Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Food engineers'

Inhalt:

Introduction:
-Some Introductory Examples
-Consumer-relevant Utility Dimensions
-Communication Flow between the Relevant Actors
-Risk Communication Dimensions
-Complete Model
-Aims of the Study

Method:
-Participants
-Procedure
-Content Analysis

Results:
-Sample Category 1: Food safety
-Sample Category 2: Product Quality
-Sample Category 3: Freedom of Choice
-Sample Category 4: Decision Power over Foodstuffs
-Strategy 1: Scientific Information Approach
-Strategy 2: Balanced Information Approach
-Strategy 3: Product Information Approach
-Strategy 4: Classical Advertising
-Strategy 5: Trust me I'm no Baddie
-Strategy 6: Induction of Fear

An increasingly important part of food technology is nanotechnology. Inorganic nanoparticles are added directly or indirectly to food in order to create new tastes, appetizing looks or to preserve it longer. Exposure to these nanoparticles is fairly unknown, and there is a need to evaluate the dose that humans are exposed to. In this master thesis, two inorganic substances have been chosen. The first one is silver nanoparticles, commonly known as an antimicrobial agent and added to plastic food containers to preserve food. The second is the food colour E171, titanium dioxide. This is not defined as a nanoparticle because of an average particle size of 200-300 nm, but it is assumed that the size distribution may include nanoparticles. In both cases the intention has been to create an exposure model. For silver, experiments were performed to evaluate the leaching from the food containers to food simulant. The experiments show that first time use of the plastic container will give a concentration in the food simulant of up to a total of 30 ng Ag/g. However, after some use the concentration will be lower than 1 ng Ag/g. The silver experiments show that usage of silver doped food containers will not result in an increase in silver exposure and in general the food containers will not have the claimed antimicrobial effect. However, disposable packaging containing silver may be of concern as the dose of silver leaching from this may be larger.Titanium dioxide data is based on a literature review. Analysis of an E171 sample, showed that up to 50 % of the particles were nanoparticles with a size smaller than 100 nm. Modeling of the exposure to titanium dioxide (TiO2) shows that exposure is diet dependent with an average of 1-3 mg/day/kgbw. The modeling shows that children consume a larger dose than adults, and are more exposed to dietary products containing TiO2. For TiO2 the average dose is larger than the background of 5 mg/day, but lack of an effect threshold makes it difficult to conclude whether this is a unsafe or safe dose.Exposure to inorganic nanoparticles through food will be very dependent on the way of distribution. If added to consumer products the exposure is likely to be less than nanoparticles added directly to the food. Some of the results in this project have been unexpected, like the lack of silver leaching from the plastic containers and a large fraction of nanoparticles in E171. The project only includes two substances and further research into human exposure to other inorganic materials is recommended.

The increasing interest in use of nanotechnology by the food industry brought concerns over safety of engineered nanoparticle application in the foods and food contact materials. To aid the risk assessment in 2010 a project NanoLyse was funded by the European Union under Framework Programme 7. The project was focused on the development and validation of methods for analysing engineered nanoparticles in food matrices. The research presented in this thesis was a part of NanoLyse and was concerned with electron microscopy methods. The aim of this research was optimization of sample preparation procedures and validation of electron microscopy as an analytical technique for engineered nanoparticle measurement in foods. Thus the comparison of different sample preparation techniques was carried out for engineered nanoparticles in food matrices. Best procedures were chosen: blotting for liquid and sedimentation of the sample onto electron microscopy grid for solid food samples. These sample preparation techniques were then included in validation of electron microscopy. In view of unavailability of the reference materials electron microscopy results were compared against other analytical methods selected based on the literature review. These techniques were: nanoparticle tracking analysis, gas-phase electrophoretic mobility molecular analyser, centrifugal liquid sedimentation and asymmetric flow field flow fractionation. To render the comparison possible also for studied aggregated, non-spherical particles of synthetic amorphous silica, the concept of data transformation into mass equivalent diameter was developed. Thanks to this it was possible to note that electron microscopy tended to overestimate small particle number in size distribution due to the sample preparation. Subsequently sample preparation for electron microscopy was calibrated for the measurement of engineered nanoparticles of silica. Lastly remaining challenges and knowledge gaps in regards to the measurement of engineered nanoparticles in food were highlighted and discussed against NanoLyse project achievements.

Los avances en el campo de la nanotecnología han permitido desarrollar una gran diversidad de nanomateriales sintetizados artificialmente (NMs), los cuales presentan nuevas y prometedoras aplicaciones en diversas industrias. Debido a sus exclusivas propiedades, los NMs son utilizados en la comida o envoltorios de comida como mejora de textura, color, sabor, estabilizador, etc. A pesar de sus propiedades innovadoras, existe un aumento en la preocupación sobre si las nanopartículas (NPs) de dióxido de titanio (TiO2) puedan llegar a producir efectos adversos en la salud humana. La Agencia Internacional para la Investigación del Cáncer (IARC) clasificó el TiO2 como posible carcinógeno humano (grupo 2B) debido a suficientes evidencias científicas indicando que las NPs de TiO2 pueden causar cáncer de pulmón a través de su inhalación. Sin embargo, en el mismo informe no se obtuvo resultados concluyentes respecto a la exposición de dichas NPs por vía oral debido a la falta de ensayos toxicológicos e información. Es por eso que el objetivo de la presente Tesis es estudiar de manera in vitro los efectos, factores y mecanismos biológicos que la exposición a NPs metálicas puedan causar en el epitelio del intestino delgado humano. Para este propósito, se desarrolló por primera vez en nuestro laboratorio un modelo epitelial in vitro que mimetiza el intestino delgado humano. En nuestro primer estudio, se definieron y caracterizaron condiciones de cultivo del ya descrito modelo, Caco- 2/HT29/Raji-B. Según nuestros resultados en los estudios de integridad y permeabilidad, confirmamos que la mejor ratio de células Caco-2 (enterocitos) y HT29 (células calciformes) era 90:10, respectivamente. Paralelamente se detectó la inducción de células presentadoras de antígenos o también conocidas cómo células M, y se propuso un listado de genes cómo marcadores para bio-monitorizar la correcta diferenciación celular y formación de la barrera intestinal in vitro. Finalmente se testó la funcionalidad de nuestro modelo epitelial in vitro exponiéndolo durante 24 h tanto a NPs de TiO2 como de SiO2. Utilizando microscopía laser confocal se demostró que las NPs de TiO2 podrían conllevar efectos adversos en el epitelio intestinal ya que tienen la capacidad de internalizar en las células, llegando incluso, a entrar en contacto con el núcleo celular. Debida a la gran diversidad de NMs que actualmente se pueden sintetizar artificialmente, y a que cada uno de ellos puede presentar propiedades distintas y por ende afectar de forma diferente sobre la salud humana, el segundo objetivo de la presente Tesis fue valorar los efectos de tres formas distintas de TiO2 (nano-esferas, nano-óvalos i nano-filamentos) utilizando el modelo intestinal Caco-2/HT29. Nuestros resultados demostraron que las tres formas de TiO2 son capaces de desestabilizar el epitelio intestinal, cruzar la cubierta de mucosa, e internalizar en las células hasta alcanzar al núcleo celular. Teniendo en cuenta las imágenes obtenidas con microscopía láser confocal, se demostró que tanto las nano-esferas cómo los nano-óvalos traspasan la barrera intestinal intracelularmente mientras que los nano-filamentos lo hacen por vía paracelular. Finalmente, utilizando el ensayo del cometa, detectamos que las tres NPs produjeron un leve pero estadísticamente significativo daño genotóxico general pero no daño genotóxico oxidativo. Por último, el tercer estudio se llevó a cabo en el departamento de Ingeniería Biomédica de la Universidad de Binghamton (Binghamton, NY, USA) con el propósito de una mención internacional de la presente Tesis. Puesto que la absorción de nutrientes es una de las principales funciones del intestino delgado, en este estudio se evaluó la actividad de tres enzimas digestivas (Fosfatasa Alcalina Intestinal, Aminopeptidasa-N y la bomba de sodio/potasio) tras exponer el modelo Caco-2/HT29-MTX a NPs de TiO2 y SiO2. Con el fin de simular estrictamente las condiciones reales del tracto gastrointestinal humano, las NPs fueron digeridas de manera artificial simulando el proceso de digestión humano (boca, estómago, intestino), y co-cultivadas con bacterias comúnmente encontradas en el primer segmento del intestino delgado humano, el duodeno. Concretamente se utilizaron el comensal grampositivo Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, conocido por su actividad probiótica, y el oportunista gramnegativo Escherichia coli NCTC 9001. En este estudio se observó que la presencia de ambas bacterias en el modelo in vitro Caco-2/HT29-MTX, disminuía los efectos adversos de las NPs sobre la actividad enzimática del epitelio.
Nano-technological approaches are allowing the development of deliberately engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), presenting promising new applications for many industrial fields. Especially, ENMs possess unique properties and novel uses in food or food packaging materials such as the enhancement of texture, colour, flavour, nutrient stability and food packaging safety. Despite their innovative properties, there is an increasing concern about the possibility that human exposure to TiO2NPs may lead to significant adverse health effects. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified TiO2 as a human carcinogen group 2B because there was enough evidence that nano-TiO2 may cause lung cancer by inhalation. Although oral exposure was also debated by IARC, the final report was inconclusive due to non-existing standardized procedures for nano- TiO2 risk assessment. Due to the potential adverse effects of this ENMs and the lack of information regarding toxicological aspects over the oral exposure, in this Thesis we have carried out in vitro studies on the biological effects of TiO2NPs. For the aforementioned purpose, we set up and characterized, for the first time in our laboratory, an epithelial in vitro model that closely mimics the human small intestine. Thus, in our first study, we defined the best culture conditions for the alreadydescribed model, Caco-2/HT29/Raji-B. From our integrity and permeability findings, we confirmed that the best Caco-2/HT29 cell ratio is 90:10, respectively, as TEER values, paracellular LY permeability and the mucus shed formed correlated well with other studies. We also were able to detect the induction of M-like cells by TEM. Moreover, in order to monitor the proper barrier formation, we proposed a set of genes related to the cell junctional complexes, brush border enzymes, mucus shed components and M-cell markers. Finally, we tested the goodness of our epithelial in vitro model by exposing it to both TiO2NPs and SiO2NPs for 24 h. Our confocal results evidenced the potential adverse effects of TiO2NPs and SiO2NPs on the intestinal epithelium, as NPs internalization and NPs-cell nucleus interaction were observed. Because of the heightened interest in the identification, validation and standardization of the effects associated to exposures to new ENMs, our second study aimed to assess the effects of three different shapes of TiO2NPs (spheres, rods and wires) on the Caco-2/HT29 barrier. Our results demonstrated that the three types of TiO2NPs have the ability to impair the membrane’s integrity, translocate through the mucus shed and internalize in the cells, reaching the nucleus. Taking into account our confocal images results, we hypothesize that due to their shapes, nano-wires are more likely to cross paracellularly, while nano-spheres and nano-rods used intracellular passage to cross the intestinal epithelium. Despite previous evidence that relate the capability of TiO2NPs to produce ROS, we have not detected oxidatively DNA damage. However, and in accordance with the confocal images showing a great amount of NPscell nucleus events, we detected a slight but significant general DNA damage in the barrier’s cells. Finally, the third study was performed under the framework of an international mention carried out in the Biomedical Engineering Department at the Binghamton University (Binghamton, NY, USA). Nutrient absorption is one of the main and most important functions of the small intestine. Thus, to understand and evaluate whether ENPs can trigger physiological potential pathologies, the activity of the intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP), aminopeptidase-N (APN) and Na+/K+ ATPase enzymes were measured after exposing the Caco-2/HT29-MTX barrier to TiO2NPs and SiO2NPs for 4 h. Moreover, and in order to further mimic the physiological conditions of a real digestion, the Caco-2/HT29-MTX barrier was exposed to both NPs previously digested and co-cultured with both Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus rhamnosus, as examples of commensal microbiota.

