8,612 research outputs found
Evaluation of the Single Kernel Characterization System (SKCS) for Measurement of Sorghum Grain Attributes
The single kernel characterization system (SKCS) has been widely used in the wheat industry, and SKCS parameters have been linked to end-use quality in wheat. The SKCS has promise as a tool for evaluating sorghum grain quality. However, the SKCS was designed to analyze wheat, which has a different kernel structure from sorghum. To gain a better understanding of the meaning of SKCS predictions for grain sorghum, individual sorghum grains were measured for length, width, thickness (diameter), and weight by laboratory methods and by the SKCS. SKCS predictions for kernel weight and thickness were highly correlated to laboratory measurements. However, SKCS predictions for kernel thickness were underestimated by â20%. The SKCS moisture prediction for sorghum was evaluated by tempering seven samples with varying hardness values to four moisture levels. The moisture contents predicted by SKCS were compared with a standard oven method and, while correlated, SKCS moisture predictions were less than moisture measured by air oven, especially at low moisture content. Finally, SKCS hardness values were compared with hardness measured by abrasive decortication. A moderate (r = 0.67, P \u3c 0.001) correlation was observed between the hardness measurements. The SKCS predictions of kernel weight and diameter were highly correlated with laboratory measurement. Moisture prediction, however, was substantially lower by the SKCS than as measured by an air oven method. The SKCS should be suitable for measuring sorghum grain attributes. Further research is needed to determine how SKCS hardness predictions are correlated to milling properties of sorghum grain
Autonomous clustering using rough set theory
This paper proposes a clustering technique that minimises the need for subjective
human intervention and is based on elements of rough set theory. The proposed algorithm is
unified in its approach to clustering and makes use of both local and global data properties to
obtain clustering solutions. It handles single-type and mixed attribute data sets with ease and
results from three data sets of single and mixed attribute types are used to illustrate the
technique and establish its efficiency
Characterization of Polymeric Proteins from Vitreous and Floury Sorghum Endosperm
Differences in protein content and composition between vitreous and floury endosperm were investigated using a number of different techniques. Differences in protein cross-linking between vitreous and floury endosperm were investigated using differential solubility, size exclusion chromatography (SEC), and analysis of sulfhydryl content and composition. Vitreous endosperm was found to have higher levels of total protein and kafirins, but floury endosperm had a higher proportion of Îł-kafirins than the vitreous. Floury endosperm was found to have higher levels of SDS-soluble proteins than SDS-insoluble proteins extracted using sonication than vitreous endosperm. Conversely, vitreous endosperm had a greater proportion of the insoluble proteins. SEC analysis of the polymeric proteins revealed that the insoluble proteins had more polymeric proteins than did the soluble proteins, indicating greater cross-linking and a larger Mw distribution. Vitreous endosperm was also found to have a greater percentage (i.e., a higher ratio of disulfide to total sulfhydryls) of disulfide bonds than floury endosperm. These results show that the proteins in vitreous endosperm have a higher degree of cross-linking and a greater Mw distribution than those found in floury endosperm
Genetic Analysis of Kafirins and Their Phenotypic Correlations with Feed Quality Traits, In Vitro Digestibility, and Seed Weight in Grain Sorghum
Twenty-three entries of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), including eight inbred lines (five males and three females) and 15 hybrids, were evaluated to determine the proportion of Îł, αII, and ÎČ-αI-kafirins and their association with contents of crude protein, fat, and starch; protein digestibility; in vitro dry matter disappearance; and seed weight. The male lines included three normal-seeded lines (TX2737, TX435, and P954063) and two large-seeded lines (Eastin1 and PL-1). Female lines consisted of three common U.S. seed parent lines (Wheatland, Redlan, and SA3042). The lines and their hybrids were grown under dryland conditions at two locations in Kansas using a randomized complete block design. The effects of genotype, location, and males were significant for all kafirins. Wide variations in composition and general combining ability (GCA) for kafirin content were noted among parent lines and hybrids, with TX2737, Eastin1, and PL1 having the largest GCA values for Îł (1.37), αII (1.99), and ÎČ-αI (2.57), respectively. Correlations among kafirins ranged from â0.89 to 0, whereas those of kafirins with feed quality traits, digestibility, and seed weight ranged from â0.45 to 0.48
Genetic Analysis of Kafirins and Their Phenotypic Correlations with Feed Quality Traits, In Vitro Digestibility, and Seed Weight in Grain Sorghum
