Submitted by Claudinei Pracidelli (cpracide@ipen.br) on 2016-06-22T13:06:23Z No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-22T13:06:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / O diabetes mellitus é uma doença que afeta o metabolismo de carboidratos, gorduras e proteínas e tem como aspectos característicos a hiperglicemia e a excreção da glicose pela urina. Estima-se que o número de casos da doença aumentará muito nos próximos anos, o que a torna preocupante para o sistema público de saúde dos países mais afetados. Além do uso de medicamentos alopáticos, tratamentos complementares como o uso de plantas medicinais pode contribuir para melhorar a qualidade de vida do paciente. Entre as ervas utilizadas, tanto no Brasil quanto em outras partes do mundo, encontram-se Bidens pilosa e Salvia officinalis. Os mecanismos responsáveis pela atividade antidiabética das plantas, geralmente estão associados aos seus metabólitos secundários, no entanto, a influência de micronutrientes não deve ser descartada. Estudos mostram que há uma correlação entre a concentração destes elementos com a presença e o desenvolvimento da doença. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os elementos Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, V e Zn em Bidens pilosa (picão) e Salvia officinalis (sálvia) cultivadas com tratamento normal (substrato comercial) e com adição dos elementos acima mencionados, e verificar a influência destes elementos na produção de metabólitos secundários que podem atuar como agentes hipoglicêmicos. A determinação e quantificação elementar foram feitas por meio da técnica de Análise por Ativação Neutrônica Instrumental, e para análise dos metabólitos secundários utilizou-se a técnica de Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência. O resultados indicaram que B. pilosa e S. officinalis podem ser usadas como fontes de Cr, Fe Mg, Mn, V e Zn. Foi observado que a B. pilosa absorveu maior quantidade de Fe no grupo tratamento, e que a S. officinalis foi capaz de acumular Zn nas folhas independente de ter ou não sido tratada. Quanto aos compostos do metabolismo secundário, os resultados indicaram que sua produção pelas plantas aparentemente não foi alterada pela adição da solução dos nutrientes. / Dissertação (Mestrado em Tecnologia Nuclear) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-07-11T20:15:29Z No. of bitstreams: 1 viniciuszamprognomota.pdf: 2945652 bytes, checksum: 2543aba1c0b97eaf6ce52fe22b1d8f33 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-13T16:38:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 viniciuszamprognomota.pdf: 2945652 bytes, checksum: 2543aba1c0b97eaf6ce52fe22b1d8f33 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-13T16:38:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 viniciuszamprognomota.pdf: 2945652 bytes, checksum: 2543aba1c0b97eaf6ce52fe22b1d8f33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-28 / Certos íons metálicos bem como seus complexos estão presentes em sistemas biológicos exercendo importantes funções biológicas. No entanto, a utilização dos íons metálicos e de seus compostos, no início, era de modo empírico. A investigação sistemática científica de complexos parece ter vindo somente após os estudos de Paul Ehrlich e Robert Koch. Bases de Schiff diimínicas, assim como seus derivados benzimidazóis, possuem atividades biológicas conhecidas. Alguns complexos contendo vanádio (IV ou V) e de ouro (I ou III) também possuem reconhecidos usos biológicos. Portanto, complexos envolvendo as Bases de Schiff diíminicas e benzimidazóis com íons metálicos de vanádio e de ouro é um importante tema de estudo dentro do campo da Química Bioinorgânica. Dentro deste contexto, este trabalho tratou da síntese e caracterização de bases de Schiff diimínicas e benzimidazóis obtidos a partir da condensação entre 1,2-fenilenodiamina e benzaldeído ou seus derivados. Este trabalho também relata a síntese, caracterização e estudo biológico de complexos envolvendo bases de Schiff diimínicas e benzimidazóis obtidos com os íons de vanádio (IV) e de ouro (I e III). Ao final, são relatados quatorze compostos, sendo seis ligantes e oito complexos. Sete destes compostos ainda não foram relatados na literatura. Os compostos, exceto IMOH e [AuIIMOMeCl], foram testados contra protozoários do gênero Leishmania na etapa promastigota, sendo as espécies L. amazonesis, L. braziliensis, L. chagasi e L major. Os resultados mais expressivos foram encontrados para os compostos envolvendo o íon AuIII. Os complexos de AuIII também foram testados contra a fase amastigota do parasita contra as espécies L. amazonesis, L. braziliensis e L major. / The metal ions and their complexes are present in biological systems exersing important biological functions. However, the use of metal ions and their compounds, it was empirically. Systematic investigation of metals complexes seems to have come only after the studies of Paul Ehrlich and RobertKoch. Diiminics Schiff bases, as well as benzimidazole derivatives, have known biological activities. Some complexes containing vanadium (IV or V) and gold (I or III) also have recognized biological uses. Therefore, complexes involving Schiff Bases diíminicas and benzimidazole metal ions vanadium and gold is a major field of study within the field of Bioinorganic Chemistry. Within this context, this paper deals with the synthesis and characterization of Schiff bases and diimínicas benzimidazole obtained from the condensation between benzaldehyde and 1,2-phenylenediamine or its derivatives. This paper also reports the synthesis, characterization and biological study of complexes involving Schiff bases and diimínicas benzimidazole obtained with ions of vanadium (IV) and gold (I and III). In the end, fourteen compounds are reported, six and eight ligand complexes. Seven of these compounds have not been reported in the literature. The compounds, except IMOH and [AuIIMOMeCl], were tested against the protozoa of the Leishmania promastigote stage, with the species L. amazonesis, L. braziliensis, L. chagasi and L major. The most significant results were found for compounds involving ion AuIII. The AuIII complexes were also tested against the amastigote stage of the parasite species against L. amazonesis, L. braziliensis and L major.

The speciation of sulfur compounds in CAP is very important, considering that these compounds are responsible for oxidation processes in asphalt binders, modifying their chemical and physical characteristics. The aim of this work was focused on chemical speciation of sulfur compounds in virgin and aged CAP samples (methods RTFOT, RTFOT/PAV, and RTFOT/SUNTEST) and their maltenic fractions. The separation of sulfur classes were carried out using the method developed by Payzant, which employs specific oxidation reactions and chromatographic separation on silica columns. The studied sulfur compound classes were the following: aromatic/saturated sulfur, aliphatic sulfides, thiophenes and sulfoxides. For this purpose, 6 samples were comparatively analyzed in virgin and aged CAP regarding the distribution of sulfur compounds in the three obtained fractions, where total sulfur was determined in order to observe the compounds behavior in the fractions after different aging processes. After speciation of the compounds, it was observed that the aging process occurs with structural changes in CAP, which involved the break and opening of thiophenic rings and the consequent formation of new S-compounds of high molecular weight. Sulfur compounds in form of sulfoxides increased after aging by RTFOT and RTFOT/PAV. Nickerl and vanadium were also analyzed in the studied samples by GFAAS (maltenic and asphaltenic fractions), since these species are involved in the aging process in CAP. The distribution of Ni and V in asphaltenic and maltenic fractions showed a diminishing of contents of the metals due to the lost by volatilization as metalloporphyrins. Correlating the chemical and physical changes observed in CAP, the variation in viscoelastic properties (G*/sin) may be a reflect of alterations in thiophenic fractions; additionally, variations in the penetration point may be related with the variation in asphaltenes and sulfur compounds of acid/basic characters, what may also be related to the viscoelastic changes in CAP. Based on the obtained results, this work aimed to answer 6 main guiding questions of the thesis: (1) which transformations occur in the speciation of sulfur compounds with the CAP aging after short-term, long-term and UV radiation processes?; (2) what is the major class of sulfur compounds in CAP and how it changes with the aging process?; (3) which transformations occur in the metals nickel and vanadium with CAP aging after short-term, long-term and UV radiation processes?; (4) the forced aging processes for CAP (RTFOT, PAV and SUNTEST) lead to different chemical transformations in asphaltenes and maltenes?; (5) what are the correlations existing between the chemical and physical changes in CAP, from the chemical speciation and rheology after aging process?; (6) is it possible to establish some chemical reactivity order for CAP based on the chemical speciation and rheology after aging process? / A especiação de compostos sulfurados em CAP é de grande importância, uma vez que alguns desses compostos são responsáveis pela oxidação de ligantes asfálticos, modificando suas características químicas e físicas. Este trabalho tem como foco a especiação química de classes majoritárias de compostos sulfurados em amostras de CAP virgem e envelhecidas (métodos RTFOT, RTFOT+PAV e RTFOT+SUNTEST) e suas respectivas frações maltênicas. A especiação das classes sulfuradas foi realizada pelo método adaptado de Payzant empregando reações de oxidação específicas e separações cromatográficas por adsorção em sílica. Os teores de sulfóxidos foram obtidos por FTIR, utilizando-se como padrão de sulfóxidos uma solução de referência de tetrametileno sulfóxido (TMSO) em diclorometano. As classes de compostos estudadas foram: sulfurados aromáticos/saturados, tiofenos, sulfetos alifáticos e sulfóxidos. Para isso, foram analisadas comparativamente 6 amostras de CAP virgem e envelhecidas em relação à distribuição dos compostos sulfurados nas três frações obtidas, onde foram analisados os teores de enxofre total a fim de se observar o comportamento dos compostos nessas frações nos diferentes processos de envelhecimento. Com base nesses resultados, observa-se que no processo de envelhecimento ocorrem mudanças estruturais envolvendo quebras de ligações em anéis tiofênicos e formação de novas classes de compostos sulfurados de maior peso molecular. Os compostos de enxofre na forma de sulfóxidos apresentaram um aumento decorrente dos processos de envelhecimento para os envelhecimentos RTFOT e RTFOT/PAV. Também foram analisados os teores de Níquel e Vanádio nas diferentes amostras, em suas frações maltênicas e asfaltênicas por GFAAS, já que estes metais são envolvidos como coadjuvantes no processo de envelhecimento dos CAPs. A distribuição dos metais de Ni e V nas frações asfaltênicas e maltênicas sofreu uma diminuição nos teores destes metais decorrente das perdas por volatilização na forma de metaloporfirinas. Correlacionando-se as alterações químicas e físicas observadas em CAP, as variações nas propriedades viscoelásticas (G*/sin) podem ser um reflexo das alterações que ocorrem nas frações tiofênicas; além disso, a variação no aumento da penetração pode estar relacionada com a variação do teor de asfaltenos e de compostos de caráter e básico, que também podem ser relacionados com as mudanças viscoelásticas dos CAPs. Com base nos resultados obtidos, esse trabalho buscou responder a 6 perguntas principais e norteadoras da tese apresentada: (1) que transformações ocorrem na especiação de compostos de enxofre com o envelhecimento de CAP em curto prazo, longo prazo e sob ação da radiação UV?; (2) qual a classe majoritária de compostos de enxofre em CAP e como esta se altera com o envelhecimento?; (3) que transformações ocorrem nos metais níquel e vanádio com o envelhecimento de CAP em curto prazo, longo prazo e sob ação da radiação UV?; (4) os processos de envelhecimento forçado de CAP (RTFOT, PAV e SUNTEST) conduzem a transformações químicas diferentes em asfaltenos e maltenos?; (5) quais as correlações existentes entre as transformações químicas e físicas em CAP, a partir da especiação química e da reologia após o envelhecimento?; (6) é possível estabelecer alguma ordem de reatividade química para o CAP com base na especiação química e na reologia após o envelhecimento?

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The fascinating optical properties of metallic nanostructures, dominated by collective oscillations of free electrons known as plasmons, open new opportunities for the development of devices fabrication based on noble metal nanoparticle composite materials. This thesis demonstrates a low-cost and versatile technique to produce stimuli-responsive ultrafast plasmonic nanostructures with reversible tunable optical properties. Albeit challenging, further control using thermal external stimuli to tune the local environment of gold nanoparticles embedded in VO2 host matrix would be ideal for the design of responsive functional nanocomposites. We prepared Au-VO2 nanocomposite thin films by the inverted cylindrical reactive magnetron sputtering (ICMS) known as hollow cathode magnetron sputtering for the first time and report the reversible tuning of surface plasmon resonance of Au nanoparticles by only adjusting the external temperature stimuli. The structural, morphological, interfacial analysis and optical properties of the optimized nanostructures have been studied. ICMS has been attracting much attention for its enclosed geometry and its ability to deposit on large area, uniform coating of smart nanocomposites at high deposition rate. Before achieving the aforementioned goals, a systematic study and optimization process of VO2 host matrix has been done by studying the influence of deposition parameters on the structural, morphological and optical switching properties of VO2 thin films. A reversible thermal tunability of the optical/dielectric constants of VO2 thin films by spectroscopic ellipsometry has been intensively also studied in order to bring more insights about the shift of the plasmon of gold nanoparticles imbedded in VO2 host matrix. / South Africa

L’usage de l’alliage de vanadium V-4Cr-4Ti comme matériau de gainage du combustible dans les réacteurs nucléaires à neutrons rapides refroidis au sodium (RNR-Na) représente un intérêt tout à fait particulier de par ses propriétés physico-chimiques attractives à savoir : une bonne compatibilité avec le sodium liquide, une transparence neutronique élevée et de bonnes propriétés mécaniques sous irradiation. Toutefois, la dissolution de l’oxygène dans le vanadium conduit à son durcissement de manière considérable et rend, par conséquence, son utilisation conditionnée par l’utilisation de protection externe moyennant des revêtements faisant office de barrière de diffusion à l’oxygène présent dans le sodium liquide à hauteur de quelques ppm. Au cours de ce travail, des revêtements diffusionnels à base siliciures binaires et ternaires sont élaborés essentiellement par cémentation activée en caisse. Leur capacité à protéger le substrat dans des milieux simulant les conditions d’un RNR-Na, caractérisés par un faible potentiel oxydant de O2, est avérée suite à des tests d’oxydation sous hélium impur à 650°C et de corrosion dans le sodium liquide à 550°C (test CorroNa au CEA de Saclay). D’autres tests d’oxydation sous air (cycliques, isothermes et fluage-flexion 3 points) ont montré la bonne résistance des revêtements à des températures au-delà de 900°C grâce à la formation d’une couche protectrice de SiO2, adhérente et compacte. Un autre volet de ce travail a permis d’aborder la stabilité microstructural du système gaine/revêtement dans les conditions accidentelles. Ceci a nécessité le calcul des coefficients d’interdiffusion en s’appuyant parallèlement sur les modèles de croissance multicouche de Wagner et de consommation mutuelle de Buscaglia. En dernier lieu, la coupe isotherme à 1200°C et la projection liquidus du système V-Cr-Si sont étudiés. Cette étape, préliminaire à l’étude du système quaternaire V-Cr-Ti-Si, doit permettre en perspective l’optimisation de l’architecture du revêtement et aider à la compréhension des mécanismes d’oxydation / The use of vanadium alloy V-4Cr-4Ti as fuel cladding in the generation IV sodium cooled fast reactor (SFR) is considered with a great interest thanks to its attractive physico-chimicals properties namely: a good compatibility with liquid sodium, a high neutronic transparency,a good mechanical properties even under irradiation. However, the dissolution of oxygen in vanadium leads to its hardening. This behavior imposes, consequently, the use of on external protection as coatings that can be considered as a barrier against oxygen diffusion contained in liquid sodium at very low concentrations (a few ppm). In this work, binary and ternary diffusional silicides coatings are produced mainly by halide activated pack cementation. Their ability to protect the substrate in media simulating a SFR’s conditions, with a low oxidation potential of O2, is proved according to the results of oxidation tests in impure helium at 650 ° C and corrosion in sodium liquid at 550 ° C (CorroNa test at CEA de Saclay). Other air oxidation tests (cyclic, isothermal and creep-bending 3 points) showed good resistance of coatings at temperatures above 900°C due to the formation of a protective layer of SiO2, adherent and compact. In another part of this work, the microstructural stability of the cladding/coating system in accidental conditions is studied. This required the calculation of interdiffusion coefficients using models of multilayer growth as proposed by Wagner and mutual consumption as proposed by Buscaglia. Finally, the isothermal section at 1200 ° C and the liquidus projection of V-Cr-Si system are studied. This step, preliminary to the study of quaternary V-Cr-Ti-Si system, should allow as a perspective the optimization of the architecture of the coating and help to understand the oxidation mechanisms

Uma série de amostras do sistema catalítico V2O5/TiO2 foi preparada pelo método sol-gel com diferentes teores da fase ativa (de 0 a 9% em massa de V2O5) e calcinada em diferentes temperaturas (de 250 a 6000C). Sistema similar foi obtido pelo método de impregnação para a comparação. Os catalisadores foram caracterizados quanto suas propriedades texturais e estruturais pelas técnicas de Adsorção de N2 a 77K, Difratometria de Raios-X (DRX), Espectroscopia Raman, Ressonância Paramagnética Eletrônica (EPR), Espectroscopia de Fotoelétrons Excitados por Raios-X (XPS) e Espectroscopia de Absorção de Raios-X (XAS). Testes catalíticos para a verificação da atividade e seletividade foram realizados frente à reação de conversão do metanol. O sistema obtido pelo método sol-gel apresentou elevada área superficial e porosidade, as quais foram ampliadas com o aumento do teor de vanádio e reduzidos com o aumento da temperatura de calcinação. O sistema preparado por impregnação apresentou as mesmas propriedades texturais do suporte comercial. A análise de DRX identificou a existência de TiO2 nas formas cristalográficas anatásio e rutilo, não foi identificada a presença de V2O5 na forma cristalina. No sistema preparado por impregnação a estrutura cristalográfica do suporte se mantém, independente do teor de vanádio, porém a partir de 6% de V2O5 foi identificado à presença de V2O5 cristalino. Os espectros de Raman mostraram a presença de dois grupos superficiais de vanádio, os vanadilos monoméricos e os vanadatos poliméricos mesmo em elevados teores de vanádio, nos sistemas preparados pelo processo sol-gel. Nos catalisadores obtidos por impregnação foram identificados modos vibracionais referentes ao V2O5 cristalino.Os resultados obtidos por XAS confirmaram os obtidos por DRX e indicaram a presença de vanádio V4+ e V5+, porém com simetria diferente da forma cristalina V2O5. A determinação da razão entre os átomos V/Ti superficiais feita por XPS mostrou ser crescente com o aumento do teor de vanádio. Os espectros de EPR indicaram a presença de pelo menos três famílias de íons V4+ em diferentes simetrias, duas delas inseridas na matriz da titânia na fase rutilo e a outra dispersa na superfície. O sistema obtido por impregnação apresentou poucos íons V4+. Os testes catalíticos revelaram que a atividade e seletividade catalítica foram praticamente as mesmas para os sistemas preparados pelos dois métodos. Entretanto, a estabilidade catalítica do sistema obtido via sol-gel foi superior ao sistema preparado por impregnação. / A series of samples of the catalytic system V2O5/TiO2 was prepared by the sol-gel method with different proportions of the active phase (from 0 to 9% in mass of V2O5) and calcined in different temperatures (from 250 to 6000C). A similar system was obtained by the impregnation method for comparison. The catalyst were characterized by their textural and structural properties by Adsorption of N2 at 77K, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, Electronic Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS). Catalytic tests for the verification of the activity and selectivity were performed by the conversion reaction of the methanol. The system obtained by the sol-gel method presented a high superficial area and porosity, which were enlarged by the increase of vanadium proportion and reduced with increase of the calcinations temperature. The system prepared by impregnation presented the same textural proprieties of the commercial support. XRD analysis identified the existence of TiO2 in two crystallographic forms, anatase and rutile. It was not identified the presence of V2O5 in the crystalline form. In the system prepared by impregnation the crystallographic structure of the support keeps, independent of the vanadium content, however starting from 6% of the vanadia was identified crystalline V2O5. Raman spectra showed the presence of two superficial groups of vanadium, the monomeric vanadyls and the polymeric vanadates even for elevated contents of vanadium, in the system prepared by the impregnation method vibrational modes were identified referring to V2O5 crystalline. The results obtained by XAS confirmed the obtained by XRD and indicated the presence of V4+ and V5+, however with different symmetry from the V2O5 in a crystalline form. The determination of the proportion between the surface V/Ti atoms determined by XPS showed to be increased with the increase of the vanadium content. EPR spectra indicated the presence of at least three V4+ion families in different symmetries; two of them inserted in the matrix of titania in the rutile phase and to other dispersed on the surface. The system obtained by impregnation presented few V4+ ions. The catalytic tests reveled that the catalytic activity and selectivity were practically the same for the systems prepared by both methods. However, the catalytic stability of the system obtained via sol-gel was superior to the system prepared by impregnation.

No description available.

No description available.

