Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Discipline of Geology and Geophysics, 2004. / "February 2004" Includes bibliographical references (leaves 216-227).

Thesis (M.Sc. Earth and Ocean Sciences)--University of Waikato, 2008. / Title from PDF cover (viewed September 17, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 225-232)

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Santa Cruz, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 175-180).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007. / Martial Taillefert, Committee Member ; Jay Brandes, Committee Member ; Markus Huettel, Committee Member ; Philip Froelich, Committee Member ; Ellery Ingall, Committee Member ; Richard A. Jahnke, Committee Chair.

Thesis (MScFoodSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Perforation-mediated modified atmosphere packaging (PM-MAP) offers the possibility of optimising polymeric films in order to compensate for barrier limitations of conventional modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of PM-MAP and storage duration on the physico-chemical quality attributes, microbial quality, phytochemicals (anthocyanins, phenolics and ascorbic acid) and antioxidant activities of arils from fresh minimally processed pomegranate (cv. Acco). The effects of number of perforations (0, 3, 6 and 9; Ø = 0.8 mm) and storage temperature (5, 10 and 15 ºC) on water vapour transmission rate (WVTR, g/m2.day) of synthetic ‘Polylid’ and biodegradable (Nature flexTM) polymeric films were investigated. The results showed that non-perforated biodegradable film had higher WVTR at all storage temperatures, and irrespective of film type, increasing the number of perforations (from P-3 to P-9) had higher impact on WVTR than increasing storage temperature (from 5 to 15 ºC). Furthermore, this study investigated the effects of PM-MAP on the physico-chemical properties, phytochemicals components and antioxidant activities of fresh minimally processed arils. Arils (100 g) were packaged in polypropylene trays (10.6 x 15.1 cm2) and heat-sealed with a polymeric film POLYLID®. Perforations (0, 3, 6 and 9; Ø = 0.8 mm) were made on the top of the film and all samples were stored at 5 ± 1 ºC and 95 ± 2% relative humidity for 14 days. Samples were analysed at intervals of 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 days. Microbial analysis included tests for Escherichia coli, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, yeast and moulds at days 0, 6, 10 and 14. The results showed that headspace gas composition was significantly influenced by the number of perforations, which helped balance the decrease in O2 with corresponding increase in CO2 levels, thus preventing anoxic conditions. Total soluble solids, titratable acidity and firmness of arils were slightly reduced by PM-MAP compared to clamshell trays. Colour attributes was generally maintained across all treatments and throughout the storage duration. The highest counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (5.5 log CFU/g), yeast and moulds (5.3 log CFU/g) were observed in P-0 and P-9 packages, respectively. Overall, P-3 and P-6 better maintained the physico-chemical properties and microbial quality of arils. Total phenolics and anthocyanin contents were higher in arils packaged in PM-MAP while ascorbic acid was slightly reduced. Antioxidant activities tested against FRAP and DPPH radical-scavenging activity increased across all types of MAP over storage duration. However, antioxidant activities were significantly higher in pomegranate arils packaged in PM-MAP due to O2-promoted biosynthesis of phenolics and anthocyanins which constitute the antioxidant properties. Overall, the results reported in this study showed that the use of PM-MAP in cold chain could be suitable for the preservation of physico-chemical quality, phytochemical contents and antioxidant properties of arils packaged in passive PM-MAP compared to clamshell and non-perforated packages during postharvest handling and storage. Perforating MAP films showed potential in preventing the incidence of in-package moisture condensation which is a common problem during postharvest handling and storage of fresh produce packaged inside non-perforated MAP. The results also showed the importance of keeping PM-MAP packs in closed refrigerated shelves to avoid cross contamination or ingress of foodborne pathogens. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Perforasie-bemiddelde gewysigde-verpakking (PM-MAP) maak dit moontlik om polimeer films te optimiseer en om sodoende te kompenseer vir die versperring beperkings van die konvensioneel-gewysigde atmosfeer verpakking (MAP). Die doelwit is om die effek van PM-MAP en die duur van stoor op die fisioko-chemiese gehalte kenmerke, mikrobiale gehalte, fitochemikale (antisianien, fenolies en askorbiensuur) en antioksidant aktiwiteite van granaatarils van vars, minimaal geprosesseerde granate, te ondersoek (cv. Acco). Die effek van die aantal perforasies (0, 3, 6 en 9; Ø =0.8 mm) en stoortemperatuur (5, 10 en 15 ºC) op die waterdamp transmissie koers (WVTR, g/m2.day) van sintetiese ‘Polylid’ en biodegradeerbare (Nature flexTM) polymeriese films is ondersoek. Die resultate het bewys dat nie-perforeerde biodegradeerbare film by alle stoortemperature ’n hoër WVTR het, en dat by alle tipes film, ’n verhoogde aantal perforasies (van P-3 tot P-9) ’n hoër impak op WVTR het as ’n verhoogde stoortemperatuur (van 5 tot 15 ºC). Verder is die effek van PM-MAP op die fisiko-chemiese kenmerke, fitochemikale komponente en antioksidant aktiwiteite van vars, minimaal-geprosesseerde granaatarils bestudeer. Die granaatarils (100 g) is verpak in in polipropilien (PP) platkissies (10.6 x 15.1 cm2) en verseël met polimeer film, POLYLID®. Perforasies (0, 3, 6 en 9; Ø =0.8 mm) is aan die bo-end van die film aangebring en alle voorbeelde is vir 14 dae teen 5 ± 1 ºC en 95 ± 2 % relatiewe humiditeit. Die voorbeelde is met tussenposes van 3, 6, 9, 12 en 15 dae ontleed. Die ontleding het toetse vir Escherichia coli, aerobiese mesofiliese bakterië, suurdeeg en skimmel op tussernposes van 0, 6, 10 en 14 dae ingesluit. Die resultate bewys dat die komposisie van die gas beïnvloed word deur die aantal perforasies. Dit help om die vermindering in O2 met ’n ooreenkomstige toename in CO2 vlakke te balanseer en om dus toestande wat deur ’n gebrek aan suurstof veroorsaak is, te verhoed. Die totaal van oplosbare vaste stowwe, titreerbare suurgehalte en fermheid van die granaatarils is deur die PM-MAP verminder veral as dit vergelyk word met “clamshell trays”. Die kleur kenmerke het oor die algemeen dieselfde gebly by al die behandelings en dwarsdeur die stoortydperk. Die hoogste aantal aerobiese mesofiliese bakterië (5.5 log CFU/g), gis en skimmel (5.3 log CFU/g) is in die P-0 en P-9 verpakkings onderskeidelik opgemerk. Oor die algemeen is P-3 en P-6 beter in staat om die fisioko-chemiese kenmerke en mikrobiale gehalte van die granaatarils te behou. Die totaal van die fenoliese and antosianiin inhoud was hoër in granaatarils wat verpak is in PM-MAP maar die askorbiensuur was effens laer. Antioksdant aktiwiteite is getoets teen FRAP en DPPH aktiwiteite het by al die tipes van MAP tydens stoor vermeerder. Antioksidant aktiwiteite was egter heelwat hoër in granate wat in PM-MAP verpak is. Dit is die gevolg van die biosintese van fenolies en antosianins wat deur O2 in die hand gewerk word en wat die basis van antioksidant kenmerke vorm. Oor die algemeen toon die resultate van hierdie studie dat die gebruik van PM-MAP in die koue ketting geskik is vir die behoud van fisieko-chemiese gehalte, fitochemiese inhoud en antioksidant kenmerke van granaatarils wat in passiewe MAP verpak is, veral as dit vergelyk word met die vrugte wat in ‘clamshell’ en nie-geperforeerde verpakking tydens hantering na die oes en tydens stoor verpak is. Die perforeer van MAP films kan die voorkoms van die kondensasie in die verpakking verminder. Hierdie kondensasie is ’n algemene probleem tydens die hantering en stoor van vars vrugte wat in MAP sonder gaatjies verpak is. Die resultate toon ook hoe belangrik dit is om die PM-MAP verpakking in toe, verkoelde rakke te hou en om sodoende kruis-kontaminasie asook kontaminasie deur kieme wat in vrugte teenwoordig is, te voorkom.

A faixa urbanizada da orla na costa sul – oriental e leste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro sofre constantemente com a destruição de calçadões, ruas, muros e casas em eventos oceanográficos extremos. Essas construções, na maior parte dos casos estão localizadas muito próximas ao limite com a praia, dentro da faixa de não edificação prevista no Projeto Orla do Ministério do Meio Ambiente. A região apresenta forte crescimento populacional com principais atividades econômicas associadas à exploração de petróleo nas cidades de Macaé e Rio das Ostras, ao turismo da Região dos Lagos, além do centro urbano de Niterói já consolidado. A identificação de jazidas de material semelhante ao original para recuperação de praias como opção de mitigação, representa uma alternativa para manter a função de proteção exercida pelas mesmas e de seu uso para o lazer. Nesse sentido, este estudo tem como objetivo analisar a compatibilidade de sedimentos superficiais da plataforma continental interna com as areias de praias urbanas, situadas entre as cidades de Niterói e Macaé – RJ, através da comparação de parâmetros estatísticos da distribuição granulométrica das areias desses dois ambientes. Para a caracterização sedimentar das praias alvo, foram coletadas amostras da face praial de 16 praias situadas nos principais núcleos urbanos deste segmento do litoral fluminense. Os dados granulométricos dos sedimentos superficiais da antepraia e plataforma continental interna entre Niterói e Macaé são secundários, de campanhas oceanográficas pretéritas. Tais dados foram filtrados e digitalizados, somando um total de aproximadamente 1200 pontos de coleta que vão desde a barra leste da Baia da Guanabara até a Restinga de Jurubatiba. Onze áreas granulometricamente compatível com as diferentes praias da região de estudo foram identificadas próximo à isóbata de -20 m ao largo da costa de Niterói e Maricá, de Cabo Frio e Búzios e entre Rio das Ostras e Macaé, representando potenciais estoques de sedimento para utilização em projetos de recuperação dessas praias. / The urbanized coastline of east and south-east littoral of the state of Rio de Janeiro suffers constantly with the destruction of houses, walls and streets in extreme oceanographic events. These constructions, in most cases are located very close to the limit with the beach, inside of the range of no building suggest by Projeto Orla – Ministry of Environment. This region has strong population growth with major economic activities associated with oil exploration in the city of Macae and Rio das Ostras, industry of tourism in Lakes Region and the urban center of Niteroi already consolidated. The identification of sand deposits with similar granulometric characteristics to the native material to nourishment project as a mitigation option, represented an alternative to maintain the protective function of the beach and use for recreation. The objective of this study is analyze the compatibility of surface sediments of the inner continental shelf and sands of urban beaches, located between the cities of Niteroi and Macae – RJ, through of comparison the statistical parameters of size distribution of the sands of these two environments. For the characterization of sedimentary beaches were sampled from the beach face of 16 beaches located in the major urban centers of this segment of the coastline of Rio de Janeiro’s state. The granulometric data of surface sediments of the inner continental shelf between Niteroi an Macae are secondary from preterits oceanographic campaigns. These datas were filtered and digitized with a total of approximately 1200 collection points ranging from east bar of Guanabara Bay to the Restinga de Jurubatiba. Eleven areas granulometrically compatible with the different beaches were identified near the -20 meters isobaths near the coast of Niteroi and Marica, Cabo Frio and Buzios and between Rio das Ostras and Macae, representing a potential borrow areas for use in nourishment projects in this region.

As frutas fornecem um aporte de vitaminas, de minerais e açúcares, além de terem substâncias com propriedades funcionais. Atualmente, por parte dos consumidores há uma crescente preocupação para encontrar no mercado alimentos que tenham sido minimamente processados, sendo que produtos com essa característica podem ser obtidos através de aplicações tecnológicas como emprego do frio, de sistemas de atmosferas controladas ou modificadas, e uso de embalagens comestíveis antimicrobianas. A perspectiva de conservação de alimentos busca a aplicação de sistemas antimicrobianos naturais onde se enfatiza a ação sinérgica de vários elementos. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de cobertura de quitosana em combinação com nisina e natamicina, sob refrigeração, na conservação de kiwi e morango minimamente processados. Foi avaliado o emprego de diferentes combinações de quitosana, nisina e natamicina durante o armazenamento das frutas sob refrigeração. Determinou-se a variação da atividade de água, vitamina C, pH, acidez titulável, perda de peso, sólidos solúveis, além da avaliação microbiológica das frutas, na condição de armazenamento em temperatura de refrigeração a 4 ± 2oC durante os intervalos de 1 (tempo 0), 7 e 14 dias. Os filmes com a combinação dos antimicrobianos foram eficientes para evitar a deterioração microbiológica nas frutas, mas não foram capazes de afetar positivamente os resultados das análises físico-químicas. Em kiwi, os índices de sólidos solúveis, vitamina C e pH foram os únicos afetados positivamente pelos filmes. E em morango, apenas a umidade e a vitamina C foram as variáveis que apresentaram menores perdas significativas com adição das coberturas. A aplicação dos filmes de quitosana para preservação de alimentos, além da estabilidade das frutas frente à deterioração microbiana, aumenta a garantia de obtenção de kiwis e morangos sadios minimamente processados por mais tempo. / Fruits are sources of vitamins, sugars and minerals, and contain substances with functional properties. Currently, for consumers there is a growing concern in the market to find foods that are minimally processed. The products with this feature can be obtained through technological applications such as: the use of refrigerated storage, use of or modified controlled atmospheres or applying edible antimicrobial packaging. The prospect of keeping food seeking the application of natural antimicrobial systems which emphasizes the synergistic action of several elements. This work intended to coatings of chitosan in combination with nisin and natamycin, under refrigeration in the conservation of kiwi ana strawberry minimally processed. The use of different combinations of chitosan, nisin and natamycin, in combination with temperatura refrigeration were as well evaluated. Ranges of water activity, vitamin C, pH, acidity, fresh weight loss, soluble solids, than the microbiological evaluation of fruit containing biofilms on the condition of storage temperature of refrigeration at 4 ± 2ºC, during the intervals of 0, 7, and 14 days. The biofilms in antibiotic combination were effective in reduction of microbial deterioration in the fruits, but they were not able to act positively on physical and chemical variables. In kiwi, the contents of soluble solids, vitamin C and pH were the only variables positively affected by films. And in strawberry, only the moisture and vitamin C were the variables that showed reduced losses when coatings were added. Furthermore, with the application of biofilms as food preservatives, and the stability of fruit in contrast to microbial deterioration, increase the guarantee of obtaining in minimally processed and healthy strawberries and kiwi fruit.

Light is one of the most important elements for seizure of the architectural space and can be considered the most valuable resource by the architect, responsible for biological effects, psychological and human visual system. You can also reduce the use of artificial lighting systems, contributing to the growing global awareness of the depletion of natural resources of the planet. However, its use in architecture should be made based on criteria in order to optimize its benefits. Thus, the light shelf can be used as a daylighting control element, which reduces the direct incidence of sunlight, can more evenly distribute light within the room. Using computer simulation software TropLux proceeded to the simulation of a basic room with no light shelf and weather data for the city of Maceio. From there, nine other rooms were created with light shelf and each received a different reflectance configuration of 0.9, 0.7 and 0.5, ranging from diffuse, specular and mixed. the values were compared between the standard room and the other as well as between the points of the same depth between the different rooms in order to establish which setting has allowed a better light performance. As a result, we arrived at the conclusion that the use of light shelf to fully diffuse surface, provided a greater uniformity in the distribution of natural lighting within the environment in comparison to the use of mixed or specular surfaces. The light shelves with reflectance of 0.5 in comparison to others, showed better uniformity of illuminance. / A luz é um dos mais importantes elementos para apreensão do espaço arquitetônico e pode ser considerado o recurso mais valioso pelo arquiteto, sendo responsável por efeitos biológicos, psicológicos e visual do homem. Pode ainda reduzir o uso de sistemas artificiais de iluminação, contribuindo com a crescente conscientização mundial do esgotamento de recursos naturais do planeta. Entretanto, seu uso na arquitetura deve ser feito a partir de critérios, de modo a otimizar seus benefícios. Nesse sentido, a prateleira de luz pode ser usada como um elemento de controle da iluminação natural que permite reduzir a incidência de radiação solar direta, podendo distribuir mais uniformemente a luz dentro do ambiente. Utilizando o software de simulação computacional TropLux, procedeu‐se a simulação de uma sala base sem prateleira de luz e com dados climáticos para a cidade de Maceió. A partir daí, foram criadas outras nove salas com prateleira de luz e cada uma delas recebeu uma configuração diferente com refletância de 0,9, 0,7 e 0,5, variando entre difusa, especular e mista. Foram comparados os valores entre a sala padrão e as demais, bem como entre os pontos de mesma profundidade entre as diferentes salas a fim de estabelecer qual configuração permitiu um melhor desempenho luminoso. Como resultados, chegou‐se à conclusão que a utilização da prateleira de luz com superfície totalmente difusa, proporcionou uma maior uniformidade na distribuição da iluminação natural no interior do ambiente em comparação à utilização de superfícies especulares ou mistas. As prateleiras de luz com refletância de 0,5 em comparação as demais, foram as que melhor distribuíram e uniformizaram a luz natural.

O yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) é uma raiz de origem andina, considerada como um alimento funcional por apresentar em sua composição frutoligossacarídeos (FOS) e compostos fenólicos. Os FOS são polímeros de frutose com grau de polimerização de 3-10 e têm sido designados como prebióticos e fibras alimentares por sua não digestibilidade pelas enzimas do trato digestivo humano e por estimulando seletivamente o crescimento e a atividade de bactérias intestinais promotoras de saúde. Além da ação prebiótica, as raízes de yacon são ricas em compostos fenólicos com propriedades antioxidantes, que protegem o corpo humano dos processos oxidativos. Entretanto, a presença desses compostos torna as raízes suscetíveis à reação de escurecimento enzimático causado pela peroxidase e polifenoloxidase. Diante disso, inicialmente, foi estudada a cinética da inativação térmica e parâmetros termodinâmicos durante o branqueamento dessas enzimas e da enzima inulinase no suco de yacon. O suco de yacon, previamente acidificado com 1% de ácido cítrico foi branqueado com diferentes combinações de tempo-temperatura na faixa de 0-10minutos e 80-100 ºC. O comportamento cinético das três enzimas indicou a presença de duas isoenzimas com diferentes estabilidades térmicas, seguindo o modelo bifásico. A análise cinética demonstrou ainda, a alta resistência térmica das enzimas avaliadas, sendo que a inulinase foi a mais resistente ao calor. A análise termodinâmica indicou que a adição do ácido cítrico ao suco de yacon, provavelmente, causou a desnaturação da maior parte das enzimas que posteriormente foram agregadas durante o branqueamento. Posteriormente, o suco de yacon foi microencapsulado por atomização a fim de avaliar o uso da polidextrose como material de parede através da comparação com a goma arábica que é um dos encapsulantes mais utilizados em alimentos. Os efeitos da concentração dos agentes encapsulantes e da temperatura de secagem no teor de compostos fenólicos totais, atividade antioxidante, frutoligossacarídeos, umidade, atividade de água, solubilidade, higroscopicidade, cor e morfologia foram investigados. Os resultados indicaram que a polidextrose apresentou bom desempenho no microencapsulamento de componentes bioativos do suco de yacon, apresentando alta retenção dos compostos fenólicos e da atividade antioxidante. Em todos os tratamentos avaliados teve comportamento muito similar à goma arábica apresentando boas características, tais como baixa umidade, atividade de água e higroscopicidade e elevada solubilidade. Posteriormente, a cinética e termodinâmica de degradação dos compostos fenólicos e a cinética da degradação da diferença total de cor dessas microcápsulas foram avaliadas sob condições de cinética acelerada de armazenamento, com umidade relativa de 75 e 90% e temperaturas de 35 e 45 ºC. As microcápsulas foram atomizadas na temperatura de 140 ºC com goma arábica e polidextrose na proporção de 10% e armazenadas nessas condições por 35 dias. A degradação dos compostos fenólicos e da diferença total de cor das microcápsulas exibiram cinética de primeira ordem. Em relação à degradação dos compostos fenólicos, para todas as condições de umidade e temperatura, as microcápsulas com goma arábica foram mais estáveis do que as encapsuladas com polidextrose, apresentando maiores tempos de meia vida. Entretanto, os valores dos parâmetros termodinâmicos tiveram valores similares, indicando que a degradação dos fenóis ocorreu de forma similar nas microcápsulas independente do material de parede utilizado. As constantes de velocidades da degradação da diferença total de cor das microcápsulas não apresentaram diferença significativa com o aumento da temperatura e/ou da umidade relativa. Paralelamente, foi avaliada a estabilidade do bagaço de yacon desidratado através das isotermas de sorção e análise termodinâmica. O bagaço é o subproduto do processo de extração do suco, tem baixa atividade de água e potencial para uso em formulações alimentícias devido ao teor de FOS que permanece mesmo após a secagem. Os dados de umidade de equilíbrio de bagaço de yacon desidratado em pó foram determinados nas temperaturas de 20, 30, 40 e 50 ºC e o modelo de Halsey ajustou adequadamente os dados de sorção. As isotermas obtidas foram do tipo III, características de produtos contendo açúcares. / Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a root of Andean origin, considered to be a functional food as it presents fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and phenolic compounds in its composition. FOS are fructose polymers with a polymerization degree of 3–10 units and have been referred to as prebiotics and dietary fibers because they are not digestible by the enzymes of the human digestive tract and they selectively stimulate the growth and activity of of health promoting bacteria. Other than their prebiotic action, yacon roots are rich on phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties, which protect the human body from oxidative processes. However, the presence of such compounds makes the roots susceptible to enzymatic browning reaction caused by peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase. Thereby, initially, a study was conducted on the kinetics of thermal inactivation and thermodynamic parameters during blanching of these enzymes as well as inulinase enzyme on yacon juice. The yacon juice, previously acidified with 1% citric acid was blanched with different time-temperature combinations in the ranges of 0-10 minutes and 80-100 °C. The kinetic behavior of the three enzymes indicated the presence of two isoenzymes with different thermal stabilities, following the biphasic model. Furthermore, the kinetic analysis showed high thermal resistance for the evaluated enzymes, where in inulinase was the most heat resistant. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adding of citric acid to the yacon juice, probably, caused the denaturation of the most of the enzymes that were subsequently aggregated during blanching. Afterwards, yacon juice was microencapsulated by spray drying with the aim of evaluating the use of polydextrose as wall material through in comparison to gum arabic, which is one of the more often used encapsulants in food. The effects of the concentration of the encapsulating agents and drying temperature in the content of total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, fructooligosaccharides, moisture, water activity, solubility, hygroscopicity, color, and morphology were investigated. The results indicated that polydextrose presented a good performance in the encapsulation of yacon juice, presenting high retention of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. On all the evaluated treatments, a behavior similar to arabic gum was observed, presenting good characteristics, such as low moisture content, water activity and hygroscopicity and high solubility. Hereafter, the kinetics and thermodynamics of the degradation of phenolic compounds and the kinetics of the degradation of the total color difference of these microcapsules were evaluated under accelerated storage kinetics conditions, with relative humidity of 75 and 90% and temperatures between 35 and 45 °C. The spray drying process was performed under a temperature of 140°C with arabic gum and polydextrose in a 10% concentration and stored under such conditions for 35 days. Degradation of phenolic compounds and total color of microcapsules showed first order kinetics. As of phenolic compound degradation, for all the conditions of relative humidity and temperature the microcapsules with arabic gum were more stable than the ones encapsulated with polydextrose, presenting longer half-lives. Nevertheless, values for the thermodynamic parameters were similar, indicating that the degradation of the phenols occurred in a similar way in the microcapsules, regardless of the wall material used. The kinetic analysis for total color difference of the microcapsules showed that the increase in temperature and/or relative humidity caused no significant difference on the the rate constants. Meantime, the stability of dehydrated yacon bagasse was evaluated by use of sorption isotherms and thermodynamic analysis. The bagasse is a byproduct of the juice extraction process, with low water activity and potential for usage in food formulations due to residual FOS content, even after drying. Equilibrium moisture data for powdered dehydrated yacon bagasse was determined under temperatures of 20, 30, 40, and 50°C and the Halsey model suitably adjusted to the sorption data. The isotherms thus obtained were class III isotherms, typical of sugar rich products.

A relação entre preço e posicionamento de produto nas prateleiras de varejo ainda tem espaço para descobertas na literatura de marketing. O objetivo central dessa dissertação foi identificar o efeito do posicionamento de produtos levando em consideração o seu preço e a escolha do consumidor; mais especificamente o efeito positivo do posicionamento lógico de preços (i.e produtos posicionados do menor ao maior preço nas prateleiras) na escolha final, facilidade de escolha e número de unidades vendidas. Dois estudos foram feitos em busca de resultados, o primeiro sendo um experimento online, no qual escolha e facilidade de escolha foram estudadas a partir do posicionamento de preço. O segundo estudo foi um experimento de campo, no qual unidades vendidas foram verificadas através do posicionamento de preço. Os resultados encontrados em ambos os estudos indicam que o posicionamento de produtos a partir de uma ordem lógica de preço afeta a escolha do consumidor, embora não através da facilidade de escolha, e, mais ainda, afeta positivamente a quantidade de produtos vendidos. Contudo, verificou-se que o posicionamento a partir de preço não tem como consequência a facilidade de escolha. / The relationship between price and product positioning on retail shelves still has room for breakthroughs in marketing literature. The main goal of this dissertation was to identify the effect of product placement, taking into account its price, and consumer choice; more specifically, the positive effect of product placement by a logical positioning of prices (i.e. products positioned from the lowest to the highest price on the shelves) on the final choice, choice easiness and overall number of units sold. Two studies were conducted to search for these results, the first one as an online experiment, which studied choice and choice easiness from price positioning. In this first study was found that there is a positive relation between logical price arrangement (i.e. positioning products from the cheapest to the most expensive one) and consumer choice. However, price positioning does not significantly affect the ease of choice. The second study was a field experiment, in which the overall number of units sold was verified through price positioning. The results found in both studies indicate that the positioning of products from a logical price order affects consumer choice, though not through easiness of choice and, moreover, positively affects the quantity of products sold. Yet, it has been found that considering primily price to choose a shelf position does not have as consequence easiness of choice.