Ecótonos campo-floresta no sul do Brasil são originados pela expansão de ecossistemas florestais sobre os campestres, um processo natural gerado por mudanças climáticas de larga escala espacial e temporal. Este processo provoca mudanças vegetacionais que consequentemente modificam os padrões de distribuição, composição e riqueza faunística. Assim, ecótonos campo-floresta são sistemas adequados para inferir sobre a influência de processos históricos, biogeográficos e ecológicos na estruturação de comunidades. Para respondermos questões relacionadas a processos agindo em diferentes escalas espaciais, distribuímos as amostragens de modo a obtermos um panorama espacial da estrutura das assembléias. Assim, a proposta de estudo desenvolvido no Capítulo I foi avaliar o papel do ambiente e de dinâmicas espaciais sobre a composição, riqueza de espécies e número de indivíduos em metacomunidades de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores de ecótonos campo-floresta. Os resultados demonstram que os componentes ambiental, espacial e a estrutura espacial do ambiente contribuem igualmente na explicação da variância na composição de espécies, enquanto o ambiente foi mais importante em explicar mudanças na riqueza de espécies e número de indivíduos. Assim, concluímos que requerimentos de nicho das espécies e processos regionais como a limitação da dispersão, o distanciamento de centros de especiação e distribuição geográfica e o processo de expansão florestal conjuntamente explicam variações na estrutura de metacomunidades de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores em ecótonos campo-floresta no Sul do Brasil. No Capítulo II, inferimos sobre os processos gerando os padrões de coexistência de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores em assembléias baseando-se em afinidades filogenéticas e funcionais. Considerando estas similaridades, avaliamos se a diferenciação de nicho ou os filtros ambientais compõem processos importantes para explicar os padrões de coexistência em escalas de hábitat, paisagem e região. Os resultados apontam um padrão de agrupamento filogenético e funcional em todas as escalas avaliadas, embora um padrão de repulsão foi registrado no interior florestal, atestando a influência da diferenciação de nicho estruturando as assembléias de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores nesta porção do gradiente campo-floresta. A predominância do padrão de agrupamento filogenético e funcional afirma a ação de filtros ambientais como processos majoritariamente importantes em explicar os padrões de coexistência de espécies e indivíduos de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores nas escalas avaliadas. Desta forma, o estudo compõem uma das primeiras tentativas para definir os processos de estruturação de assembléias de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores neotropicais combinando aspectos taxonômicos, funcionais e filogenéticos, levantando também questões de conservação da biodiversidade nos sistemas ecológicos estudados. / Grassland-forest ecotones in southern Brazil are originated by forest expansion on grasslands, a natural process generated by climate shifts in large spatial and temporal scales, which causes vegetation changes and likely affects distribution, composition and faunal richness patterns. Thus, grassland-forest ecotones in southern Brazil are suitable systems to infer about influence of historical, biogeographical and ecological processes structuring communities. In order to make these inferences, we spatially sampled non-flying small mammals to characterize the spatial structure of species assemblages. The study proposal of Chapter I was to evaluate the role of environment and spatial dynamics on the composition, species richness and individuals number of nonflying small mammals metacommunities in grassland-forest ecotones. The results shows that environment, space and spatial structure of environment explained equally variations in species composition, while environment variables was the most important component explaining changes in species richness and number of individual. Thus, we conclude that niche requirements and regional processes like dispersal limitation, increase in distance of speciation cores and geographic distribution centers and the forest expansion process explain together variation in metacommunities structure of non-flying small mammals in grassland-forest ecotones at southern Brazil. In Chapter II, we inferred the coexistence patterns of non-flying small mammals based on phylogenetic and functional affinities. Considering these ecological similarities, we evaluate whether niche differentiation or environmental filters processes are responsible for patterns of species coexistence in habitat, landscape and regional scales. Results indicated a phylogenetic and functional cluster across all evaluated scales, although phylogenetic and functional repulsion was registered at forest interior, proving the importance of niche differentiation structuring non-flying small mammals assemblages in this grassland-forest gradient portion. Prevalence of phylogenetic and functional cluster across all scales attests environmental filters as important processes explaining species and individual coexistence patterns in habitat, landscape and regional scales. Therefore, this study comprises one of first attempts to define processes underlying the structure of neotropical non-flying small mammals assemblages combining taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic aspects, concurrently addressing important questions to biodiversity conservation in the ecological systems under study.

