Alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., cultivars, breeding lines and germplasm releases (populations) and Rhizobium meliloti L. strains that exhibit nitrogen fixation efficiency and tolerance to salinity and drought stresses should enhance seedling establishment, increase yields, reduce nitrogen dependency on petroleum-based nitrogen fertilizers, and allow wider use of irrigated lands in semiarid and a rid regions. In vitro experiments were conducted to determine relative salt (sodium chloride -- NaCl) tolerance: l) during germination and early seedling growth of 229 alfalfa populations from North Africa, the Middle East and the United States, 2) survival and growth of 92 rhizobial strains obtained from different laboratories in the United States or isolated from host plants growing in saline and arid regions of the Intermountain west, 3) compatibility, nodulation and nitrogen fixation efficiency of the most salt-tolerant alfalfa populations and rhizobial strains, and 4) survival, nodulation and nitrogen fixation efficiency of the most salt-tolerant alfalfa populations and rhizobial strain tested under drought conditions. Results from screening of alfalfa at salinity levels of 0 to 3.2 S m-1 (0.1 S m-1 = 640 mg L-1 = 10 mM NaCl at 25° C) indicated 29 populations exhibited salt tolerance at 2.8 S m-1. At salinity levels of 0 to 7.2 S m-1, 14 rhizobial strains exhibited salt tolerance at 6.4 s m-1. Compatibility, nodulation and nitrogen fixation efficiency in the 29 alfalfa populations and the 14 rhizobial strains under controlled conditions showed that four of the rhizobial strains were highly compatible with all 29 populations. These 29 populations and four strains were then exposed to 0 to 1.6 S m-1 NaCl, with the result that nitrogen was fixed with highly compatible symbionts at 1.6 S m-1 NaCl. From these results, the six most highly compatible alfalfa populations and the best overall rhizobial strain were combined and tested under simulated drought stress. These populations were able to fix more nitrogen under drought stress (-0.76 MPa) (0.088 nmol seedling-1 s-1) than they did under salt stress (1.6 S m-1) (0.066 nmol seedling-1 s-1). The in vitro screening technique for acetylene reduction appears to be a useful tool for detecting physiological changes due to salinity and water stresses and for measuring seedling nitrogen fixation efficiency. Breeding for drought and salinity tolerance in conjunction with high nitrogen fix ing potential may be more realistic than breeding strictly for nitrogen fixation without regard for environmental adaptation.

Fluvial terraces contain information about incision, deformation, and climate change. In this study, a chronostratigraphic record of Colorado River terraces is constructed from optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of Pleistocene alluvium and real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS surveys of terrace form. This record is analyzed to relate terrace formation to late Pleistocene climate fluctuations, and terrain analyses and longitudinal profile patterns reveal recent salt-related activity in the northern Paradox Basin as well as patterns in Colorado Plateau incision. A well-preserved, correlative suite of mainstem (M) fluvial deposits exists along the Colorado River upstream of Moab, Utah. Absolute dates indicate sedimentation >70 ka (M7, M6/M5), 70-50 ka (M4), 50-40 ka (M3), and 35-25 ka (M2). The M4 and M2 formed during the crescendo to glacial maxima, but the M7, M6/M5, and M3 were deposited during variable climate of marine isotope stages (MIS) 5 and 3. Deposits include thin (<7 m) strath terraces and thick (10-20 m) fill terraces. Our results suggest that terrace sedimentation is linked to enhanced sediment flux during glaciations in Rocky Mountain headwaters (M4 and M2), but major deposits also formed during dryland tributary sediment loading with markedly different timing (M6/M5 and M3). Conversely, incision may be driven by higher deglacial flows. Clast provenance data demonstrate greater percentages of locally-sourced sediment in M6/M5 and M3 deposits. Valley-bottom geometry and neotectonics control terrace form, with strath terraces found in bedrock-restricted reaches and fill terraces in wider valleys. Previously speculated salt deformation in this area is confirmed by localized collapse preserved in M4 stratigraphy in the Cache Valley graben and ~15 m of broader subsidence upstream. Concavity and knickzone distributions in tributary profiles are discordant and represent subtle expressions of salt-tectonic activity. Finally, a surprisingly rapid incision rate of ~900 m/Ma over the past ~70 ka suggests that the Colorado River may be responding to flexural rebound in the central plateau, but is faster than that predicted by the debated bull's-eye pattern of regional incision. This locally high rate may also reflect a transient wave of incision, as suggested by increased Pleistocene rates interpreted by studies in Glen and Grand canyons.

Danish type swiss cheese has the characteristic "eye" of a regular swiss cheese and is similar in texture. The flavor is milder and has a softer body. Because of its milder flavor and softer body it is of interest for consumption. Because it cures faster than swiss cheese it has the added advantage of cutting down curing cost and thus requires a shorter time to reach the consumers. Another advantage is that it is made in small loaves or wheels which make for better handling, for it can be sold in both wholes ale and retail establishments without cutting before wrapping. Still another advantage of Danish type swiss cheese is that small equipment needed which is also adapted to manufacturing of cheddar cheese. The problem was to make better Danish type swiss cheese by applying different types and amounts of starters using Streptococcus lactis with a mixture of (1) Streptococcus thermophilus and (2) Lactobacillus bulgaricus and also to find the best combination of these bacilli and cocci. The influence of warm room temperature upon the eye formation and body and texture was studied. The Cheese was held in brine solution for different lengths of time to find the most effective salt concentration. Different temperatures were maintained in a warm room to find out which temperature was best for a higher quality of cheese. A pancreatic enzyme was added in different amounts to a few lots of milk before pasteurization, to find out whether it affects the body and texture and reduce the curing time. Pure trypsin was used in one lot to determine its influence on the quality of cheese.

The Safe Drinking Water Act includes provisions for state wellhead protection programs which address wellhead protection areas. In Utah, these areas are called drinking water source protection (DWSP) zones. Zones Two and Three are delineated according to analytical or numerical techniques, which are based on hydrogeological and time-of-travel data, as well as recharge information, accumulated through the use of hydrogeologic and hydrochemical techniques. The primary conclusions of this research are: 1) A fence diagram and site hydrostratigraphic diagram show that the hydrogeology is more complex than previously has been thought . The principal aquifer at the target well site comprises a sequence of mostly coarse-grained units interspersed with thinner fine-grained units. The supposedly unconfined shallow aquifer is confined in most parts of the valley, including the target well site. 2) The recovery rate of water levels in the monitor wells in response to pumping of the target well indicates that horizontal groundwater flow velocities are low at the target well site. X 3) Interpretation of major ions relative to the depth of uppermost open interval of the various sample wells indicates that the deeper of the three major water-bearing zones (below 300 to 350 feet [91 to 107 meters]) is not well connected to the upper two zones. 4) The chemical evolution of the water along the westernmost of three discrete flowpaths indicates a change from young calcium bicarbonate water to moderately mature sodium-sulfate water. 5) Sample waters recharged from the northern Wasatch Mountains have higher total-dissolved-solids (TDS) contents then sample waters recharged from the southern Wasatch Mountains . 6) The discrepancy between many of the δ18O, δD, and tritium data as to the probable recharge area(s) indicate that the sample wells must be evaluated on an individual basis regarding the source of recharge water. 7) The tritium data demonstrate that those wells located farthest out into the valley or having the deepest uppermost open interval furnish the lowest tritium values. 8) Based on the 14C dating technique , the groundwater at the target well site appears to be between 1300 and 5300 years old. 9) There is little risk of contamination at the target well site, in terns of the 15-year time-of-travel DWSP zone (Zone 3).

An estimated two to four million acres of irrigable saline and alkali soils of the United States return very little income to land owners (17,19). Increased needs for forage crops, and the relatively high salt and alkali tolerance of some improved forage species, once established, suggests a way of increasing revenue from some of these lands without costly reclamation.

Excessive intake of sodium, sugar, fats, and other unhealthy dietary patterns significantly contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and, among those with diagnosed CVD, to deleterious outcomes. Taste perception is one of the most important factors influencing dietary intake and there are many factors that can alter it such as medication and genetic variations. Yet there has been relatively little research on influences of taste perception on self-management of CVD and CVD risk. The purpose of this dissertation is to examine the association of various factors and taste perception in order to add to our understanding of what may or may not influence dietary consumption behaviors among persons at-risk for or with diagnosed CVD. The specific aims of this dissertation were to 1) examine the association between dietary sodium consumption and antihypertensive medication regimen in patients with heart failure (HF); 2) examine the associations between variants of the TAS2R38 haplotype and dietary intake patterns of salt, sugar, fat, alcohol and vegetables in community dwelling adults in Appalachia Kentucky with 2 or more CVD risk factors; and 3) examine associations between the TAS2R38 haplotype and salt taste sensitivity and sodium consumption in patients with HF and their family caregivers. Specific aim one was addressed by evaluating whether prescribed diuretic, beta blocker, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors predicted sodium consumption as evidenced by sodium density in a sample of patients with HF when controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, smoking status, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class and body mass index (BMI). The results of this study indicate that, among patients with HF, prescribed ACE inhibitor is predictive of higher sodium consumption but not prescribed diuretics, beta blockers and angiotensin receptor blockers. To address specific aim two, a secondary analysis of data of a sample of adults living in rural Appalachia with 2 or more CVD risk factors was conducted. We examined if having one or two PAV haplotypes was predictive of patterns of salt, sugar, fat, alcohol and vegetable consumption, controlling for age, gender, smoking status, BMI, and prescribed ACE and ARB. There were no associations between TAS2R38 haplotype and any of these dietary intake patterns. Specific aim three was addressed in a study to examine the associations between the TAS2R38 haplotype and salt taste sensitivity and sodium consumption as indicated by 24-hour urinary sodium excretion in patients with HF and their family caregivers, controlling for age, gender, ethnicity, smoking status, and fungiform papillae number. Our outcomes indicated that haplotype did not predict salt taste sensitivity but did predict 24-hour urinary sodium excretion, with significantly less levels of urinary sodium excretion among participants who were homozygous for the PAV haplotype compared to those who were heterozygous for the PAV haplotype or homozygous for the AVI haplotype. The results of these studies, separately and in concert, provide greater understanding of influences of taste perception on self-management among people who are at-risk for or who have diagnosed CVD.

Abiotic stresses are responsible for limiting crop production worldwide. Among diverse abiotic stresses, drought and salinity are the most challenging. Plants under these conditions have diverse strategies for tolerating stress. Osmotic adjustment and osmoprotection occur in plants during salinity and drought stress through accumulation of compatible solutes to a high level without interfering with cellular metabolism. Polyols (sugar alcohols) including sorbitol and ribitol are one such class of compatible solutes. Using plants of wild-type (WT) and three genetically-modified lines of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum cv. ‘Ailsa Craig’), an empty vector line ‘TR22’, and 2 sdh anti-sense lines ‘TR45’, and ‘TR49’ designed to severely limit sorbitol metabolism, the objective of this work was to characterize the sorbitol cycle in tomato in response to abiotic stresses. Sorbitol and ribitol content, as well as the enzymatic activities, protein accumulation, and gene expression patterns of the key sorbitol cycle enzymes ALDOSE-6-PHOSPHATE REDUCTASE (A6PR), ALDOSE REDUCTASE (AR), and SORBITOL DEHYDROGENASE (SDH), were measured in mature leaves in response to drought stress by withholding water and by using polyethylene glycol as a root incubation solution to mimic drought stress, to salt stress by incubating roots in NaCl solution, and to incubation of roots in 100 mM sorbitol and ribitol. A6PR, not previously reported for tomato, and AR both exhibited increased activity correlated to sorbitol accumulation during the drought osmotic, and salt stresses, with SDH also increasing in WT and TR22 to metabolize sorbitol. The level of sorbitol accumulation was considerably lower than that of the common sugars glucose and fructose so was not enough to have a significant impact on tissue osmotic potential but could provide other important osmoprotective effects. Use of the sdh antisense lines indicated that SDH has the key role in sorbitol metabolism in tomato as well as a likely role in ribitol metabolism. Like sorbitol, ribitol also accumulated significantly more in the antisense lines during the stresses. Expression and/or activity of A6PR, AR, and SDH were also induced by the polyols, although it is not clear if the induction was due to a polyol signal, the osmotic effect of the incubation solution, or both. In addition, a unique post-abiotic stress phenotype was observed in the sdh anti-sense lines. After both drought and salt stresses and during a recovery phase after re-watering, the antisense lines failed to recover. This may have been due to their accumulation of ribitol. The sdh anti-sense lines were uniquely sensitive to ribitol but not sorbitol, with an apparent foliar and seed germination toxicity to ribitol. The determination that sorbitol, and perhaps ribitol as well, plays a role in abiotic responses in tomato provides a cornerstone for future studies examining how they impact tomato tolerance to abiotic stresses, and if their alteration could improve stress tolerance.

Orientador: Priscila Lupino Gratão / Resumo: Devido às intensas mudanças climáticas globais e atividades antropogênicas, a salinidade tornou-se uma das principais problemáticas limitantes à produção agrícola. Para lidar com essa problemática, o estudo de genótipos e cultivares que sejam tolerantes ao sal, bem como alternativas através de inoculantes torna-se cada vez mais necessário. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a resposta antioxidante através da inoculação de Azospirillum brasilense em milho, e correlacionar a atividade destas enzimas ao aumento na capacidade da planta em tolerar o estresse ocasionado pela salinidade. Os tratamentos foram formados pela combinação de cloreto de sódio (0 e 100 mM de NaCl) via água de irrigação e ausência e presença do inóculo de A. brasilense, sendo o experimento conduzido inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições Os resultados demonstraram diferentes respostas de acordo com as análises de peroxidação lipídica (MDA), quantificação de nitrogênio (N) e sódio (Na+), massa seca (MS) e atividades enzimáticas, como superóxido dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), glutationa redutase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX, EC 1.11.1.7) e glutationa peroxidase (GSH-PX, EC. 1.11.1.9). Os resultados mostraram que 100 mM de NaCl ocasionou peroxidação lipídica, com consequente aumento do teor de MDA. Entretanto, com a presença da bactéria nesta condição, o teor de MDA foi reduzido, houve aumento do acúmulo de N e as enzimas apresentaram diferenças significativas entre si, com aument... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Due to intense global climate change and anthropogenic activities, salinity has become one of the main problems limiting agricultural production. To deal with this problem, the study of genotypes and cultivars that are salt tolerant and also alternatives through inoculants becomes increasingly necessary. The main of this work was to characterize an antioxidant response through the inoculation of Azospirillum brasilense in maize and to correlate the activity of the enzymes with the salt-stress tolerance. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with four replications. The treatments were performed by combination of sodium chloride (0 and 100 mM NaCl) through irrigation water and absence and presence of A. brasilense inoculation. Overall results showed different responses according to lipid peroxidation (MDA), nitrogen (N) and Na+ contents, dry mass (DM) and enzymatic activities, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2), guaiacol peroxidase (GPOX, EC 1.11.1.7) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX, EC 1.11.1.9). The results showed were that 100 mM NaCl caused lipid peroxidation with consequent increases in MDA content. However, MDA content was reduced and antioxidant enzymes demonstrated significant differences in the presence of the bacteria. Our data suggest that A. brasilense may confer plant tolerance in maize to salt stress and acquired tolerance can be related to the antioxidant system, mainly GSH-PX and ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Frequent measures that aim to identify the tolerance of an organism to various environmental conditions rely on the mortality of said organism. However, the effects of sub-lethal stress can be just as important to consider as they may give rise to how an organism may live in such an environment (growth, reproduction, etc.). Coping with changes in environmental conditions can have a high energy cost. Even starting a cellular stress response alone has proven to be costly. It is therefore reasonable that organisms in stressful situations will dedicate energy sources to survival mechanisms, and downregulate non-necessary activities like growth, and reproduction. As a tropical freshwater species, Nile Tilapia are subject to both Winter Stress Syndrome and saltwater intrusion as global climate change progresses, making them an ideal model organism. In order to test the physiological limits of this species, we exposed Nile Tilapia to a variety of treatments (two temperatures: 21°C & 14°C, three salinities: 0ppt, 16ppt, 34ppt) for one hour. By manipulating both temperature and salinity simultaneously the author hopes to shed light on the future of this species as global climate change progresses. Cell cycle arrest can occur at cellular checkpoints such as the ones located at G1 or G2/M. Monitoring the DNA replication process is crucial to cellular activities, and disruptions such a cell size issues or DNA damage can cause this process to stop indicating the presence of sub-lethal stress. There were no significant changes in the proportions of cells in G1, S, or G2 due to an increase of salinity in warm water. In cold water, there was a steady decrease of the percentage of cells in G1 as salinity increased suggesting cell cycle arrest is occurring at a different checkpoint. A significant increase in the number of cells in G2 in response to cold temperature was found, however, this effect was not made greater by the addition of salinity. Increasing number of cells in G2/M suggests that there is cell cycle arrest occurring at the G2/M checkpoint. The concentrations of three proteins involved in the regulation and arrest of the cell cycle were measured in gill tissue by dot blotting. Western blotting was performed to ensure the specificity of the protein antibodies. Three proteins of interest were chosen due to their roles in regulating cell cycle proliferation (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen), growth arrest (Growth Arrest and DNA Damage-45) and programmed cell death (p53). Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA), Gadd45, p53 all showed significant decreases in concentration in gill tissue exposed to saltwater (34 ppt) in the warm temperature treatment. There was no significant effect of salinity within the cold temperature treatment for any of the proteins tested. The CCAAT/Enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) are a class of transcription factors that act upon cellular proliferation and differentiation. C/EBP-𝛿 is the specific protein that is activated in response to stress stimuli. There were no significant differences observed in C/EBP-𝛿 concentrations in gill tissue.

Coastal ecosystems, such as the salt marsh of the Georgia coast, have long been valued for decision-making purposes based on market-values of goods and services including: fishery landings, hedonic pricing of waterfront homes, and tourism dollars. These values do not show the full picture of services provided by these ecosystems. Using focus group discussions and key informant interviews I investigate socio-cultural values and benefits provided by salt marsh ecosystems in central coastal Georgia. Participants noted that through their experiences in marshes they developed a desire to be stewards. This desire, coupled with the industrial pollution, residential development, and sea-level rise threats in the area result in a need for cooperative conservation and thus better enforcement of existing regulations. This relational value persisted across geographic locations and sample populations. My results show the importance of utilizing diverse members of community to elicit qualitative value statements. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection