How space-charge behaviour at grain boundaries in electroceramic oxides is modified by two restricted equilibria.

Determining the space-charge potential at grain boundaries in oxides by various experimental methods bears the promise of providing a comprehensive, quantitative description of interfacial defect chemistry. In this study, we draw attention to the problem of unifying data measured in different temperature ranges. We focus on unifying data from elevated-temperature electrical methods, such as impedance spectroscopy and current-voltage measurements, with data from room-temperature imaging techniques, such as Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Atom Probe Tomography (APT). By means of continuum simulations, we calculate the space-charge potential Φ0 at grain boundaries in the model electroceramic oxide acceptor-doped SrTiO3, taking into account, first, a restricted equilibrium that leads to frozen-in acceptor-dopant profiles, and subsequently, a restricted equilibrium that leads to frozen-in bulk oxygen-vacancy concentrations. Our results indicate non-trivial differences between experimental values of Φ0 obtained from electrical and from imaging methods, differences that arise from the different measurement temperatures and that are aggravated by the restricted equilibria. We also show that grain-boundary widths determined from elemental acceptor-cation profiles will not, on principle, agree with the electrical width extracted from impedance spectroscopy data.

Mucocutaneous diseases with manifestations in the head and neck region: 24 years of experience in a Dermatology service.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological features of mucocutaneous diseases with manifestation in the head and neck region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a dermatology reference center database was carried out. Over 24 years. Clinicopathological data were collected from medical records and the data was analyzed by descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 11.538 medical records were analyzed, being 152 cases of mucocutaneous diseases with manifestations in the head and neck region. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus was the most prevalent diagnosis (66.4%). Face (44.1%), females (79.6%), and patients with 45 years mean age were the most common features. In the oral cavity, the most affected region was the buccal mucosa (37.5%). CONCLUSIONS: Mucocutaneous diseases with head and neck manifestation were rare in the sample analyzed (1.3%), with cutaneous lupus erythematosus and lichen planus being the most common lesions in this region.

COVID-19 and HIV/AIDS in a cohort study in Sao Paulo, Brazil: outcomes and disparities by race and schooling.

Studies describing characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 among people living with HIV are currently limited, lacking detailed evaluation of the interplay among demographics, HIV-related variables, and comorbidities on COVID-19 outcomes. This retrospective cohort study describes mortality rates overall and according to demographic characteristics and explores predictors of admission to intensive care unit and death among 255 persons living with HIV with severe acute respiratory syndrome and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. We found that the overall mortality rate was 4.1/1,000 person-days, with a case-fatality of 34%. Higher rates occurred among older adults, Black/Mixed skin color/race patients, and those with lower schooling. In a multivariable analysis adjusted for age, sex, CD4 count, viral load and number of comorbidities, skin color/race, and schooling remained significantly associated with higher mortality. Although tenofovir use was more frequent among survivors in the univariable analysis, we failed to find a statistically significant association between tenofovir use and survival in the multivariable analysis. Our findings suggest that social vulnerabilities related to both HIV and COVID-19 significantly impact the risk of death, overtaking traditional risk factors such as age, sex, CD4 count, and comorbidities.

Occurrence of Meloidogyne Arenaria in Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum L.) in the Extreme South of the State of Bahia, Brazil.

Samples of black pepper root with the presence of galls from the most southern region of the State of Bahia, Brazil, were characterized biochemically and morphologically using three criteria: i) observation of the anterior region of the males; ii) analysis of female perineal configuration and iii) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. Meloidogyne arenaria was found. This is the first report of this pathosystem in the State.

On-farm welfare assessment in dairy goats in the Brazilian Northeast / [Avaliação do bem-estar de cabras leiteiras em fazendas no nordeste brasileiro]

The objective of this study was to apply a modified AWIN Goat protocol to evaluate and compare the welfare of adult lactating and non-lactating dairy goats at pen and individual levels on small farms located in Ceará, Northeast, Brazil, and to take into consideration the application of this protocol on Brazilian Northeast goat farms. Five farms with Lactating goats (L) and five farms with non-lactating goats (NL) were evaluated. At the first level of welfare assessment, animals were evaluated in the pen and during the second level of welfare assessment, animals were evaluated in the pen and individually. Indicators assessed were animal and resource-based indicators. Significant difference between L and NL on farms was set at P<0.05. Only queuing at feeding indicator showed significant difference (P=0.027) between groups in pens at the first level welfare assessment. On individual assessments, there was significant difference between L and NL regarding body condition score (P=0.003), overgrown claws (P=0.001) and udder asymmetry (P=0.001). The application of a modified AWIN Goat protocol on farms in Ceará was considered positive. In general, these results demonstrated that both groups are submitted to welfare problems in Ceará, although lactating goats present more challenges to cope.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi aplicar o protocolo AWIN de Cabras modificado para avaliar e comparar o bem-estar de cabras adultas lactantes e não lactantes em termos de baia e individualmente, em pequenas propriedades localizadas no Ceará, nordeste, Brasil, e levar em consideração a aplicação desse protocolo em fazendas caprinas do nordeste brasileiro. Cinco fazendas com cabras lactantes (L) e cinco fazendas com cabras não lactantes (NL) foram avaliadas. No primeiro nível de bem-estar, os animais foram avaliados nas baias e, durante o segundo nível de bem-estar, os animais foram avaliados na baia e individualmente. Os indicadores avaliados foram baseados em animais e recursos. Diferença significativa entre L e NL nas fazendas foi estabelecida em P<0,05. Apenas o indicador na fila na alimentação mostrou diferença significativa (P=0,027) entre os grupos na baia no primeiro nível de bem-estar. Nas avaliações individuais, houve diferença significativa entre L e NL com relação ao escore de condição corporal (P=0,003), sobrecrescimento das unhas (P=0,001) e assimetria do úbere (P=0,001). A aplicação do protocolo AWIN de cabras modificado em fazendas no Ceará foi considerada positiva. De modo geral, esses resultados demonstraram que ambos os grupos estão submetidos a problemas de bem-estar no Ceará, embora cabras em lactação apresentem mais desafios para enfrentar.(AU)

Updating predictions of dry matter intake of lactating dairy cows.

Our objective was to model dry matter intake (DMI) by Holstein dairy cows based on milk energy (MilkE), body weight (BW), change in BW (ΔBW), body condition score (BCS), height, days in milk (DIM), and parity (primiparous and multiparous). Our database included 31,631 weekly observations on 2,791 cows enrolled in 52 studies from 8 states of the United States, mostly in the Upper Midwest. The means ± standard deviations of these variables were 24 ± 5 kg of DMI, 30 ± 6 Mcal of MilkE/d, 624 ± 83 kg of BW, 0.24 ± 1.50 kg of ΔBW/d, 3.0 ± 0.5 BCS, 149 ± 6 cm height, and 102 ± 45 DIM. Data analysis was performed using a mixed-effects model containing location, study within location, diet within study, and location and cow within study as random effects, whereas the fixed effects included the linear effects of the covariates described previously and all possible 2-way interactions between parity and the other covariates. A nonlinear (NLIN) mixed model analysis was developed using a 2-step approach for computational tractability. In the first step, we used a linear (LIN) model component of the NLIN model to predict DMI using only data from mid-lactation dairy cows (76-175 DIM) without including information on DIM. In the second step, a nonlinear adjustment for DIM using all data from 0 to 368 DIM was estimated. Additionally, this NLIN model was compared with an LIN model containing a fourth-order polynomial for DIM using data throughout the entire lactation (0-368 DIM) to assess the utility of an NLIN model for the prediction of DMI. In summary, a total of 8 candidate models were evaluated as follows: 4 ways to express energy required for maintenance (BW, BW0.75, BW adjusted for a BCS of 3, and BW0.75 adjusted for a BCS of 3) × 2 modeling strategies (LIN vs. NLIN). The candidate models were compared using a 5-fold across-studies cross-validation approach repeated 20 times with the best-fitting model chosen as the proposed model. The metrics used for evaluation were the mean bias, slope bias, concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), and root mean squared error of prediction (RMSEP). The proposed prediction equation was DMI (kg/d) = [(3.7 + parity × 5.7) + 0.305 × MilkE (Mcal/d) + 0.022 × BW (kg) + (-0.689 + parity × -1.87) × BCS] × [1 - (0.212 + parity × 0.136) × exp(-0.053 × DIM)] (mean bias = 0.021 kg, slope bias = 0.059, CCC = 0.72, and RMSEP = 2.89 kg), where parity is equal to 1 if the animal is multiparous and 0 otherwise. Finally, the proposed model was compared against the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle (2001) prediction equation for DMI using an independent data set of 9,050 weekly observations on 1,804 Holstein cows. The proposed model had smaller mean bias and RMSEP and higher CCC than the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle equation to predict DMI and has potential to improve diet formulation for lactating dairy cows.

The effect of space-charge formation on the grain-boundary energy of an ionic solid.

Taking the model system of an oxide containing acceptor dopant cations and charge-compensating oxygen vacancies, we calculate at the continuum level the change in the excess grain-boundary energy of an ionic solid upon space-charge formation. Two different cases are considered for the space-charge layers: (i) only vacancies attain electrochemical equilibrium and (ii) both dopants and vacancies attain electrochemical equilibrium. The changes calculated for a specific set of grain boundaries indicate that, depending on dopant concentration, space-charge formation can decrease the excess free energy by up to 15% in the first case and by up to 45% in the second case. The possibility of the excess grain-boundary energy going to zero and the possible effects of an external electric field on the excess grain-boundary energy are also discussed. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Energy materials for a low carbon future'.

Urban pollution greatly enhances formation of natural aerosols over the Amazon rainforest.

One of the least understood aspects in atmospheric chemistry is how urban emissions influence the formation of natural organic aerosols, which affect Earth's energy budget. The Amazon rainforest, during its wet season, is one of the few remaining places on Earth where atmospheric chemistry transitions between preindustrial and urban-influenced conditions. Here, we integrate insights from several laboratory measurements and simulate the formation of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) in the Amazon using a high-resolution chemical transport model. Simulations show that emissions of nitrogen-oxides from Manaus, a city of ~2 million people, greatly enhance production of biogenic SOA by 60-200% on average with peak enhancements of 400%, through the increased oxidation of gas-phase organic carbon emitted by the forests. Simulated enhancements agree with aircraft measurements, and are much larger than those reported over other locations. The implication is that increasing anthropogenic emissions in the future might substantially enhance biogenic SOA in pristine locations like the Amazon.

Family health and conditional cash transfer in Brazil and its effect on tuberculosis mortality.

BACKGROUND: Social protection can reduce poverty and act on the determinants of tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) and the Bolsa Família Programme on TB-related mortality in Brazil. METHODS: This was an ecological study in which the units of analysis were Brazilian municipalities between 2001 and 2012. The principal independent variables were the levels of coverage of the primary health care system and the conditional cash transfer programme. The dependent variable was TB mortality rate (obtained from national databases). Descriptive analysis and negative binomial regression based on panel data using fixed-effects models were performed. Crude and adjusted estimates were calculated for continuous and categorical variables. RESULTS: A high FHS coverage was significantly associated with a reduction in the TB mortality rate (RR 0.80, 95%CI 0.72-0.89). An increase in the coverage of the Brazilian cash transfer programme was significantly associated with a reduction in the TB mortality rate (RR 0.87, 95%CI 0.81-0.96). CONCLUSION: FHS and the Bolsa Família conditional cash transfer programme had a positive impact on the TB mortality rate in Brazil. Public policies should include economic support combined with health promotion.

Biomass burning and carbon monoxide patterns in Brazil during the extreme drought years of 2005, 2010, and 2015.

In the 21st century, severe droughts associated with climate change will increase biomass burning (BB) in Brazil caused by the human activities. Recent droughts, especially in 2005, 2010, and 2015, caused strong socioeconomic and environmental impacts. The 2015 drought considered the most severe since 1901, surpassed the 2005 and 2010 events in respect to area and duration. Herein, based on satellite data, the 2005, 2010 and 2015 drought impacts on wildfire episodes and carbon monoxide (CO) variability during the dry and the dry-to-wet transition seasons were examined. The BB occurrences in the dry season were fewer during 2015 than during 2005 (-44%) and 2010 (-47%). Contrasting, the BB events in the dry-to-wet transition season, were higher during 2015 than during 2005 (+192%) and 2010 (+332%). The BB outbreaks were concentrated in the southern and southwestern Amazon during 2005, in the Cerrado region during 2010, and mainly in the central and northern Amazon during 2015, an area normally with few fires. The CO concentration showed positive variations (up to +30%) occurred in the southern Amazon and central Brazil during the 2005 and 2010 dry seasons, and north of 20 °S during the 2015-2016 dry-to-wet transition season. The BB outbreaks and the CO emissions showed a considerable spatiotemporal variability among the droughts of 2005, 2010, and 2016, first of them driven by local conditions in the tropical North Atlantic (TNA), characterized by warm than normal sea surface waters and the other two by the El Niño occurrences.

Is ReO3 a mixed ionic-electronic conductor? A DFT study of defect formation and migration in a BVIO3 perovskite-type oxide.

Density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations within the generalised gradient approximation (GGA) were used to examine the behaviour of point defects in the cubic BVIO3 perovskite-type oxide, ReO3. Energies of reduction and of hydration were calculated, and the results are compared with literature data for ABO3 perovskite oxides. The activation energies of migration were determined for O2-, H+, Li+, Na+, K+ and H3O+. An occupied A site in ReO3 is found to be beneficial to oxide-ion migration by a vacancy mechanism as well as to proton migration by a Grotthuss mechanism. Na+, K+ and H3O+ exhibit activation energies of migration higher than 2 eV, whereas Li+ is characterised by a very low migration barrier of 0.1 eV. Reasons for this behaviour are discussed. Our results suggest that H+, O2-, and especially Li+, are highly mobile ions in ReO3.

Three dimensional typological studies using scanning electron microscopy for characterization of Termitomyces pellets obtained from submerged growth conditions.

There are gaps in existing understanding of fungal pellet growth dynamics. We used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological characterization of the biomass organization of Termitomyces pellets for seven species: T. microcarpus (TMI1), T. albuminosus (TAL1, TAL2), T. striatus (TSTR), T. aurantiacus (TAUR), T. heimii (THE1, THE2), T. globulus (TGLO) and T. clypeatus (TCL1, TCL2, TCL3, TCL4, TCL5). We assessed the utility of SEM for morphological and structural characterization of Termitomyces spp. in three dimensional (3D) pellet form to identify ideal pellet morphology for industrial use. Typological classification of Termitomyces species was based on furrows, isotropy, total motifs and fractal dimensions. The pellets formed were entangled and exhibited highly compacted mycelial mass with microheterogeneity and microporosity. The mean density of furrows of Termitomyces species was between 10,000 and 11,300 cm/cm2, percentage isotropy was 30-80 and total motifs varied from 300 to 2500. TGLO exhibited the highest furrow mean density, 11243 cm/cm2, which indicated a compact, cerebroid structure with complex ridges and furrows, whereas TAL2 exhibited the lowest furrow density. TMI1a exhibited a high percentage isotropic value, 74.6, TSTR exhibited the lowest, 30.9. Total motif number also was used as a typological classification parameter. Fractal values were 2.64-2.78 for various submerged conditions of Termitomyces species. TAL1 exhibited the highest fractal dimension and TAL2 the lowest, which indicates the complexity of branching patterns. Three-dimensional SEM image analysis can provide insight into pellet micromorphology and is a powerful tool for exploring topographical details of pellets.

A SIMS study of cation and anion diffusion in tantalum oxide.

Ion transport in ceramics of the low-temperature phase of tantalum pentoxide, L-Ta2O5, was examined by means of diffusion experiments and subsequent analysis of diffusion profiles with time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). 18O/16O isotope anneals were used to investigate oxygen diffusion, and oxygen tracer diffusion coefficients were obtained for the temperature range of 623 ≤ T/K ≤ 873 at an oxygen partial pressure of pO2 = 0.2 bar and for the oxygen partial pressure range of 10-2 ≤ pO2/bar ≤ 100 at a temperature of T = 723 K. Cation diffusion in Ta2O5 was probed by using chemically similar niobium as the diffusant (in the absence of stable tantalum isotopes). Thin films of Nb2O5 were deposited onto Ta2O5 ceramics; diffusion anneals yielded niobium diffusion coefficients for the temperature range of 1073 ≤ T/K ≤ 1223 at an oxygen partial pressure of pO2 = 0.2 bar. Comparison of the measured diffusion coefficients strongly suggests that oxygen is many orders of magnitude more mobile than niobium in L-Ta2O5 at these temperatures and at pO2 = 0.2 bar. The electrical conductivity was also determined in the range 950 ≤ T/K ≤ 1200 and 10-23 ≤ pO2/bar ≤ 10-2. Considered together with the measured diffusion coefficients, the conductivity data indicate that under oxidising conditions conduction is due to oxygen ions above T = 1090-1130 K and due to electron holes below this temperature range. Point-defect models are presented that are consistent with these transport data and with conductivity data in the literature. They suggest that under oxidising conditions oxygen interstitials are the majority ionic charge carriers in L-Ta2O5. The implications for resistive switching devices are discussed.

Predicting nutrient digestibility in high-producing dairy cows.

Our objective was to determine the effects of dry matter intake (DMI), body weight (BW), and diet characteristics on total tract digestibilities of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and starch (DMD, NDFD, and StarchD, respectively) in high-producing dairy cows. Our database was composed of 1,942 observations from 662 cows in 54 studies from Michigan, Ohio, and Georgia. On average, cows ate 23 ± 4.5 kg of dry matter/d, weighed 669 ± 79 kg, and produced 38 ± 10 kg of milk/d. Diets were 31 ± 5% neutral detergent fiber, 27 ± 6% starch, 2.6 ± 1.2% fatty acids, and 17 ± 1.4% crude protein. Digestibility means were 66 ± 6, 42 ± 11, and 93 ± 5% for DMD, NDFD, and StarchD, respectively. Forage sources included corn silage, alfalfa, and grasses. Corn source was classified by its ruminal fermentability. Data were analyzed using a mixed effects model, including diet chemical composition, forage source, and corn source, all expressed as percentage of dry matter, except for DMI, which was expressed as percentage of BW (DMI%BW); location and 2-way interactions were fixed effects. Cow, block, period, treatment, and study were included as random effects. Best fitting candidate models were generated using backward and stepwise regression methods. Additionally, the simplest model was generated using only DMI and location as fixed effects and all random effects. Candidate models were cross-validated across studies, and the resulting predictive correlation coefficients across studies (PC) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) were compared by t-test. For each nutrient, the digestibility model that resulted in the highest PC and lowest RMSEP was determined to be the best fitting model. We observed heterogeneous coefficients among the different locations, suggesting that specific location factors influenced digestibilities. The overall location-averaged best fitting prediction equations were: DMD = 69 - 0.83 × DMI%BW (PC = 0.22, RMSEP = 5.39); NDFD = 53 + 0.26 × grass %DM - 0.59 × starch %DM + 3.06 × DMI%BW - 0.46 × DMI%BW2 (PC = 0.53, RMSEP = 9.70); and StarchD = 96 + 0.19 × HFERM%DM - 0.12 × starch %DM - 1.13 × DMI%BW (PC = 0.34, RMSEP = 4.77); where HFERM%DM is highly-fermentable corn source as percentage of DM. Our results confirm that digestibility is reduced as DMI increases, albeit at a lower rate than that reported in National Research Council. Furthermore, dietary starch depresses NDFD. Whereas DMD can be predicted based on DMI only, the best predictions for NDFD and StarchD require diet characteristics in addition to DMI.

Circulating levels of adiponectin and extent of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography

Adiponectin (APN), an adipose tissue-released adipokine with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties, is encoded by a gene whose polymorphisms are associated with presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Serum APN levels are inversely related with presence and complexity of CAD. Within this context, we sought to compare levels of total APN and its high molecular weight form (HMW APN) according to clinical presentation and extent of CAD in patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization. From March 2008 to June 2010, clinical data and blood samples for APN and HMW APN measurements were collected from 415 subjects undergoing cardiac catheterization at two tertiary centers. CAD extent was estimated by the number of coronary arteries with significant stenosis (≥70% obstruction in a major coronary artery) and by Duke Jeopardy Score (DJS). Serum APN levels were similar between groups with stable or unstable CAD (APN 9.20±5.88 vs 9.47±6.23 μg/mL, P=0.738, and HMW APN 5.31±3.72 vs 5.91±4.16 μg/mL, P=0.255), even after stratification by the number of arteries involved (single-vessel vs multivessel disease: APN 9.39±5.76 vs 9.26±6.27 μg/mL, P=0.871; HMW APN 5.29±3.79 vs 5.83±4.04 μg/mL, P=0.306) and DJS score (APN, P=0.718; HMW APN, P=0.276). We conclude that APN and HMW APN serum levels are similar across clinical presentations and different extents of CAD, despite being significantly lower in the presence of obstructive CAD.

Circulating levels of adiponectin and extent of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography.

Adiponectin (APN), an adipose tissue-released adipokine with demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic properties, is encoded by a gene whose polymorphisms are associated with presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Serum APN levels are inversely related with presence and complexity of CAD. Within this context, we sought to compare levels of total APN and its high molecular weight form (HMW APN) according to clinical presentation and extent of CAD in patients undergoing elective cardiac catheterization. From March 2008 to June 2010, clinical data and blood samples for APN and HMW APN measurements were collected from 415 subjects undergoing cardiac catheterization at two tertiary centers. CAD extent was estimated by the number of coronary arteries with significant stenosis (≥70% obstruction in a major coronary artery) and by Duke Jeopardy Score (DJS). Serum APN levels were similar between groups with stable or unstable CAD (APN 9.20±5.88 vs 9.47±6.23 µg/mL, P=0.738, and HMW APN 5.31±3.72 vs 5.91±4.16 µg/mL, P=0.255), even after stratification by the number of arteries involved (single-vessel vs multivessel disease: APN 9.39±5.76 vs 9.26±6.27 µg/mL, P=0.871; HMW APN 5.29±3.79 vs 5.83±4.04 µg/mL, P=0.306) and DJS score (APN, P=0.718; HMW APN, P=0.276). We conclude that APN and HMW APN serum levels are similar across clinical presentations and different extents of CAD, despite being significantly lower in the presence of obstructive CAD.

Physical and chemical characteristics of meat from broilers raised in 4 different rearing systems, stored under freezing for up to 12 months.

This study evaluated the effects of freezing (-18°C) for 12 mo on attributes related to the texture of breast, drumstick, and thigh from broilers raised in 4 different rearing systems. Five-hundred carcasses of male broilers raised in 4 rearing systems (Antibiotic-free, Cobb 500, n = 125; Free-range, Hubbard ISA, n = 125; Conventional, Cobb 500, n = 125; Organic, Cobb 500, n = 125) were divided into breast, drumstick, and thigh and stored under freezing (-18°C) for 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Breast, drumstick, and thigh meat from broilers raised in all studied rearing systems showed reduction (P < 0.001) of water-holding capacity (WHC) during freezing for up 12 months. It was observed an increase (P < 0.001) of cooking loss in breast samples from antibiotic-free, conventional, and organic broilers, and in thigh samples from broilers raised in all rearing systems studied. Breast meat from alternative broilers showed an increase in shear force values, while breast meat from conventional broilers became tenderer during the freezing storage. In general, alternative broilers had harder thigh meat than conventional broilers. A reduction (P < 0.001) in myofibrillar fragmentation index and total collagen concentration was verified in breast, drumstick, and thigh samples throughout the experiment. The freezing for up to 12 mo affects characteristics related to the succulence of chicken meat. Freezing chicken meat cuts for long periods, regardless of the rearing system, may interfere with the meat texture during preparation and consumption and, consequently, influence the consumer decision in a next purchase.

Crude glycerin decreases nonesterified fatty acid concentration in ewes during late gestation and early lactation.

Crude glycerin is a gluconeogenic substrate in ruminants and may help to decrease the occurrence of pregnancy toxemia. The objective in this trial was to determine the effects of feeding a diet containing crude glycerin on DMI, milk yield, milk composition, and blood metabolites in periparturient ewes and lamb performance. One hundred eighteen 90 (±1.1)-d pregnant Santa Inês ewes were used. After lambing, 32 ewes (62.8 ± 1.3 kg BW) were allotted in a randomized complete block design defined by prelambing diet, BW, BCS, lambing date, type of birth (single or twin), and sex of offspring. Diets were isonitrogenous (13.0 ± 0.3% CP, DM basis), composed of concentrate and raw sugarcane bagasse (70:30 ratio, DM basis), and fed ad libitum daily. Crude glycerin (83.6% glycerol) levels were 0 or 10% (DM basis), corresponding to the experimental diets G0 and G10, respectively. From 8 until 56 d of lactation, DMI was determined. In the same period, once a week at 1000 h, the ewes were separated from the lambs and mechanically milked after intravenous administration of 10 IU of synthetic oxytocin. Three hours after the first milking, ewes were milked again and milk yield and composition were determined. Glucose, NEFA, and ß-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) were determined at -14, -7, 0, 7, 14, 28, and 56 d relative to lambing and insulin was determined at -14, -7, 0, and 7 d. Crude glycerin did not affect DMI (2.2 kg/d for G0 vs. 2.2 kg/d for G10; = 0.93) or milk production (171 g/3 h for G0 vs. 164 g/3 h for G10; = 0.66). However, there was a decrease ( = 0.01) in milk fat percentage (8.1% for G0 vs. 7.0% for G10) for ewes fed glycerin. Ewes fed the G10 diet had decreased ( < 0.01) NEFA concentration (0.27 mmol/L for G0 vs. 0.18 mmol/L for G10). There was an interaction between diet × time for glucose ( = 0.04), insulin ( = 0.05), and BHBA ( = 0.01); feeding glycerin increased glucose (5.61 mmol/L for G0 vs. 7.42 mmol/L for G10; < 0.01) and insulin concentrations (10.5 µIU for G0 vs. 24.5 µIU for G10; < 0.01) at parturition compared with G0. The BHBA was less ( = 0.02) on the day of lambing (0.40 mmol/L for G0 vs. 0.29 mmol/L for G10) and it was greater ( < 0.01) on d 56 for ewes fed the G10 diet (0.46 mmol/L for G0 vs. 0.61 mmol/L for G10). There was no effect of diets fed to ewes on lamb growth from birth to weaning. Crude glycerin improved energy balance of periparturient ewes, suggesting a reduced risk of developing clinical metabolic-related disorders. Crude glycerin can be added at 10% of ewes' diets without affecting DMI and milk yield.

Variables Associated with Infections of Cattle by Brucella abortus., Leptospira spp. and Neospora spp. in Amazon Region in Brazil.

The frequency of Neospora spp., Leptospira spp. and Brucella abortus infections in adult cattle was determined in herds of the State of Pará, Brazil, which is an important region for cattle production located in the Amazon region. A total of 3466 adult female cattle from 176 herds were tested, leading to a frequency of seropositive animals of 14.7%, 3.7% and 65.5% and a herd positivity of 87.4%, 41.3% and 98.8% for infections caused by Neospora spp., B. abortus and Leptospira spp., respectively. The five most frequently diagnosed serologic responses to Leptospira spp. were those against serovars hardjo, wolfii, grippotyphosa, hebdomadis and shermani. The following associations were found: practice of artificial insemination, large farm size, large herd size, large number of dogs and high number of total abortions per year with the presence of antibodies against serovar hardjo; positive results to serovar grippotyphosa with the presence of dogs; inappropriate disposal of aborted foetuses with positivity to serovar hebdomadis. Serovar grippotyphosa was also associated with number of episodes of abortions. Neospora spp. positive herds were associated with episodes of abortion and B. abortus infection with the disposal of dead animals and aborted foetuses on pastures and with the use of artificial insemination. In conclusion, the high frequency of brucellosis, leptospirosis and neosporosis in the region may be a consequence of social, natural and raising conditions as: (i) climate conditions that favour the survival and spread of pathogens in the environment; (ii) farms located in regions bordering forest areas; (iii) farms in areas of difficult access to the veterinary service; (iv) extensive beef herds raised at pastures with different age and productive groups inter-mingled; and (v) minimal concerns regarding hygiene practices and disease prevention measures.

Identification and antifungal susceptibility of fungi isolated from dermatomycoses.

BACKGROUND: Dermatomycoses are superficial fungal infections of the skin, hair and nails that affect more than 20-25% of the people worldwide. These infections can be caused by yeasts, dermatophytes and non-dermatophyte filamentous fungi (NDFF) and are considered a public health problem. Despite this, few studies have investigated the prevalence and antifungal susceptibility of causative agents of dermatomycoses in the developing world. OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to identify and determine the antifungal susceptibility profile of yeast and filamentous fungi isolated from dermatomycoses in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: Specimens were obtained from patients with clinically diagnosed and laboratory confirmed dermatomycosis between July 2009 and July 2011. Fungal identification was based on classical methods and antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution method. RESULTS: Of the 216 fungal isolates, 116 (53.8%) were yeasts, 70 (32.4%) dermatophytes and 30 (13.8%) NDFF. Onychomycosis was the most common clinical condition. Candida parapsilosis (24.1%) and Trichophyton rubrum (17.1%) were the fungi most frequently isolated. Voriconazole, ketoconazole and itraconazole were the most potent antifungal agents against yeast, whereas terbinafine, voriconazole and itraconazole had a high in vitro activity against dermatophytes. Overall, the antifungal agents had little or no activity against NDFF and the highest minimum inhibitory concentrations were those against Fusarium spp. CONCLUSION: Yeasts, particularly C. parapsilosis, play an important role as causative agents of dermatomycosis in our region. Our results suggest that the antifungal susceptibility testing coupled with proper identification of the fungi may be useful to assist clinicians in determining the appropriate therapy for dermatomycoses.