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Chalkbrood, caused by Ascosphaera apis (Maassen ex Claussen) Olive & Spiltor, is a cosmopolitan fungal disease of honey bee larvae (Apis mellifera L.) for which there is no chemotherapeutic control. Using in vitro larval rearing methods, lysozyme-HCl, a food-grade antimicrobial extracted from hen egg albumen, was found to suppress chalkbrood at levels of 0.75-1.5% (g/mL) of larval diet. In field trials, lysozyme-HCl did not affect adult bee survival or brood production and did effectively suppress the development of chalkbrood disease. Daily chalkbrood mummy production decreased by a factor of 10 in colonies treated with three treatments of 6000 mg of lysozyme-HCl when compared with infected, untreated controls and reduced disease symptoms to levels observed in uninfected colonies. Honey production was also found to be significantly negatively correlated with increased disease severity. Lysozyme-HCl is a promising safe therapeutic agent for the control of chalkbrood in honey bee colonies.

<p>One of the most central and current debates among those studying human contingency learning (HCL) concerns whether it is best understood as the result of associative learning, a product of higher-order cognitive processes, or some combination thereof. Though the field appears to be moving toward the latter accounts, much of the evidence being generated to evaluate and select among them comes from tasks that typically present only information about the few variables involved in the contingency(s), in the exact same manner on every trial. While effective for examining how the statistical properties of experience affect learning, these procedures do not capture some of the conditions of everyday cognition and are apt to be less effective for engaging non-associative and top-down influences on performance.</p> <p>The current work introduces a task that involves learning contingencies in others' behavior from descriptions that require the learner to determine the focus of learning, and to deal with both variability in manifestation of the objects of learning and extraneous information. Across several experiments, performance reflects phenomena, including ΔP, outcome density and blocking effects, which have been well established in HCL and are consistent with associative accounts. At the same time, the findings also suggest that (a) domain-specific theories affect the weighting of evidence in contingency perception and the discoverability of contingencies, and (b) outcome predictions, a typical measure in HCL, are influenced by specific instance memory in addition to abstract contingency knowledge. These findings are difficult to reconcile with the data-driven nature of associative views, and join a growing number of demonstrations suggesting that a viable account of HCL must involve higher-order cognitive processes or top-down influences on performance.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Dans l'industrie des semi-conducteurs, les plaques de silicium sont stockées dans des containers, appelés FOUPs (Front Opening Unified Pod) conçus à base de matériaux polymères (PC, PEEK, COP, PEI). De tels matériaux sont capables de sorber des contaminants moléculaires volatils et de les relarguer ultérieurement en présence de plaques, entraînant de la défectivité. Cette thèse a pour but d'apporter une meilleure connaissance et compréhension de la contamination et décontamination moléculaire des FOUPs au travers de quatre axes d'étude : - La détermination de la nature, des sources et des niveaux des contaminants moléculaires des FOUPs. Les acides HF et HCl, ont été détectés au ppbv – ppmv, et apparaissent comme les contaminants critiques. - L'étude des mécanismes de sorption et dégazage de HF et HCl gazeux dans les polymères. Ils ont été caractérisés par l'établissement, pour la première fois, des coefficients de solubilité (~10-1 m3(STP).m-3. Pa-1) et de diffusion (~ 10-15 m2/s) dans les conditions industrielles (22°C, 40% RH, 1 atm). - L'évaluation expérimentale de l'efficacité du nettoyage des FOUPs par différentes méthodes de décontamination (AUD, DMS, APR) à partir de FOUPs volontairement contaminés en HF. La mise sous vide à 70°C permet de décontaminer partiellement le FOUP du contaminant piégé dans le volume du polymère tandis que le nettoyage humide ou la mise sous vide à froid ne peuvent enlever que la contamination de proche surface du FOUP. - L'établissement d'un modèle de contamination des polymères du FOUP, basé sur les lois de Fick et de Henry et utilisant les coefficients de solubilité et diffusion établis. Ce modèle a été proposé et implémenté sur Comsol Multiphysics. Pour la première fois, le comportement dynamique du contaminant dans l'atmosphère et dans les matériaux du FOUP au cours de différents événements de contamination et de décontamination du FOUP a été déterminé par simulation numérique. Ainsi, les profondeurs de diffusion de la contamination dans les polymères ont été évaluées (de quelques dizaine à centaines de µm 48 h après un événement de contamination) ou encore l'efficacité de décontamination de méthodes de nettoyage a pu être estimée. / In the microelectronics industry, the silicon substrates (wafers) are stored in containers, named FOUP (Front Opening Unified Pod) made in polymers (PC, PEEK, COP, PEI). Such materials are able to sorb the volatile molecular contaminants and subsequently outgas these ones in presence of wafers, leading then to defectivity. This thesis aims to provide a better knowledge and comprehension of FOUP molecular contamination and cleaning, in focusing on four areas: - The determination of the nature, sources and levels of FOUP molecular contaminants. The HF and HCl acids, have been detected in ppbv – ppmv range, and appear as some critical contaminants. - The study of the sorption and outgassing mechanisms of HF and HCl gaseous in polymers. They have been characterized by the establishment, for the first time, of the solubility (~10-1 m3(STP).m-3. Pa-1) and diffusion coefficients (~ 10-15 m2/s) in industrial conditions (22°C, 40% RH, 1 atm). - The cleaning efficiency of different FOUP decontamination methods (AUD, APR, DMS) has been experimentally evaluated from intentionally contaminated FOUPs with HF. The vacuum at 70°C enables to partially decontaminate the contaminants trapped in polymer volume whereas the wet cleaning or the vacuum at ambient temperature can remove only contaminants on the near-surface of the FOUP materials. - The implementation of a model of FOUP polymer contamination, based on Fick and Henry laws and using the established solubility and diffusion coefficients. This model has been proposed and implemented on Comsol Multiphysics. For the first time, the dynamic behaviour of contaminant in the atmosphere and in the FOUP's materials during different contamination and decontamination events has been determined by numerical simulation. Thus the diffusion depth of the contaminant in polymeric materials has been evaluated (few tens to hundreds of µm 48 h after one contamination event) and also the decontamination efficiency of cleaning methods has been able to be predicted.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Michael E. Dikeman / Sixty cull cows were utilized to investigate the effects of feeding a single or sequence of β-adrenergic agonists (β-AA) on performance, mRNA expression, carcass traits, economics, meat palatability, and ground beef color. Treatments included: 1) concentrate fed for 74 d (C); 2) concentrate fed for 49 d then supplemented with ractopamine-HCl for 25 d (RH); 3) concentrate fed for 51 d then supplemented with zilpaterol-HCl for 20 d (ZH); 4), concentrate fed for 26 d then supplemented with RH for 25 d followed by ZH for 20 d (RH + ZH). No differences existed among treatments for performance or carcass characteristics. However, cows supplemented with ZH (ZH and RH + ZH treatments) had increased LM areas (P = 0.18) compared to control and RH cows. Sequential feeding of RH followed by ZH had no influence on β2-adrenergic receptor (AR) mRNA expression. However, β2-AR mRNA was increased (P < 0.05) in the RH and ZH treatments when RH or ZH was supplemented during the last 20 to 25 d of feeding. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) Type IIa mRNA decreased (P < 0.05) from d 24 to 51 in all cows, while MHC-IIx increased (P < 0.05) in the ZH and RH + ZH treatments during ZH supplementation. No differences were observed in ground beef color shelf-life among treatments. Effects of β-AA supplementation on meat palatability varied among muscles. Infraspinatus steaks had improved (P < 0.05) WBSF values with β-AA supplementation. Psoas major steaks from the RH + ZH treatment were rated as more tender than steaks from all other treatments. Non-enhanced LM steaks from ZH supplemented cows had higher (P = 0.12) WBSF values along with decreased (P < 0.0001) percentages of degraded desmin compared to control and RH cows. Collagen solubility of the LM was increased with ZH supplementation compared to RH and control cows. Enhancement of steaks with 0.1 M calcium lactate improved LM tenderness of β-AA supplemented cows. Implanting and feeding cull cows for 74 d, regardless of β-AA supplementation, added value by transiting cows from a “cull” cow to “white” cow market.

Um die Wirtschaftlichkeit von Solarkraftwerken zu verbessern, sollte geprüft werden, inwieweit eine geschmolzene Mischung aus Natriumchlorid und Aluminiumchlorid als Wärmetransportflüssigkeit in Frage kommt. Aufgrund der Hydrolyseempfindlichkeit solcher Schmelzen kommt es durch Einwirkung von Wasser zur Bildung von Chlorwasserstoff sowie Aluminiumoxidchloriden, die in einem geschlossenen System zu einem Druckanstieg bzw. Ausfällungen führen können. Der Gesamtdruck über schwach basischen NaCl-AlCl3-Schmelzen wird durch eine hohe HCl-Löslichkeit herabgesetzt, sodass aus der Bilanz heraus ein Hydrolysegrad von ca. 50 % angenommen werden kann. Für die wassermengenabhängige Verfolgung des Druckes diente eine statische Methode mit einem Drucksensor. Der Oxidgehalt wurde voltammetrisch durch Titration mit TaCl5 und die HCl-Löslichkeit durch eine Elutionsmethode ermittelt. Für Informationen zum Lösungszustand der Hydrolyseprodukte wurden 1H- und 27Al-NMR-Spektren von hydrolysierten Schmelzen aufgenommen.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Science / Jim L. Nelssen and Michael D. Tokach / The optimum sampling method swine producers should use to estimate the mean and SD of pig BW within a barn was determined based upon both the time required to conduct and the precision and accuracy of each sampling method. Weighing 5 pigs from 15 pens was determined to be the optimal sampling method. This should require approximately 55 min to complete. Weighing 5 pigs from 15 pens had a CI range of 7.2 to 8.0 kg for estimating the mean BW and 5.6 kg for estimating SD. Next, a meta-analysis was conducted using data from existing literature to generate equations to predict finishing pig back, belly, and jowl fat iodine value. While numerous factors were evaluated, dietary essential fatty acids, dietary net energy content, and backfat thickness had the greatest influence on predicting iodine value of the 3 distinct fat depots. Lastly, 6 experiments were conducted to determine the effects of added Zn on growth performance, pork quality, plasma Zn, and ileal mucosal inflammation mRNA expression of finishing pigs fed diets containing ractopamine-HCl (RAC; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN). Additional Zn increased plasma Zn and reduced relative expression of IL-1β, but did not improve growth performance of pigs fed diets containing RAC in 5 of the experiments. However, in 1 of the experiments, adding Zn to diets containing RAC resulted in a trend for improved growth performance of pigs. Supplementing the RAC diets with dietary Zn decreased the percentage of type IIA fibers and tended to increase the percentage of type IIX fibers compared to pigs fed the RAC diet without added Zn. Ractopamine-HCl produced chops that were lighter and less red, but possessed reduced metmyoglobin reducing ability at the end of the display period. However, adding Zn to RAC diets increased metmyoglobin reducing ability levels at the end of the display period.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Michael D. Tokach / Four experiments were conducted to determine the interactive effects of dietary L-carnitine and ractopamine HCl (ractopamine) on finishing pig growth performance. In analysis of treatments common to all experiments, ractopamine increased (P < 0.01) ADG and G:F compared to pigs not fed ractopamine. Added L-carnitine tended to increase (P < 0.07) ADG and improved (P < 0.01) G:F compared to pigs not fed L-carnitine. Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of L-carnitine and ractopamine on carcass characteristics and meat quality. In Exp. 1, drip loss decreased (linear, P < 0.04) in pigs fed increasing L-carnitine. In Exp. 2, drip loss decreased (P < 0.04) with increasing L-carnitine when fed with ractopamine. Percentage lean was higher (P < 0.01) for pigs fed ractopamine. In Exp. 3, lean percentage increased (P < 0.03) in pigs fed L-carnitine or ractopamine. Pigs fed L-carnitine tended (P < 0.06) to have decreased drip loss. These results suggest that ractopamine increases carcass leanness and L-carnitine reduces drip loss when fed in combination with ractopamine. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of L-carnitine and ractopamine on the metabolic response to handling. Non-gentle handling increased (P < 0.01) lactate and rectal temperature, and decreased pH. In Exp. 1, non-gentle handled pigs fed ractopamine had decreased (P < 0.01) pH and increased temperature and tended (P < 0.09) to have higher lactate than other pigs. In Exp. 2, lactate and temperature changes from immediately post-handling to 1 h post-handling were not different for pigs fed L-carnitine or ractopamine suggesting that L-carnitine did not decrease recovery time of pigs subjected to non-gentle handling or fed ractopamine. These results suggest that pigs fed ractopamine are more susceptible to stress when handled aggressively. Because carnitine did not alleviate the negative effects of handling for pigs fed ractopamine, the improvement in drip loss from feeding carnitine must be due to a different mode of action.

Statistical graphics are often augmented by the use of color coding information contained in some variable. When this involves the shading of areas (and not only points or lines) - e.g., as in bar plots, pie charts, mosaic displays or heatmaps - it is important that the colors are perceptually based and do not introduce optical illusions or systematic bias. Here, we discuss how the perceptually-based Hue-Chroma-Luminance (HCL) color space can be used for deriving suitable color palettes for coding categorical data (qualitative palettes) and numerical variables (sequential and diverging palettes). / Series: Research Report Series / Department of Statistics and Mathematics

Residual-based shadings for enhancing mosaic and association plots to visualize independence models for contingency tables are extended in two directions: (a) perceptually uniform HCL colors are used and (b) the result of an associated significance test is coded by the appearance of color in the visualization. For obtaining (a), a general strategy for deriving diverging palettes in the perceptually-based HCL space is suggested. As for (b), cut offs that control the appearance of color are computed in a data-driven way based on the conditional permutation distribution of maximum-type test statistics. The shadings are first established for the case of independence in 2-way tables and then extended to more general independence models for multi-way tables, including in particular conditional independence problems. / Series: Research Report Series / Department of Statistics and Mathematics