Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'IMTA'

Mestrado em Bioquímica - Bioquímica Alimentar
As algas são consideradas uma das mais promissoras e sustentáveis fontes de biomassa sendo utilizadas na industria alimentar, farmacêutica, cosmética e de biocombustíveis. O interesse crescente na comercialização de algas, levou ao desenvolvimento de várias técnicas de algicultura. Atualmente a técnica de aquacultura multitrófica integrada (IMTA) tem ganho destaque uma vez que propõe a integração de vários níveis tróficos no mesmo sistema de aquacultura permitindo a mitigação da libertação do desperdício da aquacultura, aumentando a produtividade dos organismos extrativos, como é ocaso das algas. Neste sentido, a empresa ALGAPlus elegeu esta técnica sustentável para a produção de diversas algas presentes na costa portuguesa. A Grateloupia turuturu é uma alga vermelha comestível com alto valor nutritivo. É uma espécie não nativa da costa Portuguesa, de caráter não invasivo, com potencial para comercialização na área alimentar e farmacêutica. Assim este trabalho de mestrado teve como objetivos: a avaliação do potencial de cultivo de G. turuturu num sistema experimental IMTA, tendo em conta a influência do estado reprodutivo da alga; a comparação da composição bioquímica de G. turuturu de cultivo com a alga recolhida nas populações selvagens da Ria de Aveiro, aprofundando a composição lipídica da alga através da análise de ácidos gordos (AG) e lípidos polares através de uma abordagem lipidómica e a determinação da atividade antioxidante do extrato lipídico da G. turuturu selvagem e de cultivo. A alga foi cultivada num sistema experimental em IMTA na empresa ALGAplus onde foi feito um estudo preliminar para avaliar a taxa de crescimento e a produtividade de duas fases do seu ciclo de vida (reprodutiva e não reprodutiva). A composição bioquímica da biomassa resultante foi estudada quanto ao teor de lípidos, proteína, cinzas e fibra. A fração lipídica foi extraída com clorofórmio/metanol e analisada em termos de AG metilestrificados por GC-MS e em termos de lípidos polares por HPLC-MS. A atividade antioxidante do extrato lipídico foi avaliada pelo método do DPPH. De um modo geral, verificou-se que a alga cresceu no sistema de cultivo em ambas as fases do ciclo de vida, contudo a alga reprodutiva apresentou uma maior produtividade. Em termos de composição bioquímica a G. turuturu apresentou uma grande percentagem de proteínas e fibra e baixo teor em lípidos e cinzas. Observou-se que de um modo geral a G. turuturu apresar de apresentar um baixo teor de lípidos contém uma elevada quantidade de PUFA apresentando um rácio n-6/n-3 abaixo de 1. Foi caracterizado pela primeira vez o perfil de lípidos polares da G. turuturu em que foram identificadas 64 espécies correspondendo a glicolípidos (sulfoquinovosildiacilgliceróis, sulfoquinovosilmonoacilgliceróis, di- e monogalactosildiacilgliceróis), glicerofosfolípidos (liso- e fosfatidicolinas, ácidos fosfatídicos, liso- e fosfatidilgliceróis e fosfatidiletanolamina) e di- e monoacil betaínas. Adicionalmente, o extrato lipídico demonstrou atividade antioxidante. Desta forma, este estudo permitiu evidenciar a composição de G. turuturu cultivada em IMTA de modo a valorizar esta alga como um produto alimentar e como fonte de compostos bioativos. No entanto são necessários estudos posteriores para validar estes resultados
Algae are one of the most promising and sustainable sources of biomass for a wide variety of products. Currently, algae can be consumed directly by humans or used in animal nutrition, food additives, fertilizers, biofuel, cosmetics, and medicine. The growing interest in the commercialization of algae has led to the development of various techniques of algiculture. Currently, the integrated multitrophic aquaculture technique (IMTA) has gained popularity since it proposes the integration of several trophic levels in the same aquaculture system, thus, allow the mitigation of the aquaculture waste. Therefore, the company AlgaPlus chose this sustainable technique for the production of several algae present on the portuguese coast. Grateloupia turuturu is an edible red seaweed with high nutritional value originating in Japan and has dispersed along the Atlantic coast including Portugal. It is a non-native species with potential for commercialization in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Thus, this work has different aims: an evaluation of the cultivation potential of G. turuturu in an experimental IMTA system, taking into account the influence of the life cycle phase of the seaweed; comparison of the biochemical composition of cultivated G. turuturu and the wild populations of the Ria de Aveiro; analysis of fatty acids (AG) and polar lipids through a lipidomic approach and determination of antioxidant activity of lipid extract of the G. turuturu wild and cultivated. The algae were grown in an experimental system at IMTA at the company ALGAplus where the growth rate and productivity of two stages of its cycle (reproductive and non-reproductive) were evaluated. The biochemical composition was studied for the lipid, protein, ash and fiber content. The lipid fraction was extracted with chloroform/methanol. The fatty acid methyl ester was analyzed by GC-MS and the polar lipids by HPLC-MS. The antioxidant activity of the lipid extract was evaluated by the DPPH method. Generally, it was found that algae grew in aquaculture system in both life-cycle phases, however, the reproductive alga exhibits higher productivity. The biochemical composition of G. turuturu presented a high percentage of proteins and fiber and low lipids and ashes. It was observed that the G. turuturu exhibit low lipid content, however, contains a high amount of PUFA resulting in an n-6/n-3 ratio below 1. It was characterized for the first time the polar lipid profile of G. turuturu, 65 species of glycolipids (sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols, sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerools, di- and monogalactosyldiacylglycerols), glycerophospholipids (lyso- and phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidic acids, lyso- and phosphatidylglycerols and phosphatidylethanolamine) and di- and monoacyl betaines lipids were identified. Additionally, the lipid extract showed antioxidant activity. In this way, this study contributes to the valorisation of G. turuturu cultivated in IMTA as a food product and as a source of bioactive compounds. However, further studies are necessary to validate these results.

Ett stagnerat globalt fiske har lett till en snabb utökning av vattenbruket för att tillgodose den globala marknaden. Traditionellt vattenbruk har i västvärlden kännetecknats av monospecifika odlingar, ofta med mycket grav påverkan på sin omnejd. Ett återupptäckt alternativ till denna i längden ohållbara tappning av vattenbruk har därför växt fram. Integrerad multi-trofiskt vattenbruk (IMTA) är en teknik som, genom att odla organismer från flera trofiska nivåer tillsammans, kan minska utsläppen och öka produktiviteten hos en odling. En växande global befolkningen kommer dock leda till ökande konflikter mellan kustnära vattenbruk och intressenter såsom industrier, myndigheter och privatpersoner. Då vattenbruket fortsätter att växa skulle en lösning på dessa konflikter vara att rikta dess expansion mot det öppna havet. Frågan är då om IMTA vore effektivt utomskärs och hur det i så fall skulle kunna optimeras ur både produktions- och kostnadsperspektiv. Denna undersökning tyder på att en pelagial expansion skulle ge en positiv påverkan av de olika ekologiska, ekonomiska och infrastrukturella aspekter rörande utomskärs-IMTA. Dock kräver en sådan förflyttning omfattande förarbete i utvärdering av lämpliga lokaler. En analys av olika arter och dess egenskaper, monetära värde, tillika möjligheter att optimera systemet visar på att utomskärs IMTA är möjligt, men begränsas av ingenjörsmässiga faktorer.
The stagnated global fishing has led to a fast expansion of aquaculture to meet the increasing global demand for seafood. Traditionally aquaculture in the western world has been defined as large monospecific cultures, often with grave implications on its surrounding environment. An alternative to the conventional and unsustainable method has thus been rediscovered and developed. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is a technique that, by cultivating organisms of different trophic levels together, can decrease effluents and increase the productivity of a farm. Furthermore, the growing global population will lead to increasing conflicts between coastal aquaculture and other stakeholders such as industries, governments, and private citizens. Since aquaculture continues to grow, a possible solution to such conflicts could be an offshore expansion of aquaculture. However, whether an IMTA system still would be effective in an offshore setting is unclear. This is also the case regarding the possibility to optimize an offshore IMTA system concerning productivity and investment costs.  The present article shows that a pelagic expansion of IMTA would positively affect the ecological, economical and infrastructural aspects regarding offshore IMTA compared to inshore IMTA. However, such a transposition would require comprehensive preparatory evaluations of suitable sites. An analysis of several species and their attributes, monetary value, and capability of optimizing the system indicates that offshore IMTA is possible but is limited by structural-engineering factors.

Earth’s population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050. Ensuring food security for the growing world population is one of today’s society’s major challenges and responsibilities. Aquatic products have the potential to contribute significantly in the growing population’s dietary requirements. Since increasing the pressure on most natural fish stocks is now widely agreed not to be an option, the aquaculture sector needs to grow. The challenge is to increase aquaculture production without depleting natural resources or damaging the environment but also in a financially sustainable way. Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) is one method of sustainable aquatic production. Integrating bioremediatory organisms that extract particulate organic matter or dissolved inorganic nutrients with monocultures of fed species has the potential of reducing the particulate and soluble waste loads from effluents, whilst producing a low-input protein source that may also increase the farm income. IMTA is a viable solution for mitigating the environmental impact of waste released from fish farms. The fish waste is exploited as a food source for lower trophic, extractive organisms giving an added value to the investment in feed. Studies up to now have shown that under experimental conditions as well as in small-scale commercial studies, various filter-feeding, deposit-feeding and grazing species can ingest fish waste particles. The aim now is to achieve IMTA optimization, where extractive organisms can ingest most of the finfish waste food and excretions. Any such design is likely to be complex incorporating a multidisciplinary approach, and therefore to date a reason why most studies have failed to prove the environmental and economic benefits of IMTA. Consequently, the aim of this study is to develop ways of selecting an ideal combination of species for a specific locality, manage the cultures in a way that ensures the maximum nutrient recycling feasible per unit of area; and ensure high growth rate of the extractive organisms while being financially beneficial. The approach taken was a combination of investigative literature reviews, computer modelling work and small-scale growth trials to determine the relative growth of extractive organisms fed fishfeed and waste, followed by the development of a systems-based model of interaction and growth efficiency for combinations of organisms within an IMTA system. This study starts by investigating, with small-scale laboratory experiments, the potential of two organic extractive species, the lugworm, Arenicola marina and the sea urchin, Psammechinus miliaris, as organic extractive components of IMTA systems. Their ability to consume and assimilate salmon faeces was evaluated as well as their remediation efficiency. This was done by comparing the carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content of the pellet-faeces mixture to that of the sea urchin faeces and sea urchin gonad content. Their growth, gonadosomatic index (GSI) (for the sea urchins), tissue carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous content were compared between seaweed diets and a diet consisting of a mixture of salmon faeces and feed pellets. The results showed statistically significant gonad carbon content for the sea urchins fed with faeces. Similarly, statistically significant higher phosphorous content was found in the tissues of the lugworms fed with the mixture of salmon faeces and pellets than in the lugworms of the other two groups. The subsequent and main phase of this study was the development of a model for optimising IMTA performance. The modelling process included model development, run, optimization and risk assessment. The IMTA model developed consisted of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus and the macroalgae Ulva sp. It simulates the growth as well as the uptake and release of nitrogen by these organisms under environmental conditions of a hypothetical site on the west coast of Scotland. The aim of the model was to maximize the potential of IMTA in terms of productivity and to reduce the amount of nutrients that are released in the environment, and thus to contribute towards a more sustainable and productive form of aquaculture. The IMTA model developed can be re-parameterised to simulate the growth and nutrient uptake of different species and the growth and nutrient uptake under different environmental conditions. This capacity of the model was used in order to do a comparative study of the nitrogen bioremediation potential of three different invertebrate species, cultivated as part of an IMTA. These species were the lugworm (Arenicola marina), the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus). The results of this comparative study showed that weight for weight, M. edulis is more efficient in removing POM than P. lividus that is in turn better than A. marina with regard to the amount of nitrogen they can assimilate. But in terms of cultivation area required for the production of the same total biomass, P. lividus was better at removing POM followed by M. edulis and then by A. marina.

Mestrado em Engenharia Zootécnica - Produção Animal - Instituto Superior de Agronomia / Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - UL
Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a produção em policultura de três sistemas multi-tróficos integrados em tanques de terra no concelho de Olhão, Parque Natural da Ria Formosa: S1 (peixes, ostras com macroalgas), S2 (peixes com ostras) e S3 (peixes com macroalgas) com as espécies de peixes corvinas (Argyrosomus regius) sargos (Diplodus sargus) e tainhas (Mugil cephalus), ostras (Crassostrea gigas) e macroalgas (Ulva spp.) utilizando principalmente como parâmetros a Taxa de Crescimento Específica (TCE) e a Taxa de Conversão Alimentar (TCA) de modo a averiguar o sistema mais eficiente para posteriormente calcular a sua rentabilidade. As corvinas de S2 apresentaram melhores pesos médios (366,5 ± 83,3 g) do que S1 e S3. No entanto, S1 apresentou um menor valor de TCA = 1,76 sendo mais eficiente do que S2 com TCA = 1,90 e S3 com TCA = 2,42. A sua TCE para S1 e S2 foi de 0,40% e para S3 foi de 0,31%. No caso dos sargos e tainhas, por questões de maneio e de bem-estar animal, os seus parâmetros de crescimento foram previstos e extrapolados. As ostras, em 93 dias de cultivo, apresentaram melhores TCE em S1 (4,06%/dia) do que em S2 (3,53%/dia) mas a sua sobrevivência foi baixa. A TCE da Ulva, colocada em estruturas flutuantes divididas em seis compartimentos, três deles com altas densidades de Ulva e outros três com baixas densidades, foi melhor em S3 do que em S1, e melhor em compartimentos de baixa densidade do que em compartimentos de altas densidades. A nova biomassa de Ulva produzida em 8 semanas nos tanques atingiu os 9,36 kg em S1 e os 10,24 kg em S3. Uma extrapolação foi feita com os resultados obtidos neste trabalho e com base em outros ensaios, verificando-se que o sistema integrado é viavelmente económico
N/A

Submitted by MARCELO HENRIQUE CORREA ASSUNÇÃO null (marcelohassuncao@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-06-20T02:54:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_marceloassuncao_final.pdf: 1226336 bytes, checksum: f3c615d93eada896ca7e57893d573911 (MD5)
Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-06-21T13:27:50Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 assuncao_mhc_dr_jabo.pdf: 1226336 bytes, checksum: f3c615d93eada896ca7e57893d573911 (MD5)
Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-21T13:27:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 assuncao_mhc_dr_jabo.pdf: 1226336 bytes, checksum: f3c615d93eada896ca7e57893d573911 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-05
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)
O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o fluxo de gases do efeito estufa (GEE) em viveiros de criação de organismos aquáticos. Nós testamos se o uso de sistemas multitróficos e multiespaciais (IMTA), povoados com lambari-do-rabo-amarelo (Astyanax lacustris) e camarão-da-amazônia (Macrobrachium amazonicum) numa região tropical, altera o fluxo de gases do efeito estufa em comparação com um sistema de monocultivo de A. lacustris. Nós desenvolvemos um experimento em viveiros de fundo natural com três tratamentos e quatro réplicas: monocultivo (Tetra), IMTA livre (Free IMTA) e IMTA tanque rede (Cage IMTA). O experimento durou 68 dias, entre os meses de novembro e janeiro de 2016. Nós mensuramos os fluxos de dióxido de carbono (CO2), metano (CH4) e óxido nitroso (N2O) por meio das metodologias difusiva e dissolvida. A média dos fluxos na metodologia difusiva foi de -8.93 mg.m-2.h-1 para o CO2, -0.88 mg.m-2.h-1 para o CH4 e 1.78 mg.m-2.h-1 para o N2O. A concentração de CO2 variou de 0.0481 a 0.6668 mg.L-1, CH4 de 0.0003 a 0.0053 mg.L-1 e N2O de 0.0789 a 0.1177 mg.L-1. Nossos resultados indicam variação ao longo do tempo, com maior fluxo de GEE no início do experimento, diminuição ao longo do período de cultivo e tendência de neutralidade com relação a emissão de GEE no final do período experimental.
CNPq: 147409/2013-6
CNPq: 473199/2011-4
CNPq: 306361/2014-0
FAPESP: 2012/18593-5

Les systèmes intégrés d’aquaculture multi-trophique (IMTA) proposent de limiter les rejets dans l’environnement en associant la culture d’espèces de niveaux trophiques différents et le recyclage des déchets. Les détritivores sont un groupe trophique intéressant car ils permettent l’extraction de matière organique particulaire. Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor est un polychète qui connait un intérêt croissant du fait de sa capacité de bioturbation dans les sédiments et de sa haute valeur commerciale en tant qu’appât et nourriture potentielle pour animaux. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est d’évaluer le potentiel d’ H. diversicolor dans la bio-remédiation des rejets solides en système IMTA. Plus spécifiquement, l’étude a eu pour objectifs : i) de calibrer une nouvelle méthode de mesure des composés organiques des rejets (azote, carbone, phosphore, lipides), ii) d’évaluer l’activité métabolique (respiration) d’H. diversicolor nourries aux fèces de Dicentrarchus labrax en fonction de leur taille et de différentes températures, et iii) d’utiliser un modèle bioénergétique pour simuler croissance, respiration et excrétion d’H. diversicolor selon différents scenarios IMTA.Pour obtenir une caractérisation rapide des composés organiques, une méthode novatrice (NIRS) a été calibrée. Les composés des rejets ont varié entre 44-77% de matière organique, 2-5% d’azote organique total, 11-51% de carbone organique total, 9-26 de rapport carbone/azote, 1-3% phosphore total and 2-12% de lipides (% de matière sèche).Les taux métaboliques de H. diversicolor nourries aux fèces ont été estimés par consommations d’oxygène à différentes températures (11, 17, 22 and 27°C). Les effets de la température et de la taille du ver sur les consommations en oxygène ont été significatifs, mais ces niveaux de respiration (12.3 µmol g-1 de poids sec h-1 à 20°C) correspondaient probablement à un métabolisme basal dû aux conditions expérimentales (jeun et obscurité).Les simulations du modèle DEB H. diversicolor ont été comparées aux données expérimentales de taux de croissance, de respiration et d’excrétion, ce qui a permis de corroborer les prédictions du modèle. Le modèle DEB a permis de tester différents scenarios pour prédire les réponses métaboliques, la croissance, la maturité et la reproduction d’ H. diversicolor à différentes températures (5 à 25°C) et disponibilité alimentaire (f variant de 0.5 à 1, correspondant à la disponibilité des fèces). Le modèle DEB s’est avéré être un outil utile pour prédire les réponses physiologiques sous différentes conditions environnementales dans un contexte IMTA
Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems are based on the concept of limiting aquaculture discharges associating species of different trophic levels to reuse wastes. Deposit-feeders are one trophic group that has gained attention for the extraction of particulate organic matter. Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor is a polychaete species that has gained increasing interest for its bioremediation capacity through bioturbation activity in sediments, and high commercial value as fish bait and animal food sources. The main objective of this thesis was to evaluate the fish waste bioremediation capacity of polychaete H. diversicolor in IMTA context. More specifically, i) to predict organic compounds (nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, lipids) in marine fish waste, ii) to evaluate the metabolic responses - respiration - of H. diversicolor fed with solid waste of seabass Dicentrarchus labrax at different temperatures and body size, and iii) to use a bioenergetic model (DEB) to simulate growth, oxygen consumption and excretion in different IMTA scenarios.To provide fast characterization of organic compounds we used an innovative method based on near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Chemical content of the waste measured by NIRS models after calibration, ranged from 44-77% organic matter, 2-5% total organic nitrogen, 11-51% total organic carbon, 9-26 carbon/nitrogen ratio, 1-3% total phosphorus and 2-12% lipids (% of dry matter).Fish waste fed H. diversicolor metabolic rates were evaluated through oxygen consumption at different temperatures (11, 17, 22 and 27°C). The effect of temperature and worm body size was significant on oxygen consumptions, however these respiration measures (12.3 µmol g-1 of dry weight h-1 at 20°C) may represent basal metabolic rate due to experimental conditions (starvation, darkness).DEB model of H. diversicolor was compared to experimental data on growth, respiration and excretion rates, which corroborated DEB model predictions. DEB was then applied to test different scenarios predicting metabolic responses, growth, maturity and reproduction of H. diversicolor at different temperatures (5 to 25°C) and food levels (f varying from 0 to 1, corresponding to fish waste loading). DEB revealed to be a useful tool in IMTA context, predicting physiological responses in different environmental conditions

Aquaculture facilities involve mooring a large amount of artificial structures in offshore areas, which are colonised by a wide group of marine organisms, forming characteristic fouling communities. Many studies have focused on determining what sessile organisms are able to settle on nets, ropes and buoys, owing to the specific problems they cause and their economic cost to the aquaculture industry. Although sessile fouling communities are well-studied from the point of view of controlling this community on aquaculture facilities, little is known about the epifaunal mobile species inhabiting these artificial structures. This thesis addresses the study of crustacean amphipods, which have been scarcely studied regarding their species composition and relation to the habitats created by the sessile species and despite being detected in high abundances. After the general introduction, which sets the study framework, Chapter 1 is a preliminary study on the composition of fouling assemblages on aquaculture facilities in the Mediterranean Sea, comparing them with others such as those in harbours or offshore structures. Therein, it is shown that fouling communities are made up of mainly bivalves, algae, hydroids and bryozoans and amphipods usually represent more than 80 % of motile fauna associated with these organisms. Moreover, amphipod assemblages are characterised by seven frequent and dominant species: Elasmopus rapax, Jassa marmorata, Jassa slatteryi, Ericthonius punctatus, Stenothoe tergestina, Caprella equilibra and Caprella dilatata. A quantitative study of amphipod densities is carried out in Chapter 2, where mean amphipod densities observed in fish farm fouling amounted to 176,000 ind.m-2 and reached maxima up to 1,000,000 ind.m-2. There, the role of the macro- and microhabitat in supporting such amphipod communities is explored. The effect of the modification of marine currents on pelagic communities due to the introduction of coastal infrastructures is analysed in Chapter 3. Therein, it was detected a retention effect on planktonic amphipods near such facilities, noticeable in the increased abundance of hyperiids and migrating amphipods from different benthic and floating habitats. The influence of fouling amphipods on other habitats is analysed in Chapters 4 and 5, it is shown that fish-farm fouling acts as a source population of amphipods dispersing towards both defaunated sediments in soft-bottoms and surrounding floating habitats. Finally, in the last chapter, based on the possibility of using wild fauna already growing in fish farms, the applicability of amphipods as an accessory culture is tested in an offshore integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system with finfish as main fed species. Throughout this thesis it has been shown that fish-farming activities affect the amphipod assemblage in several ways such as the establishment of high population densities or the intimate connectivity between different subpopulations. As a result, a new potential commercial application arises from the possibility of using them as biofilters of aquaculture wastes, within an off-coast integrated multitrophic aquaculture system, promoting a more sustainable development of aquaculture in the marine environment.
Las estructuras artificiales que conforman las instalaciones de acuicultura en mar abierto suelen ser colonizadas por multitud de organismos marinos, que forman comunidades de fouling características en estas estructuras. Muchos estudios se han centrado en la descripción de los organismos sésiles que se desarrollan sobre cabos, redes y boyas de las instalaciones de acuicultura, debido a los problemas que generan para el cultivo y los costes adicionales que significan para la industria derivados de su necesaria eliminación. Sin embargo, aunque las comunidades de fouling sésiles han sido bien estudiadas desde el punto de vista de su control en las instalaciones de acuicultura, poco se sabe sobre la epifauna que habita estas estructuras artificiales. Esta tesis se centra en el estudio de los crustáceos anfípodos, los cuales aún no han sido estudiados en cuanto a la composición de especies y a su relación con los hábitats creados por los organismos sésiles, a pesar de haber sido detectados en grandes abundancias en las instalaciones de acuicultura. Después de una introducción general, que establece el marco de estudio, el capítulo uno es un estudio preliminar sobre las comunidades de fouling de las instalaciones de acuicultura en el Mediterráneo, comparándolas con las desarrolladas en otras estructuras artificiales como puertos o plataformas petrolíferas. En este capítulo, se demuestra que las comunidades de fouling están compuestas principalmente por bivalvos, algas, hidrozoos y briozoos y que más de un 80% de la fauna asociada a estos organismos son anfípodos. Además el poblamiento se caracteriza por la presencia de siete especies de anfípodos que son frecuentes y abundantes: Elasmopus rapax, Jassa marmorata, Jassa slatteryi, Ericthonius punctatus, Stenothoe tergestina, Caprella equilibra y Caprella dilatata. Un estudio cuantitativo de las densidades de estos anfípodos se lleva a cabo en el capítulo 2, donde se encuentra que la densidad media es de 176.000 ind.m-2, con máximos de más de 1.000.000 ind.m-2. Allí se explora también el papel de los macro y microhábitats en mantener dichas poblaciones de anfípodos. El efecto de la modificación de corrientes sobre las comunidades plantónicas debida a la instalación de las piscifactorías se analiza en el capítulo 3. En él, se detectó una retención de los anfípodos planctónicos cerca de las instalaciones, evidenciada por el incremento en las abundancias de hipéridos y de anfípodos migradores desde diferentes hábitats bentónicos flotantes. La influencia de las grandes densidades de anfípodos del fouling sobre otros hábitats se estudia en los capítulos 4 y 5, donde se observó que el fouling actúa como fuente de anfípodos migradores, exportando individuos que colonizan tanto sedimentos defaunados en el fondo marino como otros hábitats flotantes cercanos. Finalmente, en el último capítulo se analiza la posibilidad de aprovechar la producción natural y la conectividad observadas a través del cultivo de anfípodos como parte de un sistema de acuicultura multitrófica integrada (AMTI) en mar abierto con peces como especie principal. A lo largo de esta tesis, se demuestra que la acuicultura influencia las poblaciones de anfípodos marinos, tanto en el establecimiento de grandes densidades de población como en la conectividad entre las diferentes subpoblaciones. Como resultado, surge una nueva aplicación comercial de la posibilidad de usar los anfípodos del fouling como biofiltros, reciclando los residuos de la acuicultura dentro de un sistema de acuicultura multitrófica, garantizando así un desarrollo más sostenible de la acuicultura en el medio marino.

Mestrado em Bioquímica - Bioquímica Alimentar
Recentemente, tem surgido um elevado interesse na utilização comercial das macroalgas, sobretudo no setor alimentar, devido aos seus constituintes que na maioria exibem múltiplas bioatividades benéficas para a saúde. A Ulva rigida é uma macroalga verde, cosmopolita, capaz de se adaptar a uma vasta gama de condições ambientais, tornando a sua reprodução possível ao longo de todo o ano. Desta forma, torna-se uma espécie promissora de ser integrada num sistema de IMTA (aquacultura integrada multi-trófica) onde geralmente ocorre a manipulação de condições de cultivo com vista à alteração do valor nutricional das macroalgas. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho consistiu na avaliação de diferentes parâmetros nutricionais na Ulva rigida cultivada sob diferentes condições em dois desenhos experimentais diferentes, em sistema de IMTA. Para o primeiro desenho experimental, foram estabelecidas diferentes Densidades de Cultivo (DC) e Taxas de Renovação do meio de cultivo (TR) avaliadas em dois períodos sazonais diferentes. Os resultados permitiram concluir que a DC influenciou positivamente o teor de cinzas entre as diferentes condições atingindo na condição com menor DC e TR cerca de 38 % bs (base seca) em setembro. Analogamente, o teor de proteína foi influenciado pela TR, verificando um aumento do teor de médio deste parâmetro de setembro para janeiro (atingindo os 23,5 % bs) devido à maior disponibilidade de nutrientes no meio de cultivo induzido pela maior TR e pela sazonalidade. Para o segundo desenho experimental, foram estabelecidas diferentes DC e utilizados dois tipos de água de cultivo (nova e velha) de modo a avaliar, principalmente, o perfil de hidratos de carbono da Ulva rigida ao longo de três semanas. Os resultados evidenciaram que as condições de cultivo não influenciaram o teor de humidade, resíduo sólido e cinzas, no entanto foi registado uma diminuição do teor de proteína (de 18 para 7% bs), para as diferentes condições, ao longo do tempo. Em contrapartida, a análise de açúcares realizada ao Resíduo Insolúvel em Álcool (AIR) evidenciou que a Ulva rigida é constituída por Rha (7-8 % m/m), Xyl (2-3 % m/m) e UA (ácidos urónicos) (18-23% m/m), associados à presença de ulvanas, que se mantêm, praticamente inalterados entre as diferentes condições, ao longo do tempo. Contudo, foi verificado um aumento do teor de Glc (10-27 % m/m), da razão Glc/Rha e do teor total polissacarídeos do AIR, entre as diferentes condições de cultivo, ao longo do tempo, associado possivelmente à presença de amido. Adicionalmente, foram estudadas as ligações glicosídicas presentes num extrato de ulvanas, com vista à identificação da posição dos grupos sulfato tendo-se verificado, por dessulfatação, o aumento da ligação 4-Xyl e da 3,4-Rha, possivelmente indicativas da di-substituição por sulfatos no C-2 e C-3 da Xyl e Rha, estando esta última especialmente sulfatada no C-2. Assim, este trabalho permitiu concluir que a manipulação de diferentes condições de cultivo num sistema de IMTA pode induzir alterações especificas na composição físico-química da Ulva rigida, melhorando o seu valor nutricional e rentabilidade no mercado.
Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the commercial use of seaweeds, mainly in the food industry, due to their chemical compounds, which can exhibit multiple bioative health effects. The Ulva rigida is a green macroalgae, cosmopolitan, and its tolerance to a high range of environmental conditons making reproduction possible throughout the year. Thus, this is a promising specie to be integrated in the IMTA (Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture) system, where the modulation of growth conditions are established in order to change the nutritional value of macroalgae. In this context, the aim of this work consisted in the evaluation of different nutritional parameters in Ulva rigida, cultivated under different conditions in two different experimental designs in an IMTA system. For the first experimental design, different stocking density (SD) and nutrient flow rate (NFR) were evaluated in two different seasonal periods. By this way, it was observed that the stocking density positively influenced the ash content between the different conditions, reaching about 38 % DM (dry matter) in september under the condition with lower DC and NFR. Similarly, the protein content was influenced by nutrient flow rate observed by an increase in the mean content of this parameter from September to January (reaching about 23,5 % DM), mainly due to the higher availability of nutrients in the medium, induced by the higher nutrient flow rate and seasonality. For the second experimental design, different SD and water types were implemented in order to mainly evaluate the carbohydrate profile of Ulva rigida over three weeks. The results showed that the cultivation conditions did not influence the moisture content, solid residue and ashes, however, a decrease of the protein content (from 18 to 7 % DM) was observed over time for the different conditions. In contrast, the sugar analysis performed on the AIR showed that the Ulva rigida was composed by Rha (7-8% m/m), Xyl (2-3 % m/m) and UA (18-23% m/m), associated to the presence of ulvans, which remained practically unchanged between the different conditions over time. However, an increase in the content of Glc (10-27 % m/m), Glc/Rha ratio and total AIR Polysaccharides, among the different conditions, over time, it was associated to the presence of starch. In addition, the glycosidic linkages present in an ulvans’s extraxt were studied in order to identify the position of the sulfate groups. The increase of the 4-Xyl and 3,4-Rha linkages indicate the existence of di-substitution by sulfates at C-2 and C-3 of Xyl and Rha, the later being speacially sulfated at C-2. Thus, the manipulation of different cultivation conditions in an IMTA system induced a change in the physical-chemical composition of Ulva rigida, improving not only its nutritional value but also its profitability in the market.

Over the last few decades, Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in South Africa has developed from early experimental designs to large scale, commercially operating farms. This was in response to uncertainty regarding food availability for stock (primarily kelp in the case of abalone farms) and a desire to recirculate water whilst reducing the environmental footprint of the abalone farms. The growing prevalence of IMTA as a commercially viable activity has brought about a need for an expansion of the knowledge pool regarding the physico-chemical processes at work in such systems. Of particular interest to researchers are mechanisms and dynamics of nutrient transfer between components of the system and how these could be manipulated to increase efficiency and reduce running cost of farms. This work was conducted to try and quantify some of the changes in some physical and chemical characteristics of the water stream on a large-scale IMTA farm cultivating seaweed of the genus Ulva (Ulva rigida) and the locally named perlemoen abalone (Haliotis midae) on the south west coast of South Africa (Viking Abalone Farm at Buffeljagsbaai, Western Cape, South Africa) (34.7550° S, 19.6154° E). Experiment one was a three-day experiment taking place in December of 2018, there was no particular reason for the choice of month, analyses of this nature are potentially useful on any given day of any given month as although the literature contains plenty of gaps, there is no single identifiable data gap sufficient to encourage the use of particular timeframes. The sampling regime involved single sample point testing of three modular clusters each operating a different rate of water recirculation (50%, 75% and 100%) with 50% recirculation being standard farm operation, 75% and 100% tested to gauge effect of increasing recirculation, 75% tested as a potential standard farm operation to reduce load on pumps and reduce volumes of water pumped in, 100% tested in case of emergency situation which requires farm to be isolated from the inbound water stream arriving from the immediate coastal water, ambient conditions were also tested for reference and comparison. Parameters tested were those which the farmers already tested periodically to gauge changes in water quality which may effect the abalone or seaweed, though slightly different methods were used for the testing of ammonia. On the farm the standard method is the Nesler photometric test (Lovibond photometer), whereas this research was conducted using a calibrated indophenol blue spectrophotometric technique (Modified Grasshoff, 1976). Results showed no statistically significant differences (Mood's Median Test, p>0.05) between the 50% and 75% recirculation cluster for temperature, pH, Total Ammonia Nitrogen (TAN) or Free Ammonia Nitrogen NH3 (FAN). At 100% recirculation, statistically significant differences (Mood's Median Test, p0.05) occurred for temperature. At 100% recirculation, TAN and FAN increased rapidly, though the commensurate rapid and considerable decrease in pH meant the FAN increase was not as high in magnitude as it would be at 4 a normal seawater pH of around 8.2. Abalone suffered no mortalities at 100% recirculation for three days and later reports from the farmers suggested no noticeable drop in growth rate that could be attributed to this test in the months following the experiment. From the regulatory perspective, the TAN levels breached WWF guideline maximum effluent concentrations for abalone aquaculture (600µM/l) only in the 100% recirculation cluster, and only then during three of the thirteen sampling runs. The TAN concentrations in 50% and 75% recirculation treatments were far below the WWF guideline maximum effluent concentration with maximum concentrations of 7.15 µM/l in 50% and 13.46 µM/l at 75%, the increase in maximum concentration was large but not egregious and resulted from a more pronounced build-up of ammonia as residence time of water in the cluster increases at 75% recirculation. Experiment two was an intensive 24-hour sampling run; the primary aim was to test the effectiveness of the seaweed biofilter in an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) farm culturing perlemoen abalone and a green macroalga. Parameters tested were temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, TAN, nitrate and nitrite as these are relevant parameters for the farmer and the necessary equipment to test them was available. Samples were stored in a freezer for this experiment due to intensity of sampling regime, and spiked standards were prepared to check shifts in concentration of TAN, nitrate and nitrite that may have resulted from the freezing and thawing processes. Spike recoveries were good in the case of TAN (87%-98%) and nitrite (92%-96%), but random and widely dispersed in the case of nitrate. As such, nitrate and nitrite were removed from the analysis as nitrite values only really held value if taken in conjunction with nitrate values. Minimal and non-useful variation in salinity observations meant that salinity was also discounted from the analysis. Temperatures varied minimally between sampling points during the experiment, though they rose in all sampling points during daytime as would be expected. pH was higher in abalone inbound and Ulva effluent water compared to the abalone effluent water. Total ammonia nitrogen percentage removal across the seaweed biofilters ranged from 65%-85% with the mean and median at 73% and 71% respectively. Free ammonia nitrogen percentage removal across the seaweed biofilters ranged from 41%-80% with the mean and median removals at 63% and 66% respectively. A regression analysis demonstrates a strong positive linear relationship between TAN removal and TAN load to the seaweed biofilter (r2= 0.90). Principal component analysis revealed a strong negative correlation between FAN removal and pH, as pH increased across the seaweed biofilters, the level of FAN removal decreased. This suggests that the perceived benefit of increasing pH in seaweed biofilters during the day-time may have some negative repercussions.

Orientador: Patricia Maria Contente Moraes-Valenti
Resumo: O experimento inicial teve como objetivo avaliar o desempenho produtivo do tambaqui, camarão-da-amazônia, e curimbatá em sistema integrado. Foram avaliados os parâmetros zootécnicos e limnológicos dos sistemas de cultivo com tambaqui e camarão-da-amazônia e com tambaqui, camarão-da-amazônia e curimbatá. Após o período de cultivo dos animais foram feitos plantios de hortaliças no sedimento dos viveiros que é rico em nutrientes resultantes do cultivo anterior. O objetivo do segundo experimento, foi determinar o desempenho produtivo das culturas de alface, almeirão, espinafre e rúcula em sistema de integração agricultura – aquicultura (IAA), visando a produção em pequena escala. Os resultados observados no primeiro experimento não mostraram diferença entre os tratamentos, mas indicaram que o cultivo de tambaqui, camarão-da-amazônia e curimbatá é tecnicamente viável para a fase inicial de engorda (recria). Assim, o cultivo com três espécies favorece a produtividade e melhor eficiência do sistema de cultivo. Já nos resultados do segundo experimento, a rúcula apresentou maior produtividade entre as hortaliças cultivadas, apresentando diferença significativa entre os tratamentos realizados. Assim, os dados de produtividade mostraram a possibilidade do cultivo de hortaliças em viveiros de aquicultura utilizando o sedimento como substrato.
Abstract: The initial experiment had as objective to evaluate the productive performance of tambaqui, Amazon river prawn, and curimbatá in an integrated system. The zootechnical and limnological parameters of the cultivation systems with tambaqui and Amazon river prawn and tambaqui, Amazon river prawn and curimbatá were evaluated. After the period of cultivation of the animals were planted of vegetables in the sediment of the nurseries that is rich in nutrient resulting from the previous cultivation. The objective of the second experiment was to determine the productive performance of lettuce, endive, spinach and arugula cultures in an agriculture - aquaculture integration system (IAA), aiming at small - scale production. The results observed in the first experiment showed no difference between the treatments, but indicated that the cultivation of tambaqui, Amazon river prawn and curimbatá is technically feasible for the initial fattening phase. Thus, the cultivation with three species favors the productivity and better efficiency of the cultivation system. In the results of the second experiment, to date, there were significant differences between treatments, with arugula being the most productive species. The productivity data showed the possibility of growing vegetables in aquaculture nurseries using the sediment as a substrate.
Mestre

