Intake, live-weight gain and carcass characteristics of beef cattle given diets based on forage maize silage harvested at different stages of maturity

Advancing maturity of forage maize is associated with increases in the proportion of dry matter (DM) and starch, and decreases in the proportions of structural carbohydrates in the ensiled crop. This experiment investigated the effects of three maize silages of 291 (low), 339 (medium) and 393 (high) g DM per kg fresh weight on the performance of 48 Simmental. Holstein-Friesian cattle. Equal numbers of steers (mean start weight = 503 (s.d. 31.3) kg) and heifers (mean start weight = 378 (s.d. 11.2) kg) were offered individually isonitrogenous diets composed of the three silages plus a protein supplement with minerals once daily until slaughter at the target live weight of 575 and 475 kg for steers and heifers, respectively. Intake was reduced on the low diet (P < 0.01) compared with the other two treatments. Dietary starch intake increased by a total of 1 kg/day between low and medium diets but by only 0.2 kg/day between medium and high diets. Unlike starch intake, total neutral-detergent fibre intake showed no significant difference (P > 0.05) between diets. There were no differences in live-weight gain between treatments but differences (P < 0.05) in food conversion efficiency indicated relative gains of 115, 100 and 102 g gain per kg DM intake for diets low, medium and high, respectively. There were no differences between diets in carcass weights, fat score and overall conformation.

LIPGENE food-exchange model for alteration of dietary fat quantity and quality in free-living participants from eight European countries

Controlled human intervention trials are required to confirm the hypothesis that dietary fat quality may influence insulin action. The aim was to develop a food-exchange model, suitable for use in free-living volunteers, to investigate the effects of four experimental diets distinct in fat quantity and quality: high SFA (HSFA); high MUFA (HMUFA) and two low-fat (LF) diets, one supplemented with 1.24g EPA and DHA/d (LFn-3). A theoretical food-exchange model was developed. The average quantity of exchangeable fat was calculated as the sum of fat provided by added fats (spreads and oils), milk, cheese, biscuits, cakes, buns and pastries using data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey of UK adults. Most of the exchangeable fat was replaced by specifically designed study foods. Also critical to the model was the use of carbohydrate exchanges to ensure the diets were isoenergetic. Volunteers from eight centres across Europe completed the dietary intervention. Results indicated that compositional targets were largely achieved with significant differences in fat quantity between the high-fat diets (39.9 (SEM 0.6) and 38.9 (SEM 0.51) percentage energy (%E) from fat for the HSFA and HMUFA diets respectively) and the low-fat diets (29.6 (SEM 0.6) and 29.1 (SEM 0.5) %E from fat for the LF and LFn-3 diets respectively) and fat quality (17.5 (SEM 0.3) and 10.4 (SEM 0.2) %E front SFA and 12.7 (SEM 0.3) and 18.7 (SEM 0.4) %E MUFA for the HSFA and HMUFA diets respectively). In conclusion, a robust, flexible food-exchange model was developed and implemented successfully in the LIPGENE dietary intervention trial.

Next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the polarized hadroproduction of heavy flavors

We present the complete next-to-leading order QCD corrections to the polarized hadroproduction of heavy flavors which soon will be studied experimentally in polarized pp collisions at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) in order to constrain the polarized gluon density Δg. It is demonstrated that the dependence on unphysical renormalization and factorization scales is strongly reduced beyond the leading order. The sensitivity of the charm quark spin asymmetry to Δg is analyzed in some detail, including the limited detector acceptance for leptons from charm quark decays at the BNL RHIC.

The integrated WRF/urban modelling system: development, evaluation, and applications to urban environmental problems

To bridge the gaps between traditional mesoscale modelling and microscale modelling, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, in collaboration with other agencies and research groups, has developed an integrated urban modelling system coupled to the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model as a community tool to address urban environmental issues. The core of this WRF/urban modelling system consists of the following: (1) three methods with different degrees of freedom to parameterize urban surface processes, ranging from a simple bulk parameterization to a sophisticated multi-layer urban canopy model with an indoor–outdoor exchange sub-model that directly interacts with the atmospheric boundary layer, (2) coupling to fine-scale computational fluid dynamic Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes and Large-Eddy simulation models for transport and dispersion (T&D) applications, (3) procedures to incorporate high-resolution urban land use, building morphology, and anthropogenic heating data using the National Urban Database and Access Portal Tool (NUDAPT), and (4) an urbanized high-resolution land data assimilation system. This paper provides an overview of this modelling system; addresses the daunting challenges of initializing the coupled WRF/urban model and of specifying the potentially vast number of parameters required to execute the WRF/urban model; explores the model sensitivity to these urban parameters; and evaluates the ability of WRF/urban to capture urban heat islands, complex boundary-layer structures aloft, and urban plume T&D for several major metropolitan regions. Recent applications of this modelling system illustrate its promising utility, as a regional climate-modelling tool, to investigate impacts of future urbanization on regional meteorological conditions and on air quality under future climate change scenarios. Copyright © 2010 Royal Meteorological Society

Effect of extrusion on the emulsifying properties of soybean proteins and pectin mixtures modelled by response surface methodology

The objective of this study was to apply response surface methodology to estimate the emulsifying capacity and stability of mixtures containing isolated and textured soybean proteins combined with pectin and to evaluate if the extrusion process affects these interfacial properties. A simplex-centroid design was applied to the model emulsifying activity index (EAI), average droplet size (D-[4.3]) and creaming inhibition (Cl%) of the mixtures. All models were significant and able to explain more than 86% of the variation. The high predictive capacity of the models was also confirmed. The mean values for EAI, D-[4.3] and Cl% observed in all assays were 0.173 +/- 0.015 mn, 19.2 +/- 1.0 mu m and 53.3 +/- 2.6%, respectively. No synergism was observed between the three compounds. This result can be attributed to the low soybean protein solubility at pH 6.2 (<35%). Pectin was the most important variable for improving all responses. The emulsifying capacity of the mixture increased 41% after extrusion. Our results showed that pectin could substitute or improve the emulsifying properties of the soybean proteins and that the extrusion brings additional advantage to interfacial properties of this combination. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Atrophy and Neuron Loss: Effects of a Protein-Deficient Diet on Sympathetic Neurons

Protein deficiency is one of the biggest public health problems in the world, accounting for about 30-40% of hospital admissions in developing countries. Nutritional deficiencies lead to alterations in the peripheral nervous system and in the digestive system. Most studies have focused on the effects of protein-deficient diets on the enteric neurons, but not on sympathetic ganglia, which supply extrinsic sympathetic input to the digestive system. Hence, in this study, we investigated whether a protein-restricted diet would affect the quantitative structure of rat coeliac ganglion neurons. Five male Wistar rats (undernourished group) were given a pre- and postnatal hypoproteinic diet receiving 5% casein, whereas the nourished group (n = 5) was fed with 20% casein (normoproteinic diet). Blood tests were carried out on the animals, e.g., glucose, leptin, and triglyceride plasma concentrations. The main structural findings in this study were that a protein-deficient diet (5% casein) caused coeliac ganglion (78%) and coeliac ganglion neurons (24%) to atrophy and led to neuron loss (63%). Therefore, the fall in the total number of coeliac ganglion neurons in protein-restricted rats contrasts strongly with no neuron losses previously described for the enteric neurons of animals subjected to similar protein-restriction diets. Discrepancies between our figures and the data for enteric neurons (using very similar protein-restriction protocols) may be attributable to the counting method used. In light of this, further systematic investigations comparing 2-D and 3-D quantitative methods are warranted to provide even more advanced data on the effects that a protein-deficient diet may exert on sympathetic neurons. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

High sodium intake enhances insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in rat epididymal adipose tissue

