Analysis of genetic effects and correlations for nutrient quality traits of indica rice in different environments

Understanding the variation for the expressionof genes in different environments is one of themajor goals in qualitative genetics. In this pa-per, the genetic models for quantitative traitsof endosperm in cereal crops were used to eval-uate the seed, cytoplasm and maternal geneticeffects as well as the genotype × environment(GE) interaction effects, and to predict thebreeding value of parents and genotypic corre-lation for nutrient quality traits of indica rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Analysis of seed and maternal genetic effects on cooking quality characters in indica hybrid rice

We analysed seed and maternal genetic effects on characters of cooking quality in indica hybrid rice by using the model for quantitative characters of seeds of cereal crops. Incomplete diallel crosses were made by using six male sterile lines (Zhenshan 97A, Erjiuqing A, Erjiunan 1A, V20A, Zhe’nan 1A and Zhe’nan 3A)as females and three restorer lines(Cezao 2-2, T49 and 26715)as males. Sampled seeds were used to measure the cooking quality characters, including amylose content(%), gelatinization temperature(alkali spreading score)and gel consistency(mm). Results indicated that some rice cooking quality characters were controlled by both seed genes and maternal genes (see table). Gel consistency was mainly controlled by maternal effects, but also

Incorporating topographic factors in nonlinear mixed-effects models for aboveground biomass of natural Simao pine in Yunnan,China

A total of 128 Simao pine trees （Pinus kesiya var. langbianensis） from three regions of Pu＇er City, Yunnan Province, People＇s Republic of China, were destructively sampled to obtain tree aboveground biomass （AGB）. Tree variables such as diameter at breast height and total height, and topographical factors such as altitude, aspect of slope, and degree of slope were recorded. We considered the region and site quality classes as the ran- dom-effects, and the topographic variables as the fixed- effects. We fitted a total of eight models as follows： least- squares nonlinear models （BM）, least-squares nonlinear models with the topographic factors （BMT）, nonlinear mixed-effects models with region as single random-effects （NLME-RE）, nonlinear mixed-effects models with site as single random-effects （NLME-SE）, nonlinear mixed-ef- fects models with the two-level nested region and site random-effects （TLNLME）, NLME-RE with the fixed-ef- fects of topographic factors （NLMET-RE）, NLME-SE with the fixed-effects of topographic factors （NLMET-SE）, and TLNLME with the fixed-effects of topographic factors （TLNLMET）. The eight models were compared by modelfitting and prediction statistics. The results showed： model fitting was improved by considering random-effects of region or site, or both. The models with the fixed-effects of topographic factors had better model fitting. According to AIC and BIC, the model fitting was ranked as TLNLME 〉 NLMET-RE 〉 NLME-RE.〉 NLMET-SE 〉 TLNLMET 〉 NLME-SE 〉 BMT 〉 BM. The differences among these models for model prediction were small. The model pre- diction was ranked as TLNLME 〉 NLME-RE 〉 NLME- SE 〉 NLMET-RE 〉 NLMET-SE 〉 TLNLMET 〉 BMT 〉 BM. However, all eight models had relatively high prediction precision （〉90 %）. Thus, the best model should be chosen based on the available data when using the model to predict individual tree AGB.

Quality oriented value and performance drivers

The quality endeavors of an organization, like other enterprise activities, must be oriented towards the economic principles. This approach gives a way to many organizations to question the extent to which the quality management contributes for the overall business success and to pin point the areas where particularly a high value or performance can be created in order to attain the maximum possible economic benefits out of quality management systems. Without including the answer of this question in the decision making process, the resources can not be allocated optimally for the quality purpose. Quality management activities create variety of effects that indirectly contributes towards the economic success and thus increase the company and stakeholder value. A closer look at the quality management philosophy reveals eight major principles namely： customer focus, leadership, involvement of people, process approach, system approach to management, continual improvement, factual approach to decision making, mutually beneficial supplier relationships. These eight principles lead the efforts in the domain of quality management to project a positive impact on the company. For an understanding of response relationships, it is necessary to consider in detail the indicators along the response relationships. They provide helpful clues and give an insight into the complex mechanisms of action of the quality approaches on the path to the company＇s success. The following illustration depicts how the quality based activities generate the value to enhance the performance and a variety of indicators reflects how they indirectly add value to an organization and hence contribute to its economic success.

Using Fuzzy Theory and Variable Weights for Water Quality Evaluation in Poyang Lake, China

Achieving water purity in Poyang Lake has become a major concern in recent years, thus appropriate evaluation of spatial and temporal water quality variations has become essential. Variations in 11 water quality parameters from 15 sampling sites in Poyang Lake were investigated from 2009 to 2012. An integrative fuzzy variable evaluation(IFVE) model based on fuzzy theory and variable weights was developed to measure variations in water quality. Results showed that: 1) only chlorophyll-a concentration and Secchi depth differed significantly among the 15 sampling sites(P < 0.01), whereas the 11 water quality parameters under investigation differed significantly throughout the seasons(P < 0.01). The annual variations of all water quality variables except for temperature, electrical conductivity, suspended solids and total phosphorus were considerable(P < 0.05). 2) The IFVE model was reasonable and flexible in evaluating water quality status and any possible ′bucket effect′. The model fully considered the influences of extremely poor indices on overall water quality. 3) A spatial analysis indicated that anthropogenic activities(particularly industrial sewage and dredging) and lake bed topography might directly affect water quality in Poyang Lake. Meanwhile, hydrological status and sewage discharged into the lake might be responsible for seasonal water quality variations.

Quality control methods for KOOS operational sea surface temperature products

Sea surface temperature SST obtained from the initial version of the Korea Operational Oceanographic System（KOOS） SST satellite have low accuracy during summer and daytime. This is attributed to the diurnal warming effect. Error estimation of SST data must be carried out to use the real-time forecasting numerical model of the KOOS. This study suggests two quality control methods for the KOOS SST system. To minimize the diurnal warming effect, SSTs of areas where wind speed is higher than 5 m/s were used. Depending on the wind threshold value, KOOS SST data for August 2014 were reduced by 0.15°C. Errors in SST data are considered to be a combination of random, sampling, and bias errors. To estimate bias error, the standard deviation of bias between KOOS SSTs and climatology SSTs were used. KOOS SST data yielded an analysis error standard deviation value similar to OSTIA and NOAA NCDC（OISST） data. The KOOS SST shows lower random and sampling errors with increasing number of observations using six satellite datasets. In further studies, the proposed quality control methods for the KOOS SST system will be applied through more long-term case studies and comparisons with other SST systems.

Thoughts and Exploration on Transformation and Upgrading of Tobacco Production Promoted by Lean Management

Tobacco-producing field should carry out research oriented by fined technology,fluent work procedure and satisfied effect,reinforce lean management promotion,optimize allocation of tobacco production technologies,employees and resources,and improve science and technology research and development in a premise of improving tobacco quality,stable tobacco texture,and increasing tobacco production profit,in order to highlight service function of cooperatives and advance sustainable development.

Effects of changing cognitive factors on the quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia

Objective To explore the effects of cognitive intervention on the quality of life in patients with functional dyspepsia(FD).Methods From May 2013 to February2015,a total of 412 patients with FD were enrolled,cognition of the disease and the quality of life were assessed by disease cognitive simple questionnaire(B-IPQ)and Nepean dyspepsia index(NDI).The patients also re-

QUALITY CONTROL MARKERS OF DU-HUO-JI-SHENG-TANG IDENTIFIED ACCORDING TO ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS

The Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-Tang(DHJST)is the top commercial concentrated aqueous extract used in clinics for treating osteoarthritis.However,choosing the quality control markers for DHJST is an important problem for herbal medicine industry.In this study,DHJST was divided into three groups according to the medical philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),such as Si-Wu-Tang(SWT),wind-dampness herbs(WDH)and tonifying

Occurrence and formation of disinfection by-products in the swimming pool environment： A critical review

Disinfection of water for human use is essential to protect against microbial disease;however, disinfection also leads to formation of disinfection by-products（DBPs）, some of which are of health concern. From a chemical perspective, swimming pools are a complex matrix, with continual addition of a wide range of natural and anthropogenic chemicals via filling waters, disinfectant addition, pharmaceuticals and personal care products and human body excretions. Natural organic matter, trace amounts of DBPs and chlorine or chloramines may be introduced by the filling water, which is commonly disinfected distributed drinking water. Chlorine and/or bromine is continually introduced via the addition of chemical disinfectants to the pool. Human body excretions（sweat, urine and saliva） and pharmaceuticals and personal care products（sunscreens, cosmetics, hair products and lotions） are introduced by swimmers. High addition of disinfectant leads to a high formation of DBPs from reaction of some of the chemicals with the disinfectant.Swimming pool air is also of concern as volatile DBPs partition into the air above the pool.The presence of bromine leads to the formation of a wide range of bromo-and bromo/chloro-DBPs, and Br-DBPs are more toxic than their chlorinated analogues. This is particularly important for seawater-filled pools or pools using a bromine-based disinfectant.This review summarises chemical contaminants and DBPs in swimming pool waters, as well as in the air above pools. Factors that have been found to affect DBP formation in pools are discussed. The impact of the swimming pool environment on human health is reviewed.

Nanoelectromechanical resonant narrow-band amplifiers

This study demonstrates amplification of electrical signals using a very simple nanomechanical device.It is shown that vibration amplitude amplification using a combination of mechanical resonance and thermal-piezoresistive energy pumping,which was previously demonstrated to drive self-sustained mechanical oscillation,can turn the relatively weak piezoresistivity of silicon into a viable electronic amplification mechanism with power gains of 420 dB.Various functionalities ranging from frequency selection and timing to sensing and actuation have been successfully demonstrated for microscale and nanoscale electromechanical systems.Although such capabilities complement solid-state electronics,enabling state-of-the-art compact and high-performance electronics,the amplification of electronic signals is an area where micro-/nanomechanics has not experienced much progress.In contrast to semiconductor devices,the performance of the proposed nanoelectromechanical amplifier improves significantly as the dimensions are reduced to the nanoscale presenting a potential pathway toward deep-nanoscale electronics.The nanoelectromechanical amplifier can also address the need for ultranarrow-band filtering along with the amplification of lowpower signals in wireless communications and certain sensing applications,which is another need that is not efficiently addressable using semiconductor technology.