Effect of chitosan on the preservation quality of sugarcane silage

We aimed to evaluate the effects of chitosan and microbial inoculant addition to sugarcane silage fermentation, gas and effluent losses, chemical composition, in situ dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) degradation and aerobic stability. A completely randomized design with four treatments (n = 40) was performed. It was arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme with chitosan [0 and 6 g/kg of sugarcane DM—1.66 g/kg of natural matter (NM)] and microbial inoculant (0 and 8 mg/kg on NM). Each g of inoculant contained 3.9 × 10¹⁰ UFC/g of Pediococcus acidilactici and 3.75 × 10¹⁰ UFC/g of Propionibacterium acidicipropionici. The addition of microbial inoculant increased lactic acid concentration in silos treated with chitosan. Furthermore, chitosan increased pH and tended to increase acetic acid of silage. In contrast, the inoculant decreased pH and acetic acid, besides increasing ethanol concentration. As chitosan addition increased DM recovery, inoculant addition decreased it. Chitosan decreased NDF and acid detergent fibre (ADF) level and increased DM degradation, while inoculant decreased DM content, DM and NDF degradation. In addition, chitosan improved the aerobic stability only in non‐inoculated silos. Thus, chitosan has a positive effect on silage fermentation, reducing fermentative losses, and improving silage chemical composition and degradation. Conversely, the addition of microbial inoculant negatively affected silage DM recovery, chemical composition, and its association with chitosan decreased the aerobic stability when compared to the exclusive use of chitosan.     

Investigation of genotype x environment interactions for weaning weight for Herefords in three countries

The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of genotype x environment interactions for weaning weight (WWT) between different regions of the United States (US) and between Canada (CA), Uruguay (UY), and US for populations of Hereford cattle. Original data were composed of 487,661, 102,986, and 2,322,722 edited weaning weight records from CA, UY, and US, respectively. A total of 359 sires were identified as having progeny across all three countries; 240 of them had at least one progeny with a record in each environment. The data sets within each country were reduced by retaining records from herds with more than 500 WWT records, with an average contemporary group size of greater than nine animals, and that contained WWT records from progeny or maternal grand-progeny of the across-country sires. Data sets within each country were further reduced by randomly selecting among remaining herds. Four regions within US were defined: Upper Plains (UP), Cornbelt (CB), South (S), and Gulf Coast (GC). Similar sampling criteria and common international sires were used to form the within-US regional data sets. A pairwise analysis was done between countries and regions within US (UP-CB vs S-GC, UP vs CB, and S vs GC) for the estimation of (co)variance components and genetic correlation between environments. An accelerated EM-REML algorithm and a multiple-trait animal model that considered WWT as a different trait in each environment were used to estimate parameters in each pairwise analysis. Direct and maternal (in parentheses) estimated genetic correlations for CA vs UY, CA vs US, US vs UY, UP-CB vs S-GC, UP vs CB, and S vs GC were .88 (.84), .86 (.82), .90 (.85), .88 (.87), .88 (.84), and .87 (.85), respectively. The general absence of genotype x country interactions observed in this study, together with a prior study that showed the similarity of genetic and environmental parameters across the three countries, strongly indicates that a joint WWT genetic evaluation for Hereford cattle could be conducted using a model that treated the information from CA, UY, and US as a single population using single population-wide genetic parameters.     

Management Strategies Aiming to Improve Horse Welfare Reduce Embryonic Death Rates in Mares

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of management strategies aiming to improve animal well‐being on pregnancy and embryonic death (ED) rates. Breeding records of a cohort of 1206 Thoroughbred mares brought to a stallion station facility, to be bred with the stallions housed there, were evaluated during ten breeding seasons. Mares were blocked according to management strategies in two groups: Stress and Relax. Strategies used to improve animal well‐being (Relax group) were as follows: stopping the teasing routine, reducing or eliminating stall confinement, reducing the number of mares per group and maintaining herd stability during the breeding season. In barren mares, the pregnancy rate was higher in the Relax group (91.8%) when compared to the observed in Stress group (84.7%). However, no difference in pregnancy rates were observed (Stress = 85.2% vs. Relax = 86.2) in foaling mares. ED rate was higher in barren and foaling mares of the Stress group mares (25.5% and 26.8%, respectively) compared with the Relax group (16.1% and 14.7%, respectively). No significant differences were observed on foal heat pregnancy rate between groups; yet, the embryo loss on foal heat was significant reduced in Relax mares (Relax = 8.7% vs Stress = 24.5%). In conclusion, management strategies aimed to reduce social stress can reduce early pregnancy losses and the average cycles per pregnancy, improving reproductive performance in mares.     

Proteomic survey of the pathogenic Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae strain 7448 and identification of novel post-translationally modified and antigenic proteins

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is an important pathogen for pigs, being the causative agent of enzootic pneumonia. Recently, the genome sequences of three strains, J, 7448 and 232 have been reported. Here, we describe the results of a proteomic analysis, based on two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of soluble protein extracts, immunoblot and mass spectrometry, which was carried out aiming the identification of gene products and antigenic proteins from the M. hyopneumoniae pathogenic strain 7448. A preliminary M. hyopneumoniae proteome map in two pH ranges (3-10 and 4-7) was produced. A total of 31 different coding DNA sequences (CDSs), including three hypothetical ones, were experimentally verified with the identification of the corresponding protein products by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. According to the Clusters of Orthologous Groups (COG) functional classification, the identified proteins were assigned to the groups of metabolism (13), cellular processes (5) and information and storage processing (4). Nine of the identified proteins were not classifiable by COG, including some related to cytoadherence and possibly involved in pathogenicity. Moreover, at least five highly antigenic proteins of M. hyopneumoniae were identified by immunoblots, including four novel ones (a heat shock protein 70, an elongation factor Tu, a pyruvate dehydrogenase E1-beta subunit and the P76 membrane protein). The now available proteome map is expected to serve as a reference for comparative analyses between M. hyopneumoniae pathogenic and non-pathogenic strains, and for methabolic studies based on cells cultured under modified conditions.     

Phytoestrogens alter cortisol and androstenedione secretion by porcine adrenocortical cells

The effect of plant-derived, nonsteroidal estrogens (genistein, daidzein and biochanin A) on cortisol and androstenedione secretion by porcine adrenocortical cells was examined. Adrenals were harvested from locally slaughtered mature gilts on days 5-9 of the oestrous cycle. Adrenocortical cells were incubated with or without genistein, daidzein, biochanin A (0.5, 5, 10 or 50 microM), oestradiol (10, 50, 100 or 500 pg/mL) and ACTH (5 nM--positive control). All incubations were performed for 8 h (95% air and 5% CO2, 37 degrees C). ACTH increased cortisol and androstenedione secretion. Genistein, daidzein and biochanin A suppressed cortisol output, whereas androstenedione secretion was enhanced by these phytoestrogens. In contrast, oestradiol did not alter steroid secretion by porcine adrenocortical cells, which may suggest that phytoestrogens have a non-oestrogenic mechanism of action. Therefore, phytoestrogens present in commercial forage may influence adrenocortical function in pigs by decreasing cortisol and increasing androstenedione secretion.     

Genetic differentiation and historical demography of wood stork populations in Brazilian wetlands: Implications for the conservation of the species and associated ecosystems

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Physical and mechanical properties and colour changes of fast-growing Gympie messmate wood subjected to two-step steam-heat treatments

This study aimed to evaluate physical and mechanical properties and colour changes of fast-growing Gympie messmate wood subjected to two-step steam-heat treatments. To achieve this, Gympie messmate wood was thermally treated under different conditions. Combined steam (127°C and ～0,1471 MPa) and heat treatments in an oven (180–240°C for 4 hours) were performed. Physical and mechanical properties were evaluated by weight loss, equilibrium moisture content, specific gravity, volumetric and linear swelling and static bending tests, while colour changes were studied using CIEL*a*b* technique. The main findings showed that the steam pre-treatment in autoclave influenced most of the technological properties evaluated, mainly for heat treatments performed in low temperatures (180–200°C). The most significant changes after thermal treatments were observed for dimensional stability, which increased as a function of temperature of treatment. On the other hand, mechanical strength of thermally modified wood was significantly affected, while stiffness did not change. Colour modifications due to the application of two-step steam-heat treatments confirm the possibility to using these samples for aesthetic purposes.     

Estimation of inside-bark diameter and heartwood diameter for Tectona grandis Linn. trees using artificial neural networks

The objective of this study was to obtain neural networks that would precisely estimate inside-bark diameter (d _ib ) and heartwood diameter (d _h ) and compare to the results obtained by the Taper models. The databank was formed so as to eliminate inconsistent and biased data, and stratified: minimum d _ib of 4, 6 and 8 cm and minimum d _h of 10, 15 and 20 cm. The adjusted Taper model used was the Kozak model. For the fitting of artificial neural networks (ANN), tests were performed to identify the independent variables and the database scope level, i.e., the following input variables were tested: diameter at breast height (dbh), total height (H), height at diameter d _ib or d _h (h) and outside-bark diameter at h (d _ob ), bark thickness at 1.3 m and project, and the scope at database level or project level. The estimates obtained by the neural networks and Kozak model were evaluated by residual graphs in function of the respective diameter observed and graph of the observed versus estimated values. ANN were found to be more efficient in estimating inside-bark and heartwood diameters for Tectona grandis trees than the Kozak model. The variables that must be used to fit the networks are dbh, H, h and d _ob . Stratification by project results in precision gain, with precision being higher for wider commercial diameters. Thus, linear-type artificial neural networks can be efficient in describing the taper of Tectona grandis trees.     

Atmospheric Absorption of Fluoride by Cultivated Species. Leaf Structural Changes and Plant Growth

Fluoride (F) is an air pollutant that causes phytotoxicity. Besides the importance of this, losses of agricultural crops in the vicinity of F polluting industries in Brazil have been recently reported. Injuries caused to plant leaf cell structures by excess F are not well characterized. However, this may contribute to understanding the ways in which plant physiological and biochemical processes are altered. A study evaluated the effects of the atmospheric F on leaf characteristics and growth of young trees of sweet orange and coffee exposed to low (0.04 mol L^?1) or high (0.16 mol L^?1) doses of HF nebulized in closed chamber for 28 days plus a control treatment not exposed. Gladiolus and ryegrass were used as bioindicators in the experiment to monitor F exposure levels. Fluoride concentration and dry mass of leaves were evaluated. Leaf anatomy was observed under light and electron microscopy. High F concentrations (~180 mg kg^?1) were found in leaves of plants exposed at the highest dose of HF. Visual symptoms of F toxicity in leaves of citrus and coffee were observed. Analyses of plant tissue provided evidence that F caused degeneration of cell wall and cytoplasm and disorganization of bundle sheath, which were more evident in Gladiolus and coffee. Minor changes were observed for sweet orange and ryegrass. Increase on individual stomatal area was also marked for the Gladiolus and coffee, and which were characterized by occurrence of opened ostioles. The increased F absorption by leaves and changes at the structural and ultrastructural level of leaf tissues correlated with reduced plant growth.     

Quantum phase extraction in isospectral electronic nanostructures

Quantum phase is not directly observable and is usually determined by interferometric methods. We present a method to map complete electron wave functions, including internal quantum phase information, from measured single-state probability densities. We harness the mathematical discovery of drum-like manifolds bearing different shapes but identical resonances, and construct quantum isospectral nanostructures with matching electronic structure but divergent physical structure. Quantum measurement (scanning tunneling microscopy) of these "quantum drums"-degenerate two-dimensional electron states on the copper(111) surface confined by individually positioned carbon monoxide molecules-reveals that isospectrality provides an extra topological degree of freedom enabling robust quantum state transplantation and phase extraction.