Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco

This study assessed the efficacy of an intra-articular injection of allogeneic adipose tissue-derived from mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) for the treatment of hip dysplasia in dogs. The study group included 12 otherwise healthy dogs of different breeds, ages, weights, and degrees of hip dysplasia diagnosed using radiography. An orthopedic assessment was performed on all dogs before and at 30, 60, and 90 days after infusion of AD-MSCs(2 × 106cells). On the same days, each dog’s owner answered a questionnaire based on theHelsinkiChronic Pain Index. The data were converted to ordinal data based on the score for each variable, and the Friedman test for multiple comparisons was used to verify the results. Compared with the corresponding values on day 0, orthopedic and gait assessments and owners’ reported pain indexes improved over the 90-day observation period. These results suggested that treatment with allogeneic AD-MSCs significantly reduced the clinical signs associated with hip dysplasia during the study period. However, long-term studies are needed to determine the optimal therapeutic protocol for routine clinical use of AD-MSCs in hip dysplasia.

One of the main issues related to the management of forage legumes is the fact that these plants can be found in a broad diversity of morphology, structures and growth habits. This study evaluated the structural and productive characteristics of forage legumes with different growth habits [Clitoria ternatea L.; Desmanthus pernambucanus (L.) Thellung; and Stylosanthes spp. cv. Campo Grande], in response to two harvesting frequencies (60 and 90 days). The experimental design was completely randomized in blocks, with a split-plot scheme and four replications (n=4). The type of forage legume influenced the number of secondary branches, the number of leaves per branch, leaf area index (LAI), light interception (LI), percentage of leaves and stems (%), leaf/stem ratio, and pod production (P<0.05). D. pernambucanus had the lowest LI and LAI (P < 0.05). Stylosanthes spp. cv. Campo Grande and C. ternatea showed a greater leaf percentage and leaf/stem ratio (P < 0.05). There was an effect of the harvesting frequency on the percentage of stems, leaves, pod production, and total production (P < 0.05). Longer harvesting frequencies affected differently these legumes, especially the accumulation of stems in D. pernambucanus, which displayed an intense increase after 60 days of growth. The choice of the best harvesting frequency for these legumes evaluated should consider the proposal of the usage. In our study, it was shown that harvesting at 60 days did not affect the total forage mass accumulated, which possibly is the most advantageous choice.

On the basis of a labelled deduction system (LND$_{ED-}$TRS), we demonstrate how to formalize the concept of computational paths (sequences of rewrites) as equalities between two terms of the same type. This has allowed us to carry out a formal counterpart to equality between paths which is dealt with in homotopy theory, but this time with an approach using the device of term-rewriting paths. Using such formal calculus dealing with paths, we construct the fundamental groupoid of a path-connected $ X $ type and we define the concept of isomorphism between types. Next, we show that the computational paths determine a weak category, which will be called $ \mathcal {C}_{paths} $. Finally, we show that the weak category $ \mathcal {C}_{paths} $ determines a weak groupoid.

Dispersal is more intense in the ocean than on land because most marine taxa present planktonic life stages that are transported by currents even without specific morphological traits. Thus, species dispersal shapes the distribution of biodiversity along seascapes and drives the composition of biodiversity assemblages. To identify marine assembling zones which characterise spatial areas particularly prone to receive and retain similar animal assemblages from the regional pool of species through passive dispersal, we propose a community-based approach grounded on Lagrangian simulations of plankton dispersal. This novel approach was applied to communities (coast, outer shelf, slope, seamounts and islands; 0-80 m depth) of the Tropical Southwestern Atlantic and used to assess connectivity pathways. For that, we classified the modelled particles in 15 categories according to biological traits (planktonic life duration and spawning habitat) of representative planktonic communities. From the hierarchical clustering of the multivariate matrix containing the amount of arriving particles from each category in each cell we defined 14 assembling zones. Results highlighted that the assembling zones were mostly shaped by the degree of exposure to currents and the presence of mesoscale features (eddies, recirculation) derived from the interaction between these currents and coastlines. The boundaries, dispersal and connectivity patterns of these zones consistently align with local and regional in situ spatial distribution and abundance patterns of organisms, and provide an appropriate basis for the formulation of ecological hypotheses in the metacommunity framework to be tested in situ, such as the balance between species sorting and mass effect assembling archetypes. This approach, when coupled with the knowledge of other processes shaping communities' structure and distribution, provides important insights for regions and animal groups for which knowledge is limited or absent, and more generally allows for a comprehensive overview of the distribution of distinct communities and connectiv-ity pathways along marine environments.

Objective To analyze the impact of sleep quality/duration on cardiac autonomic modulation on physically active adolescents with obesity. Materials and Methods The present cross-sectional study included 1,150 boys with a mean age of 16.6 ± 1.2 years. The assessment of cardiac functions included the frequency domain of heart rate variability (HRV; low frequency – LF; high frequency – HF; and the ratio between these bands –LF/HF –, defined as the sympathovagal balance), and each parameter was categorized as low/high. Physical activity levels and sleep quality/duration were obtained by questionnaires. Abdominal obesity was assessed and defined as waist circumference > 80th percentile. Results Poor sleep quality resulted in lower HF (odds ratio [OR]: 1.8; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.01–3.21]) regardless of physical activity and abdominal obesity. Moreover, the study found no association between sleep duration and HRV parameters in adolescents. Conclusion Sleep quality, not sleep duration, reduces parasympathetic cardiac modulation apart from other factors such as physical activity and abdominal obesity in adolescents.

The dating of documents is crucial in forensic chemistry, particularly for verifying their authenticity. This study aimed to develop a rapid and direct method for the dating of pen ink...

Since bull fertility prediction remains challenging, the identification of potential fertility markers is important considering the economic benefits to the livestock industry. The main goal of this study was to determine the Na/K-ATPase activity and expression in thawed sperm of high (HF)-and low-fertility (LF) Angus bulls. Samples from three different batches/bulls with HF (n = 4) and LF (n = 4) were used. The Na/K-ATPase activity was determined after thawing, whereas sperm kinematics, membrane integrity, and expression of Na/K-ATPase on sperm surface were evaluated immediately post-thaw and after 120 minutes of incubation. Within the same incubation time, there was no difference on sperm membrane integrity, kinematics, and the expression of Na/K-ATPase on the sperm surface between HF and LF bulls. Kinematic parameters of LIN and VCL were not influenced by incubation time in samples from HF and LF, respectively. A tendency (P = 0.06) of higher Na/K-ATPase enzymatic activity for sperm of HF bulls compared to LF bulls was observed (0.49 ± 0.07 and 0.32 ± 0.06, respectively). In conclusion, Na/K-ATPase activity and expression in thawed sperm from Angus bulls are not related to the fertility index after fixed-time artificial insemination. However, sperm kinematics related to hyperactivation might indicate higher sperm cryotolerance for HF bulls.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Corymbia citriodora, Melaleuca alternifolia (Myrtaceae), Mentha × piperita (Lamiaceae), and Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae) essential oils as an alternative to manage Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults. Methods Acute contact toxicity, acute toxicity on treated maize grain, fumigation toxicity, repellency bioassays, and GC-MS analysis of the essential oils were carried out. Results Corymbia citriodora, M. alternifolia, M. × piperita, and S. terebinthifolius oils were toxic at different levels to S. zeamais through residual contact, ingestion and via fumigation, and were also repellent to adults of this pest. Melaleuca alternifolia oil was the most active in contact (LC 50 = 18.98 μL.mL ⁻¹ ), ingestion (LC 50 = 1.03 μL.g ⁻¹ ), and fumigant (LC 50 = 20.05 μL.L ⁻¹ air) bioassays. Citronelal (53.6% in C. citriodora), terpinen-4-ol (46.9% in M. alternifolia), menthol (44.8% in M. × piperita), and β-caryophyllene (16.2% in S terebinthifolius) are the major constituents of these oils. Conclusions Melaleuca alternifolia and M. × piperita essential oils can be used by residual contact, while those of C. citriodora, M. alternifolia, and M. × piperita by mixing with maize grains. Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil can be used as a fumigant, while those of C. citriodora and S. terebinthifolius as repellents for S. zeamais adults.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of clinical and subclinical pregnancy toxemia (PT) forms on the dynamics of blood metabolites, composing the protein, enzymatic and mineral profiles of dairy goats during the transitional period. 111 multiparous dairy goats were used in this research. The animals were raised under an intensive system. Experimental groups (n=3) were created using the βHB blood concentrations as a cut-off point. The G1 or control group (n = 40), G2 or subclinical PT group (n = 39) were established when least one of the experimental assessment times presented βHB values between 0.8 mmol/L and 1.6 mmol/L; whereas G3 or clinical PT group (n = 32), which at any of the experimental assessment times of βHB values were higher than 1.6 mmol / L when verified and also presented clinical signs of PT. The animals were evaluated on the 30th , 20th and 10th day ante-partum (dap), at parturition and on the 10th, 20th and 30th day postpartum (dpp). Total proteins (TP), albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Gamma glutamiltransferase (GGT), creatine kinase (CK), amylase, phosphorus, chloride and calcium, sodium and potassium ions were measured. The analysis of variance (F Test) was performed in order to investigate the effects and interactions between group and assessment times. Clinical and/or subclinical disease during the transitional period resulted in an increase of phosphorus and potassium concentrations (P<0.05), while a decrease in total protein, albumin, globulin, and ionized calcium values was observed (P<0.05). No statistical effect of PT on urea, creatinine, AST, GGT, CK, amylase and sodium was observed (P>0.05). Except the ionized calcium and phosphorus, the levels of all the metabolites were influenced (P<0.05) by late pregnancy, parturition and lactation. The occurrence of the subclinical form was higher than the clinical form during the transitional period. Among the all variables studied, mineral profile were those that suffered alteration resulting from PT, highlighting the ionized calcium. Attention is drawn to the magnitude of the impact of disease on these components interfering in animal health.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência das formas clínica e subclínica da toxemia da prenhez (TP) na dinâmica dos metabólitos sanguíneos, compondo os perfis proteico, enzimático e mineral das cabras leiteiras durante o período de transição. Foram utilizadas 111 cabras multíparas que eram criadas em sistema intensivo. Grupos experimentais (n=3) foram criados utilizando diferentes concentrações séricas de βHB como ponto de corte, o G1 grupo controle (n=40), G2 grupo subclínico da TP (n=39) estabelecido quando pelo menos um dos momentos experimentais apresentou valores de βHB entre 0,8 mmol/L e 1,6 mmol/L; e o grupo G3, com manifestação clínica da TP (n=32), que em qualquer um dos momentos os valores de βHB foram superiores a 1,6 mmol/L. Os animais foram avaliados aos 30º, 20º e 10º dias antes do parto (dap), no parto e no 10º, 20º e 30º dia pós-parto (dpp). Proteínas totais (PT), albumina, globulina, ureia, creatinina, aspartato aminotransferase (AST), gama glutamiltransferase (GGT), creatina quinase (CK), amilase, fósforo, cloreto e cálcio, sódio e potássio foram mensurados. A análise de variância (Teste F) foi realizada com o objetivo de investigar os efeitos e interações entre os tempos dos grupos. A doença clínica e/ou subclínica resultou num aumento das concentrações de fósforo e potássio (P<0,05), foi observada uma diminuição nos valores de proteína total, albumina, globulina e cálcio ionizado (P<0,05). Não houve efeito estatístico da TP sobre a uréia, creatinina, AST, GGT, CK, amilase e sódio (P>0,05). A ocorrência da forma subclínica foi maior que a clínica durante o período de transição. As variáveis que compõem o perfil mineral foram as que apresentaram alterações decorrentes da TP, destacando-se, o cálcio ionizado. Chama-se a atenção o impacto que a doença reflete nesses componentes e na saúde do animal.

Resumo Na produção animal, grande parte dos recursos financeiros destina-se à alimentação animal, portanto é essencial utilizar dietas de baixo custo e com máxima eficiência produtiva. O presente estudo avaliou os efeitos de uma dieta de alto grão e do óleo residual de fritura sobre o desempenho produtivo e as características de carcaça de cordeiros. Quinze cordeiros foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em três grupos e alimentados por 40 dias com uma dieta controle, dieta de alto grão ou dieta com inclusão de óleo residual de fritura. Não houve diferença (P > 0,05) entre as dietas controle e com óleo de fritura para consumo diário de matéria seca, proteína bruta, matéria mineral, FDN e carboidratos totais. A dieta de alto grão reduziu o consumo de matéria seca e nutrientes, afetando negativamente o ganho de peso. As maiores médias de peso final, ganho de peso total e diário foram obtidas nas dietas controle e com óleo residual, que não diferiram entre elas (P> 0,05). O peso corporal de abate e os pesos de carcaça quente e fria diminuíram com a dieta de alto grão. Houve efeito (P < 0,05) da inclusão de óleo de fritura sobre as características da carcaça. Não houve efeito (P > 0,05) das dietas no rendimento da carcaça. Os animais da dieta de alto grão mostraram um desempenho insatisfatório, afetando negativamente as características da carcaça. A inclusão de óleo de fritura promoveu um ganho de peso superior e características de carcaça mais atraentes, tornando-se a alternativa mais viável nesta pesquisa.

In animal production, a large part of financial resources is destined to animal feed, so the use of low-cost diets with maximum production efficiency is crucial. The present study evaluated the effects of a high-grain diet and the use of residual frying oil on the productive performance and carcass characteristics of lambs. Fifteen lambs were distributed into three groups in a completely randomized design in which they were fed a control diet, a high-grain diet, or a diet with the inclusion of residual frying oil, for 40 days. There was no difference (P > 0.05) between the control and frying-oil diets regarding the daily intakes of dry matter, crude protein, mineral matter, neutral detergent fiber, or total carbohydrates. The high-grain diet reduced the intake of dry matter and nutrients, negatively affecting weight gain. The highest means for final weight, total weight, and daily weight gain were obtained with the control diet and the diet containing residual oil, which did not differ from each other (P> 0.05). Slaughter weight and hot and cold carcass weights decreased with the high-grain diet. There was an effect (P < 0.05) of frying oil inclusion on the carcass characteristics of the lambs. The diets did not affect (P > 0.05) carcass yields. The animals on the high-grain diet showed unsatisfactory production performance, with impaired carcass characteristics. The inclusion of frying oil led to greater weight gain as well as more attractive carcass characteristics, making it the most viable alternative in this research.

Tetragonisca angustula (Latreille, 1811) is an indigenous neotropical stingless bee, popularly known as "Jataí", with a wide distribution in the Brazilian territory. T. angustula produces other derivatives such as propolis, geopropolis, fermented (saburá pollen), cerumen and resins, which are important in folk medicine. In this review, the objective was to gather research on the main plant species visited by T. angustula, as well as studies that verified the chemical composition and biological properties of T. angustula bioproducts. The bibliographic review was performed by searching the Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and PubMed databases for publications from 2003 to February 2023. We found 78 studies that analyzed the interactions between T. angustula and floral species, with species from the botanical families Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Bignoniaceae, Solanaceae, Myrtaceae and Lamiaceae being the most reported as the main food sources for this species. The presence of compounds belonging to the class of flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids and alkaloids has been identified by studying the chemical composition of honey, propolis, geopropolis and fermented pollen (saburá) in 21 studies. The data collected in the literature emphasize that these T. angustula products have remarkable biological properties, especially their antibacterial and antioxidant activities.

Records concerning marine megafauna (e.g., cetaceans, pinnipeds, seabirds, and sea turtles) predation and scavenging events by sharks are scarce along the Brazilian coast. Although Brazil is noteworthy as one of the main global hotspots regarding elasmobranch functional diversity, endemism and diversity, studies on the food biology of this group have been carried out for less than a third of this taxonomic group, even though biology and feeding ecology assessments for shark species from the Brazilian coast are extremely valuable from a global perspective and should be encouraged. In this context, this study records unprecedented ecological predation and necrophagy interactions between sharks and different zoological vertebrate groups through the analysis of several marine megafauna carcasses found stranded on the beaches of the southern coast of Bahia, in northeastern Brazil, between 2005 and 2020. The implications of these records in furthering knowledge concerning the life history of the species involved in each interaction are discussed in a context of scarcity of scientific marine ecology data for this Brazilian coast area.

A systematic understanding of the variation in species composition across time and space is urgently needed to protect threatened Brazilian forests. This study has disentangled the among‐site variation in beta diversity among scorpion assemblages from the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest. We calculated the relative contribution of species replacement and differences in species richness in explaining the beta diversity in each forest, correlating such metrics with environmental characteristics. Finally, we estimated the relative site‐specific contribution to identify potential environmental drivers determining unique combinations of species composition. The average among‐site dissimilarity in scorpion assemblages was higher in the Caatinga than that in the Atlantic Forest. The differences in species composition among Caatinga sites were mainly due to the spatial replacement of species. Differences in species richness at the local scale explained most of the variation in species composition among Atlantic Forest sites. Environmental variables related to topography and land use partially explained the variation in among‐site dissimilarity, species replacement, differences in species richness and the ecological uniqueness in terms of species composition in the Caatinga. Environmental variables describing topography and land use were also important in explaining differences in species richness and local contributions to the beta diversity among Atlantic Forest sites. The relative site‐specific contribution to beta diversity was higher in Caatinga sites located in ecotonal zones and Atlantic Forest sites situated within conservation reserves. Using scorpions as biological models, we have demonstrated that the species composition does not vary in a consistent way between different forest types.

