In situ X-ray diffraction investigation of nitride coatings at high-temperature oxidation

Structural and phase researches of the multicomponent nanocrystalline coatings synthesized by plasma-assisted vacuum arc method at high-temperature influence by method of X-ray diffraction with the use of synchrotron radiation in situ have been carried out. The main features of these coatings are the superhardness (39 - 45 GPa) and nanocrystalline structure (5 - 20 nm). The analysis of results of structural and phase researches, physical and mechanical characteristics after oxidation of multicomponent nitride coatings at high-temperature heating in open air is presented

Mechanical safety of reinforced concrete structures at all stages of the life cycle

Ensuring the mechanical safety of operated buildings at all stages of the life cycle is an urgent task. This is especially important when planning major repairs and reconstruction in buildings, as well as determining the period of safe operation from the moment of the survey, i.e. clarification of the remaining service life. The total service life at the design stage is set by the customer and the general designer in accordance with the recommendations of GOST 27751-2014 «Reliability for constructions and foundations. General principles». Mechanical safety and durability are ensured when calculating structures using the limit state method, assigning protection measures depending on the operating conditions, as well as complying with the requirements of SP 255.1325800.2016 «Buildings and structures. Operating rules. General Provisions». A method for preliminary assessment of the mechanical safety of buildings and their structures is proposed for consideration, which eliminates some of the shortcomings of existing methods for calculating the residual life by physical wear (damage) of building structures based on the results of a visual inspection, the basis of which is the dependence of the allowable safe operation period on the percentage of reduced bearing capacity. It is proposed to use the results of a visual inspection performed in accordance with GOST 31937-2011 «Buildings and constructions. Rules of inspection and monitoring of the technical condition»

In situ X-ray diffraction investigation of nitride coatings at high-temperature oxidation

Structural and phase researches of the multicomponent nanocrystalline coatings synthesized by plasma-assisted vacuum arc method at high-temperature influence by method of X-ray diffraction with the use of synchrotron radiation in situ have been carried out. The main features of these coatings are the superhardness (39 - 45 GPa) and nanocrystalline structure (5 - 20 nm). The analysis of results of structural and phase researches, physical and mechanical characteristics after oxidation of multicomponent nitride coatings at high-temperature heating in open air is presented

Mechanical safety of reinforced concrete structures at all stages of the life cycle

Ensuring the mechanical safety of operated buildings at all stages of the life cycle is an urgent task. This is especially important when planning major repairs and reconstruction in buildings, as well as determining the period of safe operation from the moment of the survey, i.e. clarification of the remaining service life. The total service life at the design stage is set by the customer and the general designer in accordance with the recommendations of GOST 27751-2014 «Reliability for constructions and foundations. General principles». Mechanical safety and durability are ensured when calculating structures using the limit state method, assigning protection measures depending on the operating conditions, as well as complying with the requirements of SP 255.1325800.2016 «Buildings and structures. Operating rules. General Provisions». A method for preliminary assessment of the mechanical safety of buildings and their structures is proposed for consideration, which eliminates some of the shortcomings of existing methods for calculating the residual life by physical wear (damage) of building structures based on the results of a visual inspection, the basis of which is the dependence of the allowable safe operation period on the percentage of reduced bearing capacity. It is proposed to use the results of a visual inspection performed in accordance with GOST 31937-2011 «Buildings and constructions. Rules of inspection and monitoring of the technical condition»

QTL Analysis for bread wheat seed size, shape and color characteristics estimated by digital image processing

The size, shape, and color of wheat seeds are important traits that are associated with yield and flour quality (size, shape), nutritional value, and pre-harvest sprouting (coat color). These traits are under multigenic control, and to dissect their molecular and genetic basis, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis is used. We evaluated 114 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) in a bi-parental RIL mapping population (the International Triticeae Mapping Initiative, ITMI/MP) grown in 2014 season. We used digital image analysis for seed phenotyping and obtained data for seven traits describing seed size and shape and 48 traits of seed coat color. We identified 212 additive and 34 pairs of epistatic QTLs on all the chromosomes of wheat genome except chromosomes 1A and 5D. Many QTLs were overlapping. We demonstrated that the overlap between QTL regions was low for seed size/shape traits and high for coat color traits. Using the literature and KEGG data, we identified sets of genes in Arabidopsis and rice from the networks controlling seed size and color. Further, we identified 29 and 14 candidate genes for seed size-related loci and for loci associated with seed coat color, respectivel

