Intake and digestibility of two diets for nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus: Linnaeus, 1758) kept under human care.

The study aimed to evaluate metabolic parameters, nutrient intake, and absorption of two diets formulated for Dasypus novemcinctus armadillos under human care. Were studied two diets: D1-a diet with dry dog food, ground beef, and boiled chicken egg with shells; D2-a diet with the same ingredients as D1, with added banana and papaya. Both are mixed in water. The parameters analyzed were body weight (BW), weight gain (WG), maintenance energy requirement (MER), Lee index, biometrics, body condition score, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and cholesterol fractions for eight male armadillos. Dietary intake (DI) and efficiency, nutrient intake, metabolizable energy, and digestibility coefficient for the diets were evaluated in six male armadillos. The diet that included fruits showed higher BW, WG, MER, Lee index, and better glucose metabolism. Both diets promoted increases in WG and Lee Index, as well as improvements in glucose metabolism. The diet without fruit improved the lipid profile of the animals. D2 presented the highest DI, better dietary efficiency, and higher energy intake but also a lower crude fiber intake. However, it showed the best utilization of gross fiber and all other nutrients. In conclusion, the diets constituted an adequate nutritional option for captive armadillos and can be used in malnutrition and pathological processes recovery. Although both diets were adequate, the nonfruit diet was preferable due to the improved lipid profile.

POMONA: a multiplatform software for modeling seed physiology.

Seed physiology is related to functional and metabolic traits of the seed-seedling transition. In this sense, modeling the kinetics, uniformity and capacity of a seed sample plays a central role in designing strategies for trade, food, and environmental security. Thus, POMONA is presented as an easy-to-use multiplatform software designed to bring several logistic and linearized models into a single package, allowing for convenient and fast assessment of seed germination and or longevity, even if the data has a non-Normal distribution. POMONA is implemented in JavaScript using the Quasar framework and can run in the Microsoft Windows operating system, GNU/Linux, and Android-powered mobile hardware or on a web server as a service. The capabilities of POMONA are showcased through a series of examples with diaspores of corn and soybean, evidencing its robustness, accuracy, and performance. POMONA can be the first step for the creation of an automatic multiplatform that will benefit laboratory users, including those focused on image analysis.

Impact of Care Interventions on the Survival of Patients with Cardiac Chest Pain.

BACKGROUND: Chest pain is considered the second most frequent complaint among patients seeking emergency services. However, there is limited information in the literature about how the care provided to patients with chest pain, when being attended to in the emergency room, influences their clinical outcomes. AIMS: To assess the relationship between care interventions performed on patients with cardiac chest pain and their immediate and late clinical outcomes and to identify which care interventions were essential to survival. METHODS: In this retrospective study. We analyzed 153 medical records of patients presenting with chest pain at an emergency service center, São Paulo, Brazil. Participants were divided into two groups: (G1) remained hospitalized for a maximum of 24 h and (G2) remained hospitalized for between 25 h and 30 days. RESULTS: Most of the participants were male 99 (64.7%), with a mean age of 63.2 years. The interventions central venous catheter, non-invasive blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry, and monitoring peripheral perfusion were commonly associated with survival at 24 h and 30 days. Advanced cardiovascular life support and basic support life (p = 0.0145; OR = 8053; 95% CI = 1385-46,833), blood transfusion (p < 0.0077; OR = 34,367; 95% CI = 6489-182,106), central venous catheter (p < 0.0001; OR = 7.69: 95% CI 1853-31,905), and monitoring peripheral perfusion (p < 0.0001; OR = 6835; 95% CI 1349-34,634) were independently associated with survival at 30 days by Cox Regression. CONCLUSIONS: Even though there have been many technological advances over the past decades, this study demonstrated that immediate and long-term survival depended on interventions received in an emergency room for many patients.

Food preference of nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus, Linnaeus, 1758) under human care.

This study aims to evaluate the food preference of nine banded armadillos kept in captivity, exposed to four different diets: Diet 1 (D1) - dry dog food and ground beef; Diet 2 (D2) - dry dog food, ground beef, and chicken eggs; Diet 3 (D3) - dog food, ground beef, bananas, and papaya; Diet 4 (D4) - dog food, ground beef, chicken eggs, banana, and papaya. To this end, an experiment was carried out for five weeks, the first four of which were for preliminary management and the fifth week for data collection. Frequency of consumption, total intake for each diet, and intake ratio were evaluated. The dietary preference was higher for the diets with a higher protein percentage (D1 and D2), mainly D2, which presented increased demand and intake starting on the fourth day of observation. In second day of observation, D1 presented the higher intake ratio, but D2 gradually replaced it. The diet containing the lowest protein rate (D3) was the least favored on all observation days and evaluations. In conclusion, the food preference of ex-situ armadillos seems to be related to the inclusion of greater amounts of protein, particularly that of animal origin, with eggs being the most appreciated ingredient in this study.

Acquisition of the physiological quality of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds during maturation under the influence of the maternal environment.

The scarcity of information on the maturation physiology of the peanut seed (Arachis hypogaea L.; Virgínia group) makes harvesting high quality seeds a challenge for the seed industry. During two consecutive crop seasons, we studied the acquisition of physiological quality of peanut seeds during maturation in tropical conditions. We bring new insights about the period of late maturation of seeds and the influence of the maternal environment on physiological quality. We monitored water content, dry weight, ability of germination, desiccation tolerance, vigor and longevity. In addition, we monitored temperature and precipitation throughout plant growth. We demonstrate that the physiological quality of peanut seeds is acquired during development, with a maximum between 57 and 76 days after flowering in the late stage of maturation. This final period represents about 25% of the development, considered the best time to harvest peanut seeds with the highest quality. Our findings also support the idea that the adequate proportion of rainfall and thermal sum in the maternal environment are factors that favor the acquisition of peanut seed longevity.

Effects of cowpea mild mottle virus on soybean cultivars in Brazil.

Soybean stem necrosis is caused by cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV), transmitted by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. CPMMV has already been recorded in all major soybean-producing areas of Brazil. The impacts caused by CPMMV to the current Brazilian soybean production are unknown, thus the main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CPMMV infection on the main important soybean cultivars grown in the Southern and Midwestern regions of Brazil. Although asymptomatic in some of the tested cultivars, CPMMV infection significantly reduced the plant height, the number of pods per plant and the 1,000-grain weight. In addition, estimated yield losses ranged from 174 to 638 kg ha-1, depending on the cultivar. Evidence of seed transmission of CPMMV was observed in the BMX POTÊNCIA RR cultivar. These results suggest that CPMMV could have an important role in the reduction of soybean productivity in Brazil, but symptomless infections might be hiding the actual impact of this pathogen in commercial fields and infected seeds could be the primary inoculum source of the virus in the field.

Traceability of animal protein byproducts in ruminants by multivariate analysis of isotope ratio mass spectrometry to prevent transmission of prion diseases.

BACKGROUND: Ruminant feed containing animal byproduct proteins (ABPs) is prohibited in many countries due to its risk of transmitting prion diseases (PD). In most cases the entire herd is sacrificed, which causes great harm to the producer countries by preventing their exportation of ruminant derived-products. METHODS: We used stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) to trace the animal protein in the blood of 15 buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) divided into three experimental groups: 1 - received only vegetable protein (VP) during 117 days; 2 - received animal and vegetable protein (AVP); and 3 - received animal and vegetable protein with animal protein subsequently removed (AVPR). Groups 2 and 3 received diets containing 13.7% bovine meat and bone meal (MBM) added to a vegetable diet (from days 21-117 in the AVP group and until day 47 in the AVPR group, when MBM was removed). RESULTS: On the 36th day, differences were detectable in the feeding profile (p <0.01) among the three experimental groups, which remained for a further 49 days (85th day). The AVPR group showed isotopic rate reversibility on the 110th day by presenting values similar to those in the control group (VP) (p> 0.05), indicating that it took 63 days to eliminate MBM in this group. Total atoms exchange (> 95%) of 13C and 15N was observed through incorporation of the diet into the AVP and AVPR groups. CONCLUSIONS: IRMS is an accurate and sensitive technique for tracing the feeding profile of ruminants through blood analysis, thus enabling investigation of ABP use.

Traceability of animal protein byproducts in ruminants by multivariate analysis of isotope ratio mass spectrometry to prevent transmission of prion diseases

Ruminant feed containing animal byproduct proteins (ABPs) is prohibited in many countries due to its risk of transmitting prion diseases (PD). In most cases the entire herd is sacrificed, which causes great harm to the producer countries by preventing their exportation of ruminant derived-products. Methods: We used stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) of carbon (13C/12C) and nitrogen (15N/14N) to trace the animal protein in the blood of 15 buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) divided into three experimental groups: 1 - received only vegetable protein (VP) during 117 days; 2 - received animal and vegetable protein (AVP); and 3 - received animal and vegetable protein with animal protein subsequently removed (AVPR). Groups 2 and 3 received diets containing 13.7% bovine meat and bone meal (MBM) added to a vegetable diet (from days 21-117 in the AVP group and until day 47 in the AVPR group, when MBM was removed). Results: On the 36th day, differences were detectable in the feeding profile (p <0.01) among the three experimental groups, which remained for a further 49 days (85th day). The AVPR group showed isotopic rate reversibility on the 110th day by presenting values similar to those in the control group (VP) (p> 0.05), indicating that it took 63 days to eliminate MBM in this group. Total atoms exchange (> 95%) of 13C and 15N was observed through incorporation of the diet into the AVP and AVPR groups. Conclusions: IRMS is an accurate and sensitive technique for tracing the feeding profile of ruminants through blood analysis, thus enabling investigation of ABP use. enabling investigation of ABP use.(AU)

The under-reporting of energy intake influences the dietary pattern reported by obese women in the waiting list for bariatric surgery / A subnotificação do consumo energético influencia os resultados de padrão alimentar relatado por mulheres obesas na fila de espera para cirurgia bariátrica

ABSTRACT Objective To verify the interference of the energy intake under-reporting in the determination of the dietary patterns and nutrient intakes reported by obese women in the waiting list for bariatric surgery. Methods The study included 412 women aged 20 to 45 years with a body mass index ranging from 35 to 60kg/m2 who were on waiting list for bariatric surgery. Data from three reported food intake and physical activity, body weight, and height were used for estimating the reported energy intake, physical activity level, and resting energy expenditure. Subsequently, it was checked the biological plausibility of the reported energy intakes, classifying all participants as plausible reporters or under-reporters. Exploratory factor analysis was used to determine the participants' dietary patterns. The Mann-Whitney test assessed the reported energy and nutrient intakes between plausible reporters and under-reporters groups. The Z-test assessed the variables of plausible reporters or under-reporters in relation to all participants of the study. Results Six dietary patterns were determined for all participants of study. After excluding information from under-reporting women, only two dietary patterns remained similar to those of all participants, while three other dietary patterns presented different conformations from food subgroups to plausible reporters. The reported energy intake did not present difference for the subgroups of fruits, leaf vegetables and vegetables. However, the energetic value reported for the other food subgroups was higher for the plausible reporters. Conclusion The under-reporting of energy intake influenced the determination of dietary patterns of obese women waiting for bariatric surgery.

RESUMO Objetivo Esta pesquisa buscou verificar a interferência da subnotificação do consumo energético na determinação do padrão alimentar e consumo de nutrientes, relatados por mulheres obesas na fila de espera para cirurgia bariátrica. Métodos Participaram do estudo 412 mulheres com idade entre 20 e 45 anos e índice de massa corporal entre 35 e 60 kg/m2, que aguardavam na fila de espera de cirurgia bariátrica. Foram utilizadas informações de três registros do consumo alimentar, da atividade física de 24 horas e do peso corporal e altura, para estimativa da Ingestão Energética Relatada, Nível de Atividade Física e Gasto Energético de Repouso das participantes e subsequente verificação da plausibilidade biológica do consumo energético. As mulheres foram agrupadas em notificadoras plausíveis e subnotificadoras. A análise fatorial exploratória foi utilizada para classificar os padrões alimentares. Os valores relatados de energia e nutrientes entre os grupos de notificadoras plausíveis e subnotificadoras foram avaliados por meio do teste de Mann-Whitney. O Teste de hipótese Z avaliou as variáveis das notificadoras plausíveis ou subnotificadoras em relação a todas as participantes do estudo. Resultados Seis padrões alimentares foram determinados para todas as participantes do estudo. Após excluir as informações das mulheres subnotificadoras, apenas dois padrões alimentares mantiveram-se similares aos de todas as participantes, ao passo que outros três padrões alimentares apresentaram diferentes conformações de subgrupos alimentares para as notificadoras plausíveis. A ingestão energética relatada não apresentou diferença para os subgrupos das frutas, hortaliças e legumes. Porém, o valor energético relatado para os demais subgrupos alimentares foi maior para as notificadoras plausíveis. Conclusão A subnotificação do consumo energético influenciou a determinação de padrões alimentares de mulheres obesas na lista de espera para cirurgia bariátrica.

