Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Range images are images that store at each pixel the distance between the sensor and a particular point in the observed scene, instead of the colour information. They provide a convenient storage format for 3-D point cloud information captured from a single point of view. Range image segmentation is the process of grouping the pixels of a range image into regions of points that belong to the same surface. Segmentations are useful for many applications that require higherlevel information, and with range images they also represent a significant step towards complete scene reconstruction. This study considers the segmentation of range images into planar surfaces. It discusses the theory and also implements and evaluates some current approaches found in the literature. The study then develops a new approach based on the theory of graph cut optimization which has been successfully applied to various other image processing tasks but, according to a search of the literature, has otherwise not been used to attempt segmenting range images. This new approach is notable for its strong guarantees in optimizing a specific energy function which has a rigorous theoretical underpinning for handling noise in images. It proves to be very robust to noise and also different values of the few parameters that need to be trained. Results are evaluated in a quantitative manner using a standard evaluation framework and datasets that allow us to compare against various other approaches found in the literature. We find that our approach delivers results that are competitive when compared to the current state-of-the-art, and can easily be applied to images captured with different techniques that present varying noise and processing challenges. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Dieptebeelde is beelde wat vir elke piksel die afstand tussen die sensor en ’n spesifieke punt in die waargenome toneel, in plaas van die kleur, stoor. Dit verskaf ’n gerieflike stoorformaat vir 3-D puntwolke wat vanaf ’n enkele sigpunt opgeneem is. Die segmentasie van dieptebeelde is die proses waarby die piksels van ’n dieptebeeld in gebiede opgedeel word, sodat punte saam gegroepeer word as hulle op dieselfde oppervlak lê. Segmentasie is nuttig vir verskeie toepassings wat hoërvlak inligting benodig en, in die geval van dieptebeelde, verteenwoordig dit ’n beduidende stap in die rigting van volledige toneel-rekonstruksie. Hierdie studie ondersoek segmentasie waar dieptebeelde opgedeel word in plat vlakke. Dit bespreek die teorie, en implementeer en evalueer ook sekere van die huidige tegnieke wat in die literatuur gevind kan word. Die studie ontwikkel dan ’n nuwe tegniek wat gebaseer is op die teorie van grafieksnit-optimering wat al suksesvol toegepas is op verskeie ander beeldverwerkingsprobleme maar, sover ’n studie op die literatuur wys, nog nie gebruik is om dieptebeelde te segmenteer nie. Hierdie nuwe benadering is merkbaar vir sy sterk waarborge vir die optimering van ’n spesifieke energie-funksie wat ’n sterk teoretiese fondasie het vir die hantering van geraas in beelde. Die tegniek bewys om fors te wees tot geraas sowel as die keuse van waardes vir die min parameters wat afgerig moet word. Resultate word geëvalueer op ’n kwantitatiewe wyse deur die gebruik van ’n standaard evalueringsraamwerk en datastelle wat ons toelaat om hierdie tegniek te vergelyk met ander tegnieke in die literatuur. Ons vind dat ons tegniek resultate lewer wat mededingend is ten opsigte van die huidige stand-van-die-kuns en dat ons dit maklik kan toepas op beelde wat deur verskeie tegnieke opgeneem is, alhoewel hulle verskillende geraastipes en verwerkingsuitdagings bied.

Systems that utilise type-2 fuzzy sets to handle uncertainty have not been implemented in real world applications unlike the astonishing number of applications involving standard fuzzy sets. The main reason behind this is the complex mathematical nature of type-2 fuzzy sets which is the source of two major problems. On one hand, it is difficult to mathematically manipulate type-2 fuzzy sets, and on the other, the computational cost of processing and performing operations using these sets is very high. Most of the current research carried out on type-2 fuzzy logic concentrates on finding mathematical means to overcome these obstacles. One way of accomplishing the first task is to develop a meaningful mathematical representation of type-2 fuzzy sets that allows functions and operations to be extended from well known mathematical forms to type-2 fuzzy sets. To this end, this thesis presents a novel alpha-cut representation theorem to be this meaningful mathematical representation. It is the decomposition of a type-2 fuzzy set in to a number of classical sets. The alpha-cut representation theorem is the main contribution of this thesis. This dissertation also presents a methodology to allow functions and operations to be extended directly from classical sets to type-2 fuzzy sets. A novel alpha-cut extension principle is presented in this thesis and used to define uncertainty measures and arithmetic operations for type-2 fuzzy sets. Throughout this investigation, a plethora of concepts and definitions have been developed for the first time in order to make the manipulation of type-2 fuzzy sets a simple and straight forward task. Worked examples are used to demonstrate the usefulness of these theorems and methods. Finally, the crisp alpha-cuts of this fundamental decomposition theorem are by definition independent of each other. This dissertation shows that operations on type-2 fuzzy sets using the alpha-cut extension principle can be processed in parallel. This feature is found to be extremely powerful, especially if performing computation on the massively parallel graphical processing units. This thesis explores this capability and shows through different experiments the achievement of significant reduction in processing time.

Graph-partitioning problems can be generically defined as a family of problems in which we are asked to partition a graph into two or more components. We present overview of methods and concepts used to find best graph partitions according to several criteria. We prove duality of multi-commodity flow and sparsest cut problem due to work of Leighton and Rao by describing algorithm using a Linear programming relaxation and a geometric embedding. Then we present the work of Arora, Rao and Vazirani (ARV) and their algorithm based on Semidefinite programming relaxation and a geometric embedding. We also explain the concept of expander flows first introduced in the work of ARV. One section of our work is devoted to the spectral graph theory, introducing the concepts of the spectral gap, random walks, conductance and relations between them. We connect the ideas of expander flows and spectral theory in chapter about so called Cut-Matching game framework. Finally we present the performance results of our implementation of the Leighton-Rao and the Cut-Matching game algorithms. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Master of Science / Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Todd Easton / Integer programming (IP) is a class of mathematical models useful for modeling and optimizing many theoretical and industrial problems. Unfortunately, IPs are NP-complete, and many integer programs cannot currently be solved. Valid inequalities and their respective cuts are commonly used to reduce the effort required to solve IPs. This thesis poses the questions, do valid equality cuts exist and can they be useful for solving IPs? Several theoretical results related to valid equalities are presented in this thesis. It is shown that equality cuts exist if and only if the convex hull is not full dimensional. Furthermore, the addition of an equality cut can arbitrarily reduce the dimension of the linear relaxation. In addition to the theory on equality cuts, the idea of infeasibility conditions are presented. Infeasibility conditions introduce a set of valid inequalities whose intersection is the empty set. infeasibility conditions can be used to rapidly terminate a branch and cut algorithm. Applying the idea of equality cuts to the multi-demand multidimensional knapsack problem resulted in a new class of cutting planes named anticover cover equality (ACE) cuts. A simple algorithm, FACEBT, is presented for finding ACE cuts in a branching tree with complexity O(m n log n). A brief computational study shows that using ACE cuts exist frequently in the MDMKP instances studied. Every instance had at least one equality cut, while one instance had over 500,000. Additionally, computationally challenging instances saw an 11% improvement in computational effort. Therefore, equality cuts are a new topic of research in IP that is beneficial for solving some IP instances.

Orientador: Roberto de Oliveira Roça / Coorientador: Taciana Vilella Savian / Banca: André Mendes Jorge / Banca: Cyntia Ludovico Martins / Banca: Sérgio Bertelli Pflanzer / Banca: Cristiana Andrighetto / Resumo: Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da imunocastração sobre parâmetros de desempenho, 60 bovinos foram terminados por 90 dias em confinamento, sendo 30 Nelores e 30 cruzados (50% Nelores x 50% Aberdeen Angus) divididos uniforme e aleatoriamente em 3 condições sexuais (não castrados, castrados cirurgicamente e imunocastrados). Os pesos vivos, ganho médio de peso diário, consumo de matéria seca, conversão alimentar, consumo de matéria seca em relação ao peso vivo, ganho de peso médio diário e eficiência alimentar foram obtidos. A interação entre as condições sexuais e os grupos genéticos foi significativa para peso vivo ao início e ao final do confinamento, conversão alimentar e eficiência alimentar. Dentro do grupo genético dos cruzados, os animais imunocastrados apresentaram pesos vivos médios, obtidos ao início e ao final do confinamento, semelhantes aos dos animais não castrados e superiores aos dos animais castrados cirurgicamente. Por outro lado, os Nelore apresentaram pesos vivos médios, obtidos ao início e ao final do confinamento, semelhantes aos animais castrados cirurgicamente e inferiores aos animais não castrados. Não foram encontradas diferenças no consumo de matéria seca, e consumo de matéria seca em relação ao peso vivo entre as condições sexuais. Os animais não castrados demonstraram maiores valores de ganho de peso médio diário do que os castrados cirurgicamente e os imunocastrados, sendo que esses últimos apresentaram ganho de peso médio diário semelhantes. Não foram encontradas diferenças nos valores médios de ganho de peso médio diário e consumo de matéria seca em relação ao peso vivo entre animais Nelore e cruzados. Entretanto, os animais cruzados apresentaram maior consumo de matéria seca quando comparados aos animais Nelore... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: With the objective of evaluating the effects of immunocastration on performance parameters , 60 animals were terminated 90 days confinement , 30 and 30 crossed Nellore ( Nellore 50 % x 50 % Aberdeen Angus ) uniformly and randomly divided in 3 sexual conditions (not castrated surgically castrated and immunocastrated ) . The live weight , average daily gain , dry matter intake , feed conversion , dry matter intake relative to body weight , average daily weight gain and feed efficiency were obtained . The interaction between sexual conditions and genetic groups was significant for body weight at the beginning and end of the experiment , feed conversion and feed efficiency . Within the genetic group of Crusaders , the immunocastrated animals showed average live weights obtained at the beginning and end of the experiment , similar to those of uncastrated animals and superior to those of surgically castrated animals . On the other hand, Nellore present average live weights obtained at the beginning and end of the experiment , similar to surgically castrated and uncastrated animals inferior to animals . No differences in dry matter intake and dry matter intake in relation to body weight between sexual conditions were found . The uncastrated animals showed higher values ​​of average daily weight gain than surgically castrated and immunocastrated , while the latter showed similar average daily gain weight. No differences were found in mean average daily gain and dry matter intake in relation to body weight between Nellore and crossbred weight... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Orientador: Flávio Dutra de Resende / Banca: Saulo da Luz e Silva / Banca: Otávio Rodrigues Machado Neto / Banca: João Marcos Beltrame Benatti / Banca: Laura Franco Prados / Resumo: Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do tempo de confinamento sobre o desempenho, ganho em carcaça e rendimento de desossa (padrão brasileiro) de tourinhos Nelore. Trezentos e sessenta animais (peso inicial= 389± 33.8 kg e 26 meses de idade) foram distribuídos em 36 baias (unidade experimental) para avaliar os tempos de confinamento, que consistiram em 61, 89, 117 e 145 dias. Foram utilizadas 9 baias por tempo de confinamento. Ao final de cada tempo de confinamento todos os animais foram abatidos. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados (o peso corporal inicial foi o critério de blocagem). As médias foram comparadas por contrastes ortogonais polinomiais, linear e quadrático, sendo considerado o nível de significância de 5% de probabilidade. Ao longo dos dias de alimentação os animais não diferiram no CMS, em kg/dia, porém quando expresso em porcentagem do peso corporal observou-se redução linear no consumo, no GMD, no GMDcar e nas EA e EAc a medida que o peso corporal aumentou linearmente (P < 0,0001). Os pesos de abate foram de 498, 533, 555 e 583 kg, para 61, 89, 117 e 145 dias de confinamento, respectivamente. Foram observados ganhos de 1,28, 1,21, 1,10 e 1,01 kg de carcaça/dia. O RC, RG e peso de carcaça final apresentaram comportamento quadrátido (P < 0,0001) com o aumento nos dias de alimentação. O RG foi de 71,2, 75,4, 77,7 e 75,4 % e o peso de carcaça foi de 285, 315, 336 e 354 kg, para os respectivos tempos de confinamento. A composição química foi influencia... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective was evaluate the effect of feedlot time on the Nellore young bulls performance, carcass gain and meat cust yield . Three hundred and fifty - two animals (initial body weight (BW) = 389 ± 33.8 kg and 26 months old) were assigned into 36 pens (experimental unit) where was evaluated the feedlot times, which consisted in 61, 89, 117 and 145 days. Da ta were obtained from all bulls into nine pens for each feedlot time. At the beginning of the study, nine animals were slaughtered (one representative of each weight block) to determine the initial carcass weight. The carcass daily gain was calculated as t he difference betwe en the final weight hot carcass and initial estimated by reference slaughter. Carcass gain ( CG ) expressed in percentage, is the amount of casing per unit weight gain. The datas were analized using orthogonal polynomial contrasts in a ran domized block design (blocked by initial body weight) in the SAS PROC MIXED (9.0). Significance was declared at P ≤ 0. 