Effects of Light Spectral Quality on Photosynthetic Activity, Biomass Production, and Carbon Isotope Fractionation in Lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., Plants

The optimization of plant-specific LED lighting protocols for indoor plant growing systems needs both basic and applied research. Experiments with lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., plants using artificial lighting based on narrow-band LEDs were carried out in a controlled environment. We investigated plant responses to the exclusion of certain spectral ranges of light in the region of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR); in comparison, the responses to quasimonochromatic radiation in the red and blue regions were studied separately. The data on plant phenotyping, photosynthetic activity determination, and PAM fluorometry, indicating plant functional activity and stress responses to anomalous light environments, are presented. The study on carbon isotopic composition of photoassimilates in the diel cycle made it possible to characterize the balance of carboxylation and photorespiration processes in the leaves, using a previously developed oscillatory model of photosynthesis. Thus, the share of plant photorespiration (related to plant biomass enrichment with 13C) increased in response to red-light action, while blue light accelerated carboxylation (related to 12C enrichment). Blue light also reduced water use efficiency. These data are supported by the observations from the light environments missing distinct PAR spectrum regions. The fact that light of different wavelengths affects the isotopic composition of total carbon allowed us to elucidate the nature of its action on the organization of plant metabolism

NLR Genes Related Transcript Sets in Potato Cultivars Bearing Genetic Material of Wild Mexican Solanum Species

The long history of potato breeding includes the numerous introgressions of resistance genes from many wild species of South and Central America as well as from cultivated species into the breeding genepool. Most R genes belong to the NLR family with nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat. The aim of this research concerns an evaluation of NLR genes expression in transcriptomes of three potato cultivars (Evraziya, Siverskij, Sudarynya), which combine genetic material from wild and cultivated potato species, and each bears intragenic markers of RB/Rpi-blb1/Rpi-sto1 genes conferring broad-range resistance to late blight. The transcriptomes of the cultivars were compared before and 24 h after the Phytophthora infestans inoculation. The induction of RB/Rpi-blb1/Rpi-sto1 transcript after 24 h of inoculation was detected in the resistant cultivars Siverskij and Sudarynya but not in susceptible cv. Evraziya. This demonstrates the importance of transcriptomic assay for understanding the results of marker-assisted selection and phenotyping. Interestingly, assembling the transcriptomes de novo and analysis with NLR-parser tool revealed significant fractions of novel NLR genes with no homology to the reference genome from 103 (cv. Siverskij) to 160 (S. stoloniferum, 30514/15). Comparison of novel NLRs demonstrated a relatively small intersection between the genotypes that coincided with their complex pedigrees with several interspecific hybridization events. These novel NLRs may facilitate the discovery of new efficient R genes

WAX INDUCER 1 Regulates β-Diketone Biosynthesis by Mediating Expression of the <i>Cer-cqu</i> Gene Cluster in Barley

Plant surface properties are crucial determinants of resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. The outer layer of the plant cuticle consists of chemically diverse epicuticular waxes. The WAX INDUCER1/SHINE subfamily of APETALA2/ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTORS regulates cuticle properties in plants. In this study, four barley genes homologous to the Arabidopsis thaliana AtWIN1 gene were mutated using RNA-guided Cas9 endonuclease. Mutations in one of them, the HvWIN1 gene, caused a recessive glossy sheath phenotype associated with β-diketone deficiency. A complementation test for win1 knockout (KO) and cer-x mutants showed that Cer-X and WIN1 are allelic variants of the same genomic locus. A comparison of the transcriptome from leaf sheaths of win1 KO and wild-type plants revealed a specific and strong downregulation of a large gene cluster residing at the previously known Cer-cqu locus. Our findings allowed us to postulate that the WIN1 transcription factor in barley is a master mediator of the β-diketone biosynthesis pathway acting through developmental stage- and organ-specific transactivation of the Cer-cqu gene cluster