Spent Foundry Sand is one of the largest industrial solid wastes generated by foundries in the production of iron and steel components. Currently, millions of tons of molten sands are discarded worldwide. Therefore, this work aims to reuse the Spent Foundry Sand for the production of glass-ceramic materials, since this reuse minimizes the environmental impacts related to its discarding. The Spent Foundry Sand, composed of >60% SiO2, was mixed with limestone and melted at 1500 °C to produce the glass (melting and rapid cooling method). The materials were characterized by X-Ray Fluorescence, X-Ray Diffraction and thermal analysis. The X-Ray Diffraction results of the glass tablets treated at 875, 941 and 1050 °C show that the formed phases are Wollastonite-1A, β-Wollastonite and Akermanite. In summary, it is possible to produce glass-ceramic from Spent Foundry Sand with Wollastonite phase.

ABSTRACT: The use of supplements eliminates deficiencies imposed by pasture, increases weight gain in animals and maximizes profits from the activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of steers in grazing systems that received or did not receive a protein energy supplement at the level of 0.6 % body weight. The experiment lasted 160 days and included 36 Brangus × Zebu animals. Eighteen animals received supplementation and another eighteen did not receive supplementation. Carcasses were evaluated for yield, loin eye area, fat thickness and length. The assessment of meat quality evaluated the shear force, myofibril fragmentation index, color, exudative losses and collagen. The carcass traits of the supplemented animals showed higher values (p < 0.0001). Supplementation improved the color of the meat (p = 0.0434) and increased the amount of soluble collagen (p = 0.0456). The use of a protein energy supplement for steers in a pasture system increased the efficiency of muscle deposition of these animals and improved meat quality when compared to animals that were not supplemented.

ABSTRACT The presence of mycotoxins or related fungi in animal feed is a major problem for animal and human health. Silage and concentrated feed samples were collected from 21 dairy farms in the Western part of Paraná state in Southern Brazil. Water activity and pH of all samples were measured, and each sample was analyzed to check for the presence of aflatoxigenic Aspergillus. Water activity was observed to be lower in the concentrated feed samples. The pH was lower in the silage samples, indicating fermentation processes. Two silage samples and four concentrated feed samples were contaminated with Aspergillus spp. Seven isolates of Aspergillus spp. were obtained and their potential to produce aflatoxins was evaluated. Four of the isolates, two from the silage samples and two from the concentrated feed samples, produced the aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 in culture media. These isolates were identified as Aspergillus parasiticus and Aspergillus nomius. The presence of aflatoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus spp. in silage and concentrated feed samples is a matter of concern, because of the risk of aflatoxin production and contamination of the animal feed.

ABSTRACT This experiment was conducted to evaluate the degradation kinetics and microbial efficiency of beef cattle grazing on low-quality forage and receiving supplements with different levels of rumen undegradable protein (RUP). The animals grazed on palisade grass pasture solely or this pasture and supplement containing 40 or 60 g of RUP per 100 g of crude protein (CP). The degradation profiles of neutral detergent fiber, fiber carbohydrates, and neutral detergent insoluble protein were interpreted kinetically by using a decreasing logistic model. Treatments (no supplement, or RUP at 40 or 60 g−1 100 g CP) did not affect rumen fill; however, the increase in the indigestible fiber carbohydrate fraction that occurred at the expense of the digestible fiber carbohydrate fraction resulted in a greater rumen fill effect. The palisade grass showed a significant proportion of its nitrogen in the form of slowly degradable protein as neutral detergent insoluble protein, which amounted to 26 g per 100 g CP. Supplementation with 40 g of RUP per 100 g CP decresead the indigestible fraction of the low-quality forage. However, the absence of a rumen-fill effect demonstrates that the additional supply of nutrients contributes greatly to increasing growth efficiency and use of the available energy from the forage by the ruminal microorganisms.

ABSTRACT Ten Holstein-Zebu crossbred cows distributed into two simultaneous Latin squares (5 × 5) as a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement formed by chopped sugarcane or elephant grass silage, both with high or low protein degradability supplements and a corn silage as a control treatment, were compared using orthogonal contrasts. The studied variables were the performance, plasma concentrations of urea-N, glucose, and creatinine, urine-N and milk urea-N, and the nychthemeral variation in NH3-N in the rumen fluid of dairy cows. Nutrient intake, milk production, and milk composition were affected by the treatments. The total mixed ration containing elephant grass silage combined with rumen undegradable protein (RUP) provided balanced amounts of carbon and nitrogen in the rumen. This effect may explain the 18% increase in milk yield compared with the other treatments. The diurnal pattern of ruminal NH3-N was interpreted with a sinusoid model. In general, cows fed elephant grass silage exhibited higher concentrations of blood plasma and milk urea-N than animals fed sugarcane. The cows that consumed elephant grass silage with rumen degradable protein concentrate showed a higher milk urea-N compared with animals that consumed elephant grass silage with the RUP concentrate. The use of diets based on corn silage leads to a better use of nitrogen compounds because these diets resulted in lower levels of urea-N in the plasma, urine, and milk at the same level of milk production compared with diets containing elephant grass silage or chopped sugarcane as roughages. In sugarcane-based diets, even greater nitrogen losses in the urine are observed, despite the presence of readily fermentable carbohydrates in the diet.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake and digestibility of silages containing pineapple pulp and coast-cross hay, with or without addition of urea, and the recovery of the markers chromium oxide (Cr2O3), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF), and indigestible dry matter (iDM), in a digestibility assay, in sheep. Treatments were as follows: two levels of pineapple pulp (818 and 758 g kg−1) and two levels of urea (with and without urea), in a completely randomized design. Twelve sheep (three per treatment) were used, kept in metabolic cages. Fecal excreta were determined by total collection or estimated by using the markers. Marker samples were obtained in morning and afternoon collections, with mean concentrations obtained for both daily activities. The level of silage pulp did not affect intake, while addition of urea increased the intake of crude protein (CP), but did not influence the intakes of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, or acid detergent fiber. The digestibility coefficients of all afore-mentioned fractions increased with the increase in pulp, the same happening with the addition of urea. The internal marker with lowest variability among the internal markers was iADF, with mean values near 100%. Mean recovery of Cr2O3 was approximately 107%, but with lower variability among treatments. Inclusion of pineapple pulp in silage does not influence intake, while addition of urea only increases the intake of CP. The levels of pineapple pulp in silage with or without urea increase the digestibility of the silage. Indigestible acid detergent fiber is the marker with lowest variability of recovery, with mean recovery for the four silages used very close to 100%.

ABSTRACTThe objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of passion fruit by-product for cattle, contrasting the results with those found with sorghum silage. Four treatments were then constituted, comprising the combinations of the two roughages and the two levels of supplementation (with or without), in a completely randomized design with four animals per treatment. The considered variables included: feed intake, digestibility coefficients of the diets, and live weight gain of the animals. The experimental period lasted 70 days, preceded by a standardization period of 30 days. Chromium oxide was utilized to estimate the fecal output, in the digestibility trial. Treatments were compared by means of three orthogonal contrasts: between the two roughages and between the two concentrate levels within each roughage. Animals fed passion fruit by-product showed higher feed intake (total, per 100 kg of live weight (TLW), and per unit metabolic size) and had higher TLW gain than those fed sorghum silage (1.304 kg vs. 0.134 kg). The coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein (CP) and the digestibility coefficient of neutral detergent fiber from passion fruit by-product were high, and much higher than those from sorghum silage. The concentrate supplement did not improve the TLW gain of animals fed passion fruit by-product and had a limiting effect on the digestibility coefficients of the diet. The concentrate supplement had a positive associative effect on intake and digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, and CP from sorghum silage. The by-product of fresh passion fruit is an excellent food for growing cattle as it provides high intake levels and weight gains, even when supplied as the only feed.

A murcha-de-curtobacterium é umas principais doenças do feijoeiro e o uso de cultivares com níveis de resistência é fundamental para o manejo adequado da doença. A reação de 54 genótipos de feijoeiro comum a um isolado de Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff) foi avaliada, assim como a colonização de cultivares e a obstrução de vasos de xilema primário da base de pecíolos de plantas inoculadas foram quantificadas. Ensaios conduzidos em casa-de-vegetação e laboratório evidenciaram resistência nas cultivares IAC Diplomata, IAC Alvorada, IAC Imperador, IPR Corujinha e IPR Tangará e nas linhagens P5-4-4-1 e C4-5-4-1-2. Uma menor velocidade de colonização por Cff também foi evidenciada nas cultivares resistentes (IAC Diplomata, IAC Carioca Tybatã e IAC Carioca Pyatã), assim como uma menor porcentagem de obstrução dos vasos de xilema primários na base de pecíolos, em comparação às cultivares suscetíveis (IAC Carioca e Pérola).

Bacterial wilt is one of the main diseases of common beans and the use of cultivars with some level of resistance is fundamental for an adequate disease management. The reaction of 54 common bean genotypes to Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens (Cff) was evaluated, and the colonization of cultivars and obstruction of primary xylem vessels at the petiole base were assessed. In greenhouse and laboratory tests, resistance was detected in the cultivars IAC Diplomata, IAC Alvorada, IAC Imperador, IPR Corujinha, and IPR Tangará, and in the lines P5-4-4-1 and C4-5-4-1-2. The Cff colonization rate was also slower in the resistant cultivars (IAC Diplomata, IAC Carioca Tybatã, and IAC Carioca Pyatã) and the percentage of obstruction of primary xylem vessels at the petiole base lower than in the susceptible cultivars (IAC Carioca and Pérola).

A toxicidade do alumínio (Al) é um dos fatores mais limitantes para a produtividade. Esta pesquisa foi realizada para avaliar a influência do Al, em solução nutritiva, na altura de plantas, no peso da matéria seca e nas alterações morfoanatômicas de raízes e folhas de milho (Zea mays L.). O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação com tratamentos constituídos de cinco doses de Al (0; 25; 75; 150; e 300 µmol L-1) e seis repetições. As soluções foram constantemente aeradas e o pH foi ajustado a 4,3, inicialmente. A matéria seca da parte aérea e das raízes e a altura das plantas diminuíram significativamente com o aumento da concentração de Al. As raízes de plantas de milho cultivadas em soluções com Al tiveram seu crescimento inibido e apresentaram menos raízes laterais e desenvolvimento do sistema radicular inferior, em comparação com as das plantas-controle. As folhas das plantas crescidas em soluções que continham 75 e 300 µmol L-1 de Al não apresentaram muita diferença anatômica em relação às das plantas-controle. A bainha da folha das plantas exposta ao Al apresentou epiderme uniestratificada revestida por uma fina camada de cutícula e as células da epiderme e do córtex foram as que menos se desenvolveram. No feixe vascular, o metaxilema e protoxilema não tinham paredes secundárias, e o diâmetro de ambos foi muito menor quando comparado com os das plantas-controle.

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the most limiting factors for productivity. This research was carried out to assess the influence of Al nutrient solution on plant height, dry weight and morphoanatomical alterations in corn (Zea mays L.) roots and leaves. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with five treatments consisting of Al doses (0, 25, 75, 150, and 300 µmol L-1) and six replications. The solutions were constantly aerated, and the pH was initially adjusted to 4.3. The shoot dry matter, root dry matter and plant height decreased significantly with increasing Al concentrations. Compared to the control plants, it was observed that the root growth of corn plants in Al solutions was inhibited, there were fewer lateral roots and the development of the root system reduced. The leaf anatomy of plants grown in solutions containing 75 and 300 µmol L-1 Al differed in few aspects from the control plants. The leaf sheaths of the plants exposed to Al had a uniseriate epidermis coated with a thin cuticle layer, and the cells of both the epidermis and the cortex were less developed. In the vascular bundle, the metaxylem and protoxylem had no secondary walls, and the diameter of both was much smaller than of the control plants.

INTRODUÇÃO: Operações cardíacas minimamente invasivas têm sido propostas como uma alternativa para a correção de diversas cardiopatias congênitas e adquiridas, com o intuito de reduzir a morbimortalidade. OBJETIVOS: Descrever a experiência inicial de dois anos com operações cardíacas minimamente invasivas, com ênfase nos aspectos técnicos e na curva de aprendizado. MÉTODOS: Entre julho de 2009 a março de 2012, 95 pacientes foram operados com técnicas minimamente invasivas. A média de idade foi de 55±15 anos e 53% pacientes eram do sexo feminino. As operações foram fechamento de comunicação interatrial (25), substituição valvar aórtica (32), plastia mitral (23), substituição valvar mitral (12), ressecção de mixoma de átrio esquerdo (2) e ressecção de membrana subaórtica (1). A incisão consistiu de minitoracotomia lateral direita em 87 casos e de miniesternotomia em oito. RESULTADOS: A mortalidade imediata foi de 4,2%, e o tamanho médio da incisão foi de 6,3 ± 1,2 cm. A extensão da toracotomia só foi necessária em um caso. Dois pacientes apresentaram acidente vascular cerebral, e a quantidade total de sangramento foi de 470 ± 277 ml. Nenhum paciente teve infecção de ferida operatória, e 67% dos casos não apresentaram morbidade pós-operatória significativa. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados iniciais com operações minimamente invasivas demonstraram que elas podem ser realizadas de forma segura e com resultados iniciais satisfatórios. O índice de satisfação dos pacientes foi elevado. Uma vez ultrapassada a curva de aprendizado, as operações minimamente invasivas podem ser uma excelente alternativa para muitos pacientes com cardiopatias valvares e congênitas.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive cardiovascular operations have been proposed as an alternative method to correct several cardiac congenital and acquired heart diseases, with the aim to reduce morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVES: Describe the two years initial experience with minimally invasive operations, with emphasis on technical aspects and the learning curve. METHODS: Between July 2009 and March 2012, 95 patients were operated using minimally invasive operations. Mean age was 55 ± 15 years and 53% were females. The operations performed were atrial septal defect closure (25), aortic valve replacement (32), mitral valve repair (23), mitral valve replacement (12), excision of atrial myxoma (2) and resection of subaortic membrane (1). The incision was a mini right thoracotomy in 87 cases and ministernotomy in 8. RESULTS: Early mortality was 4.2%. Mean size of the incision was 6.3 ±1.2 cm. Extension of the original thoracotomy was necessary in only one case. Two patients suffered a stroke, and the mean total blood loss was 470 ± 277 ml. There were no cases of incision infection and 67% the patients had no major morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial results with minimally invasive operations demonstrated that it was safe and with good clinical results. Patient satisfaction is quite high. After the learning phase has been transversed, minimally invasive operations may be an excellent alternative for many patients with congenital and acquired diseases.

OBJETIVO: Relatar o caso de uma criança com diagnóstico de síndrome do anticorpo antifosfolípide associada à trombocitopenia grave e realizar uma revisão de literatura sobre o assunto. DESCRIÇÃO DO CASO: Criança de nove anos e oito meses de idade com trombocitopenia grave associada a anticorpo anticardiolipina positivo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de anamnese, exame físico e exames complementares da paciente. O diagnóstico foi determinado de acordo com os critérios estabelecidos para a síndrome antifosfolípide, associados às manifestações mais comuns na faixa etária pediátrica: livedo reticular e trombocitopenia. COMENTÁRIOS: A síndrome do anticorpo antifosfolípide é uma doença incomum na população pediátrica e suas manifestações clínicas, com a redução do número de plaquetas, devem ser consideradas.

OBJECTIVE: To report the case of a child diagnosed with antiphospholipid syndrome associated with severe thrombocytopenia, and to review the literature on the subject. CASE DESCRIPTION: Child aged nine years and eight months old with severe thrombocytopenia associated with a positive anticardiolipin antibody. Data were collected by clinical history, physical examination, and laboratorial exams. Diagnosis was confirmed according to criteria established for the antiophospholipid syndrome, associated with the presence of the most common manifestations of the syndrome in children: livedo reticularis and thrombocytopenia. COMMENTS: The antiphospholipid syndrome is an uncommon pediatric disease, and clinical manifestations such as decreased platelet number should be considered.

OBJETIVO: Relatar el caso de un niño con diagnóstico de síndrome del anticuerpo antifosfolípido asociado a trombocitopenia grave y realizar una revisión de literatura sobre el tema. DESCRIPCIÓN DEL CASO: Niño de nueve años y ocho meses de edad, con trombocitopenia grave asociada a anticuerpo anticardiolipina positivo. Los datos fueron recogidos por medio de historia, examen físico y exámenes complementarios de la paciente internada en un hospital de Curitiba, en Paraná (Brasil). El diagnóstico fue determinado conforme a los criterios establecidos para el síndrome antifosfolípido, asociados a las manifestaciones más comunes en la franja de edad pediátrica: livedo recticular y trombocitopenia. COMENTARIOS: El síndrome del anticuerpo antifosfolípido es una enfermedad poco común en la población pediátrica, y su manifestación con reducción del número de plaquetas debe ser considerada.

OBJETIVO: Verificar o efeito da administração de tibolona no tecido ósseo cortical e trabecular de ratas castradas através de radiografia computadorizada. MÉTODOS: O experimento foi realizado em dois grupos de ratas previamente ooforectomizadas, onde um grupo recebeu tibolona (OVX+T) e o outro não (OVX). Esses grupos foram comparados a um grupo controle (C) não ooforectomizado. A administração de tibolona (1mg/dia) começou trinta dias após a ooforectomia e o tratamento teve duração de cinco meses. No final, os animais foram mortos e fêmures e tibias coletados. As radiografias computadorizadas dos ossos foram obtidas e as imagens digitais usadas para determinar a densidade óssea e a espessura cortical em todos os grupos. Todos os resultados foram avaliados estatisticamente com significância estabelecida a 5%. RESULTADOS: A administração de tibolona mostrou ser benéfica apenas para análise densitométrica da cabeça do fêmur, apresentando maiores valores de densidade comparada ao grupo OVX. Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada para espessura óssea cortical. CONCLUSÃO: A ooforectomia ocasionou perda óssea nas regiões analisadas e a tibolona administrada, em dose elevada e durante um longo período, mostrou não ser totalmente benéfica, porém preservou a massa óssea na cabeça femoral.

PURPOSE: To verify the effects of tibolone administration on trabecular and cortical bone of ovariectomized female rats by computed radiography system (CRS). METHODS: The experiment was performed on two groups of rats previously ovariectomized, one received tibolone (OVX+T) while the other did not (OVX), those groups were compared to a control group (C) not ovariectomized. Tibolone administration (1mg/day) began thirty days after the ovariectomy and the treatment remained for five months. At last, the animals were euthanized and femurs and tibias collected. Computed radiographies of the bones were obtained and the digital images were used to determine the bone optical density and cortical thickness on every group. All results were statistically evaluated with significance set at P<0.05%. RESULTS: Tibolone administration was shown to be beneficial only in the densitometric analysis of the femoral head, performing higher optical density compared to OVX. No difference was found in cortical bone thickness. CONCLUSION: Ovariectomy caused bone loss in the analyzed regions and tibolone administered in high doses over a long period showed not to be fully beneficial, but preserved bone mass in the femoral head.