Abstract Variability in snake venom composition is well-documented and crucial for understanding snake ecology and predicting snakebites. In this study, we characterize the venom composition and biological activities of newborn female and male Bothrops moojeni and their mother. Our results reveal significant differences between the venom of newborn females and males, demonstrating a broad and diverse range of proteins. The venoms of newborn females showed higher serine protease effects, increased hemorrhagic activity, and greater lethality compared to the venom of newborn males. However, no differences were observed in phospholipase A2 and coagulant activity. The differences in protein composition and toxic activities between maternal and neonatal venom, as well as between the venoms of newborn females and males, contribute to understanding the diverse outcomes of snakebites. These results underscore the importance of considering sex and ontogeny in understanding venom composition in snakes. welldocumented documented snakebites study mother males proteins effects activity However A snakes

Resumo A variabilidade na composição dos venenos de serpentes é bem documentada e crucial para a compreensão da ecologia das serpentes ou do prognóstico dos envenenamentos ofídicos. Nesse estudo, caracterizamos a composição e a atividade biológica do veneno de fêmeas e machos recém-nascidos e sua mãe. Nossos resultados revelaram diferenças significativas entre o veneno de fêmeas e machos recém-nascidos, demonstrando uma ampla e diversificada gama de proteínas. Os venenos de fêmeas recém-nascidas apresentaram mais efeitos de serina protease, aumento da atividade hemorrágica e maior letalidade em comparação ao veneno dos machos recém-nascidos. No entanto, nenhuma diferença foi observada na fosfolipase A2 e na atividade coagulante. As diferenças na composição proteica e nas atividades tóxicas entre o veneno materno e neonatal, bem como entre os venenos de fêmeas e machos recém-nascidos contribuem para a compreensão dos diversos resultados dos acidentes ofídicos. Esses resultados ressaltam a importância de considerar o sexo e a ontogenia na compreensão da composição do veneno desses animais. ofídicos estudo recémnascidos recém nascidos mãe recémnascidos, nascidos, proteínas recémnascidas nascidas protease recémnascidos. nascidos. entanto coagulante neonatal animais

Resumo Em uma escala global o Sorghum bicolor (L.) é uma das culturas mais importantes, ocupando o quinto lugar entre todos os cereais. É cultivada na África, Ásia, Oceania e Américas, onde serve como fonte de alimento e ração para humanos e animais, respectivamente. No entanto, a produção é limitada por vários fatores, incluindo pragas e doenças. Entre as pragas que atacam o sorgo, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), comumente chamado de pulgão verde dos cereais, é a praga mais destrutiva do sorgo. O dano de S. graminum ao sorgo é agravado pelo déficit hídrico que favorece sua ocorrência. Informações limitadas sobre a distribuição espacial da praga e seus inimigos naturais impedem o desenvolvimento de estratégias de manejo ecologicamente corretas. Portanto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar a distribuição espaço-temporal de S. graminum e seu inimigo natural Coccinella septempunctata (L.) durante a fase vegetativa e reprodutiva da cultura por meio de análise geoestatística. A distribuição espaço-temporal de S. graminum foi influenciada pelo estágio de desenvolvimento do sorgo, paisagem circundante e presença de seu principal predador C. septempunctata. Além disso, a abundância de C. septempunctata foi influenciada pela densidade de S. graminum. Os resultados deste estudo são necessários para o desenvolvimento de estratégias sustentáveis de manejo de pragas contra S. graminum.

Abstract At the global level, Sorghum bicolor (L.), is one of the most important crops, which ranks fifth among all cereals. It is cultivated in Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, where it serves as a source of food and feed for humans and animals, respectively. However, production is constrained by several factors including pests and diseases. Among the pests that are known to attack Sorghum, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), commonly called the green cereal aphid, is the most destructive pest of sorghum. S. graminum damage to sorghum is worsen by water deficit which favors its occurrence. Limited information on the spatial distribution of the pest and its natural enemies impedes the development of ecologically friendly management strategies. Therefore, the objective of this research was to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of S. graminum and its natural enemy Coccinella septempunctata (L.) during the vegetative and reproductive stage of the crop using geostatistical analysis. The spatiotemporal distribution of S. graminum was influenced by Sorghum development stage, surrounding landscape, and presence of its main predator C. septempunctata. Moreover, the abundance of C. septempunctata was influenced by the density of S. graminum. The findings from this study are required for developing sustainable pest management strategies against S. graminum.

Resumo Os efeitos da adição de fibra de aço e pó de grafita na condutividade elétrica do concreto foram investigados. Determinou-se o limiar de percolação do concreto fibra de aço, fixando-se o teor ótimo de fibras em 8.5%. O pó de grafita foi adicionado para investigar sua influência na condutividade elétrica e nas propriedades mecânicas do concreto. Mediu-se a corrente elétrica passante pelos corpos de prova, aplicando-se uma tensão de 50 V. A temperatura superficial dos corpos de prova submetidos à passagem de corrente elétrica foi medida durante 20 min. Observou-se que quanto maior a adição de grafita, maior foi a condutividade e, portanto, maior a temperatura final, que atingiu 58 °C a mais que a mistura de referência, mas a resistência à compressão reduziu de 60 para 30 MPa, porém ainda sendo considerado um concreto para fins estruturais.

Abstract The effects of the addition of steel fiber and graphite powder on the electric conductivity of concrete were investigated. The percolation transition zone of the concrete + steel fiber was determined, thus fixing the optimum content of steel fiber at 8.5%. Graphite was added to investigate its influence on the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of the concrete. The electric current passing through the specimens was measured, setting the electric voltage to 50 V. The surface temperature of the specimens submitted to the electrical current was measured for 20 min. It was observed that the higher the graphite addition, the higher the conductivity was and, therefore, the higher the final temperature, which achieved 58 °C higher than the reference mixture, but the compressive strength decreased from 60 to 30 MPa, although still considered as structural concrete.

Resumo As estruturas de concreto armado podem ter sua capacidade resistente reduzida devido à degradação de suas propriedades mecânicas com a temperatura, aumentando o risco de colapsos estruturais. Assim, o dimensionamento de uma estrutura deve considerar seu comportamento em temperatura ambiente e em situação de incêndio (ABNT NBR 14432:2001). Neste trabalho, apresenta-se o desenvolvimento de um algoritmo para verificação da resistência de seções quaisquer de concreto armado à flexão composta oblíqua em temperatura ambiente e em incêndio. Para isso, implementou-se um algoritmo integrador de tensões a partir do perfil de deformações da seção segundo a ABNT NBR 15200:2012, vinculado com um gerador de malhas de elementos finitos e com um algoritmo de análise térmica. Na validação do programa desenvolvido, denominado Pisafo, compararam-se os resultados obtidos com os apresentados na literatura: obtidos em experimentos, com diferenças de até 28,5%, e com programas consagrados, com diferenças de até -14,8%. As maiores variações em relação aos experimentos podem ser atribuídas às diferenças entre as propriedades térmicas do concreto nos experimentos com as prescritas em normas utilizadas no programa e à não consideração do spalling na análise computacional.

Abstract Reinforced concrete structures may have reduced strength due to the degradation of their mechanical properties by temperature. This can increase the risk of structural collapses. Thus, the structural design should consider its behavior at room temperature and in fire situation (ABNT NBR 14432:2001). This study presents the development of an algorithm to verify the strength of any reinforced concrete sections subjected to unsymmetrical bending at room temperature and in fire situation. For this purpose, a stress integration algorithm was implemented from the strain profile of the section according to ABNT NBR 15200:2012, linked to a finite element mesh generator and a thermal analysis algorithm. For validation of the developed program, called Pisafo, the results obtained were compared with those in the technical literature: obtained in experiments (with differences of up to 28.5%) and with recognized software solutions (with differences of up to -14.8%). The largest variations in relation to the experiments can be attributed to the differences between the thermal properties of the concrete in the experiments with those prescribed in the technical standards used by the program and the non-consideration of spalling in the computational analysis.

A new genotype of spineless cactus is being used in the diets of dairy cattle that are raised in semi-arid regions. However, little is known about its nutritional value. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing Miúda (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) with Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (Opuntia stricta [Haw.] Haw.) spineless cactus, on nutrient intake and digestibility, milk yield and composition, feeding behaviour, microbial protein synthesis, nitrogen balance, and ruminal and blood parameters of dairy cows. Ten Girolando cows, 500 ± 51.6 kg bodyweight, were distributed in a double Latin square design 5 x 5. The treatments consisted of replacement levels of Miúda (MIU) by Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (OEM) at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%. The intake and digestibility of dry matter (DM) (14.38-12.95 kg d-1, 716.3-658.9 g d-1), organic matter (OM) (13.01-11.43 kg d-1, 747.8-704.8 g d-1), crude protein (CP) (2.02-1.61 kg d-1, 863.8845.2 g d-1) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) (9.38-7.92 kg d-1) decreased linearly with the increase in replacement. Despite the decrease in intake and digestibility, the supply of nutrients was sufficient to maintain a milk yield of 12.5 kg d-1. The average daily weight gain decreased linearly with the increase in replacement, while protein microbial efficiency (g microbial CP kg-1 TDN intake; 91.24 to 127.44 g kg-1) increased linearly. Thus, OEM could replace 100% MIU in diets with 48% of spineless cactus, for crossbred lactating cows with 12.5 kg d-1 milk yield. Therefore, OEM is a viable new option for producing milk in smallholder livestock systems in semi-arid regions.

Tendo-se em vista a importância sócio-econômica que as barragens possuem no Brasil e os grandes investimentos realizados acerca destas estruturas,o objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir para o estudo destas estruturas, através do desenvolvimento de um programa em linguagem Matlab para a análise de tensões em barragens gravidade de concreto. As rotinas desenvolvidas permitem verificações comuns em projetos de barragens, dentre as quais se destaca a possibilidade de se considerar a ação de sedimentos e sismos, além da possibilidade de variar, em uma mesma análise, parâmetros geométricos e propriedades físicas dos materiais do perfil estudado. A análise dos sismos é abordada segundo doi métodos quais sejam: método Pseudo-Estático (Método de Westergaard) e Pseudo-Dinâmico (Método de Chopra). Antes da apresentação das subrotinas desenvolvidas, os principais métodos de análise de tensões, ocasionadas pelas ações sísmicas, são brevemente discutidos e, após, são feitas diversas validações de resultados com o auxílio do programa CADAM 2000, desenvolvido pela Escola Politécnicas de Montreal. Apresentam-se ainda análises adicionais referentes às potencialidades do programa, assim como as principais conclusões.

Having in mind the social and economic importance that dams have in Brazil and the large investments made in relation to these structures, the objective of this work is to contribute to the study of these structures, through developing a program in MATLAB™™ language for stress analysis in concrete gravity dams. The routines developed allow usual verifications in dam projects, considering the action of silts and earthquakes stands out and also the variation of the geometric parameters and physical properties of the dam. The earthquake analysis follows two methods the Pseudo- Static method (Westergaard Method) and the Pseudo-Dynamic method (Chopra Method). Before presenting the subroutines and the program’s functions, these methods are briefly discussed and a validation of stress results are made using CADAM 2000. Additional analyses are presented in reference to program’s potentialities and the conclusions.

The gas-solids flow in a CFB riser is simulated applying two-fluid modeling. Two different procedures are used for the calculation of the solids phase pressure and stress tensor: the traditional procedure and an algebraic version of the kinetic theory of granular flows. Three different numerical meshes and two different discretization schemes for the advective terms are used. Results are compared to available experimental data from the literature. The effects of the solids phase modeling procedure, advection discretization scheme, and mesh size are discussed.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) DNA in blood can help to diagnose the disease in its acute phase; however, it must be considered that hemoglobin, present in blood, can inhibit polymerase activity, making impracticable the detection of DNA in samples. Mice were experimentally infected via oral route with ME49 and BTU2 strains cysts and RH strain tachyzoites; polymerase chain reaction was used to detect T. gondii DNA in mice sera 18, 24, 48, 96, and 192 hours post infection (PI). Toxoplama gondii DNA was detected in only one animal infected with BTU2 strain, genotype III (isolated from a dog with neurological signs) 18 hours PI. The agent's DNA was not detected in any sample of the other experimental groups. New studies must be carried out to verify the technique sensitivity in researches on this agent's genetic material using sera samples of acute-phase toxoplasmosis patients, especially in cases of immunosuppression.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a coccidian protozoan of worldwide distribution. The seroprevalence in canine population can be an alternative for measuring T. gondii urban spreading. A total of 780 blood samples from dogs were collected, during the yearly anti-rabies campaign, carried out by the Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry (FMVZ), São Paulo State University, UNESP, together with the county health authorities, in August 1999. Using Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) for detecting antibodies anti-T. gondii in the sera samples, we observed that 258 dogs (33.1%) were positive. The associations between the serological results and the epidemiological variables were studied. Statistically significant differences were not found regarding sex (32.2% male and 34.3% female reactors). Dogs without a defined breed showed seropositivity statistically higher than the pedigreed group. The occurrence of infection was considered higher with age.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by parasites of the Leishmania genus. Dog is the major source of infection to man, especially in urban areas. The authors report a case of visceral leishmaniasis in a pit bull female dog from Bocaina, São Paulo, Brazil. The animal presented clinical signs compatible with leishmaniasis, including skin lesions in the body and partial damage of the external ears. The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) demonstrated a titer of 1280, and promastigote forms of Leishmania sp were isolated by the culture of bone marrow puncture. Cytological analysis of the lymph node and smear of the bone marrow puncture revealed macrophages containing amastigote forms of Leishmania sp in their inner region. The test of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) utilized the primers LINR4 and LIN19, which amplify 720 base pairs, specific for Leishmania sp. The authors discuss the importance of techniques for a quick and precise diagnosis to this serious zoonosis with great impact in animal and public health.

Rabies is a viral disease of mammals transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. A frugivorous adult male bat, Artibeus lituratus, family Phyllostomidae, was diagnosed as positive to rabies by direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and mouse inoculation test (MIT) of the bat's brain, both performed at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry - FMVZ, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil. The animal collided with the window of a commercial establishment in the urban area during the day. With regard to DIF, a high amount of Negri bodies of several sizes was observed in the brain. The spleen and right kidney presented some Negri bodies too. In relation to MIT, the mice presented paralysis in the 7th day, and died in the day after with several characteristic small bodies. The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), followed by hemi-nested RT-PCR (hnRT-PCR) resulted in an amplification of fragments from the bat's brain viral RNA, 432bp in RT-PCR, and 274bp in hnRT-PCR, confirming the diagnosis. Therefore, the hnRT-PCR and DIF have good sensitivity and specificity, providing and confirming the diagnosis of the clinical samples in a short period of time.