Avaliação dos indicadores indigestíveis na estimativa de produção fecal e digestibilidade em ovinos e caprinos

The objective of this study was to compare the indirect methods of obtaining digestibility with the direct method of total fecal collection to estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients in sheep and goats supplemented with non - protein nitrogen. Five goats and five sheep without defined racial pattern (SPRD) were used, distributed in two 5 x 5 Latin squares, with subdivided plots, considering as plots the diets and as subplots the methodologies of determination of apparent digestibility. The diets were composed of buffelgrass hay and the addition, via ruminal infusion, of increasing amounts of nitrogen supplementation in order to gradually raise the CP level of the basal diet in intervals of two percentage points, that is, +2, +4, +6 and +8%. Samples of the foods offered and the leftovers were collected daily during the five days of collection to determine the nutrient intake, as well as the total collection of faeces to determine the apparent digestibility of the nutrients. The amount of fecal dry matter excreted was estimated by the concentration of Fiber in Indigestible Acid Detergent (FDAi), Indigestible Neutral Detergent Fiber (FDNi), Indigestible Dry Matter at 244 hours (MSi 244H) and Indigestible Dry Matter at 264 hours (MS 264H ). The statistical analysis of the variables was performed by orthogonal contrast to compare the indirect methods of determination of apparent digestibility of nutrients (FDAi and FDNi) with the direct method of determination of apparent digestibility (total collection of feces) of the nutrients in the different diets. The level of 5% of significance was adopted. Among the indicators evaluated, the indigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDFI) is the one that most accurately estimates the nutrient digestibility of the diet for goats and sheep.Objetivou-se comparar os métodos indiretos de obtenção de digestibilidade com o método direto de coleta total de fezes para estimativa da digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes em ovinos e caprinos suplementados com nitrogênio não protéico. Foram utilizados cinco caprinos e cinco ovinos sem padrão racial definido (SPRD), distribuídas em dois quadrados latinos 5 x 5, com parcelas subdivididas, considerando como parcelas as dietas e como subparcelas as metodologias de determinação de digestibilidade aparente. As dietas foram compostas de feno de capim-buffel, e da adição, via infusão ruminal, de quantidades crescentes de suplemento nitrogenado de modo a elevar gradativamente o nível de PB da dieta basal em intervalos de dois pontos percentuais, ou seja, +2, +4, +6 e +8%. Amostras dos alimentos oferecidos e das sobras foram retiradas diariamente nos cinco dias de coleta, para determinação do consumo de nutrientes, como também foi realizada a coleta total de fezes para determinação da digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes. A quantidade de matéria seca fecal excretada foi estimada pela concentração de Fibra em Detergente Ácido Indigestível (FDAi), Fibra em Detergente Neutro Indigestível (FDNi), Matéria Seca Indigestível a 244 horas (MSi 244H) e Matéria Seca Indigestível a 264 horas (MSi 264H). A análise estatística das variáveis foi realizada por contraste ortogonal para comparar os métodos indiretos de determinação de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes (FDAi e FDNi) com o método direto de determinação de digestibilidade aparente (coleta total de fezes) dos nutrientes nas diferentes dietas. Foi adotado o nível de 5% de significância. Dentre os indicadores avaliados a fibra em detergente neutro indigestível (FDNi), é o que estima com melhor precisão a digestibilidade dos nutrientes na ração para caprinos e ovinos

Bioenergy potential of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria fattened-up from industrial wastewaters

Microbial lipids are currently of great interest as raw material for biofuels production. Hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (HCB), key players in bioremediation of hydrocarbon contaminated ecosystems, can produce and accumulate up to 90 % of its weight in lipids when submitted to growth-limiting conditions (e.g. nitrogen limitation). The intensive usage of crude oil derivatives as lubricants, which corresponds to about 1% of the world’s total mineral oil consumption, originates equivalent volumes of wastes. This lubricant wastes (LW) contains hydrocarbons ranging from C9 to C40, which can serve as substrate for HCB. Cultivation of HCB strains either in pure cultures or consortia with this type of industrial wastewater can, under optimized conditions, lead to production and accumulation of microbiological lipids, such as triglycerides (TAG). Combining TAG production with industrial wastewater treatment can contribute to make the process more economic and environmentally sustainable. This research aims at characterizing the potential of production and accumulation of bacterial lipids using 3. A concentrated wastewater collected from an engine’s repairing workshop, scarce in nitrogen and rich in HC, was fed (1.2% v/v) as sole carbon source, to representative HCB bacterial strains. Three different carbon to nitrogen molar ratios (C/N) were tested. After cultivation in nutrients balanced medium, the cells were washed and cultivated in a defined medium with excess of carbon. Different time lengths were evaluated for cultivation in nutrient balanced medium and under unbalanced conditions. For each condition tested, cells were harvested, freeze-dried, and its lipidic content was extracted and analyzed qualitatively. The profile of HC present in the culture media was 4. For Gram-negative HCB strain, the balanced growth conditions matched the period where the most significant HC removal was achieved. By the end of the exponential growth stage the chromatogram´s unresolved area decrease substantially and a 30% decrease in the concentration of compounds as tricosane and tetracosane was observed. The presence of TAG was detected in cells cultivated in unbalanced conditions. Fatty acids (FA) were detected in both conditions tested. The length of the accumulation period also showed to be an important factor in the experiments made with Gram-positive HCB strain. The late exponential or early stationary growth stages showed to be the most adequate period to transfer the biomass from balanced to unbalanced culture conditions. In general, the Gram-positive HCB strain showed a higher capacity to produce TAG from the tested wastewater. 5. The results obtained in our work show the potential of using hydrocarbon-based wastewaters to produce bacterial lipids. Further research is needed to determine the conditions that allow maximal storage lipid biosynthesis

Optical mouse acting as biospeckle sensor

In this work we propose some experiments with the use of optical computer mouse, associated to low cost lasers that can be used to perform several measurements with applications in industry and in human health monitoring. The mouse was used to grab the movements produced by speckle pattern changes and to get information through the adaptation of its structure. We measured displacements in wood samples under strain, variations of the diameter of an artery due to heart beat and, through a hardware simulation, the movement of an eye, an experiment that could be of low cost help for communication to severely handicapped motor patients. Those measurements were done in spite of the fact that the CCD sensor of the mice is monolithically included into an integrated circuit so that the raw image cannot be accessed. If, as was the case with primitive optical mouse, that signal could be accessed, the quality and usefulness of the measurements could be significantly increased. As it was not possible, a webcam sensor was used for measuring the drying of paint, a standard phenomenon for testing biospeckle techniques, in order to prove the usefulness of the mouse design. The results showed that the use of the mouse associated to a laser pointer could be the way to get metrological information from many phenomena involving the whole field spatial displacement, as well as the use of the mouse as in its prime version allowed to get images of the speckle patterns and to analyze them.Centro de Investigaciones Óptica

Optical mouse acting as biospeckle sensor

In this work we propose some experiments with the use of optical computer mouse, associated to low cost lasers that can be used to perform several measurements with applications in industry and in human health monitoring. The mouse was used to grab the movements produced by speckle pattern changes and to get information through the adaptation of its structure. We measured displacements in wood samples under strain, variations of the diameter of an artery due to heart beat and, through a hardware simulation, the movement of an eye, an experiment that could be of low cost help for communication to severely handicapped motor patients. Those measurements were done in spite of the fact that the CCD sensor of the mice is monolithically included into an integrated circuit so that the raw image cannot be accessed. If, as was the case with primitive optical mouse, that signal could be accessed, the quality and usefulness of the measurements could be significantly increased. As it was not possible, a webcam sensor was used for measuring the drying of paint, a standard phenomenon for testing biospeckle techniques, in order to prove the usefulness of the mouse design. The results showed that the use of the mouse associated to a laser pointer could be the way to get metrological information from many phenomena involving the whole field spatial displacement, as well as the use of the mouse as in its prime version allowed to get images of the speckle patterns and to analyze them.Centro de Investigaciones Óptica

Interrogating Privacy in the digital society: media narratives after 2 cases

The introduction of information technology (IT) in the society and its pervasiveness in every aspect of citizens’ daily life highlight societal stakes related to the goals of IT uses, social networks being a most important example. This paper examines two cases which have in common a not straightforward link with privacy as addressed and protected by existing law in Europe (EU) and the United-States (USA), but whose characteristics, we reckon fall on other privacy function and properties. In Western societies individuals rely on normative discourses such as the legal one in order to ensure protection. Hence, the paper argues that other functions of privacy need either further framing into legislation or they need to constitute in themselves normative commitments of an ethical nature for technology development and use. Some initiatives at EU level recall such commitments namely by developing a normative discourse based on ethics and human values. We argue that we need to interrogate society about those normative discourses because the values we once cherished in a non-digital society are seriously being questioned.JRC.G.7-Digital Citizen Securit

Combretum leprosum Mart. (Combretaceae): Potential as an antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory agent

AbstractEthnopharmacological relevanceCombretum leprosum is a species that is popularly used in Brazil as a healing agent to treat skin problems and lesions. In this study we investigated the possible potential of this extract to treat inflammatory and hyperproliferative skin conditions.Materials and methodsClassical models of skin inflammation such as TPA- and croton oil-induced mouse ear oedema were applied in order to verify the potential topical anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract from flowers of Combretum leprosum.ResultsTopical application of ethanolic extract promoted a dose-dependent inhibition of phorbol ester-induced ear oedema, reduced myeloperoxidase activity and IL-6 tissue levels with inhibition comparable to dexamethasone (positive control). Histological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that ethanolic extract also suppressed cell infiltration. Ethanolic extract altered inflammatory parameters on a chronic skin inflammation model induced by repeated applications of croton oil, decreasing ear oedema, epidermal hyperproliferation and cell infiltration. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis showed that the extract decreased PCNA expression on the epidermis.ConclusionTaken together, these results suggest that the extract from flowers of Combretum leprosum could be considered as a new potential tool for the treatment of several skin inflammatory diseases since it reversed the skin inflammatory and hyperproliferative process in a very significant manner. Further investigations are needed in order to verify the cellular mechanism and safety of Combretum leprosum extract

Laser Photobiomodulation and Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy in the Treatment of Ovine Otitis

Background: Otitis is a severe inflammation of the skin of the auditory canal which can impact animals of all ages. In sheep, this disease can occur in isolated cases or in the entire flock. Laser photobiomodulation can be used in combination with medication or as single therapy and the effects are analgesia, modulation of the inflammatory process, edema reduction, tissue restoration and stimulation of local microcirculation. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy stands out as a promising alternative to antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of localized infections. This study aimed to report the use of laser phototherapies on a sheep with bacterial otitis.Case: A case of bacterial otitis in a 4-year-old sheep, Dorper, was treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the State University of Santa Cruz. In the anamnesis, the owner reported that the patient presented crusts in the auricular pavilions, and had been medicated with oxytetracycline 20%, administered intramuscularly, for two days and the crusts cleaned with iodine 10%, but the animal did not present clinical improvement. On physical examination, the animal presented constant head swaying, edema of the ears, otalgia, enlarged parotid lymph nodes and ear wounds. No ear discharge was observed, and the initial diagnosis was aural hematoma. The treatment prescribed was laser photobiomodulation for three consecutive days. The lesions were irradiated with a diode laser with a power of 0.1 W, irradiance of 3.5 W/cm2, continuous emission, spot area of 0.028 cm2, wavelength of 808 nm, energy of 4J/point, and fluency/point of 142.8J/cm2, with seven points on the external surface and four points on the internal surface of both ears. Two points were also targeted on the parotid lymph nodes with infrared laser (λ = 808 nm), with energy of 2J/point. On the fourth day of hospitalization, there was a reduction in lesions, decreased edema and absence of pain and on the sixth day of hospitalization, the patient presented mucopurulent otorrhea. The material from the auricular pavilions was collected for cytological examination, confirming the clinical diagnosis of bacterial otitis. Two sessions of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) were performed with an interval of 48 hours, with application of 0.01 % methylene blue, pre-irradiation time of five minutes and irradiation with diode laser with a power of 0.1 W, 660 nm wavelength and 9J/point energy. On the 10 th day after the start of the treatment, there was no pain, healing of ear wounds, and no otorrhea. An additional photobiomodulation session was performed on the unhealed wounds in the auditory canal with red laser (λ = 660nm), on 5 points with an energy of 1J/point. On the 15th day, the left ear was healed and the right ear presented otorrhea, and a further session of aPDT was performed. On the 17th day after starting treatment there was no secretion and all lesions were healed. The patient was subsequently monitored for one month, showing no change or relapse.Discussion: Laser photobiomodulation treatment and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy were efficient in treating bacterial otitis without the use of antibiotics, promoting clinical improvement and patient well-being, making it an alternative to conventional treatment. After searches on the Pubmed, Scielo and Escopus databases using photobiomodulation and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in sheep otitis as descriptors, this is believed to be the first report on the use of laser phototherapy in sheep otitis. Further studies are needed to establish the dosimetry and frequency of the sessions, as, besides considering animal well-being, this species is an excellent model for human experimentation

Contaminação do solo por poluentes derivados de petróleo em postos de combustíveis

A contaminação do solo também denominada por passivo ambiental é criada por ações antrópicas que provem de algum tipo de alteração química capaz de comprometer recursos naturais, como solo, águas superficiais e subterrâneas, além de causar danos aos seres vivos. Esse tipo de poluição envolve a contaminação do ambiente por hidrocarbonetos de petróleo mais conhecidos como compostos monoaromáticos do grupo BTEX (Benzeno, Tolueno, EtilBenzeno e Xilenos Totais), ocorrem devido a vazamentos na tancagem de armazenamento subterrâneas, mangueiras de alimentação, caixas separadoras e canaletas de contenção. De acordo com as informações do SINDIPOSTO (Sindicato do Comércio Varejista de Derivado de Petróleo do Estado de Goiás), existem atualmente 252 postos de combustíveis na Região Metropolitana da Capital de Goiânia. A partir do momento em que foi constatada a pluma de contaminação nos postos de combustíveis deverão ser realizadas alternativas de intervenção para reabilitação dessa área. O objetivo deste trabalho é realizar um estudo dos passivos ambientais e suas remediações, causados por postos de combustíveis responsáveis por algum tipo de contaminação do solo e/ou água subterrâneas

Essential oil of the leaves of Eugenia sulcata preserve myocardial contractility and does not present immunotoxicity

The essential oil of the leaves of Eugenia sulcata, in the Myrtaceae family, has a demonstrated antihypertensive effect, but its effects on heart muscle and its toxicity have not yet been elucidated. Little chemical or biological data are available for E. sulcata, whether emphasizing the beneficial effects or the pharmacological security of this species. This study aims to evaluate myocardial contractility and to analyze angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and myosin ATPase activities associated with use of this essential oil. In addition, we evaluated the immunotoxicity of E. sulcata essential oil. Wistar Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated daily for 30 days (10 mg/kg of oil) to evaluate the isometric force of the papillary muscle, ACE measured by fluorimetry, and myosin ATPase activities by inorganic phosphate. Lymphocyte cultures were used to evaluate cytotoxicity, DNA damage, and mutagenicity of the essential oil. The results demonstrate that the treatment did not change the cardiac contraction force and did not alter the functioning of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, extrusion of the membrane calcium, or modify the membrane calcium channels or β-adrenergic receptor activity. Tetanic contractions were potentiated in the SHR animals. Myosin ATPase activity was also increased in the SHR animals. Cardiac ACE activity was reduced in both animal strains, and the serum ACE was reduced only in the SHR animals. The essential oil did not cause cytotoxicity or mutagenicity and presented low DNA damage. Our results demonstrated that the essential oil does not change myocardial contractility and does not present relevant immunotoxicity

Extraction of an impacted supernumerary mesiodens tooth in a child: a clinical case report

Mesiodens are supernumerary teeth located between the central incisors, close to the midline; Generally, they have a conical shape, can be impacted, and cause aesthetic-functional imbalance of the stomatognathic system. It is essential to emphasize that early diagnosis, through clinical and complementary exams, provides an optimized therapeutic strategy. The aims of the present study were to report a clinical case on strategies used to delimit the surgical opportunity as well as operative procedures performed in the presence of impacted mesiodens in a child patient. An 11-year-old female patient presented to the dental clinic for evaluation of a mesiodens-type supernumerary tooth. During the clinical examination, no areas of swelling were evident that would indicate the presence of the supernumerary. During the complementary examination, carried out using a panoramic x-ray in semi-open occlusion and ConeBeam® computed tomography, a supernumerary tooth of the mesiodens type can be seen impacted between the roots of the permanent maxillary central incisors. The mesiodens had an intimate relationship with the superior cortex of the nasopalatine canal, promoting luminal stenosis and an intimate relationship with the floor of the nasal fossa. Exodontia was chosen as a therapeutic strategy. Management strategies were reinforced until the surgical procedure session. The patient and legal guardian received post-operative guidance, were monitored for 15 days after the procedure, and were informed of the importance of monitoring until complete rhizogenesis of the permanent maxillary central incisors. In conclusion, it is highlighted that the surgical opportunity needs to be well-defined