The rural poor of Hazaribag suffer from vitamin A and iron deficiencies from meals containing rice (200-400g) and limited (25-50g) slow-cooked vegetables with potatoes. This causes undernourishment in 50% of children and 40% of women. The two main causes are lack of access to nutritious foods, and lack of knowledge about nutrition. Through extension, 24 women were taught and quantitatively assessed about growing avocado and drumstick trees, and proper nutrition. Participants were monitored for four months using persistent observation to qualitatively evaluate the adoption process of four behaviors (eating and feeding avocados to children; increasing consumption of drumstick leaves/pods; caring for grafted avocado trees, and planting avocado seeds) and their consequences. From the assessment of knowledge gained and retained, results indicate a statistically significant difference among all test scores, T1 and T2 (p = .001, t = -5.58), T1 and T3 (p = .001, t = -6.98), T2 and T3 (p = .038, t = -2.20), and T4 perceptions of knowledge before/after training (p = .001, t = -16.32). Qualitative studies show the women did adopt a majority of the behaviors, with 100% eating or feeding avocados to children; 60% eating more drumstick leaves/pods; 90% caring for avocado trees and 50% planting seeds. A number of consequences were associated with the adoption of the behaviors. Many of the women reported perceptions of improved health and expressed that children were falling sick less often due to the avocados and drumstick leaves/pods. The MUAC test showed that children who ate avocados weekly had increases in their mid-upper-arm circumference. And, people outside the study became interested in avocados because the participants shared their new knowledge. Most extension programs result in knowledge gains, but this study showed that with continued engagement and interaction, the participants were able to retain and gain additional knowledge about agriculture and proper nutrition. From the data collected, it is clear that the women learned and adopted the behaviors to improve their nutrition resulting in positive changes. Ultimately, there is a connection between extension, knowledge gains, and behavior adoption. This could be a powerful tool to address malnutrition in Hazaribag.

Accurate rhythmic pace-keeping is an ability achieved only by a lot of practice. However, finding the opportunity to practice can be difficult when availability of teachers is insufficient. This thesis aims to construct a prototype that teaches its users basic rhythm keeping, specifically rhythms produced on drums. To reproduce the behavior of a drumstick hitting a surface, a device was constructed, able to perform three different rhythms mechanically at the speeds of 100, 150 and, 200 BPM, using a drumstick attached to a servo. By adding a sound sensor, the device was also able to methodically track drumming inputs. By integrating a microcontroller and programming it accordingly, the user can practice rhythmic pace-keeping visually and audibly and receives real-time feedback on their performance through an LED interface. Furthermore, the device’s actual rhythmic abilities were measured and compared to its theoretical values, which showed very small to no deviations. A study showing that combining visual and auditory channels facilitate rhythmic learning abilities gave substantiation for a conclusion estimating the drum-bots utility as a satisfactory educative tool. In future work, the demand for this product could be quantified and studied. / Noggrann rytmisk takthållning är en egenskap som uppnås endast genom mycket övning. Att finna möjligheten att öva kan dock vara svårt vid tillfällen då tillgängligheten av lärare inte räcker till. Detta examensarbete syftar mot att konstruera en prototyp av en apparat som lär användaren grundläggande rytmhållning, mer specifikt trumrytmer. En apparat kunstruerades som kunde utföra tre olika rytmer mekaniskt genom att använda sig av en trumstock som var fastmonterad i en servo. Hastigheter var 100, 150 och 200 Beats per minute (BPM). Genom att sedan programmera mikrokontrollern har användaren möjlighet att träna rytmisk takthållning visuellt och hörbart samt erhåller realtidsfeedback på prestandan via ett LED-gränssnitt. Dessutom mättes enhetens faktiskt rytmiska förmågor separat och jämfördes med de teoretiska värdena, vilket resulterade i mycket små eller inga avvikelser i prestandan. En studie som uppvisar att kombinationen av visuella och auditiva sinnen främjer den rhythmiska inlärningsförmågan, gav substans för en slutsats vilken uppsakttar trum-botens funktion att vara tillfredställande som ett inlärningsverktyg. I ett framtida arbete, skulle efterfrågan i en sådan produkt kunna kvantifieras och studeras.

