Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Harvest in the Bible'

Sugar mills represent significant capital investments. To maintain appropriate returns on their investment, sugar companies seek to run the mills at capacity over the sugarcane harvest season. Because the sugar content of cane degrades considerably once it is cut, maintaining inventories of cut cane is undesirable. Instead, mills want to coordinate the arrival of cut cane with production. We present exact solution approaches exploiting special structure of the sugarcane harvest logistics problem in Brazil and the United States.

Of A Covered Harvest is a twenty minute music composition for alto solo, mixed double choir (SSAATTBB) and percussion. It uses the following texts: Sacrifice by Alicia Munoz; Non Linear by Phyllis Webb and ancient Mayan words. The piece explores the themes of power, choice and the crowd versus the individual using the musical depiction of a ritual human sacrifice as a forum for commentary. The three part structure of the piece is delineated by the narration of the ritual by the choir: preparation, sacrifice and resolution, and by the emotional reaction to the sacrifice by the alto solo (victim): denial, isolation and anger; depression and bargaining; and acceptance. Of A Covered Harvest uses contemporary vocal techniques such as vocalizations, paralanguage and the phonetic manipulation of text. The piece follows in the tradition of twentieth century performance practice in its use of graphic notation and aleatoric passages.

Thesis (PhD (Logistics))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Computerised sugarcane harvest scheduling decision support is an active fi eld of research which ties in closely with the broader problem of automating and streamlining the various activities in the sugar supply chain. In this dissertation, the problem of providing decision support with respect to sugarcane harvesting decisions is defined within a number of contexts, each representing a typical kind of organisation of sugarcane farmers into a cohesive decision making unit with its speci fic requirements and limitations that exist in practice. A number of variations relevant to these contexts of an overarching tactical sugarcane harvest scheduling problem (THSP) are considered and solved in this dissertation. The THSP is the problem of providing objective, responsible decision support to persons charged with the task of determining optimal harvesting dates for a set of sugarcane fields across an entire season. Sugarcane fields typically diff er in terms of the age, variety, life-cycle stage and in many other properties of the cane grown on them. The growth of sugarcane crops may also be a ffected by environmental conditions such as accidental fires, frosts or storms which have a detrimental e ffect on crop-value. Since sugarcane is a living organism, its properties change over time, an so does the potential pro t associated with it. The practicalities of farming cause further complication of the problem (for example, seasonal changes alter the conditions under which the crop is harvested and transported). The rainy season carries with it the added cost of disallowing long-range vehicles to drive into the fields, forcing the unloading and reloading of cane at so-called loading zones. Other considerations, such as the early ploughing out of fields to allow them to fallow before being replanted, compounds the THSP into a multi-faceted difficult problem requiring efficient data management, mathematical modelling expertise and efficient computational work. In the literature the THSP has been viewed from many different standpoints and within many contexts, and a variety of operations research methodologies have been employed in solving the problem in part. There is, however, no description in the literature of a solution to the THSP that takes the negative e ffects of extreme environmental conditions on the quality of a harvesting schedule into account in a scienti fically justifi able manner; most models in the literature are based on optimising sucrose yield alone under normal conditions, rendering weak schedules in practice. The scope of the modelling and solution methodologies employed in this dissertation towards solving the THSP is restricted to integer programming formulations and approximate solution methods. The parameters associated with these models were determined empirically using historical data, as well as previous work on deterioration of sugarcane following environmental and other events. The THSP is solved in this dissertation by designing a generic architecture for a conceptual decision support system (DSS) for the THSP in the various contexts referred to above, which is capable of accommodating the e ects of extra-ordinary environmental conditions, as well as the introduction of a computer-implemented version of a real DSS for the THSP conforming to the framework of this generic architecture. The DSS building blocks include prediction models for sugarcane yield, sugarcane recoverable value under normal circumstances, the costs associated with a harvesting schedule and the negative e ects on sugarcane recoverable value of extraordinary environmental conditions. The working of the DSS is based on a combinatorial optimisation model resembling the well-known asymmetric traveling salesman problem with time-dependent costs which is solved approximately by means of an attribute-based tabu search in which both local and global moves have been incorporated. The DSS is also validated by experienced sugarcane industry experts in terms of the practicality and quality of the schedules that it produces.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Gerekenariseerde besluitsteun vir die skedulering van suikerriet-oeste is 'n aktiewe navorsingsveld wat nou verwant is aan die bre ër probleem van die outomatisering en vaartbelyning van 'n verskeidenheid aktiwiteite in die suikervoorsieningsketting. Die probleem van die daarstelling van steun rakende suikkerriet oestingsbesluite word in hierdie proefskrif in 'n aantal kontekste oorweeg, elk met betrekking tot 'n tipiese soort organisasie van suikerrietboere in 'n samehorige besluitnemingseenheid met sy spesi eke vereistes en beperkings in die praktyk. Verskeie variasies van 'n oorkoepelende taktiese suikerriet-oesskeduleringsprobleem (TSOSP) wat in hierde kontekste relevant is, naamlik die probleem om objektiewe, verantwoordbare steun aan besluitnemers te bied wat verantwoordelik is vir die bepaling van optimale oesdatums vir 'n versameling suikerrietplantasies oor die bestek van 'n hele seisoen, word in hierdie proefskrif bestudeer en opgelos. Suikerrietplantasies verskil tipies in terme van ouderdom, gewastipe, posisie in die lewensiklus, en vele ander eienskappe van die suikerriet wat daar groei. Omgewingstoestande, soos onbeplande brande, ryp of storms, het verder ook 'n negatiewe impak op die waarde van suikerriet op sulke plantasies. Omdat suikerriet 'n lewende organisme is, verander die eienskappe daarvan oor tyd, en so ook die potensi ele wins wat daarmee geassosieer word. Boerderypraktyke bemoeilik verder die skeduleringsprobleem onder beskouing (seisoenale veranderings beïnvloed byvoorbeeld die wyse waarop suikerriet ge-oes en vervoer word). Addisionele koste gaan voorts met die re ënseisoen gepaard, omdat die plantasies dan nie toeganklik is vir langafstand transportvoertuie nie en suikerriet gevolglik na spesiale laaisones gekarwei moet word voordat dit op hierdie voertuie gelaai kan word. Ander oorwegings, soos die vroe ë uitploeg van plantasies sodat die grond kan rus voordat nuwe suikerriet aangeplant word, veroorsaak dat die TSOSP 'n moeilike multi-faset probleem is, wat goeie databestuur, wiskundige modelleringsvernuf en doeltreff ende rekenaarwerk vereis. Die TSOSP word in die literatuur vanuit verskillende standpunte en in verskeie kontekste oorweeg, en 'n aantal uiteenlopende operasionele navorsingsmetodologie ë is al ingespan om hierdie probleem ten dele op te los. Daar is egter geen poging in die literatuur om 'n oplossing vir die TSOSP daar te stel waarin daar op 'n wetenskaplik-verantwoordbare wyse voorsiening gemaak word vir die negatiewe e ffekte wat uitsonderlike omgewingstoestande op die kwaliteit van oesskedules het nie; die meeste modelle in die literatuure is op slegs sukrose-opbrengs onder normale omstandighede gebaseer, wat lei na swak skedules in die praktyk. Die bestek van die wiskundige modellerings- en gepaardgaande oplossings-metodologie ë word in hierdie proefskrif vir die TSOSP beperk tot onderskeidelik heeltallige programmeringsformulerings en die bepaling van benaderde oplossings deur lokale soekprosedures. Die parameters wat met hierdie modelle en soekmetodes geassosieer word, word empiries bepaal deur gebruikmaking van historiese data asook bestaande werk oor die degradering van suikerriet as gevolg van omgewings- en ander eksterne faktore. Die TSOSP word in hierdie proefskrif opgelos deur die ontwerp van 'n generiese argitektuur vir 'n konseptuele besluitsteunstelsel (BSS) vir die TSOSP in die onderskeie kontekste waarna hierbo verwys word en wat die e ekte van uitsonderlike omgewingsfaktore in ag neem, asook die daarstelling van 'n rekenaar-ge ïmplementeerde weergawe van 'n daadwerklike BSS vir die TSOSP wat in die raamwerk van hierdie generiese argitektuur pas. Die boustene van hierdie BSS sluit modelle in vir die voorspelling van suikerrietopbrengs, die herwinbare waarde van suikerriet onder normale omstandighede, die verwagte koste geassosieer met 'n oesskedule en die negatiewe e ekte van omgewingsfaktore op die herwinbare waarde van suikerriet. Die werking van die BSS is gebaseer op 'n kombinatoriese optimeringsprobleem wat aan die welbekende asimmetriese handelreisigersprobleem met tyd-afhanklike kostes herinner, en hierdie model word benaderd opgelos deur middel van 'n eienskap-gebaseerde tabu-soektog waarin beide lokale en globale skuiwe ge ïnkorporeer is. Die BSS word ook gevalideer in terme van die haalbaarheid en kwaliteit van die skedules wat dit oplewer, soos geassesseer deur ervare kundiges in die suikerrietbedryf.

"Counting Out The Harvest" is a collection of poems exploring intimate encounters. The poems reflect on encounters with memories, family, and the natural and cosmic worlds. In one of the poems, "Red-Throated Anole," the speaker works desperately to save a small dying lizard. In "Ice Storm, Post-Divorce," the speaker attempts to decipher a cluster of ladybugs taking refuge in her room. In the title poem, a couple wonders patiently if their crop will eventually grow. In each of these poems there is a present longing for the construction of a meaningful identity by means of the encounter, but the intersection between speaker and world falls short of satisfaction, whether the faultiness lies in the body's inability to find full sustenance, or in the ever-changing fluidity of memory to find stability. But the poems progress from pressing against this difficulty toward finding a contented resignation to the world's cyclical order. The final line of the manuscript, "disrobe a layer to begin again," indicates an arrival at satisfaction, which is found ultimately in continuation.

A case study of the chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) gauntlet fisheries in Southern British Columbia is described. Acrimony between industry and government managers has been commonplace in the management of this fishery. In an attempt to alleviate this acrimony, a management system call the "clockwork" has been implemented, which provides all fishermen an opportunity for greater understanding of the management rationale and greater input into the decision-making process. The clockwork has been generally successful; the stocks are rebuilding and the fishermen are involved in the management of the fishery. However, two problems are identified in the clockwork. First, the success of the clockwork in alleviating the aaimony associated with the chum fishery depends on the ability of fishery managers to provide sound and scientifically defensible in-season stock assessments. If the assessments have no better track record than the intuition of managers and fishermen then the clockwork will not be successful. Second, there is a nagging problem of allocation of harvests between the mixed stock fishery in Johnstone Strait and the terminal fishery in the Fraser River. The main factor is the difference in price behveen the two fisheries; the price in the terminal fishery is only about one-third of the price paid in the mixed stock fishery, Dynamic programming techniques are used to determine the optimal harvest strategies for this gauntlet fishery. Generally, the optimal strategy is similar to a fixed escapement strategy when both stocks are equally abundant. But when one stock is much more abundant the optimal strategy is to harvest harder in the mixed stock fishery. With the current difference in value per fish between the two fisheries, the optimal exploitation rates in the terminal area are zero, all the catch is taken in the mixed stock fishery. The minimum price at which terminal fisheries provide long term economic benefit is the threshold price. For the parameters used to describe the current fishery, the threshold price is approximately 40% of the mixed stock fishery price. Furthermore, the threshold price differs with stock recruitment parameters, especially stock productivity and recruitment variability. Generally the more similar the stocks are, with respect to stock and recruitment characteristics, the lower the threshold value for fishing in the terminal areas. The results provide a basis for discussion of the utility of terminal fisheries, and by adjusting the relative value of the terminal fishery in relation to the mixed stock fishery can incorporate additional social and aesthetic values, as well as costs such as harvesting costs and fisheries management costs.
Science, Faculty of
Zoology, Department of
Graduate

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) harvest schedules are often interrupted by rainfall, unfavorable environmental conditions for growth, and unfavorable weather for hay curing. Interruptions in alfalfa harvest schedules can delay the final harvest until dates considered critical to winter survival. Harvests made between 20 September and 30 October are considered detrimental to the persistence of alfalfa stands in geographical areas such as western Virginia. The objectives of this study were to determine if a critical period for fall harvest management actually exists in Virginia, if length of the growth period prior to fall harvest (GPPFH) influences plant persistence and succeeding spring yields, and if photosynthesis offsets respiration and allows more flexible fall harvest management than is currently recommended. Final alfalfa harvests were made 10, 20, or 30 September or 10, 20, or 30 October for 2 years in two identical experiments. Alfalfa was managed to achieve 30, 40, 50, or 60 days of growth prior to each fall harvest date. Total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) in tap roots and population of surviving plants were determined in December and March. Succeeding spring yields were measured in May. Zero, 45, and 60 percent shade were imposed following four fall harvest dates in a supplemental study to investigate the influence of photosynthesis on TNC levels and plant persistence. In the supplemental study, CO₂ exchange and TNC were measured at 2 week intervals in the fall following four fall harvest dates. Harvests made during the fall period previously considered as critical did not cause over-wintering plant losses. Length of growth period prior to fall harvests was more important than date of fall harvest in making management decisions for fall harvest. Although spring yield generally increased with length of GPPFH, the spring growth appeared healthy; so one might expect a few days of delay prior to the first spring harvest to eliminate any detrimental influence of short length of GPPFH. Succeeding spring yields and TNC levels were generally high for the 50-day GPPFH, and fall harvest yield offset any reductions in spring yield observed in this study. In addition, fall harvests made with a 50-day GPPFH maintained quality and leafiness as opposed to a 60-day GPPFH. Fall regrowth and plant maintenance were not dependent on root TNC accumulation. Photosynthesis offset TNC losses for regrowth and maintenance during the fall. High photosynthetic rates as compared to respiration occurred because temperatures were within the optimum range for photosynthesis of alfalfa during 68% of the daylight hours from September through November. There was no critical period for fall harvest management with the environmental conditions experienced during this study. A 50 or 60-day GPPFH prior to fall harvest was adequate for plant persistence and high succeeding spring yields.
Ph. D.

In the United States, migrant farm workers are often the lowest paid workers in a multi-billion dollar agricultural industry, and are also often provided substandard housing which lacks the space and basic necessities to live in dignity and hope. After a few years of hard labor and sacrifices, some of these farm workers, called seasonal or resettled farm workers, decide to lay down roots in rural communities around the country where they obtain more stable, year-round work and thus need more permanent homes to raise families and be part of their communities. This thesis documents the research and conceptualization of farm worker housing, a community center and a chapel for these farm workers. The idea of space, not only as a physical entity but also as a place for events, interactions, and as an enabler of community and progress are the specific areas of study that will drive my research and process. My belief is that Architecture's ultimate goal is that it should be relevant to our daily lives, our dreams and aspirations, that it become a stage for our hopes and dreams, a space to enhance our lives, to serve but not get in the way, to uplift and to recharge our minds, our bodies and most importantly, our souls. I kept these thoughts in mind as I embarked on a journey filled with hope, frustrations, discovery and clarity. This study is of an Architecture that is not only responsive to the land and the environment, but also to the lives, work, community and culture of its inhabitants; that a place farm workers can call home will emerge and help elevate the living conditions and nurture the continuing narrative of farm workers in America.
Master of Architecture

This work examines some of the factors that influence PHS in wheat, with particular emphasis on the premature production of alpha-amylase (PMAA) in the absence of visible sprouting. Field trials in 1989 and 1990 studied alpha-amylase activity in relation to grain development in four winter wheat cultivars. Weather conditions were generally warmer and drier than average in both years. Differences in drying rate were induced by covering and wetting treatments. Fenman had a slower rate of grain drying (40% - 23% moisture) than other varieties, but, within varieties, drying rate appeared not to be related to alpha-amylase levels. This lack of relationship was possibly due to the fact that all of the drying rates were relatively fast and, apart from Fenman, levels of alpha-amylase were low. The level of dormancy and the lack of visible sprouting indicated that the alpha-amylase activity observed in Fenman was due to PMAA. The increase in alpha-amylase began when moisture percentage was between 40 and 35% . Activity rose steeply, and remained high until harvest. There were differences in alpha-amylase activity between the wetting and covering treatments and the control in 1989, but these were not related to effects on grain drying. There was an increase in the number of grains with high alpha-amylase activity in the covered and wetted treatment and it was suggested that changes in microclimate at an earlier stage of grain development may have affected sensitivity to GA, leading to subsequent development of PMAA. This was investigated in 1990. The onset of sensitivity to GA₃ coincided with the increase in alpha-amylase activity in Fenman, but GA₃ sensitivity was also apparent in other cultivars that did not exhibit PMAA. Fenman showed an earlier onset of GA-sensitivity than the other varieties, but neither covering nor wetting had a significant effect on GA-sensitivity of PMAA.

The harvest of small trees known popularly as Christmass Tree", is made with manual tools and it is a hard, stressing and slow job. Observing people, who develop these kinds of activities, is intend to study an automatic machine to carry through this task. This work presents initially, the description of the currently processes used for the harvest and a bibliographical revision of the theme. It a proposal presents of the machine, the methodology and the mathematical development of the mechanical project as well as the modeling of the hydraulic systems. From the sizing of the any parts of the machine one presents the drawings of details and the assembly. They are facts, still, assays "in-it lease" to verify the consistency of the ground and the parameters of operation of the machine. The developed machine allows to be directed until the place of the harvest and processes a system of automatic leveling for an inclination of the land, of about, 17.
A colheita de pequenas árvores conhecidas popularmente como tuias, é feita com ferramentas manuais e é um trabalho árduo, desgastante e demorado. Observando o trabalho das pessoas nesta atividade, passa-se a estudar uma maquina automatizada para realizar essa tarefa. Este trabalho apresenta inicialmente a descrição dos processos utilizados atualmente para a colheita e uma revisão bibliográfica do assunto. Apresenta a proposta de uma máquina, a metodologia e o desenvolvimento matemático do projeto mecânico. A partir do dimensionamento das diversas partes da máquina apresentam-se os desenhos de detalhes e do conjunto. São feitos, ainda, ensaios in-loco para verificar a consistência do solo e dos parâmetros de operação da máquina. A máquina desenvolvida permite ser dirigida até o local da colheita e possui um sistema de nivelamento automático para uma inclinação do terreno de, até, 17.

A simulated Pacific herring population (Clupea harengus pallasi) is used to evaluate alternative management strategies of constant escapement versus constant harvest rate for a roe herring fishery. The biological parameters of the model are derived from data on the Strait of Georgia herring stock. The management strategies are evaluated using three criteria: average catch, catch variance, and risk. The constant escapement, strategy provides highest average catches, but at the expense of increased catch variance. The harvest rate strategy is favored for large reductions in catch variance but only a slight decrease in mean catch relative to the fixed escapement strategy. The analysis is extended to include the effects of persistent recruitment patterns. Stock-recruitment analysis suggests that recruitment deviations are autocorrelated. Correlated deviations may cause bias in regression estimates of stock-recruitment parameters (overestimation of stock productivity), and increase in variation of spawning stock biomass. The latter effect favors the constant escapement strategy, which fully uses persistent positive recruitment fluctuations. Mean catch is depressed for the harvest rate strategy, since the spawning biomass is less often located in the productive region of the stock-recruitment relationship. It is recognized that management agencies never have perfect information. Management observation error is modeled as uncertainty in spawning biomass estimates, based on data for errors in the measurements of spawn length, width and egg layers. Mean catch is reduced for both strategies. Reductions in the constant escapement strategy are more pronounced, and vary with the assumed form of the assessment error probability distribution.
Science, Faculty of
Zoology, Department of
Graduate

