Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Current responsibilities acquired by local governments of the country have brought the creation of a new sector within the General Comptroller’s Office (CGR), called Municipal Services, which carries out the oversight of budget management.

Study area formed by five cantons of Puntarenas province located in southern Costa Rica, namely: Buenos Aires, Osa, Golfito, Coto Brus, Corredores. Two of these cantons with peculiarity of forming part of national border, such is the case of Coto Brus and Corredores bordering Panama.

Administration of a road system based on a series of basic premises, always present as guarantee and requirement to achieve excellence and efficiency in management of a road and highway network.

Bituminous surface treatments (BST) built worldwide on a considerable percentage of total roads open to traffic year-round. Their low cost and possibility of execution using a wide range of local materials make these coatings very important, especially for light or medium traffic roads in rural areas. When construction done with appropriate equipment, result is first-quality pavement.

The effects of turmeric, ginger, and garlic powders on the performance, blood profile, serum biochemistry, and antioxidant properties of 64-week-old laying hens were evaluated. The study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Department of Animal Production and Health, The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Nigeria. A 12-week feeding trial was conducted with a total of 135 Isa Brown laying hens, arranged in a completely randomized design. Five diets were formulated for the prosecution: Diet 1 (control); Diet 2 (3.00% addition of turmeric); Diet 3 (3.00% addition of ginger); Diet 4 (turmeric and garlic at 2.25% and 0.75%, respectively); and Diet 5 (ginger and garlic at 2.25% and 0.75%, respectively). The proximate compositions of the phytogenic feed additives (PFAs) were determined as follows: moisture (5.03 – 7.50%); ash (3.26 – 6.11%); ether extract (7.39 – 14.58%); crude fiber (10.28 – 13.79%); crude protein (3.07 – 7.23%); and nitrogen-free extract (58.88 – 61.54%). The performance indices were not significantly influenced by the test diets (p> 0.05), except for hen-day production (HDP). The lowest HDP (57.50%) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (2.37%) were observed in Diet 4. No significant differences were recorded among the haematological parameters and biochemical indices (p > 0.05). Glutathione peroxidase (GSH) activity was significantly highest (2.02 μM/mL) in birds fed Diet 2 (p < 0.05). The activities of catalase (0.80 μM/mg protein) and superoxide dismutase (60%) were significantly (p < 0.05) highest in birds on Diet 5. The results of this study indicate that PFAs do not exert adverse effects on the health of older laying hens; on the contrary, they help maintain productive performance and improve serum and antioxidant profiles.

El estudio, realizado en el estado de Campeche, México, tuvo como objetivo evaluar las características fisicoquímicas y organolépticas de ensilados de calabaza chihua (Cucurbita argyrosperma) suplementados con urea y follaje de Leucaena leucocephala, así como su preferencia de consumo por bovinos. Se analizaron cuatro tratamientos: T0 (testigo, conformado por residuo de calabaza chihua y heno), T1 (residuo de calabaza chihua, heno y follaje de Leucaena leucocephala), T2 (residuo de calabaza chihua, heno y urea) y T3 (residuo de calabaza chihua, heno, follaje de Leucaena leucocephala y urea). La evaluación fisicoquímica incluyó la medición de temperatura, pH y contenido de materia seca (MS), mientras que la evaluación organoléptica consideró olor, textura, humedad y color. Además, la preferencia de consumo se determinó en tres toros machos. El T1 presentó la mayor temperatura (23,7 °C) en comparación con el T0 (22,8 °C). Sin embargo, los tratamientos T1 y T3 mostraron un pH superior a 6. Todos los ensilados tuvieron contenidos de MS entre 32% y 36%. En cuanto a la evaluación organoléptica, los tratamientos mejor calificados fueron el T0, seguido de T1, mientras que el T2 obtuvo la peor calificación. En la prueba de preferencia, el T1 fue consumido casi en su totalidad, mientras que el T2 tuvo un consumo mínimo. Los resultados indican que la adición de follaje de Leucaena leucocephala a ensilados de calabaza chihua mejora sus características fisicoquímicas y organolépticas, además de aumentar la aceptación por parte de los bovinos.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of including porcine heart and kidney in the diet on the growth and reproductive performance of Guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata). The experiment was conducted over eight weeks (March to May 2023) at the Aquaculture Module of the Alfredo Volio Mata Experimental Station (EEAVM), in Cartago, Costa Rica. Four treatments were tested, each with 64 fish (average age: 45 days post-hatching; male-to-female ratio: 1:3): control group (100% commercial Guppy feed - AB), T1 (100% Tilapia feed), T2 (49.9% Tilapia feed + 50.1% porcine heart), and T3 (46.0% Tilapia feed + 54.0% porcine kidney). After 15 days of acclimation, fish were randomly distributed into tanks with a closed recirculation system. Total weight gain (TWG) was measured biweekly, and standard length (iSLE) was recorded at the beginning and end of the experiment. Feed intake was monitored to calculate Fulton’s condition factor (K), thermal growth coefficient (TGC), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), mortality, fecundity, and age at first birth. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between T1 and the other treatments for TWG (g) (AB: 0.46; T1: 0.24; T2: 0.47; T3: 0.50), iSLE (mm) (AB: 8.15; T1: 4.77; T2: 8.10; T3: 8.97), TGC (AB: 0.18; T1: 0.11; T2: 0.18; T3: 0.19), SGR (%) (AB: 2.03; T1: 1.37; T2: 2.09; T3: 2.21), and FCR (AB: 1.65; T1: 3.10; T2: 1.82; T3: 1.60). No significant differences were found in reproductive variables (p > 0.1). The results suggest that porcine heart and kidney have a nutritional value comparable to commercial feed and may serve as cost-effective alternatives for guppy nutrition.