Twenty-three entries of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), including eight inbred lines (five males and three females) and 15 hybrids, were evaluated to determine the proportion of Îł, αII, and ÎČ-αI-kafirins and their association with contents of crude protein, fat, and starch; protein digestibility; in vitro dry matter disappearance; and seed weight. The male lines included three normal-seeded lines (TX2737, TX435, and P954063) and two large-seeded lines (Eastin1 and PL-1). Female lines consisted of three common U.S. seed parent lines (Wheatland, Redlan, and SA3042). The lines and their hybrids were grown under dryland conditions at two locations in Kansas using a randomized complete block design. The effects of genotype, location, and males were significant for all kafirins. Wide variations in composition and general combining ability (GCA) for kafirin content were noted among parent lines and hybrids, with TX2737, Eastin1, and PL1 having the largest GCA values for Îł (1.37), αII (1.99), and ÎČ-αI (2.57), respectively. Correlations among kafirins ranged from â0.89 to 0, whereas those of kafirins with feed quality traits, digestibility, and seed weight ranged from â0.45 to 0.48
Hydrodynamic Instability of the Flux-antiflux Interface in Type-II Superconductors
The macroturbulence instability observed in fluxline systems during
remagnetization of superconductors is explained. It is shown that when a region
with flux is invaded by antiflux the interface can become unstable if there is
a relative tangential flux motion. This condition occurs at the interface when
the viscosity is anisotropic, e.g., due to flux guiding by twin boundaries in
crystals. The phenomenon is similar to the instability of the tangential
discontinuity in classical hydrodynamics. The obtained results are supported by
magneto-optical observations of flux distribution on the surface of a YBCO
single crystal with twins.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letter
On the sample size dependence of the critical current density in MgB superconductors
Sample size dependent critical current density has been observed in magnesium
diboride superconductors. At high fields, larger samples provide higher
critical current densities, while at low fields, larger samples give rise to
lower critical current densities. The explanation for this surprising result is
proposed in this study based on the electric field generated in the
superconductors. The dependence of the current density on the sample size has
been derived as a power law ( is the factor
characterizing curve ). This dependence provides one with
a new method to derive the factor and can also be used to determine the
dependence of the activation energy on the current density.Comment: Revtex, 4 pages, 5 figure
Hysteresis in mesoscopic superconducting disks: the Bean-Livingston barrier
The magnetization behavior of mesoscopic superconducting disks can show
hysteretic behavior which we explain by using the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) theory
and properly taking into account the de-magnetization effects due to
geometrical form factors. In large disks the Bean-Livingston surface barrier is
responsible for the hysteresis. While in small disks a volume barrier is
responsible for this hysteresis. It is shown that although the sample
magnetization is diamagnetic (negative), the measured magnetization can be
positive at certain fields as observed experimentally, which is a consequence
of the de-magnetization effects and the experimental set up.Comment: Latex file, 4 ps file
Large scale structure and the generalised Chaplygin gas as dark energy
The growth of large scale structure is studied in a universe containing both
cold dark matter (CDM) and generalized Chaplygin gas (GCg). GCg is assumed to
contribute only to the background evolution of the universe while the CDM
component collapses and forms structures. We present some new analytical as
well as numerical results for linear and non-linear growth in such model. The
model passes the standard cosmological distance test without the need of a
cosmological constant (LCDM). But we find that the scenario is severely
constrained by current observations of large scale structure. Any small
deviations of the GCg parameters away from the standard Lambda dominated
cosmology (LCDM) produces substantial suppression for the growth of structures.Comment: 6 pages, matches version accepted for publication in Phys.Rev.D (in
press
Impact of Systematic Errors in Sunyaev-Zel'dovich Surveys of Galaxy Clusters
Future high-resolution microwave background measurements hold the promise of
detecting galaxy clusters throughout our Hubble volume through their
Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) signature, down to a given limiting flux. The number
density of galaxy clusters is highly sensitive to cluster mass through
fluctuations in the matter power spectrum, as well as redshift through the
comoving volume and the growth factor. This sensitivity in principle allows
tight constraints on such quantities as the equation of state of dark energy
and the neutrino mass. We evaluate the ability of future cluster surveys to
measure these quantities simultaneously when combined with PLANCK-like CMB
data. Using a simple effective model for uncertainties in the cluster mass-SZ
flux relation, we evaluate systematic shifts in cosmological constraints from
cluster SZ surveys. We find that a systematic bias of 10% in cluster mass
measurements can give rise to shifts in cosmological parameter estimates at
levels larger than the statistical errors. Systematic errors are
unlikely to be detected from the mass and redshift dependence of cluster number
counts alone; increasing survey size has only a marginal effect. Implications
for upcoming experiments are discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures; accepted to JCAP; revised to match submitted
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