Workplaces primarily rely on hearing protection devices (HPDs) for prevention of occupational noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). This study was initiated to investigate the potential barriers to the implementation of engineered noise control (ENC) which is considered to be the best prevention measure. The study investigated knowledge and perception about NIHL and ENC among decision-makers and workers in the food products manufacturing industry in British Columbia. We contacted company Health and Safety Departments. They were sent packages of questionnaires and return envelopes for distribution among specified subjects. Follow-up phone calls were made to increase participation. Analysis included descriptive statistics, nonparametric methods and simple and multiple logistic regressions. Twenty-two companies and 92 individuals participated (response rate 32.5%). Nearly two-third of the respondents were non-management. A similar proportion was involved in health and safety activities. The majority of the respondents perceived NIHL to be a big disadvantage and said that they would be bothered by it. Respondents were knowledgeable about the effects of noise exposure on health but had poor knowledge about harmful levels of noise, ENC and the limitations of HPDs. They considered HPDs, hearing tests and education to be more effective in preventing NIHL than ENC. Management showed poorer knowledge and lower perception than non-management. Those involved in health and safety performed slightly better than those who were not involved in such activities. Interventions should be undertaken to educate management about ENC options and limitations of HPDs. Regulatory agency should create special branches to help workplaces in choosing suitable ENC.

The detrimental consequences associated with industrial models of food production are becoming more difficult to ignore. In response, one dominant approach to mitigating the myriad environmental, social, and ethical harms relating to food has sought to increase the efficiency of agricultural outputs through scientific and technological innovation. Although technology certainly has some role to play in any vision of a sustainable future, technocratic approaches to problem solving are insufficient—and arguably inappropriate—for addressing many of the kinds of complex challenges that we face today. There are recent indications that both agri-food law and policy and innovation policy are being taken more seriously in Canada, which creates an opportunity to reflect more deliberately on their ends and means. This dissertation explores the topic of how laws, policies, and other tools of governance can work to better align technological innovations in the agri-food sector with shared environmental goals and ethical aspirations. Taking a critical legal perspective closely informed by feminist insights and the work of existing, analogous justice movements, I examine several interlinkages between technology, law, the environment, and society to evaluate some of the failings of existing approaches to food systems transformation and to offer a contribution to the conversation about alternative pathways. Given the context-specific nature of food systems and food systems governance, my focus is primarily on Canada, but the universal importance of food in a globalized world renders some comparative and transnational discussion unavoidable. I use case studies and discourse analysis to demonstrate that, when considered through a justice-oriented lens, several of the new and emerging technologies being championed in the agri-food sector may not be as beneficial as their proponents claim. Instead, they may serve to retrench injustice and cement existing, exploitative power structures, making them more difficult to challenge and change later down the line. Thus, if technologies are to serve public instead of private interests in the ways they are incentivized, designed, regulated, and used, we will need to see broad systemic and structural reforms informed by thoughtful shifts in our values and priorities, rather than merely reactive adjustments to our policies and practices. Though this undertaking will be difficult, it is not impossible; this dissertation offers one way to facilitate the process of seeding change for environmental sustainability and technological justice.

The National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (PL 114-216) will require nearly all foods sold in the U.S. to bear a statement disclosing whether they contain genetically modified (GM) material. Past studies suggest the presence of such a statement could have profound effects on consumers; however, research comparing consumer response towards different GM-disclosure statements is scarce. PL 114-216 states that GM foods shall not be considered more or less safe than their non-bioengineered counterparts, nevertheless it would benefit regulators and food manufacturers to be aware of the possible effects such disclosures might have on consumers. In a nationwide survey, multiple disclosure statements with varying degrees of public familiarity were compared to evaluate consumer perceptions and attitudes associated with each statement. Average consumer knowledge level of GM processes was also measured. The statements were then paired with actual food items to determine whether specific product categories influenced consumer responses. A select few of these statements and foods were included in a taste panel, allowing researchers to analyze if disclosure statements affected a consumer's sensorial experience. Results suggested that consumers were most favorable towards statements indicating the absence of GM-material, however they also responded less negatively towards new disclosure statements that do not have negative connotations. Additionally, consumers may react differently depending on the food accompanying a particular disclosure, although the taste panel data found no evidence that statements affected actual eating experience. Importantly, data from both surveys and taste panel suggested a disclosure statement may affect consumer willingness to buy a product.

The 18 September 2000 disclosure that StarLink corn, a genetically engineered variety not approved for human consumption, had been detected in food was a seminal event in agricultural biotechnology. This thesis presents a comprehensive case study of the StarLink incident (part one), reviews the StarLink situation in terms of crisis management theory (part two) and develops crisis management theory using the StarLink incident as an example of a crisis (part three). Part one provides background information, then a meticulous day-by-day account of StarLink-related events. Part two presents a detailed overview of crisis management theory, then examines the StarLink situation in terms of pre-crisis (warning signals, preconditions for a crisis, crisis trigger), crisis (how Aventis, the biotechnology provider, managed the crisis and opinions concerning crisis handling) and post-crisis (lessons learned). Part three develops crisis management theory using the StarLink situation as an example of a crisis. It evaluates whether the StarLink incident possessed characteristics predicted for modern crises and suggests other factors which may become more prevalent and significant in future crises. The StarLink incident delivers certain practical lessons for managers, regulators and others and demonstrates a number of characteristics of modern crises.

With the increasingly stringent regulations and laws being put in place worldwide with regards to a cleaner and a safer environment, the modern diesel engine has scope to be improved upon to help meet these new standards set for the betterment of our cities. There are many current modes of alternative transport, with diesel-hydrogen combustion being a transitional solution from fossil fuels to hydrogen powered vehicles. The main objective of this research effort was to investigate the effects of intake air enrichment with hydrogen on the performance, combustion, and emissions of a diesel engine. The secondary aim was to design and optimise accurate engine models which can replicate real world experiments and conditions. This becomes increasingly useful in the modern era of engine testing and development as it allows for more manufacturers to test and optimise new combustion methods, without the need for a physical engine, to meet the ever-tightening emissions legislations. Therefore, the accuracy of the models produced could pave the way for more simulations to be carried out via manufacturers with more confidence. The experimental tests were carried out on a 2.0 litre Ford High Speed Direct Injection (HSDI) diesel engine. the engine was tested at various conditions mimicking light- and medium-duty diesel engines. Hydrogen was used via a bottle with the composition of the gas replicating exhaust gas reformed intake air. The percentage of the hydrogen and the start of injection for diesel were altered for the tests. The simulations were carried out on a replicated four-cylinder 2.0 litre Ford HSDI diesel engine on Ricardo Wave® and a single-cylinder DI diesel engine modelled based on a small Yanmar L70N diesel engine. The experimental operating parameters were used in the simulations to measure the level of accuracy achieved with the models on the software. The experimental results showed that with hydrogen enrichment of the intake air, the CO and smoke emissions were reduced significantly, however NOx emissions were found to have increased at certain conditions. The simulations for the multi-cylinder diesel engine showed great promise with an average of 95% accuracy across the operating conditions and emissions measured. The single-cylinder diesel engine displayed low levels of Total Hydrocarbons (THC), Carbon Monoxide (CO), with a slight increase in Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) emissions but did show high levels of accuracy against literature and other experimental work based on similar operating conditions. Although there is an abundance of literature currently investigating the effects of hydrogen enrichment of the intake air, the new contributions to knowledge of this research is the comparison between simulated and experimental work of transitional combustion methods such as this. This research is believed to help aid the industry in testing and optimising of simulated engine models for a more reliable manufacturing process.

En el presente proyecto de la bebida Mood-On, que está hecha a base de papas y frutos exóticos, se muestra su sostenibilidad a través de los distintos análisis realizados en Lima Metropolitana. Asimismo, este producto va dirigido hacia los sectores socioeconómicos A, B, C y que se encuentren en el rango de edad de 18 a 24 años. Del mismo modo, podemos indicar que, si bien hay una presencia consistente de bebidas RTD en el mercado peruano, los consumidores no se identifican con los productos ya establecidos. Por consiguiente, podemos mencionar que el mercado limeño tiene una necesidad que no ha sido satisfecha; ya sea por falta de sabores u otro factor clave. En adición a esto, para la realización del trabajo, se desarrollaron entrevistas a los usuarios para ratificar el nivel de aceptación del producto, a su vez, se hizo contacto con las licorerías a través de medios tradicionales y no tradicionales para la estimación de las ventas. Asimismo, se contactó con un ingeniero de alimentos para la elaboración de la receta, puesto que se ha tenido que considerar diferentes aspectos con respecto a la bebida RTD. Finalmente, se ha requerido para la inversión un total de S/27,261.72 para que se puedan iniciar las actividades de producción y la utilidad neta que se generará en el primer año es de39,186.95 nuevos soles, 60,913.85 nuevos soles en el segundo año y para el tercer año ascendería a 613,802.47 nuevos soles.
In the present project of the Mood-On drink, which is made from potatoes and exotic fruits, its sustainability is shown through the different analyzes carried out in Metropolitan Lima. Likewise, this product is aimed at socioeconomic sectors A, B, C, and that are in the age range of 18 to 24 years. Similarly, we can indicate that although there is a consistent presence of RTD beverages in the Peruvian market, consumers do not identify with the already established products. Therefore, we can mention that the Lima market has a need that has not been met; either for lack of flavors or another key factor. In addition to this, to carry out the work, interviews were carried out with users to ratify the level of acceptance of the product, in turn, contact was made with the liquor stores through traditional and non-traditional means for estimating sales. Likewise, a food engineer was contracted to prepare the recipe, since different aspects of the RTD drink had to be considered. Finally, a total of S /. 27,261.72 so that production activities can begin and the net profit that will be generated in the first year is –S/39,186.95, S/60,913.85 in the second year and for the third year it would amount to S/613,802.47
Trabajo de investigación

Trade Facilitation Indicators have become important mechanisms of monitoring the ease of trade. Another issue of rising concern is the pervasive debate on genetically engineered organisms and the development of Genetically Engineered Restrictive Index to evaluate its implications on trade. With regards to these, the objective of the United States Trade Representative is to eliminate implicit trade barriers. Hence, this study examines the impact of TFIs on U.S. agricultural export and its efficiency. From the results, a 1% increase in destination?s Genetically Engineered Restrictive Index leads to a US$ 9,426.82 and US$ 74,268.04 decline in corn and soybean exports while wheat experiences a US$ 26,204.05 increase. The ?I-State? paradox was also revealed from the efficiency rankings. This research recommends that GE labelling policies should be synchronized to match the requirements of the destination countries. Furthermore, information on GE foods must be transparent and disseminated to change destinations? negative perception.

