Frogeye leaf spot (FLS), caused by Cercospora sojina Hara, is a foliar disease of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). FLS has re-emerged as an important disease due to the widespread QoI-resistant fungal population in Mississippi. Growers have transitioned from a stand-alone QoI fungicide to a multi-mode of action fungicide. One disadvantage of certain MOA’s is phytotoxicity. Phytotoxicity is a concern among soybean growers as to whether or not yield is lost. Disease, phytotoxicity, green stem, yield, plant morphology, and grain quality were analyzed to determine the impacts of fungicide phytotoxicity. Yield was significantly and negatively correlated as a result of phytotoxicity. Numerical differences in phytotoxicity severity were observed among all cultivars. Phytotoxicity severity were greatest in the Hornbeck 4950 LL with an average of 26.9%. Tank-mixing dodine with Manniplex B Moly, Megafol, and Veritas decreased phytotoxicity by 8.5, 2.7, 11.4% compared to dodine as a stand-alone treatment, respectively.

No description available.

No description available.

We have initiated the development of a screening platform to design a library of small molecules on the same solid support surface. This solid support surface, and the chemistry involved, can be utilized as a means of developing lead target molecules, namely ligands and catalysts. Evidence shows the successful assembly of both simple amino acids, as well as successful employment of our synthetic compounds. We support our efforts by showing compatibility for binding studies with larger macromolecules. Thus, intrigue remains by the prospects of this project. Challenges within our efforts are highlighted and emphasis is placed on presenting solutions to current issues, in order to attain further development. Notwithstanding difficulty, the desire to establish efficient processes for the discovery of lead target molecules and to ascertain the utility of our synthesized compounds, can be captured within this body of work. Lastly, the framework for continued efforts has been set to enable future progression. / Chemistry

Orthodontic treatment may cause an increase in the rate of enamel decalcification on tooth surfaces, producing White Spot Lesions (WSL). Orthodontic patients are at a higher risk for decalcification because orthodontic appliances retain food debris which leads to increased plaque formation. Dental plaque, an oral biofilm formed by factors including genetics, diet, hygiene, and environment, contains acid producing bacterial strains with a predominance of Mutans Streptococcus (MS). MS and others metabolize oral carbohydrates during ingestion, the byproducts of which acidify the biofilm to begin a process of enamel decalcification and formation of WSL. This study tests if patients in orthodontic treatment at Temple University can be used as subjects for further longitudinal study of WSL risk factors. Twenty patients between the ages of ten to eighteen after three months or greater of treatment were enrolled to determine if duration of treatment, hygiene, sense of coherence, obesity, diet frequencies, age and gender correlated with development of WSL. Of these, age is positively correlated with the number of untreated decayed surfaces. WSL and plaque levels may negatively correlate with increased brushing frequency and duration, while flossing frequency demonstrated a statistically significant negative correlation. This population may be suitable for further study because of its high incidence of WSL (75%), however difficulty in enrollment and patient attrition necessitates that future studies be modified. / Oral Biology

Some pages are blank, but are kept to satisfy the page count of the thesis. / <p> Indoor optical wireless links can potentially achieve high bitrates because there is a wide and unregulated bandwidth in the optical spectrum. Moreover, optical wireless links can be implemented using simple and inexpensive devices. However, indoor optical wireless links have their own drawbacks such as limited power due to safety issues and incapability of passing thorough opaque objects, which limit their mobility, range and bandwidth and have prevented them from being used widely in commercial systems. Therefore, there has been much effort to find new configurations for indoor optical wireless links which are able to overcome these limitations. In this thesis, a novel configuration for indoor optical wireless communication, termed the dynamic spot diffusing (DSD) channel, is proposed. In the DSD system, the transmitter sends optical signals to a small moving area on the ceiling termed a spot. The receiver receives reflections of optical signal from the spot when spot is in field of view of the receiver. This configuration is shown to achieve high bitrates and provide a good deal of mobility for users inside the room. In this work, a theoretical model for the DSD channel is proposed and the DSD channel capacity is discussed and computed. Furthermore, the DSD system design is explained and design issues are discussed in order to approach capacity. Finally, using computer simulations, achievable rates inside a room are computed and shown to be close to calculated channel capacity.</p> / Thesis / Master of Applied Science (MASc)

Yes / Resistance spot welding of aluminum (Al5754) to magnesium (AZ31B) alloys results in the formation of a variety of solidification microstructures and intermetallic compounds that may affect the in-service performance of the weld. This study evaluates the relationship between the welding parameters and the properties of the weld nugget that is formed, and clarifies the morphological and microstructural evolutions within the weld regions during the low-current “small-scale” resistance spot welding of Al5754 to AZ31B. The investigations included a combination of microstructural characterization and thermodynamic analysis of the weld region. The results show that the welding time and clamping force parameters have significant effects on the properties of the nugget formed. The optimal welding parameters were found to be 300 ms welding time and 800 N clamping force. Weld nuggets formed with lower welding time and clamping force were undersized and contained extensive porosity. Meanwhile, a clamping force above 800 N caused gross deformation of the test samples and the expulsion of the molten metal during the welding process. The most significant microstructural changes occurred at the weld/base metal interfaces due to the formation of Al17Mg12 and MgAl2O4 intermetallic compounds as well as significant compositional variation across the weld pool. The thermal gradient across the weld pool facilitated the formation of several microstructural transitions between equiaxed and columnar dendrites.

Dans le sud tunisien, tous les périmètres irrigués de type oasis n’ont pas connu le même développement au cours de 50 dernières années. On observe ainsi depuis plusieurs décennies, une évolution des surfaces couvertes qui dans certaines régions ont plus que doublé, alors que pour d’autres elles sont restées pratiquement stables et dans certains cas, ont même connu une régression. Face aux enjeux que ces changements impliquent tant sur le plan environnemental qu’économique et social, l’élaboration d’une typologie des oasis ainsi que l’estimation de leur état sont d’une importance stratégique aux niveaux national, régional et international. Pour connaître l'état de la végétation dans ces oasis, des systèmes de surveillance de ces écosystèmes oasiens devraient être mis au point et renseignés régulièrement par des données prises sur ces surfaces cultivées. Ces données peuvent être obtenues en partie par les systèmes d’observations satellitaires à haute et à moyenne résolution spatiale, et forte répétitivité temporelle, qui par leur vision synoptique, constituent une source d’informations particulièrement adéquate. Le travail de recherche présenté ici porte sur l’exploration de méthodes développées à partir de deux types de séries temporelles d’images d’observation de la Terre : celles produites par l’expérience SPOT-5 (Take5) et le produit MOD13Q1 du capteur MODIS, respectivement à 10m et 250 m de résolution spatiale, et avec des répétitivités de 5 et 26 jours. Ces méthodes et données ont été testées sur la région du Djérid dans le but final de mettre en place un système de surveillance des oasis basé sur l'analyse des signatures temporelles à partir d’images d’observations de la Terre prises très régulièrement dans le temps.Deux démarches différentes d’analyse ont été menées pour chaque type de données, basées sur le traitement de séries temporelles d’un indice de végétation, le NDVI. La première repose sur les variations temporelles de l’activité végétale sur une courte période d’avril à septembre 2015 à travers la série d’images SPOT-5 (Take5) : la comparaison entre oasis s’est faite à l’échelle du périmètre irrigué (une oasis peut être composée de plusieurs périmètres irrigués) en utilisant la méthode statistique de classification ascendante hiérarchique. La seconde utilise une technique de décomposition temporelle d’un signal pour extraire la tendance d’une série d’images pluriannuelles à l’échelle d’un point géographique (un pixel de 250mx250m) à travers la série temporelle MOD13Q1 de 2000 à 2016.Les résultats obtenus à partir du traitement et de l’analyse de ces séries temporelles optiques ont permis de montrer qu’il est possible d’identifier les principaux types de périmètres irrigués présents dans la région de Djérid, et retrouver rétrospectivement l’histoire récente de leur développement. Ils mettent aussi en évidence le fait que les images SPOT-5 (Take5), qui préfigurent celles actuellement disponibles avec les images produites par les satellites Sentinel2, améliorent considérablement la caractérisation spatio-temporelle du fonctionnement des oasis grâce à la finesse de leur résolution spatiale et de leur répétitivité temporelle.Les résultats de cette thèse permettent de dégager de nouvelles pistes de couplage entre télédétection, données de terrain et analyses statistiques en apportant une information continue dans le temps et dans l’espace pour le suivi et la surveillance des écosystèmes oasiens. En effet avec deux capteurs tel que Sentinel2, couplé aux données historiques de MOD13Q1, il est permis désormais de caractériser précisément les oasis d’une façon presque continue. / In southern Tunisia, not all irrigated oasis-type perimeters have undergone the same development, we observed an evolution of the covered surfaces which more than doubled in the last half-century, while for other regions they have remained practically stable and in some cases, a decrease in these areas. These changes have affected environmental and economic systems. In this context, the evaluation of the state of oases and the development of a typology of oases systems is a key-issue for sustainable agriculture. To know the state of vegetation in these oases, monitoring systems for oasis ecosystems must be informed by data on cultivated areas. These data can be obtained in part by satellite observation systems with high and moderate spatial resolution and high temporal repetitiveness, offer a synoptic vision that makes them a particularly appropriate information source for the estimation of such data. The research work presented here focuses on the exploration of methods developed from two types of time series of Earth observation images: those produced by the SPOT-5 experiment (Take5) and the MOD13Q1 product of the MODIS sensor, at 10m and 250m spatial resolution respectively. These methods and data were tested in the Djerid region with the final aim of setting up an oasis monitoring system based on the analysis of time signatures from Earth observation images made very regularly over time.Two change detection approaches based on NDVI time series. The first consists on temporal variations in vegetation activity over a short period from April to September 2015 through the SPOT-5 time series (Take5): the comparison between oases was made at the scale of the irrigated perimeter (an oasis can be composed of several irrigated perimeters) using agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC) method.The second uses a temporal decomposition technique to extract the trend from a multi-year time series at the scale of a geographical point (a 250mx250m pixel) across the MOD13Q1 time series (2000-2016).Results obtained from the processing and analysis of optical time series have shown that it is possible to identify the main types of irrigated perimeters present in the Djerid region, and to retrospectively trace their recent development history. They also highlight the fact that SPOT-5 (Take5) images, which prefigure those currently available with images produced by Sentinel2 satellites, significantly improve the spatio-temporal characterization of oases functioning through their 10m spatial resolution and 5-day temporal repetitiveness.The results of this thesis highlight new possibilities for the combination of remote sensing, field data and statistical analysis, delivering nonstop information in time and space on the characterization of oases systems. Indeed, with a single sensor such as Sentinel2, coupled with the historical data of MOD13Q1, it is now possible to accurately characterize oases on a continuous basis.

[pt] Nesta tese, apresentam-se estratégias de modelagem envolvendo modelos estruturais para a previsão do preço spot de energia elétrica do subsistema do Sudeste-Brasil. Foi utilizada a modelagem proposta por Harvey (1989), que extrai componentes não observáveis da série. Foram elaborados três modelos. No primeiro, utilizou-se somente o histórico da série. No segundo, inseriu-se uma variável de intervenção para o racionamento de energia ocorrido no Brasil no período de junho de 2001 a fevereiro de 2002. Por último, acrescentaram-se duas variáveis explicativas. / [en] In this thesis, modelling strategies are presented involving structural models to forecast the spot price of electric energy of Brazil. It had been used the modelling proposal of Harvey (1989) that extracts non-observable components of the series. Three models had been elaborated. In the first one, was adjusted only with the historical of the series. In the second, an intervention variable for the rationing occurred in Brazil in the period of June of 2001 till February of 2002 was inserted. Finally, in the last one, two explanatory variables were introduced.

A mancha preta dos citros (MPC), causada por Phyllosticta citricarpa, é uma doença de importância econômica devido à redução na produtividade ocasionada pela queda prematura dos frutos e ao aumento dos custos da produção devido ao uso intensivo de fungicidas. As lesões restringem-se praticamente ao flavedo dos frutos, depreciando-os para a comercialização e restringindo a exportação de frutas in natura. A MPC causa danos em todas as espécies cítricas de valor comercial, com exceção da Citrus aurantium (laranja azeda) e do Citrus latifólia (lima ácida Tahiti). Phyllosticta citricarpa causa infecções latentes e diferentes tipos de sintomas nos frutos. Essas características podem estar relacionadas com o estádio fenológico do fruto no momento da infecção. Os objetivos desse trabalho foram avaliar a influência da idade dos frutos de laranja doce na germinação dos conídios e no período de incubação de P. citricarpa e identificar compostos fenólicos pré ou pós-formados no flavedo de frutos de laranja doce inoculados com P. citricarpa. Frutos de laranjeira das variedades Hamlin, Valência e Pêra com 1,5, 3,0, 5,0 e 7,0 cm de diâmetros foram inoculados com suspensão de conídios de P. citricarpa na concentração de 103 e 105 conídios.mL-1 e avaliados mensalmente. O primeiro sintoma observado foi o da falsa melanose e não foram observadas diferenças no período de incubação entre as variedades. O período de incubação da falsa melanose foi afetado pela concentração de inóculo e pelo diâmetro dos frutos. Frutos de 1,5 e 3,0 cm de diâmetro inoculados com suspensão de conídios de P. citricarpa, na concentração de 103 conídios.mL-1, apresentaram sintomas entre 70 e 116 dias respectivamente, enquanto que os frutos de 1,5, 3,0 e 5,0 cm de diâmetro, inoculados com suspensão de 105 conídios.mL-1, expressaram sintomas entre 40, 65 e 156 dias respectivamente. A expressão dos sintomas de mancha dura não diferiu entre as concentrações de inóculo, mas diferiu entre os diâmetros e entre as variedades avaliadas. A variedade Valência apresentou os menores tempos para o aparecimento dos sintomas quando comparado com as variedades Hamlin e Pêra. Os tempos médios para a expressão da mancha dura nos frutos (todas as variedades) inoculados com 1,5, 3,0, 5,0 e 7,0 cm de diâmetro foram 240, 217, 176 e 197 dias respectivamente. Sintomas de falsa melanose e mancha dura se expressaram independente um do outro. Não foi observado diferenças nas quantidades dos compostos fenólicos entre os frutos inoculados e não inoculados após 48 h de câmara úmida. As maiores quantidades de compostos fenólicos foram encontradas nos frutos menores e à medida que estes aumentaram de tamanho, observou-se a diminuição nas quantidades destes compostos. Não foram observadas diferenças no padrão de germinação do fungo em relação aos diferentes diâmetros inoculados, porém foram observadas placas de cera na superfície dos frutos de 7,0 cm de diâmetro. Os sintomas de falsa melanose parecem estar relacionados com a defesa da planta, e os sintomas de mancha dura estão relacionados com o estádio fenológico dos frutos. / Citrus black spot (CBS), caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa, is a disease of economic importance due to the reduction in yield, caused by premature fruit drop, and high production costs, due to the intensive fungicide spraying. The lesions are restricted to the fruit flavedo, decreasing market prices and restricting exports of fresh fruits. CBS causes damage in all commercial citrus species with exception of Citrus aurantium (sour orange) and Citrus latifolia (Tahiti acid lime). Phyllosticta citricarpa causes latent infections and different types of symptoms on fruit. These characteristics may be related to the phenological stage of the fruit at the time of infection. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of fruit age of sweet orange on conidia germination and on the incubation period of P. citricarpa and identify phenolics pre or post-formed in the flavedo of sweet orange inoculated with P. citricarpa. Orange fruits of varieties Hamlin, Valencia and Pera with 1.5, 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 cm of diameters were inoculated with a conidia suspension of P. citricarpa at the concentration of 103 and 105 conidia.mL-1 and were evaluated monthly. The first symptom observed was false melanose and no differences were found in the incubation period among the varieties. The incubation period of false melanose was affected by the inoculum concentration and fruit diameters. Fruits with 1.5 and 3.0 cm of diameter inoculated with a conidia suspension of P. citricarpa, at a concentration of 103 conidia.mL-1, showed symptoms between 70 and 116 days, respectively. On the other hand, fruits with 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 cm in diameter, inoculated with suspension of 105 conidia.mL-1, expressed symptoms between 40, 65 and 156 days, respectively. The period for symptom expression of hard spot did not differ between inoculum concentrations. The incubation period differed between the diameters and varieties evaluated. The Valencia variety presented symptoms in a shorter time than Hamlin and Pera. The average times for hard spot expression in fruits (all varieties together) inoculated with 1.5, 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 cm of diameter were 240, 217, 176 and 197 days, respectively. Symptoms of false melanose and hard spot were expressed independently from each other. No differences were observed in the amounts of phenolic compounds between inoculated and non-inoculated fruits after 48 h of incubation in a humid chamber. The highest amounts of phenolic compounds were found in smaller fruits and, as fruits increased size, there was a decrease in the amounts of these compounds. No differences were found in the germination pattern of fungus on the inoculated fruits, but wax plates were observed on the surface of fruits with 7.0 cm in diameter. Symptoms of false melanose seem to be related to the plant defense mechanism, and symptoms of hard spot appeared to be related with phenological stages of the fruits.