A gravidez e a lactação aumentam as necessidades nutricionais. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a ingestão alimentar e a prevalência de inadequação de ingestão de nutrientes entre gestantes, lactantes, mulheres em idade reprodutiva. Dois dias de registros alimentares de 322 gestantes e 751 lactantes foram comparados com 6837 mulheres não gestantes e não lactantes entre 19 a 40 anos de idade, a partir de uma amostra representativa a nível nacional. A prevalência de inadequação de ingestão de nutrientes foi estimada pelo método National Cancer Institute usando a necessidade média estimada (EAR) como ponto de corte, exceto para o sódio em que o nível de ingestão tolerável (UL) foi utilizado. Gestantes, lactantes e mulheres em idade reprodutiva não diferiram em relação ao consumo médio de 18 grupos de alimentos, exceto o arroz, que foi mais consumido pelas lactantes. A prevalência de inadequação de nutrientes em gestantes foi maior em relação às mulheres em idade reprodutiva para a vitamina B6 (59% versus 33%). Entre as lactantes prevalência foi maior para a vitamina A (95% versus 72%), vitamina C (56% versus 37%), vitamina B6 (75% vs 33%), e zinco (64% versus 20%). A porcentagem da ingestão de sódio acima do valor máximo tolerável foi superior a 70% entre as mulheres estudadas. A ingestão inadequada é muito freqüente entre todas as mulheres e aumenta durante a gravidez e lactação. / Pregnancy and lactation increases nutritional requirements. The aim of this study was to compare food intake and prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake among pregnant, lactating and reproductive age women. Two-day dietary records of 322 pregnant and 751 lactating women were compared to 6837 non-pregnant and non-lactating women aged 19 to 40 years, from a nationwide representative sample. The prevalence of inadequate of nutrient intake was estimated by the National Cancer Institute method using the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) as cutoff point, except for sodium in which the tolerable upper intake level (UL) was used. Pregnant, lactating and reproductive age women did not differ in relation to the average consumption of 18 food groups, except from the rice, that was more consumed by lactating women. The prevalence of nutrient inadequacy in pregnant women was higher in relation to reproductive age women for vitamin B6 (59% versus 33%). Among lactating women prevalence was higher for vitamin A (95% versus 72%), vitamin C (56% versus 37%), vitamin B6 (75% vs. 33%), and zinc (64% versus 20%). The percentage of sodium intake above the tolerable maximum value was greater than 70% among all women studied. Inadequate intake is highly frequent among all women and increases during pregnancy and lactation.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-05-31Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:00:02Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 botelho_rm_me_botfmvz.pdf: 306670 bytes, checksum: c09499ae395833ff19a764ae69ae1b98 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da enzima fitase com os níveis de suplementação: 750, 1.500, 2.250, 3.000 UFA/kg (unidades de fitase ativa por quilo de ração) e dieta sem suplementação, sobre a digestibilidade dos nutrientes e disponibilidade aparente dos minerais do farelo de algodão. Para isso cem juvenis de tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus; PV 100.0 ± 5.0 g) foram distribuídos em dez tanques-rede. Determinou-se os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), energia bruta (EB) e matéria mineral (MM), assim como a disponibilidade aparente do cálcio (Ca), fósforo (P), magnésio (Mg), zinco (Zn), cobre (Cu), ferro (Fe) e manganês (Mn), de seis rações, marcadas com 1,00 g/kg de óxido de crômio-III – uma referência (ração purificada) e cinco contendo farelo de algodão (400 g/kg) e os diferentes níveis de suplementação da enzima fitase. O CDA dos nutrientes foi calculado com base no teor de crômio da ração e das fezes. A enzima fitase eleva a disponibilidade da MM e dos minerais P, Zn, Cu e Mn, no farelo de algodão, até o limite próximo de 2080 UFA/kg / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of phytase supplementation (0, 750, 1.500, 2.250 e 3.000 FTU/kg) on calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) availability and apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), gross energy (GE) and mineral matter (MM) were determinate of cottonseed meal. For this one hundred Nile tilapia juveniles (Oreochromis niloticus; BW= 100.0 ± 5.0 g) were assigned to 10 experimental cages. As reference, an albumin and gelatin-based diet [with 0.10 % chromic oxide (III) as external marker] was fed to the juveniles. Six diets (one reference and five based on cottonseed meal and increasing levels of phytase) were formulated to determine the coefficients of apparent availability of minerals (Ca, P, Mg, Cu, Zn and Mn) and digestibility coefficient of nutrients and energy. The enzyme increases the availability MM and minerals P, ZN, Cu and Mn in cottonseed meal, up to around 2080 FTU/kg