05 . During the feeding days the animals did not differ in the DMI, in kg / day, however when expressed as a percentage of body weight, a l inear reduction in consumption, ADG, ADG car and FE and FE c was observed as body weight increased linearly (P < 0.0001). There was a linear increase (P < 0.01) for BW with increasing feedlot time. Final body weights were 498, 533, 555 and 583 kg, in their f eedlot times. There were gains of 1.28, 1.21, 1.10 and 1.01 kg of carcass / day. The dressing percen... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Derome skog råvaruförsörjer fem sågverk i en tuff bransch med hård konkurrens. För att öka konkurrenskraften skall de testa värdehöjande avkap. Värdehöjande avkap innebär att kvalitetsfel kapas bort direkt i skogen av skördarföraren. Detta skall förutom ökande konkurrenskraft leda till högre timmerandel, mindre vrakandel, mer timmer snabbare och säkrare arbetsmiljö för entreprenörer som minimerar det manuella arbetet i skogen. Syftet är att undersöka om värdehöjande avkap ger en värdeökning samt att se vilka variabler som har störst betydelse för eventuell värdeökning. Data samlades in från en fältundersökning samt skördarens HPR- filer för att sammanställas via programmet Virkesvärde. Resultatet visade att användningen av värdehöjande avkap gav en positiv värdeökning. I fältundersökningen visades en 35 % värdeökning där värdehöjande avkap användes. Och via Virkesvärde visades en 43 % värdeökning i de fall där värdehöjande avkap förekom. Slutsatsen blev att begreppet värdehöjande avkap blev en värdehöjande handling samt att två variabler hade störst betydelse på värdeökningen, diameter samt kvalitetsklassen. / Derome forest´s main task is to provide five sawmills in the Derome Group´s industries with raw material from timber. To increase timber exchange from the forest they want to test value-adding cuts direct in to the forest. Value-adding cuts means that the harvester cuts off quality defects that lowers the value of the tree. Such quality defects is rot, buttress or crook. In this case, Derome forest wants to increase timber proportion, reduce wasted log, better timber quality and less disruptions at their industries. The purpose with this study is to investigate if the concept with value-adding cuts increases the value on individual logs and further increases all harvest. To investigate the value-adding cuts a quantitative method in shape of a field investigation was used to provide different data about the tree when value-adding cuts was applied. Except for the field investigation a program developed by Skogforsk called Virkesvärde was used to analyze the whole logging operation. The study was delimit to esclusively manage tree species used in Derome Group´s sawmills, spruce (Picea abies) and pine (Pinus sylvestris).In those cases where value-adding cuts were applied during the field investigation an average value increase was made with 39 SEK/tree and 35 % on the first stock. There is obvious connections between diameter, timber class and increase of value. A new timber proportion with 42,6 m3fub or 1,4 % was created from the analysis in Virkesvärde for the whole cutting operation. The value increase of the cutting operation was 43 % on the first stock on the trees where value-adding cut was applied. Price lists for different assortments from Derome forest was used in the calculations. In the field investigation there was value increases on lumps up to 18 dm. Only when the quality defects did not disappear the cut was unsuccessful. The result of the study gave a clear answer that value-adding cuts really was a value-adding action.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a utilização de características de carcaça avaliadas por análise de imagem, na região da 5ª e da 12ª costelas, para a estimativa do peso (PESPC) e percentagem (PERPC) da porção comestível em bovinos Nelore castrados e não castrados. Durante três anos consecutivos foram avaliadas carcaças de 206 animais da raça Nelore, sendo metade de animais castrados e metade não castrados (103 machos castrados e 103 machos não castrados) confinados por 56, 84, 112 ou 140 dias. Após o abate e resfriamento das carcaças, foram obtidas imagens digitais na região entre a 5ª e a 6ª costelas para avaliação da área do músculo Longissimus (AOL5), espessura de gordura subcutânea da 5ª costela (EGS5), espessura da gordura intermuscular (EGI5), espessura de costela (ESPCOST). Também foi obtida uma imagem digital na região entre a 12ª e a 13ª costelas para determinação da área de olho de lombo (AOL12) e espessura de gordura subcutânea (EGS12). Adicionalmente foram obtidos os pesos de carcaça fria (PCF), peso da gordura renal pélvica e inguinal (GRPI). O PESPC e a PERPC foram determinados através da desossa completa da meia carcaça de cada animal. O PCF aliado às características avaliadas na região da 5ª costela explicaram entre 96 e 97% do PESPC e entre 24 a 50%da PERPC. As características avaliadas na região da 12ª costela, aliadas ao PCF e percentagem de GRPI explicaram 93 a 95% do PESPC e entre 6 a 25% da PERPC, sendo que em machos castrados foi observado o menor coeficiente de determinação (R2=0,06). Quando foi realizada a validação das equações obtidas utilizando os dados obtidos na região da 5ª costela obtiveram-se menores coeficientes de determinação em relação aos observados durante a calibração. Características avaliadas por análise de imagem na região da 5ª costela podem estimar o rendimento dos cortes comerciais com acurácia semelhante às medidas obtidas na região da 12ª costela. / The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of carcass traits evaluated by image analysis, at 5th and 12th rib levels to estimate weight (PESPC) and percentage (PERPC) of retail cuts of castrated and non castrated Nellore cattle. During three consecutive years carcass traits of 206 animals of Nellore breed, 103 castrated and 103 non castrated males, fed for 56, 84, 112 or 140 days, were evaluated. After slaughter and carcass cooling, digital images were obtained between 5th and 6th ribs to evaluate the Longissimus muscle area (AOL5), backfat thickness (EGS5), intermuscular fat thickness (EGI5) and rib thickness (ESPCOST). A digital image between 12th and 13th ribs was also obtained to determine the Longissimus muscle area (AOL12) and backfat thickness (EGS12).Additionally cold carcass (PCF) and kidney, renal and inguinal fat (GRPI) weighs were obtained. The PESPC and PERPC were determined by completely deboning of all half carcass of every animal. The PCF plus carcass traits evaluatedat 5th rib level explained 96 to 97% of PESPC and from 24 a 50% of PERPC. Carcass traits evaluated at 12th rib level plus PCF and GRPI percentage explained 93 a 95% of PERPC and among 6 to 25% of PERPC, with a smaller determination coefficient observed in castrated males (R2=0.06). In the validation dataset equations using data obtained at 5th rib level where observed smaller R2 when compared to calibration dataset. Carcass traits evaluated by image analysis at 5th rib level can estimate retail cuts yield with similar accuracy than those obtained at 12th rib level.

Atualmente, a salmonelose representa uma das zoonoses de maior importância em Saúde Pública no mundo, em razão da alta endemicidade, mortalidade, e dificuldade do seu controle. No município de São Paulo, é possível encontrar diferentes realidades no que se diz respeito às boas práticas de produção e ao controle de qualidade dos produtos de origem animal, principalmente quando se considera os pontos de venda direta ao consumidor. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram avaliar a presença de Salmonella entérica em cortes de carne suína vendidos em mercados municipais, açougues e mercados de pequeno porte distribuídos nas cinco regiões do município de São Paulo. As estirpes isoladas foram caracterizadas quanto ao sorotipo, perfil de resistência a antimicrobianos, perfil genotípico através da eletroforese em campo pulsado (PFGE) e do polimorfismo do comprimento de fragmentos amplificados (AFLP). A partir dos 394 cortes de carne avaliados 6% foram positivos para o isolamento de S. enterica. Dentre os 111 estabelecimentos examinados, 14,4% apresentaram pelo menos um corte de carne positivo. Dentre as 60 estirpes selecionadas para caracterização, os sorotipos identificados foram Typhimurium (33,3%), London (26,7%), Brandenburg (10,0%), Schwaezengrund (8,3%), Derby (8,3%), Infantis (6,7%), Javiana (6,7%). A determinação da concentração inibitória mínima indicou as seguintes frequências de resistência antimicrobiana: azitromicina (100%), sulfametoxazol (98,3%), ampicilina (50%), cloranfenicol (41,7%), tetraciclina (40%), ácido nalidixico (21,7%), gentamicina (16,7%), trimetoprim (15%) e ciprofloxacina (5%). Todos os isolados foram sensíveis à cefotaxima, ceftazidima, meropenem e tigeciclina. Multirresistência foi identificada em 58,3% das estirpes avaliadas. A caracterização das estirpes pela PFGE e pelo AFLP revelou uma tendência a agrupar os isolados de acordo com a origem e com os sorotipos. A partir do sequenciamento do genoma de 11 estirpes foi possível identificar os STs, a presença de genes de resistência e de ilhas de patogenicidade. Os dados obtidos foram discutidos frente aos perfis descritos de estirpes de Salmonella entérica oriundas de criações de suínos e casos de infecção alimentar relatados no país e no exterior. / Currently, salmonellosis represents one of the most important zoonoses in Public Health in the world, due to the high endemicity, mortality, and difficulty of its control. In the city of São Paulo, it is possible to find different realities regarding good production practices and quality control of animal products, especially when considering the points of direct sales to the consumer. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the presence of Salmonella enterica in pork cuts sold in municipal markets, butchers and small markets distributed in the five regions of the city of São Paulo. Isolated strains were characterized for serotype, antimicrobial resistance profile, genotypic profile through pulsed field electrophoresis (PFGE) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). From the 394 meat cuts evaluated 6% were positive for isolation of S. enterica. Among the 111 establishments examined, 14.4% had at least one positive meat cut. Among the 60 strains selected for characterization, the identified serotypes were Typhimurium (33.3%), London (26.7%), Brandenburg (10.0%), Schwaezengrund (8.3%), Derby (8.3%), Infantis (6.7%) andJaviana (6.7%). Determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration indicated the following frequencies of antimicrobial resistance: azithromycin (100%), sulfamethoxazole (98.3%), ampicillin (50%), chloramphenicol (41.7%), tetracycline (40%), nalidixic acid (21.7%), gentamicin (16.7%), trimethoprim (15%) and ciprofloxacin (5%). All isolates were sensitive to cefotaxime, ceftazidime, meropenem and tigecycline. Multiresistance was identified in 58.3% of the strains evaluated. Characterization of the strains by PFGE and AFLP revealed a tendency to group the isolates according to the origin and the serotypes. From the genome sequencing of 11 strains it was possible to identify STs, presence of resistance genes and pathogenicityislands. The data obtained were discussed in relation to the described profiles of S. enterica strains from pig herds and cases of food infection reported in the country and abroad.

A produção do agronegócio brasileiro se faz competitiva em escala. No mercado mundial vendemos commodities e compramos produtos processados de maior valor agregado, despendendo recursos naturais e verba pública para gerar pouca riqueza para o país. É sabido que, nos últimos anos vem ocorrendo incremento da atividade aquícola nacional, mas apesar disso, a produção de pescado ainda apresenta cadeias produtivas pouco organizadas. Neste trabalho sugere-se o pirarucu como espécie de pescado apta a apresentar cadeia produtiva de produtos competitivos no mercado nacional de pescado de maior valor agregado. Foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas em 22 atores da cadeia produtiva do pirarucu cultivado, resultando em mais de 13 horas de diálogo para compreensão de quem são os atores, quais são os gargalos e quais são as potencialidades de um produto de alto valor agregado à base de pirarucu. Objetivando responder se partes nobres do peixe podem ser competitivas enquanto produto premium, as respostas foram categorizadas em: atores da cadeia produtiva, gargalos na produção, gargalos no mercado, potencialidades intrínsecas e potencialidades extrínsecas do produto. A conclusão alcançada foi que produtos de pirarucu (como filé e lombo congelados e embalados em pequenas porções) são produtos nobres e podem se tornar competitivos no nicho de mercado de pescado premium, caso seus gargalos sejam superados, uma vez que apresentam potencialidades intrínsecas e extrínsecas de grande valor para o consumidor. / Brazilian agribusiness is competitive in scale. We sell commodities and buy processed value added products, spending natural resources and public money doing this. In recent years there has a increase in the national aquaculture activity, but despite this, fish production still presents disorganized supply chain. In this work suggested that pirarucu is a fish capable to have competitive products in the national premium fish market. Were conducted semi-structured interviews in 22 players of the cultivated pirarucu supply chain production, resulting in more than 13 hours of dialogue to understand who the players are, what the constraints are, and what the potentialities are. In order to answer the question of whether the premium fish can be competitive as a product, the answers were categorized as: players, constraints in the production, constraints in the market, intrinsic potentialities and extrinsic potentialities. The conclusion reached was that pirarucu products (such as frozen fillet and loin) are premium products and can become competitive in the niche market of value-added fish, if their constraints are overcome, since they have intrinsic potentialities and extrinsic values to the consumer.