Length Of Rows Research Articles

Identity between Restricted Cauchy Sums for the $q $-Whittaker and Skew Schur Polynomials

The Cauchy identities play an important role in the theory of symmetric functions. It is known that Cauchy sums for the $q$-Whittaker and the skew Schur polynomials produce the same factorized expressions modulo a $q$-Pochhammer symbol. We consider the sums with restrictions on the length of the first rows for labels of both polynomials and prove an identity which relates them. The proof is based on techniques from integrable probability: we rewrite the identity in terms of two probability measures: the $q$-Whittaker measure and the periodic Schur measure. The relation follows by comparing their Fredholm determinant formulas.

Direct Selection Parameter Estimates and Path Coefficient Analysis for Grain Yield and Quantitative Traits in Maize (Zea mays L.)

The study was carried out at the Maize Research Institute “Zemun Polje”, Belgrade, Serbia during 2021 growing season in three location. Six inbred lines were crossed according to complete diallel method. In this way 15 hybrids and 15 reciprocal combinations were obtained. Hybrid and reciprocal combinations derived from these parental components were used in this paper. The present study was carried out to study the variability, broad-sense heritability (H2 bs), genetic advance (GA), correlation among traits, genotypic and phenotypic path analysis among grain yield and its components. The results indicated that the genotypes were significantly different for all traits. For all traits, the phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation. The highest heritability was found in 1000 kernel weight, followed by grain yield, ear diameter and anthesis-silking interval (ASI). In our study Genetic Advance over Mean (GAM) for the traits ranged from lowest value (9.739%) for cob diameter to the highest value (90.579%) for anthesis-silking interval. According to results of path analysis, the trait 1000 kernel weight with the value of 0.365 has the strongest direct positive effect on grain yield. Positive direct effects on grain yield were also observed for ear length (0.202), ear diameter (0.248) and number of rows per ear (0.076), while negative direct effects were observed for cob diameter (-0.057). The trait 1000 kernel weight had the highest indirect positive effects on grain yield via ear diameter (0.232). The cob diameter had highest negative indirect effect on grain yield via ear diameter (-0.048). Coefficient of multiple determinations (R2) had a value of 0.428. This indicated the important role of additive gene effect in the inheritance of these traits and could be improved through simple selection.

Response of Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn Plants in Rainfed Land to Providing Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria Bamboo Roots

Sweet Corn is an important food crop that functions as a source of food, feed, and industrial raw materials. Efforts to increase corn production require technological input to increase yields and be environmentally friendly. One way is by using Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR). This research aims to determine the response of growth and yield of sweet corn plants on rainfed land to the application of PGPR bamboo root plants and to determine the appropriate PGPR concentration for the growth and yield of sweet corn plants. This research was carried out from February to June 2020 in Rantau Panjang, Sambaliung District, Berau Regency. East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The research used a Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) consisting of 6 treatments of bamboo root PGPR concentration, namely treatment: p0 = control; p1 = 5.0 ml l-1 water; p2 = 7.5 ml l-1 water; p3 = 10.0 ml l-1 water; p4 = 12.5 ml l-1 water; and p5 = 15.0 ml l-1 water. Each treatment was repeated 4 times. The results of the research showed that: (1) The responses of cob diameter and cob production were significantly different, while the responses of plant height, number of leaves, age at flowering, cob length, and number of rows of seeds per cob were not significantly different to PGPR treatments; and (2) Giving PGPR with a concentration of 10 ml l-1 water (p3) resulted in high cob production, namely 12.80 Mg ha-1.