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-02-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:39:40Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_vm_me_jabo.pdf: 497655 bytes, checksum: e6979d309d7d37c73705c1fc6a701945 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Foram conduzidos três experimentos, com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da adição de diferentes níveis de prebiótico na alimentação de leitões, sobre o desempenho, desenvolvimento da mucosa intestinal, parâmetros fisiológicos, digestibilidade e metabolismo de suínos. O prebiótico utilizado foi o mananoligossacarídeo MOS. No 1º experimento, foram avaliados o desempenho e a incidência de diarréia em 30 leitões fêmeas, dos 22 aos 63 dias de idade, com peso inicial de 6,28 l 1,40 kg. A utilização de MOS nas rações de leitões recém - desmamados piorou o ganho de peso dos animais dos 22 aos 63 dias de idade, porém não teve efeito sobre a incidência de diarréia. No 2º experimento foram avaliadas a morfometria do intestino delgado e mensurados os pesos do fígado e do pâncreas, assim como, o pH dos conteúdos do estômago, intestino delgado e ceco. Foram utilizados 15 leitões fêmeas dos 22 aos 63 dias de idade, com peso inicial de 5,74 l 0,93 kg. Em ambos os experimentos, os tratamentos foram: Controle positivo CP (Dieta basal + antibiótico); Controle negativo - CN (Dieta basal); CN + 0,25% de Prebiótico; CN + 0,50% de Prebiótico; CN + 0,75% de Prebiótico, e utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso para controlar diferenças inicias de peso. Não foram observadas diferenças em nenhum dos parâmetros avaliados. No 3º experimento foram determinadas as digestibilidades dos nutrientes e da energia e o coeficiente de metabolizabilidade da energia e a energia metabolizável, das rações controle e com 0,5% de prebiótico. Utilizou-se 16 suínos machos castrados, com peso médio de 24,8 l 2,79 kg, e os blocos controlaram a repetição no tempo... / Three experiments were set to evaluate the effects of adding different levels of mannanoligossacharides (MOS, prebiotic) to the diet of piglets on their performance, development of intestinal mucosa, physiological parameters, digestibility and metabolism.. Corn and soybean meal were the major feed components. The first experiment evaluated the development and occurrence of diarrhea in 30 female piglets at 22 and 63 days of age, with an initial weight of 6.28 l 1.40 kg. Prebiotic additions to the diets worsen the growth performance of animals in Phase 3, but did not influence on the diarrhea incidence. The second experiment evaluated the morphometry of the small bowel, liver and pancreas weight, and the pH of stomach, small bowel and cecum contents. Fifteen female piglets were used at 22 and 63 days of age, with an initial weight of 5.74 l 0.93 kg. Both experiments were arranged in randomized blocks design to control initial weight difference, with the following treatments: positive control PC (base diet + antibiotic); negative control - NC (base diet); NC + 0.25% of prebiotic; NC + 0.50% of prebiotic; NC + 0.75% of prebiotic. No significant difference was observed in any of the studied parameters. In the third experiment, nutrient and energy digestibility were determined in feeds containing prebiotic (0.5%) or not (control). Sixteen castrated male pigs weighing 24.8 l 2.79 kg were used, and randomized blocks design was used so blocks controlled replications during time. Nutrient digestibility and feed energy were determined through the total feces collection method, using ferric oxide as fecal marker. The digestibility coefficient of the mineral matter and the digestible mineral matter were higher (P<0.05) in the control feed than in the feed containing prebiotic...(Complete abstract, click electronic address below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-06-01Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:00:43Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 velasquez_pat_me_jabo.pdf: 966463 bytes, checksum: 2d6f0cfc826ca7efa5ce945e1769d030 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Os sistemas de formulação de dietas para ruminantes exigem a avaliação de alimentos como forrageiras, pois essas são as principais fontes de nutrientes em condições tropicais. Por essa razão, é necessário o desenvolvimento de metodologias que sejam rápidas e ao mesmo tempo eficientes na avaliação de forragens para o funcionamento dos sistemas produtivos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar em duas épocas do ano o efeito de idade de corte (28, 35 e 42 dias), no valor nutritivo de três espécies forrageiras tropicais de grande utilização na alimentação de bovinos em pastejo no Brasil: capim-Tanzânia (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia), o capim-Marandu (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu), e o Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp), através da composição química, o fracionamento de proteína e carboidratos, a digestibilidade e a produção de