What about Plurality? Aristotle’s Discussion of Zeno’s Paradoxes

While Aristotle provides the crucial testimonies for the paradoxes of motion, topos, and the falling millet seed, surprisingly he shows almost no interest in the paradoxes of plurality. For Plato, by contrast, the plurality paradoxes seem to be the central paradoxes of Zeno and Simplicius is our primary source for those. This paper investigates why the plurality paradoxes are not examined by Aristotle and argues that a close look at the context in which Aristotle discusses Zeno holds the answer to this question.

Aristotle, Eleaticism, and Zeno’s Grains of Millet

This paper explores how Aristotle rejects some Eleatic tenets in general and some of Zeno’s views in particular that apparently threaten the Aristotelian “science of nature.” According to Zeno, it is impossible for a thing to traverse what is infinite or to come in contact with infinite things in a finite time. Aristotle takes the Zenonian view to be wrong by resorting to his distinction between potentiality and actuality and to his theory of mathematical proportions as applied to the motive power and the moved object (Ph. VII.5). He states that some minimal parts of certain magnitudes (i.e., continuous quantities) are perceived, but only in potentiality, not in actuality. This being so, Zeno’s view that a single grain of millet makes no sound on falling, but a thousand grains make a sound must be rejected. If Zeno’s paradoxes were true, there would be no motion, but if there is no motion, there is no nature, and hence, there cannot be a science of nature. What Aristotle noted in the millet seed paradox, I hold, is that it apparently casts doubt on his theory of mathematical proportions, i.e., the theory of proportions that holds between the moving power and the object moved, and the extent of the change and the time taken. This approach explains why Aristotle establishes an analogy between the millet seed paradox, on the one hand, and the argument of the stone being worn away by the drop of water (Ph. 253b15–16) and the hauled ship, on the other.

Identification of PEG 6000 concentrations for assessing drought resistance in millet genotypes during the seed germination phase

Background. Using LD50 concentrations of the osmotic PEG 6000 to select millet genotypes during seed germination for drought resistance breeding is the best way of millet genotype differentiation according to the studied trait.Materials and methods. The millet cultivars ‘Omriyane’, ‘Kharkovskoe 57’, ‘Konstantinovskoe’, ‘Slobozhanskoe’, and the accession IR 5 were selected as the test material. Water stress was applied through five concentrations of PEG (6000 MW): 11.5%, 15.3%, 19.6%, 23.5%, 28.9%, and 0.0% (control). On the sixth day of incubation, millet seed germination was measured. The regression method for assessing LD50 (half-lethal dose) by V. B. Prozorovskii was used to theoretically substantiate the selection of an optimal osmotic concentration, which would be most accurate in identifying the level of drought tolerance in millet genotypes during seed germination.Results and conclusions: The 15.3% to 28.9% concentrations of PEG 6000 solutions had a negative effect on seed germination of millet genotypes. A strongly suppressed seed germination rate was observed at the PEG concentration of 23.5%: germination percentage in all cultivars (except for IR 5, with 56.0%) fell below 50%. Calculations according to the Verhulst logistic curve and the probit analysis by V. B. Prozorovskii’s technique showed that the mean LD50 concentration of PEG 6000 solutions for all studied genotypes was 23.03%. Thus, as a result of the analysis of our experimental data and their statistical processing, we recommended the 23.0% concentration of PEG 6000 solution as the most differentiating in terms of drought resistance in the millet seed germination phase.

A Novel Route of Mixed Catalysis for Production of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters from Potential Seed Oil Sources

Depleting petroleum resources coupled with the environmental consequences of fossil fuel combustion have led to the search for renewable alternatives, such as biodiesel. In this study, sunflower (Helianthus annus), mustard (Brassica compestres) and pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) seed oils were converted into biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) by acid-, base- and lipase-catalyzed transesterification, and the resultant fuel properties were determined. The methyl esters displayed superior iodine values (102–139), low densities, and a high cetane number (CN). The highest yield of biodiesel was obtained from mustard seed oil, which provided cloud (CP) and pour (PP) points of −3.5 and 5 °C, respectively, and a CN of 53. The sunflower seed oil methyl esters had a density of 0.81–0.86 kg/L at 16 °C, CP of 2 °C, PP of −8 °C, and a CN of 47. The pearl millet seed oil methyl esters yielded a density 0.87–0.89 kg/L, CP and PP of 4 °C and −5 °C, respectively, and a CN of 46. The major fatty acids identified in the sunflower, mustard, and pearl millet seed oils were linolenic (49.2%), oleic acid (82.2%), and linoleic acid (73.9%), respectively. The present study reports biodiesel with ideal values of CP and PP, to extend the use of biodiesel at the commercial level.

The Study on sowing time effect on millet (Panicum miliaceum.L) green mass in the central

The one of the best crops grown in Mongolia is Mongolian rice, which is drought-tolerant, has a good reproductive ability, easy processing and easy to prepare for food. The study was conducted in the field of the Institute of Plant and Agriculture Science in Khongor soum of Darkhan-Uul aimag in 2017-2019. The variety named Saratovskaya 853 was sown in the 10 June, 20 June and 10 June. Millet variety Saratovskaya 853 was planted in the 9 research stages /a stage covers 3m2/ and, they were spacing between 0.5 m from each other. The millet seed were planted in the 6 centimeter deep from ground and planted in the lines between 15 centimeters. During this study, we planted 3 million seed per hectare in 3 times repetition. When millet was grown for green fodder, the field germination rate was 76.4-77.2 percent. The crop version of the 10.June was 308.8 c/ha green mass, which is higher 42.6-82.6 c/ha, but the grass yield was 83.6 c / ha, which is higher respectively 31.0-29.2 c / ha than other crop version. Тариалангийн төв бүсэд бог будаа (Panicum miliaceum.L)-ны ногоон массын ургацад тарих хугацааны нөлөө Бог будаа нь хүнс, тэжээлийн нэг наст үет ургамал. Манай орны тариачин ардууд ганд тэсвэртэй,үржих чадвар өндөр, боловсруулах багаж төхөөрөмжийн шаардлага бага, хүнс тэжээлд хэрэглэхэд амар хялбар зэрэг өвөрмөц онцлогтой түгээмэл тариалагдаж байсан унаган таримлын нэг бол бог будаа юм[4]. Туршлага судалгааг 2017-2020 онд Дархан-Уул аймгийн Хонгор сумын нутаг дахь УГТХүрээлэнгийн судалгааны талбарт явууллаа. Бог будааны Саратовская-853 сортыг мөр хооронд 15 см зайтайгаар 6 см гүнд 6 дугаар сарын 10,20, 30 гэсэн хугацаанд нэг га талбайд 3 сая.ширхэг нормоор тус бүр 3 давталтайгаар нэг дэвсгийн хэмжээ 3м2 нийт 9 дэвсэгт тариалсан. Бог будааг ногоон тэжээлд зориулан тариалахад судалгаа явуулсан жилүүдийн хээрийн цухуйц 76.4-77.2 хувийн цухуйцтай байлаа. Ногоон массын ургацаар 6 дугаар сарын 10-ны хугацааны хувилбар 308.8 ц/га ногоон массын ургацыг бүрдүүлж бусад хугацааны хувилбараас 42.6-82.6 ц/га, өвсний 83.6 ц/га ургацыг бүрдүүлж бусад хугацааны хувилбараас 31.0-29.2 ц/га ургацаар тус тус илүү байлаа. Түлхүүр үг: Талбай, хувилбар, давталт, өвс, чанар

Transcriptome analysis revealed the regulation of gibberellin and the establishment of photosynthetic system promote rapid seed germination and early growth of seedling in pearl millet

Background Seed germination is the most important stage for the formation of a new plant. This process starts when the dry seed begins to absorb water and ends when the radicle protrudes. The germination rate of seed from different species varies. The rapid germination of seed from species that grow on marginal land allows seedlings to compete with surrounding species, which is also the guarantee of normal plant development and high yield. Pearl millet is an important cereal crop that is used worldwide, and it can also be used to extract bioethanol. Previous germination experiments have shown that pearl millet has a fast seed germination rate, but the molecular mechanisms behind pearl millet are unclear. Therefore, this study explored the expression patterns of genes involved in pearl millet growth from the germination of dry seed to the early growth stages. Results Through the germination test and the measurement of the seedling radicle length, we found that pearl millet seed germinated after 24 h of swelling of the dry seed. Using transcriptome sequencing, we characterized the gene expression patterns of dry seed, water imbibed seed, germ and radicle, and found more differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in radicle than germ. Further analysis showed that different genome clusters function specifically at different tissues and time periods. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that many genes that positively regulate plant growth and development are highly enriched and expressed, especially the gibberellin signaling pathway, which can promote seed germination. We speculated that the activation of these key genes promotes the germination of pearl millet seed and the growth of seedlings. To verify this, we measured the content of gibberellin and found that the gibberellin content after seed imbibition rose sharply and remained at a high level. Conclusions In this study, we identified the key genes that participated in the regulation of seed germination and seedling growth. The activation of key genes in these pathways may contribute to the rapid germination and growth of seed and seedlings in pearl millet. These results provided new insight into accelerating the germination rate and seedling growth of species with slow germination.

Can Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Improve Grain Iron Concentration of Agro-Biofortified Crops in Zimbabwe?

Improving iron (Fe) concentration in staple grain crops could help reduce Fe-deficiency anaemia in communities dependent on plant-based diets. Co-application of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) fertilizers has been reported to improve both yield and grain Zn concentration of crops in smallholder farming systems. This study was conducted to determine if similar effects are observed for grain Fe concentration. Field experiments were conducted in two years, in two contrasting agro-ecologies in Zimbabwe, on maize (Zea mays L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) and two finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) “seed pools”. The two finger millet “seed pools” were collected during previous farmer surveys to represent “high” and “low” Fe concentrations. All plots received foliar Fe-ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) fertilizer and one of seven N treatments, representing mineral or organic N sources, and combinations thereof. Higher grain yields were observed in larger N treatments. Grain Fe concentration increased according to species: maize < finger millet < cowpea but varied widely according to treatment. Significant effects of N-form on grain Fe concentration were observed in the low finger millet “seed pool”, for which mineral N fertilizer application increased grain Fe concentration to a greater extent than other N forms, but not for the other species. Whilst good soil fertility management is essential for yield and grain quality, effects on grain Fe concentration are less consistent than reported previously for Zn.