Objective: This study investigated the effect of different sodium content diets on rat adipose tissue carbohydrate metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Methods and Procedures: Male Wistar rats were fed on normal- (0.5% Na+; NS), high- (3.12% Na+; HS), or low-sodium (0.06% Na+; LS) diets for 3, 6, and 9 weeks after weaning. Blood pressure (BP) was measured using a computerized tail-cuff system. An intravenous insulin tolerance test (ivITT) was performed in fasted animals. At the end of each period, rats were killed and blood samples were collected for glucose and insulin determinations. The white adipose tissue (WAT) from abdominal and inguinal subcutaneous (SC) and periepididymal (PE) depots were weighed and processed for adipocyte isolation and measurement of in vitro rates of insulin-stimulated 2-deoxy-d-[H-3]-glucose uptake (2DGU) and conversion of -[U-C-14]-glucose into (CO2)-C-14. Results: After 6 weeks, HS diet significantly increased the BP, SC and PE WAT masses, PE adipocyte size, and plasma insulin concentration. The sodium dietary content did not influence the whole-body insulin sensitivity. A higher half-maximal effective insulin concentration (EC50) from the dose - response curve of 2DGU and an increase in the insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation rate were observed in the isolated PE adipocytes from HS rats. Discussion: The chronic salt overload enhanced the adipocyte insulin sensitivity for glucose uptake and the insulin-induced glucose metabolization, contributing to promote adipocyte hypertrophy and increase the mass of several adipose depots, particularly the PE fat pad.

Thermoluminescence dating of Brazilian indigenous ceramics

Two indigenous ceramics fragments, one from Lagoa Queimada (LQ) and another from Barra dos Negros (BN), both sites located on Bahia state (Brazil), were dated by termoluminescence (TL) method. Each fragment was physically prepared and divided into two fractions, one was used for TL measurement and the other for annual dose determination. The TL fraction was chemically treated, divided in sub samples and irradiated with several doses. The plot extrapolation from TL intensities as function of radiation dose enabled the determination of the accumulated dose (D(ac)), 3.99 Gy and 1.88 Gy for LQ and BN, respectively. The annual dose was obtained through the uranium, thorium and potassium determination by ICP-MS. The annual doses (D(an)) obtained were 2.86 and 2.26 mGy/year. The estimated ages were similar to 1375 and 709 y for BN and LQ ceramics, respectively. The ages agreed with the archaeologists` estimation for the Aratu and Tupi tradition periods, respectively.

Estudo histórico para avaliar o uso da associação da ifosfamida, carboplatina e etoposide (ICE) para tratamento de neoplasias refratárias em pacientes pediátricos e adolescentes

