ABSTRACT While in the developed countries, flowers are living necessity and enjoy a sizable market, the Council of Agriculture Executive Yuan R.O.C points out that cultivation and sales of flowers are important items in the prospecting dedicated agriculture industries of Taiwan. Besides the enjoyment and appreciation the beauty of blooming by oneself , in social life flowers can perform the instrumental function of expressing wishes in the occasion of marriage, birthday, promotion, house moving, and consolation in the sickness or sadness. The study of flower preference schemata is one of the importance concepts for flower product design and development. The current research figured out different patterns of flower preference among people¡¦s mind ,through pictures of moth orchid and rose designed by the three factors of flower beauty: color, volume, and package. The distinctive flower buying behaviors of the different groups were studied consequently. In our valid sample are 696 teachers from senior high and junior high schools and elementary schools in the Kaohsiung area in Taiwan. In addition to the description and analysis on people¡¦s flower buying behavior about flower type preference, shop choice, purchase frequency, and flower-as-present purchase behavior, the major findings of the current research are as the following: (1) Confirming that there exist distinctive flower preference schemata in people mind; (2) Flower preference affect the purchase behavior; (3) Demographic variables moderate the effect of flower preference on the purchase behavior; (4) Flower attitude and demographic variables affect flower consumption behavior.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(人間・環境学) / 甲第21176号 / 人博第848号 / 新制||人||203(附属図書館) / 29||人博||848(吉田南総合図書館) / 京都大学大学院人間・環境学研究科相関環境学専攻 / (主査)教授 加藤 眞, 教授 市岡 孝朗, 教授 瀬戸口 浩彰 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Human and Environmental Studies / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第23741号 / 理博第4831号 / 新制||理||1691(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科生物科学専攻 / (主査)教授 酒井 章子, 教授 髙林 純示, 教授 松下 智直 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM

Yes / In this paper, a new population-based and nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm, Discrete Flower Pollination Algorithm (DFPA), is presented to solve the Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem (RCPSP). The DFPA is a modification of existing Flower Pollination Algorithm adapted for solving combinatorial optimization problems by changing some of the algorithm's core concepts, such as flower, global pollination, Lévy flight, local pollination. The proposed DFPA is then tested on sets of benchmark instances and its performance is compared against other existing metaheuristic algorithms. The numerical results have shown that the proposed algorithm is efficient and outperforms several other popular metaheuristic algorithms, both in terms of quality of the results and execution time. Being discrete, the proposed algorithm can be used to solve any other combinatorial optimization problems. / Innovate UK / Awarded 'Best paper of the Month'

