Determinants of second row passenger comfort

China is becoming an increasingly important automotive market. Customer’s vehicle usage, preferences and requirements differ from traditional western markets in a number of aspects – rear seat usage rates are higher, vehicles are used for business purposes as well as for private transport and rear seat usage is generally more important to Chinese customers compared to their western counterparts. The purpose of this project is to dimension and investigate these differences from an ergonomics perspective and use these results to guide the design of future products. The focus for this project will be specific to vehicles in the CD segment. More specifically, this project focuses on the second row ‘ambience’. Ambience refers to the global feeling perceived by second row passengers, and the main factors contributing to ambience are: ingress and egress comfort, seat comfort, roominess, and ease of use of the controls. In order to investigate the aforementioned parameters, an experimental study has been conducted in Shanghai, China. This experiment involved 80 healthy Chinese CD- and D-car customers. These subjects were asked to evaluate different features present in the second row environment of three different cars: A Ford Mondeo, Toyota Camry and Mercedes S-class. Various data has been collected during this experiment: First, the anthropometric dimensions of the subjects have been measured. The subjects were also asked to fill a questionnaire about demographics, their own car usage, and their perception of a various number of features present in the three tested cars. A great amount of technical data was also collected. The first part of this report presents the results given by the questionnaires. It includes Chinese demographics, vehicle usage habits, and the subjective perception of the features present in the tested cars. It also presents the results of the anthropometric measurements. This gives a first insight into Chinese customers’ habits and preferences. The second part deals with the technical data recorded during the experiment: second row seat adjustment ranges, roominess, optimal location of controls, and pressure mapping analysis. Analysis of technical data allows a deeper understanding of the factors contributing to comfort and ambience perception. Using the technical data together with the comfort ratings given by the subjects in the questionnaire, recommendations on several design parameters were provided. Finally, an experimental study of car ingress-egress has been conducted in a University laboratory controlled environment. During this study, the ingress and egress motion of 20 customers from Chinese origin was recorded using a motion capture system. The last part of this report presents the protocol and data processing that led to building an ingress-egress motion database that was provided to Ford.

Relevance of the deletion polymorphisms of the glutathione S-transferases GSTT1 and GSTM1 in pharmacology and toxicology

Although cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes occupy a key position in biological detoxification processes, two of the most relevant human isoenzymes, GSTT1-1 and GSTM1-1, are genetically deleted (non-functional alleles GSTT1*0 and GSTM1*0) in a high percentage of the human population, with major ethnic differences. The structures of the GSTT and GSTM gene areas explain the underlying genetic processes. GSTT1-1 is highly conserved during evolution and plays a major role in phase-II biotransformation of a number of drugs and industrial chemicals, e.g. cytostatic drugs, hydrocarbons and halogenated hydrocarbons. GSTM1-1 is particularly relevant in the deactivation of carcinogenic intermediates of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Several lines of evidence suggest that hGSTT1-1 and/or hGSTM1-1 play a role in the deactivation of reactive oxygen species that are likely to be involved in cellular processes of inflammation, ageing and degenerative diseases. There is cumulating evidence that combinations of the GSTM1*0 state with other genetic traits affecting the metabolism of carcinogens (CYP1A1, GSTP1) may predispose the aero-digestive tract and lung, especially in smokers, to a higher risk of cancer. The GSTM1*0 status appears also associated with a modest increase in the risk of bladder cancer, consistent with a GSTM1 interaction with carcinogenic tobacco smoke constituents. Both human GST deletions, although largely counterbalanced by overlapping substrate affinities within the GST superfamily, have consequences when the organism comes into contact with distinct man-made chemicals. This appears relevant in industrial toxicology and in drug metabolism.