O prognóstico das crianças com tumores sólidos malignos recidivados ou refratários permanece desfavorável apesar dos avanços significativos alcançados nos últimos anos em Oncologia Pediátrica. Estudos visando identificar opções terapêuticas mais eficazes torna-se, portanto, de fundamental importância para estes pacientes. Existem evidências na literatura que demonstram que as drogas utilizadas neste estudo tem, quando usadas isoladamente ou em combinação, atividade em neoplasias malignas recidivadas ou refratárias. A Carboplatina (C) apresenta respostas objetivas em um grande número de pacientes pediátricos com câncer, assim como a Ifosfamida (I) e o Etoposide (E). A combinação destas 3 drogas, em um regime que passaremos a designar como ICE, tem potencial de aumentar os índices de resposta, embora aumente também os riscos de toxicidade. O objetivo principal deste estudo foi avaliar a resposta e a toxicidade deste regime em pacientes com tumores sólidos malignos recidivados ou refratários diagnosticados antes dos 18 anos de idade. O ICE consistiu de Ifosfamida na dose 3g/m2/dia IV por 3 dias consecutivos associada a mesna como uroprotetor, em doses equivalentes, Etoposide 160 mg/m2/dia IV por 3 dias consecutivos e Carboplatina 400 mg/m2/dia IV durante 2 dias. Os ciclos foram repetidos com intervalos de 21 a 28 dias. Foram revisados 21 prontuários de pacientes tratados com este regime, entre julho de 1996 a novembro de 2000. Todos os pacientes foram avaliados para toxicidade e 19 pacientes foram avaliados para resposta. Um total de 93 ciclos de ICE foram administrados. A média dos ciclos de ICE recebidos foi de 4,4 (1-8). Os pacientes receberam um máximo de 8 ciclos. Todos os pacientes incluídos no estudo, receberam no mínimo 1 esquema quimioterápico prévio. A taxa de resposta completa + parcial foi de 52,6%. Os efeitos tóxicos incluíram mielossupressão, febre, naúseas ou vômitos, nefrotoxicidade, leve disfunção hepática e neurotoxicidade. Em 78% dos ciclos houve neutropenia grau 4 (contagem de neutrófilos menor de 500/microlitro). Trombocitopenia graus 3 e 4 foi observado em 73,1% dos ciclos administrados e em 82% destes foram necessárias transfusões de plaquetas. Anemia grau 3 a 4 ocorreu em 61,2% dos ciclos e em 75 (80,6%) dos 93 ciclos administrados foi necessário transfusão de glóbulos vermelhos. Nenhum dos pacientes apresentou hematúria macroscópica e em 19,3 % dos ciclos houve hematúria microscópica. Duas crianças apresentaram nefrotoxicidade tubular renal. Em conclusão, este estudo mostra que o ICE é uma combinação ativa em crianças com tumores sólidos refratários/recidivados. Embora esteja associado a mielossupressão severa, a incidência de infecção encontra-se dentro de índices considerados aceitáveis para este grupo de pacientes. O dano tubular renal é a toxicidade não hematológica mais significativa e, portanto, recomenda-se cuidados e monitorização da função renal durante o período de tratamento. Embora o uso do ICE seja factível mesmo sem o uso de fatores de crescimento hematopoiéticos em pacientes previamente submetidos a quimioterapia, a maioria deles necessita terapia de suporte, principalmente de transfusões de hemoderivados e antimicrobianos. A identificação de pacientes e patologias com maior índice de respostas requer a realização de estudos no futuro com maior número de pacientes a nível multi-institucional.

Sistematização das artérias da base do encéfalo e suas fontes de suprimento sangüíneo em chinchila (Chinchilla lanigera)

Neste trabalho estudou-se as artérias da base do encéfalo, bem como as suas fontes de suprimento sanguíneo na chinchila (Chinchilla lanigera), sendo utilizados 30 animais, 17 fêmeas e 13 machos, adultos. O sistema arterial foi preenchido com látex 603 corado em vermelho através do tronco braquiocefálico e da artéria subclávia esquerda. Sistematizou-se a origem das fontes de suprimento sanguíneo para o encéfalo e as artérias (Aa) da face ventral do cérebro, tanto à direita (D) como à esquerda (E), com suas respectivas percentagens de aparecimento: o arco aórtico emitiu tronco braquiocefálico e artéria (A.) subclávia E (93,3%), ou tronco braquiocefálico, A. carótida comum E e A. subclávia E (6,7%). O tronco braquiocefálico lançou A. carótida comum D e E e A. subclávia D (93,3%), ou A. carótida comum D e A. subclávia D (6,7%). A. carótida comum D e E dividiu-se em Aa carótidas externa e interna (100%). A. carótida interna D (100%) e A. carótida interna E (93,3%) não cooperaram na irrigação encefálica. Ramos terminais das Aa. vertebrais D e E presentes (100%) formaram a A. basilar (96,7%). A. espinhal ventral presente (100%). A. cerebelar caudal D, ímpar (80%) e dupla (20%), à E, ímpar (70%) e dupla (30%). A. trigeminal D e E ímpar (100%). A. cerebelar rostral vaso caudal D, presente (73,3%) e ausente (26,7%), à E, presente (70%) e ausente (30%). A. cerebelar rostral vaso rostral D e E presente (100%). A. tectal rostral D e E ímpar (100%). A. cerebral caudal D, ímpar (53,3%), duplo (36,7%) e triplo (10%), à E, ímpar (46,7%), duplo (46,7%) e triplo (6,7%). A. hipofisária D e E presente (100%). A. oftálmica interna D, ausente (73,3%) e presente (26,7%), à E, ausente (76,7%) e presente (23,3%). A. cerebral média D e E ímpar (100%). A. cerebral rostral D e E desenvolvida (96,7%) e vaso vestigial (3,3%). A. inter-hemisférica rostral mediana ímpar originada da A. cerebral rostral D (20%) e E (50%), e da união dos ramos das Aa cerebrais rostrais D e E (23,3%). A. lateral do bulbo olfatório à D, individual (76,7%) e tronco comum (23,3%), à E, individual (73,3%) e tronco comum (26,7%). A. medial do bulbo olfatório à D, individual (76,7%) e tronco comum (23,3%), à E, individual (73,3%) e tronco comum (26,7%). A. etmoidal interna D e E presente (100%). Observou-se que o círculo arterial cerebral da chinchila foi fechado caudalmente (100%), rostralmente aberto (70%) e fechado (30%). O encéfalo foi suprido quase que exclusivamente pelo sistema vértebro-basilar.

