Response of Watermelon to Gravel-Mulch and Supplementary Irrigation: Yield, Water Use Efficiency and Root Distribution

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of supplementary irrigation on watermelon (Citullus lanatus) yield, water-use efficiency (WUE) and root distribution in gravel-mulched field in northwest Loess Plateau, China, during 2001 and 2002 growing seasons. The results showed that gravel mulch significantly improved seedling emergence, increased yield and WUE, and alleviated the influence of drought on plant growth. Regardless of gravel mulch application, supplementary irrigation increased watermelon yields, average fruit weight and number of fruit, especially yield increased as the amount of irrigation increased (P<0.05). Generally, WUE of irrigated treatments were higher than that of non-irrigation treatment in gravel-mulched field. The effect of water supply on root distribution was different in two years. In 2001, average root length density (RLD) and root weight density (RWD) whole the soil profile increased. In 2002, however, RLD and RWD decreased as water supply increased. The average RLD and RWD in 2001 were significantly higher than those in 2002. Maybe we can interpret the phenomenon with the theory that there is a need to optimize root distribution (in terms of water relations) and aboveground biomass for a given water supply.The yield may not depend as much on root growth as on the amount of water required at critical stages. A significant effect of soil depth on RLD and RWD were observed in both years, but did not rapidly decrease with depth.

Effect of Supplementary Irrigation on the Yield of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in the Context of Climate Change in the Dry Savannahs of Togo

Under the current context of climate change, supplementary irrigation may be needed for crop production resilience. We determined the effects of supplementary irrigation on sorghum grain yield in the dry Savannah region of Togo. A two-year trial was conducted in a controlled environment at AREJ, an agro-ecological center in Cinkassé. The plant material was sorghum variety Sorvato 28. The experimental design was a Completely Randomized Block with three replications and three treatments as follows: T0 control plot (rainfed conditions);T1 (supplementary irrigation from flowering to grain filling stage) and T2 (supplementary irrigation from planting to grain filling stage). Two irrigation techniques (furrow and Californian system) were used under each watering treatment. The results showed that irrigation technique significantly affected panicle length with no effect on 1000 grains mass. Panicle length and grain yields varied from 15.59 to 25.71 cm and 0.0 to 2.06 t∙h−1, respectively, with the highest values (25.66 cm and 2.06 t∙h−1, respectively) under the T2 treatment with the California system-based supplementary irrigation. The comparison of results obtained on treatment T0 and T2, shows that supplementary irrigation increased the yields by at least 68.62%. Supplementary irrigation during sowing and growing season (T2) improved sorghum yields in the dry savannahs of Togo, with a better performance of the California irrigation system.

Combustion simulation and key parameter optimization for opposite axial piston engine in small-scale

As potential alternative power sources used in portable electric generators, opposite axial piston engines in small-scale were investigated to show their advantages in power density. A novel cylinder charge system was introduced, based on which a quasi-dimension model and a CFD(computational fluid dynamics) model were established. Comparison of those two models was carried out to validate the quasi-dimension model. Furthermore, optimal diameter of charge cylinder and speed were determined after evaluating the quasi-dimension model based on different parameters. High agreement between the quasi-dimension model and the CFD model validates the quasi-dimension model. Further studies show that the power of engine increases with the diameter of charge cylinder. However, a too big charge cylinder lowers the fuel efficiency instead. Taking economic influence into consideration the charge cylinder should be 1.4 times power cylinder, which could ensure the power density, volumetric efficiency and fuel economic at the same time. Axial piston engine running at 1.0×104 r/min could achieve a better overall performance. The maximal power of engine with optimal parameters is 0.82 k W, which fits the power need of the portable electric generators completely.

The Effect of Handedness on Supplementary Motor Area Activation during Complex Motor Tasks

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to assess the activity of supplementary motor area (SMA) in six right-handed and six left-handed healthy volunteers. Two manual tasks (self-initiated previously practiced and unpredictable visually guided) were used. Quantitative analysis of hemispheric and bilateral SMA activation was described as mean ± standard deviation of hot spots/total spots. The two tasks induced bilateral SMA activation. The laterality of SMA activation was affected by manual dominance. Left SMA was significantly more activated in right- and left-handers while performing the motor tasks with the right hand. Right SMA was more activated in the left-handers when the left hand was used. Task complexity was the most important factor influencing the degree of SMA activation.

Newton’s Method and an Exact Opposite That Average into Halley’s Method

This note is mainly concerned with the creation of oppositely converging and alternatingly converging iterative methods that have the added advantage of providing ever tighter bounds on the targeted root. By a slight parametric perturbation of Newton’s method we create an oscillating super-linear method approaching the targeted root alternatingly from above and from below. Further extension of Newton’s method creates an oppositely converging quadratic counterpart to it. This new method requires a second derivative, but for it, the average of the two opposite methods rises to become a cubic method. This note examines also the creation of high order iterative methods by a repeated specification of undetermined coefficients.

Utilizing ACP Alpha Beta (αβ) Nonlinear Mathematics for Analyzing Astrophysics and Electrostatic Separation Data (Applications 3 and 4)

Analyses of astrophysics and electrostatic separation data were illustrated with the Asymptotic Curve Based and Proportionality Oriented (ACP) nonlinear math for relating two physical variables. The fundamental physical law asserts that the nonlinear change of continuous variable Y is proportional to the nonlinear change in continuous variable X. Mathematically, this is expressed as dα{Y, Yu, Yb} = −Kdβ{X, Xu, Xb}, with Yu, Yb, Xu, and Xb representing the upper and baseline asymptotes of Y and X. Y is the continuous cumulative numbers of the elementary y and X is the continuous cumulative numbers of elementary x. K is the proportionality constant or equally is the rate constant.

Supplementary motor area deactivation impacts the recovery of hand function from severe peripheral nerve injury

Although some patients have successful peripheral nerve regeneration,a poor recovery of hand function often occurs after peripheral nerve injury.It is believed that the capability of brain plasticity is crucial for the recovery of hand function.The supplementary motor area may play a key role in brain remodeling after peripheral nerve injury.In this study,we explored the activation mode of the supplementary motor area during a motor imagery task.We investigated the plasticity of the central nervous system after brachial plexus injury,using the motor imagery task.Results from functional magnetic resonance imaging showed that after brachial plexus injury,the motor imagery task for the affected limbs of the patients triggered no obvious activation of bilateral supplementary motor areas.This result indicates that it is difficult to excite the supplementary motor areas of brachial plexus injury patients during a motor imagery task,thereby impacting brain remodeling.Deactivation of the supplementary motor area is likely to be a serious problem for brachial plexus injury patients in terms of preparing,initiating and executing certain movements,which may be partly responsible for the unsatisfactory clinical recovery of hand function.

Preliminary Study on the Legal Conflict of our Country Marriage Alternative Provisions and Supplementary Provisions in the National Autonomous Areas

The national autonomous areas exercise an important way of autonomy power to make adaptive or supplementary provisions to the existing laws, and the diversity between different ethnic groups determines the adaptive or supplementary provisions that are bound to the existence of conflict in the legislative content and legal application. On the basis of adaptive or supplementary provisions, this paper carries out the analysis on the law conflict problems of marriage adaptive or supplementary provisions, hoping to start a discussion, and make scholars foeusing on the conflict of national regional autonomy law.

Zeno’s Paradoxes and Lie Tzu’s Dichotomic Wisdom Explained with Alpha Beta (αβ) Asymptotic Nonlinear Math (Including One Example on Second Order Nonlinear Phenomena)

Zeno’s paradoxes are a set of philosophical problems that were first introduced by the ancient Greek philosopher Zeno of Elea. Here is the first attempt to use asymptotic approach and nonlinear concepts to address the paradoxes. Among the paradoxes, two of the most famous ones are Zeno’s Room Walk and Zeno’s Achilles. Lie Tsu’s pole halving dichotomy is also discussed in relation to these paradoxes. These paradoxes are first-order nonlinear phenomena, and we expressed them with the concepts of linear and nonlinear variables. In the new nonlinear concepts, variables are classified as either linear or nonlinear. Changes in linear variables are simple changes, while changes in nonlinear variables are nonlinear changes relative to their asymptotes. Continuous asymptotic curves are used to describe and derive the equations for expressing the relationship between two variables. For example, in Zeno’s Room Walk, the equations and curves for a person to walk from the initial wall towards the other wall are different from the equations and curves for a person to walk from the other wall towards the initial wall. One walk has a convex asymptotic curve with a nonlinear equation having two asymptotes, while the other walk has a concave asymptotic curve with a nonlinear equation having a finite starting number and a bottom asymptote. Interestingly, they have the same straight-line expression in a proportionality graph. The Appendix of this discussion includes an example of a second-order nonlinear phenomenon. .

An Author Compromised With His Reality: Antonio Buero Vallejo, Symbols and Opposites in Stories of a Stair, The Skylight, and The Little Girls (Las Meninas)

Antonio Buero Vallejo(1916-2000)was an outstanding Spanish playwright.He reflects on the society,their fears,problems and post war crisis.He well deserves the appellative he was given“the consciousness of Spain”.In this article I analyze the symbols and opposites in three of his plays,two of them of social realism:Stories of a Stair,and The Skylight,and a historical one:The Little Girls(Las Meninas).He creates dramas but always with some touches of good humor.Reading Buero Vallejo is understanding the idiosyncrasy of Spain and its people.

Isolation of an Actinomycete Strain from Medicinal Plant Rhizosphere Soils with Inhibitory Activity against Yam Anthracnose(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) and Its Preliminary Identification

[ Objective ] The paper was to isolate actinomycete strains with antagonistic activity against yam anthracnose from the rhizosphere soil of medicinal plants in Hainan Province, and identify its taxonomic status. [ Method ] Using HV medium, actinomycete strains were isolated from the rhizesphere soil of frangipani （Plumeria rubra L. ）. The active antagonistic actinomycetes were selected by using confrontation culture method and antifimgal test of fermentation products. Ac- cording to morphology, combined with 16S rRNA gene analysis, the taxonomic status of active actinomycetes was identified. [ Result] Twelve strains of actinomyce- tes were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of medicinal plant frangipani. Strain 51173 showed significant antifungal activity against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which was identified to be a member of Streptomyces violaceusniger 16S rRNA gene clade. [ Conclusion] Strain 51173 showed a good application potential for bio- logical control against yam anthracnose.

Effects of Supplementary Pollination by Single-rotor Agricultural Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Hybrid Rice Seed Production

In 2012-2015, under the conditions of different natural wind speeds, the single-rotor agricultural unmanned aerial vehicle was used for the supplementary pollination during seed production of 10 hybrid combinations with big parental row ratios in the hybrid rice seed production bases of Hunan, Hainan and Guangdong Province, and the pollination effects were studied through the investigation of pollen density in the field, outcrossing seeding rate of female parent and seed production yield. The results showed that under the parental row ratio of 6：（40-60）, the seed setting rate and yields of the supplementary pollination by single-rotor agricultural UAV could reach and even higher than those of artificial pollination, indicating the single-rotor agricultural UAV could be used in supplementary pollination for hybdd rice seed production, which could promote the whole-process mechanization of seed production.

On the Theme of Coexistence of Opposites in The Left Hand of Darkness

As one of the best-known literary works of the American novelist Ursula K.Le Guin,The Left Hand of Darkness is not only successful in its splendid plots and beautiful language but also in the important function of its readers in reading.In the thesis,one of its themes,coexistence of opposites,is analyzed in the reader response perspective in order to reveal Le Guin's reader-consciousness.The theme exists on a higher level in the novel and expresses Le Guin's attitude towards life and universe.Le Guin unified her own philosophy in the novel and tried to call for the reader's resonance.

Phytoremediation of industrial effluent containing azo dye by model up-flow constructed wetland

This study assessed the treatment of azo dye Acid Orange 7 （AO7） containing wastewater by laboratory-scale up-flow constructed wetland （UFCW） with and without supplementary aeration. The supplementary aeration could effectively control the ratio of anaerobic and aerobic zones in the UFCW reactor. The results clearly show the supplementary aeration boosted the biodegradation of organic pollutants and mineralization of intermediate aromatic amines formed by AO7 degradation.

Effects of Supplementary Feed with Different Apple Pomace-to-Alfalfa Meal Ratios on Milk Performance of Dairy Cows

[Objective] To study the effects of apple pomace on milk performance of dairy cows. ~Method] A total of 48 Holstein dairy cows at the same parity and with close lactation stage and similar daily milk yield were randomly assigned to six groups. The supplementary feed was composed of apple pomace, alfalfa meal, com and premix, and it was processed into pellets. In the groups I - V, the percentage of apple pomace was 17.5%, 35.0%, 52.5%, 70.0% and 0%, respectively. Each cow was fed with supplementary feed （3 kg/d）. [ Result] The milk yield in the group II and group V was increased significantly （ P 〈 0.05）, and the fat content in milk of the group III and V was significantly higher than that of the con- trol group （P 〈 0.05）. [ Conclusion] The supplementary apple pomace can improve the milk performance of dairy cows effectively.

Right lower limb apraxia in a patient with left supplementary motor area infarction: intactness of the corticospinal tract confirmed by transcranial magnetic stimulation

We reported a 50-year-old female patient with left supplementary motor area infarction who presented right lower limb apraxia and investigated the possible causes using transcranial magnetic stimulation. The patient was able to walk and climb stairs spontaneously without any assistance at 3 weeks after onset. However, she was unable to intentionally move her right lower limb although she understood what she supposed to do. The motor evoked potential evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation from the right lower limb was within the normal range, indicating that the corticospinal tract innervating the right lower limb was uninjured. Thus, we thought that her motor dysfunction was not induced by motor weakness, and confirmed her symptoms as aprax- ia. In addition, these results also suggest that transcranial magnetic stimulation is helpful for diagnosing apraxia.

Transcriptome and co-expression network analysis uncover the key genes mediated by endogenous defense hormones in tea plant in response to the infestation of Empoasca onukii Matsuda

The tea green leafhopper[Empoasca(Matsumurasca)onukii Matsuda]is one of the most dominant pests in the tea production regions of China,greatly impacting tea yield and quality.Extensive studies have attributed the plant defense response to pest infestation to the activation of hormone signals,but the role of defense hormones in tea plants in response to the feeding of E.onukii is not clear.RNA-seq was performed on the leaf samples collected at different time points(6,24 and 48 h)after feeding with E.onukii to explore the transcription characteristics of tea plant responses to feeding.The content variation characteristics of four phytohormones(JA,JA-Ile,ABA and SA)during this process were also determined.The results showed that feeding elevated the expression of key genes involved in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis,flavonoid biosynthesis,α-linolenic acid metabolism and terpenoids synthesis pathways,especially in the early stage after feeding.The contents of JA,JA-Ile,and ABA dramatically increased at different time points after feeding,but the absolute content decreased over time.The change in the absolute content of SA was opposite to that of the above three hormones.Two gene co-expression networks that were significantly positively associated with these hormonal changes were constructed based on WGCNA.The screened hub genes provide useful genetic resources for exploring the hormone-mediated defense responses of tea plants against E.onukii.Our results lay the foundation for the ecological control of E.onukii and breeding of resistant tea plant cultivars.

Amiable Shakespeare Versus Satirical Jonson?——A Contrastive Myth between Shakespearean and Jonsonian Comedies

Shakespeare and Ben Jonson have frequently been paired up for comparison in studies of early modern English drama.Conventional views about Shakespeare’s and Jonson’s comedies evolved and crystallized in the seventeenth,eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.People believed or were led to believe that Shakespeare’s and Jonson’s comedies were in clear opposition:Shakespeare’s comedies were sweet,romantic,amiable,popular and entertaining,whereas Jonson’s were based on an abstract theory of humors,cold,satiric,pedantic,and moralizing.Only in the last century did these oppositions begin to change,but too slowly.This paper calls those binary oppositions into question.It tries to present a more truthful picture of these two playwrights and their comedies through an examination of some of their works.It argues that some of those oppositions are stereotypes and should not be taken seriously by contemporary Shakespearean and Jonsonian scholars.

APPLICATION OF PUNCTURING THE POINTS OPPOSITE TO THE DISEASED SIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF TRAINING INJURY IN TROOPS——A Report on 2560 Cases

Puncturing points opposite to the diseased side was used to treat injuries in 2560soldiers during their training.The instant effective rate and curative rate of the therapy was up to 96.25％and 38.44％respectively.