Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RAPD markers reveal genetic diversity in Salix purpurea L.

The bark of purple osier willow (Salix purpurea L.) constitutes a particularly valuable raw material which is used for the production of natural aspirin. The content of salicylic glycosides in the bark is differential and depends on genotype, therefore continued selection is necessary to find high-yielding crop varieties of S. purpurea with a high salicylic glycoside content of the bark. The objective of this study was an evaluation of the genetic diversity of a collection of S. purpurea genotypes and their hybrids with the use of RAPD markers. The experiment involved 39 of the 60 tested oligonucleotide primers generating polymorphic amplification products. The polymorphism index of RAPD markers was 88.8% in all studied genotypes and 75.5% in S. purpurea genotypes. The values of Nei's genetic identity statistics ranged from 0.443 to 0.928. Nei's genetic distance values were used to build a dendrogram using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The considerable genetic diversity observed among the studied genotypes enabled us to identify parental forms suitable for crossing aimed at producing transgressive progeny, which would provide a basis for the selection of initial breeding materials. In addition, the determination of the genetic diversity of the collected genotypes may contribute to developing a mapping population, which would serve as a tool for the identification and localization of QTL corresponding to yield and salicylic glycoside content.
Investigation into the structure and function of Hsp47

Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals and is the main protein of connective tissue in animals [1]. It is a fibrous structural protein that is the major component of the extracellular matrix, which provides great tensile strength to ligaments, tendons, bone and skin, for example. Hsp47 is a procollagen and collagen specific chaperone that is thought to be involved in the correct assembly and transport of collagen chains. It is also a non-inhibitory member of the serine protease inhibitor superfamily and uses the pH-dependent mechanism, common to all members of this protein family, for binding and release to/from its substrate. A reduction in the pH of the environment triggers a conformational change in the serpin, which is vital for the function of Hsp47. It is this structural transition upon a change in pH that was exploited in the investigation into the regions of importance of for Hsp47-collagen binding. Most of the previous works examining the expression and function of Hsp47 have used mammalian forms of the protein and expression levels have proved problematic. This research studied Hsp47 in the poikilothermic vertebrate; Xenopus laevis, the ectothermic vertebrate; Danio rerio and the endothermic vertebrate; Mus musculus. Various constructs were tried to overcome the difficulty of low protein expression levels. Though there is high sequence homology between these species, each was observed as comprising of different characteristics in terms of protein expression, stability and biological activity. The typical pKa of the imidazole group of histidine is 6.2, which is also the approximate pH at which the Hsp47 and collagen interaction is perturbed [2]. Histidine residues are therefore thought to play a vital role in the conformational transition of Hsp47. Histidine variants were synthesised, whilst keeping in mind the regions of importance in the conformational change of other serpins, to identify possible binding sites and/or areas involved in the instigation of the structural change in Hsp47. The mutations allowed the first identification of a more stable serpin state of the protein and even more interestingly, forms that comprised of enhanced biological activity as they reduced collagen fibril formation. One of the mutants lacked any collagen binding ability, which may be an indication of a possible collagen binding site on Hsp47. The final aspect addressed in this research was protein crystallography. Previous attempts at Hsp47 crystal formation have proved unsuccessful due to the low expression and stability of the protein. This study used the newly identified, more stable form of Hsp47 to try to overcome these setbacks and produce Hsp47 crystals. The results presented in this thesis provide an insight into the function and structure of the non-inhibitory serpin Hsp47 and may enhance the understanding of the molecular mechanism by which the collagen-specific chaperone operates.
A preliminary 3000-year regional temperature reconstruction for South Africa : research letter

A preliminary 3000-year palaeotemperature series is presented for South Africa. The series has been derived using the correlation in recent times between the colour variation in annual growth layers of a stalagmite taken from a cave in the Makapansgat Valley and an area-averaged regional annual maximum temperature series. A statistical transfer function was applied to the variation in colour banding in the stalagmite over the last 3000 years. The time periods from AD 1500 to 1800, and from 800-200 BC are shown to have been the coolest episodes in the last three millennia, with temperatures up to 1°C lower than at present. Medieval warming with a maximum at around AD 1500 and a pronounced warm episode around 100 BC were prominent features of the record.
Use of Religious Counseling (Islami) to Improve Psychological Well Being on Students of SMK Nusantara Wisata Respati Jakarta

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of religious counseling services on improving psychological well-being in students of SMK Nusantara Wisata Respati Jakarta. The research method used is quantitative research with quasi experimental type, and using purposive sampling technique in sampling. The subjects of the study were the students of grade XII of SMK Nusantara Wisata Respati who had low score in psychological well-being as many as 6 people. The instrument used is the psychological well-being scale developed by Ryff. Based on result of data analysis by using sign test, known r = 0,009, so it can be concluded that the use of effective religious counseling can improve psychological well-being on the students of class XII SMK Nusantara Wisata Respati Jakarta. This proves that religious counseling services are very useful in improving students' psychological well-being. Increased psychological well-being is expected to optimize student achievement so that its potential can be used optimally
Implementation of Project-Based Learning in Secondary Schools

The purpose of this study is to use project-based learning model for creating collaborative games in computer science lesson. Survey model was used in the study. In scope of the study, an etwinning project was conducted with 163 students and teachers of 14 schools from various countries such as Spain, Portugal, Poland, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Romania, Croatia and Iceland. Etwinning platform and Edmodo webpage were used for ensuring communication and cooperation between participants in the project. As a result of the project, partners created their own games in groups using Scratch tool. All created games and the process of creating games were collected in an e-book. At the end of the study, opinions of teachers and students were collected through interviews. Results showed that teachers found project creative, encouraging and interesting. The students deemed the project as an opportunity to work together, communicate and sharing and see their own errors. Keywords : Project Based Learning, games, coding
Evolution of jumping capacity in Tropidurinae lizards: does habitat complexity influence obstacle‐crossing ability?

Jumping performance is relevant for lizards in many ecological contexts and might be favoured during the colonization of structurally complex habitats. Although ground-dwelling lizards use jumps to overcome small obstacles in their natural environments, jumping capacity has been mostly studied in arboreal species. Here, we analysed the evolution of jumping behaviour and performance in lizards from eight ground-dwelling species of Tropidurinae attempting to cross obstacles of different heights in a jumping track, both when undisturbed and under continuous stimulation. To establish ecological correlates with habitat complexity, individuals from two contrasting Brazilian habitats, the arid Caatingas (sand species) and the savannah-like Cerrados (rock species), were compared. Rock species jumped more often and crossed higher obstacles than sand ones in both tests, and performed more vertical than horizontal jumps. Although sand species performed less jumps, they were more successful at crossing the obstacles presented in comparison with rock species. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed these findings and demonstrated a large divergence in jumping capacity between sister-species from different habitats. Therefore, the differences in propensity and endurance for jumping activity appear to be independent of phylogenetic relationships in Tropidurinae and likely reflect an adaptation to the contrasting environments inhabited. The ecological implications of these findings are discussed. © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 91, 393–402.
Cultural Diversity Profile and the Values of Bhinneka (Diversity) in Multicultural Education of Elementary School

: This study aims to determine the profile of cultural diversity in elementary schools and the diversity of values that need to be developed in multicultural education in elementary schools. The design of this study was survey research. The subjects of this research were 50 school personnel involving principals, teachers and administration staffs in Malang City and Pasuruan Districts. The research instrument used was semi open questionnaire. Data analysis techniques used in this study was descriptive analysis techniques. The results show that cultural diversity at the elementary level encompasses religious diversity, ethnic diversity, diversity of mind-sets and behaviours, and the diversity of socioeconomic status. The diversity values that need to be developed in the multicultural education in the elementary school include the diversity aspect of religious, ethnic, geographical, customs and language diversity; and diversity attitudes that include mutual respect, avoiding discrimination, justice, cooperation and compassion.
Biological control strategies against the cabbage root fly Delia radicum

Contemporary intensified agroecosystems are contributing to a reduction in natural enemy (NE) populations. In conservation biological control (CBC), NEs are favoured by providing supporting resources. CBC could be complemented with inoculation biological control (IBC) to enhance the effect of NEs. However, increased NE species richness may result in positive (e.g. niche complementarity [NC]) or negative (e.g. intraguild predation [IGP]) effects on pest suppression through species interactions. The research reported in this thesis investigated the potential of combining CBC with IBC as a strategy for cabbage root fly, Delia radicum, control. A three-year field experiment explored the combined effect of floral resources and perennial shelter habitats (i.e., conservation strips [CS]) on NEs of D. radicum. CS increased the abundance of hymenopteran parasitoids, but did not increase parasitism by either of the two dominant parasitoid species, Trybliographa rapae and Aleochara bipustulata. The entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium brunneum and Beauveria bassiana were found to be pathogenic to both D. radicum and T. rapae, thus representing an IGP risk to T. rapae. However, the parasitoid laid more eggs in healthy than in M. brunneum infected D. radicum larvae in choice assays. Host plant habitats harbouring high densities of M. brunneum were avoided when given a choice, but host density was more important for attraction than fungal presence, indicating a trade-off between IGP risk and reproductive success. Despite the IGP risk, field cage studies showed that combining T. rapae and M. brunneum, at both low and high fungal densities, reduced D. radicum population levels more than when either NE acted alone. Selective ovipositioning in healthy larvae presumably led to this resource partitioning and resulting NC. However, fungal presence, particularly at high density, reduced the number of emerged F1 T. rapae. Consequently, combining CBC of T. rapae with IBC using a relatively low density of M. brunneum is recommended to ensure stable, long-term D. radicum control.
Methods in yeast genetics : a Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory course manual

Experiments: looking at yeast cells isolation and characterization of auxotrophic, temperature-sensitive and UV-sensitive mutants meiotic mapping mitotic recombination and random spore analysis transformation of yeast synthetic lethal mutants gene replacement isolation of ras2 suppressors manipulating cell types isolating mutants by insertional mutagenesis two-hybrid protein interaction method. Techniques and protocols: high-efficiency transformation of yeast "Lazy Bones" plasmid transformation of yeast colonies yeast DNA isolations yeast DNA miniprep (40 ml) yeast DNA miniprep (5 ml) a ten-minute DNA preparation from yeast yeast genomic DNA - glass bead preparation yeast protein extracts yeast RNA isolation hydroxylamine mutagenesis of plasmid DNA assay of beta-galactosidase in yeast plate assay for carboxypeptidase Y random spore analysis yeast vital stains yeast immunofluorescence actin staining in fixed cells PCR protocol for PCR-mediated gene disruption yeast colony PCR protocol measuring yeast cell density by spectrophotometry cell synchrony chromatin immunoprecipitation flow cytometry of yeast DNA logarithmic growth EMS mutagenesis tetrad dissection making a tetrad dissection needle picking zygotes determining plating efficiency. Appendices: media stock preservation yeast genetic and physical maps templates for making streak plates electrophoretic karyotypes of strains for southern blot mapping strains counting yeast cells with a standard hemocytometer chamber tetrad scoring sheet trademarks suppliers.
Phenotypic integration of sexually selected traits in a songbird

xv testosterone in response to an injection of GnRH, a hypothalamic hormone. This suggests that investment in mating behavior (which seems to be controlled by testosterone) may covary with attractiveness. Indeed, in Chapter 4, I found that androgen responsiveness naturally covaries with both mating and parental behavior. Males that produced more testosterone defended their territories more vigorously and fed their offspring less often. Finally, in Chapter 5, I examined how selection acts on androgen responsiveness, and found that males with very high or very low responsiveness were less likely to survive. Combined, these studies suggest that testosterone, on a physiological level, and correlational selection, on an evolutionary level, act as integrators of the male mating phenotype.
Expression patterns of Hox genes in the direct-type developing sand dollar Peronella japonica: insights into the evolution of echinoderms

Peronella japonica is a sand dollar with a zygote that develops into an abbreviated pluteus but then metamorphoses on day three. The adult rudiment formation is unique; it uses a median position of the hydrocoel and a stomodeum-like invagination of vestibule that covers the dorsal side of the hydrocoel. However, the developmental processes underlying coelom formation remain unclear. In this study, I examined this process by reconstructing three-dimensional images from serial sections of larvae. I show that the left coelom developed by both schizocoely and enterocoely from the archenteron tip, whereas the hydrocoel and right coelom formed by enterocoely from the archenteron. This coelom formation arranged the coelomic compartments directly along the adult oral-aboral axis by skipping the initial bilateral phases. Furthermore, my data indicate P. japonica retains ancestral asymmetry along the left-right axis in the location of the adult rudiment.
Histomorphological development of lung in perinatal goat

Lungs from 15 Assam local goats were studied at 5 different phases of development, ranging from 116 days (225 mm CRL) prenatal to 30 days postnatal. Developmental stages, viz. late canalicular. terminal sac and alveolar. were identified at 116 days (225 mm CRL), 139 days (250 mm CRL) and 149 days (335 mm CRL) respectively. Rapid histomorphological changes were observed in the lung parenchyma of these foetuses. The lining epithelium of the alveoli was differentiated into type I (squamous) and type II (cuboidal) pneumcyotes at 149 days foetal lung. Neonatal lung at birth demonstrated well developed and distinct alveoli and lypically branched exchange component. The functional hlood-air-barrier was established. The formation of ncw alveoli was the main characteristic feature from birth up to 30 days of age. The conducting components of these lungs revealed an age-associated increase with the advancement of age. The neonatal lung of 30 days old kid almost resem"bled to that of adult goat.
Effect of foliar application of plant growth regulators on potato tubers quality

The present investigation was conducted at research farm of Central Potato Research Institute Campus, Modipuram, Meerut (UP) during 2008 and 2009 to find out the foliar effect of two growth promoters gibberellic acid (GA3) and indole aetic acid (IAA) and growth retardant paclobutrazol (PBZ) either alone or in combination on tuber quality attributes of potato variety Kufri Pukhraj. Many tuber quality parameters like dry matter content, specific gravity, tuber shape index, peel flesh ratio and sugar content were affected significantly by treatment with plant growth promoters GA3 (50 ppm and IAA 50 ppm during both the year, applied at 35 DAP in combination with growth retardant (PBZ 25 ppm) applied at 70 DAP in Indo – gangetic plains. The proportion of marketable yield also was highest 9.16% by application of GA3 50 ppm at 35 DAP and PBZ 25 ppm followed by treatment GA3 50 ppm at 35 DAP and PBZ 50 ppm applied at 70 DAP having an improvement of 6.74%. Therefore, these treatments may be exploited to enhance the crop growth as well as tuber quality without compromising tuber shape in this region.
Bacterial resource management for nutrient removal in aerobic granular sludge

A holistic approach was developed towards efficient bacterial resource management for nutrient removal from wastewater in aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactors. Multiple reactor experiments from granulation start-up to operation at steady-state were conducted in order to understand the mechanisms of bacterial selection by identification of multilevel correlations from reactor to biofilm and microbial scales. A stable, cooperative, and active Accumulibacter-dominated bacterial community continuum is selected by proper control of the anaerobic contact time, starvation phase length, and sludge age by taking advantage of the flexibility of the SBR technology. Microenvironmental conditions such as pH (>7.25), temperature ( 30 gCOD gP-1 and >10 gCOD gN-1), and the presence of propionate in the influent wastewater can in addition lead to a robust bioprocess.
Quinone Methide Triterpenes from Tripterygium regelii

Chloroform extracts of Tripterygium regelii dried root bark afforded three cytotoxic quinone methides, which were identified as pristimerine (1), celastrol (2), and -hydroxy tingenone (3) on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic studies. Compounds 1-3 showed significant cytotoxic against A549 and SK-OV3 human cancer cell lines, and antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria. 1 was isolated from this plant for the first time.
Efficacy of organic manures on growth and yield of radish (Raphanus sativus L.) cv. Japanese White.

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE SUMMARY A field experiment was conducted at Horticulture Research Farm, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow to study the influence of organic source of nutrients on growth and yield of radish cv. Japanese White. The experiment consisted of 11 treatments laid out in randomized block design with three replications. The growth parameters were recorded at 15 days interval. It was seen that the plant height was significantly increased by the application of organic manures and it was maximum under treatment T 9 i.e. Vermicompost + poultry manure (50% each). Similarly, vermicompost+poultry manure 50% each (T 9 ) recorded highest number of leaves. Root length and root diameter were significantly influenced by organics at harvest. Highest root length (18.91 cm) was recorded with vermicompost (50%) + poultry manure (50%). The treatment was also proved to be better for fresh and dry weight of plant as well as roots and recorded highest in vermicompost (50%) + poultry manure (50%) treatment. The study suggested that application of poultry manure (50%) + vermicompost (50%) was found more beneficial and significantly improved growth and yield of radish var. Japanese White grown under Lucknow condition.
Role of semiochemical in host finding, oviposition and sexual communication in Guatemalan potato moth Tecia solanivora

Semiochemicals are important cues in the interaction between plant and insects and between conspecific insects. Volatile compounds emitted by plants provide herbivorous insects with cues for host finding, selection and discrimination. In moths, female emitted sex pheromones enable conspecific males to find them for mating. This thesis investigated the role of semiochemicals in the behaviour of the Guatemalan potato moth Tecia solanivora (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), a pest insect of potato. Identification of odours of foliage, flowers, and tubers of potato, Solanum tuberosum, were done with coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and with high-performance liquid chromatography for non-volatile compounds in tubers. Antennal activity of potato volatiles was tested with electroantennographic recordings. Attraction of T. solanivora to potato volatile compounds was investigated through olfactometer, wind tunnel and field bioassays. Male behavior towards two different synthetic pheromone blends was similarly tested, to clarify their mode of action in mating disruption management. Potato emits structure-specific volatile blends that change during the development of the plant. Tuberization stage was the preferred stage for oviposition while foliage released deterrent compounds. A three-component flower-odour mimic attracted males and females, virgin and mated, and enhanced the number of eggs laid. Female oviposition in the soil, during the tuberization stage might be guided by odours from spatially separated flowers, as an indication of suitable host vicinity. Larval survival was low in tubers with high concentrations of glycoalkaloids. This study demonstrates that odours from qualitatively different sites guide female to oviposit on tubers with high suitability for larval performance. Mating disruption was obtained with pheromone-permeated air with the two blends, but the disruption mechanism were different between them. This first study on chemical communication between T. solanivora and its host plant showed that potato volatile compounds are perceived by the moth and act as cues in host location and oviposition. It highlights the possibility of using semiochemicals to manipulate the behavior of the moths and provides a base for further investigation and development of odour-based pest management.