espanolEl objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar lo rendimiento, caracteristicas de carcasa y parametros bioquimicos sericos en pollos alimentados con farina de tucuma (TM). Fueron utilizados 192 pollos Cobb 500 distribuidos con las mismas condiciones de manipulacion e instalaciones. El diseno experimental fue al azar con seis tratamientos formados por niveles de inclusion de farina de tucuma (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 y 25%) donde cada tratamiento contenia cuatro repeticiones de ocho aves cada. Los datos fueron recogidos y sometidos a analisis de regresion polinomica. Los resultados de consumo de pienso y conversion alimenticia presentaran diferencias (P0.05) a partir de la inclusion de TM na alimentacion de los pollos. En parametros bioquimicos sericos, los valores para trigliceridos y pH presentaran diferencias (P EnglishThe objective of this study was to evaluate broilers fed diets with increasing levels of tucuma meal (TM) on performance, carcass traits and serum biochemical profile. 192 broilers Cobb 500 were used distributed with same conditions of nutritional management and facilities. The experimental method was completely randomized with six treatments of inclusion levels of TM (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25%) where each treatment had four replicates of eight birds each. Data collected were submitted to polynomial regression analysis. Feed intake and feed conversion showed differences (P

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar lo rendimiento, características de carcasa y parámetros bioquímicos séricos en pollos alimentados con fariña de tucumã (TM). Fueron utilizados 192 pollos Cobb 500 distribuidos con las mismas condiciones de manipulación e instalaciones. El diseño experimental fue al azar con seis tratamientos formados por niveles de inclusión de fariña de tucumã (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 y 25%) donde cada tratamiento contenía cuatro repeticiones de ocho aves cada. Los datos fueron recogidos y sometidos a análisis de regresión polinómica. Los resultados de consumo de pienso y conversión alimenticia presentarán diferencias (P0.05) a partir de la inclusión de TM na alimentación de los pollos. En parámetros bioquímicos séricos, los valores para triglicéridos y pH presentaran diferencias (P

Over the last decades, the delivery of water supply services has changed among regions and actors, in order to meet the changing needs. Those services can be balanced based on the relation between the obligations they must fulfill, the quality offered, and the associated price/value for money. Furthermore, due to the water services inherent characteristics, they are prone to poor quality of service (in general terms). Thus, global performance assessments are of paramount relevance under those constraints. In Portugal, the water regulator has developed a system of performance indicators (partial measures of performance) and, therefore, it is not possible to achieve the desired holistic performance evaluation (global measure). To enable such assessment, we propose an application based on the ELECTRE TRI-nC method to define quality of service categories and aggregate performance indicators. To obtain a coherent family of criteria (i.e., exhaustive, cohesive, and non-redundant) we apply an iso-preference logic. The results obtained are presented through a geographical information system allowing for a clearer visualization of the overall performance of water utilities. The method proposed can be considered a suitable decision support system and useful regulatory tool able to provide policy relevant outputs.

The objective of the present work was to develop a thermal desorption method for the removal of trihalomethanes (THM) adsorbed by humin, followed by multiple recycling of the fixed bed column in order to avoid excessive consumption of materials and reduce operating costs. The results obtained for adsorption on a fixed bed column confirmed the effectiveness of humin as an adsorbent, extracting between 45.9% and 90.1% of the total THM (TTHM). In none of the tests was the column fully saturated after 10h. Experiments involving thermal desorption were used to evaluate the potential of the technique for column regeneration. The adsorptive capacity of the humin bed increased significantly (p<0.05) between the first and fifth desorption cycle, by 18.9%, 18.1%, 24.2%, 20.2% and 24.2% for CHBr(3), CHBr(2)Cl, CHBrCl(2), CHCl(3) and TTHM, respectively.

The objective of this work was to determine the optimum conditions for adsorption/desorption of reactive dyes, using both batch experiments and fixed bed columns with humin immobilized on silica. Results of batch experiments showed that adsorption of Reactive Orange 16 and Reactive Red 120 by humin was most effective at pH 1.0. Adsorption equilibrium was achieved rapidly for all initial dye concentrations employed. Temperature measurements indicated that the process was exothermic, and described by a pseudo-second order kinetic model for both dyes, while the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms best described the adsorptions of RO 16 and RR 120, respectively. Column experiments showed adsorption efficiencies of 62.1 to 39.6% and 96.2 to 74.8%, and desorption efficiencies of 81.4 to 51.3% and 66.8 to 36.8% for RO 16 and RR 120, respectively, over three cycles. The biosorbent presents excellent performance in removal of reactive dyes, with the advantage that it can be regenerated and reused.

This work investigates the potentials of peat and angico hardwood sawdust to remove BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and isomers of xylene) from the produced water discharged into aquatic systems during petroleum extraction. Peat and angico sawdust samples were pyrolyzed at 500°C, and found to contain n-alkenes, n-alkanes and pentacyclic triterpenes (peat), and 4-methoxyphenol, 1,4-dimethoxyphenol and 1,3,4-trimethoxyphenol (angico sawdust). In batch experiments, the removal capacities using peat were 32.4%, 50.0%, 63.0%, 67.8%, and 61.8% for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylenes and o-xylene, respectively. This compared with removal capacities using angico sawdust of 20.2%, 36.4%, 52.8%, 57.8%, and 53.7% for these compounds respectively, demonstrating the superior performance of the peat.

Our aim was to compare two expert pathologists with digital image analysis (DIA) using both H&E and ORO stained sections to assess the degree of fat in mice with NAFLD.Methods: We studied histological steatohepatitis exhibiting a spectrum of microvesicular and macrovesicular fat in male C57BL/6J mice with high fat and/or high fructose diets.Tissue sections were stained with both H&E and ORO and examined by two expert pathologists.DIA was used to calculate the percentage of steatosis on H&E and ORO stained sections and size distribution of fat droplets, in the latter.Triglyceride concentrations in the tissue were measured biochemically as a true reflection of tissue lipid content.Results: ORO staining identified fat in the control and fructose groups where no fat was identified by expert pathologists on H&E staining.Most of this fat was microvesicular.The two expert pathologists showed strong interobserver agreement (Pearson correlation R = 0.991, p ≤ 0.001).However, compared to ORO DIA, they overestimated the amount of fat for the high fat (71.6% vs. 46.2%)and high fat/fructose (71.9% vs. 47.0%)groups where there were large amounts of macrovesicular fat (p = 0.011 and p = 0.003).ORO DIA accurately reflects the liver triglyceride concentrations and is therefore an accurate reflection of liver steatosis (R = 0.706, p = 0.001).Conclusions: ORO staining can identify fat in cases where it cannot be seen on H&E staining.Although NAS is clinically valid, in research situations ORO DIA is warranted as the most reliable way to accurately assess liver steatosis and also give additional information on fat droplet size.

Background and Aims: In obesity, excess fat accumulates in ectopic tissues which may lead to mitochondrial injury and result in insulin resistance (IR), the main risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver.We aimed to correlate intramyocellular fat, mitochondrial function, IR and hepatic injury, in morbid obesity.Methods: Prospective recruitment of morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery, with liver and deltoid muscle biopsies.A normal control group with muscle biopsies was also included.IR was considered if HOMA≥3.Liver biopsies were scored using NAFLD Activity Score.Muscle morphology and mitochondrial function (citrate sinthetase, respiratory chain I-IV complexes activities) were evaluated.Results: 35 patients (24 with simple steatosis -group 1; 11 with NASH/significant lobular inflammation -group 2), and 34 healthy controls were included.Group 2 was older (50±7 vs 40±11 years, p = 0.002), had more frequently IR (90% vs 65%, p = 0.044) and metabolic syndrome (82% vs 67%, p = 0.010) than group 1; sex distribution and BMI were similar.Muscle biopsies: no difference between proportions of type 1/2 fibers, size or variability was found between obese and controls.Interfascicular and intramyocellular fat were more frequent in obese than controls (36% vs 0%, p < 0.001 and 68% vs 9%, p < 0.001), furthermore intramyocellular fat was more frequent in group 2 vs 1 (60% vs 22%, p = 0.057).Obese had more frequently COX negative myocytes (40% vs 6%, p = 0.001), glycogen accumulation (37% vs 0%, p < 0.001) and less frequent mitochondrial aggregates (49% vs 79%, p = 0.012), but no such differences were found between obese groups.No differences between controls and obese in mitochondrial enzymes activity, however group 2 presented higher complex III (cytochrome c reductase) activity compared to group 1 (105±47 vs 68±33, p = 0.022).Citrate synthetase and complex III associated to IR (124±28 vs 90±30, p = 0.014 and 87±35 vs 61±29, p = 0.070).Conclusion: Obesity associates to lipid accumulation in the muscle, which if intracellular correlates to hepatic necroinflammation.A defect in muscle mitochondria was not apparent in obese regardless of liver histology.In fact, obese, particularly NASH patients, showed increase of mitochondria (citrate synthetase) and its activity (cytochrome c reductase), probably a compensatory response to fuel overload.

Background and Aims: Histological definition of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), in morbidly obese patients, is controversial, being the most accepted classifications the one proposed by Matteoni et al.(MC) and the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS).We aimed to compare both classifications, analyzing factors related to NASH.Methods: Morbidly obese patients submitted to bariatric surgery were consecutively and prospectively recruited.Other causes of liver disease and alcohol intake >20 g/day were excluded.Surgical liver biopsies were evaluated using Matteoni et al. (MC) and the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS).Results: 40 patients, 3 men; age: 42±12 years; body mass index (BMI): 47±9 kg/m 2 .Steatosis (>5%), was present in 95%; fibrosis in 97.5%, severe in 10%, one patient presenting with unexpected hepatic cirrhosis.With MC, NASH was diagnosed in 4 patients, simple steatosis in 18 patients, and 16 patients were classified in the controversial group 2 (steatosis plus inflammation without criteria of NASH).With NAS, definitive diagnosis of NASH was made in 8 patients, exclusion of NASH in 21 patients, 11 remaining unclassified.Inter-rater agreement between both classifications, when categorized in 3 subgroups, definitive NASH (NAS 5/MC 3 and 4), unclassified (NAS 3-4/MC 2) and exclusion of NASH (NAS < 3/MC 1), was 0.77 (p = 0.123).Group 2 of MC occurred in all subgroups of NAS.NASH diagnosed by either MC or NAS associated to increases in aminotransferases levels, hypertriglyceridaemia, a higher HOMA and a greater number of metabolic syndrome features (p < 0.05).All patients with NASH (MC or NAS) had evidence of insulin resistance (HOMA 3) and criteria for metabolic syndrome ( 3 features) (p < 0.05).Both classifications associated to steatosis severity, but only MC NASH with fibrosis severity.Conclusion: MC and NAS classifications presented only a moderate agreement in respect to the diagnosis of NASH.Using NAS score, NASH was two fold more frequent than if MC was applied.MC correlated better to the severity of hepatic fibrosis, the main factor associated to more advanced disease, however a more significant percentage of patients are left on a rather undefined group of NAFLD.Applying either classification, NASH associated strongly with metabolic disturbances, in morbidly obese.

Although not curable, advanced breast cancer is treatable, however, treatment options are many and varied, and unlike early breast cancer (EBC), consistent guidelines are lacking. Breast cancer physicians were surveyed to assess the emotional impact of recurrence, factors affecting their treatment decisions, the role of guidelines in the management of advanced breast cancer and the need for new guidelines. Overall, distress levels were higher at recurrence than at first diagnosis of early breast cancer for both patients and physicians and the goal of treatment for this disease stage was to improve the patient's quality of life, delay disease progression and improve overall survival. While most respondents (96%) use the currently available guidelines, improvements are required, including the development of uniform global guidelines and recommendations for specific patient groups. Interactive computer programs and e-mail updates should also be utilised to ensure physicians are able to make fully informed decisions regarding optimum treatment.