Moderate Height Research Articles

Assessment of marker genotypes associated with the resistant genes in a set of rice cultivars for brown planthopper, blast disease, and bacterial leaf blight

Brown planthopper, bacterial leaf blight and rice blast disease are identified as devastating stresses of rice cultivation. Developing host plant resistance is considered an effective and environmentally friendly management strategy. In Sri Lanka, limited studies have been carried out to assess the genetic basis of disease resistance. Bph3, Pikh and Xa21 genes convey significant resistance against biotic stresses. The current study was conducted to identify whether markers linked to Bph3, Pikh and Xa21 genes can facilitate the identification of resistant varieties. A total of 34 varieties were selected for the study and their morphometric and marker allelic data were subjected to descriptive and statistical analyses. Moderate height varieties depicted high yield. Most of the varieties showed significant moderate resistance against stresses. Molecular marker analysis yielded polymorphic banding patterns for all markers. RM 589 marker linked to Bph3 dominant gene provides overlapping banding patterns for the cultivars with different resistance levels making it impossible to discriminate resistant and susceptible cultivars. RM 206 marker linked to gene pikh provided the expected PCR product size for RM 206 marker is 147 bp. The resistant varieties gave band lengths of 140 bp, 170 bp and susceptible or moderately susceptible varieties produced band lengths of 160 bp and 155 bp. pTA 248 marker linked to Xa21 locus produced bands length of 670 bp, 740 bp and 930 bp. The 930 bp band was observed only in IRBB 60 variety. IRBB60 amplified 930 bp fragment confirms the possession of the resistant allele of Xa21 in its background. Presence of 730 bp indicates the susceptible allele. None of the Sri Lankan varieties carries a resistant allele for Xa21 as they have 730 bp allele for pTA 248. The rice varieties such as Bg251, Bg455, Bg450, Bg305, At402, At308 and At354 contain high yielding traits but need to improve for the pest and disease resistance.

Understanding Spatial Characteristics of Refugee Accommodations Associated with Refugee Children's Physical Activity in Microenvironments: Six Case Studies in Berlin.

Refugee children often spend a considerable amount of time in refugee accommodations with limited space and limited access to communal facilities. Such environmental settings make it difficult for refugee children to engage in physical activity (PA), which is essential for their health and social inclusion. While there is a strong evidence base for environmental attributes associated with non-refugee children’s PA, only a few studies have focused on refugee children. This article presents an exploratory study on the spatial characteristics of six refugee accommodations in Berlin and their relation to school-aged refugee children’s opportunities to engage in PA. Micro-environmental attributes included building typology and availability, size, and access to communal PA spaces using Space Syntax. PA opportunities were assessed using staff surveys, interviews, and field trips. Results indicated that none of the case studies provided a comprehensive range of PA opportunities. They also revealed unequal access within the facilities. Whereas the role of size was inconsistent, vital predictors included fewer floors and corridors with easy access to internal and external PA spaces. Our recommendations include prioritizing compact buildings with moderate heights when retrofitting existing facilities and raising awareness for the importance of active play for this vulnerable group.

Investigation of the roughened target plate to enhance the impingement heat transfer with reduced pressure loss

Impingement/effusion cooling systems are widely used in gas turbines owing to their extremely high cooling effectiveness. However, excessive flow resistance has become an obstacle to its wider application. Previous studies have focused more on improving the heat transfer performance, usually without focusing on its pressure loss. In this paper, a novel roughened target plate is proposed to improve heat transfer while reducing pressure loss. Two novel streamlined roughness elements are proposed: similar round protuberances and similar trapezoid ribs. The experiments were performed using the transient liquid crystal (TLC) method, adopting the transverse heat conduction correction technique. The influence of the Reynolds number (Re) and rib height on the heat transfer performance and related pressure loss was experimentally investigated. All data were compared with the flat plate. A numerical simulation was also conducted to provide flow field analysis to explain the enhancement mechanism. The results show that the protuberance can shorten the jet-to-plate distance to enhance heat transfer in the stagnant region. The surface of the arc side of the protuberance and rib can prevent the impinging jets from making sharp turns, resulting in reduced pressure loss. The maximum enhancement for the area-averaged Nusselt number (Nu) was achieved by the highest rib. The pressure loss for all roughened plates was lower than that of the flat plate. The rib with a moderate height provided the highest pressure loss reduction. The highest rib provided the highest heat transfer improvement at equal pumping powers of up to 26.2%. This study confirms the capacity of streamlined roughness elements to enhance impingement heat transfer with reduced pressure loss.

AAC Coldfront hard red winter wheat

AAC Coldfront is a hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar with broad adaptation and excellent performance in all production areas of western Canada. Eligible for grades of Canada Western Red Winter (CWRW) wheat, AAC Coldfront was evaluated in the Western Canadian Winter Wheat Cooperative registration trials relative to CDC Buteo, Emerson, Moats, and AAC Elevate. Based on 32 replicated trials over 3 years (2017/2018–2019/2020), AAC Coldfront produced significantly more grain than all of the checks (108–115%) at a protein concentration similar to the check mean, suggesting an improved capacity to convert soil moisture and nutrients into grain under a wide range of western Canadian field conditions. AAC Coldfront expressed very good winter survival, medium to late maturity, short to moderate height, excellent lodging resistance, and high test weight. AAC Coldfront was rated resistant to stem, leaf, and stripe rust, intermediate in resistance to Fusarium head blight, and susceptible to common bunt. It became a check for western Canadian winter wheat registration trials in 2021/2022.

Transition Prediction of Boundary Layers in the Presence of Backward-Facing Steps

A set of available engineering models for the prediction of transition to turbulence is evaluated via comparisons with a high-quality experiment involving a backward-facing step (BFS) on a flat plate at subsonic freestream conditions. The streamwise shift in the transition location is monitored as the step height and flow speed are varied across step-height-to-local-displacement-thickness ratios of . We apply the -factor method based on the linear amplification of boundary-layer instabilities to laminar two-dimensional basic states. -factor correlations that rely on quasi-parallel linear stability theory (LST), the parabolized stability equations, and the harmonic linearized Navier–Stokes equations (HLNSE) yield good agreement with the experimental data, except if the onset of transition occurs slightly downstream of the BFS. For LST, the neglect of nonparallel flow effects results in transition locations that are further upstream compared to HLNSE. In contrast, models that use auxiliary transport equations and transition correlations based on local parameters fail to capture the physics associated with a BFS for moderate step heights. Specifically, the results obtained with the model indicate that it is unable to account for the flow history effects. Results show the amplification-factor-transport model also fails to capture the BFS effects in spite of accounting for the basic-state distortion near the step.

Predicted optimization of β N limit for steady-state scenario with double transport barriers in HL-2M tokamak

The equilibria of the HL-2M tokamak, designed for steady-state operation with reversed magnetic shear and double transport barriers, are calculated using TOQ code, and the linear ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability of the equilibria is investigated using GATO code. To improve the beta () limit, the MHD stability of the equilibria with different heights of internal transport barrier (ITB) and edge transport barrier (ETB) is simulated. The simulation results indicate that the ITB drives low globalized modes while the ETB drives high edge localized modes, and thus a moderate barrier height ratio is beneficial to MHD stability. By adjusting the heights of both barriers with different plasma shapes, as well as different locations and widths of ITBs, optimal equilibria with improved MHD stability are achieved, which always have a moderate barrier height ratio unless the ITB is extremely wide or very close to the edge. In ideal-wall conditions, when the ITB is wide enough or very close to the edge, limits could exceed six, or even reach seven in some special cases. Increasing elongation and triangularity, broadening the ITB, as well as moving the ITB to a large minor radius, can contribute to the optimization of the limit, especially when combined with the stabilizing effect from an ideal wall.

Follow-up study about hydration parameters at moderate altitude: Measurements in healthy volunteers based on bio-electric impedance analysis (BIA)

During residence in high mountain regions, the human water hydration status changes and, from the height of ~ 3,000 m above sea level, is associated with the risk of mountain sickness. The present investigation assessed this phenomenon at moderate height (1,300–2,300 m above sea level) after a residence time of approximately one week by means of bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). 132 volunteers, attendees of a sports medicine congress (78 men, 54 women), agreed to enter the study. All participants underwent BIA measurements initially and after one week’s time. Apart from the basic characteristics – resistance (resistor, R) and capacitor resistor (reactance, Xc) – derived characteristics such as whole body water (TBW), body cell mass (BCM) or extracellular cell mass (ECM) were of interest. Significant changes after the stay in moderate altitude were only verified with regard to hand resistance (R). As the resistance decreased in both men and women, tissue hydration was probably stimulated. In conclusion, the study showed that a 1-week stay at moderate altitude shows only a slight influence on the BIA parameters.

