635 research outputs found
Decapod assemblages in subtidal and intertidal zones - importance of scuba diving as a survey technique in tropical reefs, Brazil
AbstractDecapods play a crucial role within the reef ecosystem and the development of scuba diving as a survey tool has allowed researchers the opportunity to study the decapod–reef relationship more comprehensively. The present study describes the differences in decapod assemblages in intertidal and subtidal zones at a tropical coastal reef system in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean and reports the importance of scuba diving as a survey technique. A total of 71 decapods were recorded during the research; 42 in the intertidal zone mainly formed by small endobenthic species and 39 in the subtidal zone primarily large species only 10 were found to frequent both sample zones. The study extends the range of Brachycarpusholthuisi Fausto Filho 1966 in Brazil; and also demonstrates how scuba diving can be used to complement traditional methodologies and vice versa. The research shows the advantages of using scuba diving when studying trade endangered decapods, as the methodology allows access to cryptic habitats such as reef caves and underwater cavities which were inaccessible when using traditional techniques. In conclusion scuba diving represents a revolutionary non-destructive survey tool allowing the researcher to directly access a specific decapod assemblage in fragile reef environments and in protected marine areas
Influence of dietary Chlorella vulgaris and carbohydrate-active enzymes on growth performance, meat quality and lipid composition of broiler chickens
Article in pressHerein, we investigated the effect of
Chlorella vulgaris as ingredient (10% of incorporation) in
broiler diets, supplemented or not with 2 formulations of
Carbohydrate-Active enZymes (CAZymes; Rovabio
Excel AP and a mixture of recombinant CAZymes,
composed by an exo-b-glucosaminidase, an alginate
lyase, a peptidoglycan N-acetylmuramic acid deacetylase
and a lysozyme), on growth performance, meat quality,
fatty acid composition, oxidative stability, and sensory
traits. One hundred twenty 1-day-old Ross 308 male birds
were randomly assigned to one of the 4 experimental diets
(n 5 30): corn-soybean meal–basal diet (control), basal
diet with 10% C. vulgaris (CV), CV supplemented with
0.005% of a commercialCAZymecocktail (Rovabio Excel
AP), (CV1R), and CV supplemented with 0.01% of a 4-
CAZyme mixture previously selected (CV 1 M) during
the experimental period lasted from day 21 to day 35.
Body weight gain and feed conversion rate of broilers were
not affected by C. vulgaris but digesta viscosity increased more than 2-fold (P , 0.001) relative to the control. In
addition, neither cooking loss, shear force, juiciness, flavor
nor off-flavor was impaired by dietary treatments
(P.0.05). By contrast, the dietary C. vulgaris increased
tenderness, yellowness (b*) and total carotenoids in
breast and thigh meats. However, no additional protective
effect against lipid oxidation was observed in meat
with the inclusion of microalga. Chlorella vulgaris, independently
of CAZymes, had a minor impact on meat fatty
acid composition but improved the proportion of some
beneficial fatty acids. In summary, our data indicate a
slight improvement of broiler meat quality and lipid
nutritional value, without impairment of broilers’ growth
performance, thus supporting the usefulness of this
microalga in poultry diets, up to this high level of incorporation.
By contrast, the selected CAZyme mixtures
used do not significantly improve the release of microalga
nutrients in poultry diets, through the disruption of
microalga cell wall, which warrants further researchinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Range extensions along western Atlantic for Epialtidae crabs (Brachyura, Majoidea) genera Acanthonyx Latreille, 1828 and Epialtus H. Milne Edwards, 1834
The present study provided information extending the known geographical distribution of three species of majoid crabs, the epialtids Acanthonyx dissimulatus Coelho, 1993, Epialtus bituberculatus H. Milne Edwards, 1834, and E. brasiliensis Dana, 1852. Specimens of both genera from different carcinological collections were studied by comparing morphological characters. We provide new data that extends the geographical distributions of E. bituberculatus to the coast of the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina (Brazil), and offer new records from Belize and Costa Rica. Epialtus brasiliensis is recorded for the first time in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), and A. dissimulatus is reported from Quintana Roo, Mexico. The distribution of A. dissimulatus, previously known as endemic to Brazil, has a gap between the states of Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro. However, this restricted southern distribution is herein amplified by the Mexican specimens
Age-related shift in LTD is dependent on neuronal adenosine A(2A) receptors interplay with mGluR5 and NMDA receptors
Synaptic dysfunction plays a central role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), since it drives the cognitive decline. An association between a polymorphism of the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) encoding gene-ADORA2A, and hippocampal volume in AD patients was recently described. In this study, we explore the synaptic function of A2AR in age-related conditions. We report, for the first time, a significant overexpression of A2AR in hippocampal neurons of aged humans, which is aggravated in AD patients. A similar profile of A2AR overexpression in rats was sufficient to drive age-like memory impairments in young animals and to uncover a hippocampal LTD-to-LTP shift. This was accompanied by increased NMDA receptor gating, dependent on mGluR5 and linked to enhanced Ca(2+) influx. We confirmed the same plasticity shift in memory-impaired aged rats and APP/PS1 mice modeling AD, which was rescued upon A2AR blockade. This A2AR/mGluR5/NMDAR interaction might prove a suitable alternative for regulating aberrant mGluR5/NMDAR signaling in AD without disrupting their constitutive activity
Synthesis, antileishmanial activity and QSAR studies of 2-chloro- N -arylacetamides
ABSTRACT We describe herein the synthesis and evaluation of the antileishmanial activity against promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis and cytotoxicity to murine macrophages of a series of 2-chloro-N-arylacetamide derivatives. All compounds were active, except one (compound 3). Compound 5 presented the most promising results, showing good antileishmanial activity (CI50=5.39±0.67 µM) and moderate selectivity (SI=6.36), indicating that further development of this class is worthwhile. Preliminary QSAR studies, although not predictive, furnished some insights on the importance of electronic character of aryl substituent to biological activity, as well as an indirect influence of hydrophobicity on activity
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