Ultrasound evaluation of female reproductive system in free ranging Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla): case report / Avaliação ultrassonográfica do sistema reprodutor feminino em tamanduá-bandeira de vida livre (Myrmecophaga tridactyla): relato de caso

An adult, female, 31kg body weight, free range Myrmecophaga tridactyla was referred for medical consultation due to apathy, dehydration, intense flatulence and fetid stools. The animal was submitted to chemical restraint and physical examination, blood count, fecal analysis, and vaginal cytology and abdominal ultrasonography were performed. Good nutritional status and clinical variables within the normal range were observed at physical examination. At vaginal cytology leukocytes, spermatozoa and a large proportion of cornified cells (superficial) were observed, indicating estrus and recent copula. At ultrasound examination it was possible to locate, identify, evaluate and measure the ovaries and the uterine structures, cervix, body, lumen, myometrium and endometrium, a fact never reported in the literature for this species. These data can be used as reference for clinical evaluation of the reproductive tract in Myrmecophaga tridactyla females considered vulnerable species, for the diagnosis of reproductive pathologies, biotechnologies application or estrous cycle evaluation.(AU)

Uma fêmea, com 31kg de peso corporal, de Myrmecophaga tridactyla, de vida livre, foi apresentada para consulta médica em razão de apatia, desidratação, flatulência intensa e fezes fétidas. O animal foi submetido à contenção química e foram realizados exame físico, hemograma, análise fecal, citologia vaginal e ultrassonografia abdominal. Ao exame físico, foi determinado bom estado nutricional e variáveis clínicas dentro da faixa de normalidade. Na citologia vaginal, foram observados leucócitos, espermatozoides e uma grande proporção de células cornificadas (superficiais), indicando estro e cópula recente. No exame ultrassonográfico, foi possível localizar, identificar, avaliar e mensurar os ovários e as estruturas uterinas, o colo do útero, o corpo do útero, o lúmen, o miométrio e o endométrio, fato nunca relatado na literatura para essa espécie. Esses dados podem ser utilizados como referência para avaliação clínica do trato reprodutivo de fêmeas de Myrmecophaga tridactyla considerada espécie vulnerável, para o diagnóstico de patologias reprodutivas, aplicação de biotecnologias ou avaliação do ciclo estral.(AU)

Consumo, digestibilidade e pH ruminal de novilhos submetidos a dietas com tortas oriundas da produção do biodiesel em substituição ao farelo de soja / Intake, digestibility and ruminal pH of steers fed diets with pies coming from the production from biodiesel to replacement soybean meal

O experimento foi realizado com quatro novilhos Holandês x Zebu, fistulados no rúmen, mantidos em baias individuais e dispostos em um quadrado latino 4x4 repetido no tempo. Teve duração de 88 dias e os animais foram alimentados com feno de tifton-85 e mistura concentrada com farelo de soja, tortas de dendê, amendoim e girassol, que constituíram os quatro tratamentos. Avaliaram-se o consumo, a digestibilidade aparente total e o pH ruminal. O consumo de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) e nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) foi menor (P<0,05) na dieta com torta de dendê em relação às demais. Os consumos de extrato etéreo (EE) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) não diferiram entre dietas (P>0,05). As digestibilidades totais dos nutrientes não foram influenciadas pelas dietas (P>0,05). A concentração do pH ruminal não foi influenciada pelas dietas, entretanto houve efeito do tempo de coleta. As tortas de amendoim e girassol oriundas da produção do biodiesel podem substituir o farelo de soja na dieta de novilhos. A substituição total do farelo de soja pela torta de dendê diminuiu o consumo de MS.

The experiment was conducted with four rumen canulated Holstein-Zebu steers, kept in individual pens and distributed in a 4x4 Latin square with repeated measures of time. The experiment lasted 88 days and the animals were fed Tifton-85 hay and concentrate ration with soybean meal or one of the following cakes: palm kernel, peanuts or sunflower, which constituted the four treatments. Intake, total apparent digestibility and rumen pH were evaluated. Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) intakes were lower (P<0.05) in diets containing palm kernel cake. Intake of ether extract (EE) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) did not differ between diets (P>0.05). The total digestibility of nutrients was not affected by the diets (P>0.05). Rumen pH was not influenced by the diets; however, it was affected by time of collection. Peanut and sunflower cake originated from the production of biodiesel can replace the soybean meal in the diet for steers. Total replacement of soybean meal with palm kernel cake decreased DM intake.

In situ infrared (FTIR) study of the mechanism of the borohydride oxidation reaction.

Early reports stated that Au was a catalyst of choice for the BOR because it would yield a near complete faradaic efficiency. However, it has recently been suggested that gold could yield to some extent the heterogeneous hydrolysis of BH, therefore lowering the electron count per BH, especially at low potential. Actually, the blur will exist regarding the BOR mechanism on Au as long as no physical proof regarding the reaction intermediates is not put forward. In that frame, in situ physical techniques like FTIR exhibit some interest to study the BOR. Consequently, in situ infrared reflectance spectroscopy measurements (SPAIRS technique) have been performed in 1 M NaOH/1 M NaBH(4) on a gold electrode with the aim to detect the intermediate species. We monitored several bands in B-H (nu ∼ 1180, 1080 and 972 cm(-1)) and B-O bond regions (nu = 1325 and ∼1425 cm(-1)), which appear sequentially as a function of the electrode polarization. These absorption bands are assigned to BH(3), BH(2) and BO species. At the light of the experimental results, possible initial elementary steps of the BOR on gold electrode have been proposed and discussed according to the relevant literature data.

Platinum monolayer on nonnoble metal-noble metal core-shell nanoparticle electrocatalysts for O2 reduction.

We synthesized a new class of O2 electrocatalysts with a high activity and very low noble metal content. They consist of Pt monolayers deposited on the surfaces of carbon-supported nonnoble metal-noble metal core-shell nanoparticles. These core-shell nanoparticles were formed by segregating the atoms of the noble metal on to the nanoparticles' surfaces at elevated temperatures. A Pt monolayer was deposited by galvanic displacement of a Cu monolayer deposited at underpotentials. The mass activity of all the three Pt monolayer electrocatalysts investigated, viz., Pt/Au/Ni, Pt/Pd/Co, and Pt/Pt/Co, is more than order of magnitude higher than that of a state-of-the-art commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst. Geometric effects in the Pt monolayer and the effects of PtOH coverage, revealed by electrochemical data, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy data, appear to be the source of the enhanced catalytic activity. Our results demonstrated that high-activity electrocatalysts can be devised that contain only a fractional amount of Pt and a very small amount of another noble metal.

Lichen sclerosus--a keratotic variant.

We describe an unusual case of keratotic lichen sclerosus with extragenital and genital lesions in a 34-year-old Brazilian man. The disease was characterized by several erythematous and brownish keratotic papules on the man's back, trunk and extensor areas of the limbs; histologic findings were typical of lichen sclerosus. Others atypical extragenital forms of lichen sderosus are discussed.