O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estimar a variabilidade genética existente entre touros e linhagens da raça Nelore, essas representadas pelos grandes genearcas, no que se refere à qualidade de carcaça e de carne. Os animais utilizados para coleta de dados de carcaça e carne pertenciam ao projeto de melhoramento genético e de avaliação para emissão de CEIP - Certificado Especial de Identificação e Produção, da Agro-Pecuária CFM-Ltda, e tinham idade entre 21 e 28 meses. Foram analisadas as características peso de carcaça quente (PCQ), área de olho de lombo (AOL), espessura de gordura subcutânea (EGS) e marmoreio (MAR). A qualidade de carne foi avaliada para os períodos de 7, 14 e 21 dias de maturação, quanto às perdas por exsudação (PE), perdas por cozimento (PC) e maciez (MAC). A avaliação da variabilidade genética entre linhagens foi efetuada com base em valores das diferenças esperadas na progênie (DEP) para as características PCQ, AOL, EGS, MAR e MAC aos 7, 14 e 21 dias de maturação. Foi encontrada variabilidade entre os touros e as linhagens estudadas sugerindo que um progresso genético pode ser conseguido pela seleção de animais para características de carcaça e carne dentro da raça Nelore. / The present study had as objective to estimate the genetic variability between steers and breed lines of Nellore, these represented by the greatest breeders, referred to carcass and beef quality. The animals used to collect the samples of carcass and beef belonged to the project of genetic improvement and evaluation to emission of CEIP-Special Certificate of Identification and Production of CFM Farm-Ltda. The animals had age between 21 and 28 months. Were analyzed the characteristics of hot carcass weight (PCQ), rib eye area (AOL), backfat thickness (EGS), marbling (MAR).The beef quality was evaluated for the periods of 7, 14 and 21 days of ageing, as reference the drip loss (PE), cooking loss (PC) and tenderness (MAC). The evaluation of the genetic variability between the breed lines was done based in the values of the expected progeny differences (DEP) of the characteristics of PCQ, AOL, EGS, MAR and MAC at days 7, 14 and 21 of ageing. There was found a variability between steers and the breed lines studied, suggesting that a genetic process may be possible by selecting the animals to carcass and beef characteristics in the Nellore breed.

Resumo: No presente trabalho, avaliou-se o efeito do processo de maturação na qualidade da carne do músculo Longissimus de 35 tourinhos da raça Nelore confinados por 96 dias e abatidos com peso de 532,17 ± 30,25kg e 24 meses de idade. Os animais foram alimentados com uma dieta controle sem a adição de óleo e outras quatro dietas contendo diferentes fontes de óleo (soja ou linhaça) protegido ou não da degradação ruminal. Após o abate e 24 horas de resfriamento foram retirados 3 bifes de 2,5cm de espessura entre a 12a e 13a costelas do músculo Longissimus, posteriormente embalados à vácuo e maturados em estufa B.O.D. à temperatura de 2oC durante 7, 14 e 21 dias. Em seguida, foram analisadas as seguintes características: força de cisalhamento, ph, cor, perdas na maturação e composição química da carne assada. Após liofilização, o extrato etéreo foi extraído, metilado e as leituras realizadas por cromatografia gasosa. O delineamento estatístico utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, sendo 5 tratamentos, em 7 blocos e utilizadas 4 medidas repetidas no tempo. As variáveis foram avaliadas por meio de análise de variância e teste t Student à 5% de probabilidade e para as características sensoriais da carne foi utilizado o teste não paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis. Houve efeito significativo para as variáveis matéria seca, extrato etéreo e matéria mineral. A força de cisalhamento apresentou diferenças entre os grupos de bifes maturados, (5,97; 4,31; 3,25 e 2,96kgf/cm2, para 0, 7, 14 e 21 dias de maturação, respectivamente), sendo que o tempo 14 e 21 foram mais macios que o tempo 7, e este, mais macio que o tempo 0. O ph apresentou diferença entre a carne in natura e os períodos de maturação. Houve efeito significativo para a maturação das variáveis luminosidade, intensidade da cor vermelha e intensidade da cor amarela. As perdas por exsudação na maturação ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: In this study, we assess the effect of the ageing process in the meat quality of Longissimus muscles from 35 Nellore bulls young bulls confined for 96 days and slaughtered weighing 532.17 ± 30.25 kg and 24 months of age. The animals were fed with five different diets: the first one was a control diet, without oil and the other four diets containing different oil sources (soy or flaxseed) protected or not from ruminal degradation. After slaughter and 24 hours of cooling, 3 