Geometric Quantization of Topological Gauge Theories

We study the symplectic quantization of Abelian gauge theories in $2+1$ space-time dimensions with the introduction of a topological Chern-Simons term.Comment: 13 pages, plain TEX, IF/UFRJ/9

Hypotensive effect and endothelium-dependent vascular action of leaves of Alpinia purpurata (Vieill) K. Schum

The aims of this study were to evaluate the chemical profile, vascular reactivity, and acute hypotensive effect (AHE) of the ethanolic extract of leaves of Alpinia purpurata (Vieill) K. Schum (EEAP). Its chemical profile was evaluated using HPLC-UV, ICP-OES, and colorimetric quantification of total flavonoids and polyphenols. The vascular reactivity of the extract was determined using the mesenteric bed isolated from WKY. AHE dose-response curves were obtained for both EEAP and inorganic material isolated from AP (IAP) in WKY and SHR animals. Cytotoxic and mutagenic safety levels were determined by the micronucleus test. Rutin-like flavonoids were quantified in the EEAP (1.8 ± 0.03%), and the total flavonoid and polyphenol ratios were 4.1 ± 1.8% and 5.1 ± 0.3%, respectively. We observed that the vasodilation action of EEAP was partially mediated by nitric oxide (·NO). The IAP showed the presence of calcium (137.76 ± 4.08 μg mg-1). The EEAP and IAP showed an AHE in WKY and SHR animals. EEAP did not have cytotoxic effects or cause chromosomic alterations. The AHE shown by EEAP could result from its endothelium-dependent vascular action. Rutin-like flavonoids, among other polyphenols, could contribute to these biological activities, and the calcium present in EEAP could act in a synergistic way

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros texel e ideal alimentados com casca de soja

This experiment was conducted in the laboratory of sheep-raising of the Federal University of Santa Maria aiming to evaluate the ingestive behavior of sheep breeds Texel and Ideal, finished in feedlot with diets containing different levels of soybean hulls in place of sorghum silage. Forty male uncastrated lambs were used, 20 from the Texel breed and 20 from Ideal breed, weaned approximately at 50 days and housed in individual pens were randomly divided into four groups according to the level of inclusion of soybean hulls in the diet: 0 %, 33.5 %, 66.5 % and 100 % of soybean hulls in replacement of sorghum silage. The time spent in feed activities, chewing time and the total time spent per meal decreased linearly, while the period of idleness and feeding efficiency of rumination increased linearly with increasing level of sorghum silage substitution by soybean hulls. Texel lambs remained more time on rumination activities and total chewing, spent more time per meal, spent less time in idleness and showed less rumination efficiency when compared with Ideal lambs when confined in the finishing phase.O presente experimento, conduzido no laboratório de ovinocultura da Universidade Fede- ral de Santa Maria, teve como objetivo avaliar o comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros das raças Texel e Ideal, terminados em confinamento com dietas contendo diferentes teores de casca de soja em substituição da silagem de sorgo. Foram utilizados 40 cordeiros machos não castrados, sendo 20 provenientes da raça Texel e 20 da raça Ideal, desmamados aproximadamente aos 50 dias e confinados em baias individuais, distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro grupos de acordo com o nível de inclusão de casca de soja na dieta: 0 %, 33,5 %, 66,5 % e 100 % de casca de soja em substituição a silagem de sorgo. O tempo despendido em atividades de alimentação, tempo de mastigação total e o tempo gasto por refeição diminuíram linearmente, enquanto que o período de ócio e a eficiência de alimentação e de ruminação aumentaram linearmente, com o aumento do nível de substituição de silagem de sorgo por casca de soja. Cordeiros da raça Texel permaneceram por mais tempo em atividades de ruminação e de mastigação total, gastaram mais tempo por refei- ção, permaneceram menos tempo em ócio e apresentaram menor eficiência de ruminação quando comparados com cordeiros da raça Ideal, quando confinados em fase de terminação

Consumo, digestibilidade e desempenho de novilhas alimentadas com casca de café em substituição à silagem de milho Intake, digestibility and performance of dairy heifers fed coffee hulls replacing of corn silage

