Os solos ácidos (pH < 5,0) representam cerca de 40 % das áreas agricultáveis no mundo. Nestes solos ocorre a solubilização de formas tóxicas de alumínio que inibe o crescimento radicular. Independente da presença do Al, o baixo pH pode ser tóxico à raiz, afetando a viabilidade celular no ápice e o crescimento radicular. Há evidências de que o estresse por H+ e/ou Al³+ afetam a parede celular. Por outro lado, modificações na parede podem determinar o grau de tolerância da planta quando submetidos a estes estresses. Assim, utilizou-se de duas abordagens para investigar se possíveis modificações na parede celular melhorariam o crescimento e viabilidade celular na exposição a H+ e Al³+. Na primeira, raízes de plantas do cultivar Micro-Tom (MT) de tomateiro (Solanum lycopersicum L.), com 2 e 13 dias de desenvolvimento, foram expostas de forma direta ou gradual ao baixo pH. Na segunda abordagem, as raízes foram submetidos a um tratamento hipo-osmótico antes de serem expostas a pH 4,0 ou 4,5 + Al. Em plantas com 2 e 13 dias, a exposição gradual foi realizada alterando o pH ao longo de 12 e 24 h, respectivamente. No tratamento hipo-osmótico (priming), as plantas foram transferidas de uma solução de alta osmolaridade (150 mM) para uma com baixa osmolaridade (0,5 mM), a pH 5,8, por 0; 0,5; 1 e 2 h antes de serem expostas a pH 4,0 ou 4,5 + Al por 12h. Como controles, raízes não receberam tratamento osmótico ou foram mantidas continuamente em alta osmolaridade. O crescimento de raízes expostas diretamente a pH 4,5 foi cerca de metade do controle a pH 5,8 e a pH 4,0 foi nulo. Ao contrário do esperado, na exposição gradual a pH 4,5, as raízes cresceram menos do que aquelas expostas diretamente a este pH e a pH 4,0 o crescimento continuou insignificante. No entanto, raízes expostas gradualmente ao pH 4,0 mantiveram a viabilidade das células do ápice, ao contrário daquelas expostas diretamente. Assim, a redução do crescimento radicular pela exposição a baixo pH pode ser uma resposta gerada pela própria planta, não sendo necessariamente decorrente da ação direta do pH. O priming hipo-osmótico antes da exposição a pH 4,0 permitiu a manutenção da viabilidade celular e um crescimento radicular de até 38% das raízes controle a pH 5,8, enquanto que nos controles a pH 4,0 as células morreram e o crescimento foi praticamente nulo. Em pH 4,5 + 5 ?M de Al o priming não reverteu a inibição do crescimento radicular, indicando que as respostas para H+ e Al³+ são diferentes. Ficou evidente que a atividade de GPX está envolvida nas respostas encontradas tanto na exposição gradual a baixo pH como no tratamento hipo-osmótico anterior ao baixo pH, mas não foi possível determinar se é consequência ou uma das possíveis causas destas respostas. No seu conjunto, os dados indicam que possíveis mudanças na parede celular podem estar envolvidas na melhoria do crescimento radicular e viabilidade celular do ápice durante o estresse. / Acidic soils (pH <5.0) represent about 40% of the arable land in the world. In these soils, toxic aluminum becomes soluble and inhibits root growth. Regardless of Al, low pH is, in itself, also toxic, decreasing cell viability and root growth. There is evidence that H+ and Al3+ can affect the cell wall. Reversely, modifications in the wall may determine the degree of tolerance of roots subjected to these stresses. Therefore, we used two approaches to investigate whether possible changes in the cell wall improve growth and cell viability upon exposure to H + and Al³+. In the first approach, roots of plants of the Micro-Tom (MT) cultivar of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), at 2 and 13 days of development, were exposed directly or gradually to low pH. In the second approach, the roots were subjected to hypoosmotic treatment prior to being exposed to pH 4.0 or 4.5 + Al. In 2- and 13-day plants, gradual exposure was achieved by changing the pH over a 12 and 24 h period, respectively. In the hypo-osmotic pre-treatment (priming), plants were transferred from a high osmolarity solution (150 mM) to another with low osmolarity (0.5 mM), at pH 5.8, for 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 h before being exposed to pH 4.0 or 4.5 + Al for 12h. As controls, roots did not receive any osmotic treatment or were maintained continuously at high osmolarity. Growth of roots exposed directly to pH 4.5 was about half that of control roots at pH 5,8 and at pH 4.0 root growth was suppressed. Different from expected, roots exposed gradually to pH 4.5 grew less than those exposed directly to pH 4.5 and at pH 4.0, root growth remained negligible. However, cell viability was maintained in roots exposed gradually to pH 4.0, unlike those exposed directly. Thus, decreased root growth upon exposure to low pH may be a response generated by the plant itself rather than the direct effect of pH. In roots subjected to hypo-osmotic priming prior to exposure to pH 4.0, cell viability was maintained and root growth was up to 38% of that of control roots at pH 5.8, whereas in control roots at pH 4.0, cell death occurred and root growth was insignificant. At pH 4.5 + 5 uM Al, priming did not reverse the inhibition of root growth, suggesting that responses to H+ and Al3+ are different. GPX was involved in responses to both gradual exposure to low pH and to hypo-osmotic treatment prior to low pH, but it was not possible to determine whether this was a consequence or one of the possible causes of these responses. Taken together, the data indicate that possible changes in the cell wall may be involved in improving root growth and cell viability of the root apex during stress.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

Os solos ácidos (pH < 5,0) representam cerca de 40 % das áreas agricultáveis no mundo. Nestes solos ocorre a solubilização de formas tóxicas de alumínio que inibe o crescimento radicular. Independente da presença do Al, o baixo pH pode ser tóxico à raiz, afetando a viabilidade celular no ápice e o crescimento radicular. Há evidências de que o estresse por H+ e/ou Al³+ afetam a parede celular. Por outro lado, modificações na parede podem determinar o grau de tolerância da planta quando submetidos a estes estresses. Assim, utilizou-se de duas abordagens para investigar se possíveis modificações na parede celular melhorariam o crescimento e viabilidade celular na exposição a H+ e Al³+. Na primeira, raízes de plantas do cultivar Micro-Tom (MT) de tomateiro (Solanum lycopersicum L.), com 2 e 13 dias de desenvolvimento, foram expostas de forma direta ou gradual ao baixo pH. Na segunda abordagem, as raízes foram submetidos a um tratamento hipo-osmótico antes de serem expostas a pH 4,0 ou 4,5 + Al. Em plantas com 2 e 13 dias, a exposição gradual foi realizada alterando o pH ao longo de 12 e 24 h, respectivamente. No tratamento hipo-osmótico (priming), as plantas foram transferidas de uma solução de alta osmolaridade (150 mM) para uma com baixa osmolaridade (0,5 mM), a pH 5,8, por 0; 0,5; 1 e 2 h antes de serem expostas a pH 4,0 ou 4,5 + Al por 12h. Como controles, raízes não receberam tratamento osmótico ou foram mantidas continuamente em alta osmolaridade. O crescimento de raízes expostas diretamente a pH 4,5 foi cerca de metade do controle a pH 5,8 e a pH 4,0 foi nulo. Ao contrário do esperado, na exposição gradual a pH 4,5, as raízes cresceram menos do que aquelas expostas diretamente a este pH e a pH 4,0 o crescimento continuou insignificante. No entanto, raízes expostas gradualmente ao pH 4,0 mantiveram a viabilidade das células do ápice, ao contrário daquelas expostas diretamente. Assim, a redução do crescimento radicular pela exposição a baixo pH pode ser uma resposta gerada pela própria planta, não sendo necessariamente decorrente da ação direta do pH. O priming hipo-osmótico antes da exposição a pH 4,0 permitiu a manutenção da viabilidade celular e um crescimento radicular de até 38% das raízes controle a pH 5,8, enquanto que nos controles a pH 4,0 as células morreram e o crescimento foi praticamente nulo. Em pH 4,5 + 5 ?M de Al o priming não reverteu a inibição do crescimento radicular, indicando que as respostas para H+ e Al³+ são diferentes. Ficou evidente que a atividade de GPX está envolvida nas respostas encontradas tanto na exposição gradual a baixo pH como no tratamento hipo-osmótico anterior ao baixo pH, mas não foi possível determinar se é consequência ou uma das possíveis causas destas respostas. No seu conjunto, os dados indicam que possíveis mudanças na parede celular podem estar envolvidas na melhoria do crescimento radicular e viabilidade celular do ápice durante o estresse. / Acidic soils (pH <5.0) represent about 40% of the arable land in the world. In these soils, toxic aluminum becomes soluble and inhibits root growth. Regardless of Al, low pH is, in itself, also toxic, decreasing cell viability and root growth. There is evidence that H+ and Al3+ can affect the cell wall. Reversely, modifications in the wall may determine the degree of tolerance of roots subjected to these stresses. Therefore, we used two approaches to investigate whether possible changes in the cell wall improve growth and cell viability upon exposure to H + and Al³+. In the first approach, roots of plants of the Micro-Tom (MT) cultivar of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), at 2 and 13 days of development, were exposed directly or gradually to low pH. In the second approach, the roots were subjected to hypoosmotic treatment prior to being exposed to pH 4.0 or 4.5 + Al. In 2- and 13-day plants, gradual exposure was achieved by changing the pH over a 12 and 24 h period, respectively. In the hypo-osmotic pre-treatment (priming), plants were transferred from a high osmolarity solution (150 mM) to another with low osmolarity (0.5 mM), at pH 5.8, for 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 h before being exposed to pH 4.0 or 4.5 + Al for 12h. As controls, roots did not receive any osmotic treatment or were maintained continuously at high osmolarity. Growth of roots exposed directly to pH 4.5 was about half that of control roots at pH 5,8 and at pH 4.0 root growth was suppressed. Different from expected, roots exposed gradually to pH 4.5 grew less than those exposed directly to pH 4.5 and at pH 4.0, root growth remained negligible. However, cell viability was maintained in roots exposed gradually to pH 4.0, unlike those exposed directly. Thus, decreased root growth upon exposure to low pH may be a response generated by the plant itself rather than the direct effect of pH. In roots subjected to hypo-osmotic priming prior to exposure to pH 4.0, cell viability was maintained and root growth was up to 38% of that of control roots at pH 5.8, whereas in control roots at pH 4.0, cell death occurred and root growth was insignificant. At pH 4.5 + 5 uM Al, priming did not reverse the inhibition of root growth, suggesting that responses to H+ and Al3+ are different. GPX was involved in responses to both gradual exposure to low pH and to hypo-osmotic treatment prior to low pH, but it was not possible to determine whether this was a consequence or one of the possible causes of these responses. Taken together, the data indicate that possible changes in the cell wall may be involved in improving root growth and cell viability of the root apex during stress.

