Cosmological equations and Thermodynamics on Apparent Horizon in Thick Braneworld

We derive the generalized Friedmann equation governing the cosmological evolution inside the thick brane model in the presence of two curvature correction terms: a four-dimensional scalar curvature from induced gravity on the brane, and a five-dimensional Gauss-Bonnet curvature term. We find two effective four-dimensional reductions of the Friedmann equation in some limits and demonstrate that they can be rewritten as the first law of thermodynamics on the apparent horizon of thick braneworld.Comment: 25 pages, no figure, a definition corrected, several references added, more motivation and discussio

Serum Lipid Profile Of Broilers Fed Diets With Inclusion Of Mango Waste Meal

We evaluated the effect of including 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0% mango waste meal (MWM) variety UBA in corn and soybean meal-based diet son the serum lipid profile of broilers. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five treatments and six replicates with 20 birds per experimental unit. Concentrations of creatinine, albumin, total protein, total cholesterol, triacylglycerols (TAG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C), were evaluated at the ages of 14, 28 and 42 days, with 30 birds evaluated per age. At 14 days, there was no difference serum creatinine, total cholesterol, HDL, triacylglycerols, total proteins or VLDL-C concentrations as compared with control. Albumin concentration was the highest at the MWM inclusion levels of 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0%. At 28 days, triacylglycerols, VLDL-C and LDL-C were the lowestat 7.5% inclusion whereas at 42 days, these same variables were the lowest with addition of 10.0% meal. At 14, 28 and 42 days of age, the VLDL-C, LDL-C and total TAG contents were found to decrease at mango waste meal inclusion levels of 5.0 and 7.5% in the diets, which maybe considered an indicator of improvements in the metabolic conditions of broilers.3753327333

Profile of micronucleus frequencies and DNA damage in different species of fish in a eutrophic tropical lake

Lake Paranoá is a tropical reservoir for the City of Brasilia, which became eutrophic due to inadequate sewage treatment associated with intensive population growth. At present, two wastewater treatment plants are capable of processing up to 95% of the domestic sewage, thereby successfully reducing eutrophization. We evaluated both genotoxic and cytotoxic parameters in several fish species (Geophagus brasiliensis, Cichla temensis, Hoplias malabaricus, Astyanax bimaculatus lacustres, Oreochromis niloticus, Cyprinus carpio and Steindachnerina insculpita) by using the micronucleus (MN) test, the comet assay and nuclear abnormality assessment in peripheral erythrocytes. The highest frequencies of MN were found in Cichla temensis and Hoplias malabaricus, which were statistically significant when compared to the other species. However, Steindachnerina insculpita (a detritivorous and lake-floor feeder species) showed the highest index of DNA damage in the comet assay, followed by C. temensis (piscivorous). Nuclear abnormalities, such as binucleated, blebbed, lobed and notched cells, were used as evidence of cytotoxicity. Oreochromis niloticus followed by Hoplias malaricus, ominivorous/detritivotous and piscivorous species, respectively, presented the highest frequency of nuclear abnormalities, especially notched cells, while the herbivorous Astyanax bimaculatus lacustres showed the lowest frequency compared to the other species studied. Thus, for biomonitoring aquatic genotoxins under field conditions, the food web should also be considered

Calotropis procera: um levantamento preliminar sobre as suas capacidades de fitoextração no Brasil

Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) is a non-native species that has its origin in Africa and Asia, but was introduced into the northeastern region of Brazil in the beginning of last century. In some areas, the dry biomass of C. procera is used as animal feed. However, previous studies indicated that the species is capable of accumulating many chemical elements. On the other hand, it could also mean that this species may be used for phytoremediation. Hence, we used neutron activation analysis, k0-method, to test the capability of the leaves of C. procera to accumulate trace elements. The study was carried out in two distinct areas (polluted and non-polluted) in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. Our results indicate that new elements can be added to the list of elements taken up by C. procera, thus contributing to the understanding of the biology of this plant species as an accumulator of trace elements. Some elements, such as Ba and Sr, have higher concentrations in the non-polluted areas than in polluted areas. Thus, the presence of many trace elements in C. procera indicates that its use as animal feed should be viewed with extreme caution. However low levels of these trace elements in C. procera do not indicate that this species is a hyper-accumulator plant.Key words: phytoremediation, biological invasion, invasive species, Pernambuco.Calotropis procera (Apocynaceae) é uma espécie exótica originária da África e Ásia tropical, introduzida na região nordeste do Brasil no início do século passado. Em algumas regiões do Brasil e do mundo, a biomassa seca de C. procera é utilizada como alimento forrageiro para animais. Entretanto, muitos estudos indicam que essa espécie é capaz de acumular diversos elementos químicos. Isso pode significar que a espécie também pode ser utilizada em processos de fitorremediação. Dessa forma, foi realizada uma análise de ativação neutrônica, método k0, para testar a capacidade das folhas de C. procera acumularem elementos-traço. O estudo foi realizado em duas áreas distintas (poluídas e não poluídas) no estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Nossos resultados indicam que novos elementos podem ser adicionados à lista de elementos-traço absorvidos por C. procera, contribuindo para o entendimento da biologia dessa espécie como acumuladora de elementos-traço. Alguns destes, tais como Ba e Sr, ocorreram em maiores concentrações em áreas não-poluídas em comparação com áreas poluídas. Dessa forma, o uso de C. procera como ração animal deve ser vista com extrema cautela. Entretanto, as baixas concentrações desses elementos-traço não sugerem que C. procera seja uma hiperacumuladora.Palavras-chave: fitorremediação, invasão biológica, espécie invasora, Pernambuco

Sward structure and livestock performance in guinea grass cv: Tanzania pastures managed by rotational stocking strategies

Grazing strategy is a key element in the determination of sward structure, herbage nutritive value and animal performance. We aimed to compare the herbage characteristics and performance of livestock in pastures of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania managed, using two rotational stocking strategies, which provided either a fixed-length rest period (FRP) of 35 days in the spring and fall and 30 days in the summer, or a variable-length rest period (VRP), determined by the time required for the canopy to achieve 70 cm in height. The pastures were evaluated in the pregrazing condition for forage mass (FM); leaf (LP), stem (SP) and dead matter (DP) percentages; and nutritive value (NV). The animals were weighed every 28 days. Pastures managed with the FRPs exhibited greater FMs, SPs and DPs and lower LPs and NVs than those managed with the VRPs. The average daily livestock weight gain was greater during the spring and summer for the VRP than for the FRP pastures, resulting in an average animal weight gain per area of 990 and 860 kg ha−¹ wet period−¹ for the pastures managed with the VRPs and FRPs, respectively. Thus, pasture rest periods that were maintained after the sward reached 70 cm in height reduced the animal performance on Tanzania guinea grass

Characterization of tillers in deferred Piata palisade grass with different initial heights and nitrogen levels

This experiment was conducted to estimate the effects of nitrogen fertilization associated with the initial height of the Piata palisade grass on the number and structural characteristics of individual tillers after the deferment period. An area with Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piata measuring approximately 288 m² was used. Combinations of levels of nitrogen fertilization (0, 75 and 150 kg/ha of nitrogen) and initial heights of the sward (low - 20 cm, medium - 30 cm and high - 40 cm) were evaluated. The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks in subdivided plots with three replications. The number of vegetative tillers, the stem length of the vegetative, reproductive and dead tillers, and the number of dead leaves of the reproductive and the dead tillers linearly increased with the elevation in the nitrogen level. The deferred Piata palisade grass with low initial height showed lower number of dead basal tillers, shorter length of stems and leaf blades in reproductive tillers and lower number of live and dead leaves in vegetative tillers in relation to the one managed with height considered medium and high. Nitrogen fertilization, in association with low initial height, provides the optimization of forage of Piata palisade grass in deferment conditions