The purpose of this study was to compare 4 growth curve functions (Brody, Logistic, Gompertz, and Von Bertalanffy) in describing the weight change across age in Angus cow. A total of 1,705 weight-age records from birth to at least 3-year of age from 171 cows were collected. All the growth models were fitted as a nonlinear mixed model using NLMIXED procedure in SAS9.2 (REML Approach) and MCMC method through WinBUGS (Bayesian Approach). The goodness of fit of these four models was compared in terms of AIC, BIC, and DIC. The results show that the Gompertz model fitted the data best under REML Approach while the Brody model appeared to be the best model under Bayesian Approach. The Bayesian Approach provided more flexibility in setting up the mixed model and more reasonable estimates for all the growth models compared to the REML Approach. These results show some advantages of Bayesian nonlinear mixed modeling. / text

The global energy system is dominated by the use of fossil fuels. This system suffers from several problems, such as different environmental issues, while the long-term energy security is sometimes questioned. As an alternative to this situation, a transition to a global energy system based on renewable energy technologies, to a large extent solar and wind energy, is commonly proposed. Constructing the technology needed for such a transition requires resources and how fast this could happen is somewhat disputed. This thesis explores methods to assess the potential constraints for realizing such a transition by looking at potential technology growth rates and outlooks of production of the required natural resources. The thesis is based on three papers presenting case studies that look at growth rates of wind energy as well as future production outlooks of lithium and phosphate rock. Using different types of growth patterns reaching proposed installed capacities of wind power, annual commissioning requirements are investigated, taking account for the limited life expectancy oftechnology. Potential outlooks of mineral production are explored using resource constrained curve-fitting models on global lithium production. A more disaggregated model looking at individual countries are used on phosphate rock production to investigate new perspectives on production outlooks. It is concluded that the growth rates of individual energy technologies affect the resource requirements and prospective constraints on energy transitions. Resource constrained modelling of resource production can provide spans of potential outlooks for future production of resources required for anenergy transition. A higher disaggregation of the modelling can provide new perspectives of potential constraints on future production. These aspects should be further investigated when proposing alternative future energy systems.

Mineral nutrients have marked effects on plant health by providing the building blocks for plant growth, as well as for mitigating abiotic and biotic stress factors, particularly disease development. Even if mineral nutrition field studies are conducted to study pest management, they are at the mercy of complex soil, water, and climatic conditions not amenable to strict experimental control. Therefore, a hydroponic method of growing lettuce was developed and growth curves were established for the macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). Lettuce plants were grown at varying levels of each nutrient: 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 mg N/L; 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 mg P/L; and 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 mg K/L. Due to inadequate results lettuce was grown again at 0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320 and 640 mg L K. Optimal levels of N, P, and K were 160 mg/L, 4.0 mg/L, and 80 mg/L respectively. C:N ratios were also looked at for the N experiment. The overall result was consistent with results from similar studies. Unlike similar hydroponic studies done with other plants, micronutrient levels did not become deficient at high phosphorus levels suggesting phosphorus toxicity. These growth curves can be used to test lettuce resilience to various biotic and abiotic stresses.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of seafood-borne illness with a newly emerged pandemic strain. Previous studies compared the pandemic and non-pandemic strains to understand the evolution of the pandemic strain but no definitive explanation for its emergence has been discovered. This study investigated the molecular characteristics of the pandemic strain and growth characteristics at different temperatures. The hypothesis tested was that pandemic strains of V. parahaemolyticus have modifications to their proteome that give a selective advantage over the other V. parahaemolyticus strains at temperatures normally encountered in the environment. Molecular typing techniques; automated ribotyping, pandemic specific PCR and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), were compared to determine the best method for pandemic strain determination. MLST was the best method because it was the most informative and accurate. Furthermore, nine Florida outbreak strains were identified as pandemic. Using representatives of both strains, growth curves were produced at four temperatures. The five pandemic strains had a significantly faster growth rate at 12°C than five non-pandemic strains. Temperature specific proteomic comparisons were completed using liquid chromatography followed by tandem mass spectroscopy. The proteome differences between these two groups at 12°C included three proteins (DnaA, DnaJ-related protein and DnaK-related protein) with functions related to cold stress. DnaA was expressed in the non-pandemic strain and not the pandemic strain, while the reverse was true for DnaJ-related and DnaK-related proteins. Western blot analysis and LC-MS/MS analysis on additional strains did not support the initial LC-MS/MS results. Growth studies using expression recombinants were employed to investigate these proteins on growth at 12°C. The overexpression of DnaA and DnaJ-related proteins did not significantly alter the growth rates compared to the control strain, but the overexpression recombinant strains DnaK-5 has a significantly slower growth rate than the control strain, the opposite direction as expected. The pandemic strain grows faster at lower temperatures, but the reason has not been determined. A theory is offered in which the pandemic growth advantage related to regulation of cold stress, leading to a shorter lag phase and faster growth rate after acclimation to the lower temperatures. Further experiments to investigate this theory are discussed.

Submitted by WARLEY JUNIOR ALVES null (warleyjunioralves@hotmail.com) on 2018-02-28T00:23:50Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação Warley Júnior Alves_com certificado.pdf: 3853155 bytes, checksum: ac4674ee80875ac89692e21cc0a679b7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alexandra Maria Donadon Lusser Segali null (alexmar@fcav.unesp.br) on 2018-02-28T13:12:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 alves_wj_me_jabo.pdf: 3853155 bytes, checksum: ac4674ee80875ac89692e21cc0a679b7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-28T13:12:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 alves_wj_me_jabo.pdf: 3853155 bytes, checksum: ac4674ee80875ac89692e21cc0a679b7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-22 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A eficácia de um programa nutricional depende do conhecimento a respeito do potencial genético de crescimento da ave, por ser esta a forma racional de calcular as exigências nutricionais e predizer o consumo de alimento. Neste sentido, os modelos fatoriais integrados as curvas de crescimento de aves auxilia no estabelecimento ou avaliação de programas alimentares específicos. Por serem modelos dinâmicos, possibilitam calcular a ingestão de acordo com o padrão de crescimento da linhagem ao longo do tempo. Tradicionalmente, a avaliação da composição corporal é feita por abate comparativo que impossibilita o acesso rápido às informações e inviabiliza o estudo das variações das caraterísticas estudadas no decorrer do tempo no mesmo animal. Uma alternativa é a técnica de absorciometria por duplo feixe de raios-X (DXA) que permite avaliar in vivo a composição corporal das aves em tempo real sem a necessidade de sacrifica-la, conciliando interesses sociais e científicos. Com base nisso, objetivou-se neste trabalho descrever o potencial de crescimento do corpo e componentes corporais de poedeiras Dekalb e Lohmann (White e Brown) meio da função Gompertz, com a composição corporal tomado pela técnica DXA nas mesmas aves no decorrer do crescimento. Foram utilizadas 360 poedeiras das linhagens Lohmann e Dekalb distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos (linhagens) e seis repetições com 15 aves. As aves foram alojadas em galpão experimental dotado de gaiolas em sistema piramidal, controle de temperatura automatizado, comedouro tipo calha e bebedouro nipple. O programa alimentar adotado foi ad libitum composto por cinco dietas segundo a idade formuladas de forma a atender as exigências nutricionais das linhagens, garantindo que não houvesse nenhum nutriente limitante. Para descrição do crescimento uma ave por unidade experimental foi tomada aleatoriamente, identificada, e avaliadas do 1º ao 126º dia de idade, nas idades 1, 14, 28, 56, 70, 77, 84, 98, 112 e 126 dias, foram escaneadas para estimar o conteúdo mineral ósseo, tecido magro e gordo, por meio da absorciometria por duplo feixe de Raios X (DXA), usando modelo Hologic-QDR®. Concomitantemente, fez-se um estudo para relacionar dados de composição obtidos pelo DXA e por análise química do corpo livre de penas (CLP), Esses dados foram submetidos à análise de variância (ANOVA), sendo constatadas diferenças na quantificação da composição corporal pelas diferentes técnicas. Devido à essas diferenças, foram ajustadas regressões para cada componente químico do corpo, assim foram gerados equações de correção dos dados obtidos pelo DXA em referencia ao método químico, usando para isso aves Dekalb Brown, seguindo as mesmas idades e procedimentos do estudo de crescimento. A função Gompertz foi utilizada para descrever o crescimento do corpo e componentes químicos para cada linhagem. A mensuração da