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The present study was conducted to determine the possible antioxidant protection of pequi oil (PO) against cyclic heat stress in broiler chickens and to highlight the application of PO as a promising additive in broiler feed. A total of 400 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to 2 × 5 factorially arranged treatments: two temperature-controlled rooms (thermoneutral—TN or heat stress—HS for 8 h/day) and five dietary PO levels (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, or 6.0 g/kg diet) for 42 days. Each treatment consisted of eight replicates of five birds. The results showed that HS increased glucose (p = 0.006), triglycerides (p < 0.001), and HDL (p = 0.042) at 21 days and reduced (p = 0.005) serum total cholesterol at 42 days. The results also showed that HS increased the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In contrast, PO linearly decreased AST (p = 0.048) and ALT (p = 0.020) at 21 and 42 days, respectively. The heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the birds under HS was higher than in those in the TN environment (p = 0.046). Heat stress decreased (p = 0.032) the relative weight of their livers at 21 days. The superoxide dismutase activity increased (p = 0.010) in the HS treatments in comparison to the TN treatments, while the glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver decreased (p < 0.001) at 42 days; however, the activity of catalase had no significant effects. Meanwhile, increasing the dietary PO levels linearly decreased plasma malondialdehyde (p < 0.001) in the birds in the HS environment. In addition, PO reduced (p = 0.027) the expression of Hsp 70 in the liver by 92% when compared to the TN treatment without PO, mainly at the 6.0 g/kg diet level. The expression of Nrf2 was upregulated by 37% (p = 0.049) in response to PO with the 6.0 g/kg diet compared to the HS treatment without PO. In conclusion, PO supplementation alleviated the adverse effects of HS on broilers due to its antioxidant action and modulation of the genes related to oxidative stress, providing insights into its application as a potential feed additive in broiler production.

Apresenta uma pesquisa desenvolvida com os alunos dos Cursos Superiores do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba - IFPB, com o objetivo de averiguar se a biblioteca dessa Instituição satisfaz as suas necessidades de informação. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se um questionário com perguntas abertas e fechadas. Procurou-se saber quais os meios e as fontes utilizados por esses alunos quando buscam informações, quais suas necessidades de informação e se os recursos oferecidos pela Instituição atendem satisfatoriamente a essas necessidades. Os resultados demonstraram que as fontes de pesquisas disponíveis na Instituição são insuficientes, em quantidade e qualidade, enfatizando, ainda, muitas dificuldades de acesso e de uso das informações existentes.This paper presents a survey with the students ofthe university studies from CEFET-PB with the aim of investigating if the library of this instÍtution meets the needs of information of that student group. Data was collected through a questionnaire with multiple-choice and open questions. It sought to know the means and sources utilized by those students in their search for information; what their needs for information are; and whether the resources offered by the institution fulfill those needs. The results demonstrated that the sources of researches available at the institution are insufficient, in quantity and quality, emphasizing many difficulties of access and use of the existing information.