ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exogenous amylase on gas production, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and in vitro digestion kinetics of sorghum (Sorghum vulgaris) and two corn hybrids of different grain textures. Ruminal fluid was collected from two rumen-fistulated cows receiving or not exogenous amylase (0.7g kg-1 of dry matter (DM basis)), provided to achieve 396 kilo Novo units kg-1 for amylase activity (DM basis). Gas production was measured after 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36, 42 e 48 hours of incubation. Amylase increased gas production (mL) by 5.4%. Corn hybrids have higher in vitro dry matter digestibility than sorghum. Exogenous amylase increased the potential of gas production (A) (P=0.01). There was an effect of hybrid for IVDMD (P<0.01). The addition of exogenous amylase increases the in vitro gas production, improves fermentation kinetics, and increases the production of the ammonia nitrogen of corn and sorghum grains, but does not affect in vitro and dry matter digestibility or the short-chain fatty acids production.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da amilase exógena na produção de gases, a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) e a cinética de digestão in vitro de sorgo (Sorghum vulgaris) e de dois híbridos de milho de diferentes texturas de grãos. O líquido ruminal foi coletado de duas vacas fistuladas no rúmen recebendo ou não amilase exógena (0,7g kg-1 de matéria seca (MS)), fornecida para atingir 396 kg Novo unidades kg-1 para atividade de amilase (base na MS). A produção de gás foi medida após uma, três, seis, nove, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24, 30, 36, 42 e 48 horas de incubação. A amilase aumentou a produção de gás (mL) em 5,4%. Híbridos de milho apresentam maior DIVMS que o sorgo. A amilase exógena aumentou o potencial de produção de gás (A) (P=0,01). Houve efeito de híbrido para DIVMS (P<0,01). Amilase exógena aumenta a produção de gás in vitro, melhora a cinética da fermentação e aumenta a produção de nitrogênio amoniacal de grãos de milho e sorgo, mas não afeta a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca ou a produção de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta.

ABSTRACT The use of agroindustrial byproducts in cattle diets, such as castor-bean (Ricinus communis L.) meal, is a more sustainable practice because it does not compete with human food and reduces the volume of organic waste deposited in the environment. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of replacing soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) meal with castor-bean meal on the intake, digestibility, feeding behavior and performance of crossbred steers supplemented while on Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster ‘Marandu’ pasture. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete design with 40 animals, which started the experiment weighing 227.1 kg, at 10 mo of age, and were divided into four treatment groups. Castor-bean meal was added to replace soybean meal at the levels of 0, 90, 180, and 280 g kg-1 in the supplement, which was supplied at the rate of 0.4% of body weight. Total DM, pasture DM and neutral detergent fiber intakes did not change (P > 0.05) with the castor-bean levels added to the supplement. Ether extract intake and digestibility decreased linearly (P < 0.05). The animals showed no differences (P > 0.05) in production performance (average daily gain), which averaged 0.65 kg d-1. Grazing, idle, and rumination times were not influenced (P > 0.05) by the treatments. Castor-bean meal can be included up to 280 g kg-1 in the total diet without changing the performance of crossbred steers finished on tropical pasture.

ABSTRACT: Short-term grazing behavior variables are sensitive to the canopy structure and have an impact on daily forage intake. This study evaluated the effect of pre- and post-grazing canopy heights on the forage harvesting process at a patch scale in a mixture of Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) Stapf. syn. Urochloa brizantha R.D. Webster cv. Marandu (palisade grass) and Arachis pintoi Krapov. & W.C. Greg. cv. Belomonte (forage peanut). Treatments were allocated to a split-plot arrangement in a completely randomized design. The plots, in their entirety, consisted of two pre-grazing canopy heights: 25 cm (CH25) and 35 cm (CH35); subplots consisted of three levels of defoliation severity: no defoliation (DS0); 20% depletion of pre-grazing canopy height (DS20); and 40% depletion of pre-grazing canopy height (DS40), with eight replications. Heifers were allowed to graze the patches (0.7 × 0.7 m) and their grazing behavior was recorded. Canopy structure measurements were taken both before and after grazing. Patches from CH35 presented greater stem mass for grass (p = 0.001) and legume (p = 0.002) than did patches from CH25. Bite rate, bite mass and instantaneous intake rate were greater for CH25 than for CH35 (p < 0.001, p = 0.068, and p = 0.074), and bite mass and instantaneous intake rate were lower for DS20 compared to DS0 (p = 0.032 and p = 0.016). Greater stem mass in the grazing strata negatively influenced the instantaneous intake rate.

RESUMO Grande parte dos procedimentos numéricos para obter a trajetória de equilíbrio ou curva força-deslocamento de problemas estruturais com comportamento não-linear é baseado no esquema iterativo de Newton-Raphson ao qual são acoplados métodos de continuação. Este artigo apresenta novos algoritmos fundamentados nos métodos de Potra-Pták, Chebyshev e super-Halley, associados ao método de continuação Comprimento de Arco Linear. A principal motivação para utilizar tais métodos é a convergência de ordem cúbica. Para elucidar o potencial de nossa abordagem são apresentadas análises de problemas de treliças planas e espaciais com a não-linearidade geométrica encontrados na literatura. Nessa direção, o Método de Elementos Finitos Posicional é utilizado, cuja abordagem considera as coordenadas nodais como varíaveis do sistema não-linear ao invés dos deslocamentos. Os resultados numéricos das simulações mostram a capacidade do código computacional desenvolvido em obter o caminho de equilíbrio com pontos limites de força e deslocamento. Os métodos iterativos implementados exibem melhor eficiência quanto aos números de passos de força e iterações acumuladas necessárias até a convergência para a solução e o tempo de processamento, em comparação com os métodos clássicos de Newton-Raphson e Newton-Raphson Modificado.

ABSTRACT A large part of the numerical procedures for obtaining the equilibrium path or load-displacement curve of structural problems with nonlinear behavior is based on the Newton-Raphson iterative scheme, to which is coupled the path-following methods. This paper presents new algorithms based on Potra-Pták, Chebyshev and super-Halley methods combined with the Linear Arc-Length path-following method. The main motivation for using these methods is the cubic order convergence. To elucidate the potential of our approach, we present an analysis of space and plane trusses problems with geometric nonlinearity found in the literature. In this direction, we will make use of the Positional Finite Element Method, which considers the nodal coordinates as variables of the nonlinear system instead of displacements. The numerical results of the simulations show the capacity of the computational algorithm developed to obtain the equilibrium path with force and displacement limits points. The implemented iterative methods exhibit better efficiency as the number of time steps and necessary accumulated iterations until convergence and processing time, in comparison with classic methods of Newton-Raphson and Modified Newton-Raphson.

Este estudo teve por objetivo conhecer o perfil dos pacientes em tratamento contra o câncer da Unidade Oncológica de Anápolis quanto ao uso de plantas medicinais. Foram entrevistados 59 pacientes (42,12% da população estudada) por meio de questionários avaliativos enfatizando características sócio-demográficas e dados referentes à utilização de plantas medicinais. Evidenciou-se o uso indiscriminado de plantas medicinais entre os pacientes. A maioria dos entrevistados compartilha a opinião errônea de que plantas medicinais não fazem mal. A orientação sobre a forma de utilização das plantas ocorre, principalmente, pela informação de familiares ou amigos, e os profissionais da saúde muitas vezes são ignorados neste processo. Constatou-se que as plantas medicinais são utilizadas para o tratamento de enfermidades de baixa a alta gravidade, como o câncer. Dentre as 14 espécies usadas pelos pacientes com finalidade antineoplásica as mais mencionadas foram as popularmente conhecidas como noni, babosa, graviola e romã. Apesar de alguns estudos relatarem atividade antineoplásica ou quimiopreventiva para algumas espécies vegetais, muitas delas podem ser tóxicas ou apresentar potencial risco quando usadas concomitantemente ao tratamento convencional. Desta forma, observa-se que é preciso mais profissionais especializados para orientação sobre o risco de reações adversas e interações medicamentosas no que se refere ao uso de espécies vegetais e a terapêutica do câncer.

This study aims to survey the profile ofcancer patients in the Oncology Unit of Anápolis in relation to the use of medicinal plants. To evaluate socio-demographic characteristics and to retrieve data about on the use of medicinal plants, a questionnaire was filled by 59 patients, or 42.12% of the population under study. A widespread use of plants was found. Most of patients share the wrong idea that medicinal plants are not harmful. Guidance on the use of medicinal plants is given primarily by relatives and friends, and health professional are often ignored in this process. Among the 14 species used by patients with antineoplastic purpose, the most mentioned were popularly species known as "noni", "aloe", "soursop" and "pomegranate". Although some studies have reported chemopreventive or antineoplastic activity for some plant species, many may be toxic or show potential risk when used concurrently with conventional treatment. Thus, we can observe that there is a need for more specialized professionals for the guidance on the risk of adverse reactions and drug interactions in relation to the use of plant species and cancer therapeutics.