Multilevel competing risk models to evaluate the risk of nosocomial infection

Introduction Risk factor analyses for nosocomial infections (NIs) are complex. First, due to competing events for NI, the association between risk factors of NI as measured using hazard rates may not coincide with the association using cumulative probability (risk). Second, patients from the same intensive care unit (ICU) who share the same environmental exposure are likely to be more similar with regard to risk factors predisposing to a NI than patients from different ICUs. We aimed to develop an analytical approach to account for both features and to use it to evaluate associations between patient- and ICU-level characteristics with both rates of NI and competing risks and with the cumulative probability of infection. Methods We considered a multicenter database of 159 intensive care units containing 109,216 admissions (813,739 admission-days) from the Spanish HELICS-ENVIN ICU network. We analyzed the data using two models: an etiologic model (rate based) and a predictive model (risk based). In both models, random effects (shared frailties) were introduced to assess heterogeneity. Death and discharge without NI are treated as competing events for NI. Results There was a large heterogeneity across ICUs in NI hazard rates, which remained after accounting for multilevel risk factors, meaning that there are remaining unobserved ICU-specific factors that influence NI occurrence. Heterogeneity across ICUs in terms of cumulative probability of NI was even more pronounced. Several risk factors had markedly different associations in the rate-based and risk-based models. For some, the associations differed in magnitude. For example, high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores were associated with modest increases in the rate of nosocomial bacteremia, but large increases in the risk. Others differed in sign, for example respiratory vs cardiovascular diagnostic categories were associated with a reduced rate of nosocomial bacteremia, but an increased risk. Conclusions A combination of competing risks and multilevel models is required to understand direct and indirect risk factors for NI and distinguish patient-level from ICU-level factors.

Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks in 188 countries, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Background The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study 2013 (GBD 2013) is the first of a series of annual updates of the GBD. Risk factor quantification, particularly of modifiable risk factors, can help to identify emerging threats to population health and opportunities for prevention. The GBD 2013 provides a timely opportunity to update the comparative risk assessment with new data for exposure, relative risks, and evidence on the appropriate counterfactual risk distribution. Methods Attributable deaths, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) have been estimated for 79 risks or clusters of risks using the GBD 2010 methods. Risk–outcome pairs meeting explicit evidence criteria were assessed for 188 countries for the period 1990–2013 by age and sex using three inputs: risk exposure, relative risks, and the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL). Risks are organised into a hierarchy with blocks of behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks at the first level of the hierarchy. The next level in the hierarchy includes nine clusters of related risks and two individual risks, with more detail provided at levels 3 and 4 of the hierarchy. Compared with GBD 2010, six new risk factors have been added: handwashing practices, occupational exposure to trichloroethylene, childhood wasting, childhood stunting, unsafe sex, and low glomerular filtration rate. For most risks, data for exposure were synthesised with a Bayesian meta-regression method, DisMod-MR 2.0, or spatial-temporal Gaussian process regression. Relative risks were based on meta-regressions of published cohort and intervention studies. Attributable burden for clusters of risks and all risks combined took into account evidence on the mediation of some risks such as high body-mass index (BMI) through other risks such as high systolic blood pressure and high cholesterol. Findings All risks combined account for 57·2% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 55·8–58·5) of deaths and 41·6% (40·1–43·0) of DALYs. Risks quantified account for 87·9% (86·5–89·3) of cardiovascular disease DALYs, ranging to a low of 0% for neonatal disorders and neglected tropical diseases and malaria. In terms of global DALYs in 2013, six risks or clusters of risks each caused more than 5% of DALYs: dietary risks accounting for 11·3 million deaths and 241·4 million DALYs, high systolic blood pressure for 10·4 million deaths and 208·1 million DALYs, child and maternal malnutrition for 1·7 million deaths and 176·9 million DALYs, tobacco smoke for 6·1 million deaths and 143·5 million DALYs, air pollution for 5·5 million deaths and 141·5 million DALYs, and high BMI for 4·4 million deaths and 134·0 million DALYs. Risk factor patterns vary across regions and countries and with time. In sub-Saharan Africa, the leading risk factors are child and maternal malnutrition, unsafe sex, and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing. In women, in nearly all countries in the Americas, north Africa, and the Middle East, and in many other high-income countries, high BMI is the leading risk factor, with high systolic blood pressure as the leading risk in most of Central and Eastern Europe and south and east Asia. For men, high systolic blood pressure or tobacco use are the leading risks in nearly all high-income countries, in north Africa and the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. For men and women, unsafe sex is the leading risk in a corridor from Kenya to South Africa. Interpretation Behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks can explain half of global mortality and more than one-third of global DALYs providing many opportunities for prevention. Of the larger risks, the attributable burden of high BMI has increased in the past 23 years. In view of the prominence of behavioural risk factors, behavioural and social science research on interventions for these risks should be strengthened. Many prevention and primary care policy options are available now to act on key risks.

Correlación entre la personalidad y los factores de la Teoría del Comportamiento Planeado (TCP) en adolescentes escolarizados de 11-19 años del Caribe Colombiano

The increasing rate of pregnancies in teenagers and the high incident of the infections of sexual transmission (HIV/ AIDS, for example), these are health related issues (and especially the sexual and reproductive health), which have received great attention on the part of investigators and of the public opinion in general. Recently, there has been evidenced that teenagers carry out very easily risk sexual behaviors, and those who have not presented the above mentioned behaviors also show high levels of intention to carry out them. There is the hypothesis that besides cognitive variables such as attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control and intention, the personality of the young persons is an aspect that plays an important paper in their sexual and reproductive health. Significant correlations were found between the variales of the TPB and the personality traits; the results suggest that the direction of these correlations is associated with the specific type of behavior or situation that is assessed. Keywords: personality, theory of planned behavior, adolescents, reproductive sexuality.

Averting biodiversity collapse in tropical forest protected areas

The rapid disruption of tropical forests probably imperils global biodiversity more than any other contemporary phenomenon(1-3). With deforestation advancing quickly, protected areas are increasingly becoming final refuges for threatened species and natural ecosystem processes. However, many protected areas in the tropics are themselves vulnerable to human encroachment and other environmental stresses(4-9). As pressures mount, it is vital to know whether existing reserves can sustain their biodiversity. A critical constraint in addressing this question has been that data describing a broad array of biodiversity groups have been unavailable for a sufficiently large and representative sample of reserves. Here we present a uniquely comprehensive data set on changes over the past 20 to 30 years in 31 functional groups of species and 21 potential drivers of environmental change, for 60 protected areas stratified across the world's major tropical regions. Our analysis reveals great variation in reserve `health': about half of all reserves have been effective or performed passably, but the rest are experiencing an erosion of biodiversity that is often alarmingly widespread taxonomically and functionally. Habitat disruption, hunting and forest-product exploitation were the strongest predictors of declining reserve health. Crucially, environmental changes immediately outside reserves seemed nearly as important as those inside in determining their ecological fate, with changes inside reserves strongly mirroring those occurring around them. These findings suggest that tropical protected areas are often intimately linked ecologically to their surrounding habitats, and that a failure to stem broad-scale loss and degradation of such habitats could sharply increase the likelihood of serious biodiversity declines.

How much land-based greenhouse gas mitigation can be achieved without compromising food security and environmental goals?

Feeding 9-10billion people by 2050 and preventing dangerous climate change are two of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Both challenges must be met while reducing the impact of land management on ecosystem services that deliver vital goods and services, and support human health and well-being. Few studies to date have considered the interactions between these challenges. In this study we briefly outline the challenges, review the supply- and demand-side climate mitigation potential available in the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use AFOLU sector and options for delivering food security. We briefly outline some of the synergies and trade-offs afforded by mitigation practices, before presenting an assessment of the mitigation potential possible in the AFOLU sector under possible future scenarios in which demand-side measures codeliver to aid food security. We conclude that while supply-side mitigation measures, such as changes in land management, might either enhance or negatively impact food security, demand-side mitigation measures, such as reduced waste or demand for livestock products, should benefit both food security and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation. Demand-side measures offer a greater potential (1.5-15.6Gt CO2-eq. yr(-1)) in meeting both challenges than do supply-side measures (1.5-4.3Gt CO2-eq. yr(-1) at carbon prices between 20 and 100US$ tCO(2)-eq. yr(-1)), but given the enormity of challenges, all options need to be considered. Supply-side measures should be implemented immediately, focussing on those that allow the production of more agricultural product per unit of input. For demand-side measures, given the difficulties in their implementation and lag in their effectiveness, policy should be introduced quickly, and should aim to codeliver to other policy agenda, such as improving environmental quality or improving dietary health. These problems facing humanity in the 21st Century are extremely challenging, and policy that addresses multiple objectives is required now more than ever.

