Environmental behavior: A comparative study between Brazilian and Portuguese students

Although undergraduate students have great access to environmental information, it does not mean that an environmental behavior is being developed. With the use of a scale applied to 1035 university students from Brazil and Portugal, it was examined how the environmental behavior of these students is structured. Using multivariate statistical techniques, it was verified that there is a similarity in the environmental behavior of both groups, with environmental beliefs being manifested by an opposition to the anthropocentric view. The environmental attitudes have the concerns related to the environment as their predecessor. These concerns influence the option to control economic growth, which is reinforced by the ecocentric point of view of the respondents and is manifested by the perspective of a decrease in production and in consumption as well as the promotion of welfare. Although there is a tendency, the option for green consumption is not fully accomplished.Jovens universitários têm acesso crescente às informações ambientais, mas isso não significa que haja o desenvolvimento de um comportamento em prol do meio ambiente. Com a utilização de uma escala aplicada em 1035 estudantes universitários do Brasil e de Portugal, foi averiguado como ocorre a estruturação e manifestação do comportamento ambiental desses estudantes. Utilizando técnicas estatísticas multivariadas, verificou-se uma similaridade no comportamento ambiental de ambos os grupos, com as crenças ambientais se manifestando por uma oposição à visão antropocêntrica. As atitudes ambientais têm como antecedentes as preocupações relacionadas ao meio ambiente. Essas preocupações influem na opção pelo controle do crescimento econômico, perspectiva reforçada pela tendência mais ecocêntrica dos entrevistados e que está pautada por uma diminuição da produção, do consumo e promoção do bem-estar. Verificou-se também que a opção pelo consumo verde ainda não se realiza totalmente, embora seja verificada uma tendência favorável.Los estudiantes universitarios tienen cada vez más acceso a la información ambiental, pero eso no significa que haga el desarrollo de un comportamiento compatible. Con una escala aplicada en 1035 estudiantes universitarios de Brasil y Portugal, se examinó cómo está estructurado el comportamiento ambiental de estos estudiantes. Con el uso de técnicas estadísticas multivariantes, fue verificada una similitud en el comportamiento ambiental de los dos grupos, con las creencias ambientales si manifestando por una oposición a la visión antropocéntrica. Las actitudes ambientales tienen como antecedentes las preocupaciones relacionadas con el medio ambiente. Estas preocupaciones influyen en la opción para el control del crecimiento económico, reforzada por una tendencia ecocéntrica y se caracteriza por una perspectiva de disminución de la producción y del consumo además de la promoción del bienestar. También sí verificó que la opción por el consumo verde no se realiza plenamente, aunque se verifica una tendencia favorable.(undefined

Biochars from animal wastes as alternative materials to treat colored effluents containing Basic Red 9

Bovine bones (BB) and fish scales (FS) were used as alternative precursors to produce biochars, which in turn, were applied for the removal of Basic Red 9 (BR9) from aqueous solutions. BB and FS were pyrolyzed generating a solid (biochars), a liquid (pyrolytic oils) and a gas fraction. All fractions were characterized to evaluate the pyrolysis process. The biochars presented different functional groups and a mesoporous structure with surface areas around 90 m2 g–1. Both biochars demonstrated potential to adsorb BR9, with maximum adsorption capacities of 49.5 (BB–biochar) and 52.3 mg g–1 (FS–biochar). Pyrolytic oils were composed mainly by palmitic acid (BB) and imidazolidinedione (FS), which are compounds with biological and antioxidant activity. Pyrolysis of BB generated CO2 while pyrolysis of FS generated H2. In summary, bovine bones and fish scales are promising precursors to concomitantly produce biochars with great adsorbent potential and oils with interesting characteristics

Different progestagens sources do not affect the follicular population and the morphological quality of oocytes during ovarian stimulation in Santa Inês ewes.

In attempt to develop a hormonal protocol more suitable to produce good quality oocytes for use in biotechnologies, an earlier study demonstrated that FSH applied in multiple decreasing doses produced better quality oocytes. However, different progestagens implants used during ovarian stimulation have not yet been tested. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different progestagens during ovarian stimulation on follicular population and oocyte morphological quality in Santa Inês ewes. In conclusion, the source of progestagens used during the ovarian stimulation protocol does not affect the follicular population, nor the oocyte quality. Exogenous progestagens may not be necessary when postsynchronization ovulation is confirmed by ultrasonography

Mini-Percoll processing of domestic ruminant frozen-thawed semen dispenses the use of heparin in capacitating medium.

