abstract: The subject of this thesis is concerned with the amount of cooling air assigned to seal high pressure turbine rim cavities which is critical for performance as well as component life. Insufficient air leads to excessive hot annulus gas ingestion and its penetration deep into the cavity compromising disc life. Excessive purge air, adversely affects performance. Experiments on a rotating turbine stage rig which included a rotor-stator forward disc cavity were performed at Arizona State University. The turbine rig has 22 vanes and 28 blades, while the rim cavity is composed of a single-tooth rim lab seal and a rim platform overlap seal. Time-averaged static pressures were measured in the gas path and the cavity, while mainstream gas ingestion into the cavity was determined by measuring the concentration distribution of tracer gas (carbon dioxide). Additionally, particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to measure fluid velocity inside the rim cavity between the lab seal and the overlap. The data from the experiments were compared to an 360-degree unsteady RANS (URANS) CFD simulations. Although not able to match the time-averaged test data satisfactorily, the CFD simulations brought to light the unsteadiness present in the flow during the experiment which the slower response data did not fully capture. To interrogate the validity of URANS simulations in capturing complex rotating flow physics, the scope of this work also included to validating the CFD tool by comparing its predictions against experimental LDV data in a closed rotor-stator cavity. The enclosed cavity has a stationary shroud, a rotating hub, and mass flow does not enter or exit the system. A full 360 degree numerical simulation was performed comparing Fluent LES, with URANS turbulence models. Results from these investigations point to URANS state of art under-predicting closed cavity tangential velocity by 32% to 43%, and open rim cavity effectiveness by 50% compared to test data. The goal of this thesis is to assess the validity of URANS turbulence models in more complex rotating flows, compare accuracy with LES simulations, suggest CFD settings to better simulate turbine stage mainstream/disc cavity interaction with ingestion, and recommend experimentation techniques. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2016

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This study was conducted at Sheep Laboratory of the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), and to evaluate nutrient intake, performance, feeding behavior, the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Tifton-85 pasture (Chapter I) as well as carcass characteristics, tissue composition and non-carcass of lambs weaned constituents finished in different feeding systems (Chapter II). Twenty-six male, weaned, castrated lambs cross-bred from Texel and Ile de France breeds were used. The treatments were the following: T1 - Containment: Concentrate + Tifton 85 hay (ad libitum) (CONF); T2 - Tifton-85 pasture + concentrate (ad libitum) (PSA) and T3 - Tifton-85 pasture + concentrate (1.0% body weight) (PSR). The animals were slaughtered when they reached the body condition (BC) pre-established 3.0. The consumption, performance, feeding behavior, carcass characteristics, the commercial cuts and non-carcass of the lambs were influenced (P<0.05) by different feeding systems. In treatments where the energy level in the diet was higher (CONF and PSA) animals showed DM, OM and CP higher, but lower NDF (P<0.05). Performed better (P<0.05). But the feeding behavior of the parameters of the lambs have changed (P<0.05) through the lower intake of NDF, but without compromising the rumination activity. Also showed superiority (P <0.05) on carcass traits, heavier commercial cuts (P<0.05) and the least developed gastrointestinal tract (P<0.05) compared to the lambs of PSR. However, the body measurements in vivo and on carcass, the tissue composition of the palette and the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of Tifton-85 pasture were not affected (P>0.05) by different systems terminus, except for the conformation and leg width (P<0.05) in lambs PSR. Thus, the confinement, the pasture with supplementation ad libitum or restricted characterized as viable alternatives of technical and productive point of view for finishing lambs weaned. Introducing potential for production carcasses with excellent quality, meeting the demands of actual consumer market. / O presente estudo foi conduzido no Laboratório de Ovinocultura da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), tendo por objetivo avaliar o consumo de nutrientes, o desempenho, o comportamento ingestivo, as características quanti-qualitativas da pastagem de tifton-85 (capítulo I), assim como, as características da carcaça, a composição tecidual e os constituintes não-carcaça de cordeiros desmamados terminados em diferentes sistemas de alimentação (capítulo II). Foram utilizados 26 cordeiros, desmamados, machos castrados, cruza Texel x Ile de France. Os tratamentos foram: T1 Confinamento: Concentrado + Feno de tifton-85 (ad libitum) (CONF), T2 Pastagem cultivada de tifton-85 + Concentrado (ad libitum) (PSA) e T3 Pastagem cultivada de tifton-85 + Concentrado (1,0% do peso corporal) (PSR). Os animais foram abatidos quando atingiram a condição corporal (CC) pré-estabelecida 3,0. O consumo, o desempenho, o comportamento ingestivo, as características de carcaça, os cortes comerciais e os constituintes não-carcaça dos cordeiros foram influenciados (P<0,05) pelos distintos sistemas de alimentação. Nos tratamentos onde o nível energético na dieta foi superior (CONF e PSA) os animais apresentaram consumo de MS, MO e PB superior, mas inferior de FDN (P<0,05). Obtiveram melhor desempenho (P<0,05). Porém os parâmetros do comportamento ingestivo dos cordeiros foram alterados (P<0,05), através do menor consumo de FDN, mas sem comprometer a atividade de ruminação. Também apresentaram superioridade (P<0,05) nas características de carcaça, cortes comerciais mais pesados (P<0,05) e o trato gastrintestinal menos desenvolvido (P<0,05) em relação aos cordeiros da PSR. No entanto, as medidas corporais in vivo e na carcaça, a composição tecidual da paleta e as características quanti-qualitativas (P>0,05) da pastagem de tifton-85 não foram influenciadas (P>0,05) pelos diferentes sistemas de terminação, com exceção a conformação e largura de perna (P<0,05) para os cordeiros da PSR. Desta forma, o confinamento, a pastagem com suplementação à vontade ou restrita caracterizam-se como alternativas viáveis do ponto de vista técnico e produtivo para terminação de cordeiros desmamados. Apresentando potencial para produção de carcaças com excelente qualidade, atendendo as demandas do mercado consumidor atual.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:43:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:58:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 06651.pdf: 5564627 bytes, checksum: b77046c5c925821e357e7f104911efae (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP / FAPESP:97/00990-6

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T15:02:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Arquivototal.pdf: 1666576 bytes, checksum: a0768dc2b54028b4d396d2117f5f50b5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-12-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The aim of this study was to evaluate fluoride and calcium metabolism in a region endemic on fluorosis (Brejo das Freiras-PB) after the implantation of a defluoridation system. There were 13 children and 16 adults as volunteers of this study. In order to evaluate ingestion it was used the methodology of the duplicated dish. To analyze fluoride derived from dentifrice the volunteer were asked to simulate the way they brush their teeth and the descart was collected. For the analysis of excretion it was used the 24 hours urine collection. All the samples collected was evaluated for fluoride concentration, through the fluoride specific electrode and through HMDS technique. The calcium was analyzed through arsenazo II methodology. The metabolism evaluation occurred at three periods named D1 (baseline, that is, before the defluoridation system was implanted), D2 (after a period of thirty days of the implantation of the system) and D3 (after after a period of six months of the implantation of the system). All data analysis was done through statistical packages (SPSS and graphpad). It could be observed that ingestion and excretion of fluoride diminished after the implantation of the system moreover fluoride retention decreased. Fluorosis risks decreased from twelve children to zero six months after the defluoridation system was implanted. We concluded that the defluoridation system was effective for diminishing fluoride retention as well as the fluorosis risk. / O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o metabolismo de flúor e cálcio em uma região de fluorose endêmica no estado da Paraíba após a implantação de um filtro de desfluoretação. Participaram desse estudo 13 adultos e 16 crianças residentes na região de Brejo das Freiras. Para análise de ingestão foi realizada a coleta duplicada pela metodologia do prato duplicado e coleta de dentifrício, para análise de excreção foi feita a coleta de urina 24 horas. Todo o material coletado foi avaliado para concentrações de flúor, através do eletrodo especifico e técnica do HMDS e cálcio através do método do arsenazo III. A avaliação foi realizada em três momentos D1 (baseline), D2 (30 dias após a instalação do filtro) e D3 (seis meses após). As análises estatísticas foram realizadas através dos programas estatísticos SPSS e Graphpad. Foi observado que tanto a ingestão quanto a excreção de flúor diminuiu após a instalação do filtro de desfluoretação, diminuindo ainda a exposição ao flúor. Pode-se observar ainda que o risco de fluorose dentária diminuiu de 12 crianças para zero seis meses após a instalação do filtro. Conclui-se que o filtro de desfluoretação foi eficaz ao diminuir a exposição ao flúor, diminuindo assim o risco de fluorose dentária.

Práticas de manejo afetam a estrutura do dossel forrageiro, podendo afetar os padrões de deslocamento, procura e ingestão de forragem pelos animais em pastejo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de estratégias de pastejo rotacionado sobre o comportamento animal e padrões de ingestão de forragem de bovinos de corte em pastos de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. O experimento foi realizado no Departamento de Zootecnia da USP/ESALQ, de novembro de 2005 a abril de 2006. Os tratamentos experimentais compreenderam a combinação entre duas intensidades (altura pós-pastejo de 10 e 15 cm) e dois intervalos entre pastejos (período de tempo necessário para se atingir 95 e 100% de interceptação luminosa pelo dossel durante a rebrotação - IL), e foram alocados às unidades experimentais (piquetes de 1.200 m²) segundo um delineamento inteiramente casualizado e arranjo fatorial 2 x 2, com 3 repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas de forma repetida em duas épocas do ano: (1) primavera (novembro e dezembro de 2005), e (2) verão (janeiro a abril de 2006). A densidade de lotação foi dimensionada para que a duração do período de ocupação fosse de 10 a 12 horas. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis-resposta: distribuição vertical dos componentes morfológicos da massa de forragem, dinâmica do rebaixamento dos pastos, padrões de ingestão (massa do bocado, taxa de bocados e taxa de consumo), comportamento (pastejo, ruminação e outras atividades), composição morfológica da forragem consumida; padrões de deslocamento e busca por alimento (número de estações alimentares por unidade de tempo e número de passos entre estações alimentares), e padrões de desfolhação de perfilhos individuais (profundidade de desfolhação e freqüência e intensidade de desfolhação de folhas em geral e nas categorias folhas em expansão e expandidas). As maiores taxas de rebaixamento foram registradas para os tratamentos 100/10 e 100/15, enquanto as menores para o tratamento 95/15. De modo geral, à medida que os animais permaneceram nos piquetes e ocorria depleção do estrato pastejável, a taxa de rebaixamento diminuiu em virtude da diminuição da altura do dossel e do aumento da presença de colmos e de material morto no horizonte de pastejo. Apesar de a intensidade de pastejo menos severa (altura pós-pastejo de 15 cm) resultar, no início do pastejo, em menor bocado, taxa de consumo e intensidade de desfolhação de folhas em expansão e expandidas, os animais acabaram consumindo uma forragem com maior proporção de folhas. Ao longo do rebaixamento, os tratamentos de 100% IL resultaram em bocados maiores, mas, no entanto, a taxa de consumo e a proporção de folhas na forragem consumida foram menores em relação aos tratamentos de 95% de IL. Os tratamentos 95/10 e 95/15 estiveram associados com maior atividade de pastejo e maior taxa de consumo, sugerindo maior consumo diário. Entretanto, o tratamento 95/15 foi o que resultou na maior proporção de folhas na forragem consumida, e foi o tratamento em que a intensidade e freqüência de desfolhação de folhas foram mais baixas, condicionadas pelas menores densidades de lotação empregadas. Esse padrão de desfolhação resultou em uma maior área foliar remanescente, favorecendo a rebrota seguinte e o rápido retorno dos pastos à utilização. A estratégia de pastejo que resultou em melhor utilização da forragem produzida, foi aquela em que os pastejos foram realizados com 95% de IL até uma altura pós-pastejo de 15 cm. / Management practices affect sward structure and may affect patterns of animal movement, search and forage ingestion during grazing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rotational grazing practices on animal behaviour and patterns of forage ingestion of beef cattle on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. The experiment was carried out at Departamento de Zootecnia, USP/ESALQ, from November 2005 to April 2006. Treatments corresponded to combinations between two grazing intensities (post-grazing residues of 10 and 15 cm) and two grazing frequencies (equivalent to the period of time necessary for swards to reach 95 and 100% interception of the incident light during regrowth – LI), and were allocated to experimental units (1200 m2 paddocks) according to a completely randomised design and a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with 3 replications. Measurements were performed in two seasons of the year: (1) spring (November and December 2005), and (2) summer (January to April 2006). Stocking density was calculated aiming at an occupation period of paddocks of 10 to 12 hours. The following response variables were analysed: vertical