In this study NO2 and O3 gases which are the secondary pollutants in ambient air were sampled with designed passive tubes. The collected samples were extracted for UV-VIS spectrometric analysis. NO2 gases were converted to NO2- ions by extracting with water and then this solution was colored with Saltzman reagent (5:1 sulfanilamide and N-(1 naphthly)-ethlyene-diamine dihydrochloride). Then the absorbance of the solution was measured at 537 nm. O3 was extracted with 3-metyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrozone hydrochloride solution which gives yellow color after extraction. The absorbance of the solution was measured at 430 nm. Before starting the experiment, the exposure time was optimized. For this purpose, 15 days in winter and 65 days in summer samplings were conducted. For both NO2 and O3 it was decided that 7 days of sampling period was required as an optimum sampling time in order to reach maximum collection efficiency values for both pollutants. To determine the uptake rates of the passive tubes, NO2 was sampled in fifteen weeks and O3 was sampled in thirteen weeks. During each sampling period passive tubes were placed nearby the active air sampling stations of Refik Saydam Hygiene Center, Air Quality Control and Research Laboratory in Ulus and Ke&ccedil / i&ouml / ren. Then uptake rates of NO2 and O3 passive tubes were determined by comparing passive and active sampler data. The uptake rate was calculated for NO2 and O3 as 0.91 x 103 cm3 h-1 and 1.71 x 103, respectively. Since sampling was done in ambient air the effect of meteorological parameters should be determined. Each meteorological parameters, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity, temperature, pressure and solar ration were correlated with uptake rates. It was found out that none of these parameters had a significant effect on NO2 passive tube uptake rate. However, O3 passive tubes were affected from temperature, solar radiation and relative humidity. Temperature and solar radiation showed positive correlation with uptake rate, on the contrary, relative humidity was inversely correlated with uptake rate. Finally the pollution map of Ankara was created by taking samples from forty points in the city.

No description available.

Title from title page of PDF (University of Missouri--St. Louis, viewed Mar. 3, 2010). Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-127).

The main goal of this study was to assess the impact that nitrate and light have on the relationship between the gene expression of the enzyme nitrate reductase and the incorporation of nitrate in the cosmopolitan diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana, both in laboratory experiments and in natural environments. Continuous cultures were grown at different nitrate (NO3-) concentrations (i.e., 60, 120, and 400 µM) to evaluate their effects on the expression levels of different genes of the nitrogen metabolic pathway (i.e., nitrate and ammonium transporters, nitrate and nitrite reductases, glutamine synthetases II and III). Semi-continuous cultures were grown under different irradiances (i.e., 50, 110, 200, and 320 µmol photon cm-2 s-1) to assess the influence of light intensity (irradiance) on the relationship between the expression of those genes, uptake, and assimilation of nitrate. The expression of all of the genes that were tested decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at the highest concentration of NO3- (i.e., 400 µM), with nitrate transporters showing the most pronounced change from 27.97 to 0.59 fold change cell-1 x 10-6, at 60 and 400 µM NO3- concentrations respectively. Ammonium transporters were detected at all concentrations of NO3-, suggesting that cells are always ready to metabolize ammonium. Growth was limited (µ = 0.99 d-1) by the low irradiance treatment, was maximum (µ = 2.04 d-1) at 200 µmol photon cm-2 s-1 and was inhibited (µ = 1.54 d-1) at the highest irradiance. These trends were reflected in gene expression and uptake rates, with minimum values at the lowest and highest irradiance levels. However, results from the enzymatic assay did not show any significant differences between treatments (p > 0.05). The trends observed in the enzymatic rates could be explained by the gene expression of NO3- reductase and the uptake and growth rates in a multiple regression analysis (R2 = 0.66, p < 0.05). The results of this study show that uptake is independent of gene expression, probably because of a decoupling between transcription and protein synthesis. Not all of the newly synthesized transcripts will inevitably be translated into proteins. And even if they were, there could be post-translational mechanisms preventing the enzymes to become active. This indicates that uptake can be independent of the expression. It was attempted to measure the expression of T. pseudonana genes involved in the metabolism of NO3- in natural diatom assemblages. The use of gene expression as a proxy for metabolic processes carried out by a phytoplankton assemblage in the field is limited and depends on environmental factors, since the current methods of assessing expression rely on genomic sequences that are particularly variable in phytoplankton. The assessment of gene expression provides a useful insight into physiological studies of phytoplankton, and it should be complemented with other measurements, such as the biomass and taxonomic composition of the assemblage for a more complete picture of marine ecosystem nutrient dynamics. / Graduate

This dissertation focuses on a variety of vadose zone processes that impact water table fluctuations. The development of vadose zone process conceptualization has been limited due to both the lack of recognition of the importance of the vadose zone and the absence of suitable field data. Recent studies have, however, shown that vadose zone soil moisture dynamics, especially in shallow water table environments, can have a significant effect on processes such as infiltration, recharge to the water table, and evapotranspiration. This dissertation, hence, attempts to elucidate approaches for modeling vadose zone soil moisture dynamics. The ultimate objective is to predict different vertical and horizontal hydrological fluxes. The first part of the dissertation demonstrates a new methodology using soil moisture and water table data collected along a flow transect. The methodology was found to be successful in the estimation of hydrological fluxes such as evapotranspiration, infiltration, runoff, etc. The observed dataset was also used to verify an exponential model developed to quantify the ground water component of total evapotranspiration. This analysis was followed by a study which analyzed the impact of soil moisture variability in the vadose zone on water table fluctuations. It was found that antecedent soil moisture conditions in the vadose zone greatly affected the specific yield values, causing a broad range of water table fluctuations for similar boundary fluxes. Hence, use of a constant specific yield value can produce inaccurate results. Having gained insight into the process of evapotranspiration and specific yield, a threshold based model to determine evapotranspiration and subsequent water table fluctuation was conceptualized and validated. A discussion of plant root water uptake and its impact on vadose zone soil moisture dynamics is presented in the latter half of this dissertation. A methodology utilizing soil moisture and water table data to determine the root water uptake from different sections of roots is also described. It was found that, unlike traditional empirical root water uptake models, the uptake was not only proportional to the root fraction, but was also dependent on the ambient soil moisture conditions. A modeling framework based on root hydraulic characteristics is provided as well. Lastly, a preliminary analysis of observed data indicated that, under certain field conditions, air entrapment and air pressurization can significantly affect the observed water table values. A modeling technique must be developed to correct such observations.

The lymphatic system has fundamental physiological roles in maintaining fluid homeostasis, immune cell trafficking and lipid transport from the small intestine to the venous circulation. Lymphatic vessels are the main functional organ responsible for the diverse transport roles the system plays. Unlike the blood vasculature, the lymphatic system does not have a central pump, such as the heart, and relies on a variety of factors to move lymph through. It was long thought that only external factors, such as skeletal muscle contraction and lymph formation, played a role in the functional transport capacity of these vessels. With the advancement of imaging capabilities (both hardware and software), it has become clear in the past two decades or so that the main factor in driving lymph transport is the ability of these vessels to intrinsically contract whereby each vessel is comprised of a chain of ‘mini pumps’ in series. The functional capacity of these vessels is thus now understood to be primarily determined by this pumping activity that has been shown to be regulated by various mechanical and biochemical cues. Lymphatic vessel dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of diseases including many lipid related pathologies and a neglected tropical disease known as lymphatic filariasis. While it has been possible to study the vessel function in the context of fluid drainage and immune cell trafficking, the capability to understand the role of lymphatic vessels in lipid transport has not been available due to the lack of experimental animal models and acquisition systems. As part of this thesis, we sought to develop an experimental animal model along with hardware and software tools to investigate the interplay between lymphatics and their lipid content. We report the first functional measurements of how vessels respond to elevated lipid loads. We further utilized our engineering expertise to develop an experimental platform allowing us to further understand the parasite known as B. malayi that migrates to and resides in lymphatic vessels.

Background: The need to find the underlying causes to handball injuries and to develop injury prevention programs is great. In other sports a relationship between maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) and injury have been seen. Purpose: To examine the relationship between VO2 max and/or lactate threshold and injuries in elite handball players. Methods: A prospective, non experimental correlational study was conducted. Thirty elite handball players and handball high school players were included. Injuries and test results for VO2-max, lactate threshold and potential confounders ( re-injury of the previous injury, re- injury of previous injury of the lower limb, age, BMI and legs and core strength for the high school players) were registered during the season 2014-2015. A bivariate analysis using Spearman's rank correlation calculation was conducted. Twenty-six respectively 11 of the players had data on VO2-max, respectively lactate threshold. Confounders that showed connection with injuries or injuries in the lower extremity were analyzed for the bivariate correlation with VO2-max and lactate threshold. Results: No significant correlation was found between VO2-max respectively lactate threshold and injury. Significant correlations were seen between previous injury respectively previous injury to the lower extremity and to get a re-injury. A significant correlation were seen between re-injury of a previous injury in the lower limb and VO2-max. Conclusions: Significant associations were seen between re- injury of earlier injury and between re-injury of the lower extremity and VO2-max and should therefore be considered in the clinical practice. Larger studies are needed to clarify the relationship between VO2-max and lactate threshold and injuries. / Bakgrund: Behovet att hitta bakomliggande orsaker till handbollsskador för att kunna utforma skadepreventiva åtgärder är stort. I andra idrotter har ett samband mellan maximal syreupptagningsförmåga (VO2-max) och skador kunnat ses. Syfte: Att undersöka samband mellan VO2-max och/eller laktattröskelvärde och skador hos elithandbollspelare. Metod: En prospektiv icke experimentell sambandsstudie utfördes. Trettio elithandbollsspelare och handbollsgymnasiespelare inkluderades. Skador och testresultat för VO2-max och laktattröskel samt tänkbara konfounders (återskada av tidigare generell skada, återskada av tidigare skada i nedre extremitet, ålder, BMI och ben och bålstyrka för gymnasiespelarna) registrerades under matchsäsongen 2014-2015. En bivariat analys med Spearmans rangkorrelationsberäkning utfördes. Tjugosex respektive 11 av spelarna hade data på VO2-max respektive laktattröskelvärde. Konfounders som visade samband med generella skador eller skador i nedre extremiteten analyserades bivariat för samband med VO2-max och laktattröskelvärde. Resultat: Inga signifikanta samband fanns mellan VO2-max respektive laktattröskelvärde och skador. Signifikanta samband fanns för tidigare generella skador respektive tidigare skada i nedre extremiteten och att återfå densamma samt mellan återskada av tidigare skada i nedre extremiteten och VO2-max. Konklusion: Signifikanta samband fanns för återskada av tidigare skada samt mellan återskada i nedre extremiteten och VO2-max vilket bör beaktas i den kliniska vardagen. Större studier behövs för att klargöra det sambandet mellan VO2-max respektive laktattröskel och skador.

All the eighteen Frankia strains isolated from ten different actinorhizal host plants showed uptake hydrogenase activity. The activity of this enzyme is further increased by addition of nickel. Nickel also enhanced the degree of hydrogenase transfer into the membranes of Frankia, indicating the role of this metal in the processing of this enzyme. The uptake hydrogenase of Frankia is most probably a Ni-Fe hydrogenase. Genome characterization revealed the presence of two hydrogenase genes (syntons) in Frankia, which are distinctively separated in all the three available Frankia genomes. Both hydrogenase syntons are also commonly found in other Frankia strains. The structural, regulatory and accessory genes of both hydrogenase synton #1 and #2 are arranged closely together, but in a clearly contrasting organization. Hydrogenase synton #1 and #2 of Frankia are phylogenetically divergent and that hydrogenase synton #1 is probably ancestral among the actinobacteria. Hydrogenase synton #1 (or synton #2) of Frankia sp. CcI3 and F. alni ACN14a are similar in gene arrangement, content and orientation, while the syntons are both reduced and rearranged in Frankia sp. EANpec. The hydrogenases of Frankia sp. CcI3 and F. alni ACN14a are phylogenetically grouped together but never with the Frankia sp. EAN1pec, which is more closely related to the non-Frankia bacteria than Frankia itself. The tree topology is indicative of a probable gene transfer to or from Frankia that occurred before the emergence of Frankia. All of the available evidence points to hydrogenase gene duplication having occurred long before development of the three Frankia lineages. The uptake hydrogenase synton #1 of Frankia is more expressed under free-living conditions whereas hydrogenases synton #2 is mainly involved in symbiotic interactions. The uptake hydrogenase of Frankia can also be manipulated to play a larger role in increasing the efficiency of nitrogen fixation in the root nodules of the host plants, there by minimizing the need for environmentally unfriendly and costly fertilizers. The hydrogen-evolving hydrogenase activity was recorded in only four Frankia strains: F. alni UGL011101, UGL140102, Frankia sp. CcI3 and R43. After addition of 15mM Nicl2, activity was also detected in F. alni UGL011103, Frankia sp. UGL020602, UGL020603 and 013105. Nickel also increased the activity of hydrogen-evolving hydrogenases in Frankia, indicating that Frankia may have different types of hydrogen-evolving hydrogenases, or that the hydrogen-evolving hydrogenases may at least be regulated differently in different Frankia strains. The fact that Frankia can produce hydrogen is reported only recently. The knowledge of the molecular biology of Frankia hydrogenase is, therefore, of a paramount importance to optimize the system in favor of hydrogen production. Frankia is an attractive candidate in search for an organism efficient in biological hydrogen production since it can produce a considerable amount of hydrogen.

Background: Sex and stress steroids are metabolized to 3a-hydroxy-pregnane-steroid metabolites such as allopregnanolone (Allo) and tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC). Allo and THDOC are neuroactive steroids that are metabolized in the brain and act in brain as potent positive GABAA receptor function modulators. Allo as well as THDOC levels increase during stress. Allo has been associated with a number of symptoms and malfunctions such as impaired memory function and negative mood symptoms in a subgroup of individuals both for animals and humans. Pregnane steroids with 3b-hydroxy-configuration (3b-steroids) have been shown to reduce the Allo enhanced GABA effect. Aims: The aims for the present thesis were to investigate the effect of 3b-steroids on the GABA mediated GABAA receptor function in presence of positive GABAA receptor modulators. Further, the regional variances between the 3b-steroids as well as the mechanism of the effect were studied. Finally, the effect of stress steroid metabolites on the GABAA receptor function was investigated. Results: 3b-OH-5a-pregnane-20-one reduced the Allo enhanced GABA mediated chloride ion uptake into cortical microsacs. The 3b-isomer reduced the efficacy of Allo without shift the concentration response curve. It is therefore suggested that the 3b-isomer has a non-competitive effect. Further, it was shown that the 3b-isomer reduced the Allo effect in a selective way since the 3b-isomer did not interact with other positive modulators or with GABA itself. Five tested 3b-steroids reduced the Allo enhanced GABA mediated chloride ion uptake in cerebral cortex and hippocampus as well as the Allo prolongation on spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in preoptic nucleus. In cerebellum on the other hand the 3b-steroids showed to have weaker or no effect compared to the other tested regions. Interestingly, in absence of Allo, two of the 3b-steroids positively modulated the GABA stimulated GABAA receptor function. In absence of Allo, 5b-pregnane-3b,20(R)-diol increased the desensitization rate of current response. In contrast to the reducing effect on the Allo induced prolongation on sIPSCs, the effect of the 3b-steroid on GABA application, was not altered in presence of Allo. The mechanism of the 3b-steroid is therefore suggested being desensitization dependent in contrast to Allo, which has been suggested to decrease the GABA unbinding rate. In contrast to the enhanced effect of Allo, glucocorticoid metabolites reduced the GABA mediated chloride ion uptake in a concentration dependent way. The results in present thesis indicate that both sex and stress steroid metabolites interact with the GABAA receptor function. The knowledge that diversity of endogenous steroids interact with the GABAA receptor function is of importance for further understanding of different sex and stress steroid related symptoms and syndromes.

Phytoplankton dynamics and chemical characteristics of the euphotic zone were measured from 1998-2000 (an El Niño/La Niña cycle) at the 5 major stations along Line P. Near-shelf and offshore stations exhibited low seasonality in chlorophyll and moderate seasonality in particulate organic carbon (POC) production. During the 1998 El Niño, June was characterized by low chlorophyll and POC productivity due to nitrate depletion. In contrast, during the 1999 La Niña, and in 2000, higher POC productivity and nitrate occurred in June. During 1999, chlorophyll and POC productivity were similar to 1998 in late summer. Near-shelf biomass was highest in June and lowest in Feb. for the near-shelf stations. High nitrate, low chlorophyll (HNLC) stations had the highest chlorophyll in Feb. followed by June. The coccolithophore assemblage was usually numerically dominated by Emiliania huxleyi, particularly in June. Along the transect, coccolithophore abundance was much higher in June during the 1998 El Niño than in the 1999 La Niña, with Aug./Sept. abundance of both years being very low. Higher abundances were measured along the transect in June and the late summer of 2000 with sporadic ‘blooms’ of >1000 cells ml⁻¹ at some stations. Particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) production was high along the transect during June 1998, and low during both winters, June 1999 and during late summers of 1998 and 1999. There was an increase in diatom biomass and >20 µm POC production during the 1998 El Niño, specifically in the farthest offshore HNLC stations, yet diatoms were rarely found to dominate total phytoplankton biomass or production. However, there were some sporadic examples of anomalously high diatom biomass (carbon and abundance) as well as >20 µm POC production, specifically at P12 in Aug./Sept 2000. The same major diatom species were found throughout Line P (near-shelf, P16, and HNLC). Integrated silica production measured by ³²Si ranged from 0.2 to 4.7 mmol Si m⁻² d⁻¹ between 1999-2000. Silicic acid and nitrate were never limiting at all stations in Feb. and generally increased in concentration along Line P during all seasons.