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Invasive alien plants threaten natural and agricultural pollination systems as they integrate into and disrupt flower visitation networks. Mango (Mangifera indica) production on commercial mango farms in Hoedspruit, South Africa, is an important part of the local economy. Mangoes require pollination for fruiting success, and depend on the native insect community, facilitated by managed bee colonies (Apis mellifera), to pollinate flowers. Managed honeybees and wild insect flower visitors to mango have previously been observed visiting other flowering plants in surrounding natural vegetation, including the alien invasive plant Lantana camara. Lantana camara and mango share similar floral characteristics and co-occur in close proximity, so they may share pollinators/flower visitors. Here, I determined L. camara’s influence on mango flower visitation networks, specifically whether it facilitates visitation, through greater abundance and diversity of insect flower visitors (facilitation), or competes for flower visitors (competition), and whether it supports mango flower visitors when mango trees are not in flower. This study was conducted on the margins of three mango farms and bordering natural vegetation. Firstly, L. camara’s effect on mango flower visitation was investigated by comparing flower visitation to mango in plots with and without L. camara nearby. The presence of L. camara was associated with greater mango flower visitation, with increases in both flower visitor species abundance and richness. Secondly, the composition of flower visitor communities of mango orchard boundaries and bordering natural vegetation were evaluated. Although some flower visitors were shared between mango and naturally occurring plants, flower visitor community assemblages were significantly different between natural vegetation and mango orchard boundaries. In natural vegetation, flies, butterflies, wasps, wild bees and ants played a primary role in the visitation networks, whereas honeybees, wild bees and flies were the main visitors in mango orchards. The presence of L. camara significantly influenced community structure in both natural vegetation and orchards. Natural vegetation with L. camara had a more diverse flower visitor community than natural vegetation without L. camara. Lantana camara seems to facilitate mango flower visitation during mango flowering, attracting a larger visitor abundance and species richness where it occurs in bordering natural vegetation and nearby mango orchard boundaries. However, L. camara was seen to be visited by few species known to visit mango outside of mango flowering, suggesting that L. camara may benefit more from facilitation than mango. Given its extreme invasive nature and threat to local plants which sustain native pollinators, L. camara should be removed from mango orchards and bordering natural vegetation. Furthermore, farm managers are encouraged to plant and maintain indigenous flowering plants, especially plants with a facilitative value to mango, in land surrounding mango orchards to sustain native wild pollinators beneficial to mango pollination. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Indringerplante bedreig natuurlike- en landboubestuiwingsisteme deur blombesoekingsnetwerke binne te dring en te ontwrig. Mango (Mangifera indica) produksie op kommersiële plase in Hoedspruit, Suid-Afrika, speel 'n belangrike rol in die plaaslike ekonomie. Suksesvolle mangovrugproduksie is afhanklik van bestuiwing deur inheemse insekte, gefasiliteer deur bestuurde heuningbykolonies (Apis mellifera). Dit is vantevore waargeneem dat hierdie heuningbye en inheemse insekblombesoekers ook ander blomme besoek in die omliggende natuurlike plantegroei, veral Lantana camara wat in hierdie areas ook voorkom. Lantana camara en mango deel soortgelyke blomeienskappe en groei baie na aan mekaar op die buitenste rande van mango boorde. In hierdie studie bepaal ek L. camara se invloed op mangoblominsekbesoekers, en kyk spesifiek of dit mangoblombesoeking fasiliteer, deur om die aantal blombesoekers en blombesoekerspesies te verhoog (fasilitering), of mee kompeteer vir blombesoekers (kompetisie), en of dit mangoblombesoekers onderhou wanneer mango bome nie blom nie. Hierdie studie is uitgevoer op die grensgebied tussen die mangoboorde en natuurlike plantegroei van drie mangoplase. Eerstens is L. camara se effek op mango ondersoek deur mangoblombesoeking te vergelyk tussen plotte met en sonder L. camara. Daar is gevind dat L. camara mangoblombesoeking fasiliteer deur om die aantal blombesoekers en besoekerspesies te verhoog. Tweedens is die gemeenskapsamestelling van blombesoekers in mangoboordrande en aangrensende plantegroei geëvalueer. Alhoewel sommige blombesoekers by mango én ander plante gevind word, is hul gemeenskapsamestelling aansienlik verskillend tussen die mangoboordrande en aangrensende plantegroei. Vlieë, skoenlappers, wespe, bye en miere speel 'n primêre rol in die blombesoekingsnetwerke van natuurlike plantegroei, waar hierdie rol in mangoboord-besoekingsnetwerke vervul word deur heuningbye, wilde bye en vlieë. Die teenwoordigheid van L. camara het die gemeenskapstruktuur in beide gebiede beduidend beïnvloed. Die aangrensende natuurlike plantegroei, waar L. camara voorkom, het ‘n meer diverse blombesoekersgemeenskap as dié sonder L. camara. Mangoboorde wat grens aan plantegroei, wat L. camara insluit, het soortgelyk 'n groter blombesoekerspesierykheid en aantal blombesoekers gehad. Dit blyk dat, waar hierdie plant voorkom, Lantana camara mangoblombesoeking fasiliteer tydens mangoblomtyd sowel as om 'n groter aantal blombesoekersinsekte met ‘n groter spesierykheid te lok in beide die mangoboorde en aangrensende natuurlike plantegroei. Daar is egter geen bewyse gevind wat voorstel dat L. camara mangoblombesoekers ondersteun buite mangoblomtyd nie, wat aandui dat L. camara voordeel trek uit die fasiliterende verband met mango. Gegewe L. camara se uiterse indringende geaardheid en bedreiging aan die plaaslike inheemse plantgemeenskap wat inheemse bestuiwers onderhou, word L. camara se verwydering vanuit die aangrensende plantegroei aanbeveel. Dit word aanbeveel om L. camara se fasiliterende rol te vervang deur inheemse blomplante in dié areas aan te plant en natuurlike blomplantegroei te bewaar en te onderhou.

<p>Examining the genetic basis across repeated origins of the same phenotypic adaptation allows us to address several questions pertaining to the genetic basis of adaptation. First, whether the genes and types of mutations that are involved in adaptation are predictable. Second, whether the underlying genetic changes can constrain future evolutionary trajectories. Here, I have focused on the genetics of blue to red flower color shifts, an adaptive shift that has repeatedly occurred across angiosperms. First, I review the literature and determine the relative contribution of functional vs. regulatory mutations to the evolution of red flowers can be predicted both on the mutational target size of each type of mutation and the degree of their associated deleterious pleiotropy. Chapter 2 characterizes the genetic basis of red flowers in Penstemon barbatus using a combination of gene expression and protein function assays. I demonstrated that multiple inactivating mutations to one anthocyanin pathway enzyme, F3'5'h, have occurred, but no mutations to any other component of the anthocyanin pathway have contributed to the evolution of red flowers. This suggests that F3'5'h may be a particularly favorable target for selection and also that evolutionary reversal to blue flowers would be highly unlikely. Chapter 3 investigates the genetic basis of an additional 12 origins of red flowers within Penstemon. Again, using a combination of gene expression and enzyme function assays, I found the genetic basis of these additional origins red flowers in Penstemon is highly predictable, involving redundant inactivating mutations to F3'5'h, and tissue-specific regulatory mutations to a second gene F3'h. Thus, the genetics of red flowers in Penstemon often involves inactivation of a non-pleiotropic gene, F3'5'h, but tissue-specific regulatory mutations to the pleiotropic gene F3'h. Furthermore, the presence of redundant inactivating mutations in many red-flowered Penstemon species indicates that the evolutionary reversal to blue flowers would be unlikely.</p> / Dissertation

The group of 7 paper objects, the whole cluster measures about 180 x 100 x 100cm. Hang down from the ceiling. Different kinds of paper, colled, folded, crumpled, paper-mashe. Central composition (6 small objects touching gently the big one), on the border more realistic, in the centre more imaginary. The realistic forms I used - clover, cauliflower, rotten pear. Focus on colours, fragility of plants and material. Garden as a metaphore of human body. Centre - heart - tree. Love Entering into the installation.

A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. November 2016, Johannesburg. / Drought stress is one of the major limitations to crop production worldwide and has been predicted to become more severe in the future due to global climate change. Research has often been focused on genetic engineering to improve the tolerance of plants to abiotic and biotic stresses. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are an alternative mechanism to improve the tolerance of plants to many stresses and is crucial for developing and third world countries. In this study, Helianthus annuus was inoculated with Pseudomonas koreensis and subjected to drought stress. The germination and growth characteristics, leaf water content, leaf electrolyte leakage and leaf area, substrate water content, phenolic compounds and proline concentration, root bacterial counts, as well as recovery and regrowth, were compared between uninoculated and inoculated plants. In addition, the phosphatase activity, siderophore and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production, as well as growth at -0.73 MPa was compared between P. koreensis and P. fluorescens. It was found that inoculated plants were significantly taller plants and had a larger leaf area; and had significantly higher phenolic and proline concentration and a higher colonised root surface under drought stress. However, inoculation negatively affected germination and chlorophyll fluorescence. These plants also had a lower substrate water content under drought stress. P. koreensis outperformed P. fluorescens in all parameters studied, except for growth under osmotic stress. It can be concluded that P. koreensis generally improves the drought stress tolerance of H. annuus, however, further investigations are needed to determine the reasons for some of the negative effects. / LG2017