Introdução - Algumas espécies vegetais comestíveis, mas ausentes na dieta do brasileiro, podem ser boas fontes de nutrientes e de compostos bioativos, e a falta ou a perda de conhecimento sobre elas desfavorece sua inclusão na dieta. Objetivo - Avaliar a composição nutricional e propriedades funcionais da farinha de folha de moringa (Moringa oleifera) e da polpa de murici (Byrsonima crassifolia). Metodologia Os frutos de murici foram coletados em três cidades diferentes do Pará. A farinha de folha de moringa foi coletada na cidade de Marília (SP), nos períodos de fevereiro (verão), maio (outono), julho (inverno) e outubro (primavera) de 2012. Foi realizada a caracterização físico-química, determinação de vitamina C e carotenoides das amostras. A partir do extrato da farinha da folha de moringa e do murici, foi analisado o teor de compostos redutores totais, o perfil de compostos fenólicos, a atividade antioxidante pela capacidade de captação do radical livre DPPH e pelo método de ORAC, atividade antiglicação e inibição de lipase pancreática. Resultados O murici é um fruto rico em vitamina C (39,1 mg 100 g carotenoides, principalmente, luteína (18,66 mg 100 g -1 -1 de amostra) e de amostra). O extrato de murici contêm flavonoides (epicatequina, catequina, rutina e quercetina), e possui elevada atividade antioxidante no método DPPH e ORAC, IC 46,1 mmol equivalente Trolox 100 g -1 50 de 1,2 mg de sólido solúvel mL de sólido solúvel, respectivamente. Além disso, foi observada atividade de inibição da lipase pancreática e atividade antiglicação do extrato de murici. De modo geral, a farinha da folha de moringa possui alto teor de proteína (24,5 g -1 e 100 g -1 de amostra), cálcio (1,9 g 100 g fibras totais (38,2 g 100 g luteína (304,1 mg 100 g -1 -1 -1 de amostra), potássio (1,8 g 100 g -1 de amostra), e de amostra). Possui elevado teor de carotenoides, destacando a de amostra) e -caroteno (90,4 mg 100 g -1 extrato da farinha de moringa foram identificados o ácido clorogênico e a rutina. O extrato da farinha de moringa apresenta baixa atividade de inibição da lipase pancreática (IC 849,1 µg de sólidos solúveis mL -1 de amostra). No ), mas foi capaz de inibir a formação de produtos finais da glicação no sistema BSA/metilglioxal. Conclusão - O murici e a moringa demostram ser espécies vegetais promissoras na melhoria da dieta do brasileiro, devido às características nutricionais apresentadas neste estudo / Introduction - Some vegetables species, not presented in the diet of the brazilian, can be a good source of nutrients and bioactive compounds, and the gap or loss of knowledge about them disfavors the inclusion in the diet. Objectives Evaluate the nutritional composition and the functional properties of drumstick leaves powder (Moringa oleifera) and the pulp of nance fruit (Byrsonima crassifolia). Methods The nance fruits were collected in three different cities of Pará (Brazil). The drumstick leaves powder was collected in the city of Marília (Brazil), in the periods of february (summer), may (autumn), july (winter) and october (spring) of 2012. It was performed physicochemical characterization of the samples, determination of vitamin C and carotenoids. From the extract of drumstick leaves powder and nance fruit, was analyzed the total reducing substance, the profile of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity by the ability to scavenger peroxyl radical and by the ORAC method, antiglycation activity and inhibition of pancreatic lipase. Results The nance fruit is rich in vitamin C (39,1 mg 100 g (18,66 mg 100 g -1 -1 of sample) and carotenoids, mostly, lutein of sample). The extract of nance contains flavonoids (epicatechin, catechin, rutin and quercetin), and has high antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ORAC methods, IC 50 of 1,2 mg souble solid mL -1 and 46,1 mmol equivalent Trolox 100 g solid, respectively. Moreover, was observed inhibitory activity of pancreatic lipase and antiglycation activity of the extract of nance. Altogether, the drumstick leaves powder has -1 soluble high content of protein (24,5 g 100 g potassium (1,8 g 100 g 1 -1 of sample), calcium (1,9 g 100 g of sample), and total fiber (38,2 g 100 g 1 1 of sample), of sample). The drumstick leaves powder has high content of carotenoids, mostly, lutein (304,1 mg 100 g -1 of sample) and -carotene (90,4 mg 100 g -1 of sample). In the extracts of drumstick leaves powder were identified chlorogenic acid and rutin. The extract presents low activity of pancreatic lipase inhibition (IC 50 849.1 µg soluble solid mL -1 ), yet was capable of inhibiting the formation of glycation endproducts system BSA/ methylglyoxal. Conclusion The nance fruit and the drumstick leaves powder shows to be vegetable species promising in improving the diet of the Brazilian, due to the nutritional characteristics presented in this study