Projeto em Áreas Consolidadas de Patrimônio Cultural: Propostas para a Construção de uma Metodologia de Ensino

Le thème du patrimoine culturel architectural et urbain continue d avoir une place importante dans le milieu technique et scientifique. Le concept s est élargi et aujourd hui comprend différentes procédures de projets d intervention. L importance accordée au thème amène à l inclusion de la matière de techniques rétrospectives et aux contenus qui en sont liés: conservation, restauration, restructuration et reconstruction d édifices et ensembles urbains, dans les parcours des cours d architecture et d urbanisme au Brésil établies par le Ministère de l Education Nationale (MEC) dans les années quatre-vingt-dix, postérieurement incorporés dans les directrices disciplinaires nationales. Nous partons des discussions théoriques et conceptuelles du Domaine du Patrimoine Culturel, ainsi que des principales théories pédagogiques d enseignements et d apprentissage articulées au projet. Dans ce contexte les objectifs principaux de cette thèse consistent à systématiser et à analyser les principales procédures méthodologiques contribuant pour la construction de méthodes d enseignement tournée vers des activités pratiques dans ce domaine. Pour cela, la recherche a été systématisée dans une approche à deux niveaux. En ce qui concerne le premier, basé sur des données secondaires, neuf cours d architecture et urbanisme ont étés identifiés entre institutions publiques d enseignement supérieur dont huit brésiliennes et une française, considérées représentatives en ce qui concerne les pratiques d enseignement de projet et de patrimoine culturel. Trente disciplines dédiées à la matière ont été également reconnues initialement, et postérieurement, cinq disciplines qui possèdent un emploi du temps dédié à la pratique de projet ont aussi été reconnues. Dans le deuxième cas, basée sur des données primaires, ont étés analysées les méthodologies et les stratégies d enseignement de projet basées sur les définitions des matières et des autres éléments des plans de travail avec des observations, des entrevues et des questionnaires en trois ateliers. Par rapport aux résultats nous avons constaté que toutes les écoles possèdent les contenus de la matière, mais peu d entre elles privilégient la relation du projet appliqué au patrimoine culturel. Nous avons constaté que les questions des projets dans ce contexte, même s elles sont considérées complexes, ont privilégié le listage et l analyse du site. L atelier qui intègre les fondements des théories de préservation, l histoire de l architecture et urbanisme et techniques anciennes et actuelles, est mis en valeur comme un modèle cohérent avec les propositions d intégration des connaissances théoriques et pratiques du projet appliqué à la discipline. Basé sur ces constatations il est possible de démontrer quatre étapes du projet appliqué au patrimoine culturel: 1ª) les fondements généraux qui concernent les bases théoriques sur la préservation, histoire et technique rétrospective, par exemple, l appropriation de lois et normes et la sensibilisation de l élève sur les questions de patrimoine culturel; 2ª) le contacte avec la réalité qui inclut l appropriation du problème à partir de ces acteurs, de ces échelles, de cette lecture de site et l analyse de l objet d étude; 3ª) le développement de la proposition qui inclut programmes (fonctions existantes et propositions), définitions du partit (types d intervention), conception (hypothèse et discussion) et définition de proposition; 4ª) la finalisation du projet qui consiste à développer la proposition avec sa représentation graphique et sa présentation finale. Nous concluons que le projet en Domaine du Patrimoine Culturel demande une attention spéciale et doit être présent dans les cursus considérant les principes généraux nécessaires à la formation de l élève. Le binôme projet / patrimoine signifie avoir dans le cursus universitaire les contenus et questions nécessaires les connaissances, les variables et possibilités existantes dans le projet appliqué au patrimoine culturel de façon à ce que ces connaissances soient incorporées dans l exercice de projet et n apparaissent pas comme un simple contenu théorique sans articulation avec la pratique. Naturellement ces conclusions n épuisent pas la réflexion sur la question. Nous espérons que les analyses faites contribuent à définir des méthodologies d enseignements capables d êtres vérifiées et testées dans la pratique en salle de cours, et puisse collaborer avec les nouvelles recherches surtout celles qui ont pour but des nouvelles théories pédagogiques d enseignement apprentissage du projet en Domaine du Patrimoine Culturel

Proteinograma sérico de bezerros recém-nascidos da raça Holandesa obtido por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida

The serum protein concentration of newborn Holstein calves determined by means of sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide (SDS-PAGE) was studied. Blood samples from 40 healthy newborn calves were obtained 48 hours after birth. Calves had been given 3 liters of colostrum within 2 hours after birth, following by dose corresponding by 15% of animal weight each 24 hours. The results showed three different proteinograms: 19 calves had 14 proteins with molecular weights (MW) ranging from 28,000 D to 170,000D (proteinogram 1); 11 calves had 14 proteins with MW ranging from 18,000 to 170,000 D (proteinogram 1); and 10 calves had 12 proteins with MW ranging from 28,000 D to 170,000 D (proteinogram 3). The three groups presented similar IgG levels. The highest serum concentration of ceruloplasmin were verified in proteinogram 3, which had the lowest serum level of protein with MW 58,000D. It was verified a1-antitrypsin only in proteinogram 2, which had no proteins with MW of 42,000 D and 37,000D. The highest serum concentrations of IgA and protein with MW 58,000 D, and the lowest serum levels of transferrin, haptoglobin, and acid glycoprotein were verified in proteinogram 3. Measurement of serum protein concentrations by SDS-PAGE may be useful in monitoring the occurrence of hypogammaglobulinemia and the neonatal disease in calves.

Chemically Assisted Enucleation Results in Higher G6PD Expression in Early Bovine Female Embryos Obtained by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer

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

Desempenho produtivo e atividade microbiana cecal de coelhos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes níveis de amido

Com o objetivo de avaliar a influência do amido dietético sobre o rendimento produtivo e a atividade microbiana cecal de coelhos em crescimento, quatro dietas experimentais foram elaboradas de forma a conter níveis crescentes de amido (23, 28, 33 e 38% de amido total na base da MS), os quais foram fornecidos a 32 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branco, distribuídos em gaiolas de engorda individuais, seguindo um delineamento em blocos casualizados. Houve efeito linear decrescente para consumo e conversão alimentar, em que valores de 108,67 g/d e 3,216, respectivamente, foram obtidos para os animais alimentados com 38% de amido dietético. No entanto, o ganho de peso e o rendimento de carcaça não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos. Por outro lado, os valores de pH, as concentrações totais e as proporções molares dos ácidos graxos voláteis não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos, porém, para o ácido propiônico, houve efeito linear decrescente, sendo a maior proporção molar (12,06%) verificada no conteúdo cecal de coelhos alimentados com 23% de amido dietético. O milho-grão apresentou maior influência sobre a atividade microbiana cecal que o amido de milho purificado, porém, sem alterar o desempenho e rendimento de carcaça.

Isoenzimas na diferenciação de sementes de três espécies do gênero Euterpe

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