Shoot production and in vitro performance of Juglans nigra L and Quercus rubra L. was studied where 0, 3, 10, 30, or 100mM benzyladenine (BA) in a 20% white exterior latex paint diluted with deionized water were applied separately to 40 cm branch segments to determine the most effective concentration of benzyladenine on bud break and shoot growth. Softwood shoot production was maximized in the harvest months of March and April for J. nigra. Softwood shoot production was maximized in the harvest months of April and August for Q. rubra. Both shoot number and shoot length of softwood shoots decreased linearly with increasing BA concentrations applied to the branch segments of both species. Shoot production also decreased for both species during the dormant season September-December. The softwood shoots were surface disinfested and established on either 0 or 5µM Long Preece medium. When all BA treated softwood shoots were compared to the controls, the BA in the medium caused a significant increase in the number of shoots produced by explants obtained from the branch segments painted with BA. Painting with BA also increased shoot production in vitro, only if BA was also in the medium. Nodal explants cultured on 5µM LP medium taken from softwood shoots forced from branch segments painted with 3mM BA produced more shoots than any other BA concentration applied to branch segments except nodal explants on 5µM LP medium taken from softwood shoots forced from branch segments painted with 30mM BA.

Elderberry is a traditional herb which has always been used in folk medicine. The berries contain many biologically active compounds, from which antocyanins are the most important. The fruits also contain flavonoids, organic acids, suggars, cyanogenic glycosides and another compounds such as vitamins, tannins, amino acids, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. The berries are used in food industry for production of marmelade, fruit syrups, wine and another delicacies. The drug Sambuci fructus is currently a subject of interest in pharmacy and medicine. The research examines the beneficial effects of antocyanins on human health and the possible use of antocyanins in medicine and pharmacy. Antocyanins exhibit a strong antioxidant activity, which can potentially be used for treating cardiovascular, tumor or metabolic disorders. The possibility of using the antioxidant effects in treatment for example hyperlipidemia, obesity and metabolic disorder is investigated. The listed effects can be also important as protection against oxidative damage of cells in diabetes mellitus. The antiinflammatory and antiinfective action is also important, it was investigated for both viral and antibacterial infections. At the same time it was shown, that elderberry could act as an effective immunostimulant. The ability of...

Objective: Substantia nigra hyperechogenicity is found in children with attention- deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Research with transcranial sonography (TCS) in adults suggests that echogenic alterations are linked to subclinical behavioral deficits and that brain iron homeostasis is involved in the signal genesis. The purpose of this study was to explore substantia nigra echogenicity in healthy children, to assess age-related changes and to investigate whether echogenic signals relate to subclinical alterations in behavior. Furthermore, associations of central nigral neuromelanin measures and peripheral serum iron parameters to echogenic signals of the substantia nigra were evaluated. Methods: In a multimodal study design, neuroimaging of the substantia nigra was conducted with TCS and neuromelanin-sensitive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 28 healthy children (8 − 12 years). Correlations and multiple regression analyses determined associations between the neuroimaging methods, behavioral data from Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and serum iron-related parameters. Results: Substantia nigra echogenicity correlated inversely with hyperactivity ratings in healthy, non-ADHD children (r = −.602, p = .001). Echogenic sizes did not change as a function of age. Neuromelanin-sensitive MRI measures of the substantia nigra and peripheral serum iron parameters were not associated with nigral TCS signals. Conclusion: In healthy children behavioral differences in hyperactive tendencies are associated with differences in substantia nigra echogenicity. This could help to identify those children who are at risk of subclinical ADHD. / Ziele: Bei Kindern mit AHDS findet sich eine hyperechogene Substantia nigra in der transkraniellen Sonographie (TCS). Bei gesunden Erwachsenen gibt es Hinweise darauf, dass Substantia nigra Hyperechogenität mit subklinischen Verhaltensdefiziten korreliert und dass ein aberranter Eisenstoffwechsel in die Genese des Signals involviert ist. Ziel der Studie war die Substantia nigra Echogenität bei gesunden Kindern zu explorieren, potentielle altersabhängige Veränderungen darzustellen und Zusammenhänge mit subklinischen Verhaltensabnormitäten zu untersuchen. Außerdem wurden Zusammenhänge mit peripheren Serum Eisen Parametern und zentralen Neuromelanin Maßen evaluiert. Methoden: In einem multimodalen Studiendesign wurde die Substantia nigra bei 28 Kindern (8-12 Jahre) mittels TCS und Neuromelanin-sensitiver MRT dargestellt. Korrelationen und Regressionsanalysen wurden angewandt, um die beiden neuroimaging Methoden, Verhaltensdaten aus dem Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) und Serum Eisen Parametern zu relatieren. Resultate: Substantia nigra Echogenität korrelierte invers mit Hyperaktivität bei gesunden Kindern ohne ADHS (r = -.602, p = .001). Es zeigte sich kein Zusammenhang mit Alter, peripheren Serum Eisen Parametern oder Messungen der Substantia nigra mittels Neuromelanin-sensitiver MRT. Schlussfolgerung: Bei gesunden Kindern sind Unterschiede in hyperaktiven Tendenzen assoziiert mit unterschiedlichen Signalen der Substantia Nigra mittels TCS.

The earliest embryonic stages, because of the simplicity of their organization and cellular structure, are logical starting points for developmental studies of plants as a whole. The zygote and early post-zygote phases of embryonic development are periods of minimum cell form differentiation, if the cells possess a potentially to develop in a number of different ways at any stages in their development, it is in all likelihood at this early date. Becoming more and more specialized with continued growth, they finally form tissues and organs with the capacity for specific functions in the division of labour of the mature plant organization. it was felt that the more specialized the cells became, the less impressionable they would be to the influence of an in-vitro environment. Accordingly, this treatise deals with the culture in artificial medium of the early post-fertilization periods in the embryonic growth of Pinus nigra, var. austriaca, in an effort to discover and assess those factors which influence and govern the embryonic development pattern. The present study was begun in 1951 at the suggestion of Professor N.W. Radforth. I wish to express my appreciation to Professor Radforth for his guidance in conducting my research, without which this investigation could not have been carried out. This work was undertaken as part of a programme which has been assisted through a grant from the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, for which Dr. Radforth is the grantee. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Little is known about funda­mental mechanisms of growth control on the growth ff single or small groups of cells of the higher plants. Study of these effects in vitro requires the knowledge of the primary conditions for growth in vitro. In this work a procedure was outlined and used in an ef­fort to establish a basis for the standard procedure. Also the associated effects of the physical, and to some extent, the chemical environment on the growth of the proembryo and prothallium. of Linus were studied. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / The overall goal of this dissertation was to determine the role of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in regulating the release of dopamine in the substantia nigra (SN). Experiments first established the existence of a direct connection between subthalamic neurons and SN dopaminergic cells. Further experiments showed that this connection triggers the dopamine release in the SN, and the mechanisms involved in this release were determined. Whole-cell current clamp recordings were performed in parasagittal brain slices obtained from 10 to 16 day-old rat pups. Electrical stimulations of the STN reliably triggered excitatory post-synaptic potentials (EPSPs) in dopaminergic neurons of the SN pars compacta (SNc). Pharmacological experiments with specific receptor antagonists indicated that this EPSP was mediated by NMDA, non-NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptors. Stimulations of the subthalamic input triggered the release of dopamine. In a subset of neurons in the SN pars reticulata (SNr), repetitive stimulations of the STN produced a summating EPSP that was followed by an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP). A D2 receptor antagonist blocked this IPSP suggesting that it represents the D2 receptor-mediated response of the recorded cell to dopamine released upon stimulation of the STN. Pharmacological experiments using this assay indicated that NMDA, non-NMDA or metabotropic glutamate receptors were individually not required for dendritic release of dopamine; however, each contributed to this release. In dopaminergic neurons located in the SN pars compacta, the inhibitory effect of dopamine was revealed following block of L-type Ca channels, NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptors. These results indicated that dopaminergic neurons located both in the SNc and SNr respond to the dendritic release of dopamine triggered upon stimulations of the STN. Finally, a specific blocker of the dopamine transporter (GBR12935) blocked the IPSP reversibly in both SNr and SNc dopaminergic neurons. If release occurred by exocytosis, block of the transporter should increase extracellular levels of dopamine and produce an increase in the size of the recorded IPSP. Therefore, these results suggest that dopamine dendritic release triggered by activation of the subthalamic input was mediated by reversed transport of dopamine rather than by exocytosis. / 2999-01-01

Wetlands self-organize through reciprocal controls between vegetation and hydrology, but external disturbance may disrupt these feedbacks with consequent changes to ecosystem state. Imminent and widespread emerald ash borer (EAB) infestation throughout North America has raised concern over possible ecosystem state shifts in forested wetlands (i.e., to wetter, more herbaceous systems) and loss of forest function, calling for informed landscape-scale management strategies. In this dissertation, I use black ash wetlands as a model system to understand complex ecohydrological dynamics, and I use these dynamics to explain the self-organization of observed patterns in vegetation, hydrology, and microtopographic structure. The combined inferences from the three research chapters strongly implicate black ash trees as autogenic ecosystem engineers, who, through the process of improving their local growing conditions, cause a cascade of environmental changes that result in a unique ecosystem structure. This unique ecosystem structure is under existential threat from the invasive EAB. Through experiment, I show that loss of black ash trees to EAB induces persistent shifts in hydrology that result from reduced evapotranspiration and subsequent changes to water table regime (Chapter 2). These results suggest the potential for catastrophic shifts of black ash wetlands from forested to non-forested, marsh-like states under a do-nothing EAB management scenario. However, research presented here suggests that preemptive management of black ash wetlands can potentially mitigate loss of desirable forested conditions. Forest management to replace black ash with other wetland canopy species may be a slow and steady path towards forest maintenance, and harvesting may facilitate establishment of alternative species. In the case of preemptive harvesting of black ash, I posit that maintenance of microtopographic structure, either through leaving downed woody debris or through physical creation, is paramount to forest recovery. Microtopography in these ecosystems provides crucial relief from anaerobic stress generated by higher water tables, allowing woody species to persist on elevated microsites (e.g., 30 cm above base soil elevation). Moreover, I show that microtopography in black ash wetlands has clear structure and pattern and that its presence arises from self-organizing processes, driven by feedbacks among hydrology, biota, and soils (Chapter 3). I further show that this structured and non-random microtopography has profound influence on biogeochemical processes in black ash wetlands, controlling plant richness and biomass, and soil chemistry gradients (Chapter 4). Based on this work, I propose that structured wetland microtopography is a diagnostic feature of strongly coupled plant-water interactions, and these interactions may be important for ecosystem resilience to disturbance. / Doctor of Philosophy / Plants need water, but not too much nor too little. In wetland ecosystems, plants influence water levels through both water use and their effect on soil surfaces. When wetland plants use water, they take it from the soil, which leads to lowering of water levels and drier soil conditions. In many wetlands, the amount of water that plants take from the soil is a fine-tuned process. Therefore, when disturbances happen to wetland ecosystems, like large-scale tree mortality, major changes can occur to the amount of water in the soil and soils typically become wetter. This change to a wetter ecosystem can persist for long periods, and can affect the types of plants that can live in the wetland. However, plants also affect wetland water levels by engineering the soil around them, essentially lifting themselves to drier conditions. Through this engineering, plants create a mosaic of different habitat types that are important for many organisms and ecological processes. Exactly how plants engineer their environment is still not well understood, but we know that ecosystem engineering by plants is critical to the structure and function of wetlands around the world. Understanding how plants create and maintain their own environmental structures provides a deeper insight into the development of vegetated landscapes and their response to change. This dissertation aims to improve our understanding of ecosystem engineering by plants in forested wetlands so that we may more effectively manage these important natural resources and in turn more accurately predict their response to global change.

Homeopatiniais vadinami preparatai, kurie yra pagaminti iš homeopatinių žaliavų, naudojant homeopatinės gamybos procedūras. Biologiniam homeopatinių preparatų aktyvumui tirti mokslininkai naudoja tuos pačius tyrimų metodus, kaip ir kitų rūšių cheminiams preparatams [32]. Šiam tyrimui pasirinkta homeopatinė juodojo riešuto (Juglans nigra L.) kevalo tinktūra ir jos D1 bei C1 praskiedimai – tai nedidelio laipsnio skiediniai, kuriuose veikliąsias medžiagas dar galima įdentifikuoti ir koncentracijas bei biologinį aktyvumą vertinti turimais tyrimo metodais. Mokslinės literatūros šaltiniuose skelbiama, jog juodojo riešuto kevale yra devynios pagrindinės cheminės medžiagos [29]. Nustatyta, jog riešuto viena iš pagrindinių veikliųjų medžagų yra juglonas, kuris turi citotoksinių savybių prieš melonomos, kepenų, plaučių, širdies, kraujo ląsteles [25,28,38,39]. Kadangi mokslinių tyrimų su preparatais, pagamintais iš juodojo riešuto, atlikta nedaug, todėl buvo pasirinkta ištirti polifenolinių junginių, juglono kiekį pagamintuose tirpaluose bei nustatyti jų antioksidacines savybes. Darbo tikslas: Homeopatiškai paruošti iš juodojo riešuto kevalo pradinę tinktūrą ir jos D1 bei C1 praskiedimus, ištirti polifenolinių junginių, juglono kiekį ir įvertinti antioksidantinį aktyvumą. Metodai: Pagaminta pradinė homeopatinė tinktūra (urtinktūra) ir jos skiediniai pagal Homeopatijos farmakopėjos reikalavimus (HAB 2000, 3a taisyklė). Spektrofotometriškai nustatytas polifenolinių junginių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Preparations referred to as homoeopathic are those made of homoeopathic raw materials using homoeopathic manufacturing procedures. In order to measure biological activity of homoeopathic preparations scientists use the same investigation methods as with other kinds of chemical products [30]. For this study homoeopathic tincture of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) shell and its D1and C1 dilutions have been selected as these produce low-grade solutions in which active substances still can be identified and concentrations as well as bioactivity can be assessed by available methods of testing. The scientific literature sources state that the black walnut shell contains nine basic chemical substances [29]. It is found that one of the basic active ingredients is juglone which possesses cytotoxic properties effective against melanoma, the liver, lung, heart and blood cells. [25,28,38,39]. As the studies of black walnut preparations are not so common, we have chosen to investigate the juglone amount and polyphenolic compounds in solutions and to measure their antioxidant properties. The aim of the research: To produce homoeopathically original tincture of the black walnut shell and its D1 and C1 dilutions, to explore polyphenolic compounds, the level of juglone and evaluate their antioxidant activity. The methodology: Original homoeopathic tincture (urtincture) and its solutions were produced following the specification of Homoeopathy Pharmacopoeia (HAB 2000, rule 3a)... [to full text]

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Submitted by Andresa Graciutti Botan (andresabotan@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-06-06T18:58:46Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissert Andresa G Botan.pdf: 1532972 bytes, checksum: af162b8b131f0fd6e440d9ae810290fc (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Silvana Alvarez null (silvana@ict.unesp.br) on 2018-06-06T19:37:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 botan_ag_me_sjc.pdf: 1532972 bytes, checksum: af162b8b131f0fd6e440d9ae810290fc (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-06T19:37:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 botan_ag_me_sjc.pdf: 1532972 bytes, checksum: af162b8b131f0fd6e440d9ae810290fc (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-03 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / As plantas medicinais e seus extratos têm sido utilizados na medicina tradicional para fins terapêuticos e como uma atrativa fonte de pesquisa em diversas vertentes ciêntíficas, dentre elas, a atividade anti-inflamatória. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a citotoxicidade e ação anti-inflamatória in vitro dos extratos glicólicos das plantas medicinais Morus nigra (amora), Ziziphus joazeiro (juá) e Vitis vinifera (uva) em macrófagos de camundongo RAW 264.7. A citotoxicidade dos extratos foi analisada pelo teste de viabilidade celular MTT em dois períodos de tratamento, 5 min e 24 h. A ação anti-inflamatória dos extratos foi avaliada em macrófagos RAW 264.7 estimulados pelo lipopolissacarídeo (LPS) por meio da quantificação das citocinas pró-inflamatórias fator de necrose tumoral (TNF-α) e interleucina-6 (IL-6) pelo teste imunoenzimático (ELISA), e da quantificação do óxido nítrico pela reação de Griess. Os valores obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística ANOVA ou Kruskal-Wallis com comparação múltipla de Tukey ou Dunn, com nível de significância de 5%. Concentrações não citotóxicas foram observadas após exposição por 5 min e 24 h, respectivamente, para os extratos de M. nigra (≤ 50 mg/mL e ≤ 1,56 mg/mL), Z. joazeiro (≤ 6,25 mg/mL e ≤ 3,12 mg/mL) e V. vinifera (≤ 25 mg/mL e ≤ 3,12 mg/mL). Em relação à resposta anti-inflamatória, 0,78 e 1,56 mg/mL do extrato de M. nigra e 3,12 mg/mL de V. vinifera apresentaram inibição significativa na produção da citocina TNF-α, e o extrato de Z. joazeiro suprimiu de modo significativo a expressão da citocina TNF-α (3,12 mg/mL) e do óxido nítrico (1,56 e 3,12 mg/mL). O presente trabalho demonstrou que os extratos glicólicos de M. nigra, Z. joazeiro e V. vinifera apresentaram concentrações não citotóxicas em ambos os tempos de tratamento e exerceram efeito anti-inflamatório em macrófagos de camundongo RAW 264.7. / Medicinal plants and theirs extracts have been used in traditional medicine for therapeutic purposes and as a source of research in several scientific aspects, e.g. the anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to analyze the in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory action of the glycolic extracts of the medicinal plants Morus nigra (black mulberry), Ziziphus joazeiro (juá) and Vitis vinifera (grape) in mouse macrophages cells RAW 264.7. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was analyzed by MTT cell viability assay in two periods, 5 min and 24 h. The anti-inflammatory action of the extracts was evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated RAW 264.7 cells by quantifying the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nitric oxide by Griess reagent. The values obtained were submitted to statistical tests ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis with post-test Tukey or Dunn multiple comparisons with the significance level of 5%. After exposure for 5 min and 24 h, respectively, non-cytotoxic concentrations were observed for M. nigra (≤ 50 mg/mL and ≤ 1.56 mg/mL), Z. joazeiro (≤ 6.25 mg/mL and ≤ 3.12 mg/mL) and V. vinifera (≤ 25 mg/mL and ≤ 3.12 mg/mL) extracts. Concerning the anti-inflammatory response, 0.78 and 1.56 mg/mL of M. nigra extract and 3.12 mg/mL of V. vinifera extract showed significant inhibition of TNF-α cytokine production. Z. joazeiro extract suppressed significantly the TNF-α cytokine (3.12 mg/mL) and the nitric oxide (1.56 and 3.12 mg/mL) expression. In conclusion, the glycolic extracts of M. nigra, Z. joazeiro, and V. vinifera presented non-cytotoxic concentrations in both treatment periods and showed an anti-inflammatory effect in RAW 264.7 cells.