Matter on a length scale comparable to that of a chemical bond is governed by the theory of quantum mechanics, but quantum mechanics is a many body theory, hence for the sake of chemistry or solid state physics, finding solutions to the governing equation, Schrodinger's equation, is hopeless for all but the smallest of systems. As the number of electrons increases, the complexity of solving the equations grows rapidly without bound. One way to make progress is to treat the electrons in a system as independent particles and to attempt to capture the many-body effects in a functional of the electrons' density distribution. When this approximation is made, the resulting equation is called the Kohn-Sham equation, and instead of requiring solving for one function of many variables, it requires solving for many functions of the three spatial variables. This problem turns out to be easier than the many body problem, but it still scales cubically in the number of electrons. In this work we will explore ways of obtaining the solutions to the Kohn-Sham equation in the framework of real-space pseudopotential density functional theory. The Kohn-Sham equation itself is an eigenvalue problem, just as Schrodinger's equation. For each electron in the system, there is a corresponding eigenvector. So the task of solving the equation is to compute many eigenpairs of a large Hermitian matrix. In order to mitigate the problem of cubic scaling, we develop an algorithm to slice the spectrum into disjoint segments. This allows a smaller eigenproblem to be solved in each segment where a post-processing step combines the results from each segment and prevents double counting of the eigenpairs. The efficacy of this method depends on the use of high order polynomial filters that enhance only a segment of the spectrum. The order of the filter is the number of matrix-vector multiplication operations that must be done with the Hamiltonian. Therefore the performance of these operations is critical. We develop a scalable algorithm for computing these multiplications and introduce a new density functional theory code implementing the algorithm. / text

Ng Lung Wai. / "Architecture Department, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Master of Architecture Programme 1998-99, design report." / Includes bibliographical references. / Chapter I --- Introduction / Structure / Structuralism and Architecture / Experiment / Chapter II --- Discovery / Chapter a --- District - Sham Shui Po / History / People's Expectation --- p.⁺ / Overview --- p.⁺ / Planner's Perspectives --- p.⁺ / Summary - Points of Action --- p.´إ / Chapter b --- Site- FukWa Street --- p.´إ / "Location, traffic and climate" --- p.´إ / Building and territory --- p.´إ / Design of buildings --- p.´إ / Temporary retails and street shops --- p.´إ / Structural analysis of thick facade --- p.´Ð / Relations --- p.´Ð / People and Activities --- p.亖 / Summary - Points of Action --- p.亖 / Chapter c --- Past Experiences --- p.亖 / Lucien Kroll's medical faculty --- p.亖 / Habraken's urban tissue --- p.亖 / Erskine's housing ideas --- p.亖 / Chapter III --- Function --- p.亖 / Intermixing program --- p.亖 / Design - structuring --- p.亖 / List of illustrations --- p.亖 / References --- p.亖 / Appendix --- p.亖

This study has investigated the involvement of photosynthetic electron transport chain on the regulation of gene expression of methionine sulfoxide reductase (UfMSR) in the marine macroalga Ulva fasciata Delile.UfMSRA is from copper stress and UfMSRB ir from hypersalinity stress. UfMSRA is similar to Arabidopsis AtMSRA4 and UfMSRB is similar to AtMSRB1. UfMSRA is specific to the MetSO S-enantiomer and UfMSRB catalytically reduces the MetSO R-enantiomer. Both enzymes are required, since in the cell oxidation of Met residues at the sulfur atom results in a racemic mixture of the two stereoisomers. UfMSRA and UfMSRB transcripts were increased by white light, blue light and red light with the maximum at 1 h following a decline, but kept constant in the dark. The magnitude of UfMSRA and UfMSRB transcript increase showed a positive linear correlation to increasing light intensity from 0-1200 u mole¡Pm-2¡Ps-1. The treatment with linear electron transport chain inhibitors, hydroxylamine, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl) -1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB) and stigmatellin, effectively inhibited PS II activity under 300 u mole¡Pm-2¡Ps-1 irradiance. DBMIB and stigmatellin can increase UfMSRA transcript that was reversed by 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP), a PS I electron donor. It indicates that the block of electron transport of the downstream of cytochrome b6f indeuces UfMSRA gene expression. Hydroxylamine, DCMU and DBMIB decreased UfMSRB transcript that was not reversed by DCPIP while stigmatellin increased UfMSRB mRNA level, reflecting a role of reduced state with Qo site located at cytochrome b6f on the induction of UfMSRB gene expression. The cyclic electron transport chain inhibitors, antimycin A that inhibited photosynthetic electron transport, can inhibit the increase of UfMSRA and UfMSRB transcripts by irradiance. UfMSRA and UfMSRB gene expression were both modulated by cyclic electron transport chain and linear electron transport chain. These results reveal that photosynthetic electron transport chain modulates UfMSRA and UfMSRB gene expression by change its redox state.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture