Estimação de parâmetros genéticos para a produção de leite no dia do controle e em 305 dias para primeiras lactações de vacas da raça Holandesa

Dados de 39.578 controles leiteiros de 3.766 primeiras lactações de vacas da raça Holandesa, ocorridas de 1994 a 2002, foram analisados com os objetivos de estimar parâmetros genéticos para as produções de leite no dia do controle (PLDC) e para a produção até 305 dias de lactação (P305) e comparar estes dois critérios de seleção. Os componentes de variância foram estimados pelo método da máxima verossimilhança restrita, sob modelo animal univariado ou bivariado. Para as PLDC, os modelos incluíram o efeito aleatório genético aditivo, o efeito fixo de grupo contemporâneo e, como covariáveis, a idade da vaca ao parto (efeitos linear e quadrático) e os dias em lactação (efeito linear). Para a P305, foi utilizado o mesmo modelo, substituindo dias em lactação por duração da lactação. Os grupos de contemporâneos foram formados por ano, mês do controle e rebanho (para as PLDC) e por ano, época do parto e rebanho (para a P305). As herdabilidades estimadas para a P305 foram de 0,27 e 0,25 para as análises univariadas e bivariadas, respectivamente. Para as PLDC, as herdabilidades variaram de 0,11 a 0,31. Para o modelo bivariado (pelo qual avaliaram-se simultaneamente P305 e as PLDC), as herdabilidades para os controles (PLDC) foram menores, variando de 0,08 a 0,25. As maiores estimativas ocorreram para as produções do 4º e 5º controles, correspondendo aos 2º e 3º meses de lactação. As correlações genéticas entre P305 e os controles individuais foram positivas e elevadas, variando de 0,83 a 1,00. Os resultados indicaram que a seleção direta para P305, como tradicionalmente realizada, implicaria maiores ganhos genéticos para a produção de leite (PL) na maioria dos controles quinzenais. Além disso, a seleção direta para as produções parciais poderia proporcionar ganhos correlacionados também para a P305, mas estes ganhos seriam menores que os obtidos via seleção direta.

The influence of the loop between residues 223-235 in beetle luciferase bioluminescence spectra: A solvent gate for the active site of pH-sensitive luciferases

Beetle luciferases emit a wide range of bioluminescence colors, ranging from green to red. Firefly luciferases can shift the spectrum to red in response to pH and temperature changes, whereas click beetle and railroadworm luciferases do not. Despite many studies on firefly luciferases, the origin of pH-sensitivity is far from being understood. Through comparative site-directed mutagenesis and modeling studies, using the pH-sensitive luciferases (Macrolampis and Cratomorphus distinctus fireflies) and the pH-insensitive luciferases (Pyrearinus termitilluminans, Phrixotrix viviani and Phrixotrix hirtus) cloned by our group, here we show that substitutions dramatically affecting bioluminescence colors in both groups of luciferases are clustered in the loop between residues 223-235 (Photinus pyralis sequence). The substitutions at positions 227, 228 and 229 (P. pyralis sequence) cause dramatic redshift and temporal shift in both groups of luciferases, indicating their involvement in labile interactions. Modeling studies showed that the residues Y227 and N229 are buried in the protein core, fixing the loop to other structural elements participating at the bottom of the luciferin binding site. Changes in pH and temperature (in firefly luciferases), as well as point mutations in this loop, may disrupt the interactions of these structural elements exposing the active site and modulating bioluminescence colors. © 2007 The Authors.

Evaluación genética de búfalos de la raza Murrah para la producción de leche en el día de control y a los 305 días de lactancia

There were analyzed 4757 complete lactations of the Murrah breed, daughters of 187 bulls, with the goal of verifying the viability upon employing the test-day (PDLC), on substitution of the milk yield at 305th day of lactation (PL305), in the genetic evaluations. The components of variance for the PDLC1 to PDLC9 and for the PL305 were estimated in uni-traits analysis according to maximum restricted likelihood method. The used model included the genetic direct additive random effects, of residual and permanent environment. There were considered as fixed effects, the contemporary group and the number of milkings and the age of the cow at the moment of parity co-variable (quadratic and linear effect). The contemporary groups were constituted by the herd-year-month of control for the PDLC and by herd-year-epoch of parity for PL305. The estimates of heritability for the PDLC and PL305 were 0.12 to 0.23 and 0.22, respectively. The correlations of order of the predicted genetic values for the 187 bulls, obtained between the PDLC and the PL305, were from moderate to high, varying from 67.74 to 83.12. From the minimum selection of the 10% of the best bulls relating to the predicted genetic value for the PL305, the coincidence among the classification of these animals was over 68%, when evaluated by the PDLC3,PDLC4,PDLC5 and PDLC6. Upon selecting the 5% of the best animals that coincidence presented a lower value.

Genetic parameters for test-day milk yield, 305-day milk yield, and lactation length in Guzerat cows

Milk production in tropical environments requires the use of crossbreeding systems including breeds well adapted to harsh conditions, but with lower productivities when compared to specialized breeds. Besides the genetic improvement for milk production, lactation lengths also need to be studied for most of these breeds. Accordingly, genetic parameters were estimated for 305-day cumulative milk yield (MY305), test-day milk yield (TDMY), and lactation length (LL) using information from the first lactations of 2816 Guzerat cows selected for milk production in 28 herds in Brazil. Contemporary groups were defined as herd, year and season of the test for TDMY, and as herd, year and season of calving for MY305 and LL. Variance components were estimated with the restricted maximum likelihood method under a multi-trait animal model. Heritabilities estimated for TDMY ranged from 0.16 to 0.24, and were 0.24 and 0.12 for MY305 and LL, respectively. Genetic correlations were high and positive, ranging from 0.51 to 0.99 among TDMY records, from 0.81 to 0.98 between each TDMY and MY305, and from 0.71 to 0.94 between each TDMY and LL. Genetic parameters obtained in this study indicated the possibility of using test-day records for the prediction of breeding values for milk yield in this population of the Guzerat breed. The use of TDMY as selection criteria would result in indirect gains in MY305 and LL. However, the highest response to selection for MY305 would be obtained by direct selection for this trait. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Thermal behaviour of α-hydroxyisobutyric acid, sodium α-hydroxyisobutyrate and its compounds with some bivalent transition metal ions

Synthesis, characterization and thermal decomposition of bivalent transition metal α-hydroxyisobutyrates, M(C4H7O 3)2·nH2O (M = Mn(II), Fe(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II)), as well as the thermal behaviour of α-hydroxyisobutyric acid and its sodium salt were investigated employing simultaneous thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), TG-DSC coupled to FTIR, elemental analysis and complexometry. All the compounds were obtained as dihydrated, except the copper one which was obtained in the anhydrous state. The thermal decomposition of the anhydrous compounds occurs in a single or two steps and the final residue up to 235 C (Mn), 300 C (Fe), 305 C (Co), 490 C (Ni), 260 C (Cu) and 430 C (Zn) is Mn2O3, Fe2O3, Co3O 4, NiO, CuO and ZnO, respectively. The results also provided information concerning the ligand's denticity and identification of the gaseous products evolved during the thermal decomposition of these compounds. Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Jornal da UNESP, 2014, ano XXVIII, n. 305

Jornal elaborado pela Assessoria de Comunicação e Imprensa da Reitoria da UNESP

Fauna e Flora do Brasil (especialmente do Mato Grosso) segundo Joseph Barbosa de Sáa (1769): (Dialogos geograficos, coronologicos, polliticos, e naturais, escripos [sic] por Joseph Barbosa de Sáa nesta Villa Reyal do Senhor Bom Jesus do Cuyaba – Manuscrito 235 da Biblioteca Pública do Porto)

Joseph Barbosa de Sáa (? – 1775), mais conhecido por seus escritos sobre a história do estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil, completou em 1769 um volumoso (408 fólios) e erudito manuscrito, intitulado “Dialogos geograficos, coronologicos, polliticos e naturais”, que nunca foi publicado na íntegra. Esse manuscrito está depositado na Biblioteca Pública do Porto (manuscrito no. 235), em Portugal. Dez capítulos desse manuscrito tratam dos produtos naturais do Brasil (acima de mil, quase a metade sendo animais), observados por Sáa ao longo da costa do Rio de Janeiro, em São Paulo, sul de Goiás e especialmente no Mato Grosso, sendo a primeira monografia sobre a história natural deste último estado. Esses capítulos são aqui transcritos e comentados.