Search

The dinoflagellate algae, Symbiodiniaceae, are significant symbiotic partners of corals due to their photosynthetic capacity. The photosynthetic processes of the microalgae consist of linear electron transport, which provides the energetic balance of ATP and NADPH production for CO2 fixation, and alternative electron transport pathways, including cyclic electron flow, which ensures the elevated ATP requirements under stress conditions. Flash-induced chlorophyll fluorescence relaxation is a non-invasive tool to assess the various electron transport pathways. A special case of fluorescence relaxation, the so-called wave phenomenon, was found to be associated with the activity of NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH) in microalgae. We showed previously that the wave phenomenon existed in Symbiodiniaceae under acute heat stress and microaerobic conditions, however, the electron transport processes related to the wave phenomenon remained unknown. In this work, using various inhibitors, we show that (i) the linear electron transport has a crucial role in the formation of the wave, (ii) the inhibition of the donor side of Photosystem II did not induce the wave, whereas inhibition of the Calvin-Benson cycle accelerated it, (iii) the wave phenomenon was related to the operation of type II NDH (NDH-2). We therefore propose that the wave phenomenon is an important marker of the regulation of electron transport in Symbiodiniaceae.

Symbiodiniaceae live in endosymbiosis with corals. In the last few decades, mass bleaching events have occurred in the coral reefs, causing damage in the ecosystem and the associated species. Global temperature increase is affecting the algae, disturbing the whole symbiosis and leads to coral bleaching. However, the heat tolerance is strongly determined by the species (formerly genetic clades) harbored by the coral host. We assessed three different strains of Symbiodiniaceae family, i.e., Fugacium kawagutii (CS156), Symbiodinium tridacnidorum (2465), and Symbiodinium microadriaticum (2467), which display different heat tolerance under heat stress conditions. Flash-induced chlorophyll fluorescence relaxation is a useful tool to monitor various components of the photosynthetic electron transport chain and the redox reactions of plastoquinone pool. We observed the appearance of a wave phenomenon in the fluorescence relaxation by heating the strains in combination with microaerobic conditions. The characteristics of this fluorescence wave were found to be strain-specific and possibly related to the transient oxidation and re-reduction of the plastoquinone pool. The appearance of the wave phenomenon appears to be related to cyclic electron flow as well because it is accompanied with enhanced post-illumination chlorophyll fluorescence rise. These results will potentially reveal further details of the role of cyclic electron transport in Symbiodiniaceae and its relevance in heat stress tolerance.

Flash-induced chlorophyll fluorescence relaxation is a powerful tool to monitor the reoxidation reactions of the reduced primary quinone acceptor, QA- by QB and the plastoquinone (PQ) pool, as well as the charge recombination reactions between the donor and acceptor side components of Photosystem II (PSII). Under certain conditions, when the PQ pool is highly reduced (e.g. in microaerobic conditions), a wave phenomenon appears in the fluorescence relaxation kinetics, which reflects the transient reoxidation and re-reduction of QA- by various electron transfer processes, which in cyanobacteria is mediated by NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH-1). The wave phenomenon was also observed and assigned to the operation of type 2 NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH-2) in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under hydrogen-producing conditions, which required a long incubation of algae under sulphur deprivation (Krishna et al. J Exp Bot 70 (21):6321-6336, 2019). However, the conditions that induce the wave remained largely uncharacterized so far in microalgae. In this work, we investigated the wave phenomenon in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under conditions that lead to a decrease of PSII activity by applying hydroxylamine treatment, which impacts the donor side of PSII in combination with a strongly reducing environment of the PQ pool (microaerobic conditions). A similar wave phenomenon could be induced by photoinhibitory conditions (illumination with strong light in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor lincomycin). These results indicate that the fluorescence wave phenomenon is activated in green algae when the PSII activity decreases relative to Photosystem I (PS I) activity and the PQ pool is strongly reduced. Therefore, the fluorescence wave could be used as a sensitive indicator of altered intersystem electron transfer processes, e.g. under stress conditions.

Two Water Supply Systems (WSSs) have been operating and providing drinking water services to two discrete districts, namely, Second Ayno Maina (AM-WSS), District 10, owned and managed by a private sector: AFCO Corporation, and Central Kandahar (CK-WSS), Share-Naw, District 2, owned and managed by government entity: Department of Kandahar Water Supply and Sewerage, for four and ten years respectively. Both the WSSs use groundwater as source of drinking water, and due to overpopulation and urbanization, they tend to expand their services and improve their performances, despite the fact that the primary step to do so is the performance assessment of the existing systems, lacking at the moment and needs a careful consideration. Therefore, the research study is aimed at assisting the responsible authorities of the performances being carried by their existing systems and satisfaction level of their customers against the services provided, along with their international comparisons, with similar-typed associated water supply schemes. Two sets of primary data were collected, including service-provider-driven and customer-driven, from relevant authorities and districts respectively. More specifically, for consumer-driven data collection, 66 and 75 questionnaires were distributed to the consumers of (AM-WSS) and (CK-WSS) respectively. Both the data set was classified as the input and output performance indicators (PIs), and was analyzed using SPSS, DEAP and Ms. Excel softwares, in compliance with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology. The findings showed that (AM-WSS) had a relative technical efficiency, te of 1 (100 %), whereas CK-WSS had a te of 0.545. As a result, CK-WSS was the only System considered and recommended for amendments. Furthermore, the analysis of the findings showed that CK-WSS needed to focus on decreasing the staff size and total expenditure by 45 % to comply with optimization. The team recommends to train their personnel and reduce the number by 45

Along with many of its definitions, literature can also be defined as an art of storytelling. And, as writers like Chinua Achebe and olive Senior have inferred, “Storytelling, is essentially a threat [through which] storytellers, poets, writers, have always found ways of confronting tyranny, especially in spaces where such actions are dangerous and deadly.” Aristotle was of the view that Poetry [Literature] is more reliable than the historical method. For Aristotle, Poetry [Literature], in more than one way, orders history in abstract ways, conveying deep truths rather than mere descriptive accounts. The poets function is to “speak not of events which have occurred, but of the kind of events which could occur, and are possible by the standards of probability and necessity.” In this spirit, Lionel Trilling observes that literature is the human activity that takes “the fullest and most precise account of viciousness, possibility, complexity, and difficulty.” In the contemporary times, Indian subcontinent/South Asia is beset with social and political unrest/s of various kind and nature even long after the decolonization in the form of armed conflicts professing sub nationalism, religious conflicts, class conflicts, caste conflicts, gender oppression, imperial domination, inter-country wars, etal. In fact, the genesis of many of these conflicts dates back to the historical eras of colonization and decolonization. However, historical and political evolution in South Asia has also given rise to these conflicts and unrest/s or it could be argued that these have been reinforced. This has resulted in a discourse which partakes of a whole spectrum of writing - literary and non - literary. Owing to many contending discourses, most of these writings have come up with their own subjective perspectives regarding these conflicts, especially in terms of experience and reality. Written from various positions, both hegemonic and participatory, these writings are preoccupied with rhet

Pasca serangan 11 September 2001 menggemparkan dunia apabila gerakan-gerakan Islam dikaitkan dengan ideologi radikal yang mengakibatkan keganasan dan kemusnahan. Serangan balas dan pelbagai tekanan dilakukan oleh Barat terhadap dunia Islam kononnya kerana mereka sebagai Polis Dunia perlu mempertahankan keamanan sejagat. Kenyataan bahawa Islam adalah agama radikal jelas bertentangan dengan matlamat ia diturunkan iaitu sebagai rahmatan lil alamin selain hakikat sebenar bahawa radikalisme agama turut wujud di dalam agama-agama samawi yang lain. Namun apa yang sememangnya jelas berlaku adalah tindakan ekstrem pejuang Islam yang merosakkan imej agama sekaligus seolah membenarkan tuduhan oleh Barat. Justeru kajian ini disediakan bagi menerangkan evolusi ideologi radikal yang muncul di dalam sejarah kebangkitan gerakan Islam bermula abad ke 18 sehingga kini. Artikel ini menggunakan pendekatan kajian kualitatif dan sumber dapatan dibuat secara kajian kepustakaan, analisis dokumen dan temubual. Hasil dapatan kajian menjelaskan bahawa terdapat empat fasa meliputi fasa ideologi Wahabi, fasa ideologi Sayyid Qutb, fasa ideologi Salafi Jihadi dan fasa ideologi Salafi Takfiri. Berdasarkan dapatan, dapat disimpulkan bahawa ideologi radikal mula terbentuk berikutan permasalahan semasa umat Islam pada ketika itu seperti perlakuan bidaah, syirik dan ancaman pemikiran dari tamadun Rom dan Parsi, namun berkembang menjadi lebih serius apabila wujudnya penindasan dan kezaliman berterusan oleh Barat sehingga ideologi radikal ini diterjemahkan dengan tindakan ekstrem di akhir fasa gerakan kebangkitan Islam. Ternyata evolusi radikal Islam melalui tempoh yang panjang dengan desakan permasalahan umat semasa dan menjadi lebih signifikan kerana situasi global hari ini yang kompleks.

With the development of modern industrial technology a large number of non-linear loads are used in power system, which causes harmonic distortion in the power system. At the same time the power quality and safe operation becomes inferior. Therefore mitigation of harmonics is very necessary under the situation. This paper presents the design of two passive filters to reduce the current harmonics produced by nonlinear loads in industrial power system. Matlab /simulink software has been used for the simulation purpose. The results have been obtained with and without installation of filters and then it is observed that after installation of filters harmonics of the current are reduced and power factor is improved., Comment: 6, Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, Vol. 31, No.2, 2012

Power quality standards (IEEE-519) require to limit the total harmonic distortion within satisfactory range caused by power electronic based devices. Our work deals with the design of hybrid active filter to reduce current perturbations produced by power electronics based devices. The Instantaneous Active and Reactive Power Method (pq) is used to perform the identification of disturbing currents. The pq algorithm creates a reference current, whereas, this reference current is tracked by the current of the voltage source converter. The currents of the voltage source converter are controlled by hysteresis controller. Simulation results showed that the hybrid active filter can compensate the harmonic currents effectively and improve power quality., Comment: 8 pages, Mehran University Research Journal of Engineering and Technology, Vol. 31, No.2, April 2012

This study analyzes the existence and political history of Kumpulan Militan Malaysia (Malaysia Militant Group-KMM); the most spectacular Muslim militant group to recently emerge from Malaysia. Using an interpretive framework derived from typology of radicalism, this study exposes the roots of the group and its transformation into a militant movement. Based on extensive fieldwork, numerous interviews and in-depth research of related documents, this study demonstrates that the existence of KMM cannot be dissociated from Afghanistan’s global Jihadist campaign. This study analyzes the activities of KMM in the context of radical Islam in the South East Asia region and its wider connection, particularly with the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Findings from fieldwork research conducted with active and ex-members of KMM and JI are presented to find the answer to the question pertaining the involvement of these two groups in terrorism activities in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian contemporary social and political scenarios have been build-up from a long history of rebellious freedom fighters against colonial super-powers. In addition to nationalism, Islamization has also played a significant role in establishing freedom movements in the 1940s and 1950s. Systematic pressure under colonial powers and harsh policies implemented by ultra nationalists to these groups resulted in a series of rebellions and defiance such as what happened in Indonesia, Southern Thailand and the Southern Philippines. Historical facts led to radicalism in these countries, which are important for gaining a better knowledge about Muslim radicalism in Southeast Asia also presented in this thesis. The ‘typology of radicalism’ - the transformation from ‘nominal believers’ to activists, extremists, radicals and terrorists is explained in this research. Understanding Islam and their willingness to perform Jihad as was carried out in Afghanistan has had a significant impact on today’s militants. Finally, this researc