Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Nut milk'

Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus L) are recognized as a high potential, alternative source of food nutrients. However, there is limited scientific literature on the technological possibilities for developing value-added foods, such as fermented products from tiger nut milk. Therefore, strategies for producing and improving the properties of fermented tiger nut milk were investigated for generating lactose-free, nutritious yogurt-like products with acceptable sensory properties and a prolonged shelf life quality. A wet-milling procedure was standardized for extracting tiger nut milk from tiger nuts, and the effects of the extraction process on nutrient distribution, colour properties and colloidal stability of the milk were analyzed. Next, tiger nut milk was enriched with proteins and/or hydrocolloids and the impact of the additives on the physical properties of the milk were determined. Enriched tiger nut milk was fermented by using classical yogurt cultures and the obtained products were analyzed for the microbiological, physico-chemical and sensory characteristics. Additionally, effects of enriching tiger nut milk with microbial transglutaminase cross-linked proteins on the microbiological and physico-chemical properties were evaluated. Higher wet-milling intensity improved the nutrient composition, colloidal stability and colour of the milk. Enrichment of tiger nut milk with milk proteins and xanthan gum enhanced the viscosity and stability, and after fermentation, led to homogenous gel-like products with superior microbiological, physico-chemical and different sensory properties compared to the fermented plain tiger nut milk. Microbial transglutaminase cross-linked proteins improved the physical characteristics of the fermented product, especially during storage. This product would be relevant in many developing countries with high prevalence of lactose intolerance, limited access to nutritious food but show a high distribution of tiger nut vegetation<br>Erdmandeln (Cyperus esculentus L) haben ein hohes Potential als alternative Quelle Lebensmittelinhaltsstoffen. Allerdings gibt es nur in begrenztem Ausmaß Literatur über technologische Möglichkeiten zur Entwicklung von Mehrwert-Lebensmitteln wie fermentierter Erdmandelmilch. Daher wurden Strategien zur Herstellung und Verbesserung der Eigenschaften von fermentierter Erdmandelmilch zur Erzeugung laktosefreier joghurtähnlicher Produkte mit akzeptablen sensorischen Eigenschaften untersucht. Für die Extraktion der Erdmandelmilch wurde ein Nassmahlverfahren standardisiert und der Einfluss des Verfahrens auf die Nährstoffverteilung, die Farbeigenschaften und die kolloidale Stabilität der Milch analysiert. Als nächstes wurde Erdmandelmilch mit Proteinen und/oder Hydrokolloiden angereichert, und der Einfluss der Additive auf die physikalischen Eigenschaften des Extrakts bestimmt. Angereicherte Erdmandelmilch wurde mit klassischen Joghurtkulturen fermentiert, und die mikrobiologischen, physikalisch-chemischen und sensorischen Eigenschaften der Produkte wurden untersucht. Zusätzlich wurden Effekte der Anreicherung von Erdmandelmilch mit enzymatisch vernetzten Proteinen auf die mikrobiologischen und physikalisch-chemischen Eigenschaften bewertet. Eine höhere Nassmahlintensität verbesserte die Nährstoffzusammensetzung, die kolloidale Stabilität und die Farbe der Milch. Die Anreicherung erhöhte die Viskosität und Stabilität und führte nach der Fermentation zu homogenen gelartigen Produkten mit verbesserten mikrobiologischen, physikalisch-chemischen und sensorischen Eigenschaften im Vergleich zur fermentierten Erdmandelmilch. Mikrobielle Transglutaminase-vernetzte Proteine verbesserten die physikalischen Eigenschaften des fermentierten Produkts, insbesondere während der Lagerung. Dieses Produkt wäre in vielen Entwicklungsländern mit hoher Prävalenz von Laktoseintoleranz und begrenztem Zugang zu nahrhaften Lebensmitteln als Alternative von Interesse

Ольшевська, С. С. Розробка харчових жирів з підвищеною біологічною цінністю : дипломна робота : 181 – Харчові технології / С. С. Ольшанська ; керівник роботи В. М. Челябієва ; НУ "Чернігівська політехніка", кафедра харчових технологій. – Чернігів, 2020. – 85 с.<br>Розробка харчових жирів з підвищеною біологічною цінністю - це сучасна інновація у сфері харчової промисловості, а використання з цією метою нетрадиційної рослинної сировини – перспективний інноваційний напрям розвитку харчових жирів. Традиційною сировиною для виробництва харчових жирів є саломас та жир-сирець. З метою збагачення харчових жирів необхідними нутрієнтами необхідно розробляти та впроваджувати у масове виробництво рецептури рослиннижирових сумішей з додаванням біологічно активних речовин, що у свою чергу сприятиме удосконаленню асортименту та підвищенню попиту споживачів на вітчизняні рослинно-жирові суміші. Під час виконання випускної кваліфікаційної роботи використані такі методи як: евристичні (органолептичні) та вимірювальні (фізиико-хімічні) методи аналізу. За результатами роботи встановлено, що додавання куркуми та імбиру не впливає на органолептичні та фізико хімічні показники, але уповільнює розвиток МАФАМ, надає продукту привабливого вигляду та визначено, що куркума підвищує терміни зберігання масла вершкового за показником пероксидного числа. Додавання до рослинно-жирових суміші пектину та какао масла не дало значних відхилень від норм стандарту.<br>Development of edible fats with high biological value is a modern innovation in the food industry, and the use of non-traditional vegetable raw materials for this purpose is a promising innovative direction in the development of edible fats. Salomas and raw fat are traditional raw materials for the production of edible fats. In order to enrich food fats with the necessary nutrients, it is necessary to develop and implement in mass production recipes of vegetable-fat mixtures with the addition of biologically active substances, which in turn will improve the range and increase consumer demand for domestic vegetable-fat mixtures. During the final qualification work such methods were used as: heuristic (organoleptic) and measuring (physico-chemical) methods of analysis. The results showed that the addition of turmeric and ginger does not affect the organoleptic and physicochemical parameters, but slows down the development of MAFAM, gives the product an attractive appearance and determined that turmeric increases the shelf life of butter in terms of peroxide value. The addition of pectin and cocoa butter to the vegetable-fat mixture did not deviate significantly from the standards.

Objective: To study awareness of cognitive dysfunction in patients with very mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A complaint interview covering 13 cognitive domains was administered to 82 AD and 79 MCI patients and their caregivers. The patient groups were comparable according to age and education, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were ≥24 in all cases. The discrepancy between the patients’ and caregivers’ estimations of impairments was taken as a measure of anosognosia. Results: Self-reports of cognitive difficulties were comparable for AD and MCI patients. However, while in comparison to caregivers MCI patients reported significantly more cognitive impairment (p &lt; 0.05), AD patients complained significantly less cognitive dysfunctions (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: While most MCI patients tend to overestimate cognitive deficits when compared to their caregiver’s assessment, AD patients in early stages of disease underestimate cognitive dysfunctions. Anosognosia can thus be regarded as a characteristic symptom at a stage of very mild AD (MMSE ≥24) but not MCI. Accordingly, medical history even in mildly affected patients should always include information from both patient and caregiver<br>Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich

Objective: To study awareness of cognitive dysfunction in patients with very mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: A complaint interview covering 13 cognitive domains was administered to 82 AD and 79 MCI patients and their caregivers. The patient groups were comparable according to age and education, and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores were ≥24 in all cases. The discrepancy between the patients’ and caregivers’ estimations of impairments was taken as a measure of anosognosia. Results: Self-reports of cognitive difficulties were comparable for AD and MCI patients. However, while in comparison to caregivers MCI patients reported significantly more cognitive impairment (p < 0.05), AD patients complained significantly less cognitive dysfunctions (p < 0.001). Conclusions: While most MCI patients tend to overestimate cognitive deficits when compared to their caregiver’s assessment, AD patients in early stages of disease underestimate cognitive dysfunctions. Anosognosia can thus be regarded as a characteristic symptom at a stage of very mild AD (MMSE ≥24) but not MCI. Accordingly, medical history even in mildly affected patients should always include information from both patient and caregiver.<br>Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Bladder cancer is the one of the most common malignancies of the genitourinary system and the overwhelming majority of those cases, approximately 90% in the United States(1), are of the urothelial/transitional cell histologic type. Small cell histologic type of bladder cancer is extremely rare with a mean frequency of 0.7% (1), and due to its rarity, there have not been any large phase III clinical trials in order to establish a definitive treatment regimen. We report here one such case of this rare type of bladder cancer and our approach towards treatment. A 69-year-old man had an incidental finding of microscopic hematuria during routine annual testing performed by his primary care physician. He was referred to a urologist for further evaluation, and in the interim, he began to experience symptoms of nocturia, dysuria and gross hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed a 5 cm sessile mass within the bladder and transurethral resection of the tumor was performed. Histopathological analysis of the tumor revealed muscle invasive poorly differentiated urothelial carcinoma with neuroendocrine features suggestive of small cell carcinoma. Follow-up systemic imaging only revealed multiple lesions in the liver, with the largest solitary liver lesion measuring 4.4 x 3.4 cm and no discrete lung lesions. Patient was started on palliative systemic chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide and follow-up imaging demonstrated excellent response after four cycles of treatment; however, follow-up imaging after the completion of 6 cycles of treatment demonstrated disease progression. Patient was referred for consideration of enrollment into any clinical trials; however, unfortunately no trials were found to be available. Patient was subsequently offered systemic treatment with single-agent immunotherapy with pembrolizumab. Due to development of left sided hydronephrosis, nephrostomy tube placement was performed and patient was also started on palliative radiation. Primary small cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder is an exceedingly rare malignancy and therefore, data is not readily available in order to guide treatment decisions. The most commonly administered regimen consists of etoposide with a platinum agent, and this regimen is extrapolated from the treatment of SCC of the lung. However, as for patients like ours, who had progression of disease in a short interval and are deemed primary treatment (platinum) refractory, the prognosis certainly becomes far more grim and the treatment choices even more limited. In sharing our treatment approach, we hope to be able to provide insight towards potential future treatment choices for this most-challenging diagnosis, primary small cell carcinoma of the bladder. (1) Blomjous CE, et. al. Small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. A clinicopathologic, morphometric, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of 18 cases. Cancer. 1989 Sep 15; 64(6):1347-57.

The effect of genetic selection for milk yield on lactation yield, net energy balance (NEB) and on plasma growth hormone (GH), insulin (INS), prolactin (PRL), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and glucose was studied in primiparous Holstein cows. Net energy balance was calculated and serial blood samples were collected at 0, 45, 90, 180 d postpartum (dpp) and 14 d of the dry period over a 7 h period via jugular cannulae. After 2.5 h of blood collection, growth hormone releasing factor (GRF) was administered at 0, 45, 180 dpp and 14 day of the dry period, while epinephrine was administered at 90 dpp. Nonesterified fatty acids were quantified in 90 dpp samples only. Basal and response periods for each hormone and metabolite were compared by analysis of variance. Milk yield was greater (P<.05), NEB was decreased (P<.05) and plasma GH was greater (P<.05) in selection cows (high-yielders) compared to control cows (low-yielders), while PRL, INS, glucose and NEFA were not different. Growth hormone increased in both groups in response to GRF at all days postpartum measured, while PRL, INS and glucose were not altered. Epinephrine administration at 90 dpp, stimulated an increase in plasma NEFA, glucose and INS in both groups. Control cows showed a greater (P<.01) INS response than selection cows. Results indicate differences exist in GH concentration between genetically selected high- and low-yielding Holsteins during early lactation, but the question remains if these differences are due to energy balance differences or differences in genetic merit for milk yield.<br>Master of Science

The goal of my Master's Thesis is to describe the cash flows and profitability of milk and dairy products. The thesis is trying to define the whole process starting with the milk production till the product is bought by the final customer. The calculation of the net working capital of the farmer's cooperation, dairy works and retail stores is also included in my thesis. In this respect, the thesis deals with the problem of return of payables and receivables and the duration of the cash cycle. The thesis also calculates the product margin and profitability of some of the diary products. It focuses on price setting, if it is done according to the specific costs or if it is set by the market. The results of my thesis are based on eleven agricultural companies, six dairy works and three retail markets. A research is also included trying to answer the question weather the dairy products are essential goods, or if demand for them can be influenced by price. This research is based on answers of 85 respondents. The conclusion of this thesis is a fact that margin is not fairy set and the profit is redistributed on the basis of the market strength rather than by the value added. It also confirms the theory, that the closer the company is to the customer, the higher profit it usually makes.

This research investigates possible monitoring methods to non-invasively detect blockages in the cyclone of milk powder spray driers to avoid costly production shutdowns. Two possible solutions have been identified. These are guided wave and vibration analysis. This research focuses on vibration analysis method, based on variation in the natural frequencies and/or damping ratios caused by blockages. Experimental simulation studies the performance to assess the viability of the vibration analysis method in identifying blockage in the cyclone. To test this method, a 1.87m long vertical cylindrical steel tube with both ends simply supported was setup as a prototype and flour was used as the powder conveyed by the tube. Analytical, numerical and experimental methods were implemented on the prototype using vibration analysis techniques. Experimental resonant frequencies of the empty shell from the impact hammer excitation were compared with analytical and numerical solutions to analyse the modal shapes. The first bending mode was determined as 79 Hz, which decreased with the amount of added mass and location closer to the middle point. This was validated by the simulated mass experiment, which also matched with the beam-mass theory. Flour induced experiment further validated the variation of the first bending mode. Experimental 270Hz, 380Hz and 398Hz resonant frequencies increased with the amount of added mass, which was validated by the simulated mass and flour induced experiment. Besides the variation of the natural frequencies, the damping ratio was also studied and quantified using the Hilbert transform envelope curve method. Onsite monitoring of the vibration of the cyclone in a spray dryer was done at Fonterra Te Rapa and clear resonant frequencies were obtained. The research results from the prototype demonstrate that vibration analysis as a non-destructive method to detect the milk powder deposition or blockage in the cyclone is possible and promising. However, more work is required before industry application.

Laser technologies have made distinguished contributions to modern industry. These have typically been realised through the important role played by lasers in the advancement of manufacturing technology in many areas such as welding, which has become an important joining technique and thus promoted the use of lasers in a wide variety of applications in the oil, gas, aerospace, aircraft, automotive, electronics and medical industries. A detailed review of previous work in the use of lasers for advanced manufacturing, and in particular, laser beam welding is given. The work reported in this thesis aims to develop a new method of laser welding. This is connected with investigations relating to the production of net shape welds for bead-on-plate welding and butt welding of mild steel plates. Based on the nature of its operation, use of a fibre laser was considered most suitable compared to other solid state lasers. Net-shape welds were demonstrated on mild steel plates using an IPG 1 kW single mode fibre laser with a maximum power output of 1000 W.The thesis shows results from experimental and modelling (based on finite element and computational fluid dynamic modelling) to validate the idea and the understanding of underlying scientific principles. The thesis is presented in the form of a collection of published work generated by the author during the course of this project. In addition, some results that are not yet published are also included. Design of experiments and statistical modelling has been used in the experimental work to understand the process parameter interactions. Microstructural and mechanical testing have been carried out to evaluate the performance of the welds. Net shaped (the weld bead is flat to the parent material surface) welds have been achieved and compared with standard welds. The understanding of net-shape weld formation and the effect of the laser welding parameters was enhanced by the theoretical modelling. The thesis concludes with a summary of scientific findings and an overview of future work.

Darbo tikslas buvo išanalizuoti skirtingai laikomų ir melžiamų karvių pieno sudėties ir kokybės rodiklius. Darbo uždaviniai buvo išanalizuoti tiriamų melžiamų karvių pieno sudėtį ir kokybę, įvertinti ir palyginti skirtingai laikomų ir melžiamų karvių pieno sudėtį, įvertinti ir palyginti skirtingai laikomų ir melžiamų karvių somatinių ląstelių skaičių piene. Tyrimui buvo pasirinktas ūkis, kuriame karvės laikomos dviejose fermose ir gyvuliai buvo laikomi bei melžiami skirtingais būdais. Kontrolinio melžimo metu buvo paimtas pienas tyrimams atlikti. Buvo nustatyti pieno riebalų, baltymų kiekiai, somatinių ląstelių skaičius tiriamajame piene. Duomenys analizuoti skaičiuokle „Excel“. Skaičiuojami statistiniai rodikliai: narių skaičius, aritmetinis vidurkis, aritmetinio vidurkio paklaida, duomenų statistinis patikimumas. Rezultatai laikyti patikimais, kai p<0,05. Nustatyta, jog didesnis pieno baltymingumas proc., riebumas proc., bei somatinių ląstelių skaičius tūkst./ml buvo karvių piene, kurios laikomos pririštos. Tai reiškia, kad šios fermos karvių pieno sudėties rodikliai aukštesni, bet dvigubai didesnis somatinių ląstelių skaičius (kokybės rodiklis) parodo, kad pienas gaunamas ne toks kokybiškas ir ferma turi problemų su karvių sveikatingumu. 8,3 proc. visų palaido laikymo karvių piene, bei 20,2 proc. visų pririšto laikymo būdo karvių piene, somatinių ląstelių skaičius viršijo 500 tūkst./ml. Rugpjūčio mėn. laikant karves palaidu būdu pieno riebumas proc. nustatytas mažiausias... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]<br>The main goal of this thesis is to analize milk quality and composition in differently held dairy cows. To achieve this goal, first we analyzed the quality and composition in investigated cows; secondly, we eveluated and compared milk composition in differently held cows; finally, we eveluated and compared the number of somatic cells in differently held dairy cows. For analysis we chose a farm, which was divided into two. In both parts of the farm cows were held and milked differently. During the control milking we collected milk for analysis. We determined the amount of fat, protein and somatic cells in the analyzed milk. The data was analyzed using Excel with which we calculated the number of members, arithmetic average, standart deviation, and reliability. The results were reliable, if p < 0,05. We determined that the greater amount of protein (%), fat (%), the number of somatic cells thousands/ml was in dairy cows that are held tethered. This shows that, in this farm, milk composition is greater, but also the number of somatic cells is twice as big, which means that the milk quality is not good, and that there are health problems in this farm. 8,3 percent all loose cow's milk, and 20,2 percent pegged all manner of storage of cow milk somatic cell count exceeded 500 thousand./ml. In August keeping cows loose manner percent milk fat the lowest of the entire study period. In June and August keeping tethered cows milk protein content by percent was lower than in other... [to full text]

Master of Agribusiness<br>Department of Agricultural Economics<br>Allen M. Featherstone<br>The oat processing industry is a competitive industry and maintaining a cost advantage is important for the industry supply chain. General Mills continuously looks to maintain a competitive advantage in the oat supply chain because it is important for strategic short and long term planning. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze supply chain scenarios to determine where future investments should be made. The analysis looks at an existing location, a refurbished location and a Greenfield site. The analysis projects income statements and net cash flows to determine the conclusions using Net Present Value. The question answered is "Should the company continue to invest in the existing supply chain or should it look to different alternatives in the form of a refurbished or Greenfield plant site for production of oat flour?" The analysis found important relationships between the variables that can influence net cash flow and ultimately NPV. However, given the information from this analysis, a determination was made that the existing facility is still the best investment. Future analysis should be used and the company should plan to analyze this issue again in a five to ten year time frame to maintain its competitive advantage.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to explore manufacturer and omni-channel retailers last mile delivery in Sweden. Then to recognize the main customer demand and compare it with the last mile delivery setting of manufacturer and omni-channel retailers last mile delivery Method: To reach the purpose of the study, quantitative approach study and literature review have been conducted. Where the data has been collected through online search observation, document and record analysis and web survey. The companies (omni-channel retailers and manufacturers) that was chosen based on mix of micro, small, medium, and large size enterprise. The quantitative data was analyzed with the theoretical framework to reach the results. Then a web-survey was carried out in order to collect data about the customer demand on LMD. Findings: The findings display that omni-channel companies performed better in a lot of the last mile delivery settings such as velocity, free returns, offers more than one delivery mode, time slot, work with more than one delivery company. While manufacturers and omni-channel performed the same when it comes to last mile delivery mode. The only last mile delivery setting that manufacturer performed better in where the delivery prices towards customers. While overall the omni-channels performed better according to the customer demand than the manufacturers. But both types of companies did not perform well at all when it comes to environmentally sustainable deliveries. There was a high customer demand for freedom to choose last mile delivery mode, free delivery, free returns, and last environmentally sustainable deliveries.     Implications: The theoretical implications are towards the academic research about manufacturers last mile delivery practice in Sweden. Since it is one of the first large scale research for manufacturers e-commerce last mile delivery. It is also important to note that the framework developed in this research were evolved from existing research Hübner et al. (2016) and Marchet et al. (2018). The managerial implications are that manufacturers and omni-channels can benchmark themselves within the developed framework in order for them to make relevant decisions within their last mile delivery practice to be able to meet the customer demand.    Limitations: This research only focus on manufacturers e-commerce and omni-channel retailers operating in the Swedish market, it does not cover pure e-tailers. The study has not explored any fulfillment strategies or warehouse locations. Key words: Last mile delivery, omni-channel retailer, manufacturer, e-commerce, sustainability, customer demand on last mile delivery.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Engenharia Zootécnica-Produção Animal<br>A ocorrência de doenças nas explorações pecuárias leva a uma diminuição do desempenho produtivo e do bem-estar dos animais e a um aumento das despesas veterinárias. A melhor forma de evitar a perda de rendibilidade é a prevenção destas doenças através da adopção de boas práticas de maneio. O objectivo deste estudo foi o de analisar a incidência de ocorrências e o maneio no período de um mês antes até dois meses após o parto numa exploração de caprinos leiteiros, de forma a estabelecer relações causa-efeito para os problemas detectados e propor eventuais soluções para a sua resolução. Esta análise foi realizada nos registos desde 2008 e, em particular, numa época de parição de 2011. Avaliaram-se ainda as quebras na produção de leite em consequência dos problemas registados. A incidência das doenças registadas foi baixa no período avaliado, à excepção das metrites, indicando que as práticas de maneio utilizadas são correctas, embora passíveis de serem ainda melhoradas. As doenças registadas afectaram negativamente a produção de leite. Sendo esta a principal fonte de rendimento da exploração, a melhoria das condições de maneio poderá influenciar positivamente a produção de leite e minimizar as perdas provocadas pela incidência de doenças nas cabras leiteiras.<br>ABSTRACT - Evaluation of peripartum period management practices on an intensive dairy goat farm - The occurrence of diseases in animal farms leads to a decrease on animal performance and welfare and to an increase of veterinary expenses. The best way to avoid the loss of profitability is to prevent those diseases by adopting good management practices. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of diseases and the management practices during the period from one month before to two months after parturition in a dairy goat farm, in order to establish the cause effect relationships for the problems detected and to propose possible solutions for its resolution. The evaluation was done on the farm records since 2008 and, particularly, on a 2011 kidding season. The decrease on milk production in consequence of those problems was also evaluated. The incidence of diseases during that period was low, except for metritis, indicating that farm management practices are adequate although some improvements could be introduced. Detected diseases negatively affected milk production which is the main source of income. Then, the enhancement of management practices could positively improve milk production and minimize the disease occurrence losses on dairy goats.

Complex foodborne threats to public health and safe food supplies are increasing with each passing day, serving as a great challenge to food corporations today. This thesis, selecting the Mengniu Dairy milk scandal as the subject of the study, is aimed to examine how newspapers reported and evaluated Mengniu milk crisis and crisis management in the 2008 Chinese milk scandal and to provide suggestions to Mengniu Dairy's crisis management, as well as the Chinese food industry in general. It is a significant step towards exploring the crisis management strategy of a food company in a non-Western setting under a circumstance in which crisis responsibility is ambiguous. To accomplish this, a content analysis of 253 articles ranged from September 11, 2008, to September 10, 2009, on 10 Chinese newspapers' Web sites was conducted. The results of the coding supported an argument that apology and product recall were not good enough for the milk crisis and identified the significant role of the Chinese government in food crisis management. Two suggestions are offered by the study. First, building a good external relationship and cooperating with the local government. Second, being proactive and addressing public safety during the pre-crisis stage. Further, recommendations for further study are enclosed.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:46:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 308082 bytes, checksum: e30aa6dee1e9497438ca76f699ba5715 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-03-11<br>Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico<br>The objective was to estimate the urinary excretion of purine from the TDN consumption and determine the endogenous contribution in dairy cows. The experiment was conducted at the Unidade de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão em Gado de Leite (UEPE-GL) during the month of March 2010. Twelve Holstein cows purebred and crossbred, allocated in a completely randomized design with three treatments based on production of milk, which were assessed as high, medium and low bands by taking the following production: 33,50; 18,42 and 11.07 kg of milk / day, respectively.The diet consisted of corn silage ad libitum and concentrate fed at a rate of one kilogram for every three pounds of milk produced. The experimental period lasted 15 days, se ven to eight days for adaptation and implementation of collection of urine, faeces, blood and milk, as well as to evaluate the consumption and digestibility. Milkings were carried out in two hours, from 6:00 h and 16:00 h. The results were evaluated by analysis of variance, using the 5% level of probability of type I error, through the SAS, by using the t test to compare means. Relations between the daily excretion of purine derivatives and the consumption of total digestible nutrients (TDNI), digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) and dry matter intake (DMI) were assessed using linear regression. No significant differences (P>0.05) for lactose and milk fat, however, the percentage of protein was higher for cows with low production (P<0.05). Intakes of all nutrients, except for neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDF) and neutral detergent fiber indigestible (NDFi) were higher for animals for higher production. The digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein, and non-fiber carbohydrates and contents of total digestible nutrients (TDN) did not differ between treatments (P> 0.05), whereas the digestibility of ether extract and NDF were influenced by the level of milk production, and lower for cows of high production. The levels of urea nitrogen in plasma and milk and excretion of nitrogenous (N) in urine were highly correlated and higher (P<0.05) for more productive animals, indicating that the concentration varied with the level of milk production. Urinary excretions of purine derivatives (PD) and urea, as well as the relations of allantoin: creatinine, uric acid, creatinine, purine derivatives, creatine and urea, creatinine, when compared between different times of collection and spot urine collection total urine for 24 hours, no significant difference (P>0.05). The synthesis of ruminal microbial crude protein and excretion of PD were associated with intake of TDN and digestible organic matter (DOM), being raised from 23.48 mmol of SD for each kg of TDN consumed, 25.50 mmol SD for each kg of digestible organic matter, revealing that both relations can be used to make these estimates. The gathering spot can be used to estimate the daily excretion of purine derivatives and urea in the urine of cows, regardless of the level of production. Both the use of TDN intake and consumption of MOD can be used in order to estimate the urinary purine derivatives. Whereas the excretion of PD in mmol/kgPC0,75 and dry matter intake expressed as g/kg PC0,75, obtained the value of the fraction of endogenous DP mmol/kgPC0.2370,75.<br>Objetivou-se estimar a excreção urinária de derivados de purinas a partir do consumo NDT e determinar a contribuição endógena em vacas de leite. O experimento foi realizado na unidade de ensino, pesquisa e extensão em gado de leite (UEPE-GL) durante o mês de março de 2010. Utilizaram-se doze vacas da raça Holandesa, puras e mestiças, alocadas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos em função da produção de leite, que foram determinadas como Alta, Média e Baixa seguindo as seguintes faixas de produção: 33,50, 18,42 e 11,07 kg de leite/dia, respectivamente. A dieta foi constituída de silagem de milho à vontade e concentrado fornecido na proporção de um kg para cada três kg de leite produzido. O período experimental teve duração de 15 dias, sendo sete para adaptação e oito dias para realização das coletas de urina, fezes, sangue e leite, bem como para avaliação do consumo e digestibilidade aparente. As ordenhas foram realizadas em dois horários, às 6:00 h e 16:00 h. Os resultados foram avaliados por meio de análises de variância, utilizando-se nível de 5% de probabilidade para o erro tipo I, por intermédio do programa SAS, sendo utilizado o teste de T para comparação de médias. As relações entre as excreções diárias dos derivados de purinas e os consumos de nutrientes digestiveis totais (CNDT), de matéria orgânica digestível (CMOD) e de matéria seca (CMS) foram avaliadas através do modelo de regressão linear simples. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para os teores de lactose e gordura do leite, porém, o percentual de proteína foi superior para vacas de baixa produção (P<0,05). Os consumos de todos os nutrientes, exceto o de fibra insolúvel em detergente neutro corrigida para cinzas e proteína (FDNcp) e fibra insolúvel em detergente neutro indigestível (FDNi), foram maiores para os animais de maior produção. As digestibilidades da matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta, e carboidratos não fibrosos e os teores de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) não diferiram entre os tratamentos (P>0,05), enquanto que as digestibilidades do extrato etéreo e da FDNcp, foram influenciadas pelo nível de produção de leite, sendo menores para vacas de Alta produção. Os teores de nitrogênio uréico no plasma e no leite e a excreção de compostos nitrogenados (N) na urina foram altamente correlacionados e superiores (P<0,05) para animais mais produtivos, indicando que a concentração variou com o nível de produção de leite. As excreções urinárias dos derivados de purinas (DP) e uréia, bem como as relações de alantoina:creatinina, ácido úrico:creatinina, derivados de purina:creatina e uréia:creatinina, quando comparadas entre os diferentes tempos de coleta spot de urina e coleta total de urina durante 24 horas, não apresentaram diferença significativa (P>0,05). A síntese ruminal de proteína bruta microbiana e a excreção de DP foram relacionadas com o consumo de NDT e de matéria orgânica digestível (MOD), sendo obtidos 23,48 mmol de DP para cada kg de NDT consumido e 25,50 mmol de DP para cada kg de MO digestível, sendo possível observar que ambas as relações podem ser utilizadas para realizar estas estimativas. A coleta spot pode ser utilizada para estimar a excreção diária de derivados de purinas e de uréia na urina em vacas, independentemente do nível de produção. Tanto a utilização do consumo de NDT quanto de MOD podem ser utilizados com o intuito de estimar os derivados de purinas urinários. Considerando a excreção de DP em mmol/kgPC0,75 e o consumo de matéria seca expresso em g/kg PC0,75, obteve-se o valor da fração endógena de DP de 0,237 mmol/kgPC0,75.