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF CROSSES BETWEEN GADAM AND HARDCORE TANNIN SORGHUM IN HYBRID LINES PRODUCTION

Gadam cultivar of sorghum has been characterized by low yields compared to the international yield levels of sorghum. In this research, Gadam was crossed with Serena, Seredo, and Kari/Mtama-1 in an attempt to increase yield through heterosis. The objective of this study was to determine the level of compatibility and heterosis in crosses between Gadam and the three sorghum lines in a reciprocal crossing. Gadam was crossed with the three lines and their reciprocals to make six treatments that were subjected to compatibility and heterosis tests. The F1 hybrid lines and their parental controls were sown in a randomized complete block design in three replicates. Compatibility and heterosis data variances were analyzed using R statistical software. The cross between Gadam x Serena, Serena x Gadam and the parent Gadam exhibited moderate mean plant height ranging from 99.5 cm to 120.5 cm. The cross Gadam x Serena recorded a desirable negative mid-parent heterosis of -19.89 and -16.16 for plant height and days to maturity respectively. All F1 hybrids recorded positive mid-parent heterosis for the panicle length, the number of reproductive tillers, a thousand seed weight, and the number of tillers per plant. The crosses Gadam x Seredo, Seredo x Gadam, Gadam x Serena and Kari/Mtama-1 x Gadam recorded significantly lower grain filling percentages compared to their parents. In conclusion, the F1 hybrids differed significantly from their reciprocal crosses especially in days of heading, flowering, and maturity indicating a significant maternal influence in these traits. Also, the mid-parent and better parent heterosis had a nonsignificant difference in quantitative traits assessed except for the plant height and grain filling percentage.

Efficient Breeding in Kazakhstan Alatau Cattle Breed Population

The research work aims to analyze the dynamics of the level of breeding work in the Kazakhstan Alatau cattle breed population. The research object was Alatau cattle breed from different farms of the Almaty region, differing in their breeding level and system for dairy cattle breeding. As of 01.01.2021, the population of cows of the Alatau breed in the studied farms amounted to 1578 animals, of which the largest livestock in the Khilnichenko and K farm is 612 or 41.1%, the smallest in Mezhdurechensk-Agro LLP - 58 animals or 3.7%. The average milk yield per cow of the Alatau breed for the last completed lactation for 305 days in 2020 was 5472±100.4, in comparison with 2018 (4472±151.9) increased by 22.4%. Linear assessment of the constitutional type of the Alatau first-calf heifers in the context of farms indicates a small variation in traits between the studied farms and those close to the optimal scores of the desired type of first-calf heifers of the Alatau breed. Thus, the animals were characterized by moderate height (at an average level of 139-142 cm), average girth and depth of the body, wide chest, moderate hip inclination and hip width. In terms of limbs, the animals were also characterized by moderate stance close to the desired type. As for udder - close to the bath-shaped, with a high deep udder and correct positioning of the rear and front teats. The research results showed that the greatest interrelation was observed for the traits Central ligament (r = +0.36) and "Joining of the front udder lobes" (r = +0.31), which indicates a moderate and positive relation, the least interrelation was in the trait "Udder rear part height" (r = +0.11). Thus, for all the observed traits, a weak, moderate and positive relationship was observed, which indicates the conduct of selection and the improvement of these traits in the offspring when selecting parental pairs.

ЧОЛОВІЧА ВИБІРКА ПОХОВАНЬ ХVI–XIX СТ. З ВОЛИНІ (ЗА ДАНИМИ КРАНІОЛОГІЇ)

У статті вводяться в науковий обіг нові краніологічні дані, дається загальна характеристика волинянам XVI–XIX ст. на тлі суміжних етнічних груп України та Східної Європи, визначається відстань між окремими чоловічими серіями ХІV–ХІХ ст. за допомогою багатовимірного канонічного та кластерного аналізу й з’ясовується місце волинян у системі краніологічних типів Східної Європи та фено-географічних антропологічних зон України. Матеріал та методи. Антропологічні матеріали XVI–XIX ст., які зібрав автор, представлені переважно добре збереженими людськими черепами. Загалом колекція складається зі 144 одиниць, серед них 92 чоловічих та 52 жіночих черепів (м. Луцьк, м. Рівне, м. Острог, с. Підборці, с. Буяни, с. Клевань). У роботі розглядаються тільки чоловіки, поза- як жінки потребують окремого докладного дослідження. Черепи вимірювалися за повною краніометричною програ- мою з використанням стандартної методики Р. Мартіна, згідно з якою вказувалася нумерація ознак. Комп’ютерні програми для реалізації багатовимірного аналізу створили Б.О. та О.Г. Козінцеви (1991 р.). Результати. Відповідно до середніх значень краніометричних ознак, чоловічу частину серії з Волині можна віднести до широколицього європеоїдного варіанту, специфічною можна вважати брахікранну черепну короб- ку. Чоловіча збірна серія в середньому характеризується помірною довжиною, великою шириною та середньою висотою черепної коробки. У групі домінує брахікранний широколиций морфологічний варіант. Висновки. У цілому чоловіча група відноситься до великої європеоїдної раси з ознаками певної мінімальної метисації, яка проявилася в брахікранному покажчику черепної коробки. За середніми квадратичними відхиленнями краніологічних ознак та їхніх індексів серія неоднорідна. За багатовимірним канонічним аналізом виявлено морфологічну та статистичну подібність досліджуваної чоловічої збірної групи XVI–XIX ст. з Волині до міської серії з м. Вінниця, а також до вибірки з київського Подолу, що вказує на ймовірну широку міграцію волинян до Поділля та Києва.

Urban form and livability: socioeconomic and built environment indicators

Spatial relations among urban elements (buildings, streets, etc.) constantly affect the quality of urban spaces, creating more or less livable cities. The study of urban form has been a way of objectively quantifying such relations to understand their dynamics. Urban livability is the ability of urban spaces to fulfill the expectations of its inhabitants for wellbeing and quality of life. Measurable spatial patterns underlie the emergence of livable cities. Still, few researchers have considered if and how these patterns affect socioeconomic conditions across spatial scales. This paper explores the relationships between indicators of socioeconomic livability and cross-scale patterns of demographic and morphological densities within the Metro Vancouver (MV) region (Canada). Indicators of accessibility, social diversity, affordability, and economic vitality were quantified and compared among five population density clusters composed of 3450 census dissemination areas (DAs) in MV. Morphological indicators of intensity, centrality and diversity were aggregated at the DAs using spatial network analysis with five radii from 400 to 4800 m. Socioeconomic indices were regressed on urban form variables to assess the importance of the built environment on predicting livability-related qualities. Overall, indicators of the intensity of urban form were the most significant to predict the socioeconomic metrics. <strong><em>Policy relevance</em><br /></strong> Policies that aim to solve urban issues should consider nonlinear relations among variables. In the case of MV, indicators of accessibility, social diversity and economic vitality are directly correlated with each other and inversely correlated with affordability. Medium to high-density zones presented a fair equilibrium among the different livability qualities analyzed. Attributes aggregated with the 4800 m radius were highly important to predict the livability qualities within a 400 m radius, which potentially means that urban interventions may affect the livability of spaces not immediately close to them. A higher density of buildings with moderate height distributed among parcels with distinct sizes can potentially have a positive impact on economic vitality and housing affordability. The intensity and diversity of the tree canopy was important to predict active accessibility and social diversity. The inclusion of spatial diversity and network centrality measures on urban planning and design practices potentially foster more livable densification processes.

Self‐Powered High‐Detectivity Lateral MoS2 Schottky Photodetectors for Near‐Infrared Operation

Abstract2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have been widely investigated for possible application in field‐effect transistors and optoelectronic devices. However, due to the wide band gap of most TMDs, photoresponse to infrared wavelength is still a big challenge. Here, a lateral molybdenum disulfide (MoS2)‐on‐metal Schottky photodetector operating in internal photoemission mode for near‐infrared wavelength with high responsivity is reported. With moderate Schottky barrier height, a low dark current of 0.12 nA at −0.5 V and a remarkable rectification ratio of 103 at ±0.8 V are realized in the MoS2‐on‐Au Schottky photodetector. The maximum responsivity of 1.9 A W−1 at −1 V is achieved at 1310 nm due to the photoemission from the underlayering Au electrode, which absorbs most of the incident light through the transparent MoS2 layers, and the generated photocurrent gain in MoS2 layers. Furthermore, the MoS2 Schottky photodetectors are self‐powered. The high responsivity of 0.68 A W−1 and the excellent specific detectivity of 1.89 × 1012 Jones at 1310 nm are obtained under 0 V. The excellent performance demonstrates that internal photoemission mechanism can be well applied in 2D material Schottky photodetectors for infrared wavelengths.