distribution of morphological components of sward herbage mass, dynamics of the grazing down process, patterns of ingestion (bite mass, bite rate, and intake rate), animal behaviour (grazing, rumination and other activities), morphological composition of the consumed herbage, patterns of animal movement and search for forage (number of feeding stations per unit of time and number of steps between feeding stations), and patterns of defoliation of individual tillers (defoliation depth, frequency and intensity of defoliation of leaves – expanding and expanded leaves). The highest rates of decrease in sward height were recorded for treatments 100/10 and 100/15, and the lowest for treatment 95/15. In general, as the occupation period progressed, the grazing stratum was depleted and there was a decrease in the rate swards were lowered, a result of lower sward heights and increased presence of stems and dead material in the stratum used by the animals for grazing. In spite of the lower grazing intensity (post-grazing height of 15 cm) has resulted, at the beginning of grazing, in smaller bites, intake rate and defoliation intensity of expanding and expanded leaves, the ingested herbage had a higher proportion of leaves compared to grazings at 10 cm residue. During the grazing down process, the 100% LI treatments resulted in heavier bites, but lower intake rate and proportion of leaves in the herbage consumed than the 95% LI treatments. Treatments 95/10 and 95/15 were associated with the largest grazing activity and highest intake rate, suggesting higher daily intake. However, 95/15 was the treatment that resulted in the largest proportion of leaves in the herbage consumed, and in the lowest values of frequency and intensity of defoliation of leaves, due to the lowest stocking density used. This pattern of defoliation resulted in a high residual leaf area after grazing, favouring regrowth and quick return of swards to grazing. The grazing strategy that allowed more efficient harvest of herbage was that where grazings were initiated with 95% LI and finished with a 15 cm post-grazing height.

Práticas de manejo afetam a estrutura do dossel forrageiro, podendo afetar os padrões de deslocamento, procura e ingestão de forragem pelos animais em pastejo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de estratégias de pastejo rotacionado sobre o comportamento animal e padrões de ingestão de forragem de bovinos de corte em pastos de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. O experimento foi realizado no Departamento de Zootecnia da USP/ESALQ, de novembro de 2005 a abril de 2006. Os tratamentos experimentais compreenderam a combinação entre duas intensidades (altura pós-pastejo de 10 e 15 cm) e dois intervalos entre pastejos (período de tempo necessário para se atingir 95 e 100% de interceptação luminosa pelo dossel durante a rebrotação - IL), e foram alocados às unidades experimentais (piquetes de 1.200 m²) segundo um delineamento inteiramente casualizado e arranjo fatorial 2 x 2, com 3 repetições. As avaliações foram realizadas de forma repetida em duas épocas do ano: (1) primavera (novembro e dezembro de 2005), e (2) verão (janeiro a abril de 2006). A densidade de lotação foi dimensionada para que a duração do período de ocupação fosse de 10 a 12 horas. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis-resposta: distribuição vertical dos componentes morfológicos da massa de forragem, dinâmica do rebaixamento dos pastos, padrões de ingestão (massa do bocado, taxa de bocados e taxa de consumo), comportamento (pastejo, ruminação e outras atividades), composição morfológica da forragem consumida; padrões de deslocamento e busca por alimento (número de estações alimentares por unidade de tempo e número de passos entre estações alimentares), e padrões de desfolhação de perfilhos individuais (profundidade de desfolhação e freqüência e intensidade de desfolhação de folhas em geral e nas categorias folhas em expansão e expandidas). As maiores taxas de rebaixamento foram registradas para os tratamentos 100/10 e 100/15, enquanto as menores para o tratamento 95/15. De modo geral, à medida que os animais permaneceram nos piquetes e ocorria depleção do estrato pastejável, a taxa de rebaixamento diminuiu em virtude da diminuição da altura do dossel e do aumento da presença de colmos e de material morto no horizonte de pastejo. Apesar de a intensidade de pastejo menos severa (altura pós-pastejo de 15 cm) resultar, no início do pastejo, em menor bocado, taxa de consumo e intensidade de desfolhação de folhas em expansão e expandidas, os animais acabaram consumindo uma forragem com maior proporção de folhas. Ao longo do rebaixamento, os tratamentos de 100% IL resultaram em bocados maiores, mas, no entanto, a taxa de consumo e a proporção de folhas na forragem consumida foram menores em relação aos tratamentos de 95% de IL. Os tratamentos 95/10 e 95/15 estiveram associados com maior atividade de pastejo e maior taxa de consumo, sugerindo maior consumo diário. Entretanto, o tratamento 95/15 foi o que resultou na maior proporção de folhas na forragem consumida, e foi o tratamento em que a intensidade e freqüência de desfolhação de folhas foram mais baixas, condicionadas pelas menores densidades de lotação empregadas. Esse padrão de desfolhação resultou em uma maior área foliar remanescente, favorecendo a rebrota seguinte e o rápido retorno dos pastos à utilização. A estratégia de pastejo que resultou em melhor utilização da forragem produzida, foi aquela em que os pastejos foram realizados com 95% de IL até uma altura pós-pastejo de 15 cm. / Management practices affect sward structure and may affect patterns of animal movement, search and forage ingestion during grazing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rotational grazing practices on animal behaviour and patterns of forage ingestion of beef cattle on Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. The experiment was carried out at Departamento de Zootecnia, USP/ESALQ, from November 2005 to April 2006. Treatments corresponded to combinations between two grazing intensities (post-grazing residues of 10 and 15 cm) and two grazing frequencies (equivalent to the period of time necessary for swards to reach 95 and 100% interception of the incident light during regrowth – LI), and were allocated to experimental units (1200 m2 paddocks) according to a completely randomised design and a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with 3 replications. Measurements were performed in two seasons of the year: (1) spring (November and December 2005), and (2) summer (January to April 2006). Stocking density was calculated aiming at an occupation period of paddocks of 10 to 12 hours. The following response variables were analysed: vertical distribution of morphological components of sward herbage mass, dynamics of the grazing down process, patterns of ingestion (bite mass, bite rate, and intake rate), animal behaviour (grazing, rumination and other activities), morphological composition of the consumed herbage, patterns of animal movement and search for forage (number of feeding stations per unit of time and number of steps between feeding stations), and patterns of defoliation of individual tillers (defoliation depth, frequency and intensity of defoliation of leaves – expanding and expanded leaves). The highest rates of decrease in sward height were recorded for treatments 100/10 and 100/15, and the lowest for treatment 95/15. In general, as the occupation period progressed, the grazing stratum was depleted and there was a decrease in the rate swards were lowered, a result of lower sward heights and increased presence of stems and dead material in the stratum used by the animals for grazing. In spite of the lower grazing intensity (post-grazing height of 15 cm) has resulted, at the beginning of grazing, in smaller bites, intake rate and defoliation intensity of expanding and expanded leaves, the ingested herbage had a higher proportion of leaves compared to grazings at 10 cm residue. During the grazing down process, the 100% LI treatments resulted in heavier bites, but lower intake rate and proportion of leaves in the herbage consumed than the 95% LI treatments. Treatments 95/10 and 95/15 were associated with the largest grazing activity and highest intake rate, suggesting higher daily intake. However, 95/15 was the treatment that resulted in the largest proportion of leaves in the herbage consumed, and in the lowest values of frequency and intensity of defoliation of leaves, due to the lowest stocking density used. This pattern of defoliation resulted in a high residual leaf area after grazing, favouring regrowth and quick return of swards to grazing. The grazing strategy that allowed more efficient harvest of herbage was that where grazings were initiated with 95% LI and finished with a 15 cm post-grazing height.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:43:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:58:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 06651.pdf: 5564627 bytes, checksum: b77046c5c925821e357e7f104911efae (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP / FAPESP:97/00990-6

