Implementation of novel methods of global and nonsmooth optimization : GANSO programming library

We discuss the implementation of a number of modern methods of global and nonsmooth continuous optimization, based on the ideas of Rubinov, in a programming library GANSO. GANSO implements the derivative-free bundle method, the extended cutting angle method, dynamical system-based optimization and their various combinations and heuristics. We outline the main ideas behind each method, and report on the interfacing with Matlab and Maple packages. <br /

Thermo Luminescence Dating of Pottery Sample from Chukhur Gabala Archaeological Site in Gabala District of Azerbaijan

The age of fragments of the ancient pottery sample from Chukhur Gabala archeological site in Gabala district of Azerbaijan has been estimated by employing Thermoluminescence dating (TL) method. The annual dose rate was obtained using γ-spectrometer with a hyper-pure germanium detector and it was 2.741±0.121 mGy/year. The age of the sample was calculated by an additive dose method as 2230±510 years which are in line with the stratigraphically estimated age of this area

Introduction and evaluation of the wood preservative potentials of the poisonous Sternbergia candidum extracts

The ability of Sternbergia candida (SB Candidum Mathew.) extract to suppress attack by Postia placenta (Fries) M. Larsen et Lombard (Mad 698), (a brown-rot) and Trametes versicolor (L.ex Fr.) Quel. (a white-rot) was investigated. The extract was dissolved from Sterinbergia Candidum's bulb and leaves in 96% ethyl alcohol. Poisonous extract impregnated into wood blocks of Turkish oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Extract dosages were 0.25, 0.75, 1.50 and 3.00%. Treated blocks were exposed to P. placenta and T. versicolor attack for 12 weeks by the soil block method. Only extract dosages of 0.25 and 0.75% were found efficacious in suppressing attack. A tukey studentized test found both dosages significant at 5% level. In conclusion, the poisonous extracts could be used as effective wood preservative when concentration was adjusted. © 2007 Academic Journals

Molecular mapping of the leaf rust resistance gene Rph5 in barley

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia hordei G. Otth is an important disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in many regions of the world. Yield losses up to 32% have been reported in susceptible cultivars. The Rph5 gene confers resistance to the most prevalent races (8 and 30) of barley leaf rust in the USA. Therefore, the molecular mapping of Rph5 is of great interest. The objectives of this study were to map Rph5 and identify closely linked molecular markers. Genetic studies were performed by analysis of 93 and 91 [F.sub.2] plants derived from the crosses `Bowman' (rph5) x `Magnif 102' (Rph5) and `Moore' (rph5) x Virginia 92-42-46 (Rph5), respectively. Bulk segregent analysis (BSA) using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was conducted. Linkage analysis positioned the Rph5 locus to the extreme telomeric region of the short arm of barley chromosome 3H at 0.2 centimorgans (cM) proximal to RFLP marker VT1 and 0.5 cM distal from RFLP marker C970 in the Bowman x Magnif 102 population. Map positions and the relative order of the markers were confirmed in the Moore x Virginia 92-42-46 population. RFLP analysis of the near isogenic line (NIL) Magnif 102/*8Bowman, the susceptible recurrent parent Bowman, and RpH5 donor Magnif 102, confirmed the close linkage of the markers VT1, BCD907, and CD0549 to Rph5. Results from this study will be useful for marker-assisted selection and gene pyramiding in programs breeding for leaf rust resistance and provide the basis for physical mapping and further cloning activities

Predicting trading signals of stock market indices using neural networks

The aim of this paper is to develop new neural network algorithms to predict trading signals: buy, hold and sell, of stock market indices. Most commonly used classification techniques are not suitable to predict trading signals when the distribution of the actual trading signals, among theses three classes, is imbalanced. In this paper, new algorithms were developed based on the structure of feedforward neural networks and a modified Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) error function. An adjustment relating to the contribution from the historical data used for training the networks, and the penalization of incorrectly classified trading signals were accounted for when modifying the OLS function. A global optimization algorithm was employed to train these networks. The algorithms developed in this study were employed to predict the trading signals of day (t+1) of the Australian All Ordinary Index. The algorithms with the modified error functions introduced by this study produced better predictions. © 2008 Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Differential Accumulation of Retroelements and Diversification of NB-LRR Disease Resistance Genes in Duplicated Regions following Polyploidy in the Ancestor of Soybean1[W][OA]

The genomes of most, if not all, flowering plants have undergone whole genome duplication events during their evolution. The impact of such polyploidy events is poorly understood, as is the fate of most duplicated genes. We sequenced an approximately 1 million-bp region in soybean (Glycine max) centered on the Rpg1-b disease resistance gene and compared this region with a region duplicated 10 to 14 million years ago. These two regions were also compared with homologous regions in several related legume species (a second soybean genotype, Glycine tomentella, Phaseolus vulgaris, and Medicago truncatula), which enabled us to determine how each of the duplicated regions (homoeologues) in soybean has changed following polyploidy. The biggest change was in retroelement content, with homoeologue 2 having expanded to 3-fold the size of homoeologue 1. Despite this accumulation of retroelements, over 77% of the duplicated low-copy genes have been retained in the same order and appear to be functional. This finding contrasts with recent analyses of the maize (Zea mays) genome, in which only about one-third of duplicated genes appear to have been retained over a similar time period. Fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed that the homoeologue 2 region is located very near a centromere. Thus, pericentromeric localization, per se, does not result in a high rate of gene inactivation, despite greatly accelerated retrotransposon accumulation. In contrast to low-copy genes, nucleotide-binding-leucine-rich repeat disease resistance gene clusters have undergone dramatic species/homoeologue-specific duplications and losses, with some evidence for partitioning of subfamilies between homoeologues

Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: A Synopsis of Coordinated National CropWild Relative Seed Collecting Programs across Five Continents

The Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project set out to improve the diversity, quantity, and accessibility of germplasm collections of crop wild relatives (CWR). Between 2013 and 2018, partners in 25 countries, heirs to the globetrotting legacy of Nikolai Vavilov, undertook seed collecting expeditions targeting CWR of 28 crops of global significance for agriculture. Here, we describe the implementation of the 25 national collecting programs and present the key results. A total of 4587 unique seed samples from at least 355 CWR taxa were collected, conserved ex situ, safety duplicated in national and international genebanks, and made available through the Multilateral System (MLS) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Plant Treaty). Collections of CWR were made for all 28 targeted crops. Potato and eggplant were the most collected genepools, although the greatest number of primary genepool collections were made for rice. Overall, alfalfa, Bambara groundnut, grass pea and wheat were the genepools for which targets were best achieved. Several of the newly collected samples have already been used in pre-breeding programs to adapt crops to future challenges