O objetivo foi avaliar a influência de fertilizantes nitrogenados e do fornecimento de enxofre sobre a composição químico-bromatológica e algumas características agronômicas da cultura da cana-de-açúcar, bem como as perdas de N no sistema solo x Planta. O estudo foi conduzido no município de Araras/SP, numa área do Grupo Usina São João, durante dois anos de avaliação. A variedade utilizada foi a SP80-1816. As avaliações iniciaram-se após o primeiro e segundo cortes, sem queima prévia, e mecanicamente. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos inteiramente casualizados, com dez tratamentos (T1: Testemunha+Gesso (-N+S); T2: Testemunha absoluta (-N-S); T3: Uréia 45%N; T4: Uréia+Gesso; T5: Uréia+Sulfato de Amônio (SA) - 21%N/24%S - (33:00:00+12%S); T6: Nitrato de Amônio (NA) - 30%N; T7: Nitrato de Amônio (NA) - 30%N + Gesso; T8: NA + Sulfato de Amônio - 21%N/24%S - (27,8:00:00+6%S); T9: SA; T10: FASN (SA e NA - 26%N/14%S)) e quatro repetições, formando 40 parcelas experimentais, para o fornecimento de 100 kg N/ha. Cada parcela experimental constou de sete linhas de cana-de-açúcar espaçadas de 1,4 metro e 13 metros de comprimento, perfazendo área total de 127,4 m2, considerando-se como úteis as cinco linhas centrais, descontando-se as duas linhas laterais e 1,5 metro de cada extremidade da parcela, como bordadura. As avaliações das perdas de N-NH3 por volatilização foram efetuadas após a colheita, no momento da adubação de cobertura. As maiores perdas acumuladas de N-NH3 provieram da aplicação de Uréia seguida pelos tratamentos Uréia+Gesso e Uréia+SA em ambas as socas da cana-de-açúcar. Ocorreram, na segunda soca aumento nas perdas, que foram maiores logo após a aplicação sendo os níveis mínimos aos 9 e 11 dias para 1ª e 2ª soca respectivamente. As fontes nitrogenadas aumentaram os teores de N foliar na cana-de-açúcar. As fontes de enxofre beneficiaram os teores do elemento no solo, considerando-se a camada de 0-20 cm. As fontes de nitrogênio e enxofre propiciaram redução da porcentagem de fibras de acordo com os resultados da composição químico-bromatológica da cana-de-açúcar. Para a produtividade da cana-de-açúcar acumulada em duas safras consecutivas, o FASN foi a fonte que proporcionou melhor resposta, seguido do SA e NA. / The present studys objective was to evaluate the nitrogen fertilizing efficiency and the sulphur supplying over the chemical bromatological composition of some sugar cane agronomical characteristics as well as the nitrogen losses in the soil x plant system. The study was performed in Araras/SP county, in the Sao Joao Usine Group area, in a two year evaluation period. The used variety was the SP80-1816. The evaluation started after the first and second harvest, without previous burning, and mechanically. The experimental design was based on the random blocks standard, with ten treatments (T1: Control+Gypsum (-N+S); T2: Control (-N-S); T3: Urea 45%N; T4: Urea+Gypsum; T5: Urea+Ammonium Sulphate (SA) - 21%N/24%S - (33:00:00+12%S); T6: Ammonium Nitrate (NA) - 30%N; T7: Ammonium Nitrate (NA) - 30%N + Gypsum; T8: NA + Ammonium Sulphate - 21%N/24%S - (27,8:00:00+6%S); T9: SA; T10: FASN (SA e NA - 26%N/14%S)) and four repetitions, totalizing 40 experimental parcels, for 100Kg N/ha. Each experimental parcel was composed by 7 sugar cane lines spaced in 1,4m and 13 m long, distributed in a 127,4 m2 area, considering the five central line as useful, discounting two lateral lines and 1,5 m from each parcels extremity, as border segment. The N-NH3 volatization loss evaluation was effectuated after harvest, during cover fertilization. The highest accumulated N-NH3 losses were generated from Urea application followed by Urea+Gypsum and Urea+SA in both sugar canes ratoons. It was observed, in the second ratoon, a loss increasing, that was higher after the application, where the minimum rate were in the 9th and 11th days for the 1st and 2nd ratoon, respectively. The nitrogen sources increased the N leaf rate in sugar cane. The sulfur sources beneficiated this specific element rate in the soil, considering the 0-20 cm stage. The nitrogen and sulfur sources generated fiber percentage reduction, according to the chemical bromatological composition results. For accumulated sugar cane productivity in two consecutive crops, the FASN was the source that generated the best response, followed by SA and NA.