BACKGROUND Non‐pathogenic fungi associated with plants can enhance plant defenses against stress factors, including herbivory. This study assessed whether cotton plants grown from seeds treated with different fungi affected boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman, development and reproduction along with plant tolerance. We used whole plants grown from seeds treated with different fungi ( Chaetomium globosum TAMU520 and TAMU559, Phialemonium inflatum TAMU490, and Beauveria bassiana ) versus non‐treated controls to test insect growth, reproduction, and plant tolerance assays in a greenhouse. RESULTS Regarding boll weevil reproduction, fewer larvae hatched, and fewer adults emerged from fungal‐treated plants. In addition, the developmental time from oviposition to adult emergence was delayed in the plants treated with all fungi. For plant tolerance, B. bassiana ‐treated plants attacked by boll weevils shed fewer squares than non‐fungal‐treated plants. CONCLUSION Fungal treatments can affect boll weevil performance and reproduction on cotton plants with potentially negative effects on population growth. Collectively, these results support the potential for cottonseed treatments with fungi as a novel tool for boll weevil management in the field. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

We conjecture that a class of Artinian Gorenstein Hilbert algebras called full Perazzo algebras always have minimal Hilbert function, fixing codimension and length. We prove the conjecture in length four and five, in low codimension. We also prove the conjecture for a particular subclass of algebras that occurs in every length and certain codimensions. As a consequence of our methods we give a new proof of part of a known result about the asymptotic behavior of the minimum entry of a Gorenstein Hilbert function.

The study aimed to verify the presence of latent pathogens from the Botryosphaeriaceae family, associated with black root rot and stem dry rot, in healthy propagative material of Manihot esculenta in Brazil. To this end, we investigated the composition of endophytic fungal communities present in fresh healthy stems collected from M. esculenta plantations. Forty-one genera, two families and one subclass of fungi were identified in the collected samples. We detected the species of Botryosphaeriaceae - Lasiodiplodia euphorbiaceicola , L. theobromae and Neoscytalidium dimidiatum - composing fungal endophytic communities in M. esculenta plantations close to the coast of the state of Pernambuco (Brazil). Pathogenicity tests carried out on seedlings and roots of M. esculenta confirmed the capacity of the Botryosphaeriaceae specimens obtained to cause lesions in this host. L. euphorbiaceicola , L. theobromae and N. dimidiatum are recognized as pathogenic for M. esculenta , responsible for causing black root rot and stem dry rot in this crop in Brazil and other countries. However, this is the first study to isolate them as endophytes in healthy propagative material, showing evidence that these Botryosphaeriaceae can survive as pathogens or endophytes in this crop in Brazil.

Continental shelves encompass gently sloped seascapes that are highly productive and intensively exploited for natural resources. Islands, reefs and other emergent or quasi-emergent features punctuate these shallow (<100 m) seascapes and are well known drivers of increased biomass and biodiversity, as well as predictors of fishing and other human uses. On the other hand, relict mesoscale geomorphological features that do not represent navigation hazards, such as incised valleys (IVs), remain poorly charted. Consequently, their role in biophysical processes remains poorly assessed and sampled. Incised valleys are common within rhodolith beds (RBs), the most extensive benthic habitat along the tropical and subtropical portions of the mid and outer Brazilian shelf. Here, we report on a multi-proxy assessment carried out in a tropical-subtropical transition region (~20°S) off Eastern Brazil, contrasting physicochemical and biological variables in IVs and adjacent RBs. Valleys interfere in near bottom circulation and function as conduits for water and propagules from the slope up to the mid shelf. In addition, they provide a stable and structurally complex habitat for black corals and gorgonians that usually occur in deeper water, contrasting sharply with the algae-dominated RB. Fish richness, abundance and biomass were also higher in the IVs, with small planktivores and large-bodied, commercially important species (e.g. groupers, snappers and grunts) presenting smaller abundances or being absent from RBs. Overall, IVs are unique and vulnerable habitats that sustain diverse assemblages and important ecosystem processes. As new IVs are detected by remote sensing or bathymetric surveys, they can be incorporated into regional marine management plans as conservation targets and priority sites for detailed in situ surveys.