GRASS UTILIZATION IN GROWING FINISHING BÍSARO PIGS (85-107 KG). PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS COMPOSITION

The use of different quantities of vegetables, forages or fresh grass as fodder for growing-finishing pigs is an important factor of the northern Portugal traditional system. The increasing development of swine production in outdoor systems, extensive and organic production, turns to upcoming natural diets, in which grass performs a significant part. With regard to this, some investigation has been made concerning the use of fibre-rich feed ingredients in pig nutrition. Metabolic effects of its ingestion are analysed concerning different sights (economical, social, environmental and physiological ones). The aim of this work was to study the effects of grass utilization in the diets on performances of finishing Bísaro pigs. A total of 22 pigs (16 castrated males and 6 females) was housed outdoor and fed ad libitum (37 – 85 kg live weight) with a growing diet and then transferred to an indoor system (with free access to an outdoor area) for 49 days, according to 3 different treatments: 100% concentrate (C), 75% concentrate + ad libitum grass (CE75), 50% concentrate + ad libitum grass (CE50). The grass was supplied and its intake registered on a daily basis. Every 14 days, the pigs were weighted and their back fat (P2 in vivo) measured. After slaughter (average weight of 107 kg LW), yield and ½ left carcass characteristics were controlled. During the outdoor growing phase, the ADG was 513 g/day. During the indoor finishing phase, the increase grass intake was proportional to the reduction of concentrate in the diet. The ADG (g) and the fat deposition (P2 cm) were significantly different (P<0,05) in the 3 treatments (ADG: C=641, CE75=467, CE50=356 and: C=11,4, CE75=+9,5, CE50=+6,2). The empty body weight (kg) was also proportional to the intake of concentrate (C=116,2; CE75=107,7; CE50=102,2). Comparatively to the weight of the body parts, pigs that had higher intake of grass and lower of concentrate showed a higher % of shoulder (P<0,05; C=20,4, CE75=21,7, CE50=22,2) and the pH45min of CE carcasses was significantly higher (P<0,05). As a conclusion, concentrate substitution for grass showed a slower growing rate, thinner carcasses and a high technological quality. Neverthelles variability (CV %) of the productive parameters at the end of this study were higher in the treatments that included grass: live weight (C= 10,5%; C75=10,7%; C50=14,3%), finishing ADG (C=24%; C75=37%, C50=42%), and final fat (C=37%; C75=32%, C50=52%). These values suggest that the utilization of fibrous feeds in growing-finishing swine may be one of the possible explanations of the more heterogeneous products and carcasses found in the traditional or extensive systems, common users of fibrous feeds in the carcass finishing phase

Geoprocessing for the characterization of soils developed from basalt and sand material

Os levantamentos de solos são na maioria antigos e pouco detalhados, geralmente nos níveis exploratório e de reconhecimento. Isso pode ser explicado pelo fato de que o método tradicional de levantamento de solos é lento e caro, requerendo grande número de observações de campo. Assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar unidades de mapeamento de solos das regiões de Ibaté e São Carlos, SP, desenvolvidos de materiais basálticos e areníticos em função da declividade e altitudes correspondentes, com base em modelo digital de elevação (MDE). Primeiramente, foi feito um mapa de solos semidetalhado pelo método tradicional. Posteriormente, utilizando-se curvas de nível da região, foi elaborado o MDE, do qual foram extraídos mapas com diferentes classes de declividade e elevação. Por meio da tabulação cruzada, foi determinada a incidência de cada solo nas respectivas classes de declives e altitudes. Cada solo apresentou comportamento diferenciado em relação às classes de declive. Contudo, nas faixas limítrofes de declividade pode ocorrer sobreposição de dois ou mais solos. Na referida região, o Latossolo Amarelo encontra-se predominantemente nas regiões mais altas e de relevo plano; entretanto, solos pouco intemperizados, como os Neossolos Litólicos, aparecem em diferentes faixas de declividade. Conclui-se que o conhecimento da distribuição dos solos no relevo é de grande importância, pois facilita a execução do levantamento de solos. O modelo de elevação apresenta semelhanças com o mapa de solos, podendo auxiliar na sua determinação. As variações de solo, no entanto, são mais complexas, não dispensando as observações de campo.Brazilian soil surveys are mostly outdated, with few details, usually based on discovery and recognition. This fact can be ascribed to the traditional, slow and expensive soil survey method, requiring a great number of field observations. Thus, faster and cheaper soil mapping techniques must be developed. The objective of this study was to characterize soil mapping units in the region of Ibaté and São Carlos, state of São Paulo, measuring slopes and altitudes, based on a digital elevation model (DEM). First a semi-detailed soil map was drawn based on the traditional methodology. Then, the DEM was elaborated using contour lines of the region, from which maps with different slope and elevation classes were extracted. By cross tabulation each soil was determined in each slope and elevation class. Each soil responded differently in relation to the slope classes. However, an overlapping of two or more soils can occur in the limit ranges. In the study area, the Typic Haplustox can be found predominantly in higher and plain areas. Low weathered soils such as the Typic Udorthent are however found at different slope levels. It was concluded that knowledge on the soil distribution in the relief is very important for soil surveys. The DEM have similarities with the soil map and can contribute with some information. Soil variations are however extremely complex, which makes field observations indispensable

Influence of different finishing treatments over mechanical and thermal properties of bed linen

