https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/item/205 Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPDIA) 2026-04-11T22:16:45Z https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1180388 Título: Fetal programming through early weaning shapes the metabotype of Nelore heifers. Autoria: YASEEN, A.; GÔNGORA, A. L. dos S. M.; NISHIMURA, T. K.; RIBEIRO, G. H.; SANTOS, E. S. P.; NUNES, A. T.; HUSSAIN, T.; HAMEED, A.; COLNAGO, L. A.; LEME, P. R.; SARAN NETTO, A.; PUGLIESI, G.; CÔNSOLO, N. R. B. Conteúdo: This study investigated the effects of fetal programming induced by early weaning (EW) of the previous calf on the serum metabotype of Nelore heifers. A 2×2 factorial design was employed, considering maternal category (multiparous vs. second-parity) and weaning strategy [EW vs. conventional weaning (CW)]. A total of 55 heifers were evaluated, including 25 born to cows subjected to EW (15 multiparous, 10 secondparity) and 30 born to cows subjected to CW (15 multiparous, 15 second-parity). Serum samples were collected from heifers at an average age of 14 months prior to the initiation pf the fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol, and metabolomic profiling was conducted using ¹H-NMR spectroscopy. Data analysis was performed using R software and MetaboAnalyst 6.0. The effects of weaning strategy and maternal category were assessed through partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and differential abundance analysis, while enrichment analysis was applied to identify biological pathways associated with the observed metabolic changes. The results demonstrated significant effects of weaning strategy, maternal category, and their interaction on the serum metabotype. Heifers born to second-parity cows subjected to EW exhibited elevated concentrations of glutamate, acetate, citrate, and hippurate compared to those subjected to CW, whereas no significant differences between weaning strategies were observed in heifers born to multiparous cows. Weaning strategies modulated metabolic pathways related to energy metabolism, amino acid utilization, and gluconeogenesis. Furthermore, heifers born to multiparous cows displayed higher serum levels of phenylalanine, creatine phosp and glutamine, indicating enhanced nutrient availability for growth, development, and metabolic programming compared to their counterparts born to second-parity cows. These findings underscore the potential of EW to improve metabolic efficiency and nutrient reallocation, particularly under conditions of limited feed availability or heightened physiological demands. Overall, this study offers valuable insights into the metabolic programming of beef cattle, supporting strategies to optimize weaning protocols and enhance productivity in cattle production systems. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1180374 Título: Impact of Tenderness, Intramuscular Fat, and Metabolites on the Sensory Quality of Nellore Beef. Autoria: RODRIGUES, R. C.; BALDASSINI, W. A.; TAGIARIOLLI, M. A.; COUTINHO, M. A. S.; ROVADOSCKI, G.; CONSÔLO, N. R. B.; OCAMPOS, F. M. M.; COLNAGO, L. A.; TORRECILHAS, J. A.; GUILHERME, L. P.; PEREIRA, G. L.; CURI, R. A.; TORRES, R. N. S.; MACHADO NETO, O. R.; CHARDULO, L. A. L. Conteúdo: This study evaluated the influence of tenderness, intramuscular fat (IMF), and the metabolomic profile on the sensory quality of Nellore beef. Longissimus thoracis samples (n = 280) were analyzed for Warner−Bratzler shear force (WBSF), IMF, color, pH, cooking loss, and water retention. Four contrasting groups (n = 15) were formed: −WBSF−IMF (6.21 ± 0.14 kg; 0.76 ± 0.03%), +WBSF+IMF (8.26 ± 0.17 kg; 2.35 ± 0.15%), −WBSF+IMF (5.68 ± 0.18 kg; 2.54 ± 0.15%), and +WBSF−IMF (8.41 ± 0.1 kg; 0.85 ± 0.08%). Metabolomic profiles were assessed by NMR spectroscopy. Consumer evaluations indicated that −WBSF− IMF samples achieved the highest palatability scores, associated with elevated acetyl-carnitine, while +WBSF−IMF showed higher inosine-5′-monophosphate. Enriched metabolic pathways distinguished groups, particularly fatty acid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolism. Overall, tenderness, IMF, and metabolites shaped consumer preference: tender, lean beef scored highest, whereas tougher, high-IMF beef ranked second and was characterized by glutamate, creatinine, malonate, acetate, betaine, and leucine. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1180391 Título: Colorimetric Detection of Nickel Ions Using Bacterial Nanocellulose Paper-Based Strips. Autoria: SANTANA, A. A. P.; SANTOS, J. F. dos; SILVA, J. de O. S.; TEODORO, K. B. R.; CORREA, D. S.; SANTANA, R. M. M.; MERCANTE, L. A. Conteúdo: Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has proven to be an excellent platform for developing sustainable optical (bio)sensors due to its exceptional properties, including optical transparency, high porosity, and large surface area. These features enable uniform dye distribution, thereby mitigating issues commonly found in paper-based devices, such as low dye immobilization and non-uniform color response. Herein, we report a simple, affordable (∼$0.03/strip) BNC-based colorimetric strip for detecting Ni2+ ions using digital image analysis. The strips were prepared by functionalizing BNC membranes with the dye 4-(2-thiazolylazo)resorcinol (TAR), a complexing agent widely used for the detection of metal ions. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the presence of a porous, interconnected nanofiber network and a hydroxyl-rich surface, which enabled effective and uniform dye incorporation. The BNC@TAR strips exhibited a linear response up to 10 mg L−1 and a limit of detection of 0.18 mg L−1 . The sensor fabrication process was highly reproducible, and the strips exhibited long-term stability, maintaining their analytical performance even after 40 days of storage. The strips were also applied to real water analysis, yielding recovery values ranging from 93.1% to 103.4%. These findings support the potential of BNC as a sustainable substrate for developing low-cost, disposable colorimetric sensors for on-site environmental monitoring. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/1179501 Título: Microencapsulation of Bacillus subtilis by spray-drying using starch hydrolysates with different dextrose equivalent values. Autoria: LOPES, M. M.; FARINAS, C. S.; BUENO, M. M.; GARCIA-MORENO, P. J.; GUADIX, E. M. Conteúdo: Sustainable agricultural practices require innovative solutions to enhance productivity while reducing environmental impact. The use of plant growth-promoting microorganisms, such as Bacillus subtilis, as biofertilizers is a promising strategy. However, ensuring cell viability during storage and under field conditions remains a challenge. This study investigates the encapsulation of B. subtilis via spray-drying using starch hydrolysates with different dextrose equivalent (DE) values (DE-8, DE-18, and DE-38) as wall materials. Encapsulation efficiency was approximately 80 % for all formulations. The DE values influenced microcapsule morphology and cell release profiles, with higher DE materials producing smoother, smaller, and more homogeneous particles. The microcapsules effectively protected cells against high salinity and acidic pH stresses. Thermal stability was significantly improved with DE-18 and DE-38, maintaining over 95 % viability after 72 h at 50 ◦C. Under UV exposure, DE-18 demonstrated superior protection. Storage stability tests confirmed enhanced longevity for encapsulated cells compared to free bacteria, with higher DE microcapsules demonstrating better resilience to elevated temperatures. These findings highlight the potential of starch-based microencapsulation to improve biofertilizer performance, ensuring microbial survival and efficacy in diverse environmental conditions. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z