Orientador: Salatiér Buzetti / Co-orientador:. Mário Luiz Teixeira de Moraes / Co-orientador: Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho / Banca: Marcelo Andreotti / Banca: Paulo Henrique Muller da Silva / Resumo: No Brasil, grande parte do plantio da cultura do eucalipto encontra-se em área de solo de baixa fertilidade, com pouca disponibilidade de fósforo (P) e potássio (K), e baixo teor de matéria orgânica (M.O.), o que implica em carência do fornecimento de nutrientes à planta, refletindo na redução da produtividade. Neste sentido, objetivou-se avaliar a fertilização nitrogenada, fosfatada e potássica no crescimento das plantas de eucalipto visando qualidade nutricional e alta produtividade. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda Renascença, fundo agrícola administrado pela Cargill Agrícola S/A, localizado no município de Três Lagoas/MS. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos casualizados com dez tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos de doses de nitrogênio (N) (0, 70, 105 e 140 kg ha-1), doses de P (0, 40, 70 e 100 kg ha-1 de P2O5) e doses de K (0, 90, 135 e 180 kg ha-1 de K2O). As doses de N e K foram aplicadas no plantio e em cobertura, com três parcelamentos (aos 2, 9 e 14 meses após o plantio), e as de P somente no plantio. Foram avaliados: o diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP), altura de plantas, volume de madeira com casca, análise foliar dos nutrientes, a fertilidade do solo e as relações dos nutrientes nas folhas e no solo. O DAP e o volume foram influenciados positivamente pela fertilização nitrogenada, já a fosfatada e a potássica aumentaram o crescimento do eucalipto em DAP, altura e volume. As concentrações dos nutrientes estiveram adequadas mesmo com a ausência da aplicação de N, P e K. Com o aumento das doses de K houve incremento das concentrações foliares de K e diminuição das de cálcio (Ca) e magnésio (Mg) / Abstract: In Brazil, much of the Eucalyptus planting is in soils area of low fertility, phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) availability and organic matter (O.M.), which implies in low nutrients supply to the plant, reflecting the reduced productivity. In this context, it was aimed to evaluate nitrogen (N), P and K fertilizations on plant growth Eucalyptus aiming nutritional quality and high productivity. Experiment was conducted at Renascença Farm, agricultural fund managed by Cargill Agricola S/A located in Três Lagoas/MS. Experimental design was a randomized block with ten treatments and five replications. Treatments consisted of N rates (0, 70, 105 and 140 kg ha- 1), P rates (0, 40, 70 and 100 kg ha-1 P2O5) and K rates (0, 90, 135 and 180 kg ha-1 K2O). Nitrogen and K were applied at planting and top-dressing and P rates only at planting. It was evaluated: diameter at breast height (DBH), plant height, volume of wood with bark and leaf analysis of macronutrients concentrations. The DBH and volume were influenced positively by N fertilization, P and K, since the eucalyptus growth in DAP, height and volume increased with P and K fertilization. The macronutrients concentrations were appropriate even in the absence of N, P and K application. Increasing rates of K was increased foliar concentrations of K and decreased calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) / Mestre

