Este trabajo se centra en el estudio de la extracción y la producción de aceite de semillas de ricino usando tres diferentes estados de semillas: entera, partida y sin testa. Se utilizó un diseño Taguchi para determinar la contribución de los siguientes parámetros: estado de las semillas, cantidad de semilla en el extractor, temperatura y presión. Se demostró que es necesario introducir la semilla entera para aumentar el rendimiento de la extracción. La contribución de los factores de control tiene un limite de extracción en la variable respuesta (rendimiento). Después de determinar cuáles factores contribuian altamente al proceso de extracción y cuáles no, se procedió a dejarlos en los niveles de mayor contribución con la finalidad de reducir el número de factores de control a dos. Posteriormente se utilizó la metodologia de superfície de respuesta para la optimización del proceso, dando como resultado los niveles óptimos para los factores de control temperatura y presión. De acuerdo con las pruebas, el rendimiento de la extracción del aceite se puede mantener en un 35 % de la semilla.

This work focuses on the study of the oil extraction yield from castor seed using three different seed conditions: whole, minced and bare endosperm. Taguchi design was used to determine the contribution of the following parameters: seed condition, seed load in the extractor, temperature, and pressure. It was proved that it is necessary to introduce the whole seed and that the presence of the pericarp increases the extraction yield. The contribution of the control factors has an extraction yield limit. After determining which factors contributed to the process, these were left at their optimum levels aiming to reduce the control factors to only two. The complete analysis was done using a surface response methodology giving the best parameter for temperature and pressure that allows a better yielding mechanical extraction. The oil extraction yield can be kept up to 35 % of the seed.

Since the anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of soy isoflavones may be mediated by activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), the present study investigated whether the methanolic fractions obtained from soybean seeds (E1) and soybean seed coats with hypocotyls (E2) could influence PPARα, PPARγ and PPARβ/δ transcriptional activity. The isoflavones from E1 and E2 were quantified by HPLC analysis. E1 and E2 were rich in isoflavones (daidzin, glycitin, genistin, malonyldaidzin, malonylglycitin, malonylgenistin, daidzein, glycitein, and genistein). Moreover, E1 and E2 showed no evidence of genetically modified material containing the gene CP4 EPSPS. To investigate PPAR transcriptional activity, human promonocytic U-937 cells were treated with E1 and E2 (200, 400, 800, and 1600 µg/mL), positive controls or vehicle. Data are reported as fold-activation of the luciferase reporter driven by the PPAR-responsive element. Dose-response analysis revealed that E1 and E2 induced the transcriptional activity of PPARα (P < 0.001), with activation comparable to that obtained with 0.1 mM bezafibrate (positive control) at 1600 µg/mL (4-fold) and 800 µg/mL (9-fold), respectively. In addition, dose-response analysis revealed that E1 and E2 activated PPARβ/δ (P < 0.05), and the activation at 800 µg/mL (4- and 9-fold, respectively) was comparable to that of 0.1 mM bezafibrate (positive control). However, no effect on PPARγ was observed. Activation of PPARα is consistent with the lipid-lowering activity of soy isoflavones in vivo, but further studies are needed to determine the physiological significance of PPARβ/δ activation.

Em Barbalha, Ceará, foram realizados levantamentos de casos de cisticercose suína, teníase e neurocisticercose humana causadas por Taenia solium, e realizou-se uma pesquisa quanto aos sistemas de criação de suínos na região. De 85 suínos abatidos em abatedouro local 4,7% apresentavam cisticercose, a maioria dos cisticercos localizava-se na língua e coração. Entre 2001 e 2004, das 302 criações de suínos denunciadas à vigilância sanitária, 96,6% eram chiqueiros. A teníase, entre 1998 e 2003, correspondeu a 1,1% das verminoses diagnosticadas pela Secretária de Saúde Municipal. Entre 2001 e 2003, os casos de neurocisticercose humana corresponderam a 5% das tomografias de crânio requisitadas nos hospitais da região.

In Barbalha, municipal district of Ceará state, an assessment of cases of porcine cysticercosis, taeniasis and human neurocysticercosis caused by the Taenia solium was performed in order to evaluate the situation of these diseases. It was also carried out a research about the types of swine farms registered in the area. Considering the 85 swine slaughtered at the slaughterhouse of Barbalha, 4.7% presented cysticercosis. Most cysticerci were located in the tongue and in the heart. Between 2001 and 2004, from 302 swine farms denounced to the Sanitary Surveillance, 9.6% were pigsties. Taeniasis, between 1998 and 2003, corresponded to 1.1% of the helminthes diagnosed by the Municipal Health Office. From 2001 to 2003, the cases of human neurocysticercosis corresponded to 5% of the skull tomographies requested in the hospitals of the area.

Samples of 114 bovine fetuses and 10 calves, which dead in perinatal period, were examined for detection of DNA. The most common detected agent was Brucella spp. in 17 samples (13.7%) followed by Leptospira spp. in 4 cases (3.2%),bovine herpesvirus (BHV) and bovine viral diarrhea (BVDV) in 3 animals (2.4%) each, and 1 for the association of BVDV and BHV. In 77.4 % (96/124) of the samples it was not possible to detect any agent.

RESUMO O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a resistência antimicrobiana de cepas de Salmonella isoladas de águas de escaldamento, evisceração e resfriamento; de carcaças não evisceradas, evisceradas e resfriadas; penas e fezes frente à ação de antimicrobianos de uso comum. Foram coletadas 288 amostras e isoladas 29 cepas de Salmonella spp., dentre elas S. Kentucky (34,5%); S. Enteritidis (20,8%); S. Anatum e S. Enterica subsp. Enterica 8,20:-:z6 (13,8%); S. Typhimurium (6,9%);S. Enterica subsp. Enterica 4,5, 12:i:-, S. Saintpaul e S. Tennessee 3,4%. O teste de sensibilidade frente a 12 agentes antimicrobianos foi realizado com as amostras de Salmonella spp. isoladas e seguiu a metodologia de Kirby-Bauer, 25 (86,2%) amostras foram resistentes ao aztreonam e à ampicilina, 21 (72,4%) à tetraciclina e 16 (55,2%) à amoxicilina/ácido clavulânico e sulfazotrim. Os isolados apresentaram menor resistência à gentamicina , com uma amostra (3,45%) resistente, duas (6,9%) amostras foram resistentes à amicacina. Nenhuma das amostras testadas apresentou 100% de resistência ou sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos utilizados. As amostras de Salmonella spp. foram em grande proporção resistentes aos princípios antimicrobianos normalmente utilizados em avicultura, estes dados servem como alerta contra o uso indiscriminado de antibióticos, que pode contribuir para a seleção de cepas resistentes, agentes de doenças transmissíveis por alimentos em seres humanos.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of antibiotic resistance of Salmonella strains isolated from scald, evisceration, and chiller water; non-eviscerated, eviscerated, and chilled carcasses; feathers; and feces collected in six chicken abattoirs. The 29 Salmonella strains belonged to S. Kentucky (34.5%); S. Enteritidis (20.8%); S. Anatum e S. Enterica subsp. Enterica 8,20:-:z6 (13.8%); S. Typhimurium (6.9%); S. Enterica subsp. Enterica 4,5, 12:i:-, S. Saintpaul and S. Tennessee (3.4%). All strains were submitted to antibiotic resistance test following Kirby-Bauer methodology, 25 (86.2%) strains were resistant to aztreonam and to ampicilin, 21 (72.4%) to tetracycline and 16 (55.2%) to amoxicilin/clavulanic acid and to sulfazotrim. Only one strain (3.45%) was gentamicin resistant. Two strains (6.9%) were resistant to amicacin. Resistance and susceptibility to all antibiotics tested was not detected.Salmonella strains were total or partially resistant to the antibiotics frequently used in aviculture. These note-worthy data draw attention to a danger of indiscriminate use of antibiotics in aviculture that may contribute for selection of resistant strains and this can cause foodborne infections in humans.

The aim of this study was to estimate the correlation between scrotal girth and spermatic concentration in German Sheepherd dogs. Thirteen German Sheepherd dogs were used and 44 semen samples were obtained by digital manipulation. The ejaculate was separated in its three fractions. The sperm rich fraction was kept for evaluation and determination of spermatic concentration by spectrofotometry. The parameters were expressed as mean and standard deviation. Spearman correlation test was used to estimate the correlation between spermatic concentration and scrotal girth. The mean spermatic concentration was 568.45±314.91x10(6) sptz/ml and the mean scrotal girth was17.6±1.6 cm and the correlation was r = 0.10. It can be conclude that scrotal girth can not be an appropriate measurement as indicative of spermatic concentration in German Sheepherd dogs.