The essay represents the projector principle, on which, as the essay’s author believes, the narration of The Summer Lightning and Other Stories by Olive Senior is based. The projector principle illustrates the idea that little details and images in the text serve big purposes, for example, reflect the emotional state of the characters or how the characters construct their identity. The literary analysis of the present essay aims at exploring a complicated identity construction in the context of Jamaica with its half-lost indigenous and half-remained colonial legacies through the identity construction of adolescent Jamaican protagonists of the short stories.

Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient d'explorer les mécanismes moléculaires et les bases génétiques impliquées dans la survie des huîtres Crassostrea gigas à des maladies infectieuses, en considérant deux souches de Vibrio pathogènes pour l'huître (V. splendidus LGP32 et V. aestuarianus LPi 02/41) qui ont été associées aux phénomènes de mortalités massives d'huîtres en France. Par l'approche transcriptomique de « Digital Gene Expression », nous avons identifié des composants génétiques d'une réponse efficace à des infections par des Vibrio virulents. La capacité de survie des huîtres se traduit par l'expression basale d'une combinaison de 14 gènes hémocytaires, une signature de survie, et par l'induction de différentes fonctions cellulaires au cours de la réponse immunitaire. Une analyse transcriptomique détaillée au niveau individuel a révélé un extraordinaire polymorphisme d'expression basale des gènes, incluant des cas où chez certaines huîtres des transcrits sont absents. Afin de comprendre ce polymorphisme, nous nous sommes intéressés à la caractérisation d'une nouvelle famille de peptides antimicrobiens (PAMs), les big défensines (Cg-BigDef). Nous avons montré que Cg-BigDef est une famille de PAMs composée de trois membres et diversifiée en termes de séquences, d'organisation génomique et de régulation de l'expression des gènes. Les Cg-BigDefs sont codées par des gènes distincts dont l'expression est régulée suivant différents modes en réponse à une infection. Chose intéressante, certaines huîtres n'expriment pas simultanément les trois formes de Cg-BigDef ou dans certains cas, n'en expriment aucune. Nous avons démontré que l'absence d'expression basale de Cg-BigDef est liée à l'absence de gène correspondant dans le génome des huîtres. C'est la première mise en évidence chez un invertébré de variation de présence/absence (PAV) de gènes, un phénomène qui pourrait contribuer à une susceptibilité accrue aux maladies infectieuses. / The objectives of this thesis were to explore the molecular mechanisms and genetic bases involved in Crassostrea gigas oyster survival to infectious diseases, considering two Vibrio strains (V. splendidus LGP32 and V. aestuarianus LPi 02/41) pathogenic for oysters which have been shown to be involved in C. gigas mass mortalities in France. By the Digital Gene Expression transcriptomic approach, we have identified some genetic components implicated in a successful response and survival to virulent Vibrio infections. Oyster survival capacity is reflected by the basal expression of a selected combination of hemocyte genes, a 14-gene survival signature, and by the induction of some cellular functions during the oyster immune response. A detailed transcriptomic analysis at individual level revealed an extraordinary interindividual polymorphism in basal gene expression, including cases where some transcripts are fully absent. In order to understand this striking variability in gene expression, we have focused on the characterization of a novel family of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) in C. gigas oysters, the big defensins (Cg-BigDef). We have shown that Cg-BigDef is an AMP family, composed of three members, and diversified in terms of sequences but also in terms of genomic organization and regulation of gene expression. Each Cg-BigDef form is encoded by a distinct gene that follows different patterns of gene regulation upon Vibrio infection. Interestingly, some oysters were shown do not express simultaneously the three Cg-BigDef forms or any Cg-BigDef. We demonstrated that the absence of Cg-BigDef basal gene expression is likely due to the absence of the Cg-bigdef gene in oyster genome. This is the first evidence in an invertebrate of a presence/absence variation (PAV) of genes, a phenomenon that could be associated to a susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Depuis quelques années, d'importants efforts ont été réalisés sur l'amélioration de la performance énergétique des bâtiments qui représentent le premier poste de consommation énergétique en France. Les exigences de la nouvelle réglementation thermique 2012 illustrent bien ces évolutions avec une consommation conventionnelle d'énergie primaire comprenant l'ensemble des postes (chauffage, climatisation, éclairage, ventilation, eau chaude sanitaire), déduction faite de l'électricité produite sur place, qui devra être inférieure à 50 kWh.m2.an-1 d'énergie primaire. La réponse à cette nouvelle exigence se fera par l'adoption de technologies constructives conduisant à une consommation pour le chauffage équivalente aux constructions dites « passives » (environ 15 kWh.m2.an-1) et dont le recours à la climatisation est limité voir inexistant. Il s'agit pour cela de limiter toutes les contributions à l'échauffement du bâtiment et éventuellement de lui adjoindre un système de rafraichissement à coefficient de performance élevé. Après avoir montré par l'exemple qu'un bâtiment à ossature à faible inertie en métropole, par sa capacité de stockage thermique limitée, est prédisposé à des problèmes de surchauffe, nous avons construit cette thèse autour de deux axes d'amélioration, dédiés aux constructions à ossature, que sont : - La limitation des charges solaires transmises au travers de l'enveloppe en faisant appel à une spécificité des constructions à ossature qu'est la présence d'un espace naturellement ventilé en sous-face du parement extérieur que nous utiliserons afin d'extraire une partie des charges solaires incidentes; - Le couplage de ces bâtiments « légers » à un échangeur air/masse qui contient l'inertie nécessaire au maintien des conditions de confort estivales lorsque la réduction de température nocturne le permet. Basée sur une approche numérique et expérimentale en vrai grandeur et en conditions réelles, nous proposons d'aborder tour à tour chacune de ces stratégies d'amélioration du confort qui trouvent leurs applications aussi bien en climat chaud et sec qu'en climat tropical. / Building sector is the most important energy consumer in France, and one of the field where there is the highest potential for improvement. In recent years, building energy consumption has been the subject of continuously up-dated regulations aimed at reducing its impact. As an example, the latest national thermal regulation (RT 2012) makes it compulsory to respect the limits previously introduced by RT 2005 as a voluntary label, corresponding to the definition of guil{Low energy consumption buildings} (BBC); in order to get such a label, a building should have a primary energy consumption lower than 50 kWh.m2.an-1, calculated by making a balance between consumptions (heating, cooling, domestic hot water, lighting, ventilation) and local electricity production. In order to respond to this new requirement, appropriate architectural and technological solutions have to be used. As a results, heating needs should be limited to approximately 15 kWh.m2.an-1 - by improving the building insulation or by adopting passive solar techniques - and summer thermal comfort should be achieved with a minimum primary energy waste. Therefore, internal heat gains and external solar transmission must be limited and, if necessary, low energy cooling systems could be used. In the present work, we firstly studied the case of a low thermal inertia building. The simulation results show that this construction typology is subject to uncomfortable temperature swing. Afterwards, two propositions leading to the improvement of summer thermal comfort were developed. The first, dedicated to warm and humid climates, consists in limiting solar transmission through the wall by using a gap, generally integrated in a timber frame structure, to eliminate part of the absorbed heat by means of natural ventilation. Then, the increase of the building thermal inertia through the association of an air/mass storage system was assessed, which is especially suitable in warm and dry climates. Both propositions were based both on numerical studies and on experimentation performed on a full-scale test rig installed at CSTB (Scientific and Technical Centre for Building research).

This thesis investigates the relationship between climate, agriculture and social change in South Asia’s Bronze Age urban Indus Civilisation. Specifically, my research tests the hypothesis that an abrupt weakening of the Indian Summer Monsoon ca 2100 cal BC led to increasing crop water stress, and hence potentially contributed to the Civilisation’s decline by reducing food supply. This hypothesis is frequently invoked in discussions of the Civilisation’s end, yet until now, has not been empirically tested. Using material excavated from several Indus settlements, this study uses a novel combination of isotopic techniques to directly test the connection between climate change and agricultural stress. These techniques are first, oxygen isotope analysis of faunal bones and teeth; and second, stable carbon isotope analysis of crop remains. The oxygen analyses provide detailed records of monsoon intensity at a local, human scale, while the carbon analyses provide an empirical test of whether crop water stress increased. Applied in parallel across a diverse suite of Indus sites, these techniques together provide an archaeologically and ecologically-nuanced analysis of climatic impacts. The archaeological analyses are supported by a methodological study, which investigates how water status relates to the stable carbon isotope signature in barley (Hordeum vulgare) and the Indian jujube (Ziziphus mauritiana) along a climatic transect in north-western India today. Overall, the isotopic results suggest that at the sites sampled here, climate change probably had minimal impacts on crop water availability. This does not necessarily mean that climate change had no impacts on agriculture across the greater Indus sphere, and indeed there are hints that there may have been climatic stress in more vulnerable settings. However, at the sites studied here, any hydrological consequences of climate change—including the 4.2 ka event—appear to have had neither a lasting nor a pervasive impact on the adequacy of crop water supply. This is an important finding, and necessitates a clear refinement of how we think about climatic sensitivity, climatic vulnerability, and climatic impacts across—and indeed beyond—the greater Indus.

The diploma thesis concerning "Experience leisure educators at convalescent events with children with ADHD syndrome" is of a theoretical and empirical character. The theoretical part deals with convalescent actions, i.e. legislation, organization and skills and competencies of recreational activities staff. There are also described ADHD syndrome, its symptoms in children and discussed the educational approaches suitable to work with children with ADHD syndrome during convalescent events. The aim of the empirical part is to describe the experience of free time educators with the integration of child with ADHD syndrome who is participating in convalescent event. Empirical part is divided into two parts. The first part consists of preliminary research implemented by questionnaire. The results of the survey are followed by the second part, which is based on structured interviews with selected educators of free time activities. Interview questions are focused on the current practice of leisure educators, the conditions of ADHD syndrome children's integration to recreational activities, educational approaches and benefits of this integration.

Tittle: Freestyle BMX and Summer Olympic Games Objectives: The main aim of this thesis is the analysis process of Freestyle BMX acceptance to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics with evalution. In addition, this thesis defines the historical movement of the Freestyle BMX candacy and evaluate the conditions (criteria) setted by the International Olympic Committee for the adoption of new sports into the Olympic Games program. Methods: This thesis is a theoretical work that has a descriptive and analytical character so the main method is an analysis and study of documents, literature and web sources. The information was analyzed and comprehensively processed. Results: Results indicate that Freestyle BMX didn't satisfy all the criteria for acceptance of a new sport into the Olympic Games program. Freestyle BMX should not be accepted according to the criteria set into the Olympic Games program. Freestyle BMX was accepted on the basis of other facts according to this information. Probably this has been achieved on the basis of an evaluation of the popularity sport. Keywords: Sport, Cyclist, Cyclist discipline, Freestyle BMX, Olympics, Summer Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2007-06-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:05:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 simili_ff_dr_jabo.pdf: 417973 bytes, checksum: d0337e8233e7eba6a414318a41ab8024 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Quatro experimentos foram conduzidos na Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios APTA – Ribeirão Preto, nos anos de 2004, 2005 e 2006, com os objetivos de determinar a melhor densidade de semeadura e espaçamento no plantio do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400; analisar o crescimento e a quantidade de ácido cianídrico nas folhas do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 para determinar o melhor momento de entrada dos animais na pastagem; conhecer a qualidade das folhas e dos colmos do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 e do capim-tanzânia através da degradabilidade in situ, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro; avaliar a produção de leite do sistema de lotação rotacionada do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 como alternativa de manejo alimentar no outono, sendo as vacas alimentadas com e sem uso de concentrado na dieta. Conforme os resultados experimentais, recomenda-se que o híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 seja semeado com 12 kg/ha, com 0,80 metros de espaçamento e que os animais iniciem o pastejo quando as plantas estiverem com altura entre 0,80 e 1,0 metro. Os colmos do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 têm maior degradabilidade que os colmos do capim-tanzânia no outono, enquanto que as folhas das duas gramíneas apresentam degradabilidade semelhantes. A produção de leite de vacas mestiças em sistema de pastejo rotacionado no híbrido de sorgo 1P400 consumindo concentrado foi o melhor tratamento, sendo assim, uma alternativa de manejo alimentar no outono. / Four trials were conducted on the Agencia Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios APTA – Ribeirão Preto in 2004, 2005 and 2006 to establish the best plant density and row length on hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400; to study the plant growth and the cianidric acid levels on leaves on hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400; to study the leaf and stem quality of hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 and Tanzania grass by the in situ degradability, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber analyses; to evaluate the milk production under rotational grazing system of hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 as an alternative of foodhandling during autumn for cows with and without concentrate supplementation. Results showed that hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 has to be cultivate using 12 kg/ha of seed and 0,80 meters of row distance and it has to be used for graze when the height of plants were between 0,80 and 1,00 meter. The hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 stems have better degradability than Tanzania guinea grass stems on autumn while the leaves of both plants have similar degradability. The milk production of crossbred cows under rotational grazing system of hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 with concentrate supplementation was the best treatment, consisting a viable alternative of food-handling during autumn.

La région de l'Hindu-Kush Karakoram Himalaya (HKH) est la plus grande région englacée de la planète, hormis les calottes polaires. Dans cette région, les mesures météorologiques et de bilans de masse sont sporadiques et les observations glaciologiques concernent essentiellement les mesures de fluctuations des fronts des glaciers. Ainsi, la réponse de ces glaciers aux changements climatiques est très mal connue. Le but de ce travail de thèse est d'améliorer la connaissance des relations entre les variables météorologiques et les bilans de masse glaciaires à partir de l'étude du glacier du Chhota Shigri situé dans l'Ouest de l'Himalaya. De nombreuses mesures in-situ de bilans de masse, de vitesses d'écoulement, d'épaisseurs et de météorologie ont été réalisées depuis 2002 et au cours de ce PhD. Ces observations permettent d'analyser le comportement du glacier au regard des fluctuations climatiques. Entre 2002 et 2013, nos observations indiquent une perte de masse cumulée équivalente à une lame d'eau de -6.45 m. Par ailleurs, l'analyse des observations des flux de glace suggèrent que le glacier a connu un état proche d'un état d'équilibre avec des bilans nuls ou légèrement positifs au cours des années 1990. Nous avons dans un premier temps reconstitué les bilans de masse annuels et saisonniers depuis 1969 en utilisant un modèle degré-jour et des variables météorologiques simples, précipitations et températures. Depuis 1969, les bilans de masse sont faiblement négatifs, équivalents à -0.30 m d'eau par an. Cette reconstitution montre que le glacier était proche de l'état d'équilibre entre 1986 et 2000, ce qui confirme les résultats obtenus à partir de l'analyse des flux de glace et des mesures géodésiques. Cette étude montre également que la perte de masse glaciaire est récente et révèle des fluctuations de bilans de masse avant l'année 2000 très différentes de ce que l'on trouve dans la littérature. L'analyse des bilans de masse à l'échelle décennale révèle que les précipitations hivernales et les températures estivales jouent un rôle sensiblement équivalent. Afin de comprendre plus en détail les variables climatiques qui contrôlent le bilan de masse, nous avons, dans un second temps, analysé les flux d'énergie en surface à l'aide de stations météorologiques situées sur le glacier et à proximité du glacier. Le rayonnement de courtes longueurs d'onde contrôlent 80 % des flux d'énergie entrant en surface alors que les flux de chaleur latente, sensible et de conduction contribuent pour 13, 5 et 2 % respectivement du flux entrant total. Par ailleurs, notre étude montre que les événements de fortes précipitations au cours de la période de mousson jouent un rôle essentiel sur l'évolution des bilans de masse. Néanmoins, à cause du manque de données de précipitation dans cette région et le fort gradient régional, la distribution des précipitations sur le glacier reste mal connue. / The Hindu-Kush Karakoram Himalayan (HKH) region is the largest snow and ice reservoir on the planet outside the Polar Regions. In the HKH region the mass balance and meteorological observations are sparse and the historical knowledge is mainly concentrated on snout fluctuation records. Hitherto, the understanding of glacier-climate relationship is poor in the HKH region. Therefore, the goal of the present work is to improve the understanding of glacier-climate relationship on a representative glacier ‘Chhota Shigri' in the western Himalaya. A number of in-situ measurements concerning mass balances, surface velocity, ice thickness and meteorology have been collected during and before the present PhD work since 2002. These data sets were first analyzed to understand the glacier behaviour and then used in the models to understand the glacier relationship with climatic variables. Between 2002 and 2013, glacier showed a mass wastage/unsteady-state conditions with a cumulative mass loss of –6.45 m w.e. Further, the ice flux analysis over 2002-2010 suggested that the glacier has experienced a period of steady-state or slightly positive mass balance during the 1990s. We first reconstructed the annual and seasonal mass balances using a degree day model from simple meteorological variables, precipitation and temperature. This reconstruction allowed us to examine the mass balances between 1969 and 2012. Since 1969, Chhota Shigri showed a moderate mean mass wastage at a rate of −0.30 m w.e. a-1. A period of steady-state between 1986 and 2000, already suggested by ice flux analysis and geodetic measurements, was confirmed. The mass balance evolution of this glacier revealed that the mass wastage is recent and provide a very different pattern than that of usually found in the literature on western Himalayan glaciers. The analysis of decadal time scale mass balances with meteorological variables suggested that winter precipitation and summer temperature are almost equally important drivers controlling the mass balance pattern of this glacier. Second, in order to understand the detailed physical basis of climatic drivers, a surface energy balance study was also performed using the in-situ meteorological data from the ablation area of Chhota Shigri Glacier. Net all-wave radiation was the main heat flux towards surface with 80% contribution while sensible, latent heat and conductive heat fluxes shared 13%, 5% and 2% of total heat flux, respectively. Our study showed that the intensity of snowfall events during the summer-monsoon is among the most important drivers responsible for glacier-wide mass balance evolution of Chhota Shigri Glacier. However, due to the lack of precipitation measurements and the strong precipitation gradient in this region, the distribution of precipitation on the glacier remains unknown and needs further detailed investigations.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / In olericulture, the highest interest is aimed at the production of commercial fruits. These experiments usually evaluate variables such as phytomass and number of fruits. However, these variables present a peculiar characteristic related to their presence or absence at the moment of harvesting. This attribute is represented by the occurrence of zero values for these variables, generating some variability and affecting the data variation analysis. In this study, experiments with summer squash, sweet pepper and broccoli were analyzed using the Box-Cox transformation family. Since it is restricted for null values, an adaptation suggested by Yamamura (1999) was used. It was concluded that for each culture and each variable studied, there is a need for differentiated transformations. In this context, in the experiment using summer squash, the indicated transformation is the square root. For sweet pepper, the indicated transformation is the inverted square root and for broccoli, the indicated transformation is the logarithmic function. Despite the reduced variability observed in all experiments, the use of the method was not sufficient to make these variances homoscedastic. / Em olericultura, o interesse maior é a produção de frutos comercializáveis. Nesses experimentos comumente são avaliadas variáveis como fitomassa e número de frutos. No entanto, essas variáveis apresentam uma característica particular que está relacionada com sua ausência ou presença, no momento da colheita. Este atributo está representado pela ocorrência de valores zeros, para essas variáveis, gerando variabilidade e afetando a análise de variação dos dados. Neste estudo, analisaram-se experimentos com culturas da abobrinha italiana, pimentão e brócolis, utilizando-se a família de transformações de Box-Cox. Como para valores nulos, esta fica restrita, utilizou-se uma adaptação sugerida por Yamamura (1999). Concluiu-se que, para cada cultura e cada variável estudada existe a necessidade de transformações diferenciadas. Sendo assim, tem-se que para o experimento com abobrinha italiana, a transformação indicada é a raiz quarta. Para pimentão, a transformação indicada é o inverso da raiz quarta. E para brócolis, a transformação mais adequada é a logarítmica. Apesar da redução na variabilidade, observada em todos os experimentos, o uso do método não foi suficiente para tornar as variâncias homocedásticas.

Resumo: Quatro experimentos foram conduzidos na Agência Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios APTA - Ribeirão Preto, nos anos de 2004, 2005 e 2006, com os objetivos de determinar a melhor densidade de semeadura e espaçamento no plantio do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400; analisar o crescimento e a quantidade de ácido cianídrico nas folhas do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 para determinar o melhor momento de entrada dos animais na pastagem; conhecer a qualidade das folhas e dos colmos do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 e do capim-tanzânia através da degradabilidade in situ, proteína bruta e fibra em detergente neutro; avaliar a produção de leite do sistema de lotação rotacionada do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 como alternativa de manejo alimentar no outono, sendo as vacas alimentadas com e sem uso de concentrado na dieta. Conforme os resultados experimentais, recomenda-se que o híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 seja semeado com 12 kg/ha, com 0,80 metros de espaçamento e que os animais iniciem o pastejo quando as plantas estiverem com altura entre 0,80 e 1,0 metro. Os colmos do híbrido de sorgo cv. 1P400 têm maior degradabilidade que os colmos do capim-tanzânia no outono, enquanto que as folhas das duas gramíneas apresentam degradabilidade semelhantes. A produção de leite de vacas mestiças em sistema de pastejo rotacionado no híbrido de sorgo 1P400 consumindo concentrado foi o melhor tratamento, sendo assim, uma alternativa de manejo alimentar no outono. / Abstract: Four trials were conducted on the Agencia Paulista de Tecnologia dos Agronegócios APTA - Ribeirão Preto in 2004, 2005 and 2006 to establish the best plant density and row length on hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400; to study the plant growth and the cianidric acid levels on leaves on hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400; to study the leaf and stem quality of hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 and Tanzania grass by the in situ degradability, crude protein and neutral detergent fiber analyses; to evaluate the milk production under rotational grazing system of hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 as an alternative of foodhandling during autumn for cows with and without concentrate supplementation. Results showed that hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 has to be cultivate using 12 kg/ha of seed and 0,80 meters of row distance and it has to be used for graze when the height of plants were between 0,80 and 1,00 meter. The hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 stems have better degradability than Tanzania guinea grass stems on autumn while the leaves of both plants have similar degradability. The milk production of crossbred cows under rotational grazing system of hybrid sorghum cv. 1P400 with concentrate supplementation was the best treatment, consisting a viable alternative of food-handling during autumn. / Orientador: Ricardo Andrade Reis / Coorientador: Paulo Affonso Bellingieri / Coorientador: Maria Lúcia Pereira Lima / Banca: Ana Claudia Ruggieri / Banca: Carlos Augusto de Miranda Gomide / Banca: Cláudia Cristina Paro de Paz / Banca: Francisco Antonio Monteiro / Doutor