Peculiarities of the soybean gene pool under irrigation in the south of Ukraine

The study aim was to investigate the genetic diversity of plant collections under irrigation, to select valuable genotypes, basing in multi-year studies, and to use them for creating new varieties and unique information for breeders and researchers. Results and Discussion. The article presents the results of studying soybean accessions, which were introduced in 2016-2020, in the Breeding Department of the Institute of Irrigated Agriculture. Thirty-seven new soybean accessions have been studied. Using correlation analysis, we found that the plant height, the lowest pod attachment height, the productive node number on branches, the number of additional branches per plant, the pod and seed numbers per plant the most significantly and directly correlated with the performance (seed weight per plant). Reference accessions have been chosen for the following characteristics: high 1000-seed weight (B 19/622, UD0202677 (KAZ)); very short length of the “seedlings-full ripeness” period (Aktai, UKR01200 (HUN), А 9/562, UD0201408 (KAZ)); large lowest pod attachment height above the soil level (A 16/145, UD0201414; A 14/253, UD0202637 (KAZ)); high seed yield (B 46/6-, UD0201425 (KAZ)). Some varieties have been distinguished due to several economically valuable traits: very short length of the “seedlings-full ripeness” period and moderate lowest pod attachment height above the soil level; short length of the “seedlings-full ripeness” period and disease and drought resistance; large lowest pod attachment height above the soil level and resistance to diseases and drought; high yield of seeds, disease resistance and ultra early ripeness; high 1000-seed weight, disease and drought resistance; ultra early ripeness and yield. Conclusions. Enrichment of the collection with new soybean accessions, investigations and involvement of them in breeding is a way to create high-yielding soybean varieties adapted to irrigation, resistant to diseases and lodging.

Swell wave progression in the English Channel: implications for coastal monitoring

Energetic swell waves, particularly when they coincide with high water levels, can present significant coastal hazards. To better understand and predict these risks, analysis of the sea levels and waves that generate these events and the resulting coastal impacts is essential. Two energetic swell events, neither of which were predicted by modelled flood forecasts, occurred in quick succession in the English Channel. The first event, on 30 January 2021, produced moderate significant wave heights at or just below the 0.25 year return period along the southwest English coast, but combined with significant swell caused overtopping at East Beach in West Bay and at Chesil Beach. The second event, on 1 February 2021, generated the highest wave energy periods measured at many locations along the southern English coastline and, at high water, caused waves to run up over the promenades at Poole Bay and Christchurch Bay and caused overtopping at Hayling Island. Both events are described in detail, and their spatial footprints are mapped through a joint return period analysis using a copula function. It is found that typical joint return period analysis of water level and significant wave height underestimates potential impacts, while a joint consideration of water level and wave power (P) describes the 31 January event better and a joint consideration of water level and energy period (Te) best describes the 1 February event. Therefore, it is recommended that Te and P are adopted for coastal monitoring purposes, and that future studies further explore the use of both parameters for swell monitoring.

Cathodoluminescence of Ultrathin Twisted Ge1- x Snx S van der Waals Nanoribbon Waveguides.

Ultrathin van der Waals semiconductors have shown extraordinary optoelectronic and photonic properties. Propagating photonic modes make layered crystal waveguides attractive for photonic circuitry and for studying hybrid light-matter states. Accessing guided modes by conventional optics is challenging due to the limited spatial resolution and poor out-of-plane far-field coupling. Scanning near-field optical microscopy can overcome these issues and can characterize waveguide modes down to a resolution of tens of nanometers, albeit for planar samples or nanostructures with moderate height variations. Electron microscopy provides atomic-scale localization also for more complex geometries, and recent advances have extended the accessible excitations from interband transitions to phonons. Here, bottom-up synthesized layered semiconductor (Ge1- x Snx S) nanoribbons with an axial twist and deep subwavelength thickness are demonstrated as a platform for realizing waveguide modes, and cathodoluminescence spectroscopy is introduced as a tool to characterize them. Combined experiments and simulations show the excitation of guided modes by the electron beam and their efficient detection via photons emitted in the ribbon plane, which enables the measurement of key properties such as the evanescent field into the vacuum cladding with nanometer resolution. The results identify van der Waals waveguides operating in the infrared and highlight an electron-microscopy-based approach for probing complex-shaped nanophotonic structures.

