Protein, methionine+cystine and lysine levels for Japanese quails during the production phase

An experiment was conducted at Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia/Unesp - Botucatu for 168 days to evaluate the effects of protein, Met + Cys and lysine diet levels on egg production and egg quality of laying Japanese quails. Quails with 42 days of age were reared in a completely randomized design. There were 1,944 quails distributed in four replicates of 27 birds per pen, according to a factorial 3x3x2 with three crude protein levels (16, 18 and 20% CP), three Met + Cys levels (0.700; 0.875 and 1.050%) and two lysine levels (1.100 and 1.375%). Birds fed diets with 18 and 20% CP had higher feed intake and egg production than those fed diets with 16% CP. There was significant interaction (p<0.05) between protein and Met + Cys levels on egg weight. There was no effects (p>0.05) of the protein level on feed conversion per dozen eggs; however, improved feed conversion per egg mass was seen for birds fed diets with 20% CP compared to those fed diets with 16% and 18% CP. Protein and lipid percentage in the yolk increased when dietary protein level increased from 16 to 18%. Increasing Met + Cys from 0.700% to 0.875% reduced yolk protein percentage. Higher lipid percentage in the yolk was seen in eggs from quails fed diets with 1.050% Met + Cys, whereas 1.375% lysine in the diet of resulted in decreased egg production and egg mass, besides poorer feed conversion per dozen eggs and per egg mass.

Effect of organic selenium and zinc on the performance and egg quality of Japanese quails

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

Gluconeogenesis and glucose replacement rate during long-term fasting of Japanese quails

Gluconeogenic activity and kinetic parameters of glucose metabolism were estimated during the different phases of prolonged food deprivation in quails. Gluconeogenic activity, estimated from the rate of increase of incorporation of (HCO3-)-C-14 into circulating glucose, was significantly higher in fasted quails than in fed birds, whatever the period of food deprivation. However, gluconeogenic activity during phase II, although higher than in the fed state, was significantly lower than in quails fasted for 2 days (phase I) or in those on the final (phase III) period of starvation. Gluconeogenic activity did not differ significantly in birds from phases I and III. Rates of glucose replacement, estimated with [6-H-3]-glucose, were very high (20.5 mg . kg(-1). min(-1)) in fed quails and were markedly reduced (to about 42% of fed values) by fasting, no difference being observed between quails fasted for 2 and 5 days. Because of the poor condition of the birds, glucose replacement rates could not be measured during phase III. The present data are the first to provide direct evidence for the changes in gluconeogenesis which occur during prolonged food deprivation.

Intellectuals and Japanese Buddhism in Brazil

This study concentrates on the discovery of Japanese Buddhism by Brazilian intellectuals as a group of spiritual practices and as a body of spiritual wisdom. The study has been realized through readings and meetings with Japanese Buddhist monks and/or Japanese immigrants. These intellectuals defend a religious experience based on a universal notion of representations of Japanese Buddhism, which provides them with a non-dualistic philosophical perspective and a unique psychological experience. Through innovative spiritual experiences these intellectuals have broken the tension created within the dispute between secularized science and the Catholic hegemony, both predominant in the intellectual panorama.

Experimental vaccination against Newcastle disease in Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica): Clinical and immunological parameters

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

Leaf spray fertilization of boron and zinc on productivity and fruit quality of Japanese pear tree

The cultivation of fruit plants from temperate climate in tropical or subtropical regions can be a good income alternative for the producer. However, due to the little existent information about cultivation of those fruit plants, the producers use imported techniques of other producing areas, or even an association of practices used for other fruit plants, pointing out the leaf spray fertilization of micronutrients without appropriate scientific base. In this context, the objective of this study was to verify the effect of the leaf spray fertilization of B and Zn on productivity and fruit quality of Japanese pear tree. The experiment was conducted from 2004 to 2005, in Ilha Solteira, in northwestern São Paulo State-Brazil. The climate is, according to the Köpppen Classification, tropical wet and dry (Aw). The 'Okusankichi' cultivar, grafted on Pyrus communis L. rootstock was used as well as doses of 110 g.ha-1 of B and 250 g.ha-1 of Zn in each application. The treatments were: T1. water, T2. boric acid, T3. zinc sulfate, T4. T2 + T3, T5. boric acid + urea + citric acid + EDTA, T6. zinc sulfate + urea + citric acid + EDTA, T7. T5 + T6, T8. boric acid + urea + citric acid + EDTA + sodium molibdate + sulfur + calcium chloride, T9. zinc sulfate + urea + citric acid + EDTA + Fe sulfate + Mn sulfate + Mg sulfate and, T10. T8+T9. A randomized blocks design was used and the averages were compared by Tukey test. In the first crop the mixture of boric acid with quelating agents were efficient to supply B to the plants and zinc sulfate plus quelating agents were efficient to increase Zn leaf content. However, the productivity and the fruit quality were not influenced by the leaf spray of B and Zn. In the second crop the leaf content of B and Zn and the productivity were not influenced by the leaf spray; the boric acid and the zinc sulfate with or without quelating agents increased the contents of total soluble solids and, the boric acid with or without quelating agents increased the contents of total titratable acidity.

Salmonella enteritidis in the eggs of Japanese quails (coturnix coturnix Japonica - Temminck & Schlegel, 1849) fed diets with different calcium and phosphorus levels

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of glycerol on GHR and IGF-1 gene expression in breast muscle and on growth of Japanese meat quails

We evaluated messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of the growth-hormone (GHR) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) genes in 28-day-old Japanese meat quails fed diets containing 0, 8, or 12% dietary glycerol in substitution of corn. Total RNA was extracted from the breast muscle and the DNA was amplified with specific primers using real-time PCR. Feed conversion ratio and feed intake were evaluated. The birds fed 8 and 12% glycerol presented higher IGF-1 mRNA expression [0.059 and 0.049 arbitrary units (AU), respectively] relative to those not fed with glycerol (0.029 AU), while 12% glycerol reduced GHR mRNA expression (0.022 AU). Dietary inclusion of 8% glycerol promoted similar performance results (feed conversion) as the diet with no glycerol. We conclude that inclusion of glycerol in the diet affects GHR and IGF-1 gene expression in Japanese meat quails. However, considering the performance results and the expression of the GHR and IGF-1 genes, 8% glycerol may be safely included in the diet of meat quails. © FUNPEC-RP.

Molecular analysis of three FUT3 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms and their relationship with the lewis erythrocytary phenotype in a human population of japanese-ancestry living in Tomé Açu, a town in the Brazilian Amazon

The Lewis blood group system involves two major antigens, Le^ª and Le^b. Their antigenic determinants are not primary gene products but are synthesized by the transfer of sugar subunits to a precursory chain by a specific enzyme which is the product of the FUT3 gene (Lewis gene). The presence of three FUT3 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (59T > G; 508G > A and 1067T > A) was related to the Lewis phenotype of erythrocytes from 185 individuals of Japanese ancestry living in the town of Tomé-Açu in the Brazilian Amazon region. This relationship was detected using a serological hemagglutination test and the Dot-ELISA assay along with the molecular technique PCR-RFLP. We found that the three SNPs investigated in this study only accounted for a proportion of the Lewis-negative phenotype of the erythrocytes.

Molecular analysis of three FUT3 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms and their relationship with the lewis erythrocytary phenotype in a human population of japanese-ancestry living in Tomé Açu, a town in the Brazilian Amazon

The Lewis blood group system involves two major antigens, Le^a and Le^b. Their antigenic determinants are not primary gene products but are synthesized by the transfer of sugar subunits to a precursory chain by a specific enzyme which is the product of the FUT3 gene (Lewis gene). The presence of three FUT3 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (59T > G; 508G > A and 1067T > A) was related to the Lewis phenotype of erythrocytes from 185 individuals of Japanese ancestry living in the town of Tomé-Açu in the Brazilian Amazon region. This relationship was detected using a serological hemagglutination test and the Dot-ELISA assay along with the molecular technique PCR-RFLP. We found that the three SNPs investigated in this study only accounted for a proportion of the Lewis-negative phenotype of the erythrocytes.