Quantification of soy protein using the isotope method (δ(13)C and δ(15)N) for commercial brands of beef hamburger.

Hamburgers (beef patties) may be adulterated through the overuse of protein extenders. Among vegetables, soy protein is the best substitute for animal protein. These ingredients help to reduce the cost of producing a final product, and they maximize profits for fraudulent industries. Moreover, the ingestion of soy or other non-meat proteins by allergic individuals may present a health risk. In addition, monitoring by supervisory bodies is hampered by a lack of appropriate analytical methodologies. Within this context, the aim of this study was to determine and quantify the levels of added soy protein by determination of (15)N and (13)C stable isotopes. A total of 100 beef hamburger samples from 10 commercial brands were analyzed. Only three samples of the G brand were within the standards set the Brazilian legislation. The remaining 97 samples from 10 commercial brands contained >4% soy protein; therefore, they are adulterated and not in compliance with the current legislation.

Effect of Glutamine, Glutamic Acid and Nucleotides on the Turnover of Carbon (δ(13)C) in Organs of Weaned Piglets.

Morphological and physiological alterations occur in the digestive system of weanling piglets, compromising the performance in subsequent phases. This experiment aimed at verifying the influence of glutamine, glutamate and nucleotides on the carbon turnover in the pancreas and liver of piglets weaned at 21 days of age. Four diets were evaluated: glutamine, glutamic acid or nucleotides-free diet (CD); containing 1% glutamine (GD); containing 1% glutamic acid (GAD) and containing 1% nucleotides (ND). One hundred and twenty-three piglets were utilized with three pigs slaughtered at day zero (weaning day) and three at each one of the experimental days (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 13, 20, 27, and 49 post-weaning), in order to collect organ samples, which were analyzed for the δ(13)C isotopic composition and compared by means of time. No differences were found (p>0.05) among treatments for the turnover of the (13)C in the pancreas (T50% = 13.91, 14.37, 11.07, and 9.34 days; T95% = 46.22, 47.73, 36.79, and 31.04 days for CD, GD, GAD, and ND, respectively). In the liver, the ND presented accelerated values of carbon turnover (T50% = 7.36 and T95% = 24.47 days) in relation to the values obtained for the GD (T50% = 10.15 and T95% = 33.74 days). However, the values obtained for the CD (T50% = 9.12 and T95% = 30.31 days) and GAD (T50% = 7.83 and T95% = 26.03 days) had no differences (p>0.05) among other diets. The technique of (13)C isotopic dilution demonstrated trophic action of nucleotides in the liver.

Avaliação da qualidade higienicossanitária de hambúrgueres bovinos de marcas comerciais brasileiras / Evaluation higienic sanitary quality beef burgers sold in Brazil

O hambúrguer é um produto cárneo industrializado e potencial veículo de bactérias produtoras ou não de toxinas nas diversas fases de seu processamento, desde sua origem até as fases de transformação, armazenagem, transporte e distribuição para o consumo. Dentro deste contexto, o objetivo do trabalho foi a avaliação do aspecto higienicossanitário dos hambúrgueres bovinos comercializados no Brasil. Foram analisadas 110 amostras de hambúrgueres de carne bovina de 11 marcas comerciais brasileiras segundo a metodologia microbiológica descrita pela Instrução Normativa n° 62 de 26 de agosto de 2003. Todas as 11 marcas comerciais brasileiras apresentaram contagem bacteriana dentro do limite (5x103 UFC/g) para Coliformes a 45°C, enquanto os valores para Staphylococcus coagulase positiva estavam acima dos padrões permitidos (5x103 UFC/g) na marca H (amostras 1 e 7). As marcas B (amostra 5), D (amostra 5), E (amostra 5) e G (amostra 4) também apresentaram contagens acima do estipulado (3x103 UFC/g) para Clostridium sulfito redutor a 46°C e a amostra 6 da marca L foi positiva para Salmonella Infantis.

Estresse, depressão e percepção de suporte familiar em estudantes de educação profissionalizante / Stress, depression, and perception of family support in technical school students

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o estresse, o indicativo da depressão e a percepção do suporte familiar em estudantes de educação profissionalizante. Participaram 200 estudantes, os quais responderam ao Inventário de Sintomas de Stresspara Adultos de Lipp, ao Inventário de Depressão de Beck e ao Inventário de Percepção de Suporte Familiar. Os resultados mostraram que 61,0% apresentaram estresse; 28,5% indicativos de depressão; e 55,5% avaliaram seu suporte familiar em níveis médio-baixo e baixo. Observou-se a existência de correlação positiva entre estresse e depressão e negativa entre depressão e suporte familiar. Os achados sinalizam a importância de investimentos das políticas públicas em Psicologia, seja na área social ou educacional.(AU)

This study aimed to investigate the stress, the level of depression, and perception of family support in technical school students. Two-hundred students responded to the following instruments: Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults, Beck Depression Inventory, and Perception of Family Support Inventory. The results showed that stress was detected in 61.0% of the students evaluated, depression was detected in 28.5%, and 55.5% rated their family support levels as medium-low and low. There was positive a correlation between depression and stress and a negative correlation between depression and family support. These findings suggest the importance of investments public policies on Psychology in both social and educational areas.(AU)

Estresse, depressão e percepção de suporte familiar em estudantes de educação profissionalizante / Stress, depression, and perception of family support in technical school students

Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o estresse, o indicativo da depressão e a percepção do suporte familiar em estudantes de educação profissionalizante. Participaram 200 estudantes, os quais responderam ao Inventário de Sintomas de Stress para Adultos de Lipp, ao Inventário de Depressão de Beck e ao Inventário de Percepção de Suporte Familiar. Os resultados mostraram que 61,0% apresentaram estresse; 28,5% indicativos de depressão; e 55,5% avaliaram seu suporte familiar em níveis médio-baixo e baixo. Observou-se a existência de correlação positiva entre estresse e depressão e negativa entre depressão e suporte familiar. Os achados sinalizam a importância de investimentos das políticas públicas em Psicologia, seja na área social ou educacional.

This study aimed to investigate the stress, the level of depression, and perception of family support in technical school students. Two-hundred students responded to the following instruments: Lipp's Stress Symptoms Inventory for Adults, Beck Depression Inventory, and Perception of Family Support Inventory. The results showed that stress was detected in 61.0% of the students evaluated, depression was detected in 28.5%, and 55.5% rated their family support levels as medium-low and low. There was positive a correlation between depression and stress and a negative correlation between depression and family support. These findings suggest the importance of investments public policies on Psychology in both social and educational areas.

Analysis of metabolic pools in broilers chicks.

This paper shows the possibility of obtaining new parameters for the mathematical modelling of data on stable isotopes in biological systems and its application in obtaining data on metabolic pools of blood plasma, blood serum, liver and muscle of broilers. This theory states that the modelling of turnover used for studies of isotopic incorporation when the metabolism has a single metabolic pool is feasible by the technique of setting an exponential. However, when the metabolism has more than one metabolic pool, it is necessary to apply the linearization technique, linear regression adjustment and evaluation of the assumptions of regression to obtain the kinetic parameters such as half-life (T1/2) and isotope exchange rate (k). The application of this technique on carbon-13 data from 100 one-day-old chicks, with the change of diet composed of grains of the photosynthetic cycle of plants from C4 to C3, in broilers has enabled the discovery that the liver, blood plasma and blood serum have a single metabolic pool; however, the pectoral muscle has two metabolic pools. For the liver, blood plasma and blood serum, the half-life values were found by the exponential fit being T1/2 = 1.4 days with the rate of exchange of k = 0.502, T1/2 = 2.4 days with k = 0.293 and T1/2 = 2.0 days with k = 0.348, respectively. For the pectoral muscle, after linearization, the half-life values were found for T1/2(1) = 1.7 and T1/2(2) = 3 days, with exchange rates of k1 = 0.405 and k2 = 0.235, representing approximately 66 and 34%, respectively.

