Research Papers, Essays, Term Papers.
Ecology
Back
Forward
Pages (1)
Type: thesis. Topic: Ecology. Code: ecol0008.
Format: pdf. Pages: 280
Format: pdf. Pages: 280
At-line testing of chlorophenol and chloroanisole contaminants
The research described in this thesis concerns the development of at-line test procedures for the detection of trace levels of chlorophenols and chloroanisoles in wine and related materials. Competitive ELISA assays were developed and optimised for pentachlorophenol and pentachloroanisole to enable the detection of chlorophenols and chloroanisoles in the range 0.1 to 100ng/ml in purified sample extracts, using antibodies supplied by the French consortium partner, Diaclone, together with synthesised conjugate materials, based on the enzyme horseradish peroxidase. The cross reactivity of the assay towards chlorophenol and chloroanisole congeners in wine was investigated and the pentachlorophenol assay was selected as the most efficient antibody to detect and quantify both chlorophenol and chloroanisole congeners. The use of synthetic receptors based on molecularly imprinting technology was also investigated for pentachlorophenol and pentachloroanisole, and a new assay format (Displacement Imprinted Polymer Analysis (DIPRA)) was established to measure chlorophenols in contaminated materials at a concentration range of 0.1 to 50 µg/ml, based on the displacement of a reporter molecule rebound to the synthetic receptor sites. Two alternative reporter molecules were synthesised by linking a pentachlorophenol derivative (2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-4-hydroxy phenoxy acetic acid) to the enzyme horseradish peroxidase or 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin-3-acetyl hydrazide. Alternative hyphenated sample extraction and purification methods based on solid phase extraction, steam distillation and liquid/liquid partition were evaluated to enable the ELISA and DIPRA test methods to be employed using the limited facilities of a local winery laboratory. The application of the procedures to the analysis of sample types such as wine, corks and packaging materials was undertaken to investigate the suitability of the test methods for inclusion in quality control and incident analysis protocols.
Pay with PayPal
Price: 4.99 GBP (5.96 EUR, 7.85 USD)
Type: thesis. Topic: Ecology. Code: ecol0001.
Format: pdf. Pages: 60
Format: pdf. Pages: 60
Bodies and Theology in Food Production Systems
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter One: Industrial
1. Introduction
2. Vegetable
3. Animal
3.1 Cattle
3.2 Chickens
4. Human
Chapter Two: “Beyond Organic”
1. Introduction
2. Polyface Farm
3. The Green Sisters
4. The Murrays
5. Conclusion
Chapter Three: A Few Theological Reflections
1. Introduction
2. Bodies Matter
2.1 The classic organic model
2.2 A theology of all bodies
3. A panentheistic approach
3.1 Reflections from process theology
3.2 “The flesh of God”
4. Unity, diversity, and interrelatedness
4.1 Unity in diversity
4.2 Undeniable interrelatedness
4.3 Reacting with love
Conclusion
Bibliography
Pay with PayPal
Price: 3.99 GBP (4.77 EUR, 6.27 USD)
Type: thesis. Topic: Ecology. Code: ecol0004.
Format: pdf. Pages: 187
Format: pdf. Pages: 187
Development of electrochemical sensors for the detection of photosystem inhibiting herbicides
The objective of the present work is the development of an amperometric sensor for detection of hydrogen peroxide and its integration with spinach chloroplasts for the further development of a sensor for herbicides. The design of the sensor employed screen- printing electrodes which are easily produced at the facilities available in Cranfield University. The hydrogen peroxide sensor has been based on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) as the catalytic element and hydroquinone as the mediator. HRP has been immobilised onto the sensor surface using a newly developed thioacetale-based polymer capable of covalent immobilisation of primary amines. A new HRP-based biosensor was screen-printed using a carbon/polymer mixture. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations were analysed at the reduction potential of hydroquinone (–0.3 V). The biosensors developed in this work had low detection limit of HB2BOB2B (0.1 µM), long term stability (they can be stored for 2 months at 4 P 0 PC) and good reproducibility of measurements (RSD ~ 5%). The hydrogen peroxide sensor has been further integrated with spinach chloroplasts in an attempt to create a sensor for photosynthesis-inhibiting herbicides. It was found however that the quantity of HB2BOB2B generated by chloroplasts in our experimental conditions was not sufficient to allow quantitative analysis. Due to this we have developed an alternative approach based on the electrochemistry of the Hill reaction. In this reaction the photosynthetic process and electron flow passing through photosystem II (PSII) is monitored through the quantity of reduced artificial electron acceptor. Upon illumination of the chloroplasts a signal from a reduced acceptor or mediator was recorded chronoamperometrically. The added herbicide inhibits the photosynthetic process and decreases the reduction of mediator. The decrease in measured current which is proportional to herbicide concentrations have been used for herbicide detection. Three mediators of Hill reaction were tested including 2,6 dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP) duroquinone and potassium ferricyanide. The optimal results were obtained using DCPIP. The optimal wavelength for the excitation of chloroplasts was 650 nm. The chloroplasts have been immobilised onto the sensor surface using cross-linking with glutaraldehyde and bovine serum albumin. The developed system allowed reliable detection of herbicides (RSD = 10%) with a detection limit of 1-8 nM depending on the type of herbicide. The sensor can be stored for 3 months at -80 P 0 PC. Preliminary measurements of river water samples using this sensor were also performed indicating good correlation between the data obtained with GC-MS and the chloroplast-based biosensor developed in this study.
Pay with PayPal
Price: 4.99 GBP (5.96 EUR, 7.85 USD)
Type: thesis. Topic: Ecology. Code: ecol0003.
Format: pdf. Pages: 314
Format: pdf. Pages: 314
Food safety, consumer trust in livestock farmers and purchase likelihood
Food safety is an important issue facing consumers, the food industry and the government. Since consumers cannot themselves easily assess food safety risks, their perception of food safety is in part a matter of trust in the food chain. This study focuses on livestock farmers and investigates the causal relationship between the factors which determine consumer trust regarding food safety and in turn their purchase likelihood. The main research questions are: 1) What are the key factors which build consumer trust in this context? 2) What are the contributions of these factors to building consumer trust? 3) Is there any relationship between consumer trust and purchase likelihood? By integrating theories developed in several disciplines, six factors, namely: providing information, competence, integrity, benevolence, credibility and reliability were identified to have a strong influence on consumer trust in livestock farmers. An exploratory study in the form of face-to-face interviews was carried out to clarify the main concerns of livestock husbandry practices, and to identify the items to measure the causal factors of consumer trust in livestock farmers regarding food safety. Because the objectives set out in this study could not be achieved by using multiple regression, which could not handle latent variables, the conceptual model was tested with a quota sample of 194 individuals in the form of a Structural Equation Model using LISREL 8.30. It was proved successful in identifying the effects of the causal factors of trust to build consumer trust and in turn to affect purchase likelihood. The factor ‘providing information’ was identified to be a key factor by which trust is built and the features that lead to trust, namely: ‘competence’, ‘integrity’, ‘credibility’, ‘reliability’, and ‘benevolence’ were identified to be factors to build trust in livestock farmers. Representatives of the livestock industry were approached to confirm the relevance of the study and facilitate the interpretation of the findings. Though there is a limitation of its generalisation due to the sampling method, there is evidence that these factors are important to building consumer trust in livestock farmers regarding food safety. The evidence also suggests that there is a strong relationship between trust and consumer purchase likelihood. The research confirms that livestock farmers could draw benefit from strategies to increase their trustworthiness and in turn positively influence consumers’ purchasing decision. This study recommends further research to apply this model in other industries where the suppliers have little contact with consumers. The differences in trust building between cultures and the communication channels that livestock farmers representatives should used are also suggested for further study. Future research on how the food industry should respond to the change in consumer trust during periods of concern about food safety is also recommended. These are valid topics for future research and will provide potential benefits for consumers and food industry as a whole.
Pay with PayPal
Price: 4.99 GBP (5.96 EUR, 7.85 USD)
Type: thesis. Topic: Ecology. Code: ecol0002.
Format: pdf. Pages: 129
Format: pdf. Pages: 129
GREEN BUSINESS AND RENEWABLE ENERGY APPROACHES TO CLIMATE CHANGE
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction
I. Introduction
II. The Positive Side of the Green Revolution (giving credit)
III. How industrialized agriculture influences Climate Change (the downside)
IV. Lack of Media Attention
V. How Climate Change Threatens Food Security (the other side of the coin)
VI. Sustainable Agriculture and Corporate Responses
VII. Conclusion
Chapter 2: Green Business and Carbon Offsetting
I. Introduction
II. Green Business
III. Green Business and Climate
IV. Carbon Offsetting
V. Conclusion
Chapter 3A: Case Study
I. Introduction
II. Background and History
III. Current Status
IV. Critiques
V. Conclusion
Chapter 3B: Interview
I. Introduction
II. The Debate
III. Whole Foods’ “Landmark Purchase”: A closer look
IV. Conclusion: Efficacy and Ethics
Chapter 4: Case Study
I. Introduction
II. Background
III. Case Study: Growing Power
IV. Principles and Methods
IV. Differences between WF and GP
V. Conclusion
Chapter 5: Conclusion
Bibliography
Pay with PayPal
Price: 3.99 GBP (4.77 EUR, 6.27 USD)
Type: term paper. Topic: Ecology. Code: ecol0007.
Format: pdf. Pages: 237
Format: pdf. Pages: 237
Use of fungi in bioremediation of pesticides
Eight isolates (7 species) of white rot fungi were grown on soil extract agar amended with 0, 5 10 and 20 mg l- simazine, trifluralin and dieldrin, individually and as a mixture, under two different water regimes (-0.7 and -2.8 MPa water potential). The best isolates were T.versicolor (R26 and R101) and P.ostreatus, exhibiting good tolerance to the pesticides and water stress and the ability to degrade lignin and produce laccase in the presence of these pesticides. As a result, the activity of those three isolates plus Phanerochaete chrysosporium (well described for its bioremediation potential) was examined in soil extract broth in relation to differential degradation of the pesticide mixture at different concentrations (0-30 mg l-1) under different osmotic stress levels (-0.7 and -2.8 MPa). Enzyme production, relevant to P and N release (phosphomonoesterase, protease), carbon cycling (β-glucosidase, cellulase) and laccase, involved in lignin degradation was quantified. The results suggested that the test isolates have the ability to degrade different groups of pesticides, supported by the capacity for expression of a range of extracellular enzymes at both -0.7 and -2.8 MPa water potential. P.chrysosporium and T.versicolor R101, were able to degrade this mixture of pesticides independently of laccase activity, whereas P.ostreatus and T.versicolor R26 showed higher production of this enzyme. Complete degradation of dieldrin and trifluralin was observed, while about 80% of the simazine was degraded regardless of osmotic stress treatment in a nutritionally poor soil extract broth. The results with toxicity test (Toxalert®10), suggested the pesticides were metabolised. Therefore the capacity for the degradation of high concentrations of mixtures of pesticides and the production of a range of enzymes, even under osmotic stress, suggested potential applications in soil. Subsequently, microcosm studies of soil artificially contaminated with a mixture of pesticides (simazine, trifluralin and dieldrin, 5 and 10 mg kg soil-1) inoculated with P.ostreatus, T.versicolor R26 and P.chrysosporium, grown on wood chips and spent mushroom compost (SMC) were examined for biodegradation capacity at 15ºC. The three test isolates successfully grew and produced extracellular enzymes in soil. Respiratory activity was enhanced in soil inoculated with the test isolates, and was generally higher in the presence of the pesticide mixture, which suggested increased ii mineralization. Cellulase and dehydrogenase was also higher in inoculated soil than in the control especially after 12 weeks incubation. Laccase was produced at very high levels, only when T.versicolor R26 and P.ostreatus were present. Greatest degradation for the three pesticides was achieved by T.versicolor R26, after 6 weeks with degradation rates for simazine, trifluralin and dieldrin 46, 57, and 51% higher than in natural soil. And by P.chrysosporium, after 12 weeks, with degradation rates 58, 74, and 70% higher than the control. The amendment of soil with SMC also improved pesticide degradation (17, 49 and 76% increase in degradation of simazine, trifluralin and dieldrin compared with the control).
Pay with PayPal
Price: 4.99 GBP (5.96 EUR, 7.85 USD)
Type: thesis. Topic: Ecology. Code: ecol0006.
Format: pdf. Pages: 280
Format: pdf. Pages: 280
Water and sanitation programmes in the developing world
The two objectives of this thesis are firstly to suggest approaches to achieve sustained beneficial outcomes from WATSAN, and secondly how to ‘scale up’ application of these approaches, so that they impact positively on the lives of the millions of people who live without safe water or adequate sanitation. To discover what these approaches are the literature is examined and practical lessons are drawn from two WATSAN programmes in East and Central Africa. The conclusions are presented in the form of a charter for the sustainable development of WATSAN, with nine clauses suggested to guide project and programme managers around the issues that need to be taken into account in this most important of development sectors. The charter’s clauses walk the reader through various stages of WATSAN development, through participatory project identification, need and demand response, sustainable environmental approaches, structured health education, staffing issues, decentralisation, and the practicalities of policy, allowing work to progress at the speed that communities need to acquire ownership whilst at the same time scaling up programme implementation to make a meaningful impact on the MDGs. The global issues of financing the MDGs are also assessed, and the conclusion is that meeting the MDGs is possible in sustainable manner, but only if there is a massive shift in the resources allocated towards those really in need, and a change in the attitudes of the political power brokers to allow this, promoting quality work, to be implemented by integrated teams, in a process orientated, ethos driven way, with WATSAN set as a keystone of wider human development.
Pay with PayPal
Price: 4.99 GBP (5.96 EUR, 7.85 USD)
Back
Forward
Pages (1)
