[pt] A utilização de PIG em oleodutos e gasodutos tem uma grande importância para a manutenção da integridade estrutural de tubulações, e pode ser utilizado para inspeção, limpeza e separação de interface. Neste contexto é importante que a passagem de PIG ocorra de modo controlado causando o menor impacto possível à operação, respeitando os limites operacionais da tubulação e dentro dos limites de velocidade de deslocamento do PIG. Caso o PIG possua uma velocidade baixa, ele pode ficar preso à tubulação, podendo ser difícil soltá-lo. Por outro lado, caso a velocidade seja elevada o PIG pode danificar a tubulação em função dos impactos gerados. Com o objetivo de atender os requisitos referente a velocidade recomendável de deslocamento do PIG referente aos limites operacionais existentes e não danificá-lo, foi desenvolvido um simulador termo hidráulico de deslocamento de PIGs. O simulador prevê escoamentos transientes isotérmico ou térmico acoplado ao deslocamento do PIG. Para controlar a velocidade do PIG, uma válvula de controle foi instalada no corpo do próprio PIG. Sua velocidade de deslocamento é função da abertura do furo de bypass, ou seja, quanto maior a velocidade de escoamento na tubulação, maior a abertura e maior o fluxo através do PIG para manter a velocidade controlada. As equações de conservação de massa, quantidade de movimento e energia, acopladas com um balanço de forças no PIG, foram discretizadas pelo método das diferenças finitas e resolvidas de forma acoplada. Para o controle da velocidade optou-se pelo método de controle PID. Investiga-se o deslocamento do PIG tanto para escoamento de líquido quanto de gás, considerando ou não a perda de calor para o ambiente. Diversos casos são apresentados demonstrando a eficácia do método de controle modelado. / [en] The use of PIG in oil and gas pipelines has great important to maintain the structural integrity of pipelines, and it can be used for inspection, cleaning and interface separation. In this context, it is important that the PIG displacement happen in a controlled way causing the lowest possible impact to the operation, respecting the operating limits of the pipe and within the limits of the PIG s speed of displacement. If the PIG has a low speed, it can be trapped in the tubing and it can be difficult to release it. On the other hand, if the speed is high the PIG can damage the tubing in function of the generated impacts. In order to respect the requirements for the recommended PIG velocity displacement, and operational pipelines limits requirements, a thermo hydraulic PIG simulator was developed. The simulator predicts isothermal or thermal transient flow coupled with the PIG displacement. To control the PIG velocity, a control valve is installed in the body of the PIG. The PIG speed is as a function of the bypass aperture inside the PIG s body, ie, the greater the flow velocity in the pipe, the greater is the opening and the greater the flow through the PIG. The conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy coupled with force balance at the PIG were discretized by the finite difference method, and solved in coupled manner. A PID control method was employed to control the PIG velocity. It is investigated the displacement of PIG in both liquid and gas flow, considering or not the loss of heat for the environment. Several cases are presented demonstrating the effectiveness of the control method modeled.

[pt] Neste trabalho, apresenta-se uma modelagem numérica de um problema de contato unilateral com acoplamento elasto-hidrodinâmico. Emprega-se estruturas elásticas de baixa rigidez e apresenta-se o escoamento pela equação da lubrificação de Reynolds. O método dos elementos finitos é usado para discretização da estrutura e do campo de pressão hidrodinâmica. Um procedimento numérico para solução do problema proposto também é apresentado, que se baseia na projeção viável da direção de busca. O objetivo principal do trabalho é desenvolver uma ferramenta numérica para estudar as forças que oferecem resistência ao movimento de um pig em seu movimento no interior do duto. / [en] This work is concerned with numerical modeling of the unilateral contact problem involving low stiffness structures and a rigid surface under conditions of hydrodynamic lubrication. Reynolds fluid film lubrication theory is employed. The Finite Element Method is applied in the discretization of both the structure and the hydrodynamic pressure field. A numerical procedure to solve the proposed problem, based on the feasible projection search direction approach, is presented. The main motivation for the work reported in this dissertation is to develop a numerical tool to model the resistance forces acting against the motion of cleaning and inspecting pigs in pipelines.

No description available.

[pt] Este trabalho apresenta a análise do sistema de medição utilizado pelo pig instrumentado tipo palito usado para detecção e dimensionamento de perda de espessura em dutos provocada por corrosão interna. A aplicação de testes experimentais de vibração, perfilagem geométrica e análise por elementos finitos têm objetivo de avaliar o sistema de medição dos sensores palito do Pig Palito, assim como mostrar os resultados obtidos com esta nova tecnologia de dimensionamento de micro geometria. Os dutos submarinos (offshore) empregam tradicionalmente as mesmas tecnologias de inspeção usadas em dutos terrestres (onshore) e uma dessas tecnologias é o pig instrumentado. No entanto, é encontrada uma vasta quantidade de dutos offshore com diferentes tipos de obstáculos que inviabilizam o uso dos pigs instrumentados convencionais, como os Pigs Magnéticos M.F.L. (Magnetic Flux Leakage) e Ultrassônicos. Os fatores relevantes que dificultam a inspeção, especialmente em dutos offshore, são os multi-diâmetros, raios de curvatura acentuados, equipamentos instalados ao longo do duto, alta espessura de parede do duto, escoamento multifásico, etc. Atualmente, o uso de Pigs Ultrassônicos e Magnéticos são as técnica disponíveis no mercado para inspeção da corrosão. Contudo, esses pigs possuem suas próprias limitações. Dentro deste contexto, foi desenvolvido um novo pig instrumentado, chamado de Pig Palito, para detecção e dimensionamento de perda de espessura em dutos com corrosão interna. Esta ferramenta foi desenvolvida para superar diversas limitações que outros pigs instrumentados convencionais têm durante a inspeção. Os resultados obtidos pela instrumentação do sensor palito na análise experimental indicam que a vibração dos sensores pode interferir na medição de micro geometria gerando erros de interpretação. A possibilidade de detecção, minimização e/ou eliminação desta possível deficiência do sensor palito são factíveis e abordadas na presente dissertação. Os bons resultados das inspeções de campo com os Pigs Palito comprovam o sucesso e viabilidade técnica no emprego desta tecnologia. / [en] This work presents the analysis and study of the technology used by the instrumented pig called Feeler Pig, used for detection and measurement of loss of wall thickness in pipelines due to internal corrosion. Those study´s objective are the evaluation of dynamic measurement of Feeler Pig´s sensors, through the application of experimental vibration tests, geometric evaluation`s tests and finite elements analysis, so that are showed the results rewarded by this new micro geometric measurement technique. Submarine pipelines (offshore pipelines) inspection traditionally employs the same technologies used for onshore pipelines and one of such technologies is the instrumented pig. However, it is very common to find offshore pipelines with many kinds of obstacles that may prevent the use of conventional instrumented pigs, like MFL (Magnetic Flux Leakage) pigs and ultrasonic ones. The relevant factors that make the inspection difficult, particularly in offshore pipelines, are the different diameters along the pipeline, small radius bends, equipments installed in the pipeline (such as manifolds and valves), increased wall thickness, multi-phase fluids, etc. Currently available techniques in the market to inspect these pipelines are ultrasonic and magnetic pigs, which, nevertheless, have their own limitations. Focusing on this context, a new tool was developed to detect and measure the loss of wall thickness in pipelines due to internal corrosion. This tool, called Feeler Pig, was designed to be able to overcome some of the limitations of conventional inspection pigs. The results achieved by instrumentation of the feeler type sensor`s body, experimental analysis tests, proved that vibration modes of the sensor interferes in the measurement of micro geometric. The possibility of detection, mitigation and / or elimination of the deficiencies of sensor`s issues are viable and addressed in this work. These, coupled with the excellent results of Feeler Pigs field inspections prove the technical feasibility and success in using this technology.

Master of Science / Animal Sciences and Industry / John M. Gonzalez / Pigs fed ractopamine-HCl (RAC) are more prone to fatigue and exhaustion when improperly handled. Wireless electromyography (EMG) can be used to directly measure median power frequency (MdPF) and root mean square (RMS) as indicators of action potential conduction velocity and muscle fiber recruitment, respectively. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of RAC on exhaustion, EMG measures, and muscle fiber type characteristics when barrows were subjected to increased levels of activity. Thirty-four barrows were assigned to one of two treatments: a commercial finishing diet containing 0 mg/kg (CON) RAC or a diet formulated to meet the requirements of finishing barrows fed 10 mg/kg RAC (RAC+) for 35 d. After 32 d of feeding, barrows were walked around a circular track at 0.79 m/s until subjective exhausted was reached. Time, distance, and speed were measured. Wireless surface EMG sensors were affixed to the Deltoideus (DT), Triceps brachii lateral head (TLH), Tensor fasciae latae (TFL), and Semitendinosus (ST) muscles. After harvest, samples of each muscle were collected for fiber type, succinate dehydrogenase, and capillary density analysis. Speed was not different (P = 0.82) between treatments, but RAC+ barrows reached subjective exhaustion quicker and covered less distance than CON barrows (P < 0.01). The end-point MdPF was not affected by the RAC diet. The RAC diet did not change end-point RMS values in the DT or TLH; however, the RAC+ barrows tended to have decreased ST and increased TFL end-point RMS values (P < 0.07). The percentage of type I fibers tended to be greater (P = 0.07) in RAC+ barrows, but the RAC diet tended to increase (P = 0.07) size of type I fibers and increase (P = 0.03) the size of type IIA fibers. Succinate dehydrogenase was not different between treatments. The RAC+ barrows had more (P = 0.03) capillaries per fiber than CON barrows. A diet containing RAC contributes to increased onset of subjective exhaustion, possibly due to rapid loss of active muscle fibers and chronic loss of oxidative muscle fibers with no change in muscle metabolism.

No description available.

The aims of this thesis were to investigate whether characteristics associated with animal welfare are genetically and genomically determined by using quantitative and molecular genetic approaches and to develop strategies indicating how these traits could be used in breeding programmes. Two traits that are closely related to animal welfare and associated with high socio-economic values are piglet survival at birth and aggressive behaviour in pigs. Piglet survival traits were analysed based on quantitative Bayesian approaches using phenotypic and pedigree information only, while aggressive behaviour was analysed based on molecular genetic approaches such as genome-wide association studies and genomic selection using additionally a dense panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). The latter approach was validated using behavioural traits related to welfare characteristics in a welldocumented mouse data set. Selection for piglet survival at birth is expected to be effective, because all lines and breeds in this thesis showed considerable variation for this trait and relatively high heritabilities, particularly in lines with low average birth weight. Maternal heritabilities of individual birth weight were mostly at moderate magnitude and thus of great interest for selection. The genetic correlations between piglet survival and birth weight indicated that selection for either individual or average birth weight or variation of birth weight within litter would indirectly increase survival. The genetic associations of piglet survival with economically important (re)production traits are of great importance for breeding organisations. Undesirable genetic correlations between piglet survival and (re)production traits were generally of low magnitude, so that simultaneous improvement of all traits could be achieved. A comparison of five breeds and lines showed that differences in genetic parameters between breeds and lines can be substantial and no single selection strategy would be optimal for all. A unique study of a sire and a dam line originating from one breed but selected for more than 25 years with different breeding goals demonstrated how selection pressure can alter the genetic parameters over years. Breeding organisations should therefore consider selection strategies per breed or line individually to achieve maximum overall improvement. This study gives new insight into the use of genomic selection for traits associated with animal welfare. It is one of the first to present estimates for linkage disequilibrium in the pig using a new 60K SNP panel and the first to evaluate the efficiency of genomic selection against aggressive behaviour in pigs. Genomic selection showed a high predictive ability in comparison to traditional polygenic selection. It was especially advantageous for traits with lower heritabilities. In particular in situations where little family information was available, the performance of polygenic selection was low and genomic selection increased the performance considerably. Reducing the number of SNPs did not significantly change the performance of genomic selection. The consistently high performance across models indicates that low-density SNP panels may be sufficient to ensure a high efficiency of genomic selection, thus reducing the high costs associated with genotyping in pig breeding with its short generation interval. To summarize, this thesis has shown how to optimise quantitative and genomic approaches to improve animal welfare related characteristics efficiently in pig breeding programmes.

Internal fertilization occurs in birds and eutherian mammals. Foetal development, however, is either extra- respectively intra-corpore (egg vs uterus). In these animal classes, the female genital tract stores ejaculated spermatozoa into a restricted oviductal segment; the functional pre-ovulatory sperm reservoir, where they survive until ovulation/s occur. Paradoxically, this immunologically foreign sperm suspension in seminal fluid/plasma, often microbiologically contaminated, ought to be promptly eliminated by the female local immune defence which, instead, tolerates its presence. The female immune tolerance is presumably signalled via a biochemical interplay of spermatozoa, as well as the peptides and proteins of the extracellular seminal fluid, with female epithelial and immune cells. Such interplay can result in gene expression shifts in the sperm reservoir in relation to variations in fertility. To further aid our understanding of the underlying mechanisms, this thesis studied the proteome of the seminal fluid (using 2D SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry) including cytokine content (using Luminex and/or ELISA) of healthy, sexually mature and fertile boars and cocks. As well, gene expression changes (using cDNA microarray) in the oviductal sperm reservoirs of sexually-mature females, mated or artificially infused with homologous sperm-free seminal fluid/plasma were studied. Pigs were of commercial, fertility-selected modern breeds (Landrace), while chicken belonged to the ancestor Red Junglefowl (RJF, low egg laying-capacity), a selected egg-layer White Leghorn (WL) and of their Advanced Intercross Line (AIL). Ejaculates were manually collected as single sample in cocks or as the sperm-rich fraction [SRF] and the post- SRF fraction in boars to harvest seminal fluid/plasma for proteome/cytokine and infusion-studies. Oviducts were retrieved for gene-expression analyses via microarray immediately post-mortem (chicken) or at surgery (pig), 24 h after mating or genital infusion. In pigs, the protein-rich seminal plasma showed the highest amounts of cytokines [interferon-γ, interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10/CXCL10), macrophage derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22), growth-regulated oncogene (GRO/CXCL1), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), monocyte chemo-attractant protein-1 (MCP-1/ CCL2), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8/CXCL8, IL-10, IL-15, IL-17 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-3) in the larger, protein-rich and sperm-poor post-SRF, indicating its main immune signalling influence. Chicken showed also a plethora of seminal fluid proteins with serum albumin and ovotransferrin being conserved through selection/evolution. However, they showed fewer cytokines than pigs, as the anti-inflammatory/immune-modulatory TGF-β2 or the pro-inflammatory CXCL10. The RJF contained fewer immune system process proteins and lacked TGF-β2 compared to WL and AIL, suggesting selection for increased fertility could be associated with higher expression of immune-regulating peptides/proteins. The oviductal sperm reservoir reacted in vivo to semen exposure. In chicken, mating significantly changed the expression of immune-modulatory and pH-regulatory genes in AIL. Moreover, modern fertile pigs (Landrace) and chicken (WL), albeit being taxonomically distant, shared gene functions for preservation of viable sperm in the oviduct. Mating or SP/SF-infusion were able to change the expression of comparable genes involved in pH-regulation (SLC16A2, SLC4A9, SLC13A1, SLC35F1, ATP8B3, ATP13A3) or immune-modulation (IFIT5, IFI16, MMP27, ADAMTS3, MMP3, MMP12). The results of the thesis demonstrate that both mating and components of the sperm-free seminal fluid/plasma elicit gene expression changes in the pre-ovulatory female sperm reservoir of chickens and pigs, some conserved over domestication and fertility-selection.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Joel M. DeRouchey / Five experiments used 3,004 pigs to determine influences of wheat middlings (Midds), dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), and choice white grease (CWG) on growth, carcass traits, and carcass fat quality of finishing pigs and the optimal SID Trp:Lys in growing and finishing pigs fed 30% DDGS. In Exp. 1, pigs fed increasing dietary Midds had decreased (linear; P≤0.02) ADG and G:F. Feeding 30% DDGS did not influence growth performance. For carcass traits, increasing Midds decreased (linear; P<0.01) carcass yield, HCW, and backfat depth (quadratic; P<0.02) but increased (quadratic; P<0.01) FFLI. Feeding 30% DDGS decreased (P<0.03) carcass yield and backfat depth (P<0.01), but increased FFLI (P<0.02) and jowl fat IV (P<0.001). In Exp. 2, feeding 20% dietary Midds decreased (P<0.01) ADG and G:F. Pigs fed diets with increasing CWG had improved ADG (quadratic, P<0.03) and G:F (linear, P<0.01). Dietary Midds or CWG did not affect ADFI. For carcass traits, feeding 20% Midds decreased carcass yield (P<0.05), HCW, backfat depth, and loin depth, while increasing jowl fat IV (P<0.001). Pigs fed CWG also had decreased (linear, P<0.05) FFLI and increased (linear, P<0.01) jowl fat iodine value. In conclusion, feeding Midds reduced pig growth performance, carcass yield, and increased jowl fat IV. In Exp. 3, xylanase supplementation did not improve growth performance or carcass traits of pigs fed different dietary energy and fiber levels. Increasing dietary energy increased (linear; P<0.001) ADG and G:F with no affect on ADFI. Increasing dietary energy increased (linear; P<0.01) yield, HCW, backfat depth, and reduced FFLI (linear; P<0.001) and jowl fat iodine value (linear; P<0.001). Apparent total tract digestibility of ADF improved (P<0.002) with the addition of dietary xylanase; however, there were no differences in any other nutrient digestibility criteria. As dietary energy increased, there was an increase (linear; P<0.02) in apparent digestibility of DM, N, fat, GE, ADF, and NDF. In Exp. 4 and 5, results indicated the optimal SID Trp:Lys was 16.5% from 36.3 to 72.6 kg, but at least 19.5% from 72.6 to 120.2 kg in corn-soybean meal diets containing 30% DDGS.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Robert D. Goodband / A total of 5,480 pigs involving 10 experiments were conducted. Experiment 1 evaluated 3 feeder gap settings: 1.27, 1.91, or 2.54 cm, while Exp. 2 evaluated the effects of feeder trough space (4.45 vs. 8.9 cm/pig) and minimum feeder gap opening of 1.27 vs. 2.54 cm. In Exp. 1, pigs fed with increasing feeder gap had decreased (linear; P < 0.03) G:F due to increased (linear; P <0.02) ADFI. In Exp. 2, there was a tendency (P = 0.08) for increased ADG as feeder trough space increased from 4.45 to 8.9 cm/pig. Pigs fed with the wide feeder gap setting had increased (P < 0.01) ADFI and decreased (P < 0.01) G:F compared to pigs with the narrow feeder gap setting. Experiments 3 and 4 were conducted to determine the effects of diet form (meal vs. pellet) and feeder design (conventional dry vs. wet-dry) on finisher pig performance. In Exp. 3, pigs fed pelleted diets or via a wet-dry feeder had greater (P < 0.07 and 0.01, respectively) ADG then those fed meal diets or with a dry feeder. Diet × feeder interactions (P < 0.02) were observed for G:F. When pelleted diets were presented in dry feeders, G:F decreased, while no difference in G:F was observed between meal and pelleted diets presented in wet-dry feeders. In Exp. 4, pigs fed with wet-dry feeders had increased (P < 0.02) ADG and ADFI compared to those with dry feeders, while pigs presented pelleted diets had improved (P = 0.05) G:F compared to those presented meal diets. Experiments 5 to 9 were conducted to determine the effects of porcine intestinal mucosa products, PEP2+, Peptone 50, and PEP-NS, on the growth performance of nursery pigs. In Exp. 5, pigs fed increasing PEP2 had increased (quadratic; P < 0.02) overall ADG, ADFI, and G:F with the greatest response observed at 4% PEP2. In Exp. 6, pigs fed PEP2 had improved (P < 0.03) G:F compared to pigs fed select menhaden fish meal (SMFM) and increasing PEP2 improved (quadratic; P < 0.04) G:F with the greatest improvement seen when diets contained 4% PEP2. In Exp. 7 pigs fed PEP2+, Peptone 50 and PEP-NS had increased (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI compared to pigs fed a negative control diet. In Exp. 8, pigs fed diets containing 6% SMFM, PEP2+, or PEP-NS had improved (P < 0.05) ADG and ADFI compared to pigs fed the negative control or 6% Peptone 50. In Exp. 9, pigs fed increasing PEP-NS had improved (quadratic; P < 0.01) ADG and G:F, with the greatest improvement observed in pigs fed 6% PEP-NS. Experiment 10 evaluated the effects of Liquitein and PCV2/M. hyo vaccine regimen on the growth performance of weanling pigs. Overall, there were no effects of Liquitein on growth performance and vaccinated pigs had decreased (P < 0.01) ADG and ADFI compared to non-vaccinated pigs.