samples with 2.5 cm thickness were removed between the 12th and 13th ribs of Longissimus muscles and subsequently vacuum packaged and aged in an environmental chamber at a temperature of 2o C for 7, 14 and 21 days. We assess the characteristics: shear force, pH, color, ageing losses, chemical composition and fatty acids of meat. The fatty acids were assess by gas chromatography. Variables were evaluated by analysis of variance and Student t test at 5% probability and the sensory characteristics of meat was used nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test. Shear force differed between the ageing groups, (5.97; 4.31, 3.25 and 2.96 Kgf/cm2 to 0, 7, 14 and 21 days) the period 14 and 21 were softer than the period 7. The pH was different between the fresh beef and the other periods. There was a significant effect on the variable lightness, red color intensity and intensity of yellow color. The losses were larger as the period of ageing increased, and the period of 21 days showed 5.58% of losses. The sensory evaluation showed the difference to variable smoothness for the period of 7 days.. There was a significant effect on concentration of myristic acids (C14: 0), miristoleico \ (C14: 1), pentadecanoic (C15: 0), palmitic (C16: 0), palmitoleic (C16: 1) vacênico (C18: 1 n7) and oleic (C18: 1 n9). In contrast there was an increase in the levels of stearic (C18: 0), linoleic (C18: 2 n6) eicosenoic (C20: 1 n9), eicosadienoico (C20: 2) ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Alexandre Amstalden Moraes Sampaio / Coorientador: Wignez Henrique / Banca: Hirasilva Borba / Banca: Alexandre Rodrigo Mendes Fernandes / Mestre

A maciez é um importante atributo de qualidade para os consumidores de carne. No entanto, não há dados específicos do impacto da maciez da carne ovina de Santa Inês sobre a percepção dos consumidores brasileiros. Portanto, o objetivo foi verificar a avaliação do consumidor de carne ovina apresentando diferentes forças de cisalhamento. Foram utilizados oito cordeiros da raça Santa Inês, que receberam a mesma dieta de terminação. Estes animais tinham 5 a 6 meses de idade e pesavam de 30 a 35 kg quando foram abatidos e suas meias carcaças foram utilizadas para obtenção de 16 amostras de Longissimus dorsi (LD). Estas foram distribuídas aleatoriamente entre quatro diferentes processamentos pós-abate (PA). Os LD usados para a obtenção da Carne Endurecida (CE) foram retirados logo após o abate (0h) e as amostras para os demais tratamentos foram retiradas na desossa às 24h PA. O tratamento para CE consistia em embalar o LD e mergulhá-lo em água a 0° C por duas horas, e logo após congelá-la. Para a obtenção da Carne Fresca (CF), o LD foi retirado na desossa (24h PA), embalado e congelado. E alguns dos bifes obtidos às 24 horas foram embalados a vácuo e maturados a 1°C durante três ou sete dias, que compõem a condição de Carne Maturada (CM) pós-morte, CM3 e CM7, respectivamente. Os principais dados obtidos foram de comprimento do sarcômero (CS), força de cisalhamento (FC), índice de fragmentação miofibrilar (IFM), bem como a aceitação de maciez, suculência e qualidade global por parte de 50 consumidores não treinados, usando escala hedônica de nove pontos. O CS foi de 1,44 &mu;m para CE, significativamente (p<0,05) mais curto que observado para CF, CM3 e CM7, que não diferiram entre si, com valores de 1,84, 1,89, 1,85 &mu;m (SEM=0,09), respectivamente. A CE alcançou FC média de 7,2 kgf, significativamente (P<0,05) mais alta que os três valores similares de 3,3, 3,1, 2,4 (SEM=0,44) observados para CF, CM3 e CM7, respectivamente. Quanto à IFM, os processos pós-abate tiveram diferença entre CE e CM7 (p<0,05), com IFM de 76,2 e 130,5, enquanto a CF e CM3 não diferiram entre os processos com valores de 97,9; 115,6; (SEM= 11,41), respectivamente. As amostras de CE receberam pontuação significativamente mais baixa (P<0,01) para todos os quesitos avaliados na análise sensorial, sendo textura 5,43, suculência 6,51 e qualidade global 5,92, os demais tratamentos tiveram notas acima de 7 para todas as características, mas não diferiram entre si (P<0,01). Os consumidores foram capazes de perceber e avaliaram negativamente a maciez da carne de cordeiro que apresentou alta força de cisalhamento quando comparada com carnes com valores que as caracterizariam como macias. As avaliações de suculência e qualidade global acompanharam a percepção da maciez. Concluiu-se que os consumidores percebem e avaliam negativamente carne de cordeiro com alto valor de força de cisalhamento. No entanto, os dados obtidos não foram capazes de elucidar impacto de diferenças menores na força de cisalhamento entre amostras duras e macias sobre a aceitação do consumidor não treinado. / Tenderness is an important meat quality trait for consumers. However, there is no specific data in the impact of Santa Inês lamb meat tenderness on Brazilian consumers perception. Therefore, objective was to verify the consumer evaluation of lamb meat with different shear force. We used eight Santa Inês lambs that were fed the same diet. These animals of 5 to 6 months of age and weighing 30 to 35 Kg were slaughtered and their half carcasses were used to obtain 16 samples of Longissimus dorsi (LD). These were randomly assigned among four diferent post-slaughter (PS) managements. The LD used for obtaining Toughened Meat (TM) were removed immediately after slaughter (0h ps) and samples for the other managements were obtained from boning at 24h PS. The samples from TM consisted in wrapping excised LD in plastic bag and dipping it into water bath with ice at 0°C for two hours, followed by freezing. Fresh Meat (FM) was obtained from LD removed at boning (24 hours postmortem), followed by wrapping and freezing. And some of steaks obtained at 24 hours were vaccumm packaged and aged at 1 °C for three or seven days, which compose the aging (A) postmortem, A3 and A7, respectively. The sarcomere length (SL), shear force (SF), myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), as well as sensory analysis of tenderness, juiciness and overall quality acceptance by 50 not trained consumers using hedonic scale of nine points, were obtained. The SL was 1.44 &mu;m for TM, significantly (P<0.05) shorter than the other treatments. The values of 1.84, 1.89, 1.85 (SEM=0,09) &mu;m for FM, A3 and A7, respectively, didn\'t differ and are values normally reported for post-rigor lamb meat. MT reached an average 7.2 kgf for SF, significantly (P <0.05) higher than 3.3, 3.1, 2.4 (SEM= 0,44) observed for FM, A7 and A3, respectively. As for the MFI, post-slaughter processes had difference between TM and A7 (P<0.05), with IFM 76.2 and 130.5, while FM and A3 did not differ between cases with values 97.9; 115.6; (SEM = 11.41), respectively. Samples from TM received the lowest scores (P<0.01) for all items assessed in sensory analysis, and texture 5.43, juiciness 6.51 and overall quality 5.92, the other treatments were notes above 7 for all traits, but not significantly different (P<0.01). Consumers were able to understand and evaluate negatively the tenderness of lamb that showed high shear force compared to meat with values at low levels, which characterize as tender. It was concluded that consumers will perceive and evaluate negatively lamb meat with high shear force value. However, the results are not conclusive whether smaller differences between tough and tender meat would still have impact on not trained consumer acceptance.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a posição da suspensão de carcaças durante o período de resfriamento, no primeiro experimento lados alternados de dez animais Nelores machos castrados, foram suspensos pelo método tradicional (Tendão de Aquiles) ou dispostos horizontalmente em pallets, no segundo experimento lados alternados de 16 animais machos castrados e 16 fêmeas foram suspensos pelo método tradicional (Tendão de Aquiles) ou pelo músculo Carpo Radial. Amostras do músculo Longissimus dorsi na 12ª costela foram coletadas de todos os lados (42 lados esquerdos e 42 lados direitos) após o período de 24 horas de resfriamento, estas amostras foram embaladas a vácuo e maturadas por sete dias antes de serem congeladas e armazenadas até a realização das analises de força de cisalhamento, perdas de água por cocção e índice de fragmentação miofibrilar (MFI). Para a primeira experiência nenhuma diferença foi observada para espessura de gordura subcutânea, perdas de água por cocção, força de cisalhamento e MFI.Na segunda experiência não houve diferença para espessura de gordura entre os tratamentos, mas as fêmeas apresentavam maior espessura que os machos. Para perdas de água por cocção e força de cisalhamento não houve diferença, mas observando o MFI existe diferença entre os machos e fêmeas e também entre os métodos de pendura. A média de MFI para o tratamento de suspensão pelo Carpo Radial foi maior do que a suspensão pelo tendão de Aquiles. / The objective of this work was to evaluate the carcass hanging position during the chilling period in which 1st experiment: alternate sides of ten Nellore steers were hang either by the traditional way (Achilles tendon) or placed horizontally over pallets or 2nd experiment: alternate sides of 16 Nellore steers and 16 Nellore heifers were hang either by the Achilles tendon or by the Carpus radial muscle of the forequarter. Longissimus dorsi muscle samples at the 12th rib level were removed from all sides (42 left and 42 right sides) after a 24 hr chilling period, vacuum packaged and aged for 7 days before being frozen and kept for future analysis of shear force, cooking losses and Myofibril fragmentation index (MFI). For the first experiment no differences were observed for fat thickness, cooking losses, shear force and MFI. In the second experiment there was not differences for fat thickness between treatments but heifers showed a thicker fat layer than steers. For cooking losses and shear force there was not differences although for the MFI and hanging position between heifers and steers were observed. The MFI average of the treatment hang by the Carpus radial muscle were higher than the treatment hang by the Achilles tendon.