A travers le monde, les zones côtières abritent une grande diversité d’ingénieurs de l’écosystème accomplissant des fonctions clés comme le recyclage de la matière organique et des nutriments. Les habitats résultants de l’activité biologique de ces espèces sont exposés à de nombreuses perturbations comme la surpêche, le piétinement ou via l’aménagement des côtes. Dans ce contexte, il est urgent de comprendre le fonctionnement de ces habitats ingénieurés et comment ils sont affectés par des perturbations croissantes. Pendant ma thèse, j’ai utilisé l’habitat récifal construit par le polychète grégaire tubicole Sabellaria alveolata comme cas d’étude. Tout d’abord, les changements environnementaux et biotiques associés à la mise en place d’un récif à S. alveolata et à sa perturbation croissante ont été évalué, se concentrant sur les paramètres du sédiment (e.g. granulométrie, contenu en matière organique) ainsi que la diversité taxonomique et les assemblages d’espèces. De manière similaire, le troisième article se penche sur le fonctionnement trophique de la communauté récifale et d’une communauté contrôle afin de comprendre les effets de la mise en place de l’espèce ingénieur sur les transferts de carbone, s’intéressant successivement à l’ensemble de la communauté des consommateurs, aux consommateurs primaires et à l’importance des sources de nourriture autochtones (microphytobenthos et Ulva sp.) vs allochtone (phytoplancton). Dans cette partie, j’ai utilisé les isotopes stables du carbone et de l’azote ainsi que différentes approches analytiques telles que des mesures de la niche isotopique et des modèles de mélange. L’article 2 a pour but de comprendre les interactions entre complexité de l’habitat récifal, hétérogénéité des sources de nourriture autochtones et échelles spatiales dans l’explication des variations du rapport isotopique du carbone de S. alveolata et d’un suspensivore associée. Dans les deux derniers chapitres, j’ai traité la question du fonctionnement de l’habitat ingénieuré de manière directe, en utilisant des incubations de carottes benthiques pour mesurer des flux biogéochimiques (e.g. demande en oxygène), ou indirecte, en utilisant des indices de diversité fonctionnelle et isotopique intégratifs. Cette dernière partie révèle l’existence d’un optimum de densité de S. alveolata, utilisée comme proxy des perturbations, où la niche trophique et le fonctionnement biogéochimique du récif sont tous les deux maximaux
Coastal zones worldwide are home to a large diversity of ecosystem engineers that perform key functions such as the recycling of organic matter and nutrients. The habitats resulting from the biological activity of these species are exposed to numerous disturbances such as over harvesting and trampling or via coastal modification. In this context, it is becoming key to understand the functioning of these engineered habitats and how they are affected by increasing disturbances. During my PhD, I used the reef habitat built by the gregarious tubiculous polychaete Sabellaria alveolata as a study case. First, the environmental and biotic changes associated with the establishment of a S. alveolata reef and its increasing disturbance were assessed, focusing on sediment characteristics (e.g. grain-size distribution, organic matter content) along with taxonomic diversity and species assemblage. In the same vain, the third article looks into the trophic functioning of the reef community and a control community to understand the effects of the establishment of the engineer species on carbon transfers, successively looking at the whole consumer community, the primary consumers and the importance of autochthonous (microphytobenthos and Ulva sp.) vs allochthone (phytoplankton) food sources. In this part, I used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes and different analytical approaches such as isotopic niche metrics and mixing models. Article 2 aims towards understanding the interactions between reef habitat complexity, autochthonous food source heterogeneity and spatial scales in explaining the carbon isotopic ratio variations of S. alveolata and an associated suspension-feeder. In the last two chapters, I address the functioning of the engineered habitat either directly, using benthic core incubations to measure biogeochemical fluxes (e.g. oxygen demand) or indirectly, through the use of integrative functional and isotopic diversity indices. This last part reveals the existence of an optimum value of S. alveolata density, used as a disturbance proxy, where the trophic niche and the biogeochemical functioning of the reef are both maximal

This thesis addresses the puzzle of variation in first-generation regulatory policies for controversial science and technology, as demonstrated in the cases of agricultural genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and human embryonic stem cell research in the United Kingdom and the United States. Why did policy outcomes vary in each technology case? This study answers this question by placing greater emphasis on institutional factors. Although works within institutional analysis, bureaucracy and regulation literatures make significant progress in revealing how existing institutions can shape outcomes, how far one can characterize bureaucratic behavior and whether interest groups capture regulation, they nevertheless create an opening for research that: describes a mechanism for path dependence to explain variation in policies; shows the degree to which bureaucratic behaviors can influence outcomes; and, highlights instances in which regulatory officials hold power. This thesis makes an original contribution by providing new historical details relating to these cases, and by providing an extensive elaboration of Pierson’s criteria for increasing returns and a so-called secondary test of path dependence to explain outcomes. The study recounts the biography of key policy documents in each case by tracing the process of decision-making through government and archival sources, secondary literature and more than 40 elite interviews. In doing so, it details the activities of key governmental bodies within the European Union, UK and US. Moreover, it shows how the Coordinated Framework (1986) and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 framework represented decision-making structures which triggered changes in actors and interests and shaped permissive outcomes for GMOs and stem cell research in the US and UK, respectively. Furthermore, lack of comparable structures may help account for restrictive policies for GMOs in Europe and the UK, and for stem cell research in the US.

