Hematological and biochemical parameters of dairy calves submitted to pegbovigrastim administration

This study was designed to evaluate the response of hematological and biochemical parameters submitted to pegbovigrastim administration and postchallenge with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In experiment 1, 20 newborn Holstein calves were divided into 2 groups: the Imrestor (Elanco Saúde Animal, São Paulo, Brazil) group (IMR, n = 10), which received a 25 μg/kg of body weight (BW) subcutaneous administration of pegbovigrastim, and the control group (CTR, n = 10), which received a subcutaneous administration of 0.9% saline solution. Blood samples were collected on d 0, 10, 12, and 14 relative to birth to analyze the biochemical and hematological parameters. Moreover, growth measurements were taken on d 0, 7, 14, 21, and 60 relative to birth. The number of total leukocytes in the IMR group increased on d 12 and 14 in comparison to the CTR group, as well as the counts of segmented neutrophils, band cells, and monocytes. No differences were observed in the other hematological, biochemical, and growth parameters. In experiment 2, 20 Holstein calves from 30 to 60 d old were divided into 4 groups: group 1 (LPS, n = 5) received a 0.25 μg/kg of BW single intravenous dose of Escherichia coli LPS at d 0; group 2 (IMR, n = 5) received a 25 μg/kg of BW subcutaneous dose of pegbovigrastim at d 1; group 3 (IMR + LPS, n = 5) received a 0.25 μg/kg of BW intravenous LPS dose at d 0 and a 25 μg/kg of BW subcutaneous dose of pegbovigrastim at d 1; and group 4 (CTR, n = 5) received an intravenous dose of 0.9% sodium chloride at d 0 and a subcutaneous dose of 0.9% sodium chloride at d 1. For the analysis of biochemical and hematological parameters, blood samples were collected on d ?1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 14, and 21 relative to LPS administration. An increase in the number of total leukocytes was observed in the IMR, IMR + LPS, and LPS groups, and the IMR group remained as the highest from d 2 to 21. The levels of paraoxonase 1 were higher in the IMR group compared with all the others. The administration of pegbovigrastim in the dairy calves increased the number of circulating leukocytes, especially neutrophils, with an increase in paraoxonase 1, without altering the metabolites for the hepatic function.     

Night and day at the beach: Relating social life to location and infrastructure in a Brazilian city

Brazilian city beaches are public spaces favoring citizens well-being. Urban studies relate built form and infrastructure with urban vitality and coastal studies underline uses as important for beach management, yet few researches relate form and infrastructure with beach uses. Understanding daily life as essential for public spaces and that spatial form relates with uses, this paper assesses time-based relationships between built and natural physical attributes and social life on the beaches of João Pessoa, a coastal city in North-east Brazil. Physical attributes are investigated at city scale - beach type, street network centrality and topography - and seafront scale - land uses, public/private interfaces, public infrastructure, beach sections and water quality. Beach social life was surveyed online, enquiring peoples' beach choice, visiting time and place, activities and evaluation. Infrastructure and street network follow topography and help configure shore and promenade for different landscapes. More central beaches have diverse land uses, well-equipped promenades and lighting and were popular night and day, while less central beaches had less infrastructure and were visited only by day. Findings highlight how physical attributes facilitate uses and, together with peoples’ evaluation, can inform urban beach design and planning.     

Distribution of peripheral blood lymphoid subsets in alcoholic liver cirrhosis: influence of ethanol intake

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chronic ethanol (EtOH) consumption on the immune system in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC), as analyzed by the distribution of peripheral blood (PB-) T, B, and NK lymphoid subsets using multiple stainings with monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. For that purpose, we have analyzed a group of patients with ALC and active EtOH intake (ALCET group) which were re-evaluated 3 months after alcohol withdrawal. As controls, both ALC patients with at least 1 year of alcohol withdrawal (ALCAW group) and healthy subjects were used. Regarding the alcohol intake period, the most relevant findings were a significant activation of the PB T-cell compartment, and specifically of the TCR alpha beta + subset, as reflected by an increased expression of both the HLA DR and CD11c antigens as well as a significant increase of both the PB NK cells (CD3-/CD56+) and the cytotoxic T cells coexpressing the CD3 and CD56 molecules. In addition, a decrease of both the numbers of total B cells and their CD5+/CD19+ subset were observed. After a relatively short withdrawal period (3 months), the abnormalities of T, P, and NK cells disappeared. These findings suggest the existence of a close relationship between EtOH consumption and the abnormalities of the immune system observed during active alcoholism. Nevertheless, ALCAW individuals displayed marked alterations on the immunophenotypic profile, as reflected by a significantly decreased number of total T cells, due to reduced levels of the CD3+/TCR alpha beta+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD4+/CD45RA+ T-cell subsets. In addition, a significantly decreased number of total PB B cells was observed in this group of patients. Our results show that in patients suffering from ALC, the abnormalities of the immune system due to a direct effect of EtOH intake (or its metabolites) should be distinguished from the immunological alterations related to the liver disease itself.     

New insights on the metabolism of ricinoleic acid in ruminants

Dairy goats were fed a total mixed ration with or without the inclusion of castor oil [40 g/kg of dry matter (DM)] to study the metabolism of ricinoleic acid (12-OH,cis-9–18:1). Ten goats, at 39.7 ± 4.0 d in milk, were individually penned and allocated at random to the 2 experimental diets. Goats were manually milked twice a day. Milk fatty acids (FA) were analyzed as methyl esters and hydroxyl groups were derivatized in trimethylsilyl ethers. Apart from ricinoleic acid, 6 FA were only detected in the milk of the castor oil group. Ricinoleic acid composed 0.3% of total FA in milk of the castor oil group, whereas the hydroxy-FA (8-OH-14:0, 10-OH-16:0, and 12-OH-18:0) and oxo-FA (8-oxo-14:0, 10-oxo-16:0, and 12-oxo-18:0) reached 7.5% of total FA in milk. We anticipate that these FA were derived from the metabolism of ricinoleic acid, although it was not clear if they were produced in the rumen or in the tissues. To confirm that, we conducted in vitro batch incubations repeated for 3 consecutive weeks with castor oil (40 g/kg of DM) and strained rumen fluid from 2 fistulated sheep. To examine the products formed over time, incubation tubes were stopped at 0, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h. The results of the in vitro experiment showed that ricinoleic acid was metabolized in the rumen at a slow rate and the main products formed were 12-OH-18:0 and 12-oxo-18:0, by hydrogenation of the cis-9 double bond, followed by oxidation of the hydroxyl group, respectively. Our results suggest that the 12-OH-18:0 and 12-oxo-18:0 escape rumen and are further metabolized through partial β-oxidation in ruminant tissues. We propose that the 10-OH-16:0 and 8-OH-14:0 found in goat milk of the castor oil group are successive products of the β-oxidation of 12-OH-18:0, and the 10-oxo-16:0 and 8-oxo-14:0 are successive products of the 12-oxo-18:0 in tissues. Overall, our results indicate that ricinoleic acid is extensively metabolized in the rumen and tissues, producing mainly oxo- and hydroxy-FA that are further excreted in milk.     

Radical polymerization in the presence of complexing agents. II. Copolymerization of methyl methacrylate-allyl methacrylate in the presence of zinc chloride

Radical copolymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA)-allyl methacrylate (AMA) in the presence of zinc chloride, using azoisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator has been carried out. The copolymerization rate increases with the concentration of ZnCl₂ and the reactivity ratios are modified by the concentration of ZnCl₂ which is explained by the different tendency towards the formation of complexes between MMA and AMA with ZnCl₂.     

Decision Making and Social Learning: the Case of Watershed Committee of the State of Rio Grande do Sul,Brazil

Water is an essential element to life, and must be available to meet the basic needs of human beings. One of these needs is the production of food, emphasizing the relevance of agribusiness agents in the management of this natural resource. This study discusses how the management of water resources is being conducted by Committees of Watersheds in the State Rio Grande do Sul, focusing on decision making and in social learning. This is an exploratory study, supported by predominantly qualitative analysis. The results showed that the formation of the Committees of Watersheds in the State of Rio Grande do Sul depends on local decisions that are distinct in each region of the State. Evolution in the learning process of the members of the Committees occurs from the existence of conflicts. The conflicts emerge from issues concerning the use of water due to the multiple interests involved and provide discussions and solutions that lead to learning. Decisions taken in the Basin Committees are generally operating and relating to the quantity or quality of water. Social learning is promoted by actions of technical and relational nature offered by the exchange of knowledge and experience among stakeholders and other agents involved.