Ecótonos campo-floresta no sul do Brasil são originados pela expansão de ecossistemas florestais sobre os campestres, um processo natural gerado por mudanças climáticas de larga escala espacial e temporal. Este processo provoca mudanças vegetacionais que consequentemente modificam os padrões de distribuição, composição e riqueza faunística. Assim, ecótonos campo-floresta são sistemas adequados para inferir sobre a influência de processos históricos, biogeográficos e ecológicos na estruturação de comunidades. Para respondermos questões relacionadas a processos agindo em diferentes escalas espaciais, distribuímos as amostragens de modo a obtermos um panorama espacial da estrutura das assembléias. Assim, a proposta de estudo desenvolvido no Capítulo I foi avaliar o papel do ambiente e de dinâmicas espaciais sobre a composição, riqueza de espécies e número de indivíduos em metacomunidades de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores de ecótonos campo-floresta. Os resultados demonstram que os componentes ambiental, espacial e a estrutura espacial do ambiente contribuem igualmente na explicação da variância na composição de espécies, enquanto o ambiente foi mais importante em explicar mudanças na riqueza de espécies e número de indivíduos. Assim, concluímos que requerimentos de nicho das espécies e processos regionais como a limitação da dispersão, o distanciamento de centros de especiação e distribuição geográfica e o processo de expansão florestal conjuntamente explicam variações na estrutura de metacomunidades de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores em ecótonos campo-floresta no Sul do Brasil. No Capítulo II, inferimos sobre os processos gerando os padrões de coexistência de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores em assembléias baseando-se em afinidades filogenéticas e funcionais. Considerando estas similaridades, avaliamos se a diferenciação de nicho ou os filtros ambientais compõem processos importantes para explicar os padrões de coexistência em escalas de hábitat, paisagem e região. Os resultados apontam um padrão de agrupamento filogenético e funcional em todas as escalas avaliadas, embora um padrão de repulsão foi registrado no interior florestal, atestando a influência da diferenciação de nicho estruturando as assembléias de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores nesta porção do gradiente campo-floresta. A predominância do padrão de agrupamento filogenético e funcional afirma a ação de filtros ambientais como processos majoritariamente importantes em explicar os padrões de coexistência de espécies e indivíduos de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores nas escalas avaliadas. Desta forma, o estudo compõem uma das primeiras tentativas para definir os processos de estruturação de assembléias de pequenos mamíferos não-voadores neotropicais combinando aspectos taxonômicos, funcionais e filogenéticos, levantando também questões de conservação da biodiversidade nos sistemas ecológicos estudados. / Grassland-forest ecotones in southern Brazil are originated by forest expansion on grasslands, a natural process generated by climate shifts in large spatial and temporal scales, which causes vegetation changes and likely affects distribution, composition and faunal richness patterns. Thus, grassland-forest ecotones in southern Brazil are suitable systems to infer about influence of historical, biogeographical and ecological processes structuring communities. In order to make these inferences, we spatially sampled non-flying small mammals to characterize the spatial structure of species assemblages. The study proposal of Chapter I was to evaluate the role of environment and spatial dynamics on the composition, species richness and individuals number of nonflying small mammals metacommunities in grassland-forest ecotones. The results shows that environment, space and spatial structure of environment explained equally variations in species composition, while environment variables was the most important component explaining changes in species richness and number of individual. Thus, we conclude that niche requirements and regional processes like dispersal limitation, increase in distance of speciation cores and geographic distribution centers and the forest expansion process explain together variation in metacommunities structure of non-flying small mammals in grassland-forest ecotones at southern Brazil. In Chapter II, we inferred the coexistence patterns of non-flying small mammals based on phylogenetic and functional affinities. Considering these ecological similarities, we evaluate whether niche differentiation or environmental filters processes are responsible for patterns of species coexistence in habitat, landscape and regional scales. Results indicated a phylogenetic and functional cluster across all evaluated scales, although phylogenetic and functional repulsion was registered at forest interior, proving the importance of niche differentiation structuring non-flying small mammals assemblages in this grassland-forest gradient portion. Prevalence of phylogenetic and functional cluster across all scales attests environmental filters as important processes explaining species and individual coexistence patterns in habitat, landscape and regional scales. Therefore, this study comprises one of first attempts to define processes underlying the structure of neotropical non-flying small mammals assemblages combining taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic aspects, concurrently addressing important questions to biodiversity conservation in the ecological systems under study.

An extended Hubbard model with large short and long-ranged Coulomb repulsions and distant transfer is numerically investigated by use of the Lanczos exact diagonalization (ED) method to study the charge order and unconditional dimerization of a chain at density rho (ρ)= 0.4. From the analysis of the spin and charge correlation functions, a picture consistent with the formation of a dimer insulating state, which is of Wigner lattice-type (WL) charge order (CO), is obtained. The next-nearest neighbour (NNN) hopping t2 enhances the intradimer correlations and weakens the interdimer correlations. Implications for the CuO2 chains in Sr14Cu24O41 are discussed.We have also introduced a Heisenberg model which parametrically depends on hole positions. If the electrostatic hole-hole repulsion is included such a model allows to evaluate all energy eigenvalues and eigenstates (for small system size) and thus enables us to evaluate thermodynamic properties as function of temperature,magnetic field, and doping. Assuming certain exchange constants we can investigate the influence of the electrostatic hole-hole repulsion on ground state properties as well as on thermal averages like the magnetization which include contributions of low-lying spin-hole configurations.

EPHB2, an ephrin receptor (EPH) from receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) family, is one of the substrates for tissue factor (TF) - coagulation factor VIIa (FVIIa) complex and it is cleaved in its ectodomain. EPHB2 cleavage is important for ephrin receptor (EPH) - ephrin ligand (EFN) signaling and cell repulsion. TF has been reported to be overexpressed in different cancer types such as breast and colorectal cancer (CRC). Furthermore, EPHB2 R155C mutation, at the TF/FVIIa-mediated cleavage site, has been identified as one of the somatic mutation sites in human metastatic CRC. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to characterize the EPHB2 R155C mutation and its effect on the cleavage by TF/FVIIa on EPHB2 in context to CRC. We generated overexpression cell models for EPHB2 wild type (wt) and R155C mutant in human CRC DLD-1 cell line for in vitro compartmentalization assay analysis to demonstrate repulsion event in EPH-EFN signaling. Whereas low endogenous TF expression led to incomplete cleavage of EPHB2 wt protein, stable overexpression of TF resulted in complete cleavage. Moreover, overexpression of TF resulted in reduced compartmentalization in EPHB2 wt cells after FVIIa treatment. Transient expression of TF in EPHB2 wt and R155C cells showed no clear difference in EPHB2 cleavage. Interestingly, it was difficult to obtain similar stable overexpression level of TF in EPHB2 R155C cells compared to EPHB2 wt cells. This may lead to further research in context to the role of TF/FVIIa-mediated EPHB2 cleavage in CRC by the generation of TF overexpression cell lines using lentiviral transduction.

Autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs) is a growing field within research. AGVs are used in areas like reconnaissance,surveillance, transportation and self-driving cars. The goal of this project is to drive a system of five AGVs modelled as differential drive vehicles along an arbitrary path through a field of obstacles while holding a formation. The goal is achieved by dividing the project into three subprojects. The first subproject is trajectory tracking of one AGV. This is achieved by using the differentialdrivemodel and driving the tracking error of the system to zero.The second subproject is formation control, where a displacement-based, double integrator model is used to get five AGVs to hold a formation of an equilateral triangle while following a path.The third subproject is collision avoidance between AGVs and static obstacles placed along the predetermined path. Collision avoidance is achieved by adding a repulsive potential field around the AGVs and obstacles. All three subprojects are then combined to achieve the goal of the project. Finally, simulations are done in Matlab which confirms that the proposed models are correct. / Autonoma vägfordon är ett växande område inom forskning. Autonoma vägfordon används inom områden som spaning, övervakning, transportering och självkörande bilar.Målet med det här projektet är att köra ett system med fem autonoma vägfordon modellerade som differentialdrivna fordon längsmed en slumpmässig väg genom ett fält med hinder samtidigt som de håller en formation. Målet uppnås genom att dela upp projektet i tre delprojekt. Det första delprojektet är banspårning med ett autonomt vägfordon. Det görs genom att använda den differentialdrivna modellen och driva systemets spårningsfel till noll. Det andra delprojektet är formationshållning där en förskjutningsbaserad dubbelintegratormodell används för att få fem fordon att följa en väg samtidigt som de håller formen av en liksidig triangel. Det tredje delprojektet handlar om att undvika kollision mellan fordonen och statiska hinder som placerats på vägen. Kollisionsundvikning uppnås genom att lägga på ett repellerande potentialfält runt alla agenter och hinder. Alla tre delprojekt kombineras sedan för att lösa projektmålet. Slutligen görs simuleringar i Matlab vilket bekräftar att de framtagna modellerna är korrekta. / Kandidatexjobb i elektroteknik 2022, KTH, Stockholm

La recherche de solutions alternatives à l’usage de pesticides en production horticole est devenue une exigence de santé publique. Ainsi, l’introduction de plantes de service (PdS) est une méthode écologique qui peut contribuer à diminuer le recours à la lutte chimique contre Myzus persicae, le puceron vert du pêcher. L’intérêt de certaines de ces PdS réside dans leur capacité à perturber l’installation du puceron sur son hôte et/ou à diminuer ses performances grâce à l’émission des composés organiques volatils (COV). Cependant, un obstacle majeur à leur utilisation est que leur efficacité se limite à un périmètre restreint et que leur production olfactive est sensible à de nombreuses variables biotiques et abiotiques. Identifier les plantes les plus performantes, comprendre leur mode d’action et chercher à optimiser leur efficacité est donc une démarche propre à favoriser leur emploi en horticulture. L’analyse de l’environnement olfactif est une clé pour évaluer et comprendre les interactions PdS-plante hôte-puceron.Au laboratoire, un typage avec un olfactomètre en Y a permis de sélectionner deux PdS émettrices de mélanges de COV ayant un effet répulsif marqué sur M. persicae : le basilic (Ocimum basilicum) qui agit directement sur l’insecte, et l’œillet d’Inde (Tagetes patula) qui agit indirectement via la plante hôte. Ainsi, les COV émis par T. patula rendent la plante-hôte (le poivron, Capsicum annuum) répulsive. En effet, lors des tests de choix, les pucerons s’orientent vers les poivrons seuls mais évitent les COV émis par des poivrons précédemment mis en culture associée pendant 5 jours avec l’œillet d’inde. Deux composés, le (E)-β-farnésène (EBF) et l'eugénol ont de fortes propriétés répulsives envers M. persicae.Différents facteurs peuvent affecter l’efficacité répulsive de ces plantes (climat, conduite, génétique). Nous avons comparé les COV émis selon les espèces et les chémotypes et testé l’effet répulsif individuel des COV. Cet effet « génotype » a été examiné en étudiant le comportement olfactif de M. persicae en présence des COV individuels émis par différents clones de Romarin (Rosmarinus officinalis). Cinq composés sont répulsifs, l’acétate de bornyle, le camphre, l’α-terpinéol, le terpinène-4-ol et le géranyle acétone. Seul le clone de romarin Voltz Splindler s’est avéré répulsif, alors que les autres clones contiennent également ces 5 composés répulsifs mais dans des proportions différentes. On peut donc conclure que la présence de ces composés ne suffit pas à induire une perturbation du comportement olfactif du puceron et que la concentration, la proportion, voire l’association des COV présents dans les bouquets olfactifs libérés, sont à l’origine de ces résultats contrastés. Par la