Calcium pyruvate in the attenuation of the water deficit on the agro-industrial quality of ratoon sugarcane.

Sugarcane is one of the largest agricultural commodities when considering the export volume and the number of jobs generated. Sugarcane production in the Brazilian Northeast region is generally low due to several factors, including the irregular rainfall distribution, which highlights the importance of studies aimed at mitigating the deleterious effects of water stress. In this scenario, this study aimed to evaluate calcium pyruvate as a water deficit attenuator on the agro-industrial quality of sugarcane in the second cycle of cultivation. The experiment was conducted out under greenhouse conditions of the Federal University of Campina Grande, where five sugarcane commercial genotypes tested (G1- RB863129, G2- RB92579, G3- RB962962, G4- RB021754, and G5- RB041443) and three irrigation management strategies (E1- full irrigation, E2- water deficit with application of 30 mM of calcium pyruvate, and E3- water deficit without calcium pyruvate application), distributed in randomized blocks in 5 × 3 factorial arrangement with three replications. The RB021754 genotype under water deficit and without foliar application of calcium pyruvate increased the fiber content (13.2%) and the sugarcane moist cake weight (143.5 g). The effects of water deficit in sugarcane genotypes are attenuated by the exogenous application of 30 mM of calcium pyruvate, with benefits on the polarized sucrose content, apparent sucrose content of the juice, soluble solids content, purity, corrected cane POL, total recoverable sugars, and stem mass in relation to plants under water deficit without calcium pyruvate application.

Sound exposure and its beneficial effects on embryonic growth and hatching of broiler chicks.

1. The physical factors that involve artificial incubation determine embryonic growth and hatching of broiler chicks, and have important implications for the poultry production chain and chick welfare. This study explored the effects of sound exposure on incubation responses (hatching, embryonic development and chick quality).2. A 2 × 2 factorial experiment with the factors 'sound pressure level' (at 70 and 90 dB) and 'species-specific vocalisations' (at 75dB - 85dB) was performed in four experimental incubators (loaded with 90 eggs each) for eight consecutive cycles of incubation, totalling 2880 Cobb-500® broiler breeder eggs.3. Embryonic growth was not influenced by any experimental factor, but the highest sound pressure level (90 dB) led to earlier hatching, higher hatchability, better chick quality and lower weight at hatching. Additional effects of species-specific vocalisations were found at 70 dB noise, which caused early hatching and better chick quality.4. It was concluded that the loud noise found in commercial hatcheries (at 90 dB) can be beneficial. Furthermore, the presence of species-specific vocalisations could improve the hatching time and chick quality from experimental incubators (at 70 dB). However, this would not provide additional benefits in commercial hatcheries, due to the machinery noise masking them.

The Role of the Gut Microbiome on Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect nearly 500 million people worldwide and cardiovascular (CV) disease is a major cause of death in this population. However, therapeutic interventions targeting traditional CV risks are not effective at lowering the incidence of CV events or at delaying the progression of the disease in CKD patients. In recent years, disturbances of normal gut microbiome were recognized in the pathogenesis of diverse chronic diseases. Gut dysbiosis is being unraveled in CKD and pointed as a nontraditional risk factor for CV risk and CKD progression. The most often reported changes in gut microbiome in CKD are related to the lower levels of Bifidobacteriaceae and Lactobacillaceae and to higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae. Although metagenomics brought us an amplified vision on the microbial world that inhabits the human host, it still lacks the sensitivity to characterize the microbiome up to species level, not revealing alterations that occur within specific genus. Here, we review the current state-of-the-art concerning gut dysbiosis in CKD and its role in pathophysiological mechanisms in CKD, particularly in relation with CV risk. Also, the strategies towards prevention and treatment of gut dysbiosis in CKD progression will be discussed.

Influência das condições térmicas do galpão de espera climatizado na mortalidade pré-abate de frangos de corte / The influence of thermal conditions from an environmentally controlled preslaughter lairage on mortality of broiler chickens

Avaliou-se o efeito das condições ambientais da espera pré-abate na mortalidade de frangos de corte, mantidos em galpão climatizado em um abatedouro comercial. Foram avaliados 215 caminhões de transporte de um abatedouro comercial quanto ao número de aves mortas durante as operações pré-abate e à temperatura retal dos animais em condição de espera no abatedouro. Os dados foram obtidos no galpão de espera climatizado por meio de ventiladores e nebulizadores, em diferentes períodos: manhã, tarde e noite. As variáveis térmicas, distância, tempo de espera e densidade de aves por caixa foram consideradas na análise. Destacaram-se os efeitos da temperatura, da umidade relativa e do tempo de espera na variação tanto do número de aves mortas por caminhão quanto da temperatura retal dos animais. Com relação à interação entre temperatura e umidade relativa interna do galpão de espera, houve eficiência do ambiente climatizado no abatedouro quanto à diminuição do número de aves mortas. A climatização foi mais expressiva na redução do número de aves mortas e da temperatura retal quando a temperatura do galpão de espera estava entre 21 e 24°C, principalmente em condições de umidade relativa interna em torno de 70%. Nessas condições climatizadas, o tempo de espera acima de duas horas proporcionou maior conforto às aves.

The effect of environment conditions of preslaughter lairage on broiler mortality was assessed in the present study. Daily preslaughter data from 215 broiler flocks were recorded regarding the number of dead chickens during preslaughter operations and rectal temperature of broilers submitted to a lairage environment prior to slaughtering. A holding area at a slaughterhouse with environmental control was assessed. The thermal variables, distance between farms and slaughterhouse, lairage time and density of birds per cage was considered in this analysis. The effect of dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity and lairage time on death before arrival and rectal temperature was highlighted in this assessment. Regarding the interaction between temperature and inside relative humidity, a decrease in preslaughter mortality was observed due to exposure to a controlled environment. The environment control promoted an expressive reduction in dead birds and rectal temperature when the temperature inside the holding area was between 21 and 24 °C, mainly with inside relative humidity around 70%. In these environment control conditions lairage above 2 hours was necessary to reduce the thermal stress of birds.

Termorregulação de pintos de um dia submetidos a ambiente térmico simulado de transporte / Thermoregulation of day-old chickens submitted to simulated transport thermal environment

Objetivou-se, por meio deste trabalho, avaliar a termorregulação de pintos de um dia, mantidos em caixas de transporte, sob condição térmica simulada de transporte. Dois experimentos replicados executados em dias diferentes foram conduzidos em câmara climática. Para cada um dos experimentos, foram utilizados 360 pintos de um dia. Esses animais foram submetidos às condições de frio, conforto e calor, durante uma hora em cada tratamento. Os animais foram mantidos em caixas de transporte de pintos de um dia com quatro compartimentos, sendo cada um deles com 10 animais, totalizando 40 animais por caixa. Foram utilizadas três caixas empilhadas, simulando o que ocorre no caminhão de transporte. Para avaliação fisiológica, foram realizadas as seguintes medidas: frequência respiratória, peso, temperaturas superficial e cloacal. No geral, o posicionamento das caixas não alterou profundamente o conforto térmico dos pintos de um dia. Com relação às faixas térmicas, a condição de frio foi a que mais afetou as respostas fisiológicas, com destaque para as temperaturas superficial média e cloacal. No entanto, com o aumento do tempo de exposição, possivelmente o tratamento térmico por calor possa ter mais efeito sobre a termorregulação desses animais.

An experiment was conducted to assess the thermoregulation of day-old chickens, placed in transport boxes, under simulated transport thermal condition. Two replicated trials were done in two different days in a windowless environmentally controlled chamber. For each one, a total of 360 one-day-old broiler chicks were used. These animals were submitted to three thermal conditions (cold, thermoneutral and heat), for 1 h each. The birds were placed in boxes for day-old chick transport, divided in 40 chicks per box, with three boxes stacked vertically, for each treatment (120 chicks per treatment). Body weight, respiratory frequency, mean surface and cloacal temperature were monitored in a sample of 20 animals per box, with measurements were made before and after the treatments. The box placement had a negligible effect on the thermal comfort of birds. The mean surface and cloacal temperature responses were markedly affected by the cold treatment. However, with an increasing exposure time, the heat treatment might possibly have a clear evidence on the thermoregulation of day-old chickens.

