Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a modified form of Meichenbaum's (1985) Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) on the anxiety-induced challenging behavior and coping skills of middle school students with Asperger's Syndrome. Many individuals with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), most often described as a disorder on the autism spectrum, contend with significant anxiety in addition to the other social, sensory, linguistic, and behavioral components of the disorder. This anxiety can frequently lead to high rates of inappropriate and/or aggressive behavior. A single-subject multiple-baseline research design, replicated across three participants was used in this study. This was an AB design with a time-lagged control as the intervention was introduced across the participants. Three middle school students with Asperger's Syndrome participated in this study and all demonstrated a decrease in challenging behavior and an increase in adaptive coping skills during the course of the intervention. Two of the three students maintained these positive changes throughout the follow-up phase of the intervention. These two students continued to show behavioral improvement after the conclusion of the study.

Screening for resistance to Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin contamination in maize is an ongoing effort by universities, state and federal agencies. We evaluated two techniques to screen for resistance; quantitative polymerase reaction (QPCR) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME). Methods were adapted to accurately detect and quantify the fungus in culture and in the vegetative stage of plant tissues. These assays can eliminate microbiological techniques. The primary objectives of the study were to utilize 1) QPCR to detect and quantify fungal biomass in maize stem tissues to evaluate resistance in maize genotypes to A. flavus colonization in situ and in vivo and 2) SPME to identify key MVOC’s to differentiate aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic strains of A. flavus in situ. A novel QPCR TaqMan probe (OMG3) was designed to detect a region in the aflP gene. The OMG3 probe detected 98.3% of the aflatoxigenic strains. The predominant MVOC’s extracted from both aflatoxigenic and non-aflatoxigenic strains were alcohols, ketones and hydrocarbons. The aflatoxigenic strain produced 39 compounds and the non-aflatoxigenic strain produced 41 compounds. Dimethylsulfide and 2-heptanol were key MVOC biomarkers produced only by the aflatoxigenic strain of A. flavus. Accuracy of the QPCR OMG3 probe, in vivo and in situ procedures were developed. A toothpick inoculation method was used to artificially inoculate maize stems in the vegetative stage five (V5). Plants were harvested at V7 and sampled at predetermined sites. This method was 91% consistent for infecting maize plants. The OMG3 probe was evaluated in in vivo and in situ studies conducted in the greenhouse, growth chamber, and field. Lesion length was greater in susceptible lines in 4 of 7 greenhouse trials. Based on inoculation data, subsequent research should focus on refining tissue-sampling methods and increasing length of plant growth time for tissue sampling post-inoculation.

Le Sénégal, pays aride, connait un effet de sécheresse croissant. Le pays est confronté à un problème d’ensablement, de perte de fertilité et de compaction des sols. Des plants d’A. senegal et de P. juliflora en association ou non avec les microorganismes sont étudiés pour savoir en quoi ces espèces peuvent contribuer à la fixation des dunes mouvants et à l’amélioration de la productivité des terres. Des plants inoculés aux champignons mycorhiziens et au Rhizobium sont plantés à Sangalkam, Bandia et Bambey pour être récoltés un an après et analysés. Une autre expérience montée en serre a consisté à faire pousser les mêmes espèces sur le même type de sol à différents niveaux de compaction avec un tiers du lot occupé par les plants inoculés. Les résultats ont montré que le taux de mycorhisation atteint son pic sur sols pauvres en phosphore. L’inoculation a augmenté la production de biomasse tout en réduisant la taille des vaisseaux du bois racinaire. Elle augmente aussi le % de cellulose en fonction du diamètre racinaire et de l’âge. % qui augmente avec la résistance à la traction de la racine, source de meilleur ancrage et de résistance à l’arrachement. Une augmentation du niveau de compaction du sol diminue significativement le taux de mycorhisation et le nombre de nodule des racines. Elle favorise les racines fines au détriment des grosses racines. Ceci affecte positivement l’architecture racinaire au profit d’un meilleur ancrage. Le P. juliflora est mieux pour la lutte contre l’érosion éolienne l’ensablement et la perte de fertilité dans la zone des Niayes. L’A. senegal peut contribuer à l’amélioration de la fertilité tout en adaptant son système racinaire face à la compaction du sol. / An increasing drought effect is known in Senegal, arid country who is confronted to a silting problem, a decline in overall land fertility and soils compaction. Seedling of A. senegal and P. juliflora in association or no with microorganism are studied to know some what these species can contribute to the moving dune fixing and improvement land productivity. Seedling inoculated to mycorrhizas and Rhizobium are planted in Sangalkam, Bandia and Bambey and are harvested one year after for analyzed. Another experience in greenhouse consisted to grow up the same species on the same type of soil with different levels of compaction and a share occupied by inoculated seedlings. Results showed that the rate of mycorhisation reached his peak on soils poor in phosphorus. The inoculation increased the production of biomass while reducing the size of root wood vessels. She also increases it % of cellulose according to root diameter and age. % that increases with the root tensile strength, spring of better anchorage and resistance of extortion. An increase of soil compaction level decreases, meaningfully, the rate of mycorhisation and the number of root nodule. She favored the fine roots to detriment of thick roots. She affects positively root’s morphology in aid of better anchorage. P. juliflora is better for the struggle against the wind erosion the silting and loss of fertility in the Niayes area. A. senegal can contribute to the improvement of fertility while adapting its root system facing soil compaction.

La Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) est une espèce forestière d’une grande importance en raison d’une forte demande sur le marché international pour les tanins présents dans ses gousses, et pour les gommes provenant de ses graines. Malgré son importance économique pour le Pérou, la majeure partie de la production provient de forêts naturelles non aménagées. Ces forêts présentent des problèmes de sol (érosion, faible fertilité, présence d’agents pathogènes, manque d'irrigation), qui conduisent à des rendements faibles. C’est pourquoi dans le présent travail, nous étudions les composantes microbiologiques du sol associé à cette culture, telles que les mycorhizes et les bactéries dont l’utilisation, selon de nombreuses études, s’est révélée être une alternative à l'utilisation d'engrais chimiques. Pour cela, nous avons procédé à l'analyse moléculaire de la diversité des champignons mycorhiziens arbusculaires par la technique de Miseq Illumina, ce qui nous a permis de mettre en évidence une prépondérance de Gloméracées parmi lesquelles les Rhizophagus spp. étaient retrouvés dans 70% des séquences. En outre, la dépendance de la Tara vis-à-vis de la mycorhization a été démontrée car, après avoir testé la mycorhization contrôlée de la Tara par Rhizophagus irregularis, il a été constaté que la croissance de Caesalpinia spinosa était considérablement améliorée, ainsi que l'absorption d'éléments nutritifs tels que l'azote (N) et le phosphore (P). Pour vérifier la capacité à noduler de la Tara, différents milieux de culture ont été utilisés ainsi que différentes conditions de croissance, en serre et in vitro. Ces expérimentations ont toutes montré que les racines de Tara ne présentaient pas de nodules, confirmant que cette légumineuse de la sous-famille des Caesalpinioideae est non nodulante. Par conséquent et afin d’étudier la diversité des rhizobia présents dans le sol de la plantation de Tara, nous avons utilisé en serre une plante-piège, le pois (Pisum sativum) car c’est une légumineuse nodulante et de plus est traditionnellement associée à la culture de Tara. Les rhizobia identifiés moléculairement se sont révélés très spécifiques et différents des rhizobia présents dans les sols extérieurs à la