Genetic parameters for performance, feed efficiency, and carcass traits in Senepol heifers.

Improving feed efficiency is a key breeding goal in the beef cattle industry. In this study, we estimated the genetic parameters for feed efficiency and carcass traits in Senepol cattle raised in tropical regions. Various indicators of feed efficiency [gain to feed ratio (G:F), feed conversion ratio (FCR), residual weight gain (RG), residual intake and body weight gain (RIG), and residual feed intake (RFI)] as well as growth [final BW, average daily gain (ADG), and DM intake (DMI)], and carcass [rib-eye area (REA), backfat thickness (BF), intramuscular fat score, and carcass conformation score] traits were included in the study. After data editing, records from 1 393 heifers obtained between 2009 and 2018 were used for the analyses. We fitted an animal model that included contemporary group (animals from the same farm that were evaluated in the same test season) as the fixed effect, and a linear effect of animal age at the beginning of the test as a covariate; in addition to random direct additive genetic and residual effects. The (co)variance components were estimated by Bayesian inference in uni- and bivariate analyses. Our results showed that feed efficiency indicators derived from residual variables such as RG, RIG, and RFI can be improved through genetic selection (h2 = 0.14 ± 0.06, 0.13 ± 0.06, and 0.20 ± 0.08, respectively). Variables calculated as ratios such as G:F and FCR were more influenced by environmental factors (h2 = 0.08 ± 0.05 and 0.09 ± 0.05), and were, therefore, less suitable for use in breeding programs. The traits with the greatest and impact on genetic progress in feed efficiency were ADG, REA, and BF. The traits with the greatest and least impact on growth and carcass traits were RG and RFI, respectively. Selection for feed efficiency will result in distinct overall effects on the growth and carcass traits of Senepol heifers. Direct selection for lower RFI may reduce DMI and increase carcass fatness at the finishing stage, but it might also result in reduced growth and muscle deposition. Residual BW gain is associated with the highest weight gain and zero impact on REA and BF, however, it is linked to higher feed consumption. Thus, the most suitable feed efficiency indicator was RIG, as it promoted the greatest decrease in feed intake concomitant with faster growth, with a similar impact on carcass traits when compared to the other feed efficiency indicators.

Electrocatalytic synthesis of ammonia by surface proton hopping.

Highly efficient ammonia synthesis at a low temperature is desirable for future energy and material sources. We accomplished efficient electrocatalytic low-temperature ammonia synthesis with the highest yield ever reported. The maximum ammonia synthesis rate was 30 099 µmol gcat-1 h-1 over a 9.9 wt% Cs/5.0 wt% Ru/SrZrO3 catalyst, which is a very high rate. Proton hopping on the surface of the heterogeneous catalyst played an important role in the reaction, revealed by in situ IR measurements. Hopping protons activate N2 even at low temperatures, and they moderate the harsh reaction condition requirements. Application of an electric field to the catalyst resulted in a drastic decrease in the apparent activation energy from 121 kJ mol-1 to 37 kJ mol-1. N2 dissociative adsorption is markedly promoted by the application of the electric field, as evidenced by DFT calculations. The process described herein opens the door for small-scale, on-demand ammonia synthesis.

Análise da curva de crescimento do perímetro escrotal de touros canchim em diferentes sistemas de criação / Canchim bulls scrotal circumference growth curve analysis in different breeding systems / Análisis de la curva de crecimento del perimetro escrotal de toros canchim en diferentes sistemas de cría

O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar diferentes modelos não lineares para descrever a curva de crescimento do perímetro escrotal (PE) em razão da idade, em touros da raça Canchim, sob diferentes condições de criação. Na análise foram empregadas 37.344 medidas de perímetro escrotal provenientes de 7.552 animais. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o modelo Logístico foi o que melhor descreveu o crescimento do PE nos diferentes sistemas de criação. O modelo Brody mostrou-se pouco recomendado para o ajustamento dos dados de PE em função da idade.

The objective of this study was to compare different non linear models in order to describe the Canchim bulls’ age-related scrotal circumference (SC) growth curve measurements in different breeding systems. The data consisted of 37.344 measures from 7.552 Canchim bulls. The results showed that the Logistic model was the one which best described the growth of SC on Canchim bulls in different breeding systems. The Brody model presented the worst adjustments to SC data because of age.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar diferentes modelos no lineares para describir la curva de crecimiento del perímetro escrotal (PE) en función de la edad, en toros de la raza Canchim, en diferentes condiciones de cría. En el análisis fueron utilizadas 37.344 medidas del perímetro escrotal oriundas de 7.552 animales. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el modelo Logístico fue el que mejor describió el crecimiento del PE en los diferentes sistemas de cría. El modelo Brody es poco recomendado para el ajuste de los datos de PE en función de la edad.

[Isolated gingival relapse during hematological remission in a patient with erythroleukemia].

A 54-year-old man was admitted to Kitano Hospital because of nuchal pain in November, 1984. The bone marrow was hypercellular with 18% of myeloblasts and 45% of erythroblasts many of which were megaloblastoid and positive for PAS-staining. BH-AC . DMP therapy induced a complete remission which was maintained for more than 3 years until April, 1988, when gingival swelling occurred. A biopsy of the gingiva revealed a diffuse infiltration of myeloblasts together with a few erythroblasts. Local irradiation resulted in he disappearance of the swelling. However, the microscopic infiltration of the leukemic cells in the gingiva still remained in December, 1988 when there was no apparent gingival swelling and the patient was in a second hematological remission. Bone marrow relapse occurred in September, 1988 and twice thereafter. Complete remissions were again achieved for the first two relapses and the leukemic infiltration of the gingiva disappeared after another irradiation. The third relapse was refractory to an intensive chemotherapy and the gingival swelling also recurred in July, 1989. The patient died of pneumonia in October, 1989. The gingiva may be more common site of extramedullary relapse. Careful observation of this organ would be necessary throughout the course of leukemias.

[The correlation of serum IgE and IgE-RAST of mite, egg white, milk, soybean, rice and wheat: a study by analysis of regression curves].

The correlation of variation in serum IgE and IgE-RAST in 364 cases of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) aged 4 months to 78 years was analysed by comparison with the scatter diagram and fifth dimension regression curve representing the serum IgE and IgE-RAST scores of mite, egg white, milk, soybean, wheat and rice. The antigens indicating a high IgE-RAST score varied according to age. They were egg white and milk in infancy and mite from one to fifteen years of age. Rice and wheat came later. A high value of serum IgE with AD was seen to depend on the production of specific mite IgE antibody and to be influenced by each specific IgE antibody production, which varied according to age. It seemed that egg white and milk were initiators of AD and mite acted as a promotor. Rice and wheat were accelerators in patients with adult type AD. It was confirmed that, for AD patients of all ages, improvement of the environmental antigens and diet therapy was necessary.

IgG4 antibodies in patients with atopic dermatitis.

The role of IgG4 in atopic dermatitis was investigated by determining the total amounts of IgG4 and of IgG4 specific for ovalbumin (a food allergen), Dermatophagoides farinae mite antigen and house dust (inhalant allergens) and Candida. These were related to the amounts of total and antigen specific IgE in patients with atopic dermatitis and normal healthy controls. Most patients with atopic dermatitis had greater amounts of total IgG4 and of antigen-specific IgG4 than did normal control individuals. Patients who had received hyposensitization treatment injections had greater amounts of IgG4 than the atopic dermatitis patients not so treated. In patients treated by hyposensitization there was a large increase in the amount of blocking antibody detected by incubating the antigen with the serum overnight before injecting the mixture into the skin of a patient sensitive to the antigen. Blocking activity was also examined by partial inhibition by the serum of IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation and by injection of serum into the skin of sensitive patients before challenge with antigens. In all tests the blocking activity of the serum was related to the amount of antigen-specific IgG4 but not related to total IgG4. In patients with atopic dermatitis who were sensitive to mite antigen, severe cases had small amounts of specific IgG4 and large amounts of specific IgE but in mild cases there was an opposite trend with relatively large amounts of specific IgG4. Large amounts of IgG4 ovalbumin specific antibody were found in children and adults with atopic dermatitis and egg allergy but small amounts of IgE. In infants most of the anti-ovalbumin antibody was IgE with little or no IgG4. The work of others has confirmed that increased amounts of total and antigen-specific IgG4 occur in atopic dermatitis, and it is concluded that IgG4 is a blocking antibody for anaphylactic sensitization responses.

Challenge reactions in atopic dermatitis after percutaneous entry of mite antigen.

We succeeded in reproducing an eczematous lesion on the apparently normal skin of a patient with atopic dermatitis by scratching and continuous application of an ointment containing ferritin-labelled mite antigen. Percutaneous entry of mite antigen was demonstrated in skin biopsies by Fe-staining. Scratched skin first showed an urticarial reaction typical of type I allergy which later changed into an eczematous reaction typical of type IV allergy. This change was also shown histologically.

[Clinical studies of cefoperazone in the treatment of pyoderma (author's transl)].

Cefoperazone (CPZ), a new semisynthetic cephalosporin derivative, was administered in the treatment of pyoderma. The results are shown as follows. CPZ was given to 21 patients with pyoderma. In 21 patients, marked improvement was seen in 7, effectiveness in 10, slight improvement in 1 and ineffective in 3. Total clinical effectiveness rate was 81.0%. No serious side effects were observed.