What makes a cherry red?: an investigation into flavonoid pathway regulation in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) fruit.

Colour is an important fruit quality indicator because many consumers make their selections based primarily on this trait. Inheritance of colour has been studied within sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) populations and as a result fruit colour is thought to be determined by three genetic factors. A flesh colour factor (F) and the major skin colour factor (A) are the main determinants of fruit colour, where red pigmentation is incompletely dominant over yellow. A third factor, the minor skin colour factor (B), can produce blush skin but is epistatically masked by a dominant A allele. The pigments that colour fruit are known as anthocyanins, synthesised via the transcriptionally regulated flavonoid pathway, which also synthesizes the related secondary metabolites, condensed tannins and flavonols. In other fruit and flower species, mutations in flavonoid pathway or regulatory genes can lead to non-functional alleles that explain the inheritance of colour. However the genes encoding the genetic colour factors are not known in sweet cherry. Therefore, this research has endeavoured to study the cherry flavonoid pathway and its transcriptional regulation, with a view to determining the genetic differences responsible for yellow, blush, red and black cultivars. To achieve this aim, genes encoding flavonoid pathway enzymes and putative regulators of flavonoid synthesis were isolated from the red sweet cherry cultivar ‘Lapins’. PaMYBA1, an R2R3-MYB factor, possessing a high degree of sequence similarity with characterised anthocyanin regulators and conserved C-terminal motifs common within this type of protein, was identified. Functional characterisation of PaMYBA1 demonstrated its ability to activate transcription from the promoters of chalcone synthase (MdCHS), which encodes an enzyme that performs the first committed step in the synthesis of flavonoids, and the anthocyanin biosynthetic gene UDP-glycosyl:flavonoid-3-O-glycosyltransferase (MdUFGT). Furthermore, correlation between anthocyanin accumulation and the expression profile of PaMYBA1 in developing ‘Lapins’ fruit and light-treated blush-skinned ‘Ranier’ fruit suggest that PaMYBA1 might be an important colour factor. Transcript analysis revealed that PaMYBA1 is necessary for the production of colour in cherries; PaMYBA1 is not expressed in the solid yellow fruit of ‘Yellow Glass’ that lacks anthocyanins. However, similar levels of expression of PaMYBA1 in blush, red and black sweet cherry fruit indicate that there are additional factors that contribute to differences in colour intensity. The intense colour and increased flavonoid levels of the black sweet cherry ‘Sam’, compared with the blush and red fruits tested, correlated with a large increase in the expression of the putative tannin regulator PaMYBPA1 in this cultivar. In a functional assay, PaMYBPA1 could trans-activate not only the promoters of the tannin genes anthocyanidin reductase (VvANR) and leucaonthocyanidin reductase (VvLAR), but also of MdCHS and MdUFGT. Therefore, it is possible that PaMYBPA1 could regulate both tannin and anthocyanin synthesis, particularly when expressed at high levels. Taking into consideration the expression of flavonoid pathway genes in different sweet cherry cultivars and tissues, and under different environmental conditions, together with published scientific observations of the genetic factors contributing to fruit colour, we have developed a working model for flavonoid pathway regulation in sweet cherry fruit. Aspects of the model remain to be determined, such as the involvement of two additional anthocyanin-type MYB factors PaMYBA2 and PaMYBA3 in fruit pigmentation. However, it provides a general understanding of differences in the activity of the flavonoid pathway between sweet cherry cultivars, and moves us closer to knowing the identity of the inherited factors that determine skin and flesh colour in sweet cherry fruit.Thesis (Ph.D) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 201

A Lipid Binding Structure and Functional Analysis of Human ARV1

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a combination of risk factors that can over time increase the probability of developing diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Acyl-coenzyme-A: cholesterol O-acyl transferase related enzyme required for viability-1, abbreviated as Arv1, is an evolutionarily conserved putative lipid binding protein. Several studies have implicated hArv1 as a critical regulator of lipid transport and trafficking. Recent work using an Arv1 knock out (KO) mouse model have established a clear link between Arv1 function and the progression of MetS and NAFLD/NASH [unpublished data] [1]. Overall, studies show that KO animals exhibit a reduction in body weight, have less blood circulating cholesterol, are more glucose tolerant and insulin sensitive, and show severely reduced signs of NASH. Little is known about whether Arv1 binds lipids directly and if it is involved in their transport in any way. Here, we explored whether Arv1 could bind lipid, and if so what was its lipid specificity for binding. Moreover, we undertook a structure/function approach to define the critical residues within the hArv1 homology domain (AHD) required for function. Homogeneous time resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assays were used to assess the interactions between Arv1 and specific phospholipids. We found that hArv1 directly binds to phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidic acid (PA), cardiolipin (CL) and hosphatidylserine (PS) with decreasing affinity. Using site directed mutagenesis, we identified specific residues that are required for AHD lipid binding. Overall, we have verified that the AHD of Arv1 does have lipid binding activity. Moreover, we have defined critical residues within the AHD that are required for this binding. Understanding the molecular basis for Arv1 lipid binding will further our understanding of how hArv1 may be contributing to the initiation and/or progression of MetS related diseases

Avian Habitat Response to Grazing, Haying, and Biofuels Production in Native Warm-Season Forages in the Mid-South

Declines in grassland birds have been attributed to loss of habitat, habitat degradation, and changes in land management. In the Mid-South, pasture and hayfield management has focused on maintaining dense stands of non-native forages that do not provide suitable vegetative structure for grassland birds or northern bobwhite. Native warm-season grasses have been promoted for livestock forage and biofuels feedstock. However, little information exists on how these practices affect habitat for grassland songbirds or northern bobwhite in the Mid-South. We conducted a study of two cattle grazing treatments, two hay harvest treatments and a biofuels harvest treatment on vegetative structure for nesting and brood-rearing grassland birds and northern bobwhite in native warm-season grasses. We evaluated vegetative composition and structure during a typical nesting period for grassland songbirds and a typical brood-rearing period for northern bobwhite across Tennessee, 2010 and 2011. We also evaluated invertebrate availability in each grazing treatment. Full-season grazing created suitable structure for nesting and brood-rearing grassland songbirds and northern bobwhite, whereas early-season grazing only provided suitable nesting structure for these species through early summer. Hay and biofuels stands provided adequate nesting cover for grassland songbirds and northern bobwhite, and hay harvests in May and June enhanced structure for brood-rearing northern bobwhite by reducing grass height. However, hay harvests in May or June are likely to impact nesting success for grassland songbirds and northern bobwhite. NWSG planted for biofuels only did not provide suitable structure for northern bobwhite broods. We recommend big bluestem and indiangrass for hay production, as these species mature later and hay harvest is less likely to impact grassland bird reproductive success. In areas where grassland birds and northern bobwhite are a management concern, grazing is a better management tool than haying or biofuels production. We recommend full-season grazing in production stands of native warm-season forages to maximize benefits where grassland birds and northern bobwhite are a management concern

Faculty Perception Of Department Chairs\u27 Leadership Style And Perceived Effects On Music Faculty\u27s Self-Reported Productivity

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived effectiveness of the leadership styles of music department chairs and the responses to the leadership styles by faculty. This study specifically investigated the leadership styles of music department chairs serving in public higher education institutions with NASM accredited music units in the states of Arkansas and Mississippi. The study examined the perceived types of leadership styles used by music department chairs and their relationship with music faculties\u27 self-reported productivity as seen by faculty members within the department. The need for this study is to assist universities in recruiting and developing effective leaders as department chairs. This study used a descriptive correlation design. The data for this study were collected using the survey research approach to examine the perception of the leadership styles by faculty and the effect that style has on music faculty\u27s self-reported productivity. The sample for this study consisted of one hundred and seventy-four (174) faculty members with non-administrative titles and full-time position appointment as senior professors and junior professors. Results from the summary of responses were presented in frequency counts and percentages among the ranks to describe the data. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) was analyzed using chi-square to determine if there were significant differences among the groups. The Spearman rho was used to determine if there was a relationship with music faculty perception of the chair\u27s leadership and self-reported of productivity. Based upon the findings from the MLQ, senior and junior faculty was satisfied with the chair\u27s leadership. In the chi- square findings, the analysis revealed that a significant difference was only found in two subscales, subscales one and eleven. The two subscales are Subscale One Transformational: Idealized Influence and Subscale Eleven Outcomes of Leadership: Effeteness . The Spearman rho revealed that the there is a relationship with the chairs leadership and self-report of productivity from music faculty

'Te Kawau Mārō' The Role of Media in Revitalising Te Reo Māori

The intent of this thesis is to investigate the role media plays in relation to the revitalisation of te reo Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand society. This is essential as the media's latent potential is often underestimated and therefore underutilised. For Māori and inevitably te reo Māori, media has been a topic of heated contestation for over a century. It is postulated that throughout this troubled history, media's influence has contributed to an erosion of te reo Māori and then conversely, since the late 20th century, its attempted revival. The journey of te reo Māori from past to present may be likened to a voyage of a traditional 'waka hourua' (voyaging or double hulled canoe). 'Nga ngaru e toru' ('three waves') illustrates the three stages that I have defined as catalysts significantly impacting te reo Māori. Grounded firmly in a Kaupapa Māori methodological and theoretical framework based on careful research and intimate cultural knowledge, my innovative approaches to language revitalisation entitled the Tapatoru (triangle) Model 1 and Tapatoru Model 2 will be introduced and explained. These distinct language revitalisation paradigms illustrate the core ingredients needed in effective language revival and illustrate the positioning and function of the media within these strategic models

Continuum Robots for Space Applications Based on Layer-Jamming Scales with Stiffness Capability

Continuum robots, which have continuous mechanical structures comparable to the flexibility in elephant trunks and octopus arms, have been primarily geared toward the medical and defense communities. In space, however, NASA projects these robots to have a place in irregular inspection routines. The inherent compliance and bending of these continuum arms are especially suitable for inspection in obstructed spaces to ensure proper equipment functionality. In this paper, we propose a new solution that improves on the functionality of previous continuum robots, via a novel mechanical scaly layer-jamming design. Layer-jamming assisted continuum arms have previously required pneumatic sources for actuation, which limit their portability and usage in aerospace applications. This paper combines the compliance of continuum arms and stiffness modulation of the layer jamming mechanism to design new hybrid layer jamming continuum arms. The novel designs use an electromechanical actuation which eliminates the previous need for pneumatic actuation therefore making the hardware compact and portable

Social Vulnerability Assessment of Dog Intake Location Data As a Planning Tool for Community Health Program Development: A Case Study in Athens-Clarke County, GA, 2014-2016

A retrospective spatial analysis of dog intake data from an open admission animal shelter in Georgia was conducted to explore patterns within dog demographics and outcomes by pickup location or by the home address of the person who transferred ownership rights of the dog to Athens-Clarke County Animal Control during the period 2014–2016. Spatial analysis found the relationship between these intake locations and the final disposition of the dogs to be non-random, suggesting social and environmental influences on distribution. Statistically significant clusters were identified using the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic. This study found statistically significant hot spots (i.e., areas with higher than expected values) and cold spots (i.e., areas with lower than expected values) for the intake of dogs with known health issues, physically neglected dogs, juveniles, and adults. Only statistically significant hot spots were found for socially neglected dogs and dogs whose final disposition was euthanasia due to severe health or behavioral issues. Given the close relationship between humans and dogs, this study explores the association of impounded dog clusters and a previously developed social vulnerability index. Social vulnerability is the product of social inequalities and inequalities related to the human-built environment. The social vulnerability index provides one tool for understanding the differences in characteristics of dogs from different intake locations. Results of this study indicate the utility of non-animal focused data as a planning tool for community programs and to allow for efficient allocation of limited resources for veterinary and other community outreach programs

The Social Exclusion of Dually-Involved Youth: Toward a Sense of Belonging

We use an institutional life course perspective to explore the social exclusion of dually-involved youth. We begin by defining the concept of social exclusion and present one mechanism of social exclusion, the set of institutions operating in the lives of dually-involved youth. We use the social exclusion framework to extend the implications of studies of dually-involved youth, and propose three stages of social-exclusion for dually-involved youth. We conclude by emphasizing the importance of broad investments in families, schools, and communities to ensure that dually-involved youth develop a sense of belonging and the capabilities necessary to live meaningful lives

The Effect of Bereavement Counseling On Women with Psychological Problems Associated with Late Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy is most often a joyful experience and a woman’s plans and dreams are shattered when the death of an unborn or newborn infant occurs. Studies have reported that these women experience psychological problems such as grief, depression, and anxiety which can be minimized by counselling. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess the effect of bereavement counseling on women with psychological problems associated with pregnancy, focusing on Roy’s adaptation theory. An experimental design, with pre-test and post-test, was used with randomly allocated experimental and control groups. Women were randomly allocated to the experimental and control groups with 45 women in each group. As pre assessment, grief, depression, and anxiety were measured using the Perinatal Bereavement Grief Scale and the Hamilton Depression and Hamilton Anxiety Scale, respectively. Women in the experimental group were given the counselling intervention and those in the control group were given the standard care, after pre-assessment. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. The reduction in the level of grief, depression, and anxiety were significantly better in the experimental group as compared to the control group (all P value