The vine mealybug, Planococcus ficus (Signoret) (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) is a pest with significant economic impact on the grape growing industry in South Africa and other parts of the world. With the isolation and synthesizing of the vine mealybug sex pheromone in 2001, new control options for the integrated management of the vine mealybug have been created. The status of sex pheromone monitoring as a tool in the integrated management of the vine mealybug has been evaluated from different perspectives. A significant quantitative difference in male vine mealybug trap catch numbers has been observed between wine and table grape vineyards and results indicated that there were differences in the susceptibility of grape cultivars to vine mealybug. Currently, the delta trap design is the accepted trap design for vine mealybug monitoring. No studies have yet been conducted to determine the optimum trap parameters like size or design. Population pressure may have an influence on the qualitative efficiency of various trap designs. The basis for degree-day forecasting models has been established adequately. However, refinements need to be done and the incorporation of factors such as humidity and regionality also need to be considered. Daily maximum temperatures fluctuating around the upper developmental threshold temperature for prolonged periods of time seemed to suppress population numbers. Different vineyard management practices exist for wine and table grape production. While an action threshold of 65 vine mealybug males per trap per two-week period seems an acceptable threshold for table grape production, it may not be appropriate for wine grape (or raisin grape) production. Using sex pheromone traps for population monitoring is a valid technique in the arsenal of management tactics against the vine mealybug. However, refinements and validation of research results must be done further to build credibility into the monitoring system. / Thesis (M. Environmental Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

School days are organised on a whole day and or a shift basis in different countries. When the school day is arranged on double shift basis, two sets of pupil attend the same school in a given day. This thesis is based on a phenomenological research which examined how the education of pupils with special educational needs (SEN) was addressed in shift primary schools in Jamaica. A case study was undertaken with a view of understanding the day-to-day experiences of the issues of how shift primary schools constructed and managed the SEN of pupils and sought to understand the ‘why’ in operation. In addition, a survey (using questionnaires) was carried out in 10 shift primary schools (including the case) in several parishes of the island which targeted administrators (n=26) and teachers (n=205) to further explore some of the issues which were picked up on in the case study such as understandings of the concept of SEN, the challenges they encountered in their attempts to cater for pupils‟ SEN and how pupils‟ SEN impacted on the school system. An interview was also conducted with an official from the Ministry of Education (MOE) which investigated the philosophical orientation which guides the education of pupils with SEN and the how they are catered for in Jamaican schools. Grounded Theory, ably assisted by the tool of Thematic Analysis, was used to explore this complex research context to help to unpack dilemmas and tensions which existed. One of the major insights gained from the data is that the Jamaican primary shift school context is ‘resource famished whilst being simultaneously ‘SEN dense’. The main research findings revealed that the shift system and its resultant time constraint were major inhibitors to the effective meeting of pupils‟ SEN. The complexity and challenges of this educational context were further exacerbated by factors such as limited understanding of the concept of SEN, inadequate resources in general and more so with specific focus on catering for pupils with SEN, low teacher efficacy for meeting pupils‟ SEN, large classes and inadequate parental support. Administrators reported concern for impact of pupils‟ SEN on their schools in ways such as lowering examination passes and the overall performance of schools. One of the main concerns of teachers was how pupils‟ SEN disrupted lessons and how this impacted on other learners without SEN. In addition, the most commonly manifested SEN of pupils were reading and behavioural difficulties. The role of the Guidance Counsellor was re-defined as the main school personnel for the management of pupils’ SEN in shift primary schools. From the point of view of the MOE the practice and provision for pupils with SEN were governed by the concept of ‘Least Restrictive Environment’ and not the current concept of inclusion that is in wide usage in the field of special education. Importantly, not only were schools experiencing difficulties in satisfactorily providing resources for the meeting pupils‟ SEN, but this is also experienced at the level of the MOE. The chief implications highlighted based on of the research findings was the dire need for the reconstruction of teacher training in Jamaica with a specific aim of equipping teachers to effectively cater for pupils‟ SEN and the dire need for legislation to safeguard the education of pupils with SEN. In addition, recommendations were made to promote improvements of pupils with SEN in general and particularly those being educated in shift primary schools. Finally, several suggestions for future research were put forward.

Master of Agribusiness / Department of Agricultural Economics / Terry Griffin / Weather uncertainty plays a large role in farm management decisions. Changes in weather trends or increased variability during the growing season may alter the optimal farm management choices regarding machinery purchases, crop allocation to available acreage, varietal trait selection, and crop management practices. These farm management decisions impact the expected length of time available from planting to harvest. The dates that farmers most actively plant and harvest crops changes from year to year based on annual weather patterns that affect the number of days suitable to conduct fieldwork. This research analyzed corn planting and harvest progress, as well as the number of days suitable for fieldwork in Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Variability of days suitable for fieldwork across crop reporting districts within each state was reported. The total number of days suitable for fieldwork during the ‘most active’ planting and harvest weeks in each state were then analyzed to determine if increasing or decreasing trends exist and estimated as ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. The outcomes presented in this research indicated a statistically significant decreasing trend in days suitable for spring planting in Iowa, and positive trend in Missouri during fall harvest. However, no statistically significant trends were observed in Kansas for either time period. Farm management implications were examined in relation to the results of the days suitable for fieldwork analysis, specifically regarding machinery sizing decisions. Profit maximizing producers must manage machinery such that they are not over-equipped, but have adequate equipment capacity to plant and harvest all acreage within the available days suitable for fieldwork. Results of these analyses are directly of interest to farmers desiring to optimally equip their farms, agricultural lenders providing farmers with financing of equipment, and equipment manufacturers.

Aujourd'hui, La Poste se trouve dans une situation particulièrement délicate au regard des mutations de son environnement économique. Pour répondre à ses nouveaux enjeux, elle doit développer sa planification stratégique, dans laquelle la prévision de son chiffre d'affaires joue un rôle particulièrement crucial. Or, à l'heure actuelle, les méthodes utilisées par la Direction Stratégique, notamment pour traiter la question de l'effet jours ouvrables, ne sont pas optimales et l'entreprise cherche à les améliorer. Notre thèse, réalisée en convention CIFRE avec la Direction Marketing Stratégique de La Poste, s'inscrit dans ce questionnement. Notre recherche vise plus spécifiquement à déterminer quels sont les meilleurs modèles économétriques pour la prévision du chiffre d'affaires du courrier. On se penche dans un premier temps sur la question de l'effet jours ouvrables que l'on traite à l'aide de méthodes de prévision, afin d'en obtenir une analyse approfondie. Puis on cherche à déterminer des modèles de prévisions adaptés à chaque type de clientèle et, enfin, au chiffre d'affaires totales. Pour l'entreprise, cette recherche vise à élaborer un outil fiable de prévision et d'aide à la décision. Au point de vue théorique, le principal apport de notre travail réside dans l'utilisation de modèles de prévision pour analyser l'effet jours ouvrables, à la place de l'utilisation d'outils de détection automatique. / Nowadays, La Poste is facing a particularly complex situation, related to the many changes of its economic environment. In order to respond to the new issues, it must develop strategic planning, in which income prediction plays a crucial part. Yet, to this day, the methods used by the Strategy Department are not optimal and the company is working at their improvement. Our research,conducted in the framework of a CIFRE partnership with the Strategic Marketing Department in La Poste, is anchored in this questioning. Our work is specifically aimed at determining the best econometric models to predict income of the Mail activity. We first focus on the issue of the "Trading days effect", that we examine using prediction methods, in order to get an in-depth view of it. Then we engage in determining prediction models adapted to each type of customers and, finally, a model for total income. For the company, this research is aimed at elaborating a reliable prediction and decision-making tool. From the theoretical point of view, the main contribution of our work lies in our using prediction models to analyze "Trading days effect", instead of automatic detection tools.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Terry Houser / Crossbred yearling steers (n = 144 initial BW 367 ± 18.46 kg) were randomly allotted by BW to a randomized complete block design with a 2x3 factorial treatment arrangement to 1) assess the impact of supplementing dried distiller grain with solubles (DDGS) while grazing late season forage for 90 d and 2) the impact of a short feeding period on animal performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality traits. Treatments consisted of DDGS supplementation during grazing (0 or 1% of BW as DDGS; DM basis) and finishing days on feed (DOF;75, 100, 125). During grazing supplemented cattle had greater (P < 0.01) ADG than un-supplemented cattle but un-supplemented cattle had greater ADG than supplemented cattle during the finishing period. There were no differences between grazing treatments for DMI (P = 0.91) during the finishing period. Supplemented cattle had decreased (P = 0.02) G:F during the finishing period compared to un-supplemented cattle. Supplemented cattle had heavier (P < 0.01) HCW and larger (P = 0.02) LM area than un-supplemented cattle. Increasing DOF linearly increased (P ≤ 0.03) HCW, 12th rib fat thickness, LM area and USDA marbling score. No differences were observed for USDA yield grade. Increasing DOF decreased (Linear; P < 0.01) carcass protein %, moisture %, and increased (Linear; P < 0.05) carcass fat %. Increasing DOF increased (Quadratic; P = 0.01) L* values, while decreasing (Quadratic; P < 0.01) a* and b* values for external fat color. No differences were observed with respect to the percentages of any fatty acids for any treatment. Increased (P = 0.01) sensory off-flavors were present at 100 DOF when compared to 125 DOF. No other differences among treatments were observed for any sensory traits, instrumental tenderness, lean color or fatty acid profile for any treatment. In conclusion, supplementing cattle with 1 % DDGS during grazing altered grazing and feedlot performance as well as impacted carcass characteristics. In addition, utilizing a shortened feeding period had minimal effects on meat quality traits, but increasing DOF resulted in a greater amount of whiter external fat.

Thesis advisor: Paul G. Spagnoli / On October 5, 1789, several hundred women first converged on the Parisian municipal government, then marched undeterred on Versailles to demand the king's aid in relieving the dire bread shortage in the city. By the end of the next day however, the women returned triumphantly to the capital not only with bread, but with the entire royal family, the National Guard, and National Assembly's promise to relocate to Paris as well. This revolutionary journée is referred to as the October Days, and this thesis seeks to address its spontaneous and premeditated origins. I argue that although the journée was not the result of an overarching conspiracy, its themes and actions had precursors in the early months of the Revolution and the years before. Also, by undertaking a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the ensuing judicial investigation of the movement, I have attempted to provide a grounding for the October Day's most important primary source through which some of the journée's most controversial aspects can be examined. Finally, I argue that this judicial inquiry significantly contributed to the polarization of the National Assembly as le peuple forced the political elites to take sides over the investigation. Thus, between October 5, 1789 and October 1, 1790 le peuple continued its struggle to reinforce the sovereignty with which it had been endowed. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2007. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: History. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Student Number : 0318162X - MA research report - School of Literature and Language Studies - Faculty of Humanities / This Research Report comprises the preface to an opera libretto based on the English translation by Charles Eglington (1964) of Etienne Leroux’s novel Seven Days at the Silbersteins (1962), and the libretto itself. In the preface I discuss the genre of operatic libretto and the literary and personal context in which Leroux worked, by way of explaining why Seven Days made such a compelling challenge to adapt as libretto. I consider some of the issues involved in transposing a rambling allegorical narrative produced in Afrikaans in the 1960s in the lineage of the plaasroman, into a tighter postapartheid discourse in English in the 2000s, one that creates space for live music, singing, acting, staging, setting and pre-recorded audio-visuals – some of which take over the ‘layered’ significations of Leroux’s earlier literary discourse. A work of great poetic resonance in the original language (beautifully captured by poet and critic Charles Eglington in translation), this surrealist novel, so rooted in cultural and ideological tropes unique to Leroux’s time and yet presented by him as if they belonged to a timeless world, presents opportunities for a new kind of realisation as an operatic text in our own time.

Thesis advisor: Stuart Hecht / The work done on this project has combined the knowledge I have accumulated from nearly all of the classes and learning opportunities I have experienced over the course of college. The first semester's work consisted of a long literary analysis of Three Days in comparison to three other plays contemporary with it. This resulted in “Looking Behind Us As We Leap Ahead.” In the paper, I compared the use of time in Three Days of Rain, Sideman by Warren Leight, Angels in America, Part One: Millennium Approaches by Tony Kushner, and Sight Unseen, by Donald Margulies. All of these plays were written by American playwrights in the last decade of the twentieth century. The initial connection between the four plays was the fluidity of time, an element of dramatic structure that creates abstractions and skewed perception within the play. However, after studying the plays in conjunction with each other, I was struck by just how much the concept of time can affect a play not only in its form, but also in its content. Issues related to history, preservation, and planning for the future ran through all four of the plays, as it became obvious that time was of the utmost importance in the theater of the 1990s. The same proved to be true in the production of theater in 2004. The rest of the thesis was devoted to the production of Three Days of Rain, directed by me and produced by the Contemporary Theater in the Bonn Studio in March 2004. I kept journal entries throughout the process of creating this thesis, which aided in the final written part of the thesis, “One Year of Rain: Memoirs of a Director.” This section, while more personal in nature than the first academic writing, also deals with issues of time, as it documents the trials and successes of this production, as well as the personal growth of the author and director over the course of the project. The additional information supplied is evidence of dramaturgical research related to the production. Outside sources filled in the information about the world of the play that the text was missing. The combination of the support of this research and the production of the play allowed the ultimate goal of the director to be realized: To bring the play to life, and to bring real life to the play. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2004. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Theater. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

O período de transição é uma das fases mais críticas do ciclo de produção de vacas leiteiras. Embora se saiba que os animais costumam apresentar diversos problemas metabólicos e infecciosos nesta fase, existe grande dificuldade em mensurá-los. Neste contexto, a literatura mostra que a produção de leite no início da lactação reflete o estado fisiológico e de saúde do animal e, por isso, o uso dessa informação é pertinente para auxiliar na melhoria do manejo de vacas recém paridas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os principais fatores que podem ter influência sobre a produção de leite no primeiro controle mensal após o parto e utilizá-los para gerar um índice de transição que aponte, de forma acurada e rápida que problemas estão acontecendo. Os rebanhos foram selecionados a partir do software Agenda 5.0 da Clínica do Leite - ESALQ/USP, respeitando o critério de raça e sistema de produção. Assim, foram selecionados animais de raça Holandesa e criados em sistema de confinamento e coletadas as seguintes informações relativas as vacas: produção de leite no primeiro controle mensal após o parto (PLPC), identificação da vaca, raça, número da lactação, data do parto, dias em leite no primeiro controle leiteiro (DELPC), produção de leite acumulada na lactação anterior (PLLA), dias em leite na lactação anterior (DELLA) e data da secagem; e do rebanho: sistema de produção e frequência de ordenha. O DEL para realização do primeiro controle leiteiro foi limitado entre 5 e 60 dias. Foram excluídos os controles leiteiros de vacas de primeira lactação. Para obtenção do número de dias secos, foi subtraída a data do parto pela data da secagem das vacas. A data do parto foi categorizada como mês do parto. Ainda foram coletadas informações das análises de composição físico-química e contagem de células somáticas (CCS). Após a triagem do banco de dados, foram selecionadas 1.462 vacas oriundas de 18 diferentes rebanhos. Uma análise descritiva das variáveis continuas e categóricas foi realizada pelo PROC MEANS e PROC FREQ do SAS. Na sequência foi realizada uma análise de correlação pelo método de Spearman por meio do PROC CORR do SAS. Para estudar os efeitos das variáveis e categorias supracitadas sobre a PLPC um modelo linear generalizado misto foi utilizado por meio do PROC GLIMMIX do SAS. Para as variáveis preditoras categóricas, quando o p-valor encontrado foi significativo, procedeu-se a comparação entre as médias ajustadas através do teste de Tukey - Kramer. O mesmo modelo foi utilizado para gerar informações de uma produção de leite estimada (PLPCest) para cada vaca. Para gerar o índice de transição (IT), a PLPC observada foi subtraída da PLPC estimada. A partir da obtenção dos valores de IT, foi considerado que valores negativos indicaram perda de produção no primeiro controle, enquanto que valores positivos o oposto. O IT foi calculado para cada vaca e, posteriormente, foram calculadas as médias para os rebanhos. Medidas descritivas sobre o IT foram calculadas a nível de vaca e de rebanho para o banco de dados por meio do PROC MEANS do SAS. As correlações entre IT e as demais variáveis foram calculadas utilizando o método não paramétrico de Spearman. A mediana de produção de leite no primeiro controle foi de 25,4 kg e DELPC de 15 dias. A PLLA foi a variável que apresentou a maior correlação (r = 0,27) com a PLPC. As variáveis DELLA, PLLA, DELPC, dias secos, ordem da lactação, frequência de ordenha e mês do parto foram os fatores que tiveram influência (p<0,05) sobre a PLPC. A gordura e a proteína apresentaram correlação negativa com a PLPC (r= -0,17 e -0,13, respectivamente). De todos os animais avaliados, 50,21% dos controles tiveram IT positivo e 49,79% dos controles teve IT negativo. A mediana obtida em nível de vaca foi de +0,02 kg, enquanto que a nível de rebanho foi de +0,62 kg. As varáveis preditoras escolhidas ajudaram explicar 25% da variação na produção de leite no primeiro controle mensal após o parto. O modelo gerado de PLPCest pode ser utilizado para cálculo do IT. Por fim, as informações do IT podem ser utilizadas para observar os desvios em produção de leite no início da lactação. Recomenda-se a intepretação dos resultados tanto em nível de vaca, quanto em nível de rebanho. / The transition period is one the most critical stages of the dairy cattle. Although it is known the animals usually present several infeccious and metabolic problems, there is a huge difficulty in measuring them. In this context, the literature papers reviewed shows that the milk yield at the beginning of the lactation reflects the phisiologycal and health status from the cow, and therefore the use of that information is pertinent to assist in improving the transition cow managemnet. The objective of this work was study the main factors that may affect the milk yield at the first test control after calving and use them to generate a transition index that shows quickly and with acuracy that problems are happening. The herds were selected from the Agenda 5.0 softaware by Clínica do Leite ESALQ/USP, respecting breed and production system how selection criteria. Thus, we have colectted information from Holstein cows raised in free stall system. There were collected data from cow and herd level. The following information was taken from cow: milk yield at first test control, cow ID, parity number, calving date, days in milk (DIM) at first test control, previous 305 - day milk, and dry off date. The following data was taken from the herd: use of rBST and milking frequency. The DIM at first test was limited in the interval from 5 to 60 DIM. There were excluded the primiparous cows\' first test control. To obtain the dry off days, there were subtracted the birth date by the dry off date. The date of calving have categorized as month of calving. There was collected data about milk composition (fat, protein and milk urea nitrogen) and somatic cell counting (SCC). After whole database editions, the were selected 1.462 Holstein cows from 18 herds. The descriptive analysis were performed by PROC MEANS and PROC FREQ (SAS). A mixed generalized linear model from PROC GLIMMIX (SAS 9.4) have used to evaluate the effect os variables on the first test milk. The same model was used to predict the first test weight. To generate the transition index, the predict first test milk was subtracted from the observed first test control. It was considered that negative values indicated loss of production in the first control, while positive values the opposite. The milk yield at first test was 25.4 kg and the 15 DIM. The previous milk yield average had the better correlation with first test milk yield (r = 0.27). The previous 305 - day milk, previous milk yield, days dry off, number of parity, milk frequency and month of the calving have influenced (P<0.05) on the first test control milk yield. The fat and protein concentration had negative correlation with first test control milk yield. The median at cow level was + 0.02 kg, while at herd level was +0.62 kg. The predict variables explained 25% of the first test control milk yield variation. Thus, this model can be used to generate a transition index. The transition index may used to observe differences in milk yield after parturiation. It is recommended to interpret the results both at the cow level and at the herd level.

A produção de caqui no estado de São Paulo vem aumentando, sendo o seu cultivo uma boa alternativa para a diversificação de plantas frutíferas pelos produtores. O conhecimento sobre a fenologia e fixação de frutos das principais cultivares de caquizeiros em clima subtropical é de grande importância para o desenvolvimento de práticas culturais que visam uma boa produção, uma vez que em clima temperado a produção é instável pelas altas quedas fisiológicas de flores e frutos. Para isso avaliou-se o acúmulo de graus-dia em diferentes fases fenológicas das principais cultivares plantadas em São Paulo, em clima Cwa, e o efeito da aplicação de ácido giberélico na fixação dos frutos. Para atingir o ponto de colheita, a cultivar Fuyu necessita, após a poda, um acúmulo de 3650 graus-dia, Giombo e Rama-Forte 4559 graus-dia e Taubaté 4280 graus-dia. A queda fisiológica de frutos das quatro cultivares ocorre em até três meses após a antese, com o acúmulo médio de 2074 graus-dia. No período de queda fisiológica, para as quatro cultivares, há dois picos acentuados de abscisão de frutos, o primeiro após a queda de pétalas, com 298 graus-dia e o segundo 50 dias após a antese, com 913 graus-dia. A aplicação exógena de ácido giberélico incrementa a fixação de frutos de caqui nas cultivares Fuyu, Giombo, Rama-Forte e Taubaté, quando há ensacamento de flores. Para as cultivares Fuyu, Giombo e Rama-Forte a aplicação de 100 mg L-1 de ácido giberélico na florada, aumenta a fixação dos frutos em mais de 20%. Para a cultivar Taubaté a aplicação de 300 mg L-1 de ácido giberélico incrementa a fixação em mais de 30%. / The production of persimmon in the Brazilian state of São Paulo is increasing, as its cultivation is a good alternative for the diversification of fruit plants for farmers. The knowledge about the phenology and fruit set of the main persimmon cultivars in subtropical climates is of great importance to the development of agricultural practices aiming for a good production, as in temperate climates the production is instable due to the large physiological flower and fruit drop. Therefore, the accumulation of degree-days in different phenological phases of the main cultivars planted in São Paulo state, in a Cwa climate, was evaluated, as well as the effect of applying gibberellic acid on the fruit set. To reach the point of harvest, the cultivar Fuyu requires 3650 degree-days after pruning, Giombo and Rama-Forte 4559 degree-days and Taubaté 4280 degree-days. The phenological fruit drop of the four cultivars occurs up to three months after the anthesis, with a mean of 2074 degree-days. In the period of physiological fruit drop of the four cultivars, there are two accentuated peaks of fruit abscission, the first after the drop of petals, with 298 degree-days and the second 50 days after the anthesis, with 913 degree-days. The exogenous application of gibberellic acid increases the fruit set of the persimmons for the cultivars Fuyu, Giombo, Rama-Forte and Taubaté, with flowers being bagged. For the cultivars Fuyu, Giombo and Rama-Forte the application of 100 mg L-1 of gibberellic acid during blooming, increases the fruit set by more than 20%. For the cultivar Taubaté the application of 300 mg L-1 of gibberellic acid increases the fruit set by more than 30%.