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In the South Amazon Ecuadorian Region (RAEsur), the livestock is the main economic activity of the majority of families live this hot and humid environment, the dairy cattle in these area, are Bos taurus, those were brought from the upper parts of Andes, thereby they have a slow process of adaptation to this environment and the type of food, if this a join with poor technical management are factors that affect the animal's body condition and reproductive performance. In this investigation we evaluated the reproductive behavior and nutritional profile of 93 crossbred cows Holstein in the postpartum period, follow up period was 187 days. It was obtained: parturition-estrus interval of 88 days, in the population tested 25.4% not resumed its reproductive function in that period (pospartum anoestrus); the type of existing pasture grasses is in 87% of grasslands 􀀃Setaria sphacelata and 13% the Axonopus scoparius; cows with 􀀃most body condition (BC) at calving 􀀋􀂕􀀕􀀑􀀖􀀌􀀃 soon resumed the reproductive functionality versus those with less BC 􀀋􀂔2.2)􀀞 these animals are small with an average height of 1.23 m, where 70% of cows that resumed reproduction were of small stature; 􀀞􀀃the daily milk production in the period under review was 6.7 L/cow. The nutritional profile was made on serial blood samples at 45 days interval from calving to the resumption of estrus, 8 biochemical elements were analyzed: glucose, total protein, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, GOT, GPT, cholesterol, bilirubin, these results can be highlighted the high levels of enzymes alkaline phosphatase, GOT, GPT and bilirubin, far exceeding the normal values, also found that glucose level in cycling (45.0 mg/dl) and not cyclic cows (44.5 mg/dl) are lower compared to normal value (58.3 mg/dl), the other biochemical elements analyzed are within permitted ranges􀀞􀀃 thereby being able to diagnose these animals suffer liver damage which leads to having a short life and poor production, all it caused by the introduction to the area of Bos taurus animals that not have resistance or adaptation to the humid tropics.

Objective: To analyze the capability to predict perinatal survival and severe neonatal morbidity at diagnosis of early-onset fetal growth restriction (eoFGR) using maternal variables, ultrasound parameters and angiogenic markers.Methods: Prospective observational study in a cohort of singleton pregnancies with a diagnosis of eoFGR (< 32+0 weeks). At diagnosis of eoFGR, complete assessment was performed, including ultrasound examination (anatomy, biometry and Doppler study) and maternal serum measurement of the angiogenic biomarkers sFlt-1 and PlGF. Logistic regression models for the prediction of perinatal survival (in cases diagnosed < 28+0 weeks) and severe neonatal morbidity (in all cases) were calculated.Results: We included 210 eoFGR cases, with 185 (88%) perinatal survivors. Median gestational age at diagnosis was 27+0 weeks. All cases diagnosed at ≥ 28+0 weeks survived. In cases diagnosed < 28+0 weeks, survivors (vs. non-survivors) showed at diagnosis: higher gestational age (26.1 vs. 24.4 weeks), estimated fetal weight (626 vs. 384 g), cerebroplacental ratio (1.1 vs. 0.9) and PlGF (41 vs. 18 pg/ml), and lower sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (129 vs. 479), all p < 0.001. The best combination of two variables for predicting perinatal survival was provided by EFW and PlGF (AUC 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74 - 0.92). These were also the best variables for predicting severe neonatal morbidity (AUC 0.73; 95% CI, 0.65 - 0.80).Conclusions: EFW and maternal serum determination of PlGF accurately predict perinatal survival in eoFGR cases diagnosed before 28 weeks. Prenatal prediction of severe neonatal morbidity in eoFGR performs modestly. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A natural clay from Campina Grande region (Paraíba, Brazil), with 8.57% of Fe2O3, was used to study the most appropriate condition to carry out the iron extraction, without altering the clay structure in a significant way. Samples were treated with the Dithionite-Citrate-Bicarbonate method (DCB) for 30 and 120 minutes (pH=9.1), and also with citric acid (pH=1.8; time=15min), at 75°C. Conductivity measurements, X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectrometry, electron-diffraction with transmission electron microscopy and textural evaluation by nitrogen adsorption were done. The treatment in a basic medium was more selective for iron removal than in acid condition. The time of 30 minutes, with 1.6 g Na2S2O4/10 g clay, was the best condition for the iron extraction.

Al-pillared clay was prepared with a Brazilian bentonite from the Campina Grande region (Paraíba, BRAZIL). It was intercalated at 298 K, during 48 hours, with a solution containing [Al3+] = 0.10 mol/L and molar ratio OH/Al = 2.0 prepared at 333 K, and was calcined at 773K. The catalytic activity was evaluated by alkylation of benzene with 1-dodecene. The characterization methods were: X-ray fluorescence and diffraction analysis; 27Al, 29Si and 23Na MAS NMR and textural analysis by N2 adsorption. The thermal stability of the natural clay was improved by the pillaring procedure, as well as the catalytic activity. The intercalated clay presented the highest initial rate of reaction among the systems tested.