technique d’électropénétrographie (EPG), nous avons mis en évidence un deuxième effet des COV émis par O. basilicum au stade végétatif et par T. patula au stade floraison sur le puceron. Ils perturbent fortement son comportement alimentaire, en réduisant notamment la durée d’ingestion du phloème qui se traduit par une baisse des ressources nutritionnelles et aboutit à une diminution de sa fécondité. Un suivi de la fécondité sur organe détaché nous a permis de mettre en évidence l’importance du stade phénologique de la PdS sur la composition et l’efficacité du mélange olfactif libéré. Une dernière étape de mon travail a permis de confirmer dans des conditions de cultures sous tunnels, l’effet de COV émis par ces deux PdS sur la démographie de M. persicae liée à une baisse de sa fécondité.En conclusion, cette thèse a mis en évidence que les COV émis dans l’environnement d’une plante hôte par des plantes voisines peuvent fournir un service aux cultures en réduisant les performances de ravageurs tels que M. persicae. Nous avons montré que des variables comme le chémotype ou le stade phénologique de la PdS peuvent modifier son message olfactif et constituer un moyen d’optimiser ce service. / The search for alternatives to the use of pesticides in horticultural production has become a public health requirement. Thus, the introduction of Companion plants (CP) is an ecological method that can help reduce the use of chemical control against Myzus persicae, the green peach aphid. The interest of some of these CP lies in their ability to disturb the installation of the aphid on its host plant and/or to reduce its performance through the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, a major obstacle to their use is that their effectiveness is limited to a limited scope and their olfactory production is sensitive to many biotic and abiotic variables. Identifying the most efficient plants, understanding their mode of action and seeking to optimize their effectiveness is therefore an appropriate approach to promote their use in horticulture. Olfactory environment analysis is a key to assessing and understanding CP-host plant -aphid interactions.In the laboratory, we selected with a Y-olfactometer two CP producing VOC mixtures with a marked repellent effect on M. persicae: basil (Ocimum basilicum) which acts directly on the insect, and french marigold (Tagetes patula) which acts indirectly via the host plant. Thus, the VOCs emitted by T. patula make the host plant (pepper, Capsicum annuum) repellent: during the choice tests, the aphids move towards the peppers alone but avoid the VOCs emitted by peppers previously grown intercropped for 5 days with the french marigold. Two compounds, (E)-β-farnesene (EBF) and eugenol have strong repellent properties against M. persicae.Different factors can affect the repellent effectiveness of these plants (climate, plant management, genetics). We compared the VOCs emitted by species and chemotypes and tested the individual repellent effect of VOCs. This "genotype" effect was examined by studying the olfactory behaviour of M. persicae in the presence of individual VOCs emitted by different clones of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis). Five compounds are repellent, bornyl acetate, camphor, α-terpineol, terpinene-4-ol and geranyl acetone. Only the rosemary clone Voltz Splindler was found to be repellent, while the other clones also contain these 5 repellent compounds in varying proportions. It can therefore be concluded that the presence of these compounds is not sufficient to induce a disturbance of the aphid's olfactory behaviour and that the concentration, proportion or even association of VOCs present in the released olfactory bouquets are at the origin of these contrasting results. By the electropenetrography (EPG) technique, we have demonstrated a second effect of the VOCs emitted by O. basilicum in the vegetative stage and by T. patula in the flowering stage on the aphid. They strongly disrupt its feeding behaviour, in particular by reducing the duration of phloem ingestion, which results in a decrease in nutritional resources and leads to a decrease in its fertility. A fertility monitoring on detached organs has allowed us to highlight the importance of the phenological stage of the CP on the composition and efficacy of the olfactory mixture released. A final step in my work confirmed, under tunnel conditions, the effect of VOCs emitted by these two CP on the demographics of M. persicae due to a decrease in its fertility. In conclusion, this thesis highlighted that VOCs emitted into the environment of a host plant by neighbouring plants can provide a service to crops by reducing the performance of pests such as M. persicae. We have shown that variables such as chemotype or phenological stage of the CP can modify its olfactory message and provide a way to optimize this service. We have thus identified disruptive CP and VOCs repellent to M. persicae, the first step towards the development of the push component of a stimulodissuasive diversion strategy to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides against M. persicae.

Nisin, an amphiphilic, antimicrobial peptide, has been shown to integrate into the hydrophobic inner region of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) brush layers; however, the presence of integrated nisin may compromise the protein repulsive character of the PEO layer. In particular, the introduction of fibrinogen to nisin-loaded brush layers has been observed to cause changes consistent with partial elution of nisin and/or location of fibrinogen at the interface. Questions surrounding the possibility of fibrinogen adsorption warrant further investigation, as the location of procoagulant proteins at a peptide-loaded PEO layer would significantly reduce the viability of a medical device coating based on such an approach. In this work, the preferential location of fibrinogen at PEO brush layers was investigated by: detection of FITC-labeled fibrinogen after sequential introduction of nisin and labeled fibrinogen; measurement of changes in the zeta potential of PEO coated and uncoated surfaces following nisin, fibrinogen, and/or buffer challenges; and evaluation of adsorption and elution kinetics in label-free, sequential adsorption experiments using optical waveguide lightmode spectroscopy (OWLS). PEO layers were constructed through radiolytic grafting of Pluronic�� F108 or F68 onto silanized silica surfaces producing long-chain or short-chain PEO layers, respectively. Adsorption results indicated that sequential introduction of nisin and fibrinogen to PEO brush layers, based on F108, does not result in fibrinogen adsorption beyond that expected for a nisin-free PEO layer. No evidence of nisin entrapment in fibrinogen-repellent F68 layers was recorded. Low-level fibrinogen adsorption observed at F68 layers following the introduction of nisin was determined to be a result of nisin adsorption at (uncoated) defect regions on the surface. In conclusion, retention of PEO layer capacity for protein repulsion after nisin entrapment is owing to a steric repulsive barrier provided by PEO segments extending beyond the level of entrapped nisin. It was then hypothesized that the immobilized, pendant PEO chains will inhibit exchange of entrapped nisin by competing proteins, and therefore prolong nisin activity retention. In order to evaluate nisin function following its entrapment, the antimicrobial activity of nisin-loaded, F108-coated silica surfaces was evaluated against the Gram-positive indicator strain, Pediococcus pentosaceous. The retained biological activity of these nisin-loaded layers was evaluated after incubation in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), for contact periods up to one week. Surfaces were withdrawn at selected times and placed on plates inoculated with P. pentosaceous to measure kill zone radius in order to quantify nisin activity. In the presence of BSA, F108-coated surfaces retained more antimicrobial activity than the uncoated, hydrophobic surfaces. These results strongly suggest that PEO brush layers may serve as a viable drug storage platform due to the retained non-fouling character after bioactive peptide entrapment and the prolonged peptide activity in the presence of other proteins. / Graduation date: 2013

Processes at the air-water/ice interface are known to play a very important role in the release of reactive halogen species with atmospheric aerosols serving as catalysts. The ability to make different types of ice with various morphologies, hence, different adsorption and surface properties in vacuum, provide a useful way to probe the catalytic effect of ice in atmospheric reactions. Also, the use of the liquid jet technique provides the rare opportunity to probe liquid samples at the interface; hitherto impossible to investigate with traditional surface science techniques. Studies of reactions on both ice and liquid surfaces at ambient conditions are usually complicated by the rapid desorption and adsorption processes due to the high evaporation rates at the surface. To gain a better understanding and improve modeling of several atmospheric relevant reactions, it is therefore important to develop laboratory techniques that provide an opportunity to investigate non-thermal reactions on both ice and liquid surfaces. Detailed investigation of the interactions of atmospheric relevant molecules (methyl iodide and hydrogen chloride) on water ice at low temperature in UHV conditions has been carried out. These interactions were studied using different techniques such as temperature programmed desorption (TPD), electron stimulated desorption (ESD) and resonance enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI). Unlike probing reactions on ice surfaces, investigating air/liquid interfaces present several challenges. This is because traditional surface science techniques require an ultra high vacuum environment to prevent distortion of information due to interference from equilibrium vapor above the liquid surface during data acquisition. The liquid jet technique facilitates the direct study of continually renewed liquid surfaces in high vacuum, thereby preventing the constant changing of the properties and composition of the liquid surface due to the aging process (diffusion of impurities or liquid constituent). A linear time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been used to monitor ion ejection during laser irradiation of liquid jet containing aqueous solutions and pure water. Since these ions are ejected exclusively from the surface of the liquid and the cluster distributions observed are influenced by the local structure, these experiments provide a sensitive probe of the liquid vacuum interface of these solutions. Though the research is fundamental, the results obtained from these investigations indicate how the discontinuity of bulk properties on the surface of both ice and aqueous solutions affects interfacial reactions.

Dans ce travail, l’effet de la présence de certaines plantes de service (PdS) à proximité d’une plante hôte (Capsicum annuum) sur le comportement et l’installation d’une population de pucerons (Myzus persicae) a été étudié afin de contribuer à la recherche de méthodes de luttealternatives et innovantes contre ces insectes.Dans une première étape, une étude bibliographique a été réalisée, à partir de la littérature etdes connaissances sur des pratiques de jardinage traditionnel afin d’identifier des PdSméditerranéennes caractérisées par leurs propriétés insecticides et surtout aphicides. Nousavons sélectionné treize PdS : Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula latifolia, Ocimum basilicum,Tagetes patula, Tagetes erecta, Pelargonium zonal, Calendula officinalis, Thymus vulgaris,Satureja hortensis, Mentha piperita, Allium schoenoprasum, Carthamus tinctorius, Dittrichiaviscosa. Nous avons étudié dans une deuxième étape, le comportement d’installation deMyzus persicae sur sa plante hôte en présence d’une PdS en conditions contrôlées. Lesrésultats de ces travaux ont montré que la présence de certaines espèces comme R. officinalis,T. patula, T. erecta, P. zonal, L. latifolia, O. basilicum, C. officinalis ou A. schoenoprasum,affectait la survie et /ou la fécondité des femelles au cours du temps en comparaison avec letémoin. Nous avons aussi caractérisé chaque plante par un profil de composés volatils etrechercher des relations entre ces profils de COV et l’efficacité des PdS.Ensuite nous nous sommes intéressés aux mécanismes d’action des PdS et nous avons étudiél’effet direct des PdS sur les pucerons par olfactométrie. Nous avons trouvé qu’en présence deR. officinalis, T. patula en fleur, P. zonal, L. latifolia, O. basilicum, ou M. piperita lesfemelles se dirigent préférentiellement vers l’odeur de leur plante hôte. Nous avons égalementtesté une deuxième hypothèse correspondant à l’effet des COV émis par les PdS sur la plantehôte. Pour cela les plantes hôtes ont été pré-conditionnées avec les PdS pendant 5 jours. Cepré-conditionnement a modifié le profil volatil du poivron et a eu un effet négatif surl’installation des pucerons sur les poivrons pré-conditionnés avec T. patula. Enfin, nous avonstesté l’efficacité de l’association avec R. officinalis, L. latifolia ou O. basilicum dans desconditions de cultures moins confinées (sous tunnels). Nous avons retrouvé un effetsignificatif sur le comportement du puceron de ces PdS. Dans le cas du romarin nous avonsobservé une diminution de l’efficacité de l’association lorsque l’on s’éloigne des plantes deromarin. L’efficacité maximale a été observée sur les poivrons placés à côté du romarin. Aplus grande distance, l’efficacité des PdS diminuait et n’était plus significative. Ces donnéesoffrent des nouvelles pistes de recherche en vue de l’utilisation judicieuse des PdS au sein desagroécosystèmes / In this work, the effect of intercropping companion plants (CP) near a host plant (Capsicumannuum) on the performance and the installation of an aphid’s population (Myzus persicae)was studied to contribute to the search of alternative and innovative methods of pests control.First, a bibliographic study based on the literature and traditional gardening was performed toidentify mediterranean CP characterized by their insecticidal and mainly aphicide properties.We selected thirteen CP: Rosmarinus officinalis, Lavandula latifolia, Ocimum basilicum,Tagetes patula, Tagetes erecta, Pelargonium zonal, Calendula officinalis, Thymus vulgaris,Satureja hortensis, Mentha piperita, Allium schoenoprasum, Carthamus tinctorius, Dittrichiaviscosa. In a second step, we investigated the settling of Myzus persicae on its host plantwhen intercropped with CP under controlled conditions. The results showed thatintercropping with some species such as R. officinalis, T. patula, T. erecta, P. zonal, L.latifolia, O. basilicum, C. officinalis or A. schoenoprasum, affects the survival and / or femalefecundity over time compared to the control. We also characterized each plant by a volatilecompounds profile and looked for relationships between these profiles and the effectivenessof CP. Then, we investigated the mechanisms of action of a CP. We studied the direct effectof CP on aphids by olfactometric tests. We found that, in the presence of R. officinalis,flowering T. patula, zonal P., L. latifolia, O. basilicum, or M. piperita, females prefer theodor of its host plant. We also tested a second hypothesis that VOCs emitted by a CP mayaffect the host plant. Plants were preconditioned with CP for five days. This preconditioningmodified the volatile profile of pepper but had only a negative effect on the settling of aphidson pepper preconditioned with T. patula. Finally, we tested the association with R. officinalis,L. latifolia and O. basilicum under greenhouse conditions. We found a significant effect onthe settling of aphid when using these CP and a decrease of rosemary efficiency when movingaway from rosemary plants. The larger effect was observed on peppers located close torosemary. These data provide new avenues of research and indication on judiciously CP thatcould be intercropped within agro-ecosystems

The ultimate aim of this thesis is to contribute to the development of the concept of repulsion in soft power studies. This is achieved through the operational aim, which is to understand the concept of repulsion by exploring how a feeling of repulsion can be engendered in a state or region by the actions or inactions of the agent. As the antithesis of attraction, I argue that repulsion can be elicited in the subject (state or region) through the culture, values or policies of the agent. Australia’s much maligned climate change response and how it has been received in the Pacific islands was selected as a case study. It was concluded through the application of a repulsion framework that Australia’s response to climate change has likely elicited a feeling of repulsion in the Pacific islands. Through the development of a bespoke repulsion framework, in conjunction with an appropriate methodology that supports the identification of repulsion engendered in a subject by an agent, this study contributes to the advancement of repulsion as a cogent concept in soft power studies.