Local scouring action downstream of clear over-fall weirs associated with three-dimensional turbulent flow field is a common morphological problem in mobile channel bed. The objective of this study was to assess and quantify the impact of hydraulic structural measures (double lines water jets) on minimizing the scour-hole dimensions downstream of a Fayoum type weir. Ninety runs were conducted c…
In this paper, a Modified Integral Derivative (MID) controller is proposed for Load Frequency Control (LFC) of multi-area multi-source power system in deregulated environment. The multi-source power system is having different sources of power generation such as thermal,hydro, wind and diesel generating units considering boiler dynamics for thermal plants,Generation Rate Constraint (GRC) and Gov…
The flexural behaviour of plain and fibre-reinforced pond ash concrete (FRC) beams under monotonic loading condition was analysed. Sixteen beams reinforced with top and bottom longitudinal deformed steel bars and transverse steel stirrups were tested. The beams were cast using three different percentages of pond ash, namely, 10%, 20% and 30% by weight of cement. Grooved type steel fibres were i…
This paper tests and analyzes the working capability of a resistive superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) in a microgrid. The microgrid is a test-bed, consisting of a conventional power plant, two renewable energy sources in the form of wind-farm and solar-farm as two distributed generation (DG) units and five loads (i.e., industrial and domestic). Utilization of DG in mainstream is incr…
This paper presents a new Matlab/Simulink model of a PV module and a maximum power point tracking (MPPT) system for high efficiency InGaP/InGaAs/Ge triple-junction solar cell. The proposed technique is based on Artificial Neural Network. The equivalent circuit model of the triple-junction solar cell includes the parameters of each sub-cell. It is also include the effect of the temperature varia…
This paper presents a systematic pathway for the floor plan design when given the shape of required floor plan, the list of spaces, the dimensions of each space and the weighted matrix of required adjacencies between the spaces. The first step is to partition the given shape into say k possible rectangles. Then using the given adjacencies, divide the given spaces into k groups. Next is to cons…
Over the past few decades, the cause of many bridge failures has been reported to be abutment scour. A large number of studies have been conducted to develop countermeasures to ensure the safety of existing bridges. A submerged vane is a measure that has recently been studied and found to be a promising scour mitigation technique for river bank erosion. Therefore, the main purpose of this study…
In this research, a perceptron artificial neural network is trained and validated by a number of observed data. Inputs of artificial neural network (ANN) are distance from upstream, discharge of freshwater at upstream and tidal height at downstream and its output is salinity concentration. Because of shortage of observed data especially in extreme conditions, a numerical model was developed. Th…
The Manning’s equation is commonly used to calculate discharge and mean velocity of the uniform flows. According to experimental data, Manning’s equation with constant Manning’s coefficient overestimates the discharge of second-kind channels (channels with a closing top-width),under the partially full flow. This problem can be solved by altering the Manning’s coefficient depending on th…
In this paper, Gravitational Search Algorithm (GSA) is used as optimization method in reactive power planning using FACTS (Flexible AC transmission system) devices. The planning problem is formulated as a single objective optimization problem where the real power loss and bus voltage deviations are minimized under different loading conditions. GSA based optimization algorithm and particle swarm…
The paper presents a new approach for the modeling, analysis and design of automatic control systems in fully fuzzy environment based on the normalized fuzzy matrices. The approach is also suitable for determining the propagation of fuzziness in automatic control and dynamical systems where all system coefficients are expressed as fuzzy parameters. A new consolidity chart is suggested based on …
Numerical analysis of two dimensional steady flows over a triangular extended solid (thorn) attached to square cylinder positioned at front stagnation point and at rear stagnation point separately is reported at low Reynolds number (Re = 40). The variation of thorn length (l0 = 0.2,0.4 & 0.6) & inclination angle (H= 5, 10, 15 & 20) and its effect on the drag, pressure, shear stress, boundar…
Punching shear reinforcement systems such as studs and stirrups are used to improve the punching shear strength of flat slabs. A three dimensional finite element model (FEM) is developed through Ansys 10 computer software, to carry out the nonlinear analysis of 16 flat-slab models with and without punching shear reinforcement. Several important parameters are incorporated in the analysis, namel…
Generation contingencies in a power system lead to under-frequency and low voltages owing to active and reactive power deficiencies. Load shedding is considered as a last alternative to avoid the cascaded tripping and blackout in power systems during generation contingencies. It is essential to optimize the amount of load to be shed in order to prevent excessive load shedding. To minimize load …
This paper presents an attempt to analyze the effect of multi-fuel and practical constraints on economic load dispatch problem using a novel uniform distributed two-stage particle swarm optimization (UDTPSO) algorithm without and with unified power flow controller (UPFC) while satisfying equality, inequality, practical constraints such as ramp-rate and prohibited operating zone (POZ) limits and…
This paper proposes two advanced algorithms for multilevel Z-source inverter (MLZSI),which employ space vector control (SVC) as control algorithm of cascaded H-bridge multilevel Z-source inverter; where output voltage is achieved by summing the output voltages of bridge. In these algorithms different states to generate the same voltage with low THD, as the purpose, are verified and the suitable…
The results of 11 years (2003–2013) monitoring activities, including estimation of number and gender structure of waterfowl on the Lake Khanka, are presented. The accounting work (50 days) took place in the first decade of April, in the period of mass spring migration of migratory birds. About 682,270 birds are registered. The comparison of the species composition and the ratio of the maj…
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a key regulatory enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, catalyses the first rate-limiting reaction to produce ribose-5-phosphate for nucleic acid synthesis and NADPH to use in reductive biosynthesis. The available studies indicate an antioxidant role for G6PD and variation in its levels as a result of cellular insult. In this study, the activity of G6…
The carbon concentration and distribution in dissolved organic matter (DOM) and particulate organic matter (POM) in the lagoon lakes Blagodaty and Golubichnoe located in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve and Lake Vaskovskoye оf the Dalnegorsk urban district of Primorsky Krai were analysed using data collected in July–August of 2011–2014. The content of DOM carbon ranged from1.9 to 8.6 mg/l, …
Three orders of amphibiotic insects were examined from the eastern and western streams of the Sikhote-Alin State Nature Biosphere Reserve, which is located in the southern Russian Far East in the central portion of a mountain range with the same name. Data were obtained on Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera (EPT) fauna inhabiting streams in the Sikhote-Alin State Nature Biosphere Reserve an…
The long-tailed goral (Nemorhaedus caudatus) is a rare montane ungulate species with a patchy distribution. In the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, gorals occupy the northern part of their range, concentrated primarily in a small coastal area (6.4 km2) in Abrek Urochishe. Our pilot study tested the feasibility of individual photo-identification of gorals and population size estimation using the capture–…
During four months in the winter period of 2002–2003, a census of four species of hoofed animals (red deer, sika deer, roe deer, and musk deer) was conducted in the study areas of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve and the surrounding area, including the territory of the planned Reserve Tavayza. The census was conducted on a monthly basis at two sites in the pine and broadleaved forest (nature Reserve …
Bacillus subtilis SPB1 is known to produce a highly effective biosurfactant that belongs to the class of lipopeptides. This biosurfactant has shown relevant properties that could be efficiently applied in various domains. However, high production and purification costs limit the use of B. subtilis SPB1 in high-volume applications. The present work aimed to promote an economical production of th…
The marking activity of brown bears was studied in the Kronotsky Reserve (eastern shore of the Kamchatka Peninsula) between 2002 and 2005. The goal of this investigation was to document communication mechanisms within the species. We recorded descriptions of bears rubbing and marking trees, as well as individual marking behaviour of bears in the Valley of the Geysers. We recorded 203 marked tre…
The present paper elaborates on the status of both harbor and spotted (largha) seal populations on the Komandorsky Islands. Local populations of these seals have doubled since the 1980s. The total population of harbor and spotted seals at both Bering and Medny Islands is now estimated to be 4000–4300 animals. Various methods of counting have been applied. A methodological approach to counting…
The results of a study of structural and metabolic changes in CBA mice with hepatocellular carcinoma caused by lithium carbonate nano-sized particles are presented. Light microscopy, electron microscopy and other biochemicalmethodswere used to showthat injection of lithiumcarbonate nano-sized particles to the periphery of the tumour results in enhanced destructive processes within the tumour. T…
A better understanding of which biological and anthropogenic parameters are strong predictors of suitable habitats for tigers will help address conservation planning in those areas, which is crucial for maintaining connectivity and preventing further population fragmentation. The aim of this study was to develop a spatial model based on a number of environmental and anthropogenic variables as w…
New data on the distribution of the endemic Asian rodents zokors (Myospalax sp.) in Eastern Russia (Transbaikalia and Khanka Plain) based on new taxonomic, genetic and morphological research are presented in this article. Both karyotype and mtDNA markers and morphological characteristics (craniometry) were used for species identification. The following four distinct species inhabit this region:…
In this study, we examined the response forest dynamics (since 1982) on Sokhondo Mountain (2500 m a.s.l.) under climate change in Transbaikalia (southeast of Lake Baikal, Russia) over the last 60 years, using geobotanical and climate long-term monitoring as important tools to assess the effect of climate change on forest dynamics. We found that changes in ecosystems along an altitudinal gradien…
Since 2010, a comprehensive program of studying musk deer has been conducted in the Sikhote-Alin region. This musk deer study program has employed the methods of radio telemetry, visual observation, life activity traces survey and photo-video traps. New data on the use of space by musk deer, as well as their daily activity, nutrition, labeling and distribution activities, have been obtained. Th…
This study shows application experience of pulsar satellite radio beacons (Russian production) in studying brown bear ecology. During 2011–2013 three brown bears were equippedwith satellite collars fitted with a radio beacon in the Primorsky region and the Kostroma region. The animals were tracked using satellite technology and telemetry. We obtained data on brown bear space use and daily and…
This article is aimed at identifying the cause of rock eating by wild herbivores in the territory of the Caucasian State Biosphere Reserve in the Caucasus Mountains. The research focused on the mineralogical and geochemical features of the rocks eaten and the geological conditions of their formation. This report includes a comparative analysis of the mineral and chemical compositions of the con…
The Olekminsky Natural Reserve is composed of four types of lake land, six types of river land and two types of wetlands. The wetlands can be classified into four types of spatial complexes. The main types of forest habitats may be incorporated into six types of land. Forest complex functional forms in the reserve are characterized by four types. In accordance with the predominance of land type…
Phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are the major problems that decrease crop productivity under rice-wheat cropping system. Field experiments were conducted to investigate impacts of P (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg/hm2) and Zn levels (0, 5, 10 and 15 kg/hm2) on dry matter (DM) accumulation and partitioning, and harvest index of three rice genotypes ‘fine (Bamati-385) vs. coarse (F-Malakand and…
The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, is a destructive insect pest of rice throughout Asia. Different from brown-eye color wild type, BPH also has red-eye color mutation phenotype. As a visible genetic marker, the red-eye mutant in BPH is a valuable material. To reveal the eye color mutation mechanism, a karmoisin homologue gene (named as Nlka) was cloned from BPH. And karmoisin is a…
Nine genotypes were evaluated under greenhouse conditions for antixenosis and tolerance against brown planthopper (BPH, Nilaparvata lugens Stål). In antixenosis studies, proportion of insects settled on a test genotype in relation to the susceptible control TN1 was recorded, with significantly lower proportion of nymphs (55.22%–59.18%), adult males (60.33%–60.75%), and adult females (80.56…
In vitro androgenesis is an important component of plant biotechnology when the pollen grains are forced to switch from their normal pollen developmental pathway towards an embryogenic route. Haploid and doubled haploid produced through androgenesis have long been recognized as a valuable tool in plant breeding as it can shorten the breeding cycle, fix agronomic characters in homozygous state a…
Eighteen isolates of Rhizoctonia solani collected from infected rice plants in four different locations of Bangladesh were studied by using morphological characters and molecular markers. Anastomosis study with a reference isolate confirmed that all the isolates belonged to R. solani. Significant variation was observed in sclerotial size, shape and distribution. Un-weighted pair group method wi…
Exogenous application of spermidine (Spd) has been reported to modulate physiological processes and alleviate salt-induced damage to growth and productivity of several plants including rice. Employing a proteomic approach, we aimed at identifying rice leaf and grain proteins differentially expressing under salt stress, and in response to Spd prior to NaCl treatment. A total of 9 and 20 differen…
The accumulation of pigments affects the color of rice hulls while only limited information is known about its underlying mechanisms. In the present study, a rice brown hull 6 (bh6) mutant was isolated from an ethane methyl sulfonate (EMS)-induced IR64 mutant bank. Brown pigments started to accumulate in bh6 rice hulls after heading and reached a higher level in mature seeds. Some major agronom…
Supramolecular chemistry – the branch of chemistry associated with the formation of complex multimolecular entities from relatively simple molecular components – has been a major research theme over the past four decades. Researchers were provided with a unifying vision of the field following the award of the 1987 Nobel Prize in chemistry to three of its pioneers: Jean-Marie Lehn, Donal…
To develop and characterize introgression lines for leaf and neck blast resistance, 326 introgression lines were developed using various accessions of six different AA genome wild species in the genetic background of elite Indian varieties like PR114 and Pusa 44 and were screened for blast resistance. Stringent phenotyping coupled with genotyping using gene based markers led to the identificati…
Despite significant yield advantage over inbred rice, the adoption rate of hybrid rice in India is very low due to the high seed cost and poor quality of the produce. To alleviate the problem, we initiated a doubled haploid (DH) breeding approach to develop new lines from two elite indica rice hybrids (CRHR5 and CRHR7) through rapid fixation of homozygosity in the recombinants. In vitro culture…
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of proline and glutamine on in vitro callus induction and subsequent regeneration and to develop a reproducible and highly efficient plant regeneration protocol in four rice genotypes, viz. Pawana, Jaya, Indrayani and Ambemohar. Considerable variation in response to plant growth regulators and amino acid supplements used was observed in all the f…
To dissect the genetic basis of low phosphorus tolerance (LPT), 114 BC2F4 introgression lines (ILs) were developed from Shuhui 527 and Minghui 86 (recurrent parents), and Yetuozai (donor parent). The progenies were tested for 11 quantitative traits under three treatments including normal fertilization in normal soil (as control), normal fertilization in barren soil and low phosphorus stress in …
Tillering is an important agronomic trait which has a direct impact on plant type and grain yield. Strigolactones are a class of important phytohormones regulating rice tillering. ATMAX1 is an important gene involved in strigolactone biosynthesis through encoding the protein P450 in Arabidopsis. Based on sequence BLASTp, we identified five homologous genes of ATMAX1 in rice, i.e., OsMAX1a, OsMA…
An attempt was made to determine the qualitative changes in basmati rice (Pusa Basmati 1121,PB1121) during soaking at 40 °C to 80 °C. Soaking temperature had significant effect (α = 0.01) on chemical composition, glycemic index and starch characteristics of rice. Starch content, apparent amylose content, crude protein content and crude fat content in un-soaked rice were found to be 73.24%,27…
Narrow genetic background is a key limiting factor in breeding stable high-yielding rice. The introduction and utilization of international rice core germplasm is an important way to increase the genetic diversity of domestic rice varieties. We conducted a genome-wide association study on 5 panicle traits of 315 rice accessions introduced from the international rice micro-core germplasm bank. B…
We identified the rice floral organ development mutant, termed as open hull and male sterile 1 (ohms1), from the progeny of the indica restorer line Zhonghui 8015 treated with 60Co γ-ray irradiation. The ohms1 mutant exhibited an open hull and lemma- and palea-like structure conversion between the anthers and stigma, which resulted in the ohms1 mutant spikelet showing ‘tridentate lemma’. T…
To investigate the effect of low light (LL, 50% natural light) during grain filling (GF) stage on rice transamination, amino acid (AA) accumulation, nutritional value, and cooking quality in three different rice genotypes, transaminase activities and AA levels in grains during GF stage and the traits that significantly affected rice quality (physical appearance, cooking quality, and nutritional…