Effects of dietary fibre source and enzyme supplementation on faecal apparent digestibility, short chain fatty acid production and activity of bacterial enzymes in the gut of piglets

The effects of fibre source, either wheat bran (WB) or maize cobs (MC), and dietary exogenous enzymes (ES) on performance and digestive parameters of weaned piglets were studied in 24 Duroc×Landrace male piglets, weaned at 21 days of age. There were four treatments arranged factorially, with two sources of fibre (WB or MC) and two concentrations of ES (0 or 0.15 g/kg) that contained 800 U/kg of endo-1,4- -cellulase, 1800 U/kg of endo-1,3(4)- -d-glucanase and 2600 U/kg of endo-1,4- -xylanase. The digestibility of the neutral detergent fibre was higher (P<0.001) in diets containing WB and the digestibility of the acid detergent fibre increased with ES. Small intestine digesta contents (g/kg live weight) at slaughter were higher (P<0.01) in pigs fed MC than in pigs fed WB. Fibre source did not affect the amounts (mmol/l) of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) in the small intestine. However, replacement of WB by MC increased acetic acid and decreased butyric acid concentrations (P<0.05) in the caecum. In addition, pigs fed diets with MC as the major fibre source had lower (P<0.05) concentration of butyric acid in the colon than pigs fed diets with WB. Enzyme supplementation affected molar proportions of SCFA formed in the small intestine and tended to increase acetic acid, propionic acid and total SCFA concentrations in the colon of piglets fed WB (P<0.10). The xylanolytic and cellulolytic activities in the caecum and colon were higher (P<0.05) for piglets fed WB than for piglets fed MC. In conclusion, ES increased the digestibility of acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre and the replacement of WB by MC reduced neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre digestibility, caecal butyric acid production and hindgut activity of bacterial enzymes

Microbial activity in the gut of piglets: effect of fibre source and enzyme supplementation

Twenty four Duroc×Landrace male piglets, aged 21 days, were assigned to 1 of 4 experimental diets. Diets 1 and 2 contained 150 g kg−1 wheat bran and diets 3 and 4 contained 90 g kg−1 maize cobs as the major fibre source. All diets contained 480 g kg−1 wheat and 200 g kg−1 soybean meal. Diets 2 and 4 were supplemented with the following enzyme complex: 800 U/kg cellulase, 1800 U/kg glucanase and 2600 U/kg xylanase. The replacement of wheat bran by maize cobs increased the acetic (Pb0.05) and decreased the butyric acid production (Pb0.05) in the cecum. Piglets fed diets with maize cobs had lower (Pb0.05) levels of butyric acid in the colon than those fed wheat bran. The xylanolytic, pectinolytic and cellulolytic enzyme activities were higher (Pb0.05) in the cecum and colon of piglets fed the wheat bran based diets. The supplementation of the diet with the enzyme complex did not significantly affect the levels of short chain fatty acids formed in the small intestine and there was a non significant increase of the levels of acetic, propionic and butyric acids in the cecum and colon of piglets (Pb0.10). No interactions were present between fibre sources and enzyme addition. The results suggest that the enzyme supplementation of the diet did not bring significant benefits to the animals and that when maize cobs replaces wheat bran in diets it negatively affects butyric acid production and fibre-degrading enzyme activity in the hindgut of piglets. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Microbial activity in the gut of piglets: effect of prebiotic and probiotic supplementation

Four groups of six 21 days-old piglets were used to evaluate the effect of a prebiotic or probiotic on the intestinal fermentative activity. In each group, piglets received one of the following diets: basal diet (C); basal diet supplemented with xylooligosaccharide (C-XOS); basal diet supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae (C-SC); and basal diet supplemented with xylooligosaccharide and S. cerevisiae (C-XOS+SC). The short chain fatty acids in the colon of piglets were decreased with the inclusion of S. cerevisiae in the diet (Pb0.01). The xylanolytic activity was higher (Pb0.05) in the small intestine of piglets fed C-XOS+SC diet, but no significant differences were found in the caecum and colon. In the caecum contents, the cellulolytic activity was increased (Pb0.05) by the C-XOS and C-SC diets, but remained similar when the diet was supplemented with the two additives combined

GuiMarket Specification Using the Unified Modeling Language

AbstractGuiMarket is an e-Marketplace of health care, social care services developed as a pilot project in a Northern Portuguese Municipality, with the main objective of improving the well-being of elderly people and people with special needs staying at home, or their caregivers. This paper makes a brief introduction of this platform, explains its overall implementation and operation using an IDEF0 (Integration DEFinition) diagram, and presents the specification of the main services of the e-Marketplace using UML (Unified Modeling Language)

Type-safe evolution of spreadsheets

Lecture Notes in Computer Science Volume 6603, 2011Spreadsheets are notoriously error-prone. To help avoid the introduction of errors when changing spreadsheets, models that capture the structure and interdependencies of spreadsheets at a conceptual level have been proposed. Thus, spreadsheet evolution can be made safe within the confines of a model. As in any other model/instance setting, evolution may not only require changes at the instance level but also at the model level. When model changes are required, the safety of instance evolution can not be guarded by the model alone. We have designed an appropriate representation of spreadsheet models, including the fundamental notions of formulæand references. For these models and their instances, we have designed coupled transformation rules that cover specific spreadsheet evolution steps, such as the insertion of columns in all occurrences of a repeated block of cells. Each model-level transformation rule is coupled with instance level migration rules from the source to the target model and vice versa. These coupled rules can be composed to create compound transformations at the model level inducing compound transformations at the instance level. This approach guarantees safe evolution of spreadsheets even when models change.Supported by Fundac ao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, grant no. SFRH/BD/30231/2006. Supported by Fundac ao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, grant no. SFRH/BD/30215/2006. Work supported by the SSaaPP project, FCT contract no. PTDC/EIA-CCO/108613/200

Effect of prebiotic or probiotic supplementation and ileo rectal anastomosis on intestinal morphology of weaned piglets

Forty eight 21 days old piglets were used to compare the effect of prebiotic or probiotic supplementation and ileo rectal anastomosis on the morphology of the small intestine. Half of the piglets were maintained intact and the other half was subjected to an ileo rectal anastomosis (IRA). Each group of piglets received one of the following diets: 1) basal diet (C), 2) basal diet supplemented with a Xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS), 3) basal diet supplemented with a Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) and 4) basal diet supplemented with XOS and SC. Villus height was greatest with XOS and with XOS + SC, only in the ileum, as compared to controls. In the duodenum, crypt width was highest in the control group, but no significant differences were found in the jejunum and ileum. The IRA piglets had longer villi in the jejunum and shorter villi in the ileum. The crypt depth was greater in the duodenum and in the ileum of IRA piglets. Villus height/crypt depth was lower in the duodenum and in the ileum, in the IRA piglets. In conclusion, the XOS, but not the SC, moderately modified the intestinal morphology. The IRA modified the intestinal villus and crypt architecture but its consequence on the absorption of nutrients needs to be investigated

Simulation in Information Systems: Potential of the vulnerability theory

Systems simulation has been widely used in the last decades in order to analyze the impact of different scenarios in several areas, and its application to information systems in no exception. Analyzing information systems through simulation models is simultaneously much more affordable; it is required a smaller amount of resources and it is less disruptive with the real system. Since information systems are becoming a cornerstone for our society, a failure in these systems can have a huge impact. The theory of vulnerability identifies failures in which small damage can have disproportionate impact consequences in terms of the functionality of the whole system. This paper discusses the use of the theory of vulnerability in information system simulation

Determinants Of Blood Lead Levels In An Adult Population From A Mining Area In Brazil

During the last fifty years the Ribeira river valley, Brazil, had been under the influence of the full activity of a huge lead refinery and mining along the riverside. The plant completely stopped all kind of industrial activities at the end of 1995, and part of the worker population and their families still remain living nearby in small communities. The objective of the present study was to assess the determinants of blood lead levels (BLL) in these mining areas, where residual environmental contamination from the past industrial activity still remains. Blood samples of 350 adults aged 15 to 70, residing in areas around the mine and the refinery were collected. A questionnaire was given in order to gather information on food habits, current and former residential places, occupational activities, among other variables. Blood lead concentrations were analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry using Zeeman background correction. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the independent contribution of selected variables in predicting BLL in those subjects. The following variables showed significant association with high BLL: residential area close to the lead refinery, former dwelling at the refinery village, male gender, smoking habits, and consume of fruits from home back yard.107I127130Berglund, M., Pedersen, N.L., Bjorkman, L., Vahter, M., (1999) Environ Res, 80, pp. 222-230Brody, D.J., Pirkle, J.L., Kramer, R.A., Flegal, K.M., Matte, T.D., Gunter, E.W., Paschal, D.C., (1994) JAMA, 27, pp. 277-283Hense, H.W., Filipiak, B., Novak, L., Stoeppler, M., (1992) Int J Epidem, 21Jakubowski, M., Trzcinka-Ochocka, M., Razniewska, G., Christensen, J.M., Starek, A., (1996) Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 68, pp. 193-198Kristal-Boneh, E., Froom, P., Yerushalmi, N., Ashkanazi, R., Pardo, A., Shine, R., Ribak, J., (1998) Am J Ind Med, 34, pp. 512-516Leroyer, A., Hemon, D., Nisse, C., Bazerques, J., Salomez, J.L., Haguenoer, (2001) Sci Total Environ, 267, pp. 87-99Liou, S.H., Wu, T.N., Chiang, H.C., Yang, G.Y., Yang, T., Wu, Y.Q., Lai, J.S., Chang, P.Y., (1996) Sci Total Environ, 180, pp. 211-219Mahaffey, K.R., (1995) Environ Health Perspect, 103, pp. 191-196Muldoon, S.B., Cauley, J.A., Kuller, L.H., Scott, S., Rohay, J., (1994) Am J Epidemiol, 139, pp. 599-608Ooi, P.L., Goh, K.T., Heng, B.H., Sam, C.T., Kong, K.H., Rajan, U., (1991) Rev Environ Health, 9, pp. 2017-2213Paoliello, M.M.B., Gutierrez, P.R., Turini, C.A., Matsuo, T., Mezzaroba, L., Barbosa, D.S., Alvarenga, A.L.P., Lobo, B., (2001) Pan Am J Public Health, 9, pp. 315-319Probst-Hensch, N., Braun-Fahrlaender, C., Bodenmann, A., Ackermann-Liebrich, U., (1993) Soz Praventivmed, 38, pp. 43-50Yang, J.S., Kang, S.K., Park, I.J., Rhee, K.Y., Moon, Y.H., Sohn, D.H., (1996) Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 68, pp. 199-20

Danio rerio embryos on Prozac – Effects on the detoxification mechanism and embryo development

In the past decade the presence of psychopharmaceuticals, including fluoxetine (FLU), in the aquaticenvironment has been associated with the increasing trend in human consumption of these substances.Aquatic organisms are usually exposed to chronic low doses and, therefore, risk assessments shouldevaluate the effects of these compounds in non-target organisms. Teleost fish possess an array of activedefence mechanisms to cope with the deleterious effects of xenobiotics. These include ABC transporters,phase I and II of cellular detoxification and oxidative stress enzymes. Hence, the present study aimed atcharacterising the effect of FLU on embryo development of the model teleost zebrafish (Danio rerio) con-comitantly with changes in the detoxification mechanisms during early developmental phases. Embryoswere exposed to different concentrations of FLU (0.0015, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 0.8-M) for 80 hours post fer-tilization. Development was screened and the impact in the transcription of key genes, i.e., abcb4, abcc1,abcc2, abcg2, cyp1a, cyp3a65, gst, sod, cat, ahr, pxr, ppar˛, pparˇ, ppar-, rxraa, rxrab, rxrbb, rxrga, rxrgb,raraa, rarab, rarga evaluated. In addition, accumulation assays were performed to measure the activity ofABC proteins and antioxidant enzymes (CAT and Cu/ZnSOD) after exposure to FLU. Embryo developmentwas disrupted at the lowest FLU concentration tested (0.0015 -M), which is in the range of concen-trations found in WWTP effluents. Embryos exposed to higher concentrations of FLU decreased Cu/ZnSOD, and increased CAT (0.0015 and 0.5 -M) enzymatic activity. Exposure to higher concentrations ofFLU decreased the expression of most genes belonging to the detoxification system and upregulated catat 0.0015 -M of FLU. Most of the tested concentrations downregulated ppar˛, pparˇ, ppar-, and raraa,rxraa, rxrab, rxrbb rxrgb and ahr gene expression while pxr was significantly up regulated at all testedconcentrations. In conclusion, this study shows that FLU can impact zebrafish embryo development, atconcentrations found in effluents of WWTPs, concomitantly with changes in antioxidant enzymes, andthe transcription of key genes involved in detoxification and development. These finding raises additionalconcerns supporting the need to monitor the presence of this compound in aquatic reservoirs

Analysis of mangrove forest succession, using sediment cores: A case study in the cananéia -iguape coastal system, São Paulo-Brazil

Sediment cores are an essential tool for the analysis of the dynamics of mangrove succession. Coring was used to correlate changes in depositional environments and lateral sedimentary facies with discrete stages of forest succession at the Cananeia-Iguape Coastal System in southeastern Brazil. A local level successional pattern was examined based on four core series T1) a sediment bank; T2) a smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora bank; T3) an active mangrove progradation fringe dominated by Laguncularia racemosa, and; T4) a mature mangrove forest dominated by Avicennia schaueriana. Cores were macroscopically described in terms of color, texture, sedimentary structure and organic components. The base of all cores exhibited a similar pattern suggesting common vertical progressive changes in depositional conditions and subsequent successional colonization pattern throughout the forest. The progradation zone is an exposed bank, colonized by S. alterniflora. L. racemosa, replaces S. alterniflora as progradation takes place. As the substrate consolidates A. schaueriana replaces L. racemosa and attains the greatest structural development in the mature forest. Cores collected within the A. schaueriana dominated stand contained S. alterniflora fragments near the base, confirming that a smooth cordgrass habitat characterized the establishment and early seral stages. Cores provide a reliable approach to describe local-level successional sequences in dynamic settings subject to drivers operating on multiple temporal and spatial scales where spatial heterogeneity can lead to multiple equilibria and where similar successional end-points may be reached through convergent paths