Search

This study aimed to analyze the time series behavior of the Southern Oscillation Index through techniques using Fast Fourier Transform, computing the autocorrelation function, and the calculation of the Hurst coefficient. The methodology of Hurst Exponent calculation uses different lags, which are computed in the time series of Southern Oscillation Index. The persistent behavior in the time series can be characterized by calculating the Hurst Exponent, seeking for more behavioral information, as the existence of persistence and/or terms of long-range memory in the series. The results show a persistence of the climate in terms of long-memory Southern Oscillation Index time series, which can help to understand a complex dynamic behavior in climate effects at global-scale level and specifically its influence in northeastern Brazil, in the region of the Alcântara Launch Center. The R package tseriesChaos was used in the analysis of the Southern Oscillation Index time series, estimating the largest Lyapunov exponent, which indicates the existence of chaotic behavior in time series. The resampling technique was used in a permutation test between the surface wind data in the São Luís airport, Maranhão State, and the Southern Oscillation Index. The permutation test results showed that the time series of monthly average wind speed in the São Luís airport is correlated with the variability of Southern Oscillation Index, statistically correlated to the confidence interval at the 5% level. The results showed the possibility of using autoregressive models to represent average variable meteorology in the behavior analysis as well as trends in the climate, more specifically a possible climatic influence of El Niño-Southern Oscillation in wind strength in the Alcântara Launch Center.

This study evaluated the performance, immunology, and survival of the Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei to experimental challenge to Vibrio alginolyticus based on the use of the probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum and the combined use of probiotic and butyrate. Four different diets resulted from the addition of additives: butyrate, probiotic, butyrate + probiotic, and control (no additives). The attractiveness of the diets was assessed by the percentage of positive choices and rejections, using a dual-choice Y-maze format aquarium. The shrimps were fed during four weeks and performance parameters, intestinal microbiota, and immunological parameters were all evaluated. Subsequently, the shrimps were challenged with V. alginolyticus and after 48 h, survival and immunological parameters were evaluated. The results showed increased attractiveness and intake, but only with diets supplemented with sodium butyrate. However, other diets were not rejected. No difference in performance or immunological parameters was observed among the different diets. Also, among the treatments, no difference in Vibrio spp., or total heterotrophic bacteria counts, was found in the intestinal tract. However, the lactic acid bacteria count was higher in the intestinal tract of shrimps fed diets supplemented with probiotic. After bacterial challenge, shrimp fed all diets had a greater survival when compared with the control group. Lactobacillus plantarum and sodium butyrate increase the resistance of shrimp to infection with V. alginolyticus, but do so without affecting performance, immunological parameters, or Vibrio spp., and total heterotrophic bacteria counts in the intestinal tract.

This study uses climate modeling (RegCM4 Climate Model) to provide a wind forecast average behavior at low levels, close to the surface. The model was used to generate an estimate of the average vertical wind profile lasting 5 months, from August to December 2015, attempting to observe intra-seasonal variations, with the presence of persistence in the wind field. The results of climate modeling of the wind profile near the surface have the great potential for great operational significance during launch campaigns at the Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara. Three average results were generated for the month of November 2015, while operating in São Lourenço. A dynamical downscaling nested with global models with RCP4.5 and RCP8.5, using 3 different global conditions initialization datasets. It used subsets with the models from the Met Office Hadley Centre (HadGEM2-ES), the Centre National de Recherches Météorologiques (CNRM-CM5), and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO-Mk3.6), making a downscaling with the RegCM4 Climate Model for the Centro de Lançamento de Alcântara region. The results are preliminary but show great potential. Since the RegCM4 Climate Model can show variations of high and low intensity, its temporal frequency in the average vertical wind profile and the duration of temporal variation are of the order of 3 - 5 days. The RegCM4 Climate Model had better results with the one from the Met Office Hadley Centre, HadGEM2-ES, when it was qualitatively compared with observational data (ERA Interim Model) of the campaign period and reanalysis data.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of Litopenaeus vannameifed different levels (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) of soybean protein concentrate (63.07% crude protein, CP) to replace fish meal-by product (61.24% CP). The study was conducted in clear water in fifteen 800 L tanks equipped with aeration systems, constant heating (29 ºC), and daily water exchange (30%). Each tank was stocked with 37.5 shrimp/m3 (3.03±0.14 g). Feed was supplied four times a day, at 6% of the initial biomass, adjusted daily. After 42 days, the weight gain of shrimp fed diets with 0 and 25% protein replacement was higher than that observed in shrimp fed 100% replacement, and there were no differences among those fed the other diets. Feed efficiency and survival did not differ among shrimp fed different protein replacements. There was a negative linear trend for growth parameters and feed intake as protein replacement with soybean protein concentrate increased. Fish meal by-product can be replaced by up to 75% of soybean protein concentrate, with no harm to the growth of Pacific white shrimp.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different stocking densities and the presence/absence of two artificial substrates on water quality and production rates of marine shrimp in a biofloc shrimp nursery culture. Two experiments were performed: different stocking densities with mosquito netting substrate and the presence/absence of polyester-type substrate. The first experiment lasted 38 days, and shrimp at an initial weight of 0.013±0.010 g were stocked in 24 tanks. The second experiment lasted 35 days, and shrimp at an initial weight of 0.037±0.002 g were stocked in six tanks. Weekly biometric measurements were performed to adjust the amount of feed. Suspended solids were higher at a density of 6000 PL m−3 and mosquito netting substrate. Final weight and specific growth rate were higher in treatments with mosquito netting substrate. However, survival was significantly lower with this substrate. Yield was significantly higher at a density of 6000 PL m−3. Polyester-type substrate had no significant effect on production rates or variables of water quality. However, this substrate could reduce the production of sludge. The results indicate that it is possible to culture shrimp in nursery stage up to 6000 PL m−3 in a biofloc system.

A life-cycle assessment was conducted during semi-intensive and super-intensive commercial cultivation of marine shrimp from December 2011 to June 2012, considering all phases from the preparation of the nursery to harvesting of the shrimp, to determine the carbon footprints of each process. Inputs and outputs associated to the production of 1 kg of shrimp were evaluated using the CML-1A baseline method, V3.01 EU25, with Software SimaPro® 8.0.2, to identify the factors of impact that are most relevant to the category global warming, measured in kg of CO2 eq. The grow-out phase contributed the most to the final results in super-intensive culture, which had a higher carbon footprint, 47.9967 kg of CO2 eq., which was 1.0042 kg of CO2 eq. in the semi-intensive culture. The most important impacting factor is the use of electrical energy, which is required to maintain dissolved oxygen and the biofloc particles in suspension in the super-intensive culture and for movement of large volumes of water in the semi-intensive system.

