[Truncated abstract] For the convenience of the reader, detailed figures and tables have been enlarged and compiled in Appendix 2, at the end of this thesis. This thesis is presented as an approach to identify, annotate and detect genomic duplication and polymorphism within large genomic regions. To demonstrate this, I have used as a model, the genomic region known as the Regulators of Complement Activation (RCA). The RCA complex is located on the long arm of chromosome 1 at position 1q32 and is a reservoir of complement regulatory proteins. The genes of the RCA share many similarities implying that all have arisen through multiple complex duplication events. My analysis of this region in the following chapters demonstrates the complexity of this duplication and identifies the many functional units within the RCA. It was my aim at the beginning of these studies to demonstrate an approach that could define the Ancestral Haplotypes (AHs) of the RCA gene cluster. To do this, extensive genomic analysis was required and the ever-increasing availability of genomic sequence has made this thesis possible. Each of the chapters serves to address the following aims set out at the beginning of this thesis: 1. Further characterise the relationship between the genes (Complement Control proteins-CCPs) and domains of the Regulators of Complement Activation (RCA). 2. Identify and examine the duplicated elements within the RCA. - 6 - 3. Examine the effects of retroviruses and other insertions and deletions (indels) in generating the divergence of duplicated genes. 4. Investigate the applicability of the Genomic Matching Technique (GMT) to define AH within the region. 5. Examine association of AHs with CCP implicated diseases. 6. Determine the GMT applicability in non-human species

Thesis (M. App. Sc.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 148-158). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.SC.) - Carleton University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 154-161). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.A.)--The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 2010. / Directed by Roy Stine; submitted to the Dept. of Geography. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed Jul. 19, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-93).

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-12-17Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:50:28Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 machado_tv_me_arafcf.pdf: 1444727 bytes, checksum: 17c3368b3a744fcea057101e3e3dc459 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O suco de laranja é um produto de grande importância para a economia nacional, tendo papel relevante na pauta de exportações brasileiras. Em torno de 80% da laranja produzida no Brasil é processada na forma de suco de laranja concentrado e congelado (frozen concentrated orange juice-FCOJ). Durante o processamento do suco, podem ocorrer alterações das características do suco influenciando sua aceitação pelo consumidor. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram reunir informações referentes às características da laranja e à produção, à exportação, ao consumo de FCOJ, às etapas do processamento, às alterações sensoriais e físico-químicas que podem ocorrer durante o processamento, e avaliar a aceitação sensorial e a estabilidade físico-química do suco de laranja proveniente das etapas do processamento do suco concentrado e congelado. Uma equipe de 101 julgadores avaliou a cor, a impressão global, o aroma, o sabor e a textura do suco das etapas de extração, de filtração, de concentração, de resfriamento e de mistura de duas coletas, processados no início e no final da safra de 2009 da laranja da variedade Pêra-Rio. A estabilidade físico-química do suco de laranja proveniente das etapas do processamento do suco concentrado e congelado também foi avaliada no decorrer da safra de 2009, em cinco coletas. Foram realizadas análises do teor de sólidos solúveis, da acidez total titulável, de açúcares redutores, de açúcares totais, de ácido ascórbico, além do ratio e pH nos sucos das etapas de extração, filtração, concentração, resfriamento e mistura. Os sucos das etapas de extração e de filtração foram os mais aceitos pelos julgadores em relação aos atributos impressão global, aroma e sabor, e apresentaram maior intenção de compra entre os termos “provavelmente compraria” e “certamente compraria”. O suco da etapa de mistura, apesar... / The orange juice is a great importance product to the Brazilian economy, having a relevant role in Brazilian exports. Around 80% of oranges produced in Brazil are processed in the form of frozen concentrated orange juice (FCOJ). During the juice processing can result changes of the juice characteristics, influencing consumer acceptance. The aim of this work was to gather information regarding of orange characteristics and its production, exports and consumption of FCOJ, the processing steps and changes in sensory and physical-chemical properties that may occur during processing and to evaluate the sensorial acceptance and physical-chemistry stability of the juice coming from different steps of the concentrate juice