Four to six separate inundative releases of ~30,000 to 50,000 T. ostriniae per 0.02 ha significantly reduced damage by O. nubilalis in bell pepper. Egg parasitization averaged 48.7% in T. ostriniae release plots, which was significantly higher than non-release plots (1.9%). Also, cumulative green pepper fruit damage averaged 8.7% in release plots, which was significantly less than non-release plots (27.3%). Pesticides tested against T. ostriniae were spinosad and methoxyfenozide. Spinosad adversely affected adult T. ostriniae producing 100% mortality at the field rate of 498 mg [AI]/L for both the preimaginal and adult toxicity tests. Use of T. ostriniae can provide effective control of O. nubilalis in pepper compared to conventional and organic spray regimes (Spinosad and methoxyfenozide respectively). Augmentative releases of T. ostriniae integrated with methoxyfenozide with its limited toxicity to both preimaginal and adult stages indicate that it is a superior candidate for control O. nubilalis. To determine the behavioral differences of T. ostriniae and its response to O. nubilalis in green bell peppers, experiments were carried out to classify likely areas of O. nubilalis oviposition within the green pepper plant canopy. A total of 426 O. nubilalis egg masses were found on pepper plants during our study. Over 92% of egg masses were found on the lower surface of the leaf compared with the upper surface indicating a significant ovipositional preference for the undersides of leaves in 2002 ( x2 = 9.68; df = 1; P < 0.05) followed by similar results in 2004 (x2 = 4.34; df = 1; P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the observed spatial distribution of egg masses among the three vertical strata in either 2002 or 2004 (x2 = 1.75; df = 2; P < 0.05 and x2 = 5.69; df = 2; P < 0.05 respectively). Field release rates of 17.0 foraging T. ostriniae females can achieve 80.0% parasitism of O. nubilalis egg masses distributed throughout the pepper plant canopy found primarily on the undersides of leaves. These data demonstrate that T. ostriniae has potential as a biocontrol agent for O. nubilalis in solanaceous crops. / Ph. D.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:35:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2004-11-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:05:02Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 dias_prp_dr_botfca.pdf: 1303201 bytes, checksum: ff13b531a76b1d9405f4151a52ea6f09 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), uma espécie do gênero Cucumovirus, é um dos mais importantes vírus que infecta pimentão, causando prejuízos consideráveis na produção em todo o mundo. Quando da infecção precoce, em geral, ambas a qualidade e a quantidade de frutos produzidos são afetados. O vírus apresenta inúmeras estirpes capazes de infectar pimentão, diferindo na expressão dos sintomas. CMV pode infectar mais de 865 espécies de plantas, incluindo ervas daninhas, sendo transmitido por diversas espécies de afídeos de maneira não circulativa. Inseticidas são ineficazes para prevenir a disseminação da doença em virtude da forma de transmissão do vetor. No presente trabalho, verificou-se que o CMV foi o principal vírus identificado em campo. Vinte e três isolados de Capsicum spp. foram purificados biologicamente e caracterizados através de análises sorológica, biológica e molecular. Todos os 23 isolados da coleção foram classificados no subgrupo I do CMV, induzindo mosaico sistêmico, redução do desenvolvimento vegetativo e deformação foliar em Nicotiana glutinosa e Nicotiana tabacum 'Havana 425', diferindo apenas na intensidade de sintomas. Somente 8 isolados foram capazes de causar mosaico em Vigna unguiculata. Amplificação combinada com clivagem pela enzima Msp I foi eficiente para distinguir os subgrupos do CMV, resultando em banda de 500 pb somente para a amostra-controle do CMV II, dando origem a 3 fragmentos com 190, 150 e 120 pb, enquanto todos os outros isolados permaneceram com 488 pb e sem clivagem, correspondendo ao CMV-I. Não foi detectado RNA satélite em nenhum isolado do campo. A reação ao CMV de cultivares e híbridos comerciais de pimentão é desconhecida, mas tudo indica serem susceptíveis... . / Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), a species of the genus Cucumovirus, is one of the most important virus that infect pepper, causing notable losses in pepper production worldwide. With early infection, in general, both quality and quantity of fruit produced will be affected. The virus exists as a number of strains capable of infecting pepper, differing in symptom expression. CMV can infect more than 865 plant species including many weed species and it is transmitted by many aphid species in a non-circulative manner, meaning that insecticides cannot prevent the spread of this disease. At this work, the CMV was the main virus identified in the field. Twenty-three CMV isolates from Capsicum spp. were biologically purified and characterized for serological, biological and molecular analysis. All 23 isolates from collection were found to belong to subgroup I. All isolates caused systemic mosaic, reduction of vegetative development and deformation in the leaf in N. glutinosa and N. tabacum 'Havana 425', differing in symptom intensity. Only 8 isolates were able to cause systemic mosaic in V. unguiculata. Amplification combined with Msp I cleavage was efficient to distinguish the CMV subgroups. This process resulted in a 500 pb for the CMV II control only, giving origin to three fragment with 190, 150 and 120pb, while all other isolates remained uncleaved with 488 pb, corresponding to the CMV-I isolates. It was not detect RNA satellite in a field isolates. Pepper comercial cultivars and hybrids reaction to CMV is unknowledge, but it seems to be susceptible. The identification of cultivated varieties or wild relatives of pepper that are better able to fend off attack by viral pathogens such as CMV is a critical first step towards developing resistant commercial varieties.

Cette thèse traite du problème de la localisation et de la navigation de robots humanoïdes à bas coût dans un environnement dynamique non contraint. Elle a été réalisée en collaboration entre le laboratoire de robotique CAOR de Mines ParisTech et Aldebaran, dont les robots NAO et Pepper sont utilisés comme plateformes.On verra ici comment il est possible de déduire des informations d'orientation et de position du robot malgré les fortes contraintes de puissance de calcul, de champ de vision et de généricité de l'environnement. L'environnement est représenté sous une forme topologique : les lieux sont stockés dans des nœuds, reliés par des transitions. On apprend l'environnement dans une phase préalable permettant de construire une référence. Les contributions principales de la thèse reposent sur les méthodes de calcul de l'orientation et d'une mesure de position du robot à l'aide des caméras monoculaires à faible champ de vision,et leur intégration dans une structure topologique. Pour se localiser dans le graphe, on utilise principalement les données de vision fournies par les caméras monoculaires du robot, tout en laissant la possibilité de compléter à l'aide de caméras 3D. Les différentes méthodes de localisation sont combinées dans une structure hiérarchique qui permet à la fois d'améliorer la robustesse et de fusionner les données de localisation. Un contrôle de la trajectoire est également mis en place pour permettre d'effectuer de façon fiable les transitions d'un nœud à l'autre, et accessoirement fournir un système de retour pour la marche du robot.Les travaux de cette thèse ont été intégrés dans la suite logicielle d'Aldebaran, et testés intensivement dans différents environnements afin de valider les résultats obtenus et préparer une livraison aux clients. / This thesis covers the topic of low cost humanoid robots localization and navigation in a dynamic unconstrained environment. It is the result of a collaboration between the Centre for Robotics of Mines ParisTech and Aldebaran, whose robots, NAO and Pepper, are used as experimental platforms.We will describe how to derive information on the orientation and the position of the robot, under high constraints on computing power, sensor field of view and environment genericity. The environment is represented using a topological formalism : places are stored in vertices, and connected by transitions. The environment is learned in a preliminary phase, which allows the robot to construct a reference.The main contribution of this PHD thesis lies in orientation and approximate position measurement methods, based on monocular cameras with a restricted field of view, and their integration into a topological structure. To localize the robot in the robot, we use mainly data providing by the monocular cameras of the robot, while also allowing extensions, for example with a 3D camera. The different localization methods are combined into a hierarchical structure, which makes the whole process more robust and merges the estimations. A trajectory control has also been developped in order to transition accurately from one vertex to another, and incidently to provide a feedback on the walk of the robot.The results of this thesis have been integrated into Aldebaran software suite, and thoroughly tested in various conditions, in order to validate the conclusions and prepare a client delivery.

Park "Pepper" Adams, III (1930-1986) is one of the most influential baritone saxophonists in the history of modern jazz. In addition to his time feel, his timbre, and other conceptual techniques, a great deal of Adams's improvisational style and vocabulary can be illustrated by his use of three motivic devices. These three motivic devices are: (1) his utilization of the sixth degree of the major scale as an important melodic pitch; (2) his use of a paraphrased portion of the melody of the popular song "Cry Me a River;" and (3) his use of the half-whole octatonic scale when the rhythm section sounds a dominant chord. This dissertation traces the way in which Adams applies these three motivic devices through four of his original compositions, "Enchilada Baby," "Bossallegro," "Lovers of Their Time," and "Rue Serpente." All four of these compositions were recorded by Adams on his 1980 album, The Master. In addition to the motivic analysis, a biography of Adams is included. Complete transcriptions by the author of Adams's improvised solos on the four compositions are included in the appendices.

Este trabalho visa ao entendimento da interação de capsaicinóides com membranas celulares utilizando sistemas modelo. Dentre os alcalóides derivados de plantas do gênero Capsicum, a capsaicina e a dihidrocapsaicina respondem por 90% dos capsaicinóides, que são usados como analgésicos e antiinflamatórios, devido a sua interação específica com receptores. O mecanismo neurofarmacológico já foi bastante estudado, mas o modo de ação não neural ainda não foi elucidado. Usamos extratos brutos (EBs) de pimenta malagueta e de dedo-de-moça, que têm atividade superficial, e afetaram monocamadas de Langmuir de fosfatidil colina de dipalmitoíla (DPPC) e fosfatidil glicerol de dipalmitoíla (DPPG). Tais efeitos não tiveram dependência expressiva com a carga, pois o EB de dedo-de-moça interagiu mais fortemente com o DPPC do que com o DPPG, ao passo que o contrário se verificou para o EB de malagueta. Também não houve diferença significativa entre os EBs das duas pimentas. Nas monocamadas de Langmuir representativas para a bactéria S. aureus, ambos os EBs tiveram efeito, tanto nas isotermas de pressão quanto nos resultados de espectroscopia de absorção e reflexão no infravermelho com modulação de polarização (PM-IRRAS), sem distinção significativa entre malagueta e dedo-de-moça. No entanto, as medidas de vazamento com lipossomos mostraram maior interação com o EB de dedo-de-moça, o que é consistente com a atividade bactericida para S. aureus. De fato, a concentração inibitória mínima (MIC) foi 0,13 mg mL-1 para o EB da pimenta dedo-de moça e 4,0 mg mL-1 para o EB de malagueta. Para a E. coli, os EBs interagiram com as monocamadas de Langmuir sem diferenças dignas de nota para as duas pimentas, e nas medidas de vazamento o efeito maior foi para a dedo-de-moça. Não houve efeito bactericida para nenhum dos extratos. Isso se explica porque bactérias gram-negativas, como a E. coli, têm uma camada externa protetora de lipossacarídeos (LPS). Das medidas de monocamadas de Langmuir representativas da camada de LPS, observou-se pouca incorporação dos EBs. Conclui-se, assim, que os EBs não conseguem causar rompimento da camada de LPS. Do conjunto dos resultados, infere-se que o mecanismo de ação para a S. aureus envolve solubilização parcial da membrana, e não há relação entre pungência e atividade bactericida, pois a pimenta dedo-de-moça, que é menos pungente, teve maior efeito do que a malagueta. Depreende-se, também, que a ação de extratos de pimenta deve depender da interação com receptores na membrana, o que explica porque o uso de tais extratos tem sido principalmente em aplicações tópicas. / This study is aimed at understanding the interaction of capsaicinoids with cell membranes using model systems. Among the alkaloids derived from plants of the genus Capsicum, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin account for 90% of capsaicinoids, which are used as analgesic and anti-inflammatory due to their interaction with specific receptors. The neuropharmacological mechanism has been well studied, but the non-neural mode of action has not been elucidated. Here, we use crude extracts (EBs) of malagueta and dedo-de-moça chilli peppers, which are surface active, and affected Langmuir monolayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl glycerol (DPPG). Such effects did not depend on the charge, since EB from dedo-de-moça interacted more strongly with DPPC than with DPPG, while the opposite applied for malagueta. In addition, there was no significant difference between the two EBs. For Langmuir monolayers representing the bacteria S. aureus, both EBs affected the surface pressure isotherms and the polarizationmodulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) data, without significant distinction between dedo-de-moça and malagueta. However, in the leakage measurements with liposomes the EB from dedo-de-moça was more efficient in rupturing the liposome, which is consistent with the bactericidal activity for S. aureus. In fact, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.13 mg mL-1 for dedo-de-moça and 4.0 mg mL-1 for malagueta. For the Langmuir monolayers mimicking the E. coli membrane, the EBs interacted much in the same way, while the EB from dedo-de-moça caused larger leakage in liposomes. There was no bactericidal effect of the EBs. This is explained by the fact that gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli, have a protective outer layer of liposaccharides (LPS). In monolayers representing LPS, there was little incorporation of EBs, from which one infers that the EBs cannot cause disruption of the LPS layer. Taking all these results together, it appears that the mechanism of action for S. aureus involves partial solubilization of the membrane. Furthermore, there is no relationship between pungency and bactericidal activity because dedo-de-moça, which is less pungent, had greater effect than malagueta. It seems also that the action of pepper extracts must depend on the interaction with membrane receptors, which explains why the use of such extracts has been essentially in topical applications.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:30:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1487940 bytes, checksum: d95d0412987e018a2d5fe79a3afee5f1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-21 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Habitat diversification in agroecosystems by mantaining non-crop plants is a strategy which allows the increase of beneficial arthropods since it makes the environment more suitable for natural enemies, due to the availability of food resources, oviposition sites and refuge areas. Chili pepper Capsicum frutescens is a very important crop in Brasil, because of its profitability and social value. However, this crop needs phytosanitary stand and the growers use inadequate practices in attempt to control pests. Among the several beneficial arthropods, lacewings are highlighted by their natural occurrence in various agroecosystems and by their predatory ability. From this perspective, I carried out assessments in areas of chili pepper cultivation to determine: i) the influence of noncrop plants integrated to the field in the abundance of lacewings and of aphids compared to chili pepper crops without non-crop plants, ii) the identification of non-crop plants, present in the crop, associated to lacewings (food source, oviposition and/or refuge site) and to the absence or presence of aphids, and iii) intraguild predation in eggs of C. externa in the presence and in the absence of non-crop plants. Posteriorly, in chapter 2, I studied in laboratory the role of non-crop plant flowers of common occurrence in chili pepper crops (Bidens pilosa, Ageratum conyzoides and Sonchus oleraceus) in the survivor, development, fecundity and fertility of C. externa and Ceraeochrysa cubana. According to the results found in field, the abundance of lacewings in chili pepper crop areas was favoured by the presence of non-crop plants and there was no significant difference in the presence of aphids on chili pepper plants in the areas with or without non crop vegetation. Emilia sp. (average = 1 egg/plant) and Pennisetum sp. (average = 0.54 egg/plant) were the species with the greatest presence of lacewing eggs. In Pennisetum sp., Conyza bonariensis, Marsypianthes chamaedrys, Solanum lycocarpum, and Solanum americanum it was found the greatest presence of adults with average of 1.21, 1, 0.90, 0.85 and 0.83 adults/plant, respectively. Six out of 16 non-crop plants identified in chili pepper crops had aphids on them. Intraguild predation on eggs of C. externa was higher in the areas of chili pepper crops without non-crop plants (average = 2.91 predated eggs/card/plant) compared to the chili pepper crop areas with non-crop plants (average = 2.19 eggs/card/plant). In the laboratory assessments, both C. externa and C. cubana larvae survived for a longer time in the diets of A. conyzoides and B. pilosa with flowers compared to the remaining diets in which I offered non-crop plants without flowers. Larvae development was significantly affected by the offered diets, eight C. cubana larvae pupated in the diet of B. pilosa and two C. externa larvae pupated in the diet of S. oleraceus, the higher number of pupae being formed in the diets with flowers for each lacewing species. The diet with A. kuehniella eggs was the only treatment where more than 70% of the larvae survived, pupated and emerged as adults. The average survivorship of adults in all diets with non-crop plants was five days, with no oviposition. In the diet with yeast and honey, survivorship was higher than 60 days for both lacewing species tested, with total oviposition of 775.35 (±207.8) and 1108.12 (±106.8) eggs/female for C. externa and C. cubana, respectively. Maintaining non-crop vegetation in chili pepper crop areas favours the presence of lacewings and decreases the intraguild predation. The use of plant flowers as food for larvae of C. externa and C. cubana favours their survivorship and may be useful as complementary food in the diet of these predators. Therefore, maintaining non-crop plants in crop fields may improve natural enemy survivorhip e development. / A diversificação do habitat em agroecossistemas através da manutenção de plantas espontâneas é uma estratégia que permite aumentar populações de artrópodes benéficos ao tornar o ambiente mais adequado para os inimigos naturais, devido à disponibilidade de recursos alimentares, lugares para oviposição e áreas de refúgio em condições adversas. A pimenta-malagueta Capsicum frutescens é uma cultura de grande importância no Brasil, por sua rentabilidade e importância social. No entanto, a cultura carece de suporte fitossanitário e os agricultores incorrem em práticas inadequadas na tentativa de controle de pragas. Dentre os diferentes artrópodes benéficos, os crisopídeos (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) se destacam pela ocorrência natural em diferentes agroecossistemas e por sua capacidade predatória. A partir desta perspectiva foram realizadas avaliações em áreas de cultivo de pimenta-malagueta para estabelecer: i) a influência de plantas espontâneas integradas no campo de cultivo na abundância de crisopídeos e de pulgões comparada com plantios de pimenta-malagueta sem vegetação espontânea; ii) a identificação das plantas espontâneas presentes na cultura, sua associação com crisopídeos (fonte de alimento, lugar oviposição e/ou refúgio) e a presença de pulgões; e iii) a predação intraguilda em ovos de C. externa na presença e na ausência de plantas espontâneas. Posteriormente, no capítulo 2, estudou-se em laboratório o papel das inflorescências das plantas espontâneas de ocorrência comum em cultivos de pimenta (Bidens pilosa, Ageratum conyzoides e Sonchus oleraceus) na sobrevivência, no desenvolvimento, na fecundidade e fertilidade de C. externa e Ceraeochrysa cubana. De acordo com os resultados obtidos em campo, a abundância de crisopídeos nas áreas de pimenta-malagueta foi favorecida pela presença de plantas espontâneas e não houve diferença significativa na presença de pulgões em plantas de pimenta nas áreas com e sem vegetação espontânea. Emilia sp. (média= 1 ovo/planta) e Pennisetum sp. (média= 0,54 ovos/planta) foram as espécies com maior presença de ovos. Pennisetum sp., Conyza bonariensis, Marsypianthes chamaedrys, Solanum lycocarpum, e Solanum americanum foram as espécies com maior presença de adultos com médias de 1,21, 1, 0,90, 0,85 e 0,83 adultos/planta, respectivamente. Das 16 espécies de plantas espontâneas que foram identificadas no plantio de pimentamalagueta, seis tinham presença de pulgões. A predação intraguilda em ovos de C. externa foi maior nas áreas de pimenta sem vegetação espontânea (média= 2,9 ovos predados/cartão/planta) do que nas áreas de pimenta com vegetação espontânea (média= 2,2 ovos/cartão/planta). Nos experimentos em laboratório, tanto as larvas de C. externa como as de C. cubana sobreviveram mais tempo nas dietas A. conyzoides e B. pilosa com inflorescência do que nas outras dietas onde foram oferecidas plantas espontâneas sem inflorescência. O desenvolvimento das larvas foi significativamente afetado pelas dietas oferecidas, oito larvas de C. cubana empuparam na dieta B. pilosa e duas de C. externa na dieta de S. oleraceus, sendo o maior numero de pupas formadas nas dietas com inflorescências para cada uma das espécies de crisopídeos. A dieta com ovos de A. kuehniella foi o único tratamento onde mais do 70% das larvas sobreviveram, empuparam e os adultos emergiram. A sobrevivência média dos adultos em todas as dietas com plantas espontâneas foi de cinco dias por tanto não houve oviposição. Na dieta de levedo e mel a sobrevivência foi superior aos 60 dias para as duas espécies de crisopídeos testadas, com oviposição total de 775,35 (±207,8) e 1108,12 (±106,8) ovos/fêmea para C. externa e C. cubana, respectivamente. A manutenção da vegetação espontânea na cultura da pimenta-malagueta favorece a presença de crisopídeos e reduz a predação intraguilda. O uso das inflorescências como alimento para larvas de C. externa e C. cubana favorece a sua sobrevivência e pode ser útil como alimento complementar na dieta destes predadores. Assim, a manutenção de plantas espontâneas no campo de cultivo pode incrementar a sobrevivência e o desenvolvimento destes inimigos naturais.

Este trabalho visa ao entendimento da interação de capsaicinóides com membranas celulares utilizando sistemas modelo. Dentre os alcalóides derivados de plantas do gênero Capsicum, a capsaicina e a dihidrocapsaicina respondem por 90% dos capsaicinóides, que são usados como analgésicos e antiinflamatórios, devido a sua interação específica com receptores. O mecanismo neurofarmacológico já foi bastante estudado, mas o modo de ação não neural ainda não foi elucidado. Usamos extratos brutos (EBs) de pimenta malagueta e de dedo-de-moça, que têm atividade superficial, e afetaram monocamadas de Langmuir de fosfatidil colina de dipalmitoíla (DPPC) e fosfatidil glicerol de dipalmitoíla (DPPG). Tais efeitos não tiveram dependência expressiva com a carga, pois o EB de dedo-de-moça interagiu mais fortemente com o DPPC do que com o DPPG, ao passo que o contrário se verificou para o EB de malagueta. Também não houve diferença significativa entre os EBs das duas pimentas. Nas monocamadas de Langmuir representativas para a bactéria S. aureus, ambos os EBs tiveram efeito, tanto nas isotermas de pressão quanto nos resultados de espectroscopia de absorção e reflexão no infravermelho com modulação de polarização (PM-IRRAS), sem distinção significativa entre malagueta e dedo-de-moça. No entanto, as medidas de vazamento com lipossomos mostraram maior interação com o EB de dedo-de-moça, o que é consistente com a atividade bactericida para S. aureus. De fato, a concentração inibitória mínima (MIC) foi 0,13 mg mL-1 para o EB da pimenta dedo-de moça e 4,0 mg mL-1 para o EB de malagueta. Para a E. coli, os EBs interagiram com as monocamadas de Langmuir sem diferenças dignas de nota para as duas pimentas, e nas medidas de vazamento o efeito maior foi para a dedo-de-moça. Não houve efeito bactericida para nenhum dos extratos. Isso se explica porque bactérias gram-negativas, como a E. coli, têm uma camada externa protetora de lipossacarídeos (LPS). Das medidas de monocamadas de Langmuir representativas da camada de LPS, observou-se pouca incorporação dos EBs. Conclui-se, assim, que os EBs não conseguem causar rompimento da camada de LPS. Do conjunto dos resultados, infere-se que o mecanismo de ação para a S. aureus envolve solubilização parcial da membrana, e não há relação entre pungência e atividade bactericida, pois a pimenta dedo-de-moça, que é menos pungente, teve maior efeito do que a malagueta. Depreende-se, também, que a ação de extratos de pimenta deve depender da interação com receptores na membrana, o que explica porque o uso de tais extratos tem sido principalmente em aplicações tópicas. / This study is aimed at understanding the interaction of capsaicinoids with cell membranes using model systems. Among the alkaloids derived from plants of the genus Capsicum, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin account for 90% of capsaicinoids, which are used as analgesic and anti-inflammatory due to their interaction with specific receptors. The neuropharmacological mechanism has been well studied, but the non-neural mode of action has not been elucidated. Here, we use crude extracts (EBs) of malagueta and dedo-de-moça chilli peppers, which are surface active, and affected Langmuir monolayers of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl glycerol (DPPG). Such effects did not depend on the charge, since EB from dedo-de-moça interacted more strongly with DPPC than with DPPG, while the opposite applied for malagueta. In addition, there was no significant difference between the two EBs. For Langmuir monolayers representing the bacteria S. aureus, both EBs affected the surface pressure isotherms and the polarizationmodulated infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) data, without significant distinction between dedo-de-moça and malagueta. However, in the leakage measurements with liposomes the EB from dedo-de-moça was more efficient in rupturing the liposome, which is consistent with the bactericidal activity for S. aureus. In fact, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.13 mg mL-1 for dedo-de-moça and 4.0 mg mL-1 for malagueta. For the Langmuir monolayers mimicking the E. coli membrane, the EBs interacted much in the same way, while the EB from dedo-de-moça caused larger leakage in liposomes. There was no bactericidal effect of the EBs. This is explained by the fact that gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli, have a protective outer layer of liposaccharides (LPS). In monolayers representing LPS, there was little incorporation of EBs, from which one infers that the EBs cannot cause disruption of the LPS layer. Taking all these results together, it appears that the mechanism of action for S. aureus involves partial solubilization of the membrane. Furthermore, there is no relationship between pungency and bactericidal activity because dedo-de-moça, which is less pungent, had greater effect than malagueta. It seems also that the action of pepper extracts must depend on the interaction with membrane receptors, which explains why the use of such extracts has been essentially in topical applications.

Orientador: Marcelo Agenor Pavan / Banca: Norberto da Silva / Banca: Renate Krause Sakate / Banca: Romulo Fujito Kobori / Banca: Cyro Paulino da Costa / Resumo: Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), uma espécie do gênero Cucumovirus, é um dos mais importantes vírus que infecta pimentão, causando prejuízos consideráveis na produção em todo o mundo. Quando da infecção precoce, em geral, ambas a qualidade e a quantidade de frutos produzidos são afetados. O vírus apresenta inúmeras estirpes capazes de infectar pimentão, diferindo na expressão dos sintomas. CMV pode infectar mais de 865 espécies de plantas, incluindo ervas daninhas, sendo transmitido por diversas espécies de afídeos de maneira não circulativa. Inseticidas são ineficazes para prevenir a disseminação da doença em virtude da forma de transmissão do vetor. No presente trabalho, verificou-se que o CMV foi o principal vírus identificado em campo. Vinte e três isolados de Capsicum spp. foram purificados biologicamente e caracterizados através de análises sorológica, biológica e molecular. Todos os 23 isolados da coleção foram classificados no subgrupo I do CMV, induzindo mosaico sistêmico, redução do desenvolvimento vegetativo e deformação foliar em Nicotiana glutinosa e Nicotiana tabacum 'Havana 425', diferindo apenas na intensidade de sintomas. Somente 8 isolados foram capazes de causar mosaico em Vigna unguiculata. Amplificação combinada com clivagem pela enzima Msp I foi eficiente para distinguir os subgrupos do CMV, resultando em banda de 500 pb somente para a amostra-controle do CMV II, dando origem a 3 fragmentos com 190, 150 e 120 pb, enquanto todos os outros isolados permaneceram com 488 pb e sem clivagem, correspondendo ao CMV-I. Não foi detectado RNA satélite em nenhum isolado do campo. A reação ao CMV de cultivares e híbridos comerciais de pimentão é desconhecida, mas tudo indica serem susceptíveis... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo). / Abstract: Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), a species of the genus Cucumovirus, is one of the most important virus that infect pepper, causing notable losses in pepper production worldwide. With early infection, in general, both quality and quantity of fruit produced will be affected. The virus exists as a number of strains capable of infecting pepper, differing in symptom expression. CMV can infect more than 865 plant species including many weed species and it is transmitted by many aphid species in a non-circulative manner, meaning that insecticides cannot prevent the spread of this disease. At this work, the CMV was the main virus identified in the field. Twenty-three CMV isolates from Capsicum spp. were biologically purified and characterized for serological, biological and molecular analysis. All 23 isolates from collection were found to belong to subgroup I. All isolates caused systemic mosaic, reduction of vegetative development and deformation in the leaf in N. glutinosa and N. tabacum 'Havana 425', differing in symptom intensity. Only 8 isolates were able to cause systemic mosaic in V. unguiculata. Amplification combined with Msp I cleavage was efficient to distinguish the CMV subgroups. This process resulted in a 500 pb for the CMV II control only, giving origin to three fragment with 190, 150 and 120pb, while all other isolates remained uncleaved with 488 pb, corresponding to the CMV-I isolates. It was not detect RNA satellite in a field isolates. Pepper comercial cultivars and hybrids reaction to CMV is unknowledge, but it seems to be susceptible. The identification of cultivated varieties or wild relatives of pepper that are better able to fend off attack by viral pathogens such as CMV is a critical first step towards developing resistant commercial varieties. / Doutor

Over the last few years, there has been a growing interest for social robots withhuman-like behavior and their application in healthcare and education. However,there are still plenty of issues that needs to be resolved. One of these challenges isto enable the social robots to fill its role effectively, by creating engagement. In this report the study, that was conducted at IBM Sweden, aims to understandhow IBM Watson can be utilized in the Pepper robot; to engage and supportchildren from the Ronald McDonald House in Uppsala. This is a place for childrenwith health problems and their families to live temporarily. Furthermore, supportivebehaviors are investigated since such behaviors are suggested to be important toincrease the engagement. An initial prototype that used Watson's natural languageprocessing and Pepper, was developed based on user requirements gatheredthrough interviews using a User Centered Design methodology. The prototype wasiteratively developed, and a final evaluation was conducted that examined both theperception of the robot as well as the engagement it created. The evaluation showed that the children wanted to interact with the robot again andhighlighted that they were highly engaged. They perceived the robot as a friend andthe supportive behaviors such as giving praise, responding quickly and maintainingeye contact were most important. The main support the children wanted were tohelp them feel less lonely and the conclusion of this study is that this is a suitablegoal for a robot system.

The following contains two projects focused on the fungal pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum. The first project was purely computational in the examination of transposable elements (TEs), which are mobile sequences with the ability to multiply and move in their host genome. In F. oxysporum, TEs such as miniature impala elements are associated with the secreted in xylem gene that are related to its virulence over its host. The F. oxysporum species complex can be utilized as a model system for the examination of TE content and TE expression during the infection cycle. To find whether TEs play a role in the infection process and if their expression changes when fungi are in planta, a comparison was made using RNA-seq data from a pathogenic (Fo5176) and a non-pathogenic strain (Fo47) of F. oxysporum interacting with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Complementary to this, the copy numbers of the same TEs were calculated in the two aforementioned strains and in F. oxysporum f.sp. lycopersici 4287 (Fo4287) to find if there was a correlation between expression and copy number. Using these two different datasets together showed that TE expression and copy number are lower in the non-pathogenic strain and unlinked in the infection course. The second project examined the growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum isolates Fo32931 (the isolate pathogenic to immunocompromised humans) and Fo4287 with the use of extracts from chilies of Capsicum chinense. Pepper plants were grown from seed and the peppers were harvested for an ethanol (100%) extraction. After preparation, the optical density of growth of the F. oxysporum isolates was measured for a 48-hour period with 96-well plate containing varying concentrations of the extracts and controls. Growth curves were analyzed and normalized to a growth control. After doing High Performance Liquid Chromatography, an estimated concentration of capsaicin (the causal agent of the burning sensation from hot chilis) was established. A correlation between the amount of growth inhibition and the concentration of capsaicin was made. Taken together, the data suggests that an increase of capsaicin concentration in extracts is correlated with reduced growth for the two tested isolates of F. oxysporum.