Sperm capacitation is a prerequisite for mammal successful fertilization. Although usually a capacitating substance such as heparin is used during sheep in vitro fertilization, evidences suggest that the cryopreservation process and Percoll technique could induce spontaneous capacitation. This study aimed to compare ovine, caprine and bovine frozen-thawed sperm after mini-Percoll processing on sperm parameters, receiving or not heparin supplementation. In conclusion, frozen-thawed ovine, caprine and bovine spermatozoa processed with mini-Percoll behave similarly regarding to capacitation status and does not require heparin supplementation during in vitro incubation to achieve capacitation. [Processamento pela técnica de mini-Percoll em sêmen congelado/descongelado de ruminantes domésticos dispensa o uso da heparina em meio capacitante].Edição dos anais do XXII Congresso Brasileiro de Reprodução Animal (CBRA), Santos, SP, Brasil, maio 2017

Mini-percoll technique induces Similar capacitation features in domestic ruminant frozen-thawed spermatozoa regardless of the presence of heparin.

Background: Sperm capacitation is a process consists of a series of functional, biochemical, and biophysical modifications that render the ejaculated sperm competent for oocyte fertilization. Secreted by the female reproductive tract epithelium, heparin promotes capacitation by binding to and removing seminal plasma proteins, which are adsorbed to the sperm PM and would inhibit capacitation. There is substantial evidence that cryopreservation promotes capacitation-like changes in bull, ram and buck sperm. Our general hypotheses were: (a) cryopreserved ram sperm suffer capacitation more quickly than buck and bull sperm under the same conditions; (b) the capacitation status of ruminant cryopreserved sperm is similar whether or not heparin is present after the mini-Percoll technique; and (c) ruminant frozen-thawed sperm selected by mini-Percoll and incubated within media without heparin supplementation is not impaired in terms of capacitation status and sperm agglutination. This study aimed to compare sperm parameters of ovine, caprine, and bovine frozen-thawed sperm after mini-Percoll processing followed by incubation with or without heparin supplementation. Materials, Methods & Results: Commercial semen of all species were used. Sperm samples were selected by mini-Percoll and supplemented (or not) with heparin within an incubation medium for 18 h. Sperm kinematics (CASA system analyzes), capacitation status (CTC staining) and sperm agglutination were evaluated after thawing, mini-Percoll, 1.5 h, 3 h, 6 h and 18 h. In comparison with post-thawing analysis, ovine species demonstrated a reduction (P 0.05). In caprine and bovine species, a lower (P < 0.05) rate of sperm agglutination was observed in the presence of heparin at 18 h of incubation. In the absence of heparin, ovine samples showed a higher (P < 0.05) agglutination rate compared to the bovine species after long incubation period. Discussion: The present study compared sperm parameters (sperm kinematics, agglutination rate and capacitation status) of ruminant frozen-thawed sperm after mini-Percoll selection followed by in vitro incubation with or without heparin supplementation. In this study, it was observed the same rate of capacitated cells after the sperm selection (min-Percoll) between ruminant species. This indicate that the capacitation process occurs similarly between ruminant species, refuting the first hypothesis of this study. The presence of heparin did not influence the capacitation status of ruminant frozen-thawed sperm after mini-Percoll selection, it demonstrates that the second hypothesis was supported by this study making more economic and practical the use of ruminant frozen-thawed semen. The absence of heparin in the incubation medium did not harmed the capacitation status and sperm agglutination of ruminant frozen-thawed sperm. This supported the third hypothesis of the current study and indicate that the use of mini-Percoll technique regardless the presence of heparin could be a useful alternative for the preparation of ruminant frozen-thawed sperm. In conclusion, the capacitation status of ruminant frozen-thawed sperm is similar whether or not heparin is present after the mini-Percoll technique

Estrus induction in the non-breeding season is not associated with hydrometra in dairy goats.