Assessment of Small Diameter Steel Pile as a Stabilizing Element for Transmission Tower Slope Stability

Background: Stabilization of unstable slopes with relatively large reinforced concrete piles has been widely adopted over the past several decades. Small diameter steel piles have several advantages as a slope reinforcement technique for an unstable transmission tower slope where space and access restrictions that typically occur render alternate approaches unfeasible. Methods: In this study, a numerical performance assessment of small diameter steel pile as a stabilizing element for transmission tower slope stability was carried out using an uncoupled analysis, in which the pile response and slope stability are considered separately. Numerical evaluations are presented and the influencing parameters that could affect the behavior of reinforcing piles to increase transmission tower slope stability are investigated. Results: The numerical analysis results indicate that the soil properties, slope geometry, pile location, pile diameter, pile length and number of pile rows have a combined effect on the performance of small diameter steel piles to stabilize transmission tower slopes. Conclusion: The numerical assessment can satisfactorily capture some fundamental response of transmission tower slope reinforced with multi-row small diameter steel piles.

Sigma 1 receptor activation improves retinal structure and function in the RhoP23H/+ mouse model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of devastating inherited retinal diseases that leads to visual impairment and oftentimes complete blindness. Currently no cure exists for RP thus research into prolonging vision is imperative. Sigma 1 receptor (Sig1R) is a promising small molecule target that has neuroprotective benefits in retinas of rapidly-degenerating mouse models. It is not clear whether Sig1R activation can provide similar neuroprotective benefits in more slowly-progressing RP models. Here, we examined Sig1R-mediated effects in the slowly-progressing RhoP23H/+ mouse, a model of autosomal dominant RP. We characterized the retinal degeneration of the RhoP23H/+ mouse over a 10 month period using three in vivo methods: Optomotor Response (OMR), Electroretinogram (ERG), and Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). A slow retinal degeneration was observed in both male and female RhoP23H/+ mice when compared to wild type. The OMR, which reflects visual acuity, showed a gradual decline through 10 months. Interestingly, female mice had more reduction in visual acuity than males. ERG assessment showed a gradual decline in scotopic and photopic responses in RhoP23H/+ mice. To investigate the neuroprotective benefits of Sig1R activation in the RhoP23H/+ mouse model, mutant mice were treated with a high-specificity Sig1R ligand (+)-pentazocine ((+)-PTZ) 3x/week at 0.5 mg/kg and examined using OMR, ERG, SD-OCT. A significant retention of visual function was observed in males and females at 10 months of age, with treated females retaining ∼50% greater visual acuity than non-treated mutant females. ERG revealed significant retention of scotopic and photopic b-wave amplitudes at 6 months in male and female RhoP23H/+ mice treated with (+)-PTZ. Further, in vivo analysis by SD-OCT revealed a significant retention of outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness in male and female treated RhoP23H/+ mice. Histological studies showed significant retention of IS/OS length (∼50%), ONL thickness, and number of rows of photoreceptor cell nuclei at 6 months in (+)-PTZ-treated mutant mice. Interestingly, electron microscopy revealed preservation of OS discs in (+)-PTZ treated mutant mice compared to non-treated. Taken collectively, the in vivo and in vitro data provide the first evidence that targeting Sig1R can rescue visual function and structure in the RhoP23H/+ mouse. These results are promising and provide a framework for future studies to investigate Sig1R as a potential therapeutic target in retinal degenerative disease.

Isolation effect analysis of periodic pile barriers for Rayleigh waves using complex band diagram

Isolating surface waves in soil by periodic underground barriers, such as group piles, has attracted growing interest in recent years. This paper presents and validates a numerical method to obtain the complex band diagram of a three-dimensional model with periodic underground surface wave barriers, from which both the propagative modes and the evanescent modes can be observed. The circular concrete pile was studied using this method. Results show that several evanescent modes with non-zero imaginary parts emerged, which can quantitively measure the attenuation of vibrations. The leaky surface waves (LSWs) are found by defining the normalized elastic strain energy along depth. They can be differentiated as their penetration depth is much greater than surface waves. A transmission model with semicircle boundary is established to calculate transmission spectra and investigate the direction of reflected vibration energy. The influence of pile length and number of rows on the isolation effect are studied. Moreover, both the evanescent modes and the existence of LSWs contribute to surface wave mitigation. The present study provides a tool to investigate the periodic underground barriers for surface waves and a new insight into the design of vibration barriers.