Resumo: Avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes períodos de maturação (1, 7, 14 dias) sobre a qualidade da carne de dois músculos (Longíssimus dorsi e Tríceps braquii) de bovinos cruzados, criados em confinamento no sistema "superprecoce". Foram utilizados 40 bovinos machos não castrados, divididos em quatro cruzamentos, oriundos do acasalamento de fêmeas cruzadas ½ angus + ½ nelore e ½ simental + ½ nelore com touros das raças Angus e Wagyu. Os animais foram confinados em lotes de 4 animais por baia divididos por grupo genético. Após o abate e estabelecimento do rigor-mortis (24 horas) coletou-se amostras dos músculos Longíssimus dorsi e Tríceps braquii, que foram embalados a vácuo e submetidos à maturação (0, 7 e 14 dias). Foram avaliadas características qualitativas (capacidade de retenção de água, cor, pH, perdas de peso por cozimento e força de cisalhamento) e sensoriais (sabor, odor, suculência, fibrosidade, maciez, sabor de gordura e aceitação global). Utilizou-se um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 4 x 3 x 2 (4 cruzamentos x 3 períodos de maturação x 2 músculos) com 10 repetições. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste Tukey com 5% de significância. A maturação é eficiente na melhoria da maciez da carne dos animais avaliados. Os animais filhos de touro Wagyu apresentaram carne com sabor de gordura mais acentuado através da avaliação sensorial. O músculo Tríceps brachii foi considerado mais macio e mais suculento tanto na análise sensorial como nas análises físicas, contudo, o músculo Longíssimos dorsi apresentou maior aceitação global / Abstract: We evaluated the effect of different periods of maturation aged (0, 7 and 14 days) on meat quality of two muscles (Longíssimus dorsi and Triceps braquii) of crossbred beef cattle, reared in confinement in the system "youngbulls". We used 40 bulls divided into four crossbred from the mating of cows crossbred ½ Angus + ½ Nelore e ½ Simental + ½ Nelore with bulls Angus and Wagyu. The animals were confined in collective stalls 4 animals for pen divided by genetic groups. After slaughter and establishment of rigor mortis (24 hours) samples were collected from muscles Longíssimus dorsi e Triceps braquii, which were vacuum packed and submitted of maturation aged (0, 7 and 14 days). We evaluated quality characteristics (water-holding capacity, color, pH, weight loss for cooking and shear force) and sensory (flavor, scent, juiciness, fibrousness, softness, fat flavor and global acceptance). It was used a 4 x 3 x 2 factorial arrangement (4 crossbred x 3 maturation aged x 2 muscles) with 10 replicates. The dates submitted analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tykey's test (5%). The maturation aged is proved effective improvement the meat in the animals evaluated. The animals crossbred Wagyu bull presented meat-flavored fat sharper through sensory evaluation. The muscle Tríceps brachii was considered more soft and juicy both in sensory evaluation as in physical analysis, however, the muscle Longíssimus dorsi showed higher global acceptance / Orientador: Pedro Alves de Souza / Coorientador: Rymer Ramiz Tullio / Banca: Rafael Silvio Bonilha Pinheiro / Banca: Jane Maria Bertocco Ezequiel / Mestre

Orientador: Roberto de Oliveira Roça / Banca: André Mendes Jorge / Banca: Heraldo César Gonçalves / Banca: Paulo Roberto Leme / Banca: João Garcia Caramoni Júnior / Resumo: Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da inclusão de diferentes níveis (0; 14,35; 27,51 e 34,09%) de caroço de algodão na dieta sobre a composição centesimal, maciez, cor e oxidação lipídica da carne de novilhos Nelore. Foram utilizados 36 novilhos não-castrados (peso vivo médio inicial de 333,50 kg e 20 meses de idade), os quais permaneceram por 94 dias confinados em baias com três animais. O delineamento foi o inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e nove repetições. Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos para o teor de umidade, proteína e cinzas. Entretanto o aumento dos níveis de caroço de algodão reduziu linearmente o percentual de gordura intramuscular. Os valores da força de cisalhamento, oxidação lipídica, cor da carne e cor da gordura foram semelhantes entre os tratamentos. / Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of inclusion of whole cottonseed at different levels (0, 14.35, 27.51 and 34.09) in the diet on meat centesimal composition, tenderness, color and lipid oxidation of Nellore steers. Thirtysix steers (average initial body weight of 333.50 kg and aged 20 months) were housed during 94 days in pens with three animals each. A completely randomized design with four treatments and nine replications was used. No difference between treatments was observed concerning moisture, protein and ash contents. However, increasing levels of whole cottonseed caused a reduction in intramuscular fat. The values of shear force, lipid oxidation, meat color and fat color were similar between treatments. / Doutor

The human foot is a biomechanical marvel which forms the distal link in the lower limb kinematic chain. With its small polyarticular construct and flexibility, it supports the body and provides balance during walking. The first metatarsophalangeal joint (MTPJ) is a vital joint in the forefoot for normal load transmission and energy efficient locomotion. Albeit a lot in literature about this joint, paucity still exists in the biomechanical aspects. Also, there is a speculation in the biomechanical world that the time integral component of pressure recorded from the plantar pressure measuring devices maybe representative of the shear force recorded from force platforms. The aim of the current study was to quantify the kinematics of the first MTPJ in three dimensions and the pedobarographic data under the first MTPJ during each sub-phase of stance in the gait cycle of normal subjects and to assess the correlation between the shear force from the force plate of the motion capture system with the variables from the barefoot plantar pressure measuring device. Similar quantification will be undertaken for the patients with isolated hallux rigidus. After obtaining ethical approval, 40 normal subjects (80 feet) and 6 patients with varying grades of hallux rigidus were recruited for the study. The equipment used to collect data included the Vicon® motion analysis system, AMTI® force plate and the emed® plantar pressure measuring device. Various checks were performed to establish the reliability of the system setup. Four trials from each foot were taken. Of the 320 total trials from the normal subjects, the trial numbers varied for specific tasks as some trials which were suitable for testing one objective might not be suitable for testing the other. One of the patients’ data could not be used as the data quality was below par due to issues with marker tracking. The correlation between the shear force from the force plate and the anthropometric measurements/parameters from the plantar pressure measuring device was performed using the statistical regression model. The Vicon® data of the whole stance phase revealed that the first MTPJ’s sagittal plane motion ranged from 9° of plantarflexion to 53° of dorsiflexion. In the coronal plane, the maximum pronation was 34° and supination was 31°. In the transverse plane, the maximum varus was 11° and the valgus was 24°. There were two dorsiflexion peaks; one at the Initial contact and the other at Pre-swing. The joint moved from supination to pronation and varus to valgus during the progression of stance phase from Initial contact to Pre-swing. Considering the emed®-m, there were four basic parameters namely the force, area, peak pressure and maximum mean pressure from which the other parameters were derived. Only the basic parameters accounted for the sub-phases of stance and it came to light that the force under the first MTPJ was maximum in the terminal stance (22.1%). For the whole stance phase, the first MTPJ contributed about 11% of the contact area, 14.5% of the mean area, 24% of the maximum force, 56% of the peak pressure, 63% of maximum mean pressure, 44% of Pressure-time integral, 14% of Force-time integral and 14% of mean force. The correlation equation with reasonable number of dependent variables obtained by the statistical regression model could account for only 46% of the shear force. Among the paired correlation equations with single dependent variable, the one with the mean force was the best and even this could only account for 31.1% of the shear force. Albeit 3 patients were having similar radiological grading of the pathology and 2 others falling into another grade, their objective data were diverse and couldn’t be grouped together. The normal kinematics of the first MTPJ and the pedobarographic data under the first MTPJ were quantified during each subphase of stance. Attempt to use one system alone instead of two to calculate the shear force did not provide satisfactory results. The patients’ data questions the use of radiology alone in deciding the management plan which is a common scenario in the current clinical setting.

O Brasil dedica-se em grande parte à criação de animais Bos indicus, principalmente da raça Nelore e seus cruzamentos, já que são animais resistentes a doenças e adaptados ao clima tropical. Entretanto, em relação à característica de maciez da carne, restrições têm sido atribuídas a este tipo de animal. Particularmente neste aspecto, existe grande interesse pela seleção de animais cuja genética seja favorável à carne mais macia e com redução na variação da maciez da carne. Durante o período de maturação da carne, a proteólise é o fator que mais contribui com o aumento da maciez. As proteases neutras ativadas por íons de cálcio, denominadas calpaínas, são parcialmente responsáveis pela proteólise post mortem, conduzindo ao aumento progressivo da maciez da carne. Entretanto, existe dificuldade em obter dados fenotípicos relacionados à maciez. Assim, a Seleção Assistida por Marcadores (MAS) pode ter grande impacto para melhorar estas características de difíc il mensuração. Marcadores do gene da calpaína (CAPN) e da calpastatina (CAST), denominados SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms), já foram analisados e polimorfismos foram associados favoravelmente com maciez da carne bovina. Entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre a expressão gênica da calpaína e da calpastatina, particularmente em bovinos castrados da raça Nelore com diferentes combinações genotípicas para os marcadores moleculares SNP associados a essas proteases. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a expressão gênica da calpaína e da calpastatina em animais castrados da raça Nelore, com genótipos contrastantes identificados previamente por marcadores SNPs para um, sete e 14 dias de maturação. Foram genotipados 16 animais castrados da raça Nelore e dois marcadores foram utilizados, sendo um associado ao gene da µ-calpaína e outro associado à calpastatina (CAPN4751 e UOGCAST). Através da eletroforese bidimensional (2DE) as intensidades de expressão dos spots foram determinadas. As análises estatística s foram realizadas com auxílio do programa Statistical Analysis System (SAS), utilizando o procedimento PROC MIXED. A proteólise post mortem entre os tempos determinados de maturação foi avaliada e foram observados que 41 spots apresentaram efeitos significativos entre os tempos de maturação. Seis spots explicaram 57% da variabilidade da maciez aos 14 dias de maturação. Com o objetivo de verificar a existência de possíveis diferenças de expressão gênica entre amostras com genótipos distintos, avaliações proteômicas foram realizadas visando avaliar as diferenças no perfil proteico e foram baseadas no estudo comparativo (match) dos géis inter e intra combinações genotípicas. Dois spots explicaram 69% da variabilidade da maciez aos sete dias de maturação. Para o período de 14 dias de maturação 19 spots apresentaram efeito principal significativo para a fonte de variação de interação CAPN4751(UOGCAST) e, neste caso, a análise de regressão apresentou um spot que explica 70% da variabilidade da maciez aos 14 dias de maturação. / Brazil is largely devoted to the breeding of Bos indicus, especially Nellore and their intersections, because these animals are resist ant to diseases and adapted to tropical climate. However, in relation to beef tenderness, restrictions have been assigned to this breed. Particularly in this respect, there is great interest in the genetic selection of animals with more tender beef and reduced variation in meat tenderness. During the aging of the meat, proteolysis is the major factor that contributes to the increased tenderness. The neutral proteases activated by calcium ions, called calpains, are partially responsible for postmortem proteolysis, leading to a progressive increase in meat tenderness. However, there is difficulty in obtaining phenotypic data related to tenderness, in this way, Marker Assisted Selection (MAS) may have great impact to improve these characteristics. Gene markers of calpain (Capn) and calpastatin (CAST), called SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) have been studied and polymorphisms were associated positively with beef tenderness. However, not much is known about the gene expression of calpain and calpastatin, particularly in Nellore steers with different genotype combinations for the SNP markers associated with these proteases. This study aimed to evaluate the gene expression of calpain