This thesis studies two independent topics in symbolic dynamics, the positive rational strong shift equivalence and the mapping class group of a shift of finite type.

In the first chapter, we give several results involving strong shift equivalence of positive matrices over the rational or real numbers, within the path component framework of Kim and Roush. Given a real matrix B with spectral radius less than 1, we consider the number of connected components of the space T₊(B) of positive invariant tetrahedra of B. We show that T₊(B) has finitely many components. For many cases of B, we show that T₊(B) is path connected. We also give examples of B for which T₊(B) has 2 components. If S is a subring of R containing Q we show that every primitive matrix over S with positive trace is strong shift equivalent to a positive doubly stochastic matrix over S₊ (and consequently the nonzero spectra of primitive stochastic positive trace matrices are all achieved by positive doubly stochastic matrices). We also exhibit a family of 2 by 2 similar positive stochastic matrices which are strong shift equivalent over R₊, but for which there is no uniform bound on the lag and matrix sizes of the strong shift equivalences required.

For an SFT (X_A,σ_A), let M_A denote the mapping class group of σ_A. M_A is the group of flow equivalences of the mapping torus Y_A, (i.e., self homeomorphisms of Y_A which respect the direction of the suspension flow) modulo the subgroup of flow equivalences of Y_A isotopic to the identity. In the second chapter, we prove several results for the mapping class group M_A of a nontrivial irreducible SFT (X_A,σ_A) as follows. For every n in N, M_A acts n-transitively on the set of circles in the mapping torus Y_A of (X_A,σ_A). The center of M_A is trivial. M_A contains an embedded copy of Aut(σ_B)/<σ_B> for any SFT (X_B,σ_B) flow equivalent to (X_A,σ_A). A flow equivalence F:Y_A → Y<subA has an invariant cross section if and only if F is induced by an automorphism of the first return map to some cross section of Y_A (such a return map is an irreducible SFT flow equivalent to σ_A). However, there exist elements of M_A containing no flow equivalence with an invariant cross section. Finally, we define the groupoid PE_Z(A) of positive equivalences from A. There is an associated surjective group homomorphism π:PE_Z(A)→ M_A/S_A (where S_A is the normal subgroup of M_A generated by Nasu's simple automorphisms of return maps to cross sections). In the case of trivial Bowen-Franks group, there is another group homomorphism, ρ:PE_Z(A) → SL(Z). We show that for every [F] in M_A/S_A and V in SL(Z) there exists g in PE_Z(A) such that π_A(g) = [F] and ρ_A(g)=V.