gases in vitro. Nas duas épocas o Tifton 85 apresentou os maiores conteúdos de parede celular, fibra em detergente neutro (FON), fibra em detergente neutro corrigida para cinzas e proteína (FONcp), fibra em detergente ácido (FOA), lignina (LlG), carboidratos totais (CHOS totais), fração B2 e C dos carboidratos (69,36; 62,19; 32,09; 4,09; 78,31; 54,25 e 9,82%, respectivamente) e menores coeficientes de digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (OIVMS) e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria orgânica (OIVMO) 49,33 e 45,35% respectivamente, alem de menor produção de gases após 96h de incubação 225,49mL g-1 MS. O valor nutritivo (composição química, digestibilidade e produtos da digestão) da Brachiaria brizantha foi superior nas duas épocas do ano e nas idades de corte avaliadas nas condições deste trabalho comparada com Tanzânia e Tifton 85. / In the tropics, diet formulation systems for ruminants require the forages evaluation, as they are the main source of nutrients for the animais. For this reason, the development of practical and efficient methodologies to evaluate forages is crucial for a better result of the production systems. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the cutting age effect (28, 35 and 42 days) in three different forage species which are largely used for the nutrition of cattle raised under pasture conditions in Brazil: Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia), Marandu grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) and Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp). compared based on the chemical composition, protein and carbohydrate fractions, digestibility and in vitro gas production of the forages. In the two different periods of the year Tifton 85 had the highest cellular wall components, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), neutral detergent fiber with corrections for mineral and protein (NDFcp), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin (LlG), total carbohydrates (CHOS), fraction B2 and C of the CHO (69,36; 62,19; 32,09; 4,09; 78,31; 54,25 e 9,82%, respectively), and the lower in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) 49,33%, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) 45,35%, and the gas production 225,49mL g-1 MS. The forage nutritive value (the potential degradability (PD), the effective degradability (ED). Considering the two periods of the year and the three cutting ages investigated in the present study, the nutritive value (chemical composition, digestibility and nature of digested products) of Marandugrass was superior in comparison to Tanzaniagrass and Tifton 85.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-05-28Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:40:16Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rufino_amm_me_botfca.pdf: 2747239 bytes, checksum: cdbcc49d429a0f7df7aba9d1fac59f81 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O sequestro de carbono nos ambientes terrestres, sendo feito de forma natural pelos vegetais através da fotossíntese, cujo processo permite fixar o carbono nos solos e, em forma de matéria lenhosa nas plantas, vem sendo apontado como uma alternativa mitigadora das mudanças climáticas, segundo acordos internacionais como o Protocolo de Kyoto. A retirada da floresta nativa provoca a diminuição significativa da biomassa microbiana e da fertilidade do solo. A reserva de carbono na matéria orgânica do solo é uma importante estratégia para atenuar a concentração de CO2 na atmosfera. Com o reflorestamento dessas áreas ocorre uma recuperação lenta e contínua da quantidade e qualidade da matéria orgânica. O eucalipto é a essência florestal mais plantada no Brasil e essas plantações florestais com eucalipto poderão cumprir o papel de aumentar as concentrações de carbono orgânico no solo, recuperando estruturas perdidas quando da exportação da madeira através da colheita, bem como, provocando mudanças ambientais associadas. Este trabalho objetivou quantificar a fixação de carbono no compartimento do solo de 0 a 60 cm de uma floresta nativa em comparação com plantios de eucalipto com 3 diferentes idades: 0 a 1 ano (área recém implantada); 3 a 4 anos (metade do ciclo) e 6 a 7 anos (época de corte). Foram escolhidos quatro diferentes sítios de amostragem com uma área amostral de 1 ha cada. Foram coletadas amostras de solo no inverno e no verão a diferentes profundidades para que se pudesse conhecer a quantidade de carbono orgânico fixado ao longo do perfil do solo considerando o fator da sazonalidade. Os resultados indicam que o manejo nas áreas interferiu no acúmulo de carbono no solo dos quatro sítios estudados, mostrando também que o fragmento de Cerrado estoca menos carbono que os plantios de eucalipto. Quanto à sazonalidade, houve diferença significativa... / The carbon sequestration in terrestrial environments, by plants through photosynthesis, allows carbon fixing as a woody matter in plants. This process has been identified as an alternative to mitigate climate change, according to Kyoto Protocol, an international environmental agreement. The removal of the native forest causes a significant decrease of microbial biomass and soil fertility. The storage of carbon in soil organic matter is an important strategy to reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. With the reforestation of these areas, occurs a slow and continuous recovery of the quantity and quality of organic matter. The eucalyptus is the most planted species in Brazil for industrial supply. These eucalyptus reforestations may fulfill the role of increasing soil organic carbon concentration, recovering some structures lost by wood harvesting and causing associated environmental changes. This study aimed to quantify the carbon fixation within the soil compartment from 0 to 60 cm depth of a native forest formation in comparison with eucalyptus plantations with 3 different ages: 0 to 1 year (newly planted area); 3 to 4 years (half the harvesting cycle) and 6 to 7 years (harvesting time). Four different sites were chosen for sampling, with a sampling area of 1 ha each. Soil samples were collected in winter and summer time, at different depths, to quantify the organic carbon fixed throughout the soil profile, considering the seasonality factor. The results indicate that management in each area interfered in the accumulation of carbon in the soil in the four sites studied. The savanna fragment stored less carbon than the eucalyptus plantations. Regarding seasonality, a significant difference was found between the accumulation of carbon in winter and summer... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-03-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:40:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_sa_dr_botfca.pdf: 276488 bytes, checksum: ea2dcd8e60a3c196781c5745beae452b (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da calagem e da gessagem superficiais durante a implantação de sistema de plantio direto, sobre a produção e qualidade das sementes de arroz e feijão. Assim, foi instalado um experimento na Fazenda Experimental Lageado, pertencente à Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas - UNESP, localizada no município de Botucatu (SP), sobre Latossolo Vermelho distrófico utilizando-se o arroz de terras altas (cv. IAC 202, no ano de 2002/2003) e feijão (cv. Pérola, no ano de 2003/2004). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas e quatro blocos. As parcelas constituídas por doses de calcário dolomítico (0, 1,1, 2,7 e 4,3 t ha-1) e, as subparcelas por doses (0 e 2,1 t ha-1) de gesso agrícola. Foram avaliadas a produção, a massa, o vigor (aos 0 e 6 meses de armazenamento) e o teor de macronutrientes das sementes. A aplicação de calcário melhora as características químicas do solo e contribui, assim, para o aumento na produção de sementes de arroz com boa qualidade fisiológica. A combinação de calcário e gesso tem efeito positivo sobre a produção e os teores de Ca, Mg e S das sementes de arroz. O calcário não tem efeito sobre a produção de sementes de feijão, em sucessão ao arroz, como decorrência da provável estabilização das características químicas do solo, o que pode contribuir para aumentar a produção de sementes de maior tamanho e de boa qualidade. A aplicação de calcário, juntamente com o gesso, foi benéfica para o aumento no tamanho e teor de nutrientes das sementes de feijão. / This work had the objective to evaluate the reply of rice and beans to the superficial liming and gypsum in the implantation of no tillage system, on the production and quality of seeds. Thus, an experiment was installed in the Fazenda Experimental Lageado, pertaining to the Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas - UNESP, located in Botucatu (SP), on Latossolo Vermelho distrófico using the high land rice (cv. IAC 202, in the year of 2002/2003) and beans (cv. Pérola, in the year of 2003/2004). The used experimental design was randomized blocks with parcels subdivided and four blocks. Being the parcels consisting of four rates dolomitic limestone (0, 1.1, 2,7 and 4,3 t ha-1), and subparcels constituted by the absence or application of 2,1 t ha-1 of gypsum. Evaluations had been carried through of: production, mass of 1000, tests of vigor (to the 0 and 6 months of storage) and of macronutrients content of the seeds of rice and beans. The limestone application improves the chemical characteristics of the soil and it contributes, like this, for the increase in the production of seeds of rice with good physiologic quality. The limestone and gypsum combination has positive effect on the production and the content of Ca, Mg and S of the seeds of rice. The limestone doesn't have effect on the production of bean seeds, in succession to the rice, as consequence of the probable stabilization of the chemical characteristics of the soil, what can contribute to increase the production of larger seeds and of good quality. The limestone application, together with the gypsum, it was beneficial for the increase in the size and content of nutrients of the bean seeds.

Thesis was solving in senior home of Mistra Křišťana in Prachatice. The goal of thesis was to evaluation nutritional tendencies and nutritive supply at seniors institutional care it also structure on menu and analyses filling of norm of need from the view of intake energy, macronutrients and selected micronutrients. The concept of thesis is divided into two parts. The first part comparances intake energy and the norm of need at seven men and women during ten months. The second part presents results of questionary which was selected three hypothesis. The first hypothesis: Monitoring health nutrition of respondents concidering their education. The second hypothesis: Respondent{\crq}s physical activites concidering their sex. The third hypothesis: Monitoring of observance dribling regime concidering their sex. The result of thesis say that all the women who were monitored were overweight. It was analyses on rate body mass index and percent of fat at also perimeter of waist. Body Mass Index rate at man was usually in optimal range 20 - 25, despite this high percent of body fat, which is created by decreasing of muscle tissue and increasing of body fat. Discovered rates correspond with results comparising intake energy and nutrients with norm of need. All respondents had high intake of lipid and high intake proteins especially women. Intake of sacharide and dietary fiber was optimal. Be results show that respondents have low intake of vitamin D. When compared average intake vitamins and minerals with the norm of need. At minerals the increased intake selenium was found-approximately about fourteen percent from norm of need. At evaluation calcium and phosphorus was analysed opposite rate 1:1,2. Calcium intake is long time under norm of need in divide 20 - 40 %. The same conclusion is valid for magnesium. Magnesium intake is 15 - 30 % under norm of need. The results were consulted with a diet nurse who had information of higher creation of osteoporosis at seniors. The results of three testing hypothesis in the second part of thesis are: monitoring health of food of respondents depends on their education. The second testing hypothes showes that physical activites at seniors doesn{\crq}t depend on their sex. The last testing hypothes found out that krepiny drinking regime doesn{\crq}t depend on their sex. Thirty questionary were analyses twenty women and ten men took a part. Women were more interested in the questionary than man because they were more interested in questions of health food. A questionary included fourty-six questions which were divided into four parts. The first part is focused on information about respondents. The second part is about correct dribling regime and the fourth part of the questionary is focused on satisfaction on seniors in senior home. Part of thesis is recommendation on what concentrate attention in nutrition client senior home.

This thesis is an extension of my Bc. thesis. Based upon previously conducted research in a wet grassland, Mokré Louky, near Třeboň, Czech Republic, a mesocosm experiment was designed for investigating the effect of two nutrient regimes (non fertilized / fertilized) and three flooding regimes (saturated / spring flood / flooded) on Carex acuta and Phalaris arundinacea plants to determine the effect of management type for restoring a more diverse wet meadows system.

Trichomonas vaginalis é o protozoário flagelado que parasita o trato urogenital humano causando a tricomonose, doença sexualmente transmissível (DST) de origem não viral mais comum no mundo. Durante a infecção a aquisição de nutrientes, como nucleotídeos púricos, pirimidínicos e ferro é essencial à sobrevivência do parasito. T. vaginalis não sintetiza de novo purinas e pirimidinas, dependendo de vias de salvação para aquisição destas moléculas. O ferro desempenha um papel crucial na patogenicidade da tricomonose, influenciando a expressão de múltiplos genes envolvidos na virulência. Nucleotídeos extracelulares, especialmente o ATP, são liberados em situações de estresse, anoxia ou injúria, atuando como sinalizadores pró-inflamatórios ao sistema imune. As enzimas NTPDase e ecto-5'-nucleotidase degradam ATP à adenosina, esta com ação anti-inflamatória. A enzima adenosina deaminase (ADA) degrada adenosina à inosina. A presença desta cadeia enzimática em T. vaginalis sugere a modulação das concentrações nucleotídeos/nucleosídeos durante a inflamação. A atividade da ADA foi caracterizada em T. vaginalis, porém há poucos relatos sobre a participação desta enzima na sobrevivência do parasito, bem como, a localização celular e o efeito de nutrientes essenciais na atividade enzimática e na expressão gênica. O estudo da localização da ADA em T. vaginalis foi realizado, indicando a presença da enzima na membrana celular e no citoplasma do trofozoíto. Avaliando-se o perfil da ADA de diferentes isolados de T. vaginalis em uma condição de limitação de soro bovino, o qual representa a fonte de adenosina aos trofozoítos, não se observou diferenças significativas na deaminação da adenosina à inosina. Na avaliação do efeito de diferentes fontes de ferro ou