Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-156). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 63 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 40-46).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kentucky, 2008. / Title from document title page (viewed on December 10, 2008). Document formatted into pages; contains: vii, 56 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 47-55).

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2010. / Title from PDF file main screen (viewed on May 28, 2010). A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Rangeland and Wildlife Resources, Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2004. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 148-156). Also available on the Internet.

Tesis (licenciado en economía)--Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. / Bibliography: p. 121-[123].

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Botany, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 95-102).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on October 23, 2007) Includes bibliographical references.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / As lectinas consitem em uma classe diversificada de proteÃnas, capazes de reconhecer estruturas glicÃdicas de forma reversÃvel e com alta especificidade, no entanto sem alterar suas estruturas quÃmicas, participando de vÃrios processos celulares importantes. Dentre as diferentes famÃlias de lectinas, as isoladas a partir de leguminosas sÃo as mais extensivamente estudadas, havendo sido relatada a influÃncias dessas molÃculas sobre diversos processos patolÃgicos, incluindo a carcinogÃnese. NotÃveis propriedades antitumorais tÃm sido detectadas para algumas lectinas de leguminosas, resultantes da sua habilidade em induzir a morte celular ou a autofagia em cÃlulas cancerÃgenas, o que atraÃdo atenÃÃo para suas possiveis aplicaÃÃes biomÃdicas. AlÃm disso, algumas lectinas desse grupo especificas para galactose/N-acetil-D-galactosamina (Gal/GalNAc) tÃm se mostrado Ãteis como marcadores histoquÃmicos na pesquisa do cÃncer e a caracterizaÃÃo estrutural dessas lectinas em complexo com diferentes epÃtopos cancerÃgenos vem sendo realizada com sucesso. A lectina isolada a partir das sementes da leguminosa Vatairea macrocarpa (VML) à uma lectina bem caracterizada especÃfica para Gal/GalNAc capaz de reconhecer especificamente o antÃgeno Tn (GalNAc-α-O-Ser), naturalmente encontrado em O-mucinas presentes em diferentes tipos de cÃncer. As estruturas cristalogrÃficas para a VML em complexo com o antÃgeno Tn e GalNAc foram determinadas com resoluÃÃes de 1.4 e 1.7 Ã, respectivamente. A maioria das lectinas obtidas a partir de fontes naturais consiste em misturas de diferentes isoformas, uma caracterÃstica indesejada para aplicaÃÃes biomÃdicas. Com base nisso, uma construÃÃo recombinante para VML (rVML) foi expressa em Escherichia coli, sendo obtida de forma solÃvel em com alto rendimento. A estrutura cristalina para a rVML, bem como para seus complexos com o antÃgeno Tn, GalNAc e α-Lactose foram determinadas com resoluÃÃes de 1.7, 2.7, 2 e 1.8 Ã, respectivamente, apresentando a mesma estrutura geral e padrÃes de interaÃÃo que a lectina silvestre. Com o intuito de gerar um perfil comparativo entre a VML e outras lectinas de leguminosas capazes de reconhecer o antÃgeno Tn, foram realizadas anÃlises de docking molecular utilizando fragmentos de O-mucinas diferentemente decorados com o antÃgeno Tn. Esse perfil ressalta como alteraÃÃes sutis no elenco ou disposiÃÃo dos aminoÃcidos constituintes do sÃtio de ligaÃÃo a carboidrato, que talvez nÃo influenciem a capacidade de ligaÃÃo a monossacarÃdeo, podem impactar diretamente a habilidade dessas lectinas em reconhecer antÃgenos em condiÃÃes naturais. Adicionalmente aos jà caracterizados efeitos biolÃgicos relatados para VML, a similaridade entre sua estrutura e perfis de interaÃÃes quando comparadas a outras lectinas comumente utilizadas como marcadores histoquÃmicos (e.g., VVLB4 e SBA), sugerem fortemente a possÃvel utilizaÃÃo da VML como uma nova ferramenta na pesquisa do cÃncer. Esse trabalho consiste no primeiro relato de estruturas cristalogrÃficas para uma lectina de leguminosa especÃfica para Gal/GalNAc da tribo Dalbergieae. / Lectins are a very diverse class of proteins able to bind specific sugar structures reversibly and with high specificity, but without enzymatically modifying them, triggering several important cellular processes. Among the different lectin families, legume lectins are the most thoroughly studied and have been widely reported to exhibit a number of links to many pathological processes, including carcinogenesis. The remarkable anti-tumor properties of some legume lectins, resulting from their ability to induce programmed cell death and/or autophagocytosis in cancer cells have attracted much attention for biomedical applications. Moreover, a few galactose/N-acetylgalactosamine (Gal/GalNAc)-binding lectins from this group have proven to be useful markers for cancer histochemistry, and the structural characterization of these lectins bound to specific cancer epitopes has been carried out successfully. The seed lectin isolated from the legume tree Vatairea macrocarpa (VML) is a well characterized Gal/GalNAc-binding protein able to specifically recognize naturally occurring O-mucins presenting the carcinoma epitope Tn antigen (GalNAc-α-O-Ser). The crystal structures of VML in complex with Tn antigen and GalNAc have been determined at the resolution of 1.4 and 1.7 Ã, respectively. Unfortunately, most of lectins obtained from natural sources consist in a mixture of forms, which is an undesired feature for biomedical applications. Thus, the recombinant form of VML (rVML) was expressed in Escherichia coli, being obtained soluble and wih high yielding. The crystal structure for rVML, as well as for the complex with Tn antigen, GalNAc and α-Lactose have been determined at resolutions of 1.7, 2.7, 2 and 1.8 Ã, respectively, presenting the same overall structure and binding patterns as the wild lectin. Molecular docking analysis of this new structure and other Tn-binding legume lectins to O-mucin fragments differently decorated with this antigen provides a comparative binding profile among these proteins, stressing that subtle alterations that may not influence monosaccharide binding can, nonetheless, directly impact the ability of these lectins to recognize naturally occurring antigens. In addition to the specific biological effects of VML, the structural and binding similarities between it and other lectins commonly used as histological markers (e.g., VVLB4 and SBA) strongly suggest that VML can be used as a new tool for cancer research. This is the first report of crystal structures of a Gal/GalNAc-binding legume lectin from the Dalbergieae tribe.

