Surface charge and dynamic mechanoelectrical stimuli improves adhesion, proliferation and differentiation of neuron-like cells.

Neuronal diseases and trauma are among the current major health-care problems. Patients frequently develop an irreversible state of neuronal disfunction that lacks treatment, strongly reducing life quality and expectancy. Novel strategies are thus necessary and tissue engineering research is struggling to provide alternatives to current treatments, making use of biomaterials capable to provide cell supports and active stimuli to develop permissive environments for neural regeneration. As neuronal cells are naturally found in electrical microenvironments, the electrically active materials can pave the way for new and effective neuroregenerative therapies. In this work the influence of piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) with different surface charges and dynamic mechanoelectrical stimuli on neuron-like cells adhesion, proliferation and differentiation was addressed. It is successfully demonstrated that both surface charge and electrically active dynamic microenvironments can be suitable to improve neuron-like cells adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. These findings provide new knowledge to develop effective approaches for preclinical applications.

Morfogênese de braquiárias sob estresse hídrico / Morphogenesis of Brachiarias species under water stress

Objetivou-se avaliar Urochloa spp. submetida a duas situações de estresse hídrico: déficit e alagamento. As forrageiras estudadas foram: U. humidicola cv. Tully, U. humidicola cv. Llanero, U. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã, U. brizantha cv. Xaraés, U. decumbens cv. Basilisk e U. ruziziensis cv. Kenedy, e os parâmetros avaliados foram relacionados às características estruturais e morfogênicas. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação pertencente à Unidade Universitária de Aquidauana. Os tratamentos consistiram em diferentes condições de umidade do solo: 50 e 80% da capacidade de retenção de umidade do solo, e lâminas de 0cm, 1cm e 5cm de água acima do solo, com quatro repetições, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. O modelo considerou o efeito de umidade do solo para cada espécie forrageira a 5% de significância. As características estruturais e morfogênicas do capim-tully não foram afetadas pelas diferentes condições hídricas aqui avaliadas. O capim-llanero não reagiu ao alagamento. O capim-piatã foi tolerante às condições de déficit hídrico e apresentou mecanismos de adaptação ao alagamento. A U. decumbens cv. Basilisk apresentou respostas adaptativas que melhoram sua tolerância ao alagamento. A U. ruziziensis cv. Kenedy apresentou-se inapta às condições de alagamento e de déficit hídrico.(AU)

The aim of this study was to evaluate braquiarias submitted to two situations of water stress: deficit and flood. The studied forages were: U. humidicola cv. Tully, U. humidicola cv. Llanero, U. brizantha cv. BRS Piatã, U. brizantha cv. Xaraés, U. decumbens cv. Basilisk and U. ruziziensis cv. Kenedy, and the parameters evaluated were related to the structural and morphogenic characteristics. The work was carried out in a greenhouse at the University Unit of Aquidauana. The treatments consisted of different soil moisture conditions: 50 and 80% of the moisture retention capacity of the soil, and slides of 0cm, 1cm and 5cm of water above the soil, with four replications, in a completely randomized design. The model considered the effect of soil moisture for each forage species at 5% of significance. The structural and morphogenic characteristics of grass-tully were not affected by the different water conditions evaluated here. The grass-llanero did not react to flooding. The grass-piatã was tolerant to water deficit conditions and presented adaptation to flooding. The U. decumbens cv. Basilisk presented adaptive responses that improved its tolerance to flooding. The U. ruziziensis cv. Kenedy was unfit for flood and water deficit conditions.(AU)

Effects of hydroxychloride sources of copper, zinc, and manganese on measures of supplement intake, mineral status, and pre- and postweaning performance of beef calves.

