CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / The IxV curves tracers for PV modules are used as a method of diagnosis of problems such as shadowing, faulty connections and degradation conditions. There are several types and brands tracers commercially available, but their costs are quite high in the Brazilian market due to the need to import. This thesis describes the development and validation of a IxV curve tracer for PV modules based on the electronic load method using MOSFET as load to the module. By appropriate variation of the MOSFET gate-source voltage signal was possible to acquire the points of voltage and current of the PV modules terminals. These points were recorded using a data acquisition board with PIC18F2550, which is controlled by a computer via a USB with a graphical interface to the user. This interface was developed in MATLAB software ensuring greater flexibility and functionality to the device. For PV module temperature measurements PT100 sensors were used and measurements of solar irradiance was used a pyranometer LP02 model Hukseflux Thermal Sensor manufacturer, these sensors were connected to a supervisory system consists of a PC and a programmable logic controller (PLC). The validation process was conducted by comparing the electrical parameters provided by the developed tracer and the commercial tracer MINI-KLA. From this comparison an error was generated for each parameter. Three PV modules of different electrical characteristics (20 Wp, 87 Wp e 160 Wp) were used and there was similarity between the curves of the developed tracer with the curves of the commercial tracer. The average of errors of the electrical parameters for the 3 PV modules was less than 5% at no shading conditions. In two conditions of shading, the IxV curves provided by the two tracers for the KC 85 T PV module were compared and it was observed in the first situation that the MINI-KLA tracer could characterize only partially the curve while the tracer developed could characterize the curve fully, in the second situation there was great similarity between the curves of the two tracers with maximum percentage difference in the electrical parameters equal to 5.41%. / Os traÃadores de curva IxV para mÃdulos FV sÃo utilizados como um mÃtodo de diagnÃstico de problemas como sombreamento, conexÃes defeituosas e condiÃÃes de degradaÃÃo. Existem diversos tipos e marcas de traÃadores disponibilizados comercialmente, mas seus custos sÃo bastante elevados no mercado brasileiro devido à necessidade de importaÃÃo. A presente dissertaÃÃo aborda o desenvolvimento e a validaÃÃo de um traÃador de curva IxV para mÃdulos FV baseado no mÃtodo de carga eletrÃnica com uso de MOSFET como carga para o mÃdulo. AtravÃs da adequada variaÃÃo do sinal de tensÃo de gate-source do MOSFET foi possÃvel adquirir os pontos de tensÃo e corrente nos terminais dos mÃdulos FV. Estes pontos foram registrados atravÃs de uma placa de aquisiÃÃo de dados, com PIC18F2550, que à controlada via USB por um computador com uma interface grÃfica para usuÃrio. Esta interface foi desenvolvida com o software MATLAB, garantindo maior flexibilidade e funcionalidade ao dispositivo. Para mediÃÃes da temperatura do mÃdulo FV foram utilizados sensores PT100 e para as mediÃÃes de irradiÃncia solar foi utilizado um piranÃmetro modelo LP02 do fabricante Hukseflux Thermal Sensor; estes sensores foram utilizados atravÃs de um sistema supervisÃrio composto por um PC e um controlador lÃgico programÃvel (CLP). O processo de validaÃÃo foi realizado atravÃs da comparaÃÃo dos parÃmetros elÃtricos fornecidos pelo traÃador desenvolvido e pelo traÃador comercial MINI-KLA. A partir desta comparaÃÃo um erro foi gerado para cada parÃmetro. Foram utilizados 3 mÃdulos FV de diferentes caracterÃsticas elÃtricas (20 Wp, 87 Wp e 160 Wp) e observou-se proximidade entre as curvas do traÃador desenvolvido com as curvas do traÃador comercial. A mÃdia dos erros para os 3 mÃdulos relativa aos parÃmetros elÃtricos obtidos com os 2 traÃadores foi inferior a 5% em condiÃÃes sem sombreamento. Em duas condiÃÃes de sombreamento, as curvas IxV fornecidas pelos dois traÃadores relativas ao mÃdulo FV KC 85 T foram comparadas e observou-se na primeira situaÃÃo que o traÃador MINI-KLA conseguiu caracterizar apenas parcialmente a curva enquanto que o traÃador desenvolvido conseguiu caracterizar a curva totalmente, na segunda situaÃÃo observou-se grande proximidade entre as curvas dos dois traÃadores com diferenÃa percentual mÃxima nos parÃmetros elÃtricos igual a 5,41%.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(生命科学) / 甲第24304号 / 生博第487号 / 新制||生||65(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院生命科学研究科高次生命科学専攻 / (主査)教授 渡邊 直樹, 教授 見学 美根子, 教授 今吉 格 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy in Life Sciences / Kyoto University / DFAM

Fusarium-Infektionen sind ein ernstes Problem im Weizenanbau, da die ausgeschiedenen Mykotoxine gesundheitsschädlich sind. Die Krankheitssymptome sind durch bildanalytische Methoden im Vorfeld der Ernte detektierbar, so dass befallene Partien getrennt geerntet werden könnten. Künstlich mit Fusarium culmorum infizierte Weizenpflanzen wurden mittels Chlorophyllfluoreszenz- und hyperspektraler Bildanalyse in Zeitreihenversuchen analysiert. Bei den Chlorophyllfluoreszenz-Bildanalysen wurde die photosynthetische Effizienz (Fv/Fm) und deren räumliche Ungleichverteilung genutzt, um den Effekt des Krankheitsgrades auf die photosynthetische Aktivität zu ermitteln. Mit dieser Methode ist eine sehr frühzeitige Erkennung möglich, da eine Verringerung der photosynthetischen Effizienz bei den kranken Ähren zwischen dem 6. und 11. Tag nach Inokulation festgestellt wurde. Der Befallsgrad korreliert mit der photosynthetischen Effizienz. Die Berechnung des kumulativen Fv/Fm bei 0,3 führte zu einer sehr effektiven und genauen Erkennung der Partiellen Taubährigkeit ab einem Befallsgrad von mindestens 5% und einer Differenzierungsgenauigkeit von 10%. Die Chlorophyllfluoreszenz-Bildanalyse war unter Freilandbedingungen bei Einhaltung der Rahmenbedingungen zur Fusarium-Erkennung ebenfalls möglich, wenn auch mit schlechteren Erkennungsraten. Die Aufnahmen im Labor mit einem hyperspektralen Bildanalysesystem im Spektralbereich von 400-1000 nm zeigten Unterschiede in distinkten Wellenlängenbereichen und lassen die Erkennung kranker Ähren in einem Zeitfenster von BBCH 71 bis BBCH 85 zu. Die bildanalytische Klassifizierung mittels des „Spectral Angle Mapper“ liefert gute Ergebnisse, ist aber sehr zeitaufwändig. Alternativ dazu nutzt der neu erstellte head blight-Index (HBI) die spektralen Unterschiede im Bereich 665-675 nm und 550-560 nm und kann eine feldtaugliche Klassifizierungsmöglichkeit zur Erkennung von Partieller Taubährigkeit sein. / Fusarium infections are serious problems in wheat production. Mycotoxins, synthesised by the fungi, are toxic and harmful in both human and animal nutrition. The symptoms of this so-called head blight disease caused by Fusarium spp. are recognizable by various image analysis methods prior to harvest. Using this information, farmer could differently utilize affected cereals, if necessary. Healthy and artificially Fusarium culmorum-infected wheat plants were analyzed with a chlorophyll fluorescence and hyper-spectral imaging system in time series. With chlorophyll fluorescence imaging (CFA), the potential maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) and its spatially variable distribution was analyzed to determine the interactions between the degree of disease and the photosynthetic activity. By means of this method, early recognition was reliably achieved by a decreased photochemical efficiency in diseased ears between 6th and 11th day after inoculation. The degree of disease correlated with photochemical efficiency. At a degree of Fusarium infection of 5% and higher, calculation of the cumulative Fv/Fm at 0.3 enabled a very effective and precise determination of Fusarium head blight with a differentiation accuracy of at least 10%. Though less effective, CFA successfully detected head blight under outdoor conditions, if some boundary conditions (e.g. no direct solar irradiation) were observed. In the laboratory, a hyperspectral imaging system (wave length range 400 to 1000 nm) indicated specific spectral differences between affected and unaffected wheat ears. These differences allowed head blight recognition during BBCH 71 to BBCH 85. Imaging classification with the “Spectral Angle Mapper” method achieved good results; it is, however, very time-consuming. Alternatively, the newly derived head blight index (HBI), using spectral differences in the wave length ranges of 665 to 675 nm and 550 to 560 nm, can be a suitable outdoor classification method to evaluate head blight.

