Right circumcaval ureter and double right renal vein in the Brazilian shorthair cat (Felis catus): two case reports

Variations of the renal veins are well described in the literature, although variations concerning the ureter are considered a rare finding in cats. The circumcaval ureter is one of the rarest variations of the ureter and is characterised by a loop of the ureter posterior to the caudal vena cava. This variant is also known as preureteral vena cava and retrocaval ureter. It is thought to be caused by a deviation during embryonic development of the aforementioned vein. Due to its rarity, there are scarce reports of the circumcaval ureter in cats, and its association with two renal veins makes it less common as well. These variations should be preoperatively identified in order to avoid complications in kidney transplants, ureteral surgeries and cystoscopies, for instance. The present work aims to report two cases of a circumcaval ureter with two renal veins in two different Brazilian shorthair cats (Felis catus)

Geometrical pinning of magnetic vortices induced by a deficit angle on a surface: anisotropic spins on a conic space background

We study magnetic vortex-like excitations lying on a conic space background. Two types of them are obtained. Their energies appear to be linearly dependent on the conical aperture parameter, besides of being logarithmically divergent with the sample size. In addition, we realize a geometrical-like pinning of the vortex, say, it is energetically favorable for it to nucleate around the conical apex. We also study the problem of two vortices on the cone and obtain an interesting effect on such a geometry: excitations of the same charge, then repealing each other, may nucleate around the apex for suitable cone apertures. We also pay attention to the problem of the vortex pair and how its dissociation temperature depends upon conical geometry.Comment: 13 pages, 06 figures, Latex. Version accepted for PHYSICS LETTERS

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Efficient esterification of eugenol using a microwave-activated waste kaolin

Abstract: Eugenyl acetate has been investigated because of its beneficial bioactive antioxidant, antimicrobial and potential properties against the development of Aedes aegypti larvae. Here, we report, for the first time, the use of a catalyst prepared from flint kaolin with microwave irradiation for the acetylation of eugenol. A few kinetic parameters were evaluated in the experiments used for eugenol ester synthesis. High conversions (98%) were obtained after 1 h of reaction. The prepared material shows good activity (over 90%) even after 4 cycles of use. Therefore, the use of microwave radiation made it possible to prepare a catalyst in a very short time using a low-cost industrial by-product as a raw material that proved to be highly active, in addition to the additional advantage of being reusable, which would reduce possible environmental impacts caused by its disposal in the environment. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]. © 2020, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary

Bentonites modified with phosphomolybdic heteropolyacid (HPMo) for biowaste to biofuel production

Two bentonites from Paraíba (Northeastern Brazil) were impregnated with heteropoly phosphomolybdic H 3 PMo 12 O 40 (HPMo). The materials produced were characterized by various techniques such as N 2 adsorption-desorption (specific surface area, SSA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Dispersive Energy X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), acid-base titration analysis. The catalytic activity of these materials was tested in the esterification of a waste from palm oil deodorization and the main results obtained (about 93.3% of conversion) indicated that these materials have potential to act as heterogeneous solid acid catalysts. The prepared materials exhibited satisfactory catalytic performance even after a very simple recycling process in three reuse cycles, without significant loss of their activities. © 2019 by the authors

Profundidade de semeadura e crescimento inicial de espécies forrageiras utilizadas para cobertura do solo Depth of sowing and initial growth of forage species used for soil coverage

