Biomass is one of the renewable and non-conventional energy sources and it includes municipal solid wastes and animal wastes in addition to agricultural residue. Concentrated animal feeding operations produce large quantities of cattle biomass which might result in land and water pollution if left untreated. Different methods are employed to extract the available energy from the cattle biomass (CB) which includes co-firing and gasification. There are two types of CB: Feedlot biomass (FB), animal waste from feedlots and dairy biomass (DB), animal waste from dairy farms. Experiments were performed in the part on gasification of both FB and DB. Earlier studies on gasification of DB with different steam-fuel ratios resulted in increased production of hydrogen. In the present study, dairy biomass was gasified in a medium with enriched oxygen percentage varying from 24% to 28%. The effect of enriched air mixture, equivalence ratio and steam-fuel ratio on the performance of gasifier was studied. Limited studies were done using a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen as the gasification medium and also a methodology was developed to determine the gasification efficiency based on mass and heat contents of gas. The results show that the peak temperature within the bed increases with increase in oxygen concentration in the gasification medium. Also carbon dioxide concentration in the mixture increases with corresponding decrease in carbon monoxide with increase in oxygen concentration of the incoming gasification medium. The peak temperature increased from 988°C to 1192°C as the oxygen concentration increased from 21% to 28% at ER=2.1. The upper limit on oxygen concentration is limited to 28% due to high peak temperature and resulting ash agglomeration. Higher heating value (HHV) of the gases decreases with increase in equivalence ratio. The gases produced using carbon dioxide and oxygen mixture had a higher HHV when compared to that of air and enriched air gasification. Typically the HHV of the gases increased from 2219 kJ/m³ to 3479 kJ/m³ when carbon dioxide and oxygen mixture is used for gasification instead of air at ER=4.2 in the absence of steam.

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Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 51 p. : ill. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PH. D.)--Michigan State University. Food Science, 2008. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Sept. 2, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 181-200). Also issued in print.

Submitted by WELTON FERREIRA DE ASSIS null (welton_assis@hotmail.com) on 2017-04-10T17:09:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação completa - 09-04-2017 - Welton.pdf: 1291272 bytes, checksum: bd90cdf026889501b5fafade3fb3c408 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-04-17T17:38:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 assis_wf_me_rcla.pdf: 1291272 bytes, checksum: bd90cdf026889501b5fafade3fb3c408 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-17T17:38:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 assis_wf_me_rcla.pdf: 1291272 bytes, checksum: bd90cdf026889501b5fafade3fb3c408 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-08-06 / O diabetes mellitus é um quadro patológico que traz diversas complicações como prejuízos metabólicos, endócrinos, cognitivos, sarcopenia, emagrecimento, hiperfagia e polidispia. Estudos prévios têm demonstrado que a manutenção de animais em ambiente enriquecido traz um conjunto de benefícios através dos estímulos que oferece, sendo a atividade física um desses estímulos. Apesar disso, poucos estudos investigaram os efeitos da manutenção de animais diabéticos em ambiente enriquecido. Desta forma, a presente dissertação teve por objetivos investigar os efeitos do diabetes na atividade física realizada no ambiente enriquecido e investigar os efeitos do ambiente enriquecido em parâmetros bioquímicos, morfométricos, cognitivos e nas proteínas AKT, RhoA e RhoE musculares. Para isso, na primeira etapa do desenho experimental, ratos wistar foram distribuídos em dois grupos: controle e diabetes. O diabetes foi induzido por estreptozotocina via intraperitonial (50 mg/kg) e os animais foram inseridos em gaiolas amplas contendo objetos coloridos e rodas de atividade com contador de giros. O rastreamento foi realizado pelo sistema para análises cinemáticas, Digital Video For Biomechanics - Windows 32 bits (DVIDEOW® ) e software Matlab® . Na segunda etapa do desenho experimental, os animais foram distribuídos nos seguintes grupos: controle, diabetes e diabetes gaiola enriquecida. O diabetes foi induzido por estreptozotocina via intraperitonial (50 mg/kg) e os animais foram mantidos em gaiolas padrão ou ambiente enriquecido. A massa corporal, ingestão hídrica e alimentar foram coletadas duas vezes por semana e a glicemia no início e final do experimento. Ao final do período experimental foi registrado o comprimento corporal e coletadas amostras do músculo gastrocnêmio para as análises da fosforilação da AKT e expressão de RhoA e RhoE. Para estas análises, foram utlizados o teste t ou Mann-Whitney para as análises entre dois grupos e análise de variância (ANOVA) two way, com posthoc de Bonferroni (significância de 5%) para as demais análises. O software SPSS® foi utilizado para as análises. O diabetes reduziu o acúmulo de atividade física no ambiente enriquecido. A manutenção no ambiente enriquecido amenizou o aumento da hiperglicemia e melhorou, parcialmente, o desempenho no labirinto aquático de Morris dos animais diabéticos. A redução na massa corporal, índice de Lee e o aumento na ingestão hídrica e alimentar nesses animais diabéticos não foram influenciados pelo ambiente enriquecido. Ainda, neste período de 6 semanas, não houve efeitos do diabetes ou do ambiente enriquecido na fosforilação da AKT e expressão das proteínas RhoA e RhoE. Pode ser concluído que a manutenção no ambiente enriquecido traz benefícios aos animais diabéticos, apesar deste realizar menos atividade física que animais controles. / Diabetes mellitus is a pathological condition that brings several complications such as metabolic, endocrine, cognitive loss, sarcopenia, weight loss, hyperphagia and polydipsia. Previous studies have shown that keeping animals in enriched environment brings a set of benefits through the stimuli it provides, and the physical activity is one of these stimuli. Despite this, few studies have investigated the effects of the maintenance of animals in diabetic enriched environment. The present dissertation aimed to investigate the effects of diabetes on physical activity performed in the enriched environment and to investigate the effects of enriched environment on biochemical parameters, morphometric, cognitive, and AKT, RhoA and RhoE proteins in the muscle. For this, in the first step of the experimental design, wistar rats were distributed into two groups: control and diabetes. Diabetes was induced streptozotocin via intraperitoneal (50 mg/kg) and the animals were placed in large cages, containing colored objects and the wheels of activity and a counter of revolutions. The tracking was carried out by the system for analysis, kinematics, Digital Video For Biomechanics - 32-bit Windows (DVIDEOW®) and Matlab® software. In the second step of the experimental design, the animals were distributed into the following groups: control, diabetic and diabetic - enriched cage. Diabetes was induced streptozotocin via intraperitoneal (50 mg/kg) and the animals were kept in cages of standard or enriched environment. The body mass, the intake of water and food were collected twice per week and the blood glucose at the beginning and end of the experiment. At the end of the experimental period was recorded and the length of the body and collected samples of the gastrocnemius muscle for the analysis of the phosphorylation of AKT and expression of RhoA and RhoE. For these analyses, were used the t test or the Mann-Whitney test for analyses between two groups and analysis of variance (ANOVA) two way, with posthoc Bonferroni (significance of 5%) for all other analyses. The software SPSS® was used for the analyses. Diabetes reduced the accumulation of physical activity in the enriched environment. The maintenance in the enriched environment slowdown the increase of hyperglycemia and improved, in part, the performance of the diabetic animals in the water maze of Morris. The reduction in the body mass, index of Lee and the increase in the intake of water and food of these diabetic animals were not influenced by the enriched environment. Still, in this period of 6 weeks, there were no effects of the diabetes or from the enriched environment in the phosphorylation of AKT and expression of the RhoA and RhoE proteins. It can be concluded that maintenance in enriched environment brings benefits to the animals and diabetic patients, although this perform less physical activity than control animals.

