In this investigation, experimental designs were developed for population hybridization studies. The objective of all of these designs was to obtain information about (i) the general combining ability of populations, (ii) the specific combining ability of population crosses, (iii) the general combining ability of individuals, and (iv) the specific combining ability of individual crosses. These concepts were first introduced by Hinkelmann (1974) in relationship to the two-level diallel mating design. With m populations, P₁, P₂, …, P_m, and n individuals for the ith population, I_il, I_i₂, …, I_in (i = 1, 2, …, m), to be evaluated, the two-level diallel mating design consists of (i) m(m-1)/2 population crosses P_ixP_j where i<j, and (ii) n² individual crosses I_ikx_jl for each population cross P_ixP_j. When the offspring from this design are grown in a randomized block environmental design, the blocks will be of size m(m-1)n²/2. Even for moderate values of m and n the required block size may be far too large. Three methods are proposed that will either reduce the block size or the size of the total experiment or both. These are obtained by (i) using an incomplete environmental design to grow the offspring from the complete diallel cross, (ii) selecting only a sample of the m(m-1)n²/2 total crosses, either at the population level or at the individual level, to be tested, (iii) selecting only a sample of the m(m-1)n²/2 crosses to be tested and using an incomplete environmental design. Two modifications of the two-level diallel cross were suggested that would include intrapopulation crosses. First the two-level diallel mating design to which, for each population P_i, n(n-1)/2 intrapopulation crosses, I_ik x I_il (k < l), were added, was investigated. This augmented design has the advantage that the general and specific combining ability of the populations and individuals can be measured on the basis of intrapopulation and interpopulation crosses. In addition this design allows the experimenter to test for population heterosis. The second modification suggested was to use pollen bulk as the male parent. In this mating design n females from each of m populations are fertilized with pollen bulk from each of them populations. Besides including intrapopulation crosses as a control, this design also reduces the number of crosses to be made and tested. The two-level diallel cross with intrapopulation crosses added makes mn(mn-1)/2 crosses. Using pollen bulk as the male parent reduces the number of crosses to be tested to m²n. For all cases considered, the construction and analysis of appropriate mating and environmental designs have been given. / Doctor of Philosophy

A comparison of 2 basic methods presently used to transport perishable food samples intended for microbiological analysis is presented. A transport system using an appropriate, pre-chilled container with dry ice as the temperature contro11ant resulted in a significant1y higher (P ~ 0.01) survival rate of Clostridium perfringens vegetative cells in ground beef samples as compared to survivals in samples shipped in Trans Temp containers using canisters of a commercia11y formulated eutectic salts mixture as temperature contro1lant. Dry ice kept samples also resulted in greater recoveries of Staphylococcus aureus and the aerobic microf1ora~ Slightly higher recoveries of co1iforms and Escherichia coli were obtained from samples held by the Trans Temp procedure! Mixing samples 1:1 with 10, 20 or 30% (wt/vo1) buffered solutions of either dimethylsulfoxide or glycerol prior to freezing generally improved the survival of all microorganisms assayed regardless of the transport system tested. The results indicate that packaging perishable food samples with a volume of cryoprotective solute may be a useful adjunct to frozen transport systems thereby improving survival and allowing more complete recovery of selective micro-rganisms with existing assay procedures. / Master of Science

The biosynthesis of cellulolytic enzymes by resting cells of T. reesei QM 9414 incubated in 17 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 6.0, and Q-β-D-glucopyranosy1-(172)α-D-glucopyranose was investigated. A maximum of 200 mi1liunits aryl-β-D-g1ucosidase, 9000 mi1liunits endo-l,4-β-D-glucanaseand 200 milliunits Avicelase per milliliter of culture supernate was produced after 24 hours of incubation; at that time, extracellular protein production reached a maximum of 0.5 mg/ml. Optimum enzyme yields were obtained with 3-4 mg dry weight cells/ml, and 1 nIDi 0-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1->2)α-D-glucopyranose. Inclusion of metals, e.g., zinc, cobalt, manganous and ferrous ions enhanced enzyme production when glutamic acid was present, in which case aryl-β-D-glucosidase, endoglucanase and Avicelase activity were enhanced by 20, 100 and 40 percent, respectively. Under the same conditions asparagine enhanced only ary1-β-D-glucosidase activity. Some of the enzymic components of the cellulase system produced by T. reesei under these conditions were purified by ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50. Two cellobiohydrolases were isolated in pure form. One of these was identical to the previously isolated ce1lobiohydrolase D on the basis of amino acid composition carbohydrate content, electrophoretic mobility and ultraviolet spectrum. Similar data for the other cellobiohydrolase suggest that it represents an enzyme not previously identified. An endoglucanase was also isolated which, on the basis of its amino acid composition and electrophoretic mobility, appears similar to the previously identified Endoglucanase IV. More precise characterization of these enzymes is currently under investigation. / Master of Science

Alkylation of lens proteins with iodoacetamide during homogenization of tissue (50 millimolar excess) immediately followed by gel-permeation chromatography yielded a crystallin population devoid of βH-crystallin. This result occurred in lens homogenates from both young (100 g) and older (400 g) male rats. BetaH-crystallin was not converted to insoluble protein with alkylation. Each crystallin fraction reacted with radioactive iodoacetamide in proportion to sulfhydryl content; at a ratio of 1 mg iodoacetamide/mg protein total free-sulfhydryl of the crystallins had reacted after 1 hr at pH 8, 25°C. Alkylated α-, βL-' and y-crystallin fractions demonstrated no altered chromatographic behavior on Sephacryl S-200; only alkylated βH-crystallin was altered so that it co-chromatographed with control or alkylated βL-crystallin. / Master of Science

