A partir da década de 1950, o limoeiro \'Cravo\' (Citrus limonia Osbeck) passou a ser o principal porta-enxerto para citros no Estado de São Paulo. Devido à sua suscetibilidade ao declínio dos citros, a sua utilização diminuiu na década de 1980. Em 2001, com a constatação da doença morte súbita dos citros (MSC) na região norte e noroeste do Estado de São Paulo e Triângulo Mineiro, o emprego do limoeiro \'Cravo\' como porta-enxerto se tornou praticamente inviável, já que o mesmo se mostrou suscetível à MSC. A utilização de porta-enxertos tolerantes no cultivo de laranjeiras doces (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck), até o momento, é a medida de manejo mais indicada para a MSC, porém, esses porta-enxertos apresentam baixa tolerância à seca, inviabilizando o cultivo sem irrigação em regiões que apresentam baixa disponibilidade hídrica no solo e altas temperaturas em determinadas épocas do ano. Com base nessas premissas, o objetivo do presente estudo foi determinar o desempenho horticultural de laranjeira \'Valência\' (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck) sobre onze porta-enxertos na região norte do Estado de São Paulo, baseando-se nas características de produção e qualidade de fruto, desenvolvimento das plantas, tolerância à MSC e à seca. O experimento foi instalado no município de Colômbia, região norte do Estado de São Paulo. As diferentes combinações (copa / porta-enxerto) foram plantadas em março de 2007. Em abril de 2012, foram pré-selecionados combinações sobre onze porta-enxertos dentre os 42 que foram plantados originalmente. Para as diferentes combinações copa/porta-enxerto selecionadas, foram avaliadas as variáveis produção e qualidade dos frutos, desenvolvimento da planta, eficiência produtiva, taxa média de crescimento, tolerância à MSC (avaliação visual, detecção de Citrus sudden death-associated virus (CSDaV) e detecção do Citrus tristeza vírus (CTV)) e tolerância à seca (avaliação visual, potencial de água em folha e estimativa do índice de área foliar). Os resultados encontrados no presente estudo relatam a superioridade na produção de frutos de laranjeira \'Valencia\' quando enxertada em pelos menos um porta-enxerto pré-selecionado em relação ao limoeiro \'Cravo\' \"CNPMF 03\". Em relação às demais variáveis, também foi atribuído a duas combinações de copa/porta-enxerto qualidade superior dos frutos de laranja \'Valência\' e a outras três combinações tolerância satisfatória à seca comparadas aos clones de limoeiro \'Cravo\'. Foi observado aptidão para cultivo adensado de laranjeira \'Valência\' em dois porta-enxertos. Também foram encontradas diferenças em relação à presença do CSDaV nos diferentes porta-enxertos. Tangerina \'Sunki\' x P. trifoliata \'English\' e citrange \'C-13\' \"S\" apresentaram potencial para utilização como porta-enxertos para laranjeira \'Valência\' na região norte do Estado de São Paulo como alternativa ao limoeiro \'Cravo\'. / Since the 1950s, the Rangpur lime (Citrus limonia Osbeck) became the main rootstock for brazilian citrus industry in São Paulo State. Because of its susceptibility to citrus blight, the use of this rootstock decreased in the 1980s. In 2001, with the first report of citrus sudden death disease (CSD) in the north and northwest of São Paulo State and Minas Gerais Triangle, the use of Rangpur lime as a rootstock became practically impossible, because of its susceptibility to CSD. The use of tolerant rootstocks in sweet orange groves (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) yet is the most adequate management to CSD. However, these rootstocks have low tolerance to drought stress, limiting the citrus industry in areas with high temperatures at certain seasons of year, and with low water availability for irrigation. Based on these assumptions, the aim of this study was to determine the horticultural performance of \'Valencia\' sweet orange (C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck) onto eleven rootstocks in the northern region of São Paulo state, based on the characteristics of production and fruit quality, plant growth, tolerance to CSD and drought tolerance. The experiment was carried out in Colombia, north of the São Paulo State. The different combinations (canopy / rootstock) were planted in March 2007. In April 2012, eleven rootstocks were pre-selected from the 42 that were originally planted. For the different selected canopy / rootstock combinations, the following variables were evaluated: yield and fruit quality, plant development, yield efficiency, growth rate, tolerance to CSD (visual evaluation, detection of Citrus sudden death-associated virus (CSDaV) and detection of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV)) and drought tolerance (visual evaluation, leaf water potential and leaf area index). The results found in this study showed higher production quality of \'Valencia\' sweet orange fruits when grafted onto, at least, one pre-selected rootstock compared to \"CNPMF 03\" Rangpur lime. For the other variables, it was also attributed to two combinations scion / rootstock superior quality of \'Valencia\' sweet orange fruits and in the other three combinations satisfactory tolerance to water stress compared to Rangpur lime. It was observed aptitude for high density planting of \'Valencia\' sweet orange onto two rootstocks. There were also found differences regarding the presence of CSDaV on different rootstocks. The \'Sunki\' mandarin x English\' P. trifoliata and the \'C-13 \'\"S\" citrange showed potential to be used as rootstocks for \'Valencia\' sweet orange in the northern region of São Paulo state as an alternative to Rangpur lime.