Yield, Agronomic and Forage Quality Traits of Different Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Genotypes in Northeast China

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) grain is well known as a source of nutritious human food, but the nutritional properties of quinoa as animal fodder has not been well explored. Fifteen quinoa accessions were assessed for grain and forage yields, and morphological and quality traits during anthesis and grain filling, with the aim of selecting superior genotypes for greater production and quality traits that are well adapted to northeastern China. Variations were significant among the tested genotypes for all traits. The highest grain weight was recorded in Rainbow (27.51 g plant−1), followed by the local Chinese genotypes Longli 3, YY28 and Mengli 1. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association of grain yield with branches and a negative association with culm thickness and inflorescence length, whereas more branches and moderate plant height were the main yield components affecting yield. Forage shoot weight was 37.2–81.6 g plant−1, with JQ3 and ZQ1 exhibiting the highest yields. Forage yield was strongly and positively correlated with most of the morphological traits, except plant height, and was negatively associated with chlorophyll content and the fresh/dry matter ratio. Quality traits and the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of quinoa were significantly lower than alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), oats (Avena sativa L.) or Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel, and the crude protein (CP) content was significantly higher than all three species, reaching above 20%. The saponin content of the whole plant was higher during anthesis than during grain filling. In conclusion, genotypes having more branches and shorter and more compact main inflorescences achieved higher grain yields, whereas genotypes possessing thick stems, more branches and moderate plant height produced more forage. Hence, the results indicate that superior quinoa genotypes have great potential to solve fodder shortages in China.

Habitat selection of foraging male Great Snipes on floodplain meadows: importance of proximity to the lek, vegetation cover and bare ground

Drainage of wetlands and agricultural intensification has resulted in serious biodiversity loss in Europe, not least in grasslands. Consequently, many meadow birds have drastically declined, and the habitats they select for breeding currently rely on land management. However, the selection of habitats maintained by agriculture may contribute to reduced fitness and thus remain maladaptive for individuals, which makes conservation challenging. An understanding of the relationships between species’ habitat selection, food supply and land management in the context of species’ behaviour is therefore crucial for conservation. Lowland populations of Great Snipe Gallinago media are currently declining at a moderate rate, causing a conservation concern. We examined the daytime site selection (assumed as foraging sites) and food supply of radiotracked Great Snipe males breeding on a floodplain in NE Poland. Foraging sites were classified at micro‐ and macro‐scale levels using the logistic regression in a use–availability design. On the micro‐scale level, males selected moderate sward height and density, and a large amount of bare ground patches, and the importance of these increased as the breeding season progressed. On the macro‐scale level, these conditions were associated with (1) meadows mown twice per season and grazed thereafter (associated with the most abundant food resources – earthworms) and (2) extensively managed pastures, suggesting the importance of grazing. Abandoned or late‐mown meadows under agri‐environmental schemes (AES) were avoided by foraging males. However, parcels with delayed mowing offer safe breeding sites for females nesting close to leks, unlike land‐use types preferred by foraging males, which may act as an ecological trap. Effective conservation of Great Snipes on floodplain meadows requires precisely targeted AES schemes that will provide a mosaic of intensive and extensive land‐use patches in the vicinity of identified leks.

Construction of optimum number of fruiting nodes benefit high yield in cotton population

