Vegetative phase change among sweet corn (Zea mays L.) hybrids varying for reaction to common rust (Puccinia sorghi Schw.)

In maize, timing of vegetative phase change has been implicated in the response to certain pests and environmental stresses. Common rust is the most serious disease of sweet corn in the north central United States. Sweet corn hybrids differing for resistance to common rust were evaluated for vegetative phase change traits. There were significant differences among hybrids for all vegetative phase change traits measured, as well as resistance to common rust. Certain hybrids displayed rapid transition (within two leaves) from juvenile to adult vegetation, while others displayed prolonged transition (within four leaves). There were no significant correlations between vegetative phase change traits and common rust severity among the commercial sweet corn hybrids evaluated in this experiment.     

Numerical Simulation of Berthing Velocity of the Ship

Based on the field data of berthing velocity for the ship (10000t-50000t), the berthing velocities have been numerically simulated by using Monte Carlo method in this paper. After statistical tests, it shows that the maximum values of the berthing velocity follow a Gumber distribution and the probability curves of failure for the means of maximum values are also obtained. The present results have been compared with the ones determined by specification of harbor engineering both at home and abroad.     

Small‐scale cattle raising in East Java,Indonesia: A pathway out of poverty?

Despite its small area and intensively cropped landscape, East Java accounts for 30% of Indonesia's cattle population. About two million households draw on family labour to raise cattle in backyard sheds and small enclosures, largely for cash income. In this paper, we examine the opportunity for such small‐scale producers to benefit from Indonesia's economic transformation, given the rising urban demand for beef. The paper reports on a study in two contrasting sites in East Java – irrigated lowlands and rainfed uplands – to explore the constraints facing small‐scale cattle producers in these environments, the means by which they have adapted to these constraints (especially by going beyond the farm household to access feed supplies) and possible means to enhance their production systems and incomes. The findings suggest that such cattle production systems can provide a viable source of livelihood, even for resource‐poor households; hence, appropriately adapted cattle improvement programmes are a sensible component of a pro‐poor development strategy.     

MEASURING PROBABILITY OF SKY BRIGHTNESS IN CLASSIFICATION BY THE AVERAGE INSOLATION

According to the daily change law from curves for percentage insolation,this paper presents a new formula of the average insolation in the zones where the insolation is more than 70%. By means of the hourly observing data during two years for solar direct ratiation, cloudage and sunshine condition in seven zones different lighting climate,considering the vaper pressure and the altitude present the function of percentage insolation and the probability of four sky brightness classification,this formula has a certain precision to be proved by observation.     

A methodology for evaluating a location as a selection site for an international plant breeding program

Summary A method for comparing locations as selection sites based upon their abilities to predict yield and disease reaction over a target region is proposed. The probability of coincidence in selection for a site is defined as the probability for a line selected at the site to be selected at other sites within the region. The probability of divergence in rejection is defined as that associated with regional selection of a line given that is discarded by the site where selection is being conducted. The ideal selection site would maximize the probability of coincidence in selection and minimize the probability of divergence in rejection. The method is illustrated using a set of data from the rice yield nurseries of the International Rice Testing Program for Latin America planted under the rainfed conditions of Central América and México during the period 1978–1984. Five locations were compared for their predictive ability in selecting for the rainfed rice growing region, based on yield and disease reaction. Selection for yield was defined as performance superior to the best check in each location. Selection for disease reaction was based on an index derived from the Standard Evaluation System for Rice for diseases of regional importance. Locations varies 10–15 percent in their selection coincidence with the region for both yield and disease selection criteria applied independently.     

Soil organic matter beyond molecular structure Part I: Macromolecular and supramolecular characteristics

This contribution reviews and discusses structural aspects of soil organic matter (SOM) and humic substances (HS) with special respect to the macromolecular and the supramolecular view. It can be concluded that (1) dissolved humic acids behave as supramolecular associations of relatively small molecules with an enormous flexibility of reaction of environmental conditions, (2) multivalent cations may increase the apparent molecular weight by the formation of coordinative crosslinks in dissolved and undissolved natural organic matter (NOM), (3) sorption nonlinearity in solid humic acids and SOM may be due to polymer properties of NOM, (4) sorbates affect sorbent characteristics of SOM, and (5) hysteresis and conditioning effects in SOM can up to now best be explained with the polymer analogy. A distinct polydispersivity of SOM over a wide range of molecular masses is to be assumed. The supramolecular and the macromolecular models were derived from humic acids with different composition and on the basis of different sample states. Although the supramolecular model has not explicitely been shown for unfractionated DOM, the combination of all discussed studies suggests supramolecular as well as macromolecular characteristics of NOM. Neither macromolecules nor small molecules can be fully excluded in solid and dissolved SOM. Microregions with different properties provide different types of sorption sites. SOM is suggested to be regarded as amorphous material. This point of view is not restricted to high molecular masses and may supplement our understanding of SOM by the model of physical aging.     

The tyranny of taste: the case of organic rice in Cambodia

Fair-trade and organic products are often sold at price premiums justified by smaller production volumes that are associated with greater social and environmental responsibility. The consumption of these products confers on the consumer a greater sense of morality – and usually a claim to better taste. This paper tells the story of attempts to promote organic/fair-trade rice production by de facto organic Cambodian farmers for export to North American and European markets in order to assist poor farmers to trade their way out of poverty. It demonstrates that instead of promoting sustainable agriculture and fair trade between developed and developing markets, organic/fair-trade projects may impose First World consumer ideals and tastes that are out of step with the larger realities of agrarian transition in Cambodia and the wider region of developing Southeast Asia.     

利用Markov过程预测安吉土地利用格局的变化

根据浙江安吉山区2个时期山地资源清查资料获得的土地利用类型数据,成功地确定了土地利用类型的转移矩阵,并用Markov链模型预测了该山区土地利用类型变化趋势.结果表明,当前该区的土地利用格局正处在一种荒山、农田、居民点及水域逐渐减少,林地、果园用地逐渐增加的变化状态,而且这种变化将持续很长时间,最后达到以山区林地78.4%为主体,同时湿地在不断减少的新的土地利用格局.表3参11     

噪声对瞬时测频接收机性能的影响

瞬时测频接收机性能最基本的要求就是测频精度，而空问内的各种非接收信号的电磁辐射源和由于各种反射体引起与接收信号路程差的反射信号等噪声信号，对瞬时测频接收机的测频精度和频率的分辨力的性能有着不可忽视的影响，并且这种影响具有不确定性。本文着重分析了噪声对瞬时测频接收机测频误差、系统的灵敏度及接收机的虚警概率和探测概率所造成的影响。     

腐蚀管道的失效概率和剩余寿命预测方法

以腐蚀管道失效压力和腐蚀速率分析为基础,建立了腐蚀管道可靠性极限状态函数和管道剩余寿命预测模型.采用改进的一次二阶矩法对腐蚀管道的可靠性指标和失效概率进行了分析和计算.结合工程实例,求解了某含腐蚀缺陷天然气管道不同服役年限的可靠性指标和失效概率,预测了该腐蚀管道的剩余寿命,计算和分析了工作压力、腐蚀速率、腐蚀深度和长度等参数对腐蚀管道可靠性的影响.