ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to examine whether different types of litter (New, used, and mixed) and alum could interfere in litter quality, thereby also influencing the productive performance of laying hens. A total number of 450 Inshas chickens aged 24 weeks were randomly distributed into six groups (5 replicates, each with 15 hens) of floor litter. The groups included (G1) new wheat straw litter, (G2) used wheat straw litter, (G3) mixed wheat straw litter (50% new+50% used) and (4, 5 and 6) the same litter types in groups 1, 2 and 3 supplied with 500g of alum /m2 litter. The experiment lasted 16 weeks. Laying hens productive parameters, blood parameters, carcass parameters, respiratory rate, coliform count and pH, as well as ammonia emission, litter quality were assessed. The results showed that the litter type significantly affects the level of ammonia emission, litter characteristics, carcass characteristics, intestinal pH and coliform count, blood characteristics (T3, cholesterol, uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulin, hemoglobin, and PCV), as well as the body weight gain. In general, we found that reused litter followed by the mixed litter without added alum resulted in the lowest efficiency on the studied traits, as compared to the same types of litter treated with alum and the new litter. We therefore conclude that the addition of alum reduces ammonia emission and improves the characteristics of the litter, which is reflected in enhancement of productive performance and properties of blood and carcass.

ABSTRACT This study was planned to examine the effect of silymarin on diminishing adverse effects of ochratoxin-A (OTA) in laying hens. A total number of 300 Inshas, local layer hens of 28 weeks of age were randomly distributed into 4 groups with 5 replicates each (15 hens). The birds were fed on the following treatments, (Control): fed a hen diet without any supplementation; (SL): fed the control diet supplemented with SL (1000 mg/kg feed); (OTA-diet): was fed the control diet contaminated with 1 ppm of OTA/kg diet, and (OTA+SL): fed the OTA-diet plus SL (1ppm OTA+1000 mg SL/kg feed). Results showed that feeding OTA at 1 ppm reduced productive performance compared with those fed the control diet. In OTA treated groups the total erythrocytes count, leukocytes count, PCV and Hb were decreased when compared to the control and SL groups. Albumin, globulin and serum total proteins in OTA treated groups were significantly lower when compared to the control and SL groups. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly increased in OTA fed groups in comparison with the control and SL groups. Creatinine and uric acid were increased in OTA treated groups but were almost normal in the SL group. The results showed that OTA had a severe effect on liver and kidney, but SL treated group had normal liver and kidneys showing its hepatoprotective effects.

ABSTRACT A study was conducted to investigate the influence of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPS) and inorganic selenium supplementation in the drinking water on behavior, performance, and immunity of Arbor Acres® and Ross®308 broilers exposed to E. coli O157:H7 1.6 × 108 challenge at the 10th day of age. 180 one-day-old female broilers were divided into six groups, each with 30 chicks. G1 and G4 were supplied with 1 mL SeNPS 100 mg.L-1/L, G2 and G5 were supplied with 1 mL inorganic selenium 100 mg.L-1/L, and G3 and G6 were supplied with non-supplemented water. Where, G1, G2, and G3 were Arbor Acres®, while G4, G5, and G6 were Ross®308 broilers. A total of 1280 samples (160 sera, 160 intestinal swabs and 960 organ samples including liver, spleen, bursa, heart, breast muscles, and thymus) were collected in a study period of 38 days. A highly significant increase (p<0.01) of weight gain, feed conversion, performance index, total protein, albumin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, immunoglobulin G and M, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase was recorded in G4 Ross®308 compared to other supplemented and control groups. G1 Arbor Acres® and G4 Ross®308 broilers, also revealed a highly significant decline (p<0.01) in total bacterial and enterobacteriaceae counts of intestine and breast muscles compared to G2 Arbor Acres® and G5 Ross®308 broilers and to controls. Photomicrographs revealed a higher degree of cellular and tissue protection in G4 and G5 Ross®308 compared to G1 and G2 Arbor Acres® broilers. An improvement from SeNPS supplementation was detected on behavior, performance, bacterial load, immunological, antioxidant profiles, and tissue architecture in broilers breeds with special reference to Ross®308 compared to Arbor Acres® broilers.

The application of the Augmented Reality (AR) had been scarce on the teaching on the university level, that's why our goal is create AR models for its use tools in the study of chemicals compounds (coordination compounds, proteins, drugs …), orbitals and crystalline structures, and probe its application in two courses of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical studies on the Universidad de Oriente during the course 2015-16. The AR models were presented with Aumentaty 1.3 and Blender 2.7 was the tridimensional creation program. The primary sources of the models were created on Blender, as geometrical experimental data from databases as Cambridge´s WebCSD or calculated using Hyperchem 8.0.5. The AR models were used on Inorganic Chemistry II and Medicinal Chemistry I, the results of the experiment are discuss through the statistical analysis of a survey applied to the students.

El objetivo del trabajo es crear objetos en Realidad Aumentada (RA) que se apliquen como medios de enseñanza en el estudio de compuestos químicos (complejos, proteínas, medicamentos), orbitales y estructuras cristalinas, y validar su aplicación en dos asignaturas de las carreras de Química y Farmacia en la Universidad de Oriente durante el curso 2015-16. Los objetos en RA se representan empleando el programa Augmentaty 1.3 que importa del programa Blender 2.7 las estructuras tridimensionales de los objetos. Las fuentes primarias para hacer la representación en RA fueron estructuras del propio programa Blender, así como datos geométricos experimentales tomados de la base de datos de Cambridge (WebCSD) o calculados por el programa Hyperchem 8.0.5. Se implementó su uso en las asignaturas Química Inorgánica II y Química Medicinal I, los resultados de su aplicación se discuten a partir del análisis de encuestas aplicadas a alumnos que participaron en el experimento pedagógico.

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a percepção subjetiva do esforço (PSE), resposta afetiva (RA) e pressão arterial pós-exercício em sessão aguda de Tai Chi Chuan (TCC). Vinte e quatro mulheres (47-79 anos; 9 normotensas e 15 hipertensas) foram submetidas a uma sessão de TCC e uma sessão controle (delineamento cruzado). A PSE foi avaliada pela escala de Borg (CR10), a RA pela escala de valência afetiva (+5/-5) e a pressão arterial (PA) pelo método oscilométrico (5, 10, 25, 20, 25 e 30 min pós-sessão). Redução significante da PA sistólica foi identificada aos 20 e 25 min após a sessão de TCC somente nas hipertensas. Os valores de RA e PSE foram +2,8 ± 1,9 e 3,5 ± 1,2, respectivamente. Os resultados sugerem que uma sessão de TCC de intensidade moderada foi prazerosa para as voluntárias (hipertensas e normotensas), embora tenha induzido discreto efeito hipotensor agudo na PA sistólica somente das hipertensas.

The aim of the study was to analyze the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), affective response (AR), and blood pressure (BP) post-exercise in acute Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) session. Twenty-four women (47-79 years; 9 normotensive and 15 hypertensive) performed one TCC and one control session (cross-over design). The RPE was assessed using the Borg's scale (CR10), the AR was assessed by the Feeling Scale (+5/-5) and the BP by the oscillometric method (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30min post-TCC session). A significant systolic BP reduction was observed in the 20 and 25min post-TCC session only in the hypertensive women. The AR and RPE values were +2.8 ± 1.9 e 3.5 ± 1.2, respectively. The results suggest that a moderate TCC exercise bout was pleasurable for the volunteers (normotensive and hypertensive), although it has induced a slight acute hypotensive effect on the systolic BP only in the hypertensive women.