A própolis é um produto natural elaborado pelas abelhas e vendido comercialmente, muito conhecida pela sua capacidade antimicrobiana, antioxidante e anti-inflamatória. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a influência da própolis vermelha no desempenho, metabolismo e ocorrência de doenças em bezerros leiteiros suplementados diariamente. Foram utilizados 32 bezerros recém-nascidos colostrados e alojados individualmente com acesso a água e concentrado inicial. Os animais foram colocados em blocos de acordo com o peso ao nascer, data de nascimento e sexo, distribuídos em dois tratamentos: 1) Controle e 2) Suplementação diária de 4mL/dia de extrato alcoólico de própolis (30%) no leite integral. O consumo de alimentos e o escore de saúde e fecal foram monitorados diariamente, já as pesagens foram realizadas semanalmente. Amostras de sangue foram colhidas semanalmente, duas horas após o aleitamento da manhã, para realização de hemograma, determinação de hematócrito e das concentrações de glicose, proteína total, &beta;-hidroxibutirato, lactato, ureia, além da capacidade de ligação de ferro. O tratamento não apresentou efeito para os dados de consumo, ganho de peso e desempenho (P>0,05). No entanto, os animais suplementados com própolis vermelha apresentaram significante redução no escore fecal e no número de dias com diarreia (P<0,05). Para os parâmetros sanguíneos, apenas a contagem de eritrócitos totais sofreu efeito do tratamento, apresentando redução em sua concentração nos animais suplementados (P<0,05). O extrato de própolis vermelha brasileira tem grande potencial como alternativa natural para diminuir a incidência de diarreia em bezerros leiteiros, reduzindo a utilização de antibióticos nos sistemas de criação de bezerras. / This study aimed to characterize the influence of propolis or bee glue in the performance, metabolism and diseases of dairy calves. Propolis is a natural product collect by bees and sold commercially, well know for its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects and the ability to improve the immunity system, both for humans and for animals. For ruminants, there are many positive effects that can contribute positively to animal productivity. Thirty two newborn calves were individually housed, with free access to water and concentrate, and fed 6 L/day of whole milk. The animals were blocked according to their birth weight, birth date and sex, distributed in two treatments: 1) Control and 2) Daily supplementation of 4mL / day of red propolis alcoholic extract (30%) in milk. Food consumption, fecal score and health score of bronchopneumonia were monitored daily, and the weight of the calves were measured every week. Samples of blood were collected weekly, two hours after morning milk feeding, for hemogram and hematocrit determination. Determination of blood glucose, protein, &beta;-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, urea and iron binding capacity have also been done to evaluate effects on metabolism and oxidative stress. Starter feed intake, daily weight gain and body measurements were not affected by the red propolis supplementation (P>0.05). Blood parameters were also not affected (P>0.05), exception made for the red blood count, which were lower in animals supplemented with ethanolic red propolis extract (P<0.05). Fecal score and days with diarrhea were significantly affected by the treatment (P<0.05). Fecal score and days with diarrhea were inferior in animals supplemented with red propolis extract. Propolis has a big potential as a natural alternative to improve calves health, reducing the incidence of diarrhea and as a consequence, the use of antibiotics in calf rearing systems.

Orientador: Alessandro Francisco Talamini do Amarante / Resumo: A bovinocultura brasileira possui destaque no cenário mundial, sendo o Brasil um dos maiores produtores de carne. No entanto, o parasitismo por nematódeos gastrointestinais gera prejuízos na produção destes animais, devido a ação dos parasitas, gastos com medicamentos e manejo dos animais. Este estudo teve por objetivo de avaliar fatores relacionados ao uso de antihelmínticos em bovinos das raças Nelore, Simental e de cruzamento ½ Nelore x ½ Simental, quantificando o ganho em peso, de bovinos naturalmente parasitados, após a administração de anti-helmíntico ivermectina, sulfóxido de albendazol e sem tratamento. Foram avaliados bezerros e bezerras de três a cinco meses de idade, em quatro fazendas. Dividiu-se os bovinos em três grupos sendo: G1- tratados a cada 28 dias com ivermectina, G2 - tratados a cada 28 dias com sulfóxido de albendazol e G3 - grupo controle, sem tratamento. A cada 28 dias realizou-se pesagens e coleta de fezes para exames coproparasitológicos. Conclui-se que bovinos não tratados com anti-helmínticos apresentaram desempenho corporal inferior aos animais com tratamento antihelmíntico a base de ivermectina e sulfóxido de albendazol, independente da raça. Porém, as perdas ocasionadas devido ao parasitismo por nematódeos gastrintestinais variam de propriedade para propriedade. / Abstract: Brazilian cattle breeding stands out in the world scenario, with Brazil being one of the largest meat producers. However, parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes generates germplasm in the production of these animals, due to an action of the parasites, drug spending and animal management. The objective of this study was to evaluate factors related to the use of anthelmintics in bovines of the Nelore, Simmental and ½ Nelore x ½ Simental crossbreed, quantifying the gain in weight of naturally parasitized bovines after the administration of anthelmintic ivermectin, albendazole sulfoxide and untreated. Calves and heifers were oriented from three to five months of age on four farms. The cattle were divided into three groups: G1 - treated every 28 days with ivermectin, G2 - treated every 28 days with albendazole sulfoxide and G3 - control group, without treatment. Every 28 days we performed weighing and stool collection for coproparasitological exams. It was concluded that bovine animals not treated with anthelmintics presented lower body performance than animals with antihelminthic treatment, an ivermectin base and albendazole sulfoxide, regardless of race. However, losses caused due to parasitism by gastrointestinal nematodes vary from property to property. / Doutor

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos com o intuito de avaliar os efeitos da suplementação com diferentes aditivos, sobre o consumo e ganho de peso, em bovinos mantidos em pastagem durante o período das águas. No experimento I, 48 novilhas Nelore, com 266 kg de peso vivo médio inicial, foram distribuídas no delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, em quatro tratamentos, sendo cada animal considerado uma unidade experimental. Os tratamentos foram arranjados em esquema fatorial 2 x 2, com dois tipos de suplemento (suplemento mineral e mineral protéico energético) e dois níveis de monensina (0 e 1200 ppm em suplemento mineral, 0 e 60 ppm em mineral protéico energético). No experimento II, foram utilizados 60 bezerros Nelore, com peso vivo médio inicial de 300 kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em quatro tratamentos com 15 animais cada. Os animais foram submetidos aos tratamentos: com suplemento mineral (controle), suplemento mineral com virginiamicina (1333 ppm), suplemento mineral com salinomicina (1111 ppm) e suplemento mineral com monensina (1000 ppm). Em ambos os experimentos, os animais foram alocados em quatro piquetes de Brachiaria decubens, com 6,7 hectares cada, e eram rotacionados semanalmente. As análises estatísticas foram feitas utilizando o programa estatístico SAS. No experimento I, o consumo do suplemento mineral protéico energético, com e sem monensina, foi maior em relação aos demais tratamentos (P&lt;0,05) e a monensina não provocou uma queda siginificativa no consumo dos suplementos. Os animais que receberam o suplemento mineral protéico energético ganharam mais peso do que os animais que receberam o suplemento mineral (P&lt;0,05), não havendo influencia da monensina sobre o ganho de peso. No experimento II, a monensina promoveu uma redução no consumo em relação ao grupo controle (P&lt;0,06). O suplemento com virginiamicina não afetou o consumo aos 56 dias, mas os suplementos com salinomicina e monensina reduziram o consumo em relação ao controle (P&lt;0,05). Não houve diferença siginificativa no consumo entre os tratamentos aos 28 dias e aos 84 dias, porém houve uma redução no consumo de todos os suplementos. O ganho de peso diário entre os animais que consumiram os aditivos não apresentaram diferenças significativas, mas os tratamentos com virginiamicina e salinomicina proporcionaram ganhos maiores do que o tratamento controle. A virginiamicina e a salinomicina ocasionaram um aumento no ganho de peso, e a salinomicina e a monensina reduziram o consumo. / Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the supplementation with different feed additives on feed intake and average daily gain for grazing Nellore bovines during the rainy season. On the experiment I, 48 Nellore heifers (266 kg BW) were distributed in four treatments, and each animal was considered one experimental unit. The treatments were organized in a factorial 2x2, two types of supplements (mineral supplement and mineral protein-energy supplement) and two levels of monensin (0 and 1200 ppm in the mineral supplement, 0 and 60 ppm in the mineral protein- energy supplement). In the study II, 60 Nellore calves of 300 kg (BW) were distributed in 4 treatments of 15 animals each. Treatments consisted of the inclusion of: mineral supplement (control treatment), mineral supplement with virginiamycin (1333ppm), mineral supplement with salinomycin (1111 ppm) e mineral supplement with monensin (1000ppm). In both studies, animals were allocated in four rotational stocking areas (6,7 hectares each area) of Brachiariadecubens. Statistical analyses were conducted using the software SAS. In the experiment I, the consumption of the mineral proteic supplement, with and without monensin, was higher compared to the others treatments (P&lt;0.05) and the monensin did not cause any significant decrease on the supplement intake. Animals who received protein mineral supplement had higher average daily gain than animals who received mineral supplement (P&lt;0.05) and there was no effect of monensin on the weight gain. In the experiment II, the inclusion of monensin reduced the consumption compared to the control treatment (P&lt;0.06). The supplement with virginiamycin did not affect the consumption on the day 56, however the supplements with salinomycin and monesin reduced the consumption compared to the control treatment (P&lt;0.05). The average daily gain was statically different among treatments on the days 28 and 84, however there was a reduction on consumption of all treatments. The average daily gain among animals supplemented with different feed additives did not differ statically, but the treatments with the inclusion of virginiamycin and salinomycin had higher gains than the control treatment. The virginiamycin anda salinomycin caused increase weight gain and the salinomycin and monensin reduced the consume.

