Relative contribution of effects included in contemporary groups for adjusted and actual 120-day and 210-day weights in Nelore cattle in Brazil

The objective of this research was to estimate the relative magnitude of effects included in contemporary groups (CG) and their interactions with adjusted and actual 120 d and 210 d weights in 72,731 male and female Nelore calves born from 1985 to 2005 in 40 herds from PMGRN (Genetic Improvement Program of Nelore). Ten models with different CG structures were compared. The analyses were done using the general linear models (GLM) procedure run in SAS software. All of the effects included in the CG for each model were significant (p < 0.001) for the four traits analyzed. Inclusion of semester or trimester of birth as part of a CG was more appropriate than its use as an independent effect in the model because it accounted for interactions with the other effects in the CG. Calf sex (CS) and dam age at calving (DAC) had similar effects across the models, which suggested independence from other effects in these models. The corresponding age deviation effect had a larger impact on actual weight at 120 d than any other effect in all of the models tested. The use of actual weights in models with no CS effect in CG provides an alternative that would allow better genetic connectedness among CGs and greater accuracy in genetic evaluations

Expression of MyoD, myogenin, myostatin and Hsp70 transcripts in chicken embryos submitted to mild cold or heat

The expression of the MyoD, myogenin, myostatin and Hsp70 genes was estimated in chicken embryos submitted to mild cold (36 +/- 0.5degreesC) or heat (44 +/- 0.5degreesC) for 1 h. 2. Marked decreases in MyoD, myogenin and myostatin transcript levels were observed in embryos exposed to high temperature, contrasting to the higher expression of the Hsp70 mRNA detected in heat-stressed embryos. 3. The exposure of chicken embryos to low temperature significantly affected only the abundance of myogenin mRNA. 4. These findings suggest that myogenic proliferation and differentiation events are compromised by variations in environmental temperature during avian embryogenesis. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved

Percepção de estudantes de enfermagem sobre o Laboratório de Enfermagem como estratégia de ensino

Este estudo tem por objetivo conhecer a percepção de estudantes de enfermagem quanto aos aspectos físicos, pedagógicos e humanos referentes ao laboratório de enfermagem no processo ensino-aprendizagem. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, transversal, não experimental. A pesquisa foi realizada com 85 alunos. Um total de 58,8% dos alunos avaliou a estrutura física como ruim ou regular; já a acomodação foi avaliada por 50,6% dos alunos como ruim e péssima. Quanto ao horário de funcionamento, 63,5% dos alunos avaliaram como bom ou ótimo. Os alunos avaliaram positivamente as enfermeiras especialistas em laboratório e as monitoras com 87,0% e 84,9% de bom ou ótimo, respectivamente. A maioria dos aspectos obteve conceito bom, exceto a infra-estrutura física. O aspecto melhor avaliado foi o recurso humano