Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Efficacy of the Meiotic Toolkit in Determining the Sexuality and Evolutionary History of Red Algae (Rhodophyta)

iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT . v DEDICATION . vi LIST of FIGURES . ix LIST of TABLES . x Chapter 1.0: GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 The Evolution of Sex (Meiosis): . 1 1.2 Origin of Sexual Reproduction: . 3 1.3 The Maintenance of Sexual Reproduction and Its Benefits: . 5 1.4 Introduction to Red Algae: . 6 1.4. 1 Classification of Red Algae . 7 1.4. 2 Characteristics of the Red Algae . 8 1.4. 3 Reproduction and Life History of Red Algae . 12 1.5 Diversity of Red Algae . 14 1.5. 1 Bangiophyceae . 14 1.5. 2 Florideophyceae . 16 1.5. 3 Stylonematophyceae . 17 1.5. 4 Cyanidiophyceae . 18 1.5. 5 Porphyridiophyceae . 19 1.6 Pseudogenes and Gene Duplication . 19 1.7 Horizontal Gene Transfer . 21 1.8 The Modes of Evolution . 22 1.9 Core Meiotic Genes . 23 1.10 Objectives of the Thesis . 29 Chapter 2.0: METHODS . 31 2.1 DNA Extraction and Samples . 31 2.2 Primer Design . 32 2.3 PCR Amplification of Meiotic Genes . 33
Does Leadership Style Affect the Academic Performance of Undergraduate Business Students? An Empirical Study

This study intends to analyzes the various types of leadership styles (transactional, transformational, and passive-avoidant) used while collaboratively working in teams to generate a business plan for a course project assignment. The influence of leadership styles are believed to influence the dynamics of the teaming environment as students work together on a classroom project assignment. Leadership constructs and its dimensionality was examined using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire short form available from Mind Garden, Inc. a standard instrument for assessing transformational and transactional leadership behavior (Avolio & Bass, 2004) to study student responses regarding leadership behavior on teaming assignments and the correlations, if any, between leaders’ behaviors and the team dynamics of conflict and cohesion.
A platelet phospholipase inhibitor from the medicinal herb feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium).

: Feverfew has been used since antiquity to treat fevers and other inflammatory conditions. Feverfew extracts were found to inhibit ADP, thrombin, or collagen-induced aggregation of human platelets, but significantly, did not affect aggregation induced by arachidonic acid. Synthesis of thromboxane B2 from exogenous 14C-arachidonic acid was also not inhibited. Washed platelets prelabelled with 14C-AA responded normally to thrombin by releasing 14C-TXB2. This was completely blocked by feverfew. A purified platelet phospholipase A2 was inhibited by the material with an I50 of 0.1 antiplatelet units. The pharmacological properties of feverfew may thus be due to an inhibitor of cellular phospholipases, which prevents release of arachidonic acid in response to appropriate physiological stimuli.
Mycorrhizal development and effects on growth of the peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

1 0 DECLARATION . 1 1 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 1 2 ABBREVIATIONS USED . 1 3 LIST OF TABLES . 1 6 LIST OF FIGURES . 18 LIST OF PLATES . 22 GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 23 1 LITERATURE REVIEW . 23 1.
Predicting the development of photoperiod 'insensitive' winter wheats in south-central New South Wales

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of vernalisation on the field development of vernalisation responsive wheats in south-central New South Wales, and to develop equations with which to predict their timing of ear emergence in this region. To achieve this, a 'phasic development' approach was taken by considering relationships between temperature and photoperiod and the duration of the leaf, spikelet, and stem development phases in 3 photoperiod 'insensitive' vernalisation responsive wheat cultivars. The responsiveness to vernalisation of these cultivars covered much of the range that has been reported in wheat. This study was conducted at 3 sites and over 6 sowing times (17 field environments), covering the geographic and commercial range in sowing time for wheat grown in this region of Australia. An initial step in this study was to obtain measures of development duration that were independent of site and sowing date over our 17 field environments. Thus, appropriate photo-thermal units of time were sought using a photoperiod and vernalisation insensitive control wheat. The appropriate base temperatures and photoperiods we found for these photo-thermal units were not entirely consistent with those found in previous studies. Phase durations of our vernalisation responsive wheat cultivars were measured in these units. Vernalisation was found to be the predominant factor determining duration of both the leaf and spikelet phases in our vernalisation responsive wheat cultivars. The relationship we found between accumulated vernalisation and the duration of the leaf phase was similar to the relationship found in an earlier study in a controlled environment. This relationship differed from those currently used in 'phasic development' models for wheat. There appeared to be some latitude in the range of vernalising temperatures that could be used to estimate vernalisation in our field environments. Duration of the stem phase was strongly influenced by photoperiod, and showed greatest complexity of control, to the extent that site-specific effects could not be removed from equations predicting the duration of this phase. Simplified regression equations appeared to predict time of ear emergence reasonably well over the range of environments considered in our study, with the exception of a few cultivar × sowing time combinations for which wheat would not be commercially sown in the region. The ability to predict time of ear emergence may allow plant breeders to evaluate development controls that might extend the range of environments over which winter wheats may be commercially sown in south-central New South Wales.
Comparative effects of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, on bivalve molluscs from Florida

The effects of the toxic dinoflagellate, karenia brevis (Wilson clone), on larval survival and development of the northern quahog (=hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria), eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and bay scallop (Argopecten irradians) were studied in the laboratory. The effects of K. brevis on feeding activities of juveniles from these species plus the green mussel (Perna viridis) were also examined. Finally, adult bay scallops were exposed to K. brevis for two weeks to investigate possible cytotoxic effects. Survival of 3-day-old larvae was generally > 85% for all shellfish species at Karenia brevis densities of 100 cells . ml-1 or less, and not significantly different between whole and lysed culture. At 1,000 cells . ml-1, survival was significantly less in lysed culture than whole culture for both M. mercenaria and C. virginica. Survival of 7-day-old larvae in all species was not significantly affected at densities up to 1,000 cells . ml-1. At 5,000 cells . ml-1, however, survival was reduced to 37, 26 and 19% for A. irradians, M. mercenaria and C. virginica, respectively. Development of C. virginica and M. mercenaria larvae was protracted at K. brevis densities of 1,000 cells . ml-1. Clearance rates of juveniles were determined under static and flow-through conditions using whole and lysed cultures of K. brevis. The bay scallop was most sensitive, exhibiting a 79% reduction in clearance rate at 1,000 cells . ml-1 of whole culture. The eastern oyster was least responsive, showing a 38% reduction in clearance rate between the same treatments. The green mussel and the northern quahog displayed intermediate responses. Similar results were observed during longer (2 day) exposures to a continuous supply of K. brevis. Bay scallops showed a significant decline in clearance rate at 100 cells . ml-1 after 24 hr exposure; clearance rate of oysters was not affected by K. brevis at this concentration. No mortality was observed for any species during these brief exposures. Adult bay scallops exposed to K. brevis for two weeks showed degenerative and inflammatory changes in the digestive gland, including reduced thickness of the epithelium, increased size of digestive tubule lumens and hemocytic infiltration. The prospect for recovery of bay scallop populations in Florida may be hampered by recurring blooms of K. brevis.
Dynamical behavior of the human red blood cell ionic channels

Erythrocytes are one of the cellular models frequently used to decipher the physiology of membrane transport. However, if pumps, antiporters and cotransporters are now well defined, the molecular identity and the physiological role of the conductive pathways present in the membrane of red blood cell (RBC) is still elusive albeit the growing evidences of their role in physiological and pathological conditions. The present work, using the patch clamp technique and biophysical studies, shows that: 1) The changes in osmotic fragility observed after Gardos channel dependent dehydration is mainly not due to rehydration of the cell via membrane transporters but rather due to change in membrane properties elicited by the Ca2+ loading. It reflects a specific calcium-induced lytic vulnerability of the membrane leading to rupture before the cells attain their maximal spherical volumes. 2) The Gardos channel can be transiently activated when seal formation induces membrane deformation. This phenomenon can result only from activation of a permeability pathway with a finite Ca2+ conductance. This transient activity generates secondary transient anionic channel activity that has been studied further. 3) The diversity of anionic channel activities recorded in normal human RBCs, as well as in P. falciparum-infected RBCs, corresponds to different kinetic modalities of a unique type of maxi anion channel with multiple conductance levels, gating properties and pharmacology. Finally, the present work contributes to the understanding of the role of ion channels in RBCs and opens questions on the contribution of ion channels in the rheological properties of RBCs. Keywords: erythrocyte, ionic channels, osmotic fragility, patch clamp technique.
Influences of restock age and habitat patchiness on Tree Pipits Anthus trivialis breeding in Breckland pine plantations: Influences on Tree Pipits breeding in pine plantations

The British Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis population has shown a marked decline in recent decades, together with a range contraction that has been most apparent in central and southeast England. In East Anglia, the species is now largely restricted to heathland and, in particular, the conifer plantations established on light soils in these areas. Here I evaluate how Tree Pipits are influenced by the age of pine restock and the patchiness of habitat in Thetford Forest in the Breckland area of Norfolk and Suffolk, eastern England. Both the probability of occurrence and the densities of territory-holding Tree Pipits varied according to the age of coupes of restock – densities peaking in restock 1–6 years old – and were also significantly higher in coupes (a stand comprising one or more forest subcompartments planted in the same year, usually with the same tree crop) in the largest, most central forest block than in smaller, isolated blocks peripheral to this. Within coupes, the distribution and thus densities of Tree Pipits were limited by the availability of songposts. Few songflights finished on the ground or in flight and displaying birds only perched on restock once trees were at least 3 years old (0.8 m high) – thus, territories were only established away from bordering or retained mature trees once restock had reached this age. Pairing success was reduced among males with territories of less than 1 ha, as found in the highest densities in restock, but was unrelated to the proportion of songflights that individuals finished on perches. Thus, although the availability of songposts limited the distribution of the species, it did not appear to affect individual breeding success. The study highlights the importance of pine plantations for the species in lowland England, but also the benefits of large blocks of habitat and targeted forest management, for instance, the retention of mature trees in coupes of restock for Pipits to use as songposts.
Effect of Irrigation Levels and Chlorsulfuron Doses on Productivity and Water Use of Wheat

To evaluate the effect of irrigation levels and chlorsulfuron doses on productivity and water use of wheat, a field experiment was conducted at Research Farm of CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, India during rabi seasons of 1998-99 and 1999-2000. Five irrigations (21, 45, 65, 85 and 105 DAS) applied in wheat resulted in highest grain yield and consumptive water use compared to two (21 and 85 DAS) and three (21, 65 and 105 DAS) irrigations. However, the water use efficiency (WUE) was maximum with two irrigations. Increase in the WUE of wheat due to two irrigations over three and five irrigations was 13.7 and 31.8% during 1998-99 and 9.5 and 27.0% during 1999-2000, respectively. More frequent irrigations (five) resulted in more soil moisture extraction from upper and medium soil layers, while two irrigations extracted more water from deeper layers. Different herbicidal treatments had no marked effect on water use by wheat. Maximum grain yield of wheat (4553 and 4849 kg/ha) was attained in the plots treated with chlorsulfuron at 30 g/ha which was statistically at par with its lower dose (20 g/ha).
Arrival of pied avocets Recurvirostra avosetta at the breeding site: Effects of winter quarters and consequences for reproductive success

Pied Avocets Recurvirostra avosetta breeding in the same colonies on the German Wadden Sea are known to winter in France, the United Kingdom and The Netherlands ('the North') or about 1000 km further south west in Portugal, SW Spain and Morocco ('the South'). Using data of 537 individually colour ringed Avocets, the influence of age, sex and winter quarter on arrival date at three study sites was studied in N Germany, and the relationship between arrival date and breeding success was investigated. Avocets up to an age of four years arrived later than their older conspecifics. The arrival dates of first year Avocets coincided with hatching dates, which were the best opportunities to collect information on the quality of colonies. Avocets wintering in the North arrived significantly earlier at their breeding sites than Avocets wintering in the South. Females arrived later than males. In contrast to females and to males wintering in the North, males wintering in the South had individually consistent arrival dates between years. Arrival dates of males wintering in the North were significantly more strongly related to spring temperatures than arrival dates of males wintering in the South. Early arrival corresponded with a higher breeding success.
The importance of Prochlorococcus to community structure in the central North Pacific Ocean

Assessments of plankton community structure in the oligotrophic oceans based solely on microscopy may overstate the importance of heterotrophic bacterial biomass. Using flow cytometry to distinguish heterotrophic bacteria from the photosynthetic procaryotes Prochlorococcus spp. , we found that Prochlorococcus contributed 31% of total bacterial counts in the upper 100 m at station ALOHA (22°45′N, 158°W). In terms of carbon, procaryotic biomass was the largest component (≥ 80%) of the microbial community, but almost half of this was photosynthetic biomass contributed by Prochlorococcus. Overall, the total 200-m integrated photosynthetic biomass exceeded heterotrophic bacterial biomass (55 vs. 45%). We suggest that the relative proportion of photosynthetic to heterotrophic bacterial biomass varies among oligotrophic regions of the ocean and that dominance by heterotrophic bacteria is not typical.
THE EFFECT OF SOWING DATE AND PLANT DENSITY ON YIELD AND YIELD COMPONENTS OF FENUGREEK (TRIGONELLA FOENUM GRACUM L.)

به منظور تعیین تاریخ کاشت و تراکم مناسب گیاه شنبلیله (Trigonella foenum gracum L.) در منطقه تربت جام آزمایشی در سال زراعی 1384-1383 انجام شد. طرح آزمایشی به صورت اسپلیت پلات در قالب بلوک‌های کامل تصادفی با چهار تکرار بود. چهار سطح تاریخ کاشت (9 اسفند، 29 اسفند، 20 فروردین و 9 اردیبهشت) به‌عنوان فاکتور اصلی و چهار سطح تراکم (10، 20، 30 و 40 بوته در متر مربع) به‌عنوان فاکتور فرعی انتخاب شد. نتایج آزمایش نشان داد که بیشترین و کمترین عملکرد دانه (34/88 و 3/22 گرم بر متر مربع) به‌ترتیب مربوط به تاریخ کاشت‌های 9 اسفند و 9 اردیبهشت بود. همین تیمارها بیشترین و کمترین تعداد غلاف در بوته (8/25 و 8/6) و وزن هزاردانه (12 و 9/9) را نیز داشتند. کاشت دیرتر به دلیل هم‌زمانی مراحل گلدهی و تشکیل دانه با گرما و تأثیر بیشتر بر ساختارهای زایشی نسبت به رویشی سبب شد که کمترین شاخص برداشت مربوط به تاریخ کاشت 9 اردیبهشت باشد. همچنین تأخیر در کاشت از طریق کاهش طول دوره رشد رویشی سبب کاهش معنی‌دار ارتفاع بوته گردید. در بین تراکم‌های مختلف، تراکم 40 بوته در متر مربع بیشترین عملکرد دانه را تولید کرد. اثر متقابل تراکم و تاریخ کاشت بر هیچ کدام از صفات مورد بررسی معنی‌دار نشد.
Too Big to Fail and Too Big to Save: Dilemmas for Banking Reform

‘Too big to fail’ traditionally refers to a bank that is perceived to generate unacceptable risk to the banking system and indirectly to the economy as a whole if it were to default and be unable to fulfill its obligations. Such a bank generally has substantial liabilities to other banks through the payment system and other financial links, which can be sources of ‘contagion’ if a bank fails. The main objectives in this paper are to identify the different dimensions of too big to fail and evaluate various proposed reforms for dealing with this problem. In addition, we document the various dimensions of size and complexity, which may contribute to or reduce a bank's systemic risk. Furthermore, we provide an assessment of economic and political factors shaping the future of too big to fail.
An assessment of the utility of subcritical water to recover bioactive compounds from cider lees

This work had as main objective to recover bioactive compounds, more specifically phenolics, from cider lees using subcritical water, an environmentally benign fluid. Maximum solubilisation was obtained at 150oC for 30 minutes, and a decrease is observed at higher temperatures, indicating the occurrence of precipitation. Maximum total phenolic content (FCR) was obtained at 220oC for 10 minutes. Chlorogenic acid was identified as the major phenolic in cider lees, however at 220oC for 10 minutes, only trace levels were found, therefore the high total phenolic content should be the result of interactions between phenolics and macromolecules present in solution. Sequential subcritical water was employed to reduce complexity of extracts produced. Maximum antioxidant capacity (FCR, ORAC) was obtained at 120oC and 220oC, where at 120oC is due to cider phenolics while at 220oC, after the removal of most of the compounds, it is only left cell wall carbohydrates and chitin, which should be responsible for the formation of derivatives with high antioxidant capacity. Cyclodextrin was used to improve oxidative stability of the cider lees extracts, however while it improved the oxidative stability for cider lees extracts obtained at low temperatures, to cider lees extracts obtained at higher temperatures, no improvement was registered.
Growth, development and feeding potential of grubs of Chilocorus infernalis Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) on the San Jose scale, Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comstock).

Sixty cultures of Trichoderma were isolated from forty locations in Uttarakhand hills and screened for their ability to control root rot ol" French beam caused by Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn) and Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. Under laboratory screening by dual culture methodology, maximum inhibition of radial growth of R. solani (61.7%) was observed with isolate Tr-21, while isolate Tr-34 showed maximum inhibition of mycelial growth of F. solani (46.4%), Based on the results of in vitro screening, 7 isolates (Tr-5, 14, 17, 21, 28, 34&45) were selected for glasshouse studies. Talc formulation of the 7 isolates was prepared and isolates were applied as both seed and soil treatment in glasshouse studies. Although all the 7 isolates significantly reduced the incidence of root rot as compared to check, two isolates of T. harzianum viz., Tr-34 and Tr-14 were found most effective in glasshouse evaluation showing only 20.8 and 23.4 per cent root- rot, respectively, These isolates were statistically at par with seed treatment with carbendazim, which showed 21,1 percent root-rot. Treatment with isolate Tr-34 also resulted in significantly higher germination per cent and better plant vigour as compared to untreated control.
Evaluation of antifungal activity of sodium salts against onion basal rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae.

Turkkan M. , Erper I. (2014): Evaluation of antifungal activity of sodium salts against onion basal rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae. Plant Protect. Sci., 50: 19–25. The efficacy of twelve sodium salts as possible alternatives to synthetic fungicides for the control of onion basal rot caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cepae was evaluated. In vitro tests showed that there were significant differences between the inhibitory effects of sodium salts on the mycelial growth (P ≤ 0.05) and 2% (w/v) concentrations of sodium metabisulfite and sodium fluoride completely inhibited mycelial growth of the fungus, while other salts did not. Sodium metabisulfite and sodium phosphate monobasic had lower pH values than the other salts. Unlike sodium metabisulfite, sodium phosphate monobasic could not decrease the mycelial growth. The ED50, minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values indicated that sodium metabisulfite was more inhibitory to the fungus compared to sodium fluoride. In soil tests, inhibitory effect of sodium metabisulfite on the fungus was higher than that of sodium fluoride, where sodium metabisulfite completely inhibited mycelial growth at even 0.4% concentration.
Review on Different Evapotranspiration Empirical Equations

For optimal design and management of hydrologic balance and scheduling irrigation models, the need to measure Evapotranspiration is of great importance. It helps in predicting when and how much water is required for any particular irrigation scheme. Reference Evapotranspiration is a standard nomenclature defined by FAO to provide a reference frame although it is not a full proof equation. Several scientists have developed multiple equations based of three primary directions viz. temperature based methods, radiation based methods and mass – transfer methods. Here in this paper, we have carried out a review on most of the popular equations and the objective is to elucidate the advantages and drawbacks each one of them register when put into use. The reference equation for standardization considered here is FAO 56 Penman Montheith equation. Thirty other equations from the three schools have been analysed here. Statistical Regression Analysis methods and coefficient of determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and index of agreement (d) are the analytical parameters those are to be used while estimating their acceptance in evaluating the throughputs.