Thesis (M.S.)--Rowan University, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references.

Cognitive-developmental theory claims that moral reasoning ordinarily progresses through distinct stages, and that such development can be stimulated by discussion with others, especially discussions involving exposure to higher-stage reasoning. The concern of this study was the social/contextual factors that interact with cognitive processes involved in the development of moral reasoning. Two types of such factors were studied: namely, sociometric status and intensity of moral education program. The first of these could be studied because the participants were residents of a facility for young offenders (a total institution), characterized by an obvious and rigid hierarchical peer status system within the culture. The second factor could be studied because the participants were drawn from three residential units within the larger center, which varied significantly in terms of their program activities (specifically, unit meetings), and hence their moral climates. A total of 101 young offenders served as participants. They were assessed for moral reasoning, their perceptions of moral and institutional climate, and also through behavioral ratings - all at the pretest and at the 1-month posttest. The three levels of program were reflected in the institutional and moral climate measures. As well, better climates were associated with improvements in behavior and lesser climates with reductions in prosocial behavior. It was concluded that moral climate represents a valid measure of the factors which predict behavior within and following release from institutional settings. In order to study the effects of peer status, 40 participants served as target subjects who engaged in moral dilemma discussions with one other subject, each day for 3 consecutive days. According to cognitive-developmental theory, a dyadic intervention such as the one used here would be expected to stimulate the moral reasoning competence of the participant who is lower in that ability. However, the dyads were formed in such a way that some of the high stage participants (who would be expected to have an influence on their partner) were of significantly lower peer status. It was found that both exposure to higher-stage reasoning and higher peer status were necessary but not sufficient elements within this developmental process, consistent with the Piagetian notions regarding peer interaction and disequilibration.

This study sought to explore what human values were being fostered by teachers at secondary schools within the context of the transformation that is occurring in South Africa and in education. Teachers from three different demographic regions: urban, township and rural responded to what human values were being promoted in their classes, why these values were being promoted and if they had changed their values during their teaching career, what factors were responsible for the change. This study is set in the context of a changing educational arena in South Africa. The promotion of values education is seen by the government of South Africa as a cornerstone in assisting with not only the transformation of education and also in the transformation of South Africa and to promulgate nation building. For this study the production of data involved a comparative case study of teachers. responses on values education, at three different geographically located schools. For this aspect, data was obtained through using a questionnaire. Data was also obtained from a semi-structured interview of three teachers, one teacher from each school. This information was then compiled as a narrative. The methodology employed for this study utilized a combination of comparative case study, narrative inquiry and auto-ethnography approaches. The analyses of the data are presented in two levels. Level one analysis which comprises descriptive statistics is contained in Appendix F. Categories that were identified from the emerging trends from the data analysis are presented as a second level of analysis. This study is located within the interpretative/social constructivism research paradigm. Different theories (Piaget, Kohlberg, Gillian, Bandura and Freud) of moral development that propose how values are developed are discussed to highlight the process on how human beings and more especially children formulate their values. Some of the perspectives that explain the development of morals or values include the cognitive approach, the developmental and the social learning perspective. Transformative Change xv Theory (Mezirow, Boyd & Myers) is also outlined, which explains transformation processes in an adult. An interdisciplinary approach was utilised since it was extremely difficult to select any one theoretical framework to guide this thesis. The data analyses revealed that teachers were struggling to adopt change and found that the promotion of human values was difficult to initiate. Teachers cited various reasons as to why this process was fraught with difficulties. The central concern of teachers was a lack of awareness of: values education in general, documents and policies implemented by the government and the education departments to foster positive values and a lack of avenues for professional development in the area of values education. While teachers cited that the country had transformed into a democratic nation, these changes were not experienced at .grassroots level.. It was also found that different teachers were at different levels in their ability to promote values education in their classes. On the basis of the above, my research has suggested the following which serve as a positive contribution to theory pertaining to values education: the theories on values development are largely concerned with the values development of children and does not apply to adults, in this case, teachers, and therefore a theory that will help explain how adults form or change their values is required. An alchemistic values cycle is then proposed. / Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2008.