As aflatoxinas são substâncias naturais que apresentam efeitos tóxicos aos humanos e são reconhecidamente carcinogênicas. Estas substâncias podem estar presentes na dieta humana ou, em casos específicos, no ar respirado. Desta maneira, a exposição humana às aflatoxinas é objeto de muita preocupação. Uma das maneiras mais eficazes de avaliar a exposição humana as aflatoxinas é através da mensuração da presença de biomarcadores da exposição a estas substâncias em fluidos biológicos. Dentre as possibilidades de biomarcadores de exposição às aflatoxinas tem-se que aflatoxina M1 (AFM1), presente na urina e leite humano, é considerada um biomarcador válido. Assim sendo, o objetivo deste trabalho de pesquisa foi avaliar a presença de AFM1 em amostras de urina provenientes de indivíduos residentes na região urbana e rural da cidade de Piracicaba-SP, assim como, de leite de gestantes de Piracicaba e cidades da região. Nos indivíduos doadores de amostras de urina foi levantado também o padrão de ingestão de alimentos com alto risco de conter aflatoxinas, através da aplicação de inquéritos de freqüência alimentar e recordatórios 24 horas. A análise de AFM1 em urina e leite foi realizada por cromatografia liquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) com detecção por fluorescência. A extração e purificação do extrato foram realizadas com auxílio de colunas de imunoafinidade. No total 69 amostras de urina e 18 de leite foram analisadas. Entre as amostras de urina detectou-se a presença de AFM1 em 54 (78%) das amostras, com concentrações variando de 1,8 até 39,9 pg/mL. Não foi observada diferença estatística entre as concentrações médias detectadas entre urinas de indivíduos da zona urbana e rural, bem como no nível de consumo de produtos de risco. Apesar das concentrações de AFM1 detectadas serem inferiores as concentrações médias reportadas em outros países a freqüência de amostras positivas foi bastante elevada mostrando que as populações estudadas estão sendo expostas às aflatoxinas. Assim, melhores avaliações dos níveis de exposição necessitam ser realizados considerando que a amostragem utilizada foi pontual, pode existir variação de contaminação sazonal com aflatoxinas na dieta e a contaminação é heterogênea dentro no alimento. Não foi observada uma correlação entre o nível do consumo de produtos de risco e as concentrações detectadas em amostras de urina. Apenas uma amostra de leite apresentou contaminação detectada; entretanto, o nível de contaminação estava entre o limite de detecção (LD) e o limite de quantificação (LQ). / Aflatoxins are natural substances that present toxic and carcinogenic effects to humans. These substances may be present in human diet or, in specific cases, in the breathing air. Thus, the human exposition to aflatoxins is object of concern. One of the most effective ways to evaluate human exposition to aflatoxins is to measure the presence of biomarkers in biological fluids. Among the possibilities of aflatoxin presence biomarkers, the aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), present in human urine and milk, is considered a valid biomarker. The objective of this work was to evaluate the presence of AFM1 in urine samples from individuals who live in urban and rural areas in the county of Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil, and in milk of pregnant women from Piracicaba and neighbor cities. Urine-donor individuals were researched in relation to the ingestion of food with high risk of containing aflatoxins through the application of a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall. The analysis of AFM1 in urine and milk was performed through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The extract purification and extraction were performed with the aid of immunoaffinity columns. Overall, 69 urine and 18 human breast milk samples were analyzed. Among urine samples, the presence of AFM1 was detected in 54 (78%), with concentrations ranging from 1.8 to 39.9 pg/mL. No statistical difference was observed between average concentrations detected in the urine of individuals from urban and rural areas, as well as the consumption of aflatoxin risky food. Although the AFM1 concentrations detected are lower than those reported for other countries, the frequency of positive samples was quite high, showing that the populations studied are exposed to aflatoxins. Thus, further evaluations on the exposition levels should be performed, and considering that the sampling used in this work was punctual, there may be seasonal contamination variations in diet and the contamination level is heterogeneous within a food. No correlation between the consumption of risky food and concentrations detected in urine samples was observed. Only one milk sample presented detected contamination; however, the contamination level was between the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ).

