Onion production in the United States is seriously affected by the tospovirus Iris Yellow Spot (IYSV), whose symptoms include lenticular-shaped lesions that reduce photosynthesis and bulb yield. Thrips tabacai Lindeman, onion thrips (OT), is the only known vector of the disease and a primary arthropod pest of onion. Frequent insecticide applications, increasing resistance in OT populations to insecticides, high nitrogen (N) fertilization rates and loss of yield to disease and insect pressure threaten sustainable onion production. The objectives of this study were to identify crop management strategies to enhance onion productivity while suppressing OT and IYSV. Three fertilizer rates and two crop rotations were assigned to replicated plots to assess effects on onion growth, yield, bulb storage quality, soil quality, thrips populations and IYSV incidence. Trap crops of carrot, buckwheat and lacey phacelia were established in commercial fields to evaluate impact on thrips populations and IYSV occurence. Reduced nitrogen (N) rates, one-third the standard grower rate (133.8 kg N ha-1), resulted in no yield loss as compared with the standard N rate, despite slower crop maturation. Onions treated with a standard N rate(401.8 kg N ha-1) had greater numbers of adult and immature OT than other treatments. Soil nitrate levels were lower and microbial activity measured as dehydrogenase and biomass were greater in reduced N treatments. Plots with buckwheat and phacelia had greater numbers of both adult and immature OT when trap crop apparancy was high (i.e. when onion plants were relatively smaller). There was no observed effect of trap crops on IYSV levels. Results suggest that reduced rate N applications lower numbers of OT while enhancing the microbial population, reducing potential for nitrate leaching while still maintaining yields. Potential for trap crops of buckwheat and lacey phacelia to attract onion thrips from onions exists with successive stands of highly apparent trap crops.

Biomedical imaging requires high resolution to see the fine features of a sample and fast acquisition to observe live cells that move. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a powerful technique which uses optical interference for non-invasive high resolution 3D imaging in biological samples. The resolution of OCT is determined by the length over which the light used will in- terfere. Unfortunately, dispersion hurts the imaging resolution by broadening interference features. A technique called quantum-OCT (QOCT)[1] is immune to dispersion but re- quires entangled photon pairs. The need for entanglement drastically reduces the number of photons available for imaging, making QOCT too slow to be practical. Chirped-pulse interferometry (CPI) is also immune to dispersion. A chirped pulse is one where the fre- quency, or colour, of the light changes from red to blue from one end of the pulse to the other. CPI relies on frequency correlations created by applying different chirps to two sep- arate pulses. This method had the disadvantage of being limited to a single predetermined chirp rate, and discarded 50% of the power. However CPI has better resolution than OCT, automatic dispersion cancellation, and 10,000,000 times the signal strength of QOCT [13]. A new, much more flexible and efficient method of CPI will be demonstrated by creating the frequency correlations entirely in a single pulse. This new method is referred to as non- linear chirped pulse interferometry (NL-CPI). The non-linear chirp required in NCPI is very difficult to produce using only conven- tional optics. In this thesis we document the construction and characterization of a new method of creating the desired chirp using a programmable pulse-shaper (PS). We build a PPS and then demonstrated its functionality by compressing a 105nm FWHM bandwidth pulse to under 17f s, near its transform limited time duration. We also show that the values given to the PPS for dispersion are accurate by calculating and then compensating the dispersion caused by various optical elements in the CPI interferometer. Conventional OCT systems are immune to dispersion common to both arms of the interferometer. Non-linear interferometers experience broadening due to this dispersion, making them more difficult to use with fibre based interferometers common in conventional OCT. We show that NL-CPI can compensate for dispersion common to both arms of the interferometer, making NL-CPI more appealing as a replacement for conventional OCT. In this thesis we experimentally implement and demonstrate a prototype setup using non-linear CPI for dispersion-cancelled imaging of a mirror, with a resolution comparable to conventional OCT systems. We then use the system to produce 2-D cross sectional images of a biological sample, an onion. Q-OCT has previously been used to image an onion[16], but required treating the onion with gold nano particles to achieve a useful signal. The onion we used had no special treatment. In addition our axial scanning rate is also 10000 times faster than Q-OCT.

Biomedical imaging requires high resolution to see the fine features of a sample and fast acquisition to observe live cells that move. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a powerful technique which uses optical interference for non-invasive high resolution 3D imaging in biological samples. The resolution of OCT is determined by the length over which the light used will in- terfere. Unfortunately, dispersion hurts the imaging resolution by broadening interference features. A technique called quantum-OCT (QOCT)[1] is immune to dispersion but re- quires entangled photon pairs. The need for entanglement drastically reduces the number of photons available for imaging, making QOCT too slow to be practical. Chirped-pulse interferometry (CPI) is also immune to dispersion. A chirped pulse is one where the fre- quency, or colour, of the light changes from red to blue from one end of the pulse to the other. CPI relies on frequency correlations created by applying different chirps to two sep- arate pulses. This method had the disadvantage of being limited to a single predetermined chirp rate, and discarded 50% of the power. However CPI has better resolution than OCT, automatic dispersion cancellation, and 10,000,000 times the signal strength of QOCT [13]. A new, much more flexible and efficient method of CPI will be demonstrated by creating the frequency correlations entirely in a single pulse. This new method is referred to as non- linear chirped pulse interferometry (NL-CPI). The non-linear chirp required in NCPI is very difficult to produce using only conven- tional optics. In this thesis we document the construction and characterization of a new method of creating the desired chirp using a programmable pulse-shaper (PS). We build a PPS and then demonstrated its functionality by compressing a 105nm FWHM bandwidth pulse to under 17f s, near its transform limited time duration. We also show that the values given to the PPS for dispersion are accurate by calculating and then compensating the dispersion caused by various optical elements in the CPI interferometer. Conventional OCT systems are immune to dispersion common to both arms of the interferometer. Non-linear interferometers experience broadening due to this dispersion, making them more difficult to use with fibre based interferometers common in conventional OCT. We show that NL-CPI can compensate for dispersion common to both arms of the interferometer, making NL-CPI more appealing as a replacement for conventional OCT. In this thesis we experimentally implement and demonstrate a prototype setup using non-linear CPI for dispersion-cancelled imaging of a mirror, with a resolution comparable to conventional OCT systems. We then use the system to produce 2-D cross sectional images of a biological sample, an onion. Q-OCT has previously been used to image an onion[16], but required treating the onion with gold nano particles to achieve a useful signal. The onion we used had no special treatment. In addition our axial scanning rate is also 10000 times faster than Q-OCT.

Thesis (M.A.)--Central Connecticut State University, 2000. / Thesis advisor: Kim A. Wilson. " ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Biology." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 56-62).

Actualmente, en el Perú existe un auge en el negocio de la exportación de productos nacionales hacia el extranjero, donde la cebolla blanca fresca no es la excepción. Al pasar los años, se expandió este mercado, con mayor participación en los Estados Unidos. Para entender este fenómeno, es necesario llevar a cabo un estudio de los factores que determinan un mejor desempeño en el mercado de la cebolla blanca fresca en lo que a la exportación se refiere. Luego de haber revisado los estudios teóricos sobre el tema, entre los que destacan: Demanda de la cebolla blanca fresca en Estados Unidos (Apcho, Caballero y Miranda, 2017), Acuerdo de Promoción Comercial Perú – EEUU (SICEX), y por último la geografía del Perú (Servindi,2011) para la producción de la cebolla blanca fresca se determinaron que existen barreras tanto internas como externas, pero para el caso particular de las cebollas blancas frescas se pueden subdividir en el entorno del mercado, las características del producto y los aspectos legales de exportación. Para determinar cuáles de estos factores limitantes influyen hoy día con mayor fuerza, es necesaria la investigación y opinión de los actores y expertos en el tema, por lo que se procedió con la entrevista a profundidad de distintos expertos y puntos de vistas. Luego de tener la opinión y los datos, se analizaron estudios estadísticos y tendencia de la historia para poder compararlo de forma más eficiente con la visión de cada experto para poder surgir con las conclusiones y recomendaciones del tema. Como conclusiones podemos mencionar que los factores determinantes en el desarrollo del marco teórico y siguiente investigación fueron influyentes para la exportación de cebolla blanca fresca hacia Estados Unidos vía marítima desde 2014-2017. / Currently, in Peru there is a boom in the business of exporting domestic products abroad, where fresh white onion is no exception. Over the years, this market expanded, with greater participation in the United States. To understand this phenomenon, it is necessary to carry out a study of the factors that determine a better performance in the fresh white onion market as far as export is concerned. After having reviewed the theoretical studies on the subject, among which stand out: Demand for fresh white onion in the United States (Apcho, Caballero and Miranda, 2017), Peru-US Commercial Promotion Agreement (SICEX), and finally the geography of Peru (Servindi, 2011) for the production of fresh white onion were determined that there are both internal and external barriers, but for the particular case of fresh white onions can be subdivided in the market environment, the characteristics of the product and the legal aspects of export. In order to determine which of these limiting factors currently influence with greater force, the research and opinion of the actors and experts in the subject is necessary, which is why we proceeded with the in-depth interview of different experts and points of view. After having the opinion and the data, statistical studies and a tendency of the history were analyzed to be able to compare it in a more efficient way with the vision of each expert to be able to come up with the conclusions and recommendations of the topic. As conclusions we can mention that the determining factors in the development of the theoretical framework and following research were influential for the export of fresh white onion to the United States by sea from 2014-2017. / Tesis

Water uptake by a single root of an onion plant (Allium cepa) was measured potentially before, during and following exposure of shoots to an external electric field (EEF). The field strength used was 9kV/m DC and AC (60-Hz) brought about a statistically significant increase (44-71%) in water uptake if the shoot chamber was at almost 100% humidity.

The two papers in this thesis are aimed at solving problems in Integrated Pest Management project, practice, and program evaluations. In the first paper, an evaluation design is constructed for the Onion ipmPIPE website, an onion pest information website. The Bayesian decision theoretic approach may not accurately model onion growers' pest management decisions throughout the season. Randomization of the treatment is possible, but an incomplete grower list proved to be a problem. The analysis shows that an instrumental variables approach may be the most appropriate method for estimating the impact of the Onion ipmPIPE website because its data needs are solved by using USDA-NASS surveying services. In the second paper, the challenge is to develop a practical method to measure benefits accruing to women from agricultural research using secondary data. Donors, governments and others are interested in determining how benefits from agricultural research accrue to women. We develop a three-step framework to identify women's crops and technologies. In step one, total potential benefits from research are estimated; step two allocates those benefits between men and women; step three, incorporates technology-specific parameters to refine the estimates of potential benefits. We apply this framework to Honduras and find that steps one and two provide the most information on the magnitude and distribution of benefits, but that refinements in step three can affect rankings of research program impacts on women. / Master of Science

Atualmente, a Onion-tree [Carélo et al., 2009] é o método de acesso métrico baseado em memória primária mais eficiente para pesquisa por similaridade disponível na literatura. Ela indexa dados complexos por meio da divisão do espaço métrico em regiões (ou seja, subespaços) disjuntas, usando para isso dois pivôs por nó. Para prover uma boa divisão do espaço métrico, a Onion-tree introduz as seguintes características principais: (i) procedimento de expansão, o qual inclui um método de particionamento que controla o número de subespaços disjuntos gerados em cada nó; (ii) técnica de substituição, a qual pode alterar os pivôs de um nó durante operações de inserção baseado em uma política de substituição que garante uma melhor divisão do espaço métrico, independente da ordem de inserção dos elementos; e (iii) algoritmos para a execução de consultas por abrangência e aos k-vizinhos mais próximos, de forma que esses tipos de consulta possam explorar eficientemente o método de particionamento da Onion-tree. Entretanto, a Onion-tree apenas oferece funcionalidades voltadas à inserção dos dados um-a-um em sua estrutura. Ela não oferece, portanto, uma operação de bulk-loading que construa o índice considerando todos os elementos do conjunto de dados de uma única vez. A principal vantagem dessa operação é analisar os dados antecipadamente para garantir melhor particionamento possível do espaço métrico. Com isto, a carga inicial de grandes volumes de dados pode ser melhor realizada usando a operação de bulk-loading. Este projeto de mestrado visa suprir a falta da operação de bulk-loading para a Onion-tree, por meio da proposta de algoritmos que exploram as características intrínsecas desse método de acesso métrico. No total, são propostos três algoritmos de bulk-loading, denominados GreedyBL, SampleBL e HeightBL, os quais utilizam respectivamente as seguintes abordagens: gulosa, amostragem e de estimativa da altura do índice. Testes experimentais realizados sobre conjuntos de dados com volume variando de 2.536 a 102.240 imagens e com dimensionalidade variando de 32 a 117 dimensões mostraram que os algoritmos propostos introduziram vantagens em relação à estrutura criada pelo algoritmo de inserção um-a-um da Onion-tree. Comparado com a inserção um-a-um, o tamanho do índice foi reduzido de 9% até 88%. Em consultas por abrangência, houve redução de 16% até 99% no número de cálculos de distância e de 9% a 99% no tempo gasto em relação à inserção. Em consultas aos k-vizinhos mais próximos, houve redução de 13% a 86% em número de cálculos de distância e de 9% até 63% no tempo gasto / The main-memory Onion-tree [Carélo et al., 2009] is the most efficient metric access method to date. It indexes complex data by dividing the metric space into several disjoint regions (i.e. subspaces) by using two pivots per node. To provide a good division of the metric space, the Onion-tree introduces the following characteristics: (i) expansion procedure, which provides a partitioning method that controls the number of disjoint subspaces generated at each node; (ii) replacement technique, which can replace the pivots of a leaf node during insert operations based on a replacement policy that ensures a better division of the metric space, regardless of the insertion order of the elements; and (iii) algorithms for processing range and k-NN queries, so that these types of query can efficiently use the partitioning method of the Onion-tree. However, the Onion-tree only performs element-by-element insertions into its structure. Another important issue is the mass loading technique, called bulk-loading, which builds the index considering all elements of the dataset at once. This technique is very useful in the case of reconstructing the index or inserting a large number of elements simultaneously. Despite the importance of this technique, to the best of our knowledge, there are not in the literature bulk-loading algorithms for the Onion-tree. In this masters thesis, we fill this gap. We propose three algorithms for bulk-loading Onion-trees: the GreedyBL algorithm, the SampleBL algorithm and the HeightBL algorithm. These algorithms are based on the following approaches, respectively: greedy, sampling and estime height of the index. Performance tests with real-world data with different volumes (ranging from 2,536 to 102,240 images) and different dimensionalities (ranging from 32 to 117 dimensions) showed that the indices produced by the proposed algorithms are very compact. Compared with the element-by-element insertion, the size of the index reduced from 9% up to 88%. The proposed algorithms also provided a great improvement in query processing. They required from 16% up to 99% less distance calculations and were from 9% up to 99% faster than the element-by-element insertion to process range queries. Also, they required from 13% up to 86% less distance calculations and were from 9% up to 63% faster than the element-by-element insertion to process k-NN queries

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:15:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AmilsonSS_DISSERT.pdf: 2099866 bytes, checksum: 065190ef304f120a24f7c056262f6813 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-13 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / In the state of the Rio Grande do Norte called as New border of the onion production , the more expressive plantation of form is relatively recent, and was motivated by the highest prices of the last years. Some producers of fruits and vegetables of the state, already use biofertilizers or liquid manure, as more it is known in the region. The application in the onion if of the one through the irrigation water daily, in the levels varying 50 of 30 L ha-1. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of the culture of the onion with the use of biofertilizers associates the mineral fertilizers applied through fertirrigation, in the Mossoró-RN. For in such a way an experiment was lead, in horta didactic of the Departmento de Ciências Vegetais da UFERSA in Mossoró-RN, in the period of September of 2011 the January of 2012. The experimental design was randomized complete block, with four repetitions in factorial project 3 x 3 + 2. The treatments had consisted of the combination of three levels of biofertilizers (15, 30 and 60 L/ha/day) and three levels of fertilization (25, 50 and 100% of the fertilization recommended for Cavalcanti (1998) and two treatments you add (the first one, the application of 100% of the mineral fertilization, following the recommendation of Cavalcanti, (1998) without biofertilizers and as only the application of biofertilizers in the 30 L/ha/day). The combination of the 60 doses L/ha/day of biofertilizers and 75% of the mineral fertilization promoted the biggest values for total, commercial productivity and dry mass of the bulb. The biggest not commercial productivity and average mass of the bulb had been reached with the absence of biofertilizers and 50% of the mineral fertilization. The lesser rubbish percentage was observed with levels 30 L/ha/dia of biofertilizers and 50% of the mineral fertilization. The texts of N, K, Here, Mg, Mn and Fe had been below of the recommended one for excellent development of the culture. The P and An plant was the only nutrient above of the value recommended for the onion / No estado do Rio Grande do Norte denominado como Nova fronteira da produção de cebola , o plantio de forma mais expressivo é relativamente recente, e foi motivado pelos preços elevados dos últimos anos. Alguns produtores de frutas e hortaliças do estado, já utilizam biofertilizantes ou calda orgânica, como é mais conhecido na região. A aplicação na cebola se dá através da água de irrigação diariamente, em doses variando de 30 a 50 L ha-1. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho da cultura da cebola com a utilização de biofertilizantes associados a fertilizantes minerais aplicados via fertirrigação, no município de Mossoró-RN. Para tanto foi conduzido um experimento, na horta didática do Departamento de Ciências Vegetais da UFERSA em Mossoró-RN, no período de setembro de 2011 a janeiro de 2012. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados completos, com quatro repetições em esquema fatorial 3 x 3 + 2. Os tratamentos consistiram da combinação de três doses de biofertilizante (15, 30 e 60 L/ha/dia) e três níveis de adubação (25, 50 e 100% da adubação recomendada por Cavalcanti (1998) e dois tratamentos adicionais (o primeiro, a aplicação de 100% da adubação convencional, seguindo a recomendação de Cavalcanti, 1998, sem biofertilizante e o segundo apenas a aplicação de biofertilizante na dose de 30 L/ha/dia). A combinação das doses 60 L/ha/dia de biofertilizante e 75% da adubação mineral promoveu os maiores valores para produtividade total, comercial e massa seca do bulbo. A maior produtividade não comercial e massa média do bulbo foram alcançadas com a ausência de biofertilizante e 50% da adubação mineral. A menor porcentagem de refugo foi observada com as doses 30 L/ha/dia do biofertilizante e 50% da adubação mineral. Os teores de N, K, Ca, Mg, Mn e Fe foram abaixo do recomendado para ótimo desenvolvimento da cultura. O P e o Zn foliar obtiveram valor dentro do recomendado para a cebola

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-12T19:18:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AmilsonSS_DISSERT.pdf: 2099866 bytes, checksum: 065190ef304f120a24f7c056262f6813 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-13 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / In the state of the Rio Grande do Norte called as New border of the onion production , the more expressive plantation of form is relatively recent, and was motivated by the highest prices of the last years. Some producers of fruits and vegetables of the state, already use biofertilizers or liquid manure, as more it is known in the region. The application in the onion if of the one through the irrigation water daily, in the levels varying 50 of 30 L ha-1. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of the culture of the onion with the use of biofertilizers associates the mineral fertilizers applied through fertirrigation, in the Mossoró-RN. For in such a way an experiment was lead, in horta didactic of the Departmento de Ciências Vegetais da UFERSA in Mossoró-RN, in the period of September of 2011 the January of 2012. The experimental design was randomized complete block, with four repetitions in factorial project 3 x 3 + 2. The treatments had consisted of the combination of three levels of biofertilizers (15, 30 and 60 L/ha/day) and three levels of fertilization (25, 50 and 100% of the fertilization recommended for Cavalcanti (1998) and two treatments you add (the first one, the application of 100% of the mineral fertilization, following the recommendation of Cavalcanti, (1998) without biofertilizers and as only the application of biofertilizers in the 30 L/ha/day). The combination of the 60 doses L/ha/day of biofertilizers and 75% of the mineral fertilization promoted the biggest values for total, commercial productivity and dry mass of the bulb. The biggest not commercial productivity and average mass of the bulb had been reached with the absence of biofertilizers and 50% of the mineral fertilization. The lesser rubbish percentage was observed with levels 30 L/ha/dia of biofertilizers and 50% of the mineral fertilization. The texts of N, K, Here, Mg, Mn and Fe had been below of the recommended one for excellent development of the culture. The P and An plant was the only nutrient above of the value recommended for the onion / No estado do Rio Grande do Norte denominado como Nova fronteira da produção de cebola , o plantio de forma mais expressivo é relativamente recente, e foi motivado pelos preços elevados dos últimos anos. Alguns produtores de frutas e hortaliças do estado, já utilizam biofertilizantes ou calda orgânica, como é mais conhecido na região. A aplicação na cebola se dá através da água de irrigação diariamente, em doses variando de 30 a 50 L ha-1. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho da cultura da cebola com a utilização de biofertilizantes associados a fertilizantes minerais aplicados via fertirrigação, no município de Mossoró-RN. Para tanto foi conduzido um experimento, na horta didática do Departamento de Ciências Vegetais da UFERSA em Mossoró-RN, no período de setembro de 2011 a janeiro de 2012. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados completos, com quatro repetições em esquema fatorial 3 x 3 + 2. Os tratamentos consistiram da combinação de três doses de biofertilizante (15, 30 e 60 L/ha/dia) e três níveis de adubação (25, 50 e 100% da adubação recomendada por Cavalcanti (1998) e dois tratamentos adicionais (o primeiro, a aplicação de 100% da adubação convencional, seguindo a recomendação de Cavalcanti, 1998, sem biofertilizante e o segundo apenas a aplicação de biofertilizante na dose de 30 L/ha/dia). A combinação das doses 60 L/ha/dia de biofertilizante e 75% da adubação mineral promoveu os maiores valores para produtividade total, comercial e massa seca do bulbo. A maior produtividade não comercial e massa média do bulbo foram alcançadas com a ausência de biofertilizante e 50% da adubação mineral. A menor porcentagem de refugo foi observada com as doses 30 L/ha/dia do biofertilizante e 50% da adubação mineral. Os teores de N, K, Ca, Mg, Mn e Fe foram abaixo do recomendado para ótimo desenvolvimento da cultura. O P e o Zn foliar obtiveram valor dentro do recomendado para a cebola