Cognitive-developmental theory claims that moral reasoning ordinarily progresses through distinct stages, and that such development can be stimulated by discussion with others, especially discussions involving exposure to higher-stage reasoning. The concern of this study was the social/contextual factors that interact with cognitive processes involved in the development of moral reasoning. Two types of such factors were studied: namely, sociometric status and intensity of moral education program. The first of these could be studied because the participants were residents of a facility for young offenders (a total institution), characterized by an obvious and rigid hierarchical peer status system within the culture. The second factor could be studied because the participants were drawn from three residential units within the larger center, which varied significantly in terms of their program activities (specifically, unit meetings), and hence their moral climates. A total of 101 young offenders served as participants. They were assessed for moral reasoning, their perceptions of moral and institutional climate, and also through behavioral ratings - all at the pretest and at the 1-month posttest. The three levels of program were reflected in the institutional and moral climate measures. As well, better climates were associated with improvements in behavior and lesser climates with reductions in prosocial behavior. It was concluded that moral climate represents a valid measure of the factors which predict behavior within and following release from institutional settings. In order to study the effects of peer status, 40 participants served as target subjects who engaged in moral dilemma discussions with one other subject, each day for 3 consecutive days. According to cognitive-developmental theory, a dyadic intervention such as the one used here would be expected to stimulate the moral reasoning competence of the participant who is lower in that ability. However, the dyads were formed in such a way that some of the high stage participants (who would be expected to have an influence on their partner) were of significantly lower peer status. It was found that both exposure to higher-stage reasoning and higher peer status were necessary but not sufficient elements within this developmental process, consistent with the Piagetian notions regarding peer interaction and disequilibration. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

Tailored wild watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) juice clarification process is a fundamental step in improving its appearance and consumer acceptability. The purpose of this research was to investigate the mineral and proximate composition of wild watermelon juice (Citrullus lanatus) and to design an optimum processing condition for the enzymatic clarification of the juice. This investigation will help identify the sustainable processing parameters (incubation time, incubation temperature, and enzyme concentration) for ultimate clarification. Wild watermelon juice was treated with pectinase enzyme at different concentrations (0.05 to 0.15 w/w%), incubation temperatures (30 - 50 ͦ C), and incubation times (60 - 180 min). The different process parameters were utilised with each sample treated individually to determine their effect on selected responses: turbidity, clarity, viscosity, L* value, and brix. It was determined that the incubation temperature was the most crucial factor affecting the physiochemical properties of the juice as it exerted a significant influence on most (turbidity, absorbance, and viscosity) of the clarity attributes of the juice. Incubation time significantly affected turbidity and percent brix, whereas enzyme concentration only significantly affected percent brix of the juice. The optimum conditions for juice clarification were established by the Response Surface Methodology at the following parameters: enzyme concentration 0.15 w/w%, incubation time 60 min, and incubation temperature 60 ͦ C. The optimum output parameters at the following: turbidity: 14.18 NTU; clarity: 0.04 Abs; colour: 52.30 L value; viscosity: 1.96 cps; brix: 3.08 %. It may be useful to investigate the optimum parameters for other juices. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Consumer Science)

The study was designed to identify counseling services and program outcomes within the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). VCCS counseling providers and chief administrative officers (presidents and campus provosts) assessed the level of importance and existing levels of institutional priorities for counseling services and program outcomes. The study sought to clarify institutional expectations, define the role of counseling providers, and provide elements essential to the assessment of counseling program outcomes. Major findings included the identification and clarification of services provided by VCCS counseling personnel, the dichotomous relationship between the two study groups regarding recruitment and retention activities, the undervalued and under-involved role of counselor participation in research activities, the process of developing program outcomes, and the Significantly different perceptions regarding institutional priorities for services and program outcomes between the two study groups. Implications for practice were presented including the need for greater collaboration between chief administrative officers and counseling services providers to make maximum use of available resources. / Ph. D.

La pomme de cajou est une matière première qui n'est pas exploitée en Côte d'Ivoire alors qu'elle présente un potentiel nutritionnel important. Dans ce contexte, l'étude réalisée s'intéresse à la valorisation des pommes de cajou en jus de fruit. En partant du jus brut de pommes de cajou, il s'agit d'étudier un procédé qui couple plusieurs techniques membranaires pour la production de jus clarifiés et concentrés. Les températures modérées de traitement doivent permettre une meilleure préservation du potentiel vitaminique et sensoriel de la matière première. Les deux variétés de pommes de cajou étudiées sont riches en acide ascorbique (1,2 g.kg-1) et en composés phénoliques (2,9 g.kg-1). Avec un rendement optimal de 82%, l'extraction du jus par pression ne génère pas de dégradation significative des composés d'intérêt. Toutefois, certains d'entre eux se répartissent différemment dans le jus et les tourteaux de presse. Parmi les 50 composés d'arôme identifiés dans le jus de fruit, les esters sont quantitativement les plus abondants. Le traitement du jus de pomme de cajou par microfiltration tangentielle sur membranes tubulaires minérales (0,2 µm, 35 °C) permet de clarifier le produit sans altérer sa teneur en acide ascorbique. La forte rétention des composés phénoliques en diminue l'astringence. Le prétraitement par liquéfaction enzymatique modifie les caractéristiques du jus et permet d'améliorer les performances de la filtration. Certaines des préparations enzymatiques testées présentent un effet synergique sur les densités de flux de perméat (Jp). Lors de la validation du procédé à l'échelle semi-industrielle, des Jp voisines de 70 L.h-1.m-2 ont été obtenues à FRV 8. Les performances sont toutefois très variables d'un jus à l'autre et ne sont pas liées aux caractéristiques des jus mesurées. Les tests classiques de filtrabilité (résistance spécifique en filtration frontale et temps de succion capillaire) ne permettent pas non plus de prévoir le pouvoir colmatant des jus en microfiltration tangentielle. Une meilleure compréhension des phénomènes qui régissent le colmatage membranaire est indispensable pour développer un outil prévisionnel à ce niveau. La nanofiltration tangentielle et l'osmose inverse ont été ensuite utilisées pour pré-concentrer 2,5 à 3 fois le jus clarifié. L'osmose inverse présente l'avantage de retenir totalement les principaux solutés pour une consommation énergétique comparable à celle de la nanofiltration. Enfin, l'évaporation osmotique a permis de concentrer le jus clarifié environ 6 fois sans en altérer la couleur et en préservant plus de 90 % de l'acide ascorbique. Comparé à des concentrés de référence traités par évaporation sous-vide, le concentré obtenu présente un profil aromatique moins altéré. Au final, l'intérêt du procédé proposé est donc vérifié en terme de qualité nutritionnelle et organoleptique. En vue d'une application industrielle, son évaluation économique reste toutefois indispensable / The cashew apple is a raw material which is not exploited in Côte d'Ivoire though it has an important nutritional potential. In this context, the study dealt with the processing of the cashew apple in fruit juice. Starting from the raw juice of cashew apples, a new process that coupled several membrane technologies was proposed for the production of clarified and concentrated juice. Moderate temperatures of treatment should allow a better preservation of the vitamins and sensory potential of the raw material. Both varieties of cashew apples studied were rich in ascorbic acid (1.2 g.kg-1) and phenolic compounds (2.9 g.kg-1). With an 82 percent optimum yield, juice extraction by pressure did not generate significant degradation of the compounds of interest. However, some of them are distributed differently in the juice and the press cake. Among the 50 aroma compounds identified in the fruit juice, the esters were the most abundant. Treatment of cashew apple juice by cross-flow microfiltration on inorganic tubular membranes (0.2 µm, 35 °C), clarified the product without altering its ascorbic acid content. The high retention of phenolic compounds decreased astringency. Pretreatment with enzymatic liquefaction of juice improved the performance of the filtration. Some of the enzyme preparations tested exhibited a synergistic effect on the permeate flux (Jp). During the validation of the process at semi-industrial scale, Jp of 70 Lh-1.m-2 was obtained using a volumetric reduction ratio of 8. However, performances were highly variable from one juice to another and were not related to the measured characteristics of juice. Classical tests of filterability (specific resistance in dead-end filtration and capillary suction time) did not predict the fouling properties of juices in cross-flow microfiltration. A better understanding of the fouling phenomena is absolutely necessary to develop new predictive tests filtrability. Nanofiltration and reverse osmosis were then used to pre-concentrate 2.5 to 3 times the clarified juice. Reverse osmosis allowed to retain entirely the major solutes with an energy consumption very close to nanofiltration. Finally, the clarified juice was concentrated 6 times using osmotic evaporation without altering the color and preserving more than 90% of ascorbic acid. Compared to standard concentrates treated by vacuum evaporation, the concentrate obtained has a less altered flavor profile. The interest of the suggested process was verified in terms of nutritional and sensorial quality. Its economic assessment remains essential for industrial application.

Atualmente, o setor sucroenergético está se tornando cada vez mais competitivo, o que de fato é incentivado, principalmente, pela representativa demanda e exigências do mercado externo. Ao se analisar a produção do açúcar refinado, podem-se encontrar barreiras para a sua ampla aceitação nacional e internacional devido ao método de clarificação empregado, uma vez que este é realizado através da queima de enxofre elementar em câmaras de combustão. O uso do sulfito acima dos limites permitidos pode ocasionar potenciais problemas de saúde pública. Neste sentido, o Brasil tem realizado estudos sobre a adoção de novas tecnologias para a substituição da sulfitação, sem alteração da qualidade do açúcar refinado a ser produzido. Partindo deste pressuposto, fez-se a avaliação do uso do peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) em solução comercial (35% v/v) como reagente alternativo ao dióxido de enxofre para obtenção de açúcar refinado com menor cor ICUMSA. Para isso, na calda de açúcar do tipo VHP, foram testadas doses distintas de peróxido de hidrogênio, aliadas a diferentes pH e temperaturas frente a um Delineamento composto central composto central, permitindo a otimização e o acompanhamento das transformações decorrentes do processo. Com isso, obteve-se como melhores condições o pH 7,5 e 10, temperaturas entre 50 e 70 °C e dosagens entre 500 e 797,6 ppm de H2O2. A análise a partir da cinética química da peroxidação da calda permitiu observar maiores reduções da cor ICUMSA em geral nos tempos de 50 a 75 minutos e nos 30 primeiros minutos para os pontos extremos de pH, temperatura e dose de H2O2. A degradação de sacarose não foi um fator expressivo quanto ao tempo, pois a mesma na maioria dos casos foi degradada nos 5 primeiros minutos e após esse tempo se mantinha sem muitas alterações, sendo mais vulnerável as condições de pH 3,32 e 11,68, altas temperaturas (83,6 °C) e máxima dosagem H2O2 (1000 ppm) aplicados. Além de favorecer a redução da cor ICUMSA da calda, o H2O2 também se mostrou como um bom agente antimicrobiano, principalmente quando associado às altas temperaturas. Agindo com maior intensidade na diminuição da carga bactériana do que na diminuição da carga fungica. A rede neural artificial (RNA) mostrou um bom ajuste e indicou a variável °Brix (teor de sólidos solúveis) como a que apresentou maior influência na redução da cor ICUMSA e a variável tempo a que menor influenciou na redução de cor. / Nowadays, the sugar-energy industry is becoming increasingly competitive, which indeed is encouraged mainly by representative demand and requirements of foreign markets. When analyzing the production of refined sugar can be found barriers to their widespread international acceptance due to the clarification method employed, since this is performed by burning elemental sulfur in combustion boilers. The use of sulfite above the permitted limits can result in potential public health problems. In this regard, Brazil has conducted studies on the adoption of new technologies to replace the sulfite, without changing the quality of the produced refined sugar. On that basis, it was done the evaluation of the use of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in commercial solution (35% v/v) as an alternative reagent to sulfur dioxide to obtain refined sugar with less ICUMSA color. For this the sugar liquor VHP different doses of hydrogen peroxide were tested, together with different pH and temperatures outside a central composite design, enabling optimization and monitoring of changes resulting from the process. Thus there was obtained as the best pH conditions 7.5 to 10, temperatures between 50 and 70 °C and dosages between 500 and 797.6 ppm H2O2. The analysis from the chemical kinetics of the peroxidation of the liquor has observed greater reductions in ICUMSA color in general in the time of 50 minutes to 75 minutes and in the first 25 minutes to the extremes of pH, temperature and H2O2 dose. As for sucrose degradation was not a significant factor, since it in most cases was first degraded within 5 minutes and after this time remained without many changes, being more vulnerable conditions (3.32 and 11.68), high temperatures (83.6 °C) and H2O2 maximum dosage (1000 ppm) applied. In addition to further reduce color ICUMSA H2O2 Liquor also showed such a good antimicrobial agent, particularly when combined with high temperatures. Acting with more intensity in the decrease of bacteria than the reduction of fungi. The artificial neural network (ANN) showed good fit and indicated the variable ° Brix (soluble solids) as the one with the greatest influence in reducing the ICUMSA color and variable time that less influenced the color reduction.

Orientador: Márcia Justino Rossini Mutton / Banca: Odair Aparecido Fernandes / Banca: Newton Macedo / Resumo: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da infestação de cigarrinha-das-raízes e controle químico tardio na qualidade da matéria prima e clarificação do caldo de cana. Foram realizados contagens de ninfas e perfilhos, avaliações biométricas, análises tecnológicas do caldo extraído e processo de clarificação. O delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com parcelas sub subdivididas, com três repetições, foi adotado para os parâmetros contagem de ninfas, perfilhos e avaliações biométricas. Para as análises tecnológicas do caldo e purificação foram adotados o delineamento fatorial em blocos casualizados, com três repetições. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância e teste de Tukey (P=0,05). A infestação de cigarrinha-das-raízes diminuiu com a utilização tardia de thiamethoxam, que induziu o aumento da massa seca de folhas nos níveis mais elevados de infestação. A massa seca dos colmos aumentou nas parcelas tratadas com a dosagem de 0,3 kg ha-1 nos meses próximos a colheita, enquanto o inseticida provocou aumento de massa seca de folhas, bainhas e palmitos. O ataque de ninfas diminuiu o Brix, a Pol e o ATR no caldo e a aplicação tardia de thiamethoxam aumentou a acidez total, o que pode ter interferido no aumento da cor do caldo e na diminuição da massa seca e densidade da borra no processo de clarificação. / Abstract: This research was undertaken to evaluate the effects of spittlebug infestation and late chemical control on sugarcane quality and juice clarification. Nymphs and tillers were counted, plant growth was measured and juice technological analysis and clarification process were performed. The experiment was arranged in completely randomized design in split split-plots with three replications to nymphs and tillers counts and plant growth analysis. The statistical design for technological analysis and purification was randomized complete blocks, in a factorial arrangement. The data were submitted to ANOVA and means were compared by Tukey test (P=0.05). Spittlebug infestation was reduced with late thiamethoxam application and the insecticide increased leaf dry matter at higher infestation levels. The dosage 0.3 kg ha-1 allowed a stalk dry matter increase in months prior to harvest, while induced higher dry matter of leaves, sheaths and tops. The attack of nymphs decreased Brix, Pol and TRS in the cane juice. Late chemical control increased juice total acidity, increased juice color and reduced the dry matter and mud density in the clarification process. / Mestre

This thesis details various techniques and considerations for the purification of complex biomacromolecules.   Initially an α-mannosidase from babaco fruit was purified using anion exchange-, lectin affinity- and size exclusion chromatography.  The enzyme was approximately 260-280 kDa in size with an apparent an unusual octagonal stoichiometry and displayed properties similar to other known plant α-mannosidases.   Mucins were fractionated by ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography to assess the properties that govern the mucin surface coating interactions in biomaterial research.  Commercially available mucins, of bovine and porcine origin, as wells as crude human mucin were tested. All showed to consist of a population of molecules which differ in size, charge and composition.   The third part of the thesis concerns different aspects of plasmid DNA purification processes. A two-step method for analysis of plasmid DNA consisting of size exclusion followed by thiophilic adsorption chromatography was evaluated. It allowed determination of the supercoiled plasmid DNA concentration in all process steps without requirement for extensive sample preparation. This method was shown to be fully comparable in terms of accuracy to capillary gel electrophoresis, considered as the industry standard. Purification of plasmid DNA generally involves bacterial cell alkaline lysis, which creates a solution with flocculate material which needs to be removed prior to further processing. The addition of ammonium hydrogen carbonate to the suspension was evaluated to clarify the solution. The released carbon dioxide and ammonium lifts the flocculate to the surface and allows draining of a clear solution. The method is fully scalable, does not affect the plasmid DNA quality and requires no special equipment. Thiophilic adsorption chromatography was evaluated for simplification of an existing commercial large scale purification process and was shown to increase both product purity and yields of several tested plasmids. Also, implementation of this step significantly reduced overall production process time.