Memoria para optar al Título Profesional de: Ingeniera Agrónoma, Mención: Fruticultura / La industria de las hortalizas mínimamente procesadas en fresco (MPF) utiliza comúnmente hipoclorito de sodio (NaClO) para sanitizar tanto el producto como los equipos que se manipulan, sin embargo, existe motivación por reemplazarlo, debido a la generación de subproductos dañinos para la salud. Con este fin, se estudiaron tres sanitizantes alternativos: dióxido de cloro (5 y 10 mg∙L -1 ; OC-5 y OC-10), clorito de sodio acidificado (250 y 500 mg∙L -1 ; CS-250 y CS-500) y ácido peroxiacético (50 y 90 mg∙L -1 ; AP-50 y AP-90), junto con hipoclorito de sodio (100 mg∙L -1 ; HS-100) en germinados de soya (Glycine max) envasados en atmósfera modificada activa (AMA) durante 11 días a 5 ºC. En el primer ensayo se utilizó una bolsa plástica altamente permeable, la cual fue inicialmente barrida con N 2 gaseoso hasta lograr una concentración de 8% O 2 . Los tratamientos HS-100 y CS (250 y 500 mg∙L -1 ) presentaron las mayores reducciones microbianas iniciales (entre 0,7 y 1,8 log ufc∙g -1 ), sin embargo, al final de la conservación todos los recuentos se concentraron alrededor de 8 log ufc∙g -1 para aerobios mesófilos, psicrótrofos y enterobacterias. Sensorialmente, OC-5 obtuvo las mayores puntuaciones tanto en apariencia como intensidad de color hasta el día 7, en contraste, desde el día 7, OC-10 y CS-500 fueron los tratamientos peor evaluados por el panel. Para el segundo ensayo, se escogieron los sanitizantes más efectivos para controlar el crecimiento microbiano, seleccionando de esta forma hipoclorito de sodio (HS-100) dióxido de cloro (OC-5 y OC-10) y clorito de sodio acidificado (CS-250 y CS-500). Se utilizó una bolsa plástica prácticamente impermeable, la cual fue inicialmente barrida con O 2 hasta lograr una concentración de 90% O 2 , alcanzando el día 11 una concentración promedio de 34% O 2 y 49% CO 2 . CS-500 presentó la mayor reducción microbiana inicial (entre 0,8 y 1,1 log ufc∙g -1 ), sin embargo, al final de la conservación todos los valores se concentraron alrededor de 9 log ufc∙g -1 para aerobios mesófilos, psicrótrofos y enterobacterias. La mayor tasa respiratoria la presentó HS-100, que se ajustó también a un mayor gasto de O 2 dentro de la bolsa, pero que no se evidenció en un mayor consumo de azúcar. Sensorialmente, el panel evaluador no encontró diferencias entre tratamientos, que concuerda con la poca variación observada en los parámetros de L, C* y H ab . En ambos ensayos, tanto el contenido de fenoles totales como la actividad antioxidante total no se vieron afectados por la utilización de diferentes sanitizantes. / The industry of minimally processed vegetables commonly uses sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) to sanitize both the product and the equipment to be handled, however, there is interest to replace it due the generation of by-products harmful to health. For this aim, three alternative sanitizers were studied: chlorine dioxide (5 and 10 mg∙L -1 ; OC-5 and OC-10), acidified sodium chlorite (250 and 500 mg∙L -1 ; CS-250 and CS-500) and peroxyacetic acid (50 and 90 mg∙L -1 ; AP-50 and AP-90 ), and as control, sodium hypochlorite (100 mg∙L -1 ; HS-100), in soybean sprouts (Glycine max) under active modified atmosphere packaging for 11 days at 5 °C. In the first assay was used highly permeable plastic bag, which was initially swept with N 2 until a concentration of 8% O 2 . HS-100 and CS (250 and 500 mg∙L -1 ) treatments showed the highest initial microbial reductions (between 0,7 and 1,8 log cfu∙g -1 ), nevertheless, at the end of storage all counts were concentrated around 8 log cfu∙g -1 for aerobic mesophilic, psychrotrophic and enterobacteria. In sensorial evaluation, OC-5 obtained the highest scores in both appearance and color intensity until day 7, in contrast, from day 7, OC-10 and CS-500 were the worst treatments evaluated by the panel. For the second assay, the most effective sanitizers by controlling microbial growth were chosen, thereby, sodium hypochlorite (HS-100), chlorine dioxide (OC-5 and OC-10) and acidified sodium chlorite (CS-250 and CS-500) were selected. The most impermeable plastic bag was used, which was initially swept with O 2 to achieve a concentration of 90% O 2 , reaching for day 11 an average concentration of 34% O 2 and 49% CO 2 . CS-500 showed the highest initial microbial reduction (between 0,8 and 1,1 log cfu∙g -1 ), however, at the end of storage all counts were concentrated around 9 log cfu∙g -1 for aerobic mesophilic, psychrotrophic and enterobacteria. HS-100 displayed the highest respiratory rate, which also adjusted to the highest consumption of O 2 inside the bag, but was not associated with increased consumption of sugar. In sensorial evaluation, panel found no difference between treatments, consistent with low variation observed in the parameters of L, C* and H ab . In both assays, the total phenolic content and total antioxidant activity were not affected by the use of different sanitizers.

Thesis advisor: Richard Kearney / This dissertation investigates the possibility of a renewed phenomenological ethics that would ground ethics in the structure of lived experience, so that daily existence is ethically informative and the good is located in the concrete, heartfelt affairs of dwelling in the world with others. Thus far, phenomenological ethics has been deeply influenced by the two schools of Max Scheler’s value ethics and Emmanuel Levinas’ alterity ethics, both of which I argue share a fundamental point of contact in what I am calling Deep Kantianism. That is, phenomenological ethics has been haunted by Immanuel Kant’s non-phenomenological divide between nature and freedom, being and goodness, ontology and ethics. In response, I will suggest a new point of departure for phenomenological ethics beginning with the originary unity of being and goodness as revealed by the love that moves the self beyond herself toward her ground in the other person. Chapter One seeks to establish and identify the problem of Deep Kantianism, or explain what exactly Deep Kantianism is according to its origins. Kant begins his ethics with Hume’s assumption that being and goodness, is and ought, are separate. The implications of this divide threaten to reduce being to bare being without ethical import and to convert the good into an abstract shadow that is irrelevant to the situations of daily life. Chapter Two examines how Scheler in his value ethics shows against Kant that the ethical is only experienced by a being with a heart. The source of normativity is revealed and known through affectivity. However, this insight is troubled by Scheler’s distinction between values and bearers of value that repeats the Kantian distinction between nature and freedom, respectively. Chapter Three focuses on Scheler’s prioritization of love as the fundamental affect of the heart and person in its moving the person outside of herself, a movement that constitutes the person as such. However, this love turns out to not be for the sake of the person but for the value-essence that she bears, again placing the ethical with Kant outside of the realm of Being. Chapter Four begins with Levinas’ discovery that ethics is constituted by the relation to the Other, an ethical relation that is the first relation before any ontological relation, indicating that the self is responsible for the Other. Yet Levinas here is haunted by Deep Kantianism in his denigration of affectivity, which for him is an egoist return to the self that excludes the Other. Chapter Five argues that Levinas’ ethics is permeated by an abyssal nothingness that is exhibited in the destitution of the Other in Totality and Infinity and the passivity of the self in Otherwise than Being. The nothingness that permeates the ethical relation hints at the necessity of a return to the ontological, suggesting that ontology is not, as Levinas maintains following Kant, devoid of ethical implications. Chapter Six turns to Martin Heidegger in his retrieval of a pre-Kantian pathos through his readings of Augustine and Aristotle. This pathos suggests that affectivity is always already oriented toward the things and persons of the world in a way that reveals what is conducive and detrimental to one’s Being, implying a notion of what is good and bad for one’s Being, which Heidegger leaves undeveloped. Chapter Seven conducts a phenomenology of the ground of ethics that is informed by the discoveries made by Scheler, Levinas, and Heidegger. The self begins as constituted by a nothing, demanding that it move outside of itself in the exteriorization of love. This exteriorization directs the self to the concrete other person, the thou, who is revealed to be both the Good and Being as the proper end of love, indicating that the self is constituted by Being-for-the-Other. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2021. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Philosophy.

<p> Abstract: How can artists uphold their creative autonomy from the dictates of capitalism without compromising their vision for social change? Max Weber made it clear that the capitalism of to-day, which has to dominate economic life, educates and selects the economic subjects which needs through a process of economic survival of the fittest. (Weber, 1958) Eleven visual artists from the Golden Horseshoe Area and the Greater Toronto Area participated in this qualitative study and provided in-depth interviews their creative work, personal struggles and insights about the current state arts community. The data suggests connections between 'starving artists' and creative autonomy. On one hand, artists who pursued their art outside the formal art market deemed they had greater autonomy but experienced greater economic insecurity and social isolation. On the other hand, artists who practiced their art within the formal art market believed they had better freedom but needed to compromise creative autonomy and their vision for social change. On the whole, both art practices seemed to have lead artists to assume the concept of Art for 'my sake,' an assertion of their self-directed will for their own purpose, reducing artists' creative motivation to produce art society and for social change. While it may be solitary, it may also be a revolutionary strategy that enhances more control and focus on the artists' rather than pursuing society for validation and economic rewards.</p> / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

The secretory pathway of G. max performs a prominent role in its defense to H. glycines parasitism, a finding reinforced by the identification of the SNARE-associated gene ALPHA-SNAP-5 being rhg1. Other proteins performing important roles in secretion are Sec61-ALPHA, Sec61-BETA and Sec61-GAMMA which bind to form a trimeric complex that imports proteins into the ER for their eventual secretion. Comparative analyses to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sec61ALPHA, Sec61BETA and Sec61GAMMA proteins, respectively, shows G. max has 4 Sec61-ALPHA, 9 Sec61-BETA and4 Sec61-GAMMA proteins. At least one paralog from each gene family is expressed in H. glycines-parasitized root cells in G. max, but while undergoing a defense process. The overexpression of one selected Sec61-ALPHA, Sec61-BETA and Sec61-GAMMA in the H. glycines-susceptible genotype G. max[Williams 82/PI 518671] leads to an engineered defense response. In contrast, RNAi of the same selected Sec61-ALPHA, Sec61-BETA and Sec61-GAMMA genes in the H. glycines-resistant genotype G. max[Peking/PI 548402] leads to an engineered susceptible response. The combined opposite outcomes of the Sec61-ALPHA, Sec61-BETA and Sec61-GAMMA gene overexpression and RNAi provides evidence that they function in the defense process, consistent with the hypothesis that the G. max secretion system plays a role in its defense to H. glycines parasitism.

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<p> The attempt is made in the following study to present an interpretation of the novel "Stiller" by the Swiss author, Max Frisch, by tracing through the novel the dominant themes of the graven-image or 'Bildnis' and that of the problem of freedom with reference to the novel's main character. </p> / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

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Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (DOAS) is a remote sensing technique to detect different trace gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Multi Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) measurements by the Pandora instrument scan the sky at different elevation angles and main data products include near surface concentration, tropospheric column and vertical profile for different trace gases. It addresses an important gap in near surface air quality measurements that is difficult for in-situ, satellite and other remote sensing measurements to address. Different applications of the MAX-DOAS technique have been presented in this study for improving our understanding of tropospheric chemistry and near surface air quality monitoring. Formaldehyde (HCHO) concentration retrieved from the DOAS technique exhibits significant variation depending on the fitting parameters used. This systematic variation stems from different factors such as uncertainty in molecular absorption cross section measurement, temperature dependence of trace gas absorption, correlation between trace gases and combination of absorbers used in the DOAS fitting. To investigate the sensitivity and systematic uncertainty of HCHO retrieval, different fitting scenarios were created where fitting parameters like wavelength range, polynomial order, offset order and molecular absorption cross section were varied. To minimize systematic uncertainty and provide steady variability, the fitting scenario that most closely resembles the median of the range is selected and recommended as base fitting scenario. In addition, a real time analytical method to calculate HCHO near surface volume mixing ratio is presented where radiative transfer modelling is not required. The HCHO near surface volume mixing ratio calculated by MAX-DOAS is compared with surface HCHO measured by a ground in-situ instrument. The Pandora MAX-DOAS agrees very well with the ground in-situ instrument for the whole campaign (R²= 0.83, slope= 0.92) and provides excellent agreement for clear days (R²= 0.83= 0.88, slope=0.95). Additionally, a methodology is presented for detecting the mixing layer height (MLH) by using Pandora MAX-DOAS vertical water vapor distribution measurements. The wavelet method is applied to detect sharp gradients in the water vapor vertical profiles for estimation of mixing layer height. The Pandora derived mixing layer depth is compared to the estimations from the collocated Ceilometer (Vaisala CL51, EPA) measurements. Pandora MAX-DOAS agrees well with Ceilometer measurements for different time intervals during the day with a correlation coefficient of 0.68 to 0.76. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) and Formaldehyde (HCHO) tropospheric columns and vertical profiles measured at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport are also presented. Even though anthropogenic emissions decreased severely all over the United States due to Covid lockdown restrictions in 2020, trace gas levels at airports remained relatively same due to continuing air traffic. MAX-DOAS measurements are performed at different azimuth angles which gives a three dimensional representation of NO₂ and HCHO vertical profiles and enables to observe and distinguish air pollution at different directions. These measurements further show the potential of MAX-DOAS measurements for near surface air quality monitoring. / Doctor of Philosophy / MAX-DOAS is a ground based spectroscopic technique which can measure near surface concentration, tropospheric column and vertical distribution of different trace gases. Even though Satellite measurements can provide worldwide coverage, they generally measure only one time per day and have limited knowledge of near surface conditions. MAX-DOAS measurements performed by the NASA Pandora spectrometer systems can be used to provide near surface diurnal variation of different trace gas properties. In this work, different real-time applications of the MAX-DOAS technique are presented. At first, near surface concentration of Pandora MAX-DOAS Formaldehyde (HCHO) observations are validated by comparing with an in-situ instrument. Next, a methodology is presented for detecting the mixing layer height (MLH) by using Pandora MAX-DOAS vertical water vapor distribution measurements. Finally, MAX-DOAS measurements of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂) and Formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations during the COVID-19 pandemic at The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is presented. The measurements are done at different azimuth angles which produces three dimensional representations of NO₂ and HCHO vertical profiles. All these results prove that the NASA Pandora spectrometer systems have great potential for improving our understanding of tropospheric chemistry and air quality monitoring.

In max-plus algebra we work with the max-plus semi-ring which is the set ℝ_max=[-∞)∪ℝ together with operations 𝑎⊕𝑏 = max(𝑎,𝑏) and 𝑎⊗𝑏= 𝑎+𝑏.  The additive and multiplicative identities are taken to be ε=-∞ and ε=0 respectively. Max-plus algebra is one of many idempotent semi-rings which have been considered in various fields of mathematics. Max-plus algebra is becoming more popular not only because its operations are associative, commutative and distributive as in conventional algebra but because it takes systems that are non-linear in conventional algebra and makes them linear. Max-plus algebra also arises as the algebra of asymptotic growth rates of functions in conventional algebra which will play a significant role in several aspects of this thesis. This thesis is a survey of max-plus algebra that will concentrate on max-plus linear algebra results. We will then consider from a max-plus perspective several results by Wentzell and Freidlin for finite state Markov chains with an asymptotic dependence. / Master of Science