Psychopaths constitute only an estimated 1% of the population, yet they are responsible for a disproportionately large number of violent and nonviolent crimes. The literature addressing this syndrome among male offenders is quite extensive. In contrast, psychopathy and its underlying factor structure remains understudied among female offenders. Research has suggested marked gender differences in the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and underlying dimensions of psychopathy. This study examined the dimensions of psychopathy in a female offender sample. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised and the Self Report Psychopathy-II (SRP-II) were administered to 119 female inmates at Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, TX. Confirmatory factor analyses of the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) did not support the use of the traditional two factor male model or a recently proposed two- factor female model. This thesis also addressed females' self-appraisal of PCL-R Factor 1 characteristics as well as the usefulness of the self-administered Self-Report Psychopathy-II as a screen for psychopathy.

Sexual objectification has become a pervasive problem, negatively affecting the mental and physical health of many women. Understanding the influence of visual media, social-support networks and social interactions on young women's health is essential to addressing issues related to objectification. We do not have an in-depth understanding of how Black and White young adult women make meaning of objectification. Further, the existing literature suggests that experiences of objectification are likely different for Black and White women. The current research employed two studies, one qualitative and one quantitative, to address these particular gaps. Study 1 used focus groups to assess young Black and White women’s attitudes and experiences related to objectification. Four focus groups were conducted with university students, two with White women (N=11) and two with Black women (N=17). Results indicated that sexual objectification is a complex and unfortunate reality in the women’s daily lives; driven by the media, men and even other women. Participants’ immediate responses to objectifying experiences are multi-faceted and the potential consequences of long-term exposure can be detrimental to a woman’s well-being. Racial differences arose in relation to standards of beauty as well as examples of and reactions to objectifying experiences. Study 2 study assessed two different models of sexual objectification for White and Black women. Female, undergraduate and graduate students completed an online questionnaire about sources of objectification; 155 White women and 173 Black women were included in the analyses. The results suggest there are significant relationships between certain sociocultural sources of objectification, body image preoccupation and the associated consequences of depression, eating disturbances. Skin color dissatisfaction was an additional negative outcome for Black participants. The models for Black and White participants were not equivalent. Understanding how women experience sexual objectification and racial differences has implications for how objectification and related outcomes are measured. This information also has implications for developing appropriately tailored programming related to the objectification and psychological well-being of women. The information from these studies can hopefully be used to inform individuals of the risks associated with sexual objectification, as well as develop educational programs on college campuses.

<p>Obesity and overweight disproportionately impact Black American adolescent females—placing them at a lifetime of elevated physical health risks. Despite this burden, the literature that explores the contributors to obesity and overweight among Black American adolescent females remains limited and unclear. This dissertation aims to develop knowledge related to obesity and overweight in Black American adolescent females, by appraising the current understanding of factors that contribute to their obesity and overweight, and explicating the everyday social influences on dietary practices. The primary study conducted for this dissertation used a mixed method, multiple case study design to examine the mother, daughter, and other household contributors to Black American adolescent daughters’ everyday practices of food consumption, acquisition, preparation, and planning. Findings reveal the importance of understanding the complex and dynamic ways mothers and other household members contribute to a holistic view of everyday dietary practices among adolescent daughters. By deeply examining the nuanced ways the multiple cases varied, context-dependent knowledge essential to understanding the complicated health challenge of obesity was produced. Subsequently, recommendations are provided for health providers and scholars to more holistically approach and examine obesity—particularly among populations who are disproportionately affected.</p> / Dissertation

There is a lack of literature that has investigated the relationships between stereotype threat, impostor phenomenon, and other related constructs on career development, particularly for women in STEM. While various resources (National Science Foundation, 2013; Sax, Kanny, Jacobs, Whang, Weintraub, & Hroch, 2016; US Department of Labor, 2014) have highlighted the gender gap and “leaky pipeline” in STEM, it is important to further investigate and understand why these phenomena occur and continue to persist. In this study, I used a mixed methods approach which used a quantitative SEM analyses and qualitative interview to further examine the paths between chilly climate, impostor phenomenon, stereotype threat, science self-efficacy, fear of failure, fear of success, academic major satisfaction, and persistence in STEM in a sample of undergraduate females. Several hypotheses were formed in order to better understand the mediation effects of these variables upon one another. Stereotype threat was found to be endorsed at a lesser rate than anticipated, while impostor phenomenon was endorsed at a higher rate. Science self-efficacy was also found to play an important role in the predicted relationships among variables, relating to both academic major satisfaction and persistence. These quantitative results were supported by data gathered in qualitative interviews. Implications for research and practice around concerns of impostor phenomenon, stereotype threat, and fears of failure and success are discussed.

