Nursing regimens: Effects on body condition, return to postpartum ovarian cyclicity in Santa Ines ewes, and performance of lambs

The effects of nursing regimens on the body condition, onset of ovarian cyclicity postpartum and weaning weight of lambs were assessed in Santa Ines ewes. Thirty-two ewes were blocked according to parity, number of lambs, and body weight at lambing and within each block randomly allocated to treatments: continuous nursing (CN), controlled nursing (CN2) with two daily feedings for an hour after the 10th day postpartum, or early weaning (EW) with total separation from the lambs after the 10th day. The animals were evaluated from the 12th day postpartum until the first estrus or until 60th day. The dry matter and nutrients intake did not differ among treatments ( P>. 0.05) but did differ over time ( P<. 0.01). The weight, body condition score, serum concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids and prolactin, the percentages of ewes in estrus, of ewes that ovulated within 60th day and had ovulation silent, the period from lambing to estrus, ovulation and follicle with a diameter ≥5. mm and the maximum follicular diameter did not differ ( P>. 0.05) among the treatments. The percentage of ovulation until 30th day was greater ( P<. 0.05) in the EW group. The percentage of short luteal phases was higher in the CN2 and EW groups ( P=0.07) and normal luteal phases were higher in the CN group ( P=0.01). Lamb weight weaning was lower in the EW group ( P<. 0.05). It is possible to use CN to obtain lambing periods less than eight months in Santa Ines ewes, with the advantages of simpler management and higher lamb weaning weights. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Cross-talk with β2-adrenoceptors enhances ligand affinity properties from endothelial alpha1D-adrenoceptors that mediates carotid relaxation

Objectives Our main objectives were to investigate the affinity properties of endothelial and muscular α1D-adrenoceptors and to characterize the cross-talk between endothelial α1D- adrenoceptors and β2-adrenoceptors in rat carotid. Methods Relaxation and contraction concentration-response curves for phenylephrine (α1-adrenergic agonist) were obtained in carotid rings in absence or presence of increasing concentrations of BMY7378 (α 1D-adrenergic antagonist), combined or not with increasing concentration of ICI-118,551 (β2-adrenergic antagonist). Schild analysis was used to estimate the affinity constant from pA2 values of BMY7378. Key Findings BMY7378 produced an unsurmountable antagonism on phenylephrine-induced relaxation but a surmountable antagonism on phenylephrine-induced contraction. BMY7378 potency was higher in inhibiting the relaxation than the contraction induced by phenylephrine because the rightward shifts induced by BMY7378 were greater in the relaxation. The apparent pA 2 value for BMY7378 in phenylephrine-induced relaxation was greater than in contraction. When combined with ICI-118,551, BMY7378 yielded a surmountable antagonism on phenylephrine-induced relaxation and presented a pA2 value similar to that obtained in phenylephrine-induced contraction. Conclusions Endothelial α1D-adrenoceptors, which mediates rat carotid relaxation, present high ligand affinity because of the cross-talk with β2-adrenoceptors, which explains the higher potency of phenylephrine in inducing relaxation than contraction and the atypical unsurmountable antagonism produced by BMY7378 on phenylephrine-induced relaxation. © 2013 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Interference of cage fish farm on diet, condition factor and numeric abundance on wild fish in a Neotropical reservoir

Historically, the ichthyofauna of large Brazilian rivers has been subject to anthropogenic interference, such as impoundments. Currently, cage fish farming systems are a new source of impact on aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this study was to characterise the impact of freshwater fish farms on the feeding of five species of Neotropical freshwater fish. Specimens of Astyanax altiparanae, Galeocharax knerii, Iheringicthys labrosus, Pimelodus maculatus and Plagioscion squamosissimus were sampled in areas around two systems of cage fish farming (CF), and two control areas (CT) that were not influenced by this activity. Results show that there were significant changes in the diet of trophic generalist species (A. altiparanae, P. maculatus and I. labrosus) accompanied by a related increase in the condition factor values of these species in cage areas. Trophic specialist species, such as the carnivorous fish species G. knerii and P. squamosissimus, presented small differences between the CF and CT areas with regard to diet and showed no differences in other analyses performed. In conclusion, cage fish farms can affect the natural diet of trophic generalist fish species, directly affecting the nutritional status (condition factor), where food wastes was found to be one of the principal items consumed by this trophic guild. Results indicate that these species are responsible for recycling a great quantity of organic matter transferred by this type of activity, which, along with local fishery activities, contribute to mitigation of associated processes of eutrophication. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

