In the United States, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandates the annual production of 136 billion liters of renewable fuel in the US by 2022 (US Congress, 2007). As the nation moves towards energy independence, it is critical to address the current challenges associated with large-scale biofuel production. The biomass logistics network considered consists of three core operations: farmgate operations, highway-hauling operations, and receiving facility operations. To date, decision-making has been limited in post-production management (harvesting, in-field hauling, and storage) in farmgate operations. In this thesis, we study the impacts in the logistics network resulting from the selection of one of four harvest scenarios. A simulation model was developed, which simulated the harvest and filling of a Satellite Storage Location (SSL), using conventional hay harvest equipment, specifically, a round baler. The model evaluated the impacts of four harvest scenarios (ranging from short, October-December, to extended, July-March), on baler equipment requirements, baler utilization, and the storage capacity requirements of round bales, across a harvest production region. The production region selected for this study encompassed a 32-km radius surrounding a hypothetical bio-crude plant in Gretna, VA, and considered 141 optimally selected SSLs. The production region was divided into 6 sub-regions (i.e. tours). The total production region consisted of 15,438 ha and 682 fields. The fields ranged in size from 6 to 156 ha. Of the four scenarios examined in the analysis, each displayed similar trends across the six tours. Variations in the baler requirements that were observed among the tours resulted from variability in field size distribution, field to baler allocations, and total production area. The available work hours were found to have a significant impact on the resource requirements to fulfill harvest operations and resource requirements were greatly reduced when harvest operations were extended throughout the 9-month harvest season. Beginning harvest in July and extending harvest through March resulted in reductions in round balers ranging from 50-63%, as compared to the short harvest scenario, on a sub-regional basis. On a regional basis, beginning harvest in July and extending harvest through March resulted in baler reductions up to 58.2%, as compared to the short harvest scenario. For a 9-month harvest, harvesting approximately 50% of total switchgrass harvest in July-September, as compared to harvesting approximately 50% in October-December, resulted in reductions in round balers ranging from 33.3- 43.5%. An extended (9-month) harvest resulted in the lowest annual baler requirements, and on average lower baler utilization rates. The reduced harvest scenarios, when compared to the extended harvest scenarios, resulted in a significant increase in the number of annual balers required for harvest operations. However, among the reduced harvest scenarios (i.e. Scenario 3 and 4), the number of annual balers required for harvest operations showed significantly less variation than between the extended harvest scenarios (i.e. Scenarios 1 and 2). As a result, an increased utilization of the balers in the system, short harvest scenarios resulted in the highest average baler utilization rates. Storage capacity requirements were however found to be greater for short harvest scenarios. For the reduced harvest scenario, employing an October-December harvest window, approximately 50% of harvest was completed by the end of October, and 100% of total harvest was completed by the third month of harvest (i.e. December). / Master of Science

Traditional sparkling wine (SW) production is a flourishing market that has experienced significant growth over the last few decades. SWs are regarded as premium products characterised by their high economic value. This prestige is attributed to the lengthy and costly manufacturing process involving a double fermentation step and a period of aging sur lie. In this regard, maintaining a consistently high-quality profile is crucial for consumer satisfaction and brand reputation. Any compromise in quality due to sensory faults can jeopardise the marketability of these products and erode their premium image. The appearance of sensorial faults is one of the main threats undermining the quality of SWs. Indeed, once the tirage has been done, the operational capacity of the winemaker to adjust the final result is very limited. Atypical ageing (ATA) is a wine aroma fault characterised by the vanishing of varietal aromas and the advent of unpleasant notes reminiscent of wet mop, dirty rag and naphthalene. These sensory faults can significantly impact the aromatic profile of SWs, diminishing their appeal to customers. Addressing ATA adds complexity to the production process. Winemakers must navigate potential issues during the second fermentation and ageing stages, making it essential to understand the factors contributing to the onset of this defect. Research has revealed that stress reactions in the vineyard, inadequate grape handling and unfavourable fermentation conditions are among the causes that lead to the appearance of this taint. Understanding these factors is crucial, especially considering the competitive nature of the sparkling wine market, where maintaining consistent quality is paramount. This doctoral research aimed to expand the knowledge of the root causes and potential remedies associated with ATA and SW production. The approach involved evaluating the agronomic and technological factors contributing to this defect. This encompassed field experiments, fermentation trials, and chemical analyses utilising an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatographer coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer (UHPLC-HRMS). In addition to investigating the genesis of ATA, a crucial aspect of this research involved the development and validation of an analytical method to quickly and effectively quantify the amino acid (AA) content of oenological products. Since yeast biochemistry is involved in ATA formation, measuring the AA taking part in its formation is crucial. In this regard, specific attention was paid to tryptophan, a known ATA precursor. The method, employing a UHPLC-HRMS, was successfully applied to the compositional studies conducted during the experiments. The first field trial demonstrated that different production management systems (organic versus conventional) did not affect the development of ATA in wine. Conversely, the vintage year emerged as a more influential factor in the onset of this defect. Based on this finding, the second field trial aimed to evaluate the impact of soil water holding capacity (AWC) on ATA development. Interestingly, in a vintage characterised by reduced summer rainfall, grapevines planted on shallow soils (AWC < 70 mm) generated wines more prone to be ATA-tainted. With regard to technological factors, the influence of second fermentation and bottle ageing was investigated and found to increase the likelihood of developing the sensorial fault. The research demonstrated that a simple accelerated ageing test carried out on the base wine is an adequate predictive tool to aid in forecasting the fate of the finished SWs. Furthermore, it was demonstrated how the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay might help foresee the ATA taint during the commercialisation phase. Finally, considering that yeast derivatives (YDs) are often used during vinification to improve fermentation performance, their involvement in the occurrence of ATA was explored. It was discovered that these commercial formulations contain ATA-related compounds in variable amounts. Depending on their physicochemical composition resulting from the manufacturing process, their addition to grape must before fermentation might enhance or reduce the tendency of ATA appearance. In essence, this research contributes to the understanding of the intricacies of ATA and SW production AND provides valuable insights for winemakers to make informed decisions, ensuring the continued excellence of SWs in a competitive market.

Salvia miltiorrhiza is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine widely used to prevent and treat cardiovascular and other diseases. With the increasing awareness and use of herbal medicines worldwide, there has been a rapid increase in the use of medicinal plants in the United States. Currently, the majority of medicinal plants used in the US are imported from foreign countries. However, increasing concerns over safety such as heavy metal and chemical contaminations pose significant challenges to US pharmaceutical and related industries in sourcing quality plant materials. It is critical for US industries to have access to high-quality medicinal plants, which provides an opportunity for US farmers to incorporate medicinal plants as an alternative crop. The purpose of this study is to evaluate and identify adaptive cultivars and develop best management practices for Salvia miltiorrhiza production in Mississippi. Salvia miltiorrhiza seeds from different sources were sown and grown in a greenhouse at Mississippi State University (MSU) in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Plants were transplanted into a container or field located at MSU North Farm to evaluate cultivar performance and production practices including different seed sources, fertilization (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 g N per plant from NH4NO3), planting density (20×30, 20×45, 30×30, 30×45, 40×30, 40×45 cm), and timing of harvest (60, 120, 180 days after transplanting). The data were processed by ANOVA using the PROC GLM procedure. The three seed sources tested in this study (V1, V2, and V3) differed in germination rates, maximum root lengths, and maximum root diameters in both years (2019, 2020). V1 and V2 had higher germination rates than V3. In general, plants treated with 6 or 8 g N per plant and plants planted in 30×45 or 40×45 cm had better performance in shoot growth, root growth, and content of bioactive compounds, including tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, cryptotanshinone, and salvianolic acid B. Shoot growth, root growth, and content of bioactive compounds increased with increasing days to harvest after transplanting.

Com o objetivo de estudar a eficiência de herbicidas dessecantes, o momento ideal de aplicação, a viabilidade da antecipação da colheita e seus efeitos sobre o rendimento e as qualidades fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de feijão, foi instalada uma pesquisa em Área Experimental e no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes do Departamento de Produção Vegetal da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" em Piracicaba - SP. Para tanto, utilizou-se o cultivar Pérola, o qual foi semeado na safra da "seca", na população aproximada de 200.000 plantas/ha. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições em esquema fatorial 5 x 5, sendo cinco herbicidas, combinados com as cinco épocas de aplicação (28, 32, 36, 40 e 44 dias após o florescimento) e uma testemunha (sem aplicação de herbicida dessecante). A análise dos dados e a interpretação dos resultados obtidos permitiram as seguintes conclusões: os herbicidas dessecantes Paraquat e Paraquat associado a Diuron proporcionaram antecipação da colheita em onze dias, sem causar danos ao rendimento e a qualidade das sementes, enquanto para Glifosate e Glifosate + uréia a antecipação foi de seis dias; os herbicidas dessecantes Paraquat e Paraquat associado a Diuron não afetaram nem o rendimento, nem a qualidade das sementes produzidas, independemente da época de aplicação; os herbicidas Glifosate e Glifosate mais uréia somente quando aplicados aos 44 dias após florescimento não afetaram a qualidade das sementes e o herbicida dessecante Glufosinato de Amônio, independentemente da época de aplicação, afetou negativamente a qualidade das sementes produzidas. / Viewing to study the efficiency of desiccant herbicides, the ideal moment for their application, the feasibility of anticipating the harvest and their effects on yield and the physiological and sanitary quality of common bean seeds, an experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture "Luiz de Queiroz", in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Seeds of the cultivar 'Pérola' were sown during the dry season so as to result in a population of 200,000 plants/hectare. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications in a 5 X 5 factorial arrangement - 5 herbicides in combination with 5 moments of application (28, 32, 36, 40, and 44 days after flowering) and a control treatment (no desiccant was applied). The statistical analyses of the data and the interpretation of the results allowed the following conclusions: Paraquat and Paraquat plus Diuron permited an 11 days anticipation in the harvest with no harm to seed quality or reduction in yield. For Glyphosate and Glyphosate plus Urea the anticipation was of 6 days. Paraquat and Paraquat plus Diuron were not harmful to seed quality or caused yield reduction in none of the moments of application. Glyphosate and Glyphosate plus Urea were not harmful only when applied 44 days after flowering. Ammonium Gluphosinate was always harmful to seed quality independently on the moment of application.

O presente trabalho trata do estudo do fatiamento de cristais de quartzo quanto as suas características e influências na fabricação de micro sistemas eletromecânicos (MEMS). A metodologia é iniciada pelo projeto estruturado de um MEMS, convergindo para um gerador energia elétrica do tipo energy harvest, capaz de gerar energia limpa, renovável, de escala reduzida (micro componente), de baixa potência e com vistas para aplicação comercial. Geração de energia tem se tornado um tema cada vez mais frequente, em especial energia para sistemas autônomos (wireless) aonde o uso de baterias é restritivo ou até mesmo inviável devido às dimensões e dificuldade de manutenção. A fabricação de MEMS é a etapa de maior investimento financeiro e por consequência, maior estudo. No caso do gerador de energia, a ênfase recai sobre os processos de corte, que consomem a maior parte do processo fabril. O objetivo do presente trabalho é avaliar o processo de corte abrasivo do quartzo e a influência dos defeitos impregnados pelo processo, sobre o desempenho de geradores de energia piezelétricos baseados em quartzo sintético e natural. Os processos de corte com uso de fita abrasiva (band saw) e disco abrasivo (dicing saw) se destacaram devido aos bons resultados, disponibilidade, produtividade e baixo custo. Procedimentos de corte também foram realizados em outros materiais - Alumina Policristalina 99,8% e Silício (111) - como estudo comparativo das características do mecanismo de remoção de material aplicado aos processos de corte abrasivos. Os parâmetros de corte foram trabalhados em busca de melhor qualidade, que significa redução da impregnação de falhas (principalmente, o chipping e backside chipping) e melhor acabamento das superfícies geradas pelo corte final. Foram obtidas peças nos planos AT, X, Y e Z, com espessuras a partir de 0,5 mm, segmentadas em larguras de 1 a 7 mm. / This work is a study of characteristics and influences of cutting process in manufacturing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based on quartz single crystal. The methodology starts by the structured design of a MEMS device, converging to an electric power generator device, type energy harvest that generates clean energy, renewable, with small dimensions (micro component) and low power. Power generating has become a frequent topic, especially the power generation for wireless devices systems, which use of batteries can be restrictive or even impracticable because of dimensions and difficult of maintenance. The base of the study is the process manufacturing of MEMS, which is the major investment and because of this, the most studied stage. In the case of a power generator, the emphasis is on the cutting process that consumes most part of the work flow. The objective of this work is evaluate the abrasive cutting process of quartz and the influence of defects generated by the cutting process applied to the performance of piezoelectric power generators based on synthetic and natural quartz crystal. The abrasive cutting process of band saw and dicing saw were featured due availability and high productivity with low cost. Procedures of cutting were also applied in other materials - Alumina Polycrystalline 99,8% and Silicon (111) - as comparison for material removal mechanism in cutting process. The process parameters were optimized to reach better cutting quality, which means reduction in faults (mainly, chipping and backside chippings) and better surface finishing from cutting process. It was obtained pieces from AT, X, Y and Z cutting plans, with thickness starting from 0,5 mm and widths from 1 to 7 mm.

Com o objetivo de estudar a eficiência de herbicidas dessecantes, o momento ideal de aplicação, a viabilidade da antecipação da colheita e seus efeitos sobre o rendimento e as qualidades fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de feijão, foi instalada uma pesquisa em Área Experimental e no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes do Departamento de Produção Vegetal da Escola Superior de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz" em Piracicaba - SP. Para tanto, utilizou-se o cultivar Pérola, o qual foi semeado na safra da "seca", na população aproximada de 200.000 plantas/ha. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com quatro repetições em esquema fatorial 5 x 5, sendo cinco herbicidas, combinados com as cinco épocas de aplicação (28, 32, 36, 40 e 44 dias após o florescimento) e uma testemunha (sem aplicação de herbicida dessecante). A análise dos dados e a interpretação dos resultados obtidos permitiram as seguintes conclusões: os herbicidas dessecantes Paraquat e Paraquat associado a Diuron proporcionaram antecipação da colheita em onze dias, sem causar danos ao rendimento e a qualidade das sementes, enquanto para Glifosate e Glifosate + uréia a antecipação foi de seis dias; os herbicidas dessecantes Paraquat e Paraquat associado a Diuron não afetaram nem o rendimento, nem a qualidade das sementes produzidas, independemente da época de aplicação; os herbicidas Glifosate e Glifosate mais uréia somente quando aplicados aos 44 dias após florescimento não afetaram a qualidade das sementes e o herbicida dessecante Glufosinato de Amônio, independentemente da época de aplicação, afetou negativamente a qualidade das sementes produzidas. / Viewing to study the efficiency of desiccant herbicides, the ideal moment for their application, the feasibility of anticipating the harvest and their effects on yield and the physiological and sanitary quality of common bean seeds, an experiment was conducted at the College of Agriculture "Luiz de Queiroz", in Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Seeds of the cultivar 'Pérola' were sown during the dry season so as to result in a population of 200,000 plants/hectare. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with four replications in a 5 X 5 factorial arrangement - 5 herbicides in combination with 5 moments of application (28, 32, 36, 40, and 44 days after flowering) and a control treatment (no desiccant was applied). The statistical analyses of the data and the interpretation of the results allowed the following conclusions: Paraquat and Paraquat plus Diuron permited an 11 days anticipation in the harvest with no harm to seed quality or reduction in yield. For Glyphosate and Glyphosate plus Urea the anticipation was of 6 days. Paraquat and Paraquat plus Diuron were not harmful to seed quality or caused yield reduction in none of the moments of application. Glyphosate and Glyphosate plus Urea were not harmful only when applied 44 days after flowering. Ammonium Gluphosinate was always harmful to seed quality independently on the moment of application.

No description available.

A decline in the size of fish within a population is concerning. Large-sized fish are ecologically important and valued for social and economic reasons. Following widespread collapses from angling overharvest, the densities of Walleyes Sander vitreus in Albertas lakes increased rapidly with large-minimum-size limits. Anglers were unhappy, however, as catch rates increased (>1 Walleyes*hour-1) but fish remained small and did not exceed the minimum size limit. The two alternate explanations for the small, yet old Walleyes were either compensatory growth because of high density (stunting) or size-selective mortality (overfishing). Size-selective mortality has evolutionary consequences. Paradoxically, the management solutions for these problems are in opposition (more harvest versus less harvest), and a wrong diagnosis could exacerbate the problem. I used nested hypotheses, and implemented active adaptive management at several Alberta lakes, to diagnose the causal mechanism creating the small fish problem. For inferences on the source of the mortality, I analysed backcalculated growth rates from pelvic fins. Walleyes that had fast-growth to an early maturity, and then subsequent slow-growth, had greater survival. This hockey stick-shaped growth allows for successful reproduction while the Walleyes remain below the minimum size limit, avoiding harvest. Using changes to sport fishing regulations, I then modified angler effort and harvest at four different Alberta lakes to increase or decrease size-selective harvest and Walleye densities. I found that size-selective mortality from angling rapidly truncated the population-size structure. With concerns of evolutionary consequences because of evidence of size selective harvest, I used an age- and size-structured, single-species model, parameterized with data from Albertas Walleye fisheries, to evaluate the selectiveness of various management regulations. I found that the 50-cm minimum size limit used to recover Albertas Walleye populations did indeed select for the hockey stick life history, although this regulation allowed for sustainable populations (>5 Walleyes*hectare-1) and angler effort up to 16 angler-hours*ha-1*year-1. The optimal regulation to reduce life history selection and allow for population sustainability was a 40-50 cm harvest-tag regulation. This regulation reversed the selection for the hockey stick life history, yet produced sustainable fish densities and allowed angler effort up to 30 angler-hours*ha-1*year-1. However, increasing angler-noncompliance reduced the sustainability of this regulation. / Wildlife Ecology and Management

Kangaroo paw inflorescences stored dry at 0 to 1 Degrees Celsius for 14 days have been found previously to have substantially reduced post-storage vase life. In this project, experiments were conducted to quantify the vase life of dry, stored Kangaroo paw flowers following storage at either 0, 7.5 or 13 Degrees Celsius for up to four weeks. the aim of these experiments was to determine a dry storage temperature suitable for commercial use. experiments were carried out using two cultivars of Kangaroo paw, 'Bush Dawn' and 'Big Red'. For each cultivar, vase life was assessed by (1) determining the time taken for each flower to lose 20% of its initial fresh weight and (2) determining the time taken for 10% of the inflorescence to become to discoloured. Vase life studies were carried out a 22 Degrees Celsius prior to and following removal from low temperature storage and flowers were weighed, inflorescence colour determined and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters Fo, minimal fluorescence emission, and Fm, maximum fluorescence emission were determined.

O presente trabalho trata do estudo do fatiamento de cristais de quartzo quanto as suas características e influências na fabricação de micro sistemas eletromecânicos (MEMS). A metodologia é iniciada pelo projeto estruturado de um MEMS, convergindo para um gerador energia elétrica do tipo energy harvest, capaz de gerar energia limpa, renovável, de escala reduzida (micro componente), de baixa potência e com vistas para aplicação comercial. Geração de energia tem se tornado um tema cada vez mais frequente, em especial energia para sistemas autônomos (wireless) aonde o uso de baterias é restritivo ou até mesmo inviável devido às dimensões e dificuldade de manutenção. A fabricação de MEMS é a etapa de maior investimento financeiro e por consequência, maior estudo. No caso do gerador de energia, a ênfase recai sobre os processos de corte, que consomem a maior parte do processo fabril. O objetivo do presente trabalho é avaliar o processo de corte abrasivo do quartzo e a influência dos defeitos impregnados pelo processo, sobre o desempenho de geradores de energia piezelétricos baseados em quartzo sintético e natural. Os processos de corte com uso de fita abrasiva (band saw) e disco abrasivo (dicing saw) se destacaram devido aos bons resultados, disponibilidade, produtividade e baixo custo. Procedimentos de corte também foram realizados em outros materiais - Alumina Policristalina 99,8% e Silício (111) - como estudo comparativo das características do mecanismo de remoção de material aplicado aos processos de corte abrasivos. Os parâmetros de corte foram trabalhados em busca de melhor qualidade, que significa redução da impregnação de falhas (principalmente, o chipping e backside chipping) e melhor acabamento das superfícies geradas pelo corte final. Foram obtidas peças nos planos AT, X, Y e Z, com espessuras a partir de 0,5 mm, segmentadas em larguras de 1 a 7 mm. / This work is a study of characteristics and influences of cutting process in manufacturing of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based on quartz single crystal. The methodology starts by the structured design of a MEMS device, converging to an electric power generator device, type energy harvest that generates clean energy, renewable, with small dimensions (micro component) and low power. Power generating has become a frequent topic, especially the power generation for wireless devices systems, which use of batteries can be restrictive or even impracticable because of dimensions and difficult of maintenance. The base of the study is the process manufacturing of MEMS, which is the major investment and because of this, the most studied stage. In the case of a power generator, the emphasis is on the cutting process that consumes most part of the work flow. The objective of this work is evaluate the abrasive cutting process of quartz and the influence of defects generated by the cutting process applied to the performance of piezoelectric power generators based on synthetic and natural quartz crystal. The abrasive cutting process of band saw and dicing saw were featured due availability and high productivity with low cost. Procedures of cutting were also applied in other materials - Alumina Polycrystalline 99,8% and Silicon (111) - as comparison for material removal mechanism in cutting process. The process parameters were optimized to reach better cutting quality, which means reduction in faults (mainly, chipping and backside chippings) and better surface finishing from cutting process. It was obtained pieces from AT, X, Y and Z cutting plans, with thickness starting from 0,5 mm and widths from 1 to 7 mm.