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Marine diatoms are the dominant primary producers in coastal and shelf regions, and contribute to about 20% of the annual photosynthesis on Earth. Diatoms also exert a major control on the marine silicon (Si) cycle through the formation of biogenic silica (bSiO2). Continental shelves account for half of the total marine area in the Arctic, yet our knowledge of the cycling of Si for this critically climate-impacted region is limited. The overall objective of this thesis was to improve our understanding of marine bSiO2 dynamics and Si cycling in marine Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems using novel techniques. Phytoplankton and nutrient observations, including dissolved and particulate silica concentrations, are presented from a period of ten years within five biological ‘hotspots’ in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. The first measurements of bSiO2 production and dissolution rates are also presented from a period of four years at the same sites. Results from this work show that (i) although interannual variability is high, diatoms are responsible for most of the high primary productivity in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, (ii) bSiO2 is primarily re-dissolved within the euphotic zone rather than exported, and (iii) phytoplankton phenology and marine Si cycling are affected by short-term climatic changes in this region. We also present the first measurements of bSiO2 production rates along a transect from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA), through Baffin Bay and into the Labrador Sea. We show that diatoms are both abundant and productive throughout these regions in summer, despite widespread Si limitation in the low-nutrient surface waters. Finally, we also investigated the natural variations in the Si isotopic composition of silicic acid (30Si(OH)4). On a transect through the Bering and Chukchi Seas, Canada Basin and CAA, and finally to Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea, we found that δ30Si(OH)4 signals reflect water mass composition, the dissolution of bSiO2 throughout the water column, and the biological utilization of Si in surface waters. Ultimately, this work provides insight into the processes controlling marine Si cycling within the Arctic and its links to the global marine Si cycle and other biogeochemical cycles. / Graduate / 2020-03-13

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La contamination métallique dans l'environnement est l'un des problèmes mondiaux persistants car non seulement elle perturbe la qualité de l'environnement, mais aussi l'environnement et la santé humaine. La principale contribution à ce problème se pose principalement des activités anthropiques telles que les industries. La rareté de métal est devenu plus sévère récents où certains éléments ont été prédit pour être pleinement éradiquée depuis plusieurs décennies de la croûte terrestre. Récemment, des chercheurs ont concentré leur attention pour récupérer ces métaux dans le flux des déchets et de la réutiliser dans les processus de production industrielle. L'utilisation des déchets agricoles comme adsorbant potentiel à faible coût pour l'enlèvement des métaux lourds des eaux usées est une des technologies les plus polyvalents. Dans cette étude entre les différents adsorbants testés, coquille d'arachide établi rendements d'épuration élevés avec moins d'exigences pour un traitement ultérieur de poste pour le Cu, Pb et Zn retrait. En outre, les expériences de lots sur les principaux effets des paramètres du procédé (pH, adsorbant dosage, temps de contact et de la concentration initiale de métal) ont montré un effet majeur sur l'absorption des métaux et de l'efficacité de l'enlèvement. Pour la régénération matériau, HCl 0.2 M était la solution de désorption la plus efficace qui ne altère pas l'efficacité, jusqu'à trois cycles d'adsorption et de désorption. L'utilisation de bactéries réductrices de sulfate (SRB) dans des bioréacteurs est une autre technologie qui peut être appliqué pour le traitement de métal contaminé les eaux usées. Le SRB réduire le sulfate en sulfure, qui réagit en outre avec des métaux pour former des précipités de sulfures métalliques. Le lit fluidisé (IFB) bioréacteur inverse est la configuration qui présente la proéminence en utilisant la technologie de SRB pour le traitement des eaux usées métalliques contaminés. Deux bioréacteurs IFB ont été opérés à différents pH (7.0 et 5.0). L'activité de SRB à pH 7.0 était plus élevée qu'à un pH de 5.0, ce qui montre que le pH est le principal facteur qui affecte SRB. Cependant, le thiosulfate a montré une efficacité supérieure à celle du sulfate en tant qu'accepteur d'électrons alternatif. Le sulfure produit en utilisant du thiosulfate comme accepteur d'électrons était 157.0 mg / L, tandis que seulement 150.2 mg / L a été produit en utilisant du sulfate et il a fallu une période d'adaptation à un pH de 5.0 avant la réussite de l'opération. En outre, l'IFB a montré sa grande efficacité pour le Cu, Ni et Zn élimination des eaux usées synthétique. L'élimination de Cu et Zn étaient plus de 90% à pH 7.0 et 5.0, à une concentration initiale de métal de 25 mg / L. D'autre part, l'élimination de Ni ne était pas éliminé à une concentration initiale de 25 mg / L comme il a montré des effets toxiques à l'égard SRB. Il existe différents types de flux de déchets contaminés par des métaux qui se présentent comme un bon candidat pour la récupération des métaux comprennent e-déchets. Cet e-déchets a un fort potentiel en tant que source secondaire de métal pour récupérer les métaux en particulier base tels que Cu, Ni et Zn. Cartes de circuits imprimés (PCB) d'ordinateurs personnels ont été évalués comme source secondaire potentielle de Cu, Ni et Zn en utilisant des méthodes de précipitation hydrométallurgiques et de sulfure. Les conditions optimales pour la lixiviation des métaux étaient de 0.1 M HNO3 avec un rapport liquide solide de 20 à l'aide de PCB de 0.5 - taille des particules de 1.0 mm à 60 ° C qui a abouti à 400 mg Cu / g PCB. Avec la précipitation de sulfure à un rapport stoechiométrique de 1: 1 (Cu: S2-), la récupération de Cu a été très efficace jusqu'à 90% de la solution de lixiviation a représenté à environ 0.41 g Cu / g BPC, tout en Ni et Zn étaient récupération 40 % et 50% pour les lixiviats d'une colonne à courant ascendant de lixiviation, respectivement / Metal contamination in the environment is one of the persisting global issues since it not only disturbs the environmental quality but also the environment and human health. The major contribution to this problem arises mainly from anthropogenic activities such as industries. Metal scarcity has become more severe lately where some elements have been predicted to be fully eradicated in several decades from the earth crust. Recently, researchers have focused their attention to recover these metals from the waste stream and reuse it in industrial production processes. The use of agricultural wastes as a potential low cost adsorbent for heavy metal removal from wastewater is one of the most versatile technologies. In this study among the different adsorbents tested, groundnut shell established high removal efficiencies with fewer requirements for further post treatment for Cu, Pb and Zn removal. Furthermore, the batch experiments on the main effects of process parameters (pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and initial metal concentration) showed a major effect on metal uptake and removal efficiency. For material regeneration, 0.2 M HCl was the most effective desorbing solution that did not alter the efficiency, up to three cycles of adsorption and desorption. The use of sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) in bioreactors is another technology that can be applied for the treatment of metal contaminated wastewater. The SRB reduce sulfate into sulfide which further reacts with metals to form metal sulfide precipitates. The inverse fluidized bed (IFB) bioreactor is the configuration which shows prominence in utilizing SRB technology for metal contaminated wastewater treatment. Two IFB bioreactors were operated at different pH (7.0 and 5.0). The sulfate reducing activity (SRA) at pH 7.0 was higher than at pH 5.0, which shows that pH is the main factor that affects SRA. However, thiosulfate showed a higher efficiency than sulfate as an alternate electron acceptor. The sulfide produced using thiosulfate as the electron acceptor was 157.0 mg/L, while only 150.2 mg/L was produced using sulfate and it required an adaptation period at pH 5.0 prior to successful operation. Moreover, the IFB had shown its high efficiency for Cu, Ni and Zn removal from synthetic wastewater. The removal of Cu and Zn were more than 90% at pH 7.0 and 5.0, at an initial metal concentration of 25 mg/L. On the other hand, Ni removal was not removed at an initial concentration of 25 mg/L as it showed toxic effects toward SRB. There are various types of metal contaminated waste streams which pose as a good candidate for metal recovery include electronics waste (e-waste). This e-waste has a high potential as secondary source of metal to recover especially base metals such as Cu, Ni and Zn. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) of personal computers were evaluated as the potential secondary source of Cu, Ni and Zn using hydrometallurgical and sulfide precipitation methods. The optimal conditions for metal leaching were 0.1 M HNO3 with a liquid to solid ratio of 20 using PCBs of 0.5 - 1.0 mm particle size at 60 °C which resulted in 400 mg Cu/g PCBs. With sulfide precipitation at a stochiometric ratio of 1:1 (Cu:S2-), the recovery of Cu was very effective up to 90% from the leachate which accounted to approximately 0.41 g Cu/g PCBs, while Ni and Zn recovery were 40% (0.005 g Ni/g PCBs) and 50% (0.006 g Zn/g PCBs) for leachate from an upflow leaching column, respectively. This indicates Cu can be recovered from PCBs using sulfide precipitation

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Desidrodieugenol, conhecido como bis-eugenol, à um orto-dÃmero do eugenol que, similarmente ao eugenol, exibe atividades antiinflamatÃria e antioxidante. Eugenol, tambÃm, apresentou efeito antidepressivo, no entanto, as aÃÃes biolÃgicas do bis-eugenol em modelos experimentais para screening da atividade antidepressiva nÃo tem sido estudada. O presente estudo investigou a possÃvel atividade antidepressiva do bis-eugenol nos testes do nado forÃado e suspensÃo da cauda, em camundongos, e o envolvimento do sistema monoaminÃrgico neste efeito. A anÃlise neuroquÃmica das monoaminas no cÃrebro de camundongos submetidos ao tratamento agudo com bis-eugenol foi tambÃm realizado. AlÃm disso, os efeitos centrais do bis-eugenol foram avaliados em modelos animais de ansiedade tais como tempo de sono induzido por pentobarbital, teste da placa perfurada, labirinto em cruz elevado (plus maze), convulsÃes induzidas por pentilenotetrazol e teste do claro escuro. Bis-eugenol reduziu o tempo de imobilidade no teste do nado forÃado, o qual nÃo acompanhou as alteraÃÃes da ambulaÃÃo no teste do campo aberto na dose de 10 mg/kg, no entanto, a ambulaÃÃo foi induzida pelas doses de 25 e 50 mg/kg. O melhor efeito anti-imobilidade do bis-eugenol (50 mg/kg, i.p.) foi revertido pelo prÃ-tratamento dos camundongos com PCPA 100 mg/kg, i.p. (um inibidor da sÃntese de serotonina) por quatro dias consecutivos. Prazozin (1 mg/kg, i.p., antagonista α1-adrenoceptor), ioimbina (1 mg/kg, i.p., antagonista α2-adrenoceptor), SCH23390 (15 Âg/kg, s.c., antagonista do receptor D1) ou sulpirida (50 mg/kg, i.p., antagonista do receptor receptor D2). Bis-eugenol apresentou atividade ansiolÃtica no teste da placa perfurada, plus maze e claro/escuro que parece nÃo estar relacionado com o sistema gabaÃrgico, uma vez que o flumazenil, um antagonista dos benzodiazepÃnicos no sÃtio receptor gabaÃrgico, nÃo reverteu o efeito ansiolÃtico provocado pelo bis-eugenol no teste do plus maze. A anÃlise dos nÃveis de monoaminas e seus metabÃlitos, utilizando High Performace Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), revelou um significativo aumento nos nÃveis de monoamÃnas (NA, DA e 5-HT) e seus metabÃlitos (DOPAC, HVA e 5-HIAA) no corpo estriado dos camundongos. O presente estudo sugere que o efeito anti-imobilidade observado com o tratamento agudo de biÂs-eugenol no teste do nado forÃado està relacionado ao sistema monoaminÃrgico, considerando o aumento dos nÃveis de monoaminas e seus metabÃlitos no cÃrebro. Foi observado um efeito ansiolÃtico do bis-eugenol que nÃo està relacionado com o sistema gabaÃrgico, uma vez que o flumazenil