The thesis deals with pension reform in the Czech republic. The main objective of the thesis is to analyze czech pension system and reforms. The thesis is divided into an introduction, a conclusion and four chapters. The first chapter is concerned with social security system and its subsystems, the second one with the pension system, its history and reforms. The third chaper deals with the upcoming changes and the fourth one presents author's suggestions on possible changes to the system. Realization of a pension reform is a long and extremely dificult process. It has be implemented very carefully with an emphasis on preserving the principle of social justice and the principle of human dignity.

As fosfolipases A2 (PLA2s) de peçonhas de serpentes compreendem um grupo de enzimas de massas moleculares variáveis entre 14.000 e 18.000, e são responsáveis por vários efeitos tóxicos induzidos pela peçonha destes animais, tornando-se necessária a busca por inibidores naturais de PLA2¬s. O presente trabalho propôs a caracterização bioquímica, farmacológica e estrutural de duas proteínas inibitórias isoladas do plasma da serpente Bothrops jararacussu (BjussuMIPs), que neutralizam as atividades enzimáticas, tóxicas e farmacológicas de diferentes PLA2s. Estes inibidores foram isolados por cromatografia de afinidade em miotoxina-Sepharose, demonstrando que ambos são glicoproteínas com massas moleculares de 24.000 (BjussuMIP) e 23.500 (BjussuMIP) para os monômeros e de 120.000 (BjussuMIP) e 160.000 (BjussuMIP) para os oligômeros. O tratamento dos BjussuMIPs com a N-glicosidase F reduziram os seus pesos moleculares para aproximadamente 18.000, mas não afetaram suas atividades inibitórias sobre PLA2s, sugerindo que os carboidratos tem pouco ou nenhum papel na associação dos BjussuMIPs com estas enzimas. A análise do BjussuMIP por dicroísmo circular mostrou 44% de -hélice, 18% de folhas , 10% de voltas e 28% de estruturas aleatórias. O cDNA obtido por PCR a partir do fígado desta serpente revelou 432 pb (BjussuMIP) e 543 pb (BjussuMIP) que codificam para 144 e 181 resíduos de aminoácidos, respectivamente. O alinhamento da sequência de BjussuMIP com a de outros inibidores do tipo , denominados de PLIs, apresentou 73-92% de similaridade e o BjussuMIP mostrou 89-94% com inibidores do tipo PLIs. Os BjussuMIPs demonstraram ser relativamente estável a variações de pH (6-12) e temperatura, entretanto, perderam atividade inibitória quando submetido a altas temperaturas. A caracterização funcional indica que os BjussuMIPs apresentaram propriedades inibitórias sobre diferentes PLA2s isoladas de peçonhas de serpentes dos gêneros Bothrops e Crotalus. Ambos BjussuMIPs revelaram propriedades farmacológicas como a inibição das atividades fosfolipásica, anticoagulante, miotóxica, indução de edema, citotóxica, bactericida e letal. Os resultados obtidos demonstram que o BjussuMIP mostra maior afinidade sobre as PLA2s homólogas Lys49 como BthTX-I e PrTX-I, enquanto que o BjussuMIP apresenta-se mais específico para PLA2s Asp49, sugerindo uma especificidade entre os BjussuMIPs e tipos de PLA2s. Além disso, ambos os inibidores mostraram ser eficazes na suplementação do antiveneno botrópico em diferentes concentrações, resultando no aumento da capacidade do soro em neutralizar toxinas de serpentes. Os aspectos abordados neste trabalho poderão trazer informações complementares sobre possíveis mecanismos de ação, podendo resultar no melhor entendimento dos efeitos inibitórios exercidos pelos BjussuMIPs, assim como auxiliar o tratamento do envenenamento ofídico pela suplementação da soroterapia tradicional. / Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) from snake venoms comprise a group of enzymes with molecular weights varying from 14,000 to 18,000, and are responsible for several toxic effects induced by the venom of these animals, making important the search for natural inhibitors of PLA2s. The present work proposed the biochemical, pharmacological and structural characterization of two protein inhibitors isolated from the plasma of Bothrops jararacussu snake (BjussuMIPs), which neutralize the enzymatic, toxic and pharmacological activities of different PLA2s. These inhibitors were isolated by an affinity chromatography on myotoxin-Sepharose, showing that both are glycoproteins with molecular weights of 24,000 (BjussuMIP) and 23,500 (BjussuMIP) for the monomers and 120,000 (BjussuMIP) and 160,000 (BjussuMIP) for the oligomers. The treatment of BjussuMIPs with N-glucosidase F reduced their molecular weights to about 18,000, but did not affect their inhibitory activity on PLA2s, suggesting that the carbohydrates have little or no role in the association of these BjussuMIPs with these enzymes. The analysis of BjussuMIP by circular dichroism showed 44% of -helix, 18% of sheets, 10% of turns and 28% of random structures. The cDNA obtained by PCR from the snake liver showed 432 bp for BjussuMIP and 543 bp for BjussuMIP, which encode for 144 and 181 amino acid residues, respectively. The alignment of the sequence of BjussuMIP with those from other -inhibitors (PLIs) showed 73-92% of similarity and 89-94% for the BjussuMIP compared to other PLIs. The BjussuMIPs showed to be relatively stable to changes in pH (6-12) and temperature, however lost of its activity when submitted to high temperatures. The functional characterization indicates that both BjussuMIPs presented inhibitory properties on different snake venom PLA2s from the genera Bothrops and Crotalus. Both BjussuMIPs showed pharmacological properties such as inhibition of phospholipase, anticoagulant, myotoxic, cytotoxic, bactericidal, edema-inducing and lethal activities. The results show that BjussuMIP presents higher affinity to Lys49-PLA2 homologous, such as BthTX-I and PrTX-I, while BjussuMIP is more specific to Asp49-PLA2s, suggesting specificity between BjussuMIPs and types of PLA2s. Moreover, both inhibitors proved effective in the supplementation of Bothrops antivenom at different concentrations, resulting in an increased capacity of serum in neutralizing snake toxins. The issues reported in this work could bring additional information on possible mechanisms of action and may result in better understanding of the inhibitory effects exerted by these BjussuMIPs, as well as assist the treatment of ophidian envenomations by supplementation of the traditional serum therapy.

Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-02-08T12:52:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Bianka Adamatti_.pdf: 3632958 bytes, checksum: d7841a2a9752766a6c3115f7c060c296 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-02-08T12:52:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bianka Adamatti_.pdf: 3632958 bytes, checksum: d7841a2a9752766a6c3115f7c060c296 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-30 / CNPQ – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / O regime imposto pelo nacional-socialismo de 1933 a 1945 guarda semelhanças com as dominações coloniais exercidas durante a modernidade, por todo o discurso de inferiorização dos indivíduos produzido e técnicas semelhantes aos dos métodos colonizatórios empregados pela Europa Ocidental. Diante do exposto, o objetivo dessa dissertação consiste em verificar se na Lei de Proteção ao Sangue Alemão e à Honra Alemã e no Primeiro Decreto Suplementar de 14 de novembro de 1935 existem indicadores de discurso colonial, através da análise de conteúdo, com suporte do método histórico e levantamento bibliográfico. As referidas legislações são de cunho racista e segregaram, a partir da sua vigência, todos os judeus que estivessem em território alemão, incluindo o ocupado após o início da Segunda Guerra Mundial. Verifica-se que vários métodos discursivos na Alemanha nazista, tiveram sua gênese na modernidade, com a adoção dos termos sangue impuro e racialmente inferior, referindo-se a judeus e outros considerados racialmente inferiores. O nacional-socialismo também se espelhou no laboratório experimental realizado no Sudoeste Africano (atual Namíbia), que foi colônia alemã do final do século XIX até o ano de 1915. Os primeiros campos de concentração, a modernização de tecnologia de estudos sobre hierarquia racial e as legislações restritivas de casamento entre nativos e germânicos foram exemplos de práticas que foram aperfeiçoadas anos depois, com a ascensão de Hitler. Tal e qual como no continente africano, o leste europeu foi o palco dos campos de extermínio nazistas e utilizado para estudos (pseudo)científicos com cobaias humanas. Para atingir este desiderato, a metodologia que sustenta o desenvolvimento dessa dissertação foi o de análise de conteúdo, com a finalidade de captar os discursos ocultos no conteúdo do texto das leis discriminatórias, com o apoio do método histórico para contextualizar o surgimento dos referidos diplomas legais. Ao final do trabalho, observa-se que existem indicadores de discurso colonial nas legislações analisadas, demonstrando que as relações de poder modernas podem ser manipuladas através do domínio do Direito. / The imposed regime by National Socialism from 1933 to 1945 has some similarities to the colonial dominations deployed during modernity due to the individuals infeiorization discourse and techniques similar to the colonizing methods employed by Western Europe. Therefore the purpose of this dissertation is to verify whether there are indicators of colonial discourse in the Law for the Protection of German Blood and the German Honor and in the First Supplementary Decree of November 14th 1935, by the content analysis tool, with the support of the Historical and bibliographical survey methods. These laws are racist and have segregated all Jews on German territory, including the region occupied after the start of World War II. Thus various discursive methods in Nazi Germany, had their genesis in the modernity, by adopting terms like “impure blood” and “racially inferior”, referring to Jews and others considered racially inferior. The nazism was also based on the experimental laboratory conducted in South-West Africa (present-day Namibia), which was a German colony from the late nineteenth century until the year 1915. The first concentration camps, the modernization of technology of studies on racial hierarchy and the law about marriage prohibition between natives and Germans, were examples of practices that were enhanced years later with the rise of Hitler. Just asin the African continent, Eastern Europe was witness of Nazi death camps and used for (pseudo) scientific studies with human guinea pigs. In order to achieve this goal, the methodology that supports the development of this dissertation was the content analysis, with the purpose of capturing the hidden discourses in the text of the discriminatory laws, with the support of the historical method to contextualize the rise ofmentioned legal diplomas. At the end of the paper, it is observed that there are indicators of colonial discourse in the analyzed legislations, demonstrating that modern power relations can be manipulated through the rule of law.

This evaluational study has been initiated by the County Council of Gävleborg (LandstingetGävleborg), politically responsible (and the main economical) authority of BibliotekGävleborg, the regional library institution in the county of Gävleborg, Sweden.The aim of the study is threefolded:1. to evaluate the organization of Bibliotek Gävleborg during the 1990's as we11 as theeffects of a reorganization carried out in 1990, and, through the use of interviews and a questionnaire, to ascertain the attitudes of Bibliotek Gävleborg's branch users (mainlythe municipal libraries in the county) towards the organizational development.2. to evaluate and compare regional library activities in Gävleborg prior to and duringthe 1990's, and to investigate the attitudes of the afore-mentioned branch users towardsBibliotek Gävleborg's activities.3. to investigate and discuss possible future directions of regional library development in Sweden in general, and in Gävleborg in particular.The closing, debating chapter in the study also'contains a few suggestions of measures to enhance regional library activity in Gävleborg.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T14:18:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silvana Maria Escorsim.pdf: 2630461 bytes, checksum: 7d992bb4dca4dbd2b36a2de5210fe057 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-05-14 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The present thesis proposes rescuing the Brazilian constitution and the history course of the country protective policies, mainly referring to health and social security addressed to federal public employees. In this context, the present thesis sought to explain the Social Worker insertion into the Employers' Assistance created 1945 to provide health and social care to the Instituto de Aposentadorias e Pensões dos Industriários - IAPI (Industrial Worker Retirement and Pension Institute) until it was replace by: GEAP - Fundação de Seguridade Social (Social Security Foundation), privatized in 1990. This study is considered to be historical/institutional and restores the health policy, social security and supplementary health trajectories with their contradictions and unfolding derivate from different conjunctures, all based on the capitalist development model adopted by Brazil. In this thesis the Social Welfare Work was raised to a status of object of an investigation comprising a period from the time it was created up to the establishment of GEAP. Using the Oral History methodology as a reference, the held research performed semi-structured interviews with two professionals who worked for IAPI, IAPC and afterwards for INPS. It also analyzed questionnaires comprising structured and semi-structured questions designed by two groups of GEAP professionals: currently working and retired professionals. The research results showed the protective policy trajectory was permeated by the