Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Jason C. Woodworth / A total of 6,465 nursery pigs were used in 8 experiments. Experiment 1 investigated the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) or fermented soybean meal (FSBM) on nursery pig growth performance. A LP × FSBM interaction was detected for G:F, where LP and FSBM individually improved G:F, but the effect was not additive. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of increasing levels of LP on nursery pig performance. No evidence for differences in growth performance were observed among dietary treatments. Experiment 3 and 4 examined the effects of fish meal source and level on nursery pig growth performance. Overall, a source × level interaction for ADG, G:F and final BW was observed as increasing fish meal source 1 improved ADG and G:F; however, pigs fed fish meal source 2 had improved ADG and G:F at 3%, but decreased at 6%. Pigs fed fish meal source 3 had no further improvements in ADG and G:F beyond the 3% inclusion. No evidence for differences were detected between the dietary treatments for ADFI. Experiment 5 evaluated the effects of feeding fish solubles on nursery pig performance. Pigs fed diets with fish meal had increased ADG and ADFI compared to pigs fed the control diet. There was no evidence for differences in growth performance as fish solubles increased. Experiment 6 and 7 investigated the effects of enzymatically-treated soybean meal (ESBM) on nursery pig performance. Results indicated that nursery pigs fed diets with greater than 9% of ESBM resulted in decreased ADFI and final BW. Experiment 8 evaluated the effects of dietary electrolyte balance (dEB) on nursery pig performance. Increasing dEB in diets from weaning to 21-d after weaning resulted in an increase in ADG and BW, which was the result of a marginally significant improvement in ADFI and G:F. Finally, an experiment was conducted to determine the optimal strategy for collecting and submitting samples that adequately describe the nutrient levels in diets collected from a commercial swine facility. Sampling feeders with a probe resulted in less variability on an individual basis, but seemed to get washed out when individual samples were pooled to form a composite sample.

Benthic filter feeders (BFF) can reduce phytoplankton concentration (abundance) thereby controlling eutrophication in several ecosystems, including rivers. However, experiments suggest warming can alter the relationship between BFF grazing rate and the growth rate of (heterotrophic) planktonic prey. To investigate how eutrophication control by grazers is altered with temperature under the influence of other important abiotic (water depth, and speed, light, and turbidity) and biotic factors (initial phytoplankton concentration [hereafter: Pin value], BFF density and spatial BFF distribution), we developed a spatially-explicit computer simulation model. This model simulates the dynamics of a phytoplankton population traveling through a simplified river channel while being grazed by BFF. Our model includes the thermal responses of BFF grazing and phytoplankton growth. The results show that BFF grazing can qualitatively alter and, in some circumstances, even reverse the response of phytoplankton to warming. Moreover, the response of grazer-controlled phytoplankton to warming, water depth and Pin value is non-linear and phytoplankton can increase steeply with slight changes within some ranges of these variables. In addition, these variables can interact causing their combined effects on eutrophication to differ from what is expected considering their isolated effects. Generally, the effect of most variables, including temperature, Pin value and BFF density and spatial distribution, is larger at shallow waters. Moreover, our study shows that phytoplankton control can be substantially improved by heterogeneous BFF distributions where the BFF are located at the extremes of the river either upstream or downstream instead of homogenously distributed along the whole river. However, warming can cause a switch between these two optimal distributions or even can cause differences among the spatial distributions to disappear. In general, the homogeneous BFF distribution can be used as conservative estimate of eutrophication control. In conclusion, this work shows that trophic control can qualitatively alter the response of eutrophication to warming, supporting previous studies suggesting that the prediction of global warming effects requires considering not only the thermal responses of organisms but also their trophic interactions. In addition to these biotic variables, this thesis reveals that considering the interactions between abiotic and biotic variables and including their spatial distribution are important for eutrophication control. Especially, the detection of thresholds in the response of grazer-controlled phytoplankton to temperature, water depth, Pin value, and spatial BFF distribution indicates that one should be careful with predictions because of potential abrupt changes. Although further studies are needed to make specific recommendations for water quality management, our work provides preliminary suggestions on the conditions where grazers or Pin reductions can be more efficient to control eutrophication.

Detab is a company in Jönköping that develops systems for feeding parts for robots and packaging processes. To control the flow of parts on their vibratory feeders, Detab uses different carpets with angled straws. The two mainly used carpets have been discontinued and must now be replaced. A newly emerged option is a contender in replacing one of the carpets. The new white carpet is completely additively manufactured. To compare the old carpet and the new carpet, data is needed to show how different settings affect the flow of the parts. Through design of experiments and response surface methods, tests can be performed in a systematic and mathematical way compare the performance of different settings. Some basic parameters were defined to begin the investigation of which design of experiments method would be used to best compare the carpets. The parameters defined where the parts that would be used in the tests, the factors that were to be adjusted during the tests, the maximum and minimum values of the selected factors and how the results would be measured. Different methods were tested, and finally optimal design was chosen and executed using the program Design-Expert. The completed tests resulted in response surfaces that were constructed using Design-Expert. These response surfaces were analyzed and several similarities and differences between the different carpets were observed. Primarily, it was found that the green carpet had more settings that resulted in a flow above 0 parts/minute. Using Design-Expert, the response surfaces could be analyzed to find the optimal settings and their expected response. These points and more were then compared with tests performed afterwards to see if the expected values matched reality. It turned out that there were some uncertainties in how well the surfaces could predict the response in comparison with reality. Based on the experiments carried out, recommendations were made on how the company should proceed to be able to assess whether the new carpet is worth using in future construction of their machines.

Metallic nanoparticles (MetNPs) with unique nanoscale properties, including novel optical behavior and superparamagnetism, are continually being developed for biomedical and industrial applications. In certain biomedical applications where extended blood half-lives are required, MetNPs are surface-functionalized using polymers, proteins, and other stabilizing agents to facilitate their resistance to salt-induced aggregation. Given their colloidal stability in high ionic-strength matrices, functionalized MetNPs are anticipated to be persistent aquatic contaminants. Despite their potential environmental significance, the persistence of surface- functionalized MetNPs as individually-stabilized nanoparticles in aquatic environments is largely unknown. Further, few studies have investigated the fundamental factors that influence MetNP uptake and fate/transport processes in ecologically susceptible aquatic biota, such as filter- feeding bivalves, which ingest and accumulate a broad range of dissolved- and particulate-phase contaminants. The present study describes a comprehensive approach to prepare and rigorously characterize MetNP test suspensions to facilitate fundamental examinations of nanoparticle uptake and fate/transport processes in freshwater and marine bivalves. We demonstrate the importance of accurately characterizing test suspensions in order to better understand MetNP persistence as individually-stabilized nanoparticles within aquatic test media, and define an optical-activity metric suitable for quantifying and comparing the persistence of variable MetNP formulations as National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) definable nanoscale materials. We also show that individually-stabilized MetNPs of variable elemental composition, particle diameter, and surface coating are accessible to bivalves in both freshwater and marine environments. Clearance rates for MetNPs are positively related to the diameter and initial concentration of MetNP suspensions. The observed size-dependence of particle filtration rates facilitates ‘size-selective biopurification' of particle suspensions with nanoscale resolution, and may have applicability in future sustainable nanomanufacturing processes. Filtered MetNPs are retained for extended periods post-exposure primarily within the bivalve digestive tract and digestive gland, but migration to other organ systems was not observed. Clusters of MetNPs were recovered in concentrated form from excreted feces, suggesting that biotransformation and biodeposition processes will play an important role in transferring MetNPs from the water column to benthic environments. / Ph. D.

Les systèmes intégrés d’aquaculture multi-trophique (IMTA) proposent de limiter les rejets dans l’environnement en associant la culture d’espèces de niveaux trophiques différents et le recyclage des déchets. Les détritivores sont un groupe trophique intéressant car ils permettent l’extraction de matière organique particulaire. Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor est un polychète qui connait un intérêt croissant du fait de sa capacité de bioturbation dans les sédiments et de sa haute valeur commerciale en tant qu’appât et nourriture potentielle pour animaux. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est d’évaluer le potentiel d’ H. diversicolor dans la bio-remédiation des rejets solides en système IMTA. Plus spécifiquement, l’étude a eu pour objectifs : i) de calibrer une nouvelle méthode de mesure des composés organiques des rejets (azote, carbone, phosphore, lipides), ii) d’évaluer l’activité métabolique (respiration) d’H. diversicolor nourries aux fèces de Dicentrarchus labrax en fonction de leur taille et de différentes températures, et iii) d’utiliser un modèle bioénergétique pour simuler croissance, respiration et excrétion d’H. diversicolor selon différents scenarios IMTA.Pour obtenir une caractérisation rapide des composés organiques, une méthode novatrice (NIRS) a été calibrée. Les composés des rejets ont varié entre 44-77% de matière organique, 2-5% d’azote organique total, 11-51% de carbone organique total, 9-26 de rapport carbone/azote, 1-3% phosphore total and 2-12% de lipides (% de matière sèche).Les taux métaboliques de H. diversicolor nourries aux fèces ont été estimés par consommations d’oxygène à différentes températures (11, 17, 22 and 27°C). Les effets de la température et de la taille du ver sur les consommations en oxygène ont été significatifs, mais ces niveaux de respiration (12.3 µmol g-1 de poids sec h-1 à 20°C) correspondaient probablement à un métabolisme basal dû aux conditions expérimentales (jeun et obscurité).Les simulations du modèle DEB H. diversicolor ont été comparées aux données expérimentales de taux de croissance, de respiration et d’excrétion, ce qui a permis de corroborer les prédictions du modèle. Le modèle DEB a permis de tester différents scenarios pour prédire les réponses métaboliques, la croissance, la maturité et la reproduction d’ H. diversicolor à différentes températures (5 à 25°C) et disponibilité alimentaire (f variant de 0.5 à 1, correspondant à la disponibilité des fèces). Le modèle DEB s’est avéré être un outil utile pour prédire les réponses physiologiques sous différentes conditions environnementales dans un contexte IMTA. / Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems are based on the concept of limiting aquaculture discharges associating species of different trophic levels to reuse wastes. Deposit-feeders are one trophic group that has gained attention for the extraction of particulate organic matter. Hediste (Nereis) diversicolor is a polychaete species that has gained increasing interest for its bioremediation capacity through bioturbation activity in sediments, and high commercial value as fish bait and animal food sources. The main objective of this thesis was to evaluate the fish waste bioremediation capacity of polychaete H. diversicolor in IMTA context. More specifically, i) to predict organic compounds (nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, lipids) in marine fish waste, ii) to evaluate the metabolic responses - respiration - of H. diversicolor fed with solid waste of seabass Dicentrarchus labrax at different temperatures and body size, and iii) to use a bioenergetic model (DEB) to simulate growth, oxygen consumption and excretion in different IMTA scenarios.To provide fast characterization of organic compounds we used an innovative method based on near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). Chemical content of the waste measured by NIRS models after calibration, ranged from 44-77% organic matter, 2-5% total organic nitrogen, 11-51% total organic carbon, 9-26 carbon/nitrogen ratio, 1-3% total phosphorus and 2-12% lipids (% of dry matter).Fish waste fed H. diversicolor metabolic rates were evaluated through oxygen consumption at different temperatures (11, 17, 22 and 27°C). The effect of temperature and worm body size was significant on oxygen consumptions, however these respiration measures (12.3 µmol g-1 of dry weight h-1 at 20°C) may represent basal metabolic rate due to experimental conditions (starvation, darkness).DEB model of H. diversicolor was compared to experimental data on growth, respiration and excretion rates, which corroborated DEB model predictions. DEB was then applied to test different scenarios predicting metabolic responses, growth, maturity and reproduction of H. diversicolor at different temperatures (5 to 25°C) and food levels (f varying from 0 to 1, corresponding to fish waste loading). DEB revealed to be a useful tool in IMTA context, predicting physiological responses in different environmental conditions.

Submitted by Maria Aparecida (cidazen@gmail.com) on 2017-08-16T13:36:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Nagem.pdf: 4780552 bytes, checksum: b5eb1b41dce8fc9e855f1bb49bfad2fa (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-16T13:36:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nagem.pdf: 4780552 bytes, checksum: b5eb1b41dce8fc9e855f1bb49bfad2fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-06 / Nowadays the regulatory restrictions and global concern with the environment are leading the aluminum industry to develop a sustainable model production, with propose to reduce the environmental impacts of its economic activity. Thus, becomes necessary improvements in the operational and control standards for the aluminium production. These needs have major objectives, decrease green house gases (GHG) energy consumption and increase in productive. As technological alternatives such as smart feeders for Point Feeders pots and the development of new control for automatic adjust of the number of manifolds to be broke in the next cycle for Side Break pots will help to improve the decrease of Green Houses Gases. The smart feeders had a significant decrease in the anode effect frequency and consequently a decrease in anode effect time too. For the VSS Side Break pots were possible to create a decision matrix using the Least Square estimation (LS) of the resistance slope and curvature to adjust the number of manifolds. Another approach that showed promising results in the simulation was the neuronal networks for pattern recognition, especial class knows by probabilistic neural network. / Atualmente a maior regulamentação e preocupação mundial com o ambiente estão levando as indústrias de alumínio ao desenvolvimento de um modelo sustentável de produção, com o escopo de reduzir os impactos ambientais de sua atividade econômica. Assim, tornam-se imprescindíveis melhorias nas práticas operacionais e de controle de sua produção. Tais necessidades têm como foco principal a redução dos gases de efeito estufa (Green Houses Gases - GHG), redução do consumo de energia e aumento de produtividade. Como alternativas tecnológicas para mitigar o problema ambiental de Green Houses Gases, os “alimentadores inteligentes” para as cubas com alimentação Point Feeder e o desenvolvimento de novos controles para o ajuste automático da quantidade de “manifolds” a serem quebrados durante a alimentação para cubas Side Break são soluções viáveis. Os alimentadores “inteligentes” mostram uma redução da freqüência de efeito anódico e conseqüentemente no tempo em que a cuba fica em efeito anódico. Para as cubas VSS Side Break foi possível criar uma matriz de decisão através dos valores dos estimadores MQ utilizando a inclinação e curvatura da resistência para o ajuste de “manifolds”. Outra abordagem foi a utilização de redes neuronais para determinar a forma da curva de resistência, com a utilização de redes neuronais probabilísticas.

No description available.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This work investigated the influence of photo-voltaic generators on the voltage control of distribution feeders and the methods that can be used to increase the maximum penetration levels of these feeders. Initially, a brief overview of the reasons why it is necessary to increase the generation penetration levels on distribution feeders was provided. A review of various issues associated with connecting generation to the distribution network; methods and technologies that can be used to increase penetration levels; and ways to improve voltage regulation on MV feeders was given. The grid code for renewable power plants and the voltage apportionment standard were reviewed to determine what limits penetration levels and what can be done to increase them. The operation and control of a typical distribution network, without any connected generation, was initially investigated. A control strategy was implemented that provided suitable voltage regulation on the feeder during both high and low load. The influence of connecting generation to this typical distribution network, without making any modifications to the control of the feeder, was investigated. Base penetration levels, for various generation connection cases, were found. It was shown that the penetration is limited by the rapid voltage change or voltage rise. The base penetration levels were compared to the optimal amount of generation that provides the lowest losses. It was shown that the penetration needs to be increased by between 100% and 200% for the feeder’s losses to be minimised. Voltage regulator and capacitor control was influenced by the generation and they could not function as expected. It was shown that flicker will not be an issue, even with penetration limits well above the current allowable limits. Various methods that can be used to increase the amount of generation that is connected to the typical network were investigated. On-load tap changer setpoint reduction, reactive power control and electronic voltage regulators are some of the methods or technologies that can be used to increase penetration levels. It was shown that each of the technologies can assist, depending on the circumstance, in increasing penetration. The individual modifications can increase penetration up to 100% at the cost of increased tap changes and in some cases losses. Two proposed control strategies were assessed, that combine the investigated technologies. The results showed that it is possible to increase penetration levels by 50-80%, while improving power quality and reducing losses when compared to the base generation connection case. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie werk ondersoek die invloed van die foto- voltaïes kragopwekkers op die spanning beheer van die verspreiding voerder asook die metodes wat gebruik kan word om die maksimum penetrasie vlakke van hierdie voerders te verhoog. Aanvanklik is 'n kort oorsig van die redes waarom dit nodig is om die opwekking penetrasie vlakke op die verspreiding voerders, te verhoog voorsien . Eerstens word 'n hersiening van verskeie kwessies wat verband hou met die koppeling van generasie na die verspreidingsnetwerk gegee. Tweedens word metodes en tegnologie wat gebruik kan word om penetrasie te verhoog gegee en laastens word maniere om spanning regulasie op medium spanning voerders te verbeter, gegee. Die rooster kode "grid code => probeer liewer netwerk regulasies" vir hernubare krag aanlegte en die spanning toedeling standaard is hersien om te bepaal wat beperk die penetrasie vlakke en wat gedoen kan word om dit te verhoog. Die werking en beheer van 'n tipiese verspreiding netwerk, sonder enige verbonde generasie, is aanvanklik ondersoek. 'n Beheer-strategie is toe geïmplementeer wat geskikte spanning regulasie op die voerder tydens beide hoë en lae belasting verskaf. Die invloed van die koppeling van opwekking tot hierdie tipiese verspreiding netwerk, sonder om enige veranderinge aan die beheer van die voerder, is ondersoek. Basis penetrasie vlakke, vir verskeie generasie verband gevalle, is gevind. Daar is bewys dat die penetrasie word beperk deur die vinnige spanning verandering of spanning styging. Die basis penetrasie vlakke word vergelyking met die optimale aantal generasie wat die laagste verliese bied. Daar is bewys dat die penetrasie moet met tussen 100% en 200% verhoog word sodat die voerder se verliese beperk kan word. Die spanning reguleerder en kapasitor beheer is beïnvloed deur die opwekking en hulle kon nie reageer soos verwag nie. Daar is getoon dat flikker nie 'n probleem sal wees nie; selfs al is die penetrasie vlakke ver bo die huidige toelaatbare grense. Verskillende metodes wat gebruik kan word om die aantal generasie wat gekoppel is aan die tipiese netwerk te verhoog is ondersoek. Aan-las tap wisselaar vermindering, reaktiewe krag beheer en elektroniese spanning reguleerders is 'n paar van die tegnieke wat gebruik kan word om penetrasie te verhoog. Daar is bewys dat elkeen van die tegnologieë kan help, afhangende van die omstandighede, vir toenemende penetrasie. Die individuele veranderinge kan penetrasie verhoog tot 100% by die koste van 'n verhoogde tap veranderinge en in sommige gevalle verliese. Twee voorgestelde beheer strategieë is beoordeel, wat die ondersoek tegnologie kombineer. Die resultate het getoon dat dit moontlik is om penetrasie te verhoog met 50% tot 80%, terwyl die verbetering van gehalte en die vermindering van krag verliese in vergelyking met die basis generasie verband hou.

Hydropeaking is important to meet peak demand of electricity on the Swedish powergrid. The rapid changes in discharge may affect the ecology of streams and rivers negatively downstream of hydropeaking powerplants. In this study, the composition of five functional feeding groups (FFG) was investigated in the families Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) in samples collections by Hester-Dendy-sampler in 27 locations in streams and rivers with and without hydropeaking. The groups shredders, grazers, gatherers, filter feeders and predators were identified for each toxon. I expected that the flow regime downstream of a hydropeaking powerplant would affect the composition of FFG compared to non-hydropeaking streams and rivers, except for the group predators. No significant differenses in FFG between the streams and rivers with and without hydropeaking was found. These results indicate that effects from hydropeaking on FFG is not general and that spatially-explicit investigations may be needed to shed light on the effects of hydropeaking. / För att reglera effektbehovet på det svenska elnätet är korttidsregleringen från vattenkraftverk en viktig faktor. Dessa snabba förändringar i flödesregimen medför dock en påverkan på ekologin i vattendraget. I den här studien undersöktes sammansättningen av fem olika funktionella födosöksgrupper (FFG) hos Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera och Trichoptera (EPT) från insamling av evertebrater med Hester-Dendy-provtagare i 27 lokaler i vattendrag med och utan korttidsreglering. Identifiering av grupperna shredders, grazers, gatherers, filter feeders och predators gjordes för varje taxon. Jag förväntade mig att flödesregimen som förekommer nedströms korttidsreglerade vattenkraftverk skulle påverka sammansättningen av FFG i jämförelse med ett icke korttidsreglerat vattendrag, förutom för gruppen predators. Data visade att det inte fanns någon signifikant skillnad hos FFG mellan vattendragen med vs. utan korttidsreglering. Detta visar att påverkan på FFG av korttidsreglering inte är generell och att platsspecifika undersökningar kan behövas för att belysa regleringens effekter.

Noble metal nanoparticles such as gold and silver are of interest because of the unique electro-optical properties (e.g., localized surface plasmon resonance [LSPR]) that originate from the collective behavior of their surface electrons. These nanoparticles are commonly developed and used for biomedical and industrial application. A recent report has predicted that the global market for gold nanoparticles will be over 12.7 tons by year 2020. However, these surface-functionalized nanoparticles can be potential environmental persistent contaminants post-use due to their high colloidal stability in the aquatic systems. Despite, the environmental risks associated with these nanoparticles, just a few studies have investigated the effect of nanofeature factors such as size and shape on the overall fate/transport and organismal uptake of these nanomaterials in the aquatic matrices. This study presents a comprehensive approach to evaluate the colloidal stability, fate/transport, and organismal uptake of these nanoparticles while factoring in the size and shape related properties. We demonstrate the importance and effect of anisotropicity of a gold nanoparticle on the colloidal behavior and interaction with ecologically susceptible aquatic biota. We also show how readily available characterization techniques can be utilized to monitor and assess the fate/transport of this class of nanoparticles. We further describe and investigate the relationship between the aspect ratio (AR) of these elongated gold nanoparticles with clearance mechanisms and rates from the aquatic suspension columns including aggregation, deposition, and biopurification. We illustrate how a fresh water filter-feeder bivalve, Corbicula fluminea, can be used as a model organism to study the size and shape-selective biofiltration and nanotoxicity of elongated gold nanoparticles. The results suggest that biofiltration by C. fluminea increases with an increase in the size and AR of gold nanoparticle. We develop a simple nanotoxicity assay to investigate the short-term exposure nanotoxicity of gold nanoparticles to C. fluminea. The toxicity results indicate that for the tested concentration and exposure period that gold nanoparticles were not acutely toxic (i.e., not lethal). However, gold nanoparticles significantly inhibited the activities of some antioxidant enzymes in gill and digestive gland tissues. These inhibitions could directly affect the resistance of these organisms to a secondary stressor (temperature, pathogens, hypoxia etc.) and threaten organismal health. / Ph. D.