Performance, carcass and meat characteristics of two cattle categories finished on pasture during the dry season with supplementation in different forage allowance / Desempenho, características da carcaça e carne de duas categorias de bovinos de corte terminados em pastagem durante a estação seca com suplementação em diferentes ofertas de forragem

The objective this paper was to evaluate the effect of two categories of beef finished in pasture with supplementation with two herbage allowance on performance, carcass and meat characteristics. Thirty-six Guzera cattle were used, 18 steers and 18 heifers with an initial age of 20 months. There was significant difference in daily weight gain for animal category and the herbage allowance, which were higher in males and animals submitted to high herbage allowance. Steers showed higher final weight, carcass weight and forequarter yield compared with the heifers, although the hindquarter yield was higher in the heifers, however the herbage allowance did not influence these characteristics. There were not statistical differences for carcass yield, ribeye area, backfat thickness and marbling score for the animal categories and herbage allowance. The meat chemical composition of the steers did not differ of the heifers, however, the animals submitted to high herbage allowance was increase in ether extract and pH, decrease in protein percentage. It was concluded that the animal category and the herbage allowance changed the animal performance, improving performance in males and cattle submitted to high herbage allowance.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de duas categorias de bovinos terminados em pastagem com suplementação em duas ofertas de forragem no desempenho, na qualidade da carcaça e da carne. Foram utilizados 36 bovinos Guzerá, 18 novilhos e 18 novilhas, com idade inicial de 20 meses de idade. Observou-se diferença significativa no ganho de peso diário para categoria animal e ofertas de forragem, que foram superiores nos machos e nos animais submetidos à oferta alta de forragem. Os novilhos apresentaram maior peso final, peso de carcaça e rendimento de dianteiro em comparação com as novilhas, embora o rendimento do traseiro tenha sido maior para as novilhas, entretanto as ofertas de forragem não influenciaram essas características. Não houve diferenças estatísticas para rendimento de carcaça, área de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea e marmorização para categorias de animais e ofertas de forragem. Quanto à composição química, a carne de novilhos não diferiu das novilhas. Os animais submetidos à alta oferta de forragem tiveram aumento no extrato etéreo e pH, redução na porcentagem de proteína. Conclui-se que a categoria animal e os níveis de forragem alteram o desempenho animal, melhorando, assim, o desempenho nos machos e nos bovinos submetidos à alta oferta de forragem.(AU)

Performance, carcass and meat characteristics of two cattle categories finished on pasture during the dry season with supplementation in different forage allowance / Desempenho, características da carcaça e carne de duas categorias de bovinos de corte terminados em pastagem durante a estação seca com suplementação em diferentes ofertas de forragem

The objective this paper was to evaluate the effect of two categories of beef finished in pasture with supplementation with two herbage allowance on performance, carcass and meat characteristics. Thirty-six Guzera cattle were used, 18 steers and 18 heifers with an initial age of 20 months. There was significant difference in daily weight gain for animal category and the herbage allowance, which were higher in males and animals submitted to high herbage allowance. Steers showed higher final weight, carcass weight and forequarter yield compared with the heifers, although the hindquarter yield was higher in the heifers, however the herbage allowance did not influence these characteristics. There were not statistical differences for carcass yield, ribeye area, backfat thickness and marbling score for the animal categories and herbage allowance. The meat chemical composition of the steers did not differ of the heifers, however, the animals submitted to high herbage allowance was increase in ether extract and pH, decrease in protein percentage. It was concluded that the animal category and the herbage allowance changed the animal performance, improving performance in males and cattle submitted to high herbage allowance.(AU)

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de duas categorias de bovinos terminados em pastagem com suplementação em duas ofertas de forragem no desempenho, na qualidade da carcaça e da carne. Foram utilizados 36 bovinos Guzerá, 18 novilhos e 18 novilhas, com idade inicial de 20 meses de idade. Observou-se diferença significativa no ganho de peso diário para categoria animal e ofertas de forragem, que foram superiores nos machos e nos animais submetidos à oferta alta de forragem. Os novilhos apresentaram maior peso final, peso de carcaça e rendimento de dianteiro em comparação com as novilhas, embora o rendimento do traseiro tenha sido maior para as novilhas, entretanto as ofertas de forragem não influenciaram essas características. Não houve diferenças estatísticas para rendimento de carcaça, área de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea e marmorização para categorias de animais e ofertas de forragem. Quanto à composição química, a carne de novilhos não diferiu das novilhas. Os animais submetidos à alta oferta de forragem tiveram aumento no extrato etéreo e pH, redução na porcentagem de proteína. Conclui-se que a categoria animal e os níveis de forragem alteram o desempenho animal, melhorando, assim, o desempenho nos machos e nos bovinos submetidos à alta oferta de forragem.(AU)

Gene expression of thyroid-specific transcription factors may help diagnose thyroid lesions but are not determinants of tumor progression.

PURPOSE: The role of thyroid-specific transcription factors in thyroid malignancy is still poorly understood, so we investigate thyroid-specific transcription factors gene expression both in benign and in malignant thyroid nodules, aiming to study a possible clinical utility of these molecules. METHODS: We quantified TTF-1, FOXE1 and PAX8 mRNA levels, relating their expression to diagnostic and prognostic features of thyroid tumors. RNA was extracted from 4 normal thyroid tissues, 101 malignant [99 papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) and 2 anaplastic thyroid carcinomas] and 99 benign thyroid lesion tissues [49 goiter and 50 follicular adenomas (FA)]. RESULTS: Levels of mRNA of both FOXE1 (P < 0.0001) and PAX8 (P < 0.0001) genes, but not TTF-1 (P = 0.7056), were higher in benign than in malignant thyroid lesions. FOXE1 was able to identify malignant nodules with 75.8 % sensitivity, 76.1 % specificity, 75.8 % positive predictive value, 76.1 % negative predictive value and 75.9 % accuracy. PAX8 was able to identify malignancy with 60.6 % sensitivity, 81.1 % specificity, 76.9 % positive predictive value, 66.4 % negative predictive value and 70.6 % accuracy. Both FOXE1 and PAX8 gene expression patterns were also able to differentiate FA from the follicular variant of PTC-FVPTC. However, the investigated gene expression was neither associated with any clinical feature of tumor aggressiveness nor associated with recurrence or survival. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that FOXE1 and PAX8 gene expression patterns may help to diagnose thyroid nodules, identifying malignancy and characterizing follicular-patterned thyroid lesions, but are not determinants of thyroid tumor progression.

Comparison of leaf morphology and anatomy among Malva sylvestris ("gerânio-aromático"), Pelargonium graveolens ("falsa-malva") and Pelargonium odoratissimum ("gerânio-de-cheiro") / Comparação da Morfologia e da anatomia foliar entre as espécies Malva sylvestris (gerânio-aromático), Pelargonium graveolens (falsa-malva) e Pelargonium odoratissimum (gerânio-de-cheiro)

Malva sylvestris is generally confused with Pelargonium graveolens and Pelargonium odoratissimum due to similarities in their leaf morphology. The leaves of M. sylvestris have anthocyanins with scientifically proven cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant properties. The leaves of P. odoratissimum have essential oil with antibacterial and spasmolytic properties, while the essential oil from P. graveolens has antimicrobial and antifungal activity. The aim of this study was to morpho-anatomically analyze the leaves of these species, indicating differences that can be used to clarify controversies about their use as medicinal plants. To anatomically compare the structure of each plant, samples were observed by Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Leaf anatomy among species was quite different. Malva sylvestris showed capitate starry tector trichomes, as well as druses and mucilaginous cells. P. graveolens and P. odoratissimum differed as to trichomes. Both species had tector and glandular trichomes, and P. graveolens is distinguished for the greater height of tector trichomes and less quantity of the latter relative to P. odoratissimum. This study allowed the detection of anatomical differences, assisting in the taxonomy and classification of these species.