STUDENT NUMBER: 0301561E MASTERS OF EDUCATION FACULTY OF HUMANITIES-DISCIPLINE OF SPECIALISED EDUCATION / The purpose of this study was to examine whether: actual and ideal body mass index (BMI) scores, perception of a weight problem, racial identity, physical exercise, weight control behaviour and stage of pubertal development predict levels of global self-esteem in average academic achieving English speaking middle-class adolescent females. The sample consisted of 90 females, ranging in age from 13 years 3 months to 18 years 7 months who were attending Benoni High School. BMI was measured and desired BMI based on self-reported weight and height. Self-perception of having a weight problem was evaluated by one question: “Do you see yourself as having a weight problem?” Self-esteem was measured in two ways: firstly participants completed the Rosenburg Self-esteem Scale and secondly homeroom teachers were asked to give a score of global self-esteem. A significant association was found between global self-esteem and: a perceived weight problem, actual BMI and race. No significant association was found between global self-esteem and: weight control behaviour; physical exercise, age of menarcheal onset and ideal BMI. KEY WORDS Global self-esteem, adolescent females, BMI, racial identity, weight control behaviour, physical exercise and pubertal development

A hipóxia crônica intermitente (HCI) promove hipertensão arterial e aumento da atividade simpática em ratos jovens. Nestes animais, o aumento da atividade simpática ocorre durante uma fase específica da respiração e está correlacionada com o aumento da atividade expiratória. Estas evidências mostram que, após a HCI, os ratos jovens desenvolvem alterações no acoplamento simpático-respiratório, um mecanismo que pode contribuir, pelo menos em parte, para o desenvolvimento da hipertensão observada nestes animais. Em diversos modelos experimentais de hipertensão, os níveis de pressão arterial são menores nas fêmeas do que nos machos, portanto elas são resistentes ao desenvolvimento da hipertensão. Levando em conta essas informações, a hipótese do presente projeto foi a seguinte: fêmeas submetidas à HCI seriam resistentes ao desenvolvimento da hipertensão arterial. Para tanto, ratas jovens e adultas foram submetidas à HCI e seus parâmetros cardiovasculares e respiratórios foram avaliados na condição dos animais acordados e com livre movimentação. Além disso, as alterações na atividade simpática e respiratória também foram avaliadas na preparação coração tronco-cerebral isolados. Os resultados mostram que as fêmeas desenvolvem hipertensão semelhante aos machos submetidos ao mesmo protocolo, contudo as alterações no acoplamento entre a atividade simpática e respiratória são diferentes entre os sexos. Estes dados sugerem que embora os machos e fêmeas desenvolvam um nível similar de hipertensão após a HCI, os mecanismos envolvidos na geração da atividade simpática podem ser diferentes. / Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) produces hypertension and sympathetic overactivity in juvenile male rats. The increase in sympathetic activity occurs during the expiratory phase of respiration, which is correlated with an augmented expiratory activity. This information indicates that after CIH, juvenile rats develop changes in the respiratory sympathetic-coupling, which could explain, at least in part, the hypertension observed in these animals. Female rats are known to be more resistant to the development of hypertension in several experimental models of this pathology. Take in consideration these facts, we hypothesized that female rats exposed to CIH were resistant to the development of hypertension. To test this hypothesis, we studied the cardiovascular and respiratory changes in female rats after the CIH in awake freely moving condition. In another group of animals, we studied the sympathetic and respiratory activity in female rats after the CIH, using for this, the working heartbrainstem preparation. The results show that juvenile female rats develop hypertension similarly to that observed in juvenile male rats submitted to the same protocol. However, juvenile female rats presented changes in the respiratory-sympathetic coupling different from that observed in juvenile male rats. Together, these results suggest that even if the level of hypertension after CIH is similar between males and females, the mechanisms underlying the generation of sympathetic overactivity are different.