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Introduction: Rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) dosing strategies for induction in pediatric kidney transplantation vary between centers. It is not known whether a lower rATG induction dose provides safe and effective immunosuppression compared with a “standard” higher dose. Methods: We performed a retrospective multicenter study of all isolated first-time kidney transplant recipients 4.5 mg/kg) exposure groups. Outcomes examined included 12 months posttransplant graft function (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR]); the occurrence of acute rejection, donor-specific antibody (DSA), neutropenia, and viral infection (cytomegalovirus [CMV], Epstein-Barr virus [EBV], and BK virus); and 24-month outcomes of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) occurrence and patient and graft survival. Results: Two hundred thirty-five patients were included. Baseline features of the low and standard rATG dose groups were similar. By 12 months, the rATG dose group had no significant impact on the occurrence of neutropenia, positive DSA, or viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Graft function was similar. Acute rejection rates were similar at 17% (low dose) versus 19% (standard dose) (P = 0.13). By 24 months, graft survival (96.4% vs. 94.6%) and patient survival (100% vs. 99.3%) were similar between the low- and standard-dose groups (P = 0.54 and 0.46), whereas the occurrence of PTLD trended higher in the standard-dose group (0% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.07). Conclusion: A low rATG induction dose ≤ 4.5 mg/kg provided safe and effective outcomes in this multicenter low immunologic risk pediatric cohort. Prospective studies are warranted to define the optimal rATG induction dose in pediatric kidney transplantation.

Introduction: The 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Clinical Practice Guidelines for Glomerulonephritis recommend that patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) at risk for progression receive immunosuppressive therapy (IST), usually after 6 months of observation. A cyclophosphamide (CYC) or calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)–based regimen is recommended as first-line IST. However, the extent to which KDIGO recommendations are adopted in practice remains largely unknown. Methods: We evaluated prescribing practice among patients with primary MN (diagnosed 2010–2018) enrolled in the Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network (CureGN) cohort study. We also evaluated the availability of testing for phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in the contemporary era. Results: Among 361 patients (324 adults and 37 children) with MN who were IST-naïve at biopsy and had at least 6 months of follow-up, 55% of adults and 58% of children initiated IST

Background: Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) are at high risk for vaccine-preventable infections due to the immunological effects from the disease and concurrent treatment with immunosuppressive medications. Immunizations in these patients may be deferred due to their immunosuppressive treatment which may increase the risk for vaccine-preventable infections. Immunization practices in children with NS continue to vary among pediatric nephrologists. This raises the question of whether children with NS are receiving the recommended vaccinations at appropriate times. Therefore, it is critical to understand the practices and patient education provided by physicians to patients on the topic of vaccinations.Methods: After informed consent, parents/guardians of 153 pediatric patients (

Background. There is no consensus on rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) dose used for induction immunosuppression in pediatric kidney transplants. We aimed to identify whether a lower rATG dose provides safe and effective immunosuppression compared with a higher dose. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed all first-time kidney transplant recipients (aged

Background Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with chronic kidney disease. We sought to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in children with glomerular disease and to describe current practice patterns regarding risk factor identification and management. Methods and Results Seven‐hundred sixty‐one children aged 0 to 17 years with any of 4 biopsy‐confirmed primary glomerular diseases (minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, and IgA nephropathy/vasculitis) were enrolled at a median of 16 months from glomerular disease diagnosis in the multicenter prospective Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network study. Prevalence of traditional (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity) and novel (proteinuria, prematurity, and passive smoke exposure) cardiovascular risk factors were determined at enrollment and compared across glomerular disease subtypes. Frequency of screening for dyslipidemia and prescribing of lipid‐lowering or antihypertensive medications were compared across glomerular disease subtype, steroid exposure, and remission status groups. Compared with the general population, all traditional risk factors were more frequent: among those screened, 21% had hypertension, 51% were overweight or obese, and 71% had dyslipidemia. Children who were not in remission at enrollment were more likely to have hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Fourteen percent of hypertensive children were not receiving antihypertensives. Only 49% underwent screening for dyslipidemia and only 9% of those with confirmed dyslipidemia received lipid‐lowering medications. Conclusions Children with primary glomerular diseases exhibit a high frequency of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, particularly untreated dyslipidemia. Lipid panels should be routinely measured to better define the burden of dyslipidemia in this population. Current approaches to screening for and treating cardiovascular risk factors are not uniform, highlighting a need for evidence‐based, disease‐specific guidelines.

ABSTRACT: Dietary supplementation with plant-based products may arise as part of an alternative strategy to using antibiotics as growth promoters in the poultry industry. Garlic powder (GP) possesses antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. The aim was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of GP on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of the Japanese quail. A total of 240, day-old mixed gender Japanese quail were assigned to 4 treatment groups, each group being replicated 4 times and containing 15 birds in each replication. Birds were provided with either a basal diet (control) or basal diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1% and 2% GP for 5 wk. At slaughter age, birds fed 1% GP had higher (P < 0.05) live weight and body weight gain when compared to the control. Supplementation with different levels of GP had no influence (P > 0.05) on feed intake, feed conversion ratio except 3rd wk, carcass traits and abdominal fat. Thiobarbituric acid, peroxide and pH values in breast meat of birds receiving GP (1% or 2%) after storage (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 d) were lower (P < 0.05) than the birds in control. Furthermore, total psychrophilic bacteria count was lower in breast meat of birds supplemented with GP at any dose compared to the birds of control. Sensory characteristics such as color, aroma, juiciness and tenderness were observed significantly better (P < 0.05) in GP supplemented groups especially when fed 1% GP. In conclusion, supplementing the diet with 1% to 2% GP demonstrated growth-promoting effects and positively impacted meat quality, including sensory characteristics.

Antimicrobials long been used to enhance the performance and immunity of rabbits, typically by adding them to feed or drinking water to prevent illness. However, increasing consumer concerns about antibiotic-resistant microorganisms have led to a shift toward natural, eco-friendly, non-antibiotic feed supplements that can improve rabbit health and productivity. Recently, aromatic herbs and their extracts have gained considerable attention as natural antioxidants with growth-promoting and health-boosting properties. Essential oils and secondary metabolites play a central role in these effects, with Origanum vulgare (oregano) emerging as a standout option. Compared to synthetic alternatives, oregano is a natural, residue-free feed supplement with fewer harmful side effects. Its key bioactive components, thymol and carvacrol, have been shown to deliver significant benefits when incorporated into rabbit diets, particularly in improving production performance, immunity, and antioxidant capacity. Supplementing rabbit diets and drinking water with oregano essential oil (OEO) has been found to enhance growth performance, feed efficiency, and meat quality, while also lowering cholesterol levels and boosting antioxidant activity. Despite these promising results, research on the use of oregano in rabbit farming remains limited. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the potential effect of oregano supplements, on growth parameters, carcass and meat quality, hemato-biochemical parameters, antioxidant capacity, immunity response, gut health, and gene expression in rabbits.