Metapovrchy sú nanoštruktúrované povrchy vytvorené za účelom špecifického ovládania propagácie svetla. Predstavujú revolúciu v oblastiach ultratenkých optických prvkov a nanofotonických obvodov. Zakomponovaním laditeľných dielektrických materiálov do metapovrchov sa otvára možnosť aktívne ovládať ich optické vlastnosti aj po tom, čo boli vyrobené. Oxid vanadičitý (VO2) takéto ladenie umožňuje vďaka svojej fázovej premene už pri teplote okolo 67°C a preto sa radí k najsľubnejším z laditeľných dielektrických materiálov. Nakoľko je možné postupnú fázovú premenu vo VO2 vybudiť opticky a lúč svetla je možné fokusovať do stopy s veľkosťou pár stoviek nanometrov, laditeľné metapovrchy obsahujúce VO2 by mohli byť ladené postupne a dokonca s nanometrovým rozlíšením. V tejto práci skúmame fázu a amplitúdu svetla po prechode VO2 nanoštruktúrami usporiadanými do metapovrchu navrhnutého pre viditeľnú zložku elektromagnetického žiarenia. Výskum fáze a amplitúdy je založený na numerických simuláciách VO2 nanoštruktúr (stavebných kameňov metapovrchov), ktoré sú následne overené experimentálnymi výsledkami. VO2 nanoštruktúry vykazujú taktiež Mieho dielektrické rezonancie, ktoré sú v závere tejto práce využité v postupne laditeľnom metapovrchu fungujúcom vo viditeľnej oblasti. Okrem termálneho ladenia je možné vyrobený metapovrch ovládať taktiež opticky, čo dokazuje možnosť postupného ladenia na nanometrových rozmeroch.

Masters of Science / Bacterial endophytes are able to improve the growth of their hosts through a number of different mechanisms such as nutrient uptake regulation, plant hormone production and regulation, siderophore production and phosphate solubilisation. They have also been shown to be able to provide protection to plants against various abiotic stressors, through various means such as oxidative stress protection. The purpose of this study was therefore to isolate endophytic bacteria from the stems of different weeds, to characterize their ability to use some of the most important growth promoting mechanisms including the ability to produce IAA, siderophores and ACC deaminase, what effect they had on the nutrient uptake in their hosts and to determine to what extent they could promote growth in the roots, stems and leaves of Brassica napus plants. In addition to this the endophytes were tested to see to what extent they could protect Brassica napus from the negative effects of vanadium stress and how this affected the plant physiologically in terms of morphology, overall biomass, the plants nutrient profile, lipid peroxidation and levels of cell death. The effect of vanadium stress on the oxidative state of Brassica napus was also monitored by determining the levels of stress induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the corresponding antioxidants that are responsible for regulating these reactive oxygen species. Six different endophytes (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6) were isolated from different weed samples. Each endophyte was found to be able to significantly improve germination and growth in their host plant. Each isolate was able to improve the uptake of certain macronutrients and micronutrients in their respective hosts, while all of the isolates were shown to be capable of producing siderophores and ACC deaminase. One isolate had high levels of IAA production, with the remaining isolates producing small amounts of IAA. All isolates were also unable to solubilize phosphate. The five best performing endophytes (P1, P2, P3, P5, P6) in the preliminary growth trials were used in the follow up vanadium stressed growth trials, with endophyte P4 being left out of the remaining experiments. All of the endophytes showed improvements in growth promotion in comparison to the control, with endophyte treated plants showing both increased growth and biomass in both the non-stressed and vanadium stressed treatments of the vanadium stressed growth trial; however, the leaves of the vanadium stressed plants were significantly smaller than their non-stressed counterparts. When looking at the oxidative state it was found that vanadium stress caused a significant increase in the development of O2 -, H2O2 and •OH in the control and in addition to this it was shown that treatment with endophytes was able to cause a significant decrease in the levels of stress induced H2O2 and •OH in all of the treatments and O2 - for plants treated with endophyte P5. The noted change in the oxidative state of endophyte treated plants was attributed to an increase in the antioxidant activity of these plants, as it was found that endophyte treated plants showed a combination of increased activity for Superoxide dismutase, catalase and ascorbate peroxidase. This study has shown that endophytic bacteria from plant stems can be used to improve crop growth and yield, while simultaneously producing more nutrient dense crops from the same amount of land. It has also determined that endophytes P1, P2, P3, P5 and P6 are able to successfully provide protection to crop plants from the harmful effects of exposure to vanadium stress. This has great potential for improving food security locally and around the world, by allowing those who cannot gain access to large amounts of food to take in more nutrients from the same amount of food. Furthermore, it also presents the opportunity to use endophyte treatments to grow crops on land that has been previously contaminated with certain heavy metals. / 2023-12-01