A trial was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the 1996 NCR beef model to predict DMI and ADG of pregnant cows under western Canadian conditions. Over two consecutive years, 90 Angus (587±147 kg) cows assigned to 15 pens (N=6) were fed typical diets ad libitum, formulated to stage of pregnancy. Data collection included pen DMI and ADG (corrected for pregnancy), calving date, calf weight, body condition scores and ultrasound fat measurements, weekly feed samples and daily ambient temperature. DMI and ADG for each pen of cows in each trimester was predicted using the computer program Cowbytes based on the 1996 NRC beef model. The results indicate that in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of both years the model under predicted (P≤0.05) ADG based on observed DMI. Ad libitum intake was over predicted (P≤0.05) during the 2nd trimester, and under predicted (P≤0.05) during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. A second evaluation was carried out assuming thermal neutral (TN) conditions. In this case, it was found that during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters there was an over prediction (P≤0.05) of ADG relative to observed. Under these same TN conditions, the ad libitum intake of these cows was under predicted (P≤0.05) for both the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. These results suggest current energy equations for modelling environmental stress, over predict maintenance requirements for wintering beef cows in western Canada. The results also suggest that the cows experienced some degree of cold stress, but not as severe as modelled by the NRC (1996) equations. Further research is required to more accurately model cold stress felt by mature cattle, and their ability to acclimatise to western Canadian winter conditions.

A trial was conducted to evaluate the accuracy of the 1996 NCR beef model to predict DMI and ADG of pregnant cows under western Canadian conditions. Over two consecutive years, 90 Angus (587±147 kg) cows assigned to 15 pens (N=6) were fed typical diets ad libitum, formulated to stage of pregnancy. Data collection included pen DMI and ADG (corrected for pregnancy), calving date, calf weight, body condition scores and ultrasound fat measurements, weekly feed samples and daily ambient temperature. DMI and ADG for each pen of cows in each trimester was predicted using the computer program Cowbytes based on the 1996 NRC beef model. The results indicate that in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of both years the model under predicted (P≤0.05) ADG based on observed DMI. Ad libitum intake was over predicted (P≤0.05) during the 2nd trimester, and under predicted (P≤0.05) during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. A second evaluation was carried out assuming thermal neutral (TN) conditions. In this case, it was found that during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters there was an over prediction (P≤0.05) of ADG relative to observed. Under these same TN conditions, the ad libitum intake of these cows was under predicted (P≤0.05) for both the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. These results suggest current energy equations for modelling environmental stress, over predict maintenance requirements for wintering beef cows in western Canada. The results also suggest that the cows experienced some degree of cold stress, but not as severe as modelled by the NRC (1996) equations. Further research is required to more accurately model cold stress felt by mature cattle, and their ability to acclimatise to western Canadian winter conditions.

Submitted by Nathália Faria da Silva (nathaliafsilva.ufv@gmail.com) on 2017-07-07T11:18:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 219160 bytes, checksum: 61a0f8f784f76c3f2f293b7c7f645bcc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-07T11:18:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 219160 bytes, checksum: 61a0f8f784f76c3f2f293b7c7f645bcc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002-11-11 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O trabalho realizado foi constituído por dois experimentos distintos. No primeiro, utilizaram-se 16 novilhos zebuínos anelorados, com peso vivo médio inicial de 270 Kg, alimentados com diferentes níveis de concentrado na dieta, objetivando-se avaliar os consumos e as digestibilidades aparente da matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF); a conversão alimentar (CA); os ganhos médios diários de peso vivo (GMDPV), de peso de corpo vazio (GMDPVZ) e de carcaça (GMDCAR); os rendimentos de carcaça em relação ao peso vivo (RCPV) e ao peso de corpo vazio (RCPVZ) e rendimentos dos cortes primários da carcaça: dianteiro (RD), paleta (RPAL), acém (RAC), traseiro completo (RT), ponta de agulha (RPA), alcatra (RALC) e coxão (RCOX); o comprimento da carcaça (CCAR); a área de olho de lombo (AOL) e a espessura de gordura subcutânea (EG). Foram também determinados os teores de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) das rações. Quatro animais foram abatidos ao início do experimento, servindo de referência para estimativa do peso de corpo vazio inicial dos animais remanescentes, que foram distribuídos ao acaso em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em três tratamentos, contendo 5, 35 e 65% de concentrado na matéria seca das rações. Os animais foram alimentados “ad libitum” e as silagens pré-secadas de capim-tifton ( Cynodon dactylon) e capim-braquiária ( Brachiaria brizantha) foram utilizadas como volumoso. Os consumos de MS, em Kg/dia e em % do PV, foram afetados pelos níveis de concentrado das dietas, sendo os consumos máximos de 8,19 e 2,51, obtidos com os níveis de 45,55 e 47,58% de concentrado, respectivamente. O CMO também foi afetado de forma quadrática pelo nível de concentrado, obtendo-se o consumo máximo de 7,62 Kg/dia, ao nível de 47,43% de concentrado. Os CEE e CCNF aumentaram e o CFDN decresceu linearmente em função do aumento de concentrado nas dietas. O CPB não foi afetado pelo nível de concentrado da dieta, sendo em média 1,23 Kg/dia. Os teores de NDT e as digestibilidades da MS, MO, EE e CNF cresceram, enquanto a digestibilidade da FDN decresceu linearmente com o aumento nos níveis de concentrado das dietas. A digestibilidade da PB não foi alterada, quando a silagem pré-secada de capim-braquiária foi utilizada como volumoso, sendo em média 71,91%. Entretanto, a DPB cresceu linearmente, quando a silagem pré-secada de capim-tifton foi utilizada na alimentação dos animais. A CA decresceu linearmente com a adição de concentrado nas dietas. Os GMDPV, GMDPVZ e GMDCAR aumentaram linearmente com o incremento nos níveis de concentrado. Os RCPV, RCPVZ, RD, RPAL, RAC, RT, RPA e RALC não foram influenciados, apresentando respectivamente, médias de 56,27; 62,83; 38,87; 18,74; 20,14; 61,13; 12,96 e 19,37%, enquanto o RCOX, decresceu linearmente em função do acréscimo de concentrado nas dietas. O CCAR não foi alterado pelo adição de concentrado, sendo em média 1,08m. A AOL e a EG aumentaram linearmente com os níveis crescentes de concentrado nas dietas. No segundo experimento, objetivou-se estimar o valor energético (NDT) de vários alimentos, concentrados e volumosos, através das equações propostas pelo NRC (2001), comparando-os com os observados a partir da coleta total de fezes. Foram avaliados cinco alimentos concentrados (farelo de trigo, farelo de soja, fubá de milho, grão de soja e caroço de algodão) e cinco volumosos (feno de capim- braquiária, silagem de milho, silagem pré-secada de capim-tifton, silagem de capim- elefante e capim- elefante com 60 a 90 dias de rebrota), utilizando-se 20 novilhos mestiços holandesados como animais experimentais. Volumosos e concentrados foram combinados em dois níveis, com quatro repetições para cada nível. Os animais foram alimentados “ad libitum”. Os mesmos animais foram utilizados nos dois níveis de cada ingrediente concentrado, em dois períodos consecutivos de 13 dias, sendo dez dias de adaptação e três dias de coleta total de fezes. O valor energético de cada alimento foi determinado por sistema de equações. As dietas referentes aos dois níveis de concentrado foram isonitrogenadas. O procedimento de validação dos parâmetros avaliados foi realizado por intermédio do ajuste de modelo de regressão linear simples dos valores preditos sobre os observados. As frações digestíveis da FDN e da PB foram superestimadas pelas equações do NRC (2001) em 16,08 e 16,12%, enquanto que as dos CNF e do EE foram subestimadas em 1,25 e 30,82%, respectivamente. Os valores de NDT observados e preditos pelo NRC (2001), tanto para alimentos volumosos quanto para alimentos concentrados, foram similares (p>0,05). Um terceiro período experimental foi realizado com o consumo restrito a um nível próximo da mantença. O valores de NDT obtidos para as rações, com os animais consumindo “ad libitum” foram em média 95% dos obtidos com os animais consumindo próximo ao nível de mantença. Conclui-se que as equações do NRC (2001) foram adequadas para estimar o valor energético dos alimentos nas condições brasileiras e que o NDT estimado pelas equações deve ser multiplicado por 0,95 para obter o valor de NDT “ad libitum” para bovinos em crescimento. / This research was composed by two different experiment. In the first, 16 Zebu steers, with initial average live weigth of 270 Kg, fed ration with different concentrate levels were used to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC); the feed/gain conversion (FC); the average daily live weight (LWG), empty body weight (EBWG) and carcass gains (CG); the carcass dressing percentage expressed as a function of live weight (DPLW) and empty body weight (DPEBW), the basic cuts percentage: forequarter (FQ); arm; nech, brischet, and chuck; hindquarter (HQ); spare rib (SR), surloin (SL) and leg; the carcass length; the loin eye area (LEA) and the subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT). Was xialso determined the total digestible nutrients (TDN) level in the rations. Four animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment, to serve as reference for estimating the initial empty body weight of the remaining animals that were randomly assigned to three treatments whith 5, 35 and 65% concentrate level in the dry matter of the ration. The animals were fed “ad libitum”, were used as roughage Cynodon dactylon and Brachiaria brizantha haylage. The DM intake, in Kg/day and % live weight, were affected by the level of concentrate, on the maximum intakes of 8,19 and 2,51 were obtained at the levels of 45,55 e 47,58% of concentrate, respectively. The OM intake was also quadractlly affected by the concentrate level, and the maximum intake of 7,62 Kg was obtained at the level of 47,43 of concentrate. The EE and NSC intake increased and NDF intake decreased linearly in function of the concentrate level increased in the ration. The CP intake was not affected by the concentrate level, and was, in average, of 1,23 Kg/day. The TDN level and digestibility of the DM, OM, EE an NSC increased and the NDF digestibility decreased linearly as the concentrate level in the ration increased. The digestibility of the CP was not affected, when Brachiaria brizantha haylage was used as roughage, and was, in average, of 71,91%. However, the digestibility of the CP increased linearly, when the Cynodon dactylon was used in the feeding of the animals. The FC decreased linearly in function of increased concentrate levels in the ration. The LWG, EBWG and CG increased linearly in function of increase concentrate level. The DPLW; DPEBW; FQ; arm; nech, brischet, and chuck; HQ; SR and SL were not influenced, presenting respectively, average of 56,27; 62,83; 38,87; 18,74; 20,14; 61,13; 12,96 and 19,37%, whereas the percentage of leg, decreased linearly in function of increase concentrate level in the ration. The carcass length was not influenced by the adition of concentrate, and was, in average, of 1,08m. The LEA and SFT increased linearly as the concentrate levels in ration increased. In second experiment, to estimate the energy values (TDN) of feeds, concentrates and roughages, through equations proposed by NRC (2001), compared to those observed in the total collection of feces. Five concentrate feeds (wheat bran, soybean meal, corn grain ground, soybean grain and cotton seed) and five roughage feeds (Brachiaria grass hay, corn silage, tifton grass haylage, elephant grass silage and elephant grass) , were evaluated by using 20 crossbred Holstein as experimental animals. Roughage xiiand concentrates were combined in two different levels, with four repetitions for each level. The animals were fed “ad libitum”. The same animals were utilized to two concentrate levels, in two consecutive periods of 13 days, being 10 days of adaptation and 3 days of total collection of feces. The energy value of feeds were determine by equations system. The diets referring to the two concentrate levels were isonitrogenous. The procedure to validate the parameters evaluated was done by adjustment models of simple linear regression using predict and observed values. The digestible fractions of neutral detergent fiber and crude protein were overestimate by NRC (2001) equations in 16,08 and 16,12%, while the non-structural carbohydrate and ether extract were underestimate in 1,25 and 30,82%, respectively. The observed and predict value of TDN values for roughage and concentrate feeds were similar (P>0,05).The third experimental period was carried out adapting a intake restrict to the maintanance level. The TDN values obtained for the rations, by using animals ad libitum fed were, in average, of 95% obtained with animals fed diets with level next to the maintainance. It was concluded that the equations proposed by NRC (2001) were efficient for estimative the TDN values of feeds in brazilian conditions and that the TDN “ad libitum” can be obtained from the TDN maintainance multiplied by 0,95. em Zootecnia, para obtenção do Título de “Magister Scientiae”. VIÇOSA MINAS GERAIS – BRASIL 2002RESUMO COSTA, Marcos Antonio Lana, M.S., Universidade Federal de Viçosa, novembro de 2002. Desempenho de novilhos zebuínos e validação das equações do NRC (2001) para predizer o valor energético dos alimentos nas condições brasileiras. Orientador: Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho. Conselheiros: Mário Fonseca Paulino e Rilene Ferreira Diniz Valadares. O trabalho realizado foi constituído por dois experimentos distintos. No primeiro, utilizaram-se 16 novilhos zebuínos anelorados, com peso vivo médio inicial de 270 Kg, alimentados com diferentes níveis de concentrado na dieta, objetivando-se avaliar os consumos e as digestibilidades aparente da matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF); a conversão alimentar (CA); os ganhos médios diários de peso vivo (GMDPV), de peso de corpo vazio (GMDPVZ) e de carcaça (GMDCAR); os rendimentos de carcaça em relação ao peso vivo (RCPV) e ao peso de corpo vazio (RCPVZ) e rendimentos dos cortes primários da carcaça: dianteiro (RD), paleta (RPAL), acém (RAC), traseiro completo (RT), ponta de agulha (RPA), alcatra (RALC) e viiicoxão (RCOX); o comprimento da carcaça (CCAR); a área de olho de lombo (AOL) e a espessura de gordura subcutânea (EG). Foram também determinados os teores de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) das rações. Quatro animais foram abatidos ao início do experimento, servindo de referência para estimativa do peso de corpo vazio inicial dos animais remanescentes, que foram distribuídos ao acaso em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em três tratamentos, contendo 5, 35 e 65% de concentrado na matéria seca das rações. Os animais foram alimentados “ad libitum” e as silagens pré-secadas de capim-tifton ( Cynodon dactylon) e capim-braquiária ( Brachiaria brizantha) foram utilizadas como volumoso. Os consumos de MS, em Kg/dia e em % do PV, foram afetados pelos níveis de concentrado das dietas, sendo os consumos máximos de 8,19 e 2,51, obtidos com os níveis de 45,55 e 47,58% de concentrado, respectivamente. O CMO também foi afetado de forma quadrática pelo nível de concentrado, obtendo-se o consumo máximo de 7,62 Kg/dia, ao nível de 47,43% de concentrado. Os CEE e CCNF aumentaram e o CFDN decresceu linearmente em função do aumento de concentrado nas dietas. O CPB não foi afetado pelo nível de concentrado da dieta, sendo em média 1,23 Kg/dia. Os teores de NDT e as digestibilidades da MS, MO, EE e CNF cresceram, enquanto a digestibilidade da FDN decresceu linearmente com o aumento nos níveis de concentrado das dietas. A digestibilidade da PB não foi alterada, quando a silagem pré-secada de capim-braquiária foi utilizada como volumoso, sendo em média 71,91%. Entretanto, a DPB cresceu linearmente, quando a silagem pré-secada de capim-tifton foi utilizada na alimentação dos animais. A CA decresceu linearmente com a adição de concentrado nas dietas. Os GMDPV, GMDPVZ e GMDCAR aumentaram linearmente com o incremento nos níveis de concentrado. Os RCPV, RCPVZ, RD, RPAL, RAC, RT, RPA e RALC não foram influenciados, apresentando respectivamente, médias de 56,27; 62,83; 38,87; 18,74; 20,14; 61,13; 12,96 e 19,37%, enquanto o RCOX, decresceu linearmente em função do acréscimo de concentrado nas dietas. O CCAR não foi alterado pelo adição de concentrado, sendo em média 1,08m. A AOL e a EG aumentaram linearmente com os níveis crescentes de concentrado nas dietas. No segundo experimento, objetivou-se estimar o valor energético (NDT) de vários alimentos, concentrados e volumosos, através das equações propostas pelo NRC (2001), comparando-os ixcom os observados a partir da coleta total de fezes. Foram avaliados cinco alimentos concentrados (farelo de trigo, farelo de soja, fubá de milho, grão de soja e caroço de algodão) e cinco volumosos (feno de capim- braquiária, silagem de milho, silagem pré-secada de capim-tifton, silagem de capim- elefante e capim- elefante com 60 a 90 dias de rebrota), utilizando-se 20 novilhos mestiços holandesados como animais experimentais. Volumosos e concentrados foram combinados em dois níveis, com quatro repetições para cada nível. Os animais foram alimentados “ad libitum”. Os mesmos animais foram utilizados nos dois níveis de cada ingrediente concentrado, em dois períodos consecutivos de 13 dias, sendo dez dias de adaptação e três dias de coleta total de fezes. O valor energético de cada alimento foi determinado por sistema de equações. As dietas referentes aos dois níveis de concentrado foram isonitrogenadas. O procedimento de validação dos parâmetros avaliados foi realizado por intermédio do ajuste de modelo de regressão linear simples dos valores preditos sobre os observados. As frações digestíveis da FDN e da PB foram superestimadas pelas equações do NRC (2001) em 16,08 e 16,12%, enquanto que as dos CNF e do EE foram subestimadas em 1,25 e 30,82%, respectivamente. Os valores de NDT observados e preditos pelo NRC (2001), tanto para alimentos volumosos quanto para alimentos concentrados, foram similares (p>0,05). Um terceiro período experimental foi realizado com o consumo restrito a um nível próximo da mantença. O valores de NDT obtidos para as rações, com os animais consumindo “ad libitum” foram em média 95% dos obtidos com os animais consumindo próximo ao nível de mantença. Conclui-se que as equações do NRC (2001) foram adequadas para estimar o valor energético dos alimentos nas condições brasileiras e que o NDT estimado pelas equações deve ser multiplicado por 0,95 para obter o valor de NDT “ad libitum” para bovinos em crescimento. xABSTRACT COSTA, Marcos Antonio Lana Costa, M.S., Universidade Federal de Viçosa, November of 2002. Productive performance of Zebu steers and validation of NRC (2001) equations for predict the energy value of feeds in brazilian conditions. Adviser: Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho. Committee Members: Mário Fonseca Paulino and Rilene Ferreira Diniz Valadares. This research was composed by two different experiment. In the first, 16 Zebu steers, with initial average live weigth of 270 Kg, fed ration with different concentrate levels were used to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC); the feed/gain conversion (FC); the average daily live weight (LWG), empty body weight (EBWG) and carcass gains (CG); the carcass dressing percentage expressed as a function of live weight (DPLW) and empty body weight (DPEBW), the basic cuts percentage: forequarter (FQ); arm; nech, brischet, and chuck; hindquarter (HQ); spare rib (SR), surloin (SL) and leg; the carcass length; the loin eye area (LEA) and the subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT). Was xialso determined the total digestible nutrients (TDN) level in the rations. Four animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment, to serve as reference for estimating the initial empty body weight of the remaining animals that were randomly assigned to three treatments whith 5, 35 and 65% concentrate level in the dry matter of the ration. The animals were fed “ad libitum”, were used as roughage Cynodon dactylon and Brachiaria brizantha haylage. The DM intake, in Kg/day and % live weight, were affected by the level of concentrate, on the maximum intakes of 8,19 and 2,51 were obtained at the levels of 45,55 e 47,58% of concentrate, respectively. The OM intake was also quadractlly affected by the concentrate level, and the maximum intake of 7,62 Kg was obtained at the level of 47,43 of concentrate. The EE and NSC intake increased and NDF intake decreased linearly in function of the concentrate level increased in the ration. The CP intake was not affected by the concentrate level, and was, in average, of 1,23 Kg/day. The TDN level and digestibility of the DM, OM, EE an NSC increased and the NDF digestibility decreased linearly as the concentrate level in the ration increased. The digestibility of the CP was not affected, when Brachiaria brizantha haylage was used as roughage, and was, in average, of 71,91%. However, the digestibility of the CP increased linearly, when the Cynodon dactylon was used in the feeding of the animals. The FC decreased linearly in function of increased concentrate levels in the ration. The LWG, EBWG and CG increased linearly in function of increase concentrate level. The DPLW; DPEBW; FQ; arm; nech, brischet, and chuck; HQ; SR and SL were not influenced, presenting respectively, average of 56,27; 62,83; 38,87; 18,74; 20,14; 61,13; 12,96 and 19,37%, whereas the percentage of leg, decreased linearly in function of increase concentrate level in the ration. The carcass length was not influenced by the adition of concentrate, and was, in average, of 1,08m. The LEA and SFT increased linearly as the concentrate levels in ration increased. In second experiment, to estimate the energy values (TDN) of feeds, concentrates and roughages, through equations proposed by NRC (2001), compared to those observed in the total collection of feces. Five concentrate feeds (wheat bran, soybean meal, corn grain ground, soybean grain and cotton seed) and five roughage feeds (Brachiaria grass hay, corn silage, tifton grass haylage, elephant grass silage and elephant grass) , were evaluated by using 20 crossbred Holstein as experimental animals. Roughage xiiand concentrates were combined in two different levels, with four repetitions for each level. The animals were fed “ad libitum”. The same animals were utilized to two concentrate levels, in two consecutive periods of 13 days, being 10 days of adaptation and 3 days of total collection of feces. The energy value of feeds were determine by equations system. The diets referring to the two concentrate levels were isonitrogenous. The procedure to validate the parameters evaluated was done by adjustment models of simple linear regression using predict and observed values. The digestible fractions of neutral detergent fiber and crude protein were overestimate by NRC (2001) equations in 16,08 and 16,12%, while the non-structural carbohydrate and ether extract were underestimate in 1,25 and 30,82%, respectively. The observed and predict value of TDN values for roughage and concentrate feeds were similar (P>0,05).The third experimental period was carried out adapting a intake restrict to the maintanance level. The TDN values obtained for the rations, by using animals ad libitum fed were, in average, of 95% obtained with animals fed diets with level next to the maintainance. It was concluded that the equations proposed by NRC (2001) were efficient for estimative the TDN values of feeds in brazilian conditions and that the TDN “ad libitum” can be obtained from the TDN maintainance multiplied by 0,95.

The subject of the dissertation thesis focuses on relations between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia in their post-9/11/2001 phase. The theoretical framework is provided by the realist school of thought with a special focus on the "defensive" strand of that school. The thesis has two main goals: the primary goal tests a validity of a statement "Confrontational aspects of the NATO -- Russia relations prohibit any significant mutually beneficial cooperation between the NATO and Russia", the secondary goal aims to create a robust body of primary-source information (with 31 December 2007 deadline). Confrontational aspects of the NATO -- Russia relations have been analyzed in the basic conceptual documents of both Russia and the NATO with following conclusions: (1.) Russia does not accept certain characteristics of NATO, (2.) NATO is not prepared to change these characteristics to meet Russia's objections. But as shown in the thesis, these conclusions do not prevent either side to state a conceptual preparedness to an interest-based cooperation. The other important aspect -- conventional and nuclear weapons balance -- has been analyzed in depth from both the static and dynamic point of view. The positive impetus generated through a rhetorical action immediately after the 11 September 2001 resulted in the creation of the NATO -- Russia Council (NRC). In comparison to the previous phase of the NATO -- Russia relations, the NRC comprises both evolution (prioritization of the content) and revolution (rejection of the previous form). But the positive impetus seems to be failing to generate concrete joint political or practical cooperative actions. Nevertheless, examples can be found of mutually beneficial cooperation between the NATO and Russia: operation Active Endeavor, search and rescue at the sea, project for fight against Afghan drugs, Cooperative Airspace Initiative. These examples do falsify the statement as defined under the primary goal of the thesis. As for a possible future development of the NATO -- Russia relations, the thesis concludes: (1.) No further upgrade of form is to be expected over a longer term, (2.) NRC is and will be and an import forum for a political dialogue, (3.) Mutually-beneficial cooperation will probably materialize through smaller-scale projects, (4.) Freezing of relations cannot be excluded, when an important political signal is to be sent, (5.) In spite of the Russia's denouncement of new military installation in Europe the fact is that the European perimeter is and will be for Russia far more secure and predictable than her Southern and South-Easter perimeter.

During the 2010’s a new situation emerged due to the influx of people using the Mediterranean Sea route. Around its peak in 2015, widespread media coverage constructed this crisis as ‘the refugee crisis’. Camps like Moria became the emblem of the refugee crisis, yet, more than half a decade later, the ‘crisis’ has yet to be resolved. And, amid a pandemic, a global crisis, not the least affecting refugees, yet another ‘crisis’ arose during the night of 8th/9th September 2020 when a series of fires almost completely destroyed refugee camp Moria, leaving more than 10.000 refugees ‘homeless’. It is in this unique context, at the intersection of ‘the refugee crisis’, ‘the corona crisis’ and ‘the fires in camp Moria’ that this exploratory study captures written news coverage from the four biggest Dutch newspapers, engaging with the refugee crisis in the first week after the fires (9-15 September 2020). It does so, with the aim of exploring the range of frames used to (re)construct the refugee crisis, thereby making certain meanings more likely to be conveyed than others.  Directed at an event focussed time frame within an understudied national context, this study zooms in on a moment of heightened media import to explore the (re)construction of frames as the situation unfolds. To this end, a qualitative inductive framing analysis, focussing on how the frames are reconstructed through framing and reasoning devices, has been conducted on a total of 60 articles.  Including both broadsheets and tabloids with diverse political backgrounds in the sample, significant differences between the coverage of the two tabloids and the two broadsheets were found. The former (tabloids, Telegraaf politically right oriented and AD politically neutral oriented) significantly distance the situation in Moria, the refugees and the refugee crisis as a whole, quite often even framing the refugees as a problem while rejecting humanitarian grounds. The latter (broadsheets, Volkskrant politically (centre) left oriented and NRC politically centre right oriented) were found to centralize humanisation and identification within a humanitarian frame, while problematizing, and assigning responsibility to political handling. Furthermore, the coverage of the tabloids is characterised by more superficial, descriptive accounts, using little framing devices, while the coverage of both broadsheets is saturated with framing devices to substantiate the humanitarian frame.             Finally, the study also found similarities on the level of incorrect labelling (the usage of migrants instead of, or as interchangeable with refugees) and ‘voicelesness’ (the rare opportunity for refugees to speak). The sample articles more often than not mix labels. Furthermore, the broadsheets give (multiple) refugees a voice in respectively 2 (Volkskrant) and 3 (NRC) articles. And in doing so, these articles actually centralize those accounts. Both tabloids on the other hand, only briefly quote an anonymous and un-contextualised refugee once. Although the broadsheets ‘do better’, still, overwhelmingly, refugees themselves do not play a role in their representation and framing.