O uso do consórcio entre plantas de cobertura e culturas anuais, no Cerrado, tem sido prática cada vez mais difundida, pela possibilidade de implantação das forrageiras durante o desenvolvimento das culturas anuais, através da diferença de profundidade e sistema de semeadura. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho avaliar a emergência e algumas características agronômicas de quatro espécies de plantas de cobertura, em diferentes profundidades, visando ao seu emprego na consorciação e sobressemeadura em culturas anuais. O experimento foi conduzido em casa-de-vegetação, no delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 4 x 7, composto pelas plantas de cobertura Brachiaria brizantha, B. decumbens, B. ruziziensis e Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia, e por seis profundidades de semeadura e um sistema de cobertura de sementes (0 sem cobertura, 0 com cobertura, 1, 4, 8, 10 e 15 cm). As sementes foram semeadas em vasos e as plantas cultivadas por 40 dias. Avaliou-se o índice e o tempo de emergência, a altura de plantas, a fitomassa verde e seca da parte aérea, a área foliar, a fitomassa seca radicular e a densidade de comprimento radicular. O maior desenvolvimento das plantas estudadas foi detectado nas semeaduras até 1 cm de profundidade. O P. maximum não apresentou aptidão para uso em consórcio com culturas anuais.Não se recomenda a semeadura das plantas de cobertura a partir de 10 cm.<br>The use of the consortium between cover crops and annual crops in the Cerrado, is an increasingly widespread practice, because of the possibility of deployment of cover crops during the development of annual crops by the difference in depth and seeding system. The objective was to evaluate the emergency and some agronomic characteristics of four species of cover crops at different seeding depths, to use them in consortium and oversown in annual crops. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, and the experimental design of randomized blocks in factorial arranged 4 x 7, where it was four cover crops: Brachiaria brizantha, B. decumbens, B. ruziziensis and Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania, and six depths of sowing and a cover of seed system (0 cm without any mulch, 0 cm with a mulch of soybean leaves, 1, 4, 8, 10 and 15 cm). The cover crops were cropped in vase for 40 days. We evaluated emergence index, emergence time, plant height, green biomass and dry biomass of the above-ground part, leaf area, root dry biomass and root length density. The largest development of the cover crops was detected in the sowing up to 1 cm of depth. The P. maximum showed no ability to use in consortium with annual crops. The sowing of the cover crops from 10 cm is not recommended

Influência de grupos genéticos e de níveis de energia sobre características de carcaça de frangos de corte Influence of genetic group and level of energy on broilers carcass traits

Este estudo foi realizado para avaliar a diferença entre grupos genéticos e efeitos de dietas com diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável para frangos de corte. O desempenho e a qualidade da carcaça de sete grupos genéticos (M1C1, C1C1, C2C2, M1C2, C2F1, C1F1 e M1F1) de frangos de corte, obtidos a partir do cruzamento entre dois genótipos desenvolvidos pela UFV (M1 e F1) e de duas das principais marcas comerciais (C1 e C2), foram determinados. As aves foram distribuídas ao acaso em 84 boxes (15 aves/boxe e 12 repetições), onde permaneceram até o 42º dia de vida. No período inicial (1º ao 21º dia de idade), as aves receberam ração com 3000 kcal de EM/kg e, no período final (22º ao 42º dia de idade), rações com quatro diferentes níveis de energia metabolizável (2900, 3050, 3200 e 3350 kcal EM/kg). As características avaliadas foram: peso vivo no 42º dia de idade, peso ao abate e rendimento de carcaça e de cortes nobres. Encontrou-se diferença entre grupos genéticos e sexo, independente do nível de energia, sobre peso vivo, peso ao abate, peso de carcaça e cortes nobres, destacando-se os grupos genéticos C1C1 e C2C2. Os machos apresentaram melhores resultados para todas as características. No estudo de rendimentos de carcaça e cortes nobres expressos em relação ao peso ao abate, verificou-se diferença entre grupos genéticos apenas para rendimento de peito.<br>This study was conducted to evaluate the difference among genetic groups and the effects of diets with different levels of metabolizable energy for broilers. The performance and carcass quality of seven genetic groups (M1C1, C1C1, C2C2, M1C2, C2F1, C1F1 and M1F1) of broilers obtained from the cross among two lines developed by UFV (M1 and F1) and two mainly trade mark lines (C1 and C2) were determined. The chickens were randomly allocated to 84 different boxes (15 birds/box and 12 replicates), where they were kept up to 42 days of age. In the initial period (1st to the 21st day of age) the birds were fed diet with 3000 kcal of ME/kg, and in the final period (22nd to the 42nd day of age) the birds were fed diets with four different levels of energy (2900, 3050, 3200 and 3350 kcal ME/kg). The analyzed characteristics were: live weight at 42nd day of age, slaughter weight and carcass and prime cut yields. Significant difference was observed among genetic groups and sex, independent of the energy level, on live weight, slaughter weight, carcass weight and prime cuts, standing out the genetic groups C1C1 and C2C2. The males presented the best results for all traits. In the study of carcass and prime cut yields, in function of the slaughter weight, there was difference among genetic groups only for breast yield