Buckwheat breeding and production in Russia during the past 100 years

Average buckwheat yield in Russia has increased from 0.49 to 0.94 t/ha (1.9 times) in the period from the 1960s to 2011-2017, which is comparable to the growth of wheat yields for the same period (2.1 times, from 1.18 to 2.42 t/ha). However, if the growth in wheat yields occurred gradually, the entire growth of buckwheat yield falls on the beginning of the 21st century. Such differences in dynamics indicate that the increase in buckwheat yield is not related to the improvements in agricultural technology or climate changes. Nor it is related to any significant changes in the structure of buckwheat sowing regions, as the average yield in the most important region of buckwheat cultivation, Altai Territory, is only 0.91 t/ha (i. e. less than the country’s average). Chronologically, the period of an abrupt increase in the yield of buckwheat in Russia coincides with widespread introduction of cultivars with determinate growth habit (determinants). Since 1999, the share of determinant varieties in the total area under buckwheat in Russia has increased from 8.2 to 56.7%. Apparently, it was a main cause for the significant growth of buckwheat yield in Russia. Determinant cultivars based on the d (det) mutation are characterized by reduced plant height, reduced number of flowers on shoots, and more intensive and fast blossoming of inflorescences (and, consequently, more intensive and fast maturation). The increased morphological potential of productivity (the number of vegetative nodes on the stem and first – order branches) ensures a higher level of yield for these cultivars. At present, our lab is developing determinant buckwheat cultivars using some additional mutations. A major success in this work has been the world’s first determinant cultivar with green flowers (the gc mutation) named ‘Design’, which develops thicker and stronger fruit stalks with higher resistance to seed shattering

An uncoupled thermoelasticity problem for a semi-infinite layer with regard to its proper weight

The exact solution of the uncoupled thermoelasticity problem for a semi-infinite elastic layer with regard to its proper weight was constructed. The originality of the proposed paper is based on reducing Lame equations to two jointly and one separately, solvable equations. It allows the application of integral transformations directly to the transformed equations of equilibrium and makes it possible to reduce the initial problem to a one-dimensional vector boundary problem. A special technique is given to calculate multiple integrals containing oscillating functions that appear during the inversion of the transforms. The character of the temperature and proper weight influence on the value of normal stress on the lateral face of the semi-infinite layer, the zone of tensile stress depending on the shapes of the distributed load section and the temperature and Poisson's ratio is established. The parameters of dimensionless mechanical load and temperature, when the separation of the side wall of the semi-infinite layer can be eliminated, were established. A study of the influence of the layer쒒s proper weight on the stress emerging on the layer�s edge is conducted. The constructed exact solution can be used as a model for solving a similar class of problems by numerical methods

X-ray Diffraction Study of the NaF – LiF – LnF3 (Ln=La,Nd) Eutectic Composition in the Liquid and Solid States

The ternary eutectic alloy with the composition 33 mol % NaF+53 mol % LiF+14 mol % NdF3 has been studied in the liquid and solid states using differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction at room and high temperatures. The obtained results demonstrate that the eutectic alloy undergoes no phase transformations at temperatures from 298 K to melting point. Analysis of RMC models of the melt indicates that there is no dense non-crystalline packing of the fluorine anions in contrast to the eutectic NaF—LiF—LaF3 melt

The use of microarrays for the identification of the origin of genes of avian influenza viruses in wild birds

Forty-two strains of avian influenza viruses were isolated from the wild waterfowls’ feces in the city of Moscow. These viruses, as well as reference strains and some experimental reassortants, were analyzed by microarrays. The microarrays contained 176 probes to the different segments of influenza virus genome. The microarray helps to determine 1) the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins subtype; 2) the primary structure of the C-terminal sequence of the viral NS1 protein, which serves as a ligand for the PDZ domain; 3) the presence of stop codons in the reading frame of PB1-F2 as well as the N66S substitution in the PB1-F2 viral protein; 4) the presence of the polybasic site for hemagglutinin cleavage. The viruses of the H3N1, H3N6, H3N8, H4N6, H1N1, H5N3, and H11N9 subtypes were identified from the group of wild birds’ isolates. All isolates contained the ESEV sequence at the C-terminus of the NS1 protein and the full-length reading frame for the PB1-F2 protein. The replacement of N66S in PB1-F2 was found in six strains. However, the presence of the ESEV sequence (ligand of PDZ domain) in the NS1 virus protein and the N66S substitution in PB1-F2 did not lead to the pathogenicity of these viruses for mice. All isolates demonstrated high yield growth in chicken embryos and were infectious and immunogenic for mice, but did not induce any clinical symptoms.Forty-two strains of avian influenza viruses were isolated from the wild waterfowls’ feces in the city of Moscow. These viruses, as well as reference strains and some experimental reassortants, were analyzed by microarrays. The microarrays contained 176 probes to the different segments of influenza virus genome. The microarray helps to determine 1) the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins subtype; 2) the primary structure of the C-terminal sequence of the viral NS1 protein, which serves as a ligand for the PDZ domain; 3) the presence of stop codons in the reading frame of PB1-F2 as well as the N66S substitution in the PB1-F2 viral protein; 4) the presence of the polybasic site for hemagglutinin cleavage. The viruses of the H3N1, H3N6, H3N8, H4N6, H1N1, H5N3, and H11N9 subtypes were identified from the group of wild birds’ isolates. All isolates contained the ESEV sequence at the C-terminus of the NS1 protein and the full-length reading frame for the PB1-F2 protein. The replacement of N66S in PB1-F2 was found in six strains. However, the presence of the ESEV sequence (ligand of PDZ domain) in the NS1 virus protein and the N66S substitution in PB1-F2 did not lead to the pathogenicity of these viruses for mice. All isolates demonstrated high yield growth in chicken embryos and were infectious and immunogenic for mice, but did not induce any clinical symptoms

The influence of Pb vacancies on the properties of PZT-type ceramics transducers

This article is dedicated to prof. J. Ranachowski The result of investigations of the influence of lead vacancies on the crystalline structure of PZT-type ceramic piezoelectric materials is presented. The solid solution of PbTiO3 - PbZrO3 - sigma n=13 Pb(B'1-alpha B''alpha)O3, characterized by the perovskite-type structure (ABO3), is the basis of those materials. The lead vacancies (VPb) was originated by a thermal treatment. Investigations of the influence of the lead deficiency on the crystalline structure of PZT-type ceramics have been performed for solid solutions characterized by compositions corresponding to the tetragonal or rhombohedral boundary of the morphotropic region (PCR-1, PCR-8: Piezoelectric Ceramics of Rostov) and to tetragonal phase region compositions (ceramics of Pb1-x(Zr0.39Ti0.59W0.01Cd0.01) O3). It has been found that the deficiency in lead causes a reconstruction of the perovskite phase crystalline structure or a change of the elementary cell parameters of that phase. The solid solutions on the basis of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 resolve themselves into PbTiO3, ZrO2 and PbO when the lead deficiency caused by thermal treatment increases

Review on uranium in soil: levels, migration

The problems of radioactive contamination of biosphere with the 238U in recent years have attracted a large number of experts in various fields of knowledge. Natural radionuclides are an integral part of the biosphere. They are concentrated everywhere: in rocks, in soil, water, air and food. Various types of phosphorus fertilizers and other natural ameliorants used in agriculture are also an additional source of heavy natural radionuclides. The review describes the behaviour and migration of 238U in biosphere, which depend on various factors acting simultaneously. It is noted that the behaviour of 238U in the soil depends on the forms of its presence in it and the physical and chemical properties of the soil. The processes of sorption and desorption of 238U by different soil types are significant indicators

Drone Fleet Survivability Evaluation Based on Lanchester’s Modified Deterministic Model

An algorithmic approach for the assessment of the survivability is proposed that is based on Lanchester’s modified deterministic model. Methods are suggested for increasing the available time capability for nuclear power plant monitoring and coverage, using the required or a limited number of the operable drones,. Dependencies of the variance between the residual fleet damage and permissible drone fleet damage on monitoring time as well as dependencies of the monitoring time on the recovery group productivity are analysed

Effect of Nb cationic substitution on the microstructure and Raman spectra of SrBi2(Ta,Nb)2O9 thin films

Micro-Raman spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction have been used to explore the lattice dynamics of Nb-substituted SrBi2(TaxNb1-x)2O9 (SBTN) thin crystalline films annealed at low temperature, 700oC. The substitution of Nb at Ta-site leads to the decrease in the SBT lattice parameters, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction data entire the concentration range of Nb varying from 0 to 50 wt. %. The relative intensity of the (115), (006) and (200) X-ray diffraction peaks increases with the increase of the Nb content. We observed nonmonotonic shift of the Raman band maximum from 810 cm-1 (for pure SBT) to 830 cm-1 (for SBTN with 20 % of Nb) and then back to 810 cm-1 with increasing Nb content from 40 to 50 wt. %. We assume that these changes are conditioned by the ferrodistortion occurring in ferroic perovskites, namely by the tilting distortion of (Ta,Nb)O6 octahedra at 20-40 wt. % of Nb. The octahedra tilting can change the coordination environment of the A-cite cation, as well as it lowers the SBTN symmetry below the cubic symmetry. The tilted state at 20-40 wt. % of Nb can explain the nonmonotonic changes of the perovskite phase fraction and remanent polarization with increasing Nb content from 0 to 50 wt.%, in particular their initial increase with Nb content increase up to 20 wt. % followed by a decrease at 30 wt. % of Nb, then increase at 40 wt.% and further decrease for 40 - 50 wt.% of Nb. Hence, the substitution by Nb of Ta-site in SBT has a pronounced impact on the O-Ta-O stretching modes by shifting and splitting the mode frequency at (810 - 830) cm-1; however, it does not influence the low frequency Raman modes of SBTN.Landau-Devonshire approach is used to explain the experimentally observed nonmonotonic dependence of the ferroelectric perovskite phase fraction and remanent polarization on Nb content in SBTN films.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figure