Dehydrated Natural Feed for Cats: Influence on Apparent Digestibility Coefficient, Feces Scores, and Serum Immune, Antioxidant, and Metabolic Biomarkers

The present study aimed to determine whether natural dehydrated feed (DNF) can replace dry extruded feed while preserving the required daily intake, nutrient digestibility and benefits for immunity and antioxidant response in cats. The animals were divided into two groups of seven animals each. One group received DNF, and the other consumed commercial extruded dry feed (DCF). The experiment lasted 45 days and we measured daily consumption and collected blood and feces samples. The animals in the DNF group showed greater digestibility of fiber and mineral matter than DCF. Cats in the DNF group had a higher volume of feces. DNF cats had lower leukocyte and granulocyte counts and cholesterol levels. Serum enzymatic antioxidant responses and non-enzymatic were higher in DNF cats. Cats in the DNF group showed lower serum acute phase proteins in addition to a tendency toward a higher concentration of transferrin than in the DCF group. Fecal Escherichia coli and total coliform counts of cats fed DNF were higher than DCF. We conclude that the daily consumption of cats is adequate. This feed had greater digestibility of fiber and mineral matter, in addition to an improvement in antioxidant and immunological responses.

Tributyrin in the Diet of Lambs and Its Impacts on Energy Metabolism and Oxidative Status in the Liver and Intestine, as Well as the Fatty Acid Profile in Meat

This study aimed to determine whether adding tributyrin to the diet of lambs impacts health, energy metabolism, ruminal environment, and meat quality. Twelve lambs were used;the control group received a basal diet, while the tributyrin group received a diet with the additive mixed with concentrate (2 g/day/animal). The blood count was used for Leukocyte and lymphocyte counts, which were significantly higher in tributyrin-fed animals than in controls. The activity of the enzymes adenylate kinase and pyruvate kinase was higher in the liver and intestine of the tributyrin group than the controls;cytosolic creatine kinase activity was significantly higher in the intestine of lambs fed tributyrin. Glutathione S-transferase activity in the liver was significantly higher in animals in the tributyrin group. Superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in the intestine, with a lower protein carbonyl concentration in the tributyrin group. Bacterial activity through ruminal fluid collection was significantly lower when tributyrin was consumed, unlike the protozoan count, which was significantly higher in animals in the tributyrin group than in the controls. Tributyrin intake caused lower levels of short-chain fatty acids without changing the proportion of volatile fatty acids. The water retention capacity measured using an external compression method was significantly higher in the meat of the tributyrin group. The treatment affected some fatty acids in the meat, these acids were separated by chromatography where a lower amount of saturated fatty acids and a higher amount of monounsaturated fatty acids in the group that consumed tributyrin. These findings suggest that tributyrin in lamb diet alters blood and rumen environment biomarkers and improves the fatty acid profile of the meat.

Instrumentation of Infiltrometers with Arduino to Determine Soil Water Infiltration Rate

The intense mobilization of the soil inappropriately causes a reduction in the percentage of macropores and in the rate of soil water infiltration with reduction of crop yield. Due to the difficulty of using the Muntz concentric ring method, researchers have used mathematical models to estimate infiltration based on soil physical parameters such as, soil texture that does not reflect physical reality in relation to infiltration rate, leading to errors. To automate the use of the infiltrometer ring method, there are no hydrometers that record small flows in non-pressurized hydraulic systems, making it difficult to automate the method for field determination. For this purpose, six Muntz double rings were instrumented with an electromechanical system coupled to the “Tipin Buked” (weighbridge) with the ability to record flows from 8 cm3∙minute−1 on a memory card. The results indicate that the models of the regression equations describe 93% to 99% of the real values, showing the accuracy of the equipment. This work aimed to modify the Muntz method to reduce field work and automate the determination of water infiltration rate in the soil.

Development of Composites Sandwich Structures Using a Core Cork

Sandwich structures are comprised of two external faces/skins(usually made of synthetic fiber/resin)and a core between them,being lightweight and with high stiffness.The employment of composite materials such as engineering materials has achieved more space in various segments of the industry,due to the following properties found:low density,stiffness,resistance to abrasion,impact and corrosion developed along the technological advancement of materials.This study aimed to develop a composite structure sandwich with cork core using in the face resin unsaturated polyester and glass fiber material,in order to obtain a final material with improved mechanical and physical properties compared to a conventional composite,without core.The samples were obtained by pressing process for different volume percentage of glass fiber in order to evaluate the influence of this parameter on the behavior of the material.The different samples were mechanically analyzed using the tests by tensile,bending and hardness,revealing high efficiency,except for the bending test in which the sandwich composite showed lower values compared to the composite standard.It was also performed to test water absorption,thermal and acoustic insulation test achieving satisfactory results and proving the effectiveness of cork in the search for materials with insulating characteristics,thus enabling the use of cork as a raw material for this class of materials contributing to sustainability and helping to generate values and innovation.In addition,it functions as a great thermal and acoustic insulation.