Herbage Accumulation and Animal Performance on Xaraes Palisade Grass Subjected to Intensities of Continuous Stocking Management

The large majority of species used in Brazil belong to the Brachiaria and Panicum genus, with marandu paladisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich) cv. Marandu) being the main cultivated forage grass species (Santos Filho 1996). Brachiaria brizantha cv. xaraés (xaraes palisade grass) was released as an option for diversifying forage species, and it had the advantages of fast regrowth and herbage yield, favouring larger stocking rates and animal productivity (Euclides et al. 2008; 2009). The objective of this study was to evaluate herbage accumulation and animal performance of beef cattle steers grazing continuously stocked xaraes palisade grass managed at 15, 30 and 45 cm

PARTNESHIP – A STRATEGY FOR HEALTH PROMOTION

Experiência de parceria do Núcleo de Convivência em Situações Crônicas de Saúde (NUCRON), a Associação Catarinenese de Ostomizados (ACO) e do Programa de Assistência ao Ostomizado (PAO). O processo de parceria iniciou em 1989, durante o qual foram conduzidos quatro projetos conjuntos, com enfoques na descoberta das potencialidades dos grupos e na expansão da ACO. A idéia de parceria foi criada para envolver os associados da ACO num processo de desenvolvimento de suas potencialidades individuais e coletivas e, com isso, fortalecer e expandir a ACO.The focus is on the partnership experience of the NUCRON (Nucleus ps Studies on chronical conditions.) ACO (Ostomized Association of the State of Santa Catarina) and the PAO (Program of Ostomized Patient Care). The partnership has been in progress since 1989, period in wich four research projects were conduted. The main partnership purpose was to envolve the ostomized patientes in a process os discovering their own potentialities in order to transform the ACO in a powerful Association

Use of epidermic and granulocyte-colony stimulating growth factors in the prevention and treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis of the newborn

OBJETIVO: Revisar os conhecimentos existentes em relação ao uso de fatores de crescimento epidérmico e estimulador de colônias de granulócitos na prevenção e/ou no tratamento da enterocolite necrosante (ECN) durante o período neonatal. FONTES DE DADOS: Revisão da literatura, nas bases de dados Medline, Lilacs, SciELO e PubMed, utilizando os unitermos "recém-nascidos", "enterocolite" e "fatores de crescimento", no período de 2003 a 2007. Nesta busca, 49 artigos foram encontrados, sendo 17 pertinentes ao tema. Também foram utilizados outros artigos, independente do ano de publicação, relacionados a aspectos definidores da ECN no recém-nascido. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: A ECN continua sendo responsável por uma elevada morbimortalidade neonatal. Os mecanismos fisiopatológicos vêm sendo elucidados e, a partir deles, são discutidas novas terapias, como o uso de fatores de crescimento, destacando-se o fator de crescimento epidérmico e o fator estimulador de colônias de granulócitos. CONCLUSÕES: O uso de fatores de crescimento no tratamento e prevenção da ECN neonatal parece promissor. É necessário maior número de ensaios clínicos para comprovar sua eficácia e segurança. Enquanto isso, a melhor prática médica continua sendo a prevenção da doença.OBJECTIVE: To review the literature regarding the use of hematopoietic and epidermic growth factors for prevention or treatment of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). DATA SOURCES: Literature review of Medline, Lilacs, SciELO and Pubmed databases, using the key-words "newborn", "enterocolitis" and "growth factors", from 2003 to 2007. Fourty-nine papers were retrieved, but only 17 related to the subject. Other studies that described some clinical aspects of enterocolitis were also included, regardless of the year of publication. DATA SYNTHESIS: Necrotizing and enterocolitis has been an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal period. As the knowledge about the pathophysiology of this disease improves, new therapies, such as the administration of epidermal growth factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, are being discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of growth factors for treatment and prevention of NEC seems promising. However, further clinics assays are needed to evaluate the effectiveness and the safety of these growth factors. At this moment, the best clinical practice is the prevention of the disease

Grazing Management Flexibility in Pastures Subjected to Rotational Stocking Management: Herbage Production and Chemical Composition of Kikuyu-Grass Swards

Several recent papers published on tropical pastures have pointed out that under rotational stocking management regrowth should be interrupted when canopy light interception is 95% (LI). Further, these studies have revealed a positive and high correlation between LI and sward height, allowing LI management targets to be defined in terms of sward height. However, there are some indications that lower pre-grazing heights relative to those targets would result in similar leaf accumulation without interfering with sward persistence. The objective of this paper was to verify a possible flexibility of such pre-grazing height targets. A replicated experiment was conducted with treatments corresponding to four pre-grazing height targets (25 cm, corresponding to a canopy light interception of 95%; 20; 15 and 10 cm), which were associated with a single severity of grazing equivalent to removal of 50% of initial height, leaving four post-grazing heights (12.5, 10.0, 7.5 and 5 cm, respectively). Preliminary results indicated that there were no differences in rate of herbage accumulation, herbage yield and crude protein, NDF and ADF contents on swards managed with the pre-grazing targets of 15, 20 and 25 cm. Swards managed with the 10 cm pre-grazing target had the highest contents of CP and lowest contents of NDF and ADF, but herbage accumulation was reduced. Overall, the findings indicate that there may be some flexibility in targets of pre-grazing sward height, provided that defoliation severity is moderate and does not interfere with herbage yield and quality. In that context, targets of pre-grazing sward height defined in terms of canopy light interception would correspond to the maximum value of the possible range of values to be used

A CHARACTERISTIC OF LINKING RESEARCH PROJECT WITH NURSING CARE ACTIVITIES

Comunicamos uma experiência de processo envolvendo pesquisa, assistência e educação através da parceria do NUCRON, ACO e PAO com o propósito de mobilizar uma organização de grupos de pessoas ostomizadas e de profissionais da saúde para a intercomunicação de suportes para articulação em redes de serviços e associações. Utilizamos vários métodos e técnicas de trabalho tais como: mapeamento, seminários, questionários, reuniões, entrevistas, cursos, discussões em grupos. Os resultados permitiram: 1) visualização da distribuição dos núcleos do Estado de Santa Catarina onde os ostomizados recebem assistência; 2) Ter uma aproximação com a realidade vivenciada pelos ostomizados, e 3) conhecer o grande potencial do grupo de ostomizados e o desejo de implementar as várias decisões assumidas como compromisso o processo.The purpose of this study was to conduct a group organizational process with ostomized patients and health professionals in order to start an intercommunication system between the health service personal and the client association members. This experience has involved a research project, some education activities and a nursing care process. We have utilized various procedures such as: seminars, meetings, interview, questionairs and courses. The resoults showed the health facilities distribution; the ostomized patients reality and their potentialities for implementing the intercommunication process according to their undertaken decisions

Chemical constituents of the underground stem bark of Duguetia furfuracea (Annonaceae)

In the present investigation the underground parts of Duguetia furfuracea (Annonaceae) were used to conduct a phytochemical study that included the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality bioassay. The substances (-)-duguetine beta-N-oxide, (-)-duguetine, dicentrinone, (-)-N-methyltetrahydropalmatine, and (+)-N-methylglaucine were isolated from the alkaloid extract of the bark of the underground stem, and the ureide allantoin was also isolated by precipitation from the ethanol extract of the wood of the underground stem. A fresh volatile oil and a nonpolar extract were also obtained from the underground stem bark. The substances 2,4,5-trimethoxystyrene, a-gurjunene, aromadendrene, bicyclogermacrene, (E)-methylisoeugenol, and alpha-asarone were isolated from the fresh volatile oil and polycarpol, beta-caryophyllene oxide, 2,4,5-trimethoxystyrene, a-asarone, and asaraldehyde were obtained from the petroleum ether extract. The present study describes for the first time the alkaloid (-)-duguetine beta-N-oxide and the occurrence of (-)-N-methyltetrahydropalmatine and (+)-N-methylglaucine in the family Annonaceae. All extracts were active in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay

Pré-tratamento de resíduos agro-industriais e novas perspectivas na produção de bioprodutos

Visando contribuir para a melhoria das condições ambientais pela eliminação dos resíduos agrícolas/agroindustriais, bem como proporcionar a formação de uma linha de pesquisa com propósito de captar e disseminar informações técnicas e tecnológicas agregando maior valor nestes subprodutos ou resíduos é que o presente trabalho foi realizado. Deste modo, o sabugo de milho in natura foi submetido a dois diferentes processos de prétratamento para a extração das hemiceluloses, como etapa inicial de aplicação integral do resíduo, onde posteriormente estudos e aplicação do complexo celulose-lignina resultante seriam realizados. Dentro deste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a eficiência de extração de frações de hemiceluloses de sabugo de milho por processos alcalinos (0,75 a 1,25 mol/L em 42,5ºC/180 min), e processos de autohidrólise (165 a 185ºC, razão líquida de 10:1p/p por 40 min). Este procedimento indicou o potencial de pré-tratamentos, em especial dos licores hemicelulosicos obtidos, como parte de um processo que conduza à utilização de materiais lignocelulósicos em diferentes processos biotecnológicos

Age group, location or pedagogue: factors affecting parental choice of kindergartens in Hungary

Hungary has experienced significant political, economic, demographic and social changes since the end of Soviet domination in the 1990s. The gradual move towards liberal-democracy has been accompanied by growing emphasis on individualism, choice and diversity. Universal kindergarten provision for 5-6 year olds is a long established feature of the Hungarian education system, but little is known about parental choice (Török, 2004). A case study (Yin, 2004) of factors influencing parental choice and satisfaction was undertaken in one Hungarian town. This was based on a survey of 251 parents of children attending both mixed-age and same-age groups across 12 kindergartens. Parents suggested that the most important influences were geographical location and the individual pedagogue(s). Given that traditionally each pedagogue follows ‘their’ cohort from kindergarten entry to primary school, their influence appears heightened. Although generally satisfied with their chosen arrangement, parents from same-age groups expressed significantly more confidence and satisfaction, particularly in relation to cognitive development and preparation for school. Parents appear less convinced about the trend towards mixed-age groups and questions are raised about sufficiency of evidence of their benefits in a Hungarian context and the driving factors behind change

Caryocar brasiliense camb protects against genomic and oxidative damage in urethane-induced lung carcinogenesis

The antioxidant effects of Caryocar brasiliense Camb, commonly known as the pequi fruit, have not been evaluated to determine their protective effects against oxidative damage in lung carcinogenesis. In the present study, we evaluated the role of pequi fruit against urethane-induced DNA damage and oxidative stress in forty 8-12 week old male BALB/C mice. An in vivo comet assay was performed to assess DNA damage in lung tissues and changes in lipid peroxidation and redox cycle antioxidants were monitored for oxidative stress. Prior supplementation with pequi oil or its extract (15 µL, 60 days) significantly reduced urethane-induced oxidative stress. A protective effect against DNA damage was associated with the modulation of lipid peroxidation and low protein and gene expression of nitric oxide synthase. These findings suggest that the intake of pequi fruit might protect against in vivo genotoxicity and oxidative stress