Orientador: Fabiana Pilarski / Banca: Luiz Eduardo Corrêa Fonseca / Banca: Raquel Regina Duarte Moreira / Banca: Fabiana Garcia Scaloppi / Banca: Eduardo Makoto Onaka / Resumo: Os óleos essenciais (OEs) de plantas são compostos estudados como aditivo alimentar na produção animal há alguns anos, sendo descritos por diversos autores como promotores de crescimento, imunoestimulantes e antimicrobianos. No entanto, os efeitos de sua adição na dieta de organismos aquáticos ainda são pouco conhecidos. No presente estudo, diferentes estratégias de suplementação com diferentes OEs foram testadas. No primeiro estudo, os OEs de Mentha piperita e Melaleuca alternifolia foram incorporados à dieta para tilapia-do-Nilo Oreochromis niloticus por um longo período (2 meses), e os seus efeitos sobre a saúde (parâmetros hematológicos, bioquímicos e imunológicos) e sobre o intestino (morfologia e morfometria) foram avaliados. Em um segundo momento, M. piperita, M. alternifolia, Citrus aurantium, Cymbopogon nardus, Ocimum basilicum e Thymus vulgaris foram testados in vitro contra isolados intestinais (Aeromonas hydrophila, Staphylococcus aureus e Edwardsiella tarda) da tilápia-do-Nilo para seleção daquele com maior capacidade de modular a microbiota dos peixes. O OE de Thymus vulgaris foi aquele que apresentou a maior atividade contra as bactérias testadas. Em um estudo final, o OE de Thymus vulgaris foi incorporado à dieta e fornecido por 15 dias à tilápia-do-Nilo e o efeito sobre a saúde, intestino, e também sobre a população de bactérias do gênero Bacillus no intestino foi avaliado. O primeiro experimento demonstrou que a M. piperita e a M. alternifolia foram capazes ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Essential oils (EOs) of plants are compounds studied as food additive in animal production a few years ago. They have already been described by several authors, as growth promoter, immunostimulant and antimicrobial. However, the effects of its addition on the diet of aquatic organisms are still poorly understood. In the present study, different supplementation strategies with different EOs were tested. In the first study, the EOs of Mentha piperita and Melaleuca alternifolia were supplied for a long period (2 months) in the diet of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, and aspects of health (hematological, biochemical and immunological parameters) and intestine (morphology and morphometry) were evaluated. In a second moment, M. piperita, M. alternifolia, Citrus aurantium, Cymbopogon nardus, Ocimum basilicum and Thymus vulgaris were tested in vitro against the intestinal isolates (Aeromonas hydrophila, Staphylococcus aureus and Edwardsiella tarda) from Nile tilapia to select the one with the greatest capacity to modulate the microbiota of fish. Thymus vulgaris EO was the one that presented the highest activity against the bacteria tested. In a final study, the Thymus vulgaris EO was provided for 15 days in the diet of Nile tilapia where its effects on the health, intestine and on the population of bacteria of the genus Bacillus were evaluated. In the first experiment, it was shown that M. piperita and M. alternifolia were able to immunostimulate components of fish humoral respon... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

L'horloge de flore (The Flower Clock or Flora's Clock) by Jean Françaix was commissioned by John de Lancie, former principal oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1957. It was completed in 1959 and premiered by Mr. de Lancie and the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1961. Since that time, it has become a staple of the 20th century oboe concerto repertoire. The current piano reduction of Jean Françaix's L'horloge de Flore consists of the full orchestral score in piano score format. Since it has been only minimally edited, it is an extremely difficult accompaniment for a single pianist. Collaborative pianists must make decisions concerning which pitch material to incorporate into an accompaniment. Many oboists have expressed the need for a revised piano accompaniment to make the piece more accessible to pianists and, thus, enable the concerto to be studied and performed more frequently by oboists. The purpose of this document is to further facilitate performance of this work in a recital setting by both professional and student oboists and to encourage student oboists to study the work by revising the piano reduction. In order to do so, it will be necessary to provide commentary and background on similar oboe works by Jean Françaix, provide a theoretical analysis of L'horloge de Flore, offer performance suggestions of the work for the oboist, clearly discuss transcriptional decisions in the revised piano reduction, and create a practical, two-hand piano accompaniment.