Effects of Boron defiency on morphology, gas exchange, and Glusinolate composition of hydroponically grown oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera)

Oilseed rape (Brassica napus var. oleifera) was grown in a continuously recirculating hydroponic system designed to accurately and consistently deliver micronutrient concentrations. Perlite was used as the root support medium. Boron (B) treatments ranging from adequate or normal (0.60 mg*L-1 added B) to severely deficient (0.01 mg*L-1 added B) were applied as modified Hoaglands solutions in three experiments. The effects of B deficiency on plant morphology, seed yield, gas exchange, and seed glucosinolate content were analyzed. Tissue B concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Severely B deficient plants were malformed and did not produce seed. Leaf tissue B content was the best indicator of B availability and uptake. Leaves of normal plants contained from 35 to 80 μ*g-1, whereas normal appearing but seedless plants averaged 18 μ*g-1 B. Histological analysis of stem tissue confirmed that deterioration of vascular tissue and pith cells was directly related to severity of B deficiency. Sporadic cell wall lignification was associated with cellular breakdown in the pith. The best morphological indicators of B deficiency were number of axillary branches and main inflorescence height. An analysis of photosynthesis (Pn) and stomatal conductance (SC) values indicated a minimum leaf tissue B content of 21 μ*g-1 was required for normal functioning of leaf Pn and SC. The stage of plant development was more important than leaf maturity in determining the effect of B on gas exchange capacity. Glucosinolate content was compared by gas chromatography and colorimetry procedures. Gas chromatography proved to be the more accurate and informative method. Seed glucosinolate levels remained stable at leaf tissue B values above 21 μg*g-1. Boron deficient plants produced lower quality seed with glucosinolate concentrations significantly above the acceptable canola quality standard of 30 μmol per gram of defatted meal. Indole glucosinolates appeared to be less influenced by B availability than aliphatic glucosinolates. The individual glucosinolate composition of seeds was unaffected by B treatment. Tissue B uptake was consistent with treatment B availability throughout all experiments

Professor Edwin W. Briggs

Professor Edwin W. Brigg

For Real! XCS with Continuous-Valued Inputs

Many real-world problems are not conveniently expressed using the ternary representation typically used by Learning Classifier Systems and for such problems an interval-based representation is preferable. We analyse two interval-based representations recently proposed for XCS, together with their associated operators and find evidence of considerable representational and operator bias. We propose a new interval-based representation that is more straightforward than the previous ones and analyse its bias. The representations presented and their analysis are also applicable to other Learning Classifier System architectures. We discuss limitations of the real multiplexer problem, a benchmark problem used for Learning Classifier Systems that have a continuous-valued representation, and propose a new test problem, the checkerboard problem, that matches many classes of real-world problem more closely than the real multiplexer. Representations and operators are compared, using both the real multiplexer and checkerboard problems and we find that representational, operator and sampling bias all affect the performance of XCS in continuous-valued environments

Professor Edwin W. Briggs

Professor Edwin W. Brigg

Microcomputer microeconomics

This paper outlines the procedures for an economic analysis of a microcomputer system designed for personal use. It provides a methodology for application identification and quantification of the benefits derived from the applications. Empirical decision rules are suggested for the key decisions of quantity and mix of software, start-up and cessation timing, and resource allocation. These rules are based upon analysis of marginal opportunities gained and foregone over the lifecycle of the system. Particular emphasis is placed upon the role of software in the economics of the system. Economies of scale and sensitivity analysis are also discussed. the thesis serves as a structured beginning for further research into microcomputer system modeling.http://archive.org/details/microcomputermic00doerLieutenant, United States NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Dynamic control and information processing in the Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction using a coevolutionary algorithm

We propose that the behavior of nonlinear media can be controlled dynamically through coevolutionary systems. In this study, a light-sensitive subexcitable Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction is controlled using a heterogeneous cellular automaton. A checkerboard image comprising of varying light intensity cells is projected onto the surface of a catalyst-loaded gel resulting in rich spatiotemporal chemical wave behavior. The coevolved cellular automaton is shown to be able to either increase or decrease chemical activity through dynamic control of the light intensity within each cell in both simulated and real chemical systems. The approach is then extended to construct a number of simple logical functions. © 2008 American Institute of Physics

A personal knowledge management tool that supports organizational knowledge management

This paper describes the concept and design of PK-MAST (a Personal Knowledge Management And Sharing Tool), which is a novel knowledge management tool and framework that seeks to bridge the gap between personal knowledge management and organizational knowledge sharing. PK-MAST gives the user a strong ‘personal’ feel in capturing knowledge for his/her own purposes and is very easy to use, but it also supports selective knowledge sharing with minimal effort from the user

Save Your Confederate Money, Boys

No cover arthttps://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/cht-sheet-music/10246/thumbnail.jp