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Exploring the potential of cold plasma as a pest management strategy
No full textEffective insect pest management is crucial for ensuring global food security, as insect pests can cause severe economic losses in key crops that produce our food and feed. Modern pest management strategies heavily rely on chemical insecticides which lead to negative consequences, like pest resistance, resurgence and residual effects on food and water, thus necessitating the exploration of non – chemical alternative strategies. These alternatives can help mitigate pest proliferation as well as the harmful impact of pesticide residues on environmental and human health, ultimately contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and food security. Among these alternatives, strategies that are notable for their potential advantages, including reduced carbon footprints and environment friendly characteristics are of interest. Cold plasma treatment is one such strategy of interest due to its distinctive physicochemical properties and potential applications in enhancing crop yield, improving seed germination rates, and controlling plant pathogens, making it a valuable tool for sustainable agriculture. However, whether cold plasma can effectively protect plants against foliar feeders, and enhance plant defenses is poorly understood.
Cold plasma operates at near - room temperatures, making it suitable for operations involving heat-sensitive materials. This allows for the treatment of seeds, plants, and soil without causing thermal damage, thereby preserving their integrity and functionality. While cold plasma technology shows great promise in agriculture, there are still numerous areas where its potential, particularly in integrated pest management (IPM), has yet to be fully explored. Further research is needed to uncover the full range of benefits that cold plasma can offer in enhancing IPM strategies, thereby contributing to more sustainable and effective pest control solutions.
This thesis explores cold plasma\u27s novel, eco-friendly role in pest management by examining its effects on plant defense, and insect growth and development. The thesis also identifies further research opportunities, such as optimizing plasma parameters for seed treatment, irrigation, and integrated pest management, evaluating long-term effects on plant growth and development, for developing cost-effective, scalable plasma generation systems.
The first part of the thesis investigates the effectiveness of cold plasma against insect herbivory, specifically targeting a polyphagous lepidopteran pest, fall armyworm (FAW) on rice. Using an atmospheric plasma jet reactor, rice seeds from two Arkansas cultivars (Diamond and Jewel) were treated with cold plasma, followed by irrigation with plasma-activated water (PAW). The results demonstrated significant negative effects on FAW feeding, growth, and development, offering evidence of cold plasma as a novel component for sustainable pest management.
The second part focuses on optimization and examining the differential effectiveness of various cold plasma seed treatments on plant and insect herbivore traits. Soybean and sorghum sudangrass seeds were treated under different voltages and time exposures using two plasma generation reactors. The study revealed significant positive effects on soybean plant growth and development, alongside negative effects on herbivore growth and development in sorghum - sudangrass. These findings underscore the need for continuous optimization of cold plasma treatments to fully harness their potential while ensuring safe and effective application across different domains.
The results shows that cold plasma is a potential sustainable pest management strategy that positively impact plant growth and defense traits against herbivores. By addressing research gaps in the application of cold plasma technology in agriculture, this thesis aims to pave the way for innovative agricultural practices that contribute to global food security and environmental sustainability
\u3ci\u3eFergus of Galloway\u3c/i\u3e: A New Translation for a New Audience
Get PDFMy dissertation focuses on one text – Li romanz de Fergus – an Arthurian romance composed in Old French in the early thirteenth century by a mysterious author named Guillaume le Clerc. I have learned as much as I can about this romance and have looked at it from every angle possible. The scope of my research is narrow and deep because it focuses on one text, its author, and its subject matter. I have created a new theory about the identity of the author, Guillaume le Clerc, based on historical documents such as the Acts of Lordship from Scotland, and I have established a clear motivation for the writing of the tale, a motive which has not been discussed in previous scholarship. I have studied the history and theory of Old French versification to enhance my translation of the romance, which was written in octosyllabic rhyming couplets in the Picardy dialect. Before the translated tale is the introduction which discusses all the aspects of this romance, from the manuscripts in which it is found, to the author and the historical Fergus, the tale’s place in the romance genre, and my notes on the process of translating this entertaining story
Perceived Obligations of Older Partners in Living-Apart Together Relationships
Get PDFOlder and middle-aged adults are increasingly in Living-Apart-Together (LAT) relationships characterized by committed romantic relationships without marriage and cohabitation. Because of assumptions that older adults will receive family caregiving as they grow older and need caregiving, it is not clear how people are likely to perceive obligations to provide caregiving assistance. As adults move into old age and incidence rates of Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementia (ADRD) increase, questions about the availability of family members to provide needed assistance are complicated by LAT relationships. The purpose of this study was to examine perceived obligations to provide assistance to older adults living with dementia, specifically focusing on LAT relationships. It is hypothesized that contextual micro-level factors will be related to perceived obligations to provide caregiving, including (1) sex of the person needing versus providing care, (2) marital status (married or LAT), (3) approval of adult children, (4) recent sexual intimacy, and (5) reasons for marital dissolution (divorce or widowhood). It was also hypothesized that cultural values would predict heterogeneity in perceived obligations to assist older persons experiencing symptoms of dementia, including (1) individualism, (2) familism, and (3) religiosity. In this study, the perceived obligations of older adult partners in LAT relationships were evaluated. The findings suggest that the marital status of the vignette couple significantly impacts the perceived obligation of the vignette partner to provide physical and financial assistance
Effect of Traditional versus Fenceline Weaning on Lamb Stress
Get PDFStress is a significant factor affecting the health, behavior, and performance of sheep in production settings. Most lambs go through artificial weaning, and this is a stressful time in a lamb’s life. Stress can negatively affect growth rates, feed efficiency, and susceptibility to illness and parasites. The traditional and most common method of weaning is the abrupt separation of lambs from their dams. An alternative method of weaning, fenceline weaning, has been found to reduce stress in cattle and may also reduce stress in sheep. The objectives of this study were to evaluate body weights, fecal egg counts, and behavior to determine if the traditional or fenceline weaning method has lower stress associated with weaning in lambs. The study was conducted at the Milo J. Shult Agricultural Research & Extension Center, with two 14-day trials, totaling 32 majority Hampshire breed lambs. Lambs were assigned to either a fenceline or abrupt weaning group. Body weights were recorded on days 0, 7, and 14, and fecal samples were collected on days 0 and 14 to assess parasite loads. Behavioral responses were observed through video recordings using instantaneous scan sampling for the first three days after weaning. Fecal egg counts and weight change measurements were not different (P ≥ 0.26) between the weaning methods. The interaction between weaning group and day was detected for lying and eating behaviors (P ≤ 0.02). The lambs in the fenceline weaning group performed standing and walking behaviors less frequently than the abrupt weaning group. This indicates that the fenceline weaned group had less stress than the abruptly separated weaning group. Mitigating stress is important in finding the best management practices to improve animal welfare and productivity
Barred From Every Angle: Ninety Days To Save Your Life from Arkansas Prisons
Get PDFCharlie Vaughn has been incarcerated since 1991 in Arkansas’s Tucker Unit maximum security prison, serving a life sentence for a first-degree murder he did not commit. His actual innocence is simply irrelevant in the State of Arkansas due to strict adherence to procedural court filing rules. He has only been denied without opinion or procedurally barred. Despite both state and federal constitutional protections safeguarding liberty and freedom through various rights, including to counsel, to remain silent, a speedy trial, a jury of peers, and due process, wrongful convictions persist. Arkansas stands out among other top incarceration rate states as one where notably few exonerations have occurred. A closer look at the stringent limitations and practical implications of the state’s primary post1conviction remedy, Arkansas Rule of Criminal Procedure 37 (“Rule 37”), reveals that very few inmates with innocence claims ever receive a review of their case on the merits because their claims are often procedurally barred just ninety days into incarceration. This Comment begins with Charlie Vaughn’s story, followed by an overview of how a defendant progresses through Arkansas courts after being found guilty of a felony, providing a past to present overview of collateral post-conviction remedies available. Part II focuses on analyzing the practical implications of Rule 37, the primary state remedy available to wrongfully convicted defendants seeking to overturn their original conviction. Part III concludes with specific recommendations for achieving stated goals of the state in post-conviction relief remedies while defending life and liberty as guaranteed by the Arkansas Constitution
Eating What They Kill: The Stark Reality of Athlete Compensation in Mixed Martial Arts and Potential Solutions
Get PDF“They eat what they kill.” Dana White, President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (“UFC”) said this about the state of fighter pay in the organization. White, the voice of the company, holds firm that fighters are adequately compensated for their services. The reality is that UFC fighters are not paid what they deserve, and, one way or another, there are big changes coming to the organization and the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (“MMA”) as a whole. In this Comment, I will discuss how the UFC has used its market power to suppress fighters’ wages and subject fighters to inequitable contract provisions. Further, I will argue that major changes are coming to the MMA industry and explore the UFC’s options in facilitating those changes. Finally, I will propose that a UFC fighter’s union is the best way to resolve the organization’s current mistreatment of their own athletes while still protecting the interests of the fans and the UFC itself. In Part I, I will discuss the origins of the UFC and its rise to market dominance in the MMA industry, and I will explain how the modern UFC’s status in the sport creates legal issues for the company. In Part II, I will discuss the two primary potential solutions to the UFC’s current legal issues and evaluate each of those solutions from the perspective of the UFC, the fighters, and the fans
From Plate to Perception: A Comparison Between Fine Dining, Fast Casual, and Fast-Food Restaurant Lighting Design in Dallas, Texas
Get PDFThis capstone explores the intersection of lighting psychology and interior design within restaurant environments, focusing on the impact that lighting design has on the dining experience. The research evaluates how lighting design varies across fine dining, fast casual, and fast-food restaurants in Dallas, Texas, and how it affects customers’ perceptions, emotions, and satisfaction. A mixed-method approach was used, combining qualitative interviews with industry professionals and restaurant employees with quantitative analysis of lighting parameters such as color temperature, illuminance, and fixture types across nine case studies. Key findings reveal that fine dining restaurants prioritize warm, high-contrast lighting to enhance intimacy, fast casual spaces balance functionality with comfort, and fast-food establishments rely on bright, even lighting to withstand high traffic and quick turnover. This study highlights how lighting choices can shape the dining ambiance, offering valuable information for young designers, restaurateurs, and lighting professionals seeking to improve customer experiences
Arkansas Soybean Research Studies 2023
Get PDFThe 2023 Arkansas Soybean Research Studies includes research reports on topics pertaining to soybean across several disciplines from breeding to post-harvest processing. Research reports contained in this publication may represent preliminary or only data from a single year or limited results; therefore, these results should not be used as a basis for long-term recommendations.
Several research reports in this publication will appear in other University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station publications. This duplication is the result of the overlap in research coverage between disciplines and our effort to inform Arkansas soybean producers of the research being conducted with funds from the Soybean Check-off Program. This publication also contains research funded by industry, federal, and state agencies.
Use of products and trade names in any of the research reports does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the products named and does not signify that these products are approved to the exclusion of comparable products.
All authors are either current or former faculty, staff, or students of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, or scientists with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service.
Extended thanks are given to the staff at the state and County Extension offices, as well as the research centers and stations; producers and cooperators; and industry personnel who assisted with the planning and execution of the programs