The thesis examines the learning experience of Muay Thai training and competition through an interpretation of Whiteheads’ theory of learning. This examination is undertaken through a reflection on training and competing in Canada and Thailand during the 2009-2011 period. I will offer an analysis of learning Muay Thai through an interpretation of Whiteheads learning theory and educational philosophy. This thesis rejects learning as a product of hoarding information and recommends education must facilitate concrete and abstract experiences of the principles of freedom and discipline to allow for the development of wisdom and courage in learners. This paper argues that expressing oneself through Muay Thai facilitates non-violent dispositions by allowing for ‘rhythmic’ experiences which enable the growth of active wisdom and courage through periodic tests of training and competition. By providing an autoethnographic account of learning Muay Thai and a theoretical discussion on learning the author will provide a subsequent interpretation of Whiteheads’ theories applied to Muay Thai training and competition. This paper will also consider the educational merit of Muay Thai for marginalized identities as a consequence of developing active wisdom and courage.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / On the growth evaluation of the open-grown trees was selected 57 samples, of which were mensuration many morphometric variables from digital photographs in software AutoCAD and dendrometrics variables in bole increment extracted in diameter breast height (DBH). The development of this research was to described the singular dimensions and recover crown and bole growth from open-grown Cedrela fissilis, corresponding to period 2007-2011, and build mathematical equations to described the growth of variable crown diameter (CD), mantle of the crown (MC), crown diameter in relative heights (CDrh) and periodic annual increment in basal area (PAIb). In the annual lengthening (AL) were observed minimum, maximum and median annual values of 3.0, 91.0 and 32.4 cm, respectively. As well as, serie correlations, determined by Pearson (r = 0.76 a 0.86; Pr<.0001), with higher lengthening connected to the lower orders of branching. In periodic lengthening (PL), corresponding to the period of 2007-2011 there were values of up to 1.82 m, found in diameter class 30-40, with a coefficient of variation (CV) up to 67.67%, checked in diametric class > 60. To model growth construction 35 trees were selected from 57 initially sampled considering it crown and bole conditions, having been discarded sample of the > 60 diametric class. To the mantle of the crown variable the model NLMC=b0+b1*(1/DBH)+b2*(DBH²) has good adjust (R²adj.=0.92; VC=6.12%). The equation to annual lengthening of the crown, ALC=b0+b1*(NLCAI)+b2*(DBH) showed adjustment and precision (R²adj.=0.50; VC=35.95%), it explaining until 50% total variance, but with higher percent residual. With similar precision, the model adjusted to crown growth in diameter, CGD=b0+b1*(NLCAI), had statistical precision defined to R²adj= 0.44 and VC=36.25%, with higher VC resulted from the higher variance in samples. To the CDrh the adjust was represented to R²adj.=0.58 and VC=52.41%, had been defined the model NLCDrh=b0+b1*(NLDBH)+b2*(1/hi²)+b3*(DBH²), with the results of residual evaluations didn t submit normality distribution and homogeny variance. The adjust to CAIb equation showed good statistical precision (R²adj.=0.66; VC=11%), it explaining until 66% total variance from model NLCAIb=b0+b1*(DBH)+b2*(h/d). On the increment descriptive analyses it observed high periodic annual increment in diameter (PAId) and PAIb in the 25, 35 and 45 cm diameter class. The PAId medium, minimum and maximum values correspond to 3.6 cm, 0.7 cm and 7.3 cm. At the 35 and 45 cm class it observed 95.6 and 75.5 PAIb average, respectively. All of the diameter classes it was observed current annual increment in diameter (CAId) higher 2.5 cm. The crown growth reviews from the open-grown trees demonstrated that the crown growth rhythmic and its correlation with the bole increments it turn possible to build growth models characterized to good adjust and statistical efficiency, wherever, it should be stratification methods based in site informations. The methodology analyses with digital photography also showed good precision and practicality, it can be widely used to review singular and open-grown trees. / Na avaliação do crescimento de árvores isoladas foram selecionadas 57 amostras, das quais se mensurou variáveis morfométricas em fotos digitalizadas no software AutoCAD e dendrométricas a partir de rolos de incremento coletados na altura do DAP. O desenvolvimento desta pesquisa teve como objetivo descrever as dimensões individuais e reconstituir o crescimento da copa e fuste de árvores isoladas de Cedrela fissilis, avaliado de 2007 a 2011, e construir equações matemáticas para descrever o crescimento da variável diâmetro da copa (DC), manto de copa (MC), diâmetro da copa em alturas relativas (DChi) e incremento periódico anual em área basal (IPAg). Nos alongamento anuais (ALG) foram verificados valores mínimo, máximo e médio anual de 3,0, 91,0 e 32,4 cm, respectivamente. Assim como correlações em série, determinada por r = 0,76 a 0,86 (Pr<.0001), tendo sido observados maiores alongamentos nas menores ordens de ramificação. Nos alongamentos periódicos (ALGP), correspondente ao período 2007-2011, verificaram-se valores médios de até 1,82 m, observado na classe diamétrica 30-40 cm, com coeficiente de variação (CV) máximo de 67,67%, verificado na classe > 60 cm. Para a construção dos modelos de crescimento foram selecionadas 35 árvores de acordo com sua condição de copa e fuste, sendo descartada a classe diamétrica > 60 cm devido a pouca amostragem. Para o manto de copa o modelo LNMC = b0+b1*(1/DAP)+b2*(DAP²) apresentou bom ajuste (R²aj.= 0,92 e CV = 6,12%). A equação da variável alongamento anual da copa, ALG=b0+b1*(LNICA)+b2*(DAP), apresentou o ajuste comprometido pelo alto erro percentual (R²aj. = 0,50; CV = 35,95%), descrevendo até 50% da variância total. Com precisão semelhante à ALG, o modelo ajustado para a variável crescimento da copa em diâmetro, CCD=b0+b1*(LNICA), apresentou altas taxas de erro percentual, com precisão estatística definida por CV = 36,25%; R²aj. = 0,44. Para o modelo DChi o ajuste foi descrito por R²aj.=0,58 e CV=52,41%, tendo sido definido o modelo LNDChi=b0+b1*(LNDAP)+b2*(1/hi²)+b3*(DAP²), tendo o mesmo não apresentado distribuição normal e heterogeneidade na variância dos resíduos. O ajuste da equação apara o IPAg apresentou boa precisão estatística (R²aj.=0,66; CV=11%), descrevendo até 66% da variância total a partir do modelo LNIPAg=b0+b1*(DAP)+b2*(h/d). Na avaliação descritiva dos incrementos observaram-se elevadas taxas de incremento periódico anual em diâmetro (IPAd) e IPAg nas classes diamétricas 25, 35 e 45 cm. Os valores de IPAd médio, mínimo e máximo foram de 3,6 cm, 0,7 e 7,3 cm, respectivamente. Nas classes 35 e 45 cm verificou-se taxa de IPAg média de 95,6 e 75,5 cm², respectivamente. Em todas as classes de diâmetro foram encontradas taxas de incremento corrente anual em diâmetro (ICAd) superior a 2,5 cm. As análises do crescimento da copa de árvore isoladas demonstraram que o crescimento rítmico da mesma e sua correlação com os incrementos do fuste possibilitam a construção de modelos de crescimento com boa eficiência estatística, porém, devendo se aperfeiçoar a estratificação fazendo uso de informações que descrevam as condições dos sítios. A metodologia de avaliação a partir de fotos digitalizadas também apresentou boa precisão e praticidade, podendo ser amplamente utilizada na avaliação de árvores singulares ou isoladas.

Plants reduce inorganic carbon to synthesize biomass that is comprised of mostly polysaccharides and lignin. Growth is intricately regulated by external cues such as light, temperature, and water availability and internal cues including those generated by the circadian clock. While many aspects of polymer biosynthesis are known, their regulation and distribution within the stem are poorly understood. Plant biomass is perhaps the most abundant organic substance on Earth and can be used as feedstock for energy production. Various grass species are under development as energy crops yet several of their attributes make them challenging research subjects. Brachypodium distachyon has emerged as a grass model for food and energy crop research. I studied rhythmic growth, a phenomenon important to understanding how plant biomass accumulates through time, and vascular system development, which has biofuel feedstock conversion efficiency and yield. Growth rate changes within the course of a day in a sinusoidal fashion with a period of approximately 24 hours, a phenomenon known as rhythmic growth. Light and temperature cycles, and the circadian clock determine growth rate and the timing of rate changes. I examined the influences of these factors on growth patterns in B. distachyon using time-lapse photography. Temperature and, to a lesser extent, light influenced growth rate while the circadian clock had no noticeable effect. The vascular system transports important materials throughout the plant and consists of phloem, which conducts photosynthates, and xylem, which conducts water and nutrients. The cell walls of xylem elements and ground tissue sclerenchyma fibers are comprised of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. These components are important to alternative energy research since cellulose and hemicellulose can be converted to liquid fuel, but lignin is a significant inhibitor of this process. I investigated vascular development of B. distachyon by applying various histological stains to stems from three key developmental. My results described in detail internal stem anatomy and demonstrated that lignification continues after crystalline cellulose deposition ceases. A better understanding of growth cues and various anatomical and cell wall construction features of B. distachyon will further our understanding of plant biomass accumulation processes.

Patterns of trees’ endogenous rhythmic growth (ERG) and paralleled C allocation shift between root and shoot systems have been studied, but there is still a need to understand their impact in shaping soil microbiomes. Moreover, the impact of plants on soil microbial communities can be modulated or overweighed by time-induced plant and/or seasonal changes. Thus, we intended to analyze the structure of soil microbiomes as response to simultaneous alternated host tree root and shoot flushes and time-induced changes within one vegetation period at two sites in Central Germany. In this study, we utilized oak phytometers (Quercus robur L., clone DF159) as host trees, and made use of their ERG, whereby consecutive root and shoot flushes make a complete growth cycle. We studied two complete growth cycles during the same vegetation period, performed a non-destructive soil sampling and applied high-throughput amplicon sequencing of the bacterial 16S gene and the fungal ITS2 region. As C allocation shifts between the tree root and shoot, released root exudates and consequently the nutrient availability alternate for soil microorganisms. We therefore anticipated different microbial communities in the host tree root zone along the growth cycles until autumnal leaf senescence. In our results, the bacterial community exhibited a directional change over time along the vegetation period. In contrast, the fungal community appeared sample specific. Our findings enlarge the current understanding of the temporal microbial assembly in the host tree root zone.