Master of Science / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Bhadriraju Subramanyam / Hulya Dogan / Stored-product insects and stored products from feed mills and swine farms contain antibiotic and potentially virulent Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Enterococcus gallinarum, and Enterococcus hirae. Stored-product insects can serve as potential vectors of these enterococci which possess antibiotic resistance genes that can be spread by horizontal transfer to more serious human pathogens. In the present study, the species and concentration of enterococci from adults and larvae of key stored-product insects and insect diets and their antibiotic resistance profile were characterized. Adults of five species out of the 15 stored-product insects were tested positive for enterococci, and these included Callosobruchus maculatus (F.), Sitophilus granarius (L.), Stegobium paniceum (L.), Lasioderma serricorne (F.), and Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky. Three enterococcal species (E. casseliflavus, E. faecalis, and E. faecium) were found in 53 to 97% of the 30 adults screened for each insect species, and the enterococcal concentrations ranged from 1.4 x 10³ to 3.1 x 10⁶ CFU/adult. About 10 to 100% of the mature larvae of the respective five insect species had these three enterococcal species with concentrations ranging from 0.3 x 10¹ to 1.4 x 10⁵ CFU/larvae. Only three of the eight insect diets screened had the same three enterococci species in addition to E. gallinarum and E. hirae at concentrations of 0.2 x 10¹ to 5.9 x 10³ CFU/g. The greatest enterococcal concentration was found in C. maculatus adults but not in their larvae or diet (cowpeas). In C. maculatus during a nine-day period after adult eclosion, the enterococcal concentrations increased exponentially from 0.6 x 10¹ to a maximum of 4.1 x 10⁷ CFU/adult. Enterococci were detected in the fecal material of C. maculatus during a four-day period with a maximum concentration of 3.3 x 10³ CFU/adult on the fourth day. A total of 298 enterococcal isolates from adults, larvae, and diets were represented by E. faecalis (51.7% of the total), E. faecium (19.1%), E. casseliflavus (18.8%), E. gallinarum (5.7%), and E. hirae (4.7%). Enterococci were phenotypically resistant to quinupristin (51.3% of the total), erythromycin (38.9%), tetracycline (30.1%), enrofloxacin (29.2%), doxycycline (11.5%), and tigecycline (2.7%). All isolates were susceptible to ampicillin and vancomycin.

by Shek Wong. / Thesis submitted in: December 1997. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 90-[94]). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Electronic Commerce --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2 --- Electronic Cash --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- What This Report Contains --- p.9 / Chapter 2 --- Cryptographic Background --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1 --- Euler Totient Function --- p.12 / Chapter 2.2 --- Fermat's Little Theorem --- p.12 / Chapter 2.3 --- Quadratic Residues --- p.12 / Chapter 2.4 --- Legendre Symbol --- p.13 / Chapter 2.5 --- Jacobi Symbol --- p.14 / Chapter 2.6 --- Blum Integer --- p.16 / Chapter 2.7 --- Williams Integer --- p.18 / Chapter 2.8 --- The Quadratic Residuosity Problem --- p.19 / Chapter 2.9 --- The Factorization Problem --- p.20 / Chapter 2.10 --- The Discrete Logarithm Problem --- p.20 / Chapter 2.11 --- One-way Functions --- p.21 / Chapter 2.12 --- Blind Signature --- p.22 / Chapter 2.13 --- Cut-and-choose Methodology --- p.24 / Chapter 3 --- Anatomy and Panorama of Electronic Cash --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1 --- Anatomy of Electronic Cash --- p.26 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Three Functions and Six Criteria --- p.28 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Untraceable --- p.29 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Online and Off-line --- p.30 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Security --- p.32 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Transferability --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2 --- Panorama of Electronic Cash --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- First Model of Off-line Electronic Cash --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Successors --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Binary Tree Based Divisible Electronic Cash --- p.36 / Chapter 4 --- Spending Limit Enforced Electronic Cash --- p.37 / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction to Spending Limit Enforced Electronic Cash --- p.37 / Chapter 4.2 --- The Scheme --- p.41 / Chapter 4.3 --- An Example --- p.44 / Chapter 4.4 --- Techniques --- p.47 / Chapter 4.5 --- Security and Efficiency --- p.51 / Chapter 5 --- Interest-bearing Electronic Cash --- p.53 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction to Interest-bearing Electronic Cash --- p.53 / Chapter 5.2 --- An Example --- p.55 / Chapter 5.3 --- The Scheme --- p.55 / Chapter 5.4 --- Security --- p.57 / Chapter 5.5 --- An Integrated Scheme --- p.58 / Chapter 5.6 --- Applications --- p.59 / Chapter 6 --- Abacus Type Electronic Cash --- p.61 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.61 / Chapter 6.2 --- Abacus Model --- p.63 / Chapter 6.3 --- Divisible Abacus Electronic Coins --- p.66 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Binary Tree Abacus Approach --- p.66 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Multi-tree Approach --- p.57 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Analysis --- p.69 / Chapter 6.4 --- Abacus Electronic Cash System --- p.71 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Opening Protocol --- p.71 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Withdrawal Protocol --- p.74 / Chapter 6.4.3 --- Payment and Deposit Protocol --- p.75 / Chapter 6.5 --- Anonymity and System Efficiency --- p.78 / Chapter 7 --- Conclusions --- p.80 / Chapter A --- Internet Payment Systems --- p.82 / Chapter A.1 --- Bare Web FORM --- p.82 / Chapter A.2 --- Secure Web FORM Payment System --- p.85 / Chapter A.3 --- Membership Type Payment System --- p.86 / Chapter A.4 --- Agent Based Payment System --- p.87 / Chapter A.5 --- Internet-based POS --- p.87 / B Papers derived from this thesis --- p.89 / Bibliography --- p.90

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Bhadriraju Subramanyam / Alternatives to chemical grain protectants are needed that have low mammalian toxicity and high specificity to insects with no adverse environmental impacts. This project investigated the viability of using a synthetic amorphous zeolite as a potential alternative to chemical insecticides and phosphine in Australian grain. We evaluated the impacts of moisture content and application rates on dust and grain physical properties; compared registered dusts with this promising novel dust in terms of impact on grain flowability; investigated changes in bulk properties of inert-dust treated grain; and we constructed dynamic dewpoint isotherms of hard red winter wheat and amorphous silica dusts for a better understanding of moisture interactional behavior of the synthetic amorphous dust based on wheat initial moisture content. Full sorption isotherms of zeolite and wheat obtained at 25, 35, and 45⁰C clearly exhibited the hysteresis phenomenon. The intensity of hysteresis remained unchanged with increasing temperatures for Hard Red Winter wheat (HRW), whereas, the intensity of hysteresis decreased with increased temperatures during water adsorption for the porous synthetic amorphous zeolite powder. Considering the IUPAC classification of isotherms, HRW had typical type II sigmoid shape isotherm, whereas, zeolite powder had a sorption isotherm close to resembling a type IV sigmoid shape isotherm. The hysteresis loops were of type H3 for HRW, and of type H4 for zeolite powder. Irrespective of sorption direction, DLP model was the best model to estimate zeolite and HRW sorption isotherms, followed by GAB and BET models, although BET model provided almost perfect fitting to sorption data in the water activity range 0-0.5. Particle size of the amorphous dust increased with increasing moisture content. Conversely, shape parameters (circularity, aspect ratio, convexity, and solidity) generally decreased with increasing dust moisture contents. When wheat was mixed with the amorphous dust at different rates and moisture levels, the bulk density of wheat decreased, while the tapped density and the angle of repose increased, resulting in higher Hausner ratios and Carr Index values. Treating wheat with the amorphous dust caused the treated wheat to transition from an acceptable flowability to a poor flowability, based on angle of repose, Hausner ratio, and Carr index data, which do not account for the interaction of wheat with the storage vessel. Our data suggest that a range of moisture content (2-6%) and an application rate (0.5 g/kg) mitigate the adverse effects on wheat flowability. However, based on flow rate index and specific energy requirements, flowability of wheat was generally enhanced by admixing wheat with the amorphous dusts. Wheat treated with Odor-Z-Way was comparable with wheat treated with Celite or Diafil as they all exhibited low cohesion, moderate permeability, and moderate sensitivity to aeration. Wheat treated with each of the three dusts became almost unstable due to segregation, moisture uptake, lower adhesion, and coating of the blade and test vessel. A decrease in bulk density was however observed, although the decrease was smaller when wheat was admixed with Odor-Z-Way. The susceptibility to Celite, Diafil, and Odor-Z-Way varied among stored-product insect species and also among the type of substrate (wheat or concrete). Adults of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, were generally least susceptible to all three amorphous silica dusts; however, a complete suppression of progeny production was possible using Celite. Adult emergence was generally not prevented by Celite, Diafil, and Odor-Z-Way which suggested a lower insecticidal efficacy of the three dusts against early developmental stages. On concrete, Odor-Z-way was particularly effective at controlling all stored-product insect species after 24 h of exposure. In view of the bulk and dynamic flow properties and the insecticidal activity, Odor-Z-Way has potential to become a grain protectant provided that segregation and the decrease in bulk density are mitigated and that the insecticidal activity is not adversely affected by the seemingly low adhesion on wheat kernels.

Samples of wheat that had been stored in homes up to 48 years were collected with information about age and storage conditions. Germination, weight per bushel, protein, moisture, grade, and aroma were investigated. Volumes of gluten balls and bread made from ground whole wheat samples were measured. Sensory attributes of bread were evaluated by Quantitative Descriptive Analysis (QDA) for eight flavor and seven texture characteristics. Because of the tremendous variation in samples, generalizations on cause and effect are difficult to make. No one criterion was a perfect indicator of quality. A high percentage of germination was one of the better predictors of quality. Grade and weight per bushel were also related to quality. Rancid aroma in wheat forecasted off-flavors in bread. In general, older wheat did not make as good a quality of bread but there were outstanding exceptions.

This work is concerned with the theoretical development of dynamic equations for gyroelastic systems which are dynamic systems with four basic types of continuous mechanical influences, i.e. inertia, elasticity, damping, and gyricity or stored angular momentum. Assuming unrestricted or large attitude changes for the axes of the gyros and utilizing two different theories of elasticity, i.e. the classical and micropolar theories of elasticity, the energy expressions and equations of motion for the undamped classical and micropolar gyroelastic continua are derived. Whereas the micropolar gyroelastic continuum model with extra coefficients and degrees of freedom is primarily developed to account for the asymmetric elasticity, it also proves itself to be more comprehensive in describing the actual gyroscopic system or structure. The dynamic equations of the general three-dimensional gyroelastic continua are reduced to the case of a one-dimensional gyroelastic continua in the three-dimensional space, i.e. three-dimensional gyrobeams. Two different gyrobeam models are developed, one based on the classical beam torsion and bending theories and one based on the simplified micropolar beam torsion and bending theories. Finite element models corresponding to the classical and micropolar gyrobeams are built in MATLAB and used for numerical analysis. The classical and micropolar gyrobeam models are analyzed and compared, against the earlier gyrobeam models developed by other authors and also against each other, through numerical examples. It is shown that there are significant differences between the developed unrestricted classical gyrobeam model and the previously derived zero-order restricted classical gyrobeam models. These differences are more pronounced in the shorter beams and for the transverse gyricity case. The results also indicate that the unrestricted classical and micropolar gyrobeam models behave very diversely in a wide range of micropolar elastic constants even where the classical and micropolar elasticity models coincide. As a foundation for development of the above-mentioned theories, the correct approach for simplification of the micropolar elasticity to the classical elasticity, the simple torsion and bending theories for micropolar beams, and the correct approximation of infinitesimal rotations or microrotations are derived and presented.

During storage of grain, there may have significant damage to its quality due to unfavorable physical and biological interactions and thus requires continuous monitoring. Therefore, an easy, cost-effective and environmentally friendly method is necessary for efficient monitoring of stored-grain. Arrays of sensors are being used for classifying liquors, perfumes, quality of food products mimicking mammalian olfactory systems. Monitoring of stored grain is a new application of sensor arrays. The main objective was to fabricate a carbon black polymer sensor array which can easily monitor incipient grain spoilage by detecting spoiling stored grain volatiles (benzene derivatives and aliphatic hydrocarbon derivatives) with minimum interference from relative humidity. Various aspects of a good sensor were analyzed using statistical analysis (RSD, LDA, PCA, t-test). The developed sensor array can identify red flour beetle-infected and uninfected wheat and fungal volatiles at ambient conditions as well as some stored grain conditions (MC 16%, RH 52%).

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Physics / Thomas W. Phillips / The emergence of heritable high-level resistance to the fumigant gas phosphine in stored-product insects is of grave concern to many grain growing countries around the world. The research reported in this dissertation was designed to determine the presence of phosphine resistance in 34 field collected populations of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) from the United States and Canada, the potential to control resistant R. dominica populations utilizing high dose and longer exposure time strategies, and to develop a rapid assay for phosphine resistance detection. Using a discriminatory dose assay called the FAO number 16 method, adult R. dominica were sampled and subjected to a phosphine dose of 20 ppm for a fumigation exposure period of 20 h to distinguish a susceptible R. dominica adult by death from a resistant beetle that survives the treatment. Results from the study showed that 32 out of the 34 geographic populations surveyed had beetles resistant to phosphine, and the frequency of resistance varied from 97% in a population from Parlier, California to 0% in beetles from both Carnduff, Saskatchewan and Starbuck, Manitoba. A 20-hour dose response assay was used to characterize the level of resistance by calculating the resistance ratio factors using beetles from a laboratory susceptible strain and those from five of the populations sampled. This resistance ratio (RR) was based on the ratio of LC50 (estimate for the concentration to kill 50% of a test group) in the sampled population to the LC50 for the susceptible strain. The highest RR for the five resistant populations was nearly 596-fold in beetles from Belle Glade, Florida, which represented the “strong” resistance phenotype, whereas the lowest RR in that group was 9-fold in Wamego, Kansas, representing the “weak” resistance phenotype. Manipulation of concentration and exposure periods can be utilized to manage strongly resistant R. dominica populations. The effect of several phosphine concentrations and fumigation exposure periods were assessed on progeny of mixed life stage colonies of the strongly resistant R. dominica. A 48 hours dose response assay was carried out on these two strongly resistant populations to re-characterize their levels of resistance. Results from this assay showed that a phosphine dose of 730-870 ppm could control all resistant adult R. dominica. Additionally, phosphine concentrations ranging from 400-800 ppm phosphine for 96 hours completely killed mixed life stage colonies of strongly resistant lesser grain borers from the two populations studied. Lastly, fumigations done beyond 4 days at phosphine concentrations between 450-700 ppm controlled all phosphine resistant populations of lesser grain identified from our previous work. Phosphine applied at high concentrations is known to elicit a knockdown effect that can vary between susceptible and resistance grain insects. Using 18 of the 34 R. dominica populations this study sought to determine among three knockdown time (KT) techniques which method had potential to be utilized in an effective rapid assay for phosphine resistance in R. dominica. Adult R. dominica were exposed to a high concentration of phosphine (3000 ppm) to assess the time to knockdown 50%, 100% of a group of ten insects and that of single insects from the 18 geographically distinct populations vis a vis the resistance frequencies using the FAO method. KT100 quick test was better than the KT50 and Ktsingle, because bioassays were able to clearly distinguish among susceptible, weak and strong resistant individuals. Time for KT100 from susceptible populations did not exceed 30 minutes, while resistant populations had KT100 times above 30 min, with strong-resistant populations times longer than 100 min.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / Subramanyam Bhadriraju / Filter cake and Triplex are powdered by-products of aluminum sulfate and soap factories, respectively. Studies were designed to determine elemental composition of these two powders and evaluate the efficacy against stored product insect species on concrete surfaces and commodities. Elemental composition of the powders was determined using conjugated scanning electron microscopy and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. No heavy metals were found in both powders, and the dominant elements found were silicon and oxygen in the form of silicon dioxide. The efficacy of filter cake and Triplex against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky; rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus); lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica Fabricius; red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst); saw-toothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus); and Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), was determined using a range of concentrations and exposure times. On concrete surfaces ≥ 7.5 g/m² of filter cake produced more than 99% mortality of S. zeamais and S. oryzae adults within 12–24 h, whereas more than three times the concentration of filter cake was required to achieve similar mortality of both species in Triplex treatments. At 3 g/m² of filter cake, 99% mortality S. zeamais and S. oryzae adults was achieved within 22–27 h of exposure. The corresponding exposure time at 9 g/m² of Triplex was 39 h to achieve 99% mortality of both species. For both powders, lower concentrations and exposure times were required to achieve complete suppression of progeny production, percentage of insect damaged kernels, and percentage of grain weight loss compared to the concentrations and exposure times required for 00% mortality. Filter cake treated wheat at concentrations above 0.7 g/kg produced more than 99% mortality of S. zeamais and S. oryzae adults. Similarly, filter cake concentrations above 2 g/kg on wheat produced more than 99% mortality of R. dominica, T. castaneum, and O. surinamensis adults. However, on maize ≥ 3 g/kg of filter cake concentration was required to achieve similar mortality of R. dominica, T. castaneum, and O. surinamensis. Higher concentrations of Triplex were required to achieve similar mortalities of tested species on maize and wheat. Reduction in progeny production was greater when adults were exposed to higher concentrations than lower concentrations. Complete suppression of live larvae and adult emergence of P. interpunctella was achieved after exposure of eggs for 21 and 42 d to ≥ 2 g/kg of filter cake treated maize and to ≥ 0.5 g/kg of filter cake treated wheat. Similarly, complete suppression of live larvae and adult emergence was achieved when eggs were exposed to ≥ 6 g/kg of Triplex treated maize and to 3g/kg of Triplex treated wheat. In general, our study consistently showed that filter cake was more efficacious compared to Triplex against all tested species on both surfaces and commodities. Filter cake and Triplex should be recommended for protecting grain stored by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia to discourage farmers from using dangerous chemical insecticides. However, field studies should be done using both powders against stored product insects in smallholder farmers’ traditional storages structures in Ethiopia to determine concentrations that are practical under field conditions. The effective duration of protection offered by these powders should also be investigated.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2017-06-02T18:56:26Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2012 - Emanoel do Espirito Santo Mendes de Melo.pdf: 855000 bytes, checksum: 426f96c993c2b69febc20ecfd51c0ac9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-02T18:56:26Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2012 - Emanoel do Espirito Santo Mendes de Melo.pdf: 855000 bytes, checksum: 426f96c993c2b69febc20ecfd51c0ac9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-17 / CAPES / The ju?areira (Euterpe edulis Martius) is a plant of the family Arecaceae (palmae), which develops next to streams, rivers, wetlands and forested areas of land, and less often in more remote and local land pantanosos. Ocorrem predominantly in the North and Northeast of Brazil, mainly in the states of Par?, Amap?, Maranh?o and Tocantins. The pulp ju?ara, typical food of the region, if not consumed soon after obtaining it are packed in polyethylene bags and frozen. This project aimed to characterize and evaluate the mineral and organic content of the pulp ju?ara subjected to slow freezing and fast. Justified this research, to provide important information on the nutritional quality and functional that pulp, to contribute to improving the quality of life of Maranh?o, giving them a better quality of life, and to encourage the food industry. In this experiment we used ju?ara of ripe fruit (Euterpe edulis Martius) collected manually palm trees Ju?ara Park, located at Maracan? (within the island of S?o Lu?s-MA), in February 2012. The analyzes chemical, physical and physico-chemical pulp ju?ara revealed high in fiber, especially insoluble large percentage of lipids, anthocyanin, carbohydrates and low in protein. The minerals already analyzed the samples, the content of potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and meet most of the recommended daily to man.The fatty acid composition showed a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids, predominantly oleic acid and palmitic acid. The number of microorganisms in the analyzed samples, lying within the standards required by applicable law in Brazil and the raw materials do not present significant hazards to the consumer, except in the case of molds and yeasts that are above the allowed amount. / A ju?areira (Euterpe edulis Martius) ? uma planta da fam?lia das Arecaceae (palmae), que desenvolve-se pr?ximo aos ribeir?es, rios, v?rzeas e nas matas de terra firme, e com menos frequ?ncia, em terrenos mais afastados e locais pantanosos.Ocorrem predominantemente nas regi?es Norte e Nordeste do Brasil, principalmente nos estados do Par?, Amap?, Maranh?o e Tocantins. A polpa de ju?ara, alimento t?pico da regi?o, quando n?o ? consumida logo ap?s a sua obten??o s?o acondicionadas em sacos de polietileno e congeladas. Este projeto teve como objetivos, caracterizar e avaliar o conte?do org?nico e mineral da polpa de ju?ara submetida aos congelamentos lento e r?pido. Justifica-se essa pesquisa, a fim de proporcionar informa??es importantes sobre a qualidade nutricional e funcional dessa polpa, para contribuir com a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos maranhenses, proporcionando-lhes uma melhor qualidade de vida, bem como incentivar o setor de alimentos. No presente experimento foram utilizados frutos maduros de ju?ara (Euterpe edulis Martius) coletados manualmente das palmeiras do Parque da Ju?ara, situado no Maracan? (no interior da ilha de S?o Lu?s-MA), em fevereiro de 2012. As an?lises qu?mica, f?sica e f?sico-qu?micas da polpa de ju?ara revelaram alto teor de fibras, em especial as insol?veis, grande percentual de lip?deos, antocianina, carboidratos e baixo teor de prote?na. J? os minerais analisados nas amostras, o teor de pot?ssio,c?lcio,ferro, zinco, cobre, e mangan?s atendem grande parte das necessidades di?rias recomendadas para o homem. A composi??o em ?cidos graxos revelou grande quantidade de ?cidos graxos insaturados, com predom?nio do ?cido ol?ico e palm?tico. A quantidade de microorganismos, nas amostras analisadas, encontra-se dentro dos padr?es exigidos pela legisla??o aplic?vel no Brasil e as mat?rias-prima n?o apresentam perigos significativos para

I det här arbetet undersöks det ifall ett CMS som befinner sig på webben kan få bättre exekveringstid ifall databaskod ifrån webbapplikationen istället flyttas till databasen i form av stored procedures. Det har skapats 4 stycken testapplikationer för att testa procedurernas effektivitet jämfört med hur det fungerar originellt. Testapplikationerna skickar en slumpad text till Wordpress funktionerna som har hand om inmatningar till databasen. Textsträngarna matas då in i databasen via antingen procedurer eller databaskod i webbapplikationen beroende på vilken version av Wordpress det är.   I det här arbetet förklaras varför det kan vara intressant att använda sig av stored procedures och vilka för och nackdelar det finns med dem. Resultatet av det här arbetet tyder på att det kan finnas anledningar till att använda sig av procedurer vid större projekt men kan anses som överflödigt vid mindre arbeten.