Co-benefits, trade-offs, barriers and policies for greenhouse gas mitigation in the agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector

The agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU) sector is responsible for approximately 25% of anthropogenic GHG emissions mainly from deforestation and agricultural emissions from livestock, soil and nutrient management. Mitigation from the sector is thus extremely important in meeting emission reduction targets. The sector offers a variety of cost-competitive mitigation options with most analyses indicating a decline in emissions largely due to decreasing deforestation rates. Sustainability criteria are needed to guide development and implementation of AFOLU mitigation measures with particular focus on multifunctional systems that allow the delivery of multiple services from land. It is striking that almost all of the positive and negative impacts, opportunities and barriers are context specific, precluding generic statements about which AFOLU mitigation measures have the greatest promise at a global scale. This finding underlines the importance of considering each mitigation strategy on a case-by-case basis, systemic effects when implementing mitigation options on the national scale, and suggests that policies need to be flexible enough to allow such assessments. National and international agricultural and forest (climate) policies have the potential to alter the opportunity costs of specific land uses in ways that increase opportunities or barriers for attaining climate change mitigation goals. Policies governing practices in agriculture and in forest conservation and management need to account for both effective mitigation and adaptation and can help to orient practices in agriculture and in forestry towards global sharing of innovative technologies for the efficient use of land resources. Different policy instruments, especially economic incentives and regulatory approaches, are currently being applied however, for its successful implementation it is critical to understand how land-use decisions are made and how new social, political and economic forces in the future will influence this process.

The influence of termites on soil sheeting properties varies depending on the materials on which they feed

Fungus-growing termites are involved in many ecological processes and play a central role in influencing soil dynamics in the tropics. The physical and chemical properties of their nest structures have been largely described; however less information is available concerning the relatively temporary structures made above-ground to access food items and protect the foraging space (the soil `sheetings'). This study investigated whether the soil physical and chemical properties of these constructions are constant or if they vary depending on the type of food they cover. Soil samples and soil sheetings were collected in a forest in India, from leaves on the ground (LEAF), fallen branches (WOOD), and vertical soil sheetings covering the bark of trees (TREE). In this environment, termite diversity was dominated by Odontotermes species, and especially Odontotermes feae and Odontotermes obesus. However, there was no clear niche differentiation and, for example, O. feae termites were found on all the materials. Compared with the putative parent soil (control), TREE sheetings showed the greatest (and most significant) differences (higher clay content and smaller clay particle sizes, lower C and N content and smaller delta C-13 and delta N-15), while LEAF sheetings were the least modified, though still significantly different than the control soil. We suggest that the termite diversity is a less important driver of potential soil modification than sheeting diversity. Further, there is evidence that construction properties are adapted to their prospective life-span, with relatively long-lasting structures being most different from the parent soil. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Determinación de la digestibilidad "in situ" del afrecho de cerveza