Objetivou-se avaliar a substituição da silagem de milho pela casca de café em dietas de novilhas leiteiras sobre os consumos, as digestibilidades aparentes totais dos nutrientes e o desempenho dos animais. Foram utilizadas 24 novilhas holandesas, puras e mestiças, distribuídas, de acordo com o peso inicial dos animais, em delineamento em blocos casualizados com quatro tratamentos (níveis de casca de café: 0,0; 7,0; 14,0 e 21,0% na base da MS total) e seis repetições. Diariamente, todas as novilhas foram alimentadas com 2 kg de concentrado. Os consumos de MS aumentaram linearmente, enquanto os consumos de matéria natural (MN) não foram influenciados pela inclusão de casca de café nas dietas. O aumento no consumo de MS foi de aproximadamente 20 g para cada unidade de casca de café adicionada na dieta (% MS) e o consumo médio de MN foi de 13,84 kg/dia. As digestibilidades de MS, MO, PB, CT e FDN e a concentração de NDT das dietas reduziram linearmente com a substituição da silagem de milho pela casca de café, observando-se redução de 0,158 unidades percentuais na digestibilidade da MS para cada unidade de casca de café adicionada na dieta (% MS). A inclusão de casca de café afetou de modo negativo o ganho de peso, que reduziu linearmente (5,51 g de PV por unidade de casca de café adicionada a dieta) conforme aumentaram os níveis de casca de café em substituição a silagem de milho. Em dietas para novilhas leiteiras, a casca de café pode substituir a silagem de milho em níveis de até 14% na MS total.<br>The objective was to evaluate the replacement corn silage by coffee hulls in the diet on performance, total apparent digestibility of dairy heifers. Twenty-four dairy Holstein heifers, purebred and crossbred, were assigned, according to animal initial weight, to a randomized block design with four treatments (Coffee hulls levels: 0.0, 7.0, 14.0, and 21.0% DM basis) and six replicates. All heifers were daily fed 2.0 kg concentrate. DM intake linearly increased, while fresh matter (FM) intake was not affected by the inclusion of coffee hulls in the diets. The increment of DM intake was approximately 20 g per unit of coffee hulls added to the diet (% DM) and the average intake of FM was 13.84 kg/d. Digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, CHO, NDF and the concentration of NDT in the diet linearly decreased with the replacement of corn silage by coffee hulls, observing a reduction of 0.158 percent units in the digestibility of the DM per unit of coffee hulls added to the diet (% DM). The inclusion of coffee hulls negatively affected the weight gain that linearly decrease (5.51g BW) per unit of coffee hulls added to the diet), as the coffee hulls levels increased, in replacement of corn silage. Coffee hulls could replace corn silage up to 14% level, DM basis, in diets for dairy heifers

Amostragem para avaliação da fertilidade do solo em função do instrumento de coleta das amostras e de tipos de preparo do solo Sampling for soil fertility evaluation as influenced by sampling tool and soil tillage

