This thesis outlines research conducted as part of a collaborative project between Virginia Tech and Plant and Food Research New Zealand (PFRNZ) to introduce Heringia calcarata (Loew) (Diptera: Syrphidae) to New Zealand (NZ) for biological control of woolly apple aphid (WAA), Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Ultimately, the introduction of H. calcarata to New Zealand will be contingent upon satisfying regulatory requirements and concerns, including documentation that it will not have an adverse effect on the existing biological control of WAA by Aphelinus mali (Haldeman) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). As well, it will be critical to develop methods for sustained rearing of H. calcarata in captivity. Basic and applied studies were conducted toward providing essential information for advancing this project. Apple shoot sections with a WAA colony that did or did not contain mummified aphids parasitized by A. mali were deployed in pairs at the base of apple trees. There was no significant difference in the mean number of H. calcarata eggs deposited between shoots with parasitized (1.5 ± 0.34 SE) and non-parasitized colonies (1.75 ± 0.42 SE), although female H. calcarata laid eggs less frequently on colonies with a high percentage parasitization. In choice-test feeding studies, larvae were offered non-parasitized aphids in combination with aphids in an early stage of parasitization or mummified aphids. Larvae consumed significantly fewer aphids in an early stage of parasitization (10.8 ± 0.48 SE) than non-parasitized aphids (13.4 ± 0.42 SE) and very few mummies (0.4 ± 0.14 SE) compared with non-parasitized aphids (14.2 ± 0.4 SE). In no-choice feeding trials, larvae consumed significantly more non-parasitized aphids (25.3 ± 1.93 SE) than aphids in an early stage of parasitization (19.7 ± 1.85 SE) or mummified aphids (2.2 ± 0.71 SE) and significantly fewer mummified aphids were consumed than early parasitized aphids. WAA colonies in situ on the branches of potted apple trees were exposed to H. calcarata, A. mali, or both. Exposure to H. calcarata larvae independently and in combination with A. mali was shown to have a significant effect on the number of WAA compared with control colonies, and H. calcarata larvae did not affect the number of mummified aphids produced within colonies. Heringia calcarata eggs were collected by deploying excised apple shoot sections containing at least one WAA colony at the base of apple trees for 8-12 h. One or more eggs were laid on 29% of shoots (n = 233 shoots). On shoots with eggs, 2.4 ± 0.21 SE eggs per shoot were recorded. In 2012, four shipments of H. calcarata eggs and larvae (total of 178) were sent from Virginia to a quarantine containment facility in NZ. This demonstrated that juvenile H. calcarata could be successfully transported internationally. In total, 124 adult flies were generated in NZ, representing 69.9% of the number of eggs and larvae recovered upon delivery to quarantine. Field-collected gravid female H. calcarata oviposited on WAA colonies under captive conditions: 63% in 2011 (n = 8) and 80% in 2012 (n = 15). In 2012, 98% of the eggs deposited hatched. Virgin females reared from eggs in the laboratory developed mature oocytes regardless of access to pollen. The findings of this research offer valuable insights into the biology and ecology of H. calcarata that are directly relevant to the project goals and that will help guide the development of H. calcarata as a classical biological control agent for WAA in NZ. / Master of Science in Life Sciences

Simazine and dalapon have been used to control weeds in many crops during the last few years, but in 1963, when this study was begun, their uses in fruit orchards were limited. To study the effects of simazine and dalapon both on the control of weeds and on various metabolic changes in apple (Malis pumila), Montmorency sour cherry (Prunus cerasus), sweet cherry (Prunus avium), and Prunus mahaleb root s tock, experiment s were conducted from 1964 through 1966 in both the field and in the greenhouse. The application of a low do sage of simazine (4 lb/A) to soil around twelve-year-old Montmorency sour cherry trees in the field resulted in 60 to 70 percent weed control, while tree growth, chlorophyll content of the leaves, fruit y i e ld, and fruit quality were enhanced. Simazine applied at the higher dosages (8 and 12 lb/A) gave very good weed control (up to 100 percent) but reduced tree growth, chlorophyll content, and fruit yield and quality. In the greenhouse , the application of simazine at all three levels caused severe damage to R· mahal eb and sweet cherry trees and hence reduced the water uptake , but young apple trees treated with simazine showed no visible damage , although water uptake was reduced. In young sour cherry trees treated with 4 lb/A simazine, slight chlorophyll increase s we re observed , while at the higher dosages , decreases were observed. Simazine applied to the soil surface was absorbed readily by all trees. It accumulated in large amounts in the l eaves compared with the other parts of these plants. Sour cherry trees accumulated more simazine than apple trees. Results from both field and greenhouse trial sindicate that apple trees were comparatively resistant, and sweet cherry and ~ · mahaleb trees were very sensitive. Enzyme analys i s indicated that simazine caused an increase in the activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase in all trees. The activity of catalase and cytochrome oxidase was decreased in f. mahaleb, sweet cherry , and sour cherry trees, but apple trees showed an increase in both catalase and cytochrome oxidase activity. Compared to the other trees , the most tolerant , untreated trees (apple) had relatively high peroxidase and low polyphenol oxidase activity, with moderate catalase and cytochrome oxidase activity . The moderately resistant species ( sour cherry) had moderate peroxidase, catalase, and cytochrome oxidase activity but very low polyphenol oxidase activity , while the sensitive trees (~ . mahaleb and sweet cherry) showed a wide range of enzyme activities . ~ · mahaleb leaves had low peroxidase and catalase activities and high polyphenol oxidase and cytochrome oxidase activities, but sweet cherry leaves had moderate peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase , high catalase, and l ow cytochrome oxidase activities. The movement of simazine in the soil was s low. Regardless of applied amounts, most of the herbicide stayed in the top 0-6 inches of soil after surface application, but movement in t he soil increased as the rate of application increased. The post-emergence application of dalapon to a Montmorency sour cherry orchard reduced weed growth in general, but complete weed control was not observed. Tree growth, chlorophyll content of the l eaves, fruit yield, and fruit quality of dalapon-treated Montmorency sour cherry trees were reduced compared with the untreated control. These reductions became greater as t he dalapon dosage increased .

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第20565号 / 医博第4250号 / 新制||医||1022(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 川口 義弥, 教授 小泉 昭夫, 教授 岩井 一宏 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Herbicides were evaluated for control of non-native and invasive plants namely tropical soda apple (TSA) (Solanum viarum), tropical spiderwort or Benghal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis), and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) from 2007 to 2012 in greenhouse at Plant Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, Starkville-Mississippi. In TSA study, aminopyralid at 0.88 or 0.12 kg ae/ha, and triclopyr + picloram + 2,4-D at (0.56 + 0.15 + 0.56) kg ae/ha controlled TSA seedlings emergence ranged from 83 to 96% at premergence (PRE), and 1 month after treatments (MAT). All herbicides failed to provide more than 63% control of TSA at 3 and 6 MAT. In Benghal dayflower study, bentazon, bromoxynil, chlorimuron ethyl plus tribenuron methyl, dimethenamid-P, nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron, primisulfuron-methyl, S-metolachlor plus glyphosate plus mesotrione, and sulfosulfuron provided less than 50% control of Benghal dayflower during 6 weeks of evaluation whereas other herbicides: aminocyclopyrachlor (34-96%) ametryn (2-55%), atrazine (2-68%), diclosulam (12-67%), flumioxazin (59-83%), saflufenacil (24-78%), and sulfentrazone (67-96%) provided variable control of Benghal dayflower. In Italian ryegrass study, 50 seeds of F1 generation of resistant biotype ’49E’ and susceptible biotypes ‘Gulf’ and ‘Marshall’ of Italian ryegrass which were previously grown in mixture were used. Each biotype’s F1 generation responce to imazapyr at 0, 1, and 2% under PRE, early post emergence (EPOST) and late postemergence (LPOST) was evaluated. At PRE, imazapyr at 1 and 2% reduced ‘49E’ seedlings emerged 3 and 18%, respectively, but both rates failed to have any significant impact on fresh biomass weight compared to untreated. At EPOST, survival of ‘49E’ shoots were reduced 3 to 10% by both rate of imazapyr whereas only imazapyr at 1% caused 0.74 to 3.8 % fresh biomass reduction. At LPOST, ‘49E’ shoot survival was reduced 9 to 12% by both rate of imazapyr whereas both rate of imazapyr reduced ‘49E’ fresh biomass 3 to 31%. In all the PRE, EPOST, and LPOST experiments, ‘Gulf’ and ‘Marshall’ were still susceptible to the imazapyr.

No description available.

No description available.

Distraction from personal technology is a widely recognized problem in the modern classroom. Further, instructors have limited abilities to determine when students are waxing or waning in attentiveness. This evaluative experiment leverages the Apple Watch’s heart rate sensors to capture signs of attentiveness in participants simulating remote university lectures of differing interest levels as determined by YouTube commenters. Once captured, the heart rate data separated and analyzed to determine the effect of the lecture treatment on the participants’ heart rates. Twenty-seven students from Mississippi State University’s Electrical and Computer Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering departments elected to participate in the experiment, which shows a statistically relevant finding that the participants’ heart rates generally accelerated when presented interesting content and decelerated when treated with the uninteresting content, expressing with confidence the finding that the Apple Watch is capable of measuring attentiveness through heart rate.

Three studies regarding Escherichia coli O157:H7 in apple cider were conducted. The objectives were: to evaluate the effectiveness of wash and sanitizers for removing E. coli O157:H7 from apples; to survey cider producer practices; and to determine the efficacy of ultraviolet light for reducing E. coli O157:H7 in cider. Apples with a five-strain acid resistant mixture of E. coli O157:H7 were treated with 200 ppm hypochlorite, a phosphoric acid-based fruit wash, 5% acetic acid, 5% acetic acid followed by 3% hydrogen peroxide, a peroxyacetic acid-based solution, and distilled water. The water wash caused insignificant reductions. All other treatments caused significant reductions. Acetic acid and peroxyacetic acid were the most effective with reductions of 3.1 and 2.6 logs, respectively. The survey determined that most producers are small, seasonal operations. Most use sound orchard management practices, clean and sanitize daily, sort and wash apples, use refrigeration, and try to prevent contamination. However, some use drop and damaged apples. Few use chemical sanitizers on apples, preservatives, pasteurize cider, or have HACCP programs. Cider inoculated with the same mixture of E. coli O157:H7 was processed using a thin- film ultraviolet disinfection unit operating at 254 nm. Dosages ranged from 9,402 to 61,005 æW- sec/cm2. Treatment significantly reduced E. coli O157:H7 (pó 0.0001) with a mean reduction of 3.81 log CFU/ml. Reduction was also affected by the level of background microflora in cider. Results indicate that ultraviolet light can reduce this pathogen in cider. However, additional reduction measures are necessary to achieve the required 5 log reduction. / Master of Science

No description available.

Hard cider is an alcoholic drink made from fermented crushed fruit, typically apples. The popularity of this fermented alcoholic beverage has been on the rise within the last decade. Historically, hard cider has been deemed safe due to the presence of ethanol and the low pH. Although there is lack of scientific evidence to prove that hard cider will and can be safe from foodborne pathogens. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes are three predominate foodborne bacterial pathogens of concern in the food and beverage industry. Escherichia coli O157:H7 in particular has been associated with fresh produce and more specifically apples, and apple products such as apple juice. The purpose of this study was to determine the bactericidal effects of pH, ethanol, and malic acid on Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes to evaluate the safety parameters for safe hard cider production and storage. The fate of foodborne pathogens in cider was determined during hard cider fermentation, in a cider model system, and in commercial cider. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp, and Listeria monocytogenes did not survive a 5-day fermentation period resulting in a > 7 log CFU/mL reduction of each pathogen with no significant change in pH. The final ABV of the cider at the end of the 5-day fermentation was 4.4%. In the cider model system, the lower the pH and higher the ABV the quicker die off was observed, at pH 2.8, 3.0, 3.2, and 3.4 with 7, 8, and 9% ethanol concentration there was a 6.6 log reduction in E. coli O157:H7 population after 1 day. By the 7-day incubation period, no pathogens were detected at all pH and ABV combinations except for at pH 3.6 and 3.8 with 4% ethanol having ≤0.6 log CFU/mL of the population surviving. Similar E. coli O157:H7 inactivation patterns were observed in the model system and in the commercial ciders. The six commercial ciders observed had varying pH, ABV (%), and malic acid concentrations but successfully resulted in a > 6 log CFU/mL reduction in population of E. coli O157:H7 within 4 days of incubation. The ciders with the highest ABV’s, 8.7 and 9.6% observed a > 6 log reduction by 1 day. It was observed that at some point in time pH plays a bigger role in the presence of less ethanol, but it is clear that ethanol and pH work synergistically to kill of pathogens present in cider fermentation, a cider model, and commercial cider.