Martial arts for women - A quantitative study of which factors that influence women to start and to continue the training of martial arts

La quête de performance a été une constante à travers l’histoire des systèmes informatiques. Il y a plus d’une décennie maintenant, le modèle de traitement séquentiel montrait ses premiers signes d’épuisement pour satisfaire les exigences de performance. Les barrières du calcul séquentiel ont poussé à un changement de paradigme et ont établi le traitement parallèle comme standard dans les systèmes informatiques modernes. Avec l’adoption généralisée d’ordinateurs parallèles, de nombreux algorithmes et applications ont été développés pour s’adapter à ces nouvelles architectures. Cependant, dans des applications non conventionnelles, avec des exigences d’interactivité et de temps réel, la parallélisation efficace est encore un défi majeur. L’exigence de performance en temps réel apparaît, par exemple, dans les simulations interactives où le système doit prendre en compte l’entrée de l’utilisateur dans une itération de calcul de la boucle de simulation. Le même type de contrainte apparaît dans les applications d’analyse de données en continu. Par exemple, lorsque des donnes issues de capteurs de trafic ou de messages de réseaux sociaux sont produites en flux continu, le système d’analyse doit être capable de traiter ces données à la volée rapidement sur ce flux tout en conservant un budget de mémoire contrôlé La caractéristique dynamique des données soulève plusieurs problèmes de performance tel que la décomposition du problème pour le traitement en parallèle et la maintenance de la localité mémoire pour une utilisation efficace du cache. Les optimisations classiques qui reposent sur des modèles pré-calculés ou sur l’indexation statique des données ne conduisent pas aux performances souhaitées. Dans cette thèse, nous abordons les problèmes dépendants de données sur deux applications différentes : la première dans le domaine de la simulation physique interactive et la seconde sur l’analyse des données en continu. Pour le problème de simulation, nous présentons un algorithme GPU parallèle pour calculer les multiples plus courts chemins et des diagrammes de Voronoi sur un graphe en forme de grille. Pour le problème d’analyse de données en continu, nous présentons une structure de données parallélisable, basée sur des Packed Memory Arrays, pour indexer des données dynamiques géo-référencées tout en conservant une bonne localité de mémoire. / A busca por desempenho tem sido uma constante na história dos sistemas computacionais. Ha mais de uma década, o modelo de processamento sequencial já mostrava seus primeiro sinais de exaustão pare suprir a crescente exigência por performance. Houveram "barreiras"para a computação sequencial que levaram a uma mudança de paradigma e estabeleceram o processamento paralelo como padrão nos sistemas computacionais modernos. Com a adoção generalizada de computadores paralelos, novos algoritmos foram desenvolvidos e aplicações reprojetadas para se adequar às características dessas novas arquiteturas. No entanto, em aplicações menos convencionais, com características de interatividade e tempo real, alcançar paralelizações eficientes ainda representa um grande desafio. O requisito por desempenho de tempo real apresenta-se, por exemplo, em simulações interativas onde o sistema deve ser capaz de reagir às entradas do usuário dentro do tempo de uma iteração da simulação. O mesmo tipo de exigência aparece em aplicações de monitoramento de fluxos contínuos de dados (streams). Por exemplo, quando dados provenientes de sensores de tráfego ou postagens em redes sociais são produzidos em fluxo contínuo, o sistema de análise on-line deve ser capaz de processar essas informações em tempo real e ao mesmo tempo manter um consumo de memória controlada A natureza dinâmica desses dados traz diversos problemas de performance, tais como a decomposição do problema para processamento em paralelo e a manutenção da localidade de dados para uma utilização eficiente da memória cache. As estratégias de otimização tradicionais, que dependem de modelos pré-computados ou de índices estáticos sobre os dados, não atendem às exigências de performance necessárias nesses cenários. Nesta tese, abordamos os problemas dependentes de dados em dois contextos diferentes: um na área de simulações baseada em física e outro em análise de dados em fluxo contínuo. Para o problema de simulação, apresentamos um algoritmo paralelo, em GPU, para computar múltiplos caminhos mínimos e diagramas de Voronoi em um grafo com topologia de grade. Para o problema de análise de fluxos de dados, apresentamos uma estrutura de dados paralelizável, baseada em Packed Memory Arrays, para indexar dados dinâmicos geo-localizados ao passo que mantém uma boa localidade de memória. / The quest for performance has been a constant through the history of computing systems. It has been more than a decade now since the sequential processing model had shown its first signs of exhaustion to keep performance improvements. Walls to the sequential computation pushed a paradigm shift and established the parallel processing as the standard in modern computing systems. With the widespread adoption of parallel computers, many algorithms and applications have been ported to fit these new architectures. However, in unconventional applications, with interactivity and real-time requirements, achieving efficient parallelizations is still a major challenge. Real-time performance requirement shows up, for instance, in user-interactive simulations where the system must be able to react to the user’s input within a computation time-step of the simulation loop. The same kind of constraint appears in streaming data monitoring applications. For instance, when an external source of data, such as traffic sensors or social media posts, provides a continuous flow of information to be consumed by an online analysis system. The consumer system has to keep a controlled memory budget and deliver a fast processed information about the stream Common optimizations relying on pre-computed models or static index of data are not possible in these highly dynamic scenarios. The dynamic nature of the data brings up several performance issues originated from the problem decomposition for parallel processing and from the data locality maintenance for efficient cache utilization. In this thesis we address data-dependent problems on two different applications: one on physically based simulations and another on streaming data analysis. To deal with the simulation problem, we present a parallel GPU algorithm for computing multiple shortest paths and Voronoi diagrams on a grid-like graph. Our contribution to the streaming data analysis problem is a parallelizable data structure, based on packed memory arrays, for indexing dynamic geo-located data while keeping good memory locality.

OBJETIVOS: caracterizar o estado nutricional de indivíduos ativos, portadores de deficiência motora. METODOLOGIA: Foram avaliados 68 indivíduos ativos, do sexo masculino, portadores de lesão medular (LM, n= 28), seqüelas de poliomielite (L, n=32) ou amputados (A, n= 8). Foram avaliados: o consumo alimentar (recordatório de 24h e lista de freqüência de alimentos), antropometria (peso, altura, dobras cutâneas), composição corporal por DEXA e por bioimpedância. Quanto aos parâmetros bioquímicos: glicemia de jejum, lipídeos plasmáticos (colesterol total, LDL, HDL e triacilgliceróis), uréia e creatinina, insulina, cortisol e IGF-1 plasmáticos. Os dados dos grupos foram submetidos à análise univariada (ANOVA) e os contrastes significativos ao teste de Tuckey, além da análise multivariada para detecção das correlações entre os parâmetros de avaliação. RESULTADOS: os grupos apresentaram um consumo energético abaixo das predições normais, o que pode ser explicado pela menor necessidade decorrente da diminuição da massa muscular. A distribuição percentual da ingestão de lipídeos apresentou-se elevada, inversamente ao consumo de carboidratos. O IMC mostrou-se um bom indicador da gordura corporal, o DEXA mostrou alta correlação com os dados obtidos por dobras cutâneas e com as predições convencionais de gordura corporal. A densidade óssea do corpo total apresentou normalidade, porém, nos LMe nos P a região das pernas apontou para osteopenia e/ou osteoporose. Os dados bioquímicos apresentaram-se normais. CONCLUSÕES: a atividade física parece ter sido um fator determinante para a normalidade encontrada na maioria dos parâmetros avaliados, embora não tenha sido suficiente para manter a densidade óssea e muscular nas regiões paralisadas. Ficou evidente a necessidade de trabalhos de Educação Nutricional para esses indivíduos. No que diz respeito a parâmetros de densidade óssea, é importante a análise dos diferentes segmentos do corpo. / OBJECTIVES: to characterize the nutricional status of active, handicapped individuals. METHODOLOGY: 68 individuals active, men, with spinal cord injury (SCI) (LM, n = 28), poliomelite sequels (L, n=32) or amputed ( n = 8). They had been evaluated by: food consumption (24h dietary recall and food frequency), anthropometry (weight, height, skinfolders and cicunferences), body composition from DEXA and bioelectrical impedance. About the biochemical parameters: serum fast glucose, serum lipids (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides), serum urea and creatinine, insulin, cortisol and IGF-1. The data had been submitted to the ANOVA and the significant contrasts to the Tuckey test, beyond the multivaried analysis for correlations values between the parameters. RESULTS: the groups had presented an energy consumption below of the normal predictions, what it can be explained by the muscle mass reduction. The distribution of the lipids ingestion was high, inversely to the carbohydrates consumption. The body mass index (BMI) revealed to be a good index of the body fat, the DEXA showed high correlation with the skinfolders and with the body fat predicictions. The total bone density presented normality, however, in the LM and the P the region of the legs pointed osteopenia and/or osteoporose. The biochemical data had been normal. CONCLUSIONS: the physical activity seems to have been a determinative factor for the normality found in the majority of the evaluated parameters, even so it has not been enough to keep the bone and muscle density in the paralyzed regions. The necessity of Nutricional Education was evident for these individuals. About the parameters of bone density, the analysis of the different regions is important .

As of today, there is a challenge amongst the elderly to get the energy they need. Malnutrition is a fact for too many and protein is one of the most common deficiencies among macronutrients in this age group. Another group, also in the need of extra energy and protein, are those with a higher level of physical activity. Aventure AB in Lund, Sweden, has earlier developed an “in between meal beverage”, based on oats, with high energy and protein content called “Skaka & Smaka”. This beverage has with promising results been distributed to selected hospitals in Sweden as a pilot-trial. As an expansion of this product, Aventure wanted to create an oat-based, energy dense stirred yogurt. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of addition of different protein sources to create an energy dense stirred yogurt with good texture and a balance of macronutrients. Four different types of protein sources were, separately or in combination, added to the original recipe of “Skaka & Smaka” (without added flavour), after which it was fermented and evaluated regarding sensory and physio-chemical properties. Three different fruit purée mixtures were added separately to the fermented oat-base in different proportions and evaluated by taste, color and flavour intensity. Salt concentration was adjusted and two final products were developed and evaluated through a sensory consumer test, at two different retirement homes in Hässleholm, Sweden. To measure the participants opinions a 9-point hedonic scale was used and attributes evaluated were first impression, color, taste, consistency, thickness, spoonability and total impression. All of the 11 individuals who participated were at the age of 75 and over, where of 2 were men and 9 were women. The proportions of added protein in the two final products were 10% casein and 90% whey. The two selected fruit purées, “skogen” and “havet”, were added in the concentration of 30%. The addition of salt was increased with 100%, resulting in a final concentration of 0.08 g per 100 grams. The sensory analysis revealed no statistical significance between any of the related attributes of the two yogurts. The attribute most important for general liking was taste, followed by texture and color.    Seven individuals (64%) said they could consume this kind of product a few times a week and all participants thought that there was a need for this kind of product. The two yogurts developed in this project, “skogen” and “havet”, and the concept behind them seem to have good potential for consumer liking, though further development of taste and texture is needed. / Som det ser ut idag så finns det en utmaning bland de äldre att få i sig den energi de behöver. Undernäring är ett faktum för allt för många och protein är en av de vanligaste bristerna bland makronäringsämnena inom denna åldersgrupp.    En annan grupp som också är i behov av extra energi och protein är de med en hög fysisk aktivitetsnivå. Aventure AB i Lund, Sverige, har tidigare utvecklat en mellanmåls dryck, baserad på havre, med ett högt energi- och proteininnehåll, kallad ”Skaka & Smaka”. Denna dryck har i ett pilot försök och med lovande resultat distribuerats till flertalet utvalda sjukhus i Sverige. Som en vidareutveckling av denna produkt ville Aventure skapa en havrebaserad, energität, rörd yoghurt. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka geomförbarheten i tillsättning av olika proteinkällor för att skapa en energität, rörd yoghurt med bra konsistens och en balans av makronäringsämnen. Fyra olika typer av proteinkällor tillsattes, separat eller i kombination, till originalreceptet för ”Skaka & Smaka” (utan tillsatt smak), vartefter blandningen fermenterades och utvärderades utifrån sensoriska och fysio-kemikaliska egenskaper. Tre olika fruktpurée blandningar tillsattes separat till den fermenterade havrebasen i olika proportioner och utvärderades utifrån smak, färg och smakintensitet. Saltkoncentrationen justerades och två slutliga produkter utvecklades och utvärderades genom ett sensoriskt konsumenttest, vid två olika äldreboenden i Hässleholm, Sverige. För att mäta deltagarnas åsikter användes en 9-punkt hedonisk skala och de attribut som utvärderades var första intryck, färg, smak, konsistens, tjockhet, skedbarhet och totalt intryck. Alla de 11 individer som deltog var av ålder 75 och över, varav två var män och nio var kvinnor. Proportionerna av tillsatt protein i de två slutliga produkterna var 10% kasein och 90% vassle. De två valda fruktpuréerna, ”skogen” och ”havet”, tillsattes i en koncentration på 30%. Tillsatsen av salt ökades med 100%, vilket resulterade i en slutlig koncentration på 0.08g per 100 gram. Den sensoriska analysen visade inte på någon statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan de relaterade attributen för de två olika yoghurtarna. Attributen som var av störst vikt för generellt tycke var smak, följt av konsistens och färg. Sju individer (64%) sa att de kunde konsumera en produkt som denna ett par gånger i veckan och alla deltagande tyckte att det fanns ett behov av en produkt som denna. De två yoghurtarna som utvecklades i detta projekt, ”skogen” och ”havet”, och det bakomliggande konceptet tycks ha god potential bland konsumenter, men vidare utveckling av smak och konsistens är nödvändigt.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The current study aimed to describe the paradox of risk through an exploration of the experiences and perceptions of sexuality and HIV/AIDS among physically disabled young people in Nyanga, South Africa. This is against the background that AIDS has become a national and global crisis, which requires all people to participate in efforts to contain the pandemic. Yet literature indicates that young people with disabilities are not participating in such efforts. There is also an assumption, that physically disabled young people do not experience challenges in expressing their sexuality and accessing HIV/AIDS prevention services, to the same extent as other disability groups such as the blind and those with intellectual disabilities. Hence there was a need to explore disabled young people’s own understanding of risk and the factors that hinder or support their participation in existing sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. It was also important for this group to suggest ways in which they may participate in such programmes. A qualitative case study design was chosen as the appropriate means for achieving the aim of the current study. This design allowed me to study disabled young people without separating them from their context. In this way, a comprehensive understanding of this group was realised. Multiple methods of data collection from multiple data sources were employed, a feature that helped to discuss the ‘case of disabled young people’ in-depth and breadth. Policy and programme documents and relevant literature were reviewed for relevant information on sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention services for disabled young people. Fifteen disabled young people between the ages of 15 and 24 participated in individual in-depth interviews and in focus group discussions. Pertinent issues that arose from individual interviews were discussed with 15 parents, 15 senior citizens, five sangomas and five counsellors in focus group discussions of 4-10 members each. Similar issues from focus group discussions were taken up with eight key informants in more individual in-depth interviews for confirmation and clarity. Textual and contextual features of the Atlas.ti computer programme for analysing qualitative data were used to organize and analyse data. The textual features were used to code data and write memos, while the contextual features were used to link the codes and to form networks from which categories and themes were generated. Themes and sub themes were used to answer the research questions and meet the objectives of the study. The study has revealed a complex interplay of contextual and individual factors that combine to create situations of risk for disabled young people. These factors affect disabled young people’s experiences of growing up and participation in existing sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. Contextual factors include cultural beliefs and poverty, while individual factors include sexual behaviour and attitude towards HIV risk. I found that disabled young people have limited access to education and other social amenities, which in turn affect their experiences of life in general and sexuality and HIV/AIDS. The study has revealed that the paradox of risk lies in the contradictory scripts and attitude towards the pandemic at contextual and individual levels. The belief that disabled young people are asexual is common in Nyanga, yet society targets this group for sexual exploitation and rape. In the face of an epidemic that has crippled the fabric of society, and in spite of the widespread availability of HIV/AIDS awareness programmes, most disabled young people still do not have accurate factual knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Yet accurate information is one of the prerequisites for making informed decisions about HIV/AIDS prevention. Furthermore, gender differences make the experiences described above more serious for disabled young women who suffer discrimination and sexual abuse even from fellow disabled young men. Although most disabled young people indicated that they are aware of the gravity of the pandemic and that they personally feel threatened, they are not taking preventive measures against contracting the infection; they have adopted a fatalistic response to risk. Participants argue that in the same way they are not able to protect themselves from going hungry, or living in shacks, they also cannot prevent getting infected with HIV, which they equate to any accident over which they have no control. Disabled young people expressed the need to participate in mainstream education systems, sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. They also pointed out that there will always be disabled young people who require separate programmes because of special disability circumstances such as inability to travel to clinics/centres. In order to meet disabled young people’s expressed wishes, I have recommended in this thesis, a community-based sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention programme that focuses on the whole community instead of individuals only so as to deal with contextual and individual factors of risk. Such a programme encourages dialogue and participation as opposed to the information giving approaches from experts. A guideline that existing HIV/AIDS intervention programmes can use to include disabled young people’s special circumstances, has been presented. / South Africa

The diploma thesis is focused on social tourism in Brno. The aim of the thesis is to analyse in what measure the tourist services are adapted to young people, families with children, physically handicapped people and seniors in Brno. The thesis is divided in theoretical and analytical part. The analytical part can be divided into four groups such as attractions offer, analysis of accommodation services, gastronomic services and transport services. These services are evaluated in demand of each segment. The selected destination is analysed in attractiveness for each segment.

Esta tese possui os objetivos de investigar por que aspectos históricos e como aspectos ergonômicos e estético-simbólicos do design de calçados promovem efetiva inclusão sociocultural para pessoas com deficiência do aparelho locomotor. Esta investigação resultou na criação da metodologia Mi Piacce, que contribui nas análises dos prazeres físicos, psicológicos, sociais e ideológicos provocados pelo design de calçados aos usuários supracitados e verifica como os aspectos mencionados podem promover-lhes inclusão sociocultural. Método indutivo e combinação de metodologia qualitativa e quantitativa foram aplicados. No primeiro subproblema, por que aspectos históricos promovem a esses usuários efetiva inclusão sociocultural, utilizou-se análise comparativa entre fontes secundárias sobre a história do design de calçados nos séculos XX e XXI que resultaram nos principais estilos. Devido à carência de produtos ofertados no Brasil, concluiu-se que os usuários desejam estilos já familiares, considerados icônicos. Concluiu-se ainda que, enquanto o designer de calçados para a moda preocupou-se em manifestar o espírito do tempo, o designer de órteses e próteses valorizou os aspectos da funcionalidade do design. Observado que a mudança de paradigma foi incorporada pela WHO na classificação do ICF (2001), compreendeu-se por que a maioria dos projetos para pessoas com deficiência não considerou as dimensões socioculturais dos usuários. A pesquisa encontra-se sob o viés epistemológico do Construtivismo e da Teoria Interpretativista, especialmente da Teoria Fenomenológica quando analisou entrevistas semi-estruturadas com os usuários. Entrevistou-se dezoito indivíduos, cinco da área da saúde, uma especialista em design de calçados e onze usuários - nove do sexo feminino e dois do masculino. As entrevistas seguiram o Código de Ética de Pesquisas da CONEP. Utilizou-se como técnica de análises das entrevistas com os usuários a codificação e relação posteriori com a Teoria do Quatro Prazeres de Jordan (2000) para responder ao segundo subproblema - como aspectos ergonômicos e estético-simbólicos do design de calçados promovem efetiva inclusão sociocultural aos usuários supracitados. Primeiramente, os dados analisados foram tabulados qualitativamente, realizando-se, a seguir, as tabulações quantitativas por meio de estatística simples. Concluiu-se que cada elemento do design de calçados relaciona-se com específicos tipos de prazer e correlaciona-se com outros. Aos prazeres físicos foram relacionados os conceitos de equilíbrio, segurança e conforto físico. Foi observado que duas dimensões estão presentes nos prazeres psicológicos; na primeira, a realização de tarefas, encontra-se a facilidade e/ou dificuldade de manuseio e de manutenção e, na segunda, a emocional, estão os conceitos de auto-estima e bem estar. Aos prazeres sociais foram relacionados e analisados o desejo pessoal e a sociabilidade. Os prazeres ideológicos foram relacionados à responsabilidade social, desenvolvimento sustentável e ciclo de vida dos produtos. Verificou-se, então, como os conceitos mencionados promovem efetiva inclusão sociocultural dos usuários. As análises qualitativas-quantitativas das entrevistas resultaram em oito generalizações sobre o design de calçados para as pessoas em questão: percepção de maior incidência de pressão social em cerimoniais, desejo por prazeres físicos e por design de calçados que camuflem as restrições, preocupação com o alto custo dos calçados, dificuldade em encontrar calçados prazerosos, aquisição do mesmo par de calçados mais de uma vez, vontade de inclusão e reconhecimento da singularidade. / The aims of this PhD research are to investigate why historical aspects and how ergonomic and aesthetical-symbolical aspects regarding shoe design can with provide physically challenged women both effective social and cultural inclusions. This investigation resulted in the creation of Mi Piacce methodology, which contributes to analyze physiological, psychological, sociological, and ideological pleasures brought about by shoe design those specific wearers. Also, it verifies how these aspects could cause them social and cultural inclusions. Inductive method and combination between qualitative and quantitative methodologies were applied. In the first subproblem, why historical aspects could cause those wearers social and cultural inclusions, comparative analyze between secondary data about the history of shoe design in XX and XXI Century was applied, which resulted in principal styles. Due to the lack of Brazilian products, it could be concluded that the wearers desire known shoe design styles, considered to be iconic. In addition, it could be concluded that while the fashion shoe designer preoccupied in demonstrating time spirit, orthese and prosthese designer valorized the functionality of design. Once the paradigm change was incorporated into ICF Classification (2001) by WHO, it could be understood why the majority of projects for disabled people did not incorporated wearers\' social and cultural dimensions. This research relied on Constructivism Epistemology and Interpretativist Theory, especially Phenomenological Theory when analyzed semistructured interviews with wearers. Eighteen people were interviewed, five health professionals, one shoe design expert and eleven wearers - nine female and two male. The interviews followed the Brazilian Ethics Code of CONEP. It was used to analyze the interviews with wearer\'s the codification and posteriori relation to The Four Pleasures Theory by Jordan (2000) to respond the second subproblem - how ergonomic and aestheticalsymbolical aspects regarding shoe design can with provide physically challenged women both effective social and cultural inclusions. Firstly, qualitative data was analyzed, then, quantitative tabulation was analyzed by applying simple statistic. It was concluded that each shoe design element were related to specific types of pleasure and co-related to others pleasures. Physio-pleasures were related to balance, security and physic comfort concepts. It was observed that psychopleasures are related to two dimensions; the first one implies task accomplishment, i.e., the facility in handling and maintenance; the second dimension, which is emotional, implies self-esteem and well-being concepts. Socio-pleasures were related to personal desire and sociability. Ideo-pleasures were related to social responsibility, sustainable development and life cycle of products. Therefore, it was verified how these concepts can improve both effective social and cultural inclusions. Qualitative-quantitative analyzes from the interviews resulted in eight generalizations regarding to shoe design for physically challenged women: higher perception of social oppression on ceremonial occasions, desire for physio-pleasures and for shoe design which camouflage feet or leg problems, preoccupation with higher price of shoes, difficulty to find pleasant shoes, acquisition of the same shoe style more than once, wish for inclusion and recognition of singularity.

O presente trabalho de pesquisa foi conduzido no período de outubro de 2007 a março de 2008 na Estação de Avaliação de Suínos em Tanquinho, Piracicaba SP, no Frigorífico BRESSIANI®, localizado na cidade de Capivari SP, e as avaliações bioquímicas, químicas, quantidade e qualidade de carne foram realizadas no mês de março a abril de 2008, no Centro de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Carnes do Instituto de Tecnologia de Alimentos, localizado na cidade de Campinas SP. Neste experimento foram testados métodos de castração de suínos objetivando avaliar a incidência do odor de macho inteiro, causado pela androstenona e escatol, presentes no tecido adiposo dos suínos machos, composição corporal e da carcaça. Entre os métodos de castração de suínos machos existentes, foram avaliados o cirúrgico e imunológico. O primeiro consistiu na remoção cirúrgica das gônadas do leitão entre 3 a 5 dias de vida e o segundo na aplicação de duas doses da forma modificada do Fator de Liberação das Gonadotropinas (GnRF) em um sistema coadjuvante de baixa reatividade, sendo a primeira dose aplicada nos animais com 15 semanas e a segunda dose com 19 semanas de idade. Após duas semanas da segunda dose foram coletadas amostras de sangue para avaliação de testosterona através de radioimunoensaio. No momento do abate foi realizada a coleta de parte do tecido adiposo para análise de androstenona e escatol. Nas meias carcaças esquerdas foram avaliadas a qualidade de carne (pH, temperatura, capacidade de retenção de água, perda por exsudação e cor) e a quantidade (medidas lineares das carcaças e rendimentos dos cortes anatômicos). A vacinação dos animais contra o GnRF demonstrou sua eficiência em controlar os compostos responsáveis pelo odor sexual (androstenona e escatol) e em manter os níveis de testosterona comparáveis aos animais castrados cirurgicamente. A imunocastração melhorou o desempenho zootécnico e contribuiu para aumentar a quantidade de carne por animal (4,84 kg), diminuir a de gordura (1, 54 kg) e acrescentar mais carne nos cortes de maior valor comercial, como pernil (1060 g, p < 0,05), carre(400 g, p > 0,05), a barriga (840 g, p < 0,05) e paleta (1460 g, p < 0,05), que representa uma vantagem econômica para a indústria da carne, pois atende os mercados de carne fresca e de produtos industrializados (cozidos e embutidos). Em relação à avaliação sensorial foram constatadas diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) para todos os atributos sensoriais avaliados em favor dos suínos imunocastrados quando comparados com os castrados cirurgicamente. Quanto à preferência, os bifes cozidos de lombo dos suínos imunocastrados obtiveram melhor preferência (66%) em comparação com os castrados cirurgicamente (34%). A intenção de compra também foi em favor dos suínos imunocastrados e refletiu os resultados dos testes de preferência e de aceitação. A maioria dos consumidores (74,8%) provavelmente (20,2%) ou certamente (54,6%) compraria a carne dos suínos imunocastrados e somente 58,4% dos consumidores provavelmente (25,2%) ou certamente (33,2%) compraria a carne dos suínos castrados cirurgicamente. A gordura total encontrada no lombo nesse experimento foi 14.67 e 12.67 g/100g para o grupo dos suínos castrados cirurgicamente e imunocastrados, respectivamente. O rendimento de cocção e os valores da força máxima de cisalhamento (Warner - Bratzler) dos suínos castrados cirurgicamente e imunocastrados não foram estatisticamente diferentes (p > 0,05) enquanto que a cor instrumental (L*, a* e b*) apresentou diferença estatística (p < 0,05) na sua composição para os tratamentos estudados. Os resultados desse trabalho permitem dizer que a imunocastração demonstrou ser eficiente em prevenir o odor sexual bem como em melhorar o desempenho zootécnico e qualidade de carcaça quando comparada com a castração cirúrgica. Quanto à qualidade de carne dos suínos imunocastrados ficou evidenciado que essa tecnologia pode melhorar os atributos sensoriais e outras características de qualidade realizadas nessa pesquisa. / The present study was carried out from October 2007 to March 2008 at the Pig Evaluation Station in Tanquinho, located in Piracicaba city, São Paulo state, in the BRESSIANI® abattoir, located in Capivai, city, São Paulo state, and the biochemical, chemical, meat quantity and meat quality assessments were carried in March 2008, at the Meat Center for Research and Development in the Institute of Food Technology, located in Campinas city, São Paulo state. In this experiment were tested castration methods applied in pigs to evaluate the incidence of the boar taint, caused by androstenone and skatole located in the fat of boars, carcass composition and meat quality. The castration methods tested were physical and immunological. In the first one pig gonads were removed physically at the age 3 to 5 days and the last one the pigs were immunocastrated (two doses, 15 and 19 weeks of age) against the modified factor gonadotropin-releasing (GnRF). After two weeks of the second dose blood samples were taken to evaluate testosterone using radioimmunoassay. At the slaughter level a portion of backfat was collected to assess androstenone and skatole. Meat quality (pH, temperature, water holding capacity, loss of weeping and color) and quantity (linear measurements of carcasses and anatomical cuts yield) were performed at left carcass side. Vaccination of animals against GnRF demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling the boar taint compounds (androstenone and skatole) and to maintain the levels of testosterone comparable to physically castrated animals. The immunocastration improved growth performance and contributed to increase the total meat quantity per animal (4.84 kg), reducing the fat (1, 54 kg) as well as added more meat in cuts of higher commercial value, such as ham (1060 g, p < 0.05), loin (400 g, p > 0.05), belly (840 g, p < 0.05) and shoulder (1460 g, p < 0.05), which represents an economic advantage for the meat industry since reaches booths markets fresh and processed meats products (sausage and cooked). Regarding the sensory evaluation were found significant differences (p < 0.05) for all sensory attributes evaluated in favor ofimmunocastrated pigs when compared with physically castrated. The preference test applied to cooked sirloin steak from immunocastrated pigs indicated better preference (66%) compared with physically castrated (34%). The panelists intent to purchase was also in favor of the immunocastrated treatment and confirmed the results from the preference and acceptance tests. The majority (74.8%) of the consumers probably (20.2%) or certainly (54.6%) would buy meat from the immunocastrated pigs compared to 58.4% of the consumers who would probably (25.2%) or certainly (33.2%) would buy meat from physically castrated pigs. Loin total fat content found in the experiment was 14.67 and 12.67 g/100g for the physical and immunocastrated groups respectively. The immunocastrated group contained 11.2% less fat than the surgical castrates. Cooking yields and peak Warner-Bratzler shear force values from physically castrated and immunocastrated pigs were not statistically different (P > 0.05) while statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the brightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) parameters were observed between the two treatments. From the above considerations it can be said that immunocastration shows very good potential for pre-venting boar taint. Pain and stress associated with physical castration can thus be avoided. It was also demonstrated that immunocastrated pigs improved some meat quality aspects evaluated. Sensory, total fat content and color were the main factors affected by immunocastration while cooking loss and instrumental tenderness had no remarkable changes. The consumers classified meat from immunocastrated pigs significantly better than physically castrated pigs as far as acceptability, preference and purchase intention are concerned. Thus, immunocastration results in production of animals with high meat quality in the carcass and still capitalizes on the growth, feed efficiency and carcass leanness of boars up to the point of immunocastration.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / There is also assumption, that physically disabled young people do not experience challenges in expressing their sexuality and accessing HIV/AIDS prevention services, to the same extent as other disability groups such as the blind and those with intellectual disabilities. Hence there was a need to explore disabled young people's own understanding of risk and the factors that hinder or support their participation in existing sexuality education and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes. It was also important for this group to suggest ways in which they may participate in such programmes.

This work deals with design and implementation of simple demonstration aplication for simulation of a water flow on irregular terrain. The work examines essential building blocks of the simulation. It also suggests approaches that can be used to optimize and/or extend used method.