Characterization of rigor mortis of longissimus dorsi and triceps brachii muscles of male cattle carcasses

In this work, six bovine carcasses butchered in a slaughterhouse in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil (SIE 504) were studied and temperature, pH, sarcomere length in different periods after slaughter (1, 5, 8, 12, 15 and24 h) of the longissimus dorsi (LD) and triceps brachii (TB) muscles as well as the shear force (meat tenderness) and colour were evaluated, aiming at characterizing the rigor mortis in the meat during industrial processing. Data statistic treatment demonstrated that carcass temperature and pH decreased gradually during the industrial chilling. The chilly room temperature varied from 10.2 to 4.0°C, the mean initial temperature of longissimus dorsi was 34.03°C and the final one was 7.12°C; the mean initial temperature of Triceps brachii was 39.00°C and the final one was 6.42°C. The mean initial pH of Longissimus dorsi was 6.47 and the final one was 5.46; the mean initial pH of Triceps brachii was 6.66 and the final one was 5.54. The smallest sarcomere size obtained in both muscles occurred at 12 h post mortem, and the sarcomere lengths were 1.44 and 1.41 μm, respectively. As for the colour parameters, the b* value presented higher correlation with the ultimate pH. The absence of cold shortening and the non-occurrence of dark firm and dry (DFD) meat indicate better quality of the meat analyzed.Keywords: Bovine carcass, muscles, rigor morti

Distância genética entre bovinos Curraleiro Pé-Duro e raças criadas no Brasil e nos Estados Unidos

The present work evaluated the genetic distance, similarities, particularities and genetic structure of two local breeds and two Brazilian zebu, comparing them with fifteen commercial and locally adapted North American bovine breeds of diverse origins through 34 microsatellites and several molecular statistical analysis programs. The results showed that the degree of differentiation between the studied races indicates low gene flow among the populations analyzed, which demonstrates reproductive isolation. It is also obvious the wide variation between individuals (75%) and the small variation between races (25%), mainly among the North American. The animals grouped according to their geographical origins. Work involving locally adapted breeds is scarce, since these animals are not as productive as commercial breeds in use today. However, these tropically adapted groups can be used in crosses with more productive exotic breeds, but less adapted to the prevalent conditions in tropical and subtropical regions. The great genetic distance observed among Brazilian Bos taurus, locally adapted, with zebu and North American commercial breeds is a good indication of the potential use of those in mates looking to the gain provided by heterosis and meat quality improvement produced in Brazil and sustainability of livestock activity by the use of locally adapted cattle.El presente trabajo evaluó la distancia genética, similitudes, particularidades y estructura genética de dos razas locales y dos bovinos cebú brasileños, comparándolas con quince razas bovinas norteamericanas comerciales y adaptadas localmente de diversos orígenes a través de 34 microsatélites y varios programas de análisis estadístico molecular. Los resultados mostraron que el grado de diferenciación entre las razas estudiadas indica bajo flujo de genes entre las poblaciones analizadas, lo que demuestra aislamiento reproductivo. La gran variación entre individuos (75%) y la pequeña variación entre razas (25%), especialmente entre los norteamericanos, también son obvias. Los animales se agruparon según su origen geográfico. El trabajo con razas adaptadas localmente es escaso, ya que estos animales no son tan productivos como las razas comerciales que se utilizan en la actualidad. Sin embargo, estos grupos adaptados al trópico pueden usarse en cruces con razas exóticas que son más productivas, pero menos adaptadas a las condiciones prevalecientes en las regiones tropicales y subtropicales. La gran distancia genética observada entre la taurina brasileña adaptada localmente con cebú y las razas comerciales de América del Norte es una buena indicación del uso potencial de estas en cruces con miras a la ganancia proporcionada por la heterosis y la mejora de la calidad de la carne producida en Brasil y en sostenibilidad de la actividad ganadera mediante el uso de ganado adaptado localmente.O presente trabalho avaliou a distância genética, similaridades, particularidades e estrutura genética de duas raças locais e duas zebuínas brasileiras, comparando-as com quinze raças bovinas norte-americanas comerciais e localmente adaptadas de origens diversas através de 34 microssatélites e diversos programas de análises estatísticas moleculares. Os resultados mostraram que o grau de diferenciação entre as raças estudadas indica baixo fluxo de genes entre as populações analisadas o que demonstra isolamento reprodutivo. Também é óbvia a grande variação entre indivíduos (75%) e a pequena variação entre raças (25%), principalmente entre as Norte-americanas. Os animais se agruparam conforme suas origens geográficas. Os trabalhos envolvendo raças localmente adaptadas são escassos, uma vez que esses animais não são tão produtivos quanto as raças comerciais em uso na atualidade. Todavia, esses grupamentos tropicalmente adaptados podem ser usados em cruzamentos com raças exóticas mais produtivas, porém menos adaptadas às condições prevalentes nas regiões tropicais e subtropicais. A grande distância genética observadas entre os taurinos brasileiros, localmente adaptados, com zebuínos e raças comerciais norte-americanas é um bom indicativo do potencial uso daquelas em cruzamentos com vistas ao ganho proporcionado pela heterose e melhoria da qualidade da carne produzida no Brasil e a sustentabilidade da atividade pecuária pelo uso de bovinos localmente adaptados

Effects of flunixin meglumine, meloxicam, and firocoxib on the acute-phase proteins in horses following standing castration

ABSTRACT: Excessive infection and inflammation are the most common complications associated with castration. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of flunixin meglumine (FM), meloxicam (MX), or firocoxib (FX) for inflammation control after castration in horses using acute-phase proteins (APP) as markers of inflammation. Thirty healthy, unbroken, mixed-breed horses (body weight 358.62±45.57kg and age 4.99±2.63 years) were randomly (n=10 animals/group) allocated to receive one of three different post-castration anti-inflammatory medicines: Group 1 (FM 1.1mg/kg bwt, IV, s.i.d for 5 days); Group 2 (MX 0.6mg/kg bwt, IV, s.i.d for 5 days); and Group 3 (FX 0.1mg/kg bwt, IV, s.i.d for 5 days). All horses were castrated in standing position, using the open technique. Serum and peritoneal APP concentrations were measured by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and determined before castration (0), and 3, 5, 24, 48, 72, 120 and 168 hours after castration. The results were submitted to analysis of variance using the SAS statistical program, and means were compared by the Student-Newman-Keuls test (p<0.05). Three animals from the MX group developed hyperthermia (with rectal temperatures of 39.8, 39.3 and 38.9°C on day 4, 5 and 6, respectively) and showed local clinical signs of inflammation (inguinal and excessive scrotal edema) and reluctance to walk, as well as a rigid gait of the hind limbs. The same complications were observed in one FX horse. No complications were observed among the FM animals. The castration resulted in significant changes in serum and peritoneal values of total proteins, ceruloplasmin (Cp), transferrin (Tf), albumin (Alb), haptoglobin (Hp) and α1-acid glycoprotein (Gp) in animals of all experimental groups. However, the animals of the MX and FX groups presented more intense acute phase response compared to the animals of the FM group. Changes in the APP were associated with the surgical trauma of castration, but the differences between groups were associated with the ability of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to control the inflammation. In conclusion, and based on the findings of acute phase proteins, flunixin is more efficient to control the magnitude of inflammation following castration as compared to meloxicam and firocoxib

Um ensaio sobre burnout, engagement e estratégias de coping na profissão docente An essay on burnout, engagement, and coping strategies in the teaching profession

Investigadores, um pouco por todo o mundo, começaram a preocupar-se com o fenómeno do burnout, ao identificarem este sintoma essencialmente nas profissões que envolviam uma relação assistencial ou de ajuda, como o caso dos médicos, enfermeiros e psicólogos. Contudo, não tardou que se percebesse que este fenómeno pudesse também estar presente na profissão docente de uma forma muito significativa. A docência é, na atualidade, uma das profissões mais sujeitas a altos níveis de stresse, podendo levar ao burnout, caso se torne recorrente. Muitos docentes conseguem adaptar-se e reagir de uma forma funcional perante as dificuldades próprias da profissão, tornando-se profissionais engaged, ou seja, enquanto alguns professores vivenciam as dimensões negativas do burnout (exaustão emocional, despersonalização e perda de realização profissional), outros experienciam as três dimensões positivas do engagement(vigor, dedicação e absorção profissional). Com a entrada da chamada "psicologia positiva", surge uma nova perspectiva de estudo que procura respostas para determinadas formas de envolvimento profissional. Assim, apesar do fenómeno do engagement ainda não estar muito estudado, encontrar professores engagedcom a sua profissão também é uma realidade presente em muitos países. O recurso a estratégias de coping é uma forma de lidar com as dificuldades inerentes ao exercício da profissão docente. Logo, é importante perceber de que forma a utilização de determinado tipo de estratégia decoping poderá conduzir ao burnoutou, preferencialmente, ao engagement.<br>Researchers throughout the world have started to worry about the phenomenon of burnout, identifying it mainly in professions that involve a relation of assistance or help, as in the case of medical doctors, nurses, and psychologists. However, it was not long before it was noticed that such phenomenon can also be present in the teaching profession in a very significant way. Teaching is nowadays one of the professions subjected to the highest levels of stress, which can lead to burnout when the situation becomes recurrent. Many teachers manage to adapt and to react in a functional way when faced with the difficulties inherent to their profession, becoming engaged professionals, that is to say, while some teachers experience the negative dimensions of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and loss of professional fulfillment), others experience the three positive dimensions of engagement (vigor, dedication, and absorption in the profession). With the arrival of the so-called "positive psychology", there comes a new perspective of investigation, which seeks to give answers to certain forms of professional involvement. Thus, despite the fact that the phenomenon of engagement has still been little studied, to find teachers engaged with their profession is also a reality in many countries. Resorting to strategies of coping is one way of dealing with the difficulties inherent to the exercise of the teaching profession. Therefore, it is important to observe in which way the use of certain type of strategy of coping can lead to burnout or, preferably, to engagement

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved