Thesis (M. S.)--Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Boyan Barbara; Committee Member: Guldberg Robert; Committee Member: Lovachev Kiril; Committee Member: Schwartz Zvi. Part of the SMARTech Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Collection.

Thesis (MTech (Horticulture)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2017. / A study was conducted to investigate the effects of various media composition and wounding treating on the in vitro propagation of Argyroderma subalbum and A. testiculare explants derived from mature plants, antioxidants and plant growth regulators (PGR) concentrations. One experiment consisted of 3 medium types including Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium strength, vitamin supplement. Fifteen replicates were used for each treatment. The shoots were then sub-cultured to ten replicate regenerated medium consisting of varying levels and combination of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 10 μM 6-Benzyladenine (BA) supplements. In another experiment consisted of varying levels of auxins with MS medium strength, activated charcoal (AC) and vitamin supplements ten replicates were used for each treatment. Results indicated the positive role of cytokinins types’ 6-Benzyladenine (BA), 2-isopentyladenine (2iP) and Kinetin in inducing callus formation from wounded explants. The highest rate of friable callus formation of wounded explants was observed in media containing vitamin supplementation with BA at 10 μM. Callus formation significantly increased with the addition of vitamins at 10 μM on BA, 2iP and kinetin. With regards to the effects of various media composition and wounding explants on in vitro growth and regeneration of A. subalbum and A. testiculare, significant results were achieved with BA, 2iP and kinetin concentrations on explants discoloration and callus formation. The antioxidant treatment, AC did not reduce explants discoloration, but the induction of the callus was developed furthermore, results showed that IAA with BA concentrations without addition of AC there was significantly difference on both species but A. subalbum dominated with browning intensity (Chapter 3). Only sub-culturing of the explants succeeded in preventing explants discoloration and subsequently increased the number of shoots. The interaction between Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations combined with BA resulted in the most effective technique in reducing explants discoloration at the media contact point. This study provides an insight into the contributing factor and methods of overcoming the major problem of phenolic oxidation and promoting the in vitro growth and regeneration of A. subalbum and A. testiculare.

Orientador: Giselda Durigan / Coorientador: Milton Cezar Ribeiro / Banca: Vera Lex Engel / Banca: Maria José Brito Zakia / Banca: Ricardo Augusto Gorne Viana / Banca: Soizig Le Stradic / Resumo: Apesar da expressiva demanda para recuperação da vegetação nativa de Cerrado em pastagens abandonadas, pouco se sabe sobre a dinâmica de recuperação espontânea destes sistemas, dificultando a tomada de decisão sobre qual estratégia de restauração adotar. Neste estudo, amostramos 31 savanas secundárias resultantes da conversão de savanas naturais primárias em pastagens cultivadas e subsequente abandono e estudamos a regeneração natural da vegetação. Primeiramente, construímos uma cronosequência com 29 dessas pastagens (tempo de abandono variando entre 3 e 25 anos) e modelamos, com uso de regressões lineares simples, as trajetórias temporais de atributos da vegetação. A partir desses modelos, estimamos o tempo necessário para os atributos se igualarem aos valores de dois ecossistemas de referência, o Cerrado stricto sensu (savana natural primária, que representa o estado pré-perturbação) e o Cerradão (savana adensada, resultante da supressão do fogo, que representa um estado alternativo da vegetação). Ainda, analisamos a composição das comunidades vegetais estudadas. Posteriormente, modelamos, com uso de modelos lineares generalizados e regressões simples, o efeito do tempo desde o abandono da pastagem, de atributos do solo e da paisagem sobre a taxa anual de recuperação das savanas secundárias (n=29), a fim de investigar a influência desses fatores sobre o ritmo de recuperação da vegetação. Evidenciamos, a partir dos modelos baseados na cronosequência, que a cobertura, riqueza... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Despite the demand for Cerrado large-scale restoration in abandoned pastures, little is known about the recovery dynamics of these systems.Thus, scarce information is available to support the decision-making about which restoration approach should be applied to recovery this tropical savanna. Here, we sampled 31 secondary savannas resulting from the conversion of old-growth savannas into pastures and subsequent abandonment and assessed the natural regeneration of vegetation. Firstly, we constructed a chronosequence with 29 of these pastures (time since abandonment varying between 3 and 25 years) and modeled, using simple linear regressions, the temporal trajectories of vegetation attributes. Based on these models, we estimated the time required for these attributes to match the attributes of two reference ecosystems, the Cerrado stricto sensu (old-growth savanna that represents the pre-disturbance state) and the Cerradão (encroached savanna resulting from fire suppression, which represents an alternative ecological state). We also analyzed the composition of the studied plant communities. Later, we modeled the effect of time since pasture abandonment, soil and landscape attributes on the annual rate of recovery of secondary savannas (n=29), using generalized linear models and simple regressions, in order to investigate the influence of these factors on the rhythm of vegetation recovery. Based on the chronosequence-models, we verified that canopy cover, richness and density of... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Injuries to connective tissues such as ligaments and tendons are common, and rather than healing, repair typically results in fibrosis, or the formation of mechanically inferior and disorganized scar tissue. This fibrotic repair response is due in part to inflammation, during which the injury site is invaded by a number of cell types, including macrophages, neighboring fibroblasts, and homed stem cells or progenitor cells. Activation of macrophages is believed to be modulated by communications with fibroblasts and stem cells, prompting either a pro-fibrotic or a pro-regenerative response. Beyond changes to the cellular microenvironment, fibrosis also results in changes to the organization and mechanical properties of the matrix microenvironment. For healthy fibrous connective tissues, the matrix is comprised of aligned collagen fibers, while scar tissue is disorganized and exhibits weaker mechanical properties than healthy tissue. To date, the nature of the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions and their relevance in tissue healing or repair remain understudied. To better understand the cellular and matrix-based cues that direct scar formation versus tissue regeneration, and using anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries as a model, Aim 1 of this thesis tests the hypothesis that in vitro models of cellular communications between fibroblasts, macrophages, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) can be used to determine the effects of cellular interactions on macrophage activation and fibrosis. In Aim 2, the contribution of matrix-based cues (alignment and mechanical properties) to the inflammatory and fibrotic response, as well as their modulation of cellular interactions, were examined. Findings from these two aims reveal that 1) communications between native tissue fibroblasts and macrophages drive inflammation and fibrosis, while stem cells modulate the repair process through a combination of trophic signaling and immunomodulatory roles, and 2) matrix alignment and mechanical properties exert combined regulation on cell response during inflammation. From a clinical application perspective, stem cells delivered in conjunction with an engineered matrix that provides the critical cues for driving stem cell immunomodulation and trophic signaling will be essential for promoting tissue regeneration and minimizing fibrosis. In particular, an aligned matrix with an elastic modulus similar to that of developing connective tissue may serve to further minimize inflammation and scar formation, and activate stem cell-guided regeneration of mechanically functional connective tissue.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1985.

published_or_final_version / Botany / Master / Master of Philosophy

In South Africa, Eucalyptus breeding programmes are aimed at the selection of fastgrowing varieties, with appropriate wood characteristics and/or resistance to pests and diseases. However, the slow growth rate, long generation time and heterozygosity of trees make this a difficult task. Such problems may be overcome by the adoption of a biotechnological approach for plant propagation and modification. Towards this end, the aims of this investigation were to establish protocols for the micropropagation of Eucalyptus grandis and for the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and subsequent plant regeneration of this important species. The usefulness of transformed cells and/or tissues is dependent upon the availability of methods for their regeneration into plants. Consequently, methods for plant regeneration via indirect organogenesis from leaf discs and cell suspension cultures were investigated. Organogenic calli were produced from leaf explants on MS medium with 16 mg.1-1 &l:em•calcltrate, 20 g.I-I sucrose, 1mg.I-I NAA and 0.05 mg.1--<1 BA. Shoots were induced on MS medium containing 1 mg.1-1 ZEA and 0.2 mg.1-1 IAA, and subsequently rooted on medium containing MS nutrients supplemented with 1 mg.1- 1 IAA. Cell suspension cultures were established but not regenerated via indirect organogenesis. Additionally, various media were investigated in order to obtain somatic embryos from cell suspension cultures. The MS media supplemented with 30 g.1-1 sucrose, 12 mg.1- 1 ABA and/or 40 g.1-1 PEG were found to be most suitable, resulting in the production of embryoids; germination results are not available at this stage. In order to establish methods for the transformation of both leaf discs and cell suspension cultures of Eucalyptus, a triparental mating was performed between Escherichia coli pnT119 (donor), A. tumefaciens LBA4404 (recipient), and E. coli HBI0l::pRK2013 (helper), resulting in the transconjugant LBA4404 (pnT119); insertion of the pJIT119 plasmid was demonstrated using agarose gel electrophoresis. The transconjugant CS8C1 (pMP90) (pJIT119) was also used. Protocols for the transformation of both leaf discs and cell suspension cultures were established, and resulted in the production of putatively transformed calli which were GUS positive and with stood selection on kanamycin (50 Ilg.mr1) and/or sulfadiazine (50 Ilg.mr1). Also, Southern blotting analysis indicated that the gene transfer process was successful. Due to difficulties in the regeneration of plants from transformed calli transgenic plants were not obtained. Future research strategies and applications of the developed protocols to Eucalyptus breeding programmes are discussed. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1994.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Rutgers University, 2007. / "Graduate Program in Biomedical Engineering." Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. S.)--Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Boyan, Barbara; Committee Member: Bonassar, Lawrence; Committee Member: Sambanis, Anthanassios; Committee Member: Schwartz, Zvi; Committee Member: Wick, Timothy.