El presente trabajo se realizó en la Hda. Las Mercedes, perteneciente a la Universidad Nacional Agraria, Situada en el Kilómetro once y medio carretera Norte, Managua, con el objetivo de determinar el valor nutritivo del afrecho de cerveza y la degradación de la MS y PB del mismo, por un tiempo determinado. Se empleó una vaca adulta, con previa fistulación, el manejo de la vaca fue similar al que se utiliza en la Hacienda. El afrecho de cerveza fue secado y molido y se efectúo análisis bromatológico según metodología de la A.O.A.C. (1984). Se incubaron en el rumen de la vaca fistulada ocho bolsas con 10 grs. de afrecho de cerveza cada una, para ser sacadas las bolsas de dos en dos en loa intervalos de tiempo de 6, 12, 24 y 48 hrs., se cálculo el porcentaje de MS y PB según metodología A.O.A.C. (1984). Además se utilizó una bolsa testigo, conteniendo también 10 grs. de afrecho de cerveza, la cual sirvió para determinar las pérdidas de MS y PB que se dieron por el lavado o por rápida solubilización, conocido como tiempo cero. Calculándose el porcentaje de degradación, de la MS (44.9, 60.2, 61.2 y 73.0) y la PB (60.6, 79.5, 83.8 y 93.3); se hicieron curvas de degradación según ecuación; D = A+B(l-e-ct)de Orskov y McDonald (1979). Donde los porcentajes de la ecuación para la MS fueron de 44.9, 63.0, 77.3, 82.2 y para la PB de 60.2, 82.3, 93.9 y 95.9. Se efectuó la prueba de t (student) para datos pareados, para comparar, la degradación de la MS y PB de la parte experimental vs la degradación de la ecuación, para lo cual se encontró, que no existen diferencias significativas (P<0.05), tanto para la MS experimental vs MS ecuación, como para la PB experimental vs PB ecuación. Lo cual indica que la estimación es eficiente. Se concluyó, que el afrecho de cerveza según su valor nutritivo y tasa de degradación, puede ser considerado un suplemento proteico de lenta degradación. La máxima degradación de la MS y PB, fue a las 48 horas, presentando porcentajes altos de degradación 73% y 93.3% respectivamente.

Evaluación productiva de los pastos estrella (Cynodon nlemfuensis) y guinea (Panicum maximum),con y sin árboles, Managua

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivos: Determinación de la composición botánica de la pastura con y sin árboles, así como evaluar la producción de biomasa fresca y seca de las especies forrajeras, en los intervalos de 0-35 y 0-25 días en la época seca, al igual que se determinará la relación que existe entre altura del fuste, área de la copa del árbol con respecto a la producción de biomasa de la pastura y por último sus beneficios económicos. El estudio se llevó a cabo en la finca las Mercedes, ubicada en el costado sur del matadero CARNIC, km. 10 1/2 de la carretera norte. Para determinar la composición botánica y producción de la biomasa forrajera así como su relación con los factores, se seleccionaron siete colonias de las cuales cinco eran de pasto Estrella, cuatro de los cuales poseían árboles y dos de pasto Guinea, de las cuales una poseían árboles. En las parcelas con árboles las mediciones se realizaron a tres distancias diferentes de la base del árbol, denominándosele distancia l, de 0-10 m de la base del árbol, distancia 2, de 10-20 m y la distancia 3, más de 20 m de la base del árbol. Para la realización de los análisis estadísticos se hizo uso de análisis de varianza para modelos lineales, a cada una de las variables dependientes, se le efectúo una prueba de rango múltiple de Duncan a las variables con significancia, además se realizó correlaciones entre colonia, intervalo, distancia, área de la copa y altura del fuste, con el objetivo de determinar cuál o cuáles son los que presentan mayor relación positiva o negativa con la producción de forraje. Los análisis estadísticos nos indican que no existe diferencia significativa entre colonia y distancias con respecto a la composición botánica. Por otra parte existen diferencias altamente significativas entre colonia, intervalo, distancias, con relación a la producción de biomasa fresca y seca, altura del pasto, cobertura efectiva y total. Las máximas producciones de forrajes son alcanzadas por las áreas forrajeras sin árbol, obteniendo la colonia uno de pasto estrella sin árbol una producción de 593.32 kg. MS/ha. y la colonia seis de pasto guinea sin árbol una producción de 226.68 kg. MS/ha. Con relación a los factores existe diferencia altamente significativa entre altura del fuste y diferencia significativa en área de la copa con respecto a la producción de biomasa fresca y seca. Las áreas de pasto sin árbol presentaron mejor rentabilidad con relación a las áreas de pasto con árbol

Evaluación del comportamiento productivo de tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus) utilizando cuatro tipos de fertilizantes orgánicos

El presente trabajo se desarrolló dentro del marco del proyecto UNA•IFS, financiado por la lntemational Foundation for Science. Este tuvo como objetivo general: Evaluar cuatro tipos de fertilizantes orgánicos provenientes de cerdos alimentados con concentrado y desperdicios de cocina en la producc1ón de Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Contribuyendo a reducir la contaminación ambiental los siguientes objetivos específicos: l. Evaluar el comportamiento de la ganancia media diaria (G. M.D), peso vivo y talla de las Tilapias producidas en estanques fertilizados con cuatro tipos de fertilizante orgánico. 2. Determinar la relación entre las, variables talla y peso. de acuerdo a los cuatro tipos de fertilizante. 3. Evaluar los parámetros de calidad del agua (OD, pH, T°) en función de los cuatro tipos de fenili.zante orgánico. 4. Evaluar económicamente los cuatro tipos de fertilizantes utilizados en la producción de Tilapia. El experimento se llevó a cabo en la hacienda “ Las Mercedes" de la Universidad Nacional Agraria Se utilizaron cuatro estanques de cemento ya establecidos (4.75x3.55x0.90 m). En cada W10 se sembraron 25 tilapias macho (dos peces/m 1 representc.tdo 2 tilapias; una unidad experimental. El recambio de agua se dio de forma natural. Se midió diariamente –T°, pH, OD. Los muestreos se realizaron cada 14 días. Los tratamientos evaluados fueron: T1= Efluente de biodigestores que procesaron estiércol de cerdos alimentados con concentrado; T2= Estiércol fresco de cerdos alimentados con concentrado: T3= Efluente de biodigestores que procesaron estiércol de cerdos alimentados con desperdicios de cocina; T4= Estiércol fresco de cerdos alimentados con desperdicios de cocina. Las variables e.valuadas fueron: peso. talla G.M.D, Calidad del agua (OD, T°, pH). El ensayo se montó y se analizó como un D.C.A. en arreglo bifactorial donde: Factor A== Periodo o muestreo (cada 14 días;) y Factor B: Tipo de Fertilizante. Los cuatro tratamientos orgánicos evaluados constituyen potenciales fertilizantes para el cultivo de tilapia por su buen comportamiento productivo y económico. Para todas las variables analizadas (peso, talla, GMD) el tratamiento que mejor comportamiento presentó fue el T2.seguido del T4. Asimismo el peso y la talla fueron aumentando conforme el tiempo de muestreo. El peso de las tilapias utilizadas en el ensayo se \lo afectado en un 91 %por el comportamiento de la talla. Todos los parámetros de calidad del agua (0.D, pH y T°), estuvieron dentro de los parámetros recomendados para la producción de tilapias. Económicamente considerando el proceso de los tratamientos, tanto el que procedió de animales alimentados con concentrados como el que procedió de desperdicios de cocina. repor1ó mayores utilidades aplicar el estiércol fresco directamente a los estanques, que al procesarlo por biodigestión. Considerando el origen de los tratamientos, tanto utilizando los efluentes como estiércol fresco. El productor obtiene más utilidades cuando provienen de cerdos alimentados con desperdicios de cocina.

Producción de biomasa de Moringa oleifera bajo diferentes densidades de siembra y frecuencias de corte en el trópico seco de Nicaragua

