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Some of the effects of wind upon young Acer pseudoplatanus L. tree seedlings were investigated, including the nature of wind damage to leaves and some of the effects of wind upon CO2 and H2O exchange at different levels of soil water. A controlled environment wind tunnel was used for much of the work but some of the observations of that damage involved outdoor plants. Brown lesions developed on leaves as a result of abrasion when they were exposed to wind. The zones of leaf that were readily damaged changed as the leaf expanded and its topography altered. Young, expanding leaves were more susceptible to damage than older leaves. In the wind tunnel, there was a linear relationship between % damage and windspeed and mean leaf relative growth rate appeared to be reduced by wind. Wind damage led to crushing of epidermal and mesophyll cells and disruption of the epicuticular waxes present on the abaxial leaf surface which was far more readily damaged than the adaxial surface despite apparently protective topographic features. The effects of wind upon CO2 and H2O exchange depended upon the state of leaf development and the availability of soil water. When leaves were fully expanded, day and night leaf conductance to water vapour were increased by wind over a period of several days but when leaves were still expanding, only night time conductance was affected. The effects were reduced at low levels of soil water. Where there were effects of wind they were always at least partially reversible in a subsequent calm period. Photosynthesis was only affected by wind at high levels of soil water, when the rate of photosynthesis of green areas of wind damaged leaves increased - thereby compensating for the loss of photosynthetically active area. There was a linear relationship between % macroscopic damage and cuticular conductance to water vapour. Mesophyll conductance and dark respiration were unaffected by wind and soil water.

Prior research has examined unique outcomes of eudaimonic entertainment, including making sense of difficulties (MSOD), connectedness, and helping intentions. The present study experimentally manipulated the presence of humor in a film about cancer to examine how humor affects these outcomes. Results show that, through the mechanisms of character identification and cancer anxiety, humor perceptions positively predict MSOD and feelings of connectedness. The study also presents a new measure of coping humor appreciation to capture more nuanced perceptions of characters’ utilization of coping humor. Future research directions concerning the role of moving humor are discussed.

Homer Hickam’s 2007 book, Red Helmet tells the story of a New York business woman’s (Song) transformation into a West Virginian coal miner. Red Helmet is a modern, commercial romance that fits into the category of Appalachian working-class literature. The introduction of this study details the characteristics of regional and Appalachian working-class literature and aligns the characteristics to the plot of Red Helmet. A discussion of Bakhtin’s theories of heteroglossia, hybridization, language stratification, dialogism, and discourse laid the foundation for the analysis of Song’s transformation from an outsider (a non-native of West Virginia) to an accepted and productive member of a West Virginia coal mining community (other). Bakhtin’s theory of dialogism within particular words is the focus of Chapter 2. The final chapter explores the different discourses present in the novel. The discourses include: the urban New York discourse, the romantic love discourse, the business discourse, the coal miner discourse, and the religion/God discourse. Each of the discourses affects Song in some way and aid in her transformation to a coal miner. Intense scrutiny is given to the coal miner and religious discourses as these are the areas in which Song’s thought patterns shift the most. Application of Bakhtin’s theories of discourse and dialogue within a text clarifies these shifts.