Our objective was to evaluate the effect of Cu, Zn, and Mn source on measures of 1) preferential intake of mineral-concentrated supplements and 2) mineral status and pre- and postweaning performance of beef calves. In Exp. 1, 4 trials were conducted to assess the effect of source of Cu (750 mg/kg; Trial 1), Zn (2,000 mg/kg; Trial 2), Mn (3,000 mg/kg; Trial 3), and all 3 elements (Trial 4) on preferential intake of mineral-concentrated supplements. Supplements differed only by source of Cu, Zn, and Mn, which included hydroxychloride (hydroxy), sulfate, and organic options. In each trial, the 3 supplements were simultaneously offered to 8 pens of early-weaned calves (2 calves/pen; 126 ± 8.0 kg average BW) for a 4-h period and preferential intake was determined. When offered the opportunity to select among 3 supplement options, calves consumed more ( < 0.001) supplement containing hydroxy vs. organic or sulfate sources of Cu (Trial 1), Zn (Trial 2), and Mn (Trial 3). In Trial 4, when all 3 elements were combined within a single supplement, calves almost exclusively selected ( < 0.001) the hydroxy vs. organic or sulfate sources (82.9, 10.4, and 6.7% of total supplement intake, respectively [SEM 3.16]). In Exp. 2, calves were supplemented at a rate of 114 g/calf daily for 84 d before weaning (2 calves/pasture; 10 and 12 pastures in yr 1 and 2, respectively). Supplements were formulated to contain no supplemental minerals (control); hydroxy Cu, Zn, and Mn; or copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, and manganese oxide (sulfate/oxide). Total supplement intake was greater ( = 0.01) for calves consuming the hydroxy vs. the sulfate/oxide sources of Cu, Zn, and Mn (9.0 vs. 7.2 kg [SEM 0.45]). Preweaning calf BW gain did not differ ( ≥ 0.15) among treatments; however, calves provided mineral-fortified supplements had greater ( = 0.003) liver concentrations of Co and Se and tended ( = 0.07) to have greater liver concentrations of Cu at weaning compared with the controls. Calves provided mineral-fortified vs. control supplements had greater ( ≤ 0.05) peak concentrations of ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin and less BW gain during in the 16-d postweaning period. These data demonstrate greater voluntary intake of mineral-concentrated supplements among calves offered hydroxy vs. sulfate or organic sources of Cu, Zn, and Mn. Preweaning mineral-fortified supplementation increased calf mineral status, heightened inflammatory responsiveness, and decreased BW gain during the immediate postweaning period.

Exigências de energia de borregas mestiças alimentadas com níveis crescentes de concentrado na dieta / Energy requirements of crossbreed ewe lambs fed with increasing dietary levels of concentrate

Objetivou-se estimar as exigências energéticas de borregas mestiças confinadas, alimentadas com níveis crescentes de concentrado na dieta. Foram avaliadas 36 borregas, com peso corporal inicial de 23,7±3,67kg. Seis animais foram abatidos no início do experimento para obtenção dos valores do grupo referência. Os demais (30 animais) foram distribuídos em cinco tratamentos: mantença (alimentação restrita com feno de capim Tifton) e suplementados com níveis crescentes de concentrado (20, 40, 60 e 80%) em base de matéria seca (seis animais por tratamento). As borregas foram abatidas quando atingiram 37,70±9,89kg. Os níveis de concentrado influenciaram a eficiência de utilização da energia metabolizável para mantença (km) e consequentemente as exigências diárias de energia metabolizável para mantença. A exigência de energia líquida para mantença de borregas mestiças em crescimento é 57 kcal/PCJ0,75/dia, em que PCJ é o peso corporal em jejum. As borregas com 20kg apresentaram exigência de energia líquida para 100g de ganho de peso diário de 465kcal/dia. As borregas com 40kg de peso corporal exigiram 930kcal/dia de energia líquida para o mesmo ganho. A exigência líquida para mantença de borregas pode ser estimada pela equação: ELm (Mcal/dia) = 0,057* PCJ0,75. A exigência líquida de energia para ganho de borregas mestiças (Mcal/dia) pode ser estimada a partir da equação: ELg = 0,524 x PVJ0,75 x GPCVZ1,21, em que GPCVZ é o ganho de peso do corpo vazio. As dietas influenciam as eficiências de usos da energia metabolizável para mantença (km) e ganho (kg).(AU)