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo identificar a soroprevalência da leptospirose bovina no Estado de São Paulo, estratificado em sete regiões produtoras. Foram utilizados o delineamento estatístico, as amostras sorológicas e as informações contidas nos questionários empregados no Programa Nacional de Brucelose e Tuberculose (PNCEBT) instituído pelo Ministério de Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA, 2001), levando-se em consideração a utilização de fêmeas bovinas com idade igual ou superior a 24 meses, excluindo-se os machos, os diferentes tipos de produção, as práticas de manejo, as finalidades de reprodução, o tamanho dos rebanhos e o sistema de comercialização. Realizou-se a Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM) em 8.216 amostras sorológicas provenientes de 1021 propriedades. Os resultados da SAM foram confrontados com os possíveis fatores de risco e ocorrência de abortamentos. A infecção por Leptospira spp. está presente em todo o Estado de São Paulo, com soroprevalência de 49,4%, distribuída pelas sete regiões em que o estado foi sub-dividido, a prevalência por propriedade foi de 71,3% , a prevalência dos sorovares estabelecida por animal foi Hardjo (46%), associação dos sorovares Hardo e Wolffi (21%) , sorovares Shermani (8,9%), Autumnalis (4,46%) e Grippotyphosa (3,9%), a prevalência dos sorovares estabelecida por propriedade foi Hardjo (55,18%), associação dos sorovares Hardo e Wolffi (20,18%), sorovares Shermani (7,97%), Grippotyphosa (4,41%) e Autumnalis (3,17%). Denota-se que a distribuição da Leptospira sorovar Hardjo é praticamente homogênea em todas as regiões do estado de São Paulo e independente do tipo de exploração, manejo e das práticas de reprodução adotadas nos rebanhos. O tamanho do rebanho, a compra de animais, o compartilhamento de pastagem, a criação de ovinos e suínos e o uso de inseminação artificial foram apontados como fatores de risco em algumas regiões do estado, entretanto os fatores - tamanho de rebanho e uso de inseminação artificial- foram discutidos e devem considerados com cautela. A utilização de piquetes maternidade constituiu-se num fator de proteção contra a leptospirose e não houve correlação entre a ocorrência de abortamentos elacionados à infecção por qualquer sorovar de Leptospira spp., com exceção da região 3 onde este fator despontou significativamente. / The objective of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of bovine leptospirosis in São Paulo State, stratified in seven cattle production regions. It was based on the statistic delineation, the serological samples and the responses of the survey employed on National Program for Control and Eradication of Brucelosis and Tuberculosis established by Ministry of Agriculture (2001). From the herds selected it was serologically analyzed only the cows &ge; 24 months old, excluding the males. It was taking into consideration the herd size, the type of productive exploration, reproductive handling, bovine practices and the commercialization system. Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was applied on 8,216 serum samples from 1,021 different farms. The MAT results were analyzed against the possible risk factors and reproductive disorders due to leptospire infection. It was evidenced that leptospire infection occurs all over the seven regions of São Paulo, with 49,4% animal seroprevalence and 71,3% herd seroprevalence. Serovar Hardjo (46,4%) was the prevalent considering all the animaIs examined, followed by Hardjo/Wolfti association (21%), Shermani (8,9%), Autumnalis (4,46%) and Grippotyphosa (3,9%). Herd seroprevalence was Hardjo (55,18%), Hardjo/Wolfti association (20,18%), Shermani (7,97%), Grippotyphosa (4,41 %) and Autumnalis (3,17%). Serovar Hardjo is present in all regions of the State of São Paulo and its occurrence is independent of the handling conditions and reproductive practices adopted in the herds. Herds with &ge;.24 animaIs, introduction of new animaIs, contact or pasture shared with other animal species as ovine and swine and the use of artificial insemination were considered risk factors for leptospirosis infection. The existence of specific calving area in the farm was associated as a preventive measure for leptospirosis. In this study it was not observed correlation of any Leptospira spp. sorovars infection and serologic MAT status with the abortion; except in region 3, where it was significant.