This work aims to assess the relationship between the mechanical and the thermal properties of summer bed linen using different softener formulations in home textiles finishing. Objectively, we intend to study the effect of different softeners and their concentrations, based on non-ionic polyethylene dispersions and a cationic silicone softener micro-emulsion on textile properties. The research shown that thermal related properties are influenced by polyethylene softeners, while the silicone softener influences the mechanical behavior of the tested samples. Finally, selected softened samples of bed linen were evaluated by a dry thermal manikin to validate some conclusions.(undefined

Cost and efficiency analysis of commercial softeners in the sewability behavior of cotton fabrics

This paper reports a comparative case study on the use of different softening products for bed linen fabrics, specifically regarding the sewability of the fabrics. The market offers a wide variety of commercial formulations of softeners for this purpose, but the composition and price varies considerably. This work was aimed to assess the relationship between the cost and effectiveness of different softener formulations in home textiles finishing. Objectively, the effect of different softeners and their concentrations on sewability of the fabrics was studied. Non-ionic polyethylene dispersions and a cationic silicone softener micro-emulsion in different concentrations and combinations were considered in this investigation. It was found that a combination of silicone and polyethylene based softeners presents the most interesting cost/performance behavior.This work has been funded by FEDER through Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE and by national funds by FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia in the context of project PEst-C/CTM/UI0264/2011

Sterol carrier protein 2 regulates proximal tubule size in the Xenopus pronephric kidney by modulating lipid rafts

AbstractThe kidney is a homeostatic organ required for waste excretion and reabsorption of water, salts and other macromolecules. To this end, a complex series of developmental steps ensures the formation of a correctly patterned and properly proportioned organ. While previous studies have mainly focused on the individual signaling pathways, the formation of higher order receptor complexes in lipid rafts is an equally important aspect. These membrane platforms are characterized by differences in local lipid and protein compositions. Indeed, the cells in the Xenopus pronephric kidney were positive for the lipid raft markers ganglioside GM1 and Caveolin-1. To specifically interfere with lipid raft function in vivo, we focused on the Sterol Carrier Protein 2 (scp2), a multifunctional protein that is an important player in remodeling lipid raft composition. In Xenopus, scp2 mRNA was strongly expressed in differentiated epithelial structures of the pronephric kidney. Knockdown of scp2 did not interfere with the patterning of the kidney along its proximo-distal axis, but dramatically decreased the size of the kidney, in particular the proximal tubules. This phenotype was accompanied by a reduction of lipid rafts, but was independent of the peroxisomal or transcriptional activities of scp2. Finally, disrupting lipid micro-domains by inhibiting cholesterol synthesis using Mevinolin phenocopied the defects seen in scp2 morphants. Together these data underscore the importance for localized signaling platforms in the proper formation of the Xenopus kidney

Integration and embedding of vital signs sensors and other devices into textiles

The development of ubiquitous vital sign monitoring has become a very up-to-date research theme for many academics and industrial companies in the last years. With new materials and integration techniques, it is possible to implement vital sign monitoring in an economic manner, directly into textile products. This unobtrusive presence of sensors is especially important for the monitoring of children or elderly people. This paper focuses on two aspects of sensor integration: Integration of off-the-shelf electronic components, and the use of the textile material itself as sensor, or in general as an electrically active element presenting some exploratory work in the integration of electronic devices into textiles. The main objective was to reproduce and improve on previous work presented by other authors, and foster possibilities of developing garments for vital sign monitoring with immediate industrial and economic feasibility. The use of standard production techniques to produce textile-based sensors, easily integrated into garments and with mass-market potential, is one of the important motivations for this work

Exact Conformal Scalar Field Cosmologies

New exact solutions of Einstein's gravity coupled to a self-interacting conformal scalar field are derived in this work. Our approach extends a solution-generating technique originally introduced by Bekenstein for massless conformal scalar fields. Solutions are obtained for a Friedmann-Robertson-Walker geometry both for the cases of zero and non-zero curvatures, and a variety of interesting features are found. It is shown that one class of solutions tends asymptotically to a power-law inflationary behaviour $S(t)\sim t^p$ with $p>1$, while another class exhibits a late time approach to the $S(t)\sim t$ behaviour of the coasting models. Bouncing models which avoid an initial singularity are also obtained. A general discussion of the asymptotic behaviour and of the possibility of occurrence of inflation is provided.Comment: Latex, 27 pages plus 16 figures (not included, available from the authors upon request) DFFCUL-94-01-0

Mixing and m(q) dependence of axial vector mesons in the Coulomb gauge QCD model.

We discuss pure q (q) over bar axial-vector mesons in the Tamm-Dancoff approximation of the Coulomb-gauge QCD model from North Carolina State University. While recent studies have put emphasis in configuration mixing with open meson-meson channels, we here concentrate on the simpler closed-channel problem and follow the 1(+) mixing through a wide range of quark masses. We also examine their radial excitations and discuss with them the concept of insensitivity to chiral symmetry breaking

The national students survey applied to Portuguese Biomedical Laboratory Science Students

Assessment of students’ experience and perceptions of the academic quality of particular programmes, course units and teachers are currently widespread and encouraged. Internationally, student feedback is highly valued by educational institutions, and it is used to improve teaching effectiveness and overall educational quality, as well as to inform prospective students and other stakeholders. The few measures of students’ perceptions and satisfaction adopted for Portuguese students have some limitations and lack adequate replication.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio