Submitted by JOSIANE SANTOS DE OLIVEIRA (josianeso) on 2018-09-26T15:58:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Camila Andrade Scroferneker_.pdf: 6899045 bytes, checksum: 32f7ca6862945a3d0bffe8d0c75f48d7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-26T15:58:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Camila Andrade Scroferneker_.pdf: 6899045 bytes, checksum: 32f7ca6862945a3d0bffe8d0c75f48d7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-27 / Nenhuma / Nesta dissertação buscamos refletir sobre como o design estratégico pode caracterizar a semente de uma ideia promissora e aprimorar estratégias de semeadura de inovação social, no âmbito da educação. Através da cartografia intentamos descrever e interpretar os processos, princípios e dispositivos da relação entre a Escola da Ponte e a Escola Projeto Âncora, apontar estratégias desenvolvidas pelas duas Escolas e compreender as relações entre os diversos atores envolvidos no ecossistema criativo que contribuíram e ainda contribuem para o processo de aprendizagem e inovação social. Para a realização da nossa pesquisa fizemos uma imersão de 5 dias em agosto de 2017 na Escola Projeto Âncora. As técnicas de pesquisa utilizadas foram: pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, observação direta e entrevista focalizada, com perguntas semiestruturadas. Para a análise das entrevistas utilizamos a técnica de análise de discurso. Após a descrição e a interpretação dos dados coletados, produzimos cinco pistas cartográficas, que a nosso ver representam as estratégias de semeadura, utilizadas para a disseminação de uma semente de inovação social. / In this dissertation we seek to reflect on how strategic design can characterize the seed of a promising idea and to improve seeding strategies of social innovation, in the scope of education. Through cartography, we intend to describe and interpret the processes, principles and devices of the relationship between Escola da Ponte and Escola Projeto Âncora, to point out strategies developed by the two schools and to understand the relationships between the various actors involved in the creative ecosystem that contributed and still contribute to the process of learning and social innovation. For the accomplishment of our research w did a 5- day immersion in August 2017 at Escola Projeto Âncora. The research techniques used were: bibliographic and documentary research, direct observation and focused interview with semistructured questions. For the analysis of the interviews we used the technique of discourse analysis. After the description and interpretation of the collected data, we produced five cartographic tracks that in our view represent the sowing strategies used for the dissemination of a seed of social innovation.

As futuras redes de acesso sem-fio, como a quinta geração de telefonia celular (5G), estão introduzindo e consolidando diversas tecnologias, tais como a operação em ondas milimétricas, picocélulas e o emprego massivo de antenas para diversidade espacial e temporal. Todas essas mudanças trazem desafios para a capacidade dos enlaces presentes nessas redes, como o backhaul e fronthaul. Nas últimas gerações, o ifronthaul tem utilizado Rádio-sobre-Fibra Digital (D-RoF, Digital Radio-over Fiber). Entretanto, neste novo paradigma, o processo de digitalização pode vir a consumir uma largura de banda excessiva e a transmissão analógica dos sinais de RF sobre a fibra se torna uma solução mais atrativa. Ao mesmo tempo, WDM-PON (Wavelength-Division-Multiplexing Passive-Optical-Network) é uma proeminente alternativa para o futuro das PONs, especialmente considerando o seu emprego como fronthaul. Para reduzir a necessidade de diversos transmissores diferentes, várias técnicas de auto-alimentação para obtenção de fontes ópticas agnósticas em comprimento de onda têm sido propostas. O presente trabalho faz um estudo de topologias de auto-alimentação com dupla cavidade para operarem como fronthaul analógico nas futuras redes de acesso sem-fio. Simulações numéricas utilizando o software Optisystem demonstram a viabilidade destas topologias em diversos cenários previstos para estas redes de acesso, especialmente considerando a operação em ondas milimétricas. Transmissões bem sucedidas foram obtidas para sinais ASK, M-PSK e M-QAM em frequências de microondas (1,25, 2,5 e 5 GHz) e ondas milimétricas (38 e 60 GHz) com vazões de 155 Mbps a 10 Gbps utilizando modulação direta e modulação externa. / Future radio access networks, such as the fifth generation mobile network (5G), are introducing and consolidating disruptive technologies, such as millimeter wave operation, dense picocell coverage and massive use of antennas for spatial and temporal diversity. These new technologies present a challenge for the capacity of the links that are present on these networks, including backhaul and fronthaul. In the latest cellular network generations, the fronthaul was typically implemented by Digital Radio-over-Fiber (D-RoF) technique. However, in this future context, the digitalization process would require a prohibitive bandwidth and the analog transmission of RF signals over the fiber can be a more attractive solution when compared to D-RoF. At the same time, Wavelength-Division-Multiplexing PON (WDM-PON) is prominent alternative for the future of PONs, especially considering its use as fronthaul. In order to avoid employing numerous distinct transmitters, several self-seeding techniques have been proposed to achieve colorless optical sources. This dissertation presents a numerical study of double-cavity self-seeding topologies to serve as analog fronthaul for future radio access networks. Numerical simulations using the software Optisystem demonstrate the feasibility of these topologies in various scenarios envisioned for these access networks, especially considering operation in millimeter waves. Successful transmission was achieved for ASK, M-PSK and M-QAM signals at microwave (1.25, 2.5 and 5 GHz) and millimeter wave (38 and 60 GHz) frequencies with throughput of 155 Mbps to 10 Gbps using direct and external modulation.

A doença vassoura-de-bruxa reduziu expressivamente a produtividade dos cacauais da região sul da Bahia, maior produtora nacional. O controle genético da enfermidade, com o uso de plantas tolerantes e com alto potencial produtivo, tem sido a principal estratégia para o convívio com essa doença. O plantio de mudas clonais, provenientes de estacas enraizadas, tem mostrado ser uma prática promissora para a renovação da lavoura. O Instituto Biofábrica de Cacau (IBC), criado em 1999, tem como um de seus objetivos produzir e comercializar essas mudas. Estudos preliminares mostraram a necessidade de aprimoramento do protocolo, pois foram observados distúrbios nutricionais, apesar do uso elevado de fertilizantes. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: avaliar a perda de nutrientes; comparar metodologias de extração de nutrientes em substratos; identificar a folha mais adequada para ser utilizada como diagnóstica; comparar formas de adubação; definir níveis críticos (NC) e doses recomendáveis de P e de N. Foram realizados dois experimentos, ambos em viveiro de produção de mudas do IBC, onde se utilizou o clone PH 16, com 12 mudas por parcela útil (uma muda por tubete de 288 cm3), sendo avaliados: diâmetro, altura, área foliar, matéria seca, concentração e conteúdo de nutrientes na planta. O primeiro experimento, implantado em julho de 2005, foi um fatorial 5x5+1: cinco substratos (misturas de fibra de coco – FC e Plantmax®), cinco doses de P no plantio (de zero a 0,8 g dm-3) e um tratamento adicional (P aplicado aos 30 dias); o segundo experimento, instalado em julho de 2006, foi um fatorial 2x5: duas formas de adubação, no substrato e foliar, e cinco doses de uréia, aplicadas semanalmente após o 82º dia. A análise do lixiviado do primeiro experimento identificou variações do pH, da condutividade elétrica e dos nutrientes de acordo com os tratamentos e com o tempo. A terceira folha do primeiro lançamento maduro foi a mais indicada para ser utilizada como folha diagnóstica. Para a maioria dos nutrientes, não foram encontradas correlações significativas entre os teores extraídos dos substratos, por metodologias distintas, com os absorvidos pelas plantas, exceto para P, K, Ca e Cu. A adubação com P em cobertura aumentou sua disponibilidade e absorção, mas não afetou o crescimento das mudas. Os melhores substratos foram os que continham entre 30 a 55% de FC. As doses recomendáveis, calculadas para obtenção de 99% da produção máxima da matéria seca da parte aérea, variaram de 136 a 275 g m-3 de P, aplicadas em préestaqueamento, de acordo com o substrato; e, para N, em aplicação semanal pósenraizamento, foi de 63 mg dm-3 para a adubação no substrato ou de 11,7 g L-1 para a adubação foliar. Para o N, a adubação no substrato foi superior à foliar. O NC de P no substrato variou de acordo com o extrator e o substrato e os NCs foliares foram de: 1,75 g kg-1 de P e 23,1 g kg-1 de N. / The witches' broom disease decreased expressively the cocoa productivity in Bahia south region, the biggest national producer. The disease genetic control, using tolerant plants with high potential productivity, has been the main strategy to cope with this disease. The cloned cutting breeding, originated from rooted cuttings, has proved to be a promising practice for crop renovation. The "Instituto Biofábrica de Cacau" (IBC) or Cocoa Biofactory Institute, founded in 1999, has one of its aims to produce and commercialize these rooted cuttings. Preliminary studies have shown the need of protocol improvement, as it was observed nutritional problems, despite the high use of fertilizers. The objectives of this work were: Evaluate nutrients losses; compare nutrient extraction methodologies in potting mix; identify the most suitable leaf to be used as diagnostic; compare different fertilization practice; define P and N critical levels (CL) and recommendable doses. It was carried out two experiments, both in cloning breeding nurseries of IBC, where it was used clone PH 16, with 12 cuttings by useful plot (one cutting by container of 288 cm3), being evaluated: diameter, height, foliar area, dry matter, concentration and nutrient content in plants. The first trial, implanted in July 2005, was a factorial 5x5+1: five potting mix (mix of coconut fiber – CF and Plantmax®) five doses of P in the planting (from 0 to 0.8 g dm-3) and an additional treatment (P applied on the 30th day); the second experiment, installed in July 2006, there was a factorial 2x5: two fertilization treatments, in potting mix and foliar, and five urea doses, applied weekly after the 82nd day. The first experiment leaching analysis identified variations of the pH, electric conductivity and nutrients according to treatments and time. The third leaf from first ripen sprout was the most indicated to be used as the diagnostic leaf. For most nutrients were not found significant correlation between substrate extract levels by distinct methodologies and the absorbed ones by plants, except for P, K, Ca and Cu. The P fertilization in covering increased its availability and absorption, but did not affect cutting growth. The best substrates were those contained between 30 and 55% of CF. The recommendable doses, assessed to obtain 99% of the maximum production of shoot dry matter, varied from 136 to 275 g m-3 of P, applied in the precutting, according to the substrate; and for N, in weekly pos-rooting application, was 63 mg dm-3 for the substrate fertilization or 11.7 g L-1 for foliar fertilization. For the N, the substrate fertilization was superior to foliar. The CL of P in the potting mix varied according to extractor and substrate and the foliar CLs were: 1.75 g kg-1 of P and 23.1 g kg-1 of N.

Submitted by Rosivalda Pereira (mrs.pereira@ufma.br) on 2017-06-21T17:13:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 AndreiaAmorim.pdf: 2021730 bytes, checksum: d4f2de640b2254f58c621285962a6333 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-21T17:13:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 AndreiaAmorim.pdf: 2021730 bytes, checksum: d4f2de640b2254f58c621285962a6333 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-27 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão (FAPEMA) / The use of chemical indicators used to evaluate soil quality in a growing alley cropping can identify the causes of land degradation in agricultural systems of the Amazon, the conversion of forest to these agricultural systems, incompatible with soil and climatic conditions of this region. This degradation is considered one of the greatest threats to the rainforest due to depletion of phosphorus (P), the decline in soil organic matter (SOM) and the loss of basic cations. two kinds of high quality waste were used: (Leucaena leucocephala and Gliricidia sepium), and two species of low quality waste (Clitoria fairchildiana and Acacia mangium). The 1600m2 area was sampled for carrying out chemical analysis and fractionation of organic matter and soil phosphorus. The SOM was separated by density fractionation soil. Fractionation of P in soil was carried out with extraction solutions. The experimental design was randomized blocks: leucena + sombrero (L + S); leucena + acacia (L + A); gliricidia + acacia (G + A); gliricidia + sombrero (G + S) and control treatment without pulses with five treatments and eight repetitions. The corn was used as test culture. Legumes were pruned to 50 cm of soil waste materials were added to the surface and then the corn was sown. All soil samples of the experiment in alleys had low pH values. The results show statistical differences between treatments when to soil organic matter (SOM). The highest levels were found in the treatment leucena + sombrero (L + S), but did not influence the carbon stock of Fractions Take Free (FLL), Intra-aggregate fractions (FLI) and MOP MOS, which showed no statistical difference. Therefore, in accordance cutting alleys, most of the P found in inorganic form, and was also found in fractions moderately labile and difficult. The results indicate that the fractions of P and organic matter are important indicators to evaluate changes in the degree of land degradation in the humid tropics. These results also indicate that the intensive and continuous use of annual crops in soils of the regions of the Amazon without any conservation practice can be considered as a high risk to the sustainability of agricultural systems, mainly because of increased active and potential acidity, reducing labile organic matter and depletion of organic P pools, leading to soil degradation. Soil fertility, physical properties and available P are responsible for the variability of soil degradation. Considering that small farmers are responsible for 70% of agricultural production in the country, the sustainable management of these soils, usually of low fertility by agroecological alley cropping of legumes is an alternative to agriculture as socioeconomic and environmental benefits. / O uso de indicadores químicos serve para avaliar a qualidade do solo em um sistema de cultivo em aleias. A degradação do solo de sistemas agrícolas da Amazônia, pela conversão da floresta para esses sistemas agrícolas, incompatíveis com as condições edafoclimáticas desta região é considerada uma das maiores ameaças para os solos tropicais devido à depleção de fósforo (P), a diminuição da matéria orgânica do solo (MOS) e a perda de cátions básicos. Esta Tese teve o objetivo de avaliar os principais indicadores químicos de qualidade do solo (matéria orgânica e seus compartimentos, pH, frações do fósforo (P), potássio (K) e o somatório de cálcio (Ca) e magnésio trocáveis (Mg)) após dois anos de plantio em um ARGISSOLO VERMELHO AMARELO Distrocoeso sobre um sistema de cultivo em aleias. Foram utilizadas duas espécies de alta qualidade de resíduos: (Leucaena leucocephala e Gliricídia sepium), e duas espécies de baixa qualidade de resíduos (Clitoria fairchildiana e Acacia mangium). A área de 1600m2 foi amostrada, para realização das análises químicas (IAC, 2001) e fracionamento densimétrico e granulométrico da MOS (MACHADO, 2002). O fracionamento de P no solo foi realizado com soluções extratoras, conforme Hedley et al. (1982) com as modificações de Condron et al. (1985), adaptado de Gatiboni (2003). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualisados com cinco tratamentos e oito repetições: leucena+sombreiro (L+S); leucena+acácia (L+A); gliricídia+acácia (G+A); gliricídia+sombreiro (G+S) e tratamento controle sem leguminosas. O milho foi utilizado como cultura teste. As leguminosas foram podadas a 50 cm do solo e seus resíduos foram adicionados à superfície e em seguida o milho foi semeado. Todas as amostras do solo do experimento em aleias apresentaram valores baixos de pH. Houve diferenças estatísticas entre os tratamentos para a MOS. Os maiores teores foram encontrados no tratamento leucena+sombreiro (L+S), mas não influenciou nos estoque de carbono das Frações Leve Livre (FLL), Frações Intra-agregadas (FLI) e Matéria Orgânica Particulada (MOP) da MOS, que não apresentaram diferença estatística. Por conseguinte, após o corte das aleias, a maior parte do P foi encontrada numa forma inorgânica, e também foi encontrada nas frações moderadamente e dificilmente lábeis. Os resultados indicam que as frações de P e matéria orgânica são importantes indicadores para avaliar mudanças no grau de degradação da terra nos trópicos úmidos. Estes resultados indicam também que o uso intensivo e contínuo das culturas anuais nos solos das regiões da Amazônia sem nenhuma prática conservacionista pode ser considerado como um risco elevado para a sustentabilidade dos agrossistemas, principalmente por causa do aumento da acidez ativa e potencial, a redução da matéria orgânica lábil e o esgotamento dos pools de P orgânico, levando à degradação do solo. A fertilidade do solo, propriedades físicas e P disponível são responsáveis pela variabilidade da degradação do solo. Considerando-se que os pequenos agricultores respondem por 70% da produção agrícola no país, a adoção do manejo sustentável dos solos cultivados, geralmente de baixa fertilidade natural com sistema em aleias de leguminosas é uma alternativa para a agricultura com benefícios socioeconômicos e ambientais.

Un des enjeux majeurs des procédés membranaires concerne le développement de nouveaux matériaux de filtration stables dont les propriétés texturales et structurales permettent d'orienter la sélectivité des membranes de nanofiltration. En particulier, l'utilisation de matériaux zéoliihiques comme couche filtrante a montré qu'après un traitement chimique adéquat, ces matériaux pouvaient acquérir des propriétés de sélectivité très particulières. Ce travail de thèse propose la synthèse, la caractérisation et l'optimisation de membranes de nanofiltration tubulaires en utilisant une zéolithe de type MFI. Plus particulièrement, des films mono et bicouches de zéolithes de type MFI ont été préparés sur un support tubulaire macroporeux asymétrique en alumine. La diffraction de rayons X et la microscopie électronique à balayage ont permis de déterminer la cristallinité, l'homogénéité et l'épaisseur des filins déposés (7 à 15 i_trn). La manométrie d'adsorption d'azote a été utilisée pour vérifier si la porosité après mise en forme restait accessible, ainsi qu'à déterminer la niasse de zéolithe déposée sur le support tubulaire en alumine. La perméabilité hydraulique, qui caractérise l'hydrodynamique d'une membrane, a été déterminée par filtration d'eau déminéralisée. Cette étape dite « de conditionnement » est nécessaire pour parvenir à un état de performance stable de la membrane (état d'équilibre), La perméabilité hydraulique de la membrane mono et bicouche MFI diminue rapidement au début de la phase de conditionnement, et finit par se stabiliser au bout de 15 heures de filtration pour atteindre une valeur minimale de 1,08 x tem-2 et 1,02 x 10-15 m3.ni-2 respectivement. La sélectivité et les performances de filtration de ces membranes vis-à-vis de différents types de solutés (ioniques, molécules organiques, mélanges) ont été analysées à l'issue de la phase de conditionnement. Les résultats obtenus sont très encourageants, ils ont fait l'objet de plusieurs articles de recherche. / Zeolites are very well-known materials especially for their controlled porosity, their crystalline structures, but also for the different applications where they can be used (catalysis, air treatment,...) . During the past ten years, a lot of developments have been done on the preparation of zeolite membranes for pervaporation applications. The present work explores new developments in the preparation zeolite membranes dedicated to the filtration of salty water. More particularly, we prepared MFI films on specific macroporous alumina tubular supports used for nanofiltration applications. There are different key steps which influence the formation of the MFI films: the cleaning procedure of the substrats, the hydrothermal synthesis conditions, the use of a secondary growth method for when preparing a bi-layered membrane. A complete characterization of the mono and the bi-layered membranes was carried out using various techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, mercury porosimetry and nitrogen sorption measurements. Results show that a dense, continuous and highly crystallized thin film of MFI bas been obtained on the u-alumina support after the secondary growth experiment. The weight of zeolite deposited on the support was also estimated by nitrogen sorption measurement using the method of mass assessment. The MFI membrane was stabilized by pure water filtration tests until the hydraulic permeability reached a plateau. This conditioning step was necessary to reach an equilibrium state of the hydraulic membrane performances. Particularly, hydration of the MFI layer was a crucial step of the conditioning process, which leads to the modification of the MFI surface properties. The hydraulic permeability of the mono and bi-layer MFI membrane decreased rapidly at the beginning of the conditioning process, and stabilized alter 15 hours to reach 1.08 x 10.141113.m.2 and 1.02 x 10-15 m3.m-2 respectively. Filtration tests were then carried out with a neutral molecule (VB 12) in order to evaluate the mean pore radius of the mono and the bi-layered membranes. A rejection rate of 5% was obtained with the monolayer MFI membrane, while it reaches a value of 50% with the bi-layered one. These results lead to mean pore radius corresponding to 6.4 and 1.7 mn respectively. It menus that even alter the synthesis of the second MFI layer, the membrane porosity remains higher than the porous diameter of the zeolite. Filtration may occur at the interface of the MFI crystals.

<p>The interactions between polymers and components of biological systems are an important area of interest within the fields of tissue engineering, polymer chemistry, medicine and biomaterials. In order to create such a biomimetic material, it must show the inherent ability to reproduce or elicit a biological function. How do we design synthetic materials in order to direct their interactions with biological systems?</p><p>This thesis contributes to this research with aspects of how polymers interact with biological materials with the help of ionic interactions. Polyesters, biodegradable or not, may after a hydrolytic cleavage interact ionically with protonated amines by the liberated carboxylate functions. Amines are found in proteins and this fact will help us to anchor proteins to polyester surfaces. Another type of interaction is to culture cells in polymeric materials, i.e. scaffolds. We have been working on compliant substrates, knitted structures, to allow cell culture in three dimensions. A problem that arises here is how to get a high cell seeding efficiency? By working on the interactions between polymers, proteins and finally cells, it is possible to create a polarized protein membrane that allows for very efficient cell seeding, and subsequent three dimensional cell cultures. Finally a synthetic route to taylor interaction was developed. Here a group of polymers known as ionomers were synthesized. In our case ionic end groups have been placed onto biodegradable polycarbonates, we have created amphiphilic telechelic ionomers. Functionalization, anionic or cationic, changes the properties of the material in many ways due to aggregation and surface enrichment of ionic groups. It is possible to add functional groups for a variety of different interactions, for example introducing ionic groups that interact and bind to the complementary charge of proteins or on the other hand one can chose groups to prevent protein interactions, like the phosphorylcholine zwitterionomers. Such interactions can be utilized to modulate the release of proteins from these materials when used in protein delivery applications. The swelling properties, Tg, degradation rate and mechanical properties are among other things that will easily be altered with the choice of functional groups or backbone polymer.</p>

The interactions between polymers and components of biological systems are an important area of interest within the fields of tissue engineering, polymer chemistry, medicine and biomaterials. In order to create such a biomimetic material, it must show the inherent ability to reproduce or elicit a biological function. How do we design synthetic materials in order to direct their interactions with biological systems? This thesis contributes to this research with aspects of how polymers interact with biological materials with the help of ionic interactions. Polyesters, biodegradable or not, may after a hydrolytic cleavage interact ionically with protonated amines by the liberated carboxylate functions. Amines are found in proteins and this fact will help us to anchor proteins to polyester surfaces. Another type of interaction is to culture cells in polymeric materials, i.e. scaffolds. We have been working on compliant substrates, knitted structures, to allow cell culture in three dimensions. A problem that arises here is how to get a high cell seeding efficiency? By working on the interactions between polymers, proteins and finally cells, it is possible to create a polarized protein membrane that allows for very efficient cell seeding, and subsequent three dimensional cell cultures. Finally a synthetic route to taylor interaction was developed. Here a group of polymers known as ionomers were synthesized. In our case ionic end groups have been placed onto biodegradable polycarbonates, we have created amphiphilic telechelic ionomers. Functionalization, anionic or cationic, changes the properties of the material in many ways due to aggregation and surface enrichment of ionic groups. It is possible to add functional groups for a variety of different interactions, for example introducing ionic groups that interact and bind to the complementary charge of proteins or on the other hand one can chose groups to prevent protein interactions, like the phosphorylcholine zwitterionomers. Such interactions can be utilized to modulate the release of proteins from these materials when used in protein delivery applications. The swelling properties, Tg, degradation rate and mechanical properties are among other things that will easily be altered with the choice of functional groups or backbone polymer.

Present day advanced technologies heavily rely on one particular class of matter, i.e. the crystals. It is the periodic nature of the atoms and the properties arising due to the periodicity in crystals that is exploited to meet various technological feats. The technological revolutions in the semiconductor, optics and communication industries are the examples. The anisotropy in the crystals gives them enhanced properties as required in the field of non-linear optics. The field of non-linear optics became practically a reality after the invention of lasers. The coherent and monochromatic optical beams in the visible and ultraviolet ranges are in high demand due to their application in the fields like material processing, semiconductor lithography, laser micromachining, laser spectroscopy, photochemical synthesis, inertial confinement fusion and other basic scientific studies. In this thesis, work on the growth and characterization of two technologically important non-linear optical crystals has been carried out after developing the necessary instrumentation and some novel techniques for synthesis and growth. Also, studies on the glassy nature of one of the crystals have been carried out. This thesis consists of seven chapters. The first chapter gives a brief introduction to the nonlinear optical phenomenon, crystal growth and glassy state. Instrumentation is the backbone of crystal research technology. Without precision growth equipments large size crystals cannot be grown and without precision characterization instrumentation no conclusion regarding the quality and usefulness of the grown material can be drawn. The work reported in Chapter 2 describes the instrumentation developed for the growth, processing and characterization of crystals grown by solution and melt growth techniques. In low temperature solution growth, crystal growth workstations have been developed using tanks (made of acrylic), heating elements, and stirring propellers. Cooling coils have been inserted into the designed water bath to grow crystals below ambient also. This bath has an advantage to work over a wide range of temperatures, so that maximum retrieval of the material is possible. The growth of large crystals is usually hindered due to spurious nucleation precipitating during the growth process. A novel nucleation-trap crystallizer has been designed and developed that facilitates the continuation of the growth run in spite of extra nucleation precipitating after seeding. In this crystallizer, the spurious nuclei and any other particles generated after the filtration are forced into a well, and the growth of spurious nuclei is arrested by manipulating the temperature of this trap. Achieving adequate heat flow and mass flow profiles is of vital importance for growing good quality crystals. An optimized stirring procedure for the solution or melt is needed for ensuring the desired supply of growth units to the crystal-nutrient interface, and for transporting away any debris of the crystal-growth process. An ACRT set up has been designed and developed. For the growth of crystals by the flux technique and from direct melt, a crystal puller has been designed and developed. The crystal puller consists of a crystal rotation unit, slow and fast pulling mechanisms and a control unit. The pulling assembly is protected from damage caused by possible human errors through interlock mechanisms. The vibration at the shaft of the seed rotation assembly has been minimized by using a dc motor for rotation. A versatile triangular / square wave oscillator has been designed for developing a dc motor control. By implementing this control, the speed of the motor does not vary with supply-voltage variations. A quarter-step switching logic sequence is introduced for stepper motors, which is used for the slow UP/DOWN movement of the puller. This puller can be controlled locally by a control panel provided with the puller, or through a PC remotely by bypassing the local control. Additionally, for the processing and characterization of the grown DKDP crystals, a closed-loop thread-cutter, a ferroelectric loop tracer, and a computer-controlled system for measuring the half-wave voltage have been developed. A novel mercury encapsulant seeding technique that facilitates the processing of solution with immersed seed is invented and has been described in Chapter 3. This technique allows processing of solution with the seed inside the growth chamber, and still avoids contamination of the solution and formation of crystal clusters that are normally generated when seed is inserted after processing of the solution. DKDP and KAP crystal seeds have been used to check the dissolution of seeds, if any, when immersed in pure water for several hours and at high temperatures after introducing the seal. It has been observed that the mercury seal does not allow creeping of water into the seed holder, and there is no dissolution of the seed. This technique has been practically implemented for the growth of crystals from aqueous solution and its usefulness has been demonstrated by growing ammonium acid phthalate, potassium acid phthalate and potassium di-deuterium phosphate crystals. Nonlinear-optical crystals find major use in inertial-confinement fusion (ICF) experiments. For such applications, nonlinear crystals with very large damage-resistance are needed. Alternatively, crystals with moderate damage resistance but large size can be used for frequency-conversion for efficient plasma experiments. Potassium di-hydrogen phosphate, KH2PO4 (KDP) and its deuterated analog, K(DxH1-x)2PO4 (DKDP) are at present the only nonlinear optical crystals which can be grown to large sizes and are suitable for ICF studies. Also, solid-state light valves, light deflectors, and laser communication devices require large and perfect tetragonal DKDP crystals, with high deuterium concentration for easier operation. Chapter 4 describes the growth and characterization of DKDP crystals. DKDP crystals have been grown by all the three techniques i.e. conventional, platform and novel mercury encapsulant seeding techniques. Details about a new approach for the synthesis of DKDP solution have been given. A comparative study of the grown crystals by mercury-encapsulant technique and other techniques is described. Habit modification was observed due to the placement of seed crystals at an off-centre position and orientation in mercury encapsulant seeding technique and has been discussed. The grown crystals have been characterized for homogeneity, dislocations, transmission, DSC, rockng curve, etc. Due to the higher photon energies and the ability to be more tightly focused, coherent radiations of shorter wavelength (deep-UV) are in demand. The photon energies in this region are sufficient for bond-breaking processes in many materials, and find applications in fields like material processing, semiconductor lithography, laser micromachining, laser spectroscopy, photochemical synthesis, etc. Although excimer lasers (XeCl, KrF, ArF etc.) produce significant power in the deep-UV region, these laser systems involve corrosive gases, and are bulky, apart from requiring regular maintenance. A maintenance-free, compact, solid-state laser is preferable. But this, in turn, requires an efficient NLO crystal in that region. CLBO is one such crystal. Growth of CLBO crystals has been carried out by the flux-growth technique using B2O3-deficient flux, as well as from stoichiometric melt and has been discussed in Chapter 5. It was observed that the nucleation of material on platinum wire or spontaneous nucleation was difficult to achieve in spite of high supercooling. After forcing cracks into the mass deposited on platinum wire nucleation could be achieved. The growth of crystals was carried out on seeds with different orientations. Transmission studies, etch-pit studies and harmonic-generation experiments were performed on the grown crystals. The glass-forming tendency of CLBO has been studied and reported in Chapter 6. DTA experiments show that CLBO melt generally transforms to glass on cooling. Even at a cooling rate as low as 1°C/min, the material does not crystallize but transforms into glass. Ergodicity making and glass transition temperatures were determined for glassy CLBO. Since neither the crystallization peak nor the melting peak was observed in DTA experiments during the heating part of thermal cycle for glassy CLBO, a new approach of seeded crystallization was adopted in the calorimetric experiments to achieve crystallization. Since the size of added nuclei is already above the critical radius, the onset of crystallization peaks is independent of the critical-radius energy barrier. Kissenger method was applied to determine the activation energy of seeded- crystallization process. The transformation of glass CLBO to the crystalline phase is mediated by dendrites. Possibility of bulk crystal growth from the glassy state has been discussed, and a novel idea of surface crystallization is proposed. Chapter 7 summarizes the work carried out and projects the scope for future work.

From the Proceedings of the 1972 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science - May 5-6, 1972, Prescott, Arizona / There have been many efforts in recent years to modify thunderstorms through cloud seeding. Collective cloud seeding efforts in Arizona before 1971 are reviewed and an operational convective cloud seeding program carried out in Arizona in the summer of 1971 is analyzed. The comprehensive Santa Catalina cloud seeding experiment (1957 to 1964) was a randomized seeding using silver iodide. Results of this experiment are uncertain as numerous interpretations are possible. Numerous individual experiments from 1966 to 1970 at flagstaff were conducted, with uncertain results. An intensive program of seeding individual cumulus clouds with silver iodide was carried out in the summer of 1971 in central and eastern Arizona. No statistically significant changes were noted. Results of the Catalina experiment imply that seeding decreased rainfall on and downwind from the target. Two other experiments were inconclusive. Nine figures show precipitation patterns.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The Balfourodendron riedelianum of the family Rutaceae is a native forest species with timber value and is used in the manufacture of luxury furniture, construction, and so forth. Moreover, the species is suitable for medical use, insecticide, landscaping and recovery riparian areas. Despite the importance of this species, there are few studies in relation to seed technology, irrigation in the production of seedlings and field early growth. In this sense, species diaspores were collected in Palma Nova (RS), in the years of 2013 and 2015, and further processed and divided into samples for testing. The study was divided into three articles, in Article I – measurement of biometrics, pre-germination treatments and substrates for the germination of B. riedelianum diaspores; by using a sample of 2013 for physical characterization, through the weight of a thousand seeds (PMS), water content (TU) and biometrics, besides the germination test (G%) on different substrates after breaking dormancy. The dimensions of the B. riedelianum seeds had on average, 18.59; 9.03 and 9.38 mm in length; width and thickness, respectively. The dormancy was broken by immersion in cold water (8 ± 2 ° C) for 48 hours and germinating was conducted on vermiculite substrate. Article II – In the first, two experiments were carried out, the quality of the seeds collected in 2013, which have been stored for two years in cold and humid chamber was evaluated and sampled for TU testing, G% and sanity, and the second evaluated in the lot collected in 2015 the disinfestation of the seeds in the incidence of fungi and germination. Diaspores of B. riedelianum remained viable for 12 months under storage conditions, and disinfection with Orthocide® is indicated in order that provided high G% and IVG. The genus Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp. and Penicillium sp. were detected in both experiments. Article III - identified water depth required to optimize the growth of seedlings of B. riedelianum, and evaluated its initial field growth. Combinations were used of heads between 4, 8 and 12 mm day-1, after 180 days of water management application survival evaluation were performed, height, stem diameter, dry mass air, root dry weight and quality index Dickson. The treatments described in the vivarium were conducted in the field, wich 450 days after plantating were evaluated in relation to H, DC, MSA, leaf area and root length, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll a fluorescence. The head influenced the growth of seedlings of B. riedelianum, in the vivarium stage, which was confirmed in the field. Seedlings of Balfourodendron riedelianum can be produced initially with water depth of 4 mm day-1, which must be switched to 12 mm day -1after 60 days and remain so until the end of production. / Balfourodendron riedelianum da família Rutaceae é uma espécie florestal nativa com valor madeireiro, sendo utilizada na fabricação de móveis de luxo, construção civil, entre outros. Além disso, a espécie é indicada para uso medicinal, inseticida, paisagismo e recuperação de áreas ripárias. Apesar da importância desta espécie, há escassez de estudos em relação à tecnologia de sementes, à irrigação na produção de mudas e crescimento inicial a campo. Nesse sentido, foram coletados diásporos da espécie em Nova Palma (RS), em 2013 e 2015, após beneficiados e divididos em amostras para a realização dos testes. O estudo foi dividido em três capítulos, no Capítulo I - foi mensurado a biometria, tratamentos pré-germinativos e substratos para germinação de diásporos de B. riedelianum; sendo utilizado uma amostra do lote de 2013 para caracterização física, por meio do peso de mil sementes (PMS), teor de água (TU) e biometria, além do teste de germinação (G%) em diferentes substratos após superação da dormência. As dimensões dos diásporos de B. riedelianum apresentam em média, 18,59; 9,03 e 9,38 mm de comprimento; largura e espessura, respectivamente. A dormência foi superada pela imersão em água fria (8 ± 2 °C), por 48 horas e germinação pode ser conduzida em substrato vermiculita. No Capítulo II - foram realizados dois experimentos, no primeiro, foi avaliado a qualidade dos diásporos coletados em 2013 que foram armazenados durante dois anos em câmara fria e úmida, sendo retiradas amostras para testes de TU, G% e sanidade, no segundo foi avaliado no lote coletado em 2015 a desinfestação dos diásporos na incidência de fungos e na germinação. Os diásporos de B. riedelianum mantiveram-se viáveis durante 12 meses sob as condições de armazenamento, e a desinfestação com Orthocide® é indicado, tendo em vista, que proporcionou elevada G% e IVG. Os gêneros Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp. e Penicillium sp. foram detectados em ambos os experimentos. No Capítulo III – foi identificado a lâmina de irrigação necessária para otimizar o crescimento das mudas de B. riedelianum, e avaliado seu crescimento inicial a campo. Foram utilizados combinações entre as lâminas 4, 8 e 12 mm dia-1, que após 180 dias de aplicação do manejo hídrico realizou-se avaliações da sobrevivência (Sob), altura (H), diâmetro do coleto (DC), massa seca aérea (MSA), massa seca radicular (MSR) e índice de qualidade de Dickson (IQD). Os tratamentos descritos no experimento do viveiro foram conduzidos a campo, que aos 450 dias após o plantio foram avaliados em relação a H, DC, MSA, área foliar e comprimento radicular, teor de clorofila e fluorescência da clorofila a. As lâminas influenciaram no crescimento das mudas de B. riedelianum, na fase de viveiro, o que foi confirmado no campo. Mudas de Balfourodendron riedelianum podem ser produzidas, inicialmente, com lâmina de irrigação de 4 mm dia-1, a qual deve ser alternada para 12 mm dia-1 a partir dos 60 dias, permanecendo assim até o final da produção.