The effects of energy quantity to the reproductive strategies of the sea anemone Aiptasia pulchella Carlgren 1943 Chien-Hsun Chen (Advisors: Drs. Keryea Soong, Chao-Lun Chen) Institute of Marine Biology, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan, R.O.C. Thesis abstract The influences of energy quantity on the sexual and asexual reproduction and possible trade-offs between them in the sea anemone, Aiptasia pulchella were investigated. Different feeding frequencies, light intensities and presence of zooxanthellae were the treatments of energy quantity. Lacerate numbers, lacerate sizes and total weight of lacerates were used to quantify investment in asexual reproduction; oocyte sizes and gonad weights were used as the measures of sexual reproduction. The correlation between total weight of lacerates and that of gonads provided an opportunity for evidence of trade-offs between sexual and asexual reproduction. Under higher feeding frequencies, A. pulchella produced more and larger lacerates as well as larger oocytes and heavier gonads than under lower feeding frequencies. Under lower light intensities, A. pulchella produced more and heavier lacerates with than without zooxanthellae. Lacerate sizes were influenced by light intensities, presence of zooxanthellae and the interaction of the two factors. At intermediate light intensity (2000 lux), Aiptasia pulchella produced heavier gonads than at 0 lux or 10000 lux. A. pulchella produced heavier gonads with than without zooxanthellae. The oocyte sizes of A. pulchella were also influenced by light intensities, zooxanthellae and the interaction of the two. In both sexual or asexual modes of reproduction, A. pulchella performed better under higher than lower feeding frequencies. There were higher level of asexual reproduction for A. pulchella under lower light intensities with zooxanthellae. A. pulchella achieved the highest levels of fecundity, as an indication of sexual reproduction, under a light intensity of 2000 lux in individuals containing zooxanthellae. There is a positive correlation between sexual and asexual investment under different energy regimes. This is not compatible with the prediction of the trade-off hypothesis.

Ptilotus nobilis is a short-lived perennial wildflower, native to semi-arid and arid areas of Australia. Propagation by vegetative means is constrained by the early onset and a continuous flowering habit. Despite being defined as the main barrier for vegetative propagation no published research on floral induction and initiation was found. The aim of this study is to provide the first insights into floral evocation in P. nobilis, with the general objectives being to investigate floral induction and initiation, find the means to maintain plants in the vegetative phase, enhance leaf initiation and to gain knowledge of growth and development with an emphasis on light intensity, temperature and daylength. Early experiments aimed to increase the understanding of growth and development. The main cardinal events were identified including the onset of branching (axillary stem growth), visible bud stage, first floret opening and maturity of the inflorescence. To aid future cultivation schedules, four growing degree days (GDD) and one chronological model, using days after sowing (DAS), were established and validated. All GDD models were accurate in predicting first floret opening and maturity, but not in predicting visible bud stage. Best prediction was achieved by using an upper temperature threshold of 18.2 ºC and an own base temperature of 5.0 ºC. Days after sowing were an accurate means of prediction, indicating that temperature and other variables such as light intensity regulate development. A series of defoliation treatments investigated the maintenance of P. nobilis plants in the vegetative phase. Within all treatments, reproductive structures were observed and all plants with more than two true leaves entered the reproductive phase. Plants with less than two true leaves showed a delayed floral bud appearance by up to 20 days. Floral development was affected by most defoliation treatments resulting in vegetative growth within the inflorescences. It is hypothesized that plants have a very short juvenile phase and that a constant floral stimulus may be needed for floral evocation. Using scanning electron and light microscopy a template for the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase was developed. Bract initiation was accompanied by a significant increase in meristem area and diameter, and was defined as the onset of flowering. The established template was used in a subsequent glasshouse trial, which revealed that floral initiation occurred very early and at 25 DAS all plants had entered the reproductive phase. Branching and leaf area expansion were identified as post- initiation processes. Plants were exposed to different light intensities (229.3, 398.6 and 909.3 µmol m-2 s-1) in a glasshouse. Under low light, final leaf number increased by up to three leaves, indicating that the vegetative phase was prolonged. Cardinal events were delayed but all plants reached maturity. It was concluded that a light intensity of 229.3 µmol m-2 s-1 was not low enough to prevent floral initiation and that a further decrease of light intensity in combination with temperature could be more effective. Interactions of light intensity, temperature and daylength were investigated. Plants were grown under high light and low light (< 1.2 MJ m-2) intensities, 25/10 ºC and 35/20 ºC and daylengths of 11 h and 16 h. During the trial period (42 days), low light intensity suppressed floral initiation and high temperatures maintained more plants (70%) in the vegetative phase. However daylength treatments had no effect on the time of bract initiation or the percentage of vegetative plants. After 83 days floral buds and axillary stems were observed on some plants under low light intensity, indicating the onset of the reproductive phase and showing that P. nobilis could not be maintained in the vegetative phase indefinitely. Plants under high light were harvested at maturity and effects of temperature and daylength were analysed. Final leaf number increased under 35/20 ºC supporting the previously established results that floral initiation was delayed and leaf production enhanced by high temperature. Morphological data was collected to classify the photoperiodic response of P. nobilis. Plants under 25/10 ºC and 11 h had the longest inflorescences and greatest number of buds and flowers, which was also reflected in the buds and flowers dry weight, with an increase of up to 3.4 fold under these conditions. The difficulty of classifying some plants accordingly to their photoperiodic response and the proposal that P. nobilis may be a facultative short day plant under 25/10 ºC is discussed. In summary, this study presents the first evidence that P. nobilis has a very short juvenile phase and that growth and development are mainly driven by light intensity and temperature. It was possible to enhance vegetative growth by defoliation, low light intensity and high temperatures, however this did not fully prevent flowering, which indicates that P. nobilis has a very strong flowering response or signal.

Ptilotus nobilis is a short-lived perennial wildflower, native to semi-arid and arid areas of Australia. Propagation by vegetative means is constrained by the early onset and a continuous flowering habit. Despite being defined as the main barrier for vegetative propagation no published research on floral induction and initiation was found. The aim of this study is to provide the first insights into floral evocation in P. nobilis, with the general objectives being to investigate floral induction and initiation, find the means to maintain plants in the vegetative phase, enhance leaf initiation and to gain knowledge of growth and development with an emphasis on light intensity, temperature and daylength. Early experiments aimed to increase the understanding of growth and development. The main cardinal events were identified including the onset of branching (axillary stem growth), visible bud stage, first floret opening and maturity of the inflorescence. To aid future cultivation schedules, four growing degree days (GDD) and one chronological model, using days after sowing (DAS), were established and validated. All GDD models were accurate in predicting first floret opening and maturity, but not in predicting visible bud stage. Best prediction was achieved by using an upper temperature threshold of 18.2 ºC and an own base temperature of 5.0 ºC. Days after sowing were an accurate means of prediction, indicating that temperature and other variables such as light intensity regulate development. A series of defoliation treatments investigated the maintenance of P. nobilis plants in the vegetative phase. Within all treatments, reproductive structures were observed and all plants with more than two true leaves entered the reproductive phase. Plants with less than two true leaves showed a delayed floral bud appearance by up to 20 days. Floral development was affected by most defoliation treatments resulting in vegetative growth within the inflorescences. It is hypothesized that plants have a very short juvenile phase and that a constant floral stimulus may be needed for floral evocation. Using scanning electron and light microscopy a template for the transition from vegetative to reproductive phase was developed. Bract initiation was accompanied by a significant increase in meristem area and diameter, and was defined as the onset of flowering. The established template was used in a subsequent glasshouse trial, which revealed that floral initiation occurred very early and at 25 DAS all plants had entered the reproductive phase. Branching and leaf area expansion were identified as post- initiation processes. Plants were exposed to different light intensities (229.3, 398.6 and 909.3 µmol m-2 s-1) in a glasshouse. Under low light, final leaf number increased by up to three leaves, indicating that the vegetative phase was prolonged. Cardinal events were delayed but