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In 2022, the European Commission introduced the Euro 7 regulation proposal for motor vehicle type-approval, aiming to elevate environmental protection standards. This study aimed to ...evaluate a Euro VI-C Diesel parallel hybrid city bus within the framework of this proposal. Utilizing the World-Harmonized heavy-duty Vehicle Cycle (WHVC) across temperatures ranging from −7°C to 35°C, the research sought to ascertain the extent to which Euro VI heavy-duty vehicles deviate from the proposed limits.
The results showed that the new limits for NOx would be the most challenging, even for hot start conditions for the vehicle studied. The emission factor for particle number larger than 10 nm (SPN10) is on average more than two times the proposed limit for hot start conditions. Other new pollutant emissions included in the Euro 7 proposal were much lower than the proposed limits, except in the case of N2O emissions.
This study aimed at analyzing circulating levels of inflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection undergoing therapy with direct-acting antiviral ...agents (DAA) and correlating these immune biomarkers with liver disease status. We studied 88 Brazilian monoinfected chronic hepatitis C patients receiving interferon- (IFN-) free sofosbuvir-based regimens for 12 or 24 weeks, followed-up before therapy initiation and three months after the end of treatment. Liver disease was determined by transient elastography, in addition to APRI and FIB-4 indexes. Analysis of 30 immune mediators was carried out by multiplex or enzymatic immunoassays. Sustained virological response rate was 98.9%. Serum levels of cytokines were increased in HCV-infected patients when compared to control group. CCL-2, CCL-3, CCL-4, CXCL-8, CXCL-10, IL-1β, IL-15, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β, FGFb, and PAI-1 decreased significantly after antiviral therapy, reaching values similar to noninfected controls. TGF-β and suPAR levels were associated with fibrosis/cirrhosis. Also, we observed amelioration in hepatic parameters after DAA treatment. Together, our results suggest that viral control induced by IFN-free DAA therapy restores inflammatory mediators in association with improvement in liver function.
In Brazil, the COVID-19 burden was substantial, and risk factors associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates have been extensively studied. However, information on short-term all-cause ...mortality and the factors associated with death in patients who survived the hospitalization period of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited. We analyzed the six-month post-hospitalization mortality rate and possible risk factors of COVID-19 patients in a single center in Brazil. This is a retrospective cohort study focused on a six-month follow-up. The exclusion criteria were death during hospitalization, transference to another hospital, and age under 18. We collected data from the charts of all hospitalized patients from March 2020 to December 2020 with a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, resulting in a sample size of 106 patients. The main outcome was death after hospitalization, whereas comorbidities and demographics were evaluated as risk factors. The crude post-hospitalization death rate was 16%. The first 30 days of follow-up had the highest mortality rate. In a Cox regression model for post-hospitalization mortality, previous chronic kidney disease (HR, 4.06, 95%CI 1.46 - 11.30) and longer hospital stay (HR 1.01, 95%CI 1.00 - 1.02) were the only factors statistically associated with death. In conclusion, a high six-month all-cause mortality was observed. Within the six-month follow-up, a higher risk of death was observed for patients who had prior CKD and longer hospital stay. These findings highlight the importance of more intensive medical surveillance during this period.
A structural variant (SV) in the agouti signaling protein gene (ASIP), namely ASIP‐SV1, has been found to strongly correlate with the darkness of hair coat in specific regions of the body of bulls ...from the zebu (Bos indicus) Nellore breed. Here we visually analyzed the whole‐genome sequence of zebu and taurine (Bos taurus) cattle to elucidate the extent of spread of ASIP‐SV1 in different cattle populations. Of 216 sequences analyzed, 63 zebu (45.9%) and five taurine (6.3%) animals had at least one copy of ASIP‐SV1. Four of the taurine animals presenting the SV were Romagnola cattle, a breed with history of zebu introgression. The remaining taurine animal was a Simmental, a breed frequently used in crossbreeding. These data provide evidence that ASIP‐SV1 is commonly found in zebu populations, in addition to taurine animals with zebu admixture.
•Nitrogen fertilizer sources affect the fractionation of forage nitrogen compounds.•Sulfate and ammonium nitrate fertilizers increase nitrogen use efficiency by plants.•The lack of nitrogen ...fertilization can promote nutrient deficiency in plants.•Beef cattle kept on pastures fertilized with ammonium nitrate lose less nitrogen.•Also, they exhibit improved microbial protein synthesis.
We evaluated the effects of different sources of nitrogen (N) applied to pastures of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu during the rainy season on the efficiency of N use in plants and animals. Continuous grazing with variable stocking rates was employed to maintain 25 cm pasture height, corresponding to 95% light interception. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four treatments and three replications (paddocks per treatment). The applied N sources were urea, ammonium sulfate, and ammonium nitrate, at a respective dosage of 150 kg N per ha, in three treatments, in addition to a control treatment without N fertilization. N recovery by plants differed between fertilizers (p = 0.047) and was highest in the ammonium sulfate treatment. The proportion of retained N was higher in animals kept on fertilized pastures (p < 0.01). Different sources of N in pasture system, or its non-use, affected the efficiency of N use by animals, and ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate were more efficient with respect to the N balance.
Since distinguishing pulmonary (PTB) from latent tuberculosis (LTBI) in pediatric patients remains a challenge, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of immune mediators in diagnosing PTB and LTBI in ...this population. In this cross-sectional study performed with children and adolescents, serum levels of 20 biomarkers were assessed and data were analyzed according to age groups. We included 65 participants (PTB, n = 28 and LTBI, n = 37). Overall, levels of TNF-α, IL-1Ra, IL-6, IL-17A, VEGF, MMP-1, and procalcitonin were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in adolescents and children <10 years-old with PTB. Also, principal component analysis (PCA) showed that immune mediators were able to distinguish PTB from LTBI. VEGF and IL-1Ra presented the highest area under the curve (AUC) values, both separately (AUC 0.890 and 0.785) and combined (AUC 0.99). Taken together, we showed that VEGF and IL-1Ra are promising biomarkers to distinguish PTB from LTBI in pediatric patients, especially in children <5 years-old.
•Diagnosing pulmonary and latent tuberculosis (PTB/LTBI) in children is a challenge.•Children with PTB showed higher levels of immune mediators.•VEGF and IL-1Ra are promising biomarkers to and distinguish PTB from ILTB.
Sustainable intensification involves maintaining ecosystem balance and increasing productivity per animal per unit area. Phytogenic additives can be used as an alternative to achieve sustainable ...intensification. Tannins are phenolic compounds present in plants that are classified according to their chemical structure into hydrolyzable and condensed compounds. When added to ruminant diets, condensed tannins exert effects on rumen fermentation, such as a reduction in rumen protein degradation and enteric methane production per unit of dry matter ingested, and may also improve weight gain. The advantage of this mechanism is that it increases dietary protein utilization, reduces nitrogen excretion in urine, and reduces nitrous oxide emissions. However, the positive effects of these compounds as nutritional additives require further investigation. Therefore, the objective of this review is to demonstrate the results hitherto known of the use of condensed tannins in ruminant nutrition. The use of tannins can result in both positive and negative effects, depending on the sources and doses administered.
This study evaluated intake, apparent digestibility, ruminal parameters, nitrogen balance, and microbial protein synthesis in grazing beef cattle fed a mineral mix or combination of two coproducts ...(cottonseed meal and dried distiller’s grains (DDG)) during the wet season.
Urochloa brizantha
cv. Marandu pastures were managed under continuous stocking to maintain a fixed grazing height of 25 cm using put-and-take methodology. Eight rumen cannulated Nellore steers were used to evaluate the different supplementation strategies. The experiment was composed of four treatments: (1) mineral mixed (MM; ad libitum); (2) energy-protein supplement using corn grain (energy) and cottonseed meal (protein; CS); (3) energy-protein supplement with 50% of the cottonseed meal replaced by DDG (50DDG); and (4) energy-protein supplement with 100% of the cottonseed meal replaced by DDG (100DDG). Except for MM, all supplements were supplied at a level of 0.3% of body weight (BW). A double Latin square was the experimental design performed, with eight cannulated animals, four treatments, across four experimental periods. There was a difference between dry matter and nutrient intake among treatments. The nitrogen balance was different between MM and the other treatments. There was a linear decrease in the rumen ammonia nitrogen levels under CS, 50DDG, and 100DDG. There were no treatment effects on the other parameters evaluated (
P
≥ 0.10). Replacing the protein source in the supplement composition did not affect the metabolic parameters and the microbial protein synthesis. Supplementation at a rate of 0.3% BW, compared to MM supplementation, increased the nitrogen utilization efficiency in grazing cattle.
•Supplement strategies during post-weaning did not alter beef cattle forage intake.•Diets with different supplements and high-quality pasture had same ruminal response.•Soybean meal can be replaced ...by ingredients, as DDG, without affecting animal performance.
Supplementation of grazing cattle may improve forage utilization, methane emission and efficiency of nutrients use. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different supllementation strategies on performance, metabolic parameters and methane emission in Nellore cattle reared on well-managed marandu palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv Marandu) pastures. Three supplementation strategies consisted of protein and energy sources from traditional ingredients compared to a novel feedstuff: TS) Traditional supplement (protein-energy) composed of ground corn and soybean meal; ES) energy supplement composed of ground corn; and DS) Distiller's coproduct supplement (protein-energy) composed of ground corn and dried distiller grain (DDG). All supplements were offered at 0.3% of body weight (BW). Sixty-nine growing Nellore bulls 251 kg of body weight (BW) ± 13.0 kg were randomly distributed according to initial BW in nine paddocks (twenty-three animals per treatment, three paddocks per treatment) to evaluate liveweight gain. From these, eighteen bulls (381.83 kg BW ± 16.15 kg) were selected for methane emission measurements (six animals per treatment) using sulfur hexafluoride tracer gas technique. Six rumen cannulated steers (289.5 kg BW ± 19.6 kg) across six paddocks (two per treatment) were used in an incomplete double Latin square design (3 treatments x 4 periods) to evaluate metabolic parameters. Statistical analyses were done using the Mixed Procedure in SAS and adopting significance level at 5%. It was hypothesized that the use of DS or ES, could increase the N use efficiency because of a higher rumen undegradable protein content, and more energy available for microbial synthesis in the rumen, respectively. Overall, there were no differences on animal performance, intake, nutrients digestibility, ruminal parameters, and microbial protein synthesis among treatments indicating that any of the supplemental sources could be utilized. Although, animals in DS had lower urine N excretion. The ES supplement increased methane yield (g/DMI) and the methane conversion factor Ym (% of gross energy intake) when compared to other treatments, but not methane production, which was similar among all treatments.
We aimed to determine the biomarker performance of the proteolytic enzymes cathepsin B (Cat B) and plasma kallikrein (PKa) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β to detect hepatic fibrosis (HF) in ...chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. We studied 53 CHC patients and 71 healthy controls (HCs). Hepatic-disease stage was determined by liver biopsies, aminotransferase:platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis (FIB)4. Hepatic inflammation and HF in CHC patients were stratified using the METAVIR scoring system. Cat-B and PKa activities were monitored fluorometrically. Serum levels of TGF-β (total and its active form) were determined using ELISA-like fluorometric methods. Increased serum levels of Cat B and PKa were found (p < 0.0001) in CHC patients with clinically significant HF and hepatic inflammation compared with HCs. Levels of total TGF-β (p < 0.0001) and active TGF-β (p < 0.001) were increased in CHC patients compared with HCs. Cat-B levels correlated strongly with PKa levels (r = 0.903, p < 0.0001) in CHC patients but did not correlate in HCs. Levels of Cat B, PKa and active TGF-β increased with the METAVIR stage of HF. Based on analyses of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, Cat B and PKa showed high diagnostic accuracy (area under ROC = 0.99 ± 0.02 and 0.991 ± 0.007, respectively) for distinguishing HF in CHC patients from HCs. Taken together, Cat B and PKa could be used as circulating biomarkers to detect HF in HCV-infected patients.
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