Immotile Short-Tail Sperm Defect in Nelore (Bos taurus indicus) Breed Bulls

ContentThis case study reported the presence of short tail sperm defect in the semen of three Nelore breed bulls. The sperm presented 0% of motility in the three animals evaluated and a total of 70%, 61% and 34% of pathologies of the intermediate piece of the tail respectively for animals 1, 2 and 3. It was identified that animals 2 and 3 had high degree of inbreeding, although no relationship was found with animal 1. Animal 2 was the only one that presented inbreeding coefficient (6.25%). His half-sib (animal 3) and animal 1, from the same herd, had shown no inbreeding, showing that inheritance is not the only determinant factor for its incidence on Nelore males.

Auditory processing disorder in patients with language-learning impairment and correlation with malformation of cortical development

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Heritability Estimate and Genetic Correlations of Reproductive Features in Nellore Bulls, Offspring of Super Precocious, Precocious and Normal Cows Under Extensive Farming Conditions

The present work aimed to estimate heritability and genetic correlations of reproductive features of Nellore bulls, offspring of mothers classified as superprecocious (M1), precocious (M2) and normal (M3). Twenty one thousand hundred and eighty-six animals with average age of 21.29 months were used, evaluated through the breeding soundness evaluation from 1999 to 2008. The breeding soundness features included physical semen evaluation (progressive sperm motility and sperm vigour), semen morphology (major, minor and total sperm defects), scrotal circumference (SC), testicular volume (TV) and SC at 18 months of age (SC18). The components of variance, heritability and genetic correlations for and between the features were estimated simultaneously by restricted maximum likelihood, with the use of the vce software system vs 6. The heritability estimates were high for SC18, SC and TV (0.43, 0.63 and 0.54; 0.45, 0.45 and 0.44; 0.42, 0.45 and 0.41, respectively for the categories of mothers M1, M2 and M3) and low for physical and morphological semen aspects. The genetic correlations between SC18 and SC were high, as well as between these variables with TV. High and positive genetic correlations were recorded among SC18, SC and TV with the physical aspects of the semen, although no favourable association was verified with the morphological aspects, for the three categories of mothers. It can be concluded that the mothers sexual precocity did not affect the heritability of their offspring reproduction features.

Reproductive Parameters of Mangalarga Marchador Mares in a Commercial Embryo Transfer Programme

ContentsThe objective of this study is to evaluate the reproductive efficiency in donors and recipient Mangalarga Marchador mares in commercial programmes of embryo transfer (ET) and the effects of some reproductive characteristics and ET methodology on conception rates in the recipient mares. A total of 1140 flushing procedures were performed and 830 embryos (72.8%) were recovered. There were no differences between the rates of embryonic recovery in the different breeding seasons (p > 0.05) and 92.8% of the recovered embryos were 8-9 days old. There was no difference in the embryonic recovery regarding the collection order from the first to the ninth embryo collection along the breeding season, as well as among mares inseminated during the foal heat or subsequent cycles (p > 0.05). Pregnancy rates observed in the total period of all reproductive seasons at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of pregnancy were 73.4, 69.9, 66.7 and 64.5%, respectively. Differences in pregnancy rate and early embryonic loss rates were not observed between embryos transferred immediately after collection (66.8% and 13.5%) and embryos transported at room temperature for periods of < 1 h (62.9% and 14.4%; p > 0.05). Pregnancy rates were higher when the interval between ovulations of donor and recipient mares remained between -3 and -2 days (p < 0.05), and the lowest rates were observed for intervals of -6 days (p < 0.05) with intermediary values for intervals of -1, 0 and +1 (p > 0.05). Embryonic loss rates, however, did not differ between intervals of ovulation's synchronism between donor and recipient mares (p > 0.05). This flexibilization in the ovulatory synchronism between donor and recipient mares optimizes the use of recipient mares, thus reducing costs and facilitating management of horse breeding farms.

Auditory processing disorder in perisylvian syndrome

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Tooth separation: A risk-free procedure?

This article reports the case of a 12-year-old patient with tooth extrusion, pain, gingival bleeding, and localized periodontitis near the maxillary second premolar. Despite probing and radiographic examination, it was not possible to establish the etiology. Tooth extraction was indicated because of the severe tooth mobility and extrusion. Curettage of the tooth socket revealed a rubber separator. Preventive approaches are suggested to avoid iatrogenesis and legal problems. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2012; 142:402-5)

Variabilidade espacial da resistência do solo à penetração e do teor de água em sistema de plantio direto na cultura da soja

A harmful and limiting factor regarding culture productivity is soil compaction, a parameter that can be quantified by the resistance of the soil to penetration and highly influenced by water content. These variables present spatial and temporary variability, characteristics which can be determined by the geostatistical technique. In the light of the above, the present work had as its objective the study of spatial variability of soil resistance to penetration (RP) and water content in the soil (U) in soy culture. The RP values at depths of 0,00-0,10; 0,11-0,20 and 0,21-0,30 m varied from 2,9 to 4,28 MPa and are considered harmful to the root development of legumes, although they have not influenced soy productivity which was 3887 kg ha(-1). The medium water content of the soil was between 0,210 and 0,213 kg kg(-1) for the three depths studied. The resistance of the soil to penetration, expressed through semivariograms, presented spatial dependence at all depths, being adjusted to the spherical model at depths of 0,00-0,10m and exponential at depths of 0,110,20 and 0,21-0,30 m. The spatial variability for all studied layers presented a range of about 20m. The water content in the soil did not present spatial dependence for the depths, presenting randomized distribution.

Cytochemical characterization of the endomembranous system during oocyte secondary growth in Serrasalmus spilopleura (Teleostei, Characiformes, Characidae)

The endomembranous system of Serrasalmus spilopleura oocyte secondary growth was analysed using structural and ultrastructural cytochemical techniques. In vitellogenic oocytes, the endoplasmic reticulum components, the nuclear envelope intermembranous space, some Golgi dictiossomes, lysosomes, yolk granules, regions of the egg envelope and sites of the follicle cells react to acid phosphatase detection (AcPase). The cortical alveoli, some heterogeneous cytoplasmic structures, regions of the egg envelope, and sites of the follicle cells are strongly contrasted by osmium tetroxide and zinc iodide impregnation (ZIO). The endoplasmic reticulum components, some vesicles, and sites of the follicle cells also react to osmium tetroxide and potassium iodide impregnation (KI). The biosynthetic pathway of lysosomal proteins, such as acid phosphatase, required for vitellogenesis, involves the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, vesicles with inactive hydrolytic enzymes, and, finally, lysosomes. In S. spilopleura oocytes at secondary growth, the endomembranous system takes part in the production of the enzymes needed for vitellogenesis, and in the metabolism of yolk exogenous components (AcPase detection). The endomembranous system compartments also show reduction capacity (KI reaction) and are involved in the metabolism of proteins rich in SH-groups (ZIO reaction).

Seasonal testicular changes in Dendropsophus minutus Peters, 1872 (Anura, Hylidae)

The reproductive cycle in anurans may be either continuous or discontinuous. These differences may be connected to seasonal climate changes and/or to anthropic activity. Forty adult male individuals of the Dendropsophus minutus species were collected during one year, in the municipality of Chapada dos Guimaraes (Mato Grosso, Brazil). The testicles were studied under light and transmission electron microscopy. No variations were observed when the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the thickness of the interstitial tissue were studied. However, changes in spermatogenesis were conspicuous and indicated that the reproductive cycle of D. minutus in Chapada dos Guimaraes is discontinuous and seems related to variations in air temperature and rainfall.

Transposable elements in Coffea (Gentianales : Rubiacea) transcripts and their role in the origin of protein diversity in flowering plants

Transposable elements are major components of plant genomes and they influence their evolution, acting as recombination hot spots, acquiring specific cell functions or becoming part of protein-coding regions. The latter is the subject of the present analysis. This study is a report on the annotation of transposable elements (TEs) in expressed sequences of Coffea arabica, Coffea canephora and Coffea racemosa, showing the occurrence of 383 ESTs and 142 unigenes with TE fragments in these three Coffea species. Based on selected unigenes, it was possible to suggest 26 putative proteins with TE-cassette insertions, demonstrating a likely contribution to protein variability. The genes for two of those proteins, the fertility restorer (FR) and the pyrophosphate-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFKs) genes, were selected for evaluating the impact of TE-cassettes on host gene evolution of other plant genomes (Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa and populus trichocarpa). This survey allowed identifying a FR gene in O. sativa harboring multiple insertions of LTR retrotransposons that originated new exons, which however does not necessarily mean a case of molecular domestication. A possible transduction event of a fragment of the PPi-PFK beta-subunit gene mediated by Helitron ATREPX1 in Arabidopsis thaliana was also highlighted.

Active planar waveguides based on sol-gel Er3+-doped SiO2-ZrO2 for photonic applications: Morphological, structural and optical properties

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

Possible implication of Mdm2 as a prognostic marker in invasive laryngeal carcinoma

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Protease activity in extracellular products secreted in vitro by trophozoites of Giardia duodenalis

There are evidences that Giardia trophozoites contain and/or release proteolytic enzymes that may be implicated in pathogenesis of giardiasis. This report describes a preliminary characterization of the proteolytic activity in excretory/secretory (E/S) products of Giardia duodenalis trophozoites of an axenic Brazilian strain (BTU-11) and the reference strain Portland 1 (P1). The protease activity of E/S products in conditioned medium by trophozoites of each strain was analyzed using substrate (gelatin and collagen) impregnated SDS-PAGE and hemoglobin assay. The protease characterization was based on inhibition assays including synthetic inhibitors. Proteolytic products were detected in the conditioned medium by trophozoites of both assayed strains. In the gels containing copolymerized gelatin and collagen, E/S products promoted degradation of the substrates and the most evident proteolysis zones were distributed in the migration regions of 77 to 18 kDa and 145 to 18 kDa, respectively, in the patterns of gelatinolytic and collagenolytic activities. Degradation of hemoglobin was also observed, and the pattern of hydrolysis was similar in both E/S products assayed. Inhibition assays showed that the main proteolytic activity in both E/S products is due to cysteine proteases although the presence of serine proteases was also indicated, mainly in the hydrolysis of hemoglobin.

Cultivares de trigo submetidas a déficit hídrico no início do florescimento, em casa de vegetação

The water restriction can damage the performance of crops, especially in the flowering period. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the response of genotypes of wheat submitted to water deficit in the beginning of flowering. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse, in a completely randomized design, in factorial scheme 3 x 2, with five replications. The factors studied were: three wheat cultivars (Coodetec (CD) 105, 108 and 111) and 2 irrigation managements (with and without imposition of water deficit). During the period of water deficit imposition, gravimetric soil moisture and the relative content of water in leaf were evaluated, while at the moment of rehydration the biometric variables were determined. At the end of the crop cycle the components of production were evaluated. Reduction was found in the gravimetric soil moisture, in the relative levels of water and in all biometric variables, in function of the water deficit. The grain production showed difference only among the water regimes, in which the cultivar CD 111 is more efficient in the maintenance of the productive potential in conditions of water deficit, through the quick recovery in the relative content of water in leaves.

Anticorpos para Leptospira spp., Toxoplasma gondii e Neospora caninum em cães errantes albergados em canil privado

The serological profile of 300 mongrel dogs of various ages and gender were investigated. Animals were captured in the streets and afterwards directed to a private kennel in Avare city (SP) to search for leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, and neosporosis. Blood samples were obtained from jugular or cephalic vein for the obtention of sera. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was used to leptospirosis. MAT detect the prevalence of 9.3%. The most frequent reactant serovars were Bratislava (35.7%), Cynopteri (17.9%), Autumnalis (14.3%), and Copenhageni (10.7%), besides 7.1% to others serovars: Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, and Hardjo. The modified agglutination test used for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis showed 26% of positive animals, with titers varying from 16 to 256, with 16 in 3.3%, 64 in 13.7%, and 256 in 9% of the samples. To canine neosporosis, it was used the indirect fluorescent antibody test, and two animals (0.7%) demonstrated antibodies with titers 25 and 100. The results show the participation of the animals in the epidemiological chain of the researched diseases.