a privação deste cátion na atividade e na expressão gênica da ADA foi possível verificar uma diminuição da atividade e um aumento na expressão gênica após a privação do ferro, reforçando a hipótese que este elemento pode modular a atividade das enzimas envolvidas na sinalização purinérgica. Os resultados obtidos nesta dissertação permitem a avaliação de importantes aspectos da ADA, contribuindo para o melhor entendimento do sistema purinérgico em T. vaginalis e seu papel no estabelecimento e manutenção da infecção e consequente sobrevivência do parasito. / Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellate protozoan that parasitizes the urogenital human tract causing trichomonosis, the non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) most common in the world. During infection the acquisition of nutrients such as purine and pyrimidine nucleotides, and iron is essential to the parasite survival. T. vaginalis lacks de novo purines and pyrimidines synthesis depending on the salvation pathway for the acquisition of these molecules. Iron plays a crucial role in trichomonosis pathogenesis, influencing the expression of multiple genes involved in virulence. Extracellular nucleotides, especially ATP, are released during stress, injury or anoxia, acting as a pro-inflammatory signaling to the immune system. The enzymes NTPDase and ecto-5'-nucleotidase degrade ATP to adenosine with anti-inflammatory action. The adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzyme degrades adenosine to inosine. The presence of this enzymatic chain in T. vaginalis suggests the modulation of nucleotides/nucleosides concentrations during inflammation. The ADA activity was characterized in T. vaginalis, but there are few reports on the participation of this enzyme in the parasite survival, as well as the cellular localization and the effect of essential nutrients on enzyme activity and gene expression. The study of ADA localization in T. vaginalis was performed, indicating the presence of the enzyme on trophozoite cell membrane and cytoplasm. Evaluating the ADA profile in different T. vaginalis isolates in bovine serum limitation condition, which is the source of adenosine for the trophozoites, no significant differences were observed in the deamination of adenosine to inosine. Regarding the effect of different iron sources or iron deprivation in activity and gene expression of ADA, it was observed a decrease in activity and an increase in gene expression after iron deprivation, reinforcing the hypothesis that this element can modulate the activity of enzymes involved in the purinergic signaling. The results obtained in this study allow the assessment of important aspects of ADA, contributing to a better understanding of the purinergic system in T. vaginalis and its role in the establishment and maintenance of infection and consequent survival of the parasite.

abstract: For the past 30 years wildlife biologists have debated the need of pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) to drink freestanding water (free water). Some have suggested that pronghorn may feed at night to increase preformed water (plant moisture) intake, thus decreasing their dependence on free water. Pronghorn diet composition and nutrient intake is integral to understanding water available to pronghorn through preformed and metabolic sources. The dual purpose of this study was to determine plant composition of pronghorn diets, and to examine whether night feeding provides a water allocation advantage by testing for differences between day and night and modeling free water requirements during biologically critical seasons and years of different precipitation. I determined species composition, selected nutrients, and moisture content of American pronghorn diets on Perry Mesa, Arizona in March, May, June and August of 2008 and 2009. I used microhistological analysis of fecal samples to determine percent plant composition of pronghorn diets. I used forage samples to evaluate the nutrient composition of those diets for moisture, crude protein and structural carbohydrates, and to calculate metabolic water. I used calculations proposed by Fox et al. (2000) to model free water requirements and modified the equations to reflect increased requirements for lactation. Diet analysis revealed that pronghorn used between 67% and 99% forbs and suggested fair range conditions. Preformed water was not significantly different between night and day. Night feeding appeared to be of marginal advantage, providing an average potential 9% preformed water increase in 2008, and 3% in 2009. The model indicated that neither male nor female pronghorn could meet their water requirements from preformed and metabolic water during any time period, season or year. The average free water requirements for females ranged from 0.67 L/animal/day (SE 0.06) in March, 2008 to 3.12 L/animal/day (SE 0.02) in June, 2009. The model showed that American pronghorn on Perry Mesa require access to free water during biological stress periods. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Applied Biological Sciences 2012