nÃo reverteu os efeitos do bis-eugenol no teste do plus maze. / Desidrodieugenol, known as bis-eugenol, is an ortho dimer that of similarly to eugenol was able to exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Bis-eugenol has also showed antidepressant effect, however, the biological actions of bis-eugenol on experimental models for screening of antidepressant activity are still unknown. The present study investigated the possible antidepressant-like activity of bis-eugenol in the forced swimming test (FST) and the tail suspension test (TST) in mice and the involvement of monoaminergic system in this effect. In addiction, the neurochemical analysis on brain monoamines of mice acutely treated with bis-eugenol was also conducted. Besides, the central effects of bis-eugenol were evaluated, also, animal models of anxiety such as barbiturate-induced sleeping time, hole board, elevated plus maze, pentilenotetrazole induced-convulsions and white/black test. Bis-eugenol drecreased the immobility time in the FST which accompanying changes in ambulation in the open-field test at 10 mg/kg, i.p., nevertheless, it induced ambulation at 25 and 50 mg/kg doses. The higher anti-immobility effect of bis-eugenol (50 mg/kg, i.p.,) was prevented by pre-treatment of mice with PCPA 100 mg/kg, i.p., ( inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, 4 consecutive days), prazozin (1 mg/kg, i.p., α1-adrenoceptor antagonist), yohimbine (1 mg/kg, i.p., α2-adrenoceptor antagonist), SCH23390 (15 Âg/kg, s.c., D1 receptor antagonist) or sulpiride (50 mg/kg, i.p., D2 receptor antagonist). Bis-eugenol showed anxiolytic activity in the hole board, elevated plus maze and white/black test and it seems there no performance of bis-eugenol on the gabaergic system, once flumazenil no reverted the anxiolytic effect of bis-eugenol in the plus maze test. Monoamines analysis using High Performace Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) reveled a significant increase in 5-HT, NE, DA levels in brain striatum, as well as the metabolites DOPAC, HVA and 5-HIAA were also increased. The present study suggests that the anti-immobility or antidepressant-like effect of bis-eugenol in the FST is related to the monoaminergic system, likely due to increase of brain monoamines. An anxiolytic effects was observed which no related of the gabaergic system, once flumazenil no reversed the anxiety effects of the bis-eugenol in the plus maze test.

Many nonferrous industries such as mining and surface treatment plants produce co-products that are high in heavy metals and therefore toxic to the environment. A less obvious producer of heavy metal containing co-products is the whisky industry. Current methods of copper removal from such co-products include electrolysis and membrane filtration which are impractical and costly. When copper is found as a salt, current methods of removal include settlement, filtration and precipitation. Alternatives such as biological copper ion removal from effluents has also been shown to be effective. This study aimed to develop a biological method for the synthesis of stable copper nanoparticles. Morganella psychrotolerans was used to reduce Cu2+ to insoluble Cu0 nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were purified and characterised using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR-TEM). Whisky distillery co-products were tested as a growth medium for M. psychrotolerans with concomitant copper nanoparticle synthesis. The copper nanoparticles were also studied for their application in electronics in order to make conductive circuits. Genomics studies combined with proteomics, helped develop possible models for copper nanoparticle synthesis by M. psychrotolerans, as well as identify proteins and genes not previously thought to be related to this pathway. The genome sequence of M. psychrotolerans obtained in this work allowed for a far more detailed study on the mechanism of copper nanoparticle synthesis than previously possible. This thesis also focused on understanding this mechanism better through proteomics and qRT-PCR. In order to study the identified copper ion reduction pathway in the future, a genetic modification toolkit was developed for M. psychrotolerans.

It is well known that biogenic gas emissions (mainly methane and carbon dioxide) vary both spatially and temporally in peatlands. While most studies have focused on northern systems, several recent studies in tropical and subtropical peatlands (like the Everglades) have revealed the presence of areas of increased gas accumulation and emissions, or hotspots, that may be related to physical and/or biogeochemical changes within the peat's matrix. However, these studies are often limited in terms of sampling volume and resolution or are based in laboratory studies that may not be totally representative of field conditions. In this study we investigate the spatial variability (both lateral and vertical) in gas accumulation and release at the field scale, over 10 m long transects at two locations in Water Conservation Area 1 of the Florida Everglades, using an array of hydrogeophysical methods. Resulting data infers the presence of hotspots with dimensions ranging from 1-2 m in width and approximately 0.5 m tall. These areas showed high variations in biogenic gas accumulation and release an order of magnitude higher than surrounding areas and occur seasonally as the highest gas releases were observed during Florida’s wet season. This study therefore has implications for better understanding the spatial and temporal variability of biogenic gas hotspots in peat soils, and how the matrix structure affects gas accumulation and release. This study shows the importance of considering the heterogenous nature of the peat's matrix when quantifying gas fluxes in the Everglades, and particularly when using methods with small sampling volumes like gas chambers. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Trace amines (TAs), tryptamine, tyramine, octopamine, and beta-phenylethylamine, named for their low endogenous concentrations in mammals, are related to the classical monoamine transmitters, but have been understudied and thought of as false transmitters. They share structural, physiological, pharmacological, and metabolic similarities with the monoamines, including synthesis by the aromatic-L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) enzyme. In 2001, a new class of receptors preferentially activated by the TAs, termed trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), was discovered establishing a mechanism for TA actions independent of classic monoaminergic mechanisms. While the TAs and some of their receptors are present in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), their physiologic role remains uncertain. I hypothesized that the TAs are found intrinsically in the spinal cord, and that they are able to modulate spinal neural networks. Using immunohistochemistry, numerous spinal neurons were identified that express AADC, TAs, and TAARs. Similar results were seen for AADC and TAAR1 with in situ hybridization. The most consistent observation was for labeling D cells associated with the central canal and in motoneurons. Overall, these results provided evidence for the presence of an anatomical substrate onto which the TAs could have intrinsic biological actions in the spinal cord. Using exogenous application of the TAs in the isolated spinal cord in vitro, and in vivo in the mid-thoracic chronically spinalized, I showed that the TAs could induce rhythmic locomotor-like activity. TA injection-induced hindlimb motor rhythms observed in chronic spinalized animals, supports TA spinal actions independent of the descending monoaminergic systems. In the presence of NMDA, TA applications recruited a variety of rhythmic motor patterns in the isolated spinal cord. This ranged from locomotor activity indistinguishable from 5-HT/NMDA induced locomotion to complex patterns including, an episodic form of locomotion where there were locomotor bouts with intervening quiescent periods. TA actions of pattern generating circuits had slower kinetics of activation than 5-HT and NA, were attenuated in the presence of monoamine transport inhibitors, and had increased intracellular labeling when incubated in a nominally Na+-free solution. Together these results suggest that the TAs require transport into neurons to exert their actions, and that transport occurs by Na+-dependent monoamine transporters as well as Na+-independent transporters. Finally, I used the in vitro isolated spinal cord with attached hindlimbs to record electromyographic (EMG) activity from various hindlimb muscles to compare the relationship between the TAs and serotonin (5-HT) evoked motor coordination and to examine the ability of the TAs to modulate ongoing 5-HT and NMDA locomotor-like activity. The TAs produced both the continuous and episodic patterns on muscles as observed in ventral root recordings, but EMG recordings provided more detailed insight into specific muscle actions. The TAs also generally increased both frequency and amplitude of ongoing 5-HT locomotor frequency, with tyramine and octopamine also particularly able to alter 5-HT motor coordination patterns.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.