PROPAGAÇÃO ASSEXUADA DO CAMU-CAMU (Myrciaria dúbia) ATRAVÉS DE ENXERTIAS DO TIPO GARFAGEM

O camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (H.B.K.) McVaugh), espécie nativa da Amazônia, cujos frutos apresentam elevado teor de vitamina C, normalmente é propagado através da semente o que não garante a reprodução de bons caracteres. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo avaliar a multiplicação do camu-camu por meio de diferentes métodos de enxertias do tipo garfagem, visando a produção de material selecionado na região de Manaus, AM. As enxertias foram realizadas quando as mudas alcançaram um ano de idade com, em média, diâmetro do colo de 6 mm e altura de 80 cm, em viveiro coberto com tela de sombrite de 50 % de luminosidade. A enxertia do tipo garfagem com fenda lateral (65 %), seguida da garfagem lateral simples (52 %), foi o método que apresentou o melhor resultado na propagação assexuada do camu-camu. As garfagens de topo com fenda cheia (34 %) e fenda a cavalo (9 %) foram os métodos que registraram os mais baixos índices de pegamentos, embora a primeira não tenha diferido significativamente dos métodos que apresentaram os melhores resultados.

Ha Hbabi Bia Oudda ; Ha Hbabi Bia Oudda (suite) / Cheik Madani, chant [acc. instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Alg��rie]

Ya Radjel Chouf Bia Massar ; Ya Radjel Chouf Bia Massar (suite) / Cheik Madani, chant [acc. instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Alg��rie]

Determina����o r��pida de hidroquinona usando an��lise por inje����o em batelada (BIA) com detec����o amperom��trica

A fast analytical method for determination of hydroquinone in pharmaceutical formulations employing batch injection analysis (BIA) with amperometric detection using a boron-doped diamond electrode is described. The supporting electrolyte was a 0.1 mol L-1 H2SO4 solution (the single reagent used for analysis). The method showed good repeatability (RSD of 0.45%, n=20), wide linear range (from 10 to 2000 ��mol L-1, R=0.9999), low detection limit (0.016 ��mol L-1) and satisfactory recovery values (91-96%). Accuracy of the method was evaluated by comparative analyses using high-performance liquid-chromatography. The ability to replace the electronic pipette by disposable syringes (injection procedure) in BIA systems was also shown.

Influência do índice de massa corpórea, porcentagem de gordura corporal e idade da menarca sobre a capacidade aeróbia (VO2 máx) de alunas do ensino fundamental

OBJETIVO: Identificar e relacionar a composição corporal, baseada na porcentagem de gordura corporal e o índice de massa corpórea (IMC), e a idade da menarca, com a capacidade aeróbia, utilizando-se os valores de VO2 máximo indireto, de estudantes do segundo ciclo do ensino fundamental. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 197 meninas com média de idade de 13,0±1,2 anos, estudantes de duas escolas estaduais de Atibaia-SP. Para estimar a porcentagem de gordura corporal, foi realizada uma avaliação de dobras cutâneas utilizando-se o protocolo de Slaughter para meninas adolescentes. Já o índice de massa corpórea (IMC), medido em quilogramas por metro quadrado (kg/m2), seguiu as recomendações da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Para a avaliação aeróbia, foi utilizado o teste de corrida proposto por Léger, determinando o volume de oxigênio máximo de forma indireta (VO2 máx). Para a análise estatística, foi utilizada a regressão linear de Pearson, o teste t de Student e a análise multivariada. RESULTADOS: 22,3% das meninas apresentaram sobrepeso e 3,5% obesidade, de acordo com o IMC. Na amostra estudada, 140 (71,1%) adolescentes relataram a ocorrência de menarca. A média de idade da menarca foi de 12,0±1,0 anos. A média de idade de menarca para o grupo com IMC normal foi significativamente maior (12,2±0,9 anos) do que nas estudantes com sobrepeso ou obesidade (11,6±1,0 anos). A média do VO2 máx indireto foi de 39,6±3,7 mL/kg/min, variando de 30,3 a 50,5 mL/kg/min. O avanço da idade cronológica e a precocidade da menarca correlacionaram-se positivamente com os menores valores de VO2 máx. CONCLUSÕES: Meninas com maiores valores de IMC e percentual de gordura corporal apresentaram menores valores de VO2 máx. A precocidade da menarca e o avanço da idade cronológica foram os fatores mais importantes para a redução da capacidade aeróbia. A idade da menarca foi mais elevada em meninas com IMC adequado quando comparadas com as meninas com sobrepeso ou obesidade.

Tractament d'una f??bia per desensibilitzaci?? sistem??tica : una experi??ncia did??ctica i terap??utica. 'Tratamiento de una fobia mediante desensibilizaci??n sistem??tica : una experiencia did??ctica y terap??utica'

Resumen tomado parcialmente de la publicaci??n

Bia��a G��ra: the forgotten colony in the Medieval Pomeranian-Prussian borderlands

Bia��a G��ra 3 is a small settlement founded in the late twelfth or early thirteenth century AD in the disputed Christian borderlands of Northern Europe. The incorporation of Pomerania into the Polish state in the tenth century was followed by a process of colonisation across the lower Vistula valley, which then stalled before resuming in the thirteenth century under the Teutonic Order. Bia��a G��ra 3 is unusual in falling between the two expansionist phases and provides detailed insight into the ethnicity and economy of this borderland community. Pottery and metalwork show strong links with both Pomeranian and German colonists, and caches of bricks and roof tiles indicate durable buildings of the kind associated with the monastic and military orders. Evidence for the presence of merchants suggests Bia��a G��ra 3 was one of many outposts in the commercial network that shadowed the Crusades.

Survival at the frontier of Holy War: political expansion, crusading, commerce and the medieval colonizing settlement at Bia��a Gora, North Poland

Between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries AD, the Lower Vistula valley represented a permeable and shifting frontier between Pomerelia (eastern Pomerania), which had been incorporated into the Polish Christian state by the end of the tenth century, and the territories of western Prussian tribes, who had resisted attempts at Christianization. Pomeranian colonization eventually began to falter in the latter decades of the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, most likely as a result of Prussian incursions, which saw the abandonment of sites across the borderland. Subsequently, the Teutonic Order and its allies led a protracted holy war against the Prussian tribes, which resulted in the conquest of the region and its incorporation into a theocratic state by the end of the thirteenth century. This was accompanied by a second wave of colonization, which resulted in the settlement pattern that is still visible in the landscape of north-central Poland today. However, not all colonies were destroyed or abandoned in between the two phases of colonization. The recently excavated site of Bia��a G��ra, situated on the western side of the Forest of Sztum overlooking the River Nogat, represents a unique example of a transitional settlement that included both Pomeranian and Teutonic Order phases. The aim of this paper is to situate the site within its broader landscape context which can be characterized as a militarized frontier, where, from the later twelfth century and throughout much of the thirteenth century, political and economic expansion was combined with the ideology of Christian holy war and missionary activity. This paper considers how the colonists provisioned and sustained themselves in comparison to other sites within the region, and how Bia��a G��ra may be tentatively linked to a documented but otherwise lost outpost in this volatile borderland.

Purgador de b��ia

Curso de Tecnologia Sucroalcooleira. Disciplina de Tecnologia de Produ����o de A����car. Ilustra����o. Dimens��o: 1036x786. Tamanho: 60Kb.

B��ia oceanogr��fica

Est��o dispon��veis as vers��es JPEG e Adobe Illustrator Artwork da ilustra����o.

Estima de la composici��n corporal en conejos de 25 a 77 d��as de edad mediante la t��cnica de impedancia bioel��ctrica (BIA).

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar y validar con datos independientes las ecuaciones de predicci��n obtenidas para estimar in vivo la composici��n corporal de conejos en crecimiento utilizando la t��cnica de impedancia bioel��ctrica (BIA). Las ecuaciones se calcularon mediante un an��lisis de regresi��n m��ltiple a partir de las medidas de impedancia presentadas en el trabajo anterior (Saiz et al., 2011) y de otras variables independientes que fueron incluidas en el modelo, tras hacer un an��lisis de selecci��n de variables, como la edad, el peso y la longitud del animal. Los coeficientes de determinaci��n (R2) de las ecuaciones para estimar la humedad (g), la prote��na (g), la grasa (g), las cenizas (g) y la energ��a (MJ) fueron: 0,99, 0,99, 0,97, 0,98 y 0,99, y los errores medios de predicci��n relativos (EMPR): 2,24, 5,99, 16,3, 8,56 y 7,81%, respectivamente. El R2 y EMPR para estimar el porcentaje de humedad corporal fueron de 0,85 y 1,98%, respectivamente. Para predecir los contenidos, expresados sobre materia seca (MS), de prote��na (%), grasa (%), cenizas (%) y energ��a (kJ/100g), el R2 obtenido fue 0,79, 0,83, 0,71 y 0,86, respectivamente y el EMPR 4,78, 12,2, 8,39 y 3,26%, respectivamente. La reactancia estuvo negativamente correlacionada con el contenido en humedad, cenizas y prote��na bruta (r=-0,32, Pmenor que0,0001; r=-0,20, Pmenor que0,05; r=-0,26, Pmenor que0,01) pero positivamente con el de grasa y energ��a (r=0,23 y r=0,24; Pmenor que0,01). Al contrario ocurri�� con la resistencia, que estuvo positivamente correlacionada con el contenido en humedad, cenizas y prote��na bruta (r=0,31, Pmenor que0,001; r=0,28, Pmenor que0,001; r=0,37, Pmenor que0,0001) pero negativamente con el de grasa y energ��a (r=-0,36 y r=-0,35; Pmenor que0,0001). As�� mismo, la edad del animal, estuvo negativamente correlacionada con el contenido en humedad, prote��na y cenizas (r=-0,79, r=-0,67 y r=-0,80; Pmenor que0,0001) y positivamente con la grasa y energ��a (r=0,78 y r=0,81; Pmenor que0,0001). Se puede considerar la t��cnica BIA como una t��cnica ��til para estimar in vivo la composici��n corporal de los conejos en crecimiento de 25 a 77 d��as de edad.

Validation and aplication of Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) method to determine body and carcass composition and nutrient retention of growing rabbits = Validaci��n y aplicaci��n de la t��cnica de la Impedancia Bioel��ctrica (BIA) para determinar la composici��n corporal, de la canal y la retenci��n de nutrientes de conejos en crecimiento

Los objetivos de esta tesis fueron 1) obtener y validar ecuaciones de predicci��n para determinar in vivo la composici��n corporal y de la canal de conejos en crecimiento de 25 a 77 d��as de vida utilizando la t��cnica de la Impedancia Bioel��ctrica (BIA), y 2) evaluar su aplicaci��n para determinar diferencias en la composici��n corporal y de la canal, as�� como la retenci��n de nutrientes de animales alimentados con diferentes fuentes y niveles de grasa. El primer estudio se realiz�� para determinar y despu��s validar, usando datos independientes, las ecuaciones de predicci��n obtenidas para determinar in vivo la composici��n corporal de los conejos en crecimiento. Se utilizaron 150 conejos a 5 edades distintas (25, 35, 49, 63 y 77 d��as de vida), con un rango de pesos entre 231 y 3138 g. Para determinar los valores de resistencia (Rs,���) and reactancia (Xc,���) se us�� un terminal (Model BIA-101, RJL Systems, Detroit, MI USA) con cuatro electrodos. Igualmente se registr�� la distancia entre electrodos internos (D), la longitud corporal (L) y el peso vivo (PV) de cada animal. En cada edad, los animales fueron molidos y congelados (-20 ��C) para su posterior an��lisis qu��mico (MS, grasa, prote��na, cenizas y EB). El contenido en grasa y energ��a de los animales se increment��, mientras que los contenidos en prote��na, cenizas y agua de los animales disminuyeron con la edad. Los valores medios de Rs, Xc, impedancia (Z), L y D fueron 83.5 �� 23.1 ���, 18.2 �� 3.8 ���, 85.6 �� 22.9 ���, 30.6 �� 6.9 cm y 10.8 �� 3.1 cm. Se realiz�� un an��lisis de regresi��n lineal m��ltiple para determinar las ecuaciones de predicci��n, utilizando los valores de PV, L and Z como variables independientes. Las ecuaciones obtenidas para estimar los contenidos en agua (g), PB (g), grasa (g), cenizas (g) and EB (MJ) tuvieron un coeficiente de determinaci��n de (R2) de 0.99, 0.99, 0.97, 0.98 y 0.99, y los errores medios de predicci��n relativos (EMPR) fueron: 2.79, 6.15, 24.3, 15.2 y 10.6%, respectivamente. Cuando el contenido en agua se expres�� como porcentaje, los valores de R2 y EMPR fueron 0.85 and 2.30%, respectivamente. Al predecir los contenidos en prote��na (%MS), grasa (%MS), cenizas (%MS) y energ��a (kJ/100 g MS), se obtuvieron valores de 0.79, 0.83, 0.71 y 0.86 para R2, y 5.04, 18.9, 12.0 y 3.19% para EMPR. La reactancia estuvo negativamente correlacionada con el contenido en agua, cenizas y PB (r = -0.32, P < 0.0001; r = -0.20, P < 0.05; r = -0.26, P < 0.01) y positivamente correlacionada con la grasa y la energ��a (r = 0.23 y r = 0.24; P < 0.01). Sin embargo, Rs estuvo positivamente correlacionada con el agua, las cenizas y la PB (r = 0.31, P < 0.001; r = 0.28, P < 0.001; r = 0.37, P < 0.0001) y negativamente con la grasa y la energ��a (r = -0.36 y r = -0.35; P < 0.0001). Igualmente la edad estuvo negativamente correlacionada con el contenido en agua, cenizas y prote��na (r = -0.79; r = -0.68 y r = -0.80; P < 0.0001) y positivamente con la grasa y la energ��a (r = 0.78 y r = 0.81; P < 0.0001). Se puede concluir que el m��todo BIA es una t��cnica buena y no invasiva para estimar in vivo la composici��n corporal de conejos en crecimiento de 25 a 77 d��as de vida. El objetivo del segundo estudio fue determinar y validar con datos independientes las ecuaciones de predicci��n obtenidas para estimar in vivo la composici��n de la canal eviscerada mediante el uso de BIA en un grupo de conejos de 25 a 77 d��as, as�� como testar su aplicaci��n para predecir la retenci��n de nutrientes y calcular las eficacias de retenci��n de la energ��a y del nitr��geno. Se utilizaron 75 conejos agrupados en 5 edades (25, 35, 49, 63 y 77 d��as de vida) con unos pesos que variaron entre 196 y 3260 g. Para determinar los valores de resistencia (Rs, ���) y reactancia (Xc, ���) se us�� un terminal (Model BIA-101, RJL Systems, Detroit, MI USA) con cuatro electrodos. Igualmente se registr�� la distancia entre electrodos internos (D), la longitud corporal (L) y el peso vivo (PV) del cada animal. En cada edad, los animales fueron aturdidos y desangrados. Su piel, v��sceras y contenido digestivo fueron retirados, y la canal oreada fue pesada y molida para posteriores an��lisis (MS, grasa, PB, cenizas y EB). Los contenidos en energ��a y grasa aumentaron mientras que los de agua, cenizas y prote��na disminuyeron con la edad. Los valores medios de Rs, Xc, impedancia (Z), L y D fueron 95.9��23.9 ���, 19.5��4.7 ���, 98.0��23.8 ���, 20.6��6.3 cm y 13.7��3.1 cm. Se realiz�� un an��lisis de regresi��n linear m��ltiple para determinar las ecuaciones de predicci��n, utilizando los valores de PV, L and Z como variables independientes. Los coeficientes de determinaci��n (R2) de las ecuaciones obtenidas para estimar los contenidos en agua (g), PB (g), grasa (g), cenizas (g) and EB (MJ) fueron: 0.99, 0.99, 0.95, 0.96 y 0.98, mientras que los errores medios de predicci��n relativos (EMPR) fueron: 4.20, 5.48, 21.9, 9.10 y 6.77%, respectivamente. Cuando el contenido en agua se expres�� como porcentaje, los valores de R2 y EMPR fueron 0.79 y 1.62%, respectivamente. Cuando se realiz�� la predicci��n de los contenidos en prote��na (%MS), grasa (%MS), cenizas (%MS) y energ��a (kJ/100 g MS), los valores de R2 fueron 0.68, 0.76, 0.66 and 0.82, y los de RMPE: 3.22, 10.5, 5.82 and 2.54%, respectivamente. La reactancia estuvo directamente correlacionada con el contenido en grasa (r = 0.24, P < 0.05), mientras que la resistencia guard�� una correlaci��n positiva con los contenidos en agua, cenizas y prote��na (r = 0.55, P < 0.001; r = 0.54, P < 0.001; r = 0.40, P < 0.005) y negativa con la grasa y la energ��a (r = -0.44 y r = -0.55; P < 0.001). Igualmente la edad estuvo negativamente correlacionada con los contenidos en agua, cenizas y PB (r = -0.94; r = -0.85 y r = -0.75; P < 0.0001) y positivamente con la grasa y la energ��a (r = 0.89 y r = 0.90; P < 0.0001). Se estudi�� la eficacia global de retenci��n de la energ��a (ERE) y del nitr��geno (ERN) durante todo el periodo de cebo (35-63 d), Los valores de ERE fueron 20.4��7.29%, 21.0��4.18% and 20.8��2.79% en los periodos 35 a 49, 49 a 63 y 35 a 63 d, respectivamente. ERN fue 46.9��11.7%, 34.5��7.32% y 39.1��3.23% para los mismos periodos. La energ��a fue retenida en los tejidos para crecimiento con una eficiencia del 52.5% y la eficiencia de retenci��n de la energ��a como prote��na y grasa fue de 33.3 y 69.9% respectivamente. La eficiencia de utilizaci��n del nitr��geno para crecimiento fue cercana al 77%. Este trabajo muestra como el m��todo BIA es t��cnica buena y no invasiva para determinar in vivo la composici��n de la canal y la retenci��n de nutrientes en conejos en crecimiento de 25 a 77 d��as de vida. En el tercer estudio, se llevaron a cabo dos experimentos con el fin de investigar los efectos del nivel de inclusi��n y de la fuente de grasa, sobre los rendimientos productivos, la mortalidad, la retenci��n de nutrientes y la composici��n corporal total y de la canal eviscerada de conejos en crecimiento de 34 a 63 d de vida. En el Exp. 1 se formularon 3 dietas con un dise��o experimental factorial 3 x 2 con el tipo de grasa utilizada: Aceite de Soja (SBO), Lecitinas de Soja (SLO) y Manteca (L) y el nivel de inclusi��n (1.5 y 4%) como factores principales. El Exp. 2 tambi��n fue dise��ado con una estructura factorial 3 x 2, pero usando SBO, Aceite de Pescado (FO) y Aceite de Palmiste como fuentes de grasa, incluidas a los mismos niveles que en el Exp. 1. En ambos experimentos 180 animales fueron alojados en jaulas individuales (n=30) y 600 en jaulas colectivas en grupos de 5 animales (n=20). Los animales alimentados con un 4% de grasa a��adida tuvieron unos consumos diarios y unos ��ndices de conversi��n m��s bajos que aquellos alimentados con las dietas con un 1.5% de grasa. En los animales alojados en colectivo del Exp. 1, el consumo fue un 4.8% m��s alto en los que consumieron las dietas que conten��an manteca que en los animales alimentados con las dietas SBO (P = 0.036). La inclusi��n de manteca tendi�� a reducir la mortalidad (P = 0.067) en torno al 60% y al 25% con respecto a las dietas con SBO y SLO, respectivamente. La mortalidad aument�� con el nivel m��ximo de inclusi��n de SLO (14% vs. 1%, P < 0.01), sin observarse un efecto negativo sobre la mortalidad con el nivel m��s alto de inclusi��n de las dem��s fuentes de grasa utilizadas. En los animales alojados colectivo del Exp. 2 se encontr�� una disminuci��n del consumo (11%), peso vivo a 63 d (4.8%) y de la ganancia diaria de peso (7.8%) con la inclusi��n de aceite de pescado con respecto a otras dietas (P < 0.01). Los dos ��ltimos par��metros se vieron especialmente m��s reducidos cuando en las dietas se incluy�� el nivel m��s alto de FO (5.6 y 9.5%, respectivamente, (P < 0.01)). Los animales alojados individualmente mostraron unos resultados productivos muy similares. La inclusi��n de aceite pescado tendi�� (P = 0.078) a aumentar la mortalidad (13.2%) con respecto al aceite de palmiste (6.45%), siendo intermedia para las dietas que conten��an SBO (8.10%). La fuente o el nivel de grasa no afectaron la composici��n corporal total o de la canal eviscerada de los animales. Un incremento en el nivel de grasa dio lugar a una disminuci��n de la ingesta de nitr��geno digestible (DNi) (1.83 vs. 1.92 g/d; P = 0.068 en Exp. 1 y 1.79 vs. 1.95 g/d; P = 0.014 en Exp. 2). Debido a que el nitr��geno retenido (NR) en la canal fue similar para ambos niveles (0.68 g/d (Exp. 1) y 0.71 g/d (Exp. 2)), la eficacia total de retenci��n del nitr��geno (ERN) aument�� con el nivel m��ximo de inclusi��n de grasa, pero de forma significativa ��nicamente en el Exp. 1 (34.9 vs. 37.8%; P < 0.0001), mientras que en el Exp. 2 se encontr�� una tendencia (36.2 vs. 38.0% en Exp. 2; P < 0.064). Como consecuencia, la excreci��n de nitr��geno en heces fue menor en los animales alimentados con el nivel m��s alto de grasa (0.782 vs. 0.868 g/d; P = 0.0001 en Exp. 1, y 0.745 vs. 0.865 g/d; P < 0.0001 en Exp.2) al igual que el nitr��geno excretado en orina (0.702 vs. 0.822 g/d; P < 0.0001 en Exp. 1 y 0.694 vs. 0.7999 g/d; P = 0.014 en Exp.2). Aunque no hubo diferencias en la eficacia total de retenci��n de la energ��a (ERE), la energ��a excretada en heces disminuy�� al aumentar el nivel de inclusi��n de grasa (142 vs. 156 Kcal/d; P = 0.0004 en Exp. 1 y 144 vs. 154 g/d; P = 0.050 en Exp. 2). Sin embargo, la energ��a excretada como orina y en forma de calor fue mayor en el los animales del Exp. 1 alimentados con el nivel m��s alto de grasa (216 vs. 204 Kcal/d; P < 0.017). Se puede concluir que la manteca y el aceite de palmiste pueden ser considerados como fuentes alternativas al aceite de soja debido a la reducci��n de la mortalidad, sin efectos negativos sobre los rendimientos productivos o la retenci��n de nutrientes. La inclusi��n de aceite de pescado empeor�� los rendimientos productivos y la mortalidad durante el periodo de crecimiento. Un aumento en el nivel de grasa mejor�� el ��ndice de conversi��n y la eficacia total de retenci��n de nitr��geno. ABSTRACT The aim of this Thesis is: 1) to obtain and validate prediction equations to determine in vivo whole body and carcass composition using the Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) method in growing rabbits from 25 to 77 days of age, and 2) to study its application to determine differences on whole body and carcass chemical composition, and nutrient retention of animals fed different fat levels and sources. The first study was conducted to determine and later validate, by using independent data, the prediction equations obtained to assess in vivo the whole body composition of growing rabbits. One hundred and fifty rabbits grouped at 5 different ages (25, 35, 49, 63 and 77 days) and weighing from 231 to 3138 g were used. A four terminal body composition analyser was used to obtain resistance (Rs, ���) and reactance (Xc, ���) values (Model BIA-101, RJL Systems, Detroit, MI USA). The distance between internal electrodes (D, cm), body length (L, cm) and live BW of each animal were also registered. At each selected age, animals were slaughtered, ground and frozen (-20 ��C) for later chemical analyses (DM, fat, CP, ash and GE). Fat and energy body content increased with the age, while protein, ash, and water decreased. Mean values of Rs, Xc, impedance (Z), L and D were 83.5 �� 23.1 ���, 18.2 �� 3.8 ���, 85.6 �� 22.9 ���, 30.6 �� 6.9 cm and 10.8 �� 3.1 cm. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the prediction equations, using BW, L and Z data as independent variables. Equations obtained to estimate water (g), CP (g), fat (g), ash (g) and GE (MJ) content had, respectively, coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.99, 0.99, 0.97, 0.98 and 0.99, and the relative mean prediction error (RMPE) was: 2.79, 6.15, 24.3, 15.2 and 10.6%, respectively. When water was expressed as percentage, the R2 and RMPE were 0.85 and 2.30%, respectively. When prediction of the content of protein (%DM), fat (%DM), ash (%DM) and energy (kJ/100 g DM) was done, values of 0.79, 0.83, 0.71 and 0.86 for R2, and 5.04, 18.9, 12.0 and 3.19% for RMPE, respectively, were obtained. Reactance was negatively correlated with water, ash and CP content (r = -0.32, P < 0.0001; r = -0.20, P < 0.05; r = -0.26, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with fat and GE (r = 0.23 and r = 0.24; P < 0.01). Otherwise, resistance was positively correlated with water, ash and CP (r = 0.31, P < 0.001; r = 0.28, P < 0.001; r = 0.37, P < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with fat and energy (r = -0.36 and r = -0.35; P < 0.0001). Moreover, age was negatively correlated with water, ash and CP content (r = -0.79; r = -0.68 and r = -0.80; P < 0.0001) and positively correlated with fat and energy (r = 0.78 and r = 0.81; P < 0.0001). It could be concluded that BIA is a non-invasive good method to estimate in vivo whole body composition of growing rabbits from 25 to 77 days of age. The aim of the second study was to determine and validate with independent data, the prediction equations obtained to estimate in vivo carcass composition of growing rabbits by using the results of carcass chemical composition and BIA values in a group of rabbits from 25 to 77 days. Also its potential application to predict nutrient retention and overall energy and nitrogen retention efficiencies was analysed. Seventy five rabbits grouped at 5 different ages (25, 35, 49, 63 and 77 days) with weights ranging from 196 to 3260 g were used. A four terminal body composition analyser (Model BIA-101, RJL Systems, Detroit, MI USA) was used to obtain resistance (Rs, ���) and reactance (Xc, ���) values. The distance between internal electrodes (D, cm), body length (L, cm) and live weight (BW, g) were also registered. At each selected age, all the animals were stunned and bled. The skin, organs and digestive content were removed, and the chilled carcass were weighed and processed for chemical analyses (DM, fat, CP, ash and GE). Energy and fat increased with the age, while CP, ash, and water decreased. Mean values of Rs, Xc, impedance (Z), L and D were 95.9��23.9 ���, 19.5��4.7 ���, 98.0��23.8 ���, 20.6��6.3 cm y 13.7��3.1 cm. A multiple linear regression analysis was done to determine the equations, using BW, L and Z data as parameters. Coefficient of determination (R2) of the equations obtained to estimate water (g), CP (g), fat (g), ash (g) and GE (MJ) content were: 0.99, 0.99, 0.95, 0.96 and 0.98, and relative mean prediction error (RMPE) were: 4.20, 5.48, 21.9, 9.10 and 6.77%, respectively. When water content was expressed as percentage, the R2 and RMPE were 0.79 and 1.62%, respectively. When prediction of protein (%DM), fat (%DM), ash (%DM) and energy (kJ/100 g DM) content was done, R2 values were 0.68, 0.76, 0.66 and 0.82, and RMPE: 3.22, 10.5, 5.82 and 2.54%, respectively. Reactance was positively correlated with fat content (r = 0.24, P < 0.05) while resistance was positively correlated with water, ash and protein carcass content (r = 0.55, P < 0.001; r = 0.54, P < 0.001; r = 0.40, P < 0.005) and negatively correlated with fat and energy (r = -0.44 and r = -0.55; P < 0.001). Moreover, age was negatively correlated with water, ash and CP content (r = -0.97, r = -0.95 and r = -0.89, P < 0.0001) and positively correlated with fat and GE (r = 0.95 and r = 0.97; P < 0.0001). In the whole growing period (35-63 d), overall energy retention efficiency (ERE) and nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE) were studied. The ERE values were 20.4��7.29%, 21.0��4.18% and 20.8��2.79%, from 35 to 49, 49 to 63 and from 35 to 63 d, respectively. NRE was 46.9��11.7%, 34.5��7.32% and 39.1��3.23% for the same periods. Energy was retained in body tissues for growth with an efficiency of approximately 52.5% and efficiency of the energy for protein and fat retention was 33.3 and 69.9%, respectively. Efficiency of utilization of nitrogen for growth was near to 77%. This work shows that BIA it���s a non-invasive and good method to estimate in vivo carcass composition and nutrient retention of growing rabbits from 25 to 77 days of age. In the third study, two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of the fat addition and source, on performance, mortality, nutrient retention, and the whole body and carcass chemical composition of growing rabbits from 34 to 63 d. In Exp. 1 three diets were arranged in a 3 x 2 factorial structure with the source of fat: Soybean oil (SBO), Soya Lecithin Oil (SLO) and Lard (L) and the dietary fat inclusion level (1.5 and 4%) as the main factors. Exp. 2 had also arranged as a 3 x 2 factorial design, but using SBO, Fish Oil (FO) and Palmkernel Oil (PKO) as fat sources, and included at the same levels than in Exp. 1. In both experiments 180 animals were allocated in individual cages (n=30) and 600 in collectives cages, in groups of 5 animals (n=20). Animals fed with 4% dietary fat level showed lower DFI and FCR than those fed diets with 1.5%. In collective housing of Exp. 1, DFI was a 4.8% higher in animals fed with diets containing lard than SBO (P = 0.036), being intermediate for diet with SLO. Inclusion of lard also tended to reduce mortality (P = 0.067) around 60% and 25% with respect SBO and SLO diets, respectively. Mortality increased with the greatest level of soya lecithin (14% vs. 1%, P < 0.01). In Exp. 2 a decrease of DFI (11%), BW at 63 d (4.8%) and DWG (7.8%) were observed with the inclusion of fish oil with respect the other two diets (P < 0.01). These last two traits impaired with the highest level of fish oil (5.6 and 9.5%, respectively, (P < 0.01)). Animals housed individually showed similar performance results. The inclusion of fish oil also tended to increase (P = 0.078) mortality (13.2%) with respect palmkernel oil (6.45%), being mortality of SBO intermediate (8.10%). Fat source and level did not affect the whole body or carcass chemical composition. An increase of the fat sources addition led to a decrease of the digestible nitrogen intake (DNi) (1.83 vs. 1.92 g/d; P = 0.068 in Exp. 1 and 1.79 vs. 1.95 g/d; P = 0.014 in Exp. 2). As the nitrogen retained (NR) in the carcass was similar for both fat levels (0.68 g/d (Exp. 1) and 0.71 g/d (Exp. 2)), the overall efficiency of N retention (NRE) increased with the highest level of fat, but only reached significant level in Exp. 1 (34.9 vs. 37.8%; P < 0.0001), while in Exp. 2 a tendency was found (36.2 vs. 38.0% in Exp. 2; P < 0.064). Consequently, nitrogen excretion in faeces was lower in animals fed with the highest level of fat (0.782 vs. 0.868 g/d; P = 0.0001 in Exp. 1, and 0.745 vs. 0.865 g/d; P < 0.0001 in Exp.2). The same effect was observed with the nitrogen excreted as urine (0.702 vs. 0.822 g/d; P < 0.0001 in Exp. 1 and 0.694 vs. 0.7999 g/d; P = 0.014 in Exp.2). Although there were not differences in ERE, the energy excreted in faeces decreased as fat level increased (142 vs. 156 Kcal/d; P = 0.0004 in Exp. 1 and 144 vs. 154 g/d; P = 0.050 in Exp. 2). In Exp. 1 the energy excreted as urine and heat production was significantly higher when animals were fed with the highest level of dietary fat (216 vs. 204 Kcal/d; P < 0.017). It can be concluded that lard and palmkernel oil can be considered as alternative sources to soybean oil due to the reduction of the mortality, without negative effects on performances or nutrient retention. Inclusion of fish impaired animals�� productivity and mortality. An increase of the dietary fat level improved FCR and overall protein efficiency retention.