RESUMO A inclusão do enriquecimento ambiental na criação convencional dos frangos de corte pode causar aumento na mobilidade, massa óssea e músculos. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o uso do enriquecimento ambiental na criação de frangos de corte em diferentes idades e sua influencia no desempenho, morfometria, rendimento e peso das partes. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, sendo que, nas parcelas foram alocados os tratamentos presença (T1) e ausência (T2) de enriquecimento ambiental e nas subparcelas as idades dos frangos (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias), com 56 aves em cada tratamento (T1 e T2). Os dados obtidos foram analisados pelo modelo linear de efeitos fixos e comparados pelo teste de médias de Tukey. Os animais foram criados em ambiente controlado, dividido em quatro boxes com dimensões: 1,5 × 1,0 × 0,7 m, contendo cama de palha de arroz. Em T1 utilizou-se uma escada com poleiro no topo distribuída a cada 1,5 m2. O uso de enriquecimento ambiental não influenciou no desempenho zootécnico dos frangos de corte. As propriedades morfométricas, peso das partes e o peso corporal dos frangos de corte aumentaram, devido ao uso do enriquecimento ambiental; essa melhoria foi observada na fase final de criação das aves. O enriquecimento ambiental foi benéfico para ganho de massa muscular e óssea nas principais partes comerciais da carcaça de frango, além de reduzir o coeficiente alométrico dos peitos dos frangos.

ABSTRACT The inclusion of environmental enrichment in conventional broiler rearing can increase mobility, bone mass and muscle. This research aimed to evaluate the use of environmental enrichment in the rearing of broilers at different ages and its influence on performance, morphometry, yield and weight of the parts. It was used the completely randomized design in split-plot scheme, being the plots the treatments presence (T1) and absence (T2) of environmental enrichment and the subplots the broiler ages (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days), with 56 chicks in each treatment (T1 and T2). Data obtained were analyzed by the linear effect model of fixed effects and compared by Tukey’s test of means. The animals were raised in a controlled environment, divided into four boxes with dimensions: 1.5 × 1.0 × 0.7 m, containing rice straw bed. In T1 a ladder with a perch on top was used, distributed every 1.5 m2. Environmental enrichment used did not influence broiler’s zootechnical performance. Broilers’ morphometric properties, parts weight and body weight increased due to environmental enrichment and, improvement was observed in chicks rearing’s final phase. The environmental enrichment was beneficial for muscle and bone mass gain in the main commercial parts of the chicken carcass, in addition to reducing the allometric coefficient of the breasts in chickens.

Resumo Uma vez que o sistema calpaína é central para o amaciamento da carne e dada a importância da atividade de calpastatina na determinação da maciez de bifes de bovinos Bos taurus indicus, o objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar se a expressão do gene de μ-calpaína (CAPN1), calpastatina total (CAST T), e suas variantes (CAST I e II) foi induzido pela inclusão de vitamina D3 na dieta. Os animais receberam nenhuma ou 2 × 106 UI dose de vitamina D3 por 2 ou 8 dias antes do abate, e foram submetidos a diferentes condições durante o confinamento: exposição solar ou sombreamento artificial. Bifes do Longissimus lumborum foram fabricados e submetidos a maturação por 1, 7, e 21 dias post-mortem e posteriormente usados para determinação da força de cisalhamento e do índice de fragmentação miofibrilar. Vitamina D3 não influenciou a abundância de RNAm, exceto para maior abundância de transcritos de CAST II em animais que foram suplementados por 8 dias antes do abate. Foi encontrada associação negativa entre a abundância de CAST II e a força de cisalhamento. Essa contradição revela uma importante modulação da expressão do sistema calpaína resultado da suplementação com vitamina D que pode ser importante na determinação de estratégias para melhorar a maciez da carne.

ABSTRACT The calpain system is the central player for meat tenderization and the calpastatin activity plays an important role in beef tenderness of Bos taurus indicus cattle. This study investigated whether dietary vitamin D3 induced gene expression of μ-calpain (CAPN1), total calpastatin (CAST T), and their variants (CAST I and II). Animals received none or 2 × 106 IU of vitamin D3 for either 2 or 8 days before slaughter and were submitted to different conditions during feedlot: sun exposure or artificial shade. Steaks from Longissimus lumborum were fabricated, aged for 1, 7, and 21 days post-mortem, and later used for the analyses of shear force and the myofibrillar fragmentation index. Vitamin D3 did not influence mRNA abundance; however, it induced a greater CAST II transcript in animals supplemented 8 days before slaughter. There was a negative association between CAST II abundance and the shear force, which revealed an important modulation of the calpain system expression due to vitamin D supplementation. This result is an important tool for strategies to improve beef tenderness.

ABSTRACT: Bos taurus indicus temperament is variable and affects beef tenderization. Our objective was to investigate temperament and performance of non–castrated Nellore and identify groups based on Longissimus lumborum (LL) pH decline as well as beef characteristics produced by those groups. We investigated 94 animals with a subset of carcasses (n = 24) selected based on LL pH at 24 h postmortem (pm) to represent two groups: resistant to pH decline (> 5.8 called pH–Res; n = 10) and normal (< 5.7 called pH–Nor; n = 14). Steaks were fabricated from the LL muscle and randomly assigned to aging (2, 7, 14, and 21 days). Sarcomere length, cooking loss, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), and Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) were determined. Data on temperament were investigated in a multivariate approach, while beef data were compared between groups using the analysis of variance. Rectal temperature at the beginning of the finishing phase and total weight gain were greater and related to animals in the pH–Res group (p < 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Temperature and pH decline curves, sarcomere length, and cooking loss revealed that pH–Res produced beef with lower quality compared to the pH–Nor group. Results for MFI and WBSF did not show differences between groups within each time pm; however, overall steaks from pH–Res were tougher (p = 0.06). Incidence of LL pH between 5.8 and 5.9 at 24 h pm did not compromise the tenderization rate or extension; however, it affected the water holding capacity in this population of Nellore cattle.

RESUMO Os sistemas de terras secas se espalham por todo o mundo e compreendem 41,3% da área terrestre, que hospeda 34,7% da população global; é conveniente propor culturas capazes de crescer nessas áreas. Jatropha curcas é uma planta adaptada às regiões áridas e semiáridas, bem como às condições sub-úmidas; é uma fonte potencial de biodiesel. O desafio é entender a fisiologia da J. curcas que lhe permite viver em condições salinas e secas. As sementes de J. curcas utilizadas são provenientes da província de Ciego de Ávila, Cuba. Plântulas de sete dias em vasos de 1,5 L com solução Hoagland de meia força foram cultivadas durante 42 dias em condições semi-controladas. O NaCl adicionado às soluções em vasos forneceu tratamentos de 75 ou 150 mM por 240 h antes das avaliações. O crescimento foliar, a fotossíntese líquida e a área de poros estomáticos foram afetados pelo NaCl 150 mM. O quenching não fotoquímico das folhas foi alterado apenas por NaCl 150 mM após 24 h; a taxa de transporte de elétrons teve uma tendência a diminuir nas folhas em condições salinas. O padrão de expressão gênica mudou para SOS1 e HKT1 de acordo com o NaCl usado no meio, indicando mecanismo ativo para lidar com Na+ na célula. Em geral, as plantas de J. curcas de Cuba conseguiram crescer e realizar fotossíntese sob NaCl 75 mM, o que representa 7 dS m-1, uma condição que restringe o crescimento para muitas espécies de plantas.

ABSTRACT Dry land systems spread all over the world and comprise 41.3% of the terrestrial area, which host 34.7% of the global population, so it is convenient to propose crops able to grow there. Jatropha curcas is a plant adapted to arid and semiarid regions as well as sub-humid conditions, being a potential source of biodiesel. The challenge is to understand the physiology of J. curcas, which enables it to live under saline and drought conditions. The seeds of J. curcas used came from Ciego de Ávila Province, Cuba. Seven-day-old seedlings were cultivated in 1.5 L pots with half strength Hoagland solution for 42 days under semi-controlled conditions. NaCl added to solutions in pots provided 75 or 150 mM treatments for 240 h before measurements. Leaf growth, net photosynthesis and stomatal pore area were affected by 150 mM NaCl. Non-photochemical quenching of leaves was only changed by 150 mM NaCl after 24 h; the electron transport rate had a tendency to decrease in leaves under saline conditions. The gene expression pattern changed for SOS1 and HKT1 according to the NaCl used in the medium, indicating active mechanism to deal with Na+ in the cell. In general, Cuban J. curcas plants were able to grow and perform photosynthesis under 75 mM NaCl, which represents 7 dS m-1, a condition that restricts growth for many plant species.

Abastract It is a fact that the normal physiological changes of pregnancy may exacerbate cardiovascular illnesses existing prior to pregnancy. For the majority of women with some form of heart disease and pregnancy, this is today associated with favourable results; However, even with the modern advances in treatment, it is still a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. The anaesthetic management of pregnant women with cardiovascular disease, must be individualized, and a multidisciplinary team must plan the termination of pregnancy at the most convenient time for the binomial mother son. Some case reports and small series, have described the anesthetic management of these patients, but, in general, there is little data justifying the choice of anesthetic technique over another. We present the case of a pregnant patient with congenital heart disease acianogena, consisting of interatrial communication type ostium secundum of 23 mm, estenosis moderate pulmonary valvular pulmonary hypertension.

Resumen Es un hecho que los cambios fisiológicos normales del embarazo pueden exacerbar las enfermedades cardiovasculares existentes previas al embarazo. Para la mayoría de las mujeres con algún tipo de cardiopatía y embarazo, este se asocia hoy en día con resultados más favorable; sin embargo, incluso con los avances modernos en el tratamiento, sigue teniendo una alta incidencia de morbilidad y mortalidad. El manejo anestésico de la embarazada con enfermedad cardiovascular, debe ser individualizado, y un equipo multidisciplinario debe planear la interrupción del embarazo en el momento más conveniente para el binomio madre hijo. Algunos informes de casos y pequeñas series, han descrito el manejo anestésico de estos pacientes, pero, en general, existen pocos datos que justifican la elección de una técnica anestésica sobre otra. Presentamos el caso de una paciente embarazada con cardiopatía congénita acianogena, consistente en comunicación interauricular tipo ostium secundum de 23 mm, estenosis valvular pulmonar moderada e hipertensión pulmonar.

RESUMO A maciez da carne é um atributo importante para os consumidores do mundo todo. Porém, ainda faltam estudos sobre sua importância na área de carne de cordeiro para consumidores brasileiros. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a avaliação dos consumidores em relação à carne de cordeiro com força de cisalhamento elevada. Oito cordeiros foram abatidos com 32,5 ± 2,5kg de peso vivo e 5 a 6 meses de idade. O músculo Longissimus dorsi das meias carcaças foi distribuído aleatoriamente em quatro diferentes processamentos postmortem: Carne Endurecida (CE), obtido pelo encurtamento pelo frio, Carne Fresca (CF), maturada por 3 (M3) e 7 (M7) dias postmortem . As variáveis medidas foram comprimento do sarcômero, força de cisalhamento (FC), índice de fragmentação miofibrilar (IFM)e testes sensoriais de aceitação afetiva com escala hedônica de nove pontos para textura, suculência e qualidade global. O processamento postmortem para CE resultou em menor sarcômero e maiores valores de FC (p <0,05) em comparação com outras amostras, enquanto estas não diferiram entre si. O IFM foi maior para M7 em relação à CE (p <0,05), enquanto CF e M3 apresentaram valores intermediários que não diferiram. Noteste sensorial, as amostras de CE receberam escores menores (p <0,01) para todos os atributos comparados aos demais tratamentos, que não diferiram entre si. Os consumidores avaliaram negativamente a carne que apresentou alta FC. Porém, estudos devem ser realizados para elucidar o impacto de diferenças menores, em faixas intermediárias de FC, na avaliação do consumidor.

