ABSTRACT This study aimed to examine the impact of levels of dietary supplementation with fat-soluble vitamins on the production performance and egg quality of laying hens. Three hundred Hy-Line White W-36 laying hens were evaluated from 28 to 44 weeks of age. The birds were allotted to one of six treatments in a randomized block design with 10 replicates with five birds each. Performance and egg quality parameters were evaluated in four 28-day periods. A corn and soybean meal-based basal diet was formulated so as to meet the nutritional requirements of the animals, with the exception of fat-soluble vitamins. The treatments consisted of dietary supplementation with 0%, 33.3%, 66.7%, 100.0%, 133.3% or 166.7% of fat-soluble vitamins (100% supplementation consisted of 7500 IU, 2000 IU, 10 IU and 1.8 mg of vitamins A, D3, E and K per kilogram of diet, respectively). Eggshell weight, shell thickness, shell strength, feed intake, egg weight, feed conversion per egg mass and feed conversion per dozen eggs showed a quadratic response (p≤0.05) to the treatments, whereas egg mass responded linearly. Optimal results were obtained at an average fat-soluble vitamin supplementation level of 109%, which corresponds to 8175 IU of vitamin A, 2180 IU of vitamin D3, 10.9 IU of vitamin E and 1.96 mg of vitamin K per kilogram of diet.

ABSTRACT Our study investigated the perception of elite handball players, belonging to national teams who during the early stages of their career had similar success rates but with different levels of success at the senior level, on how they characterize their most important club and national team coach. Fourteen athletes were interviewed based on the protocol of Gould, Dieffenbach and Moffett (2002). In the specialization years (Bloom, 1985), the most successful athletes reported that they had one coach in the club, and a national team coach, that permanently marked their sports career and their personality. According to them, their reference coaches taught directly and indirectly (caring, paying individual attention), emphasized expectations, discipline and the attitude that hard work pays off. It is concluded that the coach seems to play a determining role in the development of the athletes, thus highlighting the importance of promoting and strengthening the quality of their education.

RESUMO Este estudo investigou a perceção de jogadores de andebol, pertencentes às seleções nacionais que durante as primeiras etapas das suas carreiras tiveram o mesmo nível de êxito, mas com diferente nível de sucesso no escalão sénior, sobre o selecionador nacional e o treinador do clube que mais os marcaram. Foram entrevistados catorze atletas com base no protocolo de Gould, Dieffenbach e Moffett (2002). Os resultados demonstram que nos anos de especialização (Bloom, 1985), os atletas de maior sucesso mencionaram que tiveram um treinador e um selecionador, que marcou permanentemente a sua carreira desportiva e a sua personalidade. Segundo eles, os seus treinadores de referência ensinavam direta e indiretamente (cuidando, prestando atenção individual), enfatizavam as suas expectativas e a atitude que o trabalho duro compensa. Conclui-se que o treinador parece desempenhar um papel determinante no desenvolvimento dos atletas, destacando assim a importância de promover e salvaguardar a qualidade da sua formação.

RESUMEN Nuestro estudio investigó la percepción de los jugadores de balonmano de élite, pertenecientes a equipos nacionales que durante las primeras etapas de su carrera han tenido éxito similar, pero con diferentes niveles de éxito a nivel senior, sobre el entrenador del equipo nacional y del club que más los influencio. Catorce atletas fueron entrevistados según el protocolo de Gould, Dieffenbach y Moffett (2002). En los años de especialización (Bloom, 1985), los atletas más exitosos informaron que han tenido un entrenador en el club y un entrenador del equipo nacional, que marcó permanentemente su carrera deportiva y su personalidad. Según ellos, estos entrenadores, enseñaron directa e indirectamente (cuidando, prestando atención individual), enfatizaron sus expectativas, y la actitud que el trabajo duro compensa. Se concluye que el entrenador parece desempeñar un papel determinante en el desarrollo de los atletas, destacando así la importancia de promover y salvaguardar la calidad de su formación.

ABSTRACT Two experiments were performed to evaluate the hematological and blood biochemistry parameters, biometry of digestive organs, enzyme activities, protein content and absolute weight of the pancreas of broilers fed pre-starter and pre-starter diets supplemented or not with amylase from Aspergillus awamori. In total, 120 male Cobb chicks were housed in heated cages in each experiment. A completely randomized experimental design, with two treatments (feed with and without amylase) and six replicates per treatment of 10 birds each was applied. The data were subjected to analysis of variance using the F-test at 5% probability level. The dietary amylase addition did not affect hematological and blood biochemistry parameters and the biometry of the gastrointestinal tract of 7- and 21-d-old broilers, nor the absolute weight, enzyme activities or protein concentration of the pancreas of 7-d-old broilers. However, the inclusion of amylase in the diet reduced amylase activity and pancreatic protein concentration in 21-d-old broilers. The application of amylase to broiler chicken pre-starter and starter feeds is not justified given the pancreatic amylase activity and protein concentrations.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro bioactivity of tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil against larvae and adult forms of lesser mealworms (Alphitobius diaperinus) and its influence on the soil fauna. Tests were performed in triplicate using pure tea tree oil (TTO; 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100%), TTO nanoparticles (1, 3, and 7.5%), or terpinen-4-ol, the main compound of the tea tree oil, at the same concentrations of TTO. Larvae and adult mortality occurred at concentrations up to 10 and 50% of TTO, respectively. No larvicidal or insecticidal effect of TTO nanoparticles was observed. Terpinen-4-ol showed insecticidal and larvicidal effect at concentrations higher than 25%. The evaluation of TTO effect on soil organisms was performed by standard ecotoxicological tests (ISO) with the springtail species Folsomia candida. Only TTO was used for ecotoxicological tests in doses of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 mg kg-1 of soil. TTO had no negative effects on F. candida survival or reproduction. Therefore, it was concluded that M. alternifolia oil may be a new alternative for control of the lesser mealworm.