Individual and multiple stress factor effects of temperature on cotton growth and development were studied in four cotton cultivars. In Experiment I, seedling emergence rate and shoot and root morphological growth traits were measured on plants grown at five day/night temperatures from 20/12 to 40/32 °C. In Experiment II, multiple stress factors (CO2, temperature, UV-B radiation) and their interactions were evaluated during the seedling growth stage. Seed emergence and above- and below-ground growth and developmental traits were recorded in both experiments. Linear (TM-1 and PHY496W3R) and quadratic (DP1522B2XF and ST47447) functions best described seed emergence rate with an increase in temperature. Similar responses were also observed for many root traits among the cultivars. Based on vigor and principal component analysis, DP1522B2XF was identified as the most tolerant, PHY496W3R and ST4747GLB2 as moderately tolerant, and TM-1 as the least tolerant cultivar to multiple environmental stresses.

No description available.

The interaction between poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) and three solvents (i.e., methylene chloride, tetrahydrofuran, and acetone) was studied by means of several complementary techniques. A series of eleven 0.3 mm thick PEEK films was produced. Each film had a certain crystallinity index and crystal morphology, as revealed by optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and wide angle X-ray scattering (WAXS). Dynamic solvent uptake measurements were performed on each film with the three solvents. Methylene chloride swelled both amorphous and semi-crystalline PEEK to high degrees, while tetrahydrofuran and acetone swelled amorphous PEEK only. After desorption, the samples were carefully analyzed to characterize solvent-induced crystallization (SINC), which occurred in amorphous PEEK exposed to all three solvents. Diffusion of methylene chloride and tetrahydrofuran in amorphous PEEK was observed in fractured specimens by scanning electron microscopy, while SINC was followed by DSC. The SINC process was found to be diffusion controlled. Diffusion of both solvents through the polymeric film took place in the first third of the equilibrium time, while swelling occurred in the remaining time. The mechanical properties of all solvent-exposed PEEK films were tested by three types of experiment (i.e., glass cone technique, microtensile tests, and tensile test in the environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM)), which were first verified with another semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer, isotactic polypropylene. PEEK specimens were stressed in the inside of glass cones and immersed in a series of solvents. Differences among solvent uptakes of stressed and unstressed specimens were explained in terms of crazing and SINC. Microtensile tests were performed on completely swollen PEEK specimens. Plasticization and delocalized crazing were found in the case of amorphous PEEK exposed to the three solvents and semi-crystalline PEEK exposed to methylene chloride, while classical crazing occurred in the other specimens. Finally, an amorphous PEEK specimen was swollen in acetone and stretched in the ESEM in acetone vapor. A very ductile deformation was observed, which occurred at the necked region between two notches. The results are discussed in terms of T_g depression and plasticization. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study concerns the phenomenon of environmental stress cracking resistance (ESCR) in three impact polypropylene copolymers (IPPCs). The main purpose was to correlate the ESCR with their properties such as microstructure, molecular weight (MW), molecular weight distribution (MWD), crystallinity and morphology. Initially the selection of a suitable test method and an active stress cracking agent (SCA) were the preliminary concerns. The Bell telephone test was used to evaluate SCAs, while a published procedure for determining ESCR of ethylene based plastics was adapted for the purpose of this study. Isopropanol was selected as SCA. Polymers were fully characterized by FTIR, 13C NMR, DSC and high temperature GPC. Optical microscopy was used to investigate craze formation and crack growth, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the morphology of the polymers. Since IPPCs are known to have multi-fraction copolymeric structures and each of these fractions has significantly different average properties, fractions were selectively removed from the materials, either by solvent extraction at room temperature, or by TREF fractionation. The effect of removing these fractions on the ESCR was determined. The effect of the molecular composition of the three IPPCs on the ESCR of these materials, as well as the effect of the removal of the selected molecular fractions on the ESCR, morphology and molecular characteristics are discussed and compared. Conclusions are drawn as to the factors controlling ESCR in these materials.

Kvasinky žijú v neustále sa meniacom prostredí. Aby prežili tieto výkyvy ich okolitého prostredia, musia sa vedieť rýchlo a efektívne prispôsobiť novým podmienkam. Jedným z aspektov takejto bunkovej adaptácie je reorganizácia génovej expresie na program vyžadovaný pre rast v novom prostredí. Dôsledkom tejto reorganizácie genómu sú zmeny v metabolizme a fyziológií kvasiniek. Molekulárna odpoveď bunky určuje či sa organizmus adaptuje, prežije alebo zahynie. Predložená dizertačná práca sa zaoberá štúdiom vplyvu environmentálnych zmien na genóm a metabolóm vybraných karotenogénnych kvasiniek. Kvasinky boli kultivované jednak za optimálnych podmienok a jednak v oxidačnom a ozmotickom strese a na rôznych odpadových materiáloch (srvátke, zemiakovom odpade a pod.). V prítomnosti stresu bola pozorovaná zvýšená produkcia biologicky významných karotenoidov. Takáto obohatená biomasa môže nájsť svoje uplatnenie v biotechnologickom priemysle, napr. ako krmivo pre zvieratá. Možnosťou štúdia odozvy mikroorganizmov na environmentálny stres je aj príprava transformantov s deléciou vybraných génov a ich analýza. V ďalšej časti práce bola prevedená delécia vybraných génov kvasinky Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Zvolená technika je založená na knockoute konštruktov, ktoré obsahujú regióny homologické s deletovaným génom. Analýzou vytvorených transformantov boli identifikované proteíny potrebné pri meiotickej segregácií chromozómov.

Published Article / The emergence of Information Technology (IT) is increasingly influencing the socio-economic and physical landscape of cities. It has also resulted in development of predominantly IT based industrial cities. These cities have the opportunities and challenges with respect to the development of their socioeconomic, infrastructural and environmental conditions because of the influence of the IT based industrial activities. This article therefore pertains to the analysis of the perspective impacts of IT industry and allied activities on the development of an emerging IT industrial activity based city. For this purpose, Pune, an emerging IT city in India was considered as a case study. Survey research methodology and a system dynamics modelling approach were employed to measure the influential socio-economic, infrastructural and environmental parameters of the city by considering the city as a system. This research shows that the location of IT industry and associated functions contribute significantly towards the socio-economic development of a city in terms of IT industry export, State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP), per capita SGDP, employment generation, to name some relevant aspects. However, there would be a reduction in satisfaction level of the infrastructure and an increase in environmental stress in the system, which needs strategic attention. Further, the model results and scenarios can facilitate evolving of feasible policy and strategic guidelines for the wholesome development of such cities.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Previous studies have indicated that fermentation with yeast strains whose cell walls contain higher chitin levels may lead to reduced wine haze formation. In order to adjust cell wall chitin levels, more information on the regulation of chitin synthesis in wine-relevant yeast is required. Yeast cells are known to increase chitin levels when subjected to certain environmental changes such as an increase in temperature. The main aim of this project was to investigate chitin accumulation and synthesis in wine yeast strains when exposed to environmental change. This was achieved by subjecting the strains to various environmental conditions and comparing chitin levels. The information gained may aid future selection and/or manipulation of yeast strains for the production of higher chitin levels. Three Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains and two Saccharomyces paradoxus strains were subjected to conditions that had been linked to a change in chitin synthesis in past studies in laboratory yeast strains. Of the conditions used in this study, the addition of calcium to a rich media led to the highest cell wall chitin levels. The data also show that chitin synthesis is largely strain dependant. Two conditions which resulted in increased chitin deposition were chosen for gene expression analyses, using strains with strongly diverging average chitin levels. Results showed that an increase in chitin levels correlates with an increase in expression of GFA1, the gene encoding for the first enzyme of the chitin synthesis pathway. Overall, this study provides novel insights into chitin synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast strains as well as Saccharomyces paradoxus strains, with possible future implications on haze prevention studies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Vorige studies het aangetoon dat fermentasie met gisrasse waarvan die selwande hoë chitienvlakke bevat, kan lei tot verminderde wynwaasvorming. Om selwandchitienvlakke aan te pas, word daar meer inligting rakende die regulering van chitienvlakke in wyn gisrasse verlang. Dit is bekend dat gisselle chitienvlakke verhoog wanneer die selle onderwerp word aan sekere veranderinge in die omgewing soos ’n verhoging in temperatuur. Die hoofdoel van hierdie projek was om die chitienopbou en -sintese in wyngisrasse te ondersoek waar gis blootgestel word aan omgewingsveranderinge. Dit is bereik deur die selle aan verskeie omgewingstoestande bloot te stel en chitienvlakke met mekaar te vergelyk. Die inligting hieruit verkry kan toekomstige gisraskeuses asook die manipulering van gisrasse met die oog op hoër vlakke van chitienproduksie vergemaklik. Drie Saccharomyces cerevisiae rasse en twee Saccharomyces paradoxus rasse is onderwerp aan toestande wat in vorige studies gekoppel is aan ’n verandering in chitienvorming in laboratorium-gisrasse. Van die toestande toegepas in hierdie studie, het die toevoeging van kalsium tot ’n nutrientryke medium gelei tot die hoogste chitienvlakke in selwande. Die data toon ook aan dat chitiensintese hoofsaaklik rasverwant is. Twee toestande wat gelei het tot verhoogde chitienafsetting is gekies vir geen-uitdrukkingsanalise, terwyl rasse gebruik is met gemiddelde chitienvlakke wat wyd uiteenlopend is. Die resultate het getoon dat ’n verhoging in chitienvlakke ooreenstem met ’n verhoging in die uitdrukkingsvlakke van GFA1, die geen wat kodeer vir die eerste ensiem in die chitiensintesebaan. Oor die algemeen verskaf hierdie studie nuwe insigte oor chitiensintese in Saccharomyces cerevisiae wyngisrasse en Saccharomyces paradoxus rasse en verskaf dit belangrike inligting vir moontlike toekomstige studies oor waasvoorkoming.

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Jason Griffin / The Midwest and southern Great Plains regions of the United States are known for historic and severe droughts. However, short-term recurring drought events are more common and can limit tree survival in landscape and production settings. The pressure of environmental stress combined with numerous diseases and pests are decimating existing Pinus L. spp. (pine) plantings and driving the effort to identify alternative species. Four species of conifer were grown in a pine bark substrate and subjected to recurring moderate to severe drought in a controlled environment glass greenhouse as well as field planted to observe root and shoot growth during the initial 12 months after transplant. The species utilized were Abies nordmanniana (nordmann fir), Cupressus arizonica (Arizona cypress), Picea engelmannii (engelmann spruce), and Thuja x ‘Green Giant’ (‘Green Giant’ arborvitae). Results indicate that C. arizonica exhibited extraordinary growth after establishment and was able to maintain growth and photosynthesis following several drought cycles. Thuja x ‘Green Giant’ exhibited significant increase in root and shoot growth after transplant. Under conditions of moderate and severe drought, only minimal reductions in height and shoot dry weight were observed while root growth and photosynthesis were unchanged. Abies nordmanniana experienced minimal increases in root and shoot growth throughout the growing season and was unaffected by drought. In contrast, P. engelmannii had only modest increases in root dry weight after transplant, while shoot growth was non-existent. Under conditions of severe drought, photosynthesis was reduced. Cupressus arizonica, a known drought tolerant species, with its ability to establish quickly and endure drought may have an advantage when establishing in harsh climates such as the Midwest and southern Great Plains. Thuja x ‘Green Giant’ is known to be a rapid grower, however, it established slowly during the current study and may require additional time before resuming rapid growth and maximum drought tolerance. Slow establishing species such as A. nordmanniana and P. engelmannii may require greater attention to season of planting to coincide with rapid root growth. However, P. engelmannii may not be a suitable choice for the Midwest due to the inability to maintain photosynthesis during periods of drought.

Para se adaptar a diversas condições ambientais Escherichia coli regula sua transcrição gênica. Um importante regulador de adaptação da bactéria é a subunidade sigma da RNA polimerase, responsável pela transcrição da maioria dos genes relacionados com a fase estacionária e situações de estresse. O gene rpoS possui elevado grau de polimorfismo, adquirindo mutações nulas ou de atenuação em cepas cultivadas em laboratório. Na natureza, entretanto, alelos rpoS não-funcionais são, aparentemente, menos comuns. Neste trabalho foi realizado uma análise temporal do perfil de RpoS em isolados ambientais de E. coli, a fim de correlacionar o status de RpoS com as alterações físico-químicas que ocorrem ao longo do ano em águas residuárias. Concluiu-se que RpoS é altamente persistente no ambiente, e os níveis da proteína variaram muito de uma cepa para outra. Não houve grande correlação entre os fenótipos e RpoS, mas os dados demostraram a diversidade fenotípica que pode existir no ambiente e que permitem sua sobrevivência por longos períodos fora do hospedeiro. / To adapt to various environmental conditions Escherichia coli regulates its gene transcription. An important regulator of bacterial adaptation is the sigma subunit of RNA polymerase, responsible for the transcription of most genes related to stationary phase and stress situations. The rpoS gene has a high degree of polymorphism, acquiring null or attenuation mutations in strains grown in the laboratory. In nature, however, nonfunctional rpoS alleles are apparently less common. In this work a temporal analysis of the profile of RpoS in environmental isolates of E. coli was carried out, in order to correlate the status of RpoS with the physico-chemical changes occurring throughout the year in wastewater. It was concluded that RpoS is highly persistent in the environment, and protein levels varied widely from one strain to another. There was no great correlation between the phenotypes and RpoS, but the data demonstrated the phenotypic diversity that may exist in the environment and that allow its survival for long periods outside the host.

Moluscos têm sido empregados como bioindicadores em estudos de contaminação ambiental. Nesse contexto, o caramujo de água doce Biomphalaria glabrata tem sido avaliado como um bom modelo laboratorial, e estudos prévios apontaram sua aplicação na pesquisa ambiental. A proteína HSP70 é uma molécula de 70 kDa, pertencente a uma família de proteínas com papel na manutenção da homeostase dos seres vivos: as proteínas de choque térmico (HSPs); e vem sendo estudada como potencial biomarcador de dano ambiental, indicando estresse e protegendo os organismos dos danos às proteínas. Neste trabalho, foi caracterizada a proteína HSP70 de B. glabrata pelo Western blot, com o objetivo de seu emprego em aplicações ambientais futuras. Para isso, caramujos de 5-6 meses de idade, com diâmetro de concha de 14,4 (±1,7) mm, foram expostos ao calor e ao cloreto de cádmio (CdCl2) a fim de se verificar a resposta desta proteína frente a esses estresses. Os animais foram dissecados para investigação da indução da HSP70. As proteínas foram extraídas dos tecidos com tampão RIPA, separadas em eletroforese desnaturante em gel de poliacrilamida, transferidas para uma membrana de nitrocelulose e detectadas com anticorpo específico para HSP70. A CL50/96h foi determinada como sendo 0,34 (0,30-0,37) ppm para o CdCl2 e serviu de referência para os experimentos de indução da proteína. Foi observado que a exposição a temperaturas subletais aumentou a resistência dos caramujos à temperatura letal de 42 °C. Exposições prévias ao calor de 33 °C e ao CdCl2 a 0,22 ppm aumentou a sobrevivência dos caramujos B. glabrata à concentração letal de CdCl2 (0,7 ppm) e à temperatura letal (42 °C), respectivamente. Os achados do Western blot apontaram para um possível papel da HSP70 nesse processo. Os resultados mostraram relação entre a proteína HSP70 e o aumento na sobrevivência aos estímulos letais após prévia exposição a estresses moderados. O Western blot mostrou uma indução da HSP70 nos grupos pré-expostos, se comparados aos grupos controles. A glândula digestiva foi o tecido mais responsivo, no que concerne à indução da proteína HSP70, comparando com tecidos de cabeça/pé e ovoteste. Foi encontrado o pico de indução da HSP70 nos caramujos B. glabrata após 48 horas de exposição ao calor de 33 °C, e após 96 horas de exposição ao CdCl2 a 0,22 ppm. Apesar do bem conhecido papel da HSP70 na termotolerância e tolerância a outros agentes estressores nos organismos vivos, esta foi a primeira vez que isto foi demonstrado no B. glabrata, oferecendo subsídios para a sua aplicação em estudos de monitoramento ambiental. Os resultados apresentados aqui abrem o caminho para estudos futuros dessa proteína no molusco, e fornecem mais bases para o conhecimento do B. glabrata. / Molluscs have been employed as bioindicators in studies of environmental stress. In this way the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata has been evaluated as a good laboratory model, and previous studies have pointed for its application in environmental research. The HSP70 protein is a molecule of 70 kDa from a family of proteins with role in maintaining homeostasis: the Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs), and it has been studied as a potential biomarker for environmental injury indicating stress and providing protection against the protein damage. In this work, the protein HSP70 was characterized in B. glabrata by Western blotting aiming its employment in future environmental applications. To this purpose, 5-6 months old snails, with shell diameter of 14,4 (±1,7) mm, were exposed to heat and to cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in order to verify the response of this protein to the stresses. Animals were dissected to investigate induction of HSP70. Proteins were extracted from tissues with RIPA buffer, fractionated in denaturing polyacrilamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to nitrocellulose membrane, and detected with a HSP70-specific antibody. The CL50/96h was determined as 0,34 (0,30-0,37) ppm for CdCl2 and served as reference in the experiments for protein induction. It was observed that exposure to sublethal temperatures improved the resistance of snails B. glabrata to the lethal temperature of 42 ºC. Previous sublethal exposure to heat at 33 °C and to CdCl2 at 0,22 ppm improved the survival of snails B. glabrata to a lethal concentration of CdCl2 (0,7 ppm) and to a lethal temperature (42 ºC), respectively. The findings of Western blot pointed to a possible role of HSP70 protein in this process. Results showed a correlation between HSP70 and the improvement of survival to lethal stimuli after a previous exposure to mild stresses. The Western blot showed an induction of HSP70 protein in the preexposed groups as compared to the control ones. The digestive gland was the most responsive tissue to stress regarding the HSP70 protein induction compared with heat/foot and ovotestis. An induction peak of HSP70 was found after 48 hours of exposure to heat at 33 °C, and after 96 hours of exposure to CdCl2 at 0,22 ppm. Despite of the well known role of HSP70 in thermotolerance and tolerance to other stress agents in living organisms, it was the first time it was shown in B. glabrata, supporting its application in environmental monitoring studies. The results presented here open a way to future studies of this protein in the mollusc, and provide more basements to knowledge of B. glabrata.