Vocalization data mining for estimating swine stress conditions

This study aimed to identify differences in swine vocalization pattern according to animal gender and different stress conditions. A total of 150 barrow males and 150 females (Dalland® genetic strain), aged 100 days, were used in the experiment. Pigs were exposed to different stressful situations: thirst (no access to water), hunger (no access to food), and thermal stress (THI exceeding 74). For the control treatment, animals were kept under a comfort situation (animals with full access to food and water, with environmental THI lower than 70). Acoustic signals were recorded every 30 minutes, totaling six samples for each stress situation. Afterwards, the audios were analyzed by Praat® 5.1.19 software, generating a sound spectrum. For determination of stress conditions, data were processed by WEKA® 3.5 software, using the decision tree algorithm C4.5, known as J48 in the software environment, considering cross-validation with samples of 10% (10-fold cross-validation). According to the Decision Tree, the acoustic most important attribute for the classification of stress conditions was sound Intensity (root node). It was not possible to identify, using the tested attributes, the animal gender by vocal register. A decision tree was generated for recognition of situations of swine hunger, thirst, and heat stress from records of sound intensity, Pitch frequency, and Formant 1.

Cirurgia Endoscópica Subfascial de veias Perfurantes Insuficientes (CESPI): experiência inicial

OBJETIVO: Estudar os resultados imediatos e a médio prazo da cirurgia endoscópica subfascial de perfurantes. MÉTODO: Estudo clínico, prospectivo e descritivo. Critérios de inclusão: insuficiência venosa crônica primária ou secundária, sistema venoso profundo pérvio e índice tornozelo/braço maior que 0,8. Critérios de exclusão: ocorrência da trombose venosa profunda, ou trauma ou cirurgia ortopédica e cirurgia sobre o sistema venoso profundo durante o período de seguimento pós-operatório. Todos doentes foram examinados pelo ecodoppler colorido antes da operação. RESULTADOS: Foram operados 43 membros a partir de junho/1997. Eram 27 doentes com média de idade 56,5 anos. A insuficiência venosa crônica era secundária à trombose venosa em dois membros. Três membros foram classificados como C3, 15 como C4, 11 como C5 e 14 como C6. A retirada das veias safena interna, safena externa e tributárias foi associada em 35 membros. Foram ligadas três a cinco perfurantes por membro; não houve óbitos no pós-operatório imediato; houve três infecções e as úlceras cicatrizaram em períodos variáveis de duas a 15 semanas. Dezenove doentes obtiveram alta hospitalar no primeiro dia de pós-operatório, seis no segundo e dois no terceiro. Houve uma recidiva de úlcera (4,0%) durante o período de seguimento de 25 meses (média) por causa de perfurante não-ligada. CONCLUSÕES: A cirurgia endoscópica subfascial de veias perfurantes insuficientes associada à cirurgia radical de varizes é segura, acompanha-se de baixo índice de complicações, pode ser adaptada aos instrumentos comuns da cirurgia laparoscópica, indicada para doentes classificados como C4, C5 e C6 e se acompanha de bons resultados imediatos e a médio prazo.

Valores séricos de imunoglobulinas e dos componentes do complemento em gestantes com ruptura prematura de membranas

OBJETIVO: a ruptura prematura de membranas (RPM) tem sido motivo para muitas indagações, dentre as quais os mecanismos imunes envolvidos. Diante da escassez de estudos relacionados ao tema, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os valores séricos de imunoglobulina A (IgA), imnoglobulina G (IgG), imunoglobulina M (IgM), C3 e C4 em gestantes com RPM. MÉTODOS: neste estudo transversal, foram incluídas 36 mulheres grávidas, com idade gestacional entre 23 e 37 semanas. Deste total, 15 mulheres tiveram diagnóstico laboratorial e clínico de RPM. Foram excluídas as pacientes com início do trabalho de parto, sinais clínicos de infecção ou disfunções clínicas com repercussão sistêmica. Concentrações séricas de IgA, IgM e IgG, C3 e C4 foram avaliadas nas pacientes com (grupo de estudo) e sem RPM (grupo controle). A correlação entre as dosagens, o número de partos e o tempo de ruptura foi determinada pelo coeficiente de correlação de Spearman (valor de r). RESULTADOS: os níveis séricos de IgA (média±DP) foram significativamente mais altos nas pacientes do grupo controle do que nas pacientes do grupo de estudo (271,0±107,0 versus 202,9±66,1, respectivamente; p=0,024). Não houve diferença estatística quando os níveis de IgM, IgG, C3 e C4 foram comparados entre os grupos. Não foi notada associação significativa entre o número de partos e as dosagens de IgA, IgM, IgG, C3 e C4 (r entre -0,009 e 0,027; p>0,05). O tempo de ruptura médio das pacientes do grupo de estudo foi de 19,1 horas (uma a 72 horas), sem nenhuma associação com as dosagens séricas avaliadas. CONCLUSÕES: mulheres grávidas com RPM apresentam níveis de IgA significativamente mais baixos do que as pacientes grávidas normais. A variável "número de partos" não atua como um fator de confusão na análise comparativa das dosagens obtidas em pacientes com ou sem RPM, assim como também não houve associação entre o tempo de ruptura e as dosagens séricas de imunoglobulinas e complementos.

Origem e distribuição do plexo braquial de Saimiri sciureus

Os autores descreveram a origem e composição do plexo braquial de quatro Saimiri sciureus, pertencentes ao Centro Nacional de Primatas (Cenp), Ananindeua/PA, os quais foram fixados com formaldeído e dissecados. Os achados revelaram que o plexo braquial desta espécie é constituído por fibras neurais provenientes da união das raízes dorsais e ventrais das vértebras cervicais C4 a C8 e torácica T1, e organizado em quatro troncos. Cada tronco formou um nervo ou um grupo de nervos, cuja origem variou entre os animais; na maioria, foi encontrado o tronco cranial originando o nervo subclávio, o tronco médio-cranial dando origem aos nervos supraescapular, subescapular, parte do radial, e em alguns casos ao nervo axilar, nervo musculocutâneo e ao nervo mediano; o tronco médio-caudal formou parte do nervo radial, e em alguns casos os nervos axilar, nervo musculocutâneo, nervo mediano, nervo toracodorsal, nervo ulnar e nervo cutâneo medial do antebraço, sendo os dois últimos também originados no tronco caudal.

Diagnóstico de alterações neurológicas compressivas da medula espinal de cães com o uso da Tomografia Computadorizada (TC) Helicoidal

Alterações neurológicas em cães são comuns na rotina da clínica médica, sendo necessário identificar o sítio de lesão quando da ocorrência de neuropatias por compressão em estruturas do Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC). O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo epidemiológico das alterações neurológicas compressivas em medula espinal de cães domiciliados em Salvador e região metropolitana: Discopatias, Neoplasias e Traumas identificadas através da Tomografia Computadorizada (TC). Foram avaliados 17 cães de diversas raças com idade entre 2 e 10 anos e de ambos os sexos, atendidos na rotina de dois serviços médicos-veterinários e encaminhados para realização do exame conforme indicação clínica. Imagens em cortes com espessura variando de 0,5 a 2mm em rotação foram produzidas com o Tomógrafo. Dos animais que apresentaram discopatia 12/17 (70,58%), por mielopatia extradural 6/12 (50 %), foram da raça Dachshund com idade média 7,33±1,97 anos e para todos os outros a ocorrência foi pontual; 23,53 % de osteopatias vertebrais, neoplasias ósseas e fraturas, e 5,89% correspondente a neoplasia de medula. Houve uma maior frequência de lesões nos segmentos C4-C6 3/12 (25%), T12-T13 (25 %) e L2-L3 (25 %) dos casos.

Eficiéncia fotosintética y de uso del agua por malezas

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar las características asociadas con la eficiencia fotosintética y del uso del agua en especies de malezas. Los tratamientos fueron compuestos por las especies Bidens pilosa, Commelina benghalensis y Brachiaria plantaginea, sembradas individualmente en las unidades experimentales. El diseño experimental fue en bloques al azar en una factorial 3 x 4 con tres repeticiones. Se evaluaron características asociadas con el uso del agua - tasa transpiratoria (E), conductancia estomática (Gs), presión de vapor en la cavidad subestomatal (Ean) y la eficiencia del uso del agua (EUA) - así como la fotosíntesis - concentración interna de CO2 en la hoja (Ci), CO2 consumido durante la evaluación (ΔC), temperatura media de las hojas en el momento de la evaluación (Tleaf) y la tasa fotosintética (A). B. plantaginea presentó menor E, menor EUA y más altos A y Ci, diferiendo de las otras especies. B. pilosa mostró valores más bajos de EUA, A y T en comparación con otras especies. Según los resultados, se puede concluir que la B. plantaginea fue más eficiente en las características relacionadas con la fotosíntesis, es decir, más eficiente en el aprovechamiento de la luz. B. pilosa fue más eficiente en las características relacionadas con el uso del agua.

Water use efficiency of cassava plants under competition conditions

The objective of this work was to evaluate characteristics associated with the photosynthetic activity of cassava plants in competition with weeds or not. The trial was performed on open environment conditions, with experimental units consisting of fiber glass vases with 150 dm³ filled with Red Yellow Latosol, previously fertilized. Treatments consisted in the cultivation of cassava plants isolated and associated to three weed species (Bidens pilosa, Commelina benghalensis and Brachiaria plantaginea). After cassava shooting, 15 days after planting, a removal of the weeds excess was performed, sown at the time of cassava planting, leaving six plants m-2 of B. pilosa and four plants m-2 of C. benghalensis and B. plantaginea. At 60 days after emergence (DAE), stomatal conductance (Gs), vapor pressure in the substomatal cavity (Ean), temperature gradient between leaf and air (ΔT), transpiration rate (E) and water use efficiency (WUE) were evaluated. B. pilosa showed greater capacity to affect growth of cassava plants. B. plantaginea is very efficient in using water, especially by presenting C4 metabolism, and remains competitive with cassava even under temporarily low water status. C. benghalensis, in turn, is not a good competitor for light and apparently is not the primary cause of water depletion in the soil. The effects of weeds, in this case, were more associated with the competition. However, they were found between moderate to low. This implies that the competition established at experimental level was low.

Implications of weeds of genus euphorbia for crop production: a review

The genus Euphorbia comprises about 2000 species ranging from annuals to trees, including C3, C4, and CAM species. Euphorbia species widely studied in agriculture includes E. antiquorum, E. carollata, E. dentata, E. dracunculoides, E. esula, E. geniculata, E. granulata, E. helioscopia, E. heterophylla, E. hierosolymitana, E. hirta, E. maculata, E. microphylla, E. nerifolia, E. piluifera, E. pulcherrima, E. royleana, E. supine, and E. thiamifolia. These species have been reported mainly in field crops/vegetables, orchards, pastures, and rangelands. Euphorbia plants may present allelopathic effect over desirable cereals, pulses, oilseeds, vegetables, forage plants, and nitrifying bacteria, posing a serious threat to livestock production on open range lands through the release of allelochemicals from roots, stems, leaves, and inflorescence in the rhizosphere. Leaves are reported to be more toxic than other plant parts. Competition of Euphorbia spp. against crop plants is the most important crop yield-limiting factor. The critical period for Euphorbia competition with crops is reported to take place between 17 to 70 days after emergence for most crops, depending on root development during the initial crop growth stage, crop height, tillering or branching capacity, whether weeds emerge at the same time as the crop or later after crop emergence; how quickly crop canopy develops and also on Euphorbia species. A yield reduction of 4-85% has been reported in field crops with different Euphorbia species and distinct occurrence densities. Euphorbia species decrease herbage production by 10 to 100% in pasture and rangelands, with many acting as natural insecticide, fungicide, nematidicide, immunopotentiator, or immunosuppressor.

Natural abundance of 13C in tropical grasses from the INPA, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, herbarium

The stable carbon isotopic composition of 165 grass species was determined with the objective of verifying their photosynthetic pathway (C3 and C4). The samples, taken from the INPA herbarium, were mainly collected in the North of Brazil. Approximately 60% of the species proved to be of the C4 type, with d 13C values ranging from -13.6 to -9.5‰, while the remainder 40% belonged to the C3 type, with values ranging from -34.7 to -23.4‰. This relatively high proportion of C3 species is probably due to the high relative humidity of the sites where the species were collected.

Diurnal variations of non-structural carbohydrates in vegetative tissues of Melinis minutiflora, Echinolaena inflexa and Lolium multiflorum (Poaceae)

Echinolaena inflexa (Poir.) Chase is a native C3 grass species with high biomass production and abundance in the cerrado comparable to Melinis minutiflora Beauv., a C4 forage grass of African origin, widespread in the cerrado, displacing some native herbaceous species. These species accumulate mainly starch, differently of Lolium multiflorum Lam. ssp. italicum Beck cv. Lema (ryegrass), a C3 temperate forage grass that accumulates fructans as the major storage carbohydrate in the vegetative tissues. In the present study, we analyzed diurnal variations in the content and composition of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in the aerial vegetative parts of the three species. Results showed similarity in water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and starch contents between Melinis minutiflora and Echinolaena inflexa, with the exotic grass accumulating higher amounts of NSC. However, the levels of sucrose, glucose and fructose were 10 fold higher in Lolium multiflorum, that accumulates fructan as the main storage carbohydrate. Although the contents of WSC and starch were similar in the tropical species E. inflexa and M. minutiflora, their diurnal variations were different and could be related to starch metabolism, especially in M. minutiflora.

A contribution to the phytogeography of Brazilian campos: an analysis based on Poaceae

Twenty areas from eight Brazilian states were compared according to a list of 224 species of Poaceae. In order to determinate affinity patterns between the areas, a binary matrix was submitted to cluster and ordination analysis. The patterns found were then faced to climate and geographic position. The scores corresponding to the areas obtained from the cluster analysis showed a strong correlation to temperature. The scores corresponding to the species suggest a gradient that associates distribution patterns to the photosynthetic pathway (C3 or C4). The current results suggest that the traditional classification of the Southern American grasslands might require some modification in order to be broadly applicable in the Brazilian context.

A 28-fold increase in secretory protein synthesis is associated with DNA puff activity in the salivary gland of Bradysia hygida (Diptera, Sciaridae)

When the first group of DNA puffs is active in the salivary gland regions S1 and S3 of Bradysia hygida larvae, there is a large increase in the production and secretion of new salivary proteins demonstrable by [3H]-Leu incorporation. The present study shows that protein separation by SDS-PAGE and detection by fluorography demonstrated that these polypeptides range in molecular mass from about 23 to 100 kDa. Furthermore, these proteins were synthesized mainly in the S1 and S3 salivary gland regions where the DNA puffs C7, C5, C4 and B10 are conspicuous, while in the S2 region protein synthesis was very low. Others have shown that the extent of amplification for DNA sequences that code for mRNA in the DNA puffs C4 and B10 was about 22 and 10 times, respectively. The present data for this group of DNA puffs are consistent with the proposition that gene amplification is necessary to provide some cells with additional gene copies for the production of massive amounts of proteins within a short period of time (Spradling AC and Mahowald AP (1980) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 77: 1096-1100).

Fibronectin in the ascitic fluid of cirrhotic patients: correlation with biochemical risk factors for the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Cirrhotic patients (23 with alcoholic cirrhosis, 5 with posthepatitic cirrhosis and 2 with cryptogenic cirrhosis) with ascites and portal hypertension were studied and divided into two groups corresponding to high or low risk to develop spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) related to the concentration of total protein in the ascitic fluid (A-TP): group I (high risk): A-TP£1.5 g/dl and group II (low risk): A-TP>1.5 g/dl. Fibronectin (FN), C3 and C4 concentrations were measured by radial immunodiffusion while total protein was measured by the biuret method. The mean values (group I vs group II) of C3 (12.59 ± 4.72 vs 24.53 ± 15.58 mg/dl), C4 (4.26 ± 3.87 vs 7.26 ± 4.14 mg/dl) and FN (50.47 ± 12.49 vs 75.89 ± 24.70 mg/dl) in the ascitic fluid were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the group considered to be at high risk for SBP. No significant difference was observed in the plasma/ascites fibronectin ratio (3.91 ± 1.21 vs 3.80 ± 1.26) or gradient (131.46 ± 64.01 vs 196.96 ± 57.38) between groups. Fibronectin in ascites was significantly correlated to C3 (r = 0.76), C4 (r = 0.58), total protein (r = 0.73) and plasma FN (r = 0.58) (P<0.05). The data suggest that the FN concentration in ascites is related to the opsonic capacity of this fluid, and that its concentration in the ascitic fluid may be a biochemical risk factor indicator for the development of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Regulation of the expression of NADP-malic enzyme by UV-B, red and far-red light in maize seedlings

The induction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) in etiolated maize (Zea mays) seedlings by UV-B and UV-A radiation, and different levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm) was investigated by measuring changes in activity, protein quantity and RNA levels as a function of intensity and duration of exposure to the different radiations. Under low levels of PAR, exposure to UV-B radiation but not UV-A radiation for 6 to 24 h caused a marked increase in the enzyme levels similar to that observed under high PAR in the absence of UV-B. UV-B treatment of green leaves following a 12-h dark period also caused an increase in NADP-ME expression. Exposure to UV-B radiation for only 5 min resulted in a rapid increase of the enzyme, followed by a more gradual rise with longer exposure up to 6 h. Low levels of red light for 5 min or 6 h were also effective in inducing NADP-ME activity equivalent to that obtained with UV-B radiation. A 5-min exposure to far-red light following UV-B or red light treatment reversed the induction of NADP-ME, and this effect could be eliminated by further treatment with UV-B or red light. These results indicate that physiological levels of UV-B radiation can have a positive effect on the induction of this photosynthetic enzyme. The reducing power and pyruvate generated by the activity of NADP-ME may be used for respiration, in cellular repair processes and as substrates for fatty acid synthesis required for membrane repair.

A protein with amino acid sequence homology to bovine insulin is present in the legume Vigna unguiculata (cowpea)

Since the discovery of bovine insulin in plants, much effort has been devoted to the characterization of these proteins and elucidation of their functions. We report here the isolation of a protein with similar molecular mass and same amino acid sequence to bovine insulin from developing fruits of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotype Epace 10. Insulin was measured by ELISA using an anti-human insulin antibody and was detected both in empty pods and seed coats but not in the embryo. The highest concentrations (about 0.5 ng/µg of protein) of the protein were detected in seed coats at 16 and 18 days after pollination, and the values were 1.6 to 4.0 times higher than those found for isolated pods tested on any day. N-terminal amino acid sequencing of insulin was performed on the protein purified by C4-HPLC. The significance of the presence of insulin in these plant tissues is not fully understood but we speculate that it may be involved in the transport of carbohydrate to the fruit.