Doutoramento em Química Sustentável
Marine macroalgae are considered to be interesting for food in Western countries and an important supply of novel natural bioactive compounds. Among these are polar lipids such as glycolipids, betaine lipids and phospholipids recognized as high valued lipids for nutrition and as functional ingredient with recognized health benefits. Its biosynthesis depends on several environmental factors such as seasonality, nutrition and habitat, increasing the structural complexity of macroalga lipidome, so that its identification is a current challenge. Mass spectrometry (MS) is a promising tool successfully applied in the study of lipidomic signature of distinct organisms, which can be extended to identify the hundreds of species in the lipidome of macroalgae, and allow them to finally be explored as potential source of lipids. In this work we aim to identify the lipidome of macroalgae representative of Chlorophyta (Codium tomentosum), Rhodophyta (Gracilaria sp. and Porphyra dioica) and Ochrophyta (Fucus vesiculosus). These algae thrive in the Portuguese coast but are recently being cultivated on an integrated multitrophic aquaculture system (IMTA). The characterization of the lipidome will be performed by using mass spectrometry analysis tools coupled to chromatographic methods. We aim to evaluate the bioactive properties of the polar lipids from macroalgae fostering the potential application of these compounds in function of its biological properties as anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative/antitumor agents. The main goals of this project were achieved after the characterization by using HILIC–MS and MS/MS approaches of the lipid extracts carrying on different extraction protocols. The results of this study allowed to identify about 238 molecular species distributed by twelve classes in the macroalgae Codium tomentosum, 147 molecular species in fourteen classes in Gracilaria sp., 110 molecular species in fourteen classes in Porphyra dioica and 181 molecular species distributed by seventeen classes in Fucus vesiculosus. Overall, the lipidome of these macroalgae included GLs monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGDG), digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG), sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) and its lyso-form (SQMG); phosphatidylcholine (PC) and lyso-PC, phosphatidylglycerol (PG), lyso-PG (LPG), phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and betaines (diacylglyceryl trimethyl-homoserine, DGTS). Green macroalgae may be differentiated by the predominance of molecular species including C16 – C20, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as 16:3, 18:3 and 20:5 from n-3 FA family. It contains several molecular species belonging to GLs and betaines including monoacylglyceryl trimethylhomoserine (MGTS), never reported before in the lipidome of macroalga. Red macroalgae are differentiated by molecular species that incorporate C20 FA chains of n-3 and n-6 families, mainly reflected on the composition of GLs.
As macroalgas vermelhas diferenciam-se pelo elevado número de espécies moleculares que incluem cadeias de ácidos gordos C20 da família n-3 e n-6, principalmente na composição dos GLs, e pela presença das classes fosfatidiletanolamina (PE) e inositolfosfoceramida (IPC), apenas identificada nestas algas, pelo que podem ser consideradas um biomarcador deste filo. Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a variação na assinatura lipidómica em duas fases do ciclo de vida (gametófita e esporófita) tomando como alga de estudo a Porphyra dioica. Os resultados obtidos indicaram variações a nível molecular nas classes PC, PA, PE e PG. Em ambas as fases não se observam variações na assinatura dos GLs. O estudo do perfil em ácidos gordos desta alga mostrou que ambas as fases contêm ácidos gordos do tipo 20:4(n-6) e 20:5(n- 3), pelo que apresentam elevado valor nutricional. Na composição da macroalga castanha Fucus vesiculosus, as espécies moleculares combinam diversos ácidos gordos polinsaturados com 18 e 20 átomos de carbono da família n-3 (18:3, 18:4 e 20:5), e 20:4 da família n-6. As algas castanhas apresentam várias espécies moleculares na categoria das betaínas nomeadamente a classe diacilglicerol trimetil-β-alanina (DGTA) e a sua forma liso MGTA, identificada pela primeira vez no lipidoma de macroalgas, ambas não detetadas no lipidoma dos restantes filo. O efeito da sazonalidade na variação da assinatura lipidómica foi estudado para a Fucus vesiculosus colhida em duas estações do ano: inverno e primavera. Os resultados obtidos mostram que o lipidoma desta macroalga mantém o mesmo número de espécies moleculares em todas as classes de lípidos polares, observando-se um aumento da abundância relativa das espécies moleculares que combinam ácidos gordos polinsaturados C18 e C20 (18:3, 18:4, 20:4 e 20:5), em especial nas categorias GLs e betaínas na macroalga de inverno. Assim, podemos concluir que a sazonalidade tem efeito no lipidoma, manifestado pelo aumento de ácidos gordos incorporados nos lípidos polares na macroalga de inverno, muito benéfico em termos nutricionais. Quanto à bioprospecção, avaliaram-se as atividades antiinflamatória e antiproliferativa do extrato lipídico total da macroalga Gracilaria sp.. A atividade anti-inflamatória foi avaliada pela capacidade de inibição dos extratos na produção de NO em macrófagos RAW 264.7 estimulados com o lipopolissacarídeo bacteriano e a atividade anti proliferativa foi testada quanto à capacidade inibitória na proliferação de células T-47D, originadas a partir de um carcinoma ductal humano (cancro da mama) e de células 5637 originadas a partir do carcinoma humano da bexiga. Os extratos totais demonstraram atividade anti-inflamatória e antiproliferativa, pelo que se avaliou o efeito do extrato rico em glicolípidos e a capacidade inibitória na proliferação de células T-47D, verificando-se uma capacidade inibitória da mesma ordem obtida para o extrato total, pelo que poderão ter particular interesse como fitoquímicos. Assim, os resultados obtidos podem contribuir para a valorização das macroalgas como fonte natural e renovável de alimentos, tendo em consideração o valor nutricional como fonte de ácidos gordos n-3 e n-6, e de compostos bioativos a ser utilizados como ingredientes funcionais, fitoquímicos e noutras potenciais aplicações na indústria alimentar e farmacêutica.

Mestrado em Biotecnologia - Biotecnologia Industrial e Ambiental
O consumo de macroalgas pelos seres humanos tem vindo a aumentar nos últimos anos, o que está relacionado, para além do valor nutricional que lhes é reconhecido, com os seus compostos biofuncionais benéficos para a saúde. Assim, há a necessidade de aumentar sua produção de forma sustentável, onde os sistemas de Aquacultura Multitrópica Integrado (IMTA) surgem como uma alternativa promissora à aquacultura convencional, envolvendo mais de um nível trófico. No âmbito do controlo de qualidade deste novo tipo de alimento, surge um desafio: as macroalgas são organismos que tendem a bioacumular elementos potencialmente tóxicos (PTEs). O objetivo deste estudo foi monitorar a concentração de Cd, Pb, Hg e Al na macroalga Ulva rigida cultivada na empresa ALGAplus num sistema IMTA implementado pela empresa na Ria de Aveiro e inferir de um possível impacto dos factores de produção na concentração destes elementos nas algas. Avaliaram-ase três diferentes situações que poderiam influenciar a acumulação de PTEs nas algas: densidade de cultivo, taxa de renovação da água e época do ano (sazonalidade). Foi ainda feita uma comparação entre espécies cultivadas na empresa e pertencentes a outras classes: Fucus vesiculosus e Gracilaria sp. O teor de Cd, Pb e Al na biomassa de macroalgas foi determinado por atomização com plasma associada a deteção com espectroscopia de massa (ICP-MS), após digestão com ácido e microondas. O teor de Hg foi determinado por absorção atómica após combustão da amostra em atmosfera de oxigénio. As concentrações de Pb, Cd, Hg e Al para a Ulva rigida foram 0.3-3.1, <0.05, 0.01-0.03, e 121-3178 μg/g (peso seco – DW), respetivamente. A variabilidade sazonal não foi significativa (ρ > 0.05), e as condições de cultivo apenas influenciaram estatisticamente o teor de Pb (ρ < 0.05). Todos os valores obtidos para os PTEs quantificados estão abaixo do valor limite indicado na legislação que regula a qualidade das algas para consumo humano, o que evidencia que neste sistema IMTA não ocorrem problemas de contaminação com PTEs.
Macroalgae consumption by humans has been increasing in the last years, which is related with their biofunctional compounds with health benefits. Therefore, there is the need to increase their production in a sustainable way where Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) emerges as a promising alternative to conventional aquaculture that involves more than one trophic level. Quality assurance of this new aliment is crucial and that is why this study is so important: macroalgae are known to be high bioaccumulators of potentially toxic elements. The objective of this study is to monitor the concentration of Cd, Al, Pb, and Hg in Ulva rigida during the year, assessing possible correlations with the cultive conditions and seasonality. There were evaluated three situations that could influence PTEs accumulation in macroalgae: cultivation density, water renewal rate and season. A comparison was made with other species also cultivated in the company and belonging to other classes: Fucus vesiculosus and Gracilaria sp. Cd, Hg, Pb and Al content in macroalgal biomass was determined through plasma atomization and mass spectrometry detection (ICP-MS), after acid and microwave digestion. Hg content was determined through atomic absortion after oxygen-rich combustion of the sample. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg e Al in Ulva rigida ranged as it follows: 0.3-3.1, <0.05, 0.01-0.03, e 121-3178 μg/g dry weight (DW), respectively. Seasonal variability was not significant (p >0.05), and cultivation conditions were significant only for Pb (p< 0.05). All values obtained are below the limit of legislation which proves that in the IMTA system there are no relevant problems related with potential toxic elements accumulation in macroalgae

Among efforts to develop sustainable approaches towards the intensive rearing of finfish within open marine waters, is the development of integrated aquaculture techniques. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA), has been promoted as a way to reduce unwanted environmental impacts associated with the intensive production of marine finfish within net-pens. The principle aim of this concept, is the bioremediation of nutrient discharges from fish aquaculture. This is to be achieved by integrating fish cultivation with the growing of species from lower trophic levels, which use the nutrient discharges as a food source. Many studies have been performed that investigate the ability of various species of macroalgae to remove dissolved nutrient discharges, and the ability bivalves to remove solid-bound nutrients, presented as either fish faeces, or an enhanced production of phytoplankton that may be promoted by nutrients emitted by fish-farms. IMTA has also been suggested as a means to improve overall productivity per unit of feed applied to fish, through the conversion of nutrient emissions into additional biomass, such as the tissues of macroalgae or bivalves. Within the research community which focuses upon the environmental impacts of aquaculture, there is a growing awareness that sustainable solutions to aquaculture production cannot be realised through a focus restricted to the growing-phase, and to a limited set of environmental impacts which may this activity may produce. This is because changes to a specific production phase often promote changes at phases located elsewhere along a products value chain. Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA), is a method employed for modelling the environmental impacts that may potentially be generated across the value chain of a product. It is particularly useful for identifying instances of environmental impact shifting; a term used to describe situations where efforts to reduce the contribution of a specific production phase towards one or more environmental impacts, has the effect of either displacing this contribution to another phase, or increases the contribution of production towards different environmental impacts. Despite its apparent suitability, LCA has not previously been fully applied to the environmental impact modelling of open-water IMTA systems. The work presented in the following thesis advances this research front, by using LCA to explore the potential for environmental problem shifting occurring as a consequence of replacing intensive monoculture production, with IMTA. Comprehensive datasets have been acquired from the Chilean aquaculture industry, describing the production of aquafeed and Salmo salar, as well as for the production of the Phaeophytic macroalga, Macrocystis pyrifera, and the molluscan bivalve, Mytilus chilensis. Using LCA methodology, the production of salmon feed, and the production of S.salar, M.pyrifera and M.chilensis, have been assessed for their capacity to contribute towards a variety of global-scale, environmental impacts. IMTA consisting of either S.salar and M.pyrifera, S.salar and M.chilensis, or all three of these species, and combined at ratios required for a bioremediation efficiency of 100 %, 50%, or 20 % of either nitrogen or phosphorous emission from fish, is compared to the monoculture production of S.salar. The comparison is based upon a standardised functional unit, with each species produced through IMTA, being modelled as part of the reference flow required to fulfil the functional unit. Monoculture is compared to IMTA upon the basis of nutritional function, by using a functional unit of mass-adjusted protein content, and mass-adjusted economic value. The use of economic value is based upon the ‘best-case’ assumption, that it serves as a proxy for the total nutritional function that each product offers to human society. The LCAs presented in this study have produced a number of results. Salmon ingredients derived from agricultural crops and animals account for the majority (between 71 % to 98 %) of contributions towards the impacts of compound salmon feed. In general, agricultural crops ingredients contribute more to these impacts than do agricultural animal ingredients, and account for between 31 % and 87 % of the contributions from all ingredients and inputs. In contrast, the combined supply of fish meal and fish oil from capture fisheries is responsible for between 0.13 % and 11 % of all impacts. Vegetable oil accounts for the vast majority of contributions from ingredients derived from agricultural crops. Vegetable oil is modelled as a 50 : 50 blend of sunflower oil and rapeseed, oil, but sunflower oil accounts not only for most of the contributions from vegetable oil, it is responsible for over 50 % of the contributions that all agricultural crop based ingredients contributes towards some impact categories. Replacing sunflower oil with rapeseed oil reduces the contributions of salmon feed by between 6 % and 24 % across 10 out of the 11 impact categories. When compared upon the basis of equal weight, the contributions of fish oil are between 18 % and 99 % lower than those from rapeseed oil. The production of feed is responsible for the majority of contributions (between 32 % and 86 % ) to all impacts of salmon grow-out production. The production of salmon-smolts accounts for between 3 % and 18 %. The majority (64 %) of contributions towards the eutrophication potential of salmon production are from nutrient emissions, which are the result of fish metabolism, whilst nutrients released through the production of feed, the majority of these being from the agricultural production of crop and animals, account for 32 %. Feed production is also a major contributor to the impacts of land-based smolt production, but these contributions (between 12 % and 37 % across all impact categories) are of a lower magnitude than those from the supply of feed to the grow-out phase. Inputs of salt, and inputs of both electricity produced in a diesel power generator and obtained from the national electricity network, are also notable contributors (between 5 % and 67 %, 4 % and 29 %, and 2 % 47 %, respectively) towards the impacts of smolt-production. The main contributors towards the potential impacts of kelp grow-out production (excluding eutrophication potential) are the supply of infrastructure (between 14 % and 89 %), operation of a diesel-powered motorboat for maintenance purposes (between 1 % and 89 %), and the supply ‘of seeded cartridges’ (between 9 and 49 %). The major contributors from the production of ‘seeded cartriges’ in a land-based facility are the supply of electricity from the national electricity network, the supply of fresh water, and the treatment of waste water. The impact potentials of producing seed in this facility might be reduced if the scale of operation is increased. Removal of nitrogen and phosphorous upon the harvesting of kelp is calculated based upon kelp tissue contents of these nutrients. The harvesting of 200 tonnes ha / yr-1, results in a eutrophic potential with a negative value (-376.51 kg of phosphate equivalents). The removal of such a quantity of nutrients might be beneficial if the local marine environment is at risk of hypernutrification, but when no such problem is present, the potential for undesirable consequences of nutrient sequestration should be considered. The major contributor towards the impacts of mussels is the provision of infrastructure (between 25 % and 99.5 %, excluding eutrophication potential). Infrastructure is also responsible for the majority of contributions from mussel seed production. The provision of cotton mesh bags, which are used to aid attatchment of seed to drop-ropes in the grow-out phase, account for between 37% and 99 % of the contributions from the infrastructure from the grow-out phase. This result suggest that either the impacts of mussel production can be reduced by using an alternative material with lower environmental impact potentials, or the inventory data describing the producing of cottonmesh bags requires some improvement. The outcomes of the LCAs of the different IMTA scenarios, are interesting. The results show that choice of species, and the ratios of their combination as required for the different efficiencies of bioremediation, can have a significant effect upon the comparison between IMTA and monoculture.
The study demonstrates a potential for environmental problem shifting as being a consequence of IMTA, especially when the functional unit is mass-adjusted economic value. As bioremediation efficiency increases, contributions towards eutrophication decrease. However, this reduction is achieved at the cost of increasing the contributions of IMTA towards those impact categories, such as ‘ozone layer depletion,’ for which it has a greater contribution than does monoculture. In general, it cannot be concluded from these results that open-water IMTA represents a more sustainable alternative to the monoculture production of Atlantic salmon. The sustainability of IMTA is shown to be dependent upon a variety of trade-offs, between individual environmental impacts, and between these impacts and the nutritional function that the system is capable of providing.

Kandidaatintutkielmassani tutkin työn imun ilmiötä johtajuuden yhteydessä. Työssäni käyn läpi mitä työn imu on, mitä työn voimavarat ovat sekä millainen johtajuustyyli parhaiten edistäisi työn voimavarojen kautta työn imua. Työni on toteutettu kirjallisuuskatsauksena ja viitekehyksenä ovat tutkimukset niin Suomesta kuin ulkomailtakin. Aineistoista selvisi, että työn imu on aito työhyvinvoinnin ilmiöihin kuuluva tunne- ja motivaatiotila, missä työntekijä kokee uppoutumisen, omistautumisen sekä sitoutumisen tilaa työtään kohtaan. Työelämän muuttuessa yhä enemmän asiantuntija- ja teknologiapainotteiseksi tarvitaan myös uudenlaista työhyvinvointia sekä johtajuutta. Johtajuuden kulttuurissa on siirrytty asioiden johtamisesta ihmisten johtamiseen, työntekijöiden aitoon ja empaattiseen kohtaamiseen sekä inspiroimisen ja innovoimisen kentille. Kilpailun ja kiireen lisääntyessä työhyvinvointi nousee keskeiseksi tarkastelun kohteeksi, jotta työntekijät eivät uupuisi ja työteho sekä työhyvinvointi laskisi. Työn imu lisää muun muassa työntekijöiden työtyytyväisyyttä, terveyttä ja työkykyä, joten sen lisääminen on perusteltua. Työhyvinvointiin satsaaminen lisää myös työpaikan menestyksellisyyttä, kilpailukykyä ja tuloksellisuutta. Työn imuun kuuluvat olennaisesti työn vaatimusten ja voimavarojen ilmiöt. Työn vaatimuksia ovat ne psyykkiset, fyysiset, sosiaaliset tai organisatoriset työn olot tai aspektit, jotka kuluttavat työntekijöiden fyysisiä ja henkisiä voimavaroja. Työn voimavarat ovat taas vastaavia käsitteitä, jotka auttavat työntekijöitä kohtaamaan näitä työn vaatimuksia. Jokaisella työpaikalla ja työntekijällä on omat yksilölliset voimavaransa ja niiden tunnistaminen on avainasemassa halutessa vaikuttaa työn imuun. Esimies on viime kädessä vastuussa työyhteisönsä hyvinvoinnista sekä näiden voimavarojen tunnistamisesta ja tästä syystä esimiehen rooli työn imun ilmiössä on tärkeää ottaa huomioon. Aineiston perusteella palveleva johtajuus vastaa parhaiten tätä työn imun edistämisen prosessia. Palveleva johtajuus keskittyy työntekijöihin ja heidän potentiaaliensa, voimavarojensa sekä hyvinvointinsa tukemiseen ja mahdollistaa näin työntekijöidensä kukoistuksen.

Darbe nagrinėjame ėmimo planus, kurių priklausymo imčiai tikimybės yra dviejų komponenčių mišiniai. Pirmoji komponentė yra proporcinga papildoma informacija nusakytam populiacijos elemento dydžiui, o antroji yra vienoda visiems elementams. Ieškome tokių mišinių, kurie minimizuoja įvairių populiacijos sumos įvertinių dispersijas ir parodome kaip, naudojantis papildoma informacija, apytiksliai nustatyti optimalų mišinį. Pateikiame teorinius ir kompiuterinio modeliavimo rezultatus Poisson'o imtims, renkamoms iš populiacijų, kurios yra generuotos naudojant tiesinės regresijos modelį.
We consider sampling designs, where inclusion (to sample) probabilities are mixtures of two components. The first component is proportional to the size of a population unit (described by means of an auxiliary information available). The second component is the same for every unit. We look for mixtures that minimize variances of various estimators of the population total and show how auxiliary information could help to find an approximate location of such mixtures. We report theoretical and simulation results in the case of Poisson samples drawn from populations which are generated by a linear regression model.

Technological complexities of current ground combat systems require advanced maintenance methods to keep the fleet in a state of operational readiness. Currently, maintenance personnel use paper Technical Manuals (TM) that are cumbersome and not easily transportable or updated in the field. This thesis proposes using the latest technology to support maintainers in the field or depot by integrating the TMs with the onboard diagnostics Built-In-Test (BIT) and Fault Isolation Test (FIT) of the vehicle, to provide the maintainer with an improved diagnostics tool to expedite troubleshooting analysis. This will be accomplished by connecting the vehicle, using the vehicle's 1553 multiplex bus, with the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of an Intelligent Maintenance Aid (IMA). The IMA will use Troubleshooting Procedure (TP) codes generated during BIT and FIT testing. Using the information provided by these TP codes, through the IMA GUI, information from the technical manuals will be displayed to aid the maintainers in their diagnostic work. The results of this thesis will serve as a baseline for further research and will be presented to the program management office for combat systems (PM-CS) for further consideration and development.
US Army RDECOM-TACOM author (civilian).

Monimenetelmällisen poikittaistutkimuksen tarkoituksena on tarkastella työhyvinvointia suomalaisen päivittäistavarakaupan henkilöstöllä (N=65). Työhyvinvointi määritellään tunneperäisenä työn imun kokemuksena, joka koostuu tarmokkuudesta, omistautumisesta ja uppoutumisesta (Schaufeli, et al., 2002). Teoreettisena viitekehyksenä käytetään muokattua työn vaatimusten ja voimavarojen mallia (Hakanen & Roodt, 2010) sekä laaja-alaista työhyvinvoinnin mallia (Manka et al., 2012). Tavoitteena oli syventää ymmärrystä henkilöstön työn imun muotoutumisesta ja löytää työn imuun vaikuttavia voimavaroja ja vaatimuksia. Ensimmäisellä tutkimuskysymyksellä selvitettiin, kuinka paljon kohdetyöyhteisössä koetaan työn imua. Toisessa ja kolmannessa tutkimuskysymyksessä tarkasteltiin mitä työn voimavaroja ja vaatimuksia sekä yksilöllisiä voimavaroja paljon työn imua kokevalla henkilöstöllä on. Tutkimusaineisto kerättiin ensin työn imun arviointimenetelmällä (n=34) ja tämän jälkeen yksilöhaastatteluilla (n=5). Määrällisen aineiston analyysissa tarkasteltiin aineiston keskiarvoja ja litteroidut haastattelut analysoitiin teorialähtöisellä sisällönanalyysilla. Tutkimuksen tulokseksi saatiin, että kohdetyöyhteisössä työn imua koettiin keskimäärin muutaman kerran viikossa, mikä on aiempiin tuloksiin verrattuna (Hakanen, 2009) suomalaista keskitasoa enemmän. Lisäksi muokatun työn vaatimusten ja voimavarojen mallin mukaisesti tutkimuksessa korkeaa työn imua kokevilla oli taustalla paljon voimavaroja ja he olivat hyvin sitoutuneita työyhteisöön. Sekä työn että yksilön voimavaroilla, mutta myös työn vaatimuksilla on tutkimuksen mukaan merkitystä yksilön työhyvinvoinnille. Johtopäätöksenä ehdotan, että työhyvinvointia tutkittaessa tulisikin aina tarkastella sekä voimavaratekijöitä että vaatimustekijöitä.

L’aquaculture marine a un fort potentiel de croissance permettant de faire face aux besoins alimentaires des populations actuelles et futures. Cependant, cette activité, incluant l’étape de production et celles de la chaîne de valeur en amont et en aval, est responsable de potentiels impacts environnementaux sur les écosystèmes locaux (ex. impact sur le benthos) ou globaux (ex. impact sur le changement climatique). Afin de minimiser ces impacts, il est nécessaire de développer des méthodes d’analyse environnementale avec une approche holistique. L’objectif général de cette thèse est de concevoir une méthode d’évaluation des impacts environnementaux à différentes échelles spatiales (locale, régionale, globale) en combinant des outils de modélisation à plusieurs échelles organisationnelles (individu, ferme, filière) et de l’analyse de scénarios. Cette méthode a été testée sur le cas d’étude de la pisciculture d’ombrine ocellée (Sciaenops ocellatus) dans le lagon de Mayotte. Trois scénarios de fermes ont été construits sur la base d’enquêtes. Le modèle FINS a été développé pour simuler le fonctionnement de ces fermes et estimer leurs émissions (solides et dissoutes). La dispersion et le dépôt des rejets solides ont été simulés avec le modèle NewDEPOMOD pour des scénarios de sites couvrant différentes conditions hydrodynamiques d’un secteur du lagon. La taille de la ferme, les choix de gestion et l’intensité des courants sont les facteurs prépondérants qui déterminent le niveau d’émission et/ou la dispersion des rejets et donc les potentiels impacts sur le benthos. Une évaluation par analyse du cycle de vie (ACV) a permis de comparer les impacts globaux d’un de ces scénarios de monoculture à ceux d’un système d’aquaculture multi-trophique intégré (AMTI) associant l’élevage du détritivore Holothuria scabra aux cages piscicoles. Ce système AMTI a montré une faible capacité de bioremédiation des rejets particulaires et des niveaux d’impacts globaux similaires à ceux du système en monoculture, en raison des limites de densité d’élevage pour le compartiment détritivore. Cette évaluation des impacts à différentes échelles spatiales a permis d’identifier les facteurs clés déterminant la durabilité environnementale des systèmes et pour lesquels des leviers d’actions pourraient être proposés
Marine aquaculture has a high growth potential, useful for meeting current and future populations’ food needs. Aquaculture activity, including the stage of production and those upstream and downstream the value chain, however, is responsible for potential environmental impacts on local (e.g. benthic impact) or global (e.g. impact on climate change) ecosystems. To minimize these impacts, it is necessary to develop environmental analysis methods with a holistic approach. The general objective of this thesis was to design a method to assess environmental impacts at different spatial scales (local, regional, global) by combining modeling tools at several organizational scales (individual, farm, sector) and scenario analysis. This method was tested on a case study of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) farming in Mayotte lagoon. Three farm scenarios were built based on field surveys. The FINS model was developed to simulate farm operations in these scenarios and to estimate farm emissions (solid and dissolved). Solid waste dispersion and deposition were simulated with the NewDEPOMOD model for site scenarios covering different hydrodynamic conditions in a zone of the lagoon. Farm scale, farm management choices and site current intensity are the main factors that determined the level of emissions and/or solid waste dispersion and thus the potential benthic impact. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to compare global impacts of one of the monoculture farm scenarios to those of an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system combining the deposit-feeder Holothuria scabra and fish farming. This IMTA system demonstrated low bioremediation capacity for solid waste and global impacts at levels similar to those of the monoculture system, due stocking-density limits for the deposit-feeder compartment. This multiscale environmental impact assessment made it possible to identify the key factors determining systems’ environmental sustainability and the factors for which actions could be proposed

The growing implementation of ergonomics in the automotive sector sets high demands on Digital Human Modelling (DHM) functionalities towards the simulation of more realistic environments and the reduction of physical model dependency. During the current degree project a leading element that smartly assembles DHM usage (implementation of high-level commanding languages) was designed, revolving around the industries’ needs which were gathered and interpreted in order to organize current functions in this language and suggest new complementary functions that would create a language environment suitable for non-expert users. This was achieved by focusing in an intuitive word-function structure, the proposal of defaults and other tools that aid users with different kinds of expertise. The need for realism of simulations was assessed by the language design especially by designing means to coordinate synchronic manikin-actions.
Virtual Driver

Ergonomics is of growing concern for many producing companies. Both the ergonomics of the intended user and the ergonomics concerning the handling and assembling of the product. The increased interest in ergonomics and simulation software to be able to prevent problems before they are realised, has led to the development of several ergonomics simulation software. A software called Intelligently Moving Manikins (IMMA) is currently being developed by Chalmers University, Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre (FCC) and the University of Skövde. This is done in collaboration with the Swedish vehicle industry, among others Scania CV AB. Before the launch of the software in the fall of 2016, it had to be examined how ready the software was.The aims of this project was to: evaluate IMMA according to the needs at Scania and why Scania should implement it, suggest improvements of the software, and evaluate the Scania Ergonomic Standard (SES) to be implemented in IMMA.A literature review was made to broaden the knowledge of different areas. Areas that were researched were: the ergonomics standards used at Scania, what usability is, the available features in IMMA, and other ergonomics simulation software such as Jack.The meaning of exploring other software was to find the benefits that these software had in comparison to IMMA and vice versa. Some areas where IMMA was found to lack functions were that IMMA had no fully implemented ergonomics standard to evaluate by, that it was not possible to instruct the manikin to walk, and that the usability was in need of improvements.In addition to comparing IMMA to other similar software, four cases were simulated in IMMA. The cases simulated were cases with problems within ergonomics at Scania. The difficulties and problems, which arose during the simulations led to suggested improvements of the software. No solution to ergonomic problems were developed in this project.Deeper comparisons of the work procedures used in Jack and IMMA were made by simulating two of the cases in both software. These comparisons led to suggested improvements of IMMA.For the launch, one of the ergonomics standards used at Scania was to be implemented in the software. The standard chosen by Scania was SES Design. This project discussed the benefits and drawbacks of choosing this standard versus the other Scania standards for implementation. It was also examined what needed to be developed in the software to be able to fully implement the standard. When investigating the standard to implement, the evaluation module was also analysed. Suggestions of improvements of the evaluation module, with increased usability and an added function were made. These suggestions were discussed in meetings at FCC in Gothenburg.The conclusion of the project was a priority list with the suggested improvements which were developed during the project. The improvements came from the case studies, studies of other software and the standard evaluation studies.
Ergonomi har blivit ett växande intresse för producerande företag. Inte bara ergonomin för den tänkta slutanvändaren, utan även för arbetarna som hanterar detaljen under dess produktion och transport. Det ökade intresset för ergonomi och simuleringsverktyg som kan förebygga problem innan de har uppstått, har lett till att flertalet ergonomisimuleringsprogram har utvecklats. Ett simuleringsprogram kallat Intelligently Moving Manikins (IMMA) är under utveckling av Chalmers Universitet, Fraunhofer-Chalmers Centre (FCC) och Högskolan i Skövde. Detta program tas fram i samarbete med företag inom den svenska fordonsindustrin, bland andra Scania CV AB. Innan lanseringen till hösten 2016, behövde det undersökas hur pass redo programmet är.Målen med detta examensarbete var att: utvärdera IMMA enligt behoven som ses på Scania och varför Scania borde införa programmet, föreslå förbättringar av programmet och utvärdera Scania Ergonomi Standarden (SES) som ska implementeras i IMMA.En litteraturstudie gjordes för att bredda kunskapen inom olika områden. Områden som undersöktes var: ergonomistandarder som används på Scania, vad användbarhet är, de tillgängliga funktionerna i IMMA och andra ergonomisimuleringsprogram som exempelvis Jack.Anledningen till att undersöka andra simuleringsprogram var att hitta fördelar med dessa i jämförelse med IMMA och vice versa. Några områden som det observerades att IMMA var sämre på var att det inte fanns någon fullständig utvärderingsstandard implementerad i programmet, att det inte gick att instruera manikinen till att gå, samt att användbarheten behövde förbättras.Utöver att IMMA jämfördes med andra ergonomisimuleringsprogram, gjordes även fyra fallstudier. Fallstudierna som simulerades i IMMA fokuserade på ergonomiska problem som finns på Scania. Svårigheterna och problemen som uppstod vid dessa simuleringar ledde till att flertalet förbättringsförslag togs fram. Inga lösningar på ergonomiska problem togs fram under arbetet.Djupare analyser utfördes då arbetsmetoderna i Jack och IMMA jämfördes. Två av de fall som simulerades i IMMA simulerades även i Jack. Dessa jämförelser ledde till ytterligare förbättringsförslag i IMMA.Inför lanseringen ska en av ergonomistandarderna som används på Scania införas i programmet. Standarden som valdes av Scania var SES Konstruktion. I detta arbete diskuterades fördelarna och nackdelarna med att införa denna standard över de andra. Det undersöktes också vad som behövde utvecklas i programmet för att kunna införa standarden till fullo. Då införandet av standarden undersöktes, analyserades även utvärderingsmodulen i IMMA där det ergonomiska resultatet presentaras. Förslag på förbättringar av utvärderingsmodulen togs fram, med ökad användbarhet och extra funktioner. Dessa förslag diskuterades sedan vid möten på FCC i Göteborg.Slutsatsen av detta projekt var en prioriteringslista över de förslag som har tagits fram under projektets gång. Förbättringarna genererades ifrån fallstudierna, studierna av andra simulerings-program och utvärderingen av standarden och dess utvärderingsmodul.

Orientador : Juarez Brandão Lopes
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Geociencias
Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-18T21:32:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rachid_Alessandra_M.pdf: 7466513 bytes, checksum: fcbcde7e9182021af4f8783fc5ab5991 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1994
Resumo: O objetivo desta trabalho é analisar a introdução de métodos organizacionais do "modelo japonês", especialmente os métodos de controle da qualidade, em três empresas de autopeças em São Paulo. A construção desse modelo começou no Japão pós-guerra, através da adaptação de tecnologias norte-americanas e européias às condições do país, processo liderado pela indústria automobilística. Os métodos do modelo baseiam-se em formas mais flexíveis de produção, que levam a uma maior divisão de responsabilidades entre todos os funcionários. Destaca-se no modelo a importância da qualidade, cuja ênfase volta-se à técnicas de caráter preventivo. A partir da década de 80, empresas de países ocidentais passaram a adotar técnicas do modelo em períodos bastante próximos, como no caso das três empresas estudadas. Inicialmente a introdução dos novos métodos se dá de forma isolada, como no caso do Círculo de Controle da Qualidade, mas estes não se adequaram à organização taylorista, baseada em grande especialização de departamentos e funções, existente nas empresas ocidentais. No final dos anos 80 e início dos 90 empresas mais empenhadas no processo de inovação desenvolveram um processo de aprendizado através de diferentes métodos do modelo (como o Controle Estatístico do Processo, o Just in Time, as células de fabricação e outros), e percebem a necessidade de implantar o modelo de forma mais global. Nas três empresas estudadas, assim como em muitas outras, essa percepção leva à adoção do Total Quality Control, que implica em mudanças mais abrangentes. Por exemplo a reorganização da estrutura das próprias empresas e das estruturas de cargos e salários visando diminiuir a alta especialização. Observa-se também grandes mudanças nas áreas de treinamento e aumento dos investimentos visando superar as deficiências na formação da mão-de-obra, o que só apresenta resul tados a longo prazo e se houver um esforço continuado neste sentido
Abstract: The object of this work is to analyse the incorporation of japanese organizational methods, mainly quality control methods, in three auto-part companies in the state of São Paulo. These methods were developed in post-war Japan by adaptating North American and European technologies to Japanese conditions, mainly in the automobile industry. They are based in more flexible forms of production which lead to a broader division of responsibility between alI employees. Quality becomes _ore important and emphasizes its preventive approach. From the beginning of the 80's western countries begun to adopt these techniques at almost the same time, like in the three studied companies. Initially these new methods were introduced separately, as in the case of Quality Circles, but they were not adequate for taylorist organization from western countries which have been strongly based in highly specialized departments and jobs. At the end of the 80' s and the beginning of the 90' s some companies who have worked wi th others methods (e. 9 . statistical process control, just in time, manufacturing cells and others) realized it would be necessary to introduce these methods as a whole. In the three studied companies, like in many others, this realization led to use of Total Quality Control techniques and, as a consequence, to greater changes in their organization. Companies begin then to reorganize their own structures and their job and wage systems to break down high specialization. Additionally, these companies modify their training areas and increase investments to overcome labour force skill deficiencies, which takes a long time and requires a continous and strong effort
Mestrado
Mestre em Política Científica e Tecnológica

Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-23T14:01:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 diss_eliane_lorete.pdf: 1477085 bytes, checksum: 441fc992086608c11199136ce68311d4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003-07-21
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Diversos estudos apontam a importância de se investigar as concepções dos professores, visto a influência que exercem na prática docente. Em especial, as concepções que um professor tem da matemática e da educação matemática influenciam sua metodologia, a forma como ele concebe o papel do aluno e do professor, etc. A Associação Instituto Nacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada (IMPA) tem se destacado ao longo das cinco últimas décadas como uma instituição de excelência na pesquisa e na formação de pesquisadores na área de matemática em âmbito nacional e internacional. As universidades públicas têm absorvido grande parte dos egressos desse instituto. A Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo não é uma exceção, uma vez que, em junho de 2001, o quadro de professores efetivos do Departamento de Matemática era constituído na maior parte por egressos do IMPA (mestrado e/ou doutorado). Esse fato caracterizou-se como razão principal para a escolha desses professores como sujeitos da pesquisa. Foram entrevistados orientadores de mestrado e/ou doutorado desses egressos e os próprios egressos, buscando encontrar convergências e/ou divergências entre as concepções dos orientadores (denominados de matemáticos) e as concepções dos egressos sobre matemática, educação matemática e sobre o IMPA, por acreditar que a formação recebida pelos egressos no IMPA pode influenciar a formação de futuros professores de matemática, uma vez que esses egressos lecionam também para a Licenciatura de Matemática. A pesquisa, de cunho qualitativo, configurou-se como um estudo de caso, cujos dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Os resultados mostram que prevaleceu entre os entrevistados uma concepção de matemática muito próxima da platonista, apesar de terem sido identificados elementos de concepções instrumentalistas e de resolução de problemas. Destacou-se, entre os entrevistados, uma concepção de educação matemática tradicional, embora tenham sido percebidos elementos de uma concepção de educação matemática contemporânea. Sobre o IMPA, matemáticos e egressos concordam que o reconhecimento do instituto se deve à qualidade das pesquisas realizadas e ao intercâmbio.
everal studies point out the importance of investigating the teachers. conceptions, for the influence they have upon the teaching practice. In special, the conceptions a teacher has of mathematics and of mathematical education will influence his/her methodology, and the form in which he/she perceives the student s role and the teacher.s role, etc. The Association .Instituto Nacional de Matemática Pura e Aplicada. (National Institute of Pure and Applied Math) (IMPA) has stood out throughout the last five decades as an instituition of excellence in research and in researchers. education in the area of math, both nationwide and wordwide. The public universities have absorbed a great part of the egress from such institution. The Federal University of Espírito Santo is no exception, once, in June/2001, the staff in its Math Department was constituted in its majority by IMPA egress (master and/or doctorate programs). Such a fact was characterized as the main reason for the choice of those professors as subjects of this research. Such egress. master and/or doctorate program supervisors and the egress themselves were interviewed, in an attempt to find convergences and/or divergences between the supervisors (referred to as mathematicians) conceptions and the egress. conceptions about math, mathematical education, and about the IMPA, for it is believed that the education received by the IMPA egress may influence the education of the future math teachers, since such egress also teach in the Math Licentiateship. The research, of a qualitative character, was shaped as a case study, of which the data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The results show that among the interviewed was prevalent a conception of math very close to the Platonism, though some instrumentalist conceptions and problem solution elements were identified. Among the interviewed, a conception of traditional mathematical education stood out, though some elements of a contemporary mathematical education were perceived. As for the IMPA, both mathematicians and egress agree that the institute s recognition is due to the quality of the research carried out by them and to the exchange programs.

Radio Resource Management (RRM) is crucial to efficiently and correctly manage the delivery of quality-of-service (QoS) in IMT-Advanced systems. Various methods on radio resource management for LTE/LTE-Advanced traffic have been studied by researchers especially regarding QoS handling of video packet transmissions. Usually, cross-layer optimisation (CLO) involving the PHY and MAC layers, has been used to provide proper resource allocation and distribution to the entire system. Further initiatives to include the APP layer as part of CLO techniques have gained considerable attention by researchers. However, some of these methods did not adequately consider the level of compatibility with legacy systems and standards. Furthermore, the methods did not wholly address User Equipment (UE) mobility or performance metrics for a specific data type or a specified period. Consequently, in this thesis, a content-aware radio RRM model employing a cross-layer optimiser focusing on a video conferencing/streaming application for a single cell long-term evolution (LTE) system has been proposed. Based on two constructed look-up tables, the cross-layer optimiser was found to dynamically adjust the transmitted video data rates depending on the UE or eNodeB SINR performance. The proposed look-up tables were derived from the performance study of the LTE classical (baseline) simulation model for various distances at a certain UE velocity. Two performance parameters, namely the average throughput and measured SINR were matched together to find the most suitable data rates for video delivery in both the uplink and downlink transmissions. The developed content-aware RRM model was then tested against the LTE baseline simulation model, to benchmark its capability to be used as an alternative to existing RRM methods in the present LTE system. Based on the detailed simulations, the output performance demonstrated that for video packet delivery in both uplink and downlink transmissions, the content-aware RRM model vastly outperformed the legacy LTE baseline simulation model with regard to the packet loss ratio and average end-to-end delay for the same amount of throughput. The baseline simulation model and the newly developed cross-layer approach were investigated and compared with practical measurement results in which PodNode technology, besides other components and supporting simulation software, were used to emulate the LTE communication system. The first emulation experiment involving the baseline model was generally in sync with the uplink throughput simulation performance. The second test which implemented the cross-layer approach employing the look-up table derived from the previous emulated results, confirmed the viability of the proposed content-aware RRM model to be used in current LTE or LTE-Advanced systems for improving the performance in the packet loss ratio and average packet delay.

Questa tesi si propone di studiare il "motion control", come viene attualmente realizzato sulle macchine di IMA Life e come invece verrebbe realizzato con l'architettura proposta da Siemens. Vengono fatte le adeguate valutazioni sui due sistemi, per poi proporre un sistema di "motion control" innovativo applicabile sulle macchine IMA Life che sia in grado di aggiungere funzionalità a quello attuale.

La prevalenza dell’obesità sta crescendo in modo sostanziale sia nei Paesi sviluppati sia in quelli in via di sviluppo. Negli ultimi anni si è sviluppato un vasto consenso sul fatto che una perdita di peso corporeo del 10% sia in grado di ridurre significativamente le complicanze mediche (quali le patologie cardiovascolari) e i fattori di rischio associati all’eccesso ponderale. Tuttavia, la progressiva diffusione di sovrappeso e obesità e l’assenza di una strategia di trattamento efficace costituiscono un terreno fertile per il proliferare di differenti modelli interventistici. Ad oggi, il programma di intervento più diffuso rimane la “dietoterapia prescrittiva”. La terapia di gruppo (cognitivo-comportamentale) si è dimostrata negli ultimi anni più efficace nel trattamento dell’obesità rispetto all’intervento prescrittivo. Lo studio vuole valutare l'efficacia di un intervento educazionale di gruppo (trattamento B) in un campione di soggetti con diagnosi di sovrappeso e obesità (BMI > 24,9 kg/m2) che sono incorsi in un primo episodio di infarto miocardico acuto (sia STEMI sia NSTEMI), confrontato con l'approccio dietoterapico prescrittivo classico (trattamento A). L’outcome primario dello studio è la riduzione del 5-10% del peso corporeo a 6-12 mesi dall’inizio del trattamento. Gli outcome secondari invece sono i seguenti: l’identificazione in prevenzione secondaria di nuovi biomarcatori periferici con significato prognostico-predittivo, da utilizzare in prevenzione primaria; l’identificazione di un marcatore periferico per il grasso epicardico che correli con lo spessore di EAT. Da Novembre 2013 a Settembre 2015 sono stati arruolati 90 pazienti. I pazienti che avevano dato il loro consenso scritto e che soddisfacevano le caratteristiche di inclusione sono stati randomizzati ad uno dei due trattamenti. Il trattamento educazionale di gruppo si è dimostrato essere più efficace della dietoterapia prescrittiva classica in termini di perdita di peso (in A, Δpeso T1-T6: -2,83%; in B, Δpeso T1-T6: -4,89%; in A, Δpeso T1-T12: +3,50%; in B, Δpeso T1-T12: -6,45%) e di miglioramento della composizione corporea sia nel breve che nel lungo termine. Tale intervento nutrizionale necessità tuttavia di essere perfezionato ulteriormente sulla base del costrutto della CBT, da adeguare alla condizione di cardiopatia ischemica. I risultati relativi allo spessore di EAT mostrano una riduzione dello stesso sia a sei che a 12 mesi per entrambi i trattamenti, con una percentuale di efficacia pressoché raddoppiata per i pazienti sottoposti ad intervento educazionale di gruppo (in A, ΔEAT-TS T1-T6: -5,00%; in B, ΔEAT-TS T1-T6: -18,84%; in A, ΔEAT-TS T1-T12: -11,67%; in B, ΔEAT-TS T1-T6: -30,43%), suggerendo la necessità di approfondire il ruolo del grasso epicardico nell’insorgenza della cardiomiopatia ischemica e del suo potenziale diagnostico e prognostico-predittivo utile in prevenzione primaria. Inoltre, la Serglicina si è dimostrata essere un buon marcatore di correlazione con lo spessore del grasso epicardico (p value T6 = 0,023; p value T12 = 0,002; p value andamento temporale = 0,003), da proporre eventualmente nella routine diagnostica con significato prognostico/predittivo di rischio cardiovascolare obesità viscerale-correlato. I dati ottenuti in merito ai livelli di espressione plasmatica di Chemerina e Greline suggeriscono altresì un ruolo attivo di queste molecole nei processi pro-infiammatori e cardiorigenerativi, rispettivamente. Sarebbe pertanto interessante approfondire il grado di correlazione esistente tra Chemerina e danno tissutale, nonché tra le Greline e il loro potere cardiorigenerativo, al fine di inserire i loro dosaggi nella pratica clinica con significato prognostico/predittivo di rischio cardiovascolare.

La maladie de Crohn (MC) est une maladie inflammatoire chronique de l’intestin. Parmi les gènes associés à la MC, NOD2 est le plus fréquemment retrouvé chez les patients. Le premier but de ce travail était d’explorer le rôle de NOD2 dans la régulation des voies de signalisation et de déterminer l’impact des mutations associées à la MC et le syndrome de Blau (SB) sur ces voies. Nous avons étudié l’impact de deux mutations de NOD2, 1007fs et R334W, respectivement associées à la MC et au SB. La forme 1007fs est caractérisée par une perte de réponse au MDP ainsi qu’une augmentation exacerbée de la perméabilité paracellulaire (PP) en réponse à la carence nutritionnelle. Les cellules arborant la mutation R334W présentaient une activation basale de la voie p38 et NF-κB quasi inchangée par le MDP associée à une très faible sécrétion de cytokines pro-inflammatoires suggérant une perte de fonction de NOD2-R334W. La deuxième partie de cette thèse se focalise sur l’effet de l’imatinib (IMA), inhibiteur de tyrosine kinase, sur la PP, dans le but d’expliquer les effets bénéfiques observés chez les patients Crohn traités par l’IMA. Nous avons observé une réduction de l’augmentation de la PP induite par la carence nutritionnelle in vitro et ex vivo par l’IMA. Cet effet était spécifique à la PP induite par la carence et il ne semble pas associé à un effet inhibiteur de l’IMA sur le flux autophagique. Nous avons également montré une amélioration de la colite induite par le DSS des souris traitées avec l’IMA. Ces résultats expliquent en partie l’effet bénéfique de l’IMA observé chez les patients atteints de MC et encouragent à le proposer comme traitement pour cette maladie
Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease. Among the genes associated to CD, NOD2 is the most frequently mutated. It recognizes a component of the bacterial cell wall, muramyl dipeptide (MDP), and thus regulates several signaling pathways. The first aim of this study was to explore the role of NOD2 in the regulation of signaling pathways and to determine the impact of mutations associated with CD and Blau syndrome (BS) on these pathways. We studied the impact of two mutations in NOD2, 1007fs and R334W, respectively associated with CD and BS. We showed a loss of function of the 1007fs variant characterized by a loss of response to MDP for the activation of MAPK and NF-κB pathways and increased paracellular permeability (PP) in response to nutrient starvation (NS). Cells bearing the R334W mutation, exhibited a basal activation of p38 and NF-κB pathway unchanged by the MDP stimulation. This effect was correlated with a low secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by these cells also suggesting a loss of function of NOD2-R334W. The second part of this work focused on the effect of imatinib (IMA), a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on the PP, in order to explain the beneficial effects observed in patients treated with IMA. We observed a reduction of the increase of the PP induced by NS in vitro and ex vivo by IMA. This effect was specific to PP induced by NS and was associated with an inhibitory role of IMA on the autophagic flux. We have also shown an improvement in the DSS induced-colitis in mice treated with IMA. These results partially explain the beneficial effect of IMA observed in CD patients and support it as a treatment for this disease

Il lavoro presentato in questa tesi si concentra sullo sviluppo e sul miglioramento della strumentazione e dei metodi applicati all'imaging a trasmissione di neutroni. Le attività di ricerca sono state svolte presso il laboratorio di "Imaging and Materials Science and Engineering" (IMAT). Questa struttura fa parte della sorgente di neutroni ISIS presso il Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK). I neutroni qui sono prodotti dalla spallazione di un bersaglio di tungsteno colpito da protoni con energia di 800 MeV. I neutroni risultanti vengono moderati e convogliati attraverso le guide dei fasci verso l'area sperimentale IMAT. Lo spettro dei neutroni è caratterizzato dalla presenza di neutroni termici e freddi con una lunghezza d'onda compresa tra 0,68 e 6,8 A. IMAT è stato progettato per acquisire impulsi di neutroni in modalità tempo di volo, registrando il tempo di arrivo dei neutroni, relativo alla loro energia, con una risoluzione temporale massima di 10 ns. Questa analisi viene eseguita con un rilevatore di nuova generazione, che è una combinazione di un convertitore di neutroni “MicroChannel Plate” e un readout elettronico “TIMEPIX”. Mediante questo apparato, radiografie e tomografie con un campo visivo di 28 mm^2 possono essere generate con una risoluzione spaziale di 55 um e a particolari energie dei neutroni incidenti. Una fotocamera CMOS di maggiori dimensioni può essere utilizzata in combinazione con gli scintillatori a 6LiF/ZnS per acquisire immagini fino a 200 * 200 mm^2 in modalità white-beam. Ciò apre diverse possibilità. Da una parte, la tecnica di imaging neutronico risolta in energia può essere utilizzata per studiare composizione e texture dei campioni tramite software di analisi dei Bragg Edge, a costo di un campo visivo ridotto. Dall’altra, i campioni più grandi possono essere studiati con fotocamere standard basate su CMOS o CCD, ma perdendo qualsiasi informazione sull'energia dei neutroni in ingresso. In questo lavoro, la prima parte è dedicata alla descrizione della strumentazione IMAT, incluso il progetto della beamline, l'area sperimentale e i rivelatori. La seconda parte è diretta a casi di studio basati su queste nuove tecniche di strumentazione e di imaging. In particolare, nel campo del patrimonio culturale, tali metodi non distruttivi sono utilizzati, in quanto i campioni sono spesso piccoli e delicati. Per esempio, abbiamo analizzato una perla "soufflè". La loro particolarità risiede nel fatto che sono vuote all'interno. L'ispezione della struttura morfologica della parte interna e l'individuazione dei diversi orientamenti dei cristalliti sono stati condotti con tecniche di imaging risolte in energia. Un secondo esperimento, presentato in questa tesi, riguarda lo studio di una serie di griglie metalliche con una dimensione fino a 200 * 10 mm^2. In questo caso, un modo rapido e non distruttivo per verificare lo spessore dello strato di carburo di boro di 1 um depositato sulle lamelle è stato implementato con successo, considerando un'incertezza di 120 nm. La terza parte è rivolta a mostrare due nuovi metodi sviluppati per migliorare la fotocamera del rivelatore MCP in termini di risoluzione spaziale e affidabilità. Per quanto riguarda la risoluzione spaziale, è stata testata una nuova procedura basata su un algoritmo di centroiding. Questo metodo di acquisizione consente di superare il vincolo fisico dato dalla dimensione dei pixel del readout elettronico e di acquisire immagini con risoluzioni fino a quattro volte superiori. Inoltre, è stato sviluppato un sistema per migliorare le immagini generate dal rivelatore MCP in post-elaborazione. Uno dei punti deboli del readout TIMEPIX installato sul rivelatore MCP è il fatto di essere costituito da quattro matrici di pixel assemblate insieme. Ciò porta a notevoli artefatti che possono causare problemi nell'analisi dei dati. Una procedure con software specifico è stata implementata per risolvere il problema.
The work presented in this thesis focuses on the development and improvement of instrumentation and methods applied to neutron transmission imaging. In particular, the research activities have been performed at the "Imaging and Materials Science and Engineering" (IMAT) instrument. This facility is a part of the ISIS neutron source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, in UK. The neutrons here are produced by spallation of a tungsten target hit by protons with energy of 800 MeV. The resulting neutrons are then moderated and convoyed through beam guides towards the IMAT experimental area. The neutrons spectrum in this case is characterized by the presence of thermal and cold neutrons with a wavelength in the range of 0.68 - 6.8 A. IMAT has been designed to acquire neutron pulses in Time-Of-Flight mode, by recording the time of arrival of neutrons, related to their energy, with a maximum of 10 ns timing resolution. This analysis is performed with a new generation detector, that is a combination of a MicroChannel Plate neutron converter with a TIMEPIX electronic readout. By means of this apparatus, radiographies and tomographies with a field of view of 28 mm^2 can be generated with a spatial resolution of 55 \textmu m and with respect to specific neutron energies. Beside this device, a larger CMOS camera can be used in combination with 6LiF/ZnS based neutron screen scintillators to acquire images up to 200 * 200 mm^2 in white-beam imaging. Such configuration opens several possibilities in different case scenarios. In one hand, the energy-resolved neutron imaging technique can be used to investigate the phase fraction composition and texture of the samples via Bragg Edge analysis software tools, at the cost of a reduced field of view. On the other hand, bigger samples can be studied with standard CMOS or CCD based white-beam imaging cameras, but loosing any information about the energy of the incoming neutrons. In this work, the first part is devoted to the description of the IMAT instrumentation, including the beamline design, the experimental area and the detectors. The second part is directed to case studies that made use of these novel instrumentation and imaging techniques. In particular, the cultural heritage takes advantage of such non-destructive methods where small and delicate specimens must be analysed. In this class of examples, a "soufflè" pearl was considered. The peculiarity of these cultured pearls resides in the fact that they are empty inside. The inspection of the morphological structure of the inner part, as well as the individuation of the different orientations of the nacres crystallites was conducted with energy-resolved imaging. A second experiment, presented in this thesis, regards the diagnosis of a series of metallic grids with a size up to 200 * 10 mm^2. For this case, a fast and non destructive way to verify the thickness of 1 um boron carbide layer deposited over the lamellae was successfully implemented, within an uncertainty of 120 nm. The third part is directed to show two new methods developed to improve the MCP detector camera in terms of spatial resolution and reliability. For what concerns the spatial resolution, a new procedure based on a centroiding algorithm has been tested. This acquisition method enables the possibility to go over the physical constraint given by the dimension of the pixels of the electronic readout and to acquire images with a resolutions up to four times higher. Furthermore, an improvement to the resulting images generated by the MCP detector has been developed, based on a post-processing approach. Actually, one of the weak spots of the TIMEPIX readout installed on the MCP detector is that it is constituted by four matrices of pixels assembled together. This brings to noticeable artifacts which, in some cases, may produce issues in the data analysis. A procedure, including a customized software, was implemented to fix such problem.

Introduction The optimal condition for skeletal muscle function is represented by an efficient activation of processes that regulate muscle development, growth, regeneration and metabolism. When the balance among these events is missing, a pathological condition arise. In particular, loss or decrease of skeletal muscle function and mass is linked with severe health diseases such as muscle dystrophies, cancer, obesity and aging process. In this context, sarcopenic obesity, a metabolic disorder followed by atrophy of muscle fibres and reduction of stem cell reservoir (satellite cells in muscle) is associated with increasing ectopic adipose tissue, impairing glucose tolerance and decreasing strength and mobility in old adults. This excess of fatty acids accumulated in several other organs, including skeletal muscle, induces metabolic dysfunctions, β-oxidative alterations, increase of ROS production, lipotoxicity and insulin resistance. Moreover this intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) acts as chemoattractant for inflammatory cells, chiefly macrophages, which produce high amount of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, INFγ) and low of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) resulting in chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and muscle loss. Aims The aim of this work is to investigate the origin of intermuscular fat and the complex mechanisms regulating the crosstalk with the surrounding muscle. In the first part of the study we try to understand the differences in muscle inflammation in obese subjects both normoglycemic and diabetic versus healthy patients using muscle biopsies. Moreover, in the same groups of patients, we attempt to identify serum microRNAs as possible useful markers of muscle alterations in presence of obesity. Because it is well known that in chronic diseases, as obesity and diabetes, multifactorial components contribute to the pathology, we decided to investigate the microenvironment of skeletal muscle, represented by extracellular matrix (ECM). We aim to understand if it could have had a role in the deposition of IMAT and on associated inflammatory processes using an obese mouse model. Material and methods From healthy and obese patients either normoglycemic or diabetic, both muscle biopsies and serum samples were collected. By Real-time PCR the first were analysed for selected inflammation markers, whereas the second for the principal muscle circulating miRNAs. In the second part of the study, a detergent-enzymatic decellularization protocol for wild type (C57BL6J) and ob/ob (B6.Cg-Lepob/J) murine quadriceps were set and samples were characterized for DNA content and ECM structure preservation. After that, a volumetric muscle loss model on wild-type mice was created and ECMs from wt or ob/ob quadriceps mice were implanted. The ability of the matrices to be remodelled and reabsorbed was evaluated by immunofluorescence and molecular analysis after 7, 15 and 30 days. Results and discussion mRNA from three human rectus abdomins biopsies from obese patients both normoglycemic and diabetic and three peroneal muscle biopsies from healthy subjects indicate an increase in pro-inflammatory gene expression both in normoglycemic and diabetic patients in comparison with the controls. However, in contrast to what we expected, diabetic subjects, that were under Metformin treatment from at least 1 year, showed a reduction of inflammation. The serum miR133a, miR133b and miR1 levels of healthy and obese patients both normoglycemic and diabetic, display the same trend previously described for muscle biopsies. This suggests a possible direct correlation between muscle inflammation and the release of these circulating miRNAs, which could be used in the future as indicative markers of patient muscle alterations. On the other hand, the decellularization of wild type (wt) and ob/ob quadriceps did not show significant structural differences between the two samples. In vivo transplantation of the two decellularized muscle matrix (ECMs) in wt injured mice induced after 7 days a strong cells migration in the interface between the native tissue and the matrix that gradually diminished after 15 and 30 days. . Pan macrophages cells (CD68+ cells) were found in both ECM implantation, mainly in the area around the stitches and in the interface between the matrix and the native tissue, but in the inner part of the recipient absence of inflammatory infiltrate was evident at all time points. Alcian blue and Masson’s Trichrome stains highlighted similar GAG deposition and collagen components between wt and ob/ob donor ECM. In particular we observed that the scaffold derived from donor affected by a metabolic disease did no induce alteration in structural matrix deposition but promoted a premature M2 inflammation that was reduced or stabilised after 30 days. On the contrary healthy ECM in wt mice start later the tissue rebuilding leading to a more complete regeneration. No differences were also observed in activation or modulation of myogenic and adipogenic pathways after both implantations.
Introduzione La condizione ottimale attraverso cui il muscolo scheletrico può espletare la propria funzione è rappresentata da un’ efficiente attivazione dei processi che regolano lo sviluppo, la crescita, la rigenerazione e il metabolismo del muscolo stesso. Quando viene a mancare l’equilibrio tra questi eventi è il momento in cui insorge una condizione patologica. Nello specifico, una perdita o riduzione di massa e funzionalità muscolare è collegata a gravi malattie, quali distrofie, cancro, obesità e processi di invecchiamento. In questo contesto, l’obesità sarcopenica, una malattia metabolica che porta ad atrofia delle fibre muscolari e riduzione delle cellule staminali (chiamate nel muscolo cellule satelliti), è associata ad un aumento in zone ectopiche di tessuto adiposo, a riduzione della tolleranza al glucosio e a perdita di forza e motilità soprattutto in adulti e anziani. Questo accumulo di acidi grassi in altri distretti corporei, compreso il muscolo scheletrico, induce disfunzioni metaboliche, alterazioni nella β-ossidazione, aumento di produzione di ROS, lipotossicità e insulino-resistenza. Inoltre questo tessuto adiposo intermuscolare (IMAT) agisce come chemoattrattivo per le cellule infiammatorie, soprattutto macrofagi, che, una volta in sede, producono elevate quantità di citochine pro-infiammatorie (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1, INFγ) e basse quantità di citochine anti-infiammatorie (IL-4, IL-10). Tutto ciò porta ad un costante basso grado di infiammazione sistemica e a conseguente perdita di massa muscolare. Scopo Scopo di questo lavoro è quello di investigare l’origine del tessuto adiposo intermuscolare e i meccanismi che regolano il dialogo tra questo e il tessuto muscolare circostante. La prima parte dello studio ha lo scopo di capire, utilizzando biopsie muscolari, le differenze che ci sono a livello di infiammazione del muscolo in soggetti obesi normoglicemici e diabetici rispetto ai pazienti sani. Inoltre, analizzando i sieri di pazienti che appartengono alle stesse categorie sopraelencate, saranno individuati possibili miRNA da utilizzare come marcatori identificativi delle alterazioni muscolari in presenza di obesità. Poiché in malattie croniche, quali obesità e diabete di tipo2, diversi fattori contribuiscono alla patologia, abbiamo deciso di investigare anche il microambiente del muscolo scheletrico, inteso come matrice extracellulare (ECM). Utilizzando un modello murino di obesità cercheremo di capire se questo può avere un ruolo nella deposizione dell’IMAT e dei processi infiammatori ad esso associati. Materiali e metodi Sia biopsie muscolari sia campioni di siero sono stati prelevati da pazienti sani, obesi normoglicemici e obesi diabetici. Mediante l’utilizzo di analisi di Real-time PCR le prime sono state analizzate per i principali marcatori infiammatori, mentre i secondi per i principali miRNA muscolari circolanti. Nella seconda parte dello studio, invece, è stato settato un protocollo di decellularizzazione del tipo detergente enzimatico su quadricipiti murini di topi wild type (C57BL6J) e di topi ob/ob (B6.Cg-Lepob/J) e i campioni ottenuti sono stati caratterizzati per il contenuto di DNA e le componenti strutturali della matrice. In seguito è stato creato un modello di perdita consistente di massa muscolare in topi wild type (wt) ed è stata impiantata nelle sede di danno una porzione di matrice proveniente da topi wt o ob/ob. La capacità delle diverse matrici di essere rimodellate e riassorbite è stata analizzata dopo 7, 15 e 30 giorni mediante analisi di immunofluorescenza e molecolari. Risultati e discussione L’mRNA estratto da 3 biopsie di retto addominale di pazienti obesi normoglicemici e obesi diabetici, insieme a 3 biopsie di muscolo peroniere di soggetti sani indica la presenza di una maggiore espressione dei geni pro-infiammatori sia nei soggetti obesi normoglicemici sia diabetici in confronto a quelli sani. Tuttavia, in contrasto con quanto ci aspettavamo, i pazienti diabetici che erano in trattamento con Metformina da almeno 1 anno mostravano un grado infiammatorio inferiore. Osservando poi i livelli di miRNA 133a, miR133b e miR1 presenti nel siero di una coorte di pazienti sani, obesi normoglicemici e obesi diabetici abbiano notato lo stesso andamento descritto in precedenza per le biopsie muscolari. Questo ci suggerisce una possibile correlazione diretta tra infiammazione muscolare e rilascio di questi miRNA circolanti, che in futuro potranno essere utilizzati come marcatori della condizione muscolare del paziente. La decellularizzazione dei quadricipiti wt e ob/ob non ha evidenziato differenze strutturali tra le due matrici. Inoltre il trapianto in vivo di entrambe ha indotto a 7 giorni una forte migrazione cellulare all’interfaccia tra tessuto nativo e matrice, la quale diminuisce a 15 e 30 giorni dopo impianto. Cellule macrofagiche (CD68+) sono state trovate in entrambe le matrici, soprattutto nelle aree attorno ai punti di sutura e all’interfaccia con il tessuto nativo, tuttavia a nessun time point è evidente una condizione infiammatoria nella parte più interna del muscolo nativo. La colorazione Alcian Blue e quella della Tricromica di Masson hanno mostrato un’ induzione nella deposizione di glicosamminoglicani e di collagene simile tra le due matrici. Nello specifico, abbiamo osservato, quindi, che una matrice derivante da un donatore affetto da malattia metabolica non è in grado di indurre un’alterazione nella deposizione di componenti strutturali ma promuove una prematura risposta infiammatoria di tipo M2 che si riduce o stabilizza dopo 30 giorni dall’impianto. Al contrario, la matrice proveniente da topi sani induce una ricostruzione del tessuto più ritardata ma che porta a una miglior e completa rigenerazione. Nessuna differenza, infine, è stata osservata in termini di attivazione e modulazione dei segnali miogenici e adipogenici per entrambi gli impianti.

The objective of this project is to develop a driving test using a Digital Human Modeling tool (DHM), specifically IPS IMMA, which will allow the evaluation of the ergonomics of the interior of vehicles as currently demanded by the automotive companies. Thus, improving both the design and the design process. This will involve a study of the driving and the tasks carried out by a real person to end up programming them in the DHM software. Based on this study an interface is suggested that guides engineers or ergonomists to design their own driving tests and enable them to evaluate their own designs without a high specialization in DHM tools and software. Taking into account the already present autonomous cars and their future development, the conceptual design of a two positions steering wheel (autonomous/manual driving) will be introduced as an example to be added in the driving test. This example is intended to show how DHM tools can be used to evaluate different designs solutions in early stages of the product development process. This project will be a contribution to one of the sections of the ADOPTIVE project carried out at the University of Skövde and in collaboration with Swedish automotive companies.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University
PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you.
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a new measure of mental toughness in sport. The role of mental toughness in sport has been characterized as key in assisting athletes to obtain success by optimizing practice, overcome failures, and develop the mental skills necessary to win (Norris, 1999). A literature review concluded with six concepts (hardiness, coping, self-efficacy, mindset, resilience, and optimism) being used to develop an 80-item instrument measuring mental toughness on a 5-point Likert scale (always-never). Athletes (N=359, 195 males, 164 females, mean age = 17.57, SD = 3.4) drawn from a variety of sports were administered the Inventory of Mental Toughness Factors in Sport (IMTF-S) during the spring of 2011. Item analysis and principal component analysis yielded a four-factor 48-item model with an overall reliability (Cronbach's alpha) score of .925. The mental toughness factors and corresponding reliability scores were labeled as follows: Identification (.933), Negation (.812), Determination (.765), and Motivation (.890). Test-retest reliability measures were also obtained on a sample of 25 athletes (r= .892). Concurrent validity was demonstrated (r= .798, p ≤ .001) by comparing a set of scores (N= 75) on the IMTF-S and the Psychological Performance Inventory (PPI; Loehr, 1986). Predictive validity was assessed by comparing means of three sample's scores with ratings of their respective coaches. One independent samples t-test on a high school boys lacrosse team (N=18) indicated that the IMTF-S may have predictive properties (p= .021), however two other samples (women's elite field hockey, N=19) and junior A ice hockey (N=24) revealed non-significant findings when coaches ratings were compared to athlete self-assessment. Finally, correlation analysis found no significant relationships between mental toughness and age or experience. The results of this study provide empirical evidence for the valid use of the IMTF-S in measuring mental toughness in athletes. Perhaps of greater importance is that this study bolsters the existing research on mental toughness and further promotes its identification and development in assisting athletes in overcoming high-pressured and adverse conditions in their sporting environments.
2031-01-01

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only
Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only
School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited
Late identification of work and inadequate administrative controls are principle causes of untimely preparation of Controlled Work Procedures (CWPs) at one heavily loaded, afloat, submarine Intermediate Maintenance Activity (IMA). Untimely CWP preparation, however, is symptomatic of a more widespread problem of inadequate communications and decision support in the IMA maintenance planning process. The Maintenance Resource Management System's (MRMS) Engineered Time Value standards provide significant improvement in resource estimation accuracy over the Maintenance and Material Management (3-M) Intermediate Maintenance Management System (IMMS). However, both IMMS and MRMS (version 0) emphasize transaction processing and structured, upline reporting. Neither system provides tools necessary for optimal decision making to IMA maintenance supervisors.