and calpastatin in castrated Nellore, with contrasting genotypes previously identified by SNPs marker for one, seven and 14 days of aging. We genotyped 16 castrated Nellore, and two markers were used, one being associated with the µ-calpain gene and the other associated with calpastatin (CAPN4751 and UOGCAST). Through two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) the intensities of the spots were determined. Statistical analyzes were performed using the Statistical Analysis System (SAS) using the PROC MIXED. The postmortem proteolysis among the times of aging was evaluated and it was observed that 41 spots showed significant effects between different times of aging. Six spots explained up to 57% of the variability of tenderness at 14 days of aging. In order to verify the existence of possible differences in expression among samples with different genotypes, proteomics aimed to evaluate the differences in protein profile, based on comparative study (match) of the gels inter and intra genotype combinations. Two spots explained up to 69% of the variability of tenderness to seven days of maturation. For the period of 14 days of aging 19 spots showed significant main effect for interaction CAPN4751(UOGCAST), in this case regression analysis showed a spot that explains 70% of the variability of tenderness to 14 days of aging.

Dans le Système International d'unités (SI) le kilogramme est l'unité de masse, qui est définie comme étant égale à la masse du prototype international du kilogramme en platine iridié. Le contrôle des étalons de masse est essentiel vis _a vis, entre autre, des industries qui doivent garantir une production calibrée. Ce travail est consacré à l'étude en champ proche et champ lointain des surfaces des étalons de masse métalliques, en lien avec différents instituts, laboratoires nationaux et internationaux de la métrologie. Nous avons mené deux types de mesures : mesures de type shear-force pour déterminer la topographie locale de la surface et mesures en champ proche optique pour approfondir l'analyse de la surface par mesure optique localisée à haute résolution. Une analyse de l'évolution de la topographie des surfaces des étalons de masse et de la structure du champ proche optique diffracté par les défauts des ces surfaces a été menée au cours de ce travail de thèse.

Beef fajitas have become a popular food item, but the supply of traditional muscles is insufficient to meet the growing demand. There is a need for alternative muscles that have similar eating characteristics to those currently marketed as beef fajitas. Four different treatments - papain (P), blade tenderization (B), papain + blade tenderization (P+B), and control (C) - were applied to sixty USDA Choice M. diaphragma pars costalis, M. transversus abdominis, M. obliquus abdominis internus, M. rhomboideus, M. trapezius, M. latissimus, and M. serratus ventralis. Muscles were cut into sections and frozen at -10ºC for evaluation by a trained sensory panel, consumer panel, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) measurements. Trained panelists found that regardless of muscle, the addition of papain improved palatability scores. In general, treatment tended not to affect the palatability scores of the M. diaphragma pars costalis and M. serratus ventralis, which tended to receive higher scores in comparison to the other muscles. In general, the control and blade tenderized M. trapezius received the lowest trained and consumer panel palatability scores and had the highest WBSF values (P < 0.05). Regardless of muscle (except for M. diaphragma pars costalis and M. serratus ventralis), P and P+B treatments reduced WBSF values (P < 0.05). Consumers (n=81) gave the M. transversus abdominis, M. serratus ventralis, and M. latissimus similar (P > 0.05) tenderness ratings when the P treatment was applied. Consumers tended to prefer the flavor and tenderness of beef fajita strips that were treated with P and P+B and indicated a preference to purchase muscles with these treatments. Consumers were willing to purchase M. serratus ventralis treated with P+B and M. latissimus treated with P the majority of the time. Papain improved the eating quality of the muscles studied. The M. latissimus and M. serratus ventralis when treated with papain alone or in combination with blade tenderization, performed well enough to be considered as alternatives for traditional beef fajitas.