Campylobacter fetus, a microaerophilic, Gram-negative rod, is a well-known cause of contagious abortion and infertility in cattle and sheep and is gaining increasing recognition as an opportunistic human pathogen. In the past, the unusual oxygen requirements of the organism have complicated its recovery from clinical sources; optimum recovery necessitates the use of special gas mixtures, vacuum pumps, etc., not routinely used in most laboratories. In this study, the stimulatory effects of compounds found to enhance aerotolerance and growth of C. fetus were tested for 62 strains of C. fetus, representing each subspecies, to test the desirability of supplementing conventional media with these additives. Brucella agar supplemented with 0.025% (each) FeS04·7H20, sodium bisulfite, and pyruvic acid (FBPA agar) supported growth of 82% of the strains tested under simulated candle jar condtions. Brucella broth supplemented with 0.2% FeS04 ·7H20, 0.025% sodium bisulfite, and 0.050% pyruvic acid (FBPB broth) supported growth of 61 of 62 strains at 21% 02, 2.5% CO2 with static incubation. Therefore, FBPA agar and FBPB broth are recommended for the isolation and cultivation of C. fetus. Although isolation from clinical sources is still dictated to some extent by the oxygen tension used for cultivation, improved recovery may be expected regardless of equipment or facilities available. Another compound found to enhance aerotolerance of C. fetus was SOD. This finding supports the hypothesis that the stimulatory effect of the media additives results from a direct action on the culture medium by degrading toxic derivatives of oxygen, such as the superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide. / Master of Science

The major impacts associated with the ponds appeared to be an alteration of energy dynamics. The alterations were seasonally dependent, and may have resulted from interception of larger particle organic matter being transported downstream and its replacement by finer organic matter. The alterations manifested themselves in changes in numbers and biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates and fish, and changes in drift patterns below the ponds. The energy dynamics alterations may have also influenced competitive interactions among benthic organisms and fish. The direct influence of physiochemical alterations appeared to be masked by energy-related alterations; however, alterations in physiochemical factors may have caused minimal changes in species composition in aquatic communities below the ponds. Material impacts in the system studied appeared to be negligible; however, Young (unpublished data) found significant impacts associated with the introduction of a floc of iron and iron bacteria below a bottom release impoundment. Material impacts may be of major importance in bottom release systems. The ponds appeared to cause a general increase in stream productivity downstream. However, increased amplitude in seasonal fluctuations of physiochemical factors combined with seasonal fluctuations in energy below the ponds appeared to produce a more fluctuating environment below the ponds leading to reduced stability in downstream communities. The impacts evidenced in this study do not appear to be as drastic as those reported in larger systems, There were no large-scale alterations in species composition or reductions in number of taxa present below the ponds. In systems containing rare species or with uniquely adapted faunas, the less stable environmental conditions, possible introduction of exotic species, and the possible disruption of competitive balance with the system may cause major impacts. These possible impacts should be dealt with in the design and planning of small pond construction. / Master of Science

A series of hydrothermal experiments at 2000 bars have been conducted in order to investigate the systematic relation between biotite composition on the join phlogopite-annite and the composition of pyrrhotite. In an attempt to bracket the sulfide-silicate compositional pairs, three layers within a single capsule were used: 1) pyrite + Fe-rich biotite in the top, 2) sanidine + magnetite in the middle, and 3) troilite + Mg-rich biotite in the bottom. At the conclusion of a bracketing run, the biotite in the top was found to have become more Mg-rich and the biotite in the bottom was found to have become more Fe-rich while a pyrrhotite of apparently homogeneous composition was found throughout the capsule. Five equilibrium determinations at 700°C have been located: (N)_Po = 0.928, (Fe/(Fe + Mg))_Bi = 0.496 0.936 0.530 0.945 0.541 0.947 0.581 0.950 0.585 The data demonstrate that biotites tend to become more Mg-enriched with increasingly sulfur-rich compositions of pyrrhotite. This study can be applied to natural systems in which a pyrrhotite-biotite-magnetite-K-spar assemblage is present. Since sulfides have been observed to re-equilibrate at lower temperatures while the composition of the Fe-Mg silicates still mirror the conditions of metamorphism, silicate compositions can potentially be used as a measure of f_S₂ and f_O₂. From this, one can attempt to calculate the properties of the vapor during the alteration of the silicates and ore genesis. / Master of Science

No description available.

By examining Jim Thompson’s novels, published between 1952-1955–The Killer Inside Me, A Hell of a Woman, After Dark, My Sweet, and Savage Night–this essay interrogates the relationship created between the narrator and the reader, how the narrator–and Thompson in turn–highlights certain societal flaws, emphasizing how ethical consequence is born out of the attempt to attain freedom from one’s cultural circumstance–both in terms of economic restraint and mental health status. Through this, Thompson implies that the reader is trapped in similar economic and ethical predispositions. The reader is often left questioning what they might have done, or been able to do, in similar circumstances. This creates a larger frame by which Thompson implies that the reader is trapped in similar economic and ethical pre-dispositions as his narrators. He highlights societal flaws, demonstrating how the pursuit of freedom of one’s cultural circumstance bears ethical consequence. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Orientador: Paulo R. Davidoff C. Cruz / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Economia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-23T05:49:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Macarini_JosePedro_D.pdf: 10367277 bytes, checksum: 7880e7d499e4970bc4f6f1360abe8f50 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1997 / Resumo: Não informado / Abstract: Not informed. / Doutorado / Doutor em Ciências Econômicas