Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Joann M. Kouba / The objectives of these studies were to (1) characterize mare milk and fecal bacteria, and foal fecal microbiota from birth to 4 mo and (2) determine the effect of weaning and weaning method on foal fecal bacterial composition. Next generation sequencing of the V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was performed using the Illumina Miseq according to Earth Microbiome Project protocols and sequencing data was analyzed using QIIME. In experiment 1, mare milk, mare fecal, and foal fecal samples were collected from 9 mare and foal pairs at birth (d 0), d 2, 7, and 1, 2, 3 and 4 mo. In experiment 2, 9 foals were separated into 2 treatments: abrupt (n = 5) and gradual (n = 4) weaning methods. Fecal samples were collected the day before weaning (d-1), the day of weaning (d 0) and post-weaning on d 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7. Blood was collected for analysis of cortisol concentration at 0800 h on d -1, 1, 2, and at 0800 h and 1100 h on d 0 and 4. Heart rate was recorded in 10 min intervals on the day of weaning starting 1 h before weaning to 2 h post-weaning, and again for 1 h starting 24 h after weaning. Results from experiment 1 showed newborn foal meconium and mare milk were similar in species diversity and composition; however, large shifts in composition and increases in foal fecal bacterial diversity occurred within the first week. By 1 mo, foal fecal bacterial composition did not differ in composition from mare feces at the phylum level (P = 1.0). Firmicutes, Bacteriodetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Spirochaetes were the dominant phyla found in feces of foals 1 mo and older and adult mare feces. For experiment 2, there were no differences in species diversity (P > 0.05) or separations in bacterial community structure between weaning methods or before and after weaning. There were minor shifts in relative abundance of specific phyla and genera in response to weaning. Foals in the abrupt treatment group had increased cortisol concentrations on d 1 (P < 0.05) and increased heart rate for 50 min after weaning on d 0 (P < 0.05). The foal is born with fecal microbial communities similar to milk that rapidly change during the first week of life, reaching the same composition of its dam by the first month. The foal fecal microbiota matures prior to weaning, therefore weaning did not cause drastic changes in bacterial composition. Although acute stress was increased in abruptly weaned foals, stress associated with different weaning methods did not influence the fecal microbiota within the first week post-weaning.

No description available.

Univ., Diss--Neuchâtel.

[pt] As transformações no ambiente em decorrência da industrialização do Rio de janeiro deram espaço à consolidação do Complexo da Maré que foi fruto de resistências e reinvenções para a ocupação desse território. A pesquisa realizada tem como objetivo principal compreender o que os moradores da Maré pensam sobre meio ambiente na favela e que relações os mesmo experimentam a partir dessas reinvenções. Nessa perspectiva foi possível identificar conhecimentos locais que possam dar subsídios à educação ambiental nessas favelas. O recorte utilizado na pesquisa foi construído a partir de uma rede de parcerias e trocas que venho experimentando na Maré desde 2011 com o projeto de extensão da UFRJ Muda Maré. Quanto à metodologia, foram feitas observações em quatro favelas do complexo, oito entrevistas semi estruturadas e análises de quatro documentos relevantes ao tema da pesquisa. Levando em conta que a literatura sobre educação ambiental em favelas é pouco desenvolvida, me aproximo da Justiça Ambiental e do Racismo Ambiental para compreender como os movimentos sociais pautam o meio ambiente como um direito básico da população. Temas geradores e educação popular também são fundamentos utilizados para compreender a educação ambiental em contextos não escolares. Outra linha de reflexão é a ecologia de saberes que propõe o diálogo horizontal entre diferentes conhecimentos. A pesquisa teve como resultado um conteúdo que identifica algumas propostas de processos transformadores que dão luz ao desenvolvimento desse debate sobre educação ambiental em favelas. / [en] The transformations in the environment as a result of the industrialization of Rio de Janeiro gave way to the consolidation of Complexo da Maré that was the result of resistances and reinventions for the occupation of this territory. The main objective of the research is to understand what the residents of Maré think about the environment in the favela and what relationships they experience from these reinventions. From this perspective it is possible to identify local knowledge that can give subsidies to environmental education in these favelas. The research was built from a network of partnerships and exchanges that I have been experimenting in Maré since 2011 with the Muda Maré extension project from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. About the methodology, observations were made in four favelas of the complex, eight semi-structured interviews and analyzes of four documents relevant to the research theme. Whereas that the literature on environmental education in favelas is poorly developed, this study approach to the Environmental Justice and Environmental Racism to understand how social movements guide the environment as a basic right of the population. Generative themes and popular education are also foundations used to understand environmental education in non-school contexts. Another line of reflection is the ecology of knowledge that proposes the horizontal dialogue between different knowledge. The research resulted in content that identifies some proposals for transformative processes that give light to the development of this debate about environmental education in favelas.

This thesis is dealing with evaluation of a Czech Warmblood mare performance test system. Mare performance tests have become an important measure in the Czech Warmblood breed and most newly registered mares undergo them. The mare performance test does not only indicate the mare{\crq}s own disposition but it is also a valuable source of information on the sires of the mares taking part. The main reason for mare performance testing is to obtain a performance record to use as a tool in making breeding decisions. Within the tests the best sire of the mares are evaluated. This thesis examines the system of mare performance tests and compares it with systems of organizing mare performance tests in other European countries. In the conclusion all the achieved results are assessed and discussed.

[pt] Esta dissertação tem por propósito investigar a violência no Complexo da Maré em sua relação com a Escola Municipal da Paz. Tomando a referida escola como epicentro, busca-se analisar de que forma os objetos ou coisas, em sua agência, se afirmam como marcadores de um estado de paz ou violência, mediante um engajamento de percepção dos sujeitos envolvidos nesse contexto. A fim de considerarmos as ações em rede, pensamos em como coisas e pessoas se articulam nessa relação. Na primeira parte do trabalho, encontra-se a discussão sobre as favelas em seu percurso de criação e afirmação no espaço da cidade, focalizando, em seguida, a Maré em suas múltiplas potências. Discute-se ainda de que forma as vivências da pesquisadora se entrecruzam com a história do referido espaço. A segunda parte da dissertação traz ao plano central um debate sobre o diálogo entre Antropologia e Educação, com especial ênfase à educação da atenção, realizando ainda uma apresentação da Escola Municipal da Paz. O terceiro capítulo discute a noção de violência, com posterior investigação etnográfica das coisas, apontando um saber da violência feito e refeito no fluxo entre coisas e pessoas. / [en] This dissertation aims to investigate violence in Maré Complex of favelas considering its relationship with Escola Municipal da Paz. It focuses on this school as an epicenter of discussion and tries to analyze how objects or things, in their agency, assert themselves as markers of peace or violence states, through the engagement of the perception of the subjects involved in this context. In order to examine network actions, we take into consideration how things and people evolve in this relationship. In the first part of the work, there is a discussion about the journey of favelas creation and their affirmation inside the urban space. Then, it focuses on the multiple powers of the Maré complex. It also discusses how the experiences of the researcher dialogue with the history of that territory. The second part of the paper highlights the debate between Anthropology and Education, with special emphasis on the education of care. We also have a presentation of Escola Municipal da Pazin this chapter. The third chapter discusses the notion of violence, with subsequent ethnographic research of things, pointing out the knowledge of violence, which is done and redone in the flow of things and people.

L'extraction de la tourbe pour en produire des substrats horticoles entraine la perte de leur capacité à séquestrer le carbone (C) dans les sols. Cependant, depuis plus d’une trentaine d’années, de nombreuses tourbières se sont vues restaurées et dans certains cas des mares sont intégrées. Les mares de tourbières sont présentes surtout dans les régions côtières et maritimes et sont généralement émettrices de C, à l’inverse des tourbières. Or, les mares sont des micro-habitats ayant un grand potentiel lié à la biodiversité et jouent ainsi un rôle très important pour de nombreuses espèces. De manière générale, la mesure du succès de la restauration des mares se concentre surtout sur le retour des espèces végétales typiques des mares naturelles et la présence d’un niveau d’eau constant à l’année. Très peu d’études se concentrent sur la biogéochimie des mares pour évaluer le succès de la restauration. Mon projet de recherche vise à évaluer le succès de la création des mares dans les projets de restauration de tourbière en utilisant des variables biogéochimiques. La recherche vise donc à identifier les différences biogéochimiques entre les mares créées et naturelles en plus de déterminer la trajectoire biogéochimique des mares créées dans le temps. Pour ce faire, nous avons mesuré différentes variables biogéochimiques telles le pH, les concentrations d’azote (N), de phosphore (P), de carbone organique dissout (DOC), de cations basiques – calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnésium (Mg) et potassium (K) et des gaz dissouts - méthane (CH4), dioxyde de carbone (CO2) et protoxyde d’azote (N2O) -. L’échantillonnage s’est fait dans 62 mares réparties au sein de 7 tourbières situé au Québec et au Nouveau-Brunswick : des mares naturelles et des mares créées il y a entre 3 et 22 ans. Les mares naturelles et créées ont des caractéristiques biogéochimiques différentes, et ce sans prendre en compte l’année de création. De ce fait, l’eau des mares créées est moins acide (pH >5) et plus concentrée en nutriments - N et P - que les mares naturelles. Cependant, les mares créées les plus anciennes ont tendance à se rapprocher des caractéristiques biogéochimiques des mares naturelles où la variation de la nappe phréatique et par le fait même la profondeur des mares viendraient jouer un rôle important sur les variables biogéochimiques. Des mares créées plus profondes et plus grandes pourraient ainsi permettre une présence d’eau permanente sans qu’elles s’assèchent durant l’été et ainsi favoriser le retour des conditions biogéochimiques similaires aux mares naturelles. / The extraction of peat to produce horticultural substrates leads to the loss of their ability to sequester carbon (C) in soils. However, over the past 30 years, many peatlands have been restored and open-water pools have been incorporated in some cases. Pools are naturally present in some bogs, especially in coastal and maritime regions, and are generally net C emitters, unlike peatlands. Pools are known to be micro-habitats with great potential for biodiversity and play a very important role for many species. In general, the measurement of the success of pool creation focuses on the return of bog plant species and a constant presence of water throughout the year. Currently, very few studies focus on the biogeochemistry of created pools to assess success. My research project uses biogeochemical variables to evaluate the success of created pools in peatland restoration projects. The research aims to identify biogeochemical differences between created and natural pools and to determine the biogeochemical trajectory of created pools over time. We measured different biogeochemical variables such as pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), base cations - calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) and dissolved gases - methane (CH4), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) -. Sampling was done in 62 pools located in 7 peatlands in Quebec and New Brunswick. We sampled both natural pools and pools created between 3 and 22 years ago. Natural and created pools have different biogeochemical characteristics, without considering the year of creation. Water in created pools is less acidic (pH >5) and more concentrated in nutrients - N and P - than in natural pools. However, the oldest created pools tend to be closer to the biogeochemical characteristics of natural pools. The variation of the water table and the depth of the pools play an important role for the return towards natural biogeochemical characteristics. Deeper and larger created pools could allow a permanent water presence during dry periods in summer and thus promote the return of biogeochemical conditions similar to natural pools.

Typescript (photocopy). / Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Luteinising hormone (LH) is a crucial regulator of ovarian follicle maturation, ovulation and luteinisation. Development of healthy follicles and fertile ovulation can only occur within a specific range of circulating LH concentrations, with differing upper and lower limits depending on the stage of the oestrous cycle. The objective of the three studies in this thesis was to investigate the effects of both physiological and non-physiological circulating LH levels on equine follicular maturity by examining ovulatory and steroidogenic capacity, gene expression profiles and miRNA expression in ovulatory-size follicles at various stages of the oestrous cycle and/or in response to supplementation with LH. The aim of the first study was to investigate the hypothesis that deficient circulating LH is a primary cause for the inability of equine follicles to ovulate during the physiological anovulatory season. A LH-rich equine pituitary fraction (eLH) given twice daily to early transitional mares did not restore steroidogenic capacity of the ovulatory-size follicle or advance the onset of the natural breeding season; however, it significantly stimulated follicular growth to a level similar to that occurring during the normal oestrous cycle. The results demonstrated that a deficiency in LH is critically involved in reduced follicle growth during the anovulatory season. The second study examined the effects of elevated circulating LH levels early during follicle development on follicle maturation and ovulatory ability in cycling mares, with the hypothesis that excessive LH would disrupt ovulation and produce haemorrhagic anovulatory follicles (HAFs). Treatment with eLH or a luteolytic dose of prostaglandin F2α (to stimulate an increase in endogenous levels of LH) did not have any effects on follicle growth or ovulation, but did impair follicular production of androstenedione and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), suggesting a deleterious effect of high LH on follicle and oocyte maturation. The third study examined the expression of different follicular factors associated with follicle maturation as well as microRNAs (miRNAs) in ovulatory-size follicles naturally developing under different LH milieus (oestrus, dioestrus and spring transitional period). Progesterone and IGF1 were significantly reduced in follicles developing in a low LH environment (dioestrus and transition). All four miRNAs measured, miR-378, miR-542, miR-202 and miR-21 were found at higher levels in subordinate follicles than in preovulatory follicles during oestrus. In addition miR- 202 and miR-21 were significantly increased in transitional follicles relative to oestrous follicles. The results of this study indicate that follicles developing during both the spring transitional and dioestrous periods are developmentally immature and suggested potential important roles of miRNAs in follicle maturation in the horse. In summary, although LH is a key factor promoting follicular growth, it is by itself not sufficient to restore steroidogenic activity in transitional follicles. Elevated LH levels during follicle development do not disrupt ovulation, but induce changes in follicular fluid factors related to follicle maturation and oocyte quality. Follicles developing under different LH milieus show altered miRNA expression, suggesting an important role of miRNAs in follicle maturation.

Nas éguas cíclicas, a luteólise ocorre entre os dias 14 e 16 após ovulação, pela ação da PGF2&#940 endometrial. Entretanto, durante a gestação, a luteólise deve ser bloqueada, ao mesmo passo que a ação da PGE2 deve ser estimulada. Ambos hormônios possuem baixa difusão pela membrana plasmática, sendo necessária a presença da proteína transportadora de prostaglandina (PGT) para o influxo e efluxo destes hormônios nas células. Os objetivos deste experimento foram identificar e relacionar o RNAm da PGT no endométrio de éguas cíclica e gestante aos 14 dias (experimento 1) e avaliar o perfil do RNAm para PGT no endométrio eqüino em final de diestro sob efeito de secreção embrionária (experimento 2). Para o experimento 1, um ciclo estral de 11 éguas foi acompanhado. Seis éguas não foram inseminadas e somente detectado o tempo de ovulação e cinco foram inseminadas. Biópsias endometriais foram realizadas quando detectado folículo pré-ovulatório (&#8805;35mm de diâmetro) e edema endometrial (E0; n=6), sete (E7; n=6) e quatorze (E14; n=6) dias após ovulação nas fêmeas cíclicas e aos quatorze dias de gestação (EG; n=4) nas fêmeas gestantes. No experimento 2, 5 embriões eqüinos de 13,5 dias de idade foram coletados, cultivados por 24 horas em ambiente com temperatura e CO2 controlados e o meio condicionado embrionário (MCEE) gerado foi armazenado a -80&ordm;C. Em seguida, amostras endometriais de sete éguas cíclicas aos 14 dias pós ovulação foram coletadas por biópsia uterina e cultivadas por 24 horas, em ambiente com temperatura e CO2 controlados, na presença do MCEE. O RNA total foi extraído de todas as amostras endometriais e amplificado pela reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real (RT-PCR), de um passo. A abundância relativa média dos transcritos foi submetida a análise de variância e as médias foram separadas pelo teste LSD (P<0,05). No experimento 1, o RNAm da PGT em tecido equino foi identificado, de maneira que as quantidades relativas deste gene foram similares entre E0, E7, E14 e EG. No experimento 2, o MCEE não modificou a quantidade de RNAm para PGT no endométrio em fase final do diestro. / In cyclic mares, luteolysis occurs between the 14th and 16th days after ovulation, due to endometrial PGF2&#940 However, in pregnant mares luteolysis must be blocked, whereas the PGE2 action must be stimulated. Both hormones have low diffusion through the plasma membrane, wherein the Prostaglandin Transporter Protein (PGT) is needed to influx and efflux of these hormones in the cells. The objectives of this experiment are to identify and to relate with the mRNA to PGT in the endometrium of cyclic and pregnant mares (experiment 1) and to evaluate the mRNA profile to PGT in equine endometrium at end of diestrous, under embryonic secretion effect (experiment 2). In the experiment 1, one estrous cycle of 11 mares (5 to 12 years old) was examined. Six mares were not inseminated and only the time of ovulation was recorded, and five mares were inseminated. Endometrial biopsies were performed when pre-ovulatory follicles (diameter &#8805; 35mm) and endometrial edema were detected (E0; n=6), seven (E7; n=6) and fourteen days (E14; n=6) after ovulation in cyclic mares, and fourteen days after ovulation in pregnant mares (EG; n=4). In the experiment 2, five embryos of 13,5 days of age were collected, cultured during 24 hours in controlled temperature and CO2 and the embrionic conditioned medium (ECM) was stored at -80&ordm;C. After that, endometrium samples of 7 mares at fourteen days after ovulation were collected by uterine biopsy and they were cultured during 24 hours, in controlled temperature and CO2, with ECM. Total RNA was extracted and submitted to amplification by one step real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The abundance relative average of trancripts was submitted to variance analysis and averages were separated by LSD test (P<0,05). In the experiment 1 the mRNA to equine PGT was identified so that the relative quantities of this gene were equal among E0, E7, E14 e EG. In the experiment 2, the ECM did not modify the mRNA quantity to PGT in the endometrium at end of diestrous.