This C-paper looks at Pierce Brown’s book Red Rising. The first book of a two trilogy series set in adystopian future where humankind has terraformed other planets and moons. The paper explains theways in which Red Rising handles class, and classism through a Marxist lens. Through this lens thispaper discusses how the society was due a revolution, and the factors that played a role in it. As Marxbelieves all lower classes will one day realize the oppression they are under and revolt against thebourgeoisie to create a classless system. The paper briefly looks at the societies from Plato’s TheRepublic as well as Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.

The chemical and optical properties of particulate organic compounds remain unclear, which leaves large uncertainties in the estimation of global radiative transfer balance. Gas and find particle (PM2.5) phase formic acid concentrations were measured with online instrumentation during separate one-month studies in the summer of 2010 in Los Angeles (LA), CA, and Atlanta, GA, and the gas-particle partitioning behavior was investigated and compared with that of water-soluble organic compounds (WSOC). The diurnal profiles clearly indicated that the photochemistry production serves as a strong source for the formation of organics, while the correlation between the gas and particle phase suggested that another partitioning route, the aqueous reactions, is also very important. Later, the optical properties of light-absorbing organic compounds were examined. Little is known about the optical importance of light absorbing particulate organic compounds (brown carbon), especially its extent and absorption relative to black carbon throughout the tropospheric column. Mie theory was applied to size-resolved spectrophotometric absorption measurements of methanol and water-extracts from cascade impactor substrates collected at three surface sites around Atlanta, GA, including both urban and rural. These results were applied to similar measurements of brown carbon in extracts from aircraft bulk filter samples collected over central USA. At the surface sites predicted light absorption by brown carbon relative to total absorption (brown carbon plus pure black carbon) was about 10% and 30% at 350 nm, versus 1 and 11% at 450 nm, for water and methanol extracts, respectively. The relative contribution of brown carbon was greater in the free troposphere and significantly increased with altitude. Although this approach has limitations, it demonstrates the ubiquity and significant potential contribution of brown carbon.

Résumé : Au Canada, un tiers des enfants souffrent d’embonpoint ou sont obèses. Les événements survenant au cours de la vie intra-utérine jouent un rôle important dans la détermination de la susceptibilité des enfants à développer des maladies liées au métabolisme énergétique comme l’obésité et le diabète. L’épigénétique pourrait expliquer en partie ce risque à long terme. Mon projet de maîtrise s’appuie sur les résultats d’une approche à l’échelle du génome qui a pour objectif d’identifier les changements épigénétiques (méthylation de l’ADN), chez les nouveau-nés, associés à une exposition fœtale à l’obésité maternelle ou au diabète gestationnel (DG). Cette stratégie a permis d’identifier le gène PRDM16 qui joue un rôle clé dans le développement du tissu adipeux brun (BAT). Un déficit dans la fonction du BAT résulte en une accumulation de lipides dans le tissu graisseux ce qui est associé au développement de maladies métaboliques. Notre hypothèse est que le profil de méthylation de l’ADN de PRDM16 et d’autres gènes centraux impliqués dans la genèse du BAT est perturbé par une exposition aux débalancements métaboliques associés à l’obésité maternelle et au DG. Cette étude inclut 133 femmes et leur nouveau-né recrutés dans la région du Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean. Les données anthropométriques et métaboliques des femmes ont été récoltées à la fin de chaque trimestre de grossesse. Une hyperglycémie orale provoquée (HGOP, 75g), entre la 24e et la 28e semaine de grossesse, a permis d’établir le diagnostic de DG selon les critères de l’OMS. À la naissance, des biopsies de placenta ont été recueillies ainsi que les données anthropométriques et métaboliques pour chaque enfant. Les niveaux de méthylation de l’ADN des gènes PRDM16, PPARGC1α, BMP7 et CTBP2 dans le placenta fœtal ont été mesurés par pyroséquençage de l’ADN traité au bisulfite de sodium. Les résultats ont montré que le DG était associé à une méthylation de l’ADN du gène BMP7 plus faible dans le placenta des nouveau-nés exposés au DG contrairement à ceux non exposés. Les niveaux de méthylation des gènes BMP7, PPARGC1α et PRDM16 étaient corrélés au statut glycémique maternel au 2e trimestre de grossesse et expliquaient une partie des niveaux de leptine dans le sang de cordon ombilical. Ces résultats suggèrent que la méthylation des gènes associés à la genèse du BAT est affectée par le DG. Ces résultats suggèrent également que le métabolisme énergétique des enfants exposés au DG est altéré ce qui pourrait mener au développement de troubles métaboliques plus tard dans la vie comme l’obésité et le diabète de type 2. // Abstract : In Canada, one third of children are overweight or obese. The events occurring during the intrauterine life play an important role in determining the susceptibility of children to develop diseases related to energy metabolism such as obesity and diabetes. Epigenetic changes can to explain this long-term risk. My project is build on the results of an epigenome-wide aiming to identify epigenetic changes (DNA methylation) in newborns associated with fetal exposure to maternal obesity and gestational diabetes (GD). This strategy has identified the PRDM16 gene which plays a key role in the development of brown adipose tissue (BAT). A deficiency in the function of BAT results in accumulation of lipids in the adipose tissue that is associated with the development of metabolic diseases. Our hypothesis is that the profile of DNA methylation at PRDM16 gene and other genes involved in BAT genesis are disrupted by exposure to metabolic dysregulation associated with maternal obesity and GD. This study included 133 women and their newborn recruited in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region. Anthropometric and metabolic data of the women were collected at the end of each trimester of pregnancy. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT, 75g), between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, resulted in the diagnosis of GD according to the WHO criteria. At birth, the fetal placenta biopsies were collected and anthropometric and metabolic data for each newborn. DNA methylation levels of PRDM16, PPARGC1α, BMP7 and CTBP2 genes in fetal placenta were measured by pyrosequencing of sodium bisulfite treated DNA. The results showed that GD was associated with lower DNA methylation of BMP7 gene in the placenta of newborns exposed to GD in contrast to those not exposed. DNA methylation levels of BMP7, PPARGC1α and PRDM16 genes were correlated with maternal glycemic status in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy and partially explained leptin level variability in cord blood . These results suggest that DNA methylation of genes associated with BAT genesis is affected by GD. Therefore, energy metabolism of children exposed to GD could be altered and thus leading to the development of metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life .

Surveys and vegetation analyses were used to determine the known distribution and the characteristics of the habitat utilised by Anolis sagrei in Taiwan. Sampled lizards were used for morphological comparisons, and to investigate the reproductive biology of this species in Taiwan. The results of this study indicate that the distribution of A. sagrei in Taiwan is extensive (≥237 ha) in Chiayi City and County (southwestern study site) and scattered (≥8 ha) in Hualien City and County (eastern study site). These lizards were mostly found in open sunny degraded man-made habitats. Although some variations were noted in the comparisons between the A. sagrei collected from the two study sites, it was concluded that the two populations likely have the same founder population. The reproductive biology study indicated that photoperiod and the associated temperatures determine the reproductive cycles in A. sagrei. It also demonstrated that reproduction in this species is energetically demanding. / Nature Conservation / MSc.(Nature Conservation)

In this thesis I present the spectroscopic analysis of a large sample of L and T dwarfs, in order to constrain the sub-stellar initial mass function and formation history. The main points I tried to address are the development of a better spectral type to distance calibration and of a better spectral type to effective temperature calibration, and the identification of a statistically complete sample of brown dwarf to be used to measure the luminosity function, and therefore to constrain the initial mass function and formation history. To achieve the first goal I conducted the spectroscopic follow-up of brown dwarfs from the PARallaxes of Southern Extremely Cool objects (PARSEC) program. This is a large astrometric campaign to measure the parallaxes and proper motions of 120 L and T dwarfs in the southern hemisphere. I combined the astrometric results with the near infra-red spectra I obtained using the Ohio State Infra-Red Imager/Spectrometer (OSIRIS) on the Southern Astrophysical Research telescope (SOAR). That allowed me to investigate the nature of some unresolved binaries and common proper motion companion in the sample, as well as sub-dwarfs candidates, and potential members of young moving groups. Combining the spectra with the astrometric information and the available photometry I derived the bolometric luminosity and effective temperature for the targets, and determined a new polynomial conversion between spectral type and effective temperature of a brown dwarfs. This is a fundamental step to compare the results of empirical observations to numerical simulations of the sub-stellar luminosity function. Once refined the type to temperature calibration, I measured the luminosity function. In order to do so my collaborators and I have selected a sample of 250 brown dwarfs candidates from the United Kingdom Deep Infra-red Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS) and followed them up with the echelle spectrograph X-shooter on the Very Large Telescope. I present in this thesis the results of the observations of 196 of the brown dwarfs candidates. Using the X-shooter spectra I determined their spectral types, and I identified a number of unresolved binary candidates and peculiar objects. One of the peculiar objects in the sample, ULAS J222711 004547, turned out to be the reddest brown dwarf observed so far, and I therefore proceeded to analyse further its spectrum. Applying a de-reddening technique to its spectrum suggests that the most likely reason for its redness is an excess of dust in its photosphere, and that can account for the differences seen between objects of similar spectral type. By comparing the results of the spectroscopic campaign to numerical simulations, I found that it is currently impossible to constrain robustly the initial mass function and formation history of sub-stellar objects, because of our limited knowledge of the binary fraction among brown dwarfs. The sample of binary candidates identified in this thesis can be used to place a better constraint on the binary fraction, but in order to do that the candidates need to be followed-up via high resolution imaging or radial velocity monitoring to confirm their binary nature.

This thesis is an investigation into some properties of brown dwarfs using medium-resolution spectroscopy. In the first part of the thesis, I address the issue of parameter degeneracy in brown dwarfs. In the course of my analysis, I derive a gravity-sensitive spectral index which can be used, statistically at least, to differentiate populations of young objects from field dwarfs. The index is also capable of finding the difference between a population of ~1 Myr objects and a population of ~10 Myr objects and may be used to separate low-mass members from foreground and background objects in young clusters and associations. The second part of my thesis is an investigation into the major opacity sources in the atmospheres of late T dwarfs. I look particularly at CH4 and NH3 absorption features in the near-infrared spectra of these objects. In my analysis, I identify new absorption features produced by these molecules. I also correct features which had previously been wrongly identified. This has been made possible by the use of high quality data, together with a new CH4 synthetic line list, which is more complete at these temperatures than any previously available list.

Swedes are extremely common as a root vegetable in Europe, USA, and Canada but are affected by the occasional presence of Brown Heart (BH) disorder affecting the marketable swede root. The incidence of BH has been reported worldwide however it is very difficult to breed resistance due to its sporadic occurrence with no external symptoms to select for. BH has been attributed to boron availability but attempts to link BH appearance definitively with boron deficiency have been difficult. Anecdotal evidence from breeders and growers highlighted the recent co-appearance of BH and frost injury in the field and it was postulated that if an association (physiological or genetic) can be determined between BH appearance and another more easily assessed trait such as frost susceptibility, then a frost tolerance screen may be developed as a useful surrogate method to screen for BH resistance. Frost hardiness assessment of 12 swede genotypes including some F1 hybrids was carried out. Results showed that some genotypes (like Ag31, Me77c and Or13) were more susceptible to frost (EL50 circa -7 ˚C) whilst others (like Gr19 and Ly01) were classified as more tolerant. Breeder trials data from the UK and Germany over a 10 year period showed that 85% of the BH incidence was associated with genotypes that had the frost susceptible lines Ag31, Or13 or Me77c in their parentage. To investigate this association further, frost susceptible and tolerant genotypes, together with a number of their F1 hybrids, were evaluated in a field trial for their response to boron treatments (0.00, 1.35, 1.80 and 2.70 kg B ha-1). At maturity, BH incidence and its severity was predominantly affected by genotype but could be ameliorated by boron application. Ag31 was confirmed to be the most susceptible to BH, and Or13 and Me77c were intermediate in their susceptibility. F1 hybrids between any two susceptible parents were also susceptible to BH. In contrast, genotypes Gr19 and Ly01 were confirmed to be highly resistant to BH and did not show any BH symptoms even at zero boron applied. F1 hybrids between resistant and susceptible lines demonstrated the BH resistant phenotype. Resistance to BH was therefore confirmed as a dominant trait with either a BHBH or BHbh genotype, whilst susceptibility was recessive bhbh. A degree of quantitative variation existed in the severity of the BH suggesting that BH resistance was not a single gene effect. BH severity was significantly negatively correlated (r = - 0.632) with root boron content in susceptible genotypes. The genotypes which were BH resistant in this trial were also more tolerant to frost in screening tests and this association was investigated further at a molecular level. Cold acclimation (CA) for 14 days at 4 ˚C positively affected the response of swede to frost, lowering the EL50 by -1.5˚C, and boron reduced the EL50 by -2.2˚C under non-acclimating conditions and by -1.2˚C under CA. Both boron and CA increased the catalase (CAT) and super oxidase dismutase (SOD) concentrations in swede leaves. Molecular analysis clearly demonstrated the presence of the B.napus cold response gene in swede, BN115, and was shown to be up-regulated due to both CA and boron application but differed between the two genotypes tested. The more frost resistant Gr19 showed a better response than the susceptible Ag31. Boron application reduced EL50 by -2.3˚C for Ag31 and -3.1˚C for Gr19. Given the association between frost tolerance and BH resistance it is suggested that a frost test screen could be used as a useful surrogate method to screen for BH resistance in swede breeding programmes.

Riverine physical habitats and habitat utilization by fish have often been studied independently. Varying flows modify habitat composition and connectivity within a stream but its influence on habitat use is not well understood. This study examined brown trout (Salmo trutta) and bullhead (Cottus gobio) utilization of physical habitats that vary with flow in terms of size and type, persistence or duration, and frequency of change from one state to another, by comparing groundwater-dominated sites on the River Tern (Shropshire) with surface runoff-dominated lowland, riffle-pool sites on the Dowles Brook (Worcestershire). Mesohabitat surveys carried out at two-month intervals on a groundwater-dominated stream and on a surface runoff-influenced stream showed differences in habitat composition and diversity between the two types of rivers. The temporal variability in mesohabitat composition was also shown to differ between the two flow regime types. In the groundwater-influenced stream, mesohabitat composition hardly varied between flows whereas in the flashy stream it varied to a great extent with discharge. Habitat suitability curves for brown trout and bullhead were constructed to predict the potential location of the fish according to flow. The resulting prediction maps were tested in the field during fish surveys using direct underwater observation (snorkelling). Under the groundwater-influenced flow regime brown trout displayed a constant pattern of mesohabitat use over flows. Mesohabitats with non-varying characteristics over flows and with permanent features such as large woody debris, macrophytes or any feature providing shelter and food were favoured. Biological processes, such as hierarchy, life cycle and life stage appeared to play a key role in determining fish habitat use and to a greater extent than physical processes in these streams. Bullhead observations in the flashy river showed that mesohabitat use varied with flow but that some mesohabitats were always favoured in the stream. Pools and glides were the most commonly used mesohabitat, due to their stability over flows and their role as shelter from harsh hydraulic conditions and as food retention zones. The presence of cobbles was also found to be determinant in bullhead choice of habitat. In this flashy environment, physical processes such as flow and depth and velocity conditions appeared to be a more decisive factor in bullhead strategy of habitat use than biological processes. This research shows that: 1. Though differences in habitat use strategies between the two flow regimes can in part be attributed to differing ecology between the species, flow variability affects fish behaviour. 2. A stable flow regime allows biological processes to be the main driving force in determining fishbehaviour and location. A highly variable environment requires fish to develop behaviour strategies in response to variations in hydraulic conditions, such as depth and velocity, which constitute the key factor in determining fish location.

Thesis (PhD(Agric))--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Postharvest decay of stone fruit in the Western Cape province of South Africa is caused primarily by Botrytis cinerea (grey mould) and Monilinia laxa (brown rot). Little is known about the relative importance and seasonal occurrence of the two pathogens in nectarine and plum orchards, the mode of penetration of fruits by M laxa, latency and subsequent disease expression by the latter pathogen. These aspects were investigated in this study. By sampling from the Unifruco Quality Evaluation Scheme and from 11 stone fruit orchards, observations were made over a 3-year period of the occurrence of grey mould and brown rot in the major stone fruit regions. Botrytis cinerea was found to be the most important pathogen causing blossom blight and postharvest decay on stone fruit. The pathogen was most prominent on early- and mid-season culti~ars. Brown rot was exclusively caused by M laxa and no evidence was found that M fructicoZa had been introduced into the region. Monilina laxa was most prominent on the later maturing cultivars. Botrytis cinerea blossom infection did not contribute directly to postharvest decay. Both surface inoculum and latent infection consistently occurred on fruit in each orchard, although at fluctuating levels. Disease expression on developing fruit was not governed by the amount of B. cinerea occurring on fruit surfaces, but by the ability of fruit to resist disease expression. The amount of B. cinerea on fruits was generally higher during spring than during summer. Monilinia laxa occurred sporadically on the blossoms of late-maturing cultivars. Immature fruit were generally pathogen-free and disease expression occurred on maturing fruit only. These findings suggest that conidia of M laxa are generally produced in orchards when fruits are approaching maturity and can penetrate and infect maturing fruit only. The behaviour of airborne M laxa conidia was subsequently studied on nectarine (cultivar Flamekist) and plum (cultivar Laetitia) fruit. For these studies, an inoculation method that simulates natural infection by airborne conidia was used. Fruit at pit hardening, 2 wk before harvest, harvest stage and after cold storage (nectarines 4 wk at -o.soC followed by 1 wk at 23°C at ±56% RH; plums 10 days at .....().5°C,18 days at 7.5°C followed by 1 wk at 23°C at ±56% RH) were dusted with dry conidia of M laxa in a settling tower. The fruits were incubated for periods ranging from 3 to 48 h at high relative humidity (2':93%, humid fruit) or covered with a film of water (wet fruit). Behaviour of the solitary conidia was examined with an epifluorescence microscope on skin segments stained in a differential stain containing fluorescein diacetate, aniline blue and blankophor. The ability of solitary conidia to colonise the fruit surface, penetrate fruit skins and to induce disease expression was determined by using a differential set of tests. For these tests, fruit were surface-sterilised (30 s in 70% ethanol) or left Unsterile. From each group, fruit were selected for isolation (skin segment test), immersed in a 3% paraquat solution (paraquat-treated fruit test) or left untreated (sound fruit test). 1be findings demonstrated that solitary conidia of M laxa behaved consistently on plum and nectarine fruit surfaces: appressorium formation and direct penetration was not observed on any of the fruit surfaces and germ tubes penetrated fruit predominantly through stomata, lenticels and microfissures in the fruit skin. The monitoring of airborne conidia revealed subtle effects of the fruits on the behaviour of solitary germlings, which could not be seen when using conidial suspensions. On both fruit types, no deleterious effect was seen on conidial and germling survival when fruit were kept humid at pit hardening, 2 wk before harvest and harvest. However, conidial and germling survival were drastically reduced by prolonged wet incubation of fruits. The findings on disease expression in the skin segment, paraquat-treated fruit and sound fruit tests clearly showed that the skin of both nectarine and plum fruits were not penetrated at the pit hardening stage, latent infections were not established and fruitsreacted resistant to disease expression. These facets on both fruit types were furthermore unaffected by wetness. The barrier capacity of the fruit skin of the two stone fruit types however differed drastically later in the season. On nectarine, fruit skins were more readily penetrated and disease expression became more pronounced when fruit approached maturity. Penetration and disease expression on ripening nectarine fruit were furthermore greatly influenced by wetness. Maturing plum fruit, on the other hand, did not display the drastic change in the barrier capacity of fruit skins as observed on nectarine. The influence of wetness on infection and disease expression was also less pronounced than on nectarine. In fact, plum fruit remained asymptomatic in the sound fruit test after inoculation and humid incubation at the 2 wk before harvest stage, harvest stage and after cold storage. Plum fruit at these stages only developed disease after a prolonged period (~12 h) of wet incubation. The paraquat fruit test revealed that these fruits became more susceptible to latent infection, but they were not as susceptible as nectarine. Collectively, these findings indicate that M. laxa fruit rot epidemics on plum and nectarine are driven by inoculum levels on fruit approaching maturity and by weather conditions prevailing during the preharvest and harvest period. However, the barrier capacity of plum skins is considerably more effective than that of nectarine fruit. Wounds would therefore play an important role in the epidemiology of M. laxa on plum fruit. Infection of fresh wounds by airborne M. laxa conidia, and by conidia and germlings that have established on fruits, was therefore investigated. Plum fruit (cultivar Laetitia) at pit hardening, 2 wk before harvest, harvest stage and after cold storage were dusted with dry conidia of M. laxa in a settling tower.- Infection of rionwounded fruit and of fresh wounds by \ the airborne conidia on dry, humid and wet plum fruit surfaces, and by conidia and germlings that have been established on fruits under the wetness regimes was then investigated. Nonwounded immature and mature fruit remained mostly asymptomatic, whereas nonwounded cold stored fruit decayed readily. Wounding drastically increased infection by airborne conidia. Immature fruits were less susceptible to wound infection by the airborne conidia than mature fruits. Conidia dispersed freshly were more successful in infecting fresh wounds than conidia that were deposited, or germlings that established, on fruit surfaces 4 days prior to wounding. This decrease in infectivity was especially pronounced on humid and even more on wet incubated fruit. This study clearly showed that in order to reduce. the incidence of brown rot, inoculum levels on fruit approaching maturity should be reduced by sanitation practices and fungicide applications. Furthermore, it is essential to protect fruits, especially. near-mature fruits, from being wounded. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: EPIDEMIOLOGIE VAN MONILINIA LAXA OP NEKTARIEN EN PRUIM: INFEKSIE VAN VRUGTE DEUR KONIDIA OPSOMMING Naoesverrotting van steenvrugte in die Wes-Kaap provinsie van Suid-Afrika word hoofsaaklik veroorsaak deur Botrytis cinerea (vaalvrot) en Monilinia laxa (bruinvrot). Min is bekend oor die relatiewe belang en seisoenale voorkoms van hierdie patogene in nektarienen pruimboorde, asook oor die infeksieweg, latensie en daaropvolgende siekte-uitdrukking van M laxa. Hierdie aspekte is in dié studie nagevors. \ \ Monsters IS oor 'n 3-jaar periode van die Unifruco Kwaliteitsevalueringskema, en ook van 11 steenvrugboorde verkry. Die voorkoms van vaalvrot en bruinvrot in die hoof steenvrugareas is so bepaal. Botrytis cinerea was die belangrikste patogeen wat betref bloeiselversenging en naoesverrotting. Verder was hierdie patogeen ook meer prominent op die vroeë- en middel-seisoen kultivars. Bruinvrot is uitsluitlik deur M Iaxa veroorsaak en geen aanduiding omtrent die moontlike voorkoms van M fructicola in Suid-Afrika is waargeneem nie. Monilinia laxa was meer prominent op die laat-seisoen kultivars. Botrytis cinerea bloeiselinfeksie het nie direk bygedra tot naoesverrotting nie. Beide oppervlakkige inokulum en latente infeksie het deurgaans, maar wel teen wisselende hoeveelhede, op vrugte in die onderskeie boorde voorgekom. Siekte-uitdrukking op ontwikkelende vrugte is egter nie beinvloed deur die hoeveelheid B. cinerea op die vrug nie, maar eerder deur die vermoë van die vrug om siekte-uitdrukking te onderdruk. Die hoeveelheid B. cinerea op vrugte was verder hoër gedurende lente as gedurende somer. Monilinia laxa het slegs sporadies op die bloeisels van laat-seisoen kultivars voorgekom. Groen vrugte was in die algemeen vry van die patogeen en siekte-uitdrukking het slegs op ryp vrugte plaasgevind. Hierdie bevindinge dui daarop dat M laxa in boorde hoofsaaklik op ryper vrugte geproduseer word. Hierdie swam infekteer ook net ryp vrugte. Die gedrag van luggedraagde M laxa conidia is bestudeer op nektarien- (kultivar Flamekist) en pruimvrugte (kultivar Laetitia). 'n Inokulasie-metode wat natuurlike infeksie deur luggedraagde konidia simuleer, is vir hierdie studies gebruik. Vrugte van die pitverharding-, twee weke voor oes-, oesstadium, asook koud-opgebergde vrugte (nektariene, 4 weke by -o.soe gevolg met 1 week by 23°C en ±56% RH; pruime, 10 dae by -O.5°e, 18 dae by 7.Soe gevolg deur 1 week by 23°C en ±56% RH), is met droë konidia in 'n inokulasietoring geïnokuleer. Die vrugte is vir periodes wat gewissel het van 3 tot 48 h geïnkubeer by hoë relatiewe humiditeit (~93% RH, vogtige vrugte), of dit is bedek met'n film water (nat vrugte). Die gedrag van die enkelspore (konidia) op die vrugoppervlak is met 'n epifluorisensiemikroskoop bestudeer. Skilsegmente is gekleur in 'n kleurstof, bevattende fluorisein diasetaat, analien-blou en blankofor. Die vermoë van die enkelspore om die vrugoppervlak te koloniseer, te penetreer en om siekte-uitdrukking te induseer, is met 'n differensiële stel toetse bepaal. Vir hierdie toetse is die vrugte oppervlakkig gesteriliseer (30 s in 70% etanol), of nie-steriel gelaat. In elke groep is vrugte geneem vir isolasie (skilsegment-to\~ts), of gedoop in "n 3% parakwat-oplossing (parakwat vrugtoets), of\, onbehandeld gelaat (onbehandelde vrugtoets ). Die. bevindinge het op die soortgelyke gedrag van M laxa enkelspore op die verskillende vrugsoorte gedui: appressoria en direkte penetrasie is nie waargeneem nie, en kiembuise het die vrugte hoofsaaklik deur huidmondjies, lentiselle en mikro-krakies .in die vrugskil gepenetreer. Deur luggedraagde spore te bestudeer, is sekere subtiele effekte van die vrug op die gedrag van enkelspore op die vrugoppervlak waargeneem. Op beide vrugtipes is geen nadelige effek op konidiurn- en kiembuisoorlewing opgemerk wanneer die vrugte onder hoë vogtoestande geïnkubeer is. Konidiurn- en kiembuisoorlewing is egter drasties verlaag hoe langer die vrugte onder nat toestande geïnkubeer is. Die bevindinge van die skilsegment-, parakwat en onbehandelde vrugtoetse het duidelik daarop gewys dat die vrugskil van nektarien en pruim nie gepenetreer is tydens die pitverhardingstadium nie, latente infeksies is nie gevorm nie, en die vrugte was bestand teen siekte-uitdrukking. Hierdie fasette op beide vrugtipes is ook nie beinvloed deur inkubasie-natheid nie. Die beskermingskapasiteit van die vrugskil van hierdie steenvrugtipes het egter drasties verskil later in die seisoen. Nektarien-vrugskille is meer geredelik gepenetreer en siekte-uitdrukking het toegeneem met rypwording. Penetrasie en siekteuitdrukking is verder in 'n groot mate deur inkubasie-natheid bevoordeel. Rypwordende pruime het egter nie so In drasties verandering in die beskermingskapasiteit van die vrugskil getoon nie. Die invloed van inkubasie-natheid op infeksie en siekte-uitdrukking was ook minder opsigtelik as op nektarien. Pruimvrugte van die twee weke voor oes-, oesstadium, en , koud-opgebergde pruime, wat onder hoë vog geïnkubeer is, het simptoomloos in die onbehandelde vrugtoets gebly. Vrugte van hierdie stadia het slegs simptome ontwikkel na periodes van langer as 12 h onder nat toestande. Die parakwat-behandelde vrugtoets het egter gewys dat die pruimvrugte meer vatbaar vir latente infeksies raak, maar steeds nie so vatbaar soos die nektarienvrugte nie. Gesamentlik dui hierdie bevindinge daarop <41tM laxa bruinvrot epidemies op pruim en nektarien afhanklik is van inokulumvlakke op rypwordende vrugte, asook die weerstoestande gedurende die vooroes- en oesstadia. Die beskermingskapasiteit van pruim vrugskille was egter aansienlik meer effektief as dié van nektarien vrugte. Wonde op vrugte sal dus 'n groter rol speel in die epidemiologic van M laxa op pruim. Infeksie van vars wonde deur luggedraagde M laxa konidia, en deur konidia en kiembuise wat reeds op die vrugoppervlak gevestig is, is gevolglik bestudeer. Pruimvrugte (kultivar Laetitia) van die pitverharding-, twee weke voor oes-, oesstadium, asook koud- \ \ opgebergde vrugte is in 'n inokulasie-toring geïnokuleer met droë M laxa konidia. .Infeksie , , van nie-gewonde vrugte en van vars wonde deur luggedraagde konidia op droë, vogtige en nat pruim vrugoppervlaktes, asook deur konidia en kiembuise wat reeds op die vrugoppervlak onder hierdie toestande gevestig is, is bepaal. Nie-gewonde groen tot ryp vrugte het meestal simptoomloos gebly, terwyl koud-opgebergde ryp vrugte wel verrot het. Wonde .het die hoeveelheid infeksie deur luggedraagde spore drasties vermeerder. Konidia wat geïnokuleer is op vrugte met vars wonde, was meer in staat om hierdie wonde te infekteer as konidia en kiembuise wat 4 dae voor wonding gevestig is. Hierdie afname in infektiwiteit was meer sigbaar op die vogtige, maar veral die nat vrugte. Hierdie studie het duidelik gewys dat inokulumvlakke op rypwordende vrugte verlaag moet word deur sanitasie-praktyke en fungisiedtoedienings. Dit is verder belangrik om vrugte, veral rypwordende vrugte, teen wonding te beskerm.

This thesis examines Augustine of Hippo's support of the cult of relics through the lens of Peter Brown's revision of the two-tiered model which was proposed in his 1981 book The Cult of Saints. More specifically, this thesis attempts to explain the introduction of saint's relics in the final book, book 22, of Augustine's magnum opus The City of God (De Civitate Dei). After providing proof of the theologian's opposition to the cult of relics in his youth, historical, biographical, and textual evidence is used to trace his later change of heart. This change in position is crystallized in a series of miracle accounts in the 8th chapter of the 22nd book. The analysis of this 'chain of miracles' is essential in understanding the purpose of the City of God as a whole and Augustine's own theories of death and resurrection.