Pet nutrition awareness has risen enormously, with an increasing interest in homemade diets aimed at controlling food composition. The literature in this field is scarce, especially regarding the homemade diet’s long-term effects on pathological conditions. This prospective study encompassed 167 healthy and sick dogs subjected to a customized dietary plan based on homemade food. After an initial visit, dog owners provided questionnaires with follow-up data on their perceptions of physical sign changes or symptom modifications. A total of 104 (62%) subjects maintained the homemade diet, while 63 reverted to their previous diet. The median follow-up was 14 months. Out of 31 healthy dogs that continued the nutritional plan, 70% exhibited improvements in their coat condition and 47% a decrease in evacuation frequency. Regarding weight loss goals, 67% of dogs achieved their target. The 67 pathological dogs that completed the follow-up were primarily affected by gastrointestinal and dermatological disorders. Dogs with chronic enteropathy improved their symptoms in 95% of the cases, subjects with dermatological pathologies in 83%, and patients presenting both disorders in 100%. These clinical results are promising. Personalized and well-balanced homemade diets noticeably enhanced the overall pet’s health, with an almost complete remission of symptoms in pathological dogs.

This research examines Ahmad Hassan's thoughts regarding the fadailul amal hadith in the Soal-Jawab book. This research uses a qualitative approach. In data mining, a library research type is used by tracing various written sources to obtain other supporting data. Data analysis in this research uses the content analysis method by discussing in depth the content of information from the data collected following the research objectives and problems. The research results found that Ahmad Hassan, in principle, accepts the existence of the fadailul amal hadith. However, efforts to practice it must still be based on the criteria of maqbul hadith (sahih and hasan). As for the fadailul amal hadith, which falls within the dhaif level, Ahmad Hasan rejects its use as the sole source of law. The dhaif fadailul amal hadith only to complement the act of worship, which has a legal basis in the Koran or other maqbul hadiths. Keywords:Ahmad Hassan; Fadailul Amal;The validity of Hadith;Soal-Jawab Book

Dog sledding is the main discipline of working dogs on snow, consisting of a team of dogs pulling a sled under the guidance of the owner. To carry out this sport, dogs must have adequate nutrition and vitamin and antioxidant supplementation to ensure that the physical effort is optimal. The present study evaluated the effect that sporting activity and stress have on the canine intestinal microbiota by dividing the dogs into two groups: a control group that did not take any nutraceutical products and the treated group to which a nutraceutical product was administered. The nutraceutical administered in this study is used in all cases of canine intestinal dysbiosis in which it is essential to quickly restore a balanced intestinal microbiota. The results obtained show that in dogs not taking the nutraceutical, there is an increase in bacteria, such as Streptococcus spp. and E. coli, considered enteropathogenic to the detriment of beneficial bacterial species such as Faecalibacterium spp., Turicibacter spp., Blautia spp., Fusobacterium spp., and Clostridium hiranonis. Instead, the group of dogs treated with nutraceutical displays a lower amount of enteropathogenic bacteria and a great increase in the other bacterial species considered beneficial for the animal’s health. The results obtained in the present study show that Microbiotal cane® can be used in dogs subject to intense sporting activity by preventing severe alterations at intestinal ecosystem levels by maintaining intestinal bacterial composition as balanced as possible.

Summary: It is widely acknowledged that a successful clean-energy transition is instrumental to climate change mitigation. However, clean-energy researchers and engineers rarely address the degree to which the success and consequences of the transition depend on its incorporation of equity and justice principles. In this review, we draw on inter-related literatures to discuss failures resulting from equity-myopic approaches to clean-energy research, development, demonstration, deployment, dispatch, and disposal (R&D5) and explore opportunities, tools, and frameworks for energy practitioners to employ when attempting to incorporate justice into their work. We find that opportunities to incorporate energy justice are greatest at the earliest stages of the R&D5 continuum. As inequities persist into later stages of R&D5, they may lead to maladaptive technology development and the inequitable impacts thereof. We thereby articulate how embedding principles of energy justice throughout R&D5 not only enables a successful clean-energy transition but also ensures that the transition is sustainable.

Cows experience many physiological, nutritional and social changes during transition period. This study aims to evaluate the differences in nutrients total-tract digestibility (nTTD) between primiparous (PP) and multiparous (MP) cows through the transition period. From -23, -5, 0, 7, 14, and 30 days from calving a sample of feed and feces samples were collected from 25 Holstein cows (11 PP and 14 MP) as well as daily rumination time through accelerometers.The results show that average nTTD were different (p ≤ 0.02) for amylase-treated neutral detergent fiber organic matter (aNDFom) and potentially digestible neutral detergent fiber (pdNDF240; 52.5 vs. 54.0 and 78.8 vs. 81.3, respectively in PP vs. MP), while no differences were found regarding pdNDF24 and starch (88.5 vs. 88.6 and 95.1 vs. 96.1, respectively in PP vs. MP). Total-tract starch digestibility (TTstarchD) was different among timepoints (p

This study intends to analyze how the students perceive the emancipated learning program's (MBKM) policies, how lecturers react to the program's implementation, and how ready the study program is to implement the emancipated learning program (MBKM). This study used a quantitative descriptive method with survey data collection techniques. The instrument used in this study is a questionnaire comprising 19 statements for students, 11 statements for lecturers, and 13 statements for study program leaders. The subject of this study consisted of 98 students, 53 lecturers, and 27 study program leaders. The collected data were then analyzed with data reduction, description, analysis, and conclusion. The results of this study showed that the level of knowledge of students (92%) who participated in the emancipated learning program (MBKM) and lecturers (90%) were good; Students' interest in participating in the emancipated learning program (MBKM) was also high (98%); emancipated learning program (MBKM) for students and lecturers is very useful (90%); the involvement of lecturers in implementing the emancipated learning program (MBKM) was quite high (68%); the curriculum of the study program that supported emancipated learning program (MBKM) following Permendikbud Number 3 of 2020 was not fully completed (48.1%); and there were still study programs (15%) that do not have an MoU or MoA in implementing the emancipated learning program (MBKM).