The Red Sea is an arid environment, without riverine inputs, oligotrophic waters and extreme temperature and salinity. Avicennia marina is the dominant vegetation in the shores of the Red Sea. However, little is known about their distribution, dynamics, and services. Therefore, the aim of this Ph.D. was to obtain the basic information needed to evaluate their role in the coastal ecosystems and quantify their services. With that objective we 1) estimated the past and present distribution of mangroves in the Red Sea, 2) investigated the growth, leave production and floration 3) examined the growth limiting factors 4) measured the nutrients and heavy metal dynamics in the leaves and 5) estimated carbon sequestration. We found an increase of about 12% in the last 41 years, which contrasts with global trends of decrease. The extreme conditions in the Red Sea contributed to limit their growth resulting in stunted trees. Hence, we surveyed Central Red Sea mangroves to estimate their node production with an average of 9.59 node y-1 then converted that number into time to have a plastochrone interval of 38 days. As mangroves are taller in the southern Red Sea where both temperature and nutrients are higher than the Central Red Sea, we assessed nutrient status Avicennia marina propagules and naturally growing leaves to find the leaves low in nutrient concentrations (N < 1.5 %, P < 0.09 %, Fe < 0.06) and that nutrients are reabsorbed before shedding the leaves (69%, 72% and 35% for N, P, and Fe respectively). As a result, we conducted a fertilization experiment (N, P, Fe and combinations) to find that iron additions alone led to significant growth responses. Moreover, we estimated their leaf production and used our previous estimates of both the total cover mangrove in the Red Sea along with plastochrone interval to assess their total nutrients flux per year to be 2414 t N, 139 t P and 98 t Fe. We found them to sequester 34 g m-2 y-1, which imply 4590 tons of carbon sequestered per year for the total mangroves covered by the Red Sea.

Thesis advisor: David R. Burgess / Centration of the nucleus after fertilization is an essential step for setting-up cell division and proper embryonic development in many proliferating cells such as the sea urchin. The sperm aster must capture the female pronucleus for fusion as well as the nucleus becoming positioned at the center of the cell. Microtubules (MTs) are known to play a role in this centration but the exact mechanism remains unknown. This begins to investigate current models of nuclear centration and the role of various interactions. Three phases of migration were observed as the male aster migrated with support in independent movements of the male and female pronuclei. Dimpling affects present that altered the morphology of the cell were observed when engagement occurred between the male and female pronuclei. It was discovered that this dimpling effect was a result of an interaction between MTs and the cortex, as confirmed by visualization of sheared cells in which only the cortex remained. Stemming from previous and current research in the lab, the role of post-translational modifications (PMTs) in nuclear centration was investigated for the different forces exerted due to various factors. Tyrosinated and detyrosinated populations were observed with and without the presence of parthenolide (PTL), an agent that inhibits detyrosination. PTL was observed to not only prevent the proper migration, but also that it expanded tyrosination of tubulin – which would further disrupt the force vectors created through the PMTs promotion of dyneins and kinesins. The results have lead to a new hypothesis to be furthered in order to gain an in-depth understanding in the mechanism(s) for pronuclear migration. / Thesis (BS) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Departmental Honors. / Discipline: Biology.

Orientador: Enes Furlani Junior / Banca: Orivaldo Arf / Banca: Luiz Henrique Carvalho / Resumo: Em função dos altos níveis de produtividade alcançados nos cerrados, têm-se tentado transferir para o cultivo tradicional do sudeste, boa parte da tecnologia adotada nas extensas e essencialmente mecanizadas culturas daquela região. Entre outros fatores, destaca-se a adoção de níveis de adubação próprios daquela realidade e o semeadura de novas cultivares. O nitrogênio é considerado um dos nutrientes mais importantes para o algodoeiro devido a sua interferência nos aspectos de qualidade e quantidade da produção, sendo que os rendimentos maiores foram relatados em plantas que receberam dosagem de até 150 kg ha-1 de nitrogênio em cobertura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de doses crescentes de adubação nitrogenada, juntamente com diferentes cultivares quanto à produtividade e características de fibra do algodoeiro, cultivado em Leme-SP. O delineamento experimental empregado foi o de blocos ao acaso, no esquema fatorial 4x2 num total de 8 tratamentos, com 4 repetições, perfazendo 32 parcelas. Foi composto por doses crescentes de nitrogênio em cobertura: 16, 64, 144, e 256 kg ha-1; e duas cultivares de algodão: IAC 24 e Delta Opal. Pode-se concluir que a produtividade, o índice de amarelecimento, a massa de 100 sementes e a massa de 1 capulho tiveram aumento até a dose de 144 kg ha-1 de N. A porcentagem de fibra dos capulhos diminuiu de acordo com o aumento das doses de N. Os maiores teores foliares de N foram obtidos com a máxima aplicação de nitrogênio. / Abstract: In function of the high reached levels of productivity in the open pasture, they are had attemped to transfer to the southeastern traditional culture, good part of the technology adopted in the extensive and essentially mechanized cultures of that region. Among others factors, it is distinguished adoption of proper levels of fertilization of that new reality and the plantation of cultivating. The nitrogen is considered the one of the most important nutrients for the cotton plant due its interference in the aspects of quality and amount of the production, having been that the incomes biggest it had been told in plants that had received dosage from up to 150 kg ha-1 of nitrogen in covering. The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of increasing doses of nitrogen fertilization, together different cultivating for that matter to the productivity and fiber characteristic of the cotton plant, cultivated in Leme-SP. The used experimental delineation was of blocks at random, in the factorial project 4x2 in a total of 8 treatments, with 4 repetitions, concluding 32 parcels. It was composed for increasing doses of nitrogen in covering: 16, 64, 144, and 256 kg ha-1; e two cultivates of cotton: 24 IAC and Opal Delta. It can be concluded that the productivity, index of the act of turning yellow, weight of 100 seeds and weight of 1 cotton boll had increase even the dose of 144 kg ha-1 of N. The fiber percentage of cotton boll it diminished in agreement with the increase of the levels of N. The greatest values of N was founded with the high application of nitrogen. / Mestre

Orientador: Roberto Lyra Villas Bôas / Resumo: O gramado esportivo requer cuidados cautelosos para apresentar bom desenvolvimento e “jogabilidade”. O tipo de fertilizante e a forma de aplicação deste interferem diretamente em sua qualidade, para isso, é necessário obter informações sobre o método mais adequado da adubação. O objetivo com o presente trabalho foi de comparar fertilizantes de liberação gradual, e fetirrigação, com a adubação convencional à fim de obter maior qualidade de grama Zeon e Celebration. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas – FCA/UNESP, Campus de Botucatu (SP). O delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, com grama Zeon e Celebration, como parcela principal, e cinco manejos de adubação (1. sem adubação; 2. fertirrigação; 3. adubação com fertilizantes convencionais; 4. adubação com fertilizante de liberação lenta; 5. adubação com fertilizante de liberação controlada), nas subparcelas, e quatro repetições, no período de janeiro a junho, sendo realizadas as avaliaçoes a cada quinze dias. As características avaliadas foram a Taxa de Cobertura Verde (TCV), Índice de Coloração Verde Escuro (ICVE), Índice de Grama, Índice de Clorofila, altura, Fitomassa de Matéria Seca (MS), matéria seca do estolão e rizoma e da raíz, comprimento da raíz,química do solo, solução do solo, e o teor e exportação de nutrientes do gramado. Os diferentes manejos de adubação apresentaram comportamento distintos entre si e entre as cultivares de grama. A grama Ze... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Mestre

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Infertility is currently a serious problem that is escalating, not only in South Africa, but also worldwide. In Cape Town, a culturally diverse, urban community of approximately 1000 couples are referred to the Groote Schuur Hospital Infertility Clinic annually. Although infertility is primarily regarded as a medical condition, the treatments have emotional effects on infertile couples due to the recurring highs and lows that often accompany treatments. This study aimed to qualitatively explore and understand the emotional and psychological experiences of infertility and its treatments (specifically In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer). Social constructionism is based on the premise that realities are not constructed in a vacuum but rather undergo a process whereby the subjective and inter-subjective experiences over time and through cultural processes come to be regarded as truths. These truths become internalised and function as lenses through which we see ourselves, compose and invent ourselves accordingly, making sense of what would otherwise have been chaotic and meaningless experiences. Additional aims were to examine women's experiences of infertility care whilst undergoing treatment and describe their experiences of coping with infertility and In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET). Semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 21 women presenting with primary infertility at a fertility clinic. This study utilised an ethnographic case study design. The results of the study suggested that women perceived themselves as not conforming to a dominant belief system that promotes motherhood as the most important role for women. The women described their 'failure' to fulfill socio-cultural expectations as emotionally turbulent. Some of the psychological responses to infertility included feelings of disappointment, shock, denial, devastation, anger, frustration, sadness, inadequacy, poor self-image and self-esteem. The women's personal accounts of their experiences of In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET) revealed that they found the treatment to be highly stressful, with emotional bouts of anxiety, nervousness, excitement and optimism. A psychological synopsis of infertility and IVF-ET is infertility and IVF-ET presents. The findings in this study suggest the need for the incorporation of 6 presented. This diagrammatic representation shows the intensity of the emotional rollercoaster that psychosocial intervention into infertility management. Greater attention to the psychological and emotional repercussions of infertility treatment could lead to a more personalised approach which, in turn, would optimise patient satisfaction and also prepare couples for the demands of the program by informing them about better ways of coping.

In this study, luteinized human granulosa cells (GC) obtained during in vitro fertilization procedures were used as a model system to evaluate the effects of ethanol (EtOH), a well‐known reproductive toxin, on epidermal growth factor (EGF) and gonadotropin‐stimulated steroidogenesis. Our results demonstrate that the basal progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) secretion by human GC in vitro was dependent on the ovarian stimulation protocol. EGF significantly enhanced P4, but not E2, secretion in human GC from clomiphene citrate (CC), human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), and hMG/gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (GnRH‐a)‐treated patients. The effects of EGF plus luteinizing hormone (LH) were additive in cells from the CC group, but less than additive in hMG and hMG/GnRH‐a groups. EtOH at 20 mM or more inhibited EGF stimulated P4 secretion in human GC from all three patient groups. EtOH inhibited P4 secretion stimulated by EGF and LH cotreatment in the CC and hMG/GnRH‐a groups, but not in human GC from the hMG‐treated patients. These results suggest that basal and EGF or LH‐stimulated P4 secretion by human GC, as well as the effects of EtOH, are profoundly influenced by the follicle's hormonal milieu.

This study evaluated the effect of ovum aging on the in vitro fertilizability of mouse ova. Over 1347 ova were evaluated. Serial trypsin digestion of in vitro and in vivo aged ova revealed an increase in zona digestion time (0.25% trypsin) beginning at 40 hr, which increased over a 40-hr period and resulted in the unfertilized zona becoming as "hard" as the fertilized embryo zona. In vitro fertilizability showed a rapid decrease as zona hardening occurred with loss of cortical granules as assessed by electron microscopy. These data suggest that the window of fertilizability is "closed" by a spontaneous zona reaction occurring at about 55 hr post-human chorionic gonadotropin with loss of cortical granules and zona hardening as manifested by increasing zona digestion time with 0.25% trypsin.

The ability of natural selection to promote and preserve genetic variation at Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I loci was examined in two fish species known to have low genetic variation either as a consequence of their breeding system or population structure. The tempo and modes of molecular evolution acting on these loci has also been discussed. The marine killifish Rivulus marmoratus is the only vertebrate known to exist in nature in homozygous form. The findings of this study suggest that MHC class I genes at one locus in R. marmoratus have rapidly accumulated variation, particularly in region of the gene encoding functional important domains. This rapid accumulation of variation is likely due to the increased intensity of natural selection acting on these genes resulting from the homozygosity of the species. The contention that the variation characterized at one MHC locus is of recent origin is further supported by an analysis of the mitochondrial control region if R. marmoratus, which suggests that the individuals included in this study are recently diverged. The variation characterized here is the first evidence of genetic variation at coding loci in this species, and may be evidence of the cost of homozygosity for R. marmoratus. Variation at a single MHC class I locus was also characterized in several members of the Death Valley pupfish species complex. Two of these species, Cyprinodon diabolis and Cyprinodon salinus have undergone intense historical or ongoing population bottlenecks. Despite the action of random genetic drift acting on these species, both maintain multiple MHC class I alleles at one locus. The alleles characterized in C. diabolis and C. salinus were also recovered from other members of the Death Valley complex. This suggests that overdominant natural selection has acted to maintain ancestral genetic variation at this locus in both species. This result has important implications for the design of conservation programs for these endangered species, and may have broader implications for the design of captive breeding programs of species with highly reduced population sizes in general. / Ph. D.