High yield is the most important goal for cotton growers, but widely application of previous reported agronomic practices was difficult due to variations of locations, climate, and cropping system in Yangtze River area. It is desirable to find an universal index to indicate canopy structure and photosynthetic production states for high yield. Field studies with different planting densities, sown dates and nitrogen rates were conducted to detect the relationship between lint yield and number of fruiting nodes per hectare (FNN) during 2016 and 2017 cotton growth seasons. Across different cultivars and cultivation practices including sown dates, nitrogen rates, and planting density, the FNN was comparatively stable under highest yield, indicating the optimum FNN (290−320×104 nodes/ha) would benefit high yield formation. In 2018 and 2019, three FNN cotton populations (low, optimum and high) constructed by three nitrogen rates were designed to assess the canopy structure, photosynthetic production and final yield. The results showed that there were moderate plant height (conventional cultivar Sikang1: 101.7 cm–103.5 cm, hybrid cultivar Sikang3: 109.5 cm–110.1 cm), length of fruiting branch, bigger space for individual fruiting node, uniform vertical distribution of LA (the leaf area) and light intensity in cotton plants under optimum FNN. In addition, high leaf SPAD, highest leaf Fv/Fm, activities of SuSy, SPS, and SAI, uniform vertical distribution of dry matter and high ratio of dry matter accumulation in reproductive organs in cotton plants were found under optimum FNN condition. These results suggested that appropriate plant type and canopy structure could be constructed by building optimum FNN, and optimum FNN would promote photosynthetic capacity and dry matter accumulation in reproductive organs, and ultimately benefit the final yield. In addition, due to the comparatively stable FNN in high-yield cotton production across different cultivation practices and locations, FNN would be an key index to build high-yield cotton population.

Upper-room ultraviolet air disinfection might help to reduce COVID-19 transmission in buildings: a feasibility study.

As the world’s economies come out of the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for technologies to mitigate COVID-19 transmission in confined spaces such as buildings. This feasibility study looks at one such technology, upper-room ultraviolet (UV) air disinfection, that can be safely used while humans are present in the room space, and which has already proven its efficacy as an intervention to inhibit the transmission of airborne diseases such as measles and tuberculosis. Using published data from various sources, it is shown that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the causative agent of COVID-19, is highly likely to be susceptible to UV-C damage when suspended in air, with a UV susceptibility constant likely to be in the region 0.377–0.590 m2/J, similar to that for other aerosolised coronaviruses. As such, the UV-C flux required to disinfect the virus is expected to be acceptable and safe for upper-room applications. Through analysis of expected and worst-case scenarios, the efficacy of the upper-room UV-C approach for reducing COVID-19 transmission in confined spaces (with moderate but sufficient ceiling height) is demonstrated. Furthermore, it is shown that with SARS-CoV-2, it should be possible to achieve high equivalent air change rates using upper-room UV air disinfection, suggesting that the technology might be particularly applicable to poorly ventilated spaces.

Field Survey of Tsunami Heights and Runups Following the 22 December 2018 Anak Krakatau Volcano Tsunami, Indonesia

The 22 December 2018 Anak Karakatau tsunami in Indonesia was a rare event in that few instrumental records existed of tsunamis generated by volcanic sources before this event. The tsunami, which left a death toll of 437, is of global importance as it provides opportunities to develop knowledge on generation, propagation and coastal effects of volcanic tsunamis. Here, we report results of field surveys along the coast of the Sunda Strait, Indonesia to study tsunami wave heights and coastal damage. We surveyed 29 locations and measured ranges of tsunami runup from 0.9 to 5.2 m, tsunami heights from 1.4 to 6.3 m, flow depths from 0.2 m to 3.0 m and inundation distances from 18 to 212 m. The largest tsunami heights and concentration of damage and fatalities occurred on the western shore of Java from Tanjung Lesung to Sumur. The largest cluster of fatalities occurred at Tanjung Lesung, where more than 50 people died while attending an outdoor music being held at the shoreline. The tsunami runup and tsunami height in Tanjung Lesung were 4.0 and 2.9–3.8 m, respectively. We believe this tragedy could have been avoided if the event organizers were more aware of the hazard posed by the Anak Krakatau volcano, as it had been actively erupting for several months prior to the tsunami, and simply moved the concert stage 100 m inland. Many of the locations surveyed demonstrated a similar pattern where the majority of casualties and destruction occurred within 100 m of the coast; in several locations, lives were saved where buildings were located at least this distance inland. The significant damage and numerous deaths which occurred in Sumur, despite the moderate tsunami height of 2.3–2.5 m, can be attributed to the extremely low-lying coastal land there. Flow depth in Sumur was 0.9–2.0 m. During our field surveys, nearly one year after the event, we noted that some of the damaged buildings were being rebuilt in the same locations just 10–30 m from the shoreline. We question this practice since the new buildings could be at the same tsunami risk as those damaged in the 2018 event.