Drawing on both anthropological and quilt literature, this thesis shows the many different ways that made objects are thought about by different groups of people. Awareness of these differences permits a new perspective of 'Western' art and object making. This awareness allows a space in which to consider the importance of the process of making. Quiltmaking provides an interesting case study. This thesis therefore describes the field of quiltmaking activity that exists in New Zealand at the present time. This genre, as it is practised today, had its beginnings in the revival that began in this country during the 1970's. This study will show that the main impetus of this revival did not draw on known traditions in New Zealand, but rather on a largely imported tradition that had developed in the United States of America. Ideas about the status of quilts as art objects, comes from a mixture of influences. The tradition of quiltmaking in the United States was already a strong one and had been through a number of revivals. Aspects of this traditional culture influenced quiltmakers in New Zealand. Simultaneously, there was an equally strong sense of the quilt as an art object in New Zealand. However, art entrepreneurs in the United States certainly were part of the transformation of the quilt into an art object in that country. Their strategies of discourse and display drew on contemporary artworld ideologies and ultimately this valuation affected which quilts could be seen as 'art' in New Zealand. Through the use of participant observation, interviews and a questionnaire, the content of this study will show the many different ways that New Zealand quiltmakers work, their aims and goals for the quilts they make, and the ways these quilts are perceived by other quilters and the wider public. Some areas that have resulted in conflict and misunderstandings are discussed. As in any such group, conflicts and misunderstandings arise from the existence of different ways of valuing aspects of cultural activities. NB Unlike the hard copy of this thesis the colour plates in this electronic version are placed together between the chapters and the appendices.

The problem of cadmium (Cd) toxicity aggravates every year. However, the amount of plant species presenting some degree of tolerance to this metal is low. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand the Cd tolerance mechanisms. Two tomato cultivars exhibiting distinct levels of tolerance to Cd were investigated by exposing them to 35 μm de CdCl2 for eight days. The samples (roots, stems, and leaves) were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days. The root length and surface area were obtained using a WinRhizo PRO 2009c image analyzer. The ICP OES method was used for the quantification of metals in the different tissues. The translocation index (TrI), metal uptake and Cd distribution nutrient absorbed (NA), and nutrient efficiency (NUE) were calculated. The plant material used for stress indicators and proteomics analysis were collected in liquid nitrogen. Lipid peroxidation and H2O2 contents were obtained by spectrometry. For the proteomics data the gel-free method was used. The stress indicators showed the variation in both cultivars, evidencing the stress caused by the Cd. Chlorosis and necrotic spots were observed in plants exposed to Cd less significant way in the first days of exposure and more evident in the less tolerant cultivar (TTO) in the last days. The growth reduction can be observed in both cultivars, more evident in TTO. Regarding the Cd distribution, the two cultivars showed similar behavior, with the highest percentage of Cd in the roots. The Cd absorption could interfere with both cultivars in the accumulation absorption and efficiency in the use of most nutrients assessed. In general, the Cd interference was more evident at TTO than at YOSH. Highest percentages of TrI were also observed in TTO cultivar. Identification and evaluation of the differentially accumulated protein (DAP) in the two cultivars roots it is possible to observe that in the presence of Cd the cultivar TTO generates a more significant alteration in the amplitude of the accumulation and the number of proteins. These results suggest that the cultivar, which presents a higher degree of tolerance, has some form to make the Cd unavailable or a mechanism that makes the Cd transportation to the leaves more difficult. / O problema da toxicidade do cádmio (Cd) agrava-se a cada ano. No entanto, a quantidade de espécies de plantas que apresentam algum grau de tolerância a este metal é baixa. Portanto, é de suma importância entender os mecanismos de tolerância do Cd. Com esse intuito duas cultivares de tomate (TTO e YOSH) exibindo níveis distintos de tolerância ao Cd foram investigadas, expondo-as a 35 μm de CdCl2 por oito dias. As amostras (raízes, caules e folhas) foram coletadas aos 0, 2, 4, 6 e 8 dias. O comprimento da raiz e área de superfície foram obtidos usando um analisador de imagem WinRhizo PRO 2009c. O método ICP OES foi utilizado para a quantificação de metais nos diferentes tecidos. O índice de translocação (Trl), a absorção de metal e a distribuição de Cd dos nutrientes absorvidos (NA) e eficiência de nutrientes (NUE) foram calculados. O material vegetal usado para indicadores de estresse e análise proteômica foi coletado em nitrogênio líquido. A peroxidação lipídica e o teor de H2O2 foram obtidos por espectrometria. Para os dados proteômicos, foi utilizado o método livre de gel. Os indicadores de estresse mostraram a variação nas duas cultivares, evidenciando o estresse causado pelo Cd. A clorose e manchas necróticas foram observadas em plantas expostas ao Cd de maneira menos significativa nos primeiros dias de exposição e mais evidentes no cultivar menos tolerante (TTO) nos últimos dias. A redução do crescimento pode ser observada em ambas as cultivares, mais evidente no TTO. Quanto à distribuição de Cd, as duas cultivares apresentaram comportamento semelhante, com o maior percentual de Cd nas raízes. A absorção de Cd pode interferir nas duas cultivares na absorção, acúmulo e eficiência no uso da maioria dos nutrientes avaliados. Em geral, a interferência do Cd foi mais evidente no TTO do que no YOSH. As maiores porcentagens de TrI também foram observadas na cultivar TTO. Identificação e avaliação da proteína diferencialmente acumulada (DAP) nas raízes das duas cultivares é possível observar que na presença de Cd a cultivar TTO gera uma alteração mais significativa na amplitude do acúmulo e no número de proteínas. Estes resultados sugerem que a cultivar, que apresenta um maior grau de tolerância, tem alguma forma de tornar o Cd indisponível ou um mecanismo que dificulte o transporte de Cd para as folhas.

Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Repeatedly in the field of Quantum Information Science (QIS) it’s essentially required of physical systems the quantification concerning its quantum phenomena, such as Quantum Coherence (QC) relying in quantum superposition states. Hereafter several quantifiers of QC have been proposed over the years through distance measures in quantum state spaces, called distinguishability measures, playing an important role in QIS correlation phenomena such as Discord and Entanglement with Quantum Cryptography implementation, as example. The aim of this dissertation is to extend the research of QC, published by Jonas Maziero in an article, performing an in-depth analysis regarding the control of local and non-local aspects of Hilbert-Schmidt Coherence (HSC) in multipartite systems and its relations with others QC quantifiers, as well as an analisys of a possible Hilbert-Schmidt Distance (HSD) implication in QC functions over the Non-Monotonicity under Tensor Products (NMuTP) inequality and of limitations between Coherence of state populations and energy. Starting from the generic multipartite state of level quantum energy systems (qudit), defined from the Bloch parameterization, calculations of QC functions concerning its particular cases are considered for 1-qubit, 2-qubit, 1-qutrit and two copies of 1-qubit adopting HSD. Writing the HSC function for the latter case in terms of its local and non-local parts and from the result of 1-qubit it is possible, by manipulating the difference between local populations, to infer a non-local implication in the HSC for that system, in contrast to what has been seen by adopting distinct dissimilarity measures for this function, named l1- Norm Distance and Relative Entropy Distance, cases where there are no implications and where there is a direct consequence with their local populations instead of the previously difference between them, respectively. Notwithstanding, HSD usage provides a description of an awkward relation in QIS towards NMuTP, and a possible implication of that kind of relation in QIS emergent phenomena such as QC function. / Reiteradamente no contexto da Ciência da Informação Quântica (CIQ) é essencialmente necessária a quantificação de sistemas físicos com respeito aos seus fenómenos quânticos, tais como a Coerência Quântica (CQ) intrínseca a estados com superposição quântica. Doravante algumas funções quantificadoras de CQ foram atribuídas ao longo dos anos através de medidas de distância em espaços de estados quânticos, denominadas medidas de dissimilaridade, desempenhando papel importante em fenômenos de correlação na CIQ, tal como Discórdia e Emaranhamento com implementação em Criptografia Quântica, por exemplo. O objetivo desta dissertação é estender a pesquisa dedicada a CQ, publicada em artigo por Jonas Maziero, efetuando uma análise aprofundada com respeito ao controle dos aspectos local e não-local da Coerência de Hilbert-Schmidt (CHS) em sistemas multipartidos e suas relações com outras funções quantificadoras de CQ, bem como a investigação de uma possível implicação da Distância de Hilbert-Schmidt (DHS) na função CQ frente a relação da Não-Monotonicidade sobre o Produto Tensorial (NMsPT) e de limitações entre Coerência e populações de estados e energia. Partindo do estado multipartido genérico de sistemas quânticos com níveis de energia (qudit), definido a partir da parametrização de Bloch, calculamos a função CQ para seus respectivos casos particulares 1-qubit, 2-qubit, 1-qutrit e duas cópias de 1-qubit adotando a DHS. Escrevendo a função CHS para este último caso em termos de suas partes local e não-local e do resultado para 1-qubit é possível, manipulando a diferença entre as populações locais, inferir uma implicação não-local na CHS para este sistema, em contraste ao que se observa adotando distintas medidas de dissimilaridade para esta função, denominadas Distância Norma-l1 e Distância Entropia Relativa, nos casos em que não há implicação e onde há consequência direta com suas populações locais do que anteriormente a diferença entre elas, respectivamente. Não obstante, o emprego da DHS proporciona o caráter de uma estranha relação na CIQ através da NMsPT, e uma possível implicação desta relação em fenômenos emergentes da CIQ tal qual a função CQ.

Raggare is a unique and rather understudied subculture within Scandinavia that emerged in the 1950s and has been vibrant since. They are noted for their affection towards 1950s American aesthetics and, most importantly, American vintage cars. In Sweden, these cars are known as raggarbilar, and I contend these vehicles are central to how social interactions occur between raggare. The purpose of this thesis is to examine how cars create social bonds by looking at raggarbilar through the lens of raggare and in this way investigating how and why the cars fascinate people. I use sensory methodology to examine how cars are approached and embraced by raggare, arguing that sensuous experiences are fundamental to the perception of the materiality of cars. Theoretically, I use materiality and material culture as guidelines for how objects enforce cultural and social significance. More specifically, Alfred Gell’s notion of the technology of enchantment is utilized to understand the effects and social agency of artefacts and I develop this notion further with what I call the sensory enchantment of materiality. During ten weeks of ethnographic fieldwork that took place in different garages in Västernorrland county, along with semi-structured interviews and the usage of visual instruments, I explored the interconnectedness between cars, people, and environment to investigate how cars are objects capable of enchantment and persuasion to raggare. Overall, raggarbilar are multi-sensory objects that are perceived as different from other cars and create certain phenomenological experiences that are shared between raggare, and thus, bring the subculture together.

This thesis examines and compares two travel accounts in the regions of Phocis and Boeotia in Greece, as they appear in the book of Sir William Gell “The Itinerary of Greece: With a Commentary on Pausanias and Strabo and an Account of the Monuments of Antiquity at Present Existing in that Country (1819) and on the two volumed book of Edward Dodwell A Classical and Topographical Tour Through Greece: During the Years 1801, 1805, and 1806, Volume 1 & 11 (1819). More specifically, the thesis explores the extent of the area that these travelers managed to cover during their routes, the places with historical and archaeological interest that they mentioned at least, their moves among the various chronotopes, and the use of their predecessors’ texts for on their routes. With the use of digital platforms such as Recogito, their travel accounts have been annotated, tagged, aligned with ToposText gazetteer and Wikidata, exported as .csv files, and further processed using OpenRefine. By having as a ground theory approach the social construction of space, as Lefebvre has defined it, the thesis, with the assistance of ArcGIS and Python and the necessary manual steps, explored the topics as mentioned above. The analysis of these topics provided interesting results to the thesis. It showed the differences in the area coverage of the two travelers in Phocis and Boeotia. It also highlighted their accuracy in the discovering of ancient places and buildings. Moreover, it delineated their moves through the different chronotopes and the vital role of the physical environment as a bridge for these moves. Ultimately, this thesis revealed the crucial role of their predecessors’ travel accounts for their navigation on the respecting. Mainly, it made clear the vitality of the travel accounts of Strabo and Pausanias. These results were clearly connected with the social construction of space and time from the two British travelers based on their cultural background.

During the 1990s, artists started to explore the possibilities of the World Wide Web. This thesis investigates online artworks by studying their agency. Why do people interact with them, as if they are alive? How do they mobilise people, or make them share visions and ideas? Based on research in largely untapped archives, it presents an in-depth examination of several case studies, exploring the artwork's ability to have the power to act in a variety of social settings. Through studying the life trajectory of the artwork, it also offers insights in how these dynamic entities undergo changes over time and across cultures. Grounded in theoretical literature on the agency of art, this research offers an innovative way of understanding Internet art and it contributes to wider conversations about the agency of art and artefacts. Case studies include: Mouchette (Martine Neddam), 'Mouchette' (1996-present). Web project (www.mouchette.org). Collection of Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam). Shu Lea Cheang, 'Brandon' (1998-1999). Web project (brandon.guggenheim.org). Collection of Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York). Lynn Hershman Leeson, 'Agent Ruby' (1998-2002). Web project (agentruby.sfmoma.org). Collection of SFMOMA (San Francisco).