A presença do marsúpio fechado possibilitou aos isópodos terrestres a total independência do meio aquático para a reprodução, permitindo aos mesmos a colonização de habitats terrestres variados. Em seu interior, a prole é nutrida e oxigenada através de estruturas temporárias, chamadas cotilédones, as quais surgem durante o período ovígero das fêmeas e são exclusivas do grupo Crinocheta. O presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever padrões dos cotilédones, analisados em 37 espécies de isópodos terrestres distribuídas entre as famílias: Agnaridae, Armadillidae, Armadillidiidae, Balloniscidae, Bathytropidae, Detonidae, Dubioniscidae, Philosciidae, Platyarthridae, Porcellionidae, Pudeoniscidae, Scleropactidae e Trachelipodidae, verificando se ocorre variação de comprimento ao longo das fases de desenvolvimento embrionário, sendo que para isto foram selecionadas seis espécies: Armadillidium nasatum, A. vulgare, Atlantoscia floridana, Balloniscus sellowii, Benthana cairensis e Porcellio scaber. Armadillidium vulgare e B. sellowii também foram estimados quanto à proporção comprimento dos cotilédones/ tamanho da fêmea. Entre as 13 famílias estudadas foram identificados seis formatos (tipos) de cotilédones e sete arranjos diferentes de número e distribuição. O comprimento foi estabelecido como: curto, médio e longo. Armadillidium vulgare, A. floridana e B. cairensis não apresentaram diferença no comprimento dos cotilédones durante os estágios embrionários sendo que este foi evidenciado para as demais espécies, uma vez que B. sellowii e P. scaber apresentaram aumento da fase de ovo para embrião, diminuindo na fase de manca. Já em A. nasatum ocorre um aumento gradual até a fase de manca, onde então regridem drasticamente. O comprimento dos cotilédones de A. vulgare e B. sellowii é proporcional ao tamanho da fêmea. Durante os estudos realizados outra novidade foi registrada: a presença de uma “extensão marsupial”. Para maiores informações sobre esta estrutura, foi necessário identificar quais espécies a apresentavam, o número de indivíduos abrigados em seu interior e diferenças na estrutura entre as espécies que portavam tal extensão e as que possuem o marsúpio fechado restrito aos cinco pares de oostegitos. Seis espécies apresentaram extensão marsupial, a qual possibilita o abrigo de aproximadamente ¼ do total da prole. XI Este marsúpio não apresenta formato distendido como o encontrado nas demais espécies o que vem a influenciar diretamente a alimentação da fêmea, pois com o desenvolvimento da prole ocorrendo em direção aos órgãos desta, conforme avançam as fases, aumenta a pressão interna, comprimindo seu interior. As diferenças morfológicas registradas aqui representam estratégias reprodutivas adotadas pelas espécies, ao longo da evolução, podendo estar relacionadas (ou não) à filogenia dos grupos. / The presence of the closed brood pouch made it possible for terrestrial isopods to have full independence of the aquatic environment for reproduction, allowing them to colonize varied terrestrial habitats. Inside, the offspring is nourished and oxygenated by temporary structures, called cotyledons, which emerge during the ovigerous period of females and are unique to the group Crinocheta. This study aims to describe patterns of cotyledons, analyzed in 37 species of terrestrial isopods distributed among the families: Agnaridae, Armadillidae, Armadillidiidae, Balloniscidae, Bathytropidae, Detonidae, Dubioniscidae, "Philoscidae" Platyarthridae, Porcellionidae, Pudeoniscidae, Scleropactidae and Trachelipodidae , checking if there is variation in length along the stages of embryonic development, and for this, six species were selected as models: Armadillidium nasatum, A. vulgare, Atlantoscia floridana Balloniscus sellowii, Porcellio scaber and Benthana cairensis. Armadillidium vulgare and B. sellowii were also estimated concerning the proportion of cotyledon length / female size. Among the 13 studied families six formats (types) of cotyledons were identified as well as seven different arrangements of numbers and distribution. The length was established as: short, medium and long. Armadillidium vulgare, A. floridana and B. cairensis showed no difference in the length of the cotyledons during the embryonic stages while this was evidenced for the other species, since B. sellowii and P. scaber showed increased egg stage to the embryo, decreasing during the manca. Nevertheless in A. nasatum a gradual increase until the phase of manca occurs, which then regresses dramatically. The length of the cotyledons of A. vulgare and B. sellowii is proportional to female size. XIII During the carried out studies another new feature was recorded: the presence of an " marsupial extension." For obtaining further information about this structure it was necessary to identify the species that presented it, the number of individuals housed within, and differences in structure between species that harbored such extension and the others which had the closed pouch restricted to five pairs of oostegits. Six species showed marsupial extension, which provides shelter for approximately a quarter of the total offspring. This brood pouch does not have a distended format as the one found in other species, which directly influences the feeding of the female, because due to the fact that the offspring development occurs towards its organs as the stages advance, internal pressure increases, compressing its interior. The morphological differences reported here represent reproductive strategies adopted by the species, through evolution and could be related (or not) to the phylogeny of the groups.

Com o aumento do número de animais inseminados por IATF (inseminação artificial em tempo fixo), a diminuição de custos e o incremento de índices reprodutivos têm sido os objetivos de vários grupos de pesquisa. Nos protocolos de IATF utilizados, empregam-se dispositivos de liberação sustentada de progesterona (P4), que são, em sua maioria, constituídos de um esqueleto de nylon, recoberto com uma camada de silicone com P4 . Visando a diminuição dos custos de produção e impacto ambiental, foi desenvolvido um dispositivo à base de biopolímeros. Neste estudo, foram comparados dispositivos confeccionados com uma blenda constituída de Poli-hidroxi-butirato (PHB) e Poli-&epsion;-caprolactona (PCL), com o Dispositivo Interno Bovino (DIB&reg;), utilizado como controle . No teste in vitro, utilizaram-se dois tipos de dispositivo à base de biopolímeros, com uma área superficial de 147 cm2: DISP8 (46% PHB, 46% PCL e 8% P4; n=4), DISP10 (45% PHB, 45% PCL, 10% P4; n=4) e o DIB&reg; (1 g de P4, área de 120 cm2; n=3). Os testes in vitro foram conduzidos segundo especificações da USP 23, em um dissolutor de comprimidos, empregando-se uma mistura de álcool/água (60/40) como meio de difusão. Amostras do meio foram colhidas aos 2 min., 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 60, 72, 84 e 96 h. Os teores de P4 foram dosados por espectrofotometria, em 244 nm de comprimento de onda. Realizaram-se as comparações 3 a 3 dos coeficientes angulares das retas obtidas pela regressão das concentrações acumuladas de P4, em função da raiz quadrada do tempo. As médias e respectivos erros-padrão dos coeficientes angulares foram de 677,39 ± 16.13 µg/cm2/t1/2 para o DIB&reg;, 566,17 ± 3.68 µg/cm2/t1/2 para o Disp8 e 774,63 ± 45.26 µg/cm2/t1/2 para o Disp10. Houve diferença entre o DISP8 e o DISP10 (p< 0,05), mas ambos não diferiram do DIB. Para análise das quantidades liberadas por dia de teste in vitro, consideraram-se 4 períodos: 0-24, 24-48, 48-72 e 72-96 h. Houve interação entre tratamento e tempo (p=0,0024). Nas primeiras 24 horas, o DISP8 liberou significativamente menos P4 do que o DISP10 e o DIB&reg;, cujas liberações não diferiram entre si. No intervalo entre 24 e 48h, o DISP 10 liberou significativamente mais P4 do que o DIB&reg;. O DISP8 liberou uma quantidade de P4 intermediária e não se diferenciou significativamente nem do DIB&reg; e nem do DISP10. No intervalo entre 48 e 72h a quantidade de P4 liberada pelo DISP10 foi significativamente maior do que a do DIB&reg; e a do DISP8, que não diferiram entre si. No intervalo entre 72 e 96h, o DISP10 liberou significativamente mais P4 do que o DIB&reg; e o DISP8 liberou uma quantidade intermediária que não diferiu do DIB&reg; nem do DISP10. No teste in vivo, seis vacas mestiças ovariectomizadas receberam DIB (n=4) ou DISP8 (n=8), em um delineamento alternado, com seqüência não balanceada (cross-over), adicionado de medidas repetidas no tempo, referentes aos 16 dias de colheita das amostras de sangue. As amostras foram analisadas por rádio-imuno-ensaio, em fase sólida, utilizando-se &quotkit&quot comercial da DPC (Diagnostics Products Corporation). As concentrações de pico foram atingidas 4 h após a colocação dos dispositivos e este foi o único momento em que as concentrações plasmáticas de P4 diferiram segundo dispositivo (11,45±1,96 vs 9,23±1,15 ng/mL, respectivamente para DIB e DISP8; p= 0,027). No dia 8 do ensaio, as concentrações plasmáticas de P4 proporcionadas pelo DIB e pelo DISP8 foram respectivamente 2,44±0,09 e 1,89±0,13 ng/mL (p=0.58). Ambos dispositivos mantiveram teores de P4 superiores a 1 ng/mL, durante os 16 dias do teste in vivo. Concluiu-se que os dispositivos confeccionados com a blenda dos biopolímeros PHB/PCL, podem liberar P4 de maneira sustentada, tanto quanto os que empregam silicone em sua fabricação. / With the increase in the number of animals inseminated by TAI (timed artificial insemination) the decrease of costs and the improvement of reproductive performance are the goals of several research groups. Progesterone devices which are majority constituted of a nylon skeleton covered with a silicone layer with P4, are used in TAI protocols. Aiming the decrease of the production costs and the environmental impact, was a new device developed with biopolymers matrix. In this study, were compared a blend of Poli-hidroxi-butirate (PHB) and poli-?