Reproduction is basic for any livestock production system, and reproductive biotechnologies help in farm management. The use of two synchronization protocols for timed artificial insemination (TAI) with (P4E2) and without (GnRH-PG) estradiol in heifers (30 Brahman and 30 Simbrah F1) was evaluated. Ultrasonography was performed on the protocol's application days and 7 days post-TAI to evaluate the ovarian response. Blood samples were collected from 24 heifers in the experiment to assess progesterone concentrations during and after the synchronization protocol for TAI. Pregnancy outcomes were determined on day 35 post-breeding. Additionally, a field trial was conducted using the same experimental protocols, focusing solely on pregnancy assessment. Regarding the response in ovarian activity, animals treated with P4E2 presented a greater number of class 3 follicles on days 7 and 9 than those treated with GnRH-PG (p = 0.0413). While, on the same days, in the total number of class 1 follicles (TF1), animals synchronized with P4E2 presented less quantity than those synchronized with GnRH-PG (p = 0.0295). Regarding progesterone levels, there was no difference between treatments (p = 0.3483). For pregnancy diagnosis 1 (DP1), only animals belonging to the Simbrah F1 breed group got pregnant, and the cumulative pregnancy diagnosis (DPA) was affected by the breed group (p = 0.0169), not by the protocols. In both the experiment and the field trial, it was shown that the protocols had a similar performance in the evaluations carried out and in the percentage of pregnancy obtained in each protocol, which indicates that both protocols are viable for the synchronization of beef heifers for timed artificial insemination.

This study, conducted in Lara State, Venezuela, aimed to evaluate the effects of dolomitic lime treatment on Úveda pods to reduce secondary compounds (CSAs) and its impact on nutrient intake and digestibility in rabbit diets. The trial utilized iso-protein diets with varying inclusion levels of Acacia macracantha pods (Pam) and Acacia polyphylla foliage (Fap), alongside different levels of lime treatment (0.5% and 1.0%) on Pam. The experimental design was completely randomized with 5 treatments: T0 (commercial balanced feed); T1 (30.0% Cf, 2.0% vitamins and minerals (vit), 7.5% M, 45.0% Fap, and 15.5% Pam); T2 (30.0% Cf, 2.0% vit, 7.0% M, 45.0% Fap, and 16.0% Pam); T3 (30.0% Cf, 2.0% vit, 7.5% M, 30.0% Fap, and 30.5% Pam) and T4 (30.0% Cf, 2.0% vit, 7.0% M, 30.0% Fap, and 31.0% Pam). In this way, 5 repetitions per treatment: one rabbit/cage/experimental unit (Californian rabbit, 1.286 ± 0.045 kg of initial live weight). The trial lasted 12 days: 7 of habituation and 5 of collection. The study focused on evaluating the intake and digestibility of several nutrients: dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), cell wall content (neutral detergent insoluble fiber, NDF), and crude protein (CP). These variables were examined to assess the effectiveness of different dietary treatments in rabbits. Significant differences were found regarding DM intake. The highest was for T0 (141.0 g/animal/d), followed by T3 and T4, with 84.8 g/animal/d and 85.5 g/animal/d, respectively. The digestibility of DM and NDF had the highest values in T0 (69.3% and 51.8% in that order), followed by T3 (52.0% and 39.7%). Regarding CP, the highest digestibility was for T0 (81.8%), secondly by T3 (41.3%). This allows to conclude that lime treatment did not completely neutralize the enzymatic inhibitor of protein digestibility present in Pam, being the best treatment T0, and then processed food T3 and T4. Further studies are recommended to assess long-term impacts on growth and nutrient utilization.

This study aimed to explore roles of β-catenin, collagen&elastic fibers in progression of Oral Epithelial Dysplasia (OED) to oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Sixty paraffin wax blocks of oral mucosa were divided into: control (Group I), mild OED (Group II), severe OED (Group III), well differentiated SCC (Group IV), moderately differentiated SCC (Group V), poorly differentiated SCC (Group VI). The sections underwent staining using hematoxylin and eosin, histochemical stains and β-catenin immunostaining.  Group I revealed normal gingival tissue. Group II showed some basal and prickle cells with pleomorphic nuclei. Group III illustrated poorly demarcated cell membrane. Group IV showed keratinized epithelial islands. Group V was devoid of keratin pearls. Group VI showed dispersed epithelial cells. β-catenin-immunoreactivity was; strong membranous in Group I, moderate membranous, cytoplasmic and nuclear in Groups II&III, moderate nuclear and cytoplasmic in Group IV but strong in Groups V&VI. Collagen fibers were closely packed in Groups I&II, loosely packed in Groups III&IV, dispersed in Groups V&VI. Elastic fibers in Group I were apparently few & thin, abundant in Group II, numerous in Group III, short in Groups IV&V and thick in Group VI. β-catenin and elastic fibers were upregulated meanwhile collagen formation was downregulated towards progression from mild OED to poorly differentiated SCC.