Aromatic Plants in Eurasian Blue Tit Nests: The ‘Nest

The ‘Nest Protection Hypothesis’ suggests that some birds add aromatic plants to their nests to repel or kill ectoparasites. This behavior has been described for several species, including the Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus). We studied the reproductive performance, based on 26 nests (in nest boxes), of this species in mixed forested areas of Quercus spp. and Pinus pinea in the Parque Florestal de Monsanto, the largest park of Lisbon, Portugal. The frequency of aromatic plants in nests was compared with frequency of these plants in the study area. The three most frequent aromatic plants (Dittrichia viscosa, Lavandula dentata, Calamintha baetica) in nests were used more than expected from their availability in the study area. We could not reject the null hypothesis that nest survival rate is independent of the presence of aromatic plants in the nest

Nutritive value of meadows in the Northeast of Portugal

Meadows continue to be the most important source of pasture and hay for beef cattle production in the hill and upland areas in the NE region of Portugal. The aim of this study was to evaluate CP contents and IVOMD values during the year, in three harvests (spring, hay cut and autumn) under the effect of three rates of N fertilisation in seven mountain meadows. The results showed that the highest CP and IVOMD occurred in the beginning of spring when meadows are in active vegetative growth. Effects of N fertilisation on CP and IVOMD occurred only in oligotrophic meadows, but in an irregular way, and mainly on IVOMD

Grazing regimes and fertilisation rates: effects on dry matter yields, crude protein content and digestibility of meadows in the Northeast of Portugal

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two grazing regimes: the usual for the area and late spring grazing, and three rates of N fertilisation, on dry-matter (DM) yields and nutritive value in three mountain meadows (Anthemido-Cynosuretum cristati, Gaudinio-Agrostietum cristati and Bromo-Cynosuretum cristati). The results showed that the lowest DM yield was obtained on Bromo-Cynosuretum cristati meadow. Dry matter yields increased significantly with N fertilisation in all meadows, independent of grazing regimes. The highest nutritive values occurred at the beginning of spring, and decreased during the year as a result of maturation. This effect was favoured by N fertilisation and it was independent of grazing regimes. Nutritive values were sufficient to meet the daily requirements of beef cattle during the study

GRASS UTILIZATION IN GROWING FINISHING BÍSARO PIGS (85-107 KG). PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS COMPOSITION

The use of different quantities of vegetables, forages or fresh grass as fodder for growing-finishing pigs is an important factor of the northern Portugal traditional system. The increasing development of swine production in outdoor systems, extensive and organic production, turns to upcoming natural diets, in which grass performs a significant part. With regard to this, some investigation has been made concerning the use of fibre-rich feed ingredients in pig nutrition. Metabolic effects of its ingestion are analysed concerning different sights (economical, social, environmental and physiological ones). The aim of this work was to study the effects of grass utilization in the diets on performances of finishing Bísaro pigs. A total of 22 pigs (16 castrated males and 6 females) was housed outdoor and fed ad libitum (37 – 85 kg live weight) with a growing diet and then transferred to an indoor system (with free access to an outdoor area) for 49 days, according to 3 different treatments: 100% concentrate (C), 75% concentrate + ad libitum grass (CE75), 50% concentrate + ad libitum grass (CE50). The grass was supplied and its intake registered on a daily basis. Every 14 days, the pigs were weighted and their back fat (P2 in vivo) measured. After slaughter (average weight of 107 kg LW), yield and ½ left carcass characteristics were controlled. During the outdoor growing phase, the ADG was 513 g/day. During the indoor finishing phase, the increase grass intake was proportional to the reduction of concentrate in the diet. The ADG (g) and the fat deposition (P2 cm) were significantly different (P<0,05) in the 3 treatments (ADG: C=641, CE75=467, CE50=356 and: C=11,4, CE75=+9,5, CE50=+6,2). The empty body weight (kg) was also proportional to the intake of concentrate (C=116,2; CE75=107,7; CE50=102,2). Comparatively to the weight of the body parts, pigs that had higher intake of grass and lower of concentrate showed a higher % of shoulder (P<0,05; C=20,4, CE75=21,7, CE50=22,2) and the pH45min of CE carcasses was significantly higher (P<0,05). As a conclusion, concentrate substitution for grass showed a slower growing rate, thinner carcasses and a high technological quality. Neverthelles variability (CV %) of the productive parameters at the end of this study were higher in the treatments that included grass: live weight (C= 10,5%; C75=10,7%; C50=14,3%), finishing ADG (C=24%; C75=37%, C50=42%), and final fat (C=37%; C75=32%, C50=52%). These values suggest that the utilization of fibrous feeds in growing-finishing swine may be one of the possible explanations of the more heterogeneous products and carcasses found in the traditional or extensive systems, common users of fibrous feeds in the carcass finishing phase

Antimicrobial storage and antibiotic knowledge in the community: a cross-sectional pilot study in north-western Angola

Background - Antimicrobials are drugs that were once lifesavers and mainly curative. Nowadays their value is increasingly under pressure because of the fast and worldwide emergence of antimicrobial resistance, which, in low resources settings, frequently occurs in microorganisms that are likely to be transmitted in the community. Methods - A cross-sectional pilot study including 102 households within the 10th HDSS round in Dande, Bengo Province, Angola. Results - From the total 102 households piloted, 77.45% were urban (n = 79); the respondents were females in 56.44% (n = 57) and mean age was 39.70 (SD 15.35). Overall storage of antimicrobials was found in 55/102 (53.92%) of the households. More than 66% of the antimicrobials stored were prescribed by a health professional and the majority of antimicrobials were bought at pharmacies and at a street market. Penicillin and its derivates, antimalarial drugs and metronidazole are the most frequently antimicrobials stored. Households with female respondents reported to store more frequently any drugs at home (82.50%) (p = 0.002) and also more antimicrobials (64.91%; p = 0.016) as compared to households with male respondents. Reported use of antimicrobials was significantly higher in urban 60.76% (48/79) as compared to rural households 30.43% (7/23), (p = 0.010). Overall, 74/101 (73.26%) of respondents reported to have already heard about antibiotics. Among them, the common reasons for its use were cough and other respiratory symptoms, wounds, flu and body muscle pain, fever, bladder complaints, diarrhea and/or presumed typhoid fever. Nearly 40% (28/74) of the respondents thought that antibiotics should be stopped as soon as people dońt feel sick anymore. Conclusions - Community interventions for appropriate use of antibiotics should be designed with a special focus in women; through public awareness campaigns and improving access to reliable medical services. Drug prescribers are a keystone not only in adequate antimicrobial prescription but also adequate dispensing and strong advocates for the possible misconceptions on antimicrobial usage by laypeople.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Farming systems in mountain regions of NE Portugal: conversion from conventional production to organic production

The energy efficiency of a mountain mixed-farming system in NE Portugal was analysed for the period 2002-2003. The energy calculation included the energy of all inputs (fertilizers, fuels, concentrates for cattle) on farm production and the energy of outputs (bovine meat). The energy values were calculated by multiplying the quantities of inputs, indoor system production and outputs by their energy content. The efficiency of the farm (output/input) was 0.12. The results showed a low efficiency of the farm. However, these results were not due to the high inputs required by the farm (as in intensive systems) but it was due to the low use of available feed

TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY IN A PATIENT WITH HOFFA FRACTURE PSEUDARTHROSIS: CASE REPORT

ABSTRACTA rare occurrence of a case of Hoffa fracture pseudarthrosis in an alcoholic patient with genu valgum associated with venous insufficiency who underwent total knee arthroplasty is reported. The literature is reviewed and the main factors for surgical indication of total knee arthroplasty after a fracture of the knee are discussed. Total knee arthroplasty was a viable option in a 60-year-old patient with Hoffa fracture pseudarthrosis and comorbidities

Efeito da fertilização mineral e orgânica e do uso de misturas simples e complexas de sementes na instalação de pastagens anuais ricas em leguminosas

No âmbito de um estudo de longo prazo de pastagens permanentes semeadas ricas em leguminosas estudou-se o efeito dos seguintes factores na flora pascícola de primeiro ano: 1) pastagem – mistura simples (MSIMP), mistura comercial complexa rica em leguminosas (MCOMP) e vegetação espontânea (ABAND); 2) fertilização de fundo – estrume de bovino (EST: 40 t/ha), fertilização mineral (FERT: 1000 kg calcário/ha, 53 kg P2O5/ha e 30 kg K2O /ha) e sem fertilização. Os dados experimentais revelaram: a percentagem de cobertura das plantas indígenas foi francamente mais elevada do que o das plantas semeadas; o tratamento ABAND foi o único que demonstrou um controlo significativo na estruturação dos dados florísticos numa RDA (Análise de redundância); FERT teve um efeito mais favorável do que EST na flora adventícia regional de cereais que colonizou as parcelas experimentais; as leguminosas semeadas – com 35,0% (EST) e 15,3% (FERT) de cobertura – foram beneficiadas pela aplicação de estrumes à sementeira; os estrumes provavelmente tiveram um efeito favorável no desenvolvimento de nichos de regeneração adequados às leguminosas, sobretudo num ano agrícola tão seco como foi o de 2008-2009; a percentagem de cobertura do L. perenne foi semelhante nos três tipos de fertilização; o tipo de mistura de sementes (MSIMP e MCOMP) teve um efeito irrelevante na flora pratense semeada.FCT-Fundação Para a Ciência e Tecnologia

The influence of the mode II fracture energy on the behaviour of composite plate reinforced concrete

Comunicação apresentada em Fifth International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures, Vail, Colorado, USA, 2004In this paper, the finite element method is used to analyse the behaviour of concrete externally strengthened by sheets of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP). The bond between concrete and CFRP is modelled by a discrete approach using interface elements. The mechanisms involved in the behaviour of externally reinforced concrete specimens are complex, the global strength of the specimen being governed by the strength of each individual material as well as by the adhesion properties conferred by the epoxy. It is observed in experiments that, in most cases, failure occurs due to the loss of cohesion of a portion or lamina of concrete attached to the epoxy-fibres layers, the latter remaining intact. In this paper, the results of numerical simulations of bond tests are presented, aiming to contribute for a better understanding, in qualitative and quantitative terms, of mode II fracture energy in concrete and its influence on the behaviour of the interface concrete-FRP

Editorial: Natural animal models of diseases.

In this Research Topic of Frontiers in Veterinary Science/Comparative and Clinical Medicine, four manuscripts were published: Two Review and two Original Research Articles, whose main contributions and results are briefly presented below