Thesis (M. Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture)) --University of Limpopo, 2016
‘Reed’ avocado is a late season cultivar introduced to South Africa from California. The cultivar has shown good adaptation and produces quality fruit with export potential. Its pre-harvest adaptation and production aspects have been researched and documented. However, the effect of harvest time, post-harvest storage and ripening temperature has not been comprehensively studied on this newly introduced ‘Reed’ avocado cultivar. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different harvest time, post-harvest storage and ripening temperature on the quality of late season ‘Reed’ avocado fruit. Matured ‘Reed’ avocado fruit were harvested based on moisture content indexing in December (2015) and January (2016). The experiment was carried out in a factorial, arranged in a completely randomised design (CRD) with three replicates. Treatment factors were: 2 x harvest time (mid-and late), 2 x post-harvest storage (2.0 and 5.5°C), 3 x ripening temperature (16, 21 and 25°C) and 5 x ripening day (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8). Fruit were stored at 2.0 and 5.5°C for 28 days, thereafter, ripened at 16, 21 and 25°C until fully ripe. During ripening, fruit were evaluated for weight loss, skin colour, firmness, respiration rate, physiological and pathological disorders. Mid-harvest fruit had higher moisture content when compared with late harvest fruit. However, harvest time, post-harvest storage, ripening temperature and ripening time (days) significantly influenced fruit weight loss, firmness, respiration rate, ripening percentage of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit during ripening. Moreover, fruit firmness decreased faster at higher temperatures (25 and 21°C) with fruit ripening within 4 and 6 days, respectively. In addition, ripening at a lower temperature (16°C) was slower with fruit fully ripened within 8 days after withdrawal from cold storage at both harvest times. ‘Reed’ avocado fruit respiration rate followed a climacteric pattern, however, significantly higher rate at higher temperature (25°C) when compared with lower temperature (16°C) after withdrawal from cold storage during both harvest times. Interestingly, mid-harvest fruit showed high electrolyte damage after withdrawal from 2.0°C when compared with late harvest fruit at the same temperature. Furthermore, mid-harvest fruit stored at 2.0ºC and ripened at 21°C showed higher chilling injury when compared with fruit ripened at 16 and 25°C. High electrolyte leakage positively correlated (R2 = 0.242) with high chilling damage for xiv mid-harvest fruit stored 5.5°C. Treatment factors had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on lightness (L *) and hue angle (h ) but no significant effect (P > 0.05) on chroma (C *) and eye colour of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit during ripening, irrespective of harvest time. Overall results showed a visual change in ‘Reed’ avocado skin colour, with eye colour changing from green to bright yellow. Furthermore, late harvest fruit showed high post-harvest pathological diseases after removal from high temperature (5.5°C) when compared with mid-harvest fruit stored at low storage temperature (2.0°C). Ripening at a higher temperature (21 and 25°C) resulted in higher incidence of stem-end rot and body rot when compared with lower temperature (16°C) for both harvest times. Late harvest fruit showed a higher incidence of vascular browning at higher ripening temperatures (21 and 25°C) when compared with lower temperature (16°C) after withdrawal from cold storage. Moreover, overall results showed that harvest time, post-harvest storage and the ripening temperature had a profound influence on the quality of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit. In conclusion, ‘Reed’ avocado fruit can be harvested during mid- or late season and stored at recommended low temperature (2.0ºC); and thereafter, ripened at either 16 or 21ºC. In addition, future studies should focus on identifying pre-harvest practices that promote higher post-harvest fruit quality for ‘Reed’ avocado fruit under South African production environment. Keywords: ‘Reed’ avocado fruit; firmness; electrolyte leakage; respiration rate; stem-end rot; body rot; vascular browning

The Amis tribe is the largest of Taiwan's nine indigenous tribes. The Harvest Festival is their biggest event each year. Many scholars have written about the folk songs of the aborigines and about the aborigines in general, but very little about the Amis Harvest Festival and its music in particular. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Harvest Festival of the Amis people, including the core of the Festival: their singing and dancing. Given that the Amis Harvest Festival has essentially changed from what was once a ceremonial event that focused on warrior training, to an event that now focuses on entertainment and competition, the purpose of my thesis is to examine the Harvest Festival and its music during the late 1990's, and to document significant influences that have effected changes to the Harvest Festival, as well as the effect those changes have had on the Amis people.
xiv, 202 leaves

An accurate assessment of the value of pesticides to producers gives information to policy makers which may be useful in formulating policy regarding pesticides. Since the marginal products of pesticide inputs are a function of the functional specification of the production function, it is important to accurately specify the production function. Past empirical studies have suggested that the use of the Cobb-Douglas production function overestimates pesticide productivity. In addition to the pesticide productivity issue, this study also examines the economic importance of harvest-timing in crop production; most studies of supply response have not examined the harvesting decision explicitly. Results show that any function that can approximate the true function well in the neighborhood of the sample mean will give about the same estimate of mean marginal product. Findings suggest that if the purpose of a study is to estimate the marginal productivity and elasticity of inputs at its mean level, then the choice of the functional form may not matter. One of the purposes of this study is to reexamine the issue of relationship of pesticide productivity and functional form using primary level data on Ecuadorian potato production.

Post-harvest disease of apple fruit causes significant loss of fruit during and after storage with a considerable economic impact. Studying the factors that contribute to post-harvest disease and developing predictive models may help growers and packing house workers to make more informed decisions on disease forecasting and duration of storage for apples. Data for three major post-harvest pathogens, Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea and Mucor piriformis, which were monitored and quantified in four orchards over three years during the growing season and then in storage, were available. Contrary to expectation, it was found that environmental data provided little to no explanation of the trends in inoculum detection. It was hypothesized that this lack of relationship between the amount of inoculum present and the environmental factors was due to the manner in which the data were collected. In contrast, it was found that a large proportion of the variation in storage disease outcomes (R2=0.506, p=0.000) could be predicted by the duration of storage, temperature and rainfall two weeks before storage, and the quantity of pathogen DNA detected on the plant tissue at harvest. In order to better understand the relationship between environmental factors and spore detection in the orchard, a Gaussian plume model was developed for describing spore dispersal. Model results had good qualitative agreement with the data that were collected in the field, suggesting that a high level of variability would be expected when only using one receptor location due to the dynamics of spore movement based on wind conditions. The model predicted that increasing the number of receptors, especially when they were evenly placed around the orchard, would decrease the variability of detection results. Based on the model outcomes, it was concluded that five receptors would give the most reasonable results for the least expenditure. This research develops the first predictive model for post-harvest apple disease outcomes in storage based on pre-storage factors, and gives new insight into the dispersal of fungal spores in an orchard setting, providing recommendations for improving future data collection and modeling work.

The results of field studies with N rates from 0 to 336 kg/ha, in combination with two growth regulators, ethephon (Prep® ɑ-chloroethyl phosphonic acid, Rhone-Poulenc Ag Co., Research Triangle Parr NC) and thidiazuron (Dropp® N- phenyl -N' -1,2,3 -thiadiazol -5ylurea, Nor-Am Ag Prod. Inc., Naperville, IL). Results showed that sidedress applications of N (ammonium nitrate) to cotton did not influence the defoliation effects of ethephon and thidiazuron, or reduce number of immature green bolls at harvest. Under short-season conditions, sidedress N applications did not effect yields. Ethephon and thidiazuron at the rates tested did not affect cotton lint yields. Thidiazuron alone or in combination with ethephon resulted in high percentages of cotton defoliation.

Understanding the ecology and life history of marine turtle populations is fundamental for their effective conservation, especially for those that are harvested for food. This thesis presents a collection of six chapters that progress from the applied to the pure; conservation and management in the first chapters through to animal ecology in the latter. A variety of contemporary and multidisciplinary techniques are utilised to explore the structure, populations dynamics and ecology of two marine turtle species, the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), under harvest in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Caribbean. The work first focuses on the structure of TCI’s small-scale fishery and the demographics of turtles landed and incorporates nesting seasonality, adult take, satellite tracking and genetic structure to suggest evidence-based legislative amendments. As part of the study of this fishery, this work reports on how the harvest might increase prevalence of disease in green turtles. As an exploration into the ecology of turtle stocks found in TCI, the work then describes and compares in- water immature and adult sex ratios, genetic differentiation and sex biased dispersal. Finally, stomach content and habitat matching, and stable isotope analyses provide insights into the foraging ecology and suggested keystone roles of sympatric green and hawksbill turtles.

The aesthetic value of a landscape is a primary aspect of human-landscape interactions, as it provides a critical connection between humans and ecological processes as well as influences public attention and support to its ecological quality. Along with the ecological well-being of the landscapes, the maintenance of aesthetics is also critical in ensuring sustainable management of the forest. This thesis focuses on seeking new ways to effectively manage forest aesthetics, particularity on finding ways to mitigate the conflict between aesthetic quality and the demand of forest resources. The research strives to identify and quantify visual characteristics of harvest blocks in relation to their effects on individual aesthetic evaluations. The first experiment investigated the effects of context and shape complexity. Results indicated shape complexity as the largest predictor of preference, where preference increased as complexity increased. This finding indicates that increased complexity in harvest block design can be seen as a positive aesthetic variable. Context also demonstrated significance in influencing preference ratings, to a small extent. Subjects with environment focuses in their area of study demonstrated a stronger complexity effect than those from non-environment focuses, indicating a potential link between academic discipline and aesthetic preference. The second experiment explored several potential shape characteristics affecting individual aesthetic preference. Five characteristics were investigated: context, angularity, edge number, edge angle, and intrusion. Results indicated angularity had the largest effect on preference ratings. Subjects showed a strong preference towards curved designs, particularly in the context of harvest blocks. Although angularity also interacted with a number of variables, its effect prevailed and appeared to be robust. This finding implicates that perceptual gains can be achieved by curving the edges or the contour of the harvest block. The results of this research may lead to more effective visual resource management in the area of harvest block design. The findings presented can provide helpful information in public perception and preference of the landscape to forest designers and managers. Results suggest that curved designs with medium levels of shape complexity should be the preferred method of harvesting, particularly in visually sensitive areas.

Harvest can be delayed for many reasons. This research was conducted to determine the effect of delayed harvest on grain and semolina quality of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum [Desf.] Husn.). Twelve durum cultivars were planted in eight-row plots with four replicates at three environments. Two rows were harvested at four harvest times that were spaced about one week apart. The trend for all cultivars was for an increase in percent of large kernels, kernel brightness, 1000-kernel weight, and semolina gluten index with delayed harvest, while grain yield, test weight, kernel vitreousness, falling number, grain yellow pigment, and semolina yellowness and wet gluten content generally decreased. At all environments ?Carpio? tended to have high yields and ?Strongfield? low yields. ?Carpio? and ?Joppa? had the highest yellow pigment content and very strong gluten. In conclusion, grain and semolina quality generally declined with delayed harvest but varied with cultivar.

An investigation was made of concepts for mechanizing the selective harvest of broccoli. Selective harvesting has advantages over once-over harvesting because of greater yield and reduced handling requirements. Results of a preliminary experiment measuring broccoli stalk cutting forces indicated that the blade speed for a broccoli cutting mechanism should be as fast as possible to minimize the required cutting force. A manually-directed, powered cutting device was designed to fit readily into existing broccoli harvest systems. In tests the first year with the device, the harvest rate was substantially faster than hand harvest rates measured at commercial farms, but the level of leaf-stripping achieved with the device was unacceptably low. A new cutting device included an added leaf-stripping mechanism and had a mounting arrangement that allowed the harvesting of two double rows at once. In tests the second year, leaf-stripping was much improved, but the overall harvest rate was only marginally better because of extra manipulation required to activate the leaf-stripping mechanism. Measurements related to mechanical harvesting were made on broccoli plants both years. Head height, stalk diameter, and head weight were strongly affected by harvest time and in-row plant spacing. Height and stalk diameter were moderately correlated to head diameter. A regression model for predicting head diameter from height and stalk diameter indicated that potential exists for using a combination of the two parameters for sizing broccoli heads. Head weight was highly correlated to height and stalk diameter. Two concepts for automatic mature head selection were evaluated. The results of an experiment measuring the force required to uproot broccoli plants indicated that physically sizing broccoli heads using spaced fingers would only be feasible if late season irrigations could be incorporated in a harvest system. Digital image processing for head selection appears more promising. An image processing algorithm based on the gray level run length method of textural analysis was developed for predicting broccoli head area. Accurate head classification was obtained with the model. For an automatic selective harvester, an image processing system can be coupled with a cutting device with the major advantage that leaf~stripping can be accomplished automatically during the harvesting action.
Ph. D.

Consumers are often confused and reluctant to purchase products from fresh retail meat counters that exhibit significant color variations. This hesitation to purchase results in annual profit loss to the pork industry. Processes to minimize color variation remain a major focus of the industry and many meat science programs across the globe. Previously, we found inherent muscle characteristics contribute to variations in pork quality but these characteristics fail to explain the high frequency of two-toning and other pork quality defects routinely occurring in many hog processing facilities. Therefore, we hypothesized harvesting practices, such as scald alter color across muscles of the ham. Scald time was initially investigated using 32 carcasses subjected to either a 4 (n=16) or 8 (n=16) min scald time. Samples were collected before or after scalding and at 24 hrs. A 50% reduction in scald time resulted in (p < 0.0001) lighter muscle color (L*) early postmortem, although the 8 min scald treatment was lighter (p < 0.005) at 24 hrs. Although differences in pH (p < 0.0001) and color were noted, ultimate carcass temperature was not affected. To that end, we moved to validate our hypothesis in an industrial plant setting. Carcasses (n=200) were assigned treatments of 6.5 or 7.5 min scald times, and SM muscle samples were collected at 24 hrs. Surprisingly, the shorter scald time resulted in (p < 0.05) a lighter color, contradicting our first study. To explore this color issue further, we uncoupled scald from the dehairing process. To achieve this goal, carcasses (n=24) were assigned to either an 8 or 16 min time to dehair, with or without scalding. Protracted time to dehair resulted in higher ultimate pH (p < 0.005) and less color variation across the muscle (p < 0.05). Though a color gradient remained, the variation across the muscle was reduced by increasing time to dehair. These data show time to dehair affects pork quality development and suggest that delaying time to physical manipulation of the carcass may improve pork color, thus increasing consumer acceptance.
Master of Science

Harvest can be delayed for many reasons. This research was conducted to determine the effect of delayed harvest on grain and semolina quality of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum [Desf.] Husn.). Twelve durum cultivars were planted in eight-row plots with four replicates at three environments. Two rows were harvested at four harvest times that were spaced about one week apart. The trend for all cultivars was for an increase in percent of large kernels, kernel brightness, 1000-kernel weight, and semolina gluten index with delayed harvest, while grain yield, test weight, kernel vitreousness, falling number, grain yellow pigment, and semolina yellowness and wet gluten content generally decreased. At all environments ‘Carpio’ tended to have high yields and ‘Strongfield’ low yields. ‘Carpio’ and ‘Joppa’ had the highest yellow pigment content and very strong gluten. In conclusion, grain and semolina quality generally declined with delayed harvest but varied with cultivar.

Thesis (MSc .(Plant Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016
Delayed fruit harvest (DFH) or on-tree-fruit storage is a strategy being considered to extend the harvest season of late maturing ‘Reed’ avocado. However, avocado fruit growth beyond physiological maturity is accompanied by alterations in chemical and physical properties. Thus, the study aimed to investigate the effects of delayed harvest on tree productivity, mineral nutrition and post-harvest quality of late maturing ‘Reed’ avocado and further to evaluate the fruit quality response to varying ripening temperature regimes. As treatments, fruit were harvested early, mid and late in the season, with one month apart from each harvest during 2013 and 2014 seasons. Yield and fruit size were recorded at harvest. During each harvest time, two sets of fruit samples were collected to determine the fruit nutritional content while the second set was cold stored at 5.5°C for 28 days. After storage, fruit were ripened at 16, 21 or 25°C and evaluated for post-harvest disorders, pathological diseases and fruit physico-chemical properties. Yield dropped from 42 to 12 kg/tree from early to late harvest during 2013, while treatments showed no effect during 2014. Furthermore, treatments had no effect on fruit size during both seasons. Phosphorus content decreased by 40 and 23% from early to late harvest time during 2013 and 2014 seasons, respectively. Similar decreasing patterns were observed for K, Ca and Mg content. Zinc content remained constant during 2013; however, mid-season fruit maintained higher zinc levels during 2014 season when compared to early and late harvest time. Protein content was constant for early and mid-season fruit but significantly decreased during the late harvest in both seasons. Moisture content decreased from 74.0 to 65.0% from early to late harvest during both seasons. Starch, oil and ash content were high during late harvest time in both seasons; while crude fibre was high during the mid-harvest time when compared with early and late harvest time. Internal chilling injury increased with maturity and ripening temperature. In both seasons, higher temperatures induced higher anthracnose incidences during early and mid-harvest compared with late harvest time. Similarly, vascular browning was high on fruit ripened at 16°C during early and mid-harvest time but decreased on late harvest fruit during 2013. However, low ripening temperatures induced high incidences of vascular browning during 2014 season. Stem-end rot was high on fruit ripened at 16°C than 21 and 25°C during 2014 season. xvi Physico-chemical quality parameters showed similar behaviour in both seasons. Fruit lightness increased with ripening time regardless of ripening temperature during the early harvest, but remained constant during mid and late harvest. Hue angle (h0) and Chroma (C*) values were slightly reduced during ripening. Fruit ripened at 25°C had the highest respiration rate and reached a climacteric peak earlier (day 2) than fruit ripened at 21 and 16°C (day 4). Fruit firmness and weight loss were high and rapid at 25°C followed by 21 and 16°C regardless of the harvest time. Delayed harvest had no effect on yield and fruit size. Generally, nutritional content of avocado fruit increased with fruit maturity. Furthermore, fruit maturity played a major role in the response of fruit to ripening temperature. Higher temperature enhanced fruit ripening, but was conducive for development of post-harvest diseases. Keywords: Harvesting time, nutrition, yield, fruit size, ripening temperature, post-harvest quality

The original contribution to knowledge that this Biblical Studies research project offers is the experimental analysis of the claim that the Bible reading methodology Contextual Bible Study (CBS) should be grounded in ethnography, not only in practice, but also in writing. This project not only critically evaluates this argument, but it also demonstrates the efficacy of its claims by putting the argument presented into practice. This was done by implementing the suggested methodological refinements of CBS via the design and facilitation of a CBS programme that was grounded in ethnography. This took the form of ethnographically researching coalmining culture in South Derbyshire and conducting a CBS programme with a group of contemporary South Derbyshire coal miners. The findings of this project are significant for the discipline of Biblical Studies as thus far CBS has been used in a manner that fails to recognise the need for ethnographic contextualisation – a need which is twofold. First, it has yet to be widely acknowledged that the processes, methods, and goals of CBS are products of the context that gave birth to it (South Africa) and that in order for CBS to be used appropriately and effectively, it should be contextualised in light of its origins. Secondly, ethnographic contextualisation is also needed to ensure the following: that the researcher using CBS understands as fully as possible the context in which they intend to use CBS; that the CBS programme being developed resonates deeply with those participating in it; and that the final audience of any readings produced via CBS are equally knowledgeable about the context of those participating in the process. This thesis therefore examines critically both ethnography and CBS, and through the employment of reflexivity, incorporates ethnography into CBS not only as its formal prerequisite stage, but in a manner whereby its results are then used to shape and inform the entirety of the CBS research.

Texte remanié de: Thèse de doctorat--Littérature italienne--Paris 3, 2001. Titre de soutenance : Les premières oeuvres religieuses de l'Arétin : l'Écriture réécrite.
Bibliogr. p. 549-571. Index.

Post harvest discolouration in lettuce is an increasingly important problem due to the shift in the market for prepacked processed salads. Variation in post harvest discolouration was recorded in a lettuce diversity set of 28 accessions representative of the lettuce genepool. The parents of the WHRI lettuce mapping population, Saladin and Iceberg were included in the diversity set. They showed significantly different responses for discolouration and the difference between them was representative of a major part of the variation seen in the diversity set. F7 RILs derived from a cross between Saladin and Iceberg were suitable for genetic analysis of post harvest discolouration. As a precursor to the genetic analysis, a good quality linkage map based on the F7 Sal x Ice population was generated. Significant genetic variation in the post harvest response was demonstrated for these RILs. Twenty-one significant QTL were identified for post harvest discolouration traits, and the markers linked to the QTL can be used for marker assisted selection. Significant but weak correlations were recorded between discolouration and important agronomic traits, however as these were not highly correlated this means that post harvest discolouration and agronomic traits can generally be independently selected for by breeders without having to compromise on other traits. Research was also initiated to understand the metabolic changes underlying the phenotype change. Significant variation in levels of metabolites related to post harvest discolouration including phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and total phenolic content (TPC) was observed in RILs with extreme phenotypes. The differences in metabolite levels were significantly correlated with the discolouration phenotypes. Work was also initiated to identify candidate genes associated with the biosynthetic pathway responsible for discolouration (phenylpropanoid pathway) in an attempt to identify genes underlying QTL. Twenty-three genes have been placed on the Sal x Ice map using comparative genomic approaches. Some of these co-locate within the region of a discolouration QTL and are therefore candidate genes for the QTL effect. Mutants with altered post harvest discolouration phenotypes were also confirmed in this study; however the point of mutation could not be identified although it is thought to be downstream of PPO. This indicates that a desired phenotype with reduced levels of post harvest discolouration can be achieved by two approaches to breeding; using natural and induced variation. This study has provided the tools and knowledge to do this.