Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.

Populations of Dicranoloma billardierei (Brid) Par., D. dicarpum (Nees.) Par., D. menziesii (Tayl.) Par. and D. platycaulon (C. Muell) Dix, from two pockets of cool temperate rainforest within the Yarra Ranges National Park (Cement Creek and Myrtle Loop), were sampled for a period of two years to establish their reproductive biology. The population dynamics within quadrats of D. billardierei, D. menziesii and D. platycaulon at Cement Creek also was investigated over a two year period, through the seasonal recording of shoot loss and/or gain, The four species of Dicranoloma were dioicous and sexually dimorphic, with dwarf males epiphytic on the female plants. Antheridia were initiated before archegonia and required ca, 6 months to reach maturity, compared with 1 to 2 months for archegonia. More archegonia than antheridia occurred per inflorescence and were more variable Fertilization occurred during winter in D. billardierei and summer/ autumn in D. menziesii and D. platycaulon. The duration of the sporophyte cycle of D. menziesii was 12 months, shorter than that of D. billardierei and D. platycaulon which lasted for a period of 18 months to 2 years. In the latter two species an overlap of sporophyte generations occurred. This was particularly pronounced in D. billardierei as sporophytes remained in the swollen venter maturation stage for a period of 6 months. The duration of the sporophyte cycle could not be ascertained as few fruiting stems of D. dicarpum were found. All four species of Dicranoloma regenerated from fragments cultured in the laboratory, and only two of the species showed evidence of production of asexual propagules in the field. Dicranoloma dicarpum was found to produce gemmae, an observation which had not been recorded before, and most of the leaves on stems of D. platycaulon had detached subulas. Shoot loss was minimal in all four species, and when it did occur, (eg D. billardierei) it was attributed to disturbance by animals. Within quadrats there was an increase in shoot density which resulted from the development of innovation(s) and/or side branches rather than from the recruitment of new plants from spores or the regeneration of asexual propagules. The four species of Dicranoloma investigated were robust, perennial mosses and formed an important component of the bryophytes found within the study area. Dicranoloma menziesii was the predominant species establishing on a variety of substrata, particularly as an epiphyte on Nothofagus cunninghamii The other species were more selective in their choice of substratum. Dicranoloma platycaulon was found exclusively on the trunks of myrtle beech and D. billardierei on fallen logs and exposed roots. Dicranoloma dicarpum which was not common, grew as an epiphyte on myrtle beech and on rocks.

Camu-camu occurs spontaneously throughout the Amazon Basin from fertile to poor soil. It has a wide adaptive plasticity. It is a fruitful in incipient process of domestication and adaptation to terra firma. It has a large economic potential. It assists in the economy of the rural inhabitants, its cultivation contributes to ameliorate the economic losses occurred due to the floods. It is known as the fruit richest in vitamin C. Fruits of native plants present disparities in vegetative and reproductive aspects. Morphometric variations are important indicators of genetic variability exploited in breeding programs. Biometrics is an important tool to detect genetic variation of populations of the same species and the relationships between this variability and environmental factors. The description of the morphological aspects of seeds and seedlings is essential, since they can help in the management, conservation and development of efficient techniques for the production of seedlings. For Myrtaceae, anatomical and histochemical studies have been performed with some emphasis on economically important cultures. The aim of this study was to describe fruits, the structures present in the stages of post-seminal development and seedlings, to describe the anatomy and to identify the main seed storage compound, as well as to evaluate the physical and physiological quality of the seeds in clones of Banco Ativo of Germplasm of Camucamuzeiro of Embrapa Amazônia Oriental. Five clones of camucamuzeiro were evaluated for morphological, biometric, anatomical and histochemical characteristics. The fruit is a globose, simple, fleshy berry. The seeds are exalbuminous, have fleshy cotyledons, crassos, soldiers, reniformes, the embryo is eugenoid, with polyembryony. Micropyle, raphe and lens are imperceptible. Germination cryptocoledonar hypogea. The seedling has a pivoting radicular system, undifferentiated hypocotyl, cylindrical and elongated epicotyl. The eofilos are simple, opposite or less frequently verticillate. The outer tegument presents epidermis composed of a layer of cells of tabular format, rich in phenolic content, pectins, alkaloids and terpenes. The cotyledons have uniseriate epidermis and parenchyma formed by polyhedral cells with a high concentration of starch grains and dispersed vascular bundles, presents alkaloids, idioblasts with phenolic content, lipids and proteins. The embryonic axis has a protoderm with cuboid cells, juxtaposed, thin walls and conspicuous nuclei. There is ample biometric variability among the studied clones thus configuring a high genetic potential. The secondary methabilites present in the species are located principally in the integument. This information can aid in the isolation of these substances for further studies. / O camu-camu ocorre espontaneamente em toda a bacia amazônica de solos férteis a paupérrimos. Possui uma ampla plasticidade adaptativa. É uma frutífera em incipiente processo de domesticação e adaptação à terra firme. Possui largo potencial econômico. Auxilia na economia dos habitantes rurais, seu cultivo contribui para amenizar as perdas econômicas ocorridas em função das inundações. É conhecido como o fruto mais rico em vitamina C. Frutos de plantas nativas apresentam desuniformidades nos aspectos vegetativos e reprodutivos. Variações morfométricas são indicadoras importantes da variabilidade genética exploradas em programas de melhoramento genético. A biometria é um importante instrumento para detectar variação genética de populações de uma mesma espécie e as relações entre esta variabilidade e os fatores ambientais. A descrição dos aspectos morfológicos de sementes e plântulas é essencial, pois podem auxiliar no manejo, conservação e no desenvolvimento de técnicas eficientes para a produção de mudas. Para as Myrtaceae os estudos anatômicos e histoquímicos têm sido realizados com alguma ênfase para culturas de importância econômica. Neste contexto objetivou-se descrever frutos, as estruturas presentes nas etapas do desenvolvimento pós-seminal e as plântulas, descrever a anatomia e identificar o principal composto de armazenamento das sementes, além de avaliar a qualidade física e fisiológica das sementes em clones do Banco Ativo de Germoplasma de camucamuzeiro da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental. Foram avaliados cinco clones de camucamuzeiro quanto às características morfológicas, biométricas, anatômicas e histoquímicas. O fruto é uma baga globosa, simples, carnosa. As sementes são exalbuminosas, apresentam cotilédones carnosos, crassos, soldados, reniformes, o embrião é eugenóide, com poliembriônia. Micrópila, rafe e lente são imperceptíveis. Germinação criptocotiledonar hipógea. A plântula possui sistema radicular pivotante, hipocótilo indiferenciado, epicótilo cilíndrico e alongado. Os eofilos são simples, opostos ou em menor frequência verticilados. O tegumento externo apresenta epiderme composta por uma camada de células de formato tabular, ricas em conteúdo fenólico, pectinas, alcalóides e terpenos. Os cotilédones possuem epiderme unisseriada e parênquima formado por células poliédricas com uma grande concentração de grãos de amido e feixes vasculares dispersos, apresenta alcalóides, idioblastos com conteúdo fenólico, lipídio e proteínas. O eixo embrionário possui protoderme com células cubóides, justapostas, paredes delgadas e com núcleo conspícuo. Existe ampla variabilidade biometrica entre os clones estudados configurando assim um elevado potêncial genético. Os metábólitos secundários presentes na espécie estão localizados principalmento no tegumento. Essa informação pode auxilar no isolamento dessas substâncias para estudos posteriores.

The 1920’s and 30’s saw the advent of the automotive era in America as Henry Ford’s vision of production and technological progress was fully realized. But the pleasure of automobility was initially afforded to a select few, and so the automobile revealed a growing chasm between social classes. Additionally, the automobile contributed to a transformation of the social ideology of gender as more and more women spent time in cars as passengers and as drivers. And while some viewed this ideological shift as a welcome change, many Americans worried about the negative implications of women in cars. Representations of automobiles in American literature reveal this juxtaposition between positive and negative reactions, and this thesis explores the cultural impetus behind this duality, as well as the manifestations of this duality in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, James M. Cain’s Double Indemnity, and John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

L’extraction par fluide supercritique en particulier à l’aide du dioxyde carbone, présente plusieurs avantages par rapport aux procédés d’extraction classiques tels que le gain du temps, la sélectivité et l'absence de dégradation des substances extraites. Dans ce contexte, l’extraction des fleurs de Myrte et de Pisticia a été étudiée en déterminant leurs conditions optimales pour avoir un bon rendement. Cette étude a montré pour les deux plantes un rendement élevé en travaillant à des pressions importantes à l'ordre de 200 bars, à une basse température de 40°C et pour des particules de petites tailles de l’ordre de 220 µm. L'extrait de Myrte a montré une activité antioxydante meilleure que celle de l’huile essentielle de la même plante avec un IC50 de l‘ordre de 30 µg/ml. L'optimisation du pouvoir antioxydant des extraits de Pistacia par CO2 supercritique a montré un comportement différent de celui du rendement et pour des faibles pressions d’extraction (80 bars), l'activité antioxydante est meilleure. A 84 bars, l'étude a montré la possibilité d'obtenir un extrait présentant un rapport qualité prix meilleur pour des installations supercritiques industrielle de grandes tailles. Afin de valoriser nos recherches et de les concrétiser, l’ajout des extraits et des huiles essentielles a des produits agroalimentaires a enrichi et a donné une valeur ajoutée qui peut représenter ure innovation dans le domaine agroalimentaire. Finalement, les résultats expérimentaux de l’extraction par CO2 supercritique d'extrait de Pistacia, ont été modélisés par le biais du modèle de Sovova (1994) et les résultats numériques de simulation obtenus sont en accord avec les travaux expérimentaux réalisés. / The supercritical fluid extraction, using carbon dioxide, has several advantages over conventional methods of extraction such as the gain of time, selectivity and absence of extracted substances degradation. In this context, the extraction of myrtle flowers and Pistacia were studied by determining their optimal conditions for a good performance. This study showed for both plants high efficiency when working at high pressures in the order of 200 bars, at a low temperature of 40 ° C and for small particle sizes of the order of 220μm. The myrtle extract showed a better antioxidant activity than the essential oil of the same plant with an IC50 of about 30 μg / ml. The optimization of antioxidant extracts from Pistacia supercritical using CO2 showed different results from those for performance and we have good antioxidant activity for pressures of about 80 bars. At 84 bars, the study showed that we can have an extract with a better price-quality ratio for industrial supercritical installations of large sizes. The addition of extracts and essential oils to food products was enriching and has given an added value which can represent an innovation in the food industry. Finally, the experimental results for the extraction with supercritical CO2 of Pistacia extract were modeled through Sovova model (1994) for its reliability and the obtained numerical results agree with previous studies in the literature.

Beach profile models predict the changes in bathymetry along a line perpendicular to the shoreline. These models are used to forecast bathymetric changes in response to storms, sea level rise or human activities such as dredging and beach nourishment. Process-based models achieve this by simulating the physical processes that drive the sediment transport as opposed to behavior models which simulate observed profile changes without resolving the underlying processes. Some of these processes are wave shoaling and breaking, boundary layer streaming, and offshore-directed undertow currents. These hydrodynamic processes control the sediment processes such as sediment pick-up from the bottom, diffusion of the sediment across the water column and its advection with waves and currents. For this study, newly developed sediment transport and boundary layer models were coupled with existing models of wave transformation, nearshore circulation and bathymetry update, to predict beach profile changes. The models covered the region from the dry land to a depth of 6-8 meters, spanning up to 500 meters in the cross-shore direction. The modeling system was applied at storm time scales, extending from a couple of hours to several days. Two field experiments were conducted at Myrtle Beach, SC, involving the collection of wave, current and bathymetric data as a part of this study. The results were used to calibrate and test the numerical models along with data from various laboratory studies from the literature. The sediment transport model computes the variation of sediment concentrations over a wave period and over the water column, solving the advection-diffusion equation using the Crank-Nicholson finite-difference numerical scheme. Using a new approach, erosion depth thickness and sediment concentrations within the bed were also predicted. The model could predict sediment transport rates for a range of conditions, within a factor of two. It successfully computed the sediment concentration profile over the water column and within the bed and its variation throughout a wave period. Erosion depth and sheet flow layer thickness were also predicted reasonably well. Wave heights across the profile were predicted within ten percent when the empirical wave breaking parameter was tuned appropriately. Mean cross-shore velocities contain more uncertainty, even after tuning. The importance of capturing the location of the maximum, near-bottom, cross-shore velocity when predicting bar behavior was shown. Bar formation, erosion, accretion, onshore and offshore bar movement were all computed with the model successfully