• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2018

In Brazil, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is expanding and becoming urbanized, especially in non-endemic areas such as the State of Rio Grande do Sul. Considering that infected dogs are the main reservoir for zoonotic VL, this study evaluated the prevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, a new area of expansion of VL in Brazil. Serum and plasma from 405 asymptomatic dogs from the municipalities of Canoas (n=107), $S\tilde{a}o$ Leopoldo (n=216), and Novo Hamburgo (n=82) were tested for CVL using immunochromatographic ($DPP^{(R)}$) and ELISA $EIE^{(R)}$ assays (2 assays officially adopted by the Brazilian government for the diagnosis of CVL) and real-time PCR to confirm the results. There was no agreement among serological and real-time PCR results, indicating that the Leishmania infection in asymptomatic animals with low parasite load, confirmed by negative parasitological tests (smears and parasite culture), need to be evaluated by molecular methods. The prevalence of LVC in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, confirmed by real-time PCR was 4% (5.6% in Canoas and 4.6% in $S\tilde{a}o$ Leopoldo). The use of molecular method is essential for accurate diagnosis of CVL, especially in asymptomatic dogs in non-endemic areas.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.65.1-65.13
• /
• 2020

Background: Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) causes major economic losses in fur-bearing animal production. The control of most AMDV outbreaks is complex due to the difficulties of establishing the source of infection based only on the available on-farm epidemiological data. In this sense, phylogenetic analysis of the strains present in a farm may help elucidate the origin of the infection and improve the control and biosecurity measures. Objectives: This study had the following aims: characterize the AMDV strains from most outbreaks produced at Spanish farms between 2012-2019 at the molecular level, and assess the utility of the combined use of molecular and epidemiological data to track the possible routes of infection. Methods: Thirty-seven strains from 17 farms were partially sequenced for the NS1 and VP2 genes and analyzed phylogenetically with other strains described worldwide. Results: Spanish AMDV strains are clustered in four major clades that generally show a good geographical correlation, confirming that most had been established in Spain a long time ago. The combined study of phylogenetic results and epidemiological information of each farm suggests that most of the AMDV outbreaks since 2012 had been produced by within-farm reservoirs, while a few of them may have been due to the introduction of the virus through international trade. Conclusions: The combination of phylogenetic inference, together with epidemiological data, helps assess the possible origin of AMDV infections in mink farms and improving the control and prevention of this disease.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
• /
• v.22 no.3
• /
• pp.40-51
• /
• 2021

MLS (Mobile Laser Scanning) which is a scanning method done by moving the LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is widely employed to capture indoor PCD (Point Cloud Data) for floor plan generation in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) industry. The movement and rotation of LiDAR in the scanning phase cause deformation (i.e. skew) of PCD and impose a significant impact on quality of output. Thus, a de-skewing method is required to increase the accuracy of geometric representation. De-skewing methods which use position and pose information of LiDAR collected by IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) have been mainly developed to refine the PCD. However, the existing methods have limitations on de-skewing PCD without IMU. In this study, a novel algorithm for de-skewing 2D PCD captured from MLS without IMU is presented. The algorithm de-skews PCD using scan matching between points captured from adjacent scan positions. Based on the comparison of the deskewed floor plan with the benchmark derived from TLS (Terrestrial Laser Scanning), the performance of proposed algorithm is verified by reducing the average mismatched area 49.82%. The result of this study shows that the accurate floor plan is generated by the de-skewing algorithm without IMU.

• Journal of the Korean Mathematical Society
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.211-235
• /
• 2007

In this paper, first we introduce the full expression of the curvature tensor of a real hypersurface M in complex two-plane Grass-mannians $G_2(\mathbb{C}^{m+2})$ from the equation of Gauss and derive a new formula for the Ricci tensor of M in $G_2(\mathbb{C}^{m+2})$. Next we prove that there do not exist any Hopf real hypersurfaces in complex two-plane Grassmannians $G_2(\mathbb{C}^{m+2})$ with parallel and commuting Ricci tensor. Finally we show that there do not exist any Einstein Hopf hypersurfaces in $G_2(\mathbb{C}^{m+2})$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.29 no.8
• /
• pp.1120-1128
• /
• 2016

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of supplementation with nitrogen and starch on the nutritional performance of grazing cattle during the rainy season. Five rumen cannulated Nellore steers, averaging 211 kg of body weight (BW), were used. Animals grazed on five signal grass paddocks. Five treatments were evaluated: control (forage only), ruminal supplementation with nitrogen at 1 g of crude protein (CP)/kg BW, ruminal supplementation with starch at 2.5 g/kg BW, supplementation with nitrogen (1 g CP/kg BW) and starch (2.5 g/kg BW), and supplementation with nitrogen (1 g CP/kg BW) and a mixture of corn starch and nitrogenous compounds (2.5 g/kg BW), thereby resulting in an energy part of the supplement with 150 g CP/kg of dry matter (DM). This last treatment was considered an additional treatment. The experiment was carried out according to a $5{\times}5$ Latin square design following a $2{\times}2+1$ factorial arrangement (with or without nitrogen, with or without starch, and the additional treatment). Nitrogen supplementation did not affect (p>0.10) forage intake. Starch supplementation increased (p<0.10) total intake but did not affect (p<0.10) forage intake. There was an interaction between nitrogen and starch (p<0.10) for organic matter digestibility. Organic matter digestibility was increased only by supplying starch and nitrogen together. Nitrogen balance (NB) was increased (p<0.10) by the nitrogen supplementation as well as by starch supplementation. Despite this, even though a significant interaction was not observed (p>0.10), NB obtained with nitrogen plus starch supplementation was greater than NB obtained with either nitrogen or starch exclusive supplementation. Supplementation with starch and nitrogen to beef cattle grazing during the rainy season can possibly improve digestion and nitrogen retention in the animal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.225-229
• /
• 2018

Objective: This experiment was designed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with soybean or canola oil on milk production and the composition of long chain fatty acids as well as weight changes in the goats and their kids. Methods: Thirty nine mulitparous crossed Alpine${\times}$Nubian goats (initial body weight [BW] $43.5{\pm}1.7kg$) from the day of parturition were assigned to the treatments: grazing control (n = 15); grazing plus 20 mL/goat/d of supplemental soybean oil (n = 12); and grazing plus 20 mL/goat/d of supplemental canola oil (n = 12) from November 26, 2014 to March 7, 2015. The planned contrasts were: CI (control vs supplemented with oils); CII (soybean vs canola oil) to compare the treatment effects. Results: The vegetable oil supplementation reduced weight losses in lactating goats (CI: -0.060 vs 0.090 kg/d; p = 0.03) but did not improve milk production or affect kids' growth. The content of C4, C6, C8, C10, C11, C14, and C18:1n9t in the milk was increased (p<0.05) with respect to control. However, C12, C14, C16, C18, C18:1n9c, C18:2n6c, and C18:3n3 were reduced (p<0.05) in supplemented goats. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was increased (p<0.05) in goats supplemented with oils compared to the control group. Conclusion: Supplementation with 20 mL/d of soybean or canola oil did not affect milk production or kids' performance; however, it increased CLA concentration and reduced the reduced weight losses in lactating goats.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
• /
• v.75 no.2
• /
• pp.193-209
• /
• 2020

This paper presents a new hyperbolic shear deformation plate theory including the stretching effect for free vibration of the simply supported functionally graded plates in thermal environments. The theory accounts for parabolic distribution of the transverse shear strains and satisfies the zero traction boundary conditions on the surfaces of the plate without using shear correction factors. This theory has only five unknowns, which is even less than the other shear and normal deformation theories. The present one has a new displacement field which introduces undetermined integral variables. Material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent, and graded in the thickness direction according to a simple power law distribution in terms of the volume power laws of the constituents. The equation of motion of the vibrated plate obtained via the classical Hamilton's principle and solved using Navier's steps. The accuracy of the proposed solution is checked by comparing the present results with those available in existing literature. The effects of the temperature field, volume fraction index of functionally graded material, side-to-thickness ratio on free vibration responses of the functionally graded plates are investigated. It can be concluded that the present theory is not only accurate but also simple in predicting the natural frequencies of functionally graded plates with stretching effect in thermal environments.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.418-427
• /
• 2005

When inoculated into sensitive tobacco Xanthi-nn plants, the crucifer and garlic-infecting Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV-Cg) induces local necrotic lesions that resemble those seen in the hypersensitive response (HR) of resistant tobacco plants. However, unlike these, tobacco Xanthi-nn plants do not become resistant to infection and the virus spreads systemically causing a severe disease characterized by necrotic lesions throughout the plant. To identify the viral protein that elicits this necrotic response, we used a set of hybrid viruses constructed by combination of TMV-Cg and the tobacco mosaic virus strain U1 (TMV-U1). In this study we present evidence that the coat protein of TMV-Cg (CPCg) is the elicitor of the necrotic response in tobacco Xanthi-nn plants. Local and systemic necrotic lesions induced by TMV-Cg and by the hybrid U1-CPCg -that carries CPCg in a TMV-U1 context- are characterized by cell death and by the presence of autoflorescent phenolic compounds and $H_2O_2$, just like the HR lesions. In addition, defense-related genes and detoxifying genes are induced in tobacco Xanthi-nn plants after TMV-Cg and U1-CPCg inoculation. We postulate that in our system, CPCg is recognized by sensitive tobacco plants that mount an incomplete defense response. We call this an HR-like since it is not enough to induce plant resistance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.90-98
• /
• 2009

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a milling by-product diet and two sugar cane diets on the local Creole pig breed (CR). A total of 48 CR pigs (24 females and 24 castrated males) were randomly assigned to four different groups of 12 animals. Pigs were allotted to one of 4 dietary treatments: fed with a control soya-bean meal-corn diet containing 19.1% crude protein (CP) and 15.4 MJ DE/kg (diet 1), with an experimental milling by-product diet (soya-bean meal and wheat by-products) containing 19.4% CP and 13.0 MJ DE/kg (diet 2), with ground cane stalks (GCS) or with fresh sugar cane juice (SCJ). Both GCS and SCJ were supplemented with soya-bean meal complement (400 g/d of a 48.7% CP and 16.1 MJ DE/kg diet) in order to obtain diets 3 and 4, respectively. Pigs were fed close to ad libitum level and had free access to water. All the pigs were slaughtered at 65 kg BW. Between 30 and 65 kg BW, growth performance was significantly (p<0.001) affected by dietary treatments: average daily BW gain was 657, 530, 546 and 200 g/d for diets 1, 2, 4, and 3, respectively. Average daily DM intake was 1.8, 1.9, 2.5 and 1.4 kg/d for diets 1, 2, 4, and 3, respectively. Fat cuts (backfat+leaf fat) and backfat thickness were significantly lower on diet 3 than for other treatments (127 vs. 192, 166 g/kg of left half-carcass weight and 24.6 vs. 39.0, 35.3 mm for diet 3 vs. diets 1 and 4, and diet 2, respectively; p<0.001). The dressing weight was significantly lower on diets 2 (82.7 vs. 84.0%; p<0.001). The entire empty digestive tract (DT) weight was higher on diet 2 (73.1 vs. 66.7 g/kg empty BW). However, stomach and large intestine were more developed on diet 3: 12.8 vs. 9.3 g/100 g empty DT (p<0.001) and 26.4 vs. 23.8 g/100 g empty DT (p<0.05), respectively. In conclusion, this study suggests the CR pig has the ability to reach rather good growth and carcass performance with a well-formulated sugar cane meal and/or with a milling by-product diet refined according to its low requirements.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.21 no.10
• /
• pp.1416-1424
• /
• 2008

The objective of this research was to study the production and quality of forage at three different times of the year (April, June and July) of six winter cereals in the southern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. The cereals studied were Triticale (xTriticosecale wittm) cv. "Tritano", Oat (Avena sativa L.) cv. "Prevision" and cv. "Saia; Rye (Secale cereale L.) cv. "Giganton", Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cv. "Cameo" and cv. "Albacete". The study was carried out in three different locations and over three successive years of harvesting. The three variables considered were location, year and cereal. The % dry matter (DM), % crude protein (CP), % acid detergent fiber (ADF), % neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and % ash content were determined for the three sampling periods and the quality was calculated in milk forage units (MFU/kg DM), the production in kg DM/ha, MFU/ha and kg CP/ha. In all three sampling periods the quality of the cereals was significantly influenced only by the year and by species. However, for production of dry matter (kg DM/ha), milk forage units (MFU/ha) and gross protein (kg CP/ha) all three variables were of significant influence as were their interactions. In the April sampling, the species which showed a significantly higher production ($p{\leq}0.05$) was rye (1,693 kg DM/ha), which, along with its forage quality (16.56% CP, 0.886 MFU/kg DM) meant that the same occurred in MFU/ha and kg CP/ha. Significant differences between species were also found for the June sampling. The most productive cereal was again rye with 2,656 kg DM/ha, although its sharp fall in forage quality meant that barley cv Albacete (2,513 kg DM/ha) returned the highest production in forage units (1,934 vs. 1,951 MFU/ha) and barley cv. Cameo (2,413 kg DM/ha) in gross protein production (242 vs. 264 kg CP/ha). The significantly highest cereal production for July was barley cv. Albacete (4,923 kg DM/ha, 9.11% CP 0.722 MFU/kg DM). As a consequence of the results, we conclude that from the viewpoint of nutritional quality and production, rye is the most suitable for use in early spring in whatever year and location. However, barley cv. "Albacete" is the most appropriate for utilisation in later spring or early summer.