plantation de Tara. Plus particulièrement, ces rhizobia se sont révélés être phylogénétiquement proches de R. etli, R. phaseoli, R. pisi et R. leguminosarum. Enfin, un test d'inoculation contrôlée (in vitro) a été réalisé sur des plantules de pois, avec ces bactéries préalablement piégées et isolées du pois. Il a été observé que les rhizobia piégés à partir des sols collectés entre deux lignes de Tara et sur la ligne de plantation de Tara, ont stimulé la croissance du pois par rapport aux rhizobia présents dans les sols collectés à l'extérieur de la plantation. / The Tara (Caesalpinia spinosa) is a forest species of great importance due to its high demand in the international market for the tannins present in its pods and its seeds’ gum. Despite its great importance for Peru, most of the production comes from unmanaged natural forests. These forests present soil problems (e.g., erosion, low fertility, pathogens, lack of irrigation), which cause low yields. Therefore, in the present work we seek to study the soil components associated with Tara plantation , such as mycorrhizae and bacteria that have proved to be an alternative for reducing the use of chemical fertilizers in similar context (Aboubacar et al., Flores Chavez 20015, E and Saif 1987, Dia et al. 2010; Bilgo et al., 2013) . We used molecular analysis of the arbuscular diversity by the Miseq Illumina technique that allowed to verify the arbuscular diversity with a preponderance of Glomeraceae among which the Rhizophagus spp were found to be present in 70% of the sequences. In addition, the dependence of the Tara on obligatory mycorrhization was demonstrated, after testing the controlled mycorrhization of the Tara by the Rhizophagus irregularis. We found that the growth of this crop was significantly improved, as well as the absorption of nutrients such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P).To check the nodulation of the Tara, different culture media were used (JenSen, sand mixture with Tara plantation soil, attapulgite mixture with Tara plantation soils) in greenhouse and in vitro condition. We did not manage to find rhizobial nodules in the roots which let us think that Tara is a non-nodular legume. Therefore, we used Pisum sativum as a trap plant to study the diversity of rhizobia present in the soil of the Tara plantation since this legume is often associated with Tara crop. The rhizobia found in the trap plant were very specific and different from the rhizobia present in soils outside the Tara plantation. Likewise, these rhizobia found to be phylogenetically close to R. etli, R. phaseoli, R. pisi and R. leguminosarum. Finally, we inoculated the trapped bacterias (in vitro) in Pisum sativum with the bacterias previously trapped and isolated from the pea (which grew in the green house); where it was observed that the rhizospheric bacteria of the zones IL (soil collected between two lines) and L (soil collected from the same line) from the plantation of Tara stimulated the growth of this crop with respect to the bacteria present in soils collected outside of the plantation (OP zone).

Thesis (M.Sc. (Agriculture)) --University of Limpopo, 2018 / Dry bean is one of the most important cash crops and source of protein for small holder farmers. Low yields of dry bean are often reported to be associated with lack of inoculation (Arbuscular mycorrihizal fungi) of seeds prior to planting. Soil phosphorus (P) unavailability is one of the major factors limiting yield of dry bean. Field and Greenhouse experiments were conducted to investigate the response of dry bean cultivars to inoculation and phosphorus application under dry land farming conditions at the Syferkuil experimental farm of University of Limpopo. Both greenhouse and field experiments were carried out as a split-split plot arrangement in randomised complete block design with four replications. Main plot treatment comprised of two dry bean cultivars VIZ, red speckled bean and small white haricot. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation levels (inoculated and uninoculated) were assigned in the sub-plot whilst the sub-sub plot was applied with five phosphorus rates at 0, 20; 40; 60 and 80 kg/ ha using single superphosphate (10.5 % P). The data collected were subjected to analysis of variance using statistical software (ANOVA) STATISTIX 10.0.Dry bean cultivars (red speckled bean and small white haricot bean) were evaluated in a field experiment for their growth, nodulation and yield responses to AM fungi inoculation and different rates of P fertiliser. The results revealed that the red speckled bean had higher number of nodules (45 %), stem diameter 26.96 cm and higher leaf area of 21.05 cm2 as compared to small white haricot bean. The application of P at the rate of 40 kg/ha produced higher grain yield of 743.47 kg/ha as compared to small white haricot bean with 572 kg/ha. The growth parameters such as yield, soil chemical and biological properties did not significantly respond to inoculation (P≤0.05). Red speckled bean and small white haricot bean were evaluated in greenhouse experiment for their growth and nodulation on inoculation and phosphorus fertilizer treatment In the greenhouse experiment phosphorus fertilizer rate showed significant effect on chlorophyll content, leaf fresh and dry weight. The dry bean cultivars were found to be significant to number of nodules, plant vigour and root dry weight. The red speckled bean showed higher growth parameters as compared to small white haricot bean. The application of Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) at varying rates did not have any significant influence on all parameters measured in the experiment on both trials. The study needs to be repeated after 4 to 5 years. The findings of this study concluded that P should be applied at the rate of 40 kg P/ha in order to improve the production of dry bean. / NRF (National Research Foundation)

The diploma thesis deals with the modification and inoculation of cast iron with spheroidal graphite, the influence of the chemical composition on the shape and size of the graphite nodules and ferrite/perlite ratio in the structure. The aim of the practical part was to determine the effect of inoculant containing bismuth (SMW 605) on microstructure and mechanical properties of ferritic ductile cast iron GJS 400-15. The dissolving time of mold inoculant was further investigated. The samples were subjected to a tensile test, Charpy impact test, hardness test and graphite morphology and ferrite/perlite examination using standard ČSN EN ISO 945-1.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1984 R327 / Master of Science

In the glasshouse, two cultivars of alfalfa growing in non-sterile soil were evaluated for their response to inoculation with 4 VA mycorrhizal fungi and 3 strains of Rhizobium meliloti. Alfalfa cultivar Hayden PX-1 had significantly greater dry stem weights (p = 0.05) when inoculated with Glomus fasciculatum, G. deserticola or an undescribed Glomus sp. compared to mycorrhizal controls. Alfalfa cultivar Lew HI Nod had significantly less dry stem weights when inoculated with G. fasciculatum, G. mosseae or the undescribed Glomus sp. Addition to R. meliloti did not impart increased growth responses with either alfalfa cultivar probably due to the high nitrogen content of the soil. In the field, alfalfa cultivar Hayden PX-1 was both transplanted and direct-seeded. Transplanted alfalfa had been preinoculated with VA mycorrhizal fungi and R. meliloti. Inocula containing VA mycorrhizal fungi and R.meliloti were Layered below the seed in direct-seeded plots. Phosphorus, as treble super phosphate, was also added as a treatment. At first harvest, transplanted alfalfa inoculated with the undescribed Glomus sp. had significantly greater (p = 0.05) dry whole plot weights compared to controls regardless of R. meliloti or phosphorus treatments. Inoculation of alfalfa with G. deserticola significantly increased dry whole plot weights over controls but significantly (p = 0.05) only with added R. meliloti and phosphorus. Second harvest data maintained the trend for yield increases over controls with addition of the undescribed Glomus sp. and G. deserticola; however, only significantly (p = 0.05) with inoculation with the undescribed Glomus sp. including R. meliloti and phosphorus. Yield increases were not obtained for the final three transplanted alfalfa harvests or for any of the direct-seeded alfalfa harvests. Statistically significant differences in phosphorus and protein content of alfalfa were not found between any of the treatments. Also, differences were not found in soil populations of R. meliloti in mycorrhizal inoculated plots compared to control plots.

Na presente pesquisa, utilizou-se a técnica molecular de Eletroforese em Gel de Gradiente Desnaturante (DGGE) e microscopia óptica (contraste de fase e fluorescência) para caracterizar a comunidade procarionte estabelecida em quatro biometanizadores de 50 L e em três biometanizadores de 5 L, cujo substrato principal foi a fração orgânica dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (FORSU) acrescida de serragem (12% nos biometanizadores de 50 L e 20% nos de 5 L) e lodo de esgoto (9% e 18% nos biometanizadores de 50 L; 40% e 60% nos de 5L). Pela análise do perfil das bandas de DGGE, verificou-se uma alteração na estrutura da comunidade de bactérias presentes no chorume dos biometanizadores de 50 L entre 60 e 120 dias de operação, período caracterizado pelo acúmulo de ácidos graxos voláteis, consumo crescente de alcalinidade, queda de pH e aumento da demanda química de oxigênio, resultando na baixa remoção de sólidos totais voláteis e na ausência de metano no biogás. Pela análise de microscopia de fluorescência, não foram detectadas metanogênicas em nenhuma das amostras de chorume dos biometanizadores de 50 L, sendo que as principais morfologias e formas de agrupamento visualizadas foram: bacilo, diplobacilos, vibrião, espirilo, diplococos e cocos em cadeia. Os biometanizadores de 5 L, por serem inoculados com maiores proporções de lodo de esgoto do que os biometanizadores de 50 L, apresentaram um processo mais equilibrado. Um dos tratamentos de 5 L (ETE 2) obteve a maior similaridade para o domínio Archaea entre o digestato e o respectivo inóculo, demonstrando a adaptação das arqueas exógenas ao substrato principal (FORSU), sendo esse o único tratamento para o qual detectou-se metano no biogás. Os resultados sugeriram que monitorar a comunidade microbiana que se desenvolve e atua no processo de biometanização pode trazer maior sensibilidade e especificidade na detecção e confirmação de instabilidades do sistema, garantindo intervenções somente quando necessário. / This dissertation addresses the use of the molecular technique of Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and light microscopy (phase contrast and fluorescence) for the characterization of the prokaryotic community established in four 50 L reactors and in three 5 L reactors whose main substrate was the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW) plus sawdust (12% in 50 L reactors and 20% in 5 L reactors) and sewage sludge (9% and 18% in 50 L reactors; 40% and 60% in 5 L reactors). The analysis of the profile of DGGE bands revealed a change in the structure of the bacterial community present in the slurry of 50 L reactors between 60 and 120 days of operation, a period characterized by the accumulation of volatile fatty acids, increasing consumption of alkalinity, decrease in pH and increase in the chemical oxygen demand, which resulted in a lower removal of volatile total solids and absence of methane in the biogas. The fluorescence microscopy analysis detected no methanogenics in the slurry samples from 50 L reactors and the main morphologies and grouping forms displayed were bacillus, diplobacilos, vibrio, spirillum, diplococci and coconuts in chain. The 5 L reactors, inoculated with higher proportions of sewage sludge than the 50 L reactors, showed a more balanced process. One of the treatments (ETE 2) displayed the highest similarity for the Archaea domain between the digestato and the respective inoculum, which demonstrates the adaptation of the exogenous archaea to the main substrate (OFMSW). It was the only treatment in which methane was detected in the biogas. The results suggest the monitoring of the microbial community that develops and acts in the biomethanization process can provide higher sensitivity and specificity for the detection and confirmation of instability of the system and ensure interventions only when necessary.

Submitted by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-09T20:13:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 LUANA MARCHI QUADROS.pdf: 486273 bytes, checksum: 3aba5f2bff1f008819318201078a6c61 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2016-09-09T20:14:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 LUANA MARCHI QUADROS.pdf: 486273 bytes, checksum: 3aba5f2bff1f008819318201078a6c61 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-09T20:14:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 LUANA MARCHI QUADROS.pdf: 486273 bytes, checksum: 3aba5f2bff1f008819318201078a6c61 (MD5) license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-16 / O vírus da diarreia viral bovina (BVDV) é considerado um importante patógeno de bovinos e está amplamente disseminado no rebanho brasileiro. A transmissão do vírus ocorre por contato direto e indireto entre animais infectados e animais susceptíveis, sendo que os animais persistentemente infectados são fundamentais na manutenção do vírus no rebanho. A reprodução experimental da infecção possibilita o estudo dos parâmetros clínicos e virais, bem como o estabelecimento de parâmetros para testes de diagnóstico, de vacinas e a determinação de medidas de controle. Com o objetivo de estudar a patogenicidade de uma amostra brasileira de BVDV-1a 241.10, quatro bovinos foram inoculados pela via intranasal com uma suspensão viral contendo 107,2 TCID50/ml. Um animal não inoculado foi mantido em contato para avaliar a transmissibilidade. Após a inoculação, os animais foram monitorados diariamente para observação de sinais clínicos. Amostras de secreções nasais foram coletadas nos dias -3 ao 15 dias pós-inoculação (pi) e sangue nos dias -2, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 e 14 pi para detecção da presença viral por isolamento em cultivo celular. A contagem dos leucócitos totais foi realizada em diferentes momentos nos dias -3, 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 e 15 pi. A detecção de anticorpos foi realizada no soro em intervalos de 7 dias até o dia 42 pi. Após a inoculação não foram observados sinais clínicos evidentes, apenas secreção nasal e ocular serosa entre os dias 1 e 5 pi e tosse discreta entre os dias 2 e 4 pi. A temperatura corporal teve um leve aumento entre os dias 4 e 6 pi. O animal controle não desenvolveu nenhum dos sinais observados no grupo infectado. A detecção viral no sangue revelou a presença de viremia entre os dias 4 e 8 pi e nas secreções nasais entre os dias 1 até 10 pi. O vírus não foi isolado no sangue e secreção nasal do animal contato, demonstrando ausência da transmissão. Nos animais inoculados observou-se uma redução na contagem total de leucócitos entre os dias 3 e 12 dpi. Anticorpos neutralizantes foram detectados inicialmente no dia 14 pi em todos os animais inoculados e permaneceram até o dia 42 pi. A detecção de anticorpos anti-p80 não-estrutural ocorreu em dois animais no dia 14 pi e no dia 42 pi todos os animais soroconverteram. O animal controle não desenvolveu anticorpos em nenhum momento. Assim sendo, conclui-se que a amostra de BVDV utilizada na infecção experimental possui baixa patogenicidade e reduzida capacidade de transmissibilidade para os animais em contato. Desta forma, a disseminação da infecção pode ocorrer na população bovina de forma discreta e de difícil percepção. / The bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is considered an important pathogen of cattle and are widespread in the Brazilian herd. Transmission of the virus occurs by direct and indirect contact between infected and susceptible animals, and the persistently infected animals are essential in the maintenance of virus in the herd. The experimental reproduction of infection allows the study of clinical and viral parameters as well as setting parameters for diagnostic testing of vaccines and the determination of control measures. In order to study the pathogenicity of a sample of Brazilian BVDV-1a 241.10 four cattle were inoculated intranasally with a viral suspension containing 107.2 TCID50 / ml. One non-inoculated cattle was kept in contact with the inoculated cattle to assess the transmissibility. After inoculation, the animals were monitored daily to observe clinical signs. Samples of nasal secretions were collected on days -3 to 15 post-inoculation (pi) and blood on days -2, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 pi for detection of viral presence by isolation in cell culture. The total leukocyte count was performed at different moments on days -3, 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 pi. The detection of antibodies was performed in serum at 7 day intervals until the 42 day post-inoculation. After inoculation no clinical signs were observed, only nasal and ocular serous secretion between days 1 and 5 pi and discreet cough between day 2 and 4 pi. Body temperature increased slightly between day 4 and 6 pi. Animal Control did not develop any of the signs observed in the infected group. The viral detection in the blood showed the presence of viremia between 4 and 8 days pi and nasal secretions between day 1 up to 10 pi. Virus was not isolated in the blood and nasal secretions of the animal contact, demonstrating the absence of transmission. In animals inoculated it was observed there was a reduction in total leukocyte count between day 3 up to 12 dpi. Neutralizing antibodies initially were detected on day 14 pi in all inoculated animals and remained until day 42 post-inoculation. The detection of anti-p80 antibodies occurred in two animals on day 14 post-inoculation and on day 42 post-inoculation all animals seroconverted. Animal Control did not develop antibodies at any moment. Therefore, it is concluded that the BVDV sample used for infection has low pathogenicity and reduced capacity of transmissibility for animal contact. Thus, the spread of infection can occur in the cattle population in a discreetly way and difficult perception.