Abstract Background Evaluating the prevalence of vancomycin resistance genes (van genes) in enterococcal isolates from food‐producing animals is an important public health issue because of the possibility of resistance genes spread to human. Objectives The present study aimed to determine the occurrence of vancomycin resistance genes among Enterococcus species obtained from ostrich faecal samples. Methods One hundred and twenty‐five faecal samples of apparently healthy ostriches from five different farms were investigated. Genes encoding vancomycin resistance were studied by multiplex‐PCR, and susceptibility to six antibiotics was evaluated by disk‐diffusion method. Results In total, 107 Enterococcus spp. isolates were obtained and confirmed by biochemical and molecular tests. Enterococcus faecium was the prevailing species (56 isolates of 107; 52.3%), followed by E. hirae (24 isolates; 22.4%) and E. gallinarum (12 isolates; 11.2%). Of the 107 recovered isolates, 44% harboured at least a type of van genes. vanA, vanC2/3 and vanC1 were identified in 34 (31.7%), 13 isolates (12.1%) and 4 (3.7%) isolates respectively. Additionally, four isolates (E. gallinarum, E. rafinosus) co‐harboured the the vanA and vanC1 or vanA and vanC2/3. Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus hirae strains with the vanA genotype were the most frequent van‐carrying enterococci from ostrich faecal samples. Among van‐carrying enterococcal isolates, 23.4% were phenotypically resistant to vancomycin. This study revealed a relatively high prevalence (44%) of van‐carrying enterococci in ostrich faecal samples. Conclusions Results of the present study suggest that ostrich faeces could be considered as a reservoir of vancomycin resistance genes, especially vanA containing enterococci that could be potentially transferred to human through the food chain.

This community service aimed to introduce the utilization of Flipgrid in learning English speaking skill for EFL teachers. There were 31 EFL teachers that consisted of 22 female teachers and 9 male teachers who participated in this activity. The method used in this activity was a training which discussed the concept of Flipgrid application and demonstrated it for the practice of speaking skill. The instruments used were questionnaire and semi-structure interview. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive analysis to provide mean and standard deviation for the questionnaire data and with qualitative analysis for interview data. The result of this activity showed that the materials of the training were suitable with EFL teachers’ need in enhancing English speaking learning activity at schools. In addition, all the EFL students had positive perceptions on the use of Flipgrid in increasing the quality of speaking skill as Flipgrid was easy to operate and access as well as it was useful for any modes of learning situations. It is thus recommended that Flipgrid be good to use by EFL teachers for the students’ English-speaking practice.

In the literature, there are several studies showing the effects of different probiotic administrations in dogs, while there is limited information about their effects in cats. Furthermore, there are no studies that examined the effects of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus reuteri on cats’ welfare, especially considering a specific breed. In this study, the effects of L. reuteri NBF 2 DSM 32264 on body weight, body condition score (BCS), and fecal parameters (fecal score and fecal moisture) of healthy Persian cats were assessed; additionally, a microbiological analysis was carried out to quantify bacterial species like Escherichia coli (for the total coliform count) and Lactobacilli. The administration of L. reuteri NBF 2 DSM 32264 showed no alteration in the body weight and body condition score of Persian cats. The fecal moisture decreased at the end of the study and the values of fecal score were improved. Moreover, at the end of the study period, an increase in Lactobacilli (p > 0.001) was observed. The data collected report the ability of L. reuteri NBF 2 DSM 32264 to improve fecal quality parameters in healthy adult Persian cats, leading to an increase in Lactobacilli and a reduction in total coliforms.

Effective corporate governance is fundamental, providing the strategic oversight and accountability required for Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to function transparently and ethically. This paper explores the critical interplay between corporate governance, organizational sustainability and economic viability in improving the effectiveness of NGOs, particularly in the elderly care sector. A qualitative interpretive research methodology was adopted, involving in-depth interviews with the top management of 10 Malaysian elderly care centres of NGOs operating in Klang Valley area. The findings revealed the majority of NGOs perceived corporate governance as a necessary pillar for sustainable NGOs. By identifying how robust governance frameworks influence organizational practices and economic sustainability, this study demonstrates the synergistic relationship that allows NGOs to establish long-term social impact. Therefore, a recommendation plan has been proposed. A comprehensive model that incorporated corporate governance and organizational sustainability has developed and comprising all the factors that are relevant for elderly care centres of Malaysian NGOs. The findings of the study suggest that integrating these elements not only improves organizational resilience but also build donor trust and community support, resulting to more effective and sustainable NGOs operations. This study will benefit the board of NGOs and policymakers to strengthen governance system in Malaysia.

The paper presents an overview of the usage of Instagram as a social media platform for teaching and engagement in the field of dairy cow nutrition and management. Our Instagram content, which includes posts, stories, hashtags, reels, and live videos, aims to educate and engage our followers and covers a wide range of topics, including research updates, student activities, and information on dairy cow health and welfare. This approach to education allows us to reach a larger audience while also providing a forum for interaction and discussion on essential dairy cow nutrition concerns.

Abstract: The paradigm of collaborative health care delivery drove the development of interprofessional competency frameworks (ICFs). The Train4Health project, funded by the Erasmus+ program, aims to improve healthcare students’ competencies in behaviour change support to optimize self-care in chronic diseases. As part of this project, we surveyed the landscape of ICFs in health. Our aim was to characterize ICFs in health and its translation into learning outcomes embedded in academic curricula. An integrative review was conducted between March and September 2020 based on a predefined protocol. The search was performed in EBSCO, B-On, Scopus, Web of Science and Joanna Briggs Institute databases. Four articles were eligible, describing ICFs in different domains in health, such as digital healthcare environment, simulation and genetic healthcare. Generally, ICFs were planned and developed by a committee. Students were involved in all four ICFs. These frameworks supported the development of learning outcomes-based curricula, organized in a tiered or straightforward structure, with different learning outcomes depending on their complexity and specialization level. Despite the overlap in some areas across health professions, we found only four ICFs that can guide collaborative education and are linked to learning outcomes. Pursuing this integrated approach, ideally resorting to structured scientific methods, may facilitate competencies attainment and merits further attention.

Hay-based diets are typically used in Parmigiano Reggiano cheese production. Parmigiano Reggiano feeding regulation prohibits 00-rapeseed dietary inclusion. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of substituting soybean-meal with different levels of 00-rapeseed-meal in dairy cows’ diets, to evaluate the possibility to include it in Parmigiano Reggiano regulation. The study had a Latin square design with 8 tie stall dairy cows. The isoenergetic and isoproteic dietary treatments differed in protein source (% of DM): S (0.0% 00-rapeseed-meal, 9.3% of soybean-meal), LR (3.8% 00-rapeseed-meal, 6.8% of soybean-meal), MR (8.5% 00-rapeseed-meal, 3.4% of soybean-meal), and HR (13.2% 00-rapeseed-meal, 0.0% of soybean-meal). DMI, milk production and composition, rumination and reticular-pH were recorded daily. Dietary fibre digestibility was evaluated by in vitro fermentation and milk gointrin content was quantified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis was performed by mixed model. Milk yield, protein and casein content increased for incremental 00-rapeseed-meal dietary levels. MR treatment compared to the others resulted in higher daily reticular-pH (5.92), and fewer minutes with pH below 5.8 (467) and 5.5 (72). Goitrin was detectable in milk when 00-rapeseed-meal was included in the diet. Overall, the inclusion of 00-rapeseed-meal in the Parmigiano Reggiano type ratio did not compromise the performances of cows pointing to it as a reliable substitute for soybean-meal. Our results suggest that 00-rapeseed-meal should be tested in feeding studies to determine its effects on milk organoleptic characteristics and cheese production and quality to see if it can be included in the Italian PDO cheese regulation.Highlights 00-rapeseed inclusion on hay-based diet improve DMI, ECM and rumen health 00-rapeseed-meal introduction in Italian PDO cheese regulation is suggested

Beet and cane molasses mainly contain mono- di-, and tri-saccharides, composed by hexoses, as well as pentoses in traces. However, rationing software consider sugars as only one entity, with a rate of digestion ∼20% h−1. The aim of this initial study was to investigate and evaluate the in vitro digestion dynamics and rates of the sugar fraction in molasses. Three beet and three cane molasses were randomly selected from a variety of samples collected world-wide and digested via in vitro rumen fermentation, at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 24 h. Samples were then analysed with a specific enzymatic kit to quantify residual sucrose, glucose, fructose, raffinose, galactose, and arabinose. Complete disappearance of sucrose happened within 3 hours of incubation. Glucose and fructose were completely digested within 4-6 h, showing variability among samples. Even if not so representative, galactose showed a similar trend of digestion (97% digestion within 3-4 h). Raffinose was quite slower in cane molasses, while it was completely digested within 1 h in beet molasses. Arabinose, a pentose, never reached a complete digestion, and its fermentation dynamic was different compared to other sugars. Calculated rates of digestion for sucrose, glucose and fructose, most representative sugars in molasses, were higher than 50% h−1 in both cane and beet. Obtained results showed that sugar fraction in molasses may vary, and different sugars are rapidly fermented by rumen microbes. Modern rationing models should consider a modification of sugar rates of digestion, since the actual one appears too slow than those observed in vitro.Highlights Molasses are unique blends of several sugars Major sugars are digested in few hours Rationing software should consider a faster rate of digestion for different sugars

Objective This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of three different diets on the fatty acids (FA) profile and sensory properties of a characteristic Italian fresh cheese: Pecorino “Primo Sale” (PS). Methods Fifty-four sheep were divided into three feeding groups: total mixed ration (TMR) enriched with extruded linseed (TL), control diet with TMR without any integration (TC), and pasture (P). During cheese production, six cheeses per experimental group were produced each week, stored for 10 days at 4°C, and then analyzed for chemical composition, FA profile, and sensory properties. Results Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were significantly higher in PS from group TC (82.11%) than in cheese from other two groups (P 75.48% and TL 66.83%). TL and P groups presented higher values of polyunsaturated fatty acids, 4.35 and 3.65%, respectively, than that of TC group (2.31%). The lowest SFA/unsaturated fatty acid ratio was found in TL and P groups, while the highest was found in the TC group. Vaccenic acid and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) were higher in group P (p

Poli asam laktat (polylactic acid-PLA) adalah polimer hidrofobik yang termasuk dalam kelas biomaterial yang bersifat biodegradable. PLA berpotensi untuk dijadikan komposit polimer konduktif (conductive polymer composite - CPC) yang dipergunakan sebagai bahan semikonduktor dengan cara mencampurkan grafit ke padanya. Perilaku penyerapan uap air perlu dipelajari untuk mengetahui stabilitas komposit. Pengamatan terhadap isotherm sorpsi uap air dilakukan dengan metode gravimetri pada berbagai kondisi kelembaban relatif. Kondisi kelembaban relative diatur dengan menggunakan larutan jenuh berbagai jenis garam. Komposit poli asam laktat – grafit dipotong dengan ukuran 2 cm x 3 cm. Bahan yang telah dipotong dimasukkan ke dalam wadah kecil yang telah terisi dengan larutan jenuh garam. Kandungan air kesetimbangan (Me) semakin tinggi pada kondisi kelembaban relatif semakin naik. Data kesetimbangan dicocokkan dengan model kesetimbangan sorpsi uap air dan model Guggenhiem-Anderson-deBoer (GAB) memberikan nilai ralat rerata terendah.

The agro-food industry produces tons of waste at different stages in the food production process, creating a massive ecological crisis. If implemented, the use of fruit and vegetable by-products (FVBPs) in animal nutrition has the potential to lessen the environmental footprint of the food production chain, lower animal feeding costs, and improve the quality and sustainability of animal products. Recent research on the inclusion of FVBPs, naturally enriched with polyphenols, in the diets of small and large ruminants has shown some promising outcomes, which we discuss in this review. The effects of FVBPs on digestion, rumen fermentation, methane emissions, rumen liquor fatty acid profile, and milk production are examined. Due to the chemical composition and the presence of certain bioactive compounds, FVBPs are capable of influencing the ruminal and intestinal ecosystem through improved kinetics of fermentation. Several in vivo studies have demonstrated that the dietary inclusion of FVBPs resulted in improved milk production and composition without any negative effect on animal performance. Using FVBPs as an alternative to conventional feedstuffs may promote sustainable animal production and nutrition. However, it must be stressed that the efficacy of these feed supplements is conditional on the source, kind, and quantity employed.

A direct assessment of the methane (CH4) emission level and its variability factors is needed in each animal species in order to target the best mitigation strategy for the livestock sector. Therefore, the present study aimed to (1) test a laser methane detector (LMD) for the first time in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes (IMB), a non-invasive tool to quantify CH4 emissions; (2) test the effect of season on the emissions; and (3) compare the results measured directly with the ones estimated with the existing equations. CH4 emissions of twenty non-productive IMB, under the same feeding regimen, were monitored for 12 days in summer and winter. Significantly higher THI (74.46 ± 1.88 vs. 49.62 ± 4.87; p < 0.001), lower DMI (2.24 ± 0.04 vs. 2.51 ± 0.03% DMI/kg live weight; p < 0.001) and lower emission intensities (0.61 ± 0.15 vs. 0.75 ± 0.13; p < 0.001) were found during the summer period when compared with winter. LMD was found to be a versatile tool to be used in buffaloes, and it was clear that a summer increase in THI could act as a stressor for the animals, influencing their emissions. In addition, measured emissions were significantly higher than when estimated with the existing equations (p < 0.001), suggesting the need for further research in this area.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the substitution, in dairy cow rations, of traditional protein and starch sources with more sustainable “circular” feeds to increase the sustainability of dairy production. For this purpose, eight multiparous mid-lactating cows were blocked and assigned to one of four treatments and were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin squares design with 21-days periods (14 days of adaptation and 7 of data collection). Two different circular feedstuffs were tested: a bakery’s former foodstuff (FF) and a wheat distiller’s grain with solubles (WDGS). These ingredients were used, alone and in combination, in three experimental diets (FF, WDGS; FF + WDGS) and compared to a standard ration (CTR). Dry matter intake and rumination time were not influenced by these diets. Conversely, dietary treatments partially influenced the milk yield, rumen pH, Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) production, and fibre digestibility. In particular, the combined inclusion of FF and WDGS increased milk production (37.39 vs. 36.92, 35.48, 35.71 kg/day, for FF, WDGS and CTR diets, respectively) and reduced milk urea content (13.14 vs. 16.19, 15.58, 16.95 mg/dL for FF, WDGS, and CTR diets, respectively). No effects of this association were found in the milk composition, acetic and propionic production, and fibre digestibility. These results suggest that the association of former foodstuff and wheat distillers’ grains could be safely included in dairy cow rations to increase the sustainability of cow nutrition and improve milk production without impairing animal health, dry matter intake, and fibre digestibility.

Fatty acid-based lipidomic analysis has been widely used to evaluate health status in human medicine as well as in the veterinary field. In equine species, there has been a developing interest in fertility and sperm quality. Fatty acids, being the principal components of the membranes, play an active role in the regulation of the metabolic activities, and their role on spermiogenesis seems to be of great importance for the resulting quality of the sperm and, thus, fertility. With the application of widely used lipidomic techniques, the aim of this study was to evaluate: (a) the fatty acid content of the spermatozoa’s membranes of 26 healthy male Martina Franca donkeys and its possible correlation with sperm parameters, and (b) the evaluation of the composition of the red blood cells’ membrane. PUFA omega-6 are the principal components (40.38%) of the total PUFA content (47.79%) in both types of cells; however, DPA is the predominant one on the spermatozoa’s membrane (27.57%) but is not present in the erythrocyte’s membrane. Spermatozoa’s motility (%) is positively correlated with stearic acid and EPA, and progressive motility (%), with oleic acid. These findings offer information on the composition of both types of cells’ membranes in healthy male MF donkeys and reflect the metabolic transformations of the spermatozoa’s membrane during the maturation period, providing a better perception of the role of fatty acids in sperm parameters and fertility.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of basal dietary supplementation with linseed and linseed plus vitamin E in Marchigiana young bulls on the instrumental color, oxidative stability, and fatty acid composition of beef steaks with and without treatment with a blend of essential oils (oregano and rosemary) after storage times of 0, 3, 6, and 9 days. The fatty acid composition was evaluated in meat after 0 and 9 days of storage. No variation in the fatty acid composition of each type of meat was observed after storage. The use of dietary linseed and vitamin E, compared with linseed alone, significantly improved the oxidative stability, lightness (L*), and redness (a*) of the meat. A higher degree of oxidation was observed in meat samples from animals in the group fed linseed (L) followed by the control group (C) and the group fed linseed and vitamin E (LE). Moreover, the essential oils treatment (O) exerts a significant effect on beef oxidative stability of the group LE more than groups C and L during storage. The fatty acid composition of the meat was also affected by the diet: levels of healthful fatty acids (PUFA, n-3 PUFA, and CLA) were higher in meat from the groups that received linseed than the control group. Our results suggest that dietary vitamin E and treatment with essential oils are effective approaches to preserving the stability of beef cattle receiving a diet enriched in unsaturated fatty acids for up to 9 days of storage.

Abstract Background Over the past two decades, we have seen a nationwide increase in the use of medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) to address health disparities affecting vulnerable populations. These partnerships increase medical teams’ capacity to address social and environmental threats to patients’ health, such as unsafe housing conditions, through partnership with legal professionals. Despite expansions in the use of MLP care models in health care settings, the health outcomes efficacy of MLPs has yet to be examined, particularly for complex chronic conditions such as HIV. Methods This on-going mixed-methods study utilizes institutional case study and intervention mapping methodologies to develop an HIV-specific medical legal partnership logic model. Up-to-date, the organizational qualitative data has been collected. The next steps of this study consists of: (1) recruitment of 100 MLP providers through a national survey of clinics, community-based organizations, and hospitals; (2) in-depth interviewing of 50 dyads of MLP service providers and clients living with HIV to gauge the potential large-scale impact of legal partnerships on addressing the unmet needs of this population; and, (3) the development of an MLP intervention model to improve HIV care continuum outcomes using intervention mapping. Discussion The proposed study is highly significant because it targets a vulnerable population, PLWHA, and consists of formative and developmental work to investigate the impact of MLPs on health, legal, and psychosocial outcomes within this population. MLPs offer an integrated approach to healthcare delivery that seems promising for meeting the needs of PLWHA, but has yet to be rigorously assessed within this population.

An analytical approach for the determination of trace amounts of Co(II) and Ni(II) has been proposed using a home-made tablet-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction method performed in a narrow-bore tube followed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. In this method, a mixture of tartaric acid, sodium bicarbonate, and NaCl are used to make the disperser tablet. Then µL-level of an extraction solvent is added on the tablet, and it is released into a narrow-bore tube containing sample solution and a complexing agent. An acid-base reaction between tartaric acid and sodium bicarbonate is immediately occurred, and the produced CO2 leads to dispersion of the extraction solvent as tiny droplets into the solution and subsequent extraction of the analytes. The proposed method made possible the determination of Co(II) and Ni(II) in the ranges of 0.1-15.0 and 0.3-18.0 µg L-1, respectively. Repeatability of the proposed method, expressed as relative standard deviation, was obtained 3.6% and 2.8% (n=6, C=1 µg L-1) for Co(II) and Ni(II), respectively. Relative recoveries (89-97%, obtained at two fortification levels) confirmed the usefulness of the method for analysis of the analytes in the environmental water samples. The method was shown to be fast, reliable, and environmentally friendly with low organic solvent consumption.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate a branding model with an emphasis on organizational social responsibility based on social networks in the banking industry. The statistical population of the study includes all the employees of Sepah Bank in Iran. The 384 people were selected as the sample of the study using the Cochran formula. Qualitative content analysis and structural equation analysis using PLS software were used for data analysis. The results showed that the dimension of factors had a positive and significant relationship with the dimension of processes and results. The results also showed that the process dimension has a positive and significant relationship with the dimension of the results. Also, the results of the further analysis showed that among the three main dimensions of the model (factors, processes, and results), the process dimension had the most impact on the results dimension, indicating that Sepah Bank must pay more attention to its business processes to increase its social responsibility.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of including linseed (L) or linseed plus vitamin E (LE) in the diet of Marchigiana young bulls on the oxidative stability, color measurements, microbiological profile and fatty acid composition (FA) of burgers treated with and without a blend of essential oils (Rosmarinus officinalis and Origanum vulgare var. hirtum) (EOs). For this aim, the burgers were analysed for pH, thiobarbituric-acid-reactive substance (TBARS) content, Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP), vitamin E and colour measurements (L, a*, b) at 3, 6, 9, 12 days of storage: the TBARs were the highest in group L compared to C and LE after 12 days of storage (0.98, 0.73, and 0.63 mg MDA/kg, respectively). The TBARS content was also influenced by the use of EO compared to burgers not treated with EO (p < 0.05). The vitamin E content was influenced by the diet (p < 0.01), but not by the EO. The meat of the L group showed the lowest value of redness (a*) compared to C and LE (p < 0.01), while the use of EO did not affect colour parameters. The microbiological profile of the burgers showed a lower Pseudomonas count for L and LE at T0 (2.82 ± 0.30 and 2.30 ± 0.52 Log CFU/g, respectively) compared to C (3.90 ± 0.38 Log CFU/g), while the EO did not influence the microbiological profile. The FA composition was analysed at 0 and 12 days. The burgers from the LE group showed the highest value of polyunsaturated FA compared to the L and C groups (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the inclusion of vitamin E in a concentrate rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids is useful to limit intramuscular fat oxidation and to preserve the colour stability of burgers from young Marchigiana bulls enriched with healthy fatty acids. Moreover, linseed and vitamin E had a positive effect on microbial loads and growth dynamics, containing microbial development through time.

Introdução: O desenvolvimento da investigação e a emergência de uma prática baseada na evidência são um desafio claro para a educação dos futuros profissionais de saúde, aos quais são requeridas competências de pesquisa, leitura e utilização correta dos resultados da investigação na prática clínica. Objetivos: Identificar o que aprendem os estudantes de enfermagem com o envolvimento em projetos de investigação, durante a licenciatura. Métodos: A revisão integrativa de literatura foi efetuada segundo um protocolo, com definição dos critérios de elegibilidade dos estudos primários, obtidos nas bases de dados dos motores de busca EBSCO, JBI e Scopus. Resultados: Os estudantes podem ser envolvidos em todas as fases do processo de pesquisa, contribuindo para a sua satisfação na aprendizagem, com impacto positivo na motivação, reflexão e integração do conhecimento, desenvolvimento de competências de comunicação, escrita científica, gestão do tempo e juízo critico. O envolvimento dos estudantes contribui para o desenvolvimento dos projetos de investigação. Conclusões: O envolvimento dos estudantes em projetos de investigação contribui para diferentes aprendizagens. Os nossos resultados sugerem que a formação teórica sobre investigação deve ser associada a outras estratégias para o desenvolvimento de conhecimentos, habilidades e atitudes de pesquisa.

Context: There is an increasing interest in the standardization of the evaluation of imaging exams, especially enterography in Crohn’s disease. Objective: To compare the quality of the conventional report with the structured report in computed tomography enterography in Crohn’s disease. Method: Nine CT enterographies of patients with Crohn’s disease with conventional reports were performed; after the standardization of the structured report by the radiology department of a university hospital that is a reference in the care of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, the same exams were reevaluated, and new reports were issued, without the radiologists having access to the previous report; the 18 reports underwent evaluation of five specialists in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, resulting in 90 analyses of the report; the specialists evaluated the following criteria: clarity of the information of the report, ease in characterizing the extension of the disease, ease in defining the presence of complications, usefulness of the exam to define the behavior, and ease in defining the activity of the disease, with the use of a 0–10 score. The statistical analysis was perfrmed with Wilcoxon’s non-parametric test, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: The mean scores assigned to the exam reports, using both reports (unstructured and structured) ranged from 7.98 to 9.16; however, the scores of the structured reports were significantly higher (p

Brix refractometry has been widely demonstrated to be a useful tool for monitoring colostrum management program and passive immunity transfer (PIT) in Bovines, but its suitability has never been verified in Buffalo. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of a simple and rapid tool such as a digital Brix refractometer to estimate colostrum quality and for evaluating the success of passive transfer of immunoglobulin G (IgG) in Buffalo calves. The optimal cut points levels for Brix Refractometry for distinguishing good- and poor-quality colostrum and for assessing the adequacy of passive immunity transfer in calves were determined. For this aim, 26 first-milking maternal colostrum (MC) were collected from first-calf heifers. Blood samples were obtained from their calves at birth (T0) and 72 hours after (T3). Colostrum and Serum IgG content were determined by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas total protein (TP, g/dL) and percentage Brix (%Brix) by means of a digital Brix refractometer. The mean colostrum IgG was 64.9 ± 29.3 mg/mL. The mean serum %Brix at T3 was 9.6 ± 0.9 %. The mean serum IgG content at T3 was 11.1 ± 2.0 mg/mL. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (rp) was determined between Brix and ELISA measurements: colostrum %Brix showed a significant correlation with serum %Brix (rp = 0.82, p < 0.001); serum %Brix was highly correlated with serum TP (STP, g/dL) (rp = 0.98, p < 0.001) and serum IgG (mg/mL) (rp = 0.85, p < 0.001). A cut point of 18% Brix to estimate samples of MC ≥ 50 mg/mL from first-calf heifers was more appropriate for the buffalo. A cut point of 8.4% Brix resulted in the greatest percentage of calf serum samples being correctly classified. Based on our findings, a digital Brix refractometer could be a useful tool to monitor colostrum quality and to estimate PIT in Buffalo calves.

Since the approval by the European Medicines Agency in 2013 of a monensin controlled-release capsule (CRC) for the prevention of ketosis in dairy cows, there has been widespread use across Europe. In recent decades, several papers have investigated the effects of monensin used as a CRC or as a feed additive to improve cattle energy metabolism and improve feed efficiency. Since the CRC is the only form of monensin permitted in Europe in dairy cows, the objective of this review was to report and summarize observations from the literature on the effects of this treatment in transition cows. The peer-reviewed literature published from 1997 was scanned, and papers written in English were evaluated for eligibility. Only papers evaluating the use of monensin in dairy cows for the prevention of ketosis during the transition period were reviewed. In total, 42 papers met the required criteria and were included in this review. The major findings focused on cow metabolism and health, rumen fermentation and milk production and quality. Overall, the review of the existing literature confirmed that monensin delivered as a CRC during the transition period has effects of different magnitude compared to other forms, doses or durations of administration. Studies agree on the antiketotic effects of this treatment, showing evidence of an increased propionate production in the rumen, reduced blood β-hydroxybutyrate, and improved liver function in treated cows, mainly resulting in reduced incidence of peripartum disease. On the contrary, the effects of CRC on ammonia production and rumen microflora are less robust than those reported for other forms. Of importance for the European market is the well-documented absence of any negative impact on milk and cheese production and composition using the CRC treatment.

Dogs with acute diarrhea are often presented to clinical practice and, although this generally represents a self-limiting condition, antibiotics are still frequently used as treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects in dogs with acute non-hemorrhagic diarrhea of the administration of an antibiotic combination in comparison to a nutraceutical product. Thirty dogs were enrolled and randomly assigned to two groups: 15 dogs (group A) received a nutraceutical commercial product while 15 dogs (group B) received an antimicrobial combination of metronidazole and spiramycin. For each dog, the Canine Acute Diarrhea Severity Index, the fecal microbiota and the Dysbiosis Index were assessed. Both stool consistency and frequency decreased on day 2 in the dogs of group A compared to baseline, while in group B, these parameters significantly decreased at days 3 and 4. The global concern for rising antibiotic resistance associated with indiscriminate use of antimicrobials, in both humans and animals, suggests the necessity of avoiding empirical and injudicious use of these molecules in diarrheic dogs. These results suggest that the nutraceutical treatment had a similar clinical effect compared to the antibiotic formulation, representing a valid antibiotic-sparing therapeutic approach in canine acute diarrhea.

The aim of this study was to describe the neonatal and maternal behaviour of Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. Thirty primiparous buffaloes were moved into individual pens 12.5 (±2.5) days before calving. Maternal and neonatal behaviours were recorded for 48 h after calving and the analysis was performed in continuous sampling with the software BORIS. Calves’ clinical evaluations (temperature, weight, and heart and respiratory rates) were performed at different time intervals and correlated with behavioural data from the dam. Data were analysed with parametric and non-parametric methods after controlling their distribution. The maternal behavioural pattern found highlighted buffaloes’ priorities during the post-partum period: firstly, they stand and start grooming to ensure proper care for the calf; it is only after this that they dedicate time to maintenance behaviours (feeding and lying). The dams mainly groomed the calf during the first six hours after calving (average time in the 1–6-h interval: 7.7 ± 2.5 min., F = (2.5, 60.2) = 75.0; p < 0.001) to ensure the formation of the mother–infant bond; thereafter, the behaviour decreased over time. As reported in the literature, inexperienced mothers could sometimes delay the calf’s first suckling with aggressive or rejection behaviours. In this regard, 16 buffalo dams showed at least one maternal rejection behaviour, which was found to negatively correlate with calves’ daily weight gain (DWG) at 14 (rs = −0.5, p = 0.02) and 21 days (rs = −0.7, p < 0.001). The calves took on average 212.0 ± 110.0 min to suckle, and this behaviour was mainly shown during the first six hours. Overall, suckling behaviour was correlated with standing: (rs = 0.6, p < 0.001) and walking (rs = 0.9, p < 0.001). The calves’ live weight and DWG were consistently higher than the values reported in the literature. Our results present a detailed description of maternal and neonatal behaviour in the early post-partum period in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes. We also found that maternal rejection behaviours can negatively influence the calves’ growth. Finally, we think that such results can improve the management of buffaloes during the period around parturition.

Off-grid renewable energy sources are dramatically altering the energy landscape in countries with low energy access. While techno-economic perspectives are already widely discussed, the political economy is largely ignored, particularly regarding the institutions providing electricity. Two of many ways that the task of electrification can be framed are: (1) as the duty of the government to provide a basic service to its people, or (2) as a goods that can be purchased from private players in a market system. Electrification in our country of focus, Tanzania, has developed a promising off-grid market as an increasing number of private players have recently become active there. While grid extension is still a priority for the government, solar home systems, which are estimated to make up more than half of all new connections by 2030, get surprisingly less attention in terms of coordination, political support, and policy frameworks. This is despite the fact that the population is highly dispersed, making grid extension less suitable and more expensive than off-grid, decentralized systems. After an extensive literature review, our method applies a theory-embedded framework of institutional economics to the use of solar home systems for electrification in Tanzania and examines the realizations of the electricity provided. The framework defines key political economy criteria as drivers for energy access and evaluates their respective relevance. We then apply this framework to evaluate 20 selected projects, which have promoted solar home systems in rural off-grid areas in Tanzania since 2000. As a unique contribution to the literature, this research highlights the underappreciated influence of different institutional arrangements on the political economy landscape and on the electricity provided for rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa.

The main limitation of rate-based approach in Aspen Plus is the unavailability of the method under dynamic analysis. Hence, to support the development of the integrated process of natural gas treatment at a higher scale, a comprehensive equilibrium and rate-based simulations of CO2 removal via potassium carbonate promoted with glycine (PCGly) is conducted. The purpose of this study is to observe the efficiency of the equilibrium-based model to represent the CO2 removal system before the dynamic simulation can be developed. The validation is conducted based on published experimental data and the result shows that at steady state, the equilibrium-based method is able to predict the CO2 removal as satisfactorily as the rate-based approach. The error deviation between both methods is 2.11 % and through this study, it is shown that the equilibrium-based method is able to simulate the CO2-PGly system efficiently. Thus, this would enable further investigation of the CO2-PGly system under dynamic simulation using the equilibrium-based method.

Spontaneous emulsification is one of the low energy methods in preparation of oil-in-water nanoemulsions. It relies on the formation of very fine oil droplets when an oil/hydrophilic surfactant mixture is added to water and is used as delivery system to encapsulate lipophilic nutricitical components such as fat soluble vitamins in functional food. In this study the influence of various types of surfactants (tween 20, 21, 40, 80, 85 and 1:1 ratio of tween 20:85), carrier oils (coconut, soyabean & corn oil, octyl octanoate, migliol 812) and different concentration of surfactant and oils in the system (SER & SOR) on the droplet size and stability of vitamin A palmitate-loaded nanoemulsions prepared by spontaneous emulsification was investigated . Tween 80 (surfactant) nanoemulsion containing migliol 812 (carrier oil containing 3% vitamin A palmitate) with surfactant-to-emulsion ratio (SER= %15) and surfactant to oil ratio (SOR=150%), was determined as optimum sample with monomodal droplet size of 76 nm which was stable at 25 ˚C for 3 months.

Este estudo tem por finalidade proporcionar o enquadramento legal do denominado “direito à co-adopção” no Direito Português, civil e constitucional, abordando as eventuais contradições entre o princípio da igualdade consagrado na CRP, o direito à constituição de família e a proibição de co-adopção por parte de cônjuge ou unido de facto do mesmo sexo consagrada no Código Civil.

Context: Traumatic dental injury and malocclusion constitute a public health problem due to their high prevalence. Preventing or detecting such conditions, in any population, is of paramount importance. Aim: Assessing the association of anterior occlusal characteristics and dental trauma in preschool children. Settings and Design: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 2–6-year-old randomly selected by a sample calculation, resulting in 606 subjects Materials and Methods: A questionnaire to collect information about the sample (age, gender, and race) was sent to the children's parents. Two trained and calibrated examiners (Kappa 0.80) evaluated dental trauma according to criteria established by the World Health Organization. The following anterior occlusal characteristics were evaluated: Normal occlusion, anterior open bite, anterior crossbite, increased overjet (categorized as ≥3 mm), and increased overbite (categorized as ≥3 mm). Statistical Analysis Used: The variables associations were assessed (odds ratio, Chi-square test, and logistic regression, P < 0.05) using statistical software (SPSS, version 16.0). Results: Dental trauma was observed in 20.8% and malocclusion in 48.6% of the children. There is an association between malocclusion and dental trauma (P = 0.01). Children with malocclusion have a 64% higher chance of suffering dental trauma. Increased overjet was the type of malocclusion related to a higher rate of tooth fracture (P < 0.01). Subjects with this type of malocclusion suffered tooth fractures three times more often than subjects with other malocclusion types. Conclusions: There was association of dental trauma and malocclusion. Increased overjet was the most common malocclusion related to dental trauma. Preventive strategies are needed to reduce the rate of anterior malocclusion and, consequently, dental trauma in preschool children.

Purpose: Nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) is a useful delivery system with high capacity for bioactive loading, and suitable stability for fortification of foods and beverages. The objective of the present work is to prepare vitamin A palmitate (vitA)-loaded NLC and to investigate surfactant concentration effect on physicochemical properties of prepared formulation. Methods: VitA-loaded NLC was prepared by hot homogenization method. Preciol as solid lipid, Octyloctanoate as liquid oil, and Poloxamer as surfactant were used to prepare the formulation. The effect of different concentrations of Poloxamer on particle size, particle size distribution, encapsulation efficiency and stability of vitA during storage were investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) was exploited to study the possible bioactive-lipid complex formation. Results: NLCs stabilized with 6% Poloxamer showed significantly lower particle size and particle size distribution. The encapsulation efficiency of this formulation was 98.5% and it was stable during the storage at 25°C for two months. Conclusion: This study suggests that surfactant significantly influences the final product properties. Our findings may pave the way of researchers to focus on fortifying the beverages with various lipophilic nutraceuticals.

Apresenta os resultados de pesquisa-dissertação sobre o processo de comunicação da informação em incubadora de base tecnológica do Instituto Genesis da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro. Discorre sobre o cenário atual das incubadoras no Brasil e no Rio de Janeiro, especificamente, discutindo a aplicação do modelo de gestão para incubadoras de empresas criado pela Rede de Incubadoras, Parques Tecnológicos e Pólos do Rio de Janeiro (ReINC), no que diz respeito ao módulo de informação. Aborda as questões da informação na perspectiva dos canais formais e informais de comunicação e da oferta e demanda de informação em incubadoras. Relata a participação da ciência da informação no mapeamento dos processos de comunicação da informação, destacando a importância da transferência de informação e da transformação desta em conhecimento.This article presents results of a dissertation about the process of information communication in the technological incubator at Gênesis Institute of PUC-Rio. It describes an update scenario of incubators in Brazil and in Rio de Janeiro, to be more specifically, in order to discuss the application of a managing style for incubators designed by ReInc, related to an information model. The article also describes how information is applied in formal and informal channels of communication and information offering and demanding of information in incubators. It also approaches the Science Information role in mapping the process of information communication with a special participation of this science in information transfer and its transformation into knowledge.

Apresenta os resultados de pesquisa que utiliza o conceito de ‘regime de informação’ de González de Gómez com o objetivo de identificar elementos e atores dentro do domínio de uma rede virtual de comunicação da informação. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no âmbito do Programa Boas Práticas Agropecuárias – Bovinos de Corte da Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária – EMBRAPA, que tem por finalidade tornar os sistemas de produção de bovinos de corte mais rentáveis e competitivos, assegurando a oferta de alimentos seguros, oriundos de sistemas de produção sustentáveis. A partir da identificação dos elementos do ‘regime de informação’, sugere-se a formação de uma micropolítica informacional para regulamentar a produção de conteúdo da rede virtual constituída pelos atores sociais, dispositivos, informação e ações de informação.