The Effect of DNA Methylation Modification Polymorphism of Corn Seeds on Their Germination Rate, Seedling Resistance and Adaptive Capacity under UV-C Exposure

Relations between epigenetic polymorphism of corn seeds, their germination rate, resistance and adaptation under UV-C exposure have been investigated. Association of various seed germination rate with the original differences in chromosome aberration yield and methylation patterns of transcribed and satellite DNA have been shown. In two series of experiments involving а аcute single and repetitive UV-C exposure according to the scheme «adaptive - challenging», the investigation of possible biological importance of epigenetic polymorphism has been performed. Significant differences have been established in chromosome aberration yield and methylation pattern changes in satellite and transcribed DNA of seedlings from fast- and slowly-growing seeds under UV-C exposure. This data indicate existence of various resistances to UV-C exposure and adaptive capacity of seedlings from seeds with different epigenomes

Presowing with Bacteria Improved the Productivity and Resistance to Fungal Root Pathogen in Wheat and Barley

It is well known that reducing the extent of damage to grain crops by root rot causing agents is one of the most effective ways to increase the yield of agricultural grain crops and improve their quality. These diseases are especially harmful for hard wheat, barley, soft spring wheat, and winter rye. Yield losses due to these diseases may reach 19–20% or more for wheat and 25–30% or more for barley. In order to assess the effectiveness of the bacteria isolated from earthworm coprolites as biological control agents, we conducted a series of field tests in Western Siberia from 2011 to 2015. We compared growth and development indicators of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L., Irgina variety) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L., Acha variety) where seeds were treated with Bacillus cereus and two strains of Pseudomonas. The results showed that the inoculation increased the grain yield by 0.2–1.0 t ha−1 for spring wheat and by 0.3–1.8 t ha−1 for barley. In addition, the prevalence of the disease in spring wheat plants was significantly reduced from 18.1–61.1% in the control plots to 6.4–50.2% in the inoculated plots. Similarly, the index of root rot development decreased from 18.2–23.0% in the control plots to 13.2–15.8% in the inoculated plots. To understand the mechanism that induces the spring wheat resistance to fungal root rots under the influence of rhizobacteria, we investigated the effect on the guaiacol-dependent peroxidase activity. There was an inverse relationship between the peroxidase activity in wheat tissues and damage of plants caused by root rot agents indicating that the response of peroxidase enzymes to plant inoculation is a meaningful indicator that can be used to assess the potential of a particular strain as a biological agent for protecting spring wheat

From self-efficacy to imposter syndrome: The intrapersonal traits of surgeons

BACKGROUND: Demographic differences among surgical trainees regarding intrapersonal traits, such as imposter syndrome and assertiveness, have become widely acknowledged. However, many of these characteristics have not been examined in tandem, nor among both trainees and surgeons in practice. This study aimed to address these knowledge gaps. METHODS: This was an anonymous, voluntary survey study comprised of validated measures of (1) self-efficacy, (2) imposter syndrome, (3) assertiveness, (4) perfectionism, and (5) self-rated likeability. A multimodal recruitment strategy was used and surgeons across all subspecialties were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: A total of 296 participants were included, with 54% identifying as female (n = 161) and 72% between the ages of 25 and 40 years of age (n = 212). Imposter syndrome, assertiveness, and perfectionism scales were normally distributed; self-efficacy and self-rated likeability scales demonstrated slight negative skew. Self-identified male sex was associated with less imposter syndrome (P \u3c 0.001) and perfectionism (P = 0.035) and higher assertiveness (P \u3c 0.001). Imposter syndrome was less common among older age groups (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Surgeons are a self-efficacious group of perfectionists with widespread variability in imposter syndrome and assertiveness. Female sex and younger age were associated with more imposter syndrome and less assertiveness, highlighting an opportunity for early career coaching

Egalitarian and utilitarian approaches in the green logistics of multimodal grain’s transportation