all plants reached maturity. It was concluded that a light intensity of 229.3 µmol m-2 s-1 was not low enough to prevent floral initiation and that a further decrease of light intensity in combination with temperature could be more effective. Interactions of light intensity, temperature and daylength were investigated. Plants were grown under high light and low light (< 1.2 MJ m-2) intensities, 25/10 ºC and 35/20 ºC and daylengths of 11 h and 16 h. During the trial period (42 days), low light intensity suppressed floral initiation and high temperatures maintained more plants (70%) in the vegetative phase. However daylength treatments had no effect on the time of bract initiation or the percentage of vegetative plants. After 83 days floral buds and axillary stems were observed on some plants under low light intensity, indicating the onset of the reproductive phase and showing that P. nobilis could not be maintained in the vegetative phase indefinitely. Plants under high light were harvested at maturity and effects of temperature and daylength were analysed. Final leaf number increased under 35/20 ºC supporting the previously established results that floral initiation was delayed and leaf production enhanced by high temperature. Morphological data was collected to classify the photoperiodic response of P. nobilis. Plants under 25/10 ºC and 11 h had the longest inflorescences and greatest number of buds and flowers, which was also reflected in the buds and flowers dry weight, with an increase of up to 3.4 fold under these conditions. The difficulty of classifying some plants accordingly to their photoperiodic response and the proposal that P. nobilis may be a facultative short day plant under 25/10 ºC is discussed. In summary, this study presents the first evidence that P. nobilis has a very short juvenile phase and that growth and development are mainly driven by light intensity and temperature. It was possible to enhance vegetative growth by defoliation, low light intensity and high temperatures, however this did not fully prevent flowering, which indicates that P. nobilis has a very strong flowering response or signal.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:51:49Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1357885 bytes, checksum: 94cbad5284c486e24d0ad442975d1eda (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-06-25 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / In Nostoc isolates, the vegetative cells multiplication and differentiation of some of them in heterocyst is the life cycle phase in which biomass production occurs. In other phase, many environmental changes can trigger hormogonium differentiation, a transient and a non-growth state. The use of cyanobacteria strains in biotechnological processes have been studied for many years, however, the production of biomass is influenced, and can be limited, by the fact that the colonies growth intensify the selfshading. Consequently, changes in light intensity and quality received by cells can occur. The aims of this work were: 1) to characterize biomass and pigments production by Nostoc isolates in response to changes in light intensity; 2) to analyze the effect of pre-cultivation and exposure in different light intensities in the same parameters and in cellular differentiation processes; 3) and to relate, for isolate Nostoc CCLFM XXI, growth phases to predominant cellular differentiation processes. The greater biomass production was achieved at 20, 45 and 75 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, respectively in Nostoc CCLFM I, VIII and XXI. In Nostoc CCLFM I, only phycoerithrin content changed with light intensity, been maximum at 15 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, decreasing with increasing light intensities. Pigment contents, in Nostoc CCLFM VIII did not vary with light intensities. In Nostoc CCLFM XXI phycocyanin and alophycocyanin contents varied with light intensity, reaching a maximum at 45 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, been constant up to 105 &#956;moles m-2 s-1. Biomass pre-cultivated at 15 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, when exposed to lower light intensities led to an intense akinetes differentiation in Nostoc CCLFM VIII and XXI, fact that did not occur in Nostoc CCLFM I. When biomass pre-cultivated at 75 &#956;moles m-2 s-1 were exposed to lower light intensities, filaments with smaller cells than vegetative ones were observed, indicating probably, the occurrence of hormogonium differentiation in Nostoc CCLFM I and VIII. When cultivated at 15 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, Isolate XXI showed intense akinetes differentiation, and when cultivated at 60 &#956;moles m-2 s-1 it showed distinct cellular differentiation patterns in phases in which biomass production was not observed. Hormogonia were observed only in the early non-growth phase, while akinetes were observed in middle and late non-growth phases. Therefore, there is relation between light intensity and patterns of cellular differentiation. In lowest light intensities the akinetes differentiation predominates over other differentiation process. However, in higher intensity hormogonia and akinetes were observed, with hormogonia associated with the first non-growth phase and akinetes with middle and late nongrowth phase, indicating a sequence in which cellular differentiation occur, probably related with light energy available to photosynthesis. / Em isolados do gênero Nostoc, a multiplicação das células vegetativas e a diferenciação de algumas células em heterócitos em intervalos regulares é a etapa do ciclo de vida em que ocorre a produção de biomassa. Em outra etapa do ciclo de vida, vários fatores do ambiente podem induzir a diferenciação de hormogônios, filamentos nos quais não ocorre produção de biomassa. A aplicação biotecnológica de cianobactérias pode ser limitada pela intensificação do auto-sombreamento durante o crescimento destas em foto-biorreatores. Em conseqüência, pode ocorrer diminuição na intensidade e alteração da qualidade espectral da luz que atinge as células. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: 1) caracterizar a produção de biomassa e de pigmentos por isolados do gênero Nostoc cultivados em diferentes intensidades luminosas; 2) analisar o efeito do pré-cultivo e subseqüente exposição a diferentes intensidades luminosas sobre os mesmos parâmetros e sobre os processos de diferenciação celular e 3) caracterizar durante o cultivo de Nostoc CCLFM XXI em duas intensidades luminosas, a relação das fases de crescimento com os processos de diferenciação celular predominantes. As maiores produções de biomassa foram obtidas a 20, 45 e 75 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, respectivamente em Nostoc CCLFM I, VIII e XXI. Em Nostoc CCLFM I, apenas a concentração de ficoeritrina variou com a intensidade luminosa, apresentando-se máxima a 15 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, e diminuindo com aumentos na intensidade luminosa. As concentrações de pigmentos em Nostoc CCLFM VIII não variaram com a intensidade luminosa. As concentrações de ficocianina e aloficocianina, em Nostoc CCLFM XXI, variaram com a intensidade luminosa, atingindo um máximo à 45 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, e mantendo-se constantes nas maiores intensidades. O pré-cultivo a 15 &#956;moles m-2 s-1 e exposição às baixas intensidades luminosas levou, em Nostoc CCLFM VIII e XXI a uma intensa diferenciação de acinetos, o que não ocorreu para Nostoc CCLFM I. Quando o pré-cultivo foi realizado a 75 &#956;moles m-2 s-1, observou-se, em Nostoc CCLFM I e VIII, filamentos com células menores que as células vegetativas, indicativo de diferenciação de hormogônios. Nostoc CCLFM XXI quando cultivado a 15 &#956;moles m-2 s-1 apresentou intenso padrão de diferenciação de acinetos, ao passo que o cultivo a 60 &#956;moles m-2 s-1 apresentou distintos padrões de diferenciação celular nas faixas de parada de produção de biomassa. Nas fases iniciais de cultivo houve predominância de hormogônios, e de acinetos nas fases intermediária e final da curva. Desta forma, há uma relação entre intensidade luminosa e diferenciação celular, sendo que as mais baixas levam à diferenciação de acineto. No entanto, em maiores intensidades, observase tanto diferenciação de hormogônios quanto de acinetos, sendo os primeiros observados na primeira parada de produção de biomassa e os acinetos nas faixas mais tardias de parada, indicando uma sequência na ocorrência destes processos relacionada à disponibilidade de energia luminosa adequada à fotossíntese.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:51:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1647302 bytes, checksum: 907782aa4c5aca00a3a2aaadedd6d8f0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-07-06 / Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Cyanobacteria used for centuries as a food has antioxidant mechanisms highly developed and production capacity higher than any other agricultural system, presenting a great potential as a source of natural antioxidant compounds, and various other compounds. One of the factors that interfere with the metabolism of photosynthetic organisms is the level of incident light, yet for cyanobacteria are not well understood the relations between luminosity, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. Under this approach, the objective of this study was to determine the influence of different light intensities on antioxidant activity of cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc spp., and on the levels of some of the main antioxidant compounds found in their cells: the pigments phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin), carotenoids and chlorophyll, and phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity was determined by the percentage of inhibition of the radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH ) and phenols were determined using the Folin-Cicalteau. The data from this study demonstrated that significant variations can occur for the pigment and antioxidant activity between narrow bands of light intensity, thus, a precise definition of the intensity applied through response curves previously constructed is necessary in according to biotechnological interest in question. The lowest intensities were more advantageous in terms of yield pigments, antioxidant potential and phenolic compounds. The decreased level of chlorophyll and phycobiliproteins in higher irradiances were observed, probably being prevention against photo-oxidative damage caused by free radical generation. However, for carotenoids was observed in some instances increase the content of higher irradiances, which could reflect their function as heat sinks of the light energy absorbed in excess and as antioxidant agents of the photosynthetic apparatus. The phycobiliproteins was the major contributor to total antioxidant status at lower intensities, while for higher intensities are the carotenoids. However, not always the behaviors observed were similar between the biocompostos contents and antioxidant activity, since this relationship may prove to be quite complex, requiring a qualitative and quantitative determination of many compounds that may have antioxidant properties and use of highly purified extracts. In addition, the methodology used to determine the antioxidant activity could also be a source of variation, generating inconsistent results between the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. / As cianobactérias, utilizadas há séculos como alimento, possuem mecanismos antioxidantes altamente desenvolvidos e produtividade superior a qualquer outro sistema agrícola, apresentando, portanto grande potencial como fonte de compostos antioxidantes naturais, além de vários outros biocompostos. Um dos fatores que mais interferem no metabolismo dos organismos fotossintetizantes é o nível de luz incidente, todavia para cianobactérias não são bem comprendidas as relações entre luminosidade, compostos bioativos e atividade antioxidante. Sob este enfoque, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a influência de diferentes intensidades luminosas sobre a atividade antioxidante de cianobactérias do gênero Nostoc spp., e sobre os níveis de alguns dos principais compostos antioxidantes presentes em suas células: os pigmentos ficobiliproteínas (ficocianina, aloficocianina e ficoeritrina), carotenóides e clorofila a, além de compostos fenólicos. A atividade antioxidante foi determinada pelo percentual de inibição do radical 2,2-difenil-1-picril hidrazil (DPPH ) e os fenóis foram determinados pelo método Folin-Cicalteau. Os dados deste trabalho mostraram que variações significativas podem ocorrer para os teores de pigmentos e atividade antioxidante entre faixas de intensidade luminosas estreitas; assim, uma definição precisa da intensidade aplicada, através de curvas de resposta previamente construídas é necessária de acordo com o interesse biotecnológico em questão. As menores intensidades se mostraram mais vantajosas em termos de rendimento de pigmentos, potencial antioxidante e conteúdo de compostos fenólicos. A diminuição do teor de clorofila a e ficobiliproteínas em maiores irradiâncias foram observadas, sendo provavelmente uma estratégia de prevenção contra o dano foto-oxidativo ocasionado pela geração de radicais livres. No entanto, para carotenóides, observou-se em alguns momentos aumento do conteúdo em maiores irradiâncias, o que poderia refletir suas funções como dissipadores da energia luminosa absorvida em excesso e como agentes antioxidantes do aparato fotossintético. As ficobiliproteínas foram as maiores contribuintes para totalidade da defesa antioxidante nas menores intensidades, enquanto que para as maiores intensidades foram os carotenóides. No entanto, nem sempre foram observados comportamentos semelhantes entre os teores de biocompostos e a atividade antioxidante, já que esta relação pode se mostrar bastante complexa, sendo necessária uma determinação quali e quantitativa dos inúmeros compostos que podem apresentar propriedades antioxidantes e utilização de extratos altamente purificados. Além disso, a própria metodologia utilizada para a determinação da atividade antioxidante também poderia ser uma fonte de variação, gerando resultados inconsistentes entre o teor de compostos bioativos e atividade antioxidante.