processing. A group of 101 judges evaluated the color, the overall impression, aroma, flavor and texture of the juice from the steps of extraction, filtration, concentration, cooling and blend of two collections, processed at the beginning and end of the crop of pêra-rio orange variety in 2009. The physical-chemistry stability of the juice coming from the steps of processing of the concentrated juice was also evaluated during the 2009 harvest, in five collections. Were analyzed the soluble solids content (SS), total titratable acidity (TTA), reducing sugars (RS), total sugars (TS), ascorbic acid (AA), besides the ratio and pH in the juices of extraction, filtration, concentration, cooling and blend steps. The juices of the extraction and filtration steps were the most accepted for the attributes of overall impression, aroma and flavor, and showed higher purchase intention between “probably would purchase” and “definitely would purchase”. The juice of the blend step, despite being added essences to provide better aroma and flavor, had an average accepting less than that of the juice of cooling and concentration steps, which was not added essences, in both collections... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Os felinos domésticos há muito tempo são utilizados como animais de companhia, tornando freqüentes os atendimentos veterinários a esta espécie. As afecções ortopédicas em gatos ocupam papel de destaque na rotina do traumatologista veterinário, que pode deparar-se com fraturas cominutivas de ossos longos, neoplasias ósseas, não-uniões ou uniões-viciosas de fraturas. Uma das opções para o tratamento dessas afecções é a utilização de enxerto ou implante ósseo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar implantes ósseos corticais alógenos conservados em mel, congelados a -70°C ou liofilizados na substituição de segmento diafisário do fêmur de felinos domésticos. Foi confeccionada uma falha óssea de três centímetros na região diáfisária do fêmur de 24 felinos adultos. Em seis felinos (grupo controle), a falha foi preenchida com o próprio osso removido após a retirada do periósteo, endósteo e medula óssea, e em outros 18 animais, foi preenchida com implantes ósseos corticais alógenos conservados em mel (seis animais), congelado (seis animais) e liofilizado (seis animais). Os animais foram avaliados clínica, radiográfica e histologicamente até completarem 180 dias de pós-operatório. A porcentagem de incorporação foi de 91,6% no grupo controle, com tempo médio necessário para consolidação de 83,1 dias; no grupo mel foi de 75%, com tempo médio de 105 dias; no grupo congelado foi de 83,3% com tempo médio de 78 dias e no grupo liofilizado foi de 25%, com tempo médio de 120 dias. Foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significativa entre as porcentagens de consolidação do grupo liofilizado em relação aos grupos congelado e controle. Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos com relação ao tempo de consolidação. Foi identificada a bactéria Brevibacterium spp. em um dos implantes conservados no mel. Foi possível concluir que os implantes ósseos autógenos e os conservados no mel e a -70°C foram eficazes no preenchimento de defeito cortical em fêmur de felinos adultos, enquanto que os implantes liofilizados necessitam de maior avaliação da resistência e imunogenicidade para tornarem-se uma opção viável em felinos. / Cats with orthopedic conditions are a prominent part of the clinical work of veterinary traumatologists. Conditions such as comminuted fractures of the long bones, bone cancers and non-unions or unions that repeatedly fracture are often difficult to repair surgically and may require the use of bone grafts or implants for successful treatment. This study evaluated cortical bone allografts preserved in honey, frozen at -70°C or lyophilized for correcting 3 cm long bone defects created in the diaphysis of the right femur of adult domestic cats (n=24). In the control group (n=6), the defect was repaired using the autologous bone following removal of the periosteum, endosteum and bone marrow. In the remaining animals (n=6/group), the defect was repaired with cortical bone allografts preserved in honey, frozen or lyophilized. Success of implant incorporation and length of time for consolidation were assessed through clinical, radiographic and histological evaluations performed up to 180 days after surgery. In the control, frozen, honey and lyophylized groups, respectively, success of implant incorporation was 91.6%, 83.3%, 75%, and 25%, with corresponding mean length of time for consolidation of 83.1, 78, 105 and 120 days. Consolidation percentage in the lyophilized group was significantly lower than in the frozen and control groups. Length of time for consolidation was not different between the groups. Brevibacterium spp. was isolated from one of the implants preserved in honey. In conclusion, bone grafts preserved in honey or frozen at -70°C were effective for repairing cortical defects in the femurs of adult cats as compared to autologous bone. Lyophilized implants require more evaluation of resistance and immunogenicity before they can be considered a viable option for bone repair in cats.

