abstract: There is a growing consensus that photodegradation accelerates litter decomposition in drylands, but the mechanisms are not well understood. In a previous field study examining how exposure to solar radiation affects decomposition of 12 leaf litter types over 34 months in the Sonoran Desert, litter exposed to UV/blue wavebands of solar radiation decayed faster. The concentration of water-soluble compounds was higher in decayed litter than in new (recently senesced) litter, and higher in decayed litter exposed to solar radiation than other decayed litter. Microbial respiration of litter incubated in high relative humidity for 1 day was greater in decayed litter than new litter and greatest in decayed litter exposed to solar radiation. Respiration rates were strongly correlated with decay rates and water-soluble concentrations of litter. The objective of the current study was to determine why respiration rates were higher in decayed litter and why this effect was magnified in litter exposed to solar radiation. First, I evaluated whether photodegradation enhanced the quantity of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in litter by comparing DOC concentrations of photodegraded litter to new litter. Second, I evaluated whether photodegradation increased the quality of DOC for microbial utilization by measuring respiration of leachates with equal DOC concentrations after applying them to a soil inoculum. I hypothesized that water vapor sorption may explain differences in respiration among litter age or sunlight exposure treatments. Therefore, I assessed water vapor sorption of litter over an 8-day incubation in high relative humidity. Water vapor sorption rates over 1 and 8 days were slower in decayed than new litter and not faster in photodegraded than other decayed litter. However, I found that 49-78% of the variation in respiration could be explained by the relative amount of water litter absorbed over 1 day compared to 8 days, a measure referred to as relative water content. Decayed and photodegraded litter had higher relative water content after 1 day because it had a lower water-holding capacity. Higher respiration rates of decayed and photodegraded litter were attributed to faster microbial activation due to greater relative water content of that litter. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2019

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第19505号 / 理博第4165号 / 新制||理||1598(附属図書館) / 32541 / 京都大学大学院理学研究科地球惑星科学専攻 / (主査)教授 津田 敏隆, 教授 石川 裕彦, 教授 余田 成男 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Thesis: M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Meteorology, 1980 / Bibliography: leaves 39-41. / by Aribilola Samuel Omolayo. / M.S. / M.S. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Meteorology

The continued focus to include high hydrogen fuels such as Syngas in aircraft operation to reduce emissions and increase engine efficiency has led to an ongoing investigation into bond coat materials capable of withstanding unfavourable oxidation in high temperature humid environments. The increased presence of water in the engine exhaust leads to increased oxygen activity in the hot section of the engine. In this work, four commercially available MCrAlY bond coat materials were oxidized in high temperature environments with various humidities to understand the behaviours of different reactive element inclusions in resisting high temperature oxidation. Oxidation tests were done at 0%, 18%, and 33% water by volume at 1100C in a 1atm environment to simulate conditions expected in engines using high hydrogen fuels. Oxidation was done for 2h and 20h to observe transient oxide formation behaviour. The surfaces and cross sections of the specimens were examined using SEM and EDS analysis, along with XRD analysis. The progression of surface oxides, TGO thickness, and element depletion zones were observed. Two opposing mechanisms are observed: the upward diffusion of metal cations to the free surface and the inward diffusion of oxygen to the alloy. The presence of water is shown to increase internal oxidation of the bond coat alloy and delay the formation of a protective alumina TGO. Tantalum inclusion in the alloy composition is shown to produce the most stable alumina TGO with the least internal oxidation after 20h exposure in 33% H2O (%vol); the most hostile oxidation environment tested.

Seven experimental trials were conducted to develop and use novel techniques to examine the relationships between pre- and post-hatch physiological parameters in the progeny of young broiler breeders. Trials 1, 2 and 3 together examined the safer and effective use of transponders to determine embryonated egg air cell temperature (Temb) as an estimation of broiler embryo temperature during incubation, and to subsequently calculate eggshell water vapor conductance (GH2O), specific GH2O (gH2O) and GH2O constants (KH2O) in modern broiler strains. Trials 4 and 5 together examined the relationships of early, middle and late post-hatch growth quality parameters and tissue nutritional profiles of broilers with the corresponding Temb, GH2O, gH2O and KH2O. Furthermore, Trials 6 and 7 together examined the changes in nutritional profiles and histological structures of the broiler embryonic pipping muscle between 15 and 19 days of incubation. Based on the results from Trials 1, 2 and 3, it was concluded that transponders may be effectively implanted in the embryonated egg air cells with minimal invasion to the broiler embryo to efficiently determine Temb, and to subsequently calculate GH2O, gH2O and KH2O of modern broiler strain eggs during incubation. The results from Trials 4 and 5 also suggested that within physiological limits, an increased gH2O results in increased embryo metabolism, which subsequently increases growth and yolk sac absorption in the corresponding broiler chicks through 3 days post-hatch. Moreover, it was also observed that a higher gH2O was negatively associated with chick hydration status on day 28 post-hatch; although such effects were not observed through day 48 of the post-hatch grow out period. It was concluded that the effects of gH2O on post-hatch broiler physiology may be more pronounced during early and middle post-hatch periods and may subside as the chick reaches marketing age. Furthermore, the results from Trials 6 and 7 indicated that changes in the nutritional profiles of the pipping muscle occur in accordance with corresponding changes in liver metabolism, and that these together with associated morphological changes in the pipping muscle, as observed through histological techniques may be critical for the broiler embryo’s preparation for hatch.

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<p>Cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth, derived from a variety of living species. An attractive source to obtain cellulose is from agriculture wastes, for instance, potato peel. Potato is one of the most important crops for human consumption, but in recent years its consumption in raw form has decreased, especially in developed countries. Many potatoes are processed into value-added products to meet the demand of fast food industries. So far the main use of the potato peel is sold for animal feed at very low prices. In addition, there are significant quantities of rotten potatoes generated during the years of heavy rain fall, which represent a substantial financial loss to the farmers unless an alternative industrial use can be found for the biomass. Therefore, extracting cellulose from potato peel and processing them into a higher valuable product is not only an environment-friendly solution to the disposal issues but also creates a non-food based economy for potatoes.</p> <p>Cellulose nanocrystals (CN) are a promising material and have been widely studied over the past two decades. This material is interesting as nanofiller due to its nanoscale dimensions, high specific area, and highly rigid crystalline structure. In comparison to mineral or metal nanofillers that are industrially available, cellulose nanocrystals are prepared from renewable feedstocks, feature low density, are relatively low cost, and remain biodegradable.</p> <p>This study investigated the effectiveness of cellulose nanocrystal derived from potato peel waste to improve the mechanical and barrier properties of a polymer. The nanocrystals were chemically derived from the cellulosic material in potato peel waste by alkali treatment and subsequently acid hydrolysis with sulfuric acid. Infrared spectroscopy indicated sufficient removal of lignin and hemicellulose from the raw potato peel biomass whereas X-ray diffraction confirmed that the prepared nanocrystals maintained their original crystalline lattice structure as the extracted cellulose, with a crystallinity of 85%. TEM images showed that the average fiber length of the nanocrystals was 410 nm with a diameter of 10 nm (aspect ratio of 41). Cellulose nanocrystal-filled polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and thermoplastic starch (TPS) were prepared by solution casting method to maintain uniform dispersion of the 1-2% (w/w) fibers. An increase of 19% and 38% (starch composite) and 32% and 54% (PVA composite) in Young’s modulus was observed for the 1% and 2% CN-reinforced composites, respectively. Water vapor transmission rate measurements showed a reduction of water permeability for the PVA nanocomposite, whereas no effect was observed for starch nanocomposite.</p> / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

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