Universal Forest Products

About: Universal Forest Products is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 1765 authors who have published 1391 publications receiving 8421 citations.

Expression of the Zinc Transporters Genes and Metallothionein in Obese Women

Abstract: Research has investigated the participation of zinc transport proteins and metallothionein in the metabolism of this mineral. However, studies about the genetic expression of these proteins in obese patients are scarce. The study determined the expression of zinc transporter protein codifying genes (ZnT-1, Zip-1 and Zip-3) and of metallothionein in 55 obese women, aged between 20 and 56 years. The assessment of body composition was carried out using anthropometric measurements and bioelectrical impedance. Zinc intake was obtained by recording diet over a 3-day period, and the nutritional analysis was carried out using NutWin software version 1.5. The plasmatic and erythrocytary zinc were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (λ = 213. 9 nm). The determination of mRNA expression of the zinc transporter proteins and metallothionein was carried out using blood, using the RT-PCR method. The mean values of body mass index were 37.9 ± 5.5 kg/m2. The average intake of zinc was 9.4 ± 2.3 mg/day. The analysis of the zinc plasma concentrations showed values of 58.4 ± 10.9 μg/dL. The mean values of zinc in the erythroytes were 38.7 ± 9.1 μg/g Hb. The metallothionein gene had a higher expression in the blood, when compared to zinc transporters ZnT-1, Zip-1, and Zip-3 (p = 0.01). The study shows that there are alterations in the biochemical parameters of zinc in obese patients assessed, as well as higher expression of the codifying gene metallothionein, when compared to the investigated zinc transporters.

Available phosphorus levels in diets for swine from 15 to 30 kg genetically selected for meat deposition

Abstract: With the objective to evaluate available phosphorus levels in diets for swine genetically selected for meat deposition, sixty commercial hybrid pigs were used, being 30 castrate males and 30 females, with initial weight of 15.00 ± 0.41 kg, distributed in a completely randomized experimental design, with six treatments, five replications and two animals (1 male and 1 female) per experimental unit. The treatments were composed of a basal diet and other five diets obtained through basal diet supplementation with dicalcium phosphate to obtain six AP levels (0.114; 0.221; 0.328; 0.435; 0.542 and 0.649%). The available phosphorus levels promoted a linear increase in the daily feed intake. Daily weight gain and feed conversion showed a quadratic behavior according to AP levels, with the maximum response at 0.509 and 0.477% of AP in the diet, respectively. Bone strength and bone calcium and phosphorus contents also presented a quadratic behavior according to AP levels, with maximum response at 0.529; 0.619 and 0.596% of AP levels in the diet, respectively. There was no effect of the AP levels in the diets on the bone ash content. The best weight gain and feed conversion observe for castrated male and female pigs from 15 to 30 kg, genetically selected for meat deposition, is provided by 0.509 and 0.477% of available phosphorus levels, respectively, corresponding to daily intakes of 6.39 and 5.93 grams of available phosphorus.

Adubação orgânica e intensidade luminosa no crescimento e desenvolvimento inicial da Pitaya em Bom Jesus-PI

Abstract: A pitaya e uma cactacea de sub-bosque, originaria de florestas tropicais do Mexico e das Americas Central e do Sul, pouco estudada no Brasil, principalmente quanto a sua resposta a intensidade luminosa e adubacao. Nesse sentido, realizou-se um experimento objetivando avaliar crescimento e desenvolvimento inicial da pitaya em funcao da intensidade luminosa e adubacao orgânica. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos casualizados, com tratamentos distribuidos em esquema fatorial 5 x 3, referentes, respectivamente, aos niveis de adubacao orgânica (0; 5; 10; 20 e 30 L de esterco bovino cova-1) e aos percentuais de luz (0; 50 e 75% de sombreamento), com quatro repeticoes. Foram avaliados semanalmente diâmetro do cladodio (mm), altura de estacas (cm) e comprimento do ramo secundario (cm); ao final do experimento, massa fresca da parte aerea e massas secas de raiz e parte aerea (g), sendo que para as variaveis mensuradas, semanalmente, foram calculados os respectivos incrementos percentuais semanais. Segundo os resultados do presente trabalho, no cultivo da pitaya, e necessario o uso de cobertura contra a incidencia direta dos raios solares, onde as estruturas com 50% ou 75% de luminosidade podem ser usadas. O fornecimento de 20 L cova-1 de esterco bovino pode ser adotado como quantitativo no preparo de covas de pitaya, nas condicoes de clima e solo de Bom Jesus-PI.

Utilização da Água de Coco como Diluidor de Sêmen de Caprinos e Ovinos

Abstract: A composicao fisico-quimica da agua de coco proveniente de frutos de seis meses de maturacao, variedades anao e praia, bem como seus efeitos sobre a fertilidade "in vitro" e "in vivo" do semen caprino e ovino, foi estudada e avaliada. A variedade coco verde da praia mostra uma maior eficiencia quanti-qualitativa de acucares, do proprio volume da agua e do albumen. Apos a analise das duas variedades, processou-se a ultrafiltracao bioquimica da agua de coco, identificando-se, atraves de uma coluna de Sephadex (G25 e G 50), tres piques denominados I (A), II (B) e III (C). Referidos piques foram testados "in vitro" sobre espermatozoides de caprinos e ovinos coletados atraves de vagina artificial. Os testes foram realizados, apos fracoes do semen serem diluidas em agua de coco "in natura" ou em sua fracao ativa, denominada "JYP" (acido 3 indol-acetico), isolada tambem da propria agua de coco. Os resultados "in vitro" obtidos atraves do teste de termo-resistencia, as temperaturas de incubacao +37°C ou +4°C, evidenciaram maiores valores para a motilidade progressiva individual (MIP) e a porcentagem de espermatozoides moveis quando o semen foi diluido em agua de coco ou suas fracoes ativas, inclusive sua molecula, comparados ao diluidor a base de leite descremado glicosado. Os testes "in vivo" foram realizados atraves de inseminacao artificial de femeas caprinas e ovinas. A fertilidade de cabras com semen diluido em agua de coco sempre foi superior aquela obtida com a diluicao em leite. As fracoes ativas mostraram maiores taxas de paricao e prolificidade comparadas ao diluidor leite. Conclui-se que a agua de coco e suas fracoes ativas podem ser utilizadas como diluidor do semen caprino e ovino, pois prolongam a sobrevivencia das celulas espermaticas de ambas as especies, incrementando ainda a eficiencia reprodutiva dos rebanhos de pequenos ruminantes.

A thin PANI and carrageenan–gold nanoparticle film on a flexible gold electrode as a conductive and low-cost platform for sensing in a physiological environment

Abstract: In this work, we report the production of a layer-by-layer (LbL) film of gold nanoparticles stabilized with carrageenan (carr-AuNPs) interspersed with a conductive polyaniline (PANI) layer. Conventionally, PANI has poor electroactivity in physiological buffers, limiting its using in electrochemical biosensors. The films were prepared on low cost and easy to manufacture flexible gold electrodes (FEAu). Two adsorption sequences were tested for production of the films—PANI/carr-AuNP and carr-AuNP/PANI. The gold nanoparticle size and colloidal stability were characterized. The films were characterized by cyclic voltammetry, UV–visible spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The results showed the synergistic effects of the carr-AuNPs (120 nm) and PANI, which improved both the electrochemical response and the stability of the conductive polymer in physiological medium by three times. The presence of the carr-AuNPs in the film caused a significant increase in roughness of the FEAu-modified electrode compared to that of an unmodified electrode, resulting in an increased active electrode area. Studies of film growth by UV–Vis spectroscopy indicated that the deposition mechanisms of both films involved an auto-regulating adsorption process, with the same amount of material adsorbed in each coating step. The PANI/carr-AUNP film showed considerable improvement in stability and conductivity compared to PANI-only films in the physiological environment, which confers advantages for use as a biosensor.