A música enquanto instrumento terapêutico na resposta clínica da criança em unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica

Pós-graduação em Enfermagem (mestrado profissional) - FMB

Desenvolvimento e infraestruturas de transportes: análise das obras do Programa de Aceleração do Crescimento (PAC) no Estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Geografia - FCT

Disfunção temporomandibular (DTM): impacto do relaxamento sobre ansiedade e estresse

Pós-graduação em Psicologia do Desenvolvimento e Aprendizagem - FC

Questionnaire and survey methodology. Saint Lucia: Survey of living condition and household budgets 2005/2006

This manual documents some of the material related to the Survey of Living Conditions and Household Budgets (SLC/HBS) conducted in Saint Lucia by the Kairi Consultants Limited and National Assessment Team between 2005 and 2006. The SLC/HBS is a sample survey which generates data on households and individuals in the country. The main objectives of this survey were (i) to collect information from households on their expenditure patterns, income and other characteristics and; (ii) to revise the 'average shopping basket' used in constructing the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the country, and the relative weights of the items in the basket. The survey also provided valuable data for an assessment of the impact of socio-economic policies on the living conditions of the resident population in Saint Lucia. Further, data on households gathered in the survey also provide valuable inputs for the compilation of the country's National Accounts statistics relating to the household sector. This manual was developed by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) – Subregional Headquarters in the Caribbean as a supplementary document for the Caribbean Household Surveys Database (CHSD). The main components of this manual include survey methodology and the questionnaires used for data collection. The latter are included in the annex at the end of the document. All information contained therein was provided by the Statistics Department in Saint Lucia. The ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean is pleased to acknowledge the Saint Lucia Statistics Department for graciously consenting to the use of their surveys and metadata under the project Improving Caribbean Household Surveys. Due recognition must also be given to the Statistics and Economics Projection Division at ECLAC (Santiago) who provided guidance in the standardization of the datasets and the creation of the Caribbean Household Surveys Databank.

Efeito de elementos intersticiais nas propriedades anelásticas do aço 316L usado como biomaterial

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparação entre três tratamentos de fisioterapia em indivíduos com lombalgia

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Investigação experimental de estratégias de identificação e controle LPV aplicadas ao amortecimento de oscilações eletromecânicas em sistemas elétricos de potência

Nesta tese e realizada a investigação experimental de uma estratégia de controle LPV (do inglês, linear parameter varying) aplicada ao amortecimento de oscilações eletromecânicas em sistemas elétricos de potencia. O estudo foi realizado em um modelo de sistema de potencia em escala reduzida de 10kVA, cuja configuração e do tipo maquina interligada a uma barra infinita, alem de testes em campo em uma unidade geradora de 350 MVA da Usina Hidrelétrica de Tucuruvi. Primeiramente, foi desenvolvido e testado computacionalmente um conjunto de rotinas para analise e síntese de controlador amortecedor do tipo LPV, bem como para identificação de modelos LPV da planta. Os coeficientes do controlador amortecedor LPV, no caso um Estabilizador de Sistemas de Potencia (ESP), dependem do valor de uma variável de operação selecionada que, neste estudo, foram as potencias ativa (P) e reativa (Q) nos terminais da unidade geradora. Para fins de projeto, a dinâmica da planta foi representada através de um modelo ARX LPV, o qual foi estimado a partir de dados coletados experimentalmente na planta, para uma ampla faixa de condições operacionais. A partir do modelo LPV da planta, os valores dos parâmetros do ESP LPV foram determinados via um problema de otimização convexa, na forma de uma LMI parametrizada (PLMI). A solução da PLMI e obtida a partir de uma relaxação via decomposição em soma de quadrados. O ESP LPV foi projetado de modo a garantir a estabilidade e o desempenho do sistema para uma ampla faixa de condições operacionais da planta, o que geralmente não e possível de obter com controladores convencionais a parâmetros fixos. A lei de controle amortecedor do ESP LPV foi implementada em um sistema embarcado baseado em um controlador digital de sinais. Os resultados experimentais mostraram um excelente desempenho do ESP LPV no amortecimento de oscilações eletromecânicas, tanto no sistema de potencia em escala reduzida, quanto em uma unidade geradora da UHE de Tucurui.

Seasonal changes in the gonadossomatic index, allometric condition factor and sex ratio of an auchenipterid catfish from eastern Amazonia

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar alterações sazonais no índice gonadossomático (IGS%), fator de condição (K) e proporção sexual, a fim de determinar o período de atividade reprodutiva do bagre Auchenipterichthys longimanus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae), a partir da análise de exemplares coletados em igarapés da Floresta Nacional de Caxiuanã, estado do Pará, Brasil. Através de coletas bimestrais entre julho de 2008 e julho de 2009, foram capturados 589 exemplares de A. longimanus, sendo 251 machos e 338 fêmeas. Dentre os machos, 171 exemplares foram classificados como adultos e 80 foram jovens, e dentre as fêmeas, 249 eram adultas e 89 jovens. Por meio do estabelecimento de uma equação senoidal, a análise do IGS% evidenciou uma assincronia reprodutiva entre os sexos, pois os machos obtiveram maiores valores de IGS% em janeiro e as fêmeas apresentaram seu pico em março. Para os valores de IGS% de machos, a equação senoide mostrou-se significante somente para os valores brutos (P=0,001), sendo não identificada uma tendência com os valores médios do IGS% (P=0,136). Para as fêmeas, os valores de significância da equação senoide para o IGS% foram obtidos tanto para os dados brutos (P=0,012) quanto para os dados médios (P=0,026). Para o Fator de Condição, a equação senoide demonstrou variação nos valores brutos e médios de machos adultos (P=0,02 e P=0,00, respectivamente) e nos valores brutos de fêmeas (P=0,04), refletindo diferenças nos padrões de investimento energético entre os sexos. Em relação à proporção sexual, foi observada uma maior frequência de capturas de fêmeas reprodutivas em relação aos machos nos meses de Janeiro e Março de 2009, sugerindo um padrão de segregação sexual com fins reprodutivos. Esses parâmetros são fundamentais na avaliação, conservação e manejo dos estoques naturais de peixes, assim como para subsidiar estratégias e procedimentos para a preservação e conservação da ictiofauna.

Histopathological Condition of the Remaining Tissues after Endodontic Infection of Rat Immature Teeth

Introduction: Recently, case reports have shown that immature teeth diagnosed with necrotic pulp and periapical periodontitis can be repaired through a regenerative endodontic procedure. True regeneration depends on the presence of stem cells in the remaining vital tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histologic condition of the pulp tissue, root apical papilla, and periapical tissues after inducing endodontic infection in immature rat teeth for different periods. Methods: This study evaluated 18 first upper rat molars (36 roots). Periapical lesions were induced and were confirmed radiographically, and the animals were divided into 3 groups according to the days of pulp exposure for endodontic infection induction: 30, 60, and 90 days. Histologic analysis was performed in 5 different areas (ie, cervical, middle, and apical root canal thirds; the apical papilla; and the periapex surrounding the apical papilla). Results: At 30 days, one third of the specimens still showed vital but intensely inflamed pulp tissue in the apical third and vital apical papilla with varying degrees of inflammation. After 60 days, the results were similar with respect to the apical pulp tissue and apical papilla. Completely necrotic pulp tissue in the space canal and vital apical papilla were observed in about 67% of the cases after 90 days. Conclusions: Vital pulp tissue was observed in the apical third until 60 days and in the vital apical papilla until 90 days of infection in a rat model.

Defining a fish bio-assessment tool to monitoring the biological condition of a cascade reservoirs system in tropical area

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

Type 2 Diabetes Elicits Lower Nitric Oxide, Bradykinin Concentration and Kallikrein Activity Together with Higher DesArg(9)-BK and Reduced Post-Exercise Hypotension Compared to Non-Diabetic Condition

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Relaxation to Fixed Points in the Logistic and Cubic Maps: Analytical and Numerical Investigation

Convergence to a period one fixed point is investigated for both logistic and cubic maps. For the logistic map the relaxation to the fixed point is considered near a transcritical bifurcation while for the cubic map it is near a pitchfork bifurcation. We confirmed that the convergence to the fixed point in both logistic and cubic maps for a region close to the fixed point goes exponentially fast to the fixed point and with a relaxation time described by a power law of exponent -1. At the bifurcation point, the exponent is not universal and depends on the type of the bifurcation as well as on the nonlinearity of the map.