A l'exception des graines de plantes supérieures, peu d'organismes sont capables de résister à la dessiccation. La survie à l'état sec est un phénomène multifactoriel impliquant notamment l'accumulation de protéines LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant). Nous avons montré que la LEAM, une protéine LEA mitochondriale exprimée dans les graines, est dépliée à l'état natif, mais peut se structurer réversiblement en hélice a sous l'effet de la dessiccation. La LEAM interagit avec les membranes à l'état sec, et plus précisément avec les groupements phosphate des phospholipides. Ces interactions, qui dépendent de la composition lipidique, permettent de protéger les liposomes des effets destructeurs de la dessiccation et de la congélation. L'ensemble de ces résultats indique que la LEAM protège la membrane interne mitochondriale pendant la dessiccation. Des approches de génétique inverse ont été initiées afin de confirmer cet axiome et de préciser le rôle physiologique de la LEAM

La tolérance à la dessiccation correspond à la propriété de résister sans dommage à la perte totale de l'eau cellulaire. Il s'agit d'un phénomène multifactoriel qui repose notamment sur l'accumulation de protéines de stress telles que les protéines LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant). Ces protéines hydrophiles et largement désordonnées à l'état natif appartiennent à plusieurs familles sur la base de leurs séquences primaires, et sont exprimées de façon abondante en fin de maturation des graines. On leur attribue une multitude de fonctions telles que remplacement de l'eau, pièges à ions, stabilisation des protéines et membranes. Parmi cette famille de protéine, le laboratoire a identifié et cloné chez Medicago truncatula, PM25, une protéine LEA spécifiquement exprimée dans la graine. L'objectif de ce travail a été de mieux comprendre sa fonction au sein de la graine. Deux approches ont été employées : une approche physico-chimique de caractérisation de la fonction de PM25 in vitro et une approche de génétique inverse impliquant E. coli et des mutants d'insertion Tnt1 de M. truncatula déficients en PM25. Nous avons montré que PM25 est une protéine LEA nucléaire atypique présentant des caractéristiques hydrophobes. De plus, non seulement elle empêche l'agrégation de protéines lors de la dessiccation ou la congélation, mais elle est aussi capable de dissoudre de manière très efficace ces agrégats lors de la réhydratation ou de la décongélation. Cependant, le phénotypage des graines pm25 n'a pas permis de mettre en évidence une sensibilité accrue des graines à la dessiccation, au vieillissement accéléré ou aux stress salins et osmotiques. Ce résultat peut être expliqué par le fait que plusieurs homologues de PM25 sont surexprimés dans les graines mutantes, ce qui indique un phénomène de redondance pour cette famille de gène. Par ailleurs, les graines pm25 présentent une masse et une taille réduite alors que la composition en sucres solubles et protéines de réserve n'est pas affectée. L'ensemble de nos travaux suggère que PM25 serait soumis à des phénomènes de régulation complexe et pourrait réguler le remplissage de la graine.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001) reports that increased anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, of which carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main component, have caused the Earths temperature to rise. Therefore, it is necessary to find ways to reduce GHG emissions and to deal with the emissions that continue to be produced. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one method that is being considered to deal with GHG emissions, specifically CO2 emissions. The basic idea behind CCS is that CO2 is captured from a point source, such as a power plant, and is then transported to a storage site (e.g., an oil or gas reservoir), where it is subsequently stored. The International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Programme (IEA GHG) began a CO2 geological sequestration pilot project in 2000 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan as part of an enhanced oil recovery project operatedby Cenovus (formerly EnCana) in the Weyburn Field (White et al. 2004). The research presented in this thesis evaluates the sealing potential of the Lea Park Formation in the Weyburn Field by determining its permeability and CO2 breakthrough pressure. In this context, breakthrough pressure describes the differential pressure between a wetting phase (e.g., formation brine) and a non-wetting phase (e.g., CO2) that is sufficient to enable the non-wetting phase to form a connected flow system across a given volume of porous medium (e.g., a rock sample). A new system for measuring the permeability and CO2 breakthrough pressure of shales was developed in this research. The development effort included extensive trouble-shooting and, ultimately, the development of sample preparation and testing procedures. The new system was used to conduct permeability and CO2 breakthrough pressure tests on shale samples from the Lea Park Formation (i.e., Lea Park shale) and the Colorado Group (i.e., Colorado shale). Permeability results for samples from the Lea Park shale ranged from 14 to 35 nd (1410-21 to 3510-21 m2), and between eight and 46 nd (810-21 to 4610-21 m2) for the Colorado shale. A CO2 breakthrough pressure for the Lea Park shale was determined to be 0.02 MPa, while values of 0.02 and 2.7 MPa were measured for the Colorado shale. The CO2 breakthrough pressure test results indicate that the Lea Park shale will not withstand large pressures before allowing CO2 to flow through it. However, the permeabilities are extremely low; hence the rate of flow would be low. In other words, the low permeability of the Lea Park shale will be the controlling factor in terms of the rate of potential CO2 leakage through it. Calculations based on the properties measured in this research suggest that the time required for CO2 to flow from the base to the top of the Lea Park Formation would be on the order of ten thousand years. Based on diffusion coefficients published for other shales, calculations suggest that CO2 leakage via chemical diffusion would be several times slower leakage via hydraulically-driven flow.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2001) reports that increased anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, of which carbon dioxide (CO2) is the main component, have caused the Earths temperature to rise. Therefore, it is necessary to find ways to reduce GHG emissions and to deal with the emissions that continue to be produced. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is one method that is being considered to deal with GHG emissions, specifically CO2 emissions. The basic idea behind CCS is that CO2 is captured from a point source, such as a power plant, and is then transported to a storage site (e.g., an oil or gas reservoir), where it is subsequently stored. The International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas Programme (IEA GHG) began a CO2 geological sequestration pilot project in 2000 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan as part of an enhanced oil recovery project operatedby Cenovus (formerly EnCana) in the Weyburn Field (White et al. 2004). The research presented in this thesis evaluates the sealing potential of the Lea Park Formation in the Weyburn Field by determining its permeability and CO2 breakthrough pressure. In this context, breakthrough pressure describes the differential pressure between a wetting phase (e.g., formation brine) and a non-wetting phase (e.g., CO2) that is sufficient to enable the non-wetting phase to form a connected flow system across a given volume of porous medium (e.g., a rock sample). A new system for measuring the permeability and CO2 breakthrough pressure of shales was developed in this research. The development effort included extensive trouble-shooting and, ultimately, the development of sample preparation and testing procedures. The new system was used to conduct permeability and CO2 breakthrough pressure tests on shale samples from the Lea Park Formation (i.e., Lea Park shale) and the Colorado Group (i.e., Colorado shale). Permeability results for samples from the Lea Park shale ranged from 14 to 35 nd (1410-21 to 3510-21 m2), and between eight and 46 nd (810-21 to 4610-21 m2) for the Colorado shale. A CO2 breakthrough pressure for the Lea Park shale was determined to be 0.02 MPa, while values of 0.02 and 2.7 MPa were measured for the Colorado shale. The CO2 breakthrough pressure test results indicate that the Lea Park shale will not withstand large pressures before allowing CO2 to flow through it. However, the permeabilities are extremely low; hence the rate of flow would be low. In other words, the low permeability of the Lea Park shale will be the controlling factor in terms of the rate of potential CO2 leakage through it. Calculations based on the properties measured in this research suggest that the time required for CO2 to flow from the base to the top of the Lea Park Formation would be on the order of ten thousand years. Based on diffusion coefficients published for other shales, calculations suggest that CO2 leakage via chemical diffusion would be several times slower leakage via hydraulically-driven flow.

La longévité correspond à la capacité des graines à tolérer la dessiccation et d'être capable de germer sans perte de vigueur après conservation. Elle est acquise au cours de la maturation, après le remplissage des graines et l'acquisition de la tolérance à la dessiccation. Le but de cette thèse est d'analyser les caractéristiques physiologiques, biochimiques et moléculaires lors de la maturation des graines de Medicago truncatula, et d'identifier les mécanismes ou molécules qui corrèlent avec l'acquisition de la longévité. Pendant la maturation, la longévité augmente d'un facteur 30 entre 28 et 44 jours après pollinisation. Une analyse de l'acquisition de la longévité des graines sur plusieurs récoltes et des mesures biochimiques (teneur en sucres solubles, activité des systèmes antioxydants) montre une très forte corrélation entre la longévité et la teneur en saccharose(R²=-0.91) et stachyose(R²=0.92). Une étude protéomique a permis de suivre l'abondance de 38 spots qui correspondent à 16 protéines de type'Late Embryogenesis Abundant'(LEA). Seulement quatre polypeptides corrèlent avec la longévité(CapLEA,D113.II, D34.III et EM) et représentent 45% de l'intensité totale des protéines LEA. L'abondance de la plupart des polypeptides LEA augmente pendant la dernière phase de séchage de graines. La caractérisation de mutants abi5, un facteur de transcription, connu pour sa régulation de gènes LEA, montre que, contrairement à Arabidopsis, ABI5 chez M. truncatula joue un rôle clé dans la dormance et l'accumulation d'oligosaccharides. De surcroit, les graines de mutants Tnt1 d'abi5 ont une longévité deux fois moindre, et présentent une diminution des protéines d'EM, EM6 et D34.

La tolérance à la dessiccation (TD) est définie comme l'aptitude à survivre à l'état sec et à reprendre un métabolisme normal après le retour à des conditions hydriques favorables. Contrairement aux graines orthodoxes, qui acquièrent la TD au cours de leur maturation, les graines récalcitrantes ne survivent pas à la dessiccation. L'analyse comparative du développement de ces deux types de graines constitue donc un modèle intéressant pour mettre en évidence des mécanismes spécifiquement impliqués dans la TD. Par des approches protéomique et transcriptomique, ce travail a permis de caractériser le développement de graines récalcitrantes de Castanospermum australe et de le comparer à celui de graines orthodoxes de Medicago truncatula, espèce de la même sous-famille des Fabacées. Nos résultats montrent que certaines protéines de type LEA (Late Embryogenesis Abundant) sont absentes ou faiblement accumulées dans les graines matures de C. australe comparé à celles de M. truncatula. Le profil des LEA ressemble à celui du mutant Mtabi3, déficient pour le régulateur majeur de la maturation des graines orthodoxes ABI3 (ABscissic acid Insensitive 3). L'analyse transcriptomique révèle une forte répression de CaABI3 et de ses gènes cibles en fin de développement chez les graines de C. australe, alors qu'ils restent fortement exprimés tout au long de la maturation des graines de M. truncatula. Deux gènes codant pour ABI3 ont été clonés chez C. australe : CaABI3 et CaABI3-like. Par sur-expression ectopique dans des racines de M. truncatula, seul CaABI3-like est en mesure d'activer les mêmes cibles que MtABI3. De plus, CaABI3 ne complémente pas le mutant abi3-5 d'Arabidopsis thaliana. Cette analyse renforce l'importance d'ABI3 pour expliquer la sensibilité à la TD des graines récalcitrantes. Elle révèle par ailleurs que la graine mature de C. australe présente certaines caractéristiques d'une graine prête à germer tout en exprimant de nombreux gènes de réponse au stress.

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / This study aimed to evaluate and to compare carcass traits and meat quality in cattle Nellore and F1 cross between Nellore and Araguaia, where 17 were from the Nellore group and 19 from ½ Nellore ½ Araguaia. All animals belonged to the same birth season and were finished in pasture systems, under the same nutritional, environmental, and management conditions. When the animals reached slaughter weight, they were taken to the industrial slaughterhouse where food was withdrawn for a 24 hour period (free access to water), later they were stunned, bled, the leather was removed and were eviscerated. The carcasses were weighed (hot weight), kept in chilled storage for approximately 24 hours at 4°C, and weighed once again to obtain the chilled carcass weight. The variables analyzed were carcass yield, length and width, leg length, thigh perimeter, loin eye area (LEA), retail cuts, cooling loss, pH, fat depth, marbling rate, intramuscular fat, color, shear force and sensory analysis. Differences (p > 0.05) were observed for the following variables; slaughter weight, hot and chilled carcass weights, carcass and leg lengths, thigh perimeter, LEA, retail cuts and lightness (L*), where the F1 cross between Nellore and Araguaia showed higher means for all of these traits, except for leg length and L*. Therefore, the crossbreeding between Nellore and Araguaia cattle did not affect the meat s sensory characteristics, but contributed to the improvement in carcass traits, being an alternative for farmers that aim for meat quality, with higher meat percentage. / Objetivou-se avaliar e comparar as características de carcaça e de qualidade da carne de bovinos Nelore e F1 resultantes do cruzamento entre as raças Nelore e Araguaia. Foram avaliados 17 animais do grupo Nelore e 19 ½ Nelore ½ Araguaia, que foram terminados à pasto, estando sob o mesmo regime nutricional, ambiente, manejo e pertenciam a mesma estação de nascimento. Quando atingiram o peso de abate, foram pesados e conduzidos ao frigorífico, onde permaneceram sob dieta hídrica por 24 horas, foram insensibilizados, sangrados, tiveram o couro removido e foram eviscerados. As carcaças foram pesadas, mantidas em câmara fria por aproximadamente 24 horas, à temperatura de 4 º C, e pesadas para obtenção do peso de carcaça fria. As variáveis analisadas foram: rendimento, comprimento e largura de carcaça, comprimento de perna, perímetro de coxão, área de olho de lombo (AOL), cortes comerciais, perdas no resfriamento, pH, espessura de gordura, taxa de marmoreio, gordura intramuscular, cor, força de cisalhamento e análise sensorial. Foram observadas diferenças (p > 0,05) para as variáveis peso de abate, quente e frio, comprimento de carcaça, e de perna, perímetro de coxão, AOL, de cortes comerciais e luminosidade (L*), sendo que os animais ½ Nelore ½ Araguaia apresentaram médias superiores para todas essas características, exceto para comprimento de perna e L*. Portanto, o cruzamento entre animais Nelore e Araguaia não influenciou nas características sensoriais das carnes e contribuiu para o aumento de características de carcaça, sendo uma alternativa ao produtor rural na obtenção de carne de qualidade, com maior percentual cárneo. / Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias

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No description available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between teacher efficacy levels and fifth grade Virginia SOL Mathematic achievement. This study sought to determine the extent to which personal efficacy, general efficacy, and total efficacy account for fifth grade Virginia Standards of Learning Mathematic achievement over and above that explained by teacher experience, teacher education, and class size. A critical review of the previous research methodologies and findings on teacher efficacy demonstrated the need for further research in this area. This study hoped to provide school officials in educational leadership with data necessary to plan professional development to improve classroom instruction, teacher efficacy, and student achievement. This study utilized a quantitative survey which measured personal, general, and total efficacy levels among fifth grade teachers in 11 elementary schools located in central Virginia. Twenty-one of the 27 (78%) 5th grade teachers that were surveyed, completed and returned the survey used in the study. Other data, such as teacher education, teacher experience, class size, and student achievement scores were collected from the division with the permission of the division's superintendent. Results of the data analysis indicated that there was no statistically significant relationship between teacher efficacies and 5th grade mathematics SOL achievement. The findings demonstrated that personal teaching efficacy, general teaching efficacy, and total teaching efficacy had no significant impact on 5th grade mathematics SOL achievement over and above the extent that teacher experience, teacher education, and class size impacted student achievement. It should be noted that the following limitations may have impacted the final results of the analysis. Class sizes were of mixed math ability, ranging from 11-23 students. Special education students tended to be in the smaller sized inclusion classes and gifted and talented students tended to be in the larger class sizes. Teacher efficacy levels were based on self-report. The sample size was small and limited generalizability of the results due to the focus on one Virginia school division. Also, student factors, such as prior achievement, were not included in the study. In this study, teacher education and class size did show significance associated with student achievement. Again, the limitations may have contributed to the findings of this study. The study showed that teachers with a master's degree had lower student achievement than teachers with a bachelor's degree, but the results might have been impacted from the limitations. Larger class sizes also had increased student achievement. Factors, such as class make-up of students (smaller classes typically had special education inclusion students and larger class sizes typically included gifted and talented students), class size (smallest class was 11 students and the largest class was 24), and teacher assignment (teachers with master's degrees could have been assigned to students with more academic needs), need to be considered when reviewing these findings, implications, and recommendations. The implications and recommendations were drawn from the findings of this study. The factors and limitations of the study were taken into consideration when the implications and recommendations were developed. / Ed. D.