Peach production in Utah is an important enterprise. In 1946 the crop of 700,000 bushels was valued at $1,085,000, which was approximately one percent of the value of all agricultural commodities grown in the state. The estimate average annual production over the ten-year period, 1936 to 1945, was 636,000 bushels. About 95 percent of the peach trees are located in Washington county and along the Wasatch Front in Utah, Salt lake, Davis, Weber, and Box Elder counties. Small-scale family type units characterize the production of peaches in Utah. The 5,071 farmers who reported growing peach trees in 1944 had an average of 146 trees per farm. In the state, peach production is concentrated on well-drained open soils which require frequent irrigation. The usual practice is to disk several times during the growing season. Some operators leave the ground between the trees bare during the winter months, while others prefer to leave an undergrowth of clover, grass, or weeds. The enterprise is most successful if located where air currents protect the orchards from early spring frosts. In Utah the freestone varieties predominate. The Early and Late Elbertas are most common, followed by J. H. Hale, Late Crawford, Heath Cling, Rochester, Greensboro and other less popular varieties. Golden Jubilee and Halbertas were also found. Canning factories provide a market for a small portion of the peach crop, but most of them must be marketed fresh by peddling and at roadside stands or shipped out of the state through marketing associations and brokers. The competitive nature of agriculture makes it necessary for successful farmers to attempt to keep costs at a minimum. Present high production costs and the likelihood of lower prices for farm products in the future make this problem vitally important to Utah peach growers and to farmers in general. The purposes of this study are (1) to determine the unit cost of producing peaches in Utah and the items comprising the costs, and (2) to discover what methods of production are associated with success in the peach industry.

Differences in texture at any particular stage of ripening depend upon differences in the basic structure and the extent to which the basic structure is modified by physical parameters. Thus, very young cheeses of the same variety differ in texture because of variations in pH and in salt, moisture, and fat content. How well a cheese melts and shreds depend on its texture and physical parameters. Streptococcus thermophilus MR1C produces an exopolysaccharide (EPS) that is tightly associated with the bacterial cell wall. Addition of S. thermophilus MR1C to the cheese make will increase the moisture of the cheese 2-3% and thus affect the texture, melt, and shreddability of that cheese. To determine the effect of S. thermophilus MR1C on the texture, melt, and shreddability of cheese, two stirred-curd cheeses with equivalent physical parameters using BPS-producing S. thermophilus MR1C or non-BPS-producing S. thermophilus DM10 adjunct cultures were produced. Because MR1C cheese would increase moisture, the curd size, wash water temperature, and pH at salting had to be altered in order to make the physical parameters the same for both cheeses. The MR1C cheese was harder and had a higher fracture stress than the DM10 cheese. The MRlC cheese was also more adhesive, but only for one of the two trials. Even with adjustments in the method of manufacture, the MR1C cheese still had a slightly higher SM and pH, which may be partly responsible for the differences between the two cheeses. There were no differences between the MRlC cheese and the DM1 0 cheese in shreddability as determined by fines, stickiness, and gumminess. Cheese produced without a streptoccus adjunct culture was more cohesive and had fewer fines than the MRIC or DM10 cheese.

A major factor in the ability of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf-5 to act as a biological control agent is its production of antibiotics, including pyoluteorin (PLT), 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (2,4-DAPG) and pyrrolnitrin (PRN). The data provided in this thesis demonstrate that the presence of any of these antibiotics in the extracellular milieu affects production of that same antibiotic, as well as others, by Pf-5. Amending the growth medium with antibiotics had multiple effects on secondary metabolism in Pf-5. i) PLT positively regulated its own production, ii) 2,4-DAPG positively regulated its own production. iii) PLT suppressed 2,4-DAPG production. iv) 2,4- DAPG inhibited PLT production. v) PLT suppressed transcription of a heterologous ferric-pyoverdine uptake gene. vi) PRN exerted a slight inhibitory effect on PLT gene transcription and production. PLT autoinduction by Pf-5 was extensively characterized, and was shown to require concentrations of exogenous PLT in the nanomolar range. These low concentrations are comparable to those of many molecules proposed to function in signaling roles. PLT served as a signal between distinct populations of cells within the rhizosphere, where it prompted autoinduction by those cells. Aside from effects of Pf- 5 antibiotics on one another, I also described the positive effect of exogenous PLT on expression of a set of transport genes flanking the PLT biosynthetic gene cluster. Sequence data and experimental evidence suggests that these genes encode a transport apparatus for PLT. The deduced amino acid sequences for four adjacent open reading frames together resemble Type I secretion apparatuses, which typically function in transport of proteins rather than secondary metabolites. The intact transporter genes are necessary for optimal PLT production. Taken together, the data from the studies described herein demonstrate that i) the production of PLT by Pf-5 can affect the production of PLT by neighboring cells, and ii) PLT and other exogenous secondary metabolites have both autoregulatory and cross-regulatory effects in culture. Because Pf-5 derivatives engaged in PLT crossfeeding in the rhizosphere, it is likely that cross-feeding occurs for other secondary metabolites as well. Thus, production of an antibiotic by one cell can profoundly affect secondary metabolism in neighboring cells occupying natural habitats. / Graduation date: 2004

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has been recognized as an important foodborne pathogen. Of this group, O91 is one of the common serogroups frequently isolated from patients and food in some countries, with O91:H21 being previously implicated in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Cattle are principle reservoirs for STEC, and studies examining STEC shedding in cattle often include experimental inoculation of strains of interest using antibiotic resistance markers for identifiable recovery. However, indigenous fecal microbes exhibiting similar resistance patterns can confound such studies. Such was the case in a study by our group when attempting to characterize shedding patterns of O91:H21 in calves, leading us to seek other, more effective, markers. Among our strategies was the development of a chromosomally integrated bioluminescence marker via transposon mutagenesis using a luxCDABE cassette from Photorhabdus luminescens and a plasmid borne GFP marker via transformation of the pGFP vector. The luxCDABE marker was inserted on host chromosome at a site that was 27 nucleotides before the stop codon of gene yihL and confirmed to have little impact on important virulence genes and growth rate with a very high stability. In contrast, plasmid borne GFP marker showed poor stability without the application of appropriate antibiotic selection pressure. For calves receiving luxCDABE-marked O91:H21, the fecal counts of the organismranged from 1.2 x 10 3 to 1.3 x 10 4CFU/g at two days post inoculation and decreased to 5.8 to 8.7 x 10 2 CFU/g or undetectable level after two weeks.Intestinal contents sampled from various positions at day 14 post inoculation indicated that cecum and descending colon may be the primary localization sites of this O91:H21 strain. Compared to antibiotic resistance markers, the use of bioluminescence markers does not require the restricted pre-inoculation screening of animals. The enumeration of luxCDABE-marked O91:H21 from feces and intestinal contents was easily accomplished and confirmed reliable by M-PCR analysis under the presence of indigenous bacteria which cannot be eliminated by antibiotic-supplemented selective plates. Therefore, the chromosomal integrated luxCDABE marker may be a better model for the study of STEC colonization and shedding in cattle.

Shiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli</i> (STEC) is an important food- and water-borne pathogen of humans, causing Hemorrhagic Colitis and Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Colonization of both cattle and human hosts is mediated through the action of effector molecules secreted via a type III secretion system (T3SS), which forms attaching and effacing lesions (A/E). The necessary effectors which form A/E by manipulation of host signalling and actin nucleation are present on a pathogenicity island called the Locus of Enterocyte Effacement (LEE).<p> It has been reported that vaccination of cattle with Type III-secreted proteins (T3SPs) from STEC O157 resulted in decreased shedding. In order to extend this to non-O157 STEC serotypes, we examined the serological cross-reactivity of T3SPs of serotypes O26:H11, O103:H2, O111:NM and O157:H7. Groups of cattle were vaccinated with T3SPs produced from each of the serotypes and the magnitude and specificity of the responses were measured resulting in limited cross reactivity. Overall, results suggest that vaccination of cattle with T3SPs as a means of reducing the risk of STEC transmission to humans will induce protection that is serotype specific.<p> To pursue the possibility of a cross-protective vaccine, we investigated the protective properties of a chimeric Tir protein against STEC serotypes. Several studies have reported that Tir is highly immunogenic and capable of producing high antibody titers. Potter and colleagues also demonstrated that the vaccination of cattle with ∆tir STEC O157 strain did not protect as well as the wildtype strain. We constructed thirty-mer peptides to the entire STEC O157 Tir protein, as well as to the intimin binding domain of the Tir protein from STEC serotype O26, O103 and O111. Using sera raised against STEC O157 and non-O157 T3SPs, we identified a number of immunogenic peptides containing epitopes unique to a particular serotype. Two different chimeric Tir proteins were constructed containing the STEC O157 Tir protein fused with six STEC non-O157 peptides with or without the Leukotoxin produced by <i>Mannheimia haemolytica</i>. However, the vaccination of mice with the chimeric protein did not protect against challenge with STEC O157 or STEC O111. These results suggest that to achieve cross protection against STEC serotypes using a recombinant protein vaccine, other immunogenic and protective antigens must also be included.<p> In order to identify other immunogenic and cross-protective antigens we cloned and expressed the genes coding for 66 effectors and purified each as histidine-tagged proteins. These included 37 LEE-encoded proteins and 29 non-LEE effectors. The serological response against each protein was measured by Western blot analysis and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sera from rabbits immunized with T3SPs from four STEC serotypes, experimentally infected cattle and human sera from 6 HUS patients. A total of 20 proteins were recognized by at least one of the STEC T3SP- vaccinated rabbits using Western blots. Sera from experimentally infected cattle and HUS patients were tested using an ELISA against each of the proteins. Tir, EspB, EspD, EspA and NleA were recognized by the majority of the samples tested. Overall, proteins such as Tir, EspB, EspD, NleA and EspA were highly immunogenic for both vaccinated and naturally infected subjects.<p> Based on the above results, two different mixtures of secreted proteins (5 proteins and 9 proteins) were used to vaccinate mice and test the level of shedding following challenge with STEC O157. Overall, the cocktail vaccine containing 9 immunogenic effectors including Tir, EspB, EspD, NleA and EspA was capable of reducing shedding as effectively as the current STEC T3SPs vaccine, Econiche®.

Shiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli</i> (STEC) is an important food- and water-borne pathogen of humans, causing Hemorrhagic Colitis and Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome. Colonization of both cattle and human hosts is mediated through the action of effector molecules secreted via a type III secretion system (T3SS), which forms attaching and effacing lesions (A/E). The necessary effectors which form A/E by manipulation of host signalling and actin nucleation are present on a pathogenicity island called the Locus of Enterocyte Effacement (LEE).<p> It has been reported that vaccination of cattle with Type III-secreted proteins (T3SPs) from STEC O157 resulted in decreased shedding. In order to extend this to non-O157 STEC serotypes, we examined the serological cross-reactivity of T3SPs of serotypes O26:H11, O103:H2, O111:NM and O157:H7. Groups of cattle were vaccinated with T3SPs produced from each of the serotypes and the magnitude and specificity of the responses were measured resulting in limited cross reactivity. Overall, results suggest that vaccination of cattle with T3SPs as a means of reducing the risk of STEC transmission to humans will induce protection that is serotype specific.<p> To pursue the possibility of a cross-protective vaccine, we investigated the protective properties of a chimeric Tir protein against STEC serotypes. Several studies have reported that Tir is highly immunogenic and capable of producing high antibody titers. Potter and colleagues also demonstrated that the vaccination of cattle with ∆tir STEC O157 strain did not protect as well as the wildtype strain. We constructed thirty-mer peptides to the entire STEC O157 Tir protein, as well as to the intimin binding domain of the Tir protein from STEC serotype O26, O103 and O111. Using sera raised against STEC O157 and non-O157 T3SPs, we identified a number of immunogenic peptides containing epitopes unique to a particular serotype. Two different chimeric Tir proteins were constructed containing the STEC O157 Tir protein fused with six STEC non-O157 peptides with or without the Leukotoxin produced by <i>Mannheimia haemolytica</i>. However, the vaccination of mice with the chimeric protein did not protect against challenge with STEC O157 or STEC O111. These results suggest that to achieve cross protection against STEC serotypes using a recombinant protein vaccine, other immunogenic and protective antigens must also be included.<p> In order to identify other immunogenic and cross-protective antigens we cloned and expressed the genes coding for 66 effectors and purified each as histidine-tagged proteins. These included 37 LEE-encoded proteins and 29 non-LEE effectors. The serological response against each protein was measured by Western blot analysis and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sera from rabbits immunized with T3SPs from four STEC serotypes, experimentally infected cattle and human sera from 6 HUS patients. A total of 20 proteins were recognized by at least one of the STEC T3SP- vaccinated rabbits using Western blots. Sera from experimentally infected cattle and HUS patients were tested using an ELISA against each of the proteins. Tir, EspB, EspD, EspA and NleA were recognized by the majority of the samples tested. Overall, proteins such as Tir, EspB, EspD, NleA and EspA were highly immunogenic for both vaccinated and naturally infected subjects.<p> Based on the above results, two different mixtures of secreted proteins (5 proteins and 9 proteins) were used to vaccinate mice and test the level of shedding following challenge with STEC O157. Overall, the cocktail vaccine containing 9 immunogenic effectors including Tir, EspB, EspD, NleA and EspA was capable of reducing shedding as effectively as the current STEC T3SPs vaccine, Econiche®.

As China's stainless steel production capacity has increased since 2005, the world supply of steel products accelerates rapidly. With stainless steel products being included in the early harvest list of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), manufacturers in Taiwan can expect the tariff in China to be reduced to zero gradually. Since China itself is expanding its stainless steel production capacity, this shall impact Taiwan¡¦s stainless steel exports a great deal. A large amount of stainless steel is needed for many of China's Eleven Five-Year Constructions which consist of items such as the petrochemical, energy and shipbuilding projects, and policies such as home appliances and automobiles to the countryside. Consequently, enormous business opportunities will be seen for stainless steel in China. However, due to the increase rate of supply is much larger than the increase rate of demand, in the foreseeable future, the oversupply of stainless steel shall become a very serious problem. In this study, we successfully construct the Architecture-Oriented Stainless Steel Cold Roll Producing and Marketing Model (AOSSCRPMM) based on six fundamental diagrams of the structure-behavior coalescence (SBC) architecture. AOSSCRPMM provides an integrated description of structure and behavior of producing and marketing activities in the stainless steel cold roll industry. Organizations, information systems and processes are all integrated in AOSSCRPMM so employees can effectively achieve consensus in corporate communication and ramp up quickly to have a holistic view of the whole enterprise. AOSSCRPMM also helps the stainless steel cold roll industry get better operational qualities for operational management.

Computer animation projects, specifically feature film productions, require large teams of artists to manage and coordinate the use of enormous amounts of data containing both aesthetic and technical information within a specific time frame and while using finite resources. Mismanagement through information loss or inefficiency can result in both a compromised artistic vision and a financial loss. This thesis presents the conceptualization of a work management system based upon a successful system used in architecture and construction called Building Information Modeling, or BIM. BIM principles are adapted for use in animation production through the use of images as containers of information. The thesis does not include implementation of the management system described but does predict, based upon comparisons with architecture and construction, that a significant level of information carry-through can be achieved from concept art to final frames and we expect a positive gains in the efficient use of production resources. Adoption of this proposed project management structure could reduce production budgets, improve the communication flow between directors and artists, and develop an empirical based record for predicting the resource usage requirements for proposed projects in the future.

The business in Taiwan are globalized gradually. In the past time, most of the headquarter and factory of business are established in Taiwan. Then, by considering of the overhead and the needs of market, they moved some factories abroad in droves. The headquarters of Taiwan product some high valuable productions, low value productions be produced in overseas, and then be formed gradually a model of supply chain management. The form become complexity because of business goes abroad step by step. Sometimes they import well-done productions or parts, another time they export productions. At depends on economical comparable benefit in global and the principle of division of labor. For focusing on running own business, Company let the unimportant and low value parts be outsourcing is an apparent trend. The essay is studying of local motorcycle company, and discussing about the factory of outsourcing or producing by themselves within business. Then providing a strategically decision model for manager, and a method of purchase and supplier¡¦s management when make outsourcing. The process of this essay is discussing of the theory of source base, the theory of core ability, producing by themselves or outsourcing, the strategy of purchase, the theory of supply chain management, satellite system, and explain the profile of the motorcycle¡¦s industry, and their business running model and the classifying of motorcycle parts, and the producing method of parts. Finally, providing a method of assessing to be reference materials. Keywords¡Rcore competence , business plan , outsourcing or producing by themselves , decision model

While evolutionary computation is well suited for automatic discovery in engineering, it can also be used to gain insight into how humans and organizations could perform more effectively. Using a real-world problem of innovation search in organizations as the motivating example, this dissertation formalizes human creative problem solving as competitive multi-agent search. It differs from existing single-agent and team-search problems in that the agents interact through knowledge of other agents' searches and through the dynamic changes in the search landscape caused by these searches. The main hypothesis is that evolutionary computation can be used to discover effective strategies for competitive multi-agent search. This hypothesis is verified in experiments using an abstract domain based on the NK model, i.e. partially correlated and tunably rugged fitness landscapes, and a concrete domain in the form of a social innovation game. In both domains, different specialized strategies are evolved for each different competitive environment, and also strategies that generalize across environments. Strategies evolved in the abstract domain are more effective and more complex than hand-designed strategies and one based on traditional tree search. Using a novel spherical visualization of the fitness landscapes of the abstract domain, insight is gained about how successful strategies work, e.g. by tracking positive changes in the landscape. In the concrete game domain, human players were modeled using backpropagation, and used as opponents to create environments for evolution. Evolved strategies scored significantly higher than the human models by using a different proportion of actions, providing insights into how performance could be improved in social innovation domains. The work thus provides a possible framework for studying various human creative activities as competitive multi-agent search in the future. / text