As medidas da média e da variabilidade dos índices de fertilidade do solo podem variar com o instrumento de coleta das amostras e com o tipo de preparo do solo. Assim, é necessário o desenvolvimento de métodos de amostragem de solo que melhor representem as reais condições de fertilidade do solo. Este trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar os efeitos da pá de corte e do trado de caneca nas medidas da média e da variabilidade de índices de fertilidade do solo sob plantio direto (PD) e preparo convencional (PC), estimar o número de amostras simples para formar uma composta e testar a hipótese de que a média aritmética das amostras simples é igual ao resultado da análise química da amostra composta. Foram coletadas amostras de um Luvissolo Crômico Pálico abrúptico em um experimento de comparação de tipos de preparo do solo, semeado com monocultura de milho. Coletaram-se 48 amostras simples de solo em uma parcela de 81 m² sob PD, sendo 24 com pá de corte (perpendicularmente aos sulcos e no espaço compreendido entre os pontos médios entre sulcos) e 24 com trado de caneca, em amostragem localizada (quatro amostras coletadas no sulco de plantio, oito a 10 cm do sulco e 12 no ponto médio entre os sulcos), próximas aos locais das amostras coletadas com pá de corte. Em outra parcela sob PC adotou-se o mesmo procedimento. A partir dessas amostras simples, foram preparadas, para cada combinação entre tipos de preparo do solo e instrumentos de coleta, amostras compostas de diferentes números de amostras simples (4, 8, 12, 16 e 24 amostras simples/amostra composta), com três repetições. Em todas as amostras simples e compostas, determinaram-se o pH e os teores de P, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ e matéria orgânica. As características avaliadas em amostras coletadas com trado de caneca apresentaram maior variabilidade do que quando foram avaliadas em amostras coletadas com pá de corte, independentemente do tipo de preparo do solo. Nos dois instrumentos de coleta, a ordem decrescente de variabilidade foi: P > Mg2+ > K+ > Ca2+ > MO > pH. A fertilidade média de uma parcela sob PD ou sob PC após a colheita e antes do preparo do solo subseqüente pode ser avaliada com trado de caneca, em substituição à pá de corte, desde que na preparação da amostra composta de solo 17 % das amostras simples sejam coletadas no sulco de plantio, 33 % a 10 cm do sulco e 50 % no ponto médio entre os sulcos. A fertilidade média de uma parcela sob PD ou PC depois da colheita e antes do preparo do solo subseqüente, avaliada pela análise química da amostra composta, é semelhante àquela avaliada pela média aritmética dos resultados das análises químicas das amostras simples coletadas com pá de corte ou com trado de caneca de forma dirigida. Em geral, a coleta de pelo menos oito amostras simples de solo realizada com pá de corte ou trado de caneca de forma dirigida, conforme utilizado neste trabalho, seria suficiente para formar uma amostra composta representativa para avaliação da fertilidade do solo de uma unidade de amostragem aparentemente homogênea. Entretanto, quanto maior o número de amostras simples coletadas, maior será a confiabilidade ou exatidão da estimativa dessa fertilidade média.<br>The measures of the average and variability of soil fertility indexes can vary with the sampling tool and soil tillage type. Soil sampling methods must be developed that are more reliable to represent the real conditions of soil fertility. This study aimed at an evaluation of the effects of the cutting shovel and hand auger on measures of average and variability of the soil fertility index (a) under no-tillage (NT) and conventional tillage (CT), (b) to estimate the minimum number of simple samples to form a composite sample and (c) to test the hypothesis that the arithmetic average of simple samples is equal to the result of the chemical analysis of the composite sample. Chromic Luvisol samples were collected in a control experiment of soil tillage type, planted with corn. In a 81 m² plot under NT 48 simple soil samples were collected, 24 with a cutting shovel (perpendicularly to the furrow and in-between two furrows) and 24 with auger hole, in controlled sampling (four samples collected in the planting furrow, 8 to 10 cm away from the furrow and 12 in-between the furrows), close to the points of sampling with the cutting shovel. The procedure was repeated in a second plot under CT. Composite samples of different numbers of simple samples (4, 8, 12, 16 and 24 simple samples/composite samples), with three repetitions were prepared for each combination of soil tillage type - collection tool. The pH and the contents of P, K+ Ca2+, Mg2+ and organic matter (OM) were determined in all simple and composite samples. The variability of the evaluated characteristics in samples collected with auger hole was greater than with the cutting shovel, independent of the soil tillage type. For both collection tools, the decreasing order of variability was: P > Mg2+ > K+ > Ca2+ > OM > pH. The medium fertility of a field under NT or under CT after the crop and before subsequent soil preparation can be evaluated with the auger hole, substituting the cutting shovel, if the composite sample consists of 17 % of simple samples collected in the planting furrow, 33 % at a distance of 10 cm from the furrow and 50 % in the middle between the furrows. The mean fertility of a field under NT or CT after the crop and before the subsequent soil preparation, evaluated by the chemical analysis of the composite sample, is similar to that evaluated by the arithmetic average of the chemical analyses of the simple samples collected with cutting shovel or with auger hole in a controlled manner, as used here. In general, a minimum of eight simple samples collected with cutting shovel or hand auger would be enough to form a representative composite sample for evaluation of the soil fertility of a unit of seemingly homogeneous sampling. However, the higher the number of collected simple samples, the more reliable or accurate is the medium fertility estimate