This study aimed to establish a cryopreservation protocol for embryogenic cultures of A. angustifolia, enabling the ex situ conservation of the species. Embryogenic cultures were established from immature seeds and treated with variations of the cryoprotectant solutions SuDG, SoD and PVS2 prior to immersion in liquid nitrogen. Cell viability was evaluated after 30, 60 and 90 days of re-growth. The highest re-growth without morphological alterations and with normal biochemical composition was obtained with the PVS2 solution with 40 min immersion in ethanol (-20 °C). This procedure opens new horizons for the ex situ conservation of the species genetic. Este estudo objetivou estabelecer um protocolo de criopreservação para culturas embriogênicas de A. angustifolia, possibilitando a conservação ex situ da espécie. Culturas embriogênicas foram estabelecidas a partir de sementes imaturas e tratadas com variações das soluções crioprotetoras SuDG, SoD e PVS2 antes da imersão em nitrogênio líquido. A viabilidade celular foi avaliada após 30, 60 e 90 dias de recrescimento. O maior recrescimento sem alterações morfológicas e composição bioquímica normal foi obtido com a solução PVS2 com 40 min de imersão em etanol (-20 °C). Este procedimento abre novos horizontes para a conservação ex situ dos recursos genéticos da espécie.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de suplemento prebiótico, probiótico e simbiótico, na dieta de camarões marinhos (Litopenaeus vannamei) e seus efeitos sobre o crescimento, a microbiota intestinal, a resposta imune e a resistência ao desafio experimental com Vibrio alginolyticus. Foram utilizados quatro tratamentos: prebiótico inulina; probiótico Lactobacillus plantarum; simbiótico Lactobacillus plantarum + inulina; e controle. Os camarões foram distribuídos em 16 tanques de dez mil litros de água, povoados com 200 camarões cada, cultivados por seis semanas. Avaliaram-se a microbiologia do trato intestinal dos camarões e a reposta imune, antes e após o desafio com V. alginolyticus. A concentração de Vibrio spp. no trato digestório foi menor em camarões alimentados com dieta suplementada com prebiótico, probiótico e simbiótico, enquanto a concentração de bactérias acidoláticas foi superior somente nos camarões alimentados com probiótico e simbiótico. O título aglutinante do soro contra V. alginolyticus aumentou no grupo probiótico e simbiótico, antes da infecção, e foi maior em todos os tratamentos após infecção com V. alginolyticus, em comparação ao controle. Não foi observada diferença entre os tratamentos quanto aos demais parâmetros avaliados. As dietas probióticas, prebióticas e simbióticas alteram a microbiota intestinal e aumentam o título aglutinante do soro contra V. alginolyticus; contudo, não alteram a resistência ao desafio nem o crescimento dos camarões. The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of prebiotic, probiotic, and symbiotic supplements, in the diet of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), and their effects on growth, intestinal microbiota, immune response, and resistance to experimental challenge with Vibrio alginolyticus. Four treatments were used: prebiotic (inulin); probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum); symbiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum + inulin); and a control. Shrimp were distributed in 16 tanks with ten thousand liters of water, stocked with 200 shrimp each, cultivated for six weeks. Microbiology of the intestinal tract and the immune response of shrimp were evaluated before and after the challenge with V. alginolyticus. The concentration of Vibrio spp. in the digestive tract was lower in shrimp fed prebiotic, probiotic, and symbiotic-supplemented diet, while concentration of lactic acid bacteria was higher only in shrimp fed probiotic and symbiotic-supplemented diet. The title of agglutinating serum against V. alginolyticus increased in shrimp fed the probiotic and symbiotic-supplemented diet prior to infection, and was higher in all treatments after infection with V. alginolyticus, in comparison to the control. No difference was observed between treatments for the remaining parameters. Probiotic, prebiotic, and symbiotic diets change intestinal microbiota, and increase the agglutinating serum title against V. alginolyticus; however, they change neither the shrimp resistance to challenge by V. alginolyticus nor shrimp growth.

The effect of a Lactobacillus plantarum-supplemented diet on shrimp growth, digestive tract bacterial microbiota, survival, and some hemato-immunological parameters after an experimental challenge with Vibrio harveyi was studied. No difference (P>0.05) was observed in shrimp survival (80±6%) and final weight (6.63±0.56g) after 60 days feeding trial. Total bacteria count and Vibrio spp. count in the digestive tract were not diferent (P>0.05) until day 40, but they were lower (P0.05) than the control group (39.9±4.4%). Bacterial counts in hemolymph and hepatopancreas was lower (P0.05) in the probiotic-supplemented group after challenge with V. harveyi. Probiotic-supplemented diet modifies shrimp digestive tract bacterial microbiota, increasing resistance to V. harveyi infection.

The efficacy of a polyvalent bacterin vaccine against Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Enterococcus durans administered by different routes in Nile tilapia was assessed by analyzing hematological and immunological parameters 7 and 21 days after vaccination. Treatments consisted of: non-vaccinated tilapia; tilapia vaccinated by intraperitoneal injection with 2x10(8) formalin-inactivated bacteria·mL-1; tilapia vaccinated orally with 2x10(7) formalin-inactivated bacteria·g-1, feed for 5 days; tilapia vaccinated by immersion bath in 2x10(7) formalin-inactivated bacteria·mL-1, for 20 minutes. Vaccinated fish groups presented higher hematocrit, number of erythrocytes and leukocytes than the non-vaccinated group. Serum agglutination titer of intraperitoneally vaccinated fish was higher on both evaluation periods for the three bacteria strains. Only on day 21 post-vaccination fish from the oral and immersion vaccination groups presented higher serum agglutination titer than the non-vaccinated fish for A. hidrophyla and E. durans. Serum antimicrobial activity in vaccinated fish was higher for P. aeroginosa and E. coli than in non-vaccinated fish on both evaluation periods. The different vaccine administration routes stimulated hematological and immunological responses in Nile tilapia 21 days post-vaccination, but intraperitoneal vaccination presented higher total number of leukocytes, lymphocytes and serum agglutination titer. Este estudo avaliou a eficácia da administração de vacina polivalente (bacterina), contra Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeroginosa e Enterococcus durans, por diferentes vias de aplicação em tilápia do Nilo, analisando parâmetros hematológicos e imunológicos no 7º e 21º dia após vacinação. Os tratamentos consistiram de: tilápias não vacinadas; tilápias vacinadas via injeção intraperitoneal (i.p.) contendo 2x10(8) bactérias inativadas·mL-1; tilápias alimentadas com ração contendo vacina na proporção de 2x10(7) bactérias inativadas·g-1, durante 5 dias; tilápias vacinadas por banho de imersão em 2x10(7) bactérias inativadas·mL-1, durante 20 minutos. Os peixes vacinados apresentaram maior porcentagem de hematócrito, número de eritrócitos e leucócitos durante o período do experimento, em relação aos não vacinados. O título de aglutinação do soro dos peixes vacinados intraperitonealmente foi superior nos dois períodos de avaliação para todas as bactérias. Apenas no 21º dia os peixes vacinados oralmente e por imersão apresentaram título de aglutinação superior aos peixes não vacinados para A. hidrophyla e E. durans. O soro dos peixes vacinados apresentou maior atividade antimicrobiana para P. aeroginosa e E. coli, do que os peixes não vacinados, nos dois períodos. As diferentes vias de administração da vacina estimularam a resposta hematológica e imunológica da tilápia do Nilo após 21 dias de vacinadas, sendo que o número total de leucócitos, linfócitos, título aglutinante do soro dos vacinados i.p. foi maior do que os demais.

This study evaluated the haematological changes in Nile tilapia experimentally infected with 1 x 10³ and 1 x 10(6) colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of Enterococcus sp. in the swim bladder. The experiment consisted of four treatments in triplicates: non-injected fish (NI); fish injected with 1 mL of sterile saline solution 0.65% (SAL); fish injected with 1 x 10³ and 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus diluted in 1 mL sterile saline. Twenty-four hours after injection, the fish were anesthetized and the blood collected. The haematological tests included red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, hematocrit, number of total thrombocytes, and differential counting of WBC. Fish injected with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus showed a higher number of thrombocytes than the other treatments. White blood cell and lymphocyte numbers increased significantly in fish injected with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus when compared to non-injected control. There was significant increase in the number of neutrophils in saline injected fish and reduced number of monocytes after injections with 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus. Hematocrit increased in fish injected with 1 x 10³ and 1 x 10(6) CFU/mL of Enterococcus.

The aim of this study was to analyze fluoride stability in dentifrices stored during nine months in schools from Careiro da Várzea, State of Amazonas, Brazil. Analysis of total fluoride concentration, total soluble fluoride, and ionic fluoride in the dentifrice samples was performed in four different time periods: at the time of purchase (baseline); after three months, after six months, and after nine months of storage. Fluoride concentration was determined using a specific electrode (Orion 96-09) connected to an ion analyzer (Orion A-720) and calibrated with fluoride standard solutions containing 2.0 to 32.0 ppm F. The results obtained during the measurements were analyzed by analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA), followed by Tukey’s test for comparison of the means. After nine months of storage, total soluble fluoride, the active form of fluoride, decreased by 21.9%. As total soluble fluoride was below the minimum required for anticaries efficacy (1,000 ppm F) in the fourth analysis, it may be concluded that anticaries potential decreased with storage time.

A study about coccidiosis in Japanese quails was carried out in order to identify species of the genus Eimeria and characterize a naturally occurring infection in a commercial rearing farm. For this purpose, fecal exams, oocyst counting and morphological study were performed, besides necropsy and histopathology to confirm diagnosis. Three species of the genus Eimeria were found and identified as E. tsunodai, E. uzura and E. bateri. The natural infection was characterized as subclinical because of the mild and nonspecific clinical signs. Nevertheless, coccidiosis was considered an important disease because endogenous stages of the parasites and a high number of oocysts in feces were associated with intestinal lesions. The results suggest that such infection might represent a limiting factor to this branch of the modern poultry industry.