Macroeconomic Effects of Credit Deepening in Latin America

This paper augments a relatively standard dynamic general equilibrium model with financial frictions in order to quantify the macroeconomic effects of the credit deepening process observed in many Latin American (LA) countries in the last decade, most notably in Brazil. In the model, a stylized banking sector intermediates credit from patient households to impatient households and firms. The key novelty of the paper, motivated by the Brazilian experience, is to model the credit constraint faced by (impatient) households as a function of future labor income. In the calibrated model, credit deepening generates only modest abovetrend growth in consumption, investment, and GDP. Since Brazil has experienced one of the most intense credit deepening processes in Latin America, it is argued that the quantitative effects for other LA economies are unlikely to be sizeable

Histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular study of BHV-5 infection in the central nervous system of experimentally infected calves

Bovine meningoencephalitis caused by BHV-5, a double-stranded DNA enveloped virus that belongs to the family Herpesviridae and subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, is an important differential diagnosis of central nervous diseases. The aim of this study was to describe the histological changes in the central nervous system of calves experimentally infected with BHV-5 and compare these changes with the PCR and IHC results. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded central nervous system samples from calves previously inoculated with BHV-5 were microscopically evaluated and tested using IHC and PCR. All the animals presented with nonsuppurative meningoencephalitis. From 18 evaluated areas of each calf, 32.41% and 35.19% were positive by IHC and PCR, respectively. The telencephalon presented more accentuated lesions and positive areas in the PCR than other encephalic areas and was the best sampling area for diagnostic purposes. Positive areas in the IHC and PCR were more injured than IHC and PCR negative areas. The animal with neurological signs showed more PCR- and IHC-positive areas than the other animals

Organic selenium increases PHGPx, but does not affect quality sperm in raw boar semen

This study assessed the effects of feeding organic selenium (Se) on sperm morphology, motility, membrane integrity and lipidic peroxidation, also on sperm ATP and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) in raw semen of mature boars. Twelve boars were divided into three groups: Control, 0.3 ppm sodium selenite, Inorganic, 0.5 ppm sodium selenite and Organic, 0.5 ppm Se yeast for 11 weeks. Organic diet presented a higher total sperm number (P<0.05) when compared to the inorganic treatment; however, no difference was observed regarding volume, sperm concentration, number of cells with plasma and/or acrosomal membrane integrity, membrane mitochondrial potential, ATP assay and Se concentration in seminal and blood content. Also, no difference was observed on motility parameters, sperm morphology and membrane peroxidation, however, PHGPx was influenced (P<0.05) in organic treatment. Thus organic Se feeding influenced none of the analyzed seminal characteristics in raw semen, except for PHGPx and total number of sperm.This research was supported by FAPESP (Grant numbers 07/55613-6 and 08/55059-1), Alltech Inc., Vet life Veterinary Products and Agroceres Multimix Nutrição Animal Ltda

Avaliação da suplementação de vitamina A nas características seminais em reprodutores suínos Assessment of vitamin A supplementation on boar semen characteristics

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação de vitamina A na dieta sobre as características seminais (volume, motilidade, pH, vigor e concentração espermática, número total de espermatozoides, percentual de espermatozoides vivos e anormalidades morfológicas) de reprodutores suínos no período de um ano (junho de 2004 a junho de 2005). Utilizaram-se dez reprodutores híbridos com 328,5 ± 2,12 dias de idade e 191,0 ± 12,0 kg distribuídos em duas rações, uma controle, com 10.000 UI de vit. A por kg de ração por dia, e outra com 16.000 UI de vit. A, fornecidas na quantidade de 2,5 kg/dia. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com medidas repetidas no tempo. Não houve efeito significativo da suplementação de vitamina A na dieta nem de interação com o tempo nas características seminais estudadas. O tempo teve efeito significativo no pH, na concentração espermática, no número total de espermatozoides, no percentual de espermatozoides vivos, nas anormalidades morfológicas, na motilidade e no vigor espermático. Apesar da não-significância da suplementação de vitamina A, foi possível detectar diferenças numéricas no aumento da motilidade e de espermatozoides vivos, bem como na diminuição das anormalidades morfológicas, resultados que indicam ação da vitamina A.<br>The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin A feed supplementation on the following boar semen characteristics: volume, motility, vigor, seminal pH, spermatic concentration, total number of spermatozoa, percentage of living sperm cells and morphologic abnormalities. The experiment was carried out with 10 hybrid boars (328.5 ± 2.12 days of age and 191.0 ± 12.0 kg live weight). The boars were separated into two treatments and fed with two vitamin A levels: control, 10.000 UI/kg feed daily; and vitamin A, 16.000 UI. The boars received 2.5 kg feed daily. A randomized complete design was used with replication measurements in time. There was no significant effect of vitamin A supplementation on the characteristics studied, and nor on the time and treatment interaction. The was significant effect of time on pH, spermatic concentration, total number of spermatozoa, percentage of living sperm cells, morphologic abnormalities, motility and vigor. Although detect significant differences were not detected between both treatments, numerical differences were detected indicating that vitamin A influenced the average increase in motility and the percentage of living sperm cells and the reduction in the percentage of morphologic abnormalities. Data showed support the idea that vitamin A is intimately associated with spermatogenesis

Relação entre a produtividade do mamoeiro e o déficit hídrico (ky) na região Norte Fluminense Response coefficient of papaya yield to water stress (ky) in Northern Rio de Janeiro

Teve-se como objetivo neste trabalho, determinar o coeficiente de resposta ao déficit hídrico na produção de frutos comerciais e totais do mamoeiro, cultivado na região Norte do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. O experimento foi realizado na área de convênio UENF/PESAGRO-RIO, no município de Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, no período de 25/04/2006 a 18/05/2007, utilizando-se o mamoeiro cultivar Híbrido UENF/CALIMAN01 e um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos, correspondendo às reposições de 50% (T1), 75% (T2), 100% (T3), 125% (T4) e 150% (T5) da evapotranspiração de referência (ETo), com quatro repetições. A máxima produção comercial real da cultura, aos 13 meses de cultivo e com quatro meses de colheita, foi de 38,78 t ha-1 (T3) e a máxima produção total real encontrada foi de 49,42 t ha-1 (T5). O mamoeiro cultivar Híbrido UENF/CALIMAN01 conduzido até os 13 meses de cultivo e com quatro meses de colheita, apresentou um coeficiente de resposta de produção (ky) para frutos comerciais de 1,4581 e para produção total um coeficiente igual a 0,5674.<br>The objective of this study was to determine the response coefficient to water stress in the commercial and total yield of papaya fruits grown in the northern region of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The experiment was conducted in an area of UENF/PESAGRO-RIO in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, from 25/04/2006 to 18/05/2007, using the papaya cultivar Hybrid UENF/CALIMAN01. The experiment had a randomized block design with five treatments [replacement of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) by 50% (T1), 75% (T2), 100% (T3), 125% (T4) and 150% (T5)], with four replications. The highest real commercial yield of the crop after 13 months of growth and four harvest months was 38.78 t ha-1 (T3) and the highest total real yield was 49.42 t ha-1 (T5). After 13 months of growth and 4 harvest months of the papaya cultivar Hybrid UENF/CALIMAN01 the response coefficient for commercial fruit yield (ky) was 1.4581 and 0.5674 for total yield

A natação minimiza o retardo no crescimento somático e ósseo de ratos? Does swimming minimize somatic and bone growth delay in rats?

A formação óssea é regulada por fatores hormonais e modificada por estímulos extrínsecos, como a prática de exercícios. Avaliou-se o efeito da natação sobre o crescimento somático e ósseo de ratas submetidas a dois modelos experimentais a fim de reproduzir déficit hormonal. Utilizou-se 28 ratas Wistar neonatas fêmeas separadas em: grupo Glutamato Monossódico (GluM, n = 14; solução de GM 4.0mg/g, dias alternados, primeiros 14 dias de vida) e grupo Salina (Sal, n = 14; solução salina). Peso corpóreo e mensurações murinométricas (eixos laterolateral, anteroposterior do crânio - LLC/APC - e comprimento da cauda - CC) foram avaliados do primeiro ao 30º dia de vida. Aos 60 dias, o Grupo GluM foi ovariectomizado (GluMO) e o sal apenas passou pelo estresse cirúrgico. Então, metade dos animais de cada grupo iniciou o programa de natação (12 semanas, cinco dias/semanas, 60 min/sessão) resultando nos seguintes grupos experimentais: Salina Sedentário (Salsed, n = 7), Salina Natação (Salnat, n = 7), Glutamato Ovariectomia Sedentário (GluMOsed, n = 7) e Glutamato Ovariectomia Natação (GluMOnat, n = 7). Ao final do experimento o fêmur direito foi pesado e seu comprimento avaliado. Nos 30 dias iniciais, GluM reduziu o peso corpóreo e os eixos LLC, APC e CC comparado ao grupo SAL. Aos 60 dias, o peso corpóreo do GLuM permaneceu menor comparado ao SAL e ao final foi similar entre os grupos SALsed e SALnat e, GLuMOsed e GluMOnat. Porém, houve redução no peso do GlutMOsed comparado ao SALsed. A natação favoreceu o peso do fêmur no SAL e não o alterou entre os GluMOsed e GluMOnat, entretanto, houve aumento no grupo SALsed comparado ao GluMOsed. No comprimento, o SALnat foi similar ao SALsed e o mesmo ocorreu entre GluMOnat e GluMOsed. Porém, SALsed apresentou comprimento maior que GluMOsed. A natação não foi capaz de reverter, em animais adultos jovens, os efeitos provocados por situações de desequilíbrio corpóreo induzidas precocemente no tecido ósseo.<br>The bone formation is regulated by hormonal factors and modified by extrinsic stimuli, such as practice of exercises. The effect of swimming on the somatic and bone growth of female rats subjected to two experimental models to reproduce hormone deficiency was assessed.Twenty-eight Wistar, neonate female rats separated in two groups: Monosodium glutamate (MGlu, n = 14; solution of monosodium glutamate 4.0mg/g, alternate days, first 14 days of life) and Saline Group (SAL, n = 14; saline solution. Body weight and measurements of somatic development (latero-lateral axis of the skull, anterior-posterior axis of the skull - LLS / APS - and length of the tail - LT) were evaluated from the 1st to the 30th day of life. At 60 days of life, the MGlu group was ovariectomized and SAL just went though surgical stress. Subsequently, half of the animals in each group started the swimming training (12 weeks, 5 days/week, 60 min/session), resulting in the following experimental groups: Sedentary saline (Sedsal, n = 7), Swimming saline (Swisal, n = 7), Sedentary glutamate ovariectomy (SedMGluO, n = 7) and Swimming glutamate ovariectomy (SwiMGluO, n = 7).At the end of the experiment, the right femur was weighed and its length assessed. At the 30 initial days, the MGlu group reduced its body weight and the LLS, APC and LT compared to SAL. At day 60, body weight of MGlu group remained lower and at the end of the experiment it was similar between Swisal and Sedsal groups; SedMGLuO and SwiMGluO groups. However, weight reduction was observed in SedMGlutO compared to SedSAL. Swimming helped the weight of the femur in the SAL and did not alter it between SedMGluO and SwiMGluO, but it increased in Sedsal compared to SedMGluO group. In length, the SwiSal was similar to Sedsal and the same situation occurred between SwiMGluO and SedMGluO. However, Sedsal group presented greater length than SedMGluO. Swimming was not able to reverse the effects caused by situations of body imbalance early induced in the bone tissue in young adult animals