Masters of Commerce / Highly enriched uranium (HEU) is one of the most dangerous materials in the world, because it is a key ingredient in making a nuclear bomb. If a terrorist organisation can get HEU, it would be close to making a nuclear bomb. After South Africa disarmed its nuclear weapons, it kept HEU that was extracted from the nuclear bombs. The US tried to persuade South Africa to blend down its HEU into low enriched uranium (LEU) or give it up for safekeeping. However, South Africa refused to give it up. After a breach at Pelindaba, a national key point facility where South Africa stores its HEU, the US intensified its efforts to pressure South Africa to give its HEU up. It even promised incentives to South Africa should they agree to give it up, but South Africa refused. The US used the nuclear terrorism narrative to justify its initiative to eliminate vulnerable materials in the world. However, South Africa is yet to be swayed. This is odd since South Africa's refusal can negatively affect its credentials as a nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament champion and its image as a norm entrepreneur. The objective of the study was to understand the role played by HEU in South Africa's nuclear diplomacy. It was to explore HEU as a factor in the state's nuclear diplomacy and to understand the power of having HEU in nuclear negotiations, as well as what SA intends to do with its HEU. The study is framed theoretically by drawing on foreign policy theory, namely middle-power theory, and revisionism. It juxtaposed middle power, reformist, and revisionist positions with status quo foreign policy to analyse the role of HEU in South Africa's nuclear diplomacy. As a middle power with a moral high ground, South Africa hoped that it can affect change in the nuclear regime. However, when this did not occur its foreign policy shifted to a revisionist character that is discontent with the status quo in the nuclear regime. SA is dissatisfied with the current nuclear order and wants it revised towards liberal values such as equality and nondiscrimination. It views the current nuclear order as nuclear apartheid.

Development and Biological Assessment of Fortified Foods with Andean Tubercles and other products in the Candelaria Area. An alimentation survey was carried out in the Rodeo Alto-Candelaria zone, a producing region of tubercle andinos, and a list was made of available products and other products which are a part of the local diet. With the list as the basis, 12 mixes were formed, combining tubercle (potato, goose, papalisa), cereals (quinoa, corn, and wheat) and legumes (tarhui, bean, and peanut). These mixes were submitted to a chemical and biological analysis, which indicated an increase in weight, PER, digestibility of the protein and energy. Seven mixes were chosen, using the highest values of biological parameters studied, especially the digestibility of the protein and energy, whose values fluctuated between 71-82% and 87-91% respectively, compared with a witness diet (milk). Leaving the chosen mixes aside, a prescription of products was formed, like: breakfast, laguas, and stew. In this, it was taken into account, eating habits, simple elaboration techniques and available products in the zone. The prescriptions present calculations of the protein and energetic values, which cover in a great percentage that requirements established by the FAO (1991) for the infant population.

Currently in Ecuador, the evil and deteriorated nourishment constitutes a serious problem influenced by the high to prevail of malnutrition that each day is aggravated. Therefore it is important to know the adequate utilization of the regional products and new technological alternatives that help to reduce this problem. The accomplished investigation pipe as objective to elaborate noodles craftsmen enriched with kidney bean load fine to contribute to improve the quality protein of the diet in the communities of Cuambo and the Corner; this study was effected after accomplishing a consumption and production diagnosis of foods by the Institute BENSON. The accomplished work understood two phases, one of field and other of investigation; within the first was accomplished the elaboration and noodles tasting through the incorporation to the paste mixture of kidney bean as source of protein and mineral and wheat flour as source of carbohydrates. For the effect was accomplished three classes of noodles with different percentages of matter outweighs (kidney bean beautiful load, wheat flour the baker, egg), salt 1% as taste and sufficient quantity of drinking water for the three types of mixture, accomplished in form artisan. The evaluation of the investigation was effected with the following analysis: organ of the enriched and cooked noodle, application of acceptability surveys to the participants, physical analysis - quimic. The better acceptance treatment by the participants of this investigation was the treatment three, corresponding to the combinations of kidney bean 30%, wheat flour 59%, hen egg 10% and table salt 1% and drinking water the necessary quantity.

<p> The effects of small additions of Fe2O3, GeO2, Ta2O5, V2O5, TiO2, and SiO2 on the microstructure and fracture toughness of magnesia enriched doloma were investigated. Effects of up to 5% additive oxides on grain growth and sintering in MgO and CaO were determined in preliminary tests. One percent additions were made to 40%, 60% and 80% MgO dolomas and the fracture toughness at temperatures up to 1500°C determined using the single edge notched beam specimen. Fracture surfaces were studied on the scanning electron microscope to determine fracture mode. Silica and Ta2O5 doped material showed high toughness at 1500°C possibly due to microcracks, while TiO2 resulted in formation of a viscous grain boundary film producing high toughness at 1300°C followed by a rapid decline by 1500°C. In undoped samples increases in MgO resulted in the appearance of a toughness peak near 1300°C. This was attributed to grain boundary segregation of impurities.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)