composição corporal nas mesmas aves ao longo do tempo pelo DXA auxiliou na redução do erro na avaliação do crescimento de poedeiras. As linhagens avaliadas neste estudo apresentaram diferenças no crescimento do corpo, penas e componentes entre se. E os parâmetros de crescimento aqui descritos condizem com os encontrados na literatura, e auxiliará no aperfeiçoamento de modelos de calculo de exigências nutricionais, melhorando a eficácia de programas alimentares. / The efficacy of a nutritional program depends on knowledge about the bird's genetic potential for growth, since this is the rational way of calculating nutritional requirements and predicting food consumption. In this sense, the factorial models integrated the growth curves of birds assists in the establishment or evaluation of specific food programs. Because they are dynamic models, they make it possible to calculate the feed intake according to the growth pattern of the lineage over time. Traditionally the evaluation of the body composition is made by comparative slaughter, impossibility the quick access to the information and to study the variations of the characteristics studied in the course of time in the same animal. An alternative is the X-ray absorptiometry technique (DXA) that allows in vivo evaluation of the body composition of the birds without the need to sacrifice them reconciling social and scientific interests. Based on this, the objective of this work was to describe the growth potential of the body and body components of laying hens Dekalb and Lohmann (White and Brown) through of the Gompertz function, with the body composition taken by the DXA technique in the same birds during the growth. A total of 360 laying hens of the Lohmann and Dekalb strains were used in a completely randomized design, with four treatments (strains) and six replicates of 15 birds. The birds were housed in experimental shed with cages in pyramidal system and with automated temperature control. Diets were provides ad libitum and composed of five diets according to age formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of the strains, ensuring that there was no limiting nutrient. To describe the growth, one bird per experimental unit was randomly identified and evaluated from 1 to 126 days of age. In the ages 0, 14, 28, 56, 70, 77, 84, 98, 112 and 126 days, birds were scanned to estimate bone mineral content, lean and fat tissue by means of dual beam X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) using Hologic-QDR® model. At the same time, a study was performed to correlate composition data obtained by DXA and by chemical analysis of the feather free body (FFB). These data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA), being verified differences in the quantification of the body composition by the different techniques. Due to these differences, regressions were adjusted for each chemical component of the body, thus generating correction equations of the data obtained by DXA in reference to the chemical method, using Dekalb Brown birds, following the same ages and procedures of the growth study. The Gompertz function was used to describe the growth of the body and chemical components for each strain. The measurement of body composition in the same birds over time by DXA assisted in the reduction of error in the evaluation of the growth of laying hens. The strains evaluated in this study showed differences in body growth, feathers and components among themselves. And the growth parameters described here are consistent with those found in the literature, and will aid in the improvement of models for calculating nutritional requirements, improving the effectiveness of feeding programs.

Maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with difficulties in parent- child relationships, however, research to date has focused on cross-sectional associations. Parent and child behavior may be differently affected by ACEs as a child develops and caregiving demands change. Furthermore, poorer executive function (EF) is associated with both ACEs and problematic parenting processes, and may be one potential mechanism involved in the intergenerational transmission of ACEs. This study examined longitudinal associations between maternal ACEs, maternal EF, and patterns of change in maternal and child emotional availability (EA) using longitudinal multilevel modelling (MLM). Mother-child dyads (N = 114) were followed at five separate assessments over a 5-year period. Maternal ACEs were measured retrospectively at 3-months postpartum, maternal EF was assessed at 8-months, and mother-child interactions were videotaped at 18-, 36- and 60-months postpartum. Results revealed that maternal EA was stable, while child EA increased from 18- to 60-months postpartum. Maternal ACEs were negatively associated with maternal and child EA at 18-months postpartum and this effect decreased overtime. In contrast, there was a persistent, positive effect of maternal EF on EA trajectories. Maternal EF did not mediate the association between ACEs and EA. Findings also demonstrated significant within-dyad associations between maternal and child EA. These findings lead to a deeper understanding of the effects of maternal influences on parent-child relationships. We provide important evidence regarding the intergenerational transmission of ACEs, demonstrating that effects of maternal ACEs on parenting are not necessarily persistent. Findings also support sustained relations between maternal EF and maternal and child behavior across development, suggesting the utility of EF as an intervention target. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which are experiences of abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction, are risk factors for difficulties in parent-child relationships when individuals become parents themselves. In addition, ACEs are associated with deficits in higher-order cognitive abilities called executive functions (EF) in adulthood, which may also, in turn, compromise an individual’s ability to provide sensitive and nurturing care to their children. The following thesis explores the collective relationships between maternal ACEs, maternal EF, and emotional availability during parent-child interactions in a community sample of mothers and their children, followed from toddlerhood (18-months postpartum) to preschool (60-months postpartum). Findings from this study demonstrate unique trajectories of maternal and child emotional availability during this period in development. Higher maternal ACEs were associated with decreased emotional availability during parent-child interactions at 18-months postpartum and this effect decreased overtime. Mothers with higher EF, and their children, demonstrated increased emotional availability across development. Maternal ACEs was not associated with maternal EF. Findings are relevant in informing the development and adaptation of timely and preventative parenting interventions.

Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina Woot.) is a common tree in semi-arid, southwestern U.S. savanna ecosystems. While there are studies that examine some of the physiological and ecological aspects of this tree (response to fire, net ecosystem exchange, encroachment into grasslands, yearly growth through dendrometer bands, among others), the wood anatomical features of a growth ring, suitability for dendrochronological research, life history, and above-ground biomass through time are knowledge gaps that can be filled. The purpose of this study was to examine these gaps in order to better understand the role of velvet mesquite in these ecosystems. Wood anatomical analysis showed that velvet mesquite has a semi-ring porous structure and termination of the growth ring is indicated by a small band of parenchyma. Visual crossdating of velvet mesquite was successful but a complex growth habit, with both eccentric and lobate growth, combined with ecological pressures hampered statistical validation of the chronology. Seasonal climate-growth analysis of dated rings showed a strong positive correlation to previous year September and October precipitation and a strong positive partial correlation to previous year September and August mean temperature. Life history through growth curve analysis showed no age related growth trend (either s-shaped or log normal) indicating the maximum age of velvet mesquite stems sampled (130 years old) can become much older with many releases and few suppressions. Above-ground biomass of these trees are low compared to higher elevation forest biomass, but similar to other savanna ecosystems of the southwest. The use of velvet mesquite in dendrochronological research would greatly benefit from a complete analysis of wood anatomy, and addition of more samples from various locations to verify dates and begin building more reliable chronologies for this species across its range. These additions would allow for a greater understanding of stand and tree level responses through suppressions and releases, and understand the biomass accumulated above-ground through time.

A produção de milho tem uma grande importância para o país. Ter o conhecimento sobre o crescimento da planta é de fundamental importância para seu manejo. Pode-se obter esse conhecimento fazendo um estudo por meio de modelos de crescimento, para se obter informações por meio de parâmetros com interpretações biológicas que trazem consigo um resumo sobre a curva característica do crescimento da planta, que podem ajudar no planejamento da cultura e principalmente conhecer qual período a planta mais cresce, a época mais adequada para adubação e realização do controle de pragas. Considerar características não comuns de suposições do modelo pode dar maior confiabilidade nos resultados do ajuste, como por exemplo a consideração da heterocedasticidade e não normalidade residual. Sendo assim, esse trabalho teve o objetivo de ajustar o modelo logístico considerando a heterocedasticidade e diferentes distribuições para o erro como normalidade, assimetria normal e assimetria t-student, a dados da altura da planta do milho do híbrido transgênico 30F35 Y (Yieldgard), observados ao longo do tempo. O experimento foi realizado no município de Votuporanga-SP, em área experimental do Pólo Regional Noroeste Paulista da APTA (Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agro-negócios), no ano agrícola 2011/2012. A primeira medição da altura da planta de milho foi realizada 15 dias após a semeadura. As medições seguintes ocorreram com 30, 40, 50 e 122 dias, respectivamente, após a semeadura. Em cada dia de avaliação foi medido a altura das plantas em centímetros, com auxílio de uma régua, sendo esta medida da base da planta (solo) até o ápice da última folha expandida do cartucho. Toda a análise foi realizada utilizando o software R. Todos os modelos considerados se ajustaram bem a curva de crescimento do híbrido transgênico 30F35 Y (Yieldgard), porém o modelo logístico considerando erros normais assimétricos foi escolhido como mais adequado para modelar a curva, com base nos avaliadores utilizados. / Maize production is of great importance for the country. Knowing the plant development is of major importance to its management. Such knowledge may be attained through growth curves studies, to obtain information through parameters with biological interpretation which are able to synthesize the plantt\'s growth curve. This synthesis may help in management issues, such as information on the period of most rapid growth, best time to apply fertilizers and control pests. Considering uncommon features of the model assumptions may provide greater reliability on the results of the fitted model, such as residual heteroscedasticity and non-normality. In that sense, this work aimed to fit the logistic model considering variance heterogeneity and different error distributions such as normal, skew-normal and skew-t, to the transgenic hybrid 30F35Y maize height data through time. The experiment was conducted in the municipality of Votuporanga-SP, in an experimental station of the Pólo Regional Noroeste Paulista da Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agro-Negócios (APTA) during the agronomic year of 2011/2012. The first height data measurement was taken 15 days after sewing. The following measurements were taken at 30, 40, 50 and 122 days after sewing. Each day the plant height was measured in centimeters using a ruler, measuring from the plant base (soil) until the edge of the last expanded leaf. All analyses were carried out using software R. All considered models fitted the data reasonably well, however the logistic model considering skew-normal errors was chosen as most adequate to model the data, basing on the goodness-of-fit tests.

Estimar a idade de indivíduos em uma população é uma das importantes tarefas a se realizar ao se investigar aspectos relacionados à história de vida. Este estudo teve por objetivo estimar as idades e obter os parâmetros de crescimento de toninhas (Pontoporia blainvillei) e botos-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) capturados acidentalmente ou encontrados mortos no litoral sul de São Paulo e norte do Paraná entre 1995 e 2016. As idades foram estimadas por meio da técnica de contagem de camadas de crescimento presentes na dentina e cemento dos dentes. Os parâmetros de crescimento foram obtidos pelo ajuste dos modelos de von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Logístico e Richards aos dados de idade-comprimento. As curvas de crescimento foram confeccionadas separadamente para machos e fêmeas de ambas as espécies, entretanto como para S. guianensis não foi detectado dimorfismo sexual, apresentaram-se resultados para todos os indivíduos agrupados. Os comprimentos assintóticos estimados para as toninhas foram de 116,7 cm para machos e 135,7 cm para fêmeas, enquanto que para os botos-cinza esse valor foi de 183,4 cm para ambos os sexos. A taxa de crescimento foi de 1,13 e 0,64 para machos e fêmeas de toninhas, respectivamente, e de 0,41 para os botos-cinza. O tamanho estimado de filhotes de toninhas foi de 85,9 cm para machos e 88,5 cm para fêmeas, enquanto que para botos-cinza a estimativa foi de 95,7 cm. / Estimating the age of individuals in a population is one of the most important tasks when investigating aspects related to life history. The present study goal was to estimate the age, as well to obtain the growth parameters of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) and Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) incidentally caught in gillnets or found stranded at the south coast of São Paulo and northern Paraná states, Brazil, from 1995 to 2016. Age was estimated by counting the number of growth layer groups present in the dentine and cementum of teeth. Growth parameters were estimated by fitting the von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Logistic and Richards models to length-at-age data. Growth curves were separately constructed for males and females of both species, however, as S. guianensis showed no sexual dimorphism in growth, results were presented for all individuals pooled together. Asymptotic lengths estimated for franciscana dolphins were 116.7 cm for males and 135.7 cm for females, while for Guiana dolphins the estimate was 183.9 cm for both sexes. Growth rate of male and female of franciscana dolphins was 1.13 and 0.64, respectively, and for Guiana dolphins was 0.41. Estimated size at birth of franciscana dolphins was 85.9 cm for males and 88.5 cm for females, while for Guiana dolphins the estimate was 95.7 cm.

Estimar a idade de indivíduos em uma população é uma das importantes tarefas a se realizar ao se investigar aspectos relacionados à história de vida. Este estudo teve por objetivo estimar as idades e obter os parâmetros de crescimento de toninhas (Pontoporia blainvillei) e botos-cinza (Sotalia guianensis) capturados acidentalmente ou encontrados mortos no litoral sul de São Paulo e norte do Paraná entre 1995 e 2016. As idades foram estimadas por meio da técnica de contagem de camadas de crescimento presentes na dentina e cemento dos dentes. Os parâmetros de crescimento foram obtidos pelo ajuste dos modelos de von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Logístico e Richards aos dados de idade-comprimento. As curvas de crescimento foram confeccionadas separadamente para machos e fêmeas de ambas as espécies, entretanto como para S. guianensis não foi detectado dimorfismo sexual, apresentaram-se resultados para todos os indivíduos agrupados. Os comprimentos assintóticos estimados para as toninhas foram de 116,7 cm para machos e 135,7 cm para fêmeas, enquanto que para os botos-cinza esse valor foi de 183,4 cm para ambos os sexos. A taxa de crescimento foi de 1,13 e 0,64 para machos e fêmeas de toninhas, respectivamente, e de 0,41 para os botos-cinza. O tamanho estimado de filhotes de toninhas foi de 85,9 cm para machos e 88,5 cm para fêmeas, enquanto que para botos-cinza a estimativa foi de 95,7 cm. / Estimating the age of individuals in a population is one of the most important tasks when investigating aspects related to life history. The present study goal was to estimate the age, as well to obtain the growth parameters of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) and Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) incidentally caught in gillnets or found stranded at the south coast of São Paulo and northern Paraná states, Brazil, from 1995 to 2016. Age was estimated by counting the number of growth layer groups present in the dentine and cementum of teeth. Growth parameters were estimated by fitting the von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Logistic and Richards models to length-at-age data. Growth curves were separately constructed for males and females of both species, however, as S. guianensis showed no sexual dimorphism in growth, results were presented for all individuals pooled together. Asymptotic lengths estimated for franciscana dolphins were 116.7 cm for males and 135.7 cm for females, while for Guiana dolphins the estimate was 183.9 cm for both sexes. Growth rate of male and female of franciscana dolphins was 1.13 and 0.64, respectively, and for Guiana dolphins was 0.41. Estimated size at birth of franciscana dolphins was 85.9 cm for males and 88.5 cm for females, while for Guiana dolphins the estimate was 95.7 cm.