Orientador: Antonia Cecília Zacagnini Amaral / Banca: Elizabeti Yuriko Muto / Banca: Otto Bismarck Fazzano Gadig / Resumo: Este trabalho tem como propósito indicar a atividade alimentar diária de Antigonia capros, Synagrops spinosus e Urophycis mystacea (Teleostei). Essas espécies apresentam hábitos demersais e são muito freqüentes na plataforma continental externa e talude superior das regiões Sudeste e Sul do Brasil. Para a identificação de padrões de atividade alimentar diária, foram analisados resultados de coletas realizadas em diferentes horários ao longo do dia, agrupados em cinco períodos: amanhecer, manhã, tarde, entardecer e anoitecer. Em cada período foram identificados estômagos em diferentes graus de repleção e de digestão. Após essa análise, foi observado que cada espécie apresentou características específicas na captura de alimento. Nas três espécies foi verificado que houve aumento na atividade alimentar nos períodos do dia com menor intensidade luminosa. Nestes períodos ocorreu maior consumo de animais bentônicos. Constatou-se também que nos horários de maior e menor atividade, houve variação entre o consumo de organismos bentônicos e pelágicos / Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the daily feeding activity of Antigonia capros, Synagrops spinosus and Urophycis mystacea (Teleostei). These species present demersal behavior and are very frequent in Brazilian South and Southeast outer continental shelf and the continental slope. We carried out collections in different times of the day clustered in five periods: dawn, morning, afternoon, nightfall and night, in order to identify the patterns of daily feeding activity. In each period the different levels of digestion and repletion of the material in the stomachs were identified. Through this analysis we oberved that each species presented specific food capturing characteristics. An increase in the feeding activity was observed in the less lightened periods. In these periods there was higher consumption of benthonic animals. We have also found out a relation between the periods of higher and lower activity and the consumption of benthonic and pelagic organisms / Mestre

Orientador: Roberto Goitein / Banca: Leandro Muller Gomiero / Banca: Paula Maria Gênova de Castro / Banca: João Batista Kochenborger Fernandes / Banca: Teresa Cristina Ribeiro Dias Koberstein / Resumo: Conhecido como matrinxã, Brycon sp.n. "Cristalino" é uma das espécies ainda não descritas pela ciência. Mesmo sendo apontada como uma das mais promissoras para a piscicultura por apresentar enorme potencial de crescimento e carne nobre. Diante disso, esta pesquisa teve como objetivos: contribuir para o conhecimento da biologia alimentar de Brycon sp. n "Cristalino", no rio Cristalino - Parque Estadual Cristalino/MT. As coletas foram mensais (03/2004 a 02/2006), em um trecho de coleta no rio Cristalino. Foram obtidas as medidas dos peixes (comprimento padrão, altura, peso, largura da boca, comprimento do intestino). As análises dos conteúdos estomacais foram realizadas segundo métodos de freqüência de ocorrência, freqüência gravimétrica e índice alimentar. Foram coletados 886 exemplares divididos em cinco classes de tamanhos, sendo 117 peixes da classe 1, 131 da classe 2, 199 da classe 3, 273 da classe 4 e 166 da classe 5. A freqüência de ocorrência dos itens encontrados aponta para que a espécie tenha uma dieta bastante variada com 29,64%, 25,76% e 22,70% de estômagos contendo restos vegetais, sementes e insetos, respectivamente. O índice alimentar (IAi) apresenta valores acentuados para os itens restos vegetais (IAi 0,5817%) e insetos (IAi 0,1748%) nos peixes menores. Foram identificados 48 taxons que fazem parte da dieta da espécie. Os dados de dieta alimentar apontam que a espécie é onivoria com tendência à herbívora, com amplo espectro alimentar nas fases adultas, sendo dependente de alimentos alóctones durante a época da cheia e tendo disponível na época da seca, em sua maioria, alimentos de origem autóctone. Com base nos dados analisados da dieta da espécie, sugere-se que as matas alagadas e matas ciliares são os principais fornecedores da energia que sustentam esta espécie. / Abstract: This fish is commonly called "matrinxã" in the amazonian region, but has not yet been described. Even so, it is expected to be a highly promising species for fish pond rearing activities, as it presents a highly growth potential and a very appreciated flesh. Such a fact motivated a study whose main purposes were to contribute to the knowledge about its feeding biology. It is for now called Brycon sp. n "Cristalino", as it occurs in the Cristalino river, inside the Cristalino State Park/MT. Collections were made every month during two years from march 2004 to february 2006 at three points (places?) in the Cristalino river. Some measurements were obtained for each specimen, such as standard length, height, weight, mouth width and intestine length. Stomach contents were analyzed using current methods, totalizing 886 individuals for these observations. For more precise information individuals were separated for analyses in five length classes. The occurrence methods used for items found in the stomach contents indicate the species to present a considerably varied diet mainly composed by plant remains, seeds and insects, in a decrescent sequence. The alimentary index points to a predominance for plant remains and insects for the smaller individuals, but some distinctions were observed when larger individuals were studied. The number of taxa found within the stomach contents attained 48, and their numbers clearly increased for the larger individuals. Results permit one to conclude that Brycon sp. n "Cristalino" is an omnivorous fish presenting a tendency to herbivorous habits, with a relatively large food composition spectrum. Many of the components of the species diet are aloctonous, mainly during the rainy season, but autochthonous components were also present, whose importance increased during the drier season. So, the surrounding vegetation constitutes the main source for this species energy incorporation. / Doutor

A alimentação da criança no primeiro ano de vida é essencial para o crescimento e desenvolvimento adequados. A Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) recomenda que o aleitamento materno seja exclusivo até os seis meses de vida e que os alimentos complementares sejam introduzidos a partir desta idade. Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram estimar a prevalência do aleitamento materno em crianças menores de 1 ano de idade e descrever a alimentação complementar entre as crianças estudadas. O estudo transversal, descritivo abrangeu 821 crianças menores de um ano de idade vacinadas na Segunda Etapa da Campanha Nacional de Vacinação nos Postos de Saúde da cidade de Guarapuava-PR. A coleta dos dados foi realizada com as mães e/ou responsáveis por crianças menores de 1 ano de idade que compareceram aos Postos de Saúde naquela data. O instrumento utilizado nesta pesquisa foi o questionário elaborado e validado pelo Instituto de Saúde da Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de São Paulo-SP e parcerias. A análise dos dados deu-se através da análise das freqüências simples de todas as variáveis coletadas. Com relação aos indicadores de aleitamento materno, 68,9% das crianças estavam em aleitamento materno, sendo 86,2% e 39,8% entre crianças menores de 4 e 6 meses, respectivamente. Considerando os indicadores de aleitamento materno exclusivo e predominante, verificou-se que entre as crianças menores de 4 meses foi de 46,4% e 41,4%, respectivamente. Para as crianças menores de 6 meses, verificou-se os seguintes percentuais: 37,3% e 18,9%, respectivamente. Entre as crianças menores de quatro e seis meses, 31,9% e 45,3% estavam recebendo outro tipo de leite que não o humano. Entre as crianças menores ou iguais a 4 meses, 5,1% estavam em alimentação complementar, e entre as menores ou iguais a 6 meses 14% , recebendo chá, água, suco, fruta, sopa de legumes e comida de panela nas últimas 24 horas. Este estudo mostrou que os indicadores de Aleitamento Materno – Aleitamento Materno e Aleitamento Materno Exclusivo estão muito aquém do preconizado pela OMS e que a introdução da alimentação complementar é precoce tanto entre crianças amamentadas como em crianças não amamentadas. / What children eat in the first year of life is essential with a view to adequate growth and development. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age and that complementary foods be introduced from that age onwards. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of breastfeeding among children under 1 year old, as well as to describe the introduction of complementary foods among the children in this study. A cross-sectional and descriptive study was realized among 821 infants under 1 year old who were vaccinated in the Second Phase of the National Vaccination Campaign at Health Centers in Guarapuava-PR, Brazil. Data collection involved the mothers and/or responsibles for infants under 1 year old who came to the Health Centers on that day, using the questionnaire elaborated and validated by the Health Institute of the São Paulo State Health Secretary and its partners. The collected data were subject to simple frequency analysis of all variables. As to breastfeeding indicators, 68.9% of the infants received breastfeeding, with 86.2% and 39.8% of children under 4 and 6 months, respectively. Exclusive and predominant breastfeeding indicators corresponded to 46.4% and 41.4%, respectively, among children under 4 months old, against 37.3% and 18.9% for children under 6 months of age. 31.9% and 45.3% of children under 4 and 6 months old were receiving nonhuman milk. 5.1% of children aged 4 months or older and 14% of those aged 6 months or older received complementary feeding, having consumed tea, water, juice, fruit, vegetable soup and homemade food during the last 24 hours. This study has shown that Breastfeeding – Breastfeeding and Exclusive Breastfeeding indicators remain much below the levels set by the WHO and that complementary foods are introduced at an early stage for children who are breastfed or not.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar a prevalência de anemia em crianças de 3 a 12 meses de idade, associada às variáveis maternas, neonatais e de aleitamento materno, atendidas num serviço de saúde de Ribeirão Preto, SP. Neste estudo, que foi um recorte de um projeto multicêntrico, utilizou-se parte dos dados coletados na UBDS Vila Virginia, em Ribeirão Preto-SP, a fim de se atingirem os objetivos propostos. Estudo transversal, observacional, descritivo e quantitativo, do qual participaram 121 mães e seus respectivos filhos, de 3 a 12 meses de idade, atendidos no serviço de puericultura da UBDS Vila Virgínia, turno da tarde, no período de 01 de setembro/2005 a 31 de julho/2006. No seu desenvolvimento, realizaram-se entrevistas com as mães, para preenchimento do formulário, e também colheu-se amostra de sangue da região do calcâneo da criança, para dosagem da hemoglobina (Hb). Adotaram-se três critérios internacionais, como parâmetros de anemia, usando-se para as crianças de 3 a 5 meses de idade completos dois critérios, de Hb < 10,0 g/dL segundo padrão Brault-Dubuc e Hb< 10,3 g/dL, padrão Saarinen; para as crianças e 6 a 12 meses de idade incompletos, critério de Hb < 11,0 g/dL, adotado pela OMS. Na análise dos dados, utilizaram-se distribuição de freqüências, médias, desvios padrões e medianas, teste de associação e regressão logística. Do total de 69 crianças de 3 a 5 meses de idade completos, a prevalência de anemia foi de 17,4 e 20,2%, segundo padrões Brault-Dubuc e Saarinen, respectivamente. Nas crianças de 6 a 12 meses de idade incompletos, a prevalência de anemia foi de 48,0%, segundo critério da OMS. No total de 121 crianças de 3 a 12 meses de idade, a prevalência de anemia foi de 30,6 e 32,2%, respectivamente, segundo combinação dos três critérios. Não encontrou-se associação entre anemia e variáveis maternas e formas de morar e viver das famílias; porém, com relação às variáveis infantis, encontrou-se forte associação entre anemia e idade da criança; não se identificou associação entre anemia e sexo, peso ao nascer, idade gestacional e consumo de ferro medicamentoso. Quanto à anemia e aleitamento não se encontrou associação estatisticamente significativa entre os diferentes tipos e duração do aleitamento materno. O consumo de água e chá aumentou 1,8 vez o risco de adquirir anemia mas, o resultado não foi estatisticamente significativo. O uso de leite de vaca fluido apresentou-se associado à anemia, aumentando em 1,7 vez o risco de adquiri-la. / This study aimed to verify the prevalence of anemia in children 3 to 12 months old associated to maternal, neonatal and breastfeed variables, assisted in a health service in Ribeirão Preto, SP. Part of the data collected for a multicenter project in the UBDS (Basic and District Health Unit) Vila Virginia was used. This is a cross-sectional, observational, descriptive and quantitative study. A total of 121 mothers and their respective children, 3 to 12 moths old, assisted in the child care service of the UBDS Vila Virginia in the afternoon shift in the period between September 1st, 2005 to July 31st, 2006 participated in the study. Mothers were interviewed in order to fill in the form and blood samples were collected from the children\'s calcaneus region to determine the hemoglobin (Hb) dosage. Three international criteria were adopted as parameters of anemia. For children 3 to 5 months old, two criteria were used, the standard Brault-Dubuc, Hb<10.0 g/dl and the standard Saarinen, Hb<10.3 g/dl and for children 6 to under 12 months old, the criterion adopted by WHO, Hb < 11,0 g/dl, was used. In the data analysis, frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation and median, association test and logistic regression were used. From the 69 children, 3 to 5 months old, the prevalence of anemia was 17.4 and 20.2%, according to Brault-Dubuc and Saarinen standards, respectively. For children 6 to under 12 months old, the prevalence of anemia was 48.0% according to the WHO criterion. In the total, for 121 children 3 to 12 months old, the prevalence of anemia was 30.6 and 32.2% respectively, according to the three combined standards. There was no association between anemia and maternal variables and families\' living conditions. However, there was strong association between anemia and children\'s age; no association between anemia and gender, weight at birth, gestational age and consumption of medicamentous iron were found. There was also no statistically significant association between anemia and breastfeeding in terms of types and duration of breastfeeding. The consumption of water and tea increased 1.8 times the risk of acquiring anemia though the results was not statistically significant. The consumption of liquid cow milk was associated to anemia and increased 1.7 times the risk of acquiring it.

M.Sc. (Zoology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

An electrochemical technique has been developed for the production of precursors to ceramic films on hydrogen sorbing metal substrates. It involves the electrolysis of aqueous metal salt solutions which yields hydrogen at the cathode, resulting in local generation of base (hydroxide ions) around this electrode. Such conditions promote the precipitation of metallic hydroxides from a suitable electrolyte. If the local alkaline environment is not disrupted by convective or other forces, then a solid phase accumulates near the cathode, and forms an adherent gel-like structure on its surface. In order to maintain deposition, it is essential that gaseous hydrogen evolution is minimised, and preferably eliminated. This can be achieved by use of a hydrogen sorbing cathode material, such as palladium. The electrode, and adherent film (or, in appropriate circumstances, the deposit alone) can then undergo a subsequent calcination treatment to yield the ceramic layer. It is possible to generate both porous and compact structures by this method, depending on the potential programme employed during deposition. Research has been conducted into the understanding of mechanisms involved in porosity control of films deposited during different potential regimes, with view to establishing routes to layers of predetermined physical structure. In-situ optical methods were employed to complement the electrochemical techniques, providing valuable insight into the initial mechanisms of film formation and the subsequent thickening processes. The utility of the precipitation process was illustrated by the fabrication of films which demonstrated a variable conductivity over a range of humidities appropriate to sensing application. Investigation into the use of a bipolar palladium electrode as an aid to generating thick film deposits was carried out. The device comprised a palladium plate, operated as a bipolar electrode in aqueous electrolyte. Under suitable conditions, the negative face of this electrode can be made to generate and absorb hydrogen, whilst simultaneously, the positive face oxidises hydrogen transported across the bipolar substrate by diffusion. Thus the cathode face is a non-gassing electrode on which thick deposits of metal hydroxide can be grown. This line of research lead to the realisation of a self-feeding hydrogen anode at the electrode's positive face. Further research was undertaken to assess the electrochemical properties of this anode. The effective operating window for hydrogen oxidation was investigated, and the effect of prolonged potential cycling, elevated temperature and bipolar plate thickness on this region was also considered.

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No description available.

The chemical analysis of feed samples can be time consuming and expensive. The use of near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy was evaluated in a range of studies as a rapid technique to predict the chemical constituents in feedstuffs and compound ostrich feeds. The prediction of accurate results by NIR spectroscopy relies heavily upon obtaining a calibration set which represents the variation in the main population, accurate laboratory analyses and the application of the best mathematical procedures. This research project was designed to meet five objectives: The first objective was to determine the feasibility of using near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy to predict dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fibre, oil content, and fatty acids such as palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2) in sunflower seed meal. The second objective was to develop calibration models to predict the dry matter, crude protein and oil content in milled canola seed, compared to whole canola seeds. The third objective was to investigate the feasibility of using NIR spectroscopy to predict the dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fibre and oil content in milled lupin seeds, compared to whole lupin seeds. The fourth objective was to describe the development of near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy calibration equations for the prediction of chemical composition and amino acid content from different populations of alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa L.). The last objective was to determine the potential of NIR spectroscopy to predict the dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), calcium, phosphorus, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and amino acids such as lysine, methionine, threonine and arginine in compound ostrich feed samples. The results of this study indicate that NIR spectroscopy calibrations in sunflower seed meal are only applicable in sunflower breeding programmes for a fast screening as it was not suitable for prediction purposes. Screening of sunflower seeds by NIR spectroscopy represents a rapid, simple and cost effective alternative that is a great utility for users who need to analyse a large number of samples. Calibrations developed for crude protein and oil content in milled canola seeds proved to be better than calibrations for whole canola seeds. Although the results indicated that calibrations were better for milled canola seeds, it indicated values that were typical of equations suitable for screening purposes to select samples for more detailed chemical analysis. According to calibration statistics obtained for crude protein, crude fibre and oil content in whole lupin seeds, there is no need to grind the seeds to scan the meal as similarly accurate results were obtained by analysing whole seeds. Screening of whole lupin seeds by NIR spectroscopy represents a rapid, simple and cost effective alternative that may be of great utility for users who need to analyse a large number of samples with no sample preparation. The calibration and validation statistics obtained in the study to test the potential of NIR spectroscopy to predict the chemical composition and amino acid contents in alfalfa hay, showed the accuracy was too low for routine analysis, although NIR spectroscopy could be used as a screening tool. Further research needs to be done to improve the accuracy of the NIR spectroscopy analysis, including more samples from different cultivars and years. In the study to examine the possibility of using NIR spectroscopy to predict the chemical composition of compound ostrich feeds, the results indicated that NIR spectroscopy is a suitable tool for a rapid and reliable prediction of the crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, IVOMD, ADF and NDF in compound ostrich feeds. Calibrations can be improved for amino acids if a larger sample pool is used to develop the calibrations. These studies indicated that NIR spectroscopy can be a rapid and successful tool for the prediction of the nutritive value up to certain amino acid contents of feedstuffs and compound ostrich feeds.

Polymicrobial communities often show complex patterns of metabolic and ecological interactions, yet our understanding of how the properties of communities emerge from the metabolic rules of species interactions is still limited. A central feature of metabolic interactions within microbial communities is ‘cross-feeding’, where one species or lineage consumes the metabolic by-products of another. Cross-feeding bacteria excrete and consume a wide range of metabolites and this sets the stage for diverse intra- and inter-specific metabolic interactions. In this thesis, I use ecological and evolutionary theory to address a number of critical questions posed by cross-feeding bacteria, with a particular focus on the role played by microbial metabolism in driving the emergence and dynamics of microbial interactions. First, I explore the conditions that favour the emergence and maintenance of cooperative cross-feeding and show that the evolutionary outcome depends strongly on the shape of the trade-off curves between the costs and benefits of cooperation. Second, I investigate the origins of cross-feeding interactions via single lineage diversification and derive new predictions on the physiological mechanisms that may explain the stable coexistence of a cross-feeding polymorphism that evolved from a single clone. Third, I investigate what are the ecological consequences of cross-feeding metabolic interactions and demonstrate theoretically that a simple mechanism of trade can generate a diverse array of ecological relationships. Furthermore, I show the importance of the metabolic by-product properties in determining the ecological outcome. Fourth, I investigate how metabolic constraints of individual species shape the emergent functional and structural relationships among species. I show that strong metabolic interdependence drives the emergence of mutualism, robust interspecific mixing, and increased community productivity. Furthermore, I show that these emergent community properties are driven by demographic feedbacks. In general, these findings support the idea that bridging microbial ecology and metabolism is a critical step toward a better understanding of the factors governing the emergence and dynamics of polymicrobial interactions.