The aim of this study was to estimate the energy requirements of crossbreed ewe lambs in a feedlot fed with increasing levels of concentrate in the diet. 36 ewe lambs were evaluated with initial body weight of 23.7±3.67kg. Six animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment to obtain the reference group values. Animals (30) were distributed in five treatments: maintenance (feed restricted with Tifton grass hay) and those supplemented with increasing dietary levels of concentrate (20, 40, 60 and 80%) on a dry matter basis (six animals per treatment). The ewe lambs were slaughtered when they reached 37.70±9.89kg. The concentrate levels influenced the utilization efficiency of metabolizable energy for maintenance (km) and consequently the daily requirements of metabolizable energy for maintenance. The net energy requirements for maintenance of crossbred lambs in growth is 57kcal/FCW 0.75/day, where FCW is body weight on fasting. The ewe lambs with 20kg presented net energy requirement for 100g daily weight gain of 465kcal/day. The ewe lambs with 40kg of body weight required 930 kcal/day of net energy for the same gain. The net energy requirement for maintenance of ewe lambs can be estimated by the equation: NEm (Mcal/day) = 0.057 * FCW0.75. The net energy requirement for crossbred ewe lambs gain (Mcal/day) can be estimated from the equation: NEg (Mcal/day) = 0.524*FCW 0.75*GEBW1.21, where GEBW represented gain empty body weight. Diets affect the efficiencies of uses of metabolizable energy for maintenance (km) and gain (kg).(AU)

Effects of vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease virus on reproductive performance of beef cows.

This study compared reproductive performance of cows vaccinated against the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus before timed AI or during early pregnancy (Exp. 1), as well as rectal temperature (RT) and plasma concentrations of the acute-phase protein haptoglobin in cattle vaccinated or not against the FMD virus (Exp. 2). Cattle utilized in Exp. 1 and 2 originated from herds with no historical occurrences of FMD and that received vaccination against the FMD virus biannually. In Exp. 1, 604 lactating, multiparous, nonpregnant Nelore cows were randomly assigned on d -31 of the experiment to receive 1) vaccination against the FMD virus on d ≥ 31 (VACPRE; = 291) and 2) vaccination against FMD virus on d 30 (VACGEST; = 313). From d -11 to 0, all cows were assigned to an estrus synchronization + timed AI (d 0) protocol. Pregnancy status to AI was verified on d 30 and 90 via transrectal ultrasonography. A treatment × day interaction was detected ( < 0.01) for pregnancy rates to AI, which were similar ( = 0.17) between VACPRE and VACGEST on d 30 (61.8% vs. 56.2%, respectively; SEM = 2.8) but greater ( < 0.01) for VACPRE on d 90 (59.4% vs. 46.9%, respectively; SEM = 2.8). Pregnancy loss from d 30 to 90 was greater ( < 0.01) in VACGEST compared with VACPRE (16.5% vs. 3.9%, respectively; SEM = 2.2). In Exp. 2, 40 pregnant Nelore females (20 nulliparous and 20 multiparous cows; BCS = 4.73 ± 0.12) were ranked by parity and assigned to receive (VAC; = 20) or not receive (NOVAC; = 20) vaccination against the FMD virus. Blood samples were collected and RT was recorded before (h 0) and 24, 72, 120, and 168 h after treatment administration. Treatment × day interactions were detected ( < 0.01) for RT and plasma haptoglobin. The RT was greater ( < 0.01) in VAC compared with NOVAC at 24 h after treatment administration and was similar ( ≥ 0.31) between treatments at all other sampling hours. Plasma haptoglobin concentration was similar ( = 0.98) between VAC and NOVAC before treatment administration ( = 0.48) and greater ( < 0.01) in VAC at 24, 72, 120, and 168 h after treatment administration. In summary, vaccinating beef cows against the FMD virus resulted in a 4-fold increase in pregnancy loss when the vaccine was administered 30 d after timed AI compared with 31 d before timed AI. These outcomes can be associated with inflammatory and acute-phase reactions elicited by the FMD vaccine, which are known to impair pregnancy maintenance in cattle.

Eficiência produtiva ao desmame de vacas Nelore criadas no pantanal / Productive efficiency to weaning of Nellore cows raised in the pantanal

O trabalho objetivou avaliar a eficiência produtiva de vacas ao desmame de acordo com seu tamanho (peso) e estimar correlação fenotípica entre as características peso do bezerro ao desmame (PBD), peso da vaca ao desmame do bezerro (PVD) e relação desmame (RD = PBD/ PVD) de animais da raça Nelore criados no Pantanal de Mato Grosso do Sul. Foram utilizadas 706 observações para pares de dados de pesos de vacas e de bezerros da raça Nelore ao desmame criados em regime de pastejo. Foram formados seis grupos com base no peso de vaca ao desmame (GPVD) a partir dos desvios (40,73kg) de peso em relação à média geral do rebanho (420,56kg). Os grupos de vacas com menores pesos obtiveram maiores RD. As correlações fenotípicas entre PVD e PBD variaram de 0,05 a 0,26, enquanto para PVD e RD as correlações foram negativas e com variação de 0,11 a 0,25. As correlações fenotípicas entre PBD e RD apresentaram-se positivas e de alta magnitude (0,91 a 0,98). As maiores eficiências produtivas foram determinadas para vacas de pequeno a médio porte (327,20 a 438,62kg), além de estas serem menos exigentes quanto a nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT). A seleção de vacas de tamanho médio (379, 83 a 461,29kg) apresenta-se mais vantajosa por gerar menor custo de mantença que as vacas maiores e produzir bezerros mais pesados que as vacas menores.

The study aimed to evaluate the productive efficiency of cow at weaning according to their size (weight) and estimated phenotypic correlation between the characteristics of weaning weight of calf and cow and weaning ratio of Nellore cattle raised in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul. 706 observations were used to weight data pairs of cow and calves at weaning. Six groups were formed based on the weight of cow at weaning from deviations (40.73kg) of weight in relation to the overall mean of the herd (420.56kg). The groups of cows with lower weaning weight have the highest weaning ratio. Phenotypic correlations of cow weight at weaning and weaning of calf weight ranged from 0.05 to 0.26, cow weight at weaning and weaning ratio were negative correlations ranging from -0.11 to -0.25. Phenotypic correlations between weaning of calf and weaning ratio were positive and of high magnitude (0.91 to 0.98). The highest efficiencies were determined for cows between 327.20 and 438.62kg, and are less demanding on total digestible nutrients (TDN). A selection of medium sized cows (379, 83 to 461.29kg) appears more interesting because it has lower maintenance costs than larger cows, and produces heavier calves than the smaller cows.

Capim-piatã adubado com fontes de fósforo de diferente solubilidade em água / Piata palisadegrass fertilized with different sources of phosphorus for solubility in water

The development of piatã grass fertilized with phosphorus sources with different solubilities in water was evaluated. The experiment was developed in the unit of Aquidauana of UEMS, MS, from February to August, 2012. Four treatments were evaluated: control (without phosphorus fertilization), slow solubility, fast solubility (readily available), and mixed solubility sources of phosphorus (FH Pasture(r)). It was adopted a randomized blocks design with four blocks and four replicates in a total of 16 pastures (0.5 ha each one). Measurements were performed weekly to evaluate structural characteristics and morphogenic variables of the plants. Data were submitted to a variance analysis according to the model. When necessary, the means of treatments with different phosphorus fertilizer sources were compared with the control using the Dunnett test and with other treatments by using student's t test. The significance level of 5% was adopted in all analysis. No significant effect was observed (P 0.05) in the evaluated traits in the first year of the experiment.

