Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência da disposição de malhas de sombreamento (termo-refletora) instaladas externa e internamente em ambiente protegido, coberto com polietileno de baixa densidade (PEBD), cultivado com gérbera, nas variáveis ambientais, nas variáveis e na qualidade das plantas. Além disso, determinou-se a evapotranspiração da gérbera (ETc), a qual foi correlacionada com as variáveis ambientais e da planta. As variáveis de maior correlação foram utilizadas para a confecção de modelos de estimativa da ETc, por meio de regressões lineares múltiplas (RLM). O experimento foi conduzido em dois ciclos no ano de 2004, junto à área experimental do Departamento de Engenharia Rural, da ESALQ/USP, em Piracicaba, SP, em um ambiente protegido, subdividido em duas partes, cada uma com 8,5m de comprimento, 6,4m largura e altura máxima de 4,2m. Os ambientes foram cobertos com PEBD e diferenciados um do outro pela instalação de malha termorefletora (50%): malha externa (ambiente 1) e malha interna (ambiente 2). Sensores para medida das variáveis ambientais foram instalados no centro dos ambientes 1 e 2. Os mesmos dados foram coletados externamente por uma estação meteorológica automática. Os resultados dos dois ciclos mostraram que houve alteração no microclima dos dois ambientes estudados. Radiação solar (Qg) nos ambientes 1 e 2 foram 33,6% e 21,7% (1º ciclo) e 27,2% e 17,9% (2º ciclo) da observada externamente. A cobertura do ambiente 2 não alterou a fração da radiação solar em relação à condição externa, porém a do ambiente 1 diminuiu tal relação em 8%. A temperatura no ambiente 1, em média, foi superior em 1% (1º ciclo) e 2% (2º ciclo), em relação ao ambiente externo, enquanto que no ambiente 2 essa diferença foi de 7% e 8%. No ambiente 1, as gérberas apresentaram, em média, 3,21 (1º ciclo) e 3,02 (2º ciclo) botões. No ambiente 2, esses valores caíram para 2,37 e 2,26. Quanto à sua qualidade, verificou-se que no ambiente 1 houve uma maior proporção de plantas de padrão médio e bom. Entre os 1º e 2º ciclos houve diferenças na qualidade das gérberas, sendo menor no 2o em decorrência da menor disponibilidade de energia nesse ciclo. Somente as gérberas presentes no ambiente 1 atenderam às exigências mercadológicas quanto aos botões e à altura da haste. No entanto, com o tempo esse tipo de ambiente pode passar a ter piores condições para a produção, em razão de um maior acúmulo de poeira. No ambiente 1 a ETc média foi de 2,64 (1º ciclo) e 2,26 mm.d-1 2º ciclo), enquanto no ambiente 2 a ETc média foi 2,59 e 2,10 mm.d-1. A análise de correlação mostrou que Qg foi a variável ambiental que mais influenciou ETc. Ao se combinar Qg à área foliar em RLM para estimativa da ETc foram obtidos R2 de 0,82 e 0,75 para os ambientes 1 e 2, respectivamente. Ao se testar essas equações observou-se que a ETc no ambiente 1 foi subestimada em 2% e no ambiente 2 foi superestimada em 2%. Sugere-se estudos futuros com a malha termo-refletora instalada na face interna da cobertura, a fim de anular o efeito da deposição de poeira. / The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of low density polyethylene (PEBD) as a greenhouse cover in association with thermal shading screen installed in two different positions (outside and inside), cultivated with gerbera, on micrometeorogical variables, as well as on the growth, quality and evapotranspiration (ETc) of gerbera plants. The experiment was carried out during two crop cycles in 2004 at the experimental area of the Department of Rural Engineering, ESALQ/USP, in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brasil. A greenhouse was sub-divided in two parts, witch one with 8,5 m length, 6,4 m width and maximum height of 4,2 m. The greenhouse were covered with PEBD and differed from each other by the position of the thermal shading screen (50%), witch was installed inside (at 3m height) and outside (re-covering the plastic cover). The environment with the thermal screen outside was named A1 and the other with the thermal screen inside was named A2. Micrometeorological sensors were installed in the centers of each greenhouse. The same set of data were also measured by an automatic weather station. The results from the two crop cycles showed that the microclimate was changed by the covers of the greenhouses. Radiation (Qg) inside the greenhouses was 33,6% and 21,7% (first cycle), and 27,2% and 17,9 (second cycles) of the values measured outside, respectively for A1 e A2. The relationship PAR/Qg was not changes in comparison to external conditions in A2. However, this relationship was reduced in 8% in A1. Temperatures inside greenhouses were higher than outside: 1-2% in A1 and 7-8% in A2. Few differences were observed in plant parameters between the two crop cycles. But differences were detected between environments A1 e A2, especially in the number of flower buttons and plant quality. A1 showed to be better having plants with more buttons and with better quality for market. Average ETc ranged from 2,64 to 2,26 mm.d-1 in A1, and from 2,59 to 2,10 mm.d-1 in A2, respectively for the first and second cycles. The correlation analysis between ETc and environmental and plant variables showed that Qg and leaf area per plant (LA) were the main ones to influence the plant water consumption. Multiple linear regression equations, to estimate ETc from Qg and leaf area were proposed for each environment. The test of these equations showed an underestimation of 2% in A1 and an overestimation of 2% in A2.

Medimos a seção de choque de fotofissão do 238U entre 200 e 1200 MeV, utilizando um feixe de fótons monocromáticos formados a partir da radiação de Bremsstrahlung dos elétrons armazenados no síncrotron Adone, em Frascati (Itália). Verificamos que para este núcleo, nesta faixa de energias, as seções de choque de fotofissâo e de fotoabsorção podem ser consideradas iguais, dentro dos erros experimentais. Comparando a seção de choque de fotoabsorção do urânio com a de outros núcleos, medidas também por nós em Frascati, verificamos que não há indícios do efeito de sombreamento até 1200 MeV. Por outro lado, comparando os nossos resultados com a seção de choque de fotoabsorção do próton na mesma faixa de energia, concluímos que as ressonâncias nucleônicas a energias superiores à da delta, notadamente as ressonâncias D13 e F15, são fortemente amortecidas nos núcleos complexos. Introduzimos um modelo fenomenológico a fim de descrever os nossos dados experimentais, obtendo resultados muito satisfatórios. / We have measured the 238U photofission cross section between 200 and 1200 MeV using a Bremsstrahlung monochromatic photon beam in the Adone facilities, at Frascati (Italy). For this nucleus, we have verified that, at the energy range considered here, the photofission and photoabsorption cross sections can be considered as being identical. From the comparison of the uranium photoabsorption cross section with that one for other nuclei, also measured in Frascati, we verified that there is no evidence of the shadowing effect up to 1200 MeV. On the other hand, by comparing our results with the próton photoabsorption cross section in the same energy range, we concluded that there is an strong damping of the nucleonic resonances in the D13 and F15 region. We introduced a fenomenologic model to describe our experimental data, obtaining very satisfatory results.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência da disposição de malhas de sombreamento (termo-refletora) instaladas externa e internamente em ambiente protegido, coberto com polietileno de baixa densidade (PEBD), cultivado com gérbera, nas variáveis ambientais, nas variáveis e na qualidade das plantas. Além disso, determinou-se a evapotranspiração da gérbera (ETc), a qual foi correlacionada com as variáveis ambientais e da planta. As variáveis de maior correlação foram utilizadas para a confecção de modelos de estimativa da ETc, por meio de regressões lineares múltiplas (RLM). O experimento foi conduzido em dois ciclos no ano de 2004, junto à área experimental do Departamento de Engenharia Rural, da ESALQ/USP, em Piracicaba, SP, em um ambiente protegido, subdividido em duas partes, cada uma com 8,5m de comprimento, 6,4m largura e altura máxima de 4,2m. Os ambientes foram cobertos com PEBD e diferenciados um do outro pela instalação de malha termorefletora (50%): malha externa (ambiente 1) e malha interna (ambiente 2). Sensores para medida das variáveis ambientais foram instalados no centro dos ambientes 1 e 2. Os mesmos dados foram coletados externamente por uma estação meteorológica automática. Os resultados dos dois ciclos mostraram que houve alteração no microclima dos dois ambientes estudados. Radiação solar (Qg) nos ambientes 1 e 2 foram 33,6% e 21,7% (1º ciclo) e 27,2% e 17,9% (2º ciclo) da observada externamente. A cobertura do ambiente 2 não alterou a fração da radiação solar em relação à condição externa, porém a do ambiente 1 diminuiu tal relação em 8%. A temperatura no ambiente 1, em média, foi superior em 1% (1º ciclo) e 2% (2º ciclo), em relação ao ambiente externo, enquanto que no ambiente 2 essa diferença foi de 7% e 8%. No ambiente 1, as gérberas apresentaram, em média, 3,21 (1º ciclo) e 3,02 (2º ciclo) botões. No ambiente 2, esses valores caíram para 2,37 e 2,26. Quanto à sua qualidade, verificou-se que no ambiente 1 houve uma maior proporção de plantas de padrão médio e bom. Entre os 1º e 2º ciclos houve diferenças na qualidade das gérberas, sendo menor no 2o em decorrência da menor disponibilidade de energia nesse ciclo. Somente as gérberas presentes no ambiente 1 atenderam às exigências mercadológicas quanto aos botões e à altura da haste. No entanto, com o tempo esse tipo de ambiente pode passar a ter piores condições para a produção, em razão de um maior acúmulo de poeira. No ambiente 1 a ETc média foi de 2,64 (1º ciclo) e 2,26 mm.d-1 2º ciclo), enquanto no ambiente 2 a ETc média foi 2,59 e 2,10 mm.d-1. A análise de correlação mostrou que Qg foi a variável ambiental que mais influenciou ETc. Ao se combinar Qg à área foliar em RLM para estimativa da ETc foram obtidos R2 de 0,82 e 0,75 para os ambientes 1 e 2, respectivamente. Ao se testar essas equações observou-se que a ETc no ambiente 1 foi subestimada em 2% e no ambiente 2 foi superestimada em 2%. Sugere-se estudos futuros com a malha termo-refletora instalada na face interna da cobertura, a fim de anular o efeito da deposição de poeira. / The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of low density polyethylene (PEBD) as a greenhouse cover in association with thermal shading screen installed in two different positions (outside and inside), cultivated with gerbera, on micrometeorogical variables, as well as on the growth, quality and evapotranspiration (ETc) of gerbera plants. The experiment was carried out during two crop cycles in 2004 at the experimental area of the Department of Rural Engineering, ESALQ/USP, in Piracicaba, State of São Paulo, Brasil. A greenhouse was sub-divided in two parts, witch one with 8,5 m length, 6,4 m width and maximum height of 4,2 m. The greenhouse were covered with PEBD and differed from each other by the position of the thermal shading screen (50%), witch was installed inside (at 3m height) and outside (re-covering the plastic cover). The environment with the thermal screen outside was named A1 and the other with the thermal screen inside was named A2. Micrometeorological sensors were installed in the centers of each greenhouse. The same set of data were also measured by an automatic weather station. The results from the two crop cycles showed that the microclimate was changed by the covers of the greenhouses. Radiation (Qg) inside the greenhouses was 33,6% and 21,7% (first cycle), and 27,2% and 17,9 (second cycles) of the values measured outside, respectively for A1 e A2. The relationship PAR/Qg was not changes in comparison to external conditions in A2. However, this relationship was reduced in 8% in A1. Temperatures inside greenhouses were higher than outside: 1-2% in A1 and 7-8% in A2. Few differences were observed in plant parameters between the two crop cycles. But differences were detected between environments A1 e A2, especially in the number of flower buttons and plant quality. A1 showed to be better having plants with more buttons and with better quality for market. Average ETc ranged from 2,64 to 2,26 mm.d-1 in A1, and from 2,59 to 2,10 mm.d-1 in A2, respectively for the first and second cycles. The correlation analysis between ETc and environmental and plant variables showed that Qg and leaf area per plant (LA) were the main ones to influence the plant water consumption. Multiple linear regression equations, to estimate ETc from Qg and leaf area were proposed for each environment. The test of these equations showed an underestimation of 2% in A1 and an overestimation of 2% in A2.

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e quantificar o efeito do sombreamento artificial proporcionado por diferentes áreas de sombra sobre a fisiologia e o comportamento de novilhas leiteiras, em ambiente de pastagens. A pesquisa foi realizada no período de fevereiro a abril de 2008. A área experimental foi dividida em 20 parcelas adjacentes com 84m² para os tratamentos 1, 2 e 3 e com 70m² para os tratamentos 4 e 5. Foram comparados a testemunha (tratamento 1, sem sombra) com 4 áreas de sombreamento por animal, tratamento 2 (com 1,5m²), tratamento 3 (3,0m²), tratamento 4 (5,0m²) e tratamento 5 (8,0m²), As dimensões dos abrigos foram 1,0m x 1,5m x 3,5m (largura, comprimento e altura) (1,5m² de sombra.animal-1), 1,5m x 2,0m x 3,5m (3,0m² de sombra.animal-1), 2,0m x 2,5m x 3,5m (5,0m² de sombra.animal-1) e 2,0m x 4,0m x 3,5m (8,0m² de sombra.animal-1), sem paredes laterais. Foram utilizadas 20 novilhas mestiças, 3/4 Jersey, ½ Holandesa e Jersey e Holandesas puras, com idade entre 12 e 25 meses e peso médio variando de 240 a 360kg, pareadas em função da uniformidade de peso e idade. As novilhas permaneciam em piquetes de Penissetum purpureum e complementação da dieta no cocho, durante a noite e após as 8:00 horas eram conduzidas para as parcelas. A Tgn foi registrada por um minidatalogger da marca LOGEN LS 8856 ALPAX. As variáveis meteorológicas foram obtidas no posto agrometeorológico da ESALQ/USP. Durante nove dias não consecutivos foram registradas FR e TS. As observações comportamentais foram realizadas em dias não consecutivos (nove dias) no período das 10:00 ás 16:00 horas pelo método focal. As condições ambientais em 66,7% do período da pesquisa foram em condição de estresse térmico para as novilhas. Os valores de FR e TS foram menores sob a maior área de sombra (P<0,05) e semelhantes entre os 1,5m², 3,5m² e 5,0m² (P>0,05). Houve correlação da Tgn com a FR e a TS. Não foram observadas alterações comportamentais entre os tratamentos, os animais ficaram sob as sombras nas horas mais quentes do dia, preferencialmente em pé, o comportamento seguiu os padrões conhecidos para bovinos. Para novilhas leiteiras a melhor área de sombreamento artificial é de 3m². / This study had as objective to evaluate and quantify the effect of artificial shading proportioned by different shadow areas under physiology and behavior of milk heifers, in pastures. Research was realized in the period from February to April, 2008. Experimental area was divided in 20 adjacent parcels with 84m2 to treatments 1, 2 and 3 and with 70m2 to treatments 4 and 5. Were compared witness (treatment 1, no shadow) with 4 shading areas per animal, treatment 2 (with 1,5 m²), treatment 3 (3,0 m²), treatment 4 (5,0 m²) and treatment 5 (8,0 m²). Shelters dimensions were 1,0m x 1,5m x 3,5m (width, length and height) (1,5m² of shade.animal-1), 1,5m x 2,0m x 3,5m (3,0m² of shade.animal-1), 2,0m x 2,5m x 3,5m (5,0m² of shade.animal-1) and 2,0m x 4,0m x 3,5m (8,0m² of shade.animal-1), without walls in the sides. Twenty crossbred heifers were used, 3/4 Jersey, ½ Holstein and pure Jersey and Holstein, with ages among 12 and 25 months and average weight varying from 240 to 360 kg, paired in function of weight and age uniformity. Heifers remained in Penissetum purpureum paddocks and had a diet complementation in the trough, during the period of night and after 8:00am they were conducted to the parcels. Tgn was registered by a minidatalogger from LOGEN LS 8856 ALPAX trend. Meteorological variables were obtained in the agrometeorological post from ESALQ/USP. During nine non consecutive days were registered FR and TS. Behavioral observations were realized in non consecutive days (nine days) in the period from 10:00am to 16:00pm by the focal method. 66,7% of environmental conditions in the period of research were in thermal stress conditions to the heifers. Values of FR and TS were minor under the major area of (P<0,05) and similar among 1,5m², 3,5m² and 5,0m² (P>0,05). There was a correlation of Tgn with FR and TS. Behavioral alterations among the treatments were not observed, animals stayed under the shadow in the hotter hours of the day, preferably on foot, behavior followed the known patters to bovine. For milk heifers the better of artificial shading area is 3m².

A geração de eletricidade fundamentada na complementariedade pelas fontes renováveis como a solar fotovoltaica distribuída, tem se tornado relevante e essencial para o fornecimento de energia elétrica no modelo atual das redes elétricas em ambientes urbanos. Porém, tendem a ser impactadas por diversos fatores, tais como sujidade, temperatura, degradação, ângulo de orientação e inclinação, bem como topografia do terreno e qualidade de fabricação do módulo. Somasse o sombreamento parcial de elementos do entorno, o qual é o principal fator que afeta a produtividade do sistema fotovoltaico. Esta tese tem como objetivo propor um método para posicionar módulos fotovoltaicos de maiores potências nominais nas regiões com maiores índices de irradiação da planta, para formar associações de módulos que iram operar em semelhantes condições de irradiação durante todo o ano e quantificar a influência da incompatibilidade elétrica devido as diferenças de fabricação dos módulos. Métodos tradicionais de simulação da estimativa de produção anual consideram módulos idênticos e não permitem importar arquivos flash test de cada módulo utilizado na planta fotovoltaica. O método proposto incluiu a análise de irradiação (sombreamento) global média diária anual de cada módulo e desenvolvimento de algoritmo em MATLAB para estudo da incompatibilidade elétrica e posicionamento. O método foi desenvolvido para um estudo de caso teórico de um estacionamento fotovoltaico com sombreamento parcial na cidade São Paulo, no qual o catálogo do módulo e os flash tests foram disponibilizados pelo fabricante. Os resultados do estudo mostram para uma associação série da planta, variação entre -1,4 e +1,2 Wp entre os valores máximos e mínimos da PMPP, indicando um desvio em relação ao valor médio de 0,57% e 0,48%, resultando uma queda da tolerância relativa à qualidade do módulo em comparação com os valores praticado nas simulações. Sendo obtida uma potência total média teórica de 5,922 kWp, enquanto que em uma ordenação aleatório teríamos uma potência total média teórica de 5,880 kWp, ou seja, -40,49 Wp (0,7%) inferior em comparação com a associação série na qual foi aplicado o algoritmo de ordenação. / The energy generation based on the complementary renewable sources as distributed photovoltaic solar energy, has become relevant and essential for current model of energy supply in the urban environment. However, tend to be impacted for several conditions whereby soiling, temperature, degradation, ground topology, orientation and tilt angle, manufacturing tolerances of photovoltaic module. In addition, the partial shading due to the surrounding elements, which is the main factor that decrease the yield of photovoltaic systems. The objective of this thesis is to propose a method to positioning the higher nominal power photovoltaic modules in the regions with higher homogeneous solar irradiance of the plant, to form a string of photovoltaic modules that will operate in a similar ambient condition during the whole year and quantify the influence of electrical mismatch due to small manufacturing differences. Traditional solar simulation tools not allow flash test dataset inputs, often modeled them as an identical devices to estimate the annual energy production. The method consists in identifying and quantifying the reduction of electrical mismatch tolerance, relating the irradiance (shading) on each photovoltaic module and propose a Matlab algorithm to study the electrical mismatch. The method was developed through a theoretical study case of a parking-integrated photovoltaic with partial shading simulated in São Paulo city for which module datasheets as well as flash test data are available. The results show that the percentage deviation of mismatch tolerance for a string of 24 modules when applied the sorting algorithm was reduced among 0.57% (1.4 Wp) and 0.48% (1.2 Wp), between the lowest and highest value of the average nominal maximum power of 245 Wp, when compared with randomly ordered of ± 2.5% (± 6 Wp). In terms of energy production for the string, these values represents an average theoretical nominal power of 5.922 kWp for sorting algorithm and 5.880 kWp considering the random ordered, which represents a PV string energy production of -40.49 Wp (0.7%) lower without the method proposed.

O Brasil é sem dúvida um país de grandiosa extensão territorial e clima privilegiado, para o desenvolvimento dentre outras, das plantas herbáceas, propiciando assim excelentes condições para o desenvolvimento da pecuária. Levando-se em conta tal fato, a formação de boas pastagens é de enorme importância, sendo a melhor opção para a alimentação de nossos rebanhos, uma vez que se trata de um alimento disponível e barato e que oferece todos os nutrientes necessários para o desenvolvimento com sucesso dos animais. Obter informações acerca das condições fisiológicas quem compõem estas áreas de pastagem é de extrema importância para boa manutenção das espécies vegetais e do rebanho. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar se seria possível adquirir sinais bioelétricos de capim Braquiária (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) utilizando método não invasivo. Foram utilizados na totalidade 29 vasos plásticos forrados com tela e uma camada de pedra, com capacidade para 9 kg de terra cada, onde foram semeados o Capim Marandu (Brachiaria brizantha). Foram estudados 12 vasos, sendo três cultivados sob uma situação de sol pleno (100% de luz) e recebendo a adubação de manutenção; três sendo cultivados sob uma situação de sombreamento (70% de luz) e recebendo a adubação de manutenção; três sendo cultivados sob uma situação de sombreamento (50% de luz) e recebendo a adubação de manutenção e por último três vasos cultivados sob uma situação de sol pleno (100% de luz) e não recebendo a adubação de manutenção. Para interpretar os dados coletados, métodos de análises de sinais foram aplicados, juntamente com o processamento dos dados no Matlab®. Foi positiva a realização da captação de sinais elétricos em Capim Marandu, em crescimento livre e nível distinto de sombreamento, por meio do emprego de técnicas de instrumentação eletrônica, como uma importante ferramenta no estudo da fisiologia das forragens. No entanto vale ressaltar que este presente trabalho é apenas o primeiro degrau para futuros estudos no campo da eletrofisiologia vegetal, requerendo assim pesquisas mais amplas e aprofundadas neste ramo da ciência das plantas. / Brazil is undoubtedly a country of great territorial extension and privileged climate, development among others, herbaceous plants, thereby providing excellent conditions for the development of livestock. Taking into account this fact, the formation of good pasture is of enormous importance, being the best option for feeding our livestock, since this is a food available and affordable and that offers all the nutrients needed for development successfully animals. Get information about the physiological conditions who compose these pastures is extremely important for proper maintenance of plant species and flock. The objective of this study was to investigate whether it would be possible to acquire bioelectrical signals grass Brachiaria (Brachiaria brizantha) using noninvasive method. 29 were used in all plastic pots lined with fabric and a layer of stone, with a capacity of 9 kg of earth where they were each seeded Marandu the grass (Brachiaria brizantha). We studied 12 vessels, three grown under a full sun situation (100% light) and receiving maintenance fertilization, three being grown under a situation of shading (70% light) and receiving maintenance fertilization, three being cultivated under a situation of shading (50% light) and receiving maintenance fertilization and last three vessels grown in a full sun situation (100% light) and not receiving fertilizer. Interpreting the collected data analysis methods were applied signals along with the data processing in Matlab ®. It was the realization of positive uptake of electric signals in Marandu grass, growing freely and distinct level of shading, through the use of electronic instrumentation techniques, as an important tool in the study of physiology fodder. However it is worth mentioning that this study is only the first step for future studies in the field of electrophysiology plant, thus requiring more extensive and in-depth research in this field of plant science.

In this dissertation I first examine the ability of individual plants in the field to garner localized soil nutrients. I then measure actual soil variability around perennial plants and use various statistics to quantify the scale and degree of that variability. Soil patches on opposite sides of Pseudoroegneria spicata tussocks were treated with distilled water or a nutrient solution containing N, P, or K in three field experiments. When P was augmented in the enriched soil patches, rates of P uptake increased significantly for roots from enriched patches compared with roots in control patches. Rates of ammonium and potassium uptake were apparently unchanged. When N was augmented in the enriched patches, rates of ammonium and potassium uptake increased significantly. When K was augmented in the enriched patches, no changes were seen for any of the nutrients. Plant shading was found to limit the ability of Agropyron desertorum tussocks to increase rates of nutrient uptake in enriched soil microsites. Roots of unshaded plants selectively increased phosphate uptake capacity in enriched patches by up to 73%, but shading limited this response. Enrichment of the soil patches resulted in significantly greater phosphate concentrations in roots of both shaded and unshaded plants. Nutrient heterogeneity in the soil at a native sagebrush-steppe site was quite high, with ammonium and nitrate varying by over two orders of magnitude and phosphate and potassium close to one order of magnitude within a 10x12- m area. Within 0.5x0.5-m subplots around individual plants, ammonium and nitrate varied by an average factor of 11 and 12, respectively, with less average variation for phosphate and potassium. Geostatistical semivariograms showed that soil ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, potassium, pH, and organic matter all showed detectable autocorrelation only at scales of less than 1.0 to 1.5 m. Indices of microbial activity showed no detectable autocorrelation even at the smallest measurement scale of 12.5 cm. From the degree and scale of heterogeneity encountered, I conclude that root plasticity and active foraging in a heterogeneous soil environment are likely to be important to the nutrient balance of many plants.

Le but du rendu stylisé est de produire un rendud'une scène 3D dans le style visuel particuliervoulu par un artiste.Cela nécessite de reproduire automatiquementsur ordinateur certaines caractéristiquesd'illustrations traditionnelles: par exemple,la façon dont un artiste représente les ombres et lalumière, les contours des objets, ou bien les coupsde pinceau qui ont servi à créer une peinture.Les problématiques du rendu stylisé sont pertinentesdans des domaines comme la réalisation de films d'animation 3Dou le jeu vidéo, où les studios cherchent de plus en plus à se démarquerpar des styles visuels originaux.Dans cette thèse, nous explorons des techniques destylisation qui peuvent s'intégrer dans des pipelinesde rendu temps-réel existants, et nous proposons deux contributions.La première est un outil de création de modèles d'illuminationstylisés pour des objets 3D.La conception de ces modèles est complexe et coûteuse en temps,car ils doivent produire un résultat cohérentsous une multitude d'angles de vue et d'éclairages.Nous proposons une méthode qui facilite la créationde modèles d'illumination pour le rendu stylisé,en les décomposant en sous-modèles plus simples à manipuler.Notre seconde contribution est un pipeline de rendude scènes 3D dans un style peinture,qui utilise une combinaison de bruits procéduraux 3Det de filtrage en espace écran.Des techniques de filtrage d'image ont déjà été proposéespour styliser des images ou des vidéos:le but de ce travail est d'utiliser ces filtres pourstyliser des scènes 3D tout en gardant la cohérence du mouvement.Cependant, directement appliquer un filtreen espace écran produit des défauts visuels au niveau dessilhouettes des objets.Nous proposons une méthode qui permet d'assurer la cohérence du mouvement,en guidant les filtres d'images avec des informations sur la géométrie extraites de G-buffers, et qui élimine les défauts aux silhouettes. / The goal of stylized rendering is to render 3D scenes in the visual style intended by an artist.This often entails reproducing, with some degree of automation,the visual features typically found in 2D illustrationsthat constitute the "style" of an artist.Examples of these features include the depiction of light and shade,the representation of the contours of objects,or the strokes on a canvas that make a painting.This field is relevant today in domains such as computer-generated animation orvideo games, where studios seek to differentiate themselveswith styles that deviate from photorealism.In this thesis, we explore stylization techniques that can be easilyinserted into existing real-time rendering pipelines, and propose two novel techniques in this domain.Our first contribution is a workflow that aims to facilitatethe design of complex stylized shading models for 3D objects.Designing a stylized shading model that follows artistic constraintsand stays consistent under a variety of lightingconditions and viewpoints is a difficult and time-consuming process.Specialized shading models intended for stylization existbut are still limited in the range of appearances and behaviors they can reproduce.We propose a way to build and experiment with complex shading modelsby combining several simple shading behaviors using a layered approach,which allows a more intuitive and efficient exploration of the design space of shading models.In our second contribution, we present a pipeline to render 3D scenes in painterly styles,simulating the appearance of brush strokes,using a combination of procedural noise andlocal image filtering in screen-space.Image filtering techniques can achieve a wide range of stylized effects on 2D pictures and video:our goal is to use those existing filtering techniques to stylize 3D scenes,in a way that is coherent with the underlying animation or camera movement.This is not a trivial process, as naive approaches to filtering in screen-spacecan introduce visual inconsistencies around the silhouette of objects.The proposed method ensures motion coherence by guiding filters with informationfrom G-buffers, and ensures a coherent stylization of silhouettes in a generic way.

The grape flavonoids include anthocyanins, tannins and flavonols, all of which contribute to grape and wine quality by influencing the colour and mouthfeel of red wine. These compounds are synthesized in different parts of the berry and during different stages of berry development. In addition, environmental and viticultural factors such as light exposure can also alter the flavonoid composition of grapes. An understanding of how synthesis of these compounds is coordinated, their relationship to wine quality and the influence of bunch light exposure on the flavonoid composition of grapes, could be used to improve fruit quality by enhanced viticultural management. The first part of this study sought to investigate the relationship between the different products of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway (anthocyanins, flavonols and tannins), from two climatic regions (warm and cool) and determine their role in grape and wine quality. In collaboration with a major winery, whole Shiraz grapes were sampled at the weighbridge from a range of different vineyards from two climatic regions; warm (Riverland) and cool (McLaren Vale) in 2003 and 2004. A total of 80 grape samples were collected in each season and processed (i.e. 100 berries, separated into skin, seeds and juice, weighed and frozen). Anthocyanins and flavonols were measured, in triplicate, in skins by HPLC. Tannins were determined in the skins and seeds by two methods; phloroglucinol hydrolysis (HPLC) and protein precipitation (UV-VIS spectrophotometer). A comprehensive comparison of the two methods is discussed. In both years, the grapes from warm and cool climates formed two distinct data sets based on flavonoid composition. There was a correlation between anthocyanins and flavonols for both the warm and cool climate samples in both years, however those from the warm region had lower anthocyanin for a given level of flavonol. As expected, the level of tannin in the seeds was greater than in skin for all samples. In both years, there was a weak correlation between anthocyanin levels in the skin and skin tannins, but no relationship with seed tannins. These results suggest there is some co-ordination in the synthesis of anthocyanins, flavonols and skin tannins. Also, the two regions clearly separated based on yield and despite the weak correlations in both regions, the levels of total anthocyanins were inversely related to yield. In addition, there was no relationship with any of the flavonoids and grape quality, indicating the need for improvement in streaming fruit for quality using these flavonoid compounds. The second part of the study was to investigate the effect of bunch light exposure on flavonol synthesis and accumulation in Shiraz and Chardonnay grapes during development. Light-excluding boxes were applied to bunches at budburst. Boxes were removed at four sampling times; flowering, pre-veraison, veraison and harvest. At each sampling time, berry skins were sampled when the boxes were removed and then every second day (light induced), along with exposed controls for one week. Flavonol accumulation and flavonol synthase (VvFLS1) gene expression was determined by HPLC and Real Time-PCR (RT-PCR) respectively. As expected, for all four sampling times, flavonol accumulation and VvFLS1 expression in the boxed fruit was significantly less than bunches exposed to light. On removal of boxes at flowering, pre-veraison and veraison, flavonols accumulated to levels similar to that of the exposed control fruit over a period of 4-6 days. There was a significant increase in VvFLS1 expression 2 days after exposure to light in parallel with the accumulation of flavonols. At harvest, in Chardonnay, VvFLS1 expression peaked by day 4, while in Shiraz VvFLS1 expression increased linearly and was highest at day 6. In contrast to the results for the earlier sampling times, the total amount of flavonols accumulated at harvest was less than 50% of exposed controls in Chardonnay and Shiraz grapes. These results show that flavonols are able to be induced by bunch light exposure at different times during berry development, including times when flavonols are not normally being synthesised. This suggests bunch light exposure can override the developmental control of flavonol accumulation. To further investigate the light induced expression of VvFLS1 in grapevines the molecular mechanism of transcriptional control was explored. Using genomic walking PCR techniques, two Shiraz VvFLS1 promoter sequences were cloned and their sequences were analysed. These promoter sequences were ~800bp in length and were 99% identical. A putative MYB responsive element (MRE) and several light responsive elements (LRE) were identified in the promoter region of these genes. To functionally test the VvFLS1 promoter(s), a transient assay was developed in Chardonnay suspension cells. Cells were bombarded with constructs containing potential transcription factors and the VvFLS1 promoter(s), fused to a luciferase reporter vector. After 48hrs incubation in the dark, cells were harvested and luciferase activity measured as an indicator of VvFLS1 promoter activity. Of the different transcription factors tested with the VvFLS1 promoter(s) the highest luciferase activity was observed using AtMYB12 (a flavonol-specific regulator of AtFLS1 in Arabidopsis (Mehrtens et al. 2005). While this result shows activation of the VvFLS1 promoters by AtMYB12 and the development of a transient reporter assay for testing the VvFLS1 promoter(s) a grapevine transcription factor specific for VvFLS1 was sought. Two techniques were employed to identify potential transcription factor regulators of the VvFLS1 promoter(s). The first involved BLAST sequence search analysis in a grapevine expression (EST) database with AtMYB12 and the second involved using DNA microarray technology to identify candidate transcription factors that were up-regulated in light exposed Chardonnay cell suspension cultures. Thirteen potential transcription factors were identified and after correlative RT-PCR analysis (with VvFLS1 expression patterns) two candidates were selected for further isolation and characterisation. These results have made significant progress in unravelling the molecular mechanisms of regulation of the flavonol biosynthetic, however additional experiments are required to unravel the transcriptional control of flavonol biosynthesis. This investigation contributes to our knowledge of flavonoid synthesis in grapes; how it is coordinated, the relationship with wine quality, and the influence of light particularly on synthesis of flavonols. It also explores the molecular mechanisms of VvFLS1 control, through isolation of the VvFLS1 promoter and identification of potential transcription factors, which may regulate it. An understanding of the synthesis of flavonoids and how they may be coordinated, particularly in response to light, could be used to improve fruit quality by enhanced viticultural management. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1326767 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2008

<p>There are several methods avaliable to find areas of interest, but most fail at detecting such areas in cluttered scenes. In this paper two methods will be presented and tested in a qualitative perspective. The first is the darg operator, which is used to detect three dimensional convex or concave objects by calculating the derivative of the argument of the gradient in one direction of four rotated versions. The four versions are thereafter added together in their original orientation. A multi scale version is recommended to avoid the problem that the standard deviation of the Gaussians, combined with the derivatives, controls the scale of the object, which is detected. </p><p>Another feature detected in this paper is rotational symmetries with the help of approximative polynomial expansion. This approach is used in order to minimalize the number and sizes of the filters used for a correlation of a representation of the orientation and filters matching the rotational symmetries of order 0, 1 and 2. With this method a particular type of rotational symmetry can be extracted by using both the order and the orientation of the result. To improve the method’s selectivity a normalized inhibition is applied on the result, which causes a much weaker result in the two other resulting pixel values when one is high. </p><p>Both methods are not enough by themselves to give a definite answer to if the image consists of an area of interest or not, since several other things have these types of features. They can on the other hand give an indication where in the image the feature is found.</p>