Tratamento de efluentes de abatedouro de frangos por meio de reator UASB seguido de filtro anaeróbio / Treatment of waste water poultry slaughter house through UASB reactor followed by anaerobic filter

O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores de aves do mundo e se destaca na exportação de carne de frango, que tem papel relevante na economia do país. Como resultado do crescimento da indústria de processamento do frango, há também um significativo aumento na geração de efluentes. Uma alternativa interessante para o tratamento desses resíduos são os reatores anaeróbios. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho do sistema reator UASB-Filtro anaeróbio no tratamento de efluentes de abate de frangos. O estudo foi desenvolvido em um abatedouro avícola, situado na região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. O sistema de tratamento foi composto por peneira estática, caixa de gordura, reator UASB e filtro anaeróbio. A vazão média diária de efluentes do abatedouro foi de 30m³/dia. A carga orgânica aplicada no reator UASB foi de 0,71kg DQO/m³.d. O monitoramento do sistema foi realizado por meio de análises físico-químicas do afluente e dos efluentes da caixa de gordura, reator UASB e filtro anaeróbio. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: temperatura, pH, demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), sólidos suspensos totais (SST), e sólidos suspensos voláteis (SSV). Os valores efluentes médios encontrados para DBO, DQO e SST foram 106, 290 e 56mg/L, respectivamente. A eficiência de remoção do sistema para DBO variou de 83 a 99%, e para DQO de 50 a 98%. A eficiência de remoção média de SST e SSV foi de 92%. Conclui-se que o sistema reator UASB seguido de filtro anaeróbio apresentou alto desempenho na remoção de sólidos e carga orgânica. Dessa forma, esses reatores tornam-se uma alternativa viável para o tratamento de águas residuárias de frigoríficos, já que oferecem bons resultados de remoção de poluentes.

Brazil is one of the largest poultry producers in the world and stands out in exportation of chicken meat, which plays an important role in the economy. As a result of the growth of the poultry processing industry, there is also a significant increase in the generation of wastewater. An interesting alternative for the treatment of such wastes is anaerobic. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the system UASB reactor-anaerobic filter on wastewater treatment of slaughtering chickens. The study was conducted in a poultry slaughterhouse located in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. The treatment system was composed of static sieve, grease trap, UASB reactor and anaerobic filter. The daily average flow of effluent from the abattoir was 30m³/day. The organic load applied to the UASB reactor was 0.71kg COD/m³.d. The monitoring system was performed by means of physico-chemical analysis of the influent and effluent of fat, UASB reactor and anaerobic filter. The parameters evaluated were: temperature, pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (SS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS). The mean values for effluent BOD, COD and SS were 106, 290 and 56mg/L, respectively. The removal efficiency of BOD to the system ranged 83-99% for COD and 50-98%. The average removal efficiency of SS and SSV were 92%. We conclude that the system UASB reactor followed by anaerobic filter showed high performance in removing solids and organic load. Thus, these reactors become a viable alternative for treating wastewater slaughterhouses, offering good results in removing pollutants.

Reconhecimento de cores de objetos e de alimentos de cromaticidades opostas por pintos de corte / Recognition of colors of objects and food opposite chromaticities by broiler chicks

Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa avaliar, por meio de testes de preferência, a capacidade de percepção de pintos de corte no reconhecimento de objetos e alimentos de diferentes cores. A pesquisa foi realizada no Brasil e consistiu no condicionamento de 60 pintos de um dia sexados, sendo 30 pintos machos e 30 pintos fêmeas, durante três dias, com esferas azuis e alimento vermelho, cores escolhidas por terem cromaticidades opostas. Após a fase de condicionamento, foi realizado um teste de preferência, no qual os animais eram colocados individualmente no centro de uma arena de teste com quatro opções, sendo elas: alimento vermelho; alimento azul; esferas vermelhas; esferas azuis. Cada ave foi avaliada durante 10 minutos...

The aim of this research was to evaluate, by preference tests, the ability of perception of broiler chicks in the recognition of objects and foods of different colors. The survey was conducted in Brazil and consisted in the conditioning of 60 sexed one-day-old chicks using 30 male chicks and 30 female chicks for three days with blue balls and red food colors chosen for having opposed chromaticities. After the conditioning phase, a preference test was performed, in which the animals were placed individually in the center of an arena test with four options: red food, blue food, red balls and blue balls. Each bird was measured for 10 minutes...

Eficiência de lagoas de polimento no pós-tratamento de reator UASB no tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura / Efficiency of a polishing pond for the post-treatment of the effluent from UASB reactor treating swine wastewater

Avaliou-se o desempenho de um sistema de lagoas seriadas que recebeu efluentes de reator UASB, no tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura. O sistema foi composto de reator anaeróbio de chicanas (RAC), reator UASB, em escala real, e uma série de lagoas (uma lagoa facultativa e três de maturação), em escala piloto. As análises físico-químicas realizadas foram: pH, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), sólidos suspensos totais (SST), sólidos suspensos voláteis (SSV), nitrogênio amoniacal (N-am.), fósforo total (Pt), coliformes totais (CT) e Escherichia coli (EC). As lagoas de pós-tratamento contribuíram eficientemente para remoção de nutrientes, matéria orgânica e sólidos, fornecendo um efluente com qualidade para o reuso agrícola ou lançamento em corpos d'água...

The performance of a post-treatment pond for treating swine wastewater from an UASB reactor was evaluated. The system was assembled with an anaerobic baffle reactor (RAC), followed by an UASB reactor (UASB) on a real scale, and a post-treatment pond on a demonstration scale. The following parameters were analyzed: pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), ammonia nitrogen (N-am.), total phosphorus (Pt), total coliforms (CT) and Escherichia coli (E coli.). The post-treatment lagoons contributed efficiently to remove nutrients, organic matter and solids, providing an effluent quality for agricultural reuse or discharge into a body of water...

Preslaughter mortality of broilers in relation to lairage and season in a subtropical climate.

The preslaughter handling and transport of broilers are stressful operations that might affect welfare and meat quality and could increase numbers of deaths before slaughter. However, the influence of thermal factors during transportation and lairage at slaughterhouses is complex in subtropical regions, where increasing temperature and high RH are the major concerns regarding animal survival before slaughter. In this study we assessed the influence of a controlled lairage environment on preslaughter mortality rates of broiler chickens that were transported during different seasons of the year and had varying lairage times in the subtropical climate. Preslaughter data from 13,937 broiler flocks were recorded daily during 2006 in a commercial slaughterhouse in southeastern Brazil. The main factors that influenced daily mortality rate were mean dry bulb temperature and RH, lairage time, daily periods, density of broilers per crate, season of the year, stocking density per lorry, transport time, and distance between farms and slaughterhouse. A holding area at the slaughterhouse with environmental control was assessed. Using a double GLM for mean and dispersion modeling, the seasons were found to have significant effects (P < 0.05) on average mortality rates. The highest incidence was observed in summer (0.42%), followed by spring (0.39%), winter (0.28%), and autumn (0.23%). A decrease of preslaughter mortality of broilers during summer (P < 0.05) was observed when the lairage time was increased, mainly after 1 h of exposure to a controlled environment. Thus, lairage for 3 to 4 h in a controlled lairage environment during the summer and spring is necessary to reduce the thermal load of broiler chickens.

Administration of thyroxine affects the morphometric parameters and VEGF expression in the uterus and placenta and the uterine vascularization but does not affect reproductive parameters in gilts during early gestation.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of thyroxine administration on morphometric parameters, expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascularization in the uterus and placenta and reproductive parameters in gilts at 70 days of gestation. At 150 days of age, i.e., before first heat, 20 gilts were randomly divided into two experimental groups: treated (n=10) and control (n=10). The treated group received a daily dose of 400 µg of L-thyroxine (T(4)) in their diet until slaughter and the control group received only typical meals. Before artificial insemination, blood was collected to determine plasma total T(4). The gilts were inseminated in the second oestrus and slaughtered at 70 days of gestation. The foetal thyroid follicular epithelium height, number, size and weight of foetuses; foetal myogenesis, corpora lutea number, embryonic mortality rate, uterine weight, placental weight and placental fluid volume were measured. Histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analysis of uterus and placenta were determined. The averages of all variables were compared by the Student's t-test. The gilts treated with thyroxine showed significant increase of plasma total T(4). At 70 days of gestation, the heights of the trophoblastic epithelium, endometrial epithelium and endometrial gland epithelium were significantly higher in the group treated with T(4). The expression of cytoplasmatic and nuclear VEGF in trophoblastic cells and the number of blood vessels per field in endometrial stroma were significantly higher in the gilts treated with T(4). No other significant differences between groups were obtained with respect to other parameters (p>0.05). We conclude that oral administration of T(4) up to 70 days of pregnancy in gilts affects the morphometric parameters, the expression of placental VEGF and the uterine vascularization but does not affect reproductive parameters in gilts during early gestation.

Avaliação de desempenho de lagoa de polimento para pós-tratamento de reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo (UASB) no tratamento de águas residuárias de suinocultura / Evaluation of the performance of a polishing pond for the post-treatment of the effluent from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating swine wastewater

Avaliou-se o desempenho de uma lagoa de polimento, no tratamento de efluentes de águas residuárias de suinocultura de um reator anaeróbio de manta de lodo (UASB). O sistema foi composto de decantador, reator UASB, em escala real, e lagoa de polimento em escala experimental. As análises físico-químicas realizadas foram: temperatura, pH, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), demanda química de oxigênio (DQO), sólidos suspensos totais (SST) e sólidos suspensos voláteis (SSV), nitrogênio total kjedhal (NTK), nitrogênio amoniacal (N-am.) e orgânico (N-org.), fósforo total (Pt), coliformes totais e termotolerantes. A lagoa de polimento apresentou alto desempenho, com remoção média de 58,9 por cento de DBO, 60,1 por cento de NTK, 57 por cento de N-am. e 95,34 por cento de coliformes termotolerantes.

The performance of a polishing pond for treating swine wastewater from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was evaluated. The system was assembled with a slat settler, followed by an UASB reactor, on a real scale, and a post-treatment pond, on a demonstration scale. The following parameters were analyzed: temperature, pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), total Kjedahl nitrogen (NTK), ammonia nitrogen (N-am.), organic nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total and thermotolerant coliforms. The polishing pond was highly efficient, removing an average of 58.9 percent of BOD, 60.1 percent of NTK, 57 percent of N-am., and 95.34 percent of thermotolerant coliforms.

Desenvolvimento de um sistema de resfriamento e conservação de sêmen suíno / Development of a cooling system and preservation of boar semen

Um contêiner, com taxa de resfriamento controlada de 37ºC para temperaturas de 17 ou 5ºC, foi construído para resfriamento e conservação do sêmen suíno. Nele, a taxa de resfriamento inicial (de 37 para 17ºC) foi -0,16ºC/min até atingir a temperatura de 17ºC e -0,17ºC/min até 5ºC. No decorrer do resfriamento, quando da passagem pela temperatura do choque térmico (entre 17 e 8ºC), a taxa foi de -0,0049ºC/min. A temperatura no interior do contêiner manteve-se estável por 53,58 horas à temperatura de 17+ ou -1ºC, e por 43,32 horas à temperatura de 5+ ou -1ºC.

A container with controlled cooling rate from 37ºC to 17 or 5ºC was constructed for the preservation of boar semen. The container produced a cooling rate initially of -0.16ºC/min for a final temperature of 17ºC and of -0.17ºC/min for a final temperature of 5ºC. The cooling process, during cold shock temperatures (17ºC – 8ºC) was of -0.0049ºC/min. The container temperature was stable for 53.58h at internal temperature of 17+ or -1ºC and for 43.32h at 5+ or -1ºC.

Avaliação in vitro da eficiência de inóculos no tratamento anaeróbio de efluentes líquidos de suinocultura / Efficiency of seeding material in anaerobic treatment of swine liquid waste: an in vitro trial

Avaliou-se o efeito de inóculos (tratamentos) na degradação dos dejetos líquidos de suínos, em diferentes tempos de detenção hidráulica (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 horas). Foram utilizados um inóculo comercial, na dose recomendada pelo fabricante, três inóculos alternativos à base de esterco bovino, cama de frango e esgoto doméstico, todos aplicados na dose de 5ml/l, e um tratamento-controle, sem inóculo. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, empregando-se três repetições. Após cada tempo de detenção foram realizadas as seguintes análises: pH, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), demanda química de oxigênio, sólidos totais, sólidos totais voláteis e sólidos sedimentáveis, temperaturas do ar e do líquido. Os inóculos comercial e alternativo à base de cama de frango promoveram maior redução de DBO que os demais, 68,5 por cento e 67,5 por cento, respectivamente.

Composição química e valor nutritivo da soja crua e submetida a diferentes processamentos térmicos para suínos em crescimento / Chemical composition and nutritive value of thermal processed soybean products for growing pigs

Um ensaio de metabolismo foi conduzido para avaliar a digestibilidade de nutrientes e valores energéticos de grãos de soja processados no calor para suínos em crescimento. Foram utilizados 20 suínos machos castrados, mestiços, com peso inicial médio de 37,67± 3,33kg. Adotou-se delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os alimentos avaliados foram farelo de soja, soja semi-integral extrusada, soja integral expandida e soja integral micronizada, os quais substituíram em 25 por cento a dieta-referência. Os valores de ED e dos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da EB, PB, MS e EE para os alimentos testados foram: 3583kcal/kg, 85,2 por cento, 90,8 por cento, 85,7 por cento e 69,3 por cento para o farelo de soja; 4065kcal/kg, 83,6 por cento, 86,1 por cento, 81,9 por cento e 81,5 por cento para a soja semi-integral extrusada; 3803kcak/kg, 75,2 por cento, 73,9 por cento, 74,4 por cento e 80,4 por cento para a soja integral expandida; 5272kcal/kg, 95,3 por cento, 95,2 por cento, 93,2 por cento e 94,3 por cento para a soja integral micronizada. A expansão foi inadequada para a soja integral, que apresentou os piores valores de digestibilidade. Os processamentos de extrusão e micronização das sojas semi-integral e integral, respectivamente, foram eficientes na inativação dos fatores antinutricionais e na melhoria de suas digestibilidades, sendo que a micronização mostrou-se superior aos demais processamentos.

Efeito da aplicação de hCG ou GnRH sobre a concentração sérica de progesterona e eficiência reprodutiva em porcas / Effect of injection of hCG or GnRH on progesterone serum concentration and reproductive efficiency of sows

Avaliou-se o efeito da aplicação de diferentes hormônios no quinto dia após a primeira inseminação sobre a concentração sérica de progesterona e sobre as características reprodutivas, em 103 porcas entre o terceirro e sexto parto. As matrizes foram divididas em: grupo-controle (n=35), não tratado, grupo GnRH (n=34), animais submetidos à aplicação intramuscular (IM) de 50mcg de um análogo-GnRH no quinto dia após a primeira inseminação, e grupo hCG (n=34), animais submetidos à aplicação IM de 500UI de hCG no quinto dia após a primeira inseminação. A aplicação dos hormônios não influenciou as características reprodutivas taxa de parto, número total de nascidos, número de nascidos vivos e peso da leitegada (P>0,05). Cinco animais de cada grupo foram submetidos a coletas de sangue da veia cava nos dias 3, 5, 8, 12, 21 e 28 após a primeira inseminação para avaliação da concentração sérica de progesterona (ng/ml), utilizando a técnica de radioimunoensaio. Não houve diferença significativa quanto à concentração sérica de progesterona entre os grupos

Efeito do fracionamento da ração diária sobre a concentração sérica de progesterona em porcas gestantes / Effect of fractionating daily food intake on serum progesterone concentration in pregnant sows

Avaliou-se a influência do fracionamento da alimentação diária nos primeiros 30 dias de gestação de porcas sobre a concentração sérica de progesterona (ng/ml) no 3º, 5º, 8º, 12º, 21º e 28º dias pós-cobrição, utilizando-se a técnica de radioimunoensaio, a partir de amostras de sangue coletadas da veia cava em 15 matrizes entre o terceiro e o sexto parto. As fêmeas foram distribuídas em três grupos de cinco animais: o grupo 1 recebeu apenas um trato diário de dois quilos de ração, o grupo 2 recebeu dois tratos diários de um quilo de ração cada, e o grupo 3, três tratos diários de 670 gramas de ração até 30 dias de gestação. O fracionamento da quantidade de ração fornecida diariamente não alterou a concentração sérica de progesterona até o 28º dia de gestação nas matrizes suínas pluríparas

[Natural features of oviposition of Culex (Melanoconion) Group Pilosus (Diptera: Culicidae)]. / Observação sobre característica natural de oviposição de Culex (Melanoconion) Grupo Pilosus (Diptera: Culicidae).

Eggs of Culex (Melanoconion) Grupo Pilosus were found in three oviposition traps set in the toilet of a Bus Station in Joinville city, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, during a surveillance study of Aedes aegypti. The intrinsic characteristic of group oviposition not directly on the water was confirmed.

Superoxide anion radical generation during the oxidation of various amines by diamine oxidase.

Diamine oxidase (DAO) or histaminase is an enzyme which deaminates histamine and several aliphatic amines to their corresponding aldehydes. Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia are side products of this reaction. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate if determination of produced hydrogen peroxide reflects DAO activity or if intermediate formation of the superoxide radical could be a reason for lack of correspondence between oxygen uptake and hydrogen peroxide production at different pH. Superoxide radical formation was determined by cytochrome c reduction in the presence and absence of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Oxygen uptake was measured with an oxygen electrode and hydrogen peroxide production by a spectrophotometric method. At pH 6.6 there was no superoxide production, but at pH 7.4 there was some, and it increased markedly at pH 9.5. Oxygen uptake also increased with increasing pH, especially with histamine as substrate. These results lead us to suggest that the mechanism of action of DAO involves the intermediate generation of superoxide radicals.