Effects of exposure to soy isoflavones on the reproductive health of male rabbits

Orientador: Sonia Nair BaoTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: Este estudo foi proposto para avaliar se a exposição perinatal (gestacional e lactacional) ou crônica a isoflavonas em dieta contendo soja ou na forma de concentrados de isoflavonas pode comprometer a saúde reprodutiva de coelhos machos. No primeiro experimento, fêmeas foram alimentadas com dieta contendo soja ou dieta isenta de soja e alfafa, suplementada com 10 ou 20 mg/kg/dia de isoflavonas ao longo da gestação e lactação. O grupo controle foi mantido somente com a dieta isenta de soja e alfafa. Na desmama, foram avaliados o peso e a morfologia dos órgãos do aparelho reprodutor e os níveis séricos de testosterona de parte dos filhotes machos. O restante deles foi submetido à dieta controle desde a desmama até a fase adulta. Após a puberdade, os animais foram avaliados quanto ao comportamento sexual, qualidade do sêmen e morfologia dos órgãos reprodutivos. No segundo experimento, fêmeas foram alimentadas com as mesmas dietas empregadas no primeiro experimento, porém a suplementação com isoflavonas foi realizada com doses variando de 2,5 a 20 mg/kg/dia. As doses de isoflavonas foram selecionadas com base em estimativas da ingestão de isoflavonas a partir do consumo de alimentos derivados da soja. Após a desmama, os filhotes machos receberam a mesma dieta fornecida para suas respectivas mães até o fim do experimento. Foi avaliado nestes animais a idade à puberdade, qualidade do sêmen e o comportamento sexual, e, na 33ª semana de vida o peso e a morfologia dos órgãos reprodutivos. Os resultados deste estudo foram baseados em dados obtidos da avaliação de 100 machos num período de 3 anos. O número de espermatozóides esteve de acordo com os valores da literatura para coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia e não variou significativamente em relação ao grupo controle, embora o volume de sêmen tenha sido menor em coelhos expostos à alta dose de isoflavonas (20 mg/kg/dia). O peso dos órgãos reprodutivos não diferiu estatisticamente do grupo controle e não houve evidência de malformações genitais, alterações metaplásicas, ou qualquer outra alteração histopatológica correlacionada com os tratamentos. Nos jovens, a análise histológica dos testículos não revelou diferenças no desenvolvimento gonadal. Coelhos suplementados de forma crônica com 20 mg/kg/dia de isoflavonas apresentaram menor ingestão de alimentos e peso corporal na fase adulta. Este achado é economicamente importante na produção animal; todavia os animais alimentados com a dieta contendo soja apresentaram na 33ª semana de idade consumo de alimento e peso corporal maiores em 6 e 4% respectivamente do que os animais do grupo controle (P < 0,05). Apesar dos recentes alertas, os resultados deste estudo não suportam a hipótese de que a exposição à isoflavonas em doses compatíveis com o consumo de alimentos à base de soja possa comprometer a saúde reprodutiva masculinaAbstract: This study was proposed to determine if perinatal (that is gestation and lactation) or chronic exposure to isoflavones trough consumption of soy containing diet or semipurified soy isoflavones may disrupt male reproductive health of rabbits. In the first experiment, groups of dams were fed either soy containing diet or soy and alfafa free diet supplemented with soy isoflavones at levels of 10 and 20 mg/kg/day throughout gestation and lactation. The control group was kept on soy and alfafa free diet only. Reproductive organs weight and morphology and serum levels of testosterone of part of the male offspring were evaluated at weaning. Remaining males were subjected to the control diet from weaning to adulthood. Sexual behavior, semen quality and reproductive organs morphology were evaluated after puberty. In the second experiment, groups of dams were fed same diets employed in the experiment 1, but supplementation with isoflavones were performed with doses ranging from 2,5 to 20 mg/kg/day. Dose levels of isoflavones were selected on the basis of the reported estimative of isoflavones intake from the consumption of soy-based foods. After weaning, male offspring received the same diet, which was given to the respective mother. The age that males reached puberty, semen quality and sexual behavior were evaluated in these animals and at 33 weeks of age reproductive organs weight and morphology were analyzed. Results of this study were sustained by data from the evaluation of 100 males in a period of 3 years. Sperm counts was within literature values for New Zealand rabbits and did not vary significantly in relation to control group, although semen volume has been lesser in rabbits exposed to high levels of isoflavones (20 mg/kg/dia). Reproductive organs weight did not differ statistically from the control, and there was no gross evidence of genital malformations, metaplastic changes, or any histopathologic alteration that was correlated with the treatments. In the young rabbits, histological analysis of the testes did not revel differences in gonadal development. Rabbits chronically supplemented with 20 mg/kg/day of soy isoflavones showed lesser food intake and body weight at adulthood. This find is economically important in animal production; however the animals fed soy containing diet showed food consumption and body weight 6 and 4%, respectively higher than animals of the control group at 33 weeks of age (P <0.05). In conclusion, despite recent alerts, results of this study did not support the hypothesis that isoflavones consumption at dietary levels may impair male reproductive healthDoutoradoBiologia CelularDoutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutura

A influência do credito rural no programa INOVAGRO - Inovação na Agropecuária

Com o objetivo de buscar analisar a influência do crédito rural em um programa de crédito agropecuário dirigido à inovação, mais especificamente em relação ao Inovagro, destinado a incentivar a inovação na agropecuária, foi realizado um apanhado da literatura disponível e da conceituação sobre o que é inovação e de dados sobre a agropecuária brasileira. O programa Inovagro, coordenado pelo BNDES e pelo Ministério da Agricultura, apesar de ser mais favorável financeiramente aos produtores, tem certas dificuldades e condicionantes para ser acessado, além de ser relativamente desconhecido pelos produtores por ter apenas cinco anos de efetiva implantação. Por isso foi efetuada uma pesquisa entre bancos e cooperativas concedentes desse crédito, bem como entre os tomadores para se conhecer a receptividade do referido programa. Constatou-se uma crescente participação dos produtores e entendimento do Inovagro no que tange às suas vantagens em disseminar boas práticas agropecuárias, fixação do conhecimento de técnicas de maior produtividade, menor custo, eficácia e efetividade, gerando maior rentabilidade e produção de melhor qualidade, embora os custos iniciais possam ser maiores. Foram apresentadas algumas recomendações para que o Inovagro seja cada vez mais utilizado pelo governo, preferencialmente ao crédito direcionado de outras linhas, bem como para que haja melhor divulgação junto aos interessados tomadores e concedentes.With the objective of analyzing the influence of rural credit in an agricultural credit program aimed at innovation, more specifically in relation to Inovagro, aimed at encouraging innovation in agriculture, a survey was made of available literature and the conceptualization of what is innovation and data on Brazilian agriculture. The Inovagro program, coordinated by the BNDES and the Ministry of Agriculture, despite being more financially favorable to producers, has certain difficulties and constraints to be accessed, in addition to being relatively unknown by producers for having only five years of effective implementation. Therefore, a survey was carried out between banks and cooperatives granting this credit, as well as among the borrowers to know the receptivity of said program. Increased participation of Inovagro producers and understanding of their advantages in disseminating good farming practices, establishing knowledge of higher productivity techniques, lower costs, effectiveness and effectiveness, generating higher profitability and better quality production was verified the initial costs may be higher. Some recommendations were made for Inovagro to be increasingly used by the government, preferentially to directed credit from other lines, as well as for better disclosure to the interested borrowers and grantors.47 p.InovaçãoPolíticas PúblicasEspecialização em Gestão de Políticas Públicas de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação - 1ª EdiçãoOrientador: Gilson Alceu Bittencour

Comparative cytogenetics of two species of genus Scobinancistrus (Siluriformes, Loricariidae, Ancistrini) from the Xingu River, Brazil

The family Loricariidae encompasses approximately 800 species distributed in six subfamilies. The subfamily Hypostominae consists of five tribes; of them, the tribe Ancistrini is relatively diverse, but it is not well known from the cytogenetic point of view. Genus Scobinancistrus Isbrücker et Nijssen, 1989, which is part of the tribe Ancistrini, has two species that occur in sympatry in the Xingu River, Brazil. In this work, we performed the first karyotypic characterizations of these two species and sought to identify the processes involved in their karyotypic evolution. Chromosomal preparations were subjected to Giemsa staining, silver nitrate impregnation, C-banding, CMA3 staining, DAPI staining, and FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) with 18S rDNA and telomeric probes. We found that S. aureatus Burgess, 1994 and S. pariolispos Isbrücker et Nijssen, 1989 shared the diploid number, 2n=52, but differed in their karyotypic formulae (KFs), distribution of constitutive heterochromatin (CH), and the localizations of their nucleolus organizer regions (NORs), which were found on the interstitial and distal regions of the long arm of chromosome pair 3 in S. aureatus and S. pariolispos respectively. We suggest that these interspecific variations may have arisen via paracentric inversion or transposition of the NOR. The karyotypic differences found between these two Scobinancistrus species can be used to identify them taxonomically, and may have functioned as a mechanism of post-zygotic reproductive isolation during the speciation process

Diseño óptimo de un proceso de captura de CO2 mediante un sistema de reactores rotatorios

70 páginas. Maestría en Ingeniería de Procesos.La intensificación de procesos ha sido una herramienta empleada en diferentes campos de estudio como el de energía, ingeniería química y de procesos, con la finalidad de reducir costos de diseño y operación. El proceso de captura de CO2 ha sido estudiado bajo las condiciones de intensificación presentando buenos resultados. El presente trabajo presenta la solución a un problema de minimización de costos de diseño y operación de una planta piloto de captura de bióxido de carbono, la cual usa reactores rotatorios para la captura del gas y la regeneración del absorbente (Monoetanolamina). El diseño óptimo de la planta tiene como objetivo encontrar el tamaño adecuado para los equipos principales del proceso como son los reactores rotatorios y el intercambiador de calor. La solución de este problema se realiza a través de la selección de modelos matemáticos representativos de los equipos utilizados obtenidos de la literatura, así mismo se localizan restricciones importantes para el correcto y verdadero funcionamiento de la planta; además se comparan los resultados obtenidos con los de una planta que utiliza columnas de absorción y desorción. Los resultados revelan una reducción de tamaño significativa, en contraste, los costos de operación incrementan. Sin embargo, el costo total se reduce considerablemente.Process intensification has been a tool used in different fields of study such as energy, chemical and process engineering, in order to reduce design and operation costs. The CO2 capture process has been studied under the intensification conditions presenting good results. The present work presents the solution to a problem of minimization of design and operation costs of a pilot carbon dioxide capture plant, which uses rotary reactors for gas capture and regeneration of the absorbent (Monoethanolamine). The optimal design of the plant aims to find the right size for the main equipment of the process such as rotary reactors and heat exchanger. The solution of this problem is made through the selection of representative mathematical models of the equipment used obtained from the literature, as well as important restrictions for the correct and true operation of the plant; In addition, the results obtained are compared with those of a plant that uses absorption and desorption columns. The results reveal a significant reduction in size, in contrast, operating costs increase. However, the total cost is greatly reduced

Mycorrhizal Association and Plant Disease Protection: New Perspectives

Soil fungi of the phylum Glomeromycota and plants form arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. The AM fungi, during the symbiosis, establish a sink for plant photosynthate by utilizing it for biomass and metabolic energy, while the AM plants obtain nutrients and water through the AMF hyphae. The benefits of AM symbiosis on plant fitness include better mineral nutrition, especially those that are immobile in soil solution (e.g., phosphorus, copper, and zinc), and higher tolerance of mycorrhizal plants to abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, high soil temperature, presence of heavy metals, and others abiotic factors. Recent studies have revealed that AMF can suppress pests and plant diseases by the activation of defense regulatory genes. The knowledge of the mechanisms behind the induction of resistance by mycorrhizal symbiosis (mycorrhizal-induced resistance [MIR]) remains unknown. This chapter describes the current advanced status of the role of MIR in plant disease protection

The human side of social technology for climate change mitigation and human development: the case of "efficient stoves" in Brazil

Carbon management has gradually gained attention within the overall environmental management and corporate social responsibility agendas. The clean development mechanism, from Kyoto Protocol, was envisioned as connecting carbon market and sustainable development objectives in developing countries. Previous research has shown that this potential is rarely being achieved. The paper explores how the incorporation of the human side into carbon management reinforces its contribution to generate human development in local communities and to improve the company's image. A case study of a Brazilian company is presented, with the results of the application of an analytical model that incorporates the human side and human development. The selected project is an "efficient stoves" programme. "Efficient stoves" are recognised in Brazil as social technologies. Results suggest that the fact that social technologies value the human side of the technology plays a key role when it comes to analysing the co-benefits of the project implementation