Contexte et objectifs : Les tentatives pour expliquer les variations des paramètres foliaires fondées uniquement sur les facteurs environnementaux, ce qui conduira à des erreurs importantes si la plante montre des variations ontogénétiques substantielles des propriétés foliaires. Nous avons évalué les variations des 27 traits morpho-anatomiques des feuilles de Dipterocarpus alatus durant six stades de développement architectural et entre les axes à un stade de développement donné sous deux conditions lumineuses différentes.Méthodologies:Une analyse architecturale a été réalisée pour distinguer précisément et objectivement des catégories d'axes et stades de développement de Dipterocarpus alatus. Les feuilles ont été collectées sur l'unité de croissance plus récente et complète sur la partie supérieure du tronc et sur la partie plus externe de la branche du milieu couronne des arbres qui poussent sous deux différentes conditions lumineuses. Vingt-deux traits foliaires ont été mesurées et calculées sur des images de tracés feuilles et de sections transversaux à l'aide de logiciel ImageJ. Densité stomatal a été calculée sur l'impression de vernis à ongles de la surface inférieure des feuilles. Quatre traits de chlorophylle ont été déterminées. Les tests d'ANOVA et Tukey ont été utilisés pour déterminer les différences entre les stades de développement et des axes. La contribution relative lmg a été calculée avec package R relaimpo et comparées avec l'analyse bootstrap pour déterminer le stade ontogénétique, catégorie axe ou l'intensité lumineuse, ce qui est expliqué plus les variations de l'anatomie des feuilles.Résultats:La morphologie et l'anatomie des feuilles diffère fortement durant l'ontogenèse pour les quatre axes en terme d'ordre et de catégorie deux sous des conditions lumineuses. L'effet de l'axe a été présentée au stade B, C, D et F, mais ont tendance à être insignifiante au stade E. Ontogenèse de l'arbre expliqué plus de variations dans la morphologie des feuilles et de l'anatomie que l'intensité lumineuse. Catégorie d'axe expliqué plus de variations dans la morphologie des feuilles, mais pas dans l'anatomie des feuilles que l'ontogenèse de l'arbre. Conclusions:Fortes et significatives variations intra-spécifiques (pendant l'ontogenèse et entre axes) peuvent influencer les variations inter-spécifiques, et donc contestent la validité de la valeur moyenne des traits foliaires entre les espèces. Ontogenèse de l'arbre contribué plus que l'intensité de la lumière dans l'explication de la variabilité dans la morphologie et l'anatomie des feuilles à la fois sur le tronc et deuxième l'ordre l'axe recommande fortement que les études sur les réponses de la morphologie et l'anatomie des feuilles à l'environnement doivent corriger l'effet de l'ontogenèse. / Background and Aims:Attempts to explain variations in leaf parameters based solely on environmental factors, this will lead to significant errors if the plant shows substantial ontogenetic variations in leaf properties. We evaluated variations in 27 morpho-anatomical leaf traits of Dipterocarpus alatus over six architectural development stages and between axes at a given development stage under two different light conditions. Methods:An architectural analysis was conducted to distinguish precisely and objectively axis categories and developmental stages of Dipterocarpus alatus. Leaves were collected on the most recent complete growth unit on the top of the trunk and the outermost part of the middle-crown branch with branchlet and twig from trees growing under two different light conditions. Twenty two leaf traits were measured and calculated using ImageJ on images of leaf tracings and cross-sections. Stomatal density was calculated on nail varnish impression of the leaf lower surface. Four chlorophyll traits were determined. One-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests were used to determine differences between development stages and axes. The lmg relative contribution was calculated with R package relaimpo and compared with bootstrap analysis to determine ontogenetic stage, axis category or light intensity, which explained more the variations in leaf anatomy.Key results:Leaf morphology and anatomy differed strongly during ontogeny for all four axes in term of order and category under both light conditions. The axis effect was displayed at stages B, C, D and F but tend to be insignificant at stage E. Tree ontogeny explained more variations in leaf morphology and anatomy than light intensity. Axis category explained more variations in leaf morphology but not in leaf anatomy than tree ontogeny. Conclusions: Strong and significant intraspecific variations (during ontogeny and between axes) may influence the interspecific variations, and thus challenge the validity of the mean value of leaf traits between species. Tree ontogeny contributed more than light intensity in explanation of the variability in leaf morphology and anatomy both on the trunk and second axis order strongly recommends that studies on the responses of leaf anatomy to the environment need to correct for the ontogeny effect.

Diploma thesis mainly describes the theoretical knowledge of the topic photoimpedance spectroscopy characterization of optical and electrical properties of the photovoltaic cells, which contains development and princip of cells working, material properties of photovoltaic cells, explanation of electromagnetic waves, spectrophotometry and impedance spectroscopy, followed by a discription of the measuring device and used measuring methods. The experimental section for each measurement method describes the steps of setting the program, then the tables with measured values are involeved in some parts and a part of each method are summary graphs of measured values with subsequent evaluation.

La rétinopathie diabétique est une cause majeure de cécité et de malvoyance qui affecte jusqu'à 90% des patients atteints de diabète. Le Maroc n’échappe pas à cette pathologie, qui est connue pour altérer le fonctionnement du système visuel et pourrait conduire également à des désordres chronobiologiques, aussi bien chez l’Homme que chez des modèles animaux. Ces altérations pourraient être liées aux dégénérescences neuronales des systèmes de photoréception classique (cône et bâtonnet) et des cellules ganglionnaires à mélanopsine, impliqués dans la régulation et l’entraînement par la lumière du système circadien. Cependant, à l’heure actuelle, peu d’études ont analysé précisément l’impact de la rétinopathie diabétique sur le système circadien. L’objectif de notre travail est d’analyser au cours de la rétinopathie diabétique (1) l’atteinte des cônes, des bâtonnets et des cellules ganglionnaires à mélanopsine, (2) le fonctionnement endogène moléculaire et la réponse à la lumière des horloges centrale et rétinienne et (3) la réponse comportementale du système circadien à la lumière. Notre stratégie est basée sur l’utilisation d’un modèle murin, chez lequel le diabète est induit expérimentalement par l’administration d’un agent chimique la streptozotocine (STZ), toxique pour les cellules β pancréatiques. Des approches morphométriques, moléculaires et comportementales ont été utilisées. Nos résultats montrent que le diabète induit des changements morphologiques des cellules ganglionnaires à mélanopsine tels que des gonflements des somas et des varicosités au niveau des dendrites avec une préservation du nombre total de ces cellules. Ceci est associé à une diminution de l’induction par la lumière du gène c-fos et des gènes de l’horloge Per1 et Per2 au niveau du SCN et à l’absence de cette induction au niveau rétinien au stade 12 semaines après l’induction du diabète. La machinerie moléculaire des horloges rétinienne et centrale évaluée par l’analyse de l’expression circadienne des gènes de l’horloge et des gènes contrôlés par les gènes de l’horloge montre que certains gènes de l’horloge clés pour chaque tissu sont altérés. A l’échelle comportementale, les souris STZ (souris diabétiques) montrent une réduction de l’amplitude du rythme de leur activité locomotrice totale et une diminution de la sensibilité à la lumière aux faibles intensités. Après une avance de phase du cycle 12L/12D, ces animaux présentent également une diminution de la vitesse de resynchronisation au nouveau cycle lumineux imposé par rapport aux animaux témoins. Ces nouvelles données montrent que le diabète de type 1 altère les réponses du système circadien à la lumière d’un point de vue moléculaire et comportemental et suggèrent que les patients diabétiques peuvent présenter des troubles circadiens particulièrement lorsqu’ils sont soumis aux challenges chronobiologiques / Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness and is commonly viewed as a vascular complication of type 1 diabetes. However, this kind of diabetes causes visual dysfunction before the onset of clinically visible microvascular changes, associated with diabetic retinopathy. Several histopathological studies in diabetic patients and in chemically-induced or genetic rodent models of diabetes indicate that photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are affected by diabetes with apoptotic degeneration. There is increasing evidence that melanopsin-expressing ganglion cells that are crucial for the regulation of a range of non-visual functions including the photic synchronization of circadian rhythms are altered in retinal pathologies. The link between diabetes and circadian rhythms has only been addressed in a relatively limited number of studies. Using a streptozotocin-induced (STZ) model of diabetes, we investigated the impact of diabetic retinopathy on non-visual functions by analyzing the morphology of melanopsin ganglion cells and light-induced c-fos and Period 1-2 clock genes in the central (SCN) and the retina clocks. The effect of this pathology on the endogenous circadian function of clock and controlled clock genes was assessed in the SCN and the retina at 12 weeks post-diabetes. Behaviorally, the ability of STZdiabetic mice to entrain to light was challenged by the exposure of animals to 1) successive light/dark (LD) cycle of decreasing or increasing light intensities during the light phase and 2) 6-hr advance of the LD cycle. Our results show that diabetes induces morphological changes of melanopsin-expressing ganglion cells including soma swelling and dendritic varicosities with no reduction in their total number, associated with decreased c-fos and clock genes induction by light in the SCN and also in the retina at 12 weeks post-onset of diabetes. In addition, the circadian expression of major clock genes was altered in the central and retinal clocks, suggesting that RD affects the endogenous molecular machinery and the light response of these two clocks. Moreover, STZ-diabetic mice exhibited a reduction of overall locomotor activity, a decrease of circadian sensitivity to light at low intensities, and a delay in the time to re-entrain after a phase advance of the LD cycle. These novel findings demonstrate that diabetes alters clock genes and behavioral responses of the circadian timing system to light and suggest that diabetic patients may show an increased propensity for circadian disturbances, in particular when they are exposed to chronobiological challenges

Introduktion - Detta examensarbete handlar om belysningens påverkan på människorsrumsupplevelse och trygghet i trånga och stängda utrymmen, med särskilt fokus påhissar. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur ljusfördelning och ljusintensitetpåverkar människors upplevelse av hissar och hur ljuset kan skapa en mer behaglig ochtrygg miljö för dessa utrymmen. Metod - Undersökningen utfördes genom en kombination av en enkätundersökning ochett experiment med djupgående intervjuer. Båda delarna av studien innehöll sexbelysningsscenarier med olika ljusfördelningar och intensiteter. Enkätundersökningengenomfördes med 23 deltagare som besvarade frågor gällande upplevd atmosfär, känslaoch trygghet i hissen med hjälp av en semantisk skala. Experimentet utfördes på ettmindre urval deltagare med samma scenarier visade genom ett VR-headset. Resultat och Analys - Den insamlade datan från enkäten och intervjuerna visar attdeltagarna föredrog en jämnare och högre ljusintensitet. Många upplevde en förbättradtrygghet i hissen med ett jämnare ljus, eftersom det tydliggjorde människors ansikten.Den mer varierade ljusfördelningen upplevdes som luminant och ojämn. Resten av deninsamlade datan visar på att deltagarna upplevde scenarierna på väldigt olika sätt. Diskussion - Resultaten bekräftar en del tidigare forskning gällande att högreljusintensiteter bidrar till en ökad trygghet. Men i motsats till tidigare forskning somvisar på att en mer varierad ljusfördelning skapar en positivare atmosfär, visar dennastudie på att en jämnare ljusfördelning bidrar till en bättre atmosfär i hissar. En möjligförklaring till detta resultat kan vara att en jämn ljusfördelning tydliggör ansikten ochskapar en känsla av ökad trygghet. Detta resultat är viktigt att ta hänsyn till förljusdesign i offentliga utrymmen, speciellt i hissar där det är viktigt att skapa en tryggoch bekväm atmosfär. Trots att hissen är ett utrymme som brukas under en kortare tidär det viktigt att den upplevs trygg och behaglig för att det ska vara ett bra alternativ tilltrappor. / Introduction - This thesis investigated the impact of lighting on people's spatialexperience and sense of safety in confined and enclosed spaces, with a particular focuson elevators. The aim of the study was to examine how light distribution and intensityaffect people's experience of elevators and how light can create a more comfortable andsecure environment for these spaces. Method - The study was conducted through a combination of a survey and anexperiment with in-depth interviews. Both parts of the study included six lightingscenarios with varying light distributions and intensities. The survey was conductedwith 23 participants who answered questions about their perceived atmosphere,feelings, and sense of safety in the elevator using a semantic scale. The experiment wasconducted on a smaller sample of people with the same scenarios shown through a VRheadset. Results and Analysis - The collected data from the survey and interviews show thatparticipants preferred a more even and higher light intensity. Many experiencedimproved safety in the elevator with a more even light, as it highlighted people's faces.A more varied light distribution was experienced as luminous and uneven. The rest ofthe collected data shows that participants experienced the scenarios in very differentways. Discussion - The results confirm previous research that higher light intensitiescontribute to increased safety. Contrary to previous research, it showed that a morevaried light distribution creates a more positive atmosphere, this study shows that amore even light distribution contributes to a better atmosphere in elevators. Onepossible explanation for this result could be that an even light distribution highlightsfaces and creates a sense of increased safety. This result is important to consider forlighting design in public spaces, especially in elevators where it is important to createa safe and comfortable atmosphere. Despite being a space used for a short period oftime, it is important for the elevator to be perceived as safe and comfortable for it to bea good alternative to stairs.

M. Tech. (Department of Information and Communication Technology, Faculty of Applied and Computer Sciences), Vaal University of Technology / Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) has seen tremendous interest amongst the research community in recent years due to its ability to make the robot truly independent in navigation. Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) is when an autonomous mobile robot is embedded with a vision sensor such as monocular, stereo vision, omnidirectional or Red Green Blue Depth (RGBD) camera to localize and map an unknown environment. The purpose of this research is to address the problem of environmental noise, such as light intensity in a static environment, which has been an issue that makes a Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) system to be ineffective. In this study, we have introduced a Light Filtering Algorithm into the Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) method to reduce the amount of noise in order to improve the robustness of the system in a static environment, together with the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm for localization and mapping and A* algorithm for navigation. Simulation is utilized to execute experimental performance. Experimental results show a 60% landmark or landfeature detection of the total landmark or landfeature within a simulation environment and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.13m, which is minimal when compared with other Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) systems from literature. The inclusion of a Light Filtering Algorithm has enabled the Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) system to navigate in an obscure environment.