Ruzigrass affecting soil-phosphorus availability

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of ruzigrass (Urochloaruziziensis) in enhancing soil-P availability in areas fertilized with soluble or reactive rock phosphates. The area had been cropped for five years under no-till, in a system involving soybean, triticale/black-oat, and pearl millet. Previously to the five-year cultivation period, corrective phosphorus fertilization was applied once on soil surface, at 0.0 and 80 kg ha-1 P2O5, as triple superphosphate or Arad rock phosphate. After this five-year period, plots received the same corrective P fertilization as before and ruzigrass was introduced to the cropping system in the stead of the other cover crops. Soil samples were taken (0-10 cm) after ruzigrass cultivation and subjected to soil-P fractionation. Soybean was grown thereafter without P application to seed furrow. Phosphorus availability in plots with ruzigrass was compared to the ones with spontaneous vegetation for two years. Ruzigrass cultivation increased inorganic (resin-extracted) and organic (NaHCO3) soil P, as well as P concentration in soybean leaves, regardless of the P source. However, soybean yield did not increase significantly due to ruzigrass introduction to the cropping system. Soil-P availability did not differ between soluble and reactive P sources. Ruzigrass increases soil-P availability, especially where corrective P fertilization is performed.

A utilização de glicerina em dietas para bovinos altera a microbiota ruminal

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

Novel and cross-amplified microsatellite loci for the critically endangered São Paulo marsh antwren Formicivora paludicola (Aves: Thamnophilidae)

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

Perfil bioquímico das galinhas poedeiras na região de Araçatuba-SP

The establishment of reference values is extremely important for successful diagnosis and treatament. Considering that in most species the serum chemistry profile is influenced by race, climate and management, we decided to determine the values of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), uric acid, creatinine, creatine kinase (CK), phosphatase alkaline (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total protein (TP) and albumin of Dekalb hens in the region of Araçatuba - SP. All samples were processed soon after harvesting in an automatic biochemical analyzer calibrated and monitored with control serum levels I and II. The following confidence intervals were obtained: 44-65,5 U / L (AST); 18,4-21,2 U / L (ALT), 2.1-2.5 mg / dL (uric acid); 1.7 to 5.7 U / L (CK); CI 1.2-2.2 mg / dL (creatinine), 1276-1506 U / L (FA); 18-23,4 U / L (GGT); 27.12 to 29 g / L (PT), from 11.4 to 12.16 g / L (albumin).

Profile of Trypanosoma cruzi Reactivity in a Population at High Risk for Endemic Pemphigus Foliaceus (Fogo Selvagem)

Fogo Selvagem (FS) is an autoimmune bullous disease with pathogenic IgG autoantibodies recognizing desmoglein 1 (Dsg1), a desmosomal glycoprotein. In certain settlements of Brazil, a high prevalence of FS (3%) is reported, suggesting environmental factors as triggers of the autoimmune response. Healthy individuals from endemic areas recognize nonpathogenic epitopes of Dsg1, and exposure to hematophagous insects is a risk factor for FS. Fogo selvagem and Chagas disease share some geographic sites, and anti-Dsg1 has been detected in Chagas patients. Indeterminate Chagas disease was identified in a Brazilian Amerindian population of high risk for FS. In counterpart, none of the FS patients living in the same geographic region showed reactivity against Trypanosoma cruzi. The profile of anti-Dsg1 antibodies showed positive results in 15 of 40 FS sera and in 33 of 150 sera from healthy individuals from endemic FS sites, and no cross-reactivity between Chagas disease and FS was observed.

Sedentary behaviours and its association with bone mass in adolescents: the HELENA cross-sectional study

Background: We aimed to examine whether time spent on different sedentary behaviours is associated with bone mineral content (BMC) in adolescents, after controlling for relevant confounders such as lean mass and objectively measured physical activity (PA), and if so, whether extra-curricular participation in osteogenic sports could have a role in this association. Methods: Participants were 359 Spanish adolescents (12.5-17.5 yr, 178 boys,) from the HELENA-CSS (2006-07). Relationships of sedentary behaviours with bone variables were analysed by linear regression. The prevalence of low BMC (at least 1SD below the mean) and time spent on sedentary behaviours according to extracurricular sport participation was analysed by Chi-square tests. Results: In boys, the use of internet for non-study was negatively associated with whole body BMC after adjustment for lean mass and moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA). In girls, the time spent studying was negatively associated with femoral neck BMC. Additional adjustment for lean mass slightly reduced the negative association between time spent studying and femoral neck BMC. The additional adjustment for MVPA did not change the results at this site. The percentage of girls having low femoral neck BMC was significantly smaller in those participating in osteogenic sports (>= 3 h/week) than in the rest, independently of the cut-off selected for the time spent studying. Conclusions: The use of internet for non-study (in boys) and the time spent studying (in girls) are negatively associated with whole body and femoral neck BMC, respectively. In addition, at least 3 h/week of extra-curricular osteogenic sports may help to counteract the negative association of time spent studying on bone health in girls.

Armazenamento refrigerado de morango submetido a altas concentrações de CO2

Temperatura de 0ºC associada a atmosferas com 12 a 20% de CO2 têm sido recomendadas como condição ideal para o armazenamento de morango. Entretanto, as redes de distribuição e comercialização de produtos hortícolas no Brasil geralmente não possuem cadeia de frio, ou a possuem em temperatura entre 10 e 15ºC. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade e conservação do morango 'Oso Grande' sob temperatura de 10ºC associada com altas concentrações de dióxido de carbono. Os morangos foram selecionados, resfriados e armazenados a 10ºC em mini-câmaras herméticas, onde foram aplicadas as distintas concentrações de CO2 (0,03, 10, 20, 40 e 80%) combinadas com 20% de O2. Os morangos foram avaliados a cada 2 dias até se tornarem impróprios para o consumo. As concentrações de 20 e 40% de CO2 permitiram a conservação dos morangos por até 8 dias; já aqueles com 0,03% de CO2 duraram apenas 2 dias. Os morangos a 80% de CO2 mantiveram ótima aparência por 6 dias, porém foram considerados inadequados para o consumo por apresentarem elevados teores de acetaldeído (40,92 µg g-1) e de etanol (1.053 µg g-1), provenientes do processo fermentativo. A perda de massa fresca dos morangos foi inferior a 2%, demonstrando a eficiência da técnica utilizada para o controle da umidade relativa no armazenamento. Os frutos acondicionados com 0,03 e 80% de CO2 apresentaram a maior perda de firmeza, sendo que ao final do armazenamento esta foi de 40% em relação à firmeza inicial. Já os morangos armazenados com 20 e 40% de CO2 perderam apenas 28% da firmeza inicial. Apesar da diferença estatística na coloração externa do morango, essa foi visualmente imperceptível. Os morangos 'Oso Grande' armazenados a 10ºC sob atmosfera controlada com 40% de CO2 associado com 20% de O2 mantiveram suas características comerciais por 8 dias.

Morphogenetic and structural characteristics of guinea grass tillers at different ages under intermittent stocking

The objective of this research was to assess morphogenetic and structural characteristics of tillers of guinea grass cv. Tanzania at different ages. The pastures of guinea grass were managed in six pasture conditions related to the combination of three frequencies (90, 95, and 99% light interception) and two post-grazing heights (25 and 50 cm). In these six pastures conditions, three tiller ages were evaluated (young, mature, and old). The design was of completely randomized block with three replications. Young tillers exhibited higher leaf appearance rate and leaf elongation rate and, consequently, higher final leaf length and number of live leaves than mature and old tillers, regardless of the pasture condition. On pastures managed with 90 or 95% light interception associated with a post-grazing height of 25 cm, old tillers presented longer leaf lifespan than young and mature ones. There is a progressive reduction in the vigor of growth of pastures of guinea grass cv. Tanzania with advancing tiller age.

Detection of significant coronary artery disease by noninvasive anatomical and functional imaging.

BACKGROUND The choice of imaging techniques in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) varies between countries, regions, and hospitals. This prospective, multicenter, comparative effectiveness study was designed to assess the relative accuracy of commonly used imaging techniques for identifying patients with significant CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 475 patients with stable chest pain and intermediate likelihood of CAD underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography and stress myocardial perfusion imaging by single photon emission computed tomography or positron emission tomography, and ventricular wall motion imaging by stress echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance. If ≥1 test was abnormal, patients underwent invasive coronary angiography. Significant CAD was defined by invasive coronary angiography as >50% stenosis of the left main stem, >70% stenosis in a major coronary vessel, or 30% to 70% stenosis with fractional flow reserve ≤0.8. Significant CAD was present in 29% of patients. In a patient-based analysis, coronary computed tomographic angiography had the highest diagnostic accuracy, the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve being 0.91 (95% confidence interval, 0.88-0.94), sensitivity being 91%, and specificity being 92%. Myocardial perfusion imaging had good diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve, 0.74; confidence interval, 0.69-0.78), sensitivity 74%, and specificity 73%. Wall motion imaging had similar accuracy (area under the curve, 0.70; confidence interval, 0.65-0.75) but lower sensitivity (49%, P<0.001) and higher specificity (92%, P<0.001). The diagnostic accuracy of myocardial perfusion imaging and wall motion imaging were lower than that of coronary computed tomographic angiography (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS In a multicenter European population of patients with stable chest pain and low prevalence of CAD, coronary computed tomographic angiography is more accurate than noninvasive functional testing for detecting significant CAD defined invasively. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION URL http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00979199.

Defensio fidei in causa neophytorum siue Morischorum Regni Valentiae, totiusq. Hispaniae

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