As the miniaturization keeps decreasing in semiconductor device fabrication, metal contamination on silicon surfaces becomes critical. An investigation of the fundamental mechanism of metal contamination process on silicon surface is therefore important. Kinetics and thermodynamics of the copper out-plating process on silicon surfaces in diluted HF solutions are both evaluated by several analytical methods.

Master of Science / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Stacy L. Hutchinson / The shortage of clean, usable water is a global problem (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005). As much as 80% of the world’s population has been reported to be in areas of high water security risk due to a convergence of factors, such as watershed disturbance, pollution, water resource development and biotic factors (Voeroesmarty et al., 2010). Water reuse technologies are a potential solution to this problem. However, implementation of treatment technologies for improved water reuse require rapid, effective monitoring techniques capable of insuring treatment quality. Fluorescence spectroscopy has shown potential for wastewater treatment monitoring due to its sensitivity, selectivity, and capacity to be employed in-situ. Online fluorescence data and full fluorescence excitation-emission matrices coupled with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) were employed to evaluate the treatment performance of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) at Fort Riley, KS. Specific research goals were to evaluate the effectiveness of fluorescence for monitoring wastewater treatment and to determine the contamination detection limit of fluorescence techniques in a non-potable reuse scenario. Study results revealed a two-stage startup period, the first 60 days indicated membrane cake layer formation and the first 90 days showed signs of oxic tank maturation. Fluorescence was found to be effective at monitoring carbon concentration trends throughout the MBR system, showed preferential removal of protein-like dissolved organic matter (DOM), and an increase in biodegradation of DOM as the oxic tank matured. A ratio of the humic-like fluorescent components to the protein-like fluorescent components correlated to TOC removal (R² = .845, p < .001). Also, fluorescence was able to detect contamination in the effluent at the 0.74-1.24 mg C/L level using two wavelength pairs, indicating that effective real-time monitoring for contamination can be accomplished with minimal instrumentation and post-processing of data.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Naegleria fowleri, a free-living ameboflagellate, is the causative agent of primary amebic meningoencephalitis. Healthy humans sporadically become infected with N. fowleri and develop fatal PAM after recreational or work exposure to freshwater; accordingly, there is a need for monitoring the presence of pathogenic amebeflagellates in public freshwater. The present study was conducted to determine whether a nested PCR assay could be used for detection of N. fowleri in freshwater habitats. PCR analysis was used to test samples from Virginia, Connecticut, Arizona, and Oklahoma for the presence of N. fowleri in lakes, ponds, soil, and domestic water supplies. The amebae were identified in all 4 states from soil and water sources, including domestic water supplies. In addition to identification in the environment, it is also important to determine virulence factors of the ameba. Although virulence factors have not been defined, resistance to complement lysis and production of phospholipases may account for pathogenicity of this ameba. Studies were performed to determine the gene encoding a complement regulatory protein, CD59, found in membrane fractions of N. fowleri. The genome of this organism has not been sequenced, therefore, we have constructed a genomic DNA library to search for putative virulence factors or drug targets. We have performed partial sequencing of 155 plasmids and have identified putative genes for cell motility, chromosome segregation, gene regulation, protein synthesis and degradation, protein regulation, cell signaling, respiration and energy production, membrane synthesis and metabolism, amino acid synthesis, as well as genes with unknown functions. Also, we have identified a putative virulence factor, a patatin-like protein. Patatin has been shown to exhibit phospholipase A2 activity in other organisms and has been shown to be involved in invasion into human tissue in certain pathogens. Northern analysis demonstrated hybridization with N. fowleri RNA at 3kb, but not with RNA from other free-living amebae tested. RT-PCR analysis was positive for pathogenic N. fowleri and negative for nonpathogenic Naegleria spp. Further studies are needed to determine whether the patatin-like protein in N. fowleri serves as a virulence factor and plays a role in invasion in human tissue.

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

SUMMARY: This thesis is focused on identification of spatial distribution of Pb, Zn and Cu pollution in floodplain sediments of the Litavka River and reconstruction of its pollution history related to mining and metallurgy of Ag, Pb and Zn in the Příbram area. Sampling was performed in floodplain and sediments were analysed by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (ED XRF) in aim to understand the distribution of the target elements in the floodplain fill. The results of ED XRF were calibrated by analyses of selected sediment samples by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with (ICP- MS). The same method was used to determine ratios of lead stable isotopes 206 Pb and 207 Pb. Additionally, magnetic susceptibility was measured, granulometric analysis of selected samples was performed, and cation-exchange capacity (CEC) was determined. The aim of the work was to attempt to reconstruct history of pollution of the floodplain sediments. Sediment dating was performed by 14 C, 137 Cs and 210 Pb. Key words: aluvial sediment, contamination, heavy metals, reconstruction

This thesis provides an overview of mercury distribution in the forest soils located in vicinity of historical and current mercury emission sources. The sites were chosen around Bohemian Karst due to presence of emission source, i.e. iron production processes, cement plants, lime processing plants. The chosen sites were near municipalities of Králův Dvůr, Radotín and Hrádek u Rokycan. From these sites the soils samples were collected from organic and mineral horizons. Average mercury concentration in organic horizons was 288 µg.kg-1, organo-mineral horizons A contained 241 µg.kg-1, anthropogenic horizons M 287 µg.kg-1 and horizons B 56 µg.kg-1 only. The relations among mercury and soil components were tested. Strong link between mercury, soil organic matter (SOM) and sulfur was found. The result indicated that the origin of mercury in soil samples was atmospheric deposition rather than bedrock. High concentrations of oxalate extractable aluminum, iron and manganese in mineral horizons have been explained as the cause of bedrock weathering. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Les réponses des organismes exposés à des perturbations environnementales sont couramment utilisées comme biomarqueurs pour l'évaluation de la qualité des milieux. Ces réponses sont modulées par de nombreux facteurs et apportent des informations différentes selon leur précocité, leur pertinence, leur spécificité ou leur complexité. Dans ce contexte, nous avons étudié une batterie de réponses comportementales de diverses espèces de crustacés d'eau douce d'intérêt écotoxicologique. Nous nous sommes intéressés aux effets d'un stress biotique (i.e. risque de prédation) et/ou d'un stress abiotique (i.e. contamination métallique) sur des comportements à haute pertinence écologique, avec la prise en compte de certains facteurs confondants (i.e. le sexe et la taille des individus). En laboratoire, nous avons étudié les effets : (i) d'une contamination des sédiments sur l'évitement au substrat du décapode A. Astacus, de l'isopode A. Aquaticus et des amphipodes G. Pulex, G.roeseli et D. Villosus, (ii) d'un risque de prédation sur les stratégies d'anti-prédation de G. Pulex, G. Roeseli et D. Villosus, (iii) d'un risque de prédation et d'une contamination de l'eau au cadmium sur les stratégies d'anti-prédation, les dommages cellulaires et les réserves énergétiques de g. Roeseli et d. Villosus, et (iv) d'une contamination de l'eau au cadmium sur l'appariement sexuel de d. Villosus. Nous avons mis en évidence des variabilités inter-espèces fortes, peu de différences inter-sexes et un impact significatif du cadmium sur les réponses testées. Cette étude montre la précocité et la cohérence des comportements et souligne leur importance / Organisms responses to various environmental disturbances are commonly used as biomarkers in the assessment of environmental quality. However, these responses are modulated by many factors and provide different information depending on their precocity, their relevance, specificity and complexity. In this context, we chose to study a set of behavioural responses in various species of freshwater crustaceans of ecotoxicological interest. To achieve this goal, we investigated the effects of biotic (i.e. predation risk) and/or abiotic stress (i.e. metal contamination) on behaviours of high ecological relevance, including some confounding factors (i.e. gender and individual length). In laboratory experiments, we studied the effects of: (i) a sediment contamination on the substrate avoidance in the decapod Astacus Astacus, the isopod Asellus Aquaticus and the amphipods gammarus pulex, gammarus roeseli and dikerogammarus villosus, (ii) a high predation risk on antipredator strategies in G. Pulex, G. Roeseli and D. Villosus, (iii) a high predation risk and a contamination of water by cadmium on antipredator strategies, cell damages and energy reserves in G. Roeseli and D. Villosus, and (iv) a contamination of water by cadmium on the precopulatory behaviour in D. Villosus. We have highlighted a strong interspecies variability and small differences depending on gender. The impact of cadmium was significant on the tested responses. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of behaviours, which can be considered as early warning signals and as relevant tools with high ecological relevance, in the assessment of stress effects and environmental quality

Title: Optimization and stress tests Author: Diana Fašungová Department: Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Supervisor: Prof. RNDr. Jitka Dupačová, DrSc., Department of Probability and Mathematical Statistics Abstract: In the thesis we apply contamination technique on a portfolio optimiza- tion problem using minimization of risk measure CVaR. The problem is considered from a risk manager point of view. We stress correlation structure of data and of revenues using appropriately chosen data for this kind of problem and for ge- nerated stress scenarios. From behaviour of CVaR with regard to contamination bounds, we formulate recommendations for the risk manager optimizing his port- folio. The recommendations are interpreted for both types of stress scenarios. In the end, limitations of the model and possible ways of improvement are discussed. Keywords: contamination bounds, stress tests, portfolio optimization, risk mana- gement

In this thesis, a portfolio optimization with integer variables which influ- ence optimal assets allocation, is studied. Measures of risk are defined and the cor- responding mean-risk models are derived. Two methods are used to develop robust models involving uncertainty in probability distribution: the worst-case analyses and contamination. The uncertainty in values of scenarios and in their probabili- ties of the discrete probability distribution is assumed separately followed by their combination. These models are applied to stock market data with using optimization software GAMS.