La fibra di canapa europea è l'unica fibra naturale con una certificazione di sostenibilità. La qualità della fibra è influenzata principalmente da genotipo, tecniche agronomiche, epoca di raccolta e metodo di macerazione. L'obiettivo principale della tesi è delineare le pratiche agronomiche e di post-raccolta per migliorare l'estrazione e la qualità della fibra, con particolare attenzione alla produzione di canapa multiuso ritardando la raccolta fino alla maturazione dei semi. Le prove di densità, fertilizzazione azotata e varietali sono state condotte in differenti ambienti Europei. La procedura di decorticazione standardizzata è stata confrontata con la linea longitudinale di estrazione della fibra per applicazioni di alto valore aggiunto. I test su bio-compositi di canapa sono stati effettuati con fibra pettinata per confrontarne le proprietà tra genotipi, epoca di raccolta e metodi di macerazione. I risultati di questa indagine suggeriscono che i) la densità di semina e la concimazione azotata ottimale sono tra 90-150 piante m-2 e 30-60 kg N ha-1; ii) le nuove varietà dallo stelo giallo presentano un'alta efficienza di decorticazione e una ridotta contaminazione da canapulo nella fibra, iii) la fibra di canapa, con proprietà comparabili a quelle del lino, si è dimostrata adatta per applicazioni in compositi di alto valore. / European hemp fibres are the only natural fibre with an established sustainability certification. Hemp fibre quality is affected by genotype, agronomic techniques, harvest time and retting method. The main objective of this thesis is to outline the agronomic and post-harvest practices for improved fibre extraction and fibre quality, with special attention to multipurpose hemp production delaying the harvest from the flowering stage until seed ripening is complete. Planting density and nitrogen fertilization trials and variety trials were conducted in contrasting environments in Europe. Stems were decorticated following a standardised procedure and longitudinal hemp line for textile and high-added values application was compared with lab-scaled decortication. Impregnated fibre bundle tests were carried out with hemp hackled fibre bundles to compare composites and back-calculated fibre properties between genotypes, harvest times and retting methods. Results of this investigation suggest that i) optimum plant density and nitrogen fertilization are between 90 and 150 plants m-2 and 30 and 60 Kg N ha-1 respectively; ii) new yellow stemmed varieties are characterized by high decortication efficiency and relative high cleanness of the extracted fibre and iii) long hemp fibre, having properties comparable to those of flax, proved to be suitable for high-tech composites applications.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) is a highly productive crop that is well suited to cultivation in Canada. To better understand the development of bast (phloem) fiber secondary walls and to facilitate reverse genetics screening for improved germplasm, I undertook two sets of microarray experiments. The first compared transcript expression in stem peels at three positions along the length of the stem. The second set of microarray experiments compared transcript expression in adjacent tissue layers along the radial axis of the stem. The transcripts that were enriched in fiber-producing tissues in both studies were consistent with a dynamic program of cell wall deposition. Detailed qRT-PCR analysis of specific lignification genes identified the best targets for reverse genetics. Finally, as a first step towards establishing a virally induced gene silencing (VIGS) system, I identified viruses that produced visual symptoms of infection, although qRT-PCR failed to confirm the infection / Plant Biology

No description available.

The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in securing a more sustainable livelihood for the world's growing population. An expanded cultivation of multifunctional and environmentally smart crops like industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) can thus be part of the solution in meeting the increasingly high demands of sustainable development. However, earlier research indicates that the global cultivation of industrial hemp is hindered, and that hemp is an underutilized resource relative to its potential benefits. During the 20th century hemp cultivation was banned in large parts of the world. Sweden lifted the ban in 2003, later than most other European countries. In 2017, Swedish hemp cultivation was by far one of the smallest in the European Union. This study thus aims to analyze the position of industrial hemp in Sweden – by using the theoretical framework of political ecology – to investigate which social and societal structures and processes that dictates the access to and the control of industrial hemp in Sweden today. A historical analysis of power relations as well as ideological and cultural contexts – with significance for the cultivation of hemp – is done to make the relationship between Cannabis sativa L. and Swedish society appear more clearly. The material for the analysis has been collected through a literature search and qualitative method using in-depth interviews with Swedish authorities and a national hemp association. The study discusses the relationship between hemp and human society, which is found to be characterized by a complex interconnectedness.  Furthermore, the study shows that Swedish industrial hemp production is negatively affected by, among other things, cultivation bans, strict regulations, government controls, drug conservatism, and group as well as state conformity. Through a more progressive policy, industrial hemp is expected to become a positive contributing factor to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and to a growing fossil-free bio-based industry.

This thesis is an anthropological exploration of the first legal Canadian Grow Cup (3 years after legalization (October 17, 2018)). It takes a sensory anthropology approach to 'knowing' from practical activity. This approach acknowledges that senses/sensing do not belong to one category, instead, "our sensory perception is inextricable from the cultural categories that we use to give meaning to sensory experiences in social and material interactions" (Pink 2015, 7). Taking this approach aims to address the current legal framework that reduces cannabis to its molecular compounds. The methodological approach is centred around an apprenticeship with an experienced home grower, whom I met online and who agreed to guide me throughout my participation in the grow cup. The organization of the thesis follows my movements through the apprenticeship situated both online and in my mentor's garden in West Ottawa, Ontario. Having to abide by winning criteria based on THC and Terpene metrics, this thesis offers arguments and critique of the current conjoint legal/ public health/ industry framework. The latter framework is in line with mainstream pharmacology, which advocates the need to use purified substances as they are considered more specific and safe. However, I critique this approach of 'knowing' cannabis through the cannabis cup as the "effects" and quality of whole derived cannabis products are quantified and standardized based on a percentage number associated with two out of 100+ molecular compounds. This creates a new phenomenon, shaping cultivation practices focused on single molecule percentage numbers. Therefore, I ask how does a skilled home grower know/sense cannabis, and how does the contest criteria constrain (or not) the home grower's ways of knowing/ sensing cannabis? Answering these questions aims to understand the sensorial ways of knowing cannabis. As such, this thesis does not deal with standardization or metrics directly. Instead, attention is oriented towards what escapes the contest-winning criteria and standardization, my curiosity resting in ways of 'knowing' directly from what is evoked through practical activity.

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Na meer as veertig jaar het Suid-Afrika 'n nuwe politieke bedeling wat veranderde wetgewing in die vooruitsig stel. 'n Oorweging van 'n dekriminaliseringsbeleid vir die gebruik van dagga, beskou teen die agtergrond van 'n toename in emstige misdaad soos moord, gewapende roof, taxigeweld en verkragting, weerspieel die realiteite van vandag se oorweldigende misdaadprobleem in Suid-Afrika. Een van die belangrikste take van die kriminoloog is om misdaad te omskryf sodat 'n beleid voorgeskryf kan word wat die strafregsplegingstelsel van hulp kan wees om uiteindelik misdaad te verminder of, meer realisties, meer doeltreffend te beheer. Die omskrywing daarvan is egter nie so eenvoudig nie vanwee die kompleksiteit van die mensdom. Inhierdie studie is 'n meningsopname gebruik van sowel jeugdiges, die toekomstige beleidmakers en algemene daggagebruikers, as kenners op die gebied van dwelmrehabilitasie en -beheer, ten einde die wenslikheid van 'n dekriminaliseringsbeleid te beoordeel. Empiriese data van beide groepe (die wetsgehoorsame en die wetsverbrekende) is vir die voorwaardelike steun vir die wetlike beheer van daggagebruik versamel, met die verskil dat eerste- en eksperimentele daggagebruikers wat geen antler misdaadrekord het of by enige misdaadbedrywighede betrokke is, nie 'n misdaadrekord moet kry nie. Die respondente het dus die behoud van strafmaatreels ondersteun, maar met 'n de facto-dekriminalisasie deur middel van nie-toepassing van die wet. Die respondente is van mening dat 'n verslapping van die huidige dwelmwetgewing tot 'n toename in misdaad aanleiding sal gee. Die respondente betwyfel egter die doeltreffendheid van die kriminele regstelsel. Hulle is selfs van mening dat die SAPD nie in staat is om die probleem te bekamp solank die middel in aanvraag is nie. Die studie beklemtoon verder die kompleksiteit en dikwels teenstrydige opvattings ten opsigte van dekriminalisasie ten einde te illustreer hoe moeilik dit is om 'n staatsbeleid daarop te skoei. / After more than forty years, South Africa has a new political dispensation with prospective new legislation. The consideration of a policy of decriminalization for the use of dagga, seen against the background of an increase in serious crimes such as murder, armed robbery, taxi violence and rape, reflects the realities of the current overwhelming crime problem in South Africa. One of the most important tasks of the criminologist is to describe crime in order to facilitate the system of administration of criminal justice in the diminishing of, or more realistically, better control of crime. The description thereof is, however, not simple due to the complexity of humanity. In this study an opinion survey of both youths as the future policy makers and most common users of dagga, and specialists in the field of drug rehabilitation and control was used, in order to determine the expedience of a policy of decriminalization. Empirical data was obtained from both groups (the law abiders and the law-breakers) for the conditional support of legislative control of dagga use, with the exception that first and experimental users with no criminal record or history of criminality should not be subjected to a criminal record. The respondents therefore supported the retention of punitive measures, but with a defacto-decriminalization by way of non­ enforcement of the law. The respondents were of the opinion that the relaxation of the present drug legislation would lead to an increase in crime. The respondents doubt the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, however, they are of the opinion that the SAPS would never be able to combat the problem as long as a demand for the drug continues to exist. The study further emphasizes the complexity and often diverse conceptions of decriminalization in order to illustrate how difficult it is to base a state policy on these conceptions. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Kriminologie)

En este trabajo se ha estudiado el potencial tanto los filamentos de cáñamo como de la cañamiza como refuerzo/carga del polipropileno. La modificación de estos materiales se realiza para lograr una mayor compatibilidad con la matriz polimérica. Se evaluaron las propiedades mecánicas de las resistencias a tracción e impacto, de los materiales compuestos reforzados tanto de filamento como de cañamiza. Los filamentos de cáñamo poseen suficiente capacidad de refuerzo en los materiales compuestos basado en polipropileno debido a sus propiedades intrínsecas, siendo una buena alternativa como material de refuerzo. Así, la adición de MAPP (polipropileno modificado con anhídrido maleico) conduce a materiales compuestos con unas resistencias a tracción de hasta el 70% de las que se obtienen con compuestos de PP reforzados con fibra de vidrio. Mientras que la cañamiza ha actuado como una carga en la matriz, incrementado significativamente la rigidez de los materiales compuestos. / In this work, the potential of hemp strands as well as hemp straw, to be used as reinforcement/filler of polyprppylene has been studied. The modification of these materials ha been carried out to obtain a greater compatibility with the polymer matrix. The mechanical properties of the obtained materials were evaluated under tensile, flexural and impact stresses. The hemp strands showed a sufficient capacity of reinforcement in the polypropylene-based composite due to their intrinsic properties, being a good alternative like reinforcement agent. Thus, the addition of MAPP (polypropylene modified with maleic anhydride) leaded to composites with a value of ultimate tensile strength that achieved 70% of the value of materials formulated with PP and fibreglass. In the particular case of the addition of hemp straw, this component acted as a filler of the polymer matrix, increasing the rigidity of the composite but with a limited influence in the ultimate tensile strength.

Text in Afrikaans / Summaries in Afrikaans and English / Na meer as veertig jaar het Suid-Afrika 'n nuwe politieke bedeling wat veranderde wetgewing in die vooruitsig stel. 'n Oorweging van 'n dekriminaliseringsbeleid vir die gebruik van dagga, beskou teen die agtergrond van 'n toename in emstige misdaad soos moord, gewapende roof, taxigeweld en verkragting, weerspieel die realiteite van vandag se oorweldigende misdaadprobleem in Suid-Afrika. Een van die belangrikste take van die kriminoloog is om misdaad te omskryf sodat 'n beleid voorgeskryf kan word wat die strafregsplegingstelsel van hulp kan wees om uiteindelik misdaad te verminder of, meer realisties, meer doeltreffend te beheer. Die omskrywing daarvan is egter nie so eenvoudig nie vanwee die kompleksiteit van die mensdom. Inhierdie studie is 'n meningsopname gebruik van sowel jeugdiges, die toekomstige beleidmakers en algemene daggagebruikers, as kenners op die gebied van dwelmrehabilitasie en -beheer, ten einde die wenslikheid van 'n dekriminaliseringsbeleid te beoordeel. Empiriese data van beide groepe (die wetsgehoorsame en die wetsverbrekende) is vir die voorwaardelike steun vir die wetlike beheer van daggagebruik versamel, met die verskil dat eerste- en eksperimentele daggagebruikers wat geen antler misdaadrekord het of by enige misdaadbedrywighede betrokke is, nie 'n misdaadrekord moet kry nie. Die respondente het dus die behoud van strafmaatreels ondersteun, maar met 'n de facto-dekriminalisasie deur middel van nie-toepassing van die wet. Die respondente is van mening dat 'n verslapping van die huidige dwelmwetgewing tot 'n toename in misdaad aanleiding sal gee. Die respondente betwyfel egter die doeltreffendheid van die kriminele regstelsel. Hulle is selfs van mening dat die SAPD nie in staat is om die probleem te bekamp solank die middel in aanvraag is nie. Die studie beklemtoon verder die kompleksiteit en dikwels teenstrydige opvattings ten opsigte van dekriminalisasie ten einde te illustreer hoe moeilik dit is om 'n staatsbeleid daarop te skoei. / After more than forty years, South Africa has a new political dispensation with prospective new legislation. The consideration of a policy of decriminalization for the use of dagga, seen against the background of an increase in serious crimes such as murder, armed robbery, taxi violence and rape, reflects the realities of the current overwhelming crime problem in South Africa. One of the most important tasks of the criminologist is to describe crime in order to facilitate the system of administration of criminal justice in the diminishing of, or more realistically, better control of crime. The description thereof is, however, not simple due to the complexity of humanity. In this study an opinion survey of both youths as the future policy makers and most common users of dagga, and specialists in the field of drug rehabilitation and control was used, in order to determine the expedience of a policy of decriminalization. Empirical data was obtained from both groups (the law abiders and the law-breakers) for the conditional support of legislative control of dagga use, with the exception that first and experimental users with no criminal record or history of criminality should not be subjected to a criminal record. The respondents therefore supported the retention of punitive measures, but with a defacto-decriminalization by way of non­ enforcement of the law. The respondents were of the opinion that the relaxation of the present drug legislation would lead to an increase in crime. The respondents doubt the effectiveness of the criminal justice system, however, they are of the opinion that the SAPS would never be able to combat the problem as long as a demand for the drug continues to exist. The study further emphasizes the complexity and often diverse conceptions of decriminalization in order to illustrate how difficult it is to base a state policy on these conceptions. / Criminology and Security Science / M.A. (Kriminologie)

Cannabis is the only plant which contains cannabinoids and thanks to these compounds it has enormous potential. This thesis deals with the analysis of technical hemp. Effects of cannabinoids and methods used for cannabis analysis are discussed in the theoretical part. The experimental part includes spectrophotometric characterization of cannabis, it´s antimicrobial effects and thin layer chromatography analysis. Three sorts of Cannabis sativa L. were analyzed, namely Finola, Fedora and Kompolti. Firstly, the content of polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in prepared tinctures were determined. Moreover, antimicrobial test were performed using disk test and turbidity determination. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeast organism were tested. It was found that cannabis tinctures possess good antimicrobial effects. Some of them are comparable with synthetic antibiotics. Finally, thin layer chromatography enabled visualization of cannabinoids in prepared tinctures.

Cette thèse est divisée en deux parties. La première porte sur l’utilité de la fonctionnalisation de liaisons C–H hybridées sp2 et sp3 dans la formation d’hétérocycles azotés et fluorophores bioactifs. La deuxième porte sur la première synthèse des cannflavins A, B et C ainsi que l’adaptation d’une des étapes de synthèse en chimie en flux continu. Dans la première partie, il a tout d’abord été montré que la fonctionnalisation de liaisons C(sp3)–H de cyclopropanes catalysée par un complexe de palladium peut être utilisée dans la synthèse de cyclopropanes plus complexes, et ce de façon intramoléculaire. Lorsque le motif cyclopropane n’est pas substitué, ce dernier ouvre afin de former sélectivement l’hexahydroazépinone avec une énamide cyclique. Une fois cette réaction optimisée, elle a été utilisée pour former de nouvelles molécules comportant cet hétérocycle azoté. Cette réaction peut aussi être transposée en flux continu afin de fournir le produit d’ouverture cyclique de façon ininterrompue et ce pendant plusieurs heures. Dans les travaux futurs, nous suggérons de trouver une façon de fonctionnaliser cet hétérocycle dans une réaction de type «one-pot». Ensuite, nous avons montré la force de la fonctionnalisation de liaisons C(sp2)–H via une réaction d’arylation catalysée par un complexe de palladium pour la synthèse de benzo[a]imidazo[2,1,5‑c,d]indolizines, un fluorophore bioactif. Une fois la synthèse complétée, ceux-ci ont été testés dans la bioconjugaison avec un enzyme de type glutamine trans-amidase. Les travaux de biologies sont présentement en cours dans le groupe de la Pre Joelle Pelletier. Dans la seconde partie, nous nous sommes intéressés à la synthèse des cannflavins A, B et C. Ces molécules sont caractérisées comme étant des flavonoïdes qui sont propres à la plante de Cannabis Sativa. En effet, comme une majorité des produits naturels de cette plante, tels que le Δ9-THC et le CBD, ces flavonoïdes sont des molécules bioactives qui ont des propriétés anti-inflammatoires, neuro-protectrices, anti-cancers, anti-parasitiques, et bien d’autres. Nous avons donc effectué la synthèse des cannflavins A, B et C afin d’avoir des quantités adéquates de matériel pour des études biologiques. Dans la synthèse de première génération, nous avons produit la cannflavin A et C en douze étapes avec des rendements globaux de 8,4% et 12%, respectivement. Le développement d’une deuxième stratégie de synthèse a mené à une amélioration concrète de la synthèse de la cannflavin C en diminuant le nombre d’étapes de synthèse de moitié et doublant le rendement, soit en six étapes avec 23%. Ce raccourci synthétique a été mis en place grâce à l’implication d’un complexe de type BF2 comme groupement protecteur et directeur pour fournir un intermédiaire avancé de la synthèse précédente. Les travaux actuels consistent à l’élaboration d’une stratégie similaire pour la synthèse de cannflavin A. Enfin, nous avons optimisé la synthèse de l’acétyl phloroglucinol en flux continu, qui est notamment le matériel de départ pour la synthèse des Cannflavins. En effet, cette réaction d’acylation de Friedel-Crafts a été optimisée en flux continu pour donner l’acétyl phloroglucinol avec 98% de rendement en utilisant le BF3•OEt2 comme acide de Lewis et AcCl comme agent acylant dans l’EtOAc comme solvant vert. La mise en échelle de cette réaction montre qu’il est possible de produire le composé désiré avec une productivité élevée de 99 g/h. Les travaux futurs de ce projet sont d’utiliser le complexe BF2 généré dans cette réaction pour produire un intermédiaire avancé de la cannflavin A. / This thesis is divided into two parts. This first one discusses the use of C–H functionalization of sp2 and sp3 center in the formation of nitrogen-containing heterocycles. The second one describes the first total synthesis of cannflavins A, B and C as well as the continuous flow production of the starting material of this total synthesis. In the first part, we have shown that the use of palladium-catalyzed C(sp3 )–H functionalization of cyclopropanes can be used to synthesize more complex molecules in an intramolecular fashion. When the cyclopropyl motif bears no substitutions, ring opening of the cyclopropane occurs to selectively yield the hexahydroazepinone heterocyclic core as the enamide isomer. We have taken advantage of this opportunity to prepare a variety of hexahydroazepinones using this novel strategy. This reaction can be converted to flow chemistry, thus shortening the reaction time and providing the desired product continuously over several hours. In future work, we will use the enamide motif to further functionalize the azepinone nucleus in a one-pot manner. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the power of the C–H functionalization strategy in the synthesis of benzo[a]imidazo[2,1,5-c,d]indolizines, a fluorescent heterocycle, via palladiumcatalyzed arylation of C(sp 2 )–H bonds. After synthesis, this fluorophore was bioconjugated with a glutamine transamidase enzyme. Biological tests of these compounds are currently being carried out by the group of Pr Joelle Pelletier. In the second part, we are interested in the synthesis of cannflavins A, B and C. These compounds belong to the class of flavonoids and are unique to the Cannabis sativa plant. Like the majority of natural products found in this plant, such as Δ9 -THC and CBD, these flavonoids are indeed bioactive and show various medicinal properties such as being potent anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective, anti-cancer, anti-parasitic and many more. For these reasons, we carried out the total synthesis of cannflavin A, B and C. In the first generation strategy, we achieved the first total synthesis of cannflavin A and C in twelve linear steps with 8.4% and 12% global yield, respectively. The development of a second-generation strategy led to an improvement for the synthesis of cannflavin C in terms of halving the number of steps required and doubling the overall yield, giving 23% yield in six steps. This synthetic shortcut was achieved using a BF2 complex as a traceless directing and protecting group to provide a highly functionalized intermediate in the synthesis of cannflavin C. Current work focuses on the elaboration of a similar strategy for a shorter total synthesis of cannflavin A. We also optimized the synthesis of acetylphloroglucinol in continuous flow chemistry, this phenol being the starting material of Cannflavins. In fact, this Friedel-Crafts acylation using BF3•OEt2 as the Lewis acid and AcCl as the acylating agent in EtOAc as the green solvent has been optimized to achieve 98% yield with a productivity of 99 g/h in the scale-up setup. From now on, we are trying to use this continuously produced BF2 complex to synthesize a late intermediate in the synthesis of cannflavin A.