in the proportion of removed seeds (16%) and fruits opened (19%) at the most impacted site in comparison with the other two sites (79% for seeds, 60% and 35% for fruits). This testifies to an increased impoverishment of the primate and toucan communities at the disturbed sites. This standardized protocol provides fast information about the health status of the community of seed dispersers and predators and of their seed removal services. It is time- and cost-effective and is not species-specific, allowing comparisons among sites or over time. We suggest using it with the pantropical Myristicaceae and any other capsule-producing family to rapidly assess the health status of seed removal processes across the tropics.