Does the rattle of Crotalus durissus terrificus reveal its dietary history?

BACKGROUND: Environmental devastation threatens the survival of many species, including venomous snakes such as the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. This observation is based on the decrease of snakes collected and donated to Brazilian research institutes. Nevertheless, some individuals have managed to survive and procreate. The question is how these snakes are adapting in these new environmental conditions. METHODS: To answer it, the carbon-13 level of rattlesnakes and their feed (either laboratory or wild mice) was evaluated by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Thus, rattle segments from 16 adults and 15 offspring of captive snakes, and of three wild newborn C. d. terrificus were evaluated as well as 17 Mus musculus mice captured in traps, four live feeder mice and the ration offered to mice at animal houses. RESULTS: The isotopic exchange time of the captive adult snakes (n = 16) varied between 33 and 37 months and of captive-born animals (n = 15), until reaching a plateau of equilibrium, varied from 18 to 24 months. Regarding the captured Mus musculus (n = 17), 88.23% (n = 15) were from a C4 environment. Of the six rattle rings from offspring of captured C. d. terrificus, five were from a C4 environment, whereas of the 170 rattle rings studied, 60% originated from a C3 environment and 40% from a C4. The same carbon-13 values were found in captive snakes. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the present results, it can be inferred that most C. d. terrificus snakes (60%) fed animals from a C3 environment; birds consist of an alimentary alternative for snakes, as well as rodents, small reptiles and amphibians; different venom compositions among snakes from the same region may be related to the food type; the primary rattle of offspring reflects the maternal diet during gestation; and, finally, the different rattle rings indicate the alimentary history of these animals.

Non-specific immune parameters and physiological response of Nile tilapia fed ß-glucan and vitamin C for different periods and submitted to stress and bacterial challenge.

This study attempts to describe the effects of different administration periods of dietary ß-glucan and Vit C on the non-specific immune response, physiological parameters and disease resistance of Nile tilapia against Aeromonas hydrophila infection. Therefore, a feeding trial (288 fish) was conducted to determine the best administration period (7, 15, 30 and 45 days) for a Nile tilapia diet supplemented with 0.1% ß-glucan and 600 mg Vit C/kg diet. After the administration period, three different groups of 96 fish were exposed to one of the following three stresses: cold-induced stress, transport-induced stress, and A. hydrophila challenge. Hematological, biochemical and immunological responses were analyzed before and/or after stress. Cold-induced stress increased cortisol levels and reduced the leukocyte count in fish fed the test diet for seven days compared with the other periods. After transport-induced stress, fish fed the test diet for seven days required more hours to return to the baseline levels of cortisol and neutrophils. Moreover, independently of the administration period, fish needed 24 h for leukocyte and glucose levels to return to the initial values. The lowest survival after bacterial infection was observed in fish test diet for seven days. Based on fish hematological and biochemical responses, diet supplemented with 0.1% of ß-glucan and 600 mg of Vit C/kg fed for at least 15 days is recommended for Nile tilapia especially when fish are likely to encounter transport-induced stress, and this stress was more severe than cold-induced stress or bacterial challenge.

Does the rattle of Crotalus durissus terrificus reveal its dietary history?