Agriculture is facing increasing pressures to produce food that meets specific market and/or nutrition requirements, while using inputs in such a way that can ensure economic and environmental goals more efficiently. Two field experiments were conducted in 2013 and 2014 at the Royal Agricultural University’s Harnhill’ Manor Farm, Cirencester, UK to evaluate the influence of selected cultivation techniques, N fertilisation and undersowing legumes on spring wheat growth and development. To explore, in particular, the yield components contributing to grain yield and quality, as well as weed pressure influences together with changes in soil mineral N (SMN) content. Cultivation techniques included conventional tillage (CT), high intensity non-inversion tillage (HINiT) and low intensity non-inversion tillage (LINiT); mineral N fertilisation rates of 0, 70, 140 and 210 kg N ha-1 and two undersown legume species, black medic and white clover, plus no undersowing treatment. The performance of the management practices was strongly influenced by the weather. In 2013, under dry weather conditions, LINiT seems to be a suitable alternative to CT, while N fertilisation did not encourage greater grain yield. In 2014, CT appears to be a more reliable practice, while the application of up to 140 kg N ha-1 seemed to be enough to increase grain yield. Dry weather conditions at the time of broadcasting did not allow the undersowing species to be fully established, resulting in no effects on weed control and crop growth. In 2013, the initial poor plant establishment and slow crop growth under LINiT was compensated for by the soils ability to retain moisture, and thereby reducing crop water stress during the dry periods. This finally resulted in statistically similar grain yield to CT. In 2014 when water was not a limiting factor, poor plant establishment and crop growth, low SMN content and high weed pressure under LINiT resulted in lower grain yield than CT. In both years, HINiT resulted in low SMN content and high weed pressure resulting in poor grain yield. Across experiments, HINiT and LINiT saved energy-use and production costs, but CT could be more energy-use efficient and have high economic return if higher grain yield is assured. N fertilisation significantly promoted wheat growth, although under dry conditions with higher residual soil N, the N fertilisation did not increase yield. Under low SMN level applying up to 140 kg N ha-1 increased grain yield produced, but N fertilisation is energy consuming and its use does not always ensure a higher economic return.