A study was conducted to determine what impact high white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) densities were having on the native grasslands of a tallgrass: aspen forest tract embedded within an agro-urban setting. Due to excessive spring moisture, row-crops were unavailable the first year. Using microhistological fecal analysis to determine dietary composition, deer were assessed to be placing the site’s favoured native plant species at risk of extirpation. Measuring woody stem abundance and height along and near the prairie: forest ecotone, deer were found to restructure woody growth but not directly influence encroachment rates. Indirectly, however, deer facilitated forest encroachment and prairie degradation through seed dispersal, nitrogen deposition, gap-dynamics, and trampling. Comparing dietary composition to nutritional data, deer grazed to maximize fitness, selecting foods high in IVDMD, minimizing energy expenditure, and optimizing CP. High crop CP was offset by intensively grazing particular native plants. ADF was an effective nutritional marker, not AIA.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:07:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Debora de Carvalho Basto.pdf: 1304650 bytes, checksum: c7c0508fd8367c1bd05d4f268711e1ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-22 / The best height of forage at time of entry into pasture and the height of forage millet residue for grazing are still controversial. This experiment was conducted at the Department of Animal Production of the Veterinary School, of Federal University of Goias, in Goiania-GO, from January to May 2009, and aimed to evaluate the productive potential and the chemical composition of three cultivars of forage millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR.) under different heights of entry and of the stubble. The 27 treatments consisted of the combinations of three varieties of millet - ADR 500, H733/07 and H729/07, allocated in plots, three heights at entry (0.50, 0.60 and 0.70 m) and three heights of stubble (zero, 0.10 and 0.30 m) allocated in sub-plots with four replications, totaling 108 experimental units. A randomized complete block design, with split plots andfour replications in a 3 x 3 x 3 factorial arrangement was used. Green matter total yield (GMTY), dry matter total yield (DMTY), average production of dry matter per cutting, production of dry matter of stubble with zero, 0.10 and 0.30 m, average rate of forage accumulation, and rate of forage accumulation of stubble "zero" 0.10 and 0.30 m were determined. The contents of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were also determined. Green matter total yield (GMTY) differed depending on the height at entry (HE) and height of stubble, with average values of 25.2: 28.0 t ha-1 and 28.5 and 20.4; 30.6 and 30.7 t ha-1, estimated for the HE and stubble, respectively. The dry matter production increased in the extent that the height at entry and the height of the stubble increased. The average production of dry matter per cutting for the cultivars was approximately 2840 kg ha-1/DM. The average accumulation of forage millet was 61.74, 58.29 and 63.59 kg ha-1/DM for cultivars ADR-500, ADR-500 hp, 729 and 733, respectively. Regarding chemical composition, the dry matter content did not differ among the cultivars evaluated. The CP did not differ in function of the cultivars and HE. The residue of 0.10 and 0.30 m, interactions among cultivar x HE x cutting, averaging 14.0% of CP were observed. The NDF had triple interaction: cultivar x HE x cutting in the stubbles of 0.10 and 0.30 m, with average values of 57.6, 58.6 and 57.7%, and 58.4, 61, 6 and 57.7%, respectively. ADF differed in relation to the cultivars, with values of: ADR-500-35- 5, 729 - 37.6 and 733 - 37.9%. As for the residue of 0.10 m, there was an interaction in relation to HE x cutting, with values of 30.0, 31.7 and 25.8% for the HE of 0.50, 0.60 and 0.70 m. As for the residue of 0.30 m triple interactions were observed: HE x cultivar x cutting, with average rates of (ADR-500) - 31.7%, (729) - 32.0%, and (733) - 32.7%, respectively. Based on the values of dry matter and chemical composition, all cultivars showed potential for use in animal feed. / Ainda é controversa a melhor altura de entrada e do resíduo do milheto forrageiro para fins de pastejo. O presente experimento, foi conduzido nas dependências do Departamento de Produção Animal da Escola de Veterinária da Universidade Federal de Goiás, no município de Goiânia-GO, durante o período de janeiro à maio de 2009, teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial produtivo e a composição bromatológica de três cultivares de milheto forrageiro (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. BR.) sob alturas de entrada e do resíduo pós-pastejo. Os 27 tratamentos corresponderam às combinações de três cultivares de milheto - ADR 500, H733/07 e H729/07, alocados às parcelas, três alturas de entrada (0,50, 0,60 e 0,70 m) e três alturas de resíduo (zero, 0,10 e 0,30 m) alocados nas sub-parcelas, com quatro repetições, totalizando 108 unidades experimentais. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos completos ao acaso, com parcelas subdivididas no tempo e quatro repetições em esquema fatorial 3 x 3 x 3. Determinou-se as produções totais de massa verde (PTMV) e massa seca (PTMS), produção média de massa seca por corte, produção de massa seca com resíduos zero , 0,10 e 0,30 m, taxa média de acúmulo de forragem, taxa de acúmulo de forragem com resíduo zero 0,10 e 0,30 m do solo. Foram determinados os teores de proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e fibra em detergente ácido (FDA). A produção de massa verde total(PMVT) diferiu em função das alturas de entrada (AE) e dos resíduos de corte, com valores médios de 25,2: 28,0 e 28,5 t.ha-1 e 20,4; 30,6 e 30,7 t.ha-1, determinados para as AE e resíduos, respectivamente. A produção de massa seca se mostrou crescente a medida em que se aumenta a altura de entrada e do resíduo póspastejo. A produção média de massa seca por corte para os cultivares foi da ordem de 2.840 kg.ha-1 de MS. Já a taxa média de acúmulo de forragem do milheto foi de 61,74;58,29 e 63,59 kg.ha-1 de MS para os cultivares ADR-500, cv ADR-500, 729 e 733, respectivamente. Em relação à composição químicobromatológica, os teores de matéria seca não diferiu entre os cultivares avaliados. Os teores de PB não diferiram em função dos cultivares e AE. No resíduo de 0,10 e 0,30 m, foram observadas interações entre cultivar x AE x corte, com médias de 14,0% de PB. Os teores de FDN apresentaram interação tripla: cultivar x AE x corte, nos resíduos de 0,10 e 0,30 m, com valores médios de 57,6; 58,6 e 57,7% e de 58,4; 61,6 e 57,7%, respectivamente. Os teores de FDA diferiram em relação aos cultivares, com valores de: ADR-500-35,5; 729- 37,6 e 733- 37,9%. No resíduo de 0,10 m, houve interação em relação à AE x corte, com valores de 30,0; 31,7 e 25,8%, nas AE de 0,50; 0,60 e 0,70 m, enquanto no resíduo de 0,30 m, foram observadas interações tripla: cultivar AE x corte, com teores médios (ADR- 500) 31,7%; (729) 32,0% e (733) 32,7%, respectivamente. Tomando por base os valores de produção de massa seca e composição bromatológica, todos os cultivares apresentaram potencial para serem utilizados na alimentação animal.

Bakgrund: Biståndsorganisationer (NGOs) är verksamma i hela världen och exponeras följaktligen mot valutarisk. Organisationerna hanterar biståndsmedel i så väl vanliga som ovanliga valutor när de på olika sätt finansierar lokala samarbetspartners. Andelen forskning om hur biståndsorganisationer hanterar valutaköp och valutarisk är begränsad och denna studie avser att studera området ytterligare. Syfte: Studien ämnar att utifrån riskhanteringsteori samt best practice analysera problematiken kring exponeringen mot valutarisk för svenska NGOs samt dess biståndsmottagare. Syftet är även att på detta sätt kunna diskutera generella strategier för svenska NGOs valutahandel och valutariskhantering. Genomförande: Den kvalitativa ansatsen utgörs av informationsinhämtning i form av nio intervjuer som utformats efter teori samt tidigare studier. Genom fem intervjuer med svenska NGOs ges en bild av hur organisationernas processer och behov ser ut relaterat till valutariskhantering. Information om hur valutarisk- och valutahantering bedrivs i praktiken samt hur experter inom området ser på NGOs nuvarande hantering baseras på fyra intervjuer med aktörer inom valutarisk- och valutahantering. Studiens empiri från genomförda intervjuer analyseras med stöd i studiens teoretiska referensram samt tidigare studier. Slutsats: Studien visar att problematiken kring valutahandel och valutariskhantering är mer komplex än den verkar vid en första anblick samt att syftet med valutariskhantering skiljer sig mellan vinstdrivande företag och ideella organisationer. Det framgår även att NGOs i nuläget överför merparten av exponeringen mot valutarisk till motpart genom avtal och att NGOs med stor andel bunden finansiering inte har möjlighet att utförligt undersöka eller implementera valutariskhantering. Slutligen har ett antal strategier utvecklats för att mer kostnadseffektivt köpa valuta. / Background: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are active in most parts of the world and are consequently exposed to foreign exchange risk. The organizations manage aid funds in both common and uncommon types of currency when they in different ways finance local cooperation partners. The amount of previous research how aid organizations handle the management of currency trade and foreign exchange risk is limited and this study aims to examine the area further. Aim: The study aims to analyse the complex of problems regarding exposure to foreign exchange risk for both Swedish NGOs and their cooperation partners, to do so on the basis of foreign exchange risk theory and best practice. The aim is in such a way to discuss general strategies for currency trade and foreign exchange risk management for Swedish NGOs. Completion: The qualitative approach consists of nine interviews that have been designed in accordance with theory and previous research. A picture of the organizational processes and needs of Swedish NGOs regarding foreign exchange risk- and currency trade management was given by five interviews with NGOs. Information concerning how foreign exchange risk- and currency trade management is utilized in practice and how experts in the field perceive current management of NGOs was gathered from four interviews with actors within foreign exchange risk- and currency trade management. The empirical data is analysed on the basis of the theoretical framework and previous research. Conclusion: The study shows that the complex of problems regarding foreign exchange risk- and currency trade management are not as straightforward as at first glance. It also indicates that foreign exchange risk management differs between for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. It appears that NGOs currently transfer all foreign exchange risk exposure to its counterpart through contracts. The investigation and implementation of foreign exchange risk management is not possible for NGOs with a large ratio of restricted funds. Finally a number of strategies have been developed for a more cost-effective currency trade.

The study examined the properties of stalk and cob fibres from recombinant inbred corn lines and their parents, grown at two locations, in a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. The objectives were to: determine fibre compositions; evaluate the effects of fibres on the functional properties of biocomposites and identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and gene markers for fibre performance in biocomposites. Significant Genotype*Location effects were observed. Composites had lower strength (impact, tensile, and flexural) but higher tensile/flexural modulus values than pure PLA. The latter were positively affected by cellulose and hemicellulose but negatively affected by free phenolic levels and 93 fibre QTLs and 62 composite markers were detected. This study identified fibre traits and markers for genes that may be important for the use of corn fibres in biocomposites. / Ontario BioCar Initiative Project funded by Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and Ontario Public Sector