O melhoramento genético ovino carece de uma maior conexão genética entre os rebanhos, o que pode solucionado pelo uso mais intensivo do sêmen congelado. Entretanto, com os níveis tecnológicos atualmente disponíveis o sêmen congelado apenas pode ser empregado com eficácia diretamente no útero, dependendo de sincronização de estros e mão de obra especializada para as inseminações via laparoscopia. Uma outra alternativa é o uso de sêmen congelado com 200 milhões de espermatozóides por dose com inseminações efetuadas cerca de doze horas após a identificação do estro, preconizado para a inseminação artificial dos ovinos na Noruega pelos próprios produtores. O presente ensaio consta de uma adaptação local deste modelo com o objetivo geral de verificar a viabilidade de uso da inseminação cervical superficial com sêmen ovino congelado numa dose de 0,25 ml contendo 200 x 106 de espermatozóides em palhetas de 0,50 ml após cio natural, empregando baixo uso de insumos e mão de obra semi-qualificada. As observações foram procedidas em duas propriedades no Rio Grande do Sul, incluindo 1419 ovelhas das raças Merino, Ideal e Texel. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que as diferenças nas taxas de não retorno entre carneiros poderá ser minimizada através da utilização de outros métodos de análise e seleção de carneiros mais férteis após os procedimentos de congelamento/descongelamento, e, adicionalmente que a constatação de uma taxa de não retorno entre 25-35% nas distintas condições investigadas, permitem inferir que os sistemas investigados podem ser utilizados para interligar geneticamente rebanhos via uso de sêmen congelado. / A sheep improvement program depends on genetic connexion among flocks, which could be done by extensive use of frozen semen. However, nowadays-available technology just recommends the employment of frozen semen directly inside the uterine ambient through laparoscopy. Alternatively, there is a model recommended for Norway producers including frozen semen with 200 millions of sperms used in cervical superficial inseminations up to twelve hours from oestrus detection. The present essay is an local adaption of this system aiming to verify the viability of the employment of frozen semen for sheep reproduction in a volume of 0,25 ml, with 200 x 106 sperms in 0,50 ml straws, after natural oestrus, using low input resource and semi-qualified artificial insemination technicians. The observations were done in the two properties located at Rio Grande do Sul, including 1419 ewes from Merino, Ideal and Texel breeds. The results obtained indicate that the differences in non return rates among rams could be minimized by the employment of other methods of ram selection before the freezing procedures, and additionally the observed 25-35% non return rates in the distinct conditions investigated, permits to infer that the tested system could be useful to connect genetically the flocks using frozen semen.

Nutritional efficiency of deeply frosted and repeatedly defrosted zooplankton has not been totally clarified, and it is often questioned, however, the nutrients composition and effect of such deteriorated feed are missing. The aim of this study was to assess nutritional eddiciency of repeatedly defrosted nauplia Artemis salina, as well as changes in their chemical composition on the basis of the growth, survival and presence of the deformations in early ontogeny of Japanese medaka ( Oryzias latipes). The samples of fresh hatched artemia nauplii served as a control group. The experiment was carried out with samples of live nauplii, permanently frosted at -14°C, defrosted to 4°C and again frosted and defrosted to 25°C and frosted again. The larvae of medaka in the period of one week after shift to the exogenous nutrition were examined. Before the commencement of the experiment the composition of samples in terms of nutrient, amino acids and fatty acid contents was determined. The results proved that Oryzias latipes fed with live artemia not only grew better but also survived more that other fis in other treatments. No deformations were recorded Fish fed frozen food survived better than those fed with live Artemia. It was also found that fish fed live Artemia seems to be the highest however from the amino acid point of view it seems to be more appropriate to freeze it to -14°C, defreeze to 25°C and refreezing to -4°C. as for the fatty acids Artemia adjusted by the permanently freezing to -14°C. The processes of thawing and repeated freezing of artemia nauplii result in leaching of some nutrients but in the thickening of some others.