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto de tres densidades de siembra y frecuencias de corte sobre la producción de Moringa Oleífera. El ensayo se llevó a cabo en la hacienda "Santa Rosa", localizada geográficamente a 12°08'15" de latitud Norte y 86°09'36" de longitud Este, Municipio de Managua, de Octubre 2001 a Noviembre 2002. Se utilizó un diseño de BCA, en un arreglo de parcelas divididas donde las densidades de siembras (25, 50 y 75 plantas/m2) eran para las parcelas grandes y las frecuencias de cortes (45, 60 y 75 días) eran para las parcelas pequeñas. Las variables de estudio fueron: porcentaje de la materia seca (% MS), porcentaje de Ceniza(% Ceniza), Altura promedio, Tasa de Crecimiento (TC), Rendimiento de materia fresca total (RMFT), Rendimiento de materia fresca fracción fina (RMFFF), Rendimiento de la materia fresca fracción gruesa (RMFFG), Rendimiento de Materia Seca Total (RMST) y Rendimiento de Materia Seca Fracción Fina (RMSFF). Se realizó análisis de varianza y comparaciones con la Prueba de Tukey utilizando MINITAB, versión 13.0. Los resultados en el análisis de varianza mostraron que las densidades de siembras no presentaron efecto significativo (P<0,05) sobre las variables evaluadas, no así las frecuencias de corte que si presentaron efecto significativo (P<0,05) para la mayoría de las variables, excepto para RMFFF y la RMSFF, la frecuencia de corte a los 75 días presentó los mejores resultados para las variables %MS (17.97%), % Ceniza (9.15%), Altura (149.78cm), TC (34.70 kg MS/ha/día), RMFT (81.03 ton/ha/año), RMFFF (34.34 ton/ha/año), RMFFG (43.68 ton/ha/año), RMST (14.44 ton/ha/año) y RMSFF (6.13 ton/ha/año) respectivamente. Con relación a las épocas, durante la lluvia se obtuvieron los mejores valores (P<0,05) en Altura (148.57 cm), TC (44.23 kg MS/ha/día), RMFT (53.75 ton/ha/año), RMFFF (28.80 ton/ha/año), RMFFG (22.82 ton/ha/año), RMST (8.68 ton/ha/año) y RMSFF (4.58 ton/ha/año), excepto para %MS (18.21%) y % Ceniza (9.12%) cuyos mejores resultados fueron en la época seca.

Respuesta al tratamiento super ovulatorio, con Folltropin-V (analogo sintetico de la hormona foliculoestimulante-FSH), en hembras bovinas donantes, de las razas Pardo Suizo y Reyna, en fincas de la Universidad Nacional Agraria, Managua

El presente trabajo investigativo fue realizado en las fincas Las Mercedes y Santa Rosa, ambas propiedad de la Universidad Nacional Agraria, ubicadas en el departamento de Managua-Nicaragua. El objetivo de la presente investigación fué conocer si hay influencia del factor raza en la respuesta súper ovulatoria una vez aplicado el tratamiento hormonal súper ovulatorio FOLLTROPIN-V (análogo sintético de la hormona foliculoestimulante-FSH) en hembras bovinas donantes de las razas Pardo Suizo y Reyna. El tamaño requerido de la muestra fue de 10 hembras donantes para cada raza en estudio; las cuales fueron previamente seleccionadas según la calidad genética de cada hembra, la edad comprendida entre 3-5 años y los resultados del examen clínico y ginecológico que se les realizó para saber si cumplían con los requisitos ó parámetros de salud estimados para esta técnica de mejoramiento productivo. Los datos se obtuvieron mediante el conteo de cuerpos lúteos y folículos a través de palpación rectal de los ovarios; el mismo día en que se realizó la recolecta de los embriones; los cuales fueron llevados al laboratorio para ser clasificados según su estado de desarrollo y calidad, posteriormente fueron transferidos ó congelados. Los resultados obtenidos a ravés del análisis de la respuesta superovulatoria, indican que no existe una diferencia significativa del factor raza, sin embargo se observó que la raza Reyna se comportó mejor que la raza Pardo Su izo al dar mayor cantidad de cuerpos lúteos (R: 14.75 - PS: 11.5) y embriones (R: 9.25 – PS: 5.6), pero sí se atribuye a la raza, la calidad y el estado de desarrollo embrionario que se obtuvieron, siendo la raza Reyna la que obtuvo mejor calidad de embriones aunque por ser la que más embriones dió, también fue la que brindó mayor cantidad de embriones degenerados y oocitos infértiles que son intransferibles.