Free activity in the cage associated with body weight and restoration of bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading

We investigated the importance of daily free activity in the cage and body weight gain during the recovering of bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control (CG, n=24) and suspended (SG, n=24) groups. Animals from SG underwent a four-week hindlimb unloading period by tail-suspension. Animals from CG and those from SG after release were kept in collective cages and sacrificed at the age of 12, 16 and 20 weeks. Both femurs were removed and its area, bone mineral density (BMD), resistance to failure and stiffness were determined. Four-week hindlimb unloading decreased (p < 0.05) body weight (CG, 373.00 +/- 9.47 vs. SG, 295.86 +/- 9.19 g), BMD (CG, 0.19 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.15 +/- 0.01 g/cm(2)), bone resistance to failure (CG, 147.75 +/- 5.05 vs. SG, 96.40 +/- 5.95 N) and stiffness (CG, 0.38 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.23 +/- 0.02 N/m). Eight weeks of free activity in cage recovered (p > 0.05) the body weight (CG, 472.75 +/- 14.11 vs. SG, 444.75 +/- 18.91 g), BMD (CG, 0.24 +/- 0.01 vs. SG, 0.22 +/- 0.01 g/cm(2)), bone resistance to failure (CG, 195.73 +/- 10.06 vs. SG, 178.45 +/- 8.48 N) and stiffness (CG, 0.56 +/- 0.02 vs. SG, 0.47 +/- 0.03 N/m) of SG animals. Body weight correlated strongly with bone structural and mechanical properties (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, free activity in the cage associated with body weight gain restored bone structural and mechanical properties in growing rats after hindlimb unloading.

Chemical Composition of Metapleural Gland Secretions of Fungus-Growing and Non-fungus-growing Ants

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

Sustainability and CDM projects in the Brazilian sugar cane sector: a discussion on the economic-financial aspects

The study discusses how the revenue from the sale of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) can contribute to the attractiveness of investment in projects of bagasse-based cogeneration. It was observed that revenue from CERs is probably not enough to make these investments acceptable in the economic and financial aspect. However, this study speculates that Clean Development Mechanism projects will be strategic to build a positive image concerning the social responsibility and sustainability of the business in the Brazilian sugar cane sector.

Seed dispersal by fishes in tropical and temperate fresh waters: The growing evidence

Fruit-eating by fishes represents an ancient (perhaps Paleozoic) interaction increasingly regarded as important for seed dispersal (ichthyochory) in tropical and temperate ecosystems. Most of the more than 275 known frugivorous species belong to the mainly Neotropical Characiformes (pacus, piranhas) and Siluriformes (catfishes), but cypriniforms (carps, minnows) are more important in the Holarctic and Indomalayan regions. Frugivores are among the most abundant fishes in Neotropical floodplains where they eat the fruits of a wide variety of trees and shrubs. By consuming fruits, fishes gain access to rich sources of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins and act as either seed predators or seed dispersers. With their often high mobility, large size, and great longevity, fruit-eating fishes can play important roles as seed dispersers and exert strong influences on local plant-recruitment dynamics and regional biodiversity. Recent feeding experiments focused on seed traits after gut passage support the idea that fishes are major seed dispersers in floodplain and riparian forests. Overfishing, damming, deforestation and logging potentially diminish ichthyochory and require immediate attention to ameliorate their effects. Much exciting work remains in terms of fish and plant adaptations to ichthyochory, dispersal regimes involving fishes in different ecosystems, and increased use of nondestructive methods such as stomach lavage, stable isotopes, genetic analyses and radio transmitters to determine fish diets and movements. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Influence of sugar cane vinasse on the sorption and degradation of herbicides in soil under controlled conditions

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Doses de potássio em cobertura na primeira soca da cultura da cana-de-açúcar cultivada no norte matogrossense

The sugar cane crop has been cultivated in all regions of the Brazil, occupying different soil types. The north region of Mato Grosso has favorable climate conditions for the culture, however, has been achieved low productivity due to the not application of fertilizer and inefficient doses. Being the potassium the mineral element absorbed in large amount by culture. Aimed to with this work to evaluate the effect of growing doses of the nutrient applied in coverage in the second cycle of the variety of sugar cane IAC86-2480. The experimental design was randomized blocks, with four replications. The Potassium doses were: 0; 60; 120; 180 e 240 kg ha(-1) of K(2)O. Was evaluated the degrees Brix, diameter, weigth, height and productivity of stalk. No was significant effects for the variable degrees Brix in response to potassium doses, since to others had response quadratic. The dose of maximum agronomic efficiency was of 150 kg ha(-1) de K(2)O obtaining productivity of 85 t ha(-1) of stalk, representing 25% increase in productivity.