A multi-agent approach is proposed in the complex researches time and cost indicators of multimodal freight transportation on the railway loop, carried out in the direction of the port unloading stations. Along with the traditional subjects of the transportation process, such as the infrastructure owner, the carrier, the operator company (the rolling stock owner), the logistics company and clients (consignors and cargo’s owners), a “green logistics” agent is introduced. This agent is a concept that accumulates forms of manifestation of a conscious attitude of society to the environment in transport and logistics activities. Based on the assessment of the transport and technological railway loop infrastructure and the cost of transport services, a mathematical model of the freight transportation process is built, which is a multi-criteria transport problem. The choice of objective functions and constraints in the task is aimed at, first of all, taking into account the diverse interests of the agent “green logistics”. The algorithm for solving the problem, presented in the form of an integer programming problem, is based on the fundamental principles of the egalitarian and utilitarian approaches in the welfare theory. The implementation of the corresponding calculations for the grain transportation is performed in the environment of the computer mathematics system

Geometric routing model as a new approach in mathematical modeling of wagon flows rational distribution

In the ongoing transport and logistics researches, a coefficient of railway line non-straightness is introduced, by means of which, for the considered loading stations, the specifics of the location of the railway network in a given region are taken into account. The use of this coefficient makes it possible to increase the efficiency and practical expediency of applying the method of economic and geographical delimitation of the «influence areas» of the loading stations. As a result, it is possible to construct a mathematically substantiated geometric routing model of the territorial oligopolistic market for freight transportation formed by the considered loading stations. As an effective tool in the research process, a system of analytical calculations is used

On one approach to choosing unloading stations according to egalitarian principles in transport-type optimization problems

A multi-agent approach has been developed for solving the optimization transport-type problems. As an object of application, a multimodal system of transportation of grain cargoes with cost indicators is considered. The egalitarian principles of welfare theory implemented in the form of the Pareto criterion are used as the methodological basis of the research. A significant role belongs to the mathematical experiment as an effective tool for simulation modeling. The optimization algorithm developed in a mathematically oriented software environment makes it possible to effectively manipulate the values of cost indicators and constraints in the problem

Mathematical modeling of cargo flow distribution in a regional multimodal transportation system

An integrated approach is proposed in the study of rational schemes for the distribution of cargo flows at a regional transport loop for multimodal transportation, considered within the framework of an oligopolistic market. A technique has been developed for the parallel application of two approaches, differing in their mathematical nature, to the issues of increasing the economic efficiency of these transportations. The results obtained by the previously developed method of economic and geographical delimitation of «influence areas» of loading stations serve as a justification for the correctness of the results obtained by using an algorithm based on the Pareto optimization of the freight transportation process. Rational variants for organizing the freight transportation, taking into account time and cost indicators, have been obtained. The system of analytical calculations is used as a software tool to obtain a mathematically sound and transport–logistic diversified model of a regional oligopolistic freight market

PeTaL (Periodic Table of Life) and Physiomimetics

The Periodic Table of Life (PeTaL) is a system design tool and open source framework that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to aid in the systematic inquiry of nature for its application to human systems. This paper defines PeTaL’s architecture and workflow. Biomimicry, biophysics, biomimetics, bionics and numerous other terms refer to the use of biology and biological principles to inform practices in other disciplines. For the most part, the domain of inquiry in these fields has been confined to extant biological models with the proponents of biomimicry often citing the evolutionary success of extant organisms relative to extinct ones. An objective of this paper is to expand the domain of inquiry for human processes that seek to model those that are, were or could be found in nature with examples that relate to the field of aerospace and to spur development of tools that can work together to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence, topology optimization and conventional modeling in problem solving. Specifically, specialized fields such as paleomimesis, anthropomimesis and physioteleology are proposed in conjunction with artificial evolution. The overarching philosophy outlined here can be thought of as physiomimetics, a holistic and systematic way of learning from natural history. The backbone of PeTaL integrates an unstructured database with an ontological model consisting of function, morphology, environment, state of matter and ecosystem. Tools that support PeTaL include machine learning, natural language processing and computer vision. Applications of PeTaL include guiding human space exploration, understanding human and geological history, and discovering new or extinct life. Also discussed is the formation of V.I.N.E. (Virtual Interchange for Nature-inspired Exploration), a virtual collaborative aimed at generating data, research and applications centered on nature. Details of implementation will be presented in subsequent publications. Recommendations for future work are also presented