Saulo Henrique Weber

Bioatividade de óleos essenciais de sassafrás e eucalipto em cascudinho

This research aimed to evaluate the sassafras (Ocotea odorifera) and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus viminalis) essential oils on the control of larvae and adults of lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), comparing their insecticide potential. The essential oils were produced through water vapor extraction in a semi industrial scale. Contaminated paper filter technique was applied to evaluate the insect mortality. In the current experiment twelve concentrations were included for evaluation and among them one control (solvent) in order to settle the mortality rate and LC50 of the two tested essential oils. The larvae were more susceptible then the adults to sassafras essential oil exposure and less susceptible than the adults, when exposed to eucalypt essential oil. Larvae as well as adults of A. diaperinus were more susceptible to the sassafras (LC50 adults 0.26mL l-1 and larvae 0.12mL l-1) than the eucalyptus essential oil (LC50 adults 1.37mL l-1 and larvae 1.72mL l-1), by contact intoxication (Ocotea odorifera: Larvae y=3,3916+1,4699logx; Adult y=0,9486+2,8576logx; e Eucaliptus viminalis: Larvae y=1,3643+1,6254logx; Adult y=1,4487+1,6623logx). It is concluded that the essential oils of sassafras and eucalyptus can be used to control lesser mealworm and used as a new integrated strategy for management of this pest.

Assessment of a hands-on method for FAMACHA© system training.

The FAMACHA(©) system is a method for selective anthelmintic treatment comprising early detection of haemonchosis in sheep and goats. In order to evaluate the hands-on training methodology and the learning level of the participants, we analyzed data from 30 training events involving 47 training classes conducted in the State of Paraná, Brazil, from July/2009 to May/2011, during which period a total of 1004 participants did 20,080 FAMACHA(©) classifications. In the practical training sessions, each participant individually evaluated 20 animals with known haematocrit values. Every participant per training event was given a unique number, whereupon each of the animals in a given event was FAMACHA(©) classified by all the trainees involved, in the same trainee number sequence. After each consecutive animal had been evaluated by every one of the participants, its haematocrit and corresponding FAMACHA(©) category were announced before the next animal was presented. The number of persons in training, which ranged from 5 to 39 per session, did not significantly affect the average error of the groups of participants involved (p>0.05). The average error in the classification of the first animal on a scale with a perfect score of zero was 2.5, significantly greater than the error of 0.56 of the twentieth one (p<0.05), indicating an inverse relationship between the error and the cumulative number of animals already evaluated by each trainee involved, with the reduction in mean error per animal in a given training event found by linear regression to be 0.0713. When the same animal was assessed twice in the same training event, the average error of the second evaluation (1.05) was significantly lower than the 1.70 of the first (p<0.05). While the total of 686 sheep used in the training events (73%) was considerably larger than the corresponding number of 254 goats (27%), the average statistical errors, respectively, 1.34 and 1.23, were not significantly different (p>0.05). Similarly, the average errors in FAMACHA(©) classification were not significantly influenced by the occupation or gender of the participants, nor whether there were animals in all five FAMACHA(©) categories or only in categories 1, 2, 3 and 4 per training event (p>0.05).

Determination of progesterone concentration during the estrous cycle in dairy cows using a chemiluminescence assay

The study aimed to determine the patterns of serum progesterone concentration in estrous cycle in dairy cows by a chemiluminescence assay (CLIA). Four non-lactating multiparous Jersey cows were used. Animals with a corpus luteum (CL) in any of the ovaries were induced into estrus. Day zero (d0) of the estrous cycle was defined as the day of visible estrus. Blood samples were collected and ultrasonography (US) of the ovaries were performed until a new manifestation of visible estrus was observed. The lengths of the estrous cycles (estrus to estrus) of the four cows were 20, 21, 22, and 23 days. The mean serum concentrations of P4 (x ± s) were 2.8 ± 1.4 ng/mL in proestrus, 2.4 ± 1.5 ng/mL in estrus, 2.0 ± 1.8 ng/mL in metestrus, and 11.9 ± 5.7 ng/mL in diestrus. The follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle were established based on P4 concentrations. P4 serum concentrations ≥5.48 ng/mL indicated the presence of functional CL, which was observed from d3 to d12 of the cycle. P4 concentrations decreased from d13 until next estrus. Thus, the previously mentioned P4 serum concentration was established as the limit for a predominantly functional CL. P4 concentrations < 5.48 ng/mL indicated a nonfunctional CL or CL that is not yet fully formed, which is observed in metestrus. A P4 standard curve, constructed based on the Lorentz distribution, was used to determine values of < 5.48 ng/mL of serum P4 concentration for the follicular phase and ≥ 5.48 ng/mL for the luteal phase. Data obtained from US examinations were consistent with P4 concentrations determined using CLIA. In conclusion, the automated CLIA was efficient in determining the P4 concentrations during the various stages of estrous cycles in dairy cows. The findings of the study will help researchers in the animal reproduction field. We recommend the use of CLIA because it´s available in many laboratories worldwide with the ability to process thousands of samples per day.

Patterns of copy number alterations in primary breast tumors of South African patients and their impact on functional cellular pathways

Breast cancer is the most common and the leading cause of female mortality among South African (SA) women. Several non‑biological and biological risk factors may be attributed to their observed high mortality rate; however, the molecular profiles associated with their breast tumors are poorly characterized. The present study examined the patterns of genome-wide copy number alterations (CNAs) and their potential impact on functional cellular pathways targeted by cancer driver genes in patients with breast cancer from the Western Cape region of SA. Array-comparative genomic hybridization analysis, performed in 28 cases of invasive breast cancer, revealed a mean number of 8.68±6.18 CNAs per case, affecting primarily the Xp22.3 and 6p21-p25 cytobands (57.14% of the cases), followed by 19p13.3-p13.11 (35.7%), 2p25.3-p24.3, 4p16.3-p15.3, 8q11.1-q24.3 and 16 p13.3-p11.2 (32.14%). Functional enrichment analysis of genes and microRNA targets mapped in these affected cytobands revealed critical cancer-associated pathways, including fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism, extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, hippo and tumor protein p53 signaling pathways, which are regulated by known cancer genes, including CCND1, CDKN1A, MAPK1, MDM2, TP53 and SMAD2. An inverse correlation was observed among the number of CNAs and tumor size and grade; CNAs on the 4p and 6p cytobands were also inversely correlated with tumor grade. No association was observed in the number of CNAs and/or the affected cytobands and the different ethnic groups of the SA patients, indicating that their tumor genome is affected by CNAs, irrespectively of their genetic descent. Additional genomic tumor profiling in SA and other Sub-Saharan African patients with breast cancer is required to determine the associations of the CNAs observed with prognosis and clinical outcome.

ABORDAGEM BORROW STRENGHT APLICADA A MODELO GEOESTATÍSTICO PARA ESTIMATIVA DE VOLUME

This study aimed to use the share parameters of the geo-statistical models applied to maximum likelihood estimators to predict the volumes per hectare in three fragments of a Deciduous Forest located in Santa Teresa, RS state, employing the ‘Borrow Strength’ approach. Data were collected in 56 sampling units (S.U) of variable sizes with approximately 250 m 2 for a total of nine ha, distributed in a systematic grid of 40 x 40 m. Dendrometric variables from individuals with DBH ≥ 10 cm near the center of the S.U. were measured. Two approaches to the data set were prepared, the first of which considering both areas entirely independent themselves, subdivided into two types: a fit to non-spatial model (NSM) and a fit to the maximum likelihood (ML) not shared (individual adjustment) model. The second approach described the adjustment of the shared as a function of random error or nugget, comprising models: a shared model without fixed nugget (variability between S.U) and a shared model with fixed nugget (variability within S.U) models, using a logarithmic function of M.L applied to the Matern family of exponential correlation model. Then, the models were compared using Akaike information criterion (AIC) and by degree of spatial dependence for subsequent preparation of both kriging and prediction surfaces of the selected models. It was observed that the combined volume models to estimate values were higher for the AIC values and spatial dependence with respect to the adjustments for the individual areas. Among the shared models, it was observed that there was a gain in the parameter estimates using the fixed nugget, which resulted in a higher correlation of samples and spatial dependence (AP = 88 m), than the shared models without the fixed nugget (AP = 75 and 66 m). The AIC was efficient because it compared the different levels of proposed adjustments to the methodology of the study, selecting a model with parsimony and compatible with the spatial distribution patterns found in the areas. The use of combined models for data sampling in different areas with the introduction of the error estimate intra-plot (fixed nugget) in the equations of MV can be suggested to increase the correlation between the S.U and combined evaluation of the AIC plus the degree of spatial dependence in estimating dendrometric variables.

Percepção e atitudes de amostra populacional sobre guarda responsável, zoonoses e cães em vias públicas

This study aimed to evaluate the perception of responsible custody, zoonosis, population control of cats and dogs and the situation of stray dogs in a sample of people belonging to the Pontifical Catholic University of Parana. For this online questionnaires with 22 questions was sent. 239 people participated in this survey, the majority were female, aged between 25-35 years with complete living mainly in Curitiba / PR higher education. They had a dog or cat as a pet, 57% of respondents, and relative to the amount of animals responding by, the average number of dogs was 2.62 ± 1.35 and 1.56 ± 1.07 for cats. Both dog owners like cats, practicing regularly said vaccination administration of wormers and vet care for their animals. The access of the street dogs was held with collar and leash by 50.53% of respondents. Regarding zoonosis, 62% claimed to know what it is and managed to cite an example. About the presence of loose animals in your neighborhood, 78% of respondents said yes, 49% noted that there stray dogs that are kept by someone, and 71% stated that the responsibility for controlling these animals should be the government and society. Given the responses, we found that this sample population recognized six types of zoonosis, realized the importance of responsible dog guard and cats and stated that there is no single responsible for stray dogs.

APPLICATION OF THE WEBER DISTRIBUTION TO THE GREEN PINE CONES WEIGHT

The objective of the present work was to verify the efficiency of the Weber Distribution, when applied to the weight of pine cones. Forty green pine cones were collected and weighed in the Metropolitan Region of Curitiba. The weights were distributed into 6 classes, with 90 gram interval. It is concluded that the Weber Distribution adjusted to the data, in accordance with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test. The expected values for the adjusted distribution, average and mode had resulted in values close to the observed ones, showing that the developed expressions are efficient. The facility to adjust the proposed model, and the calculation of the average, variance, standard deviation and inflection points, by means of the developed expressions, are advantages of this distribution. Due to its flexibility, it is possible to affirm that this model can be applied to several forest distributions, as well as to other biological data.