Splice Connections for Built-Up Column Assemblies in Cold-Formed Steel Construction

The development of simple connection methods is necessary for increasing cold-formed steel (CFS) construction activities. A new splice connection concept for the CFS built-up column-to-column connections is presented in this paper. This simple connection concept will use the same size and shape of the geometry as the CFS built-up column, which will enable a quick erection process. The new splice connection configurations, arrangement, and installation methods for cold-formed steel construction are demonstrated. Twenty-eight experiments, which include four actual columns, two disconnected columns, and 22 columns with splice connections, are carried out. This paper examines the influence of various parameters of splice connections such as length, thickness, and number of fastener rows. The design strength of the actual column is determined using the direct strength method (with modified global and local slenderness approaches) and is compared with the results of the splice connected columns for adequacy. The force transfer mechanism and failure modes of splice connection components are demonstrated in the form of detailed sketches. The smaller length splice connections led to localized failures, while the longer splice connections enabled the uniform force distribution between the built-up column cross-sections. Finally, it is recommended that the splice connection configuration should be a minimum of 300 mm in length, the splice thickness should be equal to the CFS built-up cross-section, and two rows of fasteners for attaining the required design strength of the built-up column members.

Oral and Buccophryngeal Morphology of the Tadpoles of Polypedates maculatus with Notes on their Diet pattern

Oral morphological features and the diet of the tadpoles of Polypedates maculatus were described in this study. The tadpoles were collected from various water bodies of the state of Odisha over three consecutive breeding seasons (2018–2020). Oral and internal buccal characters were analysed independently for Gosner developmental stages 25 to 46. The upper labium has four labial tooth rows with a medial gap in the three rows proximal to the mouth, whereas the lower labium has three rows with a medial gap in the row proximal to the mouth. The order of length of denticle rows is A2>P1>P2>A1>P3>A3>A4 with a dental formula of A4(3)/P3(1). The food spectrum of the tadpoles included mostly phytoplanktons (represented by six classes and 51 genera) followed by zooplankton (two classes and four genera). Three Bacillariophyceae genera (Navicula, Pinnularia, and Synedra) contributed most of the gut contents. Scenedesmus was the major food items in Chlorophyceae family and had the highest numeric frequency (7.63%) among all the food items. Other prevalent food items included Zygnematophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Rotifera, Ulvophyceae and Copepoda.

Studies on Age-Related Changes in Equine Cheek Teeth Angulation and Dental Drift.

BackgroundCheek teeth (second through fourth premolars and first through third molars) diastema is a common and painful equine disorder caused by the absence of effective tight interdental contact between these teeth. Limited objective information is available on the angulation of equine cheek teeth that control dental drift or on mesial or distal equine cheek teeth drift that should normally prevent this disorder.ObjectivesTo measure the angulation of the mesial and distal cheek teeth in horses of different ages, quantify age-related cheek teeth mesial and distal dental drift, and measure the cheek teeth row length in horses of different ages.Study DesignRetrospective review of computed tomographic images of equine heads.MethodsCase details and CT images from clinical equine cases that had undergone standing CT head examination were collated.Three sets of measurements were acquired from each head. “Head size” calculated as the distance between the caudal aspect of the orbit and the caudal aspect of the naso-incisive notch was used to standardize measurements in different sized heads. The length of the cheek teeth rows measured from the mesial aspect of the Triadan 06 occlusal surface to the distal aspect of the Triadan 11 occlusal surface. The rostro-caudal (antero-posterior) position and angulation of the mandibular and maxillary Triadan 06 and 11 teeth were measured in relation to reference lines drawn on CT images.ResultsSignificant mesial drift occurred in the maxillary and mandibular Triadan 11s. Despite their distal angulation, the upper and lower Triadan 06s also drifted mesially. The mean angulation of Triadan 06 and 11 mandibular teeth (17.8 and 26.2°, respectively) was almost double that of maxillary teeth (9.2 and 13.3°, respectively) with both Triadan 11s having greater angulation than the 06s. Cheek teeth angulation only significantly decreased in the mandibular 06s. Cheek teeth arcade lengths decreased with age, but these decreases were not significant.Main LimitationsLimitations include the relatively small sample size.ConclusionsIn the population of horses used for this study, age related mesial drift occurred in both Triadan 06 and 11s, and the angulation of these teeth did not decrease with age in most arcades.

Application of artificial neural networks and genetic algorithm to predict and optimize greenhouse banana fruit yield through nitrogen, potassium and magnesium.

The excess of the chemical fertilizers not only causes the environmental pollution but also has many deteriorating effects including global warming and alteration of soil microbial diversity. In conventional researches, chemical fertilizers and their concentrations are selected based on the knowledge of experts involved in the projects, which this kind of models are usually subjective. Therefore, the present study aimed to introduce the optimal concentrations of three macro elements including nitrogen (0, 100, and 200 g), potassium (0, 100, 200, and 300 g), and magnesium (0, 50, and 100 g) on fruit yield (FY), fruit length (FL), and number of rows per spike (NRPS) of greenhouse banana using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc LSD test and two well-known artificial neural networks (ANNs) including multilayer perceptron (MLP) and generalized regression neural network (GRNN). According to the results of ANOVA, the highest mean value of the FY was obtained with 200 g of N, 300 g of K, and 50 g of Mg. Based on the results of the present study, the both ANNs models had high predictive accuracy (R2 = 0.66-0.99) in the both training and testing data for the FY, FL, and NRPS. However, the GRNN model had better performance than MLP model for modeling and predicting the three characters of greenhouse banana. Therefore, genetic algorithm (GA) was subjected to the GRNN model in order to find the optimal amounts of N, K, and Mg for achieving the high amounts of the FY, FL, and NRPS. The GRNN-GA hybrid model confirmed that high yield of the plant could be achieved by reducing chemical fertilizers including nitrogen, potassium, and magnesium by 65, 44, and 62%, respectively, in compared to traditional method.

High-resolution RHEED analysis of dynamics of low-temperature superstructure transitions in Ge/Si(001) epitaxial system

In this paper, we analyze superstructural transitions during epitaxial growth of two-dimensional layers and the formation of quantum dots by the Stranski–Krastanov mechanism in elastically stressed systems by the reflection high-energy electron diffraction method. Detailed dependences of the periodicity parameter N of the 2 × N reconstruction on the effective thickness of the deposited material in a wide range of growth temperatures during epitaxy of germanium on a silicon surface with a crystallographic orientation (001) are obtained. Superstructural transitions and the change in the value of the parameter N at low temperatures of epitaxy in this system have been investigated for the first time. It is shown that the length of dimer rows in such a reconstruction during the growth of pure germanium on silicon can reach a value of no less than N = 11. A relationship is found between the value of the parameter N, determined by elastic strains in the system, and the critical thickness of the transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional growth. Based on this relationship, a physical mechanism is proposed that explains the nature of the temperature dependence of the critical thickness of the Stranski–Krastanov transition, which has been the subject of constant scientific disputes until now.

МЕТОДИ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ СЕЛЕКЦІЇ ЦУКРОВОЇ КУКУРУДЗИ АДАПТОВАНОЇ ДО УМОВ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОГО ЛІСОСТЕПУ УКРАЇНИ

