The purpose of this practicum is to design a landscape with the ability to purify wastewater from Winnipeg North End Water Pollution Control Centre and to use the purified water for the irrigation of community gardens. Water pollution has been a big issue around the world. Eutrophication refers to the overabundance of nutrients in waterbodies. Lake Winnipeg, in the province of Manitoba, one of the largest freshwater resources in Canada, has a serious eutrophication problem. One of the major nutrient loading sources is the nutrient-rich inflow from the Red River (Water Stewardship Division, n.d.), which consists of agricultural runoff and municipal and industrial wastewater. In the City of Winnipeg, the North End Water Pollution Control Centre releases a large amount of treated wastewater into the Red River. The treated wastewater is rich of phosphorus, nitrogen, and pathogen. The landscape can play a potential role to purify the nutrient-rich wastewater before it reaches the river while providing outdoor spaces for community gardens and leisurely uses. / October 2016

As deleterious variants continually arise in a population, they tend to be purged via purifying selection, leading to distortions in the shapes of genealogies relative to neutral expectations. In recent years, a mounting body of evidence has arisen suggesting that this can have significant implications for the patterns of diversity seen in natural populations. However, existing theory has not yet fully characterized the effects of these distortions on the structure of genealogies. The focus of this thesis is on exploring this gap, and developing an analytical description of the distortions that arise in genealogies due to purifying selection. / Physics

Siglecs and CEA are two families of cell surface proteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. They are thought to be involved in cell-cell interactions and have various other biological functions. We used the GENECONV program that applies statistical tests to detect gene conversion events in each family of five primate species. For the Siglec family, we found that gene conversions are frequent between CD33rSiglec genes, but are absent between their conserved Siglec genes. For the CEA family, half of gene conversion events detected are located in coding regions. A significant positive correlation was found between the length of the conversions and the similarity of the converted regions only in the Siglec gene family. Moreover, we found an increase in GC-content and similarity in converted regions compared to non-converted regions of the two families. Furthermore, in the two families, gene conversions occur more frequently in the extracellular domains of proteins, and rarely in their transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions. Finally, these two families appear to be evolving neutrally or under negative selection.

Constructed wetland (CW) system is one natural purifying process. Using the CW systems to treat industrial wastewater or domestic sewage has been extensively application in many countries. Constructed wastewater treatment wetland must depend on the optimal operation parameters to achieve the best treatment efficiency. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of Kaoping River Rail Bridge Constructed Wetland (KPCW) on contaminated river water treatment. The major influents came from the treated industrial wastewater from a paper mill [Yuen Foong Yu paper manufacturing company (System A)] and local drainage system (Chu Liao River) containing untreated domestic wastewater (System B).Results from this study show that the measured flow rates for Systems A and B systems were 10,968 and 13,147 m3/day, respectively. The hydraulic loading rates (HLR) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) for Systems A and B were 0.085 and 0.096 m/day, and 5.4 and 10.7 d, respectively. The average removal efficiencies for both systems ranged from 63.4-71.7% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), 39.5-44.4% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 28.1-39.5% for ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N), 17.1-40.3% for total nitrogen (TN), 5.4-45.5% for total phosphorus (TP), and 91.1-98.7% for total coliform (TC). Reduction in suspend solid (SS) concentration was ineffective in both systems. This was due to the irregular harvest of the plants in the wetland. Results from the effluent probability method (EPM) evaluation indicate that the removal efficiency increased with the increase in influent pollutant concentration. Moreover, variations in pollutant loading rate (PLR) would affect both the removal rates and effluent concentrations. The experience obtained from this project will be helpful in designing similar natural water treatment systems for river water quality improvement for other river basins.

Siglecs and CEA are two families of cell surface proteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. They are thought to be involved in cell-cell interactions and have various other biological functions. We used the GENECONV program that applies statistical tests to detect gene conversion events in each family of five primate species. For the Siglec family, we found that gene conversions are frequent between CD33rSiglec genes, but are absent between their conserved Siglec genes. For the CEA family, half of gene conversion events detected are located in coding regions. A significant positive correlation was found between the length of the conversions and the similarity of the converted regions only in the Siglec gene family. Moreover, we found an increase in GC-content and similarity in converted regions compared to non-converted regions of the two families. Furthermore, in the two families, gene conversions occur more frequently in the extracellular domains of proteins, and rarely in their transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions. Finally, these two families appear to be evolving neutrally or under negative selection.

Siglecs and CEA are two families of cell surface proteins belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. They are thought to be involved in cell-cell interactions and have various other biological functions. We used the GENECONV program that applies statistical tests to detect gene conversion events in each family of five primate species. For the Siglec family, we found that gene conversions are frequent between CD33rSiglec genes, but are absent between their conserved Siglec genes. For the CEA family, half of gene conversion events detected are located in coding regions. A significant positive correlation was found between the length of the conversions and the similarity of the converted regions only in the Siglec gene family. Moreover, we found an increase in GC-content and similarity in converted regions compared to non-converted regions of the two families. Furthermore, in the two families, gene conversions occur more frequently in the extracellular domains of proteins, and rarely in their transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions. Finally, these two families appear to be evolving neutrally or under negative selection.

Nuestro trabajo de investigación aborda la implementación de una idea de negocio, la cual está representada en nuestra marca Plus Pure Water. Empresa enfocada en ofrecer filtros purificadores de perfil ecológico para personas del nivel socioeconómico A, B y C de Lima Metropolitana que busquen obtener agua pura y reducir el impacto ambiental. El proyecto se extiende en todas las fases por la cuales tuvimos que pasar para sustentar nuestra propuesta de negocio. Es así que, en un principio se explica cómo se desarrolló nuestra propuesta de valor, poniendo en evidencia los principales beneficios de nuestro producto y la forma en la cual se va satisfacer las distintas necesidades de nuestro público objetivo. Luego, presentamos una serie de experimentos que tuvieron como finalidad principal la validación de la idea de negocio, para ello utilizamos estrategias de publicidad y marketing en redes sociales para presentar los filtros y darles exposición por todos nuestros canales de atención. En esta etapa del trabajo desarrollamos como se tuvo el primer acercamiento con nuestros potenciales clientes debido a las interacciones que se daban en dichos medios. Terminado este punto, pasamos a tocar la manera en que realizamos las proyecciones de venta con la finalidad de sustentar nuestra rentabilidad en el Mercado. Finalizando la estimación de los ingresos por filtros y repuestos, pasamos a desarrollar la planificación de las estrategias por área administrativa, en las cuales presentamos cronogramas de actividades por cada sector, además los presupuestos establecidos por área en un horizonte de tres años. / Our investigation is about launching a business on the market, which is represented in our Plus Pure Water brand. Company focused on offering ecological profile purifying filters for people of the socioeconomic level A, B and C of Lima Metropolitana who seek to obtain pure water and reduce the environmental impact. The project extends in all phases that we had to go through to support our business proposal. Thus, it initially explains how our value proposition was developed, highlighting the main benefits of our product and how the different needs of our target audience will be met. Then, we present a series of experiments that had as their main purpose the validation of the business idea, for this we use advertising and marketing strategies on social networks to present the filters and give them exposure through all our channels of attention. At this stage of the work we developed how we had the first approach with our potential clients due to the interactions that occurred in those media. At the end of this point, we move on to the way we make the sales projections in order to sustain our profitability in the Market. Finalizing the estimation of revenue by filters and spare parts, we went on to develop the planning of strategies by administrative area, in which we present schedules of activities for each sector, in addition the budgets established by area over a horizon of three years. / Trabajo de investigación

Les organochlorés (OCs) -molécules utilisées dans des procédés industriels et en applications agricoles dont la plupart sont interdites d'utilisation de nos jours- sont considérés comme des polluants très persistants représentant une menace pour les eaux de surfaces et souterraines, le sol et l'atmosphère. Des méthodes alternatives de décontamination de sites pollués aux OCs sont développées utilisant des technologies in situ d'écoremédiation. L'objectif du projet de thèse est d'étudier les capacités de phytoremédiation des OCs par deux plantes modèles, Zea mays et Phragmites australis. Les OCs choisis dans cette étude sont, le lindane (γHCH), le monochlorobenzène (MCB), le 1,4-dichlorobenzène (DCB) et le 1,2,4-trichlorobenzène (TCB). Notre approche a été de considérer l'impact sur les fonctions physiologiques des plantes de chaque OC en mono-exposition, puis de comparer ces mêmes réponses physiologiques en multi-exposition. Ce travail a permis de mettre en évidence un effet synergique de l'action du mélange des OCs. Toutefois, Z. mays et P. australis tolérent des concentrations OCs largement supérieures aux concentrations environnementales mesurées in situ. La phytoextraction des OCs a été démontrée par nos expériences en conditions contrôlées et en utilisant des molécules 14C-OCs. Les OCs sont majoritairement bioconcentrés au niveau des organes souterrains des plantes. Enfin, cette étude montre une adaptation de la microflore bactérienne de la rhizosphère en présence d'un gradient d'exposition aux OCs (multi-exposition). Les approches d'isolement et d'études d'empreintes moléculaires (ARNr 16S, SSCP, pyroséquançage 454) ont permis de détecter des souches potentiellement capables d'assurer une rhizodégradation des OCs. / Organochlorines (OCs) -molecules used in industrial processes and in agricultural applications which are prohibited from use nowadays- are classified as very persistent pollutants and show an environmental risk for surface water and groundwater, soil and atmosphere. To restore polluted sites, alternative methods are developed using ecoremediation technologies in situ. The aim of this thesis is to study the OCs phytoremediation capacities using two model plants, Zea mays and Phragmites australis. OCs slected for this work are, lindane (γHCH), monochlorobenzene (MCB), 1,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB) and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (TCB). The work strategy was to compare the effects on plant physiological functions when plants were exposed to each OC (mono-exposure) and to a mixture of all OCs (multi-exposure). This study highlighted a synergistic effect of the OCs mixture. However, Z. mays and P. australis were able to tolerate OCs mixture concentrations much higher than the environmental concentrations measured in situ. The OCs phytoextraction was demonstrated by our experiments under controlled conditions and using 14C-OCs molecules. OCs were mostly bioconcentrated in the underground parts of the plants. This study also demonstrated an adaptation of the rhizospheric bacterial microflora under a gradient of OCs exposures (multi-exposure). The techniques used (16S rRNA, SSCP, 454 pyrosequencing) held to the detection of strains potentially able to provide OC-rhizodegradation.

African clawed frogs (Xenopus) have been scientific and medical model species for decades. These frogs present many curious features, and their genomic history is no exception. As such, a variety of evolutionary genomic questions can be addressed with these species in a comparative framework, owing to the great array of genetic tools available and a large number of abundant species. The sex chromosomes of this group are evolutionarily young, and this thesis establishes that there has been an additional change in what constitutes the sex chromosomes in one species of Xenopus. This allows us to compare the evolutionary trajectory of newly established sex chromosomes. By exploring the genetic content of these systems, profiling their recombinational activity, and assessing the extent of nucleotide divergence between the sex chromosomes, we find that sex chromosome evolution may be predictable in some aspects, and highly unpredictable in others. In addition, this genus is uncharacteristic for vertebrates in the frequency with which lineages undergo whole genome duplication. In this thesis, we explore the selective dynamics operating on duplicate genes over time, and the rate at which duplicate copies are purged from the genome from multiple Xenopus species. These investigations provide an animal perspective on the subject of biased subgenome evolution, characteristic of allopolyploids. The last two chapters of this thesis redefine the species boundaries for the most intensively studied Xenopus species (X. laevis), and explore the genetic extent of hybridization between the common X. laevis and the endangered X. gilli. Overall, this thesis provides a broad look at several aspects of Xenopus evolutionary genomics, providing novel contributions to the fields of sex chromosome research, whole genome duplication, and speciation and hybridization. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Submitted by (ana.araujo@ufrpe.br) on 2016-07-07T12:58:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Katia da Silva.pdf: 2299995 bytes, checksum: 786d6f38a091474c4b7f97d00ef069a9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-07T12:58:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Katia da Silva.pdf: 2299995 bytes, checksum: 786d6f38a091474c4b7f97d00ef069a9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The understanding of the central mechanisms favouring sex and recombination in real populations is one of the fundamental issues in evolutionary biology. Based on a previous stochastic formulation to the study of sex, here we aim to investigate the conditions under which epistasis favours the fixation of the sexual mode of reproduction in a given population. Besides, we try to identify the evolutionary forces which contribute to this process. Our model considers a finite population model which assumes the existence of a recombination modifier allele which can activate the recombination mechanism. We have found that sex is very little favoured in a scenario of antagonistic epistasis, and this advantage only takes place in a narrow range of values of the selection coefficient, sd. On the other hand, synergistic epistasis favours recombination in a very broad domain. However, the major mechanism contributing to the spreading of the modifier allele depends on the range of values of sd. At large sd background selection favours recombination since it increases the efficacy of selection, while at low sd Muller’s ratchet is the leading mechanism. / O entendimento dos mecanismos centrais que favorecem o sexo e a recombinação nas populações é um das questões fundamentais, e que ainda se encontra indefinida, na Biologia Evolucionária. Diversos modelos e teorias têm sido propostos de forma a melhor compreender a predominância do sexo e recombinação na natureza. Uma teoria de sucesso deve ser capaz de mostrar que existem mecanismos que contrabalanceiem os custos imediatos associados à reprodução sexuada. Aqui nesta dissertação de mestrado fazemos uma extensão de um modelo estocástico para o estudo do sexo, de forma agora a verificarmos em que condições a epistasia (interação entre genes) favorece a fixação do modo de reprodução sexuado, e que mecanismos evolucionários contribuem para isto. Consideramos um modelo de população finita que assume a existência de um alelo modificador de recombinação que é então inserido em uma população inicialmente assexuada. O destino desse alelo é então analisado. Verificamos que o sexo é pouco favorecido quando consideramos o relevo com epistasia antagonística, tornando-se vantajoso em um pequeno intervalo de valores do parâmetro seletivo sd. Já no caso da epistasia sinergística, observamos uma grande vantagem para a recombinação em duas regiões distintas: uma para pequenos valores de sd, e neste caso é a Catraca de Muller o mecanismo responsável pela vantagem; e na segunda região para grandes valores de sd, o mecanismo responsável é o efeito Hill-Robertson, em que a recombinação atua de forma a aumentar a eficácia da seleção purificadora.