SUMMARY Meat tenderness is a major attribute for consumers worldwide. However, few studies investigate the importance of lamb meat tenderness for Brazilian consumers. This study assessed consumers’ evaluation of lamb meat with high shear forces. Eight lambs were slaughtered at 32.5±2.5kg of live weight and 5 to 6 months of age. The Longissimus dorsi muscle from both half carcasses was randomly assigned to four different postmortem processes: Tough Meat (TM), obtained by cold shortening, Fresh Meat (FM), Aging for 3 (A3) and 7 (A7) days postmortem . The variables measured were the sarcomere length, shear force (WBSF) and myofibrillar fragmentation index. We also applied the sensory analysis using affective acceptance tests with hedonic scale of nine points to measure texture, juiciness and overall quality of the meat. The postmortem processing for TM resulted in shorter sarcomere and greater shear values (p <0.05) compared to all other samples, while FM, A3 and A7, did not differ between the samples. Myofibrillar fragmentation was greater for A7 compared to TM (p <0.05), while FM and A3 showed intermediate values that did not differ between the treatments. In the sensory analysis, TM samples received significantly lower scores (p <0.01) for all attributes compared to other treatments and the attributes were not different between the post rigor processes. Consumers identified and evaluated negatively the meat samples with high WBSF. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the impact of smaller differences in WBSF, at intermediate values, on consumers’ evaluation.

Acute heat stress may affect the quality of broilers meat, however there are no reports considering thermal conditions commercially available in Brazil. In this way, the present work aimed to fill this gap of industrial relevance. Broilers of commercial strain (Cobb 500, n = 540) were randomly assigned to two thermal conditions: acute heat stress (AHS; 35°C; 75 - 85% relative humidity) and not-heat-stress (NS; 22ºC; 83 ± 6.6% relative humidity), for 2 hours prior to slaughter. The mortality rate for AHS broilers reached 37%, which was greater than 5.2% verified for NS. According to the mean values, the broiler chickens were not totally affected in the parameters of pH24h, lightness (L*), cooking loss, and shear force. However, the distributions of data show great variability in the values of pH24h, L* and water holding capacity (WHC) for AHS broilers. It is suggested that AHS broilers, at severe conditions which result in increased mortality, present breast meat with greater incidence of higher pH24h, and lower lightness and WHC values.

In vitro mycorrhization of plants is a highly complex process that depends on ensuring the needs of plants and fungi, organisms with different nutritional requirements. Today doesn´t exist an in vitro culture system which guarantee the mycorrhization of Solanum tuberosum L. (potato), although some authors have made several attempts to achieve it. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of Mycelium Donor Plant (MDP) system for in vitro mycorrhization of potato plants in order to get mycorrhized plants in a short period, with proven practical use. Experimentally, a similar system to MDP, in which S. tuberosum plants (seven days old) were associated with an extensive network of mycelium coming from Medicago truncatula plants, previously mycorrhized with the AMF Rhizoglomus intraradices was design. High levels of potato plant colonization (55 %), just 12 days after contact the mycelium networks, were obtained. Potato plants were in excellent conditions to be transplanted and they were able to reproduce the fungal colony when they were replanted in fresh media, producing a large number of extraradicals structures (mycelium and spores), demonstrating the applicability of MDP system for in vitro mycorrhization of S. tuberosum

La micorrización de plantas in vitro es un proceso altamente complejo que depende de garantizar las necesidades de plantas y hongos, organismos que tienen requerimientos nutricionales diferentes. En la actualidad, aún no se ha diseñado un sistema de cultivo in vitro que garantice la micorrización eficiente de plantas de Solanum tuberosum L. (papa), aunque algunos autores han realizado varios intentos por lograrlo. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la aplicabilidad del sistema Planta Donante de Micelio (PDM) a la micorrización in vitro de este cultivo para obtener plantas micorrizadas en un corto periodo, con probada utilidad práctica. Experimentalmente se trabajó con un sistema diseñado de forma similar al PDM en el cual se asociaron plantas de S. tuberosum, de siete días de subcultivadas, con una extensa red de micelio proveniente de plantas de Medicago truncatula Gaertn., previamente micorrizadas con el hongo micorrízico arbuscular Rhizoglomus intraradices. Se obtuvieron elevados niveles de colonización (55 %) de las plantas de papa a solo 12 días de haber entrado en contacto con las redes de micelio. Las plantas de papa se encontraban en condiciones óptimas para ser trasplantadas y fueron capaces de reproducir la colonia fúngica cuando se replantaron en medios frescos, produciendo un elevado número de estructuras extraradicales (micelio y esporas), demostrando la aplicabilidad del sistema PDM en la micorrización in vitro de S. tuberosum

RESUMO Foram avaliados os efeitos do encurtamento normal (NS) e encurtamento pelo frio (CS) no comprimento do sarcômero, força de cisalhamento pelo Warner-Bratzler (WBS) e no processo de amaciamento analisado pelo índice de fragmentação miofibrilar (MFI). Os músculos Bicep femoris de dez ovinos oriundos do cruzamento Dorper x Santa Inês, foram aleatoriamente designados para: 1) NS: resfriamento do músculo na carcaça por 24 horas na câmara fria a 4°C (NS) 2) CS: resfriamento rápido, em banho de gelo, do músculo removido a partir da carcaça imediatamente após o abate (CS). Comprimento de sarcômero foi determinado nas amostras coletadas 24 horas após o abate e WBS e MFI nos períodos de maturação (1 ou 10 post mortem), em cada tratamento. Os valores de WBS da carne para 1 e 10 dias foram maiores (P <0,05) para CS (4,90 ± 0,42 e 3,73 ± 0,42 kgf, respectivamente) que para NS (4,07 ± 0,36 e 2,98 ± 0,38 kgf, respectivamente). Houve correlação negativa para WBS e comprimento do sarcômero (r = −0,59 e r = −0,69, P <0,05) nos dias 1 e 10 de post-mortem. Além disso, foram observadas correlações positivas entre MFI e comprimento do sarcômero (r = 0,46 e r = 0,48, P <0,05) nos dias 1 e 10, respectivamente. Esses resultados apontam para um impacto negativo do encurtamento do sarcômero no processo de amaciamento de carne em músculo do pernil de cordeiros.

SUMMARY This study evaluates the effects of Normal Shortening (NS) and Cold Shortening (CS) in sarcomere length, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS) and tenderization process examined by Myofibrillar Fragmentation Index (MFI). The Biceps femoris muscle from ten Dorper x Santa Inês lambs was randomly assigned to 1) NS = cooling of the muscle in the carcass for 24 hours in a cold room at 4°C; or 2) CS = rapid cooling, in ice bath, of the muscle removed from the carcass immediately after slaughter. Sarcomere Length (SL) was determined in the collected samples 24 hours after slaughter and WBS and MFI in the aging periods (1 or 10 days post-mortem). The WBS value of the meat for 1 and 10 days were greater (P<0.05) for CS (4.90 ± 0.42 and 3.73 ± 0.42 kgf, respectively) than NS (4.07 ± 0.36 and 2.98 ± 0.38 kgf, respectively). There were negative correlations between WBS and SL (r= −0.59 and r=−0.69, P< 0.05) at 1 and 10 postmortem, respectively. Furthermore, there were positive correlations for MFI and SL (r= 0.46 and r=0.48, P< 0.05) at days 1 and 10, respectively. These results point to a negative impact of sarcomere cold shortening in the sheep meat tenderization process in the hindlimb muscle.

Abstract Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) is a characterization technique that generates topographic images of surfaces at very high resolutions, and operates recording details of surface relief of material with a cantilever that moves on the sample, while a piezoelectric detector monitors changes in height. It acquires relevance in the field of identification phase, particles and precipitation at nanoscale level so, it is proposed for identification in the fusion zone of welded components and for the early identification of failures by cracking. It is a technique that does not require conductive samples, or special preparation of metallographic specimens such as electron microscopy. The study material is a duplex stainless steel 2205, joined by Gas Metal Arc Welding (GTAW). This material was performed tensile test. The specimens were characterized by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and nanoindentation tests. Results focus on the identification of the magnetic characteristics, and specific topography of each of the phases, regions and particles present in the base metal and weld zone as well in the crack deformed by fracture.

Resumen La Microscopía de Fuerza Atómica (MFA), técnica de caracterización que genera imágenes topográficas de superficies a muy altas resoluciones, opera registrando los detalles de relieve superficial del material con un cantiléver que se mueve sobre la muestra, mientras un detector piezoeléctrico monitorea los cambios de altura. Ésta técnica, adquiere relevancia en el campo de la identificación de fases, partículas y precipitados a niveles de nanoescala por lo que se propone para su identificación en la zona de fusión de componentes soldados y para la identificación temprana de fallas por agrietamiento. Es una técnica que no requiere de muestras conductoras, o la especial preparación metalográfica de probetas como es el caso de la microscopia electrónica. El material de estudio es un acero inoxidable dúplex 2205, unido por arco metálico y electrodo de tungsteno (GTAW). Al material soldado se le practicó ensayo de tensión. Las probetas fueron caracterizadas mediante microscopia óptica, microscopía electrónica de barrido, microscopía de fuerza atómica y pruebas de nanoindentación. Los resultados se concentran en la identificación de las características magnéticas, topográficas y dureza específicos de cada una de las fases, partículas y regiones presentes en el metal base, zona de fusión y la zona deformada por la fractura.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da imunocastração e da suplementação com ractopamina na qualidade do lombo suíno processado com sal e tripolifosfato de sódio. Os tratamentos consistiram de condição sexual dos suínos (fêmeas, machos castrados fisicamente e imunocastrados) e suplementação ou não com ractopamina na dieta de terminação. Os cortes de lombos submetidos ao processamento com tripolifosfato de sódio e sal foram avaliados quanto aos parâmetros físico-químicos, microbiológicos e sensoriais. Não houve interação entre condição sexual e ractopamina nas características do lombo cru. A adição de ractopamina na dieta aumentou a força de cisalhamento dos lombos crus. Também não houve efeito da condição sexual nem da ractopamina na perda de peso por exsudação e no teor proteico dos lombos. Lombos de animais imunocastrados apresentaram menor perda de peso por cocção, enquanto lombos de animais não suplementados com ractopamina apresentaram maior umidade do que os dos suplementados. O processamento diminuiu a força de cisalhamento dos cortes, que foi menor nos animais imunocastrados sem suplementação com ractopamina. A imunocastração proporcionou lombos com altos valores de a* e L*. Diferenças na aparência e na textura dos lombos suínos, independentemente da condição sexual e da ractopamina, não são percebidas pelos consumidores, o que mostra que o processamento padroniza os cortes.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of immunocastration and supplementation with ractopamine in the quality of pork loin enhanced with salt and sodium tripolyphosphate. Treatments consisted of the sexual condition of the swine (females, physically castrated and immunocastrated males) and supplementation or not with ractopamine in finishing diet. The loins subjected to the enhancement with sodium tripolyphosphate and salt were evaluated as to physical-chemical, microbiological, and sensory parameters. There was no interaction between sexual condition and ractopamine on fresh pork loin characteristics. The addition of ractopamine in the diet increased the shear force in fresh loins. There was also no effect of sexual condition nor of ractopamine in purge loss and loin protein content. Loins of immunocastrated animals had less weight loss by cooking, whereas loins of animals non-supplemented with ractopamine showed higher moisture than those supplemented. Enhancement decreases the shear force of the cuts, which was lower in the immunocastrated animals without ractopamine supplementation. Immunocastration provided pork loins with high a* and L* values. Differences in the appearance and texture of pork loins, regardless of sexual condition and ractopamine, are not perceived by consumers, showing that enhancement standardizes the cuts

Substituted La1-xCe xCoO3 perovskite-type oxides (0.0≤x≤0.9), prepared by the self-combustion method, have been investigated as catalysts in soot combustion. The characterization results indicate modification in the specific surface area, crystal structure, oxygen mobility and reducibility of cobaltite upon cerium substitution. Cobaltite structure does not tolerate more than 50% substitution of La by Ce. For higher Ce substitution the perovskite structure is lost and mixed oxides are detected. Further destruction of the perovskite structure in a reductive process indicates a lower catalytic role of the perovskite structure in the catalytic combustion of soot regarding to the chemical composition of the La1-xCe xCoO3 system. After the reductive process, only a slight increase in the catalytic activity of the samples with low Ce content (x≤0.3) while a larger increased was detected for those with larger amount of Ce(x≥0.5). These results suggest that the activity of these materials for soot combustion is improved by two factors: i) the increasing of CeO2 content, closely related to higher material capacity for oxygen transfer from catalyst to carbonaceous surface and ii) the formation of larger CeO2 crystals in the higher-Ce-content samples after H2 reduction, responsible of the improvement of the oxygen exchange and number of contact points between catalyst and soot.

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L) and pepper (Capsicum annum) are priorities of organic foodstuffs programs in Santiago de Cuba. Seedlings of both, eggplant and pepper are cultivated under organic substrates made of earthworm castings, vegetal residues and soil, which supplies key nutrients but are lacking of plant hormones that may be supplied by plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. In the present research, the effects of a biological formulation made with the rhizobacteria strain Brevibacillus borstelensis B65 on germination and growth of eggplant and pepper seedlings sowed under organic treatment were evaluated. Eggplant and pepper seeds were treated and not (control) with the bacterial formulation and transferred into an organic substrate mixture of earthworm castings and soil (1:1). The seeds were maintained under controlled conditions and grown during 25 days. The results showed the effects of B65, increasing the eggplant and pepper seeds percentage of germination in 12 and 8 % upper their respective controls. In addition, the bacteria increased the pepper seedlings emergence from their dormancy stage. Both effects were attributed to the ethylene phytohormone secretion activity of B65. Brevibacillus borstelensis B65 significantly increased in compare to their respective controls, the seedlings and shots length as root growth in eggplant and pepper. Also, B65 increased the roots, leaves and shoots weight. Those effects were all related with B65 indolacetic acid production levels and with its calcium phosphate solubilization activity. The strain B65 positively affects eggplant and pepper plantlets germination and development under organic treatment, corroborating its plant growth promoting traits

Los cultivos de berenjena (Solanum melongena L) y de ají (Capsicum annun L) constituyen prioridades del programa de producción de alimentos en Santiago de Cuba. La preparación d e los semilleros de hortalizas se realiza con substratos elaborados a partir de humus de lombriz, residuos agrícolas y suelo, los cuales aportan nutrientes a las posturas pero carecen de fitohormonas, las que pueden ser suministradas por los inoculantes elaborados con rizobacterias estimuladoras del crecimiento vegetal. En la presente investigación se evaluaron los efectos de un biopreparado de la rizobacteria Brevibacillus borstelensis B65 sobre la germinación y el desarrollo de las posturas de berenjena y de ají en fase de semillero. Las semillas de ambos cultivos tratadas y no tratadas (control) con la bacteria, se cultivaron en una mezcla de humus de lombriz y tierra (1:1) bajo condiciones protegidas durante 25 días. Los resultados mostraron los efectos de B65 sobre el aumento del porcentaje de germinación de la berenjena (12 %) y del ají (8 %) por encima de sus controles. Igualmente, la bacteria aceleró la emergencia de las plántulas de ají a partir de su estado de dormancia. Ambos efectos se atribuyeron a la capacidad de B65 de excretar la fitohormona etileno. La bacteria B65 aumentó de manera significativa respecto al control, el tamaño de las posturas, la longitud del tallo y de las raíces en ambos cultivos; así como la masa del tallo, de las raíces y de las hojas. Estos efectos se relacionaron con los niveles de ácido indolacético producidos por este microorganismo y con su actividad solubilizadora de fosfato de calcio. Brevibacillus borstelensis B65 incidió significativamente sobre la germinación y el desarrollo de las posturas de berenjena y de ají listas para el trasplante cultivadas en abono orgánico, corroborando la actividad estimuladora del crecimiento vegetal de esta bacteria

Perception of color and its relationship to water holding capacity are important for defining the yield and quality of the pork production process. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship among color measurements taken at various anatomical positions in the cross-sectional surface of pork loin steak, and measurements of fluid exudation and its glucose concentration, as well as the impact on these attributes due to plasma glucose at slaughter. Two assays were conducted sequentially: i) investigation of the surface color parameters at different anatomical positions in the pork loin cross-section and their relationship to general exudation; and ii) the effect of plasma glucose levels on surface color variables, drip loss and glucose exudate concentration in three anatomical regions in the steak. The L* value of the ventro-lateral region, in the first assay, had the highest correlation with average steak drip loss at all anatomical points, exudation increasing proportionally between 48 and 72 h. The hue angle was also positively correlated with drip loss and lightness. The drip loss was greater when the animals had high plasma glucose, especially in the intermediate and lateral regions of the steak surface. The intermediate region presented greater lightness and lower redness. The plasma and glucose exudate concentrations, potential indicators of the muscle glycolytic metabolism, were related to color and drip loss. These variables can be influenced by the anatomical region inside the muscle, impacting the ability to retain water, two-toning occurrence and overall pork loin quality.

Los sistemas de producción de aves en Venezuela, se caracterizan por sus altos costos en alimentación. La formulación alternativa con ingredientes locales es una de las formas de solucionar el problema de los altos costos de los ingredientes. Por otra parte, Barinas es el tercer productor de plátano en Venezuela con una superficie de siembra de 5.000 ha, esto genera una gran cantidad de frutos no comerciables que pueden ser utilizados como ingredientes en la formulación de alimentos para animal a base de harina de plátano (Musa AAB cv. Hartón) el cual tiene un gran aporte de nutrientes. Con este objetivo se llevó a cabo esta investigación para evaluar la formulación de un alimento hecho acorde a los requerimientos nutricionales de los pollos de engorde con harina de plátano verde. En el periodo noviembre-diciembre del año 2012, se evaluaron tres tratamientos T0 alimento comercial (Pollarina 3A®Protinal) con dos combinaciones de alimento alternativo T1 (75% comercial + 25% alternativo) y T2 (50% comercial + 50% alternativo). Se tomaron 60 pollos y se dividieron en tres grupos al azar cada uno con 20 unidades experimentales. A los 35 días de edad se alimentaron con los tratamientos durante 15 días para evaluar la ganancia de peso total (GPT). La GPT para T0= 951,50 g; T1= 933,00 g y T2= 870,00 g. Los resultados demuestran que no existieron diferencias estadísticas entre los tratamientos para variable GPT. En cuanto a costo, resulta ventajosa la combinación de 75 de alimento concentrado + 25% de alimento alternativo, ya que la relación beneficio costo muestra datos positivos.

The poultry production system in Venezuela is characterized by high feed costs. Alternative feed with local ingredients is one of the most efficient ways of solving the high costs issue. In the other hand Barinas is the third largest producer of banana in Venezuela with an area of planting of 5000 ha., this generates a large amount of non-marketable fruits that can be used as ingredients in formulating meal for animal consumption based on green plantain (Musa AAB cv Horn) which has a large supply of nutrients. This research was conducted to evaluate the formulation of a food according to the nutritional requirements of broilers made with green plantain fl our. In the period novemberdecember 2012, three treatments were evaluated T0 commercial food (Pollarina 3A ® Protinal) with two combinations of artisan food, T1 (100% of commercial food + 25% of artisan food) and T2 (50% of commercial food + 50% artisan food). Sixty chickens were randomly selected in three groups of 20 as experimental unit each. At 35 days of birth, the chickens were feeding with the treatments for 15 days to evaluate total weight gain (TWG). TWG for T0= obtained from a commercial food was T0=951.50 g; T1=933.00 and T2 =870.00 g. The results demonstrate that statistical differences among treatment for the variable TWG did not exist. As far as costs, the addition is advantageous from a 100% of commercial food + 25% of artisan food, since the relation benefit cost shows positive data.