Nine genera have been assigned to the subfamily Diplopsalioideae, but since most have not been characterized molecularly and their cyst-theca relationships are largely unknown, the phylogenetic ...relationships among these genera are not well understood. Here we established the cyst-theca relationships of 11 species (Boreadinium breve, Diplopelta globula, Diplopsalis lenticula, Diplopsalopsis ovata, Lebouraia pusilla, Niea acanthocysta, Niea chinensis, Niea torta, Oblea rotunda, Preperidinium cf. meunieri and Qia lebouriae) belonging to nine genera by incubating cysts collected along the coast of China. In addition, we obtained 22 large-subunit ribosomal DNA sequences from the germinated motile cells of these 11 species by single-cell polymerase chain reaction. A new genus, Niea, was erected to encompass species with a plate formula identical to that of Oblea, that is, Po, X, 3′, 1a, 6′′, 3C+t, 5′′′, 2′′′′, but with an ortho 1′. Niea chinensis was described based on both theca and cyst morphology. The genus Oblea was emended to incorporate only species with a meta 1′. As a consequence, Oblea acanthocysta and O. torta were transferred to the newly erected genus Niea. A second new genus, Qia, was established to encompass Diplopsalis lebouriae, and the genus Diplopsalis was emended, differing from Qia in the shape of the anterior intercalary (1a) plate. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. Molecular phylogeny revealed that the diplopsalioideans were not monophyletic and were subdivided into three clades. From our results, the shape of the first apical and anterior intercalary plates and the number of apical, anterior intercalary and antapical plates were useful characteristics to distinguish the diplopsalioideans at the genus level.
Biodiesel industry by-products appear to be an excellent alternative source for ruminant feed and may contribute to increased agricultural activity in terms of productivity and profitability. Among ...the various by-products, oilseed cakes have great potential for use due to their high protein and lipid contents, which make them an energetic feed source that would fulfill the nutritional requirements of animals. Thus, studies that aim to determine the optimum levels of oilseed cake in ruminant feed are important for maximizing the potential use of these by-products.
A utilização de coprodutos oriundos da produção do biodiesel na alimentação de ruminantes surge como alternativa, que pode contribuir para o crescimento das atividades agropecuárias, em termos de produtividade e rentabilidade. Dentre os coprodutos, as tortas apresentam grande potencial, haja vista as consideráveis concentrações de proteína e extrato etéreo, que as caracterizam como alimentos protéicos e/ou energéticos, capazes de permitir o atendimento das exigências nutricionais destas frações pelos animais. Desta forma, é importante a realização de estudos que determinem os níveis ótimos de aplicação das diversas tortas oleaginosas, visando à busca de melhores resultados.
El uso de los subproductos de la industria de biodiesel para alimentar a los rumiantes parece ser una excelente alternativa, que puede contribuir al aumento de las actividades agrícolas en términos de productividad y rentabilidad. Entre los sub-productos, las tortas de semillas oleaginosas tienen un gran potencial debido a los importantes niveles de proteínas y lípidos que las caracterizan como alimentos proteicos o energéticos capaces de satisfacer las necesidades nutricionales de los animales. Así, los estudios que tienen como objetivo determinar los niveles óptimos de tortas de semillas oleaginosas en los piensos para rumiantes son importantes para maximizar el uso potencial de estos subproductos.
Diabetes mellitus is the most common disease in the world. One therapeutic approach for treating diabetes is inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities to reduce postprandial blood glucose ...levels. In vitro tests showed that several plant extracts from Brazilian cerrado species can inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The extracts of Eugenia dysenterica, Stryphnodendron adstringens, Pouteria caimito, Pouteria ramiflora, and Pouteria torta showed strong α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Eugenia dysenterica, P. caimito, P. ramiflora, and P. torta aqueous extracts exerted the highest activity against α-amylase (IC50 values of 14.93, 13.6, 7.08, and 5.67 µg/mL, respectively) and α-glucosidase (IC50 values of 0.46, 2.58, 0.35, and 0.22 µg/mL, respectively). Stryphnodendron adstringens ethanol extract also exhibited inhibitory activity against both enzymes (IC50 1.86 µg/mL against α-amylase and 0.61 µg/mL against α-glucosidase). The results suggest that the activity of these cerrado plants on α-amylase and α-glucosidase represents a potential tool for development of new strategies for treatment of diabetes.
Not much is known about the nitrogen (N) uptake capacity and N-form preference of tropical trees. In a replicated labelling experiment with 15N-ammonium, 15N-nitrate and dual-labelled glycine applied ...to saplings of six tree species from southern Ecuadorian montane forests, we tested the hypotheses that (1) the saplings of tropical trees are capable of using organic N even though they are forming arbuscular mycorrhizas, and (2) with increasing altitude, tree saplings increasingly prefer ammonium and glycine over nitrate due to reduced nitrification and growing humus accumulation. Three- to 5-y-old saplings of two species each from 1000, 2000 and 3000 m asl were grown in pots inside the forest at their origin and labelled with non-fertilizing amounts of the three N forms; 15N enrichment was detected 5 days after labelling in fine roots, coarse roots, shoots and leaves. The six species differed with respect to their N-form preference, but neither the abundance of ammonium and nitrate in the soil nor altitude (1000–3000 m asl) seemed to influence the preference. Two species (those with highest growth rate) preferred NH4+ over NO3−, while the other four species took up NO3− and NH4+ at similar rates when both N forms were equally available. After 13C-glycine addition, 13C was significantly accumulated in the biomass of three species (all species with exclusively AM symbionts) but a convincing proof of the uptake of intact glycine molecules by these tropical montane forest trees was not obtained.
One of the main applications of microfiltration is the clarification and concentration of juices. The objective of this paper was to study the process of clarification ofwatermelon juice utilizing ...commercial membranes made of cellulose acetate 0,45 μm. Inorder to evaluate the efficiency of the process, the mass transfer resistances and theproperties of the juice were determined. The hydraulic permeability of the membrane was1.5x10-3 m/sPa considering water as the fluid and 2.2x10-4 m/sPa considering the juice. Theproperties analyzed in the permeate juice were color, transparency, turbidity, pH, density,viscosity, total soluble solids and acidity. The permeate flux of the juice assumed values from61 to 21 L/m2h during the experiment. This reduction was linked to the increase of theresistances with time. The membrane resistance assumed values of 1x106 m2/kg, while theresistance associated with concentration polarization and cake formation assumed valuesone order of magnitude higher. It was not possible to detect irreversible resistance.
The influence of the diet on the quality of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) carcasses of crossbred Murrah and Mediterranean, concentrate fed on traditional (corn/soybean) or on agro-industrial residues ...(palm oil and coconut cakes) was studied. The animals were sacrificed in a slaughterhouse, and physical and physical-chemical analyses in the carcasses were carried out after 24 hours, and instrumental color and texture analyses of the Longissimus dorsi were carried out 48 hours after cooling. The animals supplemented with palm oil cake had better carcass conformation and fat trim, and differences (P<0.05) in the percentage of fat in the carcass fat thickness and coverage were observed.
Avaliou-se a influência da dieta sobre a qualidade de carcaça de búfalos mestiços das raças Murrah e Mediterrâneo, alimentados com concentrado tradicional - milho/soja - ou resíduos agroindustriais - tortas de coco e dendê. Os animais foram sacrificados em abatedouro comercial, e realizadas análises físicas e físico-químicas na carcaça, após 24 horas, e de cor e textura instrumentais no músculo Longissimus dorsi, após 48 horas de resfriamento. Os animais suplementados com a torta de dendê adquiriram melhor conformação de carcaça e acabamento de gordura, e observaram-se diferenças (P<0,05) no percentual de gordura na carcaça e na espessura de gordura de cobertura.
Background: Tropical grasses, such as elephant grass, have high moisture content during its ideal phenological state for silage. High moisture content hinders proper preservation and reduces the ...nutritive value of silage due to secondary fermentation and production of effluents. Adding feed materials with high dry matter content, such as murumuru (Astrocaryum murumuru) meal, is a potential alternative to improve silage yield. Objective: To determine the effects of including murumuru meal (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28%) on the fermentative characteristics, microbiological activity, aerobic stability, and chemical composition of elephant grass silages. Methods: A completely randomized design with five treatments and five replicates was used. Elephant grass was collected at 60 d of age, minced, and homogenized with murumuru meal. The mass was placed in experimental 15-L silos. The silos were collected and analyzed 45 d later. Results: Effluent production decreased (p<0.05) as the proportions of murumuru meal in silage increased. A quadratic effect (p<0.05) was observed on dry matter recovery. An increase (p<0.05) was observed in dry matter content, a decrease (p<0.05) in the neutral detergent fiber content, and an increase (p<0.05) in the non-fibrous carbohydrate content with the inclusion of murumuru meal. Conclusions: Addition of murumuru meal improves chemical composition and does not affect the fermentative characteristics of elephant grass silage, while it reduces effluent losses. Nevertheless, the inclusion of murumuru meal in the elephant grass silage decreased the time of aerobic stability.
Foi avaliada a qualidade da carne de búfalo
(Bubalus bubalis), terminados em um sistema
silvopastoril com suplementação alimentar na
Amazônia. Cinco búfalos mestiços foram utiliza-
dos em cada ...tratamento alimentados com dois
diferentes suplementos, elaborados com sub-
produtos agroindustriais, coco e dendê após
extração do óleo e um tradicional à base de milho
e soja. Análises físicas, físico-químicas, micro-
biológicas e sensoriais foram realizadas no mús-
culo Longissimus dorsi, e os resultados foram
analisados através da análise de variância e as
médias comparadas pelo teste t. Os tratamentos
de coco e dendê tiveram o maior percentual de
ácidos graxos saturados. No entanto, a razão ω6/
ω3 estavam dentro dos padrões alimentares
saudáveis. De acordo com os resultados das
análises de pH, cor e força de cisalhamento, a
carne foi classificada em RFN (Red, Firm e Normal)
ou padrões ideais. Através de análises subjetivas
e objetivas, a carne dos tratamentos foi conside-
rada macia. A qualidade da carne produzida é
devido ao sistema de exploração utilizado. Além
disso, a utilização de resíduos agro-industrial
minimiza o impacto ambiental e os custos de
alimentação animal, aumentando assim o
rendimento do trabalhador rural.
The quality of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) meat,
finished in a silvopastoral system with feed
supplementation in the Amazon, was evaluated.
Five crossbred buffaloes were used in each
treatment with supplements of two different feeds,
elaborated with agroindustrial by-products of
coconut or palm oil extraction and a traditional one
based on corn and soy. Physical, physical-
chemical, microbiological, and sensorial analyses
were performed on the Longissimus dorsi muscle,
and the results were analyzed through the analysis
of variance and averages, compared by t-test.
The coconut and palm treatments had the largest
percentage of saturated fatty acids. On the other
hand, the ω6/ω3 ratio were within the healthy
dietary standards. According to the results of pH,
color, and shear force analyses, the meat was
classified into RFN (Red, Firm and Normal) or ideal
standards. Through subjective and objective
analyses, the meat of the treatments was
considered tender. The quality of the meat produced
is due to the farming system used. Moreover, the
use of agro-industrial waste minimizes environ-
mental impact and the cost of animal feed, thus
increasing the revenue of the rural worker.
O experimento foi realizado com quatro novilhos Holandês x Zebu, fistulados no rúmen, mantidos em baias individuais e dispostos em um quadrado latino 4x4 repetido no tempo. Teve duração de 88 dias e ...os animais foram alimentados com feno de tifton-85 e mistura concentrada com farelo de soja, tortas de dendê, amendoim e girassol, que constituíram os quatro tratamentos. Avaliaram-se o consumo, a digestibilidade aparente total e o pH ruminal. O consumo de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) e nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) foi menor (P<0,05) na dieta com torta de dendê em relação às demais. Os consumos de extrato etéreo (EE) e fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) não diferiram entre dietas (P>0,05). As digestibilidades totais dos nutrientes não foram influenciadas pelas dietas (P>0,05). A concentração do pH ruminal não foi influenciada pelas dietas, entretanto houve efeito do tempo de coleta. As tortas de amendoim e girassol oriundas da produção do biodiesel podem substituir o farelo de soja na dieta de novilhos. A substituição total do farelo de soja pela torta de dendê diminuiu o consumo de MS.
Nitrogen deposition to tropical forests is predicted to increase in future in many regions due to agricultural intensification. We conducted a seedling transplantation experiment in a tropical ...premontane forest in Ecuador with a locally abundant late-successional tree species (Pouteria torta, Sapotaceae) aimed at detecting species-specific responses to moderate N and P addition and to understand how increasing nutrient availability will affect regeneration. From locally collected seeds, 320 seedlings were produced and transplanted to the plots of the Ecuadorian Nutrient Manipulation Experiment (NUMEX) with three treatments (moderate N addition: 50 kg N ha-1 yr-1, moderate P addition: 10 kg P ha-1 yr-1 and combined N and P addition) and a control (80 plants per treatment). After 12 months, mortality, relative growth rate, leaf nutrient content and leaf herbivory rate were measured.N and NP addition significantly increased the mortality rate (70 % vs. 54 % in the control). However, N and P addition also increased the diameter growth rate of the surviving seedlings. N and P addition did not alter foliar nutrient concentrations and leaf N:P ratio, but N addition decreased the leaf C:N ratio and increased SLA. P addition (but not N addition) resulted in higher leaf area loss to herbivore consumption and also shifted carbon allocation to root growth. This fertilization experiment with a common rainforest tree species conducted in old-growth forest shows that already moderate doses of added N and P are affecting seedling performance which most likely will have consequences for the competitive strength in the understory and the recruitment success of P. torta. Simultaneous increases in growth, herbivory and mortality rates make it difficult to assess the species’ overall performance and predict how a future increase in nutrient deposition will alter the abundance of this species in the Andean tropical montane forests.