Student Number : 0010372Y - MEd research report - School of Education - Faculty of Humanities / This study aims to investigate the experiences, problems and challenges faced by Foreign Faculty at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), with a special focus on how both the institution and the Foreign Faculty address them. The broader focus of the study is to examine and explore how universities address the challenge of internationalisation at the faculty level. An increase of faculty from Africa at an institutional level highlights the changing features of North to South and South to South faculty mobility, within an increasingly international and globalised world. While Foreign Faculty are accepted into internationally acclaimed universities (such as Wits), the study reveals the limited nature of the knowledge base documenting the experiences of Foreign Faculty in South African Universities. The research indicates that in spite of high level qualifications and research experience many Foreign Faculty are required to accept middle-level lecturer and senior lecturer positions. Findings also indicate that Foreign Faculty often experience a variety of challenges as a result of moving from one country / system to another. This study represents a contribution towards the debate on the employment of Foreign Faculty.

There has been little research conducted on the physiological response of calves to temperatures outside thermal neutrality and its effects on intake and weight gain. The effects of ambient temperature on Holstein dairy calves intakes and weight gain were evaluated over a 12-month period. Ambient temperature was monitored using a weather station located 1.3 kilometers from the Utah State University Caine Dairy. Calf health was monitored daily using the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine scoring criteria. Calves were fed whole milk and free choice calf starter. Weight gain, hip height, starter intake, and weather data (temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, precipitation, and barometric pressure) were averaged for 7-day intervals beginning at birth through 13 weeks of age. A regression model was developed including starter intake, milk intake, hip and wither height, calf heath scores, and weather data with weight gain as the dependent variable for each of the 4 seasons of the year. The fall season (September, October, and November) had a negative impact on calf intake and weight gain (averaging 20 pounds (9.1 kilograms) less at 2 months) than other seasons. Calves raised in the winter months also ate significantly more starter, but had the same weight gain as other seasons. Environmental stress factors impact animal welfare and animal productivity, which in turn impacts the economics of the dairy operation and should also be used in determining husbandry practices.

Dans les systèmes radio mobiles, la diversité représente une technique efficace pour lutter contre l’évanouissement dû aux multi-trajets. La pleine diversité spatiale est atteinte dans les systèmes multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). Mais, souvent l’intégration d’antennes multiples au niveau de l’émetteur ou du récepteur est coûteuse. Comme alternative, dans les réseaux sans fil multi-hop, la diversité coopérative garantit des gains de diversité spatiale en exploitant les techniques MIMO traditionnelles sans avoir besoin d’antennes multiples. En outre, la diversité coopérative fournit au réseau : un débit important, une énergie réduite et une couverture d’accès améliorée.Dans ce contexte, l’objectif de cette thèse est de concevoir des schémas de codage pour le canal à relais afin de réaliser une meilleure performance en termes de gain de diversité et de gain de codage. D’abord, nous étudions un système de turbo-codage distribué à L-relais en mode soft-decode-and-forward. Ensuite, nous proposons un système de turbocodage coopératif distribué à L-relais en utilisant la concaténation en parallèle des codes convolutifs. Enfin, afin d’améliorer la fiabilité de détection au niveau du noeud relais, nous proposons la technique de sélection d’antenne/relayage-soft. Pour une modulation BPSK, nous dérivons des expressions de la borne supérieure de la probabilité d’erreurbinaire où les différents sous-canaux sont supposés à évanouissement de Rayleigh, indépendants et pleinement entrelacés avec une information instantanée d’état de canal idéal. Une validation des résultats théoriques est également menée par la simulation. / Diversity provides an efficient method for combating multipath fading in mobile radio systems. One of the most common forms of spatial diversity is multiple-input multipleoutput (MIMO), where full diversity is obtained. However, embedding multiple antennas at the transmitter or the receiver can sometimes be expensive. As an alternative to collocated antennas, cooperative diversity in wireless multi-hop networks confirms their ability to achieve spatial diversity gains by exploiting the spatial diversity of the traditional MIMO techniques, without each node necessarily having multiple antennas. In addition, cooperative diversity has been shown to provide the network with importantthroughput, reduced energy requirements and improved access coverage.In light of this, the objective of this thesis is to devise coding schemes suitable for relay channels that aim at showing the best compromise between performance of diversity and coding gains. Firstly, we investigate a distributed turbo coding scheme dedicated to L-relay channels operating in the soft-decode-and-forward mode. Then, we present a proposed distributed turbo coded cooperative (DTCC) scheme, called parallel concatenated convolutional-based distributed coded cooperation. Finally, we investigate antenna/soft-relaying selection for DTCC networks in order to improve their end-to-end performance. Assuming BPSK transmission for fully interleaved channels with ideal channel state information, we define the explicit upper bounds for error probability inRayleigh fading channels with independent fading. Both theoretical limits and simulation results are presented to demonstrate the performances.

The tumor suppressor gene TP53 sits at the crux of response to cellular stresses. This is the most frequently inactivated gene in human tumors, being the target of somatic mutations. The protein product of TP53 is p53, and plays a crucial role in anti-proliferative signals through the induction of apoptosis, senescence, and cell-cycle arrest when activated by stresses such as genotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs. Therefore, the status of TP53 mutation in a tumor has profound implications for the tumorigenic potential as well as the response to anti-cancer therapies. Indeed, numerous studies have shown a predictive and prognostic value of TP53 mutations to the response to chemotherapy, but just as many studies show no significant contribution of TP53 mutations to chemotherapy response. This controversy is partly due to the lack of standard methods of TP53 mutation detection, but more importantly, it is due to the categorization of all TP53 mutations into one group. Certain mutations in TP53 can confer a mutant p53 with new, gained activities, not normally present in the WT p53 protein. These have been commonly called "gain of function" (GOF) p53 proteins, and some GOF p53 proteins can even confer oncogenic properties. However, not all gained functions are necessarily implicated in oncogenicity. Using stringent criteria, we have defined a select group of GOF TP53 mutations that do function as oncogenic proteins as oncomorphic TP53 mutations. In this work, we utilize data available from a large patient population through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) as well as data available from the University of Iowa Gynecologic Oncology Tumor Bank to examine the association of oncomorphic TP53 mutations with patient outcome using advanced serous ovarian cancer as a model. We demonstrate that oncomorphic TP53 mutations are associated with worse progression-free survival, chemoresistance, and higher rates of recurrence than other mutations in TP53 that have no evidence of oncomorphic abilities. We identify molecular alterations in patients with oncomorphic TP53 mutations, particularly the increased expression of β-catenin. We also observe that oncomorphic p53 proteins lose the normal protein:protein interactions with the microRNA microprocessing complex, implicating the role of dysregulated miRNAs in pathways associated with chemoresistance. The cumulative results from our studies provide human evidence for the consideration of different classes of TP53 mutations. Patients with oncomorphic TP53 mutations deserve careful follow-up therapy and may require novel treatment regimens to improve outcomes. We propose that stratification of patients should be considered based upon the individual TP53 mutation identified from their tumors.

This dissertation proposes novel solutions for important drawbacks of antenna arrays. One of the main contributions of the presented work is size reduction and nulling performance improvement of traditionally large anti-jam global positioning system (GPS) arrays using miniature antennas and electrically small resonators emulating an engineered metamaterial. Specifically, a miniaturized coupled double loop (CDL) dual band antenna is first introduced as a small antenna element of the compact GPS array. The loops that are capacitively coupled using lumped element capacitor, and employ metallic pins around their perimeter to improve the radiation efficiency by achieving a volumetric current distribution. This design is employed for the implementation of a compact 2x2 GPS array by reducing the inter-element spacing between the adjacent elements. However, having the antenna elements in close proximity of each other yields to a high mutual coupling and potentially degrades the nulling performance. The mutual coupling is performed by observing the magnetic field distribution within the array. It is noticed that the mutual coupling can be reduced by using metamaterial resonators. The right hand circular polarization (RHCP) radiation nature of the array complicates the mutual coupling suppression as compared to linear arrays. It is determined that split ring resonator (SRRs) are effective to mitigate the mutual coupling problem if placed strategically around the antenna elements. The study is verified experimentally where the mutual coupling is reduced by more than 10 dB. Lowering the mutual coupling improved the array's nulling capability by increasing the nulls depth by 8 dB as well as enhancing the accuracy of the nulls' locations. The second major contribution of the presented work is to introduce a novel microfluidic based beam-scanning technique for the implementation of low cost mm-wave antenna arrays. Traditionally, beam scanning capability is obtained using mechanical steering of the entire antenna structure or electronic components such as switches or phase shifters. The former is bulky, whereas the latter technique requires integrating substantial and expensive hardware in the array's feed network. For instance, a beam-scanning 1x8 focal plane array (FPA) would employ 7 single pole double through (SPDT) switches in its feed network. If an 8x8 FPA is desired, then 8x7+8 switches are required that results in an efficient design in terms of power loss and cost. In this dissertation, the microfluidic principles are introduced for designing and implementing affordable beam scanning antenna array with high gain radiation. Specifically, a microfluidic-based focal plane array 1x8 (MFPA) is designed and implemented at 30 GHz. The proposed MFPA consists of microfluidic channels connecting reservoirs. Both of the channels and reservoirs are filled with a low loss dielectric solution, and the antenna is formed by using a small volume of liquid metal. The beam scanning capability is obtained by placing the array at the focal point of a microwave lens and moving the antenna among the reservoirs using a micropump. Therefore, the feed network is extremely simplified by avoiding using SPDT switches. In addition, a strategic design methodology for a completely passive resonant based corporate feed network is discussed. The array is characterized numerically and verified experimentally. The simulated and measured performances are in a very good agreement with ±300 FoV and > 21 dB realized gain. However, the array's radiation pattern exhibits high side lobe level (SLL) due to the resonant nature of the introduced corporate feed network. Consequently, new resonant and non-resonant straight based feed networks are introduced to alleviate the high SLL issue. Moreover, they are modeled with appropriate equivalent circuits in order to analyze the array's performance analytically in terms of -10 dB |S11| bandwidth and power loss. The analytical solution is based on the transmission line theory and two ports network analysis. It is verified with the full wave simulations and a very good agreement is observed. Using the straight feed network reduces the SLL to more than 20 dB relative the pattern's peak. This enhancement in the performance is verified experimentally as well by designing, fabricating and testing a 30 GHz MFPA fed using a resonant based straight network. A ±250 FoV is obtained with a SLL < -20 dB and 4% -10 dB |S11| bandwidth.

Sugar (primarily sucrose) has been a part of the daily diet for literally hundreds of years, but research is now suggesting that sugar intake can be detrimental to our health. In particular, excessive consumption of simple sugars with high glycemic index (GI) values have been shown to cause overeating and weight gain. As well, elevated postprandial hyperglycemia can result after consuming sugars and this has been linked to disease formation and progression, the development of advanced glycation endproducts, inflammation and increased mortality rates. Honey has been recognised as having a number of beneficial health properties, including slower uptake into the bloodstream, a pharmacological action of reducing blood glucose levels and a high level of bioavailable antioxidants, all of which may mean that honey could be less harmful to health than sucrose in the diet. This study was therefore designed to investigate the health benefits of honey in the diet as a replacement for sucrose, using small animal studies. As well, because of the interest in using honey as a replacement for sucrose in sweetened dairy foods, a small number of in vitro investigations were carried out to determine whether honey could retain its bioactive properties when combined with milk/dairy products. Using the in vitro studies, it was shown that the combination of milk with honey had no effect on either the antibacterial or antioxidant capabilities of honey. During the animal feeding studies a number of significant findings were observed. In the earlier work it was shown that honey had a significant effect on protein metabolism when fed for 14 days at a level of 600 g/kg diet (comprising 480 g sugars and 120 g water) compared with animals fed an equivalent amount of sucrose. In this study, honey-fed rats exhibited significantly lower weight gains (p less than 0.001), food intake (p less than 0.05) and nitrogen intakes (p less than 0.05) and significantly higher faecal nitrogen outputs (p less than 0.05) compared with sucrose-fed rats. Animals fed a diet consisting of 480 g/kg of mixed sugars as in honey generally exhibited protein metabolism parameters that were comparable to those of the sucrose-fed rats, suggesting that the effects of honey on protein metabolism were not due solely to its distinctive sugar composition. Furthermore, in another study that specifically investigated the effects of honey on weight regulation, honey (100 g/kg diet) resulted in significantly reduced weight gain after 6 weeks (p less than 0.01) compared with animals fed the same amount of sugars as sucrose, although food intake was not reduced in this study. Percentage weight gains were shown to be comparable between honey-fed rats and those fed a sugar-free diet, suggesting that differences in glycemic control may be partly responsible for the results seen. Fasting lipid profiles and blood glucose levels were also measured in this study, but no significant differences were observed between diet groups. During long-term (12 months) feeding weight gain was again significantly reduced in rats fed honey (p less than 0.05) and a sugar-free diet (p less than 0.01) compared with those fed sucrose, the weights of honey-fed rats and those fed the sugar-free diet being comparable at the end of the study. In addition, blood glucose levels were significantly lower (p less than 0.001), and HDL-cholesterol levels significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in animals fed honey compared with those fed sucrose after 52 weeks, but no differences in these parameters were observed between rats fed sucrose and a sugar-free diet. No other significant differences in lipid profiles were observed. Immunity measures were improved after feeding honey or sucrose for 52 weeks, animals in both of these diet groups having significantly higher levels of neutrophil phagocytosis compared with those fed the sugar-free diet (both p less than 0.0001). In addition, the percentage of leukocytes that were lymphocytes was significantly higher in honey-fed rats at the end of the study. Furthermore, levels of oxidative damage in aortic collagen were significantly reduced in rats fed honey or the sugar-free diet (both p less than 0.05) compared with those fed sucrose after 52 weeks. Full body DEXA scans were also undertaken in this 12-month study to assess body fat levels and bone mineral composition and density, although they revealed few statistically significant differences. Percentage body fat levels were shown to be nearly 10% lower in honey-fed rats compared with sucrose-fed animals at the end of the study (p less than 0.05), but no other significant differences between diet groups were observed. With one exception, no differences in bone mineral composition or bone mineral density were observed between the three diet groups after 52 weeks. This data agreed with the results generated from two earlier studies that showed that feeding honey short-term (for 6-8 weeks) to rats that were either calcium-deficient or fed a low calcium diet had no effect on bone calcium levels, bone mineral content, bone mineral density or bone breaking parameters. Lastly, long-term feeding of honey to rats had a number of statistically significant effects on anxiety and cognitive performance when assessed using animal maze tasks. Anxiety-like behaviour was significantly reduced in honey-fed rats overall compared with those fed sucrose (p = 0.056) or a sugar free diet (p less than 0.05). Spatial memory was also better in honey fed-rats throughout the 12 month study, these animals not displaying the same degree of age-related spatial memory loss seen in the other two diet groups. No significant differences in recognition memory or learning capability were observed between diet groups after 52 weeks. In conclusion, both short-term and long-term feeding of honey result in a number of health benefits compared with eating similar amounts of sucrose. These include less weight gain, improved immunity, reduced levels of oxidative damage and improved cognitive performance.. These effects of honey are likely to occur through a number of different processes, although the presence of high concentrations of antioxidants and other minor components in honey are likely to be important contributors. Honey may therefore help to improve human heath if it is used as an alternative to sucrose in foods and beverages, although feeding studies in humans are required to assess its efficacy. In addition, more animal studies are needed to assess which features of honey (e.g. fructose content, antioxidant content and bioactivities) are required to achieve optimal effects, and to determine what impact heating and food processing may have on the beneficial health effects of honey.

This thesis focuses on nonlinear robust process control synthesis and analysis. The theoretical fundamental is the L2 finite gain theory. The aim of this research is to gain better understanding of this theory and develop new process control synthesis and analysis methods for nonlinear processes with model uncertainties and unmeasured disturbances.The current nonlinear process control methods are examined in this thesis. The research scopes of this study are described as follows: 1/. To characterize the most common process control problems such as zero-offset requirement, presentation of model uncertainties and unknown disturbance in the L2 finite gain theory framework and solve the basic theoretical issues concerned in controller design. 2/. To solve numerical computation problems arising in the nonlinear controller. 3/. To investigate the relationship between robustness requirement and performance requirement for nonlinear systems in the L2 finite gain theory framework. 4/. To consider the common phenomenon such as time-delay in the new developed methods. 5/. To investigate the advantages of the controller based on the L2 finite gain theory over the current nonlinear control methods. A series of new systematic robust process control synthesis approaches are the main contributions of this study. Simulations show the potential of these newly developed methods. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)