Thesis (M.A. in agribusiness)--Washington State University. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Sociology." Includes bibliographical references (p. 154-167).

Thesis (M.Sc.(Agric))(Agricultural Economics)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Title from opening screen (viewed March 22, 2006). Includes summary. Includes bibliographical references.

This thesis attempts to test several frameworks of non-Newtonian gravity in the context of galaxies and galaxy clusters. The theory most extensively discussed was that of Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) with Galileon gravity, Emergent Gravity (EG) and Modified Gravity (MOG) mentioned to a lesser extent. Specifically, the main focus of this thesis was to determine whether MOND and MOND-like theories were compatible with galaxy cluster data, without the need to include cold dark matter. To do this, the paradigms of Extended MOND (EMOND), Generalised MOND (GMOND) and superfluid dark matter were investigated. The theories were outlined and applied to galaxy cluster data. The main findings of this were that EMOND and GMOND had some success with explaining galaxy cluster mass profiles, without requiring an additional dark matter component. The superfluid paradigm also enjoyed some success in galaxy clusters, which was expected as it behaves in a similar manner to the standard cold dark matter paradigm in cluster environments. However, the superfluid paradigm may have issues in the very centre of galaxy clusters due to the theory predicting constant density cores, whereas the cold dark matter paradigm predicts density cores which are cuspier. The EMOND paradigm was also tested against ultra-diffuse galaxy (UDGs) data as they appear in cluster environments, where EMOND becomes important. It was found that EMOND can reproduce the inferred mass of the UDGs, assuming they lie on the fundamental manifold (FM). The validity of the assumptions used to model the UDGs are discussed in the text. A two-body problem was also conducted in the Galileon gravity framework. The amount of additional gravitational force, compared to Newtonian was determined for a small galaxy at the edge of a galaxy cluster.

The focus of this thesis is on the design and selection of systolic architectures for ASIC implementation of the real-time digital signal processing task of Modi- fied Covariance spectral estimation. When used with pulsed Doppler ultrasound blood flow detectors, the Modified Covariance spectral estimator offers increased sensitivity in the detection of arterial disease over conventional Fourier transform based methods. The systolic model of computation is considered because through pipelining and parallel processing high levels of concurrency can be achieved to attain the nec- essary throughput for real-time operation. Systolic arrays of simple processing units are also well suited for implementation on VLSI. The versatility of the de- sign of systolic arrays using the rigorous data dependence graph methodology is demonstrated throughout the thesis by application to all sections of the spectral estimator design at both word and bit levels. Systolic array design for the model order 4 Modified Covariance spectral estima- tor, known to offer accurate estimation of blood flow mean velocity and d1stur- bance at an acceptable computational burden, is initially discussed. A variety of problem size dependent systolic arrays for real-time implementation of the fixed model order spectral estimator are designed using data dependence graph mapping methods. Optimal designs are chosen by comparison of hardware, com- munication and control costs, as well as efficiency, timing, data flow and accuracy considerations. A cost/benefit analysis, based on results from structural simula- tion of the arrays, allows the most suitable word-lengths to be chosen. Problem size independent systolic arrays are then discussed as means of coping with the huge increases in computational burden for a Modified Covariance spec- tral estimator which is programmable up to high model orders. This type of array can be used to reduce the number of PEs and increase efficiency when compared to the problem size dependent arrays and the research culminates in the proposal of a novel spiral systolic array for Cholesky decomposition.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-04-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:41:10Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 yonezawa_la_dr_botfmvz.pdf: 1612963 bytes, checksum: a73a85ad5e451406738950726ca4c07b (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O presente estudo pretendeu avaliar o efeito fisiológico do exercício sobre os marcadores cardíacos e de lipoperoxidação, o efeito da suplementação com vitamina E, e a determinação da albumina modificada pela isquemia (AMI) como um possível marcador de isquemia miocárdica em equinos sem treinamento prévio e submetidos ao exercício de rápida aceleração e curta duração (TRA) e de baixa intensidade e longa duração (TLD). Para tanto, foram utilizados 10 equinos, sendo cinco Árabes e cinco Crioulos, sem treinamento prévio, que realizaram o primeiro TRA e, sete dias depois, o TLD1. Em seguida, durante 52 dias os equinos receberam vitamina E (dl-alfa-tocoferol) na dose de 1.000 UI/dia e, posteriormente, realizaram o TRA2 e o TLD2 com sete dias de intervalo. Determinou-se o malondialdeído (MDA) plasmático, as concentrações séricas de troponina I cardíaca (TCI), isoenzima MB da creatinoquinase (CK-MB), mioglobina e AMI. Observou-se que os exercícios dos testes TRA e TLD promoveram estresse miocárdico em equinos evidenciado pelo aumento de CK-MB, mas não foi considerado grave. Houve ainda o efeito benéfico da suplementação da vitamina E pela diminuição da concentração de MDA plasmático em ambos os tipos de exercícios, e de TCI sérica no TRA2. A AMI não se mostrou eficaz na detecção de isquemia miocárdica nos equinos avaliados, uma vez que em ambos os tipos de exercício não promoveram alterações significativas, sugerindo-se que não seja sensível para esse tipo de avaliação nessa espécie / This study aimed to evaluate the physiological effect of exercise on cardiac and lipoperoxidation markers, effect of vitamin E supplementation, and ischemia modified albumin (AMI) determination as a possible marker for myocardial ischemia in horses submitted to rapid acceleration and short duration (TRA) exercise and to low intensity and long duration (TLD) exercise. Ten horses, five Arabian and five Crioulo, performed the first TRA, and TLD1 seven days later. Horses received vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol) for 52 days at a daily dose of 1,000 IU, and then they performed TRA2, and TLD2 seven days after. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), serum cardiac troponin I (TIC), creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), myoglobin and AMI were determined. Both TRA and TLD caused myocardial stress in horses revealed by the CK-MB increase, but it was not considered serious. There was also a beneficial effect of vitamin E by decreased plasma MDA concentration in both types of exercise, and by lower TIC level in TRA2. AMI was not effective in detecting myocardial ischemia in horses, since in both exercise types there were no significant changes, suggesting that it is not a sensitive marker to assess ischemic condition in this species

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-07-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:46:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 santos_dp_dr_araiq.pdf: 1188899 bytes, checksum: d68232ae67613f5466f8f1011c845d6e (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O Poli ácido glutâmico (PAG) é um poliaminoácido sintético formado por unidades repetitivas de glutamato, que apresentam grupos carboxilas ao longo de sua cadeia principal. A preparação de eletrodos de carbono vítreo modificados com filmes de PAG foi investigada utilizando-se três diferentes procedimentos: eletropolimerização do ácido glutâmico (MONO); deposição direta de poli ácido glutâmico (PAG) e poli ácido glutâmico:glutaraldeído (PAG:GLU) seguida de secagem a temperatura ambiente. Após secagem, o eletrodo modificado foi submetido a ciclos sucessivos entre -0,8 a +2,0 V sob velocidade de varredura de 100 mV s-1. O ácido ascórbico foi usado como composto modelo para os eletrodos modificados, os quais apresentaram um efeito eletrocatalítico na oxidação do mesmo. Os eletrodos modificados foram caracterizados por microscopia de força atômica (AFM) e espectroscopia de impedância eletroquímica (EIS). O recobrimento sobre a superfície pela adição de PAG apresentou a melhor performance exibindo filmes nanoestruturados e uniformes com baixa resistência à transferência de carga. Os eletrodos modificados por filmes PAG foram usados para estudar a oxidação do flavonóide rutina. Os resultados mostraram um par de picos redox em +0,46/+0,43 V, usado para a pré-concentração da rutina. Uma curva analítica foi obtida no intervalo de 0,9 a 9,0 μmol L-1 e o método proposto foi aplicado para análise do antioxidante em formulação farmacêutica. Os eletrodos modificados por filmes PAG foram também usados para determinação de ácido cafêico. Um par de pico redox reversível em +0,42/+0,45 V foi obtido para o ácido cafêico em tampão B-R pH 3,5. O método foi aplicado para a determinação de ácido cafêico em amostra de vinho tinto, detectando nível de concentração de 34,8μg mL-1 sem tratamento... / The poly glutamic acid (PAG) is a syntetic poliamonacid composed by repetitive glutamate units that shows carboxylic groups in the long of the principal chain. Films of PAG on the glassy carbon electrode was investigated by three diferents procedures: glutamic acid eletropomelimerization (MONO), direct deposition of the poly glutamic acid (PAG) and poly glutamic acid:glutaraldehyde (PAG:GLU), followed by drying at room temperature. After solvent evaporation, the modified electrode was submitted by cycles sucessives from -0.8 to +2.0 V at scan rate of 100 mV s-1. The ascorbic acid was used as a model compound in the modified electrodes, which presented an electrocatitic effect in the oxidation of the ascorbic acid. The modified electrodes were characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and electrochemistry impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Coantings by poly glutamic acid onto the surface presented best performance by addition of PAG films that exhibits films nanostructured and uniforms with lower resistance to charge transfer. The modified electrode by PAG films were investigated to oxidation of rutin flavonoid. The results showed a redox pair of peaks at +0.46/+0.43 V, and linear analytical curve at 0.9 to 9.0 x 10-6 mol L-1. The method proposed was successful applied for rutin determination in pharmaceutical formulation. The modified electrode by PAG films was also used to determine cafeic acid. A reversible redox peak pair at +0.42/+0.45 V was obtained for cafeic acid at B-R buffer pH 3,5. The method was applied for cafeic acid determination in the red...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)

This thesis examines the role of exports and GMO regulations of the exporting country on the adoption of GM crops by its farmers. The analytic sample includes five major exporting countries including Argentina, Brazil, China, India, and Mexico. I focus only on the crop that is widely grown in each country. The crops are cotton, maize, and soybean. GMO regulations indices, which were constructed by Vigani et al, consists of four categories of different regulations related to import of GMO products. Relative impact of different aspects of GMO regulations on exports are assessed to get a better understanding of domestic production decisions of farmers in major exporting countries. The result for the approval process, risk assessment and international agreement suggested that, these regulations are not significant to influence the adoption rate of the GM crops. The exporting countries, especially the developing countries, usually reluctant to implement the GM regulations because of the high cost of completing the procedures.

Regulation of gene expression by RNA polymerase (RNAP) is an essential ability of living organisms, required for their adaption to a changing environment and ultimately enabling their survival. Interaction of RNAP with ribonucleic acids (DNA or RNA) is crucial for transcription and its regulation. This Doctoral Thesis contains two projects addressing interactions of RNAP with nucleic acids: (i) Transcription of modified DNA templates and (ii) Ms1, a small RNA (sRNA) from M. smegmatis. (i) We investigated the influence of modifications in the major groove of DNA on bacterial transcription in vitro. We found out that transcription of modified DNA templates is influenced on the transcription initiation level and that the promoter sequence is important for the effect of the modifications. Furthermore, we successfully performed transcription switch ON and OFF in vitro by bioorthogonal reactions. This regulation of transcription by artificial DNA modifications has a future in biotechnologies and/or medical therapy. (ii) Regulators of transcription are also small non-coding RNAs. These molecules have an important role in gene expression regulation among prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Ms1 is an sRNA found in mycobacteria. It makes a complex with the RNAP core and it is abundant in stationary phase (in amounts...

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) has been successfully deposited onto nanometer-sized gold (Au) electrodes. The cyclic voltammograms obtained on a 4-ATP SAMs modified electrode show peaks and the peak height is proportional to the scan rate, which is similar to that on an electroactive SAMs modified macro electrode. The electrochemical behavior and mechanism of outer-sphere electron transfer reaction on the 4-ATP SAMs modified nanometer-sized electrode has also been studied. The 4-ATP SAMs modified electrode is further modified with platinum (Pt) nanoparticles. Electrochemical behaviors show that there is electrical communication between Pt nanoparticles and Au metal on the Pt nanoparticles/4-ATP SAMs/Au electrode. However, scanning electron microscopic image shows that the Pt nanoparticles are not evenly covered the electrode.