Abstract: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of hydrometra (HD) at the end of the reproductive season in goats subjected (HORM and LIGHT) or not (Control-HORM and Control-LIGHT) to estrus induction by either hormonal protocol or light program, respectively, in the non-breeding season. HORM-goats received intravaginal sponges (six days) associated with cloprostenol plus eCG 24 h before sponge removal while LIGHT-goats were submitted to 16 h of light and 8 h of darkness for 60 days. Pregnant goats from both groups gave birth at the early reproductive season and were evaluated by transrectal ultrasound ~45 days after the end of the season. The control goats (Control-HORM and Control-LIGHT) were also examined. There was no difference in the prevalence of HD between goats from HORM (8/31; 25.8%) compared to Control-HORM (4/26; 15.4%), or LIGHT (9/54; 16.7%) compared to Control-LIGHT (7/51; 13.7%), as well as between HORM and LIGHT groups. In conclusion, estrus induction with both hormonal and light protocols is not associated with the development of HD in dairy goats. Resumo: Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar a prevalência de hidrometra (HD) no final da estação de acasalamento em cabras submetidas (HORM e LUZ) ou não (Controle-HORM e Controle-LUZ) à indução de estro na contra-estação reprodutiva por protocolo hormonal ou programa de luz, respectivamente. As cabras do grupo HORM receberam esponjas intravaginais por seis dias, associadas à aplicação de cloprostenol e eCG 24 h antes da retirada das esponjas. As cabras do grupo LUZ foram submetidas a 16 h de luz e 8 h de escuridão por 60 dias. O parto das cabras de ambos os grupos ocorreu no início da estação de acasalamento e estas foram avaliadas por ultrassonografia transretal ~ 45 dias após o final da estação. As cabras controle (Controle-HORM e Controle-LUZ) também foram examinadas. Não houve diferença na prevalência de HD entre o grupo HORM (8/31; 25,8%) em comparação com Controle-HORM (4/26; 15,4%), ou LUZ (9/54; 16,7%) em comparação com Controle-LUZ (7/51; 13,7%), assim como entre os grupos HORM e LUZ. Em conclusão, a indução de estro na contra-estação reprodutiva com protocolo hormonal e programa de luz não está associada ao desenvolvimento da HD em cabras leiteiras. Resumen: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo comparar la prevalencia de hidrometra (HD) al final de la estación reproductiva en cabras sometidas (HORM y LUZ) o no (Control-HORM y Control-LUZ) a la inducción del celo durante el anestro estacional por protocolo hormonal o programa de luz, respectivamente. Las cabras del grupo HORM recibieron esponjas intravaginales por seis días asociadas con la aplicación de cloprostenol y de eCG 24 h antes de la retirada de las esponjas. Las cabras del grupo LUZ fueron sometidas a 16 h de luz y 8 h de oscuridad durante 60 días. El parto de las cabras de ambos os grupos ocurrió al comienzo de la estación reproductiva y estos fueron evaluados por ultrasonografía transrectal ~ 45 días después del final de la estación. También se examinaron cabras de control (Control-HORM y Control-LUZ). No hubo diferencia en la prevalencia de HD entre el grupo HORM (8/31; 25,8%) en comparación con el Control-HORM (4/26; 15,4%) o de LUZ (9/54; 16,7%) en comparación con el Control-LUZ (7/51; 13,7%), así como entre los grupos HORM y LUZ. En conclusión, la inducción del celo durante el anestro estacional con protocolo hormonal y programa de luz no se asocia con el desarrollo de HD en cabras lecheras

Transcultural adaptation of the Emotion Matching Task: an emotion neuropsychological assessment

Emotions play a central role in children’s relationships. Deficits in emotional understanding have been associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. In Brazil, however, few psychological instruments are available to assess young children’s emotional development. The objective of the present study was to make a transcultural adaptation of the Emotion Matching Task (EMT). The EMT was translated and adapted by a team of bilingual researches and then back-translated to English. The preliminary versions were assessed by EMT’s authors and by Brazilians specialized judges. The final version was applied in a sample of 50 children between three and six years of age and answered by nine judges in three Brazilian states. The results indicate good semantic equivalence and good agreement with the answers provided (κ= 0.88, Z=95.2, p<0.001). The final version of the EMT was considered appropriate and satisfactory

An energy-stable time-integrator for phase-field models

We introduce a provably energy-stable time-integration method for general classes of phase-field models with polynomial potentials. We demonstrate how Taylor series expansions of the nonlinear terms present in the partial differential equations of these models can lead to expressions that guarantee energy-stability implicitly, which are second-order accurate in time. The spatial discretization relies on a mixed finite element formulation and isogeometric analysis. We also propose an adaptive time-stepping discretization that relies on a first-order backward approximation to give an error-estimator. This error estimator is accurate, robust, and does not require the computation of extra solutions to estimate the error. This methodology can be applied to any second-order accurate time-integration scheme. We present numerical examples in two and three spatial dimensions, which confirm the stability and robustness of the method. The implementation of the numerical schemes is done in PetIGA, a high-performance isogeometric analysis framework