A necropsia é essencial para a identificação da causa de morte e dos processos que culminaram no óbito do animal. O presente estudo visou à pesquisa da real ocorrência de morte súbita e inesperada em cães submetidos à necropsia, e à determinação da discrepância entre as suspeitas dos proprietários em relação ao estado de saúde prévio e à causa de morte de seus cães, quando comparadas às conclusões necroscópicas. Este trabalho também focou nas alterações morfológicas e funcionais nas glândulas adrenais de cães necropsiados, a fim de se estudar a aplicação de possíveis marcadores da resposta adrenal ao estresse sofrido pelo animal na iminência do óbito. Foram utilizados os dados de 82 cães necropsiados na FMVZ-USP para análise da ocorrência real de morte súbita nestes animais. As alterações morfológicas nas adrenais de 46 cães necropsiados foram avaliadas através de análises morfométricas e histopatológicas. Também foram avaliados os índices de proliferação e apoptose nas células do córtex adrenal em relação à causa de morte do animal, através da marcação imunoistoquímica para o antígeno nuclear de proliferação celular (PCNA) e para BAX e Bcl-2, proteínas envolvidas na regulação da apoptose. A análise das alterações funcionais sofridas pelas adrenais focou na quantificação das concentrações das catecolaminas adrenalina e noradrenalina na medula adrenal dos cães por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção eletroquímica (CLAE-DE). Dentre os resultados encontrados, a suspeita do proprietário de que seu cão sofreu uma morte súbita e inesperada é muito maior do que a real ocorrência deste tipo de morte em cães, sendo o óbito por decorrência de complicações de doenças muito mais frequente. As características morfométricas das adrenais dos cães apresentaram maior influência pelo peso corpóreo do animal e pela presença ou ausência de hiperplasia cortical do que pela associação com doenças crônicas ou condições agudas. Cães que vieram a óbito em decorrência de complicações de doenças crônicas exibiram fibrose em região corticomedular e focos de infiltrado inflamatório, ausentes nos animais com morte súbita ou doenças agudas, além de maior ocorrência de hiperplasia adrenocortical. Cães que sofriam de alterações cardíacas crônicas apresentaram alterações histopatológicas significativas mais marcantes em suas adrenais, como necrose, fibrose e depleção vacuolar cortical. Por outro lado, a congestão severa nas adrenais foi um achado mais frequente nos animais previamente saudáveis que sofreram morte súbita ou que vieram a óbito por doenças agudas. A avaliação dos índices de proliferação celular e apoptose no córtex das adrenais através da marcação imunoistoquímica para PCNA e BAX e Bcl-2, respectivamente, não apresentou potencial relevante para o estudo dos efeitos do estresse por doenças crônicas sobre as adrenais de cães. As concentrações de adrenalina e noradrenalina na medula adrenal se mostraram muito maiores em cães machos quando comparados às fêmeas. Os achados deste estudo podem auxiliar nas conclusões da necropsia, sendo especialmente relevantes em casos médico-legais, nos quais todos os achados possíveis devem ser relatados e analisados a fim de se prover um diagnóstico preciso, seguro e incontroverso / The necropsy is essential to identify the cause of death and the processes that culminated in the death of the animal. The present study aimed to research the actual occurrence of sudden and unexpected death in dogs subjected to necropsy, and to determine the discrepancy between the suspicions of owners regarding the previous state of health or cause of death of their dogs when compared to the gross findings. This work also focused on the morphological and functional changes in the adrenal glands of dogs submitted to necropsy in order to study the application of possible markers of adrenal stress response experienced by the animal on the verge of death. The data of 82 dogs necropsied in FMVZ-USP was used for analysis of the actual occurrence of sudden death in these animals. The morphological changes in the adrenal glands of 46 necropsied dogs were evaluated by morphometric and histopathological analysis. The proliferation rates and apoptosis in cells of the adrenal cortex regarding the cause of death of the animal were also evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for the nuclear antigen of cellular proliferation (PCNA) and BAX and Bcl-2, proteins involved in apoptosis regulation. The analysis of functional changes in the adrenal gland focused on quantifying the concentrations of the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline in the adrenal medulla of dogs by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-DE). Regarding the results of this study, the owners’ suspicion that their dog suffered a sudden and unexpected death is much greater than the actual occurrence of this type of death in dogs, while death due to complications from diseases is far more frequent. The morphometric characteristics of the adrenal glands of dogs showed greater influence by the body weight of the animal and the presence or absence of cortical hyperplasia than by association with chronic or acute conditions. Dogs that died due to chronic disease complications exhibited fibrosis in the corticomedullary region and foci of inflammatory infiltrate, absent in animals with sudden death or acute diseases, as well as higher incidence of adrenocortical hyperplasia. Dogs suffering from chronic cardiac conditions showed more marked significant histopathological changes in their adrenal glands, such as necrosis, fibrosis and cortical vacuolar depletion. On the other hand, severe congestion in the adrenal glands was a frequent finding in previously healthy animals who suffered sudden death or that died from acute illnesses. The evaluation of cell proliferation rates and apoptosis in the cortex of the adrenal by immunohistochemical staining for PCNA and BAX and Bcl-2, respectively, did not show significant potential for studying the effects of stress by chronic diseases in the adrenal glands of dogs. The adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations in the adrenal medulla were much higher in male dogs when compared to females. This study’s findings may help the necropsy conclusions, which are particularly relevant in forensic cases where all possible findings should be reported and analyzed in order to provide an accurate, confident and uncontroversial diagnosis

A necropsia é essencial para a identificação da causa de morte e dos processos que culminaram no óbito do animal. O presente estudo visou à pesquisa da real ocorrência de morte súbita e inesperada em cães submetidos à necropsia, e à determinação da discrepância entre as suspeitas dos proprietários em relação ao estado de saúde prévio e à causa de morte de seus cães, quando comparadas às conclusões necroscópicas. Este trabalho também focou nas alterações morfológicas e funcionais nas glândulas adrenais de cães necropsiados, a fim de se estudar a aplicação de possíveis marcadores da resposta adrenal ao estresse sofrido pelo animal na iminência do óbito. Foram utilizados os dados de 82 cães necropsiados na FMVZ-USP para análise da ocorrência real de morte súbita nestes animais. As alterações morfológicas nas adrenais de 46 cães necropsiados foram avaliadas através de análises morfométricas e histopatológicas. Também foram avaliados os índices de proliferação e apoptose nas células do córtex adrenal em relação à causa de morte do animal, através da marcação imunoistoquímica para o antígeno nuclear de proliferação celular (PCNA) e para BAX e Bcl-2, proteínas envolvidas na regulação da apoptose. A análise das alterações funcionais sofridas pelas adrenais focou na quantificação das concentrações das catecolaminas adrenalina e noradrenalina na medula adrenal dos cães por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com detecção eletroquímica (CLAE-DE). Dentre os resultados encontrados, a suspeita do proprietário de que seu cão sofreu uma morte súbita e inesperada é muito maior do que a real ocorrência deste tipo de morte em cães, sendo o óbito por decorrência de complicações de doenças muito mais frequente. As características morfométricas das adrenais dos cães apresentaram maior influência pelo peso corpóreo do animal e pela presença ou ausência de hiperplasia cortical do que pela associação com doenças crônicas ou condições agudas. Cães que vieram a óbito em decorrência de complicações de doenças crônicas exibiram fibrose em região corticomedular e focos de infiltrado inflamatório, ausentes nos animais com morte súbita ou doenças agudas, além de maior ocorrência de hiperplasia adrenocortical. Cães que sofriam de alterações cardíacas crônicas apresentaram alterações histopatológicas significativas mais marcantes em suas adrenais, como necrose, fibrose e depleção vacuolar cortical. Por outro lado, a congestão severa nas adrenais foi um achado mais frequente nos animais previamente saudáveis que sofreram morte súbita ou que vieram a óbito por doenças agudas. A avaliação dos índices de proliferação celular e apoptose no córtex das adrenais através da marcação imunoistoquímica para PCNA e BAX e Bcl-2, respectivamente, não apresentou potencial relevante para o estudo dos efeitos do estresse por doenças crônicas sobre as adrenais de cães. As concentrações de adrenalina e noradrenalina na medula adrenal se mostraram muito maiores em cães machos quando comparados às fêmeas. Os achados deste estudo podem auxiliar nas conclusões da necropsia, sendo especialmente relevantes em casos médico-legais, nos quais todos os achados possíveis devem ser relatados e analisados a fim de se prover um diagnóstico preciso, seguro e incontroverso / The necropsy is essential to identify the cause of death and the processes that culminated in the death of the animal. The present study aimed to research the actual occurrence of sudden and unexpected death in dogs subjected to necropsy, and to determine the discrepancy between the suspicions of owners regarding the previous state of health or cause of death of their dogs when compared to the gross findings. This work also focused on the morphological and functional changes in the adrenal glands of dogs submitted to necropsy in order to study the application of possible markers of adrenal stress response experienced by the animal on the verge of death. The data of 82 dogs necropsied in FMVZ-USP was used for analysis of the actual occurrence of sudden death in these animals. The morphological changes in the adrenal glands of 46 necropsied dogs were evaluated by morphometric and histopathological analysis. The proliferation rates and apoptosis in cells of the adrenal cortex regarding the cause of death of the animal were also evaluated by immunohistochemical staining for the nuclear antigen of cellular proliferation (PCNA) and BAX and Bcl-2, proteins involved in apoptosis regulation. The analysis of functional changes in the adrenal gland focused on quantifying the concentrations of the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline in the adrenal medulla of dogs by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-DE). Regarding the results of this study, the owners’ suspicion that their dog suffered a sudden and unexpected death is much greater than the actual occurrence of this type of death in dogs, while death due to complications from diseases is far more frequent. The morphometric characteristics of the adrenal glands of dogs showed greater influence by the body weight of the animal and the presence or absence of cortical hyperplasia than by association with chronic or acute conditions. Dogs that died due to chronic disease complications exhibited fibrosis in the corticomedullary region and foci of inflammatory infiltrate, absent in animals with sudden death or acute diseases, as well as higher incidence of adrenocortical hyperplasia. Dogs suffering from chronic cardiac conditions showed more marked significant histopathological changes in their adrenal glands, such as necrosis, fibrosis and cortical vacuolar depletion. On the other hand, severe congestion in the adrenal glands was a frequent finding in previously healthy animals who suffered sudden death or that died from acute illnesses. The evaluation of cell proliferation rates and apoptosis in the cortex of the adrenal by immunohistochemical staining for PCNA and BAX and Bcl-2, respectively, did not show significant potential for studying the effects of stress by chronic diseases in the adrenal glands of dogs. The adrenaline and noradrenaline concentrations in the adrenal medulla were much higher in male dogs when compared to females. This study’s findings may help the necropsy conclusions, which are particularly relevant in forensic cases where all possible findings should be reported and analyzed in order to provide an accurate, confident and uncontroversial diagnosis

Religious conversion is an interesting phenomenon that crosses religious beliefs. This phenomenon intersects with many various disciplines, from medicine through the scientific disciplines such as anthropology, sociology, religious studies, psychology and theology. Religious conversion may on the one hand be a demonstration of deep spiritual experience and on the other, the result of strong pressure from others. We can get closer to the truth only through the authentic testimonies of the converts. This is why I have chosen the theme of the religious conversion in the context of "pure experience". We can see differences among conversions to various religions. But it is necessary to say, that I am interested in conversion to Christianity. But the Christianity of two thousand years ago is not the Christianity of today. The Apostle Paul joined a marginal movement at a time when such acceptance was punishable by death. Today, however, converts have joined millions of faithful around the whole world. And this is why religious conversion to Christianity is a lively phenomenon. In my thesis I would like to clarify the question: "What is religious conversion?" Is it a manifestation of the power of God, or is it a clearly human decision? Has the conversion some connection with the social environment, or is...

Orientador: Antonio José Maria Cataneo / Resumo: Introdução: a surdez súbita, também denominada perda auditiva neurossensorial súbita idiopática (PANSI), é definida como perda neurossensorial de no mínimo 30 dB, em pelo menos três frequências audiométricas contíguas, instalada em até 72 horas. A etiologia da doença não está claramente definida e não há consenso na literatura sobre o melhor tratamento. Objetivo: avaliar a efetividade da pentoxifilina no tratamento da surdez súbita. Métodos: foram realizadas revisão sistemática e metanálise proporcional de estudos que avaliaram o tratamento de surdez súbita, os quais foram encontrados nas seguintes bases de dados eletrônicos: Pubmed, Embase, Lilacs, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science. Os critérios de elegibilidade foram: estudos experimentais ou observacionais (com no mínimo 5 pacientes cada estudo) que tenham avaliado tratamentos para surdez súbita. Os desfechos foram recuperação total e parcial da audição e presença de efeitos adversos. Para análise dos dados, utilizou-se o progama Stats Direct, versão 3.0.121. Resultados: dos 160 artigos encontrados, 128 foram selecionados para leitura de título e resumo, dos quais 104 foram excluídos. Foram eleitos para leitura na íntegra 24 artigos, sendo que 9 foram incluídos na revisão, totalizando 787 pacientes. Os tratamentos usados foram pentoxifilina, corticoide sistêmico e intratimpânico, betaistina, metilcolabamina, Ginkgo biloba. Os pacientes foram divididos em grupos: grupo 1 usou pentoxifilina isolada ou associada a outras droga... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Introduction: Sudden deafness, also called idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, is defined as sensorineural loss of at least 30 dB in at least three contiguous audiometric frequencies, installed within 72 hours. The etiology of the disease is not clearly defined and there is no consensus in the literature on the best treatment. Objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of pentoxifylline in the treatment of sudden deafness. Methods: a systematic review and proportional meta-analysis of studies evaluating the treatment of sudden deafness were performed, which were found in the following electronic databases: Pubmed, Embase, Lilacs, Cochrane, Scopus, Web of Science. Eligibility criteria were: experimental or observational studies (with at least 5 patients per study) who evaluated treatments for sudden deafness. The outcomes were total and partial recovery of hearing and presence of adverse effects. Stats Direct, version 3.0.121 was used to analyze the data. Results: of the 160 articles found, 128 were selected for title and abstract reading, of which 104 were excluded. Twenty-four articles were selected for reading, of which 9 were included in the review, totaling 787 patients. The treatments used were pentoxifylline, systemic and intratympanic corticoid, betaystine, methylcolabamine, Ginkgo biloba. Patients were divided into groups: group 1 used pentoxifylline alone or associated to other drugs and group 2 did not use pentoxifylline. For the outcome of total hearing rec... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Abstract not available

Scalar (heat or mass) transfer plays an important role in many industrial and engineering applications. Difficulties in experimental measurements means that there is limited detailed information available, especially in the near-wall region. Prediction in simple flows is well documented and the basis for development of many Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models. This is, however, not the case for scalar transfer, especially when the Prandtl (Pr) or Schmidt number (Sc) is much greater than unity. In complex flows that involve separation and reattachment, the scalar transfer coefficient is significantly different to that of fully developed turbulent flow. The purpose of this Thesis is to investigate high Prandtl number (Pr ≥ 10) scalar transfer in fully developed (pipe) and disturbed (sudden pipe expansion) turbulent flow using CFD. Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) is the most straight-forward approach to the solution of turbulent flows with scalar transfer. However, this technique is computationally intensive because all turbulent scales need to be resolved by the simulation. Large eddy simulation (LES) is a compromise compared to DNS. Instead of resolving all spatial scales, LES resolves only the large-scales with the small-scales being accounted for by a subgrid-scale model. Chapter 2 details the mathematical, numerical and computational details of LES with scalar transfer. From this, an optimized and highly scalable parallel LES solver was developed based on state-of-the-art LES subgrid-scale models and numerical techniques. Chapter 3 provides a verification of the LES solver for fully developed turbulent pipe flow. Reynolds numbers between Re = 180 and 1050 were simulated with a single Prandtl number of Pr = 0.71. Detailed turbulent statistics are provided for Re = 180, 395 and 590 with varying grid resolution for each Reynolds number. The results from these simulations were compared to established experimental and numerical databases of fully developed turbulent pipe and channel flows. The LES solver was shown to be in good agreement with the prior work with most discrepancies being accounted for by only reporting the resolved (large-scale) component directly reported from the LES results. For a Prandtl number close to unity, the mechanisms of turbulent transport and scalar transfer are similar. The near-wall region was shown to be dominated by large-scale sweeping structures that bring high momentum and scalar concentrations to the near-wall region. These are convected parallel to the wall as diffusion mechanisms act to transfer this to the wall where dissipation takes effect. An ejection structure then acts to transport the resultant low momentum, scalar depleted fluid back to the bulk to be replenished and continue the cycle. As the Prandtl number increases, molecular diffusivity decreases relative to viscosity, and the mechanisms of scalar transfer differ to those at Pr = 0.71. This is investigated in Chapter 4 using simulations at Re = 180, 395 and 590, with detailed statistics at Re = 395 for Pr = 0.71, 5, 10, 100 and 200. Where possible the results are compared to other numerical work and the LES solver was shown to accurately resolve the higher Prandtl number flows. There are marked variations in the scalar transfer with increasing Prandtl number as the turbulent scalar transfer becomes concentrated closer to the wall and dominated by large-scale turbulent structures. Sweeping structures are still responsible for bringing the high scalar concentrations towards the wall, however, high Prandtl number scalars are unable to completely diffuse to the wall in the time that the structure is convected parallel to the wall adjacent to the diffusive sublayer. Therefore, most of the high Prandtl number scalar is returned to the bulk via the ejection structure rather than being dissipated at the wall. Chapter 5 uses the sudden pipe expansion (SPE) to investigate disturbed turbulent flow for an inlet Reynolds numbers of Reb = 15600 and a diameter ratio of E = 1.6. These simulation parameters were chosen to match the experimental LDA measurements of Stieglmeier et al. (1989). The LES results for a range of grid resolutions were shown to be in very good agreement with the experimental work. From the LES results it was determined that the fluctuations in the wall shear stress are important in the near-wall turbulent transport. These are the result of eddies originating from the free shear layer down-washing and impinging upon the wall. This is a more effective sweeping mechanism than that observed for the fully developed turbulent pipe flow. Despite the down-wash structures impinging upon the wall, a viscous sublayer still exists in the reattachment region, albeit much thinner than the fully developed turbulent pipe flow further downstream. Using the same Reynolds number and diameter ratio, scalar transfer simulations were also undertaken in the SPE with Prandtl numbers of Pr = 0.71, 5, 10, 100 and 200. An applied scalar flux was used to heat the expanded pipe wall. The LES results are in agreement with experimental Nusselt numbers from Baughn et al. (1984) for Pr = 0.71. The disturbed turbulent flow enhances the scalar transfer and this is the result of down wash events transporting low (cold) scalar from the inlet pipe to the near-wall of the expanded pipe. This cools the heated wall and enhances localized scalar transfer downstream of the expansion. A diffusive sublayer still exists in the reattachment region within the viscous sublayer for Prandtl numbers greater than unity. As the Prandtl number increases the diffusivity decreases relative to viscosity and near-wall scalar transfer enhancement decreases as the diffusion time-scales increase.

Phytophthora ramorum, an oomycete plant pathogen, is the causal agent of sudden oak death, a serious disease of Fagaceous trees in California and Oregon over the last decade. Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) is one of the most susceptible host species, but the cause of host mortality is poorly understood. Previous research has implicated disruption in stem water transport, phloem girdling, and activity of a class of secreted proteins known as elicitins as possible mechanisms of pathogenesis. In this study I investigated certain physiological impacts of P. ramorum infection on tanoak saplings and tanoak seedlings. In growth chamber experiments, stems of plants were inoculated with isolates that differed in the amount of elicitin secreted in vitro. Stem-wounded, non-inoculated plants served as controls. Parameters measured included net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, whole plant water usage, stem specific hydraulic conductivity, tylosis production, starch partitioning, and mortality. Inoculated saplings exhibited a reduction in whole plant water usage, followed by a reduction in stem specific hydraulic conductivity implicating an interruption in stem water transport as the primary symptom. A reduction in net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance occurred one week later. Experiments conducted on inoculated tanoak seedlings supported the hypothesis that a reduction in stem water transport is the primary disease symptom. Stem specific hydraulic conductivity was the only parameter that appeared to be significantly impacted when treatments were compared during each measurement period. There was, however, a significant difference between treatments over the course of the entire experiment. Due to differences in isolate growth rates and similar levels of elicitin secretion, symptom expression could not be tied to elicitin production. To determine where elicitins are produced in planta, an immunolabeling technique was tested utilizing an elicitin-specific fluorescent antibody. The elicitin protein was most apparent in paratracheal parenchyma cells, although nonspecific staining in control samples confounded interpretation. / Graduation date: 2012

The eastward winds that form each winter in the Arctic stratosphere are intermittently disrupted by planetary-scale waves propagating up from the surface in events known as stratospheric sudden warmings. It is shown here that following roughly half of these sudden warmings, the winds take as long as three months to recover, during which time the polar stratosphere evolves in a robust and predictable fashion. These extended recoveries, termed here Polar-night Jet Oscillation (PJO) events, are relevant to understanding the response of the extratropical troposphere to forcings such as solar variability and climate change. They also represent a possible source of improvement in our ability to predict weather regimes at seasonal timescales. Four projects are reported on here. In the first, the approximation of stratospheric radiative cooling by a linear relaxation is tested and found to hold well enough to diagnose effective damping rates. In the polar night, the rates found are weaker than those typically assumed by simplified modelling studies of the extratropical stratosphere and troposphere. In the second, PJO events are identified and characterized in observations, reanalyses, and a comprehensive chemistry-climate model. Their observed behaviour is reproduced well in the model. Their duration correlates with the depth in the stratosphere to which the disruption descends, and is associated with the strong suppression of further planetary wave propagation into the vortex. In the third, the response of the zonal mean winds and temperatures to the eddy-driven torques that occur during PJO events is studied. The collapse of planetary waves following the initial warming permits radiative processes to dominate. The weak radiative damping rates diagnosed in the first project are required to capture the redistribution of angular momentum responsible for the circulation anomalies. In the final project, these damping rates are imposed in a simplified model of the coupled stratosphere and troposphere. The weaker damping is found to change the warmings generated by the model to be more PJO-like in character. Planetary waves in this case collapse following the warmings, confirming the dual role of the suppression of wave driving and extended radiative timescales in determining the behaviour of PJO events.

The eastward winds that form each winter in the Arctic stratosphere are intermittently disrupted by planetary-scale waves propagating up from the surface in events known as stratospheric sudden warmings. It is shown here that following roughly half of these sudden warmings, the winds take as long as three months to recover, during which time the polar stratosphere evolves in a robust and predictable fashion. These extended recoveries, termed here Polar-night Jet Oscillation (PJO) events, are relevant to understanding the response of the extratropical troposphere to forcings such as solar variability and climate change. They also represent a possible source of improvement in our ability to predict weather regimes at seasonal timescales. Four projects are reported on here. In the first, the approximation of stratospheric radiative cooling by a linear relaxation is tested and found to hold well enough to diagnose effective damping rates. In the polar night, the rates found are weaker than those typically assumed by simplified modelling studies of the extratropical stratosphere and troposphere. In the second, PJO events are identified and characterized in observations, reanalyses, and a comprehensive chemistry-climate model. Their observed behaviour is reproduced well in the model. Their duration correlates with the depth in the stratosphere to which the disruption descends, and is associated with the strong suppression of further planetary wave propagation into the vortex. In the third, the response of the zonal mean winds and temperatures to the eddy-driven torques that occur during PJO events is studied. The collapse of planetary waves following the initial warming permits radiative processes to dominate. The weak radiative damping rates diagnosed in the first project are required to capture the redistribution of angular momentum responsible for the circulation anomalies. In the final project, these damping rates are imposed in a simplified model of the coupled stratosphere and troposphere. The weaker damping is found to change the warmings generated by the model to be more PJO-like in character. Planetary waves in this case collapse following the warmings, confirming the dual role of the suppression of wave driving and extended radiative timescales in determining the behaviour of PJO events.