Thesis (M.B.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1987.

This thesis seeks to examine the Kurdish novel, The Flower of Shoran (1998) by Iranian Kurdish author, ‘Atā Nahāyi in the context of Kurdish identity search and nationalism and struggle to build a nation state. Considering that the setting of the novel is between the two World Wars which is arguably the most critical phase of Kurdish nationalism, the present study tries to give a brief overview of the historical events that shaped and oriented Kurdish nationalism. Subsequently, Nahāyi’s perspective on the question of Kurdish identity and nationalism in Iran which are the underlying themes of the novel is discussed. Also a detailed summary has been provided along with the translation of the first two chapters of the novel to illustrate how a fairly successful Kurdish novel such as The Flower of Shoran has dealt with the Kurdish question of identity and nationalism in the context of Kurds' struggle for autonomy and recognition as a distinct nation. / text

published_or_final_version / Fine Arts / Master / Master of Philosophy

No description available.

Aphrodisiac and anti-aphrodisiac pheromone production and composition in the green-veined white butterfly Pieris napi L. were investigated. Aphrodisiac pheromone biosynthesis had different time constraints in butterflies from the diapausing and directly developing generations. Effects of stable isotope incorporation in adult butterfly pheromone, in the nectar and flower volatiles of  host plants from labeled substrates were measured by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. A method to fertilize plants with stable isotopes was developed and found to be an effective method to investigate the transfer of pheromone building blocks from flowering plants to butterflies. The anti-aphrodisiac methyl salicylate was not biosynthesized from phenylalanine in flowers of Alliaria petiolata. Both aphrodisiac and anti-aphrodisiac pheromones in P.napi are produced not only from resources acquired in the larval stage, but also from nutritional resources consumed intheadult stage. Males of P. napi produce the anti-aphrodisiac pheromone from both the essential amino acid L-phenylalanine and from common flower fragrance constituents. / <p>QC 20140311</p>

Using gentian and petunia as the experimental systems, potential alternative post-harvest treatments for cut flowers were explored in this project. Pulsing with GA₃ (1 to 100 µM) or sucrose (3%, w/v) solutions delayed the rate of senescence of flowers on cut gentian stems. The retardation of flower senescence by GA₃ in both single flower and half petal systems was accompanied by a delay in petal discoloration. The delay in ion leakage increase or fresh weight loss was observed following treatment with 5 or 10 µM GA₃ of the flowers at the unopen bud stage. Ultrastructural analysis showed that in the cells of the lower part of a petal around the vein region, appearance of senescence-associated features such as degradation of cell membranes, cytoplasm and organelles was faster in water control than in GA₃ treatment. In particular, degeneration of chloroplasts including thylakoids and chloroplast envelope was retarded in response to GA₃ treatment. In the cells of the top part of a petal, more carotenoids-containing chromoplasts were found after GA₃ application than in water control. In petunia, treatment with 6% of ethanol or 0.3 mM of STS during the flower opening stage was effective to delay senescence of detached flowers. The longevity of isolated petunia petals treated with 6% ethanol was nearly twice as long as when they were held in water. Senescence-associated petal membrane damage, weight decline, ovary growth and decrease in protein and total RNA levels were counteracted in ethanol-treated petals. The accumulation of ROS, particularly superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, was also inhibited or delayed by ethanol application. Anti-senescence mechanisms, particularly the changes of oxidative / antioxidant metabolism involved in petal senescence, were investigated. In gentian, activities of AP and SOD but not POD in the GA₃-treated petals were significantly higher than those of the control. In isolated petunia petals, the decreased trends of antioxidative SOD and AP activities during senescence were apparently prevented in response to ethanol treatment although the levels of ascorbate and photo-protective carotenoids were not affected. Furthermore, by optimizing a range of critical PCR parameters such as primer combinations, cDNA concentrations and annealing temperatures, a reliable protocol has been established for quantifying the expression level of Cu-Zn SOD gene in petunia petals using SYBR Green I based real-time RT-PCR. A 228 bp gene fragment of Cu-Zn SOD was isolated from petunia (var. 'hurrah') using RT-PCR. It was found that the mRNA level (relative to 18S rRNA level) of Cu-Zn SOD decreased significantly after 6 days in water. However, there was about a 55-fold increase in Cu-Zn mRNA level after 6 days of ethanol treatment when compared to water-treated petals. Similarly, down-regulation of the mRNA level of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was also observed during senescence of petunia petals. Increased vase life of petunia petals by ethanol treatment was correlated with promotion of GAPDH expression by a factor of about 16 on day 6. Taking together, the anti-senescence effects of GA₃ and ethanol are at least partially associated with an increased efficiency of petal system utilizing ROS since the selected antioxidants were significantly maintained when compared to the corresponding values for the control.

This dissertation explored the way in which bumblebees' visual system helps them discover their first flower. Previous studies found bees have unlearned preferences for parts of a flower, such as its colour and shape. The first study pitted two variables against each other: pattern type: sunburst or bull's eye, versus the location of the pattern: shapes appeared peripherally or centrally. We observed free-flying bees in a flight cage using Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking. The results show two distinct behavioural preferences: Pattern type predicts landing: bees prefer radial over concentric patterns, regardless of whether the radial pattern is on the perimeter or near the centre of the flower. Pattern location predicts exploration: bees were more likely to explore the inside of artificial flowers if the shapes were displayed near the centre of the flower, regardless of whether the pattern was radial or concentric. As part of the second component, we implemented a mathematical model aimed at explaining how bees come to prefer radial patterns, leafy backgrounds and symmetry. The model was based on unsupervised neural networks used to describe cognitive mechanisms. The results captured with the results of multiple behavioural experiments. The model suggests that bees choose computationally "cheaper" stimuli, those that contain less information. The third study tested the computational load hypothesis generated by the artificial neural networks. Visual properties of symmetry, and spatial frequency were tested. Studying free-flying bees in a flight cage using motion-sensitive video recordings, we found that bees preferred 4-axis symmetrical patterns in both low and high frequency displays.

Les plantes conservent la capacité à former de nouveaux organes tout au long de leur vie grâce au maintien de structures contenant des cellules souches, les méristèmes. La formation des fleurs, structures reproductives de la plante, est une étape essentielle de son cycle de vie. Afin d’assurer un développement floral complet, un méristème doit être formé de novo au sein du jeune bouton floral. Des données éparses de la littérature indiquent que le facteur de transcription LEAFY, en plus d’être un régulateur clé de l’identité florale, est aussi impliqué dans la mise en place du méristème floral.Dans la première partie de ce travail nous explorons le rôle de LEAFY dans l’initiation du méristème floral. Cette étude est concentrée sur un gène cible de LEAFY, le facteur de transcription REGULATOR OF AXILLARY MERISTEMS1 (RAX1). Nous montrons notamment que la voie régulée par LEAFY/RAX1 agit en parallèle du facteur de transcription REVOLUTA pour permettre la mise en place du méristème floral.Dans la deuxième partie de ce travail nous étudions les propriétés du domaine N-terminal de LEAFY. Ce domaine permet l’oligomérisation de LEAFY ainsi que potentiellement sa liaison aux régions fermées de la chromatine. Nous étudions également de manière plus exploratoire le rôle de ce domaine dans la régulation de l’expression du gène AGAMOUS, un important régulateur du développement floral. / Plants have the capacity to continuously produce organs throughout their life because they maintain stem cells containing structures called meristems. The formation of flowers is an essential step of the plant’s life-cycle. In order to ensure flower development, a new meristem must be formed within the young flower bud. Various data across the literature indicate that the transcription factor LEAFY is involved flower meristem formation in addition to its role as a master regulator of flower identity.In the first part of this work we explore the role of LEAFY in the initiation of flower meristem. This study focuses on a LEAFY target gene, the transcription factor REGULATOR OF AXILLARY MERISTEMS1 (RAX1). We show that the LEAFY/RAX1 pathway acts in parallel of the transcription factor REVOLUTA to allow flower meristem formation.In the second part of this work we study the properties of the N-terminal domain of LEAFY. This domain mediates LEAFY oligomerization and potentially its binding to closed chromatin regions. We also study in a more prospective manner the role of this domain in the transcriptional regulation of AGAMOUS, an important regulator of flower development.

?rea de concentra??o: Cl?nica Odontol?gica. / Linha de pesquisa: Les?es inflamat?rias, c?sticas e neopl?sicas da cavidade bucal. / Na Folha de Rosto e Ficha Catalogr?fica da obra consta o t?tulo: "Avalia??o dos efeitos anti-inflamat?rio e antiedematog?nico do gel Oxyflower? em modelo de edema de pata induzido por adjuvante completo de Freund em ratos". / Submitted by Jos? Henrique Henrique (jose.neves@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2018-05-22T17:57:16Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) timilliy_mayra_martins_cruz.pdf: 1084452 bytes, checksum: e81ee908ce5c1b999b746646f5a03878 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Rodrigo Martins Cruz (rodrigo.cruz@ufvjm.edu.br) on 2018-06-05T14:41:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) timilliy_mayra_martins_cruz.pdf: 1084452 bytes, checksum: e81ee908ce5c1b999b746646f5a03878 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-05T14:41:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) timilliy_mayra_martins_cruz.pdf: 1084452 bytes, checksum: e81ee908ce5c1b999b746646f5a03878 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / Introdu??o: A inflama??o ? um mecanismo de defesa prim?ria que protege o organismo de est?mulos nocivos ou prejudiciais. Os medicamentos anti-inflamat?rios tais como os Anti-Inflamat?rios N?o Esteroidais (AINEs) e os corticoster?ides s?o utilizados para tratar os dist?rbios inflamat?rios, por?m, diversos efeitos colaterais t?m sido relatados. Neste contexto, produtos naturais t?m contribu?do bastante para o desenvolvimento de terapias farmacol?gicas modernas e eficazes. Alguns medicamentos naturais apresentam grande potencial terap?utico, como por exemplo, o Oxyflower?. Este rem?dio baseia-se na a??o de ess?ncias florais, por?m seus efeitos biol?gicos ainda n?o foram devidamente investigados. Objetivos: Investigar os poss?veis efeitos anti-inflamat?rio e antiedematog?nico do gel Oxyflower? em modelo animal de inflama??o cr?nica. Metodologia: 25 ratos machos da linhagem Holtzman foram aleatoriamente divididos em 5 grupos experimentais (controle, ve?culo do Oxyflower?, Oxyflower?, triancinolona acetonida e diclofenaco dietilam?nio). A inflama??o foi quimicamente induzida por meio da inje??o de 200 ?L de Adjuvante Completo de Freund (ACF) na pata traseira direita dos ratos. O volume e espessura das patas dos ratos foram mensurados com pletism?metro de pata e paqu?metro digital, respectivamente. Durante 14 dias, os animais foram tratados com os f?rmacos e tiveram acompanhamento de sua massa corporal. Neste per?odo a temperatura das patas traseiras foram avaliadas com um term?grafo digital. Foram realizadas an?lises histol?gicas e leucometria. Os dados foram analisados como m?dia ? erro padr?o ou desvio padr?o da m?dia e apresentados como a varia??o (delta) do volume, espessura e temperatura das patas traseiras. As diferen?as entre os grupos foram analisadas pelos testes de vari?ncia ANOVA (two e one-way), seguidos do post hoc de Tukey e teste Qui-Quadrado. Valores de p< 0,05 foram considerados significativos. Resultados: O gel Oxyflower? promoveu redu??es no volume, espessura e temperatura das patas dos ratos, injetados com ACF, quando comparados aos animais do grupo controle. N?o houve diferen?a em rela??o ao ganho de massa corporal nos diferentes grupos experimentais. Os resultados para leucometria e histologia n?o apresentaram diferen?as significativas entre os grupos. Conclus?o: O gel Oxyflower? apresentou atividade antiedematog?nica semelhante ? Triancinolona e ao Diclofenaco. A termografia infravermelha ? um m?todo aplic?vel na avalia??o da temperatura tecidual associada ao edema, neste modelo experimental. / Disserta??o (Mestrado) ? Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Odontologia, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 2017. / Introduction: Inflammation is a primary defense mechanism that protects the body from harmful or harmful stimuli. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are used to treat inflammatory disorders, but several side effects have been reported. Thus, natural products have contributed greatly to the development of modern and effective pharmacological therapies. Some natural medicines have great therapeutic potential, such as Oxyflower?. This drug is based on the action of flower essences, but its biological effects have not yet been properly investigated. Objectives: To investigate the possible anti-inflammatory and anti-infective effects of Oxyflower? gel in an animal model of chronic inflammation. Methods: 25 male rats of the Holtzman strain were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups (control, Oxyflower? vehicle, Oxyflower?, triamcinolone acetonide and diclofenac diethylammonium). Inflammation was chemically induced by injecting 200 ?L of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) into the right hind paw of rats. The volume and thickness of the paws of the rats were measured with a paw plethysmometer and digital caliper, respectively. During 14 days, the animals were treated with the drugs and had monitoring of their body mass. In this period the temperature of the hind legs were evaluated with a digital thermograph. Histological analysis and leukometry were performed. Data were analyzed as mean ? standard error or standard deviation of the mean and presented as the variation (delta) of the volume, thickness and temperature. The differences between the groups were analyzed by ANOVA (two and one-way) variance tests, followed by Tukey post hoc and Chi-Square test. Values of p <0.05 were considered significant. Results: The Oxyflower? gel promoted reductions in the volume, thickness and temperature of the legs of the rats injected with ACF when compared to the animals of the control group. There was no difference in relation to body mass gain in the different experimental groups. The results for leucometry and histology did not show significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: Oxyflower? gel presented antiedematogenic activity similar to Triamcinolone and Diclofenac. Infrared thermography is an applicable method for evaluation of tissue temperature associated with edema, in this experimental model. Infrared thermography is an applicable method for assessing tissue temperature associated with edema in this experimental model. The antiinflammatory effect of Oxyflower? gel could not be confirmed. However, biomolecular, immunological and immunohistochemical analyzes may help confirm the possible antiinflammatory effect of Oxyflower? gel.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The earthworms are organisms of the edaphic fauna with great capacity of transformation of organic residues with stabled composting. The potential of these organisms have the advantage in the earthworm-breeding, seeking the humus production as organic fertilizer, and earthworm´s biomass, as food for several animals. However, many organic residues are not often used, staying in conditions that cause damages to the atmosphere. The present work was accomplished with the following objectives: to evaluated the utilization of rice husk and catle manure in the Eisenia andrei Bouché (1972) reproduction and the production of lettuce, tomato and snapdragon seedlings in the vermicomposts studied. Firstly, the efficiency of 30 substrates constituted by cattle manure and different forms of rice husk was evaluated (natural, charred, crushed and treated chemically with alkalis) in the multiplication of E. andrei. The study was conducted in greenhouse and were evaluated the number of young and adult earthworms, the number of cocoons, the biomass and multiplication index. These data was obtained after 60 days of earthworms inoculation. The efficiency of the use of the compositions was evaluated obtained as substrate for seedling production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivar Regina produced in plastic containers throughout 30 days. Secondly, it was analyzed the efficiency of different proportions of natural rice husk, charred rice husk and cattle manure in the creation of E. andrei, as well as the use of the vermicomposts obtained in the seedling production of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) and lettuce in styrofoam trays. Thirdly, the potential of the charred rice husk and humus was evaluated in the seedling production of snapdragon (Antirrhinium majus L.) cultivar Potomac Light Rose. The seedling was produced in plastic trays in greenhouse and the features appraised were height, phytomass and number of pair leaf, 42 days after the sowing. The inclusion of rice husk to the cattle manure favored the multiplication and the development of the E. andrei. The vermicomposts used as substrate in the seedling production of tomato and lettuce was satisfactory and better quality than the commercial substrate. The substrates charred rice husk and humus present potential for using commercially in the seedling production acceptable of snapdragon in the proportions of 80, 60, 50 and 40% of charred rice husk added to the humus. / As minhocas são organismos da fauna edáfica com grande capacidade de transformação de resíduos orgânicos em compostos estáveis. O potencial destes organismos vem sendo aproveitado na minhocultura, visando a produção de húmus como fertilizante orgânico, e biomassa de minhocas, como alimento para diversos animais. Entretanto, muitos resíduos orgânicos são subutilizados, permanecendo em condições que causam danos ao ambiente. O presente trabalho teve por objetivos: avaliar a utilização da casca de arroz e esterco bovino na reprodução de Eisenia andrei Bouché (1972) e a produção de mudas de hortaliças e uma espécie ornamental em substratos constituídos pelos vermicompostos estudados. Primeiramente, avaliou-se a eficiência de 30 substratos constituídos por esterco bovino e diferentes formas de casca de arroz (natural, carbonizada, moída e tratada quimicamente com álcalis) na multiplicação de E. andrei. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação, sendo avaliado o número total de indivíduos jovens, adultos e casulos, a biomassa e o índice de multiplicação das minhocas, 60 dias após a inoculação de minhocas adultas nos diferentes substratos. Em seguida, avaliou-se a eficiência da utilização dos compostos obtidos como substrato para a produção de mudas de alface (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivar Regina produzidas em tubetes durante 30 dias. Na segunda etapa do trabalho, foi analisada a eficiência de diferentes proporções de casca de arroz natural, casca de arroz carbonizada e esterco bovino na criação de E. andrei. As unidades experimentais constaram de sacos plásticos pretos com capacidade para oito litros, nos quais foram inoculadas seis minhocas adultas. Posteriormente, foi avaliada a utilização dos vermicompostos obtidos na produção de mudas de tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) e alface em bandejas de poliestireno. Na terceira etapa do trabalho, foi avaliado o potencial da casca de arroz carbonizada e do húmus na produção de mudas de boca-de-leão (Antirrhinium majus L.) cultivar Potomac Light Rose. As mudas foram produzidas em bandejas plásticas em casa de vegetação, sendo avaliadas quanto à altura, fitomassa e número de pares de folhas, 42 dias após a semeadura. A inclusão de casca de arroz ao esterco bovino favoreceu a multiplicação e o desenvolvimento da E. andrei. Os vermicompostos utilizados como substrato na produção de mudas de tomate e alface mostraram-se superiores ao substrato comercial. Os substratos casca de arroz carbonizada e húmus de minhoca, nas proporções de 80, 60, 50 e 40% de casca de arroz carbonizada adicionada ao húmus, apresentam potencial para serem utilizados na produção de mudas comercialmente aceitáveis de boca-de-leão.