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This research presents the results of a bee survey (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in remnants of the Mississippi Black Belt Prairie, a unique physiographical region that is a threatened community covering 14,141 square kilometers in both Mississippi and Alabama. Sampling was performed with sweep nets and Malaise traps. A total of 151 visits were made to several prairie remnant areas during the years 1999 – 2001 with 92 Malaise trap samples. Historical bee collection data from these prairies were incorporated into this survey. A total of 6,140 specimens resulting in 107 species, 51 new state records and eight disjunct species were collected within five bee families: Colletidae, Andrenidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae and Apidae. The most abundant species belonged to the Halictidae. The most common floral families visited were Asteraceae and Fabaceae. The addition of the species in this survey brings the state list of bees to at least 204.

Volunteers, governments, agencies and organizations from the North have too often defined the benefits and limitations of international volunteer programs without incorporating the perspectives of the organizations they seek to help. In fact, scholars and practitioners have relied on Northern experiences to develop a critical analysis of this development practice. As the experiences of the South are often absent from the conversations about international volunteerism, the goal of this thesis is to leverage the voices and the stories of Southern hosts to further understand the impact of international volunteerism. The research draws on the experiences of host organizations in Uganda. The interviewed participants are Ugandans who have worked with international volunteers to address various development issues. A review of the existing literature on international volunteerism, combined with the field research, support the analysis of the benefits and limitations of international volunteerism from the perspectives of host organizations. It also enables an exploration of the agency of volunteerism and determines key principles to empower host organizations and their employees. Thus, the analysis establishes the following conclusions: international volunteers are valuable actors for Southern hosts; volunteer programs must consider the impact, the challenges and the recommendations identified by host organizations and their communities; international volunteers enable alternative voices to be heard; and volunteerism fosters cooperation and partnerships within the Global South.

The life strategies of parasites and evolutionary mechanisms forming their diversity are particularly various and become frequent objects of study. The Ph.D. thesis deals with one of the obligate ectoparasitic haematophagous groups of insects, the species of the genus Cimex (Heteroptera: Cimicidae). Unlike in most other ectoparasites, the strategy of cimicids consists of remaining hidden in the shelter of their host. They use the host body only to feed and disperse. The advantage of the lower competition with other ectoparasites is counterbalanced by the need for particularly stable blood source, for which the cimicids choose social hosts living in colonies. The most frequent and the original hosts of cimicids are bats. The host range of particular species of Cimicidae is often rather broad. The morphological analysis of the Cimex pipistrelli species group showed, however, differentiation according to host bat species. This suggests a need for adaptation to particular host species within the usual range. The differentiation was not found reflected in the mitochondrial DNA. It is thus possible that cimicids can exhibit phenotype plasticity. The host associated morphological variability likely caused as many as three species of C. pipistrelli group to be described from Europe, from which two were...

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-11-25Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:57:08Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 furlan_bn_me_jabo.pdf: 897898 bytes, checksum: 0afdcf0092ae63fb6d940df6e256a3d4 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / A imunização dos hospedeiros contra carrapatos tem sido considerada como uma alternativa promissora. Vacinas contendo o antígeno Bm86 (Gavac®, TickGard®) foram desenvolvidas originalmente para controlar infestações de Rhipicephalus Boophilus microplus. Como recentes estudos filogenéticos mostraram que o gênero Rhipicephalus inclui todas as cinco espécies de Boophilus, o papel protetor do antígeno Bm86 em cães imunizados e desafiados com carrapatos Rhipicephalus sanguineus foi testado previamente neste laboratório. Dando continuidade, o presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever o componente celular inflamatório no local de fixação do carrapato em cães imunizados com o antígeno Bm86 e desafiados com carrapatos adultos R. sanguineus. Para tanto, cães SRD (n=8), foram distribuídos em dois grupos (não vacinado e vacinado) e receberam duas doses de 50 g do antígeno Bm86 (Hebercan®) ou placebo, com 21 dias de intervalo. Cada animal foi desafiado com 55 carrapatos adultos 15 dias após a última dose e biopsias da lesão de fixação dos carrapatos foram coletadas as 48, 96, 144 e 192 horas após sua fixação. Os fragmentos foram então processados histologicamente e as secções coradas com hematoxilina-eosina e Giemsa. Nos animais vacinados predominaram neutrófilos, eosinófilos e mastócitos na 48ª hora PF, enquanto que nos não vacinados houve predomínio de eosinófilos, neutrófilos e linfócitos. Com o decorrer da infestação, observou-se um infiltrado celular mais intenso a partir de 96h PF, atingindo as camadas mais profundas da derme, sendo composto principalmente por neutrófilos e linfócitos nos vacinados, e eosinófilos, linfócitos e neutrófilos nos não vacinados. Concluiu-se que o antígeno Bm86 administrado em cães interfere na resposta inflamatória induzida por R. sanguineus / Immunization of hosts against ticks has long been considered as a promising alternative. Vaccines containing the Bm86 antigen (e.g. Gavac®, Heber-Biotec, Cuba) have been developed to control Rhipicephalus Boophilus microplus infestations. As recent molecular phylogeny studies showed that the Rhipicephalus genus includes all five Boophilus species, the protector role of Bm86 antigen in immunized dogs challenged with adult Rhipicephalus sanguineus was investigated first at this lab. This study aimed to evaluate the inflammatory cells at the attachment site of ticks in dogs immunized by the Bm86 antigen against infestations of adults of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Mongrel dogs (n=8), were divided into two groups (non-vaccinated and vaccinated). It was given twice 50 g of Bm86 antigen (Gavac®, Heber-Biotec, Cuba) or placebo, at 21 days interval. Each animal was challenged with 55 adult ticks 15 days after the last dose. Biopsies of tick feeding lesions taken 48, 96, 144 e 192 hours post-attachment (PA) were processed through routine histology and sections 4μm thickness stained with H.E. and Giemsa for general features and cell counts, respectively. There was an inflamed dermis including an inflammatory cell infiltrate constituted overwhelmingly by neutrophils, eosinophils and mast cells in vaccinated dogs at first and eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes in non-vaccinated hosts. After 96h PA, a dense and diffuse cell infiltrate reached into deep dermis, constituted overwhelmingly by neutrophils and lymphocytes in vaccinated dogs and eosinophils, lymphocytes and neutrophils in non-vaccinated dogs. It’s been concluded that antigen Bm86 administered to dogs interferes on the Rhipicephalus sanguineus induced inflammatory cell influx

Orientador: Gervásio Henrique Bechara / Coorientador: Gilson Pereira de Oliveira / Banca: Rosimeri de Oliveira Vasconcelos / Banca: Pablo Henrique Nunes / Resumo: A imunização dos hospedeiros contra carrapatos tem sido considerada como uma alternativa promissora. Vacinas contendo o antígeno Bm86 (Gavac®, TickGard®) foram desenvolvidas originalmente para controlar infestações de Rhipicephalus Boophilus microplus. Como recentes estudos filogenéticos mostraram que o gênero Rhipicephalus inclui todas as cinco espécies de Boophilus, o papel protetor do antígeno Bm86 em cães imunizados e desafiados com carrapatos Rhipicephalus sanguineus foi testado previamente neste laboratório. Dando continuidade, o presente estudo teve como objetivo descrever o componente celular inflamatório no local de fixação do carrapato em cães imunizados com o antígeno Bm86 e desafiados com carrapatos adultos R. sanguineus. Para tanto, cães SRD (n=8), foram distribuídos em dois grupos (não vacinado e vacinado) e receberam duas doses de 50 g do antígeno Bm86 (Hebercan®) ou placebo, com 21 dias de intervalo. Cada animal foi desafiado com 55 carrapatos adultos 15 dias após a última dose e biopsias da lesão de fixação dos carrapatos foram coletadas as 48, 96, 144 e 192 horas após sua fixação. Os fragmentos foram então processados histologicamente e as secções coradas com hematoxilina-eosina e Giemsa. Nos animais vacinados predominaram neutrófilos, eosinófilos e mastócitos na 48ª hora PF, enquanto que nos não vacinados houve predomínio de eosinófilos, neutrófilos e linfócitos. Com o decorrer da infestação, observou-se um infiltrado celular mais intenso a partir de 96h PF, atingindo as camadas mais profundas da derme, sendo composto principalmente por neutrófilos e linfócitos nos vacinados, e eosinófilos, linfócitos e neutrófilos nos não vacinados. Concluiu-se que o antígeno Bm86 administrado em cães interfere na resposta inflamatória induzida por R. sanguineus / Abstract: Immunization of hosts against ticks has long been considered as a promising alternative. Vaccines containing the Bm86 antigen (e.g. Gavac®, Heber-Biotec, Cuba) have been developed to control Rhipicephalus Boophilus microplus infestations. As recent molecular phylogeny studies showed that the Rhipicephalus genus includes all five Boophilus species, the protector role of Bm86 antigen in immunized dogs challenged with adult Rhipicephalus sanguineus was investigated first at this lab. This study aimed to evaluate the inflammatory cells at the attachment site of ticks in dogs immunized by the Bm86 antigen against infestations of adults of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks. Mongrel dogs (n=8), were divided into two groups (non-vaccinated and vaccinated). It was given twice 50 g of Bm86 antigen (Gavac®, Heber-Biotec, Cuba) or placebo, at 21 days interval. Each animal was challenged with 55 adult ticks 15 days after the last dose. Biopsies of tick feeding lesions taken 48, 96, 144 e 192 hours post-attachment (PA) were processed through routine histology and sections 4μm thickness stained with H.E. and Giemsa for general features and cell counts, respectively. There was an inflamed dermis including an inflammatory cell infiltrate constituted overwhelmingly by neutrophils, eosinophils and mast cells in vaccinated dogs at first and eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes in non-vaccinated hosts. After 96h PA, a dense and diffuse cell infiltrate reached into deep dermis, constituted overwhelmingly by neutrophils and lymphocytes in vaccinated dogs and eosinophils, lymphocytes and neutrophils in non-vaccinated dogs. It's been concluded that antigen Bm86 administered to dogs interferes on the Rhipicephalus sanguineus induced inflammatory cell influx / Mestre

Large cockroaches, such as Periplaneta Americana, typically harbour in their hindgut two or more species of parasitic pinworm (Nematoda: Oxyurida). Our laboratory colony was infected with three, possibly four species. The mechanism(s) permitting the sympatry of these potentially competing species were investigated by: i) repeatedly sampling over time hosts of various size to determine the structure, if any, in the pinworm guild and ii) infecting uninfected hosts with known doses of infective eggs and monitoring population changes via daily host dissections. Results indicate that chemically-mediated intraspecific interference competition maintains pinworm populations at densities well below the apparent carrying capacity of the majority of hosts. The concomitant reduction of interspecific pressures thus permits the cohabitation of multiple pinworm species in what is essentially a single niche. This intraspecific population limitation is likely a response to pressures produced by the large size of the parasite in relation the hindgut of early instar hosts. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

På uppdrag av säkerhetschef och kommunpolis i Lomma kommun har studie av trygghetsvärdarnas bidragande till minskad oro för bostadsinbrott hos invånarna utförts. Studien berör boende på de gator som flest gånger blivit utsatta för bostadsinbrott mellan åren 2015–2018. För att utföra studien genomfördes tjugo intervjuer med boende från de utsatta gatorna. Av intervjuerna framkommer hur trygghetsvärdarna i Lomma kommun inte bidrar till en minskad oro för bostadsinbrott hos invånarna, detta på grund av olika riskreducerande strategier som övervakningssystem, grannsamverkan samt ägande av hund. Det framgår dock en positiv syn på trygghetsvärdarna men ingen bredare kunskap i deras brottspreventiva arbete. / Regarding a collaboration agreement between Lomma municipality and the police authority in Lomma, a study has been requested. The study focuses on the question of whether the security hosts in the community contribute to reduced anxiety about burglary among the residents. To study this question twenty interviews were conducted with participants living on those specific streets which has been exposed to burglary. The interviews revealed that almost all the participants did not feel any reduced anxiety about burglary in the presence of security hosts. This because of other strategies among the participants that included safety systems, neighbourhood watch and the owning of a dog. However, all respondents concluded a positive view of the security hosts, yet with not much knowledge about their crime preventive methods.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss and to anticipate the possible impacts Namibia’s New Investment Promotion Act (NIPA) may have on the flow of Foreign Direct Investment into the country. The aim is to highlight the researchers’ view that restrictive laws are harmful and deters investors. She maintains that NIPA be overhauled to create certainty and build investor confidence. Foreign direct investment is a significant part of every economy. It graces hosts with foreign revenue, technical know-how, technological spill overs, job creation, but to mention a few. The researcher also opines that liberal investment policies cannot be attributed to economic stagnation. The greatest evil in Africa is illicit financial flows, prompted by administrative corruption and the more. It is also noted throughout the paper that as Africans we need to focus on the proper implementation of domestic laws to see greater growth. This is where law-makers should direct their creative energies to. Liberal investment regimes are not the problem, but rather the ineffective implementation of those related laws and policies. / Mini Dissertation (LLM)--University of Pretoria, 2017. / Centre for Human Rights / LLM / Unrestricted

O Brasil, maior produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar, produzirá cerca de 642 milhões de toneladas em 9 milhões de hectares plantados da cultura na safra 2014/2015. A cana-de-açúcar, assim como a maioria das culturas semi-perenes, naturalmente perde produtividade ao longo dos cortes e o setor canavieiro se preocupa com a longevidade dos canaviais, que é limitado, entre outros fatores, por doenças bióticas. O raquitismo das soqueiras (Ratoon Stunting Disease - RSD) é considerada a doença mais importante da cultura por causar significativas perdas em produtividade. O agente causal do RSD é a bactéria Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx); o gênero é cosmopolita e apresenta inúmeras espécies. No entanto, a subespécie Lxx tem como único hospedeiro natural conhecido a cana-de-açúcar. O estudo de hospedeiros alternativos deste patógeno reveste-se de importância pela possibilidade de outras espécies servirem como fonte de inóculo para a cana-de-açúcar e também pela possibilidade da descoberta de um hospedeiro experimental que permita o estudo do RSD em condições experimentais mais favoráveis do que a cana-de-açúcar. O presente trabalho realizou um levantamento de possíveis hospedeiros alternativos de Lxx cultivados a partir de sementes ou coletados em áreas de cultivo de cana-de-açúcar empregando pares de primers desenvolvidos especificamente para a bactéria. O trabalho também objetivou analisar o desenvolvimento de três genótipos de sorgo após inoculações artificiais com Lxx. A bactéria não foi detectada em todos os vinte e sete hospedeiros analisados, sendo vinte e duas espécies de gramíneas, confirmando que seu único hospedeiro é a cana-de-açúcar. Por outro lado, Lxx infectou as três espécies de sorgo e causou significativa redução tanto em altura como em diâmetro das plantas comparado a plantas não infectadas. Conclui-se, portanto, que Lxx não coloniza naturalmente várias gramíneas, no entanto diferentes genótipos de sorgo podem ser usados como hospedeiros experimentais para estudos de RSD. / Brazil is the main world producer of sugarcane, with a predicted production of 642 million tons in approximately 9 million hectares in the 2014/2015 harvest. As most semi-perennial crops, its productivity is reduced along successive cropping (ratoons). Thus, increasing the longevity of sugarcane crops, which is limited by biotic diseases, is an important goal for Brazil´s sugar industry. Ratoon stunting disease (RSD) is considered the most important disease of sugarcane because it causes significant losses in productivity. RSD is caused by the bacteria Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli (Lxx), a cosmopolitan genus with numerous species. However, to date sugarcane is the only known natural host of this pathogen. Identifying alternative hosts of Lxx is important not only because they might represent an additional source of inoculum but also because some might represent a better working model to the study of RSD than sugarcane. This study carried out a PCR-based screening of potential Lxx hosts with primers developed to specifically detect Lxx, using as source seeds or plant specimens collected in sugarcane fields. The effect of artificial inoculations of Lxx on the growth of three sorghum cultivars was also analyzed. Lxx was not detected in all twenty-seven alternative hosts tested, out of which twenty represented grass species, thus confirming the specificity of the Lxx-sugarcane relationship. In addition, Lxx infected the three sorghum genotypes and significantly reduced their height and diameter when compared to non-infected plants. It is concluded that Lxx does not infect other grass species; however sorghum genotypes can be used as experimental hosts in the study of RSD.