Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T14:46:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Larissa.pdf: 1850942 bytes, checksum: 055f99877063a1e529d77540c0b94279 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-01 / Livestock, especially cattle, has been considered one of the main sectors that is responsible for global warming due to rumen methane emission and, to a lesser extent, methane emission by residues. Another concern is the correct disposal of agroindustrial residues. The wet brewery grain is considered as polluting as animal wastes. Thus, such wastes must have correct destination, so their use to feed animal is an option. The wet brewery grain has been recorded as an important substitute for fodder and/or grain in ruminants diet. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the potential for methane production in cattle fed diets containing different levels of wet brewery grain inclusion, to replace bulky diet, with 0, 20, 25 and 30% rates in dry matter percentage. Four castrated steers, with rumen cannula were studied and distributed in a Latin square design (4x4) in four experimental periods of 21 days each (14 days of adjustment and 7 days for data collection). During the last week of each period, the animals manure and ruminal fluid were collected, whose anaerobic digestion essays were analyzed, during the period of 120 days. So, the following parameters were evaluated: removal of total and volatile solids, removal of soluble chemical oxygen demand, cumulative and daily production of methane, volatile fatty acids production (lactic, acetic, propionic and butyric), acidity/alkalinity ratio and pH of reactors. In order to record ruminal fluid, 96-hour tests were performed in the laboratory to observe the influence of wet brewery grain inclusion on methane and volatile fatty acids production inside the rumen. The statistical evaluation of the process was obtained with curves of cumulative production of methane that were adjusted according to Gompertz modified model. Tukey test was used to compare averages with 5% significance. According to these data, it is concluded that wet brewery grain inclusion influenced on methane production for these animals. There was effect of treatment and period for cumulative production of methane (L). The treatment with the largest inclusion of wet brewery residue showed the highest potential of methane production in wastes. The wet brewery residue inclusion did not affect the production of volatile fatty acids inside rumen. The cumulative methane production (mL) of ruminal fluid was influenced by the inclusion of wet brewery residue on animals diet. Nevertheless, the lowest production occurred with an increasing supply of wet brewery residue. The Gompertz modified model provided a good adjustment to the methane production data. Consequently, wet brewery residue can be considered an alternative diet to replace corn silage up to 30% (DM), since it reduces methane production inside the rumen (environmental benefit) and increases methane production from residues (energy and economic benefit). / A pecuária, sobretudo a bovina, tem sido considerada um dos principais setores responsáveis pelo aquecimento global, devido à emissão de metano ruminal e, em menor proporção, à emissão de metano pelos dejetos. Outra preocupação é a correta destinação dos resíduos agroindustriais. O resíduo úmido de cervejaria é considerado tão poluidor quanto os dejetos animais. Desta forma, é importante que este subproduto tenha destino correto e uma opção é o uso na alimentação animal. O resíduo úmido de cervejaria tem se mostrado um importante substituto para forragens e/ou grãos na dieta de ruminantes. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de produção de metano de bovinos alimentados com dietas que continham diferentes níveis de inclusão de resíduo úmido de cervejaria (RUC), em substituição ao volumoso da dieta, cujas doses foram: 0, 20, 25 e 30% em porcentagem de massa seca. Foram utilizados quatro bovinos machos, castrados, portadores de cânula ruminal, distribuídos em delineamento quadrado latino (4x4), em quatro períodos experimentais de 21 dias cada (14 dias de adaptação e 7 dias de coleta de dados). Na última semana de cada período, coletaram-se dejetos e líquido ruminal dos animais. Com os dejetos coletados, realizaram-se ensaios de biodigestão anaeróbia, no período de 120 dias, nos quais foram avaliados a remoção de sólidos totais e voláteis, a remoção da demanda química de oxigênio solúvel, a produção diária e acumulada de gás metano, a produção de ácidos graxos voláteis (lático, acético, propiônico e butírico), a relação acidez/alcalinidade e o pH dos reatores. Em relação ao líquido ruminal, foram realizados testes de 96 horas, em laboratório, para verificar a influência da inclusão de RUC na produção de gás metano e ácidos graxos voláteis no rúmen. Para a avaliação estatística do processo, utilizaram-se curvas de produção acumulada de metano, ajustadas segundo modelo de Gompertz modificado. O teste de Tukey foi adotado para comparação das médias, com nível de significância de 5%. Com os dados obtidos, conclui-se que a inclusão de resíduo úmido de cervejaria teve influência na produção de metano nesses animais; houve efeito de tratamento e período para a produção acumulada de metano (L). O tratamento com maior inclusão de resíduo úmido de cervejaria apresentou maior potencial de produção de metano nos dejetos; a inclusão de RUC não alterou o perfil de produção de ácidos graxos voláteis no rúmen; a produção acumulada de metano (mL) do líquido ruminal foi influenciada pela inclusão de resíduo úmido de cervejaria à dieta. Todavia, a menor produção ocorreu com o aumento do fornecimento de resíduo úmido de cervejaria. O modelo de Gompertz modificado apresentou bom ajuste aos dados de produção de gás metano. Logo, o resíduo úmido de cervejaria pode ser considerado alimento alternativo para substituir a silagem de milho, em até 30% (MS), uma vez que diminui a produção de metano no rúmen (benefício ambiental) e aumenta a produção de metano nos dejetos (benefício energético e econômico).

臺灣婦女生育率下降快速，近年來屢創新低，堪稱全球生育率最低的國家，總生育率自民國89年1.68、降為民國98年1.03，民國99年甚至降至0.90以下，提升生育率成為政府施政的重要課題。因為資料限制，生育率大多以總生育率(Total Fertility Rate)表示，而非較能反映婦女一生生育總數的世代完成生育率(Completed Cohort Fertility Rate)。這兩者間存有不少差異，以生育率下降的臺灣為例，總生育率會因生育時機遞延而低估世代生育率，以總生育率詮釋生育率可能有瑕疵。有鑒於此，本文以比較「世代」及「年代」兩者的差異，以生育率及死亡率為研究對象，探討較適宜描述臺灣特性的模型。 由於世代生育率會有資料不足的問題，本文使用外推法(Extrapolation)補足年齡較高（如35歲以上）的婦女生育率，並以四種模型估計年代生育率與世代生育率，包括Gamma模型、Gompertz模型、主成份分析(Principle Component Analysis)與單一年齡組個別估計法，希望找出適合預測臺灣世代完成生育率的模型。除了台灣資料，也用日本、法國與美國的世代生育率資料，比較各國世代生育率模型的異同。另外，本文也以世代及年代兩種觀點，類似生育率的探討方式，比較常用死亡率模型的優劣。 不論是生育率或是死亡率資料，配適模型結果皆以世代資料可得到較好的估計結果，生育率以單一年齡組個別估計法為最佳的模型，死亡率則以Gamma模型、主成份分析、單一年齡組個別估計法為較佳的模型。 / Taiwan’s fertility rates have been declining radically in recent years, much faster than most countries in the world. For example, the total fertility rate (TFR) is 1.68 in 2000, 1.03 in 2009, and even reduces to 0.90 in 2010. Therefore, one of the top priorities for Taiwan government policies is to enhance the willingness of having children. Due to the data availability, the TFR is used more often, although the completed cohort fertility rate (CFR) is a more reasonable measurement. However, previous studies showed that the TFR is likely to be influenced by the deferring (i.e., tempo effect) of childbearing and produces misleading results. In order to measure the effect of deferring childbearing, this study focuses on exploring the difference of measures in the view of cohort and period (especially the CFR vs. TFR) and evaluates which fertility and mortality model is more appropriate for Taiwan. Because there are fewer complete cohort fertility data, we use extrapolation to make up the higher age-group fertility data (such as aged 35 and above). We consider four fertility models in this study, including Gamma model, Gompertz model, principal component analysis, and individual group estimation. We use the data from Taiwan, Japan, France and United State data to evaluate these fertility models. The results indicate that the parametric models (Gamma and Gompertz) have the worst performance, probably due to the rapid change of fertility behaviors. In addition, similar to evaluating the fertility models, we compare the performance of frequently used mortality models using the cohort and period mortality data. The result shows that using cohort data to estimate fertility and mortality is better than period data. Also individual group estimation is the best model to fit fertility; the better models to fit mortality are Gamma model, principle component analysis and individual group estimation.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T19:23:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Larissa.pdf: 1850942 bytes, checksum: 055f99877063a1e529d77540c0b94279 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-02-01 / Livestock, especially cattle, has been considered one of the main sectors that is responsible for global warming due to rumen methane emission and, to a lesser extent, methane emission by residues. Another concern is the correct disposal of agroindustrial residues. The wet brewery grain is considered as polluting as animal wastes. Thus, such wastes must have correct destination, so their use to feed animal is an option. The wet brewery grain has been recorded as an important substitute for fodder and/or grain in ruminants diet. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the potential for methane production in cattle fed diets containing different levels of wet brewery grain inclusion, to replace bulky diet, with 0, 20, 25 and 30% rates in dry matter percentage. Four castrated steers, with rumen cannula were studied and distributed in a Latin square design (4x4) in four experimental periods of 21 days each (14 days of adjustment and 7 days for data collection). During the last week of each period, the animals manure and ruminal fluid were collected, whose anaerobic digestion essays were analyzed, during the period of 120 days. So, the following parameters were evaluated: removal of total and volatile solids, removal of soluble chemical oxygen demand, cumulative and daily production of methane, volatile fatty acids production (lactic, acetic, propionic and butyric), acidity/alkalinity ratio and pH of reactors. In order to record ruminal fluid, 96-hour tests were performed in the laboratory to observe the influence of wet brewery grain inclusion on methane and volatile fatty acids production inside the rumen. The statistical evaluation of the process was obtained with curves of cumulative production of methane that were adjusted according to Gompertz modified model. Tukey test was used to compare averages with 5% significance. According to these data, it is concluded that wet brewery grain inclusion influenced on methane production for these animals. There was effect of treatment and period for cumulative production of methane (L). The treatment with the largest inclusion of wet brewery residue showed the highest potential of methane production in wastes. The wet brewery residue inclusion did not affect the production of volatile fatty acids inside rumen. The cumulative methane production (mL) of ruminal fluid was influenced by the inclusion of wet brewery residue on animals diet. Nevertheless, the lowest production occurred with an increasing supply of wet brewery residue. The Gompertz modified model provided a good adjustment to the methane production data. Consequently, wet brewery residue can be considered an alternative diet to replace corn silage up to 30% (DM), since it reduces methane production inside the rumen (environmental benefit) and increases methane production from residues (energy and economic benefit). / A pecuária, sobretudo a bovina, tem sido considerada um dos principais setores responsáveis pelo aquecimento global, devido à emissão de metano ruminal e, em menor proporção, à emissão de metano pelos dejetos. Outra preocupação é a correta destinação dos resíduos agroindustriais. O resíduo úmido de cervejaria é considerado tão poluidor quanto os dejetos animais. Desta forma, é importante que este subproduto tenha destino correto e uma opção é o uso na alimentação animal. O resíduo úmido de cervejaria tem se mostrado um importante substituto para forragens e/ou grãos na dieta de ruminantes. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de produção de metano de bovinos alimentados com dietas que continham diferentes níveis de inclusão de resíduo úmido de cervejaria (RUC), em substituição ao volumoso da dieta, cujas doses foram: 0, 20, 25 e 30% em porcentagem de massa seca. Foram utilizados quatro bovinos machos, castrados, portadores de cânula ruminal, distribuídos em delineamento quadrado latino (4x4), em quatro períodos experimentais de 21 dias cada (14 dias de adaptação e 7 dias de coleta de dados). Na última semana de cada período, coletaram-se dejetos e líquido ruminal dos animais. Com os dejetos coletados, realizaram-se ensaios de biodigestão anaeróbia, no período de 120 dias, nos quais foram avaliados a remoção de sólidos totais e voláteis, a remoção da demanda química de oxigênio solúvel, a produção diária e acumulada de gás metano, a produção de ácidos graxos voláteis (lático, acético, propiônico e butírico), a relação acidez/alcalinidade e o pH dos reatores. Em relação ao líquido ruminal, foram realizados testes de 96 horas, em laboratório, para verificar a influência da inclusão de RUC na produção de gás metano e ácidos graxos voláteis no rúmen. Para a avaliação estatística do processo, utilizaram-se curvas de produção acumulada de metano, ajustadas segundo modelo de Gompertz modificado. O teste de Tukey foi adotado para comparação das médias, com nível de significância de 5%. Com os dados obtidos, conclui-se que a inclusão de resíduo úmido de cervejaria teve influência na produção de metano nesses animais; houve efeito de tratamento e período para a produção acumulada de metano (L). O tratamento com maior inclusão de resíduo úmido de cervejaria apresentou maior potencial de produção de metano nos dejetos; a inclusão de RUC não alterou o perfil de produção de ácidos graxos voláteis no rúmen; a produção acumulada de metano (mL) do líquido ruminal foi influenciada pela inclusão de resíduo úmido de cervejaria à dieta. Todavia, a menor produção ocorreu com o aumento do fornecimento de resíduo úmido de cervejaria. O modelo de Gompertz modificado apresentou bom ajuste aos dados de produção de gás metano. Logo, o resíduo úmido de cervejaria pode ser considerado alimento alternativo para substituir a silagem de milho, em até 30% (MS), uma vez que diminui a produção de metano no rúmen (benefício ambiental) e aumenta a produção de metano nos dejetos (benefício energético e econômico).

Les théories évolutives du vieillissement et la théorie du «disposable soma» en particulier ont été la base théorique d'une avance récente de recherche sur le vieillissement animal. Pourtant, leur hypothèse centrale sur la physiologie de l'entretien et de la réparation cellulaires n'a pas été testée empiriquement. Dans cette thèse, j'ai analysé la physiologie du vieillissement de Escherichia coli sous restriction de carbone, en tant que système modèle pour valider empiriquement les théories évolutives du vieillissement. Les outils microfluidiques sont utilisés pour isoler de larges populations de cellules isolées de E. coli et pour obtenir une restriction carbonée homogène. Malgré le partage de la même génétique et des conditions environnementales, les cellules individuelles de la population présentent des variations significatives de la durée de vie et de cause de décès. Les distributions de durée de vie présentent des caractéristiques typiques du processus de vieillissement, souvent observées en études démographiques animales et humaines. Le taux de vieillissement peut être modifié par des mutations de la réponse générale au stress. Comme la longévité induite par la restriction calorique, la réponse générale au stress prolonge la durée de vie d'E.coli en atténuant l'effet du vieillissement au détriment des besoins immédiats des cellules. Un modèle quantitatif de ce compromis physiologique est construit et correctement prédit des observations expérimentales. En conclusion, je confirme la théorie du «disposable soma» du vieillissement avec les détails physiologiques du vieillissement de E.coli en famine. / The evolutionary theories of aging and the disposable soma theory in particular, have been the theoretical basis for a recent surge of animal aging research. Yet their central assumption about the physiology of cellular maintenance and repair has not been empirically tested. In this thesis, I analysed the physiology of E.coli aging under carbon starvation, as a model system to empirically validate evolutionary theories of aging. Microfluidic tools are used to isolate large populations of isogenic single E.coli cells, and to achieve homogenous carbon starvation. Despite sharing the same genetical background and environmental conditions, individual cells in the population exhibit significant variations in lifespans and causes of death. Distributions of lifespans exhibit typical features of the aging process, often seen in animal and human demographic studies. The rate of aging can be altered by mutations of the general stress response pathway. Resembling caloric restriction induced longevity, the general stress response pathway extends starvation lifespans of E.coli by attenuating the effect of aging at the expense of immediate needs of the cells. A quantitative model of this physiological trade-off is constructed and correctly predicted experimental observations. As a conclusion, I substantiate the disposable soma theory of aging with the physiological details of E.coli aging in starvation.

Almost every theory of mathematics has its discrete counterpart that makes it conceptually easier to understand and practically easier to use in the modeling process of real world problems. For instance, one can take the "difference" of any function, from 1st order up to the n-th order with discrete calculus. However, it is also possible to extend this theory by means of discrete fractional calculus and make n- any real number such that the ½-th order difference is well defined. This thesis is comprised of five chapters that demonstrate some basic definitions and properties of discrete fractional calculus while developing the simplest discrete fractional variational theory. Some applications of the theory to tumor growth are also studied. The first chapter is a brief introduction to discrete fractional calculus that presents some important mathematical functions widely used in the theory. The second chapter shows the main fractional difference and sum operators as well as their important properties. In the third chapter, a new proof for Leibniz formula is given and summation by parts for discrete fractional calculus is stated and proved. The simplest variational problem in discrete calculus and the related Euler-Lagrange equation are developed in the fourth chapter. In the fifth chapter, the fractional Gompertz difference equation is introduced. First, the existence and uniqueness of the solution is shown and then the equation is solved by the method of successive approximation. Finally, applications of the theory to tumor and bacterial growth are presented.

隨著台灣經濟的大幅提升與保險的觀念在國內越來越盛行，許多的人都會選擇去投保，本研究採用的資料是從保險事業發展中心所獲得，其收集台灣各個保險公司所銷售的保單，包含定期險、生死合險和終身壽險的資料。我們藉由此資料來分析具有何種特質的人會去購買何種保單，哪些因素會造成死亡率之間的差異。近些年來，台灣的生活水準和醫療水平有顯著的進步，台灣人口的死亡率也因此大幅地下降，男女間的平均餘命也隨之增加，台灣逐步地邁向高齡化社會。但隨著死亡率的改善，保險公司之前所銷售的較長年期的保險商品，有可能會造成保險公司低估或高估其保費，使公司未來的現金流量不穩定。而且以前公司通常是使用生命表的死亡率為基礎，但這樣並不能真正反映有保險人口的死亡機率，因此，我們將使用實際投保的資料，透過Whittaker修勻和Gompertz法則，計算其死亡率，並利用Lee -Carter模型去對未來的死亡率做預測，探討死亡率的下降，會對保險公司造成何種衝擊與其影響到底會有多大。

Atualmente o Brasil é o quinto maior produtor de cacau no mundo e a sua produção está diretamente ligada ao ponto certo da colheita, colher frutos verdes ou verdoengos faz com que suas sementes tenham menor peso, em 1000 frutos maduros as amêndoas secas pesam em média 40 kg, colher frutos verdoengos, ou seja, frutos que estão parcialmente maduros, faz com que esse peso caia para 36 kg em média uma perda verificada de 10%, já quando os frutos estão verdes o peso passa a ser em média de 32 kg, possuindo uma perda de 20%, por isso é importante conhecer as fases de crescimento, que permite estabelecer formas adequadas de manejo, adubação e irrigação. Dentre as características biométricas do fruto do cacaueiro as que tem maior relevância econômica são o comprimento, o diâmetro e o volume. Uma forma de explicar relações de crescimento e produtividade de plantas, árvores, frutos ou animais é por meio da utilização de modelos de crescimento, pois possuem parâmetros com interpretação biológica. Os mais utilizados nestas áreas são os modelos: Logístico, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, Richards e Brody, sendo os dois últimos mais utilizados para descrever o crescimento animal. O objetivo do trabalho é avaliar a qualidade de ajuste e de predição dos modelos não lineares, Logístico, Gompertz e Von Bertalanffy, para medidas de comprimento e diâmetro do fruto do cacau, com a finalidade de predizer o seu volume. Para predizer o volume do fruto foi utilizado a fórmula de volume do esferoide prolato. Os critérios AIC e BIC foram utilizados para verificar qual dos modelos se ajusta melhor à essas medidas, já para verificar qual modelo se ajusta melhor na predição do volume do fruto, foram relacionadas as estatísticas: viés médio, índice de concordância, eficiência da modelagem e o desdobramento do quadrado médio do erro de predição. / Currently Brazil is the fifth largest producer of cocoa in the world and its production is directly linked to the right point of harvest, harvesting green or green fruits makes their seeds have less weight, in 1000 mature fruits dry almonds weight on average 40 kg, harvested green fruits, that is, fruits that are partially ripe, causes this weight to fall to 36 kg on average a verified loss of 10%, when the fruits are green the weight becomes an average of 32 kg, with a loss of 20%, so it is important to know the growth phases, which allows to establish appropriate forms of management, fertilization and irrigation. Among the biometric characteristics of the cacao fruit, the most economically important are length, diameter and volume. One way to explain growth and productivity relationships of plants, trees, fruits or animals is through the use of growth models, since they have parameters that with biological interpretation are the most used in these areas: Logistics, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, Richards and Brody, the last two being most used to describe animal growth. The objective of this work is to evaluate the quality of fit and prediction of the non linear models, Logistic, Gompertz and Von Bertalanffy, for measures of length and diameter of the fruit of the cocoa, in order to predict its volume. To predict the volume of the fruit, the volume formula of the prolate spheroid was used. The AIC and BIC criteria were used to verify which model best fits these measures, and to verify which model best fits the fruit volume prediction, the statistics were related: mean bias, concordance index, modeling efficiency, and the unfolding of the mean square of the prediction error.

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves have been widely used in evaluation of the goodness of the diagnostic method in many study fields, such as disease diagnosis in medicine. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) naturally became one of the most used variables in gauging the goodness of the diagnosis (Mossman, Somoza 1991). Since medical diagnosis often is not dichotomous, the ROC curve and AUC need to be generalized to a multi-dimensional case. The generalization of AUC to multi-class case has been studied by many researchers in the past decade. Most recently, Nakas & Yiannoutsos (2004) considered the ordered d classes ROC analysis by only considering the sensitivities of each class. Hence, their dimension is only d. Cha (2005) considered more types of mis-classification in the ordered multiple-class case, but reduced the dimension of Ferri, at.el. from d(d-1) to 2(d-1). In this dissertation we are trying to adjust and calculate the VUS for an ordered multipleclass with Cha’s 2(d-1)-dimension method. Our methodology of finding the VUS is introduced. We present the method of adjusting and calculating VUS and their statistical inferences for the 2(d-1)-dimension. Some simulation results are included and a real example will be presented. Intellectual outcomes in pediatric brain-tumor patients were investigated in a prospective longitudinal study. The Standard-Binet Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (SB-IV) Standard Age Score (SAS) and Composite intelligence quotient (IQ) score are examined as cognitive outcomes in pediatric brain-tumor patients. Treatment factors, patient factors and time since diagnosis are taken into account as the risk factors. Hierarchical linear/quadratic models and Gompertz based hierarchical nonlinear growth models were applied to build linear and nonlinear longitudinal curves. We use PRESS and Volume Under the Surface (VUS) as the criterions to compare these two methods. Some model interpretations are presented in this dissertation.

Atualmente o Brasil é o quinto maior produtor de cacau no mundo e a sua produção está diretamente ligada ao ponto certo da colheita, colher frutos verdes ou verdoengos faz com que suas sementes tenham menor peso, em 1000 frutos maduros as amêndoas secas pesam em média 40 kg, colher frutos verdoengos, ou seja, frutos que estão parcialmente maduros, faz com que esse peso caia para 36 kg em média uma perda verificada de 10%, já quando os frutos estão verdes o peso passa a ser em média de 32 kg, possuindo uma perda de 20%, por isso é importante conhecer as fases de crescimento, que permite estabelecer formas adequadas de manejo, adubação e irrigação. Dentre as características biométricas do fruto do cacaueiro as que tem maior relevância econômica são o comprimento, o diâmetro e o volume. Uma forma de explicar relações de crescimento e produtividade de plantas, árvores, frutos ou animais é por meio da utilização de modelos de crescimento, pois possuem parâmetros com interpretação biológica. Os mais utilizados nestas áreas são os modelos: Logístico, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, Richards e Brody, sendo os dois últimos mais utilizados para descrever o crescimento animal. O objetivo do trabalho é avaliar a qualidade de ajuste e de predição dos modelos não lineares, Logístico, Gompertz e Von Bertalanffy, para medidas de comprimento e diâmetro do fruto do cacau, com a finalidade de predizer o seu volume. Para predizer o volume do fruto foi utilizado a fórmula de volume do esferoide prolato. Os critérios AIC e BIC foram utilizados para verificar qual dos modelos se ajusta melhor à essas medidas, já para verificar qual modelo se ajusta melhor na predição do volume do fruto, foram relacionadas as estatísticas: viés médio, índice de concordância, eficiência da modelagem e o desdobramento do quadrado médio do erro de predição. / Currently Brazil is the fifth largest producer of cocoa in the world and its production is directly linked to the right point of harvest, harvesting green or green fruits makes their seeds have less weight, in 1000 mature fruits dry almonds weight on average 40 kg, harvested green fruits, that is, fruits that are partially ripe, causes this weight to fall to 36 kg on average a verified loss of 10%, when the fruits are green the weight becomes an average of 32 kg, with a loss of 20%, so it is important to know the growth phases, which allows to establish appropriate forms of management, fertilization and irrigation. Among the biometric characteristics of the cacao fruit, the most economically important are length, diameter and volume. One way to explain growth and productivity relationships of plants, trees, fruits or animals is through the use of growth models, since they have parameters that with biological interpretation are the most used in these areas: Logistics, Gompertz, Von Bertalanffy, Richards and Brody, the last two being most used to describe animal growth. The objective of this work is to evaluate the quality of fit and prediction of the non linear models, Logistic, Gompertz and Von Bertalanffy, for measures of length and diameter of the fruit of the cocoa, in order to predict its volume. To predict the volume of the fruit, the volume formula of the prolate spheroid was used. The AIC and BIC criteria were used to verify which model best fits these measures, and to verify which model best fits the fruit volume prediction, the statistics were related: mean bias, concordance index, modeling efficiency, and the unfolding of the mean square of the prediction error.

Tesis por compendio / [ES] Para evaluar los efectos del proceso de selección en una línea paterna de conejos, se compararon los rasgos de crecimiento y rendimiento reproductivo de la descendencia actual (generación R36) en similar ambiente con una población control rederivada de embriones de una generación anterior (R18). Para reducir/evitar el efecto del proceso de criopreservación sobre los rasgos fenotípicos se rederivaron embriones de la generación actual (R36) y obtener una 3ra población (R37V). Capítulo 1, se compara la R37V y la descendencia de la R36 nacida por inseminación artificial (R37). Hubo diferencias en rasgos de crecimiento postnatal en las 3 generaciones evaluadas, pero no en el crecimiento fetal, componentes del tamaño de la camada y rasgos reproductivos. Así, los procesos de criopreservación y transferencia de embriones causan cambios en rasgos de crecimiento de poblaciones reconstituidas que influyen en las siguientes generaciones, sin producir cambios en los reproductivos. En los siguientes capítulos, para reducir/evitar los efectos del proceso de rederivación, la deriva genética y factores ambientales sobre los rasgos fenotípicos, se usó sólo poblaciones rederivadas para comparar los rendimientos reproductivos y de crecimiento. Capítulo 2, al ser los machos usados para producir dosis seminales en centros de inseminación y granjas, se evaluó si el programa de selección modificaba los rasgos seminales, el proteoma del plasma seminal y de espermatozoides, y la fertilidad del semen al usarla en inseminación artificial. Se analizó el proteoma del plasma seminal y espermatozoides de machos maduros de c/grupo y se prepararon dosis seminales para inseminación. Sólo el porcentaje de espermatozoides anormales mostró diferencias, presentando los R21 menos espermatozoides anormales que los R39. El análisis discriminante (DA-PLS) mostró efecto de la generación para el proteoma plasmático y espermático. En plasma seminal, se reportaron 64 proteínas diferencialmente expresadas y 56 sobreexpresadas en R39 (87,5%). Del proteoma de espermatozoides 132 diferencialmente abundantes y 89 sobreexpresadas en R39 (67,4%). A pesar de las diferencias en importantes proteínas relacionadas con la capacitación, la motilidad, la inmunoprotección de espermatozoides y la fecundación, no hubo diferencias en fertilidad y prolificidad con las dosis seminales para inseminación. Capítulo 3, se analizó el efecto de la selección por ganancia media diaria de peso (GMD) post-destete después de 37 generaciones. Tras 2 generaciones post rederivación (R21 vs. R39), todos los caracteres evaluados mostraron progreso resultado de la selección, y no afecta a los parámetros estimados de la curva de crecimiento de Gompertz. Los resultados demuestran que el programa de selección mejoró la GMD sin variar el peso corporal adulto, pero tras 37 generaciones de selección, este carácter parece agotado. Capítulo 4, comparamos los parámetros reproductivos de conejas entre las poblaciones rederivadas y control. Los rasgos de desarrollo prenatal y los componentes del tamaño de camada se midieron en la 2da generación post rederivación (R20 y R38). Así la selección por GMD no tiene efectos adversos sobre los componentes del tamaño de la camada, y el área del saco fetal al día 12 de gestación, área de la placenta fetal y la longitud cráneo-rabadilla del feto al 19 de gestación fueron mayores en R38. Resultados muestran que la selección por GMD no afecta negativamente el rendimiento reproductivo. Conclusión, el estudio demuestra que los efectos de la criopreservación sobre los rasgos de crecimiento persisten dos generaciones post rederivación. Además, la línea muestra signos de agotamiento del progreso genético quizás por el bajo rendimiento reproductivo y elevada mortalidad postnatal. La selección por GMD influyó en cambios del crecimiento fetal y del proteoma del eyaculado, sin afectar al rendimiento reproductivo de hembras ni la fertilidad y prolificidad de las dosis seminales de machos. / [CA] Per avaluar els efectes del procés de selección en una línia paterna de conills, es van comparar els trets de creixement i el rendiment reproductiu de la descendència de la generació actual (R36) sota el mateix entorn amb una població control derivada dels embrions emmagatzemats d'una generació anterior (R18). Per reduir/evitar l'efecte del procés de criopreservació embrions de la generació actual (R36) es van criopreservar i transferir (rederivar) per obtenir una 3a població (R37V). Capítol 1, es compara la generació R37V i la descendència de la 36a generació nascuda per inseminació artificial (R37). Hi ha diferències en els trets de creixement postnatal a les tres generacions avaluades. Tot i que el creixement fetal, els components de la mida de la ventrada i els trets reproductius no van mostrar diferències. La rederivació provoquen canvis en els trets de creixement de les poblacions reconstituïdes que influeixen en les generacions següents, sense canvis en els trets reproductius. En els capítols següents, per reduir/evitar els efectes del procés de rederivació, la deriva genètica i els factors ambientals sobre els trets fenotípics, es van utilitzar les poblacions rederivades per comparar els rendiments reproductius i de creixement. Capítol 2, ja que els mascles s'utilitzaven per produir dosis de semen en centres d'inseminació i granges, es va estudiar si un programa de selecció per guany mitja de pes diari pot canviar els trets seminals, el proteoma del plasma i dels espermatozoides i la fertilitat del semen en la inseminació artificial. Només el percentatge d'espermatozoides anormals mostra diferències significatives, R21 presentant menys espermatozoides anormals que R39. L'anàlisi discriminant (DA-PLS) mostra efecte de la generació al proteoma del plasma i dels espermatozoides. En plasma seminal, 64 proteïnes es van expressar de manera diferent, 56 sobre-expressades en R39 (87,5%). El proteoma de l'esperma 132 proteïnes diferencialment abundants, 89 sobre-expressades en R39 (67,4%). Tot i observar diferències en proteïnes importants relacionades amb la capacitat, la motilitat o la immunoprotecció dels espermatozoides i la fecundació, La fertilitat i la prolificitat es van detectar quan es van utilitzar dosis seminals comercials per a la inseminació. Capítol 3, vam avaluar l'efecte d'una selecció a llarg termini per a l'augment de pes mitjà diari (ADG). Després de dues generacions d'ambdues poblacions rederivades (R21 vs. R39), tots els trets avaluats mostra algun progrés. Aquesta resposta no sembla afectar els paràmetres estimats de la corba de creixement de Gompertz. Resultats demostra que el programa de selecció havia millorat l'ADG sense variacions en pes corporal adult, però després de 37 generacions de selecció, aquest tret sembla esgotat. Capítol 4, compara els trets reproductius entre poblacions femenins entre ambdues poblacions (rederivades i control). El desenvolupament fetal i els components de la mida de la ventrada es mesura els trets a la segona generació després de la rederivació (R20 i R38). Resultats suggereix que la selecció per ADG no té cap efecte advers sobre els components de la mida de la ventrada i la zona del sac fetal el dia 12 de gestació i la zona de la placenta fetal i la longitud de la corona-gropa del fetus el dia 19 de gestació eren més grans a la R38. La selecció per ADG no afecta negativament els components de la mida de la ventrada, el creixement fetal i el rendiment reproductiu. Nostre estudi proporciona més proves dels efectes de la criopreservació sobre els trets de creixement que persisteixen dues generacions després de la rederivació. La línia va mostrar signes d'esgotament del progrés genètic per baix rendiment reproductiu i l'alta mortalitat postnatal. La selecció per ADG va influir en els canvis en el creixement fetal i en el proteoma ejaculat, però no va afectar el rendiment reproductiu de les femelles ni la fertilitat i la prolificitat de les dosis seminals dels mascles. / [EN] To evaluate the effects of the selection process in a paternal line of rabbits, growth traits and reproductive performance from the offspring of the current generation (R36) were compared under the same environment with a control population rederived from embryos stored of a previous generation (R18). To reduce or avoid the effect of the cryopreservation process on phenotypic traits embryos of current generation (R36) were cryopreserved and transferred to obtain a third population (R37V). In chapter 1, R37V generation and offspring of 36th generation born by artificial insemination (generation R37) were compared. Differences in postnatal growth traits were observed in the three generations assessed. Although foetal growth, litter size components and reproductive traits did not show significant differences. In conclusion, cryopreservation and embryo transfer processes cause changes in growth traits of reconstituted populations that influence the following generations, without changes in reproductive traits. In the following chapters, to reduce or avoid the effects of the rederivation process, genetic drift and environmental factors on phenotypic traits, only the rederived populations were used to compare reproductive and growth performances. In chapter 2, considering that males were used to produce semen doses at insemination centres and farms, we studied whether a programme of selection by daily gain changed the seminal traits, plasma and sperm proteome and the fertility of semen when used in artificial insemination. Seminal plasma and sperm proteome from mature males of each group were analysed and semen doses were used to inseminate females. Only the percentage of abnormal sperm showed significant differences, R21 presented fewer abnormal sperm than R39. The discriminant analysis (DA-PLS) showed an effect of the generation for plasma and sperm proteome. In seminal plasma, 64 proteins were differentially expressed, 56 were overexpressed in R39 (87.5%). Sperm proteome reported 132 differentially abundant proteins, 89 were overexpressed in R39 (67.4%). Despite differences in important proteins related to capacitation, sperm motility or immunoprotection and to the fertilization process, no differences in fertility and prolificacy were detected when commercial seminal doses were used for insemination. In chapter 3, we evaluated the effect of a long-term selection for post-weaning average daily weight gain (ADG) over 37 generations. After two generations of both rederived populations (R21 vs. R39 generations), all evaluated traits showed some progress as a result of the selection. This response does not seem to affect the estimated Gompertz growth curve parameters. Results demonstrated that the selection programme had improved ADG without variations in adult body weight but, after 37 generations of selection, this trait seems exhausted. In chapter 4, we compared female reproductive traits between both rabbit populations (rederived and control). Foetal growth and litter size traits were measured in the second generation after rederivation (R20 and R38 generations). Our study suggests that selection for growth rate has no adverse effect on litter size components and the foetal sac area at day 12 of gestation, and foetal placenta area and crown-rump length of the foetus at day 19 of gestation were higher in the R38 generation. These results show that selection for growth rate does not adversely affect on reproductive performance. In conclusion, our study provides further evidence of the effects of cryopreservation on growth traits persisting two generations after rederivation. Moreover, the paternal line showed signs of genetic progress exhaustion due to low reproductive performance and high postnatal mortality. Selection by daily weight gain influenced changes in foetal growth and ejaculate proteome, but did not affect the reproductive performance of females or the fertility of seminal doses of males. / This research was supported by AGL2017-85162-C2-1-R research project funded by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (MICINN, Spain). Funding for open access charge: CRUE- Universitat Politècnica de València. / Juárez Moreno, JD. (2022). Embryo cryopreservation and transfer to rederive a paternal rabbit line after 18 generations. Evaluation of growth and reproductive traits [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/185071 / TESIS / Compendio