The existence of anchor ice in supercooled water can have a profound impact on the management of water resource infrastructures in cold regions. For example, it can raise a tailrace water level and cause significant losses in generation revenue. So far, there have been limited studies on anchor ice, therefore, many problems still exist and much more study is needed. In the present research, experimental and mathematical studies of anchor ice were carried out. Experiments were conducted in a counter-rotating flume, located in a cold room at the University of Manitoba. The experiments were mainly focused on anchor ice evolution around rocks and on gravel beds under different hydro-meteorological conditions. The results are compared to a mathematical model developed herein and some important parameters such as anchor ice porosity and frazil ice deposition coefficient are examined. The growth process of anchor ice was monitored by two CCD cameras. A digital processing program was developed to analyze anchor ice images and determine the growth rate of anchor ice. In addition, anchor ice density, an important factor when studying anchor ice, was estimated and the effect of air temperature, Froude number and Reynolds number is explored. By analyzing torque load signals from the counter-rotating flume, the variation of bed roughness with the growth of anchor ice is elucidated. The deposition coefficient of anchor ice growth was also determined from the experiments. A mathematical model was developed based on a two-stage method to simulate the process of frazil ice transportation and deposition. Both frazil ice attachment and heat transfer between the supercooled water and ice crystals are considered in the model. Four governing equations related to the distribution of velocity and frazil ice transportation and deposition inside and outside the roughness layers were built. A fourth-order Runge- Kutta numerical method was used and programmed in Matlab to solve the governing equations. The growth rate of anchor ice under different hydro-meteorological conditions can be simulated by this numerical model. The proposed experimental and mathematical studies of anchor ice are presented intuitively in this paper and the results from this study contribute to a better understanding of the anchor ice growth mechanism. This study will help to develop better management strategies to mitigate ice related complications associated with hydroelectric generating stations and other hydraulic structures in cold regions.

The aim of this study was investigate if increasing total organic carbon (TOC) affects the growth rate and biomass of perch (Perca fluviatilis) and biomass of roach (Rutilus rutilus). The ongoing climate change affects the climate by increasing annual mean temperature and precipitation. The runoff to surface waters will increase, which also has the consequence that the export of terrestrial organic matter (TOM) and nutrients to surface waters will increase. Increasing of TOM into the surface waters make it darker, i.e. brownification of the water. This brownification of surface water affects the amount of available light for benthic algae causing the benthic primary production to decrease. As the benthic primary production decreases also whole lake ecosystem productivity decreases. The impact on fish biomass and production of fish were studied in five small lakes in Sweden. Lake morphology, water chemistry and fish community characteristics were sampled. A subset of perch from the catch was selected to determine age and growth. Data from age determination was then used to calculate the size dependent growth and production of perch in each lake. Total fish biomass and biomass of perch and roach was negatively affected by TOC and yearly biomass production of perch was lower in lakes with higher TOC. Thus, climate change may at least in small forest lakes lead to lower production and biomass of fish in the future.

The existence of anchor ice in supercooled water can have a profound impact on the management of water resource infrastructures in cold regions. For example, it can raise a tailrace water level and cause significant losses in generation revenue. So far, there have been limited studies on anchor ice, therefore, many problems still exist and much more study is needed. In the present research, experimental and mathematical studies of anchor ice were carried out. Experiments were conducted in a counter-rotating flume, located in a cold room at the University of Manitoba. The experiments were mainly focused on anchor ice evolution around rocks and on gravel beds under different hydro-meteorological conditions. The results are compared to a mathematical model developed herein and some important parameters such as anchor ice porosity and frazil ice deposition coefficient are examined. The growth process of anchor ice was monitored by two CCD cameras. A digital processing program was developed to analyze anchor ice images and determine the growth rate of anchor ice. In addition, anchor ice density, an important factor when studying anchor ice, was estimated and the effect of air temperature, Froude number and Reynolds number is explored. By analyzing torque load signals from the counter-rotating flume, the variation of bed roughness with the growth of anchor ice is elucidated. The deposition coefficient of anchor ice growth was also determined from the experiments. A mathematical model was developed based on a two-stage method to simulate the process of frazil ice transportation and deposition. Both frazil ice attachment and heat transfer between the supercooled water and ice crystals are considered in the model. Four governing equations related to the distribution of velocity and frazil ice transportation and deposition inside and outside the roughness layers were built. A fourth-order Runge- Kutta numerical method was used and programmed in Matlab to solve the governing equations. The growth rate of anchor ice under different hydro-meteorological conditions can be simulated by this numerical model. The proposed experimental and mathematical studies of anchor ice are presented intuitively in this paper and the results from this study contribute to a better understanding of the anchor ice growth mechanism. This study will help to develop better management strategies to mitigate ice related complications associated with hydroelectric generating stations and other hydraulic structures in cold regions.

Blue-flowered Conospermum are endemic to Western Australia, and show great potential as cut flowers. Propagation from cuttings or seed proved difficult, and root initiation in vitro is problematic. This thesis examines the floral biology of the species and the possibility of using somatic embryogenesis to overcome propagation problems. A survey of explant tissue types for C. eatoniae and C. caeruleum was carried out to identify tissue that could be induced into embryogenic pathways. Vegetative, semi-floral and floral buds were initiated into culture from February to June, but were found unsuitable for embryogenesis, producing shoots, callus or dying in culture. Leaves from in vitro leaf cultures formed callus in the presence of 2,4-D and BAP, but were unable to differentiate into embryos in the presence of a variety of growth regulator combinations and concentrations. Immature zygotes died in culture. Direct embryogenesis and/or embryogenic callus was observed on mature zygotes of the species C. caeruleum, C. spectabile, C. dorrienii and C. brownii, and somatic embryos were maintained in culture for up to 18 months for C. caeruleum. Maturation and germination of somatic embryos proved difficult; treatments of cold, ABA, desiccation or mannitol did not induce maturation. It appears that developmental pathways in Conospermum are well defined and are difficult to alter in vitro. It was concluded that somatic embryogenesis has limited commercial potential in these species. Conospermum species have an active pollination mechanism where the style is held in a state of tension when the flower opens. When pressure is applied at the base of the style by an insect, the style flicks downwards, striking the insect pollinator and releasing pollen from the anther in a single dusty mass. However, the breeding systems of blue-flowered Conospermum have not previously been well explored. Flowers on a C. eatoniae inflorescence opened from the basal end upwards acropetally, with the terminal two or three buds never opening. Fruit and seed set occurred only from the basal one to three buds. Isolation of C. eatoniae and C. amoenum flowers showed they were unable to self-pollinate in the absence of insect pollinators. Experiments to determine the timing of the peak of stigmatic receptiveness were inconclusive. Pollen germinated and penetrated the stigma 0 ¡V 6 days after anther dehiscence. Pollen loads on the stigma did not relate to the number of pollen tubes observed down the style. Controlled pollinations of cultivated C. eatoniae at a field station using self and cross pollen, revealed compatibility with a range of pollen genotypes, as pollen tubes were observed extending down the style. However, late-acting incompatibility could not be ruled out as controlled crosses failed to set any seed as flowers were shed from the bush. DNA analysis of open pollinated C. eatoniae seed progeny from two plants from a field station and two plants in natural bushland revealed very different pollination habits. Plants from the field station showed no outcrossing, with progeny closely resembling the maternal parent, whereas plants from the wild population showed outcrossing with several different paternal parents. These results suggest self-pollinated seed can be reliably obtained in a plantation situation using stands of ramets of the same clone. Alternatively, assuming that the required insect pollinators are present in a cultivated stand, it should be possible to obtain cross pollinated seed by surrounding the maternal plant with the desired paternal parent. Unusual pollen behaviour was observed for many blue-flowered species, a white-flowered species of Conospermum, and close relative, Synaphea petiolaris. Up to three pollen tubes emerged from the triporate pollen in vitro, and at rates of up to 55 ƒÝms-1. This rate was maintained for only 2 s but is greater than 20 times faster than reported in the literature for any species, in vitro or in vivo. Pollen with multiple tubes was also observed on the stigma in vivo in C. amoenum flowers. Changing the osmotic pressure of the germination medium by altering sucrose concentration influenced the number of tubes to emerge from the pollen grain; generally the number of tubes decreased as sucrose increased. However, the rate of tube growth was unaffected. The addition of calcium channel blockers to the germination medium had no effect on Conospermum growth rate, nor did they eliminate pulses of tube growth. Observation of Conospermum pollen ultrastructure revealed similarities to Gramineae pollen. The tube cytoplasm was packed with vesicles filled with material of similar electron density to the cell wall. Few golgi were identified, and the apical end of the tube contained these vesicles, smaller secretory vesicles and mitochondria. This is atypical of the tip, which is normally free of large vesicles. Distinct zones in the cytoplasm were not identified, which is similar to Gramineae. Like the grasses, Conospermum appears to pre-manufacture cell wall material and store it in vesicles ready for rapid germination and extension. A biological function of multiple pollen tube emergence with such rapid growth was not elucidated. This research has shown Conospermum to be a complex and very interesting genus. Further investigation into the remarkable growth of multiple pollen tubes would enhance our knowledge of the biological processes involved in tube growth and the process of fast wall formation. The potential benefits to the cut flower industry of commercialising some of these species warrants further effort to find an efficient method of propagation. Introduction into horticulture may be the only means by which these threatened species will survive.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Introdução: Estudos vêm demonstrando que o ambiente intrauterino influencia no crescimento fetal e extrauterino, repercutindo no perfil de saúde em longo prazo. Objetivo: Comparar a velocidade de crescimento durante os primeiros três meses de vida de crianças geradas em ambientes intrauterinos considerados adversos. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal prospectivo controlado desenvolvido com pares de mãe-filho residentes em Porto Alegre/RS. Cinco grupos de exposição foram estudados (diabetes, hipertensão arterial, tabaco e restrição do crescimento intrauterino) e um controle. O crescimento foi avaliado em cinco momentos (pós-parto, sete dias, quinze dias, um mês e três meses) utilizando os índices peso para idade (P/I), comprimento para idade (E/I) e Índice de Massa Corpórea para idade (IMC/I). A análise de regressão Equações de Estimativas Generalizadas foi utilizada para avaliar a relação entre o ambiente intrauterino e o crescimento. A velocidade de crescimento foi avaliada com um e três meses, utilizando a diferença entre as medidas de escore z (delta). Identificou-se a influência de fatores sociodemográficos, maternos e neonatais no peso ao nascer e na velocidade de crescimento. Resultados: Os fatores que influenciaram no peso ao nascer foram: paridade, IMC pré-gestacional, ganho de peso durante a gestação, tipo de parto e sexo. Ao utilizar o escore z de P/I, verificou-se que os grupos tabaco e restrito apresentaram médias significativamente menores do que o controle. De zero a um mês, a velocidade de ganho de peso entre os restritos foi significativamente maior do que os demais. De zero a três meses, só não foi significativamente maior do que o grupo hipertensão arterial. A velocidade de ganho de comprimento de zero a um e de zero a três meses foi significativamente maior no grupo restrito ao comparar com o controle. Ao utilizar o escore z de IMC/I, os grupos tabaco e restrito apresentaram médias significativamente menores do que o grupo controle. A velocidade de ganho de IMC de zero a um mês do grupo restrito só não foi significativamente maior do que o grupo hipertensão arterial. De zero a três meses, foi significativamente maior do que todos os demais. Os fatores que influenciaram na velocidade de crescimento foram: situação conjugal, IMC pré-gestacional, ganho de peso durante a gestação e internação hospitalar da criança. Conclusão: O presente estudo identificou que a velocidade de crescimento nos três primeiros meses de vida é influenciada por ambientes intrauterinos adversos e diferentes fatores gestacionais e neonatais estão envolvidos neste contexto. O grupo restrito foi o que apresentou os escores médios mais baixos e a maior recuperação. O grupo hipertensão arterial, que possuiu escores médios negativos, apresentou velocidade de ganho de peso positiva durante os primeiros três meses, sinalizando recuperação. Já o grupo tabaco, que apresentou escores médios negativos, não possuiu recuperação significativa. Os achados deste estudo poderão auxiliar na elaboração de estratégias de prevenção do crescimento acelerado em crianças expostas a fatores considerados de risco. Intervenções realizadas na infância inicial poderão refletir no perfil de saúde e na carga de doenças durante o curso da vida destas crianças. / Introduction: Studies has demonstrated that the intrauterine environment influences on fetal and extrauterine growth, reflecting the long-term health profile. Objective: To compare the growth velocity during the first three months of life among children born in intrauterine environments considered adverse. Methods: It is a prospective controlled longitudinal study developed with mother-infant pairs living in Porto Alegre/RS. Four exposure groups were studied (diabetes, hypertension, smoking and intrauterine growth restricted) and a control. Growth was evaluated in five moments (postpartum, seven days, fifteen days, one month and three months) using the weight for age (W/A), height for age (H/A) and Body Mass Index for age (BMI/A). Regression analysis with generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the relationship between the intrauterine environment and growth. The growth velocity was performed with one and three months using the difference between the z-score measures (delta). Were identified the influence of sociodemographic factors on maternal and neonatal birth weight and growth velocity. Results: Factors that influence the birth weight were: parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, type of delivery and sex. By using the z score for W/A, it was found that tobacco and intrauterine growth restricted groups had significantly lower average than the control. From zero to one month, the weight gain velocity between intrauterine growth restricted was significantly higher than the others. From zero to three months, weight gain velocity of the intrauterine growth restricted group was significantly higher than the other groups, except hypertension. The length gain velocity from zero to one and three months was significantly higher in the intrauterine growth restricted vs. control. By using the BMI/A z score, tobacco and intrauterine growth restricted groups had significantly lower average than the control group. From zero to one month, only BMI gain speed intrauterine growth restricted group was not significantly higher than the hypertension group. From zero to three months, was significantly higher than the others. The factors that influenced the growth velocity were: marital status, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy and the child's hospitalization. Conclusion: The present study identified that the growth velocity in the first three months of life is influenced by adverse intrauterine environment and different gestational and neonatal factors are involved in this context. The intrauterine growth restricted group was the one with the lowest average scores and higher recovery. The hypertension group, which owned negative average scores showed positive weight gain velocity during the first three months, signaling recovery. Otherwise, the tobacco group, which showed negative average scores, did not possess significant recovery. The findings of this study will assist in developing prevention strategies in the accelerated growth in children exposed to the risk factors. Interventions in early childhood may reflect the health profile and burden of disease during the course of life of these children.

Introdução: Estudos vêm demonstrando que o ambiente intrauterino influencia no crescimento fetal e extrauterino, repercutindo no perfil de saúde em longo prazo. Objetivo: Comparar a velocidade de crescimento durante os primeiros três meses de vida de crianças geradas em ambientes intrauterinos considerados adversos. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo longitudinal prospectivo controlado desenvolvido com pares de mãe-filho residentes em Porto Alegre/RS. Cinco grupos de exposição foram estudados (diabetes, hipertensão arterial, tabaco e restrição do crescimento intrauterino) e um controle. O crescimento foi avaliado em cinco momentos (pós-parto, sete dias, quinze dias, um mês e três meses) utilizando os índices peso para idade (P/I), comprimento para idade (E/I) e Índice de Massa Corpórea para idade (IMC/I). A análise de regressão Equações de Estimativas Generalizadas foi utilizada para avaliar a relação entre o ambiente intrauterino e o crescimento. A velocidade de crescimento foi avaliada com um e três meses, utilizando a diferença entre as medidas de escore z (delta). Identificou-se a influência de fatores sociodemográficos, maternos e neonatais no peso ao nascer e na velocidade de crescimento. Resultados: Os fatores que influenciaram no peso ao nascer foram: paridade, IMC pré-gestacional, ganho de peso durante a gestação, tipo de parto e sexo. Ao utilizar o escore z de P/I, verificou-se que os grupos tabaco e restrito apresentaram médias significativamente menores do que o controle. De zero a um mês, a velocidade de ganho de peso entre os restritos foi significativamente maior do que os demais. De zero a três meses, só não foi significativamente maior do que o grupo hipertensão arterial. A velocidade de ganho de comprimento de zero a um e de zero a três meses foi significativamente maior no grupo restrito ao comparar com o controle. Ao utilizar o escore z de IMC/I, os grupos tabaco e restrito apresentaram médias significativamente menores do que o grupo controle. A velocidade de ganho de IMC de zero a um mês do grupo restrito só não foi significativamente maior do que o grupo hipertensão arterial. De zero a três meses, foi significativamente maior do que todos os demais. Os fatores que influenciaram na velocidade de crescimento foram: situação conjugal, IMC pré-gestacional, ganho de peso durante a gestação e internação hospitalar da criança. Conclusão: O presente estudo identificou que a velocidade de crescimento nos três primeiros meses de vida é influenciada por ambientes intrauterinos adversos e diferentes fatores gestacionais e neonatais estão envolvidos neste contexto. O grupo restrito foi o que apresentou os escores médios mais baixos e a maior recuperação. O grupo hipertensão arterial, que possuiu escores médios negativos, apresentou velocidade de ganho de peso positiva durante os primeiros três meses, sinalizando recuperação. Já o grupo tabaco, que apresentou escores médios negativos, não possuiu recuperação significativa. Os achados deste estudo poderão auxiliar na elaboração de estratégias de prevenção do crescimento acelerado em crianças expostas a fatores considerados de risco. Intervenções realizadas na infância inicial poderão refletir no perfil de saúde e na carga de doenças durante o curso da vida destas crianças. / Introduction: Studies has demonstrated that the intrauterine environment influences on fetal and extrauterine growth, reflecting the long-term health profile. Objective: To compare the growth velocity during the first three months of life among children born in intrauterine environments considered adverse. Methods: It is a prospective controlled longitudinal study developed with mother-infant pairs living in Porto Alegre/RS. Four exposure groups were studied (diabetes, hypertension, smoking and intrauterine growth restricted) and a control. Growth was evaluated in five moments (postpartum, seven days, fifteen days, one month and three months) using the weight for age (W/A), height for age (H/A) and Body Mass Index for age (BMI/A). Regression analysis with generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the relationship between the intrauterine environment and growth. The growth velocity was performed with one and three months using the difference between the z-score measures (delta). Were identified the influence of sociodemographic factors on maternal and neonatal birth weight and growth velocity. Results: Factors that influence the birth weight were: parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy, type of delivery and sex. By using the z score for W/A, it was found that tobacco and intrauterine growth restricted groups had significantly lower average than the control. From zero to one month, the weight gain velocity between intrauterine growth restricted was significantly higher than the others. From zero to three months, weight gain velocity of the intrauterine growth restricted group was significantly higher than the other groups, except hypertension. The length gain velocity from zero to one and three months was significantly higher in the intrauterine growth restricted vs. control. By using the BMI/A z score, tobacco and intrauterine growth restricted groups had significantly lower average than the control group. From zero to one month, only BMI gain speed intrauterine growth restricted group was not significantly higher than the hypertension group. From zero to three months, was significantly higher than the others. The factors that influenced the growth velocity were: marital status, pre-pregnancy BMI, weight gain during pregnancy and the child's hospitalization. Conclusion: The present study identified that the growth velocity in the first three months of life is influenced by adverse intrauterine environment and different gestational and neonatal factors are involved in this context. The intrauterine growth restricted group was the one with the lowest average scores and higher recovery. The hypertension group, which owned negative average scores showed positive weight gain velocity during the first three months, signaling recovery. Otherwise, the tobacco group, which showed negative average scores, did not possess significant recovery. The findings of this study will assist in developing prevention strategies in the accelerated growth in children exposed to the risk factors. Interventions in early childhood may reflect the health profile and burden of disease during the course of life of these children.

[EN] The general aim of this thesis was to reproductively characterize females from a rabbit line selected for growth rate and to evaluate the effect of different nutritional strategies (ad libitum and restricted), in order to improve the reproductive performance. In chapter 1, the influence of maternal and embryonic genotype on prenatal survival and fetal growth was evaluated and contrasted with a maternal line. Prenatal survival, fetal weight and fetal placenta weight were affected by both embryonic and maternal genotype. Nevertheless, no differences were detected either at transcriptomic level in fetal placenta or in progesterone and IGF-I plasma levels in these females. It may be concluded that in rabbit females from paternal lines both embryonic and maternal genotypes are key factors in the reproductive performance of these females. The aim of chapter 2 was to explore the causes of ovulation failures in these rabbit females. Results showed that non-ovulated females presented lower LH plasma concentration as well as higher body weight and leptin and BOHB plasma levels than ovulated females. Thus, ovulation failures in females from line R could be attributed to decreased LH plasma concentrations in these females which may be related with their higher body weight and leptin levels. The following three chapters were focused on improvement of the reproductive performance of these females through a different nutritional strategy: a feed-to-appetite diet of these females after the rearing period and prior to insemination. The initial hypothesis was that the females are submitted to a restricted nutritional regimen which is not enough to cope with their needs during reproduction, causing long-term disturbances of energy balance which leads to the subsequent reproductive problems. Chapter 3 aimed to determine if a feed-to-appetite nutritional strategy would affect the hypothalamus-hypophysis axis and the quality of the produced oocytes, by transcriptomic analysis. While no differences were found in the microarray analysis of the hypothalamus-hypophysis, small differences were detected in the transcript expression analysis in oocytes of a group of genes selected. MSY2 was found to be downregulated in oocytes from restricted females. As a key regulator of maternal RNA transcription and translation, changes in this essential gene could explain some of the reproductive problems of these females. Whether the differences found at oocyte level were inherent at embryonic level and so involved in the drop of fertility was studied in Chapter 4. Although no significant differences were revealed in ovulation, embryo recovery, and implantation rate, higher fetal and gestational losses were found in restricted females, as well as lower fetal growth. Thus, we concluded that the nutritional strategy employed may have an impact on the oocyte (Chapter 3), but we also demonstrated that these changes were inherited by the embryo, and result in disturbances in gestational losses and fetal growth. The final chapter of this thesis was conducted to determine whether these effects on reproductive and metabolic elements were also evident in females following the common semi-intensive farm production system. Although the results obtained showed small variances in NEFAs and BOHB plasma levels, and also in body weight, no differences were detected in global reproductive performance in terms of fertility, prolificacy and productivity. The results obtained established that although differences are found at oocyte level and inherited by embryo and fetus, no improvements are reached with the proposed nutritional strategy in terms of reproductive performance when females selected for growth rate lead a normal semi-intensive production system. / [ES] El objetivo general fue la caracterización reproductiva de las hembras de una línea de conejo seleccionada por velocidad de crecimiento y el efecto de distintas estrategias nutricionales (ad libitum y restringidas), con la finalidad de mejorar el rendimiento reproductivo. En el capítulo 1 se evaluó la influencia de los genotipos materno y embrionario en la supervivencia prenatal y crecimiento fetal, entre las hembras de esta línea y una línea maternal. La supervivencia prenatal, peso fetal y el peso de la placenta resultaron afectados por los genotipos tanto embrionario como materno, pero no se detectaron diferencias sobre la placenta fetal a nivel del transcriptoma ni en los niveles de progesterona e IGF-I. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que en éstas tanto el genotipo embrionario como el materno son factores clave en su rendimiento reproductivo. El objetivo del capítulo 2 fue explorar las causas de los fallos reproductivos en estas hembras. Los resultados mostraron que las hembras que no ovularon presentaban menores niveles de LH, un mayor peso corporal y mayor concentración en sangre de leptinas y BOHB, que aquellas que había ovulado. Por ello, los fallos en ovulación detectados en estas hembras podrían estar relacionados con una reducción en los niveles de LH, consecuencia del mayor peso de estas hembras y de los incrementados niveles de leptinas. Los siguientes capítulos se enfocaron a la mejora del rendimiento reproductivo de estas hembras empleando una estrategia nutricional distinta: la ingesta ad libitum de alimento tras el periodo de crianza hasta el momento del comienzo de su vida reproductiva. La hipótesis de partida fue que estas hembras son sometidas a un régimen nutricional restringido que no es suficiente para satisfacer sus necesidades energéticas durante la reproducción, lo que causa alteraciones en su balance energético que se manifestarían en los problemas reproductivos observados. El capítulo 3 trató de determinar a través de un análisis trasncriptómico si la estrategia nutricional planteada afectaría el eje hipotalámico-hipofisario y la calidad de los ovocitos. Aunque no se encontraron diferencias en el análisis de un micrarray realizado sobre el hipotálamo-hipófisis, sí que se detectaron en la expresión génica de los ovocitos. El transcrito MSY2 mostró una menor expresión en los ovocitos de las hembras restringidas. Este gen es un regulador clave en la maduración ovocitaria, por lo tanto, cambios en la expresión de este gen podrían explicar algunos de los problemas reproductivos de estas hembras. En el capítulo 4 se estudió si las diferencias a nivel ovocitario eran heredadas por el embrión pudiendo causar la baja fertilidad de estas hembras. Aunque no se encontraron diferencias en las tasas de ovulación, recuperación embrionaria e implantación, sí que aparecieron diferencias en las pérdidas fetales y gestacionales, así como un menor crecimiento fetal en los embriones procedentes de hembras con restricción alimentaria. Por ello, concluimos que la estrategia nutricional empleada tiene unas consecuencias en el ovocito (Capítulo 3), y demostramos que estos cambios parecen continuar en el embrión, resultando en alteraciones en pérdidas gestacionales y crecimiento fetal. El capítulo final fue desarrollado para evidenciar si los efectos reproductivos y metabólicos observados en los capítulos previos se manifestaban en las hembras que se encuentran en un sistema de producción tradicional en granja. A pesar de que los resultados mostraron variaciones en los niveles circulantes de NEFAs y BOHB y de peso corporal, no se encontraron diferencias en el rendimiento reproductivo global a nivel de fertilidad, prolificidad y productividad. Los resultados obtenidos parecen indicar que a pesar de las diferencias encontradas a nivel ovocitario, embrionario y fetal, con el régimen nutricional propuesto no se logra alcanzar mejoras en la eficiencia reproductivo de las h / [CAT] L'objectiu general va ser la caracterització reproductiva de les femelles d'una línia de conill seleccionada per velocitat de creixement i l'efecte de diferents estratègies nutricionals (ad libitum i restringides), amb la finalitat de millorar el rendiment reproductiu. En el capítol 1 s'avaluà la influència dels genotipus matern i embrionari en la supervivència prenatal i el creixement fetal, entre les femelles d'aquesta línia i les de una altra línia maternal. La supervivència prenatal, el pes fetal i el pes de la placenta resultaren afectats pels genotipus embrionari i matern, però no es detectaren diferències en la placenta fetal a nivell de trascriptoma ni en els nivells de progesterona i IGF-I. Per tant, en les femelles de conill seleccionades per velocitat de creixement, tant el genotipus embrionari com el matern són factors clau en el seu rendiment reproductiu. L'objectiu del capítol 2 va ser explorar les causes de les fallades reproductives en aquestes femelles. Les femelles que no ovularen presentaren menor nivells de LH, major pes corporal i major concentració de leptines i BOHB que aquelles que sí que hi havia ovulat. Per això, les fallades d'ovulació detectades en aquestes femelles podrien estar relacionades amb la reducció en els nivells de LH, com a conseqüència del major pes d'aquestes femelles i dels incrementats nivells de leptines. Els capítols següents s'enfocaren a la millora del rendiment reproductiu d'aquestes femelles mitjançant una estratègia nutricional distinta: la ingesta ad libitum d'aliment després del període de criança i fins al moment de l'inici de la vida reproductiva. La hipòtesi de partida fiu que aquestes femelles són sotmeses a un règim nutricional restringit que no és suficient per a satisfer les seves necessitats energètiques durant la reproducció, la qual cosa provoca alteracions en el balanç energètic que podrien manifestar-se en els problemes reproductius observats. El capítol 3 tractà de determinar mitjançant un anàlisi trasncritòmic si la estratègia nutricional plantejada podria afectar l'eix hipotalàmic-hipofisiari i la qualitat dels ovòcits. Metre que no es detectaren diferències en el anàlisi del microarray realitzat en el hipotàlem-hipòfisi, sí que es detectaren en l'expressió gènica del ovòcits. El transcrit MSY2 mostrà una menor expressió en els ovòcits de les femelles restringides. Aquest gen es un regulador clau en la maduració ovocitària, per aquest motiu, canvis en la seva expressió gen podrien explicar alguns dels problemes reproductius de les femelles. En el capítol 4 s'estudià si aquestes diferències a nivell ovocitari eren heretades per l'embrió i podrien causar la baixa fertilitat d'aquestes femelles. Encara que no se trobaren diferències en les taxes d'ovulació, recuperació embrionària i implantació, sí que es trobaren diferències en les pèrdues fetals i gestacionals, així com un menor creixement fetal en els embrions de les femelles provinents d'un règim alimentari restringit. Per això concloíem que l'estratègia nutricional emprada té conseqüències en el ovòcit (Capítol 3), i demostrarem que aquest canvis pareixen continuar en l'embrió, resultant en alteracions en pèrdues gestacionals i creixement fetal. El capítol final fou desenvolupat per evidenciar si els efectes reproductius i metabòlics observats en els capítols previs eren manifestats en les femelles que es troben en un sistema productiu tradicional de granja. Tot i que el resultats mostraren variacions en els nivells circulants de NEFAs i BOHB i pes corporal, no es trobaren diferències en el rendiment reproductiu global, en termes de fertilitat, prolificitat i productivitat. Els resultats obtinguts pareixen indicar que tot i que les diferències trobades a nivell ovocitari i embrionari amb un efecte significatiu en el desenvolupament i creixement fetal, amb el règim nutricional proposat no s'aconsegueix assolir millores en / Naturil Alfonso, C. (2016). EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION IN A RABBIT LINE SELECTED FOR GROWTH RATE ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE: OVULATION INDUCTION, OOCYTE QUALITY, EMBRYONARY AND FETAL LOSSES [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/73065 / TESIS

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid found in some plants and has many bioactivities including anti-microbial, lipid- and glucose-lowering, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, etc. However, there is limited knowledge about berberine’s effects on development and locomotive activity. Herein, in vivo studies were conducted to determine these effects of berberine using Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo model. Treatment of berberine at 50 μM starting at L1 stage significantly retarded the growth rate of nematodes, and reduced the length, width and moving speed of worms by 19%, 12% and 29%, respectively, compared to the control. In addition, triglycerides (TG) and protein content in worms was reduced by 23% and 28%, respectively, after berberine treatment from L1 stage compared with the control group. However, no significance was observed when berberine was treated from young adult stage. These findings suggest that berberine has effects on development in C. elegans.

The effect of maternal dietary fats on growth rate and bone development of commercial broilers was examined. Three hundred fifty female chicks were winged banded, weighed and equally divided among six starter pens (1.52 X 3.66m) with litter floors. At 20 wk of age, each pen was fed a basal laying diet supplemented with either 3% chicken fat (CF), soybean oil (SBO) or menhaden oil (MO). Each diet was provided with or without the antioxidant ethoxyquin, producing a total of six dietary treatments. Addition of fats [soybean (SBO), menhaden oil (MO), chicken fat (CF), soybean + antioxidant (SA), menhaden + antioxidant (MA), and chicken + antioxidant (CA)] to the maternal diet altered the tissue and yolk composition of hens to reflect the dietary source. Response variables measured were body weight, tibia weight and length, and breaking strength (stress, force, energy, bone wall, and diameter). Chick tissue from hens fed a MO and MA diet exhibited greater (P<0.01) amounts of DPA (22:5n3), DHA (22:6n3) and total n-3 fatty acids than the remaining dietary treatments. Tissues from chicks fed a SBO and SA diet displayed larger levels of 18:2n6 and total n-6 fatty acids when compared to all other treatments. Male and female chicks from the menhaden type diets (MO and MA) were lighter (P<0.01) during grow out period than from soybean (SBO and SA) and chicken (CF and CA) type diets. Chicks tibiae diameter from CF maternal diet tended to be larger than the MO maternal diet, with significance being noted at d 14 (P<0.01) and 28 (P<0.01). Increases were observed in shear force and stress required to break chick tibia from SBO maternal diet compared to those from the CF and MO maternal diets. The SBO maternal diet stimulates growth rate and bone development and strength of the progeny. (Key words: chickens, bone development, breaking strength, growth rate, fatty acids) / Master of Science