Ingestive Behavior of Beef Cattle Fed Either Protein or Energy Supplements under a Rotational Grazing System

Eight Nellore bullocks were assigned to a Tanzânia grass pasture (Panicum maximum Jacq.) under a rotational grazing system, to evaluate the ingestive behavior under two different grazing residues. Stocking rate intensity was used to reach either 1000 kg DM.ha-1 (R1) or 4000 kg DM.ha-1 (R2) as residual targets. Three grazing days followed by 33 days resting period, composed a 36 day grazing cycle. Each grazing plot supported four animals, in a 4x4 Latin square design, within the following supplementation rates and sources: S1 = no supplement; S2 = 2,0 kg DM.day-1 coarsely ground corn - 8 mm sieve; S3 = 2,0 kg DM.day-1 steam flaked corn (360 g/L) and S4 = 0,7 kg DM.day-1 soybean meal. Grazing behavior measurements were taken every 15 days after 9 a day adaptation period, during two consecutive summer grazing cycles. Animal activities were recorded every 5 minutes during day time and 15 minutes during night time throughout a 24 hour period. Supplementation with S2 decreased (P \u3c 0,05) rumination time under a higher grazing residue (R2). Both grazing and rumination time were increased and led to a decreased resting time (P \u3c 0,05) in R2 animals compared with R1

Evolutionary processes underlying latitudinal differences in reef fish biodiversity

Aim: To examine the dynamics among the processes of speciation, extinction and dispersal in marine environments using phylogenies to reveal the evolutionary mechanisms that promote latitudinal differences in biodiversity. Using phylogenetic comparative methods we assess whether tropical reef fish lineages show higher diversification rates and whether the majority of extratropical reef fish lineages have originated from tropical areas. Location: Shallow water tropical and extratropical reefs globally. Methods: Using fossil-calibrated phylogenies for four reef-associated fish families (Chaetodontidae, Labridae, Pomacentridae and Sparidae) we apply evolutionary models (GeoSSE and HiSSE) that allow the estimation of speciation, extinction and dispersal rates associated with geographical ranges and explore potential biases from unsampled characters. Results: We found that tropical lineages show higher rates of speciation and tended to have lower extinction rates. Overall, we identify higher net diversification rates for tropical lineages compared with those in extratropical regions in all four families. Rates of dispersal tended to be higher for lineages with tropical origins expanding into extratropical regions. Within the family Labridae, two tropical lineages were found to exhibit higher net diversification rates, above that expected from latitudinal differences. Main conclusions : Our results offer support for the predictions of the out of the tropics' and evolutionary speed' models of evolution, both of which highlight the marine tropics as an important evolutionary engine promoting latitudinal differences in reef fish biodiversity. Moreover, we find that two tropical labrid lineages are undergoing exceptional diversification associated with additional traits, possibly linked with the extreme sexual dichromatism observed in both clades

KINEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY’S BEHAVIOR IN SQUATS WITH THREE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DECLINATION

The squat is an exercise helpful in the sport’s environment (Escamilla, 2001). The use of a skid under the heels during its execution has become common. Many studies have approached biomechanics analyses from the squat’s movement (Kongsgaard et al, 2006). However, we didn’t find studies that analysis the use of a skid in the training. Thus, the aim of this initial study was to analyse the kinematic behavior of the lower extremity during the bilateral squat with a straight bar in three different levels of declination

An outlier-resistant κ\kappa-generalized approach for robust physical parameter estimation

In this work we propose a robust methodology to mitigate the undesirable effects caused by outliers to generate reliable physical models. In this way, we formulate the inverse problems theory in the context of Kaniadakis statistical mechanics (or $\kappa$-statistics), in which the classical approach is a particular case. In this regard, the errors are assumed to be distributed according to a finite-variance $\kappa$-generalized Gaussian distribution. Based on the probabilistic maximum-likelihood method we derive a $\kappa$-objective function associated with the finite-variance $\kappa$-Gaussian distribution. To demonstrate our proposal's outlier-resistance, we analyze the robustness properties of the $\kappa$-objective function with help of the so-called influence function. In this regard, we discuss the role of the entropic index ($\kappa$) associated with the Kaniadakis $\kappa$-entropy in the effectiveness in inferring physical parameters by using strongly noisy data. In this way, we consider a classical geophysical data-inverse problem in two realistic circumstances, in which the first one refers to study the sensibility of our proposal to uncertainties in the input parameters, and the second is devoted to the inversion of a seismic data set contaminated by outliers. The results reveal an optimum $\kappa$-value at the limit $\kappa \rightarrow 2/3$, which is related to the best results.Comment: 37 pages, 23 figure

Melatonin Attenuates The Tlr4-mediated Inflammatory Response Through Myd88-and Trif-dependent Signaling Pathways In An In Vivo Model Of Ovarian Cancer

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Background: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are effector molecules expressed on the surface of ovarian cancer (OC) cells, but the functions of the TLR2/TLR4 signaling pathways in these cells remain unclear. Melatonin (mel) acts as an anti-inflammatory factor and has been reported to modulate TLRs in some aggressive tumor cell types. Therefore, we investigated OC and the effect of long-term mel therapy on the signaling pathways mediated by TLR2 and TLR4 via myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and toll-like receptor-associated activator of interferon (TRIF) in an ethanol-preferring rat model. Methods: To induce OC, the left ovary of animals either consuming 10% (v/v) ethanol or not was injected directly under the bursa with a single dose of 100 mu g of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA) dissolved in 10 mu L of sesame oil. The right ovaries were used as sham-surgery controls. After developing OC, half of the animals received i.p. injections of mel (200 mu g/100 g b.w./day) for 60 days. Results: Although mel therapy was unable to reduce TLR2 levels, it was able to suppress the OC-associated increase in the levels of the following proteins: TLR4, MyD88, nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB p65), inhibitor of NFkB alpha (IkB alpha), IkB kinase alpha (IKK-alpha), TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6), TRIF, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), interferon beta (IFN-beta), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin (IL)-6. In addition, mel significantly attenuated the expression of IkB alpha, NFkB p65, TRIF and IRF-3, which are involved in TLR4-mediated signaling in OC during ethanol intake. Conclusion: Collectively, our results suggest that mel attenuates the TLR4-induced MyD88- and TRIF-dependent signaling pathways in ethanol-preferring rats with OC.15Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [2011/19294-9, 2013/02466-7

Aerobic Swim Training Restores Aortic Endothelial Function by Decreasing Superoxide Levels in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine whether aerobic training decreases superoxide levels, increases nitric oxide levels, and improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats. METHODS: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were distributed into 2 groups: sedentary (SHRsd and WKYsd, n=10 each) and swimming-trained (SHRtr, n=10 and WKYtr, n=10, respectively). The trained group participated in training sessions 5 days/week for 1 h/day with an additional work load of 4% of the animal’s body weight. After a 10-week sedentary or aerobic training period, the rats were euthanized. The thoracic aortas were removed to evaluate the vasodilator response to acetylcholine (10-10 to 10-4 M) with or without preincubation with L-NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME; 10-4 M) in vitro. The aortic tissue was also used to assess the levels of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase subunit isoforms 1 and 4 proteins, as well as the superoxide and nitrite contents. Blood pressure was measured using a computerized tail-cuff system. RESULTS: Aerobic training significantly increased the acetylcholine-induced maximum vasodilation observed in the SHRtr group compared with the SHRsd group (85.9±4.3 vs. 71.6±5.2%). Additionally, in the SHRtr group, superoxide levels were significantly decreased, nitric oxide bioavailability was improved, and the levels of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase subunit isoform 4 protein were decreased compared to the SHRsd group. Moreover, after training, the blood pressure of the SHRtr group decreased compared to the SHRsd group. Exercise training had no effect on the blood pressure of the WKYtr group. CONCLUSIONS: In SHR, aerobic swim training decreased vascular superoxide generation by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase subunit isoform 4 and increased nitric oxide bioavailability, thereby improving endothelial function

Factors associated with the prescription of vaginal pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse

OBJECTIVE: To identify the factors associated with the prescription of vaginal pessaries (VPs) as a conservative treatment for pelvic organ prolapse (POP). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed during two annual urogynecology and general obstetrics and gynecology meetings in 2017 (Sa˜o Paulo, SP, Brazil). A 19-item deidentified questionnaire regarding experiences and practices in prescribing VPs for POP patients was distributed among gynecologists. Our primary outcome was the frequency of prescribing VPs as a conservative treatment for POP. The reasons for prescribing or not prescribing VPs were also investigated. Univariate and multivariate analyses with crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were performed for variables associated with the prescription of pessaries. RESULTS: Three hundred forty completed surveys were analyzed. Half of the respondents (53.53%) were between 30-49 years old; most of them were female (73.53%), were from the Southeast Region (64.12%), were trained in obstetrics and gynecology (80.24%) or urogynecology (61.18%) and worked in private offices (63.42%). More than one-third (36.48%) attended four or more POP cases/week, and 97.65% (n=332) had heard or knew about VPs for POP; however, only 47.06% (n=160) prescribed or offered this treatment to patients. According to the multivariate analysis, physicians aged 18-35 years (OR=1.97[1.00-3.91]; p=0.04), those who participated in a previous urogynecology fellowship (OR=2.34[1.34-4.09]; po0.01), those with relatively high volumes of POP cases (4 or +) (OR=2.23[1.21-4.47]; p=0.01) and those with PhD degrees (OR=2.75[1.01-7.54]; p=0.05) prescribed more pessaries. CONCLUSIONS: Most gynecologists did not prescribe VPs. Younger physician age, participation in a previous urogynecology fellowship, a PhD degree, and a relatively high volume of POP cases were associated with increased VP prescription rates

Essential oil from Ageratum fastigiatum reduces expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peripheral blood leukocytes subjected to in vitro stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate

AbstractAgeratum fastigiatum (Gardner) R.M. King & H. Rob., a member of the Asteraceae family popularly known in Brazil as “matapasto”, is indicated in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Despite its popular use, little is known about its potential effect on the parameters involved in an inflammatory response. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of the essential oil from A. fastigiatum and to evaluate the frequency of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma producing cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate in the presence of essential oil from A. fastigiatum. Non-toxic concentrations of essential oil from A. fastigiatum were evaluated in cultures of peripheral blood leucocytes using the trypan blue exclusion assay by flow cytometry. GC–MS analysis revealed that the prevalent compounds identified in the essential oil from A. fastigiatum sample were α-pinene, limonene, trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, caryophyllene oxide, 1,2-humulene-epoxide, 1,6-humulanodien-3-ol, and α-cadinol. Results showed that exposure to essential oil from A. fastigiatum at concentrations of 0.5×10−2 and 1×10−2μl/ml caused no alterations in leukocyte viability as compared to the control group. Both concentrations lowered the percentage of tumor necrosis factor alpha (+)-lymphocytes and neutrophils. There were no changes in the percentage of lymphocytes positive for the interferon gamma cytokine. Our results suggest that part of the anti-inflammatory activity attributed to A. fastigiatum may be due to the effect of some of its components in decreasing the number of cells that produce the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha

Size of the Ovulatory Follicle Dictates Spatial Differences in the Oviductal Transcriptome in Cattle

In cattle, molecular control of oviduct receptivity to the embryo is poorly understood. Here, we used a bovine model for receptivity based on size of the pre-ovulatory follicle to compare oviductal global and candidate gene transcript abundance on day 4 of the estrous cycle. Growth of the pre-ovulatory follicle (POF) of Nelore (Bos indicus) cows was manipulated to produce two groups: large POF large corpus luteum (CL) group (LF-LCL; greater receptivity) and small POF-small CL group (SF-SCL). Oviductal samples were collected four days after GnRH-induced ovulation. Ampulla and isthmus transcriptome was obtained by RNA-seq, regional gene expression was assessed by qPCR, and PGR and ERa protein distribution was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. There was a greater abundance of PGR and ERa in the oviduct of LF-LCL animals thus indicating a greater availability of receptors and possibly sex steroids stimulated signaling in both regions. Transcriptomic profiles indicated a series of genes associated with functional characteristics of the oviduct that are regulated by the periovulatory sex steroid milieu and that potentially affect oviductal receptivity and early embryo development. They include tissue morphology changes (extra cellular matrix remodeling), cellular changes (proliferation), and secretion changes (growth factors, ions and metal transporters), and were enriched for the genes with increased expression in the LF-LCL group. In conclusion, differences in the periovulatory sex steroid milieu lead to different oviductal gene expression profiles that could modify the oviductal environment to affect embryo survival and development