PEREIRA, Rodrigo Mendes.Geometria métrica e topologia de superfícies algebricamente parametrizadas. 2016. 68 f. Tese (Doutorado em Matemática) – Centro de Ciências, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2016. / Submitted by Andrea Dantas (pgmat@mat.ufc.br) on 2017-06-09T17:57:35Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_tese_rmpereira.pdf: 663687 bytes, checksum: 396b9fef564fece1bd791fcf3677b5e5 (MD5) / Rejected by Rocilda Sales (rocilda@ufc.br), reason: Oi Andrea, Favor informar ao aluno para fazer as seguintes correções: No Resumo e Abstract não tem recuo. Os termos das palavras-chave e abstract são separadas e finalizadas por ponto. nAS Referências, o sobrenome dos autores são em caixa alta. Ex: WHITNEY, Hassler. Dois ou três autores: SOBRENOME, Nome; SOBRENOME, Nome Rocilda on 2017-06-13T12:22:02Z (GMT) / Submitted by Andrea Dantas (pgmat@mat.ufc.br) on 2017-06-19T17:03:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_tese_rmpereira.pdf: 663687 bytes, checksum: 396b9fef564fece1bd791fcf3677b5e5 (MD5) / Rejected by Rocilda Sales (rocilda@ufc.br), reason: Oi Andrea, Estou devolvendo novamente o arquivo do Rodrigo, pois ele não fez as correções. Elton disse que ele veio ontem e foi dito o quais eram. Estou enviando as mesmas. Favor repassar pra ele. Caso ele não tenha entendido são essas as correções: Sumário a Abstracts não tem o recuo. As palavras-chave e keywords são separados e finalizados por ponto. E Referências : Os sobrenomes dos autores são em caixa alta: BALLETSEROS, J .J .Nuno. BIRBRAIR, L. ; FERNANDES, A.; GRANDJEAN, V. SE FOR MAIS DE 3 AUTORES INDICA-SE APENAS O PRIMEIRO ACRESCENTANDO A EXPRESSÃO ET AL. Birbrair, L ET AL. on 2017-06-21T14:06:19Z (GMT) / Submitted by Andrea Dantas (pgmat@mat.ufc.br) on 2017-06-22T12:40:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_tese_rmpereira.pdf: 661684 bytes, checksum: c8673d7c6d1002a51d5c45584e60f6b7 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rocilda Sales (rocilda@ufc.br) on 2017-06-22T14:20:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_tese_rmpereira.pdf: 661684 bytes, checksum: c8673d7c6d1002a51d5c45584e60f6b7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-22T14:20:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016_tese_rmpereira.pdf: 661684 bytes, checksum: c8673d7c6d1002a51d5c45584e60f6b7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-20 / In this work, we study the singularities of the surfaces obtained as an image of a plane by an algebraic or analytic application in the spaces R3 and R4. We study the topological and metric properties of the knots that are obtained as a link of this surfaces. Normal embedding criterion are obtained for the surfaces and, in addition, the connections between the topology of the knot and normal embedding are investigated. We will also give a description of the tangent cones of these surfaces at the singular points. / Nesse trabalho, estudamos as singularidades das superfícies obtidas como imagem de um plano por uma aplicação algébrica ou analítica no espaços R3 e R4. Estudamos as propriedades topológicas e métricas dos nós que são obtidos como link de tais superfícies. É obtido critérios de mergulho normal para a superfície-imagem e, além disso, é investigado as ligações entre a topologia do nó e o mergulho normal. Faremos ainda uma descrição dos cones tangentes destas superfícies nos pontos singulares.

Thesis advisor: Joshua E. Greene / We construct taut foliations in every closed 3-manifold obtained by r-framed Dehn surgery along a positive 3-braid knot K in S^3, where r < 2g(K)-1 and g(K) denotes the Seifert genus of K. This confirms a prediction of the L--space conjecture. For instance, we produce taut foliations in every non-L-space obtained by surgery along the pretzel knot P(-2,3,7), and indeed along every pretzel knot P(-2,3,q), for q a positive odd integer. This is the first construction of taut foliations for every non-L-space obtained by surgery along an infinite family of hyperbolic L-space knots. We adapt our techniques to construct taut foliations in every closed 3-manifold obtained along r-framed Dehn surgery along a positive 1-bridge braid, and indeed, along any positive braid knot, in S^3, where r < g(K)-1. These are the only examples of theorems producing taut foliations in surgeries along hyperbolic knots where the interval of surgery slopes is in terms of g(K). / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Mathematics.

Petal diagrams of knots are projections of knots to the plane such that the diagram has exactly one crossing. Petal diagrams offer a convenient and combinatorial way of representing knots via their associated petal permutation. In this thesis we study the fundamental group and Seifert surfaces of knots in petal form. Using the Seifert-Van Kampen theorem, we give a group presentation of the fundamental group of the knot complement of a knot in petal form. We then discuss Seifert surfaces and use decomposition diagrams to represent the Seifert surfaces of knots in petal form. We finally give an algorithm to produce a set of decomposition diagrams for a spanning surface of a knot in petal form and prove that for incompressible surfaces such decomposition diagrams are unique up to perturbation moves.

I ett samhälle med allt större fokus på miljön och användning av förnybara resurser så har efterfrågan på trä som material ökat. En ökad efterfrågan på material kan i sin tur leda till att det kan bli svårt att få tag i material och då gäller det att företagen kan utnyttja sina resurser på bästa sätt och på det viset även kunna minska sina kostnader. Trä är ett organiskt material och har därmed egenskaper som inte förekommer hos andra material. Egenskaperna varierar mellan olika trädslag, inom varje trädslag samt inom varje enskilt träd. Detta beror bland annat på cell och kviststrukturen samt hur träden har växt. Med materialutnyttjande i fokus växte detta examensarbete fram för att kartlägga en produktionslina för golvstommar. Syftet var även att studera möjligheterna att minska materialförlusterna genom att limma ihop materialet två och två innan de gick vidare i processen. För att studera detta genomfördes först en bakgrundsstudie kring trä som material samt limfogning av trä. Därefter genomfördes ett antal fallstudier för att kunna beräkna materialförlusterna i produktionen. Det följdes av en praktisk studie i en testmiljö där det studerades möjligheten att minska materialförlusterna genom att sammanfoga materialet med lim innan sönderdelning till lameller. Resultatet visade att det blev materialförluster både i form av sågspån, som är svårt att göra något åt, samt material som faller sönder till följd av främst kvistar. Materialförlusterna på grund av kvistar finns det möjlighet att minska på genom, vilket de partiska testerna av att sammanfoga materialet med lim innan sönderdelning visade. Att studera sina processer och dess materialutnyttjande är relevant för alla träförädlande företag så att råvaran utnyttjas på bästa möjliga sätt. Det går inte att eliminera alla materialförluster men en åtgärd för att minska materialförlusterna kan i detta fall vara att sammanfoga materialet innan sönderdelning. / In a society with an ever-growing focus on the environment and renewable recourses, the demand for wood as a material will increased. An increase in demand can, however, lead to a shortage in materials. This in turn puts pressure on companies to utilize their resources optimally to both conserve materials and to minimize the costs. Wood is an organic material which gives it unique properties compared to other materials. These properties are not however uniform and can change based on the type of wood. Differences in properties might occur between trees of the same wood species, and even in singular trees. This variety depends on the tree’s cellular and knots structure in addition to how it was grown. The focus of this bachelor thesis was the use of materials in a production line of flooring frames. The aim of this study was also to see if it was possible to minimize the loss of materials by gluing together two pieces of material before processing. The first step in completing this study was to perform a background study which focused on wood as a material and the usage of bonding agents for wood. The background study was then followed by a number of case studies where the loss of materials in the production line was calculated. The case studies were then in turn followed by a practical study performed in a test environment concerning the ability of minimizing material losses by adhering two pieces of material before processing them into lamina. The result showed a loss of materials in form of sawdust and materials breaking after processing, mainly due to knots. The sawdust is difficult to avoid but as the practical study showed, it was possible to reduce the loss of materials caused by knots, by adhering material together before processing it. To study the production and its use of materials is relevant for all wood manufacturing industries to ensure the optimal usage of the material. It is not possible to eliminate all material losses but one possible way to minimize it could be, in this case, to adhere material before it is processes.

Freedom through restriction is an artistic project which investigates movement, freedom of expression and the value of restrictions in creative processes, through my experience. Through this study, I aim to develop innovative methods to encourage myself and fellow practitioners to connect with the body, to expand awareness and knowledge of the circus practice through the self, and to think through movement for creative, artistic, and pedagogical purposes. The source material is videos of my movement research, relevant literature and texts that I have been writing throughout the two-year Master Programme at the Stockholm University of the Arts.I start by introducing the concept of restricted verticality, an involuntary alteration of the normalized environment of aerial disciplines, where the vertical space is stripped to the minimum. Adaptation, sensing, rope manipulation are methods extrapolated from the exploration of the limited vertical space. Learning to shift conditions voluntarily becomes a method to unlock new possibilities and to acquire deeper knowledge of the circus practice. The purpose of this thesis is to propose a less anthropocentric approach to circus apparatus and a shift in virtuosity that differ to the standardized ones of athletic prowess and dominance over the objects, to enable circus artists to become active creators and improve a sense of availability towards other animate and inanimate bodies. The last chapter is dedicated to my Final Major Project, a physical representation of my study at the end of the Master course, and how this experience informed my practice further.Restriction is throughout a framed space of investigation, where environment, bodies and task-based improvisation approaches are all intended as spaces within which there is an infinite number of possibilities to explore freely and discover their full potentialities. The mutual relationship between restriction and freedom of movement is opportunity for artistic research processes.

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Understanding factors that influence a species' distribution and abundance across their annual cycle is needed for range-wide conservation planning. Every year during spring migration, thousands of federally threatened (U.S.A.) and endangered (Canada) migratory Western Atlantic red knots (Calidris canutus rufa, 'red knot') use Virginia's barrier islands as stopover habitat to regain the fat required to continue flights to breeding grounds. Because the red knot completes one of the longest avian migrations in the world and relies on variable prey resources at its stopover grounds, the red knot exemplifies the challenges faced by long-distance migrant shorebirds. These challenges may be exacerbated by climate change, as long-distance migrants may be unable to adapt quickly to changing prey ranges and abundances, resulting in spatial and temporal mismatches between predators and prey. More specifically, as climate change causes ocean temperatures near Virginia's barrier islands to rise, organisms that live within the intertidal zone, like blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), are experiencing range shifts. Here, we 1) confirmed what prey red knots select in Virginia, 2) addressed the factors that affect red knot site selection, red knot flock size, and prey abundances across Virginia's barrier island intertidal shoreline during 2007 – 2018, and 3) predicted the origin of juvenile blue mussels, a key prey resource for red knots in Virginia. To determine which prey are most available to red knots in Virginia, we collected sand and peat substrate core samples from Virginia's ocean intertidal zone and counted the number of prey in each sample. We compared these prey availability data to prey DNA data obtained from fecal DNA metabarcoding analyses on red knot feces (n = 100) collected on peat and sand substrates between 2017 – 2019. Red knots consumed prey from Orders Veneroida (clams), Mytiloida (mussels), Diptera (flies), and Amphipoda/Calanoida (crustaceans). While crustaceans were the most abundant prey on both sand (70.80% of total prey counted) and peat (74.88%) substrates, red knots selected crustaceans less than expected given their availability. Red knots selected clams and mussels, supporting their status as bivalve specialists in Virginia. After determining which prey red knots consumed and selected in Virginia, we predicted the number of red knots using Virginia's barrier island stopover during their migratory stopover (May 14 – 27, 2007 – 2018) annually. We used confirmed prey, tide, distance to known roosts, and red knot winter counts from Tierra del Fuego to inform zero-inflated negative binomial mixed-effects regression models of red knot site selection and flock size in Virginia. We also used generalized linear mixed-effects regression models to determine how climatic and geomorphological factors affected prey abundances. Modeled red knot peak counts were highest in 2012 (11,644) and lowest in 2014 (2,792; x̄ = 7,055, SD = 2,841); the trend over time was variable but there was no evidence of a linear increase or decrease. Red knots selected foraging locations with more prey, though red knot flock size did not consistently relate to prey abundance. Tide, substrate, and water temperature affected prey availability. While different prey responded to these covariates in variable ways, prey generally were most abundant on peat banks at low tide. Given the importance of blue mussels in the red knot's diet and distribution in Virginia, if the blue mussel's range continues to contract northward, red knots could be faced with additional fat replenishment challenges. We analyzed the variation in blue mussels from 2010 – 2018 by collecting core samples on peat banks in Virginia and counting the number of blue mussels in the cores. To approximate the origin of Virginia's juvenile blue mussels and determine how continued ocean temperature warming may further affect the blue mussel's range contraction, we conducted oxygen stable isotope (δ¹⁸O_c) analyses on 74 blue mussel shell umbos (the first portion of the shell precipitated) and shell edges (the most recently precipitated shell) to compare and predict where different portions of the shell were formed. We compared blue mussel shell compositions to δ¹⁸O_c calculated in equilibrium with regional ocean water using recorded δ¹⁸O_w data and sea surface temperature data from ocean buoys between New Hampshire and Virginia. Blue mussel abundance/core sample declined over the duration of our study (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient: ρ(rho) = -0.31, p < 0.001), with the highest abundance in 2010 (x̄ blue mussels/core sample = 537.88, SE = 85.85) and lowest in 2016 (x̄ = 34.08 blue mussels/core sample, SE = 6.96). Blue mussel umbos (x̄ δ¹⁸O_c = -0.23‰, SE = 0.12) contained more positive δ18Oc than shell edges (x̄ δ¹⁸O_c = -0.53‰, SE = 0.20), suggesting that Virginia's blue mussels originated from ocean populations in more saline and/or colder water than that within Virginia's intertidal zone. Blue mussel umbo δ¹⁸O_c were not different than δ¹⁸O_c calculated in equilibrium with regional ocean water off the Virginia and Delaware coasts, suggesting that Virginia's blue mussels originated in ocean waters between Delaware and Virginia; however, they may have originated in waters as far north as New York in some years, potentially decreasing the risk of blue mussels being completely extirpated from Virginia in the near future. While red knots currently use spring migratory stopovers across the United States' Atlantic Coast, from Florida to New Jersey, the largest spring concentrations of knots are confined to the Delaware Bay and Virginia's barrier islands. Because these stopover grounds support large proportions of the red knot's migratory population, any changes in the factors that affect red knots at these stopover sites could have lasting implications for red knots. The blue mussel's range contraction and decline over time in Virginia, for example, is concerning from a conservation perspective. Red knots require easily accessible and abundant prey resources to efficiently replenish fat-stores needed for continued migration and breeding. Additionally, because red knots breed within a narrow period, any delays on stopover grounds could prevent red knots from breeding, even if they survive migration. Our research demonstrates that red knots use prey abundance as a determinant when selecting foraging locations, and that peat banks, while only sporadically available across the barrier islands at mid- to low-tides, contain higher prey abundances than sand. Thus, to continue maximizing the availability of prey in Virginia, measures should continue to be taken to allow natural island migration processes that encourage the presence of both sand and peat substrates. Beach nourishment and stabilization projects are often used on coastal beaches to prevent shoreline erosion; however, such actions prevent the formation of peat banks by blocking island migration processes. A reduction in peat banks could decrease the abundance of prey available to red knots, making weight gain during the critical stopover period more challenging for red knots. Additionally, beach nourishment through sand replenishment buries invertebrate prey, potentially causing mass prey mortality and reducing shorebirds' ability to access deeply buried prey. To prevent the loss of important peat banks on these islands, and to prevent disrupting predator-prey interactions, managers should continue their ongoing focus on allowing natural processes to occur on Virginia's barrier islands. / Doctor of Philosophy / Red knots (Calidris canutus rufa) are imperiled shorebirds that migrate thousands of kilometers each year from wintering grounds as far south as Argentina to breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic. To migrate such long distances, red knots use stopover habitat, like Virginia's barrier islands, to regain the fat required to continue flights to breeding grounds. Climate change is causing the ranges of important red knot prey, such as blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), to shift. Red knots may be unable to quickly adapt to changes in prey abundances on stopover grounds, making it more challenging for them to gain the weight required for successful migration and breeding. Thus, understanding the factors that may affect red knots in Virginia are important for successful management of this shorebird. Here, we determined what prey red knots consume in Virginia, addressed the factors that affect red knots in Virginia, and predicted the origin of blue mussels, an important prey resource for red knots in Virginia. We collected sand and peat substrate samples from Virginia's ocean intertidal zone to determine what prey were available to red knots and collected red knot feces to determine what prey red knots consume. Red knots consumed clams, mussels, fly larvae, and crustaceans in Virginia and showed preference for clams and mussels over the more abundant crustaceans. Red knots selected foraging locations that had higher prey abundances than unused sites. The relationship between red knots and prey was affected by the tidal cycle, with the highest abundance of prey available and most birds foraging at low tide when peat banks were exposed. After confirming that red knots preferentially consume blue mussels, which is experiencing a northward range contraction due to increasing ocean temperatures, we analyzed how blue mussel numbers have changed over time in Virginia. Blue mussel numbers declined over the duration of our study. We also analyzed blue mussel shells to help determine where the blue mussels were spawned, as shells contain environmental clues that relate to the conditions within which the shell forms. The juvenile blue mussels red knots consumed on Virginia's peat banks likely originated in ocean waters between Delaware and Virginia, but potentially in waters as far north as New York, possibly using ocean currents to travel to Virginia's intertidal zone. Because migratory stopovers, like Virginia's barrier islands, support a large percentage of the total red knot migratory population, any changes in factors that affect red knots during their spring stopover, like prey availability, may negatively affect red knots. Because red knots need to quickly consume large quantities of prey to gain the weight needed for continued migration and breeding, managers should continue to prevent factors that negatively affect prey in Virginia. For example, we found that peat banks support high quantities of red knot prey; thus, continuing to ensure that peat banks are able to form on the islands is paramount. However, peat banks form through shoreline erosion and overwash, two natural processes which are often portrayed negatively. Beach nourishment and stabilization projects are commonly used in other coastal areas to prevent shoreline erosion and overwash along coastal beaches. If Virginia's barrier island beaches are nourished, natural processes like shoreline erosion may be less likely to occur. The absence of shoreline erosion on Virginia's barrier islands would preclude the formation of peat banks, likely decreasing prey availability for red knots. Beach nourishment also buries invertebrate prey, as sand is deposited along the beaches' intertidal zone. The disturbance caused by nourishment combined with the reduction in prey caused by it could negatively affect red knots in Virginia. Managers should continue to protect both peat and sand substrates by further allowing natural processes, like shoreline erosion, to occur on Virginia's barrier islands.

By studying self-avoiding polygons (SAPs) in (L, M )-tubes (a tubular sublattice of the simple cubic lattice) as a sequence of 2-spans, transfer matrices can be used to obtain theoretical and numerical results for these SAPs. As a result, asymptotic properties of these SAPs, such as pattern densities in a random SAP and the expected span of a random SAP, can be calculated directly from these transfer matrices. These same results can also be obtained for compact polygons, as well as SAPs under the influence of an external force (called compressed or stretched polygons). These results can act as tools for examining the entanglement complexity of SAPs in (L, M )-tubes. In this thesis, it is examined how transfer matrices can be used to develop these tools. The transfer matrix method is reviewed, and previous transfer matrix results for SAPs in (L, M )-tubes, as well as SAPs subjected to an external force, are presented. The transfer matrix method is then similarly applied to compact polygons, where new results regarding compact polygons are obtained, including proofs for a compact concatenation theorem and for a compact pattern theorem. Also in this thesis, transfer matrices are actually generated (via the computer) for relatively small tube sizes. This is done for the general case of SAPs in (L, M )-tubes, as well as for the compact and external force cases. New numerical results are obtained directly from these transfer matrices, and a new algorithm for generating polygons is also developed from these transfer matrices. Compact polygons are actually generated (via the computer) for relatively small tube sizes and spans by using the developed polygon generation algorithm, and new numerical results for pattern densities and limiting free energies are obtained for stretched and compressed polygons.

Machine strength grading of structural timber is a sawmill process by which considerable value is added to sawn products. The principle of such grading is that the strength of a timber member is predicted on the basis of a so called indicating property (IP) which, in general, represents an averaged value of the modulus of elasticity (MOE) measured over a board length of about one meter or more. A limitation of today’s grading methods is that the accuracy of strength predictions is often rather poor, which results in a low degree of utilization as regards structural potential of sawn timber. However, it has for many years been well known to researchers that much better strength predictions can be made by using localized MOE values, determined over a very short length, as IP. Still, the determination of such values in a sawmill production environment has been technically very difficult to achieve. In the research presented in this thesis, dot laser scanning with high resolution was utilized for detection of local fibre orientation on the surfaces of timber members. Since wood is an orthotropic material with superior structural performance in the longitudinal fibre direction, information about fibre orientation was, in combination with beam theory and measured wood material properties, used to determine the bending MOE variation along boards. By application of an IP defined as the lowest MOE found along a board, more accurate strength predictions than what is obtained by common commercial grading techniques was attained. The thesis also involves flatwise wet gluing of Norway spruce side boards into laminated beams. As side boards, being cut from the outer parts of a log, have excellent structural properties it was not surprising to find that the beams had high strength and stiffness, even when laminations of sawfalling quality were used. The possibility of grading boards in a wet state by means of axial dynamic excitation was investigated with a positive result and application of simple grading rules resulted in considerable improvement of beam bending strength. Finally, bending MOE variation determined on the basis of laser scanned fibre directions was used for identification of weak sections in laminations. Elimination of such sections by means of finger jointing showed that average lamination strength of a board sample could be improved by more than 35 percent. / Hållfasthetssortering av konstruktionsvirke är en sågverksprocess som innebär att värdet av det sågade virket ökar väsentligt. Principen för denna typ av sortering är att styrkan hos ett virkesstycke predikteras med utgångspunkt från en så kallad indikerande egenskap (IP) som oftast representeras av medelvärdet av elasticitetsmodulen (E-modulen) mätt över en sträcka av minst en meter utmed virkesstyckets längd. De sorteringsmetoder som används idag ger ofta prediktioner med relativt låg noggrannhet, vilket innebär att endast en begränsad del av det sågade virkets konstruktiva potential kan utnyttjas. Det är dock väl känt att avsevärt bättre prediktioner kan erhållas genom att använda en lokal E-modul, uppmätt över en mycket kort sträcka, som IP. I dagsläget saknas dock teknik för att kunna bestämma ett sådant lokalt värde vid produktionshastighet i ett sågverk. I den forskning som presenteras i denna avhandling har punktlaserskanning med hög upplösning använts för att bestämma fiberriktningens variation på ytorna av virkesstycken. Eftersom trä är ett ortotropt material med högst styvhet och styrka i longitudinell fiberriktning ger skanningsresultaten värdefull information om hur dessa egenskaper varierar längs en planka. Genom att kombinera informationen om fiberriktning med uppmätta virkesegenskaper och klassisk balkteori, kan böjstyvhetens variation utmed en planka beräknas med hög upplösning och därefter omräknas till en E-modul i böjning. Med en IP definierad som det lägsta värdet på nämnda E-modul utmed en planka kan en högre noggrannhet i prediktionen av hållfasthet uppnås, jämfört med vad som kan erhållas med dagens sorteringsmetoder. Avhandlingen omfattar också limträbalkar tillverkade av sidobräder av gran limmade i rått tillstånd. Eftersom sidobräder sågas från de yttre delarna av en stock har de vanligtvis utmärkta konstruktiva egenskaper. Det var därför inte förvånande att balkarna uppvisade hög styrka och styvhet, även i de fall lamellerna var av sågfallande kvalitet. Möjligheten att med hjälp av axiell dynamisk excitering sortera sidobräder i rått tillstånd undersöktes med positivt resultat och genom att använda sorterade lameller kunde balkarnas styrka förbättras avsevärt. Den ovan beskrivna metoden att med utgångspunkt från bl.a. skannade fibervinklar bestämma styvhetens variation längs virkesstycken utnyttjades sedan för att identifiera svaga snitt i lameller av sidobräder. Genom att eliminera sådana snitt med hjälp av fingerskarvning kunde medelhållfastheten för ett stickprov sidobrädor höjas med mer än 35 %.

We study Seifert surfaces for links, and in particular the Kakimizu complex MS(L) of a link L, which is a simplicial complex that records the structure of the set of taut Seifert surfaces for L. First we study a connection between the reduced Alexander polynomial of a link and the uniqueness of taut Seifert surfaces. Specifically, we reprove and extend a particular case of a result of Juhasz, using very different methods, showing that if a non-split homogeneous link has a reduced Alexander polynomial whose constant term has modulus at most 3 then the link has a unique incompressible Seifert surface. More generally we see that this constant term controls the structure of any non-split homogeneous link. Next we give a complete proof of results stated by Hirasawa and Sakuma, describing explicitly the Kakimizu complex of any non-split, prime, special alternating link. We then calculate the form of the Kakimizu complex of a connected sum of two non-fibred links in terms of the Kakimizu complex of each of the two links. This has previously been done by Kakimizu when one of the two links is fibred. Finally, we address the question of when the Kakimizu complex is locally infinite. We show that if all the taut Seifert surfaces are connected then MS(L) can only be locally infinite when L is a satellite of a torus knot, a cable knot or a connected sum. Additionally we give examples of knots that exhibit this behaviour. We finish by showing that this picture is not complete when disconnected taut Seifert surfaces exist.