Predicting carcass and body fat composition using biometric measurements of grazing beef cattle.

This study was conducted to develop equations to predict carcass and body fat compositions using biometric measures (BM) and body postmortem measurements and to determine the relationships between BM and carcass fat and empty body fat compositions of 44 crossbred bulls under tropical grazing conditions. The bulls were serially slaughtered in 4 groups at approximately 0 d (n = 4), 84 d (n = 4), 168 d (n = 8), 235 d (n = 8), and 310 d (n = 20) of growth. The day before each slaughter, bulls were weighed, and BM were taken, including hook bone width, pin bone width, abdomen width, body length, rump height, height at withers, pelvic girdle length, rib depth, girth circumference, rump depth, body diagonal length, and thorax width. Others measurements included were total body surface (TBS), body volume (BV), subcutaneous fat (SF), internal fat (InF), intermuscular fat, carcass physical fat (CFp), empty body physical fat (EBFp), carcass chemical fat (CFch), empty body chemical fat (EBFch), fat thickness in the 12th rib (FT), and 9th- to 11th-rib section fat (HHF). The stepwise procedure was used to select the variables included in the model. The r(2) and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) were used to account for precision and variability. Our results indicated that lower rates of fat deposition can be attributed to young cattle and low concentration of dietary energy under grazing conditions. The BM improved estimates of TBS (r(2) = 0.999) and BV (r(2) = 0.997). The adequacy evaluation of the models developed to predict TBS and BV using theoretical equations indicated precision, but lower and intermediate accuracy (bias correction = 0.138 and 0.79), respectively, were observed. The data indicated that BM in association with shrunk BW (SBW) were precise in accounting for variability of SF (r(2) = 0.967 and RMSE = 0.94 kg), InF (r(2) = 0.984 and RMSE = 1.26 kg), CFp (r(2) = 0.981 and RMSE = 2.98 kg), EBFp (r(2) = 0.985 and RMSE = 3.99 kg), CFch (r(2) = 0.940 and RMSE = 2.34 kg), and EBFch (r(2) = 0.934 and RMSE = 3.91 kg). Results also suggested that approximately 70% of body fat was deposited as CFp and 30% as InF. Furthermore, the development of an equation using HHF as a predictor, in combination with SBW, was a better predictor of CFp and EBFp than using HHF by itself. We concluded that the prediction of physical and chemical CF and EBF composition of grazing cattle can be improved using BM as a predictor.

Nutritional diversity of agricultural and agro-industrial by-products for ruminant feeding / Diversidade nutricional de subprodutos agrícola e agro-industrial para alimentação de ruminantes

Fifty-seven by-products were collected from regions throughout Brazil. Chemical composition, in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were determined with the objective of grouping by-products with similar nutritional characteristics. The by-products belonging to group one (G1) presented the highest content of neutral detergent fiber exclusive of ash and nitrogenous compounds [aNDFom(n)] and lowest energy content, with 42.5% and 38.8% of IVNDFD and TDN, respectively. A new cluster analysis was carried in order to better characterize G2 by-products, six subgroups (SGs) were established (SG1 to SG6). SG1 by-products had the highest and the lowest values for lignin and TDN, respectively. SG2 by-products had the highest aNDFom(n) value, with TDN and IVNDFD values greater than 600 and 700g/kg, respectively, and crude protein (CP) value below 200g/kg in dry matter (DM). Among all the subgroups, SG3 had the highest TDN (772g/kg) and IVNDFD (934g/kg) values and the lowest lignin (23g/kg in DM) value. The ether extract was what most influenced the hierarchical establishment of residual grouping in SG4. SG5 by-products had the highest concentration of non-fibrous carbohydrate. Different from the other subgroups, SG6 by-products had the highest value of available CP.

Cinquenta e sete subprodutos foram coletados de diferentes regiões do Brasil. Foram determinados a composição química, a digestibilidade in vitro da fibra em detergente neutro (DIVFDN) e os nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT), com o objetivo de agrupar os subprodutos com características nutricionais semelhantes. Os subprodutos pertencentes a um grupo (G1) apresentaram maior conteúdo de fibra em detergente neutro corrida para cinzas e compostos nitrogenados (FDNcp) e menor teor energético, e tinham 42,5% e 38,8% de DIVFDN e NDT, respectivamente. Uma nova análise de cluster foi realizada no intuito de melhor caracterizar os subprodutos do G2; seis subgrupos (SG) foram estabelecidos (SG1 a SG6). Os subprodutos SG1 tiveram os maiores e os menores valores de lignina e NDT, respectivamente. Os subprodutos SG2 tiveram o maior valor de FDNcp, com valores de NDT e DIVFDN acima de 600 e 700g/kg, respectivamente, e de proteína bruta (PB) abaixo de 200g/kg de matéria seca (MS). Entre todos os subgrupos, SG3 tiveram os maiores valores de NDT (772g/kg) e DIVFDN (934g/kg) e o menor valor de lignina (23g/kg de MS). O extrato etéreo foi o que mais influenciou no estabelecimento hierárquico de agrupamento em SG4. Os subprodutos SG5 tinham maior concentração de carboidratos não fibriosos. Diferentemente dos demais subgrupos, subprodutos SG6 tinham o valor mais elevado de PB disponível.

Consumo, digestibilidade total, produção de proteína microbiana e balanço de nitrogênio em dietas para ruminantes de subprodutos / Intake, total digestibility, microbial protein production, and the nitrogen balance in ruminant diets based on agricultural and agro-industrial by-products

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da inclusão da fonte - subproduto do cacau, mandioca-casca, mandioca-caule e farelo de glúten de milho - e da proporção - 10 e 30 por cento - de subprodutos, em substituição parcial à silagem de milho sobre consumo, digestibilidade dos nutrientes, produção de proteína microbiana, balanço de nitrogênio, predição das frações digestíveis e nutrientes digestíveis totais. Os consumos de matéria seca e de fibra em detergente neutro foram influenciados pela fonte de subproduto. A fonte de subproduto influiu na digestibilidade do extrato etéreo e dos carboidratos não fibrosos. O subproduto farelo de glúten de milho apresentou valor energético 17 por cento maior do que a da silagem de milho, enquanto os da mandioca-casca, da mandioca-caule e do cacau apresentaram valores energéticos 10, 19 e 38 por cento menores do que o valor observado para silagem de milho. A fonte e o nível de subproduto não influíram na excreção urinária de derivados de purinas totais, de purinas absorvidas e de nitrogênio microbiano, e na eficiência microbiana. A fonte do subproduto influenciou a ingestão, a excreção nas fezes e na urina dos compostos nitrogenados e o balanço de nitrogênio. O farelo de glúten de milho e a mandioca-casca podem substituir, parcialmente, os concentrados energéticos, sem prejuízos para consumo, digestibilidade, eficiência microbiana e retenção de nitrogênio.

The effects of inclusion of by-products (cocoa, cassava peel, cassava stalk, and corn gluten meal) and their levels (10 and 30 percent), replacing part of corn silage on intake, digestibility of nutrients, microbial protein production, nitrogen balance, prediction of digestible fractions, and total digestible nutrients were evaluated. The intakes of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber were affected by source of by-product, which affected the digestibility of ether extract and non-fibrous carbohydrates. The energy corn gluten meal was 17 percent higher than that of corn silage, while the values for cassava peel, cocoa, and cassava stalk were 10, 19, and 38 percent lower than the value for corn silage. The source and the level of by-product did not affect the urinary excretion of total purine, purine absorbed, microbial nitrogen, and microbial efficiency. The source of by-product affected intake, nitrogen compounds, excretion in feces and urine, and nitrogen balance. The corn gluten meal and cassava peel are by-products with potential to partly replace the energhetic concentrates, with no influence on the intake, digestibility, microbial efficiency, and nitrogen retention.

Determination of carcass and body fat compositions of grazing crossbred bulls using body measurements.

The objectives of this study were to analyze body measurements of 40 crossbred bulls grazing low quality forage with different supplementation strategies, to estimate interrelationships among those measurements and carcass and body compositions, and to develop systems of equations to predict body fat using body and carcass measurements. Eight animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment, and the remaining animals were slaughtered at 90 or 220 d. The biometric measures (BM) were obtained the day before the slaughter and included hook width, pin width, pelvic girdle length, rump depth, rump height, abdomen width, body length, height at withers, rib depth, girth, and body diagonal length. Other measurements included full, shrunk, and empty BW; internal physical and chemical fats; body volume; body area; carcass weight; 9th- to 11th-rib section weight and composition; fat thickness; subcutaneous fat; intermuscular fat; carcass chemical fat; and empty body physical and chemical fats. The relationships between BM and body components were evaluated, and equations to predict body area, body volume, subcutaneous fat, and carcass and body physical and chemical fat were developed. Biological interpretations of the parameter estimates of equations were similar to those found in the literature such as a ratio of 1 kg of subcutaneous fat to 1.6 kg of intermuscular fat and a deposit of 72 to 76% of body fat in the carcass. The first system used to predict carcass and empty body physical and chemical fat was devised using in vivo information, whereas the second system used BW and the 9th- to 11th-rib fat weight. Our results indicated the combination of BW, carcass traits, and BM was precise and accurate in estimating carcass and body fat composition of backgrounding bulls. The second system had better adequacy statistics [r(2) > 0.92, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) > 0.957, and root mean square error (RMSE) < 14.4% of the average observed value] compared with the first system. The first system had acceptable adequacy statistics (r(2) > 0.767, CCC > 0.866, and RMSE varying from 15.8 to 22.3% of the average observed value). For both systems, the simultaneous F-test of the linear regression of observed on model-predicted values indicated intercepts were equal to zero, and slopes were equal to 1 (P > 0.246). We concluded that BM can improve the accuracy and precision of the predictions of body composition of grazing animals.

Volar transscaphoid perilunar dislocation.

A case of volar transscaphoid perilunar dislocation of the wrist with a follow-up of six months is described. Conservative treatment resulted in union of the scaphoid without avascular necrosis. The patient had a good functional result. In volar transscaphoid dislocations a conservative approach is proposed due to the preservation of vascular supply to the scaphoid in an injury caused by hyperflexion of the wrist.

[A medical-anthropological model of psychiatric illness (author's transl)]. / Ein medizinisch-anthropologisches Krankheitsmodell in der Psychiatrie.

Consideration of the present treatment of psychiatric illness, along with the epistemological restraints for a valid model of psychiatric illness, has led to the proposal of a medical-anthropological model, which is derived from the unity of normal and abnormal behavior in specific situations and general environments and provides a scheme of "medical anthropopsychiatry". The proposed model is multidimensional (biological, psychological, and sociohistorical-cultural parameters are combined synchronously and diachronously) and aims to bring together functional and structural data of both the healthy and the disturbed personality in their entirety. It is an open model that attempts to establish the dialectic convergence of the phenomena in dynamics and structure in an integrative and comprehensive manner. It considers the complexity of their interactions on different levels. A distinction is drawn between: (1) general disruptions of the personality and its dynamic compensations with respect to mental equilibrium and (2) the basic structures underlying psychopathology and their reconstruction gradients. On that basis a pathogenetical scheme is proposed that should explain, synchronously and diachronously, the entirety of dynamical and structural components, with regard to pathogenic processes as well as therapeutic efficacy. Motivating situations and their relevance for mental health have also been considered in the model along with their etiopathogenic causes and possibilities for compensation. The applicability of the model for diagnosis, therapy, and prophylaxis is also discussed in relation to the personal history of the individual patients.