Introdução - Algumas espécies vegetais comestíveis, mas ausentes na dieta do brasileiro, podem ser boas fontes de nutrientes e de compostos bioativos, e a falta ou a perda de conhecimento sobre elas desfavorece sua inclusão na dieta. Objetivo - Avaliar a composição nutricional e propriedades funcionais da farinha de folha de moringa (Moringa oleifera) e da polpa de murici (Byrsonima crassifolia). Metodologia Os frutos de murici foram coletados em três cidades diferentes do Pará. A farinha de folha de moringa foi coletada na cidade de Marília (SP), nos períodos de fevereiro (verão), maio (outono), julho (inverno) e outubro (primavera) de 2012. Foi realizada a caracterização físico-química, determinação de vitamina C e carotenoides das amostras. A partir do extrato da farinha da folha de moringa e do murici, foi analisado o teor de compostos redutores totais, o perfil de compostos fenólicos, a atividade antioxidante pela capacidade de captação do radical livre DPPH e pelo método de ORAC, atividade antiglicação e inibição de lipase pancreática. Resultados O murici é um fruto rico em vitamina C (39,1 mg 100 g carotenoides, principalmente, luteína (18,66 mg 100 g -1 -1 de amostra) e de amostra). O extrato de murici contêm flavonoides (epicatequina, catequina, rutina e quercetina), e possui elevada atividade antioxidante no método DPPH e ORAC, IC 46,1 mmol equivalente Trolox 100 g -1 50 de 1,2 mg de sólido solúvel mL de sólido solúvel, respectivamente. Além disso, foi observada atividade de inibição da lipase pancreática e atividade antiglicação do extrato de murici. De modo geral, a farinha da folha de moringa possui alto teor de proteína (24,5 g -1 e 100 g -1 de amostra), cálcio (1,9 g 100 g fibras totais (38,2 g 100 g luteína (304,1 mg 100 g -1 -1 -1 de amostra), potássio (1,8 g 100 g -1 de amostra), e de amostra). Possui elevado teor de carotenoides, destacando a de amostra) e -caroteno (90,4 mg 100 g -1 extrato da farinha de moringa foram identificados o ácido clorogênico e a rutina. O extrato da farinha de moringa apresenta baixa atividade de inibição da lipase pancreática (IC 849,1 µg de sólidos solúveis mL -1 de amostra). No ), mas foi capaz de inibir a formação de produtos finais da glicação no sistema BSA/metilglioxal. Conclusão - O murici e a moringa demostram ser espécies vegetais promissoras na melhoria da dieta do brasileiro, devido às características nutricionais apresentadas neste estudo / Introduction - Some vegetables species, not presented in the diet of the brazilian, can be a good source of nutrients and bioactive compounds, and the gap or loss of knowledge about them disfavors the inclusion in the diet. Objectives Evaluate the nutritional composition and the functional properties of drumstick leaves powder (Moringa oleifera) and the pulp of nance fruit (Byrsonima crassifolia). Methods The nance fruits were collected in three different cities of Pará (Brazil). The drumstick leaves powder was collected in the city of Marília (Brazil), in the periods of february (summer), may (autumn), july (winter) and october (spring) of 2012. It was performed physicochemical characterization of the samples, determination of vitamin C and carotenoids. From the extract of drumstick leaves powder and nance fruit, was analyzed the total reducing substance, the profile of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity by the ability to scavenger peroxyl radical and by the ORAC method, antiglycation activity and inhibition of pancreatic lipase. Results The nance fruit is rich in vitamin C (39,1 mg 100 g (18,66 mg 100 g -1 -1 of sample) and carotenoids, mostly, lutein of sample). The extract of nance contains flavonoids (epicatechin, catechin, rutin and quercetin), and has high antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ORAC methods, IC 50 of 1,2 mg souble solid mL -1 and 46,1 mmol equivalent Trolox 100 g solid, respectively. Moreover, was observed inhibitory activity of pancreatic lipase and antiglycation activity of the extract of nance. Altogether, the drumstick leaves powder has -1 soluble high content of protein (24,5 g 100 g potassium (1,8 g 100 g 1 -1 of sample), calcium (1,9 g 100 g of sample), and total fiber (38,2 g 100 g 1 1 of sample), of sample). The drumstick leaves powder has high content of carotenoids, mostly, lutein (304,1 mg 100 g -1 of sample) and -carotene (90,4 mg 100 g -1 of sample). In the extracts of drumstick leaves powder were identified chlorogenic acid and rutin. The extract presents low activity of pancreatic lipase inhibition (IC 50 849.1 µg soluble solid mL -1 ), yet was capable of inhibiting the formation of glycation endproducts system BSA/ methylglyoxal. Conclusion The nance fruit and the drumstick leaves powder shows to be vegetable species promising in improving the diet of the Brazilian, due to the nutritional characteristics presented in this study