-caprolactone (PCL) device with the Bovine Internal Device (DIB&reg;). In the in vitro test, two kinds of the new device with a superficial area of 147 cm2: DISP8 (46% PHB, 46% PCL and 8% P4; n=4), DISP10 (45% PHB, 45% PCL, 10% P4; n=4) and DIB&reg; (1 g of P4, area of 120 cm2; n=3). The in vitro tests were led following USP 23 specifications in a drug dissolutor in alcohol/water (60/40) solution as a diffusion medium. Samples were collected at 2 min., 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 hours. Progesterone concentrations were estimated by spectrophotometry at UV 244 nm wavelenght. Comparisons 3 by 3 of the angular coefficients of the straight lines obtained by the regression of the accumulated P4 concentrations in function of the square root of time were performed. The averages and respective standard-errors of the angular coefficients were 677,39 ± 16.13 µg/cm2/t1/2 to DIB&reg;, 566,17 ± 3.68 µg/cm2/t1/2 to Disp8 and 774,63 ± 45.26 µg/cm2/t1/2 to Disp10. Difference were observed between DISP8 and DISP10 (p< 0.05) but both did not differ to DIB&reg;. Four periods were considered for analysis of the amounts released per day of in vitro test: 0-24, 24-48, 48-72 and 72-96 hours. Interaction between treatment and time was observed (p=0.0024). In the first 24 hours DISP8 released significantly less P4 than DISP10 and DIB&reg; but the lathers did not differ from each other. In the interval between 24 and 48 hours DISP10 released significantly more P4 than DIB&reg;. The device DISP8 released an intermediary concentration of P4 and was similar to DIB&reg; and to DISP10. In the interval between 48 and 72 hours the progesterone concentration released by DISP10 was significantly higher than DIB&reg; and DISP8 but lathers did not differ from each other. In the interval between 72 and 96 hours DISP10 released significantly more P4 than DIB&reg; while DISP8 released an intermediary amount which did not differ to DIB&reg; or to DISP10. In the test in vivo test, six ovariectomized beef cows received the devices DIB&reg; (n=4) or DISP8 (n=8) in an alternated delineation in a nom balanced sequence (cross-over) added of repeated measures in time, related to the 16 days of blood samples collects. Progesterone concentration from these samples were measured by radioimmunoassay in solid phase using the commercial kit from DPC (Diagnostics Products Corporation). The peak of the progesterone concentrations were observed 4 hours after the devices insertion and this was the unique moment in which plasmatic progesterone concentrations differed depending on device (11,45 ± 1,96 vs 9,23 ± 1,15 ng/mL, respectively for DIB and DISP8; p= 0,027). After 8 days from the device insertion plasmatic progesterone concentrations provided by DIB and DISP8 were respectively 2,44 ± 0,09 and 1,89 ± 0,13 ng/mL (p=0.58). Both devices kept the progesterone concentration higher than 1 ng/mL during the 16 days of the in vivo test. In conclusion, the devices made with biopolymers blends of PHB/PCL can release sustained P4 comparable with silicone matrix.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T14:59:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007 - Erika Cristina Dias de Oliveira.pdf: 213966 bytes, checksum: dbf8cfca7211b798b6da84c3d31f3aa5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-11-13 / Meat characteristics of ? Guzer? x ? Simmental x ? Nellore (GG1); ? Guzer? x ? Limousin x ? Nellore (GG2) and ? Guzer? x ? Simbrasil x ? Nellore (GG3) heifers were evaluated. Each experimental group was constituted by eight animals. The females were finished in feedlot and presented respective average weights to GG1; GG2 and GG3 of 379,33 ? 13.65; 378.00 ? 11.53 kg and 382.83 ? 9.25 kg at the feedlot beginning and 446.00 ? 10.07 kg; 441.00 ? 10.54 kg e 449.00 ? 11.53 kg in the slaughter occasion. The heifers consumed a diet with 12.5% of crude protein and 73.5% of total digestible nutrients (TDN). The roughage was constituted by millet grass and the concentrate by sorghum. cottonseed. limestone and sugar cane residue. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) to the percentages of damp (74.12; 75.12% and 75.65%). ether extract (1.98; 2.30% e 2.22%). crude protein (23.19; 22.15% and 22.29%)). defrosting loss (6.54; 5.89% and 6.03%). as well as to the averages obtained to coloration (4.38; 4.50 and 4.38). texture (4.63; 4.50 e 4.38). firmness (4.38 and 4.63). taste (8.38 and 8.63). juiciness (8.63; 8.50 and 8.38) and tenderness (8.25 and 7.75) evaluated by panel method. . The meat from GG2 and GG3 animals. presented major losses on coction (25.92% and 27.46% vs 21.95%) and superior mineral contents (4.31% e 4.40% vs 3.87%) in relation to GG1. Considering the experimental conditions and the evaluated genetic groups. it was concluded that ? Guzer? x ? Limousin x ? Nellore. and ? Guzer? x ? Simbrasil x ? Nellore heifers present similar meat quality observed by the homogeneity existent between the groups to the evaluated characteristics. The taurine genotype until 25% does not promote differences in meat sensorial items and losses by defrosting. except to minor losses on coction and mineral contents influence by the Simmental genotype. / As caracter?sticas da carne de novilhas ? Guzer? x ? Simental x ? Nelore (GG1) ; ? Guzer? x ? Limousin x ? Nelore (GG2) e ? Guzer? x ? Simbrasil x ? Nelore (GG3) foram avaliadas. Cada grupo experimental era constitu?do por oito animais. As f?meas foram terminadas em confinamento e apresentaram pesos m?dios respectivos para GG1; GG2 e GG3 de 379,33 ? 13,65; 378,00 ? 11,53 kg e 382,83 ? 9,25 kg no in?cio do confinamento e 446,00 ? 10,07 kg ; 441,00 ? 10,54 kg e 449,00 ? 11,53 kg na ocasi?o do abate. As novilhas consumiram uma dieta com 12,5% de prote?na bruta e 73,5% de nutrientes digest?veis totais (NDT). O volumoso foi constitu?do por silagem de milheto e o concentrado a base de sorgo, caro?o de algod?o, calc?rio calc?tico e mela?o. N?o houve diferen?a significativa (P>0,05) para as percentagens de umidade (74,12; 75,12% e 75,65%), extrato et?reo (1,8; 2,30% e 2,22%), prote?na bruta (23,19; 22,15% e 22,29%) e perda no descongelamento (6,54; 5.89% e 6,03%), bem como para as m?dias obtidas para colora??o (4.38; 4,50 e 4,38), textura (4,63; 4,50 e 4,38), firmeza (4,38 e 4,63), sabor (8,38 e 8,63), sucul?ncia (8,63; 8,50 e 8,38) e maciez (8,25 e 7,75) avaliadas pelo m?todo do painel. As carnes das novilhas GG2 e GG3 apresentaram maiores perdas na coc??o (25,92% e 27,46% vs 21,95%) e teores mais elevados de mat?ria mineral (4,31% e 4,40% vs 3,87%) em rela??o ao GG1. Considerando as condi??es experimentais e os grupos gen?ticos avaliados, conclui-se que novilhas ? Guzer? x ? Limousin x ? Nelore, e ? Guzer? x ? Simbrasil x ? Nelore apresentam carne de qualidade semelhante observada pela homogeneidade existente entre os grupos para as caracter?sticas estudadas. O grau de sangue taurino em at? 25% n?o promove diferen?a na carne para os itens sensoriais e perdas por descongelamento, com exce??o da menor perda por coc??o e teor de minerais influenciado pelo sangue Simental.