The aim of the Thesis is theoretical clarification of the issues of photovoltaic power plants, their diagnostics, inspection and performance measurement, including negative impacts on their operation and subsequent application of theoretical knowledge during practical inspection and diagnostics of PV power plants. In its introductory part, the Thesis deals with design, manufacturing and development of PV cells and panels and describes other necessary elements and components, including their use in individual types of photovoltaic systems. Another part describes electric parameters of PV cells and panels, especially the parameters that can be found out by measurement of V-A characteristics and also the parameters affecting the shape of the V-A characteristics. The third part is focused on failures of photovoltaic systems, which include various defects of photovoltaic cells and panels, it also provides for adverse factors affecting operation of the entire system, associated not only with weather influences but also with the actual design of the photovoltaic system. The fourth part deals with possibilities of increasing the cost-effectiveness of electricity generation by PV power plants on the basis of practical experience of their operators. The subsequent part determines, on the basis of technical standards, procedures for PV power plant inspections, the procedures for measurement and diagnostics of PV power plants and also other prerequisites connected with inspections and measurements. This part includes also a description of requirements for measuring devices, most frequent measurement errors, adverse impacts affecting measurements and methods of assessment of the data measured. The last part of the Thesis is practical. At first it deals with verification of the impact of defects of PV modules on the shape of their V-A characteristics, then with execution of inspections and diagnostics of a particular PV power plant, evaluation of the data identified and measured, as well as with a proposal of optimisation measures to increase cost-efficiency of the operation of that particular PV power plant.

A hydraulic damper plays an important role in tuning the handling and comfort characteristicsof a vehicle. Tuning and selecting a damper based on subjective evaluation, by considering theopinions of various users, would be an inefficient method since the comfort requirements of usersvary a lot. Instead, mathematical models of damper and simulation of these models in variousoperating conditions are preferred to standardize the tuning procedure, quantify the comfortlevels and reduce cost of testing. This would require a model, which is good enough to capture thebehaviour of damper in various operating and extreme conditions.The Force-Velocity (FV) curve is one of the most widely used model of a damper. This curve isimplemented either as an equation or as a look-up table. It is a plot between the maximum forceat each peak velocity point. There are certain dynamic phenomena like hysteresis and dependencyon the displacement of damper, which cannot be captured with a FV curve model, but are requiredfor better understanding of the vehicle behaviour.This thesis was conducted in cooperation with Volvo Cars with an aim to improve the existingdamper model which is a Force-Velocity curve. This work focuses on developing a damper model,which is complex enough to capture the phenomena discussed above and simple enough to beimplemented in real time simulations. Also, the thesis aims to establish a standard method toparameterise the damper model and generate the Force-Velocity curve from the tests performedon the damper test rig. A test matrix which includes the standard tests for parameterising andthe extreme test cases for the validation of the developed model will be developed. The final focusis to implement the damper model in a multi body simulation (MBS) software.The master thesis starts with an introduction, where the background for the project is described and then the thesis goals are set. It is followed by a literature review in which fewadvanced damper models are discussed in brief. Then, a step-by-step process of developing thedamper model is discussed along with few more possible options. Later, the construction of a testmatrix is discussed in detail followed by the parameter identification process. Next, the validationof the developed damper model is discussed using the test data from Volvo Hällered ProvingGround (HPG). After validation, implementation of the model in VI CarRealTime and Adams Caralong with the results are presented. Finally the thesis is concluded and the recommendations forfuture work are made on further improving the model. / En hydraulisk stötdämpare spelar en viktig roll för att fordonets hantering och komfort. Attjustera och välja en stötdämpare baserat på subjektiv utvärdering, genom att beakta olika användares åsikter, skulle vara en ineffektiv metod eftersom användarnas komfortkrav varierarmycket. Istället föredras matematiska modeller av stötdämpare och simulering av dessa modellerunder olika driftsförhållanden för att standardisera inställningsförfarandet, kvantifiera komfortnivåerna och minska testkostnaden. Detta skulle kräva en modell som är tillräckligt bra för attfånga upp stötdämparens beteende under olika drifts- och extrema förhållanden.Force-Velocity (FV) -kurvan är en av de mest använda stötdämparmodellerna. Denna kurvaimplementeras antingen som en ekvation eller som en uppslagstabell. Det är ett diagram somredovisar den maximala kraften vid varje maxhastighetspunkt. Det finns vissa dynamiskafenomen som hysteres och beroende av stötdämparens förskjutning, som inte kan fångas med enFV-kurvmodell, men som krävs för att bättre förstå fordonets beteende.Denna avhandling genomfördes i samarbete med Volvo Cars i syfte att förbättra den befintligastötdämparmodellen som är en Force-Velocity-kurva. Detta arbete fokuserar på att utveckla enstötdämparmodell, som är tillräckligt komplex för att fånga upp de fenomen som diskuteratsovan och tillräckligt enkel för att implementeras i realtidssimuleringar. Avhandlingen syftarockså till att upprätta en standardmetod för att parametrisera spjällmodellen och generera ForceVelocity-kurvan från de test som utförts på stötdämpartestriggen. En testmatris som innehållerstandardtest för parametrisering och extrema testfall för validering av den utvecklade modellenkommer att utvecklas. Det sista fokuset är att implementera stötdämparmodellen i en multi-bodysimulation (MBS) programvara.Examensarbetet inleds med en introduktion, där bakgrunden för projektet beskrivs ochdärefter definieras målen med arbetet. Det följs av en litteraturöversikt där några avanceradestötdämparmodeller diskuteras i korthet. Därefter diskuteras en steg-för-steg-process för attutveckla stötdämparmodeller tillsammans med några fler möjliga alternativ. Senare diskuteraskonstruktionen av en testmatris i detalj följt av parameteridentifieringsprocessen. Därefterdiskuteras valideringen av den utvecklade stötdämparmodellen med hjälp av testdata från VolvoHällered Proving Ground (HPG). Efter validering presenteras implementeringen av modellen iVI CarRealTime och Adams Car tillsammans med resultaten. Slutligen avslutas rapporten medslutsatser från arbetet och rekommendationer för framtida arbete görs för att ytterligare förbättramodellen.

The initiation, persistence, and termination of harmful algal blooms (HABs) can all be influenced by nutrient availability. Recent studies have highlighted the role of both organic and inorganic nitrogen sources in HAB dynamics. The pelagophyte Aureoumbra lagunensis causes ecosystem disruptive algal blooms and is responsible for the longest recorded harmful algal bloom (1989-1997). Because of Aureoumbra's small size and its inability to use nitrate, it has been hypothesized that its ability to use ammonium and organic nitrogen, especially at low concentrations, contributed to the unusual persistence of this bloom. This project aimed to assess the response of Aureoumbra to inorganic and organic nitrogen sources by examining the expression of genes responsible for nitrogen assimilation, with an eventual intent of developing expression assays that are indicative of nitrogen source use and/or sufficiency in Aureoumbra. Large volume batch cultures of Aureoumbra were grown with either ammonium or urea as a nitrogen source. Physiological characteristics (C:N, chlorophyll [alpha] cell⁻¹, and Fv/Fm) were monitored throughout the growth period, and the expression of the AMT-1, AMT-2 and UREC genes was assayed at early-, mid- and late-exponential phases. The results show that Aureoumbra can use both ammonium and urea, and that it is well adapted to low-nutrient environments. Only one gene, AMT-1, appeared to be transcriptionally regulated in response to changing nitrogen concentration, and only to ammonium. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of how algae in general cope with low nutrient availability and should ultimately help to define the dynamics of these HAB events. / text

Histoire et suivi d'une cohorte multicentrique de 100 nouveau-nés à terme ayant eu un infarctus cérébral artériel (cohorte AVCnn). L’homogénéité de la population, le nombre d’inclus, la somme des données collectées et leur comparaison à des groupes témoins puis désormais la durée du suivi font de la cohorte AVCnn un outil de travail unique dans la littérature. Les premiers résultats ont permis de définir un profil obstétrico-néonatal clinique et biologique à risque (objectif principal de l'étude). Inversement d'autres facteurs de risque suspectés (comme les dysgravidies ou les mutations des facteurs II et V de la coagulation) n'ont pu être confirmés, probablement du fait de la sélectivité des critères d'inclusion; les études antérieures ayant en effet inclus des enfants avec divers types d'AVC périnatals. La cause de l'accident n'a été établie (objectif secondaire) que pour une minorité d'enfants. Il semble exister plusieurs mécanismes pathologiques, dont le poids de naissance et le sexe seraient des biomarqueurs. Des facteurs pronostiques (objectif secondaire) de l'évolution motrice, accessibles dès les premiers jours de vie à l'lRM, ont également été déterminés alors que les symptômes n'apparaîtront que plusieurs mois après. Ceci permet d'envisager qu'une prise en charge précoce et ciblée sur ces nouveau-nés serait d'autant plus efficace que l'enfant n'a pas encore de symptômes. L'évaluation de la qualité de vie et de l'autonomie à l'âge de 3,5 ans est terminée. L'évaluation développementale (profil moteur, neuropsychologique, langagier, comportemental, épileptique et réussite scolaire) et de la réorganisation fonctionnelle cérébrale par IRM à 7 ans viennent de débuter / The AVCnn study is a French multicentre cohort of 100 term newborns with symptomatic arterial ischemic stroke. The homogeneity of the population, the number of patients included, the amount of collected data and their comparison with control groups and duration of follow-up allow to make the cohort AVCnn unique in the literature. Initial data confirm that many obstetrical and perinatal factors are risk determinants (principal objective of the study). Conversely, other suspected risk factors (such as dysgravidia or mutations of coagulation factors II and V) were not confirmed, probably due to the selectivity of the inclusion criteria: previous studies have in fact included children with various types of perinatal stroke. The cause of the accident has been formally established (secondary objective) in only two cases. Nevertheless, birth weight and gender may be biomarkers of two populations of neonates with different pathological mechanisms. Prediction of motor outcomes (secondary objective) can be obtained from early imaging data (<28 days of live), while the symptoms will only appear several months later. This is of paramount importance to families and clinicians, because early intervention may help alleviate the resulting disabilities. The evaluation of quality of life and Functional Independence Measure at age 3.5 years is now complete. The developmental assessment (neuropsychological, language, and behavioural profiles, epilepsy and academic achievement) and the functional reorganization of brain MRI at 7 years have just begun

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-08-04T17:48:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Genyr Kappler_.pdf: 7040737 bytes, checksum: b8f3c862e305815a08af95dead0bbfd5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-04T17:48:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Genyr Kappler_.pdf: 7040737 bytes, checksum: b8f3c862e305815a08af95dead0bbfd5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-04-22 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / FAPERGS - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / A energia é considerada a espinha dorsal da economia moderna, e seu consumo se intensifica nas sociedades emergentes a medida que sua qualidade de vida melhora. O atual cenário energético global indica que as fontes convencionais de energia estão se esgotando, evidenciando a importância em se explorar e viabilizar fontes renováveis para suprir a demanda futura. A climatização de ambientes é responsável por uma grande parcela deste consumo de energia, e sistemas bioclimáticos, que utilizam a geotermia e a energia solar fotovoltaica, são alternativas adequadas e ainda pouco explorada para suprimir a necessidade do uso de condicionadores de ar. O solo tem, em certa profundidade, temperatura equivalente à temperatura média anual local. Várias iniciativas têm buscado fazer uso deste recurso através do sistema de troca térmica por dutos enterrados, onde o fluido de troca térmica é o ar, e mais recentemente surgiram estudos com o uso da água como fluido de troca térmica. Neste trabalho é apresentada uma análise experimental que avalia o desempenho de um sistema terra-água-ar, alimentado por energia solar fotovoltaica, para climatização de edificações. O sistema proposto utiliza a estabilidade térmica do solo pelo uso de um reservatório de água (WT) em certa profundidade, que opera como fonte ou dissipador de energia térmica reduzindo a variação da temperatura no interior das edifícações. Um protótipo foi construído e é essencialmente constituído por: um ambiente climatizado (AC) com volume de 0,6 m3, um fan coil; um reservatório (WT) com volume de 0,38 m3, com o fundo enterrado a 2 m abaixo da superfície do solo; e, uma bomba de água. Verificou-se que o sistema proposto manteve a sua temperatura constante e em conformidade com a norma ASHRAE 55 2004 para ambientes naturalmente condicionados, com a temperatura no AC em torno de 23,6 ℃ enquanto a temperatura do ar ambiente variou de 18,8 °C a 29,4 °C, sendo que a temperatura do solo era 21 °C. Para uma taxa de 119 W de calor adicionado no AC, a taxa de remoção de calor no fan coil foi de 98,6 W. Com base nos dados experimentais, o sistema foi validado e a profundidade e tamanho ideais do reservatório de água foram determinados para uma aplicação em escala real. Para o local experimentado foi determinada que a profundidade ideal, com o solo na temperatura constante equivalente a média anual de 18 °C, é entre 6 e 9 m. Um sistema de geração de energia elétrica fotovoltaica foi proposto para alimentar o sistema experimental terra -água-ar. / Energy is considered the backbone of the modern economy and its consumption intensifies in emerging societies as their quality of life improves. The current global energy scenario indicates that conventional energy resources are depleting, highlighting the importance of exploring and enable renewable resources to meet future energy demand. Buildings’ HVAC is responsible for a large portion of domestic energy consumption, and bioclimatic systems, that use geothermal energy and solar photovoltaic, are suitable and still little explored alternatives to eliminate the need for the use of air conditioners. The temperature of soil at a certain depth is equivalent to the local average yearly temperature. Various initiatives have sought to make use of this resource through Earth-Air-Heat-Exchange system, where the fluid used for heat transfer is air, and only recently emerged studies making use of water as a heat transfer fluid. This paper presents an experimental analysis that evaluates the performance of an earth-water-air system powered by photovoltaic solar energy, for conditioning the air of buildings. The proposed system uses the thermal stability of the soil, through the use of a water tank (WT) at a certain depth, which operates as a source or sink for thermal energy thus reducing the temperature variation inside the buildings. A prototype was built and is essentially made up of an air-conditioned environment (AC) with 0.6 m3 volume, one fan coil, a reservoir (WT) with a volume of 0.38 m3, buried with the bottom at 2 m below the ground surface, and a water pump. It was found that the proposed system has kept AC's temperature constant and in agreement with ASHRAE Standard 55 2004 for naturally conditioned environment, with the temperature around 23.6 ℃. The ambient air temperature varied from 18.8 °C to 29.4 °C and the soil temperature was 21 °C. For a 119 W incoming heat rate on the AC, the heat removal rate in the fan coil was 98.6 W. Based on the experimental data, the system has been validated and the optimal depth and size of the water reservoir were determined for an application in real scale. For the analysed site it was determined that the optimum depth to reach the soil at a constant temperature equivalent to the yearly average of 18 °C is between 6 to 9 m. A photovoltaic power generation system is proposed for the earth-water-air experimental system.

<p>Concentrations of various metals are elevated above background levels in several intertidal areas along the Tanzanian coasts. However, there is little available information concerning the toxicity of these metals and how the uptake of these metals by bioindicators are influenced by external factors, such as heavy rains and increased coastal eutrophication, which tend to fluctuate.</p><p>The present study focused on the uptake and toxicity of Cu and Zn in two common macroalgal species,<i> Padina gymnospora</i> (Phaeophyta) and<i> Ulva</i> <i>reticulata</i> (Chlorophyta). Laboratory studies were performed where metal content, growth (DGR), maximal quantum yields (Fv/Fm) and protein expression patterns (in <i>Ulva</i>) were measured as a response to exposure to Cu and Zn. The levels of metals accumulated in algal tissues correlated well to exposure concentrations and the longer the exposure time, the greater the uptake. However, an increased nutrient load (tested on <i>Padina</i>) or dilution of the seawater (tested on<i> Ulva</i>) affected both uptake of metals and their toxic effects. Here, DGR was more affected than Fv/Fm, suggesting DGR to be the more sensitive indicator of Cu and Zn toxicity. As shown by 2-D gel electrophoresis, more than ten proteins were up-regulated in <i>U. reticulata</i> after being exposed to Cu (1μg/L), while at higher concentrations (10 and 100 μg/L) of Cu numerous proteins were down-regulated.</p><p><i>P. gymnospora </i>was also used as a bioindicator to monitor long-term (1994–2005) and seasonal in-year variations in heavy metal concentrations in the Zanzibar Channel. No clear overall trends were revealed, but analysis of the combined dataset clearly pinpointed the most contaminated sites. It was concluded that seasonal and long-term variations, as well as environmental conditions need to be taken into consideration when using macroalgae as bioindicators.</p>

Concentrations of various metals are elevated above background levels in several intertidal areas along the Tanzanian coasts. However, there is little available information concerning the toxicity of these metals and how the uptake of these metals by bioindicators are influenced by external factors, such as heavy rains and increased coastal eutrophication, which tend to fluctuate. The present study focused on the uptake and toxicity of Cu and Zn in two common macroalgal species, Padina gymnospora (Phaeophyta) and Ulva reticulata (Chlorophyta). Laboratory studies were performed where metal content, growth (DGR), maximal quantum yields (Fv/Fm) and protein expression patterns (in Ulva) were measured as a response to exposure to Cu and Zn. The levels of metals accumulated in algal tissues correlated well to exposure concentrations and the longer the exposure time, the greater the uptake. However, an increased nutrient load (tested on Padina) or dilution of the seawater (tested on Ulva) affected both uptake of metals and their toxic effects. Here, DGR was more affected than Fv/Fm, suggesting DGR to be the more sensitive indicator of Cu and Zn toxicity. As shown by 2-D gel electrophoresis, more than ten proteins were up-regulated in U. reticulata after being exposed to Cu (1μg/L), while at higher concentrations (10 and 100 μg/L) of Cu numerous proteins were down-regulated. P. gymnospora was also used as a bioindicator to monitor long-term (1994–2005) and seasonal in-year variations in heavy metal concentrations in the Zanzibar Channel. No clear overall trends were revealed, but analysis of the combined dataset clearly pinpointed the most contaminated sites. It was concluded that seasonal and long-term variations, as well as environmental conditions need to be taken into consideration when using macroalgae as bioindicators.