Malva sylvestris é comumente confundida com Pelargonium graveolens e Pelargonium odoratissimum devido às semelhanças na morfologia foliar. As folhas de M. sylvestris possuem antocianinas com propriedades citotóxicas, antiinflamatória, antitumoral e antioxidante já comprovadas cientificamente. As folhas de P. odoratissimum apresentam óleo essencial com propriedades antibacteriana e espasmolítica, e o óleo essencial da folha de P. graveolens possui atividade antimicrobiana e antifúngica. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar morfo-anatomicamente as folhas destas espécies, apontando diferenças que possam ser utilizadas para esclarecer controvérsias na sua utilização como planta medicinal. Com a finalidade de se comparar anatomicamente a estrutura de cada planta, as amostras foram observadas por Microscopia de Luz e Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura (MEV). A anatomia foliar entre as espécies foi bem distinta. Malva sylvestris apresentou tricomas do tipo capitado, estrelado e tector, além de drusas e células mucilaginosas. A distinção entre P. graveolens e P. odoratissimum foi observada em relação aos tricomas. Ambas as espécies apresentaram tricomas glandulares e tectores, sendo que P. graveolens se diferencia pela maior altura dos tricomas tectores e menor quantidade destes em relação ao P. odoratissimum. Este trabalho permitiu constatar diferenças anatômicas, auxiliando na taxonomia e classificação entre estas espécies.

Caracterização anatômica e fitoquímica de folhas e rizomas de Hedychium coronarium J. Kõnig (Zingiberaceae) / Anatomical and phytochemical characterization of leaves and rhizomes from Hedychium coronarium J. Kõnig (Zingiberaceae)

Devido a grande potencialidade na utilização de Hedychium coronarium, na medicina popular e também como biorremediadora no tratamento de efluentes, objetivou-se uma diagnose dos órgãos, folha e rizoma, para elucidar resultados estruturais e fitoquímicos. A folha é anfiestomática, com predominância de estômatos na face abaxial. Em ambas as superfícies foliares há projeções de cera epicuticular sobre as paredes anticlinais das células epidérmicas. O mesofilo dorsiventral apresenta hipoderme multisseriada (3 camadas) em ambos os lados. O parênquima clorofiliano é diferenciado em paliçádico (1-2 camadas) e lacunoso (4-5 camadas) com muitos espaços intercelulares e ocorrência de idioblastos cristalíferos. Na nervura central, o aerênquima ocorre em único arco na região abaxial. Os feixes vasculares distribuem-se aleatoriamente e são de diferentes tamanhos, pequenos, médios e grandes, envolvidos por fibras. Os feixes menores localizam-se no lado abaxial da nervura. A triagem fitoquímica das folhas mostrou a presença de saponinas e ausência de taninos, antraquinonas, alcalóides e flavonóides. Por meio de Cromatografia em Camada Delgada foram identificadas as presenças de cariofileno e mirceno no óleo essencial bruto obtido a partir das folhas de H. coronarium.

Due to the great potentiality regarding the use of Hedychium coronarium in folk medicine and also as a bioremediator in effluent treatment, this study aimed to diagnose leaf and rhizome in order to elucidate structural and phytochemical results. Hedychium coronarium leaf is amphistomatal, with predominance of stomata on the abaxial surface. On both leaf surfaces, there are epicuticular wax projections over the anticlinal walls from epidermal cells. The dorsiventral mesophyll presents multiseriate (3 layers) hypoderm on both sides. The chlorophyllian parenchyma is differentiated into palisade (1-2 layers) and spongy (4-5 layers) with many intercellular spaces and some crystalliferous idioblasts. In the midrib, the aerenchyma occurs in a single arc on the abaxial surface. The vascular bundles are randomly distributed and present different sizes: small, medium and large, involved by fibers. The smallest bundles are found on the abaxial rib surface. The leaf phytochemical analysis showed the presence of saponins and lack of tannins, anthraquinones, alkaloids and flavonoids. Using thin-layer chromatography, the presence of caryophyllene and myrcene was detected in the crude essential oil obtained from H. coronarium leaves.

Quantitative trait analysis and geographic variability of natural populations of Zaprionus indianus, a recent invader in Brazil.

Five natural samples of a recent South America invader, the drosophilid Zaprionus indianus, were investigated with the isofemale line technique. These samples were compared to five African mainland populations, investigated with the same method. The results were also compared to data obtained on mass cultures of other populations from Africa and India. Three quantitative traits were measured on both sexes, wing and thorax length and sternopleural bristle number. We did not find any latitudinal trend among the American samples, while a significant increase in body size with latitude was observed in the Indian and, to a lesser degree, in the African populations. American populations were also characterized by their bigger size. Genetic variability, estimated by the intraclass correlation among isofemale lines, was similar in American and African populations. The intraline, nongenetic variability was significantly less in the American samples, suggesting a better developmental stability, the origin of which is unclear. A positive relationship was evident between intraline variability of size traits and the wing-thorax length correlation. Altogether, our data suggest that the colonizing propagule introduced to Brazil had a fairly large size, preventing any bottleneck effect being detected. The big body size of American flies suggests that they came from a high-latitude African country. The lack of a latitudinal dine in America seems to be related to the short time elapsed since introduction. The very rapid spread of Z. indianus all over South America suggests that it might rapidly invade North America.

Caracterização biométrica e química da folha de Mentha pulegium x spicata (Lamiaceae) / Biometric and chemical characterization of Mentha pulegium x spicata (lamiaceae) leaves

O híbrido Mentha pulegium x spicata, também conhecido como poejo de praia, é uma planta perene, rasteira, ramosa, com caule arroxeado, folhas opostas, lanceoladas e serreadas no bordo, apresentando odor característico. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um estudo da anatomia foliar, incluindo um estudo de biometria tecidual e análise quantitativa de tricomas secretores/mm2 e de estômatos/mm2 em ambas as faces da folha, além de uma análise química do óleo essencial. Foram efetuadas lâminas permanentes para análise anatômica do limbo foliar e também lâminas da impressão foliar para a contagem do número de tricomas e estômatos. A análise química foi efetuada através da extração do óleo essencial por arraste à vapor d'água e analisado por CG-EM. Os tricomas capitados e peltados estão presentes em ambas as faces da folha, porém predominam na superfície abaxial. A análise de variância mostrou que há diferenças significativas para o número de tricomas capitados e tectores entre as superfícies adaxial e abaxial, mas não são significativas para o tricoma peltado. O óleo essencial analisado, mostra a presença do componente majoritário, trans-epóxido de piperitona, responsável por mais de 80% da composição relativa no óleo bruto

Yeast succession in the Amazon fruit Parahancornia amapa as resource partitioning among Drosophila spp.

The succession of yeasts colonizing the fallen ripe amapa fruit, from Parahancornia amapa, was examined. The occupation of the substrate depended on both the competitive interactions of yeast species, such as the production of killer toxins, and the selective dispersion by the drosophilid guild of the amapa fruit. The yeast community associated with this Amazon fruit differed from those isolated from other fruits in the same forest. The physiological profile of these yeasts was mostly restricted to the assimilation of a few simple carbon sources, mainly L-sorbose, D-glycerol, DL-lactate, cellobiose, and salicin. Common fruit-associated yeasts of the genera Kloeckera and Hanseniaspora, Candida guilliermondii, and Candida krusei colonized fruits during the first three days after the fruit fell. These yeasts were dispersed and served as food for the invader Drosophila malerkotliana. The resident flies of the Drosophila willistoni group fed selectively on patches of yeasts colonizing fruits 3 to 10 days after the fruit fell. The killer toxin-producing yeasts Pichia kluyveri var. kluyveri and Candida fructus were probably involved in the exclusion of some species during the intermediate stages of fruit deterioration. An increase in pH, inhibiting toxin activity and the depletion of simple sugars, may have promoted an increase in yeast diversity in the later stages of decomposition. The yeast succession provided a patchy environment for the drosophilids sharing this ephemeral substrate.