Assessing Paternity in Japanese Quails (Coturnix Japonica) Using Microsatellite Markers - Inferences for Its Mating System and Reproductive Success

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Prevalence of obesity and relationship wit body mass index and symptoms of asthma in adolescents

To investigate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and asthma symptoms in adolescents between 13 and 14 years, to estimate the prevalence of obesity in this age group. This is a crosssectional study with a quantitative approach which was rated the Body Mass Index (BMI) and applied the Questionnaire International Study of asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) phase III (asthma module) to determine the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms, as well as its severity in 85teenagers. According to the assessment of asthma in relation to BMI, it was found that there were significant findings, as well as in males and females. However, the association between BMI and asthma symptoms, there was a significant association to present as disturbed sleep and impaired speech. Conclusions: In this sample the prevalence of obesity was low, this fact may have contributed to the nonsignificant findings betweenasthma and BMI.

Revision of Hawaiian, Australasian, Oriental, and Japanese Parandrinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae)

A comprehensive revision of the Subfamily Parandrinae (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) from the Hawaiian, Australasian, Oriental, and Japanese regions is presented. Seven (7) new genera are described: Komiyandra, Melanesiandra, Papuandra, Storeyandra, Hawaiiandra, Caledonandra, and Malukandra. All known, indigenous species from these regions are assigned to new genera resulting in the following new combinations: Komiyandra janus (Bates, 1875), K. shibatai (Hayashi, 1963), K. formosana (Miwa and Mitono, 1939), K. lanyuana (Hayashi, 1981), Melanesiandra striatifrons (Fairmaire, 1879), M. solomonensis (Arigony, 1983), Caledonandra austrocaledonica (Montrouzier, 1861), C. passandroides (Thomson, 1867), Hawaiiandra puncticeps (Sharp, 1878), Malukandra heterostyla (Lameere, 1902), Storeyandra frenchi (Blackburn, 1895), and Papuandra araucariae (Gressitt, 1959). Thirty-one (31) new species are described: Komiyandra javana, K. nayani, K. ohbayashii, K. luzonica, K. philippinensis, K. mindanao, K. mehli, K. vivesi, K. lombokia, K. sulawesiana, K. irianjayana, K. menieri, K. sangihe, K. mindoro, K. niisatoi, K. drumonti, K. cabigasi, K. koni, K. johkii, K. poggii, K. uenoi, Melanesiandra bougainvillensis, M. birai, Papuandra gressitti, P. weigeli, P. queenslandensis, P. norfolkensis, P. rothschildi, P. oberthueri, Malukandra jayawijayana and M. hornabrooki. A lectotype is designated for Parandra janus Bates, 1875. Komiyandra janus (Bates, 1875) is excluded from nearly all previously reported locations, even one location given in the original description, and is now only known from Sulawesi. A paralectotype of Parandra janus Bates, 1875, is designated as a paratype for Komiyandra menieri, new species. Komiyandra formosana is excluded from the Japanese (Ryukyu Is.) fauna. Parandra vitiensis Nonfried, 1894, is again placed in synonymy with P. striatifrons Fairmaire (now Melanesiandra striatifrons). A neotype is designated for Parandra austrocaledonica Montrouzier, 1861. A lectotype is designated for Parandra janus Bates, 1875. The lectotype of Parandra gabonica Thomson, 1858, designated by Quentin and Villiers (1975) is considered invalid. Papuandra araucariae (Gressitt, 1959) is excluded from the fauna of Norfolk Island. The African species Stenandra kolbei (Lameere, 1903) is reported for the first time from Asia (N. Vietnam). Keys are presented to separate worldwide genera of Parandrini and all species within the study regions. Illustrations are provided for all species including many special characters to differentiate genera and species.

Determination of Opiates in Whole Blood and Vitreous Humor: A Study of the Matrix Effect and an Experimental Design to Optimize Conditions for the Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Glucuronides

Faculty of Medicine University of Sao Paulo