Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Water spinach'

Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
Heavy metal contamination tends to be a problem in inner city agricultural areas and gardens. High levels of certain heavy metals have been found in the soil and vegetables in the Cape Town Metropolitan area. The aim of this project was twofold. Firstly to ascertain whether water (ground or surface) was responsible for the heavy metal problem found in vegetables in the Philippi and Kraaifontein-Joostenbergvlakte farming areas in Cape Town; and secondly to evaluate the efficacy of two possible remediation methods, namely chelation (with EDTA) and precipitation (using phosphate), aimed at tackling the problem. In order to achieve this a water survey and greenhouse experiment were conducted. The water survey involved collecting a number of samples; both from surface dams and boreholes, from the two farming areas. Results showed minimal heavy metals in both, and therefore ruled this out as the source of the heavy metal problem. The greenhouse sand culture experiment tested the effects of the two remediation methods on the growth, development and elemental content of turnip and spinach plants treated with two cadmium and lead concentrations. In summary, Cd reduced growth more than Pb; Cd accumulated in roots and leaves, and Pb in roots. Several treatments, both metal and mitigation enhanced the chlorophyll content. The difference between the EDTA and phosphate mitigation treatments were not significant in the case of cadmium but in the case of lead, high phosphate resulted in increased growth. The large variation of results in this study, and indeed those of the available literature, indicate that the remedial treatments investigated here are not necessarily the most effective and that other treatments should be investigated to control the uptake of either cadmium or lead, as agricultural soils in future become more contaminated with either or both of these heavy metals.

Myelin content is an important marker for neuropathology; however, direct imaging of myelin is difficult. Consequently, quantitative T2 based myelin water imaging measures myelin content indirectly by probing the property of the surrounding water. Typically, a lengthy multi-echo spin-echo sequence is used to obtain decay curves that are fitted to produce T2 distributions. In white matter, two peaks are observed, one with short and one with long T2 associated with water trapped between the myelin lipid bilayers and intra/extracellular water. The ratio of myelin water peak to the entire distribution is called the myelin water fraction (MWF) and correlates well the myelin content. This thesis has two parts. The first half deals with the use of compressed sensing (CS) to accelerate the lengthy sequence used in myelin water imaging. The CS CPMG sequence was implemented in 2D utilizing group-sparse reconstruction in order to take advantage of the correlation between echoes. Simulated undersampling and real undersampling experiments were performed. It was found that acceleration up to 2× was possible without impacting MWF map quality, wherever adequate SNR was available. This is followed by a brief investigation into 3D CS CPMG, where similar results were achieved. The second part of the thesis focuses on myelin water imaging in the presence of myelin debris. Because MWF is associated with the water trapped in between the myelin lipid bilayers, the reading depends heavily on myelin morphology. I compared MWF to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) derived myelin fraction using a rat injury model at normal (normal myelin), 3 weeks post-injury (a large amount of myelin debris), and 8 weeks post-injury (myelin debris partially cleared). I found that myelin water fraction correlated strongly with the amount of myelin lipid bilayers in both intact myelin and myelin debris. From the TEM images, it appears that myelin debris consists of areas of either normally spaced myelin or large watery spaces. No significant difference was found in myelin period among the three groups.
Science, Faculty of
Physics and Astronomy, Department of
Graduate

Multi-echo T2 relaxation measurements of the human spinal cord (SC) reveal a short T2 pool of water believed to arise from water trapped between myelin bilayers, where the proportion of this water to the total water signal is called the myelin water fraction (MWF). In the present study, MWF were measured in the healthy human cervical spine at the C4-C6 vertebral levels in vivo using a 3D modified 32 echo CPMG sequence to acquire axial slices perpendicular to the cord. Volunteers were recruited in two age ranges, under 30 years old and over 50 years old, and a subset of both groups were scanned twice to test reproducibility. Mean MWF in the dorsal and lateral column WM of the group under 30 years of age was 0.29 (0.01) (mean(SE)), which agrees with previously reported MWF values in the cervical spine. The mean absolute difference between two scans was 0.06 or 26%. A negative correlation between WM MWF and age was hinted at in these findings, however more subjects are required to improve statistical power. This study paves the way for the use of 3D myelin water imaging in the cervical spine at 3.0T for the assessment of SC WM pathology.

Myelin water imaging is a quantitative magnetic resonance imaging technique that can be used as an in vivo biomarker for myelin in the central nervous system. In 2007, a paradigm shift took place when the standard sequence for myelin water imaging changed from a multi-echo spin echo sequence to a gradient and spin echo (GRASE) sequence. The GRASE sequence has so far only been applied to brain imaging, and reproducibility between different scan vendors has not been assessed. In this study I present the first implementation of myelin water imaging using GRASE in human cervical spinal cord. The reproducibility of myelin water imaging in the spinal cord was found to be high (coefficient of variation = 6.1%, Cronbach’s α = 0.89). A multicenter reproducibility study of myelin water imaging in brain between two scan vendors (Siemens and Philips) was also performed. Results from the two scanners were found to be highly correlated but with a significant offset in myelin water fraction of 4.3%. Together, these two studies provide strong evidence of the reproducibility of myelin water imaging. It is an important step forward in the development of bringing myelin water imaging to the mainstream.
Science, Faculty of
Physics and Astronomy, Department of
Graduate

碩士
國立臺灣師範大學
生物學系
84
The properties of pre-existing amylolytic enzyme in the endosperm of water sp-inach were investigated.water spinach is a dicotyledon plant,and the seed contains cotyledon and a starch rich endosperm. During germination , the endospermtissue is progressively collapsed and disappeared. Meanwhile a fraction of am-ylase activity which could not effect by cycloheximide treatment was detectedin the soaking solution. Thus the enzyme seems likely to be pre-existing inthe seed rather than de novo synthesis durin germination.After electrophoresis,three amylolytic-activity bands were presented in the 6.5% native polyacryla-mide gels containing 0.1 % (w/v) poato starch. The enzymes in socking solutionwere purified by the serial steps of ultrafiltration , streptomycin sulfateprecipitation, hydroxylapatite chromatography and fast protein purificationliquid chromatography (FPLC). Two isoenzymes were purified and named as amy I-a and amy I-b. The molecular weight of both enzymes were closely and they wereestimated at the value of 47.5 KD and 46.3 KD respectively by 10% SDS-PAGE.The purified enzyme were classified as alpha-amylase by substrate specificity,digested products analysis . According to the assay of enzyme-substrate speci-ficity,we could know that purified enzyme were very high substrate specificitywith potato starch beta-limit dextrin , and low substrate specificity withglycogen、dextrin . Both enzymes exhibit the optimum pH and temperature are atthe range of pH 5.5-7.5 and 40C-50C respectively. In addition , amyI-a exhibithigher the theromostability and sub strate affinity than amy I-b. The purifiedamy I-b were reversibly inactivated by oxidation in the absence of reducingagents. The activity was restorD by adding reductant,such as dithiothreitoland 2-mercaptoethanol. While the activity of amy I-a is stable from oxidation and will not affect by the present of reductant.

碩士
國立屏東科技大學
環境工程與科學系所
106
In Taiwan, with the continuous development of industry and commerce, plants and industrial areas are adjacent to agricultural lands. These agricultural crops, which are at high risk of pollution, eventually become human food. Agricultural land is introduced into irrigation channels as water for irrigation, and the type of pollution is usually heavy metals, and pollution is remedied. The purpose is to reduce the concentration of heavy metals in the soil below the statutory regulatory standards. Rice is a large crop in Taiwan. After the milled rice rice husks are used as fuel and compost, they can be made into biochar by pyrolysis to create economic value. This study uses different proportions of rice husk char. 0%, 10%, 15%, and 20% were added to soils contaminated by heavy metals. Pot experiments were conducted to compare the concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn in shoots and in the soil under test. The proportion changes. The experiment showed that Cd was the lowest in group A with 15 % rice hull charcoal, compared with the control group, from 27.7% to 17.8% (reduced by 5.9%), and was lowest in group B with 20% addition, compared with the control group. The comparison decreased from 24.0% to 14.7% (a decrease of 9.3%). Cu In both groups A and B, the addition of 15% was the lowest, which was a decrease of 3.8% and 3.7%, respectively. The concentration of other metals was 0.7 to 5.8%. The control group showed a decrease of 0-1.9%. It was found that the upper part of the leeks exhibited a higher concentration of Cd and Cu than the other heavy metals, while the rice husk char reduced the absorption of heavy metals and performed best for Cd and Cu.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
園藝學研究所
93
Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.) is an important summer vegetable in Taiwan, and most of the cultivar/lines are not resistant to white rust disease especially growing under high humidity and high temperature. Besides, the varieties (lines) of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.) were not clearly classified in Taiwan. The objective of this study was to identify the genetic relationship among the 41 water spinach accessions through numerical analysis of the vegetative characters in the juvenile stage and to estimate the resistance/susceptibility to white rust disease. The vegetative characters investigated were leaf color, shoot length of cotyledon stage, node number of cotyledon stage, shoot length of leaf stage, node number of leaf stage, shoot length of sowing after 35 days, node number of sowing after 35 days, leaf length, leaf width, leaf length/leaf width, cotyledon length, cotyledon width, cotyledon length/cotyledon width, relative shoot biomass, relative leaf length biomass, relative leaf width biomass, relative node number biomass, internodes length. Using cluster analysis of the 17 vegetative characters, 41 accessions were divided into four main groups, and the accessions within groups displayed diversity; besides, the first three groups clustered together before they clustered with the forth group. The first group (I) included the accessions such as ‘Pyng Dong Da Yeh’ line with the morphology as big cotyledon (both width and length), tall and straight plant type, dark-green plant color, and lanceolate leaf shape. Accessions in the second group (II) were plants shorter than those in the first group with light green plant color, short internodes, hastate or long ovate leaf shape, such as ‘Bair Ku Ching Yeh’ line. The plant types of the third group (III) were dark-green color, and ovate leaf shape, such as ‘Jwu Mu Dan’ line. The plants of the forth group (IV) were shortest and yellow-green with cordate leaf shape, such as ‘Bair Ku’. The ordination pattern of the principal component analysis was similar to the grouping pattern of the cluster analysis, and the first three principal components derived form the principal component analysis explained 72.37% of the observed variation. The 10 ‘Bair Ku’ accessions were distributed into two groups, II and IV. As we analyzed the 10 accessions by the principal component analysis on the basis of the 17 characters, the first three principal components derived from the principal component analysis explained 88.7% of the observed variation and four characters were selected as principle components. The four characters were shoot length, cotyledon length/cotyledon wide, relative shoot biomass and leaf length. The dendrogram derived from the four characters resembled that derived from 17 vegetative characters. The disease rating among the accessions were significant different and were divided into 6 grades. Accession with grade 0.01-1 was referred to the tolerant lines such as ‘Pyng Dong Dah Yeh’, accession with grade 1.01-2 was referred to the susceptible lines such as ‘Taoyuan No. 1’, whereas accession with grade 2.01-4 was referred to moderate susceptible lines such as ‘Jwu Mu Dan 99''’. Most of the accessions tested in this study were tolerant to moderate susceptible. Results of disease ratings and cluster analysis among accessions were not related. The tolerant of accessions were ‘Jwu yeh’, ‘CV6 99''’, ‘7-4 Bair Ku Ching Yeh’, ‘Bair Ku Ching Yeh-2 8-2(2)’, ‘4M Yo 2 38’, ‘Bair A1’, ‘Ywu Dan 1-2(2)’. Those accessions diverted in different groups. Besides, a significant influence of different Albugo source to water spinach was also concluded. Soil from Albugo infected field was collected and tested. Soil from ‘Taichung’ and ‘Composite’ resulted in the most severe ratings. However, all the disease symptoms were the same. The infection of white rust disease caused the decrease of total chlorophyll content. ‘Jwu Mu Dan 99''’, a susceptible line, reduced 53%; however, there was no significant difference in chlorophyll content was observed in tolerant lines such as ‘Bair A1’ and ‘Ywu Dan 1-2(2)’ and ‘Jwu yeh’. The symptoms of the infected leaves of ‘Jwu yeh’ and ‘Ywu Dan 1-2(2)’ contained yellow halos on the upper (adaxial) epidermis and underneath white pustules on the lower (abaxial) epidermis, but that of ‘Bair-A1’ infected leaves only had yellow halos on it. This finding indicated difference resistance mechanism involved in these two tolerant lines. The decreased of chlorophyll content and disease ratings were positive correlated suggested that the content of chlorophyll could be a resistance indicator when water spinach infected with white rust disease.

碩士
朝陽科技大學
環境工程與管理系
106
Gallium (Ga), indium (In) and Molybdenum (Mo) are emerging element, and are used in many applications, such as optical, magnetic, electronic materials and semiconductor materials. Taiwan with its dense semiconductors and electronics industries discharges vast amounts of wastewater containing Ga, In and Mo metals annually. There is little research on the effects of Ga, In and Mo-contaminated wastewater discharge on soil accumulation and impact on plants. Therefore, in this study, the bonding patterns of soil before and after cultivation of water spinach by Ga, In, and Mo-contaminated soils were investigated. It is discovered that Ga was partially released in the iron and manganese oxidation state due to its characteristic relationship. The rest were in the residual state, indicating that the mobility of Ga in soil was not high. The bonding states of In were in the carbonate state, the iron manganese oxidation state, and the organic state. Relevant releases were 1%, 73% and 10% respectively, in which release was mostly in the iron-manganese oxidation state. The bonding state of Mo was mainly in the organic state, followed by the exchange state. The results of Ga,In and Mo-expressing bonding patterns were verified with the results of the pot experiment in this study. Ga and In had little effect on the water spinach in the pot experiment of this study, as they were influenced by their own characteristics. Even though Mo is one of the nutrients for plant growth, but when its concentration in plants exceeds 5 mg kg-1, Mo may affect plant’s growth. The Hazard Index (HI) of Mo is greater than 1, but due to the growth cycle of vegetables and people's omnivorous diets, the general exposure to high concentrations of Mo in vegetables is low. It must be noted that if Mo and In (whose HI is less than 1) accumulates in plants for a long time, they could cause considerable harm to the human body via the food chain.

碩士
中山醫學大學
公共衛生學系碩士班
96
This study employed Ipomoea aquatica (water spinach) in hydroponics system to investigate the effects of cadmium and zinc speciation on phytotoxicity and heavy metals accumulation. The heavy metals speciation was estimated by a aquatic chemical equilibrium model, MINEQL+. First, the influences of cadmium speciation on the growth of I. aquatica and on its cadmium accumulation in the presence and absence of EDTA (chelating agent) and Triton X-100 (TX-100, nonionic surfactant) were investigated. Second, the interaction of cadmium and zinc speciation on the growth of I. aquatica also was evaluated. Results indicate that the root length was a more sensitive parameter than root weight and shoot we indicated that ight. Root elongation was affected by Cd in the Cd-EDTA solution and TX-100 in the Cd-TX-100 solution. Both the root length and the root biomass were negatively correlated with the total soluble Cd ions. In contrast, Cd phytoextraction of I. aquatic was correlated with the aqueous Cd ions in the free and complex forms rather than in the chelating form. Additionally, the high Cd bioconcentration factors of I. aquatica (375 to 2227 L kg-1 for roots, 45 to 144 L kg-1 for shoots) imply that I. aquatica is a potential aquatic plant to remediate Cd-contaminated wastewater. Similarly, the metal accumulation and plant biomass of in I. aquatica significantly correlated with Cd and Zn in the free phases (free ion and complex form). The interaction of cadmium and zinc speciation is unlike to affect the growth and metal accumulation of I. aquatica.

碩士
國立師範大學
生物學研究所
81
The effects of light and various growth regulators on the hydrolase activities in the cotyledon and endosperm of germinating water spinach were investigated. For endosperm, the treatments of gibberellin, 6-benzyl-aminopurine, and light irradiation do not influenced the activities of both α- and β-amylases. For cotyledon, the treatment of BAP is more effective than GA in inducing the activities of protease and acid phosphatase. During germination, very high activities of both α- and β-amylases were detected in the endosperms. but they decay very rapidly in the first 1.5 days. This decay can be slowed down by cycloheximide treatment, indicating that at least one newly synthesized protein is required for this decay. The treatment of cycloheximide also suppresses the otherwise increase of hydrolase activities in the cotyledon. This result demonstrates that the increase of enzymatic activities is due to a de novo synthesis of protein. Four amylolytic isozymes,Amy-Ⅰ, Ⅱ,Ⅲ,Ⅳ were separated and observed on native gel by activity staining after electrophoresis. Amy-Ⅰ,Ⅱ might be α-amylases, while Amy-Ⅲ,Ⅳ might be β-amylases. Water spinach β-amylase (Amy-Ⅲ) was purified from endosperm by isoelectric focusing (IEF) and gel filtration chromatography. The purified Amy-Ⅲ was identified to be a β-amylase by β-limit dextrin as substrate. The molecular weight of water spinach β-amylase (Amy-Ⅲ) was determined to be 63kd or 69kd monomers by SDS-PAGE. The optimal pH for catalysis was 5.5; the opitimal temperature for catalysis was 50℃. β-amylase was rapidly inactived at by heating at 70℃ . The enzyme was inhibited by heavy metals that indicated cysteinyl sulfhydryls are directly involved in catalytic site(s).

碩士
國立中興大學
園藝學系所
105
In the present study, investigating the color value of water spinach ‘large leaf’ and ‘white stem’ variety before and after a minute boiling. After the boiled, the L * values of water spinach decreased, and the color becomes deeper. Before boiled, color of ‘large leaf’ more deep than ‘white stem’ variety. The color change is also ''large leaf'' variety larger, more red and bright. Analysis of the total phenol content within the plant found that in different fertilizer test, the nitrogen-increasing treatment make ‘large leaf’ total phenol rose, ''bones'' species did not. Potassium-increasing treatment will increase the total phenol content of the two varieties. But in the ''large leaf'', 10 times of Potassium-increasing treatment decreased slightly. The results showed that ‘large leaf’ and ‘white stem’ were the highest in the control treatment and the other treatments were lower. The results showed that water the color of spinach ‘large leaf’ been dark when nitrogen concentration increased. And potassium concentration had the same results, it will make the total phenol contenct and browning phenomenon increase after being boiled. The contents of nitrogen and potassium in the plant were analyzed, the contents of nitrogen and potassium in leaves and shoots were increased on the nitrogen-increasing treatments. Potassium-increasing treatment of leaf potassium content were higher than the control treatment, but potassium-decreasing treatment did not. Comparison of potassium content in the potassium-decreasing treatment, the ''white stem'' species to the control group was the highest, but ''large leaves'' species did not. In summary, the results of this experiment found that the absorption of nitrogen and potassium in ''large leaves'' showed competition, and ''white stem'' showed promotion. The color of the ''large leaves'' is darker, because the increase in the total phenol content by the nitrogen-increasing fertilizer treatment. In addition, competition presented in the uptake of nitrogen, potassium, two elements caused a higher degree of browning after boiling.

碩士
國立臺灣師範大學
生物研究所
90
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of white rust on the morphology and photosynthetic physiology of Ipomoea aquatica, a very common vegetable in Taiwan, and to examine the hypothesis that increasing the activity of invertase was the primary factor responsible for the reduction of photosynthesis in diseased leaves. According to the morphology and size of sporangia and oospores examined by light and electronic microscopes, the studied pathogen was identified to be Albugo ipomoeae-aquaticae. Changes in morphology and physiology of infected leaves occurred 7 days after infection. Yellow-brown patches and white rust pustules appeared respectively on the upper and lower surfaces of locally infected cotyledons and leaves. Elevation of respiratory rates and the activities of invertase, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase and b-amylase, increase in the amounts of glucose, fructose, starch and trehalose, decrease in the contents of chlorophyll a, carotenoids and sucrose, and in the activity of sucrose synthase, and decline in the rates of assimilation, transpiration, and stomatal conductance were observed in the infected tissues during the infection (7-14 days after infection). The timing of the changes in the photosynthetic and carbohydrate metabolism of the infected tissues described above suported the hypothesis.

碩士
國立臺灣師範大學
生命科學研究所
95
Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.), an important summer vegetable in Taiwan, is easily infected by Albugo ipomoeae-aquaticae, in the result of white rust disease. By cotyledon inoculation, our result shows ‘white-seed Jwu Yeh’ lines were most strongly resistant to white rust disease. We also surveyed several factors of water spinach to evaluate the association with disease proportion; Such as stomatal density of cotyledon, contents of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids), concentration of glucose and fructose had positive correlation with disease proportion of juvenile stage in non-linear regression. On the other hand, the concentration of sucrose became negative correlation in simple linear regression. The XY scattered graphs of stomatal density, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, glucose and fructose with disease proportion were suggested that they exhibited a grouping relationship. Besides, there was multiple regression correlation between six horticultural characteristics and disease severity. From r2, the predictive power of the multiple regression equation would exceed 0.6. We further used Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to analyze the different banding patterns between one strong resistance line, 2002-026, and other susceptive lines. The random primer O15 produced an unique band (about 1500 bp) which is present only in the lane of DNA amplified from line, 2002-026, but absent in others. We hope the results of our investigation could help in the further research on resistance breeding and defense gene screening.

碩士
國立高雄科技大學
海洋環境工程系
107
In this study, the difference of temporary carbon storing ability of water spinach under different conditions created by various concentrations of nutrients. This experiment was simulated in the laboratory to be the wetland-like condition to grow this plant. The soil and water spinach were shipped from Jiu-Ru Wetland in Pingtung County to use in this experiment and placed in the open square buckets. The experiment was conducted in an open space to allow the plant to reach sun-light and natural atmosphere. Nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, ammonia nitrogen in the water spinach samples were measured along the monitoring of organic matter and organic carbon in the soil. The result shows the good correlations between the carbon fixation, weather temperature and the growth of water spinach. While, the correlation between the nutrient concentration and the plant growth is relatively weak. This preliminary study suggests that the carbon fixation by water spinach through the uptaking of nutrients that are available in the wetland, and the carbon fixation ability can be also increased along the growth of water spinach. In addition, the carbon content in the wetland can be also removed easily by a harvesting of water spinach, while it will partly residues in the soil or sludge.

碩士
明道大學
精緻農業學系碩士班
106
The tolerance and detoxification mechanisms of plants for heavy metals (HMs) are associated with chemical forms. Inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) could improve growth of water spinach, increase phosphorus (P) in plants which decrease accumulation of HMs in edible part and also decrease bioaccessibility of HMs by blanching. Experimental result showed that inoculation of AMF on water spinach could improve plant growth. It also decreased accumulation of nickel (Ni) but was opposite for cadmium (Cd). Inorganic form (FE) of cadmium and nickel are the major chemical form in water spinach. Blanching could decrease concentration of cadmium and nickel of the chemical form with high mobility in comparison to fresh tissues. In conclusion, AMF could improve plant growth in cadmium and nickel contaminated soil, decrease nickel accumulation in edible parts and bioaccessibility of Cd, chromium (Cr) and Ni by blanching.

碩士
國立臺灣海洋大學
水產養殖學系
101
Continuous light using LED, T5 and Fluorescent in three similar experiments were conducted using water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) (hydroponic) and guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).Wastewater from aquaculture in a prototype aquaponic system (AS) were used to find a suitable growth environment and to maximize the production of water spinach and garlic chives and reuse of water. The system consisted of a fish culture aquarium and hydroponic trough with combined biofilter. All the different lights were set in an indoor room at the same temperature. Each experiment evaluated the effects of continuous lights (LED, T5 and Fluorescent) on plants growth. Fish culture wastewater flowed by submersible pump and gravity from the fish culture component to the hydroponic component in the flood and drain experiment while the garlic chives grown in net pots supported by floating Styrofoam in another experiment were floated in the aquaculture tank. In experiment one, two-weeks (5 cm long) cutting stem of water spinach were transplanted in each flood and drain hydroponic grow bed. The shoot length and number of leaves were recorded weekly for four weeks. Water quality parameters (Total Ammonia Nitrogen, Nitrite, Nitrate, pH, DO and Conductivity) were also recorded weekly. At the end of the four weeks, the fresh and dry masses (shoot and root) of each seedling were recorded as well as the root length. The treatment with LED recorded the most favorable plant growth (shoot length and number of leaves) as well as fresh and dry (shoot and root) masses. Plant shoot length in LED was 16% and 22% higher than T5 and Fluorescent lights and number of leaves 5% and 20% respectively. There were no significant differences in all water quality parameters except conductivity. Conductivity was higher under LED light treatment and positively correlated with shoot length and number of leaves. The latter two were also positively correlated. In experiment two, seedlings of garlic chives were grown in small net pot (8 per pot) and transplanted on floating raft Styrofoam floated in the aquaculture tank. The shoot length and water quality parameters were recorded weekly. At the end of the four weeks, the fresh and dry masses of the seedlings were recorded as well as the roots length.LED light treatment recorded the most favorable shoot length as well as fresh and dry (root and shoot) masses. Plant shoot length in LED was 15% and 18% higher than T5 and Fluorescent lights, respectively. Experiment three uses garlic chives and Nile tilapia in a floating raft aquaponic. The shoot length and water quality parameters were measured weekly. Plant shoot length in LED was 9 % and 15 % higher than T5 and Fluorescent lights, respectively. These similar results indicated that LED light could increase the growth of water spinach and garlic chives in an aquaponic system.

Στην παρούσα μεταπτυχιακή εργασία παρουσιάζονται τα αποτελέσματα της διερεύνησης της επίδρασης της ιλύος βιολογικού καθαρισμού Καλαμάτας (Β.Κ.Κ.) στην ανάπτυξη του σπανακιού (Spinacia Oleracea) καθώς και στην απαορρόφηση N, P, K, Ca, Mg, ιχοστοιχείων Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, βαρέων μετάλλων Pb, Ni, Cd και Cο από τα διάφορα μέρη του φυτού. Επιπλέον, η εργασία αυτή αποτελεί μια μελέτη της επίδρασης της συγκεκριμένης ιλύος και σε ορισμένους δείκτες ποιότητας των μιγμάτων ιλύος-εδάφους, όπως pH, αλατότητα, οργανική ουσία, ολικό ανθρακικό ασβέστιο, αλλά και σε ποσοτικούς δείκτες όπως η περιεκτικότητα σε ολικό άζωτο (Ν%), διαθέσιμο φωσφόρο (Ρ κατά Olsen), ανταλλάξιμα κατιόντα K, Ca, Mg, και συγκέντρωση ολικών, διαθέσιμων και ανταλλάξιμων ιχνοστοιχείων Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, "βαρέων μετάλλων" Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr, Co. Τα αποτελέσματα προέρχονται μετά από πειραματική μελέτη που έγινε σε φυτά σπανακιού, αναπτυσσόμενα σε υποστρώματα που προέκυψαν από ανάμιξη εδάφους και ιλύος σε διάφορες αναλογίες, σε υπαίθριο προστατευμένο χώρο. Σκοπός της πειραματικής αυτής μελέτης είναι να ελεγχθούν και να αξιολογηθούν οι ιδιότητες που αποκτούν τα υπό εξέταση υποστρώματα από την προσθήκη ιλύος στο έδαφος ταυτόχρονα με την επίδραση στην ανάπτυξη του σπανακιού. Έτσι σε αδρές γραμμές μπορούμε να συμπεράνουμε ότι τα αποτελέσματα και η αξιολόγησή τους κατατείνουν στο ότι η ιλύς της μονάδας βιολογικού καθαρισμού της Καλαμάτας μπορεί να αξιοποιηθεί ως λίπασμα σε μικρές αναλογίες ιλύος/εδάφους και φαίνεται ότι η διάθεσή της στο έδαφος για γεωργικούς σκοπούς αποτελεί μια πολύ καλή μέθοδο διάθεσης, που πρέπει να εξετάζεται κατά προτεραιότητα. Ταυτόχρονα, επιβάλλεται η συνέχιση και επέκταση της σχετικής έρευνας, για αξιοποίηση και οικολογική διαχείριση της εν λόγω ιλύος.
This study investigates the effects of the sewage sludge of Kalamata Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) both in the development of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and the absorption of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd and Co from various spinach plant parts. Parameters of soil - sludge mixtures are also considered during this study. Especially the effect of sludge on parameters such as pH, salinity, organic matter, total CaCO3, total nitrogen content (N%), available phosphorus, exchangeable K, Ca, Mg, and concentration of total, available and exchangeable Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr, Co. The experiments where conducted in Messinia and the results showed that sludge improves soil fertility. The application of sludge does not cause environmental problems in small proportions of sludge – soil mixture. In large quantities the addition of sludge is associated with potential toxicities and increased salinity in the soil as well as potential environmental problems from over-concentration of phosphorus but also heavy metals such as Pb, Ni and Cr. Special attention is need for Cd, not because of high concentration, but because of the special mobility it presents. Finally this study confirms the presence of a large number of interactions between nutrients, heavy metals and soil properties in soil and spinach. The evaluation of these interactions are of great importance because they help us to quantify elemental contribution of soil and plants, helps in understanding the problems of nutrition in preventing the occurrence of toxic problems at the expense of consumer health, the environment and ultimately to effective use of sludge. Finally, the sludge of Kalamata WWTP can be used as fertilizer in small proportions of sludge / soil mixtures and it seems that the disposal of sludge in soils for agricultural purposes is a very good method of disposal that must be considered.

Dissertação de Mestrado, Biologia Marinha, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016
Os eslasmobrânquios, um dos principais predadores do oceano, desempenham um papel bastante importante nos ecossistemas marinhos. Eles exercem um controle no tamanho e na dinâmica de muitas espécies, no sentido dos níveis tróficos mais baixos para os mais altos, ajudando na gestão dos ecossistemas do oceano. Em resultado, o conhecimento da ecologia trófica de predadores marinhos torna-se crucial para compreender o importante papel que desempenham nos ecossistemas. Neste sentido, este estudo tem por objetivo estudar a ecologia alimentar de duas espécies de tubarões de profundidade, Etmopterus spinax (Linnaeus, 1758) (lixinha da fundura) e Etmopterus pusillus (Lowe, 1839) (xarinha preta), sobre as quais a informação é muito escassa ou até inexistente. Assim, neste estudo são descritos os hábitos alimentares de Etmopterus spinax e Etmopterus pusillus, na costa do Algarve, a sul de Portugal. A fim de conhecer a composição da dieta alimentar de cada espécie de tubarão de profundidade, efectuaram-se análises de acordo com o sexo,o estado de maturação dos indivíduos e as estações do ano para a espécie E. spinax e análises de acordo com o sexo para a espécie E. pusillus. A sua dieta foi determinada através da análise do conteúdo dos estômagos de 231 espécimes capturados acessoriamente por arrastos de crustáceos, ao longo da costa do Algarve e no período compreendido entre 1999-2000 e em 2015, tendo sido rejeitados devido ao seu baixo ou nulo valor comercial. Do total de espécimens analisados, 173 pertencem à espécie E. spinax e os 58 restantes à espécie E. pusillus. Os espécimes foram medidos (comprimento total) e pesados em laboratório, e o estado de maturação de cada um foi atribuido em funçãodo comprimento da sua primeira maturação . Os estômagos foram pesados e abertos e o estado de digestão dos seus conteúdos foram analisados seguindo uma escala com cinco níveis de digestão de acordo com o estado de decomposição em que as presas se encontravam. As presas ingeridas foram identificadas através de diferentes chaves taxonómicas até ao menor nível de classificação taxonómica possível. Além disso, as presas mais afetadas pelo processo de digestão foram identificadas pelas suas estruturas duras, como sejam os otólitos no caso dos peixes e os bicos no caso dos cefalópodes. Esta análise foi realizada através da aplicação de três tipos de análise, a saber: (1) análises quantitativas, como o método numérico (% N), o método gravimétrico (% W) e a frequência de ocorrência (% FO); (2) análise mista, como o Índice de Importância Relativa (IRI) e o Índice Alimentar Ponderado (IPO2); e (3) análise qualitativa, como a classificação das categorias de presas encontradas. De igual modo, também foram aplicados seis tipos de análise complementar, como sejam os índices de diversidade (índice de Shannon), riqueza específica (índice de Margalef) e uniformidade de espécies (indice de Pielou), o índice de sobreposição trófica (índice de Schoener), o nível trófico e o índice de vacuidade (VI). Além disso, foi realizada uma análise estatística multivariada, mediante a utilização do software PRIMER V6.0, recorrendo ao uso de diferentes testes (CLUSTERS, MSD, ANOSIM e SIMPER). Mediante estas análises, este estudo vem demonstrar a existência de uma sobreposição trófica na dieta de E. spinax e E. pusillus, onde foi observado que a diversidade das espécies de presas encontradas nos conteúdos dos estômagos foi baixa, não existindo diferencas significativas entre as duas dietas (Mann-Whitney, p > 0,05), o que leva a sugerir que podem apresentar uma dieta seletiva. Portanto foi possível observar a existência de uma certa homogeneidade na dieta alimentar entre as duas espécies de tubarões de profundidade. Alem disso, os resultados obtidos neste estudo permitiram observar evidências de que ambas as espécies partilham os mesmos recursos se bem que em proporções diferentes. Ambas as espécies alimentaram-se principalmente de três grupos de presas: crustáceos, peixes e cefalópodes. As principais presas encontradas na dieta dos tubarões de profundidade em estudo consistiram em organismos da subordem Natantia (presas preferenciais), peixes não identificados (presas secundárias) e cefalópodes (presas acessórias) no caso de E. spinax. Enquanto que as principais presas encontradas na dieta de E. pusillus foram peixes não identificados (presas preferenciais), organismos da subordem Natantia (presas secundárias) e cefalópodes (presas acessórias). Para além disso, encontrou-se um número elevado de estômagos vazios que se veio a reflectir num elevado valor de vacuidade em ambos os tubarões, podendo este facto estar relacionado, com a duração dos arrastos (de várias horas), na medida em que o período de longas horas em que a embarcação vai arrastando no fundo pode ser que seja o suficiente para que haja uma completa digestão dos estômagos, tornando os seus conteúdos não identificáveis. Não houve diferenças significativas na composição da dieta de E. pusillus de acordo com o sexo (ANOSIM, p>0,05). Para E. spinax tambem não foram encontradas diferenças de acordo com o sexo e a estação do ano (ANOSIM, p>0,05). Além disso, também não houve diferenças de acordo com o estado de maturação , apresentando a dieta entre espécimes imaturos e maturos uma elevada variabilidade (ANOSIM, R=0,05, p<0.05). No entanto, no caso dos espécimes maduros de ambos os sexos de E. spinax foi possível observar uma ligeira variação da dieta alimentar. A dieta consistiu principalmente de pequenos crustáceos para os espécimes imaturos, mudando a sua composição para presas potencialmente maiores, como peixes, para espécimes maduros. Esta mudança na dieta alimentar pode ser causada por variações ontogénicas, uma vez que a alimentação está relacionada com o tamanho da boca, a capacidade de armazenamento do estômago e a capacidade de natação de cada indivíduo; e também pela necessidade de obter a energia necessária de acordo com o ciclo reprodutivo em que se encontra. Consequentemente, o fato de os espécimes maiores consumirem presas maiores pode ajudar a reduzir a competição entre indivíduos da mesma espécie ou de espécies diferentes. Por outro lado, em termos de sazonalidade, os crustáceos continuaram a fazer parte da dieta principal de E. spinax. O fato de não se terem encontrado diferenças significativas entre a sazonalidade e a composição da dieta de E. spinax pode ser devido à estabilidade da temperatura no meio. As variações de temperatura são geralmente grandes na superfície e mínimas a grandes profundidades, de modo que podem afectar na composição das presas, nas flutuações de abundância e/ou as alterações na distribuição na coluna de água. Finalmente, os resultados obtidos neste estudo foram comparados com os de outros autores, verificando-se algumas diferenças, no que respeita à dieta alimentar entre E. spinax e E. pusillus.

碩士
國立中興大學
獸醫學系暨研究所
100
Clinical evidences revealed an overlap of neural mechanisms mediated by bowel and lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunctions, a phenomenon known as cross-organ sensitization (COS). Although studies have been demonstrated that stress could modulate the neurotransmission of visceral sensation, through the colonic afferent pathway, the effects of stress on COS have yet been established. To clarify whether chronic stress was involved in the colon-bladder crosstalk induction or/and maintain, we performed cystometrogram in response to intracolonic mustard oil (MO) instillation in female Wistar-Kyoto rats exposed to daily water avoidance stress (WAS, 1 hour/day for 10 days) or sham treatment (WASham). In addition, Quantitative real-time PCR (Q-PCR), Western blot, Immunoprecipitation (IP) and Immunfluorescence (IF) were used to assess the protein/mRNA expression at the lumbosacral dorsal horn (L6-S1). WAS demonstrated the enhanced colonic motility, but no effect on the baseline voiding function and time-dependent enhancement spinal p90 ribosomal S6 kinases 2 (RSK2) protein/mRNA levels in spinal cord neuron. Intracolonic MO dose-dependently decreased intrercontraction intervals (ICIs) and threshold pressure (TP) accompanied with enhanced spinal phosphorylated RSK2 (pRSK2) and phosphorylated NR2B (pNR2B) expression as well as RSK2-PSD-95 and PSD-95-NR2B copreciptitaion in WAS but WAsham animals. Intrathecal kaempferol (a RSK2 antagonist, 10uM, 10ul), bilateral adrenalectomy and subcutaneous RU38486 (a glucocorticoid antagonist, 40 mg/kg) prevented MO-induced bladder hyperactivity and attenuated the said protein/mRNA expression and coprecipitation in WAS group. Taken together, these results suggest spinal RSK2 activation downstream stress-related glucocorticoid release from the adrenal cortex to mediate WAS-dependent sensitization of colon-bladder crosstalk via the spinal PSD-95/NR2B cascade, and offer the possibility of developing pharmacological strategies for stress-related pelvic pain.

碩士
國立臺中科技大學
財務金融研究所碩士班
106
Leisure activity not only improve health but also quality of life. With the implementation of two-day weekend there is a growing trend in aquatic leisure activities. Through the formulation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities the handicapped are able to receive the necessary services during the organization of their respective travel plans. Due to the physical limitations of those with spinal cord injuries outdoor activities are proves to be a major challenge, yet, adequate outdoor leisure activity aids the relaxation of the body and the mind. The improvement of health can be achieved through the buoyancy and pressure of aquatic activities. This study aims to explore the association between population variable and the motive of aquatic leisure activity. As well as analyzing whether there is association and effect between leisure motives, involvement and constraint. This study finds that various population variable only shows some degree of difference with leisure involvement and constraint. Leisure involvement and motive shows significant association; leisure constraint and motive shows positive association; leisure constraints and involvement shows positive association; leisure constraint and involvement shows positive relationship with leisure motive; leisure motive and constraint shows positive effect on leisure involvement; there is no directional effect from leisure involvement and motive towards leisure constraint.

Tese dout., Ciências e Tecnologias das Pescas, Universidade do Algarve, 2007
SFRH/BD/10357/2002
Os tubarões de profundidade são especialmente susceptíveis à sobre-pesca, com colapsos populacionais a puderem ocorrer mesmo com níveis baixos de pesca. Duas espécies de tubarão lanterna são normalmente capturadas nas pescarias comerciais que operam na costa sul de Portugal, nomeadamente Etmopterus spinax e E. pusillus. Devido ao seu reduzido ou nulo valor comercial, estas espécies são normalmente rejeitadas, existindo assim uma lacuna nos conhecimentos relativos à sua pesca e biologia. O presente estudo focou aspectos relativos à pesca, morfologia, ciclo de vida, distribuição e dinâmica populacional destas espécies. As pescarias comerciais estão a ter um impacto significativo nestas espécies, com diferentes artes a afectarem de modo diferente as várias componentes das populações, incluindo áreas criticas como zonas de acasalamento e de nascimento. Pela análise multi-variada foi possível separar estas espécies muito semelhantes, sendo criado um modelo que poderá ser utilizado em estudos futuros para mais facilmente separar as espécies. Os parâmetros do ciclo de vida, especificamente idade, crescimento, fecundidade, maturidade e sazonalidade reprodutiva foram estimados e incorporados em modelos de mortalidade e de análise demográfica. Os resultados indicam que a pressão pesqueira actual na costa sul de Portugal não é sustentável e que as populações estão em declínio. Medidas urgentes de conservação são necessárias.