Cuba’s government has set a goal to generate 24 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The country’s many sugar mills have been identified as key contributors to reach this goal as their cogeneration units have the potential to significantly increase Cuba’s electricity production from biomass by upgrading them to bioelectric plants. This study evaluates the feasibility of upgrading the cogeneration unit of George Washington sugar mill in the province of Villa Clara, Cuba. An energy balance of the proposed upgraded scheme is done to deduce its feasibility from an energy perspective. To deduce the project’s feasibility from a financial standpoint its net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), discounted payback period (DPP) and levelized cost of energy (LCOE) are calculated. The spared CO2 emissions by integrating more biopower in the Cuban electricity system are calculated from the avoided burning of diesel for electricity production. The impact on Cuba’s energy independence is quantified by calculating the avoided diesel imports. The NPV of the proposed scheme is 64.9 MUSD, the IRR is 25.6 percent which is significantly higher than the set discount rate of 6.5 percent, the DPP is 5.3 years and the LCOE is 0.0533 USD/kWh which is lower than the maximum LCOE set by AZCUBA to 0.14 USD/kWh. The avoided CO2 emissions and imported diesel are estimated to be 110,173 tonnes CO2 and 36,724 tonnes diesel each year, respectively. These indicators suggest that the upgrade of George Washington’s cogeneration unit is feasible.​<br>Kubas regering har satt som mål att generera 24 procent av landets elektricitet från förnyelsebara källor till år 2030. Landets många sockerbruk har identifierats som nyckelaktörer för att nå detta mål då sockerbrukens kraftvärmeenhet har potential att öka Kubas elproduktion från biomassa genom att uppgradera dem till bioelektriska kraftverk. Denna studie utvärderar möjligheten att uppgradera kraftvärmeenheten på sockerbruket George Washington i provinsen Villa Clara, Kuba. Först görs en energibalans på det föreslagna uppgraderade systemet för att utläsa dess genomförbarhet ur ett energiperspektiv. För att utvärdera projektets genomförbarhet ur ett finansiellt perspektiv beräknas investeringens nettonuvärde (NPV), interna avkastningsgrad (IRR), diskonterade återbetalningstid (DPP) och energiproduktionskostnad (LCOE). De undvikta CO2 utsläppen genom integrering av mer biokraft i det kubanska elsystemet beräknas från den uteblivna förbränningen av diesel för elproduktion i landet. Effekterna på Kubas energioberoende kvantifieras genom att man beräknar den minskade dieselimporten. NPV i det föreslagna uppgraderade systemet är 64,9 MUSD, IRR är 25,6 procent vilket är betydligt högre än den fastställda diskonteringsräntan på 6,5 procent, DPP är 5,3 år och LCOE är 0,0533 USD/kWh vilket är lägre än det maximala LCOE som fastställts av AZCUBA till 0,14 USD/kWh. De uteblivna CO2-utsläppen och minskningen av importerad diesel beräknas uppgå till 110 173 ton CO2 respektive 36 724 ton diesel varje år. Dessa indikatorer tyder på att uppgraderingen av George Washingtons kraftvärmeenhet är genomförbar.​

Introduction: Understanding of the cognitive processes, and in particular social information processing bias, that generate cognitive distortions among sexual offenders with a learning disability has been hampered by the lack of empirical research. Objectives: To employ the flicker paradigm to investigate social information processing bias among sexual offenders with a learning disability, non-offenders with a learning disability and non-offenders without a learning disability. Design: An independent groups design was employed to compare the data obtained from a participant group of sexual offenders with a mild learning disability with two comparison groups of non-offenders with a learning disability and non-offenders without a learning disability. Method: Participants were asked to view successively and repeatedly on a monitor two versions of a visual scent (an original and a slightly altered version of the original) until they detected the change. The changes to the original visual were either sex-related (midriff of a person being exposed) or neutral related (object being removed from a scene) changes. The experiment was counterbalanced with participants viewing equal number of sex-related and neutral related changes to the original stimuli. Results: Non-offenders without a learning disability required less time to identify sex-related and neutral related changes than individuals with a learning disability. However, no significant interaction was observed between type of participant group and type of stimulus change. This finding indicated that the nature of change in the stimulus did not influence the speed at which the participants responded. Results are discussed in relation to previous research. Conclusion: Results obtained from the present study highlight that this is a complex area to investigate, as there is currently no clear framework to guide this area of research. Strengths and limitations of the present study are addressed and areas of future research are explored.

O Motor de Indução Linear (M.I.L.) vem, de longa data, sendo analisado e utilizado em aplicações normalmente de tração elétrica. No Brasil é estudado por poucas pessoas e o pioneirismo no assunto coube aos Professores Morency Arouca e Délio Pereira Guerrini, nos anos iniciais da década de 70, no Departamento de Engenharia Elétrica na EESC/USP. Assim, utilizando um protótipo construído pelo Professor Guerrini, desenvolveu-se este trabalho com vistas a complementar sua documentação. O trabalho consiste na Modelagem Matemática, Obtenção dos Parâmetros e Simulação Computacional, com algumas constatações experimentais.<br>The Linear lnduction Motor (L.l.M.) has been analyzed and applied specially in electrical traction. In Brazil, it was studied very well by a few persons, the pioneers of L.I.M. were the Professors Morency Arouca and Délio Pereira Guerrini, in the early 70\'s, at the Department of Electrical Engineering of the EESC/USP. Thus, this work has been developed on top of a reduced model of the L.I.M. that was built by Professor Guerrini. The objective of this work is to continue the analysis of the L.I.M. The work is comprised of three parts: Mathematical Modeling, Obtainment of the Parameters and the Computational Simulation, with some experimental checking.

Dissertação de Mestrado em Segurança Alimentar<br>A realização do presente trabalho teve como objectivo principal, a avaliação do sistema de segurança dos alimentos existente num lagar de azeite tradicional, com o pressuposto de verificar a sua aptidão, no que se refere à satisfação dos vários requisitos definidos na NP EN ISO 22000:2005 – Sistemas de gestão da segurança alimentar e atendendo ao interesse futuro da organização em se submeter a uma auditoria de certificação. No mesmo são abordadas questões, que se relacionam quer a jusante quer a montante do referido referencial, reportando-se as mesmas, entre outras, ao processo de certificação em si e à relevância desta norma no contexto internacional sendo ainda abordada a sua relação/integração face a outros tipos de referenciais internacionalmente aceites. O azeite, produto central da actividade da organização, é também referido com o objectivo de dar a conhecer algumas das suas características bem como os seus métodos de extracção. Com a realização deste trabalho, foi verificado, que apesar da organização se encontrar no caminho certo, rumo ao seu objectivo futuro, terá que melhorar alguns dos seus processos internos já existentes, como o controlo de documentos e registos ou a forma como procede ao planeamento das suas actividades, sendo necessário proceder à implementação dos procedimento documentados requeridos pelo referencial.<br>ABSTRACT - The current work aimed to evaluate an existing implemented food safety system in a traditional olive oil press workshop, intending to verify its suitability in relation to the achievement of requirements defined on ISO 22000:2005 – Food safety management systems, given the future interest of the organization to start a process of certification audits. Furthermore, issues are addressed, either downstream either upstream of this referential, regarding the certification process and the relevance of this ISO in the international context, being discussed its relationship/integration with other accepted similar management standards. The olive oil, main product of organization business, was also referred in order know some of its characteristics as well as the extraction methods. Following in this work was verified that, although the organization is in the right track towards its future goal, will have to improve some of the existing internal procedures, such as control of documents and records and the way how it is planning its activities, being necessary to implement the processes and procedures requested by this international reference.

Background In the context of booming e-commerce and associated logistics flows, there is a considerable challenge to support the future of volumes, specifically more towards home deliveries by logistics service providers (LSP). There are means of addressing this challenge by identifying the key factors that influence consumer behaviour and lead to better adoption by meeting their convenience through right self collection end points setups thus decreasing the logistics costs, meeting sustainability targets and also efficiencies for logistics service provider operations. Purpose The purpose of this study is to study and investigate the convenience factors of self-collection endpoints and associated levels that influence consumer preferences for logistics services to use self-collection last-mile endpoint in Sweden and also associate with observed behaviour across different demographic segments. Methods For research, quantitative research was done using conjoint analysis. Data was collected using a questionnaire sent in Google forms from volunteers, designed through an orthogonal designed based profile to rate the relevance and interest it generated. Results were based on 161 respondents' feedback on 16 such profiles (autogenerated in the SPSS platform). Analyses on existing historical parcel data of the logistics service provider along with the demographic data to build decision-tree models which supports determining the crucial attributes which influence home deliveries and also identify the potential site for trialability by LSP to support better decision-making aligned with the new Innovation diffusion into usage. Conclusions The research has shown that the collection distance is the most crucial convenience factor which can drive/steer consumers to use self-collection endpoints by being relevant in the context of convenience factors to be considered as an alternate to home delivery, followed by handling time. Respondents were willing to compromise on home deliveries if distance was within their expectations, such as &lt;300m from the study conducted. During the thesis work, decision-tree models have also been developed, which has shown relationship/dependency between demographics to different delivery methods like home vs. service points across different geographies and factors influencing it. It has been further observed that different influencing attributes play a significant role across geographical type of delivery locations, such as urban, sub-urban volume data.

There is a need to reduce global carbon emissions in order to limit climate change, especially from the transport sector, as it contributes to a large share of these emissions. This thesis explores carbon emissions from urban freight transport in Oslo, Norway, and Stockholm, Sweden, and the measures and strategies that have been implemented in accordance with the municipalities’ targets. In addition, the involvement of relevant freight transport companies in these issues has been investigated, as well as the challenges and possibilities related to reducing carbon emissions from urban freight transport. Both municipalities have expressed ambitions to adhere to the European Union’s goals of emission reduction. However, based on the observations of this thesis, it is evident that the municipalities have yet to adequately implement impactful measures for urban freight transport, in order to reduce carbon emissions from this sector if they are to achieve their goals. The results show that that Oslo municipality has access to a substantial amount of data and statistics regarding urban freight transport, but is lacking a comprehensive freight plan. Stockholm municipality, on the other hand, has an urban freight transport plan, but is lacking comprehensive data and statistics about urban freight transport. The focus on - and inclusion of - urban freight transport in comprehensive urban planning could be argued to be increasing, but we contend that there is still a need to increase knowledge and understanding regarding emission reduction for urban freight transport across departments and cities, in order to reach a more sustainable future for urban freight transport.

Att kartlägga hur ett företags olika processer ser ut är en viktig del ur ett kontinuerligtförbättringsarbete. Uppdraget för denna studie består av att kartlägga dagliga mjölkrundor påen del av fabriken, som därmed skall bidra till att eventuella problem synliggörs. Studienbehandlar logistik och materialhantering med fokus på transport och ergonomiska arbetsplatsersom bör följa riktlinjer för Lean. Att följa de olika ergonomiska riktlinjerna på ett framgångsriktsätt kan skapa goda förutsättningar som därmed kan gynna ekonomin. Utgångspunkten har varitatt med hjälp av intervjuer samt observationer skapa en god förståelse för hur de nuvarandemjölkrundorna ser ut, då det i nuläget inte finns något standardiserat arbetssätt på det studeradeområdet basmodulen.I studien presenteras de faktorer i produktionen som har en påverkan på ergonomin samt defaktorer som bidrar till förbättringsmöjligheter. Resultatet av studien baseras på litteraturstudieroch de tre intervjuer som genomförts med berörda truckförare. En jämförelse gjordes mellanLean och Volvos egna Leanarbete, Volvo Production System där vikten belystes i detstandardiserade arbetssättet och att företaget standardiserar de olika arbetsmomenten för attlättare kunna implementera förbättringsförslagen. Studien avslutas med att utforma förslag påhur mjölkrundorna bör se ut för att möjliggöra besparingar inom effektivitetssynvinkeln samtövriga förbättringsförslag som skall gynna företaget i helhet. Författarnas slutsats avexamensarbetet är att det finns goda möjligheter och förutsättningar för att positivt införastandardiserade körrundor för basmodulen som därmed underlättar implementering avresterande förbättringsförslag.<br>To identify how a company's different processes look is an important part of continuousimprovement work. The assignment for this study consists of mapping the daily in-plant milkrunsin one part of the factory, with the goal to make any problems visible. The study deals withlogistics and materials management with a focus on transport and ergonomic aspects that shouldbe in line with Lean thinking. The starting point in this study has been information frominterviews and observations, to provide a good understanding for the in-plant milk-runs. Thestudy includes a brief literature review, onsite observations as well as three in-depth interviews.A comparison was made between the strategy Lean and Volvo's own interpretation of Lean, theVolvo Production System, where the emphasis was highlighted in the standardized approachand that the company standardizes the different workflows to facilitate implementation of theimprovement proposals. The study concludes by formulating proposals on how milk-runsshould look to enable savings in the efficiency perspective and other improvement proposalsthat will benefit the whole company. The author’s conclusion of the thesis work is that there aregood opportunities to positively introduce standardized milk runs for the studied area calledbasmodulen, which will help the company when implementing the improvements.

Visto que o estresse oxidativo está intimamente relacionado com a progressão da demência, este se apresenta como um possível alvo terapêutico a fim de preservar as funções cognitivas. No mesmo sentido, estudos mostram o papel antioxidante do selênio, mineral que atua por meio das selenoproteínas, com destaque para a família de enzimas antioxidantes glutationa peroxidase (GPx) e a selenoproteína responsável pelo transporte de selênio, a selenoproteína P (SePP). Entretanto, diferentes genótipos dos genes que codificam essas selenoproteínas podem refletir em diferentes respostas diante de intervenções alimentares. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar os efeitos da suplementação com castanha-do-brasil sobre o estresse oxidativo em pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL) e verificar sua relação com os polimorfismos rs1050450 (Pro198Leu) no gene da GPx1, rs3877899 e rs7579 no gene da selenoproteína P. Participaram do estudo 31 indivíduos com CCL, voluntários, de ambos os sexos, frequentadores do Ambulatório de Memória do Idoso do Serviço de Geriatria da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, que foram distribuídos aleatoriamente entre os grupos Castanha e Controle. O grupo Castanha recebeu uma unidade de castanha-do-brasil por dia durante seis meses. Foram avaliados os seguintes marcadores: determinação de selênio no plasma e nos eritrócitos, atividade da GPx eritrocitária, avaliação dos níveis de oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) e de malondialdeído (MDA) plasmáticos, perfil lipídico sérico e expressão gênica de GPx1 e SePP. Além disso, os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação cognitiva e genotipados quanto aos polimorfismos rs1050450, rs3877899 e rs7579. Cada unidade de castanha-do-brasil forneceu 288,75&#181;g de selênio. Dentre os 31 participantes selecionados, apenas 20 concluíram o estudo, e observou-se que, antes da intervenção, os grupos de estudo não apresentavam diferença quanto aos níveis de selênio no plasma e no eritrócito, bem como na atividade da GPx e nos níveis plasmáticos de ORAC e de MDA. Porém, após a suplementação, verificou-se aumento significativo no selênio plasmático (290,6±74,6) e eritrocitário (574,6±181,4) e na atividade da GPx (59,55±20,79) no grupo Castanha, diferente do grupo Controle (47,48±11,7 no plasma; 33,5±16,1 no eritrócito; 42,54±13,05 atividade da GPx). Em relação ao MDA, verificou-se que ambos os grupos apresentaram aumento após a intervenção, porém não significativo. No caso do ORAC, não se verificou alteração entre os grupos após os seis meses. O escore CERAD, que avalia desempenho cognitivo, não foi diferente entre os grupos após o tratamento, entretanto as mudanças observadas na fluência verbal e na praxia construtiva ao longo do acompanhamento foram mais favoráveis no grupo Castanha. A frequência dos genótipos de referência foram 40% para Pro198Leu, 55% para rs7579 e 60% para rs3877899. Não foram identificadas diferenças entre os níveis de selênio, de atividade da GPx, de MDA e de ORAC entre os genótipos, porém em análise multivariada verificou-se que o alelo variante do Pro198Leu se relacionou com aumento de 0,613 dp na concentração de selênio no plasma no baseline. A influência dos polimorfismos na resposta à intervenção com castanha-do-brasil foi avaliada nos 11 participantes do grupo Castanha, e observou-se que os genótipos não influenciaram na resposta quanto os níveis de selênio plasmático e eritrocitário, bem como de MDA. Entretanto, quanto à atividade da GPx, embora todos os genótipos tenham apresentado aumento após a intervenção, isso não foi significativo para o genótipo dominante do rs7579 e para o variante do rs3877899. A expressão de GPx1 e de SePP também foi diferente entre os genótipos: indivíduos com alelo variante do Pro198Leu apresentaram redução da expressão da GPx1, enquanto carreadores do genótipo homozigoto dominante tiveram aumento. Também percebeu-se que a expressão da SePP foi reduzida em todos os genótipos, entretanto essa mudança foi mais relevante para os genótipos variantes do Pro198Leu e rs7579 e para o genótipo GG do rs3877899. A partir desses resultados, concluiu-se que o consumo de apenas uma castanha-do-brasil diariamente, durante seis meses, é suficiente para recuperar o estado nutricional relativo ao selênio, e isso parece ter efeitos positivos sobre a cognição em idosos com CCL. Além disso, observou-se que o polimorfismo Pro198Leu no gene da GPx1 parece influenciar o estado nutricional quanto ao selênio, bem como a expressão de GPx, enquanto que os polimorfismos rs7579 e rs3877899 parecem não influenciar, de maneira significativa, o metabolismo de selênio frente ao consumo de castanha-do-brasil.<br>Since oxidative stress is closely related to progression of dementia, the antioxidant system may be a potential therapeutic target to preserve cognitive function. In this way, studies show the antioxidant role of selenium, which plays as selenoproteins especially glutathione peroxidase (GPx) family and selenoprotein P (SePP). However, different genotypes of selenoprotein genes may result in different response to dietary intake. Therefore, this work aimed to verify the effects of Brazil nuts intake on oxidative stress and the role of the polymorphisms rs1050450 (Pro198Leu) in GPx1 gene and rs7579 and rs3877899 in SePP gene in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Study subjects comprised 31 voluntary patients with MCI who attended the Memory and Aging Unit of the Geriatrics Division, University of São Paulo Medical School (Brazil). They were randomly assigned to ingestion of Brazil nuts or to the control group. Brazil nuts group received one nut daily during six months. The following parameters were analysed: selenium concentration in plasma and erythrocyte, GPx activity in erythrocyte, plasmatic levels of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and of malondialdedyde (MDA), serum lipid profile. Besides, we evaluated cognitive performance and the patients were genotyped to rs1050450, rs3877899 e rs7579 polymorphisms. Each Brazil nut provided 288.75&#181;g of selenium. Among 31 enrolled participants, only 20 finished the study. No differences regarding selenium levels, GPx activity, ORAC and MDA levels were observed at baseline between groups. However, after treatment, we observed significant increase in selenium in plasma (290.6±74.6) and in erythrocyte (574.6±181.4) and in GPx activity (59.55±20.79) in treated group, unlike control group (47.48±11.70 selenium in plasma; 33.5±16.1 selenium in erythrocyte; 42.54±13.05 GPx activity). Although not significant, MDA level increased after 6 months in both groups and ORAC levels were not different across time. CERAD total score was not different across time between groups, however changes in verbal fluency and constructional praxis subtests across time were significantly more favorable on the supplemented group when compared with control group. The frequency of dominant genotypes for Pro198Leu, rs7579 and rs3877899 were 40%, 55% and 60%, respectively. We did not observe differences regarding to selenium ORAC and MDA levels and GPx activity among genotypes, however after linear regression analysis the presence of variant allele of Pro198Leu was associated with an increase of 0.613 SD in selenium plasma level at baseline. The effect of polymorphisms in response to Brazil nut intake was analysed in Brazil nut group, and we observed that sele nium and MDA levels were not affected by polymorphisms. However although GPx activity increased in all genotype groups, this was not significant in dominant genotype of rs7579 and variant genotypes of rs3877899. GPx1 and SePP expression was also different among groups across time: variant allele of Pro198Leu presented decreased expression of GPx1 while dominant homozygous presented increase of expression. We also observed that SePP expression was reduced in all genotypes, but his was more important in variant genotypes of Pro198Leu and rs7579 and in GG genotype of rs3877899. From these results, we can conclude that consumption of only one Brazil nut is enough to restore selenium status, and this may be positive effects on cognition performance. Furthermore we observed that Pro198Leu polymorphism may influence selenium nutritional status and GPx activity whereas rs7579 and rs3877899 polymorphisms did not have an effect on selenium metabolism after Brazil nut intake.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar as exigências e a eficiência energética de vacas de corte lactantes e não gestantes, bem como do par vaca/bezerro. Posteriormente foi correlacionada a eficiência do par vaca/bezerro durante a lactação com a eficiência das mesmas vacas durante a terminação. Na fase de lactação os pares vaca/bezerro foram avaliados desde após o nascimento (17±5, d DP) até a desmama (210 d). Após a desmama foi conduzido o ensaio de terminação (67 d) e abate somente das matrizes. Foram avaliadas 10 vacas adultas ½ Caracu x Nelore (CN) e 10 ½ Angus x Nelore (AN), acasaladas com touros Red Angus (RA) e Canchim (CC), respectivamente. Na lactação o oferecimento da dieta (2,30 Mcal EM/kg e 12,4% PB) variou individualmente ao longo do período com objetivo de manter constante o peso das matrizes ao longo da lactação. A mesma dieta foi oferecida a vontade para a progênie. Durante o ensaio de terminação em confinamento a dieta (2,37 Mcal EM/kg e 10,5% PB) foi fornecida à vontade. A ingestão de matéria seca das matrizes foi de 92,4 g MS/kg PM0,75 (CV=3,2%; P=0,458). Vacas AN apresentaram produção de leite corrigida para gordura 12% superior (P<0,05). A concentração energética do leite (Mcal/kg) das vacas CN foi 9,4% superior (P<0,05). A eficiência (Mcal leite/Mcal EM ingerida) não foi diferente. A exigência de energia metabolizável de lactação (EMl) foi maior (P<0,05) para vacas AN em relação as CN, 90,1 e 74,2 (EMl, kcal EMl/kg PM0,75), respectivamente. Bezerros ½CC¼AN¼NE apresentaram ingestão de energia metabolizável (IEM) proveniente do leite 11,3% (P<0,05) superior. Bezerros ½RA¼CR¼NE foram 10,7% mais eficientes (g GP210d/Mcal IEM leite+dieta sólida). Não houve diferença para eficiência dos pares vaca/bezerro, contudo houve considerável variação individual, onde a eficiência média foi 35,3 g GP210d/Mcal IEM par (CV=11,5%). A eficiência do par foi positivamente relacionada ao ganho do bezerro (r=0,79; P<0,01) e negativamente relacionada à IEM do par (r=-0,58; P<0,05). Vacas CN ao abate apresentaram EGS 29% menor, AOL 13% maior e maior proteína no corpo vazio (P<0,05). Vacas AN apresentaram 14,7% maior proporção de órgãos internos relativo ao peso vazio e maior peso dos intestinos (P<0,01). As correlações fenotípicas demonstraram associação entre as eficiência de secreção do leite das vacas nas fase de lactação e de ganho de peso na fase de terminação (r=0,43; P=0,09). A eficiência de secreção de leite das vacas na lactação apresentou correlação com a eficiência do par (r=0,68; P<0,01). O consumo alimentar residual (CAR) das vacas na terminação foi correlacionado com o CAR das vacas em lactação (r=0,53; P<0,05) e com o CAR dos pares (r=0.62; P<0.01). Isso indica que vacas de corte mais eficientes durante a terminação são também mais eficientes no período de cria.<br>This study estimated the requirements and feed efficiency of non-pregnant lactating beef cows, as well as cow calf pairs. It also correlated the efficiency of the cows and their progeny during lactation to efficiency determined for the same cows in a finishing trial after weaning. In the lactating phase cow calf pairs were evaluated from just after birth (17±5, d) to weaning at 210 d. The finishing trial for the mature cows started after weaning and lasted 67 d after wich cows were slaughtered. Twenty adult cows were evaluated, 10 ½ Caracu x Nelore (CN) and 10 Angus x Nelore, bred to Red Angus (RA) and Canchim (CC) bulls, respectively. During lactation the diet (2.30 Mcal ME/kg and 12.4% CP) was offered in variable amounts to maintain individual live weight and condition score constant. The same diet was offered ad libitum to the calves. During the finishing phase cows were fed ad libitum (2.37 Mcal ME/kg e 10.5% CP). The dry matter feed intake of cows was 92,4 and SD 2,9 g DM/kg BW0,75. AN cows had fat corrected milk 12% higher compared to CN cows (P<0.05). However, milk energy content (Mcal/kg) was 9.4% higher (P<0.05) for CN cows. Efficiency of milk production (Mcal milk/Mcal ME intake) was not different. Metabolizable energy for lactation (MEl) was higher (P<0.05) for AN cows in comparison to CN, respectively 90.1 and 74.2 (MEl, kcal MEl/kg BW0,75). ME milk intake was 11.3% (P<0.05) higher for ½CC¼AN¼NE calves. Rates of gain were not different between calves, but ½RA¼CR¼NE were 10.7% more efficient (g LWG210d/Mcal MEI milk+solid diet). There was no difference in cow calf pairs efficiency, but there was a great individual variability with a mean of 35,31 g and SD of 4,08 g LWG210d/Mcal EM for the pair. Cow/calf pair efficiency was positively related to calf weight gain (r=0.79; P<0.01) and negatively to the pair metabolizable energy intake (r=-0.58; P<0.05). At slaughter CN cows presented backfat thickness 29% lower, longissimus muscle area 13% higher and higher empty body weight protein (P<0,05). AN cows had 14.7% higher relative internal organ weight and higher total intestine weight (P<0.01). The phenotypical correlations between efficiency indexes indicate moderate association between cow efficiency measured during lactation and in a short finishing period after weaning (r=0.43; P=0.09). Exist correlations between cow efficiency lactation and efficiency of the pair (r=0.68; P<0.01). Residual Feed Intake (RFI) during the finishing phase was moderately correlated to the RFI calculated during the lactation period for the cow calf pairs RFI (r=0.62; P<0.01) and the cows (r=0.53; P<0.05) indicated that beef cows more efficient in feed conversion during the finishing phase are more efficient during the lactation period.

In Sweden, all milk needs to be pasteurized. Unpasteurized milk [ OPM ] may only be sold in a smaller scale directly from the farmer to the consumer. The law was introduced in 1939, to prevent tuberculosis, which poses no threat today. There are other reasons, such as keepability and risk of pathogenic bacteria, why milk is pasteurized. Despite these risks, many consume OPM. The Swedish food agency proposed 2013 a new law to prohibit all sales of OPM. This proposal received numerous opinions from proponents of OPM. There is limited research on Swedish consumers' attitudes and values regarding OPM. Praised, rejected or anonymous: a study of Swedish consumers' attitudes on unpasteurised milk is a bachelor thesis in food and meal science, Kristianstad University. The study was carried out with a questionnaire designed to explore the attitudes to OPM of Swedish milk consumers, and what they are based on. The results showed that the consumers attitudes about OPM was connected to a higher value. Amongst others, the attitudes were more critical and OPM was seen as a risky product. Most of the consumers oponions were based on childhood, memories and social connections. Despite OPMs higher values, the study shows that due to precationary OPM may not be ready to emerge in this caution and health conscious society Sweden is today.<br>Idag är det lag på att pastörisera all konsumtionsmjölk i Sverige; Opastöriserad mjölk [OPM] får endast säljas i mindre skala direkt från gård till konsument. Pastöriseringskravet infördes 1939, för att förhindra spridningen av turberkulos, vilket inte anses utgöra något hot idag. Det finns även andra anledningar, som hållbarhet och sjukdomsrisk, till varför mjölk pastöriseras. Livsmedelsverkets gav hösten 2013 förslag om att införa en lag för förbud av all försäljning av OPM, detta förslag fick många reaktioner från förespråkare av OPM. Det finns begränsad forskning om svenska konsumenters attityder och värderingar kring OPM. Hyllad, ratad eller anonym: en studie om svenska konsumenters attityder på opastöriserad mjölk är ett examensarbete från Gastronomiprogrammet, Högskolan Kristianstad. Studien genomföres med ett frågeformulär med syfte att undersöka vilka attityder som finns till OPM hos svenska mjölkkonsumenter, samt vad dessa grundas på. I resultatet visade det sig att attityderna handlade om att OPM skapar ett mervärde. Bland kommentarerna fanns även attityder som var mer kritiska och OPM ansågs vara en riskfylld produkt. Dessa attityder grundar sig främst i uppväxt, minnen och social samhörighet. Trots att studien visar att konsumenter förknippar OPM med olika mervärden finns även en hög försiktighet hos konsumenter, vilket gör att OPM kanske inte är redo för det säkra och hälsofrämjande samhälle Sverige är idag.

Im interested in the topic of praying machine, because I want to analyze aspects of photography and its functions. It's known, that the reality is manipulated by photography. Bud we can also say, that the relationship between reality and photography is neutral in fact, that the manipulation is made by our interpretation of photography. The change of the reality can be realized just in the dialog between photography and reality. Can it be, that the mechanization change into the will? Does it prays praying mill or the buddhistic monk, who rotates the mill? When he believes into it, is it enough? Or is it enough if believes who watch the monk with his mill? ... The computers from he place A are "praying" the prayers from the place B. With Tomáš Javůrek we collaborated with Vladimír Veselý and Radek Lát to create the Game for re-articulation our reality on the base of the revision of our faith.

Tiger nuts (Cyperus esculentus L) are recognized as a high potential, alternative source of food nutrients. However, there is limited scientific literature on the technological possibilities for developing value-added foods, such as fermented products from tiger nut milk. Therefore, strategies for producing and improving the properties of fermented tiger nut milk were investigated for generating lactose-free, nutritious yogurt-like products with acceptable sensory properties and a prolonged shelf life quality. A wet-milling procedure was standardized for extracting tiger nut milk from tiger nuts, and the effects of the extraction process on nutrient distribution, colour properties and colloidal stability of the milk were analyzed. Next, tiger nut milk was enriched with proteins and/or hydrocolloids and the impact of the additives on the physical properties of the milk were determined. Enriched tiger nut milk was fermented by using classical yogurt cultures and the obtained products were analyzed for the microbiological, physico-chemical and sensory characteristics. Additionally, effects of enriching tiger nut milk with microbial transglutaminase cross-linked proteins on the microbiological and physico-chemical properties were evaluated. Higher wet-milling intensity improved the nutrient composition, colloidal stability and colour of the milk. Enrichment of tiger nut milk with milk proteins and xanthan gum enhanced the viscosity and stability, and after fermentation, led to homogenous gel-like products with superior microbiological, physico-chemical and different sensory properties compared to the fermented plain tiger nut milk. Microbial transglutaminase cross-linked proteins improved the physical characteristics of the fermented product, especially during storage. This product would be relevant in many developing countries with high prevalence of lactose intolerance, limited access to nutritious food but show a high distribution of tiger nut vegetation.:1. Introduction and aim 1 2. Literature review 4 2.1 Tiger nut, origin, nutritional value and food use 4 2.2 Tiger nut milk, preparation and nutrient composition 7 2.3 Colloidal characteristics of tiger nut milk 9 2.4 Factors accounting for the dispersion stability of tiger nut milk 10 2.5 Enhancing tiger nut milk stability 12 2.6 Properties of fermented tiger nut milk 17 2.7 Microbial transglutaminase and properties of fermented tiger nut milk 18 3. Methodology 21 3.1 Extraction and characterisation of tiger nut milk 21 3.1.1 Sample collection and preparation 21 3.1.2 Tiger nut milk extraction 21 3.1.3 Nutrient analysis of tiger nuts 22 3.1.4 Analysis of tiger nut products 23 3.1.5 Particle size distribution 24 3.1.6 Colloidal stability 25 3.1.7 Colour measurement 25 3.2 Stabilisation of tiger nut milk dispersion 26 3.2.1 Tiger nut milk preparation 26 3.2.2 Preparation of tiger nut milk enrichments 26 3.2.3 Gravitational stability of enriched tiger nut milk 27 3.2.4 Accelerated gravitational stability of enriched tiger nut milk 28 3.2.5 Viscosity of TNM mixtures 29 3.3 Extraction and characterisation of globular tiger nut proteins 29 3.3.1 Protein extraction and fractionation 29 3.3.2 Molecular mass of globular tiger nut proteins 31 3.3.3 Denaturation temperature of globular tiger nut proteins 32 3.3.4 Isoelectric point of globular tiger nut protein 33 3.4 Properties of fermented tiger nut milk enriched with proteins 34 3.4.1 Materials and Reagents 34 3.4.2 Preparation of plain and enriched tiger nut milk 34 3.4.3 Fermentation of plain and enriched tiger nut milk 35 3.4.4 Viable counts of starter cultures in fermented tiger nut milk systems 36 3.4.5 Chemical analysis of unfermented and fermented tiger nut milk 36 3.4.6 Physical analysis of fermented tiger nut milk products 37 3.4.7 Sensory analysis of fermented tiger nut milk products 38 3.5 Microbial transglutaminase and fermented tiger nut milk property 38 3.5.1 Preparation of plain and enriched tiger nut milk 38 3.5.2 Fermentation of plain and enriched tiger nut milk 39 3.5.3 Analysis of the enzymatically cross-linked proteins 39 3.5.4 Viable counts 40 3.5.5 pH and titratable acidity 40 3.5.6 Syneresis and viscosity 41 3.5.7 Colour of fermented tiger nut products 41 3.6 Statistical analysis 41 4. Results and discussion 43 4.1 Extraction and characteristics of tiger nut milk 43 4.1.1 Material recovery, mass transfer and yield of tiger nut solids 43 4.1.2 Nutrient composition of tiger nut products 45 4.1.3 Physical properties of tiger nut milk 48 4.1.3.1 Particle size distribution of extracted tiger nut milk 48 4.1.3.2 Colloidal stability of tiger nut milk 49 4.1.3.3 Colour stability of tiger nut milk 51 4.2 Stabilisation of tiger nut milk 53 4.2.1 Effects of enrichments on the stability of tiger nut milk 53 4.2.2 Effects of pH and temperature on the stability of enriched TNM 56 4.2.3 Effects of enrichments on the rheology of tiger nut milk 58 4.3 Tiger nut protein extraction and characterisation 60 4.3.1 Protein extraction and fractionation 60 4.3.2 Molecular mass of tiger nut protein 62 4.3.3 Thermal denaturation of tiger nut protein 63 4.3.4 Isoelectric point of tiger nut proteins 66 4.4 Properties of fermented tiger nut milk enriched with proteins 67 4.4.1 Acidification and gel formation during fermentation 67 4.4.2 Microbiological properties of fermented enriched tiger nut milk 70 4.4.3 Physico-chemical properties of fermented enriched tiger nut milk 71 4.4.4 Sensory properties of fermented tiger nut milk products 76 4.5 Microbial transglutaminase and fermented tiger nut milk property 77 4.5.1 Effects on tiger nut milk fermentation 77 4.5.2 Microbiological properties during storage of fermented product 81 4.5.3 Physico-chemical properties during storage of fermented product 83 4.5.4 Effects on colour of fermented tiger nut product 86 5. Conclusions and outlook 88 Bibliography 90 List of figures 111 List of tables 115 List of Publications 116 Poster and presentations 116<br>Erdmandeln (Cyperus esculentus L) haben ein hohes Potential als alternative Quelle Lebensmittelinhaltsstoffen. Allerdings gibt es nur in begrenztem Ausmaß Literatur über technologische Möglichkeiten zur Entwicklung von Mehrwert-Lebensmitteln wie fermentierter Erdmandelmilch. Daher wurden Strategien zur Herstellung und Verbesserung der Eigenschaften von fermentierter Erdmandelmilch zur Erzeugung laktosefreier joghurtähnlicher Produkte mit akzeptablen sensorischen Eigenschaften untersucht. Für die Extraktion der Erdmandelmilch wurde ein Nassmahlverfahren standardisiert und der Einfluss des Verfahrens auf die Nährstoffverteilung, die Farbeigenschaften und die kolloidale Stabilität der Milch analysiert. Als nächstes wurde Erdmandelmilch mit Proteinen und/oder Hydrokolloiden angereichert, und der Einfluss der Additive auf die physikalischen Eigenschaften des Extrakts bestimmt. Angereicherte Erdmandelmilch wurde mit klassischen Joghurtkulturen fermentiert, und die mikrobiologischen, physikalisch-chemischen und sensorischen Eigenschaften der Produkte wurden untersucht. Zusätzlich wurden Effekte der Anreicherung von Erdmandelmilch mit enzymatisch vernetzten Proteinen auf die mikrobiologischen und physikalisch-chemischen Eigenschaften bewertet. Eine höhere Nassmahlintensität verbesserte die Nährstoffzusammensetzung, die kolloidale Stabilität und die Farbe der Milch. Die Anreicherung erhöhte die Viskosität und Stabilität und führte nach der Fermentation zu homogenen gelartigen Produkten mit verbesserten mikrobiologischen, physikalisch-chemischen und sensorischen Eigenschaften im Vergleich zur fermentierten Erdmandelmilch. Mikrobielle Transglutaminase-vernetzte Proteine verbesserten die physikalischen Eigenschaften des fermentierten Produkts, insbesondere während der Lagerung. Dieses Produkt wäre in vielen Entwicklungsländern mit hoher Prävalenz von Laktoseintoleranz und begrenztem Zugang zu nahrhaften Lebensmitteln als Alternative von Interesse.:1. Introduction and aim 1 2. Literature review 4 2.1 Tiger nut, origin, nutritional value and food use 4 2.2 Tiger nut milk, preparation and nutrient composition 7 2.3 Colloidal characteristics of tiger nut milk 9 2.4 Factors accounting for the dispersion stability of tiger nut milk 10 2.5 Enhancing tiger nut milk stability 12 2.6 Properties of fermented tiger nut milk 17 2.7 Microbial transglutaminase and properties of fermented tiger nut milk 18 3. Methodology 21 3.1 Extraction and characterisation of tiger nut milk 21 3.1.1 Sample collection and preparation 21 3.1.2 Tiger nut milk extraction 21 3.1.3 Nutrient analysis of tiger nuts 22 3.1.4 Analysis of tiger nut products 23 3.1.5 Particle size distribution 24 3.1.6 Colloidal stability 25 3.1.7 Colour measurement 25 3.2 Stabilisation of tiger nut milk dispersion 26 3.2.1 Tiger nut milk preparation 26 3.2.2 Preparation of tiger nut milk enrichments 26 3.2.3 Gravitational stability of enriched tiger nut milk 27 3.2.4 Accelerated gravitational stability of enriched tiger nut milk 28 3.2.5 Viscosity of TNM mixtures 29 3.3 Extraction and characterisation of globular tiger nut proteins 29 3.3.1 Protein extraction and fractionation 29 3.3.2 Molecular mass of globular tiger nut proteins 31 3.3.3 Denaturation temperature of globular tiger nut proteins 32 3.3.4 Isoelectric point of globular tiger nut protein 33 3.4 Properties of fermented tiger nut milk enriched with proteins 34 3.4.1 Materials and Reagents 34 3.4.2 Preparation of plain and enriched tiger nut milk 34 3.4.3 Fermentation of plain and enriched tiger nut milk 35 3.4.4 Viable counts of starter cultures in fermented tiger nut milk systems 36 3.4.5 Chemical analysis of unfermented and fermented tiger nut milk 36 3.4.6 Physical analysis of fermented tiger nut milk products 37 3.4.7 Sensory analysis of fermented tiger nut milk products 38 3.5 Microbial transglutaminase and fermented tiger nut milk property 38 3.5.1 Preparation of plain and enriched tiger nut milk 38 3.5.2 Fermentation of plain and enriched tiger nut milk 39 3.5.3 Analysis of the enzymatically cross-linked proteins 39 3.5.4 Viable counts 40 3.5.5 pH and titratable acidity 40 3.5.6 Syneresis and viscosity 41 3.5.7 Colour of fermented tiger nut products 41 3.6 Statistical analysis 41 4. Results and discussion 43 4.1 Extraction and characteristics of tiger nut milk 43 4.1.1 Material recovery, mass transfer and yield of tiger nut solids 43 4.1.2 Nutrient composition of tiger nut products 45 4.1.3 Physical properties of tiger nut milk 48 4.1.3.1 Particle size distribution of extracted tiger nut milk 48 4.1.3.2 Colloidal stability of tiger nut milk 49 4.1.3.3 Colour stability of tiger nut milk 51 4.2 Stabilisation of tiger nut milk 53 4.2.1 Effects of enrichments on the stability of tiger nut milk 53 4.2.2 Effects of pH and temperature on the stability of enriched TNM 56 4.2.3 Effects of enrichments on the rheology of tiger nut milk 58 4.3 Tiger nut protein extraction and characterisation 60 4.3.1 Protein extraction and fractionation 60 4.3.2 Molecular mass of tiger nut protein 62 4.3.3 Thermal denaturation of tiger nut protein 63 4.3.4 Isoelectric point of tiger nut proteins 66 4.4 Properties of fermented tiger nut milk enriched with proteins 67 4.4.1 Acidification and gel formation during fermentation 67 4.4.2 Microbiological properties of fermented enriched tiger nut milk 70 4.4.3 Physico-chemical properties of fermented enriched tiger nut milk 71 4.4.4 Sensory properties of fermented tiger nut milk products 76 4.5 Microbial transglutaminase and fermented tiger nut milk property 77 4.5.1 Effects on tiger nut milk fermentation 77 4.5.2 Microbiological properties during storage of fermented product 81 4.5.3 Physico-chemical properties during storage of fermented product 83 4.5.4 Effects on colour of fermented tiger nut product 86 5. Conclusions and outlook 88 Bibliography 90 List of figures 111 List of tables 115 List of Publications 116 Poster and presentations 116

Composed entirely of runes, the 14th century manuscript Codex Runicus is comprised of 101 sheets and contains historical documents such as "Kings until Erik Menved" and "Boundaries between Denmark and Sweden." The end of the codex contains the oldest surviving Nordic music fragment with lyrical text "Drømde mik en drøm i nat um silki ok ærlik pæl" which translates as [I] dreamt me a dream last night of silk and lovely cloth. This melody, alongside three Norwegian folk slåttar written for fiddle, Fjellbekken (The Mountain Stream), Fjøllrosa (The Mountain Rose), and Syrgjefuen (The Bird of Sorrow), is used to generate the pitch material for this composition for string orchestra, english horn and french horn. The piece is contrapuntal in nature. A large portion of the work is formed from essentially five groups or layers of melody that comfortably co-exist towards, as well as away from, each other, their independent natures being most evident in the first half of the piece. Additionally, there are fluctuations within each group itself, for examples, forms of imitation, slippage, change in register, variation in playing technique, and micro-displays of rhythmic independence set against more heterophonic textures (Considerable use of rhythmic embellishment is derived from the ornamental style found in harding fiddle slåttar). Such micro-fluctuations further distinguish the texture-intentional orchestration of each group. Although the use of layered melody forms the framework for the entire composition, there is continual exploration of its possibilities through various parameters such as density vs. transparency, and continuation vs. fragmentation.

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Engenharia Mecânica apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade de Coimbra.<br>O objectivo deste trabalho consiste no estudo e análise do processo de micronização de partículas num jet mill. Este tipo de moinho permite a micronização de partículas micrométricas sem qualquer contaminação pelos materiais de moagem. O projecto deste tipo de equipamento foi efectuado com o recurso à modelação simples de movimento de partículas, no interior de um escoamento, aplicado à separação ciclónica. Os resultados numéricos provaram que estávamos em condições de poder optimizar o projecto e construir um equipamento demonstrativo. A sua construção implicou também a selecção de materiais e o estudo comparativo com outros equipamentos congéneres. A validação experimental foi efectuada utilizando materiais como o nitrato de amónio e o carbonato de cálcio, sendo analisada a granulometria do material antes e após o processo de micronização, através de imagens obtidas num microscópio. Na realização dos ensaios, variou-se o número de jactos do jet mill e o tempo de funcionamento do processo, por forma a estabelecer perfis de funcionamento mais favoráveis à micronização das partículas. A componente energética do processo foi também considerada na análise efectuada. Os resultados comprovaram a validade do projecto efectuado e da sua construção. Demonstraram também que este tipo de equipamento se adequa mais à desaglomeração de partículas do que à sua micronização, quando se trata de partículas de escala micrométrica.<br>The aim of this work is the study and analyze of the process of micronization of particles in a jet mill. This type of milling allows the micronization of particles without any contamination by grinding materials. The design of this type of equipment has been carried out with the use of simple modeling of motion of particles within a flow, applied to the cyclonic separation. Numerical results proved that we were in a position to optimize the design and build a demonstrator equipment. Its construction also involved the selection of materials and the comparative study with other existing equipment. The experimental validation was carried out using materials such as ammonium nitrate and calcium carbonate, and the particle size of the material before and after the micronization process was analyzed through images obtained in a microscope. In the tests ranged, the number of jets and jet mill operating time of the process were optimized in order to establish the most favorable operation profiles for micronization of the particles. The energy component of the process was also considered in the analysis. The results confirmed the validity of the design and its construction. Also it was demonstrated that this type of equipment is more adequate to the deagglomeration of the particles than to their micronization, if the original particles are yet in a micrometer scale.

<div> <p>Truck-drone delivery systems have the potential to improve how the logistics industry approaches the “last mile problem”. For the purposes of this study, the “last mile” refers to the portion of the journey between the last transportation hub and the individual customer that will consume the product. Drones can deliver packages directly, without the need for an underlying transportation network but are limited by their range and payload capacity. Studies have developed multiple truck-drone configurations, each with different approaches to leverage the benefits and mitigate the limitations of drones. Existing research has also established the drone’s reduction to package delivery time over the traditional truck only model. Two key model factors that have not been considered in previous research are the distribution of package demand, and the distribution of package weight. This study analyzes the drone’s impact to the energy efficiency of a package delivery system, which has taken a backseat to minimizing delivery time. Demand distribution dictates the travel distances required for package delivery, as well as the proportion of delivery locations that are in range for drone delivery. Package weight determines the energy consumption of a delivery and further restricts the proportion of drone eligible packages. The major contributions of this study are the development of a truck-drone tandem mathematical model which minimizes energy consumption, the construction of a population-based package demand distribution, a realistic package weight distribution, and a genetic algorithm used to solve the mathematical model developed for problems that are too computationally expensive to be solved optimally using an exact method. Results show that drones can only have a significant impact to energy efficiency in package delivery systems if implemented under the right conditions. Using truck-drone tandem systems in areas with lower package demand density affords the drone the potential for larger energy savings as larger portions of the truck distance can be replaced. Further, the lower density translates to greater differences between the road-restricted driving distance and the flying distance between delivery points. Finally, energy savings are highly dependent on the underlying package weight distribution of the system. A heavier average package weight increases the energy consumption of the system, but more importantly the portion of packages above the drone’s payload capacity severely limit the savings afforded by the incorporation of drones. </p> </div> <br>

碩士<br>國立臺東大學<br>生命科學系碩士班<br>104<br>Alzheimer’s disease, AD is one of the most common degenerative brain disease. Research had be certain amyloid β-peptide, Aβ deposit in brain will cause oxidative stress and inflammation which result in learning ability and memory disorders. The aglycone isoflavones produced by fermented one has higher physiological activity than unfermented one. Due to these advantages in these benefits, our goal is to test whether Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 fermanted soy-milk will have effects on preventing human from AD or not by conducting experiments on NTU 101-fermentated soy milk and its’ extractions. To do these experiment, we continuously injected Aβ40 through out 28 days to built AD pattern with rats and observe the effect of NTU 101 fermanted soy-milk and soy milk on AD prevention. The Morris water maze test result shows that NTU 101-fermented soy milk (L- has better learning ability. Genistein is the best, followed daidzein and equol comes second and third. Genistein can significantly lower the reading of TBARS in cortex. The test result shows NTU 101 fermented soy-milk has significant improvement. The results of immunohistochemistry staining can realize, the Aβ40 protein deposition Aβ group slices on a significant excess than Vh group. In the result of astrocyte and microglia, it shows that NTU 101 fermented soy-milk decrease TLR-2 and RAGE protein. Form the result above, Aβ40 infusion in brain for 28 days continuouse could cause astrocyte and microglia activator incremental, performance attracted a large number of pro-inflammatory factors and the related factors of AD, which lead to memory learning ability disordered. The ethanol extract of fermented soy milk can reduce astrocyte and microglia-activating factor, pro-inflammatory factors and the related factors of AD to improve memory learning ability. Reason comes from the extract containing a large amount of effective ingredients, the aglycone isoflavones genistein and equol. And the best improving effect comes from the impact of genistein.

The aim of this thesis is to enquire into genetic approaches for improving milk yield from dairy cattle in order to overcome the milk shortage in Bangladesh. Survey work on the dairy industry was carried out to reveal its current status. The collected data of different genotypes (Pabna cattle, Australian-Friesian-Sahiwal Pabna, Holstein Pabna, Jersey Pabna, and Sahiwal Pabna) from 1999 to 2001, and in two seasons, were used to predict model parameters, fit-statistics and total lactation yields, by fitting ten lactation curve models. Best fitting model(s) were chosen on the basis of fit-statistics. The input parameters from best fiting model(s) were used for: developing a deterministic model; estimating the profitability of individual cows; estimating whole farm profitability; and for developing a profit function to estimate the economic values of traits in breeding objectives. The individual cow performances for different traits were stochastically simulated in respect of additive genetic, permanent and temporary error, herd and age effects, and mendelian sampling under progeny and parent-average testing breeding schemes based on three selection objectives applied over on 20 year period. Genetic gains in different traits were calculated from the regression of trait values on the selection index. The estimated lactation curves model parameters, and predicted lactation milk yield were significantly different between breeds, years and seasons. From four fit-statistics values, the CCC value was considered superior, and this value indicated that the Nelder model best represented the test day records. The net annual income for Holstein Pabna cattle was the highest (US$229) and was lowest (US$115) for Pabna cattle, while all other genotypes were intermediate. The economic values (EVs) of milk yield for all genotypes were similar (US$0.32), and due to payment for milk volume only, the EVs of fat and protein were negative. EVs of liveweight, calving intervals and calving rate were negative, but survivability was positive in all genotypes. The parent-average testing selection scheme showed higher genetic gains than progeny testing. The highest (US$15.80) genetic gain was obtained for milk yield when selection was for milk merit only. The study will assist in undertaking a genetic improvement programme for the increase of milk production in Bangladesh and thereby enhance food security. (Key words: Dairy cattle, genetic improvements, models, stochastic).

<p>The optimization of the electrical system voltage range of a mild hybrid electric vehicle is examined in this research study. The objective is to evaluate and propose the optimized vehicle voltage level for the mild hybrid electric vehicle from both technical and economic aspects. The approach is to evaluate the fuel economy improvement from the mild hybrid electric vehicle of various voltage level for the cost benefit study. The evaluation is conducted from the vehicle system level with discussions of components selection for system optimization. Autonomie, a simulation tool widely used by academic and automotive industry, is used for the vehicle simulation and fuel economy evaluation. The cost analysis is based on the system cost factoring in the component cost based forecasted production volume. </p> <p>The driver for this study is to propose an optimized voltage for the mild hybrid electric vehicle for the vehicle manufacturers and suppliers to standardize the implementation to meet the fuel economy and emission requirements and vehicle power demand. The standardization of the vehicle voltage level can improve design and development efficiency, reusability and reduce cost in developing non-standard voltage levels of the mild hybrid vehicle. The synergy in standardized voltage level for the mild hybrid vehicle can accelerate technology implementation toward mass production to meet regulatory emission and fuel economy requirements. </p>

<div><div><div><p>Head injuries in collision sports have been linked to long-term neurological disorders. High school collision sport athletes, a population vulnerable to head injuries, are at a greater risk of chronic damage. Various studies have indicated significant deviations in brain function due to the accumulation of repetitive low-level subconcussive impacts to the head without externally observable cognitive symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic changes in asymptomatic collision sport athletes across time within their competition season and as a function of mechanical force to their head. For this purpose, Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS) was used as a tool to detect altered brain metabolism in high school collision sport athletes (football and soccer) without diagnosed concussion. Also, sensors were attached to each athletes head to collect the count and magnitude of head impacts during their games and practices. Transient neurometabolic alterations along with prolonged recovery were observed in collision sport athletes.</p><div><div><div><p><br></p><p>Multi-site studies are becoming important to increase statistical power, enhance generalizability, and to improve the likelihood of pooling relevant subgroups together activities which are otherwise limited by the availability of patients or funds at a single site. Even with harmonized imaging sequences, site-dependent variability can mask the advantages of these multi-site studies. The aim of this study was to assess multi-site reproducibility in resting-state functional connectivity fingerprints, and to improve identifiability of obtained functional connectomes. We evaluated individual fingerprints in test- retest visit pairs within and across two sites and present a generalized framework based on principal component analysis (PCA) to improve identifiability. The optimally reconstructed functional connectomes using PCA showed a substantial improvement in individual fingerprinting of the subjects within and across the two sites and test-retest visit pairs relative to the original data. Results demonstrate that the data-driven method presented in the study can improve identifiability in resting-state functional connectomes in multi-site studies.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia de Sistemas<br>A presente dissertação realizou-se no âmbito do Mestrado em Engenharia de Sistemas da Universidade do Minho, inserida em contexto industrial na Pinto Brasil S.A., empresa dedicada à metalomecânica. Este projeto surgiu da necessidade de estudar o desempenho de um armazém automático de elevada densidade denominado Shopstocker. Os sistemas de armazenamento desempenham um papel fundamental na performance de toda a cadeia de abastecimento. A necessidade de adoção de políticas consentâneas com a Indústria 4.0, tais como Just-inTime/Just-in-Sequence, levou a que diversos tipos de armazéns fossem desenvolvidos. Um dos mais estudados e implementados é o Automated Storage and Retrieval System de elevada densidade. A Pinto Brasil S.A desenvolveu e implementou numa empresa fornecedora de para-choques, um sistema automatizado de elevada densidade para armazenamento de produto acabado. O Shopstocker implementado tem capacidade para armazenar um elevado número de para-choques e entrega os produtos de acordo com uma ordem pré-definida no tempo adequado. Devido à elevada variedade de referências de para-choques que atualmente são produzidos, o armazenamento do Shopstocker gera situações caóticas prejudicando a taxa de extração de produtos. No processo de extração a seleção de referências para uma ordem de carregamento é atualmente um procedimento muito complexo. Com o estudo da situação real do armazém implementado, modelou-se matematicamente um problema de otimização combinatória e implementou-se o modelo em linguagem de programação Python. Esta metodologia permitiu desenvolver três modelos de otimização, MPA, MF e MTFM, e dois algoritmos adicionais que permitem avaliar o desempenho do Shopstocker. Com os modelos e algoritmos desenvolvidos realizaram-se experiências computacionais de modo a avaliar o impacto que a configuração do armazém e as sequências de extração (encomendas) têm na eficiência do Shopstocker, nomeadamente nas medidas de desempenho, tempo total de extração, percentagem da regra First-In-First-Out cumprida e número de produtos movimentados. Os resultados demonstraram que o Shopstocker implementado apresenta uma perda de eficiência devido à elevada variedade de referências disponibilizadas. Assim, é recomendado que a empresa reduza o número de modelos disponibilizados, ou aumente o número de linhas de armazenamento, o que permitiria melhorar de forma significativa os valores das medidas de desempenho estudadas e, consequentemente, a eficiência do Shopstocker. O modelo desenvolvido neste projeto pode ainda ser implementado num Sistema de Apoio à Decisão e fornecerá uma solução otimizada para cada encomenda que chegue ao Shopstocker.<br>This dissertation was carried out as part of the master’s degree in Systems Engineering at the University of Minho, and in industrial environment at Pinto Brasil S.A., a company dedicated to metalworking. This project emerged from the need to study the performance of a high-density automated warehouse called Shopstocker. The storage systems play a decisive role in the supply chain performance. The implementation of the Industry 4.0 policies, such as Just-in-Time/Just-in-Sequence, led to the development of several types of warehouses. One of the most studied and implemented is the high-density Automated Storage and Retrieval System. Pinto Brasil S.A. developed and implemented an automated warehouse of finished product in a bumper supplier company. The implemented Shopstocker can store many bumpers and delivers the products by a specific sequence at the right time. Due to the wide variety of bumper references currently provided, the Shopstocker storage process often results in a chaotic situation harming the product extraction rate. In the extraction process, selecting references for a loading order is a very complex procedure. The actual situation of the implemented warehouse was studied, and a combinatorial optimization problem was modelled and implemented with the Python programming language. This methodology allowed the development of three optimization models, MPA, MF and MTFM, and two additional algorithms that enable to evaluate the Shopstocker’s performance. Computational experiments were performed with the developed models to evaluate the impact that warehouse configuration and extraction sequences (orders) have in the Shopstocker’s efficiency, namely in the key performance indicators, total extraction time, percentage of the First-In-First-Out rule fulfilled and the number of moved bumpers. The results showed that the implemented Shopstocker has a loss of efficiency due to the wide variety of references currently provided. According to this study, it is recommended that the company reduce the number of references provided, or increase the number of storage lines, which will allow to improve the key performance indicators values and, consequently, the Shopstocker’s efficiency. The developed model can also be implemented in a Decision Support System and will provide an optimized solution to each order that arrive at Shopstocker.

Cows’ milk generally contains two types of β-casein, A1 and A2 types. A2 beta-casein is recognized as the original beta-casein variant because it was present before a proline to histidine point mutation occurrence in the polypeptide chain at 67th position. A1 and A2 are processed differently by digestive enzymes, and once milk or milk products are consumed, a seven-amino acid bioactive opioid peptide, beta-casomorphin-7, is released as a result of incomplete digestion of A1-beta-casein. This is a single-dose, randomized and double-blinded study. Participants received four different treatments (Regular milk, A2 milk, Jersey cow milk, and lactose free milk) in a randomized order. The lactose free milk acted as a negative control. This study aimed to evaluate tolerance to milks containing different levels of A2 β-casein (Jersey and A2 milks) as compared to commercial A1 (regularmilk containing both A1 and A2 β-casein) and lactose-free milk controls in lactose digesters and maldigesters. Seven subjects completed this double-blinded, randomized, crossover trial. Lactose malabsorption (LM) was determined by breath hydrogen test and milk intolerance were assessed by validated questionnaires. Treatments were fed as a single dose with a 6-day washout period to minimize any residual effects. Each subject was fed milk containing 0.5 g lactose per kg body weight. The pilot data from the seven subjects does strongly suggest greater hydrogen production from commercial A1 milk as compared to lactose-free, A2 and Jersey milks. Regular milk containing high A1 β-casein produced significantly higher hydrogen compared to lactose-free milk from 2 hours until 5hours. This suggests biologically relevant differences in lactose digestion among these milks. In addition, Jersey milk produced significantly higher hydrogen compared to lactose-free milk similar to regular milk between 2 and 6 hours while A2 milk was acting similar to lactose-free milk and did not result in increased hydrogen throughout the same time intervals. Taken together, these results suggest that the amount of A2 β-casein in Jersey milk was not adequate to attenuate the increased hydrogen concentration while pure A2 milk was effective. In this pilot clinical trial, abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, fecal urgency and total GI symptoms were reported as measures of digestive discomfort. Although the mean values of total GI symptom scores were numerically lower on the lactose free, pure A2 and Jersey group compared to regular milk group, none were statistically different. With seven subjects reported in this pilot data, and a calculated sample size requirement of 26, we can interpret trends that ultimately could result in significant differences as additional subjects complete this protocol.

A castanha (Castanea sativa Mill.) é um fruto seco de grande importância em Portugal, sendo geralmente consumida após processamento térmico, tal como cozimento ou assadura. Alguns estudos foram já realizados sobre desidratação de castanha com ar quente. Contudo, poucos têm abordado a questão de se utilizarem temperaturas elevadas em torno dos 200 °C, tais como as aplicadas no processo de assadura. Desse modo, no presente trabalho pretendeu-se estudar o processo de assadura de castanhas num forno não industrial e o seu efeito em algumas propriedades físico-químicas do fruto. Para tal, testaram-se previamente três métodos de extração da polifenoloxidase (PPO) em castanhas frescas e verificou-se que os melhores resultados foram obtidos para a extração com tampão fosfato de sódio 100 mM a pH 7,5 e polivinilpirrolidona (PVPP). Em relação ao efeito do pH (6,0 a 7,5) e da concentração de substrato (catecol) (20 a 100 mM), verificou-se que na maioria das situações a velocidade inicial não variou significativamente. Em relação ao efeito da assadura a 200 °C, verificou-se que no final do processamento (30 minutos) as amostras ainda apresentavam um teor significativo de água. Em relação à cinética de secagem, só foram detetados os períodos de estabilização e de velocidade de secagem constante. Em termos de cor, os valores de luminosidade (L*) diminuíram tanto nos frutos inteiros como cortados, ao contrário do tom avermelhado (a*), o qual aumentou, originando uma variação de cor (ΔE*) significativa face ao início. A atividade da água (aw) manteve-se praticamente constante ao longo do tempo de assadura, diminuindo para 0,90 só após os 30 minutos. A densidade e os teores de proteína e de açúcares redutores oscilaram ao longo do processamento, variando entre 1,22 e 1,41 g/ml, 4,07 e 5,31%, e 0,70 e 1,30 mg glucose/g de peso seco, respetivamente. Relativamente à ocorrência de reações de Maillard, ao longo do processo de assadura não se observou uma formação significativa de produtos intermediários e finais dessas reações. Contudo, no futuro aconselha-se a realizar uma amostragem mais superficial ao fruto e não ao fruto inteiro para se dosearem esses compostos, uma vez que estas reações poderão ocorrer em maior extensão à superfície. Já em relação à atividade da PPO, esta manteve-se ativa até aos 30 minutos, podendo justificar em parte o escurecimento observado.<br>Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is a dry fruit of great importance in Portugal, being generally consumed after thermal processing, as baking or roasting. Some studies had already been performed on chestnut dehydration with hot air. However, few have used temperatures around 200 ºC, such as those applied in roasting. So, in the present work it was intended to study the process of chestnut roasting in a domestic oven and its effects in some physic-chemical properties of the fruit. For such, Previously three extraction methods for poliphenoloxidase (PPO) in fresh chestnuts had been tested and it was verified that the best results were obtained with an extraction of sodium phosphate buffer 100 mM at pH 7,5 and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP). In relation to the effect of pH (6,0 to 7,5) and substrate concentration (catechol) (20 to 100 mM), in the majority of the situations the initial rate for PPO did not vary significantly. In relation to the effect of roasting at 200 ºC, it was verified that in the end of the processing (30 minutes) the samples still presented a significant water content. In relation to the drying kinetics, the only drying periods observed were the stabilization and constant rate drying periods. In color terms, the values of luminosity (L*) decreased in the entire and cut fruits, in contrast to the a* parameter that had increased, originating a significant color variation (ΔE*) in relation to the beginning. The water activity (aw) remained practically constant throughout the roasting time, decreasing to 0,90 only after 30 minutes. The density and protein and reducing sugars contents had oscillated throughout the processing, varying between 1,22 and 1,41 mg/ml, 4,07 and 5.31%, and 0,70 and 1,30 mg glucose/g of dry weight, respectively. Regarding the occurrence of Maillard reactions, a significant formation of intermediate and final products of these reactions was not observed throughout the roasting process; however, in the future it is advisable to carry through a superficial sampling to the fruit instead the entire fruit because these compounds may be produced in higher extension at the surface. In relation to PPO activity, this enzyme remained active until 30 minutes, justifying in part the color change observed in the fruits.<br>Apoio financeiro do projeto “RED/AGROTEC – Red transfronteriza España Portugal de experimentación y transferencia para el desarrollo del sector agropecuario y agroindustrial”, projeto financiado pelo POCTEP

碩士<br>國立臺灣大學<br>昆蟲學研究所<br>92<br>I conducted studies to develop sampling plans for the decision-making of control action of silverleaf whitefly (Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring ) on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) cultivated under net-house in the Asia Pacific Farm, Guansi Township, Hsinchu County. Using sequential sampling plans can help agriculturist to judge the damage of target pest and to decide whether control is needed. Before developing sequential sampling plans, I need to examine the distribution model of target pest in the grove. Random leaf samplings were taken weekly for four crop seasons, namely, from April to June, 2002, October, 2002 to January, 2003, March to June, 2003,and November, 2003 to February, 2004. In terms of vertical distribution, adults and nymphs were abundant on leaves at the middle and the bottom stratum of tomato (80%) than on leaves at the top stratum. Using X2-test to examine the fitness of the negative binomial distribution to the frequency data collected from the field, I concluded that negative binomial distribution fitted well to most of data sets. Thirty-three out of 47 data sets of adults and 26 out of 47 data sets of nymphs were in compliance with negative binomial distribution. Because both adults and nymphs infested tomato, data of adults and nymphs were pooled together to develop the sequential sampling plan. Aggregation patterns measured by Taylor’s Power Law revealed that adults were aggregative (b = 1.288) as well as nymphs (b = 1.481). The same conclusion was reached by using Iwao’s mean crowding-mean regression as the parameters of adults (?= 1.130, β = 1.223) and of nymphs(?= 7.457, β = 1.303) indicated. Using the parameters from Taylor’s Power Law (a, b) and from Iwao’s mean crowding-mean regression(? β) and set the precision level (D) at 0.1 and 0.2), optimal sample size was estimated for specified population density. Using Common K (Kc) derived from the pooled data sets fitting the negative binomial distribution and assume that class limits m1 = 32 (no./per leaf ) , m2 = 64 (no./per leaf) and Type I error?= 0.1, Type II errorβ = 0.1. I developed the sequential sampling plan as USV = 44.423 n + 91.4 and LSV = 44.423n - 91.4. Using Iwao’s mean crowding-mean regression for the pooled data and assumed the class limits m0 = 64 (no./per leaf), I developed the sequential sampling plan as USV： ,and LSV： (q：number of leaves examined). Based upon the ratio of infested leaves, a binomial sequential sampling plan was developed such that LSV： , USV： ( n：number of leaves examined and a leaf with ≧ 1 silverleaf whitefly body is defined as the infested leaf). However, the sequential sampling plans as developed above help judge the damage level of target pest remain further evaluation in practice.

<p>Research in pre-college engineering education has been on a sharp rise in the last two decades. However, less research has been conducted to explore and characterize the engineering thinking and engagement of young children, with limited attention to children with special needs. Conversations on broadening participation and diversity in engineering usually center around gender, socio-economic status, race and ethnicity, and to a lesser extent on neurodiversity. Autism is the fastest growing neurodiverse population who have the potential to succeed in engineering. In order to promote the inclusion of children with autism in engineering education, we need to gain a deep understanding of their engineering experiences. </p> <p> </p> <p>The overarching research question that I intend to answer is <i>how do children with mild autism engage in engineering design tasks</i>? Grounding this study in theories of Constructivism and Defectology, I focused on children’s engagement in engineering design practices and the ways their parents supported their engagements. To engage children with mild autism in engineering, I have developed an engineering design activity by considering suggestions from these theories and previous literature on elementary-aged children’s engagement in engineering design, and by focusing on individuals with mild autism strengths in STEM. This activity provides opportunities for children to interact with their parents while solving engineering design problems. The families are asked to use a construction kit and design their solutions to the problem introduced in the engineering design activity. The engineering design activity consists of a series of five challenges, ranging from well- to ill-structed.</p> <p> </p> <p>This is an exploratory qualitative case study, using a multiple case approach. These cases include 9-year-old children with autism and their families. Video recordings of the families are the main source of data for this study. Triangulation of data happens through interviewing parents and children, pictures of children’s artifacts (i.e. their prototypes), and use of the Empathizing-Systemizing survey to capture background information and autism characteristics. Depending on the data source, I utilized different methods including video analysis, thematic analysis and artifact analysis. </p> <p>This study expands our understanding of what engineering design can look like when enacted by children with mild autism, particularly as engineering design is considered to be a very iterative process with multiple phases and actions associated with it. The findings of this study show that these children can engage in all engineering design phases in a very iterative process. Similarities and differences between these children’s design behaviors and the existing literature were discussed. Additionally, some of the behaviors these children engaged in resemble the practices of experienced designers and engineers. The findings of this study suggest that while children were not socially interacting with their family members when addressing the challenges, their parents played an important role in their design engagement. Parents used different strategies during the activity that supported and facilitated children’s engineering design problem-solving. These strategies include soliciting information, providing guidance, assisting both verbally and hands-on, disengagement and being a student of the child. </p> <p> </p> This study provides aspirations for future research with the aim to promote the inclusion of children with neurodiversity. It calls for conducting similar research in different settings to capture the engineering design engagement of children with mild autism when interacting with teachers, peers, siblings in different environments. Additionally, the findings of this study have implications for educators and curators of engineering learning resources.

Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating, progressive neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly, characterized by severe loss of memory and higher cognitive functions. In the hundred years since its discovery, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has traversed from the status of a ‘rare neurological oddity’ to one of the greatest challenges faced by healthcare and medicine in this millennium. A reported 44 million people currently suffer from AD but only 1 in 4 people have been diagnosed. Although AD has been an area of intense research for almost 50 years now, most studies have focused on the end stage disease. Years of study on the pathological cause underlying AD; have conclusively shown that the accumulation of the sticky peptide, Aβ, is one of the major triggers of AD pathogenesis. However, after the initial Aβ trigger, multiple processes contribute to disease progression, so that by the time a patient is diagnosed on the basis of overt behavioral phenotypes, it is difficult to understand and differentiate between the causative mechanisms and the consequential effects of the disease. It is, perhaps, because of this, that we are still struggling to find therapies for AD which will stop or at the very least slow the course of the disease. In the 2015 report on AD, issued by the Alzheimer’s association, much emphasis has been placed on the early diagnosis of AD and the revision of the diagnostic criteria for AD. According to the new guidelines proposed in 2011, AD has been divided into three stages where the first stage occurs before the appearance of overt behavioral symptoms such as memory loss, whereas by the 1984 guidelines, cognitive disabilities must have already occurred for diagnoses of AD. This proposed preclinical stage of AD has been defined, reflecting the current belief that AD pathogenesis begins almost 20 years before the occurrence of behavioral dysfunction. However, no diagnostic criteria are currently available to establish this stage. Hence, there is a need to understand the early pathogenic mechanisms of AD, which will yield early therapeutic targets as well as early diagnostic markers of AD. One of the earliest documented events in AD pathogenesis is synaptic dysfunction, which is later manifested as loss of dendritic spines. Deficits in long term potentiation (LTP) has been demonstrated in Aβ exposed hippocampal slices as well as in mouse models of AD, much before the appearance of pathological hallmarks such as plaques and tangles as well as overt behavioral phenotypes. While these and other studies indicate clearly that elevated levels of soluble Aβ peptide leads to impairment of synaptic function, the underlying molecular mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. One of the purported mediators of Aβ induced dysfunction is oxidative stress. The Aβ peptide, especially the Aβ42, is a self aggregating peptide with a propensity to form peptidyl radicals. Interaction of the peptidyl radicals with biomolecules leads to the generation of more free radical species via cascading chain reactions. Additionally, Aβ peptide has also been demonstrated to have synaptotoxic effects via its effect on NMDA receptors and calcium influx leading to deregulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production as well as excitotoxicity. Hence, with a view to understanding Aβ mediated early synaptic dysfunction in AD, we studied early signaling changes in the synaptosomes derived from the cortex of APP/PS1 mice model of AD at various ages. The APP/PS1 model contains a mouse/human chimeric APP gene bearing the KM670/671NL Swedish mutation and the human PS1 gene with an exon 9 deletion. These mice exhibit behavioral deficits from 7 months of age while plaque deposition and gliosis become apparent by 9 months of age. We chose to study both pre-symptomatic ages (1 and 3 months old) as well as post symptomatic (9 months old) mice. Post nuclear supernatant (PNS) as well as synaptosomes were isolated from the cortex of APP/PS1 and age matched control mice. We assayed the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the PNS and the synaptosomes of post symptomatic 9 months old APP/PS1 mice and age matched controls. In contrast to reports of enhanced oxidative stress markers in the brains of AD patients, we did not find any increase in the levels of ROS in the PNS of post symptomatic APP/PS1 mice compared to age matched controls. However, synaptosomes from the cortex of these animals exhibited a significant increase in ROS levels in APP/PS1 mice compared to controls. We further found that there was significant increase in the ROS levels in synaptosomes, but not PNS, of very young asymptomatic 1 and 3 months old APP/PS1 mice. This is a first demonstration of synapse specific increase in oxidative stress in AD mice, as young as 1 month of age, indicating that disease specific mechanisms operate at the synapse much before the appearance of any overt cellular or behavioral symptoms. The increase in synaptic ROS levels correlated with a small but significant increase in the levels of Aβ42 in the brains of APP/PS1 mice compared to controls. We also found a concurrent change in the redox status of the cytoskeletal protein, actin, at the synapse. As early as 1 month of age, there was a significant decrease in the protein level of reduced actin indicating that there is an increase in the level of oxidized actin at the synapse. This loss of reduced actin was specific to the fibrillar pool of actin while no significant change was observed in the redox status of the monomeric globular pool of actin. Oxidation of actin has been demonstrated to lead to its depolymerization. Concurrently, we found a significant loss of fibrillar actin in the synaptosomes of APP/PS1 mice. Actin is the major cytoskeletal protein at the synapse. Changes in the globular to fibrillar actin ratio at the synapse at early pre-symptomatic ages in APP/PS1 mice will likely lead to structural and consequent functional changes at the synapse. This could potentially be one of the triggers of synaptic dysfunction in AD. Furthermore, changes in the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway was also observed in the synaptosomes of 1 month old APP/PS1 mice, which is sustained at 9 months. There was a significant loss of the mTOR-pS6K-4EBP1 axis in the synaptosomes, but not PNS, of APP/PS1 mice. We found that loss of Akt signaling, as evinced by loss of Akt phosphorylation, Akt kinase activity as well as loss of phosphorylation of downstream effector GSK3β, potentially underlies the loss of mTOR signaling. Further, the loss of Akt signaling is mediated by synapse specific redox modification of Akt and consequent interaction with the protein phosphatase PP2a. Loss of the Akt-mTOR signaling at the synapse is indicative of deficits in local protein translation. Loss of this essential synaptic function, which plays critical roles in synapse maintenance as well as synaptic plasticity during learning and memory, at an early age, will have long ranging impact on synaptic function such as long term potentiation (LTP) in APP/PS1 mice. Our study is the first demonstration of oxidative stress and consequent signaling changes which occur specifically at the synapse of very young 1 month old APP/PS1 mice. These changes occur much before the appearance of overt phenotype such as plaque deposition and behavioral dysfunction but sustain till the appearance of classical pathological hallmarks. Hence, the study demonstrates that disease progression starts much before previously thought and provides us a critical time window during which therapeutic strategies designed to delay or stop these changes might change the course of AD.

碩士<br>國立臺灣大學<br>生化科技學系<br>103<br>Hypertension and cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of death of compatriots. Once patients suffer from hypertension, they need long-term monitoring of blood pressure and actively improve the living habits. Even more, take medication to control blood pressure. Antihypertensive drugs usually have side effects, improper use of antihypertensive medications often cause irreparable harm. The application of Monascus species in food, medicine, and industry dates back over a thousand years. Monascus-fermented products containing antihypertensive substance γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory neurotransmitter, can cause blood vessels to dilate. Oral administration of red mold dioscorea fermented by Monascus purpureus NTU 568 to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) for eight weeks has been shown to significantly reduce systolic blood pressure 26 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure 22 mmHg (p<0.05) and will not have liver and kidney damage. In this study, a double-blind placebo-controlled model was undertaken. Patients with mild to moderate hypertension were randomly assigned to placebo and treatment groups. Treatment group was given red mold dioscorea (fermented by M. purpureus NTU 568) for 8 weeks to observe the effect of regulating blood pressure in human clinical trials. The results showed that systolic blood pressure of 4 subjects decreased greater than or equal to 10 mmHg in 11 subjects of treatment group. Systolic blood pressure decreased from 141.6 ± 12.0 to 133.9 ± 14.4 mmHg, the average dropped 7.7 mmHg. Diastolic blood pressure decreased from 91.7 ± 8.1 to 84.8 ± 7.4 mmHg, the average dropped 6.9 mmHg. Diastolic blood pressure of 5 subjects decreased greater than or equal to 10 mmHg in 11 subjects of treatment group. The result showed a significant difference (p<0.05), although there was no significant difference between the placebo and treatment groups. Red mold dioscorea did not cause electrolyte imbalance and damage between liver, kidney and muscle tissue of subjects. The study also found that red mold dioscorea treatment could effectively reduce serum triglycerides and total cholesterol, increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels to achieve cardiovascular health.