Alimentação alternativa para abelha Apis mellifera à base de caju / Alternative feeding for cashew-based bee Apis malifera

A sobrevivência das abelhas está intrinsecamente relacionada ao acesso irrestrito à água e uma boa alimentação, rica em proteínas, vitaminas, sais minerais e gorduras. Estes fatores são imprescindíveis para manter a qualidade de vida da colmeia, bem como a qualidade dos produtos advindos destas. Mesmo próximos a áreas naturais, vegetação e cursos de água, haverá períodos em que essas fontes naturais podem ser restringidas por fenômenos meteorológicos e/ou climáticos. Na caatinga, bioma característico da maioria dos municípios do Estado do Piauí e parte do Nordeste, acontece as estações secas que predominam durante vários meses do ano, diminuindo o ritmo de trabalho das abelhas, a produção do mel, culminando com o abandono das colmeias. A partir disso, pretende-se trabalhar com a seguinte questão: É viável a utilização do pseudofruto do caju para a produção da alimentação artificial de abelhas, tanto do pedúnculo quanto da castanha? Desta forma, objetivou-se verificar a eficácia do caju (pedúnculo e castanha) na alimentação de apiários. Destaca-se a realização do curso de alimentação de abelha utilizando a castanha e pedúnculo como matéria prima para apicultores da Associação dos Pequenos Produtores Rurais de Malhada Grande no Município de São Francisco do Piauí. Pode-se observar que houve diferença dos tratamentos oferecidos aos apiários antes e após o curso para os apicultores participantes, bem como a movimentação das abelhas nos apiários após a inserção de alimento e água. O resultado do trabalho descreve quantitativamente o comportamento das abelhas no total de caixas observadas no apiário, após as orientações oferecidas aos cursistas, constatando, por fim, que a alimentação alternativa, proposta neste trabalho surte efeitos positivos e imediatos no enxame.

Evolution of Thyroid Enhancement of Embryogenesis and Early Survival

Iodine imparts protective antioxidant actions that improve the fitness of invertebrate organisms, and peptides carrying iodine initially appear to have served in a defensive capacity. Tyrosine carries multiple iodines in some echinoderms, and these peptides transferred to progeny serve both protective and signaling purposes. This parental relationship appears to be the most likely evolutionary basis for emergence of the vertebrate thyroid endocrine system, and its critically important development-promoting actions in larval and (later) fetal ontogeny. Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) induce settlement and stimulate transitions to alternative feeding modes in some echinoderms. This transgenerational relationship has been conserved and elaborated in vertebrates, including humans, which share common ancestry with echinoderms. Thyroid insufficiency is damaging or can be lethal to larval fishes; egg yolk that is insufficiently primed with maternal thyroid hormones (TH) results in compromised development and high mortality rates at the time of first-feeding. Maternally-derived TH supplied to offspring supports the onset of independent feeding in fishes (eye, mouth, lateral line, swim bladder and intestinal maturation) and survival by comparable developmental mechanisms in placental mammals. Fishes evolved precise control of TH secretion and peripheral processing; early metamorphic and feeding mode actions were joined by controlled thermogenesis in homeotherms.

Sex or cannibalism: Polyphenism and kin recognition control social action strategies in nematodes

Resource polyphenisms, where single genotypes produce alternative feeding strategies in response to changing environments, are thought to be facilitators of evolutionary novelty. However, understanding the interplay between environment, morphology, and behavior and its significance is complex. We explore a radiation of Pristionchus nematodes with discrete polyphenic mouth forms and associated microbivorous versus cannibalistic traits. Notably, comparing 29 Pristionchus species reveals that reproductive mode strongly correlates with mouth-form plasticity. Male-female species exhibit the microbivorous morph and avoid parent-offspring conflict as indicated by genetic hybrids. In contrast, hermaphroditic species display cannibalistic morphs encouraging competition. Testing predation between 36 co-occurring strains of the hermaphrodite P. pacificus showed that killing inversely correlates with genomic relatedness. These empirical data together with theory reveal that polyphenism (plasticity), kin recognition, and relatedness are three major factors that shape cannibalistic behaviors. Thus, developmental plasticity influences cooperative versus competitive social action strategies in diverse animals.

The impact of alternative feeding strategies on total factor productivity growth of pig farming: Empirical evidence from EU countries

Aim of study: To investigate the impact of adopting new feeding precision technology on pig production.Area of study: Four EU countries (Germany, France, Poland and Spain) during the period 2010–2015.Material and methods: The Färe-Primont index was used to estimate total factor productivity change and its components, technological change and efficiency change.Main results: German, French and Spanish farms experienced total factor productivity (TFP) progress, while Polish farms did not for both feeding strategies. Our empirical findings suggest a high impact on the productivity of ad libitum feeding technique compared to the restricted one for all countries.Research highlights: Precision feeding strategies provide another avenue to more sustainable livestock production and further evidence that implementing individual ad libitum feeding systems for pigs could enhance farm’s productivity.

Hog plums: Its importance, potentials and future prospects

Hog plums, scientifically known as Spondias mombin are medicinal plants that are rich in nutrients and antioxidants, and are of great importance in the food/agricultural industries and the health sector. In the food industries, it is an important fruit crop that can be eaten raw, juiced and processed for making jam, ice cream and jellies, and also provides farmers an alternative feeding material for lactating ruminants to help in galactogenesis and lactopoiesis. In the health sector, hog plums fruit, leaves and stem extract possess antimicrobial, cytotoxic, anti-tyrosinase, diuretic and febrifuge activities for the treatment of certain disease conditions, and it can be effectively preserved by wax coating of the fruits. Methanolic extract of Spondias contain methyl gallate, a substance that has the potential to facilitate apoptotic cell death in human glioblastoma, lung, and breast cancer Hog plums are also rich in vitamins, it strengthens the immune system, protects against heart disease, and stimulates the production of collagen which keeps the body healthy. It is a plant that has obvious and promising health benefits, and as such more research into its properties is advisable. Preservation of hog plum can be achieved by wax coating, retardation of ripening and senescence, and application of growth regulators.

Design and development of Dipole Array Antenna for Wi-Fi Applications

This paper illustrates the design and development of the Series-fed Two Dipole Array antenna (STDA) for Wi-Fi applications. The proposed antenna consists of two dipole elements of different lengths, which are serially joined by the Coplanar Strip Line (CPS). The design incorporates an alternative feeding mechanism of coaxial/probe feeding technique with balun. The primary objective of this paper is to develop the high gain antenna with array configuration for Wi-Fi applications. The performance parameters of an antenna such as return loss, radiation pattern, gain and directivity are investigated for STDA array configurations. It operates at 2.4 GHz and produces a high gain of 21.6 dBi with reflector. The STDA antenna has been analyzed for different array configurations in the formation of 1×4, 1×8, 2×8 STDA array formation in order to improve the overall gain. The proposed antenna is fabricated an FR4 substrate with a dielectric constant of 4.4 and Loss tangent (tan δ) of 0.007 with the thickness of 1.6 mm. The size of an antenna is about 105 mm × 80 mm. The proposed antenna meets the requirements of an antenna which is operating at 2.4GHz with a bandwidth of 200 MHz; hence, it is found to be suitable for Wi-Fi applications.

Malnutrition associated with Wallenberg Syndrome: Case report

Introduction: Wallenberg Syndrome (SW) is characterized by the condition of swallowing impairment, and nutritional assessment is essential to prevent weight loss. Objective: To report a case of malnutrition associated with SW. Methods: Report of malnutrition in a patient diagnosed with SW in a public hospital in Santa Catarina-Brazil. Results: Elderly, 67 years old, male, retiring, systemic arterial hypertension story and ischemic stroke (without sequelae). He sought assistance on 03/17/2020 in a public hospital in Joinville/SC reporting dysphagia and vertigo, being admitted for investigation of a new vascular event. During hospitalization, he presented: constipation, vertigo, hoarseness, odynophagia, hiccups, regurgitation, emesis, heartburn and drooling. He underwent cranial magnetic resonance imaging confirming infarction in a left posterior-lateral bulb, with a vertebral lesion in the V4 portion, characterizing the SW. He underwent a videodeglutogram, showing a risk of silent bronchoaspiration and with prolonged rehabilitation time, making it necessary to choose an alternative feeding route, initially a nasoenteral tube. Initial anthropometric assessment (03/17/2020): BMI 27.47 kg/m² (height: 163 cm, weight: 73 kg). During hospitalization there was a reduction of -7.9 kg (final weight 65.1 kg; BMI 24.3 kg/m², totaling 10.82% loss (04/23/2020) in 1 month (considered severe). Brachial circumference decreased from 31 (03/24) to 28 cm (04/10). On physical examination: distended abdomen, loss of muscle mass at the temples and subcutaneous fat (biceps). This abrupt nutritional loss was associated with low diet tolerance gastrointestinal night infusion and volumes above 85 ml/h, making it impossible to reach a nutritional goal, he was discharged with gastrostomy, continued to undergo rehabilitation with a speech therapist at home and after 3 months he returned to exclusive oral feeding. Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with SW should be monitored about diet tolerance and to avoid risk of complications associated with weight loss and risk of bronchoaspiration.

Pasteurized and unpasteurized donor human milk

It is universally accepted that human milk is the optimal, exclusive source of nutrition for infants 0 to 6 months of age, and may remain part of the healthy infant diet for the first 2 years of age and beyond. Despite advances in infant formulas, human milk provides a wide range of benefits, due in part to its bioactive matrix that cannot be replicated by any other source of nutrition. When there is an insufficient volume of mother’s milk for the vulnerable newborn, pasteurized donor human milk should be made available, as a bridge to mother’s milk and as the first alternative feeding choice, followed by commercial formula. There is a limited supply of donor milk in Canada and distribution is prioritized for sick, hospitalized neonates. Informal milk sharing is the practice of donating and receiving expressed human milk without going through a human milk bank. Informal milk sharing carries risk for bacterial and viral transmission as well as inconsistency and uncertainty regarding donor screening. Paediatricians and other health care providers need to be aware of the risks of informal milk sharing and be able to counsel families appropriately on safer alternatives.

Design and development of cross dipole antenna for satellite applications

In this paper, a cross dipole antenna is proposed, designed, and developed for satellite communication applications. The design incorporates an alternative feeding mechanism of the coaxial/probe feeding technique with balun. The primary objective of this paper is to develop the high gain antenna with an array configuration for satellite communication. The performance parameters of an antenna such as return loss, radiation pattern, gain and directivity are investigated for cross dipole antenna and 1 × 2, 1 × 4 array configurations. It operates for Ku band (12–18 GHz) and produces a high gain with low return loss. The proposed antenna has five useful bands and exhibits a peak directive gain of 13.21 dBi at 12.4 GHz with a bandwidth of 0.89 GHz. Additional bands are also offering a gain of 11.23 dBi with a bandwidth of 0.849 GHz at 10.6 GHz, 6.59 dBi with a bandwidth of 0.6 GHz at 11.5 GHz, 12.13 dBi with a bandwidth of 1.37 GHz at 14.2 GHz and 10.47 dBi with a bandwidth of 1.3 GHz at 15.8 GHz. The cross dipole antenna is analyzed for 1 × 2, 1 × 4 array configuration in order to improve the overall gain. The proposed antenna is fabricated on FR4 substrate with a dielectric constant of 4.4 and loss tangent (tan δ) of 0.007 with the thickness of 1.6 mm. The size of the proposed antenna is 72 × 84 mm. The proposed antenna meets the requirements of an antenna which is operating at Ku band; hence, it is found to be suitable for real time applications.

Feeding, Muscle and Packaging Effects on Meat Quality and Consumer Acceptability of Avileña-Negra Ibérica Beef

In order to achieve an attractive and differentiated product for the consumer and to optimize and to maximize profitability for the farmers within the EU Protected Geographical Indication “Carne de Ávila”, 24 yearling males of Avileña-Negra Ibérica breed were used to evaluate the effect of 2 feeding systems, concentrate (CON) and maize silage (SIL), and 2 packaging systems, vacuum (VAC) and modified atmosphere (MAP), on fatty acid composition, proximate analysis, water holding capacity and consumer acceptability of meat in 2 muscles: Longissimus thoracis (LT) and Semitendinosus (ST). Animals fed with concentrate showed higher carcass weight. However, feeding did not affect the proximate analysis of the meat. The use of maize silage improved the amount of conjugated linoleic acid and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and the relation n-6 PUFA/n-3 PUFA. In LT muscle, feeding influenced texture, samples from SIL being more tender. The VAC packaging showed higher cooking losses than MAP in both muscles. Aging increased tenderness and cooking losses but decreased thawing losses. LT samples from SIL feeding were better accepted by consumers and VAC packaging showed higher scores than MAP. We can conclude that the use of maize silage could be an alternative feeding for this type of animals improving some aspects of the quality of the meat.