Effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) on follicular population and on in vitro buffalo embryo production

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of bovine somatotropin (bST) on ovarian follicular population in buffalo heifers and its influence on oocyte quality, recovery rates and in vitro embryo production. We tested the hypothesis that bST treatment in buffalo females submitted to an ovum pick-up (OPU) program Would improve the number of follicles recruited, oocyte quality and in vitro embryo production. A total of 10 heifers were assigned into two treatment groups: group bST (n = 5; receiving 500 mg of bST in regular intervals) and control group (n = 5; without additional treatment). Both groups were subjected to OPU sessions twice a week (every 3 or 4 days), for a total of 10 sessions per female, although due to procedural problems, only the first five OPU sessions produced embryos. The number of follicles and the diameters were recorded at all OPU sessions. The harvested oocytes were counted and classified according to their quality as either A, B, C, D or E, with A and B considered good quality. Cleavage and blastocyst production rates were evaluated 2 and 7 days after in vitro fertilization, respectively. The bST treatment increased the total number of antral follicles (> 3 mm in diameter; 12.2 compared with 8.7: p, < 0.05) and of small antral follicles (< 5 mm; 9.1 compared with 6.5; p < 0.05) per OPU session. The bST also tended to increase the number of oocytes recovered per session (5.2 compared with 4.1; p = 0.07), and enhanced the percentage of good quality oocytes (48.8% compared with 40.6%; p = 0.07), bST showed no effect on cleavage and blastocyst production rates (p > 0.05). The significant effects of performing repeated OPU sessions were decreasing the follicular population (p < 0.001) as well as the number of follicles aspirated (p < 0.001), and oocytes recovered (p < 0.02). In conclusion, bST treatment improves the follicular population, demonstrating its possible application in buffalo donors submitted to OPU programs. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Changes on emitter discharge under different water temperature and pressure

The study was conducted at the Research Laboratory of Hydraulic and Irrigation Group in the Rural Engineering Department, Technical University of Madrid (Universidad Politecnica de Madrid), Madrid, Spain. Water temperatures of 20, 30, 40 degrees C and system pressures often encountered in irrigation practices of 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 and 200 k Pa were applied to determine the effects of different water temperatures and pressures on emitter discharge. Non-pressure compensating in-line emitter which has turbulent flow regime with a long-path (labyrinth), emitter discharge was 4 L h(-1) at system pressure of 100 kPa according to the manufacturer recommended, was used. Emitters were spaced 20 cm along the drip laterals with 16 mm diameter. Discharge equations and coefficients of variation related to temperatures of 20, 30 and 40 degrees C were obtained as q = 0.375H(0.51), q = 0.358H(0.52), q = 0.346H(0.53) and 2.68, 2.09, 3.65, respectively. Discharge of the emitter was affected by different system pressures and increased as potentially (R = 0993-0996). In general. the emitter discharge increased with increasing temperature. However, especially in the common system pressures of 90-120 k Pa, differences of obtained emitter discharges between the different water temperatures were not significant (1%).

Efeito de doses e tipos de compostos orgânicos na produção de alface em dois solos sob ambiente protegido

Avaliou-se o efeito de três doses de composto orgânico de três composições distintas, aplicados em dois solos [Latossolo Vermelho Escuro, textura arenosa (LE) e Areia Quartzoza (AQ)], na produção e absorção de nutrientes pela planta de alface. Conduziu-se de 02/07 a 27/08/1997 um experimento dentro de túnel plástico, pertencente à UNESP, em Botucatu, em vaso plástico, contendo quatro quilos de solo. Os solos foram corrigidos para atingirem saturação por base de 80% e todos os vasos receberam adubação fosfatada (150 mg de P kg-1 de solo), potássica (100 mg de K kg-1 de solo) e micronutrientes. Os compostos foram misturados aos solos nas quantidades de 60; 120 e 240 g de composto por vaso. Os três compostos foram originados a partir de casca de eucalipto, serragem de madeira e palhada de feijão, misturados com esterco de aves. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em três repetições, com vinte tratamentos em esquema fatorial (3 doses x 3 compostos x 2 solos) mais um tratamento testemunha para cada solo (ausência de composto orgânico). O composto de palhada de feijão aumentou a biomassa fresca da parte aérea e a quantidade de N, K, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Fe e Zn nas plantas de alface. Para o P e Mn o composto de palhada de feijão diferiu significativamente apenas em relação ao composto de casca de eucalipto. em todas as características avaliadas no LE houve melhores respostas da cultura em relação ao AQ. Quanto às dosagens utilizadas, as diferenças foram observadas somente nos tratamentos com palhada de feijão, onde as maiores dosagens propiciaram o aumento de biomassa fresca e seca da parte aérea, e nas quantidades de macro e micronutrientes.

Relação entre padrão comportamental, estágios do ciclo de muda e atividade de enzimas digestivas proteolíticas em juvenis do camarão marinho Litopenaeus vannamei (Crustacea: Penaeidae)

Shrimp farming in Brazil is a consolidated activity, having brought economical and social gains to several states with the largest production concentrated in the northeast. This fact is also reflected in higher feed intake, necessitating a more efficient feed management. Currently, management techniques already foresee food loss due to molting. In this sense, studies relating shrimp s digestive physiology, molting physiology and behavioral response of shrimp feed can optimize the feed management. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate the behavioral response of the marine shrimp L. vannamei (Crustacea: Penaeidae) in accordance with the stages of moulting cycle and feeding schedules based on higher or lower activity of proteolytic digestive enzymes; also, to investigate the influence of feeding schedule on hepatosomatic index and non-specific and specific protease activity (trypsin). Experiments were carried out at the Laboratory of Shrimp Behavioral Studies at UFRN in partnership with the Laboratory of Enzimology UFPE. Juveniles of L. vannamei weighting 5.25 g (+ 0.25 g) were kept in aquaria at a density of 33 shrimp m -2. In the first experiment, shrimp were fed in the light phase or in the dark phase for 8 days; in the ninth day, the animals were observed for 15 minutes every hour during the 12 hours of each phase of the photoperiod. We recorded the frequency of inactivity, exploration, food intake, burrowing, swimming and crawling behavior. At the end of the 12th observation session, the shrimp were sacrified and classified by the method of setogenesis in the molt cycle stages A, B, C, D0, D1, D2 or D3. We found that the shrimp in A stage show high levels of inactivity. Moreover, the frequency of food intake was very low. The shrimp in D3 stage also had low food intake and high inactivity associated with elevated frequencies of burrowing. In the second experiment, shrimp were kept in physiological acclimation to experimental conditions for 28 days, distributed in 12 treatments in the light phase and 12 treatments in the dark phase. In the end, the animals were sacrified and dissected to assess non-specific and specific protease activity (trypsin) activity. In general, these parameters did not vary among animals fed in the light phase and those fed in the dark phase. However, significant differences were found in the activity of specific and nonspecific proteases in relation to food treatment. In the light phase, the major proteolytic activities converged to 10 hours after the start of the light phase, while the lowest activities converged to 6 hours after the beginning of this phase. In the dark phase, the highest enzyme activity converged to 12 hours after the onset of phase, while the lowest activities converged to 3 hours after the onset of phase. In the third experiment, we sought to evaluate the behavioral responses of shrimp in relation to dietary treatments based on higher or lower activity of proteolytic enzymes, considering the results of the second experiment. The behavioral categories observed were the same as the ones in the first experiment, with observations of 30 minutes (15min before and 15min after food supply). We found variation in behavioral responses as a function of the treatments, with greater intake of food in shrimp fed during the period of greatest activity of proteolytic enzymes, in the light phase. Thus we see that periodic events associated with the shrimp s physiology interfere in their behavioral responses, revealing situations that are more adjustable to the provision of food, and consequently optimizing feeding management

Fontes e doses de manganês no acúmulo de nutrientes na palhada em cana-de-açúcar

The sugar cane crop uptake high amount of nutrients from the soil and the lack of these elements can result in low productivity of this crop. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sources and doses of manganese on the accumulation of macro-and micronutrients of straw and stalk yield in the sugar cane crop. The experiment was conducted at Fujimoto farm, area administered by the Vale do Parana SA Alcohol and Sugar located in Suzanapolis - SP county. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a factorial scheme 5x3, with five levels of manganese and three sources, applied at planting, in four replications. The plots consisted of four rows 5 m long, spaced by 1.5 m. The variety used was RB 86-7515. The variables analyzed in the sugar cane plant and sugar cane ratoon cane were: accumulation of macro-and micronutrients, dry weight of straw and crop yield. The sources Mn influenced the accumulation of N, P and K in the straw cane plant and ratoon sugar cane in the accumulation of K, Ca, S, B, Mn and Zn. The increasing levels of Mn increased the cumulative amount of Ca, Mg, S and Mn in the cane plant and stubble of Ca, Fe and Mn in sugar cane ratoon. The sources of Mn did not influence the dry matter yields of straw and stalk, so as to plant cane to first sugar cane ratoon. The levels of Mn influenced linearly the dry straw on cane plant. As for the stem yield of sugarcane plant and sugar cane ratoon was not influenced by the levels of Mn.

Biomimetic calcium phosphate coating on Ti-7.5Mo alloy for dental application

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

Influence of examiner's clinical experience on the reproducibility and accuracy of radiographic examination in detecting occlusal caries

The aim of this in vitro study was to assess the influence of varying examiner's clinical experience on the reproducibility and accuracy of radiographic examination for occlusal caries detection. Standardized bitewing radiographs were obtained from 166 permanent molars. Radiographic examination was performed by final-year dental students from two universities (A, n=5; B, n=5) and by dentists with 5 to 7 years of experience who work in two different countries (C, n=5; D, n=5). All examinations were repeated after 1-week interval. The teeth were histologically prepared and assessed for caries extension. For intraexaminer reproducibility, the unweighted kappa values were: A (0.11-0.40), B (0.12-0.33), C (0.47-0.58), and D (0.42-0.71). Interexaminer reproducibility statistics were computed based on means +/- SD of unweighted kappa values: A (0.07 +/- 0.05), B (0.12 +/- 0.09), C (0.24 +/- 0.08), and D (0.33 +/- 0.10). Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated at D(1) and D(3) thresholds and compared by performing McNemar test (p=0.05). D(1) sensitivity ranged between 0.29 and 0.75 and specificity between 0.24 and 0.85. D(3) specificity was moderate to high (between 0.62 and 0.95) for all groups, with statistically significant difference between the dentists groups (C and D). Sensitivity was low to moderate (between 0.21 and 0.57) with statistically significant difference for groups B and D. Accuracy was similar for all groups (0.55). Spearman's correlations were: A (0.12), B (0.24), C (0.30), and D (0.38). In conclusion, the reproducibility of radiographic examination was influenced by the examiner's clinical experience, training, and dental education as well as the accuracy in detecting occlusal caries.

Abnormal cell-cycle expression of the proteins p27, mdm2 and cathepsin B in oral squamous-cell carcinoma infected with human papillomavirus

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Identification of continuous interaction sites in PLA(2)-based protein complexes by peptide arrays

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Morphological, morphometric, and molecular characterization of Hepatozoon spp. (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) from naturally infected Caudisona durissa terrifica (Serpentes, Viperidae)

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

Aerobic metabolism during predation by a boid snake

We quantified the oxygen uptake rates ((V) over dot O-2) and time spent, during the constriction, inspection, and ingestion of prey of different relative sizes, by the prey-constricting boid snake Boa constrictor amarali. Time spent in prey constriction varied from 7.6 to 16.3 min, and (V) over dot O-2 during prey constriction increased 6.8-fold above resting values. This was the most energy expensive predation phase but neither time spent nor metabolic rate during this phase were correlated with prey size. Similarly, prey size did not affect the (V) over dot O-2 or duration of prey inspection. Prey ingestion time, on the other hand, increased linearly with prey size although (V) over dot O-2 during this phase, which increased 4.9-fold above resting levels, was not affected by prey size. The increase in mechanical difficulty of ingesting larger prey, therefore, was associated with longer ingestion times rather than proportional increases in the level of metabolic effort. The data indicate that prey constriction and ingestion are largely sustained by glycolysis and the intervening phase of prey inspection may allow recovery between these two predatory phases with high metabolic demands. The total amount of energy spent by B. c. amarali to constrict, inspect, and ingest prey of sizes varying from 5 to 40% of snake body mass varied inversely from 0.21 to 0.11% of the energy assimilated from the prey, respectively. Thus, prey size was not limited by the energetic cost of predation. on the contrary, snakes feeding on larger prey were rewarded with larger energetic returns, in accordance with explanations of the evolution of snake feeding specializations. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Circadian pattern of Bothrops moojeni in captivity (Serpentes: Viperidae)

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

Search for B-s(0)->mu(+)mu(-) decays at D0

We report results from a search for the decay B-s(0)->mu(+)mu(-) using 1.3 fb(-1) of p (p) over bar collisions at root s = 1.96 TeV collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider. We find two candidate events, consistent with the expected background of 1.24 +/- 0.99, and set an upper limit on the branching fraction of B(B-s(0)->mu(+)mu(-))< 1.2x10(-7) at the 95% C.L.

Properties of l=1 B-1 and B*(2) Mesons

This Letter presents the first strong evidence for the resolution of the excited B mesons B-1 and B-2(*) as two separate states in fully reconstructed decays to B+(*())pi(-). The mass of B-1 is measured to be 5720.6 +/- 2.4 +/- 1.4 MeV/c(2) and the mass difference Delta M between B-2* and B-1 is 26.2 +/- 3.1 +/- 0: 9 MeV/c(2), giving the mass of the B-2* as 5746.8 +/- 2.4 +/- 1.7 MeV/c(2). The production rate for B-1 and B-2* mesons is determined to be a fraction (13.9 +/- 1.9 +/- 3.2)% of the production rate of the B+ meson.

Measurement of B-d mixing using opposite-side flavor tagging

We report on a measurement of the B-d(0) mixing frequency and the calibration of an opposite-side flavor tagger in the D0 experiment. Various properties associated with the b quark on the opposite side of the reconstructed B meson are combined using a likelihood-ratio method into a single variable with enhanced tagging power. Its performance is tested with data, using a large sample of reconstructed semileptonic B ->mu(DX)-X-0 and B ->mu(DX)-X-* decays, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of approximately 1 fb(-1). The events are divided into groups depending on the value of the combined tagging variable, and an independent analysis is performed in each group. Combining the results of these analyses, the overall effective tagging power is found to be epsilon D-2=(2.48 +/- 0.21(-0.06)(+0.08))%. The measured B-d(0) mixing frequency Delta m(d)=0.506 +/- 0.020(stat)+/- 0.016(syst) ps(-1) is in good agreement with the world average value.