Background Environmental devastation threatens the survival of many species, including venomous snakes such as the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. This observation is based on the decrease of snakes collected and donated to Brazilian research institutes. Nevertheless, some individuals have managed to survive and procreate. The question is how these snakes are adapting in these new environmental conditions.Methods To answer it, the carbon-13 level of rattlesnakes and their feed (either laboratory or wild mice) was evaluated by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Thus, rattle segments from 16 adults and 15 offspring of captive snakes, and of three wild newborn C. d. terrificus were evaluated as well as 17 Mus musculus mice captured in traps, four live feeder mice and the ration offered to mice at animal houses.Results The isotopic exchange time of the captive adult snakes (n = 16) varied between 33 and 37 months and of captive-born animals (n = 15), until reaching a plateau of equilibrium, varied from 18 to 24 months. Regarding the captured Mus musculus (n = 17), 88.23% (n = 15) were from a C4 environment. Of the six rattle rings from offspring of captured C. d. terrificus, five were from a C4environment, whereas of the 170 rattle rings studied, 60% originated from a C3 environment and 40% from a C4. The same carbon-13 values were found in captive snakes.Conclusions Based on the present results, it can be inferred that most C. d. terrificus snakes (60%) fed animals from a C3environment; birds consist of an alimentary alternative for snakes, as well as rodents, small reptiles and amphibians; different venom compositions among snakes from the same region may be related to the food type; the primary rattle of offspring reflects the maternal diet during gestation; and, finally, the different rattle rings indicate the alimentary history of these animals.(AU)

Does the rattle of Crotalus durissus terrificus reveal its dietary history?

Background Environmental devastation threatens the survival of many species, including venomous snakes such as the South American rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. This observation is based on the decrease of snakes collected and donated to Brazilian research institutes. Nevertheless, some individuals have managed to survive and procreate. The question is how these snakes are adapting in these new environmental conditions.Methods To answer it, the carbon-13 level of rattlesnakes and their feed (either laboratory or wild mice) was evaluated by isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Thus, rattle segments from 16 adults and 15 offspring of captive snakes, and of three wild newborn C. d. terrificus were evaluated as well as 17 Mus musculus mice captured in traps, four live feeder mice and the ration offered to mice at animal houses.Results The isotopic exchange time of the captive adult snakes (n = 16) varied between 33 and 37 months and of captive-born animals (n = 15), until reaching a plateau of equilibrium, varied from 18 to 24 months. Regarding the captured Mus musculus (n = 17), 88.23% (n = 15) were from a C4 environment. Of the six rattle rings from offspring of captured C. d. terrificus, five were from a C4environment, whereas of the 170 rattle rings studied, 60% originated from a C3 environment and 40% from a C4. The same carbon-13 values were found in captive snakes.Conclusions Based on the present results, it can be inferred that most C. d. terrificus snakes (60%) fed animals from a C3environment; birds consist of an alimentary alternative for snakes, as well as rodents, small reptiles and amphibians; different venom compositions among snakes from the same region may be related to the food type; the primary rattle of offspring reflects the maternal diet during gestation; and, finally, the different rattle rings indicate the alimentary history of these animals.

Relações entre proeminência facial nas fotos do Orkut e o perfil dos usuários / Relationship between facil prominense of Orkut's photos and the users' profile

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar a existência de relação entre o índice de proeminência facial (IPF) e o perfil de 600 usuários do Orkut. Os resultados mostraram que, em todos os segmentos avaliados, a média do IPF masculino foi superior ao feminino; as mulheres aumentam a proeminência enquanto os homens diminuem com a idade e mulheres com ensino superior apresentam maior proeminência do que as de ensino médio. Diferenças significativas também foram encontradas nas categorias de humor ao comparar o IPF entre os sexos e entre pessoas de mesmo sexo. Em síntese, os resultados indicam que fatores determinantes do IPF apresentado no Orkut provavelmente estão relacionados tanto a aspectos biológicos como culturais.

This research aimed to verify the relation between facial prominence index (FPI) and the profile of 600 users of Orkut. The results demonstrated that in all evaluated segments the average of male facial prominence was higher than the female; women increase the prominence while men decrease it as they become older and university graduates women have presented higher prominence than high school graduates. Significant differences were also found in the categories of humor when comparing the FPI between the genders and between persons of the same gender. In summary, the results indicate that the determinant factors for the facial prominence presented at Orkut are probably related to both biological and cultural aspects.