Showing papers by "Universidade Estadual de Londrina published in 2004"
TL;DR: The evidence that various cellular and molecular immunological factors are compromised in chronic stress and depression is overviewed and the clinical implications of these factors in the initiation and progression of cancer are discussed.
Abstract: The links between the psychological and physiological features of cancer risk and progression have been studied through psychoneuroimmunology. The persistent activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the chronic stress response and in depression probably impairs the immune response and contributes to the development and progression of some types of cancer. Here, we overview the evidence that various cellular and molecular immunological factors are compromised in chronic stress and depression and discuss the clinical implications of these factors in the initiation and progression of cancer. The consecutive stages of the multistep immune reactions are either inhibited or enhanced as a result of previous or parallel stress experiences, depending on the type and intensity of the stressor and on the animal species, strain, sex, or age. In general, both stressors and depression are associated with the decreased cytotoxic T-cell and natural-killer-cell activities that affect processes such as immune surveillance of tumours, and with the events that modulate development and accumulation of somatic mutations and genomic instability. A better understanding of the bidirectional communication between the neuroendocrine and immune systems could contribute to new clinical and treatment strategies.
1,100 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, Yam starch films were obtained by casting and the effect of different film thicknesses and concentrations of glycerol (1.30, 1.65 and 2.00% w/w) were evaluated.
308 citations
TL;DR: P. lineatus exposed to both lead concentrations presented a "classical general adaptation syndrome to stress", as hyperglycemia associated with lowered lipids and proteins was reported, and stress-response magnitude was dose-dependent.
Abstract: The present study investigated lead effects on gill morphology, hematocrit, blood sodium, glucose, lipids, protein, and cholesterol of Prochilodus lineatus exposed to two sublethal lead concentrations for 96 h. Preliminary series of short-term static toxicity tests were run to determine LC50 (96 h) of lead in P. lineatus, which was 95 mg Pb.L-1. Therefore, lead concentrations tested in the sublethal experiments were 24 and 71 mg Pb.L-1, which correspond to 25% and 75% of the LC50 (96 h), respectively. Gills of P. lineatus exposed to both lead concentrations during 96 h presented a higher occurrence of histopathological lesions such as epithelial lifting, hyperplasia, and lamellar aneurism. P. lineatus did not show significant alterations in hematocrit during exposure to both lead concentrations. Fish exposed to the highest lead concentration showed a significant decrease in Na+ plasma concentration after 48 h, possibly reflecting a sodium influx rate decrease. P. lineatus exposed to both lead concentrations presented a "classical general adaptation syndrome to stress", as hyperglycemia associated with lowered lipids and proteins was reported. Stress-response magnitude was dose-dependent. While the response to the lowest lead concentration might represent adaptation, the highest concentration seems to characterize exhaustion.
237 citations
TL;DR: Assessment of mutagenic potential of tributyltin (TBT) and inorganic lead (PbII) using samples of the fish Hoplias malabaricus using the comet assay and the piscine micronucleus and chromosome aberration tests indicated that TBT and PbII are potentially Mutagenic.
Abstract: Genotoxicity studies on toxic metals and their organic compounds are very important, especially so in the investigation of the effects of these compounds on the aquatic environments where they tend to accumulate. The use of endemic aquatic organisms as biological sentinels has proved useful to environmental monitoring. We assessed the mutagenic potential of tributyltin (TBT) and inorganic lead (PbII) using samples of the fish Hoplias malabaricus (commonly called traira) using the comet assay and the piscine micronucleus and chromosome aberration tests. Eighteen H. malabaricus were acclimatized in three individual aquariums, each containing six fish, six fish being exposed to 0.3 mg/g of body weight (bw) of TBT, six to 21 mg/g bw of PbII and six being used as controls. Exposure to TBT and PbII was achieved by feeding the fish every five days with Astyanax (a small fish that is part of the normal diet of H. malabaricus) which had been injected with solutions of TBT, PbII or with water (the control group). After two months the H. malabaricus were sacrificed and their peripheral blood collected and subjected to the comet and micronucleus assays, the chromosome aberration assay being conducted using kidney-tissue. Although the comet assay showed now mutagenic effects at the lead concentrations used but encountered results with TBT, the micronucleus and chromosome aberrations assays both indicated that TBT and PbII are potentially mutagenic (p < 0.01), the micronucleus assay showing morphological alterations of the nucleus.
209 citations
TL;DR: Sera from seven horses and two dogs contained antibodies specific for R. rickettsii, and one dog serum had antibodies against a Rickettsia species very closely related to R. africae, which may have been caused by infection with the recently identified COOPERI strain.
Abstract: In serum samples obtained from all the healthy humans, horses, dogs, and donkeys present on three farms in the Pedreira Municipality, an endemic area for Brazilian spotted fever, an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) detected antibodies against Rickettsia rickettsii in 17 (77.3%) horses, 5 (31.3%) dogs (titers ranging from 64 to 4,048), and none of 4 donkeys or 50 humans. Five canine and eight equine sera with high antibody titers to R. rickettsii were also tested by IFA against R. bellii, R. akari, and R. africae antigens. Sera from two horses and two dogs that showed similar high antibody titers against two rickettsial antigens were evaluated after cross-absorption. Sera from seven horses and two dogs contained antibodies specific for R. rickettsii, and one dog serum had antibodies against a Rickettsia species very closely related to R. africae. The latter may have been caused by infection with the recently identified COOPERI strain.
161 citations
TL;DR: A Teoria da Autodeterminacao foi proposta com o objetivo de compreender os componentes da motivacao intrinseca e extrinseca and os fatores relacionados com a promocao.
Abstract: A Teoria da Autodeterminacao foi proposta com o objetivo de compreender os componentes da motivacao intrinseca e extrinseca e os fatores relacionados com a sua promocao. Nessa perspectiva, sao abordadas a personalidade e a motivacao humana, concentrando-se nas tendencias evolutivas, nas necessidades psicologicas inatas e nas condicoes contextuais favoraveis a motivacao, ao funcionamento social e ao bem estar pessoal. No contexto da pesquisa educacional, a motivacao intrinseca tem sido relacionada ao envolvimento dos alunos com as tarefas de aprendizagem, pela preferencia por desafios, persistencia, esforco, uso de estrategias de aprendizagem, entre outros resultados positivos. Partindo da Teoria da Autodeterminacao, este artigo tem como objetivos analisar os conceitos relativos a motivacao intrinseca, postulados nessa teoria, refletir sobre o papel do professor, mas especificamente sobre seu estilo na promocao desse padrao motivacional no aluno, bem como discutir as implicacoes educacionais deste tema.
145 citations
TL;DR: The use of a rollator improves walking distance of patients with COPD through an increased ventilatory capacity and/or better walking efficiency.
140 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the real potential of XRF technique for environmental analysis is evaluated on the basis of published papers, and the determination of heavy metal pollution in water is given for determination.
Abstract: The aim of the present review is to evaluate, on the basis of published papers, the real potential of XRF technique for environmental analysis. Special attention is given for the determination of heavy metal pollution in water. Results of numerous papers for various samples are presented. Some details of the technique and preconcentration methods employed are also discussed.
111 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an HPLC-based method was used for the determination of N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and AMK, two melatonin catabolites, have been described as potent antioxidants.
Abstract: N(1)-acetyl-N(2)-formyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AFMK) and N(1)-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine (AMK), two melatonin catabolites, have been described as potent antioxidants. We aimed to follow the kinetics of AFMK and AMK formation when melatonin is oxidized by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated leukocytes. An HPLC-based method was used for AFMK and AMK determination in neutrophil and peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures supernatants. Samples were separated isocratically on a C18 reverse-phase column using acetonitrile/H(2)O (25:75) as the mobile phase. AFMK was detected by fluorescence (excitation 340 nm and emission 460 nm) and AMK by UV-VIS absorbance (254 nm). Activation of neutrophils and mononuclear cells with PMA produces larger amounts of AFMK than activation with LPS, probably due to the lower levels of reactive oxygen species formation and myeloperoxidase (MPO) degranulation that occurs when cells are stimulated with LPS. The concentration of AMK found in the supernatant was about 5-10% (from 18-hr cultures) compared with AFMK. This result may reflect its reactivity. Indeed AMK, but not AFMK, is easily oxidized by activated neutrophils in a MPO and hydrogen peroxide-dependent reaction. In conclusion, we defined a simple procedure for the determination of AFMK and AMK in biological samples and demonstrated the capacity of leukocytes to oxidize melatonin and AMK.
103 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the apparent diffusion coefficients for sucrose, NaCl and water during osmotic dehydration of tomatoes in ternary solutions were determined, and simple regression models as functions of solutes concentration were determined for diffusion coefficients.
102 citations
TL;DR: The physical, molecular, and functional properties of corn, cassava, and yam starches were related to the film properties of these starches as discussed by the authors, and the physical properties of the starches are related to their film properties.
Abstract: The physical, molecular, and functional properties of corn, cassava, and yam starches were related to the film properties of these starches. Corn, cassava, and yam starches contained 25%, 19%, and 30% amylose, respectively. Amylose from yam starch showed the smallest molecular weight among the starches and amylopectin from corn starch the smallest molecular weight. Cassava starch presented a higher amylopectin content, and its gels and films were less strong, more transparent, and more flexible than corn and yam films. Plasticized films of the three starches were more flexible, with a higher strain and lower stress at break when the glycerol content increased. Unplasticized films were brittle and had water vapor permeability values ranging from 6.75 x 10(-10) to 8.33 x 10(-10) g m(-1) s(-1) Pa(-1). These values decreased when the glycerol content reached 20 g/100 g of starch because a more compact structure was formed. Then, at a glycerol content of 40 g/100 g of starch, the WVP increased because the film matrixes became less dense.
TL;DR: Several other mechanisms are discussed that could produce peptides with a greater proportion of amino acids with uncharged R groups than precursors with charged R groups.
Abstract: Minerals more readily adsorb amino acids with charged R groups than uncharged R groups, so that the incorporation of amino acids with charged R groups into peptides would be more frequent than for amino acids with uncharged R groups. However, 74% of the amino acids in the proteins of modern organisms contain uncharged R groups. Thus, what could have been the mechanisms that produced peptides/proteins with more amino acids with uncharged R groups than precursors with charged R groups? Should we expect the composition of amino acids adsorbed on minerals to be similar to those of present proteins? Was the adsorption of amino acids on minerals important for the origin of life? The lipid world offers an alternative view of origin of life. Liposomes contributed to elongation of peptides as well as select hydrophobic amino acids and peptides. These experiments could be showing the mechanism, which hydrophobic amino acids have been selected. However, liposomes have no influence on the stereoselectivity in the oligomerization of amino acids. In the present paper, several other mechanisms are also discussed that could produce peptides with a greater proportion of amino acids with uncharged R groups.
TL;DR: In this article, a farinha de yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia) and a inulina (Polynia alimentarula) were used as ingredients for a bolo padrao de chocolate.
Abstract: Novos ingredientes tem sido investigados para que possam atender as exigencias do mercado consumidor atual que deseja produtos com qualidade sensorial e nutricional associada a beneficios para a saude. Os frutooligossacarideos (FOS) presentes no yacon (Polymnia sonchifolia), e a inulina apresentam propriedades promotoras de saude (fibra alimentar e efeito prebiotico) e podem melhorar aspectos sensoriais em alimentos. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos utilizar a inulina e/ou farinha de yacon como ingredientes do bolo de chocolate. Os bolos obtidos das formulacoes padrao (P), da formulacao (A) contendo a farinha de trigo substituida em 20% por farinha de yacon e da formulacao (B) contendo a farinha de trigo substituida em 40% por farinha de yacon e em 6% por inulina, foram avaliados quanto as suas propriedades quimicas e fisicas, preferencia e estabilidade de armazenamento em relacao ao bolo padrao de chocolate. Os bolos das formulacoes A e B apresentaram propriedades quimicas, fisicas, preferencia e estabilidade comparaveis ao da formulacao padrao. Como vantagens, apresentaram menores valores de dureza, maiores teores em fibra alimentar total (12,35% e 23,6%) em relacao ao P (9,02%). O valor calorico foi semelhante (2,09kal para A) e menor (1,62kal para B) que do padrao (2,13kcal), alem da presenca de frutooligossacarideos e ou inulina. Portanto, a farinha de yacon e inulina podem ser utilizadas como ingredientes para formular bolo de chocolate, fornecendo produtos com caracteristicas que atendem as exigencias do mercado consumidor.