The aim of the research is selection and genetic improvement of the source material of maize silica and sugar subspecies by methods of classical selection and experimental mutagenesis and synthesis on their basis of high-yielding, adaptive hybrids capable of stably realizing their yield potential in different growing conditions. Research methodology. Field experiments were conducted at the Cherkasy State Agricultural Research Station NSC "IZ NAAN", located in the central Forest-Steppe of Ukraine (Smila) during 2020-2021. The period of action of active temperatures (above 10 ° С) begins on April 20–28 and lasts 155–180 days. The probability of frost to -3 ° C during the sowing of corn (III decade of April and the first decade of May) is 10 and 5 %, respectively, and during ripening (September – first half of October) from 1 to 30 %. Sowing of the experimental material was carried out in the third decade of April in early May. During the growing season, phenological observations were made, during flowering the plants self-pollinated under parchment insulators, crossbreeding, evaluation and selection of the best samples were performed. Common field, laboratory and statistical research methods were used. Research results. Based on the morphobiological characteristics and assessment of the set of features of the samples of the sugar corn collection, the length of the period from emergence to flowering to 75 % of the panicles was determined, early-maturing samples were selected. When studying the genetic variability of the characteristics of the performance of inbred lines such as weight and length of the head, the number of rows of grains revealed the best lines, the average of which differs significantly from the standard. Based on genetic analysis of performance traits, it has been shown that the selection of starting material by cob weight and length may be most effective, as under favorable conditions these traits are controlled by additive genes, while other traits play a crucial role. Conclusions. The frequency of the obtained more productive self-pollinated lines on the original hybrid material with a significant excess of control indicators for such elements of productivity as cob weight, length and number of rows of grains is 7.19 ± 1.36 %. Selection based on "number of rows of grains" is effective, the best multi-row lines are selected based on genetic sources from Australia. As a result of the analysis of the sugar content in the grains, samples with a sugar content of 8.6% in the top sugar and 5.8 % in the white corn were selected. The coefficient of inheritance of quantitative traits, such as cob weight, length, number of rows of grains, number of grains in a row, is 0.71–0.93, which indicates the possibility of successful selection of these traits. All studied numbers exceed the hybrid standard by cob weight and number of rows of grains. Numbers 269, 272 and 276 and 277 were significantly better in terms of yield, with yields of 15.7–19.8 t/ha.

Genetic variability and trait association in maize (Zea mays L.) varieties for growth and yield traits

The present study was carried out to study the variation, broad-sense heritability, genetic advance, correlation among traits for growth, yield, and its attributing traits in maize genotypes. Ten maize genotypes were evaluated in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications from June 2019 to September 2019. The results indicated that the genotypes were significantly different for all traits. For all traits, the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). The grain yield showed the highest PCV (26.91%) and GCV (25.9%) whereas leaf width at maturity showed the lowest PCV (4.07%) and GCV (6.05%). Genetic Advance over Mean (GAM) for the traits ranged from the lowest value (0.1%) for days to 50% anthesis to the highest value (51.36%) for grain yield. Higher values of heritability and GAM % were obtained for grain yield (0.93, 51.36%) and 1000 grain weight (0.99, 36.95%) whereas the lowest values of heritability and GAM% were found for leaf length (0.5, 7.25%) and leaf width (0.39, 5.25%). Grain yield showed positive and significant phenotypic correlation with test weight (r = 0.706), cob length (r = 0.671), cob diameter (r = 0.573) and number of rows per cob (r = 0.539), respectively. Therefore, traits having high variation can be used as selection indices for indirect selection for the improvement of maize productivity.

Parameter Genetik dan Daya Gabung Hasil dan Komponen Hasil Jagung pada Tiga Taraf Pemupukan N

Low maize yields due to low nitrogen generally occur on marginal land. Maize development in Indonesia is directed at marginal land due to limited fertile land, especially in other lands in Indonesia besides Java. Therefore, the assembly of low N tolerant maize varieties plays an important role in increasing production on marginal land. Therefore, the improvement of low N tolerant hybrid maize was required. Information on the combining ability of inbred lines was important in the hybrid maize breeding program. This research aims were to determine genetic parameters, general combining ability, specific combining ability of maize lines and at three levels of N fertilization. This research was conducted at the Bajeng Experimental farm South Sulawesi from August to November 2019. The research was arranged in a split-plot design with two replications. The main plots were three nitrogen levels i.e. 0 kg N/ha, 100 kg N/ha, 200 kg N/ha and the subplots were 36 hybrids formed from a half diallel cross and its parents. The results showed that compared to yield at 200 kg N/ha, yield at 100 kg N/ha and 0 kg N/ha reduced 18,80% and 38,69% respectively. ear number, ear weight, shelling percentage and number of seeds per row were controlled by non-additive genes, while moisture content, 100 seeds weight, ear length and number of rows per ear were controlled by additives gene. Lines AVLN 118-7 and AVLN 83-2 have good GCA for yield grain overall levels of fertilization. Crosses AVLN 83-2/AVLN 124-4, AVLN 83-2/AVLN 32-8, and AVLN 122-2/AVLN 124-9 have the good combining ability under both low and high N conditions. They could be used to develop low N tolerant varieties.

Development of heat transfer correlations for multi-row helically coiled tube heat exchangers used in surface water heat pump systems

For a type of multi-row helically coiled tube (MHCT) heat exchanger used in surface water heat pump systems, a series of numerical simulations for outside mixed and forced convections and experiments for natural convection are carried out with a conjugate thermal condition. The effects of geometric parameters of vertical spacing (Δy), horizontal spacing (Δx), tube length (L), and number of rows (K) on the outside Nusselt number (Nuo) are detailed for 11 heat exchangers in different configurations. The results show that an increase in Δy or a decrease in K can increase Nuo both in the forced and natural convections, whereas, there is a slight change in Nuo as K > 2 or Δy−do≥do. Furthermore, Nuo is insensitive to changes in Δx and L. The correlations for natural and forced convections are first developed by considering the effects of these geometric parameters. Then, the correlation for mixed convection is modeled using a function of the natural and forced convections. A dimensionless parameter, Gr/Re1/r, is proposed to divide the convection region and can be used to select the corresponding correlation for the design of the MHCT heat exchanger in different surface-water bodies.

PENGARUH PEMBERIAN BIOCHAR TANDAN KOSONG KELAPA SAWIT DAN MIKORIZA TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN HASIL TANAMAN JAGUNG MANIS (Zea mays sacharrata L.) DI TANAH ULTISOL

The main problems of sweet corn cultivation in Ultisol medium are sour reactions, Al saturation and height P fixation, as well as low availability macro, micro nutrients especially Mo and Si. The provision of empty oil palm biochar is able to increase the growth and yield of sweet corn crops because the Biochar TKKS contains macro and micro nutrients such as N, P, K, Ca and Mg and also as a useful soil material to improve physical, chemical and biological properties of soil to increase pH, C-Organic, Ca, K, Mn, P, and mycorrhiza application be able to increase the availability of P so the fixation of P can be suppressed. The purpose of this research to learn the main influences of the Biochar TKKS, the main influence of mycorrhiza and the interaction of the growth and yield of sweet corn in the Ultisol medium. The experiment was conducted in the Experimental farm of the Agriculture Faculty, the University of Riau from May to August 2019. Research of experiments in the form of 4×3 factorial using Complete Random Design. The Biochar TKKS consists of four levels (0, 25, 3.75, 50 g polibag -1 ) as the first factor, mycorrhiza consists of three levels (0, 10, 15 g plant -1 ) as the second, each repeated three times. The results of the study show that giving of the biochar TKKS dose 3.75 g polibag -1 and mycorrhiza dose 15 g plant -1 in the Ultisol medium increased on plant height, straw weight, cob length and number of rows of each cob compared to no treatment.

English

Maize is one of the high priority crops to feed the ever increasing population in Africa, however, its production limited by shortage of high yielding variety coupled with biotic and abiotic stresses. The study was initiated to evaluate the heterotic performances of the F1 hybrids over the standard checks (Kolba and Jibat). Fifty entries consists 48 F1 single crosses developed from 24 inbred lines and 2 testers using line x tester design and two commercial check hybrids used in the study. The experiment was conducted using alpha lattice design with two replications at Ambo and Holeta Agricultural Research Center. Analysis of variance revealed existence of significant genetic variation among genotypes for all studied traits except for plant aspect. Location x entry interaction for most of the traits was not significant which suggests hybrid performance was consistent across tested locations. The magnitude of standard heterosis over Kolba and Jibat for grain yield ranged from -40.31 (L13 x T1) to 32.44% (L23 x T1). Cross L23 x T1 exhibited maximum standard heterosis (32.44%) over Kolba and Jibat for grain yield followed by L11 x T1 (22.18%). Positive and significant genotypic, phenotypic correlation coefficient were recorded for yield with plant height (rg=48** and rp=40**), ear height, ear per plant, number of kernels per row, ears length, ear diameter and number of kernel rows per ear. Number of ears per plan (1.08) had the highest positive direct effect on grain yield followed by ear diameter (0.95), number of kernels per row and number of kernel rows per ear indicating the effectiveness of direct selection. Finally, crosses with high standard heterosis for yield and yield components could be used for developing high yielding maize hybrids in the future maize breeding program. Key words: Heterosis, Hybrid, correlation, path analysis.

Selection indexes in the simultaneous increment of yield components in topcross hybrids of green maize

Abstract: The objective of this work was to define the most suitable selective strategy for the simultaneous increment of yield components of green maize, by comparing three selection indexes weighted by economic weights and by the REML/BLUP method, in the assessment of predicted genetic gains for traits of interest. An experiment with 75 topcross hybrids from partially inbred S1 lines of green maize was carried out in Jataí, in the state of Goiás, Brazil, using a randomized complete block design, with four replicates. The following yield traits were evaluated: straw ears and commercial ears, grain mass, ear length, ear diameter, and number of ear rows. The selection indexes of Smith and Hazel, Williams, and Mulamba & Mock were applied and weighted for four economic weights (1, CVg, CVg/CVe, and h2). Among the tested selection indexes, those of Williams and Mulamba & Mock are the best-fit ones for the selection of topcross hybrids of green maize, as they provide positive and more balanced selection gains for all evaluated traits. The REML/BLUP method shows better predicted genetic gains than those achieved by the three selection indexes, besides being efficient for the selection of topcross hybrids of green maize.

The impact of agroecological factors on morphological traits of maize

Climate changes are one of the crucial issues of modern agriculture. These changes imply the increase in average temperatures and the frequent occurrence of temperature extremes. Such conditions are stressful to maize concerning the expression of its traits. This paper presents the analysis of the maize yield concerning the yield components, morphological and chemical traits under various agroecological conditions. The objective of the study was to evaluate variability of grain yield (GY) and yield components (ear length, EL and number of kernel rows, NKR), morphological traits (plant height, PH and ear height, EH), as well as chemical traits (the whole plant dry matter, PDM and the ear dry matter, EDM), and the effect of the environment on the intensity of expression of these traits. Fifteen genotypes developed by crossing of six inbred lines were used as a material in the study carried out during the two-year period in one location. Obtained results indicate that traits were more pronounced in maize hybrids than in the parental components including the lower variability of the traits expression. NKR did not affect the yield unlike the EL, whose coefficient of determination was R2 = 0.600 in both production years. The environmental effect was high for all traits except NKR. PDM and EDM were closely related to PH and EH, but they also depended on the EL and the NKR. Variations in meteorological conditions have a significant impact on the final goal of the production, the yield. Prevailing agro-ecological conditions should be a major guideline in planning the crop production and selecting the genetic material.

The array of In-Bi heterodimers on the Si(100) surface

Studying the In and Bi coadsorption onto the Si(100) surface at elevated temperatures using Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Angle-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Density Functional Theory, we have found the formation of a 2 × 4 array of In-Bi heterogeneous dimers. The surface is closely related to a Bi-induced Si(100)2 × n-Bi (n=5−12) reconstruction and can be visualized as that with one Bi atom in a Bi-Bi dimer replaced by In atom, and the length of dimer rows stabilized on 4 periods. The In-Bi dimers are buckled, with Bi atoms being 0.62 Å higher than In. STM simulations revealed that the contribution of a Bi atom into experimental STM contrast is dominant. The asymmetric In-Bi heterodimers orient in a unit cell independent of each other producing chaotically looking STM images despite the 2 × 4 lattice itself is well-ordered. The surface is semiconductor featuring noticeable Rashba-type spin-splitting of surface states. This structure is believed to be an interesting object for theoretical and experimental studies on the influence of lack of symmetry and chemical disorder to spin polarization in the low-dimensional materials.