The inadvertent ingestion of contaminated soil is the dominant exposure route of non-volatile and semi-volatile contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Quantitative mass balance soil ingestion studies have been used to determine soil ingestion rates for use in human health risk assessments (HHRA) that can be used to predict the likelihood of adverse effects in individuals exposed to hazardous contaminants such as PAHs in contaminated soil. The Cold Lake region of Alberta is one of the three major oil sands regions of Alberta, and PAH concentrations in this oil sand region may be elevated in the atmosphere and the soil, resulting in increased exposures to PAHs. The area is home to Cold Lake First Nation who practice traditional activities and lifestyles that may put them in greater contact with soil than previous soil ingestion studies suggest. The primary objective of this research was to assess the soil ingestion rate in a group of First Nations subjects inhabiting the Cold lake region, and assess the carcinogenic risk posed by exposures to PAHs in air and soil. The study employed a quantitative mass balance tracer approach to estimate soil ingestion rates, and followed 9 subjects over a 13 day period. Soil and air samples were simultaneously collected to assess PAH contamination. The mean soil ingestion rate using Al and Si elemental tracers was 52 mg d-1, with a 90th percentile of 220 mg d-1, and a median soil ingestion rate of 37 mg d-1. These values are greater than the soil ingestion rates for HHRA recommended by Health Canada. The mean increase in excess lifetime cancer risk posed by inadvertent ingestion of soil to a First Nations’ individuals following traditional activities was 0.02 cases per 100,000 people with a 95% risk level of 0.067 cases per 100,000 people. Exposure to PAHs through inhalation posed a maximum lifetime cancer risk below 0.1 cases per 100,000, people. Thus, this study found no appreciable increase in excess lifetime associated with PAH exposure of First Nations’ people in the Cold Lake region.

Un des enjeux relatifs à la durabilité des élevages équins est d’accroître la part de l’herbe dans l’alimentation sans compromettre les performances animales. Les chevaux à forts besoins, comme la jument en lactation, sont en effet couramment complémentés au pâturage alors même que l’impact de la complémentation sur leur ingestion et leurs performances n’est pas connu. Un second enjeu est d’identifier des solutions alternatives aux anthelminthiques pour gérer leurs parasites gastro-intestinaux en évitant le développement de résistances et le rejet de molécules toxiques dans l’environnement. Notre première expérimentation a montré qu’en conditions de pâturage non limitantes, la complémentation énergétique n’était pas indispensable. Les juments en lactation non complémentées ont accru leurs quantités ingérées journalières jusqu’à 28 g MS.kg PV -1 .j -1 , un niveau d’ingestion permettant de satisfaire leurs besoins énergétiques. La croissance des poulains et leur conformation n’ont donc pas été affectées par l’absence de complémentation énergétique, celle-ci n’ayant par ailleurs pas permis aux juments de mieux réguler leur charge parasitaire. La deuxième expérimentation, a permis de préciser le seuil en deçà duquel la complémentation énergétique devient nécessaire pour couvrir les besoins de la jument en lactation. Pour un pâturage au fil de repousses végétatives celui-ci a été estimé à 66 g MS.kg PV-1.j -1 , ce qui correspond à une hauteur de sortie de parcelle à 5,4 cm au stick, soit 4,5 cm à l’herbomètre à plateau. Enfin, la troisième expérimentation en box a permis de mettre en évidence l’efficacité d’une distribution de courte durée de sainfoin, une légumineuse riche en tanins condensés, pour réduire le développement des œufs de nématodes en larves infestantes ; une complémentation azotée « simple » s’est en revanche révélée inefficace. L’ensemble de ces résultats ouvre des perspectives pour optimiser la conduite alimentaire de la jument en lactation au pâturage. / Sustainable horse breeding requires increasing the proportion of herbage in horse diet without affecting animal performance. Horses with high requirements such as lactating mares are commonly supplemented at pasture, while the consequences of energy supplementation on intake and performance remain unknown. Another priority is to identify alternatives to chemical anthelmintic for gastro-intestinal parasite management in order to limit the spread of antibiotic resistance and the dumping of pharmaceutical residues into the environment. A first experiment showed that supplementing lactating mares at pasture should not be systematic because, under non-limiting conditions, their adaptive capacities enabled them to increase herbage intake up to 28 g DM.kg LW -1 .d -1 and ensure foal growth. In addition, energy supplementation did not allow mares to better regulate their parasite burden. A second experiment allowed us to precise the herbage allowance threshold below which energy supplementation is required. Under strip-grazing conditions it was estimated at 66 g DM.kg LW -1 .d -1 , which corresponds to a post-grazing height of 5.4 cm using sward stick. A third experiment has revealed the potential of secondary metabolites of sainfoin to reduce the nematode larval development, while no effect was observed with a short-term protein supplementation. These original results have practical implications for a better management of lactating saddle mares at pasture.