Greenhouse gas balance due to the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest, considering other conservationist management practices

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Faunal analysis of the species Anastrepha in the fruit growing complex Gaviao River, Bahia, Brazil

Besides being considered the greatest pests of fruit growing, fruit flies constitute a large obstacle to the growth of the exportation of fresh fruit. Knowledge of the structure of fruit fly communities is of great importance to the bioecological studies of these insects, but there is a lack of information about the faunistic composition of fruit flies in Brazil. The objective of this work was to analysis the composition of the species of Anastrepha, in eleven mango orchards of the fruit growing complex Gaviao River, Bahia, Brazil. These studies were done in 2004 and 2005, in Anage, Caraibas and Belo Campo town, 23 McPhail traps, which collected 798 female fruit flies from the genus Anastrepha. The structure of these communities was evaluated in each orchard by means of faunistic indexes frequency, constancy, dominance, diversity and similarity. The number of species varied from four to eight in each orchard; and the following species was recorded: Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), Anastrepha dissimilis Stone, Anastrepha amita Zucchi, Anastrepha distincta Greene, Anastrepha pickeli Lima. Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi and Anastrepha zenildae Zucchi. The most frequent and dominant species were A. fraterculus and A. obliqua. The indexes of diversity varied from 1.01 to 1.62. In general, the similarity between orchards was high (above 55.0%). We observed the formation of groups, one constituted by Frutvale, Carlan, Santa Clara and Panorama orchards; another composed of Cofet, Campo Gaviao and Ouro Verde and a third group formed by Boa Vista orchard. Barra da Onca and Arruda are distinguished from other orchards.

Soluble phosphate accumulation by Aspergillus niger from fluorapatite

In order to determine conditions that may provide greater solubilization of insouluble phosphate, the fungus Aspergillus niger was grown in a stationary culture containing modified citrate medium supplemented with 800 mg fluorapatite per litre. Solubilization of insouluble phosphate increased with fungal growth, reaching a maximum after 11 days of culture. Soluble phosphate levels were correlated with pH of the culture medium but not with titratable acidity values, probably due to the metabolic activity of the fungus resulting from consumption of sugar in the culture medium. Fructose, glucose, xylose, and sucrose were the carbohydrates that favoured fluorapatite solubilization the most when compared with galactose and maltose. Although increasing fructose concentrations in the culture medium favoured mycelial growth, increased total acidity and a fall in pH, soluble phosphate levels were reduced, probably owing to consumption by the rapidly growing fungus. Among the nitrogen sources tested, ammonium salts favoured the production of larger amounts of soluble phosphate than organic nitrogen (peptone or urea) or nitrate, corresponding to the lowest pH and highest titratable acidity values obtained. © 1988 Springer-Verlag.

Influence of age on the febrile response to E. coli and S. typhimurium endotoxins in growing pullets.

1. The effect of bacterial endotoxin injection was studied in growing pullets of different ages. Commercial chicks were divided into 5 groups according to age. Bacterial endotoxins (E. coli and S. typhimurium) were injected intravenously and rectal temperature was measured over a period of 300 min. 2. The results showed no significant effect of age on the febrile response induced by bacterial endotoxins, but a slight tendency towards a reduced fever peak was observed with increasing age. The response latency also increased with age.

Resource partitioning among epigaeic and hypogaeic ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of a Brazilian cocoa plantation

Patterns of dietary and foraging strata utilization by the ground ant community of a Brazilian cocoa planatation were examined using sugar, meat and flour baits on the surface as well as buried. A total of 49 ant species was recorded, including 10 species of Pheidole. Strong dominance was exercised by Solenopsis geminata at both surface and subterranean strata, and at all food resources. The dissimilarity matrix of the epigaeic ant fauna was much greater than that for the hypogaeic species. At least four guilds were identified: the fungus-growing ants, epigaeic nectivores, epigaeic carnivores, and hypogaeic foragers. Niche breadth reduction, leading to the formation of guilds, permits the coexistence of many species in the this ground ant community from a tropical cocoa plantation. -Authors

Influence of the diet on in situ disappearance of dry matter, organic matter, and neutral detergent fiber of hydrolysed sugar cane bagasse

The effects of two diets based on hydrolysed sugarcane bagasse (HSB) and whole cottonseed (WCS), with or without oat hay, were analyzed for the in situ disappearance of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of HSB. Six mature castrated rams with a permanent T ruminai cannula were used in a complete randomized split plot design. The incubation times were 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 and 72h. The diet with oat hay showed higher disappearance indexes for the NDF fraction. Furthermore, the maximum degradation of HSB constituents was reached around 48h of incubation. The diets were T1=64% hydrolyzed sugarcane + 36% whole cottonseed and T2=14% hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse + 36% cottonseed + 50% oat hay.

Fungus-growing ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) on Santa Catarina Island, Brazil: patterns of occurrence

A taxonomic survey on fungus-growing ants (Attini) was made at 14 beaches on Santa Catarina Island (SC), Brazil. The samplings were manual, in soil or litterfall, in the following habitats: sandy beach, herbaceous vegetation and shrubby vegetation. From 12 species of Attini (ten of Acromyrmex Mayr and two of Cyphomyrmex Mayr), the most frequent were Cyphomyrmex morschi Emery and Acromyrmex crassispinus Forel, collected, respectively, on eight and ten of the monitored beaches. Altogether, Sorensen's similarity coefficients were high (range: 0.59-0.80), in spite of the lower numbers of ant species on sandy beaches.