Thesis (MS)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2010. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: A. Michael Babcock. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-47).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2010. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thèse (M.Sc.)--Université Laval, 2003. / Bibliogr.: f. 89-93. Publié aussi en version électronique.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007. / DeWeerth, Stephen, Committee Chair ; Lee, Robert, Committee Member ; Ting, Lena, Committee Member ; Katz, Paul, Committee Member ; Butera, Robert, Committee Member.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of British Columbia, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 76-81).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Oregon, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-81).

No description available.

No description available.

<p>The semicircular canals of the vestibular system detect angular head rotations and play a fundamental role in guiding motor reflexes during locomotor behaviors. While extensive research has documented the relationship between the semicircular canal shape (i.e. radius of curvature and canal length) and locomotor behaviors, levels of intraspecific variation in primates are relatively unknown. Predictive models using these metrics to reconstruct locomotion in extinct animals are generally based on one individual per species. Furthermore, the influence of body size and to a lesser degree brain size heavily influences overall canal morphology.</p><p>This study documents intraspecific variation in the size, shape and orientation of the semicircular canals in relation to changes in function, brain size, and body size via analysis of high resolution CT scans of large samples of extant primate species. I test the hypothesis that the extent of intraspecific variation differs across a sample of primates, reflecting the intensity of selective pressure on canal shape in species that require agility during locomotion. I also examine whether spatial constraints resulting from the size of the skull (reflected by the size of the brain) affect canal radii of curvature and canal orthogonality more strongly than observed agility during locomotion. </p><p>To this end, data was gathered from high-resolution CT images of museum specimens. For the comparative analysis, 14-matched pairs of adult extant primate species were selected that contrast in agility and brain size in closely related genera. CT images of these specimens were used to measure functional measures of canal sensitivity (e.g., canal radii of curvature, orthogonality). This data was used to test hypotheses concerning intraspecific and interspecific variation in semicircular canal functional morphology. This data was then combined with a larger mammalian dataset culled from the literature, to further test hypotheses relating to body-size and brain size dependent variation in individual canal metrics. </p><p>Evaluation of levels of intraspecific variation support the hypothesis put forth by Billet et al. (2012), that selection on canal morphology is relaxed in animals with slow locomotor behaviors, who are observed to have higher levels of intraspecific variation. Analyses of interspecific variation provides tentative support for the use of canal orthogonality in reconstructive models, most especially in canal angles that seem least effected by other constraints—brain size, etc. However, locomotor signals are complex and brain/skull interactions can potentially produce misleading results when reconstructing locomotor behaviors. This work highlights the importance of critically assessing comparative groups used for inferring behaviors in both extinct and extant animals.</p> / Dissertation

O Brasil é o maior exportador e o terceiro maior produtor mundial de carne de aves, com 11,42 milhões de toneladas em 2010 e 12,86 milhões de toneladas em 2011. Com relação à produção e exportação de carne de peru em 2011, as exportações totalizaram 141,2 mil toneladas. , com uma redução de 10,5%, quando comparada com o ano anterior. O mercado de produtos à base de carne de peru tem se mostrado bastante promissor não só no Brasil como em vários outros países, representando 6,9% da produção mundial. Aliado ao desenvolvimento da produção animal, principalmente nos últimos anos, o bem-estar animal tem constituído tema de discussão e pesquisa, estando entre os assuntos mais discutidos atualmente na produção animal. É crescente a convicção dos consumidores de que os animais utilizados para produção de alimentos devem ser bem tratados. Problemas locomotores impedem que a ave se movimente livremente e, com isso, acessem os equipamentos necessários para sua sobrevivência: comedouros e bebedouros. Cerca de 10 a 40% do lucro bruto por lote é perdido devido a problemas locomotores nas aves, as quais podem ter a carcaça condenada completa ou parcialmente no abatedouro. Existem diversas formas de avaliar os problemas locomotores em aves de corte. No campo, as metodologias mais empregadas para avaliar problemas locomotores são exames visuais da capacidade de locomoção das aves, denominados de Gait Score (avaliação do caminhar). Entretanto essas metodologias são consideradas subjetivas, pois não utilizam nenhum equipamento e, sim,planilhas que orientam o usuário a observar o comportamento das aves ou medir com régua o tamanho das lesões. Isto quer dizer, que dependendo do avaliador e de sua interpretação um escore de injúrias será concluído. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é validar uma nova tecnologia para mensuração de problemas locomotores em aves de corte (frangos e perus), que seja objetiva, de fácil manuseio, confiável (independente do avaliador) e de uso universal.Para tal, essa nova tecnologia foi desenvolvida e avaliada comparativamente com seis metodologias de mensuração de problemas locomotores, previamente estabelecidas pelas amplas citações na literatura, buscando ajustá-la e validá-la. / Brazil is the largest exporter and third largest producer of poultry meat, with 11.42 million tons in 2010 and 12.86 million tons in 2011. With this relation to the production and export of turkey meat in 2011, exports totaling 141,200 tons, with reduction of 10.5% when compared with the previous year. The market for products made from turkey meat has been shown very promising not only in Brazil and in several other countries, accounting 6.9% of global production. Allied with development of animal production, especially in recent years, animal welfare has been a subject of discussion and research, being among the most discussed subjects currently in production animal. There is growing certainty of consumers that animals used for food production should to be treated well. The locomotor problems hinder the fowl from moving freely and with it accessing the equipment necessary for their survival: feeders and drinkers. About 10-40% of gross profit per lot is lost due to locomotor problems in birds, of which can be completely or partly condemned carcass the slaughterhouse. There are different ways of evaluating the locomotor problems in broiler chickens. In the field, the methodologies used to evaluate locomotor problems are visual examinations of walking ability of the birds, called Gait Score (evaluation of walking). Meanwhile these methods are considered subjective because does not use any equipment and, yeah, worksheets that guide the user to observe the bird behavior with a ruler or measuring the size of the lesions. This means that depending the evaluator and their interpretation a score of injuries will be concluded. In this way, the purpose of this work is to validate a new technology for measurement of locomotors problems in broiler chickens (chickens and turkeys) that be objective, with easily managed and confidante, independent the evaluator and with universal use. To this the new technology was developed and evaluated in comparison with six methodologies to measure locomotors problems, previously established by extensive citations in the literature, look for adjust it and validate it.