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The complete requirements for early embryo development in vitro of the ovine and other domestic species remain unknown. Many studies have concentrated on new media, supplementation, and gas atmosphere formulations. A newer approach is to coculture early embryos with different cell types to provide the physico-chemical requirements for their development. In this study, oviduct epithelial (OEC) and dissociated embryo cell (DEC) growth were tested in minimum essential media (MEM) and RPMI. Media were supplemented with fetal calf serum (FCS) and equine derived serum (EDS). Fetal calf serum supported maximum cell confluence in OEC collected on day 3 and day 13 post-estrus. Although at a slower growth rate, DEC developed faster in FCS-supplemented media. Cell growth was slower for EDSsupplemented media in all treatments. As a result, FCS-supplemented media were used to evaluate early embryo growth in various coculture systems. In MEM + OEC, 67% of 1- to 1 0- cell embryos developed to the hatched blastocyst stage (following 8 days of culture). In MEM+DEC, 66% hatched after the same time period. In control treatments (no exogenous cell layers), all embryos degenerated. When early embryo development was compared between St.Croix and Targhee-type breeds in MEM+OEC and RPMI+OEC, no significant differences were observed. The improved results obtained with coculture systems may provide an important method for assessing the viability of embryos following micromanipulation techniques (such as splitting, gene transfer, or following long periods of freezing). The nature of the beneficial action of these coculture systems remains unknown.

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Despite repeated demonstrations of the dysfunctional effects of social defences in organisations, social defence theory's (SDT) problem of organisational change (Long, 2006) remains. Why? Can this be avoided? The research centres on a four-year coaching and consulting project within a multinational manufacturing company. Social defences appeared but a careful Tavistock action-research intervention failed. Despite Menzies’ (1960) 'sociological innovation' that social defences are more than psychic phenomena and get built into organisations, she did not explain how this happens or what to do. A review of the literatures and case study revealed problems with the theory and intervention. Clues from Trist, Emery and Jaques suggested that both sociological and psychological theories are needed, implying that social defences be re-examined as both causes and symptoms. The change literature proposes that organisational change is qualitatively different from individual and team change (the focus of SDT). We develop realist explanations of the causes of social defences along with forecasting of their consequences, while retaining Tavistock interpretive methods. The cultural theory (CT) of anthropologist, Mary Douglas, emerged as the preferred sociological resource. We reconceptualise social defences as 'informal institutions' carrying implicit rules, norms and 'ways of thinking' that generate consequences (feedback). CT posits that contending 'thought-styles' derive from Strong/Weak Social Regulation and Strong/Weak Social Integration (solidarity). Anxiety and social defences may be understood as directed against a prevailing thought-style and the practices it inspires: leading to either task-undermining or anxiety-circumventing behaviour in service of task. Together, SDT and CT improve our capacity for diagnosing and facilitating change. SDT recognises that social defences are forewarnings of unspecified troubles ahead, but does not explain or forecast what these might be. CT improves our forecasting of the effects of social defences. SDT assists CT in seeing anxiety and defences as significant evidence of cultural shifts and realigning of the organising logic of institutions. This thesis should appeal to leaders who prioritise 'financial' rationality; and to change agents concerned with reading 'emotional' warning-signs and enhancing an organisation's capacity to do things differently.

O estudo do relevo e sua relação com os solos que ocorrem na área de estudo no município de Canguçu/RS, objetiva promover uma análise detalhada e comparativa desses componentes naturais que condicionam o aumento ou a diminuição das potencialidades ou das limitações ao uso do solo no desenvolvimento dos sistemas de cultivo e criação. Para a realização do trabalho foram utilizadas imagens de satélite Quickbird (2008), trabalho de campo e de laboratório. O mapeamento, através da utilização do programa ArcGis com dados Aster GDEM – Global Digital Elevation Model que serviram para delimitar os compartimentos litológicos, geomorfológicos associados aos tipos de solos, resultou no mapa em escala 1:50.000. Dessa forma, nesse município, apesar dos mapeamentos anteriores identificarem apenas um compartimento geomorfológico (Planalto), pode-se subdividi-lo em relevo de Cristas e relevo de Colinas. Observa-se a ocorrência de Neossolos associados aos afloramentos rochosos e ao relevo de Cristas; Cambissolos e Argissolos localizados no relevo de Colinas e Gleissolos nas planícies próximas a rede de drenagem. Nesse sentido, identificou-se, nos resultados, que os solos localizados em relevo de Cristas sustentam, principalmente, os sistemas cultivo do fumo, do feijão e do milho que sofrem severas restrições em função da declividade, da baixa profundidade do solo, bem como, da sua pouca fertilidade. Nesse mesmo compartimento identificou-se o sistema de criação de gado bovino de leite. Já os solos localizados nas áreas de relevo de Colinas sustentam os cultivos do milho, da soja, do feijão e a citricultura, principalmente, bem como o sistema de criação de gado de corte e de leite. E o Gleissolo, que ocorre na Planície Aluvial do Rio Camaquã, sustenta o cultivo do arroz e o sistema de criação de gado de corte e leite. / The study of relief and its relation with the soils occurring in the municipality of Canguçu, Rio Grande do Sul, aims at doing a detailed and comparative analysis of those natural components that condition the rising or reduction of the potentialities or limitations to the use of soil for the development of systems of cultivation and livestock rearing. In order to carry out this research satellite images Quickbird (2008), fieldwork and laboratory tests were employed. Using the Programm ArcGis with data Aster GDEM – Global Digital Elevation Model – which served to delimitate the lithological and geomorphological compartments associated to the types of soil, the mapping of the area resulted in the 1:50.000 scale map. So, in spite of the fact that previous mappings identified only one geomorphological compartment (Plateau) in this municipality, it may be subdivided into ridge relief and hill relief. It is possible to verify the occurrence of Neosols associated to rocky outcrops and to ridge relief; Cambisols and Argisols located in the hill relief area; and Gleysols in the plains near the drainage system. In this sense, in the results it was found that the soils located in ridge relief support chiefly the farming systems of tobacco, bean and maize, which suffer hard restrictions due to declivity, to the low depth of the soil as well as to its low level of fertility. In this same compartment it was found the rearing of dairy cattle. On the other hand, the soils located in the areas of hill relief support mainly the farming of maize, soya, bean and citrus, as well as the rearing of beef and dairy cattle. As to the Gleysol, which appears in the alluvial plain of the Camaquã River, it supports rice culture and the rearing system of beef and dairy cattle.