Changes in the productivity of temperate forests have important implications for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, and many efforts have focused on methods to monitor both gross and net primary productivity in temperate forests. Remotely sensed vegetation indices provide spatially extensive measures of vegetation activity, and the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) has been widely linked to photosynthetic activity of vegetation. Networks of tree ring width (TRW) chronologies provide ground-based estimates of annual net carbon (C) uptake in forests, and time series of EVI and TRW may capture common productivity signals. Robust correlations between mean TRW and EVI may enhance spatial extrapolations of TRW-based productivity estimates, ultimately improving understanding of spatio-temporal variability in forest productivity. The research presented in this thesis investigates potential empirical relationships between networks of TRW chronologies and time series of Landsat EVI and Landsat-based phenological metrics in the Northeast United States. We hypothesized that mean TRW is positively correlated with mean monthly EVI during the growing season, EVI integrated over the growing season, and growing season length. Results indicate that correlations between TRW and EVI are largely not significant in this region. The complex response of tree growth to a variety of limiting climatic factors in temperate forests may decouple measures of TRW growth and canopy reflectance. However, results also indicate that there may be important lag effects in which EVI affects mean TRW during the following year. These findings may improve understanding of links between C uptake and growth of tree stems over large spatial scales.

A stable intracellular ionic environment is necessary for hepatocytes to function normally. Thus, during hypotonic shock or L-alanine uptake, hepatocytes swell and then exhibit a regulatory volume decrease (RVD), which comprises an increase in K$\sp+$ conductance (G$\sb{\rm K}$), an increased K$\sp+$ efflux, and a hyperpolarization of transmembrane potential (V$\sb{\rm m}$). Since hepatocyte intracellular Cl$\sp-$ has been demonstrated to distribute passively with V$\sb{\rm m}$, this study is designed to test the hypothesis that the hypotonic shock- or L-alanine uptake-induced hyperpolarization of V$\sb{\rm m}$ might provide an electromotive force for the efflux of hepatocyte intracellular Cl$\sp-$, which in turn would contribute osmotically to the RVD in hepatocytes. Double-barreled ion-selective microelectrodes were used to measure the changes of hepatocyte transmembrane potential, intracellular ionic activities (especially intracellular Cl$\sp-$ activity, (a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm Cl}$)), and intracellular water volume during either anisotonic stress or L-alanine uptake. Hepatocyte V$\sb{\rm m}$ hyperpolarized, (a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm Cl}$) decreased, intracellular K$\sp+$ activity (a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm K}$) decreased, and intracellular water volume increased during hyposmotic stress. When perfused with L-alanine, hepatocyte V$\sb{\rm m}$ exhibited a transient depolarization followed by repolarization and then underwent a constant hyperpolarization. Meanwhile, hepatocyte intracellular Na$\sp+$ activity (a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm Na}$) increased, a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm K}$ & a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm Cl}$ decreased, and intracellular water volume increased. In both hypotonic shock and L-alanine uptake conditions, the decreased a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm K}$ could be attributed to cell swelling. However, the decrease in a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm Cl}$ was greater than could be accounted for by cell swelling. When the change of V$\sb{\rm m}$ was inhibited by K$\sp+$ channel blockers, the change of a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm Cl}$ was also inhibited. Based on the measured a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm Cl}$, Cl$\sp-$ was always at its electrochemical equilibrium in all of the control and experimental conditions. The conclusions of this study emphasize the passive distribution of hepatocyte intracellular Cl$\sp-$ with the changes of V$\sb{\rm m}$ induced by hypotonic stress and L-alanine uptake. Thus, the data strongly support the idea that the hypotonic shock- or L-alanine uptake-induced hyperpolarization of V$\sb{\rm m}$ provides electromotive force for the efflux of hepatocyte intracellular Cl$\sp-$. This could contribute to hepatocyte volume regulation during both hypotonic shock and organic solute transport.

No description available.

Various colloidal delivery systems, including polymeric nanoparticles, metal colloids, liposomes, and microemulsions have been reported to enhance the delivery of therapeutic agents following intranasal administration. However, the mechanisms involved in the uptake of these nanomaterials, especially those in the ultrafine size ranges (diameter < 20 nm) through nasal mucosa and their subsequent biodistribution in the body are not well characterized. The objectives of this study address the knowledge gap regarding ultrafine nanoparticle transfer in the nasal mucosa by quantifying nanoparticle uptake and biodistibution patterns in the presence and absence of known inhibitors of endocytic processes. The uptake of ~ 10 nm fluorescent quantum dots (QDs) was investigated by measuring the concentration of QDs following exposure to bovine respiratory and olfactory mucosal explants. An inductively coupled optical emission spectroscopy method was developed to measure the amount of QDs within the tissues. The results demonstrated that carboxylate-modified QDs (COOH-QDs) show ~2.5 fold greater accumulation in the epithelial and submucosal regions of the olfactory tissues compared to the respiratory tissues. Endocytic inhibitory studies showed that in respiratory tissues clathrin-dependent, macropinocytosis and caveolae-dependent endocytosis process were all involved in the uptake of COOH-QDs. Whereas in olfactory tissues, clathrin-dependent endocytosis was the major endocytic pathway involved in uptake of COOH-QDs. Additional energy-independent pathways appeared to also be active in the transfer of COOH-QDs into the olfactory mucosa. Interestingly, PEGylated quantum dots (PEG-QDs) of similar size ~15 nm were not internalized into the bovine nasal tissues. In vivo fluorescence imaging was used to study the biodistribution of quantum dots following nasal instillation in mice. These studies showed that majority of COOH-QDs remain in the nasal tissues for relatively long periods of time (up to 24 h) whereas PEG-QDs showed no such accumulation. Biodistribution studies of gold nanoparticles (~15 nm) in mice using micro-CT showed that gold nanoparticles were transferred to the posterior turbinate region and a fraction of the administered dose distributed to regions in close proximity to the olfactory bulb. Both NIR imaging and micro-CT imaging were useful tools for visualization of in vivo nanoparticle distribution. A diazepam-containing microemulsion (dispersed phase ~40 nm) was formulated to investigate the uptake mechanisms utilized for fluid-phase colloidal dispersions in the nasal mucosa. The resulting diazepam-containing microemulsion showed enhanced transfer of the drug into the bovine nasal respiratory and olfactory tissues. It is unclear if endocytosis of the fluid-phase nanodispersions played a role in drug absorption from the microemulsions in a manner similar to the uptake of solid-phase nanoparticles, however, since there was significant loss of the epithelial cell layer following exposure to the microemulsion formulation which likely altered the barrier properties of the epithelium. These studies have increased the fundamental understanding of ultrafine nanoparticle uptake in the nasal tissues and the resulting nanoparticle biodistribution patterns. While ultrafine nanoparticles may have limited application in the development of efficient drug delivery systems, an understanding of the size-dependent and tissue-dependent processes responsible for the uptake of particulates into mucosal tissues will contribute to the rational development of nanoparticulate drug delivery strategies investigating the nasal and other routes of administration.

Various concentrations of ferrous and ferric iron solutions were held at room temperature for 60 min before they were assayed for ferrous iron, which may be unstable due to oxidation. The ferrous and ferric solutions (in pH 2 HCl) were maintained as such for 60 min without the use of chelators. There was no significant oxidation of ferrous iron. Also, four different levels of each ferrous and ferric iron were injected into proximal duodenal loops of rat intestine and uptake was determined at four different time intervals. Two iron-replete rats were assigned to each of the treatments. The in situ experiments showed that iron was taken up rapidly from pH 2.0 solutions of ferrous and ferric iron. Maximum amount of iron was taken up in the first 10 min. Uptake of ferrous iron was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than uptake of ferric iron, and there were significant differences in total uptake among the four iron levels used. Uptake, absorption, and adsorption kinetics of both ferrous and ferric iron were determined in situ for both iron-replete and iron-deficient rats. Deficiency caused greater uptake and absorption, confirming a biological adaptation of these processes. Both uptake and absorption were greater for ferrous than for ferric iron and were possibly taken up by different pathways or by a ferrous-ferric pathway with preference for ferrous. Uptake and absorption kinetics were biphasic for both ferrous and ferric iron. The first phase demonstrated saturation kinetics and was followed by a nonsaturable phase at higher concentrations of luminal iron. Iron deficiency altered the uptake and absorption kinetics of ferrous and ferric iron, but not always in a similar manner, suggesting that ferrous and ferric iron were each taken up by a separate pathway. Indications were that enhanced absorption during deficiency was largely due to adaptation of ferric uptake. Iron adsorption was directly proportional to luminal iron concentration, but it was greater for ferric than for ferrous, possibly due to charge interactions. Iron deficiency caused increased adsorption of both ferrous and ferric iron, supporting the notion that adsorption acts to maintain iron in a form available for uptake.

Previous research regarding aquatic acidification has examined the protonation of the carbonate and does not consider calcium to be a limiting factor. This is the first study to suggest that pH may affect the uptake of calcium in crustacean gills. This project describes ion transport mechanisms present in the cell membranes of white river shrimp Litopenaeus setiferus gill epithelium, and the effects of pH on the uptake of calcium by these means. Partially purified membrane vesicles (PPMV) of shrimp gills were prepared through a homogenization process that has been used previously to define ion transport in crab and lobster gill tissues. In the current study, shrimp gill PPMV calcium uptake at 50 µM, and 250 µM was greatest at pH 7.0 (p=0.01, p=0.0001). A valinomycin/K+ induced membrane potential (PD) at pH 7.0 significantly increased (p=0.003) calcium uptake from that observed in the absence of a PD. An induced PD at pH 8.0 significantly increased (p=0.003) calcium uptake from that observed in the absence of a PD, however, was not significantly greater than uptake at pH 7.0 in the presence of a PD (p=0.05). Amiloride (2mM) treatments, and amiloride (2mM) + verapamil (100µM) cocktail treatments showed significant decrease in calcium uptake from the control (p=0.03), however, they were not different from each other. This indicates an electrogenic carrier with two driving forces: calcium concentration, and asymmetric exchange stoichiometry.

Perchlorate is a known inhibitor of the human thyroid gland. Perchlorate is destroyed by ubiquitous perchlorate-reducing bacteria. The bacteria often lack sufficient electron donor. Research was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between plants and perchlorate-reducing bacteria. To what degree can plant-produced electron donors stimulate perchlorate reduction in low organic carbon (LOC) and high organic carbon (HOC) soil? A complication is that plants have been shown to influence redox conditions which may inhibit perchlorate reduction. The removal of perchlorate in a flow-through reactor was monitored with variables of soil organic carbon, hybrid poplar trees, and bioaugmentation. The biodiversity was monitored using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Low oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was shown to indicate the capacity for greater perchlorate removal in soil. However, in planted LOC soil systems, evidence suggests that perchlorate reduction may also be possible at higher bulk redox conditions than previously observed. Increased hydraulic retention time was shown to both lower bulk ORP and increase perchlorate removal. Radiolabeled perchlorate was used to find that in planted systems as much as 11.7% of the influent perchlorate mass was taken up into the tree and 82% of the perchlorate taken up was accumulated in the leaves. The plant contribution to total perchlorate removal in nonbioaugmented LOC soil was 39%, with the balance of the removal being attributed to microbial reduction. In bioaugmented soil the microbial contribution to perchlorate removal was increased. Just planting poplar trees decreased the diversity of perchlorate reducers in the soil. However, when LOC soil was both planted and bioaugmented, the diversity of perchlorate reducers was not decreased. In HOC soil, the presence of an indigenous population of microorganisms competed with perchlorate reducers. At the increased ORP observed in planted HOC soil, the non-perchlorate-reducing bacteria appear to outcompete the perchlorate reducers and perchlorate removal is decreased. Engineering implications of this research are that perchlorate remediation in HOC soil does not benefit from planting hybrid poplar trees but that remediation in LOC soil is stimulated by planting and bioaugmentation.

The long-term effects of low and high NH4+/ NO3- uptake ratios in a system with rigorous control of pH and nitrogen concentration are poorly understood. In two replicate studies, two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were grown to maturity with three NH4+/ NO3- ratios in hydroponic solution: 0/100, 25/75, and 85/15%. Nitrogen was controlled at ample levels throughout the 70-d life cycle and pH was controlled at 5.8 ± 0.2. An equimolar ratio of NH4+ to Cl- was used to facilitate charge balance. Nitrogen consumption and transpiration were measured daily. Flag leaves were analyzed at 10-d intervals for total nitrogen, NO3--N, and essential elements. Essential nutrient elements in the biomass and seeds were measured at harvest. Yield components , nitrogen recovery, and nitrogen assimilation were calculated. There was no difference between the NO3- only (0/100) and the low NH4+ (25/75) treatments . The high NH4+ treatment (85/15) did not reduce vegetative biomass, but decreased seed yield and harvest index by 20%. The decrease was associated with a 23% reduction in seed number head-1. The high NH4+ treatment increased percent root mass by 50% and percent sterile heads by 800%, but increased assimilated N in the seeds by 30% and in the biomass by 130%. Supplemental additions of K were effective in preventing the reduction of K concentration in the wheat tissues typically caused by high NH4+, but the high NH4+ treatment decreased the concentrations of Ca, Mn, and Zn, and increased the concentrations of S, P, Fe, and B in the wheat tissue . The uptake of Mg and Cu was similar among all three treatments. Chloride concentrations in the flag leaves increased from 0.8% in the NO3- only treatment to 2.0% in the two NH4+ treatments. This research indicates that hydroponic wheat can be grown to maturity with high levels of NH4+ with a small reduction in grain yield.

Trace amounts of xenobiotic organic contaminants have been frequently identified in the environment, including surface water and wastewater streams, and some are even in drinking water. The concern of unintended ingestion by humans or wildlife of such compounds resulting from the uptake by plants has risen in recent years. Although the uptake of a variety of xenobiotic organic contaminants by plants has been reported and the contaminants are found in the fruits in some cases, the differences between plant species are not fully understood. The emphasis of this research is to investigate the unique uptake ability of zucchini that has been reported repeatedly in recent years. Xylem saps, collected using a pressure chamber technique, were used to determine the values of Transpiration Stream Concentration Factor (TSCF), the ratio of the contaminant concentration in the xylem to that in the solution. Soybean "hoyt," squash "zephyr," and zucchini "gold rush" were used to compare the uptake ability of each plant. The root tissue was analyzed for total carbon and lipid content. Xylem sap was analyzed for total organic carbon and protein contents. The solubilities of the compounds in the xylem sap and deionized water were also determined using a modified shake flask method. From the measurement of TSCF, the uptake of hydrophobic contaminants in zucchini "gold rush" was found to be three-to tenfold of the other two plant species. The lipid content of the root tissue from zucchini "gold rush" was twice as much of that in soybean and squash "zephyr," indicating enhanced adsorption of the hydrophobic compounds. The solubility of triclocarban in the xylem sap of zucchini "gold rush" was also twice the amount of that in soybean xylem sap. The enhanced solubility could be a result of high protein content measured in zucchini "gold rush" xylem sap, which may be increasing the facilitated transport of the hydrophobic compounds. The data generated in this study will be used to better understand the mechanistic differences associated with the plant uptake of organic contaminants by different species. This information can also be used in the selection of the plant species used in risk assessment studies and phytoremediation studies.

To examine the effect of buttermilk fractions on growth, iron transport, and uptake, Caco-2 cells (human colon adenocarcinoma) were grown in a bicameral chamber. The Caco-2 cell culture system is a useful model to study micronutrient utilization in the human enterocyte, because Caco-2 cells continuously differentiate and form a monolayer, which has high polarity, a well-developed brush border, and a tight junction. Iron bioavailabilty in various milks is very different depending upon milk composition. The fat fraction especially is known to be associated with iron absorption, because the fat fraction has milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which contains bioactive molecules such as sphingolipids. Composition of buttermilk that was concentrated by 10 K molecular sieving (MS) or by bacterial fermentation (Lactococcus latis PN-l) was reduced in lactose concentration and increased in protein concentration. Percent fat in MS buttermilk was concentrated to two times higher than in the original buttermilk (P < 0.05). Growth of Caco-2 cells with molecular sieved (MS) or fermented (FM) buttermilk in the growth medium was not significantly different. Transport and uptake of 59Fe was performed with/without cold iron (1 mmol/L) by iron-depleted or iron-repleted cells. Molecular sieved or fermented buttermilk and ganglioside or sphingomyelin standards with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) were added to the Hank's balance salt solution (HBSS) in the apical chamber. With cold iron, addition of MS and FM buttermilk (1, 2, or 3 percent) increased 59Fe transport across iron-repleted cells (P < 0.01). Without cold iron, ganglioside depressed 59Fe transport (P < 0.01). Uptake of 59Fe was not significantly affected by buttermilk concentrates; however, more effective uptake was shown across iron-depleted cells. It is not clear from these studies that buttermilk fractions or their components influence iron uptake or transport by Caco-2 cell cultures.