Effect of energy supplementation on intake, digestibility of diets and performance of grazing lambs during the rainy season.

This study aimed to evaluate different energy sources in multiple supplements on performance, intake, and digestibility of Santa Ines sheep grazing urochloa grass (Urochloa mosambicensis) during the rainy season. The experimental area was divided into seven paddocks of 4 ha each, with an average of dry matter (DM) availability of 3.21 tn/ha. A completely randomized design was carried out, in which there were four treatments, and each treatment was repeated six times. Twenty-four intact lambs (average: 32.0 kg of body weight) were supplemented with a mineral mixture, the control group (MM), mesquite pod meal (MPM), wheat bran (WB), or sorghum grain (SG) as energy sources. The digestibility of DM and crude protein (CP) in MPM and WB is higher than that in MM and SG groups. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility was similar between supplemented lambs, and it was higher than the MM. The supplementation promoted higher weight gain than in the control group (0.126 vs. 0.061 g/day, respectively; P < 0.001). The supplementation increased the DM, and CP intake. The NDF intake only increased in the WB group. The CP digestibility was higher for the MPM and WB groups than that for MM and SG ones (P < 0.001). Sheep supplementation in the rainy season increased the average daily gain (ADG). Any supplement tested in the present study can be used during the rainy season. The choice for the supplement will depend on the availability and costs of the mesquite pod meal, sorghum grain, or wheat bran.

Nitrogen metabolism in lambs fed diets containing peach palm meal.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nitrogen metabolism of lambs fed diets containing peach palm meal substituting maize (0, 10, 40, 60, and 85 % DM). Thirty Santa Inês uncastrated lambs with an average initial body weight of 21.6 ± 0.87 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with five diets and six replicates. The nitrogen (N) intake (g/day, %BW) and the fecal N decreased linearly as the peach palm meal was added to the concentrate. The urinary N, however, responded quadratically, with maxima at the level of 29.97 and 40.44 % of substitution of maize for peach palm meal when expressed in g/day and %BW, respectively. The substitution of maize for peach palm meal reduced the retention of nitrogen and the microbial protein synthesis in the lambs.

Body size and extinction risk in Brazilian carnivores / Tamaño corporal como factor de amenaza en carnívoros brasileros

Because extinctions are not random across taxa, it is important for conservation biologists to identify the traits that make some species more vulnerable. Factors associated with vulnerability include small geographical ranges, low densities, high trophic level, "slow" life histories, body size, and tolerance to altered habitats. In this study we examined the relationship of body size, reproductive output, longevity, and extinction risk for carnivores occurring in Brazil. We used generalized linear models analyses on phylogenetically independent contrasts to test the effect of body size alone, and the combined effect of body size, litter size and longevity on extinction risk. Body size appeared in the two best models according to the selection criteria (AIC), and it was the most plausible bionomic variable associated with extinction risk. Litter size and longevity, bionomic traits previously associated with threat risk of Brazilian carnivores, were implausible. The higher extinction risk for larger species could result from body size influencing vulnerability to different human activities, such as killing, habitat destruction and fragmentation, and the small size of natural reserves.

Debido a que las extinciones no son aleatorias a través de los diferentes taxa, es importante para los biólogos de la conservación identificar las características que hacen a algunas especies más vulnerables. Los factores asociados con la vulnerabilidad incluyen distribuciones geográficas pequeñas, densidades poblacionales bajas, niveles tróficos altos, historias de vida "lentas", tamaño del cuerpo, y tolerancia a habitats alterados. En este estudio examinamos la relación del tamaño corporal, el potencial reproductivo y la longevidad con el riesgo de extinción para los carnívoros brasileros. Realizamos análisis de modelos lineares generalizados con contrastes filogenéticamente independientes para probar el efecto del tamaño corporal solo, y el efecto combinado del tamaño corporal, el tamaño de la camada y la longevidad sobre el riesgo de extinción. El tamaño del cuerpo apareció en los dos mejores modelos de acuerdo con el criterio de selección (AIC) y es la variable bionómica más plausible afectando el riesgo de extinción. El tamaño de la prole y longevidad, otras variables bionómicas que han presentado tal efecto en otros estudios, fueron implausibles. La mayor probabilidad de amenaza para las especies grandes puede deberse a que el tamaño del cuerpo afecta la vulnerabilidad a diferentes actividades humanas como la caza, la destrucción y fragmentación del hábitat, y al tamaño reducido de la mayoría de áreas protegidas.

Avaliaçäo da mediastinoscopia em 181 casos / Evaluation of mediastinoscopy in 181 cases

É analisada a validade da mediastinoscopia em 181 casos de afecçöes torácicas. A técnica descrita por Carlens foi usada em 180 pacientes com anestesia geral e em um com anestesia local. As indicaçöes do procedimento säo reunidas em duas metas básicas: (a) diagnóstico primário de lesöes mediastinais e/ou pulmonares ainda sem esclarecimento e (b) avaliaçäo da ressecabilidade do câncer do pulmäo. Conclui-se que: 1§ - só é possível determinar com segurança a irressecabilidade antes da cirurgia quando há acentuada infiltraçäo perinodal ou do próprio mediastino; 2§ - a melhor indicaçäo é a pesquisa diagnóstica primária de afecçöes torácicas. As complicaçöes säo irrelevantes