Master of Science / Department of Agronomy / Clenton E. Owensby / Currently there are no model inputs for eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L] for use in the National Research Council's (NRC) beef cattle model. This study was conducted to determine model inputs for two eastern gamagrass varieties for use with the forage database of the NRC model. Cattle producers in the Midwestern US will be able to evaluate eastern gamagrass in a forage system and estimate net energy for maintenance (NEm), metabolizable protein (MP), and degradable intake protein (DIP) balance for various production scenarios. Eastern gamagrass varieties 'Iuka' and 'Pete' were arranged in a split-plot randomized complete block experiment with four replications. Varieties were whole plots with harvest maturities as split plots. Plant tissue was harvested from both varieties at four maturities: vegetative/early elongation, anthesis, seed shattering and dormancy. Various compositional attributes were determined on forage samples to enable the determination of model inputs for predicting energy and protein balances. A slight difference between varieties was found for crude protein concentration (p<0.05). Differences (p<0.05) due to maturity were found for all analyses used in the model, corroborating the decline in nutritive value of eastern gamagrass with advancing maturity. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ranged from 593 g kg-1 at the vegetative/early elongation stage of maturity to 731 g kg-1 at dormancy. Assumed animal and environmental inputs were used for beef cattle at two stages: nonlactating 160 d prepartum and 60 d peak lactation. Energy and protein balance were estimated using level I of the model. The vegetative/early elongation stage of development supplied the greatest amount of MP. Digestible intake protein declined as plant tissue matured. All but the vegetative/early elongation stage of maturity were limited in DIP for cows in both stages of production. Soybean meal was used as a protein supplement in amounts ranging from 0.8 kg to 1.4 kg to meet nutritional demands of cattle grazing eastern gamagrass at anthesis, seed shattering and dormancy. In the simulations conducted, eastern gamagrass would be an acceptable forage source for beef cattle provided that appropriate protein supplementation was given when the forage was at more advanced stages of maturity.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal modelar a Rede de Regulação Gênica do organismo modelo Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1, estabelecendo interações entre as entidades da rede por intermédio de experimentos inéditos de interação física: ChIP- *, RIP-* e dRNA-seq. Em contraponto com as abordagens clássicas de construção de redes, que estimam interações através de medições de expressão gênica, este trabalho as estabeleceu exclusivamente de interações físicas, permitindo que a estrutura final seja uma representação mais fiel ao fenômeno físico de regulação gênica, baseando-se nos fundamentos da Biologia Sistêmica. Em vista da abundância de dados públicos de expressão gênica para o organismo e do objetivo primário, um objetivo secundário foi traçado: identificar, computacionalmente, genes de fato controlados pelas interações fornecidas pela nova rede. Para isso, a estrutura estabelecida foi transformada numa Rede Bayesiana, e a identificação de genes foi efetuada através da análise de suas Tabelas de Probabilidade Condicionais. Finalmente, como os resultados obtidos para o objetivo secundário foram desfavoráveis a utilização de Redes Bayesianas, os resultados efetivos deste trabalho foram a criação de uma nova Rede de Regulação Gênica para a H. salinarum e uma análise em torno da efetividade de Redes Bayesianas neste contexto. / The main goal of this work was modeling the gene regulatory network of the model organism Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1, establishing new interactions between networks entities through unpublished physical interaction experiments: ChIP-*, RIP-* e dRNA-seq. Instead of using classical approaches to build network structures that estimates interactions using gene expression data, this work established them exclusively from physical interactions. Therefore, the final structure is a more reliable representation of the physical phenomenon of gene expression, built using the principles of systems biology. Considering the amount of public available gene expression data and the primary goal, another objective was proposed: a computational analysis to detect genes actually controlled by the interactions of the new network. To achieve this goal the established network was transformed in a Bayesian network, detecting genes through the analysis of their conditional probability tables. Lastly, as the results of the secondary goal went against the use of Bayesian networks, the effective results of this thesis were the creation of a new genetic regulatory network for H. salinarum and an analysis around Bayesian networks in this context.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal modelar a Rede de Regulação Gênica do organismo modelo Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1, estabelecendo interações entre as entidades da rede por intermédio de experimentos inéditos de interação física: ChIP- *, RIP-* e dRNA-seq. Em contraponto com as abordagens clássicas de construção de redes, que estimam interações através de medições de expressão gênica, este trabalho as estabeleceu exclusivamente de interações físicas, permitindo que a estrutura final seja uma representação mais fiel ao fenômeno físico de regulação gênica, baseando-se nos fundamentos da Biologia Sistêmica. Em vista da abundância de dados públicos de expressão gênica para o organismo e do objetivo primário, um objetivo secundário foi traçado: identificar, computacionalmente, genes de fato controlados pelas interações fornecidas pela nova rede. Para isso, a estrutura estabelecida foi transformada numa Rede Bayesiana, e a identificação de genes foi efetuada através da análise de suas Tabelas de Probabilidade Condicionais. Finalmente, como os resultados obtidos para o objetivo secundário foram desfavoráveis a utilização de Redes Bayesianas, os resultados efetivos deste trabalho foram a criação de uma nova Rede de Regulação Gênica para a H. salinarum e uma análise em torno da efetividade de Redes Bayesianas neste contexto. / The main goal of this work was modeling the gene regulatory network of the model organism Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1, establishing new interactions between networks entities through unpublished physical interaction experiments: ChIP-*, RIP-* e dRNA-seq. Instead of using classical approaches to build network structures that estimates interactions using gene expression data, this work established them exclusively from physical interactions. Therefore, the final structure is a more reliable representation of the physical phenomenon of gene expression, built using the principles of systems biology. Considering the amount of public available gene expression data and the primary goal, another objective was proposed: a computational analysis to detect genes actually controlled by the interactions of the new network. To achieve this goal the established network was transformed in a Bayesian network, detecting genes through the analysis of their conditional probability tables. Lastly, as the results of the secondary goal went against the use of Bayesian networks, the effective results of this thesis were the creation of a new genetic regulatory network for H. salinarum and an analysis around Bayesian networks in this context.

This thesis contributes to research that informs the design of autonomous vehicles (AVs). It examines interactions among various types of road users, such as pedestrians and drivers, and describes how findings can contribute to the design of AVs. The work was undertaken as part of a research internship at Nissan Research Center-Silicon Valley on the Human Understanding in Design team. Methods included video ethnography “travel-alongs” which captured the experience of travel from the point of view of drivers and pedestrians, analysis of interaction patterns taken from video of intersections, and analysis of road laws. Findings address the implications of what it will mean for AVs to exist as social entities in a world of varied road contexts, and how AVs might navigate the social act of driving on roads they share with a variety of human users. This thesis contributes to an emerging body of research and application on the subject of the AV in the world.

Magister Chirurgiae Dentium (MChD) / Purpose: To evaluate and compare the in-vitro shear bond strength and micro leakage of two compomers with their adhesive systems and to examine the dentine-restorative interface under confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). Matoiats and Methods: For shear bond strength (SBS) testing thirty non-carious human molars were used of which fifteen molars were restored with Dyract AP using Non-Rinse Conditioner (NRC) and Prime&Bond NT (PBNT) and fifteen were restored with F2000 and Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus (SBMP). For the microleakage evaluation cavity preparations were made on the facial surfaces of thirty non-carious premolars. These were then restored with the respective compomer system. The specimens were thermocycled, sectioned and examined for dye penetration. The dentine-restorative interface was examined through a confocal scanning laser microscope. The primers of the bonding agents were labelled with rhodamine B and the adhesive resins were labelled with fluorescein and examined under CSLM in fluorescent mode. Results: The mean SBS for PBNT and SBMP were 12.8 and 18.1 MPa, respectively. The microleakage scores showed Dyract with PBNT leaked on the dentine side in 13 of the 15 specimens examined. On the enamel side 2 of the 15 specimens showed microleakage. With F2000 and SBMP no micro leakage was observed on either enamel or dentine sides. The CSLM images show clear resin tag and hybrid layer formation for both the materials examined, although SBMP showed deeper penetration into the dentine with longer resin tags. The length of the resin tags and thickness of the hybrid layer for PBNT was found to be approximately 10 um and 2 um respectively. SBMP showed resin tags measuring about 100 um while the hybrid layer measured about 5 um. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the acid-etch technique ofSBMP with F2000 produces higher bond strength and no micro leakage when compared to the self-etching/self-priming "non-rinse technique" of NRC with PBNT and Dyract.