Today focus on the environemnt is bigger than ever before. UN writes in their climate agenda that they by 2030want to cut the food waste per capita in half. There are strict regulations today regarding how food needs to betransported and stored, but as soon as the consument takes, for example, milk from the frigde at a store there areonly a few guidelines about how the product should be stored. If a chilled or frozen product is not kept insidethe range of the given temperature, a microbilogical growth will begin. This leads to that the food goes bad or,in worst case, that the consumer gets poisoned. There is a change happening today in how the consumers shoptheir food and more focus is layed upon the customer to handle their grocery shopping by themselves. This project focuses on developing a solution that will help the consumer to keep their food at the right temperatureduring an extended period of time. The project is carried out in Stockholm during 20 weeks in collaborationwith IKEA of Sweden in Älmhult. The target group in this project is IKEA’s broad customer group.With help from a Human Centered Design process this project goes through the three phases; inspiration,ideation and implementation. The project has been formed with interaction through workshops with differentexternal actors like users and focus groups. The ideation resulted in four simpler concepts that verged in to twothrough external decision making with supervisors from IKEA of Sweden. During the project, the prototypeshave been used together with users to evaluate the usability of the concepts. The result consists of two concepts; Behålla and Blåsa, that are aimed to meet two different users that hasbeen identified through surveys and interviews. Behålla is a smaller product that is target towards the user thatbrings food with them to work or school, also to those who buys less groceries at the store. Blåsa is, in contrastto Behålla, a bigger product that is targeted towards the customers that buys a bigger set of chilled and frozengroceries. Additionally four color variations has been created to offer IKEA alternative executions. These conceptsare visualized with renderings through Adobe Illustratior. With these concepts IKEA can enlarge theirsustainability profile and offer their customers two new products to keep their chilled and frozen foods cold.
Fokus på miljön är idag större än någonsin. FN skriver i sin klimat agenda att de till 2030 siktar på att halveramatsvinnet per capita. Idag finns det hårda regleringar om hur livsmedel ska transporte-ras och förvaras, menfrån den sekund konsumenten tar ut exempelvis ett mjölkpaket ur kyldisken finns det bara få riktlinjer om hurprodukten bör förvaras. Om en kyld eller fryst produkt inte hålls inom det angivna temperaturspannet skerdet en ökning i den mikrobiologiska tillväxten i livsmed-let. Detta leder i sin tur att matvaran blir dålig eller, ivärsta fall, att konsumenten blir förgiftad. Idag sker det också en förändring i hur konsumenterna handlar sinalivsmedel och allt större vikt läggs på att konsumenten för sig själv ska genomföra sitt köp. Detta projekt fokuserar på att utveckla en lösning som ska hjälpa konsumenten att hålla sina matvaror tempereradeunder en viss tid. Projektet är genomfört i Stockholm under 20 veckor i samarbete med IKEA ofSweden i Älmhult. Målgruppen i detta projekt är den breda kundgrupp som IKEA erhåller. Med hjälp av enanvändarcentrerad designprocess går det här projektet genom de tre designfaserna; inspiration, idégenereringoch slutligen implementering. Projektet har formats av interaktion genom workshops med olika externa aktörerså som användare och fokusgrupper. Idégenereringsfasen resulterade i fyra stycken enklare koncept somavgränsades till två genom extern beslutsfattning med handledare från IKEA of Sweden. Under projektets gånghar prototyper använts tillsammans med användare för att evaluera användarvänligheten hos koncepten. Resultatet består av två stycken koncept; Behålla och Blåsa, som är ämnade att möta två olika kundgrupper somhar identifierats genom enkäter och intervjuer. Behålla är en mindre produkt som riktar sig till de användaresom tar med sig matlåda till jobbet eller skolan samt till dem som köper färre matvaror i butiken. Blåsa är, ikontrast till Behålla en större produkt, skapad med fokus på de kunder som köper fler kylda och frysta matvaror.Utöver detta har fyra färgvariation skapats av produkterna för att erbjuda IKEA alternativa utföranden. Dessakoncept är visualiserade med hjälp av renderingar som har gjort i Adobe Illustrator. Med dessa koncept kanIKEA utöka sin hållbarhets profil och erbjuda sina kunder två nya produkter för att hålla deras kylda och frystamatvaror kalla.

Orientador: Reginaldo Carmello Corrêa de Moraes
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Filosofia e Ciências Humanas
Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-16T09:02:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Martins_AlineReginaAlves_M.pdf: 1760602 bytes, checksum: 3f07652f2e5bc30bce7034d78ede205f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010
Resumo: Com a Revolução Científica e Tecnológica (1970), a informação e o conhecimento transformam-se em fontes de maior produtividade e de desenvolvimento socioeconômico. No mundo agrário, os Organismos Geneticamente Modificados, também denominados transgênicos, representam a conformação dessa nova dinâmica tecnológica internacional. Em uma economia diretamente enraizada na produção e uso de conhecimentos, este trabalho prima pela investigação da existência de uma monopolização das técnicas transgênicas por determinadas empresas e países restringindo as possibilidades de concorrência no setor de sementes geneticamente modificadas, o que prejudicaria países menos avançados em biotecnologia agrícola. Em que medida conhecimentos e tecnologias de ponta estão organizados em fluxos globais ou estão inseridos em uma estrutura assimétrica, estabelecendo uma divisão entre os países capazes de participar dos processos de geração de novas tecnologias agrícolas e aqueles que passivamente absorvem conhecimentos advindos do exterior? Como a polarização de conhecimentos e informações estratégicos acarretaria e perpetuaria desigualdades na economia global e quais são os mecanismos jurídicos e políticos que corroborariam essa concentração?
Abstract: In the Scientific-Technical Revolution (1970), information and knowledge are transformed in sources of higher productivity and socioeconomic development. In agriculture, the genetically modified organisms represent the conformation of that new international technological dynamic. In an economy directly rooted in the production and use of knowledge, this research primarily investigates the existence of a monopoly in the field of genetically modified seeds by certain companies and countries, which would undermine less advanced countries in agricultural biotechnology. To what extent are technology and information organized into global flows or in an asymmetric structure establishing a division between countries able to participate in the process of generating new agricultural technologies and those who passively absorb knowledge coming from outside? How the polarization of strategic knowledge and information would result and perpetuate inequalities in the global economy and what legal and political mechanisms support this concentration?
Mestrado
Política Externa
Mestre em Relações Internacionais

Yang, Fan.
Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-132).
Abstracts in English and Chinese.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.iii
ABSTRACT --- p.iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.viii
LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xii
LIST OF TABLES --- p.xv
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xvi
Chapter Chatper 1. --- General Introduction --- p.1
Chapter Chapter 2. --- Literature Review --- p.5
Chapter 2.1 --- Facts on food allergy --- p.5
Chapter 2.1.1 --- Food allergy and its prevalence --- p.5
Chapter 2.1.2 --- Pathogenesis of food allergy --- p.6
Chapter 2.1.3 --- Clineal disorders caused and diagnosis of food allergy --- p.8
Chapter 2.2 --- Allergenicity assessment of genetically engineered food --- p.13
Chapter 2.2.1 --- The structural and sequence homology of proteins as a criterion for food allergenicity assessment --- p.14
Chapter 2.2.2 --- Digestion stability as a criterion for food allergenicity assessment --- p.15
Chapter 2.2.3 --- Animal models for Food Allergenicity Assessment --- p.21
Chapter 2.3 --- The importance of rice and its nutritional facts --- p.27
Chapter 2.3.1 --- The importance of rice --- p.27
Chapter 2.3.2 --- Rice nutritional facts and its relationship with malnutrition --- p.28
Chapter 2.4 --- Food allergenicity research in rice --- p.30
Chapter 2.5 --- Glutelin overexpression transgenic rice GT3 --- p.33
Chapter 2.6 --- Recent and future perspectives for treatment of food allergy --- p.36
Chapter Chapter 3. --- Materials and Methods --- p.39
Chapter 3.1 --- Rice Seed Protein Extraction --- p.39
Chapter 3.1.1 --- Rice varieties for protein extraction --- p.39
Chapter 3.1.2 --- Protein extraction from rice seeds --- p.39
Chapter 3.1.3 --- Fractionation of major rice seed storage proteins --- p.40
Chapter 3.1.4. --- Protein quantification --- p.41
Chapter 3.1.5 --- Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.42
Chapter 3.2 --- Simulated Gastric Digestibility Assay --- p.43
Chapter 3.2.1 --- Assay System --- p.43
Chapter 3.2.2 --- Preparation of Simulated Gastric Fluid --- p.43
Chapter 3.2.3 --- Assay Procedures --- p.44
Chapter 3.2.4 --- Results Interpretation --- p.44
Chapter 3.3 --- Construction of Mouse Models --- p.45
Chapter 3.3.1 --- Mouse strain and reagents used --- p.45
Chapter 3.3.2 --- Mouse Model I --- p.46
Chapter 3.3.3 --- Mouse Model II --- p.50
Chapter 3.3.4 --- Mouse Model III --- p.51
Chapter 3.4 --- Bioinformatic Analysis of Glutelin Sequence --- p.52
Chapter 3.5 --- Epitope Mapping of Glutelin --- p.55
Chapter 3.5.1 --- Bioinformatic Analysis --- p.55
Chapter 3.5.2 --- Direct and Competitive ELISA --- p.56
Chapter 3.5.3 --- Western Blot Analysis --- p.57
Chapter 3.5.4 --- IgE-binding assay --- p.58
Chapter Chapter 4. --- Results and Discussion --- p.60
Chapter 4.1 --- Rice Seed Protein Extraction --- p.60
Chapter 4.1.1 --- Rice Protein Extraction --- p.60
Chapter 4.1.2 --- Extraction of rice major seed storage protein fractions --- p.62
Chapter 4.2 --- Simulated Gastric Digestibility Assay --- p.64
Chapter 4.2.1 --- Pepsin Digestibility of total protein from GT3 and WT rice seeds --- p.64
Chapter 4.2.2 --- Pepsin Digestibility of major storage protein fractions in GT3 and WT rice --- p.68
Chapter 4.2.3 --- Summary of Pepsin Digestibility Assay --- p.74
Chapter 4.3 --- Mouse Model I --- p.75
Chapter 4.3.1 --- Protein-specific IgE levels --- p.75
Chapter 4.3.2 --- Protein-specific IgG1 and IgG2a levels --- p.77
Chapter 4.3.3 --- Allergic Response Test --- p.79
Chapter 4.3.4 --- Summary from Mouse Model I --- p.81
Chapter 4.4 --- Mouse Model II --- p.83
Chapter 4.4.1 --- Proteins specific IgE levels --- p.84
Chapter 4.4.2 --- Proteins specific IgG1 and IgG2a levels --- p.85
Chapter 4.4.3 --- Allergic Response Test --- p.87
Chapter 4.4.4 --- Summary from Mouse Model II --- p.88
Chapter 4.5 --- Mouse Model III --- p.90
Chapter 4.5.1 --- Protein-specific IgE levels --- p.90
Chapter 4.5.2 --- Proteins specific IgG1 and IgG2a levels --- p.91
Chapter 4.5.3 --- Allergic Response Test --- p.93
Chapter 4.5.4 --- Summary from Mouse Model III --- p.93
Chapter 4.6 --- Potential allergenicity of rice glutelin by bioinformatics and epitope mapping --- p.94
Chapter 4.6.1 --- Bioinformatic analysis --- p.94
Chapter 4.6.2 --- ELISA analysis of synthesized epitopes --- p.97
Chapter 4.6.3 --- Western Blot Analysis --- p.99
Chapter 4.6.4 --- IgE-binding assay --- p.103
Chapter Chapter 5. --- Conclusion and Future Perspectives --- p.109
References --- p.111

The study aims to identify the strategic considerations of genetically engineered foods on the micro-, market-, and macro-environment of business and to make recommendations to the biotechnology industry on how to strategically manage the issues surrounding genetically engineered foods. Plants and animals have been selectively bred for centuries to create hybrid strains containing favourable traits of both plants and animals. Plant biotechnology is an extension of this traditional plant breeding. Plant biotechnology allows for the transfer of a greater variety of genetic information in a more precise, controlled manner. Genetic engineering allows for the manipulation of gene(s) to include novel and new traits or even to exclude bad or unwanted traits. Genetic cloning, a sub-discipline of genetic engineering creates the ability to clone a single gene, many genes or even complete organisms and live forms to ensure crops or herds of superior value and quality. These evolutionary steps of genetic engineering have created many new skills and abilities that could possibly revolutionise the business environment at all the levels.
Prof. N. Lessing

How can we think of power in the form of a seed? This thesis will trace the discourse of "improvement" from its seventeenth century use by John Locke to justify the appropriation of Aboriginal lands in North America to the inter-locked languages of improvement and development in the twenty-first century in the context of genetically engineered food aid. This paper also explores the nature of sovereignty in a biopolitical age, arguing that the improvement discourse is operationalized on the ground through a diffuse power that trades on claims of improving the bios as whole. The paper concludes with a discussion of the food sovereignty movement as a possible practical and epistemological break for farmers in the Global North and South from the hegemony of this war by other means.

abstract: Engineered nanoparticles (NP; 10-9 m) have found use in a variety of consumer goods and medical devices because of the unique changes in material properties that occur when synthesized on the nanoscale. Although many definitions for nanoparticle exist, from the perspective of size, nanoparticle is defined as particles with diameters less than 100 nm in any external dimension. Examples of their use include titanium dioxide added as a pigment in products intended to be ingested by humans, silicon dioxide NPs are used in foods as an anticaking agent, and gold or iron oxide NPs can be used as vectors for drug delivery or contrast agents for specialized medical imaging. Although the intended use of these NPs is often to improve human health, it has come to the attention of investigators that NPs can have unintended or even detrimental effects on the organism. This work describes one such unintended effect of NP exposure from the perspective of exposure via the oral route. First, this Dissertation will explain an event referred to as brush border disruption that occurred after nanoparticles interacted with an in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelium. Second, this Dissertation will identify and characterize several consumer goods that were shown to contain titanium dioxide that are intended to be ingested. Third, this Dissertation shows that sedimentation due to gravity does not artifactually result in disruption of brush borders as a consequence of exposure to food grade titanium dioxide in vitro. Finally, this Dissertation will demonstrate that iron oxide nanoparticles elicited similar effects after exposure to an in vitro brush border expressing model of the human placenta. Together, these data suggest that brush border disruption is not an artifact of the material/cell culture model, but instead represents a bona fide biological response as a result of exposure to nanomaterial.
Dissertation/Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation Biology 2014

Using a critical discourse analysis (CDA), this thesis examines how risks and food security, in relation to Genetically Modified (GM) foods, are constructed within the media context. The project analyzes news articles that appeared in two Canadian newspapers, The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Star, and two British newspapers, The London Times and the Guardian, during three particular time periods between 1997 and 2005. I evaluate whether or not the selected articles contribute to the public’s understanding of science, and how journalism constructs risk and uncertainty. I also evaluate the use of expert knowledge by journalists. Using the theory of Risk Society, as proposed by sociologist Ulrich Beck, the project explores the connections between political, social, and economic issues connected to globalization. This thesis concludes that journalism in both Canada and Britain does not appear to adequately inform their citizens on matters of food security and the risks of GMOs.

This dissertation traces the historical transformation of the Canada-UK commodity chain for wheat-bread as a lens on processes of local and global change in agrofood relations. During the 1990s, the Canadian Wheat Board (Canada’s monopoly wheat seller) and Warburtons, a British bakery, pioneered an innovative identity-preserved sourcing relationship that ties contracted prairie farmers to consumers of premium bread in the UK. Emblematic of the increasing importance of quality claims, traceability, and private standards in the reorganization of agrifood supply chains, I argue that the changes of the 1990s cannot be understood outside of historical legacies giving shape to unique institutions for regulating agrofood relations on the Canadian prairies and in the UK food sector. I trace the rise, fall, and re-invention of the Canada-UK commodity chain across successive food regimes, examining the changing significance of wheat- bread, inter-state relations between Canada, the UK, and the US, and public and private forms of agrofood regulation over time. In particular, I focus on the way in which changing food regime relations transformed the CWB, understood as the nexus of institutions tying prairie farmers into global circuits of accumulation. When in the 1990s, the CWB and Warburtons responded to structural crises in their respective industries by re-inventing the Canada-UK wheat trade, the result was significant organizational and industry change. On the prairies, the CWB has shown how – contrary to expectations -- centralized marketing and quality control may help prairie farmers adapt to the demands of end-users in the emerging ‘economy of qualities’. In the UK, Warburtons has led the ‘premiumisation’ of the bread sector, traditionally defined by consumer taste for cheap bread, over the last 15 years. The significance of the shift towards quality chains in the wheat-bread sector is analyzed in light of conflicts over the proposed introduction of genetically engineered (GE) wheat to the Canadian prairies.

There is no doubt that the Electric vehicle is the future of the auto mobile industry and it has become a matter of survival for automobile industry if they don’t delve into the Electric vehicle segment in the next 10 years. Hence it the current and future outlook of the Electric vehicle segment for any automotive company forms and important component for any company, especially for huge traditional OEMs like Ford who are dependent on Internal combustion vehicles are struggling to make the shift. I have dissected the curious case of Ford lacking a clear strategy for the EV segment despite been an innovation leader in this industry for more than 100 years. I have identified the possible reasons of Ford’s murky strategy and how it would it evolve in future and how did it impact when forecasting the value of the company for the next 5 years. Lastly, I valued Ford as Equity as an option and EV/EBITA multiple.

Despite the secular trend of electrification slowly taking over the automotive industry, almost all of Ford Motor Co’s revenues come from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Specifically, they are one of the market leaders in pick-up trucks and SUVs in the U.S. and in commercial vehicles in the E.U., and together, these 2 regions account for almost 90% of the firm’s revenue, with the rest being split developing markets such as Asia, South America, and Middle East & Africa. In this report, I will examine the current dynamics of the ICE vehicle market and how they may develop going forward, and the impact it could have on Ford and its development. The underlying theme here is that despite the increased pace at which government regulations and consequently customer preferences are evolving in its biggest markets, the alignment of Ford’s current strategy with the prevailing market conditions will ensure that its short- and medium-term performance will not suffer too much despite the increased competition posed by the electrification headwind. Also, depending on how the newly christened management plays its cards, Ford could remain reasonably competitive even in the long-term.

This research project examines the degree of transparency of the Canadian Federal Government’s decision-making processes and institutions with respect to the human consumption of animals produced through modern biotechnology (biotechnology-produced animals). It provides a timely study of the Federal Government’s decision-making process; as of January 2013 the government has yet to determine whether, and how, biotechnology-produced animals are to be approved for human consumption. Foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are already commercially widely available in Canada. Research is well underway to see if biotechnology-produced animals may also be developed and introduced into the food system. Government decisions regarding the human consumption of biotechnology-produced animals have the potential to revolutionize food systems globally and nationally. This thesis offers an analysis of primary and secondary data focusing on the degree of federal transparency with respect to regulating GMO foods generally and, more specifically, the emerging policy issues around biotechnology-produced animals. This exploration sets the stage for the following investigation of barriers as well as opportunities to fostering federal transparency with respect to policy and regulatory decisions regarding GMO foods. Findings are directed towards members of the communities of interest who are interested in questions relating to the degree of federal transparency and government approaches to foods that contain material produced through modern biotechnology.