TL;DR: Results show that H. malabaricus is a useful biological model for screening the clastogenic effects of lead and possibly other xenobiotics, and illustrates the need to investigate the potential effects of heavy metals on fish species in South America.
Abstract: The effects of clastogenic or mutagenic agents have rarely been studied in neotropical fish species exposed to contaminated water. In this study, the genetic damage caused by lead in the widely distributed South American fish, Hoplias malabaricus, was assessed using the comet (SCGE) assay and by testing for chromosomal aberrations. Eighteen specimens were acclimatized to laboratory conditions and then chronically exposed to contaminated food by feeding prey (Cyprinus sp.) injected intraperitoneally with doses of inorganic lead adjusted to give a contamination level of 21 mg of Pb2+.g-1 net weight of H. malabaricus. Three fish were sampled for chromosomal analysis after four doses (18 days) and another three after eight doses (41 days) of lead and the results then compared with three untreated controls kept under lead-free conditions. An additional six treated fish and three controls were sampled for the comet assay after 13 doses (64 days). Exposure to lead significantly increased the frequency of chromosomal aberrations and the frequency of tailed cell nuclei, the latter indicating DNA damage. These results show that H. malabaricus is a useful biological model for screening the clastogenic effects of lead and possibly other xenobiotics. The genetic damage seen here illustrates the need to investigate the potential effects of heavy metals on fish species in South America.
TL;DR: To determine the prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies and associated factors, blood sera from 623 female dairy cattle from 23 farms in the north of the state of Paraná, Brazil, were analyzed by means of the indirect immunofluorescent-antibody test and antibodies were found in 21.6% of dogs.
TL;DR: In this article, the concentrations of vapor phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured at the Central Bus Station of Londrina, where only diesel-powered vehicles circulate.
TL;DR: Fifty fecal samples from calves with diarrhea, positive for group A rotavirus by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) were analyzed by a nested multiplex reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (Nested multiplex/RT-PCR) for identification of P and G genotypes.
TL;DR: The agro-transformation method was found to be effective for the isolation of B. bassiana hygromycin resistant transformants and may represent a useful tool for insertional mutagenesis studies in this fungus.
TL;DR: In this article, the phenotypic correlations among several soybean traits with grain yield in direct and indirect effects using path analysis, and to compare alternative methods for minimizing the adverse effects of multicollinearity in estimating path coefficients.
Abstract: This study aimed to establish the phenotypic correlations among several soybean traits with grain yield in direct and indirect effects using path analysis, and to compare alternative methods for minimizing the adverse effects of multicollinearity in estimating path coefficients. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Nine soybean genotypes belonging to three seed size categories were used. The correlation studies and the path analysis showed that the seed size was not important for increased yield. The number of nodes and plant height at maturity showed significant correlation with grain yield. Using the least square methodology, the results obtained by path analysis under multicollinearity were not satisfactory. The ridge path analysis and the trait culling were efficient in reducing the adverse effects of multicollinearity. Both methods showed that only the number of nodes at maturity trait had a high direct effect on grain yield per plant.
TL;DR: The results suggest the need of maintenance of large forest areas to keep viable populations of Eufriesea violacea Blanchard and probably other species of euglossine bees.
Abstract: O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar as comunidades de abelhas Euglossina em tres fragmentos de floresta semidecidua de tamanhos diferentes (8,5 ha, 86 ha e 2280 ha), na regiao de Londrina, norte do Parana. De novembro de 2001 a abril de 2002, machos atraidos as iscas-odores de eucaliptol, eugenol e vanilina foram amostrados em coletas mensais, com 2h de duracao. Foram coletados 245 individuos pertencentes a quatro generos e sete especies. No fragmento maior foram coletados 152 machos pertencentes a seis especies, no medio, 45 machos de cinco especies e, no menor, 48 machos de sete especies. Os indices de diversidade (H') e equidade de especies (J') variaram de 1,21 a 1,42 e 0,62 a 0,86, respectivamente. A ordem de abundância das especies variou nos tres locais. Aparentemente, a reducao no tamanho dos fragmentos afetou negativamente a abundância de Eufriesea violacea Blanchard, a qual foi a especie mais comum (43,4%) no fragmento maior e a quarta (8,3%) em ordem de abundância no fragmento menor. Os resultados sugerem a necessidade de se manter areas grandes de florestas para uma melhor conservacao de populacoes desta e provavelmente de outras especies de Euglossina.
TL;DR: The analysis of the molecular data revealed that maize management adopted by small-scale farmers has contributed to the maintenance of genetic variability and since field isolation is a regular practice, variety identities have been preserved.
Abstract: The genetic relationships among 81 maize accessions consisting 79 landraces and two improved varieties, maintained by farmers in southern Brazil were investigated using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Thirty-two highly informative primers amplified 255 markers of which 184 (722%) were polymorphics Based on the RAPD markers, a dendrogram was constructed using the UPGMA method The range of genetic similarity was from 078 to 091 The molecular data grouped the accessions into two main clusters, which were correlated according to kernel colors Small clusters were seen associated to characteristics, such as kernel morphology The analysis of the molecular data revealed that maize management adopted by small-scale farmers has contributed to the maintenance of genetic variability and since field isolation is a regular practice, variety identities have been preserved These results will be useful to establish and maintain a germplasm collection of landrace maize and may guide us in designing strategies that maximize the utility of maize genetic resources
TL;DR: There was variation among the river extensions in the development phase, length class and spatial distribution of the captured specimens, showing that the Astyanax altiparanae species has a differentiated population structure although with similar growth.
Abstract: This study was carried out with the following objective: determine the Astyanax altiparanae population structure. Four localities in the Paranapanema river basin were chosen (low Tibagi river) with distinct environmental characteristics. Sampling was carried out monthly from January 1997 to February 1998. A total of 1553 individuals were captured with constancy in all the river extensions, with greatest abundance in the Congonhas river (76%). There was variation among the river extensions in the development phase, length class and spatial distribution of the captured specimens, showing that the species has a differentiated population structure although with similar growth. Therefore, the results suggested that the species has a great adaptive capacity to exploit and using differentiated strategies in terms of population structure. This showed that the species has a strong tendency to r strategic behavior. It showed, however, preference for developing all its biological cycle at the Congonhas river first extension. This was probably due to environmental conditions favorable to the maintenance of the specie.
TL;DR: The efaA+ esp+ gelE+ profile was the virulence genotype most frequently detected among E. faecalis strains investigated, and there was no significant association between virulence markers and clinical sources.
Abstract: Epidemiological studies have reinforced the importance of Enterococcus faecalis in causing serious infections, and to date, our understanding of how certain virulence factors are involved in the pathogenesis of enterococcal infections is still limited. The aim of the present study was to examine the occurrence of known virulence determinants in a group of E. faecalis strains isolated from different clinical sources in Brazil. A total of 95 E. faecalis strains were investigated for the presence of nine virulence genes including aggA, cylA, cylB, cylM, eep, efaA, enlA, esp and gelE by using PCR. The data showed a relatively wide distribution of the virulence genes among the investigated strains. The clinical strains carried at least one and concomitantly up to as many as eight virulence markers, with two or three being the most common pattern. Most of the strains carried efaA (58.9 %), eep (58.9 %) and esp (57.9 %) genes, whereas the remaining virulence markers were detected in variable percentages ranging from 9.5 to 45 %. Simultaneous presence of virulence markers was observed among clinical strains regardless of their sources. In this study, the efaA+ esp+ gelE+ profile was the virulence genotype most frequently detected among E. faecalis strains. Finally, there was no significant association between virulence markers and clinical sources.
TL;DR: The genetic structure of populations of the fish Astyanax altiparanae living in the lower, middle and upper Paranapanema River, Brazil is assessed to suggest that recolonization and conservation studies should not be focused on the species, but on the conservation units, because they are the genetically differentiated populations.
Abstract: In this study, the RAPD technique was used to analyze the genetic structure of populations of the fish Astyanax altiparanae (Characidae, Tetragonopterinae) living in the lower, middle and upper Paranapanema River, Brazil. The aim was to assess this structure regarding fish handling and conservation programs. The genetic variability (P) was found to be 42.64%, 75% and 75% in the low, middle and upper reaches, respectively. The dendrogram of genetic similarity, obtained by comparative analysis of the sets of samples from the three sites, showed the formation of three clusters. All of the genetic parameters used indicate that the population in the lower Paranapanema is genetically different from those in the middle and upper sections. The theta P test shows that the low Paranapanema is highly differentiated from the middle (0.2813) and upper (0.2912) Paranapanema, while the differentiation between the last two is moderate (0.0895). The data obtained in the present work suggest that recolonization and conservation studies should not be focused on the species A. altiparanae as such, but on the conservation units, because they are the genetically differentiated populations.
TL;DR: The mutagenicity of interstitial water and organic extracts from the sediments in the Cadeia and Feitoria Rivers, RS, Brazil, were evaluated by Salmonella microsuspension bioassay using TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 strains, in the absence and presence of S9 mix.
Abstract: The mutagenicity of interstitial water and organic extracts from the sediments in the Cadeia and Feitoria Rivers, RS, Brazil, were evaluated by Salmonella microsuspension bioassay using TA97a, TA98, TA100 and TA102 strains, in the absence and presence of S9 mix. At the contaminated site, the mutagenic responses for interstitial water, suggested the presence of frameshift and base pair substitution mutagens, including oxidative substances. Organic extracts presented direct or indicative mutagenesis to the TA97a, TA98 and TA100 strains. In general, an exogenous metabolic systems decreased the mutagenicity of the samples. High concentrations of total chromium found in the sediment and interstitial water as well as total mercury in the sediment of the contaminated site, when compared to the control area, may help explain the mutagenic results. The livers of Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys collected in this impacted area, compared to a non-polluted site, were analyzed for oxidative stress parameters. Compared to the controls, there was a significant increase in the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) at levels of substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), and in the chemiluminescence of hepatic cells in fish in the polluted area. The concentration of cytochromes P450 and b5 decreased drastically in the fish at the polluted site, while the catalase activity did not change. It was possible to correlate the biological changes in the fish with the presence of mutagenic compounds in sediment and interstitial water in this area.
TL;DR: Cardiopulmonary evaluation was feasible and well-tolerated in this severely obese population and mean spirometric variables were not diminished, but part of the population displayed mild restrictive changes.
Abstract: OBJETIVOS: A capacidade aerobica e a funcao respiratoria podem estar comprometidas na obesidade morbida, todavia poucos estudos sao disponiveis em candidatos a cirurgia bariatrica com massa corporal muito elevada.Num protocolo prospectivo, estas variaveis foram documentadas no pre-operatorio, visando despistar possiveis limitacoes fisiologicas numa populacao nominalmente sadia e sem queixas. METODO: Foram analisados 46 casos consecutivos (idade 39.6 ± 8.4 anos, 87.0% mulheres, indice de massa corporal /IMC 49.6 ± 6.3 kg/m2 )). As variaveis ventilatorias foram investigadas por espirometria automatizada e a capacidade aerobica mediante um teste de Bruce modificado em esteira ergometrica, sendo que a composicao corporea foi fornecida pela bioimpedância. RESULTADOS: A gordural total estava fortemente aumentada (46.4 ± 4.6% do peso) e a agua corporal diminuida (47.3 ± 4.6 % do peso) nesta serie, tal como esperado para o grau de obesidade descrito. Os achados espirometricos medios incluindo-se capacidade vital forcada de 3.3 ± 0.8 L e volume expiratorio forcado de 1 segundo de 2.6 ± 0.6 L nao fugiram do aceitavel para idade e sexo. Entretanto em 20,9% insuficiencia respiratoria restritiva leve foi diagnosticada. A capacidade aerobica estava mais nitidamente prejudicada, seja pelo baixo tempo e distância maxima atingidos (respectivamente 4.5 ± 1.1 min e 322 ±142 m), seja pelo custo proporcionalmente alto do esforco, refletido pelo consumo maximo de oxigenio (23.4 ± 9.5 ml/kg/min); CONCLUSOES: 1) A avaliacao cardio-respiratoria foi factivel e bem tolerada; 2) As variaveis espirometricas meias nao estavam alteradas, porem parte da populacao exibiu transformacoes restritivas leves; 3) A obesidade interferiu negativamente sobre a tolerância ao exercicio, reduzindo o desempenho e aumentando o custo metabolico da corrida em esteira ergometrica; 4) Recomenda-se maior atencao a capacidade aerobica de candidatos bariatricos seriamente obesos;
TL;DR: Investigation of water spray treatment before broiler slaughtering on the quality of breast meat and ultrastructural changes promoted by the biochemical/physiological events during rigor mortis onset demonstrated that antemortem water shower treatment inhibited PSE development in chicken breast meat.
Abstract: The objective of this work was to investigate the influence of water spray treatment before broiler slaughtering on the quality of breast meat (Pectoralis major) and to observe ultrastructural changes promoted by the biochemical/physiological events during rigor mortis onset. Commercial Ross chickens were divided into two groups: Untreated Group (UG) (n = 608) and Treated Group (TG) (n = 611), without and with water shower treatment, respectively. Drip and cook losses, pH and color measured after 24 h postmortem demonstrated that antemortem water shower treatment inhibited PSE development in chicken breast meat. Histological studies of the PSE samples from UG birds after 72 h postmortem revealed under light microscopy a shrinking of muscle cell diameter by approximately 10% in relation to TG samples and an extracellular enlargement of endomysium and perimysium sheaths. By electron microscopy of PSE meat, Z-lines appeared fragmented, A-bands including the M-line disappeared and a super-contraction of sarcomeres was observed, indicating that proteins were adversely affected by heat stress.
TL;DR: None of the tested fungicides provided an eradicative effect when applied before symptoms developed, however, all treatments reduced disease severity and urediniosporal viability.
Abstract: Protective, curative and eradicative effects of fungicides to control soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, in greenhouse Protective, curative and eradicative effects of systemic fungicides (azoxystrobin 50 g a.i./ha + nimbus 0,5%, carbendazin 250 g a.i./ha, tebuconazole 100 g a.i./ha, difenoconazole 50 g a.i./ha e epoxiconazole 25 g a.i./ha + pyraclostrobin 66,5 g a.i./ha) were evaluated in soybean (Glycine max) plants inoculated with a urediniosporal suspension of Phakopsora pachyrhizi, in greenhouse. To evaluate the protective effect plants were treated with fungicides and inoculated four, eight and 14 days after the treatment. To evaluate the curative and eradicative effects, the plants were inoculated with a urediniosporal suspension of P. pachyrhizi and treated with fungicides after two, four and eight days. Disease severity was assessed 16 days after each inoculation. With the exception of the fungicide carbendazin, all of the fungicides inhibited over 90% of urediniosporal germination until eight days after the treatment. Plants inoculated 16 days after the treatment with carbendazin presented severity statistically similar to unsprayed plants, while plants treated with fungicides of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors and strobilurin groups showed over 60% germination control. None of the tested fungicides provided an eradicative effect when applied before symptoms developed. However, all treatments reduced disease severity and urediniosporal viability. With the exception of carbendazin, all fungicides inhibited over 60% of urediniosporal germination until eight days after inoculation, in the incubation period of the disease.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the relationship between pasture degradation and some soil properties, to try to identify the most significant soil features in the degradation process, and indicated that pasture degradation does not seem to be directly related to the modification of the chemical features of soils.
TL;DR: Impaired bulls had higher body weights, ADG, carcass weights, and muscle percentage compared to immunized and surgically castrated animals, and immunocastration was effective in producing carcass traits similar to that of surgical castration.