The Genetics and Genomics of Virus Resistance in Maize

Viruses cause significant diseases on maize worldwide. Intensive agronomic practices, changes in vector distribution, and the introduction of vectors and viruses into new areas can result in emerging disease problems. Because deployment of resistant hybrids and cultivars is considered to be both economically viable and environmentally sustainable, genes and quantitative trait loci for most economically important virus diseases have been identified. Examination of multiple studies indicates the importance of regions of maize chromosomes 2, 3, 6, and 10 in virus resistance. An understanding of the molecular basis of virus resistance in maize is beginning to emerge, and two genes conferring resistance to sugarcane mosaic virus, Scmv1 and Scmv2, have been cloned and characterized. Recent studies provide hints of other pathways and genes critical to virus resistance in maize, but further work is required to determine the roles of these in virus susceptibility and resistance. This research will be facilitated by rapidly advancing technologies for functional analysis of genes in maize

Ruthenium oxide-carbon-based nanofiller-reinforced conducting polymer nanocomposites and their supercapacitor applications.

In this review article, we have presented for the first time the new applications of supercapacitor technologies and working principles of the family of RuO2-carbon-based nanofiller-reinforced conducting polymer nanocomposites. Our review focuses on pseudocapacitors and symmetric and asymmetric supercapacitors. Over the last years, the supercapacitors as a new technology in energy storage systems have attracted more and more attention. They have some unique characteristics such as fast charge/discharge capability, high energy and power densities, and long stability. However, the need for economic, compatible, and easy synthesis materials for supercapacitors have led to the development of RuO2-carbon-based nanofiller-reinforced conducting polymer nanocomposites with RuO2. Therefore, the aim of this manuscript was to review RuO2-carbon-based nanofiller-reinforced conducting polymer nanocomposites with RuO2 over the last 17 years

Comparative genome structure, secondary metabolite, and effector coding capacity across Cochliobolus pathogens.

The genomes of five Cochliobolus heterostrophus strains, two Cochliobolus sativus strains, three additional Cochliobolus species (Cochliobolus victoriae, Cochliobolus carbonum, Cochliobolus miyabeanus), and closely related Setosphaeria turcica were sequenced at the Joint Genome Institute (JGI). The datasets were used to identify SNPs between strains and species, unique genomic regions, core secondary metabolism genes, and small secreted protein (SSP) candidate effector encoding genes with a view towards pinpointing structural elements and gene content associated with specificity of these closely related fungi to different cereal hosts. Whole-genome alignment shows that three to five percent of each genome differs between strains of the same species, while a quarter of each genome differs between species. On average, SNP counts among field isolates of the same C. heterostrophus species are more than 25× higher than those between inbred lines and 50× lower than SNPs between Cochliobolus species. The suites of nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS), polyketide synthase (PKS), and SSP-encoding genes are astoundingly diverse among species but remarkably conserved among isolates of the same species, whether inbred or field strains, except for defining examples that map to unique genomic regions. Functional analysis of several strain-unique PKSs and NRPSs reveal a strong correlation with a role in virulence

Coupled dynamics and simulation of a space-based manipulator system

In this paper, a space-based manipulator system (SBMS) is researched. Although lots of work have been done about ground-based system for a long time, there are still exists a lot of problems for space-based manipulator because of the different dynamics modeling between them. A popular and interesting issue is coupled dynamics among the system. So, a special case, a SBMS with two manipulators symmetrically installed on a floating base, is modeled as the research object during whole work. Firstly, by establishing its kinematics and dynamics model, a general equation of motion is achieved. Then, a simulation test aiming at revealing the coupled phenomenon and how does the motion of manipulators impact on the floating base is conducted. The test results provide concrete proofs for our theoretical analysis

Algorithm for foraging and building task on a novel swarm robotic platform

Foraging Task is a typical task on swarm robotic and Building Task (extend from blocks world) is widely used for testing performance of task planning in multi-robots. In this paper we combine foraging and building task as a new type task and implement on our swarm robotic system-SociBuilder. The platform is composed of three parts: active region, modules and many robots called Socibots. In order to execute the task automatically and effectively, we propose a new system architecture including three layers: human-computer interaction layer (HCI), planning layer and execution layer. For the same reason, we put forward a novel algorithm to adjust individual behavior dynamically. As a result of our experiments, Socibots use only local information and do not need communication with others in forage, and fewer individuals are centralized control for building task. The architecture and algorithm are effective in swarm robotics, which guide system to perform complex task with less burden

SociBuilder: A novel task-oriented swarm robotic system

This paper presents a novel concept of swarm robots, which mostly emphasizes on organization structure, rather than merely the quantity. A novel task-oriented swarmrobotic system (SociBuilder system) that is self-reconfigurable and supports self-assembly is introduced. The system simulates human labor division and social organization structure, thus it could represent human construction activities. SociBuilder System mainly consists of four parts: active region, socibots, warehouses and modules. Moreover, we propose a novel swarm system hierarchy, which includes three layers: human-computer interaction (HCI) layer, task planning layer and execution layer. In the planning layer, we designe eight parts to actualize task-oriented mechanism, which are visual task analysis, task decomposition, task allocation, self-organization structure, action planning, expansion mechanism, sensor data analysis and derated analysis respectively. Besides, we displayed structures of Socibots and docking mechanism for self-assembly and self-reconfiguration in detail. Finally, three scenario simulations are implemented successfully including self-assembly task, cooperative task and building task

Collision Sensing Using Force/Torque Sensor

Collision sensing including collision position, collision direction, and force size could make robots smoothly interact with environment, so that the robots can strongly adapt to the outside world. Skin sensor imitates principles of human skin using special material and physical structure to obtain collision information, but this method has some disadvantages, such as complex design, low sampling rate, and poor generality. In this paper, a new method using force/torque sensor to calculate collision position, collision direction, and force size is proposed. Detailed algorithm is elaborated based on physical principle and unified modeling method for basic geometric surface. Gravity compensation and dynamic compensation are also introduced for working manipulators/robots in gravity and dynamic environment. In addition, considering algorithm solvability and uniqueness, four constraints are proposed, which are force constraint, geometric constraint, normal vector constraint, and current mutation constraint. In order to solve conflict solution of algorithm in redundant constraints, compatibility solution analysis is proposed. Finally, a simulation experiment shows that the proposed method can achieve collision information efficiently and accurately.</p

Analytical kinematics and working-condition simulation for friction stir welding (FSW) robot

In this paper, combining with the engineering reality needs, we developed a new type of friction stir welding robot welding system. Through the configuration analysis, introduces the structural components and functional roles of each part of the FSW robot, as well as the commonly used five kinds of typical working-conditions. Using D-H parameters method, establishment the forward kinematics equation of FSW robot and verify its rightness. With Piper criterion method, solve the inverse solution of FSW robot&#39;s kinematics equation. Finally, take melon petals welding condition for example, carry out trajectory planning for a given size rockets head weld and conduct welding simulation analysis. We have got different parameters&#39; change curves relative to time on FSW robot&#39;s joint space and verified the correctness of its mechanism design and kinematics model