antagonism between two political projects: one was private-driven and the other was universal-driven - State. Today a dual-system is in effect. Also, there were changes in the attendance models that shaped the social welfare worker practices throughout the Historical/institutional trajectory. Nowadays, these practices comprise collective attendance processes developed under health and disease prevention programs and from the social rights perspective / A presente tese se propôs a resgatar a constituição e o percurso sócio-histórico das políticas protetivas no Brasil, com destaque para a saúde e previdência social, particularizando aquelas destinadas a um segmento dos servidores públicos federais. Neste contexto, buscou elucidar a inserção e o trabalho dos Assistentes Sociais junto a Assistência Patronal, criada em 1945 para prestar assistência médica e social aos funcionários do instituto de Aposentadorias e Pensões dos Industriários - IAPI, até a sua sucessora: a GEAP - Fundação de Seguridade Social, privatizada em 1990. O estudo caracterizou-se como histórico - institucional e reconstituiu a trajetória das políticas de saúde, previdência social e saúde supletiva, suas contradições e desdobramentos derivados das diferentes conjunturas, a partir do modelo de desenvolvimento capitalista adotado no Brasil. Neste processo, o Serviço Social foi alçado à condição de objeto de investigação, desde sua inauguração junto ao sistema previdenciário até a GEAP. Para a pesquisa de campo, foram utilizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com duas profissionais que atuaram junto ao IAPI, IAPC e posteriormente no INPS, tendo como referência a metodologia da Historia Oral. Também, foram analisados questionários com perguntas estruturadas e semi-estruturadas oriundos das profissionais vinculadas à própria GEAP, classificadas em dois grupos: em atividade e já aposentadas. Os resultados da pesquisa demonstraram que a trajetória das políticas protetivas foi permeada pelo antagonismo entre dois projetos políticos em disputa: um privatista e outro universalizante - estatal, vigorando hoje um sistema dual. Também se evidenciou mudanças nos modelos assistenciais que configuraram as práticas dos Assistentes Sociais no percurso histórico - institucional que se constitui, na atualidade, por processos de atenção coletivos desenvolvidos nos programas de promoção à saúde e prevenção de doenças, na perspectiva do direito social. Palavras - chave: Previdência, Saúde, Saúde Supletiva e Serviço Social

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2018-11-27T16:27:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Adriana Penha.pdf: 2734823 bytes, checksum: 82cb01face559eaae8aff1afe55b3311 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-27T16:27:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Adriana Penha.pdf: 2734823 bytes, checksum: 82cb01face559eaae8aff1afe55b3311 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-25 / The conceptions about work and career have been suffering changes through time, as an answer to other changes brought by globalization, development of new technologies, global political scenario and to the human relations in organizations. Changes that reflect themselves in the work relations and on the meaning given by individuals to their work and career under the influence of their personal life experiences. In this context the employee becomes to be responsible for career management, according to how he perceives his own career and work, influencing on its management. Understanding how individuals perceive global work and career scenario is necessary to an effective reflection of organization actions over their professionals, and it allows alignment of expectations and perceptions in the employee-employer relationship. Since these expectations are not aligned and the promises made are not fulfilled, the perception of it is a breach of the psychological contract. The present research sought to identify the meaning attributed to work and it?s own careers, by the Social Security and Future Assistance Foundation (FPAF) employees, a closed supplementary pension entity. For this purpose, a data survey was carried out through interviews supported by the technique of drawing construction and semi-structured script, analyzed through phenomenography and inductive analysis. The outcomes indicate that the sense of work presents itself as a positive conception, assuming meanings of pleasure, subsistence, focus on individuals and society. With respect to the meaning attributed to career in FPAF, the vertical ascension concept is adopted, however, in practice it is only realised as a function (set of activities), with lack of recognition and appreciation, but without causing company layoffs once FAP?s guarantee of permanence is supported by the stability and security provided by the organization. Achieved results can subsidise company responsible personnel to drive actions and human resources in an appropriate manner to their reality regarding people's management, and not only been restrict to actions of just one Legal department. Despite of implementation of it?s Career and Compensation Plan in 2011, the expectation generated among employees was not been met, revealing a breach of the psychological contract. Results still point that despite of employees assign a positive conception of work, when it realises itself as a career in PFAF, they are dissatisfied how it is presented in the company. Thus maintaining, both sides, a satisfactorily minimum performance: There is no professional development, but there are also no layoffs. It is recommended that FPAP rethink it?s management practices related to employees career management and practical applicability level of current Career and Compensation Plan to reflect a career path beyond the traditional bureaucratic one that corresponds to an organizational scenario, stable and economically predictable that restricts employees to hold office and carry out its functions without perspectives of any professional development. / As concep??es sobre trabalho e carreira v?m sofrendo altera??es ao longo do tempo, em resposta ?s mudan?as advindas da globaliza??o, do surgimento de novas tecnologias, do cen?rio pol?tico mundial e das rela??es humanas nas organiza??es. Mudan?as que se refletem nas rela??es de trabalho e no sentido que os indiv?duos influenciados pelas suas viv?ncias pessoais atribuem ao trabalho e a sua carreira. Nesse contexto a responsabilidade da gest?o da carreira passa a ser tamb?m do empregado, de acordo com a forma como ele percebe o trabalho e a pr?pria carreira, influenciando no gerenciamento da mesma. Compreender como os indiv?duos percebem esse cen?rio do mundo do trabalho e da carreira ? necess?rio para que as a??es da organiza??o efetivamente tenham reflexo nos seus profissionais, e se propicie um alinhamento de expectativas e percep??es na rela??o empregado-empregador. Pois quando essas expectativas n?o est?o alinhadas e as promessas realizadas n?o s?o concretizadas, se percebe como uma quebra do contrato psicol?gico. A presente pesquisa buscou identificar o sentido do trabalho, atribu?do pelos empregados da Funda??o de Previd?ncia e Assist?ncia Futuro - FPAF, e o sentido atribu?do ? sua carreira na pr?pria empresa, uma Entidade Fechada de Previd?ncia Complementar. Para tanto, foi realizado levantamento de dados por meio de entrevistas apoiadas pela t?cnica da constru??o de desenhos e roteiro semi-estruturado, analisados por meio da fenomenografia e an?lise indutiva. Os resultados apontam que o sentido do trabalho se apresenta com concep??o positiva, assumindo os sentidos de prazer, subsist?ncia, foco no indiv?duo e na sociedade. Em rela??o ao sentido atribu?do a carreira na FPAF, a mesma assumiu o sentido de ascens?o vertical que na pr?tica se concretiza apenas como fun??o (conjunto de atividades), com aus?ncia de reconhecimento e valoriza??o, mas sem provocar desligamento da empresa pois, a perman?ncia na FPAF se respalda pela estabilidade e seguran?a que a empresa proporciona. Os resultados obtidos podem subsidiar os respons?veis da empresa para direcionar suas a??es de recursos humanos de maneira pertinente ? sua realidade no que tange a gest?o de pessoas, e n?o apenas se restringir a a??es de apenas um departamento pessoal. Apesar da implanta??o, no ano de 2011, do seu Plano de Carreira e Remunera??o, as expectativas geradas nos empregados n?o foram cumpridas se revelando uma quebra do contrato psicol?gico. Os resultados apontam ainda que apesar dos empregados atribu?rem ao trabalho um sentido positivo, quando o mesmo se materializa como carreira na FPAF, encontram-se insatisfeitos pela maneira como a carreira se apresenta na empresa. Se mantendo assim, por ambas as partes, um desempenho m?nimo satisfat?rio: n?o se tem desenvolvimento profissional, mas tamb?m n?o se tem desligamento. Recomenda-se que na FPAF se repense suas pr?ticas de gest?o referentes ao gerenciamento da carreira dos seus empregados e o n?vel de aplicabilidade pr?tica do vigente Plano de Carreira e Remunera??o para refletir trajet?rias de carreira al?m da tradicional burocr?tica correspondente a cen?rios organizacionais, econ?micos previs?veis e est?veis e restringe seus empregados a ocupar cargos e realizar fun??es sem perspectivas de desenvolvimento profissional.

The aim of this study was to assess the strength, durability properties and corrosion resistance of concrete samples using supplementary cementitious blended materials. In this investigation, three supplementary concrete materials (SCMs) were used together with ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) to form cementitious blends at different proportions. The supplementary materials are silica fume (SF), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and fly ash (FA). Sixteen (16) different proportions of the cementitious blends were produced. Tests carried out on concrete samples include slump test, compressive strength, oxygen permeability, sorptivity, porosity, chloride conductivity test, resistance to chloride and sulphate attack. The electrode potentials of tested samples were also observed using electrochemical measurements. Concrete specimens prepared with 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, up to 60% of blended cements replacement levels were evaluated for their compressive strength at, 7, 14, 28, 90 and 120 days while the specimens were evaluated for durability tests at 28, and 90 days respectively. The results were compared with ordinary Portland cement concrete without blended cement. Voltage, and temperature measurements were also carried out to understand the quality of concrete. The corrosion performance of steel in reinforced concrete was studied and evaluated by electrochemical half-cell potential technique in both sodium chloride, and magnesium sulphate solutions respectively. The reinforced concrete specimens with centrally embedded 12mm steel bar were exposed to chloride and sulphate solutions with the 0.5 M NaCl and MgSO4 concentrations respectively. An impressed voltage technique was carried out to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the combination of quaternary cementitious blended cement, so as to get the combination with optimum performance. Improvement of strength, durability, and corrosion resistance properties of blended concrete samples are observed at different optimum percentages for binary, ternary and quaternary samples. The effect of cementitious blends is recognized in limiting the corrosion potential of the tested SCM concrete samples. Generally, the cementitious blends with limited quantity of SF to 10% have the potential to produce satisfactory concrete. These should however be used for low cost construction, where high quality concrete is not required. / Civil and Chemical Engineering / M. Tech. (Chemical Engineering)

O uso de suplementos alimentares à base de carnitina tem se tornado bastante popular dentre atletas. Nos seus possíveis efeitos biológicos, constam o emagrecimento e o melhor condicionamento aeróbio frente ao exercício físico. Embora o uso difundido também entre não-atletas, há poucas evidências científicas nestes grupos populacionais, particularmente adultos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação de L-carnitina associada ao exercício físico aeróbio sobre a composição corporal e lipídica sanguínea, gasto energético de repouso e desempenho aeróbio de adultos clinicamente saudáveis. Foram selecionados 21 indivíduos voluntários de 40 a 58 anos de idade, de ambos os sexos (9 homens e 12 mulheres), com índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) entre 25 e 35 kg/m2, participantes de protocolo de exercícios físicos aeróbios supervisionados (80min/sessão, 3-5x/semana, 70 a 80% da freqüência cardíaca máxima para idade) há pelo menos 12 semanas. Após avaliação inicial (M0), foram divididos aleatoriamente em grupos: suplementado (G1; N=11), recebeu 1,8g/dia de L-carnitina e placebo (G2; N=10), recebeu maltodextrina, ambos mantidos nesta intervenção dietética por 30 dias consecutivos. Concluído o período dietético (M1), foram repetidas as avaliações de M0, nas situações de repouso (peso, estatura para cálculo do IMC, circunferência de abdômen, % de gordura, gasto energético de repouso, ingestão alimentar, colesterol e frações e triglicerídios) e esforço físico em esteira ergométrica (VO2máx, limiar anaeróbio, quociente respiratório e variação dos ácidos graxos livres plasmáticos). Houve ligeiro aumento do V02máx e limiar anaeróbio em ambos os grupos e reclassificação do LDL-c no grupo placebo. Os demais valores de ingestão alimentar, composição corporal, lipidemia e gasto energético não sofreram influência significativa do período de exercício ou tratamento dietético. As concentrações de ácidos graxos livres aumentaram durante o esforço físico em esteira, mas sem significância. Conclui-se que o efeito adicional da suplementação de L-carnitina em adultos exercitados regularmente é mínimo nas variações da composição corporal e sanguínea, no gasto energético, uso de substratos energéticos e no condicionamento aeróbio. / The use of nutritional supplements such as carnitine has been widely spread over among athletes. The refered advantages are related to possible weight loss and cardiorespiratory fitness. However, besides widely used in active people (non athletes) there has been little scientific based evidences in this group, specifically in adults. The purpose of the study was to investigate the additional effects of L-carnitine supplemented to exercised subjects on their body composition, blood lipid profile, resting metabolic rate and aerobic performance. Twenty-one volunteers (9 males and 12 females), 40 to 58 years old, body mass index (BMI) values between 25 and 35 kg/m2, were engaged in aerobic exercise program (80 min/session, 3-5 days/week, 70 a 80% of maximum heart rate-HRmáx) at least 12 weeks. After the first test (M0) the subjects were randomly assigned in two groups: L-carnitine (G1; N=11), receiving orally L-carnitine (1,8g/day) or placebo (G2; N=10), receiving maltodextrine during 30 consecutive days. After the dietary intervention (M 1), the assessment tests were repeated in both, resting (body mass, height, BMI calculation, resting energy expenditure, dietary intake, body fat and lipid profile) and exercised condition in a treadmill (VO2max, anaerobic threshold, respiratory exchange ratio and the variation on free fatty acids levels). VO2max and anaerobic threshold were increased in both groups and LDL-c downgraded in the placebo group. No significant changes were found due to either training or dietary supplementation in dietary intake, body composition, lipid profile and energy expenditure. Plasma free fatty acids levels increased, but not significantly, during the 30 min treadmill exercise. Thus, the additional effects of L-carnitine supplementation in moderate active adults were not enough to promote significant changes in body composition, lipid profile, energy expenditure, substrate utilization and aerobic fitness.

Bellbirds (Anthornis melanura) are one of two endemic honeyeaters in New Zealand. They are still common in many parts of the country, but also rare and absent in some areas where they were abundant before. Together with tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandia) bellbirds are responsible for avian pollination of several native plants in New Zealand. Habitat fragmentation and geographical constraints prevent bellbirds from re-occupying formerly inhabited areas. After translocations birds often disperse; some just disappear, some are thought to fly back to their source site and probably many die. Supplementary feeding provides energy rich food, which helps to ensure birds are well-nourished until they can discover natural food sources at the release sites. Conspecific song playback as an attractant for many bird species can be used as public information about high habitat value and additionally lure birds to good food sources and nest sites. Artificial feeding stations were set up at 18 locations in Kennedy's Bush, Port Hills, Canterbury, New Zealand. Feeders filled with sugar water were available for five to six consecutive days and during observation hours the effect of song playback was tested. Variation in bird numbers resulting from experimental treatments was recorded using five-minute bird counts prior to treatments and additional counts every minute of observation time. Bellbird numbers varied strongly with habitat types, showing highest numbers for dense and tall bush areas and close to creeks and lowest for open areas besides pasture and in post-flowering flax fields. Bellbird numbers increased when song was broadcast, with the strongest effect in areas where bellbird numbers were moderate or low, but not in areas where bellbirds were absent. Feeding stations were not observed to be used by bellbirds. The strong response in bellbird numbers to conspecific song playback proved the attractiveness of song for bellbirds. Nevertheless, its function as a lure for bellbirds to artificial feeding stations was not shown. This contrasting result indicates that the use of bellbird song as an enticement for bellbirds has to be investigated further.

La dextérité, notamment la pince de précision (i.e., opposition pouce-index) est une fonction très développée chez l’homme. Elle est basée sur l’habileté à contrôler précisément et indépendamment les forces et mouvements des doigts en relation avec les contraintes de la tâche. Les muscles de la main responsables du mouvement des doigts sont gouvernés par le système corticospinal (CS) latéral. La principale source de ce système CS est l’aire motrice primaire (M1), laquelle possède des projections CS directes sur les motoneurones des muscles de la main. Cependant, d’autres projections CS en provenance des aires motrices non primaires ont été trouvées, notamment en provenance de l’aire motrice supplémentaire (SMA). Chez l’homme, la fonctionnalité de cette voie dans le contrôle habile des doigts a peu été étudiée. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier, chez l’homme, l’implication des projections CS de la SMA lors de contrôle manuel précis de force. Pour ce faire, nous avons utilisé la stimulation magnétique transcrânienne (TMS) et l’électroencéphalographie (EEG).A travers différentes études, nous avons pu mettre en évidence l’importante implication de la SMA dans la dextérité. Il semblerait que cette aire puisse agir en parallèle à M1 en régulant directement l’excitabilité des motoneurones de la moelle épinière. En conclusion, nos résultats suggèrent que M1 et SMAp ont une influence directe et efficace sur la production de force pendant des tâches motrices manuelles fines. / Human dexterity is a highly developed function based on the ability to independently and precisely control forces and movements of the fingers related to the constraints of the task. Hand muscles for finger movements are steered by the lateral corticospinal (CS) system. The main source of this CS system is the primary motor area (M1), which has direct CS projections on motoneurons innervating hand muscles. Recently, CS projections from non-primary motor area have also been found, especially from the supplementary motor area (SMA). However, the functionality of this CS tract in human manual force control is little studied. The aim of this thesis was to study the implication of the CS projections from SMA in precision manual force control, using electroencephalography (EEG) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).Altogether, the results obtained in our different studies show the important implication of SMA in dexterity. It appears that this area can act in parallel with M1, directly influencing excitability of spinal motoneurons. We conclude that M1 and SMA both have direct and efficient influence on force production during fine manual motor tasks.